"So any idea where it will be best for us to meet back up with the other two?" I asked Rose as I finished putting my mask and hat back on. The bag I carried her up the mountain with soon being slung over my shoulder. My eyes lingering on Rose as she happily hummed to herself as we had just finished watching the orbital-halo rise over the horizon. It was a nice sight.
But, I had seen many nice sights recently so I don't think it meant much. Yet, there was something interesting to me about how that was the first time I ever saw it properly rise in the distance. I guess I had just spent so much of my life in the shadow of something that such a common and guaranteed occurrence never came up. I am glad I had this opportunity, though.
"We'd likely see them again near the exit of the road that spiralled up the mountain. Assuming we had not lagged behind them, in which case it might be better to head to our destination that we set out to go to originally." she said to me with her index finger pointing towards the old-looking structure that seemed to go around the walls of Thrurstradtur. Did Thrurstradtur even need walls, though? It was on top of a mountain with a single meaningful road up. Seems like you'd just need some barricades on the road rather than actual walls for the city.
Unless it had to do with how the large structure at its centre circled around and followed the orbital-halo? It was there to support it and the city in and of itself was a giant machine to track the divine-made device that gave us day? A question I could get answered once we got to the Academy and met up with Vapooliar again. And at the same time, it was a question I could answer myself right here.
"That's right..." I found myself saying as I looked at the city, my mind focusing on the short-haired woman I met in a bug hive. The one who controlled those little emerald wisps as we left it, the one who supported me in the build-up to our escape. The one who was there when I finally got out myself. I was nearly back with her and I could see if she was okay...
"Come on, we may have climbed up the mountain, but there is still quite a lot of walking still to do as we are so far from the main road!" Rose called out to me as I had lingered behind her.
"We? Woman, I'm the one who climbed up it!" I hysterically told her as I caught up to her. A laugh coming out of me as I dealt with her absurd wording choice.
"Hey, I provided the support you needed to reach the top!"
"You certainly did something..." I grumbled while rubbing the arm I had dislocated getting her out of that cold. Yet, it was meaningless because this magic cleaned it all up and healed it. I never had felt better after a breath of fresh air! Which made it all the more noticeable as we got closer to the city, it started to feel more controlled. Something I had no idea how I knew.
But, it might have been because I felt like something was tugging at me as we passed by the city. Like an air duct sucking in air as you passed it or decided to put a hand against its slotted openings. It felt like that, so it left me a little worried, was my uncontrolled magic about to bite me in the most tender of parts? Did I need to start thinking in a way like I did when I snuck into Tryhpeltzweig?
"My love, does it make you curious as to how the snow-belt works? With how everything up here is so lush and wonderful?"
"Hm? Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."
She pouted a little before smiling softly, "We, you, climbed up and through the snow-belt, a place covered in frost and snow. Yet, up here, it is as if there never was a snow-belt." she told me as she skipped through the gap between a pair of trees.
"That is peculiar, yes." I said to her while gazing off at the fields of green that went all the way up to the city. My mind was a little confused for a bit as it was lingering on farms for some reason despite there being none in sight. Or maybe that was why it was lingering on the topic...?
"Do you perhaps think this is a side-effect of the efforts of the wind-people, or do you think the snow-belt was always like it?"
"Like what?"
"Just a small strip near the top of the mountains."
"Ah, sorry, but, I'm afraid I don't really have an answer."
"It doesn't matter if you do, conjecture is fine, it is all I have as well." she grinned out to me to which I huffed a laugh out.
"If that is the case, then, given how everything is very different to how it is back home, for me at least, I'd have to say it was likely always like this. With pleasant fields on the mountain tops hidden behind a frozen barrier. A naturally occurring wall to put some perspective on it."
"I like to think the wind-people are responsible, it makes them seem more impressive."
"I don't think you need to make up reasons as to why they are impressive." I say to her as I came to a stop and looked at Thrurstradtur. Why would anyone need to reinforce their pride when what they had to call upon for it was something like this? A city that followed the path of the day bringer! Something I am sure most other peoples only had little tools for, not an entire city!
"I'm not! I just find it the most likely answer."
