Erage #7 Xi Cì 喜刺

Untoltelage was leading the kids through the woods in search of his precious artifacts that store multiple lifetimes worth of magic. He knows that it is somewhere to the north. He passes tree after tree under the canopy of this forest. He can’t shake the feeling that he is being watched. But he doesn’t see anyone. Every once in a while, he will hear a rustling of leaves. He looks to see what caused the movement and noise, but there is nothing there.

So he isn’t taken by surprise when he is attacked large, beautiful, colorful bird that looks sort of like a chicken but black and blue with a massive green fan-like tail that looks like it is covered in big blue eyes. It looks like it is too big to fly, but Untoltelage knows that it can.

It jumps from its perch in the branch of above Untoltelage. But something so big and clumsy has difficulty moving silently. Untoltelage hears its talons scrape the branch as it positions itself to jump off.

It dives down towards Untoltelage with talons outstretched beneath it. Untoltelage instinctively throws the seeds in his hand up at the bird. The seeds sprout vines that entangle the bird. At the same time as the vines sprout from the seeds, the bird begins to grow larger and become less bird-like.

Shapeshifter, Untoltelage thinks to himself. Untoltelage thinks he might know who this shapeshifter is.

The vines squeeze around the shapeshifter and contract inwards against the creature, forcing it to stop changing form and return to its fowl-form.

If this is who Untoltelage suspects that it might be, then he has only a few seconds before this bird breaks free and kills them all. Making assumptions tends to get people killed in Erage. But in some cases, assumptions are all you have to work off of. So here it goes, Untoltelage assumes that this bird is who he thinks it is.

Untoltelage pulls some seeds out of his pockets and spreads open his hand, palm facing upwards with the seeds on top.

“Seeds to vines. That is my signature move.” Untoltelage says, “You seem very familiar. I think I know you from somewhere, but I don’t know anyone who has the signature move of stalking a group of children for weeks before ambushing them by dropping on them from above in the form of a peacock.”

The cocks it head. Well, it tries to. The restraining vines restrict its movement too much to allow any movement of its head. The shapeshifter is beginning to look like it might try to talk instead of fight, but it gets too frustrated by the vines limiting its movement.

That is Untoltelage’s mistake. If this truly is who he thinks it is, the restraining vines do not have much effect in incapacitation. And this bird does not like to be caged.

The bird squawks angrily and it spreads its wings which have become as sharp blades, cutting through the restraining vines. It flaps its wings to rise into the air towards Untoltelage. Once about five to six feet off the ground, the peacock grows rapidly into a human. But despite being a peacock, a male peafowl, it transforms into a human woman. She looks like she might be in her forties or fifties. Untoltelage doesn’t really know, it’s always hard to judge the age of people in Erage because they take every effort to make themselves look younger because that makes enemies underestimate them.

So when Untoltelage says that she looks like she is forty or fifty, he means she looks she is in her twenties and in now way older than thirty years. But that is what she looks like. Her appearance. And looks can be deceiving, especially with shapeshifters.

“I’m Untoltelage!” Untoltelage says loudly and quickly, “Please, tell me that your name is Shee-Shee.” Untoltelage mispronounced her name. He can’t discern the difference between her first and second name. So he just says “Shee-Shee.” She doesn’t like it when he mispronounces her name. So Untoltelage rarely calls her by name.

The woman is a few feet above the ground from her brief flight as a bird. She is falling downwards. She points her legs in a kick to land on Untoltelage and drop him to the ground.

Untoltelage, of course, didn’t actually finish his words to her before she knocked him to the ground. He says it as he is falling backwards to the ground.

Untoltelage lands on the ground face up, with the woman standing on his chest. Feathers form into blades in her hands. She wields two long, straight, sharp blades. They look like metal, but they were feathers just a few seconds ago. Untoltelage never figured out whether her swords were feathers that looked like metal or metal that she transmuted into metal.

Transmutation may be less costly than conjuration, but it is still incredibly costly by Untoltelage’s standards. Based on everything that Untoltelage has seen so far, he is certain that this woman is indeed the one he calls “Shee-Shee.” But he fears that she is too caught up in the moment to realize that he is her friend.

She thrusts her two blades into Untoltelage, piercing all the way through and into the ground. She smiles and steps off of Untoltelage, leaving him pinned to the ground with two thin long blades, one through each of his arms, sticking him to the ground.

