Beyond?

by Andur

  But isn't there an extremely smart person nearby? It could be interesting to talk to someone who understands what it is like to be a little smarter than other people. I look at the Great Shaman. “Say, what's your real name by the way? Everyone just calls you the Great Shaman.”

  The room turns silent and some guards look outright shocked. Damn, was my question against the social norm? “Did I say something wrong?”

  The Great Shaman looks confused. “It's not exactly like I don't have a name, but it's a tradition to call the Great Shaman only by his title, regardless of who is serving in the position. I wasn't called by my real name since I took the job. That was twelve years ago, I think.” He scratches his chin with his totem. “But since you aren't part of our community I guess there is no reason for you to use my title all the time. My name is Chuck Turninghill.”

  I smile and clap my hands together. This is going better than expected. “How about meeting up sometime to drink and talk? I am interested in your trick with the beans.”

  Chuck takes his totem between both hands in front of his chest. It almost looks like he is trying to use it as a shield. “I am not sure, I have a tight schedule. Managing a country at war isn't easy.”

  Shrugging my shoulders I continue to press on. “No problem at all. I want to first analyse the helmet anyway. And it's not like I have any problems with travelling, since I've already been here I can teleport whenever it fits you.”

  Chuck's guards gasp and he looks a little worried. “If it's like that then I guess the late evenings on weekends would be fine?”

  I give him a thumbs up. “I'll pay you a visit then.” Yes! One more friend added to the list! I can do it if I put my mind to the task.

  Stella steps in. “Then how about setting up a written agreement between Nict and Dwem? We'll take it back to our country and send an envoy together with the resources.”

  It took us some time to set up the contract, but in the end we got it safely done. Upon Padma's begging I even agreed on taking a look at Saana and Triz, who had their minds meddled with. They were brought back to the throne room and bound to a chair.

  After a seemingly endless time I lift my hands from the gagged Saana and turn to Padma. “The enslavement spell on them is very strong and tricky.”

  Padma's expression turns horrified. “Is there no chance to heal them?”

  I cross my arms in front of my chest and try to think about the possibilities. “The easiest way is to find the amulet which was used as a focus. Then you destroy the amulet, which should release the spell on them. I suggest you guys search the quarters of the southern delegation and their bodies for an amulet with a pentagram on it.” I pause. “The second possibility is that I break the spell with force, which would very likely result in breaking their minds too. The spell is very strong and would force them to fight me to the bitter end. Probably I could preserve their minds or restore them afterwards, but they would surely be changed. I prefer finding the amulet.”

  Chuck looks worried. “Such strong mind magic is troublesome. Can we test our people for foreign influence? Of course we'll take all possible actions to find this amulet. I guess we should check everyone who was outside of Dwem for longer periods of time.”

  It may be possible, but I don't have the right equipment at hand. Back in Nict we have heaps of mind magicians for stuff like this. Here in Dwem they aren't that proficient with mind magic. Unless I modify... well, it's basically a scanner after all. “My mirror could detect a foreign influence. I just have to set it to a general scanning mode. We won't be able to see any memories like that, but it could detect a foreign influence on the brain. The test subject would have to clean him or herself of any mind influencing spells beforehand, since the mirror can't discern between good and bad spells.”

  The Great Shaman nods. “That sounds at least like we could test our most important officials. I'll arrange to get them tested as fast as possible.”

  I turn to the mirror in order to make the necessary changes. “Don't worry, you can have the thing. I'll build myself a new one.” You are joking me right? I can have brain scans of Dwem's leading elite? Keep the damn thing! Mwahaha!

  The mirror might only be able to save memories which are uppermost in the user's mind, but that alone should give me tons of important information. I'll simply have Ivy sort them out.

  After checking the mirror for its functionality by using Saana as a test subject we say our goodbyes to Chuck and Greywinter and return back to Nict. The journey down the tower goes without problems. Adala and her friends accompany us back too, since they left behind their friend Nikita at the healing faculty.

  Helen and Sola were still waiting when we returned. Stella managed to sell her mother the contract as something beneficial to Nict, though Helen was utterly shocked when I returned bathed in blood. Probably I shouldn't have teleported back first.

  That wasn't so smart of me. Imagine you send your family members onto a diplomatic mission to a foreign country and stay behind worrying. Then one of them returns bathed in blood.

  After she calmed down he took us with Sola to a separate room and listened to our story intently, while eyeing the helmet in my hands with a dangerous expression. Halfway through our story she even started gnawing on her nails. I've never seen the leader of a country doing that. When Stella was done with her story Helen instructed us to visit her at her office the next day and ran off. Since there wasn't much more to do Stella and I went home.

  Right now I am sitting in our living room. I already cleaned myself up right after I arrived at home. The helmet is in my hands and I am intensely studying the runes on the inside. They imply that the thing is a very powerful artefact which utilizes mind magic. It also seems to connect the user to some kind of power source. There is a separate set of runes which work as a communication spell and the wings are functioning as antennae. Probably it connects you to a satellite up in the orbit which is responsible for the light attacks. Though I am not sure if it could connect you to something else. I am hesitant to put it on, I don't want myself to end up as a drooling, mind-wiped slave to the Master.

