WM [94] Tanisha, Explain!

“Mana, corrupted mana and other energies are vented during the process to purify Creation,” Laxy continued her explanation. “Under normal operations Doxy would have switched to utilizing Creation to power the facility but the site manager has forbade Doxy from accessing any other energy. As you can see this has caused many other issues.”

“If what you are saying is true then I have a lot to consider.” Fuyumi said anger was present on her face. “The Divine of Man made this place yet you claim they enslaved us and used us as cattle for their machinations. The Divines are benevolent beings that love their creations.”

Laxy turned to Fuyumi, her gaze sharp with recognition. “I recognize what you are now. Once there was a prophet who ruled this facility. He had a friend who became a disciple and later an arcanist of Aether. He spent many long years researching aether and using it to change his own body to endure the cold region of worlds beyond this one. His name was Jimmu and you very much remind me of him.”

 “How do you know of him?” Fuyumi’s eyes opened wide as she fell to her knees. “He was the first of our kind, the first to be blessed with the gift of frost. We do not speak the name of the Setsujin no Chichi.”

“Father of the Snow People?” Laxy translated, with a smile. “I am happy to see he had many strong descendants. Jimmu was a friend of mine, at least until everyone was forced to leave by the site manager. I was unsure if he had survived but with you here it puts my mind at ease. Now that I know what you are I can see that your form is unstable and I know why that is. Jimmu was an arcanist of aether; it is what controlled his abilities, not mana as you currently use. I recommend you and your people find a suitable patron otherwise you will continue to have this affliction and an intolerance to heat.”

“Wait, if this is where Setsujin no Chichi was from, was the name of his friend Ishin the Willful Heart?” Fuyumi questioned.

“This name is a translation of his true name but its roots are the same. However, I can not speak the true name as a favor to Ishin himself. Please understand.”

Fuyumi didn’t seem to be fully listening anymore, she was in a state of total information overload. Tears were streaming from her face as she had a revelation of just where she was. This facility wasn’t just a relic, it was the mythical birthplace of her people. The facility, long-forgotten by many, would now take on a sacred significance for the ghostborn, a reverence reserved only for their holiest sites. 

“I hate to interrupt,” Aurelius interjected, his tone unapologetic despite the words, “but weren’t we discussing how to stop this facility from obliterating the continent?”

“Yes, there are several things that must happen and Bjorn has agreed to do his part already.” Laxy continued. “First the core of this facility was moved into the city long ago for both protection and to centralize the power’s location. The orange line that Doxy had you follow will take you deeper into the facility and eventually the city. More importantly this facility’s power reserves before the meltdown is 33.9 days. To extend this period by one month you all will need to destroy two hundred eighty-six of the security defences.”

“You said that Bjorn had already agreed to do his part.” Tanisha questioned with narrowed eyes.

“Yes, both of you will play a crucial role in saving this facility. First we must ensure enough of the security is destroyed to have enough time. That is where you, Fuyumi and Aurelius come into play.” Laxy shifted on her feet. “However, in order to fix the issues with the facility an Angel Core will be required.”

“An actual Angel Core?” Fuyumi asked. “I have never heard of anyone finding an intact one.”

“I would imagine they are quite rare if not impossible to find.” Laxy agreed. 

“So we are doomed then?” Fuyumi said with furrowed brows.

“No, we are going to make an equivalent artifact,” Laxy said. 

The stunned silence that followed was broken by Fuyumi, who threw up her hands. “Make an Angel Core? That’s ridiculous! It’s impossible.”

“I’m sorry,” Tanisha said. “But… what exactly is an Angel Core?”

Aurelius scratched his head, just as lost. “Yeah, I’m gonna need some clarification too.”

“Angel Cores are artifacts created by the Divine of Man to channel Aether,” Laxy said. “My understanding is that mana users have something analogous. They are objects of power tied to their wielders to contain, modify, control, or amplify magical energies.”

