20 (II)
Charm
Huh, Shiv thought, his face turning into a wide grin. This is unexpected. But very welcome.
“What?” Adam moaned. “Why are you smiling like that?”
“New skill,” Shiv said. “Another Adept.”
“Another?” Uva leaned back. Even she sounded disturbed.
Shiv smiled at her. “Would you doubt me if it has something to do with tongues?”
Uva’s eyes narrowed.
“It does,” Shiv said. “I seem to have developed a bit of a… Silver Tongue.”
Adam began ripping the remains of his food apart in a fit of absolute rage, imagining he was biting into Shiv’s neck with every clench of his teeth.
Both Shiv and Uva stared at the Young Lord’s rage-eating.
“Calm down, Adam. I’ll make you more food if you need. Broken Moon. I should have made the raven die slower. He really must’ve damaged your metabolism with those drugs.” Shiv scowled.
“Anyway,” he said. “While we’re here and waiting, we should make good use of our time. I want to see the city and explore. The first place I want to go is the bookstore—there are some books I need to purchase.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea for another reason,” Uva said. “You’ll likely need a pair of enchanted reading glasses to deal with the local texts. Otherwise, there won’t be much hope of you reading at all.”
“They sell those?” Shiv asked.
“They sell those everywhere,” Adam said. “Practically all bookstores in the Republic offer the service. It’s hard to read primary sources without them.”
“The Blackedge public library didn’t have this,” Shiv muttered.
“That’s because some of the Slayers would have stolen and sold them for booze money,” Adam deadpanned. “Father tried as much as he could, but we still live in a fortress-town, Shiv. It’s your home too. You should know this.”
“Well, I would know this if everyone didn’t treat me like I was vermin,” Shiv almost growled.
The atmosphere in the room changed, and Uva looked between Shiv and Adam. The Deathless shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. I’ll need some books on Biomancy first. Then, I’ll need to visit the Cradle again to see if their offer is still open after the Young Lord’s mental episode.”
“I hope they breed you,” Adam muttered.
Shiv shrugged. “By this point, I don’t care if they do. So long as I can learn something from it. After that…” He looked to Uva. “I would like my kitchen knife back. And the Young Lord has some armor with you as well.”
“Quite so,” she replied, eyeing Adam. “Legendary armor. Our smiths can’t even identify the material. Or if it can even be broken.”
Shiv paused. Then turned to stare at Adam. “Legendary?”
Adam folded his arms defensively. “Father… wanted me to train hard and develop myself in practical situations. It’s hard to do that while constantly getting injured.”
“Did father get you this armor as well? From some kind of Legendary Gate?” Shiv shook his head. “Valor, how hard is it to obtain a Legendary set of armor?”
“Nightmarishly so,” the dagger said. “It would take a Legendary Crafter at the height of their Path a great deal of time to create consistent pieces of Legendary Armor. Or the closing of a High Category Gate to earn them as System rewards.”
Now Shiv was glaring at Adam with jealousy. “And somehow, you still lost to the raven-helmed idiot.”
“The armor is unbreakable! My limbs aren't!” Adam shot back.
“What is your Toughness?” Shiv asked.
Adam scowled. “It’s high.”
“Do you have a Skill Evolution for it yet?”
The Young Lord’s scowl deepened. “Soon I will.”
“In the span of months or years?” Shiv asked.
“How about you come clean this plate, too, hm?” Adam snapped. “I'm done with the food and want service.”
“And I want that armor,” Shiv said. “And to not be hated my entire life for a mistake I didn’t make. But I suppose things don’t always go the way we want them to.”
“You cleaned her plate!” Adam complained.
“There’s a difference between you and her: It’s the difference between an undercooked, moldy length of sausage and an enchanting five-course meal with outdoor setting, an assortment of wines, and a proper band playing in the background. A Legendary band.”
