Steelforged Legacy 2 - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

You are doing good, Casey. I don’t expect you to develop a new technique yet, but this is the process for you to begin feeling out what to do next. Maude’s gentle voice helped soothe some of Casey’s frustrations, but was unable to banish all of them.

“I know, Maude. It’s just… so aggravating. I feel like I’m trying to field-strip a pistol blindfolded, and someone keeps moving the pieces. Why wasn’t the Skin of the Iron Bear or Bellow’s Roar this difficult?” Casey asked without opening his eyes, still doing his best to follow his partner’s directions.

Because those two techniques were simple. They enhanced a single organ in your body to fulfill a single job. Your skin to defend you, something it does naturally, and your lungs to push air over vocal cords to produce sound; again something it does naturally.

“And spitting lightning is not something natural any of my organs do directly,” Casey finished the explanation he’d already heard a half dozen times.

I’m not sure why you are so focused on breathing lightning, but I will support your goals, partner. Maude’s loving words made Casey feel bad now and he sighed, letting his eyes open and stare into the embers of the campfire in front of him.

It’d been a relatively quiet day since escaping the ruined town. Magnus had lead them through the forest unerringly, and they’d paused late in the afternoon to eat from a massive bramble of blackberries.

Casey had been poked even through his leather gloves, while Magnus appeared to have no problem plucking the berries from the branches with just his mobile lips.

Considering how many times that Casey had been stabbed though, he’d thought the bramble would make a good campsite, as it grew in the shade of several large trees that would also block it from the sky. Which was why when Magnus had shown him a way through the brambles, Casey had set about turning the little clearing into a secure campsite for them. He’d even gotten Magnus to help him hook some of the bramble over to cover the narrow path they’d entered from.

Maude sat stuck point-first in her seax form in the log in front of Casey. She’d said it was so that she could study the flows of qi from outside his body rather than inside, in hopes that the different perspective would help her to see things he might have missed. While Casey understood, he also didn’t like not having Maude on his hip or in hand. He’d grown very used to her calm presence at his side over the last several weeks.

“You are sure that this isn’t going to draw attention to our hiding spot?” Casey muttered quietly, even as the fire popped and threw a spiral of embers into the air.

No more than the fire sparking or you talking aloud below a shout. If someone far stronger than you happened to be walking by, they might detect it. But there is security in obscurity right now, Casey. We are relatively far from the roads and your power level is not great enough to turn you into a flare. Unless you set the forest on fire that is.

Magnus snorted in derision and annoyance nearby and Casey shot the elk a scowl. The Gladewalker Elk lay sprawled on his side, tummy towards the fire, like some kind of bizarre horned dog. He’d already picked the bushes clean on this side and for a good portion on the outside of berries, and the lump that the fruit made in his stomach gave Magnus the look of having a potbelly.

“I’d never dream of setting your forest on fire, Lord Magnus,” Casey sniped and got a grunt from the elk that felt like ‘you are forgiven, peasant.’ But that might have just been him reading too much into it as well. Beyond the noise, the elk didn’t stir.

Focus, Casey. Building techniques takes time and discipline. And while you have one, the other is a limited thing. Better to begin exploring these things now so you have a basis to work on, Maude reminded him, drawing his attention back to her and what he had been doing.

“Fine,” Casey sighed and turned his attention inwards once more.

The cave that made up his vision of his core was just the same as he’d seen it before. The sparkling helix of power that made up his Soulforge hovered above his pool of qi, a dancing flame that spun in dizzying patterns that appeared regular at first, and then they would shift suddenly without warning.

Settling his spiritual projection down onto the edge of his swirling pool of qi, Casey regarded the Soulforge again thoughtfully.

“Maude, what does the Soulforge do exactly?” he asked aloud both with his projected and physical body. That had taken a bit of getting used to, as he would usually be in contact with Maude while meditating and could just think things directly to her.

The same thing a regular forge, but it is built out of a fragment of your soul alloyed with your qi. I know I told you all this before, but I’m not surprised that it might not have stuck, Maude answered. I have been doing quite a bit of lecturing while you travel and the like.

