Chapter 21 The Auto-Translator

Evernya awakened groggily from the after-effects of the drugs. She laid still for several minutes as her mind rebooted. As her awareness returned, so did the memories of the previous events. As a panic attack built, she focused on the calming flow of mana within her body.

I cannot allow myself to panic. I need to be strong to be free, and panicking is not strong. Evernya recited in her head while watching her shining light blue mana race throughout her mana vein network. Soon her breathing returned to normal as her panic attack receded. As she calmed down, loud giggling interrupted her meditation.

She swiveled her ears toward the disturbance to listen in. “She’s so cute!” Squealed Elizabeth, holding a photo album.

“Yes, she is. I couldn’t resist taking a picture.” Meira agreed, sitting to the left of Elizabeth on a couch placed in the living room area to the right of Evernya’s bed.

A few pages later, Elizabeth let out a whistle. “The Adamind family won’t be happy to find one of their own beaten by a shifter in Psionics, even if the noble girl is from a branch family way down the succession line. How did you take a picture? The warding on the gym prevented any pictures or videos during the test.” Elizabeth inquired, pointing out a picture of Evernya’s and the noble girl’s magic class results displayed side-by-side.

Meira almost looked insulted as she stated, “You’ve known me for what, eighty years? Should bypassing such a weak ward really surprise you? I was so excited when she tested as a T3 Psion I just had to make a picture comparing her with a spoiled noble girl. I knew she was at least a T1 Psion, but I would never have thought a T3 Psion would pop up outside of a noble family. As for the Adamind family, they may cause a few issues, but I refuse to seal my kitten just because some nobles take offense to a talented young magical. The word likely spread to the Adamind family already anyway, so no point in dwelling on it.” Meira answered, waving off Elizabeth’s worries.

Still worried, Elizabeth suggested, “All the more reason to have her enroll at our college. We have several capable instructors in Psionics. Plus, it would give her an extra layer of protection since the University is independent of the Sespina Federation.”

“Now that Thomas signed off on it, I suppose you can ask her yourself. Though I’m sure she heard already, right Evernya?” Said Meira, using a gust of wind to blow Evernya’s covers away.

Evernya stiffened in surprise, caught red-handed in her eavesdropping. With no reason to hide, she sat up, resting her back against the headboard to join in on the conversation. “How did you know?” asked her curious kitten.

“You aren’t the only one with sensitive hearing. I knew the second you woke up from the change in your breathing pattern.” Meira replied, smiling at her kitten.

Evernya glared at the elf while questioning, “then how did I sneak up on you when you were watching the news?”

Meira shrugged off her kitten’s glare as she responded, “My guard was down since only people I allow in can enter my territory. Besides, just because I was talking to Elizabeth, that doesn’t mean I wasn’t keeping watch over you.”

“I wish I could turn my ears off like that,” Evernya commented. She turned her attention to the unknown person smiling at her next to Meira on the couch. “I’m going to assume you are Elizabeth?”

Suddenly overcame by nerves, Elizabeth rambled out an introduction. “My name is Dr. Elizabeth Chapman. I am an old college friend of Meira and your new personal physician. I am genuinely sorry about what my staff did to you. They will face severe punishment for their mistake personally handed out by me.”

Not quite ready to deal with her latest incident, Evernya changed the subject. “So, what is this about Psionics and college?”

Understanding her kitten’s intent, Meira explained, “Psions are rated by how many sub-abilities the person possesses. The ratings range from T1 to T3 with unproven rumors of higher ranks. The three known psionic abilities are telekinesis, telepathy, and teleportation. Of course, a T1 Psion will only have one of them while a T3 Psion has all three. T1 Psions are relatively common at around one out of every five hundred mages. However, T2 is exceptionally rare, usually only possible when both parents have a close Psion relative. Now, T3 Psions require both parents to be at least T2 Psions. Hence why most T2 and up Psions are nobles with psionic bloodlines. The fact that you are a T3 Psion means both your parents had to have been powerful Psions themselves.”

Flashing back to her previous incidents of magic, Evernya became giddy. “Sweet, so I can move things with my mind?”

Both Meira and Elizabeth smiled at Evernya’s childlike reaction as Meira answered, “Yes, the basics of telekinesis are moving things with your mind, but as you have witnessed, you can deliver concentrated applications of force similar to air sorcery. I originally thought you had air sorcery until I saw you lift items and move them without creating gusts of wind. Of course, you have two other untapped abilities, telepathy and teleportation, but I can’t provide knowledge on how they work.”

Meira suddenly became serious as she continued. “This brings me to your other question about college. To receive instruction on telepathy and teleportation, you will need to find an instructor specialized in them. There are limited options to find instruction for Psionics abilities, especially telepathy. The two primary methods are going to college with qualified Psion instructors or pledging yourself to a Psion family such as the Adaminds.”

At the mention of pledging herself, a growl grumbled in Evernya’s throat, narrowing the options to one, “As I thought, that leaves attending college to learn telepathy. While teleportation has useful information available to the public, telepathy does not. For obvious reasons, telepathy has several limitations imposed on it by the Sespina government to ensure a random telepath won’t go rogue and dig around in people’s minds.” Continued Meira.

