Millennial Mage Nove Chapter 363: You Never Asked

Chapter 363: You Never Asked

Tala, Lyn, Kannis, and Rane all stood, looking down on Alefast for a few long minutes, the two travelers taking in all their surroundings including the edifice of the mountains a good ways behind them.

-You know, we never examined our voidsight.-

I know, but sothing tells

I already have all the pieces, I just need to recognize them. Also, I didnt particularly want to fall out of the sky while carrying Lyn and Kannis.

-Yeah, that wouldnt be the greatest impression Also, please dont add anything to my sensory load at the mont Please?-

Tala had made the remaining bloodstars that she needed to fill out a set of eight for each starward and stoneward of herself, and Alat was struggling mightily to process the flood of perspectives as they ca in. It was a ss of sensory experiences, but the alternate interface was at the very least keeping it from harming Talas usual interactions with those around her.

-I really need to codify this sohow, but I dont know that I have the capability- Alat seed to take a mont to consider, loosening her concentration enough that Tala was slapped, ntally, with the knowledge of what the entirety of a nearby tree looked like, root to twig, deepest core to bark and last-lingering-leaves. -Can I collaborate with Mistress Holly? Shes already poring through our inscriptions.-

Yes, of course. Thank you for asking, but you dont need to ask further. Please do what you need to.

-Thank you.- As Alat refocused, Talas own perception was no longer clouded with unnecessary knowledge of the world around her.

As Tala was able to return her attention to her companions, she noticed that Lyn and Kannis were asking Rane about growing up in the city and the area in general, seemingly having had enough of just looking around.

They were a bit away from the pass, so Tala made a suggestion, Do you want to walk the rest of the way? We should be able to reach the northern gate before full dark.

After a monts hesitation, Lyn nodded. I think that could be fun. I even have my walking shoes on; we both do.

True enough, both Kannis and Lyn had sothing closer to hunters boots on their feet, rather than the sandals that they both preferred in more civilized terrain or warr weather.

Rane grinned broadly. Great! Then lets get started.

Thus, the five, including Terry, began the trek down to Alefast, weaving around the various groves and dells, keeping to the cleared areas as much as possible.

There were only a few arcanous creatures that dared approach, and Terry dealt with those before the Fused and mageling even realized there were threats.

Tala was sure to toss so jerky Terrys way in thanks, even though the avian also ate each of his kills.

Regardless, Terry seed to appreciate the gesture, coming to ride on Talas shoulder for the first ti that day between various interceptions.

Good to have you with , Terry.

He headbutted her cheek and trilled happily in reply.

The trek into the city was quite uneventful, all things considered, but Lyn and Kannis were both quite worn out when they were finally on the last stretch toward the gates.

There was visible relief in the stance, stride, and expressions of the two won. They werent struggling, per se, but it had definitely been a longer walk than they were used to, over rougher terrain.

The gates were standing open and the four walked in without hesitation.

As they did so, Tala leaned over toward Lyn and Kannis. Dont panic if the portcullises are dropped.

The two looked at her in alarm, even as they reached the center of the tunnel through the gatehouse.

Instead of the iron grates dropping before and behind, fields of magic flashed into being blocking the two ways out of the thoroughfare into the city.

Oh! Tala looked around with interest. This is new.

A voice called down from above. Who goes there?

Rane was the one to respond. Rane Gredial with Mistress Tala, Mistress Lyn, and her mageling Kannis, newly arrived from Bandfast.

Where is the rest of your caravan?

We had no caravan. We crossed the distance alone.

There was a few monts of stunned silence. Tala looked upward, trying to determine what was causing the delay.

In that mont, another guard up above leaned over to look down before pulling back and slapping his companion on the shoulder and whispering. That is Mistress Tala, I won an entire gold off her fight with the cyclops back in early sumr. I knew she looked like a quick closer. Shes one of the defenders, here. And didnt you hear that other ones na? Gredial.

The first guard stepped back from the slit he was looking down through, grimacing. After a mont, he nodded, coming back to look down. Very well, good Master and Mistresses. Welco to Alefast.

The other one leaned over and added his own greeting on top. Welco back, to those of you who are returning.

The magical defenses dropped, and the four strode the rest of the way into the city.

As she passed a threshold, Tala had a feeling like the ground falling away below her and realized that it was the translation of her magesights perception of the Stone that was now below her.

Additionally, she realized that she had seen much more than she should have been able to while in the gatehouse. She had even easily been able to tell what the guards were doing behind magically reinforced and enhanced stone.

Alats panting voice ca into Talas mind. -You know, it is really hard to keep these senses from you when you focus on part of them.-

Tala hesitated for only an instant. It cant be that hard if you have enough energy to fake panting.

