The Language Of The Trees/ An Evalyce Novel [#NaNoWriMo16]

Chapter 5: Conversion

Libernaath, Northern Argoth, 10000 ft above the Aeryth Ocean, Year of the Lion Claw, 1727 CE

    Ari proved quite the gentleman, and insisted on a proper courtship. I thought it silly since our minds were both made up. Still, it gave him great pleasure. Ours was a somewhat shorter courtship than most, six months instead of a full year. I'd wanted to be married before his Conversion.

    No commotion was made over the change in our relationship. I had been afraid that we'd not be allowed to work together because of it. I shouldn't have. When working, we were colleagues. When alone, we were lovers. Both were scarce enough in the beginning. Only a few days after his return to the fold, Ari was sent away on assignment. This would happen many times over the next few months, as I trained with Tessa and Tellus.

    My training went smoothly. Tessa was a great teacher and Tellus proved to be much more open and excitable on his home ground. I learned that it was Elius' presence that had gotten him so nervous at that first meeting. The se'tov was a legend, an ancient Old One, and one of the two seconds to the sik'setov.

    I did get the metallic implants that all Technomancers had. Ari was right. They were only mildly uncomfortable at first. The discomfort paled in comparison to the pleasure of learning to work with them. When the time came to choose my own alter form, I settled on feathery owl wings, and claws that sheathed my fingers.

    Ari's Sharing had granted me his skills and knowledge of mecha and esper work. However, it quickly became apparent to Tessa that I had more of an aptitude for bio work and she put me through an accelerated program for bio architecture.

    Winter turned to spring, spring to summer. By this time, Ari had gotten settled back in, and undergone reassessment. I graduated Proctor-Severn and moved to more advanced training as a Quaestor. Thanks to Ari's previous lessons, most of what this consisted of was learning hand-to-hand combat, and the use of a variety of weapons. By summer's end, I was promoted to risk'va. Ari and I were married in the late summer, a simple ceremony conducted by Elius himself, and attended only by Myles, Tessa, Tellus, and, at my insistence, Jaysin, as my closest friend.  That was two weeks ago, and today we were preparing for his Conversion.

    I slipped my hand into Ari's as we approached Trinity Lab, giving his warm hand a reassuring squeeze. Despite his commitment to the choice he'd made, Ari was still ill-at-ease with the idea of dying. I was even more against it, but held my peace, for his sake. He was the one who needed comfort, whether he showed it or not, whether he asked or not. The closeness between us had deepened over the last six months. I didn't need him to ask to know he needed it. From Ari's protected shoulder, Merc made gentle grumbling noises. Much to my surprise, the soot eagle had come with us to Libernaath, and often joined Ari on his missions away. More to my surprise, no one seemed inclined to question it.

    This was my first visit to the main Technomancer research facility, located just outside of Libernaath.  The lab was a three storey affair of pale salmon stone, sheltered among beautiful, ancient royal oaks. Inside, Myles and Tessa greeted us.

    "There's been a slight change of plan, Ari. The sik'setov is here as well. She'll be the one doing your Conversion," Myles said, low.

    Ari's fingers tightened around mine, before relaxing again. I had heard much of Parda'ny'della, most spoken in hushed tones. Even more than Elius, his wife Parda, head of the entire Order of the Technomancers, was a legend. It was she who had created the very first Old One, right here in this Lab, over a hundred and twenty-five years ago. She herself had become the second, followed by Elius.

    "Why is the sik'setov here?" Ari hissed.

    "The sik'setov is here because Master Mercurius wished the very best care for you."