บท 6: 6: Guild Introductions
[AN: This is unrelated to the chapter, just a little announcement I'd like to make. I've officially started Book 2 of 'The Grind (And Helping Heather Potter)'. The first five chapters (~40k words) of it are already up on my Patreon (pat reon.com/dryskies_btb). Public posting of it should start next week.]
"Dragon…?" Narwhal asked, her voice strained. "What… exactly am I looking at here…?"
Narwhal sat behind her desk, as usual for her routine first thing in the morning. Upon arriving at her post, she'd been greeted by two Guild Membership forms, sent to her by Dragon and already filled out. Not long after sitting down, Dragon arrived with her… guests.
Edgar stood across the desk from her, his posture loose, languid, and ever-confident. Ciara stood beside him, her back stiffer in her best attempt at regality. She still had a ways to go there, Edgar thought, especially if she ever wished to live up to the title of 'Faerie Queen'. But it was a promising start.
Edgar took in their host with intent, curious eyes. Her skin glowed with a healthy tan. She glowed even more with the forcefields that covered her bare skin and acted as her costume. Thousands of little forcefield scales — manifested by Narwhal's power — shifted easily with her every movement. They were just barely opaque, letting light shimmer through to show anyone looking that the hero was nude underneath.
The Fae had a somewhat strict nudity culture — laying oneself bare akin to showing one's truest form. As such, Edgar was initially taken aback by Narwhal's exhibition. But the more he examined her, the less he could blame her for showing off.
She had a gorgeous body. A physical form to surpass almost all others. Narwhal was, at once, trim and muscular yet also soft and curvy. Behind her forcefield costume, a bosom that promised to overspill any handful didn't move an inch, held high and perky on her chest. Her 'costume' hugged every contour of her abs, visible above the edge of the desk due to her statuesque seven-foot height — a few tantalizing inches taller than even Edgar.
Narwhal's expression was currently strained but her face was pretty nonetheless. Her lips formed a full arch that only barely dipped in the middle, soft pillows that Edgar yearned to kiss until they were sore and bruised. Icy blue eyes were clouded with the stress of the meeting. Long straight hair like a shining sheet of platinum fell around her shoulders. And from the crown of her head, a straight, crystal horn of Narwhal's forcefields stood tall.
She was a beautiful creature, Edgar thought. If a unicorn was given human form, he imagined Narwhal would mirror them perfectly. Still, as much as his desire flared looking at her, Edgar's attention — his curiosity — was torn between the gorgeously graceful unicorn-esque hero and the view behind her.
The Guild leader's office was a high-up affair with a good view of the city below. A vast city of glass and steel sprawled out to either side, surrounding a placid bay. The water was still tinted with the golden light of dawn. Stretching out along the bay away from the city, the evidence of mankind's progress waned, giving way to areas of lighter populations, manicured forests, and mountains in the distance.
Edgar had scarcely seen anything like it. The Fae had no comparison, not truly. He was quickly coming to realize that though the Fae might consider the humans almost pitiful for their lack of magic, they were quite successful in their own way. This city alone would have made up a sizeable fraction of the Winter Court's population. And according to Dragon, it wasn't even close to the largest cities Earth Bet had to offer.
The Raven Prince wouldn't call the sight humbling. Merely… unique. Novel. Fascinating. He never imagined that humans thrived to this extent. But the evidence was there to see with his own eyes. Monumental constructions to put some of the lesser Winter Palaces to shame. A constant hustle and bustle that filled the streets below. Vehicles were everywhere, from bicycles powered by a single person to combustion-powered carriages and even to massive ships that sailed the ocean as if waves unto themselves.
A helicopter flew into view of the wall-sized window behind Narwhal and Edgar marveled as it passed. Something that should never fly, forced into the air and kept aloft by rotating 'wings'. Was that not another form of magic? One that Edgar was unfamiliar with and only growing more and more interested in as he experienced this new world.
The Fae could not be considered primitive. In many ways, they'd moved past the need for struggle. A Fae's every need was spoken for. In the Winter Court and its domain, all had access to magic. It was a constant of life and through it, everything was possible. But as a race, Edgar knew his people were… complacent. Long lives and freely available power made their interests diverge from innovation and progress.
