Irwin's Journey 482: Made from Purperion

"Now then, you have me rather curious," Irwin said. "What is going on?"

Rinbus took a deep breath, staring up at him. "Rindiri and the others weren't your own species initially, were they?"

Irwin blinked in surprise. He hadn't told Rinbus or anyone here about the Yuurindi, while he and Rindiri had made sure the ex-Yuurindi also never mentioned it. They called themselves Crathans and promised not to talk about Eluathar or Yuurindi. 

When asked, he had told a few curious people that the differences were due to them being a subspecies, but had never provided details about it. So… how had Rinbus found out?

This all rushed through his mind in an instant, followed by a slight sense of relief. Although he'd not told Rinbus, he did trust the Centi, as he did Nimlarel. The fact that they had even gone as far as to talk with him about it in his soulscape told him they fully realized it wasn't something he wanted generally known.

"I guess that reaction says it all," Rinbus said, looking slightly embarrassed. "I overheard two of the smiths. They were talking about how they had finally got used to the changes, and that they really preferred how they were now… There was a bit more, but-" he shrugged.

Irwin sighed, shaking his head.

"In their defence, they were whispering and far from anyone else," Rinbus said. "I'd noticed someone hiding and had gone to check who it was. I was already leaving when I saw who it was, but still overheard."

"It's alright," Irwin said, walking to his massive chair and sitting down. "You are right. The Crathans weren't always like that."

"Did you change them? With cards?" Nimlarel asked, her eyes sparkling behind the shadowy haze that permanently flowed around her eyes. "Like how you aren't exactly like an Oxarite because of your own cards?"

Irwin hesitated, then nodded.

"See? I told you it was like that," Nimlarel said, a dazzling smile on her face as she looked at Rinbus. 

"You did," Rinbus said, frowning slightly. "I… find it so hard to believe that cards can make such massive changes. Wait-" he turned ot Irwin, frowning. "Where they even Oxarites before?"

"No," Irwin said, even more curious now.

This seemed to surprise Nimlarel, who looked slightly worried.  "How… different from me were they?"

"Very."

"They weren't Oxarites?"

Irwin sighed as he leaned forward. "No, but you two do realise this is not something that is to be spoken about outside of my soulscape. Right?"

"We do," Rinbus said, while Nimlarel nodded quickly.

"I would never do anything that can bring harm to you," she said with such conviction that Irwin felt slightly uncomfortable for a moment.

"Good," he said. "Then perhaps you two can explain why we are here talking about it? I'm starting to feel it's not just because you were curious."

"Can you change us?" Nimlarel asked, the way she asked it was almost like she fully believed he could and would.

For the second time that day, Irwin felt a slight sense of stunned silence.

"I… perhaps. But why?" he asked.

"Because they want to make little Volcano Titans," another voice shouted, startling the two before Irwin.

Ambraz's translucent, slightly bluish projected form flew down from the rafters, a massive grin on his face. "You cheeky little brats! You heard I was going to make more rank zeros and want to do the same!"

Irwin's mouth opened, then closed, as he watched Rinbus and Nimlarel stare at Ambraz in slight horror.

"No, it's not like that," Nimlarel exclaimed, her cheeks turning ruddy. She looked down, then muttered something Irwin barely caught. "Not exactly."

Rinbus sighed, shaking his head. "Ambraz is somewhat right," he said. "We had hoped that because we both have such a strong shadow typing that… well…"

Irwin couldn't help himself. Leaning back, he began laughing, his belly heaving as he thought about how worried he'd felt a few times during the conversation. There was no need for it. 

It only lasted for a few moments due to how worried Nimlarel instantly looked.

"You two want to become Crathanathair so you can be together," he said as he tried to wipe his smile from his face. 

"If that's possible?" Rinbus asked hesitantly.

"Of course it is," Ambraz snorted, landing on the table before them. "But you do know it means you won't be an Accenti anymore?"

"Centi," Rinbus replied, seemingly mechanically, before taking a deep breath and releasing it explosively. "I know. But from what you told me, Crathans have powerful mental blocks that make it incredibly hard for anyone to break into their soulscape, right?"

Irwin blinked, and he instantly felt he knew the second reason why Rinbus was willing to change so much. 

"It will remove the last of the chains and prevent the Guidar from binding you again," he said slowly. "Or at a minimum, make it extremely difficult."

