After a slow rotation to align itself, the mansion scuttled sideways with its tallic crab legs. The legs proved long enough to lift the bulk of the mansion above the treetops, and the building coasted with surprising smoothness. The eight legs automatically swerved around obstacles and did their best to keep the building level.
The machinery seed content to follow the eastern course with no need for further orders. Jabrax leaned forward once again to inspect the countless small runes on the console surface. "If only I could figure a way to see outside... I'd hate to fall in a volcano or wander into a dragon nest."
Mud headed towards the stairs, and Jabrax called out to the golem as it began climbing "Where are you going?"
"To answer the door."
Mud's humans were all accounted for on the second floor of the mansion, glued to the windows. The form Mud could perceive through its Domain standing outside the buildings front door, then, was an unknown. Mud did not feel any malice from the being, however. That, and the fact that they knocked and waited politely, made the construct believe they had co to speak peacefully. Still, Mud took the reasonable precaution of warning the others in the household to be prepared in case it was hostile.
Opening the door, Mud saw a human it recognized, but had never interacted with. The old woman from the VIP section at the tournant, with whom it had locked eyes. Now, the small, gray-haired woman with black-rimd glasses stood on the small stone porch that remained attached to the mansion. Strong gusts of wind whipped at her light shawl and the few locks of the old woman's hair not fastened in a tight bun. A large binder was clutched in her hands, held against her chest.
"Hello there. Mud Golem, isn't it? Sorry to drop by unannounced, but there were so matters I wished to discuss with you before you moved out of town."
Still, Mud felt no malice from the woman. Although Mud had developed an inherent distrust of Sapients following a string of near-disasters, her offer was still enticing. One thing Mud had learned again and again in its short life is that the most valuable resource of all was information. If this woman would speak to it for free, then it would listen. There was one aspect of her statent, however, that bothered the construct.
"You have failed your mission. I have already left Geltheas." Mud pointed a muddy paw towards the city which slowly shrank away into the distance.
"Ah yes, that is true. I didn't expect you to leave so suddenly. It was rather a shock, I must say. May I co in? It's a bit drafty out here."
Mud considered for a mont. The current location was not secure from attack, which was a very real possibility at the mont. "You may enter. Do not damage or consu anything without permission within the mansion or you will be eliminated."
"That's no way to talk to a lady, young man!" The old woman reprimanded Mud as she entered the building. After looking around for a mont, she decided on the sofa and sat down, the binder on her lap. Mud simply stood where it was after closing and locking the door.
"Sit down, please. It's unnerving for you to just stand there." As per her order, Mud sat down on the spot. "No, I an sit in a chair! Oh, your manners are terrible. I can tell you have not had a proper education."
Mud walked to a chair and sat down as instructed. So far, the woman had done nothing but complain. Mud wanted her to speak more efficiently. Perhaps it was too much to expect humans to be able to communicate in a logical manner without assistance. Mud decided to assist the human by prompting useful information. "Who are you?" That seed like a good place to start.
"Yes, allow to introduce myself. My na is Adeline Bloodhamr. You may call Mrs. Bloodhamr. I run the schools and education in Geltheas. When I found out a young man I had not been inford of was living in Geltheas, I knew I had to co and check in on your education. Based on your actions up til now, I can tell you are in dire need of guidance to beco a functioning mber of society."
Mud refused imdiately. "I have no desire to be a mber of society."
"Oh, dear..." Mrs. Bloodhamr tutted. "Less than a month old and already in his rebellious phase... how precocious." The old woman smiled lightly and wagged a finger towards the construct. "Now Mud, I understand you're upset about so injustices you've experienced, and rightly so, but you're a clever lad. I'm sure you realize the utility that intelligent civilization can provide you."
"That is correct. Sapients can provide goods and services which assist in reaching my goals. However, there is no requirent for to participate in society to acquire these goods and services."
"Is your plan to simply plunder what you desire, and to force those with useful skills to assist you against their wills?" Mrs. Bloodhamr asked seriously, without judgnt in her voice.
"Yes, that is the most efficient thod."
"Golem, it is in this case that your inexperience betrays you. The path you now tread will serve only to increase your troubles. So far, you have only been faced with incidental and opportunistic threats. What you will face if you turn to banditry is a coordinated and focused strike from organizations that are well experienced disposing of those with more power than sense."
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Mud understood that having more enemies was not desirable, but it hardly seed like it would worsen its current predicant. "I am already being targeted by the Church of the Venerable Gnostics, as you yourself should be aware. That was not a result of any hostility on my part. Why should I not act with hostility, if I will be targetted by society regardless?"
"So your reasoning is that if you are going to be treated as a criminal either way, then you might as well enjoy the profits of being a criminal?" The house tilted slightly as the building began climbing the steeply sloping foothills of the Pancal mountain range. "I don't necessarily disagree with that line of reasoning. To society, the appearance of virtue is more important than the fact of virtue."
"However," the slope of the house shifted as the building began to descend the opposite side of the hill. "You have thus far only attracted the ire of one major human organization. The Delver's Association is on your side; they were even willing to protect you from the church. Without their aid at that mont, you would have certainly been killed."
