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Wearing Power Armor to a Magic School (118/?)
🕑 Added 2025-02-23 16:45:22 +0000 UTCGrand Concourse of Learning. Betreyan’s Hall. Local Time: 1645 Hours.
Emma
I really couldn’t blame Qiv nor Vanavan for this dual-pronged ambush.
If anything, I would’ve done the same if I was in their shoes.
In fact, I’d even go so far as to say that this was one of the few times I could objectively see myself as the villain in their stories.
Because as much as I could attempt to justify it, this victory and comeback was definitely the furthest away you could get from academic integrity.
A fact that bore little on my conscience as a mission commander, scouting operative, and forward diplomat… but one that definitely made me feel a bit antsy as a ‘student’.
[TASK COMPLETE: SPEECH-TO-TEXT DICTATION IN HIGH NEXIAN FROM SUBJECT ‘PROFESSOR VANAVAN’.]
VIs weren’t explicitly forbidden from academia. However, their role was always to act as an aid rather than a full-blown replacement to the whole academic process. Having your essay completely generated by a VI, sorta defeated the purpose of actually writing it in the first place after all. The so-called Academic-Integrity Crises of the mid 21st, early 22nd, and late 23rd centuries was enough to hammer home that message. And it was from those crises that the contemporary relationship between VI and student was formed, and more or less drilled into our conscience from day one of primary school.
Though it was important to note that those reforms weren’t one-sided.
The fact that there were two-whole repeats of the crisis following the first student-centric reforms, demonstrated that both parties — institutions included — needed change, if only to finally adapt with the times.
It was… a messy process.
But such was the case with much of early intrasolar contemporary history.
With all that being said though, I could rationalize the iffiness of the whole ‘blackboard incident’ easily enough.
I had delegated homework away after all
So the whole ‘blackboard’ debacle could be reasoned away as an extension of that.
And perhaps a show of cultural respect on the part of the diplomat in me too.
Finally, the Academy itself had shown itself to be not too forthcoming on the whole fairness thing on their end.
So why should I play by the rules they so clearly ignored?
…
Good faith. I thought to myself.
Though once again, that was the optimist and idealist in me talking.
An aspect of myself that even the SIOP instructors back home told me not to lose, but merely to circumvent whenever advantageous.
There’s a time and a place for everything. Sometimes, you need to adapt. But adaptation doesn’t mean completely abandoning your principles.
“Affirmative. Give me my hands back, EVI.”
“Acknowledged.”
My hands, thankfully, weren’t actually forced to go through the insane gymnastics that were required of rapid-fire Nexian calligraphy.
If anything, I could visibly feel the oncoming cramps that would’ve come from moving one’s wrist, palm, and fingers at such breakneck speeds and insane angles.
I would’ve probably sprained something in my hand if it was physically inside the confines of the suit’s multi-modal manual manipulators (the MMMM, or Exo-Dex’s for short).
With the suit being a good few sizes bigger than I was on the inside, this meant my hands weren’t really where they were supposed to be.
Which was a feature rather than a bug, as any T-SEC and LREF astro-pathfinder could tell you.
This was because the hands — the first and most important ‘interface’ between a person and their environment — were also the most prone to injury and damage because of it.
While this meant maiming or serious injury in industrial applications… it was a whole other ballgame when you were dealing with work that actually required hermetically-sealed micro-environments.
An accident or incident that involved an injury of the hands, automatically carried with it the risk of compromising the suit’s hermetic seal.
Which while already horrifying in the vacuum of space… meant assured death in the mana-rich environment of the Nexus.
All of this was to say that our years of designing both civilian exo-suits and military power armor, was now really paying off.
As the design philosophies and methods garnered from lessons written in blood within the vacuum of space, were now being applied to the E-ARRS project.
A fact that meant lots of training to become used to a set of ‘hands’ that weren’t my own, but also guaranteed a degree of safety when it came to unexpected hand-related accidents.
Or in this case, meant that the EVI could just go to town when it came to its fast-paced movements, which would have otherwise been impossible if my hands had been inside of the Exo-Dex’s.
But while my hands and conscience were both unharmed… I didn’t really have a plan for the social game I’d inadvertently just won following the whole blackboard debacle.
Especially as Vanavan turned to me with that dreaded smile—
“Fifty points! To Cadet Emma Booker’s peer group!”
—and the points game I desperately wanted to avoid.
Though thankfully…
TOO-TOO-TOOOOT!
I wouldn’t need to entertain the classroom social games any further.
As the end-of-period marching band came in at the nick of time, saving me from the much-dreaded flurry of questions that was sure to follow Qiv’s little gambit.
So with a quick nod towards Vanavan, and a few fast stomps up the lecture hall’s stairs, I was once again off.
With the gang in tow, we enjoyed the fruits of my recent point accumulation, leaving as the seventh group and more or less booking it back to the dorms.
=====
Dragon’s Heart Tower, Level 23, Residence 30, Living Room. Local Time: 1700 Hours.
Emma
All eyes… were once again on me.
Though thankfully, the topic at hand was one that had already been addressed, several weeks ago by the library in fact.
“The exact verbiage used by the library eludes me.” Thalmin began, prompting Thacea to quickly chime in.
“A living, breathing, dynamic system of mathematics is what the owl observed.” She spoke, crossing her arms regally in the process.
“I would say I am surprised this applies not only to speech, but to the written word as well.” Ilunor continued, pinching the bridge of his snout in the process. “However, at this point, surprise tends to be a foregone conclusion in matters pertaining to you and your earthrealm tricks.”