"If you cannot confirm it, it is made up." I told her with a grin to which she tried to gently shove me away.
"So what are we going to do when we finally get there?"
"Try and find Vapooliar seems like the best option." I tell her.
"The Valkinvar is going to be there?" she asked to which I nodded with a growing smile. One I tried to keep amidst the battlefield of my mind that was filled with both optimistic hopes and pessimistic dreads. One of where I met her and she would listen to me carefully and be fine that I was back with her so we could go through our plan. And one of where she looked on at me as nothing but a monster...
"Yeah, she's going to be there..." I began to say before I stared off into the distance at a flying machine that was headed straight for us. Many had flown by us as we walked, but this one seemed to be coming into land...? Or was it just someone doing a drive-by and splashing you with the big puddle they saw to put it into another context?
"Should we start running?" Rose whispered to me as after she followed my gaze to that approaching vehicle. My head looking about after she said that before I just shook it in response before speaking again.
"There'd be no point, where would we go? This is a pretty flat place even with the small woodland area we just went through."
"But what if it is something we should be concerned about?"
"Running would only make the problem worse." I tell her as I frown upon seeing the vehicle release a couple of smaller machines. Too small they were to hold people, but they were much faster, perhaps they were like a motorbike? The other vehicle like an open-trailer lorry or hauler?
Well, that was what I was going to think before they zoomed past and then around us with glowing circles popping up on their rears. A sudden group of armed men appearing around us before they then moved to hover by us as the larger one came to a stop. My hands bringing Rose in closer as I stared carefully at all these magical weapons. The strange vehicles concerning me the most as those magic circles had not disappeared.
"Citizenry identification, please." one of the men asked me in a gentle but still stern voice as he came forward and lowered his gun. A small device in his hand as his eyes kept glancing around me. A click leaving my mouth as I realised that my magic had proved to be a means to drag us out into the open before armed authorities. And considering my recent history with them, I was a little jittery.
Something they did not seem to like...
"Let's try this a different way, Thrurstradtur or Suhurlodst?" the guard then said as he noted my behaviour. But, it seemed like he was hesitant to order the others to lower their weapons. Maybe I just needed to come off as unthreatening? Was that it?
"Can... Can you lower the guns...?" I asked cautiously while slowly raising my hands. Stopping when the sudden noise of mechanical parts moving filled my ears. Those guards back at Tryhpeltzweig had weapons that could nearly kill me, these guys must have had much worse all things considered...
The eyes of the guard narrowed as he looked at my claws, but, he did not seem to catch on to anything, "Put these on." he said as he then tossed something to me. It was like my old ankle bracelets, but distinctly more magical.
"Alright, just lock them onto my wrist?" I asked as I moved them about, to which he nodded which then led to me putting them on properly. And, all of a sudden, I felt, weak, very weak, collapsing to my knees weak. My strength had not disappeared but I felt extremely nauseous. Something Rose did not take kindly to as she suddenly took on an aggressive posture that I had to take her out of.
"What did you..." she began to say before I put my claw on her.
"It's alright, I am fine." I told her as I stood up, looking carefully at the foremost guard who was now looking at me expectingly.
"Sir?" he said in a clear reference to how I had not answered his question or shown him the identification.
"I am from neither and I have nothing on me concerning identification." I tell him, to which he responded to by gesturing the largest of the aircraft down. The machine hissing as it opened up upon landing, my gaze focusing on the insides of it.
"Both of you, please step onboard and you will be sent off to the necessary facilities." we were told as he waved us in. Rose's tail soon keeping itself close to my back as we went aboard it before sitting down. Our stuff resting on my lap while Rose herself just leaned against me with a scowl. And, just across from us on this vehicle, I had a pair of guns pointing at me.
It did not take long for a digit of mine to begin tapping against my leg so I had the means to vent the nerve-wracking sensation going through me. My eyes blinked a lot more than they normally would as well, especially given how I was so close to armed men who had an open view of me. I could not hide my body all that well, and while my carapace was hidden under the bandages and cloak... The distinct shape of my body could not be hidden.
