Abyssal Road Trip

Amdirlain's PoV - Círbann

Fuichon drew a bolt of inky-black cloth from a shadow near her and set it on the table’s edge. “Shadow Fey cloth, enough for several sets of clothes depending on their style. A token from my domain to you as host of this discussion, Amdirlain.”

“I appreciate your token, Fuichon,” replied Amdirlain. “I’ll put it to good use.”

Nendes presented a horn that produced endless fresh water with equally glowing praise of its virtues and glared at Erfaron when he scoffed and guzzled from a beer stein. Amdirlain accepted the gift politely and studied the Fey enchantment that created the water from Mana wholesale rather than tapping into the elemental Plane.

Leaping to his feet, Erfaron came around the table with a grey folded hunter’s hood and presented it with both hands. “A token to aid your hunts. If you know the prey you seek, this will let you follow their steps or their wing beats no matter the lead they have on you. A token of respect to our host in appreciation of her fine banquet.”

Amdirlain nodded graciously and accepted.

“I hope these trifling gifts suit your tastes. Though outwardly the same, within is quite different. A token of appreciation for your attendance today.”

A keyhole hovered beside each guest and, through the miniature Gate to a demi-plane, Amdirlain spun her creations. The demi-planes for the Fey mirrored their current Domain but were far larger than their bastions on the Material Plane. Those for Ebusuku and Livia contained the challenges she’d have used for advanced levels of the training complexes. The divine senses of Anna and Hestia took in the terrain beyond the tiny gates beside them, and their eyes brightened for different reasons.

Inside Anna’s demi-plane were plants and animals from thousands of worlds within isolated sanctums. While Hestia blinked away tears as she listened to the cries of gulls above a Mediterranean blue sea, her divine senses took in the recreated coastline of Greece. When each demi-plane was completed, a crystal key slid forth and floated down to the table. The complex biomes within each gave her two older Prestige classes a jump in experience but didn’t warrant any level increase.

“The keys are yours. You alone may determine who you pass them to or who has right of passage within,” said Amdirlain.

“A token is always relative to the giver’s strength,” sighed Fuichon with a dramatic flutter of her wings. “It took my brownies far longer to weave that cloth from darkness.”

“Convey my appreciation to them for their fine crafting,” Amdirlain said. “We are gathered to discuss the mantles if you could all hold your questions to the end.”

While Amdirlain provided them with details on the impact and risks of mantles, the Fey shifted between nervous and angry. However, they weren’t the only ones whose expressions changed. Hestia's gaze narrowed speculatively, and she kept her eyes from Amdirlain. Only after Amdirlain finished reviewing how to shed it or advance beyond the Mantle’s consumption did Erfaron's enraged glare calm.

"Why should you let us slip your trap?" enquired Erfaron. “Orhêthurin transformed through bloodshed on her name day while Nicholaus spoke to our rivals' queens.”

The words caused Hestia to flinch, and Amdirlain caught the contrite music that rippled in her theme.

“It was a trap only meant for one group in particular and meant as a chance to hold others accountable.”

Before Amdirlain could continue, Hestia nodded in understanding, and the unsettled notes gained certainty in her theme. "I did warn Nicholaus that my kin would pursue him. He no doubt set this trap for when the pursers came. It killed all but one, though it extracted a price from others."

“I don’t think you were on the Titan’s list, Hestia, given you don’t treat people as objects to break when bored. How many lives were saved by you from your family’s ire?”

“I missed the vital three for Nicholaus,” replied Hestia, her gaze fixed on a nearby plate.

Fuck, did I misstep recreating the coastline of Greece for her? Yet Hestia's not afraid or angry; she's embarrassed and ashamed and doesn’t want to meet my eyes.

Erfaron grunted. "A hunt is always risky. Certainly, when alone or in small groups, but in larger gatherings, when beaters scour the underbrush to send the boars fleeing, other things can be spooked. Sometimes it's to the hunters' benefit, but other times their woe."

"True," admitted Hestia, and she finally met Amdirlain's eyes. “Are there any more details you would share about the mantles?”

"Just in closing, remember these elements were implemented as the mantles were intended as a proving ground. On the helpful side, their purpose is to assist entities not yet powerful enough to act as gods so they might protect and aid mortals. The traps within are to drain an arrogant possessor’s strength to cull out those would-be deities by giving mortals a way to remove them. To allow mortals to hold them to account before they grow strong enough to gain a divine spark on their own," stated Amdirlain. "While it's not perfect, it has removed many who would behave that way before they’ve obtained greater power. Do you believe power is yours by right?"

