You fucking parasitic monster! Theodora screeches, following up her first punch with an imdiate second. The blows are amateurish, but more than enough to knock the sli-Revenant flat. One-hundred and fifty-three hours
thirteen minutes and forty-three seconds, I know! the sli-revenant snaps back, her old mans body seemingly no more frail than Theodoras young one. They are, after all, both equally dead. You never shut up about it! I dont know how you got free, but
Theodora breaks through the slis guard and socks her in the jaw, shutting the forr parasite up. The sli tackles her in response, knocking over the table and slamming both of them into the floor.
Why cant I swim back into you!?
Penelope coughs politely, glancing at .
Shouldnt you stop them?
I watch the fight for a bit, the savage blows between the two undead breaking bloodless skin.
...Nah, I say, shaking my head slowly. Theodora kinda earned this. They can sort out their differences.
Penelope follows my gaze, nodding back.
True enough. It does seem like a cathartic way to greet ones torturer.
Youre not gonna beat up, are you mom? Vitamin asks impishly.
No, silly! I tell her, reaching up to tickle her sides. I already killed you! Were totally even!
My dead daughter giggles, though I doubt its because the corpse she inhabits is actually ticklish. Penelope gives us an odd stare as the vicious brawl continues across the floor next to us.
Vita, did you adopt the sli that tried to take over your body?
Yep! I answer happily. Well, posthumously. But shes a little kid with all my mories, and she calls mom, and yknow. It fits, right? Shes mine.
And youre mine! Vitamin declares, grinning down at .
Goodness, this is only going to end well, Penelope deadpans. What is with you and doting on inhuman horrors?
I shrug.
My soul has tentacles, Penelope. Im pretty sure Im an inhuman horror. I just kinda empathize with that, you know?
Youre as human as anyone Ive ever t, Vita, Penelope insists. Ive done very thorough scans. Your body is perfectly normal, you just have a rare talent.
Yeah, but my soul is weird. And when you think about it, my soul is more than my body is, ri
I cut myself off, attention suddenly snapping to the fight. Human-Theodora just smacked Sli-Theodora hard enough to shatter a few of the old-man bones in her body. That by itself doesnt seem like its worth caring too much about, but as the impact hit I felt Sli-Theodoras soul crack as well, prompting a hoarse scream of pain.
Stop, I order, my voice freezing both Revenants imdiately.
Human-Theodora stands above her forr captor, one foot poised to crash into the sli-Revenants ribs again. They both stare at with the kind of fearful, guilty expression Lyns little ones make when theyre caught hoarding food.
Taking Vitamin off my shoulders I walk over, shooing Human-Theodora out of the way. I kneel down next to the forr sli so I can poke at her soul with my tendrils. Its not shattered or broken or anything, just cracked.
How do you feel? I ask.
It hurts! the Revenant whimpers. Vita, whats happening? Why cant I leave this body? Why doesnt it have mories?
Hmm. So shes still lucid, even when damaged. The crack doesnt look very deep, but the question is why did the soul crack at all? A physical blow shouldnt have affected an intangible thing like a soul, right?
Youre not a sli anymore, I tell her. Youre undead. Now shush, Im investigating.
I carefully pull the soul out of the corpse, the many blood-vessel-like growths that are spread across the body detaching bit by bit, staying connected to the souls core as I remove it. They remind of my tendrils a little, but much thinner and more interconnected; more like a lattice of vines, really. These structures seem to exert force on the inside of the body, allowing the Revenants to move without ever using their muscles. I hold out the soul towards Human-Theodora.
Can you see or touch what Im holding? I ask.
She reaches out, her own hand passing right through the soul.
I see nothing, she answers promptly.
I nod. So soul-contact isnt so property of Revenants. I put the soul back inside the body, the Sli-Theodora waking up with a terrified gasp soon afterwards. What could it be? How is the soul being touched? I absently scratch an itch with one of my tendrils, and funnily enough thats how I figure it out. I grab and hold that tentacle, then yank.