"Yes," Rinbus said, his eyes hardening. "I've talked with some of the Elders while you were gone, and they are afraid that as much as we have removed the chains, some traces remain. That if the portals start closing faster, and Scour becomes more stable, the Guidar will eventually come and reclaim us."

"Even after all these millennia, they still haven't forgotten?" Irwin said, somewhat surprised by it. 

"We can feel the remnants of the chains," Rinbus said. "Most of us have barely any, and there are some who can't feel them at all. But just because they can't, it doesn't mean the chains are fully gone."

"The elders came up with this plan?" Irwin asked.

"No," Rinbus said. "They actually tried to get me to convince you to stop closing the portals. They fear what it could bring, and would prefer living for as long as possible here in the hopes that eventually every trace of the chains is gone. It's my plan, though I have talked with a few of the others. Especially those like me who can sense the chains well would do almost anything to get rid of them."

Irwin didn't say anything, but looked at Rinbus, letting his soulforce senses flow over the other. Here in his soulscape, he could clearly sense the tiny remnants of the chains, and he knew he could rip them apart easily if he wanted to. The problem was that he had no idea what that would cause. Would the Guidar sense it? The remnants of the chains were vastly different from those he'd removed before, weaker, yes, but also warped.

'Should I tell him?' he asked.

Ambraz didn't answer, and Irwin felt a wave of worry from his friend.

He hesitated for only a moment, then imagined what would happen if Rinbus found out after he went through with this. 

"I could try and remove the remnants of the chains," Irwin said slowly. "But there is a risk that the Guidar will sense my meddling."

Rinbus's mouth opened, then closed. "You can do that?" he finally blurted.

"I can, but there are risks," Irwin said. "I would prefer not to do it until we have no other choice."

Rinbus didn't react, and Irwin slowly explained how he'd met other Accenti and had broken them free. He had spoken about it in less detail before, but now he told Rinbus about his interactions with the group of Accenti that had been hunting the Chaos Whales. He told him how unchaining them had caused the Guidar to find them and what that had been like, and when he finished, the Centi was quiet.

Nimlarel was watching him from the side, looking slightly worried, her hands holding one of Rinbus's.

"I don't think we should risk it," Rinbus finally said, as he looked up. "But I would like to talk with the Elders about what you have just shared. If you are okay with that?"

"You can," Irwin said. "Just make sure they understand I will not be unchaining anyone yet."

"They wouldn't ask you to," Rinbus said, sounding highly sure of himself. "But it will change a few things."

Irwin saw Nimlarel's face go from slightly worried to horrified. Rinbus seemed to notice too, and he quickly turned to her with a smile. "Not for me. For the others!" he said, turning to Irwin.

"Would you be willing to change us? I take it we would need a special heartcard, seeing as all those you brought were recently heartcarded."

Irwin was impressed at how much Rinbus had been able to connect from what he'd learned. He also wanted to say yes right away, then hesitated. There were no Crathanathair based on either Accenti or Oxarites yet, and as much as the latter resembled him, he knew they were a completely different species entirely. That meant, if he did what they asked, he would be creating two new 'firsts' of a subspecies. That meant they would likely be stronger than those who followed. 

Who else would I prefer to be the first? he thought to himself.

He looked at the two whom he had started thinking of as friends for a while, his choice already mostly made. Still, it did leave one issue. Although the cardseed he had made would be fine as a basis, he had reforged those very specifically with Yuurindi in mind. He couldn't just give them one of those.

'How long would it take us to reforge the handcard that will work on them?' he asked Ambraz.

'Nimlarel would be easy, perhaps a few weeks. Rinbus? I don't know. I've been scanning him for a few minutes now, and his soulforce resonance is vastly different from both Yuurindi and yourself. Months?'

Irwin thought about it for a few more moments, examining both Rinbus and Nimlarel's soulforce resonance before smiling.

"I'll help you," he said. "But it will take a while. It requires me to create a very specific card for both of you, one I don't have yet. Also, I take it you are planning to ask if I would be willing to do this for more of your people?"

"Yes," Rinbus said with a smile.

"You aren't an Oxarite at all?" Nimlarel asked, staring at him.

"Not even close," Irwin said.

"How much will I change if I do this?" she asked, her eyes glancing at his arms. "Will I become like Brecka?"

Irwin grinned. "You mean big and muscular? Would you like that?"

Nimlarel shook her head so hard her hair flung about. Then she seemed to realize what she'd done.