This was a fact that had occurred to Mud. Ti and again, the Delver's Association had benefited the golem. However, within the greater context of Sapient society, their efforts amounted to a human temporarily preventing another human from killing Mud. If a stranger wanted to kill Mud for no reason and then changed their mind, Mud would not praise that human for saving its life by changing its mind. Likewise, it made no sense to praise an aspect of society for protecting Mud from another aspect of society.
Mrs. Bloodhamr's argunts, however, caused Mud to reevaluate its way of thinking. Should two separate human organizations, particularly ones at odds with each other, be considered as re aspects of the greater entity known as society, or should they be considered separate entities? The most important deciding factor is safety. Mud has to prepare for the worst-case scenario. "It is possible that the Delver's Association will assist and never betray . However, if I trusted them and was incorrect, their betrayal would cost greatly. If, by contrast, I did not trust them and was incorrect, there would be no harm done to . The sa reasoning should be true of any organization."
"How pessimistic of you, to plan only for the worst. You're so focused on avoiding risk that you fail to grasp opportunity. If what you want most is safety, you will not find it hiding away in a hole. It may feel good for a mont, but eventually, the world will catch up to you. Do you believe you can fend of the church as you are now? No, the only way you will survive is by taking every chance to grow that you can find, even if it cos with risk. Tell , which would you prefer; small dangers now, or certain death in the future?"
Mud didn't even need to think about it. The answer to that question was etched into his soul by The Master on the day of its creation. "Of the two options provided, I prefer small dangers now." Certain failure was never acceptable.
Mrs. Bloodhamr nodded. "I hope you realize how short-sighted it would be to throw away all the benefits you could gain from working with the world's intelligent life."
The conversation had indeed been enlightening for Mud. Mrs. Bloodhamr's perspective was completely different from what it had learned from Jabrax. At the sa ti, it was not altogether different; both recomnded taking advantage of humanity. Mrs. Bloodhamr's thod was simply less violent. There was still an aspect that Mud wasn't certain about, though. "How can I avoid more Sapient organizations from targetting , and how can I make more organizations protect ?"
"That is simple. Make yourself valuable. Beco an asset that they can't afford to lose. Be polite, and improve your manners. That's where this cos in." At that, the old woman proudly held forward the binder she had arrived with, which bulged with the many papers contained. When Mud did not imdiately respond, she shook it slightly. "Go on, take it!" Mud imdiately retrieved the object from her thin hands.
Flipping open the cover, Mud found the front page to be filled with information about etiquette in the Pancal kingdom. So parts, like how to eat at a formal dinner or how to bow to royalty, were disregarded by Mud as the golem had already learned them from its Etiquette skill. Other parts, however, were very interesting. They explained concepts such as how to look at a human without unnerving them, and that standing too close to a human while conversing would upset them. Apparently, the information had been written for use by non-humans attempting to integrate into their society, as the knowledge was considered so obvious to humans that they did not normally bother to even ntion it.
Flipping through the pages, Mud found similar information for socializing with various demi-human cultures. Past the cultural information, pages listed information about countries and major organizations across the world. Mud hungrily absorbed the information as it flipped through the pages. This information, if it was true, was incredibly valuable. At that thought, Mud froze in its rapped flipping and sent a concerned Paracusia to Mrs. Bloodhamr. "What do you desire in exchange for this information?"
The old woman smiled in delight. "Oh, that's free of charge. If you want to pay back, then try your best to learn all of it and complete the worksheets in the back."
"I do not believe you." Mud held aloft the binder of howork. "No one would give away sothing so incredibly valuable for free. Why would you do sothing that provides you no benefit?"
Mrs. Bloodhamr couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, I wish every student understood the value of an education as much as you do, Mud. As for what I gain, I'm a teacher. Educating is my passion. If I can help a young one lead a better life, I'm content."
"I understand. Educating young lifeforms is your pri directive."
"Exactly. Well, we're getting a bit far from ho now, I should probably head back." Mrs. Bloodhamr stood from the sofa, shifting her weight smoothly as the house leveled off, having entered a valley. "It's a sha you didn't stay in town longer so I could teach you properly. If you ever pass near Geltheas again, please co and visit ."
"I accept that order." Mud proceeded to the door and unlocked it. Following the Pancal etiquette it had learned from the worksheet, the golem stepped to the side and held open the door for Mrs. Bloodhamr. "Goodbye. It was nice to et you."
"Such a quick learner." The old woman patted Mud on the head gently. Reaching into a pocket of her long dress, she pulled out a small orb wrapped in paper and handed it to Mud. The golem accepted it graciously.
Stepping through the doorway, the old woman turned back and waved farewell at the construct. "Goodbye. And rember; no banditry!"
"Yes, Ma'am."
After turning around, Mrs. Bloodhamr took a few steps to the edge of the porch. Below them, treetops whizzed by as the mansion continued its trek east. With a small hop, the old woman leaped from the edge, vanishing from sight.
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