Avalon:Chapter Test - Revision history

Aorii at 17:27, 17 December 2013

2013-12-17T17:27:01Z

Aorii at 05:01, 1 December 2013

2013-12-01T05:01:57Z

Aorii at 15:52, 26 November 2013

2013-11-26T15:52:25Z

Aorii at 15:19, 26 November 2013

2013-11-26T15:19:15Z

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Aorii at 05:08, 26 November 2013

2013-11-26T05:08:13Z

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Aorii at 00:02, 22 November 2013

2013-11-22T00:02:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:02, 22 November 2013
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	Pascal drew a scroll of parchment and copied down the incantations and gestures of every core Summon Familiar spell variant he knew from memory. Within a minute, he had them broken down into a tree graph of individual spellcraft components which defined every effect -- scan, calling, charm, summon, transport, compel, binding, connect, sharing...		Pascal drew a scroll of parchment and copied down the incantations and gestures of every core Summon Familiar spell variant he knew from memory. Within a minute, he had them broken down into a tree graph of individual spellcraft components which defined every effect -- scan, calling, charm, summon, transport, compel, binding, connect, sharing...

	He didn't need a servant. A traditional familiar ~~under magical compulsion~~ was no better than a yes-man. Loyal, but nevertheless a fool of limited use.		He didn't need a servant. A traditional, completely obedient familiar was no better than a yes-man. Loyal, but nevertheless a fool of limited use.

	Paying no heed to the conversations around him, he tapped the syllables that represented the 'animal calling' aspect of the spell on his parchment.		Paying no heed to the conversations around him, he tapped the syllables that represented the 'animal calling' aspect of the spell on his parchment.
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	"Then, how do you enforce the loyalty of normal familiars?"		"Then, how do you enforce the loyalty of normal familiars?"

	"~~First of all, loyalty contracts do not enforce obedience; it requires mutual consent~~ to ~~establish, and merely deters betrayal~~ through the ~~punishment of death. Second~~, a familiar ~~bond does~~ not ~~carry any loyalty~~ magic. Instead it links two beings through the arcane conduit. Obedience is achieved through a contest of will, which is why familiars are usually a good measurement of the master's capabilities."		"While the summoning compels the familiar to go through the ceremony, familiar bonds do not rely on compulsion magic. Instead it links two beings through the arcane conduit. Obedience is achieved through a contest of will, which is why familiars are usually a good measurement of the master's capabilities."

	"Alright," Kaede relaxed, suppressing the urge to poke out those increasingly downcast eyes. "What else?"		"Alright," Kaede relaxed, suppressing the urge to poke out those increasingly downcast eyes. "What else?"

Aorii at 23:53, 21 November 2013

2013-11-21T23:53:44Z

Aorii at 20:48, 20 November 2013

2013-11-20T20:48:48Z

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	"<u>Good, now let us eat.</u>"		"<u>Good, now let us eat.</u>"

			He then dug into his dinner, laden with several steaming slices of fresh pork roast as the main meal, surrounded by sides of boiled asparagus, potato salad, sliced gourmet bread, and a thick, cheesy broth that smelled faintly of beer.

			Perhaps not surprisingly, Kaede found herself looking at smaller portions of the same dinner, minus the alcoholic soup.

			She wasn't complaining.

	Pascal spent most of the meal asking Kaede about her limited martial arts background, her archery practice in the morning, and the role they played in her home world. Intrigued and periodically commenting on the differences between the two world's styles, he nevertheless expressed that "projectile weapons are the inferior tools of untalented commoners, below the dignity of aristocratic arcane heritage." He admitted that he only studied the conceptual basics because levied archers were used to supplement the limited numbers of aristocratic artillery-mages on the field.		Pascal spent most of the meal asking Kaede about her limited martial arts background, her archery practice in the morning, and the role they played in her home world. Intrigued and periodically commenting on the differences between the two world's styles, he nevertheless expressed that "projectile weapons are the inferior tools of untalented commoners, below the dignity of aristocratic arcane heritage." He admitted that he only studied the conceptual basics because levied archers were used to supplement the limited numbers of aristocratic artillery-mages on the field.
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	Kaede sighed, any interest in the local theology evaporating before they even began.		Kaede sighed, any interest in the local theology evaporating before they even began.

