Irwin's Journey 424: Morphing and changing

Irwin brought his hammer down on the final card, and a few moments later, the yellow border flickered and turned before settling into a verdant green.

"And that's six," Ambraz grunted. "Not bad for cards you have no types in."

Irwin sighed as he took the new card and examined the image. It showed a web of veins, possibly inside a hand, though the outlinings were hard to make out.

"It's pretty good," Ambraz said, his voice absent. "Should give her the ability to manipulate blood in anything she puts her hand on."

Irwin looked at his friend. Ambraz had helped where he'd needed, just like always with the reforging, but he was clearly not completely here.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly.

"No." 

Irwin focused fully on Ambraz, standing in the center of the smithing area. Everything about him suddenly looked lost and saddened.

"Mor'vin is gone, and the way he died…" Ambraz said, his dull voice trailing off. 

Irwin walked forward a few steps, stopping beside his friend and putting his hand on the smooth, dark surface of the Ganvil.

"There isn't anything left of him. He didn't even ever get to share his final soulforce," Ambraz said. "And the ones who did it are already dead. I can't even make them pay."

Irwin didn't mention that they had already paid with their lives. Instead, he waited.

"I tried feeding him my purified soulforce," Ambraz said, his voice soft and absent. "It's a last resort. Something we usually don't have enough of to try. It would work if there were only a tiny bit left, but… that attack just ate away at what he was. He screamed… and I couldn't do anything to help him, and just felt how he… shattered."

Irwin shivered as he felt the resonance of Ambraz's soulforce turn sharp and dangerous.

"Ganvils don't die like that," Ambraz said. "We either slowly fade or explode in a smithing mistake. None of this… being torn apart."

"If that had hit you-" Irwin began.

"If that had hit me, you are going to have to bond another Ganvil," Ambraz said with a finality that made Irwin shudder. 

"If you rank up again," he said. "Could you select something to make yourself stronger?"

Ambraz's soulforce rippled, and Irwin felt a sense of sudden absence as Ambraz began doing something.

It lasted for a minute, then another, and finally, he felt Ambraz's focus return.

"I've never looked at those options before," Ambraz said thoughtfully, some of the sharpness fading. "But you are right. There are options… I will have to dive into them and discuss them with the others. I'd have called it a waste even just yesterday, but now…"

Irwin thudded his hand on Ambraz's back. "Make sure I don't have to find another Ganvil, alright?"

"Of course I will. Besides, you'd never find one as great as me," Ambraz snapped while the lingering anger and sadness faded into the background. He flashed into his small self and landed on Irwin's shoulder.

"And Kid? Thanks…”

Irwin smiled, then turned to the two healers. 

Jolnir was sitting in a corner of his smithy inside a pale, translucent bubble of soulforce that Irwin had placed around him. It had blocked the screams of the healer as he combined his second hand. Now, the young man was sweating profusely, face pale, and clearly recovering from the pain he'd gone through. Still, the wide grin showed he'd been successful, something Irwin agreed with. A new sense of unity came from the cards in Jolnir's right hand.

The young male healer had asked to go first, thus getting the first three cards to make his second full hand. As he did that, Irwin had reforged the three for his sister, Sira. The other healer stood nearby her, two newly socketed cards forgotten as she watched her brother with worried eyes, almost as pale as he was.

"Sira?" asked softly.

The young woman jolted, then spun to him.

"Smith Irwin! I'm sorry, did you say something?" she asked, swallowing.

Irwin walked towards her.

"No need to be sorry," he said, handing her the third card. "Jolnir is fine. I can sense his second full hand is already stabilizing."

Sira nodded, staring at the third card with a clear sense of unease.

"Why don't you chat with your brother for a moment? I'll start on his heartcard after," Irwin said, almost pushing the card in her hands.

The young woman nodded, clutched the card to her chest, muttered a thanks, and ran to her brother.

Irwin watched the two start to talk softly, Jolnir clearly trying to make his sister feel better. 

"I wonder if there's a way to make creating a full hand easier," Irwin muttered.

"Bah, it's good for them," Ambraz replied, landing on his shoulder. "It builds character. Besides, should I remind you what it feels like to reforge a card in your own hand? Who knows if they might need that in the future? This is good practice."

Irwin didn't bother responding. Instead, he waited for close to ten minutes as he watched the two talk. Halfway through, Sira slotted her new cards, clearly hesitant.

