Aether Beasts

[I'm not gone. I just had to change some things. I've got three chapters ready for release soon and hopefully after that will be daily chapters. I will never abandon this novel. There may be times when problems come, but I'm finalizing my backlog now, so even if I have to deal with something for a month, there will be chapters. I keep changing a lot of things since I don't want to let you guys down.]

As we grew closer to the wall, a problem occurred to me. "Tilly, how heavily manned are the walls?"

"Hmm? Oh, I'm not sure," she said. She'd calmed down a bit, but was still clinging on for dear life, and avoided looking down. "The only times I was here, I spent most of the time in the noble quarter, you know, at parties or at court with my mother and relations." The way she said relations made it seem like she'd rather they not be related.

"Sandra, drop us off, close but not too close," I said. It was weird switching languages so easily, and I wondered if there was a way I could do to Sandra what Aneva had done to me. I didn't want to be the back and forth between Sandra and Tilly, or anyone else.

Sandra nodded but didn't respond. Her eyes were focused, and no doubt it was not easy for her to maintain this technique. She was going fast and had to encompass all three of us while being in an environment that had no ambient aether.

That thought reminded me of Zirani and Misty whose bodies were far more reliant on ambient aether, as misty was closer to an aether beast than a human while Zirani was an aether beast. If Sandra or I had been at a higher level the effect would have been worse as the body acclimates to aether, leaving behind mortal limits such as food, water, air, and more.

We were already past some of those things. Eating food or drinking was now a hobby, something done only for pleasure, not for sustenance, at least not normal food. There were certain foods that could strengthen and enhance certain aspects of a person, although they only existed beyond the scar as the ambient aether in The Northern Plains was far too low.

We were about half a mile away from the wall when Sandra began to lower us down or more accurately, shift gravity so that we would be pulled down, but slower. Sandra and I could probably survive a fall from this high up, but Tilly wouldn't, although I wouldn't just let her fall.

We landed near some trees far from a nearby road, and I out a sigh. Tilly wobbled for a moment on her feet before she balanced herself out. Sandra glanced at her, and a dangerous look appeared in her eyes for just a moment. I quickly walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'll explain, but first let's find somewhere safer."

She nodded, and after motioning Tily to follow me we moved further away from the road. It was nearing true night, which would help us greatly, especially since Sandra could further boost our stealth with her dark aether.

We kept on moving, and at one point Sandra shot Tilly an annoyed look. "Can't she move any faster?"

"No," I said. "At least, I don't think so. She has magic, but physically she seems to be a normal human."

Eventually, we stopped near some very tight-knit trees. I focused and formed a technique to grow some branches and more foliage. After a few minutes, we had a space that looked natural, but the only opening was from above. Sandra formed a technique that I was able to tell would create a cloak of darkness around us.

Once that was done, I was about to fall down, but in a flash, Sandra's arms were around me, and her lips met mine. I was surprised, but soon I was gripping her just as tightly, and if not for Tilly's polite cough, things might have progressed further.

We broke apart, but Sandra still kept a hand intertwined with me. I turned to Tilly. "This is Sandra." I switched languages as I faced Sandra. "This is Tilly. I met her on my way to find you and after saving her, she agreed to help me."

"I see," Sandra said. "And that's all?"

I nodded. "Yes."

As I turned back to Sandra, I focused on Aneva who grumbled but eventually woke up. "What is it now?"

"I found Sandra," I said. "Thank you for your help. I mean it. I won't forget it."

"Make certain you don't," Aneva said. "Is that all you wanted to say?"

"No, I want to know if you can teach Sandra this region's language," I said. "Maybe through my bond with her?"

Aneva was silent for a long moment, and I felt her presence moving through my mind, eventually settling near my three bonds. "I believe I could, but it won't be pleasant. Your friend hasn't experienced such a transfer before."

Sandra was looking at me expectantly while Tily looked both confused and annoyed. I would deal with it later, but for now, I needed to get Sandra on the same page. "Sandra, I can teach you their language, but it won't be pleasant."

"Really?" Sandra asked. "Unless… Aneva?"

