Seeing that he was still skeptical, she continued. “For as long as you are a guest of the Akura family, you will be considered the owner of this house, whether you leave tonight or stay here the rest of your life.” Her voice echoed with pride, as though she took personal responsibility for the quality of her service.
Lindon couldn’t help admiring the Akura clan. They hadn't made the best impression on him, but they certainly weren’t cheap.
While he was here, he would squeeze out all the benefits he could.
“In that case, could I trouble you for some clothes?” He had been transported here without warning, and he only kept one change of clothes in his void key. “And please let me know if this is too much, but I could use some mental enhancement elixirs, madra restoration pills, and—if you can spare one—a parasite ring.”
He searched her face for reluctance as he tested the boundaries of the family’s generosity. She didn't bat an eye, giving a precise bow. “Of course, Underlord. Will there be anything else?”
Lindon didn't hold back. “Yes, as long as it isn't a problem. I'd like as many high-quality pure madra scales as you can find, some firewood, a hot meal whenever is convenient for you, sealed water jugs, preserved travel rations...”
She listened attentively, bowing when he was finished. “Your requirements will be fulfilled in haste, Underlord.”
Not only did the servant not balk at any of his requests, but everything was delivered within the hour.
Most of it he set aside for his training or daily use, but some items went into his void key—the restoration pills, some firewood, three water jugs, ten travel rations, a steel knife, and a sturdy travel blanket. Now, no matter when they sent him home, he had already made a profit.
The thought cheered him immensely.
When he finished his preparations, he locked himself into the basement: a vast, bare room the size of the entire floor above. He inspected the scripts himself, checking that he was truly isolated, and then released Dross and Little Blue.
The Sylvan Riverseed couldn’t wait to scurry out of his void key, chattering her frustrations at him like an irritated mouse. She was upset that he had left her alone in there for so long, glaring at him with a face the color of the deep ocean, hair flowing behind her like waves. She slapped his shin with one blue hand, leaving a spark of cool energy.
[You’re right to complain,] Dross said. [It’s actually wonderful out here. Beautiful sights, fresh air…oh, it’s amazing. And I can leave whenever I want to. Watch!]
Dross spun into Lindon’s spirit and back out, projecting his body of pebbly purple flesh, with one eye taking up most of his body. His mouth moved as he spoke, revealing sharp teeth, and he waved his two stubby tentacle-arms in the air as though demonstrating his freedom.
Little Blue folded her arms, sulking.
“Dross, do you think you’re helping?”
[Not helping you .]
Lindon tried scooping up Little Blue in his hand of flesh, but she scurried away from him. He had to chase after her, begging her to stop while Dross egged her on.
After ten minutes of running after her all over the basement—and trying not to step on her by accident—he finally caught her. She stopped in place, allowing him to get a hand around her, and he gently lifted her into the air.
She refused to look at him.
Lindon held up one of the pure scales that the Akura servant had brought. It was high-grade, roughly what would be produced by a Truegold. Since no one reached Truegold without harvesting aura, the Akura must have purified other aspects of madra to get this scale.
“I'm sorry. Peace?”
Little Blue turned up her nose at the blue-white coin.
“I have more, if this isn't enough.”
She squeaked. Sometimes he had to ask Dross to translate for her, but this time he thought he caught her meaning.
“Mine? You want me to make one?”
She nodded.
“We get these for free. As many as we want. I’ll make them for you myself when we get home, but while we’re here...”
He trailed off as she squirmed in his hand, turning her back on him.
Finally, he sighed and gave in, beginning the process of gathering his madra together to produce a scale. It didn't take long, but the quality and stability required to Forge a perfect scale put a strain on his madra channels. Which, in his condition, caused him real pain.
When he finished, holding a perfect translucent blue scale between his fingers, she turned back around. The scale was bigger than her head, but her mouth enlarged in an instant, and she gulped it down.
She flashed sapphire, giving a whistling breath of satisfaction and patting her stomach.
“I do apologize,” he repeated. “Friends?”
She chirped brightly and dashed up his arm, coming to rest on his shoulder opposite Dross.
[Good for you, holding strong in your negotiations while his spirit is wounded. You can't let him pressure you into helping.]
Two cold spots pressed against him as Little Blue suddenly grabbed the side of his neck. He felt an odd tickling as she sent her awareness into his spirit.
Since when had she been able to do that?
When she discovered the injury to his madra channels, she gave a high-pitched wail, flooding his spirit with her cleansing power.
Her madra helped, but it was a bit like throwing a bucket of cold water on a sunburn. He hissed and gritted his teeth, his spine straightening. Spiritual pain wasn't necessarily any worse than physical pain, but it was much harder to ignore.
The sharp spike of discomfort began to ebb almost immediately, and he could feel his spirit recovering already. Little Blue burbled apologies, leaning against the side of his face.
“I'm perfectly fine, see?” He turned to smile at her.
On his other shoulder, Dross gasped. [What is that? Do you feel that?]
Lindon hadn't before Dross pointed it out, but when he focused on his perception, he felt a dark hole in the center of the basement that he swore hadn't been there before. The basement was well-lit by scripts drawing their power from a madra furnace upstairs, but he could feel a black spot in the middle. Now that he noticed, he was starting to see it, like a puddle of smoke gathering on the floor.
Dross drifted closer, peering with his giant eye. [I don't ever...oh, it's her!]
Lindon recognized the madra shortly after Dross did, but by then it was too late. Akura Charity materialized from darkness in the center of the basement. Lindon immediately pulled Dross back into his madra channels.
Or he tried. His madra channels were blocked. He focused his spirit, pulling at Dross. The spirit remained where he was, peering curiously into the Heart Sage's eyes.
“Well,” Charity said, “this explains a few things.”
Chapter 3
Lindon stood still, quiet panic growing in his mind, as Akura Charity examined Dross. The spirit was the creation of Northstrider's Ghostwater, and as far as Lindon knew, was completely unique. Lindon could easily imagine someone as strong as a Sage murdering him in order to pry Dross from his Remnant.
But Eithan had sensed Dross' presence without understanding his nature. Lindon had to hope that others wouldn't be able to tell how valuable he was either.
[You're the Sage of the Silver Heart!] Dross exclaimed. [I didn't know much about you before the last few months, but when you blanked those minds, just bam! and they're out, I was impressed. And jealous. I mean, not jealous! Well, yes, I was...I was a bit jealous.]
“You bonded with a mind-spirit,” Charity said, still examining Dross. “And a surprisingly advanced one, considering how stable its manifestation is. Now I understand how you did so well on your mental tests.”