Chapter 140: Bloodstars
Tala strained, crocheting like her life depended on it.
I have so many things I need to do, but I cant let them distract me. I can do them on the side, but this is the first priority.
She didnt remain sitting, simply meditating as she worked. No, she moved through stretches and weapons forms; she brewed tea and looked out at the vistas presented through the training rooms window. Winter had fully set in, and though the trees still held onto their leaves, they were covered with a white dusting throughout each day.
Fusing while distracted was slower for her, but it also forced her to make both the fighting movements and the fusing instinctive to a level she hadnt reached before.
I bet I can make it something that I do in the background. She nodded to herself. Three days. Shed give herself three days towards this goal. Lets get to it.
* * *
Those three days passed in a blur. She crocheted while eating, while bathing, while sparring. She continued to fuse in her every waking moment.
After one day, her distracted crocheting was half as fast as her meditative work had been previously.
After two, she was almost subconsciously continuing the fusing of her spirit, body, and gate.
By the afternoon of the third day, she had a slow fusing going in the background at all times, requiring virtually no thought and little effort.
Now, what else can I get done? She found herself grinning broadly throughout the rest of that day from the sheer joy of the accomplishment.
Perpendicular motion! She pulled out Soul Work and dug into the instructions.
Half an hour later, she was fairly irritated.
Perpendicular motion was not, actually, the ability to move a soul-bound item perpendicular to a straight pull. Instead, it required spreading out her aura, and pulling Flow towards a specific part of that aura.
Even so, that actually made it easier to accomplish, as it wasnt really a new skill, though it required a much greater control over her aura than shed previously used.
As an interesting side effect, she discovered that she could hold Flow in place, within her aura, by exerting a constant pull to that location. It was exhausting but possible.
I can technically wield Flow without my hands.
While experimenting with that, changing Flows shape and moving through various weapons forms without her hands, Tala did other things.
The first was to Reduce the effect of gravity on her two blood Archon stars.
She spent five minutes reducing each, getting the effective gravity as close to zero as she was capable. Anything with mass is affected by gravity, so it can never actually be zero, though it is effectively so, now.
As she did so, the drops began to rise. Right! Find the point of neutral buoyancy, not just as low as I can go.
That done, she began attempting to have the drops orbit herself.
It wasinteresting.
If she moved her aura with each drop held in place by a perpetual pull, it mimicked what she was going for, but it was a heavy strain to do so.
In that way, she could move them to specific points around herself, however. I can use this, too.
Even with that cheat available, she did try to get the regular orbits to work, and as she worked on it more and more, she was able to have the blood do looping arcs around her one or two times before she had to catch or correct the motion with her aura. Thats something.
That in mind, she dove into Aspect Mirroring.
Here, while her efforts gave frustratingly little results, she didn't give up.
Two days of focused work, against a background of fusing and interspersed with sparring matches and meals, didnt give her the breakthrough she hoped for.
Finally, she swung by and had a conversation with Master Jevin, and her issue was immediately apparent.
Even though the book had told her how to accomplish it, she had misunderstood.
For those two days, shed been trying to impose an aspect of herself onto her soul-bound items. That would never work.
To accomplish Aspect Mirroring, she had to know that they were a part of her, and she a part of them. Thus, they already had those aspects within, and she was just bringing it forward. Interestingly, it was very closely tied to how being an Immaterial Guide worked, so she should be better at it, and learn it quicker than Archons of other quadrants, at least now that shed actually understood it.
Armed with that altered mindset and a renewed optimism, she only took another day to break through, and gain limited aspect mirroring.
* * *
Master Rane. I need your help trying something.
Rane looked up, tucked his book away, and stood. What can I do for you? He seemed a bit hesitant.
That made sense, Tala had been intensely focused for the last few days, barely speaking more than necessary. I think I have this. She opened one of her iron vials and extended a tendril of her aura. With a pull the Archon star shot out, coming to rest within her aura, a foot in front of her chest. Please draw Force. I want you to hit that drop of blood, when I say to.
He nodded, drawing the sword.
Ok. She took a steading breath. That blood is my blood. That star is MY star, a part of my soul. It is me, and I am it. She closed her eyes and focused. My magic supports it as it supports my body. My mass holds it in place.
As the mental construct became fully manifest, she felt the drop become infinitesimally heavier, increasing the strain on her soul-pull marginally.
She grinned, opening her eyes. Now.
Rane attacked without delay, Force striking the drop of blood with quick precision.
Force imparted a hefty dose of kinetic energy through the contact, and the blood rocketed away, slamming into a far wall and imbedding into it.
Oops Tala scratched the back of her head. That is what would have happened if you hit me, so success!
Rane was staring curiously at the drop of blood as it zipped back to its place, pulled by Tala once more.
