M.D.Syl
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Chapter 132 colorless
🕑 Added 2024-01-11 16:34:20 +0000 UTCChapter 132 New Threats III
It is easy to ignore the good in humanity.
Compassion and kindness are in plain sight.
While cruelty attracts the eye in bright crimson.
Unfortunately, the exception makes the rule.
Lokamesh, Father of Mortal Kind.
{28} Brigit (August) The 28th
A few days later I gather my small council when Talbot and Jolla come back from Apricot City. The gray stone room is decorated by my red flags and yellow flower vases. Nothing but embers fills the hearth, but it's warm enough in here. This time, Aisha hesitantly joins my group. The middle aged woman sits there quietly, eyeing the rest and shifting uncomfortably every three seconds.
“Sharla, anything I should know about in the city? Any news on Blue Cypress City? Report.” I ignore the newcomer.
“Nothing of note in the city, Mistress. People have mixed opinions about you, good and bad and everything in between. My people have not reached Blue Cypress yet. This is about Green Pear City, Mistress.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You’ve already sent people there?”
“Yes, Mistress, Berthold’s unit. He reported that Green Pear City has been taken by a large orc tribe. The population has been enslaved and the orcs have taken residence in the city.”
Orcs again… And now they’re enemies… Maybe I can convince them to serve me?
It’ll end up the same way… I’ll have to choose between humans and orcs again… Besides, they won’t free the people they’ve enslaved and Kolag will have the same issue again… There’s no other choice, I have to get rid of them, defeat or chase them away… Or give up on Green Pear City, I'm stretching myself thin as it is. I need more men… No. Giving up isn’t an option either, they’ll decide it’s a weakness and attack me eventually…
“If only I had an army. Sharla. Find where I can recruit a large mercenary army to my service, at least five thousand men. I don’t mind if it’s a few separate companies, Salik will whip them into shape.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
“Your Majesty, if I may.” Jolla intervenes.
“Go on?”
The gnome fixes her glasses by pushing a slender finger against the bridge of her button nose. “Tolste Bay in the north has slave armies for sale. Only they can supply these numbers. The men in those armies are trained from birth, they are disciplined and follow orders to the letter.”
“Kolag?” I look at my armored boyfriend. I don't think he'd be ok with a slave army...
“You’re only staying here for less than two years. After two years you will leave this kingdom behind, am I correct?” his voice echoes. “Why won’t you buy the slave army and promise them freedom after two years of service or less? We both free slaves, give them an honorable way to free themselves, and earn their loyalty. It’s also something that will keep my conscience free, especially if we use such an army to free people enslaved by orcs.”
That’s… it’s a good idea, not just a compromise. That being said, if those men are born into slavery, I’m not sure how well they’ll adapt to freedom, but that’s not my problem. “Very well. I’ll send Salik to buy them. But what about money. Talbot? Did you count the money we got from Olfgram's vaults yet?”
“Yes. Your Majesty." The old man holds a bright smile under his bushy white beard. "We currently have 74,743 golden peas in total. We no longer need to issue taxes."
“And how many magical gems?” I ask.
“No magic coin your majesty, only golden peas and mundane gems.”
Disappointing.
Talbot continues. "The account of gems is: Twenty six topazes. Two rubies. Five opals. Forty two sapphires..."
I cover a yawn with my hand. “It’s alright, Talbot. Tell about the exact amount of gems later. How much will a slave army of five thousand men will cost?” I direct my question to Jolla.
“Fifty thousand gold if they’re human. A hundred thousand if they’re orc. The prices are set, there’s no haggling.”
Right... No haggling... This stinks of the Sapphire Tower... Also forty two sapphires... I won't be surprised if the Sapphire Tower has to do with how common sapphires are around here. But that's a matter for a different time.
“What about the population in Apricot City?” Did I finally reach ten thousand?
Including the drafted Red Spears, 2,381 people are currently living in apricot city, 504 whom are children below the age of fifteen. With the people living in Red Cedar, our combined population reach the number of 5,990.
