Published at 16th of October 2026 8:15 am

Chapter 181: Here and There

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I leave Allan in quiet shambles. I think hell be fine, but I dont know. I dont think hell collapse fully, but I doubt this new stress will do him good. Or maybe it will? Maybe my indefinite absence will be a much needed break from all I put him through, despite what he says.

Similce takes the news of my leaving much better than I assumed. Something about a protracted absence potentially making my cult fonder of me when I return, so long as I dont overdo it. I dont really know what shes talking about, but I dont think shes scheming anything at least not yet.

Perhaps the fact that we go out for one last hunt before I leave helps, making sure that everyone gets one more sacrifice. Naturally I take the opportunity to perform anthropomancy about my plans with the teleporter as I promised Allan. The signs are slight favourable depending on my actions. As good as I could hope for, really.

Jack and the Mud Hares likewise are fairly indifferent to the news. Nobles travel. Everyone knows that. We knew the academy was going to have a break, and planned around it. We worked to make things steady for it. Shouldnt be any new fights for a little while. Im a little uneasy about learning of these manoeuvring for my absence for the first time, but it is convenient. Regardless, I tell him to contact Allan if anything goes awry.

Greg and my others clients are likewise largely indifferent to my absence, though that is more expected given that our arrangements are more monetary in nature, and are less likely to require emergency action on my part.

Everything set, I return to my dorm and go to sleep after a long soak who knows when Ill get to take a proper bath again. Im still tense when I try to go to sleep and end up casting sleep on myself. An absurdity that I have to. Sleeping quickly in any situation was a vital skill back in Caethlon. Its distressing to realize that Ive lost it after only a few months of comfort. Still, comfort does have its own benefits, and Im not too upset at the loss.

I have Marcus wake me an hour before first light with a light breakfast of smoked fish and berries, then Im off for the alchemical conservatory.

The conservatory, being the primary supply of the schools alchemical and herbological plants in winter, is a large glass and metal structure a hundred and fifty yards long and nearly half as wide. It needs to be that big not just for quantity, but also quality, as artificially imparting the symbolic traits necessary for many alchemical recipes often requires space and is hard to do in masse, when it can be done at all.

All this means that its easy to get in (as it is a public facility, though harvesting is done through request forms) and easy to find a hiding spot in a particularly massive tree with cup like purple flowers, using every bit of stealth magic I can. Terry walks in wearing the Ocean Stone ten minutes later He does look rather dashing in it. The way the form builds him up into an imposing figure. He doesnt seem to have gotten much sleep though, with his hair in disarray and his gaze lingering on random spots.

Clara, who comes in with Carlyle, looks much more rested with Carlyle looking somewhere in between. Without nerves she slaps the Ocean Stone with exuberance and strokes it admiringly. Now that is some nice armour. It looks good on you. I hope you thanked Malichi properly enough.

He shrugs. Probably not, though Im a bit hesitant to ask what your idea of properly is.

She smirks. Im certain nothing like what youre thinking. Anyways, I didnt think Id be early. Where are the others ah. She nods to where Ligryn has just come in with two adults following her at a deferential distance. I recognize one as an agent from the academic incident. Ligryn looks the same as always, completely unperturbed at what theyre about to do.

Just waiting for Emily? She asks, assessing the group.

Terry answer with an upward half nod. Yeah. You know how she can be, especially in the morning.

Yeah Nice armour by the way. You should have gotten with him sooner.

Thanks Ill um keep that in mind.

You should, she says nonchalantly. You know, Ive heard a few of our classmates mentioning that they find you attractive. You can always take a page from your paramours guardians book and find a few more lovers. Go on a few trysts with the sort of wealthy nobles who are likely to express their affection with expensive gifts, just like our friend Malichi?

Yeah Um I dont think Ill be doing that. Thanks for the suggestion though.

She shrugs indifferently. Well, thats all right. Ive grown to expect and accept your lack of dedication to the cause.

Terrys eye twitches, but he closes them and takes a deep breath before taking several paces away. It does fill me with some satisfaction to hear his commitment to me, though I do wish hed be more resolute in it.

It takes another five minutes for Emily to appear. She seems to be in a completely neutral condition, as always. Neither tired nor energetic. Just gliding in as if shes only here because itd be a bother not to be. So how do we conjure this Huxley anyways? She looks to Carlyle.

He gives a cocky grin. He said just to call him. Huxley HUXLEY!

