Chapter 365: Wolves and Bears_Millennial Mage

Chapter 365: Wolves and Bears

 T and her friends settled into their seats as Rane began the yback of Master Foirs long-ago fight with a wolf-man.

 As the record was shown, they were almost drawn into the ancient time, the massive Archive te showing things more clearly than even a window could have, somehow.

 The region disyed was a bit more heavily wooded than that around Alefast, but it clearly wasnt a forest city.

 The man himself, Master Foir, wore quite in clothing, if nicely made.

 The style was a bit odd, but that was to be expected.

 Honestly, T thought the clothing was much more simr to what she was used to than shed have guessed it would be.

 He was tall, straight-backed, and strong without being heavily muscled, and he strode out of the city gates with confidence.

 Waiting for him was not what T had expected.

 There was not one wolf-man but dozens, all easily visible with the provided view.

 Kannis sucked in a breath when she noticed the same thing.

 Each wolf-man seemed to have rows of scars across portions of their exposed flesh, their clothing either torn or missing entirely.

 Even so, what nakedness there was, wasnt lewd. Their humanity was gone, their bodies distorted in ways that were more vulgar than any naked flesh ever could be.

 They looked like nothing so much as bi-pedal wolves, with exaggerated, human-like muscles bulging from their otherwise lupine forms.

 Their coats varied widely from near red, browns, all the way to mid-night ck, and on to snow-white fur.

 Each unique in their twisted features, whether crouched on the ground or bnced among the tree branches.

 T leaned over toward Lyn. What was Master Foirs foundational understanding? Is it listed?

 Power makes words true.

 Rane grunted when he heard that. Well put together. Quite cynical, though.

 Lyn smiled. Indeed.

 Master Foir spoke within the recording. You are visible.

 His words thrummed with power that seemed to almoste through the recording itself, causing Ts magesight to momentarily fuzz, even if just slightly.

 -Oh, I did not like that.-

 Two dozen more wolf-men stuttered into visibility, seemingly having been trying to sneak up on the man.

 You poor souls. What a curse to bring to the world, Lycaon.

 A howl echoed from the trees as a truly massive beast, standing easily twice the height of the others, bounded forward.

 Ts eyes widened.

 The others rows of scars now made sense. Each was a bite from this massive beast, healed and scarred over.

 His curse spread through a bite?

 Rane and Lyn both nodded in agreement, not taking their eyes from the unfolding drama.

 As the massive werewolf growled, it took them a moment to pick out the words, and even then, it was t who did so first.

 -Oh! The beast is speaking? Thats rare indeed. Let me see if I can help trante, some good. The recordings are open. I can put the words at the bottom for you all.-

 The recording moved back to the beginning of Lycaons harsh speech, causing the other three to frown in question.

 t is adding a transcription of what the wolf-man is saying.

 Lycaon spoke, then, his growl barely understandable with ts transcription. Bound and Fused, Refined and stagnate, you have fallen for the lie of the human form. Trapped for eternity without perfection.

 Master Foir didnt speak, letting the creature continue.

 The freedom of the forest and the ins, the hunt and the den, await all. The strength of the pack and the moon, the fang and the pelt are granted to any and all by my tooth and w.

 You are intelligent, then. You retain that much of humanity?

 Lycaon barked a harsh, rollingugh, Humanity has stolen that much from nature, and I have not given it back, yes.

 Then, go, turn your pack upon the arcanes. Break your teeth against the City Lords and their pet Houses. Reim them for your pack, but leave us be.

 Well Thats probably more than Kannis knows. T focused her perception on the mageling and saw no surprise, just studied interest.

 -Honestly, they are just words to her, without context. She knows that this is from more than a thousand years ago. Without knowing what we know, its background details on a world that no longer exists.-

 Huh, fair. Best not make anything of it, then.

 Lycaon responded to the defender, bringing Ts attention back to the recorded confrontation, No. The twisted shall not be twisted again. The broken-bound will not be broken again until the world is wiped clean of the scourge of humankind. Join my pack, let the taint be cleansed and turned to strength.

 T desperately wished that she could use her magesight on the creature, but sadly, that wasnt an option.

