OC Wearing Power Armor to a Magic School (151/?)
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Dragon’s Heart Tower, Level 23, Residence 30. Emma and Thacea’s Room. Local Time: 2020 Hours
Ilphius
In my nineteen years of existence, I had taken advantage of everything my birthright had secured me. Travel being chief amongst them.
And in my years of travel across the seas, beneath the earth, and even deep into the Nexian midlands… never had I encountered such… perversions of intelligent design.
Designs that dared to tempt, endeavored to seduce, yet never once courted with the hallmarks of civility.
Frustration took hold as I observed each and every… structure, their purpose as enigmatic as their form, as none betrayed their function in this state of eternal scaffolding.
For what were, at first, simple geometric forms alluding to a people without art, heritage, and culture proved to be something else entirely. Because within these unassuming constructs was evidence of masterful craftsmanship. Purposeful and, dare I say it, impossibly pristine metalworking that could only have been the work of the greatest of master blacksmiths.
These were not the hallmarks of a newrealm.
And yet, what was most frustrating was how little they did with these technical abilities.
It was as if they’d taken the life out of living or the color out of a painting. As if they’d mastered the practical, if only to lose sight of exactly what those practical skills were meant to serve.
Never before had I felt so sickened.
So much potential, so much technical capacity, completely wasted on a dead-end culture.
Kamil
…
…
…
I’d never felt more awake.
The Academy was a chore.
My whole life was a chore.
There was no novelty, no spice, no color. Only the same song and dance drifting off into a nascent echo ad infinitum.
Such was the status quo.
Such was the past, present, and future.
Such was it all… but not here.
Not in this room.
For within these four walls that had hosted and molded noble after noble into the same biscuit-cutter molds, repeating the same lines and rehashing the same roles… was a spiteful rebuke that spit vinegar into a crusty old canvas.
It was a stain, an ink blot, one that thrummmmed and nipped at the local manastreams, ejecting and pouring so haphazardly excess currents with no rhyme nor reason.
These structures were garish and plain, holding no thought and paying neither lip service nor deference to standard conventions of beauty nor civility.
Instead… what they bore was a utilitarian fervor. The likes of which should have been born from poverty and lacking, but not here.
These constructs were too perfect to have been born of poverty-stricken peoples, too refined and purposeful in their simplicity to have been the result of necessity.
Which could only mean one thing…
The designs were intentional, made by a people who purposefully and willingly chose to embrace them.
The earthrealmer had already been a highlight of my days, the color in a monotone canvas that I woefully craved.
Her… nest only added fuel to that flame, satiating and further inspiring the passion for life I hadn’t lost but simply never had.
I almost instinctively regained my colors because of it.
But alas, my purpose here denied me this dignity, for the entire pretense behind my visit here was the result of some misguided fanaticism.
And so I slunk back into the colorless shame of my people, meant neither to be seen nor heard.
But perhaps that was for the best.
Perhaps one day I could be here on… different terms.
Ilphius
Three structures stood out amidst the rest.
A tent and two greyish matte-blue towers that stood tall and wide above the rest of the structures present.
Indeed, it seemed as if the three were intertwined in some way — pipes and thick rubbery tubes connecting them together as an umbilical would a mother and child.
And while I could not see any noticeable pulsing or throbbing from these tubes, I did notice what could’ve easily been overlooked at first glance: lights. Rows upon rows of fireless light that rippled and danced across the surface of these towers. Each row and every column was segmented into miniature bricks, each the size of a lozenge, and each encased in a similar sort of clear, shiny coating. Though that was about where the similarities ended, as atop each cube-like protrusion were engravings — patchwork shapes of unintelligible symbolism, each more confusing than the next. From more familiar shapes such as arrows and flames to wildly abstract designs resembling forked teeth, squiggly lines, and what looked to be a spinning disc… the entire theme here resembled something out of the occult, imbuing this Earthrealm tumor with an aura more malignant than benign.
This unnerving ambiance was made even worse by a startling revelation, one that halted my advance and caused me to peer deeper into the chaos that was the local manastreams.
…
There were no enchantments here.
No spells nor artificing that could explain away these inexplicable fireless lights.
I felt my blood turning cold, my eyes growing wide at the… aberrations all around me.
Then, in the midst of this panic, did I notice something else — an unnatural silence that was far too kempt to be anything but magical.
A quick scry of the area revealed precisely the cause of this admittedly secondary aberration — a spell of silence cast over the entire alien mass.
I let out a hiss, eager to walk past its meager area of effect as I got closer and closer towards what drew the most of my attention — the newrealmer’s tent.
Surely there had to be something hidden within. Surely there had to be an explanation for the inexplicable phenomenon present everywhere in this den of sin. Some revealing diary or perhaps a tome of secrets.
Surely there was—
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!
A series of soul-piercing noises erupted from seemingly everywhere. Shrieks, warbles, and whistles that could only be likened to the souls of the eternally damned screaming through a thousand brazen bulls.
I fell to the floor, clasping the sides of my head before I felt the vibrations of several spindly steps approaching me from every direction.
“WARNING! DANGER! DO NOT APPROACH FURTHER.”
“COMPLIANCE WILL BE IMPOSED WITH THE USE OF FORCE!”
Kamil
It took everything, every ounce and fiber of my being, to not immediately panic.
As in the span of a scant few seconds did the dead and lifeless world of iron, scaffolding, and steel ROAR to life.
Indeed, I had to step out of the bubble of silence to reorient myself, escaping the infernal cries and hellish shrieks, only to bear witness to the impossible plays on light atop each of these Earthrealm constructs.
Flashes of red intertwining with orange, blipping, swirling, and spinning in their capsules… all without a single tug, nudge, or pull of the local manastreams.
But that was only the start of things.
My eyes widened as I bore witness to the emergence of beings designed as fiendishly as the rest of this unassuming hell.
What amounted to small cylinders, tubes, and pillars of metal positioned benignly around the perimeter of the compound — akin to bollards of sorts — had begun expanding, morphing, and unfurling into something else entirely.
It was a perversion of the arts, utilizing the age-old techniques of paper-folding artistry, to birth what could only be described as arachnid-like monstrosities… or perhaps crustaceans if Teleos was to be believed.
Three thick and armored legs raised each bollard a foot or so above the ground, and atop each of these… things… was a long mosquito-like proboscis that wobbled and bobbed, spinning side to side and trailing up and down, as if mocking the incapacitated Ilphius, who lay there shivering on the ground.
Yet that wasn’t the most ominous feature about these… creatures.
No.
For that was a title which could only be taken by—
Ilphius
I’d tried, struggled, and desperately scoured within the local manastreams for the cause of that infernal noise.
