Chapter 133: Great…_Millennial Mage

Chapter 133: Great…

 Ts head was thrown back as she downed her fifth cup of coffee.

 That really isnt healthy for you.

 T set down her mug, giving Mistress Odera a long look. I was up til after midnight.

 Would you be drinking less, if youd gone to bed earlier?

 T didnt respond, instead simply refilling her mug as she munched on a few pieces of bacon. Out of the corner of her eye, T saw Terry flicker briefly, and the pile of sausages was a few links shorter. She grinned but didnt address the mild thievery.

 I thought not. Mistress Odera pushed her te back, having just finished her own, small meal. Now, how is your training progressing?

 T shook her head. Nope.

 No?

 Nope. We talk about me every morning. Its time you answer some questions about you.

 Mistress Odera cocked an eyebrow but didntment.

 So, why dont you go teach for the academy? Thats where some Mages retire, right?

 She took a long breath, shaking her head. Aside from the rudeness of the base assumptions in your question: The Academy is for those who fear death more than they love magic.

 Care to exin? T was using the opportunity to continue her breakfast.

 The ind is a natural fountain of eternal youth. Mistress Odera smiled. Well, in a sense.

 T leaned forward, eating more bacon. Wait, is the fountain of youth a fount?

 Hmm? No, no. It''s just often referred to as a fountain of water in the tales.

 Ah, ok.

 Now, the legends are actually due to that ce. It prevents the degradation of living creatures. You can grow up, but nothing will move past maturity, not while there. It wont reverse aging, however. Thats just a myth.

 That sounds useful.

 It is, it is.

 So, whats the catch?

 Mistress Odera nodded appreciatively. It suffuses you. Eventually, if you stay long enough, you dont even have to stay on the ind to keep the stasis.

 T found herself nodding. It imprints upon your magic.

 Precisely, and conflicts with any inscriptions, slowly rendering them worthless.

 She frowned. Then why put so many Mage initiates there? Wouldnt that cripple their foundation?

 No, it doesnt act upon those who have not reached maturity. Your Magic cannot resonate with what does not act upon you.

 T grunted. The teachers refused to exin, and even led me to believe they didnt know what was going on.

 It is a shameful thing, Mistress Odera shook her head, to fear death sopletely that you would cripple yourself.

 Arent they doing a noble thing? Giving up magic to teach?

 Mistress Odera snorted derisively. Hardly. The Academy is just a convenient use of the fearful old codgers.

 T tilted her head in thought. So, why not offer it to mundanes?

 The magic draws on your gate, and it takes more power than a mundane has avable.

 So, it only works for Mages?

 Worse.

 How could it be worse?

 What happens if you use more power than your gate can draw?

 It pulls from my reserves.

 Mistress Odera nodded. And when your reserves are emptied?

 The spell-working ends? T frowned. Right?

 Yes and no. What would happen if the spell-working was an inscription?

 It would burn through the metal, exhausting it to give the working a few more moments of activity, leaving the Mage uninscribed. T answered instantly and easily.

 Yes, so, what is the equivalent of the inscription in this case?

 The ind?

 Mistress Odera huffed augh. Then, would it need a persons power to function?

 No T frowned, once again. Its enacted on their fleshis that the answer?

 In this case, yes. She smiled. The history behind the ind is thus: Humanity negotiated for a source of eternal life. We are one of the shortest-lived races, after all, but we were deceived. The trade was magically locked, and our partner was held to the letter of the trade, but thats all. We were given a poison pill, useless to the point of detriment to mundanes and Mages alike, while still, technically, doing as promised.

 What did we give up in trade?

 That is lost to history, as far as I am aware.

 Seems like this is something that should be taught.

 Oh, youve heard of it.

 I have?

 Who is the primary antagonist in all tales of the fountain of youth, among others?

 Ts eyes widened. The Arcane King.

 Precisely.

 T sat back, thoughtfully eating a hash-brown patty. Wow rust that guy.

 Mistress Oderaughed loudly before covering her own mouth, drawing the eyes of some customers at the other end of the restaurant.

 T smiled as she continued to eat.

 Truer words, Mistress. Mistress Odera shrugged. He did follow through on the entirety of the request: Humanity is safe there, from all outside threats. The gods and hostile arcanes are utterly incapable of setting foot on the ind or affecting it in any way. She smiled. The protections are really quite ingenious, actually. From what Ive been told they extend to maintaining the surrounding environment, so that even when the sun goes nova in a few billion years, that ind will remain perfectly habitable. Assuming that humans still live there, I suppose.

