Chapter 383: No Point
Tala tried not to groan as Anna exuberantly put forward her wonderful idea. She was just glad that Segis and tti werent there, otherwise the three children might have ganged up on their parents to push through so unfortunate notions.
Why dont we get Hannah in here? Shes a baker. Mistress Tala loves baked goods. Its a win-win!
Even though Anna had seamlessly begun using Talas honorific, she still had the sa warm air about her, even with the added formality to her address.
Mistress Petra smiled at her daughter but shook her head, Anna, your sister is very happy with her job in Bandfast. She likes her co-workers, and there are a couple of young n who are calling on her. She wont be leaving in the near future.
Anna pouted briefly. Well, boo.
With a dramatic intake of breath, she straightened, seemingly imdiately putting it all behind her.
Alright. Well, I, at the very least, shall have to stay here with you all.she looked toward TalaSo long as that is acceptable to Mistress Tala, of course.
Tala blinked a few tis. What now?
-She wants to live here, dear. I know youre listening. The request was rather obvious.-
Before Tala could answer, Master Simon shook his head. No, Anna. You need to live with your master, whoever that may be.
Annas eyes dimd for a mont before they seed to practically blaze with what was clearly a dawning idea.
Oh, no.
Alat began to laugh.
Absolutely not.
-Shes going to ask.-
Oh, rust no
Anna opened her mouth to propose her thought, but once again, her father dashed her hopes, cutting her off before she could even begin. I know that you are fond of Mistress Tala, but even if she were willing, your magic and your chosen field simply dont align with hers and with what Mistress Tala does day-to-day. In the sa way your mother and I would be poor fits, she would not be a good master for you.
It took all of Talas self control to not mouth Thank you! toward Master Simon, but he glanced her way and seed to get the ssage, a wry smile pulling at his lips for a mont before he mastered himself.
Anna dramatically slumped once again. Well, thats just frustrating. This beautifully wonderful, spectacular place is open to our family, and you wont let
wheedle more of us into it?she gave Tala a wink before facing her father againWhat are your plans anyway? Will I be stuck in Alefast while you go galavanting off to Sovereigns know where?
Anna! Mistress Petra exclaid, before catching herself, Watch your language dear.
Tala didnt lift an eyebrow in surprise, but it was a near thing. Invoking the Sovereigns in such a way was quite frowned upon, to the point that Tala couldnt rember hearing anyone do so since she had left the Academy.
I dont rember Anna speaking like that before
-Yes, because you listened to her so often back then.-
Point taken.
Anna waved them off. Its not like theyll strike
dead. But, as you wish, mother. So? What are your plans?
Master Simon nodded, turning toward Tala. Petra and I have discussed it, and we do want to stay on with you, at least for the ti being. These six months or so have been most fruitful for my understanding of so aspects of magic, the work is interesting, and I enjoy it. Petra is mastering the art of cooking and baking with harvests, as well as just enjoying a simpler life. Will you have us?
Tala nodded. Of course.she hesitated for a montBut I know weve discussed you two moving toward advancing
She let the words hang, but Master Simon nodded, regardless. We have the scripts that are preparing the way for us. It isnt a sure thing, but we are hopeful. Obviously, if and when that cos about, wed have a lot to consider.
Mistress Petra smiled and nodded along with her husbands words. It is a barrier that we feared to never face, but we will do what we can, regardless.
Master Simon grinned. After all, I want to see my grandchildren.
And great-grandchildren.
Anna giggled. That would be wonderful, yes.
Tala gave a tight smile, pulling the subject back under control and well away from children. Regardless, Anna, I think I have a potential master for you. A friend of mine, Mistress Vanga, has agreed to et with you, if you are willing. She is a healer by nature, and even if you arent a good fit with her, she should know others who could be open to the match.
Anna gasped excitedly, clearly brightening at the idea. Oh! Thats so wonderful. Thank you, Tala!she squealed, then seed to rember herself, forcibly calming downI anThank you, Mistress Tala.
