ã€ŠRules of Biomancy: A LitRPG Healer Fantasyã€‹


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    Beware of spoilers! Not all of this is just random character art!

    ... Some are, however.

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    Artistic rendition of Dawn mid-transformation scene:

 Chapter 1: The Three-Body Problem

    The smell of blood was unmistakable. It was not a massive surprise out in the slums at night, as murder did happen every few months, but the groans of pain did get Elijah¡¯s attention. They were low, barely perceptible, and without any other sound to accompany them. One or more people were slowly dying without anybody else around.

    Elijah knew it would be in his best interest to keep walking down the street. He¡¯d done so before. Ignoring and even avoiding such noises was the best choice when it came to your own survival. But¡­ something in those whimpers of pain made him turn around and move over to the alley they came from.

    Age brings stupidity, I suppose.

    The darkness of the night made it hard to see much of anything at first, but Elijah¡¯s eyes adapted the further he went in. It allowed him to see what his ears had partially revealed already.

    Three bodies. One was in two pieces. The others were in one, though the multitude of smaller cuts, bruising, and unconscious states made it clear that it wouldn¡¯t matter in a few hours. Soon, all three would be dead.

    Elijah frowned when he got close enough to see their outfits. The two still alive, a man and a woman, had strange, colorful fabrics. Nothing he¡¯d seen before, meaning it was likely richer foreigners. From where, he wasn¡¯t sure. As for the third¡­ Elijah regretted stepping into the alley.

    ¡°Is a bit strange to see a Royal Mage out and about in these parts with two weirdos, ain¡¯t it?¡±

    He stiffened. A voice whose source he hadn¡¯t noticed before. Alarms rang inside his mind until Elijah¡¯s old eyes were able to flick to the person who¡¯d commented on the scene. Their disheveled state, large eyes, and thin limbs made it clear he wasn¡¯t in danger.

    ¡°You¡¯re the one behind this, Tom?¡± Elijah asked the homeless man. He got a grunt in reply. The drug addict had done no such thing. No surprise. Whoever had killed a Royal Mage, one who openly wore their expensive, purple robes out in the slums, had to be much stronger than whatever the locals could come up with. ¡°See who did it then?¡±

    ¡°Ain¡¯t seen nothing. Just heard a bit of shouting, some flashes of light, and then a small group leaving the place,¡± Tom replied. No surprise there either. Though his back began to protest from the act, Elijah bent down to check out the wounds on the young man. The bruising around the neck implied he¡¯d been shoved hard into the wall behind them. Some head trauma wouldn¡¯t be unexpected, and that slow bleeding steadily coloring the back of his jacket made it clear that survival was a far-fetched dream. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time looking through their pockets, by the way. Already snatched all the good stuff.¡±

    Elijah turned to look at whatever Tom had found. Two rectangular disks, one side metal while the other looked to be fractured black glass. Buttons on the side implied some extra function, though the damage sustained likely made the things useless either way.

    Strange gadgets, slowly dying next to the corpse of a Royal Mage, and clearly not from around here.

    Nobody would blame Elijah if he stood up and left. Just about everybody sane would¡¯ve done so by now. Even the most prideful of samaritans had limits, and whoever had killed a Royal Mage out here wasn¡¯t somebody you needed to get on your bad side.

    Yet the youthful faces made his heart tense up. Their hands were calloused yet still not riddled with the scars of age. If they were allowed a second chance, they could have so many more years to experience life.

    Aleksi, please forgive me for not discussing this with you first.

    ¡°How much do you want to carry the man back to my shop?¡± Elijah asked, estimating the woman to be slightly lighter. Somebody in his years shouldn¡¯t be carrying a person. The herbal bag on his side was more than enough for him. But, making the homeless man deal with them both at once wouldn¡¯t be feasible either. And letting more people know about his involvement in this mess¡­ that was something Elijah couldn''t accept.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t take you for somebody who harvested the dead from the streets,¡± Tom commented with a wet chuckle, showing off the row of missing teeth. ¡°Didn¡¯t you shout at me the last time I offered the location of a fresh corpse?¡±

