Chapter 27: Gray Text
- Location
- CA
Chapter 27: Gray Text
I knew somehow that this creature before me was no girl. It was a monstrous yoma who could crush my skull and slurp my brain as easily as I could break an egg.
"Hey why are you staring at Priscilla like that?"
I also knew killing her was one of my goals. Wait? Didn't I just meet her?
I sighed, and felt a headache coming on. For some reason I also knew if I could break off a piece of her she'd taste like pork belly--tough pork belly. Why?
"Nothing. It's nothing." I said forcing myself to look away. The boy was dressed like a southern farmboy. No more than 12 or 13 with plain brown hair and a short Dirk at his side.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him while ignoring the other one.
She didn't seem to appreciate being glared at and then ignored. She puffed up to say something but then the boy settled her down with a comforting pat.
"Just to confirm we are in Riful's primary fortress, right?"
"Yes, where else would you be?"
"You may find this hard to believe but a second ago we were speaking to Vali Dreadnaught, and his companion. We wanted to sneak inside and were told they might be the only people who could get us in here. After we explained what we wanted he agreed and then his companion punched me. Well, punched us and we landed here. Moreover, we landed in the middle of a room with no broken walls or ceiling."
His story made more sense than I liked. The name Vali sent a shiver down my spine. Within the saints order there was a small hierarchy of one to three star saints based on accomplishments, experience and responsibility. Then there were those who carved out a place for themselves entirely independently. One of the most respected titles was to be one of the Heralds, of which there were only five when I left Saintshold.
Contrary to their public image, they were all notorious among the saints as troublesome or selfish fellows. Even the title "Herald" was more of a courtesy and warning with no official authority to order around others. Nevertheless the people given this title and independency had made it a respected title through their work. You didn't even get considered as a Herald unless you could solo a voracious yoma alone.
Vali was no fool. He must have known what she was with or without a sensor like herself to tip him off.
It was only smart to send them on their way like they were asking and why not send them into this pit to fight Riful and her legions. The enemies killing each other just makes less work.
"Alright, but you'll be killed if you're found. What possessed you to want to come here?" Could the boy be aware she's a monster and is trying to lure her into a fight? Or is the girl luring the boy back to her lair and is part of Riful's forces?
He clenched his hands. "It's my brother. I need to know where he is and help him if he's trapped. I know it's reckless, and you don't have to call me stupid or a fool too. But I'm tired of being told to just take it."
I turn to the girl but stay silent. She matches my silence. I don't dare open my mouth to ask. I fear what my tongue will say, not to mention I flat out fear her. I thought the PMSing among the Saints were bad but they were practically role models of positive mental health compared to the likes of Riful and her cronies.
"What's your brother's name? Actually what are all of your names? My own is Lyta Trevor of Saintshold."
"Oh sorry, I'm Raki Sand from Dabi, and this is Priscilla. My brother's name is Zaki Sand. He looks a lot like me except taller and more muscled." He flexed his puny muscles and I had to do my best not to laugh. But his antics earned a small smile from the monster.
I got back to business and pulled up my book again. First was "Priscilla." Unfortunately, I had a four dozen entries with that name, and most of them were so short or vague they would be hard to even eliminate as possibilities if I knew her well.
"She doesn't have a last name or does she?" I decide to ask Raki.
"She won't tell me and doesn't like to be asked about it." He responds as she clocks her head to the side. Can she see my book? No, that shouldn't be possible.
The boy, "Raki Sand," had better prospects. Based on age I could toss out the only other one listed.
Raki Sand
- Age 13
- Villager of Dabi
- Race: Pure Human
- Shard: Inactive
- Leadership D++++
- Fighting Style: Bluff and ?
- Traits: Low self-esteem, ?, bro-con, optimistic, naive.
- Allies: Priscilla (?)
- Immunities: Thick-headedness (resistance to romance)
- Fulcrum: Play off his optimism and loyalty to his brother. Do not tell him Priscilla's true nature.
- Potential: Use him to manipulate Priscilla. As long as Priscilla is pretending to be human she won't kill you. With Priscilla's help, if you can hide it from Raki, you could just walk out the front door.
- Disposition: Does not perceive you.
- Recommendation: Be useful to Raki. Also, offer him some Extremis.
