Chapter 55.

- How did you know ?, asked Enora without manner.

- I guessed., she said calmly. Well, 'guessed', more like I could recognise the feeling. Anyone with a bit of knowledge and experience would. Now that I say it out loud, it does not include many people …

- But how ?, insisted Enora.

- Please., added Rose while giving a severe look at the tall woman.

- It's pretty simple really., she explained methodically. The Nexus is not particularly discreet, even less when it is used at full capacity. To someone like me with higher sensitivity towards the Flow, it is only natural. I can almost see it, its three two-ways tubes ever filled with energy, blurring your surroundings. Is this all you were curious about ?

- But the Grimoire clearly states that the Nexus of Minds is a secret experimental technique., noted Nick.

- You have a Grimoire ? Don't go telling people. It is a valuable asset. As for it being supposedly hidden, it used to be., the barmaid laughed. You have to understand that every technique that is 'secret' or 'experimental' is only so while the creator is alive. Once they disappear, it's free for the taking. In this case, however, only some circles of mages are aware, and few ever tried : it is, after all, quite dangerous. That's why I was surprised when detecting it, as it was the first time I saw people who had performed it. Consider me impressed !

- And why should we slow the Nexus while sleeping ? It's been pretty useful up until now …, noted Enora.

- Well, how should I say that ?, began the non-human while scratching her chin. The Nexus merges the minds of the mages, that is its purpose, but it doesn't mean it is all beneficial. You must have noticed the disappearance of your intimacy, which is not a problem if you are fine with it, but using it while not awake can create some troubles …

Their curious gazes were questions enough.

- Look, it's like you are merging without being conscious, meaning there is a possibility of irreversibly losing your personalities into each other, becoming one mind entirely. It would not be just as a tool at your disposal anymore. I doubt this to be a positive outcome. Being aware of everything about the others is all great, but it won't matter if you all mix and disappear, only living as a single dead mind.

So there was a negative side, a dangerous one at that, to the Nexus of Minds. It obviously meant that the author of the Grimoires did not know about it, since they did not actually use it themselves. Knowing that possibility now was quite significant, and the three of them would most likely discuss it later. In the meantime, the three companions agreed on a series of questions they wanted answers to and began :

- I'm sorry to ask but what race are you ?, asked Nick. We've just arrived here and don't know many non-humans.

- So it seems. You are obviously just fresh out of the Trial, so there is no reason for you to know anyone other than your people. My race is called Palisci. We are an old race from a close world that has been studying magic for a couple thousand years.

- That' … incredible, said Rose, taken aback.

- It's not much considering how long we live.

- How long ?, curiously asked the man.

- I am nine hundred and eight. I know, I don't look like it !, she smiled at their incredulous faces. But don't be mistaken, a long life does not mean anything, as humans and Paliscis are very different. Our minds work in ways that cannot be compared. Time flies so fast I still remember events from centuries ago like it was yesterday. You waste so much more time when you don't have to worry about it.

She wore a complex expression for a few seconds, mix of many incomprehensible emotions, only to be interrupted by Enora's ridiculing tone :

- So you are a race that can live more than ten times longer than humans, you come from another world too, but you're still here ? Managing an inn ?

- Don't push it too much girl., warned the Palisci. I do whatever I want, and I won't let a human look down on it.

(Nick) What are you trying to do Enora ? To annoy a centuries-old non-human for no reason ?

(Enora) … okay okay, I'll stop.

- Sorry madam., said Rose in her friend's place.

- 'Madam' ! My name is Ischyra.

- Sorry Ischyra., corrected Nick. We're a bit lost with so many questions that need answers.

- I get it. However, I am no tourist guide. At some point, you will have to manage on your own. Or find another kind soul like me to quench your curiosity.

This last sentence was crystal clear : they better choose their questions wisely, as this Palisci was not interested in entertaining uninteresting people.

- Why are we here ? The guard that came to bring us into the city told us about some portal. It was pretty vague., said Rose. Do you know when we can go back to our world ?