    ¡°Times change,¡± Elijah bluntly replied, eyes unwavering. ¡°Can you carry him?¡±

    ¡°Easily,¡± Tom said, the man¡¯s ugly grin still standing. ¡°For five silvers.¡±

    ¡°You can get half a dose of Bliss.¡±

    ¡°Full dose.¡±

    ¡°Full dose of whatever is leftover from the last brew.¡±

    ¡°Deal.¡±

    Working with drug addicts was too easy sometimes. Elijah despised the stuff himself, his only interaction with it being during the brewing process itself, yet even he had to admit that it was effective. The homeless felt a sense of happiness, he had a steady source of income and favours when needed, and the chance of getting stabbed while returning from night trips into the Dungeon was negligible.

    ¡°Be careful not to stretch any of the wounds,¡± Elijah instructed as he watched Tom lift the unconscious man over his shoulder. Being treated like a bag of potatoes wouldn¡¯t help with the injuries in the slightest. ¡°I¡¯d rather not have them die before we get to the shop.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, I know how this works,¡± Tom replied, waving away the orders before stepping aside to let Elijah grab the woman. Going down on the ground, he positioned himself so his back was against her front. Wrapping her arms over his shoulder, he got a good grip before standing up. Pain came from his spine instantly, his body not handling the extra weight well, but Elijah just ignored it. ¡°You want me to go back afterward and grab the mage as well?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± was the short reply. It was the only one he had breath for, his mind and body more focused on getting one foot in front of the other. ¡°Avoid this area entirely after this.¡±

    ¡°Sure, sure. Was going to do that anyway,¡± Tom promised, the man sounding a little fearful at the end. ¡°Don¡¯t want to run into whoever did this anyway.¡±

    Neither do I, and you might partially remember me once we¡¯re done here.

    The location and time of day that Elijah had willingly stumbled into this mess couldn¡¯t have been better. Nobody in their right mind went outside this late in the slums, and those that did kept to the larger streets. They were in an off-shoot of an off-shoot, safe from random encounters and spying eyes.

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    Elijah hoped so, at least.

    It took ten minutes of steady walking to get to the house. It was just on the edge of the poorer part of the city, in a good enough spot to be clean and mostly free of thieves but cheap enough that Elijah could afford to own it.

    Putting down the woman beside the door, and ignoring the screams of relief from his back, he went up the two steps and knocked on the wood. Two quick knocks, two slow ones, and three more quick ones at the end. A longer code that meant unexpected occurrences. Elijah hadn¡¯t needed to use it in several decades, but the speed at which the door opened made it clear Aleksi hadn¡¯t forgotten.

    ¡°I was wondering why you were taking longer than usual,¡± the giant man commented, eyes flying to the man in Tom¡¯s arms as well as the woman beside the door. ¡°Are they related to you, Tom?¡±

    ¡°Nah, I¡¯m just the one who found them,¡± the homeless man replied casually while Aleksi carefully lifted the white-haired woman from the cold stone tiles. ¡°Probably need to get them in quick, if your buddy is supposed to get anything good from the harvests.¡±

    ¡°... Too right, my friend,¡± Aleksi said. He and Elijah shared a look that explained enough for now. ¡°Can you help me get the man up the stairs? I can handle the payment for your work as well, while my buddy prepares for a long night.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s been promised a dose of leftover Bliss,¡± Elijah explained before Tom could start lying. Not that he had been any better to the man. ¡°Make it memorable, please.¡±

    ¡°Extra strong?¡± the giant asked.

    ¡°He needs to be able to walk without assistance.¡±

    ¡°Should be doable,¡± Aleksi muttered, walking towards the stairs while Elijah opened the door to his laboratory. ¡°Please follow me, Tom. And do watch your head here. It¡¯s a little cramped halfway up.¡±

    Elijah tuned out the noise as he walked through his workspace. The familiar smell of ground-up herbs infiltrated his senses as he brought the bag of recent finds to the table. He would normally sort out everything gathered and start processing it all into the proper pastes needed for the next day¡¯s delivery, but his priorities had changed. Olivia would be mad at him for not keeping up with demand, yet that wasn¡¯t important now. He had work to get to.

