Potatoes
Location: Gloria's Temple/Kitchen
Time: Y1502 - 3rd day of the Ice Moon
*peel potato* (Liara)
Boring.
*peel* (Liara)
Boring.
*peel* (Liara)
Boring.
[The more you focus on how boring peeling potatoes is, the worse it will be.] (Doctor Me)
Doctor Me is right. Of course he is. But I can't help it!!!
[You have us. While your hands peel, you can do talk with us!] (Bookworm Me)
Is this a joke? I can't do
many things at once. And only I can control our body. This is the only
way... We can't take turns doing it. I would if I could.
[Come on! Peeling potatoes doesn't require your full focus, Liara! help me decode their writings!] (Bookworm Me)
Look, I can't! I'm bad at multitasking, alright? If my mind wanders too much I'll just...
*cut* "Ouch!" *thumb bleed* (Liara)
"It looks like even the Gifted One can be clumsy." (Sister Bella)
"I'm sorry, Sister Bella." (Liara)
"Let
this be a lesson for you. No matter how small your duty is. Slacking
off bear consequences. Do you understand, young Initiate?" (Bella)
"I understand. I'll be more careful, Sister Bella." (Liara)
"Good. Use this rag to clean your cut. And here some more potatoes! So that you can make some more practice!" *grin* (Bella)
"!!!" (Liara)
This is totally child abuse.
[Who knows. Maybe this Sister is right. Peeling potatoes might do you some good!" (Bookworm Me)
[I agree. And you'd better pick up the pace, or it will take you all night!] (Gamer Me)
[Now,
if you excuse us, we have lots of things to think about. Magic.
Writing! Do your best. After all you are the only one who can control
our body. We can't help it. He he he.] (Doctor Me)
... This is totally child abuse.
*peel potato* (Liara)
Boring.
*peel* (Liara)
If I knew starting school would mean having to work, I would have stayed silent longer.
*cut* "Ouch!!!" (Liara)
*giggle* (Bella)
Not a word!
[I didn't say anything.] (Doctor Me)
Sigh... I'll just focus on peeling the potatoes.
*peel* (Liara)
*peel* (Liara)
*peel* (Liara)
I'M BORED!!!
A Magical Night
Location: Gloria's Temple/Serina's Chamber
Time: Y1502 - 3rd day of the Ice Moon
*enter* (Liara)
"It's late, Liara. Were you peeling potatoes all day long?" (Serina)
"Yes!
And Sister Bella gave me even more potatoes because I cut myself, and I
cut myself even more because of all the potatoes! I'm so tired!"
(Liara)
*giggle* "Oh my! It seems you had quite a day, Liara. Come here, I'll heal your hands for you." (Serina)
Since I'm small, Mother kneel in front of me.
"Ouch!" (Liara)
She gently unwrap the rags around my thumb. It hurts a little.
<Close Wounds> (Serina)
Mother's hands wraps around mine. Golden light is enveloping her body. She really look like an angel!
I
carefully observe the magic at works. The blood stains crumble into
dust. The shallow cuts on my thumb quickly close leaving a small scar
behind. But even the scar is short lived. Soon My thumb is as smooth.
There are not even my fingerprints and. Oh! There the fingerprints
appear. I'm like new.
"There. You are all good now." *kiss thumb* (Serina)
"Thank you, Mother." (Liara)
*smile*
"It's alright, Liara. I'll always be there for you. And remember that
we all have duties toward Gloria. Sister Bella may look mean to you now,
but you'll be thankful to her in the future." *hug* (Serina)
*knock* *knock*
A guest so late? Who is it?
"You may come in, Sister Meridia." (Serina)
"Good evening, Initiate Liara. How are you, today?" (Meridia)
She
changed so much since the first time I saw her. She looks like an old
woman. Blind, and deeply scarred. But Mother think highly of her. What
does she wants?
"Many blessing, Sister Meridia." (Liara)
*pat
head* "You speak so eloquently, Liara! It's hard to believe that you
are just over two years in age. We expect great things from you."
(Meridia)
"I don't feel special. I just want Mother and everyone to be happy!" (Liara)
Leave me alone a while longer, will you?
