Ed and The Oracle went into the yard for an hour to talk. The Oracle discussed things like the disks and ways to avoid detection by the gods. Ed was urged to use as little divine power as possible and to improve his mana based skills. That was part of why they had gifted him the memories of Ko'Loss as a human.
Between them, they practiced certain older magical arts that had been lost to time. The older skills were survival skills mostly, and ways to decrease the amount of mana you used while casting. A long time ago mana was far scarcer and magicians were far more practical about how much they used.
When a mage was found it was guaranteed two things, fabulous riches, and a life of hard work at the hands of dukes and lords in the region. They were free men, but more of a slave than the people they purchased and sold. At least those slaves saw the chains around their waist, a mage had the illusion of freedom until he was needed somewhere in the realm.
Ed sat in the yard meditating and trying to recollect his power. They explained that all Mana and Divine power evaporated into the universe and could be collected again afterward if you were calm and patient. Normally they would have advocated physical fitness as a back-up, for when you ran out of mana. In Ed's case, life as a blacksmith's apprentice left his body with muscles and stamina. Even though his body had been stored after Ysennia did her deed at The Oracles home, he had not been gone long enough to cause damage.
From inside what would have been Ko'Loss old office the two sat and watched through a window. Ko'Loss was watching through his magical eyes at the power flowing into and out of Ed. He was impressed that the energy going in and coming out during casting was nearing equal. "He learns quickly." Ko'Loss voiced his approval.
The Oracle put his hands behind his back and looked out the window. The Oracle wasn't a living being like we understood. It was aware of the situation but looked at life like we might look at moss, we know it's alive but we don't understand how it goes about living each day.
"Ed's greatest gift is who he is," The Oracle said thinking to himself.
Ko'Loss nodded, "Has anyone told him?"
The Oracle shook his head. "Even if we told him would it change anything for him? When he needs to know I will make sure he finds out."
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The Oracle spent the afternoon at the house before disappearing back to where it belonged. Ed spent time practicing and sorting through memories. Ko'Loss had arranged a lunch with Loran and For'Ten at the house the next day.
The two guests showed up an hour early for lunch, they were escorted up the walk by the house goblins and stood in amazement at the house.
"To think the houses in this part of the city still look this good," For'Ten said with amazement in his voice.
A goblin escort chimed in, "Only our Master's house stands this well. The master's craftwork is impeccable."
Loran laughed, "Nothing that golem does is less than impeccable. I take it the food is fresh?"
The house goblin sneered at the question and escorted them up to the house in silence. Speaking against the master was a crime punishable by death.
Lunch was served in the same fastidious manner as before. The main butler ensured that the silverware and plates were identical distances apart. The cups and plates were so clean they could have been used as surgery tools.
They were served roasted meat with root vegetables and a mix of aromatic spices. They had the option of a lighter, salad based lunch if they wanted it. Ko'Loss knew that some Fay folk refused to dine on flesh.
When lunch was over the table was cleared and warm tea and cake was served. For'Ten enjoyed having a meal away from the capital and keeping an eye on these two as part of his job. When they had retreated into the southern human section of the city he was unable to come except by invite. Old tradition dictated that knights had to be invited to a section of the city. Since no one lived here openly except Ko'Loss he had needed to wait. Now he could travel freely.
As they ate Ed removed the disk's from his pocket and gave them a house goblin who stood attention behind his chair. The goblin quickly ferried the objects to the two and placed them in front of them on the table faster than either could pick them up.
They looked at Ed before picking them up. Ed nodded to them both and smiled, "Please pick these up. I need to verify something."
They had never heard Ed speak this way before, the golems experiments must be wearing off on him. For'Ten trusted both of these people and grabbed his first. The disk shone and for a minute For'Ten closed his eyes and stopped breathing, it started to look like it was spinning while he was holding it. Loran put her hand on her blade and waited. She was debating how long she went before she cut the thing from his hand.
He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the disk. The disk had changed, the letter F was engraved on the front and when For'Ten flipped it over the symbol of the knights was engraved on the back. "What the hell was that?"
