Mana Mutation Menace (Journey to Chaos Book 3) (68 page)

“I know what you’re going to do and I don’t want you to do
it! I’m not putting Dnnac Ledo at risk because of your personal vendetta!”

Her lightning orb shone, but Eric had already worked his
own magic. His divine authority over air and its molecules blocked the path
Kallen wished her lightning bolt to take, thus nullifying her ability to
teleport. While she stood shocked, he grabbed her hand and let metaphysics do
the rest. Stress drained from her face and tension from her shoulders. Her fist
was clenched tight on her staff, but she tried to smile for Eric.

“Thanks. I’m just nervous.”

“If I were in your shoes, I would be too.”

“We need a plan. If we have a plan, less will go wrong.”

“No plan survives contact with the enemy,” Eric said.
“I’ve seen this in both the past with Eaol and the future with Wiol.”

“It will make me feel better.” She looked Eric in the
eyes. “Is there a future where this goes horribly wrong?”

Eric hesitated.

“Eric,
please
, tell me!”

“Yes, there is. In one possible future, this village and
everyone in it is dissolved by the chaotic energy we summon. In another, all of
them are enslaved. There’s a third where we mutate into S-class monsters and
bring about the end of the world as we know it.”

He gripped her shoulder with his free hand.

“There are many futures in which this can go horribly
wrong, but there are just as many where it goes wonderfully right. I’ve seen
them. With the Grace of Chaos, I believe we can make them happen.”

Kallen smiled wryly. “When did you get brave all of a
sudden?”

“I’m really not. I’m actually scared of the bad things. I
don’t want them to happen.” 

On the day before the reconvened Mana Mutation Summit, the
trio finalized their plan. They determined the theory of how the spell would
function, how to make the spell work in practical conditions, the kind support
they would need to make it happen, and several ways to draw the target away
from the village if he showed.

On the night before the Summit, Eric stood with someone
else.

Within the Sage Tree was a maze of portals leading to both
terminals and shrines. This was the seat of both governance and prayer for
Dnnac Ledo. It was where the Supreme Council made decisions and where the
Chaotic Mass was celebrated. It was also where the Chaotic Curtain was produced
and maintained.

A room beneath the trunk and among the roots contained the
runes and crystals needed to interface with Dnnac in order to produce the
shield that both protected and concealed the village from the world. In the
current day and age, few would argue that
this
was Dnnac’s most
important function. Extremely small was the list of people allowed access to
it.

“Thanks for telling me about your plan,” Eric said. “I
already knew all about it from Wiol, but now we can discuss it without causing
a paradox.”

While he hadn’t the foggiest idea about what Nunnal was
doing, he knew what she was trying to accomplish. It was for this reason that
she allowed him here.

“Thank you for understanding,” Nunnal said while she
worked. “No one else here would, Kallen included.”

“Of course I understand. You want to remove a threat to
your daughter and my future mate. Why
wouldn’t
I understand?”

Nunnal tapped out a rhythm on one crystal, then sang to a
second. She re-arranged the letters in this rune and crossed out a couple of
circles in that one. Lights and chimes responded to her activities.

“It’s what Dengel did in B.A.A. society!”

“In word, yes, but in spirit, it’s completely different.
If you ask me, it’s perfectly in line with the future-overturning that Lady Chaos
is so fond of.”

“In that case, it’s appropriate that I have The
Trickster’s Choice to help me.”

She made one final adjustment and three screens of light
appeared in a triangle formation. What Nunnal wished to do required three
elves: herself, the headman, and the Priori Guardian. For this case, she would
make do with her future son-in-law and her deity. Tasio’s authority superseded
that of the headman and his presence would confuse the computer into thinking
that Eric, the champion of Chaos, was actually the village’s champion. The
screens fizzled, glitched, and finally flashed acknowledgment.

“When this is over and the collar is removed, I trust
you’ll do your best to remove the ‘future’ part?” Nunnal asked.