Silver Tongue > 2
“And it still somehow leads back into this,” Valor murmured. “This power is unnatural in the hands of one so young…”
Uva, for her part, rolled her eyes but looked rather smug. Adam seemed more offended that Shiv was capable of maintaining his charm offensive on the Abyssal elf while also insulting the Young Lord.
“Sister Uva,” Shiv said, placing her cleaned plate in a rack. “I think I had enough of being inside. I’m going to go out. I’m going to be at the bookstore and move onto other things. I don’t know what the Young Lord’s plans are, but I would ask that he doesn’t get himself into any more trouble. However, if I might be so bold as to ask your plans for the day…”
The Umbral smiled. “I need to report back to the local headquarters in a while to retrieve your personal items. After that, I have some patrols outside before I return in the afternoon.” She reached into a bag she brought with her and placed two brooches on the table.
Shiv’s eyes widened and he laughed. He pinned one of the brooches on his collar without needing her to explain what it was. “I talked to Nomos through this. It wasn’t a very pleasant conversation.” His voice came out through Uva’s collar, indicating a successful connection. “You, however…”
She closed her eyes and giggled. “Shiv, stop… Please… Don’t you get tired?”
“Of you? Is that possible?”
Slowly, Adam reached for his own brooch, unwilling to even look at Shiv.
As the Umbral finished laughing, she elaborated on the brooches’ functions. “The brooch is routed through headquarters. There is an operator listening on the other end, and they will connect you to the person you request based on name, identification number, or code phrase. All conversations are recorded, so be mindful of what you say.” Shiv opened his mouth, but she interrupted him. “I’m serious, surfacer. These are connected to official security channels. It is a major act of trust on the part of the Composer to let you have these. Do not use it to flirt.”
Shiv winked. “Don’t worry. I won’t embarrass you in front of your sisters through the brooch. No promises about doing things in person though.”
“You’re hopeless,” Uva replied with a sigh.
“Only when I’m struck by incredible beauty.”
She covered her face and groaned. “I need to leave before this gets too much. Even for me. I’ll take you both to the largest bookstore in the area. You’ll be able to find a map and the necessary enchantments you’ll need to navigate the city there, as well as all the books you're looking for.”
“And I’ll see you for dinner, at least?” Shiv asked.
The dagger started laughing off to the side. “I can’t believe this.”
Uva just stared at him. “You might see me earlier than that. I’ll call you when my daily duties are done.”
“Well, make sure you don’t take too long,” Shiv said. “Otherwise, I might have to voice an official complaint to the Composer. You are supposed to be my guide.”
“I have other duties too,” Uva sighed.
“You can show me these other duties sometime. Do they cook for you too?”
“Great One… Great One please… You overblessed this one… Take some of his confidence away from him.” Valor was literally praying now.
The Umbral got up and eyed Shiv. “Go get changed. You should look presentable when you go out. I am sure the tabloids will be ripping into you.”
“Fine,” Shiv said. As he walked over and gathered his clothes, and looked over his shoulder and fired a final shot. “Hey. Thanks for these. They look very tasteful.”
***
Shiv walked off into the bathroom, and Adam noticed the bloody Umbral staring at him, not even blinking. She even bit her tainted bottom lip. Slowly, Adam reached for his miss-matched mess of color-clashing clothing. “I should change too, right?”
Slowly, Uva turned and regarded Adam as if he was a cockroach she spotted crawling underfoot. “I care little what you do.”
And that was all she said to him.
Adam’s despair grew. If my soul has testicles… she definitely just kicked them…
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
***
“This is complete bullshit,” Adam muttered, gritting his teeth as the other patrons in the library started eyeing him from the moment he entered. His new blouse was the color of dying grass, his pants hot pink, and the shoes she got him were mismatched in style. It was like the Umbral was taking revenge on him for something.
Shiv, meanwhile, walked in an all-dark blue ensemble. Silk shirt, leather jacket, leather pants, leather boots, and a wide grin. That being said, Adam did notice the tremor in the former Omenborn’s hands as all eyes fell on him.
