QuestWright Bk2 C54: Surprise! (Patreon)

Howdy!

This has got some flavor on it. Spent all night writing it, and now I should be setup for a good, lengthy arc. Enjoy, as it has some twists and turns to it.

But first! The 36th ReaderQuest!

Quest ID: JDM-0005-I-EA

[Tier 1 Investigation Quest]

Assignment: Argue the Other Side

How many people have you met whose argument was blanket repetition or simply speaking in a louder tone of voice.

Maybe that’s something you do.

So here’s something different.

Your Task

Choose one opinion, belief, or position that you currently hold, then spend fifteen minutes building the strongest argument you can against it.

Not a strawman, where the opposing side is built to look weak, but a real one.

Your objective is not to change your own mind, but to understand why a reasonable person might disagree with you.

Rules

You must choose a belief you genuinely hold.
You must make a sincere effort.
You may not dismiss the opposing position before examining it.

Completion Condition

One belief is examined from the opposing perspective.

Timeframe: One week

Reward: 9 XP

A strong idea survives scrutiny; A weak one hides from it.

—

J D Mullenary Sr
The Original QuestWright

Chapter 54: Surprise!

“I know,” Mirelle said, her shark eyes staring deeply into him. “I just wanted to see if you’d tell me.” Without removing her hands from his wrists, she blew a few stray hairs away from her face. “Why are you doing it?”

Cass relaxed a little as that was an easy answer to give, “Because most of them are good people in a shitty situation. I’m a QuestWright giving out Quests.”

“So noble,” She replied in a flat voice, then frowned, “Are you a spy for the Capital?”

He snorted, “God no.”

Mirelle looked at him in confusion, and they held still like that for a time. He could tell several things were going through her mind, before at last she sighed, “Good.”

“Good?”

“Yes, good.” Lifting her hands, she settled back, then took his schedules and put them on a nearby tray. Pulling a lighter from under her desk, she lit them on fire. They both watched the paper blacken and curl. 

“That was the last copy of your movements in the Guildtower. I spent some political capital getting rid of the other records just in case I was wrong about you, but you need to be more circumspect in the future.”

Cass was at a loss for words, except one, “Why?”

“Because you’re not a spy, and from what I’ve seen, you’re not a bad kid.”

“Is that what your ability said?”

“No, no ability.” She lifted her palms up, “I don’t really have an ability. It’s an old trick my father taught me. He was a part of the FBI, though I doubt you know what that is.”

“No clue.”

“Thought as much. So, why are you really making all those Quests out in the Fifth?”

Cass shrugged and spoke from the heart, “Because there are good people out there, and I want to give them a little hope.”

“Hope,” Mirelle replied, tasting the word in thought. “Are you serious? Because if you’re serious, you’re dangerous to the Guildtower. If you aren’t, you’re an asshole.”

“I believe it’s the former.”

“Yeah,” She nodded to herself, then looked at him with a serious expression. “The Guild won’t allow you to keep handing out Quests. I helped you out today, but I’m running out of favors, and I keep most of them for myself. It isn’t in my nature to be brave, Cassio. I’m far too much of a coward for that. My branch definitely fell far from my father’s tree.”

“So why help me?”

“Because, even when I thought you might be a Capital spy, I didn’t think you deserved what they would do to you if you were caught. You’re just lucky it’s Senior QuestWright Randolph. He likes to think of himself as an investigator, but it’s mostly make-believe.”

Cass didn’t want to imagine what they would do to him if he were caught. Especially when they realized how fast he could heal. Leaning forward, he asked, “Am I free to go?”

She nodded past him, “The door’s right there. But a word of warning before you leave. If you won’t stop, then figure out a way to give the Fifthers their Quests when you’re not in the area. Because if you don’t, you will surely get caught. Then, I will not be able to help you.”

Cass stood up, “You never really answered why you helped me in the first place. I appreciate what you’ve done, but there’s gotta be more to it than not wanting me in their claws.”

