Party

“Welcome to the party!” The shout is accompanied by loud and passionate cheering and hollering. The only things missing are box wine and loud music, and you’ve got a party that’s little different from my university days, though with a few more furries, I suppose.

From deep in the expanse, beyond the shuffling dancers, echoes a thunderous beat which runs through my very flesh. A wind instrument, if not simply a magic directly influencing the wind itself, it hits with enough force that I’m sure a few of my old worlds riot police would consider its use for crowd control.

With that, it’s only the box wine missing.

“What nature of gremlins escaped from Santa’s slave factories and crawled into this hole?” I groan, trying to take in the room despite the overwhelming colour scheme, which seems to have been based around the simple idea of taking a rainbow and shoving it in a blender.

Thankfully, the crazed lights do tone down after a few moments, settling on a gentle pink. Unthankfully, now, with the constant beat of the music and the shifting pink walls, I feel like I’ve been shoved back inside the womb with the drugged up cast of an anthropomorphic Disney film.

I wasn’t expecting much. That, in hindsight, was my folly.

The crowd is far more lively than any I’ve seen on this world before and not by a small measure. It’s not entirely unexpected, the more that people bury their true selves, the more loudly they express themselves when they get the chance.

Still, I’d been hoping for rebels and fighters, instead it’s all too literally a party. I guess I can’t exactly sue them for false advertising.

The room, when you can see past the lights, is impressive. Crystal’s glow, some more brightly than others, lighting up the chaotically painted walls and statues and everything else. More than a few creations seem to be inspired by the fallen smith’s own work.

Where all that is forged in the world above has purpose; here, it’s that without purpose that’s embraced. Though I suppose you could say that for much of these things, their purpose is to be without purpose.

“You’ve arrived!” Leai cries cheerfully as she runs to me and embraces me in a wide hug. The moisture on her skin is warm and sticky, but doesn’t cling. She pulls away and I’m amazingly not left covered in her ooze.

“It’s nice to see you again.” I say, seeing her sister coming by as well.

“Yes, and you kept messaging me back. Most people have been ignoring my messages.” She replies sadly before introducing herself to the others of my group.

“They probably just can’t keep up with you. So, is this all the party of the fallen is?” I ask.

There should be leaders running the place at least, the ones dancing around the welfare officers rules, and maintaining some order here.

“You’d be more interested in the quieter corners of the party.” Ria suggests, Speka nodding quietly by her side, sneering at the partying youths.

“While I admire their rebelliousness, this is just distasteful.” She hisses as we see a couple going at it a little too actively on a lounge clearly visible from even across the room. Those around them don’t seem to mind at all, involving themselves in their own lurid entertainments.

“This way.” Ria says, pulling us to a door that’s thankfully nearby. I’m not keen on rubbing shoulders, with the sweat-stained dancers that fill the room.

The stone door slides open easily and in closing mutes, by some small part, the music and shouting of the room behind us. The overwhelming scents fade as well, some enchantment cleaning the air around us. I’m not entirely sure if there were any actual drugs making up the slight haze that we’ve left behind, but I think I’d rather not hang around the foul stench long enough to find out.

“That’s what most people come here for.” Ria says, “I find their attempts at music to be far too deafening for my liking. I prefer music that’s lost on the wind, always there, but only heard in moments of silence. A tempting, haunting shout that sounds as a whisper.

“Ah, sorry for going on. What I mean to say is that there is a variety of people here. That main party is the guilty pleasure of the fallen masses, but there are many more of us that are here for something different. You’re the same?” She asks knowingly, as someone who’s been given a clear answer already and is asking for politeness sake rather than uncertainty.

“For purposes much different.” I suggest, “I’d like to know all I can about the rules of the welfare officers, about these ruins, and about the Unified States on the larger scale. I want to know what state this empire is in. Is it really collapsing? How? Why? And who has power over it?”

“Questions I’ve heard before.” Speka says with a light laugh, “There are a few who would interest you, and who would be interested in you in return. Those with a mind for more dangerous things and tempted to dance a little closer to the welfare officers unspoken line.”

Adler has been silent for a while now, looking both disgusted and thoughtful as she obediently follows along with us. Whatever business these fallen are up to has somehow skated around the rules so far, so I don’t think she’s going to be able to do much about it. With how openly they’ve invited her down here, it’s almost a display of confidence. A statement that they’re untouchable.

