Her thoughts racing, Julia sat tapping the pencil against the stack of paper she’d created.

“Should I ask Hrafn to give you drum lessons?” offered Torm, glancing up from checking throwing knives as Julia’s drumbeat continued.

Julia blinked, and as she set the pencil down, smiled sheepishly.

“Sorry distracted and impatient for news.”

“Impatient indeed. You only found the metropolis this morning, with its size it will not be a simple smash and kill raid,” stated Torm, as he set a cleaned knife in its sheath. “The Jarl doesn’t have enough troops available to dispatch a suitable force. It had what, eight times the original war host?”

“Closer to ten. I wanted help killing the leaders, not all of them,” Julia grumbled, one hand playing with her ponytail.

When he set more weapons on Yngvarr’s workbench, Julia looked bemused, and Torm gestured towards her paper. “What you want and what the Jarl intends are different. The weapons are enchanted, but they still need cleaning and checking. I might need these if I can’t Ki Strike through that Gnarl’s protections. What are all your notes about?”

“I was trying to organise my thoughts, and it set them racing instead,” Julia replied, motioning to her notes. “It’s not like the Sisterhood or my friends’ situation will resolve themselves.”

“Racing would explain the drumbeats. Verdandi has sent a messenger to Vulcan’s Temple in Novus Rome,” Torm said. “If they’ll provide details about where they’ll be, I can take a letter for you at least. Though I suggest writing it on normal parchment.”

“I’ll do that today, just in case,” said Julia with a nod. “On my list I’ve got: housing, the Thralls, training courses, and the expansion around the staging post. When I spoke to the Jarl about it, well, Ǫlhildr wants another section of docks, then to expand the outer wall. They want it to run from the eastern lakeshore past the land we’re using and wrapping it back towards town.”

“There will be a lot of work setting foundations,” Torm stated. As he spoke, he unsheathed the broadsword she’d first seen him wearing. The practical hilt at odds with the beauty of the mythril blade inlaid with runes that shone with Celestial Mana even without True Sight.

Glad we got off on the right foot.

“I’ll teach the platoons the Aggravated Flaws spell that will get rock excavation done faster. Though I have more spells I want to share,” Julia said.

“What movement spells did you have in mind to teach them?” asked Torm, as he checked the blade for nicks and blemishes.

“Catapult for flinging non-living objects, it’s low in Mana cost so useful for protracted fights. The Levitate object spell, enough of them together could lift large building stones into position. They know Spatial Mana, so at least Blink in case of emergencies, along with other practical spells I’ve got in mind,” Julia said, watching as he checked the blade. “I thought enchanted blades wouldn’t need maintenance.”

“A lot less, not none,” replied Torm, flicking a glance towards her. “They certainly can endure things that would break a normal blade. If fighting has compromised any runes, wear and tear will show up, and then you need a skilled Artificer to stabilise it before the blade is essentially mundane.”

“I’ll keep that in mind if I ever tire of fighting barehanded,” Julia joked, not able to imagine waving a massive sword about.

“In that case, I’ll remind you again in a few centuries or more,” countered Torm, before chuckling he added. “That’s if you’ve not already matched Master Farhad’s lack of need for weaponry. What other thoughts are you busy with?”

Julia looked at her list and rattled off some items.

“This isn’t in any order: exploring Ternòx, find all the grottos, the Royal Lómë, those gathering information for me on Set,” Julia pause only a moment before she continued on. “Logistics for the survivors, Usd’ghi and the various deals. I know she profits, but still, it frees Souls from the Necropolis.”

Torm’s laughter interrupted Julia’s list, and the hurt look that earned made him laugh harder.

“You right there?” Julia asked dryly as his laughter grew louder.

After he calmed down, Torm gave a smile of apology before he explained his outburst.

“It’s just part of the reason I care about you. Consider how many of the items you rattled off you’re undertaking because they help others or correct injustice, while you get to put yourself in danger in return.”

“It all helps me progress towards my own goals,” countered Julia.

“Of course, my mistake, that’s absolutely your priority,” Torm replied with a straight face. “I’d believe that if you didn't spend the gains from your endeavours solely for the benefit of others. A couple of months hunting Elementals, and then you handed almost all your share to Yngvarr to help strangers. Except for the money you’re spending on books to give a Scrivener business that you’re then leaving with Yngvarr for anyone else to read.”

“Your point being?” Julia asked, giving him a mock glare that he brushed aside.

“Though you forgot to include learning enough concealment spells to risk yourself in Hell,” Torm offered.