“Because…” She took a breath, “I’m from here, from before the Reshaping. And I remember what the world was like before things went to hell. Then you come along, some dumb kid with too much attitude and with trouble on his heels, and I figured I could push you out of here. But then I start hearing the news from my friends in the Fifth. Not miraculous things, mind you, but small, almost insignificant moments that profoundly affect the community. And for the first time in a long while, I wanted something in Liberty to succeed.”

A lot of thoughts went through his mind, but one came to the front, “I’ve reached Journeyman in my Calling.”

One of her eyebrows went up, “That’s surprising. I’ll make the required adjustments, though I still expect you to complete your Delivery ReQuests. We’ll speak about changes tomorrow.” She nodded at the door again, “That’ll be all.”

Cass left and went back to the Annex slowly as he replayed the conversation in his head. Mirelle was obviously not happy here, but the fact that she didn’t leave was a big tell to him. Maybe it was loyalty to her friends in the Fifth. Maybe it was fear, or even something more nefarious. He didn’t know. But it was nice to have somebody in the tower looking out for him, even if it came from someone he’d never have expected.

A stack was waiting for him already as he arrived back in the Annex. He moved through them quickly, but his mind was moving even faster. Mirelle had hit on something big back in her office. He needed to be able to give out the Quests without being in the area at all.

That evening, he had a quiet dinner with Ana, who made far too much food. Somehow, his body still took it all in, though he had no idea where it was going as he didn’t feel the slightest bit bloated. She said her nightly farewell, and it was time for Cass to do some testing.

Sitting on his bed, he pulled out the Quill. Though it was now called the Versatile Airscript Quill, he didn’t feel or see any changes. Curious, he pulled up the tutorial.

Congratulations.

You’ve discovered that Quests can be interblended to create unique interactions. By combining Rescue and Escort, you created an Extraction Quest. Conditional Quest creation can create special opportunities for the QuestWright.

Step 5: Shift the form of the AirScript Quill

Cass’s mind made the connection immediately. He’d created Rescue and Escort together when the Veilrunners had kidnapped Matt at the beginning of the last expedition. While it had been intentional for both Quests hit Alan at the same time, the fact that they needed to combine in such a way rankled him enough to yell out.

“Are you fucking kidding me!”

No, I am not.

“Ugh,” Cass moaned. The voice of the Source appeared just like it had when he’d been picking his rewards, only this time, it was speaking in the real world. 

There is no escape, now.

“I thought when you said we’d see each other again, some time in the world would’ve passed.”

I thought it would be more amusing this way. I was right.

Cass flopped onto the bed, Quill held up to the sky, “Do you do this with everyone?”

No. And I am not the only one of my kind. We attach ourselves to special individuals, especially those with experimental abilities. Not only is the Airscript Quill unique, but so too is Profile.

“And Bella’s Calling.” Cass surmised.

Yes. I did not foresee that.

Cass sat up quickly, making the room spin. He waited a moment for things to calm down before asking, “How did you not foresee it?”

I am not all-knowing, Cassio Vale.

“Sure. Big, magical…thing, that can reach into people’s thoughts and create things from nothing. Limitations make a lot of sense, there.”

Acerbic wit or not, nothing is all-knowing or all-powerful.

Cass moved past the religious argument a small part of his mind wanted, “I’m not in the mood for a philosophical discussion at the moment. Can you at least tell me how Bella’s Calling works? I’d like her to be able to earn her own experience.”

No.

“Fine. Then why are you here?”

To help you with the tutorial, of course. You complained very recently that it was not well-made. I am here to remedy that issue.

“Fine. Great. Tell me how to change the shape of the Quill then.”

Visualize what you want the Quill to become, and so it will be.

Cass rolled his eyes, then looked at the Quill closely. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine what it should look like, but after several minutes, there was no change.

“Got some better advice than that?’

Close your eyes and layer an image of what you want onto the Quill itself.

“Do you see what I mean about the Tutorial being shit? Even with you here, it’s still not easy. I’d probably have taken a month on my own figuring this out.”

