I hadn't anticipated how frustrating it would be to travel by airship and not be able to return to Aeternia for several days in a row. Even the communications were breaking down as we made our way towards the Front.
When we were traveling over Terra Vista the first time, I thought I'd been bored. At least then there'd been new sights. Now we were passing over places I'd seen before in Conflict’s trials.
One of the biggest differences was that the closer we got to the front, the less devastated everything was. This was the region that was used to fighting monsters continually and was, for once, dealing with a complete and utter lack of them. I suppose that could pose some issues of its own but hopefully they were just relieved.
It was, in a way, good I had so much time. While I’d wrestled the hydra down, bringing it into alignment was proving… challenging.
I’d established what I wanted, but bringing the hydra and myself into alignment required using my new power.
Including the less pleasant aspects, such as the physical regeneration.
Starbreaker was far too enthusiastic to volunteer, though Calbern and Inertia had been disturbingly fast to follow up with their own willingness to lop off my limbs.
For the moment, I’d held off. Figured that with the way my life went, I’d have to deal with it soon enough anyway. There were other aspects to focus on first.
The one easiest to practice was the mana-conversion. Despite our ability to go anywhere, we were following one of the mana-currents to the Front. Which meant there was plenty for me to draw on. My body was capable of converting on its own, but it wasn’t close to the efficiency I’d felt it could be.
Two days, and I successfully brought my alignment up to just shy of forty-eight percent. Was pretty sure those were the easy points.
When taking a break from that, I worked on adjusting the Iron Curtain’s enchantments, slowly returning it to the war machine it’d originally been designed as.
Getting up, I left the greenspace where I’d been meditating, moving to the observation deck.
There was a fortress city in the distance, its enchanted walls standing over a twisted landscape. Green foilage was poking through in places.
We hadn't stopped at any of the cities we'd seen along the way. Another time I would’ve been tempted to explore. Unfortunately we were stuck racing around the wall of flesh.
Both Sidhe and Starbreaker had independently confirmed it stretched all the way to Althon's fortified border. Which meant we'd either have to pass through or around the City on the Water. Personally, I was hoping Althon might allow us entry. Would be nice to have a friendly Dragon-souled to talk to.
If he was able to let us in, of course. Last I'd heard from Books, Althon'd sealed the city off entirely. I couldn't see a continuous mass of flesh dropping from the sky changing his opinion.
The sealed territory came into view while I was on the observation deck with Calbern.
“That’s more literal than I was expecting.”
“It does appear to be quite the wall. Do you suppose it encapsulates them completely?”
A massive stone wall had arisen around the edges of the City on the Water. It wasn't apparent at first that it was stone. Most of it was transparent with only thin seams running throughout.
I laughed when I recognized it. “That’s the same design we’re using.” I gestured to the observation window.
“A difference of scale, it would appear.”
“One way to put it. And not just the size of the enchantment.” The wall was, after a few seconds of inspection, more of a dome. A dome made up of thousands, if not millions of hexes. Those hexes were big enough I could walk through if one was removed. The mass of flesh was continually assaulting one side of this dome. Not that it was any more effective than the Sahevin assaulting the shield over Aeternia.
Hopefully, Althon had a plan for whatever that mess of flesh brought forward as its equivalent to an Abyss Emperor. I could barely see through the churning of limbs. Most of the monsters falling in the area dove directly towards it.
Even as we watched one of the little silver drones that had been reported swung by. The thick mass of flesh that’d been slowly grinding itself away on the dome was devoured in a ray of golden light. It didn't even leave ash behind, seemingly sucking up everything the golden ray passed across.
The experience didn’t appear pleasant for the victims. Considering those victims were foul abominations from the sky, it was hard to feel summon up any sympathy.
“We have company.” Calbern inclined his head to the south side of the dome. To my surprise, a trio of mages rose up on the inside of the barrier.
They passed through one of the hexes and approached the airship.
With Calbern in tow, I went down to meet them.
I was further surprised when I recognized them. I'd never learned their names, but all three had been at the party Althon threw for Nexxa's ascension to Pegasus. It felt so long ago. They were all still low Pegasus. Meanwhile, I was halfway through Hydra-souled. A fact they recognized faster than I did, given the hasty bows they offered.
