218, 1/2

Three hours passed in blessed calm.

People talked. People planned for cooperation. No one yelled. Fairy Moon gave a rapid apology and no one denied her apology, but a few servants and Cook Donny accidentally thanked her. Fairy Moon just thanked them right back, thus equalizing the perceived debt. Erick hoped that wouldn’t become a problem. Having seen his distress, and looking to make another good impression, Bright Smile spoke of how Erick’s staff were probably fine, and if Fairy Moon were going to call in any sort of debt, she would call it in on him.

Which made him have some complicated emotions.

And then Bright Smile said, “I’m joking.”

“Oh? Ha. Ha. Good one,” Erick intoned.

Bright Smile smiled brightly.

Meanwhile! Zolan and his borrowed elites organized the cooperation for the securing of the Surface, rapidly drawing in every single guest who was not a servant or a Cook or cook. First Knight Harriz, from the Wasteland Kingdoms, who had come in with Shade Lapis, was incredibly excited about the loss of [Teleport] and the switch to a Gate Network, and let everyone know that.

“It will mean an end to angelic bombardments!” Harriz said, “This means no lightning fights, or death spells cast in town squares and then the perpetrator escaping.”

Fallopolis countered him with, “It means people will be learning proper magic and then how to do that properly, Harriz.”

Lapis said, “Going from 25% of all people being able to [Teleport], with most of those people the ones who actually matter for war, to .01% of all people on Veird, is still a great reduction. Harm reduction is still harm reduction.”

Bright Smile said, “Wars are just as deadly in Ar’Cosmos as they are on the Surface, but they take a great deal more commitment. All this means is that the cowards won’t go to war.”

Erick said, “This means that the cowards won’t be able to flee when their captains tell them to charge an impossible defense.”

“If you will permit me, my king,” Zolan brought the conversation back around, saying, “We have 20 hours before the Feast is over and we all need to work in order to prevent catastrophe in the coming week. Talk is great, but let us focus on solutions of all kinds, which, as we are locked inside this current space and unable to speak to the outside, means figuring out an organizational structure for others to adhere to, question and answer sheets that we need to be able to give to nations out there to answer all their questions, another questionnaire about needed and desired Gate access, and finally, for us to decide how we will include others in a rapid expansion of House Benevolence in order to meet these needs.”

Fairy Moon spoke up, “This is the perfect time to temper Surface society into the collective image of cosmopolitan Candlepoint. Demand laws of your lands be followed, and deny Gates if those laws are desecrated!”

That comment started a whole new debate.

Erick checked out of that debate as Quilatalap reappeared in the atrium, at the far side, looking at Erick. Erick went to him. Quilatalap furrowed his eyes as Erick walked his way. When Erick finally reached him, the big man said nothing.

So Erick said, “I’m glad you came back. I was about to start a Gate Version 6 discussion with others, if you want to join? There’s the rest of the discussion too, if you would rather be there.”

Quilatalap frowned a little, debating with himself if he wanted to be petty, or not. He chose to say, “The fairy apologized to me. That has never happened ever before, Erick.”

“She also thanked everyone who accidentally thanked her for her apology.”

Quilatalap paused. “… That’s different, too.” He whispered, “She hasn’t actually changed at all, you realize?”

“I know. She views what she does as good. I’m sorry I didn’t come for you sooner, Quilatalap.”

“… Accepted.” Quilatalap breathed deep, and in the process he dispelled whatever surface misgivings about all this he had, looking like a brand new man in that moment, but Erick could tell it was an act. He smiled a little, asking, “So what’s been happening so far? What’s Gate Version 6 look like?”

Erick returned the smile, and turned back to the gathering, speaking of plans as he walked beside Quilatalap, leading the way toward Aisha, and Lapis.

– – – –

Amid possibly the best magical minds of the world, Erick began casting lightwards into the air, as he spoke of Gates, and their limitations. Everyone knew how the spell actually worked, but Erick did go over that briefly, and then he moved onto ‘enchanting’ Gates themselves, and what that meant. For it wasn’t actually ‘enchanting’ at all.

When he made a wood and iron Gate, that was simply making an anchor to set a [Gate] into.

And then he went over the problems he had encountered in his implementation of [Gate].