  At least the artefact shows that the previous civilisation of Nict was very proficient in techno magic.

  By utilizing the runes on the inside of the helmet I can surely build something which can connect me safely to that satellite. All I have to do then is hack it. Or I could try to use Ivy as a test subject. Can her mind be influenced my mind magic? I am not really sure if she is using her body's brain at all? Probably it won't work anyway.

  Suddenly the helmet is snatched out of my hands and I find Stella behind me. She is holding the helmet and glaring at me. She is wearing only a bathrobe and is still wet from a shower. “We have to talk about some things!”

  I smile. “Could I have that back? It's dangerous you know? I am not sure if it could fry someone's brain if he puts it on.”

  “I'll crush it if you don't listen seriously!” Her fingers turn into metal claws and she readies herself to crush the helmet.

  A few drops of sweat form on my forehead. What have I done now? I thought our little adventure went really well. She even secured the helmet for me. “I'll listen...”

  Stella's expression is furious. “First, don't pick up food from the ground! We were supposed to be the representatives of our country! Not some peasants! Second, don't feed the very same bar of chocolate to the Great Shaman! I almost died of shame! Third, learn something about their culture before you spark a war between our people! Asking the Great Shaman for his name? Seriously!? We seemed to them like rampaging brutes! And then dirtying him with your bloody hand!” She goes on, but somehow I can't keep my attention on what she is saying.

  She looks so beautiful when she is angry. Her shivering red lips, the heaving chest and those eyes. Are they even glowing a little, is that her inner fire? That makes her look mysterious and the wet hair which is sticking to her collarbones looks erotic! Even her angry expression is kind of sexy if you think about it.
Those half closed eyes... and there are cute wrinkles between her eyebrows. When she is looming over me like that I get a perfect view into her cleavage.

  “Are you listening to me?”

  “No... I mean YES, Stella!” I smile. “Sorry, I tried my best. Chuck even agreed on becoming friends with me. I can visit him on weekends.”

  “Urgh... friends... tomorrow we'll start working on your behavioural disorders! But first I'll rest.” She drops the helmet into my lap and walks away, angrily swinging her tail. “I can't believe that they let us live. He is even calling him Chuck now...”

  The movements of her butt signal me that she is very angry. Looks like I really made a few social mistakes during our mission, I did my best though.

  Is it a problem that I got a little aroused by her rant? No, it's perfectly fine to get an erection from seeing your girl running around half naked and wet... that came across the wrong way. I place the helmet on the table and pat it softly. “Sorry, you have to wait until tomorrow. Tonight there is someone who needs my full attention.”

  I leave the helmet behind and follow Stella.

  60. ~History.~

  “Nothing I do can redeem my past and many more will perish for my cause, but maybe I can at least offer those who come after me a better life.”

  -The Saviour.

  Free City States of Nict, Capital

  Azir

  I stir slowly in my bed and reach for the good morning treat at my side, but there is only empty space next to me. My eyes snap open and I look for Stella. Normally I am the one who wakes up earlier! Then I can enjoy the privilege of being able to gently wake her up, but there is nobody at my side this morning. What a let down!

  Is there something important today? Oh, that's right, Helen ordered us to her office first thing in the morning. Probably Stella woke up earlier because Helen sounded like there was something really important to discuss.

  After getting dressed I walk to the kitchen and find Stella there, making fried eggs. She is already dressed in a blue robe and humming a happy song. Isn't my species a little strange for eating eggs, even if they are from animals? Shouldn't such an action create a moral reaction? I try to forget this train of thought and take my place at the table.

  Stella shares the food with me and while we eat breakfast she starts asking me weird questions. Like explaining different social situations to me, then I have to explain how I would react if I were in the same situation. It's really weird, but then I remember that she threatened me yesterday to train my social skills.

  “So what would you do if one of your students has problems with answering a certain question? You already explained the subject several times to her, but she still doesn't get it.” Stella looks at me questioningly.

  I purse my lips and try to remember what I did when something like this happened. Surely there was a similar case during tutoring lessons. “I take a stick and beat her every time she makes a mistake. Some people have problems with remembering stuff on their own. If they have a negative experience upon taking a certain action, they'll try to avoid another negative experience in the future. At some point even the dumbest animal learns to avoid its mistakes, even if it doesn't understand why it uses a certain formula in a given situation.”

  Stella's eyes widen. “Whom have you beaten with a stick?”

  Halting in devouring a piece of fried egg, I think over Stella's reaction. So beating the student wasn't a socially correct decision? Even though she aced her exam after my training? “It worked!”

  “Did you at least not beat her in front of the class?” She asks.

  “That was wrong?” Of course I did it during tutoring. I don't waste my time with those people if I don't have to.

  “Please tell me that it wasn't your sister!” Stella touches her forehead and her expression says it all. This new project of hers is going to be a long term exercise.

  I shake my head. “Of course not, I would never beat Valeria. I want to have a good relationship with my little sister. On top I need her as the head of my clan later on.” I don't want to bother with being a leader. “For that purpose I taught her while faking understanding and coaxing her into trying again and again until she got it. It's a pain in the ass and it takes much longer.”

