Cognita stomped down on the slime. Her foot passed through it without any resistance until she got to its core. You could hurt slimes by damaging their body, but that wouldn't really kill them. While it was true that they needed a certain amount of their material to continue existing, it would be a slow death - more like starvation instead of anything else.

Targeting their core was the far better choice. It was easy for her to do it, which was why she normally handled such things personally. Lesser golems could be ordered to aim at it, but seeing it, much less striking it directly, was often beyond them.

Exterminating them like this also avoided any undue suffering - not that Cognita held any great sympathy for slimes in her heart, but she did not like to be cruel.

The wind died down.

Air slimes were much more agile and stealthy than their brethren, which would explain how this one had survived long enough to grow as big as it had been. That, and it only needed mana and air to sustain itself and grow. Both of those were easily obtained in Wistram.

It was a good thing that air slimes were so rare and generally unstable. If they weren't, they might actually be more than a minor annoyance.

"Ah hem." Someone coughed behind her.

Cognita spun around... and then relaxed. It was Pixel. She'd been worried for a brief moment that someone had snuck up on her, but she already knew that the newest Archmage could teleport without making any light, sound, or mana ripples. It was truly a potent mode of transportation - that he usually took care to not let her observe directly.

"Pixel." She nodded in a greeting, and then froze for a split second. Was it possible that he'd arrived earlier? She didn't have a grasp on his abilities to move about unseen, and she'd been distracted with the slime. It was possible that his footsteps had been drowned out by the fighting - air slimes generated a lot of noise when they weren't staying still.

"Cognita." He bowed his head. "How is Wistram this fine night?"

She paused to think, and to appreciate that he'd asked about her school instead of her. "There are a few minor issues, but nothing of concern. Do you wish to accompany me, Archmage?"

"I would be glad to." Pixel smiled at her and the two resumed her patrol.

Cognita broke the silence first. "I have noticed that you have been reclusive in these days since your dramatic revealing of yourself. I would've thought that you would be working with your fellow Archmages and discussing the Earthers."

"I have spoken with Archmage Feor on occasion, and once Archmage Viltach returns my presence will be announced to the school at large." Pixel shrugged. "It is my understanding that all living Archmages are to be invited by tradition, but he is the only one that will actually return."

"Are you sure it's not so that your Secret Broker friend can turn a profit?"

Pixel glanced up at her, but continued to walk. "I should not be surprised to find out that you know about her, yet I am."

"Oh?"

"While I do not doubt your capacity for witnessing all that occurs in Wistram, I would have thought that paying attention to the rumors of [Mages] was beneath your notice."

Cognita pondered that for several minutes as they climbed higher. "Normally I would not, but even I am curious about the rumored new Archmage."

"Am I really a rumor?" Pixel smiled. "Truth Stones should allow facts from speculation to be easily distinguished."

"That is true." Cognita nodded. "Yet I find that [Mages] will share and elaborate on details just like anyone else."

"Hn." Pixel grunted. "I guess that makes sense. No one would be able to buy a more detailed secret if they didn't know such a thing existed in the first place."

"So, how long did you watch my fight with the slime?" Cognita looked at him out of the corner of her eye to see how he responded.

"I saw the whole thing." Pixel didn't react in any noticeable way. "It wasn't a lengthy affair."

"Indeed." Cognita still had the nagging suspicion that Pixel had been watching her without her seeing him in turn for longer than the short fight.

**Cognita loves Zelkyr.
**Cognita trusts Zelkyr.
**Cognita wants to help Zelkyr.
**Cognita is suspicious.

I'd done everything correctly. I'd used Threat Sense to make certain that I wouldn't teleport into Cognita's line of sight. I'd moved my feet in rapid small steps, that slowed down as I touched the ground to negate any impact noise. I'd made certain that my shadow never extended into her vision. I'd moved at the exact same time she did to negate any possibility of her seeing me out of the corner of her eye.

And yet... I'd failed.

