THREE HUNDRED NINETEEN: Spill Over
Next Chapter: October 24 (approximate, updated)
[Good morning. Leaving you three a breakfast snack from the Triplanets. Check outside your door when you wake up.]
Alden set a to-go tiffin full of k’rethkan on the tile in front of the girls’ apartment door.
[It’s just leftovers,] he texted. [I think I’ll be able to do a real grocery run next weekend, Natalie. Get your list ready!]
He didn’t make it far down the hall before he heard their door opening.
“Hello, Mr. Pigeon Picture.”
“Hey, Ms. Guardian of the Pigeon Picture,” said Alden, turning back. “I didn’t think any of you would be awake yet.”
Emilija didn’t look very awake actually. She had major bedhead, and she was wearing a pajama short set with green stars on it.
“Five every Monday,” she said. <<To get to school on time.>>
“Oh, yeah. The trip to Franklin is still taking a while. At least the ferry’s nice.”
<<Why are you here this early?>>
“I’m on my way back to Celena North from Matadero. I thought you’d all like to try k’rethkan. It was made several hours ago, and I haven’t been preserving it constantly. So it’s not fresh fresh. But I’m sure Natalie knows how to reheat it. And you might be the only people on Earth eating authentic k’rethkan for breakfast this morning. That’s neat, right?”
“No waiting for Natalie,” said Emilija. “I can make food hot.”
Alden gasped. “All by yourself? Without Cook of the Moment?”
“Alden Thorn will,” she said, slowly air typing, “feed a penguin baby…”
“Aww.”
“…to wizards next Thanksgiving.”
“Don’t post that on my Trime. Somebody out there will believe you. It’ll be fine if they hate me, but what if they’re onboard with it? Are you going to take responsibility for the coolers full of penguin chicks that show up in November?”
<<Scary,>> she said, lowering her hands. <<I don’t have much left to do with your emails. There are some that you still need to give me input on. We should meet and go over those together?>>
“Let’s do it. This Friday won’t work. And tomorrow I’m hanging out with Lute after school. It’s his birthday. You pretty much know the rest of my schedule.”
She nodded. <<I’ll send you times. Thank you for breakfast.>>
“Hope you like it.”
<<I bought Lute a shirt with a picture of the bridge on it.>>
“The Span? That’s a good one.”
<<He was brave to run across it.>>
“He’s even braver than you know, Emilija. Heart of a griveck. Balls of stubborn stone. I’m not sure he realizes it himself, but it’s the truth.”
<<You can’t say things like that and then leave me curious about what you mean.>>
“I’ll have to, though.” He covered a yawn with one hand. “Good night.”
<<It’s five. We talked about it.>>
“Right. That’s awful. You’re cruel for reminding me.”
******
Alden entered his own apartment a little while later.
“It’s five fifteen in the morning,” Lexi said. He was dressed for his jog, and he was scooping oatmeal and dried fruit into a thermos.
“Ugh,” said Alden.
Victor’s feet thumped onto the floor in front of the sofa, and he padded over to sniff Alden’s ankles.
“You were gone all weekend.”
“Esh let me explore the place where he lives, and then I got invited to participate in an event that took a while.”
“Should I ask what kind of event you mean?”
“Only if you want to hear an awesome story,” Alden replied, bending down to rub a furry orange head. “Do you think Ivanova will give me credit for today’s fitness class if I tell her I spent an entire Artonan night working out and training my skill?”
Lexi missed his thermos with a spoonful of dried berries. They scattered across the counter, and he looked at Alden like Alden had made him drop them.
“If you tell the teachers the Artonans invited you to come to the Triplanets for a workout and skill training, then…I don’t even know. They’re bound to have questions, but they’ll have to be accommodating because you’re probably telling the truth.”
“Probably?”
“They might make you do a write-up or something? Why are you asking me? It’s too early in the week for this kind of thing.”
“A write-up and questions would take longer than just going to the class,” Alden said. “I’m going to rest for two hours and forty minutes. I’ll see you there later. I seriously hope we’re not running today.”
“Wait,” said Lexi, coming toward him. “Have you got something in your eyes?”
Alden touched his own cheek below his right eye. “I do. I changed out of everything else when I made it back to Matadero, but these were nice to have on for the flight to campus.”
“Those are enchanted lenses!” Lexi’s hands came up like he was going to grab Alden’s face, then stopped like he’d thought better of it. “What kind are they? What features do they have?”
“Night vision, magnification, equipment interfacing, translation, targeting visuals, some protection… ”
“They must have cost a fortune!”
“You owned a boat.”
“Those had to cost more than my boat. My boat was a little boat. What are you going to do with them?”
“I mean…I’ve already used them for all of the things I just said.”
“In one weekend?”
“And hopefully they’ll last for a few years,” said Alden.
“I wasn’t saying they were a bad investment. Just an early one. The kind of thing I’d hope to buy after uni. Not that you should’ve waited. Do what you want with your money. Are they good?”
Alden nodded. “They’re fantastic. Like add-on superpowers.”
“I don’t know how often they’ll let you use them in classes, but they’re pretty Apex.”
“Wait until you see what else I’ve got.”
Lexi stared at Alden’s new backpack.
“I actually put the thing I’m talking about in System storage,” said Alden. “To keep it safe. I’ll show it off later. Hey…have you got something new to show off, too? You were going to figure out what to do with your level up. How did that go?”
“Haoyu and Kon are driving me insane!” Lexi exclaimed. “They’ve been popping up every five minutes all weekend with their own thoughts on what I should do. I don’t think Haoyu did any of his homework. He just studied Meisters. And Kon’s been trying to talk to the System for me. He felt like I wasn’t doing it enough.”
“You sound kind of happy about it, though.”
“Haoyu slid a list of suggestions under the bathroom door while I was in there last night. Like it was so urgent I needed to read it on the toilet.”
Alden let out a laugh. “So you haven’t picked yet.”
“Some of the talents I’m most interested in…I’m afraid I could end up using them as crutches,” said Lexi. “I’m trying not to give in to anything that will make it easy to stop improving my control.”
“I see. But you’re not someone who goes easy on yourself at all. I don’t think you’d get lazy.”
“There’s an option that would let me create a phase trigger area for Writher. I could put something there or ask a person to stand there and be sure I’m not going to hurt them even if I’m slicing up everything around them. It’s a skill, so there must be at least a bit of a learning curve with it and a chance to improve it. I like that about it.”
“Sounds useful.”
“Of course, I should be able to phase Writher with a split-second thought. I can when everything is going right. But…it’s tempting. I’m going to get some advisement. Instructor Plim. A few other people.”
Lexi was talking a bit fast. Alden imagined he had been all weekend.
“I’m not sure,” said Alden. “But I think they’ll tell you a trigger area like that is a practical tool for you, not a cheat.”
It seemed to him that no matter how great Lexi’s control was in the future, the peace of mind that came with knowing Writher would phase through someone he was protecting would make him a more effective fighter.
“Take your time with it. If you ever want me to ask a wizard for you, I will. They might not give better advice than Avowed can. They’ll have their own blind spots and assumptions. But they do know a lot more about magic in general. And an alien perspective could come up with something unexpected for you to take into consideration. If you want.”
“Maybe.”
“Okay.”
“But just maybe!” Lexi said hastily. “Maybe isn’t a yes.”
“I know. There won’t be any Artonans hiding in your closet the next time you open it. Good night.”
“It’s not night.”
“It is in my heart.”
******
In his room, Alden took out his lenses and put them in the case designed for them. Then he stripped off his shirt and looked at the tattoo on his right arm. It was going to peek out when he wore short sleeves.
The System had given him the promised level-up notification as soon as he’d teleported in. The plus one to Bearer he’d wanted with his announcement last month, with the same kind of “choose a little something” message Lexi had gotten on Friday. An acknowledgment that his skill had grown, with his free authority growth hidden underneath.
He’d just swiped it away and gone to rinse off in his Matadero hospital room.
Not well enough. Looking at his hands now, he saw that he still had dirt from Rapport III under his fingernails.
That all happened.
The Contracts could have gotten rid of the dirt for him during the teleport. Maybe they hadn’t as a reminder.
He put on some clothes he could wear to the fitness class, went to sleep in them, and woke up in time to make it to the track with almost thirty seconds to spare. He tried to look alive while he leaped and stumbled his way through the race Ivanova had come up with. Most of the track was an elaborate hopscotch board with shifting squares. They had to bounce basketballs on some and land flying discs on others, among other challenges.
Alden wouldn’t have won any medals if it were an official sporting event, but he made it without anyone but Max asking him what was wrong with him.
“I worked out too much last night.”
“Why?”
“The opportunity presented itself.”
After that, in Ash’s class, he tried to pay attention, but his brain refused to absorb much information from the video clips. It was over soon, and he was out in front of the building with his team, agreeing to practice times and not agreeing to an idea Mehdi had concocted over the weekend that involved Alden doing Rabbit Recall with Meisters on other obstacle course teams in exchange for information about their strategies.
“I haven’t even practiced with Ignacio as much as I meant to,” said Alden.