“Through here.” The door that she points towards is scrawled with alien symbols that might form words, but if they do, they’re not the sort that Chip is familiar with.

Ria activates it, and it slides open cleanly with only the most gentle sound of friction.

“Ria? Is it already time for the new students?” The speaker seems older than most, so I think I can safely disregard the idea that he might be a student.

He stands about a head taller than me, and rather than wearing clothes he’s covered in thick layers of white bone, plated over his body like armour. In the gaps between I see dark skin, but by the way it’s connected, I don’t think that the bone can be peeled off. At least not without considerable efforts and some headphones to dull the screams.

“I’m Rudolf, nice to meet you.”

“I’ve heard a lot of good things about you.” Not least the tales of his red nose.

“Oh, I didn’t think myself so well known. Regardless, it’s a pleasure to have you all here. I’m sure you have many questions for us, as we have for you. Do you mind if we start with ours?” As he says as much, he relaxes back into a large couch that creaks from his weight.

“Go ahead.” I reply with an easy smile. I can learn much of what I want to know from the simple nature of the questions that he asks me.

“Are you a rebel?” He asks, “As I understand you’ve had considerable contact with the rebels, and it wouldn’t be unsurprising if they affected you.”

“I’m myself, and my own.” I reply, “And before you ask, these girls are also with me. We’re not allied with any rebel forces, but we do question the role and rules of the Unified States.”

“Interesting answer, by some standards, that’s enough to consider you rebels.” He says, nodding to himself as he further drinks from his glass. I have the impression that it’s something other than water that wets his lips.

His gaze moves across me and the others, measuring us. My mana sense might not yet be properly formed, but I can still sense that he’s superior in sheer power, and his purposely casual demeaner tells of political aptitudes that are just as alien to me.

While I disguise the feeling, he does frighten me.

“Let me ask the next,” says a creature of large proportions, and blue skin. I do suspect that there are legs underneath her, but that theory is yet to be proven for sure.

“Ask as you will.” I reply, watching her face and trying to read her. Chip seems to be having a hard time, and I suspect that it’s not simply from the alien architecture of her face. This one feels like she’s intentionally giving nothing away, a poker face that Chip can’t see through.

“If a terribly large stone was falling towards you, and you had the strength to deflect it, either onto a group of five strangers, or onto a lover, what would you do.”

“Kill the five strangers.” I reply, “Next question.”

“No hesitation? The thought doesn’t bother you at all?” The large blue woman asks, her face finally expressing some measure of fear of all things.

“My life is important to more than just me, so of course I’m not letting myself die. After that, my lover’s life is worth more to me than the lives of five strangers. There’s no need to overthink it.”

“You think that’s morally right?” She asks.

“It’s not about morals. It’s about love, and it’s about my drive to survive,” I reply.

“Then if it’s simply a question of your lover or yourself?” She continues, sounding more vicious now.

“Then I’ll smash the damn rock.” I reply, “To me your questions aren’t entirely hypothetical, you see. And before you say it, I’m not simply avoiding this question but giving a genuine answer. I might be too weak to break out of circumstances like yours right now, but I’ll be strong enough to deal with it when the time comes that I must.”

She finally quiets, but it’s clear that she’s not satisfied with my reply. That’s fine, she’s not worth the wasted energy. The others in the room have taken note of my passion, which is far more important.

“While I’ve heard attempts at that answer on occasion, never before has it sounded so genuine and passionate.” Rudolf says thoughtfully. His gaze drifts, as he thumbs at his chin in thought, and I have to wonder about him.

He’s clearly older than the rest of us students, or so Chip tells me, but I can’t see him running around doing maid work like Nel. Why is he here? Who is he really?

“Luffe, do you have a question for our newest fallen sister?” Rudolf says.

The person he’s speaking to I hadn’t even noticed was here. A shaded form, which rests leisurely on a couch and leaving not even an indent on the cushion. He’s a ghostly form of the sort that I’ve seen before, if I’m to guess he’s made of either ash or something close to it, and rather than the elvish image that most prefer to take, he’s shaped himself as nothing more than a shifting cloud.

“Why did you join?” He asks, his voice rasping. I wonder what actual sound he made, or if he even made a sound at all.