“I try my best, but memorizing wasn’t ever my strong suit really,” Casey answered aloud before carefully calling up a small amount of qi and feeding it into the Soulforge.

The Soulforge is what takes raw qi, which is still what dwells in your pool, and forges it into something useful. The process is complicated to explain, but the formation of the Soulforge is automatic as you grow in power, Maude explained calmly. It is what allows the qi to actually bond with your body. As it passes through the body, it will burn away impurities, heal small damages, and then alloy with the flesh to improve it.

“So to use a metallic example, given we both use the Legacy of Steel, it is scrubbing away rust, mending cracks, before warming the metal that is my flesh to prepare it for the forge?” Casey answered as he drew the handful of qi out of the Soulforge when the construct stopped flaring and crackling.

The glob of silvery qi now had a far more metallic hue to it, and looked more like a pool of mercury in his palm rather than a hunk of silver cloud. He carefully poured the liquid into his pool and it flowed down and out of sight, following the stone contours of the bowl in which his qi dwelt.

A good example set, Maude said with pride. It is important to work with your Legacy, rather than against it. While your lightning breath example is actually possible—as iron and thus steel is conductive to electrical energy—it isn’t working to the strengths of steel. Copper on the other hand would be far better able to conduct that kind of power and likely not fight you so much.

“So I’m playing to a minor ability rather than the strengths?” Casey muttered as he scooped up another handful of qi and then wafted it through the air.

As the handful of cloudy qi floated like so much cottonwood seed through the air, the Soulforge happily sucked it in and spat out a twirling mass of silvery liquid that flowed back to his hand.

That is about the form of it. I’m not saying you won’t be able to make it work, but it will be a more difficult road. Trust that, if it were actually impossible, I would tell you as such, Maude told him warmly and he could just imagine his lover lounging on the side of her own pool of qi.

“Why don’t you have a Soulforge?” Casey asked as he studied the liquid qi in his hand.

I do, but it is contained within my core. You’ve seen the crystalline object that floats within the center of my pool of qi? Casey forced his physical body to nod in understanding and Maude continued. Contained within that slowly growing core are all the tools that you will be developing as you grow. Remember that my existence is different than yours. I was born with my Legacy within me, and it does everything that will be needed for me to grow. I just need to feed it properly.

“Okay… so steel is just iron alloy, so what makes iron special?” Casey muttered as he tried to remember his high-school chemistry classes and all the random things that he’d learned about the different elements.

He could remember that iron and steel were both prized for their durability and strength, and while those traits would allow him to reinforce and strengthen his body, far beyond what others might as they’d be working with different natural elements. 

High melting point? I suppose that would work well with the durability and maybe my defense technique. I should work on refining that too, but Maude said to focus on trying to find a new technique as it will take time to fully form. Hmm… Casey thought before he mentally tripped on an idea from that same high-school chemistry class.

They’d used a large rare-earth magnet to magnetize nails before using them to pick up iron filings. The iron had readily taken on a weak magnetic charge and retained it for some time. He remembered that the teacher had talked about how natural magnets, called lodestones, were often formed of an iron oxide that had been struck by lightning to produce the necessary energy to charge them.

And the Legacy of Steel lies within iron as its antecedent, and from there back into all forms of worked metal too. The sins and glories of worked metal… but also what it is able to do while still within the earth. I wonder if I can create a magnetic field… it wouldn’t work on all weapons, but iron weapons are some of the most common ones here and that might let me control them.

Casey’s mind immediately raced along the lines of what he could potentially do, everything from magnetics controlling the iron to removing oxidization to protect a weapon from rust. If he could produce enough of a magnetic charge, he might be able to create a dynamo of sorts to create a larger charge.

Hell, if I can figure it out, I might be able to electroplate. Or even kickstart oxidization to cause rust and destroy enemy weapons…

The wicked grin that spread over his face got a response from Maude finally.

I see you have an idea now, Maude said dryly into Casey’s mind.

“Several, but one that I think might work. I just need…” Casey trailed off for a moment before digging in his pack.

