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Chapter 476 Baking
🕑 Added 2020-05-09 09:09:39 +0000 UTCAuthor's note: Hello all :). New chapter and more hopefully next week.
Concerning the Felicia comments - Her mention of Ilea as a trap disarm tool was sarcastic (I know it's ironic considering some recent intravenous disinfectant talk). She likes her and feels bad about how they had treated her, knows however that Ilea doesn't really give a shit - hence the mention of how Maria or herself would have reacted. I'll change some of that section at some point. Appreciate the feedback :).
Let me know what you think of this one too!
PDF/EPUB: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32241245
Chapter 476 Baking
Ilea kept her eyes closed, focused on the speck of energy she felt within. The armor helped to keep out any external sensations, her sphere and other skills turned off.
She had first came into contact with the thing a few days prior. Her interest piqued, she spent a little more time in her Armaments of Trials, mostly meditating with a focus on the part of her she hadnt previously seen nor felt.
The more she forced herself to look at it, to feel it, the more it became blurry, ending in a blinding pain that made her stop.
The pain felt familiar too but she couldnt place it. As if a part of her had forgotten, had refused to cling on to the memory.
She tried a few more times before deciding that it was futile to force it. Instead she tried to coexist with what she perceived, to accept it without showing any desire to unveil its secrets.
Meditation helped greatly to bring her into the right state of mind and soon she felt the energy move closer, or perhaps she herself was moving.
Ilea wondered if this was the closest to a spiritual experience shes ever had. She decided that meeting the Fae still topped whatever this was.
ding You have learned the General Skill: Soul Perception lvl 1
Soul Perception lvl 1
Through sheer luck and naivete, you have achieved enlightenment. A part of it that is. And perhaps not really enlightenment. Others might call it that but its really just the ability to perceive your soul or essence. Its a dubious skill that might help philosophers understand a piece of lifes puzzle but for you it will be mostly useless. Congratulations regardless. A skill that didnt require killing and blood to unlock. Marvelous.
Haha! Ilea called out from within her armor, unable to lift her arms at all. She stored it and spread her wings.
Enough meditation for today, she thought, happy to have surprised even her own subconscious magical text employee.
The insults werent lost on her but at this point she was beyond caring. If she was relegated to write someones skill information, she would sure as hell pack it full of insults and jokes. Not that she really thought an actual conscious being was behind it.
The implications were a little too terrifying.
She flew up in the training hall and made sure nobody was present. An eye on her wings, she formed small openings that would allow the wind to travel through.
One might ask why that obvious flaw in flying tech should be implemented but the answer was quite simple.
Intimidation.
Trian had actually joked about it during one of their dungeon runs. With the magic animating her wings, the lack of aerodynamic support didnt matter as much as it really should have, allowing her to work quite a few openings into her appendages.
Right now, she was working on the best possible sound. An unnerving constant whistle or an increasingly loud high pitched screech? She wasnt sure yet but the intricacies of sound manipulation were highly interesting.
Ilea had never learned to play an instrument. Both a lack of opportunity, pressure, and simple talent had led to it never coming to be.
Now perhaps, with all her stats and skills, the prospect didnt sound quite as difficult anymore but seeing her students work themselves to the bone, she herself focused on useful abilities too.
Whistling wings are useful! she said to the uncaring void watching her always. Or perhaps the fae that were hiding in plain sight. If there really were any.
Ilea left the hall, the gates closed behind her before enchantments flared up into place.
Christopher and Iana continued to expand on their defenses. Every new room and hall had to be clad in enchantments before it was approved of usage.
She felt it a little too much but Trian and the faculty approved. Ilea wasnt about to ignore their fears, knowing very well that they were in the middle of a sprawling city. With interested eyes and ears everywhere, powerful groups and mercenaries irking to find every secret they could sell. Or simply to satisfy some peculiar need.
Something or someone like the Ascended would ignore such defenses but that argument didnt invalidate the efforts. She knew as much, even without having another talk with Trian.
