Chapter 2-29

I stared at Ket with dismay, struggling to process the implications of her statement.

“Anyone can simply walk into this space?” I glanced over to where Myta’s inner world joined directly to my own, horrified at the potential implications.

*As tempted as I am to let that idea settle in,* Ket’s voice broke through my fear. *things are not quite so dire. Only spirits can pass into this purely spiritual place freely. And if I attempted to pass the borders of the domain that you manifested, I would still face your normal defenses. Nevertheless, it is still incredibly dangerous for you to have manifested your domain unprepared.

*While the unawakened can do little to you, sorcery can affect the manifest domain, and you will not have the protections your presence normally provides. You have great control here, but you must actively resist any attempt to harm you. And you cannot do that if you are caught unawares.*

“I’m not sure how I manifested the domain at all.” I was frustrated, and my tone sounded petulant to my ears. After a calming breath, I tried again. “I would be honored if you could explain the process of forming, and just as importantly defending, my domain.”

*Manifesting the domain is what you need to be concerned with right now. Your domain exists as a pocket in the Radiant Sea, but manifesting it allows you to merge your domain with a portion of the physical world. Look around, carefully, and you will see what I mean.”

I followed her instructions, and quickly found that she did not mean simply shifting my gaze about. It was an effort similar to shifting the focus of my eyes, and similar to looking into the sea from the physical world. Once I refocused, I was clearly able to see where the physical world impinged here, the area of my manifest domain.

“It is precisely the edges of our tent,” I noted. “Exactly the area that we saturated with our presence last night.”

*Just so.* Ket confirmed. *You, and your all your vas, bent your will and your spirits to making this space your own.*

“Just like any other spell, in a way. But a communal spell. One we performed accidentally,” I mused aloud.

*It does not strictly require the mana of your vas to function, but the more of them you use, the easier it becomes. You can control much, once you learn to use your domain, and defend it. So long as you are paying attention.*

“Thank you. I will be much more careful about using this in the future.”

*See that you are,* she sneezed at me, and I bowed my head in response. *I hate having my rest disturbed. And, as quickly as you are learning, there is much you are ignorant of.*

With that, the spirit stalked off, but I couldn’t help but notice the quiet note of proud approval in her thoughts. Apparently I was ahead of the curve in utilizing my domain, or else she had just had very low expectations of me to begin with.

“If this is so dangerous, why didn’t she explain it before now?” Myta wasn’t angry, just confused. But I thought I knew the answer.

“I think she is bound. I don’t think she can explain anything about the Radiant Sea that we haven’t at least touched on the edges of already. Somehow the divines control that information.” I made a frustrated noise. “Just like old sorcerers, they refuse to share their knowledge.”

“I wouldn’t speak ill of the divines when you’re on their doorstep.” Sati’s voice was halfway between amused and chiding, and I nodded at the truth of her statement. There was no telling when calling on the divines might draw their attention, but doing so within the radiant sea was sure to increase that risk.

“It’s almost time for us to wake up, I think. But first I need to know, do either of you regret our actions last night? Are you comfortable?”

Sati blushed and looked away, her emotions a confusing jumble. They didn’t seem negative however, or not deeply so. Myta was far calmer, her body and heart both warming as she recalled. A small, slightly smug smile forming on her lips.

“I… don’t know if comfortable is the correct thing to say. But I do not regret it.” Sati fought through her embarrassment, fidgeting in place where she stood. I could feel how much stronger the bond between us was already, and feel it growing ever so slightly stronger moment by moment. “I am, eager, to explore more with you. Even if I find it difficult to admit, daddy.”

“You’re so cute,” Myta said to her fondly. “I’m fine, master. Better than fine. I’m looking forward to seeing just how debased and wanton a slut your little flower is. I’m not concerned, as long as you don’t forget about me.”

“Never, my flame.” I pulled her close by her collar, kissing her softly. Then I smirked. “Especially if you are that interested in joining us. I should give Sati some time of her own, but I doubt you’d allow me to forget you, even if I were inclined to.”

***

We returned to the physical world, which came with its own oddness. I could feel the presence of our bodies within my domain, and I wondered if I could alter them. My experiences with healing and altering Myta’s body through her inner world suggested that I could. But rather than try to experiment, I simply realigned us. When our minds and spirits were once again in harmony, we awoke.

Withdrawing my domain took a little more effort. I had to pull back my presence from the world, as did Myta and Sati, and the world didn’t seem to want to let go. By the time we managed it, the day had nearly dawned, and we continued our journey.