I roll the question around in my mind a while, looking between the three. The philosopher doesn’t seem to matter all so much, so I’ll disregard her for now.

Luffe is impossible to get a read of, and Rudolf is suspicious as all hell.

So then, I’m here for power, influence, and growth. In what way can answering this question get me that? My heart pounds with an anxiety that’s completely different to what I feel standing on a battlefield. This answer will help determine who I am in their eyes, and what I might be able to get from them.

“To take back control.” I whisper, taking a deep breath and looking between the three sitting before me. I gather my will. “I want to make my own home, without others ruling over me. So why am I here? I was considering taking over, but seeing what you’ve built here, looking through those who are partying out there, I think I’m better off gathering a few people who want to help me build that home, and making our own space in these ruins.

“Then we can leave the party-goers and armchair philosophers to entertain themselves, while we do our own thing.”

“What does this world lack, that it can’t be your home?” He rasps on, if there’s some emotion or intent to his words, Chip cannot read it. I’m going to need to learn that trick.

“Freedom. Or at least freedom from the welfare officers.”

“Yet you have a welfare officer at your back.” He says.

“I have a friend at my back.” I reply, trying to sound convincing.

“Interesting.”

“You’re another energetic member.” Rudolf says, not particularly concerned with my threat of taking over. Either it wouldn’t affect him, or he doesn’t see me succeeding against him. Again, I question, what is he here for?

“I’m guessing you’re going to want to seize back more of the ruins then? Perhaps even uncover some relics?”

“Definitely.” I reply, though it’s the first I’m hearing of relics, “I’m also after the welfare officers rulebook. I’m sure you have it memorized and written down somewhere.”

“No writing the rules.” He says with a growing smile, “That’s one of their rules, and even we have to obey it. I’m not certain that they’d find out, let alone hunt us down here for it, but it’s too great of a risk. Especially since they do visit on occasion, usually to catch one of the collared beasts that makes an escape.”

“Is that another rule? That a collared beast can’t be let escape?” I ask.

“It is, and it’s something that I think you should be extra mindful of.” He says, lazily sitting back, “There are many more rules than I can go over in a simple meeting, but you are interesting enough that I wouldn’t mind following along with your schemes for a time.”

He sends me a message using the support device, and I quickly add him to my shortlist of contacts. It’s a little rough dealing with so many contacts when the message system is so poorly engineered, but I’ll make do until I can get that damn gamer elf to rework the system for me.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” says the trolley problem, armchair philosopher. Her blue mass rolling aside just enough that I can make out the legs that she uses to stand. Well, that proves one theory. Honestly, it’s a strange thing to notice but her mass doesn’t seem all that wrong on her, it’s more like the blubber on a whale, I’m sure she’d look much worse without it.

“I’m interested in hearing more from this creature.” Luffe says, sending me an empty message also.

More and more contacts and connections to add to the list, and these ones seem particularly useful, if also dangerous. Luffe has shown little to nothing of who he is and what he’s after, and Rudolf, meanwhile, is a political creature sure to cause me troubles in the future. There is still too much I don’t yet know but they do, and until I change that, I’ll be vulnerable.

It seems as though they’ve finished with their questions, Rudolf waves me forwards as if to invite me to ask what I wish. I take a step closer to them, glancing briefly back.

Nel and Eshya are busy in a whispered conversation, with Ria. Nel looks as unsettled as I feel, and she’s instinctively reaching for the knives hidden around her body. Eshya is keeping her in check.

Vii is back to scribbling in her little notebook for one reason or another. I suppose, she’s writing her thoughts on this meeting before the details fade into memory.

I face three strangers, who I take as leaders of this party of the fallen.

“My turn. First things first, how many people here would be interested in working with me right now?” I ask. Of course, what I’m asking is for his help. For people under his influence to assist me. Unfortunately, whatever I build with them will not truly be mine, but rather it’ll be his. It’s not a path that I’m inclined towards, but I need to act quickly, else the welfare officers will make a move before I’m ready to respond.