"What right does a hunter have except to risk his life hoping for a meal?" smirked Erfaron. “The more we believe we are the deity and not an office holder, the more it takes from us. We must maintain and strengthen ourselves and not fade into the Mantle that another can acquire.”

Amdiirlain nodded.

Nendes fidgeted with her shawl before deliberately refastening it to settle her twitching fingers. "Mortals are too dangerous to be taken that lightly or ignored. The impact on our last world taught us that valuable lesson."

"Is there anything more we should know about the mantles, or will you proceed to the discussion of pantheons?" asked Fuichon, and having carefully consumed the pollen alone, she tossed the flower like a makeshift javelin at Erfaron.

Erfaron snatched the flower from the air and used its stem to pick between his serrated teeth, eliciting metallic giggles from a fluttering of Fuichon's wings.

Pulling a scrap of meat free, Erfaron grunted. "Some of it we likely know, but since you said you’d also discuss pantheons, I'd like to know if there are any traps in those."

“I’ve already told you what happens to Mantle holders in a Gods’ War. The only traps in a Pantheon’s arrangements are those you make yourselves. Many cultures have different needs in balancing autonomy and individual power, or mutual support and obligations," Amdirlain said.

"In the courts, we gained rank by how tightly we bound ourselves to the queens," said Fuichon. "I've no desire to be bound to another again, but you can all swear to me."

"The courts' approach wasn't the nature of obligation I meant. Instead, think of it as arrangements of mutual respect to minimise the potential for fighting over misunderstandings.”

“Like the rules of hospitality,” proposed Fuichon.

“Certainly what is owed between each other. There are places and people where you’ll each be effectively the host or guest. It’s up to you seven and those that join you to determine the rules about what’s allowed where it touches other's areas of influence, places of worship, and so forth."

"That 'so forth' can cover much ground," observed Nendes. “That wasn’t a loophole so much as a wide-open plain.”

"That's because I won’t be part of your agreements or negotiations for them. The agreements between you are for the seven of you to decide."

Nendes frowned. "The humans at the table outnumber us."

"I was never human," replied Ebusuku. "And my worshippers include many species, most of them very inhuman."

Hestia's gaze flickered to Amdirlain curiously and seemed reassured by her calm.

Ebusuku has claimed them, and it feels like someone’s lifted a weight from my shoulders. Thank fuck that they’ve someone to look after their souls no matter what happens to me.

"Ebusuku is an example of effort allowing one to absorb the Mantle instead of the other way around," offered Amdirlain. “If you grow true strength, it coalesces into a divine spark.”

Fuichon regarded Ebusuku. "Ebusuku is not your name, is it?"

"It is a familiar name that Am uses for me," acknowledged Ebusuku. “I’ll share my name if our negotiations go well.”

Nodding to Amdirlain, Fuichon continued. "The shadows already heard her addressed as Amdirlain. However, the words did not ring with the power of an accurate recount. Anna has heard your name but not from you."

Nendes took a precise bite from a pearl, and the crunch interrupted Fuichon. She ground the pieces loudly between her molars, interrupting Fuichon a second time and finally spoke."This gathering is useless-"

"With all this information, you must be gaining something besides safety for adopted kin," interjected Erfaron, his gaze fixed on Amdirlain. Nendes hissed, and the still lake frothed with her sudden fury.

Amdirlain turned to Nendes. "That's a nice show."

Does she think I can’t destroy something? Some of the greatest creators among the Fey can’t even set a piece of wood on fire; any act speaking of destruction is their bane.

The water vanished from the lake, and Nendes' eyes went wide with fear as her feet sat on bone-dry ground and the partly eaten pearl dropped from her hand. As quickly as Amdirlain had shifted it away, she returned all the lake's waters, including its fish and microscopic life. "How was mine? Did you want me to do something more musical?"

"No," whispered Nendes.

Amdirlain locked gazes with Nendes, and the Fey shifted uncomfortably before she reached for another pearl.

With Nendes still distracted, Erfaron smirked and licked blood from his fingers.

"We've no grudge with you and would look to work with you as we've other deities," replied Ebusuku. "Would you go into the Pantheon options you know, Am?"

