Kestra roused to full wakefulness between one heart beat and the next. The hairs on her body stood on end, and the sense of overwhelming danger stopped her breathing. With a second or two of concentration, she regained enough presence of mind to carefully crack open her eyelids.

Sitting on the same branch she had been sleeping up was a being that radiated mana. He looked about as pale as an elf, but what passed for his hair were leafy vines. The tips of his delicately pointed ears had a rough texture, like bark, and his eyes were too large, and lacked an iris or pupil. They were green. He wore finely woven cloth pants and a thick, dark green cloth vest over a loose creamy-beige shirt, left untucked. His feet were bare and without distinct toes, while his hands had two thumbs and four fingers, the thumbs to either side of the fingers.

Kestra performed a seated bow, moving slowly to demonstrate her lack of hostility. "I greet you, good lord of the woods," she said.

The leafy man tipped his head to the side. "Why are you sleeping in a tree?" he asked, ignoring her greeting.

"I do not care to be a monster's snack, and the tree is far more comfortable than a dire beast's belly, good lord," Kestra answered, straightening back.

"Don't humans belong in cities, though?" he asked.

Kestra turned up her palms. "I'm new to the area, and I have been warned that the lord of the nearby city of Sortalheim has a habit of enslaving women and travelers lacking strong benefactors. It was my thought to grow my strength before I complete the quest that draws me to that city."

"Ah. That would be a good reason to shun the city. But you have a quest there?"

"Yes, good lord," Kestra answered.

The leafy man glanced away and then back to Kestra. "You are not sniveling in fear of me. Why?"

"Good lord, my experience with those whose power so far exceeds my own has been that the quicker and more concisely I answer, the less irritating I seem." As an afterthought, she added, "If you want me to snivel I will do so."

That brought a chuckle out of the leafy man. "No, your fatalism is a refreshing change of pace." He sighed. "I don't suppose you have seen a Divine Seed appear and disappear in this Horizon, have you?"

Kestra paused. Picking her words carefully, she said, "I'm not sure what a Divine Seed should look like."

The leafy man shrugged. "Nor do I." He sighed. "I didn't actually want to find the thing, but I had hoped to rein in my more impulsive companions. Sadly, they descended to a different realm anchor, and I'm quite certain they forgot to bring along the mana stones needed to use the anchors to return to the Divine Horizon."

Kestra perked up. "Is that how one travels through the Horizons? Via this anchors?"

The leafy man smiled. "Quite so. I have met some who ascended from the First Horizon before and they did not seem so ignorant."

Kestra again showed her palms, but didn't have any words to add.

"You said you have a quest in this Sortalheim city? What is it?" the leafy man asked.

"Go to the realm anchor," Kestra said.

"And?" he prompted.

Kestra shook her head. "So far, that's all the quest says I need do."

"Well, seeing as I'm bored and waiting for my friends to make enough of a ruckus for me to discover their whereabouts, I'll escort you to this city's realm anchor and guarantee you a safe passage out of the city. Show me your map."

Kestra brought up her map. "Can you see it? I've never tried to share it before," she explained.

"Will it physical," the leafy man ordered, and Kestra frowned in concentration as she did so.

The holographic quality of her map diffused, and the leafy man brought out his own map, which he laid over her own.

Inspri sucked down the massive dump of psychic information that surged at her from the contact. Kestra was still left shaken and sweaty from being the conduit, but at least her mind wasn't ringing from the new information.

«Map data for the forth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth Horizons,» Inspri whispered along their link. The sprite's voice held glee at all the information to sort and order, and Kestra felt a brief, heartfelt gratitude to Elamshaq for their blessing of tribulation. Without that, she would never have made her Inventory Sprite, and would have had do deal with the psychic shock of all that information on her own.

"Hm, I see. Well, you … can't fly, can you? Never mind. I'll carry you," the leafy man said. He reached out, scooping Kestra up into a toddler carry with ease. They rose into the air, the limbs of the tree they had been sitting in moving out of the leafy man's way, and then cut through the air toward Sortalheim.

Within minutes, the city came into view. At its center, a matte black pillar rose a hundred meters into the air. The leafy man didn't bother stopping at the city walls. He just flew over to the pillar and descended. People inside the city fled in terror, earning a put upon sigh from the leafy man.

A circular platform of polished gray marble streaked with black extended four meters from the edges of the pillar. He set her down on the platform and then watched with interest as Kestra touched the pillar.

