Irwin's Journey 451: A third party?

"Dammit, I knew it. I should have trusted my gut."

Irwin slowly turned his gaze to the man with the blue fire tingling through his dark hair who had just hissed under his breath. One of the three in the second group, he had his hands on his knees and seemed barely able to remain standing. As their eyes met, Irwin sensed an immediate and odd resonance from merely looking at him. It came from his first soulcard, and he instinctively knew why.

He has an Origin Flame… but a weak one. Or a part of one? 

Irwin let his first soulcard pulse within the pressure he was exuding to see what would happen.

The other man's eyes flickered with blue fire and shock, his mouth open but no words coming out.

"Sorry for disturbing your meal," a soft voice called out, strained but impressively stable.

Irwin held the man's gaze before slowly turning to the stately woman from the first group. Unlike the others, she had managed to keep herself standing under the pressure he was exerting, which, sensing the mediocre quality of her soulcards, was pretty good.

'Kid, her cards are slightly better than those of the others!'

Irwin nodded, wondering who the four people with soulcards who had suddenly appeared were. He had an inclination, but he had to be sure first.

"You should be," he said, letting the anger he felt at being disturbed by two groups that seemed ready to wage war in a small restaurant.

Well, only the second group, he thought, taking a breath and calming himself down. As he did, he noticed that the handcarded guards were trying to push themself up, shivering and shaking, but still glaring at him.

Irwin raised an eyebrow before looking at the woman he guessed was likely one of the seven.

'Kid… that brat on the ground isn't going to survive.'

Irwin focused on the figure shaking and shivering on the ground, and as he did, he finally realized something. There was a torrent of disjointed noise and soulforce resonance coming from the person that rivalled what he'd felt from Brecka long ago. As soon as he heard it, he couldn't unhear it, and he felt his stomach flip.

'What… That's a soulcard?'

'Your pressure is causing what is wrong with her to worsen,' Ambraz said, the tiny spec that was him floating forward.

Her? Irwin thought, wondering how Ambraz knew that.

'I think she drained it to get them here, and because it was empty, it was even less stable than it probably normally is. Then, with your soulforce pressure, it just started collapsing,' Ambraz said, sounding both curious and horrified. 'Whatever you do, don't drop your pressure, though. The resulting jolt will cause that stupid soulcard to explode on the spot.'

Halfway through, Irwin was already on his feet, walking around the table towards the downed figure. He felt what Ambraz was, the shivering and rippling of the soulforce fluctuations, the song ready to end then and there. Ambraz was right. If he stopped his pressure now, it would cause the soulcard to flip the other way and explode. He had no idea what that would look like, but probably nothing pretty. 

'It's not your fault, kid.'

Irwin didn't respond. He knew that, but he wasn't willing to accidentally kill someone either. Not if he could stop it. Especially not until he found out what was happening. 

Besides, he recalled the way the downed figure's comrades had ignored her, even stepping over her. She might not even be here willingly. If that was the case, she was a victim of the situation and didn't deserve what was happening.

Irwin moved past the small man with the blue fire and the tall, stately woman who had stepped over her companion. The latter had also managed to push herself back up, though she was clearly barely able to remain standing. Her silvery eyes drew Irwin's interest for a moment until he realized she didn't have a heartcard, but that they were her natural color. Tiny blue specs drifted within as she tried to glare at him. Sadly for her, the fear in her eyes made her deviance come across as weak.

Irwin ignored her and the others as he knelt next to the small, downed shape. 

'Her soulcard feels like it is trying to break itself apart,' Ambraz said, sounding almost curious. 'She has no handcards, probably because her soulcard causes them to shatter. Well, the ones that the people on Scour can make anyway. We can probably keep her alive with a single one, though she will need more to function properly.'

Irwin glanced at the figure, wishing he could just pull her into his soulscape. That would allow him to balance her and help her without any hassle. He hesitated as he pulled back the hood. Below it was a young face, blue-hair so dark it was almost black, with a pale, silvery face too thin to be healthy. Eyes wide with fear were looking at nothing, their deep blue, almost purple pupils dilated and staring into the void.

So young, Irwin thought, feeling a pang of sympathy. In his eyes, nobody this young deserved to have such a horrible soulcard. What was whoever had reforged her heartcard thinking?

'How long does she have?' he whispered to Ambraz.

'Ten minutes, maybe fifteen before it spirals completely out of control,' Ambraz said. 'Her soulcard is out of control.'

"Enough time then," Irwin muttered as he rose to his feet and glared at the other people in the restaurant. "Keep quiet!"

He didn't wait for a response as he focused slightly more on his otherself, which had already stepped before Ambraz, a card on top. 

-- Irwin's Soulscape --

'Let's make one that will fix it for a few days, and we can decide what to do later,' Irwin said. 'Ready?'

