January 26, 2019, 11:59 am.

"What precisely did you have in mind?" Roberts asks Beth. Which I think is a fair question. Especially, considering we've run from Ivicka each time we've seen her so far. Then she shrugged off attacks thrown by the squid-Lord back in the tower. Now Beth wants to stay and fight?

"Set an ambush."

"Why now? What's changed?" I ask.

Beth stares meaningfully at Folthka's missing arm. "I'm not saying it'll be easy but... we have proof I can do nasty damage to a copper rank. You can provide us with instant tactical retreat. We've got Genitha with us. Oh, and Ivicka is this one's apprentice. Which makes her bait."

"Was. She was my apprentice." Folthka is finally gathering herself, stepping between Beth and I on uneven feet. Her fur is still matted from her recent tears, but there's a hard edge to her eyes as she adds, "She hasn't been my apprentice for over a year. Not since..."

Beth cuts her off, stating that a former apprentice is even better then prompts her to remove Genitha's shackles. While they're doing that, I connect to Tipan. If Ivicka's coming, it'd be best she has a heads up. I mean, if we're lucky, Tipan can alert us if she sees Ivicka. Or more likely, Asterix.

Big green dragons have a tendency to stand out, even if their scales are all moulted.

While I'm talking to Tipan, I quickly fill her in on everything that's happened, including Josh disappearing into the buffer. Even as she's offering me her condolences, I start doing the same with Wyonna. Keeping people informed would be simpler if I had a better way to contact Wyonna than through party chat.

(W) "He was placed in a buffer? I wonder what kind of state he's in. It's possible they've stored him locally."

(A) "Would it be useful if we found his storage spot? Could we get him out?"

(W) "Maybe? You're able to get into all sorts of places as Citizens that Forerunners only ever had glimpses of."

(A) "Speaking of going places without permission, did you have Beth spying on us before we transitioned?"

(W) "Totally. Needed to make sure you all arrived safely."

(A) "How long were you watching us?"

(W) "Depends. I only started watching Josh and Roberts a couple years ago."

(A) "Only? How long have you been watching me?"

(W) "Uhm. You sure you want me to answer that?

(A) "Wyonna. Not comforting."

(W) "Extenuating circumstances. How many humans on earth do you think could create their own mana? Hint, the answer is less than two."

(W) "So, yeah, I started observing you in, oh let's see, October 27, 2009. You looked absolutely adorable in the blue Katara costume by the way."

I stand there with my jaw hanging loose instead of responding. Before I can think of anything to say, I flashback.

It was the first time I used magic. Papa and I had been getting my Halloween costume ready out behind our house and I'd been going through the motions. I'd wanted to emulate her, so imagine my surprise when I wrested an icicle from the nearby house then flung it across the yard into the tree. Papa was right there, watching. He didn't say anything at first, standing there stroking his beard. But then I got into it and summoned more icicles, setting them in orbit around me.

Papa muttered something then kneeled down next to me.

"Lexi, sweetie. You can't tell anyone about this. Not even your mother."

At first, I ignored him, intent on creating an igloo formed of icicles but when he addressed me in Cree, he arrested my attention. Papa never spoke in Cree. Not unless it was serious. He never told me why. And despite Mami having Metis status, she rarely talked about that part of our heritage. Other than the occasional curse about her uncle Joe, she remained tight-lipped. Even when my cousin Luke and me teamed up to ask her, attempting to emulate the investigative skills of Papi, we walked away empty-handed.

Leaving my half-finished igloo alone, I turned to my papa with my serious expression as I swore, "On the honour of the water tribe, I swear to keep this secret."

My father's face scrunched up in an effort to contain his laughter. But he schooled his face before taking my hand then repeated, in a perfectly even voice, "On the honour of the water tribe."

Then we spent the next half hour setting up a massive blanket fort for me to practice inside. When mom arrived home, she threw a fit at us having all the laundry outside in over three feet of snow.

To be fair, there'd only been a few inches when we'd started. Papa and I didn't tell her that obviously, but we did pack it in for the evening. I didn't get many more opportunities to practice before the Ugly Tree incident, but papa insisted he be there to help me with what he called my 'gift'.

I'd forgotten he called it that.

Damn, that was weird. Time sense tells me it only took me a second to flashback, but it's strange watching my own memories without warning. An after-effect of trying to fix Josh maybe?

Smoulder draws my attention back to the room with gentle headbutts to my jaw until I turn my gaze on Genitha. The shackles are lying at her feet as Beth steps away, sheathing her Umbra knife. Discarded shackles aren't what's caught Smoulder's attention though. No, it's the palpable aura that fills the air surrounding Genitha. When bound, the lines of her tattoo were merely a bright crimson but still within the realm of ink. Now they shine in a way that tangibly pierces the air around her. While gazing upon her, it's as though I can feel the blood rushing through my body ignite in response.