[Meridia was a great mage once. I could really use some information about magic. Can you ask?] (Science Me)
No! Mother is good too, you know? Plus I don't want to attract any more attention for now.
[That's the right call, Liara. Let's play it safe.] (Doctor Me)
[Safe means boring!] (Gamer Me)
Quiet! We'll discuss later.
"Liara,
Meridia is here to watch over me, as I perform a Ceremony of Gifts on
you. It's a spell that will allow me to check on you, and to see if you
are healthy." (Serina)
I
wondered why I wasn't examined along with the other children two days
ago. It seems they'll do the check up in private from now on. It works
for me! I trust Mother. Still, I'd better feign some ignorance. I'm not
supposed to remember last time. Or the times before that.
[You are learning how to blend in finally!] (Doctor Me)
I can't tell if Doctor Me is praising me or mocking me...
"... Will it hurt?" (Liara)
"Of course not, my sweet Liara. Also Meridia is here to make sure everything goes well" (Serina)
"But she is blind!" (Liara)
[That... Was rude.] (Doctor Me)
What? Everybody knows children are honest and tactless. And I'm a little girl.
[You are becoming really good at using your situation to your advantage.] (Gamer Me)
"Young Liara, magic is complex, but just know this. You can see magic without your eyes." (Meridia)
"Lay down on the bed, Liara. It'll be quick" (Serina)
"Alright, Mother." *lay down* (Liara)
<Lesser Reveal Gifts> (Serina)
I can feel Mother's magic inside of me. As expected I don't hate it as much as when Meridia was doing it.
...
A few minutes passed. She is focusing on my belly right now.
"Mother, is something wrong with my insides? You haven't moved from there in a while." (Liara)
"?!? You can feel the place I'm treating?" (Serina)
"Yes. Is that... Wrong?" (Liara)
Let's
hope I didn't drop the ball here! I just have no idea what would I'm
supposed to be able to do! It's not my fault I can feel it!
Magic leave my body. The spell is no longer active.
"No,
Liara... It's just... I was thirteen when I first was able to feel
magic. And people said I was quick. It's nothing you should worry about,
Liara." (Serina)
"Liara,
this only mean your aptitude is beyond imagination. You develop at your
own rate. Only that rate exceed anything in our records." (Meridia)
"Anyway don't worry. You are healthy, my child" *smile* (Serina)
I love
Mother's smile. I had two useless mothers before coming under her care.
Third time really is the charm! I love you, Mother.
"When was the first time you saw magic, Liara?" (Meridia)
"I don't know. I was able to see the lights for as long as I can remember?" (Liara)
No use
in deceiving them here. They know I was able to see even as a baby. I
can say I don't remember so far back. I do. But a baby is not supposed
to remember their first days.
[This
is a perfect chance to ask them about magic. Don't let it slip away.
Who know when the next chance when we will be able to ask nonchalantly
will come.] (Science Me)
"Uhm...
About magic. I can see the lights, and I know you call it magic. But I
don't really know what it is. Do you think I can make lights myself?"
(Liara)
Mother and Meridia look each others in the eyes. They nod. They seem to have come to an agreement.
"My
sweet Liara. This woman beside me once was the High Priestess of
Gloria. The most powerful mage in the continent. She looks like this
because of... An accident. But nobody knows more about magic. She now
serves as magic teacher." (Serina)
"I'll
give you your very first magic lesson. Get up, close your eyes and
extend your hands like you were holding a ball." (Liara)
Yes!!! I couldn't unlock magic on my own. I just don't know what to do! I need somewhere to start from.
*take pose* (Liara)
"Magic
comes from the mind. This exercise is simple. You must imagine yourself
holding a ball of light. Strongly. With every fibre of your being. If
you do this every day, eventually..." (Meridia)
"..." (Serina)
*orb of light* (Liara)
"I think I can see the light. Is it working?" (Liara)
...
*grin* "It is, Gifted One. The light is definitely there." (Meridia)
Practice
Location: Gloria's Temple/Serina's Chamber
Time: Y1502 - 24th day of the Ice Moon
*enter* (Liara)
Mother's chamber is empty. Good.
Adults have it harder than us children. Duties fill their days from dawn until dusk.