Over the last several weeks, he’d found more than a few different natural treasures, one of which had been something called spark moss from the battle site between two elder spirit beasts, back when he’d first met Magnus. He’d accidentally shocked himself while collecting the moss and destroyed a good chunk of it, but had still managed to acquire some.

The spark moss had laid in the bottom of his pack for some time, as he hadn’t wanted to sell it while in Bronze Fist towns and possibly raise suspicions. Instead, he’d hung onto it and might have a use for it now.

Casey? Maude asked as he ruffled about and found the package before carefully extracting a few threads of the moss. It still crackled with potential power, the moss as vivacious as when he’d pried it from the lightning-blackened trees.

“Iron can be magnetized, and there are all kinds of things you can do with a strong enough magnetic field,” Casey said quietly as he studied the strands of moss before balling them up into his left palm and fell back into his center.

Yes, and lightning is a dangerous toy to play with. I’m not going to try and forbid you from exploring it, Casey. Just be careful, Maude warned him and he nodded.

Collecting some qi from his center, Casey fed it into the center of his Soulforge again, drawing the liquid qi out even as he began to pull at the qi in the spark moss he held.

Crackling energy filled his veins and as it surged into his center as a faint yellow mist, Casey snatched at the fog before the Soulforge could take it.

The shock of touching lightning aligned qi while holding metallic qi in his very center raced through Casey’s being and he yelped as he was flung out of his focus and back into the real world.

In his left hand, the small ball of spark moss crisped and fell into ashes, it’s power spent.

A giggle and a snort of laughter echoed in his mind from Maude and he shot the blade a sour look where it was sunk into the log.

I did warn you, Maude said primly, but Casey could hear the laughter even in her neutral tone.

“Yeah, which is why I only did it with a little bit,” Casey grumbled, shaking his hand and looking at it for damage. There wasn’t any to his skin, but he could feel the faint tremble in his core, and his heart felt a bit off as if it was struggling to beat in proper time. 

Give it a few minutes, Casey. You gave yourself quite a shock trying to charge the qi like that. You did it before I could warn you, but this is something that might tilt your Legacy.

Maude’s statement got Casey’s attention and he returned his gaze to the blade stuck in the log before him.

“Tilt?”

It’s not a precise thing, but what you are doing, trying to discern a technique to control magnetic fields, is something that might alter your Legacy. Currently, it is the Legacy of Steel, but each step you take away from the core tenants to explore more of it, the more likely it is to alter your course.

Which is not a bad thing, do not take my words as such, please. It just means you are developing your power and I want you to think about it. I want you to be sure that you are going the route you want. Steel has many faces and facets to explore, just do so deliberately.

“That makes sense, Maude,” Casey replied, rubbing his hand against his chin and feeling the scruff of his beard beginning to grow in. “Gonna need to shave again soon,” Casey sighed, letting his hand fall to his lap.

Or you could grow it out, I don’t mind either way as long as you keep it neat, Maude supplied helpfully, and Casey rolled his eyes at the blade.

“I’m sure you don’t. There are enough renditions of your extended family that I’m sure you are used to men with beards, plus it seems to be a cultural thing here too.”

Somewhat. But I leave that judgment up to you. I understand they can be rather itchy until you get used to it and if you don’t treat it properly. And I would prefer not to be treated to the sandpaper-affection that I’ve heard some of my aunts complain about, Maude said with a laugh.

“Fine. I’ll spare you the scratchy snuggles, unless you start pulling too many tricks,” Casey shot back.

When his heart had settled once more, Casey peeled off another few strands of the spark moss, this time taking half as much as he had before.

I know that electricity will be part of the equation. I just need to control just a touch of it, to charge some of the qi. Once I have magnetic metal qi, I can use that to charge more without the risk of shock. I just need to be careful not to charge the entire pool at once, as that would likely hurt like a bitch… Casey thought carefully as he focused his attention inwards.

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“I’m looking forward to the day I can actually ride on one of those flying longships, rather than have to hide from them all the time,” Casey grumbled as he tromped through the undergrowth of the forest after Magnus.