    Mortar and pestle were brought over and put to use, the gas burners were started, and Elijah was able to get some water boiling by the time the door into the room opened up again. That mild smile he¡¯d seen on Aleksi¡¯s face before had vanished.

    ¡°Tom?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Going through the concoction in the kitchen. He¡¯ll be drugged out of his mind in a few minutes. Won¡¯t remember a single thing about tonight within the hour,¡± Aleksi recounted in a calm voice. The giant looked at Elijah¡¯s work, studying the herbs that had been pulled out for use. ¡°You¡¯ve brought in two strangers with ties to a dead Royal Mage and you¡¯re intent on helping them with healing pastes meant for Olivia.¡±

    It was less a question and more just a general statement. Elijah couldn¡¯t detect any anger from his friend, though. There was little negative emotion at all. Only mild curiosity remained.

    ¡°This alone won¡¯t help them,¡± Elijah replied. ¡°I didn¡¯t have the chance to look over their state too thoroughly, but both of them have clear internal bleeding. They need something more.¡±

    ¡°And you intend to give them that extra push to ensure their survival?¡± Aleksi asked, making Elijah narrow his eyes at him. He didn¡¯t like the smile on the giant¡¯s face. ¡°Between the two of us, I always thought I would be the one to do something idiotic like this. To finally ignore all our rules and risk everything for somebody else.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re against my choice, I¡¯m fully willing to let them die and bury their corpses in the basement,¡± Elijah offered. The smile on the other¡¯s face only grew wider. ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything against it, go upstairs and do a proper inspection of the two. I¡¯ll finish this up and join you in five minutes.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Never said I was against it,¡± Aleksi finally relented, a chuckle escaping the giant¡¯s lips as he turned around to check up on the two patients. ¡°Was just hoping we could reach 50 years of hiding before something like this happened.¡±

    Elijah had personally been hoping that nothing like this would ever happen, yet here they were regardless. Ignoring the laughing from outside, he went back to the alchemical task before him. The final ingredients had been crushed into a fine paste. After that, the semi-magical reagents simply needed to be burnt, mixed in with the boiling water, letting the concentration slowly grow as the liquid evaporated, and finally have a generic thickening agent added in to allow for proper usage. After that, the only step needed was to cool it down with ice, and Elijah was now in possession of a basic healing paste. Enough for an entire person if needed or just about enough to take care of two people with a good amount of wounds and bruising.

    And it can do so much more if encouraged.

    He opened the door into the tiny hallway, taking deep breaths of fresh air as he went up the stairs. As the step was a battle, his legs started to feel the burden of the previous extra weight. Becoming old was too much trouble at this point, yet there was little he could do to stop it.

    Instead, he focused on the one part that he could control. A part within him that had been locked away for a long time.

    ¡°Is it worse than I predicted?¡± he asked when he finally got up the stairs and the guest room. It was rarely used, though the two beds inside were always prepared for emergencies.

    ¡°Not by much,¡± Aleksi replied, getting up from the man¡¯s side. The darker skin had paled significantly since Elijah last looked at him. ¡°You¡¯re right that they¡¯ll die before morning. With how much bruising their cores have, I¡¯m surprised they¡¯re still breathing at all.¡±

    ¡°The human body is capable of great things when needed,¡± Elijah recounted, putting down the jug of paste in between the two bodies. Inside, he could feel his core starting to tremble. Sensations not felt for decades were starting to awaken. ¡°Can you look through storage and check if we have anything that can fit these two? If they live, having them wear whatever this is won¡¯t help anything.¡±

    ¡°... I¡¯ll see what we have.¡±

    Aleksi left, leaving Elijah to take a deep breath and settle himself. Healing paste in hand, he brought it to the larger wound on the man¡¯s chest. The red mixture began to near-instantly seep into the skin, the slightest of changes starting on the surface level, but¡­ this wasn¡¯t enough.

    You can do so much more.

    But not without guidance. Not without a guiding hand that pushed the magical regents to do their best. Normally, this was near-impossible to accomplish. Even the most masterful alchemists had trouble bringing out the true potential of the medicinal herbs, and Elijah was nowhere near those levels himself.

