Nigkala Tales Pt. 29: Dragon Quest

"You're married? You don't act that way."

"We are swingers, and we love telling stories of our encounters to each other. We've been doing this since before we got married."

"Will you tell of this? About me?"

"To an extent. I won't identify you, nor say where or when. But sex due to curiosity does not make a great tale. So if you want, I will say nothing. Coming back for seconds another time, however, is another matter." I then grinned.

"You think I would come back?"

"That depends on you. I am good enough to make you want to, but because you are curious, and are concerned about being normal, I won't do that. As I said before, you set the pace, you set the rules."

She thought about it for a while, then suddenly pulled her hand away. So I said, "Take as long as you need. Explore where you will. Ask me questions, and I'll answer honestly."

Over the next two hours, she explored my body, and asked many questions, before finally deciding to have sex with me. When she inquired about what I used to pound the woman with, I said I have a long and talented tongue. I offered to show her, and soon she too was bucking in ecstasy before coming. Afterwards, there was a slow 'wow'. She then fell asleep curled up against me, so I went to sleep, as well.

I woke first and watched her as she sleepily sucked my nipple, and had a hand on a breast as she leaned on me. She woke with a start when she realized where she was. "Ack! Sorry! Excuse me." She rushed to get off my bed.

"It's okay. Tell me, with your questions about me answered, do you think you can study now?"

Still trying to cover herself, she backed out of my room, but did answer, "I... I think so."

Standing up, I said, "Good. I'll be in the shower, but I'll be quick."

The meeting today discussed what they found, and it was a lot more than I expected. There was also discussion about the modified spells, but the master only said it was an experiment suggested to him. They, again, reviewed all the possibilities suggested, and worked on a plan to determine if they existed, and what I would need to do to activate it. In the afternoon, we again went to the roof, and started working on telekinesis, as that seemed to have great potential. Within fifteen minutes, I learned how to activate the talisman's power to push, pull, and move. I also learned that I could handle two things at once, but they didn't appear to notice, so I didn't tell them.

Another aspect of the telekinesis was that I learned I could move myself as I levitated. It was here that the first big surprise occurred. As I slowly moved about floating, I was instructed to push the control a certain way, and suddenly, something happened to my arms. All we could see was long feathers coming out my sleeves past my hands. When I tried to take off my robe to free my arms, it failed due to the sleeves getting stuck. So I used another ability I had developed, and imagined I had a second pair of arms, and then I used those arms to cast the spell that sends my clothing back to my room.

Suddenly, I was naked, and all could see there were feathers on my arms. I spread them, and intermediately recognized the feathered aspect of the Isis seen with hieroglyphs. On a whim, I thought about flying forward slowly. Suddenly, I moved forward quickly. I thought to stop, and I stopped. I then turned around and levitated slowly over, until I was back where I began.

Later that day, they found I could use telekinesis to stop something from falling. Soon after, we could see its use as a shield. I was careful with this knowledge, so I made it move slowly, and only cover a small area, to imply that it wasn't that useful. The next day, we worked on the other aspects of the talisman, and learned I could create water. Again, I soft pedaled it, and said that since they didn't notice anything special, that we should move on. The last thing found was that there was some sort of healing power. That night, while meditating, I realized I could access the talisman's screen to hide the power, even as it was used. This let me hide the results of their testing.

Part of each day was spent with the telepath master. She and I would talk about, and explore my mental abilities. I would listen with a wide-open leak detection to catch all sorts of tidbits. She asked me to teach her how to whammie. Later, she asked about the leak detection I used, and helped me to make it better.

The next day, I was able to hide several other discoveries, and since they found nothing, they deemed they had found all they could. The day after, Master Zhāng escorted me back to Master Chang, and gave his report. One of the things I learned in my meditations was that the talisman allowed me to get a lot more out of my listening to leaks from other minds. I used it, and my new mental training, at that meeting to learn all I could from them. Master Zhāng left, and Master Chang said he had sent for Hugeng. He then turned the talk to the two modified spells I had given to Master Zhāng. When he learned I came up with the idea by just imagining the spell as it worked, he was shocked.

