Bent World: Interlude III Stud Rights Versus Stable Rights

Interlude III

Stud Rights Versus Stable Rights

The crazy woman had done it, Erikla Andry thought to herself.

In one day, nearly half a month before the start of the new school year was supposed to start, the crazy Doctor had delivered on her promises.

“Repeat,” Erikla demanded having heard the words, read the report, and even witnessing the glowing right hand of her Doctor, still saw everything. Yet, despite seeing everything and intellectually being able to understand that the religious zealot that was the family doctor was saying, her mind could still not comprehend the changes.

“During today’s mission, the team managed to first Awaken the first confirmed Pathfinder in nearly a millennium, before he awoke members of his team. As one of the first on scene and trying to test out the process, I proved that it was fine after your first daughter, Pandaline Andry, became the first confirmed Wayfarer in a millennium as well. There was an outburst, causing concern on behalf of the other participants. At which time, I used myself to prove that the process was safe.” The doctor continued to speak, as she did, she held up her right hand back exposed, revealing a lowercase ‘w’ and a glowing blue green ball.

“To prove that the process was safe?” Erikla asked to confirm.

“Yes, the event was bright and likely frightened Pandaline, causing her to cry out in shock. Seeing the opportunity for what it was, I used the moment to prove everything was safe and became the second Wayfarer and third member of the Andry estate to become part of the team.” Dr. Andry continued.

“And you are part of the team?” Erikla asked.

“Yes, both Pandaline and I can see that we are part of the same team. Just as expected, everyone that is aware of who the other team members are, has the full name displayed in the Status Window.”

“So you know everyone?”

“Yes.”

“And as for Pandaline?”

“She can only see my name and her name. Everyone is just noted as either Pathfinder, which is in the traditional leader’s team role. Along with Wayfarer1, Wayfarer2, and Wayfarer3,” Dr. Andry confirmed.

“And you cannot reveal this portion of the status screen to others?” Erikla asked, realizing that sharing the information would be a lot easier.

“No, as the old ways described, team members could only be verified by other team members, which was why they began wearing team masks to begin with.” Dr. Andry declared, spouting off more of her trivial details of the old religion. For years Erikla had hated that aspect of the old crone, how she religiously followed the old texts as if they were gospel, which now seemed to be the case.

“So who are the other Wayfarers?” Erikla asked.

“They are Lady Pandaline Andry, Lady Landrina Oteranski, Lady Juniper Jaupry, and Lady Amelia Amherst.” Dr. Andry stated.

“It even denotes them as Lady from the screen?” Erikla asked, finding the formality odd under the circumstances.

“Yes, making sure that there is no ambiguity in the team, so long as they know the true name of the other.”

“And what of the Pathfinder, who from amongst my lands did you manage to determine who had this level of power?” Erikla asked.

“I believe you already know, that or your spies are holding out the information intended for you and delivering it instead to the enemy,” Dr. Andry stated coldly.

At that, Erikla could only pause and smile.

“So it is Lord Missala Andry?” Erikla asked.

“It is,” Dr. Andry confirmed.

“Damn,” Erikla sighed in exasperation.

“Damn?” Dr. Andry questioned.

“Yes, with the system, I was hoping they could confirm him to be a girl, and this nightmare of his wasted potential would be over.” Erikla stated, her hands reaching up to rub her face.

“Wasted potential? He is the most promising male candidate the Andry family has ever seen, and easily the most attractive candidate once his true status becomes available,” Dr. Andry stated.

“There you are, working on the bottom line, our budget.”

“Someone has to, which is why the Doctors were instituted, otherwise you might grow too protective over your own progeny and status.”

Hearing that Erikla took a deep breath and then exhaled. She was right, as a Doctor she had given up her own direct lineage for the family. Choosing instead to support her sister than her own familia agenda. In that way, Sarina would be more adequate to be the next Doctor for house Andry than Erikla once she was no longer able to produce progeny. Fortunately, her last child had reset the timer giving her twelve more years to produce more viable children. Lest she be sent to the retirement villa.

“I take it, with everything you have now seen and confirmed on your own that you agree with my original assessment for Missala?”

“On focusing solely on Stud rights, versus Stabling rights?” Erikla asked.

This was of course referring to the idea that Missala would either be studded like a prized bull, used to unlock the powers of noble families who could afford such services. Or stable rights, where the family in question would take on all rights and privileges of Missala, but be forced to bear the costs of housing and tending to a male. A creature that up until that point was not able to fend for themselves and often considered to be extremely weak.

“Yes, I am thankful that you made me wait a year until he at least completed his profiling ceremony was complete,” Erikla replied, before continuing. “I am however curious about what happened with the rift energy that he absorbed?”

Hearing that, Dr. Andry seemed to look lost for a second.

“Honestly, I don’t know for certain either. I do know that he used his Pathfinder hand to absorb the energy of the rift, after which point a slightly dark circle appeared on his left hand on the other side of his ‘P’ that denotes him as a Pathfinder.”

“Any idea what that circle represents?”

“No.”

“How about his condition after being exposed to such an energy burst?”

“You mean did he have to run it off like before?”

“Exactly.”

“No, no running it off. No strain on the muscles, almost like our awakening him as a Pathfinder fixed the issues he was facing before.”

“That’s good, what are your plans for the rest of the summer?”

“We are going to break, I’ll use Pandaline’s injuries as an excuse, but we should watch out for Missala during this time.”

“Yes, I believe it is time we move him back, but only after everyone has taken to following the old code,” Erikla ordered.

“I agree,” Dr. Andry concluded as she took to covering up her right hand with a mirrored glove that perfectly matched the one she wore on her left hand. Dark black leather, that allowed air pockets on the side and bottom, particularly around the pads of the fingers, which allowed for finer control over objects.

There was a brief silence as Erikla mentally went through everything she wanted to talk about in her mind, and found all her questions answered.

“Is there anything else?” Erikla asked. For a moment the Doctor almost appeared to be hesitant, before she continued.

“Yes, I do have a request for more funding for that project.”

Hearing the request Erikla could only nod. Nod and smile at how clearly she had been outplayed. By playing her cards, she showed her hand, and thus proved the future benefits that this particular project could afford.

“It’s a lot of money.”

“Money that has already been earned from the ducal families and the Oteranskis,” the Doctor shot back.

Hearing that, Erikla could only nod in agreement.

“Very well, but Pandaline will get the same treatment as well.” Erikla replied, still thinking about making the next family head even more powerful then it was when she inherited the title.

“If that is your only stipulation, then I think it will be manageable,” the Doctor stated magnanimously, but by now Erikla could see that this was in fact the goal that the Doctor had been striving for all along. Not wanting to play this game, where she danced directly in the palm of the Doctor’s hand, Erikla decided to end this quickly.

“Make it so, now if you will excuse me, I have other issues to attend to.”

“The Rifts at the center,” Dr. Andry stated as if already knowing the concern, before just as quickly dismissing the knowledge as being inconsequential, “very well, I will do as you have commanded.”

Hmph.

All Erikla could do was watch the Doctor leave and be thankful that she was working for House Andry and not one of the other houses.

***

Meanwhile, Missala ‘Sal’ Andry found himself focusing on his training. Though this time something was different, as he swung his blade, he felt something happen when he mentally wrapped his Telekinetic grip around his sword to help improve his strikes and accuracy.

This time when he swung, he swore he could see the faintest outline of a pulse of energy coating his blade. It wasn’t much, little more than a glimmer, but to his eyes, it shone with a blue sheen.