Chapter 147: Hallucinogens_Millennial Mage

Chapter 147: Hallucinogens

 T kept up with the diminutive woman leading her and Rane each by an arm.

 Rane, for his part, was quite confused as to what was going on. Mistress Noelle-

 The Archon spun on Rane, briefly releasing Ts arm as she thrust her finger into his face, cutting him off. You get one warning, Rane. I am Noelle. Use your universal moniker on others, but Ill have none of it.

 Rane pulled back, looking cross-eyed at the finger still aimed his way.

 T briefly reflected that the gesture was a lot more threatening from a Mage than a mundane, and it was ufortable, even from one of those.

 He nodded. Yes, Noelle.

 Noelle smiled up at him. Good boy. After patting his shoulder, a couple of times, she turned back, easily catching Ts arm and moving inexorably forward once more.

 To his credit, Rane recovered quickly. Noelle.

 Hmm?

 Where are we going?

 Oh, to my workshop. I need to examine the two of you.

 At that moment, Terry flickered into being on Ts shoulder.

 Noelle stopped dead, looking at the avian, then to T. Oh, you two are very interesting. You should- she cut herself off, shaking her head, No. That would be foolish. She met Ts gaze. Get stronger, bond the bird, thene back. She pointed back and forth between T and Terry. I will be fascinated to see how that settles out.

 Then, thetest distraction dealt with, Noelle snatched up T and Ranes arms once again, leading them onward.

 T cleared her throat, then. So, were going to your workshop to test us for soul-syncing.

 Thats one name for it.

 T sighed. What would you call it?

 Soul-syncing. Noelles tone was perfectly level.

 T huffed a shortugh. Fine.

 Strangely, she was finding herself rxing, just a bit. She realized that a part of it seemed to be rted to the change to her surroundings. Even in Makinaven, trees and wood had dominated her environment. Apparently, mushrooms are better. Well, they were different at least.

 T returned her focus to the matter at hand. Naming aside, what is it?

 They were to the base of the stump, and T was able to see wide stairs carved into the dead tree, up which Noelle led them both as she answered. People and things that are around each other for enough time start to fall into sync. A rock resting on the forest floor will leave an impression. It will change the mini-biome of the area, affecting what can live there, and how well it will prosper. Given enough time, the rock will be almost indistinguishable from the surrounding forest floor.

 Rane was frowning. So, that sounds like a passive process.

 In that sense, it is. Noelle let out an exaggerated sigh. Things that are truly in sync can act as a single magical unit.

 T cocked her head to the side in thought, even as she took a quick step forward to thread around a variation in the width of the stairs. Like a soul-bound.

 Like that, but without thebination of the spiritual being required.

 T nodded. Hence soul-syncing.

 Precisely. Noelle smiled. Soul-syncing is more like a rock. Is a rock, a rock? Or is it a collection of molecules, fused together? Why should that one rock be a unit, magically speaking, but be separate units, the moment they break apart? Why does a molecr bond impart magical oneness?

 T had honestly not ever considered that portion of magic theory. I mean, I can target a part of something. So, I could target a portion of the rock, without it needing to be broken apart.

 Ahh, but are you targeting a part of the rock, or are you targeting a smaller rock, that happens to be fused with others, as part of therger.

 She didnt really have an answer to that. Thats an interesting question, probably worth considering at some point. T had no idea what the implications were of either answer, but she was sure that it would be fascinating to investigate.

 Noelle turned them inward, facing the side of the stump at a seemingly random ce in their ascent. By that point, they were so used to following her lead that neither of them registered that she was leading them into a solid wall, until they had stepped straight through it.

 T craned around, staring back the way theyde at the perfectly normal looking, open doorway. Why cant I see any magic?

 Because the effect isnt magical.

 T turned back around to frown at Noelle in confusion. What?

 Its an incredibly precisely controlled, regted, and focused hallucinogenic effect.

 Thats not how hallucinogens work.

 Oh? Youre an expert?

 T opened her mouth to argue, then closed it. Finally, she sighed. Magically manipted, but not magical in nature.

 Precisely.

 What could you do with that kind of fine control?

 Noelle tittered slightly. Well, Im actually a two-thousand-pound leopard, but Ive convinced the local Mages that Im one of them and use that to lure my prey back to myir.

 Both Rane and T stopped dead, trying and failing to pull free.

 Even so, Noelle stopped as well with an overdramatic sigh. Rx. Im joking.

 T felt an almost irresistible urge tough but managed to contain it.

 Rane began chuckling, but his eyes showed that it wasnt genuine.

 Noelle looked back and forth, between them. Oh, my apologies.

 Hisughter stopped, and the air was suddenly a lot clearer.

 T blinked, looking around. The effect was simr to being in a smoky kitchen and stepping outside for the first time in hours. I didnt even notice the stuff in the air.

 Ofte, my spores tend to shape themselves in attempts to meet my subconscious desires. Its dead useful much of the time, but theres a reason I dont work in a city. She winked and started forwards again, or at least, she tried.

 T found that she easily resisted the small womans pull, now.

