The rustling of feathers, followed by an ominous purple glow closing in on my periphery, startled me—causing me to nearly fall out of my chair.
"I doubt you have even a notion of how far you've surpassed my expectations in such a short time. Let me tell you this, little Harbinger, a minute change in your physiology occurred the moment your soul was infused with one of those keystone affinities."
I grasped at my chest, recalling the uneasy sensation that had rushed through my body after I'd committed my selections.
"Based off what you said a moment ago I'm guessing it's a good thing since it aligns with why my lineage was created. Any chance you're willing to divulge the details on said purpose?"
The raven-goddess turned her head, seemingly staring absentmindedly at the bland stone walls. After a moment, the sound of what could only be a very human-like tongue click was followed by a splash of reddish liquid filling my view and a stinging pain racing up my arm.
Virgo's ivory talons were stained in a shiny crimson hue—my blood dripping onto the floor.
"Yeowch!" I cried out in pain, "By the Goddess—by your own self!—what in the Aether was that for?"
"Just look. It would've been tedious to explain. Watch the blood."
At the Goddess' command I sat back in my seat and followed her gaze. My blood which had been splashed all around us was acting oddly.
The droplets that dripped towards the floor from the talons which inflicted the very wound, slowly came to a stop midair and made their way impossibly back to my arm.
I lifted my hand, uncovering the deep gash in my arm, and let out a sharp cry of surprise.
As if someone had cast a healing spell on the wound, the tissues were knitting back together—but what really surprised me was that the blood was making its way back to the wound. Even the liquid that already stained my clothes and the room's furnishings, was slowly seeping back towards my arm.
"W-what in the…" My voice, small and trembling, trailed off.
A rapid blinking in the corner of my vision caught my attention—alerting me that I had been afflicted with a bleed condition—since I was already well aware, I dismissed the status notification. However the blinking remained, a new droplet-shaped symbol was flashing near the same area.
I focused on it and new window was projected in front of me in the mist.
» DAMAGED TISSUES DETECTED
» REGENERATING WOUND – [■■■□□□□□□□]
» REGENERATING WOUND – [■■■■□□□□□□]
"You've made your first steps into the realm of the Divine. Though still many leagues away from us Celestials, with some effort you'd be able to fight toe-to-toe with the majority of the Alaetüs."
"If that's the case, I did manage to beat back Ikuye's blade and cause her to use some barrier magick."
"Yes, I had the chance to watch that little sideshow. I also had the chance to see you boost your physical strength by relying heavily on my sister's power and almost go berserk."
I grimaced.
Moving on then!
"Uhm, it hasn't been that long since our last meeting, but I didn't get a chance to ask a few things that seemed important. Seeing as you had time to peep on me, does that mean you have time to answer some questions for me?"
Virgo fluttered across the table to a plate of assorted meats and began tearing pieces apart with her sharp beak.
"Ask about whatever paltry concerns you have. I'm happy enough with your progress that I'll give you a bit of my time."
"Thanks. I've really been winging this whole, reform the empire, thing and I was worried that—Ah, nevermind that! Psychometric episodes. That's what I need details on. What in the Aether are they and why are they happening to me!?"
"Psychometric what?"
"Episodes, I guess? That's what the notification details say from this rune system call them."
I lifted my left arm up and presented the tattooed rune towards the Goddess.
"Yes yes. I've seen the primitive runic magick my children leverage to attempt to interact with the world, so put your arm down already. Explain what these so-called episodes are so I can know what you're talking about."
I fidgeted in my seat at her scolding. "It's like I'm dreaming, but they aren't my dreams. And from what I can tell, I'm reliving experiences of others from their point of view but I still have my own sense of self."
"When did this begin to occur?"
The raven-goddess turned her meat-stained face to me, having now completely devoured the plate.
"The first time was after I'd gone to sleep. Months ago, when I was traveling with only Julius away from Axio. The second time was after returning to Tolin—after I'd met you and Capricorn—and happened some time while recovering from casting the resurrection magick. And most recently after Ikuye and I had our duel. Ikuye thinks it has something to do with my affinities for magick—or a tie to divine blood."
"While I would love nothing more to dismiss anything that child said as derivative babble. She has it mostly right. Your high affinity to the Aether itself is the cause. More accurately, it's that affinity itself manifesting within you that is the actual cause."
Staring blankly at Virgo, I grabbed a pitcher of water and calmly poured myself a drink into the glass I'd used previously.
I sipped slowly while trying to digest the nonsensical explanation she had given me. But no matter how much time I tried to buy nothing would change the fact I was completely lost, with no clue what she was talking about.
"I don't understand." I stated in a lifeless monotone.
Divine fury befitting of the Goddess flashed through her raven-eyes, and I felt an intense pressure as if a blade was pressed against my neck.
"Why attend an academy devoted to teaching nobles about magick if you weren't even going to learn the basics!"
The Goddess' condescending tone pierced my mind.
"Nevermind. Things were better when I had a few dozen Altaerians in charge of things. I can't fault you when those who remained to support you and your father were dullards. Aether makes up everything. It's the building blocks of all the things you can touch physically, as well as in the space between those things. The only thing that isn't made up of Aether, would be the souls of mortal creatures that make up Terae."
