Kanin Fyre: Chapter 13 - The Tower in the Woods

I glance from all the security measures to the words ‘Let Yourself In.’ “I’m getting some mixed messages here.” 

“This is very odd,” Zyneth agrees, stepping up to the door to examine some of the spell circles engraved in the boards. “Hm. Null magic. Something to do with binding. Probably magically sealing the door shut.” 

I Inspect a few of the spell circles as well: [A void spell circle designed to adhere the target object to another surface.] 

Right. From what I’ve learned, void is a subset of null magic that specifically has to do with spatial attributes. That explains the Displace spell Ink and I can do with our void—but another application is apparently binding objects together. I’m not sure how exactly this counts as spatial, but it’s also the reason my soul is able to stay attached to my vial using the Core Bond spell. 

“Not just null arcana, but void,” I tell Zyneth. “At least that confirms we’re at the right place.”

“Interesting.” Zyneth cranes his head back, looking up at the tower. “And you’re sure he’s inside?”

I shrug. “This is where the spell led, but I don’t know if it’s pointing to Siqi, or, say, the quill he used to write it.” I try the door, on the off chance it will open, but unsurprisingly, the door remains locked. The spell circles flair faintly when I try, but I’m not rebuffed; it’s like they’re just more tightly holding the boards to the frame. 

Zyneth frowns. “I suppose we should knock, then.”

Despite the sign inviting us to let ourselves in, I’m in agreement. Maybe he’ll just open the door?

Hah, no, I don’t believe that either. 

Even so, I step up to the door and knock. With my glass hands, it’s pretty loud and sturdy. I don’t even need to use void to pad the impact; I’ve worked on strengthening the base glass that much with Caesius. It’s nice to see the results of all that effort. 

“Hello?” I call, though my translator can’t go any louder than a raised voice. “Is anyone home? I’m looking for a Master Siqi.” 

I step back and wait. Only silence answers us. After a moment, I gesture for Zyneth to try. But just as he’s stepping up to knock as well, a scratching sound comes from inside. 

A thin slat in the door slides open, though it’s too dark to make out who might be looking out. 

“Yes?” the person says. “Who is it? Can’t you read the sign?” 

It does sound like a male voice, though more scratchy and higher pitched than I would have expected. I attempt to Check him through the gap, but Echo says, [No target within line of sight.] Weird. I’d been able to Check Zyneth and the nightbanes in the middle of the night before. Is the speaker not actually looking through the slat?

“Hello,” I say, stepping forward so he can get a better look at me, just in case. “I’m here to find a Master Siqi. I’m looking for someone to help teach me void magic. We saw your sign but couldn’t find a way to open the door.” 

“Hmph,” the voice grumbles. “No masters here. But void, you say? Interesting… Alright! It’s been a while since I’ve had guests. You can come in.”

“Thank you,” I say, a bit perplexed by his response. “How do we—”

The slat slams shut.

“Um.” Zyneth and I exchange a baffled look. I step closer to the door, in lieu of being able to raise my voice. “Is there another way in?”

“Yes, come in!” the muffled voice calls. “Don’t take all day, now.” 

I halfheartedly tug on the door, but it’s still very much boarded shut. “I’m not sure we can.” 

The voice continues to mumble to itself, growing more distant. “I’ll put a kettle on. Is spiced tea okay? Maybe some biscuits…” Soon his voice is lost to the house entirely, and no one replies when I try calling again.

“Do you think it’s some kind of riddle?” Zyneth asks, rubbing his chin as he rereads the sign. “He’ll only let us in if we can figure out the trick.”

“If it’s a play on words, I’m not sure I’d notice anyway, given my translator. Or maybe it’s a test?” The other possibility, that this person is not who we’re looking for, or he is but he’s senile, is not something I voice aloud. Maybe there’s a good reason he’s been vanishing more often and for longer periods of time, as Professor Telisan said. “Let me know if you think of anything. I’m going to look for another way in.” 

Ink circles the tower ahead of me, finding our new task quite interesting. Like a nut we need to crack. Or a tortoise whose shell we need to find purchase and pry open. 

Think we can shift to less macabre similes? I think, sending some glass along with Ink to circle around the tower and scout ahead of me. Like, a puzzle box, or something. 

Ink has no interest in puzzles. It’s watched our group play with them before and doesn’t see the point. 

The point is leisure. A group activity. You know, social bonding. 

Ink does not know. But it is interesting to find a way inside this building. It’s a challenge—and it won’t let anything stand in its way. 

Maybe it would be into PvP games more than Co-op. 

There are no more doors on the backside of the tower, however, and when we circle back to the front, Zyneth hasn’t made any progress, either. I float some glass up the tower next, checking windows to see if there’s any left open. Ink also assists in this activity, climbing up the wall with disturbing dexterity. Though, given all the vines and cracks in the stone work, I suspect Zyneth would be able to scale it without much trouble, either. Looks like I’m the only one who would need to float myself up there. 

