PftA Book 5 - Chapter 9 - Gathering Family

It turned out that getting an E3 talisman to Lucas wasn’t all that difficult. I just had to add a dozen extras for some very important people and link their recall location to SEF headquarters – a task that wasn’t hard at all.

The recall location was probably the easiest part since all I had to do was link the talismans to a physical [Beacon] artifact and have them keep it at a safe, open location at SEF headquarters.

“Would you mind helping me visit Eve during your break?” Daniel asked when I finished my task. I’d done most of the work in my demesne, so it had only taken a few hours in local time.

My nephew looked a little sheepish as he asked, but I understood his desire to spend time with his wife. They’d been apart for a year at this point, and the separation had to be hard on them.

“Sure. If you want, I can let you guys use my pod,” I offered. “It’s inside a dimensional space that’s attached to my apartment on Aegeas by a micro-portal.”

It was a totally true statement. I’d even activated the micro-portal just before replying to make sure there were no inaccuracies in my statement.

Was it a little paranoid of me? Maybe. But I preferred to be as honest as possible whenever I could since lie-detection spells were available to everyone.

Daniel’s face shifted to confusion at my offer. “Why use your pod? Is there something special about it?”

“Of course,” I replied with a playful grin. “The inside can be set at twenty-times time dilation, which would allow you to spend a lot more time together. If you want, I can make a few adjustments and block off a section to allow you guys some privacy. That way, me, Mom, and Kaylee can hang out and take advantage of the time dilation, too.”

Hearing my comment, Mom’s eyes lightened. “I’d love to spend some time with Kaylee and Eve. Is there any way you can collect a few more people? We could make a party of it.”

It wouldn’t be hard to pop around the Alliance and pick up a few people, but I wanted to be somewhat selective with who I invited into my space.

I wasn’t overly worried that someone would recognize the uniqueness of the space, but it was something to at least consider. Thankfully, nobody else in my family had a Space affinity.

“I can do that. Reach out to a few people while I make my adjustments. I’ll need to lower the mana density as well…”

“You can do that?” Daniel asked.

“Sure. My pod is equipped with a [Mana Barrier.] Give me a few minutes, and I’ll be back. I need to reinforce the sound-dampening enchantments for the bedrooms,” I said with a cheeky grin.

Daniel flushed brightly, causing Mom to chuckle at his sudden embarrassment. It wasn’t like any of us didn’t know what married couples got up to in bedrooms after they’d been separated for a long time.

“Maybe it would be better to attach a separate pod instead of giving them a bedroom,” I mused when I arrived within my demesne. “I would certainly prefer a completely separate space if I was in their place.”

“You could also modify the existing layout to appear as if there was a completely separate building,” Lisa suggested.

I considered that for a moment but ultimately declined. It was far easier to set up one of the extras I’d crafted instead of completely altering my active living space. Besides, I didn’t really want to bother with putting it all back once the little party was done.

Also, the pods could not expand infinitely, and I’d already pushed my current one to the limit.

“You could also put your workspace into storage and convert the first floor into a separate living area,” Lisa pointed out.

“That’s not a bad idea,” I acknowledged. “But, it’s not like he needs the whole floor. I can just shift the workstations I’m most likely to use into one area and close it off. That way, I still have access if I want to work on something while everyone is over.”

And it wasn’t like I used most of those workstations regularly, anyway.

If Zavira was able to make it, she’d probably want access to the forge. But a forge and an enchanting workstation didn’t take up all that much space.

“Are you going to invite your Dad?” Lisa asked when I started shifting the bottom-floor layout.

“I want to, but I think it would be awkward with Mom. Maybe I can split their time or something,” I replied.

= = =

When I returned to Mom and Daniel’s temporary apartment on Osana, I was surprised to learn that Mom had already reached out to several people and invited them to our little gathering.

I was surprised to learn that Dad and Caesi were among those she’d invited. Maybe I shouldn’t have been, though. Mom has always been one who cared more about the happiness of others.

“Ashlyn said she’ll come if you can convince her Headmaster to approve it,” Mom informed me after I transferred her and Daniel into my demesne. “I think she’s feeling a little bit like a prisoner right now.”