Let me think I want to block Force. She began to nod. Flow can block force. Ok, one moment, then another hit.
He nodded in response, settling into a quick-striking position, Force held ready.
Flow is me, and I am Flow. First bound to me, before even my body. We are one. Flow is a weapon of defense and offense, and it can counter magical attacks. I can counter magical attacks. She blinked. WaitWAIT!!! Rane, hit me. She locked the mental construct in place, straining.
He frowned, but complied, striking for her side.
Force impacted with a concussion of power, its magics dissipated.
Tala had to take a step to the side as the strength behind Ranes blow still moved her, but it was just that: Ranes bodily strength against her mass.
Ranes eyes widened.
Tala turned and retched, her head ringing, and her stomach trying to empty itself despite the scripts.
Ohrust me She looked within herself, then within Flow, and she understood.
Flow took the magic of the hit and distributed it throughout its own magical and physical structure. Mirroring that ability into her own body had caused every cell to try to pull itself apart at once. Yeah not doing that again.
Rane was kneeling beside her. What do you need?
A minute.
He began rubbing her upper back as she knelt on one knee, laying across the other. Does this help?
Strangely, it did. She mustered a nod, and he gave a small, hesitant smile in return.
While focusing inward, she noticed that her background fusing had been disrupted, and she scrambled for a moment to catch the slowly unraveling strands of power and tie off the current stitch.
After much longer than a minute, she sat back moving the whisps of hair from her face. That, that was awful.
If I can ask, what happened?
I tried to mirror Flows defensive aspect within myself to allow me to take the hit.
Rane winced. That sounds painful.
She nodded. YeahI mean, it was better than being cut in half, so theres that.
He frowned, but Tala waved his comment away before he made it.
I know you wouldnt have cut me in half, but that defense, as awful as it was, would stop that too.
What type of defense does Flow use to counter other magical attacks? I never asked.
It felt like distributive dissemination.
He grimaced. Anyone else would be in need of a healer, now.
Good thing I focus on bodily resilience and healing.
It does seem so. He gave her a sideways look. You know, Im still not sure if you are wise for choosing defensive magics that allow you to survive the odd things you try, or foolish for trying those odd things.
Her tone took on that of an old sage. If you cannot help but leap from cliff-tops, grow wings.
So, you took that to heart. Wise, then?
She shook her head. Not wise enough to stop, but wise enough to know I needed something to prevent the worst repercussions.
He just grunted.
Tala pushed herself back to her feet. With a pull, she lifted her bloodstar from the floor where it had fallen and extended her aura to hold the drop in front of her chest once more. Okay. Lets try this one more time.
Rane gave her a deeply skeptical look.
You arent going to hit me this time.
That seemed to mollify him, and he stood to face her once more, drawing forth Force in preparation.
Alright, so I dont want to mirror Flows defense within me. She closed her eyes. That blood is my blood. That star is MY star, a part of my soul. It is me, and I am it. Flow is me, and I am Flow. First bound to me, before even my body. We are one. Flow is a weapon of defense and offense, and it can counter magical attacks. I am my bloodstar. My magic supports it as it supports my body. My mass holds it in place. Flows defense is its defense.
It was a complex mental construct, but she built it piece by piece. After nearly five minutes focus, she had it in place.
Her eyes opened. Now.
Rane struck and Force hit the drop of blood, unleashing his swords power.
The drop was pushed back by Ranes strength, but the magic of Forces blow was absorbed within the drop of blood.
The blood almost seemed to fizzle, so much kinetic energy was directed into and through it that the bloodstar struggled to contain it. After an instant, the lazy spinning swirl of blood inherent to her Archon star was a tornado of force, causing the blood to spin faster than a top, only the coherence of the spell-form within keeping it together.
Force, robbed of the magical portion of its attack, was deflected upward by the mass mirrored into the drop, even while the drop was pushed downward.
Talas constant pull returned the drop to its proper location a moment later.
Rane stepped back, a grin evident on his face. That is amazing! Aspect Mirroring, right?
She nodded, breathing heavily and beginning to sweat, despite the pleasantly cool room.
I looked into that, as it would allow me to implement Forces attacks with my own body but Im not a Guide, and so it will be a long road before he trailed off, looking at her with concern, Mistress Tala?
She wordlessly called the bloodstar back into its vial and capped it. She let the mental constructs fall apart and retracted her extended aura. With a groan, she sunk to the floor.
Are you alright? He sat down in front of her.
I think I will be. She rubbed her forehead with both hands. Ive proved the premise. Now, I just need to improve it.
One more thing to practice?
She let out a mirthless chuckle. Yeah, one more thing to practice.
Can I help?