However, unlike the dressing down I received during last week’s point-accruing incidents, Thalmin instead led the charge with an ear-to-ear grin, as he smacked my back hard.
“Now that’s the spirit, Emma!” He began, cackling hard as he continued to shake my shoulder to and fro. “If the Nexus wishes to issue impossible tasks to newrealmers, with the intent to watch them fumble and falter at the altar of public humiliation… then so be it! Take them to said altar, and then wield their precious High Nexian in ways that they can only hope to mimic only a fraction of! Or better yet, one-up them at their own game! Flip the tables not just by meeting them at their impossible demands… but instead, humiliate them at their own twisted games!”
The lupinor took a moment to compose himself, before continuing on with a few rapid fire words of affirmation. “You’ve just made the spirits of countless newrealmer candidates very happy today, Emma.”
I could physically feel the zeal of satisfaction emanating from the wolf.
Moreover, I could actually get where he was coming from.
“You know what makes this better, Thalmin?” I shot back, eliciting a cock of the lupinor’s head. “The fact that all of this is being done without an ounce of effort on my end, through a manaless artifice feeding off of their language, and regurgitating it back to them with rules I don’t even need to touch.”
Despite the faceplate in the way, I felt that we actually connected for a moment there, with two grins being exchanged, and a solid warrior’s handshake following soon after; pulling each other’s chests together in a solid thump of sheer satisfaction.
This brotherly camaraderie continued on for a solid few more minutes, with much Nexian dissing being thrown left and right, much to Ilunor’s chagrin and Thacea’s aloofness.
The conversation continued for so long that the EVI had to finally step in, revealing the rest of the tasks we had remaining.
So with one more tired laugh from my end, I eventually turned to the now-snacking Ilunor, and homework-busy Thacea. “Right, so, I’m planning on just approaching Larial this evening after dinner. Does that sound good?”
“Anything is acceptable so long as we finish this incessant treasure hunt at the insistence of the library.”
“Okay so, since I have forty-five minutes before dinner starts, I think I’m gonna head out to stretch my legs a bit.” I announced, getting up from the couch, and heading first thing towards the door.
“May I ask where you’re going, Emma?” Thacea finally chimed in, her eyes narrowing, locking onto my lenses.
“Oh, I’m just visiting a certain someone who I think needs the company.” I began cryptically. “Speaking of which… I don’t suppose you happen to have, like, novels and stuff lying around that I can borrow?”
=====
Healing Wing. Rila’s Room. Local Time: 1730 Hours.
Emma
To say I felt conflicted about coming here would be an understatement.
Part of me felt like I was a walking disaster magnet.
Which made me doubt if even involving myself with Rila was the best way forward.
But despite the self-doubt, and the plethora of reasons why I shouldn’t involve myself anymore… I felt like I at least owed it to her to make her life just a little bit better.
After all, she wouldn’t even be in this awkward position if it wasn’t for my meddling.
Whether that would’ve been for the better or worse, I couldn’t say.
Whatever the case was, I knew I had to make it right by her.
So here I was, entering the same room as on that hectic house-choosing ceremony day.
Except this time, I didn’t come empty handed.
I had books, food, and a whole host of treats in store courtesy of my student privileges.
Privileges, which I intended on showering Rila with.
“Hiya!” I began, setting just about everything on one of the overly-ornate side tables with a thunderous THUD! “How’re you holding up?”
This… coupled with my sudden and abrupt arrival, seemed enough to startle Rila out of her daydream stupor. The red-haired elf’s eyes growing wide at my arrival, her mouth hanging agape, probably too stunned to speak.
“Er, sorry, I thought you were already awake.” I apologized awkwardly.
“I-it’s nothing to apologize for, Cadet Emma Booker.”
“Hey, didn’t I tell you to drop the title and last name?” I countered insistently, as I began pouring out both tea and some mystery fizzy water, as well as grabbing all of the sweet treats I’d requisitioned from Ilunor moments earlier.
“Ah, yes, just ‘Emma’.” Rila replied with a nod, her eyes growing wide at the veritable feast coming her way.
“Are those—”
“Yup! I got these on recommendation from a certain noble foodie. Or, shall I say, I kinda took the liberty of just grabbing them from under his nose.” I cut the former apprentice off cheekily, garnering a look of grave concern that was only rivalled by the sheer dread on her face on the night of the warehouse explosion.
“If you’re worried about me being reprimanded by the aforementioned Nexian noble, then don’t be! Let’s just say I have him on a tight leash.” I preemptively addressed Rila’s concerns with a wink, translating this to a cock of my head and some wild hand gestures.
This… seemed to do little to calm the former trade apprentice’s nerves however, which prompted me to simply set the breakfast-in-bed tray in front of her, following it up with some more words of encouragement.
“Seriously, don’t worry about it, Rila. I’m starting to gain a grip on things here, and the noble in question is just a friend from my peer group, so don’t sweat it. Besides, considering everything that’s happened… I for one am willing to go above and beyond to make your stay here as comfortable as—”
“W-why?” She muttered out, cutting me off just as I was about to finish.
“Hmm? Why what?”
“Why… are you being so… accommodating?”