 Noelle grunted. Ahh, right.

 T found herself bristling with irritation. You were manipting us since we were at the wagon, werent you.

 The older Archon sighed. Technically every interaction is a form of maniption, but yes. She thought about it for a moment. Actually, most of it was keeping you socially off bnce. She grinned at the two. Come on. Were almost there.

 T and Rane shared a long look. Terry let out an indifferent, quiet chirp, continuing his fake sleep. Finally, Rane shrugged. T gave a half grin back his way and shook her head in resignation.

 Noelle had walked about ten feet down the corridor before stopping and turning to regard them. So?

 They followed after her, and she led them another dozen yards or so before they came out into arge chamber, open to the air above them.

 This is in the center of the stump. Odd to have the entrance hidden, then open the space itself to the outside for anyone to drop in. The woman likely had other security precautions, regardless.

 As T looked around, she noticed that theyout was very simr to Master Jevins workshop. There was even a couple of dasgannach in ss jars. Youre studying those, too?

 Noelle looked to where T was pointing. Oh, yes. They are utterly fascinating. Every researcher worth their metal has at least one to experiment with. She smiled widely. Besides, those are arguably fungi.

 Rane frowned. Im not an expert on fungi, or whatever that is, but its moving. Arent fungi, by definition, non-motile?

 Noelle grimaced. You sound like Darmin.

 T looked to the woman. Darmin?

 My research assistant.

 Rane looked at the moving mud, then back to the woman. He seemed to decide on ignoring her deflection. SoHow are they fungi?

 I want them to be.

 T huffed augh. Then, she realized what the womans reason was more likely to be. You want to control them.

 Noelle regarded her for a moment. Well, obviously.

 T shrugged. Why not just soul-bond one?

 They are sentient enough that their assent, as well as mine, is required for the bond.

 Rane started nodding. But not sentient enough to choose to bond.

 Precisely. Ive tried making an Archon star of their chosen food, but even if I put the star in, by itself, they refuse to eat it. No matter how long they are kept from other sustenance. Noelle sighed. It doesnt help that they seem to not need to eat.

 They dont need to eat?

 Not really. Ive never had one starve under my care, and Ive left one without food for centuries. Never did take that star She sighed. It didnt shrink or be less motile, either, so it wasnt actually starving or anything.

 T was frowning. Wait, Master Jevin said that they dont have any will to speak of.

 Thats true. If will was water, theyd be a desert.

 Then how are they sentient?

 Oh, T. What makes you think sentience requires a will?

 She blinked in confusion. What? Isnt that the definition of a will? Of sentience?

 Noelle shrugged. Sentience just means that they are capable of making a choice between utterly equal options.

 What?

 But Rane was nodding. The starving donkey.

 Noelle pointed to him. Precisely.

 Starving donkey? T was lost.

 Noelle looked to Rane. You or me.

 He shrugged. Its your workshop.

 She smiled. Fair enough. The postte is that if you ce a donkey between two utterly equal sources of food/water/shelter, etc, then there should be nothing to allow it to choose one over the other.

 Alright.

 So, if there is no reason for it to choose one over the other, will it starve?

 Of course not. It will just pick one.

 How?

 T opened her mouth, then closed it. After a long moment, she shook her head. I dont know.

 Sentience! Sentience my dear is the ability to make a choice that seems to have no reason behind it. The starving donkey is just a hypothetical extreme to illustrate the point.

 T grunted. I suppose. After a moment, she shrugged. So, thats not will?

 Oh, no. Will is the ability to make a decision against reason. It is a step beyond mere sentience. Many humans are perfectly sentient, but never do anything that is too hard, or that is opposed. Theyck will. She shrugged. Or their will is weak, however you wish to state it.

 I think I get it. So, bonding a dasgannach?

 Ill figure something out eventually, but thats not why were here.

 T cleared her throat. Right, soul-syncing. Why, again? I dont think youve said.

 Ahh, yes. Its simple: I want to inscribe and empower every fungi in this region as one.

 Why would that be useful?

 Well, then I could make a small script on, say, that mushroom. She pointed to a rather ne looking specimen growing from one of the tables. And it would affect them all.

 Oh! Wow thatThat would be rusting useful. T started thinking through the various implications. Itd be like aspect mirroring, without needing the conscious effort. It was how her elk-leathers functioned. They were, magically speaking, one item. Shared pool of power.

 I can see youve realized at least some of the advantages.

 T nodded, but Rane was frowning. You said that Mistress T and I are moving towards soul-synchronization?

 I said you were half-synchronized.

 Is there a difference?

 Noelleughed, walking over to a cab and pulling out a set of tools. She then lifted two that had identical handles, but wildly different tops. These are half-identical, right?

 Rane nodded.

 So, are they moving towards being identical?

 Oh, I see.

 Noelle nodded sagely. Good. You see, I assume that you two spend a lot of time near each other, yes?

 They nced at one another and shrugged. T responded. Yeah. Were friends, sparring partners, and were both Mage protectors for this caravan.