She walked past a few more training rooms that had been added in the past weeks, glancing inside with her sphere, the enchantments tuned to allow her mana signature to pass. The perks of advanced enchanters.
A few students were meditating among piles of ash, specks of the element floating around two of them. Another student was trying to build something akin to a snowman. Quite an impossible task without control over the element.
She didnt disturb them, finding two students fighting each other.
Ilea blinked inside, joining the few watching eyes. Other students and Aki, each giving pointers from time to time.
They had tensed a little at her sudden appearance but nobody showed an obvious reaction.
She had to admit that the students were good. Much better fighters than she had been after a month with her class.
Blink and punch. Quite simple, she thought, watching the young man move his staff in an expert manner, striking several times at the womans legs as she danced backwards.
She jumped and twirled, a whip of fire manifesting and moving in tow, forcing him back as it lashed out.
Both were fighting defensively, probing each others abilities. A test of endurance between two warriors who knew each other well.
Their skills had been honed and corrected by the experienced trainers Ilea had provided. By now her own capabilities far outshone the young fighters but they got a head start. That much was sure.
She wondered how much progress she would have made with teachers like Sidney or Orthan. Edwin had given her some pointers, as did others, but nothing to the extent of a dedicated teacher.
Her own skills had kept her from forming bad habits, from straying too far from efficient and deadly movements. She had learned herself and with the help of magic. Her student would have the best of both worlds.
Surviving in dangerous dungeons with nothing but their skills, learning to fight ravenous monsters with the sole intent to maul and kill. And at the same time training with calculating warriors who tried to hit weak points, used a variety of weapons and tactics. Who tried to exhaust and used every unfair advantage they could get.
Ilea didnt have to look at Aki to know that he was proud. He, she or it. The machine had filled in the role of combat teacher and protector of the Sentinels perfectly.
He had never complained or failed in any of his tasks. That was what Trian had told her.
Maybe his absence from my side was a good influence, she wondered. Or perhaps she herself would have risen to the task if their positions had been reversed.
How much of herself was in the machine was a mystery. Iana had yet to understand what the dagger truly was but one thing was sure, he was learning, improving.
It didnt matter if he was a soul bound to steel or enchantments and magic creating an artificial intelligence, Aki had become an integral member of the Medic Sentinels.
She left again when the fire whip slashed into the mans face, ending the fight as he admitted defeat. He had shown no pain and the wound had already started healing. She assumed the condition for her victory had been met, nodding once before she vanished.
Ilea had kept her interactions with the students low. After a few talks with Trian he had suggested that approach.
She would be the unreachable goal, the specter of the Sentinels that both protected them and kept them pushing forward. If she became too human, too much of a friend, these illusions would lose impact.
At the same time it protected her from being tied down, and in part from the inevitable deaths that would come. Losing a student was one thing but a friend she had helped train was worse.
Thats what she told herself at the very least.
They had made a choice to be here and yet she felt a connection with these students that would make her response to one of their deaths uncertain and devastating at best.
Even Eve, who she had not truly known, had made her rage, had made her investigate and look into one of the supposedly most dangerous orders in the human lands.
That title didnt mean much to her anymore but at the time, her rational side should have won out. She could understand reacting that way with a family member but a teammate she had fought with for less than a year?
One that hadnt even entrusted her with her true goals, her true identity?
She sighed and continued up and through the expanding headquarters, whose front above ground hadnt changed in the slightest.
One thing was sure. She would find out who Eve was and who had killed her.
If one of her students got killed however, nothing would protect whatever had caused it. Be it fifty Ascended and an army of Elementals.
Ash danced around the armored healer, her eyes cold as scenarios unknown flashed through her mind.
Students and teachers alike remained in their rooms as a cold and dangerous aura came and went. A familiar sensation to them but not one anybody could get used to.
_______________________________
Helena shifted in her chair. Uncomfortable but necessary.
Impressions were important after all. Just as the eyes were important when eating a perfect cupcake, the chair she sat on was important when conducting business.