 Thatsquite something, actually.

 Theres a reason people still seek the Arcane King, despite his known duplicity.

 T frowned. Arcane King She scratched her chin, remembering what Xeel had told her of arcane power rankings. Hes a Sovereign.

 Yes? Kings are a type of sovereign.

 No, I mean the arcane equivalent of a Transcendent.

 Ahh. I suppose? Ive not really given him too much thought. She gave a sad smile. Well, not since my grandchildren outgrew fairytales.

 T was frowning, considering. Are there any human Transcendents?

 That is a question that I honestly thought youd ask weeks ago. Though it is a bit of a tangent, now.

 T grimaced. Other things have been on my mind.

 Thats fine, Mistress. Ill ask a question in return.

 T sighed. I should have expected.

 Mistress Odera grinned. Are there any adult babies?

 What? No? But there are babies who be adults.

 Precisely. Those who transcend have transcended. They are more. They are not what they were.

 T rolled her eyes. You know what Im asking, Mistress. Are there any Transcendent who were human, then?

 No.

 No?

 No.

 I find that very hard to believe.

 Mistress Odera shrugged. You dont have to believe me.

 T sighed. How can you be sure? Our society isnt exactly big on sharing such secrets.

 Because we are still at war.

 She frowned, leaning back. Exin, please.

 If a human transcended, they could either take us all away, making a new world and moving us there to ensure our safety, or they would try, and their equals would stop them. That would beless than ideal for life on this.

 Couldnt you make the same argument that, since we are still at war, we have to have at least one transcendent keeping the others from obliterating us?

 Mistress Odera snorted. If one of them wanted us dead, theyd kill us all.

 The Arcane King? T tried to think about all the stories shed heard involving the creature.

 He enjoys messing with humans but doesnt actively hate us.

 She considered. The Hollow Queen?

 She cares only for her own physicality. Isnt she usually a part of stories against harmful self-love and narcissism?

 Mansa the Gold?

 Only wishes a greater treasury. His tales usually end with him digging towards the core of Zeme, seeking ever more wealth from the earth.

 Krol the Conqueror.

 Dead? Isnt that what the stories say?

 T considered. Yeah, there was a uniting of ancient heroes that died to stop the Conqueror. Reine of the Deep? Dauphin the Enduring? Mirza Far Sight? T frowned, trying to remember all the most powerful, nonhuman figures in the ancient tales. Padishah of the ins? Basileus the Betrayer?

 Mistress Odera shrugged. I cannot tell you the dispositions of the powers in the world atrge, Mistress. I know the same stories as you, though I imagine you know them better. She gave a small smile. For all I know, most, if not all, of these are purely fictional.

 What of the gods?

 She let out a long sigh. Mistress T. In my life, I have only ever seen one creature ssified as a god. The Leviathan.

 When did you see the Leviathan? Ts voice was just above a whisper.

 When I was at the Academy. Mistress Odera quirked a smile. It is one reason I sought answers about the origin of the ce. I was on the librarys tower-top, just after a storm. A ship, not of human make, had been driven into the waters around the ind, and the magics were forcing it away.

 T had paused her eating to listen.

 As the magics finallypelled the vessel out past the area of safety, a hole opened in the ocean, and the ship dropped from sight, like a stone from the tower-top. She shook her head. Momentster, after the hole had closed and all traces of the ship were gone, an eye rose up to regard the ind. The eye wasrger than a wagon, and the power of the being was so great that I could see the magic, even without my mage-sight active. A single tentacle reached out towards me -well, probably towards the Academy- but slid off of an invisible boundary.

 T swallowed and shivered. Shed never really been interested in sea-travel. Now, she was sure shed avoid it at all costs. So, thats a god.

 Mistress Oderaughed. No, no. She shook her head. As the tentacle slid off the boundary, I saw sudden fear enter the great eye. A bellow of terror shook the Academy and turned the sea into a froth. In an instant, that ship destroyer vanished inside a great maw. Teethrger than the library tower I stood upon tore through cleanly and dragged the creature under. The ocean was red and thick with blood for a month after that.

 T took a deep drink of her coffee. Yeahno sea travel for me.

 Wise choice. Most gods on thend are easier to ignore, assuming you dont vite their sense of what is right. Mistress Odera nodded sagely. The Forest Spirit walks these very woods. He only interacts with mortals if they attempt to harm the forest atrge, or wipe out one of its species.

 The Leshkin.

 Yes. They put themselves under his protection by bing creatures of the forest.