A blue screen popped up amidst a shimmer of golden mist. The mist coalesced into a ring on the hand Kestra used to touch the pillar.

[COMPLETED] Quest: Welcome to the Realm of the Ten Horizons

Requirements: Reach a Realm Anchor

Rewards:

‎ Guide to the Ten Horizons

‎ Minor Ring of Storing

‎ Minor Mana Recovery Potion

‎ Minor Stamina Recovery Potion

EXP: 100

That was really quite easy. She felt the waiting imprimatur rune on her new ring and pushed a bit of her personal mana at it, more as a rote reaction than from conscious decision.

Congratulations!

You have successfully learned the [Mana Manipulation] skill! View your Skill Book to keep track of your skill ranks.

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Mana Manipulation

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

The more skillfully one is capable of manipulating their mana, the more potent and cost effective their spells.

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

You must yet prove your worth to reap the rewards of this craft.

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Kestra turned back the leafy man and bowed. "My quest is completed, thank you."

He pulled her hand with the new storage ring to himself and inspected the ring. "Hm. You're a bit old to be doing the Child's Quest, but I have been informed the First Horizon is considered quite barbaric by human standards. Though maybe it is a hidden benefit for you to wait so long if the reward is a soul-bound Storage ring." He let her hand drop, and then glanced around the city. His gaze stopped on a large building near the anchor, topped with a large jade and bronze statue of an orb caught in the mouth of a hooded serpent.

"Ah, a Zonzhi Clearing House! They may be useful! Come along." So saying, the leafy man swept off toward the building.

Kestra hurried along in his path.

They were met on the steps by a man wearing what looked to Kestra's sensibilities to be casting robes, highly ornate with metallic threads used both in the cloth and to pick out embroidered serpents, all holding jade orbs in their mouths.

The man bowed. "Honored Divinity, how may this Mortal Establishment serve you?"

"I'm looking for some information, other Divine Creatures that have been spotted here since the notices of the Divine Seed's appearance and disappearance," the leafy man said.

"We have had several reports of such. If Honored Divinity would care to join me for tea, I shall have my assistant compile these reports for you." The robed man had yet to rise from his bow.

Leafy man said, "This will be acceptable. My companion will join us."

"Of course, Honored Divinity," the robed man said, rising and leading the way into the building.

Kestra had a small moment to take in the first floor. A counter to the right of the entrance faced the wide stairs to the left that they were led up. The room beyond was too large to be a foyer, and had several stands and display cases with discrete placards next to the items on display. One section contained clear pottery filled with fluids, pastes, and powders, while another had weapons and armor, and another odd devices. Men in uniform, brassy armor stood between the door way and two broad hallways that led away from the display room, but that was all Kestra saw before the stairs blocked her view.

The stairs were carpeted by a luxurious and well maintained rug runner, the colors primarily yellows and greens, with accents of blues and reds. The pattern was beautifully ornate and artfully balanced. If the men before her weren't walking over it so cavalierly, Kestra would have felt horrible for putting her own dusty soles on it.

They moved up past a landing that led into another hallway, to a third floor, where the stairs ended. The man ushered them into a room with an exterior view. A part of the wall was made from clear material. Were it not for a bit of warping from looking through it, Kestra would have thought it came from a particularly large quartz crystal, cut to shape the window opening.

It took an effort of will for Kestra to refrain from inspecting the new material up close. The robed man didn't seem to notice her interest, but Kestra was quite convinced the leafy man did.

The robed man gestured them to a low, rectangular table with cushions arranged about it. Leafy man sat at the narrow end closest to the door and gestured for Kestra to sit to his right. The robed man sat at the other narrow end.

"Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Joss Mardu, Manager of the Sortalheim branch of the Jade Pearl Auction House, a division of the Zonzhi Association, though the last is of little interest to those below the Immortal Horizons. To whom have I the pleasure of addressing?" While he spoke, the robed man produced a steaming teapot in one hand and a wonderfully fine ceramic palm cup in the other. He poured tea and set the cup before the leafy man, then produced another cup for Kestra, and a third for himself before setting the tea pot in the center of the table.

The leafy man inhaled the fragrance of the tea, holding the palm cup in both hands. He lowered the cup and said, "I am known among humans as Graemire. The specific Divine Creatures I am looking for are Elementals, one of Earth and the other Water, who have taken the human names Ambrose and Eilith." Then Graemire held out his palm to Kestra, who had just received her own cup of tea.