Amdirlain spent a few hours explaining those Pantheon arrangements she’d retrieved from Ori’s memories. They ranged from the simplest free form of individual patrons to the most complex hierarchies. Amdirlain caught Ebusuku and Livia's comfort with the situation, so she rose from her seat when she answered the last question about mantles and pantheons. "I'll leave you to your negotiations."

"What if we've more questions?" protested Fuichon.

"Save them up, or if they block your discussion completely, just call for me aloud. I’ll be monitoring to ensure all remain safe, but my physical presence might hamper discussions," replied Amdirlain, and she teleported across the lake to the limits of her Telepathy. A gentle nudge had Ebusuku allow her to link thoughts, and Amdirlain gave her a rush of Fey references and customs.

When Ebusuku had everything she could provide, Amdirlain took a crystal and stored half her current Ki pool away. Though she'd planned to meditate and monitor the discussions, the twin barbs of Silpar's questions and Anna's self-loathing for what she'd done dug at her thoughts. Amdirlain paused and repeated Silpar's question before she began to cycle pure Ki. "Do I hate myself?"

There was no answer to her whispered words, but as her meditations progressed, she tossed that question about and considered the memories that arose. The old dwarven patriarch from whom she'd experienced snippets of slavery's foulness arose. The death of his bride-to-be the day the clan had been seized led him into a swirl of self-loathing, with only his duty to his claim keeping him going. Her death with her hand just out of reach brought up other memories of loss and regret.

The recollection of each aggravated a wound that lay far beneath her soulscape’s surface and frequently strained at the meditative calm. Though she tried to follow the fragmented echoes between various regrets and the hollowness, nothing brought the source of the pained feeling forth. Over and over, Amdirlain's thoughts returned to the bride's clouded gaze, and she wondered if their souls had met before or since, as a lifetime seemed too fleeting for the crushing pain her death had inflicted. It had made him easy pickings in the fighting that had ensued, but also, his initial lethargy had avoided early death in the mines.

Was she one of the Anar reincarnating between the realms as well? Do I dare ask Sarah? She'd likely tell me or laugh in my face for being blind; I'm not sure which would be worse. Was it Ori's husband? That would figure, a second chance at life together ended before they had started.

Mentally exhausted despite cycling Ki, she set the question aside and turned to mindful meditation on the music around her. It was two days of discussion and haggling before most deities departed. The Fey found Ebusuku and the others capable of twisting their words when the Fey wanted to play games. Ultimately, the seven had reached a loose agreement, though it was more one of mutually respecting boundaries, like a Fey would a special field or brook.

It wasn't a complete failure, but the Fey are wary negotiators with many meanings in their offers and suggestions.

When the others said their goodbyes and departed at last, they left Ebusku and Livia alone. Amdirlain reappeared at the table, cancelled its renewing melodies, and cleared it away.

"Do you feel things worked out well?" asked Amdirlain.

Hestia didn’t stay. I wonder if I’ll hear from her again.

"Not as well as I'd like, but we should be able to work together," replied Livia. "Though honestly, it was much better than expected, and hopefully a proper mutual respect will develop."

Ebusuku shrugged. "Your device that allowed Livia to find all the Skrel tribal locations was a powerful bargaining piece. We could have withheld the knowledge, but when we didn’t, it seemed to thaw them slightly."

“I noticed that as well,” agreed Amdirlain. “Their harmonies grew less capricious as the discussion continued, though their thoughts continued to jump about.”

“You read a mantle-holders mind,” huffed Ebusuku, in amused disbelief.

Amdirlain shrugged helplessly. “It was more I listened to what spilled forth.”

"Is Anna going to be okay?" asked Livia. "You two seemed to have a momentary connection when you spoke to her, yet she was sometimes very quiet."

"She shared a memory, and a few things about her situation make more sense now. I'm glad I gave decent advice since I'm not a therapist," sighed Amdirlain.

"You weren't trying to work through her problem but you managed to get him to sit still for her. It sounded like his support was her key to taking matters under her conscious control," commented Livia.

What's my key?

Amdirlain pushed the question aside and smiled at Ebusuku. "So you're the big cheese now. Congratulations on making full divinity."

Ebusuku frowned. "We'll discuss that at the Outlands since the shadows here seem to be skilled informants."

"Nothing stopping us going there now is there?" noted Livia.

Ebusuku's Planar Shift delivered them directly to a familiar-looking valley, with the Spire in the distance.

I wonder if it makes others feel like helpless kittens when I do that to them without warning.

