Chapter: 181 - Just a Minor Change (Patreon)

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Tala ate her fill of three silver worth of food. Her lunch companions, Rane and Aproa, who were already used to her large appetite, watched with disbelief as she simply continued to eat.

Normally, she ate about twice what Rane did, despite being less than half his size. For this meal however, she ate nearly six times what the large man did.

Terry had enjoyed trying a bit of everything but had settled back on jerky after the initial tastes.

Tala smiled contentedly to herself, contemplating how much she’d increased her stores. Not too bad, Tala.

-I’ll say. We were approaching our real weight, given our heavier muscles, bones, and other tissue. Our stores haven’t been lower, except right after you received those inscriptions from Holly. Even losing our arm didn’t take us so close to empty.-

Tala ignored the reference to the past unpleasantness and redirected the conversation. And I burn through around twenty-four hundred calories a day. So, burning through two pounds of reserves will heal me as much as I naturally would over three days, but much faster?

-If your entire body was in need of healing? Yes, near enough. Or you could regrow an arm, almost twice over.- Alat hesitated. -Or near enough to that.-

No wonder the weapon’s test, and resulting pressure wave, had taken so much from her. She’d dropped more than twenty pounds from that one instance, alone. And this meal will translate to about a pound of reserves.

-For a normal person, this would turn into about that, yeah, but we’re a bit more efficient. Call it a pound and a half with the enhancements to our digestive system.-

Right, because most people wouldn’t extract all there was within the food, and then spend a greater proportion to store it.

-Precisely.-

What does happen to the excess weight? I know I’m eating more than a pound and a half.

-You know the answer.-

I’m sure I do, but you can recall it faster.

Alat sighed within Tala’s mind. -You breathe most of it out, if you want the quick version.-

Ahh, right.

Tala returned her focus to Rane and Aproa, briefly explaining that she’d been using up too much of her reserves of late, so she had to make it up.

Aproa frowned. “Should we find other ways of practicing? I don’t like the idea of you running out of healing energy in the middle of a match.”

Tala shook her head. “Even now, I’m still at a level where I could recover from virtually anything. I just couldn’t do it more than a couple of times. I’ll have plenty of warning that I’m approaching dangerous levels, assuming you all aren’t intent on pinning me down and raining death upon me any time soon.”

Rane barked a laugh and smiled but didn’t comment.

Aproa nodded, considering. “You know your own powers, I suppose. Shall we?”

“Sure.” Tala stood. “Ready, Rane?”

“I’m ready.” He had a contented smile across his features that Tala didn’t see a reason for.

Oh well. That man’s an enigma.

-It’s because you aren’t using any honorific when addressing him.-

Tala almost tripped on her own feet as they left the restaurant. That would have been embarrassing.

-Just a bit, yeah.-

She thought back and found that Alat was right.

-Of course, I’m right.-

When did that happen? She couldn’t actually recall the last time she’d called him “Master Rane,” but it couldn’t have been that long ago.

-Oh, it’s been building.-

So…what does that mean?

-It means that you’re comfortable with him.-

Nothing more?

-I’m not going to tell you what to feel or what you feel, Tala. That way lies madness.-

Tala grimaced.

“Are you alright, Tala?” Rane placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I know that my stomach would be angry at me if I ate even half of what you did.” He grinned, trying to add levity to what would have been a rude comment to anyone else.

He didn’t use an honorific for me, either… She felt like she only noticed because Alat had pointed out her own lack.

-You’re right about that. He’s been using it less and less of late. Mirroring you, mostly, but tentatively.-

Is that alright?

-Do you care?-

She found that she didn’t, not really. She patted his hand and smiled. “I’m fine. Just thinking.”

“Anything interesting?”

Tala felt a moment of awkwardness. Oh, yes, I’m just thinking about you, Rane. You’re very interesting. She flushed at the very idea of saying such a thing. Then, she silently thanked the stars that her skin was hidden. I really hope that blushing isn’t illusorily recreated for all to see. “Not too much, no.”

Aproa snorted a laugh. “Come on, you two. I’m sure Terry wants to put some Mages in their place.”

Terry bobbed in excited agreement and let out a disturbingly deep, basso trill.

The streets were fairly crowded, and the result of his jubilation was that people stared their way in confusion and mild alarm. Funnily enough, people stepped out of their path after that, making the trip faster than in might otherwise have been.

When the group had almost arrived at the training compound, Tala realized that she hadn’t told Rane something quite important. So, she pulled him a bit off to one side, while continuing to walk, yanked him down so she could reach his ear, and whispered into it. “Hey.”

He gave her an odd look as they kept walking, the large man hunched oddly to one side. “Hey, yourself?”

“I recovered the memories.”

His eyes widened. “Well, rust.”

“Yeah. I’m going to give you access, so that you can review them on an archive slate at some point, soon.”

“That would be appreciated. Thank you.” He seemed a bit shell-shocked, responding from a slight daze.

