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âHey, Nestor!â Leon called out as he walked into the dead manâs workshop. Immediately, he realized that Nestor hadnât been slacking at all in his experiments, as not only were there several dozen golem frames scattered around the workshop wherever his kinsman could store them without getting in his way, but the man himself had rebuilt his body once again. His âfaceâ remained completely featureless with the vague silhouette of a head the only recognizable feature above the neck. Everything else was sleek and metallic, built in the idealized shape of an athlete, muscles and all. The golem-man had also seen fit to increase his height just a little bit, leaving him standing at about ten feet tall.
âLeon,â Nestor said without any inflection. âI thought you were leaving to deal with the sun bitch or something.â
Leon blinked, surprised yet unsurprised at Nestorâs statement. âI did,â he said. âI just got back. Iâve been gone almost two months.â
âFunny. I didnât even notice.â
âIâm sure you didnât. So what have you been working on down here? Looks like good thingsâŠâ
Nestor angled his head a few times and clenched his dexterous fingers as he pushed himself away from his workbench. Leon took the opportunity to check out what the man was doing, immediately realizing that it was an advanced application of light magic.
âIâve been⊠Iâve been working,â Nestor simply said.
âHas it been going well?â Leon repeated. âYouâve built a bunch of golem bodies⊠so⊠yeah? Good? No? Bad? Come on, give me something!â
âWorthless,â Nestor growled as his head turned to survey the golems heâd built. âEvery single one of them is worthless. I have two wisps to experiment with, and theyâre from poor-quality labor golems. What Iâve built is far beyond their capabilities.â
âWhat about the other wisps weâve found?â Leon asked.
âIdiot,â Nestor murmured. âI wonât risk wisps built for arks on my personal projects. Those are far too valuable to ever risk. Without good wisps, my ability to continue my research isâŠâ Nestor collapsed into a nearby chair, the gesture almost surprisingly human given Nestorâs current physical form, though Leon took it to mean his ancient kinsman was just that tired. âI canât do it,â Nestor admitted, sounding almost on the verge of tears. âI canât do it. I have no ability to create wisps. My research has stalled.â
Leon wasnât quite sure what to say in that momentâor rather, he knew what he wanted to say, but he felt holding off on mentioning that for the moment would be better.
âWait until heâs feeling just a little bit better,â Leon thought.
Instead, Leon turned his attention to the light enchantment Nestor had been working on.
âIt looks like you were working on something over here,â he said as he went over to the bench to give it a closer look. The benchâs surface was black mirror-like glass almost like an enchantmentâs control console. This one, however, was designed to help with inscribing enchantments, using light magic to allow a mage to easily âwriteâ an enchantment by projecting the runes onto the glassy surface. Nestor had built one for Leon before theyâd left Occulara, but this one was not only larger but also more advanced.
The enchantment Nestor had been working on was startlingly advanced as far as Leon could tell. Its overall shape looked rather human with thousands of tiny runes curving around one another to form arms, legs, a torso, and a head. But as Leon continued to examine the enchantment, he realized that even what he was seeing wasnât everything.
He pressed a control rune on the screen and the enchantment as a whole gained depth, as if the screen had become a window into a dark space illuminated only by the glowing runes of this enchantment that Leon realized was significantly more complex than heâd initially realized.
Now that it was âthree dimensionalâ, though still projected onto the screen, Leon realized that the enchantment was designed to emulate the form of a human, though rather androgynous in shape, and whereas heâd initially estimated it to be made up of thousands of runes, now he could see that it was probably closer to hundreds of thousands. He could also see pockets of lightning runes running through the âbodyâ of the enchantment like blood vessels.
âNestor, what the fuck is this?â Leon asked in fascination, awe, and a bit of concern.
âThe results of⊠I donât know how many frantic nights,â Nestor admitted. âWhen I realized that I would never advance in my golem projects without wisps, I began to think over how I could get some more. Youâre not strong enough even at tenth-tier to help, and I donât know how long it will be until you can create wisps of your own. I canât use other peopleâs wisps as their magic likely wonât be compatible with my golems. I need wisps created with our Honored Ancestorâs power.
âSo I was left with only one option⊠I need a human body.â
Leon froze in surprise and slowly turned to stare at his âdeadâ kinsman in astonishment and growing concern.freewebnov el.com
âI need a soul realm,â Nestor continued. âYours is obviously off-limits, so donât worry about that⊠and other peopleâs wonât work since they lack our bloodline. That doesnât leave many options, does it?â
His immediate fears somewhat mollified, Leon turned back to the enchantment. Trying and failing to sound merely academic, Leon said, âI think I can see what you were going for, here. These minor enchantments around most of the joints and organs are variations on regeneration enchantments, arenât they? Similar to whatâs used in conjunction with alchemy to regrow limbs?â
âYes,â Nestor said. âIt if worked, I was going to ask you for a few blood and tissue samples. Hardly anything youâd miss, but enough to âgrowâ a new body to my specifications.â
âIs that even possible?â Leon wondered aloud.