Ow! I yelp. Everyone gives a weird look, but I dont care. I get it now! Since the soul is exerting force on the body to move it, the body can still exert force on the soul as well. The vine-lattice of soul stuff that grows inside a Revenants body can be damaged or torn if the parts of the body its attached to are damaged or torn. So with enough force
...Your souls might shatter if you get hurt too bad, I announce. I wont be able to bring you back from that, so no more fighting.
Human-Theodora raises a shaky finger in Sli-Theodoras direction.
T-this thing
Controlled your body and thereby ntally tortured you for days, I know, I answer, cutting her off. Which is why I let you beat the shit out of her. Well, congrats, you cracked her soul. Thats going to hurt like a bitch and I dont know how to fix it. So were done now, okay? You dont have to like each other, but no more fighting.
She scowls, but nods. Turning her head, she tries to spit on Sli-Theodora, though to her obvious irritation she doesnt have saliva.
...Right. Well, with that out of the way, Id like to brief everyone as to what were actually doing here, Penelope announces, stepping in. Were not only blaspheming for the fun of it. This is our immortality research facility. While pure biomancy-based immortality should be possible, the cooperation of tamancers such as yourselves and potentially animancers, once we start to reverse-engineer Vitas abilities should speed up the process dramatically.
My personal goals include the ability to make living, artificial bodies to put souls in as well, I add. Its the best way I can think of to help the Nawra. I, uh, have their souls inside , by the way. Nice and safe.
Penelope nods, while Sli-Theodoras eyes go wide.
One will help lead to the other, I think, Penelope agrees. It should be invigorating research, not to ntion research I hope will uplift our people and our country to ever-greater prosperity. I have faith that our collection of magical genius here
And ! Vitamin adds.
should be up to the task.
W-wait. Hold on, Sli-Theodora stamrs. I feel like Im missing a lot of context. Im dead? Vita is a necromancer? And youre are you even a Nawra?
I am not, Penelope answers with a smile. And never was, from the mont you t . Vita is the sa.
Her eyes go even wider.
B-but Vita you still want to help us?
The devotion radiating from her eyes as she stares at is delicious. At least Sli-Theodora is easy. ...No, wait. I should be disturbed at how easy. Shes conveniently forgetting I killed her and her whole family in the first place. My shard within her pulses, filtering and feeding feelings to the woman who has all the mories of her much more willful counterpart, but none of the experience that gives her the self-control to question. Although, since I have them both here
I do. First order of business, though: Theodora.
Both Theodoras tilt their head at , awaiting command. I point at the forr sli in the old mans body.
You need a new na. Sorry. Human-Theodora had it first, and itll be confusing otherwise. You wanna be Theodore? We kinda put you in a man.
Eegh, no, she answers, shuddering. Im a woman, thank you. Wrinkly, cold dick or otherwise.
Penelope snorts with amusent as I wince. How graphic. Still, I kinda figured shed feel that way, for so reason.
Okay. How about Thea? Dora?
Ive always been partial to the na Margarete, actually, she answers, thumb and forefinger on her chin.
Wh- Ive always been partial to that na! Theodora snaps.
Yes, imagine that, Margarete replies, smirking a little.
I chuckle, shaking my head. Ah, Nawra.
Right, well. Theodora and Margarete, its good to officially et you. What do you two think our first step should be?
They glance at each other, and after only a brief pause they answer at the sa ti.
tal.
tal, huh? I guess it makes sense. Its so kind of mana gatherer and amplifier, and were here to do lots of big magic.
Thats going to be difficult, Penelope murmurs. Ive set all this up to be inconspicuous so far, but if I even try to buy tal, were instantly going to be under scrutiny. Which normally wouldnt be a problem, but
But we have three Revenants and an animancer in the basent, I finish. Yeah, thats not ideal. What do we need it for?
Ironically, to hide the three Revenants and the animancer in the basent, Theodora answers.
