Blue Core

Day 110 - Shayma

Iniri Tarnil

[Purified] Protector Queen (Level 53)

Race: Kirin-kin demihuman

Health: 525/525

Stamina: 688/688

Mana: 920/920

Skills

[Lineage: Shield of Tarnil] 9: (9 ranks reclaimed): Inherited from the great hero Teash Arn, founder of Tarnil, this magic shield provides unequalled defense.

[Lesser Divination] 5 (1 rank reclaimed): You see all. With this spell school you can sense and communicate vast distances, as well as locate things far away.

[Royals Mana] 4 (1 rank reclaimed): Youve kept your mana under an iron control, as is the natural course for Royalty. With Royals Mana you can further exert your will on your own mana, twisting it into different Affinities, allowing you to dabble in magics you are otherwise unsuited for.

[Protectors Light] 2: Your light shines as a beacon for your people. You receive great improvement to light constructs meant to protect and preserve, making them cheaper and more expansive than normal.

[Ritual Leadership] 5: Casting is better with others, but a group will always need a leader. You can link your mana workings with those of other mages, allowing you to create things no individual mage could manage alone.

[Inspiring Speech] 4: The authority of the ruling class. You can infuse your words with mana to benefit your followers for a time.

[Body Fortification] 3: Mana is energy. Energy is life. You have the ability to fortify yourself with your mana, improving health and stamina regeneration as well as physical robustness.

[Intermediate Rune Carving] 4: Magic has a shape. Your efforts in understanding and transcribing that shape have borne fruit. You can now etch runes with greater finesse and effect.

Abilities

[Rulers Sagacity] 3: You have become wise in the ways of the world. You have unlocked spellcasting, and this skill provides an intuitive grasp of known spellcasting skills. Improving rank improves mana pool and learning speed in spellcasting skills.

[Mana Sight]: You can see the veins of the world. Allows you to perceive mana directly.

[Mana Resourcefulness] 4 (1 rank reclaimed): Less is more. You are practiced well beyond the average practitioner. You use even less mana for mana Skills.

[Core Touched]: You are a dungeons eyes and ears.

[Purified]: Everything youve lost to Depletion has been restored. You are immune to Depletion.

Shayma had never seen Iniris Status before. Apparently the Depletion had mostly focused on eating Shield of Tarnil, but it was back now, as well as a good chunk of stats and other Skills and Abilities. Along with the Depletion immunity that Purified brought.

Shed never seen Iniri this happy before either, and it was pretty obvious it wasnt just because she had her Skill ranks back. In fact shed already told Blue she wanted the same treatment since she was going to be training with Ansae and that promised to be stressful.

I wish [Core Touched] and [Purified] werent visible like that, Cheya said, contemplating Iniris Status. The sigil they were using was, of course, the one theyd given to Blue, and he was perfectly happy to lend it out because he still hadnt managed to reproduce its effect.

I think Cheya needs a vacation. Blue said, only half-teasing. Maybe I ought to make a hot springs thing up here somewhere, and a nice swimming pool too.

Her lips quirked, but she didnt reply to him yet. Not while they were in the middle of a meeting. But the truth was Cheya was happy too, though it was more difficult to tell with her.

Theres no point in hiding our connection to Blue, Iniri replied, idly tapping her fingers on the table. In fact Id like to emphasize it, if hes amenable to it. No matter how well things turn out with the mage-kings, hell be a huge and unknown and frankly terrifying force sitting on our northwestern border. Unless hes already known to be well-disposed toward us.

I dont mind. Besides, if I do really awesome things like burning an army or kicking a mage-king out of a city I want it known. Its either hide or flaunt, and I dont really want to hide. Too late for that anyhow.

She rendered that somewhat more diplomatically, then almost choked as Blue muttered in an undertone. That said, its probably not a good idea to tell her subjects that I fucked their queen.

Behave! She muttered back, making Blue laugh in her ear.

Sorry, sorry.

Speaking of kicking Vok Nal out, Iniri said, clearly doing her best to ignore the faces Shayma was making. When will Blues tunnel be done?

Four days, at this rate. I could slow it down I guess but Id rather not. Im no strategist but Im guessing the sooner we hit him the less prepared hes going to be, especially if you guys pop up in the middle of the city.

Absolutely. Do you three have any objections to that timetable?

None here, Yamal said, lounging in his chair.

I suppose I can be ready by then, Liril muttered, not so much relaxing as hunkering down into his.

Ehh, why not? The Hurricane was, as usual, perched on the back of her chair, balancing it on one leg as she only half paid attention to what was going on. Or at least, thats what it seemed. Shayma was pretty sure nobody who made it to fourth tier did so by being as careless as The Hurricane seemed to be.

You two are not my subjects, so I know your help doesn't come free. Keeping in mind that my resources are limited now and not likely to be that much better in the immediate future, what sort of boons did you wish for helping me?

Liril grunted. If youre reconstructing the Adamant Fortress, I want to study it. I still think its...never mind, you dont care about my theories. He shrugged. Just having access for however long you can keep it up would be fine.