“Well… for starters, you’re one of the few people I’ve actually started a pretty decent rapport with here, and I was hoping we could be friends, or least, acquaintances. Either way, human hospitality goes a long way with people we find to be amenable.” I paused, before pulling in closer, cupping a hand next to where my mouth should’ve been. “Trust me on this one, we can go to huge lengths to shower the people we like with stuff that we hope they like.” I spoke cheerily, before returning to my usual stance. “Or at least, that’s how it is in my small niche of human culture.” I continued with a reassuring smile, before going down the inevitable pipeline to the more… somber answer.
“And secondly… it was kinda my fault that you were wrapped up in this whole mess.” I sighed, gripping my forehead in the process. “I can’t say I was a fan of the life you were leading, but my personal reservations aside, I kinda derailed your own path in life in the worst and most unintentional way possible. Which is totally unacceptable. Not to mention by getting involved, I became the inadvertent cause of your injuries.” I gestured to the bed, and the room around us. “So being ‘accommodating’, is really the least I can do to repay you for my blunders, Rila.”
A small pause punctuated that explanation.
One, in which Rila took a moment to turn inwards, before turning back to me with an expression of even greater befuddlement.
“You speak as if you owe me a life-debt, Emma.” She began, her brows furrowed in confusion. “When it is I who should be the party beholden to such reciprocities.” She offered, taking longer to form those words than I would’ve assumed.
That answer… definitely took me by surprise.
The whole dynamic I’d formed in my head, and the way I’d framed this whole situation, was now refusing to compute with what Rila had just laid out.
“But… it was my meddling that caused—”
“Whether you had meddled or not, we were both at the whims of the greater game that day.” Rila interjected, finally garnering the familiarity to speak up. “It was Lord Lartia who wished to take us down a path of uncertain fates. It was likewise the other noble present, who chose to ignore your warnings. Even disregarding your attempts to physically alter the predetermined course of events, you chose to shield me from the worst of it.” Rila spoke earnestly, her eyes moving up to meet my lenses. “Or have you forgotten that fact?”
I moved to speak… but it was my turn to be unable to formulate a proper response.
“I guess… I just thought that saving you was like, the least I could do to make up for—”
“There was nothing to make up for, Emma.” Rila countered bluntly.
Which prompted me to nod and sigh in response. “I see.”
A small pause once again punctuated that exchange, before a smile once more found itself on my visage. “Well, regardless, that doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to be as ‘accomodating’ as I can be! That is, of course, if you’re alright with it.”
“But, why—”
“There’s a reason why I didn’t lead with the guilt or reciprocity thing, Rila. It’s because I genuinely just wanna be… nice? Without any of the associated baggage Nexians would typically attach to it?” I offered with a shrug, prompting a slow blink of the elf’s eyes. “I don’t think that this is just… unheard of right? Like, it can’t be all cut-throat all throughout every layer of society.”
“It isn’t, Emma.” Rila acknowledged. “But such altruism, or at least, altruism without strings attached, is only seen amongst those with nothing to gain and nothing to lose.” The elf took another moment to ponder her own words, before coming to some internal conclusion which finally elicited a smile. “But I suppose such as to be expected from an impossible realm of earn-ed respect.”
The elf took another moment to ponder things, before finally continuing the conversation with a heavy sigh. “Part of me refuses to believe your claims of that impossible realm. Even though I have been nothing short of enamored by the concept following our first fateful exchange on that night. Everything in this world, points to your words being empty and vapid. Yet everything I’ve seen of you, and the actions you purvey, points to the truth being completely contrary to what should be expected.” She began rambling, pinching the bridge of her nose in the process. “It is… a lot to ponder, but ultimately, perhaps against my better judgement, I would be more than happy to continue entertaining this impossibility.”
A larger smile slowly formed across the elf’s face, as she began taking a bite out of one of Ilunor’s danishes, her features practically lit up shortly thereafter.
“A world where commoners dare to stand toe to toe with high-borns, is one I most certainly wish to hear more about.” Rila practically beamed out.
The next few minutes marched on with far less friction, as the path of conversation was greased both with good will and good food in equal measures.
However, just when it came time to leave, a topic which I’d initially shunted to the back of my mind quickly emerged.
“There is another matter I’d like to quickly touch on, Emma, brief as it is.”
“Yeah?”
“In the minutes following the explosion, there was an… amethyst dragon that emerged from the depths, correct?”
“Yeah, that’s right. What about it?”
“I am not sure if this was a dream, or a hallucination induced by my injuries, but did it… fixate its attention on us following its escape?”
I quickly turned to the EVI, grabbing the footage of that night, as those gemstone-like eyes unmistakably locked onto my lenses.
“On me in particular, but yeah, I guess that’s close enough.” I answered confidently. “Why do you ask?”
Rila’s features darkened for a moment, her gaze veering off out and towards the balcony, before turning back towards me with a wary expression.
“And it actually looked at you? As in, not a mere passing glance?”
“Would five solid seconds of staring fit the description?” I immediately responded, garnering a look of genuine concern to form on Rila’s features. “Is it like a bad thing or—”
“It could mean a great many things, Emma.”
“Oh?”
“Some of which are good, but most… not so much.”
“Oh.”
“Though I cannot for the life of me imagine why it would be fixated on beings so outside of its immediate concern.”
“Well… I guess I’ll have my answer soon enough.”
=====
North Rythian Forests. Outerlands. Nexus. Local Time: 1755
Sym the Honeydew
Egh! EUGH!
“Giant mushrooms.” I spoke through a heavy snot-filled sneeze. “I swear, their spores are the work of the old heathen gods. Sometimes I wish His Eternal Majesty would’ve finished the job by utterly annihilating these forests.”