“I bet,” I said. “You mentioned how hard they’ve been working her and the other students. I don’t blame her for feeling a little stifled.”

“I think they mostly want to keep the students safe, and contributing through Alchemy is a much safer option than being called upon to fight.”

There were very few exceptions to the Alliance’s conscription. Or, rather, everyone was technically conscripted, but there were very few alternatives to being assigned an appropriate location and told to defend it if it was attacked.

Many of the specialized academies had been given such exceptions, provided they supported the war effort.

“Do you think you can convince the Headmaster to let her come? Surely, with your status…”

“All I can do is ask,” I said with a shrug. “Did you get in touch with Amie?”

“I messaged her, but I haven’t gotten a reply yet,” Mom replied. “I think it’s the middle of the night where she is right now.”

“The timing might not work out in that case,” I said with a frown.

“You said you can make it so that time goes by a lot faster, right?”

“That’s right,” I answered. “That means that one hour here would be twenty hours there. If we keep everyone together for just five hours, a hundred hours in the outside world will have passed.”

“Ah,” Mom said with sudden understanding. “I see what you mean. Well, no worries. We’ll work something out with her next time.”

Lisa had already reached out to the academy where Ashlyn was enrolled and I was waiting back for a response. While I waited, I started collecting family members and transferring them into my soulbound dimensional space.

The walls of the pod were all solid, providing no way to enter or exit the space aside from teleportation. If one of them did somehow manage to exit the pod, Lisa would automatically eject them into my apartment on Aegeas.

It would be extremely uncomfortable for any of them since none were acclimated to the increased mana density. But I wasn’t overly worried. Even if that happened, I’d know right away and would be able to rescue them before any real damage accrued.

= = =

A few minutes after I retrieved the last invited guest, I received a reply from Lisa’s inquiry with Ashlyn’s academy.

They were happy to discuss the possibility of a guarded outing… provided I came in person to make the arrangements.

I didn’t mind going and meeting with them. Honestly, I was more nervous about meeting my youngest sister in person for the first time since I escaped from the rift.

The first time ever, as far as Ashlyn was concerned. The last time I’d seen her, she was an infant. I could hardly expect her to remember me.

I’d only spoken with her once since I escaped, and it had been an awkward conversation between strangers who knew they should have a relationship but didn’t. We’d made a little small talk and exchanged pleasantries, but that was about it.

I had no idea what to expect from our first real meeting.

“Wanna go with me?” I asked Mom.

I figured it was probably a good idea to bring someone with an established connection to the student in question instead of just showing up and making claims.

“Sure. When do you want to go?” she replied.

“Now, if you’re ready.”

As soon as she gave me the go-ahead, I teleported as close to the academy as I could get. It took a couple of teleports since I wasn’t familiar with the location, but they hardly took a handful of seconds to accomplish.

As we stepped toward the gate leading into the academy campus, a pair of guards blocked the way.

“Halt! What business do you have at the academy?”

“Headmaster Artemis requested my presence. I am Trinity Emie, sister of Alchemist Ashlyn.” Motioning toward my mother, I said, “This is Healer Avery, our mother.”

The eyes of the guard who had not spoken unfocused for a brief moment, and he nodded.

“They are authorized entry,” he informed his partner. Addressing us, he said, “Please wait a moment. A guide is on the way.”

It took less than a minute for a tired student wearing a black robe and a sash enchanted to project the Headmaster’s authority to appear by the gate.

“Welcome, Trinity Emie and guest! If you would please follow me, I’ll escort you to Headmaster Artemis’s office,” the young man said with a bow.

Like many schools, this Alchemists’ Academy had standardized robes that everyone wore regardless of affinity. Such schools almost always used black since it was mostly considered a neutral color.

Though it also represented Arcane, the number of people with an Arcane affinity was exceedingly rare. With such uniforms, affinities were represented largely through authorized accessories, often time one’s belt.

Our guide’s belt was dark purple, marking him as a fellow Space Mage.

