“But first, let’s head to my parlour.”

Jiji pulled Ivory as she poked her head into the room she had just come out of. Good—still empty. Ivory got a quick peek in: unsurprisingly, it was more or less identical to the room he was in; some furniture was positioned differently, that was about it. Jiji waited until the door flaps rested back into position.

“I’ll show you a trick. After you.”

Jiji smiled innocuously and unlinked herself from Ivory and held out her hand—five fingers, nail bed, not really that snakey—beckoning him to enter. He gave her a look before pushing the flaps out of the way, but not entering.

To the surprise of no one, a different destination was afore him. Jiji just frowned.

“Live a little, kid. I’ve given many foreign [Dignitaries] a good fright with that trick. Come on then,” she said as she walked through.

“I’ve already had one bad experience walking through a door and ending up somewhere else.” Ivory followed her into a small, outside sitting area, filled with lush vines, bushes and little trees that bore all sorts of produce.

“Are you referring to how you found yourself in the middle of Jin-Sukudoma? Didn’t you get teleported by some [Miscreant]?”

At last, a name!

“Nope. And yes, something like that.”

“Indeed, indeed. Sit where you please, though most of my furnishings are suited to a more serpentine body, shall we say.”

And damn right she was! There were long hammocks set up between two banana trees, and an assortment of perfectly semicircular lounges—both horizontally and vertically. Ivory saw a nice, deep chair with an angled back which looked promising, but it would look awfully familiar if he was lounging so. He took a seat on the edge of one of the Human friendly semicircular lounges.

“Don’t look so tense,” Jiji said as she moved the chair Ivory had originally eyed across from him and sat down in it. Her body curved perfectly along the circular ridge, and grabbed at a nearby pillow to prop behind her head so that it was a level height. “I would not expect someone in your position to be on their best, most appropriate and dignified behaviour. As the saying goes, ‘you catch more Vampires with Blood than silver’.”

Ivory scooted backwards a bit, learning against the fantastically cushioned lounge.

“First thing’s first. The main reason that you have caused a stir in the village is that when you were discovered passed out, our [Oracles] detected a manipulation of your fate. In the hierarchy of how one’s fate can be changed through spells and Skills, this ranked near the bottom. Before I go on, would you have an idea what I am talking about?”

“No, sorry…”

“Of course you wouldn’t; it would be difficult to realise if it had happened. After all, do we not change our fate every day by making on the spot decisions? Was your fate changed when our perimeter watchwoman petitioned to have you brought to us? Some may say yes. But some may say that that was always destined to happen. It’s a popular talking point for [Philosophers]—more importantly, it is a fact that this has happened to you. Can you think of a point where you may have felt compelled to act a certain way… say, when you handed your Bag of Holding to the clan of apes?”

Ivory barely needed to consider it.

“I just avoided being pulverised into a paste, there was no way I was going to stop it from taking my Bag of Holding. I didn’t choose to give it away.”

“Ah. That is good to hear. Good, good. Now, the reason that the [Oracles]—and especially our [Hierophant]—was so concerned was due to your interaction with our hairy neighbours. At one point in Dejima’s history, we were threatened by them. They banded together, ten thousand strong—or so it is said—and threatened the entire island.”

Ivory sat there looking mortified. The thought of those gigantic apes on a rampage made him shiver.

“Correct response. You would know first hand! Not to be anti-climactic, but Yurluxiamo was not harmed, and the threat was ended almost as soon as it had begun. It was merely luck that it happened when it did—the village’s strongest fighters and academics were present, and not travelling through greater Drath. The village’s founder swore to never have her subjects forget that Yurluxiamo danced on the precipice of oblivion.

Ivory nodded, enjoying the story, but was unsure where she was going with this.

“The point being that you, a Human who had engaged with these apes, had had his fate influenced by someone, or something. I’m sure you understand where I’m going with this. Fate magic, and anything to do with the altering of one’s destiny, is… rare, in today’s age. That an outsider was being affected by weak fate magic led us to believe that it was poorly disguised. But after meeting you, I can confirm that it was in fact just that: a tier 1, maybe even tier 0 spell, or equivalent Skill. Off the top of my head… [Lesser Diversion of Fate], [Carnelian Influence]; that artefact that you touched may have been enchanted with [Hex of Inconvenience], but probably not. [Guiding Star], [Millie’s Minor Misfortune], all possible. Met any [Witches] who didn’t like you?”

