Chapter 726: Some gates close. Some gates open. (1/2)

Chapter 726 Some gates close. Some gates open.

“Ilea. Claire mentioned you were going south again later. Did Riverwatch and Yinnahall agree to the terms?” Iana asked after she had approached.

“They did. I assume I should carry the materials and you set the things up?” Ilea asked in turn.

Iana scratched her neck and looked away. “Pretty much, yes. Your space storage, high speed, and teleportation just makes this whole thing so much easier,” she said and clasped both hands together. “But once they’re set up, we won’t need you anymore.”

Ilea stared at her bright smile and nodded. “Encouraging. I’m glad I’ll be replaced by some enchanted groundwork. You know I’m happy to help, Iana.”

“You vastly overestimate your value if you compare yourself to the complexity of this magical technology,” the Meadow helpfully supplied.

“Thanks. Guess you can talk to the gates in the future,” she sent back.

“You know that’s not what I meant!” Iana said and shushed her. “Just let me know when you’re going. Everything on our side is ready.”

“I’ll go for a training session before. Probably this afternoon,” Ilea sent to her.

“You are a valued friend, Ilea. Remember that,” the Meadow sent, with a space magic pat that she swatted away with her own manipulation.

“Good, I’ll be here,” Iana said and paused. “There’s something else. I’d like to… talk to you about Aki. What you found in that facility.”

“Not here?” Ilea asked.

“Our place might be better,” Iana said and started towards the home.

Ilea followed, glancing at the large Pursuer standing amidst a group of warriors, all of them focused on a floating stone tablet with a map of what she assumed to be Morhill and the surrounding landscape.

The home of the enchanters looked rather simple from the outside. She found its walls as protected as the central district of Virilya. To be expected of course. The inside was much more welcoming, a warm and homely atmosphere created by fur rugs, paintings, and wooden furniture.

Iana led her to the expansive kitchen. A large wooden table stood in the center, covered in notes, tools, and books. At least it seemed the enchanters focused their mess onto that one piece of furniture. They’re not gonna have cleanliness as a priority, I imagine. Thank fuck for storage items.

The woman sat down, Ilea instead leaning against the reinforced wall. “You figured out the research?”

“Yes. Most of it. Meadow helped with the translation but we have a reasonable understanding of Taleen now too. It’s fairly similar to a few other languages, though I think they themselves would not have acknowledge that. They certainly believed themselves superior,” Iana explained.

“You got that from research notes?” Ilea asked with a slight smile.

“Yes. Exactly,” Iana said and sighed. “Well… where to start. You know that Khan Joggoth dealt with them. The device in the Soul Forge allows for soul transformation but it seems his dealings with the Taleen broke off before he achieved that feat. Not that he would’ve shared that knowledge with anybody else anyway. We have it now by the way. Claire suggested it may be an option to help people with permanent disabilities or birth defects, but of course it’s quite an invasive and… well, permanent change.”

“Our own Ascended so to speak,” Ilea mused. “I don’t think it’s the worst idea. Someone that can’t walk or is in constant pain might prefer having a war machine as a body. Though I’m sure that creates its own issues.”

“Yes. His research is quite fascinating on its own. Owl has helped us try and understand a lot already, and the Shades are knowledgeable themselves. But back to the main topic. The Taleen did their own research, and that specific facility went with a very… technical approach. One based on enchantments. And Ilea, they were far ahead of everything else I’ve seen. Before I met the Meadow that is. I don’t have to tell you how incredible their teleportation gates are but their Guardians are just as impressive, if not more so.” She paused for a moment and took in a deep breath.

“The process they developed in Izcural. It analyzes and maps the very Essence of a being, and then creates a copy, infused into steel,” Iana explained.

“So Aki is the copy of someone else?” Ilea asked.

“Someone who died. They never figured out how to make the process non lethal. The research looks… interrupted. Maybe they stopped receiving funding or support, or something else happened. They tested the process on various prisoners and monsters, only one imprinted into a dagger. Some sort of sick joke it seems. The details aren’t exactly plentiful but… Aki… or well the original, he was an elf from the Fire Wastes, one that was captured when he attacked Iztacalum,” Iana explained.

“A Cerithil Hunter? No, if he attacked when the Taleen were still around, their cities wouldn’t have been dungeons,” Ilea said.

“I doubt it, yes. As far as we understand, the Hunters didn’t exactly exist in that time,” Iana confirmed. “I assume he was quite young. The described measures to hold him are not enough to stop any of the Cerithil Hunters I have seen,” Iana added.