While he had gotten used to following the animal through the forest, allowing Magnus to guide him along trails that the elk knew or could detect, Casey was not as happy when the big elk decided to just forge his own path. Magnus was able to wend through trees and brush without a care in the world, but Casey kept getting his clothing caught on things.

His mood wasn’t improved by the fact he’d been unsuccessful in trying to charge some of his qi magnetically. He could feel the lightning qi trying, but it always deflected and shocked him instead. He couldn’t figure out why and it was annoying him.

It will be some time before you get to do that, Casey, Maude said, amusement in her voice. At the moment, it is impractical for you. The kinds of cores needed to power one of those ships are something beyond your means as an independent. Only the clans can really afford them.

“Then what about riding Magnus? I feel like an idiot for buying that saddle for him days ago, since all it has done is just make him look dapper thus far,” Casey grunted, having to tug his pants free of another sticker bush that had hooked the cloth.

That will happen far sooner. And you will be glad of having the saddle when that time comes. My uncle once tried riding without a saddle or blanket. Admittedly, it was a goat rather than an elk, but he still managed to crush his pride badly enough that he was laid up in bed for a while.

Casey snorted in amusement at that thought as they wound through large pine trees, always keeping the river to their right.

It had been two more days since they had left the ruined remains of the town. He’d taken to practicing with Maude using her new blade form each night before bed and was slowly getting used to the sword.

The going had been excessively slow since neither he nor Magnus really wanted to risk the road. Casey had been hoping to find a way to ford the river and get back to the Oak Horde side of the divide, but every time they’d found an area that looked passable, another of the flying longships would pass overhead.

Maude had floated the idea of just trying to swim across the river at night, but she’d recanted it almost immediately. The river had been growing wider and wider the further they went north, and it had not slowed enough to make the trip worth the risk. While airships had passed overhead, they hadn’t seen or heard any signs of patrols on foot.

Putting aside the thoughts of which of Maude’s ‘uncles’ it was that might have crushed one or both of his balls while trying to ride a goat, Casey just shook his head and focused on not stepping on or in anything that would cause problems, either by snagging his clothes or something else.

Despite having to stay hidden, Casey found the overland trip worthwhile. They’d come across several patches of qi infused vegetables, and once a stand of qi infused trees that would produce nuts, but were out of season at the moment. While he couldn’t eat the green acorns, Magnus had no problems doing so and feasted happily on them for over an hour before Casey was able to get the animal moving again.

Casey was beginning to wonder if they’d have to risk swimming the river just to get to a territory where he felt safe enough to go into a village to shop for supplies. He’d been able to take a single rabbit with his bow to supplement his supplies, but Magnus doggedly pushed them to move north, following the river as always.

They’d stopped for the day on the edge of the river, with Casey hoping to try his luck fishing, when the distant crack of canvas in the wind brought his eyes up to the sky once more. They’d gone almost the entire day without seeing a single one of the flying longships, but looking back along the river, he could see the outline of one of those familiar wooden hulls against the sky as it skimmed just above the treetops, following the curve of the river as it moved up from the south.

“Damn it,” Casey swore, quickly winding his fishing line up on the wooden bobbin that it came on.

Hmmm, Maude murmured while he packed his things up and prodded Magnus, who was sleeping in the grass by the river, to head back into the trees. Casey, I don’t think that’s a Bronze Fist ship. Look at the sail.

Pausing, he squinted at the distant shape. It was still some ways off, the flying ship being smaller than his finger at this distance, but he could make out the shape of the sail, and the figure on it was colored dark-gray.

“Maybe you are right, Maude,” Casey mumbled, glancing down at Magnus, who was on his hooves now and peering in the same direction curiously.

I wonder more every day just how smart that elk is, Casey thought before turning his attention back to the sky.

The distant ship was moving leisurely along the river, rather than with the frantic back-and-forth searching that Casey had seen with the others.

“Wonder if we could signal them down to catch a ride out of here,” Casey muttered, shifting to lift his pack up onto his back and then let it settle once more, trying to find the most comfortable position for the heavy leather bundle.

