Chapter 65: Ch.60: Interlude: Seeker Part II

Artifact: Arcansygnum

Designation: Utility Magitech

Particulars: Created out of necessity, this artifact is an amalgamation of psionic crystals and runecraft. While dwarven standards might not be at par with that of the sylvani that enables the creation of a similar artifact the telecry because of different rune craft paradigms, the arcansygnum still manages to come out on top in many aspects. Initially created to send and receive [Messages] due to the low number of [Relay Mages], this artifact has grown to encompass other utilities such as storage of preloaded utility magic all thanks to the properties of the versatile telephysic crystals. Originally, the arcansygnum was used for the dwarven Citadel, integrated as part of scalemail armor for the Enforcers who needed communication in the field hence its shape. Now that it has percolated to the privateers’ market it still retains its original appearance; an artifact as short as a bracer worn on the wrist. Archive of Magitech Items, Artifacts and Relics, Zentrahl Institute for Magitech Studies

The dwarven Deephold of Zentrahl; a moderately large dwarven city with a history that ran way back. It was a bustling metropolis, curved out from the deep stone of Eryth’s Underneath. With a population that was well  in the hundred thousands it was a given that it would be noisy and bright.

 An artificial sun shaped from an octahedron of chromastone crystals shone down from an impossibly high grotto ceiling, illuminating  the massive urban sprawl of tall buildings, spires and walkways. There were terrariums  for the dwarves with a green thumb reflecting the light as were the various buildings built of glass and dwarven steel that competed for height. 

The tallest structure was a gigantic obelisk which sat on the magic leyline running through the city. A six sided monolith, it was hard to miss its obsidian facade that twinkled with rune array powering relays.

Nonetheless, there was more to it than enabling city wide connection of sygnum communication; it also collected and filtered mana  to power the wards keeping the monsters out of the city. The construct was also the control tower that oversaw everything needed to keep a city running like clean air and water from Aertherite and Aqerite plants. 

Dwarven smithies and other crafting complexes that needed mana for their arcane forges were also connected to a mana grid that ran throughout the city . With all the activity, it would have been hot if the dwarves hadn’t already appropriated weather enchantments; the colossal cavern housing the city was therefore cooler than it had any right to be.

As a Seeker, Holly took the tunnels reserved for the Dreimarch, guarded from intrusion by golems and dwarven guards in scalemail and runic weapons. A cursory security check verified her credentials and the chrysalflier was picked up and moved into a steam lift  for transport with Holly still inside of it. From there, it was a couple of hands free pars as she waited for her steamlift to dock several stories beneath the city.

“Welcome to the Citadel, Seeker Holly, please remain in your craft as [Deep Cleanse] protocols are in effect,” an prerecorded voice came through her arcansygnum. The Chrysalflier was retrieved by a steam crane and placed into a decontamination chamber. Hot steam of alchemical mixtures billowed out from vents around the craft, until Holly couldn’t see past the nose of the vessel as the craft was repeatedly blasted to scour away dirt and detritus.

 She’d turned off the heat detecting enchantments on the canopy of course, otherwise she would have seen red mist around her craft. Only the tinting enchantments were left on because after the steam, the vessel would be illuminated by a harsh light to kill any spores and little crawlies that might have piggybacked on the craft back to the Citadel.

The entry of maintenance crafters into the chamber was her cue to open the canopy and exit the vessel. A pop of a latch and a hiss as air escaping from the helmpit preceded her disembarkment. 

The maintenance crew saluted her as they lugged a giant hose made from the vascular system of a wurm.  While Holly headed to the exit ramp a craftsman tapped somewhere on the craft’s hull and the metal receded to reveal a valve which they clamped the hose on and secured a gasket to let it do its job. It was a three-way system that replenished magicore, added water and retrieved spent magical fuel.

Along the docks were also other crafts similar to or different from hers also being worked on after missions or being loaded with utilities for another. Others were designed to carry more than two dwarven operatives for long haul assignments.

The ramp was a hubbub of crafters, Seekers, Keepers and the occasional Enforcer walking to and from other arches where steam lifts conveyed them to other parts of the Dreimarch’s main building; the Citadel.