- Not surprising, mortals are rarely knowledgeable., criticised Ischyra. I'll do it simply: you came out of a Trial created a very long time ago by unknown forces to 'welcome' Otherworlders when the time is right. You see, the portals are part of a system that links all worlds together, through which the Magical Flow is shared. Those structures are there and one day, seemingly at random, people from virgin worlds, without the Flow, will be kidnapped and tested into the nearest Trial, triggering the portal. If they survive, they get to go home through it, and if not the portal closes and their world is never added to the Conjunction. The reactivation of the portal can be a month short or years long. It's random too so you'll have to wait.

The trio took in that information : they were forced to stay in this world for possibly a long time. Better find a way to survive until then ! In the meantime, other questions needed answers :

- The Conjunction … ?, confusion appeared in every human's eyes.

- I know., answered the Palisci while waving her hand. That's the name given to the system that links all worlds and shares the Magical Flow, the Conjunction.

- So it's arbitrary., concluded Enora. We're just the unlucky test subjects to determine the worth of our world.

- Yes ?, said the non-human with doubt in her eyes. Look, the Conjunction is a mystical phenomenon that even my elders were studying millennia ago. I'm no scholar.

A small pause went by among them, the barmaid letting them digest those pieces of information while observing with interest in her eyes.

- Does that mean that every world that is part of this 'Conjunction' has a different race ? And that all of them can travel from one world to another ?, continued Nick.

- Absolutely not., inflexibly said the interlocutor. Not all worlds have different races, and not all races are naturally equal, mainly because of seniority. Races like mine, the Palisci, that have been in contact with the Magical Flow for so long are very restricted when it comes to travels. We can only explore a handful, including our home world, as we are too powerful to be trusted with the younger races. The balance would be broken if all my people could go to any non-magical world and conquer left and right. You humans can visit something like a dozen worlds, as you are overall average. And, if you wondered, you are not the first humans to join the Conjunction. Maybe you differ slightly from the other humans, but you are still too similar to bother finding other names.

- So we are weak and common ?, tried to guess Enora.

- Common ? Yes. Weak ? Not really. It's not about power itself, more about time. Every race is magically weak when first joining the Conjunction, but generations after generations of mages will eventually strengthen any world. In other words : you'll get there., she smiled. You are still learning, that is the information to take in. Even if there hasn't been a single human Grand-Master in this world for the past millennium, it is only logical.

- So it was the same for Paliscis ?, asked Rose, desiring some similarities with that powerful race.

- No., she swiftly crushed that desire. We are not the same. Even when we were weak, it took us five centuries to produce a few Grand-Masters. We have advantages and flaws, like any other race. Meaning we are powerful, but extremely restricted in many ways. I'm not too keen on talking about that matter if you don't mind. It's a sensitive subject for the Paliscis. One last question.

- It feels so much like being at school …, mumbled Nick.

After a severe look from Ischyra, he stammered :

- You said the new races would change after the Flow invaded their world. In what way ?

- It depends on many factors. Look, the minds of people from different races naturally work differently, but the Flow will modify all of them in similar ways, making it easier to comprehend each other. However, this change cannot be grasped without magic. My thoughts are impossible to make sense of for you people, as not only am I from another race, but I have also been practising the Mystic Arts my whole life. On the other hand, humans are pretty much magic virgins, still stuck in your predictable mortal patterns. Your actions can be classified and guessed, your minds read and understood, and all of it because magic hasn't seeped in your race for long enough. It is not about talent, potential or efforts, just time. Honestly, time is almost always the answer., she lightly smiled in an oddly sad way. Now, you're cute and all, but I'm getting a bit bored right now, and I have things to attend to as the owner of this place. We'll see each other again eventually.

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Chapter's Glossary

Conjunction : a system of worlds connected through portals that share the Magical Flow.

Ischyra : Palisci barmaid, owner of an inn in the underground city.

Palisci(s) : average height ; skin colour from red to purple ; covered in small scales ; eyes red, white or yellow ; horns on forehead ; dark coloured hair ; slender build ; harmonious body.