It didnt mean she wasnt allowed to be annoyed about it.
Your aura is showing, Amara said from the corner of the room.
Helena smiled. Well done.
She stood up from the chair and clapped. You are getting better! My deary, your perception is impressive as always!
Dont act like you intended to do that, the woman replied without a hint of sarcasm or joy.
You have a lot to learn yet, Helena thought, happy to see that the girl still had the same spirit.
There it is again, Amara said.
You must stop. Please my dear, this old woman cant take your grievous insults, she said and stepped past her table and towards the oven.
The smell was close to perfection. Her creation was nearing completion. Another thirty six seconds, according to her intuition. The heat was perfect, as were the ingredients. Not easy to come by in times of war.
And what a dreadful war it was. So much potential lost, so many people and cities. Wiped out because of the misplaced ambition of a simpleminded barbarian. Aaach, she exclaimed, tapping her foot to the passing of time as she ignored the moans behind her.
NOW! she exclaimed in an onset of joy, her hands rushing out in blurry speed as she opened the oven.
She grabbed the heated metal sheet with her bare hands and carefully moved it out, looking at her delicious creation.
Perfectly calculated cracks showed on the top of the chocolate cake, veins of molten goodness showing in between. Enticing and sexy, heavy and full of promise. She smiled and twirled, hot plate in hand before she vanished and appeared next to a small table.
She had already prepared the tea and now the cake was done too. Amara, come and sit, she said and straightened her dress, the pink apron vanishing into her enchanted hair clip.
The assassin appeared already sitting in the chair opposite her. Luscious black hair reaching down below her shoulders. A pale and fair face with deep black eyes that showed neither joy nor care but focus alone.
The girl had nothing but ambition from the start. Helena had been sure she would be eaten alive by her peers but she had been proven wrong.
She loved being proven wrong.
Interesting surprises werent a daily thing at her advanced age and experience. Not that she would ever share that information with anyone, lest they learn she was older than most grandmothers in Myrefield!
I heard you like chocolate, Helena said in a casual tone.
I can tolerate it, Amara said.
Youre playing a dangerous game.
Helena feigned being hurt, touching her heart as she closed her eyes.
Concern flashed on the girls face as she gingerly sliced into the cake, taking a piece and starting to eat.
Good.
You dont have to play the part, Amara. I know very well that not everyones heart beats in the same tone. And yet it hurts nonetheless, to see ones creation rejected with such lack of care, Helena said as she cut herself a piece too.
The recipe had originally demanded to let the cake cool down but she found that by leaving her pain perception active and with Heat Resistance in the second tier, the slight tingle would elevate the taste. Almost like a mix of spicy and sweet.
She had tried various toxins but nothing had been quite as subtle as simple heat. Too dominating in experience and taste usually or an incompatibility with the other ingredients.
Poison cakes were an art she had mastered long ago but there was a difference between trying to kill someone and using the deadly substances to add to the taste. It was especially difficult when she had to evaluate her guests resistance to various poisons.
Amara showed no reaction to the heat, nor did she smile due to the mix of sugar, butter, and chocolate. Really, if she wasnt so competent and if Helena was a hundred years younger, she would have likely taken care of her a long time ago.
What did you bring me today? she asked, taking a sip of her cherry tea infused with black vein ivy.
A Baralia officer who had been stationed in Odiah and a member of the Order of Truth, who was in fact hunting down the fleeing officer, Amara reported, still showing no concern about the marvelous cake.
Darling, dont be shy, eat up. Im sure your figure can take it, Helena said, a friendly smile on her face.
The girl finished her cake. Like an animal. Or perhaps a slave obeying their masters order.
She did not understand what Helena wanted but she had obeyed nonetheless. Misguided but young. Perhaps the girl simply needed time to adjust, her lust for power not yet plateaued.
Tell me what you know, Helena said, sitting back as she occasionally took a sip of tea. The veins on her arms slowly turned black as the poison took effect, the sensation of corruption mixing well with cherry and the scent of fear permeating the room.