What No need to shout. Im right here Such as I am.

The man unhealthily thin, in his twenties but with shocking white coarse hair puffed up into a flame like shape more than a foot tall does not appear. Or at least he does not seem to. Rather, it was as if he was always there, and we all just suddenly noticed him. Strange, given how inappropriately attired he is for the weather. Open toed sandals and thin, orange, half sleeved tunic with an open chest to reveal ribs visible through his emaciated flesh.

Terry, Carlyle Clara! So nice to see you again! I must say, you chose a very nice spot to put me. Lovely flowers, even in winter. And all the people bustling through here at all hours. Its comforting.

Were glad you like it, Terry says, stepping forward with a grin that mostly hides his nervousness. We spent some time searching for a spot that matched your criteria.

Hm Yes, Im sure. But I see some new faces. Why dont you introduce me?

They go through each new member, and I learn Ligryns agents names. Theres a few pleasantries exchanged. Observations and the like. Though it seems mostly to just be going through the motions. Huxley has the mannerisms of the blind not looking when speaking or being spoken to, though he can obviously see given the care he takes to look at the flowers.

So, what did you call me here for, hm? I do love when you come around to chat, but I doubt you brought so many just for conversation. You must want to go someplace. I admit, you picked a decent day for it. Im pretty stable at the moment not in too many places.

The group exchange nervous yet hopeful glances. The fact that this teleporter is aware of the danger he poses is a good sign, at least from what Ive read.

Ah, yes. We need to go here. Terry shows him a folded map, and I curse at not placing a sense token at a better angle.

Oh! That is unexpected. Are you sure? My senses there are a bit muddled.

Youre saying you cant take us? Ligryn asks, hiding some irritation.

Oh no, young lady. I can take you there. In fact, it might be safer for you than other places, though itll cause more strain. Its a bit discrete there, you see. Harder to forget to put you in just one spot. No, Im more worried that I wont be able to bring you back.

We anticipated that, Terry says, trying to draw Huxleys gaze to him but failing. We just need you to get us there.

Oh well, no problem then. Now children, gather round. Better to do this quickly while Im still in a good mood. They do as he says and he chants for several seconds, thn suddenly stops. Oh, just to make sure; You want to be there and not here, right? Everyones faces pale and Huxley laughs. Just a teleporter joke. Dont worry. Its a good sign, really.

They dont look reassured, but neither do any of them bolt from the designated spot and a few moments later theyre gone as if they were never there the exact inverse of Huxleys non-arrival leaving the teleporter behind, stooping to examine the flowers with a placid grin.

I act immediately, targeting him with guidance and impaling his thigh with a poisoned knife. He cries out in pain and starts chanting, but the surprise gives me the time to close the distance in a few leaps, grab him by the throat and slam him against a tree breaking the attempted spell.

Dont bother, I say, my voice, height and face disguised by illusion, the blades poisoned. It doesnt matter where else you are because its there too, eating you from within. You wont last long, unless I give you the antidote.

His eyes widen in terror, watering with voice cracking. Wh What do you want? Hes at least a foot and half taller than me, but hes so thin that he feels lighter as I press him up against the tree. Maybe about the same weight as I was when I first came to the capital, not that Ive grown all that much in that time. Regardless, he feels frail, weaker than even his twiggy muscles would suggest. Like even a mundane could snap his arms barehanded. Is it a side effect of his teleporting, or just his own personal trait?

No matter, I answer his question as calmly as I can. Ive already made my threat, now I just need to get him to do what I want. I need you to send me to where you just sent them.

His expression shifts to something somehow worse than terror. Horror, maybe, or despair? Appalled at the very least as he responds with a whining dog like sound. Like hes about to vomit, or is trying to make me. No No. Youll hurt them, like you hurt me. I cant. I wont. Theyre my friends. They set me up here. This nice place. Theyre good I wont let you hurt them. His head spasms in denial, and his eyes dart about, looking at anyplace but me.

Listen! I shake him, trying to bring his gaze to me. Im not going to hurt them. Theyre my friends too. I need to help them, but I cant let them know about it. So I need you to teleport me where you took them. Not the exact same place, but close enough to find them. So, I can keep them safe.

I I dont believe you. Tears are pouring down his face, his eyes swollen so he can hardly see.

It doesnt matter if you do! I snap, twisting the knife. What matters is that burning feeling snaking up your side. Because when it reaches your heart, itll spasm and stop. A very painful death, I assure you.

