Maikana
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Chapter 48 – What could possibly go wrong?
🕑 Added 2025-04-07 17:57:05 +0000 UTCTea distributed; the Elders came together in a more relaxed setting than Kori had ever seen them in in their chamber. Sat around just a single table, elbow to elbow, some with heavy lidded eyes still betraying their actions from the night before. Har clearly the worst off with his head laid down on the cool surface of the table.
“Youngling… Kori… I hope you can see our dilemma here.” Ortik began, pausing to take an appreciative sip of his tea. “We’ve hundreds of other apprentices all working towards their various classes. Out of them all, I personally know three of them beyond a briefly overheard name. And two of those are because the Circle is pressuring me to take a ‘proper’ apprentice after your departure.” Grumbling under his breath after the last bit while giving Ylst a dirty look, clearly holding her at fault for starting that whole thing.
“I don’t think any of us can deny that you are in no way ‘normal’ for a youngling.” Said with an affectation like it were a bad thing, “And honestly, the whole idea of apprenticing has come into question in regards to you.” Several of the other Elders nodded along as he spoke, agreeing with his statement. “So, now the question is; what do you do with a youngling that can reach as high in a trade in two months as most do in their three years?” His claws tapping on the table as he finished, attempting to discern a solution to the anomalous youth sitting across from him.
“I still have lots to learn from Elder Aldr…” Looking to her brewing mentor questioningly, “Don’t I?”
Aldr let out a loud guffaw in response to her question, breaking the solemn mood that had settled over the group. “More ta learn? Course ya do. But you’ve already got the Skill levels my final year apprentices will be workin emselves to the bone for.” Shaking his head as he continued laughing. “I’ve a mind to try an get the lot of em working on makin something Unique. Who knew a Title like that was up for grabs.”
“We’ve already discussed this Aldr, make a proposal that seems possible and safe and we’ll consider it.” Ortik sighed.
As Ortik rebuked the brewer’s suggestion he saw Kori’s nervous shifting at the mention of the idea. “You may want to discuss it with,” Pointing casually towards Kori, “Her… I have a feeling that she’s already got something in mind…” An arched brow and an accusatory look towards Kori accompanying his statement.
As all eyes in the room turned towards her, Kori hid her face in a long, slow sip of her tea before setting the cup back down. Her fidgeting escalating under their glares.
Korse took the initiative in voicing the question on all of their tongues, “Well Kori, out with it. What have you and Losq been up to then?” Clearly having seen their secretive conversations and growing collaboration.
Aldr quirked his head at the mention of one of his apprentices. “Losq? What’s he got to do with any of this then? He’s a promising lad, strong back an a hard worker, but he’s nothin like this one ‘ere.” Waving his hand towards Kori.
Korse chuckled, a bit of nostalgia entering his tone as he replied, “Didn’t you know? They’re each others favorite siblings. You’d never guess it after the fight you all watched the day after she hatched,” Blonc began laughing at the reminder of Kori’s first fight and that she’d dissuaded the advances of the larger sibling by fighting dirty. “But they’re close as a two headed salamander.”
Kori gave a sharp nod at his characterization, “Yup!” She said, “I love my siblings, but Losq is the best.” Her grin conveying her absolute certainty in the truth of it. “You should pay more attention Elder Aldr. He’s gonna be the best brewer you’ve got.”
His interest piqued, Aldr questioned her response, “I’ll admit he’s got potential, but what makes you say that he’ll be the best, my dear?”
With all the confidence of a child, she looked to the Elder and replied with a simple, “Because I’m gonna help him, of course.” Punctuating her statement with a nod and trying to adopt a serious look.
The Elders all managed to hold out for a few seconds before Aldr and Blonc both broke and began laughing. They began a chain of reactions amongst the group leaving all but five of them laughing and slapping the table in mirth. Ortik and Ylst shared an appraising look with each other, having spent the longest, aside from Korse, with her they knew the statement had not been made idly or in jest.
The other two that didn’t give into the laughter however, did so for a much different reason. Elders Korse and Kles shared a knowing look and a frown. Their thoughts clearly going to something that only they knew about. Was it not a dragon’s duty to elevate the kobolds? Could this be the first step in the path set out before her?
The fifth was Har, who still had his head down on the table when the slamming of hands began. His startled expression and groaning as he tried to massage the hammering reverberations of pain in his skull away only sending the others further into their humour.
As the Elders settled back into their more casual posture of the gathering, Kori couldn’t really call it a meeting anymore, she caught the barest of head shakes from Elder Kles directed towards Korse, who sat with a slightly raised brow as though asking an unspoken question. None of the others seemed to have caught the gesture, or if they had they didn’t understand its intent or significance.
“Very well youngling, how exactly do you propose to help your brother achieve such a lofty goal?” Ortik questioned, keeping his voice even and trying not to provoke a return by the others to their giggling.
“Oh, that’s easy.” She replied matter of factly. “I’m teaching him my imbue skill.”
Her statement once again evoked a reaction from the assembled Elders, though this time it was a choked sputtering as Bolst sprayed a mouthful of tea across the table and Aldr looked at her like she had grown a second tail.