The order of truth have more influence over the high king than we previously anticipated. The destruction of Odiah through an elaborate blood magic sacrifice of most its population wasnt a last effort to repel the imperial forces but simply the first step in a plan I could not yet unravel, Amara said, her head lowered.
Helena touched the womans cheek carefully, almost scared the skin would break. My dear, you did not fail me. Not at all. Im very proud of you!
The girl had tears in her eyes, nodding weakly as she continued her report.
The ritual involved curse and blood magic, to a scale I had never seen before. I have experimented a lot and I doubt it is possible to fuel such a spell with human deaths. Something is foul, the girl explained.
Helena sat back again and took another sip, crossing her legs as she sighed. The world is vast, Amara. And we are just playing in the small part we claim our own.
She nodded. Everyone who did not survive was turned, their identification changed to cursed and they attacked everything that had survived.
Retaining their abilities and combat sense? Helena asked.
The girl nodded.
Did they spread it further?
No. I tested it with a surviving Baralia soldier myself. He was simply slain by the cursed and remained so, Amara replied.
Helena nodded. Thank you. For your efforts and for bringing them to me. Im glad you survived your mission, she said and smiled before vanishing and carefully hugging the girl from behind.
She was tense, still scared, her trauma haunting her but perhaps a little less so than on the first day they had met.
I trust you have interrogated the prisoners? she asked.
The girl nodded, relaxing as the arms around her let go. The officer had known about a dangerous spell and decided to defect. Im certain he has nothing left to share.
[Warrior lvl 142]
Helena stepped to the shaking man, his body not showing any recent scars or defects but she knew Amara took her job very seriously. He had tried not to make a noise, his hands and legs bound and his eyes covered in a thick dark cloth.
She broke his neck with a casual motion, cleaning off her hands on the appearing apron.
The priest might know some things but I have failed to pry it from him, Amara continued as the officers body fell with a thump.
The believing cling not to their own minds and ambitions but to something higher. Do not worry, dear Amara. We will find ways for him to talk. Rest for one day and return to Odiah. Support our forces in destroying the cursed. We do not want another wave of demonic creatures ravaging our lands.
The girl bowed and vanished.
Do you like chocolate cake, mister ? Helena asked as she sliced a piece and placed it on a small plate.
A few shrouded individuals appeared in the large open kitchen, one of them taking away the corpse, another one cleaning the floor.
I will not talk with savages, the man said before the last visitor slammed a hand into his throat, silencing him for the moment.
That wasnt necessary, Helena said in a disappointed tone. I wanted him to try, she said and showed the cake.
Apologies, mistress, the man said and went to one knee.
Hmm, no worries. Maybe you will like it instead, she said and handed him the plate.
Im honored.
You darn well should be. Interrogate him. He is part of the order of truth, she said and stepped back to her small round table. The cake was still hot.
Understood, the man clad in light black armor said, carefully holding his piece of cake as he gestured to the cleaning man in the same attire, the latter taking away the prisoner.
This is shaping up to be a dangerous conflict. If the order really infiltrated that deep, I do hope their lunacy has no foundation in magical theory.
She would await the interrogation. Until then, she still had a marvelous lemon cake recipe to perfect. A soft tune filled the room as she summoned flour and a few lemons, humming the melody of the latest hit to find Myrefields pubs.
Comments
BeepBoop
In the new episode of Baking Bad, does meth count as a posion, and can you use it to make cake?
levon
Your opinion. I kinda like this more than constant dungeon crawling. To me this kinda stuf makes the story fun and interesting
Max Scherer
hmm Dunno these 'War PoV' are rather meh? I mean I get it that this will probabaly the next big Arc, but It doesnt seem to interesting to switch to such PoVs. I mean that is the same Problem with the Eve Arc and the hole politic shtick and was rather meh to read.
Håvard
I find it totally beliveble she is getting more resistens levels might get diviant human to second tier. Also crearing an strong orginasation from nothing might be important achvment for her new class.
