Millennial Mage

Chapter 431: Friends

Tala finished the explanation surrounding her breath weapon experiments just about the time that Master Clevnis, Mistress Cerna, and she arrived at the meeting place for their unit before their duty-shift. Terry was asleep on Tala’s shoulder by that point.

The two unit leaders had listened thoughtfully to the full explanation, but when Tala indicated that she’d finished, Mistress Cerna spoke up almost immediately. “So… why are you using it as a breath weapon? Couldn’t you easily have it come out of the air anywhere within your aura?”

Tala nodded, acknowledging the question. “A few reasons, actually. First, I have inscriptions that help focus and direct any airborne magics. Without that, I suspect that the results would have begun—and been more concentrated—close to the opening. The only reason they didn’t enact within my sanctum and turn the false lung there into a fireball was that we were holding the power back from affecting the air in which it was saturated through my authority within Kit. Thus, without the containing and delaying effects of the inscriptions within my mouth, it likely would have simply created a fireball at the point of egress.”

Mistress Cerna nodded at that. “That makes sense… I would recommend enhancing those.” She considered the totality of information for a moment. “You could even make them variable to control the distance of initial ignition?”

Tala chuckled. “Absolutely, and that is a good idea. I’ve already added notes to look into general enhancement, but the variability is an interesting idea. I will also be enhancing the magics that block any magical effect from going down my throat to prevent blowback if something goes catastrophically wrong.”

Master Clevnis smiled, nodding as well. “That’s wise, but the main issue that I think we can all agree on is the fact that the dissolution was beginning to affect the edge of your dimensional storage. Breaches within dimensional storages are rare, but they do occur. No one likes the results…”

“True. I think that looking into enhancing Kit’s dimensional boundaries makes sense, and I even have a couple of ideas as to how I might be able to do that. That said, I want to finish answering Mistress Cerna’s questions first. As to why I want it to come from my mouth, the second reason is the inherent authority that breath holds.”

The two unit leaders frowned, Master Clevnis speaking for both of them, “But… it’s not your breath.”

“Really?” Tala gave a mischievous smile. “It comes from that which is bound to my soul, exiting my mouth when I open the path. It is as much my breath as anything. I don’t really have to breathe to survive, so air in my biological lungs isn’t that much different from that within my sanctum lungs.”

The two still seemed skeptical, but they also seemed unwilling to argue with her. Tala knew that this was in large part because it was considered incredibly bad form to try to break another Mage’s mental model.

The others from their unit arrived, then, and the topic shifted. Terry woke up and greeted everyone before settling back down for the hopefully uneventful shift to come.

* * *

Tala growled as she worked to perfect her use of the three bloodstars within a ring around Flow’s hilt.

Her method for doing so? She was currently trying to carve a block of wood with Flow using only those bloodstars and her ability to pull on Flow directly.

She refused to use her aura control to correct the motions of the weapon, despite the knowledge that that would be so much easier.

The only concession she made was to hold Flow generally in place with her aura, so that she wasn’t just doing passing cuts. Thus, she was only causing small motions and manipulating orientation. She would stop using that crutch soon enough, but for now, things were already incredibly difficult.

Tala also used her aura and authority to hold the softwood in place for the carving.

Rane glanced her way from the large rock that he was carving with his own hand. “I know you aren’t actually trying to practice carving, but if you work with the grain instead of across it, you’ll have an easier time.”

She glared his way for a moment, then calmed herself. I’m not mad at him; I’m just irritated; and he’s here. She let out a calming breath. “Thank you for the reminder, Rane. I will try to keep that in mind.”

He pulled back just slightly—clearly having picked up on some of her irritation despite her attempt to keep it in check—before giving a hesitant smile. “Right… I apologize, I already said that before. I don’t mean to give unsolicited advice.”

She felt her anger bleed away as she shook her head. “No, it was a good thought. I am having so much trouble with this, making it a bit easier wouldn’t be a bad thing in any regard. Thank you.”

This time, her thanks were obviously more genuine than the last, causing Rane’s smile to firm up. “Well, you are getting better. I know you’ll get it where you want sooner rather than later.”

Tala had to laugh at that. “Yeah, I’m actually doing more than just glancing nicks now.”

“True enough.” He turned back, carefully removing a bit of material on an incredibly lifelike statue of an unfamiliar woman, gazing up to the stars with evident longing. Specifically, he was correcting the curve of the nose just slightly. He muttered to himself, clearly focused on his own crafting once more. “Much better.”

Tala sighed. She truly wasn’t trying to match him in skill, but it was humbling to see just how much better at this he was than her.

It doesn’t matter. He’s happy to make any statue I request, and I have enough things to pursue as it is. She did find herself glad that he was pursuing excellence in his own interests. She found his growing competence rather attractive, though she didn’t think she could bring herself to tell him that.