 Master Foir nodded once. So, it was a reality wolf you sought to bond. You fool. How did you even approach it to He shook his head. It doesnt matter. It was a fools errand and you got a fools result.

 Lycaon growled deeply, sinking low and preparing to spring at the Refined.

 But Master Foir acted first.

 He lifted a pair of constructs that were suddenly in his hands, seemingly havinge from a bound storage.

 T could only describe them as crossbows, but without the limbs. Additionally, there seemed to be arge pair of wheels holding an insane number of dimensionallypressed bolts in them.

 They werent in an extra dimensional space, instead appearing far smaller, and taking up much less space, than the bolts that were obviously already loaded and ready to fire.

 They looked rather reminiscent to the weapons that Mistress Jean, the Mage Hunter, had used. Though hers were very much intended for single, massive, magical shots, and Master Foirs were just as clearly intended for the rapid firing of a number of mundane projectiles, each carrying a payload of magic to be activated within their target.

 Simr concept, though.

 Kannis leaned forward. What are those?

 Rane grinned. Its an old-style automatic bow. Incredibly expensive, and not really worth it for what you get out, but some Mages used to specialize so much that they required external weaponry to fill in the gaps in their power. Now, we try to have a broad enough set of abilities that they arent as needed.

 T got a good look at the weaponry, given the detail of what they were seeing, and while the boltheads looked silver at first nce, she was able to pick out incredibly intricate spell-workings iid within harder metal.

 Clever. Like the arrowheads we have for specific creatures.

 -Precisely that. He must have known this wasing for a while to have so many for this creature, or he had a way of mass producing them.-

 As Master Foir pulled the triggers, he swept the two weapons across the line of the enemies before him.

 Lycaon lunged straight up, out of the line of fire, but most of his pack wasnt so lucky.

 Boltsnced out, each one getting a dose of kic power from a small, magical disc that was ejected from the side of the weapon even as the bolt was sent flying.

 One use kic imparters? That is expensive. Even now, that would be three or four silver a shot?

 As the boltsnced out, Master Foir was speaking, though they couldnt hear him over the roaring, howling, and whimpering of wolf-men.

 What he did was quite obvious, however.

 No bolt flew perfectly straight, each seemingly nudged along their trajectories, their flightpaths perfected on the way to their targets.

 In a matter of moments, every lesser wolf-man had a bolt in head and heart, magic pulsing from the projectiles to send the monster-trapped souls on to the next world.

 It was an insane disy of wealth, weaponry, and word-magics power.

 One of his two weapons was down to a final shot, and the other had two bolts left when Lycaonnded almost silently behind Master Foir.

 The Refined seemed to have heard, regardless.

 He was unbelievably fast, spinning and firing off a bolt from each weapon in a blink.

 He just wasnt fast enough.

 Lycaon raked ws across the Refined, leaving bloody furrows that began to bubble as if filled with acid.

 Master Foir screamed in obvious pain, even as Lycaon bit down on the mans shoulder.

 Still, Master Foirs bolts had struck true, one imbedding in each of the giant creatures thighs.

 Their magic was radiating out with powerful pulses, shredding the lupine flesh.

 Lycaon toppled to the side, howling and writhing in pain as the magical projectiles turned his own magic against him, ending him in moments.

 Even so, as the wolf-man died, he diedughing around his agonized whimpers. The pack must grow, and you will do as well as I to see it done

 Master Foir was on his knees beside his in foe, swaying in his own agony.

 He lifted up one hand and groaned as thick hair began to sprout from his skin. I am human.

 Power rippled through the words, and all evidence of the curse vanished for a moment.

 Then, like a rising tide, it sprouted from around the massive bite marks once again, racing to cover his whole body.

 I am cleansed.

 Again, the power in the words drove out the curse for a moment.

 Even without her magesight, T could see what was happening. Hes using more power than his throughput replenishes.

 Master Foir growled in frustration and anger as the change began again, but he drove it back again.

 And again.

 And again.

 Mages wereing from the city at a run, but it was obvious that they wouldnt arrive before he lost the back and forth with the curse.

 Finally, as he stared at his arm once again bulging with muscle, hair sprouting across the surface, he seemed to recognize the weapon in his hand.

