Chapter 277: Tests of All Types_Millennial Mage

Chapter 277: Tests of All Types

 T led the group back to the center of her sanctum, ending the tour by showing them the standard ce the door would open, the highly defended, bunker-like setup of magical defenses.

 She led them through the door and back out into the meeting room. Terry remained on her shoulder, seemingly content to nap on his perch.

 Mistress Ingrit carefully emphasized to the group that she should be contacted with any questions and information requests.

 Masters Boma and Queue reminded T to drop by the Constructionist Guild in the next few days. That way they could help her reinforce her sanctum and undo any damage to the underpinnings of reality within it. There almost certainly was some due to so many gated humans moving through it for a bit more than an hour.

 That really is pretty kind of them.

 -Undoubtedly, yeah. If it were cheap, dimensional spaces would be used to move people in much more efficient manners.-

 She thanked them, and the meeting concluded.

 With that, everyone but Lyn, Rane, T, Master Grediv, and Mistresses Holly and Ingrit departed.

 Those six remaining Archons looked back towards Kits entrance.

 Mistress Holly smiled widely, a predatory glint in her eyes. Now, show me that reinscriber.

 T shrugged. Sure.

 Lyn and Rane looked toward T, questioningly.

 They all went back inside Kit, stepping out before the dais, and T addressed her friends confusion, Its exactly what it sounds like. Specifically, its a conceptual magic device that reinscribes me, or reinforces my current inscriptions, matching my most recent set.

 The two nced towards one another, eyebrows climbing, but it was Rane who responded first. Thats incredible. Can it work for anyone?

 T nodded. I believe so. At least, thats what the manual said. Even so, without healing inscriptions, or a healer on hand, I dont know how useful it will be. She then turned to Mistress Holly. Which form of reinscription would you like to see?

 Mistress Holly seemed to consider. While I would like to see the through the skin method first, I dont think youll be demonstrating either, not for a while. Well still need to do some pervasive reworking of your scripts. We should be able to nudge you in the right direction for your Refining easily enough. Until then? We need to minimize the stresses on your body.

 -Oh right.-

 T hesitated then. Oh right. She frowned. I really shouldnt do this should I?

 Mistress Holly looked mildly annoyed even as she shook her head.

 Mistress Ingrit frowned. Mistress T?

 The Archivist was clearly waiting for T to exin, but it was the Inscriptionist who answered, She is damaged. I would say that she is in desperate need of Refining, but in the grand scheme of things everyone below Refined is in desperate need of such.

 Master Grediv rolled his eyes, and Mistress Ingrit gave Mistress Holly an arch look before the Inscriptionist sighed. I was simply hoping to examine the device, myself. Is that eptable?

 T smiled. Absolutely.

 Mistress Hollys power rolled off her in a wave of yellow-tinted magic.

 It was specifically yellow, which struck T as a bit odd, because not every working was tinged with a Mage or arcanes advancement.

 Is she doing that on purpose?

 -You know, the only reason we think shes Refined is because of what shes let us see.-

 Worth asking?

 -Probably not.-

 T gave a small smile and shrugged to herself.

 As Mistress Holly took a couple of minutes to magically examine the daiswhich was more than the reinscriber, but T didnt mindthe others looked around, taking a bit more time to soak in the features of her sanctum.

 Rane stretched. This really is a peaceful ce. I know you told us there was a whole ecosystem in here, but hearing the songbirdshe shook his headthis is incredible.

 T smiled. It is a pretty great perk toe away with, yeah.

 Lyn patted her on the shoulder. Doesnt make it better though.

 Oh, obviously not, but it is better to have, than not.

 She grinned. Oh, obviously.

 Rane had his arms spread, eyes closed, and face toward the sun. It even feels like sunlight. Ive been in Archons dimensional storages before, even those with artificial suns, and none were quite like this. This is so much more.

 T walked up to stand beside him. Yeah, they spend a lot more time within holds than we do. So, it makes sense that theyve perfected their creation and enhancement.

 Mistress Holly sighed loudly. I think thats all I can learn within any sort of reasonable timeframe. She turned towards T. I suppose we should get you to my shop, then, so we can do some proper diagnostics?

 They all agreed, and the group exited once again.

 Terry headbutted Ts cheek and flickered away before she closed the door and hung Kit from her belt.

 She took a moment to acquire the remains of the dinner that had been set out for them, carefully putting the cleaned tes back on the table for the staff to collect.

 -Hey! Thats progress.-

 I progress all the time. T grumbled internally, just a little.

 -Ahh, but not on all things.-

 Thats fair. She sighed.