“You’re what?!” Aldr shouted. “Thought I told ya none of that in my brewery!” Gesturing to the still choking Bolst who was getting patted on the back by his neighbouring Elder. “Nobody wants it to end up like his workroom…”
“It’s fine. He doesn’t have it yet and we were gonna ask permission before doing anything once he got it.” She tried to wave off his concerns, unsuccessfully as all eyes bear down on her.
Ylst made an attempt to settle the others by dismissing the possibility of his even getting the skill. “Kori, I don’t want to dismiss your efforts, but your brother doesn’t have the aptitude for magic required.” She said gently. “It is true that we haven’t been able to determine the method of teaching that particular Skill, but it’s unlikely that he’ll ever manage to attain the foundational skills you had, like [Mana Sense] and [Mana Control], to follow in your footsteps.” Her response and tone an attempt to console the youngling for an effort she saw as wasted.
Her attempt fell on deaf ears, Kori shrugging off the dismissive statement, “Nuh-uh. He’s already learned sense.”
“He what?!” Her tone echoing the disbelief and denial of Aldr’s earlier outburst as she shot up and leaned over the table towards Kori. “How? When?”
“Yup! Got it a few weeks ago.” She replied, nodding to herself again. Her smile growing as she saw the Elder’s face go through the steps of disbelief and confusion, slowly changing into curiosity and excitement.
Ylst turned to look first at Aldr and then to Korse, “I’d like to meet this youngling please.” She stated simply before returning her attention to Kori. “And how exactly did you manage that, Kori?” She asked.
“Same way you did with me, of course. I had him carry around a pot of ointment and kept switching in a dud til he noticed.” Smiling at the self-proclaimed ingenuity of her method. “Took him a full month, but he got it.”
“A… Month…” Ylst said with a hint of stupefied wonder. “You managed to teach an apprentice with less than ten Magic and Attunement to sense mana, in a month…” Ylst’s reply punctuated by her flopping back onto the cushion behind her limply. “Ortik, I’m not sure where this little kobold came from, but I think we need to have a long discussion of the implications of what she just accomplished… Again…”
The Elders shared a moment in silence as they all look back and forth between each other, clearly no more certain of their path forward than when they first began.
“I think that brings us to the crux of our problem. I’m sure you all agree that no matter what we do, this,” Waving his hand towards Kori, “Youngling doesn’t fit the mold we set out before her.” Idly scratching the scales along the bridge of his muzzle as he paused to let his words sink in. “We’ve tried to set her upon the path of a mage, and yet she’s blocked by what should be some of the simplest of Skills in ways we only see in those with the least potential.” He said staring at Ylst. “I’ve tried to set her upon the path of a shaman, but the spirits spurned her and blocked her from it.” His hand rising to his own chest as he spoke.
Looking next to Bolst, “We tried to set her on the path of a trapper, but her yearning for magic set her apart from the role.” He continued, trying to avoid the other reason for not wanting her to take that path. “And finally, we tried to set her on the path of a brewer, one which she has excelled at beyond any expectation. But unless I am mistaken, one she bears no passion towards.” Kori’s gaze drifted to Aldr and she nodded sadly as Ortik spoke of her lacking enthusiasm for the work.
Having listened to all the things that didn’t work, Korse took the chance to ask the obvious question, “If all of those things don’t work, then what do we do to find one that will?”
Shaking his head as a rueful smile appeared on his face, Ortik replied as though it was the simplest thing ever. “That’s just it. We don’t do anything.” He chuckled. “We need to start listening to the youngling on the matter. If nothing we try is going to work, then let’s not try anything.”
Korse was the first that objected, leading the charge into a loud argument between the Elders seated around the table while Kori looked on with a baffled expression. “What do you mean ‘don’t do anything’?” He yelled, “You want her to end up with some lackadaisical class like the humans get?”
Several of the other Elders echoed his concerns of simply doing nothing, some even calling it an abandonment of their duties to the young kobold. Ortik’s attempts to quiet their reactions and explain himself proved insufficient to quell the arguing as most vehemently opposed such an abdication. Some of the Elders tried to give him a chance to explain himself, but the furor continued.
Despite all of his best efforts, it was not Ortik who managed to quiet the discord he had created. No matter the yelling or appeals for calmness he made, he had lost control of the situation. It was a simple and barely heard clearing of a throat that turned all eyes away from their debate and stilled their voices.
A voice seldom heard on most matters interjected into the argument and was instantly given the full attention of those assembled around her. “I believe we should listen to the chieftain’s full proposal before we dismiss it out of hand, yes?” Elder Matron Kles said, her tone firm but her voice wispier and frailer than when Kori had last conversed with her. “We are better than simply listening to the loudest of opinions are we not?” She admonished as though she were instructing a group of hatchlings.
In near unison, even Kori who had said nothing throughout, bowed their heads slightly and said, “Yes, matron.” Which was quickly followed by a “Sorry, matron.” It was clear to any observer the level of respect and reverence the aged kobold commanded, even amongst the leaders of the clan.
