Chapter 537: Foxy (1/2)

“I assumed you wanted to destroy this,” Ilea said, shaking the small vial filled with corruption, an ashen limb holding on to the thing.

Catelyn jumped out of her arms and landed on the table.

“The resistance training was more successful than we had anticipated,” Catelyn said. “One of the Fae has come here.”

“What did it tell you?” Ilea asked.

“That you were safe. That a powerful being had come to confront you in the deepest layer of the Descent. An Ascended,” she said. “We trust the Spirits of old and thus all efforts to break into left behind facilities in the Descent were officially discontinued. Scavengers likely breached those rules but we have not suffered an attack from the creature you faced.”

“We found more evidence. That the Ascended were behind the third sun’s disappearance. The specific goals they had are unclear… and now knowing that the creature didn’t come here or found me… maybe it really didn’t matter anymore,” Ilea said.

“You almost sound disappointed,” Catelyn said with a smile.

Ilea thought about it. “A little. It was a four mark mage, sapient and using four schools of magic. Blood, Void, Space, and metal.”

Catelyn giggled.

“What?”

“You’re annoyed to be dismissed as unimportant,” she said. “Be glad, any other way and either we or you would be dead. A four mark is not something we can face.”

“Maybe I am,” Ilea said, looking at the ceiling before she focused on Catelyn again. “I’m not so sure about the second part. I worked to gain third tier resistances to its magic. And I gained a third Class. It should be hard for that Ascended to kill me at the very least.”

“It may have simply played with you, especially if it dismissed you in the first place. I do admit that you are very durable. Neither the Sand Elemental nor Trakarov were capable of killing you after all. A being with four magic types available to it should not be able to match creatures with just one, naturals at that,” Catelyn said.

“I do think it tried to kill me. And it would have succeeded if it hadn’t been for a friend,” she said.

“The Spirit of old,” Catelyn said and grinned. “Either way, you survived. And either it has failed to find you or didn’t care to try at all. I’m not sure what would be better.”

“Me neither. What did you mean about being naturals?” she asked.

“I’m a natural at fire, because my species uses fire magic even when not sapient,” she said.

“Ah, yeah I figured it was something like that,” Ilea said.

Catelyn looked at her for a moment. “Three hundred and ninety. And a third Class. I do suggest you refrain from delving into the Descent again. Both for your sake and ours.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not here because of that,” Ilea said. “There are plenty of things I have to work on before even thinking about facing that monster.”

“I hope you’re here to meet a friend and reassure her that you’re healthy and alive,” Catelyn said.

Ilea summoned a cake and moved it slightly closer to the fox.

“Your attempts at bribery are misplaced,” Catelyn said.

Ilea added a second cake.

“Not even a letter,” Catelyn said.

Ilea didn’t mention the lack of postal service willing to travel north from the human plains.

A third cake appeared.

“I was sure you had forgotten about me,” the fox added, her voice lacking bite.

Ilea added two more cakes and took a step back.

The fox smiled as her body expanded yet again. Her voice rumbled through the Hunter’s Den with menacing power. “Consider your debt repaid.”

Ilea watched as Popi’s beautiful creations were slaughtered. Ripped apart, their screams silent and unheard, a merciless predator of fire devouring every bit of their writhing corpses.

“How have you been?” Ilea asked, sitting down on an ashen chair and summoning a meal for herself.

Catelyn had returned to her small form, the flames gone as she licked up the remaining splatters.

“I was stressed. Now I’m much… much better,” she said and flopped to her side, her face resting on her paws as she looked at Ilea. She closed her eyes slightly and purred.

“Don’t tempt me,” Ilea whispered, enjoying her own dish as she watched the fox.

Catelyn opened her eyes again and smiled, showing her teeth. “I always thought it hubris… wanting to pet a monster like me. But I suppose you’ve reached sufficient power to make it more reasonable.

“As to your question. Thinks have gone reasonably well. Elana and many others are a huge help taking care of everything. The first layer of the Descent is fully secured now, our efforts to find and eradicate the corruption in the highest four layers mostly successful.