“It’s on the list. Someone started laughing,” Julia stated.

“To risk yourself for the chance to help someone else,” stated Torm, setting aside the sword as he turned to face her properly.

“No, that’s helping me. I can’t relax thinking about either of my friends in Hell.”

Julia just shook her head and crossed her arms with mock indignity.

“What bridge were you planning to sell me with that? Isn’t that the phrase you used with Livia the other day?” enquired Torm, his gaze lighting up as he smiled at Julia.

“Maybe.”

“There are innumerable Souls trapped in the Necropolis from legends,” Torm cautioned, watching her intently.

“I know,” Julia said with a nod, “plus Soulless Undead entities and other things.”

“Come up for life occasionally,” Torm murmured, his continued gaze making Julia want to blush. “Please.”

“I will try my best,” Julia offered, hoping it would be enough. “Oh, I need to make sure Livia’s parents won’t cause issues for her.”

“No, leave that to Livia and me. We’ll sort that out.”

Torm’s intent look clearly showed he would not budge, and Julia crossed it off her list with a grumble.

“I’m told there was a bunch of Thralls whose freedom I didn’t need to buy myself,” Julia stated as she glanced up from her list.

“I’d suggest having Hrafn sort out the information coming from the Adventurers. I know he organises information for the Jarl, “ Torm suggested, blatantly ignoring her observation.

“Figured that might be the case, given his Classes.” said Julia, marking that for delegation.

When Torm’s attention returned to his blade, she got back to determining what else she could delegate.

Julia paused with her hand on the front door when Aggie called out.

“Lady Eakcï.”

“Good morning, Lady Priestess Aggie. I was heading to practice but what can I do for you?” Julia asked, amused when dropping the titles on Aggie brought a wince of resignation. “I am serious about you calling me Julia or Eakcï.”

“Can I come with you for dawn practice?” asked Aggie hastily.

“Of course you can,” replied Julia, opening the door for Aggie before curiosity made her ask. “Though what makes you ask?”

“I went to help teach someone to use a bow yesterday and found I was fumbling with it,” explained Aggie reluctantly, pausing when Julia looked embarrassed.

“Sorry. I really should have mentioned it to you,“ Julia apologised, accepting the reminder that people didn’t just see their skills. “Eivor and the others learnt Unarmed Combat when they started following me. I think you’ll find you’re quite proficient.”

“Rana mentioned that, but I want to know what I’m actually doing so I can improve,” said Aggie.

Julia nodded in understanding and couldn’t help but wonder how sore Aggie was going to find herself tomorrow.

“Aggie, do you know what path a Priest combines to earn the High Priest?”

“My understanding is it varies by the Power L-, um… Eakcï,” Aggie replied, a glance from Julia having cut her off in mid-title.

“Okay, more for me to find out.”

Julia had never seen someone actually pick a class, and Torm had mentioned Mortals normally found it occurring in dreams at night. So when the dazed expression went across Aggie’s face after practice, she’d expected it was fatigue. Only Aggie’s surprised reaction after it passed let Julia know differently. The image of that moment kept intruding into her mind as she considered the information she’d finally found on High Priests.

[Available High Priest Prestige Class options (Only 1 combination currently selectable):

Priest / Wizard

Priest / Monk

Priest / Succubus

Priest / Assassin ]

Oh, brother! Why offer that third combination? I’d end with absolutely no High Priests.

Analysis

[Available High Priest Combination Limits determined by the tier of Cult or Religion.]

My brain isn’t letting me shake Aggie picking up Monk this morning. I could take that, but the Priest, Wizard combo is most common among them at present.

Select High Priest combination of Priest / Wizard

[High Priest Combination Set: Priest / Wizard

Tier combination for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 now established - Tier 6 and 7 options will require unlocking by Power.]

After an hour of trying Analysis options to get details on unlocking Tier 6 and 7, Julia returned to studying.

Stupid lack of contextual help.

Three days of waiting had given Julia plenty of time to accurately map out the Gnarl’s metropolis. An activity she much preferred to be undertaking than enduring her current torment. As a giant man came striding into the Jarl’s Hall, accompanied by alert guards adding to the Jarl’s own force, Julia’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. When he turned to nod a greeting to one of the Jarl’s senior guards, she recognised him and wondered what game was underway. His face was as broad featured as many Norse she'd seen, but for all his sturdy features they were more refined, and his blue gaze shone faintly from within. The blond hair tied back was closer to a stereotypical Dane yet it was a colour far from common among the Norse.