Ebusuku regarded Amdirlain nervously. "I hope I didn’t push you away by getting involved the way I did. I might not be an expert on Fey, but I've half a million years of experience in dealing with unpredictable individuals."

“It didn’t bother me a bit, and you contacted me in advance. I took it as you helping Livia, not trying to step on my toes. Since the three of you were there to support her, and the Fey had issues with me, I tried to supply some useful knowledge and happily kept out," replied Amdirlain. “Do you think we should pester the others for a report?”

Ebusuku smiled grimly. "I know what celestials in my service are up to if I pay attention. Kli and the others have been culling some northern monsters. You might not need her to kill monsters nor deliver things frequently, but I'd like you to keep Kli with you when you can.”

"Why?"

"Silpar's conversation with Kli was enlightening, especially when he asked Kli if she'd experienced faster resistance growth," said Ebusuku.

Sarah tattled on me to Ebusuku about the Fey, but she didn't about the resistance training?

After the unpleasant time spent contemplating Silpar’s words, Amdirlain stiffened defensively. "I needed them higher. He noticed a similar pattern of growth."

"I wasn’t asking you to justify yourself, Amdirlain. You’ll need them maximised to improve your chances. Silpar not expecting the growth pattern was a sign of secrets being kept," said Ebusuku, and she raised a hand. “I’m not telling you what to tell him, but I suggest you figure out what he needs to know and what he might take objection to if he learns it from someone. Information shared in advance is a trust that some value and others take insult at when they find out regardless.”

Amdirlain sighed. “That’s hard. Even if many seem sane, I find it hard to trust the cloister or its members. I don’t have a proper view of Celestial mindsets.”

“With everything you’ve been through, I can understand trying to relax enough to share any information is hard, even without dealing with a Fallen,” said Ebusuku.

“It is,” admitted Amdirlain.

“That’s where my offer of Kli’s company comes in. I figured you could use some more free-spirited company. It might help you find that days don’t need to be consumed with endless training and pain,” said Ebusku. “With that being your focus lately, it’s not surprising you’re on guard.”

"You know I don't do well when people start pushing me in a particular direction," replied Amdirlain. "I know it's a flaw, but I instinctively start digging my heels in."

"Another thing I noticed is you put people at arm's length unless you're getting help from them on your terms," stated Ebusuku. ”Which is it with Silpar?”

Amdirlain nodded. "True, I feel like I’m being graded even though the cloister tenets are not to judge each other. I'm a control freak, and the cloister has their way of doing things."

"Besides yanking you off that world because I wanted to talk to you without the Fey overhearing, I'm not telling you what to do. Though I’m hoping I can offer you the right help," said Ebusku.

"I appreciate that," said Amdirlain.

Ebusuku exhaled in relief, and Amdirlain beamed in response.

"I might not be able to give you the Mantle back as it was, but deities can grant others a portion of their divine power and promote them into the divine rank," said Ebusuku. "Depending on how much energy is used, they can skip divine ranks."

"No," said Amdirlain. "We can talk about that after I’m no longer a Fallen. What if it makes my link into the Abyss permanent? If it was safe, I can think of at least two other individuals who would have offered it.”

“More than two. I’ve had scores of deities seeking me to talk about you,” said Ebusuku. “Especially after the Mantle condensed into a divine spark. Given what they told me, I thought they were hinting it would be best coming from me.”

“They came to talk to you about my life as Ori?”

“No, most seem to have no idea about that. Rather they wanted to talk about Amdirlain, who set thousands of prisoners free from the Maze and suggested help be given,” corrected Ebusku. ”You made quite the impression on all the deities they entered service with. Word got around about who was responsible from the elven Celestial you spoke to in the trial.”

“So what happened to progress you from a Mantle to a full Deity?” asked Amdirlain. “I've got a few guesses, but I'd like to make sure."

"I was trying to be just a good custodian but, in growing your faith, it seems things went too far," explained Ebusuku.

Amdirlain reassuringly patted her shoulder. "It wasn't too far for those in your care."

"You're not upset?"

"That a friend is doing well for herself? Of course not," insisted Amdirlain.

"But the Mantle was yours, and you said you’d take it back," protested Ebusuku.

Amdirlain smiled. "I only planned to let you return it because I’d stuck you with it. If I wanted a Mantle, I could get one fairly easily. The last one that tried to form around me I smacked in the face."

"Bahamut told me about your first trip with Goxashru and the townsfolk’s reaction to the Dragon’s proclamation," laughed Ebusuku, but she quickly turned sombre. "But I still feel as if I betrayed you."