While it was true that Cognita hadn't noticed me before I'd announced myself, she clearly sensed that something was up somehow. I still didn't have a concrete plan on how to unshackle her, but stealth wouldn't be an option.

So, even if I came up with a way to remove Zelkyr's commands, and a way to have Cognita accept that... I still wouldn't be able to implement it. At least, not without fighting her, and that was a profoundly stupid action to base a plan around.

"Where are we heading next?" Wistram was still a maze, but I thought I recognized the hallway we were using.

"To check on Amerys." Cognita replied bluntly. "I was waiting until you arrived before doing so, as I was certain you would also wish to examine the barrier."

"I'm confident in my tech." I smirked. "The only concern I have is that some curious [Mage] got too close."

**Cognita loves Zelkyr.
**Cognita trusts Zelkyr.
**Cognita wants to help Zelkyr.
**Cognita is curious.

"Tech? As in technique?" She glanced at me.

"Tech as in technology. My powers work on entirely different principles than mana and magic." I explained.

"Ah." She nodded. "That illuminates a great many things."

We walked in silence as I thought about her statement. Cognita was able to see through other golems. That had to be the case. I had first hand experience in her commanding them, so I knew they were linked. I'd also suspected that the connection went two ways, but it was good to have confirmation.

While I was confident that I could escape the entirety of Wistram's golems attacking me, if not destroy them, protecting everyone else at the same time wouldn't be possible. Although, in truth, I really would only need to protect Aaron. The [Mages] would have to fend for themselves if Cognita ever went berserk.

Still, it was a stark reminder at the stakes if I screwed up my attempt to 'help' her. Or possibly even if I succeeded. I didn't think Cognita was the sort of person to go on a rampage, even if her enforced love turned to natural hate, but I couldn't be sure.

She wasn't Dragon after all. Cognita had her own set of morals that were different from my friend's.

The sentry golems still stood outside the door. I did not have a key to it, yet, but it opened easily to Cognita. She also strolled through the magical maze without pause or backtracking. Amerys' room still held two [Mages] on guard duty.

*Perception Block negated by Gamer's Mind.

Along with a hidden [Mage], or at least a [Mage] that was attempting to hide from me. In fact... Threat Sense let me know that five people were currently looking at me. I began mentally preparing to move to different places around Cognita or behind other large pieces of furniture.

It dropped to four.

That meant that the final hidden observer was... there! The second invisible [Mage] was using a [Spell] to change his color like a chameleon. Easy to overlook, but once I'd pinpointed his location, I could make him out.

It was a sensible precaution. Even if I knew my temporal bombs wouldn't easily fail, I couldn't expect the other Archmages to accept it at face value. Besides, who knew how they interacted with magic?

I approached the edge of the sphere where someone had successfully attached a piece of paper with the warning: 'Do not get closer.'. I didn't know much about calligraphy, but the penmanship looked beautiful. "Someone has very good handwriting."

**Cognita loves Zelkyr.
**Cognita trusts Zelkyr.
**Cognita wants to help Zelkyr.
**Cognita is proud.

"Thank you." Cognita bowed her head.

Ah. She was the one to put up the warning sign. That made sense. She could negate or limit the time bomb's effect on herself. No one else could've placed the note safely. Well, they probably could've used magic to do so, but would the [Mages] risk even that?

In fact, thinking about it more, her hanging the note was a demonstration of her abilities to them. 'I can do this thing that you are too scared to even attempt.' Yes. I think that would fit with her personality.

I'd stood still long enough that Expansion let me reach Amerys, and so I could get to the real reason I'd come. I poured mana into Power Drain and probed the frozen Archmage. Annnnnd... there!

I latched onto one of her shackles and started pulling its mana into myself.

**Cognita loves Zelkyr.
**Cognita trusts Zelkyr.
**Cognita wants to help Zelkyr.
**Cognita is surprised.

Huh?

*You have been inflicted with 'Oversaturated'.

