Chapter 300: Expensive Food
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Chapter 300: Expensive Food
Talas magesight confirmed that, while power was still flowing from the body of the syphon, it was dead.
The threat addressed, she finally had a moment to really take a look at Master Pavrimax, using the mirrored perspective from the base of her skull.
The strange Archonwho had inadvertently brought this aboutwas dripping blood from his myriad small cuts, but even so, his focus was moving towards those hed saved.
While she did examine the odd Archon more closely, she walked forward, intending to grab the entirety of the syphons corpse to feed to Kit. These things are rather great Kit-ty food.
She chuckled at her own joke, and Alat groaned.
Her mirrored perspective had a lot to show her as it seemed that Master Pavrimax was an even more interesting character than shed realized.
First of all, he already had a book in hand once again, somehow keeping it clean despite the dust, snow, and blood all around. He kept it out, even as he knelt beside the four whom hed hurt as he pulled them from the syphon.
Cant really fault him for the results. I dont know that I could have moved fast enough to save them, even if I hadsensed them.
-Yeah, a few broken bones are better than death.-
Tala frowned as she considered. Why didnt I sense them?
-Well, you did. At least you heard them, and noticed other indications, but nothing stood out among everything else. We have great senses, but that doesnt mean we automatically, instantly know exactly what were sensing.-
I suppose She turned her attention back to the Archon as she neared the now-empty alleyway.
Master Pavrimax was of average height and very slender. As a Mage, he was obviously not fat, but his frame was barely in the healthy range on the other extreme.
He didnt look stick-like, instead showing some muscle, but he wasnt bulky by any stretch of the imagination.
Tala had caught a light brown, almost caramel color to his eyes, and his wavy, dark brown hair indicated that his inscriber used Mistress Hollys needles.
She hadnt noted it in the moment, but when she looked back on the short fight, his mace had looked almost like it was carved of emerald.
-Doesnt look quite right for that.-
The mace now hung at his belt when it hadnt been visible before the engagement.
-Its wise of him to keep his weapon ready for further issues, though they are unlikely because, well, this is Bandfast.-
True enough.
Tala took Kit off of her belt and dropped the pouch on the ground just beside the edge of the building. Eat up, buddy.
The pouch opened, the yawning blackness expanding under the building, somehow altering dimensionality to get fully under the parts that it maneuvered around.
There were no visible teeth, though Tala felt like they wouldnt have been out of place.
Instead, there was simply a blackness that led Tala to believe that it was an opening into somewhere deep within Kit, under the ground, in the bedrock of the sanctum.
All the better to digest you with, my dear.
-Thats pretty dark, Tala.-
Exactly, I cant see anything in there.
-You know what I mean.-
When Kit had opened under around a quarter of the dead beast, it started to collapse into the hole, dragging the rest inside.
Kit contracted around the rest of the remains as they slithered down in, leaving the pouch sitting at her feet once more, in front of an empty alley.
It was closed and utterly still, magically speaking. All that was going on within was in the separate dimensional space.
Tala looked closer at the alley, shaking her head. I forget that the syphons can manipulate dimensionality, too. It seemed much bigger than that alley would have allowed.
-Yeah, it seems like it expanded the space to make a shop facade fit in more naturally.-
Good job, Kit. She picked up the pouch and hung it from her belt, giving Kit a comforting pat.
Kit did not respond.
Tala was about to turn back around when something odd happened. The perspective she had watching Master Pavrimax almost seemed to hitch, or at least thats how it seemed.
One moment, the Archon was kneeling beside those he was helping, alone as he worked, and the next moment, a black cat was sitting in his shadow, licking its paw and staring straight at her bloodstar with too-intelligent, caramel-colored eyes.
Tala spun, locking her own eyes on the cat.
It had a heavy aura, which was obviously connected with Master Pavrimaxs.
The little beasts magic had deep connections to shadow and dimensionality, making its appearance make a lot of sense.
Does it live in his shadow?
-Could be. It seems to be an actual familiar. Is that right? Those are at least a bit rare. I dont know that weve actually come across any, at least not that weve noticed.-
Tala walked over, and Master Pavrimax glanced her way. Good, youre done. Do you have any external healing scripts?
I do not, but the city defenders should be here soon.
We are here. A voice came from behind her, along with a Refined aura that gently blanketed the area, seemingly calming the mundanes that had scrambled away.
