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No sense of direction, feeling, or sense of time was present. Unevenly spaced and seemingly random in their distribution, a tapestry of scintillating beauty. The feeling of timeless infinity filled the scene; everything in existence could be seen and felt here. Lonely and empty was the cosmos. \n Two distinct land masses could be seen in the now discernible direction, ‘down.’ To the left was a vibrant, bustling floating isle of verdant and thriving life. Grand mountains with streams that flowed into rich river valleys. Along the banks of the stream, forests grew. Many bright and colorful creatures were visible. They were living out their existence with ignorant bliss. Fields of flowers bloomed out of the lower stream’s banks, insects and hummingbirds buzzed around with alacrity for their task of survival. A rainbow cast out over the edge of the floating island where the stream flowed out into the void and turned to mist.\n Opposite this island was a dead island of geological intrigue. Spires of stone stuck out of a still clear lake of water. Dusty and sand blew around the canyons, howling a song of death and destiny. Bare and forlorn, spires stuck out of the water as if they yearned to be trees. The still lake, clear and lifeless, did not flow, dammed by a wall of stone and rock.\n The black void slowly brightened. For a time, the stars in the sky became black pinpoints as both islands began to quiver. Something approached. The whiteness slowly became more blinding; the living island started to overgrow. It became twisted with unchecked growth and cancerous life. In the sky, a golden comet was visible like a flaming wraith. It rapidly approached the two islands, a spectral spectator. Ever deepening sorrow filled the scene, a weep, a dirge cried out over the scene. A blindingly white bridge appeared between the islands. It rocked and shook with the islands and phased in and out of visibility. The living island slowly became more barren and lifeless as the overgrowth swallowed everything. \n Everything faded slowly, and the universe was once again the only thing in view. The sight of everything looked like nothing. A tapestry of emptiness and void of meaning.\n\n “Hey Radia! You’re sleeping again?” a familiar voice asked through the door.\n Radia shifted under her covers and took a few moments more to enjoy the cozy warmth of her bed. The day was going to be so tough, and it was always better to milk the warm comfort of her covers. So, like any reasonable person she pulled her blanket tighter over her body so she didn’t have to deal with it.\n “I’ll send Cecilio in there!” the voice said.\n A dire threat! Or was it? Getting the ministrations of her husband in the morning sounded like a great time, actually. She sat up and said, “You promise?”\n “Promise that he’ll toss you around under the covers? I guess that’s up to him. But it sounds like you’re up!” the voice said. \n Radia grumbled, since that trick worked a little too well on her. Her fur was a bit knotted and matted from the sleep. When she opened the door to her cabin, she looked down at Mireda and said, “You’re a tricky little goblin,” without an ounce of malice.\n “Results driven goblin, but I guess in this case they are the same. Do you need help moving your research materials to the university?” Mireda asked.\n “No, I should be able to handle it. I mean, half the ships stores are in my dimensional pocket. A dozen pounds of maps and charts aren’t really going to overload it,” she said and yawned. The ship had a shower/head hybrid, and she was headed there.\n Mireda followed along, “So we’ll be setting off by the afternoon? I need to know so we don’t start any lengthy maintenance on the engine,” she asked.\n Radia turned the water on and let it steam over her. Being a ha-seht she had a rather modest frame that had little shape to it. At least when compared to a human female. Her white fur was the marker of an albino, as most ha-seht were black or gold furred. She was also a head shorter then average, which made her a runt. “Correct, I wonder who showed up. I sent letters out to just about everyone I trust. Some people I don’t, and everyone I’ve trained with. That, and the entire thaumaturgical board for the University. I suspect they will not like the news, or end up thinking I’m crazy,” she said to Mireda.\n Mireda was pretty used to having conversations like this now. Radia had been a great boss so far. The ship she owned was an excellent charge for her and Telosi. Whatever her mission was, was their mission. “You’re definitely a bit crazy. Most people break when they go through what you’re going through,” Miredi added.\n “It’s just a sickness. It might claim my life in a few years, but for now I can enjoy hot water, my husband, and what life there is left,” she said and closed her eyes. The hot water really did make her aches and pains feel so much nice. After a brief silence Radia added, \n“If my plan works, everyone else on Korrenth can enjoy their lives too,” she said. Her body was now covered in suds and foam, she looked sort of like a humanoid poodle. Her tail waged and knocked some suds out of the small combo head/shower. “I’m just nervous they’ll actively try to hold me there for academic drilling rather than let me leave to get done what needs to be done,” she said.\n “Ehh, you could just leave before they get their formal requests together. It’s not like professors and administrators move fast,” Mireda said and wiped the soap from her cheek.\n “Fair enough. I have a question for you Mireda. Have you been having weird dreams?” Radia asked.\n Mireda suddenly seemed a bit more dodgey. “I mean, all dreams are strange, right?” she asked. \n Radia knew that was a deflection of the point and confirmed her suspicions. “Well, I guess that’s true,” she said, not to push her friend into uncomfortable conversations.\n Thankful for the topic being dropped, she did have to admit things did feel a bit more oppressive lately. Spooky dreams about islands, an air of emptiness seemed to follow everything. If it weren’t for her and Telosi’s pride and joy, the engine that ran the ship. She and Telosi probably would be in a far worse position. “Let me get you a towel. Should I get your university robes?” she asked as she turned to fetch both things.\n “No, just my normal clothing,” Radia said. She stepped from the shower and looked far more gaunt than a ha-seht should. Which was normally pretty wiry to begin with.\n “Really? Aren’t you the premier vivimancer… I’d figure you’d want to look the part.”\n “It’s fine Mireda, I like my simpler clothing. I’d go in with just my fur if it wasn’t dangerous to expose myself to the sun,” she said.\n “Alright… lightly tattered cloak, pants, and top coming right up,” she said while she gathered the outfit Radia had mentioned.\n “So, are we really going to be pushing the engines to their max?” Mireda asked.\n “Yes, we’ll need to move fast. If my predictions are correct. We don’t have enough time to do a comfortable sightseeing tour of Korrenth. Are the ship breaker implements ready for the Glass Sea?” Radia asked.\n “Ooo! Excellent, and yes they are. I’m very excited to see if those are working too. Telosi has been hard at work designing some other imbuements. The kind to make our downtime between engine recharges shorter. I guess we’ll get a chance to test those as well?” Mireda was very excited at the prospect of getting to really see what this ship could do. \n “Probably. Just don’t blow us up.” Radia said with a giggle.\n “Hey now! That’s a stereotype!” Mireda said with feigned offense.\n “A stereotype like Ha-seht having small breasts and fur?” Radia rebutted.\n “Yes, exactly like that.” Mireda answered.\n Radia took the towel from Mireda and spent the time to dry, brush, and fluff herself out manually. It afforded her time to think. Even if things could be solved quickly with magic. The act of doing mundane tasks manually offered much more than a quick result. In this case, she was worried her friends wouldn’t arrive, show up, or take her warning seriously. She got her clothing on, and fetched her ironwood staff. The head shaped like an ankh with lapis lazuli inlays. This was her main focus for her magic, and it was as well-made as it was enhanced with magics. She then started to cough very hard and dropped to her knees. \n “Radia!” Mireda said suddenly. Her body reacted faster than her mind did, as if to catch Radia.