"Everything seems to be in order." I looked up at Cognita and nodded. We both then turned and made our way through the maze. Once Threat Sense let me know we were alone, I glanced up at the golem. "The hidden [Mages] did not follow us."

"I know."

"Did you want to say anything?"

"No." She paused before continuing. "Why would I?"

"No reason." I shrugged. "It was just that you seemed a little surprised back there."

**Cognita loves Zelkyr.
**Cognita trusts Zelkyr.
**Cognita wants to help Zelkyr.
**Cognita is surprised.

"Oh?"

I chuckled. "You noticed me draining the mana, didn't you?"

Cognita stopped and looked at me. "Yes."

"So, aren't you going to ask me why?"

"I assumed it was so that when you took down your barrier that Archmage Amerys would, indeed, be free." She smiled at me. "As you promised."

"Ah." I shook my head and raised my arms in a half-shrug. "So you heard about that, did you?"

"Yes." She turned and resumed walking. "It gladdens me to know that you intend to keep your word, even if only by temporal perception."

"Hm." I grunted as we resumed our patrol. Freeing Amerys was only part of the reason I was draining her shackles. It also allowed me to kill two birds with one stone. It was slow work, so I'd still have to return to finish draining her other shackles - and to grind my mana pool.

...

"Kent Scott."

I spoke the name again and began to scry.

Or, at least, I thought hard about scrying and my intention to do so while I tried to parse the information Threat Sense and Ears of Babel were providing me. It was a purely mental exercise since actually scrying on the 'fake' Earther might alert someone even if they didn't counter-scry or retaliate in some other way.

It was a contradiction I was accustomed to. Not only did I have to intend to do two separate and incompatible things to utilize Threat Sense in this fashion, I also was currently doing so while controlling my Homunculi.

In the past, I'd had Jagat to help with maintaining multiple distinct lines of thought. Multiplayer might not be working, but [Alter Ego: Various] had taken up the slack. It wasn't quite the same. My [Skill] worked a little differently. Instead of two of 'me' that were perfectly in-sync, it was more like it allowed me to 'stay in character'.

So, in essence, instead of me and me, it was me and Vincent. Or me and Jiahao. Or me and Michail. With effort, I could hold two Alter Egos in my mind. Since each personality was capable of taking action in their own way, it was more of a side-grade than using just one. Or none.

Or, if I considered their simulated points of view better than my own, a pure upgrade. In fact, I suspected it was a decent Thinker power - of the extrapolate information kind. I'm pretty sure that the details that come to my Alter Egos minds had some basis from the originals.

That was kinda cool, but also kinda scary.

I wasn't TOO concerned about another 'me' existing if Jagat and I got un-synced, but letting an Alter Ego I'd made run loose?

...Yeah. That could be bad.

In any event, this potential scrying target was a bu-

Threat Sense pinged!

It and Ears of Babel sensed something looking at my scrying nodes. This had to be what it felt like to be counter-scried!

Then, it passed. Since I hadn't actually scried, it didn't actually happen.

I took a deep breath and considered what I'd just learned.

First, I could tell where Kent Scott was - or at least where the scrying trap/detector had been. I pulled out a map. Let's see that coordinate matches up with a country called... Roshal.

Y'know, I shouldn't be surprised. I mean, an Earther was captured and impersonated, and there's a country of [Slavers]. It doesn't take a genius to come to a conclusion about what happened. In fact... those pirates that attacked my ship when I first came to Wistram... They'd said something about it? Or was it just [Slaves]?

I can't remember exactly.

Regardless, I should probably pay it a visit.

Hmmm...

That's also the general direction I feel Sibby in.

I smiled. That was a good sign. I could kill two birds with one stone, and reunite with Sibby on the way there. Plus it lessened the possibility that Riley was in Roshal. That had been a worry in the back of my mind ever since hearing of the country.

My little sister could take care of herself, but I still fretted over her.

If Sibby was close, that either meant she and Riley were together, or my sister was nowhere close to Roshal.