The company continued to train as we traveled to Balrua. While Myta, Sati, and I explored the possibilities of sharing and mixing our mana. Balrua was a large town, and eclectic, with the sunken buildings that the Metic clans favored mixing with the heavy stone buildings that were more common to Ramana. But the merchants and traders were eager to see us, especially as I advised our fighters to exchange most of their coin for goods. Petad did her best to caution them so they wouldn’t be too badly fleeced.

Once we had a secure camp, I made my way to one of the traditional Metic buildings. If not for the regularity of its shape, and disguised chimney, it could pass as a natural low hill. The top of which was covered in a profusion of medicinal herbs and lush grasses. I walked around it until I came to the entrance. Its stone steps were guarded by a sullen-looking youth, his face and arms stained with blue and purple inks.

“I’m here to speak with Airt.” I told the lad, who looked singularly unimpressed.

“He won’t see you.” The boy sneered at me with an unearned confidence that immediately rubbed me the wrong way. But I kept my temper in check.

“Tell him the drunk goat wants to talk to him. Let him decide.”

His eyes widened in recognition, but rather than do as I’d bid I felt his mana surge. It was feral, animalistic, and I could taste his sudden bloodlust and fear in the air. Myta was directly behind me. If I wanted to avoid her killing the youth, then I needed to disable him before she had time to react.

I’d been practicing forming my domain as quickly as possible, and experimenting with what I could use it for. In an instant, my presence pushed out around me, and my will crashed down on the boy. His half-formed claws vanished before they’d had a chance to become physical, and he screamed in pain. Apparently shifters used their powers by forming domains of their own, and I had overwhelmed his in an instant. Its disruption had damaged his soul, though not badly.

“What’s that ruckus!?” Airt roared from inside the building. His voice lacked the normal, lyrical accent of the clans. Instead it was harsh and grating, and I winced in sympathetic pain.

“You should really let me heal your throat!” I shouted back to the druid. “And get smarter guards!”

“Esur? Did you kill my apprentice, you old goat?”

“Not for his lack of trying,” I called out. Picking up the young man in question, I pushed through the door. My shorter stature made the maneuver difficult, but I didn’t want to leave him collapsed on the steps. “I’m coming in, and I have him, and three companions.”

“Just toss him on the bench.” Airt grumbled as I entered, eyeing the now insensate youth with annoyance. His expression changed to one of surprise when Myta, Sati, and Ket followed me in.

“Elder, ladies,” he nodded at Ket, then my vas. “You’re all traveling with this reprobate?”

*We are, Airt Nagana. He is my ally, and these are his vas.*

I grunted in surprise, for more than one reason. I vacillated a moment before deciding which revelation was more shocking.

“You joined a clan?”

“Aye.” Airt grunted like a boar. “The elder specifically asked me for my help, as I know the most about this cesspit of a country. She went to Metic only three years gone.”

“I thought I would have heard about that right away,” I muttered. “I only found out she left Ramana earlier this year.”

“Just goes to show you're not as sharp as you think you are!” Airt slapped me on the back, making me stumble as my thoughts distracted me. “Now tell me why you're here. You don’t stop to say hello for more than forty years, and now you show up with an elder, and two vas in tow? Might be the world’s ending.”

“It might as well be for us.” I launched into my tale, beginning with my bonding to Myta, and our conflict with the Pure in Ramana. When I told him of the possessed Tribeta boy, he made a noise of disgust, but he didn’t speak up until I spoke of the corrupted shifters.

“Did they have these seals on them? Can you draw one for me?”

“I think they must have all had the seals,” I answered, “but their spirits fell apart too quickly. I don’t have the chance to verify. And yes, I can show you at least one.” I held out my palm, angling so that the gold tracery on my skin caught the light.

Airt muttered to himself as he looked at it, visibly restraining himself from grabbing my hand to twist it about.

“Well, I’ve good news and bad. I can put you in contact with who you need to see, but you’ll need to gain some goodwill before they’ll talk to you. But you knew that. We’ve known about the shifters disappearin’ though. If you can help uncover who’s behind it, you’ll be able to get your answers.”

“Any idea where we should start?”

His eyes shifted to the leopard spirit, lounging casually on his floor.

“Clan Ket has been hit hard. They’re on the border to Ootrin, and rumors say they’ve lost more of their fighters outside the fighting as well. It’d be a good place for you, and Siobhan UnKet is at the moot, looking for aid. Her sister is said to be a bit hard to deal with though.”

I couldn’t help my laugh. “Looks like we seek out Siobhan at the moot then.”