“Shee-Shee, you recognize me, right?” Untoltelage asks. The woman is still smiling. This isn’t necessarily a good thing. Like most everyone in Erage, Untoltelage’s friend finds wicked joy in killing. Untoltelage is hoping that she is just pranking him by pretending to not remember who he is and pretending like she is going to kill him. It wouldn’t be the first time, either. She kind has a thing for pranks involving threatening or pretending to kill him. Sometimes, these pranks go too far and Untoltelage needs to waste all of his body-enhancing magic to heal his fatal wounds.

“Shee-Shee, this isn’t funny.” Untoltelage says. He isn’t really paying attention to what he is saying. He is simply hoping that if he keeps talking to her and saying her name, that she will break out of the trance she sometimes enters when she goes killing.

The kids don’t really know what to do. They had begun to think that Untoltelage couldn’t die. A similar confidence in his ability that most every resident of Erage has of their own abilities. Most people think it impossible for them to die.

It is now, with Untoltelage pinned on the ground, begging for his life that the kids begin to feel fear again. A short-term paralysis as they are shocked by this new reality that they hadn’t considered. They live in a world in which Untoltelage can die.

But they don’t just stand there forever. They may not have much magic or experience in using it, especially in combat. But they have seen Untoltelage fight in many battles. Kekister tries to imitate Untoltelage’s restraining vines, but he doesn’t have any seeds. So he picks up some grass, thinking that that would be enough. And it would be enough, if he was Untoltelage. But Kekister isn’t as experienced as Untoltelage. The grass simply grows longer in his hand, not wider, thicker, and stronger. This waste of an effort expends all of his plant magic.

Hyethra taps Jostahim and Quastiffany to pull them out of their stupors and quickly whispers a plan to them. The plan is to free Untoltelage from being pinned to the ground because Hyethra knows that they cannot even attempt to harm the woman.

Hyethra doesn’t know that the woman can hear her. But that doesn’t really change anything. They’re just trying to free Untoltelage. Well, that’s part that Hyethra told them. She hadn’t actually thought about her part. But as Jostahim pulls an unresponsive Quastiffany towards where Untoltelage is lying on the ground, Hyethra realizes that the woman won’t simply let them release Untoltelage. A part of Hyethra wonder why the woman hasn’t killed Untoltelage yet. Surely, she would have at least tried to kill him by now, right?

Kekister tries another one of Untolelage’s tricks. He doesn’t have any more plant magic, so he tries to make a duplicate of himself using smoke which he fuels with fire and air magic. But instead of an smoky illusion that enemies could mistake for him, he makes a cloud of smoke that is vaguely humanoid in shape. He can maintain the smoky figure for maybe a minute if he doesn’t do anything else with it. But he moves the smoky figure to pass the woman in an attempt to distract. Surprisingly, this works. The woman steps backwards so that she can keep everyone within her line of sight, including the smoky figure. But the smoky figure dissipates because moving the figure increased the cost of maintaining it.

Untoltelage almost laughs. The only reason that the smoky figure caused even a momentary distraction is because residents of Erage are incredibly paranoid and know to never underestimate their enemy. Which means they given undo attention to all of their enemies actions even if they seem incompetent or meaningless.

Jostahim grabs the handle of one of the blades that impales one of Untoltelage’s arms. He pulls but he can’t get it out of his arm. So he stands on his arm while pulling and the sword slowly starts sliding out. Quastiffany just stands there, looking at the other blade, the one Jostahim told her to remove.

The woman sees that Jostahim and Quastiffany are touching her swords. Well, Quastiffany isn’t touching it yet, but “Shee-Shee” isn’t going to give her the chance. Angry, she sprints towards them, despite being only a few feet away to begin with. This recklessness is what allows Hyethra to trip her. Hyethra doesn’t really try to trip her. She is just driven to action when and reacts without thinking when she sees then woman charging at her friends.

She tackles the woman. But Hyethra is only nine-years old and “Shee-Shee” is an adult. So Hyethra isn’t even as tall as her waist.

Untoltelage believes that “Shee-Shee” is just toying with him now. He just hopes that it’s more of a “Ha ha, I pranked you!” Playful behavior, and not the “I am play with my food before I eat it.” Type of play.