Thats a use of my aura that Ive never even tried to master.
-Well, to be fair, that aura has defensive, healing, and perceptual magics as fundamental parts of it. Im sure all of those things feel nice when people are exposed to them.-
Tala sighed. Where I have gravity, selfish-healing, and death?
-I wouldnt it put it that way, but you arent wrong.-
Her mirrored perspective had seen the man arrive just as he spoke, indicating that hed been able to perceive the area before he arrived. You know, I bet the citys grid somehow facilitates their movement. Its probably expensive, though, so they dont use it unless required.
-They probably have some sort of tiered system, too. They appeared immediately when the arcane stepped out of Kit, but theyve had slower responses to other threats.-
Yeah, that makes sense. Master Grediv had implied that she should be able to move quickly, once she Refined, and it hadnt sounded like it was tied to a citys grid, but shed have to ask him to learn more. I could ask Mistress Holly, too, but I might just get myself stuck in a wall.
Alat huffed in response to that, not deigning to respond.
Besides the Refined man, there were another half-dozen Archons who were immediately spreading out to the surrounding mundanes, checking for injuries and treating what minor scrapes and sprains there were.
Two went toward the four more damaged rescuees that Master Pavrimax had saved before the syphon collapsed. One of those placed a hand on Master Pavrimaxs shoulder, and the Archons cuts and scrapes closed almost too quickly to watch.
The man who had spoken already glanced toward the alley briefly then focused on Tala. Mistress. I am Gerard. Is there any further threat that you are aware of?
They really are good at keeping these things contained.
-Yeah, as safe as they make the cities, there are still some truly horrifying dangers.-
Isnt that the truth
It was mid-afternoon by the time she got back to Lyns house, which she found blessedly empty.
The short fight had left her with a hunger that food couldnt satisfy, and the time since had just seen that hunger grow, despite the meal with Master Pavrimax.
Shed gone just more than two months since her last real fight, and that had been with the Leshkin as she had rampaged her way through the forest to get home.
-It was actually precisely two months as of yesterday.-
Huh, really? She thought about it and was instantly able to confirm. Thats a long time
-To not have killed anything? I suppose so, for you.-
Tala grimaced. Thats not really a charitable way of wording it. I meant that thats a long time to go without sparring or fighting at all.
-Sure, that too.-
She sighed, pulling out the magic nest in order to occupy her over-hyped mind.
Her body felt like running a thousand miles, but she stretched instead, slowly calming her twitchy muscles.
Soon. Well be able to test ourselves again soon.
She was exceptionally glad that no one was around, because she was having much more difficulty than usual with the magic nest.
Rane would be absolutely destroying me right now, if he was here
Shed been getting better and better with the magic nest as well, unraveling it nearly half-way with a fair degree of consistency.
At the moment, she kept losing focus around the one quarter mark.
Finally, she growled, put the thing away in Kit.
-We could spar?-
Tala huffed a laugh, but smiled. They had been figment sparring a lot of late, and she quite enjoyed it. Even so, Tala didnt feel up for the mental strain that came afterwards for both herself and Alat. Not right now. Maybe this evening, before we sleep?
-Or when you calm your mind a bit?-
Maybe.
Tala turned her mind entirely to dynamic stretches, moving through increasingly complicated and convoluted motions to expand and strengthen her movements.
Even so, her thoughts were still running rampant despite her best efforts.
While the stretching occupied and calmed her physically, her mind did its part and was still all over the place and in need of extra distraction.
Toward that end, Alat presented Tala with the next book in her queue, and Tala began to read.
In that way, she passed the remainder of the afternoon, until Lyn and Kannis got home from work.
When the two women got home, Tala met them in the entryway. Out! Lets go. Dinners on me.
The two had actually looked a bit bedraggled, but they both perked up at Talas offer. Lyn was the first to respond. Oh? Whats the occasion?
I killed a syphon today, and I need to get out of this house for a bit.
You what?! Lyn immediately looked towards where the massive, powerful syphon had set up shop more than a year ago.
No, not one like that. This was practically a baby, just in the Fused range.
Lyn gave Tala an unamused look.
Right shes Fused.
Kannis cleared her throat. Whats a syphon? I dont think Ive heard of such a creature.
Lyn turned to her mageling with a puzzled frown. Kannis, weve discussed them quite a few times. Tala and I helped deal with one just a few days before you became my mageling.
