Augmented Aspects: Interlude XI (Patreon)

Interlude XI

“Pixie’s Puppies! That’s right, the Cassiopeia Spiritlight channels are back and now the number one trending topic around the world is puppies. More importantly, Pomeranian Puppies.” The announcer begins, as the screen behind him changes to show Cass performed core alterations on three of the Cardinal Protectors, thereby allowing them to change into cute little adorable Pomeranian puppies.

The screen shows Cass standing over the biggest and most formidable fire Cardinal Protector, wings flapping as she keeps perfect balance in the air while the last Cardinal Protector worms and wiggles slightly, all while a cute glowing light blue, electric dark blue, and glowing greenish-brown Pomeranian all dance and frolic with each other in the foreground of the shot.

Finally, the kicking of the Cardinal Protector stops, while Cass takes off vertically and seems to hover over the last Cardinal Protector, before the last Cardinal Protector begins to shrink rapidly, causing all of the bright red molten scales compact quickly, until finally only a small bright red Pomeranian can be seen. Then quickly sticking its tongue out, the bright red Pomeranian excitedly runs to join his fellow pack mates.

“As part of a goodwill effort, BiPrism has donated all of the proceeds gained from people viewing and paying for likeness rights to the Pomeranian Adoption League, or PAL. This is good news for PAL, as apparently the videos and subsequent reviewing of these videos has helped generate over twenty million dollars towards this great charity.”

A slight pause as the background changes to show the PAL logo at the bottom right, along with the new PAL catch phrase.

Pomeranians make magic possible.

“While some have claimed that the new PAL tagline is a bit disingenuous in that magic clearly existed in the world of BiPrism before this, the news representative who listed the new campaign logo noted that the true magic was bringing Cass’s feed back to the world.”

There was a slight pause after that message, when the announcer giving the news highlights continued.

“Yes, now as many of you have noticed the Cassiopeia feeds are all up and live. Also, some of you who can use all the fingers on your hand might have also noted that there are now five constant feeds of Cassiopeia going on at one time. For those that have purchased the ultimate streaming package, where you can get four feeds at once, will realize that just for Cass, BiPrism has come out with a new five feed display option for Premium members. What does this all mean?”

“Well for starters, it means that unless you trust news sites like this one, unless you get the newest high end Premium package from BiPrism, and Cassiopeia’s full five feed stream, you will likely miss out on a few details. Fortunately for you, we have both the interest in Cassiopeia’s full time actions along with those of her Simulacrums, along with Larry our newest unpaid intern. Say hello Larry.”

“Hello Larry,” A young slightly overweight mid-twenties male replied, while waving with a slight look of embarrassment at the camera.

“So Larry, as part of our new Intern program you have been assigned the big project of watching all five Cassiopeia Spiritlight feeds at the same time. What can you tell us about what you have seen thus far?”

“Well Mr. Rudger, it would seem at first that all five Cassiopeias work independently of each other. But I have managed to note a few interesting facts that I think others will be interested in hearing about.”

“Oh, do tell?” The anchor, Mr. Rudger, said in a practiced charismatic tone that spoke of charm and confidence.

“Well, this should come as no surprise, but she likes to read. I mean a lot. In fact, at any given time at least one and up to three of her Simulacrums can be seen reading. Two of course are set to semi-permanent reading status in the great fairy library on the two hundredth floor of the Arcanarus Tower. The third one comes from the Simulacrum on the second floor of the Arcanarus Tower, who reads in the hours when she is not on shift as an assigned healer. Most notably, this Simulacrum appears to be mostly bored, while waiting for guests to come. In fact, people have noted that she almost seems excited when injured Adventurers come to visit her.”

Hearing that Mr. Rudger nods, as if trying to see if there is more.

“Also of interest, is that at any time, at least one Simulacrum or the main Cass will be involved in Magic, Magical exercises, or just casting different spells. While another Cass or Simulacrum will be simultaneously be involved in Qi, Qi attacks, and Qi based exercises.”

“Wow, that sounds exciting. Are there any times when one Cass with fight another Cass? You know a little Pixie on Pixie action?” The host asks.

