Chapter 767
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Chapter 767
Over the following weeks, Anton saw a shift in the Shadysands Burrow that he hadnt anticipated. Hed noticed there were more locations dug out around the area, but he thought they were abandoned. And in a sense, they were. With the meerkats not feeling comfortable enough to protect all of their own, theyd restricted their functional territory to only a small part of what they might normally control. Now they were beginning to spend more time in the further reaching areas, moving about as they pleased.
More disciples began coming to Anton, including the expected Sustained Chittering. Many of the others were members of the guard, led by the captain of the guard- one whose name equated to Deep Purr by Anton standards. It was difficult for Anton to explain the distinction between names and other words, but he was beginning to pick them out. He definitely couldnt call himself fluent, but he was also beginning to see the overlap with the wider language vaguely shared by the awakened individuals in the region. He wondered if that had developed, or if they knew it inherently. Perhaps he might actually be able to ask Three Squeaks that now, with his greater cognitive functions.
Do you know when and where your people learned to speak? Anton asked. And how you communicate with the others?
Three Squeaks shook his head. Everyone learns as a baby. I dont know where it came from. Probably not even Meep knows.
Why would Meep be different? Anton asked.
Hes almost eighty seasons old, I heard.
Ah. He doesnt particularly look old, but that might explain the slowness of his speech.
I think hes always been that way, Three Squeaks said. Maybe hes a bit slower now. Three Squeaks actually remembered the other conversation thread, returning to it. We speak to the others the same way they speak to us. We make sounds as much the same as possible, like you. Because thats how speech works, right?
In essence, yes, Anton admitted. But Ive mainly been exposed to people with the same physical capabilities for how they speak. The void ants didnt vocalize, and Paradise hardly made any attempts to communicate at all.
-----
Anton was working with Meep in the fields, which was to say Meep was trying to pick out which things were weeds and which were the plants they were trying to grow, with Antons guidance.
This?
Thats a weed. Unless you like how it tastes, I guess, Anton said.
Not like this. Meep pushed a clawed hand into the ground and tore out the plant by the roots. This is a weed Meep declared confidently about the next one. Then he lowered his nose to the ground. Roots grew over seed.
Thats right, Anton said. Which means you have to remove it delicately.
Can feel seed Meep said, pushing his claws into the ground and pulling away the weed and roots- but also most of the topsoil. Seed is safe.
Almost, Anton said. But now its not buried properly, is it?The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñøv€l-B1n.
Meep looked at it, looking for dirt that wasnt already being used for other rows of plants. Farming is difficult, he said.
Yeah it is. There are so many things you have to worry about, Anton said. Disease, pests Anton frowned. He was tracking a large cloud of something moving vaguely in their direction, and it was becoming ever more likely it would reach their particular location. Unfortunately, there is a swarm of locusts coming here. Anton could smash the entire swarm of billions of locusts, but that would throw off the ecosystem far too much. And protecting just their farm would provide unrealistic expectations for the future.
Locusts come here? Meep asked. Devour crops?
Yeah, sorry, Anton shook his head. It seems like they will.
I must go tell everyone Meep began plodding off. They will be so excited!
Oh. Right. The meerkats could just eat the locusts, couldnt they? They wont be here for a few days! Anton said. So dont rush too much!
... What sort of style is that? Chikere asked as they moved between systems once more.
What sort? Sly grinned. Why, the best one of course. The Hardened Crown Sect isnt just known for our stubbornness, you know?
... I feel like I know of that Sect.
I would hope so. Otherwise I would be ashamed to have come from them, if they didnt leave some impression on you. I have the feeling they did something big, or I wouldnt have been imprisoned.
Why are you alive? Chikere asked.
Wow. Thats a hard hitting question, Sly grinned. Id like to say pure force of will or something. But Im going to assume politics. I do still have a lot of buddies in the Hardened Crown Sect up here. Or I did. None of them came to visit me in the last century he shrugged. But Id say the same thing applies to Margriet.
Mostly, the woman said. Though I have more personal responsibility for the way things ended up than you do. You werent even around in the lower realms when things all began.
Nope. First I heard of it was when I was getting tossed in a cage. Im proud, though. We arent much good if we dont do what we want! The large man frowned, At least I assume we did what we wanted. What happened with the Hardened Crown Sect?