  Stella lets out a sigh. “At least you seem to have a basic understanding of what you are doing. And you are treating me and our clique normally, so what's the problem with other people? What's the difference?”

  Isn't the answer obvious? “You are my girlfriend. Karsen, Talia and Louise are my friends. Beating any of you would cause a tense atmosphere. The others are just a bother.”

  Stella slams her cute forehead onto the desk. “I am not sure if I should be happy or sad about the fact that you aren't interested in having social relationships besides me and your immediate friends.”

  We eat in silence. Afterwards we use the stepper disc to head directly to the palace. In front of Helen's office we unexpectedly meet Sola in company of a guy who seems to be her age. His hair is of a flaming orange and his horns are curving upwards, then backwards, just to curve upwards once again. His horns look a little ridiculous in my opinion, but his body has a good build. It's probably because he is doing some kind of martial art. His edgy and clean face could be attractive to women? I notice that there isn't a single mark on his skin. Normally a wound leaves a small mark, even if you use healing magic. That doesn't match his warrior-like appearance. So either he is a snotty, petted boy or he is an Eddin. They can heal wounds almost perfectly.

  Sola notices our approach and hugs Stella and then me to greet us. I stiffen upon the unexpected friendly greeting and resist the urge to shove her away, but that would surely anger Stella. She wanted me to show a little more social competence. Still, the urge is there.

  Before I can decide upon an action she lets go of me. “It's so good to see you two, I wanted to introduce you to my fiance.”

  Stella's eyes almost pop out of her eyes. “F... Fiance!? How? When? I knew nothing!”

  I must admit that I am surprised too. The vixen got herself a guy? What did she do, did she walk up to him and order him to be her boyfriend?

  Sola nods. “This is Xander Eddin, we met each other a few times after Louise introduced us. Since I am not getting younger I simply decided that now is the time.”

  Xander forces a smile onto his face and his entire body language screams that he would rather like to be somewhere else. “It simply happened. She asked me out and I said yes.” His attention turns to me. “Maybe we can meet sometime. Just as fellow family members.”

  I guess he wanted to say as comrades in being sold by our families. Sorry buddy, but I am not a sold spouse like you probably are. At least it doesn't feel like that. Probably she walked up to you and said that you have to marry her or even worse, she went over his head and talked directly to his clan head.

  Sola nods, not getting the hidden meaning behind his words. “That would be so nice! A date with two couples is surely interesting.” She hugs Xander from the side. “Oh, that reminds me! I have to introduce you to dad!” So she rushes off, pulling him with her.

  I watch them walking down the corridor and wait until they are out of hearing range to consult Stella. She isn't moving either while standing at my side.

  “Did you notice his expression?”

  “Yes. He looked like the devil is taking him for a walk through hell.””

  “You really didn't know?””

  “No.””

  “What's she planning this time? Did she suddenly give up on her fixation on me?””

  “Looks like it. Introducing him to Mom and Dad is like dealing the death blow.””

  “So he is a toyboy...””

  “That's for sure. Even she can't get out of this once she introduces him to Mom.””

  “I am sorry for him.””

  “His clan will be very happy to get someone into the palace. There is no way he is going to get out of this.””

 
“I still don't get it.””

  “Sis has been acting strange since... the accident.””

  “Oh...””

  After they disappeared around the corner of the corridor Stella shrugs her shoulders. “One thing less to worry about.” She turns and pulls me into Helen's office without knocking onto the door.

  Inside we are greeted by Helen who has a big metal case on her desk. She is reading an old book. Then she looks up and smiles at us. “Please lock the door and take a seat.” She puts the book down.

  We take a seat and Stella eyes the books inside the metal case with suspicion. “Is there something wrong, Mom?”

  Helen shakes her head. “No, as of now there is nothing wrong. I just wanted to make sure that you know what we are facing. That involves a lesson in history.”

  Please no history. I don't like boring stuff.

  “It involves the true history of the Empire of Nict and why it fell. Originally I didn't intend to spread this knowledge, but since the past is catching up to us I feel it's safer if more people know about it. Especially the people who have their hands on one of the artefacts.” Helen glares at us. “If any of this leaves this room I'll have the responsible one executed, do you understand?”

  I nod, but Stella raises her hand. “This sounds grave Mom. If you have some kind of dark secret to share, shouldn't you tell Sola first? She is the heir after all.”

  “Your sister and your father know everything. I also thought long and hard about involving Azir, but since he already got a look at the helmet he already has a piece of the puzzle. He'll figure it out on his own sooner or later since he is a smart guy.” Helen gestures at me. Then she leans back and starts her history lesson.

  “The Empire of Nict wasn't much bigger than the current Nict when it started. The power was handled between a few selected noble families. Whoever proved himself to be strong enough had a word in the Empire's decisions. Then a mage with extraordinary powers was born. He was so strong that nobody could oppose him. He could see the nature of magic itself and understood more about it than anyone else. Many said that he was a mutation of some kind, since he had certain deformations on his body. The books say that he was the only male in history who had a tail and even wings.”