She mimicked Graemire, inhaling the fragrance, which was delightful, before saying, "I'm known as Kestra."

"Like the hawk?" Manager Mardu asked, glancing with interest to Kestra.

She sighed. "No. It's a family name. The males who inherit it are Kestrais."

That wrinkled two foreheads with surprise, though Graemire's smoothed out before Manager Mardu flicked a glance his way.

Kestra noticed Mardu jaw-talking, though it was a subtle thing.

A servant entered, a woman wearing divided skirts and an embroidered, long sleeved shirt that was not quite heavy enough to be a coat. She had well made leather sandals on her feet and wore rings on her toes as well as bracelets, rings, necklace, and cuffs on her ears. Her skin was gold-touched, her hair brown with red highlights, and her eyes were a dark, translucent brown. She placed a leather folio next to the manager and departed, moving with quiet grace.

Glancing between the two, Kestra realized they both wore a discrete bit of metal that looped over their left ear and ran down, just in front of their ears to press a flattened end below the curve of their lower jaw. It wasn't directly under the jaw, and so did not move when they spoke, but Kestra felt like she should be able to see or maybe sense something magically happening with it as the manager continued his jaw talking.

He sipped his cup of tea, and then Graemire began to drink his own. Kestra took another cataloging sniff before sipping enough to analyze the decoction.

Four alchemical elements, with three carriers, not including the water. Several floral notes, most likely dried petals, two distinctly woody flavors. Two of the alchemical elements boosted mental clarity, one calmed the nervous system, and one promoted a euphoric effect mild enough that it wasn't to the level of a drug.

Graemire and Manager Mardu were watching her, the leafy man with obvious amusement, the manager with neutrality.

"Enjoying the tea?" Graemire asked.

"Quite, yes," Kestra nodded, and felt drawn to give a more in depth answer. "Two elements of mental clarity, one aimed at clear thoughts, the other heightened focus, one of food-level euphoria, one of calmness, three booster elements aimed toward harmonizing the alchemical elements. Mostly floral in origin, with two woods, and something that wasn't organic to begin with mixed in. Nicely blended, no mana to leak out in this atmosphere, but the three harmonizing ingredients have the potential to absorb more mana in a higher density environment, which likely wouldn't affect the potency of the alchemical ingredients, but would add a mana recovering effect to the tea. All in all, a masterful recipe for the versatility, and with the hallmarks of a high synergy between Cooking and Alchemy."

Manager Mardu's forehead wrinkled again. "I will be happy to pass along your compliments to our Procurement Office, Miss Kestra?" The questioning quality came in as the manager tried out the title for Kestra.

She smiled and inclined her head, dismissing the flashing green and purple notice, as well as the mana weight of loot going into her personal storage realm. "That would please me, good Manager, but let me hold us up no more. We are here for Honored Divine Graemire's inquiry." She focused her gaze on the leather folio.

"Quite so! Quite so!" Manager Mardu said, smiling, but flicking a nervous glance toward Graemire even as he reached for the leather folio. He flicked through the sheets of papers contained within quickly, pulling out four.

"Two Honorable Divines with heavy Earthen presences and one Honorable Divine with a strong Water presence have been reported arriving in the First Horizon. They all entered from different cities: Xong Zul, Kelhalk, and Ferberk, respectively. A large group of Honorable Divines arrived at Caperirn City, and the strength of their combined presences made comprehending any particular affinities difficult. These all occurred the night before last between tenth and eleventh inter-realm chime. The individual Honorable Divines departed their cities of arrival directly, while the group are reported to have destroyed structures within Caperirn belonging to the city guards. The note states that one of the guards asked for the city's gate toll from the Honorable Divines in a less than respectful manner."

Manager Mardu pulled a fifth piece of paper from the bottom of the stack of papers and slid it down the table to within easy reach before Graemire. "This is a detailed data map of the First Horizon, Honored Divine."

Graemire laid his fingers on the map, then passed it to Kestra. "Use it, then share your map to me."

Kestra picked up the map and looked at it.

Map of the First Horizon

Would you like to use this technique scroll? Using a technique scroll will consume it.

YES / NO

"May I try something before using it, Honored Divine?" she asked.

Graemire nodded.

