Bent World: Chapter 17 The Sister Trap

Chapter 17

The Sister Trap

Squeak!

While not necessarily a word or phrase, one of the two female warriors already assembled for today’s training did exhale excitedly, which amplified by the mesh cloth used for the mouth and eye covers produced an eerie squeaking sound.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Pandaline, my sister, tense up at the sudden sound and burst of movement. Fortunately, she stood still, while I too remained.

The extended periphery was one thing I was glad for in this new helmet design. Now I just had long support strip folding down, that had a lot of Parallel and vertical bars for stabilization, that was then further obfuscated by a mesh covering. Internally there was a lot of padding, and cloths that were designed to rest against my face, in order to absorb moisture from sweat.

Apparently, years of taking children out to combat in such outfits had resulted in a few practical changes, like the fact that my face was now large enough to comfortably wear most facial inserts. Making this both hotter, but also more enjoyable as I no longer had to deal with the idea of random beads of sweat pouring into my eyes during combat. This new inclusion was made when it was revealed that my face would be more exposed in a wider view training helmet, thus the new layer of protection.

“Yes, we have arrived,” Auntie began, her tone brokering no argument as to who would be in control for this operation. As the most senior ranking member of the Andry household, she was naturally given the honor and courtesy to speak and run this mission as needed.

Yet, I could see the moment Auntie’s body tensed up, as someone new came from the gaggle of warrior women who had gathered for this expedition.

“Thank you for coming Dr. Andry, it has been far too long,” a mockingly cordial voice called out from the ground and parted. Not that the audience really needed to for the woman that spoke was easily a few inches taller than those gathered around her.

Again, going off my understanding of the changes that happen to women’s physiology when they are exposed to rift energy, as confirmed by my own bodily changes, I could tell that this woman was powerful.

More then that, the fact that she dared speak, implying that she was an equal to Auntie made me question exactly who she was. This, along with the fact that Auntie, for a moment looked pissed. Her jaw clinched shut, causing the veins above her temple to bulge out. There was the clenching of her left fist, along with the straightening of her back, and other gestures let me know that Auntie was ready to fight. These emotions only flashed for a moment, and then were gone, but that moment was enough for me to realize that these two clearly knew each other.

“Dr. Oteranski, I must ask, what is it that brings you to this out of the way training expedition?” Auntie asked, her voice sounding calm and serene, but a clear note of tension visible in her words.

“Why you of course, well that and I had to see what caused my little niece here to suddenly blossom so prominently.” The other lady, this Dr. Oteranski, continued.

By now I had pieced together what title of Doctor meant for a family, that was like the unofficial caretaker and overall monitor of the family. When a matriarch got too old and was no longer able to bear viable children, they were replaced and allowed to go into a form of semi-retirement, while one of their offspring took over the mantle of family lead. Similarly, it was their job to choose from all available children who would become the next generational leader of the family. They also had to groom their next successor, for when or if they were to be replaced.

Dr.  Oteranski gave a quick pat on the shoulder of the person who squealed in excitement at seeing me. I gained a few things from that one touch, first it was clear that the squealer was Oteranski, and having been given a moment I realize she was likely Landrina Oteranski. It was also clear that the squeal while out of character for Landrina, might have been used as a preconditioned warning alarm to draw the attention of Dr. Oteranski.

At first, I didn’t know what, or rather why, these two would have worked out such an obvious alerting system. That was until Dr. Oteranski turned from Auntie and focused on me the way a shark would when smelling blood in the water.

“And this, must be the vaunted Pathfinder that I have heard so much about.”

“It appears someone has been speaking out of turn,” Auntie stated with a glare towards Landrina, who visibly shrank at the glare.

“Come now, is that any way to talk to a potential business partner who might take that dead weight of a male off your hands?” Dr. Oteranski questioned.

Suddenly this became clearer as to why they were here, first the Oteranskis wanted to witness the alleged Pathfinder in action. Which I’m assuming if they liked what they saw of my talents as a Pathfinder, would be used as part of negotiations for my hand in marriage to Landrina Oteranski, the likely future head of the Oteranski family. Of course, the negotiations would likely go a lot differently if they knew I was both the Pathfinder in question, along with the dead weight male, but that is for another day.

Auntie just smiled, this was her cold and calculating smile. The one that spoke of she knew far more than you did and would not be baited into petty arguments about family agreements here.

“This is not the time or place to have such a conversation. If you would like, you could sit out this blatant attempt to derail this encounter of its original purpose, or we can continue as planned?” Dr. Oteranski opened her mouth as if to protest but was quickly cut off by Auntie who continued to show why she was the leader of this event.

“Surely, you would want to see the work of this vaunted Pathfinder in action?”

Dr. Oteranski closed her mouth and with a slight showing of will looked momentarily flustered, the same way Auntie had at the start of this conversation. But quickly regained her composure and then gestured towards me.