It's still pushing drugs. It has toned down lately, somewhat. When I first began using it I thought they were recommendations from goddess Rabona. Since then I've figured out some of them are just what they say they are--recommendations. They don't always work out and when they don't I usually wind up bloody, and bloody exhausted.
Wait! I hurriedly look back at potential.
'With Priscilla's help, if you can hide it from Raki, you could just walk out the front door.' I stared at that line. The only other time I'd seen something like it was with Europa's profile. Of course, both don't even recognize my existence even though I'm right in front of this one.
Fine, Rabona, I can see divine intervention when it slaps me in the face. Screw whatever she is. Screw my outraged instincts. They also go wild around the empress' daughter and she's one of the most stable and sane beings here.
"Um, Ms. Trevor."
"Don't call me that." I say angrily. He recoils. Oops.
"I mean Ms. Trevor is my mother." I mollify sweetly. "Look just call me Lyta, and I have a power that tells me things about people I search for. I assume you came here because the Empress' people took him. Just give me a minute, and I'll even know which hand he uses to wipe his butt."
"Wow, you're a saint too." He says with awe.
Yes I am and you're crazy, but I won't judge you.
Zaki Sand
- Age 20
- Shard: Detached
- Race: Pure Human
- Subordinate: Riful (formerly), Rubel
- Allies: Rose, ?
- Traits: Rebellious, ?, ?, ?, ?
- Potential: Fodder for Morphine?
- Recommendation: Share his current status with his brother Raki to increase comradery.
- Location of Remains: Ash basin of the armor smelter.
This was grayed out. I had seen this before with Clare, Ophelia Victoria, and a few others who made escape attempts. Raki would not be meeting his brother again in this life.
"Why don't you sit down for this?" I suggested gently.
He took it better than I'd expected given he'd just charged into his likely grave to help rescue his apparently dead brother.
"I see."
He frowned but he didn't break. Priscilla reached out for his hand and gripped it tightly. She looked up at him and I wanted to urge them to hug/slice her face off/ask her about her bloodtype.
This was getting annoying, and I was entirely too fine with this. I glared at my pouch holding my extremis. It was probably its fault.
"I can't tell you about the circumstances of his death, but I've heard the name of one of his allies before. Rose was executed a good while before I got here for holding a coup." I suggested. That was the last major coup. A handful of escape attempts with the best one resulting in the Sea Tunnel.
"Do you think he died in that? Fighting the Empress and her kingdom?" His face was cloudy and expressionless.
"Maybe, I don't actually know any of the details." I turned back to Raki's entry and then froze. Under his name the recommendation section had changed. "I wouldn't have the first clue, though, where to start looking for info on that. I'm doubt we'll ever learn the whole truth." I quickly added.
"You're right, but if I can't bring back his body I should at least learn the truth of how he lived and died. As long as he and his deeds aren't completely forgotten, a part of him will be with us won't it." He said to Priscilla.
"NO, that's just superstitious drivel." I interrupt. "The dead are dead and the living are living." Geez, this kid. He's like one of those 60 year-old priests. "Listen, if you want to honor your brother then find a way to get out of here alive. This place is a death trap."
"What do you mean, Ms. Lyta?" I gape at him with nothing to say. A fish could have jumped into my mouth and then jumped out without any reaction.
He didn't come in through the front door, I realized. The Empress of course is yoma, but most people haven't seen a voracious yoma in their fully transformed state. If they had they'd be dead. He was just teleported here somehow. I shake my head and wonder if I shouldn't just go back to thinking of useless ways to make Europa notice me.
"Listen kids, this isn't just the center of Riful's power. This place was designed as a prison for the people inside it. We're not even in the worst of the worst. That's the security zones for the things in the basement. Still, unless you can fly at the speed of sound or turn invisible and teleport across the 5 km chasm surrounding this fortress we're stuck here. Moreover, it's all continually scanned every hour, so we really, really need to find a way to get you into publicly allowed areas soon."
Or around a bunch of animals. According to his profile, Mimir had a hard time telling humans apart from sufficiently large or numerous animals. Unfortunately, I didn't know enough to determine if the flesh producing organisms in the cellars were close enough to count and add interference.