That isn’t necessary, however; all the windows are closed, and when I look closer, I find spell circles in the windows. Not just painted or etched into the surface, but actually in the windows, part of the stained glass design. From what I’ve picked up from Caesius, I can tell it’s impressive craftsmanship and detail. Spell circles have to be exact, and assembling a stained glass window isn’t easy to begin with.

Ink suggests we try to break one anyway. 

“I’m not wild about that idea,” I say aloud, also relaying its suggestion to Zyneth. “Especially since we’re guests—breaking a window to get in doesn’t sound like the best way to start things off.” 

“It could be part of the test,” Zyneth says, “but I suspect you’re right; those spell circles would probably stop you anyway.” 

“So what now?” I ask. I again check the door, try the lock, and even attempt to score the spell circles to disable them; it’s solidly built, however. I doubt anyone could get in by force. 

Then if not by force…

Siqi is supposed to be an expert void mage. And the magic’s primary association is space. Like teleportation. 

“Oh.” That must be how he got inside. And he invited us in after hearing I was looking for someone to teach me void magic. Is that how he wants me to get inside, too?

“I think I have an idea,” I tell Zyneth. “He wants me to use void magic.” 

Unfortunately, I can’t just teleport wherever I want: I can only move my glass through my void, so I’d need to get some inside before I’d be able to shift the rest of myself in as well. I examine the door once more, looking for cracks. Maybe a keyhole? No. A gap beneath the door? Nope. What else…

I tap a finger against the peephole slat and drag it to the side. It slides easily open. 

“Alright,” I say, looking around. “This is going to take a bit of logistics. It’s like that river crossing puzzle. With the goat and the wolf and the cabbage…”

“Which puzzle?” Zyneth asks. 

Instead of answering, I remove my extra glass from my Inventory. Then, after I chain my head to the body, I add my body back into it. Ink has been listening along to me, puzzling out how we’re going to get inside, so it catches my core without hesitation. Breaking a portion of its void off, it pours the shadows through the slot in the door. 

Zyneth has also caught on. “Ah. Good idea. Though I’m not sure I’ll be capable of doing the same.” 

I’ve used Displace on Zyneth once before, when we were in Emrox. Back then, I had to rely on his mana to provide me enough magic to move him. Echo, how much mana would it cost again to Displace Zyneth through my void?

[Mana requirement: 320].

And I’ve got almost 600 now. Wow. Things have changed a lot in the last six months. “I can get you in,” I tell Zyneth. “But I won’t be able to get you out, unless you lend me some of your mana.” 

“That shouldn’t be a problem,” he says. 

“Alright, then,” I say. “Meet you inside in a minute. Wish me luck that this isn’t a murder house or something.” 

Zyneth blinks. “A what?”

I Displace my core through to the other side of the door, and find myself in something like a living room. The area is surprisingly homey, with a cozy table nestled before a stained glass window, and a cast iron oven opposite, wood happily crackling within as a kettle bubbles atop its stove. I hadn’t noticed a chimney from outside, but I think it’s safe to assume magic is involved. There’s a pantry, padded furniture, a wooden floor, and warm lights spelled into the walls. 

It looks pretty normal—but there’s something I can’t quite put my finger on that seems off. Maybe the excessive number of chairs that are scattered around the room? Additionally, our host is nowhere to be seen. 

I Displace my translator and clothes through next, leaving my excess glass outside. It’s over a hundred pounds and isn’t going anywhere. Then I bring my body back out of my Inventory, reassemble myself, and check back in on Zyneth. 

“Ready?” I ask, holding my translator up to the door. Ink moves more of our void inside, so the two volumes are about half and half. 

Zyneth looks down at the amorphous pool of void. He gives it an odd look, but I can’t tell what he’s thinking. Probably something like ‘I’m not thrilled about the idea of being wrapped in a sentient murder shadow but I trust Kanin so let’s get on with it.’

“Ready,” he confirms. 

We spread the void out thin, then wrap it around Zyneth like a blanket. We squeeze it down around him, and in the same moment, he stumbles out the other side, looking around the room in surprise. Ink starts pulling the rest of our void through the slot. 

“That wasn’t so bad,” he admits. “Though significantly more disorienting than the first time.”

“I don’t think you were totally conscious the first time,” I tell him. 

Ink refills my coat, hiding beneath my layers, as we take in our surroundings. 

“I suppose we should head up?” I suggest, hearing no sign of the resident.

Zyneth doesn’t answer right away, glancing around the room. Then he says, “How?”

I do a double take. Oh—that’s what felt off. There are no stairs; no other entrances or exits to this room. 

“Weird.” I send a few pieces of glass to sweep around the ceiling, tapping at the wood to make sure it’s not an illusion or if I can find any cracks. “Where do you suppose he went? Something to do with void magic?”

“Precicely.”

Zyneth wheels around to the kitchen table, where a small man is now seated, depositing an armful of snacks. He’s bald and green, with a wiry frame and pointed ears, one of which is pierced with a silver ring. This all stands in odd contrast to his neat attire, consisting of slacks and a brown sweater vest.

[Check: Siqi, Level 51 Goblin Transposer]

“Oh!” he says in that same, scratchy, high pitched voice. “You made it inside. Good! Are you staying for tea?”