Chapter 297

  Hug A Fae Today

  The war was over, or at least the battle for today was over.

  All the remaining Legrand soldiers that were Resurrected were sent back. All Midnight Hunter’s were also allowed to leave the completely separated Kujo Caverns. Until finally it was just Ms. Kujo, her twelve pups. A cowering Mr. Kujo who got death glares from Ms. Kujo and the three non-water aligned Pomeranians.

  With that fun little family dynamic going on, I decided it was time to come up with an excuse for the rest of our team to leave.

  “Oh, would you look at that? Looks like it is time for my Apprentice to receive her first lesson,” I state, as I focus around the room and realize that the only thing I can think of is my new Apprentice and getting her out of here quickly. Not that I am afraid she will be able to copy Rune-Ulacrum’s work, but rather she is going to be an invaluable resource for either getting out of future tasks, or reasons to leave awkward meetings a moment too early.

  “Wait, really? You will finally teach me?” The Spritz healer asks.

  “Yeah, now come on,” I state as I open a Arcane Geomancy Gateway that opens up to a spot within my SVC training hall.

  There is a moment’s pause, where she looks sort of hesitant.

  “Well go on,” I press.

  “You sure I won’t be seen as a spy there?” She asks timidly.

  Chuckle.

  Hearing that, I just laugh. Not at the idea of her being a spy, but at the idea of a spy being able to open a Teleportation Portal, not a gate, not a quick in and out burst, but a full on stationary Portal that exists for all to see. I also think that my Arcane Geomancy might be causing fluctuations in magic being used by others, making it harder for others to cast their spells.

  I’m not entirely sure why I think this is the case, but I did see a few mage battles happen on SVC grounds or at least areas that I had marked with my Arcane Geomancy. For whatever reason my students, or those that I had taught seemed to be able to cast their spells normally, while the spells cast by foreign mages seemed to be lacking in stability, amongst other issues.

  All of this added to the idea that any mage other than a Midnight Hunter trained mage would have a hard time not just opening a Teleportation Portal on school grounds no less, but then they would have an even harder time keeping such a spell open and structurally secure.

  Then of course the image of the mechanical centipede being ripped in half by closing a Teleportation Portal around it, made the idea of letting any fellow Spatial mage try their luck at completing such a feat.

  Again, not saying it can’t be done, but I would like to see what level of competition I am up against.

  Unfortunately, I was too lost in my own wandering thoughts and rather than trying to come across as reassuring, I likely came off as a malevolent pixie who had been caught in one of their traps. At least, that is the look that my Apprentice now had while staring at me.

  Fortunately, Jhonny, always the Peacekeeper was there to soothe everything over.

  Sigh.

  “I’ll go, and just follow me,” Jhonny stated as he was the first to enter the Portal.

  With Jhonny gone, the rest of my team began going quickly, next was Gwen who still seemed cold to me for whatever reason. Despite her best efforts to be mad at me though, she did seem to be somewhat reticent to not be fully angry at me. Victory is mine, I think to myself, for soon she will tell me what I did wrong, and then it is only a matter of asking forgiveness and done with this little drama. I still don’t know what it is, meaning I have to get her to tell me.

  Then my Apprentice stares at me for a brief second, as a flash of fear crosses her face. I read that as she does not want to be left here with me and the Kujos, this is good, these are survival skills she should be harnessing. To make matters more interesting, she then sees Gwen’s disappearing form and proceeds to chase after her.

  Seeing that obvious connection between the two, I smile inwardly as I plan to use my new Apprentice to get in good with Gwen, so my Apprentice can then tell me what exactly is the matter.

  Sadly, my new Apprentice, much like Jhonny and Penelope is not a part of the Thieves Guild. This means that I will likely need to convert my Apprentice to the dark side, so I can keep better track of her. I could also use her then connection to the Thieves Guild to get gossip about Gwen and the others.

  Then realizing that, I realize that I am limiting myself to just using my Apprentice to get information for me indirectly. Why do that, when I can get the entire Guild to do so.

  At that thought, a new quest suggestion comes to my mind.

  Is it bad that I only realize how intrusive this thought might be after reading it and basically airing out my dirty laundry to both the world and Thieves Guild members?

  Worse, it shows a possible weakness that can be exploited by foreign powers. You know, the more I think about it, the more I dislike this entire chain.

  I even feel somewhat sick inside, as I remember this was exactly like the time I found Gwenny’s, well then Jackie’s phone unlocked and was tempted to read her messages.

  I DIDN’T, thought I was sorely tempted.

  Worse, Gwen saw me with the phone and got instantly angry thinking I had snooped.

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  Nope, not going into that mess again. I’ve learned my lesson, and instantly cancel my quest prompt.

  With that, it is just me, Rune-Ulacrum, the dysfunctional Kujos, the equally dysfunctional Pomeranians, and of course Umbra who is just chilling in my arms.