“So, I need to go to college then?” Evernya asked while having flashbacks to her college days on Earth.

“Well, I wouldn’t say need, but I think it would help in more ways than one. When that racist bastard sabotaged your test, your wristband’s anti-tampering protection triggered voiding your results.” Meira replied, causing Evernya to panic.

Meira quickly continued, sensing an imminent meltdown. “Elizabeth here offered an opportunity to allow you to take another test privately on the condition you enroll at DIOM for one year. I don’t want to pressure you, but I think this is a wonderful offer.”

Evernya sucked in a deep breath while stroking her tail with trembling hands for several seconds before questioning, “So if I don’t want to become an heir incubator or a hermit, I have to take this deal?”

Meira sent a comforting warm breeze past her kitten as she replied, “Unfortunately, during your recovery, all public tests in Sespina completed. The next round of public tests will be in six-months, limiting your options to waiting or taking a private test, which always comes with a price. I doubt you will find a better deal than what DIOM offered, plus we can perform it quickly since we’re already on campus.”

“What will they expect of me if I take this offer?” Evernya inquired with a guarded demeanor.

Elizabeth responded, joining the conversation. “I don’t know since I am in charge of the medical department of DIOM, but I doubt it will be anything serious. Just having a T3 Psion enrolled may be enough.”

If there’s anything I remember from my time as a human is we loved sneaking in conditions with fine print.

“Can I see the deal in writing before I decide?” Inquired Evernya.

“Yes, we will write a contract up stating all terms. If you are willing, we can have everything prepared within a couple of days since this is time-sensitive.” Elizabeth responded.

Evernya was about to answer when she spotted the closed photo album in Elizabeth’s lap. A curious expression formed as she read the title. Meira immediately stored the photo album, only making herself appear guiltier.

“Why do you have a book titled ‘My Kittens Journey’?” Evernya asked, staring directly into Meira’s eyes. Her question caused both women to stare at her slack-jawed, causing Evernya to fidget from the awkward silence.

A minute later, Meira’s gaze abruptly drilled into her kitten as she questioned in a serious tone, “How do you know Elvish? You said you didn’t know elves existed.”

“Elvish? The title was in English.” Replied Evernya with a tilt of her head while grasping her tail with both her hands.

Evernya’s genuinely confused response threw Meira into mutual confusion. “English? I’ve never heard of English. Is it a variation of Elvish? I thought I knew every Elven dialect.”

“As far as I know, English is nothing like Elvish. Are you sure the title was in Elvish?” Questioned Evernya.

Instead of answering, Meira materialized several books, placing them on the bed to the right of Evernya. “Please read the titles of these books for me.” Meira requested, while watching with keen interest.

“Advanced wood Enchantments, Intro to Spatial Enchanting, The Art of Enchanting Metal.” Recited Evernya before Meira stopped her.

“Elvish, Sesian, and Western Dwarven.” Muttered Meira, glancing back at an equally shocked Elizabeth.

“Omnilingualism?” Elizabeth guessed with a perplexed expression.

Meira nodded in agreement while staring at her kitten with a critical eye. “I think so, but I’ve never heard of a shifter with it. Outside of spells, a select few bloodlines have it, but the scan didn’t pick up an active bloodline.”

Unable to contain her curious nature, Evernya interrupted, “What is Omnilingualism?”

Meira paused for a moment before explaining, “Omnilingualism is an ability allowing a person to translate sentient languages to a familiar language automatically. We think you have it but with a quirk since all known forms of the ability allow the user to differentiate between languages.”

With a bewildered expression, Evernya inquired, “So, I can understand any language? What language are we speaking right now?”

Meira stored away the books before replying, “Sesian, the official language of the Sespina Federation, and the language of most humans in the Federation. Despite the name having the ability doesn’t mean you can translate every language in existence. Yours, for example, seems to translate at least several common languages. We will have to test your limits when we return to my territory.”

Evernya fell deep in thought, ignoring her audience of two staring at her as if they are trying to solve a puzzle with several missing pieces. I would love to understand every language on earth too bad I’m not on earth any more. I guess it explains why I can understand everyone. It wouldn’t make sense for this world to have the same languages as Earth. Nice to know I won’t have to worry about learning new languages since I was always bad at that back on Earth. Though I’m not the same person anymore, maybe that would have changed. My mind definitely feels sharper, but the sudden emotional swings suck. Sometimes I feel stable and in control like now, while at other times, my emotions and magic seem to lash out on their own. Fortunately, I’m getting better at keeping myself from tipping over the edge. One step at a time. Eventually, I’ll have everything figured out, I hope.

Five minutes of silence later, Evernya began to have trouble keeping her eyes open. She slumped against the headrest, unable to keep a straight posture.

Elizabeth caught her patient’s exhausted state, prompting her to announce, “I better return to my duties. I’ll let Thomas know to write the contract for Evernya to read over.”

Evernya distantly heard the door open and close as Elizabeth exited the room. She sluggishly laid down, cocooning herself in the sheets. She immersed herself in the sensation of the silky-smooth sheets rubbing against her skin as she drifted off to sleep, allowing her stressed body to rest.