'Yes, I'll follow your lead.'

Irwin nodded as he sensed the disjointed song in the real world. If he'd have to create something to fix it permanently, he would have needed far more time. But a temporary fix? His large hammer struck down as he began directing the soulforce resonance in a complex pattern.

--

Lejingi felt her breath quicken as she saw The Tutor freeze, staring down at the fallen figure. She'd seen him do the same before, and wasn't surprised as a soft song began resonating through the soulforce. 

From the way they had appeared in a cloud of smoke, she knew exactly who the person was, though why she was here? Had she seriously joined with Lord Sachindrian?

The song strengthened, barely audible over the still present pressure, and Lejingi frowned. 

Why is he reforging? He can't actually think he can save The Failure, can he? Everyone, including the headteacher, has tried, and even if he could… Is he going to have us all stay like this for however long that will take?

She pushed her confusion away and focused on the people in the room that shouldn't be there.

Lejingi had only met one of them from this close before: Vaidara the Teleporter, one of the seven. That was when she'd been asked to make a specific card and been teleported from the Card School to the capital and back a few years ago. That didn't mean she was clueless to the others, however. 

The Empress is here. In person!

Lejingi felt confused and worried as she examined the leader of the Oxarite Empire, and the one who was partially in control of her own people. The woman's face showed nothing of what she felt, though Lejingi wouldn't forget the fear that had been on it a few moments ago.

The Empress. She could hardly believe it. And not just her either. 

Three of the seven, she thought. 

Although she'd never met her, she knew the tall woman with the angry eyes was Lady Selderine. For a long time, she had been the youngest among the seven, which had been called the six back then. Lejingi had no idea what her soulcard did, as it wasn't common knowledge. What she did know was that Lady Selderine was the eldest daughter of the now-dissolved Sachindiran family. Her father had worked against the Empress, trying to overthrow her, and had been banished for his attempt. Lejingi had no idea what happened after, but from Lady Selderine's remark, she guessed that the man had not survived.

That left one, and she tried not to look at Findekon Bluefire too much. The man's presence, even contained as it was now, made her feel all fuzzy inside. She recalled her heatmother's warnings about the man, to never get too close and fall for his wiles.

They are all here for The Tutor? No… Lady Selderine was angry just now, so-

Her thoughts faded as the soulforce song stopped, and The Tutor knelt down again. She noticed he had an Emerald card in his hand, which hadn't been there before. 

He can't possibly have made something to fix her in this short time, she thought, wishing she could rush forward and inspect the card.

--

Irwin gently took the small left hand and pulled away the glove, only to hiss in shock. The skin below was covered in lesions, a trickle of silverish blue blood flowing down. It almost looked like someone had cut thin but deep trenches with a blunt knife.

'Her soulcard is literally pulling her apart,' Ambraz grunted. 'You are going to have to get her to wake up and slot the card.'

Irwin pulled his gaze from the horridly disfigured skin and looked at the young woman.

"Wake up," he said, moving her head so it faced his. He tried to lock onto her gaze, but her eyes kept drifting away. "You need to slot this or you will die. Hey!"

There was no reaction, and he felt his annoyance grow. Had he just inadvertently killed someone? 

They are the ones that came barging in, a part of him said.

He turned and glared at the woman next to him. 

"You. What's her name?"

The woman's eyes narrowed more, and Irwin instantly knew she wasn't going to answer. 

"She's called Nimlarel Orebinder."

Irwin looked at the blue-fire man, who had managed to stand without keeping himself propped up with his hands on his knees. He smiled faintly.

"You might also know her as the Failure, or the Dark Cloud?"

Irwin felt a shiver run through the hand he was holding, and he looked down. The woman had reacted to the latter two names, and he saw her eyes sharpen minutely.

"Nimlarel," he tried, getting no more reaction. "Failure?"

The hand shivered again, and Irwin felt his annoyance grow. What the hell had he stumbled into now?

"Failure, wake up," he snapped, not caring he was poking at someone's pain.

The pupils dilated, then sharpened before locking onto his. There was confusion, pain, and fear in them.

"Slot this," Irwin snapped, waving the card before her eyes. "Or you will die."

The eyes widened, and Irwin saw a stubborn refusal grow.

"No… more… experiments," a thin voice escaped from the lips.

Irwin sighed. "No experiment. This will stabilize your soulcard for a while."

A spasm rocked the woman's body, and Irwin saw the moment of clarity fade.

"Slot it," he insisted, holding the card above her left hand.

