High Artificer, Ch 14: Grand Plans

Jasperi’s Perspective

Jasperi was stunned as the sound of the new human’s snap echoed through everything. There was a flash of silver light and the world changed.

Then she was falling through the sky.

Her wings snapped out automatically and she stabilized her fall with a stream of Wind mana, which was as natural as breathing. It only took a moment before she was floating in the air and looking at a completely different place.

Plains stretched out below her, rolling for miles until they reached the horizon, where they met the low rise of mountains to the east. To the north, they faded away into the distance, but from the tint to the sky, it looked like there might be a sea that way.

When she looked around, Councilor Highwing and Commander Aetheri were flying toward her. Behind them, the rest of their group was also organizing themselves.

None of them were bothered by the fact that they were in the air. That only felt natural and it was helping them to keep their heads. But looks of confusion and anger flashed between them as they looked around.

“He teleported us somewhere,” Solecea Aetheri said as she stopped by Jasperi. “That should not have been possible. What didn’t you tell us about this human?”

She looked irritated, but she was calmer than the councilor, who arrived right behind her.

“How the hell did that happen?” Yuris snapped as he flew up.

“Even at Level 577, he shouldn’t have been able to teleport all of us away with a word. And what was that Charisma ability or spell he used to silence the area? Charisma is my second highest attribute and I still couldn’t block it!”

“I don’t know,” Jasperi said as she shook her head. “I’ve told you everything about him. He’s a mystery who only appeared a week ago. If anyone knows more, it would be the headmaster,  but he hasn’t told anyone else. Maybe the high council knows more?”

Losing in the duel had been bad enough, but she could assign that to not having prepared well enough. She had started out as a Winged Scout. She knew the importance of information. 

She hadn’t had enough on her target.

The more time passed, however, the deeper the mystery about this new human went. Every time she met him, something else came up that threw all of her previous assumptions out the window.

First it had been how he ignored her at the admissions ceremony and had the temerity to steal an amulet from right in front of her nose. She’d been offended by that, but more offended that she hadn’t been able to stop him.

Then it was the duel and the golems he had, but that was a failure of information. If she’d known he was focused on using golems to fight, she would have found a tactic to get around them.

Then it was his level, which made her begin to doubt. It was just too high for a faculty member. With that high of a level, he should have been one of the top humans in the entire galaxy. With that many golems, he was probably even a match for the headmaster, and she knew better than to duel Asperio.

So how had she never heard of him?

But now with this teleport, which should have been impossible, it felt like she was in over her head.

“We can’t bother the council with absurd things like a background check on every new human,” Yuris said as his wings sliced angrily at the air. 

“Our position is precarious enough. If we’re calling in favors on the council, it will weaken our other initiatives and we need those to continue. The council’s decisions can change the entire economy across the galaxy. If that is screwed up, I’ll have to answer for it at home.”

He glared at Jasperi.

“And I’ll make sure that you answer for it here. Your job was simple. To influence the scholarships and try to maintain a high level of Winged Fury students admitted to the academy, especially from those families who support our cause. It is a long term goal and not one that can be abandoned.”

He looked around the area and frowned, but it didn’t seem to bother him much. 

“We’re somewhere on the eastern continent. The northern side. About halfway around the world. We’ll have to teleport or fly back from here, but it won’t take that long.”

His voice became calmer as he shook his head, but it was still acidic. 

“How do you intend to fix this?” he asked. “You started this problem with him, so you’re the one who’s going to finish it.”

“You want me to serve him like he demanded in that bet?” Jasperi asked, her temper rising from the affront.

“He’s a human! How could I lower myself like that?”

“That’s your choice,” Yuris said grimly. “If you embarrass our people, you are useless, and if you leave your position at the academy, you’re also useless. So I suggest you figure something out. But I will not sacrifice myself for you.”

“Enough of that for now,” Solecea said. Her tone was calmer, but there were tight lines of worry around her eyes and her wings were slanted defensively. 

“We have underestimated this human and we have shown our hand. We cannot risk another political confrontation until we know more about him. If we are going to deal with him, it must be done quietly and permanently.”

She looked around the area, apparently searching for the remnants of the spell that had brought them here.