This mean I have Mother's chamber all for myself!
Other children go play in those hours, but the games they do are boring to me. And there is something I must do.
Meridia thought me the basics of magic.
She
thought me that it comes from the mind, that one must stay still, think
about refining the aether in threads, like you would from wool. She
even showed me how Sisters make clothes to give me a proper mental
image.
She was the greatest mage in the continent.
And she is wrong.
[That's
the power of the Scientific Method. They do things the way their
ancestors did them. It's against their very being to doubt their
teachings. But that prevent them from developing more efficient ways to
weave magic.] (Science Me)
Every day since that first lesson, Science Me asked me to try do things in different ways. Making experiments.
In
our world too, sometimes, an untrained could discover new things. An
untrained has no bias. They don't know how things are supposed to be
done, so they try unreasonable and weird things. Most of the times
failing, but not always.
Sometimes
math teachers hide unsolvable problems in entry tests to see if a
freshman can solve it by trying something nobody else tried before.
Most of the times nothing happens. And no harm is done. But other times a student succeed. And everything changes.
I close my eyes. I focus my attention on the tip of my fingers. And I start dancing.
Rather
than thinking about collimating a moving point in a 3D space, I
collimate on the tips of my fingers. All ten of them at once. And I
physically move my hands to weave the magic threads.
Meridia
thought me that a mage has to be perfectly still in order to weave.
Wrong. By moving, I can weave 20 times faster and 10 threads at once. A
200 fold improvement!
Meridia
also thought me, the scale of the magic that can be weaved depends on
how much aether you refine. This is correct. And means that In terms of
raw magic I exceed most people here right now. I still lack experience
and knowledge though. But I'm just two years old. Give me time!
*grin* (Liara)
I dance for about a minute. Now I'm surrounded by long thin threads floating around me.
The threads are still attached to my fingertips and move according to my will. I can use them to do many things.
I used them to physically move objects at a distance. To make visible light.
Today I'll try to make something else.
With
my eyes closed I imagine my threads forming together, intersecting each
others, forming something similar to a sheet or a grid. Shaping itself
like a dome.
<Liara's Barrier: Prototype #1> (Liara)
I open my eyes, and stop focusing on my barrier.
[Success!!!
The barrier is invisible to the eye, but it's there. The thread are
sticking together even without focusing on them. Now, I want you to test
its strength.] (Science Me)
I
extend my short arm outside... That's not going to work. The barrier is
centred around me. My arms are not long enough to touch it. I'm a two
years old baby girl after all...
I pick a wooden sphere from the floor. One of my toys. I throw it against my barrier.
*throw wooden ball* (Liara)
*bounce* *fall* (Wooden Ball)
[Success!!! The barrier react to physical object like an elastic sheet would!] (Science Me)
He
he. Science Me is in his natural environment! He really is enjoying
himself. He must have missed discovering new stuffs. And working on
something that didn't even exist in our world is bringing him pure joy.
Good for him!
[Next experiment. Walk toward the bed] (Science Me)
I get what he is trying to do.
I walk toward the bed. The edge of my barrier hit the bed and bend.
My
barrier is slightly bending. And I can't move forward anymore. My legs
are not strong enough to push the bed. My barrier is a hemisphere, and
is larger than the door. I wouldn't be able to go out like this.
[As expected. You are the focal point of the barrier. All outside forces act directly on you.] (Science Me)
[That's
bad, isn't it? It's like having a bulletproof vest. Even if the
projectile does not penetrate, the skin below has to bear the force of
the impact.] (Doctor Me)
[Yes. And I have ideas on how to solve this problem. This is just our first barrier.] (Science Me)
[Guys.
Be quick about mastering the basics. You have no idea how many ideas
for spells I have. With all the games I played, I might as well have
limitless inspiration!!!] (Gamer Me)
[Uhm...
I liked to read fantasy works. I'm not sure if they are helpful, but
there are ideas for spells I'd like to try too.] (Bookworm Me)
[I
can feel the day when we will unlock <HUD> getting closer. I
can't wait to see the outside of this temple! Who knows what this world
is like. I want to see it all!] (Explorer Me)
Everyone is fired up! I am too.
I'm a mage!!!
