Chapter: 576 – The Construct

Tala, Nalac, Rane, and Terry spent the next days in a haze of togetherness and grief. With her brother temporarily remanded to her care, Tala did her best to just be with him.

She didn’t try to distract him, or herself, allowing the sorrow to flow undampened, but never letting it take control or be the sole thing they had in mind.

Nalac was even more reserved than usual. He often lifted his head to look at the door as if expecting someone to come through, but they never did.

She never did.

They talked of Illie some, but the memories still had so many rough edges… It was difficult to consider them.

Rane alternated between being with them and working on a statue within the Path of Remembrance.

Terry, similarly, was with the siblings or out in the countryside surrounding Arconaven. By reports that Alat conveyed to Tala, he was cutting a swath through even marginally dangerous creatures in the whole area. Additionally, he was apparently sweeping through the mines and killing off the lesser magical creatures every time they respawned.

Tala would have gone with him, but she was put on what amounted to bed-rest, magically speaking. She bent that somewhat often, but still tried to limit her actions as it always left her sore and shaking when she did. Thankfully, the feeling began to fade after a few days.

Through that time, Tala paid just enough attention to learn that the local city leaders had a plan, to place an artifact pylon of sorts at the confluence of zeme, to bind it there and prevent any other magical creature from coming from that well of power.

It was an imperfect solution, as it would potentially negatively affect power flows in the whole region, but it was apparently the tactic often used when such nexuses of power were found, or came into being, too close to city sites.

The lesser magical beasts that had participated in the attack had apparently been long known, at least vaguely, and ignored because they couldn’t penetrate the city’s defenses, even working together. They were a danger if miners wandered out of the reach of the great workings, but that was rare. It had only been the appearance of a more advanced, more powerful creature that had tipped the balance.

To Tala’s surprise, Rane went to talk with the couple who ran the city when that news came in, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask further, not yet at least.

After that, Rane was around far less, and when he did show up, he was exhausted. Tala took comfort in his presence when he was there, and didn’t press him for details on what he was up to when he wasn’t. She knew he would tell her when he was ready, when it was time.

Lyn handled everything relating to Ironhold and the chaos the sudden changes in itinerary caused. Beyond that, she gave Tala space, offering her presence and assistance, but not forcing it, nor seeming to mind when it wasn’t called for.

Mistress Petra and Master Simon handled the needed tasks within the sanctum, including providing meals and ensuring that the living spaces were maintained.

Nalac stayed in a guest room when he slept, which alternated between being an over-much amount and too little, as he struggled to process his twin’s demise.

Meallain was kept out of the sanctuary, relegated to simply continuing her penance with the Talons.

Tala and Alat handled contacting their family.

Everyone was, of course, devastated, but there was also very little surprise.

In Tala’s years separated from them, apparently many friends, distant family, customers, and acquaintances had passed, somewhat inuring them all to the shock of such a loss. Moreover, they were all aware that Nalac and Illie had chosen a dangerous line of work, many of them having talked with the two about just that at the last gathering in Makinaven.

Even so, they would all come to the ceremony. That was only possible because Tala and Rane offered to make it possible. Honestly, Tala was surprised that there was going to be one at all, but since she was informed that there would, she knew it was right to ensure her family could come.

Their plans in Bandfast were extremely delayed, but no one gave them grief over it. Even Mistress Holly simply sent back sincere condolences and a note that the extra time would allow her to perfect her work further, so Tala shouldn’t rush.

Tala didn’t track the days, but soon enough, it was time, and Rane, Terry, she, and Nalac traveled back out to the cavern where the mole-thing had been slain for the last time.

Tala was honestly a bit surprised by the large rise now present at the location.

-Well, we did excavate somewhere between four and forty million cubic feet of material.-

That’s… a really big range?

-If you want more accuracy, do the calculation yourself.-

Tala almost prodded Alat, but decided it wasn’t worth it in the moment. The alternate interface knew that Tala cared for her.

Nalac, for his part, goggled at the fifty-foot wide shaft leading straight into the ground, but when he looked to Tala, she merely shrugged. “It killed my sister.”

Tears came to her eyes as she spoke, and Nalac teared up as well, hugging her close. Terry flickered to the boy’s—no, the young man’s—shoulder and nuzzled him. Rane wrapped his arms around both of them briefly, then guided them to walk out, over the pit.

His magics enshrouded them, keeping them from dropping downward as of yet, and Nalac gaped, momentarily forgetting his tears as he looked straight down.

The walls were compacted outward to such an extent that they had an almost mirror-like finish, and Tala regarded her husband in pride. He’d done fantastic work, helping her not bury them alive in her grief.

Though, I suppose I could have just moved stoneward before navigating downward and bypassing the intervening space altogether… But she hadn’t thought of that at the time, and it wasn’t like she was going to be able to go back and change it.

After a slightly prolonged moment, Rane allowed them to lower, speeding up at a steady pace while sheltering them from any turbulence with a flexing of his will within their aura.

Side passages and natural rents occasionally opened into the shaft—Tala hadn’t even noticed them while carving downward—but they seemed to have been integrated in such a manner that they didn’t pose a danger to the integrity of the insanely deep hole.

They were the last to arrive as they came down through the ceiling of the great cavern.

Below them, the team mates, loved ones, and relations of those who died were gathered around a cloth draped mound.

Tala kept herself from perceiving what was under it as Rane had requested before they headed in this direction.

The place was illuminated by massive workings of power that simply rendered everything well lit. As such, the drifting group was easily noticed. They drew eyes as they descended, and Tala realized that most had come through the caverns, if the signs and indications she picked up were any indication.

Regardless, there were a few hundred people, and as Tala, Rane, and Nalac’s feet touched down, they were ushered forward.

Tala took a moment to open her portal into Kit, allowing her family to flow out, along with Illie’s parents who had been specifically invited and included out of respect for the young girl. Young woman.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The outpouring of people caused even more of a stir, but Tala didn’t care.

The city leaders greeted Tala and Rane personally, and Tala realized that she should make special note of the Paragon couple, but she couldn’t bring herself to care just then.

They were kind and courteous, taking time with Nalac as well, thanking him for the part that he played in the defense, before greeting the family in passing and turning to address the crowd as a whole.

There was a short speech before the cloth was pulled back, revealing a masterwork.

By Rane’s smile, he had had a large hand in it, even if, judging by some of the work, he hadn’t been the only sculptor involved.

It was a wonder nonetheless.

An outer ring of guardsmen stood ready, immortalized in stone, their faces clear and individualized. Within were the depictions of the Mages and magelings, artfully positioned so that each could be easily seen from at least a few places outside the tiered structure of the sculpture.

Tala easily noticed that Illie and Masters Balin and Ori were among the most detailed, looking as if they had been captured mid-motion, rather than having been carved in place.

She leaned against her husband. “Thank you, Rane.”

He put his arm around her once again. “Always.”

There was a short pause while those who had gathered moved about, finding the depiction of the one they’d come to mourn. That, of course, triggered just that, and the cavern was filled with the sound of soft sobbings and the occasional overwrought exclamation.

When the susurrations had died down, the leaders of the city gave another short speech, explaining that this statue was more than just that. It was an artifact, imbued both to prevent any other magical beast from rising up here again, and to provide a lasting protection for humanity.

As they began a unified working, Tala’s attention was fully drawn to them.

From her view, she saw the reality threads of the statue and that of the confluence of zeme be drawn together and melded. On a magical level, the two were magic bound, natural magics lighting up all around the carved effigy.