Since she’d conveyed what she needed to, Tala allowed them to shift their walking path back over to be nearer Aproa. The woman didn’t comment on their short conversation and so neither did they.

Alat, can you do that? Grant him access?

-Done.-

Tala hesitated. Wait. How? I know you can make changes in the Archive, but how did you select Rane, specifically? Come to think of it, how did you give Jenna access, earlier?

-Well, Jenna was easy to find, given that she’s married to the city lord.-

What about Rane?

-Come on, Tala. We know his magical signature almost as well as we know our own.-

That was interesting to realize.

Oh… I should have discussed this with Odera.

-Oh, yeah. We very much should have.- After a pause, Alat projected the sound of a clearing throat. -I’ll give her access, and we can tell her, tomorrow.-

Agreed.

Rane seemed deep in thought but was nodding to himself.

“What’s up?”

He gave her a side-eyed glance, before answering. “I’ve been needing to pick up an Archive integration at some point. I’ll have to check with my inscriber to see what he recommends and what he thinks I can support.”

Tala grunted. “Well, let me know what you find. You have been increasing your magical weight at a good pace. There should be something that you can get.”

-Um…Tala?-

Yeah?

-Jenna just gave us access to a message. She would like us to find a reason to be out of Bandfast, tomorrow. There will be several teams of Mage Hunters and two people with the title of Arcane Hunter close at hand.-

Tala would have sworn that she immediately felt bloody eyes on her once again. And I was doing so well, not thinking about that…thing.

-You were. I am sorry to ruin it. How should I respond?-

Tala considered for a moment. Ending berries. We need a bunch.

-I’ll add an addendum stating that we’re going to the ending grove that’s…?-

North. We’ll go to the one to the north.

-Alright. In her note, she asked us to be discrete about our purpose.-

What? No announcing to the city at large that I’m going out to be used as Arcane bait?

-Precisely.-

Tala snorted a laugh, and Rane gave her an odd look.

“Is everything alright?” They had just entered the compound and were making their way through the wide halls towards their reserved arena.

“Yeah, yeah. Hey, do either of you want to come out of the city with me, tomorrow? I’ll be going a dozen or so miles to the north to harvest some berries.”

Aproa responded first. “I can’t; I actually leave on assignment tomorrow morning. I’ll be gone for about three weeks.”

“Oh, that’s sad.” Tala was surprised that the news actually did disappoint her.

Rane cleared his throat. “Well, I need to meet with my inscriptionist tomorrow. If you need company, I’ll happily come, but if not, I’d like to get this dealt with.”

Tala shrugged. “Not necessary.” She trembled a little but contained the reaction. But I would like someone with me…  “I think I’ll see if anyone at the training session, today, is interested in coming.”

With that, they had arrived, and the three of them walked out onto the familiar sand.

The regulars were there, along with a couple new Archons and five magelings, all bald and inscriptionless.

Tala cursed internally.

-Oooo. More old year-mates, newly arrived from the Academy.-

Great. Tala lagged behind a bit. Have you determined how to alter the through-spike’s illusion?

-Yes and no.-

Explain. She did not have any interest in games.

-Fine. I haven’t figured out how we can modify it, not yet, but I can show you how to manipulate the magics within it to remove the illusory aspect of its magics, until you release the manipulation and allow it to return to its base state.-

Show me.

Alat directed her through the motions with precision and ease, so that in less than five steps, as she continued to walk forwards, Tala was confident that she could enact the change at will.

It was quite a bit like making an alteration to her elk leathers, though the change wouldn’t be lasting.

Aproa spoke first. “Hunter Jean, what’s going on?”

Jean turned from a conversation that she had been having with one of the magelings. “These fine new graduates are looking for masters. They were told that for combat focused Mages, we’re a good group to investigate.”

Wow. Everyone’s acting showy, today.

The mageling that Jean had been talking to bowed over his clasped hands. “For transparency’s sake, we were given a list of groups that meet, similar to yours. We’ve already met with one group, and one of those who was with us found a master among them.”

Jean shrugged. “There you have it. Magelings looking for guides.”

Tala had stayed back, mostly behind Rane’s massive frame.

Cazor called out from the far corner. “I already told them that none of us really have the extra coin required to have a mageling, but apparently they think me a liar.”

The magelings shuffled uncomfortably.

Stan, the oxygen manipulator, shook his head. “Don’t be like that Cazor. You know very well that a mageling usually more than pays for herself in the end.”

Cazor shrugged. “I’m not taking one on.”

“No one will force you too.” Jean huffed. “I doubt anyone would want to be yours, anyways.”

Cazor ignored Jean’s barb, saw Tala and Terry, and waved. “Hey! You’re back, today. Terry is going to join us, right?”

Tala didn’t shrink in on herself, but it was a near thing. “Yeah. He’s excited to put you in your place.”

The Archons laughed, a few adding good natured jabs towards Cazor.

Cazor, for his part, leveraged himself off the wall he’d been leaning against and walked her way. “Hey, you look…different. Healthier?”