 Right, so your bodies and souls have fallen into sync. You arent bing one, but you are bing intuitively aligned. Your heart rates are not identical, but they are sub-rhythms of each other. You breathe either on beat with one another or directly opposed. You fall into step. T, you lengthen your stride, and Rane, you shorten yours.

 T tsked. What does that mean? After a moments hesitation, she frowned. Wait. How could you even know this, even if it were true?

 Noelle looked at them. After around five seconds, she nodded. Confirmed. If youre looking for it, its hard to miss. She hesitated. Well, if you have the perceptual acuity to notice. As to what it means? Well, what you two have is the physical side of things. Ive found it most often in guards, or long-term friends. Some marriages, and many research associates.

 Darmin?

 She waved that off. No, his bio-rhythms became subservient to mine almost immediately. One morphing to match the other isnt true synchronization.

 Rane pointed at himself and T. So, how do you know thats not what happened, here?

 Because of the second part. But the physical side first. Mushrooms cant do that, their rhythms are set by nature, and their environment. I can force such alignment, but that causes the same issue as one suborning the other.

 T groaned. Can you get to the point? I feel like youre spouting nonsense, trying to sound profound.

 Noelleughed again. Youre funny; the mirth left the small womans face. I like you.

 T felt color drain from her face, but she had no idea why. What is wrong with me? She swallowed involuntarily.

 Rane shifted. So?

 Mistress Noelle sighed, ncing between T and Rane. Fine. I dont know what it means, alright. All I know is that certain things can have a sort of resonance between their spirits, which is partially reflected in the physical. Ive seen it in predators and prey; Ive seen it in people whove hated each other for years; Ive seen it in people who just met; and Ive seen it absent in couples after more than a century of marriage.

 He cocked his head in confusion. So, you dont know what it means, or what it affects, but you can detect it?

 Mistress Noelle waved that away. Oh, I know what it can do, and what Im trying to do.

 There was a long pause.

 T took a seat, waiting. Think small thoughts. Dont notice me, here

 Rane, for some reason, didnt sense the frustrationing from the Archon. Well?

 Mistress Noelle grunted and flopped down in another stool. She nced to T, and saw that she, also, was sitting. Noelle smiled happily at her, then turned back to Rane. Youre distinct. Your magical pulse, cadence, rhythm ispatible with the others, but not the same. Your heart rates arent identical, but they are harmonious. She shrugged. Id bet that you are far more effective, magically, against each other than you would be against anyone else.

 Still havent answered my question.

 Havent I? I want to unify life-forms magically, without them having to be linked physically or spiritually. That magical link often manifests spiritually or physically, but it doesnt require it.

 And Mistress T and I are?

 Physically in sync, which implies a soul-synchronization, and hints at the possibility of magical unification.

 T sat up straighter at that. Hang on. What are you nning on doing to us?

 Hmm? Oh, nothing. Just take a bunch of measurements.

 Ts eyes narrowed, as she regarded the woman. She didnt want to antagonize her, but she was definitely not going to be forced into unity of any kind with another person, not even Rane. Nope. I am me.

 Mistress Noelle seemed to sense her hesitation. I swear to you that I will only take readings.

 If only oaths were binding.

 The woman sighed, pulling out a te, manipting it for a moment, then pressing her thumb to indicate a confirmation. She passed the empowered item over.

 Rane walked over to read over Ts shoulder.

 This is a contract stating that you will only take readings.

 Mistress Noelle nodded. And if I do more, you, or your heirs, will be entitled to a ridiculous sum of money, mainly your weight in gold, for any infraction.

 T cleared her throat. Im very heavy.

 It really doesnt matter, T. Im not going to do anything but take measurements.

 T shrugged, feeling at least a little bit better and looking to Rane.

 He shrugged too. She could probably justpel us, if she has as much skill with targeted hallucinogens as I suspect. At the very least, she could render us unconscious, do as she wished, and be done with it. Her asking for our agreement shows something of her character.

 Mistress Noelle straightened a bit. It does, doesnt it.

 T rolled her eyes. Very well.

 The Archon stood, pping her hands in glee. Wonderful! Lets get started, then. I have just a bit of set-up that I need to do to perform the tests. She waved a hand, and one of the cabs opened, showing a selection of random snack foods, and bottles of various liquids. Help yourself.

 T and Rane did just that as they watched the elder Archon work.

 Mistress Noelle retrieved arge array of bronze tes, each inscribed with spell-forms that reminded T of those Master Jevin had.

 She moved around an open space to one side of the workshop, cing them in two mirrored patterns. Once that was done, the Archon pulled out bronze wire and carefully ran it in an intricate pattern between the various tes, wrapping around small, raised pins.

 All in all, it took her nearly half an hour to get all set up.

 There we go. T?

 Yes, Noelle?

 Mistress Noelle smiled at her. You stand there, please. She indicated the center of one of the two formations. Rane?

 He started walking towards the other.

 Good boy. Right in the center, mind you.

 When they were both in position, Mistress Noelle sped her hands. Are we ready?

 The two nodded.

 Alright! Lets begin.

MillionNovel

Chapter 147: Hallucinogens