Jiji reached down and plucked a papaya from beside her chair. It was like the fruit version of a lobster—there was no way you were eating that without getting it all over you. Juices practically exploded from the fruit, some making it a few feet in front of her.

Ivory knew few people in this world, and fewer still who practised magic of some kind. There was Mannus and Heito, the [Onmyouji]. Heito could have, but surely he would have used a higher level of spell? He seemed to be extremely capable, and high levelled too.

“Oh!” Ivory said with a start.

“[Witches]?”

Ivory exhaled with humour.

“No… I think a [Stargazer].”

“Yes, that’s possible. They pop up when the twin moons are full. You know one, then?”

“He was my guide when I came here. He’s a student at the academy.”

Jiji snorted, or did whatever her nose-holes allowed her to make.

“They wouldn’t have been pleased to hear that. Drathian tutelage is renowned; it is said that we know many secrets of levelling. Ptah, I say—everyone else has just forgotten! Their view on having just the one class is… shortsighted. ‘Level faster this’, ‘it is inefficient’, ‘tonics’,‘the [Cultivators] say that’. How they forget that you will consolidate once you reach high enough of a level! Good on the kid for not abandoning the class.' Jiji nodded approvingly. Ivory bookmarked that in his brain

"Well," she said, taking another messy bite out of her fruit, "that concludes our official business with you, Ivory Henderson. I can say with certainty that you are not the harbinger of calamity to Yurluxiamo."

That was a lot.

"Uh, you're welcome?"

Jiji's laugh was serpentine; a ssss ran through it.

"That being said, there is the issue of your being kidnapped."

She tapped at her glossy lips.

"It seems to me that it was a calculated act. A move by a [Kunoichi] no doubt, acting on behalf of a benefactor. A stranger in a strange land should watch their step… I would go as far as to recommend you return home not with haste, but dally not." Jiliansuthus di Ressethnmajamturl's slitted eyes betrayed their size as she spoke a Skill towards Ivory. "[Walk the Path of Shenandoah]. I have other duties to attend to, if you can believe it—we need to wrap up soon. But we've still a few things to discuss—the first of which is arriving now…

Ivory looked to the balcony where Jiji was pointing and saw a thick green vine coil upwards, past the glass panelling. Jiji got up and leant casually on the roots that sat atop it, serving as nature's handrail. Ivory followed suit.

He gingerly leaned over to see that they were very high up; easily 30 or so metres. He could make out almost all of the village from this vantage point—it was a fitting space for a ruler.

Two Snake Beastkin were orchestrating this large, climbing vine: he could scarcely make them out, but one was holding a staff as tall as they were, evidently the caster of this magic. The raw magic emanating from the staff was such that Ivory did not need to detect it with a spell.

Ivory saw them deposit something on a small platform, shaped from the magical vines. It began to quite swiftly ascend somehow; this vine wasn’t such that it was like a pulley system from Earth. As a further testament to his acclimatisation to this world, he did not first think ‘how is this happening?’ but instead, ‘cool magic’.

He pulled back his head from over the balcony—the last thing he wanted to happen was for it to collide with him. The visible roots began to bulge and roil: an extremely unsettling sight. This was swiftly forgotten as the platform came into view.

“Eyy!” Ivory said as Misoe floated off the platform and into his arms, assuming the position. He was pleased to see that his towel was not forgotten—she had been nestled on his nicely folded towel.

“A curious sight for us in Yurluxiamo,” Jiji said, sitting back on her lounge. “We usually see them as Bags of Holding. With respect.” She gave a nod to Misoe who was giving her the side eye as she wiggled around on the towel Ivory had placed down beside him.

"You're a funny Human, but also a curious one. If you would humour me: many come to Drath to hone their craft, learn Skills and skills, to trade… why did you come to Drath, Ivory Henderson? Our [Venomancers] noted that this one is under the effect of Skills. Are you a [Beast Master], coming to claim Drath’s species?” she said, but not with malice.