Tala sighed. I am happy to have been able to assist.
* * *
Tala took the next day and a half to rebalance herself after the past few days of insanity.
She still stood watch during her units shifts.
She still trained her body, magic, will, soul, and aura.
But she spent the majority of her ti ditating on all that had happenedall that she had learnedin the last few days.
No, thats not right. It has been more than a few days. Mistress Odera passed just more than two weeks ago.
-Two weeks and two days, as of this afternoon.-
Tala sat back, letting that sink in, holding her cup of mint tea out before her, as she watched the sun rise within her sanctum.
-Her fount was deed potentially dangerous, and it was voided, allowing her to pass on fully. I think they would have done so either way, given that was her stated wish, but its good to know that they wouldnt have let it remain, regardless.-
Tala felt sothing at that. I could have done that. I could have found her and been with her through the process. I could have been the one to set her free to move on to the next world.
-Do you wish you had been?-
No. Does that make
a terrible person?
-I dont think so, personally, but, well, Im not really the best person to ask that question considering.-
She had grunted a laugh at Alats comnt, and that gathered the attention of the only person with her.
Rane shifted on the chair beside hers, Tala? Whats going on?
Tala had invited Rane to watch the sunrise with her, given that he would already be awake.
Well, truthfully shed asked him to be present when Kedva was initiated into the arcane thod of magical advancent, and the most convenient way to ensure he was there was to have him co early.
-Uh, huh. Right. You invited him to watch the sun rise with you, because its more convenient than having him co later. If I dont believe that, it ans that you dont either.-
Tala ignored Alat.
Watching the sunrise was sothing she wanted to do, and it was nice to have him with her.
She wanted soone who was just there to support her.
Not soone for Kedva.
Not soone to monitor the situation or help the process.
Just soone who was there in case she needed soone.
-Nothings going to go wrong.-
But it might.
-It wont.-
But it might.
Alat sighed within Talas head.
They had gone back and forth a lot.
In the end, that was why Rane was here.
Tala? He set his own earthenware mug aside. Hey, are you alright?
Tala nodded, focusing back on the present mont, Yeah. I just realized that Mistress Odera shes been gone for more than two weeks.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringent.
Rane stiffened slightly, then almost seed to lt. Tala I I know you two were closer than she and I were. I really am sorry for your loss. I wasnt thinking how it could be affecting you.
Tala shook her head. I dont feel the loss. I feel angry. I feel angry that she is gone and nothing has changed. Not for , not for humanity, not for anything. There was no point.
He nodded, not speaking.
She growled in frustration. Its ridiculous. Ive barely thought about her these last two weeks.
Youve had a lot going on.
She gave him a look, and he held up his hands in surrender.
My apologies. Go on.
Tala nodded to herself, took a long pull from her tea, and continued, If even I dont really think about her, less than a month after shes gone does it even matter? Whats the point, if even those who know us well arent deeply affected after were gone?
She looked to him for an answer, but he was simply sitting there, watching her attentively.
Well?
Oh Um So, it sounds like what youre saying is that you are upset that you arent more upset. Is that true?
Tala lifted her hands in a motion of exasperated surrender. I dont even know
He huffed a laugh. I think I can understand that.
Im glad soone can, she groused, It feels like I cant win.
After a monts hesitation, so deep wisdom seed to overtake him, and he asked, Do you want
to respond, or just listen?
I thinkshe let out a frustrated sighjust listen, but I also think Im done.
He nodded, wisely not comnting, and seeming to simply enjoy his tea, the sunrise, and the company.
The drawn out silence allowed Tala to process further. What even is the point? We are born; we grow old; we die; we are forgotten.
He turned back toward her, clearly listening, but didnt reply.