“Magus Dominus Perth of Althon,” one of them said, “Welcome to the city on the water. Have you come to assist with the siege?”
“Is that what they're calling it? A siege?” I asked, forced to stare at the top of his head. I could kind of see that.
“What else would we call it, Magus Dominus?” he asked, not straightening.
“I guess it is a siege. Just one on a bigger scale than a single city. And it’s Magus Protectus Percival of Aeternia, now,” I added, when I looked back at them. Probably not the best move to declare that I no longer considered Althon my leader. I suspected he’d already heard. Considering the news Sidhe was able to give me from a supposedly sealed city after operating our network for less than a month… Well, according to her, his information network made Sidhe’s look like amateur hour.
Which meant there wasn't much point in me pretending.
“As you say, Magus Protectus. Would you like us to escort you into the city?”
“Is that a thing you can do? Can we bring the airship inside? Or Inertia’s War Form?” The latter was flanking us, apparently capable of being piloted without being fully bound. Doing so meant she’d have to go through the bonding process before it could do more than adjust course though.
“For that I will have to talk with Master Althon, Magus Protectus.”
“Guess we’ll wait for that then.”
“As you say.” Soon as he was done speaking the mage and his companions left the airship, flying back through the dome. As a final instruction he told us that if we were let through it would likely be on the far side of the dome.
So we started making our way around the large structure. As we did, I tried to determine just how large Althon had made this dome of his. Probably bigger than Cape Aeternia. Was this what he’d been working on instead of reinforcing defenses at the Front? If he knew about the real threat being from space, he was probably preparing for that instead of simply hoping better ground defenses along the existing battlefront would be enough.
It was quite a sight to see the dome stretching out of sight, especially since it relied on a lot of non-magical engineering. Though I was certain that without the enchantments supporting it, it would’ve collapsed under its own weight, it did have several columns to minimize the mana going into the support.
To my surprise, Althon approved entry for the airship.
He even came out to meet us himself after we’d passed beneath the dome, seemingly admiring the ship as it settled down.
We landed on the lake near the City on the Water. With the Iron Curtain parked for the moment in a place where it was safe.
The crew got to disembark for the first time since we’d visited Central. The barrier could only be opened once a day. Worth it for the chance to consult with Althon. Or so I hoped.
Inertia and Starbreaker, apparently having some sort of prior arrangement of contest, dove into the water directly off of her war form as it settled next to the Iron Curtain. The two disappeared underneath the waves, taking Tresla with them.
I looked over the Iron Curtain one last time before joining Althon.
It was honestly impressive we'd made it all the way without taking any damage but the monsters. Sure, we’d had Inertia and I running interference, but the ship had handled any incidental attacks well. The changes to its matrixes were working.
“So you have reached Hydra-soul already,” Althon said, his voice having a sibilant wisp to it. Guessed it wasn't the real Althon after all. Should’ve known he'd send his familiar again.
Might've been more offended if I cared.
Besides, I suddenly recognized someone who standing at the familiar’s side. “Lady Gwen is that you?” I asked, blinking rapidly as I looked at the librarian, taking a step forward. The same librarian who’d looked over Perth for the first couple that last decade of before I arrived. The same Lady Gwen who should’ve been on the otherside of the continent.
“Master Perth, it is good to see you,” Lady Gwen said, giving me a shallow nod. “I am glad you’ve stayed safe.”
I couldn't help but note that she hadn't progressed at all. Was still merely a mage-souled. Half-cast as they called it. Something we could fix in probably an hour or two. I’d already been thinking of making an excursion to retrieve her, though it’d admitedly been a low priority.
“A lot of it was thanks to the spells what I learned in the library,” I replied honestly.
“I'm afraid the master will see you tomorrow,” The familiar hissed, clearly not pleased at how I'd ignored it. “You will stay for the night. I have arranged accommodations for one of your status.” It waved a hand in our direction before disappearing. It was impressive that his familiar was capable of so much. Once more, I couldn't help but wonder if he’d bonded it similar to what Vaserra did with the frost wolves.
Before I could dwell on it too much, a gondolier approached, their voice raised in song. Once more I was reminded of how many fields of magic I hadn't had time to explore, pushed to govern and protect my people instead. Yet the thought wasn't nearly as it would’ve been once.