“His Eternal Majesty’s earned his rest, boss.” The winged Thulvahn replied with a chuckle. “Besides, with the rate the realm’s expandin’, I doubt even his Eternal Majesty’s got the fire to burn all that new growth, let alone these older forests.” The bard chuckled, moving to grab his lute in the process, but not before we turned the corner to find a grisly sight.
A mangled party of men-at-arms, their carriages, and their conveyances both artificed and formerly-living.
At which point, did everyone move to grab their weapons.
“I think I’m going to be sick…” Kintor spoke under a squeaky breath, holding her daggers at the ready.
“Huh. Well… I think we found our trail, boss.” Duren Moven announced bluntly, moving forward to nudge one of the mangled corpses with the blunt end of his battle axe.
Though this wasn’t done to satisfy morbid curiosity, no.
Because after a few seconds of digging around the mass of flesh, was the bear able to uncover what it was I’d hoped to find.
A capsa, completely unmarred and untainted by the viscera that was formerly its holder.
I had little hesitation in grabbing the gem-encrusted cylinder. As due to some latent enchantment, it seemed completely impervious to the dirtying of the grime and viscera surrounding it.
I moved to flick its lid open, generating a satisfying POP sound, revealing a rolled-up scroll nestled neatly within it.
“Official warrant from the Crown and the Privy Council, authorizing an official dragon recapture for those holding royal warrants, yadda yadda yadda… yeah, this is it. That dragon can’t be too far now.”
This revelation… instead of bringing about a sense of relief from everyone present, instead shook all to their core.
But it was none other than Thulvahn who seemed more shaken than others, as he came forward with shaky wings, grabbing me by my pauldrons.
“Boss… I hate to say this, but I think we’re in over our heads. T-this… this isn’t worth risking life or limb over. The coin ain’t worth it! Come on… you said it yourself before right? Don’t let gold cloud your better judgement? Let’s leave while we can. Pay the damned cancellation fees, and avoid being mauled by this dragon that so clearly—”
“Thulvahn.” I shot out firmly. “Get a hold of yourself. There’s a clear difference between these poor sods and our lot. Read the scroll if you need confirmation.” I shoved the scroll into the man’s hands, as he began reading through it line by line. “Their goal is to recapture the damned thing. Our goal is to merely observe and report.”
“E-exactly.” Kintor acknowledged, putting on a confident smile. “If there’s one thing we’re good at, it’s running away!”
“And running away is practically half of our assignment.” Duren reaffirmed with a solid nod.
With the voices of the party in near unanimity, we pressed onwards.
I dearly hope you know what you’re getting yourself into, Blue Knight… I thought to myself silently.
=====
Student Lounge. The Transgracian Academy for the Magical Arts. Local Time: 1755.
Ping
For someone who had declared their self-admitted disinterest in the path to class sovereign, Cadet Emma Booker had most certainly made waves as a result of her latest stunt.
And while a slap to Qiv’s face was always appreciated… What I did not appreciate was the latent message her actions had subtly communicated as well.
Newrealmer savage. Primitive. Backwards….
Those were the words I’d used on that first eventful week.
And they were words that could now be put under scrutiny…
For what manner of person could be considered primitive if they so perfectly replicated High Nexian high-script?
Would that not be an insult to the learned scribes and scholar-nobles who had otherwise dedicated their lives to the pursuit of civility?
Is writing and penmanship not the foundation which underpins civilized society?
…
Then again…
Could one truly claim that the Arlinian Crab was in any way actually sapient?
“My fellows, my fellows! Please, allow me to explain away the… theatrics of this morning’s class!” I began, grinning all the while. “There exists, in my realm, a creature known as the Arlinian Crab. A creature with neither a thinking mind nor reaching hands, but a creature which possesses the ability to perfectly mimic all patterns it sees.”
I moved to demonstrate, revealing several images of this very phenomenon, sight-seers of these sea-beasts which through great dedication — managed to mimic both signage and script of any nearby signs they saw. With each and every letter, drawn out in the sand to an incredibly accurate degree.
“As you can see, the newrealmer could merely be utilizing a latent, animalistic aspect of their inherent biological potential. In an act similar to her… feats during physical education, we see her practicing not the intent of the civilized person, but instead, utilizing the uncivilized functions of her innate animal.”
“Oh, do we now?” An insufferable voice broke through the sea of students, as they parted left and right, allowing the ever-annoying Vunerian to come through.
“Lord Ilunor Rularia…” I huffed out. “To what do I owe the pleasure—”
“I raise a point of contention, Lord Ping.” He countered, prompting me to acquiesce with a glare and a shrug.
“Proceed?”
“Exactly how much time does this… silly little crustacean take to mimic but a few letters of High Nexian?” He began with that same vexatiously pitched breath.
“I know not, for I care not to delve into the workings of what is relegated to those stuffy scholars who—”
“Days, Lord Ping. Days, I say!” He continued, practically screeching out this revelation, slamming open a book in the process. “As is written by Scholar Lurens, the Arlinian Crab performs such… elaborate mimicry for the sake of courtship, taking hours if not days to replicate a single line of High-Script! Now, I know not what your perspective of time is like, but I can most certainly say that Cadet Emma Booker’s rapid-paced writing most certainly did not take hours now did it?”
A series of laughs arrived in favor of the Vunerian’s words, though many more derisive murmurs came from my most ardent supporters.