[Perception [Ad] (38->39)]

Thanks for the confirmation!

Unlike last time, she could see more than just his chin and wondered if the helm he’d worn escorting Gothi Reidar had been part of the usual guard’s outfit. The armour he wore this time was certainly different, and it gleamed silver mythril instead of steel. The runes on it wrapped a barrier around the King, intent on deflecting or slowing blows.

Analysis

[Name: Sóldís Heimisson

Species: Human (Aasimar)

Class: War Chief / Fighter

Level: 56 / 18

Details: Sóldís Heimisson took the throne ten years ago, after Queen Arnleif Heimisson’s death. He combined the Fighter and Noble classes at fifty and fifty-two into the Prestige class of War Chief. The Heimisson family has had frequent occurrences of their ancestor’s celestial blood resurface throughout their history. ]

I should have used Analysis on Reidar’s grumpy bodyguard. He called the King an idiot, don’t go haughty on me indeed.

Julia waited next to Torm and glanced back at the map she’d prepared on a banquet table ahead of the King’s arrival.

“You’re supposed to be paying attention to the greeting; its poor form to look away in boredom,” Verdandi murmured as she spotted Julia’s distraction.

I’d rather be sailing.

“I’ve already met him; I just didn’t get introduced,” Julia replied before smiling at her. “Wonder how often he stands in for Reidar’s bodyguard?”

“What?” Verdandi asked in shock.

“The chin, his height, and his build, my perception skill pinged an upgrade when I figured it was him; That’s enough confirmation for me,” Julia replied, keeping her voice down, before turning her focus back to the group still entry the hall.

When the Jarl introduced her to the King simply as Eakcï, Julia’s Sense Motive gave her the feel of the politics at play as she responded to the introduction.

“Your Majesty, nice to meet officially,” Julia stated politely. “I hope Reidar is well. Though it would have been nice if he’d introduced us when we first met.”

When the man alongside Sóldís gave him an unhappy look, she figured the discussion might prove entertaining, especially when Sóldís groaned. The storm clouds gathering on Jarl Þiúðmundr’s face were worth the price of admission.

I likely need to get an etiquette skill. Oh well.

Yngvarr said nothing as he set down a stack of four grimoires before Julia before sitting.

“It’s not my birthday you shouldn’t have,” Julia joked, looking between the stack and Yngvarr without a response before she finally asked. “What gives?”

“They’re still arguing about attack plans,” Yngvarr sighed before gesturing to the grimoires. “These are some spell lists from the High Singer. They use Metal Affinities to locate and interact with the minerals within the crystals. If you master the high-level spells in the series, you’ll be able to interact with crystals, though you’ll be able to detect them well before then.”

“Excellent,” Julia said, freezing as she stored the grimoires. “I assume they’re for me to keep?”

“Of course,” replied Yngvarr, before motioning to a tea set on a side table, as it floated closer it was pouring a mug.

“So, spell lists?” enquired Julia, looking at him expectantly.

“Like the series I explained for learning Plane Shift, you need to master the easier spell forms first. The more complex spells build on the structure of the earlier ones. If you don’t have the basics right, it is impossible to shape the complex ones, or if you can, they’ll be dangerously unstable.”

“It’s like the Prestige Classes build your foundations well for a higher pay-off later,” Julia nodded and mentally compared the pattern of Shock Bolt to Lightning Bolt. Now she was looking for it, the matching components within them were obvious. “I’ll need to find the spell list that matches the other ones I’ve already learnt; I’ve been cutting too many corners.”

“I warned you when I first taught you that three months wasn’t nearly enough. I’ve already arranged for the spell lists,” Yngvarr said, stopping her attempt to interrupt with a raised hand. “No arguing about the effort. I’ve passed your current list along to the Royal Academy; they’ll have the full spell lists you know pieces of now, copied into grimoires. Also, I’ve already written out a study list for your reference. Before you select a Prestige Class take the time, years preferably, to study magic properly.”

“Fine, I won’t grumble, since I plan to spend a lot of time helping the Lómë in Ternòx. Worst case is the Lómë Souls are back with their kin instead of stuck in corrupted forms,” Julia said, though her expression earned a doubtful look.

“At the rate the discussion is going, it will probably be at least another six to eight days,” stated Yngvarr. The tone making it obvious he preferred not to be discussing the Lómë’s entrapment.

“I’m going to go kill Gnarls then,“ Julia grumbled. “The meeting with the King Heimisson was five days ago. Stupid Jarls wanting it left to clan leadership they said it would take two.”