Eventually, Irwin lost his patience and calmly walked forward.

Jolnir scrambled up while his sister paled.

"Sira, you can do this," the young man said, grasping his sister's hands. "Like the first time, remember? Focus, keep going, and think of our goal!"

Sira paled even more, but Irwin saw a steely resolve grow in her eyes. She nodded before looking at him.

"I'm ready," she whispered.

Irwin put a hand on the shoulder of the young woman, looking at her.

"You will be fine," he said. "And when you are ready, your brother will have his heartcard!"

Sira clearly forced a smile on her face. "And then mine."

"Exactly," Irwin said, grinning. "Tomorrow, the two of you will be among the heartcarded healers we have."

He waited for another moment before putting a bubble around her. Inside, Sira sat down, staring at her hands. She clearly hesitated for a few moments before taking a deep breath and beginning. Irwin could feel the soulforce in her slotted cards start to swirl. The young healer's back straightened, her eyes shot wide, and sweat beaded on her face.

Irwin turned to Jolnir, who was watching his sister with barely concealed worry.

"She will be fine," Irwin said. "My otherself is watching her, and if something goes wrong, I will stabilize her cards."

"Yes, Smith Irwin," Jolnir said halfheartedly.

"Now, let's go and make your heartcard," Irwin said.

Jolnir visibly forced his attention away from his sister, turning to Irwin. There was a gleam in his eyes.

"I… Smith Irwin, can I ask a question?"

"Of course," Irwin said as he gently guided the young man away from his sister and toward the smithing area. 

"A friend of mine is in the Volcano Academy, and he told me a few things he was taught," Jolnir said. "I thought he said that after someone gets their second fullhand, it would take a while before they could get a heartcard? Something about their cards stabilizing… How come you can create mine already?"

"Your friend's not wrong," Ambraz said before Irwin could answer the question. "But Irwin isn't just any smith! He's got more experience and control than all the other smiths on this side of the Portal Gallery. Besides, he's got me!"

Jolnir gawked at Ambraz. "Can others with Ganvils learn how to do this eventually?" he asked, eyes wide.

"There are a handful of cardsmiths who could," Ambraz said. "But they will likely need to bond with a Ganvil. Is your friend bonded?"

Jolnir's face fell, and he shook his head. "No, Ganvil Ambraz. She told me that there weren't that many, and most had already… bonded?"

"Well, next time you see her, tell her there will be more chances in the near future," Ambraz said, his voice suddenly laden with something else. 

Irwin's eyes widened in surprise. Had Ambraz somehow gathered enough purified soulforce again? He couldn't sense anything different, but he'd never been able to sense the purified soulforce unless it was highly concentrated.

"Are some of the girl Ganvils pregnant?" Jolnir asked, sounding confused and curious.

Irwin barked a laugh while he felt a wave of embarrassment from Ambraz.

"What? NO!" the Ganvil shouted. "That's not how- We don't- ARGH!"

Jolnir looked confused and slightly taken aback, and Irwin decided he had been distracted enough.

"Alright, let's discuss something," he said, causing Jolnir to focus on him. "You have six cards, two of which are emerald. That means one of those will become the base of your heartcard. Now, is there anything in your original three cards that you really want to keep?"

Jolnir nodded quickly, showing no confusion about what Irwin was implying.

"Yes! My second card and my sister's third are both the same type," he said. "They give us control over our own blood and allow us to change it so it matches that of someone else. It's how we can heal people."

"Oh?" Irwin asked, surprised and curious. "So you what? Inject people with your blood?"

"Pretty much," Jolnir agreed. "The other cards give me the ability to regenerate blood faster, though I need to drink a lot to compensate."

"Now, where have I heard that before?" Ambraz said, his lips curved in a smile.

"Alright, and you would like to keep those two abilities?" Irwin asked.

"Yes, if that's possible? Hermina told me I can keep four abilities, active or passive?"

Irwin examined the young healer, surprised at how knowledgeable he was. Back on Giard, people had known nothing about heartcards, and it was good to see just how much things had changed. He knew that Daubutim's massive overhaul of what was taught to the youths had helped, but it was clear that some, like Jolnir, knew even more than that.

