The Siege of Ultopja 12 – Pay no mind [Aclysia]

“How can you all be so bloody useless?” Catherine keeps cursing as she bites down on her thumb. A nervous and ultimately futile gesture, Aclysia thinks and keeps staring at the table. She wonders why Ulal shaped exactly these lines in the marble, inspecting the runes at the side as Catherine continues her rambling amidst the roundtable.

“How long if we put on rations now?” She asks, “Two weeks. A month if we put them really low. The people won’t like that.” Glenn answers. ‘Waste of Time. Humans are frail.’ Aclysia thinks and stretches to see the runes at Ulal’s seat. Now she notices the pattern, the black lines on the table connect runes of the same kind, all while preserving the natural look. She nods quietly to herself. ‘Good work.’ She thinks in admiration. She misses talking to Ulal.

The discussion that is going on around her has been moving in circles for the past thirty minutes. Ever since the ‘catastrophe’ yesterday, Catherine has been completely unnerved. The one who suffers most from this is Tarzana. The cult leader looks tired, Catherine has been sending her from one mission to the next without rest. Her confrontational behaviour towards Catherine has also mostly disappeared. Aclysia wonders why. ‘Fear, magic related. Extended scratching of collarbone. Alteration? No, no other changed in behaviour pattern. Wound? Unlikely. Other mark. Curious.’

“Aclysia what is your idea?” Catherine puts the immortal back into the discussion. “Cannibalism.” Glenn’s mouth falls open and Zerine becomes as pale as the table. Catherine shakes her head. “Unhygienic and against the goal of Ulal, out of question.” “Humans are replaceable. Ultopja is not.” Aclysia counters. “Sacrifice them or don’t. I will always exist.”

Sighing Catherine presses her head against her knuckles as she keeps thinking. “Tarzana, can you be useful for once? Alternatively, did you find out who did this?” Tarzana scrambles the necessary documents together but ultimately just answers with a “No.” “Thought so. Okay, I will search for a solution on my own then; you just keep the people under control. Set the rations to two weeks.”

With the discussion, seemingly over Aclysia wants to leave with the rest of the people. Catherine however stops her. “Not you. Aclysia we need to find a solution.” The alchemist gives her a neutral look. “I told you. I will continue. Waste of time. Pay no mind to average people.” “This is the reason why you really shouldn’t be allowed to govern anything Aclysia. I don’t care about people but you are heartless.” Catherine says, her tone filled to the brim with frustration. ‘Genuine? Yes. Main Reason? Failure to find a solution. Not my problem.’ “Correct, I have no heart. My body is made from metal.”

Aclysia starts moving again. “WAIT!” Catherine runs after her. Aclysia ignores the hand around her wrist and continues moving. The witch cannot stop her, immune against magic and physically superior as she is in her new body. At least so she thought but her feet suddenly are frozen to the ground. Not by ice, no, she is just unable to move them.

‘Connection severed? No. Arcana flow blocked. By what? Intruder in flow.’ Aclysia turns her head and stares at Catherine. From the witch’s hand, she feels a weird pull. Normally she takes the magical energy from others but now it seems to be taken from her, causing the magical network in her body to stop working. She can already feel herself losing form. “Arcane absorption. Very advanced.” Aclysia says, slightly impressed. “Why thank you.” Catherine answers drily. “So, before I turn you into a puddle of goo on the floor, will you work with me on this?”

‘Time. I need time elsewhere.’ Her mind urges as another presence giggles in the back of her mind. ‘Convince her of futility.’ “We only need to hold out until the Grimoire is finished. A solution to the problem is unnecessary. Few will starve.” Catherine pulls stronger at her magic and Catherine slowly grows taller than her. ‘Wrong. Feet are melting. Unable to hold form.’

“Stop.” Aclysia says. “Not unless you present me with some way out of this.” Catherine states but turns down the seeping of magic. “Construction of Railgun has left me behind. Need to study on main path. You will regret it if you don’t let me.” Catherine raises an eyebrow. “Why?” ‘Plague, Infinity, Nature devoured.’ ‘All that lives is mine.’ The voices add. She wants to give an honest answer to Catherine but the pact leaves her unable to, “I can’t say.”

“Very helpful.” Catherine frowns, “Look, your face is already losing shape and honestly it is a disgusting view. You either help me or I am putting you on ice entirely.” Everything in Aclysia races towards some kind of argument that could convince Catherine of letting her go. So much time is going to be wasted on this. Catherine however looks determined to get what she wants.

‘Compromise.’ Aclysia sighs softly in frustration as she allows some emotions to pass. “Use the alchemical gardens. Some edible plants there. Ask gardener for advice. No use of my time but your own. Acceptable?” Catherine smirks. “We will see.” Power flows back into Aclysia and she regains her solid form. “I don’t comprehend still.” Aclysia says. “Why care?”

“Because if I don’t Ulal is going to fuck me.” She makes a grimace, “And not in the pleasant way.” “Pure Self-preservation? I understand. Can I go?” Catherine let’s go of her wrist and Aclysia walks off. ‘Arcane absorption. Useful.’ She thinks and smiles slightly, ‘Might be able to help me in the future.’

A small flash of dizziness flashes through her consciousness as the full brunt of the second consciousness impedes on her mind. ‘Nothing can help you but I.’ A myriad of voices shout into her thoughts. The presence is gone immediately again. Aclysia’s smile, slight as it always was, dies down immediately. ‘We will see.’ She responds although she knows IT isn’t listening anymore. At least not with all it is.