“Four problems,” Erick said, “Problem one: Security, to prevent unwanted passage, to lock the Gate when not in use. A few people had already been asking for better security before today’s events, so that they can dedicate two or three hours per day to overseeing transport through the Gate, and then shut it off for the rest of the day. Not everyone wants a portal open all the time, letting everyone through. Extra security would also include a way to shut the Gate off, without needing to poke it with an antirhine knife and disable the [Gate] inside the Gate the hard way. Had one guy do that at the Gate to the Forest to prevent a sudden stampede of undead from breaking through to the Gate District. Ended up preventing the invasion, but he ruined a lot of work trying to shut the Gate off. They could have simply sent a message up the chain of command and I could have personally dealt with the invasion, but he made a fast decision. He recovered from the explosion of Benevolence plants, but he did almost die.

“Problem two: Cost of Gates. In time and effort and gold. Mostly time and effort, though, since I’m inscribing these all myself. The current design takes about 25-30 minutes to make a single Gate, and I am not going to live inside a [Hasted Shelter] for the rest of my life to meet the needs of the entire Surface. I probably will have to do that for the next week or month, but hopefully not more than that.

“Problem three: Is there a way to make a Gate that will automatically cast itself? I’m manually adding the [Gate] to every single one of these Gates, and that’s a fucking pain in the ass. I can only imagine that the rest of my entire life will be spent recasting [Gate] unless I can make an actual magical item that will cast [Gate] for me. I’m also not handing this task off to Yggdrasil, for I won’t have him do that job either.

“Problem four: Is there a way to make a Gate lead to other locations? Like if I put up one major Gate at the center of a hub, and then have thirty smaller Gates out there that the main Gate can flick between, with a touch of a dial, or something like that.

“These are the major problems that I have found with my Gate Network so far.” Erick said, “I am sure that we will run into more problems in the future, but these are the current issues. On the positive side, these four problems have some clear overlap, like with the ‘main hub Gate’ and the ‘I-need-to-shut-it-off security problem’. If the main Gate could be switched to a ‘null’ Gate option, like perhaps to the other side of the main Gate itself, effectively creating a [Gate] that was only a decimeter across, then that would solve the problem of needing to ‘turn it off’ well enough. So! Let’s consider it all. Let me know when you have your first questions.”

Aisha sat silently, standing back as she took in all the lightsculptures that Erick had made to illustrate the problems of [Gate], and making Gates to hold them.

Lapis studied the image of the Main Hub Gate idea.

Quilatalap asked, “Have you tried using [Teleport Spell] to shift either side of a [Gate]? The range of [Gate]s you could reach would be limited, but that could let you make a Hub.”

Erick brightened. “I have not tried that yet! Excellent idea, Quilatalap. I’ll have to try it once we’re out of the Feast Barri— Ah. Shit fuck.”

The brief joy in Erick’s heart faltered hard, because almost all of them realized what was wrong with this idea a second after Erick. Even though the idea might theoretically work, and by all rights it should since both sides of a [Gate] were affected by magic…

Aisha said, “The [Teleport Lock] of the Feast Barrier will go around the entire world, blocking all Spatial Magic. This [Teleport Spell] idea will not work as it does, but, there is a solution. The t-stations of the Geodes already push back the Dark, allowing for point-to-point Spatial Magics, as long as both ends of the spell are cleared of the Dark. I am absolutely sure that Archmage Tasar and Archmage’s Rest will work with us to come up with a way to make this Gate Hub work.”

Erick knew that setting up this conversation was a good idea.

Lapis said, “Those t-stations have already solved for the selection of different targets, too, as well as the boosting of range. This should allow for a ‘Gate Hub’, and you’re going to want to outsource a lot of your own efforts to Archmage’s Rest and Stratagold anyway. But they will not be able to help with the auto-casting problem. Allow me to assist with this task, for this solution will likely require the condensation of Benevolent mana into a [Familiar]-like being. Such a being seems to me the only way to make a deep magic like [Gate] be automagical. Solving this problem in this way does open up your gate space to intrusion, though, for someone could use some soul surgery to open up one of those creations and make them do their bidding.”

