Published at 21st of February 2026 8:33 pm

Chapter 70 Limits

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When Mirian woke, it took her a moment to overcome her disorientation. It couldnt have been more than a few minutes. The wand of levitation was still lying in a patch of dirt where it had rolled. She could tell shed have a nice handful of bruises. When she stood, her vision briefly narrowed, and the nausea hit her again. She stumbled forward and braced herself against a nearby tree, the tactile sensation of the rough and cold bark grounding her.

She pocketed the wand, then slowly made her way back to town, occasionally stumbling as she walked.

What is going on? she wondered. Is it the time loop? Something with whatever is in my soul? She needed to talk to someone about it. But who?

The most obvious place was the hospital. The priests knew soul magic, even if they called it something else, and more importantly, they knew the soul magic of people, not just of plants like Xipuatl. She made her way there. Something about her must have looked awful enough, because after talking to the desk attendant, she didnt need to wait long. She met with Cleric Marovim in one of the ritual rooms, a younger man who shed seen before at the hospital, but never properly met. His dark hair and olive skin marked him as south Baracueli, and both of them were happy to speak Cuelsin. Northern Baracueli rarely bothered to practice the language much, but it was the language she knew better.

As he pressed his hand to his heart, Mirian was pleased to discover she could feel the faintest signs of him working soul magic. It was much like the subtle tingle she felt at arcane magic, but different. As with arcane magic, it was an entirely different sense that defied easy description, but she thought of it as having a different color.

Cleric Marovim closed his eyes as he worked, hands hovering over Mirian. After a moment, he opened them. You have Soul Destabilization Syndrome. Probably the worst case of it Ive ever seen.

Mirian wracked her mind, but came up with nothing. Whats that?

Your soul is chaotic. Parts of it are breaking loose. The soul, mind, and body are all linked in the holy triarchy. Disrupting one causes the other two to suffer. This is why healing the soul also heals the body. However, the reverse is true, which explains your symptoms. Frankly, Im surprised you were able to even walk here.

Oh, said Mirian, fear gripping her. That sounded bad.

There are several causes. One, you have been attacked by a necromancer. They may not have used an actual curse spell, but rather just attacked the soul. I dont suppose thats it?

Certainly not, Mirian said, though as she said it, her own self-doubt crept in. Were there any necromancers hanging around Torrviol? Had one of them secretly attacked her? It seemed like the sort of thing she would have noticed, though.

The next likely cause is the over-consumption of mana potions, Marovim said, and immediately Mirian thought oh shit. The look on her face must have been enough for the cleric, because he said, Ah. That would be it, then. How many mana potions have you had in the last few days?

Two a day. Well, sometimes three, if Im doing extra practice.

Marovims face went white. Per day? And how long?

Two months. She wasnt sure how the time loop affected that, and she was sure the cleric didnt either. I was only drinking one every few days before that

Xylatarvia certainly smiles on you, then. You must have a strong soul. Most people would be dead. Soul-death is not a pleasant way to die, I have heard.

Oh, said Mirian again, feeling the floor drop out from under her. Could the time loop even save her from that? It felt like one of those things she shouldnt try to find out. Its A-class mana though, just like what our auras make. Why?

I heard of a man once who died from drinking too much water. Everything is dangerous if you have enough of it.

Right. Uh, how many mana potions is safe to drink, for future reference? I must have missed the day they talked about it in class.

Two per week. Per week, Marovim said, adding raised eyebrows to the emphasis. Some people tend to do okay with three. Usually, its not a problem because no one needs that much manaor has the money for it. Youll want to lay off the mana potions for a few months.

And can I cast spells? Is that dangerous? Mirian wanted to ask about using soul-magic, but that wasnt likely to go over well, or get an answer.

I would lay off the spellcasting for at least a week.

Eugh, Mirian thought. That was going to be annoying. Is there anything you can do to help?

Usually, yes. But at this level of destabilization, it would be dangerous to do anything. Sometimes, time is the best healer.

Mirian thanked him, then went to rest. Shed need it; tomorrow shed be meeting with Mayor Ethwarn and the militia preparations would begin.

***

Respected Jei was able to get her both the leyline data and access to research on the Divine Monument again, though this time through less legitimate channels. She seemed as surprised as Mirian to learn that mana potions could cause such a problem. It has never come up before, she said, and seemed to be embarrassed that she hadnt known.

After the meeting with the mayor, Mirian spent the rest of the day pouring over the notes with Jei. Her mentor weathered the questions for hours before finally saying, I will have a headache if we continue. You need your rest as well.

The next day, Mirian met with Professor Cassius and the newly appointed Captain Moliner to go over Akanas plan of attack and the defense of Torrviol. This time, she could say with some confidence that the Baracuel Army would arrive on the 25th, well before the Akanan spearhead made it to Torrviol, and could plan for their deployment.

