Irwin's Journey 455: Preganrúadh

Irwin stared at the six-eyed being, trying to make sense of what it had just said. It wanted help opening a portal? How would that even work?

Wait, does he know how to create portals like the guidar does?

He thought about the mercenaries that the now-dead Lasther had sent after him back on Mudball. That was years ago now, and he still had no idea how they had managed it. The mercenary he and Greldo had interrogated had spoken about orbs that allowed teleporters to move to a place as if they could sense a beacon. Was that the same idea?

"I don't know how to open portals except exit portals," he said slowly. "Can you explain to me what you need?"

The towering beast's head rose slightly, its eyes focusing on a distant spot, near where it had surfaced.

"What I need is a way to return to the primordial chaos. Perhaps it will be enough," the being said softly. "But if it is not, at a minimum, it will make it so he won't rampage."

He? 

Irwin carefully felt for where the other powerful entity lay slumbering. 

'I think our guess might have been right,' Ambraz whispered. 'It's hard to sense from in here, but there's something wrong with the soulforce resonance of that second one.'

Great, Irwin thought as he felt a shiver run through him. 

The power of the being before him was immense, and although he didn't doubt he could survive in a conflict if he went all out, he was also sure the collateral damage of such an event would be horrible. Worse, he might survive, but he had zero guarantee that he could stop the being.

"How do I create a portal?" Irwin asked softly. 

"You don't need to create one," the powerful being said with a chuckle. "That is something out of either of our reach. To do that, you would need to become worldskilled. No, what I want your help with is reopening a portal that closed recently."

"You mean one that's below the ground?" Irwin asked, starting to understand what the being wanted. "One that leads to a shard world?"

"Yes, though they will not lead to a shard if they have closed," the being rumbled. "They close when the shard is returned to the primordial chaos. What I need you to do is open a portal so I can bring Igg there. Perhaps that will help… and if it doesn't, there will be plenty of things for him to fight on equal ground."

Irwin frowned. 

'What do you know about portals like this?' he asked Ambraz.

'Nothing. I didn't even know a portal to a shardworld could be reopened. Usually, people tend to close them with good reason, remember? Why would anyone want to reopen one?'

Irwin's frown deepened as he tried to imagine how that would even work.

"Don't worry, young one. I'll explain how it works and help you practice. But we should start soon… Igg has little time left."

Of course, we need to start soon, Irwin thought with a grimace. Why would he ever have enough time for things?

"How long will it take? I had planned to do some other things first," he said. "Can we start in a few days?"

"Days?" 

A rumbling laughter came from the other being that shook the pyroflux around it, causing waves to flood the rocky lands around it. The pyroflux flowed into crevices from which yellowish fumes billowed, causing shrieking hisses as it interacted with whatever was deep inside those.

"Igg will not wake for months, perhaps a year. I forget how hasty you young ones are. My apologies. I say soon, but mean my kind of soon. If we start in ten years and finish in twenty or so more, it will be alright. Even if it takes a hundred, I can probably keep him calm."

'Ugh, he reminds me of Brazardion,' Ambraz grumbled. 'Lording their age over everyone else.'

Irwin didn't react to his friend, instead feeling a flood of relief at the expanded time frame.

So, that means I can use this place for the next few years and eventually will have to help him, Irwin thought.

"Then, I'll be glad to help you," he said. "Old one, may I know your name?"

"I was named Preganrúadh by my mother," the snake said, his head rising slightly more. "But you, like all others, call me Preg."

"Thank you, Preg," Irwin said, dipping his head a little before looking back up. "Could you explain a bit about what you just mentioned? Worldskilled? I know a bit about it, but my own memories are not complete."

"Worldskilled, the final step," Preg rumbled, lowering his head. "You are far too young to contemplate this, and your soulscape is too small yet. Still…”

The giant snake sniffed loudly, tiny clouds of the yellowish fumes floating towards it into its nostrils.

"You are like the little flames. Such an odd soulskill that lets you create your soulscape by taking pieces of others… I wonder what the knowledge bearers would have thought had they still existed."

Who?

Irwin wanted to ask, but he sensed Preg wasn't finished talking.

"Your soulforce smells strong… steady. That is good. You are creating your soulscape from seven pieces? Good, good. However, until you reach the fifth, it is not necessary to ponder the next step. Five is the minimum for anything to work."

Irwin's eyes widened as he realized what Preg was implying. He is talking about my soulcards! Can he smell that I have an ammolite base?