Alat hesitated for only an instant before sending a ntal snort. -Fine, but I wasnt lying. I quite literally couldnt keep the perspective from you, and they just sort of clicked into place, allowing you to see what was important to you. It reduced the burden on

enough that I was able to keep everything else away.-

Huh so, when I narrow my focus

-You can process the increased volu of perceptual information in that narrowed area.-

Good to know.

-But it doesnt last enjoy your ti get

back to Mistress Holly, soon. Please.- Alats voice faded as genuine strain seed to reenter the alternate interfaces projected voice.

Well, that was intense. Lyns words pulled Tala out of her own head.

Hmm? Oh, yeah. Theyre just being careful. So magical creatures can do odd things, and so can even look like groups of people or caravan wagons.

Thats Lyn seed to have started speaking without knowing what she was going to say, and now, she found herself at a loss.

Kannis filled in for her master, Unexpected? Concerning? Terrifying?

Lyn nodded. Just a bit.

Tala chuckled even as she shrugged. Well, were within the city, so its fine.

Uh huh. The woman seed a bit skeptical. Syphons? Spi"

Regardless! Tala moved on quickly, speaking over Lyn before she could build up steam, lets get us so food. Theres an observation establishnt less than a block from here. There doesnt seem to be an attack under way, but they should have more recent highlights, good food, and it wont be too disruptive if we just want to chat.

Rane nodded, then added, Or, if you prefer, we could go to my familys house for dinner. If the family is eating, we can join, or if were too early or too late, it wont be hard to get what we need to enjoy the ti. Either during the al or around it, we can even review so of the clashes. Master Grediv ensures that we have access to unedited records of all the clashes from every waning on record. There are far too many to actually go through, but hes prone to highlight so based on the capabilities of his guests. I think there are so built around word-Mages. You both fall into that category, yes?

The master and mageling shared a look, and it was Lyn who spoke, Yes, we do I wasnt aware that there had been defenders within our sub-focus of magic.

Rane answered the implied question, Likely not recently, if thats your understanding, but all those on record covers a broad scope.

Lyn glanced to Tala, and Tala just grinned. That sounds fascinating. Rane, why havent you ntioned this before?

He shrugged. It never ca up. If we eat together, its usually on the way to sothing else.

Huh. Well, well have to fix that.

She turned and started walking toward the Gredial estate, but she couldnt help but catch Ranes blossoming smile in the kaleidoscope of expanded perceptions, even as he followed along with Lyn and Kannis.

I suppose I was focused on him at that mont. She shrugged internally, otherwise dismissing the flash of visual insight.

Regardless, she felt her own lips stretch with a bit of a smile in response, before she looked toward Lyn to begin telling their guests about the city.

As they walked and she pointed out so highlights, Rane filled in the details as he had more knowledge of the day-to-day features of the city.

They discussed hunting down so artifacts for the two the following day, along with so basic plans for the rest of their ti in the city.

Sadly, Lyn and Kannis were only planning on staying for a few days before they needed to be back in Bandfast. Apparently, it was hard to get away from work, given Lyns position, and only Talas promise of a quick trip each way had made the idea feasible at all.

Even with the short tiline hanging over their heads, they had decided to make the most of it, arriving at the estate in high spirits.

The guards at the gate let them in with deep bows toward Rane.

Master Rane, welco ho.

Rane thanked the two by na, and asked after who was in residence at the mont.

Your mother, eldest sister, and aunt are in for the evening. You will have to speak to the head of the household for more than that, Im afraid.

That is more than sufficient. Thank you, again.

Of course, Master Rane.

Without further delay, the four moved into the expansive gardens that were maintained inside the compounds walls.

Kannis and Lyn looked around in amazent.

Tala grinned. Its exactly like I said, right? Didnt I tell you? These statues are amazing.She looked around with a smileRane says hes always been interested in sculpting. I actually got him so stone for his birthday, but Im not sure if hes done anything with it, yet. She glanced toward her friend. Am I ever going to see one of your sculptures?

Rane was coloring a bright red, not eting her gaze.

Rane?

Lyn cleared her throat. Tala, dear.

Tala turned toward Lyn with a frown. What?

I think, based on context clues, that theseLyn gestured at the statues all around themare examples of his work.

Tala stopped midstep, looking back to Rane. Really?

Rane gave a small nod.

Oh why didnt you say anything? Ive always said how much I like them.

He shrugged. You never asked.

Tala stood there, flabbergasted for a long mont. Finally, she shook her head. I suppose I never did.

He shrugged again, clearly feeling a bit awkward. Co on. Lets keep going.

Tala followed the other three in a bit of a daze.

Terry pulled her out of it, when he flickered to hang from her belt beside Kit, letting out a little squawk.