I should have warned her, but I didn't know she'd progressed the faith’s reach that much.

As her mood faded, Amdirlain fixed her with a serious look. "You looked after them when I needed someone to step up and care for them. Neither of us knew there'd be a tipping point when you took it on. Anyway, relax. Now you're a real Goddess without a Mantle, and you can do some cool things."

"I could give you a job," offered Ebusuku.

I’ve already told her what would happen if I went to the maze.

Amdirlain raised an eyebrow but held back her immediate response.

“There was the first option to stay in the same species,” reminded Ebusuku. ”Serving a heavenly power might let you set a Home Plane away from the lower planes.”

“I don’t want to do anything stranger than I already do. That might shift my Redemption’s Path off balance. Also, I'm enough of a hard taskmaster on myself; the last thing I need is to feel like I'm underperforming on someone else's watch," Amdirlain replied after a long pause.

Ebusuku sighed in disappointment. “I was hoping there was some way I could help.”

“You are, Ebusuku, and you have been. You’re helping far more people than I had ever expected to help in my lifetime,” reassured Amdirlain.

"With the giants dealt with and an initial agreement with the Fey reached, are you heading back to the Abyss?" asked Ebusuku.

"No, I need to push my Monk skills," replied Amdirlain, and she grinned at Livia. "And I made Livia a promise."

Livia nodded cheerfully. "We get some proper time?"

"Does training together count?" asked Amdirlain.

"Somewhat," allowed Livia.

"Hopefully that schedule includes some proper rest time," said Ebusuku.

Amdirlain shrugged. "It's training that I need. However, I also need some advice about your grandmother. She is playing games and wants to meet to discuss my request to track down one of Balnérith's sisters."

"Then there is no guarantee she'd even help if you did meet," sighed Ebusuku. "Given you freed her, it's likely, but there is always an element of uncertainty until she figures out her motivation for helping. Have you told her why you want one of the sisters you requested?"

"No, only that I want one that had worked on the project in the depths," replied Amdirlain.

Ebusuku frowned. "I would have thought that would have been enough."

"She might know that Balnérith wants out of the realm but not know or understand what her mechanism of choice would do," said Amdirlain.

"I'll see if I can determine a way to meet her safely. I'd get involved directly but, wherever you meet her, the most I'd likely be able to bring is a weakened Avatar. That would be insufficient and also get a fierce reaction from her," said Ebusuku. "Is going from having a singular focus on resistance training to jumping on Livia's issue a form of holiday for you?"

"Maybe," allowed Amdirlain, blocking a sudden gust of wind from sweeping hair into her face.

Ebusuku glanced at the dust hitting the air pocket around Amdirlain. "You’ve grown a lot stronger, and you're not leaking Charisma at all."

"I appreciate the confirmation. I put nine levels into my new Prestige Class to test things out," admitted Amdirlain.

"It provides a jump in your strength?" enquired Ebusuku.

Amdirlain held up two fingers. "Just a smidge. I might have to reassess my transition goal."

"I don't know if I should hug you or grumble at you. You keep finding detours and setting your goalposts further away. While I can’t complain since you’re an agent of change for the better, I still worry about you," said Ebusuku, and she clasped Amdirlain's shoulders. "I'd like you to think about what you need for a time instead of the realm."

"I tried that the last couple of days, but it was too exhausting," quipped Amdirlain.

Her hands were still on Amdirlain's shoulders, and Ebusuku rocked back and forth, making them both wobble. A dramatic grimace of frustration appeared on her face, and Amdirlain laughed.

"You said you needed to strangle Livia when she was younger. Where is your common sense?" asked Ebusuku.

"Lost that in my washing the week before I was cursed," replied Amdirlain.

Ebusuku pressed her forehead against Amdirlain's. "If it was exhausting, perhaps it's because of the emotional debt you've not dealt with yet again. Stop accumulating it."

"I had plenty of fun while on Qil Tris," argued Amdirlain. "I got so much done."

Livia snorted. "But we all know you have a weird sense of fun. Did you want to keep trying to shake sense into my Móðir, Ebusuku?"

"I'm not sure it would work," sighed Ebusuku.

"Móðir," said Livia.

When she didn't continue, Amdirlain tilted her head at her. "I am listening."

Livia bit the inside of her cheek. "You need to learn how to live properly for yourself instead of merely surviving to help others."