Kestra pulled the technique scroll into her private realm with the world seed and book of revelations. She recalled the feel of copying the book of revelations and applied it to copying this data map. It took a minute and all of her mana, leaving her with a splitting headache, but a second map came into existence beside the first.

She used the second scroll, and Inspri once again took on the burden of organizing the flood of information. When that was done, Kestra sipped at her tea and pulled up her map, making it physical. All the information that had been in the first data map appeared on her personal map.

She took a moment more to check her other realms. Inspri had added a mana-construct into her personal storage realm, the purpose of the construct to contain information. It was somehow soul-bound to Kestra, too, and as she looked, she realized she would need to study her bond to the Inventory Sprite more closely.

Her cabin realm, though, was a disaster. All of the fish floated belly up in the water and the plants were yellowing and dying.

Distracted by her failure with her cabin realm, she pulled out the original data map and returned it to the table.

Graemire had already overlaid his own map on hers. When he saw the data map returned, he lifted it from the table and sniffed it. The gaze he turned to her was intrigued and considering. "What a delightful find."

A flash of blue crossed the orbs of his eyes, and he smiled. "Quite delightful!"

Graemire returned the map data to Manager Mardu. "I suggest couriering that to your Grand Magus and directing the report of this meeting to Director Zhul Alandar, on my recommendation. It will be interesting to note whether your courier gets there before I do."

"Yes, Honored Divine." Manager Mardu bowed, cupping his hands together before the base of his sternum.

"Have you other reports to share?" Graemire asked.

"No, Honored Divine," Manager Mardu answered, still bowed.

"Then please accept this token of my appreciation for your services, and I and my companion shall depart." Graemire produced a large, sparkling mana stone, probably pulled from a personal storage device hidden among his clothes.

Graemire set down his cup, then paused. "Oh, I heard a rumor that the city lord is in the habit of enslaving women and travelers. Is this true?"

Manager Mardu's expression grew pinched with distaste. "It is, Honorable Divine. The associations have registered their displeasure regarding the travelers, but our treaties prevent us from taking a sterner role.

"In the case of the women, it is … not a simple affair. Many of the poor of this Horizon compete to be taken into their lord's service, and at least for women, they or their families may sell them as slave-wives. It is a better future than the starvation many would face if left to fend for themselves, and ensures food for the families they leave behind for several years after they enter their enslavement. The lord then acts as a kind of marriage broker for his loyal retainers of lower status. It adds some stability to the lord's staff, and marriage, with the responsibilities of seeing to their own families, dissuades younger men who might get swollen heads from acting rashly."

The manager's face grew even more upset. "The people of the higher Horizons look down on the First Horizon, yet their own greed tramples the First Horizon's people into this destitute existence. When the Associations have tried to seed lasting change, the Sects or rival Associations demolish it, and when any riches appear in this Horizon, the people of the higher Horizons snatch it from their grasp. At least the Zonzhi Association tries to trade value for value while we scout promising recruits in the Mortal Horizons."

Graemire nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Do you know if there is a pattern to the travelers the city lord enslaves?"

"Just that they are from distant cities by their accents, Honored Divine. The ones that are allowed out of Lord Ramakith's manor are heavily bound in restraining formations and kept under guard. Their accents are quite diverse, too: Sovaan, Droyal, Elmidi, Corinth, Gundermund, and mixes between those broad dialects. They can't all be from the same region, let alone the same nation."

"Accents?" Graemire murmured to himself, as if unfamiliar with the idea.

Manager Mardu waved his hand, as if brushing aside a petty detail. "Oh, it's an oddity of the Mortal Horizons. Communication for the masses is quite difficult in these lower mana zones, and so people develop … oddities in how they speak, like the nasal quality of the Sovaan, or the bubbly clipping of words from an Elmidi speaker. It's still the Sapient Speech, just formed a bit differently."

"Ah, how … quaint," Graemire said, his features falling into a neutral expression. "Well, we shall not take up any more of your time."

"I thank you for the honor of your presence, Honored Divine," Manager Mardu said, rising to bow, before showing them out of the auction house.

A group of guards in red livery awaited them on the street. They bowed to Graemire, and the one who stood a bit more forward and wore shinier armor straightened. "Honored Divine, City Lord Ramakith extends an invitation for you to take tea with him at your earliest convenience," he said.

Graemire tisked then ignored the guards. He once again scooped Kestra up into a toddler carry and departed.