Aevoltaire

  They sat at an inn drinking a delicious honeyed ger and eating a dish of fried leeks, potatoes, and garlic butter. They were discussing the fertility ritual that Princep Tolly had brought up as they were leaving her shop.

  Vicktor toyed with J's symbol under his robes.

  Nora started speaking, "It can't be something that would be fixable by a healer, even if it was an exceedingly old injury, if they wanted kids, their soul would allow it to be judged into healing something physiological."

  It was hard to not notice the change around her face and eyes, first big inscription of a Mages career was a big deal. Vicktor imagined a bit too easily what other changes were under her clothes. That slight hint of silver in addition to her fur was fascinating.

  Ar responded, pecking at his food. His inscription wasn't visible at all, the only difference was that the avian was being a little more careful when bringing food to his mouth.

  Vicktor responded, "It's probably not genitalia differences or the inability to ejacute or menstruate, there are alchemist and midwives who can help with insemination. Comes up often enough with avians, dragons and other reptilian beastkin. Princep Talia wouldn't have mentioned it if it was a simply to maintain someone's cycle. Maybe it's something about strengthening ones body to prepare it for the pregnancy?"

  "That might be too simple? Isn't pregnancy pretty complicated? Maybe it's a connection to the archive for constant monitoring? That would expin somethings? Especially if the parents are significantly different? Like a Hippokin with molekin? Following from that, could it be more of a physical improvement? Skin or organ esticity? That's got to be someone's kink right?"

  "Someones kink, Nora?" Ar joked. "You sure you don't have that one, you've got quite a collection after all?"

  "HMMPH...."

  *** They spoke and ate for a bit longer, ogling various folk and listening into to local rumors before the conversation returned to the topic of family.

  "I don't talk about it, but my dad is a bull hybrid and my mom is a bison hybrid. I, the firstborn naturally got nothing cool. No hooves, horns, fur, or strong muscles. My brother received a boon of Eldurel at birth and is now one of his Chosen. Haven't seen the gigantic bastard in over five years. He was right after me and they took him at twelve for Chosen training, might be tier 1 or 2 by now. Still get letters and updates from my mother. My two sisters are both bison beastkin, still growing up. The eldest wants to be a brewer and the youngest wants to be a bcksmith I think, she started her apprenticeship a year or so ago."

  Vicktor tried not to sound down, he wasn't really sad about his upbringing or his family. He was always a little disappointed that he didn't look too much like his mom or dad, his mom was a head above him even now and his dad was a foot above her. He had simir facial features to both of them, he had his mom's nose and his dads eyes.

  He would have probably become a Mage regardless of if he was a proper beastkin or not, but the physical and stature differences between him and his family had always made him want to find power in his own way. Hard not to feel inferior when he didn't have horns or the natural muscurity of his family.

  "Hey my mom's a human bard and my mother's a star-cursed catgirl maid. Consistent decent paid work, but not enough to send any of us to the Academy. I could've pushed hard for it, but didn't want to take on the debt. My math and geometry scores were excellent, but I can't write for shit and I'm truly terrible at geography. And here I am with my first inscription at the age of 20. I can bully you and Master Tosk into educating me whenever I want, who needs the Academy anyway!" There was a wicked gleam in her vertical pupils.

  "You might wanna look into medical textbooks? Like those that healers study? You might be able to improve your magic if you did that. No need for the academy."

  "I did study some books, but they didn't feel right, like something was missing. Must just be something with how I perceive the world compared to how the authors did. I might ask Master Tosk about what he can see when I when I use my magic."

  "You really should, in theory, understanding what you are doing should let you do it better right?"

  "Yeah I guess... I'll ask him when he gets back. If he does.... I hope he does."

  "There's no way he's just a Rector," Ar said, "We should check with our magesight when he gets back. I bet he's easily two tiers above us. Some Rector's have a vibe to them that I can feel, he doesn't feel that way and he carries himself so well. He must have a way to hide that vibe, so he must be stronger than them."

  "Let's not get caught up thinking we are more special somehow" Vicktor spoke up, "He definitely has pns for us, but if we don't meet those expectations or die trying to get there, then well... we might never find out."

  "Fair."

  "True."

  Vicktor was about to continue the conversation when out of the corner of his vision, he saw a familiar backside. A red and silver tail swishing gently against a blue dress –Mx Reshka.

  'Fuck it'

  "I'll be right back."

  He ran after them, walking alone in the street.

  He went to tap their shoulder, but he found that she was already turned to look at him.

  "Hey Vicktor, what did you want?" They looked neutral, studying Vicktor with a ft gaze.

  "I wanted to thank you for your help to find Master Tosk. His teachings have been incredibly helpful. I've been too busy to stay long in the Builder's guild properly. But I was wondering, would you like to go on a–"

  "No Vicktor, I am far, far too old and too experienced," They smiled softly. "There is however a person you might be interested, one of my great grandchildren is around your age, Quinn, ze also shares my love of words and is a mage like you. Ze–"

  Mx. Reshka looked closer at Vickor. Then even a little closer, as if staring through them.

  "Yes. Interesting. Come by the Builders Guild in a few hours, I'll introduce the two of you. Ze might do you some good."

  "Ze?"

  "Ah yes, Ze, Zir, Zirself. Like how Master Tosk uses He, Him, Himself. It's really not that bad. They can and will expin it to you if you ask."

  "Sure? I think? I'll see you and... ZIR? Later?"

  "Quick learner, see you ter!" They turned and left, their stride confident as their tail swished behind that blue dress.

