Millennial Mage

Tala came to an awkward stop as every eye in the room turned on her, Mistress Holly’s question still echoing around them, “Well, rust my biscuits, child. What have you done to yourself this time?”

Tala cleared her throat and gave a self-conscious smile. “Well, I suppose that’s what we’re all here to discuss?”

That seemed to break the odd state of the room. Side conversations picked back up, clearly pushing towards quick conclusions now that Tala was here.

Mistress Holly took the return of side-conversations as a cue to come over to Tala. She stopped just out of arm’s reach. “Mistress Tala.” She spoke incredibly softly, as was required for even a small amount of privacy in a room with such occupants. “You are dangerously broken.”

Tala nodded, deflating a little bit. “I need to Refine as soon as possible, yeah.”

“We will have to update your scripts and let them settle into a final configuration, but we’ll get that done after this is over.” The inscriptionist gestured to everything around them. “I am very curious about what you sent me, but that can wait until you are stabilized, I think.”

Tala felt herself smiling. That was incredibly kind of her.

-…yeah. Suspiciously so.-

Mistress Holly smiled. “After all, I have so many theories riding on your progress. I can’t have you dying on me, now.”

Tala huffed a laugh. There it is.

Oddly, Mistress Holly’s antics felt more relieving and caring than it would have had the woman actually expressed care and concern. “Thank you, Mistress Holly. I appreciate your expertise.”

The woman smiled in return. “Of course, dear. Now, get some food. It’s going to be a long day.”

The various plates in hands made it obvious that the food was open, Mistress Holly’s prodding was all that she needed to make a move, and no one stopped Tala from going and getting an overlarge helping.

Lyn and Rane stuck close to her as Mistress Ingrit seemed to be arranging last minute details.

After a quick glance in their direction, the Archivist had two chairs moved next to what was presumably Tala’s seat to one side of the front of the room.

A quick five minutes later, during which Tala stuffed a good third of the offered food into Kit—she was trying to be restrained—it was time to begin.

Tala, Lyn, and Rane were motioned to the three chairs in front and off to one side, while Mistress Ingrit took center stage.

Mistress Odera had gone to sit with Mistress Aproa.

Ahh, that’s why her granddaughter is here. That makes sense.

Master Cazor and Mistress Jean were sitting with a small group who all had a similar look and feel to them.

Mage Hunters? Well, that makes sense, too. Either I’m on humanity’s side, and I have a lot of great info for these people, or I’m not, and Mage Hunters are the perfect ones to try and stop me.

-With our current state, a dedicated mageling could do the job.-

That’s hardly fair. We could kill a few hundred magelings without much trouble.

-Yes, you are definitely ‘for humanity.’ Jumping straight to killing magelings on a whim.-

Hey, now. That wasn’t fair. You set me up.

Mistress Ingrit’s voice resonated through the room, stilling the lingering whispers and drawing all attention to her, “Thank you all for coming on such short notice. There are many layers to what will be discussed here today, and we will only be going through a broad overview. The information has been ordered and organized so that those with the lowest information clearance can be present at the beginning, and then leave when what they can know has been explored. Very few of you will be here at the end of the day.”

The stunningly beautiful woman looked around with utter conviction.

“No one will contest me when I say it is time to depart.”

There was a murmur of assent through the room.

“Now, it is required that a short evaluation be completed upon a Mage’s return after a long absence. Master Grediv determined it wasn’t necessary, but unfortunately, this is not his city, and so procedure will be followed.”

Mistress Ingrit wrinkled her nose slightly at her own words before continuing.

“My understanding is that there is a mageling present who has a new methodology to test?”

Master Grediv stood in obvious protest. “Really? Mistress Jenna. This is hardly the time.”

Mistress Jenna sighed. “The petition to try the methodology on the next returning Mage was submitted and granted three years ago, Master Grediv. It would take more time to alter procedure than to simply go through it.”

The Paragon groused, but finally nodded, coming to stand beside Tala. “Then, I will stand beside her for the process.”

It was an obvious gesture of support for Tala, and she appreciated it.

A grey-haired man stood up from beside the Mage Hunters. “Oh, Master Grediv, there is no danger. It is purely a mundane test.”

Wait… They said mageling. Is that a mageling?

-‘He,’ Tala. Is ‘he’ a mageling? Treating people like objects isn’t the best start.-

Are you really lecturing me on grammar right now?

Alat did not respond.

The older man made his way forward and bowed to Tala. “Greetings, Mistress Tala. I am mageling Archie.” He hummed happily. “To put your mind at ease, I am a mageling by choice, yes I am. I enjoy researching the mundane aspects of life more than I like magic.” He shrugged. “But this isn’t about me.”

