The Chronicles of a Scalebound Sage

WM [64] Not Going With You

Bjorn watched in silence as Tanisha talked to the new ghostborn woman. He didn’t understand the new language so he was lost as to what was going on. He had noticed a while ago that while he didn’t understand most Muaian words there were a couple he did recognize. He snaked closer to Fuyumi being careful not to spook the woman into thinking he was going to attack her.

“I should be able to make a translation of Muaian pretty soon.” Failsafe said. “From what I can tell it is a predecessor or derivative language from what we speak.”

Bjorn flicked his tongues to take in as much of Fuyumi’s scent and magic as possible. Her aura was cold like being in the presence of the Isi while they were utilizing their material power. However, Fuyumi’s aura was magic based and apparently a natural part of her biology not a learned magical effect. There was a quality of stillness to her and her aura that was unsettling almost as if she was not alive. Yet despite that and her near complete stillness she did move subtly and there was a barely perceptible rise and fall of her chest while she breathed. Most of all Bjorn could taste her nervousness as she conversed even if her demeanor was unchanged and blank.

“Maybe the human languages are derived from ours but shifted over time. I can understand some of the words here and there but they are pronounced strangely. Is it an accent? Neither of them are native speakers.”

“They definitely aren’t.” Failsafe agreed. “There are some inconsistencies from how the Jackrabbits spoke. This seems to be hybridized although we don’t know the name of our language so for now we will call it Angelia.”

“Angelia?” Bjorn mirrored.

“Yeah, the Angels spoke it too, so fair to assume they taught it to humans.” Failsafe said. “Anyway, it seems to have been influenced by Valish which isn’t a surprise, Yuhia is the neighboring kingdom to the humans. I will be happy when we get to hear whatever the dwarves speak and we can learn how that influenced the language too.”

Bjorn’s focus on Failsafe’s explanation broke when he heard Tanisha say his name, her tone chiding, “Bjorn, ne be nat rude. Entringe into somonys privy space is nat semely!”

Bjorn had no idea what she was saying but understood the word rude at least. He turned his heads to look at her and was sure to send his confusion through their bond so she would speak again in a language he understood. She seemed to get it and switched languages back to Valish so Failsafe’s translation would work.

“Bjorn, don’t just invade someone’s personal space; it’s rude,” Tanisha repeated with a slight sigh.

Bjorn blinked, noticing for the first time that he’d come far closer to Fuyumi than he’d realized—only about a foot separated them. With a hiss of acknowledgment, he withdrew, finding a more comfortable spot by Adelheid, who waved him over with a grin. She scratched the back of one of his heads, and he let out a low rumble of contentment as the conversation continued nearby.

“How is the analysis of the skills coming along?” Bjorn asked mentally.

Failsafe let out a sound like a nonexistent throat clearing. “Ah, I thought you’d never ask. In fact, I’ve fully deciphered both of them.”

“Then why didn’t you say something?” Bjorn pressed.

“It’s not like we were in a rush this time and I like when you take interest.” Failsafe said.

Bjorn was quiet for a moment as he formulated a response. “Fair enough, what do they do?”

“Open your skills, I just added them.” Failsafe said excitedly.

Bjorn nodded and without question opened his menu.

Skills Analysis

Reincarnation Failsafe
An incomplete reincarnation magic and your best friend who has your back no matter what!

Error: Eyes of the Queen
The Queen of a Thousand Heads is watching you. Be sure to eat well and don't talk to strangers from Higher Planes!

Venomous Bite
Aether Cost: 0
You have a neurotoxic venom which can be injected through a bite with your fangs. Your venom becomes infectious and will spread to nearby targets within five feet of the injected target. Allies are unaffected by your venom.

Poison Cloud
Aether Cost: 5
With your right head you can mix venom into the air using magic, creating a large area of poisonous gas. This gas will rapidly reduce the health of those inside. Allies within your Poison Cloud are unaffected. Gain control over the spread and density of the Poison Cloud.

Plague Fire Breath
Aether Cost: 8
With your left head you can breathe a plume of superheated toxin, which will ignite enemies and infect them with your neurotoxin. Flames retain toxicity until you release the spell. Plague Fire will spread like normal fire. 

