The Great Core's Paradox

Chapter 239: The Next Destination

Valera slumped down, feeling more exhausted than the day should have warranted. She hadnt really done anything - especially compared to some of her more recent days - but her subconscious mind seemed to disagree. Maybe it was the stress. She knew that Councilman Port was just trying to maneuver Orken into a more advantageous position - something that was necessary if they were to push for Virtuns punishment for their delegations crimes - but that didnt change one simple fact.

Politics were exhausting.

Still, for all his flaws, the man was good at it. Though it helped that Orken really did have quite a few advantages, thanks to the Little Guardians efforts. Ones that, as far as Valera was aware, were wholly unique. Even tales shed heard of the wonders of some of the inner cities, where Cores were both abundant and tightly controlled, didnt compare to what the Little Guardian could accomplish so easily.

Mostly because, unlike those wonders, Orkens Little Guardian was far more mobile. And, more importantly, it didnt seem to cost anything to recreate them. Nothing that anyone had noticed, anyway. Otherwise, Valera doubted that the little guy would create them so nonchalantly. In fact, the only real cost seemed to be his increasingly exacting standards on how well-sculpted any potential Guardian Statues were.

Though, Valera thought, that makes things sound less of a problem than they actually could be. A tiny snake somehow made a craftsman cry in frustration today.

Given he couldnt even speak, that was almost impressive.

Now, that same snake was nestled into a makeshift nest in the corner of Valeras room, either asleep or focusing on growing the forest that bordered Orken. Valera couldnt actually tell; snakes didnt actually close their eyes when they slept, and she was too tired to peek outside and see if the forest was noticeably growing.

Valera leaned back, letting her back rest against the mattress below her. It was still uncomfortably soft after so many days spent sleeping in squalor. She shifted, fidgeted, and squirmed. Closed her eyes.

Opened them again. Sleep wasnt going to come, no matter how exhausted her mind felt. Her body wouldnt allow it. Maybe the [Little Guardians Totem] around her neck was part of the problem; it was uncomfortably warm, in that still-comforting way that it tended to be when affected by multiple Guardian Statues, the other two finally finished earlier in the day. Under the watchful eyes of Erandurs esteemed citizens, of course. Councilman Port wasnt one to miss an opportunity, and displaying the actual creation of one of the wondrous statues was certainly that. He had even somehow convinced one of the three, through more cajoling than Valera would have ever been comfortable with, to give themself a small wound after attuning to the new Guardian Statues. They had been properly amazed when it healed instantly; she could have sworn she saw the Councilmans eyes light up when they asserted their intention to recommend the purchase of a set of Guardian Statues within their own city.

Which was, of course, the whole point of inviting them to Orken in the first place. Not that he missed the opportunity to entice them with things that she knew hadnt previously been planned. The fruits of the forest - and the forest itself - chief among them. And, of course, he didnt hesitate to mention the fact that the fruits special kick came from an element of danger - that, if their city wanted to benefit from the easy source of food that it represented, they would need to buy Guardian Statues.

A package deal, he had said.

Valeras thoughts turned away from the sales pitch, focusing again on the necklace pressed against her skin, pulsating with a gentle light. Uncomfortable in that the warmth it gave off almost felt too much, like pure sunlight in her veins. Not that Valera had ever seen sunlight. Or likely ever would.

Still, she could imagine it. And besides, she couldnt make any other comparison to the warmth running through her. One that gave a comforting energy, yet filled her with the need to move and dance about. Cheerful.

Even if it was currently making it hard for her to sleep. Valera wondered about that. To a certain degree, it reminded her of the infusions of strength given by the Little Guardian, though significantly weaker. Almost unnoticeable with one Guardian Statue, but familiar enough to her now with three that she could make the comparison.

It had interesting implications; Valera would have to remember to bring that up with the others. If she was right, bearers of the [Little Guardians Totem]s might find themselves becoming increasingly mana-infused over time.

Kal would need to be warned of the possibility. The nullsmith had complained more than once of the few times that he had been forced to strip himself of incidental mana infusions in order to retain his manaless body, light as the accidental infusions were. His own [Little Guardians Totem] might need to be saved for emergency uses only.

That was a shame; some emergencies were so, well, emergent that any delay in response was too much of one. Still, he hadnt had access to healing before the Guardian Statues came along. He would have to make do without. And, with any luck, the forest that now bordered the city - in combination with the null-water that it rested beside - would be enough to keep the smith from ever needing that healing in the first place.

Despite the potential problems that Kal would face, Valera couldnt help but hope that her guess was right. A gentle form of mana-infusion could do a lot to increase the citys safety. Maybe even turn some of the little gremlins into Seekers, eventually. Idiots that they were, a lot of them seemed pretty set on it as a vocation, based on a few of the rambling conversations that she had overheard.

They felt so protected by the Little Guardian that they didnt quite see the dangers of being a Seeker. A Guardian Statue wouldnt always be around to smooth over their cuts and scrapes. Still, that was a problem for the future. They were young. Theyd probably grow out of it.

A door opened and closed elsewhere in the barracks, hinges squealing with the movement. That needed to be fixed. Footsteps followed it and, a few moments later, Valera wasnt quite so alone anymore.

Hey, you two, Valera greeted the new occupants of the room. Doran smiled, waving, while Elara - armor and sword conspicuously absent - leaned awkwardly against the open doorframe. The girl still sometimes felt a little out of place within the group, Valera thought, even after everything theyd gone through together. She shouldnt have.

Valera gave her a gentle smile, receiving one in turn.

Whereve you been? Valera asked. You missed Ports sales pitch. Riveting stuff.

You can only watch a bunch of plants grow for so long before getting a little bored, you know? Even if those plants are growing faster than they should. I went ahead and took Elara to get that sword checked out with Kal, Doran answered. Ended up leaving her armor with him, too. He wasexcited. By both. Said something about he paused, hand reaching up to tug at his ear. Well, I dont really remember what he said. Some nullsmith stuff that just went right over my head. You know how he gets. Secret techniques this, mana that, and by the time he was done, I had already forgotten it all. He didnt seem to notice.

Valera smiled again at that, having been the recipient of such a talk more than once while visiting the man. Though most of those had been hypothetical; she imagined that, when faced with really interesting techniques from other nullsmiths, like whatever went into the creation of Elaras stolen armor, Kal was far more excitable.

Sales pitch? Elara interjected, seemingly curious. Did we miss something important?

Well, lets just say that I hope you didnt agree to let Kal keep hold of your equipment for too long, Valera said. It probably wont be many days before were heading out again. Port acted the merchant to some outsiders, and his sales pitch was effective enough that weve already got our next destination decided.

Erandur, the City of One Hundred Towers.