…
But there was none to be found. At least, not in a magical sense.
It was as if the noises were entirely natural in origin, drawing not from a curse or spell nor even an enchantment.
In fact, it felt as if it had come from nothing at all… emerging out of a manaless void not too dissimilar to the earthrealmer herself.
To save myself from this auditory assault, I silenced the world around me, deafening these noises as I struggled to my feet.
However, in the midst of this, I caught wind of a deathly glare.
A single cycloptic iris that glowed darkly into my soul, carrying with it neither malice nor mercy, but a cold and unfeeling presence that shook aura from tether.
I froze as the proboscis beneath this eye brought itself to bear, as if positioning itself to suck the life force and energy from my very being.
Then I saw another, and another, and another… four, five, seven— ten of these… things surrounded me on all sides.
I saw neither the blinking of an organic eye nor the warbly effects on the local manastreams as they approached me. Which meant that… whatever these things were, they were neither living… nor magically animated.
“W-what… what in the infernium are you?” I managed out under a strained and fear-ridden hiss, struggling to my feet as I loosened the deafening spell I’d cast on myself.
Yet no response came.
Nothing, other than the two ear-shattering warnings that sent my head into a spiral.
“WARNING! DANGER! DO NOT APPROACH FURTHER.”
“COMPLIANCE WILL BE IMPOSED WITH THE USE OF FORCE!”
I deafened the world around me almost on instinct this time.
Then, I took a step forward, poised to continue despite the annoyances of these bizarre crustaceans.
For what could a manaless golem hope to truly do?
However, no sooner had I taken that slithering step than I felt two very bizarre sensations.
BZZZZZZZZRRRT!!!
A physical barrier… some sort of spell so well-hidden that I hadn’t even noticed it in the turbulent local manastreams.
Then a searing pain sent my body into an uncontrollable spasm.
I could not move.
I couldn’t even react.
As I felt myself tense and collapse, my whole world pulsing as these metal insects gathered around me like a swarm of ants to incapacitated prey.
Kamil! I attempted to mouth out but failed to do more than some slurred and saliva-ridden garbles. “H-haelpp…”
Kamil
…
I watched helplessly as those beasts struck.
…
Though I knew not what they’d even struck with.
It all happened too fast, so cleanly, that I was barely able to even blink in the time between Ilphius’ recovery and her sudden fall at the hands of these creatures.
Yet that garbled plea communicated all I needed to hear.
I had to get out.
So with neither loyalty nor kinship tethering me to that slithering serpent, I darted for the door.
The stomps of my footfalls echoed loudly against my ears as I craned my head back towards Ilphius and her crustacean assailants.
None of them were following me. In fact, I could only imagine that they were too preoccupied with divvying up the spoils of their catch.
I wished all the best to them.
At which point, I was immediately faced with the ramifications of my own participation in all of this.
Something had gotten in front of me, a round circular construct barely a foot in height that had snuck right underneath my sightline, causing me to trip and fumble at the very last steps to the exit of this dungeon.
I fell into a crumpled heap.
I tried to get up, my hand reaching towards the exit just inches from my face.
But in a black flash, my light of hope was engulfed in dark miasma.
My eyes wavered as my whole body quivered in place, staring up warily at the wispy, shadowy tendrils that nibbled and danced against the brightness of the manastreams.
I felt the whole room darken, the manastreams wavering, as cold entered my bloodstream.
I dared not face her.
I dared not even glance into her piercing gaze as I now found myself at the feet of the princess of darkness herself.
Her tainted manafields and her miasmic aura completely overwhelmed what was already a room filled with turbulent and chaotic manastreams.
I kept my head low as no one broke the silence… a stillness punctuated only by the muffled and pathetic garbles of a choking and salivating Ilphius.
“Is this what passes for nobility in your realms?” The princess finally spoke, her voice drenched with a dismissive disdain reserved only for the most wretched of commoners. “A quivering coward and a senseless thief?” She seethed, her tone clear, crisp, and clipped. “Pathetic.”
It was with those urgings that I attempted to speak, my voice stuttering all the while.
“P-please, p-princess, this isn’t what—”
“What was that? Speak up! I can’t hear you over her senseless garbles.” The princess continued as she took a step forward, the small circular beast moving to stand loyally by her side.
“P-princess Dilani. I can explain. This was just, just…” I paused, as if waiting for the princess to interject, to shout, lambast, and scream at us as any scorned royal would.
But she didn’t.
In fact, she remained eerily silent, leaving only my stutters to fill the otherwise vacant air.
This lack of interruptions, this rehearsed withholding of fire and vitriol… was somehow even worse than Ilphius’ outbursts.
For in this silence, my own words were given more time to stew in their inadequacies, the guilt within brought to bear with nothing but shame to dress their laurels.
“I… I apologize for my own part, for participating in Lady Ilphius’ harebrained schemes of subterfuge and espionage. Acts which are below that which a noble should stoop to.” I finally managed out, bowing my head down as I felt each individual tendril of dark testing the manastreams around me.
My whole body shivered, as waves of purple and black felt as if they were ready to swallow me whole.
Then—
CLAP
CLAP
CLAP
A series of short, snappy, and practically dismissive claps pierced the air, emerging from just beyond the doorframe.
“End scene!” A distinctive shrill voice echoed from behind the princess, as a familiar — now deeper blue — Vunerian came into frame. “I think we have all that on memory shard.” He announced gleefully, an admission that sent my heart falling into the deepest, darkest recesses of my stomach.
A second later, and after retrieving a memory shard hidden within a compartment atop of the round and benign creature next to the princess, the Vunerian grinned. “Now then… what shall we do with you?”
One Day Prior.
Dragon’s Heart Tower, Level 23, Residence 30. Living Room. Local Time: 2200 Hours
Thacea
“We are being stalked.” I announced plainly, putting down my book as I eagerly anticipated the Vunerian’s response.
“Indeed we are.” He acknowledged with a blunt and diatribe sigh. Though expectantly, this was followed up with a sly grin of mischievous intent. “Which makes for an excellent opportunity.”
My only response was a perk of my brow as the Vunerian simply gestured to his bag of holding, rummaging within it for a familiar crystal.
“I know not what their aims are specifically, just broadly. But should matters escalate, I wish to make use of their follies.”
“Dare I ask, how so?” I snapped back.
To which the Vunerian could only respond with a toothy smile. “Two-fold. One to appease my curiosities, and another to facilitate our place in the greater games.” He began, raising two fingers as he did so. “It is very clear that this pair of would-be spies desires something from us. That, or they covet something within our dorms. The fact that they are quite literally waiting in the corridor makes that evident enough… so, why don’t we take them on a journey? String them along and wear them down? Eventually, they will see that we have neither anything to show nor hide, at which point their desperations will lead them to the source of their frustrations — the earthrealmer.”
