With a flick of her wand, Sammy sent the water balloon flying at Cristlyn, who took it the shoulder as she tried to duck behind a table covered with weird knick-knacks.8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡTP3gEyIJbq 維尼
Chucking, the Seed said, “She’s quite the little spell-slinger. Reminds me of me when I was a little thing.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6K8rfsuGq 維尼
“But that’s impossible!” Cristlyn said, huddled behind the desk with her halter-top plastered to her frame. “We’re artificial.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfznGgGk1n 維尼
“Yes, but that hunk of crystallic you use as an energy core has a definite stream flux pattern. Magical Skill and talent rely on that body, apparently whether it is artificial in nature or not.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpluXGPLRk 維尼
“I think I understand.” Bethany said, still holding the water balloon, “Magic is simply a deeper level of awareness of the fabric of reality, and using one’s flux to change it. Now that we have localized stream-fields …”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdrQyLPOKJ 維尼
“Boring!” Sammy sent another balloon flying at her sister. 8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6daIAN9Tl4 維尼
Again, Bethany’s body moved as though of it’s own accord, this time gracefully stepping aside before slipping her hand around the balloon mid-transit and cradling it just enough to prevent it from bursting. This time, however, she let her arm continue moving in a curve and used the saved momentum to throw the balloon back at Samantha. With a yelp, she ducked behind the Seed’s desk, the balloon sailing out of the window behind her. 8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl86PmSjDM 維尼
Flicking the wand over the side of the desk, Sammy raised the rest of the balloons and sent them flying at Bethany. Bethany started moving immediately, weaving and spinning between the balloons with ease and catching each and every one, only to fling them back at Sammy. 8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaG7Z86dCI 維尼
Cristlyn said, “Okay, how are you doing that?”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5icoM5JPLi 維尼
“I don’t know.” Bethany confessed. “It just feels natural, that’s all.” Glancing down at the remaining water balloon, she said, “There’s something … familiar about it, though.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPvwm7Efmx 維尼
“Maybe you’re a mage as well.” Gill suggested.8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7akSvqEFvn 維尼
“Maybe, but I don’t think that’s what it is.” Seed Thamasa said, a calculating look in his eye. “I’m not feeling any magic from her. Odd question; have you ever had any martial training?”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRNj2jpj7E 維尼
“Me? No. I watch Jimmy’s family train sometimes, but …” 8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlVl1m7OXc 維尼
Bethany stopped, her mouth still open. “Shal-fen.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8ZRUIKYVr 維尼
“Excuse me?” 8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDeDGqL7oi 維尼
“Shal-fen. It’s a martial-fighting style developed by the fional. Terra was teaching Fei.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡPz3gTHH0bd 維尼
“And you learned all that just by watching?” Gill said. “Damn. I saw you, and I don’t think I could do all that.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJYDZprafc 維尼
Bethany frowned. Gill was right; she shouldn’t know how to do all that just from watching. Oh, she could probably mimic the movements to a degree, but it wasn’t just how to fight; her awareness seemed to sharpen when the balloons were flying at her. Her movements were precise and practiced, and somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew it wasn’t from practice, but from experience … like she’d used it before, in less silly circumstances. 8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WVytAcN1c 維尼
Cristlyn took the balloon from her hands and ran at Samantha. Samantha shrieked and ran away from her sister, flicking her wand around to send stray books, trinkets, gadgets, and whatnot flying at her sister in defense. They disappeared downstairs8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DaV7fF6Fn 維尼
“Should we stop them?” Bethany asked.8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrTDd594S0 維尼
The Seed chuckled and shook his head. “Bah. I’ve got too much junk in here as it is; time for a clean up. Let them have their fun. It’ll give us a moment.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡET0vxIk5sU 維尼
He looked at Bethany, his smile falling somewhat. “I’ve heard the rumors, of course; CIC Angela missing. That’s why you’re here, am I right.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlxl7w9PtO 維尼