He was silent for nearly five minutes, before he said, "Follow me. I want to see you do something." As we left, he told Miss Lai, "We will be in my spell lab." She acknowledged him, and we went on. This turned out to be a tower, several stories higher than the nearby buildings. While stairs circled the inner wall of the hollow center of the tower, he directed me to a raised circular platform at the bottom of the hollow area. He activated it, and we rose past all the bracing, up the tower, and into a circle in the ceiling. Going through, we walked off, and the glowing disk dissipated. Off to the side were stairs up to the next floor, as well as a simple dorm setup, no doubt for resting while researching.

This floor was wide open, and wider than the space below. I recalled seeing several such towers that got twice as wide at the top. To one side was a desk, and plenty of papers. Nearby, were many things I didn't recognize, but gave me the impression of a magic laboratory. So, this was where he did his own research.

"Come, read this and show me the problem you see." He handed me a few pages of notes about a spell.

Secretly invoking Isis' talisman, I opened my mind to his leakage. I picked the pages up, and read them all. Asking a number of questions, about the new spell and what it was supposed to do, and how it was to do it, I then sat and meditated on it. I gained a lot of information from the leakage, and a lot was about how magic worked. While I knew some, I also learned a lot, as well. For the meditation, after invoking Inanna's power in magic, I focused on the effect desired, and started adding components from the spell in the notes I had been given. This let me see that two components were actually working against the desired effect. I then imagined the many spells that I knew of for ones that would contribute. I found five that could help, but there was some overlap. Then, I imagined what remained so that I could describe what still was needed.

I asked for a blank piece of paper to write my comments. There I mentioned the seven spells and their interactions, as well as what still needed to be added. "Here. I suspect you know the means to complete this spell, after you make the changes I mentioned."

He read my notes, and got a thoughtful look on his face. Going to the books on the shelf, he pulled out two. He opened the first, and flipped to a particular page, and passed me the book. "Read this spell, and tell me how it can help." As I read, he looked in the second book. By the time I was ready, he held a finger in the second book.

"This spell is better than some of the spells I suggested. And also reduces the unknown part you need."

He took the book, and handed me the other. "Add in this spell."

After reading it, I said, "Yes. I think the addition of this one will be sufficient to achieve what you need."

"Now for the final part. Can you write out the complete spell, as you see it?" He placed both books on the desk, open to the two spells, and also the papers he had first had me look at. Then he handed me blank paper.

"I will need to meditate a bit to do this. It could be a while."

"I can wait."

After filling the first page with a structural overview, I then began with the spell on the next page. I used the first page to set things in my mind so that I could hang the description on it. Once my mental map was done, I transcribed it onto paper, but I added notes explaining the stress points where near perfection was far more important. I also added warnings where errors could get hazardous. When I finished, I looked up, and said, "Here." Looking down, there were over twenty pages. He had only handed me five, so he must have handed me more as I needed it.

He picked up the stack, and began to read. Repeatedly, he looked briefly at me before going back to the spell. Writing a short note on another piece of paper, he cast a spell on it, and I understood he sent a message to someone. I gave him a look, and he said, "Test material." Twenty minutes later, Wáng arrived, out of breath, clearly from carrying the pair of bags up the stairs quickly. Master Chang gave him a few minutes to recover before he began giving orders to him. In one bag he had a pair of chickens, and the other had several geometric solids, and other fancy hollow shapes. He sent Wáng to the far side of the room, and told him to prepare to catch the objects. He then asked if I would toss the objects through the spell. I nodded, so he then cast the new spell.

Before him appeared a portal, and across the way a portal appeared to one side of Wáng. The master nodded, and I tossed a simple solid through. He asked Wáng if there was any deformation? There wasn't. I kept tossing objects through, and Wáng caught most. The only one damaged, was one he failed to catch. Master Chang let the spell go. He went over and examined all the objects, and even performed spells on them, before deciding the portal was working. He then sent Wáng to the floor below, and said to prepare to catch some chickens. Fortunately, their feet were tied, so they couldn't run around.

