Chapter: 580 Bonus - Something New (Patreon)

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Terry came home to find… an oddity.

Something that was seemingly quite clearly an enemy, but contradictorily felt like a member of his flock. He found himself baffled.

He had flickered into the sanctum, honing in on his little chick and her chosen mate. However, he had noticed this oddity when he arrived.

He found himself frozen in indecision. He looked to the humans that were bound to him—one directly, the other indirectly—and they seemed… happy? Excited, but a bit on edge?

The book woman was nearby too, and he would greet her when appropriate, but for now, this took precedence.

They were ready to spring forward… to stop the enemy? No, these two would crush any enemy who was this weak. Their actions didn’t seem to make sense… Why, then, were they uncertain?

It was him.

They were uncertain of him, not it… not her.

He looked back to the artificial female… but she felt real enough. Her soul was clearly born of the other two, anyone with the ability to sense such things could tell that.

Her eyes were huge with obvious fascination as she beheld his meticulously maintained plumage.

She reached for him, but he remained uncertain. Was this a trick? Was she simply trying to get close enough to reveal her true power and attack him?

His bond told him some things he already knew, along with this girl’s name, Lea.

His reliable, extra sense was silent, so there shouldn’t be any danger…

“Pretty birdy.” The voice was at once perfectly articulated and somehow… hesitant?

Still, it was clear she had a good head on her shoulders. She was worth investigating further.

With the decision made he flickered toward her, pressing his head against the outstretched hand.

There was a gasp as he’d seemingly startled her, but the bigger flockmate kept her from withdrawing her hand.

If this was how she reacted to surprise, then she was not a threat in the least.

As he continued to let her enjoy his feathers, the humans were talking, introducing her to him, and she was showing quite the uncertainty in herself.

She was acting… young? Practically new?

A large hatchling? That was… odd.

He nuzzled the hand a bit more. They’d done it, somehow. Their desire for hatchlings was something that he had sensed for quite some time now, but they had been unsuccessful.

He had been unable to do anything to help despite wishing he could.

Even the furry flockmaster in the far forest hadn’t been able to help.

But they’d inexplicably found a way.

And Terry had almost killed her.

Still, he’d chosen not to.

He’d made the right choice.

Terry revelled in the contact for a long moment, allowing her to even scratch the base of his skull.

Yes, he had definitely made the right choice.

Unfortunately, she didn’t continue to scratch for long. When she finished, he took a moment to collect himself before taking a good look at the girl from all sides, ending up comfortably on her shoulder.

She looked human from every angle—she even wore the funny ‘clothes’ that they did—only the odd perspective granted to him by his bonded, allowed him to see beneath the skin-metal and into the non-edible insides.

The most important part, her soul, was clearly descended from his flock.

Fully satisfied, he settled in.

As to his new perch, it was essentially like sitting on his little chick’s armored shoulder, though the give under his talons reminded him that this one was less advanced than her mother, and so he was careful not to puncture the malleable metal.

This one needed to be protected for the moment. Testing and training could come later.

Things were starting to get interesting yet again, and he was glad to be here for it.

                            *

Lisa slowly sipped his tea as he read one of the thousands of novels that he’d added to his ‘to read’ shelves throughout the centuries.

He finally had a bit of time to himself, due to current circumstances, and so he was taking advantage of it.

His home was finally complete, and he had finally been ready to receive more of his kin. Then, tragedy had happened, and he had chosen to contact those who were due to arrive and ask them to wait.

She had invited more fox-kin into her Ironhold, but no one appreciated the arrival of strangers when they were grieving the loss of one of their blood.

He had expected the young Archon to come talk with him soon enough, once things leveled out for her. He was, after all, rather experienced with grief, and she’d sought him out before. He had even prepared to reach out to console her and offer his assistance in this time of grief.

Then, the girl had done it again. She had accomplished the improbable. His view was hazy at best, so all that he knew was that Mistress Tala had overcome her issue… somehow, and begotten a kit… a child.

But this did not happen as humans usually accomplished it. There was no slowly strengthening presence, no new student gradually forming and being prepared for lessons.

One moment there had been nothing, the next a fully manifest soul was added to the milieu around his new home.

It was as sudden as a new star simply appearing in the sky. Once there, it could easily fade into the background, but if one was paying attention, it was impossible to miss.

Lisa did his best to always pay attention.

The elf woman was clearly unaware that things had changed. As he kept an eye on her, it was gratifying to see her growing in irritation as days passed without ‘her’ Eskau paying her a visit.

He would give a lot to be there when she was informed…

Hmmm… Yes. That could be useful. He nodded to himself.

