Binding a slice of life.., p.28
Binding: A Slice of Life Progression Fantasy (Millennial Mage Book 3), page 28
A moment of solemnity passed once more.
“Finally, the first builder, Adraman, forged the first city. It drew deeply on the surrounding power, making the region anathema to other races, to those who must draw from their environment for power.”
Like artifacts. The other races function like artifacts?
“And there, modern humanity truly begins. Our scripts are not eternal, and the world itself rebels, increasing power in the regions we try to deprive. Arcanes can strike at us, relying on stored power for short raids, but they must always retreat, and no Arcane can enter our cities. Our defenses are impervious to them.” She smiled with pride at that. “Even so, any but the most capable, strong-willed Mage is destined to become a fount, should they attempt to rise. We are still under threat from our ancient chains.”
Tala’s eyes widened at that, and Elnea gave her a comforting smile.
“Yes, that is what you fought against. Ancient magics, ancient chains, set within our ancestors’ flesh and passed down through the ages, designed to take control of us, to trick us with false promises of power. If a Mage falls, they are led into the Wilds, their soul enslaved. That is why we no longer place our mediums into our flesh in order to build Archon Stars within ourselves. We must be fully capable, fully ready when the Bond is forged, that we may lock our soul and body together, rather than freeing our gate from our flesh and enslaving our body to deliver it to our oppressors.”
Tala couldn’t contain herself any longer. “And you didn’t feel that merited telling us? Why not tell every Mage? Every person?”
“You could not be told. For any information that came from outside of you would be tainted by doubt. You had to feel it yourself, to know for yourself, in order to overcome.”
Just like I’ve always pushed back against the restrictions put on me. It still felt like a foolish reason. “And if I had failed?”
“We would have escorted you beyond the walls and wept at the falling of one so young.”
“That is rusting idiotic.”
“Oh? And how did you know the spell-form?” She gestured around her. “How do so many of the most promising know it, without being taught? Something deep within us fights against being taught the form because part of our nature knows the danger. Even still, those best suited to becoming springs of power know the form in the end. They ‘discover’ it by accident, research, or luck. They are at once both the most in danger and the most suited to overcome that peril. Some few more are able to overcome and are in less danger, so their masters guide them to the form—despite objections. They have the clearest pathway to power, and humanity needs all the power we can gather. I was one such, as were Mistress Lyn and Master Rane.”
Tala didn’t know how to feel about that. Does that mean I’m more powerful? Or that I have more potential? Or that I was suspected to be easier to subvert? Easier to sway and control? She didn’t like the seemingly obvious answer.
“There is not enough time in a year to go through the intricacies of it, but know this: Most Mages would fall, were they to attempt an Archon Bond, and every Mage attempts it, if and when they fully learn the form.”
Lyn was nodding, and Tala turned to her, questioningly. Lyn smiled. “As soon as I actually read the notes my master gave me, I felt compelled to attempt it. I can’t explain it, really. At the time, I just thought I wanted to get it over and done with. But in truth, it was like…” She shook her head. “No. No other drive or urge I’ve ever experienced was so strong.” She met Tala’s gaze. “I could not have resisted, once I knew how to do it.” She let out a small laugh. “Even after I made the star, I wanted to swallow it. It was the silliest thing; I knew it was a gem and I shouldn’t, but I wanted to. And the urge to do so grew with every passing hour.”
Elnea cleared her throat. “Mistress Tala. I am aware that your circumstances were more unusual, and I, or another, would be happy to discuss that with you at a later time.”
Tala gave a half bow. “Thank you, Mistress Elnea. I have only one further question, if I may?”
Elnea sighed but nodded. “Go ahead.”
Tala turned towards Holly with a fierce glare. “Mistress Holly. Knowing this, how dare you encourage her to read those notes? You were putting her life on the line, for what?”
All eyes shifted to Holly, but the woman seemed utterly unaffected by the attention. “It is always a gamble, and a Mageling’s master is always the best person to make the call. Hers gave her the notes, clearly determining that Mistress Lyn was one who should learn and should be able to weather the difficulty. I had no reason to disagree, so I pushed her to honor her master’s choice. Evidence suggests that we were both right to do so. It was much better than the alternatives, as her mind and will are stronger now than they might have been later.”
Tala did not like the answer, but it was at least reasonable. She frowned. But most Magelings aren’t under Archons…
Elnea cleared her throat. “But the danger is real. As Archons, you are now privy to so much more but not everything. You may not share this with non-Archons. You must guide any who discover the form towards the local council for aid.”
Tala couldn’t help herself. “But what about magelings who aren’t under Archons?”
Elnea sighed. “Most magelings aren’t under Archons.”
“Exactly, that makes no sense. How can a Mage determine if their mageling is ready for something they cannot know about?”
Grediv cleared his throat. “Did you read that book I gave you? ‘A Mage’s Guide to Their First Mageling: Basics Every Mageling Should be Taught?’”
She frowned. “I’ve skimmed it.”
He snorted. “Of course, you did.” He shook his head slightly. “Some of those tests and tidbits direct the Mage to seek an Archon under various circumstances.” He shrugged. “That takes care of the lion’s share.”