Wáng called out when he was in place. Master Chang cast the spell again, and I tossed a chicken through, aiming a little high. Since we could see each other, he was able to catch it. We could see the chicken had no more concern than any chicken that was tossed about. The portal did not make any difference. He then ended the spell. "Your turn."

"Huh? You want me to do this?"

"Yes. Let's see if your gift is that good."

Very well. So I stilled my mind, and used my life sense to locate Wáng, but from a different side than Master Chang used. I then cast the spell, with the near end by the master, and held it. I briefly nodded, and he picked up the other chicken. "Hey, Wáng. Over here. Good. Catch." He then tossed the other chicken. "Now toss it back at me." Wáng tossed it back, but it went low. I caused a small burst of wind to lift the chicken a little so that it didn't land hard. The portal seemed to waver briefly, but steadied. "Okay, now bring the other chicken back here, through the portal."

Wáng was immediately worried, but after screwing up his courage, came through with the chicken. "Good. Now put the chickens back in the bag." Turning back to me, he said, "Please drop the spell, and collect the objects please." So I dropped the spell. Wáng got wide eyed, and almost said something, but saw Master Chang was watching him. He chose to say nothing. When all was collected, he was to take the bags for examination by Master Huáng.

With him gone, Master Chang said, "I've been working on that spell for several years. There are similar spells, but the ability to be two way, and allowing the portals to be in any orientation is unique. You took my research, assimilated it, and finished it in hours. I now truly believe you made that gateway as quickly as you said. Let's go back down, and wait for Hugeng."

I followed him back down, using the magic platform, and we went back to his office. When we got there, we found Hugeng talking to Miss Lai. They saw us and Hugeng said, "So, did you solve the mysteries of the universe?"

I replied, "Two, actually. The one I came here for, and one for Master Chang."

Before he could reply, the master said, "I asked her advice on a project of my own. I now believe the timing you mentioned of her skill."

"How did that happen?"

"Join me for a glass of wine. You as well, miss." We followed him into his office, where he opened a hidden panel, and pulled out a bottle of wine. He placed it on his desk, then went to the open bar and grabbed a pair of expensive glasses and then put them on the desk before going back for a third. After searching for a bit, he grabbed a simple glass and came back to the desk, saying, "I can't find a matching one."

I reached for and picked up one of the glasses, and examined it closely, and set it back down. Then I concentrated and created a matching glass using Everest's power. I did leave a small difference at the base, where I placed my initials as tiny etched fancy letters. When I looked up, he snatched it and an original, and compared them.

"What kind of spell is this? The only difference is the initials."

Hugeng chuckled before saying, "That is priestly magic, not a spell."

"Oh? I've seen magic duplicate things before, but adding that subtle a difference, and in exquisite detail, is hard."

"She works hard at all she does. By now, that is not too complex for her."

"You've seen her do this before?"

"Several years ago. We were playing in my lake, and testing ourselves against each other. At one point, she suggested we dive for sunken treasure. I agreed, but then she created it. A small metal chest filled with minor value jewels. Later, I had them examined by a qualified jeweler. They were deemed real."

"There was no magic tell?"

"None that I could find. Becky Sue, could you make him two or three small jewels?" I concentrated, and then suddenly, a small ruby, a large piece of jade, and a large pearl were on the desk in front of him. Hugeng gave me a look, then said, "Please, examine these and let me know."

Looking at me, Master Chang asked, "Do you mind?"

"Actually, I would prefer you do all you can. If I am making fakes, I would rather know it."

That answer startled him, but he just started casting several spells. With my mind still open from before, I memorized his spells. "I find no trace of magic of any kind. It will be interesting to see their value."

"I think you will find them high quality."

"They look it."

"So, you mentioned you now believe in her speed?"

He poured himself a second glass, and gulped half of it down before answering. "I've been working on a variation of the short range portal for several years. I wanted to make it two way, and to make the ends be independently orientated."

"Not an easy spell to create. Much better than the standard one way version."