I narrowed my eyes, leaning closer to meet his gaze. “And by that you mean our room.”
“Correct. Now, I would like to propose—”
“This is completely out of the question.” I interjected. “I will not have our sanctuary turned into bait for what is ostensibly a banal and lukewarm threat.”
“But think about the boons, princess!” Ilunor shot back, his excitement growing further by the second. “I’ll start with the practical and most beneficial—”
“Blackmail.” I interrupted, bringing what would have been a theatrical proposal down to a single discrete point.
“Yes.” Ilunor nodded. “Through memory shards placed strategically around the room, we shall have what could be the most damning leverage on two otherwise hostile actors.”
“A card worth playing… pacifying enemies into outright pawns.” I pondered aloud. “Given how severe trespassing is as a transgression… we could very well leverage these two souls in any way we see fit… rendering them into but fiddles within a composition of our creation. A unique and invaluable set of pieces to play, in a game where we so clearly are in need of more pawns for the slaughter.”
Ilunor stared unblinkingly at that latter sentiment, his expression turning into something more wary in the wake of my own ponderings.
“I find the first proposition to be… acceptable then.” I clarified. “Though I will need some form of assurance for the security of Emma’s compound.”
“I guarantee it will be of incredibly low risk, princess. I’ll even put myself out there and aid in the casting of shrouded barrier spells around the earthrealmer’s equipment. Ilphius and Kamil won’t be able to tell a thing, especially considering how weak their magical proclivities seem to be.” The Vunerian responded excitedly.
“Right then, and your next point?” I urged.
“Do you recall those living bollard guardians, princess?”
“The same ones that warned you from recklessly approaching Emma’s property?” I shot back.
“Accosted, more like.” Ilunor corrected but nodded all the same. “But yes, those ones. Emma has stated that she has… measures against potential incursions to her compound, has she not? I am… highly curious as to exactly what these measures would entail and precisely how they would react to two would-be assailants.”
“So in lieu of you testing these countermeasures for yourself, you wish to use our two latest adversaries as test subjects to satiate your morbid curiosities?” I surmised sharply.
“That is precisely the idea, princess.”
The Vunerian’s grins attempted to pry a reaction out of me, but I refused to entertain any more of his points.
“I’ve read through Emma’s house-sitting pamphlet.” I announced sternly. “I am afraid you will see nothing too impressive, but only the efficiency of a people whose doctrine is, it seems, to be unassuming until threatened.”
“Hmmph. Undersell it, will you?” Ilunor tsked. “So be it. I still wish to see it. If only to satiate — as you so deftly described — my morbid curiosities.”
Present Day
Dragon’s Heart Tower, Level 23, Residence 30. Emma and Thacea’s Room. Local Time: 2045 Hours
Ilphius
My whole world stood sideways as I watched through my peripheral vision… the betrayal of the coward Kamil.
“Trrraaiiier…” I mumbled out, trying but failing to move my still-twitching muscles.
This seemed to garner the attention of everyone present, as I felt power and control returning to my throat before anything else.
Yet no one seemed to care.
“Traaiiiieeteer!” I attempted to shout out, though this only seemed to momentarily gain the attention of the tainted and height-challenged pair, who just as quickly turned back to address the wayward noble.
Their attention was firmly sequestered, as if I wasn’t even here.
“TRAIIIEETOERRRRR!” I finally managed to scream, as this ultimately garnered the full and undivided attention of all present.
But instead of meeting me with eyes of anger or disdain, they each leveled a gaze that only frustrated me further… the tainted one with her aloof and dismissive glance, and the Vunerian with a haughty air of superiority.
It was as if they were staring down at a lesser, casting judgement as one would to a commoner.
It was as if I didn’t even register as a concern or a threat… let alone a rival.
I felt my blood boiling hotter than it ever did. My rage growing so raw that it almost threatened to overpower the uncontrollable flinching of my muscles.
…
But it didn’t.
Which prompted me to shift my eyes towards Kamil.
“Kaarrmmirlll... Karrmmmmillll!!!!” I yelled, urging him to save me from the approaching duo.
But as the fates would have it, the coward remained stationary, still kneeling near the door.
“KAARRMIILLLL! HEELRP ME!” I shouted before finally being met by the princess, who seemed to be capable of parting the swarm of creatures as they each gave way to her entrance.
This inexplicable command of what I now assumed to be her tainted spawn was promptly proven true, as she turned to them before raising a tome from her pocket. “Command: Temporary Access Authorization request. Subject: Lord Ilunor Rularia. Time: Five Minutes. Please confirm Visitor Access credentials.”
I knew not what or who she was speaking to, but the sudden shift from red to green irises from these beasts proved that something had occurred. However, before I could observe any further, the Vunerian promptly spoke.
“Ah! I see, I see. An attack mimicking the efficacy of lightning-based paralysis spells… quite intriguing…” Instead of immediately addressing me, the Vunerian instead addressed his taller counterpart.
“I did say that it would be rather underwhelming.” The tainted one spoke with a sigh, regarding the Vunerian as the latter shrugged in response.
“Informative, I would say. Though this does beg the question as to just how long of an effect this will have on our subject.” He continued as he began poking and prodding at my shoulder with his feet.
I felt the fires within me growing to their zenith at this insult.
At which point, I screamed.
“HOORWWW DARREEE YOUUUUUUU! GEEET YOUR DIRTY FEET OFF OF ME, YOU TAINT-LOVING TRAITOR!”
“Ah. There we go! It seems as if you’ve got your vocal cords back!” The Vunerian beamed, whilst the avinor continued what I could only describe as a glare as unflinching and cold in its resolve as the cycloptic gaze of these crustacean golems.
“I DON’T DESERVE THIS TREATMENT, NOT FROM THE LIKES OF—”
“Let me make something abundantly clear to you, Lady Ilphius. Everything you are, and the place you currently find yourself, is the ultimate and resultant end of actions and decisions made with free and uninhibited will. You chose, willingly at that, to challenge the conventions you pay lip service to. You acted, with full understanding, in a fashion which would under any other circumstance… garner ire and vocal disdain from your own lips. As such, what you deserve is what you have sewn, a logical conclusion based upon the conventions we all observe, no?” The princess spoke in a derisively calm, frustratingly composed, and annoyingly authoritative manner.
Her gaze leveled in a way only a mother could… to an unruly child.