“Lord Ping was merely making a rough comparison, Lord Rularia!” A voice from the crowd shouted.
“Yes, yes! There are assuredly more animals similar to the Arlinian crab, but this creature is merely the most readily-known example of such a phenomenon!” Another voice came through.
This… eventually devolved into an all-out verbal scuffle.
One that, thankfully, was saved by the call to dinner.
=====
The Grand Dining Hall. Local Time: 1940 Hours.
Emma
I ignored most of the murmurs and whispers of the ‘writing incident’ for much of dinner.
If anything, I spent most of the time catching up on the weekly report, and of course, on the M-REDD experiments which continued to taunt me with its slow progress.
Conversations with the gang were… surprisingly minimal, as it was clear that everyone was simply waiting to get back to the dorms.
Though the same couldn’t be said for me, as my eyes were continually set on the prize that was frustratingly out of reach.
As Mal’tory’s, now-Larial’s seat, sat empty for the entirety of dinner.
I’d hoped for some last minute miracle.
However, none came.
Because as dinner came to a close, so too did the faculty leave without any fuss.
This prompted me to march towards the nearest apprentice the moment dinner was over.
As I received frustrating news, that would’ve probably elicited some sharp words from Ilunor if he realized what was going on.
“Apprentice LARIAL now was IT!?” Apprentice Ral Altaria Del Narya Sey Antisonzia the Second enunciated in his typical… theatrical fashion.
“Yes, I’m wondering where she—”
“She is currently… busy. Last I heard, she had attributed her absence to some… unannounced personal quest!”
“Right. Could you at least tell me where her office is so that I can maybe leave her a letter or—”
“No! You may not!” He interjected. “Though I can say that she will be back sometime soon!”
“Can you at least give me a time and date or—”
“No!”
I breathed in deeply, nodding in acquiescence, taking this one failure of today’s events with some level of grace.
Though the same couldn’t be said for Ilunor the moment we arrived back at the dorms.
=====
Dragon’s Heart Tower, Level 23, Residence 30, Living Room. Local Time: 2020 Hours.
Emma
“Ilunor, now I need you to relax. We still have time to deal with both the library and Larial. Remember, she did say that all she might need to submit is a copy. However, even if she needs to submit primary evidence, we still have until the end of the week to get the green book so it isn’t all that bad. This isn’t like the dragon quest where I’m really on a bit of a time crunch—”
“This. Is. Completely. UNACCEPTABLE!” The Vunerian screamed.
Comments
Tacrad
He rests upon his Golden Throne, serving as a beacon amidst the Chaos.
Google Google
Another thing to consider is how we store information. Weather through magnets or glass or silicon. My favorite is glass, especially able to laser Edge on and inside the glass in three dimensional space, in theory we can recreate our brain by creating a glass version of ourselves. If you know what I mean. That would scare the Nobles realizing we're basically Immortal us as human beings let alone "commoners"
Michael Halpern
the shards of impart work through QEC a rather inefficient form of QEC with limited self resynchronizing but its still QEC
Marshel Helsper
I'm re-reading the series and there's a part where Thalmin is thinking about their mission/quests, how it affects his realm, etc. In that inner monologue he thinks that Emma's communication using the minor shard of impart must be primitive as she fundamentally wouldn't understand it, being manaless. That may be the onramp to that conversation when/if Emma does rebuild the machine and talks to Earth, she can explain that it doesn't need to be complicated to work.
Michael Halpern
here's the kicker, advanced Golemancy is only supposed to be possible in the Nexus. for a low mana newrealm to have their own version of golemancy shouldn't be possible
Skrzynek
I think in some way it'd give Ping and Qiv more ammo against Emma to learn that she isn't NATURALLY that good, only that she uses golems for everything. Nexian nobility is based on INNATE talents, after all, and carefully honed skill. If they learn about Emma being a "fake" in that regard, they sure as hell are gonna try to spin it into a PR hell for humans.
Michael Halpern
exactly, and it will be made all the better as they start to figure out that Emma is playing a very different game than they are with different win conditions.
Michael Halpern
i don't think it's important for them to know how they work for them to understand the impact.
Garrett Sommerkamp
They don't know that he is dead, just that he isn'tt active. I'm assuming that is because he is dead
Michael Halpern
knowing it exists and understanding what it is are two very different things, moreover much of its function isn't outward facing, they have had little chance to pick up on just how adaptive it is. besides where would you start? the analytical engine? Betchley Park? Eniac?
Michael Halpern
neither, he isn't taking it personally, he thought he had an opportunity to discredit a rival and took it, it didn't work and that's that. Ping on the other hand would be livid.
TheEagerReader
A bunch of adventurers wouldn’t know that. They meant rest as in spending his time at the palace ruling
Marshel Helsper
I think the gang understands it as one or more artifices. Not a single artifice that "thinks." I don't think any of them have connected the translation part to the holoprojector, the drones, or that Emma can always bring up the relevant thing on her tablet.
Marshel Helsper
Both. That the newrealmer offloaded calligraphy to a golem that does it better than Qiv.
Arkeilam
What do you think would piss off Qiv more: That a newrealmer has better calligraphy then him, or that newrealmers made a thinking rock that they can hand that task off to because they don't respect calligraphy at all?