He doesn’t actually think that she will eat him. But, it wouldn’t be the first time she fed as a cannibal, either, so who knows. Either way, Untoltelage doesn’t think he is any immediate danger. Well, he thought that until Jostahim started pulling on one of “Shee-Shee’s” blades, and Quastiffany stood there looking like she was contemplating doing the same. Untoltelage isn’t sure that “Shee-Shee” would let those two live for such a breach of privacy even if she did recognize Untoltelage as her friend.

It’s funny. “Shee-Shee” considers her swords to be part of her personal space even though she places them in the personal space of others when she impales them. She considers her blades to be a very personal part of herself, possibly because they are formed from her feathers. So she doesn’t use her blades in combat except with people that she is familiar with. It can actually be seen as an indicator of her relationship with a person. The more comfortable or familiar she is with someone, the more she uses her swords in battle against them.

She won’t use her swords in a battle with a stranger.

While in a battle with someone she has met a few times, it is unlikely that she will use her blades. But if she does, she will absorb her blades into herself as feathers before she gets anywhere close to her opponent.

While in battle with someone she has fought on multiple occasions, she may use her blades in combat. However, it is rare that she ever harms anyone with her blades.

In fact, no matter how familiar she is with someone, it is unlikely that she will draw blood with her blades. She would have to be in a close relationship before she shares something as personal as her swords in physical contact. It’s really strange. It’s like she considers her swords and their use violence as sacred and personal.

So why is Untoltelage impaled by her blades? Well, it is a good sign. It means that she probably recognizes him. That, or she is so full of bloodlust that she has lost nearly all reasoning and even abandoned her own nonsensical customs and traditions. Untoltelage prefers to believe that such a dangerous circumstance is not the case. And it likely isn’t the case since he isn’t dead.

But still, how close of a friend is Untoltelage to “Shee-Shee'' that she would pierce him with her blades? Well, she definitely considers them to be closer than Untoltelage believes to be the case. It comes from how she feels euphoria upon killing someone. Killing is a drug to her. So when she previously killed Untoltelage, “Shee-Shee” felt such joy that she thought that they must have some sort of connection.

Untoltelage is not sure how he feels about “Shee-Shee” only being friends with Untoltelage because she killed him. But so far, the only times that “Shee-Shee” has killed him since that first time is in pranks gone wrong. She always apologizes after killing him, and Untoltelage certainly prefers to believe that she killed him by accident. But how can she kill him by accident five times? He still gives her the benefit of the doubt simply because he knows what it feels like to lose control. Most everyone in Erage should be familiar with this loss of control. They are all insane. Though Untoltelage thinks that “Shee-Shee” may be more insane than most.

Jostahim finishes pulling the first blade out of Untoltelage’s arm. He turns to pull the second sword out and sees that Quastiffany is still just standing there.

“Quastiffany, hurry!” Jostahim says, gesturing at the sword.

Quastiffany nods slowly. Jostahim grabs the sword by the hilt. And starts pulling. This time, Quastiffany helps too. With both of them pulling, they remove the sword before “Shee-Shee” gets stands back up.

Untoltelage is now free. He’s not sure if there is anything he can in this situation. He is only a child after all. And he doesn’t want to hurt his friend. There must be some way to calm her down. He has an idea. It won’t calm her down, but it should definitely distract her from any anger she has towards Jostahim and Quastiffany for touching her weapons.

Untoltelage picks up the swords. They’re slippery. No wonder Jostahim had such a hard time getting them out of his arms. They don’t really have proper handle grips. The “handle” is really just the stem of the feather. There is no true hilt. The feather just erupts out of the stem of the sword.

Untoltelage holds one sword in each hand. They are heavier than he thought they would be. It is difficult for him to carry them. Even as an adult, “Shee-Shee” must be using body-enhancing magic or shape shifting magic in order to wield these weapon as on in each hand.

As “Shee-Shee crawls back onto her feet, Untoltelage slams her swords into her belly. For some, this might have been a fatal wound. But for someone who specializes in body-enhancing and shapeshifting magic, such a wouldn’t be the least bit concerning.