“Lead on,” Dr. Oteranski ordered.

I knew a baited comment when I heard one, and rather than acting, I just turned my head to Auntie. Letting the group know who my clear loyalties resided with and whom I would be taking orders from during this excursion.

Seeing my response, Auntie just smiled brightly for a moment, take a moment to let an awkward pause fill the air with tension, before she spoke.

“Yes, Pathfinder, I do believe it is time that we headed to the designated spot.” By now I had already had more than enough time to differentiate the differing smells in the air. Where I had also already predicted the direction, and most likely scents being used.

Hearing Auntie’s command, I nodded, then pointed southeast.

“Let’s go,” Dr. Oteranski gesticulated to her guard and driver, trying to be the one to lead this expedition.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Pandaline take a hesitant step forward, only to stop when she saw that Auntie, Ceecee, Pandaline’s guard, and I all remained still.

It was clear that this power play between the two was not over, and I did not want to be drawn into this but knew that I needed to back Auntie in all plays. As such, I followed her lead. After three paces, Dr. Oteranski just paused and looked back to us.

“Well?” Dr. Oteranski asked, her tone angered by the unexpected pause.

Again, a slow smile formed on Auntie’s lips, as she still slow played her power and authority over this excursion.

“Pathfinder, have you already been able to determine any of the powers being used?” Auntie asked, her voice calm and in control.

I nodded and held up three fingers.

“Three? Which are they?” Auntie asked. Then using the pseudo-sign language that we had developed last summer I began.

Wiggling one finger from up high to the ground.

“First tier lightning, check.”

I nodded and then continued, then held up one finger before stomping on the ground and then wiggling both hands back and forth like jazz hands from my home world.

“First tier mud, check.”

I nodded again, then held up two fingers then used the same shifting hands over my eyes and pointing at the shadows on the ground. This was the best we could come up with for the odd creatures that could somehow hide their presences in shadows. Had I known this back last year, we might have avoided the near catastrophe that nearly befell the team. The one where not one, but three different feral squirrels exited a portal and tried to conduct a sneak attack on us.

“Tier two shadow,” Auntie stated, and then paused as she tried to contemplate what to do next.

“Shadow?” Dr. Oteranski asked.

“Yes, if you heard about the expeditions from last year, then you might remember the time we were almost blindsided by creatures deploying shadow techniques to conduct sneak attacks.”

“But they were stopped?”

“Barely,” Auntie pressed. Then turned to face the four of us, “by a vote of hands, do we want to go? Know that this is a dangerous task, and it is perhaps best that we have Dr. Oteranski here, so she can provide support to the initiates.”

Immediately, Landrina Oteranski, and Lady Jaupry both raised their hands, followed a moment later by a wiggling and clearly excited Pandaline. With that all eyes turned towards me, including Auntie’s.

“Well, this will be on you, now,” Auntie stated.

I paused for a moment, letting my thoughts manifest on what is being asked. Then I too nod my head and raised my hand.

“It’s good that you showed hesitation, you no doubt feel that you could be prepared for what was coming, but are worried about your charge?” Auntie asked, and gestured towards Pandaline.

I nod.

“That’s good, know that with this level of threat, we should be able to deal with the monsters, but should any get past us, you are free to engage openly.”

I nod again.

At that, Auntie paused and looked at the other children that were gathered, “I trust you three know to wait to engage until either the Pathfinder here has, or I have given you the signal?”

With that commandment, the three just nodded their heads in agreement.

“Very good. Then let me give a recap of what to expect, there will be mud used to slow us down, and likely used to help increase the efficacy of lightning that will be used against us. Also know that at tier two, even the basic monsters here can be invisible. Be careful follow me, and never go ahead of our souts.” Auntie stated, and gestured to the two powerful scouts that remained from last summer, Lady Jaupry and Lady Oteranski’s personal guards.

Once everyone had time to consume the information, I once again pointed southeast, in the exact direction that the scents were coming from.

I could feel Dr. Oteranski’s gaze upon me as I pointed, but there was nothing I could do about that. It was clear that she already knew what was happening, and had been made aware. No doubt I could expect Dr. Jaupry, if there was one, to join us next time. That is unless either having a Pathfinder was not important, or if Lady Jaupry was not being considered for next in line.

We all moved silently into the woods, only Pandaline had a hard time masking her movements.

Clomp-clomp.

Hearing her all but stomp in the woods, I at first got annoyed, only to then remember how noisy we were on our first trip out.

Remembering how much we had changed; I found myself looking right and left to see that both lady Oteranski and Jaupry were following in lock-step silence with me.

Just as one would expect from highly trained hunters, both girls felt my gaze upon them. I just gave them a quick nod, letting them know they were doing okay, before I continued. All the while, I could feel Dr. Oteranski’s eyes following me, as we made our way forward.

As the second strongest, Dr. Oteranski had apparently taken on the role of rear guard, a highly important position, that allowed Auntie to move forward and back to help facilitate our movements.