Tentaclour
While all this is going on, I feel like the class unlocking for 350 has been dragging on for too long at this point and it might be good to get closure on this before moving onto new characters and new story arcs
MrrC
This is an awkward sentence. "Everyone who did not survive was turned, their identification changed to cursed and they attacked everything that had survived.”
fbt
On 2nd read Helena seems a little crazed, but not entirely evil (so far). While she's casually torturing and murdering folks, she seems concerned about harm to the general populace. The blood ritual wasn't a spreading plague or extra-dimensional meddling, "just" a ground zero bio-nuke on their own city. Felicia and Amara (and indirectly Helena) have all indicated there's something nasty about the method used tho, so I imagine we'll hear more. Ilea's Fae friend unambiguously indicated it was her subconscious parsing the reality into something she could handle that filled the system text, IIRC. But if she's just musing "what if/if it had been" it fits ("it would have been creepy if it had been otherwise", basically). I don't recall seeing a lot of explicitly subjunctive structures in AzH, btw: if it had been, could have been...but, might have been, etc as random examples. although I think that's where you're aiming sometimes. More broadly, sarcasm, whimsy, and some other tonal techniques have occasionally seemed to not come thru entirely as transparently as you might hope; don't stop using them, just keep working on it! :) It may be that in your head you're assuming inflection/body language/etc that makes it clear, but it could be many other things. I think we readers sometimes underestimate how hard it is to use text-only to be completely clear to a diverse audience, especially with interpersonal nuances, emerging or unusual situations/characters, etc. Thanks, as always, for the chapter!! I love the story, and I'm very excited now that the sentinels have started to see progress! :)
Some Total Kretin
Nooooooooo! Don't plant these cursed theories in my mind just before sleeping. Now I have this image of Eve as a Fantomas like villain changing faces to infiltrate enemies in my head...:)
Elliot
Does anyone else think that Amara might be Eve? Young assassin girl who's been around for a little bit but is impressive and working with her own obvious motive. I dont remember what Eve was described as looking like, but we know shes into faking her own death and changing identities.
Arcanes
I thought about the soul rippers too, but I think they are connected to the ascended. So Ilea will probably only go there when she is sure she can it least run away safely if she encounters her nemesis. So the north will be an option again only after she becomes much stronger than before I think. She really has a lot of options without going there, so she is okay with leveling for now anyway.
They would need to be in her sphere of influence to affect them, so probably not since she like an adventure
Slicedtoad
Ooh, good catch. Didn't even think of that.
Hayden Pech
Correction(?): “Her student would have the best of both worlds.” *students* Pretty sure she has more than one! :) Thanks for the chapter!!
Adam Roundfield
Here we discover the ever elusive hidden expert archetype in her natural environment. We bear witness as she shares her timeless wisdom with the chosen few, helping them to gain enlightenment by facing one of the greatest cosmic mysteries and forcing them to answer the question: Is the cake a lie?
sharkattack
<strike>Some of the trainees have Blink already.</strike> I think Sage of Torment lets Ilea straight up pass them her skills (or at least has a chance to)?
Josh W
third class should be a teaching related class that increases the rate in with her students in the medics learn
Not quite possible that she have 3 tier general skills, since the only known method (to us) is having 10 general skills up to 2nd tier lvl 20, which takes a lot of healing to get up, or a lot of fighting and training, so, even she saying she is older than most people, it's still something quite hard to get with slow training
Torbjørn Nilsen
I have a feeling that too many people have forgotten that we have met a lot of lvl 250 ish people that have had a lot of power in the human plains. 250+ Is talked about as the top percentile in the human land. But, no lets have 300+ people pop out of the woodwork Dragonball style, destroying the narrative of power Hearthane has been bulding.
Some Total Kretin
It's been a month of training for the sentinels, but I'd expect Ilea will get to check things out somewhen in the next months, especially if there is more of the same shit like this blood curse on the menu in upcoming cities.
Taxel
Was she humming Lillith's song at the end?
carebear90
So... I'm guessing this Helena person is in the 300+ levels? She gives off a feeling of the casually powerful...
