Millennial Mage

Chapter 77: Already Lost to the World

Tala came out of her quick wash in less than five minutes. The small amount of water had heated quickly, so shed put out the fire before shed even gotten into the tub.

She took a moment to clean up the blood from her floor and gather the bits of gold, putting them in a small cloth and storing it within Kit. Ill have to get them changed back into currency Or maybe Holly can use them?

Now clean once more, dry, and fully dressed, Tala sat in the living room with Lyn and Holly.

The two women listened intently as Tala told them what had led up to her bodys rejection of a portion of her inscribings, and they both sat in thought for long minutes after she had finished.

Finally, Tala was sick of the silence. Well?

Holly looked up to her. Well, what?

Did I break something? Should I avoid looking at my gate with my mage-sight? What?

Holly sighed. Technically, you broke a portion of your keystone, and it was expelled, but I think you knew that. Otherwise, from what I could see, you seem to have left everything else intact and functional. I did already tell you that.

Why didnt my defensive scripts prevent me from bleeding or my skin from breaking open?

Simple answer? Because those defensive measures function by keeping your body working normally. Your bodys expulsion of a foreign, unwanted material was a normal function, or as close to it as could be. So, your magics had nothing to work against.

So Im not protected against my own body killing me?

Holly shrugged. I dont actually know. Im not sure what extent would have been allowed, but I doubt that you could have actually died.

Tala grunted. She pulled out the bits of gold. Can you use these?

Holly took the cloth in which Tala presented them, looking at the red-stained pieces. She sighed. Ill clean them and weigh them. Ill give you a fair price, tomorrow afternoon.

Tala smiled. Works for me.

Lyn looked up, then, clearly a bit stressed. I need to know: Why are you doing experiments, here? Its really unpleasant to continually find you in some form of distress She sighed. Dont misunderstand me, Im glad that I was here, and that I could help, but She glanced away.

Im sorry, Lyn. I dont really have another place to practice, yet. I think Ill have one, starting tomorrow, but She frowned. Where do Mages go to practice, generally?

The two other women looked at each other, then back to Tala, speaking in seemingly unplanned unison. The wilds.

They both smiled slightly. Tala grunted. Fair, I suppose Id rather not have to walk out beyond the city every day just to practice

Hollys smile grew. Honestly, it depends on what you want to practice. Healers, regardless of quadrant, have plenty of places they can practice, so do most Material mages, either Creators or Guides. Mostly, though? She shrugged. Its on missions. Inscribings are too expensive to burn through for practice alone.

Im not using my inscribings to practice.

And the best Mages do likewise, but in the wilds.

Tala sighed. Fair enough. I might have a place I can go. Its one of the Guardsmans Guild training grounds. She then frowned. Speaking of the guards Mistress Holly, how do the guards use magic?

Holly took a moment, seeming to consider before she answered. All creatures, humans included, use magic almost constantly. It helps the being accomplish their goals, and augments their physicality, if just slightly. Holly was nodding to herself. As the magic acts, it flows through the flesh, and leaves an impression. With enough repetition, that impression becomes a pathway, through which magic flows more easily. If the being, in this case a human, knows what they are trying to do, that satisfies the requirement for a mental construct. Thus, they have a form, a mental construct, and their own power.

The requirements to work magic.

Precisely.

But they arent inscribed.

They dont need to be. They arent doing anything unnatural, so the body can be the template for the working. There would be no way for one of them to, say, manifest a gravity manipulation; there simply isnt any basis within the human body to even begin to create those spell-forms.

So, without inscribing, we cant do anything unnatural?

Holly hesitated, then shook her head, sighing. There are records of ancient warriors, burning themselves over and over again, very precisely and under incredibly controlled conditions, to imprint the pathways for heat and fire within themselves. From what Ive gathered, it was only possible with healers nearby, whether herbal, alchemical, or magical. It wasnt often successful, and it usually resulted in horrible disfigurement. She smiled ruefully. Inscriptions bypass that need. Its expensive, and has to be maintained and refreshed regularly, but it works exactly as intended.

Like Emi. Her bodys natural magical pathways perfectly mirrored the magic of her inscriptions. Talas eyes widened in realization. Then, wouldnt the inscriptions become unnecessary, in time?

