Fan Fiction ❯ Zanitia ❯ At Perigrinus Tower ( Chapter 2 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Zanitia
At Perigrinus Tower

I wake.

Dreams such as these are not visions of the future. They are memories of the past.

But every time I wake from one, it is hard to remember this.

Human memory is not set to remember things past a century or so. I am human enough that it is the same. Is this why aged humans tend to forget where they are in the morning? Do their minds hearken back to an earlier time where they were young and full of energy?

This still isn't answering me where I am, though.

At least I am not so untrained to be resting unawares in a place of possible danger. The bed under me proves that. My ears twitch in small movements, no sound reaches them but my breathing. Sound proofing? Probably. My stomach has informed me that, yes, its morning, so there should have been the sounds of people moving about. A nose twitch, not much, but enough to send a few molecules into the olfactory sensors. Hmm. Ginger, Rosemary, Chamomile, and a hint of Cinnamon.

I know where I am.

I slowly sit up, and open my eyes. Yes, this is the Sou'east suite, the one that I'm usually in.

I do not try to remember last night, or yesterday, for these will come to me as the day wears on. I softly get out of bed. I am wearing normal nightgarb, so that leaves the possibility of coming in late and picking about at random out.

But I still get the distinct impression that I wasn't here yesterday.

I pad into the living room for the Sou'east, noting that my traveling pack is resting by the couch. I rifle through my pack as bits and pieces of yesterday come back to me. Nothing to indicate when or where I was though. I take my dagger out of the pack, pull my hair into a loose ponytail, and bring the tines on the reverse of the blade to secure it. As my Sen'aki taught me, try to make things with more than one purpose.

Securing the dagger-comb in place, I look in the mirror behind the corner table. As the illusion inherent in the metal of the blade takes hold of my appearance, silver hair darkens to black, eyes and ears reformed, fur replaced by skin, tail and vitapyre disappearing.

Its all still there, of course, just not to the unaided eye.

I nod, and exit to the Axis.

Upon seeing no one in the circular room, I make my way around the control console and to the entryway in the north side. The first room here is the receiving room, a comfortable, but formally styled place. It only has one other entrance, again in the north side. Beyond that is a short hall that leads to the less formal, and much more homely living room.

I enter, and look around. No one is here, yet signs of recent occupation abound I could hear movement nearby, most likely from the kitchen, where the overwhelming smells of tea brewing are coming from. I go and sit on the couch. It and three other comfy pieces of furniture lie clustered around a low oval table.
I'm still a bit tired. Maybe if I just close my eyes for a second...


A touch on my shoulder brings me to wakefulness.

"I'd wake you with a kiss, Sleeping Beauty, but I don't think my wife would appreciate it."

The warm, mellow tenor sweeps away the last vestiges of sleep. It is a voice that has taught me, scolded me, and soothed me from my nightmare memories. It is the voice of my Sen'aki, the Perigrinus.

I stretch my awareness out again, finding myself curled up on the couch with a down blanket spread over me. On the table are two mugs, a steaming teapot, and crackers.

Well, I am getting a bit peckish.

I sigh, and stretch, as he goes over and pours the tea. As the aroma wafts up, I can smell a hint of sugar from one of the mugs. Hmph. Over a thousand years since I saw him last and he still knows how I like my tea. As I sip the hot drink, I look him over, on the off chance he had changed.

A good six feet tall, high by some standards, short by others, he has a medium build, and somewhat fair skin. His hair is bobbed back in a ponytail, but a few white strands, bleached by magic, have escaped. Pleasant sky blue eyes gaze out of an ordinary face.

I still wasn't here yesterday.

He doesn't ask what brings me to his home. He probably knows that I'm wondering the same.

I sigh. Perigrinus isn't much of a one for idle chatter, but I want to talk about something!

"Zypher? When did I come in last night? And do you know where I came from?"

A soft ping answers me, followed by a low, masculine, but artificial voice. "You arrived in the fruit grove at 1943 hours yesterday. I believe you said something to the effect of, "Why do they always turn to Dark?" You also muttered something else, but my audio pickup wasn't near enough to get it. After that you went to the Sou'east suite and went to bed. I did not record anything else." Zypher's words aren't much, but they are enough to let me know that last nights "dreams" were probably no such thing. I shiver under the warm blanket. I never wanted to see that kind of massacre again.

Yet, I know I will, if I live long enough.

"This thing that has been troubling you, it has gone on for quite some time, true?"

