M.D.Syl
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Chapter 90 colorless
🕑 Added 2023-06-20 12:56:03 +0000 UTCAuthor notes:
This chapter is dedicated to Hjalte Tromborg for supporting me on Patreon.
Thank you very much for your support! <3
Last peaceful chapter for a while. Enjoy it while it lasts… kikikiki…
Chapter 90 Palace Days V.
Survival isn’t about being ready.
It’s about adapting to new situations.
It’s about accepting new realities.
It’s about changing oneself to fit a harsh world.
Tonisha, the Lady of Ventures.
{28} Noxi (April) the 17th, 5780, the year of the harpy wing.
“Ya see? He has weak points. Ya hit them. It’s easy!” Ryon points at the knees, groin, and joints of Lepp Strongarm, the guard we currently use as a training dummy. We’re at the garden. The roses and lavenders are still immature, but I deeply enjoy the blooming scent.
After dedicating hours every day to meditations, I finally manage to fully connect my crown-knot mana pool. My mana regeneration rate grows to a gem per minute. The surprise comes in form of mana growth to all of my other pools. Not a big growth, but enough to be notable.
With my defensive spells covered, I feel somewhat secure about my magical abilities. Today, I find the time for some physical training. Things have calmed down, and there are no longer issues or fools that require my immediate attention. Especially since Lord Gemhand had indeed supplied all of our food for the next three years. With my stores full and well guarded, and recruitment on the way, there’s nothing I should worry about.
I should sit down and experiment with more potions. Yes, I no longer mess up the Healing Potions, but I should try and brew others. Pain Tolerance Potion looks like it might be useful... Or maybe learn more spells like a few weeks ago. Maybe I can find out more spells, or come up with ideas.
There should be a way to mix ‘Copper Bolt’ with ‘Repulse’, I know it. The hag said something about a bridging patterns, but there’s nothing in her damn guidance book about it! I’ve been trying for weeks… it just doesn’t work. I should give it up.
Training my body is also important. Sooner or later I’ll find myself in a situation where I can’t use magic. The knowledge and training can’t hurt, so I should focus on it, I set the time for it, I should focus.
“Ya small, you dodge! Then hit d’a weak point!” Ryon gestures at the guard. “Hit me!”
When Lepp responds with a punch. Ryon steps back, avoiding him. Ryon repeats this multiple times, avoiding the man’s punches and kicks by moving and jumping backward.
When Lepp gains some confidence and commits to his strikes, Ryon kicks the man’s crotch.
Lepp stumbles back with agony etched on his face. Ryon grabs Lepp’s shoulders and jumps, hitting the man’s chin with his knee. He kicks Lepp’s chest, spins backward in a summersault, and lands on his feet.
The poor guard is knocked back on his ass. Ryon twirls and kick Lepp’s temple when the man is about to get up to his feet. Knocking the guy unconscious.
“See? Easy!”
Oh yeah! Easy! Like everyone can just make those jumps, twirls, and summersaults you do! If I try, I’m going to fall right on my face, or worse, injure myself… But I can try using the principles… hit the weak points.
This is pointless, I just need to know enough so I can touch my opponent with a kinetic burst. It can’t hurt… It’s a waste of time!
No, it’s not. A right dodge at the right time might save my life. And I can find myself without mana or gems to rely on one day, not to mention bound by iron. This is important!
“Don’t knock him out next time, people won’t train with us at this rate,” I say dryly.
Ryon shrugs. “Ye, ok. ah can be a gentleman.”
We call in the next guard.
“Your name?” I ask.
The dark haired guard flinches. “Gesin, Your Majesty, Gesin son of Yaor.”
“Alright, Gesin. Let’s spar.”
A pair of brown eyes focus on Ryon, assessing him.
“Not with him, with me." I step between the two. "Hit me, I need to learn how to deal with something like that.”
“I can’t hit you, Your Majesty… that’s… I…” The young man shifts uncomfortably.
I sigh. “But I ordered you to. Don’t worry, I won’t harm you. I simply need the training.”
“But... your majesty… It’s blasphemy!”
Blasphemy?! I seriously hate this religious babble! “Isn’t it blasphemy to refuse my order?” I raise an eyebrow.
“I… I…”
“Oh by Nuriss’ bloody jugs, I can’t watch this anymore. Get Lepp to the infirmary and go back to your post!” Salik ceases his idle observation and steps in. The tanned guard nods in relief and carries Lepp away from the garden.
Salik turns to me. He cracks his neck and takes off his shirt. “You want to train, ask me next time.”
“Thanks,” I smile, trying not to get distracted by his well-built body. “I thought of threatening the guard with execution if he doesn’t…” A tug to my legs and the world turns white. When the ringing in my ear stops, I find myself on my back down on the grass, looking up at Salik.
