Chapter 287 – 23

Mimic!

Chronosais sped up Harmony’s perception in the face of danger. This cheery girl would be more dangerous than the mountain-sized mimic she’d defeated in the Ascendant Games. This was the monster she let out— new form, new skills, actively revealing itself. The urge to smite it now struggled against the logical approach, but she forced herself back to normal speed before she finished inhaling.

“Muthu.” Harmony acknowledged, trying to buy time for a proper threat assessment. It was an effort not to already have her sickle in her hand. Be calm, methodical, and greet it as one would any old friend.

“Oh, don’t be that way. I know how vigilant those in your profession can get when trying to fix mistakes they feel responsible for. I picked this place because you can’t kill me here. Competitors and those connected to them are safe from harm.  The patrons here… they’re safe too, in a way. Those little green hosts and their costumes. But collateral damage would have consequences as they act out their little games, which will include playing dead. And call me Mimi now, I know it’s a bit on the nose for those who know, but it will make the reveal better for those who don’t.”

Implications of deeper structural knowledge of the Tournament of Future Worthy all sifted through that playful manner, as well as that the mimic had other victims waiting and that it was keeping an eye on her enough to know she’d be sent here. The protection from death aligned with what she’d learned about the tournament, but was faction town different?

“Why are you here?” Harmony asked.

“To share that drink. Physically, how I got here, I formed a few connections and picked one of the ones most likely to be selected for a faction. This tournament is outside your world's plane of existence, so it gets me closer access to the great beyond. All of my kind watch this; Muthu was inspired by one of the former competitors.” The mimic turned and waved to the upper right-hand corner of the bar. “Hi, mom, dad.” Then they turned back to Harmony. “Not that I really have a mother or father; it’s more of a constantly shifting mass we all lived in. But they’re watching— all of them; that’s what funds this project, to evaluate potential or find people that might be hired.”

Dumping knowledge to distract her was…. Moderately successful. The mimic had access to who she was during the tournament. Now Harmony had more precautions. Rather than trusting the drink waiting, Harmony waved to the bartender for a new one.

“None of that explains the interest in me, or the reveal.”

“Can’t a lonely shapeshifter be friendly with the one who freed them? One of the few who truly know what they are? I can tell you things like, you should probably change into more normal clothes before leaving the bar; that armor positively screams for attention.”

“Mimi…” Harmony started through clenched teeth.

“Fine. Fine. I don’t want you to give up early here, as you did in the Games.”

That hadn’t been what happened. It had been largely in part due to the mimic's information that she’d sacrificed her chance to win so as not to lose what mattered.  

“No, I’m mostly back here to tell you I might need your help for a mission in the future. One where a copy won’t do.” Mimi continued with a smile.

Harmony sipped her new drink. Might as well have been raspberry juice; how sweet and tangy it was, with only a hint of liquor in it. “All this for a sales pitch?”

“I can’t have you killing me on a whim.”

Mimi, like Muthu, was incredibly charismatic, to the point where one wouldn’t want to kill them on a whim. No, Harmony wanted to kill the mimic on purpose. One of the reasons to get stronger had been to tie up this loose end. Low on the list, but still there. Curiously, despite the different skills, gender, and body, that pair of blue pants was still bonded to the mimic. “No, I can’t have myself accidentally removing you.”

 Harmony struck. Extending her domain, combining [Cold Touch], [Mend], [Secure Seal], and [Final Silence] to lock the mimic in place as her hand arched, summoning her blood sickle boosted by [Bestow Intent] and edged with [Disintegrate], aiming to sever the creature's head in one blow.  It hit an invisible wall, Harmony’s muscle ripping from the impact, and the air swirled about the room as the blow failed. A small crack hovered in the air by Mimi’s neck like broken glass.

“Sorry, I was testing your information. You’re right. I can’t harm you here. They always say it is best to verify.”

“Understandable,” Mimi answered.

The question was— is that flicker of fear in the mimic’s eye real or fake?

“You suggested a change of clothes before I leave here. Why?”

“Other than your armor drawing attention, with a look some might feel attributed to certain factions. Local clothing and fitting in mattered in this scenario.”