He’s not entirely comfortable with a crowd at all, Adam blinked. He just hides it. However, with the girl… The Young Lord caught the Psychomancer sneaking looks at Shiv.
“Hello,” Shiv said, smiling. “I-I’m not actually a surfacer. I’m just an Umbral with a skin condition. And an ear condition.”
“Shiv, be serious,” Uva chided. She reached over and slapped the laughing Shiv on the chest as Adam shook his head.
I think I’m going to be sick, Adam groaned internally.
***
With the surfacers delivered to the district’s local bookstore and library, the Umbral Psychomancer prepared to depart for the day, her other duties awaiting. “Shiv. Do what you can to stay out of trouble.” She eyed Adam, and all the warmth in her expression died like a candle in a blizzard. “And watch him, too. He’s your responsibility. If he does something, you will be held judged on his behalf as well. Especially after yesterday. You’re lucky the Composer is so magnanimous.”
Shiv couldn’t help but grin at the word “responsibility.” How the wheel turns for the son of Roland Arrow. “You don’t trust me?”
“I’ll tell you after dinner,” she said. “But for now…” She handed him a purse. “You have ten thousand scale in here. I doubt you can spend it all even if you tried. It will at least be enough to get you the books and items you need. Don’t lose it.”
Shiv reached out to “receive” the purse, but accidentally “missed” and wrapped his hand around hers as well. She looked at him. “Oops,” he said. “I apologize. I meant to grab the purse.”
“No, you didn’t,” she replied without an ounce of offense. She placed the money in his hands and let out a breath. “Shiv. Remember what I said.”
“I won’t push my luck,” he said. “Much.”
The Umbral sighed. “Much, he says. Composer watch over you.”
“And you as well,” Shiv replied.
“Shiv,” Valor began. “Did you at any point in the past few hours think twice about what you were about to say to Uva?”
The Deathless frowned. “No. Why? Did I do something wrong?’
“No… You are a terrifying boy,” Valor finished.
Shiv blinked. “Where’s this coming from?” He didn’t get it. “If you weren’t stalwart and certain in Georges’s kitchen, you would get destroyed. There was no slack or easy way out: Just be good at what you do and never doubt yourself.”
“I think I would like to meet this Georges someday,” Valor mused.
“I’d be happy to introduce you,” Shiv said. He looked at Adam and snorted. “Well. Come on, Young Lord. Let’s get you an education as well.”
“I graduated with Esteemed Honors from Phoenix Academy,” Adam spat. He looked around the library with a sneer. “I assure you, what I had access to in the Capital—”
“Adam,” Shiv said, his smile turning forced. “We are surrounded by Umbrals and the spiderfolk. They are all looking at us. Finish that sentence, and we might not be able to get anything done here. And if Uva has to come back, she will be upset. Which means I will be upset.”
Adam glared, tired of being bullied. “Which means what to me?”
“Which means you might need to find lunch and dinner elsewhere.”
It seemed Adam could put up with being bullied a little more. And so he stopped talking.
“Thank you, Young Lord,” Shiv said, letting out a breath. “I will remember this sacrifice.”
“You’re a real bastard, Shiv.”
The library—bookstore? Shiv wasn't entirely sure which it was now. Seemed these things were mixed here in Weave. It had five tall levels to it, each with walls and shelves stacked full of books. There were floating quills flying through the air as well, guiding the shoppers toward the texts they sought. While Shiv marveled at the establishment, the locals gawked at him and Adam. Slowly, they gained a few shadows as Shiv made his way to the front desk.
“Hello,” he said, leaning down and smiling at one of the Umbrals working there. For once, the Umbral seemed to be obviously male. Shiv blinked in surprise.
“I—oh,” the Umbral librarian said. “I… are you the surfacers?”