“First lesson! The enemy won’t wait for you to finish your sentence or spell. He won’t wait for you to be ready. He will hit you whenever he can, and it’ll hurt!” He offers his hand to help me get up.
Rage and adrenaline pump in my veins, pulsing in rhythm with the pain in the back of my head. This was unnecessary! I’ve been through enough life and death situations to know this lesson by heart.
I ignore his offered hand, knowing too well that it’s another trick. I send a sweeping kick to his knee, turning on my side in the process. I hit him, but he is unfazed. He kicks my legs to the side, steps in, and knees my waist.
A yelp escapes my lips with the sharp pain. Salik kicks my back, he turns me on my stomach, and presses his knee on my back.
“Second lesson! A strike without any force behind it should only be used as a feint or a jab. If you can’t put enough force into…”
Enough!!! “Rod’ena!” <vines!> Vines grow from the ground and respond to my mental control, forming a thick braid. I direct the vines to wrap themselves around his legs and hang him upside down.
I stand, retie up my hair, and wipe the sweat from my face. Mana drains from my necklace in order to maintain my ‘Vines’ spell.
“Finally!” Salik calls out. He crosses his hands while still hanging upside down in the air, it’s as if he’s still standing with his legs on the ground. “The real lesson. You have magic, you have powers no ordinary human being has. While your body doesn’t fit this kind of physical exercise.” His awful straw hat drifts down to the ground, but he doesn’t react to it.
“But Ryon can do it!” I point out angrily. “You can give me harsh training if you wish, I want to learn. But don’t try and stop me from learning. It may save my life, and I could put this set of skills to good use by combining it with my magic. Besides, dodging a spell from an enemy caster is better than blocking it with my magic.” I let go of the vines, dropping him on his head. He deserves it.
To my surprise, he manages to react in time by dropping into a roll and getting back to his feet.
“See? This is exactly what I need! These battle instincts,” I point out.
He shakes his head. “You can’t master everything.”
“I’m not trying to master it. Just to learn the basics, enough to help me respond better in a hand to hand fight and keep myself alive. Enough to be able to surprise someone even while having iron on my person.”
He heaves a sigh. “Fine. I understand. You want to better yourself for combat, better your instincts, and you want to strengthen your body. You think this is the way to do it, and maybe it is. You aren’t entirely wrong, but you’re skipping an important step.”
“What step?”
He dusts his pants and points at a stack of grain sacks at the edge of the garden, some of Gemhand’s shipment that hadn’t been carried into the storage yet. “Ryon, can you lift one of these for me?”
The lithe boy shrugs and hugs a sack, lifting it from the pile. “When do we eat? Inara promised me food after ah teach her, ah wanna eat that meat with…”
“How long can you hold it?” Salik cuts Ryon’s questions short.
“As long as I want, no prob, but it’s boring! Do I have to hold it long? Ah’m hungry! There’s this blondie lady with…”
Salik gestures sharply, shutting Ryon up. “Now let Inara lift that.” Ryon hands me the sack. I nearly fall when he lets it go. It’s heavy, a lot heavier than I thought it’d be. “How long can you hold it, Inara?”
“I’m not sure…” Not even a minute…
Salik circles me with his hands behind his back. “That’s the step you’re skipping. To be able to fight like the kid, you need to have a stronger body. Stronger arms, stronger legs. Endurance. I doubt you can even support the weight of your body with the twigs you call hands. You’re too soft, you didn’t experience a single day of true manual labor in your entire life. You’re also a woman and that doesn’t work in your favor for this particular field. The kid lived on the streets his entire life, over fifty years if I’m not mistaken. If you truly want to mimic the kid’s fighting style, you need to strengthen your body first.”
A fifty years old kid… Doesn’t matter, Salik makes a good point. “How do I strengthen my body then?” I ask, putting the sack of grain down.
“Let’s start easy.” Salik hands me a spear. “Stab the training dummy a thousand times. I’ll be counting them. Manage to do that, and I promise I’ll train you. Fail, and it’s best if you give up.”
“You call that easy?”
He gives me a mocking grin. “Can’t do it, My Queen?” He adds a theatrical bow.
Aww… so sweet, playing the wise old mentor from the bard’s tales are we? Want me to prove my determination? You’re nothing compared to the hag! A thousand spear stabs coming right up o’ my old stupid mentor! I snatch the spear and proceed to stab the dummy.