‘First to get over with the debriefing, see how much time I have left before they toss me out…again,' Holly thought, massaging a crick at the back of her neck from sitting too long. She wanted to get it over with, change, go get something to eat…and drink maybe that new spirit made from mature Moonflowers called Moonshine. She needed something stiff for sure. But then she remembered that she had to check on her niece and grimaced at her indecision.

By steamlift she went down several floors to the debriefing room. Her summons came from the upper echelons and it left her feeling nervous.Administrators, especially the one she was going to see  could be very intense.

As she got there Holly hesitated in front of the door. There was a plaque with the name Ingrezh Embersteel. She inhaled and exhaled as she tried to loosen the knot that seemed to have coiled itself in her stomach. The hallway was noisy with more dwarves conversing as they walked, others were looking at something in their mage slates, the hum of magical lighting enchantments above eerily sounded like droning. It felt stuffy to Holly; especially after being Topside for a couple of months.

‘Someone should be fixing those chromastones,’ Holly frowned. ‘Ugh, let me get this over with.’

“Seeker Holly, lass I know you’re out there. Do not keep me waiting or so help me—”

Holly literally blundered into the room; she could not stand having people rubberneck her while she stood in front of the door. The older dwarmaid behind the desk squinted at her with crescent shaped eyes of amusement behind a pair of pince nez. Holly stood stiff in deference. The ancient looking woman had the same facial features as her but with vivid crimson hair that looked as if she was wearing mane of fire

“At ease Seeker; take a seat and provide your report.” Administrator Igrezh Embersteel drawled in a husky voice. She was getting well in years yet she hadn’t retired; rather her retirement had to be postponed because the Zentrahl's branch of the Citadel had its hands full. All said, she was still spry at her two centuries of age. She was Holly’s grandmother, but in her office, she was the taskmaster who ran a tight ship even if she had to run her own kin roughshod.

“Well, are you waiting for the steam whistle to go off before you gather your wits about you lassie?”

“My apologies Administrator, “Holly started. She retrieved the memory crystals from one of the many pockets on her leathers and handed it over to the Administrator.  The woman took the crystal and slotted it into a recess of her desk. A phantasmal representation of the key moments the crystal had recorded bloomed from the desktop like a hologram. 

One hand on her pipe, she used the other to swipe across the illusion, eyes scrutinizing every detail.  However, past a certain point, she frowned, tapped her pipe against the ashtray and stuffed a few dried leaves, rekindling the pipe with a fire magic. Ingrezh looked at the picture again, and then glanced at Holly.

“ What happened to the memory crystal?” Administrator Ingrezh asked with a scowl.

“ I have no idea Ma’am, I believe the only thing strong enough to disrupt a memory crystal’s recording was a powerful psionic spike,”

“Were I not seeing this, I would scarcely have believed it myself. This changes things. Was the source identified?” Ingrezh Embersteel turned her eyes to the Seeker with a raised brow.

“ I am afraid not ma’am; the mercenary company at the scene mentioned something about an invisible weapon that followed the psychic disruption. They barely escaped with their lives. However, according to the records of the interview with the shipmaster of the Blackbeard Company we believe the originator was a Void Syndicate's [Psychic]…”

“But?” Ingrezh ’s brow crinkled, creasing her wrinkles further. She swiped back a little then panned out the illusion to get a closer look at the aership engaged with a group of people wearing foreign garb.

“ After that I have no leads to go on—there was an incident with a nearby dungeon,” Holly hesitated. She was basing her inferences on conjectures.

“Ah, you did well despite the odds,” Ingrezh  drawled and exhaled smoke. She set her pipe aside then swiped down the phantasmal recording, minimizing it into a tiny preview. “And that weapon they used. Was it magic or magitech?”

“I was unequipped to get accurate readings on account of the mana fall out but I would think it wasn’t wholly magical.”

“Mmh, astute deductions Seeker Holly.” Her gaze flitted from the memory crystal to her. “ However, we were too late to respond to the manaseism our thaumoflux detected arrays, otherwise we would have taken more direct measures.”

“I want you to take the memory crystal down to magical inquisition, maybe those baldheads will find something new,” she said, puffing another ring of smoke. Then she put down her pipe and steepled her hands across the desk.