"That's right, though it's not as simple either," he said. "Some of the abilities on your card can be merged together into a stronger version. For instance, your own regeneration is very high because three of your cards have a passive for it. I'll be combining those into a much stronger version, so you will not lose any. Instead, you will find you will heal even faster than before."

Jolnir's eyes began glittering at that.

"There's something else we could do," Ambraz said, drawing Irwin's attention. "The kid's cards deal with blood, control, and healing… what if we add some of your sweltering mist's ability?"

Irwin cocked his head, trying to understand what Ambraz meant. Was he thinking of creating a steam cloud of blood? Before he could ask, Ambraz continued talking, showing that was exactly what he was thinking.

"If we add some of your soulforce, specifically the type that deals with mist, we can make it so he can create a fine cloud of blood. That way, he could draw blood from himself, spread it in a mist, and use it to heal one or more people."

"Would I be able to manipulate other people's blood like that?" Jolnir asked, his eyes now gleaming with curiosity.

"Yes, but only those much weaker than you," Ambraz said. "Your card would use soulforce to do this, and if someone's soulforce is stronger than yours, they can resist it."

Irwin nodded, tapping his chin as a thought came to him. If they were going to incorporate a bit of his soulforce, that meant he could reforge the heartcard into something stronger than the sum of Jolnir's cards. He'd planned to stay at Emerald, but that would mean Jolnir would not be able to force-heal or manipulate anyone at the same rank. Perhaps not even a powerful Topaz carded.

"How do you feel about having a ruby-rank heartcard?" he asked, looking at Jolnir. "It would mean you would need far more soulforce to fill your soullake, but you would be much stronger. I can help with filling it out a few times, but eventually, it means it would be something you would have to do yourself."

"Doesn't that mean that it will take just as long for a second soulcard?" Jolnir asked, hesitating.

"Yes," Irwin said. "Although your potential is higher, it also means it will take you longer to reach it."

Jolnir's gaze drifted to his sister, who was shaking and shivering, red-faced, while sweat was matting her hair, dripping down her chin.

"Will Sira get a Ruby heartcard, too?" he asked slowly.

Irwin thought for a moment, then shrugged.

"It depends on her. Her cards are similar to yours, so I can offer her the same."

Jolnir waited, then sighed sadly. "It would mean the two of us would need so many bloodcards, and if there are two of us. No… although it's really-"

"Kid, before you say no, think of one thing," Ambraz said, butting in. "Although right now, you would need cards to fill your lake, I think in the future, things might be different. Irwin has found two ways to fill a soullake without cards, and as more smiths and musicians learn those ways, I think there will be a time when you don't need cards for that. A time when it would be a waste. You might regret this choice."

Jolnir looked at Ambraz, eyes filled with curiosity.

"I… heard stories about chaos whales," he said slowly. "Something about Smith Irwin smithing with them, and somehow people's soullakes were fuller after that."

"Exactly, that's one way," Ambraz said. 

"Will you be doing that again?" Jolnir asked Irwin excitedly.

Irwin didn't respond immediately as he pondered the upcoming few months. He'd planned to do so many things, but now? Until they figured out how to get scouts and other warning systems ready so they wouldn't be surprised by another army, he was going to stay in Eluathar Harbor. That meant he had the Chaos Whales nearby…

I need to get cards ready for the strongest of us, he thought as his mind drifted off. Then, they will need their soullakes filled. I can also teach the other music smiths how to do this. Endil can probably do this…

The idea of being away from his family, even if they were close by, faded as he realized Scintilla and the children would likely follow him here. 

"Yes," he said slowly, focusing on Jolnir. "I will. Ambraz is right. In the future, this will happen even more…"

As he said that, another idea came to him. What would happen if he moved one of the younger Chaos Whales into his soulscape? He could trigger his new handcard, grow into his largest size, pull them in, and craft some cards… 

He blinked, wondering how he'd not thought of that before. He couldn't stay that big for a long time, but even in his normal size, he could hold one of the smaller Chaos Whales inside long enough to reforge a card! 

"What are you thinking about now?" Ambraz asked wearily. "Why do I have the feeling you are about to do something impossible again…"

Irwin didn't answer, barely even hearing him as he focused on his split body that still lay in the room. He didn't even really notice the headache as he focused on it, letting some of his self inside.

He rose and looked around, seeing Greldo sitting to the side, leaning against Coal. His friend's eye cracked open, an eyebrow-raising up.