I
have the help of dozens of personalities with wildly varying
experiences. I have a body with unbound aptitude, surely a gift from
<Voice>. On top of that I have a broken unique power!
I
have a loving mother, the greatest mage in the continent to consult and
I'm in an environment where my talents are being nurtured!
Life is good.
*radiant smile* (Liara)
Thomen
Location: Gloria's Temple/School
Time: Y1502 - 27th day of the Ice Moon
Another morning, another day
of school. And after this, I'll have to peel potatoes both for launch
and for dinner. And on top of that I have my magic practice in the
afternoon.
I'd like to take it easy, but I'll be a lot safer once I know magic. I'll just have to bear with it.
...
What is this sensation? My guts are tangling up. I feel like something is wrong.
*enter* (Liara)
The classroom. Feels different? Ramia is not here. The children are sitting like statues and are as pale as ghosts.
*slam* (Door)
[Duck!!!] (Soldier Me)
There are many Me I don't
talk often with. This one was a soldier. He has lots of experience in
hand to hand combat. He took part in a war. Bloody business.
His experience is what saved
me right now. Adrenaline fills my body, time compress, I enter in battle
mode. Something he learned the hard way through training and war. I'm
scared, but he learned to focus all of his attention in what to do next.
I don't panic.
It's the first time the
experiences of one of the other Me are taking over like this. Must be
because of the danger. I know without seeing that two brats are behind
me. One closed the door, one is swinging a wooden stick.
They might be brats, but I have the body of a two years old little girl. They are a threat to me!
*duck* (Liara)
Just in the nick of time!
They must be two of Thomen's side kicks. I'm one meter tall. The bullies
are much older and taller than me. The wooden stick aiming at my head,
passes over me, and hit the other brat in his crotch.
"Arghhh!" (Brat)
Their surprise attack has failed! My heart is beating like crazy.
[Barrier!!!] (Gamer Me)
[Shut up! I call the shots. Run! And weave magic threads while you are running!] (Soldier Me)
I have a few moments to glimpse at his memories. Soldier me knows what he is talking about. I get up and run forward.
As I run, threads appears
into existence at the tip of my fingers. If those brats could, they
would see ribbon like threads of light floating behind me.
*Tsk* (Liara)
I can't focus properly! The threads are tattered and irregular! I'm still weak.
[On your nine!!! Dodge!!!] (Soldier Me)
*rock hit* "OUCH!" *fall* (Liara)
... Blood is coming down from
my forehead. Thomen hit me with a rock. It hurts. He is a top candidate
for the Order of the Knights. He does have fighting skills. Bastard.
Soldier Me experience is not
enough to compensate for the weakness of my two years old body. My
reflexes just can't keep up. The difference is just too big.
*grin* (Thomen)
Thomen is closing in to me.
Slowly. He thinks he has won. He wants to thoroughly beat me up. His
grin betray the satisfaction he is feeling. He really anticipate beating
be up.
That's his mistake. Time is all I need.
[It won't be perfect, but it should hold up against them. At least until the teacher arrives. Do it!] (Science Me)
<Liara's Barrier: Prototype #4> (Liara)
This barrier is anchored to
the floor. My body won't have to bear the force of the impacts, but I
won't be able to move. It take mere moments to erect the barrier. It is
done.
It's not a good job. The
barrier even has small holes like Swiss cheese and is thin. But it will
take a couple of hit from a fat brat.
"TAKE THIS!!!" (Thomen)
Thomen is holding a big rock over his head with both of his hands. He plans to crush my head with it. Lunatic.
*hit* *boing* (Large Rock)
*fall* (Thomen)
Had he hit me in the head like that I would have died!!! He really would have done it!!! He is crazy!!!
But my barrier stopped him. It's elastic. It's meant to deflect impacts.
Thomen has tumbled down. His
hands are bleeding, they might be broken. His little mind can't wrap
around the fact that his big rock bounced off an elastic invisible wall.
I look around. The brat with
the wooden stick is running away. The one who was hit in the crotch is
running too. He must really be in pain. Thomen reign over them through
fear and strength. His strength just failed him. His side kicks are
fleeing! The other children are running to a corner. They are terrified!