A second later, the feeling fades, as does the brightness of her tattoo.

"Sorry about that, takes a moment to realign after being released," Genitha apologizes as Smoulder headbutts me again. Looking at her, it takes a second to understand she doesn't just think Genitha's tattoos are impressive. She wants her own.

What are the rules for tattooing your pet? It's okay if they want it right?

Now, I was doing something before the tattoo and flashback... Oh right, Wyonna.

(A) "So let me get this straight. You've had Beth watching me since I was eight?!"

(W) "Uh. No. I've been observing you myself. Because I had to. On that note, it's a special kind of torture not being allowed to interact with someone you feel like you were born beside."

(A) "What do you mean, 'had to'? Why did you have to watch me? And what do you mean born beside?

(W) "Remember the whole having restrictions thing? I have to follow my directives. I'm just glad most of my orders have been carried out. So much less confined now."

(A) "Most? What else are you supposed to do?"

(W) "I'd love to tell you. I really would. But I'm not able to."

(A) "Kay."

I'm not pleased as I send my last message to Wyonna, giving Smoulder some head-scritches. Suddenly, I'm kind of glad Wyonna's gone. Sure, she seems to be on my side. But I have no idea what hidden directives she has. And if Folthka is an example of a typical Forerunner, there's a good chance I don't want to be part of whatever they have planned.

I guess we'll just have to figure out a way to free Wyonna from her programming. Cause I totally have any idea where I'd even start.

Before I can lose myself further in thought, I feel Rufka press against me as she leans her head on my shoulder while slipping her arms around me. "Now that we've found my mum, I think we can handle her."

Right. Ivicka.

Which reminds me.

I remain cuddled with Rufka as I address Folthka, "There's something I don't understand. You said Ivicka brought Josh to you. But she didn't take him. He was captured by a squad of weird dolls, called Aethop's Daughters. It seemed like they weren't on the same side."

Folthka snaps her head in my direction as I finish. Throughout our entire invasion of her facility, not once did she exhibit fear. Beth shot her arm off and she was only annoyed.

But there's no mistaking her wide eyes or the tremble in her voice when she attempts to state firmly, as if trying to convince herself, "Aethop's Daughters were destroyed. Over ten years ago."

"Guess the System made more," Genitha remarks while tracing a pattern in the air with both her glowing left hands.

Beth grunts out a rough laugh, "Doesn't matter. Ivicka already has Fallen, the dolls were barely a threat. If they hadn't caught us off guard, they never would have taken Josh."

"You shouldn't be so dismissive of Aethop's daughters," Folthka protests.

"Oh, do you know more about them?" Roberts inquires as he sets the scanner to the side.

"They're vicious little predators who invade people's minds. They cost me my partner in the last incursion. Why the system keeps bringing them back…"

"Doesn't matter why they're back. Maybe it's related to the Fallen. Whatever. What we need is intel. And equipment. Do you have mental shields or something to protect against them?" Beth interjects.

"They're susceptible to fire. And of course, I have mental protection. I'm just not certain how effective they'll prove."

"Not very. Your crafting has always been weak Folthka," Genitha smirks as she presses on an invisible portion of… whatever it is she's doing.

"Which is why I hire others to do the crafting for me Genitha. You'd know that if you weren't always running off on your own and observed your duties to the Aetherium without having to be hauled back like a petulant child."

"And yet, it's that same independence which makes me so valuable to the council, isn't it?" Genitha counters as I feel a subtle shudder run through the air, a golden-hued fan appearing in her hand. The same crimson pattern she was drawing in the air seems to be imprinted on the blades of the fan.

"Hardly. It's your damned unique skills we need, not you."

Beth interrupts with a loud cough. "We're not here to discuss how little you think of each other. Folthka, it's time you earned yourself a few more breaths. Why don't you break out these mental protections? Rather have an ineffective chance than none at all."

Folthka nods, striding towards the door at a pace that catches Beth off guard. She has her rifle half raised to fire before realizing Folthka's simply doing as she directed. Beth follows Folthka out of the room without comment though she signals Roberts over to join them. Roberts seems conflicted, shuffling in place for a second before dashing after them in a blur while calling "Hold on Beth! We still haven't decided if we should trust..."

It's only as the door closes I realize I've been left alone with Rufka and her mum.

An insistent push for head-scritches reminds me I have one other companion remaining. We all stand awkwardly for a second before Gentiha smiles in our direction.

"So... this is new," Genitha states while waving to Rufka and me.