“Uh, no. I came to learn more about magic. I’m a [Sorcerer]. [Beast Tamer] is my other class, though I don’t really want to tame Misoe. We’re mates and travelling companions. Isn’t that right?” Ivory said and gave her a few light smacks. She was now a lot… harder, due to his—or was it hers, really?—Skill. She still jiggled, but he found himself shaking his hand in the air.

“Ah. There are a few Demon Constrictors around the village; I was going to ask for your aid in taking one off our hands. They make reluctant servants of [Beast Masters], not friends. So, you are a—forgive me for assuming—low levelled [Sorcerer] and [Beast Tamer] who has come to Drath for knowledge.” Jiji nodded with pursed lips. “Most are level 30 at least before they make such a journey. I won’t begrudge you, but had you and I spoken before you departed from… Deríthal-Vel, I am guessing? I’d have told you to stay put for another 30 years—if at all. Those who strive for great things seldom follow the rules, though!”

Jiji clapped her hands.

“I wish you’d said. I know a bit about magic, myself: I am the patroness of our magical organisations.”

“Wait, what is Der… wherever you thought I was from?”

Jiji raised an eyebrow.

“Dwarfhome? I suppose not, then. You have a strong smell of smoke about you; of metals. Many among us thought you a [Smith] from that reason—your hands are too soft and precious, so we discarded that idea. It matters not—magic. Yurluxiamo seldom produces any [Sorcerers]; those who take an interest in magic tend to take the [Venomancer] class or travel further inland to learn at the official academy. Speaking of such, how did you manage to cure Misoe—great name by the way—of her affliction? Ger Chameleon venom, at that. Nasty stuff—kills you from the inside and out.”

Ivory shuddered involuntarily as he remembered the state of Misoe’s wound.

“I cast [Purify Blood], then made a Potion of Lesser Biosynthesis and put that on her wound.” Ivory’s hand found Misoe as spoke, and rubbed at her head. Jiji, meanwhile, almost choked on the new fruit she had begun eating.

“A… Potion of Lesser Biosynthesis. That’s some serious alchemy. Where’d you learn to make that?” she said, abandoning her casual sitting position.

“Well, I didn’t—I kind of just made it on the spur of the moment.”

Jiji looked at Ivory deadpan.

“That’s not quite how it works, although [Sorcerers] tend to make up their own rules sometimes. Elaborate on this ‘spur of the moment’.”

“I just… got the feeling like this is what I should do. I got some of the venom on my wand, put it in a mana potion and cast [Eerie Cinders], then I mixed it with a healing potion. Don’t ask me why—again, I just felt the compulsion to do it. I have [Magical Inspiration], if it helps?”

Ivory shrugged apologetically, not understanding the nigh on impossible feat he had achieved.

“That was an incredible feat you performed, Ivory Henderson—I hope you can appreciate that. Such a potion otherwise requires some very esoteric reagents; I didn’t even know there was a lesser variant of the potion. I digress, once more!” Jiji said, standing up and putting her forefingers to her temple briefly. “I will leave you with some wisdom you may appreciate, in light of your curious Skill. Cast your magic without restriction; don’t think about what is possible or what spell you may learn: I can say with certainty that the amount of spells you could think of pales in comparison to the reality of magic. Your understanding is akin to you dipping your toe into the ocean—restrict your thinking and you will restrict your growth.”

Jiji traced a circle in front of her with her hand and wordlessly cast a spell. The space where she had ‘touched’ began to blur, and began to quiver as the moisture in the air rapidly cooled. A donut of mist floated before her.

“[Form Mist]. A cute spell—if there were a Tier of magic below 0, this would be categorised as such. A [Junior Mage] of the village learned this spell, as he was sick of the wet heat. Originally a cantrip, he learnt the spell soon after. His peers questioned the waste of mana—after all, our village does not lack Cooling Runes, and Snake Beastkin can tolerate this climate. So, why indeed? Soon, the others would come to appreciate the respite that a flush of cold could bring. That boy grew up to be a fine [Weather Mage], and could cast [Mass Condensation]. He was an asset to our home—and it all started from that one spell.”

With a flick of her tail, the mist dissipated harmlessly. Ivory appreciated the lecture—he was already doing this to a degree, when he was experimenting with his spells on the beach, and he was glad that this was an appropriate way to train his magic.

“But don’t underestimate having a vision and making it real. Come, take my hand. Bring Misoe.”