"Okay… you look like you are either happy or going to do something dangerous."

"Both," Irwin said while the other part of him began talking to Jolnir, explaining that he needed to wait for a little bit.

He looked around, but there was no sight of Zeek and Daubutim.

"They went with Doomblade to examine the Galubs," Greldo said as he got up. "You ready with those two kids?"

Irwin shook his head as he walked to his friend. "No. Is Basil still guarding those prisoners?"

"Nah. He's talking with Scarinder. Apparently, one of the other adult Chaos Whales panicked during the battle. She fled, and he is trying to stop Scarinder from following her."

Irwin grimaced at that. Should he try his plan another time?

No. We need these two to have heartcards that will heal all these people, he told himself, focusing on his friend.

"Can you bring me to Basil? I need to ask him something."

Greldo reached out without answering, and the world turned shadowy, then dark. A moment later, they weren't in the room anymore but hovered at the edge of one of the docks while Scarinander hovered nearby. Basil stood on Scariander's fin, looking troubled.

"Basil," Irwin said as he walked forward.

The golden warrior looked up in surprise, then slight relief.

"Irwin! Are you alright? Are those healers ready to-"

"No, no," Irwin said. "I need a little help with that."

Basil's mouth dropped open. "What?"

Irwin examined Scariander, momentarily wondering if he could try with the powerful Chaos Whale. Then, he pushed the idea aside. 

"I want to bring one of the young Chaos Whales into my soulscape while I reforge those cards. Can you ask Scariander to help me find one and explain what I want?"

Basil's mouth fell, his eyes widening. 

"I… sure, but Scariander is a bit preoccupied," he said after a moment.

Greldo stepped forward. "Tell him Coal's shadowclones are already spreading out to find… her, I think it was?"

"That's great," Basil said, relief evident. "Yes, it's a her."

His eyes were unfocused, and Irwin saw Scariander's enormous eyes focus on him. Although he wasn't sure, he thought he detected a hint of curiosity from the Chaos Whale.

The conversation lasted longer than Irwin expected, and when Basil's eyes refocused, they were somewhat… confused.

"Ah… Irwin?" 

"Yes?"

"Scariander wants to know if you can bring the baby Chaos Whales onto Eluathar by taking them into your soulscape and through the Exit Portal Corridor."

Irwin looked at Basil, then at Scarinder, slightly stunned. Why would the Chaos Whales want to go there?

"I… think so," he said. "But why?"

Basil frowned, his eyes unfocused again. This time, it took only a few moments, and when he seemed done conversing with Scariander, he actually turned to look at the Chaos Whale in disbelief.

"Basil?"

"I… Scariander says that if they can get there in time, they will be able to morph and… well, this is a bit hard to explain," he rubbed his head. "Apparently, when a young Chaos Whale manages to go to a world, the ambient soulforce will change them to match that world, and they can live there. From what I understand, some move into the oceans, others live in volcanic regions, and another group lives deep under the ground near a planet's core… whatever that is."

Like Earth Titans! 

Irwin felt memories resurface of his time on Scour and from what his own children had told him about the enormous beings that lived below the surface of Igniz.

"They turn into Earth Titans and similar things," he said.

"Damn…" Greldo said, his eyebrows almost up to his hairline.

"I don't know what those are," Basil said. "But the images Scariander gave showed Chaos Whales that looked way different from what they do here. Some were even more like enormous fish; others looked… like salamanders. Anyway-"

A deep hum from Scariander interrupted him as the entire dock seemed to vibrate from the sound.

"Ah… he says that if you can bring the babies there, that they will be safe, and it will be incredibly beneficial for the world," Basil said, his eyes slightly unfocused. Then they snapped open, and he turned to Irwin. "Scariander says that if they are on a world, that world will almost certainly remain stable no matter what happens."

"You mean it can't shatter like Giard?" Irwin exclaimed.

Basil shrugged. "That's what Scariander seems to think."

Irwin turned to Greldo. "Can you get Daubutim? It's best we discuss this with him before we just do this."

Greldo vanished and, ten seconds later, reappeared with a slightly startled-looking Daubutim.

"What… Greldo. A warning would be nice?"

Greldo just grinned.

"Daubutim," Irwin said, drawing his friend's attention.

He quickly filled him in, and as he spoke, Daubutim's red, lightning-filled eyes rapidly began swirling. When he finished, Daubutim was already nodding.