 There was only a moments hesitation before he spoke one final phrase, clearly filled with all the power he had left, Humanity fights on.

 A momentter, the final bolt was within his flesh, its deadly power ending the curse before it could spread further.

 The recording ended, and the four exchanged varied looks.

 Kannis looked a little green.

 Lyn was also looking a bit squeamish, but she was more contemtive than her mageling.

 T and Rane exchanged a look that said: Moreter. Theyre done for now.

 Even so, T had felt something resonating within herself at the mans end.

 Still, it was hardly the time to contemte such things. Instead, she simply asked t to note it forter consideration.

 Without further distractions, the four ate their food, conversation only slowly getting started once again.

 Regardless, it didnt take too long before they wereughing and chatting once more.

 Despite the dour start, the night turned out to be quite enjoyable all around.

 * * *

 That night, T ced Kit on the inner surface of the outer wall of the Gredial estate, and she, Lyn, and Kannis slept within.

 Rane stayed in his rooms within the main house, as made sense.

 The next morning, after a Gredial meal for everyone but T, the four went out into Alefast.

 T, for her part, had a meal prepared by Mistress Petra once again.

 Their first stop was none other than Artia and Adrills shop, so that Kannis and Lyn could get a good look at some artifact style items.

 When the four arrived, Adrill and Brandon were waiting for them, a pile of items and equipment ready and waiting, clearly not part of the shops inventory.

 Good, good! Adrill smiled and waved. I was afraid that we wouldnt be your first stop.

 -I let them know the n was for us to swing by today.-

 Thank you, t. That was very kind of you.

 -Its what I do.-

 T wasted no time in putting Kit on a nearby wall and letting the two men carry their stuff inside, where Master Simon was eagerly awaiting them.

 That sparked a conversation with Lyn and Kannis, who were confused as to what was going on.

 As they moved into the shop proper, Kannis rified, So, let me get this straight. Your sanctum is evenrger than the couple of rooms that we sawst night? We were in those rooms when you were carrying us, after all. I mean I knew that you had meals stored within it, but you have someone working in there too?

 Several someones, yes.

 Artia greeted them as they entered, adding to the conversation, And my husband wants us to join that little enve of magically fascinating bliss, apparently. She shook her head in mock sadness. You really shouldnt try to steal other womens husbands, Mistress T.

 T cracked a smile. Never fear, good woman. Your husband is only after what he can learn, and I am only interested in what he can discover.

 Aye, I love him for his mind too. The older woman grinned widely, giving aically exaggerated wink.

 T moved on, introducing Lyn and Kannis, and exining why they were there.

 Well, I have to tell you, while we have a great selection, if nothing strikes your interest, I have a list of items other shops should have. As ast resort, theres also the Constructionists. They have a more eclectic collection, though you may have to get Mistress T to help wrestle those from their greedy little fingers.

 T chuckled. Yeah, the Constructionists like buying up anything unusual.

 That signaled the start of the two visiting women wandering the shop, eximing over the various items avable for purchase.

 They were both, obviously, drawn to the dimensional storage items, but while they were less expensive than Constructionist created versions, they still werent cheap.

 After looking over what was avable in that section, Lyn and Kannis found themselves more fascinated by the random artifacts on the final counter.

 T was looking over the items as well, Hey, youve gotten some new stuff.

 Artia scoffed. Of course. Thats how shops work, Mistress T.

 T gave her a t look. I am aware of that. I mean that you have new types of artifacts. Last time you were exining how there seemed to be more simr items showing up.

 Ahh, yes. Well, a few delvers found a cave system filled with artifacts a couple of miles outside the city. That has created a bit of a surplus in thest weeks, including a lot of new things.

 Lyn lifted up a ss jar filled with a ck semi-solid. Obedient y? Im not sure I understand.

 Artia smiled, speaking with a note ofmand, but without magic in the words, Sword.

 The ck substance shifted, bing a sword, using all of itself to make a weapon that was asrge as possible which was just a short sword.

 It was now too big for the jar and teetered over to thunk on the counter.

 Once it is magic-bound, it should only respond to its boundsmand.

 Lyn nodded, picking up the sword and muttering to the weapon,manding small changes and witnessing the results. Finally, she looked up at the shop owner, Can mass be added?