Ivory opened his Bag of Holding and moved Misoe to the side, packing the towel back in. He picked her up and took Jiji’s hand.

“[Earthen Staircase]. I don’t know the spell in the common tongue, but—”

“[Earthen Staircase]?” Ivory interrupted. She looked impressed.

“Impressive! A better translation would be [Steps of Earth]—though you cannot be faulted. Well done.”

“Actually, I have a Skill that translates Drathian Skills and spells, and that’s what it told me,” he said, walking up above the balcony, and beginning their long descent. He held on to the hard handrail.

“You are full of surprises. You are better off just learning the language with the help of Skills, but it is a neat little Skill regardless. It is translating Drathian in a word-for-word fashion and then contextualising it to fit what the spell does, I imagine. Tell me what your Skill is saying. [Raise Seithbone Monstrosity]. [The Provincial Gate of Drath].”

Ivory gulped as he heard them—they sounded like some serious abilities.

“[Conjure Seithbone Monstrosity], and [The Provincial Gate of Drath].”

Jiji couldn't help but laugh.

"Poetic. Not entirely wrong, but my suspicions were correct. It grasps the fundamentals of what the spell and Skill is, and what they do, but it is rewording it to make it make sense. It is better translated to—ignore your Skill—[Summon Seithbone Monstrosity],” Ivory heard his translation and the Drathian and she spoke, but she reiterated. “Ga-sha-do-ku-ro. Yes, it’s made of Seithbone, and it’s not the most friendly looking thing… but in Drathian, it has a specific name. Gashadokuro. [The Provincial Gate of Drath] is… purely a description of what the gate is. Ra-sho-mon. That’s it. Good. Watch your step, now."

Ivory looked over his shoulder to see what would happen to this summoned staircase. He was expecting it to just crumble back into the earth.

Instead, all of the components—magical and natural—began to unravel into its original components. The ornamental handrail, the vines and the giant sphere of mud began to shimmer out of existence, as if it were never there at all.

"That's magic…" Ivory airily whispered to himself as he turned back around. Jiji heard, of course—and preened ever so slightly. "When had I become so easily flattered?", she wondered. Alas.

("Ah, good of you to come—the [Junior Explorer] of the moment! Greetings to you, Thissix,") Jiji said to the young Snake Beastkin who was doing her darndest to act cool. A meeting with the Matriarch herself!

("G-greetings to you, Matriarch. How can this one be of service?")

("Oh?") Jiji said as she gave a quick look at Ivory, who was standing there, akin to an ornament. It was embarrassing to no end, and it had happened a lot since coming to Drath.

("I thought it fitting that the one who suggested bringing him in should be the one escorting him back home.")

Thissix looked at Ivory with inquisitive, serpentine eyes before recoiling slightly.

(The Human! I didn't think I was allowed to know…?")

("Everything worked out—he was no threat, nor brought any danger. Will you accept this escort request?")

Thissix straightened even more than she had been—for a Snake Beastkin, this was impressive.

("I accept gladly! To… where am I taking him? The Human town? Tsumai?")

("That is correct. Take him with you, and leave as soon as you are ready. Arrive before nightfall, and stay the night. Return on the morrow.)"

("Thank you.")

Jiji turned to Ivory.

"Thissix here is an [Explorer], and will be escorting you back to Tsumai. Your safety is assured. I encourage you to return in 20 Levels. Safe travels, Ivory Henderson."

She put each hand on Thissix and Ivory's respective shoulders and pulled them together and gave them a nod, before teleporting back up to her parlour.

("[Mirror of Seiryu].")

An ornate, gemstone rimmed mirror materialised on the grassy ground by her lounge chair. She angled herself comfortably; her head hung stably off the lounge, staring at her reflection.

("[Anchored Communication].")

If there was ever a ring dial, it would play now. Jiji patiently waited for the recipient to accept.

On a few islands over, in one of the impossibly tall spires of Drath's primary academy, a spire of green, crystallised coral began emitting a pulse of mana. The [Headmaster]'s head shot up towards the corner of his room where the artefact stood and wondered which titan of the Archipelago requested his attention. A [Mirror of Seiryu] materialised atop a its specialised podium.