It took a few moments for Chikere to realize that she was the one being asked the question. The Hardened Crown Sect didnt really use swords so I dont remember. I think they refused to do anything.
Wait, we didnt even participate in the whole rebellion? Sly crossed his arms. Ridiculous. Why I oughta do nothing, I guess, because I cant really contact them.
Someone can, Chikere said. On Xankeshan.
It takes forever to send a short message though, Sly sighed. I just want to yell at them.
... Im pretty sure you can send a recording of you yelling at people, Chikere pursed her lips. Uzun was talking about general information transfer or something They did a lot of work on that.
Margriet raised an eyebrow. Wait, you can just send messages to the lower realms? Whenever you please?
I cant, Chikere said. I dont have any of my stuff.
I mean your alliance. Also, does that mean you had something?
Yes. Chikere furrowed her brow. I hope those security features exploded everything. Catarina and Uzun didnt want people to copy things. She looked where they came from. Specifically those people. And the two of you shouldnt tell people, I guess.
Catarina? Margriet asked. I think I met her once. Antons granddaughter?
She is the only Catarina I know, Chikere replied.
There are a lot of people with that name, Margriet answered.
Never heard of them, Chikere said. I used to care about some people. Now I just want to return to my friends and ask them what Im supposed to be if Im not a swordmaster.
Im pretty sure you can still be a swordmaster if you just get another sword, Sly said. I saw you wielding those blood swords of yours
You would think I could, Chikere agreed. But I dont think its actually that easy. Because I should want to do it and I dont.
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Chapter 767
Over the following weeks, Anton saw a shift in the Shadysands Burrow that he hadnt anticipated. Hed noticed there were more locations dug out around the area, but he thought they were abandoned. And in a sense, they were. With the meerkats not feeling comfortable enough to protect all of their own, theyd restricted their functional territory to only a small part of what they might normally control. Now they were beginning to spend more time in the further reaching areas, moving about as they pleased.
More disciples began coming to Anton, including the expected Sustained Chittering. Many of the others were members of the guard, led by the captain of the guard- one whose name equated to Deep Purr by Anton standards. It was difficult for Anton to explain the distinction between names and other words, but he was beginning to pick them out. He definitely couldnt call himself fluent, but he was also beginning to see the overlap with the wider language vaguely shared by the awakened individuals in the region. He wondered if that had developed, or if they knew it inherently. Perhaps he might actually be able to ask Three Squeaks that now, with his greater cognitive functions.
Do you know when and where your people learned to speak? Anton asked. And how you communicate with the others?
Three Squeaks shook his head. Everyone learns as a baby. I dont know where it came from. Probably not even Meep knows.
Why would Meep be different? Anton asked.
Hes almost eighty seasons old, I heard.
Ah. He doesnt particularly look old, but that might explain the slowness of his speech.
I think hes always been that way, Three Squeaks said. Maybe hes a bit slower now. Three Squeaks actually remembered the other conversation thread, returning to it. We speak to the others the same way they speak to us. We make sounds as much the same as possible, like you. Because thats how speech works, right?
In essence, yes, Anton admitted. But Ive mainly been exposed to people with the same physical capabilities for how they speak. The void ants didnt vocalize, and Paradise hardly made any attempts to communicate at all.
-----
Anton was working with Meep in the fields, which was to say Meep was trying to pick out which things were weeds and which were the plants they were trying to grow, with Antons guidance.
This?
Thats a weed. Unless you like how it tastes, I guess, Anton said.
Not like this. Meep pushed a clawed hand into the ground and tore out the plant by the roots. This is a weed Meep declared confidently about the next one. Then he lowered his nose to the ground. Roots grew over seed.
Thats right, Anton said. Which means you have to remove it delicately.
Can feel seed Meep said, pushing his claws into the ground and pulling away the weed and roots- but also most of the topsoil. Seed is safe.
Almost, Anton said. But now its not buried properly, is it?The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñøv€l-B1n.
Meep looked at it, looking for dirt that wasnt already being used for other rows of plants. Farming is difficult, he said.
Yeah it is. There are so many things you have to worry about, Anton said. Disease, pests Anton frowned. He was tracking a large cloud of something moving vaguely in their direction, and it was becoming ever more likely it would reach their particular location. Unfortunately, there is a swarm of locusts coming here. Anton could smash the entire swarm of billions of locusts, but that would throw off the ecosystem far too much. And protecting just their farm would provide unrealistic expectations for the future.