I was a little surprised to see a Space Mage within an elite Alchemists’ Academy, but I probably shouldn’t have been. I’d been using Space magic to process components and mix substances for decades, after all.

Mom and I followed the student into the large building that made up the bulk of the campus. Aside from a few small greenhouses filled with numerous valuable plants, the whole of the academy seemed to be contained within the singular building.

Much of the structure was spatially expanded, which explained how everything was able to fit. The interior had to be at least four times larger than the exterior would imply.

The guide paused outside a random-seeming door. Aside from the engraved plaque displaying ‘Headmaster Artemis’ in fancy script, there was nothing to indicate the room was special at all.

“This is where I leave you,” the Space-affinitied Alchemist said with another deep bow. “It was an honor to meet you.”

As if on cue, the Headmaster’s door slid open, revealing a simple but well-appointed office.

Inside, an older man and a young woman stood. Both wore the same black robes as our recently departed guide, but the older man also had an elaborate sash, much like his representative had worn.

In addition to the sash, the Headmaster wore a belt of both red and black, marking him as having both Fire and Arcane affinities.

Ashlyn’s belt also displayed two distinct colors, though hers were different shades of green. The first, and slightly more prominent, was the bright, rich hue of emerald green that represented Nature. The second, while also green, was a darker hunter-green that represented Death.

My youngest sister’s eyes lit up when they landed on Mom. It made me wonder how long it had been since the pair had last seen each other.

“Mom! I didn’t know you were coming too! You just said Emie was going to come get me,” the green-haired girl said with a smile as her eyes glanced in my direction.

Her hair was multi-toned, showing both affinities almost equally. The fact that her hair had taken on the color of her affinities implied they were both on the higher end of ‘strong.’

It wasn’t an absolute rule since some developed very obvious manifestations of their affinity with only middling affinity strengths, while others could have an exceptional affinity without any colors manifesting.

Eye color was almost universally altered by awakened affinities in one way or another, though.

“Emie thought it would be a good idea to bring me along since it’s been so long since you’ve seen each other,” Mom said diplomatically before shifting her focus to the Headmaster.

In reply, Headmaster Artemis looked at me and said, “Normally, I wouldn’t even consider allowing one of our students to leave the campus, given the state of things right now. But given your reputation and the fact that you work directly with the Council, I’m fine with granting an exception as long as you guarantee Alchemist Ashlyn’s safety.

“I’ll need to know exactly where you’ll be and how long she’ll be gone. If possible, I’d ask that you minimize her time away from the academy to prevent her from falling behind on the Council’s quotas,” Headmaster Artemis added, surprising me with how easily he’d agreed.

“I can absolutely guarantee her safety,” I replied. “As for where we’ll be and for how long, we’ll be within a dimensional space that I use as my primary residence. It is connected to a secure, protected location on Aegeas. And since I can teleport us directly there and back, I can have Ashlyn back before dinner.”

It was currently late afternoon at the academy, so that was only a few hours away, but that was plenty of time, given how much faster time passed within my demesne.

“That sounds acceptable to me,” Headmaster Artemis said before turning to Ashlyn. “I ask that you keep this excursion to yourself. You already have enough of your classmates’ envy. There is no reason to invite more.”

“Yes, Headmaster,” Ashlyn said deferentially.

“I can teleport her directly back to the gate if you’d like. Alternately, if you have a small area unaffected by the [Spatial Lock], I can set up a beacon and teleport her there,” I offered.

I didn’t want anyone to know that I could completely bypass [Spatial Locks] by using my pocket dimension because that would defeat the purpose of keeping its functionality a secret.

Plenty of people knew I had an inventory. Some even knew that it had been upgraded and could now store people who were already in Stasis. Both of those were rare but not unheard of.

“The gate is fine. There is a secure teleportation pad in the guard shack she can use to reenter without drawing attention,” the Headmaster replied.

With Ashlyn’s return plans roughly made, the three of us departed. The Headmaster guided us to one of the secure teleportation pads he’d mentioned and manually granted us authorization to use the network to leave the school unnoticed.

Of course, I could have easily left without it by entering my demesne, but I didn’t want him to know that.