Ah, well there goes my drinking money for the week, the guard said as Sylver closed the gates behind him and turned around. Only a single silver armored guard was standing nearby, holding a small key along with a matching scroll in his hand.
Wheres Sophia? Sylver asked. Going by the suns current positions hed been inside the house for roughly 2 hours.
She left. She made a bet with Tops and Leto that you would be back in under half an hour, and lost. Then she bet the rest of us that you would co back eventually, and given that youre alive and well and standing here, won, the silver armored guard explained.
After walking around in constant darkness, surrounded by one screaming and begging horror or another, the guards relaxed tone was hard to adjust to. Sylvers ears were still ringing from the sound fake Sophia made as she was being disemboweled with a blunt bread knife.
I didnt think priests were allowed to gamble? Sylver asked. The guard stood up a little straighter, his hand casually fell onto the poml of his sword.
The rules regarding what we can and cant do are Im struggling to rember the right word, its uh Oh! Up to interpretation, thats it. Not laws, mind you, those are ironclad, but the smaller rules, gambling, drinking, whoring, those are significantly less clad, The guard said, adding the last word after a long enough pause that Sylver could tell he couldnt rember the opposite of ironclad.
Are all priests like that, or just followers of Ra? Sylver asked.
Thats a hard question to answer. Id like to answer, yes, but that were the only ones honest about it. But the other temples have been keeping everything a secret to outsiders for so long, theres no real way to know. I know for a fact that a large number of brothels refuse to allow priests of Zeus to enter, even when they are off duty. Then theres the rumors of the won inside said brothels disappearing, anyway, are the phantoms dead? The guard said. He held up the key and a scroll and gestured with his helted head towards the house.
Oh, no, Im going to return tomorrow morning, I just wanted to give them so ti to think things over, Sylver explained.
Think what over? So youre going to kill them tomorrow? the guard asked. He adjusted the strap under his chin to get the helts eye holes back into the proper place.
Im not going to kill them. Were in the middle of negotiating, and Im giving them ti to discuss and decide on what they want, Sylver repeated. The guard was so still; he might as well have been frozen.
You You spoke to them? To phantoms? the guard asked, with the kind of tone that was normally followed by the other person laughing.
Im a necromancer, I speak to the dead daily. Not everything has to be solved with a dagger or a fireball, sotis words are enough, Sylver explained.
The guard cocked his head. He spoke after a long silence, long enough that Sylver had very nearly started to walk away.
What did they say? the guard asked. It sounded like he was playing along to a ridiculous lie of a child. Thank you for the plastic teacup full of delicious invisible tea and all that.
Thats between them and , Sylver said. The guards body language suggested a smirk.
Sure, the silver-clad guard said. Sylver didnt like the condescending tone in his voice, but was a bit too tired to care, and didnt value the soon to be forgotten mans opinion highly enough to attempt to correct it.
Do I need to go to the temple again tomorrow, or will you be here or Sylver asked.
I was told to wait here until you returned, Ill need to ask. So either co around to the temple tomorrow if theres nobody here, or soone will be here, the guard answered.
Sylver turned into smoke and began to travel through the rain gutters as the guard started locking the gate and reapplying the barrier.
*
*
*
The two of them sat on top of the roof and watched the unkempt field below sway in the wind. Bright green grass filled in the blanks left by the giant yellow-colored weeds, as the shades slowly but surely moved in a single line through them.
The brothel? He ended up not going. In his words it was love at first sight, Bruno quoted as he took another sip of tea.
Might be a hormonal imbalance, Ill need to check to make sure, Sylver suggested.
Might be. It is a bit too convenient that he fell in love with the woman who will be training him but Im looking after him, dont worry about it, Bruno said, as he waved the issue away.
After spending so many years at each others throats, I would have thought there would be so I dont know, bad blood I guess? Sylver asked. Bruno took another sip of tea while he considered how to word his answer properly.
When we are born, we start from scratch essentially. The mories of our past co in slowly, gradually, in pieces and fragnts. Or they co in so fast and hard that the person we were at that mont in ti ceases to exist. All thats left are emotional attachnts. I rembered who I was quite literally as I was watching my wife being murdered once. I dont even know her na, I just had this unbelievable pain inside of , Bruno explained.