For a few moments, nothing happened, then the card glowed, as did the first cardslot. Irwin released the card and watched as it slowly slid into the socket. The reaction was instant. The soulcard of the woman jolted, the resonance that had been spiraling out of control, on a path to destruction, seemed to almost purge towards the handcard. The reaction was more violent than Irwin had expected, but he wasn't worried. Even if it was a soulcard, it was so horridly made that it was barely more powerful than a powerful handcard, and the Emerald card he'd quickly made was far more stable. 

The soulcard's shrieking song swamped the calmer rhythm, and like a turbulent sea hitting a rock, broke before flowing around it. 

Irwin watched as the woman's eyes widened. There was a moment of pain-free hope, then they rolled back into her sockets, and she fainted.

Great, Irwin thought as he glanced at the woman. For a moment, he pondered leaving her there as he dealt with the situation that was still waiting for him, then he shook his head and gently picked her up. She weighed so little he wondered if she even ate at all. 

He carried her past the still, quiet people and put her on a table near Teacher Lejingi.

"Keep an eye on her," he said, before turning back to the people who had interrupted his meal.

"Now. For my question. What are you doing here? Also, add who you are."

As he spoke, he lessened the pressure from his soulcards slightly. Not enough for anyone to feel fine, but with Nimlarel no longer in direct danger, it was fine.

The woman let out a slight sigh of relief, her posture straightening, while two of the others in the room managed to stand up again. One was the man with the Source Flame, the other was the woman beside him. 

"I am Salezina Silvzeronvein, Empress of the Oxarite Empire. At least, for now."

Irwin's gaze snapped to the woman, and his mind blanked out for a moment. He'd expected her to be one of the seven. Not the damned Empress herself. Immediately, things made a lot more sense to him. If that faction she was at war with knew she was moving here, it explained why they sent two of the seven to deal with her. Although she had two soulcards, he already knew they weren't meant for combat. One was clearly meant for physical improvement, while the other was a metal one he was unfamiliar with. Compare that to both of the seven on the other side, one of which he could sense had a form of weapon summon, and the other had the flame; she would likely die in any direct conflict.

"And why are you here?" he said, before frowning. "How did you even know I would be here?"

"I am sorry to say that I had some people keep an eye on you," the Empress said, showing no remorse at having spied on him, no matter her words. "And I am here to request your help."

"The nerve," the other woman snapped. "How dare you ask for anyone's help, after-"

"Quiet," Irwin snapped, glaring at her. "I'll get to you later."

A glare and tightly pressed lips were his only response, and Irwin focused back on the Empress.

"Why should I help you and not the other side?" he asked. "By that matter, why should I help anyone at all?"

The Empress smiled sadly. "I hope you will help me to prevent more bloodshed. And why me? Because Sachindria will start striking the drums of war, in his misguided belief that our people should rule Scour."

Before Irwin could respond, the silver-eyed woman let out a strangled outcry.

"Lies!" 

Irwin didn't prevent her from speaking this time, curious to hear her reactions.

"Lord Sachindria is not interested in war! He just wants our people to stop spiralling into a slow decline like you have caused," she croaked, glaring at the Empress.

"Lady Selderine, I am afraid you are misguided due to your hatred for me," the Empress said softly. "I am sorry your father died after he was exiled, but not having him killed for his insurrection was already on the edge of my abilities as I told you at the time."

"You knew," Lady Selderine said, her voice filled with hate. "I told you his enemies would kill him. You could have imprisoned him on our old mountain ridge family estate, but no. You had to give that to one of your political friends!"

Irwin noticed the blue-fire man roll his eyes, visibly holding back a sigh, and he couldn't help but agree.

"Enough," he said, feeling tired all of a sudden. "I am not interested in your personal feuds; however, I am also not willing to let innocent people get killed because of some stupid war."

He glanced at everyone present.

"So, let's go with this. I will be leaving in a few days to a week. You have that long to find a way to explain to me which of your sides I should help, but I can tell you now… Whoever I help had better not go to war. With anyone. I'm interested in peace and quiet!"

"If you would, I can explain my perspective," the Empress began.

"Not interested," Irwin said, pointing at the door.

"You are all leaving now, but…" he glared at everyone for a moment. "If I find any of you use violence during your stay here, against each other or someone else-" He flexed his soulforce, this time holding nothing back and watching emotionless as all of them thudded to their knees, Empress included. "-I will help the other side. Now. Go, away."

He glanced at the group, fully expecting someone to complain, but none did. They shared some uncomfortable looks as they seemed to hesitate over who would exit the door first, but in the end, the Empress and her group left first. Lady Selderine came after, looking at Irwin and clearly wanting to say something, only to be shoved out by the blue-fired man. As the latter readied to leave, he glanced at the woman lying on the table.

"I, err, take it she won't be going to return with us?" the man Irwin still didn't have the name of asked, scratching his chin.

Irwin held his gaze until the other grimaced and looked away.