<<And the Meisters betraying their teams would cause so much drama,>> said Ignacio.
“That’s right,” Mehdi said. “That’s part of how it works. The drama on their teams decreases their performance, Ash notices, and we get more runs on Fridays.”
Haoyu burst out laughing. “That’s evil.”
“It wouldn’t work,” said Lexi.
“Why did you make a villain plan?” Jeffy asked.
“It’s a competitive tactic! Not a villain plan.”
“Alden lures the Meisters into a dark, sinister alley,” said Haoyu. “And then he says, ‘Will you choose the power only I can give you? Or your teammates?’”
“It only sounds evil because you’re talking in that voice about dark alleys!”
“All right. That’s enough joking around,” said Kon. “We’re definitely getting a run this week, so we need to focus on upping our game. Not on whatever that idea is.”
******
“I’m sorry for leaving you hanging all weekend,” Alden said to Ignacio that afternoon.
He was taking a seat under Sunny, and Ignacio was positioning himself against the opposite wall of the apartment so that they could reenact the way they’d practiced last week.
“Busy with Artonans is busy with Artonans,” Ignacio said easily.
One of his Meister knives was heavy in Alden’s hand.
For someday, Alden thought, gripping it tighter for a moment before he preserved it.
“I didn’t have to be busy,” he said. “A lot of different events aligned, and I ended up with a chance to be the Avowed who helped some knights—or generals if you prefer that—with a training event. Not someone like Esh-erdi and Lind-otta. These people aren’t much older than us. You could think of it like their version of an MPE class, but it wasn’t very classlike. More of a realistic war game.”
Ignacio didn’t look totally shocked, but he thought for longer than Alden had expected him to.
<<I don’t know if I envy you for that or not. But you’re an unusual Rabbit.>>
“I’m not telling you so that you’ll envy me,” Alden said. “I’m doing it so that you know and can ask questions…if you want to. I won’t tell you anything I shouldn’t, but there’s plenty I could say.”
“Demons?” asked Ignacio.
“Not real ones. Devices called hazard mimics. But the System there made them look real on my interface.”
“Weapons?”
“Hundreds of different ones,” said Alden. “Crazy stuff. I only got to see a few in person, but they had so many for the knights to choose from.”
<<Now I’m envious,>> Ignacio decided. <<What did they need you for?>>
“I was going to preserve something fragile for the team I was with, but it didn’t work out.”
<<You didn’t get to use your skill!>> Ignacio winced in what Alden thought was sympathy.
“Don’t worry. Their plans got derailed, but I did a lot.”
“What?”
“I ran for miles. Kilometers. And there wasn’t a building in sight. I ran up a mudslide. I crushed a demon almost like I did Winston that time with the sandbag on a stick. I fell out of a plane.”
“What?” Ignacio’s mouth opened in a delighted gape. <<All of that?>>
“All of that.”
“A plane!”
“I know. That doesn’t feel like a real memory even though it just happened. I was—”
The door to Lute’s bedroom swung open hard and fast. “Ahoy!” he shouted.
Ignacio and Alden both startled.
“You are literally never in class,” said Alden.
“It’s my birthday.”
“Tomorrow.”
“I have to celebrate myself more to counteract whatever negative influences Hazel’s excessive birthdays have had on me in the past,” Lute explained, looking curiously at Alden. “Did you just say you fell out of a plane?”
“I did.”
“Why haven’t you told me about this!? What else? I’m supposed to be the first to hear about the weird stuff you do…your hijinks and crimes and pig-related plots.”
“When did you wake up today?” asked Alden.
“Noon.”
“That’s why you don’t receive the news first. Get out here, and I’ll tell you what it’s like to accidentally skydive.”
******
******
Mostly, all throughout that ordinary Monday, Alden felt a new depth of gratitude. Maybe it had taken root during his talk with Esh-erdi or as he watched the sun rise over his birth tree. Or when he saw The Vatha Lantern at work from above. But it wasn’t directed at one specific situation or individual now. It was such a full feeling. More than he needed and ready to spill over onto people he liked and loved.
“I feel like taking extra good care of all my friends right now, Victor,” he told the cat on his chest not long after he’d gotten into bed for the night. It was only seven, but he expected to be unconscious soon.
“That’s why I’m letting you be up here with me in the forbidden loft. Because you deserve the best the universe has to offer.”
He wished the others were as simple to help as the cat.
He’d been working out what he wanted to say to Lute when he got the right moment alone with him. To convey Esh-erdi’s offer and his own respect for the way Lute had been dealing with the Palace and Aulia.
And he’d sent a message to Boe asking how his trip away from the city had gone. That was supposed to be an opening for Boe to share, so that Alden could be supportive.
Then there was Stuart. Alden had taken a few pictures around campus today. He’d just sent them with a note that referenced some of the weekend’s highlights. He knew Stuart would like it. He didn’t think it was enough.
“He was happy for me after the quest, but there was way too much sad mixed with it.”
He’d been determined to be encouraging about Alden’s successful debut on a knightly battlefield. And Alden appreciated that, but…
“I wonder if I should have stayed.”
How? And where? It wasn’t like he could do anything for Stuart while he was at LeafSong. Not anything more than he was already going to do anyway. It was unclear whether Alden would show up and properly attend a bit of Eeaner-ket’s party, or if he was going to show up and rescue Stuart from it. But they’d agreed he was going to make an appearance and find out.
“You wanna meet Stuart?” he asked.
Victor was purring.
“Of course you do. Might take some arrangements, and I definitely don’t think the next trip is the right one. But soon.”
******
******
Tuesday brought with it what Alden thought of as “the good party” for the week. Though whether four guys hanging out together and doing slightly more deliberate activities than usual qualified as a party might be debated by others.
Emilija delivered the bridge shirt that morning, and Lute wore it all day. In the afternoon, Alden chauffeured his roommates around on the Nine-edged Son. While he flew, they ate Kabir’s gift to Lute—jerk chicken and assorted side dishes. They spent a couple of hours checking out the magical construction work that was happening in different places around Anesidora, then headed to a jazz club Lute had heard about. They accidentally showed up before there were any other customers or music, but the employees said they didn’t care if Lute wanted to play around on the piano.
“I’m mad that this is easy,” he told Alden as his hands danced over the keys, playing a song Lexi had requested. “I have not put in the work. It shouldn’t be this easy.”
“Teach me to play the main part of that song,” said Alden, setting the spiced apple soda that was the special drink of the night on one of the lamplit tables and hopping up onto the stage where the piano sat. “It won’t be as easy if I’m involved. You know, the la-chunka-lala part.”
“That’s the best,” Haoyu agreed, trying to mimic a graceful spin Lexi had just shown off. “He means the part they sing a few times.”
“The word ‘chorus’ is waiting for you two to discover it,” said Lexi.
“We should’ve brought the guitar,” said Alden, taking the bench from Lute.
He learned to play la-chunka-lala. They talked about where they should go to get dessert like it was serious business. And Lute tried to claim that Alden giving him a bathtub caddy for his birthday present meant Alden was really giving him permission to take Alden’s share of bathtub time.
When the scheduled musicians and others started to appear, the jazz club was still fun. But on their way to a bakery afterward, they all agreed that if they returned they should make sure to get there early again.
They headed back to the dorm around ten o’clock. Lexi was done for the night, but it was unclear if the rest of them were. Alden heated a brownie in the microwave, then sat down to eat it beside Lute on the couch. Haoyu was still in the kitchen, overthinking an almond croissant.
“I like being sixteen,” said Lute. He was leaning forward so that his own croissant crumbs fell onto the rug instead of his new shirt. “It feels like an improvement.”
“Yes, as a sixteen-year-old, I’ve been better than you all this time. Now you understand,” said Alden.
“Do you think they thought we were immature at the jazz club? Playing around on their stage?” asked Haoyu. “They looked at me funny when I did the big flip off of it.”
“I tipped them a lot,” said Lute.
“You did?” Alden frowned at him. “You weren’t supposed to tip anybody. It’s your birthday.”
“Yes, and that makes me the host.”
“No, you’re the special person being treated to a night out. I did the tipping. They were so nice about the piano.”
“I tipped them because I thought I might have scuffed the stage,” said Haoyu. “I guess that’s not really a tip. It was more like apology money.”
“Did you land the flip and then pay them immediately?” Alden asked. “Because that would have made me look at you funny if I were the waiter. Like maybe you thought doing gymnastics was part of it. Ta-daaa! Here’s a show to go with my argold!”
“What if he did that and then gave them less than you and I did?”
“I’m never going back there again,” said Haoyu.
Lute and Alden laughed at him. Alden thought that the little sound he’d just heard from the bedrooms was Lexi snickering along with them.
“Hey,” said Alden. “So you’ve all seen my tattoo, but I also wanted to show you—”
“I can’t believe my parents didn’t tell me you called them!” said Haoyu.
“It probably just wasn’t that exciting to them.”
“I can’t believe you’ve been walking around with Matadero secrets you could have shared at any time,” Lute said.