“Fuck… Aki’s the copied soul of an elf…” Ilea said.

“Yeah,” Iana said and tapped the table a few times. “I haven’t told him yet.”

“Whelp, could be worse I guess. He could be the copied soul of a bird or something,” Ilea said. “Should I tell him? I don’t mind.”

“I’d… I think I’d appreciate that, yes. I don’t know it’s just… cruel,” Iana murmured.

Ilea shrugged. “Eh, he meditated through most of his time down there. And now he’s got a Pursuer body. Better than most forms I suppose,” she said with a smile. “I’ll let him know.”

Iana nodded.

“Thanks for looking through all that, I appreciate it,” Ilea added and patted the enchanter’s shoulder. She left and addressed the machine. “Aki, can we talk for a moment?”

“Of course, Lady Lilith. What else could my time be invested in but to listen to your insightful thoughts?” the being said and moved over, decidedly slow.

“You’ve been hanging out with the Meadow too much,” Ilea said.

“The Meadow has been hanging out with me too much,” Aki replied when he reached her and crouched down.

“You’re moving differently. Trying not to freak people out?” Ilea asked.

“Yes. I love this form but it’s… very powerful, and it seems people have bad memories associated to Taleen beings,” Aki replied.

“Makes sense. Speaking of form… Iana figured out what happened to you. And what you are. Do you want to know?” Ilea asked.

The machine looked at her for a long moment, his eyes shining a little brighter. “How horrific is it?”

Ilea waved her hand sideways. “Could be worse. Could be better.”

“I’m listening,” the dagger said.

She nodded and explained the findings. He listened in silence, sitting with the knowledge for a while after. Ilea waited.

A sigh reached her mind. “Ironic, I suppose. Elf turned dagger… and now I’m in the body of a Pursuer, one of the most powerful Taleen machines,” he mused and started laughing, the sound echoing in Ilea’s mind. “I don’t hate it.”

Ilea grinned. “I thought as much.”

“I was saved and brought to purpose by you, Ilea. I am grateful. You uncovered my past… it’s less glamorous than I had perhaps hoped for but I think deep down, I knew. I am Aki, Pursuer of Akelion. Who I was before does not matter, whose soul I was molded from does not matter. I am the Guardian of the Medic Sentinels, and so it shall be. Neither Elves nor Taleen will determine my path,” he spoke.

“You’ll find your own way. Thanks for keeping the Sentinels safe, and helping out with all the work here. We’re there for you, whatever you will do in the future. That, I promise. Well, if you decide to murder all the kids in the world, I might take issue but you know what I mean,” Ilea said.

“The murder robot plan is a no then? That’s very sad. The Meadow had some other great suggestions however. One involves a haunted house, I quite like that,” Aki mused.

Poor Sentinels, Ilea thought with a sigh. “Stop being a bad influence,” she sent to the Meadow.

“Remedy from his exposure to you,” the being answered.

“We’re horrible parents,” she sent, shaking her head.

“I am the ideal parent,” the Meadow said.

“That’s exactly what a horrible parent would say,” Ilea sighed. “You know parenting is more complicated than helping creatures awaken?”

“I appreciate the reminder about my inability to conceive a child,” it spoke.

“Have you tried dropping a few crystal seeds?” Ilea suggested.

“I will complain to the Accords in my behalf. Your behavior is unacceptable,” the Meadow said.

“Feel free to make up and fill out a form. Good luck finding an enforcer. Besides me that is,” Ilea said with a grin.

“Then I’ll just have to make you punch yourself. Wouldn’t be the first time,” the being said.

I knew that was on purpose. “You absolute piece of shit,” she sent with a squint.

A giggle went through the vicinity, some people looking up at the strange phenomenon.

“Well, let me know if you need anything. And hey, if you’re up to it, maybe talk to Iana,” Ilea said to the Pursuer.

“I will. Thank you again, Ilea,” he said and looked at his long knife like fingers, the blades retracting before he closed his silver fist.

“Great. I’m around too… well back to Iz now. By the way, you don’t have a mark yet. Mind if I put one on you? We can share ten words once per day. And I know where you are,” Ilea suggested.

“Of course. It would be useful in case of an emergency,” the dagger said and received her mark. It appeared on one of his arms, the rune still looking distinctly Azarinth. “Thank you.”

“Sure,” she answered. “Hey Meadow, a lift to our frustrated Elven friend?”

“Kyrian too I assume?” the being spoke.