He would contact Mistress Lyn and arrange for such. He couldn’t just ask to watch the elf’s reaction, no, but there were ways to all but ensure it happened.

A smile tugged at his lips. The older Eskau still hadn’t learned the lessons that he had to teach her, and this would be quite the entertaining lesson to impart, or at least witness.

                            *

Lea was surrounded with so many things that were beautiful and wonderful to her eyes.

Even her eyes were new and wonderful.

There was so much that she didn’t understand, and she was relying on her body to feed her sensations and information that she could actually understand.

She was so glad that she could talk back and adjust what her body was providing.

She didn’t see any reason for her mother and father to be highlighted in red, nor did she understand the warnings and clear feelings of danger that had washed over her upon their initial arrival.

Mother Alat had been very helpful in that regard, actually. If she hadn't already explained the… difficulty between those who looked like her and those who looked like her mother and father, she might have been taken in by the odd voices and inputs that seemed to think that she should dislike them.

That was silly.

She had already easily silenced those oddities, and everything was wonderful now.

There were still surprises when she saw new things that her body didn’t seem to like, but she would fix that soon enough. She would fix all the odd surprises in time.

Mother and father and father and mother were good and good to her.

She was safe with them, and none of her ‘defensive systems’ were needed… whatever those were.

Yes.

She liked her body, but that didn’t mean it was always right. Even when it seemed to want something, she could check with her parents first. They would help her know the truth.

She still had so much to learn and see and eat.

More than that, though, she just enjoyed being with her family.

                            *

In a corner of the Archive, several highly advanced, influential Archons were contacted by Mistress Ingrit in her capacity both as a Librarian and as a point of contact for Mistress Tala and Master Rane. Some interacted by speaking, some by writing, and some simply by thinking, but it was all recorded for later review if needed.

Mistress Ingrit: So, I have an important announcement. Mistress Tala and Master Rane have begotten a child. Specifically, a daughter named Lea.

Master Grediv: Oh? That’s fantastic! How did they overcome the difficulties?

Master Jevin: She’s pregnant? That’s great news!

Master Ossino: Who was that again?

Master Grediv: My apprentice and his wife. The former Eskau? Come on, Ossino. They featured prominently in the recent House of Blood issue. With their rampaging senior Eskau?

Master Ossino: Right, right. I follow.

Mistress Ingrit: Wait… let me finish.

Mistress Jenna: Oh! This is amazing! Thank you for the notice. I heard they were having trouble. I’m glad that it wasn’t as big an issue as they thought.

Master Xeel: Well, at least we should get a bit of peace and quiet until the little one's here. I can’t imagine even Mistress Tala being reckless while pregnant.

Mistress Holly: Mistress Ingrit, question: How is it that you know so soon? I was not aware that this had happened. They are in Bandfast. I should have been aware before you were, unless…

Mistress Ingrit: I’m trying to finish telling you that—

Mistress A: Those two need a little bit of down time. They have been rushing around far too much of late.

Master Z: Absolutely. We barely headed off the next Arcane war. We don’t need any other complications.

Master Boma: Oh, is that why I was called to their home? Wouldn’t a Healer have been more appropriate?

Mistress C: So, we have nine or ten months of peace before they bring a new insanity to our doorstep?

Master M: Likely a cute, precocious insanity.

Mistress C: Oh, undoubtedly.

Mistress Ingrit: One moment please!

…

Mistress Ingrit: Thank you. I apologize that I was unclear. Mistress Tala is not pregnant.

Master M: What? But you—

Mistress Holly: Let the woman finish.

Master M: Right, right. Go on.

Mistress Ingrit: Thank you. She has a daughter now. Lea’s gated, human soul is inhabiting that automaton body that Tala was studying.

Master Grediv: WHAT

Master Jevin: THE

Master Xeel: RUST

Mistress Jenna: Master Grediv… She married your apprentice. It would be wonderful if you would keep them in Alefast where they could be your problem.

Master Boma: Ahh… I see.

Mistress Holly: Oh, don’t be such a fuss-budget Jenny.

Mistress Jenna: Don’t call me that… I’ll have to go figure out how to deal with this. Mistress Ingrit, I want a full report, now.

Mistress Ingrit: Incoming. I’ll update you all as appropriate. 

Master Jevin: I would have thought that you were messing with us, but knowing those two…

Mistress Ingrit: Master Boma will be here shortly to do a full scan.

Master Boma: I’ll be sure to be thorough, and I will convey all the relevant data.

Mistress Holly: Please do. We will await what you learn.

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