Holly shrugged. Yes, and no. As the pathways settle into the body, that allows the power to flow more efficiently, thus the effects created can be greater. Eventually, the inscriptions wouldnt be needed, but without them, the potency of the spell-forms would radically decrease. Few are willing to make that trade-off, especially since most who are Mages for that long have the available funds to spend on inscriptions, and it does help. She smiled. Also, Mages are prone to change their inscriptions fairly often. That is a flexibility afforded to us by inscriptions. Without the consistency and long-term application of specific magics, the body cannot form sufficient natural pathways for the magic to function bio-magically, without inscription.

Thats why she wanted to get me transitioned over and settled on my new schema so quickly. Is there any way to speed up the process?

Of course. Spell-forms that are always active set faster. Otherwise, using them as often as possible builds the paths.

But Mages dont really practice in that way.

It is quite expensive.

After a moment, Tala nodded. Thats why you wanted my scripts to be always active?

One reason, yes. Your scripts lend themselves to being active at all times, as well.

Well thank you?

Holly smiled. Well get you all sorted. Im happy to help. You are a very interesting specimen, and I expect to have learned a lot from you before were through. Especially after you become an Archon.

Lyn sighed, interjecting for the first time a little while. I knew it. This has something to do with that stupid spell-form too, doesnt it?

Holly glanced to the woman. What do you mean?

Lyn shrugged. My master, before I left her charge, showed me the spell-form for an Archon star. She said I should work my way through her practice exercises, until I could create a stable star within a material. She said a lot more, but it always seemed pretty useless to me.

Holly blinked owlishly at the Mage. YouYour master recommended you for the path of Archon, and you havent pursued making an Archon star.

Didnt seem useful.

Are you aware that thats how you become an Archon?

Of course. Im not an idiot. If I became an Archon, Id have to be moved to upper logistical positions. I like my work as I am.

Hollys eye twitched. You dont have to accept further positions, if you dont want to. You wont receive an Archons pay, in all likelihood, but that doesnt seem to bother you.

But whats the point?

Holly opened her mouth and closed it several times. Finally, she rubbed her forehead with one palm. To improve! To get better. To- She cut herself off and groaned. There is so much that cannot be even attempted until you are an Archon. Please, for the love of all that shines, work on your star, Mistress Lyn.

Lyn let out a weary sigh. Fine, if you think its so important.

It is. Holly rubbed her temples. How many worthy Mages havent ascended because they saw no point? She let out a low growl. The current policies are maddening.

Tala quirked a smile. So why do they exist?

Holly smiled sadly. Because it is better to lose out on a few potential Archons than to have hundreds of perfectly adequate Mages kill themselves attempting to ascend.

Lyn cleared her throat. So no. Then, Im not doing it.

Holly practically ground her teeth. If your master thought enough of you that she taught you about Archon stars, then you are capable, and the danger is miniscule.

But it still exists?

Holly threw up her hands. You could choke and die on a grape. Yes, there is still danger. What are you, thirteen?

Im thirty-six.

Holly gave Lyn an incredibly patronizing look.

Tala frowned. Wait youre thirty-six?

Yes? How old did you think I was? Lyn had a quizzical look on her face.

Tala shrunk down in her seat, just a bit. Liketwenty five?

Lyn barked a laugh, and Holly snorted in amusement. Well, I suppose I should be flattered? My mother looked twenty at fifty, and she wasnt even a Mage, so I suppose I shouldnt be surprised

Shes thirty-six? Tala didnt really know how to handle that. She could almost be my mother

Holly closed her eyes for a long moment, breathing deeply. As entertaining as this has been, I need to go. Im in the middle of quite a few things. She looked to Tala. Im glad you didnt die. Work towards your star. She turned to Lyn. You wont die from this. Work towards your star. She narrowed her eyes, looking back and forth between the two women until they both nodded, Tala easily, Lyn reluctantly. Good. She stood. Goodbye.

Without another word, the woman departed.

Well that was something. Tala smiled at Lyn. So, thirty-six?

As far as I know. I am flattered that you thought me so much younger than I am.

Tala dropped her gaze; a bit uncertain where to take the conversation. Archon stars. That should be safe. Do you know what material youre going to use?