She gave a half smile at that, but it faded quickly. Is everything aningless? She shook her head. No, I know it isnt. I know that it matters. I know our choices echo on after were gone, but I want it to matter more. I want her to matter more, to have mattered more.
Rane nodded slowly but didnt speak.
You can respond.
He shrugged. You asked
to just listen.
She swatted his shoulder. I didnt an totally silently.
He shrugged again. It seed to be helping.
It was. She sighed, I just feel like Im missing sothing important.
He sighed, too. Honestly, everything that I can think of would be just as temporary as she was, if only just.
Like what?
You could make a statue of her; you could try to learn one of her spellforms; you could find one or more of her descendents to show your gratitude to.
Each of those could be eternal.
With maintenance. Theres also another looming issue, but Im a bit afraid to bring it up.
Tala turned back toward the sunrise. Shes not the only person Ill ever lose, and no option is sustainable throughout centuries of losing people.
Yeah
They fell back into comfortable silence, then.
Soon enough, Alat spoke into that silence.
-They are on their way.-
Tala nodded and stood. Theyre on their way.
Oh! Rane jerked slightly, being pulled from so inner thought or other. Right. Where do you want to do this?
Tala smiled. Well, the central courtyard seems like the best place.
With a thought, she and he were there.
Master Simon?
-Hes ready.-
With her three-fold sight, she saw that he was waiting, standing with his Archive slate in hand, looking vaguely upward.
Tala smirked, bringing him to her in an instant.
Oh! Thank you, Mistress Tala.
She gave a slight bow. Of course, Master Simon.
Now, lets see
She pulled her iron to the superficial, using it to fill in the crevices between paving stones to give her an even better grounding in order to assert her sovereignty, even as she called up the door into Kit.
She flexed her aura, stirring the ze by grabbing and forcibly moving most of the ambient magic away.
-You know, you could probably do that through Kit, too. The iron was likely overkill.-
True, but this is good practice.
-Fair enough.-
When she had a bubble of weaker magical density around the door, she focused outward again.
Rane had taken up a seat off to one side, making sure hed be out of the way but also close enough to be able to be there for her at need.
She gave a half smile before moving on with her preparations and investigations.
Her bloodstars gave her an easy view of those approaching.
Brandon, Adrill, Kedva, and Artia were accompanied by two others.
The two unknowns were obviously mundane. Their clothing spoke of a good living but not overt wealth.
Their lack of magic left them utterly exposed to her three-fold sight.
While they did have gates, they were obviously untrained, with just the standard mana flow.
From the physical similarities, they were obviously Kedvas parents, or at least close family mbers of the young woman.
I do wonder how soone can be born without a gate, when both parents have gates.
-You have to rember, Tala, that gates are a defect. Its a sign that the parents had a healthy aspect to their souls that ca together to not make her broken at the start.-
Even though I know thats true, its still really odd to think of it that way.
-Because it ans that were broken?-
Sort of, more that it ans that the most prevalent thing about
can genuinely be considered a malformation, defect, or issue. I wouldnt be
without my gate, my magic.
-Thats for sure.-
I wonder if that extends to other such maladies?
-Hard to tell, there really arent any that persist within the human cities, so its not like weve known people permanently missing a limb or sense.-
YeahWait! We did see so in Makinaven. Theyd replaced parts with wood to better commune with the tree.
-Right. There was one who was really kind and answered your invasive questions.-
They werent that invasive
Alat was silent for a mont.
Fine, I could have been more tactful.
-See? Personal growth. His na was Ciaran, by the way. That guy was aweso.-
We talked to him for like five minutes.
-And he was aweso throughout.-
Tala huffed an internal laugh. Thats fair.
Focusing back on those newly arriving, there was one conspicuous absence.
No healer.
-She decided to act on faith?-
I suppose. Truthfully, a healer wouldnt help, the one who examined Adrill and Brandon even said so.
-But having a healer on hand could be comforting.-
Which would have been a problem. She needs to trust herself and
for this to work. Depending on soone else if it fails would complicate things.