\n “I’m fine. It’s just a cough,” she said to Mireda. Her lungs burned, her joints ached and screamed, and it was hard to focus. Part of her hoped Mireda didn’t know the story and origin of why Radia was sick. Her ears perked back up and she stood up. “I’ll be back on the ship in a few hours! Be sure to take breaks, enjoy time on shore, and all that. You two work so hard, I don’t even feel like we pay you enough,” she admitted.\n “Ohh? Don’t worry about that! We’ve got what we need. You be healthy and come back in one piece, okay?” Mireda said. When Radia redirected concern outward, Mireda really worried.\n Radia beamed at Mireda then climbed up onto the deck to begin her day. Her body was a mass of aches and misery, but there was work to be done.\n\n[center]Chapter 1[/center]\n\n\n “Dima, wake up!” an excited voice said.\n Dimitri stirred to see the vibrant red skin of Kesnia. The natural black markings on her skin displayed in all of their beauty.\n “I know how important morning prayer is to you, you should hurry up! The bells ring in only an hour,” she added. Her bird-like feet claws grabbed his blankets to pull them away.\n Cold air rushed over his body. It took his breath entirely away! “Ksenia!!,” he yelped and quickly got up. Hard hooves clopped on the ground. \n “Looking sharp there, stud. I am not wrong though. You slept in,” she said and giggled at him.\n He looked her over and could only smile. The vibrant orange eyes full of fire and passion were the light of his life. “You should get dressed and come with me,” he said as he started to don his vestments for morning prayer.\n “You know I burn up in the church! No amount of good deeds will undo my nature, only channel it properly,” she teased then strode from the room.\n “Not even clothing?” he asked concerned.\n “I’m not leaving the house today! I have maps to draw, cheeses to turn, and I’d like to sharpen my hurlbat to a razors edge,” she said.\n Dimitri knew what that was about. The people in town didn’t like her, so she hid away. Even though she had as much to do with the good fortune of the town as he did. Last week, they had stopped a patrol of goblins from ransacking grain shipments. His tail flicked and his ear twitched some. “They’ll never like you if you never show your face,” he said.\n Ksenia waved a hand dismissively at him, “I grew up with them, Dima. They just blame me for everything that happens. Let me relax and prepare. We need to see what those little scamps are up to in the mine. For that, we need a good map and rations,” she stated to change the subject.\n He sighed, as there was truth to her words. He stepped forward and picked her up in a big hug. Black feathers materialized from nowhere as he did so, a quirk of Kesnia’s. “Be well. I will be back in a few hours,” he said to her.\n\n[center]***[/center]\n\n Not many friendly faces made it to the conference. Radia had dearly hoped that the severity of her findings would bring them all. So far, she only saw a couple of people she had hoped to. The mayor of Millas, Rasha Tokinash, was in the audience.\n She was a sight for sure. Dark black skin with purple markings on her. These purple markings were shaped a bit like the cracks of broken glass along her thighs, shoulders, and back. Black feathered wings with glowing purple tips, bright red and orange eyes, and her lack of clothing definitely gave away her demonic origins. Forearms, hands, shins, and feet that were like that of a raven made her impossible to ignore. Her presence filled the room, and Radia had a hard time not staring.\n The heads of the planar studies department had invited themselves, but none of the thaumaturgical professors even showed up. Well, if things worked out, she’d definitely have to write them a rude letter. \n Judgmental looks, and rude whispers, made her fur bristle a little. The professors from planar studies and her didn’t typically get a long. Not that she’d ever wish ill on them, they just often had different ideas than her. It really didn’t give them cause being so rude to her, though. She sighed and looked for friendlier faces.\n Another face she recognized was Dimitri Malaya’s. The tall Equisar man was hard to miss. Especially him, as he had a third eye in his forehead. A feature she found herself lost in. She had been told by him that he was half angel, a claim she wasn’t entirely sure about. All three of his eyes met her solid blue eyes for a moment, and she blushed a bit. It was embarrassing how he managed to make her blush so easily. Some intimate memories came back of the time she had spent training with him.\n Cecilio was there too, but she knew he would be. He was her husband. From where he was, off to the side and not fully visible, he could watch her and the meeting. He was poised to step in and comfort her should he need to. Her guardian angel most of the time. He was a tall human man of very dark complexion. Pleasant brown eyes matched his dark skin. As always he was shrouded up in the many robes and turbans associated with the salt-outriders, though of a different color so he wasn’t confused with an actual salt-outrider.\n His presence alone soothed her nerves. She organized herself before she took one last glance over her notes.\n “Thank you all for attending. Given the nature of my findings, I wish it was for better reasons. Lately, while regularly using life-based thaumaturgy. The energy has been wild, erratic, and, ‘eager,’ to escape. Much like a stabled salt-elk in rut. At times, it feels nearly impossible to control.” she explained. A fact that was hard to convey. Just a couple of weeks ago, she ended up accidentally causing a lavender field to grow in the plains north of Estrella City while she attempted to teach a young thaumaturgist how to use a simple healing spell.\n “Since most wizards rarely delve into the positive side of thaumaturgy, most have not noticed, think it’s normal, or ignore this phenomenon,” She said. A brief pause was taken so she could cough a couple of times. Her lungs burned and her shoulders ached from the motion. The taste of blood filled the back of her tongue. She pressed on.\n “We know that the reflection planes of Korrenth must be in balance. Energy taken from the reflection planes of fire and ice happens, largely, in equal amounts. The only people who use positive energy are priests, and there really aren’t as many of them as there are mages like myself. As such, there has been a very long term imbalance in the thaumaturgical reflection planes. Negative is overused and positive is underused. I predict that what I have been experiencing is actually the early signs of what is hypothetically called a planar eruption,” she continued.\n There were some murmurs from the few academics in the room. An air of skepticism took over the room. Some feathers ruffled, figuratively and literally, as the sounds of disagreement got louder. It was apparent they were getting their angry letters drafted in their heads.\n “Good. I have your attention then. Here are some data models and charts I have written up for this. I’ve done the math several times and, despite my health, can demonstrate if you’d like,” she said. Radia stepped towards the blackboard, then flipped it to the side she had prepared her calculations on. Many diagrams, charts, figures, and quite a lot of numbers, had been carefully written on it. Silence was the response at first. The planar studies staff did have to take the time to read it. It wasn’t the kind of thing that was easily refuted, a clear mathematical model that even had results acknowledged in other disciplines and studies. They slowly started to whisper among themselves in a thoughtful manner.\n “As I was saying. A positive energy eruption. I assume you are all aware that too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Does anyone here know what happens when too much positive, ‘life,’ energy is applied to a person?” Radia asked. Her tone was like that of a professor. It wasn’t an intentional sound. The thought of being in an office rather than helping in the world bothered her. Perhaps she’d have to manage her tone in the future.\n Rasha fluttered her wings. Her eyes scanned the room, and she impatiently clicked her feet talons on the floor. No one was answering. It was annoying when she had to answer questions for others, especially things they should be experts in. “Disease and tumors develop. Even just the constant channeling of positive energy can cause incurable diseases in the caster. I assume your colleagues here refuse to answer as to not imply you are guilty of blasphemy,” Rasha said in an even and casual tone. A soft air of contempt could be felt about Rasha when she said that. It was directected at the professors, who had not answered.