Millennial Mage

Tala left when Mistress Odera needed to lay down for an afternoon nap.

It had been an incredibly pleasant time, even with the morbid undertones.

-Mistress Ingrit has things ready for the enhancement of our Archive access range.-

Oh! Wonderful.

-She has a couple of questions, however. I could have answered them, but I thought you’d want to participate, directly.-

Sure.

-She wants to know what range you were hoping for?-

I’d like to be able to visit the moon one day. Tala glanced up at the portion of the moon that she could see. Even with her incredibly enhanced vision, she still couldn’t see the monsters on the moon that Master Jevin had told her about. Maybe with a telescope? Or maybe he was pulling my leg.

Alat giggled happily. -That would be pretty fun. Alright. She’s… she’s a bit flabbergasted if her word choice is any indication. She’s wondering if that’s really wise, and haven’t you had quite enough insane adventures for the time being. I’m assuring her that these plans are for the future, and that you just want to make sure to never be out of range again. Why have to upgrade more than once?-

-Alright. Apparently, there’s a way to give infinite range? Wait, that can’t be right. Hang on.-

She took in the sights, not having spent much time in this portion of the living district.

Tala paused, noticing the oddity of two pastry shops, side by side.

What kind of name is the ‘Lord Donut?’ She shook her head. Apparently, it was the moniker for some insane creation, meant to drive up business. It looked to be a donut, stuffed inside another donut and fried again, several times? The thing was massive, and apparently ridiculously fluffy.

Rather than competing directly, the neighboring shop seemed to have decided to go for a different audience. Their advertisement was for a lighter, more delicate dessert.

It wasn’t glazed; instead, it was frosted with innumerable strands of varyingly caramelized white sugar. That sugar almost looked like hair or fur, but not in an unappetizing way. The caramelization process had left the strands white, black, and a deep almost red color.

They’d dubbed their creation the ‘Princess Donut.’

It was quite lovely and well presented. It just needs a tiara.

Tala shook her head.

Lord Donut vs Princess Donut. She laughed. Well, the shops seem to be doing well, so I guess it works for them.

-Alright, it seems like she was being literal. In her words, this is extreme, but with a few mergings, our Archive ring can be split, and half left with them in the Library. The connection between the two pieces is our soul, so there’s no question of distance. If you die, the ring in their possession will dissolve. So, we’ll want to update our death clause. Of course, they’ll have to move it when this city wanes, but they have procedures for that.-

This is… too perfect. Why didn’t we do this earlier.

-That’s the thing… the material components, along with the housing within the Library, would run nearly five-thousand gold.-

Tala stutter-stepped, physically hitching at the amount. What the rust?

Alat continued before Tala could object too much. -But! With the books you’ve offered up to the Library, that cost can be covered. We won’t have much goodwill to draw on from them after this, but apparently bringing home an entire Arcane Library made them very happy with you.-

Tala swallowed reflexively. Well, we’ll never be stranded, outside of communication distance again.

-That’s for sure.-

So, how does it work, again?

-She didn’t explain beyond simply stating: A soul is always in the same place as itself.-

Huh. Can it be blocked?

-Not without killing us, no.- Alat hesitated. -Though, Mistress Ingrit did say that she didn’t really know how being in the Doman-Imithe or the void would affect it. In theory, there shouldn’t be any issue, but she said that to her knowledge it’s never been tested, specifically.-

That’s fair, I suppose. Wait… why couldn’t we just leave the ring at the Library? Why go through all this?

-So, I asked that. Apparently, while any soulbound item is still connected to you, using it at a great distance isn’t usually possible. In this case, the item, itself, will be in both places, the part we use will remain on your finger, and the part connected to the Archive will remain in the Library. I’m vastly oversimplifying the already simplified explanation she gave me. Suffice it to say, this is the only real option.-

Huh… alright then. So, to the Constructionist Guild?

-Yes, Mistress Ingrit will meet us there, and she will take the other half of our ring when we’re done.-

Less than an hour later, Tala walked out of the Constructionists’ Guildhall, waved goodbye to Mistress Ingrit, and found herself standing off to one side, a little bewildered.

It was done. Apparently, five thousand gold had been used, and she and Alat had infinite range on her Archive access.

That went off without a hitch. It was practically… boring.

-It’s nice to have something go so easily for us, for once, right?-

Tala lifted her right hand, willing the ring to fade into visibility.

It was now half as wide, turning from a somewhat hefty bit of jewelry to one that was almost delicate. Not that I let it be seen… ever.

She shook her own head, and the ring faded from physicality; even the sensation of it being on her finger vanished.

This just feels anticlimactic. In theory, that was incredibly expensive, and our isolation in the arcane cities would have been solved instantly if we had this…

-But now, it’s just done. Is that it?-

Exactly. I feel like I should have had to kill a dragon to get this. Or something equally insane. She sighed.

-Like a Pillar? Or invading a major arcane House and stealing an entire library from their hold?-

Tala grinned at that. Fair, I suppose. I just don’t feel like those things are directly connected to this in any way, but I guess that’s just me being a bit silly.

