Tutorial's End

Journal Entry

By Unknown

Wow, they were right! Thirty years went by in a blur.

How crazy is it that when I first arrived I thought I was ancient because I'd lived for ninety years on Earth?

Looking back, it feels like the tutorial was some kind of bad dream. I fought for my country, lost brothers in combat, and for what? It all ended up being meaningless.

Now, here I am as a senior being catalization expert! My supervisor even mentioned I'd be allowed into a rift soon if I wanted, and they'll send some beings to accompany me so I don't have to fight. Only if I want, though.

Marvtech is really quite something. It's nice that the folks I spend almost all of my time with are so considerate. I can't imagine how horrible eternity could have been.

Willow

Monique's Bar and Grill, Vesheen City, Shee

Little Piper sat on a small chair made of random bits of dinnerware: a straw bent into the rough shape of a seat suspended between the tines of two forks, with the "chair's" back being a napkin dispenser. The little pink woman contentedly swung her feet at the edge of her throne, eyes of luminous emerald green staring around with shocking intensity.

Willow watched the lifelike display, and the curious glances some passerbys shot the neon curiosity, with pride. A little over four days had passed since her little 'encounter' with that fae lady.

She'd considered going to that High Garden place to follow up on exactly why Tather was interrogating herself and her companions. She might still, but it seemed like a chore considering how strange the last meeting with the woman had been.

The entire thing annoyed Willow every time she thought back on it. Her original intention had been to ask about the information she'd been offered the first time they met, but it'd all gone off the rails so fast. The whole guard contingent just letting them in had really distracted her from her purpose in approaching the group.

With a sudden jolt, Piper threw herself off of her little chair and ran toward the edge of the table. Willow pushed thoughts of Skeeth to the back of her mind as she watched her guide frantically rush with no apparent regard for her safety or thought of slowing down as she approached the table's rim.

At least she's running properly now. Willow noted with delight. The previous days had been productive. She'd dedicated at least four hours each day to carefully imbuing more and more of her third mana-type into Piper, after imprinting an intent on the mana itself. The process was extremely slow and much less active than her usual interests, but overall Willow found herself enjoying the downtime and mental exercise.

The first improvements she'd made had been to Piper's physical form. She'd carefully imagined exactly how the little investigator would look. She carefully visualized the flowing red hair which swayed half way down her back. The jolly-rancher-bright shade of red which the locks had ended with was much more appealing than the oddly dirty red tint she'd originally managed to impart.

Beyond the hair, she'd crafted a girlish visage with a resting face which screamed innocent curiosity. Small nose, lightly lifted lips, unrealistically large eyes, the works. Then on to the body.

Willow had originally leaned toward just using her own body as the template, but thought better of it. Little Piper deserved to have her own identity, body and mind both. So instead of taking the easy route, Willow had drawn inspiration from her friends back on Earth. She'd given her Vash's knobbly elbows and knees, Whitney's slender figure, and Fenny's oddly short legs. All meshed together, Piper was adorably awkward. She was considering giving the little guide wings, then she'd be a proper fairy! She already looked like a little sprite, after all. Might as well make it official.

Yeah, wings are good idea. She thought in amusement as she watched Piper tip over the table's edge and take a long - relative to her - fall. The pink girl smashed into the restaurant's stone floor with a barely audible "splat!"

Unconcerned herself, Willow was amused to note Slyth's worried expression. He sat forward from his place across the table from her, "Is she okay?"

Grinning brightly, Willow reminded him, " 'She' is just a small ball of slime I got from a rift. Remember?"

"Sure, but… She's so…" He waved his hands around in an uncoordinated gesture, "Alive!"

In reply, she just pointed down to her guide's landing spot. Piper had just about finished pulling herself back together, her gooey body slowly retracting each bit of itself, minuscule strands of the base pink-goo retrieving every microscopic bit of splattered matter in under ten seconds. The moment she was fully reformed, she stood up and continued her excited run as if nothing had happened.

She saw Slyth frowning out of the corner of her eye, "Should we stop her?"

"Nah, she's just going to meet Luzzi I think." Willow sat back, but kept an eye on the increasingly tiny spec of pink making its way across the room. Not that it was strictly necessary. One of the side effects of using her mana was forming a kind of link between herself and her subject. At least, she assumed it was a side effect of her mana. Ravavka had pointed out that it was also possible that the link was formed by the guide herself. Piper was technically an artifact which likely still had plenty of unknown properties, after all.