I glance at Raki and it's clear he's confused and perhaps a little in over his head. It's time to present my plan/steamroll over his objections. "Raki...and Priscilla, unless we move with a focus on escaping, there's a good chance that not only will you be caught before finding out the truth--not a single one of you will be able to escape alive."
This seemed to bother them, but mostly about each other. Perfect, even without Priscilla's page my guess was right. Her weakness has to be Raki, and anything that could be a danger to Raki was a concern for her.
"Fortunately, I have a friend who has a wonderful head for plans." I explained.
"Wait, I thought you had a plan, Ms. Lyta?"
"I do. My plan is to ask Erin for the plan. Follow me quickly but carefully."
***
"So that's why we need to go there." I finished explaining.
"Okay," said the stone Gargoyle construct.
"So can we pass, now?" I asked hopefully.
"No. No trespassing." It stubbornly demanded.
Dumb as a rock that got run over by a fleet of wagons. Fine. This required my secret weapon. "hat about a very quick trip while you eat this?" I suggested bringing out fifteen bera.
It finally nodded. I passed it to him and then tried to run on through while it sucked on one like a popsicle.
I normally am in the blue faction's area, where experiments and the food supply is guarded. Meanwhile Erin is in the red faction areas, where the transportation and communication work gets done. Passage from the blue to the red faction area is lightly restricted, but there are ways around it if you could identify the laziest and greediest border guard.
"Wait, da kids. I can ignore someone like you," it said with an insulting gesture. "But if you want me to 'take a break' for all three of you I want more."
The idiot was going to shake me down for even more. Did I look like I was a rich brat? That's Erin's, or it would be if she wasn't here.
"How about I help you with labor? I can clean your nest for two whole weeks?"
He shook his stony head.
"Three?" No. "Four?"
After a brief pause he gave me a tentative nod. Great! I'll clean his eerie a month if I fail and survive this escape attempt. Actually it'll probably be recycled. Nothing to worry about no matter what. Just keep telling yourself that.
"Alright, follow me quickly." I said to the kids. Ten minutes later I'd found Erin repacking a cube shaped crate of various weapons, jars, and even some caged chickens. At least they looked like chickens. You never could be entirely sure about that anymore. The crates would probably be shrunk and then stored by her just prior to transport.
"Erin, put that down." I whispered. "Look we need your help planning an escape attempt."
"Another one?" She said in exasperation. "You never go through with them anyway."
Not true. They just tend to fail very quickly at step 1 and then no one even notices I tried to escape. Nevertheless, I explain the situation while emphasizing any words about Priscilla with matching violent gestures. I hope she got my hints and won't do anything rash. Wait, she's just looking at me like I'm crazy. I'm not twitching in pain.
After completely horrifying her at Vali's irresponsibility, she repeated my warnings about the sensor, the ravine, the gate guards, and the speed that the monstrous yoma can travel at.
"Quite frankly, Lyta, I don't think you're asking the right person," Erin said with a sigh. "You do realize, right, that my power isn't a knowledge or planning one. The last plan we had got the rest of my team killed." I felt my heart clench in my chest at that.
"But it also saved me." I emphasized.
Besides, it didn't really matter for once what the plan was, just how useful we seemed and how close we were able to get to them. Erin would be cheered up, and if the stars aligned we might even walk out of here. I hated my method of escape, but that thought made it all bearable. At least my hate burned away any guilt at using this child.
I patted myself on back. Things were finally looking up. Now I just needed to make sure I didn't forget anything.
"Intruders!" Screamed someone. A cry that was soon echoed by others.
Or at the very least that I didn't forget anything else.
***
Beneath the castle something stirred.
"Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. I'm trying to sleep here."
No one else there responded. They were all smart enough to just remain silent. Only her partner Diana gave a displeased huff.
Author's Note: Just a reminder. Zaki got killed by Riful back in the Dauf and Riful interlude. Also, this isn't the shrunken Priscilla. We've only skipped ahead about 6 months.
As for the index power Lyta has been using, it is a bit of an oddball. My thinking on it is that unlike most shards it has some creativity, but it's creativity is only a simulation of "what would ________ do?" It's primary function is to actually propose possibilities that an actual sentient entity will then sort through. Its users seem to misinterpret it because when they see "recommendation" coming from their super amazing power they think "good idea" rather than just "bold idea." It's also incomplete. It gives only one type of suggestion.