	"...Although, does your world really pray to airborne pasta?" Pascal asked, his ~~seriousness~~ betraying a hint of bewilderment.		"...Although, does your world really pray to airborne pasta?" Pascal asked, his single raised eyebrow betraying a hint of bewilderment on a totally-serious face.

	"Only when the polar ice caps are melting due to lack of pirate caretakers."		"Only when the polar ice caps are melting due to lack of pirate caretakers."

Aorii at 12:11, 20 November 2013

2013-11-20T12:11:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:11, 20 November 2013
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	He received far more than he bargained for.		He received far more than he bargained for.

	[ My friends call this "genderswapped Zero no Tsukaima", although I'm not exactly targeting the same audience as I can't stand the fanservice excess. In addition to being a fantasy/comedy/adventure, this is a military epic. ]

Aorii at 12:10, 20 November 2013

2013-11-20T12:10:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:10, 20 November 2013
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	"<u>I told most of them I was not interested in the relationship they sought. As for the rest... they did not end up working out.</u>"		"<u>I told most of them I was not interested in the relationship they sought. As for the rest... they did not end up working out.</u>"

	"<u>Pascal the lady-killer, court him ~~once~~ and he'll give you the everlasting gift... ''of death''</u>"		"<u>Pascal the lady-killer, court him one week and he'll give you the everlasting gift... ''of death''</u>"

	"<u>That is really not funny.</u>"		"<u>That is really not funny.</u>"
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	"<u>How could you not pray to the Holy Father?</u>"		"<u>How could you not pray to the Holy Father?</u>"

	Having spent a dozen years in Central Russia, Kaede did attend several Eastern Orthodox services, but she never really converted and stayed an agnostic-deist like her mother. Plus, she considered her religious-flexibility to be a major advantage when studying foreign history and culture.		Having spent a dozen years in Central Russia, Kaede did attend several Eastern Orthodox services, but she never really converted and stayed an agnostic-deist like her mother. Plus, she considered her religious-flexibility to be a major advantage when studying foreign history and culture, so when it came to the religiously adamant...

	~~...And there were only a few good ways to answer adamant missionaries.~~		"<u>Hey, I follow the Flying Spaghetti God, so show some respect will you?</u>" Kaede retorted. "<u>Besides, you told me the Samarans don't worship him anyways!</u>"

	"<u>Hey, I ~~worship~~ the Flying Spaghetti ~~Monster~~, so show some respect will you? ~~Besides, it's not like everyone in your world believes in him either,~~</u>" Kaede retorted. "<u>~~You~~ told me the Samarans ~~certainly didn~~'t!</u>"

	"<u>And the Samarans are seen as heretics! Do you wish to be singled out by the church inquisition!?</u>"		"<u>And the Samarans are seen as heretics! Do you wish to be singled out by the church inquisition!?</u>"
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	Kaede sighed, any interest in the local theology evaporating before they even began.		Kaede sighed, any interest in the local theology evaporating before they even began.

	"...Although, does your world really pray to ~~aerial~~ pasta?" Pascal asked, ~~completely serious~~.		"...Although, does your world really pray to airborne pasta?" Pascal asked, his seriousness betraying a hint of bewilderment.

	"Only when ~~endangered pirates are threatening to melt~~ the ice caps."		"Only when the polar ice caps are melting due to lack of pirate caretakers."

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:52, 26 November 2013
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	Once the rising pearl of the Inner Sea region, the coastal metropolis of Arcadia had since fallen into decadence and slow decline. As the Capital of the Holy Imperium, the city was still ringed by high walls and dotted by garish palaces, but the fluidity and nonstop expansion of its harbors and marketplaces have given away to territorial oligopolies by urban guilds and ~~major~~ corporations. Market control discouraged competitiveness and brought stagnation, widening the class divide through the reduction of opportunities. The result was social instability, crime, and economic recession as the bright, the motivated, and the daring left to seek new frontiers~~, leaving only conservative patrician families to squabble across the political circles~~.		Once the rising pearl of the Inner Sea region, the coastal metropolis of Arcadia had since fallen into decadence and slow decline. As the Capital of the Holy Imperium, the city was still ringed by high walls and dotted by garish palaces, but the fluidity and nonstop expansion of its harbors and marketplaces have given away to territorial oligopolies by urban guilds and corporations. Market control discouraged competitiveness and brought stagnation, widening the class divide through the reduction of opportunities. The result was social instability, rising crime, and economic recession as the bright, the motivated, and the daring left to seek new frontiers.

