Fluid - 20

The planar’ energy had unfurled across the Guildhall like an organic canopy, erratically grown in response to Nikias’ plight. Despite the panicked desperation that had gone into its creation, calm hours of teasing notes have it smoothly furled in on itself—a flower closing against the night’s chill air. Shifting that energy by its centre point is delicate but relatively simple work. When the surrounding stone starts to change with its arrival, I’ve far less fatigue built up than a day of weapon drills.

As the clockwork ticks within the stonework, additional songs quiet the gears and adjust their cycles. A change in the metaphysical cogs and gears sets the facility levels to counterweight each other. Waiting for dawn’s arrival gives me time to contact various individuals and find those amenable to the duties required of custodians and potential trainers. In between conversing with Immortal beings to find those suitable to deal with mortals, one piece of equipment or another takes shape.

A question directed to aunt Am gets an interesting answer and gives me a song to compose. But seriously, why did she end the message with ‘more work’ as if she were doing the composing? My aunt is strange.

When true dawn finally reaches the horizon, I set the clockwork moving again. The first click shivers through Resonance though the building itself remains silent.

The mechanised training floor is the first to manifest, the spiral stairs extending downwards, as the gears shift the other levels about on my desired timings. Unlike the solid stone of the Guildhall, the grey honeycombs flicker with the essence of turning gears, spinning in dimensions beyond normal Human senses. Only Resonance and Mana Sense let me catch their existence at all.

Another song causes the ticking to grow significantly louder when my Gate to Mechanus opens. Midyåci is profiled in a shimmering archway; its bipedal form appearing as a crystalline shell containing gears twisting in and out of dimensions that I can’t even follow with Resonance. Its eyeless face turns to regard me, unmoving, while links between it and others of its kind chime away. I give it a polite bow when it shifts to face me fully.

“Good morning, Midyåci.”

“May the realm’s order guide you towards perfection, Gailneth,” says Midyåci before stepping through the Gate; the Allegiance Bond between us hums like a tuning fork. The greeting itself isn’t in any spoken tongue, but my Polyglot translates meaning from a buzzing of clicks and whirrs from its gears. “Is there a preferred form I should use to fulfil my custodian role?”

“The locals of this region of Vehtë are primarily Human. Though dwarves, elves, and beings similar to Cat-folk are considered civilised in this region, they are less common. You’re a distance east of where you met with Amdirlain some decades ago,” I say, taking in the shifting pattern in the gears and cogs as it considers my words.

“The one I met as Julia has come far since that meeting,” Midyåci states and reaches out with scrying spells before it finally nods. The translucent shell darkens, and its smooth lines gain additional contours until a Grecian woman’s form emerges. Midnight-hued hair with hints of silver streaks reaches to her suntanned shoulders. The perfect sphere of its head shifts into an oval face with a high forehead and warm hazel eyes. Her nose twitches as Midyåci takes in the first scents via Human olfaction, and she smacks her full lips together before they twist in distaste.

“This is an inefficient form, and I can taste my mouth. A single course for air intake and discharge shares a tract with the digestion route, and reproductive organs sit along the refuse paths. Why do so many biological beings adhere to this pattern?”

The words in the celestial tongue carry a weight of meaning and inference that I’d need True Song to express fully as a cascade of concepts accompany each one. The word digestion alone conveys the consumption of vital nutrients but warns of the possibility of murder, theft, and ravenous consumption, and many other flaws in biological systems.

“It is based on the Titan’s origins, is my understanding,” I offer, and Midyåci shrugs. “Should I call you Midyåci? Though I should mention, it's nothing like the local's names.”

“It is efficient as a term of reference for a short-lived being. While I’ll look like them for comfort, it should be clear I’m not one of them,” states Midyåci.

A few songs provide her with clothing and shoes before I add a set of defensive bracers from inventory—the last to compliment her natural defences and as an initial payment for her help.

When Midyåci picks them up, she freezes in place before caressing the mithril’s swirls. “Who made these?”

“Amdirlain.”

“Such a balance of energies contained within them, Amdirlain has come further than I thought. It is well that you put the condition in our agreement for service relative to goods provided. These will secure my services for some time. Do you predict this place will provide opportunities to discuss the purpose of Law with mortals?” asks Midyåci. “I’ve found debate and discussion to be effective for opening their ephemeral minds.

“There might not be many opportunities to begin with, but I expect they’ll increase with time.”

Midyåci nods in satisfaction and dresses, fussily smoothing the shirt's cloth along the taunt form she’s adopted. I wait until she’s finished adjusting her pants and secured them using a leather belt with a pair of wands around her narrow waist.