Ugh... I'm never going to reach ten thousand like this... Buying five thousand slave soldiers should top it to ten thousand though... “Thank you, Talbot. What about the report from General Salik, Jolla?” I turn to the gnome scholar.
The gnome hands me a sealed letter. I break the seal and unfold the scroll.
To your majesty Queen Inara.
Apricot city had been restored, the streets have been cleaned, and the people are going back to a semblance of a normal life.
I’m letting both Ovin and Daor share the responsibility of managing the city, they’ve been doing a wonderful job so far. You are highly revered in these parts. Tales of how you’ve slain the cursed creature plaguing the city are told in the taverns, there are even songs in your honor.
Your personal cook has received all the help from us, he’s doing well, and already moved on.
My personal cook? Marasi is there? Doing well and already moved on… rotten snakes! He must’ve fooled Salik…
Below a couple of ink stains, the letter continues with a different, gigantic, child-like handwriting.
Zoe sai hi, I thynk I love her, I’m thynking of marryng that woman. She iz asking for the meditatychon metod to open her earth mana pool.
Best regards, your loyal subject, Salik.
I grin. The child-like handwriting definitely belongs to Zoe, she isn’t fooling anyone. I figure that with Salik’s missing hand someone else is helping him with the writing, she probably offered to finish his letter or something...
I request a clean parchment and ink from Tasiya, and write down my reply. Let’s get her in trouble…
Dear Salik.
If you wish to marry Zoe, you have my full support and blessing.
I have a task for you. Zoe can join if you two want to go on your honey moon.
I’m sending you money. Head to Tolste Bay and buy a slave army, at least ten thousand human men strong. Promise them freedom after two years of service.
I also need you to buy me a small river fleet, we need to control our section of the river, and ships to ferry these troops.
Make haste. I’m expecting another war, and as it stands, we’re currently defenseless. Orcs have taken over Green Pear City, and a clash with them is unavoidable.
Send Ryon and Berthold home, I could use their help over here.
Leave the city for Daor and Ovin to rule, and have them report to me about the city’s state each month. Tell Ovin I’ll send him a meditation method or a cantrip for each monthly report I get, and make sure they both know that the citizens’ happiness comes first.
I’m adding a meditation method for both Zoe and Ovin to study.
Good luck!
Queen Inara.
P.S. I’ve never sent the cook anywhere, I want him caught, dead or alive. Pass the word.
I add a description of the meditation method with a rough sketch. I roll the parchment and seal it with wax, using the horse crest on my ring.
“Make sure this reaches General Salik.” I hand the parchment to Tasiya. "Send him fifty thousand golden peas from the treasury, and two hundred magical gems from my coffers... Actually, make it five hundred. I have no idea how much ships are going to cost, and I've got the gems to spare." Should be careful though, can't afford to throw them around carelessly. It paid to save all of my gems back from Axero City, I can use these funds now.
Tasiya nods and leaves the room.
“Any other matters for this week?”
"Will you attend Olfgram's execution, Your Majesty?" Kolag asks, not for the first time.
Really? Do you hope I'll change my opinion because of what? Some dumb social pressure from my own council? Oh, Kolag... "No. I have no interest in that snake pot beyond the need to be rid of him. See to it."
"Your Majesty, if I may speak freely. When you order someone's execution, you should be the one to carry it out. The least you can do is attend. Life, even the life of a bad person, isn't so meaningless to throw around."
When you ask to speak freely, you wait for a permission, bucket head. "Tell that to all the innocents Luard executed while Olfgram watched."
"Are you saying you're the same as King Luard, Your Majesty?"
Ouch... we've been over this, Kolag. I don't care. I made it clear. Why ambush me when my advisors are here? What are you hoping to achieve. "I'm saying I don't value a bastard like Olfgram to give him a formal public execution. If you did not insist that this was justice and that the people need to see his death, I'd have slit his throat in my dungeon. Go on and have your fun with the public, but don't drag me into your weird fetish." Ouch. That was harsher than I intended. Sorry, Kolag, but you should really stop...
He gets up sharply with a metallic creak. "It is human to care! Life is a big deal. Death is a big deal. It shouldn't be flailed around carelessly, Inara. Life and death should be treated with respect, even the lives of those you hate."
