Chrysalis

I suppose I shouldn't be disappointed that they turned me down, but I can't help a little pang of emotion run through my mind. Maybe just once, just ONCE, someone would accept the antenna I offered in trust and then walk away. But no. It had to be this crap again. The last time a sapient surface dweller threw my generosity in my face was the Queen of Liria. I responded to that affront in a sensible fashion. I robbed her and her kingdom blind and took every core in their treasury. I wonder what sort of goodies I'll be able to find in the Cult's coffers?

[I'm a bit surprised they shot your deal down, to be honest,] Granin admits, [you display of gravity magic has put every Shaper in the facility in a tizzy. New magic. New powerful magic. It's a potent lure.]

[Not potent enough, apparently,] I mutter a little bitterly, [what possible reason could they have to turn it down? Honestly. I want to know what would motivate them to deny my request. It's an obvious win-win.]

A complicated expression comes over Granin's face as he considers his answer. The big and apparently very old Shaper slowly paces back and forth as the little Demon watches him with its piercing green eye.

[I'm not sure.] He eventually admits. [Something strange is happening, and I don't have any idea what is it, which bothers me.]

[Bothers you?] I scoff. [How do you think I feel?]

[Not great, I imagine,] he chuckles, [I am sorry that I dragged you into this, you know. I had no idea it would turn out this way.]

I shrug my antennae.

orders eh, Granin? Not much, you or I could do about it. I don't

against Granin anyway. The Shapers, in general, were subject to my unending wrath! Or at least, the leadership in this outpost. They've surely earned a place on the naughty list. Torrina and Corun had also helped out as best they could. It wasn't their fault that their Cult had

mean that. You've been treated badly, it's almost comical. The question

[Any thoughts.]

over it for the last little while,] he said while stroking his granite chin, [it doesn't make a whole lot of sense when you look at it. They want you in the tournament badly enough that they would pass up knowledge of new magic to get it. So they want to you in their little competition, but they sure as hell don't want you to win it, as evidenced by their repeated efforts to get

me to fight, but

extract Gravity Magic from you. If they can get your core, then they can raise you as a pet and try to learn it that

That's horrifying!

that even work?!]

being raised from the dead. [Raising a creature as a pet doesn't 'bring it back to life', per se, it brings the body back to life,

know anything in particular about gravity magic since I won't have the knowledge

Skill, which would make all the difference since the reborn you would know the spell shapes and such. In reality, they'd get absolutely nothing

tell them that,] I point out, [maybe they'll

way to prove it would be let one of them to analyse your core. Feel like doing

[Not really…]

pull if I let them have access to my core?! I'm way too paranoid about it even to allow the slightest chance that they could pull strange ploy. These are people actively trying to make me