The Chronicles of a Scalebound Sage

WM [89] Good to See You Again

The golem hung suspended mid-air, its metal form supported by thin, gleaming cables that connected directly to its spine. Its faintly glowing emerald eyes gave it an unsettling presence, but it made no move to attack or defend itself. The figure bore an uncanny resemblance to the Angels Bjorn had loathed in his previous life. However, its wings lacked the feathers typical of those beings, consisting only of skeletal joints and the bare structure of a bird's anatomy.@@novelbin@@

Bjorn tensed, ready to strike at the first sign of hostility. The others hesitated, uncertain, as this was the first of the golems to address them directly. Its voice, eerily similar to Doxy’s monotone cadence, caught them off guard. Could this be the entity they had been communicating with all along? Bjorn sniffed the air but detected no trace of the distinct aetheric presence that marked a True Angel. This was not one of their kind, it was a golem designed in their likeness.

“Are you Doxy?” Tanisha asked, her tone sharp but curious.

“Incorrect identification,” the being replied. “I am Laxy, G Series, G-21: Seraph, angelic humanoid Mecha-Doll, designated as a maintenance and fabrication assistant android. Doxy is the Alpha Extraction Site Aetheric Program. Our functions are distinct. My focus is equipment management and fabrication support, not site-wide data analysis or command oversight. How may I assist you?”

“Uh, Android? Is that like a golem?” Tanisha asked, tilting her head.

“I see you are unfamiliar with this term,” Laxy replied as the cables supporting it began lowering it gracefully to the ground. “An android is a technological construct, distinct from a golem. While golems are typically animated by magic alone, guided by a magecaster’s will or an enchantment, I am a hybrid construct. My design merges magical components with advanced technologies, granting me greater autonomy and versatility.

“For example, my core programming allows me to analyze tasks, suggest optimizations, and function independently within established parameters. Unlike a golem, I do not require direct magical guidance. Think of me as a magically-augmented machine, engineered to assist rather than serve as a simple automaton.”

“Yeah, I didn’t catch most of that,” Aurelius interjected, scratching his head. “So… it’s just another type of golem, right? Annnnndroid. Sounds weird.”

“You’re not going to attack us like the other golems—or, uh, androids outside?” Fuyumi asked, her eyes narrowing as her hand drifted toward her weapon.

“No,” Laxy said with a polite bow of its head. “I am incapable of harming anyone. My purpose is maintenance and fabrication assistance, not combat. The units you encountered such as the S Series, S-01: Silhouette, are Mecha Dolls, hybrid constructs built for stealth and combat. My role is entirely non-combative.”

“Are there more like you, non-combative androids?” Fuyumi pressed.

“Yes,” Laxy affirmed. “There are others like me stationed in different maintenance facilities, each designed for similar non-combative roles. Additionally, this facility employs cleaning droids and non-humanoid drones to ensure operational efficiency and system integrity.”

As Laxy touched the ground, a ripple of light shimmered over its metallic body. Its appearance shifted, and the lifeless metal silhouette was replaced by the form of a kind-looking human woman with dark hair and faintly glowing green eyes. Golden lines traced along her exposed skin. She wore what appeared to be a pristine white coat, reaching into one of her breast pockets to retrieve a pair of glasses, which she perched delicately on her nose.

Her wings, however, remained metal but were covered in golden feathers as they folded neatly behind her. One by one, the cables hissed softly before releasing her, retracting silently into the ceiling. It took Bjorn a moment to notice that she wasn’t actually touching the floor but hovering less than an inch above it. 

“Did you just turn into a human?” Tanisha asked.

“No, I haven’t turned into a human.” Loxy’s voice took on a more natural and feminine tone. “ This appearance is created using aetheric energy. Studies show mortals relate more to friendly, human-like faces than to machines. I chose this specific form because my fellow researchers in the past responded better to it than to the male variant forms I’ve tried before.”

Bjorn walked up to the android and tasted the air around it far closer. He could taste the aether moving around it but it moved in a way that was unfamiliar to him. He lifted a paw and touched the android. Where his hand landed felt as though he was touching the fabric of her coat rather than the metal body beneath. 

Identify

Name: Loxy
Species: Android? (Honestly I don’t know what this thing is)
Level: N/A
Vocation: N/A
Highest Stat: N/A

“Hello Child of the Poisoner.” Laxy spoke but not in a language Bjorn had ever heard, yet, somehow, understood. “You have finally returned but not in any form we expected. Please return to me once you are alone, Isin there is much we must discuss.”