“You will have plenty of grandkids,” Eric said. “I don’t
need Wiol’s help to tell you that.”  

The day of the Summit had arrived.

Isuna Darwoss gave his report to Kasile, paying lip
service to the elves while inserting subtle stealth insults. The only genuine
aspect of his talk was about the welcome, but even that part was focused on how
one of the maids sent mixed messages. Regardless, it was enough to convince the
others on the Mana Mutation Council of Dnnac Ledo’s willingness to play host.

In contrast, Mebalos and Kurami Heleti sent a glowing report
on the effectiveness of elven technology. It was so positive that some councilors
accused them of bribery or a fetish for pointed ears. Only the fact that their
son was restored from mutation convinced them otherwise.

The council of mortals formally approved the relocation of
the summit’s meeting and the council of immortals asked everyone in the village
to be on their best behavior during this time. Inevitably, there were some in
the former that didn’t trust the latter and desired independence from them, but
they were reassured by the notion that mana mutation could be controlled and
capitalized upon. Inevitably, some of the latter complained about the mortals “tainting
our village” and the response was a reminder of the enslaved elves that could
be freed.

The Universal Embassy was done up, and beyond that, the
village itself changed to accommodate the visitors. Enterprising elves set up
stalls for “anti-mana mutation” products, i.e. mischievous frauds, genuine Dnnac
Ledo style souvenirs, and food that would be safe and/or amusing for mortals to
eat.

Everything was ready for the arrival of the delegation,
but despite this, there were signs of tension.

Meza’s Elven Preservation Society had volunteered to aid
the guardians with village security and Alexis welcomed them. Now they wore deputy
uniforms and mixed freely with the guardians who agreed with them on many
topics. Even among the moderate elves, there were fears. Many elven women
decided to become elven
men
for the duration of the visit and others
announced that they wouldn’t leave their homes.

“It didn’t use to be like this,” Nunnal told her human
friends. “There was a time when the village would be three-fourths empty most
of the year because we were walking the earth.
We
would see new things, meet new people, and expose ourselves to the unknown. Now
we suffocate in cocoons while stewing in paranoia and fear.”

“Have hope,” Kurami said. “Today is the start of a new era
for both our races.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Nunnal muttered. In a louder
voice, she said, “If this meeting goes too well, expect a crasher. We have to
be ready for anything.”

The Enaz, Heleti, and Darwoss families (plus Eric and Emily)
gathered in the Arch of Kresnik’s chamber. They awaited the honored guests
along with the corps of butlers and maids. Isuna sought out one in particular
and advised her not to be her bewitchingly charming self because humans did not
respond well to it. She stomped on his foot with her heeled shoe.

 Once again, they were all dressed for the occasion. Tiza
looked so fetching that Nolien had to clasp his hands behind his back to
prevent its wandering. Annala had chosen something strapless so her dual
chokers would be on display. Their presence reminded her fellow elves what was
at stake here, not just for their friends and family, but for themselves. Eric
wore his Dragon’s Lair badge on top of his elven robes; the guild was well
known enough that a good number of the delegates would make the connection.

The Arch of Kresnik lit up and hummed. A screen of light
crossed the pillars and the delegates walked through one by one. There was only
one absence. As Latrot's Knight of Order, Lunas was explicitly not invited.
Ponix made it crystal-clear that this was due to his ordercraft and not a
political snubbing of his country. To prove this, he was allowed to send a
proxy in his place, provided that one did not bear ordercraft either. When told
this, he leered and said, “My proxy will arrive later. I believe your wife and
daughter are well acquainted with him. He will make my position on both of them
clear.” 

 In response, Ponix punched his monitor so hard his fist
came out the other side.

 The last delegate to step through was Kasile, Daughter of
Fire, from Ataidar. Splendid in both finery and flame, she glided to the front
of the pack and made a small curtsy to the headman, who responded with a small
bow.

 "Headman Jade, I thank you for the invitation.
Please take good care of us."

