.^^ the Mirror ^^

— Rune —

"You simply left a Dragon in the Quarry?!? That quarry has sustained our building material needs for three hundred years!" One of the new council members, newly elected and out to prove himself, yelled at Dashiva.

She slapped his face harshly, as it was far too close to her own, and sent him to the ground. Ulva frowned, but didn't reprimand her just yet. "Listen here, you little pathetic sack of shit... if you ever scream in my face again, I will rip your tongue out! You are an elected member of the council, and you would do well to remember who you represent! You will keep yourself calm and composed, and remember as well that you are not the Speaker for the council! Therefore, until you are given leave, You do not speak!" She hissed down at him.

He scrambled to his feet, fury in his gaze, and when he reared back his hand to slap her, I stepped into him. A casual step, but my monstrous, magical strength made itself known, as the small bump sent the man skidding along the marble floors of the interior council, and crashing into the wall.

"How childish... your first day in the seat of the Council, and you already exceed your authority, and already can't keep your temper in check... how were you elected, I wonder? A group of rich merchants drew lots to see who amongst them would gain power over the entire city? Is this a Democracy or an Oligarchy, I wonder?" I chuckled softly at their uncomfortable shifting.

Ulva frowned. "It is a democracy, Lord Faequell, and you would do well to remember your tenuous place, here!"

"Tenuous? Whatever for? My father has been cleared of all charges, and slated for release, has he not? And have I not given you many favors, expecting little to nothing in return? I led a few of your personal allies on an Expeditionary mission, with positive results! I brokered a deal with a dragon for you! If anything, you owe me far more than you've given me, and you still haven't made good on the deal we made, so you have no place telling me my place here is Tenuous!" I tsk'ed at her chidingly.

She frowned deeply, and Dashiva stepped around me. "Ahem! Anyway, yes, the dragon is currently non-hostile, and allied with us. Any attempts to kill the beast will result in the death of every single person in the vicinity, firstly due to the power of the dragon, and secondly due to the Magic that Rune used to Seal the Deal in Blood, his with the dragon's. Either way, it was a favorable deal, as the dragon promised to kill any invading enemies, and protect the miners."

I stepped around Dashiva casually. "Don't worry darling, I have no need of a Censor. Now! That's finished, and I'm waiting to hear about the point I just brought up, the materials I've been promised, and the release of my paternal figure into my custody? I'm aware his holdings are considered Post Mortem, no problem there, but I'd like to be out of your hair immediately, and the equipment I was promised be delivered promptly, along with something of a wish list, as I did offer you first pick of my work, and I would be happy to work a commission, for extra, as any artist would."

Ulva hummed, distracted by the proposition, and nodded. "Yes... the equipment and materials promised will be delivered by day's end... as will a list of expected products, and a deadline."

I snorted. "You mean a request form, and a date by which you would like to receive my work, with the express understanding of Payment, if I decide to do it? That can be managed. Now! The Tyrant, please, I plan on taking him directly home."

She twitched, and then took a calming breath. "Yes... of course. Guards, tell the T-... Lord Faequell,- That he is being released into his son's custody, until further notice, and bring him, and his belongings, here... quickly, now!"

They jogged off, and returned about ten minutes later, with Johann standing between them, looking confused and blinking the light away, even at this time of night, something I could definitely agree with. I had intentionally brought us here at night, so that I could not be unnecessarily blinded.

Then, a void bag likely full of what remained of his belongings was placed in his arms, and the chains were handed to me. I raised an eyebrow, and ripped them off of him casually, setting the chains in my pocket, and nodding to him. "This way, sir. Home we go, for now."

He nodded, rubbing his wrists. "Indeed... questions are to be saved for another time, I assume."

"You assume correctly." I nodded, and stepped into the flyer. He took a seat, as the three elves joined us, and Raava bowed his head to him respectfully, taking the seat next to his.

The flight over was silent, as he stared out the window, out at the city. I saw him noting changes, and familiar landmarks, like I would after a storm tore through a section of the forest. When he saw the estate, he smiled, and stood, gripping one of the rails along the roof to stay standing.

I exited the flyer as it was touching down, and walked into the house with Johann at my side, while the others scattered throughout the house.

Natva came out of her room to greet me, not noticing the Tyrant yet, and kissed me sweetly. "Wonderful, you've returned! I heard some rumors about a Dragon?"

"Oh nothing interesting. Renewed a treaty with him. I knew his mother, so it all went swell. Speaking of absent parental figures:" I gestured at the Tyrant, standing to one side awkwardly.

Natva smiled and hugged him tightly. "Hello Johann! I told you I'd get you out! How are you feeling?"

He grinned charmingly, revealing a chipped left canine. "A bit confused by your affection for my son, but happy to be freed, that's true."

She blushed delicately. "Well, that's really none of your business, is it? Ahem! Anyway, dinner is in a few minutes, so go get dressed." She shooed him casually.

He looked at the master bedroom, and then hummed. "Where would my clothes be?"