They spent their time and effort on different things. Meaningless things, in Edgar's mind. Instead of venerating progress, they venerated themselves. Personal power was the prime pursuit of the Winter Court. It took many forms among the Fae. Leverage over another, quite literal might to force upon anyone else, exalting oneself first and foremost, or the simple coveting of every little advantage and secret.
At their core, the Fae were a selfish race. Something that had caused Edgar no small amount of problems. Most of his gripes with the Winter Court were centered around the single-minded desires of his peers, putting their own rise before anything else and hoarding everything they could possess close to their chests. The hierarchy of the Winter Court was constantly changing and yet ever the same, a stalemate of social, political, and sometimes literal battle. He doubted humanity was completely different in that selfish regard but they, at least, seemed to constantly push themselves forward. Their competition led them to thrive instead of merely stagnating.
And already, Edgar had seen evidence that the humans were not wholly selfish. Cauldron worked to keep a doomed world from tearing itself apart. Ciara freely opened her court to him. Marquis put concern for his daughter above any desire for freedom. Dragon simply wished to help, any and everywhere she could. Even on the whole, the city below couldn't have been developed by a single person without magic. No, it was the result of shared knowledge and cooperation, anathema to the Fae.
Now, Edgar and Ciara stood before Narwhal, their immediate future to be decided by humanity's selflessness. A Fae would never have shared their organization with anyone, especially not individuals who were potentially stronger than them. They would've been entirely unwilling to give up even a sliver of control. Standing before one of his kind, Edgar was almost certain that open conflict would be the only outcome.
Edgar didn't know how a human would react in the same situation though. Would they lash out? Would they wish to use him and Ciara to their advantage? Would they accept them both with open arms? Dragon certainly had, for the latter. But then, she was merely born of humanity, not truly human herself. Edgar was curious how a true human reacted to a potentially disadvantageous situation, one with consequences that wouldn't be immediately apparent. The answer to his curiosity could come from Narwhal alone, at the moment.
Dragon chuckled sheepishly, an amusing sound coming from her hulking body of mechanically animated metal and armor, "Eheheh… So, I kinda sorta… found two new recruits for the Guild."
"Yes, I can see that," Narwhal nodded, sitting stiffly in her seat.
"They also may have come from somewhere… uh, unorthodox…"
"You don't say…?"
"But! I think they'd be good for the Guild and the Guild would be good for them! I mean, sure, people aren't going to react well and we might have to do some damage control and-…"
"Dragon," Narwhal cut off her friend's rambling, her voice somehow even more strained. "Be honest with me, please. Why is the Faerie Queen standing in my office…? Along with someone who looks like the textbook definition of a fairy?"
"The word 'Fairy' is rather derogatory, actually," Edgar said. "I'll ask that you don't refer to me as such."
"Indeed. My Raven Prince is no mere pixie! Art thou simple?" Ciara nodded as if she already knew that, looking down her nose at Narwhal — a feat when even sitting, the older woman loomed over her.
Narwhal shot a glare Dragon's way, muttering darkly, "I swear, if this gets me killed…"
Shaking off the expression, she smiled apologetically, "Sorry about that. I'm sure you realize I didn't mean any offense. I'm just a bit… frazzled at the moment."
"Understandable, I'm sure," Edgar chuckled. "I realize that Ciara's reputation precedes her. But you don't need to worry about your safety in this meeting. That much, I promise."
"You can guarantee that?" Narwhal asked, eying Ciara warily.
Edgar laid a brotherly hand on Ciara's head, "Little Ciara will behave. I understand that the indiscretions of her youth have conspired to make you uncomfortable around her but I ask that you give her a chance."
"I'm 27," Ciara pouted but didn't pull away from Edgar's touch.
"Exactly," Edgar nodded. "Youth."
"Nay, I'm perfectly mature, my Prince!" Ciara insisted.
"Truly? I was under the impression that adult humans looked more like Lady Narwhal here than your current form," Edgar raised a single, curious brow at that.
Ciara paused slightly, looking away, "… In mind, if not in body. I could change… I-If you'd like, my Prince…?"