\n “Correct. Though more directly it makes life grow even if it shouldn’t As for the implication that the vivimancer’s curse is a divine punishment or not. That aspect of vivimancy is beyond my, or anyone’s, knowledge,” Radia said. She knew the global opinion on vivimancy, and its misguided understanding of the cosmos. She didn’t care either, it was as valid as any other elemental channeling.\n “I don’t come here without solutions, though. I seek anyone willing to accompany me out into the world. I have a plan that might work to mitigate, and gods willing possibly stop, the eruption from harming life on Korrenth,” she said. A pause was taken while she caught her breath and focused on not coughing. \n “Furthermore, I will be triangulating the disturbances and tremors I feel within the mana-threads that pull life energy. This will be done from atop each of the highest points I can reach on Korrenth. This will give me the biggest sweep and best direction. After I have gotten my readings, I will know where the eruption will occur. At the epicenter of the eruption, I will attempt to channel and redirect the energy away from Korrenth,” Radia continued. The part she hadn’t told them, was she hadn’t figured out how to do so without dying.\n “I know you’re the premier Vivimancer in Estrella. Probably Korrenth really. Why do you think you can be our bridge to safety?” asked one of the professors.\n “I don’t know if I am, but we’ll all be swallowed up in the eruption if I don’t try. Plus redirection is simpler than absorbing,” she responded. That was another fear of hers, if she’d just die instantly and have no chance.\n “Little-bird, I will assist in this task,” a deep, heavy voice said.\n This voice belonged to Dimitri, and was filled with earnest conviction. He was not a man that took things lightly. His three eyes locked onto Radia’s more directly this time. “If what you say is true, then it is in everyone’s interest,” he said.\n Radia blushed at his words. There it was again, memories of passionate evenings in Markitha. “Dima, thank you. I cannot tell you how happy I am to have you along” she said. She waggled her tail like an excited puppy.\n Dimtri only gave a shallow bow of his head when she thanked him. He had been the one to teach Radia about theology, and there was a wave of pride that came with seeing her take up such a grand cause.\n Most of the crowd responded with shock when someone offered so quickly. However, the reality of the data and situation had not set in. It was one thing for a man of faith to assign their loyalty to a cause or idea so quickly. Convincing academics was a completely different beast. Slowly, the professors converged on the black board Radia had prepared. Little by little, their voices said things that hinted at cautious skepticism. \n “So let’s say your calculations are correct. Not saying they are, but just in case they are. How long would it be until the eruption occurs?,” one of them finally spoke up directly.\n Radia had to think for a moment on that one, it wasn’t an easily answered question. “The exact time is beyond me. I know it will be three or four months from now. Things will start to get… worse… or better? At the eruption site,” she said.\n “How so?” the professor asked.\n “Well, plant life and animals will grow very readily, healthily, fast, and inordinately big. So you might see a thirty-foot hibiscus plant, for example,” she said.\n “Interesting,” he said, his tone shifted.\n Among the academics, a soft tone of dread seemed to fall over them. It filled the room in an almost visible way. A sickly miasma, golden. Was this effect real? Radia could not be too sure, odd things like that had been happening for a few days now. To her, it had looked like the lights in the room had tinged a rotting-banana color for just a moment. No one mentioned it. The concerned tones about confirming the numbers redrew her attention.\n Before she could respond, Dimitri tapped his hoof onto the wood floor. “Little-Bird, it sounds like you should not be delaying. Travel is slow and the distances you suggest are quite large,” he said.\n Radia’s ears perked up towards him. Mostly because the loud noise had startled her. Solid blue eyes, no sclera or pupil, met Drimitri’s three. “I have an Estrellan Arrow Class ship. We’ll be moving quite quickly,” she said to Dimitri.\n Bird-claws much more subtle scratched the ground, as attention was drawn to Rasha. “Radia, my place is in Millas. I cannot leave that city to run itself. I can, however, offer some basic assistance. Mostly in the form of communication. I will see about getting a ledger sent to your ship,” Rasha said.\n Radia’s eyes twinkled as she was spoken to by Rasha. It was like being spoken to by a childhood hero. Just the thought of having a direct like to Rasha made Radia more excited than she probably should be. Behind her, the fast wag of her white-furred tail betrayed her excited puppy-like reaction to the news.\n Attention moved back to Dimitri. “You are correct, Dimitri. Haste should be made. Two of the peaks I need to get a reading on are quite isolated and could take a few extra days each. With Rasha’s communication ledger, I will be able to answer any academic questions on the road. Well, given they have the gumption to bother Rasha so they can get in touch with me,” she said.\n She really wanted to get out of the room before any type of scholastic interrogation ensued. Perhaps cutting things early would prevent any issues. “So for those willing to help me, I’ll be in the study room. Please direct any academic questions to my office,” she said to the group of professors mulling over the data. \n The professors all grumbled in response to her. Dread, fear, and defeat seemed to overtake their previous incredulity. A few of them were even running the numbers themselves on some parchment. Each time they got the same numbers, Radia did. They didn’t really even notice her when she said she was taking leave.\n As Radia gathered her notes and things, she took a single step and started to cough, hack, and wheeze quite violently. Just as she was about to fall to a knee, Cecilio hooked an arm around her for support. He carefully guided her to a seat and held her close. \n Dimitri approached the two slowly, as if to ask permission to get closer. He was a whole head taller than Cecilio and made Radia look like a Ha-seht pup. So, careful deliberate behavior was important as to not cause alarm unintentionally. His hand glowed with positive energy as he reached out to heal her. He stopped when he noticed Radia’s hand gripped on his wrist.\n “Don’t. It’ll just make things worse. Only negative energy provides any relief, unfortunately. I truly appreciate your concern, Dima,” she said to Dimitri.\n He withdrew his hand and his eyes turned to look at Cecilio. Since Cecilio was clearly Radia’s husband, he was worried he might have crossed a line.\n Cecilio stood up to carry Radia to the study room. Not a scrap of irritation shown in his demeanor. A quick gesture indicated that Dimitri should follow. “Radia is afflicted with the vivimancer’s curse. It hurts her lungs and joints. Healing magic us on, or by, her causes more harm,” he said in his low, soft, and confident voice.\n “More specifically, any magics that channel positive energy,” Radia said. Clearly being carried didn’t bother Radia.\n The gave Dimitri some pause. He hadn’t even considered Radia might suffer from that particular affliction. Many theologians claimed the affliction was a divine punishment. Life magics were considered sacred, only to be channeled through the divine. A theory that had some merit, as those who channel positive energy through prayer, meditations, or other divine methods, never suffer from the vivimancer’s curse. Vivimancers, like Radia, bypass the divine connections and handle the raw positive energy directly. Perhaps doing so was simply perilous and caused problems for the caster. It was a debate, but one without many voices in it. Those who would argue against the theologians never lived long.\n “What are her symptoms?” Dimitri asked.\n “Coughing a lot, aches in my joints, fatigue,” Radia said.\n “Noted. Are you healthy enough for this journey, Little-bird?” he asked.