 T frowned. That seems like cheating.

 Mistress Oderaughed. He doesnt care if you kill the creatures, only if you threaten the species as a whole. The Leshkin cannot be killed outright, so he only cares if their heartseeds are threatened.

 Well, that exins why no one has wiped them out, yet.

 He isnt vengeful, though. He simply stops the attempts. Very few have actually ever seen him, but those who recorded the experience recall feeling overwhelming shame, like disappointing a cherished mentor. It is theorized that, at his core, the Forest Spirit is a Conceptual Creator, but that is obviously spection.

 T grunted. I dont really understand the conceptual side of magic.

 Most humans cant, really. Thats one of the reasons we cant use it.

 Tughed. That makes sense. I dont even know the divisions of that side, though.

 What do you mean?

 Well, humans use physical magic: Material and Immaterial.

 Thats right.

 So, what are the divisions of conceptual magic?

 Ah, Abstract and Concrete.

 I dont know what that means.

 Well, I cant exin it to you.

 How can a concept be concrete? Arent they all abstract? T was mainly talking to herself.

 Mistress Odera didnt answer, instead sipping her tea.

 After a moment, T cocked her head. Wait a second.

 Hmmm?

 I was trying to ask questions about you.

 Were you now? Mistress Odera managed to hide most of her smile behind another sip of tea.

 T narrowed her eyes at the woman. Yes.

 Well, Im sorry to say that our time is all but done.

 Oh?

 You said you were meeting someone else at ten, right?

 Yes.

 Its half past nine.

 T grimaced. Thats not fair.

 What isnt fair?

 You know how to y my curiosity, deflecting me from what I intend.

 Thats called being a good conversationalist, dear. She then muttered into her tea, too quietly for her to have expected T to be able to hear. You should try it some time.

 T red but didntment.

 So? Get going, Mistress. Ive got the bill covered.

 T sighed but stood. Thank you for breakfast, Mistress Odera.

 It was a pleasure.

 T grabbed a double handful of bacon and sausage, wrapped it in a napkin and headed for the door.

 Terry flickered to her shoulder, and she gave him a sausage as they left the restaurant.

 * * *

 T finished up her load of meat just as she got to the Constructionist Guild office.

 The standard scan and ding heralded her arrival.

 T! Grent walked out of the back hall, arms wide.

 Well, rust T folded her hands in front of herself and gave a half bow. Master Grent.

 He seemed to almost miss a step, but his smile never wavered. How are you, Mistress? He stopped just out of arms reach and gave a half bow in return.

 I am well, thank you. And you?

 I am very well, thank you.

 Shall we?

 It was an awkward second breakfast.

 * * *

 T grimaced as she entered the training room, only to find Rane already there. Terry flickered to his corner, seeming not wanting to get involved.

 So? How did yournot-date go?

 T grimaced. I have nothing to say to you.

 Rane quirked a smile but nodded. As you say.

 She sighed, stretching in a back-and-forth twist. I need to hit something. Spar?

 I thought you said you need to hit something. He had a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

 She red. You are testing me, sir.

 Not yet, Im not. He drew Force.

 T drew out two gravity-reduced balls, tossing them to either side and immediately beginning to increase their effective gravity towards Rane.

 Mistress T? His eyes flicked between her and each of the balls, the previous nights events clearly still on his mind.

 T growled, drawing Flow in its training sheath. She lunged for him, transforming Flow into a ive even as she charged.

 Rane barely brought Force across in time to deflect the strike, but T switched paths at thest moment.

 Flow shifted into the form of a sword, causing Force to sweep through empty air.

 Rane was too skilled to be thrown off bnce by a missed block, but he was definitely caught off guard.

 T capitalized by immediately returning Flow to the form of a ive and driving it towards the left side of his chest.

 His defense activated, spinning him out of the way, and Force whipped around in a tight circle towards her head.

 Flows long shaft came up to parry Force, and a concussion of power radiated out.

 T held the ive angled down, so the de was nearly between Ranes legs. With savage power, she ripped the de upward.

 Had he been without his defensive inscriptions, and if Flow had been unsheathed, shed have split him groin to crown.

 As it was, he flipped over her,ncing out with strike after strike as he passed overhead, skimming the ceiling, a bare thirteen feet up.

 She expertly parried each thrust with the staff of her polearm, causing consecutive concussions of power.

 As his feet touched down, T flicked her anchor past him, transforming Flow into a sword even as she was forcefully pulled forward by the dimensionalpression.

 She gritted her teeth against the iing nausea, set on her goal. I will beat him, today.