"Return in a few years, and I will tell you what you need to know. For now, it's best not to, lest you make the same mistakes I did."

"Knowing what it is influences the outcome?" Irwin asked, slightly confused.

"Knowing too much of worldskills will cause you to make unhealthy choices," Preg rumbled. "Choices you would not have made if you knew less. It is why the information was always guarded. Though… this is mostly for those with normal soulskills, as ours grow slowly, and based on our desires. I have seen how explosive those like you can grow. Perhaps… tell me, do your emotions and thoughts change your soulskill?"

Irwin hesitated, trying to understand what he meant.

'No. Kid, what he is talking about is how regular soulskills work. Neither you nor I is like that, but I know what he means,' Ambraz said. 'Carded consciously choose their direction. Each card you slot is a choice, and as long as you don't slot something that causes resonance fluctuations, it is fine. Ganvils can determine their path independently of their emotional state.'

"My emotions are influenced by the cards, but they don't influence the cards after they are created," Irwin said slowly. "So, as long as I know what not to do, I can choose not to slot something."

Preg was quiet for a while, two of his six eyes blinking slowly.

"This world is an odd place, for something like your kind to exist," he finally said. "In this case, it should be fine for you to know. However, I can't tell you now, because others who are listening should not know."

This world? 

Irwin knew the ancient entity wasn't talking about Scour, but something larger. Did he mean the portal gallery? Or just everything?

Let's hope he is willing to talk more later.

He looked around and only then noticed that they weren't alone. Smaller snakes, mostly a fiery red and orange, like condensed flames, and some like molten metal in solid form, were raised up from the pyrflux and lava. Even the largest were nothing but twigs compared to Preg, though a few of the larger ones stood out. Their liquid molten bodies had smooth dark regions not unlike Preg's entire body, and Irwin sensed the power they had. These were the ones that were roughly the same power as a single soulcarded.

"These are like you, young and still searching," Preg said, sounding amused and happy. His soulforce rippled out, wrapping around four who sat closer together, observing Irwin quietly. "They will do well when Igg and I are gone."

"Elder! You can't leave us," one of those with smooth black sections called out. "Without your presence, the queens would attack us!"

Preg let out a rumbling laugh. "Don't try to trick me. I know you have dealt with many when I was resting. You and your sisters are already more than strong enough to deal with them. Besides, the little flames will become more powerful with young Irwin's help."

"You would trust him? You don't even know him," the same fire elemental snake whispered.

"I do not," Preg said, his snakelips curving in a smile. "But I am not yet gone, and I will pay attention. However, I can already smell what I have to. He is not so unlike our people, and as the first, he deserves some of your respect."

Irwin saw the four snakes, smaller than Preg but still easily fifty feet long, examine him. Their six eyes were narrowed, and he sensed worry and distrust radiating from them. 

"Now, why don't you see to those little flames you brought with you?" Preg rumbled. "They are having some issues with my presence, so I'll be answering the young ones' worries."

"Yes, old flame," Irwin said. He wanted to ask a lot of questions, but for now, he had only a single one that he needed answered right now. "Just to be clear, you said I can stay here and refill my soulscape. Where is the area to do this?"

"The small flames know where it is," Preg rumbled. "You have my approval to go there."

"Thank you," Irwin said, lowering his head before backing up a few steps. Then he turned and walked away, sensing how the enormous entity was moving back down and away, followed by the smaller ones.

Lejingi and Feijia had backed up further than he'd realized, and when he reached them, he wondered what they had heard. His question was quickly answered as Teacher Lejingi looked at him with wide-eyed curiosity.

"Tutor, what is a Volcano Titan?"

Right, Irwin thought.

"Before I explain that," he said. "I would appreciate it if the two of you keep everything you just heard to yourselves for now. Others will learn soon enough, but I'd prefer it happen after we stabilize the Oxarite Empire."

Feijia shook her head, smiling ruefully. "There is no way I'll tell anyone what happened here. Besides angering Preg, I am still going to be in your debt for giving me a heartcard."

Lejingi's head bobbed quickly. "I'll keep it quiet, though I really hope you can answer some questions."

Irwin sighed, realizing how Preg and many others must feel when he kept harassing them with questions.

"I will answer some questions, but before we do that, can the two of you show me-" he hesitated, realizing he still didn't even know what the place he was going was called. "To the place where I can refill my soulscape?"

