Viv spent one week going from stone to stone, spending her evenings in the underground dwellings of grateful villagers. The walkers had spread the word that she spoke the local language, and also that she had recharged the stones to full capacity which other teams often failed to do. It was a classical case of ‘good enough’ caused by exhaustion. She also set a record by finishing in half the usual time.

There were no real attacks during the operation. The dozen revenants that came to her every day got handled by a group that could have held the line against twice their numbers. The loser of the latest card game was in charge of undead disposal, disabling the creatures until Viv could yoink them. One of the temple guards was even able to set his sword on fire, killing the creatures for good in one blow.

They returned to the main settlement after she was done. Other tribes lived further along the mountainside, but her guides said that they lived in valleys between peaks, not so close to the deadlands.

Viv considered the trip to be an investment. All the stones shared the same inscriptions, which showed that what the engraver lacked in ingenuity, he made up for in consistency. The pattern itself showed ways to use ambient mana as fuel. That was what she needed to make Solfis more mobile. She still wanted to get a good look at the ward stone in Harrak, but that would have to wait.

In the end, Farren got his wish and the elder agreed to assist him with his expedition, going so far as to offer guides to the most likely locations.

The trip back was as boring and uneventful as ever, with the addition of Viv really looking forward to a good bath. Her hair had regrown to pixie length, though kind of messy, and the group was dirty and dusty. She took comfort in her own progress.

Meditative Trance: Expert 1

It was her first skill reaching such a high level. It had suddenly improved as she was done with the last pillar, and had moved around while focusing on each rune one after the other. The improvement stunned her. Her consciousness relaxed and flowed with her movements in a serene dance, turning her mind both sharp and detached. She could understand every rune she envisioned and knew on a fundamental level that involved more than her body or her brain. It involved her soul as well. The world, Nyil, talked to a part of her that she had never been aware of back on earth. She caught a glimpse of damage, but it was thankfully localized, and did not pain her at the moment. This new perception gave her a deep sense of wonder. That something as unfathomably vast as a planet could be somewhat alive defied her comprehension. She could put a number on the diameter of the planet. It was slightly larger than earth, so it was probably between thirteen and fifteen thousand kilometers. She could not comprehend it. You could see a kilometer, especially if the land expanded around you. You could not see, or even understand, ten thousand. Even her improved mind failed to envision the sheer size of it. And this being interacted with her, lent her strength.

That was incredible.

She had also improved in terms of raw mental abilities.

Focus +1

Willpower +1

It was amazing progress for such a short time, but it had a price. She had learned no new runes. Only her mana absorption had progressed to Apprentice 4. There was always a tradeoff.

What interested her as well was how a large variety of tasks made progress and focus easier. Charging the obelisks had become a bit tedious towards the end because it was so repetitive. When Solfis trained her, he and Varska always alternated tasks to keep her mind fresh. She was in good hands.

They came into view of Kazar in the early afternoon, and split up by the gates. There was no welcoming committee waiting for them, though Viv was greeted by Head Investigator Tars, the woman who had interrogated her the first time she arrived in the city. They split up near the gate and Viv headed straight to the Spotted Feather for good food and a bath.

“The women here make me uncomfortable,” Marruk rumbled, “they proposed a lot of things that I did not care for,” she continued, turning an interesting shade of purple.

“Oh? So you do not enjoy having humans serving you?”

The Kark’s face turned contemplative.

“If you put it like that… Hmm. Do you think they would agree to another foot massage?” she finally asked.

“Of course. They probably have skills related to, err, massage. Just be respectful and ask.”

Viv spent a pleasant few hours under the care of one of Yan’s apprentices. Once more, she declined sex, though this time it was also due to a sense of loyalty towards Varska. She also considered diseases as she was soaking in the bath. Technically, she had been disintegrated and recomposed here, on Nyil. So maybe no virus had come with her. On the other hand, she had not shat herself to death in the first few hours, so clearly her gut flora had traveled with her, most likely? It was all very confusing. Honestly, if she had brought diseases with her, Kazar would have turned into a plague land already.

So.

Yeah.

Lovemaking.