Watching Luzzi approaching from the restaurant's entrance, zig zagging across the busy floor, Willow let out a snicker when she entirely missed Piper's hopping figure and passed her by without a glance. If her eyes were just a bit better, Willow bet she'd see Piper's entire body slouch in devastated disappointment.

The personality Willow had given the little pixie, was, in one word: melodramatic. If it was possible to do something simply, or with a million pounds of unnecessary flair, she would choose the later. Overreactions were the only form of reaction, nothing was 'good' or 'bad' it was 'AMAZING' or 'HORRIBLE'. The overwhelmingly dramatic personality had been a whim, but it was one that had constantly paid out in entertainment value since.

"Sorry I'm late." Luzzi said by way of greeting. "I was unable to talk my way out of the inevitable." So saying, the paavaras slunk around Willow and flopped into the chair nearest the wall.

She nodded at Slyth in acknowledgement before continuing, "The Frazzlen got word that we were out of the rift, probably via some deal with the rift management company or something. They want Ravavka and I to return 'immediately' to resume our duties." Her body was fully slack other than one hand absently rubbing at the back of the other in her equivalent of a deep sigh.

"If you don't want to… Just don't?" Willow suggested, flicking her eyes back toward the larger room to verify Piper was making her way back over. Seeing that she was, Willow turned her attention fully to her friend, "What's the worst that happens? They send some enforcer after you? If all of them are like Tather, they're push overs. We'll just beat them off and tell 'em to leave you alone!"

With a slow shake of her head, Luzzi declined her - fantastic - idea, "I'm afraid you simply got a lucky match up. Not to mention, if a low ranker fails the faction will simply send a higher ranked one. Maybe even a legend, if they're annoyed enough. None of us would stand a chance against a legend, even your master would be no match for them unless he's advanced far beyond what I suspect is possible within such a short time period."

"Time is subjective." Ravavka grumbled as he appeared behind Slyth, apparently having entered from some side entrance Willow hadn't noticed. He looked annoyed.

Smirking down at the five eyed man, Willow put on a baby voice, "Awww, did little Rav-rav wake up on the wong side of duh bwed?"

"Shut it." He snapped, sending her his best glare. Which rolled off of Willow without putting a dent in her amusement. Tsking, he climbed into the last chair remaining and asked, "Where are the drinks? I need to work up a buzz."

"I thought Hazzabi couldn't get drunk?" Slyth asked curiously.

Tuning out Ravavka's grumpy explanations and Slyth's good-natured attempts at conversation, Willow scanned the room for Piper again. She found the tiny terror running away from what looked like a centipede while holding a toothpick. Having tested the goop Piper was made of, Willow wasn't concerned that some random bug could really hurt her.

Tuning back into the conversation, Willow was just in time to catch Ravavka finish explaining his bad mood, "I'm being assigned as a rift guard on Klavaka."

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

"Isn't that a good thing? Won't that mean you can run the rift pretty often?" Willow asked, remembering a past conversation when he and Luzzi had debated the best assignments.

Groaning, Ravavka let himself slide further down in his chair, his eyes no longer visible over the top of the table. I think Piper's rubbing off on him. "The Klavaka rift is a baby's-first rift. You just walk around killing weak goblins. It can be used to grind potentia, but there's no fun in it. Nothing interesting ever happens."

"I just suggested to Luzzi that she could go on the run, wouldn't that be interesting?" She tried. Maybe if Ravavka is on board Luzzi will-

"HAH! We'd survive for, what, a couple months before being sent for respawn? No thanks, I'm just on the cusp of getting another one of my insights back."

"It's so weird that you can lose them." Willow mentioned offhandedly as she turned to check on Piper again. She was being held in the palm of a large wolf-man - Is he a lythan, something like that? Or are they just wolf beast-kin? What was the difference again? She saw Piper swing her arm wide before pointing toward her party's table.

Meeting the wolf-man's confused stare, Willow waved in a friendly manner. Piper's sentient carriage began making his way over.

She heard Slyth made a noise of agreement, "Yeah, I've always thought the concept of being able to lose your insights was quite fascinating…"

"Speaking of, have you made any headway on finding your first?" Willow asked curiously, wondering if the hours she'd spent walking him through meditation had been at all helpful.

He hesitated a moment and was just opening his mouth to answer with a growling huff caught the table's attention.

Turning to look at the intruding wolf guy, Willow held her hand out. "Thanks for helping her out, I'm sure she was in dire straits."

"Truly." He answered in an amused baritone, "She informed me you would anoint me as a baron, should I choose to save her from… Something."