He spoke without so much as a shake in his voice. Sylver had to imagine after everything hed been through, becoming numb to it was a very strong possibility. It had happened to Sylver for a while too, but he always had his people to help him overco whatever hed been trying to bottle up.
Bruno was different in that he was alone. His only companion, if he could be called that, was the man who was very often in the process of ruining his life and killing him.
The worst part is that I dont even know when its over. Among my jumble of mories, there must be so sort of specific mixture that defines who I am. But then I have to ask, what if theres more? What if the person I am now, or the person I think I am now, is incomplete? Bruno asked, still without any real emotion in the question.
Hows the cheese farming coming along? Sylver asked just as casually.
What?
I saw cows grazing in the field, and Spring tells you have goats hiding inside that barn over there, Sylver explained, as he pointed at the recently constructed barn in question.
Its a while away. Because the military bought up all the good stock, the only cows left for sale are barely worth the at on them. Aside from that, theres a whole lot more to making cheese than just putting milk in a barrel and waiting. Proper temperatures are required, so sort of bacteria found inside a cows stomach, and a bunch of other small but critical details that we are yet to et. And given that I dont know what the process looks like, I cant speed it along with my magic, Bruno answered, with a wave of his hand as he counted out problem after problem.
And the bees? Sylver asked.
On their way. As are the tools I requested. Soone will be sent over here at so point to check if Im proficient enough in using them before giving them to , Bruno explained while Sylver coughed on his tea from laughing at him.
On that note, hows your body? Your core and channels seem fine, but theyre Sylver tried to find a polite way of saying shit.
Its enough. The conductivity isnt that bad, all things considered. Class-wise, my unique has already cannibalized and transford my farr class so my magic is a bit more specialized than I would have preferred. But as I said, its enough, Ive done more with less, so it isnt a problem. I stopped vomiting blood last night, so theres that too, Bruno said.
What about Faust? Sylver asked.
Also fine. The nails on his toes fell off at so point, but new ones grew in before the day ended, Bruno explained.
Ah, yes, I forgot that could happen Did he get his eyes checked out? Sylver asked.
There isnt a healer that specializes in eyes, but he said hell fix it himself eventually. Hes wearing glasses in the anti. And dont tell him I told you this, but Im all but certain he could fix his eyes today if he really wanted to. My best guess is that the girl hes fallen for likes glasses or wears glasses, thats the feeling Im getting anyway, Bruno said, with a slightly hushed tone.
Is it strange that I envy him? Sylver asked.
I envy him too, a little. But Ive been where you are, the desire to stick your head in the sand and just pretend everything is alright is always very tempting. Both of us are essentially doing just that right now. But it isnt like the one person that can solve all your problems will just wander into your house and offer you the best deal youve ever gotten, ever, Bruno said with a grin.
It would be nice though. Go here, do this, and everyone is sohow miraculously alive and well, Sylver said with a small chuckle.
You never know. That we t is pure luck, maybe youll get lucky like that as well, Bruno offered.
If nothing else, I respect that hes willing to get attached again, even while knowing full well how much its going to hurt when she dies, or he dies, Sylver said with a slight slouch of his shoulders.
Maybe he just trusts you that much? He knows more about you than I do, maybe in his mind, its a done deal, just a matter of ti before the curse is broken. Why sit around wasting ti if this is already the start of his new life? Bruno offered.
Were still a while off from doing anything substantial, materials aside, Im still within smiting range if I try to do sothing too direct. Once I can at the very least fight off an improbable lightning bolt or two, then I can start poking the connection to see what gets a reaction. Until then, just enjoy the simple life of a farr, Sylver offered.
Bruno sat up suddenly and patted the many pockets on his apron. As he teleported away, Sylver refilled his teacup and sat in silence for a while. Spring and the others were halfway done by now, the weeds had been carefully collected and tied together to be mixed into the cows food later on, and the dirt had been plowed for grass in one area, and crops in another.