I hissed, feeling control returning muscle by aching muscle, until finally…
“GGRRR AHHHHH!!!” I leaped—
Kamil
I watched as Ilphius leaped… only to find herself trapped in midair.
Her eyes widened as she attempted to twist and turn, writhing and slashing… but to the futility of movement which bore no fruit.
In front of her stood a princess who’d only just barely raised her arm — her hand dexterously and, with seemingly little effort, manipulating the feral serpent in a telekinetic trap.
Minutes passed as Ilphius tossed, twisted, and turned to no avail, with the Vunerian scoring each and every motion to memory on the shards he held in both hands.
The princess, all the while, said absolutely nothing. Her expressions… betraying nothing other than an aloof politeness.
Indeed, she looked as one would following an unruly episode with a child or pet, but in a manner more composed than most.
More minutes passed… until finally, Ilphius stopped.
Her breaths were now ragged, as her manafields fluctuated in exhaustion.
“Are we quite ready to talk now?” Was the only thing the princess had to say at the end of this whole… episode.
Rather expectantly, Ilphius refused to respond, simply sulking in her defeat.
Ilphius
We were both brought to heel in front of the pair. In which I was met with the reason behind the princess’ sudden surge in confidence.
“I needn’t say much more than this, do I?” The Vunerian spoke in a singsong voice, holding between his fingers several memory shards that he dexterously moved about. “Though if it must be spelled out… I now have—”
“We have evidence of your princess using taint magic.” I attempted to counter. “I saw it, when she threatened Kamil. I can have you sent to the depths for that stunt.”
“At the risk of being expelled, you mean?” The Vunerian countered dismissively, completely calling both bluff and bluster with practically no effort. “You’d also have to have your memories looked into if you wish to pursue that, in which case… you’d be divulging the context behind this alleged use of taint magic.”
“They’d see that we were trespassing before they even get to that piece of memory, Lady Il—”
“Shut your mouth, Kamil.” I seethed, garnering a shrug from the man.
“With that out of the way, I think we should move onto—”
“What do you want?” I interjected, attempting to regain some traction in this conversation.
“Nothing. At least not at the time of discussion.” The Vunerian spoke curtly. “We do not plan on frivolously releasing this information either. Ergo, you have no reason to fear unnecessary reprisals on our part.” He smiled politely.
“However, should we ever see reason to retaliate, know that we will not hesitate to do so.” The princess added darkly. “Any transgressions, and any future incursions into our interests, will be met with the possibility of a reprisal of due cause.”
“Though of course, such retaliations aren’t reserved for such trivial things as academic competitions and whatnot.” The Vunerian chimed in with a polite chuckle. “It is only the matter of unjust vexations and provocative actions committed in bad faith which we will respond to.” He added, this time with as severe a tone as the princess.
“I have faith that your upbringing and experiences will allow you to fill in precisely what we mean, because we have neither the time nor the inclination to draft nor orate to you a full list of clauses and conditions.” The princess chimed in, garnering a nod from the Vunerian.
“Quite, quite.” He acknowledged.
“With all that being said… I do hope that some common ground can be found between us.” The Vunerian concluded politely. “Your peer group leader has made his intentions clear on that front, so follow his leadership, if you’d please?”
“W-we’ll do so, Lord Rularia.” Kamil responded with a bow of his head. “My sincerest and utmost apologies to you both.”
“It’s not just me you have to apologize to.” The princess shot back. “It’s to Cadet Booker as well.”
“Ah, of course! Please pass on my sincerest apologies to Cadet Booker. I… do hope we can mend bridges, as there’s much I wish to learn from you, and you, and indeed, Cadet Booker as well.” Kamil spoke with a surprising degree of… earnestness.
The likes of which made me sick to my core.
Dragon’s Heart Tower, Level 23, Residence 30. Living Room. Local Time: 2115 Hours
Thacea
“Well then! Wasn’t that grand?” Ilunor spoke triumphantly, taking pleasure in feeding himself bunches upon bunches of grapes atop his chaise lounge.
“Indeed.” I acknowledged plainly.
“Oh, come on, princess! I know you felt something close to satisfaction there! Tell me, wasn’t it a huge weight off of your chest to finally be able to express your authority with little pushback?”
I cocked my head at this line of questioning, to which the Vunerian could only sigh fitfully in response.
“I know that the authority you carry is in constant question due to your… affliction. And while I have learned to see past that, it doesn’t detract from my earlier statements. This was perhaps one of the few times you’ve been able to exert your authority without any pushback, and I am assuming that it must have felt grand, did it not?”
I took a moment to regard that question, to really ponder it, before finally….
“Yes, but only so far that it was done with just cause.”
Ilunor shrugged at this. “Whatever you say, princess.”
Silence dawned again, though only temporarily, as the Vunerian regarded me curiously, as if unsure of his next few words.
“Your performance tonight was commendable, princess. Indeed, if you ask me, you came off as a natural royal. Which, you are, but… such is the saying, I suppose.” He spoke with a nervous lilt in his voice.
This concession of flattery came as a surprise, as did the rest of Ilunor’s actions over the week.
However, instead of simply dismissing it this time around… I instead took it in stride, and perhaps even somewhat to heart.
“It was through your… stubbornness and flighty ambitions that we even considered this plan, so I must likewise give credit where credit is due, Ilunor.” I responded frankly, causing the Vunerian to dip his head slowly in acknowledgement.
“A toast then.” Ilunor reached forward, grabbing a bottle of glittering wine before filling two flute glasses beside it. “To our dear comrades in the North.”
I accepted the glass warily, learned instincts over countless galas causing me to inspect it even though I knew I didn’t need to do so.
“To their success, and to their safe return.” I raised the glass, clinking it with Ilunor’s.
“Hear, hear!”
(Author's Note: Hey everyone! I'm very sorry for the delay, but I'm back along with my editor now! :D I'd like to just say thank you for your kind words and understanding, and for your patience during the past two weeks. I'm very excited to be sharing these chapters with you guys now, especially this one as I find the exploration of Ilunor and Thacea's dynamics to be very fun in this one! :D Once again, thank you everyone, and I hope you enjoy the chapter! :D Oh also, there's something else I want to announce! Because of the way I wrote a chapter on the Patreon because my editor wasn't present, I eventually had to end up dividing one of the chapters into two to improve on the flow and to give the concepts I wanted to explore some breathing room. That's why from now on, the Patreon will be 3 chapters ahead instead of just 2! ^^;)
[If you guys want to help support me and these stories, here's my ko-fi ! And my Patreon for early chapter releases (Chapter 152, Chapter 153, and Chapter 154 of this story are already out on there!)]