"Right. Never mind."

The man quickly closed the door, finally leaving the restaurant more or less in the state it had been in, with one exception. 

Every Ignitzian who had been eating and chatting before everything happened was now looking at him. 

Irwin had nearly forgotten they were there, and he scratched his chin.

"Think we can all just go back to our meal now?" he asked, glancing around.

There was a burst of laughter, and to his surprise, everyone turned to either their meal or the others. He did notice many covert glances, and he could hear all conversations going about what had just happened. Neither was a surprise, and he guessed this was probably the best outcome for now.

"Tutor, what are you going to do with her?"

Irwin turned to Teacher Lejingi, who was pointing at the young woman called Nimlarel, or The Failure, apparently. It didn't take a genius to figure out what had failed.

"Let's figure out what we can learn about her, talk with her, and then we will see," Irwin said. "The card I gave her is nothing but a temporary fix. I can probably create something more lasting, but that depends on her. You wouldn't know anything about her, would you?"

"I know a little," Lejingi said, as she poured herself another glass of water. "About a decade ago, there was a smith that-"

Irwin leaned back, quietly listening to the story.

--

"Empress…"

"Quiet," Salezina said absently, waving at the head of her guards. The man had been trying to tell her how horrible the situation had been, and how they should do something for the last ten minutes.

Should do what?

She looked at the ground as she walked back to the district they had occupied for the last few days. Before, she would have worried about an attack, but not anymore. As much as Lady Selderine hated her, there was no way she would attack her now. 

Not after The Tutor's words.

How can he be that powerful?

She shivered as she recalled the pressure she'd just experienced. "How…"

"He has at least three soulcards," Vaidara said softly. "Probably more."

Salezina let out a shuddering breath, not caring one bit how it made her look.

"Where did he come from? How have we never heard of him?" she whispered.

"He could be… You know," Vaidara hesitated before ending in a rushed whisper. "From there!"

The Empress wanted to shake her head. How could anyone be from beyond the endless deserts? There simply was nothing there. Everyone who ever thought differently had either barely returned, rambling about sand, or never returned in the first place.

"Even if he is, what does it matter?" she said after a while. "You felt that. Even if every soulcarded we know attacked him, he would probably just laugh."

"I don't believe that," Vaidara said. "He is strong, yes, but I don't believe he could survive against someone like Rustbeard or Hilbarin. He is a smith, and he might be able to pressure us, but that won't save him from a truly powerful soulcarded."

I wonder about that, the Empress thought. Still, as she recalled both of the soulcarded Vaidara mentioned, she hesitated. Both were fully devoted to battle, and she recalled having seen the battle against a Burrow Queen. It had been incredible.

And neither is on my side anymore, she thought.

"What are you going to do now?" Vaidara asked as they reached their temporary abode.

"I'm going to send a messenger tomorrow evening to ask if he will dine with me," the Empress said. "He seems to enjoy his food, and perhaps I can explain what would happen if Sachindiran becomes the new Emperor."

Nobody answered, but she saw the look of horror on the guard captain's face. The same was likely on those of the other Magnetizion Shadowguards' faces, but their helmets guarded her from them. She never dined with anyone, and she knew it was something seen as a high honor by mana. 

Yet I think The Tutor won't care much for it, she thought, feeling a slight hopelessness grow.

A few minutes later, she entered her private chambers, Vaidara a few steps behind. As the Teleporter closed the door, the Empress looked at her.

"Vaidara, help me create a clear narrative of what will happen if we don't win."

--

"Are you crazy?" Findekon snapped as he glared at Lady Selderine. "We are not attacking her now. Did you get dropped on your head as a child?"

"Findekon, mind your words or I'll make you remember who is the more powerful of us two," Lady Selderine hissed. 

Findekon stared at her, and as the almost crazed anger in her eyes grew, he snorted and turned around.

"Alright, that's it. You can all go get yourselves killed for all I care," he said as he walked back to the door. 

"Where are you going?"

Findekon ignored the unveiled threat as he pulled open the door. As strong as Selderine was, he was much faster.

"Hilbarin told me to come find him if I changed my mind. Which I just did."

Findekon pulled on his card and flashed forward in a tiny burst of blue fire, ignoring the screams from behind.

Sachindiran, you can go and tell anyone whatever you want, he thought as he reappeared on the edge of the town. I'd rather be an outcast than dead. 

Two bursts later, he was in the middle of the desert, the hills a distant line in the back.

"Besides, Lady Sandhrina seems reasonable," he muttered to himself. "I'm sure if I explain myself, promise to help clear her lands for a few decades, that she will not have me locked up."

Besides, I'm sure she will be very interested in hearing about our mysterious Tutor Irwin, and his promise to side with whoever managed to convince him!