Lyn frowned. You too? Her frown faded to a look of defeat. Finemy understanding is that diamond is an easy medium, and I can probably get one fairly inexpensively. She glanced Talas way. Do you need one, too? Or are you using a different material?

Tala looked away, clearing her throat. A different material.

Care to share?

She hesitated, looking back. Promise you wont try it? Or tell anyone else?

Lyn shifted forward, a half-smile tugging at her lips. Now, I have to know. I wont tell, and I wont try it. Im barely willing to try the easiest method I know of. Knowing you, youre doing something truly insane.

Tala quirked a smile at that. You arent wrong. She pulled out her iron vial, feeling the faint connection with the star inside. Here. Be careful when you open it.

Lyn frowned but took the vial. She spun the cap free and stared inside. Tala

Yes?

That looks like blood.

Thats because it is blood.

Its not dried. How did you keep it from drying? She looked up but didnt leave space for Tala to answer. Am I to understand that your intention is to make an Archon star in blood?

Tala nodded, opening her mouth, but Lyn kept talking.

I was right. Youre insane. Tala, that isnt possible. My master said that Archon stars have to have a solid, dense medium.

Use your mage-sight.

Lyn frowned but complied. Did you modify the blood? Give it a structure that could She blinked in obvious confusion. Tala?

Yes?

What is this?

A weak Archon star.

Lyns head snapped up. This is an Archon star.

A weak one, yes. Thats what I said.

And youve already made it.

You can see that I have.

So, why arent you an Archon? She shook her head. What am I saying you shouldnt be anywhere near becoming an Archon.

Its too weak. I could probably force my way into being recognized, though I have no idea about the specifics of that, but it would hurt my position among other Archons...somehow. I need to make a stronger one, first. She shrugged. Well, thats what Ive been told, several times.

Does Holly know about this? She held the vial up, after placing the cap back on, securely.

She does. She is one of those who advised I work on making a stronger one.

Thats why she wants you to work on your star She was shaking her head. Youre insane.

I didnt do it on purpose. Tala felt a bit petulant. But its true!

Lyn laughed. Of course, you didnt.

Tala briefly explained how shed come to form her first star.

After the tale, Lyn was smiling. That is very you, Tala.

I try?

They both grinned at that. Well, at least my life wont ever be boring, with you around.

So You need to practice, and I need to do some experimenting Can I do it here?

Lyn gave her a long look. If I say No, youre going to go find an alley or someplace to do it in, anyways, arent you?

Probably.

She groaned. Fine. My master left me a set of exercises to work up to the creation of an Archon star. I suppose Ill focus on those.

Tala perked up at that. Oh?

Lyn smiled, slightly. More interesting than experimenting?

My experiments were attempting to pin down such exercises. In a really, really roundabout way

Well, let me get my old notebook and see what we can do.

* * *

Three hours later, Tala wasnt sweating, but she felt like she should be. The exercise was rigorous.

They had begun simply, the instructions short: Draw all the power within her reserves away from her gate, creating a void around it. It was simple in concept, but truly straining in practice.

Tala had an advantage at first, given her practice drawing her power away from the healing scripts in her finger, along with pulling back the ending-berry power, any time she needed to enact a transaction.

Lyn, being an Immaterial Creator, had a harder time manipulating her own internal magic in general, but she was quickly able to pick up the technique.

The result was amazing. The deficit in magic just around the gate caused a cavalcade of power to flow through, seemingly in an attempt to even out the levels. During that time, Tala estimated that her power-flow was easily quadrupled, but she couldnt maintain it for more than a minute, at least not at first.

Lyns master had said that the final stage of the exercise, which she should work towards, was to hold a small void of power around her gate at all times.

It was a daunting goal.

Lyn had managed three minutes on her first attempt, once shed been able to manipulate her power enough to attempt it at all.

Was that because shes older? Less power-dense? Tala didnt know, and it didnt really matter.

They had spent the three hours tackling this single exercise. In the end, Tala could hold the void for ten minutes, and Lyn for fifteen. It was growing late, and they were both mentally exhausted.

That was nice. Tala smiled. Im not used to working beside someone else. Not on the same thing, at least.

Lyn smiled in return. Yeah. I think I liked that quite a bit.