Huh, I dont remember Her eyes took on a far-off look before she shook her head, seemingly clearing her mind. What were we talking about?
Lyn had frozen in place, eyes widening in horror.
Tala, with her enhanced perception, could see the edges of Kanniss mouth fighting to remain neutral. Shes messing with Lyn?
Lyn seemed to notice something, because her eyes suddenly narrowed. Youre trying to rust my metal, arent you. It wasnt a question. Is that how you want to treat your master after the day weve had?
Kannis broke out in a grin. Oh, but your face!
She laughed, and Tala felt herself smile along.
You were like: Oh, no! One of them is right here, keeping her from remembering.
That is not what I was thinking. Lyn frowned. I was wondering if you were hit in the head somehow, and I didnt notice.
Kannis huffed a laugh. Sure you were.
Tala cleared her throat. So dinner?
The two women turned towards her, wry smiles growing on both of their faces.
Lyn shook her head. Yes. There certainly isnt anything worth pursuing here.
Kannis turned on one foot and strode back out through the front door. To expensive food! Mistress Talas treat.
Lyn froze for just an instant before grinning broadly and following her mageling. To the best restaurant in the city!
Tala blinked a few times, fully processing what they were saying. She frowned, following them as quickly as she could while closing and locking the door. Hey, now! To reasonably priced food in large quantities.
Lyn glanced back. We can vote on where we go?
Kannis grinned happily. Id agree to that.
Tala shook her head. If I pay, I pick.
Lyn laughed. Fine, fine. Lets get some food.
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Chapter 300: Expensive Food
Talas magesight confirmed that, while power was still flowing from the body of the syphon, it was dead.
The threat addressed, she finally had a moment to really take a look at Master Pavrimax, using the mirrored perspective from the base of her skull.
The strange Archonwho had inadvertently brought this aboutwas dripping blood from his myriad small cuts, but even so, his focus was moving towards those hed saved.
While she did examine the odd Archon more closely, she walked forward, intending to grab the entirety of the syphons corpse to feed to Kit. These things are rather great Kit-ty food.
She chuckled at her own joke, and Alat groaned.
Her mirrored perspective had a lot to show her as it seemed that Master Pavrimax was an even more interesting character than shed realized.
First of all, he already had a book in hand once again, somehow keeping it clean despite the dust, snow, and blood all around. He kept it out, even as he knelt beside the four whom hed hurt as he pulled them from the syphon.
Cant really fault him for the results. I dont know that I could have moved fast enough to save them, even if I hadsensed them.
-Yeah, a few broken bones are better than death.-
Tala frowned as she considered. Why didnt I sense them?
-Well, you did. At least you heard them, and noticed other indications, but nothing stood out among everything else. We have great senses, but that doesnt mean we automatically, instantly know exactly what were sensing.-
I suppose She turned her attention back to the Archon as she neared the now-empty alleyway.
Master Pavrimax was of average height and very slender. As a Mage, he was obviously not fat, but his frame was barely in the healthy range on the other extreme.
He didnt look stick-like, instead showing some muscle, but he wasnt bulky by any stretch of the imagination.
Tala had caught a light brown, almost caramel color to his eyes, and his wavy, dark brown hair indicated that his inscriber used Mistress Hollys needles.
She hadnt noted it in the moment, but when she looked back on the short fight, his mace had looked almost like it was carved of emerald.
-Doesnt look quite right for that.-
The mace now hung at his belt when it hadnt been visible before the engagement.
-Its wise of him to keep his weapon ready for further issues, though they are unlikely because, well, this is Bandfast.-
True enough.
Tala took Kit off of her belt and dropped the pouch on the ground just beside the edge of the building. Eat up, buddy.
The pouch opened, the yawning blackness expanding under the building, somehow altering dimensionality to get fully under the parts that it maneuvered around.
There were no visible teeth, though Tala felt like they wouldnt have been out of place.
Instead, there was simply a blackness that led Tala to believe that it was an opening into somewhere deep within Kit, under the ground, in the bedrock of the sanctum.
All the better to digest you with, my dear.
-Thats pretty dark, Tala.-
Exactly, I cant see anything in there.
-You know what I mean.-
When Kit had opened under around a quarter of the dead beast, it started to collapse into the hole, dragging the rest inside.