She leaned forward and patted his knee where it rested a bit away from her own. You already have, Master Rane. Thank you for helping me test that.
He gave a nod of acknowledgement. As always, I am happy to assist.
* * *
After another six days of dedicated training, their time in Makinaven was nearing its end. Tala had to start charging the cargo-slots again beginning the next morning.
They were in their training room, facing off for the umpteenth time, controlled violence a hairs breadth from being unleashed.
Tala stood, Flow in hand in the form of a glaive.
Rane stood opposite her, Force horizontal to the floor in a middle guard, point angled down to point at her heart.
She kept her breathing regular, speaking on the exhale. Ready?
His answer was just as unhurried. Ready.
Tala lunged forward, two drops of blood streaking alongside her, carried in her aura, mirroring a mix of aspects from both herself and Flow.
Force struck Flow to the side, spoiling Talas initial thrust, but she continued to close on her opponent, allowing the impact to carry her weapon in a tight arc, full circle to strike for Ranes other side with Flow in sword form.
Rane moved from his block to a back-cut, slicing towards Talas unprotected chest.
One of her bloodstars dropped to counter his probing strike, dissipating the magic in Forces blow, and stealing the energy from Ranes swing.
Rane, for his part, rolled his head and neck out of the way of her horizontal slash, spinning to thrust Forces point towards her abdomen.
Tala instinctively flinched back from the hit; half remembered pain forcing the reaction.
Even so, she was able to move Flow in the way to partially parry the thrust even as her other bloodstar dropped towards Ranes shoulder.
As the drop of blood mirrored her own inertia, it was a credible threat to Rane, and caused his defenses to activate and move him away from the incoming danger.
Rane twisted sideways, spoiling his own attack, though he didnt let that stop his assault.
They strove back and forth, Tala using everything at her disposal to counter Ranes offenses and strike at him throughout.
She shifted Flow from one form to another with lightning quick timing, always using the right tool to keep pressure on him.
She manipulated her bloodstars in tight arcs, countering Force, and threatening Rane at every opportunity. She didnt successfully get them in place every time, or even half of the time if she were being honest, but they were another weapon for use in staving off his relentless skill.
And she was succeeding.
Despite innumerable exchanges, too quick to count, Rane wasnt gaining the upper hand, despite his still obviously superior ability. He moved with elegant, powerful efficiency, but it wasnt enough to break through.
She just knew his defenses and limitations too well by this point.
She couldnt overcome him, but she could hold him off.
It was the most difficult thing she had ever done, combining virtually every combat technique she could safely use.
Im not spraying acid at his faceno matter how much of an advantage it might give me. She honestly felt guilty for even considering it and pushed the idea from her thoughts. She also wasnt using her Join ability, but her mind was already split too many ways to make that a reasonable possibility, at least for the time being.
They strove back and forth, neither able to gain advantage.
Unfortunately for Tala, her methods were much more tiring than Ranes.
Rane was in his element, using tried and true, well-practiced, well-honed tools and motions.
Tala, in contrast, was riding the razors edge of her abilities and the tools at her disposal. Many of the things she was doing, shed barely figured out, practiced, and refined in the last week. It was taking everything she had to keep going, and her ability to continue was rapidly nearing its end.
Rane must have sensed something, because he suddenly disengaged and moved backwards, keeping Force up and ready. A break?
Tala knew that he didnt need the break, and he was just offering for her sake. She almost found that irritating, but as she tried to muster her anger, she found that she was too exhausted. Instead, she just grunted, sheathed knife-Flow, and flopped to the ground, panting.
He grinned her way. That was fantastic. I dont think Ive been so pushed since I tried to fight Terry.
Terry lifted his head from the corner of the room and squawked.
Not right now, Terry, but I appreciate the offer.
Tala gave Rane an incredulous look. Since when, she pulled in a couple of quick breaths, can you understand him?
I cant but that was pretty obvious even so.
She grunted. Fair.
Over the next minute or so, Tala got herself back under control. Her breathing leveled out, and her muscles calmed, unclenched, and relaxed. The headache was only slightly slower to fade. Progress across the board. She grinned broadly.
She glanced over towards Rane. Im feeling a need to celebrate.
Oh? He seemed hesitantly interested.
Over the last days, nearly two weeks actually, Tala had been so focused on her training that theyd done virtually nothing else. I need to get the hide I left with a tanner, just outside the tree, but after that, Id love dinner, maybe a play if one is available? After a moment, she found herself nodding. Before the play, though, you said that the views from your inn were spectacular.
They really are.
I did say Id like to see them at some point, and our time here is almost done. We can watch the sunset from one of the observation platforms up there after dinner, before the play. Plays usually start after sunset, especially in winter.
That, Mistress Tala, sounds like an excellent plan.
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