	What remaining was a city of servants and courtiers, plebeians who slaved day and night for the Senators and their wealthy supporters. Here in the beating heart of the Imperium~~, the~~ legislature had long stopped being a representation of the people, its subcommittees now fraught with corruption and individual interests.		What remaining was a city of servants and courtiers, plebeians who slaved day and night for the Senators and their wealthy patrician supporters. Here, the beating heart of the Imperium lay sickened by centuries of decadent cholesterol. The legislature had long stopped being a representation of the people, its subcommittees now fraught with corruption and individual interests.

	The executive throne did no better.		The executive throne did no better.
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	Generations of adoptive sons taking the crown -- many of them wise and just -- nevertheless laid a disastrous precedence to the line of Imperial Succession. Theodosius III, the previous Emperor of the Holy Imperium, died sixteen years ago from sudden cerebral hemorrhage, leaving both a biological and an adoptive son. The ensuing civil war scorched the Holy Imperium with flames for six years. Known as the 'War of Imperial Succession', it quickly engulfed the entire continent, as the Imperium's neighbors and enemies took advantage of the chaos to slice off and annex border states and Duchies.		Generations of adoptive sons taking the crown -- many of them wise and just -- nevertheless laid a disastrous precedence to the line of Imperial Succession. Theodosius III, the previous Emperor of the Holy Imperium, died sixteen years ago from sudden cerebral hemorrhage, leaving both a biological and an adoptive son. The ensuing civil war scorched the Holy Imperium with flames for six years. Known as the 'War of Imperial Succession', it quickly engulfed the entire continent, as the Imperium's neighbors and enemies took advantage of the chaos to slice off and annex border states and Duchies.

	With the help of the patricians' bottomless funding and the Legions once loyal to his late birth father, Gaudentius Aurelius brought an end to the bloodshed by seizing the ~~crown~~. Yet even in his moment of triumph, he looked towards the northern horizon with bloodied eyes, never forgetting the treachery of nations that should have been his allies against the infidels of the south.		With the help of the patricians' bottomless funding and the Legions once loyal to his late birth father, Gaudentius Aurelius brought an end to the bloodshed by seizing the laurels. Yet even in his moment of triumph, he looked towards the northern horizon with bloodied eyes, never forgetting the treachery of nations that should have been his allies against the infidels of the south.

	It took tens years to consolidate his power, ten years to rebuild the Legions to full strength, ten years to bribe and negotiate and wrangle for all the arrangements.		It took tens years to consolidate his power, ten years to rebuild the Legions to full strength, ten years to bribe and negotiate and wrangle for all the arrangements.
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	And now...		And now...

	"What is our status, Stilius?" The Emperor asked as he strolled down the shadowy halls, followed only by his most trusted servant -- the foreigner who trice saved his life from overwhelming odds, rising from stablehand to Magister Militum of the entire Holy Imperium.		"What is our status, Stilius?" The Emperor asked as he strolled down the shadowy halls, followed only by his most trusted servant -- the foreigner who trice saved his life from overwhelming odds, rising from mere stablehand to Magister Militum of the entire Holy Imperium.

	"Our spies in Cataliya confirms that the Caliphate is mobilizing. Troops are pouring across the Grand Trait Bridge by the thousands every day as they march towards the Rhin-Lotharingie border. Regardless of whether they believed our emissaries' promises, the Caliphate now lay committed. It is only a matter of time before they declare Holy War against the Empire."		"Our spies in Cataliya confirms that the Caliphate is mobilizing. Troops are pouring across the Grand Trait Bridge by the thousands every day as they march towards the Rhin-Lotharingie border. Regardless of whether they believed our emissaries' promises, the Caliphate now lay committed. It is only a matter of time before they declare Holy War against the Empire."
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	"Good, and the Pope?"		"Good, and the Pope?"