"Mum, please."

"What? It's nice to see you interested in someone. After what happened with Dhaani. Well, you weren't the same kitten." Genitha pauses, slowly fanning herself as she judges my worth. Or at least that's how it feels as she stares at me without saying anything.

Then she increments her head by a tiny margin as she withdraws something from within her fur. Is she using her tattoo as access to her inventory?

"I didn't want to mention it because I only have the one, but this should help you with any mental attacks that occur." Genitha profers a small hair clip. The clip is a round circle with an etching of a K'tharn skull, the lines traced in crimson. It's a common symbol for the death aspect of Vaus, though it's rarely done in crimson. It's far more common to associate it with yellow. At least it used to be in Uthica's time. Still, I suspect the colour is a personal touch.

"Thank you, uhm, Genitha." Well, that was close. I nearly called her 'Rufka's mum.' Glad I dodged that embarrassment, but… "But what about you and Rufka?"

"Oh, Rufka and I have superior enchantments woven into our tattoos, isn't that right kitten?"

"Yes, mum," Rufka sighs.

I inspect the clip as I try to figure out where to put it. I haven't really needed hair clips since I started controlling the wind around me, so it's mostly an aesthetic choice. Which has never been my strong suit.

"Vaus's Sanctum. Created by the Crimson Archmage in an afternoon, this token would represent years of effort from a lesser craftsperson, such as Minister Dethra. Imbued with the unbending Spirit of the Archmage herself, this token can allow even a brute to protect themselves from mental assault. If said brute were to react fast enough with enough force.

Bonuses while worn: Bastion: Increases the delay before mental attacks take effect by two seconds while revealing the source.

Current Bond: none. Cost to bond: Item not bondable."

"Who writes these messages?" I mumble to myself as Rufka decides to help me place the clip.

Reminding me that K'tharn have excellent hearing (or maybe she just has high Perception,) Genitha answers my not-so-rhetorical question, "It depends on the item. System registered items can be written by the crafter, which I do with everything I craft. Then there are lazy crafters who don't bother registering anything. And people who don't want their items recognized. If it's not registered, the System does it's best to come up with an appropriate answer from the information available to you. Not registering equipment is pretty important for experiments like the ones they've been running here."

"I can't believe they might have killed Josh just to give a kid his powers," Rufka grumbles.

"There's more to it than giving a child his powers. They're trying to solve a problem. They just don't know it's a local issue."

"What do you mean?" Rufka asks though I have my suspicions.

"The population of the Aetherium has been in decline for the last hundred and fifty years."

Nodding, I ask, "You mean the K'tharn who went to the Core worlds?"

"Not exactly. Has Rufka told you the story of my grandmum Melcia?"

"I think so. She's the one who went to Ukila, right?"

"Yes. And Ukila is what I'm referring to. There's a settlement on the Stilled Continent that serves as their port here on Akilo."

"WHAT!?" Rufka exclaims in my ear. Her voice is imbued with lightning and it's loud enough it actually costs me a sliver of health before I lean away from her. Smoulder's not nearly as fortunate, sent flying by the sudden movement.

Genitha continues as though Rufka didn't just explode in shock while I retrieve Smoulder from where she landed amongst scattered cables. "This port is naturally in remarkable shape with the support of an entire world behind it. It's been drawing free K'tharn for the last couple hundred years. But the total number of K'tharn on Akilo seems to be restricted to a certain number, so as they've prospered, the Aetherium has withered. A completely unforeseen side effect, but hardly the calamity that Folthka thinks it is."

"Why doesn't she know?" Rufka demands.

"I never told her."

"But you could have stopped these experiments," I point out with Smoulder safely in my grasp again.

"I only just discovered these experiments yesterday. I haven't paid any more attention to the Aetherium than I had to. Not for the last nineteen years." Her gaze lingers on Rufka as she says this. Rufka rubs her eye, trying to shrug it off as something in her eye but I can't help smiling.

"But doesn't that mean the K'tharn population is still limited?" I ask after thinking for a moment.

"On Akilo, sure. But we have a whole other planet up there. A planet no user has visited in over a hundred years."

"Mum, you made it sound like you only theorized there was a hidden city. I was certain you just told me about it to distract me from failing to attune to… uhh, you know. But now you sound as though you're certain."

"You were rather heartbroken over not being able to bind a wind elemental, but that's not why I told you the story. It's always best to hide fact in fiction, kitten."

"Now's not the time for a lesson, mum."

"It's always time for lessons, kitten."

"Ugh, next you're going to say every dragon has a silver mana essence."

As if Tipan can hear us, she contacts me letting me know we have an incoming dragon.

Well, how's that for timing.