The process of extracting her memories was actually much more smooth than DerekÆs Perhaps because of how solid and uniform DerekÆs psyche was he possessed less of that necessary and valuable emotional weight that fueled the images Whatever had just happened to HydieÆs image proved that she had that emotional weight in droves even if she couldnÆt mobilize it yet
She possessed enough emotional weight Randidly reflected that she could probably refine herself a drop of liquid Aether If someone taught her about the process and how to do it of course But he let that thought lay for a while as Hydie donated her memory
Congratulations Your Fatepiece Dreamcatcher of the Long Night has grown to Level 82
Randidly pulled back his Dreamcatcher of the Long Night and wrapped it around his wrist Although the texture of the rope was familiar it certainly felt slightly more weighty after the recent additions Thank you I have a feeling that this will be very useful Due to your contributions IÆll arrange for the two of you to be part of the ten people inducted truly into the Order Ducis Thank you for your support
Then Randidly left moving before either of those two could react to the news Despite his kind words his sudden departure was purposeful in order to give them some space to react honestly without his presence As he walked out of the Kharon police office and back into the sunlight he felt both of their emotions permeate their images in very obvious ways In neither of their responses did he detect anything suspicious
Humming to himself Randidly sent a message to Neveah about a new Engraving he wanted to try making and then focused his attention on the Dreamcatcher Immediately as his perception went into that place filled with echoing chimes Randidly realized why the process had been so exhausting He didnÆt just take a single memory from the two newest memories of the Order Ducis he took a whole web of memories
The soundscape gleamed and echoed with new sounds around his surprised consciousness
Narrowing his eyes Randidly began to explore his adjusted Fatepiece The memories were there but Randidly could sense that it would be extremely difficult for him to visit them if he had no connection to the scenes The rapid pace at which his mental energy was consumed would be even more egregious if he tried to view anotherÆs memories As such he would only sparingly be able to dig into these twoÆs past
But this also set Randidly to thinking about his insight from before this Fatepiece wasnÆt the same as the Philosopher’s Key He had thought it was a simple tool that let him visit the past But the fact that it could take the memories of others and incorporate them
Well that meant he would need to obtain memories that he shared with another and experiment with how possessing both affected the chimescape
For the moment however RandidlyÆs mind turned in a different direction To a batch of memories he had been meaning to get around to but that he had kept pushing away It was time to view the movie left for him by Yystrix
Sydney released a sharp breath and rapped her knuckles against the door Several large crows sat in the surrounding trees watching her with beady eyes as the sleet continued to slant sideways down and plaster her hair to her skull The chilling rain seemed to skid off the crows’ feathers and leave them completely dry
Sydney knocked with more force almost wishing these strange crows would attack her Yet within the house the only response that Sydney sensed was silence
All in all she was in a very bad mood On the one hand she somehow felt that maintaining this general state of irritation would fare her very well in the near future the momentum of her emotions would make the hard acts she planned on undertaking tonight much easier But on the other hand
My underwear is soaked A very sour Sydney reflected My elemental means IÆm basically immune to the cold but in the face of precipitation
She was irrevocably damp The sort of damp that seems impossible to escape when you are in the thick of it Sydney knocked again on the door with enough force that the wood groaned Is anyone home IÆm going to come in if I donÆt receive an answer
There was no forthcoming answer which was exactly the sort of ambiguous answer that a woman with cold and wet clothes did not appreciate SydneyÆs eyes sharpened at the quaint wooden door in front of her as though she could will her eyes to penetrate through the material in front of her and reveal the innards of this place But her determined attempt was for naught
This house had been built by someone capable Not only were the materials solid enough to withstand the casual use of a System empowered human but there was a hint of an image at the edges of this construction Not enough that Sydney could sense who made it but enough that her senses couldnÆt easily reach the interior of the house
How is it even possible Do images really work like this Sydney bit the soft flesh on the inside of her cheeks to expend some of her mounting fury Her emotions were like a train slated for decommissioning rushing for the end of their tracks Too late to turn back now She knocked again and waited a few seconds There was no answer
Sydney considered simply using her image to rip the faint presence on these walls to shreds but the train wasnÆt off the tracks quite yet On the off chance that this was the wrong house she didnÆt wish to have an awkward conversation with the owner after she had eradicated that defensive image Sydney imagined it would be very useful against monsters
But would a person powerful enough to do this with an image need to worry about monsters
So instead she gritted her teeth pushed her dripping hair out of her eyes and seized the heavy copper handle of the door When she twisted the door opened easily and Sydney was able to step into the small hut
The door closed behind her and immediately the ceaseless rustle of raindrops bursting on the ground was muted by that same image that had stymied her This place was isolated from the outside world The weight of the water that she carried in with her slowly dripped down SydneyÆs limbs and off her onto the floor Her eyes were sharp as they landed at the figure sitting at the table regarding her with a small smile
You were inside the entire time Sydney said Why didnÆt you answer
Neveah shook her head I was very afraid of this conversation I couldnÆt muster up the strength to answer It turns out IÆm something of a coward
Sydney flicked her hand and unleashed a wave of cold across her body The moisture on her turned to frost and her elemental pulled it off her person and pressed it into a human head sized chunk of ice Then Sydney flexed her hand and destroyed the ice sending frozen chips across the interior of the cabin You also didnÆt lock the door
To this Neveah inclined her head I donÆt think I could bear to support this secret on my own any longer I was torn
NeveahÆs response confused Sydney but she quickly pulled her attention away from that so she didnÆt get distracted The train tracks were ending soon The conductor on her emotion train was throwing the last of his coal into the engine causing the overstrained behemoth to accelerate toward its demise Her shoulders trembled as she considered the individual in front of her
Sydney cleared her throat It was very loud compared to the silence of the room and the pattering of rain outside Where is he
Neveah pointed to a chair opposite her at the table Take a seat
Almost subconsciously Sydney chilled the interior of the cabin with a flash of hatred DrakeÆs unconscious face flashed before her mindÆs eye She recognized the folded clothes in a corner next to a desk as RoyÆs IÆm very surprised that you of all people would protect him Is Randidly behind this If you think I wonÆt fight you two
Neveah rolled her eyes She didnÆt speak however just pointed
Sydney forcefully reigned in her irritation although she couldnÆt prevent the tightening of the muscles along her jaw But she followed NeveahÆs finger and saw a piece of paper With slow steps Sydney walked up to the table It was a letter She immediately recognized the handwriting as RoyÆs