  Realizing everything, I focus down to notice that my finger is still inside the pudgy fur-ball’s mouth. Though he apparently passed out a bit ago. When did I get him again?

  I think it was my Apprentice who gave him back to me once I got here, but that was a bit ago.

  Shaking my head, I mentally give the room one last look around, making sure the Legrand soldiers didn’t leave anything behind. Well anything behind that hasn’t already been melted down into component parts and fed into my power pool below.

  For a moment, I think about taking a dip in the pool, only to realize that it might wake Umbra up, and decide against it.

  Also, it is good that this chamber is the way it is, for the Legrand soldiers did try to do a few funny things, both with magic, magical items and artifacts, and even military equipment. Fortunately, the way Rune-Ulacrum set up the room, anything that was not part of the room would be instantly destroyed and worn down. Well everything, other than new books.

  I did like the foresight to add that exception to the breakdown and repurposing runes that were in place as they all but guaranteed that I could make this into a sacred library, eventually. That will of course be once the Kujos and all of Mr. Kujo’s offspring leave. I know, I know it won’t happen anytime soon, but a girl can dream, can’t she?

  Anyways, now that everything here is back to its new default norm, it is time for me to leave.

  I am about to leave, only to realize that I still have Umbra in my arms. For a moment, I think about shoving him off on Rune-Ulacrum, but then realize that he is so content and happy at the moment that I don’t want to bother him. Instead, I grab a long sleeve shirt, and with a bit of automatic help from Rune-Ulacrum who can understand me at a molecular level, we create a harness from one of my larger male sets of clothing. These are the clothes that I wear while posing as one of my male avatars.

  Speaking of which, I make a note to go out and try to get more avatars, not just males but females as well. I don’t exactly know why, but I have a feeling that having more forms to take on and be able to shed away at a moment’s notice will be invaluable here shortly.

  Also, it is always fun going around and pranking people as a random passerby, before leaving and never being seen again.

  With the pup firmly secure, and stowed away, I go through the Portal and am legitimately surprised by what I see.

  This time, much like the others, I felt my mind expand if ever so slightly. Yet, unlike the other times, I was able to actually confirm that the mind I was linking with was Zero, part of my soul and yet so much more.

  There out in the vastness of space, I saw the spark of creation followed by the inevitable shadow of death. Yes, the long slow all-consuming shadow that follows the light, mimics its footsteps and pace exactly, only to grow while the spark dwindles ever so slightly. Only to then shrink again once that spark grows firm.

  With Zero fully awakened and seemingly able to send his own thoughts and emotions down to me, if only for a moment, I felt an undeniable tether connecting from me to the void realm. This time I was certain that when it came to it, I would be able to make it there, to fulfill my promise.

  A promise that I made on the spur of a moment, one where I could all but feel disaster looming over me, and the world we lived in. A world that was being ripped apart at the seems by alien magic that was never meant to grace our plane of existence.

  At the time, I knew that Zero had suffered from our interaction on that alien realm. Now I also knew that that realm could somehow bring him back. Well the realm didn’t bring him back to health, but rather it was that odd alien elf lady who brought him back.

  To make matters worse, I can feel myself rising and being pulled up, to meet with my counterpart in Zero. This pull, this attraction between us in as inevitable as reverse gravity would be.

  In fact, had it not been for the tiny ball of fluff within my arms, I am certain that I would have risen up until my forced interaction with Zero and the odd elven queen were all but forced upon me.

  Feeling the sudden importance of having Umbra in my arms I of course did what anyone would do and held on to Umbra like he was a sudden anchor keeping you from floating away in a see of unknown liquids.

  For a moment I was concerned about being lost in a broken or altered spatial tunnel, but this one was fine and with a minor flapping. Well full force flapping of my ethereal wings, I was able to move myself forward, lightly bounce against the ground due to the difference in weight in my arms, versus my now seemingly buoyant soul and then I was through.

  Whoosh!

  Getting through the Portal I let out a long slow exhale and relax for a moment.

  Squirm, squirm, squirm.

  Of course, that was the moment that Umbra woke up and decided that he apparently wanted out of my arms.

  I let him down, which he landed with a spiraling plop of fur.

  And as almost anyone in my guild provided fairy dress would have done in my situation, I paused with both arms out and waited for gravity to no longer work on me.

  Then after a seemingly long moment, I felt my body react to gravity, but it was minor. Only then did I realize that I had my Levitation spell going and quickly cancelled that.

  Plop.

  This time I was on the ground, my slipper covered feet smooshing deeply into the arcane energy infused grass stalks and let out a sigh of relief at the sudden coolness of the water from the recently watered against Blight and other pesticides grasses bleed into my slippers and on my feet.

  Never before had I been so excited and relieved to feel my feet getting soaked as I was at that moment.