	"His Holiness, Pope Vigilius has long harbored a hatred for Emperor Geoffroi of Rhin-Lotharingie for his revocation of Papal Investiture. Neither has the Holy See forgotten Geoffroi's swift eagerness to take advantage of the civil war by stripping us of our western territories. The Papal Legates ~~swear~~ that if Geoffroi folds before the infidel ~~armies~~ and pull back his border ~~defenses~~, His Holiness will have a more-than-long-enough list of transgressions to have him excommunicated."		"His Holiness, Pope Vigilius has long harbored a hatred for Emperor Geoffroi of Rhin-Lotharingie for his revocation of Papal Investiture within the Empire. Neither has the Holy See forgotten Geoffroi's swift eagerness to take advantage of the civil war by stripping us of our western territories. The Papal Legates assure that if Geoffroi folds before the infidel invasion and pull back his border armies, His Holiness will have a more-than-long-enough list of transgressions to have him excommunicated."

	"Excellent. Even without aid from those petty Lotharin nobles, that alone should be enough to fracture the Empire during its most critical hour. It will also strip them of any right to call for crusaders' aid. What of their ally, that upstart Kingdom of Weichsel?"		"Excellent. Even without aid from those petty Lotharin nobles, that alone should be enough to fracture the Empire during its most critical hour. It will also strip them of any right to call for crusaders' aid. What of their ally, that upstart Kingdom of Weichsel?"

	"Imperator, during the War of Imperial Succession, Weichsel not only stole twice their landmass from our ~~border~~ territories, but also struck fear into the heart of Rhin-Lotharingie before the two states could forge a defensive treaty against Imperial retaliation. It is not wise to..."		"Imperator, during the War of Imperial Succession, Weichsel not only stole twice their landmass from our northern territories, but also struck fear into the heart of Rhin-Lotharingie before the two states could forge a defensive treaty against Imperial retaliation. It is not wise to..."

	Old companions or not, the Emperor cut off his foremost general without a moment of hesitance:		Old companions or not, the Emperor cut off his foremost general without a moment of hesitance:
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	"The Northern Legions stand ready under Gaius Aetius. They're assembled near the Weichsel-Lotharin border, poised to apply pressure against either military. The Western Legions were officially furloughed by Marcus Belisarius; but his forces have merely broken down into organized labor units and can swiftly regroup once the time is right. The Southern Legions have been recalled home under my personal command to remove their presence from the borders, so that the Caliph may focus on waging his war."		"The Northern Legions stand ready under Gaius Aetius. They're assembled near the Weichsel-Lotharin border, poised to apply pressure against either military. The Western Legions were officially furloughed by Marcus Belisarius; but his forces have merely broken down into organized labor units and can swiftly regroup once the time is right. The Southern Legions have been recalled home under my personal command to remove their presence from the borders, so that the Caliph may focus on waging his war."

	"You have done well, Stilius. Once the Caliphate and Rhin-Lotharingie maul each other to exhaustion, we shall have the perfect opportunity to seek permission for a new crusade. Then, I shall become the first Emperor in five centuries to reclaim lands lost by the Holy Imperium, and maybe even reconquer Lotharingie itself. ~~Meanwhile~~, ''your'' name will rise above Marius himself in becoming the most celebrated general in Imperial history."		"You have done well, Stilius. Once the Caliphate and Rhin-Lotharingie maul each other to exhaustion, we shall have the perfect opportunity to seek permission for a new crusade. Then, I shall become the first Emperor in five centuries to reclaim lands lost by the Holy Imperium, and maybe even reconquer Lotharingie itself. The patricians will be pleased by the wealth new conquests shall bring, while ''your'' name will rise above Marius himself in becoming the most celebrated general in Imperial history."