Well have to continually reapply the masking enchantnts since theyre not tallically anchored, and any mistakes during that process could temporarily disable them, Margarete continues. Which wouldnt be an instant death sentence, but
...The frequency at which well be doing this ans that eventually, soone will notice, Theodora finishes, glaring at her counterpart.
I nod, frowning. That does seem pretty important.
Cant grandma help? Vitamin asks, staring up at with her head tilted. Straight black hair fras her hollow cheeks in a way that Ive seen way too many tis before. The poor girl shes wearing was almost a skeleton before she died. Still, I cant help but grin when she calls Lyn grandma. Ive no doubt shes doing it on purpose.
Well, I dont know a better way to get illegal tal than Lyn the tal Thief, I agree. Well have to see if she can safely slip us so.
I wish lik were here, Theodora grumbles. Wait, you didnt tell the Templars about his talent, did you?
We didnt, no, I confirm. Is that how you got all the tal for your tattoos? He found it?
She nods. Interesting. Well, hes seven days and change away, so well call him a solid plan B.
I guess Im heading back ho, then. ...After I change into my armor.
Penelope nods, fishing so kind of round token out from between her breasts and handing it to .
Head back to the bathhouse and give them this, theyll return both our old outfits to you. Would you be a dear and drop mine off at the hunters guild?
I accept the token, shrugging. I need to go back there to change and store this weird dress anyway.
Are they even going to let back into rich bitch land? I ask.
They will let you into the central city with that token, yes. Say youre a servant for House Erebus if questioned, but looking as beautiful as you do theyre unlikely to find fault with you.
I feel a bit of flushing in my cheeks.
Uh? Why does that matter?
Penelope shrugs.
Because thats the way the world works. We talked about this. Now go on and quit staring at like that. Its just a complint.
Its certainly not the kind of complint I was expecting, though. People have traditionally had zero cause to appreciate my appearance, being a half-starved gremlin and all. Ive occasionally been called cute after getting a bit more at on my bones, but never beautiful.
Vitamin sniggers at , hand over her mouth to cover her incorrigible grin.
Love you, mom! Tell grandma and grandpa I said hi!
Damnit. Ive spent ages trying to get people to not treat as a kid, but now I feel like Im being treated as way too old! I shuffle out in a hurry, Penelope imdiately starting a massively nerdy conversation with the tamancer twins behind . I quickly make my way to rich bitch land, avoiding eye contact with as many people as possible. Walking around in this dress is making way more self-conscious when Im alone than when I had Penelope next to to steal all the attention. I give the token to the bathhouse staff as instructed, carrying our armor out in tendril-supported arms. Man, everything is easier when I can bolster my body like this. Looking busy and walking fast seems like enough of a reason for people to avoid bothering , and eventually Im back at the guild, heading upstairs to my shared room.
Vita! Hey! Where have you woah-ho! What are you wearing, girl?
Hey, Norah, I respond, walking in to drop the armor on my bed for sorting. Sorry to dump the mission report on you and the boys.
Oh, you better be sorry if you went to the baths without ! Im hurt, Vita! Truly, I am!
The dark-skinned womans grin indicates she may not actually be that hurt, as she walks over to in her usual white undershorts and tank top.
Yeah, I murmur. Sorry. Ill make it up to you sohow. Later. It wasnt really all fun and gas, though.
How are the luxurious bathhouses not all fun and gas? she asks, grabbing so of Penelopes armor and helping put it away.
Penelope basically bought ? I think? Im apparently a slave, and I had to go et her fianc. A bunch of shit with the Templars happened on our not-really-that-secret mission to Litia, and yeah.
Norah tilts her head, scowling.
Wow. Thats a slave? Really? Cant you just tell her to fuck off?
Without the protection of a noble house mucking up their ability to press an investigation, Ill get frad for so big cri. A bunch of politics happened, I dunno. But I think were at least kinda friends now? She stuck her neck out to save and stuff. Literally walked in front of a sword, so I cant really complain too much.