“And we’re expanding too, trying to take over much of the ruins lying between Hallowfort and the Descent,” Catelyn said.

“You mentioned the resistance training? The Ascended had called it a failed experiment for a war that had long ended,” Ilea said.

“Yes. The healers we have profited greatly from our efforts to train extended resistances against Blood Manipulation. Other services are now available to train common defenses. It’s still best to face monsters but healing abilities are rare,” Catelyn said.

“I founded a healing organization in Ravenhall,” Ilea said.

“You did?” Catleny asked, prepping herself up slightly.

“Yep. And we’re getting closer with the Taleen gate technology. I do hope you’re interested in an alliance with Ravenhall,” Ilea said, quickly explaining the progress of the Sentinels and informing Catelyn about Ravenhall’s independence.

“The council will have to vote. As I imagine yours will have to. Though a safe haven… in the south. Mana density may be a problem for some but that can be solved to an extent with Arcane magic resistance. I doubt anyone will be able to resist such an alliance. Do you really think the long range teleportation to be viable?” the fox said.

Ilea shrugged. “I’m pretty sure. We’ll get there. Plus I have a master of space magic to help with the last stretch.”

“You convinced the Fae to help?” Catelyn asked.

“No. No I doubt they’d be interested in that honestly. Meadow is a four mark creature from Erendar, another realm. It contacted ours because they have a problem with a kind of world ending eclipse and Astral spirits. Some cultists from Baralia were able to interpret and answer the call, creating rituals to try and breach space to get to Erendar.

“Well it worked in the end and now we have an open gate to that realm. Which brings me to the reason I actually came, next to finally seeing you again and bringing you gifts of cake, of course. I brought several Dark Ones to Tremor but they don’t speak Elos Standard or anything else we could understand. Their bodies prevent them from living in the human plains and they’re the last ones of their species. I hoped you could take them in,” Ilea finished.

Catelyn blinked a few times before she curled up into a ball. “You’re not making my life easier.”

Ilea appeared next to the fox, petting her gently as she sat on the table next to her.

“Any Dark One is welcome in Hallowfort, as long as they understand the rules and adhere to our laws,” Catelyn finally said. “The last of their species…,” she sighed. “You just don’t stop, do you?”

“Hey, I have to keep moving, otherwise I’ll end up having to govern some kind of city or kingdom,” Ilea said.

“It’s not as bad as you might think. Stability and safety should not be taken for granted,” Catelyn said.

“I do try to provide that to others. Don’t forget that I’m not quite as old as you are,” Ilea said.

“Don’t start with that again… humans are crazy. Now tell me more about this Meadow and the species you brought to these lands,” Catelyn said.

Ilea watched as a dozen Dark Ones tried to communicate with the residents of Erendar.

Catelyn had allowed her to bring them into the town, with the first goal to establish communication.

“It’s somewhat similar to Krazveri,” one of the more insect like dark ones said after a while, addressing both Ilea and Catelyn. “I think we should be able to have simple conversations in a few weeks.”

“That’s awfully quick,” Ilea said.

“There’s only so much complexity in clicks,” the dark one said and laughed with a gurgling sound. “Efficiently that is. It’s obvious that these are experienced warriors. I’m sure they’ll fit right in.”

Catelyn smiled. “Good, then see to it that they’re welcomed.”

The insect creature nodded and turned to one of the beings again, slowly clicking.

Ilea felt that the survivors had already opened up more in half an hour than they had with her.

“Language really is a huge barrier, hmm,” she mused.

“It’s the foundation of Hallowfort. It’s fortunate that Elos Standard was not lost here. Quite a wonderful language really, easy to learn and pronounce, with dozens of different sound organs,” one of the dark ones said excitedly.

Ilea looked at him. “Fair enough.”

“Not an enthusiast I see… I’m sure you have your own talents,” the heap of tentacles said.

A wolf wreathed in shadows stepped over to the creature and talked in an ethereal whisper. “That is Lilith, the ashen clad savior.”

Something happened in the tentacle creature but Ilea had no clue how to interpret it. Her sphere did inform of some discomfort.

“I… didn’t know… apolo-”