 The group walked together out of the meeting room and to the entry hall of the Archonpound.

 Mistress Ingrit stopped near the front desk and gave a shallow bow to T. Mistress T. Thank you for allowing me to assist you, but in that vein, I do now have a lot of work, processing all that you brought back. I will be sure to be in contact with you as needed, and we will do what is required.

 T gave a bow in return. Thank you for handling so much.

 Mistress Ingrit hesitated, then tentatively opened her arms.

 T smiled and epted the hug gratefully.

 Wee home, Mistress T.

 T pulled back after a long moment, feeling water in her own eyes. The Archivist had unshed tears as well, and they each wiped their own eyes.

 They bowed to one another again and parted ways, T heading out towards the street with the remaining four Archons, Mistress Ingrit moving towards the library.

 Master Grediv came up beside T as they walked, speaking in a low, but not really confidential, voice, I am happy to continue to apany you or depart, whichever you wish.

 T nced towards the Paragon, considering.

 -He will likely have insights into quite a few things that still remain to be revealed.-

 So would Master Xeel. Is he still around?

 -We can look, but I think we should answer Master Grediv, first.-

 She nodded. While I would be grateful for your insights, I am sure you have much to do. I will leave the choice up to you, but please know that you are wee with me.

 The Archon nodded, moving to walk beside Rane. A power seized the air around them, and T recognized it as his privacy working.

 Perfect time to practice and look for Master Xeel at the same time.

 She pushed Flow into its void-knife form, leaving it in its sheath.

 Her voidsight opened.

 Firstly, she saw what shed expected, though she hadnt seen it explicitly before.

 Master Gredivs magic radiated from a nodule of reality that was slightly distinct from the pieces they were moving through.

 It was odd to really analyze. Now that she knew what to look for, every person around her, even every animal, seemed to have its own bit of reality that moved through and around all other pieces without really discing them.

 It was instantly apparent which bits had gatesall the humansbecause their fragments almost seemed to drag on the nodules they passed through, like they were rougher than those of the few animals she saw.

 T focused on Master Gredivs fragment, and she could see the working hed affected was rather easy to spot. By the flick of his eyes in her direction, she assumed that was likely because hed hoped shed notice the working and could learn something.

 He could have called more attention to it.

 -Master Grediv seems to value go-getter attitudes. If you saw, wonderful, if you didnt that would be your loss, not his.-

 So, I shouldnt expect to be able to see things like this as easily in the future. She sighed internally.

 That spotted, she swept her gaze around herself.

 No obviously hidden fragments were in sight, but she had no idea what that actually meant.

 -I would bet that they are easier to detect in a space like Kit.-

 That makes sense. The fabric of reality is thinner, so pieces moving behind or around it would be more visible.

 She had to turn her head to look, but she did so as smoothly as possible. Shed not tried mirroring her voidsight onto her bloodstar perspectives, but it should be possible. Another thing to experiment with, soon.

 T considered her list of things to experiment with and was shocked at how long it was getting.

 Alright. I need to actuallye up with a priority order for these. Toward that end, T began considering her to-dos.

 After a moments silence, t sighed. -T. Not now. Focus outward.-

 Hmm? T looked up, really looking for what felt like the first time in a while.

 Her voidsight had fallen away once shed stopped maintaining it, and so she had a rather mundane view of the scenery.

 Her magesight had little to highlight in a human city, as most power was pulled away almost immediately, so she simply saw normalcy.

 It was a human city, very much like the one shed grown up within.

 Surrounding her were the sparse pedestrians of a winters evening with the asional animal darting towards the next sheltered ce. Through the windows, T could see that, within the buildings, people were going about their normal lives.

 This was what shed been fighting to return to.

 This was humanity as she knew it.

 Safe.

 Happy.

 Normal.

 Lyn seemed to have noticed something, because she didnt interrupt T, even as they all continued walking.

 Rane and Master Grediv were still speaking within the privacy magics, and Mistress Holly was muttering to herself, likely working on something only she could see.

 So it was that T walked in silence, just soaking in the feel of the ce, the people, the humanity of it all.

 Home.

 There was an incredibly light snowfall, drifting down from a mostly clear sky. It was the sort of snow that wouldnt have been noticed if T hadnt taken the time to look upward, and allow her enhanced vision to sweep the sky.

 More of a smattering than a true snow.

 Most of the trees set into the sides of the streets, or in the parks, were free of leaves, with only a few evergreens standing out against the backdrop of snow and city.

 T hadnt bundled upshe didnt need tobut she finally noticed that Lyn had.

 Rane looked like he wished he had, but he didnt seem so ufortable that he was going to pull out warmer clothing.