With their gestures of obeisance made, the arguing kobolds sat back down onto their cushions and the matron gave them all a small smile. The same one she’d given countless rowdy hatchlings who settled down after her gentle reprimand. “Now, chieftain, I would like to hear exactly what you are proposing. It sounds dangerously close to dereliction of our mandate and I for one would like to understand your intent here.” Her words may have sounded like she disapproved, but it was clear that they were carefully selected, allowing both sides of the argument to feel like she shared their concerns without lending her opinion to either side.
Ortik bowed his head to her once more before he began explaining his suggestion. “I would first like to state that I in no manner intend to allow such a promising young kobold to languish for the next two years. I hope to help her achieve nothing but the best class she possibly can.” He stated, attempting to defuse tensions. “I am simply stating that our continued insistence that she fit into a role we select for her, roles she has continued to prove she is not suited or inclined to, may in the end hinder that goal.” He explained.
Everyone deferred to Kles to ask the question that they were all thinking, “Then what exactly is it you suggest?”
“That we stop trying to force the matter and let her decide.” He stated plainly. “She’s already proven that she’s going to do her own thing anyway…” Giving her a hard look, “Which we will be discussing after all of this is settled, youngling.” He informed her before returning to the matter at hand. “So instead of making her do things behind our backs, I say we support it.”
Har, who was still trying massaging his head in an attempt to dissipate the pain pulsing through his skull from the surprise pounding on the table, decided that it was time for him to speak up.
“Agreed! Let her work on making ointments and flasks and whatever else she comes up with. I can always use new things to sell to the humans and our budgets tight with the need to purchase extra food lately.” He said, the paleness of his scales and the redness of his eyes evident to all around. Even hungover and half awake he couldn’t fail to spot profit to be made and had to have his say.
Next it came time for Bolst to interject, “I concur! I’ll teach her everything I know and we can see what she can come up with.”
This started yet another round of arguments, mostly beginning with a “Scale no!” from Blonc and similar statements from several others. Ortik eventually wrangled them all into a semblance of order once again, though even he shot Bolst a glare for his suggestion.
“Bolst, I think we can all agree that your influence is… Undesired… In her growth.” Ortik said in an attempt to remain diplomatic.
Kori chose the moment to butt in and say her own piece, in dissent from the others as she saw Bolst’s knowledge exceptionally valuable. Though she’d much rather learn from Kora if she were to be honest. “There is so much I could learn from Bolst. Or at least his notes and findings.”
Bolst’s beaming smile at her support and respect did not do much to assuage the trepidation of the other Elders, who clearly weren’t a fan of the idea of her repeating her previous creation while under Bolst’s supervision. Seeing that it would be a losing battle to argue otherwise he conceded, “How about Kora tutor her? She can use my books and notes to teach her proper handling of hazards, toxins, and safety. If need be, I can supplement those lessons nearer to her first ascension to finish her education.”
His concession seemed to resonate with the others, they all knew Kora was the more reasonable and cautious of the two and Kori’s grin at the prospect went a long way to sell the idea.
“We can consider it.” Ortik said, trying not to agree to anything specific as of yet. “My main concern right now is who will supervise this plan. You all know that the rules of the clan state that every youngling must apprentice to an elder. Even if she does not intend to follow in one of our footsteps, she must be one of our responsibilities.” He looked to each in turn, gauging their interest and applicability to the task.
Korse, of course, volunteered first, “I think I am the most obvious choice.”
Unfortunately for him he was summarily dismissed. “You are too close to her. She relies on you for guidance already and your oversight would deny her your companionship outside the work.” Ortik said, “Plus you’re too easy on your picks.” He continued with a mix between admonishment and teasing.
Ylst was the next to be rejected, though surprisingly by Kori herself. “Please no. I still hate that I can’t pick up casting and if you were mentoring me every day, I wouldn’t be able to help but ask your aid… I just can’t…” She stumbled over her words, trying not to let how much it hurt her to fail over and over again for the past year. Ylst’s sympathetic gaze as she admitted her failing felt like a hot knife through her scales as she averted her eyes.
The suggestions went around the table quickly, some putting themselves forward while others begged off as not wanting the role. Blonc was adamant that he’d be the best choice, not that he could offer guidance but that anything she produced would be best in the hands of his warriors. Others argued that the guidance of the matrons would be a tempering hand on her activities, though Kles denied the opportunity as being too far from her mandate of spiritual guidance and education. Though she did offer her time with a matron to further her education, sharing Vri’s high opinion of her as a student.
Finally, it was Har who spoke up, “You all know it’s going to be me, right?” Looking about the table. “Not only will it fall to my traders to sell her excess product, but I can guide her on where it is best to spend her time. And I’m the only one who can tell you what whatever scale-brained concoction she spits out actually does.” He stated with a measure of finality. While all eyes were on him, Kori could see in the corner of her eye the wide grin Ortik was trying to suppress. Clearly Har’s conclusion was the one he’d been waiting for. His burgeoning grin faltered when Har added a final jab however. “Still waiting on you to take that trader job so you finally get an appraise skill, Ortik.”