“I told you. It’s because I didn’t have any huge secrets,” said Alden. “And the System was keeping an eye on me for Esh-erdi. But there’s something else I wanted to show you guys. I was waiting until we were all together with some free time. I think it’s interesting enough for Lute’s birthday. Want to see an ancient type of Artonan shield?”
“Yes.”
“Sure.”
“Let me ask Lexi, too. He’s a Meister, so I figure he’ll like it.”
Alden got Lexi back into the living room and requested the kelsithe. It appeared in his hand for the first time since he’d sent it away.
He thought it might have gotten even better looking in the time they were apart.
Gray-green pieces with glassy silver whorls. The soft sleeve. It all seemed a little more alien in their apartment.
“I’ve never seen a glove like that,” Lexi said, blinking at it.
“Sweet,” said Lute.
“What does it do?” asked Haoyu.
“This is my kelsithe.” Alden slipped it onto his left arm and hooked his thumb through the fabric. “It’s controlled mentally. I let it draw my focus. Then, when I’m fully attentive to it…this happens.”
The kelsithe snugged itself to him.
“It moves,” said Lute.
“It really does,” said Alden. “Watch this.”
He tipped his palm up, and made the misty fabric flow toward the ceiling. He picked a vatha shape because he knew he could make it look cool.
“Butterfly!” said Haoyu. “And it gets pretty big.”
“Yep. Give me another second…” The vatha turned into more of a puddle, and Alden made the kelsithe expand to show off its size. It drifted and rippled near the antler light fixture before he brought it back down and formed the vatha again.
“What is that made of?” asked Lexi.
“Is it cloth?” asked Lute. “It is, isn’t it?”
“Magic cloth.” Alden concentrated to keep the vatha steady. “Making it hold its shape would be something the user usually has to learn. But my skill gives me the option of not devoting as much attention to it. As long as I can create the shape I want initially, I can just preserve it in place and then not think about it until I need to change it again.”
For a beat, the other three were thinking.
“That’s great for your skill! Can we use it for Coursing? I bet Ash would let us use it for Coursing.”
“That would make you so much more dangerous if you could use it in duels.”
“You’re going to obliterate everyone in Storytelling with that!”
Haoyu and Lexi looked at Lute.
“My idea makes as much sense as yours. The kelsithe is perfect for our storytelling class. Warin-doyis uses fabric to enhance his own performances. Not everything is about whipping and punching people.”
“Lute’s actually right,” said Alden. “I’m going to use it more for Storytelling than MPE. For now.”
“Why?” Lexi asked.
“It’s a really old weapon. Not this one. This one’s only been around for sixty Artonan years.”
“That’s still old,” said Haoyu.
“I know, but I mean the whole concept of the weapon is from a time that doesn’t match up with where Artonans and Avowed are now. I need to learn more. From what I understand, it’s great at stopping physical impacts and some spells, but there are magical abilities these days that will just demolish it. Because it wasn’t made to be strong against that type of approach. So, imagine my skill gets exhausted, and I can’t preserve the kelsithe anymore. It would protect me from bullets, but an Object Shaper might be able to turn it into confetti. And if it was confetti, I wouldn’t have it anymore. Even with Kon in class, I don’t want to be reckless with it.”
The stronger his skill got, the safer the kelsithe would be.
“A quirky enthusiast made this one with the human brain in mind, so if anything happens to it, I can’t just buy another. And it was a gift from someone I respect. So yeah. This is my kelsithe.”
He tried to make a rabbit with it.
“A short dog,” said Haoyu.
“Give me a second to get the ears right! Lexi, do you want to try it on?”
“I don’t even want to breathe on it after you telling me it’s irreplaceable.”
Alden smiled over at him. “I think the chances that it’ll give you any insight into controlling your Mind Writher are slim. You’ve got your affixation and a bond with your weapon that are something completely different, I suspect. But the chances aren’t zero…I thought you might want to give it a shot because of that.”
“Oh.” Lexi’s lips twitched. He looked at the rabbit. “Would it really be all right?”
“It would,” said Alden. “I promise I don’t mind.”
“In the morning,” said Lexi. “When I’m fresh. To make sure I get the most out of it?”
“Smart. Let’s do it then.”
******
“I don’t want my birthday to be over,” said Lute. He was sprawled on the floor beside Alden. “It was so much better than my last couple of birthdays.”
It was nearly midnight. He and Alden were the only ones still up. They’d turned off the television a few minutes ago.
“I probably shouldn’t ask you if you want to go to the arcade at Li Jean. I know you can’t sleep until noon tomorrow.”
“I’ll go if you want,” said Alden.
“You’ve yawned at least ten times since Haoyu went to bed.”
That was true. And Haoyu hadn’t been gone for long.
“I was thinking of saying something to you,” Alden told him. “I don’t know if it’s birthday material. But you need to hear it soon.”
“Let me hear it. I’ve got magic ears, you know.”
“All right…Esh-erdi told me some things about the Palace of Unbreaking and your role there,” said Alden. “I didn’t ask him to. He brought it up himself because he and Lind-otta are upset about your eye, and they want to help you.”
Lute didn’t answer. He still seemed to be fairly at ease beside Alden.
“I’ll tell you what he told me. And what he’s offered. And how I answered him.”
Minus the part about asking Esh-erdi to remove the Velra contract tattoo from Lute.
Lute had already done more than enough to convince Alden he wanted it gone, and Stuart’s approach of getting rid of something like that first and then apologizing if it was a mistake seemed like the only way to avoid any unknown traps the contract might contain.
“He said you could have gotten your eye healed if you’d been willing to let someone else sacrifice theirs in your place,” said Alden. “To honor the consequences of your grandma’s use of The Gloss. He said it would be your Opposite. And one of your Opposite’s parents.”
Alden went on to explain what else Esh-erdi had said. And the options he had suggested for having Lute healed. He was most nervous telling Lute that he’d rejected any schemes that involved healing Lute without Lute’s permission.
It had seemed like it was the right choice in that flyer, but here on the living room rug, looking at Lute’s prosthetic eye, he was afraid he’d messed something up for his friend.
“Esh and Lind-otta are powerful, and their friends are powerful,” Alden said after there wasn’t anything else to report. “They’ll help you if you want. But they won’t be around here forever. So consider it. I know you’ve got a tattoo that might keep you from commenting in exactly the way you’d like right now. Don’t worry about that. Whatever you decide—if you want to try for healing or not—don’t worry about what I’ll think or if I’ll help. Because I’ll tell you right now, Lute, I think you’re damn courageous. And you’re dealing better than anyone else could with a massive cult led by wizards. I get that your decisions must be complex, and I trust you to make them. If you change your mind in the future or if you don’t. Whatever it is, it’s fine. I told Emilija you had balls of stubborn stone. I meant it.”
He waited.
Lute had drawn in a few sudden breaths while Alden was talking, but he hadn’t said much.
“Are you okay?” Alden asked after another minute. “I didn’t ruin the birthday, did I? You can have another one tomorrow if I did.”
“He reminds me of me,” said Lute.
Alden watched him.
“My Opposite. They…on that day, when my healing was being arranged, they brought him into the room with me. And the way he talked, and the total trust he has in the Palace, and how he feels about me…” Lute sighed heavily. “Like, he thinks he knows how the world is and who he is in it. But from the outside, it’s so obvious that his whole life is designed to hide other options from him and steer him where they think he belongs. His choices aren’t choices. He’s a happy kid. I’m not going to…I’m not…”
“You’re freaking awesome.”
“Don’t compliment me so hard. It’s true, but it’s weird.”
Lute was smiling like someone who wanted to hear more praise.
“I’m your biggest fan,” said Alden. “I’m going to buy you two bridge shirts so that I’m better than Emilija.”
“You didn’t really tell her I have stone balls, did you?”
“We both happened to be talking about how brave you were already, so it wasn’t like I just said it out of nowhere. I think she understood it was a metaphor. I hope.”
*
Comments (223)
I keep seeing "good morning" in brackets and thinking Sleyca edited the post with a message, lol
At thia point, I'd feel better just seeing a post saying the author is ok.
I'm worried that Sleyca is feeling too much pressure to make this an amazing chapter. If the upcoming chapter is as good as usual it will be worth the wait. Sleyca doesn't need to produce some kind of slam-dunk. Soup is always good. It doesn't have to be exceptionally good to justify a delay.
Let's say that teachers (multiple, say Waker, Plum and Klein) at CNH have noticed that Alden is sandbagging. If you were Saleh, how would you raise this with Alden? If you were Alden, how would you respond? If I were Saleh, I'd probably call him in for a meeting with me and Waker. I'd keep it low-key and non-confrontational. "Why are you not telling us about your advances?" If I were Alden, I'm not sure I'd want to lie more than I had to. Tell the truth: I've advanced. Don't tell the whole truth: I've advanced a long long way. Of course, there is the saying: 'a half-truth is a whole lie'. Alden is going to have to tell people someday. Just probably not that day.