The language she spoke sounded like a series of hisses, but at the same time no one else seemed to hear it but him.

Bjorn jumped back away from Laxy and hissed, “how are you talking to me? What is this language?”

“When you are alone. Please.” Laxy responded.

“What’s wrong Bjorn?” Failsafe questioned. “Why are you hissing at that weird android lady?”

“You don’t hear it?” Bjorn asked.

The head Failsafe controlled tilted. “I don’t hear anything out of the ordinary.”

He can’t understand or hear it? That only happened before with beings from the higher planes. Or if it related to my soul directly.

“Uh, I see.” Bjorn responded but decided not to elaborate. “Let’s return to the others. I think I must just be tired.”

Bjorn kept one head trained on the strange construct while he retreated back to the rest of his group. Who seemed to be discussing how to move forward. None of them took their eyes off of Laxy of course, she was an unknown and they didn’t know if they could trust the construct.

“I think we can just close her in here, right?” Aurelius said.

Tanisha agreed, “If it comes to that, I mean she doesn't seem to be hostile, though Bjorn is on alert. He seems more curious, and confused than anything.”

“Him and me both.” Aurelius said. “Walking, talking suits of armor golems with invisibility, blade arms, and loud crossbow things. Now they can turn into people? I am liking this place less and less.”

“It is a lot for one day.” Fuyumi said as she took a deep breath. “We have been searching for a little while now. How about we do a second sweep of the floors we've been through just to make sure one of the invisible one’s isn’t hiding to ambush us in our sleep then we will take a break. Have you and Bjorn leveled up? You have more of that potential mana circulating around you.”

Bjorn split his focus to keep up with the conversation, watch Laxy, and open his menus at the same time.

Status Menu

Name: Bjorn Isin Scalebound
Species: Lernaean Hydra
+ Level: 46 < 49
Vitality: 178 / 195
Restoration: 270 / 270
Constitution: 140 / 140
Strength: 120 / 130
Dexterity: 80/ 100
Stamina:100 / 115
+ Primana: 70 / 100 < 150

Page 1 of 4

Bjorn was happy to see that both his primana and primana regeneration limits increased. He knew were all thirty of his points were going to go. The more magic he had the faster Failsafe could work and magic was the fastest path to power. Physical strength was limited to the physical world, constitution, vitality and restoration were all tied to his magic, dexterity and stamina could be augmented if you had the magic to do so. The greatest limitation to him is his ties to animal magic. Once he could cast like a mage he and Tanisha will be unstoppable.

“Yes, a few times.” Tanisha said. “Bjorn?” 

Bjorn nodded and Fuyumi seemed pleased as well. 

They decided they would place the points once they had returned to the barracks and closed all of the doors just in case there were more androids waiting in ambush. They used the same strategy of Tanisha using her water to coat the floors and walls and looked for abnormalities in ambient mana. There weren’t any more of the silhouettes so they closed the blast doors and continued to the barracks.

***

After a hearty meal, courtesy of the food fabricator, Fuyumi began their training session. Aurelius was close to a breakthrough, whatever that entailed, so he sat cross-legged in deep meditation, circulating his primana. Meanwhile, Fuyumi focused her attention on Bjorn and Tanisha, eager to observe how they assigned their UCP. She believed this insight might help her understand their unique system and the properties of their magic alloy.

Bjorn executed his plan without hesitation, channeling all thirty of his UCP into Primana. The surge increased his limit from seventy to a full one hundred. As the energy coursed through him, his tri-core expanded rapidly to accommodate the influx. A sudden rush of warmth flooded his being, spilling from his mouths as brief flickers of white flame before subsiding.

Status Menu

Name: Bjorn Isin Scalebound
Species: Lernaean Hydra
Level: 49
Vitality: 178 / 195
Restoration: 270 / 270
Constitution: 140 / 140
Strength: 120 / 130
Dexterity: 80/ 100
Stamina:100 / 115
+ Primana: 70 + 30 = 100 / 150

Page 1 of 4

“Now that was interesting, Bjorn,” Fuyumi said, stepping closer with a curious glint in her eye. “You’re growing quickly, but it seems like your nearly reaching the limits of what your system allows.” She turned to Tanisha, an eyebrow raised. “How old is he, and what exactly is he?”

“He’s… oh wow, only a few months old. Honestly, it feels like he’s been with me for years,” Tanisha replied, glossing over the second part of the question entirely. “He used to be bigger, though. Then he shrunk down after… wait a second… huh, I actually don’t know why you shrunk, Big Man. You haven’t used maya in a while, and it’s not in your core. Was it the loss of maya?”