“They are speaking to others Kingdoms as well, and some Jarls can’t concentrate around you. If you give your presence away with an attack, they’ll be alert when the troops are ready.”

“I’ll make it look like it wasn’t human,” said Julia firmly. “I’m hoping I have time to help the ladies after they get trained, but it could be tomorrow when Usd’ghi wonders where I am. While you’ve been out near the entryway now, I don’t want to leave the ten kingdoms holding the bag dealing with the trouble I found. I’ve told the Orcs it’ll take time to kill the hordes I found in the caverns. When I explained the number of them to Vårtál, he looked light green. Don’t think his mother really believed me till I showed her the tunnels and galleries with Telepathy.”

“Perhaps that Trouble use name you gave yourself as a joke is actually suitable for you,” offered Yngvarr, suppressing his grimace at her mentioning the Orcs.

“Yeah, funny Elfie, really funny,” Julia grumbled and smiled. “The Elven Patheon exists on other worlds, and some places the Orcs are allies.”

The look of disbelief widening Yngvarr’s gaze made Julia giggle in delight.

“Are you allowed to tell me that?” Yngvarr asked suspiciously.

“Likely not.”

Julia’s full-on laughter just made Yngvarr groan.

Wonder if I can power level Eivor, and give Moke a break on his travels? Though actually, she’s a smart cookie and put together I was different. I should offer Eivor something to build on that Intelligence.

Slumber Mist’s latest advancement pinged in Julia’s awareness as she slipped into another barracks, with Aggie and Eivor trailing behind her. The grumbling Viper was making about the approach she’d taken to killing the Gnarls made it well worth the bother. Her desire to have the experience to themselves as well as enjoy a bloody slaughter convinced Julia she'd taken the right approach. The sleeping Gnarl Aggie knelt next to snuffled for a moment before she punched down, driving the spiked gauntlet she wore deep into its face. With a grim gaze, Eivor drove a knife through the eye of one in her area, while Julia crouched to kill the first of her own.

I can see fear in Aggie’s posture, but she’s still resolute.

The spell kept the Gnarls fast asleep as they completed the butcher’s work. Reaching out with Telepathy’s net, Julia checked there was no one present before they moved near the next Barracks. After Inventory had absorbed the bodies, Protean tendrils drank in blood and brains, leaving the barracks looking like an Ooze had swept the room clean. A ping of it advancing almost made Julia sigh with relief as the pressure from Protean eased.

Aggie and Eivor nodded as she projected instructions into their minds, and Julia moved to keep watch. “Eivor left, Aggie right. With the mists, we’ll clear this next barracks, and then I’ll need to discard the trash.”

True Sight peering through extra eyes, showing her Aggie’s Slumber Mist flow across the Gnarls closest to the door. When they’d dealt with all the sleeping Gnarls, Julia teleported them away. A shaking Eivor took deep breathes as Julia let the bodies drop out of Inventory into the ravine she’d found. Mentally wringing Protean like a sponge, she sprayed the mass of absorbed material in after them.

This power is weird but not the weirdest thing that’s happened to me.

“Are you sure Moke will stay out of trouble?” Julia asked, glad the bottom of the ravine was far below.

“He won’t but I’ll leave him to clean up his own messes,” Eivor replied, gruffly looking away from the edge.

“Has he been hard to travel with?” Aggie asked, curiosity gleaming in her gaze. “Rika loves his odes, there is a funny one about a love-struck wolf.”

Eivor’s eyes widened as Julia started laughing knowingly.

“So you had noticed!” Eivor exclaimed. “Moke figured out what he was, and how he felt but I hadn’t even heard rumours before we left.”

“No, I was completely blind,” insisted Julia. “I needed it pushed into my face: I got asked if I was leading him along.”

“Can we have a few moments more?” Aggie asked, breathing deeply. “That was petrifying even if they’re magically asleep.”

“Of course, if it gets too much, we’ll stop,” Julia offered, but Aggie just shook her head.

“They’re planning to go back, and I had it easy compared to them.”

“No one had it easy,” Julia said, even as Eivor hugged Aggie. “Don’t do a competition of horrors.”

“I’ve only endured travelling the roads and dealing with magical beasts in our journeys. Nothing like what you’ve been through, Aggie. Don’t make light of your own trials,” Eivor said reassuringly to the younger woman, the motherly tone odd since she looked younger.

“Right,” Aggie said, her voice firm with conviction. “Let’s get going.”