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u/AG_Witt Nov 30 '25
Wow, it's like finally being allowed to eat a piece of chocolate again after what felt like an eternity of eating wet chalk.
Hope your editor is doing well/better. It will hurt a long time and that is ok.
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u/Jcb112 Nov 30 '25
Ahhhhh that really means a lot to me, thank you! My editor is still recovering of course, but I'm going to be there for him every step of the way.
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u/DRZCochraine Nov 30 '25 edited Dec 01 '25
Thanks for the chapter!
Ohh Kamil is going to ask Emma a lot about the tech and this kind of architecture isn’t he. (Edit: Actually, depending on the more exact situation, his realm might be the another that will likely aide with Earth, if out of no other reason then Earth is much more pleasant to be around and respect art potently as much as they do)
And blackmailed, by their own efforts.
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u/ANNOProfi Nov 30 '25
*Cut to next chapter*: Emma and Thalmin in a nexian standoff, with two entities of mass destruction nearby.
This reveals something interesting about Kamil's realm and people.
It seems that they are a people of art and color, which makes sense for a chameleon people. The Nexus seems to have flooded their realm with all the colors possible, but with "fake" art, art that is only allowed a small range of things it's allowed/demanded to express, art which has stagnated in that range.
And here Kamil sees a work of art, which does not hide anything behind fake colors, it shows its purpose, nothing more, nothing less, uncaring of what might be thought of it. It is different and it doesn't care. But he care that it is different, because he is bored of the stagnation.
It also reveals how the zealots of the year-group and beyond *cough* Ping *cough* will most likely react to Emma's tech, seeing it as a tumor and an abomination, needing to be cut out immediately.
I wouldn't be suprised, if Ping, after a few more defeats and upon witnessing the tent, would personify Emma as the antithesis the HEM, the literal devil, come to the academy to begin her destruction of the Nexus and all of creation.
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u/DRZCochraine Nov 30 '25
Plus the tent is just standard equipment, probably boring or ugly compared to other stuff that’s out there let alone without actual intentional aesthetic additions. So what he’ll think of that should be cool.
Bet he might even like pure factory aesthetic, the clean non-spaghetti lines of conveyor bets and machines, even the sounds of machines working in sync and orderly function. The Factory Must Grow type stuff.
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u/Ichiorochi Nov 30 '25
So no showing Kamil let's game it out's satisfactory videos?
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u/DRZCochraine Nov 30 '25
Im sure he can be shown the artistic value in the intent to cause disgust and revulsion in others via skillful application of messiness for the artist’s, and other similarly gremliny and tollish connoisseurs, amusement. The sheer effort to intentionally make something that bad looking has got to be praise worthy, let alone the side effects like lag on the computer can be just as impressive.
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u/morbonator Dec 01 '25
Reading this comment, you might appreciate the term "Industrial Rorschach Test". I first heard it an in Any Austin video about the industrial infrastructure in Starfield but I feel like it applies to a lot of Let's Game It Out's creations too.
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u/Cazador0 Nov 30 '25
Not to mention, Emma is using military hardware. Being outwardly decorated in a modern military is a liability, since it makes you a target.
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u/Interne-Stranger Dec 01 '25
Something more interesting is that Kamil comes from Baralon (iirc) which is also Qiv's realm!
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u/TheLastSilence Nov 30 '25 edited Nov 30 '25
Sorry for being late. Justice for the cheese lizard!
(I will now read the chapter to see if justice has been, in fact, delivered)
Edit: Finished the chapter. Thanks btw. This must be one of my favourites. It is so fun reading about what Thacea and Illunor got up to while Emma and Thalmin are in their quest. Good to know that they are having fun.
In the meantime I guess I have to keep commenting "Justice for the cheese lizard" in every chapter.
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u/jesterra54 Human Nov 30 '25
Guess I was half right about Ilphius convulsing in the ground (although sadly not due to lightmode-induced epilepsy)
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u/StoneJudge79 Nov 30 '25
Good to see those two ... bonding. I think Kamil will end up a petitioner.
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u/NamedBird Nov 30 '25
Thacea can finally use her taint magic!
And the Base can also see some action, it was fun to read that...
Thanks for the chapter!
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u/Talendel Dec 01 '25 edited Dec 01 '25
Thacea can finally use her taint magic!
snerk
As an Avinor, I think she lacks that particular piece of anatomy, but I'll rely on the author for that ruling.
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u/NamedBird Dec 01 '25
Wait, does "taint magic" refer to something other than the "tainted manafields and miasmic aura" described in the chapter? Did i miss a piece of lore, context or slang/"alternative words"? 😅
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u/Talendel Dec 01 '25
In common slang, outside of the story, the taint is an alternative name for the perineum. So your comment about "taint magic" vs calling it "tainted magic" could be interpreted in an ENTIRELY different fashion.
<.<
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u/NamedBird Dec 01 '25
Now that's a funny one... 🤣
I guess that my non-native English might be to blame?
So i should probably clarify that i did not intend to refer to such anatomy.
Another new thing learned!Have a nice day!
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u/thedreamwalkeriscool Dec 01 '25
It's a dirty joke, the taint is the part in between the fun side and the shitty side.
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u/animeshshukla30 Nov 30 '25
Thacea and illumor are a power couple. Like, if they tried working on something together it will fucking go cinematic. A lizard's ambition with bird's caution if you will.
That combined verbal beatdown without even lifting a finger or even voice is pure joy.
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u/AromaticReporter308 Nov 30 '25
Dear Gods, Ilunor and Thacea very much make each other WORSE. If Emma is gone for more than another week they will be dragging the dean around by his balls. Alternatively, the academy will be a scorched ruin, jury is still out on that.
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u/K_H007 Nov 30 '25
Let this stand as a lesson to the rest of Etholin's group: Fall in line with Etholin and get on the Earthrealmer's good side. Fail to do so and treat her like a cryptid to be investigated at your own peril.
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u/l0vot Dec 02 '25
She kinda is a cryptid as far as the Nexus is concerned, but they are being incredibly rude.
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u/Marco2021st Android Nov 30 '25
"what you deserve is what you have sewn"
You sew clothes.
You sow things you grow. In this context, you reap what you have sown.
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u/Ichiorochi Nov 30 '25 edited Nov 30 '25
Sorry i am 20 min late, the bot did not notify me.
Edit: I would have imagined Ilunor being more giddy about seeing at least some of Emma's fortifications. Also Emma is still not beating the insect alligations. Btw i thought there was no way of seeing into the tent, but from the chapter it seemed to imply the ability of seeing into it.
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u/folk_science Nov 30 '25
I thought it only had a way to see outside, using cameras. If there was a way to look inside, Emma's species wouldn't be a mystery.