So I was left having to listen to the quiet whispers of the guards as they made bets and debated amongst themselves as to what I was. They did not have an issue with the fact we were not humans, but, it did seem like they took issue with the way I was dressed. The word 'suspicious' and references to the concealment of items was something I heard them say a lot. Of course, I was hiding nothing, but there was no way they'd take my word for it.
So, as I had nothing better to do and Rose seemed to on edge to converse with, I just decided on looking at the armour of one of the guards.
It seemed to have been a mixture of metal plate and cloth, with the general layout of it all being relatively light on the plate. The feet were only covered at their top while the legs were covered only at the shins and upper front with a bit going towards the thigh. Hands and arms were in a similar state, back of the hand, a strip along the forearm and a small piece just about the shoulder. The chest was probably the most protective piece, though, just one big piece that covered it all but the back seemed to be exposed.
I couldn't get a good look at the helmets, however, as they were all taken off before the ones that got on, got on. But, if I was to make any guesses from what I could see, they had little flaps at the side, so they must have had ear and neck protection. Or would it be cheek protection for the ones most positioned at the side? I guess it didn't matter, either way, the face seemed to have been completely exposed otherwise.
Colours seemed to match the city itself as well, lots of brass and copper colours with some darker sections seemingly outlined with black paint or something. Possibly a form of oil? It looked very greasy in those decals that sometimes glowed a very and I meant very soft blue. The cloth portions, however, were just a shade of brown, I guess to put more emphasis on the plate armour?
A short while after I made that observation, the vehicle shook, so I guess that meant we landed? And once I was done looking at the armour of the guards as well! Which thankfully, they never caught on to thanks to the dark lenses on my mask hiding my eyes. So now all that lay ahead of me was a different problem entirely.
What was going to happen...?
"Where have you taken us?" Rose asked the guard with a more controlled tone than I thought she might have spoken in normally. And while she asked and spoke to them, I just looked around the large chamber we had landed in. Though, I suppose hangar was the correct term as this place was otherwise loaded with aircraft.
Not many guards, however, so had we perhaps just been dropped off in a civilian area? Yet, I was thinking I might have been more comfortable in a military building as this escort we were getting seemed to make us talk of the town. Or, talk of the hangar, rather. I did not like it at all, in no small part to the various bits of baseless information I heard spring up amongst the onlookers.
It did not take us long to get to a more meaningful place, but, it seemed that we had attracted the attention of a small group of well-dressed individuals. Ones that seemed to command some form of authority here, were they perhaps the men we were being sent to regarding our lack of identification? Those who would punish us for our climb up the mountain? Assuming they knew or would find out about that climb...
"Who's this, State-Guardsman?" asked a man with greying hair and a short beard as he looked at me after completely ignoring Rose. Something I had a feeling I might have had to console her about later if I was guessing her response correctly.
"We do not know, Head of Oddity House Frihdeicalkbr, he had not produced any citizenry identification and by their own admission, he was not of Suhurlodst." the guard explained to the now named and titled man. A title I found odd, admittedly, Head of Oddity House...? What kind of title was that even?
This man, this Frihdeicalkbr then approached me directly, "What is your purpose for being up here?" he asked me with an inquisitive stare. His eyes almost immediately falling upon the sight of my claws and brick-like feet. Parts of me I tried to hide upon seeing where his gaze was headed.
"To see a friend at Suhurlodst..." I told him nervously while also processing how the man seemed to become very happy at the mention of my destination.
"Well, let's hope we can keep you around longer then. May I perhaps come along and observe the procedure then take him to the Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding?"
"If that is the case, yes, it will save us some time on the tabletwork. However, if issues arise, it will be a firm no."
"Of course, I understand completely." Frihdeicalkbr told him as he began to get a little more hands-on in trying to see beyond my cloak. Something Rose, thankfully, was able to put a stop to by just being her usual, assertive self.
"Thank you." I whispered to her while we both kept an eye on Frihdeicalkbr who had grown a very peculiar grin. Had I perhaps been too loud? But why would he take on such an expression from a show of gratitude...? Was it more to do with that he found the idea of an aelenvari travelling with me interesting?
Were we an entertaining gimmick to him?