Mm. I think Saleh and Klein have already indicated they think Alden is due for a level up, but the System is holding off for 'obvious' Alden trauma reasons. They know Alden is getting mental health care on the TriPlanets (!), so an appropriate professional is already involved. I doubt they're going to raise concerns directly to Alden again until one of the following conditions are met: A.) it's been an entire additional semester and Alden still hasn't (fake) leveled - is he getting enough support? Is he getting bullied online or at school? B.) Alden does something truly absurd in his obstacle course class, prompting questions of why he hasn't pushed quite as hard in his main gym class, or C.) Alden shows talents in an emergency situation that get recorded that he has never shown at school, making it obvious he has additional talents he's been hiding.
Sleyca did say at least 24h with no upper bound, it could be 240h for all we know, with a 0 lost to the void.
Yeah, at this point I expect either something earlier than usual today or for it to be several more days.
Sleyca, if you are still awake and working, *please* go to sleep and set your deadline a day (or two) later! I love to read your stuff, but I like you to be healthy and happy even more!
What time zone is Sleyca in? it’s about 11:00 AM where I’m at.
My instinct tells me that the next chapter has to be epic!
I suspect next few chapters are setting up for something pivotal for the bigger story themes - my hype keeps growing.
> “I know. There won’t be any Artonans hiding in your closet the next time you open it. Good night.” So do we give it like… a week before there winds up being an Artonan hiding in Lexi’s closet for some reason, or more?
Could you imagine the art'h spouses summoning Lexi to find out what Alden's friends are like before they let Stu visit on Earth? They'd totally pick Lexi as Kon's brother since Kon was so well-behaved and useful. No way that's happening. But oh, the look on Lexi's face when he gets the invite from Earth System is fun to imagine. Oh yeah, I need to see that. Sleyca, not that I ask for much, but...
Oh I can feel it, I can feel it! The soup withdrawals!
I think haiku may have been insufficient; come craft limericks for the wordchain of soup summoning! There once was a charming young Lute Whose eye became Gloss's loot The cult call it wonder While EshLind bring thunder Now knights come give tat the boot
There was a stubborn Definer Who started less skilled but refiner She proposed her hopes Was wounded to nopes Now good quest resets like a primer.
Soup All throughout history humans have been searching for soup. And the soup we need right now is nearby, but nobody seems to find it, but if you found it- You would find it in a cave. Inside that cave sits an old lady. She is sitting on the ground and she is making the most beautiful soup that anyone has ever seen. Now she is adding the spices to the soup and she wants that to be special so she is adding super magical sun spices, and in order to add them to the soup she has to take them from the sun, but she has been doing that for so long that her fingers have been reduced to nothing, but burnt sticks barely able to move. And every once in a while the old woman needs to get up and go to the back of the cave because in the back of the cave above a fire, a fire that some people say is the oldest thing in the world, is a pot. Inside the pot there are all the flowers, and all the trees, and all the grains, and all the plants, and if she doesn’t stir the stew then there will be no trees, and no plants, and no food so she has to get up and stir the stew of ancient grains, but because she is so old and because she has been making soup for so long it takes her a long time to get to the back of the cave. As she is walking there the back dog- Black dog? What black dog? The black dog sees the soup in the cave the most beautiful and delicious soup anyone has ever seen. It walks up to the pot and begins to eat it and it eats and eats until there is almost nothing left. When the old woman returns she sees all of her work ruined. The soup that we don’t even know how long took to make is gone. She stands there and she looks. The old woman gets closer and as she looks at what is left of it she gets a now vision. A vision of an even more beautiful soup. So she begins to make it again. I haven’t been hit so hard with soup madness, since- actually this might be the worst case yet. Blerggg… Soup isn’t a want it’s a need! But here is the story guys! Slayca hasn’t updated yet because she is saving the world by stirring the stew of ancient grains and because of that black dog. Damn, that black dog… but also- same. (Sleyca probably isn’t old, but this story needed an old lady and Slayca has the wisdom to fill the role with near perfection.) Sigh- I love soup. Soup madness has calmed down a bit. Soup is never late, because it’s always in my heart and no one can take that away. (If this comment is very crazy-cooky I still blame the soup madness tho)
We've had second approximate day. Haven't they heard of third approximate day?
It’s even more approximate!
'Alden set a to-go tiffin full of k’rethkan on the tile in front of the girls’ apartment door.' :D 'He didn’t make it far down the hall before he heard their door opening.' :D '“Hello, Mr. Pigeon Picture.” “Hey, Ms. Guardian of the Pigeon Picture,” said Alden, turning back.' HAH '“Don’t post that on my Trime. Somebody out there will believe you. It’ll be fine if they hate me, but what if they’re onboard with it? Are you going to take responsibility for the coolers full of penguin chicks that show up in November?”' >:) '“Do you think Ivanova will give me credit for today’s fitness class if I tell her I spent an entire Artonan night working out and training my skill?”' >:) 'They scattered across the counter, and he looked at Alden like Alden had made him drop them.' Ha '“Wait until you see what else I’ve got.” Lexi stared at Alden’s new backpack.' >:) '“I know. There won’t be any Artonans hiding in your closet the next time you open it. Good night.” “It’s not night.” “It is in my heart.”' HEH 'Looking at his hands now, he saw that he still had dirt from Rapport III under his fingernails. That all happened. The Contracts could have gotten rid of the dirt for him during the teleport. Maybe they hadn’t as a reminder.' :) '“I worked out too much last night.” “Why?” “The opportunity presented itself.”' >:) 'But it wasn’t directed at one specific situation or individual now. It was such a full feeling. More than he needed and ready to spill over onto people he liked and loved.' :) 'It was unclear whether Alden would show up and properly attend a bit of Eeaner-ket’s party, or if he was going to show up and rescue Stuart from it.' heh 'In the afternoon, Alden chauffeured his roommates around on the Nine-edged Son.' :) '“The word ‘chorus’ is waiting for you two to discover it,” said Lexi.' heheheh 'He thought it might have gotten even better looking in the time they were apart.' :) 'The stronger his skill got, the safer the kelsithe would be.' :) 'Because I’ll tell you right now, Lute, I think you’re damn courageous. And you’re dealing better than anyone else could with a massive cult led by wizards.' :) Thank you for the chapter :D
Amusing myself by considering Artonan wizards sound really quite like Victorian elites on a number of points: https://www.worksinprogress.news/p/why-were-victorian-elites-so-effective ("Victorian elites stayed in bed until the afternoon: There’s more than one way to rule the world"). ETA: more on the post-school partying aspects than the school ones. ETA2: though then again, there are all of those "famous" LeafSong parties..
I've occasionally wondered what movies that were made OTL that would also appear in the Soupverse. My Fair Lady? 100%. The Broadway show premiered in 1956. IRL, the movie was filmed in 1963 and released in 1964. So after Artonan contact, but a popular property like that would definitely get made. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)? Probably not. You could do a film about non-Artonan aliens making contact, but any movie so made would be very different than the one we got. Also: why do a film about a first contact when an actual first contact had already happened? However, I had a shower thought today. The Blues Brothers (1980) would hit very differently in the Soupverse. Consider Sister Mary Stigmata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ook1wyU4wuA Watching it OTL, the Sister is sinister - moves at a glide, doors open for her, she knows without looking that someone is there. In the Soupverse, you'd just say: oh, the Sister is an unregistered Avowed. Some kind of Adjuster at a guess. Kathleen Freeman (b.1923) would be a bit old to be an Avowed, so maybe she had an Adjuster on her staff. Or maybe you cast someone younger. In the Gospel scene, John Belushi (briefly) turns blue. He and others do flips in the air. Not the flips that an acrobatic normie can do - flips that (in show biz) would have been done on a trampoline just out of the camera. However, in the Soupverse /people can do that stuff on their own with magic/! A Light Shaper and an Adjuster could do what they were doing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZpH9Khn0E0 Movies with magical realism would really hit differently.
The bigger change would be in Science Fiction, I think. The Alien-Franchise. Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate. Every movie or TV-Show where humans are special, or become leaders of a variety of races or encounter a hidden danger would have to account for Artonans somehow - and for chaos. If Science Fiction is a popular genre at all there might be horror or action movies about fighting chaos. But it might be a lot more niche genre than it has been for years.
We’ve had Approximation Day, yes. But what about Approximate, Updatedation Day?
Do you think they know about 1.25 meal? What about 1.5 meal? (tosses myself an apple)
Twelve-ish hours to go, I guess.
*attempts to mimic Lexi's graceful spin as she dances to her imagining of 'la chunka lala'*
What is “la chunka lala”? Is this a song known in the universe that’s escaped my notice and google’s search algorithm?
No, it’s not a thing. Because the SoupVerse timeline diverged from ours in the 1960s, their pop culture has minimal overlap with ours. (And also because the year in-story is 2041.) It’s the nonsense chorus of an invented in-universe song.
I wondering what will happen when Aulia and Elias(?) Figure out that there is a human wizard/knight Walking around. From what i remember, they were talking the goal of getting really magic a while back
She will try to directly insert herself as a “mentor” figure if she’s not smart. Which, to her credit, she generally does know how to read the political climate. As long as it’s not her own family politics, as she takes them too much for granted. Probably due to a certain tattoo she makes everyone get. My guess for what will Actually Happen, is that Lute will suddenly become her favourite grandson. Though, it does depend on how the fallout of Lute getting his own tattoo removed happens. If he’s too estranged, then she might just try to buy her way into Alden’s life. Either directly, or through other friends. Best case scenario for Alden is that he’s too we’ll know by then for her to feel safe brute forcing things. Because the one thing I’m absolutely 100% sure off, is that she is NOT leaving him be after that.