“… Let’s come back to the automagic topic in a moment, for I have realized another problem I need to solve before I thought I needed to solve it.” Erick said, “[Gate] has a range where I can freely use the spell. That range is a few thousand kilometers around every Yggdrasil at the moment. This will make putting up a Local Area Gate Network rather difficult in a place like, say, the Greensoil Republic. So could I [Teleport Spell] both ends of a [Gate] around, to plant a [Gate] pair into Gates that are far outside of my current range of [Gate]?”

Aisha was unsure. Lapis had no idea.

Quilatalap said, “You should be able to. But I suggest you drop some Class Ability and take Gatemaster, Erick, and then plant some more Yggdrasil out there on the Surface. One per continent should be fine. It’s time.”

Lapis raised an eyebrow, looking at Erick. She was surprised that Erick didn’t have Gatemaster.

Aisha half-rolled her eyes. She and Erick had spoken of Erick’s lack of Gatemaster before. She still couldn’t believe that Erick didn’t have that Ability. She was also a little weirded out that apparently Quilatalap knew that about Erick, but she got over it in the face of the coming disaster.

Erick said, “I suppose I must.”

Lapis still couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You were doing a Gate Network without Gatemaster?” A bit stronger, “And you could implant a [Gate] into a Gate at all?”

“What’s wrong with that?” Erick asked. “All the Gate has to do is not move and the [Gate] remains intact. My [Force Wall]-ish spell does that quite well.”

Lapis blinked a bit, saying, “I’m simply surprised that that actually worked. That this whole model of… everything… That it has worked at all without Gatemaster.”

Quilatalap smirked, saying, “He’s very good at runic work. Doesn’t have ‘Shifting Runes’ either. Not even the lesser version.”

Erick grinned at the praise in Quilatalap’s voice.

Lapis said, “Well that’s not news at all. But the lack of Gatemaster is.”

“What does it even do? Besides the obvious, anyway?” Erick asked. “All the Ability says is ‘Double the effective range of your gate space. Minor improvements to everything gate related. ’.”

Aisha said, “That really should be more than enough of a reason to take it.”

Quilatalap said, “I don’t know the full answer to that question, either.”

Aisha briefly looked put upon, then she added, “No one has made [Gate] in a very, very long time. The only other person who has [Gate] was the one who made the original Network, from before the Death of All Halves, when the Forest of Glaquin was home to the original dragonkin. The creator of those lands never told anyone what it does.”

Well that was a pretty bright idea then, wasn’t it? Erick said, “Let’s see if we can find out, then.” He turned, calling out, “Bright Smile! Do you have a moment?”

Bright Smile lifted her head from her talks with Zolan. She glared at Erick, and her small grin turned into her namesake. She walked over, saying, “I do not appreciate being called like a wayward wyrmling, Erick, but I understand that we’re solving problems here. I will attempt to be similarly succinct:” She stood before Erick. “What do you want?”

“Do you know what the Class Ability Gatemaster does, in full?” Erick put on a pleasant face. “Your uncle is Redflame, and you are empress of his gate space, correct?”

“Ah. This is an easy answer.” Bright Smile said, “Increased range, and minor improvements all around.”

Erick almost laughed. Quilatalap did laugh, though he kept that to a small chuckle. Bright Smile lightly glared at the large man, and then she turned her attentions back to Erick.

Erick said, “Yes, but what does that actually mean?”

Bright Smile rattled off, “For Ar’Cosmos, which is in Fairy, and which surely has different options than what you will likely have with Benevolence, we can change the color and presentation of the [Gates]. We can make [Gate]s into Ar’Cosmos come back if they are destroyed. Inside of Fairy itself, we can create layers of gate spaces, with the deepest ones good for hiding things and the higher ones good for living on. Perhaps the most well-known power of my uncle, though, is that he has the power to deny the Realities of others; it is how he mitigates the Curse to nothing, and how we restrict all Script Magic inside our lands. It is theorized that this sort of power is rather normal for Fairy, but my Uncle has control over that. There are a few other minor benefits to Gatemaster that I will not divulge in mixed company, and if you ask me later I will likely tell you, yet ask you not to divulge them either.

“As for Redflame’s personal use of [Gate], it has different applications inside Ar’Cosmos and outside. In both locations, he can open [Gate]s into all layers of Ar’Cosmos as he desires, and he can move people from one layer to another, or out entirely, without those people needing to actually enter a [Gate] at all. His [Gate]s are resistant to being destroyed, and will survive slight external movements. He can also open or close [Gate]s outside of the Script Second.” Bright Smile said, “And that’s the publicly available intelligence that others have on Ar’Cosmos, so I will keep it that way.” She turned to Aisha, pointedly asking, “How much of that did you already know? And how much did you learn, getting Erick to ask this of me, here and now?”