I know what I want! The Hurricane exclaimed, eyes gleaming. She pointed at Shayma. I demand kinky dungeon sex!

...what?

No. Absolutely not.

Liril groaned. Yamal just buried his face in his hands. Look, H, you cant just -

Oh come on, everyone can see what Inis like this morning! I want some of that! Get me some Depletion immunity into the bargain, too.

Among other things, Iniri said disapprovingly. That is not my boon to give.

Fine, be that way. How about it, Shay-Shay? Going to hook me up?

...um, Blue says no.

Very no.

Very no.

What, is it just because Im small? Shayma wasnt sure how much The Hurricane was joking and how much she was being genuinely indignant. Dont let my size fool you, I can - hey! The Hurricane sputtered as icy water drenched her, pouring down from the ceiling.

Its because shes crazy! Everyone knows that you dont stick your...anyway, shes been kinda weirding me out ever since she got here. Serious face time I think Shayma. I am not going to entertain her demands, and I dont want her annoying you or pestering me. She has her Primal Source gem and - no, you know what? I dont need to explain myself. Just, no demands, no annoying me or you.

That was easy for him to say. He wasnt the one facing a wet and grumpy fourth-tier. But she was his voice, and that wasnt always fun and games. It took her a moment to school her expression into something appropriately solemn and she turned to face The Hurricane squarely. That was a warning. Blue has no interest in your demands and you are not to pester him or myself about it.

Better listen, Yamal warned. Youre lucky Blues giving you that much leeway. As warnings go some cold water is pretty harmless.

Ill show you harmless! The Hurricane turned on Yamal, but apparently didnt mean it because all she did was use a gust of wind to spray him with some of the water still dripping from her.

Stop this foolishness and let us stick to the point, Liril said, glowering at the tiny storm mage. We must prepare to take on Vok Nal directly in no more than four days. Queen Iniri has generously offered to reward us for something we volunteered for at The Grandmasters behest. Anything aside from those two topics is a mere triviality.

Fine. The Hurricane went back to pouting after drying herself with a quick air burst and Iniri seized control of the conversation again.

What sort of support is Blue going to give us? We all saw what he did to that army but I dont think Vok Nal is going to be vulnerable to that kind of thing.

Dont forget that theres already a dungeon at Meil, which maybe I can push against directly. Though I dont know how that will affect my ability to burrow in. At the very least I can provide logistical support. Teleportation there and back, and I can have Shayma with you to coordinate. I assume Iniri is going, now that she has her awesome Skill back?

Yes. [Shield of Tarnil] will hold against even a mage-king for some time, and I understand Vok Nal is considerably weaker than Tor Kot. Now that Im immune to their Depletion they cant sap my strength with that magic, either.

I still want some of that, The Hurricane grumbled, but not loudly.

The rest of the meeting wasnt really illuminating for either her or Blue, since neither of them had any insight on what tactics anyone involved could or would use. She hadnt been adventuring long enough and Blue wasnt sure how close he could get, or even if anything he did would be effective against Vok Nal. He didnt yet have, in Blues own words, heavy artillery.

Ugh, meetings. Youd think that as a dungeon I wouldnt have to endure them, but nooo. Anyway, better get going so you arent late. Ansaes waiting for you.

Im still not completely sure about this! She told Blue as she headed back for the teleporters. Ansae was more than a little scary, even when she wasnt trying to be. Not that she imagined Ansae would hurt her, no more than the normal cuts and bruises from any real sparring, and with [Regeneration] those wouldnt last long anyway. But the dragon was intense in a way that was difficult to describe, making it hard to breathe when her attention focused.

Itll be fine. I mean, you dont have to do this if you really dont want to but I dont know anyone else who can teach you about shapeshifting.

Oh, Ill do it. I just wanted to complain while I was out of earshot.

Blue laughed. If it makes you feel better Im pretty sure she actually likes you.

Im not sure that does make me feel better. How is she going to act if she doesnt like Iniri or someone?

Politely, I hope. That said, if she ever does decide to head up to you guys Ill have you make sure everyone gets warned about her. Im not going to hold it against her if she pulps someones head for trying to attack her, but I do expect her to act like a reasonable guest otherwise.

Im not sure anyone is dumb enough to try and assault someone who looks like she does. In either form.

Oh believe me. Theres always someone. There was a pause. I bet The Hurricane would.

She snorted and stepped through the Link gate. Ansae didnt have her own dedicated teleport yet, and when she did itd go to the petitioners chamber rather than the lair proper. For now the Link brought her to Ansaes cottage, though the dragon didnt much use it herself. Instead, Blue directed her down into the valley where hed put the dragon-sized furniture. With how enormous hed made Ansaes lair, she had to use [Ghost Step] to get anywhere in a reasonable time.

Ansae was stretched out on the grass in front of her bed, with dozens of pieces of artwork and statuary in stone nooks and gazebos. Not to mention the flash of things wrought from gold or silver or gemstones. But she wasnt paying much attention to any of that, instead focused on a dragon-sized book that seemed to be forged rather than bound, the pages thin strips of metal.