Kit contracted around the rest of the remains as they slithered down in, leaving the pouch sitting at her feet once more, in front of an empty alley.
It was closed and utterly still, magically speaking. All that was going on within was in the separate dimensional space.
Tala looked closer at the alley, shaking her head. I forget that the syphons can manipulate dimensionality, too. It seemed much bigger than that alley would have allowed.
-Yeah, it seems like it expanded the space to make a shop facade fit in more naturally.-
Good job, Kit. She picked up the pouch and hung it from her belt, giving Kit a comforting pat.
Kit did not respond.
Tala was about to turn back around when something odd happened. The perspective she had watching Master Pavrimax almost seemed to hitch, or at least thats how it seemed.
One moment, the Archon was kneeling beside those he was helping, alone as he worked, and the next moment, a black cat was sitting in his shadow, licking its paw and staring straight at her bloodstar with too-intelligent, caramel-colored eyes.
Tala spun, locking her own eyes on the cat.
It had a heavy aura, which was obviously connected with Master Pavrimaxs.
The little beasts magic had deep connections to shadow and dimensionality, making its appearance make a lot of sense.
Does it live in his shadow?
-Could be. It seems to be an actual familiar. Is that right? Those are at least a bit rare. I dont know that weve actually come across any, at least not that weve noticed.-
Tala walked over, and Master Pavrimax glanced her way. Good, youre done. Do you have any external healing scripts?
I do not, but the city defenders should be here soon.
We are here. A voice came from behind her, along with a Refined aura that gently blanketed the area, seemingly calming the mundanes that had scrambled away.
Thats a use of my aura that Ive never even tried to master.
-Well, to be fair, that aura has defensive, healing, and perceptual magics as fundamental parts of it. Im sure all of those things feel nice when people are exposed to them.-
Tala sighed. Where I have gravity, selfish-healing, and death?
-I wouldnt it put it that way, but you arent wrong.-
Her mirrored perspective had seen the man arrive just as he spoke, indicating that hed been able to perceive the area before he arrived. You know, I bet the citys grid somehow facilitates their movement. Its probably expensive, though, so they dont use it unless required.
-They probably have some sort of tiered system, too. They appeared immediately when the arcane stepped out of Kit, but theyve had slower responses to other threats.-
Yeah, that makes sense. Master Grediv had implied that she should be able to move quickly, once she Refined, and it hadnt sounded like it was tied to a citys grid, but shed have to ask him to learn more. I could ask Mistress Holly, too, but I might just get myself stuck in a wall.
Alat huffed in response to that, not deigning to respond.
Besides the Refined man, there were another half-dozen Archons who were immediately spreading out to the surrounding mundanes, checking for injuries and treating what minor scrapes and sprains there were.
Two went toward the four more damaged rescuees that Master Pavrimax had saved before the syphon collapsed. One of those placed a hand on Master Pavrimaxs shoulder, and the Archons cuts and scrapes closed almost too quickly to watch.
The man who had spoken already glanced toward the alley briefly then focused on Tala. Mistress. I am Gerard. Is there any further threat that you are aware of?
They really are good at keeping these things contained.
-Yeah, as safe as they make the cities, there are still some truly horrifying dangers.-
Isnt that the truth
It was mid-afternoon by the time she got back to Lyns house, which she found blessedly empty.
The short fight had left her with a hunger that food couldnt satisfy, and the time since had just seen that hunger grow, despite the meal with Master Pavrimax.
Shed gone just more than two months since her last real fight, and that had been with the Leshkin as she had rampaged her way through the forest to get home.
-It was actually precisely two months as of yesterday.-
Huh, really? She thought about it and was instantly able to confirm. Thats a long time
-To not have killed anything? I suppose so, for you.-
Tala grimaced. Thats not really a charitable way of wording it. I meant that thats a long time to go without sparring or fighting at all.
-Sure, that too.-
She sighed, pulling out the magic nest in order to occupy her over-hyped mind.
Her body felt like running a thousand miles, but she stretched instead, slowly calming her twitchy muscles.
Soon. Well be able to test ourselves again soon.
She was exceptionally glad that no one was around, because she was having much more difficulty than usual with the magic nest.
Rane would be absolutely destroying me right now, if he was here
Shed been getting better and better with the magic nest as well, unraveling it nearly half-way with a fair degree of consistency.
At the moment, she kept losing focus around the one quarter mark.
