Published: February 14th 2025, 3:00:11 pm
Night was here! I was going to skip over him sneaking in without knocking on the door. The prank was good, and the vampire shimmered back into existence in [The World Around Me], and I could suddenly sense him with the rest of my more mundane senses.
I wanted to say that was an absolute bullshit skill, but I had my fair share of those. What assassin couldn’t completely conceal himself anyway?
“Night! Welcome! Do you want to sit down and, uh-” I cut myself off before inviting him to have a bite. Pun entirely unintended, and he’d need to chomp down on one of us. My automatic social responses needed a bit of tweaking, or moreso a reminder about dietary restrictions. A little rude to invite a vegetarian to ‘chow down’ during a barbeque.
The vampire shook his head.
“I apologize, I am on a tight schedule. It has been far too many years since we last had an opportunity to sit down and catch up over a meal, let alone have a walk, and I regret to inform you that tonight is no different. However, with that said, I would like to invite you to Kazehara, where we hope to forge the treaty that will shape the coming world.”
I shot a quick inquiring look to Iona, who started to think about it, then kept talking with Night.
“Wait, I thought you were doing all that immediately after Ithil?” I asked.
He shook his head.
“We prepared the basic rules and location for a more extended discussion. It would be patently unfair to attempt to hammer out a treaty mere hours after a battle, especially when the vast majority of people involved have no participation or representation. These types of events are difficult to arrange, and we have spent much of the past year preparing ourselves.”
I folded my arms.
“Wait, so why am I only finding out now?” I demanded.
“Because you are the absolute model of dramatic preparations before a large political meeting.” Night delivered the line completely deadpan, and it took me a moment to get his sarcastic joke. I chuckled.
“Alright, got me there.”
Auri flew up to my shoulder and trilled a question.
“Brrrpt?”
Night shook his head.
“I apologize, but no, you may not attend. Appearances are vitally important here, and your presence would look like the phoenixes are putting their support behind Elaine, and by extension, Orthus and likely Exterreri, binding you and them to the words laid down. Would your own Sasha approve of such actions?”
Auri thought about it, then shook her beak. Night nodded.
“Indeed. Only representatives are permitted, this meeting will be challenge enough without needing to cater to the legions of support staff that normally attend heads of state, no matter how large or small.”
“No way I can come. Recently deposed leader of Sahel, it would look like you’re playing favorites and making declarations.” Iona said. Night smiled.
“Your social and political acumen would serve you well in the political arena, if your [Vow] did not thoroughly tie your hands to the necessary actions that occasionally needed to be taken. Correct. If you still ruled in Sahel, you would have received an invitation. However, there is a second aspect that may afford you an invitation. All the gods of the pantheon are invited, should they so which to weigh upon the affairs of mortals. Do Selene and Lunaris wish for you to attend as their anointed representative?”
Iona’s eyes unfocused for a minute as she communed with her goddesses. She came back down to Pallos a moment later and shook her head.
“No, they have faith that nobody will try to hinder worship. I will be attending if that motion is proposed again.” The paladin looked doubtfully at Night. He snorted.
“My best advice is to sit far away from anyone proposing such an inane measure, and I predict it will be a race to see who can strike down such a fool first. I doubt you’ll be able to make it on time.”
“Skye’s getting one, yeah?” Iona asked. “Curious that she hasn’t told us about it.”
Night nodded.
“It’s true. She is my next stop. One difficult issue with attempting to arrange this event is informing everyone that it is happening, and furthermore, informing everyone in such a way that does not happen to blatantly favor or disfavor particular groups. Imagine if we informed everyone who resides in the former Exterreri a week after we decided on Kazehara, and Xerius a day before they would have needed to leave to arrive on time? The coordinated efforts would utterly trump them in discussions, and it would be as if we did not invite mortals at all to join us at the table. Indeed, the gnoll tribes of Dairalt were almost immediately informed, as they would take a year, if not longer, to arrive. No, mortals were provided several advantages, and the rest was a combination of luck and the difficulty in finding every settlement and delivering the invitation. I do apologize. But as I mentioned earlier, I am somewhat on a tight deadline. You are not the only one I need to explain this to tonight, and I am traveling with a group. Further details can be given as we travel. Would you like to attend? I have kept you in mind specifically to act as a strong voice advocating for the rights of [Healers], specifically, that they are not bound in this era.”
Night always had time for me. Always had time to explain. If he said ‘sorry, I can’t explain right now, we’re in a rush’, I was absolutely, 100% going to believe him. Plus, he knew me. He wasn’t a master [Thinker] like Arachne - or maybe he was, he was just better at hiding it - but he knew the words needed to get me onboard. Not needing to hide I was a high level healer in mortal lands? Being able to freely travel them? Yes please!
I glanced over at Iona, who made shooing noises, and a desperate plea with her eyes.
“Elaine, go. And try to keep Classers like me unrestricted. I’d love to be able to travel through Rolland freely again.” My wife said.