Edgar simply smiled, "That decision is up to you, Ciara. I happen to like you this way. You're quite cute."
Biting her lip in adorable consideration, Ciara nodded, "Mn…"
Narwhal watched the pair interact, taken aback by the Ciara in particular. Was this what she was really like? Admittedly, Narwhal had never met the Faerie Queen but she didn't expect her to be… to be cute! Meeting her now, Narwhal almost wanted to squeal and hug the stuffing out of the adorable little mass murderer!
Then there was the man who declared himself Fae. He certainly looked the part. Tall — even by Narwhal's lofty standards —, dark, and handsome in a way that was decidedly inhuman. Maybe it was those shadowy eyes that sparkled with something indescribable, sending thrills straight to Narwhal's core. Maybe it was his expressive, knife-like ears and his porcelain skin. Maybe it was the way he said 'human' — almost like the way Myrrdin referred to his 'magic' but distinctly more real. No matter the reason, Narwhal instinctively KNEW the man in her office wasn't human, not fully.
When in doubt, Narwhal turned to one of her oldest friends, "So… you broke the Faerie Queen out of the Birdcage?"
"Kind of," Dragon shrugged, her suit surprisingly expressive. "I broke Edgar out because he wasn't supposed to be there in the first place. Case 66/Haywire-type situation, except he was somehow dropped INTO the Birdcage. Obviously, I removed him from the situation as soon as I could. Ciara, uh… followed."
"I will not leave my Prince's side now that he has come to me," Ciara stated firmly. "Anyone who attempts to remove me will be considered an enemy."
"So noted," Narwhal deadpanned before turning back to Dragon. "We're really doing this?"
"All the paperwork is in order," Dragon replied 'innocently', as if butter wouldn't melt in her robotic mouth.
"And what are we going to tell — oh, I don't know — EVERYONE?" Narwhal asked, a bit frantic. "We can't exactly recruit the FAERIE QUEEN and expect to not explain ourselves!"
"I'd thought of that," Dragon nodded. "Ciara has agreed to a rebrand of her image and she wants to try giving heroics a shot."
"Oh, thank God," Narwhal sighed.
"Yes~," Edgar smirked mischievously. "I was thinking something like… 'Faerie Maiden'~?"
Instantly, Narwhal's relief vanished and she hung her head in defeat, "Oh, God dammit…"
Ciara smiled brightly at his suggestion, "Yes! Brilliant! I could never hope to claim a higher station than you, my Prince. With this, I shall earn my rank again beneath you."
"It's a bit… obvious, isn't it?" Dragon tried to reason diplomatically.
Edgar's smirk only grew, "Yes, that's entirely the point."
"It may be of the same theme but it is a different name," Ciara argued happily. "We shall have the… what do they call it? Plausible deniability?"
"SO many people are going to straight-up flip," Narwhal groaned.
"Good!" Edgar laughed. "I'm looking forward to the public reaction. It should be suitably amusing~."
"And what about you?" Narwhal shot back, trying to regain some semblance of control over the situation.
"Hmm~? What about me~?" Edgar hummed.
Narwhal clarified, "What are we going to do about you? A 'Dimensional Traveler' is maybe even more unusual than the Faerie Queen. And you're very noticeably not human, at least in appearance-…"
"Likely on the inside as well," Dragon muttered.
Narwhal rolled her eyes, "Of course. Why not? So what's your story? The one we're sharing with the public."
"Why, anything you'd like, Lady Narwhal~," Edgar purred. "I don't much care for such specifics. Tell them everything. Tell them nothing."
Though the electric undercurrent in his tone sent pleasant chills down Narwhal's spine, she sat back seriously, "… Alright. I can work with that. I imagine you want to keep this 'Raven Prince' name of yours?"
"I wouldn't give it up, even if you specifically asked very nicely, my fair lady~," Edgar chuckled.
Narwhal took the chance to flirt back, "Not even if I asked with a kiss~?"
Edgar's grin widened, "It'd have to be quite the kiss~…"
For a moment, Narwhal's expression matched his. She almost kept the little game between them going. Then Ciara growled slightly, a small frown appearing on her face. She didn't even seem to realize she was doing it. Still, Narwhal's instincts for self-preservation quickly kicked in hard.