The next day, a message came from the Constructionists who specialized in the creation of modular walls. The group would have the first two test sections done for her in just under a month.

-Well, that’s perfect. We can take a couple of weeks in Bandfast and come back to review the sample pieces.-

The Constructionists also requested a few ingots more of the white steel, and Tala granted their request before having Alat notify Irondale as to the date of their departure for Bandfast.

That started a rather interesting fervor of activity.

Some people were terrified, actually choosing to move back out of Irondale. Apparently, some had thought that the information wasn’t serious when it was explained that Irondale would move from city to city on occasion, or they thought that it wouldn’t happen for quite a while. Similarly, on the other side, the merchant who’d rented space for a warehouse and several other entrepreneurial folks got in contact with others and figured out what they could bring to Bandfast to sell.

A few reached out to Tala to ask if they’d be coming right back to Alefast, and if so what timeframe they could expect.

Tala saw no reason to deny them the information. Apparently, some of the citizenry of Irondale were getting shopping lists from Alefast residents, and were planning on making a profit that way.

-And you profit through rent of the land either way. It’s a beautiful system.-

Yeah, those who can make it work will thrive, and those who can’t will be forced to move back out. It was a bit of a self sorting process for those with useful skills, at least in this one area. Others—without a trader mindset—had similar hurdles to overcome, coming up with useful and profitable things to do to maintain their own place within Irondale.

Some had already started working for the merchants in one capacity or another. Some did so indirectly by providing services that either the merchant-inclined folk or their workers would be interested in.

There were already two restaurants being run out of people’s kitchens, with actual buildings going up near the town square.

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We should offer a spot to Brand and his family.

-Already done, they are happy in Bandfast.-

Tala found herself grinning internally. It really is nice when you get things done before I even realize I want them to happen.

-I do aim to please.-

And you succeed splendidly.

* * *

When the date of departure arrived, Tala had Kit display a countdown above the gate both inside and outside of Irondale. Well, she had Kit do so inside, which was trivially easy, and then she used Kit as a connection to a magical display on the outside, provided by Alefast. So, it was effectively the same thing.

Regardless, when the clock struck zero, she closed up Irondale and walked out of Alefast. She did so from several blocks away from the entrance, so she didn’t have to deal with anyone who had thought the countdown was just a suggestion.

The only concession she made was to ensure that she didn’t split any individuals or families with the closure.

There are going to be complaints when we get back…

-And they will be handled by the folks of Irondale. You made it clear that you are not altering your own schedule, and the countdown was a courtesy, which could be cut short if you needed. Honestly, they should all be thanking you that you didn’t do just that.-

I know that’s true in theory, but people are still going to be mad.

-And that will be handled without your involvement.-

Tala hesitated for a long moment, then nodded her thanks. Alright, I can live with that.

The trip from Alefast to Bandfast was entirely uneventful.

The only way it differed from previous trips was the fact that Tala had Flow fly beside her the entire trip, manipulating it purely with the bloodstars and her bond with the weapon itself.

It was… enlightening.

She cut quite a few trees, only felling one completely.

Even so, she and Rane still made the trip in less than two days. During that time, Tala reconnected Irondale and her sanctum by putting her sanctum within Irondale to remerge the two, connecting them on the outer edges. That way Mistress Petra, Simon, Brandon, and Kedva could continue their work without interruption.

Little Talax came with Kedva wherever she went, and he was already growing so much. Though, being barely more than two weeks old, he still didn’t actually do very much.

Both Rane and Tala had become far more skilled in the balance of making their aura obviously powerful to drive away weaker creatures and keeping it relatively contained so as to not attract the magical creatures who were most likely living within the region.

Even still, they both knew that there really should have been weaker creatures who attacked regardless of the power disparity.

It was Terry’s ongoing joy to take care of those. It also helped to prevent him from becoming too bored.

Tala was more than willing to let him do as he pleased in this regard. Overall, the terror bird continued to give indications that he was coming close to a final decision to bond with Tala, but he didn’t seem quite ready yet, and Tala wasn’t willing to push him.

We have time. More than that, though, she appreciated that he was taking his time with something that was so clearly important to them both.

With Terry roving around them, they made the entire trip without a single clash, thus speeding them along even more.

When they came over the last rise and looked upon Bandfast, Tala felt herself smile. I’m so excited to see Lyn.

Rane landed beside her before bumping her affectionately. “We’re back.”

She smiled up at him. “That we are.”

Tala just had a singular stop before they could meet up with the Lyn and Kannis, but before they could head down the hill into the city, Terry headbutted her hip—where Kit used to hang—and Tala understood the request to enter her sanctum.

She opened the way for him, and the terror bird vanished inside.

Through her threefold sight and connection with Kit, she saw him immediately flicker toward the river, where he lolled onto his back, allowing the infinite flow to begin carrying him around in a lazy circle.