Erick rapidly said, “She didn’t do anything—”

“All that Bright Smile has shared is already known,” Aisha said, “It is news, however, that these capabilities are actually the product of Gatemaster, and not personal power, or Fae Magic.”

Bright Smile grinned wide, showing off sharp teeth, as she said, “Like I said; the capabilities of Ar’Cosmos might have little bearing on what Benevolence can do. I imagine that a Gatemaster of Death or Lava would also have vastly different capabilities. And Redflame hasn’t had cause to come to the Surface in an age, so perhaps all that we know he can do is simply skill, and has nothing to do with Gatemaster at all.”

Erick moved on, saying, “Much appreciated, Bright Smile. Would you like to stay for the discussion of Gate Version 6?”

Bright Smile glanced at the lightsculptures overhead, then said, “No. I don’t believe I could be much help with this. The Gates of Ar’Cosmos don’t operate like how your Gates operate, nor do we want them…” Her ruby eyes lingered on a particular display. She pointed to the automagical Gate idea, saying, “All the rest of your concerns will have to be solved in other ways, but this problem is semi-solved, alongside the Hub Gate idea. We have a House Death summoner cast a spell that consumes a gate space node, and then that summoner can control the node to cast [Gate]. This is the main function of House Death; to control the pathways leading to Ar’Cosmos. Your man Burhendurur was denied learning this magic, for it is one of our greatest secrets. We would ask that you not ask us for this spellwork, either, as this is a massive security concern. All I can tell you is that this problem is easily solved, and through this problem I suppose all the others are made easier?” She glanced at another display. “You probably don’t want others tromping around inside your Gate Space, though, since you likely don’t have multiple layers of land within which to hide the node.” She ignored the displays, and turned to Erick. “Unless you do?”

Erick said, “I do not have Gatemaster, so I don’t really know, yet, but Yggdrasil is inside there, anyway. He could provide overall protection, and I can assign others to operate inside of there since I am sure that having someone inside Benevolence will be necessary to spot deeper future problems… once I have the time to make extra nodes, anyway. I would ask for Redflame to assist me with understanding how to make extra nodes, exactly, if he could.”

Bright Smile’s grin widened. “I’ll inform uncle of your needs, and have a missive for you soon enough. We’ll talk about Ar’Cosmos’s Gate needs at that time, too, if I cannot get my needs met through your castellan, that is.”

Erick suddenly wondered if Redflame would be up for making a Gate Network, too. He made it once. He could make it again. But then again… Erick doubted Redflame would want to do such a thing, or that Ar’Cosmos would want that. Erick decided not to bring up that topic right now.

“I’m sure Zolan will assist Ar’Cosmos’s Gate needs as best he can. Your guidance is appreciated, Bright Smile.”

Bright Smile gave a small nod, then stepped away.

Erick turned back to the others. “So! A summon to eat a node, to cast [Gate]?”

Lapis said, “That is sort of what I was talking about earlier. I am sure there is a better way to do this than to give a [Gate] to another, to operate in your stead, and thus make your gate space vulnerable to… Quite a lot of things, truly. Too many. But a ‘node eating summon’ does seem like the proper solution here.”

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Quilatalap said, “I agree, but let us talk this out, for maybe there is an answer here, anyway. In my mind, you would want an autonomous summon to eat a node, and then the summon would respond to a certain type of intent… Probably a telepathic ping. With a proper ping, the summon would automatically respond with a [Gate] from one location to another. I imagine an end-user sending out a telepathic signal to the consumed node and getting a [Gate] from their current location to their envisioned endpoint… But doing it that way would leave the node vulnerable to a [Telepathy] attack, which is likely why Ar’Cosmos doesn’t do it that way; they use manual control from an approved mage. Probably have some layers of defense between the mage and the [Gate]-requester, too.”

Aisha said, “From your descriptions, I feel that there is a [Gate] network that works based on a ‘ping’. The [Gate] you can purchase in the Script. For 500 mana, you get a [Gate] from one location to the next.”