 Ts eyes roamed, taking in the dichotomy of peaceful stillness of the winter evening and the bustle of the city streets.

 No sound was as loud as it should have been, with the snow that was already on the ground, and a heavy stillness pervaded the air.

 It was familiar.

 It was stunning.

 It was peaceful.

 T felt herself rxing further as she enjoyed a real winter stroll, and let herself continue to note how different it was from winter weather in toiri.

 The walk passed more quickly than T would have liked, and that helped cement in her own mind that she was moving too fast, pushing too hard.

 She was still on the edge of panic, and that wasnt sustainable.

 She hadnt really stopped and rested in the knowledge that she was home.

 Even during the travel between Alefast and Bandfast, shed spent her time examining herself internally and trying to adapt to her most recent changes.

 I havent stopped in well, a long time.

 -Makinaven?-

 Yeah, I think that that month with Rane and Mistress Odera in Makinaven was thest time I really let myself just be.

 The months shed spent going back and forth between Bandfast and Marliweather to be with her siblings had been slower paced, but even then, she hadnt rested. Shed simply stolen moments for her family around her otherwise full life.

 She needed a break. She needed to let herself realize that she was free, safe, and whole.

 I still feel like someones watching me, ready to snatch me back to the arcanends. She shuddered even as they all entered Hollys workshop.

 Lyn shivered, settling deeper into her winter clothing, Will it be warmer in the back?

 Mistress Holly gave her a confused look. Hmm? What?

 The temperature. Its winter outside, but it feels basically the same in here. Dont you heat your work areas?

 There was a Mage sitting behind the counter, shrouded inyers, looking wide-eyed at Lyn.

 As T expected, she couldnt get a reading on the womans aura or advancement. Shes obviously freezing, though. So, she probably isnt Refined.

 -Shes also probably too afraid to ask about the situation or do something about it.-

 T frowned. Ive been here in the winter before. Was it cold, then?

 -No, not to our memory.-

 Maybe something was broken.

 Mistress Holly looked around, holding out a hand as if to test the air. Mistress Emersen?

 The Mage sat up straighter, a lock of blonde hair falling free of her thick, woolen hat. Yes, Mistress Holly?

 Why did no one tell me the heat was malfunctioning?

 It isnt Mistress.

 What?

 It isnt malfunctioning. You had us turn it offst week.

 Thats right, and do you remember what I said?

 The woman cleared her throat. You said that as subjects skin heats up, it expands, ruining alignment, and you didnt have time to wait for them to achieve thermal equilibrium. So, we should just match the temperature inside to outside.

 Yes, yes. But the rest?

 Only leave the heat off until we found a better idea?

 Precisely. Are you telling me none of my apprentices havee up with a solution? After all, the issue is that people tend to bundle up, so when they take off their outeryers, there is now the reverse problem.

 So, it was a test for her apprentices?

 -One they didnt pass, apparently.-

 Mistress Emersen gave a careful smile. There are several proposed solutions awaiting your approval on your desk, Mistress.

 And no one enacted any?

 The assistant released a long breath. No, Mistress Holly. We know better than that.

 It was then that T noticed the twinkle in Mistress Hollys eyes. Shes testing them in multiple ways?

 -Mad is the person who tries to understand Mistress Holly.-

 I dont know, Mistress Emersen seems to be doing a reasonable job.

 Master Grediv sighed. Mistress Holly. Just heat the ce. If you really care that much about the thermal shift, you can have your clients arrive early, so theye up to the proper temperature before they see you or your apprentices.

 Mistress Holly turned to the Mage behind the desk and pointed to Master Grediv. That is an excellent idea. Mistress Emersen, see that it is done.

 The woman nodded vigorously. Yes, Mistress Holly. I will do that.

 From the womans look, T guessed that that had been exactly the policy before.

 Mistress Holly does seem to go down esoteric paths sometimes, doesnt she.

 -Yes, but she also seems to put far more thought into her work than anything else.-

 True enough, yeah.

 Mistress Emersen got up and scampered into the back, likely to inform others and adjust the temperature of the warehouse-sized workshop.

 Mistress Holly didnt watch the woman go as she was simply standing in ce, muttering to herself, asionally moving her hands through the air.

 T cleared her throat, and the Inscriptionist jerked slightly. Oh! Yes, yes. Right this way.

 Soon enough, they were back in Mistress Hollys personal workroom.

 The ce gave T an ache of nostalgia.

 Mistress Holly spun around as soon as the door clicked shut behind thest of them, all focus returned and oriented on T. Now, my dear, let us see what you have done to yourself, hmm?