 "It is an honor to host such distinguished guests,
Your Majesty," the ancient elf said. “We have refreshments waiting in the
reception hall. If you would please, enjoy them while the Heleti present their
findings.”

Kasile looked over her shoulder. While some were nervous
about eating elven food and were otherwise resentful at taking cues from a
child, they all nodded.

“I'm sure they will be delicious. At the same time, we
will present the goodwill gestures to show how much Dnnac Ledo’s friendship
means to us.”

“Wonderful. I speak for the Supreme Council and all of
Dnnac Ledo’s citizens when I say that your friendship is important to us as
well. If you need anything during your stay, anything at all, please tell one
of the aides you see here.”

On cue, the butlers bowed to them and the maids curtsied.

“Your hospitality is appreciated. I’m sure we will be in
good hands during our stay.”

 “Please follow me.”

Headman Jade turned on his heel and led the procession out
of the Arch’s room. Along the way, he spoke of the history of the embassy and
the various artwork on display. There was significantly more of the mortal
variety now than when the vanguard delegation arrived; both by mortals and of
mortals. It mixed with the local flavor in a way that was supposed to be
moderate and strike the note of “cosmopolitan.”

Instead, some of the rulers remarked that certain
historical pieces had been missing for a period of time that coincided with
their appearance in Dnnac Ledo. The accusations of “theft” went unsaid and
unaddressed except by Headman Jade mentioning that elven artists worked in
human cities often. The accusations of “slavery” also went unsaid and not
addressed except in looks directed at the columns of aides.

  Dressed like servants, they formed a dual column and
made small talk if addressed. Isuna was once again in animated discussion with
Amelia, and although she remained composed and her words stayed sharp, there
was an air of familiarity. Given the former’s reputation, both for his opinions
of elves and his family tendency of bastarding, lewd rumors started in the
minds of all listening. Other less than noble thoughts had taken root in a
number of minds and it was for this reason that both the maids and butlers
stayed out of arm's reach.

The tension in the air put the demons on edge, but Eric
had the worst of it. While Kallen was geared towards avenging family and Nolien
toward healing after blood had been shed, Eric’s namesake was known for
wrecking revelry. There was a reason for that, but Annala’s gloved hand in his
and the slight pressure on his side as she leaned into him kept him calm.

Without trouble, the entourage filed into the reception
hall. Here, elves stood behind a bar with drinks, carrying plates of
appetizers, and making other final changes to arrangements. They pulled chairs
out for their honored guests, and to the surprise of all, not a one was pulled
out from under anyone, not even Liclis.

At the center of the room was a podium atop a pedestal.
The Heletis took their place there while the Enaz and their guests took their
seats. Eric pulled Annala's seat out for her and was rewarded with a smile.
Trickster,
she's dazzling like that.
When Emily noticed Kallen’s stare, she did
likewise for her.

Mebalos stepped up to the podium and cleared his throat.

“Ladies and gentlemen, delegates from around the world,
thank you for joining us on this historic day. When her Majesty Queen Kasile
asked me to be the vanguard for a pan-sapient summit in Dnnac Ledo, I feared
that The Trickster was impersonating her.”

Tasio appeared by his side. “I was not.” He disappeared
again.

“Indeed, this was the genuine article with a genuine plan.
Now here we are, the first such gathering in four hundred and fifty years and
the first to take place in Dnnac Ledo for over seven hundred. The fire of
Shalindros burns bright in its latest torch.”

He clapped and others joined in out of politeness. Kasile
stood to accept the praise and appear humble. Everyone knew she was anything
but, and none more so than Eric. Simply arranging this meeting would be a
feather in her cap, regardless of how it turned out.

"I would also like to thank Miss Annala Enaz for
laying the groundwork. With determined and kind-hearted leaders like her among
our young, I will feel better retiring. "

 When Annala stood to accept the applause, she appeared
truly modest.

“We are here because we all want the same thing: freedom
from fear. This fear is of losing ourselves to a supernatural force that distorts
our body and wipes our mind clean. Together, we can overcome this fear and
usher in a new age of freedom for us all.”