“I hope you didn’t copy someone exactly,” I caution.

“That is a mistake I know others have made, so I avoided doing so,” allows Midyåci.”This form is an amalgamation, with changes to certain features due to their imperfections.”

A Spell effect clicks into place, and her following words are Greek.

“Is this form efficient for a custodian?”

Midyåci spreads her arms and turns in place, letting me confirm that the enchantments have correctly adjusted the dark green cloth of the shirt and pants to her body.

Reaching out, I tweak one of the grey strands as it swirls past. “You look like a young and fit woman, but you’ve grey streaks in your hair that convey age.”

“Since this form is imperfect, I wish to convey it is transient,” replies Midyåci. “Are you still in negotiations, or do you have the fees determined?”

“We’ve not even begun determining them yet. Would you be able to determine an orderly and proper balance for me?” I ask, and Midyåci turns back to face me.

“You contacted me hours ago, and it's not yet begun; this process seems inefficient,” grumbles Midyåci, frowning in dissatisfaction. “Besides those for the instructors, what fees do you consider a proper balance for the facilities?”

“Say, twenty percent of the harvested goods, ten percent of the value of manufactured goods. Access the barracks floor at a copper a night if they clean the room properly before leaving.”

Midyåci wrinkles her nose. “Overly generous. Workshops matching the information you sent me will greatly improve the output of anyone below Grand Master rank.”

“But they have to sell the goods before they see any value, and some items might be for personal use,” I counter.

Midyåci waves a hand dismissively. “What they create for personal use might later end up sold. I suggest that be your minimum fee, but I’ll endeavour to secure higher. You must maintain a proper appearance of authority rather than charity to ensure orderly proceedings. The provided revenue will allow you to be charitable if you wish to indulge in such a vice. Will you let me handle negotiations with this guild?”

“Why?”

“Amdirlain’s unique situation at the time I spoke to her meant there were unacceptable errors in the advice provided. I wish to ensure neither errors nor neglect occurs in my duties here,” explains Midyåci, her fingers again tracing the mithril edging of the bracers I’d provided. “The strength of these enchantments is significant; ‌I must render a proper balance of service. Do your creations approach such a standard?”

“Amdirlain provided me with equipment for various purposes; what I can create doesn’t yet come close.”

Unfussed by my reply, Midyåci gives a satisfied nod. “Continue to strive towards perfection, young Gail.”

After linking Midyåci to the wards, one song shifts into the next, and I provide a burst of information. The details of the local situation and relevant discussions, including my threat from last night's conversation.

“Is your preference to bring them into a lawful balance or remove their influence and begin from scratch?” asks Midyåci. “I’ve encountered other such organisations over my existence.”

“Despite what I said to their leader, I’d prefer to work with them since they already have contacts. While I’m concerned with the path they’ve started down, the situation might be retrievable,” I say.

“Posturing is a component of negotiations among many species. Reduction of social upheaval is always a factor of people’s safety and an orderly transition in organisations,” observes Midyåci before she tsks in disappointment. “A course correction rather than removal, very well.”

“Only if that would deliver the best outcome; determining which path will bring less over the long term is required.”

“Then we should determine the measurements against which we assess them to see if they’re making progress or delaying,” affirms Midyåci eagerly. “I’ll gather information.”

Mentally pushing aside my threatened approach, I beckon Midyåci to spill. “What would you suggest if I set it to you as a goal to remove them?”

“It might be best to create a new, smaller guild, established in a region they don’t properly cover. Slowly subsume their operational areas only after you have established a proper framework,” explains Midyåci. “With your permission, I’ll consult with guilds I know of on other worlds. The beings there also possess inefficient emotional requirements that influence the approach required to achieve proper Order. Shall I also prepare a list of suggested conditions for inclusion to the guild’s Grand Master?”

“I’d appreciate the advice. Thank you, Midyåci,” I say, and we exchange nods. “I’ve got to meet the others for training, but I’ll be back before sunset at the latest.”

Midyåci excuses herself to explore, and I almost shift away before a thought occurs.

After changing the door so it won’t open for others except those already within, I retrieve the crystal spike and press it against the floor. It slides through my enchanted stone, like a hot knife through butter, until it's flush with the ground. The only sign of it is a palm-sized crystal disc in the room’s centre.

Linking myself, I feel the silk chord of honeyed notes whispering, the strength that holds me reassuringly, a reflection of aunt Am’s power. It's intended to be a safety net, but establishing it makes the importance and risks of my goal feel that much more real.