Dale
Thanks for your opinion. I’m here for all of JCB’s writing
Ferr
"A living, breathing, dynamic system of mathematics". Oh they know it exists, but if they are having problems with manaless beings, for them to even grasp the existent of a information being might take some time yet. Jcb112 do use just this phrase about the situation, just forgot it.........
Garrett Sommerkamp
"His Eternal Majesty's earned his rest." Hmm... Another point for the dead emperor theory
TheEagerReader
I’m here for Power Armor. I don’t want to step on the toes of fans of that series but if you were to put to a vote I think most people would prefer you focused on updating Power Armor.
TheEagerReader
He doesn’t know it exists. None of the peer groups know about it and they probably don’t have a concept for AI helpers.
Michael Halpern
Ping in particular has made himself an enemy of the peer group
Steve
I would like to point out to everyone that Ilunor is defending Emma now!
Salvatore Page
I definitely think computers should be next presented to do a few things. 1. Ilunor’s reaction to the inside of the tablet will be hilarious and insightful. 2. I would want them to react to video games/ play them. 3. Internet and its various applications. Eventually we can do the magnet and ilunor trying to dispel it and just giving up after failing.
architectural engineer
this was a good chapter, thank you jcb!
Noah Hamlen
I'm with you. This was the last straw for me too.
Xylophone Smith
Ilunor is gonna beg emma to use her Vi to help him beat rostarion at some point
Ry
I for one think the pacing is fine. I think once all these chapters are complied into a book, it'll be perfect.
David
Tachikoma from ghost in the shell when?
Jcb112
I'll be making an update announcement regarding HDH sometime soon! :D Apologies for the delay on that front!
Dale
Hey will Humans get some love soon?
Casualscifienjoyer
Talks about the pace getting better have been going on for the better part of 3 months now and there’s very little evidence to that fact other than like one skipped class I’m not going to gamble with another month being magically different than the last few months of stuff. But thank you for not just gaslighting me into believing that the story is just the greatest thing since sliced bread. If it *actually* improves in the next month I’ll consider resubscribing but for now I don’t want to give another dollar to what I perceive as shitty cash grab writing.
Casualscifienjoyer
Lmao when I signed up it was not nearly this insufferable if you want to spend the next year reading well written nothingburger chapters fine by me but don’t claim that it’s always been this way.
Redstarfire
friends. you're reading a long-form political intrigue story that is being written on a week by week basis by an author that from the start has always liked to go in to detail. if that is not what you want, it is your choice to leave, but i also want to remind you that that's also what you signed up for when you got here in the first place
Willow Arkan
oh i am sure it can figure out intention. I suspect it might even notice that the seekers come from her, might save them in the end.
UC-79
And skip out on all the lore? Right when the nexians are starting to realize Emma's not a one trick pony? For shame...
SoylentPudding
It's also that an attack on Emma is an attack on their peer group. He has a vested interest in defending Emma from their slights and he's trying to use her to advance his own standing in student politics.
Google Google
That's a very good point you got there.
Marshel Helsper
Gauntlet Laser
Marshel Helsper
Yeah, I'm happy with the pacing too. I'm not even expecting Emma to actually get through a whole year of school given how this is going so far.
Marshel Helsper
I wonder if that sort of presentation would read okay. Maybe it comes in the form of trading with the Library. Or the gang sort of gets used to Emma's tablet, maybe Thacea gets one of her own, and learns that it's not some sight-seer or scroll thing, but something that computes and communicates.
Skrzynek
During the last presentation we had Ilunor ask about planes, and we got an explanation for him this week. At the end of this one, Thalmin asked about warfare, so I am positive we will get warfare next week. Computers are their own goddamn devil. They are black magic even for us, as we type and read those words on computers. I think that an entire presentation should be dedicated to that and our communication systems (Internet). Notably, the gang already sorta accepts that Emma has "manaless golems", even if they don't understand how this works. Saying that they use those "drones" for warfare in numbers vastly outnumbering humans is probably gonna FINALLY Spark questions about how they work, prompting the next one to be about computers... But the gang will be able to get the scope of our military even without a 101 on microchips.
Google Google
Should Emma first show The history warfare from Spears to the arrows to guns to maybe drone warfare and eventually space warfare etc, or the history of computers, or something completely different, on her sightseer. Which topic should be appropriate to tackle for the team. This is for the far future for the next several chapters. What are you guys think 🤔?
M
I think she has a more powerful weapon than the pistol available already
M
I think there is a lot more to dragons than the Nexus allows to be known. And I think Emma might even be able to talk to it if she doesn't show aggression. That dead caravan was there to capture it, if course it defends itself.
Michael Halpern
she has a rail gun
UC-79
He'll be spouting off useful factoids like thacea in no time
Skrzynek
It also gives artists an excuse to draw Crab-Emma. I await impatiently for first renditions of it in the future! :D Though it's more than just that. Notice that Ilunor was researching this very topic even before Ping decided to voice his stupid thesis. Ilunor is ALSO skeptical of Emma's claimed abilities! And yet, once he does his homework, he could not in good conscience find any merit behind Crab-Emma theory, and thus is forced to defend her even if he absolutely HATES that Emma can write High Nexian like that * without even knowing the language!* I mean, hell, she probably writes better than HE does, and Ilunor took it rather personally. And yet, he defends her still, and successfully so. The funny part is that Emma is gonna force Ilunor to become a nerd in order to try and prove her wrong, or incompetent, or find holes in Earth's political system, etc. quite the dynamic!