But it is not the wound that Untoltelage hopes will distract her. Untoltelage is counting on some interaction with a reverse role of him wielding “Shee-Shee’s” swords to cut into her, instead of the other way around, will give her pause enough to start acting rationally. Or it might excite her into a bloodlust and kill them all. But what other options does he really have?

Untoltelage doesn’t really know how “Shee-Shee” will react to being impaled by her sacred swords. He watches for what she does. “Shee-Shee” absorbs the swords into her wounds as he often obsorbs her swords when they are not in use. It’s kind of anti-climatic. Untoltelage can’t help but feel disappointed by such a tame reaction.

“Shee-Shee” stares at Untoltelage with an expression of shock. The metal swords brighten into blue and green feathers, which melt into her wounds, filling them. Untoltelage should have expected her to absorb the swords.

“Untoltelage? You’re back?” She asks, “I… I was a little distracted.”

“Didn’t you recognize me?” Untoltelage asks. He fears what it would mean if she didn’t recognize him. What would have to be wrong with her to treat him as she did when she thinks that he is a stranger.”

“I… I did recognize you… I think.” She says, struggling to remember, “I was a little, um, distracted. I didn’t really think through the implications of who you were.”

The woman turns to look at the rest of the children, then back at Untoltelage.

“Who are these, Untoltelage?” She asks, “Are these your apprentices?” That was a joke. She knows Untoltelage doesn’t take apprentices and the practice of taking apprentices is an unnecessary and terrible risk.

“Well, yes. I know, it’s very unlike me to take in apprentices.” Untoltelage says.

“Wow, a lot has changed about you since I last saw you a decade ago.” She says.

Untoltelage doesn’t want the kids to think about the implications of “Shee-Shee” having last seen him, a nine-year old, a decade ago.

“Um, let me introduce my apprentices to you, Shee-Shee.” Untoltelage says.

“You still can’t get my name right.” The woman says, “It’s Xi Cì, not ‘Shee-Shee.’”

“Yeah, well. Maybe my apprentices will learn to say that, but I have tried for so long and still haven’t gotten it down.” Untoltelage says, “These are my apprentices: that girl is Hyethra, she is kind of like the leader of these kids when I’m not around; that boy is Kekister, he is an ambitious learner and seeks to master shapeshifting sort of like you; that girl is Quastiffany, she is sort of dead inside, she doesn’t really do much or respond to anything we do or say; finally, we have that boy, Jostahim, he isn’t very keen on learning magic, but I have often found him more effective in getting any given result than the rest of the kids despite himself lack of magic use.”

“You two aren’t fighting?” Kekister asks.

“No, we usually don’t fight if we can remember not to.” Untoltelage says.

“Yeah, Untoltelage is my friend.” Xi Cì says, “I wouldn’t want to hurt him.”

“I’m having trouble imagining how Untoltelage can have any friends.” Hyethra says, “He kills everyone he meets.”

“That is why I’m surprised that he not only has apprentices, but that they are children and not dead.” Xi Cì says.

“Yeah, it was really weird. There was a city and…” Untoltelage begins to say. How much should he tell Xi Cì? She doesn’t really want her to go to the city out of curiosity, or for any other reason. She just can’t go there or there will be serious problems. It’s not just that Xi Cì is a serial killer like everyone else in Erage. The problem is more severe than simple insanity. It’s not even that the city military will likely kill outsiders on sight. The problem has more to do with how Xi Cì treated Untoltelage and his group of children.

She followed them, hiding in the shadows, for weeks. Then she had attacked him. None of that is particularly dangerous or even strange. What is worrisome is that Xi Cì recognized him as Untoltelage. He wonders if she knew ever since she started watching them from the shadows or if she only figured it out after combat started. Either way, she continued to fight. She had lost control of herself again. It is this loss of control which is the reason that Untoltelage doesn’t want Xi Cì to ever go to that city.

The kids shift uncomfortably when Untoltelage suddenly stops talking in the middle of a sentence. They don’t like seeing signs of Untoltelage’s insanity. Untoleltelage doesn’t think this is due to his broken mind this time. He simply had said too much and didn’t want to give anymore information to Xi Cì or she might find the city. Luckily, his failing mind acts as a good excuse for why he would act so strange when discussing the city.

“Ha ha! A city? You don’t really expect me to believe that, do you?” Xi Cì says, “Erage hasn’t had a true city in… I don’t even know how long.”