Tala waved, feeling awkward. “Good to meet you, mageling Archie.”

The older man straightened, and his countenance changed on the instant from one of an affable, if absentminded, researcher, to a questioner who Tala would have expected to see in a play about hardened criminals. “Now, answer truthfully. Have you had any urge to harm or kill your fellow man?”

Tala felt herself hitch. “What?”

“Have you had any urge to harm or kill your fellow man?”

“Umm… not without cause?”

The man nodded sagely, stroking his beard. With a quick motion, he pulled out a card with a splash of yellow paint on it. “What color is this card?”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. What color is this card?”

“It’s a white card. The paint on the card is yellow… Are we going to do shapes next?”

“I’ll be asking the questions here, young lady.” His tone was even more stern than before.

Tala felt like someone was playing a joke on her. “What would this even tell you? Are enemies of mankind blind to color?”

The man ignored her, pulling out a completely green card, “And this one?”

Tala growled and glanced toward Master Grediv, who was standing with arms crossed, tapping his foot. She pointed to his way. “Same as his aura.”

That seemed to give the mageling pause, and he smiled sheepishly. “My apologies, I’m just trying to follow the process.” He pulled out a third card, this one with a triangle on it.

Before he could ask his question, Tala shook her head. “This is a test of my patience for the imbecilic, isn’t it.” It was not a question.

Mageling Archie hesitated and deflated. “This part of the process was supposed to be used as a diagnostic tool on Mages, to determine their level of cognition before the next sets.”

Master Grediv cleared his throat. “Mistress Jenna. I think that mageling Archie’s methods might be better tested in a less… crucial case?”

The Reforged didn’t look very pleased. Clearly, she hadn’t known the exact content of this new, experimental process. “I’m inclined to agree.”

She looked seemingly at the empty air to one side of the room, then nodded. “My husband has authorized a change in procedure. Mageling Archie, you will be granted the next three lower priority returnees to test your theories on.”

Did she just reach out to him via the Archive?

-Or…- Tala used her mirrored perspective, through her one bloodstar near the base of her skull, to examine the part of the room that Mistress Jenna had been looking at.

Yeah, I can’t see anything, but if someone a few steps above me were there and hiding, I’d likely never see him.

The mageling opened his mouth to protest Mistress Jenna’s dismissal, then seemed to think better of it. Instead, he bowed. “My apologies. My intention when I applied for the dispensation was for a less… important test subject.”

Mistress Jenna waved that away. “Understandable. You may go.”

He hesitated, glancing around, but then nodded and departed.

What an odd fellow.

-I suppose all types exist.-

So it seems.

Mistress Ingrit clapped her hands. “Now, if that is settled?”

Mistress Jenna sighed. “I’m afraid not. I will do a standard scan. Will you permit me?” The last was directed at Tala.

“Of course.” Tala stood, just hoping to make it easier even though that was likely not necessary.

Master Grediv didn’t move, making his position clear. This was a waste of time.

Tala saw power wash over her originating from Mistress Jenna. The Reforged frowned. “Child, are you wearing iron?”

Mature. But Tala didn’t correct the woman out loud. Instead, she shook her head. “Not wearing it.”

“Not even your iron paint?” That caused a ripple of murmurs through those listening.

“No, Mistress, but I am filled with it.” If the iron-paint comment had gotten murmurs, this answer received shocked silence.

“Do you prefer I go through it, or…?”

Tala shook her head again. “Do you need to scan all of me? Or just parts?”

“All would be preferred.”

Mistress Ingrit hadn’t seen the end result with the dasgannach situation. Could there be people who shouldn’t know? “Mistress Ingrit… Dasgannach?”

The Archivist’s eyes flicked over those in the room. “They aren’t a widely known creature, but they aren’t hidden.”

Tala nodded, relaxing. Alright.

With an effort of will, she took all of her extra iron, all that would not normally be found within a human body, and moved it down and out her right foot, creating a blob that was near at hand.

Mutters rolled through the room, and Master Cazor stood, seemingly without realizing what he was doing, eyes widening in obvious shock.

Mistress Jenna gave the iron blob a curious glance but didn’t comment.

Power washed through Tala from the Reforged, and the woman grunted. “You’re human and as you appear. The only power active within your mind is your own. I deem you fit for these proceedings.”

Master Grediv nodded once and then returned to his seat, carefully stepping over the blob of iron.

Mine. The iron blipped across the ground and back into Tala, rolling through her and back into its previous locations and distributions.

Mistress Ingrit cleared her throat. “Now, with that dealt with. I am Mistress Ingrit, of the Archivists. Mistress Tala has entrusted me with a complete, perfect memory of her time away.”

That got a loud chorus of whispers in response, though no one addressed the speaker directly.

