Wielder of Names 5-99
Chapter: 5
“Here is my sword,” said Intra. “Your semiotics cannot contain it. Its blade is made of gloaming steel, look how it whispers!”
“But Lord Intra,” said the assembled, “You have no sword!”
“So it is,” said Intra.
-Psalms
Slept in a barrel, huh? So did Meti also masturbate in public, shit in theaters, and tell the demiurges to get the fuck out of her sunlight?
So glad to see Mathangi again, btw.
Yes, yes, and from what I know, yes.
It would add to the habitual drunkedness, especially after Meti having quit the path of Sword.
In truth, Sword is a noble path to follow. For it leads to the paths of Protection and Destruction. One leads to a warm meal, the other to burning flesh. To which I am keen to both inhale with vigour.
What utter nonsense. The most beautiful thing in the world is probably to be a builder of fine machineworks or some such. The cutting school is a fantastically poor thing to be a part of, and that is that.
Diogenes from another universe, it would seem.
It is said Meti once stormed the Concordance holding in her hands a particularly confused featherless rooster, and proclaimed to all who could hear: “Behold, The Successor!”
The Seven would have murdered her on the spot, if they were not completely stunned at that time.
Wait, I thought Meti was her mentor? Is the name Meti passed down from master to disciple?
The usage of numbers in her name gives me inclinations towards this idea, and if so, it would be a very human way of mimicking the angelic cycle of rebirths. Only the student capable of becoming Meti becomes a master! If this is the case, I am fond of such ways of teaching.
I would assume the ‘Ten’ of ‘Mathangi Ten Meti’ (assuming that actually represents the number and is not an angelic syllable), would bear your hypothesis true and paint her the tenth incarnation of the name.
Not Mathangi 10 Meti, probably – Mathangi ten Meti: Mathangi daughter/pupil/sword of Meti.
I think her name means ‘student of’ Meti.
What drunkard devil told you there were numbers in her name? Ten is a single-syllable word, not necessarily in English. In Japanese, it carries some divine implications, and isn’t used to indicate a quantity. In other languages, it could be used in other contexts.
I would not be so quick to assume those are numbers. It may simply be a particle of whatever language the Middle Army spoke, similar to the “No” serving a function like “Of” in Japanese. Keeping that in mind perhaps it is simply a case of the student taking the name of their master as a surname. Perhaps if she were to take a student, they would have the surname “ten Mathangi”.
I think the “Ten” isn’t supposed to read as 10, seeing how angelic names have the actual number in front of them, not the word. Rather, it denominates a connection between MTGATTT and Meti. Meti called herself: “I am Meti, of no house but myself.” in the sword manual. So if we assume that Mathangi is the student’s name then “Ten Meti” might mean student of Meti or of the house of Meti.
You should remember that Aesma has been referred as “Aesma Ten Yondam” in the past…
Angelic fire. So obsessed with numbers.
Humanity, much like Servants, is tied to places, things, and times, and its ingenuity for unique names is tragically limited. Thus, to distinguish Kor who descends from Arjad and Kor who hails from Ossuary Port, we become Kor ten Arjad and Kor ya Bonesail.
Kor dies. Arjad and Bonesail remain. One learns the sons of Arjad are feared for their tempers, and the daughters of Bonesail are swift with a spear. The name becomes more than the human carrying it.
Among our number, friend angel, ‘ten Meti’ carries more weight than the name of Zoss. There are recorded instances of Zoss forgiving.
This one makes sense. Though it ruffles my feathers to learn there are ten less humans than I had thought who pay homage to the angelic ways. Alas, such is the nature of the black, mortal flame to require names for memories past their time. My apologies for not considering such.
I think the “Ten Meti” suffix implies she was Meti’s student.
I don’t think the ‘ten’ thing is a number. Looks more like it’s supposed to mean ‘student of’.
We know Mathangi “Maya” ten Meti is the student of Meti ten Ryo, student of Ryo ten Ryam. Meti alternately introduces herself as “Meti ten Meti, of no house but myself”. Should clear things up.
But the sword is an ugly piece of metal…
Fear not. Her hand is in the mudra of The Discourse. Nothing that is not Extremely Good will happen in the immediate future.
Intra had more affection for them than Meti.
…and its adherents idiots. Then again, Ms. Murder the Gods and Topple Their Thrones is habitually drunk. Make of that what you will.
HOLY SHIT KICK ASS FIGHT SCENE INCOMING
It is indeed good to see this one.
Should the Angels not arrive shortly?
A noodle-vendor? Ha! Mathangi Ten Meti could never be a noodle-vendor. What lies she tells.
She eats too much of her own wares to ever sell them. I know this because when I tried to buy a bowl, she stuck this sword in my neck. For my pains, I got stuck with a charge each of thieving, escaping arrest, resisting arrest, contempt in petty court, and littering.
An Angel, charged with breaking laws in court?? Mathangi must be fearsome indeed.
This ability of hers to make pursuers pause while she introduces herself – did she learn it studying the sword, or studying noodles? Is there even a difference for the likes of her?
It seems she is able to cut space-time in order to set a portion of it aside wherein only she can truly move within it. Hence, her knowledge in the principle art of cutting is not entirely of the sword, but of “cutting” itself.
They understand that they stand before a meeting of Royalty, and therefore keep a cautious distance. This is a sensible decision.
There are many things that it is wise for a guard to know, and one if these is that when some grinning goofball with a sword show up out of nowhere and appears utterly unafraid of a whole squad of men with guns, you should be VERY CAREFUL around that person.
Or a grinning goofball without a sword that has appeared out of nowhere for that matter.
