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Now, there were only a few rifts containing them that had been around before their domestication. New rifts never spawned sapient creatures after all—similar ones, sure, but not true reasoning beings. And those rifts would stay under protection to bring out more of the species until they were eventually destroyed to prevent abuse.
Achlys was abnormal for the breed. He was even more of a loner, which could be chalked up to personality rather than anything in particular, but she had done her homework on him. Achlys had been on The Path himself, before deliberately stepping off at Tier 7, after which he vanished for a time.
When he reappeared, he was Tier 15, and had retreated to the edge of the Empire. There, he worked on creating habitable planets with his Talent.
Like most Briarwolves, Achlys had cursory control over nature. However, April had noticed that the area under his influence acted more like a rift-created area than the normal forests. Even for Briarwolves, it was very strange, and she suspected that the phenomenon might extend to influencing actual rift environments.
Even the chance was worth requesting his help in training Matt. She knew of Matt’s rift creation, and if her suspicions were true, figured that the wolf would be a good addition to Matt’s experimentation efforts.
When her chaotic ship arrived next to the bright speck of light that was the planet he inhabited, she made a cautious approach and landed a few miles away from a growing forest.
The Tier 13 world had been scoured clean of life by a rogue meteor impact. It had torn the atmosphere away and rendered the planet uninhabitable for millions of years, until the Empire had found it. At Tier 13, it was a prime candidate for terraforming, and after it had been located and scouted, they had done just that.
April was sure that an air mage had come in and repaired the tattered atmosphere, while a fire or lava mage came and ensured that the core of the planet was cycling properly for habitability.
Those were always the first roles to start the terraforming process. After that, a water mage would come and make sure that the planet had the correct level of water for its size. Meanwhile, a Tier 40 would come and change the spin of the planet to keep it in line with the Empire standard.
Now, the world was in the growth phase. Life mages, along with any other mages that could encourage safe but accelerated growth, were paid to come to this world and create self-sustaining ecosystems.
While she wasn’t a part of the teams that did such work, she had read up on the process, and knew that this planet was nearly finished. Soon, the noble house given dominion over this region of space would start to settle this world. Being Tier 13, quite a few people would flock here for the resources that it would eventually produce.
The noble family that received the title was a branch house of the Tier 26 Earldom of Falor in the Empire proper. It was an old and established noble house, and they had broadcasted far and wide that they intended to quickly bring this planet up to Tier 15.
As April stood around and inspected the planet, Achlys finally returned her introduction message.
Achlys was willing to grant her an audience, and she quickly hurried over to his location.
A wolf stepped from the side of a tree, as if it had been a part of the tree itself before deciding to separate for a time.
His beast form appeared as a mix of wolf and forest greenery. Vines, leaves, and tree bark seemed to fight for space over his body, between the more normal flesh and blood.
As the wolf padded over to her, its form changed, and a man stepped over to her as a robe covered him. He was utterly nondescript in a way that managed to draw the eye despite the best efforts of his plainness. Brown hair and eyes tried to hide the fact they had just been the deepest black and bright yellow, only moments ago.
The soft voice she remembered asked, “So, why have you come? I won’t fight, and I made that quite clear last time.”
April sent him a standard nondisclosure agreement, which he quickly signed and returned.
After ensuring that everything was in order, April flexed her Intent and locked down the space around them.
“This isn’t like last time. I’m here now for your more…unique abilities. We’re training a young Pather who has the ability to create rifts, and we’re studying everything about them. I thought your services could be useful in such an endeavor.”
She looked out through the forest, and watched as a rift formed a few miles away.
It was ‘natural’ in the sense that no one had created it with mana gathering formations and the like, but it was distinctly unnatural, as this area should have been protected from rifts forming while Achlys was present. Briarwolves naturally prevented rifts from spawning near them and in their forests.
She could still feel the other cultivators’ power reaching out and nudging the growth of the surrounding lands.
Achlys shook his head. “I’d rather not. I don’t want to help someone create more experiments.”
April jumped in before he was able to turn fully away. “He’s a good kid and makes them for free. He even helps his friends as much as he can within The Path restrictions.”
Achlys stopped walking away but didn’t turn back around. “Then let him continue to do so. I want no part in it.”
“He wants to make a difference and doesn’t like rifts either. He lost his family in a rift break during the Lilly tragedy and wants to ensure that it can’t happen to others. He wants to help people.”
She hoped that would work. While most of Achlys’ past was a giant question mark, he always tried to improve the places he traveled to, and she was banking on the fact that was for a reason.
Seeing the man stay still, she added, “Erwin and him are working hard to change how we treat rifts.”
Achlys turned back around and sighed. “Erwin is in on this? He’s eccentric, but not stupid. Who are you working under?”
“Luna and Kurt.”
Achlys’ eyes went distant, and he looked up the information before saying, “The void cat and the siren? She’s retired. And Kurt is a full manager on his own merit.”
“He is, but he opted to reprise his role as Luna’s assistant for this particular assignment.” April let a smirk tinge her voice. She really couldn’t reveal much else. Not until he agreed, at least.
Achlys ignored it but nodded. “Very well. I’ll consider it. This project is nearly over anyway. Why not take a break and fiddle with some rifts for a bit?”
As she was mentally celebrating, the wolf added, “But if I don’t like it, I’ll leave.”
April shrugged, “That’s your right as a helper. I’m sure you’re aware that you forfeit any agreed upon rewards if you leave early.”
The man turned back into a now brown-colored, but smaller wolf. Seeing this, she hurriedly sent the rest of the information and took her leave.
This was far from her last stop.
She had just entered the next world on her list when she received a barrage of messages from Luna. A portion of them were routine, but one stuck out to her.
Her boss had the children fighting other people on the planet without disguises.
April’s good mood vanished. She would need to spend even more effort laying down false trails now. That seemed like such a stupid move; she had to question why.
She tried to remind herself that Luna had been doing this for far longer than she had even been alive and must have her reasons.
- Writer