+ Aatheric Breath < Aetheric Disruption Breath
Aether Cost: Variable
(I) Low cost, 10 aether. Release aetheric energies that boost allies and poisons enemy active spellforms. Boosted attack spells gain a poison effect; weakened spells become unstable and harder to control, spreading instability to future castings. All effects last for five minutes. (II) Medium cost, 15 aether. Expand the breath’s range, affecting multiple spells. Poisoned spells are even harder to control, while boosted spells deal stronger poison damage. All effects last seven minutes. (III) High cost, 20 aether. Target spells to cause backfire, turning magic against its caster. Boosted spells gain potent venom, and poisoned spells spread instability to future castings. Effects persist for ten minutes.

Poison Claws
Aether Cost: 2
You can infuse your claws with neurotoxic venom, making even small scratches fatal. Venom has resistance to cleansing effects. Allies are unaffected by your venom.

Delta Familiar Contract
Aether Cost: -150
You are a bonded delta-class familiar. You gain +150 to aetheric regeneration. Your bond has grown, allowing you to convey emotions through your bond. Your bond is more resistant to outside influences and can not be forcibly severed by outside parties. 

King of the Reptiles
Passive Skill
Dragons, lizards and amphibians all show hesitation and fear around you, going so far as to run away. More study needed.

Intimidation Roar
Aether Cost: 1
Infuse aether into your roar to paralyze anyone that hears it. Your roar can paralyze humanoid magic constructs as long as they are connected to a magic caster. Paralysis duration depends on distance and level disparity between you and the target. Those bound to you are immune to this effect.

Hydra Regeneration
Aether Cost: 15

Enhance the natural regeneration of your body giving you an unparalleled healing factor. Increases the body's natural healing rate by 4x regeneration statistic plus 20% constitution statistic. (Head regeneration is still unknown. More information required.)

+ Shadow Concealment
Aether Cost: Variable
+ (I) Cloak yourself in shadow magic, blending into dim or dark environments to hide your presence. Movement is undetectable to non-magical senses. (II) Deepen the shadow cloak, concealing even magical traces of your presence and blending with shadows in moderate light. Shadows will also muffle the sound around you making you harder to detect.  (III) Unknown.

Air Claws

Commune with your master to unlock.

Aetheric Scales

You have felt the power of your master’s aura and mantle and embraced the influence of the chain breaker. The power you felt now resides within you. Call forth the power that defends you from harm. Harden your scales with the aetheric touch. As this is a shared natural ability you can not level this ability by any means but through communing with your master. This ability is tied to your master, should your master die or reject your bond you must reclaim her soul or you will lose this ability.

Hydromancy

Commune with your master to unlock.

Water Light

Commune with your master to unlock.

Hydro-breath

Commune with your master to unlock.

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Bjorn read and reread the skills, both of them being useful. He wished he had known what the Aetheric Disruption Breath did in the last fight. He could have poisoned the electrokinetic mage’s magic so that it hurt them instead. He could already use his intimidation to cause spells to backfire if he did it at the right time but this would make any spell harder to cast for the mage. He was already formulating future strategies in which he could effectively be an anti-mage. Though he wondered how the skill would work against material users.

Shadow concealment on the other hand was not what he expected at all. Gaining a stealth skill seemed almost laughable given how large his mother and father were. If he were at some point going to be the size of a mountain he didn’t know how helpful a stealth skill would be. Memories surfaced of the shadow wolves from his and Tanisha’s earlier travels—maybe he could blend into the darkness the same way they had. He’d find a way to make it work.

“Aetheric Disruption Breath? It seems like I should have used it in the battle.” Bjorn said. “Good job on figuring these to abilities out.”

Failsafe’s tone was a mix of satisfaction and frustration. “Yeah, wasn’t easy. Aether isn’t as adaptable as mana. I have a theory: I think the orbs we saw weren’t just tools like human wands—they were a necessity for the Angels to manage aether. I also think that’s why we didn’t hear them chanting, unlike human aether-arcanists.”

Bjorn mulled over this, intrigued. “So what does that mean?”

“Well, Angels didn’t vocalize spells. When they used magic, the orbs seemed to serve as both the will and conduit for their spellcasting. I suspect they couldn’t channel aether alone, at least not efficiently. Remember, when they cast powerful spells, aether blasted outward into the environment uncontrollably, which often overwhelmed nearby humans, sometimes causing seizures.”

Bjorn nodded, recalling the painful effects. “I thought that was some kind of dominance display.”

“I thought the same,” Failsafe admitted, “and maybe they did amplify it to show off, but I also think they couldn’t completely control it. That’s where you were unique. As a nephilim, you didn’t have the same uncontrolled aether bursts whenever you used it. You handled aether almost like mana.”

