Chapter 1514 – Wave Breaks

[This… this is remarkable,] Rathwyn tells me, then turns to say something to the goggle-eyed gaggle of mages behind him. They all nod enthusiastically, each jabbering as quickly as the next.

[Why don’t you just hook all of them into the mind bridge?] I ask him, a little exasperated. I’ve been watching him pass on my words for an hour now, and the lack of efficiency is starting to bug me. [You know I’m safe, as far as giant ants go.]

The group is standing inside one of the mighty gates that separates the inside of the fortress from the platforms and intakes outside. They were extremely keen to learn how the safe-zone was created and maintained, and there didn’t seem to be a problem showing them. Just to be safe, I checked with Solant, and she didn’t seem to care, so here we are.

They were fascinated, and somewhat charmed, by the wuffers, happily wuffing away on their platforms, chewing through prodigious amounts of toxic mana without breaking a sweat. Only half of the wuffer platforms in the fortress are active right now, so there’s still a long way to go before this place is running at full capacity, but from what I’ve heard, the core shapers are really cranking them out, so it shouldn’t be long.

[You’re right,] Rathwyn chuckles. [I should connect them up; it would make my life easier, if nothing else. Give me a moment.]

He goes silent for a brief period, and I’m given another opportunity to witness his masterful control of mind magic.

[There, that should have all of us connected. Introduce yourselves, please.]

[I’m Anthony,] I say, giving a wave, [nice to meet you.]

[Englebert.]

[Horatio.]

[Lady Meritious.]

[Camsworth.]

[Kathy.]

These names are all so… wait a second… Kathy?! I stare hard at the woman in question without letting her know I’m staring. Easy to do with eyes like mine.

She seems… a lot more robust than the others, putting it mildly. I think I might have spotted the bodyguard they ‘snuck’ in. The rest of them are as bookish as Rathwyn himself. Certainly more believable that they’re mage scholars.

[Well, welcome to the fortress. I hope we don’t all die in the next few months. Anyone have any questions?]

[How is the fortress defended, militarily?] Kathy asks, folding her arms across her chest, inadvertently showing off the guns.

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Sheesh, lady. Don’t make it obvious! Still, there’s no reason to hide it from them.

[Why don’t we go take a look, then?] I say. [Just to check, we’re all comfortable getting a bit closer to the action? Beyond this gate is an active warzone, after all.]