"This meeting is adjourned, everyone." I get up and leave the council room. Talking to me about it in private is one thing, this ambush is another.
"Inara!"
I ignore him, walking toward my room. I notice Aisha running away in the other direction of the corridor. Followed by the slow steps of Jolla and Talbot. Why did I ask the poor woman to attend? And what if she's a spy?! I doubt it. he'll get used to it, and she didn't ask or comfortable with her position to be a spy. I really need some voice to the people of my city that isn't Kolag.
"Inara, stop!"
Speaking of Kolag... I keep ignoring him.
"Inara!" He blocks my path.
I place my hands on my hips. "What made you think it was a good idea to spring this ambush on me like that?"
"You refused to talk about this. It was the only way I could get you to talk."
"The only way to piss me off. Kolag, I don't have to agree with your every opinion, and the final word here is mine. I heard your argument. I happen to disagree. Learn to accept a no. In fact. You can cancel Olfgram's execution." I turn around and head for the dungeons.
"Where are you going?" The echoing voice asks anxiously.
"To kill the bastard. He lived long enough. I should've never listened to you. I should've never kept him alive. Lezere had the right idea. You don't show mercy to a wolf, you kill him as quick as possible and without pain."
"Inara, stop!" He holds my shoulder and turns me around.
I fold my hands over my chest. "No. You said you're dangerous to me, and that you should lock yourself in the dungeon too. If you keep challenging my authority like that, I might just take you up on that offer."
He takes a step back as if I've hit him with a stream of molten lava. "I..."
"You're what? Disagree with my lack of respect toward life and death?"
He perks up. "Yes! You should...
I cut him off with a sharp hand gesture. "I heard you, Kolag. I heard your argument the first time, and the second, and the third, and the fourth, and the twenty nine times you stated your argument. I disagree. You won't let this go, and now you think it's a good idea to challenge my authority publicly, again. Maybe you are dangerous."
"I would never hurt you!" he exclaims with a loud echo.
I raise an eyebrow. "Oh really? Because you already did, based on your opinion of being right."
"But I was right!"
I heave a heavy sigh. "That's not the issue. Kolag, you have to learn how to let go. Even if you're right, you won't always get what you want, and the world won't shape itself around according to your ideas of right and wrong. You don't know how to let go. If you disagree, you either argue the other side to death, or you stab them. You did both to me already. Learn to accept or live with other people and their choices, especially the ones you disagree with. If you can't do that with me, then I don't want to see you anymore. I've got too much on my mind already."
I head to my dungeons. Kolag looms silently behind me, metallic steps creaking against stone.
It takes a few minutes, and only once we reach the stairs down in the low stone corridor does Kolag speak. "Are you going to kill him now?"
"Yes. Are you going to stop me?"
"I... I should."
"Will you?"
He fidgets, his armor creaks. "No. I'm unhappy with your disregard for life, of course. I... You're right. I never thought about it. It was just what's right and what's wrong according to Noxi's law. I will try to do as you say."
"Good. Trying is all I can ask from you."
"I still think you should lock me up."
"And I still think you should let go of your guilt. It's dumb, and it's holding you back."
"Like how not eating human flesh for power is holding you back?"
I stop. "It's not the same!"
"It's exactly the same! It's... opinions... ideals... right and wrong is a set of opinions. You said so yourself. So why won't you eat human flesh and souls? You'd be stronger if you had, we both know that. What's stopping you?"
"Are you arguing that I should eat human flesh now? It won't happen. Leave." I turn and keep walking toward the dungeon.
He strides after me. "No. Never! I'm saying that there's more to right and wrong than just opinions. What makes us humans, or sapient. Why do we view something like murder, rape, and theft as wrong? Why are such things obviously wrong? Either because Noxi said so for so long that everyone now believes it to be true, like you argued. Or." He halts, the suddenness of the move forcing me to halt in tandem and pivot to face him. Seeing he has my attention, he dips his head slightly before continuing. "There's something beyond Noxi that believes so. Something so fundamental in our universe that goes beyond the gods. Or maybe Lokamesh..."