“As such, I will be directing this briefing, for that is what this is. The information that our young Mistress Tala has brought back with her is tremendous. While little is wholly new, little was also known to the extent that she has provided. It will be clear very quickly what I mean. Are we ready?”

The susurrations slowly died away and complete focus returned.

“Good. Let us begin.”

There was a moment of pregnant silence before the Archivist continued.

“Mistress Tala has just returned, after spending roughly nine months in the arcane city of Platoiri.”

The stunned silence that followed was somehow louder than the explosive clamor of overlapping questions that followed closely afterwards.

Mistress Ingrit held up her hand and silence fell almost immediately. “Moreover, Mistress Tala spent the majority of that time working up to, earning, and filling a position of no little power within a major House.”

The Mage Hunter with the strongest aura stood up. Sparks of green-tinged power were obvious indications of his unsettled emotional state, but he was keeping himself well enough under control physically. “May we know which House?”

Mistress Ingrit glanced towards Tala, who shrugged. I’ve no idea what she wants.

The Archivist waited another long moment.

-You only authorized her to share this much without permission.-

Oh! Grant her authority to share whatever she feels is appropriate, while I’m nearby and conscious of the sharing. That should be a reasonable restriction.

Things would have gotten really awkward, really fast if Tala had refused to give that permission, now that she thought about it.

Mistress Ingrit nodded once. “Yes, I can share that. The House of Blood.”

Only a few Mage Hunters nodded at the name, and the man seemed to decide to test his luck by asking one more question. “What rank did she reach? Master Servant of a small division? Foreman in one of their operations?”

The Archivist was fighting a smile as she shook her head. “Eskau.”

The Paragon looked like he’d been struck, and indeed, he fell back into his seat, eyes looking dazed as he frowned in obvious confusion.

Most in the room clearly had no idea what that meant, but one other stood from the back of the room. “That is preposterous! No human would be allowed such a position, and if it were somehow true, they would never have let her leave.”

Tala was somewhat confused as the woman speaking was only Fused, but Mistress Ingrit’s response clarified some things, “Archiveling, please remember your role and that you are here to learn. Would I have spoken it as fact, were I unsure?”

The Archon colored bright red and dropped back into her seat, muttering what seemed to be an apology so quietly that even Tala couldn’t hear it fully.

“Now,”—Mistress Ingrit didn’t look ruffled in the least—“we have much to cover, and we’re not even through the introduction. I would appreciate it if questions would be held at least until each wave of you is to be dismissed?”

There were mutterings of agreement, and the woman nodded in satisfaction.

“First, we are going to hit the highlights, and you may all submit requests for further information, if what you are given, here, is insufficient.”

There were some grumblings, but they’d bought in by that point, so no one interrupted.

“Arcane cities.”

She paused for the ripple of noise.

“That’s going to get old. Stay silent or depart.”

Silence.

“Good. Now, the basic ruling structure of the arcane cities on this continent is as follows. A City Lord rules over the city. Within the city are major Houses, which contribute to its day to day operation, as well as defense. Major Houses are structured in sorts of oligarchies. These oligarchies are made up of pairs: the Pillars, who are more administrative though not weak, and the Eskau, who function as the sword or right hand of their Pillar. Each House handles their exact form of self-governance, but it is generally the Pillars who make the decisions and the Eskau who enforce them.”

There were some nods from those who already knew some of this. Others seemed to be taking notes.

“We must now discuss different forms of advancement, broadly speaking. Humans. You all should know as much as you are allowed on the subject, but to summarize, humans advance through the harmonizing and perfecting of their body and soul. Arcanes advance mainly through the increasing of power-density and the perfecting of their use of that power. One of the key differences between our magics is that arcanes focus on precision and efficiency where humans focus on power and scope. We are our own power sources, so efficiency means less to us.”

There were more nods around the room.

“Briefly, arcanous creatures are mundane creatures that have acquired power via some means, from an external source, and are at least somewhat independent of any source of power after the magic is acquired. Magical creatures, in contrast, are bound to a source of some type. Yes, this is why familiars, even if they are arcanous in origin, are considered magical creatures, because they are bound to a source, mainly their Mage.”

This wasn’t that new or revolutionary. Still, many people were taking notes. Tala was simply eating the food that she’d taken earlier. This is so much better than me having to try to convey this…

-Unquestionably.-

“This brings us to differentiation among arcanes. Arcanes divide themselves based on how easily they can maintain their power density in a weaker environment. They designate races as low, mid, and high races based on this one trait. Not every mid-race person will have more power density than every low, and same for high and mid, but it is generally easier for the more advantaged races to advance, and it is unquestionably easier for them to maintain that advancement.”