Nodding along, Willow looked down at Piper, who was staring up at her with those huge innocence-filled eyes, "Well, did you save her from it?" She turned her gaze back up to see the wolfish muzzle being rubbed by a massive hand-paw hybrid.

"Couldn't say. I have no idea what most of the words she was saying meant. I'm pretty sure my translation module isn't broken, you're perfectly intelligible…" He trailed off thoughtfully.

"Mm, I see…" Dropping her eyes back down to the pink almost-fairy, Willow asked her, "Did he save you from whatever it was you needed saved from? Do I owe him a barony?"

Tapping her bottom lip with one long well-manicured fingernail, Piper took her time considering as she wrapped her left arm behind her back while swaying back and forth. After a beat she shook her head, "Nope! He delivered me directly to my tormentor!"

So squeaking, she fell on her face in Willow's palm and began supplicating, "Please - Oh dire lady of evil intent! I implore thee spare mine life, for it is too pitiful for one such as yourself to sully your name in the dissipation thereof!"

"You can't mix thees and thys with big fancy phrases like 'dissipation thereof'."

"Can too!" Piper shot to her feet, wagging her minuscule finger under Willow's nose. "You think no one that spoke in yee-ol-English was smart?! Huh?! You insulting all of your ancestors, you ungrateful whelp!?"

Turning her hand, Willow dumped the ranting pixie onto the table and turned back to the being who'd brought her over. "Thanks for bringing her to me. As you might have imagined, I'm not in the possession of any noble titles with which to bequeath you."

With a chuffing laugh the wolf-man waved his understanding and left, resuming whatever he had been in the middle of before being interrupted by a centimeters-large psuedo-being.

"Stay on the table, Piper."

"Kay!" She agreed easily before rushing off to peer down at Ravavka's slumped form.

Situation resolved, Willow turned her attention back on Slyth, "So?"

"I think I'm close… Yeah. I'm going to try for-"

"Wait!"

"Not in public, you fool!"

Luzzi and Ravavka were quick to stop any potential oversharing, the later causing Piper to yelp and fall on her bottom as he jolted upright.

Willow still wasn't really certain how, exactly, someone could use the knowledge of someone's insight against them. They were insistent that such things not be shared, though, so Willow had honored their request and kept her advancement details to herself.

At least I'm not the only one who didn't get the memo… She thought, seeing Slyth's confused expression. Catching his eyes, she exaggeratedly rolled her own in commiseration. Lips twitching into a hesitant smile, he nodded back.

"Well, let's order some food and discuss what happens next. I think I'm going to stay here since Naomi and Jonah messaged that they're on their way. They're bringing their ship. Which they named for me." Willow preened.

"Oh, did they? Did they name it after you?" Ravavka asked in mock-surprise.

"They did! They called-"

"Oh, what'd they call it? Did they call it something cool?" Ravavka gushed in a snide tone.

Ignoring the tone, Willow agreed, "Yeah! They named it Phoenix's nest!"

"No WAAAAY! I NEVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED!"

Grinning, Willow leaned in to enjoy the night. Apparently it'd be one of the last with this particular group.

Shivna

Shivna's Personal Sitting Room, The Crystal Spire, Kavlaka

A soft, rhythmic, tapping brought Shivna gently out of her meditative state. Blinking open her eyes, she turned toward the source of the sound. As expected, a servant stood clutching a crystal glass in one paw while her long needle-thin claws tapped the rim in a carefully pleasant pattern.

A soft smile graced the woman's delicate face, "M'lady, you have a message from the queen. I thought it prudent to alert you immediately."

"Thank you, Jovolie, you were correct as usual. Please prepare a meal for me, I will take the message in the throne room."

Jovolie curtsied quickly before spinning like a dancer and skipping off as if she'd never known a worry in her life. Putting aside the envy the observation elicited, Shivna stood and began to prepare herself to receive her queen's message. Had the message been private, the Tiana would have simply sent a message through the UICI, one of the few circumstances the summer court's ruler would deign to use it.

The fact Jovolie had alerted her to the message meant the queen had sent it through the whispering way to be received by the local grove's humming ash. Each world the summer court controlled had one of the infinitely useful trees planted immediately upon the world by whatever acting governor arrived on the planet first.

Alone, Shivna allowed herself a deep sigh as she allowed the burdens of leadership to resume their place upon her mist-obscured shoulders. For the millionth time this year, Shivna wondered whether she should dull her wit and sense of responsibility. She was certain her insights and domain wouldn't mind being turned against their originator, thrilled as they were to be allowed to fulfill their purpose.