"I have read about Earth Titans and other similar beings in the books you brought me," he said. "They are in nearly all cases beneficial, though I have no information on them stabilizing worlds. That said, I don't remember reading anything about worlds with similar beings that shattered."

Irwin whistled as he glanced at Basil. "Can you ask Scariander what would happen if a world is close to shattering and we brought a Chaos Whale there?"

Basil turned to Scariander, lost in conversation. After a minute, he turned pale as a sheet, quickly shaking his head as if to clear it from some nasty thoughts.

"No, no. If the world is already unstable, that is a very bad idea," he said rapidly. "The Chaos Whales need a stable ambient soulforce to change. If the world's ambient soulforce is unstable, the Chaos Whales… well, the images I just saw were really bad. The Chaos Whales turn into nightmarish titanic monsters, aggressive and hungry."

Irwin grimaced, but Daubutim merely nodded.

"That makes sense," he said before turning to Irwin. "If you can, and nobody else sees a reason not to, I'm fine with you bringing them there. I would bring them to the ocean beyond Treanba. It's enormous, and perhaps they can do something about the other things already in there."

"Alright," Irwin said, turning to Basil.

"Ask Scariander if there's anything else I should know."

Basil turned back to the Chaos Whale and had another lengthy conversation. When he finished, he looked thoughtful.

"Well, apparently, when they are small, they require a pod with atleast one adult. Scariander wants to know if you can bring Seglassinder there."

"Seglassinder?"

"The other adult," Basil said, waving at where the pod of Chaos Whales was moving around. 

It now consisted of over a dozen younger people, including the babies Irwin had brought. They were huddled together beside a Chaos Whale that was much larger. It was hard to say without seeing them side by side, but Irwin had the idea this one was about half the size of Scariander.

"... I…" Irwin muttered, opening his mouth and closing it again.

"Kid, there's no way you are moving that one for that long," Ambraz said. "You will have to say what happens after you get your next soulcard."

Irwin looked at Basil and sighed. "He's right. I couldn't bring her even a third of the way."

Basil sighed and focused back on Scariander. As he communicated with the massive Chaos Whale, Irwin wondered if Scariander would allow him to bring in one of the tiny babies. If he didn't, he'd have to try to convince the enormous Chaos Whale. He instinctively knew just how much of a benefit it would be, and that was without even thinking about another option.

"Scariander asks that as soon as you can, you bring Seglassinder to Eluathar, followed by the young ones. He will remain here and help us defend the portal, though…"

Basil frowned, then sighed.

"What?"

"He asked if it wouldn't be safer just to close it and block it from the inside. From what I gathered, that was what they do to protect themselves from the Oculithar and… other things."

"Other things? What else is strong enough to hunt them?" Greldo asked.

"Not sure. I just got some faint images and feelings," Basil said.

"Tell him I will," Irwin said. "Can you ask if I can bring one of the young ones now?"

A few moments later, Basil grinned.

"He's going to call one over, but he said that one was a bit… unruly. If he acts up, you should apparently sing really loudly at him."

Irwin wasn't sure if that was a joke or not, but he decided it didn't matter. Scariander began humming very loudly, and a few moments later, a young Chaos Whale, about three times as long as the babies, came flying toward them. It clearly seemed excited, moving erratically, its eyes going all over the place.

As soon as it reached them, it began rubbing against Scariander, humming softly. 

Scariander's reply left the entire dock vibrating again, and the young Chaos Whale moved towards them.

"Scariander says that Rachias is ready. Also, apparently, this one only just got his name, something that has something to do with reaching their own song, though it's hard to translate exactly," Basil said.

Irwin nodded and walked to the edge of the dock. As he stretched out his senses, he felt the powerful soulforce radiating from the tiny Chaos Whale. It was far more powerful than the babies had been, but not as much as all of them together. 

"I'll be mostly absent until I'm ready," he said, turning to Greldo. "Can you bring me to our house here?"

Greldo nodded, and Irwin pulled the Chaos Whale into his soulforce, moving Rachias high above his soullake. Then he moved most of this part of him into his soulscape, leaving it to Greldo to get the other one back safely.

As he appeared, he saw his giantself hovering beside the Chaos Whale, which was flying around him, singing happily and curiously.

"Now, let's see if we can make something powerful," he muttered with a grin.