\n Radia wiggled in Cecilio’s hands a bit to inform him that she wanted down. With a soft click as her feet hit the ground, she circled around a table with a map on it. Solid blue eyes twinkled at Dimitri, her tail waggled. His kindness was something she had forgotten about him, and it made her heart warm. “I also have difficulty breathing at times and malaise. If you wish to record the course of my curse, feel free,” she said.\n “You are downplaying your sickness again, Radia. The biggest problem she has with the curse, is that she cannot channel positive energy without getting much sicker,” he said towards Dimitri. He moved around the table to Radia and hooked an arm around her and kissed the short ha-seht on the top of her head. “No cheating either. If others use positive energy on her. She will also suffer. When she opens her connection to the plane of life has become a difficult decision.” Cecilio added.\n “If that is the case. Wouldn’t trying to deflect so much positive energy cause you great harm?” Dimitri asked.\n Radia pointedly ignored the question. A deafening silence followed for a few moments while she did her best not to betray her personal reservations about that. Instead, she traced her claw over the map from one side of Korrenth to the other. “Many of the places we need to go are pretty distant. I think the easiest starting point is Markitha. Starting there would make our sea travel much simpler,” Radia finally said.\n Dimitri’s three-eyes were locked on her the entire time. Concern draped over him like a robe. Radia was a good friend; the thought of her sacrificing herself was painful. The global situation was not lost on him. Though, if she was wrong, they could laugh about it later. If not, very few people got the chance to be so noble. When she spoke of Markitha his ears twitched and his eyes moved towards the large kingdom’s location on the map. The mountain north of Fasbyl was circled. That presented some problems. Bone-Pick peak belonged to the Tsar’s estate.\n “You will need a permit from the Star to c—” he was cut off when Radia pulled the permit from thin air.\n “Tsar Venedikt was very willing to help. We do not have permission to hunt beyond what is needed for our immediate need. I do not know the roads or area very well. Have you been to Fasbyl, Dimitri?” she asked.\n “Once or twice. There is a temple to Devana there. That would be the best place to prepare after arriving in port,” Dimitri answered.\n “Not to be rude, dear, by why aren’t we starting with Montaña Hielo?” Cecilio asked. He gave her some pets along her neck and side as he said so.\n “Because it could erupt soon,” Rasha said.\n The sudden intrusion had put Dimitri instantly on guard. His hand on the hilt of his mace. When he saw it was Rasha, he relaxed, but only just. Rasha bothered him at a spiritual level. He had heard rumors she was a beloved figure in central Estrella but, she was just a demon to him. The strength of her divine aura was too oppressive for him to act beyond the show of force he had. What made the situation more uncomfortable, was how friendly Rasha seemed towards him.\n Radia’s solid blue eyes met Rasha with glee. Fast tail wags gave away her mood once again. “That is what I was told by the university staff in Sierra Hielo. A friend of mine will be getting the reading off the mountain for me in a day or two. She’s uniquely well-equipped for it,” Radia said.\n Rasha stepped forward. Bird claws click on the ground as she did so. Her eyes scanned the map as she seemed to be making calculations in her head. The sound of ruffling feathers followed a look of realization. “Tell me you’ve arranged some local teleports for Brettony and Xi’Zhou. The foot travel will be almost too much time for you to get all the readings. Well, get them and get anywhere useful,” Rasha said.\n The sight of black ruffling feathers made him feel nostalgic for a second. Memories both good and bad flooded his mind. A soul-searing pain struck him for a moment. Not the kind of pain that showed or was felt physically. He shook himself back to the here and now, “If you are as powerful as your aura would imply. Why do you not help directly?” Dimitri asked. The tone of disdain in his voice was impossible not to notice.\n Rasha turned to him with a warm expression. Playfully, she swayed her spaded tail and turned her whole body to face him. “Saving mortal kind is not something an unholy creation should be doing. Assuming you accept that as an excuse,” teased Rasha. “The true answer to your inquiry is best given to you as a question. Why does Devana not step in to help save mortal kind? She is most certainly more powerful than I. My champion of beauty and redemption, mull over that for a time. As for you, Radia,” she said and turned to the white ha-seht. Rasha then said, “I have a lot of contacts all over Korrenth, please do not hesitate to ask for help. I can always direct you to the right person.”\n The question had left Dimitri very confused. Solving it really was something he’d have to do when he had some alone time. Theological quandaries were best addressed through prayer. His tail thrashed in frustration, “Some help is better than no help,” he said.\n “Of course! I thank you for coming at all. We’ll do everything we can to succeed,” Radia said to Rasha with the eagerness of a puppy.\n Cecilio had remained quiet. Though, he did enjoy staring at Rasha’s naked body move about. The tone in Dimitri’s voice and general demeanor had slowly become a concern. After Rasha left the room he addressed it, “Relax around Rasha. She’s not going to hurt any of us.” he said with an unshakable confidence.\n “Most definitely not! She’s the saint of Millas,” Radia added.\n Dimitri knew these two weren’t so weak-minded as to fall prey to charm magic. Clearly he was missing context, as such, he dropped the topic. “So. Through the Glass Sea to Fasbyl? That is not a warm water port, and it is winter. I assume you have some kind of magic to get the boat into port?” he asked.\n “A magic of sorts. Their names are Mireda and Telosi,” Radia said playfully. A coy expression followed. One ear was quirked back, the other faced towards Dimitri. He could be such a serious person sometimes. Any chance she had to make him smile, blush, or just take a moment to appreciate life in general, was worth creating or taking.\n Dimitri’s curiosity was piqued, “Who are Mireda and Telosi? Some kind of wizards or sorcerers?” he asked.\n “Wizards of metal and math, perhaps,” she responded.\n “They are Estrellan goblin twins. They will be more than eager to tell you how it all works,” Dimitri said with a tone the urged caution.\n “Hahaha, you are such a charm Little-Bird! Just the thought of some goblin correctly using an abacus and paper is comical,” he said. With great mirth, he reached over to ruffle her head fur and give the much smaller lady some pets. Her whole head, sans her muzzle, disappeared under his hand. Gentle was his way when it came to smaller and more delicate creatures. Equisar like him, were pretty tough and big people. Cecilio, whom he had just turned attention to, seemed to not be worried about the contact he had just made with Radia.\n “In all seriousness. We should finish up here. We’re at dock port seven. Meet us there in a couple of hours,” Radia said to Dimitri. The pet had made her tail wag at maximum-glee. She loved when positive attention was directed at her.\n He took that as a hint. “Of course! Some basic supplies, books, or anything to do on the seas then. I will see you two at dock Seven,” said Dimitri.\n Radia relaxed back into Cecilio’s embrace. Much of the stress for the day was now behind her. The map was rolled up and pulled into her dimensional pocket. “He is always so eager to help. I’m shocked he was the only one to respond. This is going to be harder than expected,” she said to Cecilio.\n “We will pull through. If not, there won’t be anyone around to blame us for failing,” he said as he let go of her. He fetched his spear and long-knife from the table. “We should get going. You know, before those professors find you and cost us a whole day,” said Cecilio knowingly.", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "
Toxic Positivity

By TheSpiralAim



Prologue


        The black sky was filled with endless points of light in all directions. No sense of direction, feeling, or sense of time was present. Unevenly spaced and seemingly random in their distribution, a tapestry of scintillating beauty. The feeling of timeless infinity filled the scene; everything in existence could be seen and felt here. Lonely and empty was the cosmos.
