[ Select between:
Warpstep (Rank A)
Misplaced Aura (Rank B)
Sunder (Rank B)
Somatic Discharge (Rank B) ]
[ You have unlocked an Inspiration. Bonus will comnce once skill selection has taken place. ]
I pause as I look over my options.
Warpstep is an obvious choice. The other three are interesting, and far different from other Speed skills I've seen before. I wonder how much my phase-shift has changed, exactly.
Misplaced Aura, according to Inspect, is a skill that allows to be in two places at once it's not unlike Temporal Fragnt in that regard, though obviously the conditions for the skill are different. Unlike Temporal Fragnt, the Firmant clones created by the skill are weak and are unable to do significant damage. It's the type of skill that's more for utility than combat.
Sunder wraps in Firmant and then moves so fast it creates a tear in space, held open by Firmant. It's a monuntally powerful skill for its rank, held back only by the utter lack of control I'll have over it. The skill cos with no way to actually control the destination, and according to Inspect, others with the skill have died trying to use it.
Yikes. It's a skill I'd only ever be able to use with the Eye, maybe, if I combine it with sothing that gives more control.
Somatic Discharge, unlike most Speed skills, rips all the speed I've accumulated out of and discharges it into the air; it allows to co to an instant stop, which is sothing I'll most likely need as I accumulate Speed skills. It's easy enough to stop when I have a lot of space to move, or when I'm using soone as a punching bag and can transfer all my montum to them; if sothing appears directly in my path and I'm not prepared, I might get crushed against it.
And then there's Warpstep.
Warpstep is simple. It's a more balanced version of the other skills, and is basically a short-ranged teleport option that isn't limited by line-of-sight. As long as I know my destination, I can get there. It doesn't go very far, with exponentially increasing Firmant costs beyond a range of ten ters, but that's good. That's more than enough to change a battle.
Once again, I'm stuck between a number of good options. As good as Warpstep is, I still want Somatic Discharge for its synergy with other Speed skills and for the potential it could have if I study it, or learn how to force it onto others. There's so leeway with skills, if I can learn how they work and use Firmant Manipulation to replicate most of the effects...
I sigh. Hopefully I'll roll it again.
[ Warpstep obtained! ]
And just as before, the world freezes around .
This ti, it takes a mont before Gheraa appears. I'm worried for a mont, considering the condition he was in the last ti we spoke part of worries no one will show up at all, or a different Integrator will show up, and all my plans will have been for naught.
Thankfully, Gheraa does eventually show up, and he doesn't look like he's worse for wear. I do notice his clothes are different he's wearing a longer suit-trenchcoat combination that covers more of his skin. The white and gold is pristine and fancier than anything I've seen anyone wear.
"I got new clothes," Gheraa says, grinning at . "Do you like them?"
I say nothing. The fact that he's hiding any marks he might have isn't lost on .
"Oh, co now, don't make my job harder than it has to be," Gheraa complains, heaving a dramatic sigh and leaning on a cane he conjures out of nowhere. "You're already giving so much work. Do you know how many other Trialgoers have unlocked this many Inspirations this quickly?"
"Chat isn't working for , so no," I say dryly.
"Right! We're working on that. It should be up soon." Gheraa clasps his hands together. "The point is, not many. But! Allow to present you with your Inspirations, dear sir"
"Gheraa," I interrupt, and maybe there's sothing in my tone of voice, because Gheraa's entire body freezes in response. He doesn't quite et my eyes, and waits for to speak. "Do you mind if we just talk for a bit?"
"Well." Gheraa clears his throat. "Ahem. I an. It would be improper. But I would not be opposed."
I see the lines of relief in his body, though. Maybe his body language isn't fully translatable to human but he visibly relaxes, and there's a furtive glance up towards the sky. "Inspirations are expensive, though!" he adds hastily. "So we must not dally too long."
"Surely the Integrators will be glad for an interview with one of their star Trialgoers?" I say, putting on a fake smile. From what I've gathered, and if what Gheraa says about being exceptional is true...
Gheraa brightens visibly. "Aha! You're willing to answer questions, then?"
"Only if you're willing to answer mine." I hum. "Tit for tat. How about that?"
"There are secrets I'm not allowed to reveal," Gheraa says. "But as long as you don't ask about any of those..."
"I'll be careful," I say.
Golden Firmant flows out of Gheraa body, and he conjures a makeshift stage, complete with two chairs and a fake microphone. I stare at the setup for a mont then at Gheraa, who is beaming at and shake my head. "No."
Is he pouting? He looks like he's pouting.
"We'll talk normally," I add. I find a log and sit down on it, and wait for him to do the sa, which he does eventually, though he grumbles about it the whole ti. There's a lot of his behavior that I can tell is still an affectation, though in so regards I see him actually relaxing.
It probably helps, the fact that the other Integrators aren't here. Even if they're watching. I might not know the specifics of what's going on with him, but I recognize the signs of abuse easily.