I leaned back and closed my eyes. It felt like a weight had been lifted off of me.

Viltach, the 'Archmage of Terandria', stepped off the boat. His long, combed hair rustled in the sea breeze. Rievan was waiting for him at the dock.

"Archmage." The senior [Mage] bowed his head. "I am glad you made it safely. I feared for you when you did not arrive on time."

"Yes." Viltach nodded at him. "We were beset by a calm area. The [Captain]'s skills were enough to see us through, but the lack of wind still delayed the trip." He strolled past his fellow Libertarian, who fell in step beside him. "Has the feast started yet? And what was the 'vital' news that I needed to come in person to hear? Ailendamus is readying itself for war, and I cannot stay away long. Has another otherworlder been found? Or is this whole thing really about acknowledging another new Archmage?"

"Yes and yes, but that is not all."

"Oh?" Viltach glanced at him, but did not slow his pace.

"Four more Earthers are at Wistram, and one of them has been acknowledged as an Archmage!"

Viltach stopped and stared at him. "What?"

Rievan bowed his head. "His name is 'Pixel', and he is to be called the 'Archmage of Cubes'."

"What?!" Viltach felt the incredulousness in his voice. "What has happened in the scant month I've been away?"

"He apparently came from Earth to rescue the lost children." Rievan licked his lips. "I've bought the available secrets about him and... he is... potent. It is said he single-handedly destroyed one army and drove another off!"

"Rievan." Viltach regarded his fellow Libertarian. "I think it's best if you tell me everything. It is better to be late for the feast instead of going in unprepared."

...

"So... Let me get this straight." Viltach let out a deep breath. "THREE additional Earthers arrived at Wistram shortly after I left, and you did not inform me?"

Rievan paled. "But I did, Archmage. I used the code we agreed upon. I told you that we were running low on crushed rubies."

"But then you said that Wistram was out of apples!"

Rievan blinked. "We ARE out of apples."

Viltach resisted the urge to roll his eyes. This was why it was hard to keep secrets. You could avoid saying things over a scrying orb to avoid eavesdroppers, but it meant that he couldn't be kept abreast of things if his subordinates forgot the 'I wasn't using a code' code.

"Saying you are out of apples was supposed to mean that the previous statement was supposed to be taken literally!" Viltach frowned. "And you only sent that message less than two weeks ago."

"Well..." Rievan grimaced. "I didn't know that the three new guests were from Earth. We thought they were dignitaries from foreign nations. Without your presence, I don't know what goes on in the counsel. And what was I supposed to say to let you know that we were out of apples? Should I have said it twice so that you knew the first time I really meant it?"

"I don't care about apples!" Viltach breathed in and out to calm himself. "It is fine. Even if I was here, nothing probably would've been done in this time." A month really wasn't that great of a length of time. "You say that Pixel destroyed an army of the dead and drove off another?"

"Yes." Rievan nodded again. "It was an expensive secret, but from a reliable source chain."

"I see." Viltach drummed his fingers on his chest. "That does fit with certain rumors I'd heard in the Court of Masks. How interesting." He was backing Ailendamus because they would be the victors in the squabble with their smaller neighbors. However, if there was another Archmage that both wasn't opposed to involving themselves in the affairs of other countries - and who had the sheer power to do so... "I must speak with this Pixel. What else do you know of him?"

"Nothing that I haven't already told you." Rievan spoke as the pair resumed their journey towards the castle. "Feor introduced him to the counsel this past week, and the decision to acknowledge him was made that same day. I do not know what magics he displayed to them!"

"It was something impressive, I am sure." After all, someone who could wipe out an army of the dead in a matter of minutes had to have a multitude of other [Spells] with which he could demonstrate his skills.

I stood in an room off to the side of the main hall. I was to enter with all the current Archmages in a small ceremony before introducing myself to the general population of Wistram.

As far as public events went, it didn't sound so bad. It was the feast afterwards that concerned me. Meals were hard enough when it was just my Homunculi. While Michail rarely spoke, there had been times that Vincent and Jiahao had been pulled into two different conversations at the same time.

