Chương 47

Healer Michaels looked down at Kirk.

"Are you pleased with yourself? With this publicity stunt?" Kirk looked away from the two figures standing over his palette and at his copper band. Your Feat Tough Body has gained a ✷! Your Feat Suspended Runes has gained a ✷! Your Manifestation Vengeful Ember I has grown to [6/10]!

"Kinda." He chuckled. The Healer threw his hands up into the air.

"I don't know why I bother. You are- bah. Bah, I say!" Michaels stomped away. Clara chuckled and watched him go, before turning to Kirk.

"You do need to be careful, though. You lost a lot of blood, half from being dragged here. And you have a message from the Administrator. She wants to see you."

"Did she say why?" Kirk groaned at the thought of going and talking right now. Although his wounds were painful, his body felt loose and boneless; he had spent all his tension killing geos. The thought of talking brought a frown to his lips.

"The rogue Ascension, I believe," Clara said.

"You were there; you saved his life. So they want your input." Kirk sighed, but nodded. He allowed himself a full hour, just lying and recovering. He listened to the sounds of the Healers' quarter. The noisescape had changed since his first visit. Rather than moans and sobs, there were sharp shouts, calls for help, diagnoses of the severity of the injuries, then the patter of feet as an individual fetched Healer Michaels.

Occasionally there were gasps and curses, as Conduits donated their energy and were left spiritually shriveled. Kirk allowed himself a satisfied smile. At least I know I helped this change. But resting on his laurels in the healing pallet couldn't last forever. Kirk sighed again. He pushed up and stood. He plucked his Larian Saber off the ground, wincing as his torn bicep complained. Definitely, he needed to get another kite shield before he went back into the Rift.

Because he didn't want to do it, Kirk made himself head toward the Administrator's quarters and meet with Ranya. He was brought up to her office once more. She didn't even look up from papers in front of her. Her quill scratched across the pages as she spoke.

"What do you want to do with the kid?" At the very least, Kirk appreciated that she didn't waste his time. He thought about it.

"Where is he now?"

"Detained." Kirk nodded.

"Let's keep it that way for a time. During Ascension Day, he can be one of the frontline defenders. To pay back his debts." Finally, Administrator Ranya stopped writing and looked up.

"That's it?"

"I think it's better than another farce of a Tribunal." Kirk shrugged. Ranya snorted.

"At the very least, I cannot help but admire your efficiency. Fine, let's go with that. If nothing else, we gained quite a bit of information about the scope of the threat. And if this brought a hundred…" Kirk nodded in agreement.

"Yeah. It will be bad. We really need the fortifications."

"Before you go, we've set a date." Ranya looked at another piece of paper.

"In ten days, we will have all the details worked out; precision is required, to be sure of the process. Who's Ascending and where, in what order. All that. Three days later, we go for it. Let's pray it's enough." Kirk nodded and turned to go. Right as he crossed the threshold, the Administrator called after him.

"Oh, and the patrols have been called off. You can focus on the rift, if you want. Will you be able to Ascend? There is a place for you." Kirk hesitated. He wanted it. But he shook his head.

"I won't be able to accomplish my Mission in time." Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"A shame. But I suppose you are very fresh to Tier I, aren't you? Well, keep up the good work." Kirk waved and departed. Finally with no responsibilities, he went through his usual post-Rift tradition. Meatpies and a hot bath. As he exited the bath and walked back to the housing quarter, several Conduits brightened and waved at him. Kirk nodded in response, even as he felt uneasy. It was a relief when he closed his eyes inside his tent and could just be.

Obviously, just as he began to doze, a tapping at the front of his tent woke him. Kirk groaned and stuck his head out.

"What is it?" The runner passed over a message.

"An invitation from Leonard Pawnce to a celebratory feast." Kirk frowned in vague irritation at the invitation, but forced that emotion down. True, he wanted nothing more than time in bed. But also, when Kirk had stepped forward to fight against the wave of geos, Leonard had been right there with him. Even now, Kirk felt an ache when he thought about the way Maett and Zuri had left. To protect him, they had claimed, yet it wasn't a good feeling. Tafaro Wheedle, too, had gone, although that had felt less personal.