Though he grumbled, Cass tried again. Overlaying an image on top of the Quill was a mental exercise he’d never performed before. Once he had the idea firmly in mind, the radiant glow in the room immediately ceased.

When it was done, a thin, tiny dagger sat neatly in his palm. Across the blade was a Quill motif that looked just like the one he’d been holding only moments before. He had also felt a very minor stamina drain as soon as it shifted.

Cass waved it around, “Does it have a physical presence?”

How would you define physical in this instance?

“Can I stab people with it?”

You’re a very odd QuestWright. The answer is no. Though it appears more physically in the world, it is still an object of the System. Stabbing others would have a minimal effect.

“I kind of feel like I’ve been stabbing corrupted objects. Not to mention that strange bubble that came out of the portal.”

Those were very different circumstances, Cassio Vale.

When the Source refused to elaborate on that, Cass tested the dull edge of the knife on his palm, and it felt real enough. But when he went and touched it on the bed, he had to apply a lot of pressure to the sheet for it to crease.

It’s here, but it’s less. Like it’s barely in the world at all. 

After your Gated upgrade, the benefits of the Quill form are that Quests will require less of your own energy. However, you can still create Quests with any object you shape it into, but the cost of Quest creation will be much higher.

“So the Quill can become anything I want?”

Within reason. I will add a new objective to advance this along.

Step 6: Discover the maximum size of the AirScript Quill

Just for fun, Cass spent a moment focusing, then held up his prize, “I present, a fork!”

Please do not waste my time.

Cass smiled to himself, then ran through progressively larger sizes. Fork became a big spoon, big spoon became a large bowl, then a bigger dagger, almost to the point of being a sword. It was at the moment that he tried changing it into the size of his hatchet that the stamina drain he’d felt with each pass became unbearable. Collapsing onto the bed, he complained.

“You could’ve warned me.”

You could’ve noticed how much energy you were putting into each shift. I warned you that the size was within reason. Your ability to alter the shape and size of the Versatile Airscript Quill is dependent on the borrowed energy of your own body. There are other benefits to its shape, however, that will come later in the tutorial.

“You can’t help me out?”

No. The System has done enough.

“I thought it was supposed to be versatile?”

In what it can be used for, yes. But the new shifting nature of the Quill is designed to allow you to carry it around in the world without having to summon it. Now, it can always stay on your person.

“Pellin is going to be able to tell,” Cass pointed out.

Perhaps. But System Engineers like your friend are rare in the world. Not all gain the ability to see System energy.

At that moment, Cass got an idea. Leaning over, he reached into his bag and removed an item he’d carried around since Liora. It was always nearby, but he rarely took it out. Focusing, he tried to imprint the image of Pellin’s Whisprnet on the large dagger.

I wouldn’t suggest what you are doing. You do not have the energy for it, though I applaud your creative thinking.

Cass stopped, “What would I be able to do with it?”

The Quill’s upgrade allows it to intermingle with other System abilities. For the purpose of Pellin Cray’s Whisprnet, it would allow you to remotely send Quests to anyone holding the receiving device. However, there is an associated cost for distance.

“What kind of abilities can the Quill connect to now?”

Virtually any, though its purpose has not changed.

Several ideas sprang to mind. Command Center, obviously, though that would be confusing if he couldn’t pick the right people. Profile had some potential, even if Cass wasn’t sure how he’d use it that way. Then he had another idea.

“What about my Anchors? And Templates?”

Of course.

“So…I could set up Quests all over the city using anchors, then assign them however I want.”

That’s a possibility, though your energy will be severely taxed.

“And you said that Way of the Cinder would help with that?”

I’m losing interest again.

“Please?”

Yes. Way of the Cinder will greatly increase the amount of energy in your body. However, this will be the last time I speak with you in the world about anything that doesn’t have to do with the Quill.

“Thank you.”

You’re welcome.

Cass started to make plans again, but when he looked up, the Tutorial was already gone, and the Source with it. 

“Rude.”

Tomorrow was going to be a big day.