“Yes, it seems that every morning before her start as an instructor, Cass will duel one of her Simulacrums, in events that are now being called the ultimate contests of skill. In these duels Cass and the Simulacrum both seem to limit themselves to only use externally based Qi or Magic attacks.”

“Yes, I have heard of these battles. Isn’t there a new fighting style that is being adopted by these encounters?”

“You mean Pixie-Fu, yes. It is a trend that is sweeping the nation.” Larry states, as he then gestures and shows two twin girls dressed in fairy ballerina outfits fighting. One using punches and kicks, while the other pretends to throw magic attacks at her twin sister. “While you noted that Pixie’s Puppies is the number one trending topic in the world of puppies and all animals for that matter. Pixie-Fu is the number one trending topic, period. It is said that even the WWX is getting in on the action, by having a pixie death match.”

The screen once again changes to show a giant thirty-foot-tall metal octagon, that overhead has a lattice work of different supporting rigs, where two giant bungee rigs are set up, that show two well-known female wrestlers in the bungee rigs wearing their typical form fitting outfits, with the only exception being that on their backs are not one but two sets of bright feathery wings that seem to be colored in the same patterns as their normal wrestling costumes.

“What is that?” The host asks, clearly seeing this for the first time.

“This is what many are calling the next stage in professional wrestling. We have Diamond ‘Black’ Dalia against Jade ‘the Heart’ Ripper going head-to-head in one of the first battles of its kind. The idea is simple, two girls enter and are able to easily climb and glide to the top of the cage at will. Then the more damage their double sets of wings take, the lower and lower they are forced to go, only able to climb up the walls, until finally one or both are stuck on the mat, at which point either the victor will be gained by a pin, knock out, or if one is able to fly above the half way marker of the cage before the other one is completely immobilized on the ground.”

“Is that even legal?”

“I don’t know. I just know this is going to be a big hit and I am excited to see where this goes.”

“Same here. Though, you are still going to keep us informed about all things Cassie, right?”

“Oh of course, she is the most interesting player in the world of all eSports.”

Nodding, the host pauses takes a deep breath and then asks. “You know I have to ask you the number one question right?”

Sigh.

The intern takes in a deep breath, and then nods. “Yeah, I think I know what you are going to ask, but go ahead.”

“The Library of the Tribunal, where is it?”

With that Larry just holds up his hands in an I surrendergesture. “I don’t know. We searched many different feeds, went through known archived lore. Biprism Book Finder, or BBM, a function also available as an extra free for Premium members has every book that has ever been read in BiPrism listed, along with the first person to read that book. Oddly enough, Cassiopeia has just taken the first place on that list of finding new and rare books, a statistic that we thought would never be broken.”

“You’re stalling.”

“Yes, well I just wanted to state that we did a search for any book that found references for the Library of the Tribunal, and found that only fourteen original books have ever been noted as listing the Library. Now this is not to be confused with the fact that the Library has been mentioned in over a thousand different books, but each only goes on to basically source, recite, or retell the main fourteen works in varying degrees of flowery praise. Each ultimately denotes how the Library along with the great civilizations that founded the Library died almost instantly due to the wasting disease that we now know of as the Blight.”

“Which means?”

“Right, stay focused.” Larry says to himself, as he then goes on. “Well, all reference point to the fact that if it was to be found it would be somewhere in the desert wasteland that surrounds the Midnight Hunter’s Guild. Added to that fact is that Cassiopeia is the only guild member who was not accounted for during that time. And given her abilities, and unique ways of moving quickly and effectively, it has become increasingly clear that Cassiopeia, is the most likely candidate for knowing where the Library of the Tribunal is.”

“The biggest bibliophile to ever upload herself to BiPrism has found an expanding dungeon of books and has not entered?”

“Yes, that is the quandary, isn’t it.”

“Quandary, wow, I’d say you need to get out more, but unfortunately that isn’t possible as we will need you more than ever. Especially now that you now need to watch five different Cassiopeia’s so we can all find out the two most important things.” The host states.

“Two?”

“Yes, first where that Library is, and second what will Cassiopeia, any of them do next that will revolutionize the world around us.”