Chương 21

Kirk stepped out of the Rift, sucked in the air of Eira, and then tensed, for two reasons. First, since becoming a Tier I Conduit, his ability to sense and discern energy had sharpened. He opened his eyes and looked up at the fluffy cotton clouds above, feeling strangely starved; the ambient energy here was thin and inert. As for the other reason… Kirk looked around, almost suspicious. He had come out through the Rift and no one looked toward him.

A few Conduits lingered around in groups, cataloguing their supplies or their gains after coming out, but the Rift's guards were near the low fence at the perimeter, peering out. It was mid-morning and a relief to find his Bestial Senses I didn't immediately buzz with the gazes. Okay, just remain low-key. Kirk nodded to himself. He took another breath, the discomfort in his chest growing. Yet he took three steps forward- and then collapsed.

"Y-young Master Albion!" One of the guards finally noticed. She came over and hovered over him as Kirk blinked up at the blue sky.

"Are you alright? You- ah! You've Ascended!"

"Take a care, lass. I'm sure the Young Master is aware of his circumstances," The older guard patted the woman's shoulder.

"He just needs a few seconds to adjust to the lower energy here." The woman hesitated.

"But to Ascend beyond the Rift… is…"

"I had help," Kirk grunted out the words. A strange cramp spread through him, concentrating on his Archetypes. Almost subconsciously, he had grown used to breathing in the dense energy of the Rift. But here, that didn't exist.

"Exactly! He is an Albion." The older guard spoke proudly.

"Sure, there are dangerous pollutions within the Rift- but isn't it possible to cleanse them? Undoubtedly the Young Master used expensive catalytics, it won't be an issue." Kirk wanted to tell the guard you didn't need to use catalytics, but his own adjustment was too distracting. Even as he felt confused and dizzy, that previously inert well of power stirred. Suddenly, Runic Battery II demonstrated its usefulness. Rather than absorbed from outside, the power flowed from inside, relieving the discomfort.

Kirk sucked in a sudden breath as it felt like blood flow in his veins had been restored. The older guard chuckled.

"Such Ascension were more common, in my generation. The desperate couldn't afford catalytics, yet to survive, they had to grow. But do you know why most still hesitated? It's for this very reason. After Ascending in a Rift, your Archetypes are used to a certain amount of energy. Coming back to the Eira, where the energy is thin, is miserable. It's like drowning.

"Not that Young Master Albion cares," The guard chuckled.

"The mental fortitude of the Albions is different. It's why they are one of the pillars of the Kingdom." Kirk tried not to groan or wobble as he got back to his feet. His Runic Battery II released a thicker stream of energy, the nourishing force circulating his body. Now that it was pointed out to him, he could practically see his Archetypes sucking in energy from the air of Eira and finding it wanting. As though she could read Kirk's mind, the younger guard asked.

"How can the higher Tier Conduits stand it then? Coming back?"

"They often don't." A sad look crossed the guard's face.

"As Conduits channel more power, they just come less frequently back to Eira. Sure, their bodies become better at holding energy, but that doesn't alleviate all of it. When they do show their faces, they stick to area around more powerful Rifts; those naturally leak, increasing ambient energy levels."

"Actually," Kirk spoke up, wanting to shift the conversation.

"Where is everyone now?"

"Ah, of course, you've been within the Rift for a time." A frown crossed the guard's face.

"There is a delegation in town. From the Imperial Sanctum." The other guard added in a low voice.

"Apparently one of our Conduits went into a contested Rift on the border. Considering the secretive Sanctum sent a representative, they must have taken something valuable…" Kirk nodded and walked away. As he reached for memories, he realized that his thoughts were noticeably clearer-- he had a vague impression that Imperial Sanctum was the major rival of their own Kingdom, without a headache. On the South slope, across from the road leading up to Peakhold, three billowing tents had been erected.

The two side tents were small, the size of cramped houses and relatively mundane. But the central tent looked fit to host a royal circus, with embroidered golden eagles swooping across the sides. Colorful tenants flashed in the wind, mostly split between crimson and emerald. Tall, harsh looking women and men with weapons strapped to their sides stood at the edge of the tents, dressed in loose-fitting tan robes.

Bestial Senses I almost prompted him to growl; as soon as Kirk came from the Rift area, several sharp gazes fixed on him. But after a few moments, those individuals looked away, their eyes peering elsewhere. Frowning, Kirk moved into the keep. The immediate area inside was clogged with Conduits discussing the strange delegation from the Imperial Sanctum.