It’s only a hundred stabs, but my arms are sore, and my back cracks with every movement. I am covered in sweat from head to toe. After years of malnourished teenage growth, all I did with my body was sitting with books and magical ingredients all day long. Needless to say, my body isn’t used to this kind of exercise. But I need to get used to things like this. In the future I’ll have to fight for my life, having a fit body and knowing how to use weapons can only be beneficial. Especially if I can augment myself with spells…
Two hundred stabs. I desperately need to sit down, no, lay down. But I keep on standing. The air coming in and out of my lungs burns in my chest, and the sweat on my face enters my eyes, blurring my vision. I just close them and keep on stabbing. This is good training, and I’ll have to do this sooner or later. Better to do it sooner while I am still young enough for this. And my body should still be growing.
Three hundred stabs. The sun above isn’t helping. My hair sticks to my face, my clothes stick to my body, and every movement is uncomfortable. My throat is dry, I need water desperately. But I have to keep going. I have to do this in order to get the physical ability I want. And nothing will stop me, especially not my own body!
Four hundred stabs. I experiment for a solution. How do I get to a thousand stabs when I am about to collapse? I didn’t even do a half! After a little bit, I manage to enter a semi meditative state while stabbing the dummy. However, I have to stop counting the stabs in order to do it. I have to let my mind drift into fantasy.
Salik sits in his low chair, his head half covered by his straw hat. I wonder where he got that horrible hat… I know he’s watching. The number of stabs doesn’t really matter to him, he only wants to see that I am committed enough.
I slip into the semi meditative state, my body is performing the stabs and my mind is elsewhere. Dreaming about my future power and vengeance on the Sapphire Tower. Dreaming about going home and seeing my family again. Dreaming about finding my mother.
It lasts for a while, my body screams for a break, but I ignore it all. This is just another form of meditation, one that strengthens my body instead of my magic, and it has to be done.
A warm callused hand holds my sore shoulder. “How many stabs was it now?” Salik asks.
I knew he wasn’t counting! I open my eyes and wince when burning sweat enters them. It’s already afternoon. I am not sure how long I was stabbing the dummy, but it’s nearly falling apart by now. My body is sore, my palms are burning, and I lost the feeling in my feet. “I lost count around four hundred, I figured you’ll tell me to stop when it’s time.”
He chuckles. “Never took you for the stubborn type, thought you are too intelligent for that. You were supposed to give up, and you ruined my plans, kid. What can I say, a promise is a promise. If you want me to train you, I’ll be happy to do it. But you have to promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“As long as it comes to your physical training, you do everything I say, exactly as I say.”
I nod, deadpan. “So what are we doing next?”
I grin when I see the dumbfounded look on his face. “Rest! At least for three days, no, a week. Your body will be sore for a while, but bear with it. Don’t drink one of your healing potions. Muscles develop by slightly damaging and restructuring themselves, a healing potion will undermine your work.”
I wipe the sweat from my face. “Very well. You have my word. I’ll follow everything you say exactly as you say. I know you have seventy years of experience in this field, I’ll count on your wisdom for that.”
“Stubborn and smart, a dangerous combination…”
“You forgot beautiful!” I add with a grin.
He pats my back, causing me to grimace. “Don’t be greedy, kid. No one has everything. I still think you’re a pathetic, skinny, youngling who’s way in over her head. But at least you’re not dumb enough to think you know everything… Now go get some rest.”
I nod. I need a warm bath and sleep. Tomorrow, I can study some spells, use my physical resting time to learn some more alchemical recipes, and train my mind. Then alter between the two… I will only get stronger!
A guard comes from outside the garden we used for the training. “Your majesty!” He shouts, dropping to his right knee. “Queen Phoebe arrived at the docks! She demands to see the k…” The guard hesitates for a moment. “She demands to see king Luard, My Queen. She said…” He gulps. “She said to tell the king in these words: ‘drag your sorry ass to the docks right now! Or you’ll be meeting my armies in the field, and I won’t spare you this time.”
It’s been a little over a month… Of course she still thinks Luard is in charge here…
This is bad… I assume her armies aren’t something to laugh at if she uses them as a threat. And I’m not in a condition to meet her right now…
“Zoe, prepare a good dress and a bath for me. Salik, see if you can stall this queen, invite her to the palace maybe. Don’t get on her nerves, she might kill you if you annoy her too much. Ryon, find a way to watch that new queen. I want to know everything she does, and please don’t get too distracted. Somebody notify Kolag about this. I need him at the docks as soon as possible.”
*~*~*
Interlude 90.1
Kolag
Kolag hates himself.
How many had he killed on that fateful day?! How many had to die?! How many orphans and widows did he leave behind?
He had to protect Inara, there was no other choice to make. But the price… what a terrible price.
Widows. Orphans. Cripples. People who starve and ask for coppers out on the streets! And no matter how much helps he offers them, they refuse to accept it. They’d rather starve and curse him than accept his help… what madness?!
“Sir Knight?” The feminine voice stops Kolag mid stomp.
“Yes? How may I help you, my good lady?” This is the first person to approach him, he can’t rot this up!