I knew somehow that this creature before me was no girl. It was a monstrous yoma who could crush my skull and slurp my brain as easily as I could break an egg.
"Hey why are you staring at Priscilla like that?"
I also knew killing her was one of my goals. Wait? Didn't I just meet her?
I sighed, and felt a headache coming on. For some reason I also knew if I could break off a piece of her she'd taste like pork belly--tough pork belly. Why?
"Nothing. It's nothing." I said forcing myself to look away. The boy was dressed like a southern farmboy. No more than 12 or 13 with plain brown hair and a short Dirk at his side.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him while ignoring the other one.
She didn't seem to appreciate being glared at and then ignored. She puffed up to say something but then the boy settled her down with a comforting pat.
"Just to confirm we are in Riful's primary fortress, right?"
"Yes, where else would you be?"
"You may find this hard to believe but a second ago we were speaking to Vali Dreadnaught, and his companion. We wanted to sneak inside and were told they might be the only people who could get us in here. After we explained what we wanted he agreed and then his companion punched me. Well, punched us and we landed here. Moreover, we landed in the middle of a room with no broken walls or ceiling."
His story made more sense than I liked. The name Vali sent a shiver down my spine. Within the saints order there was a small hierarchy of one to three star saints based on accomplishments, experience and responsibility. Then there were those who carved out a place for themselves entirely independently. One of the most respected titles was to be one of the Heralds, of which there were only five when I left Saintshold.
Contrary to their public image, they were all notorious among the saints as troublesome or selfish fellows. Even the title "Herald" was more of a courtesy and warning with no official authority to order around others. Nevertheless the people given this title and independency had made it a respected title through their work. You didn't even get considered as a Herald unless you could solo a voracious yoma alone.
Vali was no fool. He must have known what she was with or without a sensor like herself to tip him off.
It was only smart to send them on their way like they were asking and why not send them into this pit to fight Riful and her legions. The enemies killing each other just makes less work.
"Alright, but you'll be killed if you're found. What possessed you to want to come here?" Could the boy be aware she's a monster and is trying to lure her into a fight? Or is the girl luring the boy back to her lair and is part of Riful's forces?
He clenched his hands. "It's my brother. I need to know where he is and help him if he's trapped. I know it's reckless, and you don't have to call me stupid or a fool too. But I'm tired of being told to just take it."
I turn to the girl but stay silent. She matches my silence. I don't dare open my mouth to ask. I fear what my tongue will say, not to mention I flat out fear her. I thought the PMSing among the Saints were bad but they were practically role models of positive mental health compared to the likes of Riful and her cronies.
"What's your brother's name? Actually what are all of your names? My own is Lyta Trevor of Saintshold."
"Oh sorry, I'm Raki Sand from Dabi, and this is Priscilla. My brother's name is Zaki Sand. He looks a lot like me except taller and more muscled." He flexed his puny muscles and I had to do my best not to laugh. But his antics earned a small smile from the monster.
I got back to business and pulled up my book again. First was "Priscilla." Unfortunately, I had a four dozen entries with that name, and most of them were so short or vague they would be hard to even eliminate as possibilities if I knew her well.
"She doesn't have a last name or does she?" I decide to ask Raki.
"She won't tell me and doesn't like to be asked about it." He responds as she clocks her head to the side. Can she see my book? No, that shouldn't be possible.
The boy, "Raki Sand," had better prospects. Based on age I could toss out the only other one listed.
Raki Sand
- Age 13
- Villager of Dabi
- Race: Pure Human
- Shard: Inactive
- Leadership D++++
- Fighting Style: Bluff and ?
- Traits: Low self-esteem, ?, bro-con, optimistic, naive.
- Allies: Priscilla (?)
- Immunities: Thick-headedness (resistance to romance)
- Fulcrum: Play off his optimism and loyalty to his brother. Do not tell him Priscilla's true nature.
- Potential: Use him to manipulate Priscilla. As long as Priscilla is pretending to be human she won't kill you. With Priscilla's help, if you can hide it from Raki, you could just walk out the front door.
- Disposition: Does not perceive you.
- Recommendation: Be useful to Raki. Also, offer him some Extremis.
