Chapter: 559 – A Lot to Unpack

Tala, Rane, and Terry stood at the edge of the massive clearing surrounding the tree city of Makinaven after four days of working their way through the southern woods.

Tala felt herself gaping up at the massive edifice of living wood, partially because even her perfect memory had a hard time doing the immensity of it justice, but that wasn’t the whole reason.

For the first time, her voidsight took in the reality node of the tree.

Not only was it a single, absolutely overpowering whole—so overwhelming that it kept any of the questing tendrils of Leshkin spirit miles away—but it was a Reforged existence, clearly blazing with power for all to see.

Even so, the aura of power was held… separate somehow, so that it was underlying the superficial, rather than being atop it and harming those within.

With it being held separate, being near the tree’s spirit was like being in direct, unmitigated sunlight instead of standing within a fire. It was harsh, but in a different way.

Even so, the hundreds of mundanes within Tala’s easy line of sight didn’t seem negatively affected in the least.

One more important quality of the tree’s reality node? It was looking back at her.

“Mistress Tala, welcome. You are a bit earlier than I’d expected.”

Tala spoke out loud in response. “Master Jevin, it is a pleasure to be here. We’re only a day early, correct? If our presence will cause complications, we can leave for a short span.”

Laughter came back through their mental connection, and Rane smiled, clearly indicating that he could hear as well, though Tala suspected that he’d been greeted separately. “No need for a delay. Come, come. Your timing works out rather well, in fact. You’ll be greeted at the nearest gate, and led to my offices. Though, I imagine you remember the way. Please do not disguise your aura, as that will make it easier for your guide to identify you.”

Tala hesitated a moment, but when she looked to Rane, he simply shrugged. So, Tala decided to just accept the guidance, even if she suspected Master Jevin was up to something. “Will I know the one to meet us?”

“With your memory? Yes.” There was a hint of humor in the words, but he didn’t say anything further, and Tala felt the attention of the massive reality node move on from them.

Rane grinned her way. “Well, I suppose we should be about it. Given how he approached this, it’s bound to be entertaining one way or another.”

She sighed. “I’m sure he’ll see it that way…”

He bumped her playfully. “I’ll be here, regardless.”

Terry flickered around them, clearly having a bit of fun investigating the different plants, and the setting as a whole, after days within such monotonous surroundings.

It was funny, standing there at the boundary of Makinaven. It was so like their first arrival. In both cases, they’d spent days in a chase with the Leshkin. Though, this time it was Tala, Rane, and Terry who had been chasing down the forest monsters.

After the disbursement—seemingly enacted by Existence itself—the Leshkin had given them a rather wider berth than normal. Normal, in this case, being the frenzied assault of any gated that the beasts could detect.

Tala, Rane, and Terry had been forced to hunt down every subsequent test subject after the first. Once they had each one trapped, many others would come to fight for the freedom of the imprisoned, but as soon as Tala released her experiment, all of them fled in short order.

It was honestly odd and harkened to the Leshkin Wars, from what Tala had heard. Those were supposedly a time when more powerful humans clashed directly with the Leshkin, and often the Leshkin, themselves, would act more strategically, which included making strategic retreats on occasion.

Tala hoped that the difference didn’t indicate the ‘activation’ of one of the more sapient Leshkin.

If so, Master Jevin would likely be a bit irate with her.

Speaking of the Reforged, Master Jevin was waiting for them, and it was time that they stopped lurking on the periphery.

Tala and Rane moved forward almost as one, glancing toward each other and chuckling at the coincidence. He put his arm over her shoulder, draping across her back so that his hand could be on her waist. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been here.”

She cuddled up to him even as they walked. “Indeed it has. Eleven years? A bit more?”

“Give or take, yeah.” He had a bit of a mischievous glint in his eye as he continued. “If I recall correctly, the last time you were here, didn’t you go on some sort of date?”

Tala scowled. “It wasn’t a date… at least I didn’t think it was one.”

He chuckled. “Oh, that much was clear. Still, do you want to look up your old flame while we’re in town?”

She hip-checked Rane, but he held on firmly, laughing all the while.

“Fine, fine. It really is amazing how much we did while we were here…”

“Yeah.” She smiled fondly at the memories. “I’m glad that they delayed our departure. We learned a lot while here, and we met a lot of fun people.”

“Isn’t that the truth.” He considered. “Isn’t this the first place you expanded Kit?”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah. I think so.”

He chuckled. “Her magic manifested in a feline form and caused a lot of confusion.”

Tala smiled in turn. “Yeah. That was before we knew that she was special.”

She manifested Kit as a pouch on her belt for a moment, giving the accessory an affectionate pat before letting it fade from existence once more.

A feeling of deep satisfaction came back from the part of her soul most closely aligned with the voidling. Kit was content. Tala’s path was her path, and their interests perfectly intersected. The voidling had no complaints, and she looked forward to the future even more closely aligned with Tala.

Yes, content was the right word.

The great tree filled up more of their sight as they came closer and closer.

When they were almost to the gates, they passed by some animal stalls, and Terry flickered to perch on a fence, looking in on some pigs. The herds all crowded away from the terror bird, and the swineherds eyed him warily.

Tala sighed, bopping the bird playfully on the head. “No, Terry. That’s not even the same pen, and we assuredly do not have permission for you to… enjoy the pork.”

He trilled sadly, but he didn’t argue with her, flickering back to her shoulder as they came up to the gate.

This close, it was as if a veil had been pulled back, and Tala almost staggered at what she was able to perceive.

The tree was a fully four-dimensional existence, the entirety of it was seemingly purpose-grown to facilitate the living spellforms woven out of every one of the fibers of its makeup.

To her three-fold perception, it was a true edifice of power, and the magics spoke to her of suppression, sleep, and lethargy, all directed outward.

At its heart, far stoneward, she suddenly saw the City Stone, intimately intermeshed with the forms.

All the gated here power the magics which weaken and calm the Leshkin.

-That is one of the primary purposes of the forest cities.-

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

I know that—Tala sent the impression of an indignantly scrunched face to Alat—but I guess I didn’t really consider just how all consuming that would be. I suppose that’s one reason they keep them at full capacity for the whole cycle?

-Likely, yeah. I’m sure the simple fact that they actually can also factors in. Even so, they need as many gates as possible to power the great workings. Did you see this part?-

Tala focused where Alat was indicating. No, I… Oh! Is that Reality reinforcement?

-It looks like it… if I’m understanding correctly. I’m not as familiar with wood-in-wood spellforms as other mediums of power, but based on the effect coming off of it? Yeah.-

That explains how the city can be maintained as long as the others, even with a larger average population over the timespan… Tala frowned, considering something.

Alat sent a feeling of agreement. -Yeah, I don’t know why they don’t use these everywhere… We could ask Master Jevin?-

That is probably a good idea, yeah.