Finally, she growled, put the thing away in Kit.
-We could spar?-
Tala huffed a laugh, but smiled. They had been figment sparring a lot of late, and she quite enjoyed it. Even so, Tala didnt feel up for the mental strain that came afterwards for both herself and Alat. Not right now. Maybe this evening, before we sleep?
-Or when you calm your mind a bit?-
Maybe.
Tala turned her mind entirely to dynamic stretches, moving through increasingly complicated and convoluted motions to expand and strengthen her movements.
Even so, her thoughts were still running rampant despite her best efforts.
While the stretching occupied and calmed her physically, her mind did its part and was still all over the place and in need of extra distraction.
Toward that end, Alat presented Tala with the next book in her queue, and Tala began to read.
In that way, she passed the remainder of the afternoon, until Lyn and Kannis got home from work.
When the two women got home, Tala met them in the entryway. Out! Lets go. Dinners on me.
The two had actually looked a bit bedraggled, but they both perked up at Talas offer. Lyn was the first to respond. Oh? Whats the occasion?
I killed a syphon today, and I need to get out of this house for a bit.
You what?! Lyn immediately looked towards where the massive, powerful syphon had set up shop more than a year ago.
No, not one like that. This was practically a baby, just in the Fused range.
Lyn gave Tala an unamused look.
Right shes Fused.
Kannis cleared her throat. Whats a syphon? I dont think Ive heard of such a creature.
Lyn turned to her mageling with a puzzled frown. Kannis, weve discussed them quite a few times. Tala and I helped deal with one just a few days before you became my mageling.
Huh, I dont remember Her eyes took on a far-off look before she shook her head, seemingly clearing her mind. What were we talking about?
Lyn had frozen in place, eyes widening in horror.
Tala, with her enhanced perception, could see the edges of Kanniss mouth fighting to remain neutral. Shes messing with Lyn?
Lyn seemed to notice something, because her eyes suddenly narrowed. Youre trying to rust my metal, arent you. It wasnt a question. Is that how you want to treat your master after the day weve had?
Kannis broke out in a grin. Oh, but your face!
She laughed, and Tala felt herself smile along.
You were like: Oh, no! One of them is right here, keeping her from remembering.
That is not what I was thinking. Lyn frowned. I was wondering if you were hit in the head somehow, and I didnt notice.
Kannis huffed a laugh. Sure you were.
Tala cleared her throat. So dinner?
The two women turned towards her, wry smiles growing on both of their faces.
Lyn shook her head. Yes. There certainly isnt anything worth pursuing here.
Kannis turned on one foot and strode back out through the front door. To expensive food! Mistress Talas treat.
Lyn froze for just an instant before grinning broadly and following her mageling. To the best restaurant in the city!
Tala blinked a few times, fully processing what they were saying. She frowned, following them as quickly as she could while closing and locking the door. Hey, now! To reasonably priced food in large quantities.
Lyn glanced back. We can vote on where we go?
Kannis grinned happily. Id agree to that.
Tala shook her head. If I pay, I pick.
Lyn laughed. Fine, fine. Lets get some food.