"I gave her my notes, and asked her to evaluate it and tell me. She told me where I had effects that hurt it, and some effects that would help, and what the missing effects that had to be added. I showed her some other spells with those effects and more, and she deemed it sufficient. I then had her write it down. After examining it- she has beautiful handwriting, by the way- I tried it. It worked. Then I gave it the standard tests, and it passed. I let her cast it for the last test, and she did. Then, since a certain student has been in trouble, again, I had him walk back through her portal. He didn't realize anything odd until I told her to let it go. He thought I was the one casting. As I said, I spent years on it, and in hours, she finished it. That level of speed is unnatural. Master Zhāng has a similar appreciation of her skill. He told me she was likely hiding something during the testing, and there should have been more found, but she is good at being 'innocent' of doing wrong."

"I did warn her about exposing what she can do."

"Oh? You think someone will try to challenge her?"

"Several have. More would if they knew what she can do. Please ask Master Zhāng to say little to nothing about her. Too many power-hungry types would rise up against her, trying to enslave or control her. They will likely fail, but the damage that occurs as they try, will likely be bad for everyone. Like me, she cares for the little people that lack power, and wants to protect them."

"... And the best way is to not be challenged. I agree. Is she really that good?"

"She can take me."

"What?"

"In our first true sparring, she hit me with a large bolt of lightning. It was clear she could do it again, repeatedly. I stopped the session then, knowing she would win if she did that."

"You can protect yourself from mage bolts."

"It wasn't that kind. It was from the storm above us. And she clearly aimed it at me."

"You're right. That's a lot more powerful."

I asked, "Hugeng, do you trust him to know who I took down?"

Hugeng looked at me, and thought, then said, "Yes."

"Have you heard of a lady mage called the Demon Hand?" He nodded. "She is now dead, and I have her library."

His jaw dropped. Hugeng said, "I can confirm that."

"Hugeng, you said I didn't need to be afraid of her. You are wrong. She is scary good."

"I know. But you are not evil, and so need not be concerned. She is competitive, and a perfectionist, but not one hungry for power. Her language tutor left, defeated, after about a year when he thought it would take at least five to teach her."

"To think I sent her walking with a minimal escort to the other school. Who knows what damage she could have done with her magic."

"She wouldn't have used magic on others. She can also take me on a physical level. She is merciful enough that they would most likely be left bruised and broken, but alive to learn better."

"Well, I'll send her stuff to you. It will be quiet without her. Apparently, several people have learned what it means to tangle with a priestess of a sex goddess."

"Oh?"

I said, "A number of them wanted to watch telepathically. I allowed them to, but apparently, it was a bit too much for them."

Hugeng gave a full-belly laugh before settling down and saying, "You'll have to tell me all about it." Standing up, he turned to the master and said, "Thank you, Master Chang. For everything."

I, too, stood, bowed, and said, "Thank you, wise master. I have learned much from you and yours."

On the way out of town, Hugeng asked me, "When did you add pearls to the jewels?"

"That would be courtesy of Aja. Her magic allows me to create organics. Wood has been far more useful for me."

"Interesting. Shall we return directly, or stay overnight here?"

"Actually, I thought to make a brief stop at my place to show you my notes on the portal."

"Very well. But the nearest gate to your home is in Egypt. Sure you want to do that?"

"Actually, that might help me test a theory I have about my new talisman."

"Oh?"

"It's a surprise. Let's go. But I want to change outfits before going through."

"Very well. We'll stop at my place for you to change, then head to the portal."

As I changed, Hugeng taught me how to recognize the public portals here, and how to use them. He even had me control the one we used. We arrived in Cairo, in an oriental bathhouse. I was in current Egyptian garb, but with a sleeveless outfit. It was evening, and I first took Jiao-long, as he is called here, to a place where I could buy a geographic map of Egypt.

"Why the map and flashlights?"

"I don't know this part of the world well enough, so I need something to navigate by. Now, let's go out of town, where we won't be seen."

As we traveled, Jiao-long tried to get me to tell him, but I stayed quiet. Finally, I was satisfied. "Now, for the big reveal. First, a little camouflage." I created a small grove of trees between us and the city. "It's dark enough now, that a flashlight will be useful."