Keeping track of them was... difficult.

I was sure that I would be the center of at least a few conversations as Pixel, so my plan was to have my Alter Egos excuse themselves early on. If it wouldn't have been suspicious, I would've preferred to have them not show up in the first place.

"Archmage Viltach's ship just docked." Feor opened his eyes. "He should arrive shortly."

The Grand Hall was on the ground floor - close to the entrance. So Viltach shouldn't have to walk far to get here.

Nailihuaile, or 'Naili' as she liked to be called, crossed her arms - a feat that was somewhat impressive since she still held onto her staff. "Great, of all the Archmages away from Wistram, HE would have to be the one that came back."

**Nailihuaile is annoyed.
**Nailihuaile is angry.

"You don't care for him, Nailihuaile?" I asked her.

The Star Lamia smiled as she looked me up and down. Lizardfolk evolved if they got to be high enough level. Naili was a magical variant who had the lower body of a snake instead of legs. While a major change, it wasn't the most distinctive difference between her and the other Lizardfolk in Wistram - that would be her scales.

Instead of the more common shades of green, hers were mainly white and a light pink. She also had glowing scales on her arms and back that gradually cycled through a rainbow of colors. It was quite eye-catching by design. Her notifications always reported contentment, pride, and happiness whenever anyone stared at her.

It was, as I'd read, a common trait among her people. Lizardfolk liked attention, but not to the same extent as she did. I didn't know if Naili's preening was due to her being a Star Lamia, or if she was just like that, but it also went the other way - She thought my armor was fascinating.

"You know about my faction, yes?" She looked at my helmet. "We Revivalists wish to open Wistram up to everyone! Just as we opened our doors to your people!" She smiled again. "The Libertarians are almost as bad as the Isolationists when it comes to hording knowledge." She let out a light laugh. "It is hard to believe that they are composed of Humans instead of Drakes at times."

"Yes, it's like a sliding scale as I see it." I replied to her, as Feor seemed disinclined to speak. He still felt nervous and afraid around me, but it was gradually getting better. "Isolationists don't want any new students, Centrists want all the [Mages] in the world, and Libertarians want everyone?"

"It's more nuanced than that." Naili put her hand on my upper arm. "It's not like we want to let non-magic users as students, instead we think that we should lower the testing requirements to usher in a new age." She motioned to Feor with her head. "The Centrists want more students, true, but their aim is to make Wistram a country of its own."

"Ah, so the Centrists and the Libertarians both wish to extend Wistram's reach across the world, but in different ways."

"Yes!" Her smile widened. "You understand! That is the main point on which we cannot agree. Wistram is a school, not a nation or political group!"

Our conversation ended as a man with a pointy beard, and long, combed hair strolled in. He was the same one I'd seen when scrying last week. "Feor. Nailihuaile." He nodded to each of them in turn before looking at me. "And you must be Pixel, the Archmage of Cubes." He smiled. "I am Viltach, the 'Archmage of Terandria'. I'd love to speak with you in private, but I realize that my late arrival is delaying things, so shall we converse over dinner?"

"Of course." I nodded having expected to speak with both him and Naili while we ate. The four of us turned and entered the Grand Hall as someone shouted.

"Here is the newest Archmage of Wistram: Pixel, the Archmage of Cubes!"

...

I had been offered the opportunity to say a few words, but I had declined. I had no goals, policy, or faction that did not involve Earth. As such, there was nothing I could say that would be both relevant, and something that the general population of Wistram was allowed to know.

The usual buffet style had been done away with, at least for the main table. Piles of rich food were arranged along its length, and I sat down with Naili and Viltach on each of my sides. There was a visible reaction from the assembled [Mages] as my helmet flowed away, but the silence effect around the table blocked out any murmuring.

"That is quite the useful enchantment." Viltach exclaimed.