"I'll start," I say. "What are the Integrators like?"
"I'm glad you asked!" Gheraa says, and considering the tone he adopts, I can tell almost imdiately this is a practiced spiel. I don't mind it gives information. "The Integrators are your saviors, of course."
I resist the urge to roll my eyes and point out that the Integrators are also threatening to destroy Earth.
"We are an old, enlightened species. You may have noticed that we are not organic." Sothing in Gheraa's tone changes, and I straighten my back slightly, paying attention to what he's saying. He holds an arm out to , and I watch the strange, stonelike material glimr with golden Firmant. "But we are not machine, either. We are living, solidified Firmant."
That's sothing new. I can't tell if he's telling the whole truth, but there's definitely sothing to his words. If the tistopped world wasn't so restricted, I'd be testing Firmant Manipulation out on his arm.
Then again, he might not appreciate that.
"We travel the cosmic skies, spreading that sa enlightennt to other worlds." This part I'm pretty sure is a lie the definition of enlightennt is too vague, and there's the smallest hint of disgust in his voice this ti, when he says the word 'enlightennt'. "We consider it a sacred duty, you see."
"I'm sure you do," I say. There's not much else I can say to that without being antagonistic, and I don't think Gheraa needs that right now. "Do you just have a ship hanging out above the planet or sothing?"
"It's my turn to ask a question," Gheraa says, and I mutter a small curse while he smirks at . "So! Ethan, Trialgoer extraordinaire. Any words for your fans?"
"I have fans?" I ask. Gheraa opens his mouth, and I hold up a hand. "Rhetorical question. I don't care. My actions will speak louder than my words ever will."
Gheraa closes his mouth and nods. "Fair enough," he says. "Do you want to answer your question now?"
"Please."
"We are located on every planet that we have enlightened, and every planet that is in the process of Integration." This one isn't so pre-prepared answer Gheraa's tone is different. I wonder if this is sothing he's even supposed to tell . "Firmant allows us to keep our city connected to every planet at once, although it takes a large surge of energy for us to be able to connect with a new planet."
The change in Firmant. Tarin described the Firmant on Hestia changing in so fundantal way when the Integrators arrived. More than that, Gheraa didn't say that they were above the planets he said that they were on the planet.
Their city's sohow linked to every Intgerated planet at once. That makes things easier for , if I want to pull Gheraa out.
I just need to figure out a way to break in.
"Next question," I say.
"We'd love to know more about what drives you so much," Gheraa says. I wonder if he's telling the truth, or if this is just sothing he's personally curious about there's sothing about his tone of voice, the way he shifts his posture forward. "You're dealing with one of the hardest Trials we Integrators have access to. Others have given up much earlier than you did. Of course, others have lasted much longer, but you've adapted to this Trial the most easily by far. What makes you so driven?"
I give myself a mont to mull over the question. Gheraa doesn't seem to be in any rush, surprisingly, so I take my ti; there are so limits on the answers I can give.
The easiest answer is anger. I'm angry at the injustice of the Trials, at what they've inflicted upon those they claim to enlighten. I'm angry because they've threatened my ho, and as imperfect as the Earth is, the Integrators have no right to it. But I have a feeling that's not the answer Gheraa is looking for and more than that, it's not an answer I can give if I'm being watched, as the whole interview thing implies.
So I search for a different answer.
"I'm driven because I don't have any other choice," I finally say. It's close enough to the truth. "Because the alternative is worse in every possible way. Sotis you don't need more of a reason than that."
Gheraa looks away from . He's uncharacteristically silent for a minute, and I don't interrupt him; I don't know what's going through his mind, but it looks like it's sothing important to him.
When he does eventually respond, it's lacking a touch of his characteristic enthusiasm, although he's clearly trying. "Well," he says. "Thank you for the answers! I think that's enough for today, don't you? Why don't you check out your Inspirations?"
I watch Gheraa for a mont.
"If you're driven because there's no other option, though, it can feel pretty lonely," I add. "It helps to have friends."
I'm only able to cope as well as I have been because of Ahkelios, Tarin, and Mari. I'm under no illusions about being a self-made hero I'm where I am because they chose to help , in their own ways. It's possible I would still be here without them, but I doubt I would be nearly as far.
Gheraa's shoulders stiffen slightly. "And if one cannot find them?"
"Then it's a good thing I'm here, isn't it?" I sling an arm around Gheraa's shoulders. I feel them stiffen even more, and the Integrator almost flinches away in a reaction I know is defensive but he's not angry, it looks like. I've gotten my ssage across.
Gheraa takes a deep breath.
"Here are your Inspirations," he says, studiously avoiding my gaze.
He does look a little relieved, though.
The first Inspiration appears as a crackle of lightning surrounding an empty void. It hovers above Gheraa's hand, spasming erratically.
Inspect triggers on it, surprising .
More than that, the Void Inspiration within reacts.
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