She looked down and frowned. You havent done that before.

She opened Kit, and Terry flickered inside.

What was that about?

-No idea, but I can confirm that Terry doesnt use the magic dinsion for teleportation.-

And we didnt see anything odd around him earlier, so his size changing isnt utilizing that, either

-So it would seem.-

But how did I not know that Rane is this good of a sculptor? Did you know that?

-Im Im a little busy, Tala.-

Right! Right. Sorry.

Tala found herself staring at each statue as they passed them by, only half listening to Lyn and Kannis raving about the sa works. In fact, the two insisted that Rane lead them around the periter of the estate before they went to the house.

So, around they went.

These are really fantastic.

Tala paused to look a bit closer at a sculpture of a wolf that had been tucked into an alcove against the wall. In fact, as she looked, she realized that the ground had been dug down in stairsteps, leading to the base of the statue to allow for it to keep below the nearly twenty-foot walls behind it.

The creature was massive, and there was an odd weight to it, as if she could feel its gaze upon her.

She felt herself shudder.

At the back of her mind, she sensed the mory of an aura impression swirl through her awareness, and she instantly knew that the mory was of the wolf that they had seen so recently.

Sohow, in stone, the wolf before her was more than that enormous canine had been.

There were muscles beneath the beasts skin that stood out in stark relief, seeming almost to shift as she watched.

Tala felt like she could see each individual hair on its pelt.

The eyes seed to be staring into her very soul.

Anatalis.

Tala knew that this statue was ant to depict the wolf of the north.

The canine maw seed to stretch into a knowing smile.

Tala? Lyns hand on Talas arm jarred Tala from her thoughts.

What? Tala jerked, looking to her friend.

Are you alright?

Yeah, that statue is As Tala turned back, she saw the sa statue of a wolf, but it was less than it had seed. It was incredibly lifelike, but it was no longer dripped with the weight of a beast-god. I Im sorry, I was caught up in my own thoughts.

Well, co on. Master Rane was just telling us how he manages to make such works of art.

He shrugged in response, seemingly picking up where hed left off. As I said, its much easier to put what I imagine into stone when I can properly conceive of what Im aiming for. Its beco easier and easier as the prehe hesitated, glancing toward Kannis before continuingas my physical enhancent scripts have matured. I honestly think that much of my original capacity was facilitated by my ntal, perceptual, and kinesthetic enhancent magics. Its likely that I dont have much talent, just ability granted by my magic. Anyone could do this with so ti and practice.

Lyn scoffed. Master Rane. Thats ridiculous. These are amazing.

These are clinical. They are precise. He smiled wanly. I sculpt what I see and imagine, but Im not good at conveying more than is seen.

Tala glanced back toward Anatalis.

Rane seed to notice the glance, and he smiled. Ahh, yes. That one that one I am proud of. When I was finishing it, I really felt connected to my emotions. I think the joy I was feeling, the contentnt, flowed through and allowed

to convey a predator more fully than others that Ive sculpted.

Kannis laughed. How are those related?

Well, the joy of the hunt. The contentnt of a al secured for those depending on you. Conversely, the joy and contentnt shattered in the prey.he hesitated, scratching his cheek in sudden awkwardnessIt made sense to

at the ti.

I like it. Tala hadnt spoken loudly, and she was almost as surprised as the others that shed said anything. Regardless, she decided to press on. I do. I think it evokes the sense of more that was in the wolf we saw on the way to Bandfast.

That sparked a series of questions from Lyn and Kannis as the four finally made their way to the main house.

Lyn and Kannis were asking Rane if they could step through a bath before the al, given their recent trek through the wilderness, and Rane was promising to ask for baths to be drawn for the won while their al was prepared.

His eyes kept flicking to Tala, even as he addressed their friends, but Tala didnt mind. She knew she was acting oddly.

Part of it was how much of her mind was being used by Alat to ta the myriad perspectives she was mirroring, but part of it was sothing else.

Tala found herself glancing over her shoulder, back at the statue of Anatalis, and despite knowing it wasnt true, she couldnt help but feel that it was watching her go.

Were going to have to explore the northern forest at so point, arent we.

She knew that the leshkin to the south were enemies. The wolves to the north were at least neutral to mankind.

I wonder what I could learn from such ancient beings.

Tala, are you going to be alright while we get cleaned up?

Tala jerked her head up, eting Lyns eyes. Oh! Yeah. Do what you need to.

She smiled even as a servant led each of her visiting friends away.

Rane was already talking to a third servant about having a al prepared for the four of them, but still, he was glancing her way, concern evident in his gaze.

Yeah we need to get back to Mistress Holly to get this fixed.

-Indeed.-