        Two distinct land masses could be seen in the now discernible direction, ‘down.’ To the left was a vibrant, bustling floating isle of verdant and thriving life. Grand mountains with streams that flowed into rich river valleys. Along the banks of the stream, forests grew. Many bright and colorful creatures were visible. They were living out their existence with ignorant bliss. Fields of flowers bloomed out of the lower stream’s banks, insects and hummingbirds buzzed around with alacrity for their task of survival. A rainbow cast out over the edge of the floating island where the stream flowed out into the void and turned to mist.
        Opposite this island was a dead island of geological intrigue. Spires of stone stuck out of a still clear lake of water. Dusty and sand blew around the canyons, howling a song of death and destiny. Bare and forlorn, spires stuck out of the water as if they yearned to be trees. The still lake, clear and lifeless, did not flow, dammed by a wall of stone and rock.
        The black void slowly brightened. For a time, the stars in the sky became black pinpoints as both islands began to quiver. Something approached. The whiteness slowly became more blinding; the living island started to overgrow. It became twisted with unchecked growth and cancerous life. In the sky, a golden comet was visible like a flaming wraith. It rapidly approached the two islands, a spectral spectator. Ever deepening sorrow filled the scene, a weep, a dirge cried out over the scene. A blindingly white bridge appeared between the islands. It rocked and shook with the islands and phased in and out of visibility. The living island slowly became more barren and lifeless as the overgrowth swallowed everything.
        Everything faded slowly, and the universe was once again the only thing in view. The sight of everything looked like nothing. A tapestry of emptiness and void of meaning.

        “Hey Radia! You’re sleeping again?” a familiar voice asked through the door.
        Radia shifted under her covers and took a few moments more to enjoy the cozy warmth of her bed. The day was going to be so tough, and it was always better to milk the warm comfort of her covers. So, like any reasonable person she pulled her blanket tighter over her body so she didn’t have to deal with it.
        “I’ll send Cecilio in there!” the voice said.
        A dire threat! Or was it? Getting the ministrations of her husband in the morning sounded like a great time, actually. She sat up and said, “You promise?”
        “Promise that he’ll toss you around under the covers? I guess that’s up to him. But it sounds like you’re up!” the voice said.
        Radia grumbled, since that trick worked a little too well on her. Her fur was a bit knotted and matted from the sleep. When she opened the door to her cabin, she looked down at Mireda and said, “You’re a tricky little goblin,” without an ounce of malice.
        “Results driven goblin, but I guess in this case they are the same. Do you need help moving your research materials to the university?” Mireda asked.
        “No, I should be able to handle it. I mean, half the ships stores are in my dimensional pocket. A dozen pounds of maps and charts aren’t really going to overload it,” she said and yawned. The ship had a shower/head hybrid, and she was headed there.
        Mireda followed along, “So we’ll be setting off by the afternoon? I need to know so we don’t start any lengthy maintenance on the engine,” she asked.
        Radia turned the water on and let it steam over her. Being a ha-seht she had a rather modest frame that had little shape to it. At least when compared to a human female. Her white fur was the marker of an albino, as most ha-seht were black or gold furred. She was also a head shorter then average, which made her a runt. “Correct, I wonder who showed up. I sent letters out to just about everyone I trust. Some people I don’t, and everyone I’ve trained with. That, and the entire thaumaturgical board for the University. I suspect they will not like the news, or end up thinking I’m crazy,” she said to Mireda.
        Mireda was pretty used to having conversations like this now. Radia had been a great boss so far. The ship she owned was an excellent charge for her and Telosi. Whatever her mission was, was their mission. “You’re definitely a bit crazy. Most people break when they go through what you’re going through,” Miredi added.
        “It’s just a sickness. It might claim my life in a few years, but for now I can enjoy hot water, my husband, and what life there is left,” she said and closed her eyes. The hot water really did make her aches and pains feel so much nice. After a brief silence Radia added,
“If my plan works, everyone else on Korrenth can enjoy their lives too,” she said. Her body was now covered in suds and foam, she looked sort of like a humanoid poodle. Her tail waged and knocked some suds out of the small combo head/shower. “I’m just nervous they’ll actively try to hold me there for academic drilling rather than let me leave to get done what needs to be done,” she said.
        “Ehh, you could just leave before they get their formal requests together. It’s not like professors and administrators move fast,” Mireda said and wiped the soap from her cheek.
        “Fair enough. I have a question for you Mireda. Have you been having weird dreams?” Radia asked.
        Mireda suddenly seemed a bit more dodgey. “I mean, all dreams are strange, right?” she asked.
        Radia knew that was a deflection of the point and confirmed her suspicions. “Well, I guess that’s true,” she said, not to push her friend into uncomfortable conversations.
        Thankful for the topic being dropped, she did have to admit things did feel a bit more oppressive lately. Spooky dreams about islands, an air of emptiness seemed to follow everything. If it weren’t for her and Telosi’s pride and joy, the engine that ran the ship. She and Telosi probably would be in a far worse position. “Let me get you a towel. Should I get your university robes?” she asked as she turned to fetch both things.
        “No, just my normal clothing,” Radia said. She stepped from the shower and looked far more gaunt than a ha-seht should. Which was normally pretty wiry to begin with.
        “Really? Aren’t you the premier vivimancer… I’d figure you’d want to look the part.”
        “It’s fine Mireda, I like my simpler clothing. I’d go in with just my fur if it wasn’t dangerous to expose myself to the sun,” she said.
        “Alright… lightly tattered cloak, pants, and top coming right up,” she said while she gathered the outfit Radia had mentioned.
        “So, are we really going to be pushing the engines to their max?” Mireda asked.
        “Yes, we’ll need to move fast. If my predictions are correct. We don’t have enough time to do a comfortable sightseeing tour of Korrenth. Are the ship breaker implements ready for the Glass Sea?” Radia asked.
        “Ooo! Excellent, and yes they are. I’m very excited to see if those are working too. Telosi has been hard at work designing some other imbuements. The kind to make our downtime between engine recharges shorter. I guess we’ll get a chance to test those as well?” Mireda was very excited at the prospect of getting to really see what this ship could do.
        “Probably. Just don’t blow us up.” Radia said with a giggle.
        “Hey now! That’s a stereotype!” Mireda said with feigned offense.
        “A stereotype like Ha-seht having small breasts and fur?” Radia rebutted.
        “Yes, exactly like that.” Mireda answered.
        Radia took the towel from Mireda and spent the time to dry, brush, and fluff herself out manually. It afforded her time to think. Even if things could be solved quickly with magic. The act of doing mundane tasks manually offered much more than a quick result. In this case, she was worried her friends wouldn’t arrive, show up, or take her warning seriously. She got her clothing on, and fetched her ironwood staff. The head shaped like an ankh with lapis lazuli inlays. This was her main focus for her magic, and it was as well-made as it was enhanced with magics. She then started to cough very hard and dropped to her knees.
        “Radia!” Mireda said suddenly. Her body reacted faster than her mind did, as if to catch Radia.