"If our souls aren't made up of Aether, then how is my high affinity causing my to experience these past events?"
"By invoking Aether magicks, you could interact with anything in this world. An elemental mage might draw waves from a still lake, or create a breeze in a windless space. An aethermage however, could force all the water from the lake, or push all the air from a room. A soul exists within a physical body made up of Aether. It can seep through crevices and sometimes extend into space outside of the aetherial body, especially when it pertains to strong emotions or memories. But a soul can never truly be exposed outside of its aetherial body, unless the body has failed, or died as you would call it."
"Those strong emotions or memories, that's what I'm interacting with? Is there a way I can prevent them from—"
I was interrupted by a knocking at the door.
Virgo and I both turned abruptly at the noise, and a soft voice came from the other side.
"Your Majesty, Paladin Vynn asked that I check in to see if you needed anything?"
I rose from my seat, stretching the soreness from my muscles, and answered the door to find two attendants waiting for me. Both of them flinched when a sudden beating of wings sounded from behind me and a blindingly-white raven perched atop my shoulder in a show of smoky mist.
"I don't need anything else. In fact, I'll be leaving so go ahead and clear the room."
The attendants stepped aside and bowed, allowing me to pass by.
You're tuned in to my thoughts, right? If possible, I'd prefer we converse like this so others don't think I'm a crazy lady talking to a strange magickal beast. Capricorn caused a ruckus the last time she starting speaking in animal form with others around.
"I could listen in to all your thoughts if I chose to, but yes, I can hear you clearly if you will them at me directly."
Great. So what I was asking before, is there a way to not interact with someone's memories or emotions?
"Your biggest hurdle in that regard is that the ones oozing those emotions beyond themselves are unguarded against your presence. You could try telling your subordinates to be less willing to divulge their innermost feelings to you."
Sure, I'll let my inner circle know to keep a better rein on their subconscious.
I rolled my eyes and let out an indignant huff—only to be caught by Hanna as she rounded a hallway heading towards Command.
"Oh, Commander—err, Your Majesty, I apologize for sending someone and interrupting Your Majesty. It's just been quite some time since Your Majesty had been locked away and…"
She looked uncomfortable, glancing back and forth between the raven perched on my shoulder and me.
"It's fine, Hanna. And you don't need to be so caught up in this whole royal etiquette thing. It makes me feel a bit awkward to be honest. I may have claimed the throne, but I'm far from an established ruler deserving of all the pomp."
Hanna wore a skewed expression across her face, "Pardon me then, you appeared rather disturbed just now and I was worried I'd been the cause."
"Ahh. I guess I should be the one to apologize then. I was just caught up in a rather annoying thought. I've let the attendants you sent go ahead and clear out the meeting room. You all can return to business as usual."
"I've seen how you treat my sister with occasional scorn. However, now being on the receiving end of it, I find it rather displeasing."
I excused myself from Hanna and briskly made my way out of the Citadel, dodging a high number of Divisional officers.
Once we'd made it past the gatehouse, Virgo pushed off from my shoulder and perched atop a pillar of a nearby wall.
"I'm short on time here and must return to my groves. In all seriousness, if you're more mindful about the mingling of souls when emotions run high then you should be able to stop yourself from entering these so-called episodes. I meant to present these earlier, but your pestering about the higher workings of basic magick diverted my attention. Here, a reward for making such grand progress in a short amount of time."
A small rift in space appeared between us and a medium-sized white cloth pouch tumbled to the ground with a soft plop.
The top was tightly drawn with a shiny and expensive looking silver corded-rope. Even the pouch itself seemed extravagant, with violet embroidering on runic patterns covering the exterior.
I drew the string back and reached inside, my hand extending further and impossibly, ever deeper into the pouch.
"What in the Aether is this thing?"
"A magick bag. Unlike my boorish sister who likes to drop miscellaneous stones in your palms, this keeps everything tidy and presentable."
"I don't know about it being tidy." I remarked with a snide grin, brushing away the dust the bag had garnered after resting on the ground.
- - - - - - - - - - - - {INSPECTION} - - - - - - - - - - - -
[BAG OF HOLDING]
[Relic]
A wondrous bag that contains an extra-dimensional space capable of storing considerably more than its exterior would seem.
Can hold up to 500 pounds, not exceeding a volume of 64 cubit feet.
» CLASS: ARTIFACT
» STATUS:
» FILLED TO 5% CAPACITY
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"There is a trinket in there that will let you contact me just as easily as you can call on my sister, and a few spell tomes that I made—no, asked, Vita to put together for you. Quick warning, don't hold the bag upside down with the drawstring open. If you do, anything you placed in there will come spilling out."
"I'll keep that in mind—annnd you're gone already."
I watched the trails of smoky essence dissipate away as Virgo blipped away through a small portal before I could ask her further questions.
- - - - - - - - - - - - {INSPECTION} - - - - - - - - - - - -
[SHARD OF ASCENDANCE]
[Relic]
A shard of marbled stone that radiates aetherial energy.
(Bound)
» CLASS: MYTHICAL
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Wait, if the rest of the five percent is books, just how many tomes did she leave me with? Ack! I don't have time to read all these…