Chapter 300: Expensive FoodTalas magesight confirmed that, while power was still flowing from the body of the syphon, it was dead.The threat addressed, she finally had a moment to really take a look at Master Pavrimax, using the mirrored perspective from the base of her skull.The strange Archonwho had inadvertently brought this aboutwas dripping blood from his myriad small cuts, but even so, his focus was moving towards those hed saved.While she did examine the odd Archon more closely, she walked forward, intending to grab the entirety of the syphons corpse to feed to Kit. These things are rather great Kit-ty food.She chuckled at her own joke, and Alat groaned.Her mirrored perspective had a lot to show her as it seemed that Master Pavrimax was an even more interesting character than shed realized.First of all, he already had a book in hand once again, somehow keeping it clean despite the dust, snow, and blood all around. He kept it out, even as he knelt beside the four whom hed hurt as he pulled them from the syphon.Cant really fault him for the results. I dont know that I could have moved fast enough to save them, even if I hadsensed them.-Yeah, a few broken bones are better than death.-Tala frowned as she considered. Why didnt I sense them?-Well, you did. At least you heard them, and noticed other indications, but nothing stood out among everything else. We have great senses, but that doesnt mean we automatically, instantly know exactly what were sensing.-I suppose She turned her attention back to the Archon as she neared the now-empty alleyway.Master Pavrimax was of average height and very slender. As a Mage, he was obviously not fat, but his frame was barely in the healthy range on the other extreme.He didnt look stick-like, instead showing some muscle, but he wasnt bulky by any stretch of the imagination.Tala had caught a light brown, almost caramel color to his eyes, and his wavy, dark brown hair indicated that his inscriber used Mistress Hollys needles.She hadnt noted it in the moment, but when she looked back on the short fight, his mace had looked almost like it was carved of emerald.-Doesnt look quite right for that.-The mace now hung at his belt when it hadnt been visible before the engagement.-Its wise of him to keep his weapon ready for further issues, though they are unlikely because, well, this is Bandfast.-True enough.Tala took Kit off of her belt and dropped the pouch on the ground just beside the edge of the building. Eat up, buddy.The pouch opened, the yawning blackness expanding under the building, somehow altering dimensionality to get fully under the parts that it maneuvered around.There were no visible teeth, though Tala felt like they wouldnt have been out of place.Instead, there was simply a blackness that led Tala to believe that it was an opening into somewhere deep within Kit, under the ground, in the bedrock of the sanctum.All the better to digest you with, my dear.-Thats pretty dark, Tala.-Exactly, I cant see anything in there.-You know what I mean.-When Kit had opened under around a quarter of the dead beast, it started to collapse into the hole, dragging the rest inside.Kit contracted around the rest of the remains as they slithered down in, leaving the pouch sitting at her feet once more, in front of an empty alley.It was closed and utterly still, magically speaking. All that was going on within was in the separate dimensional space.Tala looked closer at the alley, shaking her head. I forget that the syphons can manipulate dimensionality, too. It seemed much bigger than that alley would have allowed.-Yeah, it seems like it expanded the space to make a shop facade fit in more naturally.-Good job, Kit. She picked up the pouch and hung it from her belt, giving Kit a comforting pat.Kit did not respond.Tala was about to turn back around when something odd happened. The perspective she had watching Master Pavrimax almost seemed to hitch, or at least thats how it seemed.One moment, the Archon was kneeling beside those he was helping, alone as he worked, and the next moment, a black cat was sitting in his shadow, licking its paw and staring straight at her bloodstar with too-intelligent, caramel-colored eyes.Tala spun, locking her own eyes on the cat.It had a heavy aura, which was obviously connected with Master Pavrimaxs.The little beasts magic had deep connections to shadow and dimensionality, making its appearance make a lot of sense.Does it live in his shadow?-Could be. It seems to be an actual familiar. Is that right? Those are at least a bit rare. I dont know that weve actually come across any, at least not that weve noticed.-Tala walked over, and Master Pavrimax glanced her way. Good, youre done. Do you have any external healing scripts?I do not, but the city defenders should be here soon.We are here. A voice came from behind her, along with a Refined aura that gently blanketed the area, seemingly calming the mundanes that had scrambled away.Thats a use of my aura that Ive never even tried to master.-Well, to be fair, that aura has defensive, healing, and perceptual magics as fundamental parts of it. Im sure all of those things feel nice when people are exposed to them.-Tala sighed. Where I have gravity, selfish-healing, and death?-I wouldnt it put it that way, but you arent wrong.-Her mirrored perspective had seen the man arrive just as he spoke, indicating that hed been able to perceive the area before he arrived. You know, I bet the citys grid somehow facilitates their movement. Its probably expensive, though, so they dont use it unless required.-They probably have some sort of tiered system, too. They appeared immediately when the arcane stepped out of Kit, but theyve had slower responses to other threats.