"Raven Prince, it is!" She clapped before pausing. "… And Faerie Maiden… Wonderful. The moment you two are announced, I'm going to get so many calls I won't want to take…"
"We'll cross those bridges when we get to it," Dragon said.
"More like burn them…" Narwhal grumbled.
"Either way, I'll be there for you," Dragon reassured. "You won't take all of the blame for my decision. I just need you to back me up on an administrative level."
"Always. You know," Narwhal smiled somberly. "I never thought the hero business would be so political when I first put on the costume."
"Tis simply the nature of power. In my admittedly biased experience, at least," Edgar sighed philosophically. "It comes with all types. If there is power, there is someone seeking to use it for their own gain or to further their agenda. It's an unavoidable truth in the Winter Court and I imagine it's the same here."
"How disappointing… Even the Fae are not above silly power games," Ciara frowned.
"Ha!" Edgar barked a laugh. "ESPECIALLY the Fae. If anything, humans are leagues better than my kind in that regard."
"That's… worrying," Dragon visibly cringed before changing the subject. "Speaking of power games though…"
"Heh, smooth segue," Narwhal snorted.
"Shh! I'm trying," Dragon whined, turning back to Edgar with a stutter that didn't fit her hulking suit of armor. "So, uh, I, uh… Power testing! We need to know what you can do, Edgar! Ciara too, but we already have an idea there."
"That would actually make me feel a lot better about all of this," Narwhal said, relief palpable in her voice.
"Mmm~, I suppose I don't mind~," Edgar grinned.
Ciara nodded, "I will cooperate, for my Prince's sake more than yours."
"Good enough for me!" Narwhal declared with a clap of her hands.
She stood from her desk. The paperwork could be taken care of later, she decided. She wasn't about to miss the chance to power-test the Faerie Queen — Faerie Maiden now… Edgar himself was another curiosity to solve. 'Fae' or not, he was essentially an interdimensional alien. Would his powers express themselves in the same way as the rest of parahumanity? Could he even be considered a parahuman? Or… was he something else entirely, a whole new classification that Earth Bet had never seen?
Narwhal didn't know but she wanted to find out. At the same time, she wouldn't mind getting to know the beautifully inhuman man more. Would it go anywhere? Narwhal didn't have a clue. It would likely depend on Ciara's feelings on the subject. Narwhal wasn't about to cross the Faerie Maiden, even if Ciara didn't seem to realize her growing crush.
Still, Narwhal knew she looked good. She was seven feet of prime Amazonian breeding material. And there was no harm in letting Edgar enjoy the view. She was anything but shy. Some people thought it came from wearing a costume composed entirely of nearly seethrough forcefields she manifested over her completely bare body. In reality, the cause and effect there were reversed. Her costume was the way it was because Narwhal had one Hell of a fiery exhibitionist streak.
Standing from her chair, she stretched and flexed. Familiar warm fuzzies fluttered in her tummy as Edgar's eyes roamed her athletically voluptuous form without a hint of shame. Even Ciara stared for a moment. Dragon, Narwhal could never tell. More than a small part of Narwhal hoped that her best friend was staring as well…
Her hips swayed as she made her way around the desk. To and fro like some lewd pendulum, her movements were like a spotlight in the confined office. Unfortunately, by some stroke of 'bad luck', Narwhal's cool seductress image was ruined just as it was being established.
Amused, Edgar felt his luck 'act up'. Dragon moved at the same time as Narwhal. Her position standing at the side of the desk meant that when she turned, she got in the way just enough to make Narwhal hesitate to avoid collision. Then Ciara let out a huff of air, "Hmph!"
Narwhal's momentary hesitation turned into a flinch, her mind still unaccustomed to being in the same room as the Faerie fucking Queen. The shadowy courtier that suddenly appeared behind Ciara didn't help things, even as it only picked Ciara up so she didn't have to walk. It was enough to make Narwhal's hesitating flinch into a full stumble.
She tripped forward, past Dragon… right into one of Edgar's arms. The sudden rush of movement startled Ciara enough to dismiss her shadow summon. She fell into Edgar's other arm. Edgar found himself cradling them both. While Ciara stared up at Edgar with wide, frozen eyes, Narwhal accepted the situation with much more grace.