I guess I would have time to think on it later, as now, it seemed like we were being put through some kind of test. A few prods, scans and jabs later and we were now before a desk of some description looking at the guard who guided us here.
"Names and occupations please." he said with a confused frown after muttering about the lack of information on us.
"First name is Nin, last name is Urtuan." I told him while being mindful of how Futhans thought my first name was a job.
"First name...?" the guard said in confusion before he then shook his head. I presume he just went ahead and put my two names together as one. He then looked up at Rose and repeated his prior question.
"Rose'lhia." Rose told him.
"Noted, no occupations for either of you?" the guard said to us with a raised brow.
"No, she gave hers up before we set off on our journey to here and I am not too sure about the circumstances of mine in this place."
"Circumstances?"
"I am not... A wind-person, as Rose here would put it."
"I see, and, would you care to explain why none of you show up on the database controlled by the Guard of the Road?"
"We uh... Well, I, climbed the mountain rather than walk along the road."
"I see." the frown on the guard deepened as the sound of moving weapons filled my ears.
"What's going on...?" I then asked as I began to panic at the sight of approaching guards.
"We are just going to pat you down for anything illegal."
And in my haste, I flung my cloak up, "I haven't gotten anything, see!?" I told him not really registering what I had done which left him sterner in gaze.
"Take the mask off." he then said which left me cold. Rose was soon pressing up against me under the imminent likelihood of us having to go on the run again.
"He can't! It's religious! He cannot take it off unless you want to occur the wrath of the gods!" Rose tried to ward them off with, but it had no effect.
"Neither the Founding Pantheon or the Faith under the Mighty have any documented uses of beak-like masks in their religious attire. It will be removed or you will be under arrest and you will face the charges you have accrued." he explained as he stood up and held out some kind of pistol at me. Rose was becoming increasingly aggressive and I was unable to stop myself from shaking...
But, then, it just became clear... There was no getting out of this situation, so I just held Rose tightly and turned her around, "Rose, it's going to be alright, just move over there, away from them." I told her as I began to slowly move her away.
"No it won't be! IT WON'T BE!" she said with increasing hysteria even though she did as she was told.
"Can you guys not be trigger happy...? Please?" I asked the guards awkwardly to which the one in front just gestured for me to get on with it. Clearly indicating that as long as I didn't try anything there would be no shots fired. And so, with shaking claws, I began to take off my hat and mask. Tightly clenching them in shame as the guard ahead of me looked on in bewilderment, clearly knowing what I was but still not doing anything.
"Now isn't this interesting indeed." Frihdeicalkbr said as he began to walk around me at rapid pace. Likely to keep away any potential shots from the magical guns pointed at me.
"Sir, what do we do?" one of the guards behind me asked.
"Head of Oddity House, will you be taking this Nin into your care?" the guard ahead of me asked. My eyes, however, were not looking at him, they were looking at Frihdeicalkbr as he had grabbed me by the chin and was staring intently into them.
"And what if I don't?"
The guard put some thought into it, "It will be killed off here and now."
"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" Rose screamed at him as her own magic began to flare up.
"I'll take her too," he said with a pointed finger before he let me put my mask and hat back on. And now, well, it seemed like my life was in the hands of this man. But, I was glad somewhat... I did not have to run away...
But...
There was no way this would end up well, me being osibindah was likely just going through all of the guards like the water behind a collapsing dam.
"So... Uh, thank you for your help?" I said to the man who just got me out of an imminent execution.
"Don't thank me, I won't be having you think I did this out of the kindness of my heart." he told me with cold pragmatism. A pragmatism that left me with a dangerous amount of curiosity within me.
"Then why did you do it...?"
"Because you are an osibindah, the first one ever to be documented with your level of docility and compliance and intelligence and I plan on seeing what makes you tick."
"If you think you can experiment on me, you have another thing coming." I growled out at him which left him just sending an unamused expression my way. Not even caring for the sounds of moving guns I just heard as this was far more serious. I would not turn myself into this mans care just to be cut open!
"Experiment? Well, yes, but not in the usual way. You are, admittedly, far too valuable to just cut open or put through a maze, so, instead, I will make you a student. Clearly you need the education, but that is beside the point." he said to me before he then gestured to the magic flowing out of me and around me. That same magic that was still getting tugged at by something in the direction of Thrurstradtur. Or, possibly the city itself.