With each shade splitting up, Sylver had nearly 300 working the field at the sa ti. The ground was moist here, courtesy of the heavy rain that had flooded the field a few days ago, so very little strength was needed to pull the weeds. With Sylver using [Shadows Agent] he could even empower the shades that needed just a little help to speed things up.
It was surprisingly not that costly to make up for the 60% decrease in ability using mana. If Sylver had all the shades split up to the maximum number, around 500, counting the wolves, he could make them all as strong as their original bodies were for about 30 seconds. If they were closer to him, the ti would increase, but Sylver didnt think he could handle more than 4 minutes.
Bruno reappeared with a leather-bound notebook and placed it into Sylvers lap.
I hate how often this cos up, but the spell I used to make the shade and zombie combination creatures is more muscle mory than actual understanding. Ive written down all the fraworks that I can rember, but I dont have the mana to check if Im right or not, Bruno explained, as Sylver flipped the book open and looked through the pages.
Its This is enough, Ill fill in the gaps myself. At least you didnt write it out on a vase, Sylver slowly said, as he morized one page after the other and eventually put the notebook away. So experintation and fiddling would be needed, but it wasnt too complicated.
Vase?
There was this one group Its hard to explain, their writing system was linked to the circumference of the thing the text was written on, and I wasted far too long trying to decipher it. It wasnt even worth it; their magic was so inefficient that their 5th tier mages could just barely cast 2nd tier magic. Thank you, I ant to say. I an this in the best way possible, but Im used to getting incomplete information, its almost better this way, Sylver said.
He stood up from his chair as Spring started to gather up so of the shades and split himself into two so one could watch over the ones doing the weeding, while the other was with Sylver.
Youre not going to stay for lunch? et the family, so to speak? Bruno asked.
I would rather not. I dont want to mar their perception of you by my association. Maybe later, when theyre all comfortable with you and trust your word when you tell them Im not so deranged lunatic, Sylver explained.
Ah. Right, the jaw thing. On the bright side, there are as many people saying he deserved it, as there are saying you went too far. But you have a point, theyre wary of as is, and thats without even ntioning the experints Im going to have to do to figure out how to cross an insect with a mammal. Thankfully the kids are young enough that they wont see it as a problem if they grow up with it, and the older ones whats the right word to describe it? Bruno asked as he sat back down into his chair.
Tolerate it? Sylver suggested.
Sure, that works. Theyre getting paid more per month than so people make in a year, and all thats being asked of them is helping a half-elf learn how to make cheese, and helping out with the hybrids Ill soon be making. Theyve been bribed, if were being honest, Bruno said.
Its not ideal, but considering the circumstances, it will have to do. Ill co by when I have the ti, but if you need sothing talk to Lola, shell handle it, Sylver said. He stretched his legs as he walked towards the edge of the roof and looked down.
Sylver stopped before fully jumping off as he felt sothing strange in Brunos soul.
What? Sylver turned around and asked.
Do you rember how I said that I could sll sothing on you? Like a god, but not a god? Bruno asked.
I do Sylver answered.
The sll changed. Its not weaker or stronger, but sothing is different. I cant explain it properly, its like trying to explain how mana feels to soone who cant sense it, Bruno added quickly.
Sylver stood quietly for a while before he shrugged his shoulders and jumped off the roof. He turned into smoke a mont before he hit the ground and disappeared into the rain gutters.
*
*
*
Surprisingly, Ron was happy Sylver was leaving. Or more accurately, he was happy Sylver was happy, even if he enjoyed the pale mans company. It was only after Sylver had packed up his belongings did he realize how little he had.
Most of his clothing was spread out amongst the shades, covered up by armor, and assimilated into them. Weapons, tools, and other small items were similarly hidden with the shades, either in backpacks, or satchels. Given the way their bodies worked, no one could open the bags, the effect would be the sa as trying to rip their heads off, they would just burst into a cloud of smoke.
As a result, Sylvers room was barren, a bed, a table and chair, bathroom, and that was about it. In place of a window was a wall that had a chest full of gold inside of it, that Sylver hadnt touched a whole lot after getting money from Poppy. The majority remained at the adventurers guild, and whenever Sylver needed a large sum, it was usually just transferred via Lola or Shera.