The idea was as passing as always: countered by the knowledge that should she indulge, Shivna would undoubtedly destroy her own planet when her nature and her natural desires conflict drove her uninhibited psyche to fury.

Taking measured strides without haste, Shivna made her way to the throne room. When she arrived, Kavlaka's small court was gathered. As with any fae court, they were each as scheming as each other. To their endless embarrassment, all of the scheming was little more than a pastime.

Shivna was well known to be unaffected by politicking. Her desires were simple, her understanding of herself deep - making manipulation and social maneuvering nearly worthless. She indulged the court as an elder might indulge a favored spawn: seeing their games as adorable rather than dangerous.

The open glares and venomous hisses she was greeted with were as amusing to Shivna as bowing and groveling might have been. She waved a languid hand in greeting and expanded her domain, suppressing her vassals and forcing them to their knees.

"We shall receive the queen's words." Shivna intoned formally before releasing her domain. The court was wise enough to remain silent after such a momentous declaration. Queen Tiana was not known to grace courts outside of Filcria.

An imperious nod toward the attendants who stood around the humming ash was all the signal that was required. The three cloaked fae spread to three points around the sacred tree and raised their hands. Their path of The Rooted Winds allowed them to effectively joint-cast the spell which retrieved and replayed the desired message.

With a soft 'whoosh', the tree's canopy rustled and each leaf shimmered with countless colors of various luminosity. The wave of color and light concluded with a final flash of white.

Once the sun-spots had cleared from Shivna's eyes, she beheld the figure of Tiana, the Summer Court's Queen. Tiana was a tall woman, though the monstrous size projected by the tree's leaves was hardly accurate to life. Each of Tiana's features was a straight line, without a single hint of softness to be found. Her dress of summer colors was cut to accentuate the edges of her figure, shaped in layers of squares and triangles.

Even the queen's pupils were hard squares reflecting like polished agate. Striated lines of milky white and amber shimmered as she stared down at the court, and at Shivna in particular.

Raising one long, thin, arm Tiana made a slashing motion which caused the world to bend. Even a mere message was enough to exert her power a world away. Every courtier found themselves compressed and hardened into a shape more pleasing to the queen, more like herself. The short squat fae found themselves stretched thin, bulky tall beings were compressed into dense statuesque shapes with rounded muscle hardened into uncomfortable rectangles, and quadruped muzzled creatures were forced to stand and take on a human-like visage.

Even Shivna was affected. She felt her body remolded, her voluptuous curves and soft body remade into something to Tiana's taste. Not that anyone would be able to notice a difference, as the sparkling mists which concealed Shivna were entirely untouched by the Goddess' authority.

It took a conscious effort of will to remain silent as the pleasure of feeling something, anything, truly touch her body gushed through Shivna in rivers of excitement.

As the queen's arm reached the end of her cutting motion, she began her declaration, "Shivna the Untouchable."

Shivna avoided wincing at the use of her warrior's title. While it was meant as an honor, the irony it offered was too poignant. The queen's message continued, either unaware or uncaring of the distress her introduction would cause her vassal.

"I have received notice from a recently appointed acting governor upon a newly acquired world. She speaks of deep plots and unallowable intrigues which threaten to rip her authority from her." The queen paused. Either having anticipated the Shivna's court to sneer and make derisive comments, or the message having enough autonomy itself to give them time to finish their interruption.

"It appears your cousin Skathareek is unable to appropriately govern. Given you have more-than proven your own ability to rule, I am sending you to assist her in properly establishing my rule. Once complete, you will return to your world and resume your duties here on Kavlaka… After being allowed a sojourn into the Whispering Nyad Forest. As soon as you have decisively established my authority upon the planet, you will be granted this boon. I have spoken, so it shall be."

The visage of her Shivna's queen slowly faded. As her presence was slowly replaced by the humming ash's normal gray leaves, her hold over everyone's physical forms retreated. Shivna felt her body slowly decompress, as she saw her court return to their normal non-uniformity. Of particular amusement was seeing the small group of wolf-like quadruped's whining as their human-like figures were stripped from them. It was well-known that their path would eventually lead them toward becoming ware-humans.

Turning to her court, Shivna spoke simply, "When I return, I will slay and imprison any being who has undermined the smooth running of my planet. Anyone who manages to improve the operations of the world will be rewarded."

Necessary preparations made, Shivna turned and strode from her throne room toward the teleportation matrix on the other side of the Crystal Tower.

She was quite eager to complete her queen's task and set off on her sojourn.