What’s your favorite Soup phrase? I’m torn between “echoing klerms” and “S-hole”, for different reasons obviously. Edit: I change my answer. It’s “loving lie”. Every culture has this I bet. I just never encountered a word for this specific thing. I bet whatever Ewtwees say in exclamation is amazing. Anything with two tails that keeps score when causing mayhem have to say bad ass things.
I feel like they will say something like "My shiny!" I really like the dialog from the Artonan Conversations chapter.
Chicago, Chicago, Chicago. When will Alden get back there? Will it be a stealth embassy basement teleport, a public invite from the Chicago hero team, some emergency rescue of one of Boe's vigilante saves gone wrong, or something else?
Aunt Connie's wedding is waiting. Alden still wants an in person meeting with Boe so Boe can read him and be reassured. Jeremy appears to be doing great, but I bet he'd still be thrilled for his girlfriend to meet Alden as more than a distant voice over the phone. I bet Alden's inbox had so many solicitations for further donations from various grateful Chicago institutions. You gave money once, Alden! They're hoping you'll be a repeat patron.
I need at least twenty-four hours on this one. Hopefully not much beyond that, but it's hard to judge this time. I'm excited about where we're going from here, and because of that, I have an urge to keep looking for ways to get more oomph out of this chapter and the next few. I don’t think it’s a bad urge to listen to right now, because hopefully it will pay off with something you’ll all really like. But it's slowing me down. You're all so supportive and so fun to write for. I'm really grateful for it, and I'm pretty upset with myself for never giving you an early chapter for the "approximate" day. I think the only way to alleviate that is going to be a mini hiatus. The big picture outline would like that, too. It's been claiming a ton of my attention for the past several weeks, and still it hungers... Thank you all. See you soon! (As always, if your patronage is ending before this chapter comes out, and you’re worried about missing it, send me a message. I’ll make sure you get to read it. )
Do what ever you need Sleyca, we love your story because it's so well written and thought out with amazing characters and that all takes time and alot of work to be able to create something so wonderful, so if you need time take it please. In regards to the timing of chapters, my best advice is to under promise and over deliver.
Sleyca hasn't delayed this chapter yet, but I hope she will instead announce a hiatus. Just wrapped up a big arc. Everyone is at stable positions but with storm clouds on the horizon. Good time to take a month or two reducing her burnout meter.
Right… I guess we don’t care about Stuart. There have definitely been better times for an extended break in the last weeks/months. Besides, apart from last week the past few chapters weren’t really delayed either. If Sleyca needs a break then I’m all for her taking one (for her sake) but I don’t think advocating for one is a particularly motivational thing to say to an author.
Happy approximate day! On a separate note, I’ve been pondering Alden’s affixations. When the Earth Contract ”rewards” Alden with a skill level up, is this mirrored on his fake profile or does his profile first uptake when he affixes? Seems to me that if it is the latter this would raise questions at CNH.
Leo, Earth is not responsible for the Quiet Rabbit profile/persona, Mother (Artona I) is. Earth would not pay the expense to lie, but Mother can. It's likely between Alden and Mother, and Earth is a semi-bemused spectator, I think, it's told Alden that he is so 'ridiculously overinformed'.
Unrelated to approximate day, I've been wondering if how Alden relates to Mother would be considered weird by other knights. Alden is an orphan who was neglected by his caretaker. He has a shortage of being "mothered" and easily slips into that role, especially as she helps him navigate his special circumstances. But a regular Artonan, whether from a knight family or not, might feel very differently about it. Especially when her care is contrasted to the option of developing one's power as a normal wizard. That raises a bunch of further questions about Artonan society and familial ties. We've seen the Arth's up close, but they're unusual even by Artonan standards. We've got only glimpses of "normal" Artonan family life. At least on the surface it seems quite similar to human culture. But there might be a bunch of unexplored nuances there. So for all I know, the average knight might be creeped out by Mother.
I've thought similar. I think the average Artonan wizard (not Ordinary Class) would be screamingly-alarmed if they knew. "Under the Mother's Eye" is a real warning/threat. I think other hn'tyon would be shocked at the depth of the relationship and favors. They'd be told of the expense, or have to contain their expenses such as teleports off-planet or from out of the Artonas, or other limits, I guess. Stu was surprised she'd give him Quiet Rabbit. We were told that Stu had a little bit more of a relationship with her, as did Sina. But I think Alden is 3 standard deviations away from the norm in his relationship with her.
I was wondering whether Alden's arrival at Emilija 's place / his apartment was during daylight hours. The answer is 'yes'. Sunrise at Point Nemo on 21 January 2041 is 0442. I don't know how long the flight from Matadero to Apex is, but he likely saw that sun rise over the Pacific.
Anesiadora is far enough south the get some really long summer days. Winters are probably pretty miserable, though.
Next chapter predictions in haiku, or otherwise? Alden contemplates War game writeup as Goldbush Field research credit
Party time!
Happy approximate day to all of us in the soup line. May our serving be hot and fulfilling.
Writher!
Happy Approximate Day everyone
Maybe a time zone thing, but Approximate day generally means next day for me. Still worthy of anticipation though. Sleyca is the best.
I'm so curious whether Alden will think to notify Thwarthog before he shows up to freely wander the LeafSong campus, or whether he'll encounter her sans mask (and her charge?) at the party or on the way to the party.
Oooooh... Good call. It would be interesting seeing Thwarthog again while Alden is at Leafsong. I don't think it's the right time for members of the boater to be there, right? Though maybe one of them is around too and asks about or mentions the missing Manon?
Seeing Ignacio reminds me I want him to cast Leading Rabbit on Alden (ala Recall Rabbit) and swirl him around the battlefield followed by a swarm of S-rank Griveks.
Thinking: why should they specifically be S-rank Griveks? Oh, right... because only the S-rank Griveks become Rabbits. To quote Noh-en: "Well, he is a Ryehb't." Notably, this tactic would require Ignacio to bodily throw Alden like he would a knife. Not only would Alden be the one his skills work on, but he would be by far the easiest of the bunch to chuck around that way... Ignacio: May I throw you? S-rank Grivek Rabbit: *EAR-SPLITTING AMUSEMENT*
"Tick," Alden said. Emban looked at him side-eye. "No, Tick!" Alden repeated, pointing at the insect the size of his head. "Silly Ryeh-b't," Tilliver responded. "We have ways to make you Tock!"
*throws shoe*
It occurs to me that if Stu and Alden don't fess up to Esh and Lind soon they'll be gone. They've only got a matter of a few days now and then the two knights will be gone along with any support they could offer. - "It’s in a matter of days. The first stage of the unsealing.”- ch.318
Soon, but not necessarily days. It was said that they'd follow Jeneth out, not that they'd go with him. Note that Esh seemed to think they'd have time to arrange things for a series of "wild coincidences" to heal Lute's eye, which presumably takes some setting up. Also, waaay back in chapter 104 (November), Stu said the earth posting had been granted to them for a few months. Depending on what Stu meant by "few" and "months", I reckon they might be taking off anywhere between February and May (if the words mean the obvious things). Here, have a timeline! https://terrestrialbiped.github.io/Super-Supportive-Timeline/patreon-latest.html
How long do you think it'll take Max to sleuth out what Alden was doing on the weekend? I like to think he's good enough to do so over time by fishing with statements like "Crazy what happened to Alden, right?", and also curious enough not to let the matter drop.. After all, he knows that extremely unusual things happens to Alden on the regular; it's like he accidentally subscribed to Mystery of the Month club and they deliver only bangers.
Forget Max. What about the Informant? He's not above listening in on conversations in private rooms. What Alden has going for him is: everyone is more interested in what's happening in their own life. They don't know that Alden is the main character. Once his wizardlyness gets out, people will be doing a LOT of digging into everything he has said — every word, every nuance will be under the microscope. Until then, not so much.
I think Alden should introduce Kakao and Chocolate to the knights- ideal comfort food, good to take on trips and goes well with bananas.
And it will kill them just like dogs.
Stu's squad is going to be called the Klerm Squad, isn't it. They save even the klerms and the Ro-dens.
"'He’s started saving the klerms.'” I like how Stu's phrasing here implies that now that Eeaner-ket has started saving the klerms, he's going to continue. Can't stop with just a few.
Ryada-bess must be growing curious about Alden's secrets. Between him putting down the mimic to "end it's suffering" only to later be cautious of it not being dead leading to finding the treat that Stu mentioned that he "might" have noticed, the details in his letter that he stated he couldn't put in there given what he did put in it while leaving it with a pending yell in his throat, Stu's need to have a private conversation (a) with him, his adeptness with the kelsithe, and his general strangeness.