It would probably be weird to cross that line from someone from another world, yet another thing that made Nyil more real and the possibility of returning to earth just not more distant, but also less desirable.

God she hoped there was a way to stay in touch or something.

Shaking her head, Viv dragged Arthur to a second, quicker bath and made the tiny dragon’s skin lustrous. Arthur was self-cleaning or something, but she still enjoyed soaking if the tongue lolling out and closed eyes were any indication.

“This is a bath. A bath is comfortable and warm, is it not?”

“Eeeee.”

They departed soon after, Marruk visibly yawning despite a nap. The stalwart door wielder had remained vigilant for extended periods of time and, if Viv remembered their arrangement, she owed her three days of rest. Viv decided to pay her girlfriend a visit and they were let in by the mage’s sneering housekeeper. Varska was waiting for her in the main training room. Something was wrong.

“Are you alright?” Viv asked as soon as she saw the formal dress and downcast expression.

“Yes. No. It does not matter. Listen, your departure allowed me to reflect on our relationship, and I have decided to end it.”

What?

“Errr, did I do something?”

“You are not the cause. I am.”

Oh god, she was going to pull a ‘it’s not you it’s me’.

“You and I… It was not meant to happen. I am trapped here, at peace, but also at an end. My potential is spent. My chances have burnt out. You see the mark on my cheek and you do not care, but the others will. I am tainting your image by existing.”

Viv wanted to tell Varska not to be so dramatic, but she did not want to interrupt the younger woman during what was clearly a very emotional moment. It felt wrong. It felt like denying her her feelings. So she listened, even though she thought that what Varska was doing amounted to emotional self-harm.

“We will continue our lessons. I will see you grow as you were meant to when you were dragged into our world, but nothing more. You will remain pure. I will stay in the shadows. This is for the best.”

Viv did not think that anyone but Varska could see her as ‘pure’.

“Do I not get a say in this?”

“I do not know how things work in your own world, but here it takes only one partner’s decision to break up a couple.”

Viv decided to be the more adult of the two, and not to roll her eyes at the willing misunderstanding.

“You assume that you know what I want.”

“What you want has nothing to do with it. You have been in this world for all of two months, and I have been here for close to twenty. I have attended some of Param’s most exclusive parties, rubbed elbows with the archmages of Helock and the high priests of Mornyr. For all that you have life experience in your world, you are a baby in this one. You do not understand the ramifications of courting a pariah.”

Viv wanted to object but she saw in Varska’s posture something that went beyond a refusal. She had been dismissed. Her opinion would be looked down upon, simply because Varska had decided in her head that Viv was being irresponsible.

And yet, there was a raw pain there that made her think that she had a chance at convincing the headstrong mage.

But… it stung.

It stung being dismissed.

Viv was tired from the trip, and she had the others to take care of, and Varska was her own person, and…

“Fine. Ok. Fine. That’s your decision. I think that… nevermind. Just. I’m going to go. I’ll take tomorrow off and we can resume classes the day after, if you are still willing.”

Varska nodded resolutely. Viv climbed down the stairs and ignored the heart-wrenching sob she heard behind.

That was some bullshit.

Even Marruk felt the change.

“Did something happen?”

“Varska dumped my ass. Keep it to yourself, please.”

“Oh. Uh. Booze?”

“Yeah maybe later. Let’s grab some food then go home for now.”

They retreated to their den. Arthur helped with transferring her blankets to her designated corner, and rolled herself into a small ball, leaving only a pale snoot popping out of her lair. Marruk begged off dinner and went to sleep after making sure nothing was amiss. Viv sat heavily into a corner and grabbed a bottle of sweet wine (three silver talents, a robbery) and poured herself a glass. She missed streaming cheesy dramas. She could do with a distraction right now. Getting drunk was out of the question anyway, she would not become her mom.

If only there was some way to distract herself.

Just then, heavy footsteps sounded outside. An armored fist banged on her door, three times, and a booming voice bellowed.

“This is Inquisitor Denerim. I would like to talk to Witch Bob. Open up, please.”

Fuck you, universe. Go eat a bag of dicks.