Bjorn could feel the possibilities. “If I could control it that way back then, there must be a way to replicate it now.”

Failsafe hesitated, sounding somewhat regretful. “I wish I had a more solid answer, but right now, it’s still just a theory. Once we unlock more of your memories, I’m sure we’ll get closer to understanding it.”

Bjorn’s thoughts drifted as Tanisha’s voice faded into background noise. He watched as Fuyumi eventually left, likely to prepare for her own journey. When Tanisha and Adelheid switched back to Valish, his focus sharpened. They began sorting through the supplies Adelheid had acquired, including a new field alchemy kit to replace the one Tanisha lost along with Joha. The wifwolf’s experience navigating the Chaos Lands showed in her choices, and Bjorn took note of her resourcefulness.

One item in particular grabbed both his and Tanisha’s attention.

“This is a mana shroud,” Adelheid explained, holding up a long, hooded cloak. “Mages wear them to conceal their mana from monsters. Out there, without something like this, you’d be a walking beacon for magic-hungry creatures. Most monsters will leave you alone if you don’t stray into their territory, but using too much magic can draw some in. And then there are the Sanguine Seductress and Enchantress—mana-rich travelers are especially tempting to them.”

“The Sanguine what now?” Tanisha asked, eyebrows raised.

Adelheid chuckled. “Seductress and Enchantress. Don’t worry, they’re not after your innocence—they’re after dinner. Just standard monster instincts. So, word of advice: don’t take in any friendly strangers while you’re traveling through the Chaos Lands.”

Bjorn flicked his tongues thoughtfully, taking in the scents of the cloak. Its faint aroma hinted at shielding magic and something more earthy, grounding. He felt proud that he was getting better at noticing the smaller details of the magic around him. His new head was already coming in handy.

***

It was only a few hours before the wand field repairer showed up. She wasn’t as helpful as either Bjorn or Tanisha had hoped. It was pretty much like Signe had said, they work on the physical tool but not the magical core of a wand or staff. It wasn’t all a waste though as she gave Tanisha a repair manual which had the proper procedures in repairing a wand and staff of general design. Including tools needed and technical diagrams. It was a start into understanding wand making although a small one.

They went to collect a few more things for the journey, mainly miscellaneous herbs for potions. Along with several of the tools needed in wand making and repairing which Tanisha managed to haggle down to a reasonable price. When she was done it was finally time to see the First Princess and finally leave Yuhia for the next twenty-five years. As they walked to the tent Adelheid stopped them and the wifwolf took a deep breath as her eyes searched Tanisha’s gaze.

“I-I am not going to go with you to the Chaos Lands you know that, right?” Adelheid said her voice was small. “I still have to go back to my pack but I feel bad for… everything. I… it  feels like I am abandoning you.”

Tanisha smiled softly. “We started on shaky ground but it was nice to have you in my pack. I didn’t expect you to come with me, Adi and honestly I don’t think you should. You have your family to go back to and I have mine to find. Twenty-five years and Bjorn and I will be right back here, Joha too. It would be nice to have a friend here to greet me and not just all the stuck up nobility.”

“I’ll be an old woman then.” Adelheid joked. “But I guess you’ll be exactly the same.”

“Wiser hopefully.” Tanisha responded and the two girls laughed. Then there was a long silence. “You’re not coming with me to see the princess are you?”

Adelheid shook her head. “If I do, I’ll feel like I should just keep following you. You…you have so much happening around you, Tanisha. You’re one of those people, the kind that makes big things happen. Soon enough, I’m sure you’ll be surrounded by people who can keep up with all that.” She gave a sheepish smile, waving her hands to emphasize her point. “Don’t take it the wrong way. I just mean—you’re going to be out there kicking ass, slaying monsters, making a name for yourself. And wherever I am, I know I’ll hear about my friend, the badass cernunnos, tearing it up.”

In a sudden burst of warmth, Tanisha stepped forward, nuzzling Adelheid in a way that only wendigo shared among close friends or family. Adelheid’s face turned bright red, her eyes widening. 

“Oh geez, now you finally do a dominance display?” Adelheid squeaked.

Tanisha laughed, leaning back. “It’s not a dominance display. Its…”

“Yeah-yeah, wendigo affection I know.” Adelheid said clearly flustered. “And I appreciate it.”

The two stepped back from each other and Adelheid pet Bjorn on each of his heads. 