- Stu's monopolisation of Alden is nothing new, just regular Stu's eekeekeek behaviour. - "General strangeness" - are not all generals weird? : ) - His use of the weapon did turn eyes, but they do not know if he is talented with items, which he admitted he is on multiple occassions (painting, mind grotto, discussion with Esh-erdi), or if the piece was exceptionaly made for his race, since it is untested single piece, or if humans are more like this. She is also young, so her experience with Avowed is Alden. - His yell can be something stupid, like admiting he is in love with Quarternary. You would not assume the giraffe in zoo found hobby in ancient philosophy, if you were just told it acts weird. - Double tap will just make her like him more. She started eating sausage after it! And do not forget the cocktail effect. These were not the only things she saw, there were more obvious ones to distract her. Worry about his wellbeing. How everyone does not look. How he was separated due to poor instructions. Stupid sexy Alden's ass. The bag from Ro-den and all it's meanings now projected on fellow knights. Krethkan Bithe. How a vegan can eat egg omelette bread - did nobody explain to him it is made of eggs and flour? Healing potion just for this amount of heat?
It's unfortunate for Lute that "stubborn stone" is exactly the example of what Alden's crushing spell works on. He'd better walk carefully.
He’s gotta keep an eye out for his orbital stone-children
Huh, this little Chekov’s comment has been sitting on the mantle since C229: “I’m going to an Artonan party,” he said lightly. “What could possibly go wrong?”
Hehehe! Looking forward to the pending disaster.
I'm so curious what Vatha Squad's experience was with the treat-swapping party! Did they make a minor splash for being a team of newlings that successfully took on a field rated for more experienced knights? Were other newling knights curious about the kelsithe in action and its human wielder? I keep imagining Bithe, the #2 Alden fan in the Rapports (#1 being Stu, of course) enthusing to others about what a good person Alden is, how good at rescuing seemingly hopeless situations, the sterling qualities of both of the two (2) humans Bithe has personally met to date, etc.
Maybe Alden will be accruing a reputation as the good luck human Ryeh-b't who brings battlefield wevvi and snacks to succor weary knights.
Now that Growing Unseen is over/unVIVified, there’s one thing I’d expected to see in it that -didn’t- appear - the return of the “tock” sound from the Here To There: The first sign something was coming was a tock sound, so insignificant that Alden didn’t even realize he’d heard it among all the other noise until Stuart spun, attention suddenly fixed on Emban’s back even though he had been in the middle of a sentence. Ryada-bess was landing, light-footed, on top of a crate beside Emban in the next second, and it was only a couple of blinks longer before Bithe was with them. All three squadmates were together, just that fast.
To be fair, there were no unexpected threats that appeared that would need to be alerted in the time Alden was with the squad. There may well have been tocks when the demon geese or other threats appeared.
So Alden has definitely told Ignacio and his roommates about his adventures. I'm surprised that Kon wasn't told. Not at all surprised that Alden didn't choose to share the story with Mehdi.
Sharing it with Mehdi would be a torture... for both. Mehdi because he is being told of training he can't get in place he can't visit, and Alden because Mehdi would turn every pebble of that converstion three times over. And then find his way back to Klein's pause.
Dang, so the lenses were more like 100,000 argold. Makes sense that even the knights were surprised by his purchase.
I think 100k would be 300k dollars, so that would be a pretty big boat. But I'd bet 10k on the low end
If I have the math right, 60 Artonan years is something like 73 human years, correct? So the kelsithe would've been made right around the time Earth joined the Artonan empire.
with the fuzzy numbers of 15 earth months for 1 artonan year that we learned via Manon, it would have been made just after human contact, which is why it was made with the human brain in mind. maybe it was to be a meister tool that no one selected, kind of like how lexi is only the 2nd human mindwrither user. Or the maker was one of the wizards in favor of BoaB being on the human skills list and also belived is the perfect tool for it.
TFTC!
I started to post this on RR, and then realized it's got underlying assumptions of things not yet revealed there. It probably won't take much for Kon to think about the comment Alden made about the best parties in Artonan society being on the Branch, for Kon to realize he has much more value in being a 'gluon' than as a rating: Repairman First Class. I kind of feel that this is what Esh is referring to when describing Alden as a very good example of Humanity (his ability to reduce interpersonal and interspecies barriers), and this is probably what will reform Artonan society when Alden decloaks as a hn'tyon: his performance in squads and the squads' overall improvements in cohesion and the effectiveness of mutual support. I think this may extend to political factions: Super Supportive to the Triplanets. Maybe I'm extrapolating too much from a single successful wargame with a squad, The Thanksgiving, and the Exile of Bash-nor. Yet, I picture Alden getting Trimeritorious before Ro, and Ro (as votary or involuntary wizardberry) getting pulled along for the ride. That last is probably just fantasy on my part, don't take it seriously. But I'll put it out there.
One of the crazier theories bouncing around in my head is about Alden’s “attractiveness” to Artonans, combined with Ryada-bes being such a broadly good match. I’m imagining a future where Alden, Stu, and Ryada (and maybe Emban and Bithe later??) form the first poly-inesvul, with even greater stability and ability to support one another through affixation-trauma. Perhaps they will form a knight squad that are all supporting one another’s existences directly — being Super Supportive as it were. A bit too crazy, perhaps, but fun to imagine.
When Alden wakes up tomorrow 2 days will have gone by in two chapters! Scarer's Probably Wrong Predictions for this week: Ash will have caught up with Luna Plim, and they'll try to devise something else for Alden and Konstantly Awesome to figure out. Natalie and Alden will catch up, and he'll explain why he didn't bring the wevvi, offer to go to the manybaskets this upcoming weekend (again), and Nat will ask to go with him to Eeaner's party. That'll open the door for the Huntski brothers to ask as well.
Does Natalie know about the wevvi? I do not think he sent messages ahead. Neither I think artonans are aware of the +1 concept humans have. That way you invite one person and 8 spouses show up. Ash and Luna are enemies. They will both research Alden separately, until headmaster finds out.
- And he’d sent a message to Boe asking how his trip away from the city had gone. That was supposed to be an opening for Boe to share, so that Alden could be supportive. - Not just "supportive"... "Super Supportive"! ;P
- “I know. There won’t be any Artonans hiding in your closet the next time you open it. Good night.” - I can imagine Lexi having nightmares after this. Alden is brutal. Lol!
"Lexi, I don't know why you're upset about finding my elderly aunt in your closet when you opened it. "First of all, I said 'there won’t be any Artonans hiding in your closet the next time you open it.' The word 'Artonans' was clearly plural, there was a singular Artonan there. Second, you opened your closet many times between my statement and Stu-arth's appearance, so it obviously wasn't 'next time.'"
Poor Lexi. You'd think by now he'd start developing a thicker skin with regard to Alden's adventures. (Lol!) - “Should I ask what kind of event you mean?” “Only if you want to hear an awesome story,” Alden replied, bending down to rub a furry orange head. “Do you think Ivanova will give me credit for today’s fitness class if I tell her I spent an entire Artonan night working out and training my skill?” Lexi missed his thermos with a spoonful of dried berries. They scattered across the counter, and he looked at Alden like Alden had made him drop them. -
Is Alden gonna write letters to the vatha squad like on the here to there ? I kinda hope so… his words are always so thoughtful
"Dear Tilliver, I ignored your direct command because I was a selfish little PoS. Best regards, Alden" "Dear Emban, since I was taken to the training as your punishment for not being welcoming to Divin-zadja, I want to know if my actions helped you ironing that wrinkle off your personality. Yours truly, Alden ryebit (the human one)" "Dear Divin-zadja annoying Emban for you has been a pleasure. Call me if you need her punished again, as the list of people who can annoy art'h for you is rather short. Yours truly Alden P.S.: Thank you for not smiting us with lightning" "Dear Seth, I have contacted one of my teachers who specializes in hero costumes, to design Vatha costumes for your team. Her first sketches are in the attachment. Please send your sizes so we can have them prepared soon. Awaiting your immediate reply, Alden" "Dear Bithe, It is a very rare and scientificaly unconfirmed talent among my species to foresee future in limited and uncontroled ways through dreams. I have seen one such dream about you, you were facing a group of human sized giant vatha in your near future. Please prepare yourself for this harrowing future, however much is that outcome improbable. With a wish of good luck, Alden"
I wonder if Lexi might take the Recall skill later on. It's not nearly as useful to Lexi, because he doesn't throw his weapon, but it would still be good if somebody disarms him. Plus, then he can Recall Alden.
It would be super useful to Lexi. The weapon just needs to touch the person, if he can stretch the whip end reliably, he could lift people easily. Assuming the skill will eventualy be one person using and the other just getting carried. Now it seems unfinished. It would be even more useful knowing that he will not cut the person in half.
Gloss was cast to get Chainer for Hazel, so maybe Palace will be okay with taking her eye instead?