"How valuable could the treasure be? The thief is only a Tier II Conduit-" A large man stood in the middle of the path, blocking the way. Yet then his conversation partner looked over his shoulder with wide eyes. He twisted around and gasped.

"Young Master Albion! A-apologies." The man scurried out of the way. The other Conduits bowed and moved to the side so Kirk could proceed. But after he passed through, they began whispering again, their soft words scratching at his back. A new source of gossip proliferated around him.

"Did you feel that?"

"Wasn't he just a levy less than a month ago?"

"Already Tier I?"

"Damn, that dense energy… I've felt Tier IIs weaker than that!" Kirk could feel it too, even as he kept his gaze close to the ground. The sense had been too vague at Tier 0 to notice it. But now that his Archetype had advanced, he felt some natural instinct toward other Conduits he saw. He could feel their presence, the weight of the energy in their bodies. Even with preparation, adjusting to the busyness of Eira felt painful. So he hurried forward.

Probably if Kirk's eyes hadn't been cast down to the side to avoid the crowds, he would have walked straight through the gates of the hold without thinking. But he was looking to the side. Along the base of the wall, where an absence stopped him dead. Last time, he had rushed through at night and an exhausted laborer had panted there- Kirk gritted his teeth. Another Conduit jerked to a stop, surprised by Kirk's sudden stillness. The man muttered and walked around him.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Kirk wanted to apologize. He wanted to swear he would never let something like that happen again. But he was also pragmatic. The people I can help, I will help. The people I can't, I'll remember. Kirk glanced around. Although the area immediately inside or outside the gate had plenty of Conduits staring at or discussing the delegation on the hill, that meant the gate itself was sparse.

Of the score of Conduits generally advertising their assistance, only a handful remained. Looking at one tired woman who leaned against a long wooden pole, Kirk could feel the energy of her Archetype, but realized something else; not all Conduits were created equal. The aging woman barely had a enough energy inside of her to fuel three of his Ember Is.

Kirk wondered if what he sensed was the baseline power of her Archetype, the current amount of energy she possessed, or if it was her Accumulation- Bestial Senses nudged him out of his reflections. Kirk looked up, right before he moved into the supply area. An assuming man with short brown hair watched him from across the courtyard. The man blazed in Kirk's awareness. Kirk offered the man a polite nod. The man smirked in response. Then leaned into a shadow and vanished. Kirk's skin prickled. I'm Tier I now.

But that's just the beginning. His entire body was sore from the days in the Rift and covered in sweat. But Kirk kept his head high, suddenly conscious of all the Conduits, gathered for the delegation from the Sanctum but perfectly willing to gossip about him if he gave them cause. Making an adjustment, Kirk marched toward the merchant quarter, but had to adjust his vector, because another crowd of Conduits was standing around there. As he avoided the clustered people, he paused.

In the middle of a crowd was an open area. At the center of the open area was a tall woman. Kirk raised his eyebrows. She was even taller than he was, with a dirty mane of auburn hair. She stood with her eyes closed, unmoving in the middle of the space. She put up a strong front, but Kirk's Bestial Senses I gave him a more nuanced view- her breaths were shallow and she was minutely trembling. He paused and took a closer look.

Her hands were wrapped in chains, connected to an iron ring that had been thrust into the dirt. This… doesn't seem fair. All it took was that thought for Kirk to wheel around. Despite his distaste for crowds, he walked toward the tall woman, left to stand alone. Almost immediately, the Conduits nearby swiveled around to look at them. Before they could speak, Kirk interrupted.

"What's happening here?" A Conduit stepped forward and answered.

"Ah, Young Master Albion- freshly Ascended? Ahem, that's the thief. The one who stole from the Imperial Sanctum's Rift-""Alleged thief," A nearby voice cut in. Kirk turned and paused; at the same moment the other figure recognized him- it was the healer's aide that had found Kirk and put him to work, right after he had recovered from his coma. The other gave Kirk a hesitant glance.

"Young Master Albion, I must apologize. I thought-""Don't worry about it." Kirk shook his head.

"My time with you was very informative. But anyway, it hasn't been proven she's the thief? So why is she chained out here?"

"No one knows for sure," The healing aide shook his head.