“So… it’s like a True’s wand?” Tanisha asked.

“Essentially, yes,” Laxy confirmed. “But I cannot create the core itself, only its outer shell—and even that will test my capabilities. The internal components, however, will be crafted by Bjorn.”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Fuyumi gestured at Bjorn incredulously. “You’re saying that Bjorn the hydra can make a Divine artifact? One that has eluded wandmakers, scholars, sages, even my father for thousands of years?” She pointed to Bjorn. “Tanisha, is he a Greater Hydra or something? How old is he? I have never seen a hydra but my understanding is that they are animals with comparable animal intelligence. He’s a familiar, so smarter than most but still an animal, right?”

Tanisha hesitated looking at Bjorn as if asking if she should reveal what he was. He knew it was time for their team to know that at the very least he wasn’t just a hydra. They had both long since accepted that he could understand them and even write but that was no different from other familiars that gained intelligence through the familiar bond. 

Bjorn hissed softly, Laxy translated his words. “I am not a Greater Hydra, Fuyumi. Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Bjorn Scalebound, a True Hydra. You may know me as Bjorn, but Tanisha has also called me Sonr Orma Eilífra.”

Fuyumi and Aurelius froze, their jaws dropping simultaneously.

“Tanisha!” they exclaimed in unison. “Explain!”

“Okay, but it’s kind of a story and hopefully this goes without saying but don’t tell anyone.” Tanisha said as she stood beside Bjorn. She took a breath and began. “About three and a half months ago my name was Freja Salstar. I wasn’t anything special until I decided I wanted to have my own familiar…”

***

Tanisha concluded her story of the events before they met keeping it relatively brief and answered any questions they had to the best of her abilities. Bjorn spoke through Laxy, filling in some gaps that even she didn’t know. Such as the first time Bjorn grew in size was because his mother was trying to pull him out of the Lower Planes using maya when he was first exposed. The two mainly focused on Bjorn being a True and skimmed over the events of Lavi and the issue with the werewolves.

“So, Bjorn’s a True, and you are Greater,” Aurelius questioned and the two nodded.

“I am going to need to sit down and process this for a while.” Fuyumi said. “I haven’t tried yet but can you make alcohol in the fabricators.”

“Yes,” Laxy responded. “But it is a controlled substance so supply is limited per person. Also while I have enjoyed the stories we have gotten off track. Bjorn’s part in this plan is separated from the three of you.” Everyone again got serious. “He will need to find the material required to make the internals of the pseudo-angel core. The original material can not be found in this Plane but mana tree wood and pure mana crystals may provide the best substitute possible.”

“No, what are you saying?” Tanisha questioned accusingly. “You are going to send Bjorn outside with that Chaos Hurricane and that avatar around the warp? How would he even transport it? Monsters are attracted to those things. He’ll get swarmed.”

“Tanisha, I agreed to do it.” Laxy translated for Bjorn. “If we are going to do this there’s no risk free way.”

She turned to Bjorn with tears in her eyes. “No, if you are going out there then I am going to!”

“You wouldn’t survive the corruption out there.” Aurelius said. 

“I’m not letting him go alone!” Tanisha screamed, her voice raw with emotion. “The last time I let him go alone… I… I felt him die. I can’t do that again. I won’t do that again! We’ll find another way.”

Bjorn stepped closer, each of his heads gently nuzzling her. She clung to him like he was the only solid thing in a crumbling world.

“Tanisha, I’m sorry you had to feel that,” Laxy translated Bjorn’s steady hisses. “But we’ve both grown stronger since then. We’re more powerful, more capable. This needs to be done. I don’t want to leave you. I want to make sure you’re safe, that these golems and androids don’t harm you, but you’re needed here. You can open the doors no one else can. I can survive out there, but you can’t.”

She clang onto Bjorn breathing deeply between sobs. “You died Bjorn. What if…what if you go and you get hurt? I have potions and I am your Greater. What if I can’t get to you?” 