Sylver looked through the small booklet inside of the chest and was surprised to see that Salgok had almost repaid the entirety of what he owed. Ron had closed Sylvers food tab a couple of tis, and Sylver had taken out 10 gold coins now and then.
If Sylvers math was right, the chest held 22,541 gold, 11 silver, and 8 copper. With another 100,000 sothing gold in his account at the adventurers guild.
There was a limit to how much Sylver could rely on the Cord and the cats, and he didnt want to beco completely dependent on them. Lola was in a tough spot at the mont, but she and her company were key to stop considering money as an issue.
Why do you think the sll changed? Spring asked. Sylver looked up from packing up small vials of various bone ashes. Ron had left to handle sothing and Sylver was dismantling his workshop.
I dont know. Im still on the fence regarding if a god is involved with being here. Its possible, plausible even, but at the sa ti, the question remains the sa. Why? Sylver said as he went back to carefully wrapping the vials up one at a ti and gently tucking them away into their respective cases.
You think that if soone went through all the trouble of bringing you back, they would at least tell you to do sothing? Spring asked. He directed the shades to put the boxes into a pile and swapped out Sylvers now full box with an empty one.
First you would need to find my soul and piece it back together. Simple enough, assuming you have an absurd amount of mana and ti, Im flexible enough that you would only need a small piece for my consciousness to form. Then you would need to repair the damage I had done to it, difficult, but hypothetically possible. Then you would need to move my soul across the Asberg, sothing people I held in high regard couldnt manage, and without knowing about it no less, Sylver counted out, as he carried on packing away vial after vial.
Sounds like sothing a god would do, Spring offered.
Sure, but then you would need to find a perfect vessel for , a feat impossible unless you go around checking people one by one. The amount of luck required is mind-boggling. Putting that aside, you then have the other big question, why a needle of all things? And how is magic so intricate and so small that I cant even sense it possible? And then the thing Im not going to say or think about. Is it related to , or am I the result of it? Sylver continued, as he stood up from his crouch and got to work dismantling his alchemical grinder. After passing out on Will, Sylver had beco slightly more careful about thinking, let alone ntioning, the thing.
You think the thing were not talking about sohow is the reason youre here? Spring asked.
If you see two giant fires in different places, it isnt exactly wrong to assu theyre sohow connected. But then the timing is off, it didnt start when I appeared, it has been going on forever according to Faust and Bruno at least. But then, why can Lola and I rember when it didnt exist? Is Lola connected to , or am I connected to Lola, Sylver said.
Could just be one giant coincidence. Or a series of coincidences. Maybe thats why youre so weak and leveling up so slowly, you have a giant debt of improbability to pay off, Spring offered. Sylver laughed sarcastically before he gently removed the grindstones from the alchemical grinder.
Could be whoever put there, forgot about . Repairing soul damage is a slow process, its like trying to speed up healing, theres a limit to how quickly it can be done. And lets not forget that the only way to cram my soul into sothing this small would involve, not just bypassing the Gellmann constant, but about 8 more laws of magic that I cant even begin to describe to you, Sylver said, his tone gradually beca angry as he listed of how impossible it was for him to be standing here right now.
There is one easy explanation, Spring said.
Sylver huffed to himself.
Easy might be the wrong word, but it explains everything, Spring continued.
I dont like saying that sothing is or isnt possible, because Ive been proven wrong far too many tis. But a different world? Moving between realms is one thing, Ive been to the demon realm and earth, but this would be moving between realities. Different laws of magic, but sohow Im still able to use the magic Im familiar with. Its the difference between visiting a neighbors house, and traveling across the world to a different continent and city, Sylver explained.
So its just a matter of ti and energy? Spring asked.
Everything is a matter of ti and energy, given enough of either of them you could do absolutely anything. What Im saying is that no one would spend so much on without good reason. But then that brings up a better question, if they have enough energy to bring back, what do they need for? That I know sothing important? If they can move between realities, whats moving between ti to find the person I stole what I know from? Why specifically? Sylver asked.
Spring didnt have an answer for that.
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