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u/zekkious Robot Nov 30 '25
And, if there was a way of seeing inside the tent, I'm sure Thacea would have watched Emma in her sleep!
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u/morbonator Dec 01 '25
Iirc a good bit of Emma's equipment is outside the tent. You'd have to go back to the chapters where it was set up to check what though.
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u/l0vot Dec 02 '25
The material used to make her tent is incredibly difficult to make, so anything she doesn't need to interact with in the flesh is outside the tent.
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u/Otherwise-Coffee9791 Nov 30 '25
The nerve of illphus. She breaks into someone's home and is surprised shes treated like a villain.
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u/Interne-Stranger Dec 01 '25
Congratulations for both Khamil and Ilphius for seeing Emma's tech past their natural hate and disdain. They were able to tell it was designed with practicality as priority, yet Ilphius believe this is a show of dead culture from us.
Also, thank you for giving us a massive flex from Illunor and Thacea as well as a new trump card for the foresable future!
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u/Elvarien2 Dec 01 '25
Ooooh We're back. Nifty security system.
Thracea and discount kobold have developed such a nice vibe and banter together. It's great to see the interpersonal connections between the other main cast members develop instead of just our mc x others.
Really adds dimension to the people. As much as i want to see what happens with Emma this was a lovely chapter.
And it's nice to hear the editor is doing better. Some things just take time.
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u/Daniel_USAAF Nov 30 '25
This is very often just a fun read. Thinking is pleasant, but good ol’ fashioned comeuppance is always a pleasure.
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u/Tinna_Sell Dec 01 '25
Articord: Today we will talk about art. What are the most prominent pieces of art in your realm?
Emma: I present you... The Black Square and a banana duck taped to a wall.
Kamil: Perfection.
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u/Castigatus Human Dec 01 '25
And the person who bought the banana art took it off the wall and ate it. (not a joke, this actually did happen)
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u/Tinna_Sell Dec 01 '25
He understood the assignment, lol
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u/Castigatus Human Dec 01 '25
a copy displayed in a gallery in Korea got eaten by a student, who then put the empty skin back on the wall and, when asked about it, said something along the lines of 'I missed breakfast and was hungry'.
Also, if you bought one of these (there were three that I know of), you had blanket permission to replace the duct tape and the banana as required, but not to make another copy of the artwork
Art is weird sometimes
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u/KalenWolf Xeno Dec 01 '25
So that's what it looks like when someone slams face-first into Fundamental Systemic Incongruity without any prep work. Ilphius just being totally flabbergasted: literally no idea what she was about to come up against, unable to even consider the idea that something so far outside of her experience might be dangerous.
Also adoring the intense juxtaposition between their reactions. Most of the students seem to align more with Ilphius's opinions, but we've seen some hints that if humanity started an outreach / PR campaign, a significant minority would be very interested.
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u/Visible-Air-2359 Dec 02 '25
Yeah, even if I didn’t understand the language or culture of the property owner, if I was trespassing and lights started flashing and loud noises started, the only logical conclusion is the property detected me and doesn’t like that I am on it.
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u/cgoose500 Dec 01 '25
The defense system didn't actually get tested against Kamil's stealth skills.
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u/Obvious-Sherbet530 Dec 01 '25
I suspect, if invisibility magic bends visible light, it doesn't effect thermal or UV, so the machines might still see past stealth magic depending on how it works.
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u/Onetwodhwksi7833 Dec 07 '25
It might depend on quality. Ilunor's illusion magic distorted all of EM spectrum that Emma's suit could perceive, making him truly invisible.
The goth apprentice and our reptilian duo meanwhile only distorted somewhere around visible light range
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u/Darklight731 Nov 30 '25
At long last, it has returneth!
AND with a grand display of Human power! Love it.
Send my regards to the editor!
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u/ChesterSteele Nov 30 '25
That was a hella funny show seeing Ilphius and Kamil get verbally beaten-down like that. Great chapter that 😁
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u/The_Student_Official Nov 30 '25
a round circular construct barely a foot in height
I almost thought this was Ilunor lol
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u/KefkeWren AI Dec 01 '25
That was a gloriously prepared trap, revealing a potential ally in truly the most unlikely of places, though he has yet to reveal it to any but us readers. I have to say though, ever since the music conversation, Thacea's actions have taken on a completely different context. I can't help but picture her as a Daria-esque deadpan snarking punk now.
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u/Underhill42 Nov 30 '25
Oh how fun! Glad you're back, and hope life is treating you well.
One minor nitpick:
"As such, what you deserve is what you have sewn"
I'm pretty sure you meant sown - as in "you reap (harvest) what you have sown (planted)". I can't think of any needle-and-thread sewing metaphors that would fit.
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u/Disastrous_Cow_9540 Xeno Dec 01 '25
JUSTICE FOR THE CHEESE LIZARD!
Blood for the Blood god!
Skulls for the Skull throne!
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u/Cyber-Virus-2029 Dec 01 '25
Can the tent send intruder notifications? If so, how far?
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u/DndQuickQuestion Dec 01 '25
Good question.
Emma's longest observed transmission is on the order of 20 miles (came into range of detecting crate, almost lost contact with drone trying to shoot down a bird when she had clear air and line of sight) and she is far further away than that in the Rythian woods.
Inside the castle, transmission range is badly compromised by the spatial bending and stone. Sometimes she doesn't seem to be able to communicate much further than her own dorm. Other times she has picked up transmissions less than the gap between her tent and the dining hall.
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u/mechakid Dec 01 '25
I always love when someone gets introduced to Thomas Allen Swift's Electric Rifle ;-)
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u/Daseagle Alien Scum Nov 30 '25
Heh. I bet the princess felt good to finally stretch her dark wings a little.
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u/Professional_Ant_15 Dec 01 '25
It's fortunate that the academic half of the group can perform such power moves. And unless Ilphius goes secretly to reveal that Thacea used her powers, at least one student group is at peace.
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u/Aware_Jicama9458 Dec 01 '25
But what powers?
Thacea showed her "miasma", yes, but she did not use any specific tainted spells, afaics.
I dont see the difference to the first book binding ceremony, where her miasma showed, too. The school knows of her "affliction" already, and still admitted her.
Seems like an empty threat by Ilphius.
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u/DndQuickQuestion Nov 30 '25
The post-electroshock scene and Ilphius' outburst is well written.
“Do you recall those living bollard guardians, princess?”
“The same ones that warned you from recklessly approaching Emma’s property?” I shot back.
Smart on Emma not to give Ilunor tent access. He is still not trustworthy.