When Bethany nodded, he let out a deep breath. “So it is true. That is … troubling. Angela’s influence has touched all of Vinta; anyone capable of taking her out of her facility against her will undoubtedly is up to something unpleasant.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzT4EU4VuF 維尼
The Seed’s eyes moved to Gill. “You there; Gillbert, wasn’t it?” 8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KFHzkC0rH 維尼
“Close enough, sir.” Gill said, bobbing his head. 8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ40HB0Va9U 維尼
“You’re one of Cid’s group, yes? Magi-tek specialist?”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiGHOKAI1o 維尼
“Yes sir! Working on my thesis.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kWPxa2xIh 維尼
“Go to Cid, let him know about Angela, and tell him I want him to put together a team to go to Ronisgald and help with the investigation. I want you on that team; a little field work will do you good, and might earn you a few bonus points on that thesis.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5tvTu6728 維尼
“Yes sir!” Gill hurried down the stairs after giving Bethany a quick but polite nod.8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtOqylXGUu 維尼
“I’d ask you to wait and go with the team.” Thamasa said kindly, “But it’ll probably take a few days to get the group together, and I’m guessing you’re just here to pick up your sister on the way. Am I right?” 8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡOp1EdCaKMc 維尼
“Well, yes.” Bethany said, “On the way to Rimstak.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqF4DUVZzT 維尼
“The Guildmaster’s Workshop, am I right?” Thamasa said. “Don’t be so surprised; Cristlyn from Genovis, you from the Saybaro, Sammy from Naidyr. I don’t see Alaina of Natalya around, so I’m guessing she’s with CIC Jocelyn. The Wenapaj facilities; the only one missing is Ethan.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAEtohddPi 維尼
“Ethan.” Bethany said, putting a hand to her head. “I just realized we only had six bodies! Five for the Wenapaj sisters and one for Rebecca. I didn’t even think about Ethan.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCTj8LDpKH 維尼
To her surprise, the Seed chuckled at her. “Something tells me that even if you had, he’d probably have abstained from a cross-country journey with six sisters.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡuREWHd4V8P 維尼
She smiled at him, though she did mentally make a note to apologize to him later. The Seed offered his arm, which she hesitantly took. In a strange way, Thamasa reminded her of Desygan. It was something in his eyes, a kind of twinkle that belied the presence of a brilliant mind beyond.8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLFTlQl1Pn 維尼
“You’re a very caring woman, I can see that.” The Seed said as he led her down the stairs. “Jimmy always speaks well of you. I trust he and his are doing well?”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIm27j3tlu 維尼
“Yes, very.” Bethany said. “They’re preoccupied with their baby at the moment.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlH6qBjCko 維尼
“Ah, yes; young Annie.” He said with a smile. “I always wondered whether Jimmy and Terra named her after Annabelle Kaboume or Lady Annabelle.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0X77DRvfR 維尼
“Indeed.” Bethany said. In truth, she was pretty sure it was the former; while Lady Annabelle was a friend of the Sakamotas (in as much as anyone can be a friend of the Lady Death), Annabelle Kaboume raised Jimmy since the death of his parents. Uncle Ann definitely viewed herself as Fei, Tifa, and little Annie’s grandmother, despite the fact that she recently had a child of her own.8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡX52oaipDnu 維尼
“I hear young Fei has been taking an interest in more scholarly pursuits.” The Seed said casually. 8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpRWxjFDN5 維尼
“He does well enough when sparring with his sister.” Bethany said.8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡHy3uQTri0n 維尼
“Well, of course; he’s a Sakamota.” The Seed chuckled and said, “Still, it’s good to know I’ve got at least one Sakamota likely heading for the Center. Have you considered enrolling yourself, maybe take a few classes in teaching? It’d be interesting to have a Glyche teaching Glyche History.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrqkWKAmBt 維尼
“An interesting proposition.” Bethany admitted, though truth be told, she would much rather stay at the Saybaro. Even unfettered, she felt strange to be so far from her old home. Still, it wasn’t like she’d have to move; the teleportation grid would allow her to commute. It was something to consider at least.8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡVODMXe52w6 維尼
When they reached the bottom of the Seed’s tower, Bethany was surprised to see Gill, Cristlyn, and Samantha hanging from the roof, their arms and limbs bound by thick vines. The dryad was tending to a patch of brightly-colored wildflowers that looked as though two or more inconsiderate core units had trampled through them.8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8UxWz6IG7 維尼