It's still pushing drugs. It has toned down lately, somewhat. When I first began using it I thought they were recommendations from goddess Rabona. Since then I've figured out some of them are just what they say they are--recommendations. They don't always work out and when they don't I usually wind up bloody, and bloody exhausted.
Wait! I hurriedly look back at potential.
'With Priscilla's help, if you can hide it from Raki, you could just walk out the front door.' I stared at that line. The only other time I'd seen something like it was with Europa's profile. Of course, both don't even recognize my existence even though I'm right in front of this one.
Fine, Rabona, I can see divine intervention when it slaps me in the face. Screw whatever she is. Screw my outraged instincts. They also go wild around the empress' daughter and she's one of the most stable and sane beings here.
"Um, Ms. Trevor."
"Don't call me that." I say angrily. He recoils. Oops.
"I mean Ms. Trevor is my mother." I mollify sweetly. "Look just call me Lyta, and I have a power that tells me things about people I search for. I assume you came here because the Empress' people took him. Just give me a minute, and I'll even know which hand he uses to wipe his butt."
"Wow, you're a saint too." He says with awe.
Yes I am and you're crazy, but I won't judge you.
Zaki Sand
- Age 20
- Shard: Detached
- Race: Pure Human
- Subordinate: Riful (formerly), Rubel
- Allies: Rose, ?
- Traits: Rebellious, ?, ?, ?, ?
- Potential: Fodder for Morphine?
- Recommendation: Share his current status with his brother Raki to increase comradery.
- Location of Remains: Ash basin of the armor smelter.
This was grayed out. I had seen this before with Clare, Ophelia Victoria, and a few others who made escape attempts. Raki would not be meeting his brother again in this life.
"Why don't you sit down for this?" I suggested gently.
He took it better than I'd expected given he'd just charged into his likely grave to help rescue his apparently dead brother.
"I see."
He frowned but he didn't break. Priscilla reached out for his hand and gripped it tightly. She looked up at him and I wanted to urge them to hug/slice her face off/ask her about her bloodtype.
This was getting annoying, and I was entirely too fine with this. I glared at my pouch holding my extremis. It was probably its fault.
"I can't tell you about the circumstances of his death, but I've heard the name of one of his allies before. Rose was executed a good while before I got here for holding a coup." I suggested. That was the last major coup. A handful of escape attempts with the best one resulting in the Sea Tunnel.
"Do you think he died in that? Fighting the Empress and her kingdom?" His face was cloudy and expressionless.
"Maybe, I don't actually know any of the details." I turned back to Raki's entry and then froze. Under his name the recommendation section had changed. "I wouldn't have the first clue, though, where to start looking for info on that. I'm doubt we'll ever learn the whole truth." I quickly added.
"You're right, but if I can't bring back his body I should at least learn the truth of how he lived and died. As long as he and his deeds aren't completely forgotten, a part of him will be with us won't it." He said to Priscilla.
"NO, that's just superstitious drivel." I interrupt. "The dead are dead and the living are living." Geez, this kid. He's like one of those 60 year-old priests. "Listen, if you want to honor your brother then find a way to get out of here alive. This place is a death trap."
"What do you mean, Ms. Lyta?" I gape at him with nothing to say. A fish could have jumped into my mouth and then jumped out without any reaction.
He didn't come in through the front door, I realized. The Empress of course is yoma, but most people haven't seen a voracious yoma in their fully transformed state. If they had they'd be dead. He was just teleported here somehow. I shake my head and wonder if I shouldn't just go back to thinking of useless ways to make Europa notice me.
"Listen kids, this isn't just the center of Riful's power. This place was designed as a prison for the people inside it. We're not even in the worst of the worst. That's the security zones for the things in the basement. Still, unless you can fly at the speed of sound or turn invisible and teleport across the 5 km chasm surrounding this fortress we're stuck here. Moreover, it's all continually scanned every hour, so we really, really need to find a way to get you into publicly allowed areas soon."
Or around a bunch of animals. According to his profile, Mimir had a hard time telling humans apart from sufficiently large or numerous animals. Unfortunately, I didn't know enough to determine if the flesh producing organisms in the cellars were close enough to count and add interference.