“Do you truly offer aid like the Queen’s criers say? Is it truly free?” she sounds desperate.
“Yes. I offer help, and it is free. The Queen wants to do good with the people of this city. How may I help you?” he responds patiently. Is it really that hard to believe that he’s offering free help?! How stubborn can these people be?!
“I… Sir… my husband died… my son ran away… we depended on him for food, but he ran… I’m working, but it’s not enough, Sir… if there’s anything…”
“Fret not milady! Come! Let’s buy everything you need for the next month, then see what else I can do for you.”
“Just until next week, Sir! I know my son will come back he’s…”
“What’s your name, my good lady?”
“Alina…”
“How many children do you have at home, Alina?”
“F-five…”
“Dale. Harris. Go to the market and buy a month’s worth of food for a family of six. Yalvin will show you where to bring it later. Lead me to your home, my good lady, I’d like to take a look at it.”
The woman bows, and almost runs away. Kolag truly can’t understand these people. Why is she trying to run away now? It’s not hard to keep up with her. They soon enter a crumbling shack in the slums.
The house is rotting wooden walls, two dirty rooms, and a broken roof. Two of the five children are fighting each other on the filthy floor, the other three are playing as if the fight has nothing to do with them. A small fire in a stone oven at the corner, and something resembling soup in the bent copper pot.
“Sharr, Martin. You’re helping me fix the roof. Yalvin, Simor, draw water. You’re washing these children. On the double people!” Kolag doesn’t hesitate.
“But sir. This is the roots district, they’ll be dirty again within a day.” Simor protests.
“And so will you. You still take a bath, don’t you?”
“He does bathe sir… Once a week.” Yalvin lets out an exaggerated sniff and gets punched in the arm by his friend.
“Get to work!” Kolag has no time for the foolishness of soldiers. Inara was right, Noxi bless that woman. It was simply a matter of time, and now people are finally done testing the wind with him. Soon, more people will request his help.
Kolag should get more men from Salik. Something will have to be done about that, they can’t keep fighting over their manpower like this…
But it doesn’t matter. Kolag can finally help these people! He can finally make some amends for the terror he had brought into their lives. He will help this woman get back on her feet, he will make sure she secures a good paying job to keep herself going, she can’t depend on him forever. But for now, he just have to help with the basics. Let’s fix this crumbling roof!
*~*~*
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: 73
Abdomen-storage: Affinity 5: formed: 11 gems. Conversion ratio: 6:1
Air: Affinity 4: formed: 22 gems
Fire: Affinity 2: formed: 11 gems
Light: Affinity 3: formed: 16/17 gems
Water: Affinity 6: formed: 33 gems
Earth: Affinity 1: formed: 5 gems
Wood: Affinity 2: formed: 11 gems
Gravity: Affinity 9: formed: 49/50 gems
Cantrip known:
Air: Shavi’s Breeze, Shavi’s Sword. Shavi’s Hair Dryer, Aria’s Enhanced Hearing. Aria’s Sonic Scream.
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 freeze. Ayla's Flowing Shield.
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 Burst. Tukado’s Repulse. Tukado’s Lesser Shield II. Imari’s Minor Telekinesis. Imari’s Jump. Leo’s Pull. Leo’s Grounding. Alino’s Light Body. Alino’s Heavy Body. Alino's Orbiter.
Transmutation: Oniga's Laundry.
Spells known:
Light: Rika's Electric channelb
Gravity: Alino’s Weightless Bodyb.
Life: Brigit’s Lesser Cure Poison.
Focus capability: 14 patterns.
Social status: The Queen of Red Cedar City. Inara, Daughter of Mysteries. Apprentice to the Maven of Mysteries. Sorceress.
Personal Wealth: 1801 Magic Gems. 1420 Golden Peas, 45 Silver Scales, 32 Copper Bits.
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.
4 potions of Lesser Healing.
An enchanted belt with eight pouches, the enchantment keeps the pouches’ content fresh. Each pouch may contain 10g of petals or six potion flasks.
Fresh rose petals, 45g
Fresh lavender petals, 13g
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. 23/100
Present Companions:
Kolag of house Befar
Salik
Zoe
Ryon
Languages:
Toml’a <People’s tongue> Fluent
Sinteo <Speech> Fluent
Myrsha <Gravity> 8/10
Felul <Wind> 1/10
Injuries and scars:
-
Kingdom’s treasury: 8,438 gold coins.
Kingdom’s citizen: 5,898 humans, 2,251 human children.
Kingdom's army: 900 footmen, 26 peacekeeper knights.
Notables at Court:
Tasiya Keyholder
Jolla SilverQuill
Talbot Bookkeeper
Marasi Chef extraordinaire (spymaster.)
Old Gardner Tiom