“I received the [Message] concerning developments at the Cornieva manor,” she said, her eyes glinting with fire. “ A new Mage Crafter in Aldmoor with sylvani ties huh? I cannae think what that old treehugger's thinking playing another proxy war on human lands but this changes things.”

“Am I to initiate contact?” Holly asked, a bit antsy.

“Aye, though your mission remains as is, I would want you to initiate contact…discreetly of course. Learn about what kind of person our little mageling is. I would think that his being at Ascal Cornieva’s mansion was just a fluke but, we can never be too sure. Your mission briefs will await you after your leave. You have three days. Dismissed.” Ingrezh  waved her off.

Holly nodded, receiving the memory crystal before she gave the Dreimarch’s salute and walked out, finally relieved to be away from her grandmother’s overpowering aura. It felt like being smothered on all sides by hot rocks and outside the door, she paused to catch her breath before walking to the steamlift—

It was time to meet her favorite niece and she had something sweet to share; after she passed by the Magical Inquisition of course.

At twenty years, Holly’s niece had already picked a craft for herself. She also ran the house while Holly was away on long missions and as a result, she’d matured faster than her peers. So when finally made it home, Holly found that Seria had already set the table.

“Auntie Holly!”

“Seria! How's my favorite niece?”

The two embraced. The tween was as tall as her aunt; and for a dwarven maiden Holly considered herself to be head and shoulders above others.

“I didn’t know you were coming back so soon; grand grand said you won’t be back for a while,” Seria said as they regarded one another at arm’s length.

“Ah, this and that happened. Sorry I wasn’t able to hail ahead.”

“No worries, it’s no skin off my back auntie. Anyway, let me get more utensils while you settle.”

A clutter of utensils later, aunt and niece were dining and laughing like they’d always done. Discounting their workaholic matriarch, the two cut a happy family enjoying their lunch. They bantered about the latest gossip on the street, how Seria’s job and studies were getting on; just the standard fare after every one of Holly’s missions.

“You staying a while , Auntie?”

“Nah, I wish. Though I’m going to be around for a couple of days.”

“Awh, I wish I could join the Citadel and become a Seeker too.”

“Haha, with those homely hands? The Citadel might seem like they have the easiest jobs but no, we see combat from time to time.” Holly chuckled. “How far is your arms training?”

“Not that bad,” Seria shrugged, “At least it’s enough that I used it to catch our lunch and dinner.”

“No way!” Holly gawked, play acting. “Two direhogs? Way to go Seria.”

“Auntie, you’re doing it again,” Seria cringed. “You’re not a tweenager you know.”

“Ugh, Ustrina’s ti—“

“Auntie, language!” Seria gasped then chuckled.

“Haha, sometimes the job rubs off on me eh?” she rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment. “Anyway, I got something,” she added, fishing out a small wooden container from her pouch which in actuality was just a miniaturized bag of holding with twice the capacity. 

“What is it?”

“Open it…” she prodded her.

Seria opened it to find three rows of tastefully decorated cookies; one row per flavor. They smelt heavenly.

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“Confectionery…what’s new about these?” she asked with enquiring eyes.

“Seria…” Holly pouted.

“Alright…fine fine.” Seria placated as she took one and bit into it. Her eyes twinkled. “So sweet it makes my teeth hurt,” she squealed. “How?”

“Got them on my mission, some human found a way to glaze sugar from fruits I think. You like them?” Holly said, proud of her haul. 

“Yea, I think I kind of do. Better than those exotic teas you keep bringing home. I’ve got a whole cabinet of them in the kitchen.”

“Ahaha, sorry…maybe I’ll take a few off your hands; I think I might just have gotten something to take the tea with.”

She’d bought a crate full of the sweet things and snacked on them every single time she got the chance. In fact, she liked the xazhu flavored ones that balanced bitter notes with a sweet minty aftertaste and also had the benefit of keeping her alert. She had found herself addicted from the start with the other candy made of the same stuff…now if she could just pair it with a good drink, hot or not.

“Auntie, you’re daydreaming….” Seria remarked, amused at the dopey look on her aunt’s face. “I wish I could come with.”

“If you pass Seeker certification I might just bring you up one day,” Holly winked.