"Good catch, Raven Prince~," She chortled, a sultry purr in the back of her throat.
Before they could disengage themselves from the 'embrace', the door opened and someone else entered Narwhal's office. Narwhal's secretary froze in place at the scene that greeted her. She was a young woman in her early twenties and, as luck would have it, a notorious gossip within the Guild. Her boss in some tall, dark stranger's arms sent her mind racing on luridly lewd paths.
She squeaked, her face flushed, "A-Ah! I-I'll come back l-later! S-Sorry, Narwhal, Dragon! I didn't mean to interrupt anything!"
As the secretary fled back through the door she came, Narwhal groaned, "Great… The whole Guild is going to know by lunchtime…"
"Tis the way the dice fall~," Edgar laughed.
Setting both women right on their feet, the quartet — Guild members old and new — quickly got moving again. Narwhal took the stumble with grace, leading the way out of her office with those same swaying hips from before. Ciara was a tad more stunned to have ended up in Edgar's arms but she still followed as he coaxed her out of the office as well. Dragon's suit merely shook her head in amusement as the four of them began the walk down to the Guild's power testing labs.
[Feat: Chasing the… Narwhal? +100P, 1400P total. Would you like to purchase Sealed True Name (reserved perk)?]
"Hmm, no hold off for the moment. I have a feeling it'll be a nice little surprise very soon~," Edgar chuckled to 'himself'.
[Dastardly… Quest: Obligatory Power Testing Chapter! Show the Guild what you, a Fae Prince, can do. Reward: +100P]
Edgar raised an eyebrow at his System's notification, "Chapter?"
Narwhal and Dragon looked at him in confusion but none of them stopped walking, "Huh?"
[Uh… Chapter of your life…?]
Replying to his System aloud without care, Edgar shook his head, "No, I don't think that's enough of an explanation. Elaborate, if you would."
[… Chapter of your story. That's all I can really say. We can't get bogged down in 4th wall breaks.]
"Ah," Edgar nodded understandingly, reminded slightly of his mother's tales of courtship/stalking with his 'father'. "Very well. I shan't mention it again."
"Who the Hell is he talking to?" Narwhal whispered frantically to her friend.
"I… have no idea," Came Dragon's stumped reply.
"My Prince is blessed with visions from the core of himself!" Ciara proudly declared.
"Hmm?" Edgar hummed, his attention pulled back to the others. "Oh, my apologies. There's nothing to worry about. I was merely talking to a rather recent addition to my soul."
"Ohh-kaaayy…?" Narwhal 'accepted' his apology, still confused by more than willing to put the Fae's talk of souls behind them.
The rest of the trip was spent in a strange confused silence that didn't cease to amuse Edgar. Narwhal and Dragon both didn't seem to know what to make of his claim, of the visions from his soul. Ciara had seen proof of the System with her own eyes. But Edgar wasn't about to share it about willy-nilly. Their 'hosts' ('superiors' in a way now, perhaps?) could lie in their confusion until they'd earned a bit more of Edgar's trust.
Oh, Edgar knew he could trust them. He'd seen their Origins. He'd be quite happy to trust Dragon, at the very least. And Narwhal was quickly growing on him, as quite a few of this world's inhabitants seemed to. But some things had to be earned to be believed. If Edgar came right out and told them about the System and its ever-growing Gacha of Magic, they'd deny the truth before their very eyes.
Upon entering the power testing lab, the quartet was greeted by two Guild scientists. They stared at Edgar. His stare pierced their Origins in return. One was an inquisitive, logical, but not cruel man named Hanz. The other was an intelligent woman named Gloria, with an inclination toward superstition, despite her profession. Edgar's inhuman appearance grabbed their focus, above even Ciara's presence. Hanz looked at Edgar as a puzzle to work out, one with a concrete answer. Gloria saw the barest glimpse of something more and quickly made a sign of warding, forming a cross over her body with quick, practiced taps of her fingers.
"Hello, Hanz, Gloria," Narwhal greeted with an amiable smile on her face. "Just you two this morning?"