"So if you got me out of that situation because you were curious about me, then why did you let Rose come too?"
"Because I get to test just how strong an aelenvari's love is." he said while staring intently at Rose who took a step back in shock. Her eyes looking at me with an expression that seemed almost pleading. Was she worried that she would lose interest in me? I mean, I can't say I'd be bothered by that.
I did only see her as a friend, after all, a good one, if an overbearing one that was far too open with me for my tastes in some areas. But, as long as she stayed my friend, then I did not see an issue with her getting interested in someone else. Yet, for now at least, I should probably try and reassure her or something at the very least. Because, if I was remembering it properly, this had happened before at her flower when I was in that sporting event she set up.
"So we are heading to your academy then?"
"The Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding, yes. But, I would like to know who it is you were going to see there before what happened, happened." he asked me as we came to a stop. My head turning to look on cautiously at the guards who were following us through the building while I thought of an answer. Was mentioning Vapooliar a good idea? Maybe I should just mention Einervaene and Baltanthan so we could get back together.
Yeah, that was probably best for now...
"I am not sure if she has got there yet, but it is a young woman and man by the name of Einervaene and Baltanthan."
"A Jherikrani name and an Eusorochiian one? Well, Eusorochiian and Jherikrani one as you gave me her name first, not his."
"Uh, yeah." I said after he was done with his ramble.
"Hm, can't say any Eusorochi have arrived at or joined Oddity House recently. So, I guess we are heading to the Plateau Gate to see if they are there." he then said as he began to move again. Following him until we reached a garage of some description from which he then guided us to some land-based machine. It seemed to be a car, but, its magical aspects made me unsure if calling it a car was correct as it was the same in purpose but not really design. We were gestured into it shortly after and were speeding off just as quickly.
"So what is Oddity House?" I then asked him while we had some privacy. Well, that might have been untrue as we were already being followed by armed aircraft and more of those things with the magic circles. And, well, it made me uncomfortable because being in a situation where I was viewed as a threat just hurt. I was not an innately violent person and yet I was being stalked as if I was...
"It is one of four student divisions with the Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding. It is there for all non-human students and students not from the Jherikra continent."
"Why would you have a segment for different species and foreigners?"
"Because, for example, if you look at your aelenvari lover's legs, you will see her biology is adapted to handling magic differently. As such, we have a different set of facilities set up for them."
"And the reason non-Jherikrans go with it?" I asked him while rolling that word, 'Jherikran,' in my mouth. I swear this land was called Jhermonikra so hearing it be called something else was odd. I could probably ask Rose about it later, though.
"Because if you come from another one of the five main continents, your magic will be different, as such, facilities that are not the norm which we have the most of will be best suited for you or them. More so if you are of mixed-race, even if those rules also apply to a learnt pureblooded Jherikran as well."
"What happens if you are mixed-race?"
"Your magic takes on both traits of the parent lines. For example, you probably won't ever meet her, but, the lady in charge of the security of Thrurstradtur was born from an Errakurdish mother and a father from the lands of the dark mountain. As such, she has a mixture of dark magic and fire magic at her disposal, it is quite interesting to see it as it is so contradictory."
"I assume the contradiction is that fire is the most well-known source of light?"
"Correct."
"I guess you are right about it being interesting then." I mutter while trying to think of how such magic might work.
"Was she ever a student at your rooted-flower?" Rose then asked.
"She was not, no, she was largely self-taught and instructed by those at the school she went to, to learn how to use a sword."
"Do you have many hybrid users like that at Oddity House?" I then asked him.
"Unfortunately, no, most of them are at Exceptional House, who, admittedly, I have been rather jealous of as they inducted quite the student recently."
I perked up but managed to hide most of it behind my cloak and mask, "What sort of magic does she have?"
"Wind magic, but, what gets me is how much inspiration she seems to have taken from the Valkinvar who used to actually call Suhurlodst their home. In fact, the Ringed-City was built by them." he said which left me smiling behind my mask as that basically confirmed Vapooliar was here. It wasn't inspired... It was!