 In theory, yes, but I dont know the method. I would refer you to the Constructionists for that.

 T smiled to herself at how much Artia had grown in her thoughts about Mages over thest years.

 Lyn grinned, muttering to the item and turning it into a cube, then a sphere, then a cup. How much?

 That started their haggling, in which Lyn also added in a dimensional storage for herself and her mageling. She was very particr about which ones, too.

 T hadnt looked closely enough to see a difference, but she also wasnt in the market for such things.

 Though, we do need to find some more expanded spaces for Kit to consume.

 -Ooo, that would be nice, yes.-

 Kannis was not having luck finding an artifact that really interested her. Finally, she despaired. Theres nothing here for me. All of these are fascinating, but none really speak to me.

 T frowned. There are tons of random little things. I got whatever I could conceive of a use for.

 Still, T knew that she was the odd one, here. So she didnt say anything.

 Artia paused her negotiations with Lyn, turning to the Mageling. What are you looking for, dear? Perhaps I can help. Almost any of these items could provide some utility.

 The young woman lifted her hands in defeat. I dont actually know. It seems silly to consider when looking at artifacts, but my foundation is that I seek the truth in all things, even among falsehoods, but looking for an item like that is probably ridiculous. It would be nice to have an ever-sharp knife, but I cant justify the expense.

 Truth? The shopkeeper got a far-off look, then reached to the far end of the counter and pulled over what seemed to be a small teddy bear of indeterminate material.

 Kannis blinked a few times. Is that a teddy bear? Like for a child? She frowned then. Well, I suppose it wouldnt be here if it wasnt magical. I didnt even look at that one, and that was likely a mistake.

 Artia smiled happily. Yes, the magics are centered around this little bear, but the analysis is what brought it to mind. Give truth to bind, ask truth to befriend, reveal truth to grow in power. This one apparently doesnt require a gate to magic-bond, based on the Mages who analyzed it. They put this little iron cor around its neck to prevent its early bonding.

 Ts frown deepened, trying not to remember her own time wearing a cor. Care to exin the esoteric information?

 Well, they discovered that there is a sapience dormant inside. They were going to simply destroy it as a creature from beyond, or something like that, but they found none of the markers of dangers to humanity or even individuals within the twists and turns of its magic.

 T groused. I feel like the knowledge that some artifacts are creatures from beyond is important information, and it rather weighs scales in regards to the likely source of artifacts. Even more so, if you all are regrly finding examples of sapience among the artifacts.

 The shop owner shook her head. Hardly. I even told you about the dangerous ones the first time we met. Regardless, if artifacts are somehow remnants from ages past, moved through time, or otherwise preserved only to be revealed now, then it would make sense that some guardian creatures woulde through, too. Most are less than useful, targeting anything not of a given family line, descriptions, or race that race is never human, incidentally. Those have to be picked apart and dispersed as soon as theyre found. In order to keep my license as a seller of artifacts, I am bound to report any such to the Mages.

 Kannis eyes narrowed. Then why is it avable, still?

 Artia shrugged. The elerated waning has most families with small children, or who want them, already out of the city. I would bet that most dismiss it as you did. Beyond that, there really isnt much to go on with what the Constructionists were able to pull from the rats nest of magics within. They did say that once it was activated, once it bonded with someone, those magics should unspool, and be easier to read. At the moment, they are folded in and dormant, only presenting what Ive conveyed to any with the skill to understand the spell forms.

 Lyn and Kannis shared a look. Before the older woman shrugged. Could be worth a try.

 Kannis picked up the little bear, turning it over in her hands. Its cold. She pulled it to her chest, almost instinctively before hesitating and chuckling, But, I suppose thats to be expected.

 Lyn and Artia entered another round of negotiations before they settled on a price that T found hard to ept.

 Lyn truly was a master of negotiation. That, or Artia had been kind to them. Likely it was abination of the two.

 The deal done, Artia removed the little cor from the bear and motioned to Kannis.

 The mageling held up the bear, looking it in the eyes and spoke, Hello, Im Kannis. Whats your name?

MillionNovel

Chapter 365: Wolves and Bears