-Which is probably why she didnt bring one.-
True enough.
Tala sighed. Theres no point in delaying further, I suppose.
She willed for the entrance to open.
The wider than usual door swung inward, revealing the four people just as they ca up to the threshold.
Kedvas parents remained standing further back, clearly nervous.
Tala thought she understood. Even in a waning city like Alefast, many mundane still had so hesitancy around the overtly magical.
If nothing else, they tended to be over-awed by Mages.
Should we have invited them to be in attendance? Would that have been the right course of action?
-Maybe? Then they could have said no or yes at their own discretion.-
is it too late? We didnt consider them at all.
-Yeah we didnt think of family, did we.-
Tala called through the door, Brandon, Adrill, please co in; Master Simon has your slates.
Master Simon looked at her with confusion, lifting his one empty hand, only to have the two Archive slates appear within. He held in a smile while giving her a flat look.
Tala grinned back at him.
The two n stepped inseemingly bracing for the storm of energy to flow into thembut looked around in confusion when it didnt happen.
I lowered the levels of power near the door. Theres no reason to have Kedva collapsing in view of the outside.
The two bowed, Adrill speaking for both of them, Thank you for the consideration.
That left two won standing right outside, Kedva and Artia.
Artia was holding the youngerclearly nervousgirls hand.
Tala almost told them to step in, but she stopped herself.
Self-improvent, Tala. Were aiming for personal growth. You need to do the right thing.
-...are are you pretending to be ?-
Yes.
-You know Im right here, right?-
Of course.
-And I literally am you. Theres no need to pretend.-
Youre distracting
from personal growth.
-Fine, fine. Go forth and be an adult.-
Tala walked forward.
Her perspective gave her an amusing look as Brandon and Adrill stepped out of the bubble she was maintaining, being practically slapped with power as it rushed into their bodies.
Regardless of her growing smile, she stopped right outside the door, on the street beside Artias shop.
Tala placed her hand on Kedvas shoulder. Youve made the choice. Its a fine choice, but you can change your mind. No one will force you, one way or the other.
Kedva t her gaze, then the uncertainty seed to lt away within the young womans eyes, at least for the mont, Thank you, Mistress Tala. I am firm in my choice.
As you say. Tala lifted her eyes to the two people standing so ten feet back, You must be Kedvas parents. Is that correct?
The two ca forward a few steps, then bowed deeply. We are, yes. You must be Mistress Tala?
I am. Tala gave a nod of acknowledgent. It is good to et you.
The pleasure is ours, Mistress. They looked uncertain.
Tala sighed internally, What can I do for the two of you? I do apologize for not asking if you wished to observe, but we can correct that error now. Would you like to co in? Tala turned and gestured toward Kits open door.
The two paled visibly before the husband responded, Oh um Would it help our Kedva?
Tala shook her head. Not generally. Whether it would help her emotionally is beyond what I can say. You are welco, though.
They shared a look. We will consider it. Thank you.
Tala nodded, Well, consider quickly. I aim to begin shortly.
The two bowed, As you say, Mistress Tala. Thank you again for this opportunity that you are giving our daughter.
She shrugged. Honestly, for that you should thank Brandon. It is his connection with Kedva that has brought this about.
The wife bead happily, montarily seeming to forget her nervousness, and the husband nodded, We know. As for Kedva, we just wanted to be here for her, in case
Brandon ca out behind Tala, walking over to the two older people. As he passed Tala, he spoke very quietly, relying on her enhancents to ensure that he was heard, Give
a couple of minutes, please. Ill get them situated.
Tala nodded in acknowledgent before briefly addressing the two, even as Brandon led them off to one side.
She waved their way, and offered a platitude, Good to have t you both.
See? Personal growth.
-...I think Im mostly disturbed by the fact that youre right.-
Better everyday.
-Well-
Hush you. Im trying.
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