“Take care of her, Bjorn, I am counting on you.” Adelheid said. “I know you’re the smart one out of the group.”

“Hey.” Tanisha said in mock hurt.

“What? four heads means four brains he’s got you beat.” Adelhied said, she cleared her throat. “Now you two should be off, don't want to keep the Princess or your guide waiting.”

It took a moment but Tanisha nodded and called Bjorn to follow as they turned back toward the princess’s tent. Bjorn could feel Tanisha’s determination. They had one more stop then they were going to find Joha, no matter what.

***

The First Princess’s tent was exactly the same, the only difference being the number of people present. Sigrun sat on her throne overlooking the group which consisted of Thorfinn, Signe and two older men Bjorn had only ever seen once during the meeting between Sigrun and First Prince Arnar. They were obviously in Sigrun’s inner circle since Signe introduced her as the Fourteenth Princess. The men were astonished, where before they dismissed her as demon now they looked at her with admiration.

Identify
Name: Leif Koren
Species: Wendigo
Level: ??
Vocation: Court Cures Mage

Identify
Name: Axel Hollows
Species: Wendigo
Level: ??
Vocation: Court Nature Mage

Signe led Tanisha to a seat while Thorfinn placed a comfortable and large padded mat down for Bjorn beside her. Bjorn couldn’t help but notice that Tanisha’s chair, while not a throne, sat taller and with more grandiosity than the other two men’s seats. Both of them stood and bowed their heads until she sat down.

“Princess Tanisha, thank you for coming.” Sigrun said her voice was stern and refined. “These two men are my trusted political and military advisors. They have both been briefed on your situation but if you would be so kind as to unleash your aura as you had with me.”

Tanisha complied and there was a noticeable shift in the ambient mana within the tent. Bjorn had seen the phenomenon many times as she used her aura during fights to imbue her armor with power. Mana surged towards her as the tattoos across her body shifted and moved as if alive. Mana formed a disc around her and at a point of no return all of it would be absorbed into her, further empowering her magic as it entered her core. 

Both advisors were visibly moved by the display. Leif’s eyes glistened, and Axel seemed speechless, his mouth slightly open in awe. One of them even began to shed a tear, his voice barely audible, whispering words that sounded almost reverent.

“Thank you Tanisha.” Sigrun said with a smile then turned to the men. “I assume this is enough proof Leif, Axel?”

“Yes your majesty.” The man Bjorn identified as Axel said tears were streaming down his face. “The Forest Father has truly blessed us to see a greater wendigo in my lifetime.”

The other man, Leif, nodded. “With her in our faction there is no denying that you should be next in line for the Throne.”

“Please give her the report, Lief.” Sigrun said.

The man stood and walked around the table and handed Tanisha a letter with a bow.

“This is the latest update from our scouts. They’ve been tracking Lord Joha through the mountain range,” he explained, returning to his seat. “He’s on a nearly direct course toward the Force Isles. However, as he’s moved farther up the range, he’s becoming increasingly difficult to track due to treacherous paths and rising ambient magic, which has triggered a mana storm. The area will soon be impassable.”

“What is a mana storm?” Tanisha asked her eyes not leaving the report in her hands. 

“My apologies princess. The Chaos Lands are currently going through a shift in ambient magic. More ambient magic is being concentrated here which is what is causing the manifestation of more monsters in and around the Chaos Lands. When this happens we see more powerful creatures manifest  within Yuhia. I am told you engaged one such manifestation.”

“The Jeweled Wing Monarch.” Tanisha said with a nod of understanding.

Lief continued, “yes, in the Chaos Lands mana storms bring more than increased monster activity. The landscape itself is altered and twisted by the storm. The very mountains you see today didn’t exist a thousand years ago but were formed in the last mana storm. There’s reason to believe this storm could bring changes just as dramatic.”

“I know that you will not be willing to wait until the storm passes in a few years before going to look for your adoptive father so I made some additional arrangements for you.” Sigrun interjected. “Signe told me you found a reliable guide so I found you a reliable bodyguard. I also paid both of them for you as a parting gift. ”

“You are too kind,” Tanisha said. 

“It is an investment into our futures,” Sigrun said. “We will be in touch. Now I don't want to hold you up any longer. I have connections in all the kingdoms of man. Keep that bracelet I gave you safe, it will open many doors. Just don’t do anything to harm the credibility of my faction.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Tanisha responded.