Some Total Kretin
To paraphrase my favourite critic "yahtzee" croshaw: "You've built suspense, Mr Harthane. It's a very nice suspense, you can stop building it now. No, I don't think it would look nicer with a conservatory! Put that trowel down before I smack you with it!"
Some Total Kretin
Ehh...I would think empress (if she's not just a figurehead) will be more "kingly" in her circumstances and people surrounding her. You know, royal advisors and ministers and such, not concerning herself with low level stuff like breaking a neck of random captive. She seems more like mid/high level manager in spy/assassin agency.
Some Total Kretin
Why ascended? It's like saying that interdimensional eldricht horrors are there to rob your liquor store because they are envious of your cash flow. Ascended are powerful enough to do whatever they want with just pure strength (assuming that average memner is somewhere in 1000 level range with four classes). Would you get rid of wasps in your attic by carefully infiltrating the wasp community and then subvert the queen wasp or would you burn it down? Pulling strings in the background is only advantageous IF the difference in strength is not that large or if you're somehow really sick in the head and stupid.
Chase Clawson
Hmm, I kinda want Ilea to use Soul Perception in some horribly frivolous and irreverent manner xD I have no idea how you would do so, but if anyone could, it's Ilea. Also, why you gotta keep us so much in suspense!?!?!? Those last levels are just a constant tease, level 350 AND a new class around the same time! But, I also understand, she's trying to be all prepared and stuff, like a logical person xD
David Frerich
Do we know the name of the Empress of Lys? Couldn’t Helena just be her?
Some Total Kretin
Can't wait for Helen to meet Ilea. Someone cooking with poison and heat? Ilea's gonna love her!
Han Pol
Depending on what kind of Daolord that will likely be a level 2000+ class. .. the desolate era variety will likely never ever happen.
Tim Deral
Nice 👌🏻👩🍳
Benjamin
Also.. there's no way finding the soul doesn't have significance. Daolord of ash LVL EX
Benjamin
Whoo! go G. So it sounds like illea isn't going to need to get involved with cursed or anything. Already being mopped up. Possible other shady organisations, maybe ascended in the background though pulling strings. Illea also done with her org for now or one more medic sentinal arc before illeas third class arc.
Astrapor
wasn't it a guy with gold and blood related classes?
Fate Hydrax
I think helena might be the one that killed eve
Thanks for the chapter !
Samuel Johansson
Pain and heat in 2nd, we can assume good resistances but those are obvious choices for any human if they had 3rd tier general points. We can conclude that she's strong, old but not nearly as resistant as Ilea.
Alexander Dupree
Huh Ilea having soul perception could be interesting.
BeepBoop
Is Helena Poppies mother, or his future girlfriend?
Awesome skill. Maybe Psionic Ilea someday?
agentjongon
Helena already propped up to be a fan favourite. Hope we see more people like her, humans who are 100+ years old. Thanks
Even better, this one make tasty food that trains your poison resistance! Illea would love her!
So, when does Felicia come to get illea saying, "well we got trouble and we need you"
Tommy Littlefield
Another high level master baker for llea’s growing restraint chain empire
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
Darastrix
As gentlemen Cho'Gath would say "Cake or death?"
M. Gunnarsson
The first part of the baking part confused me a few times, but I must say I really like Helena.
Connor Bruha
Thanks for the earlier than usual chapter! Like the chocolate cake, it was very yummy.
Sebastian Prue
Thanks for the chapter! After a few drinks I can say I cannot wait to read this one twice!
Michael scott
Thanks for the chapter. Ha, cake or death. Or in this case both.
Blaublue
If Helena and Ilea ever becomes enemies, Ilea will face her biggest dilemma yet: To kill or not to kill the maker of delicious cakes
Arkeus
Ah, Ilea's new best friend, I see.
MrBookL lambert
I certainly dont remember them from anywhere in the story. Maybe a hidden cult or order?
Late night chapter :o We don't know Helena and Amara right? They're new characters?