The weight settles on my shoulders, and butterflies churn about until I get them calmed with deep breaths and memories of floating in the Domain’s river. The pressure puts my focus on releasing aunt Am and the Lómë from their imprisonment, and the joy at the possibility has me grinning like a loon.

Spinning about, I consider the wall’s starkness, illuminated by the dawn’s light coming in through a wide window. As a recovery room it leaves much to be desired. Along the room’s shorter side, I add a waist-height cupboard of polished rosewood and spare clothing and blankets to set within. The room’s window changes from translucent to opaque to provide privacy.

With that minimal set of preparations complete, Teleport puts me at the rear of Zosime’s house to catch the sounds and odours of breakfast being prepared. Nikias is good-naturedly teasing Phile about her bleary-eyed appearance while Zosime chides them away from the cooking food.

“Good morning, Gail,” Nikias calls excitedly before I enter the courtyard.

“Greetings, everyone,” I say.

Zosime waves before focusing on a pot, slowly coming to a boil atop the firepit’s grill. The smell of baking bread wafting from a covered pan she’s just set aside to cool.

Returning my greeting, Phile jumps right in. “Any changes to the team or village this morning?”

That being her first question has me snorting in amusement. “Minor things. I spoke with the Grand Master last night. He replaced Imhotep with Alfarr to serve as Guild Master. While Alfarr offered my membership back; I’ve not taken it. The energies from the Guildhall are now in the building on the cliff, and I’ve arranged a custodian and caretaker for it.”

Phile gives me a dry smile. “I’m glad there isn’t any major news.”

Rolling my eyes has her snorting in amusement.

“I’ll ask the others—except Myrto—to meet here. Myrto will have completed her prayers about an hour after dawn, so we can collect her then and link to the crystal spike. I thought of beginning at a location about 20 kilometres west along the coast. That way we’re beyond the range of anyone that started scouring the beach from here before dawn.”

“Most won’t go half that distance since they need to make it back in the evening with whatever they’ve gathered,” advises Phile. “You don’t move fast on dry sand, especially not when you’re risking crabs that have burrowed into ambush spots.”

Listening to the kykeonas starting to bubble, the mixed scents of barley and thyme tickle temptingly at my nose.

After dispatching messages to the others, I hold out a scried image of the beach seen from the ocean side. “How far along would you say they normally get?”

“That small inlet before the coastline that swings north into the next cove,” Phile says, pointing out an inlet that looks dangerous to wade across at high tide.

“The primary dangers we can expect are giant crabs?” I ask.

“Those are the ones with the most dangerous single attacks. But there are water sprites, salt mephit, and other things. None of them will provide much in the way of experience from defeating them,” says Phile.

“Getting the teamwork right is more important than immediate level growth,” I reaffirm, and Phile nods.

Phile retrieves an extra bowl and cup from the cupboard setting them atop the stack. “The crab meat and salt mephit crystals sell well, but the water spirits rarely leave anything behind unless you find wherever they might have gathered keepsakes.”

“How big are the giant crabs?”

“From the front of their shell to the back, most range from one to three metres, so given their claws and legs in proportion to that, they take up a lot of space. The bigger they get, the harder their shells; some can be as tougher than steel,” advises Phile.

Passing over a steel ring to Nikias, I toss another to Phile. “They’re messenger rings. They’ll hold enough energy to send two brief messages to a known person within 120 kilometres of you. The ring takes half a day to recharge a single use. I’ve got one for each team member except Ipy and I since we can cast this without help.”

“Thank you,” Phile breathes, her fingers locked tight around the ring she’d effortlessly caught. “You were serious about the new equipment.”

“Gail’s already provided a storage pouch to Myrto, and me,” volunteers Nikias.

“Indeed, I’m very serious about the new equipment,” I say and give her a grin. Retrieving a sturdy belt, two sheathed short blades, four daggers, and a pair of bracers, I set them beside me. “Not tossing these to you, but these are yours.”

“How brief a message?” asks Nikias, and he slips the ring on, laughing happily when it shrinks to fit. “That’s awesome the way they just fit.”

“Focus on the ring, imagine the person you wish to speak to, and start talking. They'll hear whatever you can say in a single breath, so take a deep breath to make the most of it.”

Phile looks poleaxed when I set out three more bundles of equipment. “Did you already have them?”

“While I had some spare daggers, I created the rest last night.”

Even Zosime coughs in surprise at that, each looking over the sheathed weapons curiously.

“What enchantment level are they?” whispers Phile, slowly rising to her feet.