"Did someone schedule an intervention when I wasn't looking?" asked Amdirlain.

"Has someone else been asking you hard questions?" asked Ebusuku.

Amdirlain twitched an eyebrow upwards. "With your reference to Silpar, I had assumed he had spilled."

Releasing Amdirlain, Ebusuku frowned and took a step back. "He talked to Kli about the change he'd experienced in the growth speed of his resistances, but that clarified what you must have been up to. I had thought Sarah would keep me in the loop, but she’s closed mouth about you when it suits her."

"It was boring waiting and meditating, nothing special. I tried meditating on a question he had asked me, and it left me mentally exhausted. Let's go do some interesting training," proposed Amdirlain, endeavouring to keep her tone light.

"How many levels do you need for the transition you'd aim to achieve?" asked Livia.

"A fraction under six hundred," admitted Amdirlain.

Livia nodded. "And you want a better Monk Class option to fill your fourth opening."

Shrugging, Amdirlain smiled ruefully. "That will be the holdup. I could retake Sora Master to try and escalate the frequency at which my insights occur, however, that seems like a waste."

"Sometimes the fastest way forward is to return to the beginning," said Livia. "What were you thinking of that left you exhausted?"

"Bad memories," whispered Amdirlain. "From other lifetimes; besides Ori, I've recovered some screwed-up past lives."

"Then maybe you need some happier memories to help attunement. I've got some ten-year-olds you could assist with training," said Livia.

“Kids’ classes at the dojo could be fun,” allowed Amdirlain.

"Take part in their lessons on Ki Strike and other powers, listen in on the foundational lessons, and find what your experimentation missed."

Amdirlain sighed in disbelief. "You're listening to Kad too much."

"Perhaps it's for my benefit. I can watch you teach and pretend I had that time with you myself," replied Livia. "You're not the only one with regrets, Móðir."

"That's a little bit of cheating," noted Amdirlain.

"I'm not insisting you do anything. The monastery is offering you some activities that we believe will benefit you," said Livia. "We also believe our students will benefit and will compensate you with contribution points."

"I thought you were offering me whatever help I needed?" teased Amdirlain.

Livia nodded. "An opportunity for growth; some of the masters you'll want to learn from I have no authority over. You get time to review your own techniques and simplify them enough to teach, and earn contribution points to avoid resentment from those masters with specialised skills. You could offer them Ki but, while it's a treasure, it can be seen as buying your way with a unique resource."

"The energy from a show-off looking to leapfrog the monastery's system?" questioned Amdirlain.

"I would never call you a show-off, Móðir," Livia said, her serenely composed expression given away by the twinkle of amusement in her gaze.

"Yeah, right," drawled Amdirlain. "I suppose, since I've gotten the giants out of the way, I should come and train with you now as I promised."

"That would be appreciated, Móðir," said Livia with a glowing smile. "If I remember right, you've Ki State, Ki Infusion, Ki Movement, Ki Strike, Spirit Passage, Ki Flight, and Ki Blast to work upon."

"That's correct," said Amdirlain, a smile twitching at the corner of her mouth.

Livia stepped close and lightly touched her hand. "Which one is the lowest, and which is the highest?"

"Ki Blast is close to busting out into the Journeyman rank, but there have not been places I've been willing to unleash it. It would simply draw too much attention within the Abyss. Ki State is level one hundred and twenty in Senior Master. Devouring Cacophony is just over the line into Grandmaster," replied Amdirlain.

"Sounds like you two have some work ahead of you," said Ebusuku. "I hope you'll let yourself wallow in life for a while, Amdirlain. I'll see what I can pry loose from my grandmother for you."

With that, Ebusuku disappeared.

"Shall we head to the monastery now?" asked Livia.

Amdirlain messaged Silpar and Sarah to ask them to meet there. "We can head that way, and you can tell me about that big sword you used against the giants."

Livia laughed. "It's the only sword I possess that can handle my Ki being run through it."

"Where did you get it from?" asked Amdirlain. "It's as big as you."

"I only use it for travelling via Sword Light. If you must know, I won the sword in a bet with an Eastern Dragon, and it only shrinks to that size."

"Sword Light comes after Ki Flight and Ki Movement?"

"No, Móðir, you need to combine those powers and then evolve the result," corrected Livia. "Let's get to the monastery. We can talk, and I'll take you through some technique scrolls."

Amdirlain didn't object to Livia moving them to her Domain.