Harmony looked back at the drunks in the bar.  After her display, many of them were actively looking away or drinking more heavily. The barkeeper had moved to the far end.

Fine. “Barkeep. Do you have a lost and found?”

“Y-yes, my lady. I-I’ll get that right out for you.”

“Anything else you can tell me?” Harmony asked.

“That’s all I can share for now. But when we meet again, I hope you find I’m worth a little bit of grace.”  The mimic answered.

Harmony let it leave despite not wanting to let it get away. A nice, calm vacation away from her troubles. That was all she had asked for.  The box of clothes dropped in front of her had [Beautician] gagging.

“Is there a place to change?” Harmony asked.

“Most customers piss in the alleyway,” the barkeep answered.

Harmony vaulted over the long bar to where the drinks were served with [Style and Grace]. It only gave some cover as she stored Night, the trinket for her armor she’d been given, completely consumed. There was no way she was going to change in a piss-filled alley.  The one man who did stare got a glare hard enough to force him to look away.

The materials were adjustable, and [Beautician] and [Mend] were able to fit the clothes to her better. [Dust] and [Disintegrate] had to be powered to remove some questionable stains on the items. The box they were in was oddly clean despite holding them. It wasn’t the stains or fit that had her skill flinching. Nothing could salvage the clashing color combination of the frilly purple top and bright orange trousers; the fibers were some kind of synthetic and wouldn’t change color with [Manipulate Dead].’

How was this better than Night?

Despite being described as a town, Harmony stepped out of the tavern to a city of tens of thousands. The bright colors of the crowd eased some of [Beautician]'s stress as she'd fit in somewhat. But it was contrary to most of the drab nature the bar had been. ,

[Keen Investigative Awareness] Picked the scene apart. It was ninety percent accurate to life, with enough feeling off that every interaction had an eerie sensation. It wasn’t too far removed from watching a play, but one the size of a city.  Everything was too clean, too neat; every outfit looked like it was freshly made, and the streets were washed perfectly. Even when her blow stirred up a breeze in the tavern, not a speck of dust was disturbed, like those bodies hadn’t had time to shed skin or hair, and the wood, while appearing aged, hadn’t degraded yet.

The mimic had called the people costumes, not even something as substantial as puppets. Yet they smelled and looked like living people. Clean, freshly made people, but living all the same.

Reaching out to [Familiar Bond], she tried to call Hyacinth to her.

Groak grrum. He grumbled back. The shadows were unacceptable for passing through. He’d have to hop over; the most indignant thing ever.

“Fine, lazy butt, I’ll go to you.”

Three blocks away, in the shadows of an alley, he waited, the size of a dog. The alley did have some garbage in it, but it was all too clean. Exactly the kind you’d set up for a stage scene.

“Grurp!”

“No spiders, rats, or cats anywhere? I’m sure you’ll survive the tournament. Come, I’ll carry you.”

Harmony picked him up after he shrunk down enough to stick in her cleavage once more.

Next, get Adric.  Harmony accessed the primal bond to call her pet. Before she’d gotten to The Academy, she’d been so hesitant to do this, but as a registered pet for training, it had been part of his schooling for the weeks he’d been there so far to call him over at least once a day. The man was speedy. A good thing because he easily got distracted and often had to make up for lingering over a new shiny object or girl.

Two minutes later he bounded in like a puppy for a hug. “Harm!”

He had local clothes already rather than the simple white outfits she and her staff had been provided at summoning. “Where did you get those?”

“Widow Anna’s late husband had a chest full.” He started.

“Don’t tell me you… These are not real people. Fine, I'm grateful. I ran into our old friend Muthu, and they suggested we blend in.”

“Anna said the same...” Adric’s hand went to his mouth as the name she mentioned clicked. “You didn’t make any deals, did you?”

Harmony huffed. “I don’t make deals, bonds, or connections with every person, power, or problem I run into. All competitors and those connected to them are immune to others' attacks while here. Our old friend proved to be a good test example.”

Doubt. Doubt. Doubt. Adric’s look flashed at her. Doubt. But he wisely didn’t say anything.

Irritated, Harmony marched out of the alley and back into the sea of people-costumes. “Come on, let’s find the others and figure out what exactly this little side quest entails.”