“Count on it Auntie,” Seria said feeling pumped.

“‘lright, I need to go rest now before the potion of wakefulness wears off, else you’ll be scraping me off the floor. And save some cookies for me will you?”

“Auntie Holly; I am sure you ate a burlapful or a crateful or something.”

“Haha, see ya,” Holly made herself scarce as she went to sleep. A persistent yawn told her just how close she was to having the potion’s effects elapse on her. And she quickly fell asleep in their shared two-bedroom apartment.

“By the Great Bearded One, my head’s killing me,” mumbled Holly, jogging through the streets as she headed to the Citadel’s headquarters. She was regretting every moment of her overindulgence of alcohol over her break.

From her family apartment to the Citadel was a magitech carriage ride away and she was there before a par had even elapsed. Holly hated it because it was public transport and she had to share it with dusty miners, sweaty smiths and shroom farmers. 

The intercity steam carriage was well-used and maintained nonetheless, but it was soon going to be phased out in favour of magical levitation using Tertherite repulsion magic.  Aertherite crystals would have also been a viable mana source but It was hard to find and mine below ground. The few pockets of Aertherite  found within subterranean forests needed some time to replenish else they risked harming the ecosystem; who said dwarves did not like nature?

Arriving at the Citadel, she went through the checking in process. Checking her courier chute for briefings she found a folder of vellum waiting for her. She retrieved the mage slate from within and activated it, reading it for directions of her next mission. 

To her surprise, her first stop was the Arcane Craft and Weapons Smithy. She groaned; that bunch would always tend to get lost in their own talk whenever new vehicles and weapons were being requisitioned from their department.

Entering the hangar  dock after riding  a steamlift she found the yard bustling with the magitech engineers and crafters working on a sundry of vessels both new and old. There were ongoing arcane weapons tests from afar; using her goggles, she zoomed in on a bulky craft that had thick hull plating and turrets. It was blocky and had three pairs of articulated mechanical legs.

‘ A new type of Gandr? That thing looks like it could go toe to toe with a brood queen and come out on top.’ She mused as the lift clunked to a stop. She looked around for the partition with the details on her mage slate, head on a swivel wary of the movement around her. There were crates passing on an overhead crane, golems pushing carts, vessels being flown around for test runs  or a group of crafters running through after a work break.

She double checked her mage slate again and found the dock she was looking for. There was an even stranger craft in the docking bay.  It was about the size of what she’d helmed before but with more features like one more pair of more folded back wingsail extensions that were three quarters the length of the craft.

Its front was still the same geodesic design but rather than spherical, it was more ovoid .  Its colours varied between jungle green, brass yellow and cedar brown in swirls which had no discernable patterns.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she found that the magitech engineer was one of those whose specification pointers were cut and dried.

“[Magitech Crafter] Thorir?” she called out as she approached.

“ Ho?” the crafter looked up from his own mage slate. “ Ah, our first test [Helm],” the male dwarf smiled. He was relatively young but already, he sported a well-groomed beard, braided and tucked into his work coat to keep it out of his tasks. He also had a fade with a runic tattoo on the sides of his head and a bun— unconventional but a sight for sore eyes. If Holly wasn’t going on a mission, she would have asked the dwarf out.

“First test [Helm]?” Holly queried, waving away her delusions.

“Aye, this here craft was in the pipeline when we were asked to have it ready in three days for you.”

Holly suppressed the urge to grimace.

“Is that why you’re the only one around to give the breakdown? Not that I mind of course.”

“That’s right; me and the lads pulled all-nighters; the Darner type II Chrysalflier,” he beamed despite his tired eyes and scruffiness. “The documentation you need is in the helmpit but I’ll humour you anyway.”

“Mmh, go on...”

“First the second iteration is a craft capable of three configurations of motion; it is fossorial, aquatic and aerial…”

“Eh…okay?”

“The frame is an enchanted lightweight fae steel chassis, four two pairs of aer wings made from resilient sylphid worm silk and fae steel bracing, dwarven metal hull and the usual choice weapons. 