 The anchor would have caused her to bypass Rane, but Flow was out before her, T holding it perfectly still.

 Ranes defenses acted by matching his velocity to any iing attack. T and her gear had no velocity of their own. Dimensionality was warping around her, causing her movement.

 Flow struck his chest with a meaty thunk. Throwing him backward.

 His eyes widened in shock, even as the wind was driven out of him.

 Rane stumbled backwards, up against the wall. Ts dimensional travel ended less than ten feet from him, and she was already sprinting for him.

 As he lifted his off-hand to his obviously bruised chest, Rane looked down and saw her anchor. He thrust Force into the circle of the spring clip and flicked it away.

 Ts eyes widened, but she reacted on instinct, throwing Flow.

 As the weapon flew, it transformed back into a knife, threaded the anchor, and pinned it in ce, barely five feet to Ranes right.

 Before he could react further, T closed, attacking him from the left to drive him towards her anchor.

 She ducked and wove around his strikes with precision, speed, and skill that shed never been able tobine before. That, and he was moving slower than he was usually capable of, sucking in each breath.

 As his next sh came in at shoulder height, T ducked and struck at the inside of his knee.

 As he flipped out of the way, she stood, jumping with all her strength towards his center of rotation.

 Ranes inscriptions moved him away from her, mming him into the ceiling. He groaned, his hand spasming and allowing Force to fall towards the floor.

 Ts anchor dimensionally expanded the space above her, preventing her own impact with the ceiling.

 She slowed and lightly dropped to the floor just before Rane fell.

 She called Flow to her, ripping it from the floor and transforming it into a ive for a sideways sweep, again at Ranes center.

 His inscriptions moved him out ahead of Flows strike, mming him into the wall this time.

 T stepped forward, feinting with thrusts threatening enough to cause his defenses to activate, jerking him against the wall and up just enough to keep him from returning to the floor.

 His eyes opened, and something changed within them.

 Force whipped up from the floor, clipping her leg on the way to Ranes hand.

 A spray of blood sttered the wall, and she momentarily lost that support. She had no time to fully register the injury.

 Without a moments hesitation, Ranes de licked out.

 One.

 Two.

 Three.

 Four.

 Five strikes in less than a second, and T only blocked two of them.

 The other three drove spears of force through her, painting the training floor behind her with her blood and bile.

 Her leg returned to functionality, just as Rane hit the floor, his eyes a hard, solid blue.

 Rane lunged for her; a rictus of concentration locked on his face.

 T stumbled backwards, shifting her weapon fluidly between its forms to block every strike.

 She wasnt able to regain her footing, even as she hit the edge of her anchors radius.

 Sensing the dimensional energy, she dropped backward into what was effectively an in-ce-roll, deflecting a downward strike from Force in the middle of the maneuver with Flows ive staff.

 The next exchange was too fast for thought.

 T couldnt have said if they battered back and forth ten times or a hundred, but she managed to hold her own.

 Rane was fighting with a ferocity shed never witnessed. That gave him speed and reactions near what she, herself, had, but his skill was proportionally lessened, making it much closer of a fight than it had ever been.

 She tried to press towards her anchor, so she could get it and retreat, but she had no luck.

 Finally, she growled out. Terry, I need the anchor.

 The terror bird flickered into being beside the device. He picked it up in his beak and tossed it, then vanished back to his corner.

 As the anchor sailed through the air, Rane saw it. Lancing out with Force, he struck the device, sending it streaking across the room and towards the door out onto the balcony.

 Ts eyes widened, even as motion sickness overcame her, and she likewise shot across the area.

 Terry flickered into being for just an instant, catching the anchor, and dropping it so it wouldnd within the room.

 Bless you, Terry.

 T stumbled to a knee as the dimensional energy dispersed.

 She kept her head up just enough to keep an eye on Rane.

 He stood with perfect form in a middle, hanging guard. His eyes nk and fixed on her.

 Master Rane?

 He took one careful step towards her.

 What happened to him? Master Rane. Enough.

 One step became two, then three, then he was rushing her.

 Rane, stop!

 His foot hesitated for an instant, but his momentum continued, causing him to stumble and dropping him into a roll. He smoothly came up to a knee, just more than a dozen feet from her.

 Master Rane?

 His calm, even breathing broke, and he was suddenly panting, shivering, and heaving. Sweat broke out across his entire body, and a shudder went through him before he copsed to the floor, seemingly unconscious.

 Great

MillionNovel

Chapter 133: Great…