There's also been speculation in the comments that she may have called the blowback on Lute sooner, before he could make it to the bunker. Perhaps as some sort of revenge for taking 'her' S-rank chainer? Yet, even if it came out the lost eye was somehow Hazel's fault (in a way that might get the palace to act), I think Lute and his stubborn stone balls probably wouldn't want her to take the burden from him. Even though he might hate her for all she's said and done, I think he knows she became like this largely through their grandmothers scheming.
lol I mean this from a place of love, but the only way the kelsithe being used for Story telling could be more on brand would be if it also had a stat sheet 😭
Str: 50 Con: 50 Dex: 100 Int: 0 Wis: 0
An empowered Alden trying to be the Stuart to Lute's dilemma is just so wholesome. So much parallel... On a side note, I'm relieved that Lute had a normal drama-free birthday.
Exactly this. Alden incorporates his own experiences into his outward actions rather well for an almost 17 year old with super powers.
"I think she understood it was a metaphor. I hope." lmao
Party animals - come one come all to figure out the party animals for the class Alden - Rabbit Lexi - Raven Ignacio - Shrike Hayou - Honey Badger Kon - Dolphin Everly - Ice spider (real one could be lynx?) Jeffy - Land Shark Heliosa - Bull maybe? Vandy - Desertas Petrel Astrid - raccoon Max - Wolf or fox?
Would love peoples takes on mythological options to if you have them
Those girls ...you never know, after the ice cream? Lute better run if she is wearing combat boots.
"it’s so obvious that his whole life is designed to hide other options from him and steer him where they think he belongs" - makes me think of Jeneth and siblings, and also a bit of Stu.
Lexi missed his thermos with a spoonful of dried berries. They scattered across the counter, and he looked at Alden like Alden had made him drop them. Just like the radishes. T_T
Truly, Alden is a danger to produce of all varieties. Just like a good rabbit should be.
I'm wondering why Lexi didn't think the villain/meister-stealing plan would work. Any theories? That, and "it's too early in the week for this kind of thing." Not too early in the DAY, just too early in the week. Would 5:15 AM on a TUESDAY morning have been late enough, Lexi?
Maybe Lexi just figured that Rabbit Recall obviously wouldn’t work for some Meister skills? Or that no one is stupid enough to bite, even if they’re greedy enough. I think he tends to assume that what’s obvious to him will be obvious to others. Which is charmingly optimistic, in its way.
Next chapter on my birthday! What a great birthday present!
Happy upcoming approximate birthday!
Happy birthday Lute! I'm glad we got a chapter covering its entirety.
I’m really glad alden got to tell his what-I-did-this-weekend story. I was afraid he’d have to keep big chunks secret, or that he’d try to quiet-rabbit himself.
Alden shares with his friends. That he was nondescript and abstract with Max is REALLY telling, IMO.
Alden: “Balls of stubborn stone” Contract’s translation: “Rock-hard genitals” Emilija’s thoughts: ??? Emilija: You can’t say things like that and then leave me curious about what you mean.
Carry this heart click with you while you climb into the punishment closet.
Oh my Wah I didn’t notice this chapter get posted somehow
You get to wait less than us for the next chapter
Props to Alden for showing off how humans are endurance hunters. I mean, some cheating yes, but still managed what seems like a half-marathon on hilly, rough terrain followed by a fitness class on ~3 hours of sleep. Suck it artonians! :)
Shouldn't the level up be on his public profile now? Or was that implied by "free authority hidden underneath"?
Quiet Rabbit is his and Mother's profile to update. Earth doesn't want to bear the expense of a lie, so Mother (Artona I Contract) is paying that. She seems willing to let him control it.
Do meister weapons ever break? Does the gym floor that makes people invincible protect the weapons? What happens if they do break? How does the school handle an S rank meister of big ol' chonky axes cutting a B rank meister of wooden staffs... staff in half in gym class? I must know!
I think the soft items provided to use their skills are protected by the gym. Someone made the settings so they can train. As for real life, the weapons seem to be growth type artifact designed to resist chaos. If they get destroyed, it is a permanent loss, possible soul damage and a need to start with new weapon. Probably not cheap one. Hence the recall skills for Meisters.
I think that Emilija is maybe the only human besides Boe who really gets Alden. If one of my friends made this comment about a person with whom I've been relationship-weaving: “He’s even braver than you know, Emilija. Heart of a griveck. Balls of stubborn stone. I’m not sure he realizes it himself, but it’s the truth.” I'd instantly assume that they were teasing me. It's a little goofy and lighthearted, phrasing most would use when trying to tease. Alden doesn't do that when complimenting other people. He only jokes like that while being self-deprecating. Emilija immediately clocks it and, crucially, understands that Alden is making something light out of something serious. Alden knows a thing or two about bravery, and Emilija takes him seriously. She's going to be an excellent votary one day.
She's not a wizard in the Artonan sense. But she's already his social-media and PR person. You may be onto something.
There’s this WEBTOON called Eleceed where a commenter pointed out that the main characters all correspond to a different kind of cat personality. I’m not sure if I could do that for all of the characters of Super Supportive, but I clearly see Kon, Haoyu, Lexi, and Boe all having catlike personalities. Lute’s a dog.
I would say Lute also has some cat-like qualities: - can hear a bag of treats being opened (or hot gossip being issued) from 10 rooms away and comes running - sleeps until noon - loves to bask and laze around in warm places (the bathtub) - is professionally worshipped (like all cats) - could kill you but chooses not to (like most cats)
Love this chapter! The last few chapters have been pretty heavy, if not for Alden then for Stu, so this was so wholesome. I did think we’ll be following up on Stu’s situation, so I was surprised (but really glad) to get this lighthearted chapter. Now we can look forward to Eeaner’s party, and whatever shenanigans happen there…
I love the bit that Emilija and Alden keep messing up figures of speech at each other and really confusing themselves. Fowl. Stone Balls. Many more if we’re lucky
Tftc!
Potential Names for the Huntski boys band: 1) Whips & Chains 2) Writhing Rabbits 3) Victor and the Mouse-Man Orchestra
Party Animals Odin and the Ravens
Huh. I feel like someone would want to know about the fact Lute’s actual Opposite was going to have his eye removed right then and there considering the Palace isn’t supposed to be allowed to harm children.
The Palace doesn't do anything so barbaric as removing children's eyes! It's the /parent/ of the child that gets to perform this wonderful service. Only when the kid is an adult do they get to do this.
Amazing. Hopefully Alden's training exercise doesn't cause diplomatic concerns on Earth.
I can’t think of why it would. What sort of scenario are you envisioning?
Lexi's fear of Alden being unequipped and used to face more than he can handle is at least partly assuaged with Alden's revelations today. I mean, falling out of an aircraft and into (wargamed) battle? It's so Alden how he understates/doesn't volunteer words when talking with Max, but shows off and explains as much as Ignacio and his roommates want from him. He summed it up to Victor: “I feel like taking extra good care of all my friends right now, Victor." And, I feel the comment to Lexi, and another to Victor, is setting up a visit from Stu, probably after Stu affixes. Stu-on-Earth arc, I'm willing it into existence.
Love the gentle callback to “stubborn stone”. I guess that means Alden can just barely crush Lute’s balls with his auriad spell.
Imagine wizard who created a nice wevvi fruit press spell for his friends getting a report of Velra jewel juice being invented.
Thanks for the chapter!
Such an awesome, wholesome, soul-restoring chapter. And such a good time-skip. So much to look forward to in Alden’s next week: - Emails with Emilja (and more talking up Lute) - Planning for Operation Odin’s Eye - Permission to use the Kelsithe - Obstacle Coursing - Lexi’s level - Storytelling with Kelsithe - Eaner’s Stu-themed party - Alden at Eaner’s party and meeting Eaner again And that’s not counting anything going on with Stu — like the decision to affix, or researching inesvul, or researching Bearer of All Burdens.
I do not think they would get permission to use Kelsithe. Opposing team may object to items, and an ancient artonan magical weapon is something they will object against.
So what happened to the wordchain debt?
Alden asked for any debts to be absolved during this exercise on his list of demands, and the organisers agreed! Knights in general don't have to ever suffer the negative parts of word chains if they don't want to, it's a perk of their service.
Really enjoyed this chapter. I needed a break from all that intensity 99.99. Sometimes i forget Alden is just a 15 year old. Anyway I really dont understand what Lute's eye about? Did I miss a chapter? Anyone can refer me to that event? Edited: yes Alden is 16. Its a typo. I have fat fingers.
Alden is 16! Almost 17, now, we’re like 2 months out from his birthday.
Random thought since so many throw away things pop up again, do you think Lute bestowing a self confidence chain on Alden would improve his spellcasting if that's partly influenced by belief?
Yes. But alden does not have problem with confidence. He once wished for his gaslighter spell to tip the scales in war with chaos.
I was so drowsy when I woke up I thought the first message was from Sleyca to us 🤣🤣🤣
Ngl I had a similar read and had to do a double take.
Proud of Emilija's continued improvements in English. You can tell she's been putting some thought into that penguin line.
They are pretty close by, could be locally sourced penguin
good soup :) tftc. VIV will remember this though
I was hoping for a little funny interaction with the Earth System regarding the level up. I know its not the time, but still.. it would be nice to see how many levels Alden gained and how the ratio of bound to free authority is at the moment. And thus, how much time is left till the next binding.
His free/bound (my model prediction) will be about 0.4:1 at the end of Jan (today's the 21st). Today's datapoint is as predicted by the model, it's fit seems to be good.