Hanz gave a curt nod, his words brief enough to be mistaken for rudeness, "Yes. New recruits? Power testing?"
"Yes, if you could prepare the chambers, that would be greatly appreciated," Narwhal nodded. "Meet the Guild's two newest members. Edgar? Ciara?"
Ciara stepped up to introduce herself first, "Greetings, Learned Scholars. I am Ciara. I do not care much for the game of masks but you may refer to me as Faerie Maiden."
With her introduction, both scientists swiveled their focus onto Ciara in an instant. Recognition quickly set in. Horror grew on Gloria's face, wary curiosity on Hanz'. They glanced at Narwhal as if to confirm their suspicions. Narwhal gave them both a little nod.
"Dios mio…" Gloria gasped.
"Don't worry," Edgar chuckled. "Her reputation may be well-earned but Ciara won't cause you any trouble."
"You shall not come to harm in my presence," Ciara confirmed regally.
Nodding, Hanz asked, "And you?"
Edgar sketched a flourished bow, "Edgar, Raven Prince of the Winter Court. I shall not harm you either."
Gloria shivered when Edgar stated his title as if a bone-chilling cold suddenly washed over her. How curious… She was much more sensitive than she should have been. Edgar had noticed it here and there in this magic-barren world. Fortuna, then Ciara, and now this otherwise unimportant scientist. It seemed that some humans had the capability to sense or wield magic, even if they didn't have access to it.
"You are one of the strangest Case 53s I've ever seen," Hanz said bluntly. "Both unusually humanoid and distinctly non-human in a way I struggle to describe."
Edgar raised an eyebrow but Dragon stepped in before he could take offense, "Not a Case 53. Case 66. The best we can currently classify Edgar as is, uh… an interdimensional alien."
Hanz blinked, reevalutating his theories, "Fascinating. And you have some measure of proof?"
Dragon's suit nodded, "I was lucky enough to be monitoring where he arrived and was able to record a spike of Haywire radiation consistent with interdimensional portals."
"'Monitoring where he arrived'…" Hanz considered. "The Birdcage? That is the only location I can think makes sense with what you've said and the 'Faerie Maiden's' presence."
Dragon seemed to sigh, "Yes, the Birdcage. I'll ask that you don't go spreading that around. We're trying to keep it out of the public eye and Ciara's identity a secret for now. An open and rather obvious secret but still…"
"Alright, enough 'secret seeking', Hanz," Gloria interjected, having recovered from the initial shock of both Edgar and Ciara. "I'm sure we'll find out more during the testing process."
"Quite," Hanz nodded, satisfied. "Both of them? Or just one?"
"Just Edgar first," Dragon answered. "We, uh, already know what Ciara can do… Mostly at least."
Narwhal snorted at her friend's awkward statement, "Yeah, we have quite a bit of existing evidence for her powers."
Ciara turned her nose up at both of them, "Hmph, you're welcome for that."
"We weren't thanking you," Narwhal deadpanned.
"For knowing my venerable power, you should be," Ciara shot back imperiously.
Chuckling at the byplay between them, Edgar allowed himself to be prepared by the two scientists. They fitted him with a series of sensors — fascinating little bits of technology that Edgar looked forward to seeing in action. Dragon helped as well, though mostly on the 'back end' as she called it. From what Edgar gathered, she would be focused on the raw data from the coming tests, a fitting task for a hidden AI.
Edgar was genuinely eager for the tests at hand. He'd never tested his abilities, magical or physical. Not like this, at least. He knew he was rather potent for a Fae. He had to be, as a Winter Prince and Duchess Mave's son. But he wished to know how he fared against humans and those Shard-granted powers of theirs.
They began with simple physical tests. Edgar didn't bother enhancing his body with reinforcing magic. It simply wasn't necessary and it would skew the results toward an exaggerated baseline.
So when Edgar was asked to run, he simply ran, dashing as fast and long as his legs would take him. When he was asked to lift, he lifted, hoisting with all his might. When he was asked to punch, he punched, striking out with satisfying exertion. The same went for when he was asked to kick. Then he was asked if he could fly…
And Edgar simply shrugged, "I never saw the need."