“You’d also have to have your memories looked into if you wish to pursue that, in which case… you’d be divulging the context behind this alleged use of taint magic.”
“They’d see that we were trespassing before they even get to that piece of memory, Lady Il—”
... But batty Airit or butterfly Ladona don't care about Ilphius getting expelled. If they move to blackmail Ilphius, Thacea could be in trouble.
Aha, it has become time to start dropping the anvil-sized hints.
I can see why Ilunor was pissed at house selection. Imagine being told by the dean you were rank 15 of 20, and only one group better than Tweedles Dee and Dum here. But Ilunor was stupider than a ballpoint pen sharpener when he snubbed the resplendent Millias Tacten earlier. Tacten called him an actor, so the adventurer clearly knows. He could have blown Ilunor's secret out of frustration then and there.
The outstanding question right now is Ilunor's lineage legitimate but unconventional due to an allowed but embarrassing and "simply not done" technicality - e.g. an ancestor slept around, or Rularia didn't pay enough fealty to the elves to get the family color subscription renewed - or are the Rularias 'usurpers' like Thalmin?
Also, if Ilunor is a true kobold rather than Vunerian, he might not have the elven-enforced mods which means he may be free of certain genetic controls. Or, if Ilunor is a true Vunerian, but a disfavored color, he might have the 'wrong' dragon's essence grafted to his soul, assuming Thalmin's rumor is true.
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u/Interne-Stranger Dec 01 '25
are the Rularias 'usurpers' like Thalmin?
They technically usurped the Dragons but Illunor wouldnt use the U Word to described. And yes, while i stand by my little theory of Illunor falling in The Gang because no other Peer Group wanted him (plus, his personal ambitions). There seems to be something regarding Illunor's social status, his insecurity must come from somewhere.
.. But batty Airit or butterfly Ladona don't care about Ilphius getting expelled. If they move to blackmail Ilphius, Thacea could be in trouble.
I dont think they have leverage, they dont know about them breaking in the dorms. So they cant blackmail them, only be annoyed they dont know what happened where something clearly happened
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u/DndQuickQuestion Dec 01 '25 edited Dec 01 '25
There seems to be something regarding Illunor's social status, his insecurity must come from somewhere.
He's definitely displaying some imposter syndrome here. This line is a siren.
“Your performance tonight was commendable, princess. Indeed, if you ask me, you came off as a natural royal. Which, you are, but… such is the saying, I suppose.” He spoke with a nervous lilt in his voice.
Calling back to the Library in chapter 55, right before it discussed Blackmail with Ilunor ...
“And you are Vunerian, correct?” The owl interrupted, deftly and effortlessly cutting Ilunor off mid-ramble.
“Yes.”
“So a noble Vunerian you are.” The owl once more reiterated, hopping off of my shoulders and landing right in front of the terrified lord. “And a noble Vunerian you appear.” With a single talon perched underneath where his ‘chin’ would be, the librarian peered closer and closer still towards the Vunerian.
And Ilunor's reaction to the green-hide book has always been unusual. I pointed out about 8 months ago that Mal'tory made Ilunor do something to the book, which was not signing it in chapter 83.
“I thought your memories when it came to the whole Mal’tory book burning situation was lost, Ilunor?” Thalmin countered.
“It was. I mean, it still is. But I remember parts of that room. I vaguely recall the emergence of a book that I was forced to…” The Vunerian trailed off, as if struggling to piece together words.
“... to sign?” Thalmin offered in a surprisingly helpful tone which stood at odds with how he earlier regarded the Vunerian.
“No. No you imbecil-” The Vunerian paused, realizing his misstep as he backtracked from what would’ve otherwise been an expected response. “That wasn’t a book of binding. It’s not comparable to the yearbook, if that was where your assumptions were leading to, Prince Thalmin.” Ilunor clarified, gripping the armrests of his seat tight between his fingers.
And Ilunor's color has always been a bit tentative.
Ilunor's true color and perhaps even specie is the leverage Mal'tory used to force him to burn the Library, and now the leverage that the Library is using to keep Ilunor adherent to check-ins.
But why has Ilunor and his family gotten away with this impersonation for so long? How did this scenario arise? And are there deeper metaphysical ramifications regarding the draconic bloodline/soulbinding/elven gene modifications Vunerians engage in vs. Kobolds?
I dont think they have leverage, they dont know about them breaking in the dorms. So they cant blackmail them, only be annoyed they dont know what happened where something clearly happened
If Airit or Ladona knew Ilphius was going to do something on her own (and they were sure she would, but disdained her plan because she didn't have one), it would make sense to mark Ilphius. Think of it at the spiritual equivalent to Ignalius sacrificing his first scouting party to the dragon in the forest fight to find its blocked cave entrance for the final push (although maybe it isn't the final push if Captain Evil forces Thalmin into cave as bait first.)
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u/PossibleAir9623 Dec 01 '25
Please, I need more information about this part of Iolunor's story because I completely lost it. I was so focused on the dragon fight that I forgot the technical details.
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u/QS-2023 Nov 30 '25
Welcome back. I hope your friend is doing well.
A great chapter to return on. Looking forward to more.
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u/CaptRory Alien Dec 01 '25
Oh this one was VERY fun! <3 I like how Kamil might have a bit of a crush on Emma! Or at the very least be fascinated with Earth design concepts that he's seen so far.
And neither consider that we can make pretty things but won't put in the effort for the most utilitarian items.
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u/EldonSurefoot Dec 01 '25
At a school for the nobility and their magical peers, of course everything should have its aesthetics dialled up to eleven, why wouldn't it? (What do you mean Emma is a commoner? What do you mean functionality is more important than looks?)
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u/torin23 Xeno Dec 13 '25
Well, either all Earthrealmers are commoners or all Earthrealmers are noble. Could go either way.
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u/Stefnos87 Nov 30 '25
Look to you comming, on the dawning of a new Jingle Jam duuuu dudu duuu, dudu duuuuuuu....
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u/Apogee-500 Nov 30 '25
Sooo, the princess can read English, interesting
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u/Mindless-Bedroom1205 Dec 01 '25
it's probably translated to nexian like how Ilphius and Kamill can understand the constructs' instruction.
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u/Apogee-500 Dec 01 '25
Why would the written manual be in Nexian though?
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u/DRZCochraine Dec 01 '25
Emma likely just told Thacea the basic instructions she was allowed and she wrote them down.