The usual magical detectors in the first iteration  also go into this fledgling but the range has been increased to accommodate for the wide blue yonder. Now this is not a battlesloop—,” the crafter glanced at Holly to ensure she was paying attention and continued, “It was never meant to be; it’s a scout vessel that gets you in and gets you out. It also seats five comfortably instead of three, and includes a larger living carriage-scow than  you’re used to for long hauls.”

The propulsion system is classified and experimental but all you need to know is, it uses a Tertherite crystal mana source for subterranean maneuvers but switches to pure Aertherite once you’re on the surface. It’s basically silent in operation; no moving parts involved.”

The crafter paused to catch his breath. 

“Aye…so weapons remain the same eh? What was that loud weapon they were testing?”

“Oh that?” His eyes drifted towards the area where an Aegis enchantment was in effect as a weapon hammered away at targets made of stone slabs of varying thickness.

“That’s the Vanagadr. Now that right there… is a battle frame,” he grinned.

‘You people have funny naming conventions.’ Holly thought amused.

“May I?” Holly requested asking if she could test it out. The sooner everything checked out the sooner she would be out above ground. Every moment spent dithering was time the trail went cold. And also, it might be the Trinaiad in a few days and she did not trust Hadrac to indulge himself.

“Be my guest,” Thorir handed her another mage slate containing the vessel's operation manual. “Now If you’ll excuse me…I have some sleep to catch up before the next slew of maintenance requests grinds me to death.”

‘That’s so morbid…’ Holly shook her head. She walked up against the newer chrysalflier, taking notice of where a short climbing platform had been sidled near the vessel’s hull and tapped where she thought the canopy’s pressure plating to be five times, timing the sequence with her knuckle.

 The force sensing component on the steel hull registered the default security gesture and the canopy hatch detached by itself, venting pressure. She made it as if to lift it up but it astounded her by opening it up all the way letting her peer into its innards.

“ Ah, nifty. They finally arcanised that too,” Holly muttered 

The seat and instrument panels had undergone significant alterations including the additions of new gauges and instruments. The control yokes were also completely different and caught her eyes. They were the  same yokes with leather stitched grips but they seemed to hover to the left side and the right of the helmpit's  seat as though through [Levitation] magic. On the helmsperson side were also the usual pedal shifters.

‘Well, nothing to it. Guess a Seeker always learns on the job,’ she thought to herself as she hopped in. As soon as she had settled in the seat, she knew that neck cramps were going to be a thing of the past. Flicking through the documentation to the chrysalflier, she read through to the parts where she started it up and what controls to use.

 It barely took a par to get going. She found the starting rune focus; a tap activated it and the canopy hatch retracted, taking on transparency as it descended. She suddenly found herself sitting in a bubble that had a 270 moments spherical view. Then she realized the bubble was longer and extended beneath the whole helmpit. She had forgotten that when the crafter said when he meant bigger.

Holly panicked feeling exposed. ‘Rust! Who approved this design?! Don’t they know we get up close and personal with monsters?

By then all the runes workings and foci, including the large psionic orb that was considered the mind of the vessel  had already gone through the cyclical process of checking everything was in order. The chrysalflier let out a rumble a little, indicating that it was ready for use.

“Well then, seeing as everything checks out and no craft has ever failed in the history of the Citadel…better get going. I’ll grab my gandr on the outer hangar dock,” Holly muttered, before she fed power to the craft through the pedals.

Like its muse, the feedback was instantaneous, and it lurched into the air slamming Holly into her seat as its quad wings flicked open. 

“Rust and dross!” she swore as the craft stabilized. The [Farspeak] rune on the instrument panel crackled.

“ Dispatch to Seeker Holly, do you require assistance?”

“ Uh, yes…open the bay doors,” She groaned. ‘I really need to make a habit of using harnesses,’ she thought as she secured herself appropriately.

“Acknowledged Seeker, Safe ‘journs.”

Holly eased the control yokes…slowly. Gossamer wings pulsing with Aer mana lifted a craft they had no business holding aloft. Overhead, a large hatch slid apart, venting steam as it  opened into a yawning tunnel. The chrysalflier ascended into the aperture beginning what would be the longest haul Holly would have. She looked at the empty seat beside her and sighed, “Grow up fast Seria…got one more slot for adventures with your name on it.” 

 

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