The [Headmaster] knew he recognised the mana signature, but it was distinctly less… pervasive; he did not feel her mighty gaze as he did the last—the first—time. When her humanoid visage filled the screen, he understood at once.

("Jiji, a pleasure.")

("We find ourselves conversing on less dire portents, may it please you. I have a request—a simple one, but no less important. It concerns a foreign ward of a Dejimaen undergraduate.")

The [Headmaster] leant back in his chair; the Mirror matched his angle.

("Indeed?") he replied. His [Refined Parallel Thought] fed him a list of potential 'important issues' that could have arisen that warranted the Matriarch of Yurluxiamo herself to demand an audience.

Fight with a Demon.

Pulled a Kitsune's tail.

Xenophobia.

Intentional fight with a Demon.

Foiled subterfuge.

Blighted Kingdom spy.

She'd have made mention of Seamwalker activity immediately, if that was the subject of the conversation. He wouldn't have even been contacted in that case. There were any number of other possibilities, but it boiled down to those six. Even then—she would have contacted the [Dean] in Dejima. He exhaled calmly.

("I need to be put in contact with whomever approved the sponsorship. I assume you will be able to obtain this information for me. His name is) Ivory Henderson. (The sponsor is an [Onmyouji]."

(“Yes, this is simple,”) he replied, with a touch of haste—if only out of relief. Jiji saw him walk up to the Mirror and lightly touch it. On her side of the mirror, a small haze of encrypted mana formed. She lowered an arm, letting her hand waft through it, and smiled.

(“That is the scrying coordinate signature for Heito Heia, [Onmyouji] and instructor at Dejima’s academy. With any luck, he will be at his workshop.”)

(“My dear [Headmaster], my thanks to you,”) she said, her eyes glistening as she smiled.

(“It was of no consequence, Matriarch. If you would indulge me—you have parted a narrow sea, when a brief [Levitate] would suffice. What has happened?”)

(“The sponsored Human was abducted from outside this Heito’s workshop, being teleported to Jin-Sukudoma. He found his way to Yurluxiamo three days ago, and is today departing back. I wish to both inform him, and have… words with him.”)

The [Headmaster] was taken aback, but it didn’t show on his smooth, unblemished face. It was concerning, yes… but it wasn’t his problem. If it had been one of Drath, he’d have known about it—but still, not his problem.

(“I will admit, Matriarch, that I felt a slight sense of trepidation at your request. Would it not have been within your power to simply contact the Dejimaen branch directly?”)

JIji’s lip curled upwards as she shrugged.

(“This was quicker.”) The [Headmaster] could not help but roll his eyes and laugh at her justification of such a needlessly escalated request.

(“Good,”) she said, (“That will be all, thank you. Do send me some of your students; I have forgotten what a joy it is to host young minds.”)

She cut the connection and began [Scrying] this Heito’s scrying mirror, no doubt the kind issued to all staff.

She took just a touch of pleasure at the Human’s look of anxiety as she introduced herself. Heito went through a veritable rolodex of emotions—panic at the explanation of Ivory’s absence, relief at his apparent safety, nigh on horrified hysteria at the revelation that the [Headmaster] himself was now involved, and then a sort of subdued calm. It was surely an ineluctable situation, what had happened to Ivory: it was a matter of when, not if, this ambush would occur.

------------------------------

As Jiji was doing Jiji things, Ivory was approaching Yurluxiamo’s periphery with Thissix the [Explorer]. At the… Explorer’s Guild, or whatever it was, someone with a decent command over the common language explained his journey. The duo would be traversing Jin-Sukudoma on foot (obviously), along an established trail. The journey would not be without its dangers, of course, but he was told that he was in good hands.

Ivory looked at the kitted up Snake Beastkin, who looked exactly how you expected an intrepid explorer to look: khaki backpack, and a dark beige shirt and pants. No hat, though.

He looked back at the unique place he had been a brief visitor of. Yurluxiamo made the main town—Tsumai, as Jiji called it—look ordinary: the queer architecture, the wondrous, wooden skyscrapers, the curious classes these Snake Beastkin had… not to mention the citizenry themselves.

Misoe yawned, oblivious to the situation at hand. Her [Bond of Friendship] was causing her to feel a range of subtle emotions from her friend—chiefly, that she liked the place.

He’d like to return, some day.