	"You are most generous, Imperator," Stilius bowed, suppressing the urge to warn his liege of counting chickens before they hatch.		"You are most generous, Imperator," Stilius bowed, suppressing the urge to warn his liege of counting chickens before they hatch.

	"The Grand Republic will ~~not interfere in the west~~ unless they feel threatened, and the Chorasmia Sultanate is currently fighting off an invasion from further east. Our only known threat at the moment remains the Kingdom of Weichsel. I want that alliance fractured if not broken, Stilius; be discrete, but otherwise do whatever it takes."		"The Grand Republic will adhere to their policy of non-interference unless they feel threatened, and the Chorasmia Sultanate is currently fighting off an invasion from further east. Our only known threat at the moment remains the Kingdom of Weichsel. I want that alliance fractured if not broken, Stilius; be discrete, but otherwise do whatever it takes."

	"Yes, Imperator. I have already dispatched three of my best operative squads north. It should not be long before one of my plans bear fruit."		"Yes, Imperator. I have already dispatched three of my best operative squads north. It should not be long before one of my plans bear fruit."

			"See to it, Magister Militum."

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:53, 21 November 2013
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	Kaede has never felt this tired after waking up from a nap. His entire body was sore. Worse yet, it felt weak, exerting just to push against the bedcovers, with barely an ounce of his usual strength.		Kaede has never felt this tired after waking up from a nap. His entire body was sore. Worse yet, it felt weak, exerting just to push against the bedcovers, with barely an ounce of his usual strength.

	''Wait a sec... I ~~fell~~ asleep ~~on the sofa.~~ There was only a few more hours before I needed to meet up with the club and leave for the archery tournament.''		''Wait a sec... did I fall asleep somewhere? There was only a few more hours before I needed to meet up with the club and leave for the archery tournament.''

	Fear of oversleeping lit up his mind in a flash. His eyes sprang open, his arms reaching out by force of habit in seek of the smartphone he used as an alarm clock, only to promptly freeze as recognition came.		Fear of oversleeping lit up his mind in a flash. His eyes sprang open, his arms reaching out by force of habit in seek of the smartphone he used as an alarm clock, only to promptly freeze as recognition came.
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	Her third shot bounced off the wrong stone block with a resounding denial.		Her third shot bounced off the wrong stone block with a resounding denial.

	''What about college? After working so hard and finally receiving my ~~desired~~ acceptance letter.''		''What about college? After working so hard and finally receiving my first-choice acceptance letter.''

	The fifth arrow overshot the battlements altogether, its momentum wasted as it fell through thin air towards the grounds below.		The fifth arrow overshot the battlements altogether, its momentum wasted as it fell through thin air towards the grounds below.
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	"Yes, actually. Half-glamor and half-healing."		"Yes, actually. Half-glamor and half-healing."

	With a few muttered words, Pascal slowly waved his right hand across Kaede's face. His turquoise ring glowed with brilliance, and she felt a soothing warmth spread across her ~~face~~.		With a few muttered words, Pascal slowly waved his right hand across Kaede's face. His turquoise ring glowed with brilliance, and she felt a soothing warmth spread across her.

	"I mostly use this in the field," he explained in rather stiff words. "Officers must always look awake and confident, even if I only caught three hours of sleep. Guess I will need to check you in the mornings. We nobles do have an image to maintain."		"I mostly use this in the field," he explained in rather stiff words. "Officers must always look awake and confident, even if I only caught three hours of sleep. Guess I will need to check you in the mornings. We nobles do have an image to maintain."

	"Yes, of course." Kaede was feeling unusually sarcastic this morning. "Can't let your mistress play toy look ashen-faced with bloodshot eyes, can we?"		"Yes, of course." Kaede was feeling unusually sarcastic this morning. "Can't let your mistress play-toy look ashen-faced with bloodshot eyes, can we?"