“Ah, Beth? Good. We, uh, could use a little help.” Cristlyn said, her whole face gold 8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡWg8MMrcNOo 維尼
“Crissy started it.” Samantha said, trying to wriggle out to no avail. 8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRLTNV9fL2 維尼
Sighing, Seed Thamasa patted Bethany’s arm and said, “Pardon me, madam.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡFld9QTXiTf 維尼
As he went to talk to the dryad, Bethany approached her hanging sisters, feeling a bit mischievous. 8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Dtli6dc6B 維尼
“Such troublemakers.” She chided, looking from one to the other. Reaching Gill, she asked, “And how did you get involved?”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JjUb83DMc 維尼
“I saw them wrestling in the flowers and tried to get them out of the flowerbed before Neena noticed them.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtb3NIF5Tb 維尼
“And how did that work out?” She asked, unable to keep a small smile from her face.8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDvrvqva4M 維尼
Samantha’s wand lay on the ground not far from where the young CIC hung. careful to twist her knees to the side to avoid displacing her kimono, Bethany crouched and picked up the implement.8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡN56pEOkipP 維尼
“Hey!” Sammy said. “That’s mine!”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2odfBYFbp 維尼
“And I’ll give it to you when your on the ground.” Bethany told her. “Or were you wanting to risk breaking it when the three of you fell down?”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYVO8D7a6W 維尼
To Bethany’s surprise, the vines binding the three core units chose that exact moment to release them. In short; they did fall down.8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6pVQ7TOHu 維尼
“Creator’s Grace.” Cristlyn muttered as she stood. “It was just a bunch of flowers.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHzMFHegbL 維尼
Not wanting to risk another incident, Bethany said, “Cristlyn, could you wait outside the tower?”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfwM1VRFud 維尼
“Why? I’m just-”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQrekDL2xK 維尼
“Cristlyn!”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwQnmWJUy0 維尼
“All right! I’m going!” With a final glare at the dryad, Cristlyn left the Seed’s tower.8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEWjNowkTk 維尼
“She’s just mad ‘cuz I totally got her!”’ Sammy said as Bethany handed back her wand.8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXVej4MQ4j 維尼
“Are you two going to be this way for the whole trip?”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2jAkXdbug 維尼
“Trip? What trip?” Sammy asked, a puzzled expression on her face.8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1QsB70SVP 維尼
“To Rimstak. We need to go pick up Jocy and Alaina.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhscqvfr1B 維尼
“What for?”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPpIWsJRMM 維尼
“So we can go to Ronisgald and try to find Mom.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡdc28ZsxaNP 維尼
“Can I come?”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80HWiF0QK4 維尼
Resisting the urge to sigh, Bethany said, “Of course you can.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOKiPyWmwL 維尼
Squeeing, Samantha hugged Bethany before hurrying after Cristlyn. “Hey! Hey! Sis! Wait up already!”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdUpUJjNY2 維尼
“I’d say have a safe trip.” Gill said, watching her go, “But maybe a quick trip would be a better idea.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIdyQmAHIp 維尼
“Indeed.” Bethany said. “Fortunately, the teleport grid should get us most of the way. Once we’re in Rimstak, we should be able to use the Node network to get to the Guildmaster’s Workshop.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcRFjdjmCR 維尼
“Ugh. Be careful when using the nodes, okay? I passed through Shadeside on the way here, and believe me; it’s easy to get lost in that place, especially if you’re not used to Rimstak.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP81s6D5fT 維尼
“I’ll be careful.” Bethany promised, shaking Gill’s proffered hand. “I guess I’ll see you in Ronisgald then?”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbcWH5nfqW 維尼
“We’ll be there.” Gill promised. “And don’t worry; I’m certain we’ll find Angela. We’ve got Ronisgald’s tech division, Cid’ll definitely be sending along the best Tekkers and Builders, and who better to help investigate a missing Glyche CIC than her daughters? With you all focused on the search, we’ll find her in no time.”8964 copyright protection577ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNO8cOsMxi 維尼
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