Bjorn nodded in confirmation, a little surprised at how quickly she pieced it together. Fuyumi’s gaze darted between them before her expression shifted as if a realization had struck her.

“Wait, is Bjorn a Greater?” she asked, scrutinizing the multi-headed hydra. “I don’t know much about familiars, but Signe’s wolf familiar could talk. I’ve heard their power depends on the bond with their summoner. They’re rare outside of Yuhia, and even there, I didn’t see many.”

“Bjorn is a hydra, right?” Aurelius said, cracking open one eye from his meditation. “A few years back, my family helped a scholar who was writing a book on magical beasts. Pretty sure she was from a mage tower in Mesha. Think her name was Isabella the Golden. She was heading to the Force Isles to study the Large Finn Sea Hydra. Apparently the biggest species out there, though they only live in deep oceans. She showed us drawings of different hydras.”

“Never heard of a hydra before,” Fuyumi said, tilting her head. Then, with a sharp glance at Aurelius, she added, “And you, back to your cultivation! You should be able to break through today. Once you do, we’ll open your Blood Gate.”

Tanisha chimed in, “They’re more common in Yuhia because wendigo have an affinity for forming the bond. But it’s expensive. The summoning ritual alone costs a few gold, and if the familiar contract fails, you’re out of luck. Most people don’t bother since they aren’t fighters, and it wouldn’t improve their magic enough to justify the cost.”

“What about druids?” Fuyumi asked.

“I don’t know, and frankly, they can all rot,” Tanisha replied coldly, her tone cutting through the air like a blade.

Fuyumi raised her hands in mock surrender. “Alright, sensitive topic. Forget I asked. Now breathe and focus inward. We’ll work on tethering power from your core to your head and back.”

As the others continued their conversation, Bjorn quietly stood and walked out of the barracks. Something about Laxy’s earlier words gnawed at him. The android had recognized him as Isin and communicated in a way even Failsafe couldn’t decipher. Though Bjorn had no memories of that place, he suspected his dreams might unlock more of what lay hidden within. For now, he needed answers, and Laxy might be the only one who could provide them.

***

Bjorn placed a paw on the control panel to access the wing of the facility where Laxy resided. As his touch engaged the system, the lights in the facility flickered momentarily before the door finally slid open. He noted the eerie similarity to the reaction when he had registered himself at the barracks earlier.

“Where are we going?” Failsafe asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

“To see Laxy,” Bjorn replied curtly, stepping into the hallway.

“Okay. Why?” Failsafe pressed.

“I need to check something.” Bjorn said

Failsafe’s tone grew sharper. “Is it because she looks like an angel? Are you planning to destroy her? Your past life wasn’t exactly fond of them.”

Bjorn descended the stairwell in silence, ignoring the jab. As he approached Laxy’s domain, he noticed something unsettling: destroyed silhouettes were gone. Passing through the R&D sector and into the maintenance facility, he found it utterly deserted. There was no sign of Laxy, no hints or traces to indicate where she might be.

Cautiously, Bjorn stepped into the room, his heads lowering as he tasted the air for any hint of lingering magic. The moment his entire body crossed the threshold, a sudden presence descended upon him, oppressive and swift. He leaped forward to evade, but the force was too quick. He was tackled to the ground, energy already building in his mouths as he prepared to retaliate. Before he could strike, the entity withdrew, vanishing in a an Aetheric Flash Step that carried it across the room in an instant.

“I apologize for the shock,” came Laxy’s voice, this time speaking in Angelia. “I needed to ensure we could speak candidly.”

Bjorn hissed, all his heads glowing with the white flames of Plague Fire, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.

“Then talk,” he said in his hissing tongue. “I thought you claimed you couldn’t attack.”

“It wasn’t an attack,” Laxy replied calmly, gesturing toward his rightmost head. “It was to place that before the entity inside of you could react.”

Bjorn shifted his focus, his leftmost head swiveling to examine the indicated area. To his surprise, a collar now encircled the neck of the head Failsafe resided in. The spellform near his core felt dormant, and Failsafe’s presence had been silenced, not destroyed, but suppressed.

“What is this?” Bjorn growled. “What did you do to Failsafe?”

“I call it a Foreign Arcane Body Inhibitor or FABI, for short,” Laxy explained. “The entity now designated as Failsafe has been suppressed to prevent it from overhearing our conversation or influencing your judgment. It’s unharmed. Damaging it could have unpredictable consequences.” She hesitated briefly, her expression softening. “It’s good to see you again, sir, even if your form has changed.”