More likely, a world-rule: As the old Marvel rules had it, “there is always time for a dialogue between frames”.
It is either a start of a beautiful mentorship, or a very short encounter leading to misery.
In any way, I am glad to see that old drunk.
I can taste the incoming kungfu
It tastes like…noodles.
Oh shit, it’s the unspeakably terrifying and cynical protege of some other world’s Warrior Diogenes!
The job of noodle-vendor is simple though subtle enough to be artistically rewarding if done correctly, sufficiently lucrative in most urban centers, and is completed at a given hour each day or night. It does not require complex tools, installations, or ingredients. The noodle-vendors are brought into contact by their trade to persons across many social and economic boundaries but the transaction is brief so that unpleasant customers are gone quickly where pleasant encounters can be lengthened; relationships can be established with good customers that last many years. People become hungry often and so are nearly always glad to see noodle-vendors.
By the way, this knight is the one who appeared in the prophesy, the one who I suggested would become a mentor to Alice.
Glad to see you didn’t forget the prophecy, brothersister!
I, for one, think that Maya might be one of those stars who will follow the Rising King.
This one suspects that the guards approaching our King Alison are about to have a very bad time, despite their obviously superior firearms.
We’ve only barely seen her, but I’m sure Maya has torn apart greater men as if they were rags.
They say discretion is the better part of valor, and now would be a great time to show some.
MAYA MAYA MAYA MAYA MAYA MAYA MAYA MAYA MAYA MAYA
“So tell me about cutting.”
Last Panel: When the Kung-Fu is about to get juuuust right.
Underrated post.
Oh dang, she is there to give Auntly advice! And maybe also ass-whippings but hey, advice!
Oh god, my body is ready. Time to see the Principle Art of Cutting in action.
The last time we saw her fight we didn’t see her fight. Its awesomeness all happened while our heads were turned. Wouldn’t it be lovely and just evil if we always just missed the divine art of cutting only to let our minds fill it it afterwords. I dare Abbadon to make this happen!
There is an art to all things.
I chanced upon a beggar-woman in the great bridge city, Telb-Upon-The-Span. She was carving mushroots into faces. Hundreds of sodden visages lay about her, and the locals informed me that she had been at this practice for three years. None complained, for she purchased the vegetables honestly, and cleared the debris every night into the swine-mongers’ pens.
I sat with her and watched her work. The merchants and travelers wondered at her commitment, carving the same face in the same damp flesh, again and over again. But I saw different. For two more years I watched her. Helped carry her mushroots from the seller’s stall to her spot on the cobbles; and the debris from that spot to the pens at night.
One sweltering day, as I dozed in the heat, thinking the thoughts of a brick in the foundation of the pillar upon which the carving spot stood, I was roused from my rumination by the silence of her knife. When I opened my eyes, she was smiling. In her hands was an object on insurmountable beauty. The supple pulp of the root made the carved face glimmer in entrancing ways. The face was utterly captivating.
I closed my eyes and returned my mind to the stone. Around me, the astonished gasps began. Some began to mumble; others wept; a few began to dicker with the woman, hoping to entice her into selling the root. Mad promises of wealth washed over the woman as she got to her feet, and began walking. I watched from my stonemind as she padded calmly along the road, blustery bearded men shouting and roiling around her like the crowd at the cattle auction, frothing and punching and demanding that their offers be heard.
And as serene as ever, the woman made her way to the pig pens and dropped the root in, where it was swiftly devoured.
Some of the merchants flew into a rage, biting and tearing and growling at each other like quarrelsome dogs, others muttered questions after the woman as she returned to her seat on the cobbles. Most collapsed in stunned grief, and remained prostrate on the road well into the night. Little business was done that day.
We had a pleasant afternoon tea, and once my business in the city was concluded, I escorted the woman out to the crossroads at the southern end of the span. There we parted ways, and I have not seen her again.
In all arts, there is ascendance.
This woman reminds me of Hawkeye Gough, archer and dragon hunter. When he had succeeded in felling every dragon in the land, he despaired. There were no more Wyrms to conquer.
In his retirement, he took to carving faces into logs from elder trees. Each face depicted a different emotion, and when he had mastered carving a particular emotion, the wood would convey that passion to all who wielded it. Exploring these moods and capturing them in wood was Gough’s method of achieving enlightenment.
The details are truths told half-heartedly, but the heart of the lie is the firmament of reality.
I thank you for your conviction.
I oversaw a similar incident involving a young man who had accidentally brewed the perfect cup of tea. When he could no longer withstand offers of wealth and women, he threw the tea into the face of a beggar king. Poor fool was blinded, but ever since he’s had the most lovely fragrance wafting from his eye sockets.
Diogenes, little known fact, excellent swordsman
I have been waiting for this moment for months and I CANNOT WAIT
That’s MISS Murder The Gods And Topple Their Thrones to you, bub!
Also, I’m incredibly exited to see this character back in action. Although – where are White Chain and Juggernaut Star? I imagine they must be heading towards Allison at a nuclear pace.
Allison: “…Can’t you cut noodles?”
Meti: “Don’t sass me girl. I am Very drunk right now.”
My hunting rifle is an 1853 Enfield. I get one 0.577″ shot while using it and I do not miss. Al-YIS-UN wields the Blade of Want, and she doesn’t have to be anywhere close to as accurate as me. If Al-YIS-UN wants to, and says so, she could completely crush the 108 Idiots chasing her with just a word.
So, she reached Al-YIS-UN before the rest of the fools did. This will be interesting.
AL-YIS-UN
ONE THAT RULES
I don’t care if she’s a bad guy or not, but I like her already!