"Hmm? Oh, right..." she sighed.

I nodded and patted her ass casually. "I'll handle it, then come say hello properly, before dinner. Lord Johann, come with me." I led him to his workshop, opening the door casually. "Question, is there a reason that no one else can hear the door?" I asked, as it slowly opened.

He nodded. "A bit of a warning system for me... and any other clockwork Mage, it seems. Curious."

I led him inside, and opened the silver panel in the wall as the unfinished Construct gasped. "Master! You have returned!!! I would have freed you from your prison, had I legs or arms!!!"

"The exact reason that I didn't give you any." Johann said dryly, then caught the jacket I threw to him casually.

"That..." I threw a pair of dress pants, which would magically fit themselves to him. "This..." I threw and undershirt and buttoned shirt. "And these." I threw some nice boots, again magicked to fit themselves to him. "Finally this." I held out the belt, placing his sword into the harness, off of my own pistol-belt.

He blinked, and took the belt slowly. "Thank you... I worried these were sold or shattered."

"Get dressed, be in the dining hall in ten minutes... feel free to take that time to get used to it." I nodded, and let the Construct out of my bag, sitting against the wall next to the unfinished one.

He flinched, surprised, and then hummed, distracted immediately. "Interesting construction... whose design?"

"Mine." I shrugged, and walked out, finding Natva.

She was dressing in a silver dress, which hugged her body in a pleasing fashion, when I entered. "-and just remember to refer to him as Lord Faequell, not the Tyrant, Alright?" She hissed, and Her children, all sitting on the other side of the privacy screen, agreed.

I smiled and walked up behind her, slipping my arms around her form, my palms and fingertips gently scraping her skin as I spoke in her native tongue. "Don't worry so much, Natva... you are young and beautiful, and worry makes people old and cranky."

She purred softly, stroking my arms. "You're Right, of course... Mm, children, leave us, go get ready for dinner."

I smiled after they left, and gently pulled the straps of her dress away, letting it pool around her feet. "Oh dear... how unfortunate... your dress seems to have fallen off, I should assist, as any gentleman would..."

She giggled, and pushed my shoulder down. "Yes, you should! And quickly, we are nearly late for dinner!"

"That's unfortunate, I rather enjoy taking my time about these things." I smirked, and kissed my way down her spine sensually.

—

I settled Natva in her seat at the table, and took the seat immediately to her left, while Johann sat to her right,-the seat of the eldest daughter, usually, to my amusement- and then cleared his throat softly.

"Thank you, Natva, for handling my holdings so well, after my deposition. I feared for the beauty of them being gone from the world." He said softly.

She nodded. "Of course. And- oh dear, Yeshiva darling, please be more careful?" She looked down the table exasperatedly, as he was cleaning up a small spill of wine, embarrassed by his interruption.

I hummed, and poured Natva a glass of wine carefully, stopping when she raised a finger, and pouring my own, then Johann's, after a moment of deliberation. "I was thinking of helping settle you into a place in the city. The Council is furnishing me a plot of land for my workshop, and I intend to make full use of it. The top floors will be residential, of course, and all Glass, for the best views. It will be a fun project."

He blinked, accepting the glass reflexively. "Oh!... yes... I suppose that would be-..."

"You don't have to live there, if you don't want, you're welcome here as long as you wish, but I've had a look at the property, and it's a beauty, right on the Bay, facing directly west. Magnificent sunrise view, and the last rays of sunlight, as well, if he builds a multi-leveled house." Natva nodded.

"Is it? I haven't seen the property yet, I assumed it would be in the city... I'll have to incorporate something to let in the sea breeze, as well as the sunlight... a few minor aesthetic adjustments." I hummed.

She nodded. "Indeed, I look forward to the reveal."

Johann looked into his wineglass, and hummed. "Yes... I imagine new memories are in order... but you're mad, if you think I could live in the city. The natives don't even know why I'm called the Tyrant, or what caused the revolt... no, I think a complete change of venue is required."

I grinned slowly. "I hoped you'd feel that way... how do you feel about a city on Ulfavir? If you've read my journals, you know the one I'm talking about."

He blinked. "Yes... that could work... but being so far away... I just came back into your life, I don't want to be so far removed,-" he stopped, seeing my smirk. "What?"

"Have you ever toyed with the idea of a portal?" I asked.

His eyes widened, remembering likely the most secretive part of my journals: the existence of the Dwarven City, Cragfjord, located Deep under Ulfavir, accessible only through the Temples, of which mine was the only above-ground one, and the rest were hidden inside natural caverns, protected by both natural beasts and Dwarven automatons.

He stroked his beard thoughtfully, and then nodded slowly. "That... is an interesting idea... and if you have an idea of how to make it work, I would be happy to help, and that would very easily resolve my worries."

"Good. Then the house on the bay can be mine..." I hummed, and looked at Raava. "You and I are going to become good friends, Raava."

"What?" The confused elf looked up, eating his soup already.

I chuckled, and the others laughed softly at his befuddlement. "Nothing. Keep eating, you'll need your strength."