“I don’t know if he used a teleportation enchantment that was engraved under the courtyard, but if he didn’t, then we’re dealing with an archmage at the very least. His level is not for show and Jasperi’s loss in the arena was not a fluke. None of us is likely to be a match for him in a direct confrontation. I’ve upgraded him from a low-level threat to a high one.” 

“What do you recommend?” Yuris’s expression was tight as he looked at Solecea.

“Death,” she said simply. “One of the Night Wings can deal with him, or better yet a full wing, outfitted with the best we can provide. Twelve Level 450 assassins against one archmage should be enough. 

“But we have to hurry. He’s only just arrived, so there should be a window of time before he can build local defenses for himself. You know just how difficult it is to dig an archmage out of his tower.”

“The expense of that...” Yuris hesitated. “It will cut into our budget for the next year at least. Night Wings are not cheap.”

“It is better to pay now than to wait and have him disrupt even more things,” Solecea said calmly.

“There is no good solution for Jasperi, which you know. She cannot defeat the human alone, so her options are to leave the academy or serve him. This avoids that, which will save her face and our plans for the scholarships. It is the most effective solution.”

“Alright,” Yuris said as his expression turned colder. “I’ll authorize it, but if we’re doing this, I want him dead within a week. Make it obvious, hang his head on the academy tower or something. He has to pay for affronting us.”

“You were never a Night Wing, Yuris,” Solecea said as she gave him a dark smile. “Stick to fluffing feathers and counting coins. I’ll handle the rest.” 

Yuris frowned at her and his hands bunched into fists, but then he let out a breath and opened them again. His expression cleared up.

“Fine,” he said eventually. “I’ll leave the arrangements to you. I expect you to look after it personally. You’re the tactician. Make sure nothing goes wrong.”

“Mind your manners, Yuris,” Solecea chided as she looked into the distance. “Or you might fail to wake up one morning too.”

There was a blandness to her words that belied the threat, making it seem strange. A slow and strange smile was building on her face. Her fangs flashed as she licked her lips and her wings beat more quickly in the air. 

“It’s been a long time since I found worthy prey at the Fifth Evolution, much less nearly the Sixth. The headmaster is off limits or I would have considered him...but this is even better. I wonder what his blood tastes like.”

Jasperi felt a rush of bloodlust at the words and hissed in response. She couldn’t stop herself from baring her fangs. The tips ached as the wind flowed past.

Her instincts instantly reclassified the human to prey and she a tinge of red appeared in her eyes, making the world leap into sharper focus. Her nostrils flared.

“I will never serve him,” she hissed. “Let me help.”

Solecea looked back at her. Her eyes were also tinged with red.

“First come, first served,” she hissed in amusement. “Try to keep up if you can, hatchling.”

Then she made a strange gesture with one hand and a stream of dark light sprang up from her fingers, flowing across her body. 

Her wings turned pure black, like a raven’s, until she looked like a patch of ink against the blue sky. Then she became as illusory as mist as she quickly faded away, leaving only the wind blowing through the bright sky.

***

Sam’s Perspective

Sam and Asperio were seated in his hall, looking up at the stars.

The tour had gone well and the students, as well as a couple of faculty members, had left with stunned expressions. Looking at all materials as descended from chaos was a primordial view, one that was fundamentally different from what they knew. 

From that perspective, even time and life were materials to use, something that could be harnessed for change.

Perhaps in a few years there would be a new school of crafting here at the academy. It depended on how much time he had.

Now that everyone else had left, the two of them were discussing the future of the academy and the difficulties that the Elitist faction might be able to stir up.

“The Winged Furies are going to cause problems,” Asperio said, sounding worried. 

“You can’t get rid of their faction that easily. Teleporting them was a good demonstration of your power, but they won’t give up. You’ve just given them a warning to bring more force.”

“We’ll see then,” Sam said as he handed the man another goblet of mead. 

He wasn’t very concerned. As long as they targeted him and not anyone else, he would deal with the problem very directly. The only consideration was not making it too obvious, so people wouldn’t know exactly what had happened.

“You didn’t have an enchantment set out there for a mass teleport, did you?” Asperio asked with a frown. “That was just your aura suppressing them and an instant teleport?”