Snap.

I gave a crisp snap, that caused everyone to stop moving all at once.

Clomp.

Well, everyone but Pandaline who took another step forward before looking around confusedly at everyone.

I then gestured with one finger and pointed at a tree that was well off the ground, and one we were easily able to travel under. We paused as the only reason I noted the creature was that its scent was so potent that I couldn’t help but wrench my face towards it, then after focusing for a minute I saw the birdlike creature.

Auntie came over to me, and tried to look where I was pointing, but couldn't see it. Only then did I see the faint outline of inky darkness that surrounded the beast. From last time, I knew this was how shadow powers worked, they cloaked a creature in darkness that seemed to make them glow for me, but simultaneously hid the from everyone else.

“I can’t see it,” Auntie whispered conspiratorially close. Then as if never doubting me, she just asked, “can you get it?”

I nodded, then pulling out a throwing dagger I held it and paused. For a moment I wonder whether I should get a second dagger out, but then just shake off the thought. I didn’t need to make the kill, that was what the other guards who were all staring off into the tree was for.

My task was simple, I just needed to take the dagger, spin it with enough force that using my Telekinesis would be believable.

Focusing my will on the act at hand, I pulled back, and then hurled the blade as hard as I could.

Whip-whip-swoosh.

The blade sliced through the air with a slashing sound that was only heightened by my Telekinesis. By now, I had increased my mastery to have four of the needed five full arms of standard Telekinesis at my disposal. This meant I could be reckless with their use, which I was. I used one to hold the stationary bird in place. A bird that still didn’t seem to recognize that it had been found.

Then I used one to push the blade forward, and the other two to help guide the blade in a perfectly straight line as balance on the sides.

Squakok.

The bird fluttered its wings and quickly tried to escape, only to feel my previously loose Telekinetic hold around the beast snap into place and grab the torso of the beast and hold it still.

For a moment, I thought about using the quickly spinning blade to slice off the beast’s head, but then thought against that, especially as I would have to cause the blade to randomly begin curving in an arc to make the right cutting angle.

Instead, I did a twofer, allowing the bird to turn sideways, a second before the blade arrived, pinning its wildly flapping wing to its side.

Floosh.

There was a burst of feathers as the dark shadows that had been coating the beast suddenly appeared, along with the body of a bird’s body that was spiraling to the ground with one wing pinned against its side.

Thud.

I spent so long watching the bird falling that I failed to note the exact second that the two lead guards sprung forward and pinned the bird at the end of their long spears.

Then as had become all too routine from last year, the guards pinned the beast to the ground and gave all clear gestures for us to join.

“Oh, what a fortuitous surprise, as our first kill is a roaming boss from the rift. Know that these do not require us to kill, for us to fully close the rift. But they will cause constant headaches if left unchecked and can eventually evolve into quite powerful beasts, if left alone for too long.” Auntie declared.

“Now then, Pathfinder since you had the first strike, it now falls to our youngest to gain her first strike against the beast.”

Dr. Oteranski looked like she wanted to protest, but then saw how much smaller Pandaline was compared to the rest of us, and quickly held her tongue. Pandaline for her part strode forward, a slight sense of tension filling her as she moved forward towards the best. A beast whose head was fully pinned down and pointing away so that its eyes couldn’t scare Pandaline away.

Then as she got closer, an air of resolve filled her as she took a deep breath, then raised her weapon in a clearly customary way and brought it down as hard as her tiny arms could muster.

Thwap.

A slight thudding sound could be heard as she did a good job of aiming for the open wound. No doubt her training in preparation for this excursion focused extensively on that act, the need to draw blood with a strike in order for it to count.

Seeing how small Pandaline was, I couldn’t help but feel that we were pushing her too far, too fast. But then Lady Oteranski and Lady Jaupry both came in and gave sickening slashes of their weapons. Blades cutting through dense skin and muscles and only stopping at bone.

I thought about it, and then realized that this was how the people of this world survived. This wasn’t done out of cruelty, but out of necessity. This monster would have been able to remain here, had we not intervened, and who knew what would happen to the local wildlife if this thing was allowed to go rampant and mutate.

That’s when I, the hypocrite with a momentary lapse of a conscience strode forward, my new longer and stronger sword in hand. Then knowing that all was left was for us to continue poking at this beast until it eventually succumbed to its injuries, I did the most merciful thing I could do.

Slink!

I stole most of the invisible energy called experience by delivering the killing blow and beheading the beast with one Telekinetically infused precision strike.

As I moved, I was in the process of forming a new construct within my mind, a new way to use Telekinesis more effectively, more brutally, and this was only the start.

“Very good,” Auntie declared after seeing my killing strike. Then not wanting to waste another moment on this kill, she pressed us onward. Knowing that we would come back to treat this boss monster and its supply of meat, only once we were done here.

“Now that we all know what is expected, let us continue.”