I I Dont want to be here anymore. I dont want to be I dont I dont want I I want I

Hyperventilating, he starts to sort of fade, disappearing from my senses for a few seconds before suddenly snapping back into reality a moment later. I snap a finger in front of his face. Hey, stop that. Just take me where I need to go and Ill give you the antidote, then you go back to being wherever you want to be. But I need to go there; okay?

Somehow this snaps his attention back, and he looks at me with a dazed, wild-eyed grin completely devoid of complex thought, swaying as he speaks as if drunk. Okay sure lets do that. Just stay put Hehe. Stay Teleporter joke Hehe hee. Ill take you though or are we already there? Oh, I am why arent you? You are right? No, thats right, theres here and there. Theyre not the same. Here and there. Why arent they the same? Itd be easier if they were I think they are. Here and there Are there more? It doesnt matter. Here and there

Disquieted by the rapid decay of his allegedly good and stable day and his ability to understand the concept of distance (delirium is not an effect of the poison), I rush him along before he gets worse. Just take me. Take me and you wont have to think about this anymore. Take me and you can go back to having here and there be the same.

He grins with a sense of tranquil wonder. That sounds nice. Lets do that He continues his peaceful expression as he chants for half a minute. Its not until the very end that a thought twists his face into a devious grin. I move to act how I do not know but its too late. My ears pop as the conservatory is replaced by a bright blue and mostly cloudless sky, of which were suddenly a part, and rapidly plummet out of.

We twist and tumble as we fall from miles up over an ocean stretching from horizon to horizon without feature, me trying to right us and him trying (and failing) to snake his hands into my pockets in hopes of finding some conveniently labelled vial.

He screeches triumphantly, inches from my face, yet barely audible over the rush of air. Now give me the antidote and Ill let you live!

I curse myself for not seeing this coming. Its a good move. He couldnt just kill me outright by separating my bits, because that wouldnt give him the antidote. I might not even have it on me. But this way he flips the coercion. The poison had a chance of working because it was a time delayed threat, just like falling out the sky into a watery grave.

Unfortunately, I cant give him the vial, because then I would have no way to assure hell teleport me to safety. I cant even show it to him, because hed be able to teleport just it The ocean is getting closer very fast.

Ill take my chances! I shout, swinging a knife at his throat only for him to disappear without chanting and reappear on a parallel course to the ground some twenty feet away.

Fine! Die then! I have another friend. A healer! Theyll help me! Theyre kind! Unlike you!

Not caring if he lives or die, I extend my cloak and chant a glide spell, sending me shooting up relative to him, though, of course, still headed down relative to everything else. It does at least give me a good view of him finishing his chant and immediately disappearing. Odd, that he disappeared and didnt do the same he was always not there impression from before.

Okay, first things first. Im about ten miles from the ground and the air is frigid. Im in layers of enchanted clothes and gambeson, but what slivers of skin exposed by lack of prescience is already going numb, so I frantically adjust everything until no gaps remain for the knifelike air to seep past. Then, gliding around in a wide circle, I pull out my divining rod and try to figure out where I am.

The first divination is a simple directional one finding true north. Then I compare it to the sun and sigh in relief as I calculate that Im only about a thousand miles from where I left, rather than on another hemisphere. Of course, its hard to measure the suns angle accurately when Im gliding through the air and being buffeted by wind, but it should be good enough to be within a couple hundred miles. At the very least I can say with confidence that Im over the Arkothid-Hyclead Sea.

Next, I divine Terry, and sigh in relief again as the rod flashes hot at the midway point. Its faint, pulsing in and out, but it should put him only a couple hundred miles away. Doubtless, Huxley assumed I was a knight from the fact that I threw a knife into him and my general strength, so he thought I lacked the means to survive a fall over the ocean. Either that or, since he only seemed to have thought of deceiving me in the last moment, his mind was already at Terrys location, and so couldnt rapidly shift destinations.

Either way, Huxleys deceit was inept and I should arrive soon. He should have scattered me to the wind and then gone to his healer friend straight away from his perspective of me as Terrys presumed foe at least. Well, he wasnt thinking clearly, so Ill forgive him. Besides, with the speed that Im gliding at, I should be able to arrive sometime today at least if Ive correctly gauged my elevation.

I just hope Terry wont get into trouble before I get there.

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