Skrzynek
This chapter and the previous one seem to be JCB actually speeding up and getting back to the base premise. It's not "Girl from Earth gets exposition during souvenir shopping", nor is it "Girl from Earth talks with princess about how previous chapters were right about the moon and also we get a checklist". This is actually "using power armor in magic classrom" for the previous, and doing plot-profressing stuff in this one, particularly Sym's section. Not to mention how the more rapid perspective changes actually make things more dynamic and force JCB to stop dragging on with singular scenes for multiple chapters. In other words - pacing improves, and we are getting exciting things! ...And this is the moment you unsubscribe? I admit that that the pacing frustrations were mounting for a long while. Perhaps this is just when you finally had enough, and even a little thing (robo-hands lore) makes you flip. I get it. And it's not like you won't get to read the story, it's publicly available anyway. It's just that I find it odd to drop it in the very chapter things are improving. I dunno, maybe I see the improvements because I wanna see them and you disagree. But either way, I just find the timing odd, even if I agree with the general sentiment (albeit with less angry take on it).
UC-79
I, for one, like the background drama happening with the other students. They're all treating the academy like a live performance instead of a school, and their perspectives give us a glimpse behind the nexian mask.
Michael Halpern
if anything it should be moved to the conversation with the others, but remain mostly the same
disguy
I think this chapter specifically gave a lot of hints of the undertone going on in the background for example with Ping's part as he tries to sully Emma's writing but is defended by the deluxe kobold. I do think there are other parts that can be expanded upon like with the adventures. overall with this story, I like it and I am simply anxious to see more of the future.
Roger44477
Please for the love of god don't cut things like the hand explanation that some handful people have said to. Those sorts of details are great, and the sort of little lore dive that I live for
King Jerkera
I would be upset at this point and furthermore the plot is moving and frankly it’s a great pace.
trebor
I personally think that the slow release pacing adds something to the story it gives it a kind of desert feeling like eating ice cream with a small spoon and though I really like the lore itself think too that it is a bit as if Harry Potter had no timeskips in the story the pacing of releace does change how the story feels like if you have something like a weekly release that means either a lot has to happen in the one chapter or it is going to feel slow in the story too, logically the other way around you will make it feel faster also I kind of agree with the JCB on the pacing but on the other hand I fear it taking until im like 90 for the story to be done
trebor
I am interested in an honor duel too would be funny if she assembled a rifle with the printer and shot them in non lethal places until they give up
trebor
I suspect that the problem with the food is the same as when a being from the academy goes to earth and they basically starve from a lack of mana as I think everything in the nexus is so reliant on mana that extracting it will basically destroy it (the demanafier would be a crazy weapon against the nexus)
Roger44477
Glad I wasn't the only one
Michael Halpern
maybe but this week is about Emma being maliciously compliant with the Dean, i bet for every day she'll have something new
G
Like I said 3-4 months ago the pacing hurts. 1) Excellent premise. 2) Great lore. 3) Great characters. 4) The exposition is misplaced. 5) There needs to be an editor who has the full story.
TheEagerReader
Oh yeah I remember those guys. Those were simpler times. Before the world went wrong. I wonder if finishing the Shadow of Israphel would fix the timeline.
Michael Halpern
space
PEBZ101
Great idea maybe emma can't cook haha, now I want to see a high nexian dormitory camp cooking session with emma & EVI, I'm sure EVI would rather observe and "collect data" on that one.
PEBZ101
All i am hearing is a lemongrab screech of UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!
Casualscifienjoyer
Thank you for putting it into kinder words and I apologize if I came off as insensitive it just feels like JCB has REALLY been dragging their feet on this story. I know that December was hard for them and I am and was completely fine with delays but as you said the absolute snails crawl of the story and this was a problem pre December. I don’t even care about the in universe days it’s all about plot relevant details the amethyst crystal plot line must be the main plot line of the entire story with how much sheer time has been spent on it. And some of the exposition is done poorly a literal slideshow of aircraft like one of those 3D real size comparison videos. Acela demonstration was very good the best exposition in the series in my opinion and it covered earth in so many facets in like 3 chapters it was the reason I became a Patreon sub in the first place. Acela compared to the most recent space one is just meh congrats illunor now believes that earth realm is dead and we’ve clarified that the nexus sky is not what it seems. It did not need close to 6 chapters to say that and literally provides no meaningful value to the story. When the gang was getting hit with Emma’s translation bomb and then her weapons and other artifices it was amazing but this one with a subplot about ‘beauty in the darkness’ is just fluff in my opinion. Now we’re on to her handwriting? They’ve seen her rocket across campus kill a Null like it was nothing, run at ridiculous speeds and we need two entire chapters for her handwriting. If this doesn’t result in the exposure of EVI or at least her introduction this was a complete waste of time.
Bonester
I don't remember if I caught this last time but at least one of those adventurers have to be a Yogscast reference. Sym the Honeydew is definitely Simon Honeydew and they're in Rythian Forest. Now I'm wondering if I missed any other references
Marshel Helsper
I think a little one, maybe. The apprentice's antsgonism toward Emma could actually just stymie her where she'll never actually get the answer about when Larial is available. I think instead someone else in the peer group, or someone friendly to Emma, should provide the answer. That let's there be a tiny one or two day skip, as it happens off screen. If the info comes to Illunor instead, all the better, it's his problem. Then we can jump to that issue, which may or may not be resolved and require begging for an extension or something. The dragon update soon after that, and somewhere in there breaking ear drums in PE by breaking the sound barrier. Perhaps then the excursion to see the dragon happens at the end of March.