  It takes me a moment to realize that I am not alone.

  In fact, there are a lot of people all around me, but I tune them all out as I relish this feeling of gravity holding me down and seeming to embrace me with its all-consuming presence.

  Even Umbra seems to be enjoying the moment, no wait, he is just doing his business in the wet grass. Good job. He is already better trained than his father.

  “Everything okay, mother?” Gwen asks, a sudden note of concern on her face as she takes in my antics that might seem completely odd to her.

  Though, I can’t help it, as I have a slight smile form on my lips as I realize I could have almost broke my promise to Mallory had it not been for Umbra. That of course is when I decided to answer her truthfully.

  “Yeah, just excited about gravity,” I reply honestly.

  “About gravity?”

  “Yes, isn’t it great? Holding you down like a nice weighted blanket, and hugging you tightly so you don’t fly off into space.”

  At that Gwen just looks at me like I’m crazy.

  I almost want to argue, but realize that she might be right, as even I cannot argue against the emotions I am feeling currently. Also, I don’t want to make anyone too frightened about Teleporting, especially not using my Teleportation Tunnels as I’ve been getting everyone to go through them pretty much all day.

  Actually, even my Simulacrums have been using them. But they are safe? At least I think they are safe. Mentally, I pause and scan my senses out and I feel the three Simulacrums: Heal-Ulacrum, Ship-Ulacrum, and of course Fae-Ulacrum right where they should be at their respective stations in the Arcanarus Tower. Meanwhile, Rune-Ulacrum is still in the Kujo Caverns.

  I can feel them all, just as I can feel a much smaller piece of me, well of my soul way far away in a spot that seems to be further to the right of the Arcanarus Tower and further left of Timult, but upwards, way, way, upwards.

  Thinking about that, I wonder if that old elf can tell the difference between me and my Simulacrums? That or does the Positional Switch not use the same manner of movement?

  More needs to be done and tested, but for now, I will make sure to keep Umbra with me for all of my personal jumps as I am suddenly very much doubting the safety of Spatial Magic in general. At least, I will need to keep Umbra with me for all inadvertent Teleportations, until I understand why the sudden change happened just now.

  “She’s now glad about gravity? I assume she nearly broke something?” Mallory quipped, her voice seeming to cut through the gaggle of onlookers who are all now staring at me. The four foot tall pixie who is just standing in grass with slightly damp slippers and smiling brightly at the fact that I am effectively doing pliés to dig my feet in deeper into the soothing sensation of grass against my feet.

  “Yeah, gravity’s great. Underrated and like toilet paper, you never notice it, until it is completely gone,” I reply.

  Hearing my confession, Mallory just pauses, and then seems to take a moment to stare at me.

  “Look, I’m truly sorry for calling you in like that, had there been any other way that we could have dealt with that menace and survived, I would have done so and kept you out of everything. But we were at that critical point in the battle, and you saved us,” Mallory quipped.

  “What?” I ask eloquently, as I am completely caught off guard by the sudden seriousness of this conversation.

  “I mean it, I see that calling you to the battle was tougher than it had any right to be, but know it was not a wasted effort. Thanks to that act alone we were able to push for peace, and with your assistance, I think we might be able to make it an enforceable contract,” Mallory continued.

  “Wait, I’m still lost on gravity being here. Um, can you start over real quick?” I ask, as I bend over to grab Umbra, my now comfort dire phase hound and auxiliary gravity enforcing agent.

  At first Umbra protests, but then a quick insertion of my finger, followed by a slow dribble of my own personal blend of diluted Spirit Sustenance and the dire phase pup is once again back to its contented lounging position in my arms.

  Hearing my words, and seeing my gesture and the way I am now cradling Umbra like my life depended on it, Gwen was the first to act.

  “Did something happen?” Gwen asked.

  At that, I pause not wanting to cause too much concern. I mean, it could have just been my overactive imagination, well I wish it was my overactive imagination that suddenly caused me to feel like I was one fluff ball away from being sucked into the vortex of space. But realizing all my instincts were telling me that it almost happened, I felt it was worth mentioning. Also, I knew that flat out denying it would be a lie, a big lie that might or might not have immediate actions on me and my body. Wow, that is weird having these insights that might or might not come true, but feel completely real regardless of what is happening.

  Taking a moment, I pause, open my mouth. Then close my mouth, discarding the obvious lie and going for a mixture of the truth.

  “You could say something happened,” I reply honestly.

  “What happened?”

  At that I paused and realized I might not be able to describe what was actually happening, so instead I decided to explain the parts that were somewhat easy to note. “I don’t know what exactly happened, but I do know that for a moment, gravity for me seemed to stop existing as a constant…”

  There, that is the clearest I can make that statement.

  Of course, I was hit with the only obvious one-word response, “WHAT?”

  Yeah, I should have expected that.