I very much get why he doesn’t want to write that essay but it probably actually would have been helpful. He didn’t get real feedback on how he did and these are his teachers. It would be hard to get good advice based just on writing about it, admittedly, but it’s possible that some of his teachers have been to something like this before (but in the conventional avowed way, of course, Alden be weird).
He was the first human ever to participate in such training.
I love how expressive and happy Lexi was this chapter! You can really feel the exciting weekend he must've had with his level up. I especially loved the little mention of him twirling around at the jazz club while Lute and Alden played the piano, making the most of his ballet lessons. And he didn't even give a hard no to the offer to talk to a wizard! Here's to hoping Stu gets to meet all of Alden's roommates sometime soon, not just the furry one. It would be a nice distraction of all the eekeekeek and shitty behavior of his family.
When the chapter popped up, I was expecting it to follow up with Stu’s situation, and the title was really stress-inducing in that context. I’m glad it had a much more pleasant meaning, but I’m still a bit frustrated that we’re back on earth already, because that means it’s gonna take a while to get back to Stu’s view & I’m really worried about him~ it’ll be a stressful wait…
Oh, I suspect we'll be getting the pressure ratcheting up on Stu's end very soon - possibly next chapter. Alden is doing so well here, it begs for painful contrast from Stu.
I wonder if Victor will reminds Stuart of a griveck?
Maybe if he was still a mean and lean cat! But he's fat and lazy now...
Now I need an omake about how Emilija is convinced that the stone balls were another consequence of the gloss
Thank you I wave goodbye to VIV for things that grew unseen. But rest assured, it will return, and someone will be burdered.
I am smiling so hard at these words on my screen that my cheeks are aching a bit. Oh Alden, you really are blossoming right now. I'm so glad your cat comes and sits on you at night like a big happy heavy warm purring lump and exerts his dominion to make you sleep. You are not alone; you are cherished.
And in the next five minutes, Victor is zooming through the room in chase of invisible intruders, because now that Alden is back is the best time for paranormal cat activity.
Oh, to be young enough to survive on less than three hours of sleep with minimal consequences.
Oh so true!! I FEEL OLD... Like ancient!
I like that Alden have people to talk about the Triplanets without panicking or getting overexcited Lexi sees the Artonans as an existential threat and Haoyu is too hyped for every thing that can make him progress to join his parents (also Alden is slowly opening Lexi to Alien interactions) Lute is used to be the only one with strange foreign activities and Alden help taking the (bad) light off him And Ignacio is the just balance of shared interest and higher calling
> Lexi sees the Artonans as an existential threat I'm not getting that vibe from Lexi. What are you basing that on?
The entire story has been leading up to this moment- where the Kyat Victor and Ryeh-b’t Alden to team up and rule Artonia III
I see it now! Yes. Better-Alden and Victor are the heroes of the story. May their friendship be legnd....dary.
Aww. That last bit was so sad-happy.
Thank you
Maybe Emilija thinks it wasn't a metaphor and now believes Lute also has two other prosthetics replacing orb-shaped organs.
🤣🤣🤣
Jesus christ, Lute learned about the cost of healing his eye the very day it was going to be fixed? Honestly that ups my respect for him even more. Having to make that decision when healing was right there, when he'd already jumped through whatever hoops to arrange it, when he thought it was all settled. No time to consider or waffle or brace himself for the consequences. This gets sprung on him, he has to make the decision in a flash, and then he has to tell some impossibly in-demand Artonan healer to their face that he changed his mind.
The twisted thing is that his opposite might have been (half?) disappointed to not serve his purpose that has been pushed on him. Is Aulia scheming because of the Palace or is it a match made in heavens? only one thing fits Lute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3DKl3BXgNU
Thanks for the chapter !
Welcome back, Alden! Here's hoping your research determines that it would be safe to use the kelsithe in at least some occasional MPE classes. And it would be cool to see Ash, Plim, Foxbolt, and other instructors enthuse over your new gear. :) Are you going to submit your hn'tyon training exercise experience as coursework for your independent study class? Should be perfectly on-topic...
Thanks for the soup! So much is in this one.
Omgf. I felt giddy this whole chapter. Or maybe I felt like Alden was giddy this whole chapter, riding high on the afterglow of an AMAZING weekend. But I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and it didn’t! Sleyca gave us a happy chapter! I’ve fallen in love again. Le sigh. . .
Alden has so much self control. I would have woken up the apartment at 5 am to share war game stories and show off my alien hand tech.
What a nice, happy chapter. Good contrast and break from the previous chapter tone.
Checking back in with Earth! I'm a little sad about no Ryada scene but it was nice to see fellow humans interacting with their increasingly weird Rabbit friend. Ignacio's excitement over the plane thing was cute. I'm glad Alden's spreading his circle of friends in the hero program. Lute deserved the nice birthday. It was probably the first ever that he really got to enjoy properly. No quiet dinner on a yacht with his mom and Kabir. I hope we get to see a resolution to his contract tattoo soon! I wonder if Esh already made room in his house for his three new adoptive sons...
Kabir still made him dinner, though! What a stellar guy.
Thrilled that Alden will be using the kelsithe for storytelling. It'll give him so much practice changing the shape of the kelsithe quickly and arranging his focus such that it responds to him in the way he wants without it requiring both halves of his attention. Given the combination of the kelsithe, the intention to use it this way, and Stu's insistence he should use his entertainment skills to cadge favor with other young knights they're posted with, I look forward specifically to the fireside shadow puppet show cast against the cave wall. And I look forward to it being the version of the klerm and the princess that wasn't finished yet. Years from now, when wishing will be having.
“Years from now, when wishing will be having.” What kind of magic poet spring did you drink from to speak such words of depth and hope… What are you doing, causing me so much emotional eye water so early in the day! But yes.. me too. I hope years from now, wishing will be having. In Super supportive, and in real life too, eventually.
Breakfast soup! Thanks for the chapter
“There was dirt under your fingernails! I should have known.” “You should have known I’m the only human wizard by some fingernail dirt?” Alden asked. The contract definitely left it on purpose.
The dirt from that chapter was Rapport dirt (post-teleport), from his affixation
Opinions on the cost of Alden’s lenses… based on both lexi and seth’s reactions, I’ve scientifically calculated $13220 in 2016 dollars. Fight me.
Why 2016 money specifically?
From previous chapters, it sounds like it's not exactly a quick and easy process to get a recording of Knight's training, else it'd be fun to see ppl stumble upon Alden's clips; "You fell out a plane??" "You burdered a demon??"
It would have been so awesome for Alden to be able to share some videos of his involvement in the knight training offworld with his buddies.
Three cheers for cool people being cool! You're an excellent child, Lute, and I hope life brings you joy.
[“You wanna meet Stuart?” he asked. Victor was purring. “Of course you do. Might take some arrangements, and I definitely don’t think the next trip is the right one. But soon.”] Affixation recovery cat.
Maybe we're getting a Stu on Earth arc set up
Edit Suggestions: it’s so obvious that his whole life is designed to hide other options from him and steer him where they think he belongs. ->it’s so obvious that his whole life is designed to hide other options from him and steer him where they think he belongs. (triple space)
This felt like a nice breather episode. ...Who else thinks the upcoming party will be another lengthy and dramatic Arc?
Nothing bad ever happens after a party! Except when Alden got stranded after the LeafSong party. Or the island drowned after the first-week-at-school party. Or Manon got murdered after the Velra party... well, that one was mostly positive for Alden, but still...
Lute is the goat. Also f*** granny velra with a stick of stubborn stone.
Alden doesn’t need to morph a butterfly on his arm to be the best wingman
Oh, butterfly. Wings. Wingman. Took me some scrolling to realize and I had to scroll back up to comment.
Aw! What a pleasant return to Earth! Happy birthday Lute! How satisfying to hit so many different threads that felt like they needed follow up (Lute's bday, his eye, Ignacio, when Alden might use the kelsithe on earth, Stu's party plans, etc). It really feels like all the loose threads are being tied up before Alden comes out to the wizards and leaves earth for a long time or some similarly big change happens.
Yep... feels like we're approaching a big shift. I don't know how close we are to a potential Goldbush arc but my mind keeps returning to Stuart wondering why he was sitting in class instead of being out there and training with the knights + Alden. I think that affixation is happening sooner than later, and things will definitely change for Alden when it does..
W wingman. Bribes and odd praise at 5am 😂
No showing off to 6-years-old yet it seems
“The word ‘chorus’ is waiting for you two to discover it,” said Lexi. I just realized how much I’ve missed Lexi-snark.
Lexi snark is fantastic
Luteeeeee! That sweet guy, he deserves better :'c
TyftSoup
The soup is laced.
Moo
Nooooo my VIV!
Demon goat herd soupers trampling soup provider
Thanks Sleyca!! ❤️❤️
Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu (VIV will return, I believe in it).
soup time
Yes !!
Thank you!
LETS FUCKING GO, we've got a meaty one this time! F's in the chat for VIV, so close, yet so far... Once again it evaporates like mist before we can grasp it...
Viv?