I glance at Raki and it's clear he's confused and perhaps a little in over his head. It's time to present my plan/steamroll over his objections. "Raki...and Priscilla, unless we move with a focus on escaping, there's a good chance that not only will you be caught before finding out the truth--not a single one of you will be able to escape alive."
This seemed to bother them, but mostly about each other. Perfect, even without Priscilla's page my guess was right. Her weakness has to be Raki, and anything that could be a danger to Raki was a concern for her.
"Fortunately, I have a friend who has a wonderful head for plans." I explained.
"Wait, I thought you had a plan, Ms. Lyta?"
"I do. My plan is to ask Erin for the plan. Follow me quickly but carefully."
***
"So that's why we need to go there." I finished explaining.
"Okay," said the stone Gargoyle construct.
"So can we pass, now?" I asked hopefully.
"No. No trespassing." It stubbornly demanded.
Dumb as a rock that got run over by a fleet of wagons. Fine. This required my secret weapon. "hat about a very quick trip while you eat this?" I suggested bringing out fifteen bera.
It finally nodded. I passed it to him and then tried to run on through while it sucked on one like a popsicle.
I normally am in the blue faction's area, where experiments and the food supply is guarded. Meanwhile Erin is in the red faction areas, where the transportation and communication work gets done. Passage from the blue to the red faction area is lightly restricted, but there are ways around it if you could identify the laziest and greediest border guard.
"Wait, da kids. I can ignore someone like you," it said with an insulting gesture. "But if you want me to 'take a break' for all three of you I want more."
The idiot was going to shake me down for even more. Did I look like I was a rich brat? That's Erin's, or it would be if she wasn't here.
"How about I help you with labor? I can clean your nest for two whole weeks?"
He shook his stony head.
"Three?" No. "Four?"
After a brief pause he gave me a tentative nod. Great! I'll clean his eerie a month if I fail and survive this escape attempt. Actually it'll probably be recycled. Nothing to worry about no matter what. Just keep telling yourself that.
"Alright, follow me quickly." I said to the kids. Ten minutes later I'd found Erin repacking a cube shaped crate of various weapons, jars, and even some caged chickens. At least they looked like chickens. You never could be entirely sure about that anymore. The crates would probably be shrunk and then stored by her just prior to transport.
"Erin, put that down." I whispered. "Look we need your help planning an escape attempt."
"Another one?" She said in exasperation. "You never go through with them anyway."
Not true. They just tend to fail very quickly at step 1 and then no one even notices I tried to escape. Nevertheless, I explain the situation while emphasizing any words about Priscilla with matching violent gestures. I hope she got my hints and won't do anything rash. Wait, she's just looking at me like I'm crazy. I'm not twitching in pain.
After completely horrifying her at Vali's irresponsibility, she repeated my warnings about the sensor, the ravine, the gate guards, and the speed that the monstrous yoma can travel at.
"Quite frankly, Lyta, I don't think you're asking the right person," Erin said with a sigh. "You do realize, right, that my power isn't a knowledge or planning one. The last plan we had got the rest of my team killed." I felt my heart clench in my chest at that.
"But it also saved me." I emphasized.
Besides, it didn't really matter for once what the plan was, just how useful we seemed and how close we were able to get to them. Erin would be cheered up, and if the stars aligned we might even walk out of here. I hated my method of escape, but that thought made it all bearable. At least my hate burned away any guilt at using this child.
I patted myself on back. Things were finally looking up. Now I just needed to make sure I didn't forget anything.
"Intruders!" Screamed someone. A cry that was soon echoed by others.
Or at the very least that I didn't forget anything else.
***
Beneath the castle something stirred.
"Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. I'm trying to sleep here."
No one else there responded. They were all smart enough to just remain silent. Only her partner Diana gave a displeased huff.
«***»
Author's Note: Just a reminder. Zaki got killed by Riful back in the Dauf and Riful interlude. Also, this isn't the shrunken Priscilla. We've only skipped ahead about 6 months.
As for the index power Lyta has been using, it is a bit of an oddball. My thinking on it is that unlike most shards it has some creativity, but it's creativity is only a simulation of "what would ________ do?" It's primary function is to actually propose possibilities that an actual sentient entity will then sort through. Its users seem to misinterpret it because when they see "recommendation" coming from their super amazing power they think "good idea" rather than just "bold idea." It's also incomplete. It gives only one type of suggestion.