“We’re surfacers in search of a few books and reading aids. We require enchanted reading glasses to start. A map of Weave—along with other navigational materials you might recommend. After that, can you point me to a few books? Namely The Basics of Biology and Anatomy, Core Medicae, and... Odes of Blood and Flesh.”
The librarian just kept staring for a few moments. Then shook his head. “I—Yes. Yes, of course—wait, Odes of Blood and Flesh?” He looked disturbed. “That book is restricted for general use. The only reason we have a copy is for research purposes. That is only for certified personnel from the Cradle.”
Shiv stared at the Umbral. “Is this a certification that money can solve?”
“No!” the librarian said, offended.
“I see,” Shiv said. Then, he employed his backup strategy: He held up Valor.
“Give him the book, boy,” Valor said.
“I—what is this?” the librarian asked.
“I am Valor Thann. Now, you can doubt who I am, but if you inconvenience us… it will likely not result in much trouble for you. This is not a threat. However, Shiv does require the book, and we will contact the headquarters of the Arachnae Order if need be for permission, which might cause some interesting conversations to happen between you and your superiors. I don’t want that. So. Directions please.”
The librarian blinked. With a shaking hand, he reached under the table, clicked a mechanism Shiv couldn’t see, and a flying quill drifted over him. “F-follow that,” the librarian said. “P-please, f-forgive me V–V-V—”
“It’s fine, boy,” Valor said. “You are spared. I will speak highly of you to the Composer.”
A single tear fell from the librarian’s face, and two of Shiv’s social skills advanced at once.
Intimidation > 5
Barter > 10
Talk about borrowed strength, Shiv thought, looking at Valor. “Hey, Valor?”
“Yes, Shiv?”
“I think I want to be you when I grow up. And maybe get sealed in a dagger.”
“And I think I wish I was you when I was but an angry youth. Who often failed to interest the fairer sex.”
Behind them, Adam looked on, utterly alienated from the process.
Shiv had a grand time following the quill around and picking up the books he needed. The Basics of Biology and the Core Medicae were easy to find—and there was a special auto-enchantment table to get the reading glasses he and Adam needed. The Young Lord seemed to follow along in a daze, his eyes locked mostly to Shiv and no one else, his expression one of paranoia. The other Umbrals, weavers, Weaveresses, and more were also incredibly aware of the surfacers among them.
But by this point, Shiv didn’t care. Finally. I’m going to learn about the basics of felling magic. I’ve been waiting to do this my entire life… His heart raced as he was led through a set of magically sealed vault doors into the restricted section. There, two Weaveresses playing what looked like a complicated card game shot to their feet, saluted Valor Thann, and then literally took out keys to unchain the Odes of Blood and Flesh from its cage at the far wall of the room.
The book lived up to its dark reputation. Shiv’s Biomance felt a faint field around the book, and the leather that bound it was made from skin. A high vampire’s skin. It also had a set of eyes and teeth lining the back, so one could cut themselves holding it the wrong way.
“What the Broken Moon is that?” Adam breathed.
“Something I look forward to reading,” Shiv said. “You can have a peek as well. Apparently, it seals you in the body of a series of torture victims while teaching you about anatomy and biological functions.”
The Young Lord stared at Shiv like he was daft. “And why do you want to read that?”
“For Biomancy? Why else?”
“Aren’t the basic textbooks enough?”
“I’m more of a hands-on learner.”
“And it’s not like pain or the threat of death scare him, it seems,” Valor mused.
As Shiv thanked the Weaveresses and added his final book to his basket, he decided he was going to look around a bit more before leaving. He encouraged Adam to explore as well, but the Young Lord treated all the locals like how he treated Shiv when he was still Pathless.
He’s probably still dealing with all the Republic’s propaganda, Shiv thought. He probably got a lot more of that junk in him than I do.