The house felt uniquely saturated in power. As neither of them had directed their increased flows of power into anything, it had simply flowed outward, dispersing into the air.

Tala could see a slow drain, pulling the power from the air and down into the ground. Feeding the city. Similarly, the items she carried seemed to be drinking in the magic from around them, at least those she could see.

Weve raised the power-levels to near those around Alefast.

Oh? Lyns mage-sight activated, and a wide grin spread across her face. So, we have.

I should probably find something to do with the excess

Lyn rolled her eyes. You dont need to be perfectly efficient, Tala.

True, but if theres something easy that I can do?

Lyn smiled, pulling out her notebook. Well, the second step will likely solve that. I can tell you, now?

Sure.

At the moment, we are simply allowing the increased flow to fill us, the excess flowing away on its own.

Tala nodded.

The next step is to control the increased inflow of power, splitting it in two. We are to divert the amount we usually use into our body and its inscriptions and send the rest outward.

Butthats what were doing already?

Lyn shook her head. Right now, we are allowing a river to flow into a leaky cup. Sure, most overflows, but what this is saying is that we want to direct a small portion of the river into the cup, just enough to maintain its level, and have the rest bypass the cup entirely.

Tala found herself nodding, again. And that excess can be directed into anything. This second step just lets it dissipate into the surrounding air, but Id bet the third has us put it into something? A magic-bound item, or?

Lyn looked back at her notes but was already nodding. Precisely that. She recommended that once that was mastered, I should split the power into thirds. She met Talas gaze, a serious expression apparent on her face. Dont rush this Tala. We are nowhere near mastering even the first step. My master said I could move through the steps of this exercise when I believed I was ready, but I still want to be cautious. She closed the notebook. She did say that the second, different exercise shouldnt be attempted, until I could maintain the void every waking moment. She gave Tala a stern look. That means I wont be letting you know what it is, until then.

Tala chuckled. Fair enough. But you should probably get a magic-bound item, so we arent walking around dumping power into the citys air.

Lyn smiled at that. Thats probably true. I dont want the City Watch to get irritated at unexpected fluctuations in the power matrices.

We could take a trip back to Alefast, to get you an artifact.

She shook her head. No, a simple item is better for me. I know Ill have to keep getting it re-inscribed, but Ill find something reasonable.

As you wish. Oh! You could get an incorporator.

Lyn gave her a long look, then rolled her eyes. Ill consider an incorporator, and Ill go with you to Alefast, after were Archons. Not immediately, mind you, but sometime after.

Deal! Tala smiled at her friend, then let out a weary sigh. But now, we should sleep.

To sleep we go.

Tala hesitated, realizing something. Did you get dinner?

Lyn hesitated too, then snorted a laugh. I didnt. She looked to the window, seeing that full dark had fallen. I dont really want to go out, either. Ill be fine.

Tala waved that away. My treat. Ill go get something for us and be right back. A new exercise deserves celebration. Im not starting my budget until tomorrow, anyway.

Well, if you insist. Ill take it as an apology for earlier, and I did want to read another chapter or two Lyn patted a book, which sat beside her chair.

Great! Ill be back, shortly. Apology? Oh for breaking myself, a little, in her house Sure. That too.

Lyn was already opening the volume, eyes flicking over the page to find her place. Take your time. Her voice was a half mutter.

Already lost to the world. Terry?

The bird appeared on her shoulder. She watched him for a moment, noticing his deep, long breaths. The power in the air was still dissipating into the ground and her magic items. To her surprise, there was a flow towards Terry as well, and not just into his collar. He seemed to be reveling in the ambient power.

Does that feed you, too?

Lyn glanced up, having been temporarily pulled back out of her book. Terry didnt seem to mind, or he didnt notice. The bird bobbed, contentedly, his eyes half-closed.

Well, glad to assist, I suppose. Is there a danger of you becoming magic-bound to us? As soon as she said it, she realized that it was a silly question. No you cant be magic-bound to more than one source.

Lyn cleared her throat. Once undirected power leaves a Mage, it quickly loses the unique signature of the source, and disperses into ambient magic.

Huh. Good to know.

Lyn was already back to her reading.

Well, see you soon!

She grunted, waving absently without looking up. "Be safe."

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