-I can understand it. You’ve a bad taste in your mouth because the House of Blood ‘just gave’ you things, and this feels a bit like that.-

…yeah. Tala narrowed her eyes. Are you getting this from Retson?

-This? No, but he is very insightful.-

I would hope so, being attached to a Hallowed and all. How long has he been around?

-I haven’t asked how old the alternate interface is, but I get the feeling that it’s been a long time.-

Tala nodded to herself, then grimaced. We should deal with our contract with the Carvanneer’s Guild, shouldn’t we...

-That would probably be wise, yeah.-

Thank you for not pushing.

-Of course! I am happy to not do things whenever you have need.-

Tala huffed a laugh as she set off toward that guild.

As she walked, she opened Kit and called in to Terry. “Hey, want to come with me to hopefully see Lyn?”

Terry trilled excitedly and flickered out onto her shoulder before hunkering down.

He’d come out every so often over the past days, but he usually declined her offers.

He had refused to come out and see Mistress Odera, and Tala thought she understood.

Animals didn’t ‘see off’ the elderly. It just wasn’t a part of who and what they were.

It would have been less than ideal if he decided to attack her in her garden, too.

-I don’t think he would have, but yes, I agree. That would have been bad.-

Terry cocked his head at her and let out a little squawk before headbutting her cheek and hunkering down once more.

“Yeah, yeah.” She reached up and scratched under the feathers of his neck.

He closed his eyes, leaning into her scratches and cooing happily.

“Thanks for coming out. I know this isn’t as much fun as being in the Wilds, or in the sanctum for that matter.”

He hesitantly cracked one eye to look her way. He then rolled that eye and began a condescending series of trills and squawks.

“Stop, stop. I get it.” She was chuckling. “It’s not bad to enjoy a time where we aren’t fighting for our lives. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Terry let out a contented exhale, bobbing once before he pushed into her hand once again.

Tala began scratching again and smiled. “You are quite wise, you know that?”

He trilled softly as if in obvious affirmation.

“Well, I’m grateful for it.”

They arrived at the Caravaneer's Guild and pushed in through the broad double doors before closing them firmly behind.

“Tala?”

Lyn was further back in the large room than she had been when Tala had first met her, but the woman still commanded a great view of the entrance. “Good afternoon, Lyn.”

The Archon leaned over, spoke to Kannis who had been sitting beside her, and then stood to come out from behind the counter. “Please, right this way.”

Tala followed, and as they walked, Terry let out a short squawk, and wiggled grumpily on her shoulder.

Lyn glanced back. “Hi, Terry. It’s good to see you, too.”

The terror bird preened, chirping happily.

“We’ll grab a back room. I assume this isn’t a social visit?”

“No… I figured I should deal with my contract.”

“And we here at the Caravan Guild appreciate that.”

“You’ve been more than patient.”

“Tala, think nothing of it. This shouldn’t be a concern.” As they passed an alcove with some food and beverages laid out, Lyn gestured. “Want anything?”

The coffee caught Tala’s eye, but she shook her head. “No, thank you.”

The room that Lyn led them to was reminiscent of the one in which Tala had renegotiated her contract previously.

“Will I have to meet with someone else? To ensure there’s no favoritism or bias?”

“That isn’t necessary in this case. One of the severability clauses will be invoked, and those are always thoroughly reviewed regardless, so we just need to talk through it, and make sure you don’t have any questions or concerns.”

“Oh. Well, that sounds much easier than what I was expecting.”

Lyn quirked a smile. “You figured we’d press you back into service, eh?”

Tala shrugged self-consciously. “The thought did cross my mind, yeah.”

The Guild representative pulled the door closed, and they both sat down. “Now, the clause that I believe we should discuss is the ‘Act of War’ clause. You were unable to fulfill your duties due to an act of war undertaken by one of the enemies of humanity. Do you agree with that assessment?”

Tala frowned. “I suppose? I mean, he didn’t attack humanity. He targeted me directly. So… actually no?”

Lyn arched an eyebrow. Then she leaned forward and placed her head in her own hands and sighed. “Tala… Why not?”

Tala shrugged. “Because? My understanding is that there is a fragile peace between humanity and the arcanes. Wouldn’t using ‘act of war’ to nullify a contract cause some issue?”

Lyn hesitated, lifting her head slightly. “I… I didn’t actually know that.”

“Oh… Yeah, apparently the humans and arcanes uncovered or created enough horrible things while trying to destroy each other that they had to ally to destroy all of those things and lock away those that couldn’t be so destroyed. They just sort of never went back to war after that was done.” Tala shrugged again.

Lyn frowned, blinking slowly as she processed that. “Then… I suppose I understand your hesitancy to agree that it was an act of war…” The woman grimaced. “Banditry?”

“That could cover it. Taken in the line of duty?” Tala grinned. “Payment due for time served?”

Lyn laughed. “Now that’s one way to think about it. Banditry would be a hard sell, though, because nothing from the caravan was taken, save you. We do have clauses in place in case of extreme injury—which wouldn’t apply—incapacitation—which might actually be the way to spin this—and trauma, rendering you unable to perform future routes.”