That made a sort of sense. She had skipped the regular system, so it was incredibly alien to her. “Fair enough, I suppose.”
Elnea cleared her throat, bringing Tala’s attention back to her. “Now, that out of the way. You need to know that you are much less useful to any invading arcane. Many of them could still sever the bond you just forged and use you regardless, but not all. Once you’re fully Fused, doing so will just kill you and send your soul to the great beyond, so they don’t even try. That said, if they sense you, they will try to eliminate you, and that is just one more reason to work on your aura shroud.”
Elnea took a deep breath, while the three new Archons processed the flood of new information.
She smiled. “Now, Master Grediv has requested the honor of accompanying us as I show you to our local Archons’ Library.” Elnea gave a sharp look to the Archon, who was hovering just to one side. “While I am tempted to decline, now, I think it wisest to allow such. Our companions, the other Archons, will bid you farewell here.”
Tala, Lyn, and Rane looked around, smiling uncertainly. By her fellow’s expressions, they were clearly burdened by much of what they had learned but also tentatively excited, likely for the good their elevation could bring.
Elnea straightened, her voice ringing out once more. “For the new Archons!”
A single unified shout of praise sounded back.
“Go in strength.”
The other Archons did just that, each giving some form of wave or small bow as they departed en masse.
Tala watched them go, allowing her magesight to attempt to examine each of them. While she couldn’t see any of their auras, she did realize one critical thing. Most of them have no power visible at all.
As she thought about it, she realized that if holding back her aura’s power was easy, and hiding it entirely was harder still, then hiding her aura completely, while allowing all other signs of her power to be visible would be incredibly tricky.
That’s what Holly is doing, along with several others. A few Archons, scattered through the crowd, looked exactly like any other Mage that Tala had ever seen.
My iron salve made me resemble an inexperienced Archon to those who knew what to look for with their magesight. Well, except her eyes and palms.
She didn’t know how to feel about that. She wanted to be the best she could be, but she also knew that, regardless, her iron salve would render her looking like the less-skilled Archons. She frowned at that. No, Master Grediv hid himself completely from my magesight.
She was left confused. Elnea did say that the stronger you are and the higher you climb up the ladder, the harder your aura is to restrain at all… There was just too much that she didn’t know.
When the room had emptied of Archons, save the five who would be remaining, Tala glanced towards Terry. Oh! She’d been so distracted that she’d not fed Terry recently. Though, if the little flickers of dimensional power she’d picked up from the avian through the banquet were any indication, Terry may have eaten more than even she had. “Terry, you hungry?”
He opened one eye, giving her a condescending look.
She snorted a laugh and flicked out a bit of jerky.
Elnea frowned at that. Her magesight didn’t seem to be active, so it had likely appeared to her as if Tala had just thrown a bit of meat under the table. “Are you trying to teach him to fetch? Why would you teach that sort of trick to such an animal?” She seemed genuinely confused.
Tala opened her mouth to reply, but Grediv cleared his throat. “As fascinating as that bird is… we should probably head towards the library.”
Elnea rolled her eyes, the last shreds of ceremony falling away. “Very well. This way, please.”
They walked out through the seemingly indestructible door.
I bet I could break it with time… and without a room full of hostile Archons to contend with.
They left the not-yet-destroyed door behind them as they moved through the stark, empty passage, back to the entry hall.
Chapter: 24
That’s a Bit Embarrassing
Tala and the four other Archons came back out into the entry hall, and Tala waved at her coffee acquirer. She really came through. The attendant gave her a hesitant smile and wave. I suppose I dampened her enthusiasm a bit.
Elnea led them down another passage. This one had a thick, deep-blue rug running the entire length. Paintings and tapestries hung evenly spaced down either side, most depicting some form of creature. They each seemed a bit embellished, as Tala thought she spotted a thunder bull that was depicted as wreathed in lightning.
Who knows? Maybe if it had seen me coming…
There were obviously magical beings sprinkled among the arcanous if her guesses were right. She saw a midnight fox, and in the company of the other images, it really sank in how minor that being really was. And it still nearly killed me.
Creatures of legend looked down on them as they walked down the hall: dragons, griffins, silver wolves, titans, and many more.
Tala tried not to slow, but there was such artistry and detail that it was hard to keep up her pace.
At the end of the wide hall, two heavy, black, wooden doors stood open. They seemed to be bound in silver, with gold inlay in the shape of spell-forms.
Not just in the shape of; those are spell-forms. If her magesight was correct, when those doors were closed, an incredibly powerful barrier would be generated, just this side of the entryway. Assuming it’s powered by something. The magical shield made her think of Alefast’s magical defenses but on a much smaller scale. It’s likely connected to the city’s power matrix, just like all the lights.
They took the protection of their library seriously it seemed.
When they passed through that entry, Tala found herself gawking, mouth open in unabashed awe.
Thousands of tomes filled the floor-to-ceiling shelving. Ladders were regularly scattered around the place, all on rails mounted to the shelves. The twenty-foot ceilings allowed for a lot of books per shelf.