    He didn¡¯t need to be either, as the core inside him finally shed its chains and began to shine in its brilliantly green color.

    It felt good, the rust that had built inside his magical veins being cleaned out. Elijah felt better than he had in years, the dull ache in his chest seeming to disappear just a little. This was life. This was the true experience of magic.

    ¡°Get working now,¡± Elijah ordered the paste on the man¡¯s chest. Pressing his hand against it, he felt the threads of mana connect, letting his words have true influence over the mixture. A strengthening in the effects, a deeper cut for effectivity, and an intricate knowledge of how it all progressed. There was nothing hidden from his senses. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about slowing down.¡±

    He let go of the threads, letting the healing concoction work its magic. As he moved to the woman to repeat the starting process with her, the World finally seemed to take notice of his reawakening. A part of him that had been missing for so many decades was shot into his field of view once again.

    The proof of his magical core was here, right in front of his eyes with its blue glow obscuring the true world behind it

    The System recognizes the Biomancer¡¯s return. We are happy to have you back.

    ¡°Good to know you remember me,¡± Elijah muttered before pushing the blue box away from his vision. He had a long night ahead of him if he was going to make these two live past sunrise.

 Chapter 2: The Greater Good

    The night sky was beautiful this time of year. Vera knew that for a fact, having studied it almost every night since age 10. Years had been spent looking up at the stars, counting them, memorizing their positions, and mentally drawing in the gods each constellation was supposed to represent.

    It gave her a sense of calm. A fixture in an ever-changing world that she could focus on to relax when it all became a little too much. When reality crashed down and action became a requirement for the survival of all.

    Tonight was one of those nights.

    ¡°Oh, Reynold! I didn¡¯t expect to see you out here at such a time!¡±

    She was sitting in the royal garden, found at the very top of the castle. It was restricted for usage by only the royals themselves, their closest servants, the gardeners tending to the plants, and, finally, the royal healer who sometimes needed some herb or another.

    ¡°Princess Vera!¡± Reynold replied, the robed old healer stopping in surprise at the sight of Vera sitting on one of the benches. ¡°I could say the same to you. Are you not freezing out here in the cold? I can have one of the other servants bring you a coat.¡±

    ¡°We are nearing the summer months, Reynold. A slight chill like this is no problem for me,¡± Vera assured the old man. The very same man who had been in charge of keeping her in good health since the day she was born. A man that she had been taught to trust by everybody else she had grown up with. ¡°However, I do lack company tonight, and I¡¯m having trouble recognizing some of the dimmer stars in the sky. Could you help me?¡±

    Reynold was the one who¡¯d taught her the trick of focusing on the stars at night. He was the spark, at least, not being around when she fully delved into the hobby.

    ¡°Oh, princess, I am in a hurry¡ª¡±

    ¡°Please? It will not take long, and we both know that you could point out every star with your eyes closed.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ not every star,¡± Reynold said, the averted eyes making Vera smile. Complimenting others was truly the secret ingredient to persuasion. ¡°If it doesn¡¯t take long, I suppose I can help you.¡±

    With a slightly uneven gait, the royal healer joined Vera on the bench. She did not miss how gentle he was around the small satchel on his side. She didn¡¯t comment, however, focusing on his words as he started pointing out every star that she allegedly needed assistance with. Each of the dots had its tale, and Reynold was more than happy to explain each of them. For somebody who was pressed for time, he was weirdly forthcoming with the detailed histories.

    Is it the old ties holding you back, or are you fearing the consequences of your actions?

    More and more minutes passed, and the moon had moved several degrees over the sky by the time that Reynold sighed and ceased with the explanations.

    ¡°It¡¯s truly been a delight helping you, Princess Vera, but I¡¯m afraid I must take my leave,¡± Reynold said. He didn¡¯t rise from the bench yet, though, as it would have been rude to do without her permission.

    ¡°Ah, of course,¡± Vera replied, her smile not as bright as before. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want to keep my father waiting, would you?¡±

    The first crack in the glass veil.