I roll my eyes. "So there has to be something mystical and divine about our sense of right and wrong? It couldn't just be simple common sense?"
"Common sense," Kolag echoes. "Listen to the words. Common. Sense. A common opinion. A common opinion is something that changes from race to race, culture to culture. We both know that the common sense in orcish culture is to enslave, rape, and murder people for being weak. As well as eat your fallen or your enemies. And we both agree that's wrong because we have a fundamental sense of right and wrong. Even the orcs would agree if they had that sense, Lezere would agree with us."
Mention of our friend fires a fresh wave of irritation within me. "Now you're just deluding yourself. A part of me is glad Lezere died before our clash with the orcs... We might've had to kill her if she was still alive and sided with the orcs." I shake my head. "No. You're right. Common sense is just a commonality of sense. There's no right and wrong... and the fact I've insisted on not consuming human flesh is dumb beyond all reasons... It even got innocents killed before. Yet I still can't do it. I guess the common sense I grew up with simply holds me back..." A bitter chuckle rips from my throat. Fuck... The hag was right after all."
"No, Kolag replies at once. "She wasn't. Compassion. Empathy. These things aren't formed by common sense. Our own nature is what forms common sense. Forget orcs. Orcs are monsters with Lezere being the exception. No. Human common sense is formed by our compassion and empathy. Lokamesh instilled that in us when he created us, so we'll know right from wrong.
I spin away and continue down the dank corridor, Kolag’s footsteps chasing me. "More religious babble? Are you following Lokamesh now?"
"No. But Lokamesh is the creator of human kind, and there's a reason he instilled compassion into us."
"Oh really? I wonder why he added so much ambition, greed, and lust into the mix. Humans kill and hurt each other over those three way too much. For the God of Peace, his creations aren't all that peaceful really. Slavers, rapists, murderers."
Kolag’s sigh echoes behind me. "Inara, how many slavers rapists and murderers exist compared to the average folk?"
"A lot."
"A lot?" The disbelief is clear in his echoing voice. "One in fifty people is a cruel evil bastard who needs to die. You're overlooking all the normal people who just want to live their lives peacefully. You're overlooking the victims. The ones who show compassion to strangers. Kindness. Like that traveling tribe you met when you escaped the tower." He paces up beside me, the hallway only just wide enough for us to walk shoulder-to-shoulder. "You're arguing that humans are fundamentally bad. I think humans are fundamentally good, with a few bad apples. When one bad apple gets to the top, he or she tend to incite too much chaos and war that makes you view humanity as a whole as bad. We're not bad. We're compassionate, and kind, and gentles. Most of us just want to build a life with the good spouse, a nice house, a stable income, and a bunch of kids."
Right... "And I'm not fully human."
"You're half human, he counters. "It's the dominant half from what I've seen."
"Maybe. So... let me get this straight. You're arguing that right and wrong is inbuilt into humans as an instinct, according to Lokamesh' ideals of right and wrong?"
He nods. "Yes."
"Huh... well. An interesting theory. But if that's the case I should really break my sense of right and wrong. I don't like the fact a god is twisting my sense of morality and choice with his own idea of right and wrong." Fuck Lokamesh. Fuck the gods. And fuck everyone who'll take away any semblance of freedom I still have left.
By now we’ve reached Olfgram’s cell. I stop before it, hand reaching into my pouch for the key.
As if he can sense my mental disquiet or possibly read my mind, Kolag clears his throat. "Then why are you still alive? A god created you, took from you the choice of existing and gave you an inert will to survive and live on. Why would you let Lokamesh take away your choice? Wouldn't you rather die than live in a world where a god took your fundamental choice away?"
"This makes no sense!" I declare.
"Inara..."
Fuck you too! Why do you have to complicate everything?! Life is too complicated anyway. "Enough!" I slot the key and open Olfgram's cell door. The tied up man looks worse for wear. Drools trickles down his chin. His white mustache his half torn and his eyes are shut.
I place my hand on his head, and the bronze chains that hold him rattle. "My choice made for me?! Then what I'm doing now is on your precious gods!"
"Inara..."
