Chapter 161: Challenges
Tala stood across the training ground from the woman that shed challenged.
Aproa had explained that they always began their time by allowing individual challenges, if any were desired, and Tala had immediately issued one.
Tala had challenged the Mage hunter, Jean. Terry had used the momentary distraction to immediately flicker over to one side to watch.
Jean had only seemed surprised for only an instant before a small smile tugged at her lips. As you wish, Archon.
She drew the device from her belt and opened the back end.
Tala watched as Jean pulled out a smaller cylinder, heavily inscribed with gold, and replaced it with one covered and interwoven with copper.
What is that?
Jean chuckled. Im switching to a training round. Ive no desire to kill a law-abiding Mage.
Tala was going to object, then realized that she was far outside her knowledge base. Let the woman act as she deems appropriate. As you wish.
That is how theyd ended up here, facing off with near twenty yards of distance between them, Cazor ready to call a start to the fight.
I have to close the distance. I can alter her gravity as I do, but Ill have at most five seconds before Im in melee range. So, she could add to her opponents gravity to increase it by almost 50% or lower it down to around 70%. Up it is.
Jean didnt have her weapon drawn, and Tala had decided to mirror that. She briefly considered beginning the fight by tossing her anchor across the space. That would close the distance faster than anything else, but with her anti-vomit inscriptions gone she shouldnt risk it.
Run, target, ramp up gravity, draw Flow, attack.
Fight!
Tala took a lunging step forward, her left middle-finger and thumb already together as she targeted Jean.
The lock wouldnt stick, and Tala snarled in irritation.
Jean was drawing her weapon, lifting it free of its sheath with casual speed. Huh, she probably practices drawing it quickly.
Interesting.
At the next step, Tala tried, again, to establish the target lock, throwing all her magical weight behind it. There was a moment of purchase, before her targeting was thrown off.
Jeans weapon was rising, and there were still a dozen yards between them, at least. Tala drew Flow, pushing it into the form of a sword, even as she called her bloodstars out of Kit, pulling them to move protectively in front of her.
Mirroring. Can I solve my targeting issue with mirroring? This time, she mirrored her magical weight into all her bound items, bloodstars included. She then mirrored them back onto her enactment of the targeting.
She felt her left eye begin to twitch as something within her mind, her will, strained to its limit. The combination of so many aspects to mirror and those aspects being ones she wasnt familiar was enough to jack up the difficulty.
The lock blossomed into being on Jean, the combined power of Tala herself and her bonds winning through.
Increase!
Jeans eyes widened, even as the tube of her weapon fully leveled towards Tala. The Mage Hunter pulled the trigger, not letting her surprise cause hesitation.
Tala saw in horror that all the magic in the area stilled before streaming toward the device in Jeans hand as quick as lightning strikes, even as the weapon settled, aiming steadily at Tala.
In retrospect, challenging the Mage Hunter for the first duel of the day might have beenill advised.
Talas heightened perception made the eyeblink of time stretch into a seeming eternity.
It was hard to see inside the iron tube, even though it was pointed directly at her, but it looked almost like strands of heat and light were being woven within, each thread seemingly precisely modulated.
As Jean had pulled the trigger, Talas bloodstars had come into alignment between Tala and the unknown threat.
The air seemed to scream out in agony to Talas mage-sight as every drop of power was pulled from it. Even the edges of Talas own aura seemed to be fraying.
Runic symbols lit up down the length of the weapon, not looking like any scripting Tala recognized as they glowed through a solid layer of iron.
As the spells within the device finished coming together, Tala saw her chance and enforced an aspect-mirror across her three bloodstars and her elk-leathers, giving each of them Flows ability to deflect incoming attacks.
As she had to release the other aspects shed been mirroring, that caused her targeting lock to weaken, and Jean threw off the magic without any outward evidence of difficulty.
Tala had managed less than two seconds of gravity increase.
The world went white.
Heat, which balanced nearly precisely at Talas upper limit, slammed into her.
Her attempt at defense had utterly failed from what she could tell. Her defensive stance broke under the wash of power, Flow slamming back into her chest, along with the tungsten sphere and rod.
Tala was thrown backwards and crashed into the far wall of the training ground.
Her breath exploded out of her, and she slid to the ground in a stunned heap.
Rust me. Im glad she changed out for a training round.
As light and sound returned to normal, the healer rushed over to Tala but slowed as she approached. Tala felt the touch of diagnostic magics and didnt resist them. Shes fine, just stunned.
Tala groaned. The magic of the area returned to a smooth, even level as if it had never been disturbed.
As the healer went back to her seat, Aproa jogged over to Tala and offered a hand up. Thats why you dont fight Mage Hunters.
Tala snorted a halfhearted laugh and accepted the help up.
She looked around, expecting to see the sand melted and the wall behind her scorched, but there was no evidence of the heat and light. Even the air of the training space was still pleasantly cool.
Was it all in my head? No, shed been thrown, and she knew what shed felt. She patted her clothing and found the outside unpleasantly warm to the touch. The attack had just been that precisely calibrated. Tala looked to her opponent across the space and tilted her head to one side. Did the attack modulate to my tolerances?