“Nothing too impressive; their average is 46,” I caution, and Phile stops. “Nothing for Myrto and Nikias until they get some combat experience. Skills develop fastest when challenged, so in that respect enchanted weapons can be a hindrance.”

“What do you call impressive?” Nikias asks.

“I’ve handled weapons whose ratings were 2,000 or higher. They made my hands vibrate from the energy in them,” I admit, and catch Phile’s shock.

Phile swallows and slowly nods. “Your perspective is very skewed.”

“I understand that more every day,” I agree, and hold the parcel of weapons to Phile.

Stepping around the firepit to take the bundle, Phile nods with appreciation and steps away to switch her weapons.

When Zosime starts to pour the kykeonas, Phile slices the baked bread and sets a piece with a handful of dried fruit on top into bowls to pass around the fire. The barley drink is thick but enjoyable and especially filling accompanied by bread and fruit.

Though he has to travel across the village, Ipy is the first to arrive. Unarmoured, he wears the same loose garments as when I’d first met him, though this set shows signs of frequent repairs. Once Ipy joins us in the courtyard, his hawk companion circles and then perches on the rooftop, attention split between Ipy and the sky.

Androkles arrived dressed in a darkened boiled-leather cuirass, with greaves and arm guards. The enchantment within the material has kept the weight of their years at bay. I've barely exceeded the magic of the Kopis he carries at his hip, but the daggers are a distinct improvement.

“Nicely crafted blades, Gail,” comments Androkles after he tests each one’s balance.

“I’m glad you like them. The daggers all return to their sheaths after hitting if thrown or dropped.”

Whistling in appreciation, he tests them out using a split log from the spare firewood as a target.

A metallic slithering announces Nanok’s arrival. Clad in a chain hauberk, carrying the long axe he carried the other day, a pair of hooked hand axes, and a trio of daggers. His steel-rimmed shield is partly slung across his back with a strap angled across his body that lets him quickly shift it.

“You had a flamberge with you when guarding Esdras’ shop,” I note while he checks over his new weaponry.

“The blade is far too long for fighting in restricted spaces or ranks. The axes are the enchanted weapons I have left; otherwise, I’d use a longsword or gladius instead,” explains Nanok.

Giving him a look of disbelief, I shake my head. “If you’d told me that-”

“Didn’t expect you to be replacing gear on the first day, though now you have, I’m wondering why I didn’t consider it a possibility,” mutters Nanok, and he motions around to the range of new weapons. “Most teams are glad if they can get an Artificer to provide them a single weapon in a few weeks. I need to stop setting my expectations of your activities based on what most people would do.”

“My aunt Am says I’m an impossible girl, but she’s hardly one to talk,” I say and catch Phile’s smile.

“I want to meet your aunt Am one day,” says Phile, and Ipy echoes an agreement.

“One day perhaps you will, but she’s among those I need the key to get free,” I explain, and catching Zosime’s lack of surprise, it's obvious some tales have spread.

“If she’s trapped-”

“It's possible to speak to those trapped, but I’m not allowed to meet them often physically, in case I’m affected. There were weeks where my mother opened a path for me to speak to Am and get daily lessons—other times I got lengthy projects,” I explain, holding up a treasured memory crystal, its facets gleaming diamond-like in the dawn’s light. “This was her first gift to me. It's a memory crystal with 102 layers of lessons. To access each layer, there are puzzles and tests to complete from the previous layers' teachings.”

“How long did they take to complete?” asks Phile, nodding towards the crystal.

“I figure it was three years, studying six hours a day, but spread out further because I didn’t study it every day. I was so pleased when I reached the inner core. My prize was another crystal with even more lessons.”

Recalling the amusement that had shone in Amdirlain’s gaze has me suppressing my laughter and giving a melancholy sigh.

It's Ipy who first laughs at my mock woebegone expression. “How long did that new one take to finish?”

“I’ve not finished it, I’m presently on layer 2017, and it’s caused me to evolve the Skill twice so far,” I huff. “My aunt has a different Skill evolution and won’t tell me how many evolutions I’ve got ahead of me.”

“Most people are pleased if they evolve a Skill once,” comments Nanok dryly.

Nodding happily, I restrain myself from laughing. “Yeah, hence why my family has completely skewed my perspective on normal. That’s enough about me; let’s discuss this spot as a potential starting point.”

Recasting the scrying Spell, I present the area of the coast Phile had identified.

“Most folks around here turn back before there,” says Androkles, gesturing to the inlet Phile had commented on.

“Phile said the same thing, but I don’t want us to interfere with other teams. What are people’s thoughts about this as a starting point?”