-Yeah, that makes sense. Master Grediv had implied that she should be able to move quickly, once she Refined, and it hadnt sounded like it was tied to a citys grid, but shed have to ask him to learn more. I could ask Mistress Holly, too, but I might just get myself stuck in a wall.Alat huffed in response to that, not deigning to respond.Besides the Refined man, there were another half-dozen Archons who were immediately spreading out to the surrounding mundanes, checking for injuries and treating what minor scrapes and sprains there were.Two went toward the four more damaged rescuees that Master Pavrimax had saved before the syphon collapsed. One of those placed a hand on Master Pavrimaxs shoulder, and the Archons cuts and scrapes closed almost too quickly to watch.The man who had spoken already glanced toward the alley briefly then focused on Tala. Mistress. I am Gerard. Is there any further threat that you are aware of?They really are good at keeping these things contained.-Yeah, as safe as they make the cities, there are still some truly horrifying dangers.-Isnt that the truthIt was mid-afternoon by the time she got back to Lyns house, which she found blessedly empty.The short fight had left her with a hunger that food couldnt satisfy, and the time since had just seen that hunger grow, despite the meal with Master Pavrimax.Shed gone just more than two months since her last real fight, and that had been with the Leshkin as she had rampaged her way through the forest to get home.-It was actually precisely two months as of yesterday.-Huh, really? She thought about it and was instantly able to confirm. Thats a long time-To not have killed anything? I suppose so, for you.-Tala grimaced. Thats not really a charitable way of wording it. I meant that thats a long time to go without sparring or fighting at all.-Sure, that too.-She sighed, pulling out the magic nest in order to occupy her over-hyped mind.Her body felt like running a thousand miles, but she stretched instead, slowly calming her twitchy muscles.Soon. Well be able to test ourselves again soon.She was exceptionally glad that no one was around, because she was having much more difficulty than usual with the magic nest.Rane would be absolutely destroying me right now, if he was hereShed been getting better and better with the magic nest as well, unraveling it nearly half-way with a fair degree of consistency.At the moment, she kept losing focus around the one quarter mark.Finally, she growled, put the thing away in Kit.-We could spar?-Tala huffed a laugh, but smiled. They had been figment sparring a lot of late, and she quite enjoyed it. Even so, Tala didnt feel up for the mental strain that came afterwards for both herself and Alat. Not right now. Maybe this evening, before we sleep?-Or when you calm your mind a bit?-Maybe.Tala turned her mind entirely to dynamic stretches, moving through increasingly complicated and convoluted motions to expand and strengthen her movements.Even so, her thoughts were still running rampant despite her best efforts.While the stretching occupied and calmed her physically, her mind did its part and was still all over the place and in need of extra distraction.Toward that end, Alat presented Tala with the next book in her queue, and Tala began to read.In that way, she passed the remainder of the afternoon, until Lyn and Kannis got home from work.When the two women got home, Tala met them in the entryway. Out! Lets go. Dinners on me.The two had actually looked a bit bedraggled, but they both perked up at Talas offer. Lyn was the first to respond. Oh? Whats the occasion?I killed a syphon today, and I need to get out of this house for a bit.You what?! Lyn immediately looked towards where the massive, powerful syphon had set up shop more than a year ago.No, not one like that. This was practically a baby, just in the Fused range.Lyn gave Tala an unamused look.Right shes Fused.Kannis cleared her throat. Whats a syphon? I dont think Ive heard of such a creature.Lyn turned to her mageling with a puzzled frown. Kannis, weve discussed them quite a few times. Tala and I helped deal with one just a few days before you became my mageling.Huh, I dont remember Her eyes took on a far-off look before she shook her head, seemingly clearing her mind. What were we talking about?Lyn had frozen in place, eyes widening in horror.Tala, with her enhanced perception, could see the edges of Kanniss mouth fighting to remain neutral. Shes messing with Lyn?Lyn seemed to notice something, because her eyes suddenly narrowed. Youre trying to rust my metal, arent you. It wasnt a question. Is that how you want to treat your master after the day weve had?Kannis broke out in a grin. Oh, but your face!She laughed, and Tala felt herself smile along.You were like: Oh, no! One of them is right here, keeping her from remembering.That is not what I was thinking. Lyn frowned. I was wondering if you were hit in the head somehow, and I didnt notice.Kannis huffed a laugh. Sure you were.Tala cleared her throat. So dinner?The two women turned towards her, wry smiles growing on both of their faces.Lyn shook her head. Yes. There certainly isnt anything worth pursuing here.Kannis turned on one foot and strode back out through the front door. To expensive food! Mistress Talas treat.Lyn froze for just an instant before grinning broadly and following her mageling. To the best restaurant in the city!Tala blinked a few times, fully processing what they were saying. She frowned, following them as quickly as she could while closing and locking the door. Hey, now! To reasonably priced food in large quantities.Lyn glanced back. We can vote on where we go?Kannis grinned happily. Id agree to that.Tala shook her head. If I pay, I pick.Lyn laughed. Fine, fine. Lets get some food.