    ¡°I suppose so, though he¡­¡±

    Reynold¡¯s reply ended earlier than it was likely meant to, the royal healer frozen as he looked at Vera. Eyes were wider than normal, breath caught in the old man¡¯s throat, and a paleness began to spread over his skin.

    A single crack made so many more appear a moment later.

    ¡°Is that not where you¡¯re hoping to visit, tonight of all nights?¡± Vera questioned innocently, the smile not reaching her eyes anymore. ¡°Outside of normal hours, outside of the timeframe where your assistants are present, but just within the hours where the guards would let you in without question to help my father sleep peacefully. A well-thought plan, Reynold. No matter what you might¡¯ve planned to do tonight, I can at least admire the work you put into getting away with it.¡±

    Her final words woke up the old man, the paleness increasing while the lying tongue began to move once more.

    ¡°Prin- Vera, what exactly are you implying here?¡± Reynold questioned. His eyes tried to grow harsh, to take the role of aged wisdom, but the mild shaking in his hands ruined that image faster than it could form. A pity.

    ¡°It¡¯s less implying and¡­ more just a fact,¡± Vera replied, tilting her head a little to the side. The last few embers of her smile disappeared alongside her words, leaving a face empty of emotion. If her old friend had been younger, he might have tried to run at this point. ¡°For how long have you served under my father, Reynold? You¡¯ve been by his side since before this country formed, nearly since the start of the war, so it has to be a little over 50 years.¡±

    ¡°56 years this year¡¯s winter,¡± Reynold mutely corrected.

    ¡°56 years of honest service. First as an assistant to the local healer, then a medic on the frontlines, before saving my father and hundreds of others from mortal wounds and getting promoted to the position of Royal Healer because of it. So much influence over the future, so much value brought to the people of our kingdom, and yet you go ahead and do this,¡± she continued. Not all of this had been revealed to her by the healer himself. Some of the finer details had been brought into the open through research and listening in when nobody was meant to be around. ¡°And now you throw it away for what? I already know about the large sum of gold that you will be rewarded for your work, but is there more to it? Are you being threatened, Reynold? Is your family in danger if you don''t accept this task?¡±

    She asked as if she didn¡¯t already know the truth. Vera told herself that she was just being sure, but deep inside she knew better. The in-depth work put into stopping this attempt made it clear what Reynold¡¯s motives were.

    His silence spoke volumes.

    ¡°...They aren¡¯t,¡± Vera concluded. Reynold just looked at her blankly, fear having left him, replaced with a deep emptiness. ¡°No other motive than more wealth than you could ever hope to spend in a lifetime.¡±

    He kept silent. Maybe that made the old healer feel better about what he¡¯d been about to go through with. Vera wasn¡¯t truly sure but neither did she care much, matching his silence with her own.

    Somebody willing to poison her father in his sleep didn¡¯t deserve much more.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it for myself,¡± Reynold finally said after a minute of silence. Not a good start. ¡°I did it for my family. While I won¡¯t be able to provide for them in just a few years, this gold could¡¯ve filled their pockets for decades to come.¡±

    ¡°Do you think your wife, your kids, your grandkids would look at you trying to poison my father with that same perspective?¡± she asked, the old healer once again falling into a state of silence. She sighed. ¡°This is treason, Reynold. Treason of the highest order, beyond what could normally be done. It¡¯s not just a killing, but staging it to look like a natural heart attack. Do you not know the punishment that comes from this?¡±

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    Eyes widened again.

    ¡°How do you know-¡± Reynold began to question, but Vera cut him off before he could start.