It doesn't look like Thomen
will raise up soon. He is confused, and his eyes are moist. He was just
bested by a two years old girl. His little mind can't accept this fact.
[Don't relax yet! Weave a better barrier. Now!] (Soldier Me)
Soldier Me shows me a memory
of being ambushed after a successful skirmish. They had just relaxed and
lowered their guard. He lost many comrades. He died right there.
Thanks for the lesson, Soldier Me. I won't make the same mistake.
This barrier is only one
meter in diameter, and it's too short for me to get up. I am sitting
down while crossing my legs. I wave my hands and collimate magic
threads.
It only take about ten seconds. I have enough now.
<Liara's Barrier: Prototype #4> (Liara)
The mass of magic threads
around me forms together in a fabric like grid shaped like a
semicircular dome. it's invisible to the others kids. They can't see
magic yet.
Two more seconds, and the new barrier is complete! I weaved it on top of the old one.
The tattered barrier I weaved
first served it's purpose. At my behest it unravels into magic threads.
I take my time and collimate those irregular magic threads into better
ones. The magic threads floats aimlessly around me. I'll be ready to
weave at a moment notice, now.
I won. Thomen just doesn't know it yet.
*push*
"What is this!!! Why is there an invisible wall!!! Take it down and
fight me like a man!!! ARGHHHHHHHH!!!" *push harder* (Thomen)
Blood is still dripping from my forehead. I glare at him. My words pierce him like a blade.
"I'm
a two years old frail little girl. You are physically stronger than me,
Thomen. I will not fight you with strength, because your strength means
nothing against my magic! You can try your entire life and still be
unable to reach me. You are a weakling, Thomen. You have lost. Against a
two years old little girl. YOU ARE WEAK!" (Liara)
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" (Thomen)
[Was it necessary to taunt him? He looks like a mad man now!] (Bookworm Me)
[You forgot that he tried to kill us? Now that he is consumed by rage, he is no longer a threat.] (Soldier Me)
*punch* *bleed* (Thomen)
*punch* *bone breaks* (Thomen)
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!! GET OUT!!!!!!!!!" (Thomen)
This is... Unsettling. He
obviously has some psychological problem. He keeps hammering my barrier
with his puny punches. To no effect. My barrier is no longer invisible.
His blood is staining it, revealing it's dome like shape. His physical
prowess is becoming his undoing this time.
...
"No teacher! I need you to do something else!!!" (Brat)
"Enough, Karan. I'm late for the class already! ... Sorry, children, I... WH.A.. ..." (Ramia)
About five minutes passed
since the attack began. I now understand why the teacher was late.
Another one of Thomen's side kick was holding her up.
She is frozen at the door and stopped taking mid sentence. Well, the scene before her is absurd.
The children all run toward a far corner and are hunkering down, trembling and crying.
I'm sitting down, with my leg
crossed. I'm bleeding. And tears are coming from my eyes. Part of it is
a trick to look scared, but I have to say that after the adrenaline run
out, the enormity of what happened hit me. I'm actually scared of what
the grown ups will do.
Even if Ramia can't see my magic, my barrier is visible because of Thomen's blood splats.
In front of me, Thomen is a
wreck. The biggest boy in the class. Strong and muscular. A Dark Skin at
least half a meter taller than me and three times as heavy. But it's
him that's laying down with his hands crushed and crying like a little
girl.
If I didn't have my magic
barrier, or Soldier Me experience to help me, I would have died right
here. Thomen's rock would have crushed my skull.
[Don't
hold anything back. Tell the adults EVERYTHING. You have no obligation
to protect Thomen from his own stupid actions. If you do, he would only
feels entitled to try again. And maybe next time he will succeed.]
(Bookworm Me)
Bookworm Me show me some memories about protecting bullies and being bullied even more. Awful.
Thanks! To all of you! I don't know what I would do without you.
[[You are welcome!]] (All Me)
*sniff* (Liara)
Mother
Location: Gloria's Temple/School
Time: Y1502 - 27th day of the Ice Moon
"Liara, we know it's not your fault. You can come out of your barrier now. Let us heal your wounds!" (Ramia)
"NOOO! I don't want to die! Nobody can harm me in here! I want Mother!!!" *cry* (Liara)
[That's a bit over the top?] (Science Me)
[On
the contrary. A two years old girl was about to get killed by a bully.