"So you ARE human." Nailihuaile's eyes widened as she peered at me. "So young too!" She glanced down at my arm. "May I touch it?"

**Nailihuaile is interested.
**Nailihuaile is eager.

"By all means, Archmage Nailihuaile."

She smiled at me and set her staff to the side, where it hung in mid-air. "You may call me 'Naili', Archmage Pixel." She then reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. "So smooth!" She exclaimed as she ran a hand up and down it.

"There is no need to use titles when it is just us speaking." Viltach said from my other side. "It is useful to have people refer to us as 'Archmage' when we are in a larger group, but we need not stand on formality here. Wouldn't you agree?"

I turned to face him. "As you say. I will call you Viltach, if you call me Pixel."

"Very good, Pixel!" He smiled at me.

**Viltach is happy.
**Viltach is eager.

"Hey, Boxer, how are you?"

I had Vincent glance over at Blackmage. "Not bad."

"That's cool. Cool." Aaron took a bite out of a roll. "So, uhm, are you going to leave?"

I had Vincent frown. "Leave? Why would I leave?"

"So I hear you are a skilled [Alchemist] and [Enchanter], Pixel." Viltach said as he steadily placed choice bits on his plate.

"It's a shame you weren't at his introduction, Viltach." Naili's smile took on a slightly sinister bent as she craned her head to look at the other Archmage. "Pixel gave a very impressive demonstration to the counsel." She raised her nose away from him, but kept looking from the corners of her eyes. "But you always were too high and mighty for that sort of thing."

"If I had been informed that Wistram had found more visitors so quickly, I would've returned with haste." Viltach started cutting into a ham steak. "As it is, I think I might know a bit more about Pixel than you do."

"No reason." Aaron fell silent as he resumed eating. "I just heard from Teura that you wanted to."

"She told you that?" I tried to focus on Vincent's conversation as the two Archmages bickered.

"It's more like I overheard her talking with one of the other [Mages]." Aaron looked away. "Is it true?"

"Eh, maybe?" Vincent shrugged. "I dunno, man. I mean, I wanna see the world, right? But now that Pixel's here and I HAVE the option..."

"I think I understand." Aaron smiled. "Paradise is great, until you find out you can't leave. It's, like, human nature to want what we can't have." He cleared his throat. "Not that I'm saying Wistram is paradise, just, uhm, y'know an example."

"Hey, Builder." A centaur spoke to my Russian homunculus. He was the same one that had given him the translation amulet. "Read any good books lately?"

"Hm." I had him grunt and nod.

"You know..." Naili ran her hand across my back. "I'm a skilled [Enchanter]. I'd love to compare notes, especially how you managed such an alluring visual effect."

I took a bite of food and chewed as I tried to keep track of all the conversations.

"So how does that 'jumping rope' work?" A [Mage] I didn't recognize asked.

"I don't know." Jiahao replied.

"But you were the one that invented it, right?"

"No." Jiahao shook his head. "Not me. Boxer."

I'd kept Blackmage waiting too long.

"Naw, it's cool. I hear ya." Vincent smiled. "It's like positives and negatives, right? Don't matter how many pluses there are if they're out-weighed by the minuses. And for us..."

"Freedom is a huge plus." Aaron paused. "Or a minus on the other side." He let out a small laugh. "I guess it's an 'American Culture' thing, huh?"

"You got that right."

"Speaking of which, man do I miss some things."

"Like what?"

"Oreos. The [Chefs] are really good about making most things, but junk food has a certain... something that they can't pull off. They're making cookies, but it's just not the same. Nostalgia, I guess."

"You should ask Pixel."

"Why?" Aaron looked confused.

"He can make 'em."

"Like with golems?"

"No." Vincent shook his head. "Like with materializing and shit. The same way he makes everything."

There. That should give Aaron something to think about.

"Excuse me." I said to Viltach. "What did you just say?"

"I was just commenting on how mana leakage tends to scale with size." He looked up from his food.

"No, I mean from before. You said something about knowing of me?" He'd said it with confidence too, so I didn't think it was just posturing.