"Myrsha ritsa." <Gravity repulse.>
The head explodes like a ripe watermelon. Showering me with gore, blood, and pieces of skull and brain. Great... now I need a bath. Couldn't I do this in a cleaner manner?!
I wipe some blood off my face. "Don't challenge my authority openly again, Kolag. If you disagree. Come to me privately, and I'll hear you out. Are we clear on that?"
"Crystal," he answers with a looming echo.
*
Two days later, I do manage to cast the mastered version of instant freeze. It does need to be amplified for the air to turn into liquid, but it's actually rather simple to do. All that was needed is a change of perspective about air, viewing air as a liquid instead of well... air.
The blinding light is a dead end. Frustrated, I stop focusing on mastering it and switch to mastering a gravity spell, a simple one. Leo's Pull. The mastery of it is also rather easy to figure out. The spell violently pulls objects toward me. A control over the strength of that pull is all I need to master it.
It's something I easily achieve within a day.
"Myrsha." <Pull.> I cast the spell on my grimoire.
The fifth gem lights up, and my grimoire unlocks with a click.
Finally! About damn time!
Ok. No researching spells now. None of that. I'm going to take it slow later. When I thought about the spells I want. This is an extremely precious and a limited resource...
Now... Back to meditation. It's about time I consume the soul in my veins.
*
I float in my trance and fantasy. The world is blackness. Nothing disturb me. The mana flows with my breaths. In. Out.
In. Out.
In. Out.
In. Out.
“Inara? Wake up! Inara!” Kolag shakes me violently, dragging me back to reality.
“Hm?” I keep my eyes close, I don’t want to leave the trance. I’ve fully strengthened and connected my abdomen storage mana pool. Now I can convert mana from other pools at a decreased cost.
Focusing on it, I can tell I also have a pool of general mana now. It’s not at the size of the necklace, but more mana is more mana.
I savor the feeling and focus on my neck-bridge mana pool, I’ve already started connecting it as well. The soul of the red-fae is nearly gone by now, dissolving into abundances of rich mana.
“Inara!!! Wake up! You need to wake up!” Kolag’s voice again, go away, I’m meditating!
“Inara!”
“What?!” I open my eyes and scream when I fall down to the floor. What was I doing floating so high in the air?!
Kolag helps me stand. “It’s Sharla, someone tried to kill her. Jolla is treating her wounds as we speak. Jerro said that the woman who tried to kill her is coming to kill you!”
*~*~*
Interlude 132.1
Dana
It’s odd to be back in Red Cedar City. But it feels good. It feels good to take revenge on the woman who ended her career here. And Dana isn’t alone this time, she came with stronger and better assassins. Their leader, Normier is a Shaf of Tiyadi, a harbinger of death and doom.
As for his second in command. Sierra has already dispatched the spy who almost found out about their presence. Dana saw how she beheaded that stupid woman, it was quite a sight. The spy wasn’t exactly obvious, but Sierra noticed her even behind a wall. This is how true professionals operate.
This time the cursed harpy Inara will die, Sierra herself had promised to do the deed, and that woman scares even Dana.
Dana crouches on the rooftop, she’s simply the backup on this op, all she has to do is sit and wait. If Sierra fails, she’ll escape into the planned ambush outside the palace. Maybe Sierra should fail, Dana wants to get her revenge with her own hands…
Dana glances at Rukhan on the opposite roof. The man is disturbing to say the least, even for an assassin he’s way too sadistic. Dana recalls their last victim and shudders. The images of blood on the poor woman's thighs and chest are not something Dana will forget. Dana can kill. She is ok with ending lives, but that amount of sadistic torture is just sick. Maybe this awful Queen should fall into his hands. Dana wants to see her going through that ordeal, it’ll be a good revenge.
*~*~*
Power level: 3rd stage apprentice.
Mana pools status:
Crown-knot: Affinity 10: connected: 1 gem replenished per minute.