“Alright! I’m dumping supplies upstairs. Sara, sorry this is coming up without any warning. It’s a surprise to me as well.” With a thought I moved over a large number of our supplies stashed in [Manor] and started to organize them. Sara ran over and clutched my robes.
“You’re going to come back, right?” She asked with tears brimming in her eyes. I kneeled down.
“I’m coming back.” I promised. “I’m nearly impossible to kill.” I glanced up to Iona. “Might want to start letting people know now that the healing field is going away for…” I glanced at Night. “How long does this usually take?” I asked.
“Surprisingly consistent.” He answered. “Six to eight weeks. I do apologize, I must go. Iona, if you would tender my best wishes to Artemis, Fenrir, and the rest, I would much appreciate it. Let us meet at Skye’s place.”
With a dramatic sweep, he stalked back out of the house.
I tried not to linger over any goodbyes, but I didn’t want to rush them either.
“I love you all! See you soon! I’ll try to bring back some souvenirs.” I waved one last time to my friends and family, had one last round of hugs, kisses, and cheek-nuzzles - this was the third ‘final round’ - before taking off to follow Night.
I met him at Skye’s place, and wasn’t it just a little scary he knew exactly where it was?
“Skye, need a hand setting up Varuna?” I asked her. Night was pitching in with two hands, but I figured one more Classer added to the mix couldn’t hurt.
“Please.” She said.
Three heartbeats later, and the unicorn was all set for Skye to be gone for an extended period of time.
“If you would take my hand?” Night offered Skye his hand. “Elaine, I am confident in your ability to keep up.”
With that, the two of them were off like a shot, and I followed.
Huh.
I was usually more on the ball with these sorts of things. I just realized - I was being referred to as Elaine, no mention of Dawn.
We stopped a few miles outside of Orthus, where a group of Immortals were standing around. I visibly flashed an ‘everything’s alright’ Ranger hand-sign over my head. Artemis and her merry little band were busy spying from one of the nearby hilltops. Night flashed another signal Artemis’s way, but I didn’t recognize it. Maybe an in-joke from when he trained her?
“Thank you for your patience.” Night addressed the group. “We will now be heading north. Those of you with low mobility, please ensure you are within the red ring.”
Everyone shuffled in closer as a large red ring appeared in the grass around us. A few Immortals drifted away, but I stayed in. I wasn’t sure what Night meant by ‘low mobility’, but it was entirely possible I qualified.
Somehow. I was proud of how quick I was.
A transparent sheet ‘lifted’ up from the ground, bringing us all long with it. Night started to hover level with it, because of course he could fly. He aimed north and shot off. Like the world’s largest frisbee, the platform we were on followed him. A number of Classers flew around the platform, and we meandered onto our next destination.
Part of my mind was focused on the platform we were on. What element was this skill? The ground part made me think Earth, but the clear, almost crystalline aspect was making me think Gemstone or Mirror, although Earth could do it as well, but the ‘practically doesn’t exist’ part had me leaning towards Brilliance, of all things.
There was no windshear, nor did the platform seem at all unstable. I counted in the ‘highly mobile’ section of things, the platform wasn’t moving that quickly. There were a few cliques already forming, people in deep discussion with each other. Skye immediately started to ingratiate herself with one, introductions flowing easily.
Everything Arachne had taught me said I should do the same thing if I wanted support for ‘healers should be unbound’ idea. I was waffling on it for a number of reasons.
Besides Skye, there was another familiar face!
“Katerina! It’s been too long, I’m sorry. How’s Mare doing?” I asked my old [Legata].
“Dawn. I’m happy but surprised to see you here. I didn’t think you’d end up ruling significant territory.”
“Elaine, please. I think I’m here because I’m really good at healing? Night wasn’t super clear. Just a ‘come quickly, there’s no time to explain’ and we were off.”
Katarina snorted.
“That’s Night alright. Been on this damn platform for nearly a week now.”
I winced. That sounded like torture. I realized a possible issue, and after a quick look around - other people were openly using skills, including two I thought were the same as what I wanted - I wrapped us up in [Mantle]. Katarina lifted an eyebrow, but otherwise didn’t move.
“How’s being on your own going to work with your curse?” I asked. “Not too much of a problem?”
“It is a problem.” Katarina confessed. “Night brought along his protege, Tobias. He’s got special privileges or something. Wasn’t clear on it. Tobias has been helping me out, and to everyone else, it just looks like he’s helping one of Night’s friends.”
“Ah, excellent.” I dropped the field, doctor-patient confidentiality maintained. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around more often.”
Katarina snorted and waved me off.
“You’re quite useful with how often you visit. Often enough that the old fogeys in the Sixth don’t think you’ve abandoned us, but rare enough that all the kids need to fix their own damn problems and not wait for a Sentinel to drop out of the sky and fix all their problems. Same with the [Healers]. Plenty of experience and practice for them without you boring them to tears.”