        “I’m fine. It’s just a cough,” she said to Mireda. Her lungs burned, her joints ached and screamed, and it was hard to focus. Part of her hoped Mireda didn’t know the story and origin of why Radia was sick. Her ears perked back up and she stood up. “I’ll be back on the ship in a few hours! Be sure to take breaks, enjoy time on shore, and all that. You two work so hard, I don’t even feel like we pay you enough,” she admitted.
        “Ohh? Don’t worry about that! We’ve got what we need. You be healthy and come back in one piece, okay?” Mireda said. When Radia redirected concern outward, Mireda really worried.
        Radia beamed at Mireda then climbed up onto the deck to begin her day. Her body was a mass of aches and misery, but there was work to be done.

Chapter 1



        “Dima, wake up!” an excited voice said.
        Dimitri stirred to see the vibrant red skin of Kesnia. The natural black markings on her skin displayed in all of their beauty.
        “I know how important morning prayer is to you, you should hurry up! The bells ring in only an hour,” she added. Her bird-like feet claws grabbed his blankets to pull them away.
        Cold air rushed over his body. It took his breath entirely away! “Ksenia!!,” he yelped and quickly got up. Hard hooves clopped on the ground.
        “Looking sharp there, stud. I am not wrong though. You slept in,” she said and giggled at him.
        He looked her over and could only smile. The vibrant orange eyes full of fire and passion were the light of his life. “You should get dressed and come with me,” he said as he started to don his vestments for morning prayer.
        “You know I burn up in the church! No amount of good deeds will undo my nature, only channel it properly,” she teased then strode from the room.
        “Not even clothing?” he asked concerned.
        “I’m not leaving the house today! I have maps to draw, cheeses to turn, and I’d like to sharpen my hurlbat to a razors edge,” she said.
        Dimitri knew what that was about. The people in town didn’t like her, so she hid away. Even though she had as much to do with the good fortune of the town as he did. Last week, they had stopped a patrol of goblins from ransacking grain shipments. His tail flicked and his ear twitched some. “They’ll never like you if you never show your face,” he said.
        Ksenia waved a hand dismissively at him, “I grew up with them, Dima. They just blame me for everything that happens. Let me relax and prepare. We need to see what those little scamps are up to in the mine. For that, we need a good map and rations,” she stated to change the subject.
        He sighed, as there was truth to her words. He stepped forward and picked her up in a big hug. Black feathers materialized from nowhere as he did so, a quirk of Kesnia’s. “Be well. I will be back in a few hours,” he said to her.

***


        Not many friendly faces made it to the conference. Radia had dearly hoped that the severity of her findings would bring them all. So far, she only saw a couple of people she had hoped to. The mayor of Millas, Rasha Tokinash, was in the audience.
        She was a sight for sure. Dark black skin with purple markings on her. These purple markings were shaped a bit like the cracks of broken glass along her thighs, shoulders, and back. Black feathered wings with glowing purple tips, bright red and orange eyes, and her lack of clothing definitely gave away her demonic origins. Forearms, hands, shins, and feet that were like that of a raven made her impossible to ignore. Her presence filled the room, and Radia had a hard time not staring.
        The heads of the planar studies department had invited themselves, but none of the thaumaturgical professors even showed up. Well, if things worked out, she’d definitely have to write them a rude letter.
        Judgmental looks, and rude whispers, made her fur bristle a little. The professors from planar studies and her didn’t typically get a long. Not that she’d ever wish ill on them, they just often had different ideas than her. It really didn’t give them cause being so rude to her, though. She sighed and looked for friendlier faces.
        Another face she recognized was Dimitri Malaya’s. The tall Equisar man was hard to miss. Especially him, as he had a third eye in his forehead. A feature she found herself lost in. She had been told by him that he was half angel, a claim she wasn’t entirely sure about. All three of his eyes met her solid blue eyes for a moment, and she blushed a bit. It was embarrassing how he managed to make her blush so easily. Some intimate memories came back of the time she had spent training with him.
        Cecilio was there too, but she knew he would be. He was her husband. From where he was, off to the side and not fully visible, he could watch her and the meeting. He was poised to step in and comfort her should he need to. Her guardian angel most of the time. He was a tall human man of very dark complexion. Pleasant brown eyes matched his dark skin. As always he was shrouded up in the many robes and turbans associated with the salt-outriders, though of a different color so he wasn’t confused with an actual salt-outrider.
        His presence alone soothed her nerves. She organized herself before she took one last glance over her notes.
        “Thank you all for attending. Given the nature of my findings, I wish it was for better reasons. Lately, while regularly using life-based thaumaturgy. The energy has been wild, erratic, and, ‘eager,’ to escape. Much like a stabled salt-elk in rut. At times, it feels nearly impossible to control.” she explained. A fact that was hard to convey. Just a couple of weeks ago, she ended up accidentally causing a lavender field to grow in the plains north of Estrella City while she attempted to teach a young thaumaturgist how to use a simple healing spell.
        “Since most wizards rarely delve into the positive side of thaumaturgy, most have not noticed, think it’s normal, or ignore this phenomenon,” She said. A brief pause was taken so she could cough a couple of times. Her lungs burned and her shoulders ached from the motion. The taste of blood filled the back of her tongue. She pressed on.
        “We know that the reflection planes of Korrenth must be in balance. Energy taken from the reflection planes of fire and ice happens, largely, in equal amounts. The only people who use positive energy are priests, and there really aren’t as many of them as there are mages like myself. As such, there has been a very long term imbalance in the thaumaturgical reflection planes. Negative is overused and positive is underused. I predict that what I have been experiencing is actually the early signs of what is hypothetically called a planar eruption,” she continued.
        There were some murmurs from the few academics in the room. An air of skepticism took over the room. Some feathers ruffled, figuratively and literally, as the sounds of disagreement got louder. It was apparent they were getting their angry letters drafted in their heads.
        “Good. I have your attention then. Here are some data models and charts I have written up for this. I’ve done the math several times and, despite my health, can demonstrate if you’d like,” she said. Radia stepped towards the blackboard, then flipped it to the side she had prepared her calculations on. Many diagrams, charts, figures, and quite a lot of numbers, had been carefully written on it.         Silence was the response at first. The planar studies staff did have to take the time to read it. It wasn’t the kind of thing that was easily refuted, a clear mathematical model that even had results acknowledged in other disciplines and studies. They slowly started to whisper among themselves in a thoughtful manner.
        “As I was saying. A positive energy eruption. I assume you are all aware that too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Does anyone here know what happens when too much positive, ‘life,’ energy is applied to a person?” Radia asked. Her tone was like that of a professor. It wasn’t an intentional sound. The thought of being in an office rather than helping in the world bothered her. Perhaps she’d have to manage her tone in the future.
        Rasha fluttered her wings. Her eyes scanned the room, and she impatiently clicked her feet talons on the floor. No one was answering. It was annoying when she had to answer questions for others, especially things they should be experts in. “Disease and tumors develop. Even just the constant channeling of positive energy can cause incurable diseases in the caster. I assume your colleagues here refuse to answer as to not imply you are guilty of blasphemy,” Rasha said in an even and casual tone. A soft air of contempt could be felt about Rasha when she said that. It was directected at the professors, who had not answered.