As they wandered, Shiv picked out a dozen more books—five of them a collection of local recipes, one of them a pop fiction novel with a rather muscular-looking weaver fighting demons with a cursed axe, a history book on the surfacer invasion of the Abyss on Valor’s recommendation, and finally an introduction to Psychomancy—because that was the next magical skill he was trying to develop.
“So,” Adam said. “Are we done? We’ve been here for an hour.”
“Just about,” Shiv said. “Why are you in a hurry?”
“Because our home is being attacked by literal monsters from the dark,” the Young Lord hissed.
“A rogue faction,” Shiv corrected.
“Whatever! They need our help! We don’t even know—”
“The Quest hasn’t failed yet,” Shiv reassured him. “And we won’t make it if we just go rushing back right now. Not without the Composer’s help. We’ll get lost or killed. Now, I have no problem with the getting killed part, but you?”
Adam sighed. “I know they treated you like a monster. But—”
“Georges. Seymour. Tran.”
“What?” Adam said.
“Not everyone treated me like a monster. And I don’t want Blackedge to sink into the Abyss either. You might care about the town more, but I have people there too. I’m not blowing this off. But I’m not rushing back blind.” Shiv paused. “You don’t know what it’s like out there. I walked through the wilderness, and I got through that the hard way. Then, when I finally got close to this place, a Dragon-Knight obliterated the mountain maze I was supposed to enter in a fiery tantrum. I didn’t do anything wrong a lot of the time. But I still fell. There was just no winning sometimes.”
Shiv eyed Adam. “I don’t want you to die. Despite everything. I won’t blame you if you want to go right now, but I don’t think I’ll ever see you again if you do. And I don’t think you’ll ever make it home to your dad or your beloved either.”
Adam swallowed and nodded. “Fine. But the moment the Composer calls—”
“I’ll answer—” Shiv bumped into an Umbral, and she dropped the book she was carrying. He turned and winced. “Ah. Sorry. Surfacers are clumsy when they speak to each other.”
Unlike the other Umbrals, though, this one simply stared at him with a blank expression. He reached down and picked up her book. Using this as an opportunity to test his new reading glasses, Shiv examined the cover.
“Mana-Physics: An Advanced Text on Magically Enhanced Engineering,” Shiv read. “Sounds complicated. I’ve fixed a magical freezer before. For a kitchen. Is there a chapter on that?”
The Umbral just kept staring at him. There was a distant look to her eyes, and he noticed a hive of scars running down the left side of her face. The kind of scars one got from an acid burn. As she took the book out of his hand and placed it back on the nearest shelf, something hit Shiv—and hit him hard.
Foreshadowing: She imagines her bomb going off. She tries to conceive of the light—the heat. She tells herself she will likely be dead immediately. That there will be no pain. But she’s not truly worried about herself.
She doesn’t know why the crow-faced men targeted her specifically—or why the raven that led them is forcing her to do this. All she does know is that if her bomb does not go off within Passage by the afternoon, her son is going to die.
For the past three months, she has spent her time quietly assembling it within one of the teleportation anchors. There are unused spatial passages—and with the blindfold they gave her, even the Composer is blind to her actions. And so she worked, while at night she wept. For what was she supposed to do? They were always watching, and the raven brought her letters from her son every day at midnight to prove they had kept him alive.
Whatever these agents of New Albion are planning, it is beyond her—it will swallow her life. But the contract they gave her promises the life of her son. So it is going to happen. She is going to betray her Exalted Mother, kill her sisters—and so many other people coming and going from Weave. Along with herself. Because she doesn’t want to live with it. Because she can’t…
The time is nigh. She went back to her favorite library one last time. One last moment of comfort from the past. Everything is going to be bright soon.
Foreshadowing > 7
Quest Gained: Stop New Albion’s Aviary from bombing Passage and crippling Weave’s critical teleportation anchors.
Success: Mask of False Paths (Heroic); Cloak of Midnight’s Kindred (Adept)
Failure: The Compact gateway leading to the surface will become sealed.