	"While I recognize that many nobles have a taste for that, I have no such need. You are my familiar companion," Pascal warned with completely seriousness. "Please do not sully that bond."		"While I recognize that many nobles have a taste for that, I have no such need. You are my familiar companion," Pascal warned with completely seriousness. "Please do not sully that bond."
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	"First of all, loyalty contracts do not enforce obedience; it requires mutual consent to establish, and merely deters betrayal through the punishment of death. Second, a familiar bond does not carry any loyalty magic. Instead it links two beings through the arcane conduit. Obedience is achieved through a contest of will, which is why familiars are usually a good measurement of the master's capabilities."		"First of all, loyalty contracts do not enforce obedience; it requires mutual consent to establish, and merely deters betrayal through the punishment of death. Second, a familiar bond does not carry any loyalty magic. Instead it links two beings through the arcane conduit. Obedience is achieved through a contest of will, which is why familiars are usually a good measurement of the master's capabilities."

	"Alright," Kaede relaxed, suppressing the urge to poke out ~~that~~ increasingly ~~proud look~~. "What else?"		"Alright," Kaede relaxed, suppressing the urge to poke out those increasingly downcast eyes. "What else?"

	"The last function of a normal familiar bond is auto-translation magic for both the master and familiar, so they may understand each other."		"The last function of a normal familiar bond is auto-translation magic for both the master and familiar, so they may understand each other."
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	After setting her bow down in a rush, Kaede quickly stripped the white satin glove off her right arm. Just as he claimed, there was now a dozen runes etched in a row on the underside of her forearm. Each shedding a faint, turquoise-blue glow, the runes gave off a subtle warmth, which spread evenly in her still-gloved left arm.		After setting her bow down in a rush, Kaede quickly stripped the white satin glove off her right arm. Just as he claimed, there was now a dozen runes etched in a row on the underside of her forearm. Each shedding a faint, turquoise-blue glow, the runes gave off a subtle warmth, which spread evenly in her still-gloved left arm.

	"I'm not a battery!" She stared back at him with incensed eyes. Never a fan of tattoos to begin with, she couldn't believe he already had her ~~new body~~ permanently marked.		"I'm not a battery!" She stared back at him with incensed eyes. Never a fan of tattoos to begin with, she couldn't believe he already had her permanently marked.

	"Of course not, I would never ask you to serve for artillery," he replied with slight confusion.		"Of course not, I would never ask you to serve for artillery," he replied with slight confusion.
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	"No, I meant... a battery is a device for storing electricity, lightning-power, from my world."		"No, I meant... a battery is a device for storing electricity, lightning-power, from my world."

	"Indeed," he nodded with interest. "Well, being a user of both ~~runes~~ and ~~gems~~, reserve capacity is not one of my problems. Those glyphs are capable of storing pre-crafted spells. I transfered over two full arrays of defensive spells before you woke up yesterday, which you can activate them just by pressing down on the runes. I also hope that, since your body is not a network of magic conduits like mine, you may be able to absorb foreign spells using those... we will have to experiment with that one."		"Indeed," he nodded with interest. "Well, being a user of both gem and runic magic, reserve capacity is not one of my problems. Those glyphs are capable of storing pre-crafted spells. I transfered over two full arrays of defensive spells before you woke up yesterday, which you can activate them just by pressing down on the runes. I also hope that, since your body is not a network of magic conduits like mine, you may be able to absorb foreign spells using those... we will have to experiment with that one."

	''Excuse me!? Experiment? Haven't you had enough fun with my body? ~~...I'd like to show you some 'treachery underfoot' right now!~~''		By now, her shoulders were starting to tremble...

			''Excuse me!? Experiment? Haven't you had enough fun with my body?''

	After suppressing all her irritation, frustration, and anger for so long, Kaede's taut emotional strings finally snapped. She stabbed two of her fingers into the runes and activated the entire set on her right arm. Twelve glyphs pulsed with magical power, their brilliance and warmth intensifying with a prickling sensation until another pulse discharged their spells less than a second later.		After suppressing all her irritation, frustration, and anger for so long, Kaede's taut emotional strings finally snapped. She stabbed two of her fingers into the runes and activated the entire set on her right arm. Twelve glyphs pulsed with magical power, their brilliance and warmth intensifying with a prickling sensation until another pulse discharged their spells less than a second later.

			''...I'd like to show you some 'treachery underfoot' right now!''