    ¡°I know everything that happens within these walls, Reynold. That small vial in your pocket has enough of your little concoction to make my father die a hundred times over, and yet even the best searches wouldn¡¯t be able to discover that it wasn¡¯t simply age that had killed him,¡± she continued. ¡°Now, please answer my question. If discovered, what would the punishment be for your actions?¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°My public execution,¡± the old healer answered, clearly intending to stop at that if not for Vera¡¯s pointed look. ¡°And the execution of my family, on the grounds of their possible inclusion in my plans.¡±

    ¡°Normally it would just be for your death that came from this, but the fortune was never meant to be delivered to you but to your family. Without their consent, you brought them into this act of treason and signed their deaths for the chance of wealth, all in an act of so-called selflessness,¡± Vera regaled. She didn¡¯t comment as tears began to form in Reynold¡¯s eyes, as the man hunched over and covered his face with his hands as the muted cries began to be heard. The old healer, the person Vera had respected for most of her life, was broken. Bad choices, a time of weakness, and now it was all meant to be ruined. ¡°If this gets out, your family will die, Reynold.¡±

    Hands became wet with tears for another dozen moments before the old healer froze. He¡¯d caught on, slowly straightening his back and looking into her eyes with no small amount of desperation.

    ¡°¡®If,¡¯¡± he repeated, making her smile. Weakness or not, his mind still had some sharpness left in it. He could still see the intended wording when needed. ¡°You act as if you haven¡¯t already alerted the guards of this, Vera.¡±

    ¡°Oh, every servant under my employ knows of your treason, Reynold, but¡­ the royal guards and everybody else has yet to have heard even the slightest hint of such a thing,¡± Vera corrected. She didn¡¯t smile. She felt like it but held it down. ¡°The death of your entire family is not yet set in stone.¡±

    Tears no longer flowed, there was no longer fear in the old man¡¯s eyes, and Reynold seemed to gain some small flicker of hope deep within.

    ¡°Princess¡­ What exactly do you require of me?¡± Reynold questioned, eyes narrowing in confusion. ¡°I¡¯m not demented enough to think you would let me live past this act of treason.¡±

    You¡¯re still sharp at the end, Reynold.

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Vera said, reaching one hand into the sky. Reynold only looked at it in confusion for a moment, until a scroll and a pen manifested in her grasp. An act meant to be impossible for her, according to what the old healer knew of her. ¡°I want you to sign this.¡±

    She handed the scroll and pen to the old healer, Reynold accepting and immediately opening it to read the contents. Understanding the implications didn¡¯t take long. The contract was hardly longer than some hundred words. Blunt in wording, blunt in how it was meant to be done, and very clear in how none were allowed to know about the document at any level whatsoever.

    ¡°You¡­ want me to sign a contract stating that I will immediately relocate to my private quarters, prepare for sleep like normal, take the poison intended for your father, and go to sleep as if nothing was amiss,¡± Reynold said. It wasn¡¯t a question, both of them knowing that it was exactly what Vera wanted. ¡°I¡¯d call you an idiot if you expected me to sign and then follow through with something like this, but¡­ that glow in the letters isn¡¯t for show, is it?¡±

    Sharp eyes as well.

    ¡°It is not,¡± Vera answered, smiling as the old healer looked at her in a whole new way. For the past decades, she¡¯d possessed this gift, and he had never had the slightest clue. ¡°If you sign this, I¡¯ll make sure your family can move away in peace. They¡¯ll be granted a small fortune to help with your ¡®unfortunate passing,¡¯ and nobody will ever learn the truth.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t put that into the contract.¡±

    Meaning she wasn¡¯t magically forced to hold her word.

    ¡°I did not, but, unlike some present, I have not grown into the habit of breaking others¡¯ trust.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°There¡¯s little I can say against that, I suppose,¡± Reynold said with a sense of finality, taking the pen and writing his name at the bottom of the contract. Vera felt a pull from her magical core, letting the energy leave her as sigils formed on the old healer¡¯s hands. They flashed in a dark red before disappearing, the rules of the contract etched into the man¡¯s spirit.

    [Single-Person Linear-Objective Contract] has been activated! Cost of activation: 127MP

    With how much Mana she had spent writing the contract to begin with, the activation cost was higher than she¡¯d expected. Perhaps it was the last addition that had caused it? Further study was needed.