Bjorn raised one of his paws and lightly flicked her forehead.

“Ow!” Tanisha said as she rubbed her forehead. “What was that for?”

“Aren’t you the one that told me to stop moping around after I accidentally hurt you” Laxy translated his stern hiss. “Stop, blaming yourself and I don’t want to hear anything else about it young lady! We’re a team and I trust you. I need you to trust me too.”

Tanisha pouted, her cheeks flushed and her arms crossed in a childish stance. “You may be a True Hydra, but I’m still older than you, Big Man. Why are you so mature?”

Bjorn hissed a soft, almost amused sound, and Laxy chuckled before translating: “Age doesn’t always determine wisdom.”

The two were silent for a while before Laxy walked closer to them.

“With that complete,” Laxy announced with a cheerful clap of her hands, “I cannot allow you all to wander around in damaged equipment. Please place any weapons, armor, or clothing in need of repairs onto the fabricator, and I’ll begin analysis and restoration.”

“You can do that?” Aurelius asked, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

“As long as I have the necessary materials in storage,” Laxy replied with a nod. “However, please note that if your items have special arcane modifications, I won’t be able to replicate them. I can, however, apply aetheric modifications, though those will only function if you possess a connection to the Chorus.”

“By arcane modifications, do you mean enchantments?” Fuyumi asked, withdrawing a gleaming dagger from her inventory. “Like the one on this blade?”

In a flash of light, Laxy appeared beside Fuyumi, her unblinking eyes locked onto the dagger.

“Yes,” Laxy said, “Updating lexicon…” She froze momentarily before continuing. “Mana-based enchantments utilize a distinct mathematical structure compared to aetheric equivalents. If you’d like, I can provide an overview of aetheric enchantments. However, due to a restriction imposed by the Site Manager, I am unable to create, modify, or repair mana-based enchantments.”

“Why would they limit that?” Aurelius asked, frowning.

Laxy hesitated again, freezing for a brief moment as though processing. “The restriction was likely implemented as a precaution to prevent humans from accessing a power that Angels could not control.”

Aurelius sighed and nodded. “I’ve got several items that need repair, but… fixing them won’t erase the enchantments, right?”

“Correct,” Laxy reassured him. “However, if the portion of the item containing the enchantment is damaged, any corresponding magic may be permanently lost. If you’re ready, place your items on the fabricator, and I’ll begin.”

Everyone deposited their damaged gear onto the fabricator at the room’s center. Laxy floated upward, positioning herself above the device as several mechanical lines extended from the ceiling and connected to ports in her back. Her human-like appearance flickered and dissolved, revealing her true form: a sleek, mechanical doll.

The fabricator hummed as individual items levitated into the air, starting with Fuyumi’s dagger. A pale light enveloped the blade, followed by the gentle press of aetheric energy. Laxy reached into the air, pulling a thin metallic thread seemingly from nowhere. The threads multiplied, weaving themselves into an intricate weave between her fingers.

The threads heated and cooled with mechanical precision and fused seamlessly as they repaired the chips and cracks on the blade. Within moments, the dagger’s damage had vanished entirely. The blade lowered gently back onto the platform as the next item, Aurelius’s shattered shield, rose into the air. Laxy inspected the shield, flipping its fragmented remains over several times before pausing. 

“This item contains materials derived from the creation beasts,” Laxy said. “I do not have such material in my storage. However, my sister, Ivoi, located in the Xenobiology Lab on the lower floor, may possess the necessary components. Alternatively, I can forge a temporary replacement or reinforce the shield with metal.”

Aurelius’s shoulders sagged slightly, though he nodded. “I’ll wait to see what your sister can do with it. In the meantime, please forge the alternative.”

“As you wish,” Laxy agreed, her mechanical tone unwavering.

The repairs continued as Laxy’s delicate precision brought items back to full functionality, her movements a mesmerizing display of mechanical artistry.

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