Bringing out Yngvarr’s scrying orb, Julia checked to ensure the barracks were still safe before teleporting them. The sun not yet far above the eastern horizon where they returned to darkness, Julia’s telepathy letting the women see the around them. Once their Mana brought the inscription rings back to life they moved on with the morning’s bloody work. Before they left, Julia removed wood sections and stone before sprinkling the acid Yngvarr had provided for etching stone in each room. The exit she cut led into a tunnel towards the depths to make it seem the Ooze had moved on its way.

When they reappeared in Yngvarr’s courtyard, the sun was well to the west. An exhausted Aggie and Eivor slumped to the ground in their blood-stained clothes as Julia’s shadow vines drank the last spots off her.

“I’ll need to sharpen all these knives,” Eivor groaned, having let herself slump to the ground.

“No, I’ll make more tonight. We can give them to someone to sharpen and issue,” Julia said, sitting near them in consideration for their exhaustion from Mana depletion and the deeds of the day.

They’re wrung out, and I feel fine.

They were still sitting there exhausted, when Yngvarr cleared his throat at the door.

“Sagga is getting some baths ready,” Yngvarr said, looking over the three of them. “How well did the day go?”

“Thousands of Gnarls dead, no alerts raised. While there were a few close calls, we kept it contained. Hopefully, we successfully left it looking like an Ooze had a massive feast.” Julia reported.

“If they buy it,” Yngvarr cautioned. ”I’ve never heard of an Ooze eating that many living things, let alone not dividing to leave smaller ones in its wake after gorging.”

“But you’re a Sage Yngvarr,” Julia said. “It’s the seeds of doubt. I used the runes you gave me, so there’ll be no scent of us, just the Ooze’s acid.”

Eivor shrugged out of her bandolier of knives and slowly got to her feet.

“Good afternoon Master Yngvarr,” Eivor said, her voice heavy with fatigue but still giving him a polite nod, “I hope Sagga’s been paying attention to her lessons.”

“She has indeed, even if events have disrupted them of late,” reassured Yngvarr. “Make sure you eat even if Mana depletion has left you nauseated. Someone should have brought you back sooner.”

“I told them to stop casting; they persisted though I said I could keep the last Gnarls suppressed,” Julia protested.

“We will, Master Yngvarr,” Aggie said, ignoring Julia’s protest. When Yngvarr didn’t grumble about being called Master, Aggie glanced at Julia before continuing. “At least you allow us to pay you proper respect.”

“No, he doesn’t,” Julia said, grinning mischievously. “Master isn’t his highest title.”

When Aggie looked between the two of them suspiciously, Julia left them and headed for a bath.

Own worst enemies indeed.

Julia watched the civil war in the Gnarl’s metropolis from a perch near the ceiling as they decimated each other. Nights of escalating slaughter had set the Gnarls on edge. Teleporting away Dire Boar stock unsullied by Gnarl pups for Kobolds and Orcs to use later had been easy. While they feasted on the rotting Gnarls stacked in the ravine, Julia, Yngvarr, Alfarr, and other mages hit with brutal force slaughtering the rest and retreating as the city woke. Their spells were selected to cause deliberate carnage rather than char flesh, and other spells had cast the scent far and wide. The Gnarls woke to air thick with the coppery smell of blood, and the dying screams Dire Boars driving the Gnarls to feast. Enraged with blood lust they squabbled and fought each other over the choicest of meat.

When the city’s population was engaged in its gorging, Julia sent a message and watched the Portals along the length of upper galleries open. The delays that had frustrated Julia had born fruit as battalions moved into position, securing the paths up along kilometres. The Norse weren’t alone: Dwarven, Elven, Persian, and Roman troops had joined them for the fray.

Magical lights set to guide their formations, yet insufficient to draw the Gnarls’ attention from their food. The first assault didn’t come from regular troops, but stone itself. Shouted words that melted across her awareness thrummed within it, and Julia felt bucked from her perch. As she caught herself in mid-air, the buildings upon galleries slid into the depths while the troops stood undisturbed. Uncounted tons of stone crushed legions of Gnarls, the cascade of stone from every gallery leaving a hundred thousand or more dead below.

As Gnarls struggled amid the rubble, Artificer runes delivered via slingers, or cast from the ledges, turned the stone floor and rubble into a sea of mud. The still-living used those too big to sink completely as living stepping stones, but that ensured those fleeing were among the first to die. One pathway after another was closed by raging walls of fire, causing jumping Gnarls to throw themselves to their deaths. The Gnarl Prince feasting with the rest got pulled waist-deep into still solid stone by Elementals, but they planned for it to die last. His presence ensuring the other Gnarls didn’t flee en masse like rats, as the Dire Boar pens turned into a giant-killing jar.