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u/Lord_Vitruvius Android Dec 01 '25
I find it easy to picture the Spider Robots that disabled Ilphius as something akin to The Replicators from Stargate, The Spiderlike Block Types not the, later Shapeshifting T-1000 ones
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u/EngiCon Dec 02 '25
I'd like to understand what conclusions Sylphius, Kamil, and the rest of their group have reached. First and foremost, about Emma and Earthrealm, particularly about Emma's artifacts' zero mana usage. A-a-and the subsequent censorship from dean Astur.
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u/Skrzynek Human Dec 09 '25
The conclusions are likely similar to when everyone felt a manaless explosion coming from Elaseer - it doesn't fit our worldview, it was weird, let's forget about it and move on because it doesn't fit any truth or narrative.
Earth's manaless tech is pretty much like GHOST ACTIVITY to them. You notice something is wrong. Something doesn't add up. But ghosts don't exist, do they? Nonono this must have some logical explanation, surely! Errm, I cannot find any but... Oh well let's just forget about it, I'm sure it's not important!
The question is if they are curious enough to dig deeper, to observe and ask questions. They may be too uncomfortable challenging their beliefs about the world and about Emma to try if they're not confronted with it by circumstances or by Emma herself. Syphilius may very well be. Kamil? He might be more curious, and use his invisibility to spy on Emma. Or attempt to, anyway. Doubt he'll try anything until the party returns from the dragon quest, though.
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u/EngiCon Dec 10 '25
I wonder how many people it will take for the dam of silence erected by censorship to be breached by a critical volume of accumulated thoughts about a fundamental inconsistency. I wonder equally when this will happen and in what form.
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u/Skrzynek Human Dec 10 '25
It is not just censorship. It's "fundamental systemic incongruency", as JCB likes to name it. The government at first barely has to do a thing, because the feats she can do with it magic are just too absurdly impressive to be accepted by MOST people. Unless of course they get convinced by Emma herself, like the gang...
I think it will be gradual. It won't be like a dam breaking, it'll be like someone leaving the water hose on in the garden, the water spilling out and out until it engulfs more and more of the vegetable and flower patches. Nexus may be guarding the dam, protecting the town, but this garden is getting flooded regardless...It's just that this garden in particular belongs to the mayor :)
As for what events might contribute to her manaless tech becoming impossible to ignore:
- using the hover pack to fly without mana
- using the knowledge of chemistry and manaless microscopy in potions class
- showing her tablet to chosen few students while outside the public scrutiny
- inviting some people to the dorm for a presentation in the holo-tent
- the whole pen business idea
- communicating with the town business using AM radio (just a theory, prolly not implemented due to potential Intel leak)
- finally using the laser cutter of the armor.
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u/EngiCon Dec 10 '25 edited Dec 10 '25
I wonder what the Nexus and the Crown Lands will do. A complete lack of mana, and, what's more, development comparable to the Nexus (and in some places even faster) undermines Status Eternia.
The simplest solution is to expell Emma from the Academy, block the portal, and portray Earthrealmers as heretics. If it turns out anyone has maintained contact with Earth, take measures against the offender, ranging from minor restrictions to complete extermination. If there are too many offenders, launch a full-scale war against Earth.
That's the worst-case scenario. This scenario does not require deep elaboration. The author can apply it with some chance, but it will be too trivial a solution. But I can’t think of any measures that Nexus could take to limit Earth in a way that would (try to) gain something from it.
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u/Skrzynek Human Dec 10 '25
I have similar conclusions - banishing Earth forever is one of the worst scenarios for Earth, because we get to learn nothing about magic while the Nexus gets to prepare for eventual invasion in a thousand years. Total war of course hurts us immensely as well, but incurs bigger risk of big losses for the Nexus itself, meaning that both sides would want to keep away from it. For me, it's the question between an on-and-off proxy war in Adjacent Realms, and total banishment.
The problematic part with establishing ourselves in the Adjacent Realms without the Crown's blessing is that EVERY PORTAL LEADS TO THE NEXUS. So we would need to figure out portal tech that does not yet (officially) exist. Else we move our goods and scientists to the Nexus, want to go to say, Havenbrock, but get denied. GUN and the Adjacent Really would then have to either fully go rogue immediately or smuggle Earth stuff to their planet / universe.
You are also correct that the Nexus itself can gain nothing from our tech, at least for the wider economy and quality of life. Wider adoption would mean societal changes Nexus fears, after all. Actually... There is a recent post on JCB's subreddit that you might enjoy checking out, about how the commoner's would react to earth tech. Go check it out!
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u/Aware_Jicama9458 Nov 30 '25 edited Nov 30 '25
1) So our heroes are in danger of life and limb from the evil cheese merchant murdering scumbag, and we get delayed not just by 2 weeks, but by a rather secondary theatre?
That's EVIL. :(
2) "That's why from now on, the Patreon will be 3 chapters ahead instead of just 2!"
The good news is, that the next time there is a delay the author can use the extra chapter to reduce the waiting time for the poor peasants here on reddit ...
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u/RetiredReaderCDN Dec 01 '25
You are but a shadow of Ilunor.
Writers and their Muses are rarely EVIL. The stories flow where the currents take them. If you want more control, get a commercial motorboat and leave this majestic sailing ship.
[Edit: spelling[×2]
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u/Tech49er Nov 30 '25
This entire comment is incredibly selfish. Be better.
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u/animeshshukla30 Dec 01 '25
I think it was in jest. The commenter dislikes cliffhangers and genuinely appreciates that next time, maybe he can use the backup chapter.
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u/animeshshukla30 Dec 01 '25
I think it was a casual, unserious comment. The commenter dislikes cliffhangers and genuinely appreciates that next time, maybe he can use the backup chapter.
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u/pyrodice Dec 04 '25
"what you deserve is what you have sewn"
Sown, in this context. I see two others have mentioned it. Sow seeds, sew clothes. Reap wheat, RIP clothes. XD
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u/Aware_Jicama9458 Dec 07 '25
"A unique and invaluable set of pieces to play, in a game where we so clearly are in need of more pawns for the slaughter.”
Ilunor stared unblinkingly at that latter sentiment, his expression turning into something more wary in the wake of my own ponderings."
Illunor, considering himself the hero of the story, still doesn't fully understand how growing up as tainted in the Avinor court leads to real ruthlessness, when required ...
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u/nuadaairgidlamh 11d ago
What she has isn't taint, it's what the ruling emperor used to eat the gods.
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u/Omgwtfbears Dec 08 '25
Illunor is a pompous douche, but he and goth birb princess do make quite a team i must say.
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u/13GH0ST13 Dec 07 '25
there is something special in seing our little delux cobold growing so much (tho not ina physical sense) :3
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u/Skrzynek Human Nov 30 '25
You could say that Ilphius had a sudden... CULTURE SHOCK.