    ¡°Before you go, I need to exert the ability granted to me by the last paragraph in the contract,¡± Vera said, stopping Reynold from leaving the bench and instead continuing to look her way. The old man wished to leave with pride, but, before that, she needed some answers. Truthful answers, made possible by him magically being stopped from lying. ¡°Who is it that employed you for this task?¡±

    The one part of this entire ordeal that Vera was still unsure about. Everything else fit perfectly into place, but this continued to mystify her.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know already?¡± Reynold asked back before clutching at his throat as an unseen pressure seemed half a breath away from snapping his head right off. ¡°I had been hoping you would know, as¡­ I don¡¯t know either. I never saw their face or met with them, instead going through an intermediary who handles deals like this on the black market. We met-¡±

    ¡°In the Lionheart Inn at the east end of the city?¡± Vera cut in, the old man nodding at her words. Internally, she sighed, deflating as another possible route to answers became dead. ¡°Do you have any guesses on who it might¡¯ve been that wanted my father dead?¡±

    ¡°Sadly not,¡± the Royal Healer replied. He scratched at his throat as phantom pains kept appearing. Vera would know, each minor pulse drawing the slightest sliver of energy from her core. ¡°Somebody with enough financial backing to offer such wealth while having access to illegal herbs that even the royal gardens don¡¯t possess. And, before you ask, I know that their wealth stretches far because I have previously worked with them and was paid ten years'' worth of my normal salary for it.¡±

    ¡°What were you commissioned to make?¡±

    ¡°A long-lasting and fast-acting sedative that could knock out even the strongest warrior or mage in under five seconds without being lethal under any circumstances, some emergency elixirs using Heartroot to keep a person alive if needed, and some mind-altering concoctions to use for interrogations.¡±

    Interesting.

    A few more pointed questions offered little in the way of usable information, and, since time was running out regardless, Vera allowed her old friend to rise from the bench.

    ¡°I know it means little, but I want to say I¡¯m sorry for what I¡¯ve done,¡± Reynold announced as he stood, starting the short journey toward his chambers. ¡°What little mercy you¡¯ve given my family and me is one I don¡¯t deserve to have been granted.¡±

    Even with the stars shining above her, an edge of emotion forced itself onto her tongue.

    ¡°This wasn¡¯t done for your sake, Reynold, but for the sake of this country¡¯s future,¡± Vera snapped, forcing down the anger before it could start to boil over. ¡°Your apology has been heard. Take that as you will.¡±

    ¡°That it was heard is all I could hope for.¡±

    With the uneven gait that had developed in the last few years of the healer¡¯s life, he retreated from the royal garden and towards the room that would be his final resting place. Vera didn¡¯t pity him, but neither could she find herself happy seeing him go.

    ¡­

    ¡°Do you think I did well, Harper?¡± Vera asked when she felt the air behind the bench shift by the slightest amount, her resident Illusionist decloaking and letting herself be seen.

    ¡°You did very well, my princess,¡± Harper replied in an even tone. Respectful as ever, eyes barely looking at her while being addressed. ¡°Do you want me to follow the healer and make sure the contract works as intended?¡±

    Always more than happy to perform extra work instead of sitting down to talk with me.

    ¡°It would be for the best, yes,¡± Vera supposed, able to catch a swift nod before the Illusionist turned invisible once again and likely began to follow Reynold toward his chambers. The princess could never be too sure, her own magical senses not allowing her to sense her friend in the slightest while she was cloaked.

    Neither could any of the important mages in the city for that matter. A vital part of how information could be gathered without much risk, though Vera was never too happy about making Harper perform such duties. Even with low risk, it had to catch up to them at some point.

    Not today, however.

    The task for tonight had been successful. Her father, the king beloved by all, was alive, and the people were without the knowledge that some wanted him dead a thousand times over. Hopefully it would be a few weeks before she would have to make sure of that fact again.

    For now, though, she could simply look upwards and feel the calm of the stars wash over her.

 Chapter 3: Wind and Lies

    The morning came fast, the rays of light shining through the windows some hours after Elijah had started his work. By that point, he had been doing very little. The magic core inside of him had been emptied, the paste had been used up, and the two foreigners were in their respective beds, still unconscious but now breathing deeply. Even if some bruises persisted through his efforts, the internal damage had been dealt with enough to secure their futures. They would live.