âNot to my knowledge,â Nestor replied. âBut Iâm grasping at straws. Donât pay much attention to that enchantment, Leon; it wouldnât work. My only option⊠will be to wait until you can create wisps that I can borrow.â
âYeahâŠâ Leon whispered as he stared at the enchantment. âYeahâŠâ
Neither of them said anything more, but Leon continued staring at the intricate enchantment while Nestor continued moping where heâd collapsed. Even if it didnât work, Leon was fascinated by the work Nestor had done. Enchantments could be three-dimensional by their very nature of being inscribed upon three-dimensional objects, but an enchantment like this that was wholly made in three dimensions was such an advanced art that Leon had yet to truly even attempt it, let alone become skilled in it.
And yet, he found it rather easy to follow the lines of the enchantment now before him. The enchantment started, as far as he could tell, in the chest where the heart would be. Since thatâs where a mageâs soul realm was located, that made sense. From there, it flowed outward in hundreds of independent lines, all forming the shape of a human, though aside from the lightning magic acting as blood vessels, he couldnât identify any organs, bones, muscles, or any other facsimile of organic material.
He was honestly fascinated, even if had nothing to add to the enchantment.
âNestorâŠâ Leon said after an unknown amount of time spent examining the enchantment, âI⊠this is inspired work. Even if you donât think it would ever work⊠Are you sure itâs impossible?â
Nestor groaned in depressed thought. âIâm sure itâs possible. Itâs just beyond the capabilities of mankind.â
Leon clicked his tongue in displeasure. âI reject that idea entirely,â he said. âNestor, we have the blood of the Thunderbird! I have the blood of the Great Black Dragon! My soul realm was invaded by a Primal God, and it fucking died within me! Because of its work, and the work of our Ancestor, I can now transform into a Thunderbird myself! Nothingâs impossible! We can make this work!â
He spoke louder and faster as he went, his excitement growing. This could be his next great project now that heâd finally finished Iron Pride. Perhaps it might not be finished soon, or even within the next few millennia, but just from the excitement he was feeling just from thinking about this, he knew he had to at least try.
âWhere are your references?â Leon asked as he looked around the room for any books or papers that Nestor mightâve consulted during his time creating the failed enchantment.
Nestor simply tapped his head.
Leon blinked in surprise and asked, âYou⊠werenât using any references? You were trying something that had never been done before based solely off your own limited knowledge of light magic?â
âMy knowledge is quite a bit less limited than your own, boy,â Nestor grumpily said.
âYet limited it is,â Leon responded through clenched teeth. âIâll tell you what: Iâll put some people on this. Iâll rope in Valentina, too; sheâs been working on blood magic for a while and probably knows our bloodline better than we do by now. Iâll even bring this up with our Ancestor. Weâll get this done. Weâll find a way.â
There was a short pause as Leon lost himself in mentally putting a team together from all the researchers he knew in the Raven Tribe and Heavenâs Eye who could possibly help with this project. However, he was pulled out of his thoughts when Nestor rather bluntly asked, âWhy?â
âHmm?â Leon hummed in confusion.
âWhy do you want to help me with this?â
âWhy shouldnât I?â Leon responded. âYouâve sworn yourself to me, Nestor, and youâve proven yourself on multiple occasions. Plus, I also want to try this just because I want to try it. I need no other reason than because itâs a problem to be solved. I donât have to worry about war or other time-wasting efforts like that, so why shouldnât I devote my free time to this?â
Nestor snorted. âFine. Fine.â He turned his head toward the largest cluster of inert golem bodies stacked in the corner by his large catâs bed. âItâs better than nothing, I suppose.â
âThatâs better,â Leon said. âNow if you could only work up just a little more motivation, weâd be golden!â
âBring me something tangible and maybe Iâll consider the possibility of potentially getting motivated,â Nestor replied. âI was motivated a month ago. I was motivated a week ago. I was motivated yesterday. My motivation has left me now. And it was right when you came back; what do you knowâŠâ
âIf itâs motivation youâre looking for,â Leon responded, âhow about we talk about potential replacements for wisps that might work for your experiments in the meantime?â
âHeh. You think anything other than a wisp made by a bearer of our bloodline would work with my golems?â
âThere just happens to be a supply of just such beings that we might ask for help,â Leon said with a smug smile.
Nestor stared at him for a long moment, then simply said, âI donât care. If you want to ask them, do so. I wonât help with it.â
âReally? Iâm sure theyâd love you. Worship you like a god and all that.â
Nestor dismissively waved his hand. âMalfunctioning wisps are hardly what Iâd consider âgoodâ research material.â
âEven if they are âfailedâ,â Leon said, âIâd still consider that worth studying. How and why are they failures are questions Iâd want conclusive, non-philosophical answered.â
âDo as you please, I donât care,â Nestor repeated.
âI think I will, then,â Leon said. âPrepare to meet some stone giants soon, Nestor. Iâm sure theyâll be quite happy to meet youâŠâ
---
As Leon pushed himself off his throne in his soul realm, he found only Xaphan there, and the demon was hardly waiting for him. Instead, Xaphan was busy using his enchantment to pull in the Mists of Chaos so that he could absorb them and regain his previous level of power. Judging by his aura, Leon guessed that he was getting fairly close to reaching tenth-tier equivalent.