“Right now?” Rudolf asks in surprise, “I won’t speak for those you’re familiar with, but other than them… perhaps I know of a half dozen who might be interested in working with you, but I have to tell you that most of the fallen aren’t interested in this sort of business…”

It’s not the response that I was expecting, in fact, it almost sounds genuine. As if he’s considering linking me up with truly unaffiliated people that might wish to join a faction that I build. I’d suspected him to be a faction leader, someone who’d try to force me into service under his influence. Perhaps his goals and ideals are not so clear cut…

“Yes, I’ve already seen them. If I’m to guess, most are drunken revellers enjoying a little taste of freedom.” I reply quickly, “I’m supposing you have some trade or barter system set up down here to deal in unspoken goods? And I would further postulate that you are able to get services and work from these light-hearted rebels through this system of trade?”

Rudimentary trade is inevitable as soon as we escape the limits of the Unified States reach, it’s not exactly some great stretch to assume that this is also the case here. Further, where there’s trade there’s those seeking to control it.

“Something like that.” He replies, “I’m not so much involved there. Orsa is in charge of that business.”

Orsa is apparently the creature that I’ve offended by my harsh, and easy answers to her trolley problem questions. I was supposed to be troubled, in what way and for what purpose, I don’t know. From how she’s treating me, I suspect that she’s probably got some oversimplified means of reading people based on their answers. She won’t even look me in the eyes anymore.

“Well, isn’t that unfortunate.” I reply. I’ll take over the markets later, after I’ve found a few capable hands to run things. I am not going to be handling that sort of business directly, too much work, and it’s too distracting. Still, all of this is for much later.

“For now, I need a corner of the ruins that’ll provide protection from the rules of the welfare officers and that’s safe from the beasts around here. It doesn’t have to be too fancy, as you’ve already guessed we’ll be expanding anyway.”

“What rules are you planning to break?” He asks, “There’s only so much protection that these ruins will provide, at least without going deep.”

“Some humans are having trouble getting used to life here. They’re skipping class.” I say.

“So, you need them gone? If this is your plan, they’ll be regarded as beasts after a time, so they won’t be able to rise to the surface again, and I can’t promise you anything about the actions of your own pet welfare officer.”

“Leave that part to me.” I reply.

“In that case, I do have a place that would work. There’s little to it, but it has great opportunity for expansion.” He smiles excitedly, “Things are finally starting to get interesting around here.”

“Um…” Vii interrupts, “Where’s the library?”

Luffe quickly turns his attention to answer her, instantly more interested than he’s been so far. Apparently, there are a few different libraries down here and some are more difficult to access than others. It’s almost like there are a few small gangs running things in these ruins. Hopefully we don’t anger anyone too dangerous too soon.

“Let’s be off then.” I say, urging them onwards, “Show us this little piece of real estate that you’re talking about.”

One thing that my brother was insistent about with his own ideas of politics, is that it’s important to control the pace. I’ve let Rudolf control the pace at the beginning of this conversation, I need to see how he reacts when I move things along.

“You don’t want to enjoy the party at all?” Rudolf asks.

“I don’t have much time left before I’m forced to have a week off-world because of the combat course, and there is much that I need to get done before then.” I tell him as he stands.

I stop just shy of rushing everyone out of the room and away from the party. This place is not mine, and apparently, it’s not the welfare officers either.

Technically, this place is lawless, even if no-one has stated it in as many words. Because of that, it’s more than just the beasts that pose a potential threat down here.

“What happens when people kill each other down in these ruins?” I ask as we tread back along the safe path, the same way we’ve come from.

“People? Not the beasts?” Rudolf seems honestly astonished at my question.

“I know what happens when beasts kill people, I want to know if there are rules for people? Has it happened before? Do the welfare officers get alarmed through the support devices?”

“It’s never happened before as far as I’m aware…” he says, his gaze turning sharp for the briefest moment before he relaxes yet again.

“I suppose down here it would be hard for anyone to find out about it, and all too easy to feed the corpses to the beasts…” I say thoughtfully, “In any case, I want everyone to be on guard, not just for beasts but for bandits too.”

They quietly nod, even Rudolf and Luffe seem a little cowed by my assertions. Which I find honestly quite strange considering what I’ve made of them so far. I suppose even the most affluent politician would lose their composure when they’re told that there’s bandits about.

Perhaps, like those politicians, these people have strengths that have nothing to do with violence. Or maybe they’re faking it.