Finished with Penelopes stuff, I start to peel my dress off, followed quickly by the fucking bra. The padding on my armor is just fine, damnit! I start re-dressing for combat. The slums may not be as dangerous as outside the walls, but Im not going to be the idiot that thinks that ans theyre safe. ...Although in truth, I have very little to fear from most people there.
Still, Vita thats pretty wild. Youll have to tell the long version of that story soti. I bet youre happy to get out of the dress, at least.
Extrely, I agree. Not being in armor just makes nervous. If a person has the option to wear it, why wouldnt they?
Norah just chuckles, shaking her head.
Not for any reason I suspect you care about, but most people have different priorities from you. Youre the odd duck out, Vita. Still, I find it hard to believe the Templars would try to fra you for sothing. Theyre super honorable.
I shrug. As much of an asshole Gladra was, the truth is that I probably did cause that perception event. While I think its absurd to kill over that Im just going to stay away from the damn edge, its not that hard I can see the Templars logic, at least. That tentacle
I shake my head, strapping on the last of my armor and securing my knives and spear. Ive started carrying two knives lately, to have a backup for my backup. I have a new spear as well, to replace the one that Slimus tossed off the island trying to kill Penelope. A long shaft of shaped and sharpened chitin, the weapon is sturdy and apparently quite expensive. A substantial improvent from my last one.
Finally, I dig into my bed and retrieve Rosco, giving him a massive squeeze before securing him once again. Ah, still safe and sound.
Welp, see ya, Norah, I say, nodding to my teammate.
Leaving already? A slaves life is busy, huh?
Yeah, I guess so.
I exit the Hunters guild again, setting out to go visit my family for the second ti today. Geez, Im so tired. I still havent gotten a proper rest from our last mission, but today is a damn long one and even after the tail end of our excursion this morning theres still another nine hours before Needlestone passes over for a brief nightti. Still, I have a stock of small monster souls from our fights in the forest. Theyre little more than cheap snacks to now, but theyre still damn tasty and they help keep awake.
...I suppose, since Im going ho, I may as well buy them food again.
A collection of als later, I make my way through the back alleys of the city, avoiding the pleading gazes of dozens of beggars. They arent dying, they dont need . When I make it ho, however, Im annoyed to find I dont feel Lyn or Rowans souls at the shack. The kids rush out to et , and I ask one of them (uh, Normal? No, right, his na is Norman.) where the dynamic duo is.
Lyn and Rowan are out with the Drakens again, Norman answers, picking his nose. Theyre not around a lot anymore.
I scowl.
No one has co by to bother you guys while theyre away, have they?
Norman shrugs.
Sotis. People will beat us up or steal food or whatever. We just pretend we ate it.
My tentacles snap outward, anger flaring. So bastards are trying to take advantage of my family?
Ill kill them later, I promise.
Norman steps back.
Um okay, he says. T-Thanks again for the food, Vita.
No problem, I answer through clenched teeth, turning around to head out. Ill return in a bit, maybe tonight when at least Rowan is all but sure to be around. I also make a note to rember every soul around my ho. When Im not so exhausted, Ill find the assholes that are apparently beating up kids.
I dont have to put up with shit like that anymore, so Im not going to.
Soon enough, however, I notice two familiar souls heading my way as I return to the guild. Squigs and Frigs. I change my route and they follow. Well, fine, if theyre going to be annoying, I may as well find out what they want to extort from today. Changing my course again, I walk right towards them.
Vita! Frigs calls when we see each other, the short, fat man raising his arms welcomingly. Just the young woman we were hoping to see! We heard you were back in town, and Im here to tell you: the boss wants a word.
The boss? Do they an boss of the Drakens? Or perhaps just a boss? Ah, well. Im down either way. I have so choice words and I need so illegally-sourced tal anyway.
Sure, I answer. Lead the way.
Squigs and Frigs look at each other.
Well, Squigs comnts, that was easy.
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