"Oh." He had a smug grin, but it was directed at Naili - who'd still hadn't eaten a single bite. "I heard word of the exploits of someone calling themselves 'Pixie'. It's very similar to 'Pixel' after all, and it caused quite the uproar."

"Did it?"

"Oh, yes." He focused on me. "There are several people in Ailendamus who have expressed great interest in meeting you."

"Do you like the food?" The centaur was asking again.

"Hm." Michail grunted and nodded again.

"So what do you think of the new Archmage?" The centaur continued to speak with Michail.

I didn't want to be rude to him. Or ruder than just grunting in reply, but four conversations were too much. "Hm."

"Didn't he save your life?"

"Hm." Michail nodded.

"I'd love to hear about it?" Why was the centaur being so pushy?

"i am sorry." Michail spoke softly. "those are not good memories. i would prefer to eat in silence."

"Oh, I'm sorry." The centaur was apologetic. "I'll shut up now."

**Gaxiela is suspicious.

I'd slowly chewed my food, and had taken a long drink before I responded to Viltach. "I encountered them. I didn't know you came from there."

"From Ailendamus?" Viltach shook his head. "No, but even if I had, as an Archmage I need to represent all of Terandria."

I furrowed my brow. "How does that work with a country that's at war with other countries there?"

"No one is at war, yet." Viltach put down his utensils and looked at me. "Ailendamus has ambitions, yes, but they can be tempered."

"How do you get such a complete merger?" Naili muttered from the other side. "There has to be a difference. I can feel some seams at the joints, but not between the individual cubes."

I focused on Viltach. "I am more concerned with finding others from my world."

"I have been keeping my ears open for such secrets, but no rumors have reached them of other worlders." Viltach replied. "Though, I must admit that I am also quite intrigued with the materials your armor is made from. Perhaps we can discuss it further at a later date?"

"Hey." Someone was talking. "Hey!" The conversations were loud. "Hey, Jiahao!" Oh, shoot! Someone was trying to talk with Jiahao!

"Huh? What is it?" The Asian boy asked.

"I said, 'Did you know Pixel can make food'?" Uhm, DID 'Jiahao' know that? "What you mean, 'make food'? Everyone can make food."

"No." Blackmage shook his head. "I mean, MAKE food... With, y'know, his... magic."

"Like with golems?"

"I don't think so."

"Jiahao, he makes food out of cubes. Boxer says he can make stuff from home!" Aaron looked excited. "Do you have a favorite dish?"

Shoot. I hadn't spoken with Jiahao about his culinary preferences. "Sugar-coated haws." The answer just came to me. "Very sweet, but sour. Good contrast."

"How are the potatoes?"

"Do you think we could? Oh, what was the word? 'Spar'? Yes, do you think we could 'Spar' one another?"

"How do you get the colors so pure? This is the reddest red I've ever seen!"

"You see, politics are complex, and while Ailendamus is larger and has a bigger army than most other countries in Terandria, they are far from the most powerful. In fact, they'd only rank forth, and that would be if I was being particularly generous in my rankings."

"I've never had that? Or even heard of it before! What's a haw?"

Okay. The meal had barely started, but enough was enough. This was too confusing, and I was starting to miss things. It was better to cut your losses early on. It would be fine for 'Pixel' to be a recluse. Besides, I didn't care for gatherings. It was far easier to speak with people one-on-one.

"Viltach, Naili." I addressed them both. "I dislike crowds. I am sorry to cut our conversation short, but I believe I will retire for the night. I would like to speak with both you in a more private setting." I stood up. "Excuse me."

I then teleported away.

I hoped that I hadn't offended them too much.

Bios:

Viltach - The Archmage of Terandria. Not a real [Archmage]. Dislikes fighting, and is a bit of a coward after nearly getting killed in a battle in his youth. Leader of the human faction in Wistram. Looks down on other species. Enjoys making things, especially with high-quality magical materials.