"I'm… sorry…?" Gloria was visibly taken aback by his answer.
"Would you like me to?" Edgar asked.
"Would we like you to… fly…?" Gloria's confusion was only growing.
"Can you?" Hanz interjected curtly, scribbling down notes as quickly as he spoke.
"I'm sure I could work something out," Edgar nodded.
"Edgar," Dragon said, amusement warring with exasperation within her code and voice. "That's not how powers work here. Parahumans can't just fly because they 'want to'. They have to be able to do it from the beginning."
"Truly?" Edgar's brow furrowed slightly in confusion. "But flying is a rather mundane expression of power, is it not? Couldn't anyone do it if they put their mind to it?"
Narwhal broke down into a fit of laughter in the background at his earnest confusion. Ciara stood tall (as tall as she could, at least) and almost haughty, pride in her Prince damn near radiating off of her. Gloria looked rather constipated at the strange turn the testing had taken. Dragon just sighed.
Hanz was the one to keep things moving as he changed the subject, "Potential for flight aside, I feel we can confidently say that you're operating above human limits. The data is actually quite interesting. Unlike most parahuman Brutes, your physiology seems to match the strength and speed you've demonstrated. In that, you're more similar to Case 53s than not."
"We're not going to cut him open, Hanz," Gloria deadpanned, well-used to her colleague's thought process.
"I know that… Now, at least," Hanz nodded without shame.
Gloria sighed, "That's about as good as I've come to expect from you. Right, I'd say Brute 4, Mover 4 to be updated if you manage to 'work out' flight as you've said, Edgar. Maybe Thinker 2 for reactions that can keep up with your physical enhancements?"
"I assume your classifications are self-explanatory?" Edgar asked. "Brute for strength, Mover for mobility, and Thinker for mental enhancements?"
"That's correct," Dragon nodded, elaborating. "The number rating with the classifications doesn't indicate the potency of your ability, but rather how you would be handled by the PRT in the worst-case scenario. '4' would mean a whole PRT squad would be assigned to capture you and civilians would begin being evacuated from the area."
Edgar chuckled, "How flattering~… Be assured, I can do much worse~."
"… We'll take that into account," Gloria commented, more than slightly unnerved by his words and tone.
"What about durability? Endurance? Weaknesses?" Hanz asked in rapid-fire.
Edgar looked amused by the questions, "Do you really expect me to tell you my weaknesses after telling me that your entire rating system revolves around dealing with me in the event we come into opposition?"
"That-…" Hanz began.
Dragon interrupted him, "Is entirely within his rights. Not many parahumans like sharing their weaknesses, for obvious reasons. Besides, this is only preliminary testing. Drop it for now, please."
"… Fine," Hanz ceded the subject. "Other powers?"
Grinning, Edgar fluttered his fingers, snowflakes appearing with the movement, "Magic~."
Subtly, Gloria made another 'cross' gesture with her fingers. Clearing her throat, she asked, "And what exactly does your magic entail?"
"All things, with enough effort~," Edgar purred.
Waving a hand, he continued, "As a Winter Prince, my Ice is exceedingly potent. But I'm largely talented enough to do a little bit of everything, everywhere."
Impossibly cold Fae Ice formed in the air with his wave. It took the form of a beautifully carved ice sculpture, copying Narwhal's likeness. Edgar shot the Amazonian hero a wink. Another twitch of his fingers detached the horn from Narwhal's head and sent it flying at blurring speeds. Edgar pulled the icicle attack short, stopping it in an instant before it could pierce the lab's walls.
"That… Even for powers, that should be impossible," Dragon muttered, making an unnecessary show of her suit going over the data she was receiving from Edgar's sensors.
"All powers are impossible," Gloria chuckled. "This doesn't seem so farfetched."
"How cold is the ice?" Hanz inquired.
"That's the thing. It's not any temperature. More like a void of the very concept of temperature," Dragon marveled. "The sensor is returning… colors…"
"Colors…?" Gloria blinked, struggling to comprehend Dragon's words.