"The central chamber? This way," Feijia said, turning around and striding away.

Irwin followed her while teacher Lejingi walked beside him, writing her hands and clearly desperate to ask questions.

"Fine. One question," Irwin said after a few minutes. "But I can't promise I'll answer it."

Lejingi's face lit up, and she beamed at him.

"What are you if you're not an Oxarite?"

Irwin smiled, knowing he couldn't answer that fully. Not yet. The chances of someone overhearing would be too great. But that was fine as he had the perfect answer, one that wasn't a lie either.

"It is what I became after getting my previous soulcard," he said. "It changed me into what you see now."

Lejingi's eyes widened. "You can change into another species with a powerful card?"

"Definitely," Irwin said. "I have some reason to believe it might be the origin of some of the species."

"Do you think that's why we all have card slots even though we don't look that much alike?" Lejingi asked, seemingly having forgotten his one-question rule already.

Irwin smiled, understanding how she felt more than she might realise.

"No. There's another reason for that," he said, raising his hand to stop more questions. "But that will have to wait for another time."

Lejingi's shoulders slumped slightly, then she nodded. "Alright. I hope you can tell me more soon."

"We will see," Irwin said. "We need to make sure things with the Empire and the Burrows are stable first. It might not be for a few years."

Lejingi looked at him in dismay, before smiling sadly.

"I understand."

Irwin knew she probably didn't, but that was fine. She would after he'd explained it to her in the future. For now, he focused on navigating the narrow paths, some of which led through ankle-deep streams of pyroflux. As the thin fluid that was hot enough to incinerate wood flowed over his boots, he stared at it with interest.

I wonder if they will allow me to bring some into my soulscape, he thought, before realising that he would have to figure out a way to bring anything into his soulscape first. 

As they walked further into the enormous cavern, Irwin felt a sense of tranquility grow. Besides the pleasant heat and scenery, the constant pressure of the ambient soulforce made him feel safe and comfortable. It took almost an hour before they reached a large outcrop of stone beside a narrow stream of pyroflux that bordered one of the many magma ponds. A fog of fumes crawled from the magma, oozing into an entrance that led into the outcrop. 

The two Ignitizians with him walked inside without stopping, both smiling, their eyes glimmering happily. Irwin followed them, seeing a hole in the center. Both Ignitizians hopped over the edge without a care, and as Irwin got a good view, he saw it was only a ten-foot drop to a black beach that surrounded a small pond of molten metal. A few Ignitzians lay on the beach, either resting or sleeping, and none of them seemed to notice their arrival.

'Kid… jump down! I've gotta see this!'

See what? Irwin thought as he let his soulforce senses try to detect a change. The soulforce density was greater here, but not nearly as much as he'd thought about. 

Still, Ambraz seemed to sense something, so he jumped down. Before his feet landed on the ground, the soulforce density turned so high that it took his breath away. It felt like he was standing beside the Titan cardsliver again, but this time the soulforce was mellow and undirected. It was just there, suffusing every part of the tiny grotto and seemingly emanating from the liquid metal. The metal itself gleamed like a cross between gold and copper, and as he watched, he felt an odd sense of kinship. For some unfathomable reason, he felt like he and the liquid metal were partially the same.

'Hah! Haha!'

Ambraz's sudden outburst turned into a constant laughter that snapped Irwin awake, making him slightly worried.

'Ambraz?'

His friend didn't react but continued to laugh, causing Irwin's worry to grow. His otherself located Ambraz in his soulscape and rushed to him. The Ganvil was swirling through the air, laughing almost crazily.

'Ambraz! Snap out of it!'

It took Irwin a few more minutes to get Ambraz to act normal, at which point he was close to leaving.

'Kid… Irwin… sorry, I- This is just incredible!'

Irwin looked around, noticing that Lejingi and Feijia stood near the pond, eyes closed and in some sort of trance.

'It's liquid Ancestral Coperion,' Ambraz exclaimed. 'Don't you remember? I told you about it when we were on Scour first, how it was found in low amounts sometimes? Well, this is no small amount! It's immense! It is also what your first body improvement card was based upon.'

Irwin focused on the pool of liquid metal, finally understanding why he felt a sense of kinship to it. 

'Why is it exuding such a massive amount of soulforce?' Irwin asked.

'I don't know. Perhaps it absorbed it deep below the ground, or there's something inside that generates it. What I do know is that it makes sense. Ancestral Coperion is one of the things found on Scour, though I've never heard of such a large amount.'