"What is different about Exceptional House then?" I followed up with as he had not explained the other student segments yet.
"It is the section of Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding for native Jherikran students who did exceptionally well in the entrance exams, one the aforementioned student broke all the records in. Traditional House being where they go if they just pass it without issue. Mechanical House if they are seeking more engineering-based arcane education."
"Are there any other Houses?"
"None, though, admittedly, there has been talks of establishing a fifth by dividing mine into two."
"One for foreigners and one for non-humans?" I asked him, personally thinking my guess was probably quite obvious.
"That would be correct. We've been getting a lot more non-Jherikrans as of late and Oddity House just isn't equipped for such diversity as it originally was just a frequently updated measure to deal with any children from a minority of imported specialists."
"And these entrance exams, am I going to have to take them given the situation I am in? I did not exactly get a choice in the matter." I say to him with a frown.
"Yes, yes you will still need to take the entrance exams."
"And if I fail?"
"You will be executed for your crimes."
"How can climbing a mountain be a justifiable reason to execute me!?"
"It isn't, but they won't likely treat it as such, they'd just mark it down as monster hunting or pest control. Which, in and of itself is a sham to the legal system of our associated Republic, but, you won't find any legal aid given what you are."
I slowly slid down my seat in despair, "Great... Just great."
"Chin up, you have a very impressive reserve of magic so I can't see you failing."
"What even is in this exam?" Rose then asked him with a glare as her hand moved to hold my claw affectionately to reaffirm my self-belief.
"As long as you are not going to be doing any arcane-engineering, it will just be a test of your magical capabilities. Any spells you have begun to develop and so on alongside a few reading and writing exams to make sure you are properly learned enough."
I gulped in worry, sure, I might be able to do the magic... But I can't write or read Gods Speak or its wind-blessed descendent language! And there'd be no way I could learn it all before an entrance exam! It's impossible, I might as well just kill myself right now and save the guards the trouble...
"Would we have to do it upon arriving at your rooted-flower?" Rose then asked him, her hand having allowed her to figure out my sudden worries.
"No, you are given a three to five-month period to prepare using onsite equipment. We are aware many coming in won't have the most refined magic so we give them a period to refine it." he explained which put me at some ease. That was enough time, wasn't it? I could learn enough in that time frame if I put my mind to it... Yeah, I just needed to briefly go through some time where I was just learning... I could do that...
"Are there any limits to what we would be able to use?"
"Nope, the entrance exam build-up period is also treated as a taster term for potential newcomers so we let them have at it and it also lets them see if the Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding is right for them. A system that has worked out quite well for us so far."
"But I won't have the option of just deciding it ain't for me and leaving."
"No, I am afraid not, but, with the stakes clear to you, you should have the drive to finish it well."
"Yeah, sure. I will go above and beyond because otherwise I will be shot dead for having the body of a bug..." I sarcastically spat out at him.
"I am no psychology expert, I admit, but, Nin was it? You have an aelenvari lover there. If it helps, try readjusting your goals so that you are doing it for her rather than yourself." he said in a much softer tone as he brought the vehicle to a stop and got out. Looking at Rose before I did anything else and just staring intently at her worried face. A smile soon forming on her face before she hugged me.
"Don't worry my love, I won't let them kill you. I will help you however I can." her hug ending after she said that to me. A slow nod being my response before I got out.
"Oh! And I nearly forgot, but, I'll have to look into it considering your situation, but, we also allow score sharing if you sign up to the entrance exam together."
"Our scores get added on to each other?"
"Yes and no, if one of you does well enough to cover the passing grade for both individuals, then you both pass. However, if one fails too much, only the one with enough gets in."
"Why only if you sign up together?"
"Because magic is defined by the experiences of the user, some people have theirs defined more by their close bonds. Either way, you now know, so let's get those friends of yours."
"What is the passing score?" I then asked him, hoping and hoping it wasn't anything absurd.
"Seventy out of a hundred made up of averages from all your tests which are also scored out of a hundred. If you score sixty-one or higher, we offer the chance to redo some of your tests to get it up."