The attention that was already on her seemed to sharpen.

Tala would have sworn that she could feel it.

-You can’t, not literally. But you can feel the magic behind their intent, and that’s directed your way. Your mage-sight can pick that up, though it’s hardly that magical.-

Great…

A couple of the others added their own comments on how her color looked improved and the like.

Before any further comments could come about, Tala assuaged them. “Just a minor change. Nothing affecting my ability to participate, I assure you.”

There were some joking cheers at that.

Tala allowed her gaze to pass over the magelings, and a couple of them were giving her critical looks, seeming to be trying to figure something out about her.

Sadly, Rane had moved aside, presumably in an attempt to be courteous and not block her.

Cazor shrugged. “Alright, Mistress Tala, whatever you say. Then, would master Terry like to challenge someone, first?”

Well, rust. She really didn’t know what she’d expected. Someone was going to use her name eventually. Tala closed her eyes as she heard a gasp from the magelings, which keyed off a whispered, tumbling conversation that Tala had no issue hearing. “Tala? Did he say Mistress Tala?”

“I knew she looked familiar!”

“No, it can’t be her. She just left a few months back.”

“Didn’t she leave naked?”

“That’s hardly relevant. It’s not like she’d be unable to buy clothes.”

“Do you know any other Tala’s?”

“I don’t know every Mage in the world, Gegory.”

“Just ask her.”

“I’m not going to do that. You ask her.”

Tala was having flashbacks of her time at the Academy. Great. Just great…

-Hey, look at it this way. You were embarrassed by how you handled yourself when I helped you remember all that happened. This is a chance to be better.-

The other Archons seemed to have noticed the magelings discussions, though most didn’t have any enhanced senses worth noting.

Jean was close enough to hear with ease, however, and she turned to regard Tala with a raised eyebrow.

Tala grinned sheepishly at the Mage Hunter and shrugged.

The woman shook her head and turned back to the huddled group. “Graduates. Are you here to gossip or to find masters?”

That shut them up, and they turned away from each other, looking chastened. Bless you, Jean.

Jean glanced towards Tala. “Mistress Tala. Is there anything you’d like to say to clear the air, so we can get to the business of watching our feathered friend feed Cazor some sand?”

That got a little laugh from those assembled, then all eyes turned back to Tala.

Rust you, Jean. Tala gave a little wave. “Hey. Long time no see, Gegory, Anisia. I don’t think I ever really met you others, not officially.”

“It is you!” There were several muttered explanations.

“Yeah.” She shrugged. “Is that going to be a problem?”

The gave her odd looks. “No? Who are you mageling under? We don’t want to accidentally try to poach your master.”

Tala was at once offended by the reasonable assumption and touched by the consideration it represented. “Oh, no. I’m...” She cleared her throat. She had been about to say that she was an Archon, but that would open a can of worms that she wasn’t willing to address. “I’m not a mageling.”

That, again, caused all sorts of mutters.

Gegory stepped forward, a sad look in his eyes. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. I’m glad that you still get to be around magic though.”

What? Oh… Tala groaned internally. “No, no. I’m a full Mage.”

The mutters were louder this time.

Most of the Archons looked rather confused, but no one was willing to interrupt.

One of the braver magelings, whose name she didn’t know, spoke up. “Who was your master? I’d love to be fast-tracked too!”

The others laughed, and Tala grimaced.

Rane, who seemed to have been trying to contain his laugher, finally couldn’t any longer, and he barked out a laugh that was loud enough to border on being a shout. He then sucked in a breath, having trouble around his continued chuckles.

Tala, already on a hair-trigger, hit him on pure reflex.

Well, she tried, though the results were better than she’d have hoped.

His magic registered her hard swat as the attack it was and so moved him forwards and down, directly away from the blow.

Rane, who wasn’t really paying attention, didn’t compensate and roll with the motion as he normally would have.

Thus, he faceplanted into the sand in spectacular fashion, making a whoomph sound and sending up a little wave of finer sand that quickly settled.

Tala realized that, from the outside, it would have looked like Rane laughed at her and she hit him hard enough to slam the much larger man face-first into the ground.

There was a moment of stunned silence before the Archons, who all knew about Rane’s defenses, and were thus able to guess exactly what had happened, began laughing.

The five soon-to-be-magelings looked around in abject confusion.

Tala couldn’t help herself from grinning, as she spread her arms in a shrug as she looked to the young man who had inquired about her master. She felt like some of her tension had been stripped away. “I took a non-standard path, which is sadly not an option for any of you. I don’t have a master to recommend your way, as much as I’d like to.”

She looked around at the still chuckling Archons, even as Rane pushed himself to his feet, still apparently in a good mood, if his grin was any indication. He did spit out some sand, however.

She helped him get the rest of the way to his feet before her gaze returned to the five. “Well, we’ve spent enough time on formalities. We’re here to train. Ask questions as you have them.”

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