This is the only sane reaction. To cling to what saved her. Her
barrier.] (Doctor Me)
[Plus, by making this event even bigger, we'll make sure Thomen will be dealt with!] (Gamer Me)
You all make fair points. But I really won't come out until Serina arrives. She is the only adult I trust.
It's been half an hour since Thomen's assaulted me.
A chaotic half an hour.
Eventually the guards came and took Thomen away. The adults reconstructed the events quite accurately.
Several brats ambushed me, and I weaved a barrier to protect myself.
They wanted me dead. I made sure they understood that.
The big rock painted with blood that lay just outside the barrier is proof enough.
"Liara isn't listening! Can't any of you unravel this barrier? We need to treat her wound!" (Ramia)
"Her wounds are not life threatening. Plus, It's beyond my skills to unravel a barrier of this level." (Carlotta)
Beyond your skills? Really?
Carlotta is a Fair Skin woman, she is in her late twenties. She has
short black hair and brown eyes. She has a generous bosom. She is
training under Carminia as a nurse. She is supposed to be at least on
par with Mother when it comes to healing magic. And she can't unravel my
barrier?
[That's
only natural. The way of weaving magic we developed is far more
efficient that the one Meridia thought us. Meridia is undoubtedly better
then this woman whose specialization is in healing magic. Not
barriers.] (Science Me)
"Is this true? An healer can't unravel a barrier weaved by a two years old girl?" (Guard)
"This
isn't any two years old girl. This one is Liara, the Gifted One. I had
my doubt, but now that I see it, there is no mistake. At two years of
age, she already weave better magic than most Sisters. I can't unravel
her barrier. That's the simple truth." (Carlotta)
"I want Mother!!!" (Liara)
"Forcing
her out will just scare her more. This poor girl has been through a
lot. Let's just wait for Serina to arrive. Her wound is not life
threatening after all." (Bella)
"Sister Serina is here." (Guard B)
*rush* "Liara! Are you alright?" (Serina)
"Mother!!!" (Liara)
"We'll
have to investigate, but it seems Thomen, a Knight trainee, tried to
kill Liara. She weaved a remarkable barrier to defend herself." (Bella)
"You weaved this barrier, Liara?" *touch* (Serina)
*nod* (Liara)
"That's incredible, my sweet child! But you don't need it anymore. I'll protect you." (Serina)
*nod* (Liara)
This will do. My barrier unravels. As I will it.
<Liara's Barrier: Unravel> (Liara)
*hug* (Serina)
"Here, let me take care of your wounds." (Serina)
<Close Wounds> (Serina)
This will do for now. I'm sure they will keep Thomen away from me from now on. My first victory in this world!
Order
Location: Forbidden City/Underground Council Chamber
Time: Y0000 - 29rd day of the Fire Moon
[Wake Serenia] (Dragon)
A single thought was clear inside the minds of every Rat Kin in the Forbidden City.
After receiving the Oracle, this was the only order the Dragons gave the Rat Kin. An order as simple as it was terrifying.
"Dispatch a Dragon Priest to Serenia's mausoleum. Wake her up." (High Chancellor Mal'Jar)
"It's too early!!!" (Councilman A)
"She
wake up once every century! And she brings disaster every single time!
If we wake her up three decades in advance, who knows what she'll do!"
(Councilman B)
"Do you see any alternative, Chancellor? You perhaps suggest we defy an order from The Apex?" (Mal'Jar)
*gulp* "... I'll give the order right away." *leave* (Councilman B)
"What about the offering?" (Mal'Jar)
"You
already know the answer, High Chancellor. We usually have one hundred
years to prepare a fitting offering for Serenia. We are three decades
early. Even if we empty our..." (Councilman A)
"Then do that!!
