Born a Monster

337 237 – Investigation

Plotline: Main

Type: Interaction

I’ve no clue what Lord Xho was busy doing, but the noble investigator they sent was a woman named Ki Yingying, and she took long enough that my health was up above half. How sad is it that I felt stupendous, full of energy and vigor?

I’d had to make good on my threat to teach my fellow apprentices how to imbue salt so as to fight spirits and ghosts. Tsi Ba learned a version using her chi; Yan Di seemed unable to master any magic outside the arcane.

Neither of them had any inclinations toward the divine, eldritch powers, or other magical sources, with the exception being that Tsi Ba had learned the chi arts from her family. Neither of them had the manner of divisor that I did, and we were averaging an astounding ten experience a day for Yan Di, and six for Tsi Ba.

Average. Some days were better than others.

I found, so long as we met the quota for mana conversion, the mages were more than willing to come downstairs and lecture on arcane topics. The apprentices, in turn, listened attentively, asked thoughtful questions, and in general made me proud to be among them.

On that day, though, I was teaching them myself.

“Okay.” I said. “So, second tier mana.”

.....

“Doesn’t that require second level?” Yan Di asked.

“Second rating of your affinity skill in at least half your elements.” Tsi Ba said.

“Correct. Now, remember that you are mixing elements that both grow and reduce each other. The balance has to be carefully maintained. Throw the mana back into the environment if it starts getting away from you. Better that you lose the mana than...”

The door to the hallway opened, letting in a tall broad-shouldered spearman. He looked around, stroked his peppered beard, and said. “Looks safe.”

“Thank you.” Ki Yingying intoned, flowing into the room. Instead of bowing, she dipped slightly, bending at hips and knees in the northern fashion. “I am Ki Yingying, sent to judge a matter of grave importance. You shall cease whatever... What games are you children playing?”

“Honored noble, I was teaching...” I said.

“It matters not.” she said, waving her fan dismissively. “This matter has too long gone uninvestigated.”

“Ah,” said Yan Di, “This is with regards to Teacher Bei.”

“It is indeed.” she said. “With perception like that, you must be the talented Ping. Introduce me, please, to the deceased.”

“I am Yan Di.” he said, pointing a finger at me. “That is Ping.”

“Tch.” she said. “What an unfortunate eye coloration. Hopefully, you are clear of any wrongdoing, related or not to my investigation.”

“I do conceal my inhuman nature.” I said.

She struck me across the brow with her fan. “Cease making things up.” she said. “Introduce me to the deceased, so I may hear her version of what happened.”

What followed seemed boring to me. Why did she believe Madonna was responsible, how long was she insensate before recovering from being dead, whom had she made contact with? Boring, boring questions, setting up a timeline but not much to do with the murder itself.

“I wish to press charges against these children.” Remnant Bei said.

“I see. Which of them is your descendant?”

“I was their teacher and superior in life. They owe me respect.”

“Which of them is your descendant?” Ki Yingying asked.

Bei pressed her lips together.

“Now, on to my other questions. How much control did you have over fire, really?”

“How DARE you ask that! I was a goddess of fire, a natural and talented wielder of the burning element. None could match me, and only my murderer came close.”

“The child? It sounds, then, as though she is the natural prodigy.”

“Say what you will, but ask anyone. They will tell you of my mastery. Even my killer acknowledged my skill.”

“So... why would she attack you with fire, then, as opposed to, say, shoving you over the edge?”

“You’ll have to ask her. I don’t know how her mind works.”

“And there is no chance that you lost control of your own flames?”

“None. None at all.”

“And the enemy mages?”

“Mages.” Bei snorted. “Trumped up adepts, most of them. A series of bumbling fools with gaps in their technique that we used to lethal effect.”

“Used?”

“Still use, those who live to do so.”

“But surely you retain some of your skill, to be of use even after life?” Ki Yingying asked.

“A body and a soul are needed to have a full mana pool. Also, we ancestors have greatly reduced... volume that they can spend on a single spell.”