I start, surprised. His expression is neutral, but his eyes say that he has been following my problem for some time. I feel a surge of resentment: Who is he to be doing this?

I know who he is. He is still my Sen'aka, as well.


We sit and sip tea as I tell him of my recent excursions. He nods occasionally, making a soothing noise from time to time. I don't really need it. Or so *I* think.

He probably knows better. He has taught many of the Worldwalkers, his clan being the foremost. He is quite a qualified "Sen", or "teacher", for the four parts of a sentient. Aka, Aki, Ako, and Aku. Aka of the mind, Aki of energy (magic and bioenergy), Ako of the body, and Aku of the spirit. I remember that I first came here to learn more about my magic. Looking back on it, he was guiding me even then, when all I wanted from him was to learn about the "Magical Arts". How foolish was I. In attempting to learn without trying to learn (two entirely different things), I would have missed the nigh everything he would have taught me. I, and everyone who has had him for their teacher, am lucky that he knows human nature so well. He did not teach me any meaningful thing until I *wanted* to learn it. At least I did get what I wanted, knowledge of my magic, for it was of the same scheme as Perigrinus and his clan, which is rare indeed. What I learned from my teachings of Aki, I could use to further my understanding of Aka. I only hope now that he can help me with this.


"So, ever since we last met you've been running across this? Dark class universes that needed just a little push to turn them Light?"

"Not just since then, it's just been in amazing concentration. I can only remember three that could be classed Light, and because of what stood around them, they stand out." I suddenly remembered something else... "Each of those three came at a time where I had pretty much given up on the Otanverse in general having any worlds that one could walk down the street without getting your head blown off." No, he wouldn't have...

Perigrinus was nodding. "It seems that I am not your only teacher. Someone else is trying to teach you something, it seems. Now I only wonder what."

I didn't really hear him. My mind was still running around in circles... why would he do such a thing? Why would he show me so much suffering and hate? "My own father? Why...?" I finally hear him talking to me. "What would he teach me? What *could* he teach me, with these universes of lie and death, betrayal and deceit? Tell me!"

He takes another sip, then downs his cup and refills it. He motions to me. "Perhaps he was trying to hammer home a lesson not taken to heart? Hmm. do you know of a place called the Discworld? As chronicled by Prattchet?"

I growl out my response, "Yes." What does this have to do with it? "It sits atop four great elephants who stand on a Great Turtle, A'tuin. What does that have to do with any lessons that I might have 'missed'?" Not pleased. Not at all.

"On the Discworld, there is an individual who personifies the end of life."

"Yes, yes, Death. What *about* it?"

He looks at me with some surprise. "And what level of magic did you say that you have obtained?"

All right, so I'm letting my emotions run away. Control. That is the key to many obstacles, and right now getting worked up over it is not for the betterment of the situation. "I'm sorry."

He nods. "I know that your frame of mind is probably be a bit off. I know mine would be after a mellinia or so of Dark universes. There is something that Death said to his granddaughter when he came for her parents. Do you remember it?"

Oh. I really screwed up. "He said that he could have saved his daughter and her husband, but... For that to have happened, in another universe, so must one happen where they died." I have been a fool. "All those Dark timelines... I was just making them worse, because for the better universes to happen, so must they." I bury my head in my hands.

But he is not finished yet. "That is half of it. Would you care to wager how many of those universes had never had encountered a Worldwalker before? The rules have partitioned them apart."

I know. When a Worldwalker enters a universe, it is considered a Major change. The universe splits in two separate, but nearly *identical* timelines. However, since it us usually only one person that is different they are recombined due to the Laws of Simplification. The end result is one universe that falls under Worldwalker laws, made so that a Worldwalker never meets a copy of themselves in their travels. After all, with universes splitting and recombining all the time, it would be so easy for a 'walker to be caught in a split, and at a later time meet up with themselves, changed by differing experiences. I don't know who was split to make this rule originate, but it is a sound one. A universe under Worldwalker law must still go its intended destination, and it will take the 'walker along with if necessary.

And I had been trying my damnedest to oppose this rule.

"I'm lucky to be alive after a thousand years of trying to kill myself, huh?" This lesson will be taken to heart. And it will stay there. "So what now?"

I looked up at him, wanting to know what he thought of it.

Perigrinus had closed his eyes, obviously thinking. I wonder if he will help me. And if he will, what will he help me do? "Perhaps we should start at the beginning. You began your travels with the intent to help, correct?"

I nod. "Yes."

He smiles, "I have but one more question before we begin. Are you opposed to becoming a Tyr'tani?"