"I don't mean she doesn't look good," she said, her voice rising to a high pitch. "But I like the way I look."

"Hah, you little brats," Ambraz snapped, barking out a laugh. "Asking-"

"I'll try to make sure you stay about the same dimensions you are now," Irwin said quickly, interrupting Ambraz. He had talked with Flowrishin about this a while ago and had learned a thing or two about it. He also fully understood, because he definitely preferred Scintilla the way she was.

"You might become a bit bigger, though, as that's part of what it means to be a Crathanathair," he said.

"A little is fine," Nimlarel said, nodding quickly. "Just… not like a smith? Please?"

Irwin smiled, turning to Rinbus, who was rolling his eyes. 

"What about you?"

"I don't mind either way," Rinbus said calmly. "Moving through the shadows will not change."

"It won't," Irwin agreed, thinking about Greldo and some of the other shadewalkers. "You two do have to think about one thing. You will both become new subspecies, and you won't be the same subspecies either."

They both looked confused at that, and for the next hour, Irwin slowly explained to them what it meant. Eventually, they walked out of his soulscape's house, wandering the hills as they talked, leaving Irwin alone with Ambraz.

"Perhaps you should also look for a Viridian who wants to be changed," Ambraz said, his projected form landing on his shoulder.

"I think this is more than enough for now," Irwin said. "I'll have to talk with Rinbus when he returns. If they are both going to become the first of more, Blackglass Cave will need to have the accommodations for them to."

"I guess," Ambraz grunted. "So, from what I'm sensing, you are planning to stay here to fix this before you leave again?"

"Yes," Irwin said. "It will give Rinbus and Nimlarel the time to get used to everything before I bring even more people. Also, I think it might even help them and the other new Crathans."

Ambraz flew up, then circled his head a few times. "Well, that's good! It will give us something else to focus on besides that annoying cardseed."

Irwin could only agree, as they had been stumped for months in their progress. 

"After that, I'm going to leave the body split and clone seeds for a while," he said. "We are going to focus on making a Soulstrum Guitar seed, if we can. Or something that can be reforged into one."

Ambraz let out a weary sigh. "And that's supposed to be easier?"

"We already did the easy ones," Irwin said.  "We can do fire, coperion, and even a base for Crathanathairs. All of the other parts are more diffuse and complicated."

"You could try to focus on the soulforce sensitivity one."

"Sure… like that's not one of the most complex ones we can do," Irwin said, crossing his arms.

"Perhaps, but besides the body split and clone ones, it will be the most useful one," Ambraz said. "Imagine giving all of the Crathan Smiths one!"

Irwin hummed softly, knowing his friend was right. Having more sensitivity was always a good thing as a smith. Still, the mere thought of having to find the core essence of that part of him that would allow him to create a cardseed for that made him shiver. It would be incredibly difficult.

"Also, you should talk with Trimdir about moving here," Ambraz said. "He could-"

"My mom would kill me," Irwin said, shaking his head. "Unless you are suggesting I bring her here? You do know that would mean she would miss her grandchildren for a long time… do you wanna be the one to suggest that to her?"

"Right… Forgot I said anything," Ambraz said softly. "Still, you need more high-potential smiths here. All of the ones we have now can at best become emerald or ruby-rank. You need to bring some here that can reach diamond, preferably high diamond-rank."

"Well, Trimdir is out, as is Endil," Irwin said. "Besides what we just said, they are the main teachers."

"Well, they should be Galadin. Those have a far greater chance of becoming diamond-rank smiths," Ambraz said.

"Which is why Daubutim is searching for those," Irwin said, leaning back, pondering the next few months. "For now, let's start planning how we reforge the seed into a card that will work for Rinbus and Nimlarel."

--

Rubini walked into the small inn, looking around until she saw Julla. Her friend was laughing as she sat at a table with some of the warriors she'd left with. A long scar wound around her left eye, the tip almost hitting it, but beyond that, she was alright. Almost unharmed.

"Rubi!"

Rubini walked forward and grimaced as Julla slammed into her, hugging her tightly. 

She really did become strong, she thought.

"I told you to be careful," she whispered, hugging her friend, before pushing her away to inspect her.

Julla's eyes were narrow, and she could see that the joy was superficial. It wasn't a surprise, as her group had lost eleven people, while the other healer would take close to a year to recover both her legs.

"Don't worry, I'm fine," Julla said, smiling in a way that Rubini wondered if she even believed it herself.