“All right. So back to the question, you believe that this child killed you to usurp your position?”

“I am certain of it. As certain that she will never be my equal.”

“Never is a long time.” Lady Ki said.

“Ask Matron Su-ya what she read in the tea leaves regarding it, if you doubt me.”

“First spear, remind me to ask her about that when I interview her.”

“Of course, my lady.” the man replied.

“Hm. So how has she adapted to her, ahem, to your duties?”

“Fitfully at best. I kept these apprentices busy. At work. Over these past days, I have seen them doing piddling magical experiments. Listening to their betters, and challenging their words with questions.”

“This happens?” Ki Yingying asked me.

“We are trying to get the apprentices experience as quickly as possible, which means exposing them to new ideas as well as doing more practical things.” I said.

“To what end? They won’t reach their breakthrough before age twelve, will they?”

“I cannot speak on what causes one System to grant development points in bulk, where another System does not.” I said. “There is too much I do not understand about how that entire process works.”

“But... you have attained breakthrough?”

“Nearly three years ago, honored noble.” I said.

“So young. Another prodigy.”

“Him?” Remnant Bei asked. “That one has a vast breadth of abilities, and none of them of unusual power or effect.”

“And is that a fair assessment of your abilities?”

I shrugged. “More or less. I expect this war to be over before I reach second level at anything.”

“And how do you feel about her evaluation of the foreign girl?”

I blinked. Who was being interrogated, Bei Lala or me? “I would say that she wields fire like a devil from the hells. Sadly, she seems to favor brute force over finesse. But...” I spread my hands helplessly. “She exhibits mage level fire mastery, something far superior to what I can myself claim.”

“Very well, then, Lady Bei. Was there anyone else who could have slain you?”

“Ha! Maybe if they caught me unawares, perhaps asleep. But unlike my murderer, they had nothing to gain from doing so.”

“And your senses? They are also honed to this same level of mastery?”

“I can perceive most attacks before the spell is finished, and can avoid damage from up to level four flames. I often broke up enemy attacks, converting what should have damaged us into usable mana.”

“I see.” Ki Yingying said. “So there is no chance that the enemy killed you? Even with a lucky critical?”

“You might as well try to crossbreed as silkworm with an elephant.” Remnant Bei said. “It would have been the gods interfering in our struggles, possibly directly.”

“So, no chance?”

“I assure you, none. Those buffoons were more likely to kill each other than cause me to bleed, let alone to slay me outright, as I am told happened.”

“As you were told? So you admit you don’t remember your own death?”

“I have already said that I do not. I can only presume that the part of my being with those memories is already in the Celestial Heavens.”

“We can hope. You will be cared for? Maintained? For when I have more questions?”

“I will gladly answer anything that allows my killer to be brought to justice.” Bei Lala responded.

“Hm. Thank you for your time and honesty. Young Ping, please join me in the hallway.”

I did so, but let her order her thoughts and speak first.

“She is ... quite intense. Certain.”

“She was much like that in life.” I said. “I only knew her for a few weeks, but my fellow apprentices could speak to her mannerisms far better than I.”

She tapped her nose with her fan. “Would you say that she was... hm... sane?”

“I would not call her mad, no. Incinerator Bei was driven, and expected equal motivation and output from us. There were times when ... well, no, I cannot say that. There were times she expected things when she was the only one who thought those things were possible. But not insane.”

“Ah-ah, but not entirely rational, either. I have seen this before, from those who accomplish great things. But I notice that you keep her in a double ward.”

.....

“She tries to free herself from her ward-circles. I know she wants freedom, to act on her own to gain the vengeance she desires. But...”

“Do you fear for your life?” she asked.

“No, honored elder, I do not. Not from anything she might do before I could deal with her.”

“You think you could?”

“I think if fully healed, I would eventually win, but I cannot be certain.”

“So if we determine that her spirit must be ... encouraged toward the afterlife?”

“Should that happen, honored noble, I would want all the help I could get.”