Mistress Ingrit wrinkled her nose slightly.

“Humans are worse at this than even the least gifted low-race. We are terrible at holding onto magic that is not inherently our own. This is why, without gates, we are nothing but chaff to them.”

That got grumbles of discontent in response, but still, no one truly interrupted.

“Now, there are gated humans in the arcane cites, but not many. Additionally, any human who is allowed to advance beyond Mage into the Archon ranks is required to wear a saorsa-collar, which is customized to each wearer.”

She then pointed to three individuals in sequence.

“To pre-empt your most likely questions: Yes, there are humans in the Archon range in the arcane cities, but they are few and far between. No, we don’t have many details on exactly how the collars are constructed, but we have some. Yes, I am going to tell you more about them.”

The three people who had opened their mouths each sat back, nearly identical looks of stunned acceptance painting their features as their mouths closed.

“The collars contain multiple dasgannach that were altered to make them more of a scourge than the normal specimens. Information on them is not restricted, look them up on your own time.” Mistress Ingrit then glanced towards Tala. “I’ve already gotten a dozen inquires on the dasgannach related information you have. Particularly, Master Jevin and Mistress Noelle said that you sent them a bit of information?”

Tala nodded. “I did. I’m happy to correspond with them.”

“Very well. Moving on. These soarsa-collars are created and controlled by the City Lord of the given city. If Mistress Tala had left the city without permission, the collar would have injected the dasgannach directly into her, with lethal consequences.”

Several people took bites of food, seemingly to keep themselves from commenting.

Master Cazor was regarding Tala critically.

“Back to the arcane hierarchy of power retention. Because of this hierarchy of power, and the fact that most don’t have access to personal power, Houses, both major and minor, pay their followers with power-density. Meaning, the very ability to live in a higher density environment is a large portion of the payment used to secure loyalty among the largest political powers in arcane cities.”

That got some appreciative and comprehending rumbles from the Mage Hunters in the audience.

“The way that they manage these places of higher concentration is via massive dimensional storage facilities, which they have expanded and outfitted for habitation. They call them ‘holds,’ generally, or ‘sanctums’ when they are primarily for a single individual. Because of this, most factions of any power have a hold, and those holds are accessed via a single point of entry. This results, at least in Platoiri, in their ‘District of Doors,’ a place where hundreds, if not thousands, of holds are all set up near one another, effectively compressing a truly massive amount of space into a very accessible arrangement.”

Mistress Ingrit raised her hand, to keep the quiet.

“We are almost to the question-asking portion of this level of information.” She gave a single nod before continuing, “As you can imagine, having all these powerful, jockeying factions with holds close together means that the holds are points of conflict. This is why most holds have extremely powerful and effective defenses. The strongest of which even Paragons would struggle to breach in any meaningful timeframe.”

Master Grediv shifted in his seat, leaning forward.

Tala thought she saw a small smile on his lips, though whether it was at a possible challenge, or some privately held knowledge, she didn’t know.

“These defenses aren’t the only result of the factional conflicts. The most common way to build up power is to raid other factions for magical weapons or even to claim entire holds. From what Mistress Tala witnessed, these raids do result in death, but not nearly as much as we would expect. It is most common to have prisoners taken and to ransom them back to their faction. Additionally, there are rather strict dictates about fighting those weaker than yourself, unprovoked. That keeps the upper echelon from simply wiping out entire opposing groups. Though, there do seem to be some exceptions to the rule.

“These conflicts have also driven innovation. There are several artifact schema that show great promise, including those of far-seeing, and the Constructionists will be allowed to ask after those, later. Their warriors, specifically their Eskau, seem to have developed highly specialized fighting styles centered around morphic weapons, that is weapons that can change shape nearly instantly.”

That got a lot of attention, with many people seemingly jotting down reminders to request more information.

“Finally, it seems that even the upper echelons of arcanes do not have a good understanding of human inscriptions. While they seem to use inscriptions themselves, if less frequently than we do, they do not have records or methods of easily determining what our magics do.”

The Arcane Hunters grinned broadly at that, as each and every one of them seemed overjoyed at the news.

“Specifically, Mistress Tala’s scripts were never fully understood by those she interacted with, no matter what resources they had to bring to bear on that issue.”

Mistress Holly snorted. “That tells us less than you imply. My script designs for Mistress Tala are leagues more advanced than most.”

Mistress Ingrit frowned at the interruption but nodded. “While that may be true, they were not even able to extrapolate past the most basic of guesses. They might be able to understand something as old and little altered as a keystone, but little else.” The Archivist nodded to herself. “I think that is a good overview of the most basic information. We will now allow questions.”

Nearly the whole room stood in a rush, each hoping to ask their question first.

This is going to be a long day…