“The smaller crabs inhabit the sands closer to the village. We’ll be encountering ones that potentially haven’t been culled in years,” cautions Nanok. “Could be some ancient ones.”

“Do either of you have Taunt or Provoke?” asks Androkles, gesturing towards Nanok and Ipy.

“Enrage,” replies Nanok, and his possession of the stronger area version of Taunt catches even me by surprise.

“I’ve Taunt,” advises Ipy.

“That makes three of us able to corral the trouble so the youngsters can attack from the sides or rear,” comments Androkles.

“I’ve got Provoke,” admits Nikias.

Androkles fixes him with a stern look. “I hoped you’d only have Taunt, Nikias. Well, don’t use that until we permit you. We’ll need to make special trips into areas with weaker foes for you to practice gathering groups.”

“Code phases for approaching foes?” asks Nanok.

Handling the detection of approaching enemies would be easy, but the challenge of improving my Perception halts the offer. The length of the march is my only other concern. “Walking in pairs, we’ve got four lines, so I’d suggest we use six keywords instead of quadrants.”

“The names of the first six letters of the Greek alphabet,” proposes Nanok.

“I’ll cover the tail of the march, so echo or zeta, depending on which direction I catch them approaching,” suggests Androkles, and Nanok and I both nod in agreement. “I’ll use ‘echo’ for the left side of the march and zeta for the right.”

Phile looks over at me. “Besides Androkles claiming the tail, what order of march did you want to use, Gail?”

“Nanok and Ipy are handling the front rank. Myrto and Nikias should be in the second row, then you and me third. That way, no matter which direction an attack comes from, Myrto and Nikias have experienced support on either side of them,” I answer quickly, and Nanok gives my logic an approving nod.

“It will also let them move around to flank any crabs once we’ve got their attention,” Ipy adds. Nikias looks quite eager at that.

“Maybe I should learn an Affinity so I can assist the front rank from range,” murmurs Phile.

“Though it won’t be useful straight away, I can teach you an Affinity and Spell that won’t hit the wrong target before we head out,” I offer.

This time there isn’t any hesitation, and she gives me a smile of thanks.

“Would it be an imposition if I ask for that aid as well?” asks Androkles.

“Not at all. I was going to ask what you’d decided about classes,” I say, having noted the strengthening of his song.

“I took an evolved Scout and Fighter class. All the practice of my skills earned me some options since last I sought the experience of a Class vision; either that or something important happened,” teases Androkles.

Rolling my eyes at his cheekiness, I begin. The passionate raging melody of the Elemental Fire leaps forth, wanting to warm and consume in equal measures, until I see understanding bloom in their gaze. Even as their new Wizard Class settles in place with the attainment of the Affinity, one song flows into another to teach them three simple spells to use with Fire.

“As I mentioned, this won’t be much use to you today as it will take practice to get used to Mana Manipulation,” I explain before standing. “I’ll get you to practice once we’re ready to take a lunch break since your bodies are drawing in mana.”

“I can help with that, Gail,” Ipy offers, and I grin at him in appreciation.

When the others are on their feet, I wave goodbye to Zosime and shift the group to Hestia’s Temple. With Irene still inside, conducting the service with an already-armoured Myrto’s help, we’ve got time before we can go. Ipy explains different exercises to enlarge one’s Mana pool to Phile and Androkles. Leaving the explanation to him, I study the location’s image for static elements to ensure an accurate Teleport.

“What size teams are you used to working with, Gail?” asks Nanok, also focusing on the image before me.

“Teams of four or five normally, two melee combatants, and one or two other ranged combatants. We’d shift position into an area, deal with the targeted foes and withdraw,” I explain and enlarge the image so he can see it easier. “I’ll have a deflection barrier set before we Teleport there. A few boulders along the beach’s sand look too regular. I’ll be able to tell if they’re crabs once we’re close.”

“They do, and depending on how deep they’ve burrowed, they might be bigger crabs than what it seems from the surface. Do you have a barrier to block water bolts?” asks Nanok.

The question raises my estimate of the risk. “Do the crabs have only elemental water attacks?”

“Powers giving them variations of water bolt spells are the most common. Larger ones along the peninsula have powers related to other elemental energies. We shouldn’t even see any with water attacks unless they reach double the largest size near the village,” offers Nanok, and he shakes his head at the thought. “That size crab could get Nikias or Myrto killed. I’d suggest we go in with whatever protections you and Ipy can provide; there could be anything living along that stretch of beach.”

“If we are in too much trouble to risk Nikias or Myrto, I’ll get us all clear. I set the crystal in place overnight, so I’ll link everyone to it this morning.”