Chapter 45: Pool to the Pit

The Historian watched as the water in the Pool churned unnaturally.

“Master, is it supposed to do that?”

“No,” he said, grinning. “No, it is not.”

It was obvious that something had gone catastrophically wrong, and there were no good actions the Historian could take to stop the process. For all his power, the Pools of Alignment were a natural phenomenon much older and more powerful than any member of the Vulpian faction.

When he looked at the Pool, at the way the psionic energy was flowing about and around the weak human, he couldn’t help but be excited. Just what could a Tier 0 do to an ancient, natural wonder that would cause it to react like this?

With his limited affinity for the energy, the Historian could only really see that there was some sort of battle going on between Scarlet and the Pool. One was on the offence, one on the defence, and the stronger side was slowly but surely gaining the advantage.

Tareth was not nearly as accepting of the situation. This was one of only two Tier 0 Pools under Vulpian stewardship. He didn’t know what was happening, but the vicious glint in his eyes only dimmed when the rapidly churning water began to settle.

It seemed Scarlet had given up fighting for control over the energy and had instead found some way to syphon it off. The Historian had no clue how, but the amount of energy was clearly decreasing.

At first, the energy in the Pool decreased by such an infinitesimal amount that the Historian barely took note. However, the process didn’t stop there. Sitting in a literal Pool of psionic energy, Scarlet became both basin and drain.

A small amount of energy was absorbed into her. Then a gentle, steady trickle. Then a giant gulp, and then the energy was flooding into her.

She began to scream.

The shrieks were so guttural and visceral that Tareth actually looked around to make sure the sound barrier was still working. He figured the woman was just weak. Weak and a liability. He’d seen younger kits undergo much larger Alignments with far less dramatics.

Then he noticed the look on his master’s face.

Tareth couldn’t feel the energy. He had no clue what was going on in the Pool. All he knew was that things were not going exactly to plan.

The Historian, on the other hand, was delighted.

There were many things the Historian had expected to see when the Pools of Alignment finally settled. A portion of one of the faction’s greatest natural treasures collapsing in on itself had not been among them.

It was no surprise, then, that alarms immediately began to sound.

That wasn’t good, the Historian thought. He was the only one to notice as the sound barrier prevented both Scarlet and Tareth from hearing them. He would give the girl a few moments before ensuring she made it out safely and anonymously.

When he checked back in on the Pool, he found to his complete astonishment that the psionic energy was just gone. All of it, without a trace. The water was now no more special than that of an ordinary lake or pond. The woman walking casually out of it however could not remotely be described the same way.

It was clear something about her had changed. Looking into her eyes he could see a whisper thin halo of royal-purple slowly bleeding in from around her chestnut irises.

“Attunement,” he breathed, and Tareth’s head whipped around so fast the Historian wondered if he hadn’t managed to strain even his enhanced body.

Then there was the new addition. Perched on Scarlet’s shoulder was what appeared to be a mouse.

The creature felt unlike anything he had encountered before. It was small, unassuming, and yet there was power there. The Historian could clearly tell it was some sort of Familiar. Looking into its eyes he could see microscopic iridescent flecks. Their presence was so minute that even those in Tier 3 might not notice, lest they’d primarily invested in perception.

So many questions, so many new experiences. Something inside him shifted into focus, his Embodiment! Then the Historian watched as a notification he hadn’t seen in so long suddenly appeared. A stat increase. Oh how delightful, how utterly worth everything and so much more. And this was just the beginning! The Historian was jubilant, his disciple, not so much.

“You!” Tareth shrieked.

“There is no time,” the Historian said, making a sharp clicking sound that somehow dissolved the sound barrier.

That was when both Scarlet and Tareth heard it. The klaxon wail of a siren.

“Were you successful?” he asked, tossing her storage bag and cane. She caught them deftly and nodded once.

“And who is this?” He gestured to Maus.

“My bon- my Familiar,” Scarlet said, and the Historian raised a brow, but even the vagaries couldn’t dampen his mood.

“Ha!” The Historian tilted his head back and geckered. “So many questions,” he said, almost vibrating with excitement. “So very many questions. All in good time.”

The group broke into a run.

Tareth, simply by virtue of being closest to the exit, reached it first and ushered them through. Apparently he knew where they were going so he stayed in the lead, with Scarlet and Maus in the middle and the Historian bringing up the rear.

Even wet and shivering in that grey robe that now had bits of breakfast bar, rubble, and blood marinated into the fabric; even barefoot and exhausted beyond belief, Scarlet somehow managed to keep pace.

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Notifications were still popping up like bullet comments on a popular livestream. She couldn’t wait to take a moment and sort through her gains.

Unfortunately it appeared such things would have to wait. “If you don’t mind me asking, what exactly are we running from?” she asked. She wasn’t even panting. This was amazing, she thought, slinging the backpack around her shoulder.

“Well, my dear, from everything and everyone, really.”

Scarlet was taken aback, though her stride didn’t slow and her body didn’t stumble. “Everyone?”

“Yes, the entire faction, I believe. Probably most of the elders. If I’m not mistaken, many of them still have descendants that, while unlikely, might use a Tier 0 Pool.”

Scarlet looked back at the already distant zone of destruction. “Are you saying I’ve just made myself an enemy of the entire faction?” She asked. Aggrieved, but with nowhere to really direct her anger.

“Nothing so drastic,” the historian waved it away at the same time Tareth shrieked “ Yes!”

The Historian rolled his eyes. Scarlet didn’t understand, not completely, and that was unacceptable. He shook his head and made a hand sign she was becoming increasingly familiar with. It basically boiled down to, I’ll explain it later.

Only it never seemed to be later.