“That’s right,” Sam agreed. “There was no need for more complex things to deal with that group. If they continue to push, they’ll discover that was just the beginning.”

He dismissed the problem with a flick of his hand.

“Just let me know if they try to target any other humans or one of the other races. I’ll take it into account the next time they visit.”

He knew they would probably come by again, but his golems could use some opponents. And if they brought more forces, they would find they were still outnumbered.

He glanced toward the mountains in the distance where his golem chambers were steadily churning out new golems at the mid Fourth Evolution. That was the highest level range he could mass produce, but there were also a few Fifth Evolution commanders among them.

If the High Council heard of his capability and that he was creating thousands of them here, they would probably abandon the planet and run as far away as they could.

Of course, if it got to that point, his game of pretending to be a human would be over. He would cut it short and simply crush the opposition as a Titan. 

The first seat of the High Nine was still there and long empty. The eight on the council had to look at it every time they came to the central meeting hall. That was why they, of all people, should remember their history.

Teaching them a lesson as a Titan would save trouble in the long run, since fighting against the council as a human could lead to a civil war. 

That was something he didn’t want to see.

“What do you think about expanding the council?” he asked as he looked at Asperio. “And for humans to have a seat.”

“It’s the greatest wish of many humans,” Asperio said instantly as he stared at Sam. “But it’s never been possible. The High Nine hold their authority too tightly and there’s no way to pressure them. We don’t have enough force as a race, neither the power nor the money.”

“Yet there are billions of humans across the galaxy,” Sam said. “More than any other race, no?”

“That is our main advantage,” Asperio agreed. “But it’s still not enough. Humans are not well regarded by many other races. The Elitists are our most vocal opponent, but they aren’t the only one. Even the Generous Faction doesn’t stick up for us that much. They like the idea of helping in theory, but little changes from day to day.”

“Then there has to be a force for change,” Sam said. “Like you.”

Asperio looked conflicted at the words. 

“My position is very fragile,” he said slowly. “It was difficult for me to reach this level, but in many ways, it’s even more difficult for me to keep it. Why do you think I’m the only Sixth Evolution human people know about? If there are others, they stay well hidden.

“Even my position as headmaster isn’t something I can really claim as my own. I have to walk on eggshells to stay in the High Nine’s good graces or they could remove me at any moment. It’s a delicate balance. The only reason I’m still here is that they use me as a balance on each other’s interests in the academy.

“I can’t support any group or even go against the Elitists publicly.” He shook his head with a flash of old anger. “I have to be apolitical as a matter of survival. That’s why all I could do was come to warn you, but not interfere.”

He clenched his hands around his goblet, trying to crush it. He was too distracted to notice it had no effect.

“Do you know how many times I have wanted to just attack them and go out in a blaze of glory?” He turned angry and snakes of lightning began to crackle around his hands. 

“At least I would be fighting for something!”

He pounded on the table.

“But it’s pointless! Even if I died, what then? They would just find another headmaster, and maybe someone who doesn’t try to protect humans as well as I do. We need something to leverage it, and we don’t have anything!”

His words echoed through the hall with lightning sparks, dancing along the stone table and the pillars. 

Sam watched them thoughtfully, considering what he could do to help.

“Something like this world’s Evolutionary Node?” he asked as he considered the possibilities.

The Ocean Core wasn’t as strong as the World Core on Aster Fall, but it was still powerful. He could reassign it to Asperio’s authority. 

“At least that,” Asperio agreed as he got control of his emotions again. The lightning sparks calmed down, but they continued to swirl around him, moving in time with his words. 

“The keys to the best nodes are all in the hands of the High Council, as is the authority to exile people from the galaxy. It’s all a part of the larger picture.”

“Some of that can be changed,” Sam said. “Let me deal with the problem of Evolutionary Nodes. As for the authority to exile individuals, that is granted to the owners of each world as a method of maintaining peace. It is a title that can change hands.”

That authority was based on the power of the Path of Stars, like many of the other elements of the settled galaxy, including the Path’s provision against killing other members of the civilized races for experience.

That was only possible in the Chaos Wild.

Many of the things the World Core did for Aster Fall, the Path did for everyone here. They were both born of the same source and the Titans’ desire for order.