I want every able Rat Kin to find and bring every scrap of gold, food
fabric and riches they can find in the Forbidden City to the Dragon
Plaza. At Once!" (Mal'Jar)
"But... We will starve. And still it won't be enough." (Councilman A)
"We have to try! For our ancestors. For our descendence." (Mal'Jar)
"... As you will. Excuse me. I have much to do." *leave* (Councilman A)
"We won't make it this time." (Warden Mi'Kai'Ra)
"No. We won't. But the Dragons must think we thought we would." (Mal'Jar)
"To what end? We'll all die! We should evacuate the city instead! Run as far as we can!" (Mi'Kai'Ra)
"Indeed. We should." (Mal'Jar)
"... You plan to use our city and the entire population as decoy. To allow a small group to leave." (Mi'Kai'Ra)
"As
expected of you. We reached the same conclusion. If we evacuate all at
once, the Dragons will simply chase us and burn us like ants. While
their sight is focused on something else, a few will escape in the
shadows." (Mal'Jar)
"And you'll lead one group." (Mi'Kai'Ra)
"No. I'm too old. You will lead them, warden." (Mal'Jar)
"..." (Mi'Kai'Ra)
"Our
secret network of tunnels was never meant to smuggle. It was meant to
evacuate. In secret, we prepared small groups of our best youth. They
will spread in all directions. Most will die. But some will survive. You
dealt with The Prisoner, warden. The closest thing to a Dragon our
tribe was able to contain. I'm giving you command over one of our
evacuation unit. The Shaman will come with you. Leave, and never look
back. Survive. This is my last order to you, warden Mi'Kai'Ra."
(Mal'Jar)
"I won't fail you, old friend." (Mi'Kai'Ra)
Offering
Location: Forbidden City
Time: Y0000 - 29rd day of the Fire Moon
*ding* *ding* *ding* (Bells)
[I
am The Shaman. Every able Rat Kin is to search the city for whatever
scrap of food or gold they can find and bring it to the Dragon plaza at
once. It's Their will. Our survival is at stake. Please, comply and we
will endure. As always.] (Shaman)
The
Shaman is the only living Rat Kin able to share her thoughts with
magic. She is a respected figure. Many know how much she sacrificed to
become Shaman. When she says something, few would doubt her words have
anything but the best interest of the tribe in mind.
"Mother. What do we do?" (Rat Kin Youth A)
"We
do as the Shaman says, my child. Let's take our food to the surface.
You too, my children. Take something and follow me." (Shi'Shi)
"But I'm hungry!" (Rat Kin Youth B)
"I know, my child. I am too." (Shi'Shi)
Shi'Shi
and her litter of ten lived in a small cave on the wall of a small
branch canyon of the Forbidden City. She wasn't poor for the standards
of the tribe, but still they often suffered from hunger. And always.
Always lived under the fear for Their rule.
They often asked for unreasonable things from the Rat Kin.
Many
die every time, but most live. And the tribe endure. Just yesterday,
one of Them was hunting the Rat Kin for sport Shi'Shi survived only
because another was eaten in her place. This time, they were asked to
part with their precious food.
Since
Rat Kin have fur, most don't wear clothes. Fabric is an expensive
luxury item. Shi'Shi fixed rags for a living, so she and her litter
packed what little they had inside backpacks made of rags she had laying
around and left their now empty cave.
"So many! It will take hours to arrive!" (Shi'Shi)
The
stairs and passageways were small, and only a few could pass at any
given time. Right now the whole canyon was dotted with Rat Kins trying
to reach the surface. Most didn't have means to hold their belonging, so
they were carrying by hands.
"Look! it's Them!!!" (Rat Kin Youth C)
"I'm scared!!!" (Rat Kin Youth D)
"Now, now. They just want food. And we are bringing it to them. We'll be fine." (Shi'Shi)
They could see only a small portion of the sky, but there were dozens of Dragons flying above their head. Terrifying.
The
Rat Kin built wooden lift, but there was only few of them. The Rat Kin
without backpacks could only wait for a lift to stop at their level.
Long queues formed. Shi'Shi was amongst the lucky ones.
Finally
Shi'Shi arrived at the surface. There were long queues with small
mountains of food accumulating. Once her turn arrived, she and her
litter unloaded the content of their backpack and joined another line.
When she asked where they where all going the answer was simple.
"She will soon awake. We all need to be there." (Rat Kin Guard)
Shivers went down Shi'Shi spine as she and her litter joined to long procession for the Dragon Plaza.