“Before we leave the ruins.” Speka says, pulling us to a stop in a small alcove as we’re a short distance from the party, “I have something I want to discuss with the welfare officer.”

“Careful with your questions.” I warn her. I don’t need someone else upsetting the work that I’ve put into deradicalizing Adler.

“Which of us is the child here? Kyra. Don’t get ahead of yourself.” She says dismissively. I grind my teeth quietly and smile, swallowing the silly responses that come to mind. The sort of which that would just paint me as a disagreeable child, the same as she’s called me.

“Adler,” She begins, chewing on her words a moment longer, “What commands were you given?”

I wait for Adler’s response, biting my tongue in quiet worry.

“I was given the task of monitoring Kyra, Eshya, Vii, and Nel, for beastly traits and interfering should they display such traits.” She replies stiffly.

“That’s not what I asked.” Speka says, “You wear a collar, or something equivalent, what commands are enforced through it?”

Adler shuts her mouth, unable to answer. Her hands drop to her side and her eyes gaze blindly into the distance.

“Thank you, that’s enough. I won’t press you further.” She says to Adler, “That’s all, we can go now.”

“What was that?” I ask.

“You asked me about the Unified States. It’s not the first time that I’ve asked questions about it myself. How is this kingdom maintained? Why do the welfare officers show no signs of corruption or rebellion, just an unerring, senseless fealty to the rules?

“It’s because they are collared. I suspect that those higher up the hierarchy are limited by even more strict commands, to the point where the leaders of the welfare officers are likely not even thinking people anymore, just living embodiments of the rules.”

“That’s…” I look back over Adler, who still stands stiff at my side. “Adler?”

“What is it?” She asks, relaxing again, “There was something that you wanted to ask me?” She asks Speka.

Silence falls over the room.

“What is it?” She continues, ignorantly.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go.” I share eye contact with the others in the room, and we fall into quiet consensus to keep from pressing Adler on this point.

It seems I’ll have to figure out these Chips faster than I thought. If Adler’s being controlled like this, then there’s no way to ultimately deradicalize her unless I first surgically remove her collar or deactivate it somehow.

“Shit…” I rub at my forehead thinking over the dozens of issues that still keep me from moving forwards.

“Rudolf,” I say, thinking back to one mystery that might at least get answered, “There’s something else that’s been bothering me. Are you familiar with someone who calls themselves the caretaker of these ruins? A tall woman, that looks elvish, but isn’t.” I recall the woman who’d healed us after our first exploration of these ruins.

“You’ve met her?!” He asks, he jumps in surprised. The most genuine that I’ve seen him so far, “I’ve never met her myself, I’ve only been told about her. Some ancient and powerful being that wanders the ruins under this world. Other than that, I was warned not to offend her…”

“Ancient? I wonder whether she’d take that as a compliment or not? Would I, if I was really old and powerful?” I consider this point as I follow Rudolf to his supposed safe area, cautious for a trap even though Adler or Eshya would likely be the first to notice if there was one. Adler because there’s half a chance that she is the trap.

“If you don’t mind me asking,” I start, facing Rudolf, “What is it that convinced you to come along with me? You two are leaders among this strange little cult, no?”

“Leaders?” He asks breaking down into laughter, “No wonder you were so serious. No, we’re well-known faces as best. Orsa might be considered a leader, but only because of how much she influences trade.

“We’re just… how would you describe us, Luffe?”

“Busy bodies, perhaps?” The ash cloud says.

“Oh, wow.” Rudolf says, a little more relaxed now as he slaps my shoulder, “You thought we were the leaders here, and you outright said you wanted to take over? You’re crazy!” He breaks into laughter.

I turn away to hide the embarrassment that I can’t keep out of my expression.

“Oh, shut up.” I moan, “I was trying to make an impression damn it.”

My reply does nothing to kill the quiet giggles coming from all around me.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~Mana Form:

Current goal: Develop your mana form.

Current mana density: 567 units

~Mana distribution:

Skin: 21%

Muscle: 9%

Mind: 15%

Cardiovascular: 9%

Misc.: 6%

Efficiency: 60%

~Skills:

-Mana drain touch

-Mana skin

-Mana shield.

-Mana surge strike

-Mana surge kick

-Flame burst

-Fireball

-Infused delayed casting

-Harsh petting

-Chaos dance

-Multi-mind messenger