Rest well, my friend. It was a rather warm spring day. So, she didn’t begrudge him a chance to cool off after the day and a half of speedy travel.

Less than an hour later, Tala stood before the agreed-upon, large blank wall and placed the anchor for Irondale upon it, opening the entrance at the stone arch near the town square on the Irondale side.

That got a lot of attention from the people passing by on the relatively busy, Bandfast thoroughfare.

Tala then pulled out the required signage from her sanctum and placed it on either side of—and above—the opening.

The signs announced that the opening was the entrance to the town of Irondale, as well as explaining the rules and tacit agreements in place upon anyone who went inside.

There was also a simple line at the bottom that Tala hoped to the stars wouldn’t cause too much trouble: ‘Gateless welcome as residents. Inquire within.’

Brandon had specifically requested that she add the line, and she’d not really had a reason to say no…

You know, I am making an inherently discriminatory mini-society in there.

-Gated not welcome.-

Well, they’re welcome, but they can’t live there, or rent anything there, or stay for long.

-You could make separate restaurants for them. That way the gateless don’t have to eat near ‘that kind of folk.’-

…you’re being ridiculous.

-Of course, I am. You aren’t being discriminatory. You have a rule in place based on the nature of the things involved. To say otherwise would be like saying that forbidding alcohol to babies is discriminatory because it is based on age.-

And that isn’t discriminatory because it’s based on the nature of the thing involved, not the people being denied.

-Precisely.-

She grunted at that, causing Rane to give her an inquiring look.

“Later.”

He shrugged and nodded. “Shall we go?”

“Yes, please.” With her enthusiastic agreement, they wove their way out of the crowd. As they departed, Tala once again separated her sanctum from Irondale, so that she could keep the former with her while the latter was open for business.

There was already a small crowd forming when Tala and Rane made their escape, all but ignoring those who were trying to ask them questions.

Thankfully, several of the residents of Irondale were at hand, and they stepped out into Bandfast and spoke to anyone who was curious or inquisitive enough to want to know more.

At the same time, the Irondale merchant finagled a few wagons through, heading toward those whom he’d made deals with in order to drop off his wares and likely to pick up others as well.

Many other Irondale-ians—

Yeah, no, I don’t like that name for them…

Many other Irondale residents slipped out with packs on their backs, crates in their arms, or other means of carrying goods in evidence.

Tala’s threefold sight even saw a few who exited only with notes of credit in their pouches, likely on the way to purchase goods or exchange the notes for solid coinage.

All in all, she was infinitely grateful that it had nothing to do with her.

Lyn and Kannis were elated to see Tala and Rane when they were let in through the front door. Terry came out and greeted the two as well, leading to a round of surface-level catching up.

The four humans and one avian had been sitting in the front room and chatting for a few minutes when Fannas came out of the back.

He was just over a foot and a half tall, and he gave a formal bow when he came around the side of Kannis’s chair. “Mistress Tala, Master Rane, master Terry. It is good to see you all once again…” He seemed vaguely uncomfortable. “Even if some of your choices…” He sighed and shook his head. “Apologies, I overstep.”

Tala blinked at the little man a few times.

-You totally forgot he existed, didn’t you.-

I… did. She smiled at the keeperling regardless. “Hello, Fannas. You're looking larger these days.”

And he was taller, though he still had the stockier form that was more reminiscent of a dwarf than a human. His silver face shifted to a smile at her words. “Thank you for noticing, Mistress Tala. I do aim to be of use, and I’ve found that I am more capable, being a bit bigger. I strive to increase my usefulness further, but that will have to wait for my mistress to advance.”

Kannis smiled. “He really has been amazing.”

Terry flickered over to the man, resizing himself to be the same height as the silver figure.

Fannas bowed to the terror bird once again. “Your presence is as… formidable as ever, master Terry.”

Terry grew and reached out one taloned foot, patting Fannas on the head before the avian trilled happily and flickered back to Tala’s shoulder.

The little statue-like creature stood frozen for a long moment before turning to Kannis, bowing and asking in a slightly strained voice, “Mistress, I have much to do, by your leave?”

Kannis nodded. “We were just leaving anyway. Thank you for coming out and saying hello.”

“Of course.” Without another word, he went back into the back of the house.

Terry watched the little man go, then flickered to Tala’s hip, looking at her expectantly. “Oh? You want to go back in already?”

He bobbed a nod.

“Okay.” She opened a coin-sized entrance to her sanctum, and Terry flickered through it before it snapped closed behind him.

The four humans talked for a bit longer before they departed Lyn’s house, going out to dinner at an old, familiar food area.

Gretel was still making and selling her excellent meat pies, and the older woman remembered Tala and greeted her warmly. They chatted for a bit, but then Tala let Gretel get back to her work, and the four friends went to enjoy their dinner.

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