Polite applause came from both delegates and servants.
Both knew that the other was thinking of a different fear, but Mebalos’ words were
such that they could apply to both.

“The herald of this new age is my own first-born son,
Nolien Yani of Heleti.” He gestured to his son. “My boy, step up here and tell
your story.”

Nolien obeyed to more applause. He spoke of how he volunteered
for mana mutation to create greater bonds of friendship between humans and
elves without touching on the reason for
why
he volunteered. He spoke of
the technology they used to mutate him without touching on the pain it caused
him. Then he spoke of how their technology restored his sanity while downplaying
how close he came to killing his entire immediate family. His stoicism made his
mother proud and concerned his father.

“Director Nunnal recorded the entire process.” A four-way
screen descended from above and flickered on. “Watch for yourselves the future
of mana mutation treatment.”

From the moment the beams struck him to his release from
the facility, the delegation watched. They saw how thoroughly he mutated and
how savage he became because of it. Then they saw how (seemingly) easily he was
tamed and then brought back to full sapience. He laughed at himself typing with
a horn and drifting into tangents in order to make them feel at ease with
laughing themselves. Finally, Nunnal declared him “fully sapient” and the video
ended.

The audience applauded as he took his seat. His mother
gave him a hug and his sister too. Only the most hardened of skeptics remained
after watching him reciprocate both.

Mebalos further explained that he took samples of his
son’s body tissue before and afterward for a double blind study. He teleported
it to various researchers and scientists in different countries. They confirmed
that one of them was indeed different from standard human and instead belonged
to a class of monster they had never heard of. This coincided with the video
they watched of Nunnal’s declaration of the same. Only a handful remained
unconvinced afterwards, and one of them spoke up. It was the dwarf duke from
Acemo.

“Second Duke Heleti, in that video, you transformed from a
monster to a human. Can you change back?”

Nolien stood and his father stepped aside so he could take
the podium.

“Absolutely.”

He stepped to the right twice and closed his eyes. His
torso and chest extended, his arms and hands shifted, his head and face
elongated, and, at last, he fell on all fours, a unicorn once more! He reared
back and neighed like the beast of legend. Then he trotted off stage and right
up to the Acemo dwarf duke. With his horn, he made three slashes on the duke's
uniform. Then he returned to the stage, reared a second time, and became a
horned human again.

“Nolien! He makes the sign of the N!”

The delegates applauded and he bowed. The dwarf duke of Acemo
said no more.

“If there are no more questions, this concludes our
demonstration.”

He and his family relocated to a nearby table and Kasile
arose in their place. She stepped up to the podium and announced her goodwill
gesture: she would remove three of the barriers around her side of the Arch of
Kresnik to show her trust in Dnnac Ledo. After all, you don’t lock the door on
friends, right? No one but Eric knew that the three barriers she spoke of were
useless anyway.

Other delegates ascended the podium to announce their own goodwill
gestures. Acemo was installing one of their elven citizens into a prestigious
government position, but given that the government as a whole was unstable, no
one expected it to last long. Mithra was offering a study abroad program based
on Ataidar’s and Annala stood up to recommend it. Ozid invited elves to learn
orc anti-ordercraft techniques; JJ was shameless in advocating an Ozid and
Dnnac Ledo alliance against Latrot.

“If me and Dnnac Ledo’s ambassador can kill Latrot’s
queen, then our two nations should be able to kill Latrot itself! Don’t believe
me? I got her head right here!”

With that, JJ lifted a shrunken head for all the world to
see. Making this more embarrassing for the meeting’s architects, Headman Jade
was delighted and assured JJ that they could speak in detail later. As the
goodwill gesture session came to a close, a red-faced Kasile stood up and
announced, “As Ataidar does not recognize slavery, we possess no elven slaves.
Thus, the
honor
of leading the next discussion must go to one more
familiar with the subject.”