No pie this time? Ansae rumbled, setting the book aside and swinging her massive head around to look at Shayma.

I couldnt find any big enough. She almost stopped herself from joking, but didnt catch it in time. Fortunately, Ansae didnt seem to mind.

Thats half the reason I came up with a more demihuman form. Even the most devoted of admirers have a difficult time delivering well-prepared food in dragon-sized quantities. The dragon peered down at her. Speaking of shapeshifting.

Yes! I dont even know where to start. Ive made my claws longer and little things like that, but beyond that Im lost.

Thats just as well. I know you only have [Limited Shapeshifting] but the Skill requires a bit more knowledge to use properly than others. You know how to invoke it, but what do you change, and why? That is whats difficult.

Yes, I have [Combat Shapeshifting] too, but I havent been able to raise it a single level.

I wouldnt expect you to. Thats a terribly strange skill. Ansae seemed to enjoy the lecturing, oddly enough. She waved a claw and Shaymas Status appeared, without the aid of a sigil. Other than the level increase, the additional stats from said level increase, and the addition of [Stealth] as a Skill, it was much the same as before. New Skills appear all the time, but that one? No. Part of your Bargain?

Pretty much everything other than [Seeker] and [Luck] is, Shayma acknowledged.

But of course. The dragon sounded pleased. You offered yourself for it, did you not? I suppose it makes sense that you would find your Skills so changed. A Skill such as that one may address some of the weaknesses in shapeshifting that make it unusable mid-combat. The time it takes, the vulnerability between forms, and the sheer amount of concentration needed.

That sounds like too many drawbacks to be useful. Supposedly there werent any useless Skills, but that didnt mean everyone could take full advantage of the Skills they did have.

Only if you try to overstretch what you can do, and believe me, every shapeshifter does at first.

I havent, she objected, wondering how many shapeshifters Ansae even knew.

And you wont, because youre going to do what I tell you and thus not end up half-melted and out of resources to fix yourself.

Oh.

Uhh, I didnt know it was that dangerous.

Neither did I!

As a partial shifter youre not likely to kill yourself, but it can be inconvenient. Ansae blinked down at her, nictitating membranes sliding in sideways. Especially if youre doing it right. Considering your Class and Skills, trying to shapeshift your weaponry is acceptable but not always the best approach. Weapons exist for a reason, and unless you can mimic dragon claws theyre going to be tougher than anything your Skill will let you do.

Wait, can I though? I mean, youre a dragon, if you could teach me

I could, but youd run yourself out of stamina and mana in a few seconds mimicking it. Ansae told her, more gently than she expected. It was actually making her a little nervous. The version of Ansae that was all teeth at least matched her countenance. The reason dragon claws and scales are so sharp and tough is all the mana thats soaked into them, years and centuries and millennia of Affinity mana circulating through them.

Oh, well, it was a thought. It also explained why shed never actually heard any stories of shapeshifters just shifting into dragons and being as nigh-invulnerable as dragons were supposed to be. Most of the stories were either them pretending to be other people or, occasionally, things. She actually couldnt remember any stories of any high-tier people with shapeshifting Skills.

You may work up to it, in time. Youre the representative of a Power and I doubt Blue is frugal with his gifts. For now, though, we start with the basics.

It turned out the reason that shapeshifting was complicated was because it wasnt just one thing. If she wanted to turn her arm into a sword she had to understand the material, the shape, and how to change her entire musculature to make the newly-formed weapon actually useful.

Oh, hey, I know materials and anatomy. Maybe I can help with this!

Im well aware youre familiar with my anatomy.

No, I mean, yes, but- Shayma grinned as Blue spluttered. It wasnt often she caught him off-balance like that. What I mean is...oh heck, I guess you dont know atomic theory and even if you did I dont know how itd interact with mana. Anatomy then! Do you know what all your muscles are and what they do and connect and such?

Somewhat, Shayma admitted, wondering what kind of magic atomic theory was if it didnt involve mana.

Well we can make that a full yes. Hang on.

A wooden statue of Shayma sprouted out of the ground, but it wasnt much flattering because it lacked skin. The only thing that made it not immediately horrific was that it was still wood, and not an actual flensed corpse.

Oh, excellent. Ansae said, poking the wood with one enormous claw. That saves me having to spend mana on illusions.

You can see me like that too? Shayma demanded. She didnt even realize Blue could see things that way.

Ansae grinned, showing all her enormous teeth. My dear, this close I can see your brain change as you think.

Shes got me beat there.

You know, I honestly figured youd be cryptic at me and spar until I couldnt move, Shayma confessed. Im not sure why.

Ansae snorted. You can spar with your friends, but I can give you knowledge. Thats far more important.

For once its knowledge I can help with! Blue seemed excessively pleased by that, though to be fair he hadnt had much input on her training or combat other than some suggestions on how to use illusions.

A thought made her laugh out loud.

What is it?

I just realized how ridiculous it is that Im getting taught by two Powers.

And all you had to trade for it was your body and your soul, Ansae pointed out.

True Shayma considered, then smiled. Worth it.