[Chapter 50 part 1] Free – Hector and the Branch of Creation

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I give up. Free was done wandering. The Endless Library doesn’t respect the laws of space and time. You could walk an hour in one direction, then five minutes in another only to find yourself back where you started. I should’ve hired a guide.

Free was searching for books on Sola’s early years. Ideally unbias ones. A tough proposition from the start considering those works have fallen out of style. Frowning, she scanned the shelves around her. Not to mention locating anything worthline is a challenge in of itself. This place didn’t discriminate. If a manuscript was published, no matter how bad, it was in these halls. There’s a sea of them.

Leaving dejectedly, Free immediately felt the stares. Her picture had been plastered all over the news for the last twenty four hours. In retrospect, my green gear and hair were ill conceived. She’d considered abandoning the ninja guise, but rejected the notion. If the media gets an image without my mask… Sighing, she pressed onward.

A man in a trench coat approached, “Good day, I’ve some items you might——.”

“Not interested.” Free interrupted. Not in the mood.

“Don’t be like that.” The man persisted. “Have a look.” He opened his coat revealing hundreds of pockets filled with what appeared the spines of books. As if he raided a library and sliced the ends off the literature. The sight was peculiar enough to cause her pause.

“Unsummoned books.” The man took one. “Pour in a little power and voila!” Suddenly he held a complete novel.

“So you want to sell me some?” She asked.

The man happily began his pitch, “While the Endless Library is filled with wonders, it’s unfortunately impossible to take them with you. That’s where I come in. I carry some of the harder to find volumes. Out of print editions the powers that be would rather see fade away. For example, these on Sola Delore.” He held out three spines.

What a clever little entrepreneur. “How much?” She asked.

Free paid the inflated price. The man was giving her exactly what she desired, so there was no reason to make a fuss. His audacity should be rewarded.

Free returned, her mood improved. Locking herself in her room, she poured over her acquisitions, and her attitude soured slowly. Finished, she leaned back in reflection.

So much is the same. She taught herself healing. She fought with plants, and she was renowned to ‘kill with a touch’. She even had an episode where she made ‘strange bugs’. Free had followed in her footsteps without realizing it.

She’d been secretly relieved when Hope had been targeted. It’d let her cling to the illusion her existence wouldn’t be an issue. Now reality is settling in. Her presence was causing unrest in a way the others were not. She’d noticed the mumbled worry around her. More disturbing, she’d sometimes heard hope. How long before another Debra Sunder?

Good and bad, everyone was forming expectations, and she secretly dreaded these might be correct. She’d no doubt the title ‘Goddess of Healing’ was hers for the taking if she wished it. My other talents must match as well…

Free got up. I must verify it. She found Wise on his bed engrossed in the Necronomicon.

“You know why I’m here.” Free stated, sitting by him. It’s nice never having to explain.

Wise nodded, “You’re hoping to learn some simple necromancy.”

“Yes.” She smiled.

She’d never attempted such magic. Death was less intuitive then creation. More dangerous too, and, unlike Wise, I couldn’t ‘borrow’ future knowledge.

“Let’s go with ghastfire.” A green flame appeared in his hand. “It’s equivalent to a basic light spell.”

Free listen carefully to his instructions. “If you succeed, don’t panic. It can’t hurt you.” he warned.

Free reached for a place she’d never touched and focused on her palm. Emerald flames gushed forth, shooting to the ceiling. Alarmed, she attempted to smother the pyrotechnics, instead spreading them everywhere.

“It’s fine. Just calm down and squeeze the flow.” Wise advised.

Steadying herself, she did as directed. Soon it’d shrunk to fist-sized. She studied the pale fire. Necromantic potential confirmed.

Wise observed her brooding, “Remember how I said not to panic?”

“Yes,” She said.

“That’s because I freaked out when I tried. I’m the clone of the Citadel’s current leader. It really went wild…” Wise smiled at the memory. “Anyway, it was the first time I found myself ‘overflowing with potential’. That isn’t a bad thing.”

True, discovering talent should be happy experience. “Thanks, I’m fine. So what’s that page you were studying?”

Wise lit up, “It’s time manipulation. It only covers the most basic stuff, but it’s fascinating. Here watch this.” He began waving his hand. “Give me a minute…”

Free waited. Eventually, her brother said, “Slow.”

Free was struck with the weirdest sensation as the speed of Wise’s arm doubled. It only lasted a second, but she understood, “You slowed me! That’s so powerful…”

In a fight, reducing your opponent’s speed, even for an instant, was an enormous advantage. Hope might have been in trouble yesterday if he’d used this. Drats, this makes me want to learn even more…

“It’s nice,” Wise agreed. “But takes energy and focus. Not to mention there are ways to defend if you know it’s coming, and it’s less effective on saints and immortals. Those drawbacks aside, it’s awesome. I’m determined to master it.”

I’ll ask John for those counters. Granted, she was unlikely to run up against such advanced magic soon, but it paid to be cautious. I could get matched with Wise.

“Has it taught you anything else?”

“Yes.” Wise continue excitedly. “Look at his.” He grabbed his chest and seemed to pull something out. He then winced, letting go. “That was my soul or part of it. It’s a cool but doesn’t work if the target resists.”

“Neat.” Time to leave. Her inquiries should have eased his worries. “Thanks for everything, but I’ll head out.”

“One second.” Wise stopped her. “I just wanted to say… Sola didn’t have seven siblings supporting her, and she didn’t have a mother like Astra. Even if you make chimera and raise the dead… You’ll always be the sister I love. You may share her potential, but you’ll never become her.”

Finishing, Wise grew red and curled into a ball, “I sensed you could use some encouragement, but the more I think about it… Arrrrrgh!”

Free grinned and gave him a hung, “Thank you. I was honestly having all sorts of bad thoughts. What you said right now…” She drew back to look him in the eyes, “Was exactly what I needed. It really was.”

How unbelievable. Seeing through her cheerful front, being able to deliver, with a strait face, words so embarrassing…

“Your name truly suits you.” She got up. “Now that I’m feeling better, I know what I must do.”

She paused at the door, “If I get depressed again, I’ll be counting on you for more cringey lines.” She heard a groan as she left.

Enough moping. It’s time to be proactive. Rose theorized the opposition was using the Underground Coliseum. If that’s true, maybe I can put my identity to good use.

From the Rose Palace, she glided into the city and made her way to the mist-surrounded keep. Calin’s Keep.

The sun never struck the structure as no wind could blow away the the thick fog. Approaching the crowd of tourists, she heard gasps. As expected, the skeletons are bowing again… This’ll create a bit of a stir, but whatever. She leaped across the gap, and the gaunt knights moved aside. Good. Those things are as scary as hell up close. Ignoring the fading commotion, she climbed the steps and pushed open the front door.

As she walked cautiously into a grant hall leading to an empty thrown, an angry voice rang out, “While I’m ordinarily powerless to harm mortals, it’s a different matter for those who seek death. You’ll regret trespassing.”

(continued in part 2)