Jean nodded, grinning. Yeah. She seemed hesitant about something. Finally, she shrugged. I can usually get a couple of shots out of a training round, but you required the entire capacity of this one. She smiled. Nice.
Jean then shifted, clearly a bit uncomfortable.
Um would you mind releasingwhatever it was you did? Jean did a couple of hops and came down more quickly, and harder, than was normal.
The watching Archons began muttering to each other, but Tala ignored them. Oh! Right. One moment. She reestablished the lock, Jean not opposing it this time. Reduce.
Two seconds later, Tala released the working, and the lock.
There you go.
Jean hopped again, smiling as she landed. Thank you.
Tala cracked her neck and twisted back and forth.
Rane, standing off to the side, shook his head. Oh, no.
The others, at least the non-Hunters, looked his way. One ventured to ask, What?
He simply gestured to Tala, and taking the cue, she smiled. Again.
Jean hesitated, then shook her head, ejecting the spent round from the back of her weapon and replacing it. The used one was placed in a pouch on the back of the Mage Hunters belt. Like punishment, do you?
Tala shook her head. Not at all. I like improving. Then, she looked within herself and paled. But youre right, not another today. Her scripts were getting truly, dangerously low. Tala cursed.
Aproa frowned. What is it?
Tala sighed. My inscriptions are almost dry. Theyve not been refreshed yet, since our caravan just returned yesterday. Ill be getting reinscribed this afternoon. Im sorry about that. What would you all normally do?
Aproa patted Talas shoulder. We do begin with challenges if anyone is inclined, just like we said. After that, we do team bouts, contests, or direct oppositions of will. If your inscriptions are low, we can focus on contests of will, today.
The lightning and two fire Mages grinned widely, while the others whom Tala didnt know by name groaned.
Tala shrugged. Sounds good. What do we do?
* * *
The remainder of the afternoon was much less exciting, but no less enlightening.
Tala held Terry in her lap, scratching his head and neck as she sat a mere ten feet from the twins, engaging in a very one-sided conflict.
The contest in question was a simple one: Who could touch the other with their aura first. No attacks, items, or magical workings were allowed.
It was a delicate balance of offense and defense. An Archon had to press their aura forward against the resistance of their opponent, while not allowing them to take advantage of the longer route to reach from the sides or over the top.
Or, that was the theory.
Tala simply punched straight through any individual among the Archons there.
The Mage hunters had declined for the moment, but Tala thought she was beginning to intrigue them.
In the end, the others had paired up against her, using their combined magical weight to hold her back, and their two minds to try to outthink her.
Again, that was the theory.
Victory, Mistress Tala. Cazor called from the side.
WHAT! The male twin stood. Her aura is completely held at bay. How did she win?
Cazor shrugged. You all appointed us as judges. Her aura touched you.
Tala gave a half smile. Her great breakthrough had come when she realized that she could extend a tendril of her aura underground and no other Archon had mage-sight of sufficient precision and sensitivity to notice.
She suspected that even Cazor couldnt see the part of her aura that was underground.
It wasnt fast, so she still had to hold off the incursions of her opponents while she slowly poured power into the sapping maneuver, but it worked every time in the end.
Tala stretched back, pulsing her aura outward to clear the remainder of the twins probing tendrils from the space around her. Well fought. You had some good tricks there.
She rocked back before kicking up to a standing position. Terry had flickered away as she moved and flickered back to her shoulder when she was upright. Tala tossed him a bit of jerky and walked to her opponents, hands held out.
They sighed, taking the offered help up.
Theyd all long since realized that Tala, small though she was, had the mass to act as a good anchor for such things.
The sister leaned in close. How are you doing it? Did you pay off the Mage Hunter?
Tala laughed. No cheating or bribery, I promise.
The twin sighed. I kinda wish you were. It would make our repeated defeats easier to bear.
Her brother shrugged. Its good exercise. I havent felt this worked, on a will level, in He blew air through his lips, making a sound that was a bit like a horse. Well, ever really. With these contests, its usually pretty even, so we dont push our hardest. With you? He grinned. I push as hard as I can, and it feels like you barely slow down.
Tala smiled happily at the compliment. Well, thank you. Ive put a lot of effort into aura manipulation, and I had a good teacher to get me started. I really do need to be practicing my bloodstar orbits and increasing the number I can use.
Oh? They both looked quite interested.
The quiet of the courtyard was interrupted by a loud voice as Jean called out, Victory, Mistress Aproa.
Rane groaned and flopped backwards, holding his head. Well done, Mistress. I need a moment.
Tala watched as Aproa stood and went over to help him. Dont strain yourself, Master Rane. It is good to improve, but not to damage yourself along the way.
Yeah I know. Rane turned his head Talas way, peaking between his fingers, and Tala grinned at him. Rust you, Tala.
Tala snorted a laugh. Come on. I know its a bit early, but I need food before I meet with Mistress Holly. Tala glanced around.
There were, once again, wide eyes and disbelieving stares. Finally, Cazor glanced around and shook his head. Come on, its not that unusual that she has Mistress Holly inscribing her.