A guilty look flashed over my face. The only teenager I’d seen around here slid up next to Katarina. A saurian, I didn’t see too many of those over here.
“Need anything?” He asked.
“You must be Tobias.” I said.
“Ma’am. That’s me.” He offered his hand, and I grinned as I took it, winking to Katarina.
“Hi, nice to meet you, I’m Elaine.” I said.
“Oh nice, what’s your name?” He asked.
“Elaine.”
“No no, name, not job… I’m saying it correctly, right?” He glanced up to Katarina.
“Give Tobias a break, this is a new language for him.” The master of shadows told me.
I shrugged. It was amusing now and then.
“My name is actually Elaine, and nothing but Elaine.” I carefully explained. I knew the secondary language Xerius used, but I wasn’t quite sure if it was still known, and hadn’t shifted or something since I’d last learned it.
Damnit. Getting old was starting to bite me in the ass. I was going from ‘learning new things’ to ‘needing to maintain what I’d learned’ as things shifted.
“Man, I feel sorry for you. What were your parents thinking?” He said. To my mild surprise, Katarina seemed to agree. Huh. Had I never told her? I guess I didn’t go around shouting how great I was, what was the point in being a braggart and not doing anything?
“Other way around.” I winked, enjoying the confusion. We started to land a moment later, and Night took off. A pair approached me, and I tensed a hair at the silver-masked Warden. He? - the protections were thorough - raised up a hand.
“Peace.” He said. “We are all under an inviolate truce banner, no matter what run-ins you’ve had with us before. If it helps, I can think of no reason to cause trouble for you. I simply wanted to introduce myself.”
I relaxed, and did my best Iona impression. I liked it far more than Arachne’s more clinical approach to making friends and influence.
“Hi! I’m Elaine, it’s nice to meet you!” I held out my hand to both the Warden and the Apista. Rare to see one out of their hives and lands, ‘reclusive as hell’ described them well. Didn’t look like a queen either.
“I go by Wally. My parents named me something significantly less pronounceable.” The Warden said with a tired sigh. I had some idea of what he was feeling… except he also had to grow up with it, and was probably significantly older than me to boot. I wasn’t going to pry.
“Bee-lieve it or not, I’m Royal. Beekeeping is my buzz-iness!” She said.
Well, I was guessing that she was a woman. Male apistas were super rare, and tended to stay near their hives.
“I couldn’t help but overhear some of your earlier questions. This will be the third time I’ve attended one of these meetings. I hope it can go as smoothly as Kyowa did. Broadly, there appear to be five groups invited to Treaty meetings. The first and most common are rulers over anything larger than a village. They are trusted to speak with the best interests of their community at heart, although many speak for their own best interests. A fine line. The second are subject matter experts, those recognized to excel in a field. The third is a broad catch-all category. Fourth are the Wardens, and fifth are the locals who are hosting the treaty discussions.” Wally said.
That order felt wildly off to me, but I wasn’t going to argue. It did raise more questions.
“Why do the Wardens get explicitly called out?” I asked. “How does that work?”
“We are often asked to enforce the Treaty, as one of the oldest continuous organized groups.” Wally shrugged carelessly. “I suspect, this time, we will decline. Kyowa’s era was unpleasant.”
I tilted my head, two pieces coming together.
“You also need to make sure nothing’s infringing on the treaty with the North, and need to have enough voices there to ensure you’re heard.”
There was a long pause.
“Correct.” He eventually answered.
“Former? - I don’t know if I could ever be former in this - [Loremaster].” I explained.
“Ahhh.” The Warden said with understanding.
Katarina, Tobias, and Royal had been following our conversation back and forth like ping pong balls.
“The honeycomb is bee-ing put together!” Royal said. “I know why I’m here!”
Interesting. I assumed Royal had been representing a hive… and still could be. Apistas had a weak hive-mind thing going on, which was part of why they were so damn insular.
Night came back with another [Governor] - probably a human this time, not an Immortal - and we took off.
“Why’s that?” Katarina asked.
The five of us continued to chat as Night and the other Classers hopped around, picking up more people. When I got my fill of socializing, I flew around for a bit, energetically orbiting the platform like a hummingbird on too much sugar.
Why yes, I was far too familiar with how that looked.
Our hours were awkward with the number of vampires in tow, and we took a sheltered break for the day. Night vanished somewhere, which made sense - traveling like this was probably one of the riskiest things he could do, and he hadn’t survived this long by taking dumb risks - and I didn’t sleep in my [Manor], as much as I wanted to. The risk of everyone waking up and leaving while I snoozed was far too high, and I didn’t want to try and track everyone down.
We spent a few days bouncing around as I chatted with my new friends. Soon enough, we were in Nippon-Koku, and a surprisingly well-developed town appeared on the horizon, a large arena under construction just a mile away from the city walls.
We had arrived in Kazehara.