While I climbed into the gondola with Lady Gwen, I found myself watching or listening to the gondolier's song. It was one I hadn't heard before. Was still sung without words.
Neither Gwen nor I spoke for the first couple minutes, simply enjoying the music. It was only once the hopeful song came to an end and they transitioned to a new story song, one that seemed a bit more casual, that Lady Gwen broke the silence.
“It seems you have had quite the year, Master Perth.”
“I definitely have…” I trailed off as I realized she’d called me Perth. I thought I'd be used to telling people, but somehow, revealing the fact that I wasn't Perth but Percival was always challenging. Still, I'd done it enough that I was able to plow through it. Gwen took the confession rather well, merely raising an eyebrow and nodding.
As if it made sense that the young man she'd known all those years had been replaced. “I suspected something of the sort had happened after the young master stole the ritual. But I also knew there was some of the original inside you. Would hardly have known how to act otherwise.”
I nodded. I'd gone down that rabbit hole with Nexxa enough times to have thoroughly given up on trying to figure out where Perth ended and I began. I was who I was.
“I'm glad you made it out of Arcadia, though I am surprised to find you here.” I gestured to the white buildings and waterways around us.
“Your benefactor, Magus Dominus Althon, sponsored me. Even went so far as come retrieve me himself,” Gwen said. Her voice betraying a note of disbelief at the event. “Plucked me right out of the inn I went to you after the pillars fell. That was quite the sight I'll tell you.”
“Sight? You saw them fall?”
“I did.”
“How? I didn't think your senses extended far enough to see the barrier.”
“I’m afraid it was a bit more literal than that,” Lady Gwen said giving me a crooked grin before going on to explain. Wasn’t just the barrier that’d fallen. The pillars had collapsed with it. “Althon determined someone’s been weakening those pillars for a long time.”
“So… it was sabotage that brought the barrier down?”
“Sabotage done hundreds of years in the past, yes. Though he hasn’t been able to prove it, he has several suspects.”
“And no one was able to undo it?”
“Not faster than they were ruined. It is sadly easier to destroy than create.”
“Fair enough.”
That no one had been able to fix it made me want to investigate the barrier myself. Not urgently, but I thought it might give me some clues as to how to fix the world shield.
“It was quite bad before we left,” Lady Gwen said, staring out over the water. “In Arcadia, I mean. It wasn't even the monsters that were the worst part.”
“No? The Front held?”
“At first. Until the Dragon-souled war began.”
“That… amazing how we haven’t heard anything about it.”
“More than half of them are dead now from what I understand. Hundreds of dragon-souled, all dead fighting each other trying to lay claim to each others kingdoms. What a waste.”
“What about the Aranor family,” I asked feeling like the question was expected more than anything. Plus there was a sort of morbid curiosity.
“Aranor did quite well in the tumult, from what I heard. The Evearl even managed to make his way to Dragon-souled,” Lady Gwen said, a note of bitterness seeping in. “Imagine some would be happy for the old old miser.”
“We can fix you,” I blurted out before clearing my throat to clarify. “Whatever's got you stuck I mean. We've got…” I trailed off as she shook her head.
“Gone for a year and already promising me miracles. I'm not one of those young ladies you were always wooing Master Perth. Ah. Sorry. Master Percival,” Lady Gwen said, this time unable to hide a touch of melancholy. It seemed she did miss Perth after all.
“Yeah, I have a more permanent partner now,” I said. Thinking of Ari, then realising I had an even bigger bomb to drop on the librarian. “I even adopted a daughter.”
Gwen chuckled at that, shaking her head. “It's good to see you haven't lost your sense of humour, Master Percival.”
Instead of responding I raised an eyebrow at her.
“You- you're not joking?” Gwen asked, laughing out loud. “You really adopted someone? You…” After a moment, her voice shaky, she asked, “So… so, when you said you could fix me?”
“I meant that if we can get you back to my domain, a few hours and you should be good to go.”
When Lady Gwen fainted, slumping over the side of the gondola I caught her. The gondolier and I exchanged a glance. Then I helped Lady Gwen back into her seat, and watched the water drift by, lulled to rest by the magic of the moment.
Magic that nothing to do with mana.