The attackers didn’t get away unscathed as sharp-clawed Gnarls launched themselves up along rock faces from the floor. supported by others that had swirled up ramps out of sight from the army’s positions a wave came seeking prey. Ranks of Dwarven crossbowmen positioned above the ramps met their charge with staggered volley fire. Scores died under mechanically regular quarrel bolts until eventually a broken wave of Gnarls reached the infantry. Walls of infantry met their charge, and when dead Gnarls weighed down spears, swords and axes came into play while others dragged wounded clear. Julia teleported between them, taking the wounded and - when needed - their stretcher-bearers, delivering them to healers.

Smarter Gnarls among the host still forced their independence from the Prince and fled, but the mass of numbers and resources was left behind. Thousands of Gnarls raced towards the battalions seeking toys to torture, only to die to spells or blades in the long bells of battle that followed.

“I’d have a word or five with you.”

The words delivered in a penetrating, thunderous tone came from a Dwarf who’d looked ready to walk right through her and the soldier she was healing right up till they’d stopped to speak. Their barrel-shaped figure seemed mostly due to armour, and the only visible flesh was shown through gaps in the helm. Darkly tanned flesh was wrapped thinly over a form that appeared to Julia as if living granite. The presence constrained within the fabric of their form didn’t weigh against her despite a blast furnace of energy burning within the stone.

Their blunt words were delivered in Celestial but carried weight with them as if they had set a bank safe down with each one.

“I don’t suppose the words are: thanks for finding this place?” Julia asked, giving the Dwarven Celestial a grin as she turned towards him.

“Ha, I was told you had a spirit to you girl.”

The bark of laughter from the figure made Julia’s ears ring.

At least I didn’t get Demoness.

“What can I help you with?” Julia asked, not ready to give an inch.

“My time here is very brief so I’ll be blunt, show me what you revealed to the High Singer and be quick.”

“I’ll be blunt as well. Celestials have burnt me before wanting to be quick,” Julia said, appreciating his directness even as much as the show and tell annoyed her. “Talk to Torm, Vargr Drangijaz of Týr, High Justice Verdandi, or the High Singer, don’t come demanding of me.”

“I’m looking for a reason to trust your scheme with the Kobolds and Orcs. Neglected or not, these halls were made by Dwarven artisans. They’ve been ill-used for years so before we let their ill-use continue, we’ll cause the earth’s blood to fill them.”

“No, I’m sorry I trusted a Valkyrie of Óðinn, she nearly destroyed me and I found afterwards she’d abused her orders,” Julia stated firmly. “There are soldiers I’m healing, you’ll have to try learning what you need from that. Would you at least tell me a name I can call you?”

“Show me then.”

“Name?” asked Julia, persistently, only for the Dwarf to wave her concern aside.

“I am short on time.”

“Don’t let me keep you then,” Julia retorted, even as she rose. The young Roman soldier she’d been healing, slowly stretched his still bandaged arm, and gave her a shy smile of thanks at the absence of pain.

Stepping across to another in the triage line, Julia crouched near a suddenly happy soldier. Instead of the spell, she’d been using for the last, she drew back the Abyssal heat from her hand. When she pushed Ki into her hands, golden energy shone through the flesh, and the soldier sighed in relief as the energy sank into his wounds. The Celestial’s gaze didn’t waver from the golden light. Julia wondered what he saw, but he didn’t keep her waiting long. As soon as she ceased the Ki flowing, he gave her a nod and spoke.

”You’ve fresh scars on your Soulscape girl, all three are infected. In the oldest the infection is a poison shroud on your Soul’s surface,” grumbled the Dwarf. “You’d best remember that like your mind, the Soulscape responds to desire and expectation. I remember you.” The grumbling eased in the last words and held only respect.

Before Julia could ask any questions he had vanished, though the stone still vibrated with power where he’d stood a moment earlier.

“So who was I?” Julia asked, the soft words letting only the soldier she’d healed hear them.

“Does it matter your ladyship?” the soldier asked respectfully. “None have anything but right now.”

Julia smiled at his words for their intended reassurance, and lightly touching his healed shoulder moved to the next.

I mentally fought with Viper using imagination in the mind palace and that did significant damage to us both.