“Despite our numbers, humans own very few worlds,” Asperio said, shaking his head. “It’s a pity, but we have few places to truly call home. The worlds in the Borderlands are some of our strongest civilizations for that exact reason, but the nodes those worlds have access to are limited, only up to the Second or Third Evolution.”

“Some change would be good,” Sam agreed. “It’s been too long since the High Council had new blood. And if the current high races are denying access to the best nodes, that is against the orders of the ancient Titans. It is also one that can be corrected.”

There were many advantages that he had access to and the World Core was one of them. 

If he could get it to agree to help humanity, it might benefit Aster Fall as well as humans everywhere.

As for home worlds, he could give humans some of the Titan worlds to inhabit...but something in him rebelled at the idea. Those places were protected from time, waiting for their people to return.

Fortunately, there were other possibilities. One idea after another sprang up in his mind. 

Perhaps he could move some worlds in for humans to claim. 

There were empty systems throughout the settled galaxy that were capable of supporting life, and one of his racial traits as a Titan was the ability to move celestial bodies, including planets. 

If he collected a few from the Chaos Wild, he could bring them here and set them around a sun. 

Then he could create an artifact to link to the World Core and a way for humans to channel experience and essence into it, which would pay for its help.

A few systems would be best, all next to one another, so they had a region to call their own.

After that, he could establish them as a new member of the High Nine.

Given that it only had eight races currently, they wouldn’t even have to change the name. That would make them the High Nine for real, while the Titans and the empty seat could be left there as a reminder of the beginning of all things.

The Primordial Seat.

If the Titans ever returned, none of them would care. Their strength and importance to the galaxy wasn’t something that could be denied by changing the name of a seat. If anything, they would probably be relieved that the younger races could manage themselves.

Those things would take a little while, however, so as he let the ideas build, he turned his attention back to Asperio, looking at him in a new light. 

The lightning mage would make a good first councilor for humanity. 

He was already doing part of the job as the most famous human at the Sixth Evolution. He just had to step things up and gain a bit more gravitas. 

Being headmaster of the academy was one thing, but he at least needed to get his hair under control if he wanted to lead humanity.

Whether or not he wanted the job wasn’t something Sam spent much time considering. Sixth Evolution humans were rare. 

He was here. He would do.

Asperio had no idea how far Sam’s plans were reaching, but he would find out soon enough. Sam just needed to settle the technical details of the new worlds and connect the World Core to them. 

That type of connection would be good for the core and for Aster Fall. Energy sent from the settled galaxy would help to accelerate its repairs. It was still damaged from the First War and needed all that it could get. 

“You realize you’ve already made friends with two of the most influential crafters on the faculty?” Asperio’s words drew Sam’s attention back to the present. “Broden and Harsen are both well known.”

“Ahh, yes,” Sam said as he looked back at the headmaster. A slight grin tugged at his features. “Like calls to like. I think I’ll have to help them upgrade their workshops now, or they’ll feel neglected.”

“When those two realize you’re a Titan...” Asperio hesitated as he shook his head. “They’re going to lose their minds. I’d lay odds of them being the first to figure it out. Your method of crafting is just too different from what other people do.”

He looked across the hall and waved his hand at the silver forge flame in the distance, as well as all the work tables.

“I think they wanted to live here once you showed them what this place could do. They’re going to be here every day to see what else you have.”

“They’ll be welcome,” Sam said with a laugh as he stood up. “But before I forget, come with me. There is more about lightning we should discuss. Your domain is not as strong as it could be. You  will need it in the future.”

Asperio’s eyebrows rose and he jumped to his feet, following Sam as he stepped out into the Void above the hall. 

This time, as Sam reached out to the subdimension of lightning, he didn’t hold back its energy in a constructed realm. He simply opened a portal and let it flow out into the Void, where it crackled and tangled with the chaos winds.

The energy exploded in strength, feeding off the ambient energy, and a massive storm of silver bolts began to spiral in the sky. Sam reached out with a hand and pulled Asperio along as he flew into the center of it.  

If the headmaster was going to fulfill his role as leader of humanity, he needed to become strong enough to contend with the rest of the council.

And that meant strengthening his law.

Lightning was born in the Void. 

Asperio would be as well.