Irwin nodded, trying to make sense of it.

'It's one of the least rare of the rare metals,' Ambraz continued, seemingly sensing his confusion. 'It's not unheard of for large amounts to appear on occasion, though they are usually brought away as soon as they are discovered. Why there's so much soulforce is beyond me, but that doesn't matter. This will definitely help you with your soullake refilling. It's already doing so as we speak!'

-- Irwin's Soulscape --

Irwin's otherself shot up into the air until he could see his soullake, instantly noting that Ambraz was right. A tiny mist seemed to be hovering above it, drops of soulforce raining down. It would take a while to refill what he had already used over the years, but it shouldn't take more than a few hours.

"At this speed, I can use enough soulforce to fix some more heartcards," he exclaimed.

"Exactly," Ambraz agreed, appearing beside him. "You can also train far more… I wonder if there are more spots like these, I- … wait, this makes sense!"

Irwin watched as Ambraz began flying in circles, muttering things. Looking at the Ignatizians who still hadn't really moved, he decided to wait till Ambraz had calmed down.

It took only a short while, and when he did, Ambraz snorted.

"It's because of those portals below the ground. They are causing this. I bet if we ask Preg that he will explain that they gathered the metal, but that the soulforce comes from below."

Irwin's eyebrows shot up at that. "If that's true, perhaps they are willing to help us when we take control of The Deslote Stretch to re-establish the Smiths Guild. We could use one of these areas."

"It can't hurt to ask, though I have the feeling those two aren't going to be moving around much," Ambraz said. "Perhaps we can do it ourselves… I'll think about it."

The two of them watched the soullake slowly refill while on Scour, Irwin watched the lake of Ancestral Coperrion. 

-- Real World --

"Are you two alright?" Irwin asked.

By now, close to an hour had passed and his soullake was completely refilled. He felt a lot safer knowing he could spend some more soulforce while here.

Teacher Lejingi looked up with a start.

"I… yes! I'm sorry, it's just been a while since I was here, and the feeling is just intoxicating."

"I can imagine," Irwin said as he looked around. The Ignitzians were still lying around, doing little to nothing. "What are the others doing?"

"Some are regenerating, others are just resting," Lejingi said. "Being here is a privilege that is usually awarded only to a certain few. I'm allowed here because I'm the only topaz rank cardsmith we have."

Irwin hummed as he looked around. The density of the ambient soulforce didn't look any less than before, showing that as much soulforce as he had absorbed, it had barely put a dent in the supply. Better yet, it was refilling so fast that it would be back on the same level within a few minutes.

"Do you think I'd be allowed to reforge some cards here?"

Lejingi's mouth fell open, and she looked stunned.

"I… I don't know? Preg said you were welcome, so I think yes?"

Irwin hummed, then shrugged. Preg had said that, so he guessed it would be fine.

"They will come and tell me to stop if they don't like it," he said, turning to Feijia, who was still completely entranced. "You are sure about her?"

"Yes," Leijingi said.

"Alright," Irwin said as he scanned Feijia's current cards again. 

'Shouldn't be too hard, right?' 

'No, but it should be interesting. It will be your first dual weapon heartcard,' Ambraz said.

Irwin nodded as he walked to Feijia.

"Are you ready to have a heartcard?"

The Ignitzian seemed to be jolted awake, her eyes widening as she turned toward him.

"What?" 

"Ready for a heartcard?" Irwin asked again, raising an eyebrow.

Feijia looked around, then at him, before nodding. "Here? Sure! You can do it here!"

Something about the way she said it made Irwin roll his eyes, and he heard a weary sigh from Teacher Lejingi. 

"Alright, is there anything specific you want?" he asked.

"Both my swords and as many physical improvements as possible," Feijia said. "Preferably agility, speed, and some strength."

Irwin nodded as he began going over her cards. She had both fire and metal, and if he wanted to incorporate that, there were only two places. The thing was, most Ignitzians didn't like body-modifying improvement.

"You have a lot of heat and some metal," he said, tapping his chin. "Should I focus some of that into your blades or your body? It might cause you to change a bit, though."

"In my body? What do you mean?" Feijia asked.

"You might get a slightly metallic skin, or-"

"Yes," Feijia said, interrupting him with sparkling eyes. "If you can make me look a bit like you, that would be great!"

Irwin felt slightly taken aback by both her sudden enthusiasm and the specific question.

