Master Of None

The room was full of crackling conversation and clearly had a greater fire mana and heat than it did before. It seemed that all the emotions through their deliberations had brought out a lot more of the fire mana than would normally be present.

There were also many more attendants bringing items in and out of the hall. Potentially items that could be traded or items that helped them all focus on what they were talking about. It could also be seen that some of these items were pieces of stored flame crawling coal. They were being handed to the coal people in the best clothing who would consume them before more embers appeared on their bodies.

The process was interesting because Walker would sense the life mana and fire mana reacting together to become more vibrant. For the coal people, fire was life and the flame crawling coal which was a unique material made from even more unique fire mana condensed and purified over time by natural forces, it was the core of their development.

”You have returned.” The comment silenced the entire room. When the unmoving ember spoke, they all understood that there would be a greater importance.

”We have. I believe you may have more questions?” Walker spoke first and many of the attendants focused on him.

”Your world has been told to us to be a place where many weaker races can survive without the pressure of the purest manas. Why is this?” It would be hard to understand a place made of all manas and not just a singular elemental plane.

The coal people had grown here and were one with the fire elemental plane so to speak.

Being able to leave that place for an entire world, to them another plane, was something unfathomable. Even the fact that they might be able to venture in to other elemental planes was hard. The merchant caravans that traveled in to the earth elemental plane were only there for a short while. Nearly enough to say they were there but more often than not they were at the boundary of the two elemental planes.

They were a worry that Walker Had for a moment. Yet, when he realized that they were merchants, he understood that at the core of who they were, they would never settle down. Traveling merchants were a people of their own right. They traveled because they needed to at the core of who they were. So even if their race left their home land, they would still choose to travel and trade.

”The world is a place that developed with all manas at the center. As the world moves so do the elemental planes. The movements are not as dramatic as yours spatially but the manas balance there.”

”Because of a long history of broken bridges and lesser purity? The world stagnated for a moment before it reconnected and is now growing closer with every single elemental plane. I have felt these bonds and understood them to a small degree.”

”This means that even the opposing water mana exists in calm balance with the fire mana you know so well. And we have made places in our territory of elemental purity so those who cannot freely move or have not adapted can survive.”

”There is a lot more we can explain but worries you the most?”

As much as Walker and the others understood that there was a ton of what they could say, they couldn’t. Simply because they were all stuck on how to explain things more in depth that would not make a single lick of sense to them.

”If we were to leave and the guardian agrees… can we even survive?” That was the weight and it had somewhat been answered. However, the way that the unmoving ember spoke, it was clear that he was willing to lose all he had for his people to survive beyond any doubt.

”I believe you can survive. We have spoken about the potential of crafting flame crawling coal. We can create mana gems from fire mana crystals. They can store fire mana. We can condense and purify fire mana. So why can we not do what the origin of flame crawling coal did naturally?”

This brought some confusion to their faces. They did not understand the depth that Walker’s all around appraisal told him of the how and why flame crawling coal was formed.

”The flame crawling coal was once earth mana material. That earth mana was burned away by the fire mana here over a long time. That’s why fire mana crystals can form within and why some monsters eat it or burrow within. So if we can mimic that using powerful magic, we can make flame crawling coal for all of your people which should allow you to live up to the potential that has stagnated over time.”

Collective gasps and inner struggles seemed to reverberate through the rooms. The unmoving ember flared with bright flames soon after.

”If this is sworn by you, my people would leave with you even against the wishes of our guardians. My people have spent generations wishing for strength to stand beside the guardians and follow the true will of fire. We have been deaf to the words of those standing so high above us. What can we do to realize this?”

Survival.

This was the reason for being for so many. Even though there was peace here and protection for now, the unmoving ember was the core of all memories and history of the coal people race.

In those memories were the deep emotions that drove them to survive and make their way through the next day. Since he could remember this, he would find any way possible to keep those times for his race to ever return.

”Are you certain this is what you and your people wish? I know many have been isolated for the entire time we have been here. I feel that we are harming them because they are unable to leave their homes right now.” Part of Walker felt there had to be more clarity here.

”They understand the reason. We have seen your desires clearly. We accepted your offerings. We know of the future here and our potential end without chances for recovery right now…”

The pause weighed heavily on everyone. ”They are waiting to hear a solution or any positive news we can give them right now. I will not allow them to hear half truths or partial hope. They will hear the final decision to celebrate or rise against.” This was the voice of a ruler now.

The weight behind each sentence was enough to push Walker’s mind back some. He knew this was the strength the unmoving ember possessed and that was fine. Every ruler had these sorts of abilities and when speaking for their people, let alone race, it meant even more.

”I feel like this has not gone as either of us believed or planned. Instead of trying to understand or figure out where we stand in the many unknowns we have as different races and as leaders of our races or groups, let me say this…”

”We as the representatives and heroes of Genesis offer An alliance and a bond. We offer your race a home as we have done with others. We offer knowledge sharing and education. We offer you friendship and family.”

Su, Onyx, Walker, Gil, Remey, and Midnight all stood together and looked at the entirety of the hall and then to the unmoving ember.

”We, those of embering coal and cracking flame offer to you an alliance. We shall share our generational knowledge. We will offer knowledge of our flames, our birth home, and of anything we find you lack. We wish for survival and ask for more than that. We look for a future we may not even be able to see as we are now, that only our children may grasp.”

Both spoke as if these paths were beyond more than what would be expected yet were exactly what was needed.

The sudden flurry of fire mana around as a larger mass of fire mana took form nearby them was something familiar. Walker understood exactly who it was and didn’t even need to say anything since it appeared everyone here understood the power that this being had.

However, the coal people struggled to remain standing, they couldn’t protect themselves from the potent fire mana because it was more unique and concentrated by composition. In a single wave Walker shared more of the fire resistance buffs which caused them to weaken the unintentional pressure.

”I am glad you understood the desires for guiding you here. This is not a race we wish to be lost due to survival and changes in balance. I have watched and I have heard. You have done well, both of you.”

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Please say no to piracy! Don’t take part in crime! Don’t patronize thieves!

Drop those golden tickets!