âXaphan,â Leon drawled as he walked over. âHowâs life?â
The fire demon snorted, the fire covering his body snapping and crackling as he did. âLeon,â he replied. âIs there a reason youâre disturbing me?â
âNone at all,â Leon responded. âActually, yes: Iâm in a good mood and felt like talking. Iâll be training with the Thunderbird soon, but sheâs not here and Iâve some time to kill.â
âIf only time could be so easily killed,â Xaphan sighed. âIs there any topic in particular that occupies your meager human thoughts?â
âWisps,â Leon replied. âI have to learn how to make them.â
âYouâve been learning for years. What more do you want me to say that I havenât already?â
Leon let black fire spill from his fingers, willing it to form into a small bird shape. âJust wondering if thereâs any new wisdom you might share with me regarding the creation of wisps.â
âDonât think too hard about it,â Xaphan cautioned him. âWhen you condense an origin spark, youâll gain the power to make them quite easily. It seems hard now, but even for a tiny, skinny human like yourself, it wonât be once you achieve Apotheosis.â
âYou have quite a high opinion of me if youâre using words like âwhenâ.â
âFine. âIfâ you achieve Apotheosis, you pedantic fuckboy, you little shit, you speck of ash floating on the breeze.â
Leon laughed. âAnyone ever tell you that youâre way too easy to set off?â
âI have,â the Thunderbird said from behind Leon. âMultiple times, in fact.â
Leon turned to find his Ancestor standing just behind him in human form. He nearly jumped out of his skin.
âHa,â the Thunderbird softly chuckled. âYouâre getting too reliant on your magic senses, Leon. Bad form.â
âExpect nothing from humanity,â Xaphan responded, âand youâll never be disappointed. Except fucking failing at being even half as spectacular as a good and proper demon of flame.â
âExpect a demon to offer nothing but insults despite promising magic lessons,â Leon shot back, âand youâll never be disappointed.â To the Thunderbird, he asked, âShould we get started?â
âMy, my,â she said with a smile, âsomeoneâs eager.â
âWisps and Apotheosis,â Leon replied. âIâm ready to start trying for both.â
âMaybe trying for children would be a better use of your time?â the Thunderbird pointedly stated. âOur Clan wonât propagate itself, you know.â
âI do know, and Iâm glad you brought that up because I have something Iâd like to talk to you about.â
Leon quickly brought Xaphan and the Thunderbird up to speed on everything he and Nestor had discussed only a few minutes before.
âWait, wait, wait,â Xaphan said as Leon finished and before the Thunderbird had a chance to give her thoughts, âdonât tell me youâre actually thinking of doing that?! For the dead man? Giving him your blood and all that shit? Fuck no, whatâs wrong with you?â
âTakes pressure off me to propagate the Clan,â Leon responded with a pointed look at the Thunderbird. âAlso rewards someone whoâs proven his loyalty. Why shouldnât I?â
âBecause heâs an untrustworthy, lying, duplicitous sack of bodiless shit!â Xaphan cried out. âThis place has been so serene and peaceful since he left! Why reward him?!â
âWere it possible,â the Thunderbird interjected, âI wouldnât specifically support it, but neither would I argue against it.â
âYouâre asking for a knife in the back, or a claw across the throat,â Xaphan grumbled. âIdiots, the both of youââ He barely managed to finish his statement before the Thunderbird focused her aura upon him and quite neatly flattened the demon.
âLetâs go somewhere we can speak more,â the Thunderbird said as she took to the sky above Leonâs Mind Palace.
Leon gave his demonic partner one parting look of sympathy before following his Ancestor.
Once they landed upon their usual training mountain, the Thunderbird said, âAfter some thought, I have to agree with Nestor, and with you: itâs not impossible, strictly speaking, but itâs currently impractical.â
âWe have the transformation enchantment,â Leon insisted. âItâs proof that the power we wield can be used to alter the body. Hells, Cassandra already uses light magic to change the color of her hair! And itâs not even an illusion; her hair actually changes color!â
âYes, yes, Leon,â the Thunderbird said soothingly as he got himself worked up into a frenzy of excitement. âItâs possible. Just not practical. So focus on what is practical. Focus on what you can do now. And to solve his problem, what can you do now?â
Leon took a deep breath. He trusted the Thunderbirdâs word, but he fully intended to consult with his branch of Heavenâs Eye and the Raven Tribe later. But for now⊠he could drop the idea.
âBringing the stone giants south,â Leon said. âAchieving Apotheosis. Making babies. In no particular order.â
âMake that last one your first priority,â the Thunderbird imperiously commanded. âNow. Shall we begin?â
She raised a hand and let lightning dance around her fingertips, each bolt turning into a bird that flew independently. Not a true wisp since she couldnât use origin power, but something close.
Leon smiled, and under the Thunderbirdâs exacting gaze, began laying the groundwork for creating wisps just as soon as he could achieve Apotheosis.