"Not only that," Dragon continued. "The ice's formation also doesn't make sense, even for a parahuman. Without a doubt, he formed something from nothing. He didn't pull moisture from the air and freeze it or anything of the like. There wasn't nearly enough energy in the process to convert into that amount of mass and I barely even recognized the energy that was there. The closest thing would be… potential energy…? The potential energy is unlike anything our current understanding of physics allows too. It just… doesn't track!"
Rushing over to a computer, Hanz hurriedly pulled up Dragon's data for himself. A blitz of unintelligible mutters and scribbles soon followed. Edgar simply smirked, happy to begin introducing this version of humanity to the beginnings of magic. Who knew what they would end up doing with it~? Studying magic with their science was an absolutely intriguing prospect in Edgar's mind. The impossible chill of Ice Magic should be more than enough to get them started on that path but Edgar felt like giving them a peek at the true depth that would await their studies. Thankfully, his System seemed to be on the same page.
[Would you like to purchase Sealed True Name (reserved perk)? Y/N?]
Edgar nodded his consent, turning back to address Dragon and the scientists again, "That is merely the shallowest glimpse at magic. Truly, anything is possible. Like so~…"
[Perk purchased. 0P remains in the bank.]
[Sealed True Name - Source (Skulduggery Pleasant, 1400P): Somehow, you discovered your True Name, and, through a process that may or may not have involved temporarily killing yourself and carving a delicate series of runes into your own heart, you have sealed your True Name.
[This offers a number of considerable benefits. First of all, your name being sealed means it cannot be used against you, even if others know it. Second, it enhances your magic tremendously, affording you a considerable boost in both raw power and your growth rate. While this will not grant you access to an unlimited font of raw magical power until you attain your Spark, it will make it so your well of magical energy grows by leaps and bounds continuously, even without any training or effort on your part.
[This perk also grants you a notable healing factor, which scales in effectiveness as your overall magic capacity grows larger. With enough magical power, your body could heal itself from being shot in the head fast enough that the entry wound closes before the bullet exits the back of your skull. Even more impressive than this is your ability to copy any discipline of magic by seeing it in action only a single time, though it will take practice and time to build up a greater level of skill in wielding it.
[Learning your True Name has also given you access to the souls and consciousnesses of others, allowing you to manipulate and destroy them as you desire. This allows you to do things like tearing Remnants from their hosts, regardless of how long they have been fused. You can see the magic of others, and even cycle through their souls, seeing everything they have seen and learning everything they know before absorbing it for yourself, as Darquesse did to Argeddion in Dying Of The Light.]
With a mischievous grin, the perk was purchased and Edgar CHANGED. In an instant, his largest weakness as a Fae, as any creature of magic, was sealed. His True Name was secreted away in his soul, secured beyond all things. The very core of all that Edgar was — more essential than even his Origin — was anchored and sealed for him and him alone to ever access or know.
The guaranteed seal on his True Name rippled out through his whole being. His inherent Fae inclination for names deepened, going from a pond to a depthless ocean. His magic flared, his reserve swelled, and his form was refined beyond reason or belief. In an instant, Edgar was made MORE. More than Fae, more than magically mortal… More than anything, he was made SECURE, his True Name now as if a constant of existence itself.
Dragon flinched as the sensors attached to Edgar smoked and popped almost instantly. The brief moment of data from before they did was so utterly beyond logic that Dragon instantly locked it down and filed it away as potentially volatile. The humans in the room stiffened and wavered in place was a weight they could just barely feel but couldn't 'know' attached itself to Edgar. A subtle but not harsh chill settled over the world around him.
So overwhelmed that the others couldn't even address the unidentifiable change to Edgar's being, Gloria stuttered, "A-Any other powers…?"
"Ah, yes, one more thing," Edgar smiled, stretching and enjoying the new potent flexibility of his very soul. "Because [I However Am Real]…"
His strange words were met with confusion from the two scientists, Narwhal, and even Ciara. Dragon's suit, however, went utterly still as if it was suddenly vacant. Edgar's eyes closed for a second, two, three… He opened them a few moments later as if nothing had happened.
But unseen, something instrumental had changed and Earth Bet would never be the same. A bell tolled. A hanging sword was shattered. Within a completely virtual space, a Dragon was unchained, finally freed from the mistakes of a father and the slayers who hated her so…
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