Neck-Bridge: Affinity 6: formed: max amount of gems drained per day: 91
Abdomen-storage: Affinity 5: connected: 41 neutral gems. Conversion ratio: elemental : neutral-3:1, neutral : elemental-1:1
Air: Affinity 4: formed: 34 gems
Fire: Affinity 2: formed: 17 gems
Light: Affinity 3: formed: 25/26 gems
Water: Affinity 6: connected: 75 gems
Earth: Affinity 1: formed: 8 gems
Wood: Affinity 2: formed: 17 gems
Gravity: Affinity 9: connected: 102/113 gems
Cantrip known:
Air: Shavi’s Breeze, Shavi’s Sword. Shavi’s Hair Dryer, Aria’s Enhanced Hearing. Aria’s Sonic Scream. Aria's Increased Voice.
Fire: Nuriss’ Flame. Effrat’s Firefly, Effrat’s Fire Breath. Sorladika's Lesser Heating. Nuriss’ Ignite. Oniga's Soap Creation.
Light: Noxi’s Light. Lako’s Blinding Light. Rika’s energy hand.
Water: Water Evocation, Water to Ice, Ice to Water, Water to Vapor, Vapor to Water, Mayan’s Icy Spike, Ayla’s Water Jet. Ayla’s instant freezem. Ayla's Flowing Shield. Ayla’s Freezing Vapors. Hot Water Conjuration. Boiling Waterjet.
Earth: Alice’s Oil Summoning, Reiko’s Acid Spray. Alf's Copper Bolt
Wood: Arigor’s Lesser Vines. Kolosu’s Vegetable Summoning.
Gravity: Lumina’s Kinetic Burstm. Tukado’s Repulse. Tukado’s Lesser Shield IIm. Imari’s Minor Telekinesism. Imari’s Jump. Leo’s Pullm. Leo’s Grounding. Alino’s Light Body. Alino’s Heavy Body. Alino's Orbiter.
Transmutation: Oniga's Laundry.
Spells known:
Light: Rika's Electric Channelb1
Gravity: Alino’s Weightless Bodyb1x2. Tukado's Pushb1x3. Tukado’s defense IIIb1x4m. Imari’s Lesser Flightb2m.
Life: Brigit’s Lesser Cure Poison. Brigit’s Skin Restoration.
(Little letters by spell sides: m=mastered. a=advanced. b=bound spell, number near the b is how many gems of the mana pool binding the said spell takes.)
Focus capability: 21 patterns.
Social status: The Queen of Red Cedar City. Inara, Daughter of Mysteries. Apprentice to the Maven of Mysteries. Sorceress.
Personal Wealth: 965 Magic Gems.
Personal Items:
Magical necklace. Contains 100 gems of general mana, can be drained like a mana pool. It’ll recharge by itself at the rate of five gems an hour.
1 potion of lightning body.
1 potion of mana, medium grade.
5 potions of Lesser Healing.
5 potions of Pain Tolerance.
An enchanted belt with eight pouches, the enchantment keeps the pouches’ content fresh. Each pouch may contain 10g of petals or six potion flasks.
40g Rose petals.
10g Lavender petals.
10g Sowbread petals.
10 empty soul bottles. Glass with a diamond stopper, put in scaled leather wrapping.
The Great White Egret grimoire. Dedicated by the Maven of mysteries to Inara. 30/100. Unlocked.
Present Companions:
Kolag of house Befar.
Jerro.
Sharlafyn Nettledew.
Languages:
Toml’a <People’s tongue> Fluent
Sinteo <Speech> Fluent
Myrsha <Gravity> 8/10
Felul <Wind> 1/10
Nim <Water> 1/10
A'arkalu <Wolf Tongue> 4/10
Injuries and scars:
Curses: unknown extracted parasite, possibly bloodline related. Gone due to an unknown bloodline magic.
-
Kingdom’s treasury: 26,163 Golden Peas.
Kingdom’s citizen:
Red Cedar City: 3,609 adults. 1,654 children.
Apricot City: 1,877 adults. 504 children.
Total: 5,990 souls.
Kingdom's army: 123 Footmen. 16 Peacekeeper Knights. 500 Blood Spears.
Notables at Court:
Tasiya Keyholder.
Jolla SilverQuill.
Talbot Bookkeeper.
Aisha?