Barred from magic, including even artifice, Mirian had a great deal of extra time, even with her meetings with the militia and mayor. She went to the Luminate Temple, where Priest Krier had prepared more texts for her to study. No rancorous mob ever made an appearance; whatever had stirred them up, she had clearly headed off. As the Battle of Torrviol neared again, a great deal more eyes now watched the edge of town. Mirian used her new connections in the government to get Valen appointed as an intelligence agent of the militia, so she had her finger on the pulse of more than just the rumors; she could convey to Mirian the official reports of other agents.

Valen called the operation shabby and amateurish, but on Seventhday, after the arrival of the Baracuel Army, a patrol picked up an Akanan agent making a desperate dash for the woods. It was no one Mirian had ever seen or heard of before, but she memorized her name and face. She was one of the transit workers, it turned out. The spies really had insinuated themselves everywhere of any importance.

In the evenings, Mirian sat down with Nicolus with old Akanan newspapers shed checked out from the Bainrose archives and talked politics over dinner. To Nureas horror, Nicolus would use the pages of newspaper to wipe his hands. What? he said, with Nurea looked aghast. Theyll be good as new soon.

Firstday, the letter from Nicoluss uncle finally arrived.

Mirian met him in the living room where several plush, embroidered couches were positioned to look out the large eastern facing window. Nurea had made up little slices of bread with olive oil, diced olives, and a delicious sharp cheese, and so they ate those while Nicolus read the letter aloud. Dear Nicolus, I hope this finds you well, blah blah blah, theres the code phrase that means he really wrote it under his own power. I am inin hiding? Gods blood! Hold on, hold on. Nicolus stopped reading out loud, his eyes rapidly skimming the letter. When he was done, he set it down, leaned back on the couch, and said, Mirian, youve got your work cut ou for you stopping this war.

Mirian groaned. Theres always more to it, isnt there?

Yeah, Nicolus said. The Akanans are saying a Baracueli guy assassinated their Prime Minister. Thats why they declare war.

Mirian sat upright abruptly. What!? When?

The 21st. He says the war fever is insane. Prime Minister Jondar Kinsman iswas, I guessincredibly popular. Five hells. And yeah, theres magical eruptions there. Now theyre blaming them on Baracuel. Before that, at least one explosion was blamed on a Persaman terrorist group called the hold on, his handwriting is atrocious. Is that an a or an o?

Nurea, who was in the other room but clearly listening in, called out, Dawns Peace.

Dawnsyup, thats the one. Oh, Ive heard of them. Theyre giving the Baracuel Army a hell of a time in Rambalda and Mahatan down south. Theyve sabotaged a bunch of fossilized myrvite mining operations, too. Nicolus tapped his chin thoughtfully. And if you cant stop the war youd have to get really good at convincing people things via bird. Do you know what happens to our armies down in Persama?

No, said Mirian, head still spinning. Im trying to get a handle on one thing at a time. Actually, thats a lie. Im trying to learn about the Divine Monument, increase my magical ability, learn soul magic, learn Eskanar, figure out all the ridiculous Akanan machinations going on in Torrviol, and improve my artifice.

Nicolus laughed. Fair enough. I thought of a good way to meet, by the way. On the 1st of Solem, I sneak out at night to go sit by the lakeside.

What!? Nurea said from the other room.

Not a kid anymore! Nicolus called back, and rolled his eyes. I swear. Anyways, Im looking for some peace and quiet. Theres the exams coming up, and all this drama with these girlsI think you know Calisto, I wont bore you with the other twoand my dad had just sent me another letter about some more family property hes putting me in charge of and I just need time to think. I dont know why, but looking out on dark waters soothes me, you know? The spot is north of the docks, just south of the spellward. Theres this little ruin there, a bit overgrown, and its perfect. Youre far enough away from the lights that its just the moon and the stars on the water. Raising his voice slightly, he said, And Ive only been attacked by a bog lion there once.

Mirian could just make out Nurea grumbling something about how shed be glad if they ate him.

She knows Im just messing with her, Nicolus said. So I figure, then you tell me about something from my childhood that I dont talk to other people about. When I was little, I had an obsession with cows.

Mirian snorted. Wait, thats what youre going with?

Yeah. My dad took me out to the pastures because he wanted me to start bonding with an eximontarwe have this whole family tradition of ridingbut I was just fascinated by the belted cows. They were black, with this white middle, and the hair was all wavy and curly, and I just couldnt tear my eyes away. My dad was nearly apoplectic that he couldnt get me to look at anything else. He picked me up and placed me in the next pasture, but I ran off and ducked under the fence so I could stare at them again.