All the wood was the same black as the doors, all the metal either bright silver or burnished gold.
The space wasn’t a rectangle. Instead, it seemed constructed like a hedge-maze to maximize wall space for shelving and nooks for reading and research spaces.
Attendants were moving through the space on silent, slippered feet, and Tala could see several people reading in the few nooks visible from the entrance.
Elnea gestured. “The Bandfast, Archon Library, otherwise known as the Arcanum. Any attendant will assist you in finding whatever you are seeking and ensure the works you peruse are returned to their proper place afterwards.” She gave them each a serious look. “Bound are not permitted to remove any tome from the shelves. You must go through an attendant. Is that understood?”
Rane, Lyn, and Tala each gave some form of verbal assent.
“Good.” She gave a half-smile. “In centuries past, we would simply inform new Archons of the library, but so few actually realized the extent of what was available to them that we changed our policy.”
Grediv cleared his throat. “You should be aware that Bandfast is known for having the most extensive physical library of the human cities. While it’s not the only source of these books, it is an incredibly convenient, central location. As an example of why, I can tell you that the Alefast Archon Council moved all but the most general texts here from our library, in preparation for Alefast’s final waning.”
Rane was nodding and leaned closer to Lyn and Tala. “Bandfast is the current hub of Archon activity. That is one reason Master Grediv wished me to visit.”
Elnea had gestured, calling over four attendants. “I suggest you become familiar with the process, even if you have no immediate subjects for research.” One attendant approached each of the other Archons. “I will leave you in their capable hands. Welcome, Archons, to the Bandfast Arcanum.” She gave a half-bow and departed.
Tala looked to Lyn and Rane; Grediv had already departed with his attendant. “Meet at Lyn’s house tonight?”
They each nodded in agreement and turned towards their individual attendants, separating and moving to places with a bit better sound insulation and privacy.
Tala regarded the magically inert young woman who stood to one side, waiting for her. The young-looking woman wore a simple, clean, undyed linen Mage’s robe. Simple leather slippers peeked out from below the garment. Her auburn hair was held up in a simple bun. If she had spell-lines on her visible skin, they were hidden in some manner or blended too seamlessly with her already somewhat silver skin. Is that natural?
Though she looked to be just younger than Lyn looked, Tala guessed that the woman was much older. I really should stop thinking I can guess people’s ages…
“You’re an Archon.”
The woman quirked a smile. “Yes, Mistress. How can I assist you today?”
“You could wipe me from existence. Why would you assist a new-raised Archon like me?”
She seemed to consider for a moment before her smile became mischievous. “The truth?”
“That would be nice.”
“I’m serving the books and knowledge by protecting them from you.”
Tala hesitated for a moment, then barked a laugh. She immediately covered her mouth in embarrassment but couldn’t help but smile. After a moment, she lowered her hand. “That”—she grinned widely—“that I can believe. I’m Tala.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Mistress Tala. I am Ingrit.”
“Thank you for your honesty, Mistress Ingrit.”
“I am a lover of knowledge. Lies are… distasteful.” She scrunched her face exactly as if she’d eaten something unpleasant.
“I couldn’t agree more.”
Ingrit glanced towards Terry. “Shall your companion wait outside, or can he be trusted not to cause issue?”
Tala looked at Terry. “You going to behave?”
Terry opened his mouth expectantly, and Tala rolled her eyes, tossing a bit of meat to one side.
Ingrit’s eyes widened in horror and anger, but as her gaze followed the moving bit of meat, she froze. The jerky was gone. Her eyes narrowed. “I didn’t see any movement.”
Tala shrugged. “He’s quick.”
Ingrit opened her mouth, probably to inquire further, but then she paused, shaking her head. “No, we are not here to satisfy my curiosity at this time. How can we assist you, here and now?” She seemed to keep a closer eye on Terry after that, though.
“What services does the Arcanum offer? I can see the books, but I suspect that there is more available than simply an extensive reading collection.”
“You are correct, Mistress.” Ingrit turned and began walking. Tala followed so as to not be left behind. “On the simple side, we offer assistance in researching any unrestricted topic or outright answering such queries. We do not force our librarians to work on any project, but our interests are varied enough that it is rare for an Archon to wish to research something without at least one of us wanting to assist. More often than not, we have to figure out which of those who are interested will get the honor.” Her eyes seemed to sparkle with unspoken mirth.
I’ll bet you get any topic you want… That brought to mind a bit of a silly topic, but Tala thought she might as well ask. “What do the cooks have in their chuckwagons?”
Ingrit regarded her for a long moment. Then, she sighed. “Sadly, we are forbidden from investigating that. As part of the inter-Guild agreements, chuckwagons are inviolable, and if any Mage is ever allowed inside, as does happen occasionally, they are not permitted to poke about.”
“Inter-Guild agreements?” She thought for a moment, then started to nod. “Right, everything involves at least a couple of guilds. There would have to be ground rules and basic strictures.”
Ingrit simply nodded.
Is the Order of the Harvest so widespread that that is a portion of the negotiated secrecy? That was pretty likely if she considered it. I might actually be able to learn, then…