"So, what happened? Nobody wanted to talk about it, and…" Rubini fell quiet as Julla let out a weary sigh. 

"We were told to keep this to ourselves," her friend said. "It's best if you ask the Guildmaster when he is teaching next time."

"I will," Rubini said, before looking at the warriors who were laughing and eating. Although they seemed happy, she saw the occasional glance at an empty chair or a shaky exhale. 

I will.

"How long did it feel for you inside?" she asked, deciding to focus on something else for now.

"We thought a day had passed," Julla said, accepting a drink. 

"It was almost three months for us," Rubini said softly. "Many of us were worried."

"I know," Julla said. "When we returned, there was a big commotion. Even the Guildmaster came to check on us."

"I think he will be leaving again soon," Rubini muttered. "There's also some odd rumors about Rinbus and Nimlarel."

"Odd rumors? Tell me," Julla said, pulling her to an empty chair and looking both curious and more than happy to stop talking about the ruby portal she'd survived.

"Well, they were gone way longer than they usually are when they search for burrows," Rubini said. "Then, when they supposedly returned, they had changed…"

"Changed?" Julla asked, eyes widening. "Is Nimlarel pregnant? I thought Centi and Oxarite couldn't…"

Rubini stared at her in stunned silence. "What?" she asked.

"What, what? You didn't know those two-"

"No! How do you even know that?"

Julla grinned. "One of the warriors told us a few portals ago. He caught them hugging really closely." She waggled her eyebrows as she said that.

Rubini thought about the times she'd seen the two shadewalkers, but she couldn't recall them interacting any differently from the usual. Had she actually missed something like that?

"But if that's not, what are the rumors?" Julla asked.

Rubini drew her attention back to the conversation. "The people who saw them said they have changed into Crathan, or at least something really close to it."

"What?!" Julla exclaimed, causing a few of the nearby warriors to look at them curiously. "Sorry," she said, lowering her voice. "How is that even possible?"

"Cards, of course," Rubini said. "It's all rumors, though. I haven't seen them myself yet."

“Why… how…” Julla muttered, leaning back. Slowly, her eyes began glinting. "Okay, I know why!"

Rubini rolled her eyes. "Yes, based on what you just said, that's obvious. Though from what I heard, Rinbus changed a lot more than Nimlarel."

"Ohhhh, tell me," Julla said.

"Nimlarel became a bit taller, and her skin looks like the Guildmaster's now, as does her hair, although it's darker," Rubini said.

Julla grunted, waving her on. "Yes, yes. Tell me about Rinbus! Is he like the Guildmaster now?"

As she said it, her eyes glittered, and Rubini wasn't sure how to even react to that.

"He is over a head taller, a bit sturdier, but not nearly like the Guildmaster," she said. "His skin is the same, but his hair is a little purple, like the other Crathans."

"That can't be all," Julla said, sounding almost let down.

Rubini shook her head, her eyes widening. "They say his eyes are completely black. Like, no pupils!"

Julla hissed, shaking her head slowly. "So, do you think they got what they wanted?"

"How should I know?" Rubini exclaimed. "I didn't even know they were a thing until you just told me!"

"Well, now the question is, will the Guildmaster offer this to others?" Julla asked, her eyes glittering again.

Rubini's eyes widened as she looked at her friend, hearing the desire in her voice. "Why would you want that?" 

"Why would I want to become even stronger than I am now?" Julla asked, raising her eyebrow. "Why wouldn't I?"

"You think the Crathans are stronger than us?" Rubini asked. "I mean, the Guildmaster definitely is, and Brecka probably, but the others?"

"You haven't seen them train," Julla snorted. "It's insane. Besides, they are a lot like us. It won't be a big change!"

Rubini wanted to say something, then stopped as a thought came to her. If she does that, she will probably need a heartcard… so she wouldn't be able to go into the portals anymore!

"I… don't know," she finally said.

"Well, I'm going to figure out if it's just a rumor or the truth," Julla said, her eyes still sparkling. "And if it's true, I'll ask the Guildmaster what the requirements are! What about you?"

"What about me?" Rubini asked, frowning. "If I want to become a Crathan? … No. I don't think so. I like the way I am."

"You know you will probably change anyway, right?" Julla said, cocking her head. "I mean, you will make powerful cards for yourself eventually, and the stronger those are, the more changes you will get."

"It doesn't work like that," Rubini immediately said, recalling the Guildmaster's lessons. "That only happens with body morphing cards. All regular cards only add a few small things, but they don't really change you."