He didn't have many relationships. Plus- His stomach rumbled. The invitation was to a feast. Kirk rubbed his cheeks.

"Is this necessary?" Melly yawned. Leonard Pawnce looked away from checking in the mirror whether the tangerine or emerald cravat was more becoming. He frowned.

"Of course it is. Do you think it's a coincidence he keeps acting like he doesn't remember me? We have an unsettled debt between us. This all is just posturing."

"If he doesn't remember you, isn't that a great excuse not to repay the debt?" Leo shivered. Seared into his brain was the image of Kirkland Albion's shaking shoulders, as the two stood at the edge of the lake abutting the Albion's summer home. A body floated, face-down, in the water in front of them.

"He remembers." He suppressed the tremor in his hands and selected the emerald. With long steps, Leo swept from his personal chambers to the larger, central tent of his dwelling. Servants in matching uniforms made small adjustments to place settings. Silver plates and knives gleamed in the torchlight. Through the opposite entrance, the first smells of roasting meat wafted. Jenkles appeared at Leo's elbow.

"The most expensive, or the second most expensive wine?" Leo's forehead scrunched together.

"I… don't know. Will Albion be able to tell the difference?"

"You know better than I, Master." As always, Jenkles bowed and dodged responsibility without hesitation. Leo wavered. He took a seat. Yet wouldn't Albion be even more exhausted than he? Likely he wouldn't bother to come around. So Leonard cleared his throat.

"Alright, let's just go with the most expensive. We have to live it up while we can, don't we?"

"Excellent choice," Melly grinned.

"I'll take a glass, there's a good man." Leo frowned at her.

"Why are you so cheerful? You had to fight today. You hate fighting." Melly blinked.

"I hate the burden of protecting a slug like you. But fighting? Nah, how could I call myself a Conduit if crushing geos didn't get the blood pumping?" Leo pointed to himself.

"I didn't enjoy today. Not at all."

"As I said, a slug," Melly nodded. Then she sniffed the glass that Jenkles had poured for her and sighed in pleasure.

"Finish that quickly. If he knows we've opened the wine without him- ah, by the wound, who am I kidding," Leo tied his emerald cravat around his neck and then looked with longing toward the kitchen area.

"I've never known an Albion to arrive on time to an invitation. We might be waiting until midnight. At least at that time, he will probably be properly pickled-" Two guards pushed their heads through the front flap.

"Young Master Albion has arrived." Leo's jaw dropped. And there he was, golden-haired and intense, gazing around with interest at the table spread.

"Oh, is the food not ready?"

"Uh." Leo blanched. Geo's balls. He came early? Before he could formulate a better response, Albion turned and looked Leo in the eye.

"I have to thank you. For standing with me when the geos came. You were a great help." Leo's cheeks began to itch. He didn't like this subtle, aggressive Kirk. It meant the streak of cruelty was much more difficult to see coming.

"Sure. How gallant of us, right? Would you like a glass of wine?"

"Wine." Albion tilted his head to the side. His eyes glittered like honey.

"Huh. I can't remember what it tastes like." Why, because you get dead drunk every time you touch the stuff?

"Here you are, Young Master," Jenkles bowed to Albion.

"Try some." Leo's lips twitched. Why are you bowing even lower for him than you do for me? Kirk took a sip. He nodded.

"Good enough."

"The flavor is better by the gulp," Melly said, demonstrating by finishing the rest of the glass. Albion mimicked her. Jenkles stepped forward and refilled both their glasses. Trying to recover the momentum, Leo picked up a goblet.

"Give me a splash, Jenkles. Let's do a toast. To the genius of Kirk Albion-""Unfortunately, sir, this one is empty," Jenkles interrupted. Leo's hands moved, but he stopped them before they nervously adjusted his cravat. Instead, he cleared his throat.

"So much wine on an empty stomach isn't… well." Kirk Albion nodded.

"It would have been better if the food was ready. A vein throbbed in Leo's temple. You always twist the knife, don't you, Albion? But your polite behavior… geo's balls, what are you going to ask of me?