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

Chapter 6: K7

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

    Ari spent the next few weeks learning the intricacies of his new form. To me, little had changed. If I didn't know better, I would never guess he was an Old One. For now, Ari was very careful not to do anything too unusual around me. He still fretted my heart would turn against him, for being as he was. He needn't have feared. I loved him for himself, for his bo, or force of being, and that love was fierce as ever it had been.

    While Ari explored his new gifts, I continued my training. They had me expanding upon the Quaestor lessons Ari had taught me. The 'games' grew more and more elaborate, bringing in the lessons on  hand -to- hand and weapons fighting.

    The new lessons were held in a training room, called a salle, at the Academy. There were several such rooms that could weave wonderfully realistic illusions as to make you believe you were among the Arkaddian clans roaming the plains, or amidst the desert sands of Ishkar. Like so much here, they ran on the Technomancer-charged rods as an energy source.

    I learned how to better use my newfound magick and the implants. I could form thin armour beneath the skin, or over it, as well as manipulate the implants in many other ways. I learned to work with the mites that were injected along with the pockets of liquid mage metal. The little tech creatures were bound to the Technomancer in question, and their job was to repair damage. This was what had allowed Ari to survive the crossbow assault. Bio architects used trays of mites when crafting and grafting prosthetic parts for people.

    Ari was often out on assignment, or else he spent time with Elius, learning the nuances of his new body. His tasks were usually quick and close to home. I'd been informed that would change once I joined him.

    Summer was yielding to autumn's rest, turning the forest around us into a riot of red, orange, and gold, when Ari and I were given our first assignment. Well, I say our, rather I should say my, for Ari had been working so since he'd returned. I found myself rather excited over the prospect. As terrifying as part of our escapade as Eldon and Lily had been, I had enjoyed the work immensely. And now, well now I had weapons and combat knowledge, and the gift of magick.

    It was a bright, somewhat blustery day when I first entered the Quaestorium headquarters. The building itself, nested on the outskirts of Libernaath, in the same forest as Trinity, was a rather plain affair. It blended in with the sheltering trees, making it easy to overlook. It bore no fancy sculptures, or signage. Even the emblems of the Technomancers, and of the Quaestorium itself, were etched into the building so as not to be immediately noticeable. Few of the scant people going in and out wore the grey robes of the Technomancers.

    Inside, the building was brightly lit, and there were clusters of people everywhere. There was a jumper platform in the main lobby area, with a pair of Technomancers stationed by the platform terminals. Each was wired into a console controlling several of the terminals. I was astonished to see a raggedy Ishkaran man carrying a filthy rucksack approach the platform. After a brief discussion with the controller, the raggedy man stepped into a terminal...and promptly disappeared.

    "Ari...where did he go?" I was staring wide-eyed at the platform. The only experience I'd had with jumping was when Ari had done so to return us to the tree house. I recalled that it had taken a toll on him, but the controller hardly seemed fazed.

    "Out on assignment."

    "But how? I thought jumping was hard?" I certainly couldn't do it, though not for lack of trying.

    "They are hooked into the consoles. Inside are energy rods that can amplify their innate jumping skills. To be a controller, you have to be a very accomplished jumper."