I am confused. Surely he hadn't forgotten? "You do remember that I was a Syn'shen once, don't you?"

"People change, my dear, and I did not know if you disliked the idea nowadays."

My curiosity is piqued. "I am willing to become a Tyr'tani again, but what shall I be the protector of? My place among the Syn'shen is taken, and I don't really identify with any other group."

"Give me a moment." He rises, and goes into the next room for a moment. When he returns he is carrying a sheet of paper and a pen. "What would you say to being Tyr'tani to those who have none? A sort of non-grouped Tyr'tani? To the common people, instead of those who get themselves chronicled?"

Now this is interesting indeed. "And perhaps one who protects those who other Tyr'tani may run over? And There are still those who are chronicled, yet have not Tyr'tani." I hesitated. This may be greater than first glance portrayed. "How many people would I actually be watching over? I could be pulled in a thousand different directions by those with needs."

"Perhaps being an active Tyr'tani would not be for the best. A passive one, perhaps? One who fixes things as she goes? Maybe making it so that the active Tyr'tani need not take a hand?"

A feral smile appears on my lips. "This I like. I could probably recruit some other Worldwalkers to do the same." I frown now. "But how to start?"

He points to the paper. "I know of a few timelines that could use a bit of a helping hand, as it were. But," he held up his hand, "there is something else that must be made sure of. Subtlety. From what you told me, you constantly used too much force. Why don't we make this a bit of a game to start out with? Limit you to one of your inherent powers."

I nod. I did use too much force. "All right, what should I use?"

He quirks an eyebrow at me. Inside, I sigh. I should have known better than to try to get him to play by my rules. "That is for you to choose, my dear. Now then, what do you consider to be your primary abilities?" pen poised over paper, he is ready.

I think for a moment. "There are really only two. My magic and the abilities I have from my father. Oh, and my shapechanging as well, I guess."

"All right," he writes down the first two. "I think that your three forms are more a part of your body's functions, rather than a power that you posses. And with your three forms, your dagger. To be without that limits you to being fully human when it is best not to be."

What he says is true. I would rather not be without my other two forms in a human environment. The advantages to be had from increased speed and magic in my non-human forms are too great to give up. But which to give up? My magic or my Father's gifts?

"Perhaps we should delay the choice of power for now?" Too many pros and cons to be weighed for both of them.

He nods. "Then on to the choice of universes?" he reads off the paper. "Lets see, a BSSM timeline; a *Ranko* universe; a Stargate world (Dear me, Ra's not going to like that); *My*, a pair of Tenchi timelines -one Muyo!, one Universe-; hmm, an NGE timeline that's supposed to go Dark, but not this Dark; ah, and a situation on Velgarth." Perigrinus smiles again, and hands me the paper.

I glance down at the sheet, reading the neat handwriting listing out not only the identification circle, but also a brief synopsis of what was most likely to go wrong. Something occurs to me when I see this. By his reaction when he read them off, combined with the precise notes on probability factor, he did not come up with this list.

The clues led to only one other person.

I scowl. "Why did you get *her* to get this?"

He shrugs. "She doesn't know what I wanted it for, just that I did." He looks at me oddly. "You shouldn't be so opposed to your own mother, you know. Even if she is a bit overprotective."

I sigh. She is too protective for her own good, though. I look over the list again, trying to decide. Something else is noticed, rerouted though my connection to the Library. "Why are all of these Worldwalker universes?"

"Its become a bit of a practice among the Tyr'tani nowadays. Leave the ones that haven't already been messed with alone, and concentrate on the ones that have been changed from their original class. It cuts down on having to go back and fix what was messed up on the first trip."

Thinking about this, I have to agree. It would also cut down on the people vying for my attention if I be came an active Tyr'tani.

I set the list down on the table. "Huh. Seven choices... What to go with I wonder?"

"You need not choose now. All of the preferred insertion points for these are at least twenty years away." He points to the place near the probability of differential on each item. "Come to that, if you find any others you prefer I could always take them to Kana and have her and Destiny check them over."
I laugh, "Come to that, I could always ask Destiny which it thinks I should do. That damned blade would most likely suggest that Ranko universe though."

My heart is eased. My trials are yet to come. But for now...

"I think I'll make breakfast. I learned a new recipe that I haven't had a chance to try out yet."

Perigrinus smiles, and gets up. "Well, if you're going to do that, I'll be out in the vegetable garden, to see if my squash is ready yet. But don't take too long, all this serious stuff has gotten me hungry!"


I have all the time in the Otanverse.