"One last thing." Kalla said. "Do you mind spreading yourself thin? Go as far as you can until the pain becomes unbearable."
"That’s a weirdly specific request, but I understand what you’re after." Loma did as bidden, allowing Kalla to collect ample data about how the energy link between the spore worked over increasing distance and the distortions it suffered once it exceeded its natural limits.
"With a bit of luck, I might be able to add an enchantment to briefly extend the connection between my physical body and phylactery." Kalla said. "It will probably be just as painful as it is for a Horde, but a bit of suffering beats being dead by a landslide."
"On that we agree." Loma sighed in relief when she finally allowed the Horde to revert to their original size. "Is there anything else you need?"
"Yes." The Wight nodded. "I need you to leave. I can’t start my research with you here, and I’ve already lost too much time because I had to help you find the fungus folk."
"Mom!" Nyka managed to blush despite her undead state. "That’s rude!"
"I mean, no, we’re done here. Thank you for your assistance, Loma. It should prove invaluable in my research." Kalla rushed to say.
"No, thank you, Lady Kalla." The orange Horde would have held a grudge if Lith hadn’t warned them thoroughly about the Wight’s ’quirky’ personality. "Soon there will be eight Hordes again.
"I hope we can count on your help in the future, when another fungus folk is born."
"Of course, it will be a priceless opportunity to put my ability to the test." Kalla nodded. "Also, with a bit of luck, that won’t happen for a long time."
"What do you mean, with a bit of luck?" Loma snarled, popping a spore. "Never mind. I’d better go. Goodbye, Lith. Goodbye, Solus."
He disappeared in a Warp Steps without saying goodbye to the Wight, but she didn’t even notice.
"Are they gone?" Kalla performed an in-depth scan of the adjacent rooms with the Eyes.
"Yes. I can’t feel Loma anymore." Solus nodded.
"I’m not talking about the Horde, but all the meddlers who don’t know about the you-know-what." Kalla replied.
"Jirni, Orion, Garrik, and Ryla are still in the Mansion, but they can’t hear us." Lith said.
"Then to the Lith-cave tower!" Kalla Warped everyone to the Mansion’s keep, finding it empty.
"Starforge." Solus corrected her. "And it’s still hidden underground. I couldn’t afford Loma stumbling into it while you performed your experiments."
A wave of her hand brought the tower to the surface, and another brought everyone to the Infirmary. Lith instructed Starforge to compare the readings they had just acquired from Loma with those of Silverwing and Baba Yaga.
"Nice thinking, Solus." Lith couldn’t have been prouder of her. "Scanning your old friends whenever they came to visit you."
"Thanks." Solus swallowed hard, feeling more than one gaze piercing her back.
’By my mom, Acala was right. For someone who treasures her secrets above all, I do have a penchant for poking and prodding into the secrets of others.’ She actually thought.



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