Thats hilarious. Why is that the story you dont tell anyone?

Because its stupid! Also, my dad later beat it into my head that real men arent fascinated by the color patterns of grazing bovines, so when I was a teenager I was totally ashamed of it all. Also, he made me help butcher one of the cows when I was ten. Now I know kids will just latch onto certain things and you can never predict it, and it was just funny, but you know, its not the kind of story you tell your drinking buddies. So basically nobody except my dad and two household servants know about it. I was like, four or five, Nurea wasnt even there.

Mirian shrugged. I guess it works then. Kind of an asshole move by your dad.

Yeah, hes usually not that bad. He just had these terrible visions of me refusing to take my role in the family because I was going to go be a farmer and overreacted. Even smart people can be really dumb. Turns out, absolutely no risk of me becoming a farmer, I would die first. Way too much grunt work. What about you? What were you like as a kid?

Mirian looked out the window, out where the wind was stirring up white caps on the lake. I had a terrible temper. For the longest time, certain things would set me off and I would just snap and start screaming or fighting. Like when someone would slam a door open, or when another kid took a toy I was playing with. My parents got a specialized cleric to work with me. Thats basically as early as I remember. Not nearly as funny.

Any hilarious toddler stories?

Mirian thought back, letting her eyes wander around the room. There was an old mechanical clock in the corner that neither Nurea or Nicolus had bothered to wind. All the tables were finely carved, with glass ornaments embedded in the swirls of wood. The curtains that were drawn to the side were embroidered with the winged eximontar of the Sacristar family. As her eyes carelessly brushed past these things, her mind found nothing. My parents never talked about what I was like when I was a toddler, she said. I had a really bad dream once. I remember the cleric and I talked about that for a long time, and he helped me forget it.

Nicolus made a face. Really? A bad dream?

I dunno. Its all fuzzy. I guess I just dont remember. Any other details in your uncles letter I should know about?

Not really. He scolds me for not going down to the Palendurio estate with the rest of the family and says I need to get caught up on the rest of the family plan. Only, I dont know how he thinks thats going to happen, because the family plan was to move to Akana Praediar. Even illusion magic couldnt save me, I dont speak a lick of Eskanar. Oh, and invest in secondary war industries, thanks Uncle Alexus, like I couldnt figure that one out. Not that the Palamas and Corrmier families would ever allow us to get a controlling stake. He sighed. Not as helpful as I was hoping. I suppose well have to experiment with phrasing. And if you start our alliance earlier, maybe we can get two letters back and forth.

Mirian was silent. Shed gone back to looking out at the lake.

Nicolus looked out with her, tossing the letter onto a nearby side table. He took a deep breath in. Have we ever you know?

We held hands, as the world ended, Mirian said. You were in pain.

He didnt say anything to that. The wind had ceased, and the white caps on the lake had faded. They could see patches of light scattered about where there were breaks in the clouds, mixed up with the patches of snow that still remained from the little theyd gotten. I suppose its true that you start to realize what really matters when you dont have much time left. He looked at Mirian and gave her a sad smile. In some ways, I envy you. In other ways, I dont. It all rests on your shoulders, doesnt it? How much time do you get?

I dont know, Mirian said. She still wasnt even sure if she was getting older or not.

Thats the normal state of things. No one ever knows how much time they have left, until they do. When they find out, some take it well, some dont. I should have talked to you years ago. I always had an excuse, though. He shook his head.

Mirian looked at him. Wait really? Am I really that oblivious? You had a crush on me, all this time? But you didnt even try to learn my name?

Nicolus sighed. You cant really be blamed for missing it, because I hid it. I could list all the reasons I made up in my head. A lot of them were great, really convincing. Like I didnt want to get you entangled with Calistoshe can be a real nasty enemy to haveand I didnt want to distract myself from the path I was going to have to take. My parents ant me to marry some rich Akanan. So I thought, why even begin something that has to end? I told myself it would only hurt you, and hells, I didnt even know you, not really. You were just that smart, cute girl in class.

I I dont know what to say.

Then dont, until youre ready. For me, it will always be ephemeral. For you, itll last for as long as it lasts. Its up to you now.

Mirian swallowed. Thats not fair, she said, choking slightly on her words.

Life never is, Nicolus said.

Well talk later, Mirian said, rising abruptly. I need some time.

He smiled, though it was a sad smile. You know where to find me. And for the record Im sorry.

Mirian left, and wandered about Torrviol. By now, she had minders who had joined her as soon as she left the Sacristar apartment. Together, they inspected the defenses of the town, though Mirians mind was fully elsewhere.

By chance, the clouds had parted so there was a gap in the sky above. She could just make out the faint outlines of the Divir Moon, hanging above them all like a sword.

In two days, the Battle for Torrviol would begin again.

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