"So that means as long as me, Vine and the human-root can get more than seventy, we can fill in for any of your deficiencies, my love." Rose whispered to me. I hope she was mostly thinking on the language issue rather than the magic one. I think I can pass that one on my own, but I don't know. All I have to show for it so far is this thing I do with my fingers...
"Okay..." was all I really had to let out right now, my mind was just too bothered to think up anything else. So, for now, I just followed my new caretaker of sorts as he went into the main building for the gates we had arrived at. Plateau Gate he said, so I guess the idea was it is the last gate before the top of the mountain where the city was. And, now that I was at the traditional start of the way to Thrurstradtur...
Well, I was scared more than anything. The wonder of the sight was gone and now all I could do was see it as the world's longest executioners road. And I was also just angry with myself, I went through all that effort to get up the mountain only to be let down by my own incompetence regarding magic. There was no dismissing it as anything else but incompetence.
I knew full well I had barely any time to learn it but I was now being presented with a situation where I might die again. And, frankly, the possibility of being killed off for no justifiable legal reason left me bitter and cynical. Or, rather, more so than usual. I had a lot of things to be bitter about as of late.
"Hopefully we can get to the others before this gets out of hand." Rose commented with a sneer as the stalking of the guards was attracting attention to us. A lot of bad and negative attention because they were also uncomfortable with the fact guns were raised. I just really wished right now the crowd would disappear as they were making this all worse. Luckily, it seems what we came here for was found.
"Rossie-chira, Urtuoi-kishchu! What's going on?" Einervaene asked me in confusion as she looked around at what was happening. Baltanthan, however, was currently having some form of discussion with Frihdeicalkbr. From what little I could hear over the murmurs of the crowd, it was about how he would not be required to follow us. The previously mentioned fact of him not being eligible for Oddity House likely being the case.
He had no issue with it, though, in fact, he breathed a great sigh of relief and nearly hopped for joy before disappearing. And, going by how quickly he was out the door, I could only assume he was going to enjoy the walk there while we drove. I was fine with that, I doubt his foul mood would have made mine any better. Besides, Einervaene would at least listen without interruption or snark.
"And off we go, assuming I got the correct two?" Frihdeicalkbr asked us, to which I nodded before we then left the building and returned to the vehicle.
"Can I know what is going on now?" Einervaene asked in worry as she uncomfortably watched those aircraft follow us again.
"Your companion here was forced to let slip the fact he is an osibindah," Frihdeicalkbr told her, "As such, the various security forces of Thrurstradtur are on alert regarding him. How high up is aware, I have not a clue, but, it shan't be long until the Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding is forced to address the issue in tabletwork."
Einervaene looked on at me with pity in her eyes, "This wasn't because of me or Baltanthan, was it?"
"No, no it wasn't..." I tell her quietly.
Her face went to rest in her gloved hand, "Will we have to worry about what happened in the town we left?"
"No, they aren't within the legal jurisdiction as far as I know..." I mutter to her while trying to recall what I heard from Futhans.
"This has happened before?" Frihdeicalkbr asked us, either because I was too loud or he has too keen a set of ears.
I nodded in reply but Rose was the one to answer, "It has, a root," she said with venom-laced words, "stuck her nose where it shouldn't have been and we were forced to leave on more violent terms."
"A ravineer town, was it?" he then asked to which I nodded again, "That's good, assuming they are listening in, they can't hold that against you."
I frowned and nearly snarled, "You sure are prepared to go through a lot just to satiate some curiosity..." I told him with a rising temper.
"Indeed, but, you are a very exceptional situation, a very exceptionally special one indeed. But, to change the topic a little, what ravineer town was it?"
"Tryhpeltzweig." I answered.
"Tryhpeltzweig... Hm... Ah! I remember now, the residence of one of our former students who made quite the reserve of wealth before he left."
"You know him?" Einervaene asked him, it being clear she wanted to try and get on to a different topic. Away from the issue I was currently faced with.
"I do, he was a student I sometimes looked into whenever he came back from some jobs he took on as part of his education."
"He is older than you, no?" Rose then asked while my mind was suddenly thinking of how Brewbrt did look much older.
"He is, by a few centuries, in fact."