Hughes Andrew
I think it’s fine. I knew what I was getting into when I first subscribed, so the fact that the pace is improving is nice.
Coffeebee
Disagreeing with the commenter.
Bbobsillypants
“Well… I guess I’ll have my answer soon enough.” Thralls in the walls Emma thralls in the wall! Don't say stuff like that without the privacy field
Anton
I've cancelled my subscription. This is dragging out too much and I'm starting to feel like I'm just being milked for money. I don't care about the tiny minutiae of every students thoughts. I'll consider resubbing if the reddit posts get back to a decent pace.
tonright
Back to the television analogy it's like constant mid-season episodes with no season finale in sight (but with all of the finale teasers still present). Still a show I like but I want things that make me excitedly refresh the page at release time again because I am frothing at the mouth for the next chapter. I know this universe and author have the ability because it used to be every few chapters. There was that thing with the library card early on. Or the box exploding. The null. Going in to the portal. Bugging the office. Meeting Sorecar. Those were all edge-of-your-seat can't-wait-for-the-next-chapter-to-see-what-happens content. I know those things are all still simmering in the background but right now it feels like even with the dragon having been mentioned in this chapter it could be 6 months before we hear about it again. The sense of time passing has been drawn out so far that it feels like something happening "suddenly" today in-universe could actually be a several month wait for us.. We did recently learn that the moon is weird, and like I mentioned earlier we did hear about the dragon again twice in this chapter after must be more than a year now of waiting, so that is a very good sign for things to come. Feels like things are moving. You can see the author getting back in to their groove. Still though that's more setup! Gimme payoff!
tonright
Maybe could have been worded a little more delicately given recent goings-on in the author's life. I myself am going through having lost loved ones very recently and understand completely how it throws you off. Very rarely does a person pass all at once with no warning. You often have months of things being stressful beforehand. but I agree with the overall point you're trying to convey about the structure of the story itself. It does feel a bit like nothing of note has happened in a while. It's not an unenjoyable cast or setting, and the actual quality of the text itself is still excellent (I wouldn't pay money if I disliked any of it! Am still very much here to see where things go!) but things have really slowed down. 4 chapters a month feels great when big things are happening or when everything is clearly leading to a specific event. It gives you something to look forward to. like a tv show airing weekly counting down to the finale, but when there isn't something big imminent it's torture. Remember like... maybe two-ish in-universe days ago when she picked up the wand she has yet to really do anything major with? That chapter was about half a year ago in real time. aaaaa.
Timothy Sar
Nobody would fault you for a timeskip to move along the plot
zmessing11
"UNACCEPTABLE!" The Vunerian said calmly.
tonright
why does emma not de-mana just ingredients like flour and salt or spices and microwave food in the tent? gotta be better than algae or whatever food is rn
Michael Halpern
what Ilunor's deal with the library was
Casualscifienjoyer
I’d agree the first 70 chapters or so are great since then it’s just been an absolute slog quality writing with absolutely no story to show for it. There’s been no meaningful character development or plot development in that time. This story is 550,000 words that’s twice as long as the first dune book!
JEM
I'm with you on the whole part explaining the hand, that felt like pure fluff to add bulk to the chapter
Michael Halpern
Engineer Rila (as in traditional engine operator engineer)
Fluffy Lemur Tails
Greatness can't be rushed.
Casualscifienjoyer
The pacing was terrible long before the familial death in December. I know they post these for free elsewhere I also know JcB makes 6500$ a month from this ‘hobby’ I mean pacing as in story pacing not literal upload schedule. I’ve suggested multiple times to cut certain elements of a chapter because they serve no purpose the injured hand part for this chapter specifically completely unnecessary. This story is lagging in quality because I think JCB is milking it for money I’m just voicing my discontent with the outcome of this.
RlyNeedCoffee
I disagree, things seem to be moving quite appropriately.
Michael Halpern
PE will break them...
DragonHeart53
The subscription is just to support the author and get early access. They post these for free elsewhere. As for the pacing, they recently had a familial death and this isn't a full time thing. This is just a hobby they enjoy. While in my experience, they have listen to my feedback, can you give examples of what feedback they didn't listen to?
Michael Halpern
... Emma killing it may be a mercy
TheEagerReader
I feel like the pace has gotten better. But I likely won’t resubscribe
Michael Halpern
Have no fear, he can't cope his way out of Emma's flight
Casualscifienjoyer
JCB I love ya but this is just not worth 5$ dollars it feels like you haven’t been listening to any feedback for a year now and the pacing has gotten completely atrocious. The story just isn’t enjoyable anymore.
Google Google
The noble students are in full cope mode.
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Absolute Cinema
I Dare Korval
Somehow i don't think he is upset about the book.
Willow Arkan
Emma really is making a rebel out of Rila, she is already enamored of the world Emma hails from. Also what are the odds that a dragon whose scales have interdimensional properties might have some interdimensional abilities. So how much does it glean from Emma, could it sense a minor shard of impact was involved it the explosion that gave it it's freedom back. Can't wait for that meeting
Canpinter
Kinda hoping emma losses her cool and goes off on ping verbally some time soon, maybe wind up in an honor duel with him and put him in his place.
TheEagerReader
Was that a cliff hanger? It ended too abruptly. It felt as though there was more text there.
Ragnar Pendon
What in the cliffhanger?? O.o
Baichen Luo
first