I don’t know. They would likely ignore us, thinking it to be some kind of bandit trap.

“Seems ballsy for bandits to attack one of the flying longships, if the clans are the only ones who can afford to operate them,” Casey mumbled as he watched the ship approach. It was now the size of his fist, and the rustle and crack of canvas in the wind was louder now.

Bandits are generally not the wisest of people. Given that anyone with intelligence would not end up in their line of work, Maude grumbled.

They watched silently as the ship passed overhead, the whipping of wind over wood and canvas joined by the indistinct sounds of voices aboard the large vessel. The ship that passed them was easily twice as long as the others they’d seen, and the symbol on the sail was that of a spreading rack of antlers with an upraised spear held between them.

Too bad we can’t risk signaling them, Maude said as the ship cruised by and continued up the river. That symbol is one that I do recognize. It’s the Roaring Mountain clan, the one we are heading towards. Which, if they have a ship traveling along the river, we must be getting closer to their territory. That or it’s a trading ship. I wonder what they could be transporting?

With the ship past them, Casey debated unpacking his fishing line again and dropping it into the water, or just making do with something simple instead. He’d been working his way through the last of the dried truffles slowly, using them to season and infuse his food whenever he could, but he’d really been hoping for some fresh meat.

What was that? Maude asked suddenly, her idle curiosity transforming into a sharp question as the sound of breaking wood echoed along the riverbank.

Casey drew his eyes back from the river to see what she was asking about when the ship suddenly jerked to one side, veering towards his side of the river. Squinting in surprise, Casey peered up at it and spotted a thin line leading back into the trees on the near side of the river. While he watched, something burst from the trees, arcing up to slam into the side of the great ship with a loud crash of sundering wood.

The ship jerked again as a line connecting whatever had been launched at it went taut and the shouts of alarm from the ship grew louder.

As they watched in astonishment, the large airship listed towards the near shore even further before a fireball raced upwards, hitting the sail and burning a hole right through it, leaving licking tongues of flame draped throughout the large sail. Moments later, the ship lurched and began to fall out of sight into the trees on the near shore.

Casey! We have to go help them! Maude’s words cut through his surprised fugue at the sight. He’d seen the ships moving through the air for over a week now, but never even thought about how one might be brought down.

With no need for further urging from Maude, Casey hurried forward along the shore, with Magnus close at hand, the elk grunting in irritation as he hurried through the trees along the riverbank. The ship had made it maybe a mile further along the river before it had been brought down like a bird shot on the wing, and he couldn’t imagine anything that would just take down an airship would have good intentions.

The elk’s annoyed noises faded abruptly after moving about a third of the distance to the ship, and that was enough of a warning for Casey that he slowed his pace and listened closely.

Ahead of him, he heard voices calling to one another through the trees.

“Hurry up! We need to help the others dispatch any survivors of the crash,” called one male voice, malevolent glee glowing in his words.

“I hope there are survivors. Would be boring if they all bit it in the crash,” grunted a second voice, deeper than the first.

“I hope there are women we can capture,” added a third, and Casey felt his lip curl at the disgusting tone of the speaker. “We’ve been waiting for any of the Oak Whores to come this way for days now. Lord Damian promised that we’d have prey, and I want to sink my cock into one of those mouthy bitches.”

“Yeah, like you’d get the first crack at them,” barked the first voice. “Now hurry up you two! We need to get this done, and the debris concealed before another ship comes by. Whatever happens, no survivors can be allowed. If the Roaring Mountain knows we took one of their transports, there would be consequences.”

Casey, Maude’s voice shook with fury.

“I heard, Maude,” Casey growled, dropping his hand to the hilt of his partner’s seax form.

Those didn’t sound like bandits to me. I’ve only heard the Bronze Fist refer to the Oak Horde like that, Maude growled and Casey felt a trickle of qi race up his arm.

Gritting his teeth, Casey picked up speed again as the trio of speakers started to crash through the brush toward the distant sound of clashing weapons and shouts from both men and women.