        “Correct. Though more directly it makes life grow even if it shouldn’t As for the implication that the vivimancer’s curse is a divine punishment or not. That aspect of vivimancy is beyond my, or anyone’s, knowledge,” Radia said. She knew the global opinion on vivimancy, and its misguided understanding of the cosmos. She didn’t care either, it was as valid as any other elemental channeling.
        “I don’t come here without solutions, though. I seek anyone willing to accompany me out into the world. I have a plan that might work to mitigate, and gods willing possibly stop, the eruption from harming life on Korrenth,” she said. A pause was taken while she caught her breath and focused on not coughing.
        “Furthermore, I will be triangulating the disturbances and tremors I feel within the mana-threads that pull life energy. This will be done from atop each of the highest points I can reach on Korrenth. This will give me the biggest sweep and best direction. After I have gotten my readings, I will know where the eruption will occur. At the epicenter of the eruption, I will attempt to channel and redirect the energy away from Korrenth,” Radia continued. The part she hadn’t told them, was she hadn’t figured out how to do so without dying.
        “I know you’re the premier Vivimancer in Estrella. Probably Korrenth really. Why do you think you can be our bridge to safety?” asked one of the professors.
        “I don’t know if I am, but we’ll all be swallowed up in the eruption if I don’t try. Plus redirection is simpler than absorbing,” she responded. That was another fear of hers, if she’d just die instantly and have no chance.
        “Little-bird, I will assist in this task,” a deep, heavy voice said.
        This voice belonged to Dimitri, and was filled with earnest conviction. He was not a man that took things lightly. His three eyes locked onto Radia’s more directly this time. “If what you say is true, then it is in everyone’s interest,” he said.
        Radia blushed at his words. There it was again, memories of passionate evenings in Markitha. “Dima, thank you. I cannot tell you how happy I am to have you along” she said. She waggled her tail like an excited puppy.
        Dimtri only gave a shallow bow of his head when she thanked him. He had been the one to teach Radia about theology, and there was a wave of pride that came with seeing her take up such a grand cause.
        Most of the crowd responded with shock when someone offered so quickly. However, the reality of the data and situation had not set in. It was one thing for a man of faith to assign their loyalty to a cause or idea so quickly. Convincing academics was a completely different beast. Slowly, the professors converged on the black board Radia had prepared. Little by little, their voices said things that hinted at cautious skepticism.
        “So let’s say your calculations are correct. Not saying they are, but just in case they are. How long would it be until the eruption occurs?,” one of them finally spoke up directly.
        Radia had to think for a moment on that one, it wasn’t an easily answered question. “The exact time is beyond me. I know it will be three or four months from now. Things will start to get… worse… or better? At the eruption site,” she said.
        “How so?” the professor asked.
        “Well, plant life and animals will grow very readily, healthily, fast, and inordinately big. So you might see a thirty-foot hibiscus plant, for example,” she said.
        “Interesting,” he said, his tone shifted.
        Among the academics, a soft tone of dread seemed to fall over them. It filled the room in an almost visible way. A sickly miasma, golden. Was this effect real? Radia could not be too sure, odd things like that had been happening for a few days now. To her, it had looked like the lights in the room had tinged a rotting-banana color for just a moment. No one mentioned it. The concerned tones about confirming the numbers redrew her attention.
        Before she could respond, Dimitri tapped his hoof onto the wood floor. “Little-Bird, it sounds like you should not be delaying. Travel is slow and the distances you suggest are quite large,” he said.
        Radia’s ears perked up towards him. Mostly because the loud noise had startled her. Solid blue eyes, no sclera or pupil, met Drimitri’s three. “I have an Estrellan Arrow Class ship. We’ll be moving quite quickly,” she said to Dimitri.
        Bird-claws much more subtle scratched the ground, as attention was drawn to Rasha. “Radia, my place is in Millas. I cannot leave that city to run itself. I can, however, offer some basic assistance. Mostly in the form of communication. I will see about getting a ledger sent to your ship,” Rasha said.
        Radia’s eyes twinkled as she was spoken to by Rasha. It was like being spoken to by a childhood hero. Just the thought of having a direct like to Rasha made Radia more excited than she probably should be. Behind her, the fast wag of her white-furred tail betrayed her excited puppy-like reaction to the news.
        Attention moved back to Dimitri. “You are correct, Dimitri. Haste should be made. Two of the peaks I need to get a reading on are quite isolated and could take a few extra days each. With Rasha’s communication ledger, I will be able to answer any academic questions on the road. Well, given they have the gumption to bother Rasha so they can get in touch with me,” she said.
        She really wanted to get out of the room before any type of scholastic interrogation ensued. Perhaps cutting things early would prevent any issues. “So for those willing to help me, I’ll be in the study room. Please direct any academic questions to my office,” she said to the group of professors mulling over the data.
        The professors all grumbled in response to her. Dread, fear, and defeat seemed to overtake their previous incredulity. A few of them were even running the numbers themselves on some parchment. Each time they got the same numbers, Radia did. They didn’t really even notice her when she said she was taking leave.
        As Radia gathered her notes and things, she took a single step and started to cough, hack, and wheeze quite violently. Just as she was about to fall to a knee, Cecilio hooked an arm around her for support. He carefully guided her to a seat and held her close.
        Dimitri approached the two slowly, as if to ask permission to get closer. He was a whole head taller than Cecilio and made Radia look like a Ha-seht pup. So, careful deliberate behavior was important as to not cause alarm unintentionally. His hand glowed with positive energy as he reached out to heal her. He stopped when he noticed Radia’s hand gripped on his wrist.
        “Don’t. It’ll just make things worse. Only negative energy provides any relief, unfortunately. I truly appreciate your concern, Dima,” she said to Dimitri.
        He withdrew his hand and his eyes turned to look at Cecilio. Since Cecilio was clearly Radia’s husband, he was worried he might have crossed a line.
        Cecilio stood up to carry Radia to the study room. Not a scrap of irritation shown in his demeanor. A quick gesture indicated that Dimitri should follow. “Radia is afflicted with the vivimancer’s curse. It hurts her lungs and joints. Healing magic us on, or by, her causes more harm,” he said in his low, soft, and confident voice.
        “More specifically, any magics that channel positive energy,” Radia said. Clearly being carried didn’t bother Radia.
        The gave Dimitri some pause. He hadn’t even considered Radia might suffer from that particular affliction. Many theologians claimed the affliction was a divine punishment. Life magics were considered sacred, only to be channeled through the divine. A theory that had some merit, as those who channel positive energy through prayer, meditations, or other divine methods, never suffer from the vivimancer’s curse. Vivimancers, like Radia, bypass the divine connections and handle the raw positive energy directly. Perhaps doing so was simply perilous and caused problems for the caster. It was a debate, but one without many voices in it. Those who would argue against the theologians never lived long.
        “What are her symptoms?” Dimitri asked.
        “Coughing a lot, aches in my joints, fatigue,” Radia said.
        “Noted. Are you healthy enough for this journey, Little-bird?” he asked.
        Radia wiggled in Cecilio’s hands a bit to inform him that she wanted down. With a soft click as her feet hit the ground, she circled around a table with a map on it. Solid blue eyes twinkled at Dimitri, her tail waggled. His kindness was something she had forgotten about him, and it made her heart warm. “I also have difficulty breathing at times and malaise. If you wish to record the course of my curse, feel free,” she said.