Locusts come here? Meep asked. Devour crops?
Yeah, sorry, Anton shook his head. It seems like they will.
I must go tell everyone Meep began plodding off. They will be so excited!
Oh. Right. The meerkats could just eat the locusts, couldnt they? They wont be here for a few days! Anton said. So dont rush too much!
... What sort of style is that? Chikere asked as they moved between systems once more.
What sort? Sly grinned. Why, the best one of course. The Hardened Crown Sect isnt just known for our stubbornness, you know?
... I feel like I know of that Sect.
I would hope so. Otherwise I would be ashamed to have come from them, if they didnt leave some impression on you. I have the feeling they did something big, or I wouldnt have been imprisoned.
Why are you alive? Chikere asked.
Wow. Thats a hard hitting question, Sly grinned. Id like to say pure force of will or something. But Im going to assume politics. I do still have a lot of buddies in the Hardened Crown Sect up here. Or I did. None of them came to visit me in the last century he shrugged. But Id say the same thing applies to Margriet.
Mostly, the woman said. Though I have more personal responsibility for the way things ended up than you do. You werent even around in the lower realms when things all began.
Nope. First I heard of it was when I was getting tossed in a cage. Im proud, though. We arent much good if we dont do what we want! The large man frowned, At least I assume we did what we wanted. What happened with the Hardened Crown Sect?
It took a few moments for Chikere to realize that she was the one being asked the question. The Hardened Crown Sect didnt really use swords so I dont remember. I think they refused to do anything.
Wait, we didnt even participate in the whole rebellion? Sly crossed his arms. Ridiculous. Why I oughta do nothing, I guess, because I cant really contact them.
Someone can, Chikere said. On Xankeshan.
It takes forever to send a short message though, Sly sighed. I just want to yell at them.
... Im pretty sure you can send a recording of you yelling at people, Chikere pursed her lips. Uzun was talking about general information transfer or something They did a lot of work on that.
Margriet raised an eyebrow. Wait, you can just send messages to the lower realms? Whenever you please?
I cant, Chikere said. I dont have any of my stuff.
I mean your alliance. Also, does that mean you had something?
Yes. Chikere furrowed her brow. I hope those security features exploded everything. Catarina and Uzun didnt want people to copy things. She looked where they came from. Specifically those people. And the two of you shouldnt tell people, I guess.
Catarina? Margriet asked. I think I met her once. Antons granddaughter?
She is the only Catarina I know, Chikere replied.
There are a lot of people with that name, Margriet answered.
Never heard of them, Chikere said. I used to care about some people. Now I just want to return to my friends and ask them what Im supposed to be if Im not a swordmaster.
Im pretty sure you can still be a swordmaster if you just get another sword, Sly said. I saw you wielding those blood swords of yours
You would think I could, Chikere agreed. But I dont think its actually that easy. Because I should want to do it and I dont.
Chapter 767Over the following weeks, Anton saw a shift in the Shadysands Burrow that he hadnt anticipated. Hed noticed there were more locations dug out around the area, but he thought they were abandoned. And in a sense, they were. With the meerkats not feeling comfortable enough to protect all of their own, theyd restricted their functional territory to only a small part of what they might normally control. Now they were beginning to spend more time in the further reaching areas, moving about as they pleased.More disciples began coming to Anton, including the expected Sustained Chittering. Many of the others were members of the guard, led by the captain of the guard- one whose name equated to Deep Purr by Anton standards. It was difficult for Anton to explain the distinction between names and other words, but he was beginning to pick them out. He definitely couldnt call himself fluent, but he was also beginning to see the overlap with the wider language vaguely shared by the awakened individuals in the region. He wondered if that had developed, or if they knew it inherently. Perhaps he might actually be able to ask Three Squeaks that now, with his greater cognitive functions.Do you know when and where your people learned to speak? Anton asked. And how you communicate with the others?Three Squeaks shook his head. Everyone learns as a baby. I dont know where it came from. Probably not even Meep knows.Why would Meep be different? Anton asked.Hes almost eighty seasons old, I heard.Ah. He doesnt particularly look old, but that might explain the slowness of his speech.I think hes always been that way, Three Squeaks said. Maybe hes a bit slower now. Three Squeaks actually remembered the other conversation thread, returning to it. We speak to the others the same way they speak to us. We make sounds as much the same as possible, like you. Because thats how speech works, right?In essence, yes, Anton admitted. But Ive mainly been exposed to people with the same physical capabilities for how they speak. The void ants didnt vocalize, and Paradise hardly made any attempts to communicate at all.