"So it's fine if your body improvements change you a little?"

"Definitely!"

Irwin nodded slowly as he looked around. There wasn't anyone nearby, but he did realise a slight issue. He didn't have an anvil with him. Teacher Lejingi seemed to read his mind, as she turned around and ran to a simple staircase at the opposite side of the hollow area.

"I'll go get an anvil!" 

Irwin nodded as he looked at Feijia. "Well, tell me a bit more about how you use your cards, then," he said.

It took almost an hour before Lejingi returned, and she wasn't alone. She was followed by a tall, heavily muscled Ignitzina who was carrying a small anvil with her. Unlike most other Ignitzians, she seemed more physical than flame, and Irwin sensed that all six of her cards were focused on body improvement. 

She put the anvil down next to him, her eyes passing over him quickly. 

"Greetings, Tutor," she said. "I'm Blademother Nilish. I hear you are going to give Blademaster Feijia a heartcard?"

Irwin examined the newcomer with interest, as she was the first Blademother he'd ever seen since Scintilla's mother. 

"I am," he said. 

"Good. If you succeed, I would like to ask you what I need to do, give, or help you with for you to make one for me," Nilish said. "I am the only Blademother without a heartcard, and I would like to remedy that."

Irwin hummed, glancing at Teacher Lejingi, who grimaced.

"Sorry, Tutor. She said she wanted to ask you in person."

"It's fine," Irwin said, looking at Nilish again. "Blademother Nilish, I'll think about your request after I finish. But not right now. However, as to my payment. I am always looking for cards that deal with odd things, or that focus on soulforce or soulscapes."

Nilish crossed her arms, giving him a sharp nod. "That is fine. I'll watch, then try and get you whatever you need."

She's a bit different, Irwin thought, before turning to Feijia.

"Blademaster, are you ready? Do you know what to do?"

Feijia walked forward, holding her hands above the anvil. A moment later, six cards appeared above them in a fluid, well-trained manner.

"We are taught to learn and prepare from a young age," she said with a smile. "Wouldn't want a cardsmith to second-guess his choice, right?"

Irwin returned the smile as he summoned his hammer. He took a quick look around, but none of the other Ignitzians had stopped what they were doing.

Let's see how long you keep that up, he thought as he focused on the cards.

--

Findekon Bluefire grimaced as he followed the towering Oxarite. 

"Do I really have to come with her?" he muttered.

Hilbarin glanced over his shoulder at him, his burning eyes unreadable.

"Yes. And you will help guard her with your life, or you will have no place to hide."

"Come on, Hilbarin. You know I wouldn't do anything to anger you!"

The other member of the seven raised an eyebrow and snorted.

"Findekon, she's willing to allow you to repay your past mistakes… Don't mistake her kindness for weakness."

"I won't," Findekon said, following Hilbarin to the top of the building. 

Especially not your kind of kindness, he thought. 

As much as he liked the other, he also knew Hilbarin had a soft spot for Sandhrina. 

Here I thought I would be allowed to simply work from the back for a while, he thought as he walked out into the open.

The sun burned down on top of the tallest building in Tuarlas, causing the large airship's metallic parts to glisten. A short woman with messy hair stood on the deck, bent forward into a small area in the wall behind the steering wheel.

How she is a lady, I don't understand, Findekon thought as he appraised the Oxarite before him.

"My lady!" Hilbarin called out as he walked onto the deck.

The woman pulled back from the small room, which was filled from bottom to top with runes. She was pretty in a sense, with intelligent blue eyes, a slightly darker blue skin, and silver and blue metallic hair partially braided in a messy bun. The rest flanked her face as she looked up. Findekon saw her lock onto him, and a flash of distaste was gone as fast as it had come.

"Hilbarin," Lady Sandhrina said. "Good that you are here. The ship seems in order. Let's head out there. I can't wait to talk with this Tutor!"

"Yes, my lady," Hilbarin said.

Findekon walked to the side, trying to keep himself out of the attention. It would take a while before Sandrhina would get used to him.

A few minutes later, the ship was sailing away from the city. It was a novel experience, one even Findekon hadn't experienced much yet, with the lack of skyships. Sadly, the occasional glares made it less interesting.

I hope Sachindrian hasn't gone there himself, he thought as he stared into the distance. 

Perhaps he should just leave and find a place to hide for the next few years? Who knew that a war might happen and kill off all the people who disliked him? That would be something, right?