 Didnt you already get a scan and record from the monitoring scripts?

 Of course, but thats hardlyprehensive. We need to have you fully prepped for Refinement, and that requires precision. Precision requires knowing exactly where were starting, and where we need to go.

 That made sense to T, but even so, she had a sense of foreboding.

 What followed was a lot of seemingly esoteric tests and measurements using a lot of tools that T didnt really understand.

 The first set were performed on her as she was. For the next set, Mistress Holly had her expel all the iron that she could remove safely.

 T didnt like that very much.

 The iron never went far, simply waiting off to one side in a blob-like pile.

 Still, the iron felt like the sun, shining at her. She could tell exactly where it was without effort or thought, and she wanted it back.

 Well, thats not concerning

 -Well get it sorted. This is going to be alright.-

 Yeah. They wont leave us broken.

 As night fell, Lyn had excused herself to go home to sleep, but only after Mistress Holly had snippily indicated that the tests wouldst most, if not all, of the night.

 Master Grediv and Rane took advantage of Mistress Hollys begrudging hospitality and went off to utilize some cots the Inscriptionist had in side-rooms.

 T remembered using one of those rooms herself, after her initial sensory enhancements.

 She did recall the cots being oddlyfortable, even to her overstimted sense of touch.

 Theyll probably get a great nights sleep, then. Good. We want the Paragon in top form to help Mistress Holly n out our Refinement.

 -I dont doubt that Mistress Holly will be consulting far and wide on this. Master Jevin and Mistress Noelle will definitely want to weigh in.-

 Oh, for sure.

 Mistress Holly had many rounds of tests of all types.

 Some involved blood, some samples of skin or hair.

 For one, Mistress Holly took a careful core sample from her scap, her shoulder de.

 That had been painful even with local anesthetics.

 asionally needles needed to be inserted into her skin in various locations, allowing myriad magics different means of analyzing her physical, spiritual, and magical substance.

 Mistress Holly also put each of her bonds, soul and magical, into analysis devices, gaining details on them in their own rights.

 By the end, as t informed T that morning was drawing near, T was beginning to suspect that this was more than even Mistress Hollys standard overboard testing.

 Still, she trusted Mistress Holly, and she definitely didnt want to fight with the woman.

 When T suspected that dawn had fully arrived, Mistress Holly finally sighed.

 That seemed like an opening, and T seized it. She tried to be respectfully inquisitive, but she did not seed in keeping the weariness out of her voice, Are you done?

 Yes, yes. There arent any other reasonable tests I can think of that might be useful.

 T felt her eye twitch. Were you simply hunting for more tests to do?

 In a sense, yes. Your biology, physiology, spirit, and magic are all significantly deviated from human standard, and we need to be sure that we dont cripple you with your Refinement. I wont let some silly detail, that I didnt bother to check, be what kills you or prevents you from progressing further.

 T blinked a few times. It might have been her general tiredness, but that actually made a lot of sense. Thank you?

 Why do you sound uncertain? Did you think I was just wasting both of our time?

 No, of course not.

 Good. Because this will take a lot of careful analysis and nning before were ready to proceed.

 T felt a sinking in her gut. So, its bad?

 I would say this is an unusually bad case, yes.

 Should I be concerned?

 In general? No, but don''t leave Bandfast city limits until you''re Refined.

 T deted a little bit more. Oh. Thats pretty bad.

 Hmm? Oh, thats not really because of the results, its just thatst time that you left, it took you nearly a year to return, and it would be best if we didnt dy overmuch.

 She opened her mouth to respond, but found that she really didnt have anything to say.

 -Well, shes not wrong.-

 Yeah, thats what Im realizing.

 Mistress Holly was tapping her lips with one finger. Why dont you take a week? Rest, eat, read, walk, speak with friends.

 T found herself nodding. That sounded absolutely wonderful.

 Mistress Hollys eyes hardened. This is not a training week. I dont want to hear that youve been pushing yourself, or sparring. You may keep up with physical conditioning, but thats it. Understood?

 Understood.

 Good. Now, send in Master Grediv. He and I have a lot to discuss.

 T nodded, standing and stretching. Shed been moving around all night due to the nature of the various tests, but it still felt good to move just for the sake of moving. What about going by the Constructionist Guild?

 Mistress Holly nodded absently. So long as you dont power any scripts yourself, that should be eptable.

 T gave a shallow bow. Thank you, Mistress Holly.

 The woman paused, turning to fully face T. You are most wee, Mistress T. I am d that you are safe and mostly whole. She smiled sincerely. Wee back.

MillionNovel

Chapter 277: Tests of All Types