-----Anton was working with Meep in the fields, which was to say Meep was trying to pick out which things were weeds and which were the plants they were trying to grow, with Antons guidance.This?Thats a weed. Unless you like how it tastes, I guess, Anton said.Not like this. Meep pushed a clawed hand into the ground and tore out the plant by the roots. This is a weed Meep declared confidently about the next one. Then he lowered his nose to the ground. Roots grew over seed.Thats right, Anton said. Which means you have to remove it delicately.Can feel seed Meep said, pushing his claws into the ground and pulling away the weed and roots- but also most of the topsoil. Seed is safe.Almost, Anton said. But now its not buried properly, is it?The debut release of this chapter happened at Nvl-B1n.Meep looked at it, looking for dirt that wasnt already being used for other rows of plants. Farming is difficult, he said.Yeah it is. There are so many things you have to worry about, Anton said. Disease, pests Anton frowned. He was tracking a large cloud of something moving vaguely in their direction, and it was becoming ever more likely it would reach their particular location. Unfortunately, there is a swarm of locusts coming here. Anton could smash the entire swarm of billions of locusts, but that would throw off the ecosystem far too much. And protecting just their farm would provide unrealistic expectations for the future.Locusts come here? Meep asked. Devour crops?Yeah, sorry, Anton shook his head. It seems like they will.I must go tell everyone Meep began plodding off. They will be so excited!Oh. Right. The meerkats could just eat the locusts, couldnt they? They wont be here for a few days! Anton said. So dont rush too much!... What sort of style is that? Chikere asked as they moved between systems once more.What sort? Sly grinned. Why, the best one of course. The Hardened Crown Sect isnt just known for our stubbornness, you know?... I feel like I know of that Sect.I would hope so. Otherwise I would be ashamed to have come from them, if they didnt leave some impression on you. I have the feeling they did something big, or I wouldnt have been imprisoned.Why are you alive? Chikere asked.Wow. Thats a hard hitting question, Sly grinned. Id like to say pure force of will or something. But Im going to assume politics. I do still have a lot of buddies in the Hardened Crown Sect up here. Or I did. None of them came to visit me in the last century he shrugged. But Id say the same thing applies to Margriet.Mostly, the woman said. Though I have more personal responsibility for the way things ended up than you do. You werent even around in the lower realms when things all began.Nope. First I heard of it was when I was getting tossed in a cage. Im proud, though. We arent much good if we dont do what we want! The large man frowned, At least I assume we did what we wanted. What happened with the Hardened Crown Sect? It took a few moments for Chikere to realize that she was the one being asked the question. The Hardened Crown Sect didnt really use swords so I dont remember. I think they refused to do anything.Wait, we didnt even participate in the whole rebellion? Sly crossed his arms. Ridiculous. Why I oughta do nothing, I guess, because I cant really contact them.Someone can, Chikere said. On Xankeshan.It takes forever to send a short message though, Sly sighed. I just want to yell at them.... Im pretty sure you can send a recording of you yelling at people, Chikere pursed her lips. Uzun was talking about general information transfer or something They did a lot of work on that.Margriet raised an eyebrow. Wait, you can just send messages to the lower realms? Whenever you please?I cant, Chikere said. I dont have any of my stuff.I mean your alliance. Also, does that mean you had something?Yes. Chikere furrowed her brow. I hope those security features exploded everything. Catarina and Uzun didnt want people to copy things. She looked where they came from. Specifically those people. And the two of you shouldnt tell people, I guess.Catarina? Margriet asked. I think I met her once. Antons granddaughter?She is the only Catarina I know, Chikere replied.There are a lot of people with that name, Margriet answered.Never heard of them, Chikere said. I used to care about some people. Now I just want to return to my friends and ask them what Im supposed to be if Im not a swordmaster.Im pretty sure you can still be a swordmaster if you just get another sword, Sly said. I saw you wielding those blood swords of yoursYou would think I could, Chikere agreed. But I dont think its actually that easy. Because I should want to do it and I dont.