"Just-" The first speaker stepped forward, giving the healer's aide an annoyed look.

"What do you mean, no one knows? The Imperial Sanctum demanded she be turned over to them, for crossing into one of their claimed Rifts. For a while, it seemed like it would escalate, but didn't word come this morning from the Maester Council?" The man crossed his arms.

"A representative is coming in the next few days. Why would one come, if not to punish a thief?"

"But what did she steal?" The healer's attendant countered.

"Her belongings were confiscated. No rare Rift materials were found." The Maester's Council. Kirk felt a flicker of annoyance. The small gleaming kernel of his Glimmer Mage Archetype recalled all the baseless talk of pollution he had learned from the Maester's Council. Just as the two others were about to escalate their argument, Kirk interrupted.

"How long has she been out there?"

"Since this morning," The healers attendant grimaced.

"And it's been hot."

"Why hasn't anyone helped her?" Kirk wondered aloud, his dissatisfaction growing. The other Conduit seemed confused.

"Why would you help a thief?" Kirk turned and walked away. He passed through the crowd, which continued to whisper, gawk at the tall woman or at Kirk, and shake their heads. When Kirk arrived at the portly merchant's store, he didn't knock, just walked in. The man looked up. He had a vase in front of him with a variety of flowers spread out on the counter.

"You again," Tafaro Wheedle sighed.

"What- oh." The merchant blinked.

"You Ascended."

"Thank you," Kirk said. He cleared his throat and got to business.

"Do you sell chairs?"

Margery Wryten was the third child of an alchemist. But when her two elder brothers both proved more patient and attentive pupils, she had been very politely supported in other directions. But her entire life orbited around catalytics and the rare materials of the Rift. If she couldn't be an alchemist, like her parents and grandparents before her, the least she could do is become a Conduit who harvest them. Yet now… Margery closed her eyes. I miss home.

When father hears what has happened-"Why are you standing like this?" From the brief moment of respite, Margery was pulled. Her face creased into a frown as she looked at the blonde-haired young man in front of her. She had to endure the idle attention of the Conduits in this backwater place, but now they dared strut up to her and harass?!

"Because I enjoy looking down at you," Margery snapped. The boy just blinked at her.

"Oh. Well, in case you didn't like it, here. I brought you a chair." Now it was Margery's turn to blink. The young man truly did drag a comfortable looking canvas chair around and offer it to her. Her eyes narrowed and she studied him. His face revealed nothing, seemingly guileless. But it made Margery nervous that all the surrounding Conduits seemed to fall silent. Truthfully- The amount of time until she was collapsed would probably be measure in minutes, not hours.

Even for a Tier II Conduit- if one didn't have a Manifestation related to energy, being in Eira for too long would leave you depleted and miserable. Margery nodded and eased herself into the chair. She could almost hear her knees creaking as she did so.

"Young Master Albion…" A guard walked forward, looking uncomfortable.

"Is that appropriate? She is being held to stand trial."

"Literally stand trial?" The young man's face creased. The guard only seemed more hesitant.

"No, not stand- but it's tradition for a criminal to be given some hardship here in Peakhold-""If the trial hasn't happened, how do we know she is a criminal?" The young man asked. Meanwhile, Margery focus was on a different issue.

"You're Kirkland Albion?"

"Just Kirk is fine," The young man looked at her. Margery got a better look at him. He was sweaty and unkempt- that was one reason it was difficult to associate this young man with one of the four most powerful families in the Kingdom, the Albions. Plus, he wore a heavy Larian weapon slung across his back.

"Still, this is how it's done," The guard said.

"A night of reflection will make her more amenable to honesty-""She seems pretty honest now," Kirk sniffed.

"Actually, what crime are you accused of?" The guard said "Of causing an international incident."

"How?" Kirk prodded. After licking his lips, the guard said.

"We were not told." His gaze swept to Margery. She said nothing. The Administrator had already made it clear- until the underlying issue was solved, it was safer not to bring up the real reason for the friction between nations.

"It will be difficult to hold a trial if no one is sure what crime has occurred." The Albion boy observed. Then he pivoted and rummaged through his pack, producing a waterskin and a few fruits.

"With the leftover profits, I got you these."

"Why are you doing this?" Margery asked, even as her hands took the items. Kirk Albion shrugged.

"Because the sky might be unfair, but you aren't beneath it alone." Margery felt bewildered; what was he talking about?