"If you say so," Julla said. "Anything else I missed?"

Rubini sighed, then began filling her friend in on the oddities that had happened over the last three months.

--

Irwin cracked his neck, weary to the bone from two months of nonstop reforging followed by over a month of cleaning the enormous Blackglass Cave from Insectoids. 

"Make sure to let me know if you need anything," he said, looking at Ambraz, who was positioned beside his bed in his massive shape. 

"Dammit, brat, you know I will! Now go and hug your kids and tell Silv'am that I'll be back next time, perhaps with a sibling for her to annoy."

Irwin snorted, knowing that if Ambraz was planning to create both rank zeros and a progeny, he would probably be short of time. 

"I will," he said, looking at the door that was closed. He sensed the others walking away, with Rinbus and Nimlarel standing out to him the most. He still couldn't believe how happy they had both been.

"When you return, the first town should be mostly done," Ambraz said.

"That's if what we have planned works," Irwin countered as he lay down on his bed. "There's still a chance I can't move back without you in my soulscape to keep it stable."

"Well, stop talking and try then," Ambraz grunted. "And I'll see you when you get back!"

Irwin sniffed, then closed his eyes.

"Well, make sure you thank Hilbarin for the Purperion," he said.

"Oh, don't worry," Ambraz said, suddenly snorting. "Did I mention he wants you to help one of his great-great-grandchildren get a rather odd heartcard?"

Irwin felt a tiny headache pop up, and he sighed.

"No, you did not," he muttered as he moved into his soulscape. 

He hovered over his soulscape in his giant body. They had decided not to move his bodies this time, as it would cost him soulforce he might need.

Great, so now I need to make another heartcard when I return, he thought, hoping that Hilbarin would at least send this descendant of his to him. Each time he moved to the Oxarite empire, there were dozens of nobles who waited for him, asking for cards or heartcards.

Pushing the thoughts away, he focused on his connection with Ambraz, wondering how it would feel if they were so far apart.

First time we aren't together for such a long time, he thought, as he gently increased his soulcard's resonance, taking his time. It took only a few moments for him to find that the pressure on his soulscape was the same. He took a final look at his Scour body, where Ambraz was still quietly waiting. Then he stepped into his body on Eluathar.

Hearing loud laughter from the kitchen, he focused on his body on his soulcards and began relaxing the resonance of his soulcards. The pressure on his soulscape rapidly increased, more so than when Ambraz was there, but not as much as he'd worried. He continued until he knew he would be able to keep the pressure at bay for at least a day, which meant, between his own soulforce and the far larger supply of Ancestral Coperion he had, that the timedilation was even higher than the last time he'd been back.

Oddly, he could still sense Ambraz's presence as he always had. It wasn't as fine-grained as it normally was, but more like a steady flow in the back of his mind. Still, it caused a weight he hadn't known was there to fall from his shoulders.

As his self that was on Eluathar got up from the bed, his otherself kept a close eye on the room in Scour. By now, his bonded friend had already disappeared, and the days were slowly flowing through the room.

See you soon, Ambraz.

--

Ambraz grunted as he slowly shrank himself to his tiny self. Over a year had passed, and for most of it, he'd been focusing on his progenitor skill. Boring, time-consuming, and draining most of his purified soulforce, but it had helped him ignore the loneliness that had set in within weeks after Irwin had left. 

Not that all of his hard work hadn't been without result. 

Two pulsing masses of soulforce hovered in the closed-off cave that was to the side of the Blackglass Cave. One was massive, holding three-quarters of the purified soulforce he'd spent on creating rank zeros. The other was no bigger than his working size, but it glowed brighter. It had the remaining quarter, all by itself.

His progenitor skill, which had been constantly draining his attention and soulforce and had been slowly weakening for weeks, finally stopped.

"Finally!" Ambraz snapped, flying up and feeling like a weight had been lifted from his shoulder

Next time I think it's a good idea to do these two things at the same time, I need to stop myself, he thought as he hovered around the two brilliant pulsing masses.

The smaller one held only a single Ganvil, his second progeny, and one that would stun Brazardion and the others when they saw him. Made from Purperion, he had no idea what the effect of that would be, but at least it had worked better than his attempt at making one from Aurorium. 

And that's nothing compared to what they will say if they find I have created over fifty rank zeros from Ancestral Coperion, he thought, focusing on the other pulsing mass.