The lightning Mage snorted. Id give an arm to have that Inscriber work on me.
The oxygen manipulator laughed. Itd cost that much, from what I hear.
Tala felt a bit awkward. Well, ummm For dinner, you are all welcome, of course.
Rane took Aproas offered hand and stood. That sounds wonderful. You can celebrate, and we can commiserate. He glanced to Aproa. Thank you for the hand, Mistress.
In the end, they all agreed to come, as it was early yet, but most wouldnt eat as they tried to have dinner with their families whenever possible.
Huh, I guess I didnt really think about some of them being married. Turns out all but Aproa and the hunters have spouses and kids. She didnt really know how to process that. They are quite a bit older than me. She decided to think on it more, later.
* * *
Dinner was surprisingly fun. The whole group of them except for the healer, who had departed after the last duel and before the contests of will.
Tala had been surprised at the inclusion of the Mage Hunters, as theyd seemed pretty set apart up to that point. Even so, they seemed to join in the conversations with abandon. Apparently, this group had been close enough in age that theyd all been at the Academy at the same time, at least for a few years. Theyd worked to push each other and improve.
That was likely a core reason for their age and relatively high rank.
This also wasnt their whole group, as they were scattered on various jobs or tasks, and theyd added some since, like Rane and Tala.
As for their group, apparently Jean and Cazor had stood out enough from the others that theyd been approached to become Mage Hunters.
At least thats what Aproa said.
Cazor said that it was just because of their foundational principles, desired magics, and personalities.
Tala did get to learn a bit more about Mage Hunters. Each city had around a hundred of them, though rarely that exact number. They were tasked with handling the Mages and inscribed who thought themselves above common law. As a result, they also investigated crimes that seemed to have a magical component.
Tala ended up sitting between Aproa and Cazor during dinner, across from Rane and Jean. Terry opted to stay on Talas shoulder snacking on the occasional bit of jerky that Tala tossed for him.
Rane and Aproa had a bit of fun with the hunters, each extorting a small wager out of the one nearest them on whether or not Tala could out-eat them.
Tala briefly considered ruining their fun, or throwing the contest, but in the end, she let them have their amusement and a few silver changed hands, along with awed, almost horrified, glances.
Tala didnt let it bother her and ate her fill.
The group parted ways just before sunset, having eaten a fairly early dinner. It seemed that no few of them had tasks to complete that evening.
Thus, Tala found herself alone, darkening Hollys warehouse doorway, just after sunset. Really, its still late-afternoon
Youre late.
Tala turned to find Holly, once again, in the chair beside the door. Gah! Why are you waiting here?
Because youre late. Holly stood and walked towards the back.
Following behind, Tala continued the conversation. You never waited for me before my return from this last trip. Whats the issue?
Holly glanced back her way, sighed, and looked forward once more. Theres a syphon in the city that we havent been able to find. You have a history of being influenced by mental magics, and I dont want you to vanish for a day to who knows where, having your magic drained like some grape for juice.
Shes worried about me? Tala stopped walking. Wait what do you mean?
Terry lifted his head in interest.
Come on, dear. Ill explain.
Terry and Tala glanced at each other and shrugged. This should be interesting. She hurried to catch up, doing so just as they reached Hollys work room.
So, a syphon is a term for a class of magical creature that pulls power from humans harmlessly. In general, the worst that happens is that they feel a bit drunk after. Its often accompanied by lost time. In some cases, however, the people just vanish.
And theres one in the city? Why does this seem familiar? Maybe shed read about this creature type in the past.
Yes. The city overseers have noticed lower than average ambient magic, given our population, but its spread out. No obvious hunting ground or target group.
Sohow can it be within the city?
Theyd taken their usual seats, Holly on her stool, Tala in the clients chair, and Terry watching them both from the corner. Come on, Mistress Tala. Think before you ask.
Tala did think, then, and had to sigh. If they are subsisting on human magic, then the only magic that could be detected is human.
Holly gave her a strange look. No. Not at all. She shook her head. Thats like saying if you only eat potatoes, its reasonable to expect that you might poop mash. She muttered something under her breath too low for Tala to hear. No, child. If humans are their primary prey, and most of us are in cities, then the only way such a thing still exists is if it can adapt itself to go unnoticed by city defenses and high-level Archon perusal. It would of course be obvious at close inspection, but we cant investigate every alley, building, park bench, or new door to a dimensionally expanded space.
It can be any of those?
Yes. They can also be humanoid in appearance, but thats rarer. Theres a sub-type that is more often lethal which seems to enjoy hiding in ruins and pretending to be treasure chests. Holly shook her head again. No one really knows why. They also seem to be much more physically aggressive, rather than wielding conceptual magic, so She shrugged.
Alright then, something else to be concerned over. Well, that happy topic aside. Lets talk inscriptions.
Ahh, yes. Your inscriptions. I dug through your records more thoroughly, and I want you to explain exactly what caused you to cook your own muscles via overexertion.
Oh right. Tala glanced to Terry. Yeah, so About that. Without further delay, she began a more detailed retelling of her time away.
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