Out on the battlefield, three monkeys were wrestling two wolfcats to the ground, Shadowflash was nipping at them from the flanks, while the Star Wolf King and the King Challenger Baboon were engaged in a lunging, snapping melee. One more wolfcat was already down and badly injured; three monkeys and a second wolfcat had withdrawn with less serious injuries. Abruptly Shadowflash changed his targets and scored a solid bite on the hamstrings of the Baboon King Challenger. The monkey stumbled; the Star Wolf King immediately pounced on the opportunity and clawed the throat of the Baboon Challenger as quick as a thought. [Halt!] Tor’na-dras roared. [The Star Wolf King wins the challenge! Everyone withdraw and recover!] Big plant-types sporting vines and flowers moved to the challengers, treating their injuries and stopping even the bleeding from the baboon’s throat. “Hey! How come we don’t have healers like that?!” Tim protested. “You have your own h

Contrary to George’s expectations, Darian’s life did not become as complicated as his. Darian simply left the Lords in charge of the Territories to handle their business and went back to continue his training at Dragon Lake. Remian immediately hired a whole army of prospectors and geologists over from the Deutero Company. Various mineral treasures were discovered within a week; small deposits of Misty Steel, Breezium, Earth Pulse Obsidian, a vein of Star Sardeinite, and heap loads of Celestial Salt. That last bit was somewhat controversial; Celestial Salt was considered a valuable cultivation resource in the Dragon Empire, a temporary magic-enhancement food in Ecclesia, an expensive ingredient in luxury restaurants in La Vive, but was outright banned as illegal in Ashdale and nineteen other countries. The reason for this was that while this salt was mildly beneficial to magic and martial cultivation, it was better known for its rather intoxicating effects and addictive trait

Filled with self-confidence in her newfound strength, Mindy returned ‘home’ and went to see George. But he wasn’t in his office. “George, where are you?” “I’m busy right now, Mindy. I’ll come find you later, okay?” George said. Something in his voice sounded suspiciously evasive. Mindy frowned. Did he really think he could keep secrets from her that easily? Tightening her lip, she closed her eyes and spread her senses. A flicker of flame drifted out from under one eyelid. There! At the airport, third dock. Mindy dashed up and burst onto the scene with a triumphant, “Surprise!!” There was George, with a bunch of people in weird robes. George’s face was red at first, but then he saw her arrive and then his face turned pale. “So this must be the girl.” A dry, cold chuckle sounded from a very wrinkled old man in a very polished white robe. “Misty, wasn’t it?” “Mindy, your excellency.” One of his people supplied.

Everything was black all of a sudden. “Uh… Phoebe? Someone? Hello?” Remian looked around. “Where am I?” “Tu belna rakeo, nosh vontai subane.” A clear feminine voice suddenly answered from nowhere. “What?” Remian blinked. “I don’t understand.” “Qiu zhen meishu li, mu tau.” “Uh… I still don’t understand.” Remian tried a different language. “Bahasa boleh, tak?” “Ginoskeis? Drak nakour raz faus?” Remian grimaced. Dumping language entirely, he tried to send out a Psionic broadcast in pure concept. [Who?] And pure concepts returned. [Aide. Helper. Assistant.] [Where?] Remian asked next. Another concept replied, and then he started to understand. This was a sort of illusion space meant for teaching. The ‘being’ that spoke to him wasn’t actually real, and only existed here. ‘Her’ job was to help the user of this illusion space. [So… you can teach me? You can tell me all about the Black Ruins?] Th

One bright-eyed maid came to fetch Mindy in the evening. “Dear guest, you have been invited to dinner with Lady Knight Fel.” “A dinner invitation?” Mindy blinked. “Oh, yes. We are not barbarians.” That was said with a giggle that left one somewhat in doubt. “Despite everything Sir Fate might claim.” “Really? I have to say I wasn’t expecting… dinner.” “No, you were expecting dungeons, chains and whipping, weren’t you?” Another giggle left one even more in doubt. “Uh… anyway! I’m hungry! Let’s go eat!” Having missed lunch, Mindy decided to go along with the dinner plan. Fel, it turned out, cleaned up rather nicely once she took off her armor. Under her helmet, she had a tanned, narrow face and a short ponytail. Tonight she wore a white ceremonial military uniform, complete with coat and pants. Rather than beautiful, one might be more accurate to call her handsome-looking. Actually, the roast chicken on the table looked better-loo