        “You are downplaying your sickness again, Radia. The biggest problem she has with the curse, is that she cannot channel positive energy without getting much sicker,” he said towards Dimitri. He moved around the table to Radia and hooked an arm around her and kissed the short ha-seht on the top of her head. “No cheating either. If others use positive energy on her. She will also suffer. When she opens her connection to the plane of life has become a difficult decision.” Cecilio added.
        “If that is the case. Wouldn’t trying to deflect so much positive energy cause you great harm?” Dimitri asked.
        Radia pointedly ignored the question. A deafening silence followed for a few moments while she did her best not to betray her personal reservations about that. Instead, she traced her claw over the map from one side of Korrenth to the other. “Many of the places we need to go are pretty distant. I think the easiest starting point is Markitha. Starting there would make our sea travel much simpler,” Radia finally said.
        Dimitri’s three-eyes were locked on her the entire time. Concern draped over him like a robe. Radia was a good friend; the thought of her sacrificing herself was painful. The global situation was not lost on him. Though, if she was wrong, they could laugh about it later. If not, very few people got the chance to be so noble.  When she spoke of Markitha his ears twitched and his eyes moved towards the large kingdom’s location on the map. The mountain north of Fasbyl was circled. That presented some problems. Bone-Pick peak belonged to the Tsar’s estate.
        “You will need a permit from the Star to c—” he was cut off when Radia pulled the permit from thin air.
        “Tsar Venedikt was very willing to help. We do not have permission to hunt beyond what is needed for our immediate need. I do not know the roads or area very well. Have you been to Fasbyl, Dimitri?” she asked.
        “Once or twice. There is a temple to Devana there. That would be the best place to prepare after arriving in port,” Dimitri answered.
        “Not to be rude, dear, by why aren’t we starting with Montaña Hielo?” Cecilio asked. He gave her some pets along her neck and side as he said so.
        “Because it could erupt soon,” Rasha said.
        The sudden intrusion had put Dimitri instantly on guard. His hand on the hilt of his mace. When he saw it was Rasha, he relaxed, but only just. Rasha bothered him at a spiritual level. He had heard rumors she was a beloved figure in central Estrella but, she was just a demon to him. The strength of her divine aura was too oppressive for him to act beyond the show of force he had. What made the situation more uncomfortable, was how friendly Rasha seemed towards him.
        Radia’s solid blue eyes met Rasha with glee. Fast tail wags gave away her mood once again. “That is what I was told by the university staff in Sierra Hielo. A friend of mine will be getting the reading off the mountain for me in a day or two. She’s uniquely well-equipped for it,” Radia said.
        Rasha stepped forward. Bird claws click on the ground as she did so. Her eyes scanned the map as she seemed to be making calculations in her head. The sound of ruffling feathers followed a look of realization. “Tell me you’ve arranged some local teleports for Brettony and Xi’Zhou. The foot travel will be almost too much time for you to get all the readings. Well, get them and get anywhere useful,” Rasha said.
        The sight of black ruffling feathers made him feel nostalgic for a second. Memories both good and bad flooded his mind. A soul-searing pain struck him for a moment. Not the kind of pain that showed or was felt physically. He shook himself back to the here and now, “If you are as powerful as your aura would imply. Why do you not help directly?” Dimitri asked. The tone of disdain in his voice was impossible not to notice.
        Rasha turned to him with a warm expression. Playfully, she swayed her spaded tail and turned her whole body to face him. “Saving mortal kind is not something an unholy creation should be doing. Assuming you accept that as an excuse,” teased Rasha. “The true answer to your inquiry is best given to you as a question. Why does Devana not step in to help save mortal kind? She is most certainly more powerful than I. My champion of beauty and redemption, mull over that for a time. As for you, Radia,” she said and turned to the white ha-seht. Rasha then said, “I have a lot of contacts all over Korrenth, please do not hesitate to ask for help. I can always direct you to the right person.”
        The question had left Dimitri very confused. Solving it really was something he’d have to do when he had some alone time. Theological quandaries were best addressed through prayer. His tail thrashed in frustration, “Some help is better than no help,” he said.
        “Of course! I thank you for coming at all. We’ll do everything we can to succeed,” Radia said to Rasha with the eagerness of a puppy.
        Cecilio had remained quiet. Though, he did enjoy staring at Rasha’s naked body move about. The tone in Dimitri’s voice and general demeanor had slowly become a concern. After Rasha left the room he addressed it, “Relax around Rasha. She’s not going to hurt any of us.” he said with an unshakable confidence.
        “Most definitely not! She’s the saint of Millas,” Radia added.
        Dimitri knew these two weren’t so weak-minded as to fall prey to charm magic. Clearly he was missing context, as such, he dropped the topic. “So. Through the Glass Sea to Fasbyl? That is not a warm water port, and it is winter. I assume you have some kind of magic to get the boat into port?” he asked.
        “A magic of sorts. Their names are Mireda and Telosi,” Radia said playfully. A coy expression followed. One ear was quirked back, the other faced towards Dimitri. He could be such a serious person sometimes. Any chance she had to make him smile, blush, or just take a moment to appreciate life in general, was worth creating or taking.
        Dimitri’s curiosity was piqued, “Who are Mireda and Telosi? Some kind of wizards or sorcerers?” he asked.
        “Wizards of metal and math, perhaps,” she responded.
        “They are Estrellan goblin twins. They will be more than eager to tell you how it all works,” Dimitri said with a tone the urged caution.
        “Hahaha, you are such a charm Little-Bird! Just the thought of some goblin correctly using an abacus and paper is comical,” he said. With great mirth, he reached over to ruffle her head fur and give the much smaller lady some pets. Her whole head, sans her muzzle, disappeared under his hand. Gentle was his way when it came to smaller and more delicate creatures. Equisar like him, were pretty tough and big people. Cecilio, whom he had just turned attention to, seemed to not be worried about the contact he had just made with Radia.
        “In all seriousness. We should finish up here. We’re at dock port seven. Meet us there in a couple of hours,” Radia said to Dimitri. The pet had made her tail wag at maximum-glee. She loved when positive attention was directed at her.
        He took that as a hint. “Of course! Some basic supplies, books, or anything to do on the seas then. I will see you two at dock Seven,” said Dimitri.
        Radia relaxed back into Cecilio’s embrace. Much of the stress for the day was now behind her. The map was rolled up and pulled into her dimensional pocket. “He is always so eager to help. I’m shocked he was the only one to respond. This is going to be harder than expected,” she said to Cecilio.
        “We will pull through. If not, there won’t be anyone around to blame us for failing,” he said as he let go of her. He fetched his spear and long-knife from the table. “We should get going. You know, before those professors find you and cost us a whole day,” said Cecilio knowingly.", "pools_count": 1, "title": "Toxic Positivity: Chapter 1", "deleted": "f", "public": "t", "mimetype": "application/msword", "pagecount": "1", "rating_id": "0", "rating_name": "General", "ratings": [], "submission_type_id": "12", "type_name": "Writing - Document", "guest_block": "f", "friends_only": "f", "comments_count": "0", "views": "20" }