Loran shook her head, "What kind of device have you made now?"
Ed got up from the table and looked at Ko'Loss. "Can I?"
Ko'Loss nodded, "It is your party now."
Ed pulled out the bag of the disks and laid them on the table. Most were blank, two had carvings on them. Ed recognized the one that he had made with the Oracle, The other had a K on one side and a wizard hat on the back. "When did you do this?" Ed said to Ko'Loss.
"When your bag came back with Loran, I... went through the bag."
Ed blinked. "You got past the magic?"
Ko'Loss face moved a little on his head and then what passed for his mouth moved into a smile. "I am not alive. Therefore the magic on it did not work on me."
Ed shook his head. Leave it to Ko'Loss to find the loophole in the magic. "Loran, pick yours up please," Ed said looking at her face.
She took the disk and held it in her palm. She closed her eyes and the disc hummed in her palm before it turned up on its edge. It glowed a slight green color before laying in her palm just like before. When it stopped moving in her hand she opened her eyes. L was on the front and a tree was on the back.
Ed walked over to Loran and For'Ten and collected each one. He now had 4 total disks. Only 11 remained.
"I need your help," he started. "I have 11 more I have to accomplish. The Oracle calls these codex discs. She says I need them to do what I am supposed to do for this world."
For'Ten looked at Ed as he walked back to his chair. "What is it you are supposed to do?" His code of ethics wouldn't let him do anything overtly evil. He didn't suspect Ed would do anything evil but he had to make sure.
"According to The Oracle, I am supposed to help reset the world. And whatever it is I am doing the divine beings are very firmly split on whether we should or shouldn't be doing it. Some are helping and most are out to kill me." Ed said as he sat down.
Loran wasted no time. "I will help you if you have any idea where you need to start."
Ed smiled, "When I hold my disk and close my eyes I can see a map of lights that shows me where the other people are who need to hold there's. I have the vaguest memory that I have one in the northern lands also. Lots of my memories before I met with The Oracle the first time are scrambled."
Ko'Loss chimed in, "You had a list but it was still in the items that were not retrieved."
Loran sighed. "Too bad, that would have made it easier."
Ed nodded, "I remember a few. I remembered both of your names when I woke up, I just couldn't remember why I knew them from before. I hope that changes with time."
Ko'Loss shifted on his feet and looked at For'Ten first and then Loran. "The divines know that this will change the world as we know it. It will make it better for everyone, but it will be bad for them. Ed will need protection to make it to these people without detection."
"Won't us being with him make him stand out more?" For'Ten was concerned for Ed's safety but tactics as well.
"Normally yes, but we are hoping that this acts sort of like hiding your valuables in plain sight. The robber will trash the house looking for hidden objects instead of the wealth in front of him." Ko'Loss agreed.
Loran slid her chair back and ran her hand through her hair. "Count me in. I am willing to do what I can and I am the only emissary of the south who will be passable in the north." She said looking at For'Ten and his very non-human body.
For'Ten laughed, "Stealing all the fun. These two are my charges. I will travel during the southern lands. You will handle the northern lands. Commanders' orders."
She sighed and put her hands up, "I can't argue with a commanding officer can I?"
Ed laughed, "Has that stopped you yet?"
For'Ten shook his head and waved his hand, "Not once and I don't expect it will now either. So how close are the others?"
Ed picked up his disk and closed his eyes. He saw 11 lights this time. There was only one in the city now that he could see. The rest were spread out around the globe. Several had moved significant distances from where they were just a few days ago.
"I have one more in town that I am sure of. I will have to locate the soul though. I don't know who it is."
Loran shook her head and smiled, "Well I will be your escort back into the capital tomorrow. I will show up in the morning to get you."
Ko'Loss was satisfied with this arrangement. "I will notify the house to accept you and let the guardians know to escort you up."
They all nodded, Ed finally put his head down and smiled. "Well that's step one," he said under his breath. This part was done. Now to find the rest.