  Vicktor returned to their friends, telling Nora and Ar about their confusing few moments apart.

  "You gotta tell me if Zir hot? Okay? Just because I am one, doesn't mean I know even close to every catkin in the city."

  "You think Ze is as weird as you? I wonder if Ze'll be interested in your soil charts?"

  ***

  Many hours, a shower, and a tip to a undry worker ter. Vicktor walked into the Builders Guild Hall and spotted Mx. Reshka chatting with another catfolk. While Mx. Reshka was red and silver with a simple blue dress. He waved and she replied, saying something to the other feline. Ze turned towards him.

  Quinn wore Zir hair short in a traditionally masculine style. The tight sleeveless bck robes were trimmed with a deep blood red. Underneath the robe y a mottled pattern of clearly dyed fur. Purple and golden yellow striations, the banding mesmerizing.

  "Hello!", Ze rose and studied him with a now familiar eye. "Quinn, you are Vicktor yes?"

  "Yes! Good to meet you, not sure what Mx. Reshka has said about me but I'd love to get to know you? Dinner?"

  "They have said little, I am free, you will tell me about yourself. Please do not tell me your secrets just yet." Ze smiled awkwardly and then reached out to shake his hand.

  Mx. Reshka butted in, "I just told zir you had somethings that you can't divulge. Otherwise, ze can be particurly persistent."

  He reciprocated and they shook. Zir hand was soft to the touch, the dye didn't seem to affect the texture. He wondered if it was applied magically or not.

  "Bye great-gran, dinner and then maybe sex? Yes? Yes. Bye!" Quinn grabbed his hand once again and almost dragged him out the door.

  Vicktor was beginning to understand why Mx. Reshka knew Quinn would be avaible. He was interested in how utterly direct ze was.

  Vicktor didn't see it, but Mx. Reshka followed behind them, chuckling in an uncharacteristically grandmotherly.

  ***

  "There are two kind of lies," Quinn spoke after sipping zir third ger, the first two having been downed immediately.

  'Nerves? maybe?'

  "There are intentional lies and unintentional lies. Intentional lies have a deep impact on the world, they attempt to deny reality and harm it while doing so, the more power one puts into a lie, the more true the world tries to change it. Unintentional lies can be spoken and imbued with power, but often the results in uncertain effects on reality. Do you understand?" Ze cocked her head and stared into his eyes. He nervously sipped his second ger, having also downed his first.

  "I think so. Does this understanding of the world affect your pronoun choice or fundamental principle."

  Quinn smiled. "Yes."

  "Care to expin?"

  Quinn looked a little nervous but answered anyway. "I will expin my pronoun selection, I will not state my fundamental principle here. I've been told I have the power of a Rector, but not the control to become one yet. If I say it here I will break something."

  "Ze/Zir is a neopronoun, not that they are actually 'neo' or 'new' anymore, but the name stuck. As for why? All I can really say is that it is my truth, I was born female, I have female anatomy, I have no desire to change any part of it. I just never liked the bel of woman or the pronoun's she or her. As I leaned into my magic more with great-gran's help, I found that I became more powerful the less lies I told. I chose Ze/Zir because they don't feel like lying when I speak or respond to them."

  "Huh, how does that work with things that you can't know are lies? Does couching it in certain nguage help? Something like 'I think it will rain today, look at those clouds'?"

  "Exactly! I like you! We should mate!"

  A series of small chuckles echoed from the tables around them. They were clearly gathering an audience.

  "You are very direct."

  "I speak my truth, we should probably share our fundamental principles beforehand, it will probably deepen our understanding of the world, haven't done it before."

  Vicktor and Quinn blushed slightly as someone to their right loudly whispered "deepen aye?"

  Quinn stood, dropped a few coins on the table then grabbed his hand, "Let's go to a park, too many annoying patrons. I wish to break something and you are too cute to break."

  The small chuckles turned to a chorus of ughter as they departed. They both distinctly heard a small child ask their mom. "Are all mages like that? Are they always so weird?"

  ***

  "You want to break something? Let me make something for you to break"

  They were in a nearby park, holding hands slightly, the fur of her hand was quite soft, ze hadn't let go of his hand since they left the inn.

  With a quick burst of intent, a statue emerged from the soil below. It was mainly just a cy block with a few simple features.

  "I CONSTRUCT OUR FOUNDATION" Vicktor spoke and let his fundamental principle into the world once again. To his surprise, the silty-cy underneath his feet cracked slightly. He was getting stronger.

  Quinn held his hand tighter zir warmth flowing across the bond "I really like that, you know how few fundamental principles include others?"

  "I hadn't really considered that, it just felt right? You know? My truth."

  Quinn raised Zir hand and spoke a single word "CRUMBLE"

  The world distorted in a pulse, a vague shimmer shot from the outstretched hand, quickly traversing the distance to the target. It struck, making no noise. As the strange distortion entered, the cy sloughed off in small pieces, acting more like a liquid than a solid. After less than a moment, the statue was reduced to a heap.

  Quinn sighed, shrugging zir shoulders and exhaled. "Much better"

  "Whats your fundamental principle Quinn?"

  "SUFFER NO LIES"

  The air stilled, the ground froze, the world itself seemed to wait and listen under Quinn's command. Vicktor didn't lie often, they had no need to except to hide their two secretes, but in that moment, they felt the ability to do so vanish.

  Then the world sprang back to life, it was as if nothing had happened except well... The world felt more true to itself...

  "Sex?" Quinn cocked zer head?

  "Sex."