	Although there was no visual cue, Kaede could feel her skin hardening. Her body became feather light, while her bones grew as sturdy as steel. Best of all, her strength not merely returned to that of her former self, but multiplied yet further. Translucent magical barriers encased her body like gleaming armor, while five kite shields of shimmering turquoise energy conjured into existence, rotating protectively around her.		Although there was no visual cue, Kaede could feel her skin hardening. Her body became feather light, while her bones grew as sturdy as steel. Best of all, her strength not merely returned to that of her former self, but multiplied yet further. Translucent magical barriers encased her body like gleaming armor, while five kite shields of shimmering turquoise energy conjured into existence, rotating protectively around her.
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	"<u>I told most of them I was not interested in the relationship they sought. As for the rest... they did not end up working out.</u>"		"<u>I told most of them I was not interested in the relationship they sought. As for the rest... they did not end up working out.</u>"

	"<u>Pascal the lady-killer, court him one week and he'll give you ~~the~~ everlasting gift... ''of death''</u>"		"<u>Pascal the lady-killer, court him one week and he'll give you his everlasting gift... ''of death''</u>"

	"<u>That is really not funny.</u>"		"<u>That is really not funny.</u>"
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	Having spent a dozen years in Central Russia, Kaede did attend several Eastern Orthodox services, but she never really converted and stayed an agnostic-deist like her mother. Plus, she considered her religious-flexibility to be a major advantage when studying foreign history and culture, so when it came to the religiously adamant...		Having spent a dozen years in Central Russia, Kaede did attend several Eastern Orthodox services, but she never really converted and stayed an agnostic-deist like her mother. Plus, she considered her religious-flexibility to be a major advantage when studying foreign history and culture, so when it came to the religiously adamant...

	"<u>Hey, I follow the Flying Spaghetti God, so ~~show some~~ respect ~~will you?~~</u>" Kaede retorted. "<u>Besides, you told me the Samarans don't worship him ~~anyways~~!</u>"		"<u>Hey, I already follow the Flying Spaghetti God, so please respect my faith,</u>" Kaede retorted. "<u>Besides, you told me the Samarans don't worship him either!</u>"

	"<u>And the Samarans are seen as heretics! Do you wish to be singled out by the church inquisition!?</u>"		"<u>And the Samarans are seen as heretics! Do you wish to be singled out by the church inquisition!?</u>"
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	"<u>Good, now let us eat.</u>"		"<u>Good, now let us eat.</u>"

	He then dug into his dinner, laden with several steaming slices of fresh pork roast as the main meal, surrounded by sides of boiled asparagus, potato salad, ~~sliced~~ gourmet bread, and a thick, cheesy broth that smelled faintly of beer.		He then dug into his dinner, laden with several steaming slices of fresh pork roast as the main meal, surrounded by sides of boiled asparagus, potato salad, gourmet bread, and a thick, cheesy broth that smelled faintly of beer.

	Perhaps not surprisingly, Kaede found herself looking at ~~smaller~~ portions of the same dinner, minus the alcoholic soup.		Perhaps not surprisingly, Kaede found herself looking at half-sized portions of the same dinner, minus the alcoholic soup.

	She wasn't complaining.		She wasn't complaining. The meal may not be modern, but it still tasted like bliss.

	Pascal spent most of the meal asking Kaede about her limited martial arts background, her archery practice in the morning, and the role they played in her home world. Intrigued and periodically commenting on the differences between the two world's styles, he nevertheless expressed that "projectile weapons are the inferior tools of untalented commoners, below the dignity of aristocratic arcane heritage." He admitted that he only studied the conceptual basics because levied archers were used to supplement the limited numbers of aristocratic artillery-mages on the field.		Pascal spent most of the meal asking Kaede about her limited martial arts background, her archery practice in the morning, and the role they played in her home world. Intrigued and periodically commenting on the differences between the two world's styles, he nevertheless expressed that "projectile weapons are the inferior tools of untalented commoners, below the dignity of aristocratic arcane heritage." He admitted that he only studied the conceptual basics because levied archers were used to supplement the limited numbers of aristocratic artillery-mages on the field.