“Well, the trauma fits, but I’m definitely not an invalid. I could perform future routes, in theory. I was subjected to a magical condition that took me this long to recover and return from. Would that fit?”

“Yes!” Lyn manipulated her slate. “There’s a reference to the table of severity… Hmmm… it looks like they didn’t take into account being unable to find a healer. Cost of healing is covered, but you don’t have any direct expenses to submit for that… Hmm… ‘One obligated trip may be negated per three days of recovery required, at the choice of the Dimensional Mage.’”

Tala frowned. “That could be nine months, give or take, three months, or… a week? More, I suppose because I’m barred from even sparring. Combat is right out for the time being.”

Lyn nodded. “You performed a total of eighteen trips, sixteen since your renegotiation. You were on your nineteenth when you were… taken. With seventy contracted trips, that would leave you with fifty-one remaining in obligation.”

“So, one-hundred-fifty days due to the incapacitation and recovery would eliminate that?”

“Yes, and all time from time of affliction until full recovery is counted.”

“What if the time taken exceeds the number of trips covered by the contract? Am I to be paid out for harm incurred?”

Lyn huffed a laugh. “No. There is no such policy, and quite frankly, there doesn’t need to be. For basically anyone but you, to be taken out of commission for this long would be a death sentence. If you were crippled, we would pay out a severance, but you’re not, not permanently. Such is possible, but exceedingly rare. I think I’ve only seen it happen once, and I was a mageling at the time. I don’t really remember all the details, honestly, so I might be mistaken.”

“So?”

“So, I think that that is the right way to approach this. You were magically incapacitated while on the job, rendered unable to perform your duties or take on caravan routes for a protracted length of time. Per the contract, your time incapacitated and in recovery totals more than enough to negate all further required trips. Thank you for your service, Mistress Tala, and we hope that you consider us again, for your future employment needs.” Her eyes sparkled with barely-contained mirth.

“Yeah, I’ll agree to and confirm that.”

Lyn offered her the tablet, and Tala and the older Archon both confirmed the details. “The branch manager will have to review this to finalize the approval, but I don’t foresee any issues. You are free of any obligation.”

That hit Tala like a runaway wagon, and she rocked backwards, eyebrows rising. “Oh.”

Lyn frowned in concern. “Tala? Are you alright?”

“Yeah… yeah. I just… I just hadn’t thought of it that way.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve paid my debts. I’ve no active contracts. I… I have absolutely no obligations.”

“Is that… good?”

Tala bit her lip in thought. “I’m honestly not sure. What should I do with myself?”

“What you’ve been doing?” Lyn suggested helpfully.

Tala waved that off. “Until I’m Refined, of course, but what about after?”

“I suppose that’s up to you.”

She looked at her friend, frowning. “That’s… that’s terrifying.”

Lyn laughed. “I’d say get a job, but you’re practically independently wealthy at this point, and you could likely do anything you want. So? What do you want?”

“I think…” She thought about the ruins of the previous Arconaven. She thought about where Terry had come from; the plains with their moving villages; the great unpopulated northern part of the continent, supposedly the realm of gods and sovereigns; and of the cities she hadn’t seen, those under construction, and those in new terrains. I’ve never seen the coast, here. I’ve never seen a city finally fade or one spark to life. There is so much out there. “I think I want to see the wonders of the world.”

Lyn frowned, seeming concerned, but before she could comment, Tala continued.

“I want to be based here, but I don’t think I want to be locked in here.” She smiled to soften her words. “I don’t plan on taking multi-year expeditions, nor do I ever plan to be out of contact again.”

That seemed to mollify Lyn but only just. “If that’s what you really want… you won’t go alone, will you?”

Tala shrugged. “I hope not. If nothing else, I need some help within my sanctum.”

Oh. OH! She smiled as she realized that she could return to Alefast, Waning, and experience the dying of a city, then offer Adrill, Artia, and Brandon positions within her sanctum.

Two of them were gateless, so they wouldn’t hurt the space at all.

-Hey, that’s an idea… Rane and Master Grediv will be there, as well. It’s too bad that, we might have to see Furgal again, though…-

Eh, that could be avoided. Also, shouldn’t it be ‘Master Furgal?’ Isn’t he a Mage?

-If so, he doesn’t deserve the honorific… but we’re getting into the weeds. They might work for you, yeah.-

Honestly, now that I think about it, we could offer positions to any gateless. Right?

-So long as we had the space, sure. That would make us much like the villages, wouldn’t it?-

Just a bit, but if we actually get the teleportation pads working? We’d remain connected to the gated human cities.

Lyn grinned, shaking her head. “I can tell your mind is already working at it, but just to clarify, I hope you go with other powerful Archons, not just some people in your sanctum who can’t help you if you get in a bind. Now, be on your way, free agent. I’ll see you for dinner, but some of us still have to work for a living.”

Tala stood. “Thank you, Lyn. Truly. For… For everything.”

Lyn stood and gave her a quick, careful hug. “Absolutely, Tala. Any time at all.”

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