I nodded.

"Do you trust her?"

"Not really," I said. "But I think she's passed her precious phase." Aneva scoffed at that, but I ignored it.

"How painful?"

I frowned. "It's not pain, just a very uncomfortable feeling. Imagine trying to cram a pear through a grape-sized hole. Everything will get through eventually, but it won't be pleasant. I don't know how to alter our bond like Zirani, so yeah."

Sandra sighed. "Do it. I don't want to walk around not knowing it or having to use you as a translator."

"Neither do I," I said, turning my attention inward. "Aneva, do it."

"Tell her she might want to lie down."

I took her hand and guided her to a tree. She leaned back against it and closed her eyes. "Stay calm. I'm here." I felt Aneva form something, a mental construct, and after a long moment, I felt a pressure build in my head but vanish just as quickly, passing through the mental construct.

I kept my hand intertwined with Sandra's as I turned to Tilly. "This won't take long."

"What is it?"

"Just a transfer of language," I said. "I don't want to have to play translator."

"Oh," she said. "Like mind magic?"

"I don't know what that is," I said. "But if it sounds like what I think it is, then yes. Manipulation of the mind, and similar things. How exactly does magic work around here?"

I expected her to look surprised, but she didn't. The fact was she had already probably guessed I wasn't from this world.

"It's not what it once was," she said. "Magic use to be widespread, and far more structured, but the great taking separated us from our neighboring realms, and in doing so, took with it much of what we had."

"Neighboring realms?"

"Yes, other worlds, which is where I assume you are from?"

I nodded. "I am, but not a world with magic."

"Then what is it called?"

"Aether."

Tilly froze, her eyes momentarily going wide. "Aether, are you certain?"

"I've been raised there my whole life," I said, glazing at Sandra. Her eyes were tightly closed now, and her hand had a death grip on mine. A normal human would have had their bones turned to dust by her strength, but it was only slightly uncomfortable to me. "You know about aether?"

"I've heard of it," she said. "At least in what remains of history before the taking. It is a purer form of our own power, but limited in different ways." Her eyes narrowed. "You have affinities, nature?"

I nodded. "Sandra here has Dark and Gravity."

"Two to your one?"

"I have another, but it's not an element like the others," I explained.

"How did you get here?"

"Accident." I thought about the vampires and alchemists and wondered where they were in this world. "An alchemist was messing with things she shouldn't have been and when it went wrong, we all paid the price."

"Alchemist?" Tilly frowned. "A man?"

"Yes, why?"

"Well, there's a new court alchemist working for the king, very new, but it's said she's a genius."

It couldn't be. "What does she look like?"

"I've no clue," Tilly said. "Apparently she keeps to herself. She's only been at court for a week."

That didn't make any sense. I'd only been here for a few days. Unless we hadn't all arrived at the same time. That sent a chill down my spine. What if Zirani and Misyt had been here for much longer?

I felt Sandra's hand loosen and I turned just as she opened her eyes. She looked over at me. "I'd rather take one of Zirani's pain baths than that. God my head." "Just take some time to organize your mind." I sat down beside her. "We can stay here tonight, then figure out what we do tomorrow?"

"What's there to figure out," Sandra said. "We find Zirani and Misty."

"Yes, but we figure out the quickest way, and I just learned that the alchemist who got us into this mess, maybe in the city behind those walls." I sighed. "Just rest."

She leaned a shoulder onto me as I turned to Tilly. "I can make you a comfortable bed if you want."

"I'd… like that, please." She looked very out of place in her dress which had gotten a bit dirty.

I formed a moss bed for her, and a blanket of Sutter leaves, which were a very soft type of leaf that was always warm. She lay down and marveled at how comfortable it was, but she didn't go to sleep immediately. Instead, she turned and gave me a smile.

"What?"

"Nothing, just happy I came along. This is much better than court." With that, she faced away and pulled the blanket over herself. "Goodnight, Aiden."

"Goodnight, Tilly."

I checked on Sandra who was asleep, and after making a bed for her and lying her down, I leaned back against the tree. I didn't need sleep and could keep watch for them.

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