—

The portal mirror's magic came to me in my sleep, oddly enough, something that had never happened before. I had never learned magic in my dreams, before.

The Rune was a simple one, and the power of its simplicity threatened to tear me apart, for sheer force of the Mana flowing away from its creation.

A feeling pervaded my mind, slipping into the deepest portions of my consciousness, that creating this Rune would be my death, in the mortal realm... but the realm of Dreams was always interesting to deal with.

I woke with a start, and shook my hair out of my face. "Mm? Darling?" Natva traced her nails down my back sleepily, then paused at the sweat she could feel. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, dear one... dreams of magic. Terribly disruptive, they are." I shook my head, and stood, walking over to my bag and pulling out a pile of focusing platinum, molding it quickly and crudely into a bowl, which would be activated by blood, scrying into the realm of dreams, in a physical way.

Natva hummed over my shoulder. "A scrying bowl? Whatever for?"

I activated it with a drop of blood, and then reached into the bowl... slipping up to my elbow in the Inch-Deep bowl, past the platinum and into the realm of dreams.

She gasped. "What magic is this...?"

I inscribed the Rune slowly, and carefully, on a piece of volcanic obsidian, and growled in pain as it turned my arm to ash, taking it as payment for the Rune.

I groaned, blinking rapidly. "Should've seen that coming..."

She cast a healing spell immediately, and the bleeding stopped, thankfully. "What did you just do?" She hissed, fully awake now.

"The strongest Magic's require sacrifice... I should've thought of that beforehand." I explained, and then reached with my other hand, touching the Rune and thinking of the Lonely Greenwood.

Natva gasped as a black mirror, emblazoned with the Rune, appeared next to me, standing as tall as my full height, and just as wide. "What is that?" She demanded.

"A portal... hopefully..." I hummed, and stood, walking through the icy surface of the mirror casually.

She yelped and dove through as well, and crashed into the ground next to me, right inside the Lonely Greenwood. "Where is this place?" She asked slowly.

"Welcome to the Lonely Greenwood... the place where I was born. Would you like a tour?" I brushed aside the furs, as the mirror stayed where it was, on one of the walls of the tree, though the Rune disappeared slowly.

She shook her head slowly. "You've just lost an arm, and you're not worried in the slightest?" She asked incredulously.

"Not Really. It'll grow back. Not the first time I've lost a limb, in this place." I shrugged, and walked outside, breathing deeply of the night air.

She followed, pulling her naked robe closer around her as a guard against the chill. "Oh! It is beautiful, that's true..." she hummed, looking at the river and beanstalks, with the redwoods just visible beyond.

As she spoke, Ophelia rose out of the river, water taking the form of a beautiful woman, though I noticed she accentuated her womanly features this time, oddly enough. She rarely ever gave herself noticeable breasts, when she took human form.

She sauntered over, smiling. "Rune! Darling, how ever did you manage to sneak past me? And who is this lovely young elven lass?" She purred, pressing her body against Natva's, almost comparatively, and I suddenly realized why she had built her body that way.

Natva smiled, her hands reflexively roaming the ursine's hips. "Why, I am Natva Drundomidon, darling, and who might you be? Surely not Ophelia, my lover's mother?"

Ophelia blinked, stepping away swiftly, her demeanor changing fluidly. "Oh, I see... a shame, I was looking forward to a taste... but I don't poach other people's lovers, like most of my kind. Now! What brings you here so soon da-OH MY GODS?!?" She screamed, grabbing my arm in a vise-like grip.

"Yes, Yes, I've gone and lost an arm again, how careless of me, I really should be more cautious and less stupid; Ophelia is wonderful and beautiful and smart and knows many things I don't know, which makes her always right about everything." I waved a hand, trying to skip the lecture.

She glared, her nails digging into my skin slowly, and dragged me over to her river, pushing me in.

Natva tensed, Small flames building on her fingertips, but Ophelia ignored her, and concentrated the power of the river into my arm, making it glow silver, all around us, like liquid moonlight.

She snarled as nothing happened, and black chains appeared around the ghost of my arm. "You gave it up as a Sacrifice?" She hissed.

"On accident. In hindsight, it should've been obvious, but-"

She dunked my head underwater, holding my down and crushing my body in the grip of the entire river, as she growled at me through the water itself. 'You are a stupid, stupid boy, you know that?!? The most powerful Magic's have ALWAYS demanded sacrifice!!!'

"Yes, well,-" I began to speak, ignoring the water which was as easy to breath as air, to me.

'No! No excuses! I'm angry with you!' She snapped, and then tossed me out onto the bank.

I shrugged, standing up as the water sloughed off, leaving me totally dry. "As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, I do love you, Ophelia, and honestly one little arm isn't an issue. I'll just build a new one! Maybe with a vibrating feature..." I winked saucily at Natva, who looked a mixture of confused and highly intrigued by the notion, before looking alarmed.

I turned around, and a giant ball of water slammed into my chest.