    Not that they¡¯d awoken by that point, both still deep in sleep. Elijah personally thought that best, since it allowed him to rest his eyes for a few minutes before starting his morning. The standard drinks for customers were brewed and bottled, some minor amount of cleaning around the shop area was done, and the door previously locked was opened up to allow any person to enter without trouble.

    That wasn¡¯t to say that anybody did walk inside the second the shop opened. Most who visited to buy herbs and concoctions would usually first appear some three hours later. A desire to get other tasks handled beforehand maybe, though Elijah suspected many just preferred to sleep for another handful of hours to avoid the morning bustle in the streets.

    No matter what the reason was, it allowed him to sit behind the counter without anybody to require his attention. And with the two strangers still unconscious upstairs, he was finally able to inspect some rather strange trinkets that had been acquired.

    Before Aleksi had kicked out Tom, the giant had emptied the homeless man¡¯s pockets of anything that had been looted. Most of it was nothing interesting. Metallic keys with a rather unique structure, some expensive-looking tissues, an old pocket knife, and, finally, two of those metallic disks that he¡¯d seen Tom fiddling with back in the alley.

    Now that he was holding one of them in his hand, though, he doubted it was truly metal. The device was too light, and the glass on one side heavily implied there was something else inside. Something properly fitted, since it didn¡¯t rattle when shaken.

    Artificer¡¯s creation, most definitely, but with what purpose?

    With his newly regained senses, he could detect no traces of magic inside the actual contraption. The buttons on the sides did nothing either. No compartments were revealed, nothing was shot out, and yet Elijah bet there was something he was missing. Both of the foreigners had carried a device. Different versions, with a difference in width, height, and thickness, sure, but the primary designs were close enough that he could assume the functions to be the same.

    Laying down the smaller device and picking up the other, Elijah prodded at the edges. Here, the glass had fractured heavily on one of the corners, blunt trauma breaking the fragile contraption. He hoped it didn¡¯t ruin whatever purpose it had.

    ¡°Fewer buttons on the sides yet one below the glass,¡± he commented aloud, before pressing the button on the front side. Nothing happened for a second until the glass briefly flashed in an array of lights before returning to its previous black state. ¡°Interesting¡­¡±

    Repeating the button pressing didn¡¯t give the same results sadly, though he could feel as the other side of the device began to heat up. A curious fact that almost made him bring out tools to disassemble the device before he heard the bell atop the front door ring.

    ¡°You there Elijah?¡± a young woman¡¯s voice half-shouted into the shop, stepping inside a second after Elijah had hidden the two devices from sight. ¡°Ah, there you are! Is it so hard to give me a reply?¡±

    ¡°The youth are normally supposed to wish the elderly a good morning before anything else, Grace,¡± Elijah replied, standing from his seat to allow the incoming hug. ¡°How has your mother been doing?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s been doing more than fine, with the new pain relievers you got her," Grace said, intending to explain further before she narrowed her eyes and quieted down. The little mage that Elijah had known since the day she was born, the girl known for always filling a room with talk, was quiet. An abnormality. It took no real thought to realize why. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ a mage?¡±

    And here I thought you would¡¯ve noticed before getting to the counter.

    ¡°Is it that obvious?¡± Elijah answered to deepen the idea of how he was new to the magical world. Grace might not have cared to take note of his question, however, with how the young woman had a splitting grin on her face. He had seen that before. ¡°Please don¡¯t start freak¡ª¡±

    The over-positive girl he¡¯d known for nearly two decades freaked out, going in for a second hug while jumping up and down. Elijah tried and failed to quiet her down, giving up after the first ten seconds and just letting Grace tire herself out. She was happy. More than happy. Ecstatic beyond common decency.

    And why wouldn¡¯t she be? The very thing that made her able to potentially grow past her social class had just been bestowed on Elijah as well.

    ¡°I just¡ª Really, this shouldn¡¯t be possible, but you¡¯re¡­ yeah, there¡¯s no doubt at all! You¡¯re a beacon, Elijah! A green, kinda-fluid beacon of magical light!¡± Grace exclaimed, blinking a few times to get tears out of her eyes. ¡°How did it happen? When did it happen?¡±

    Here we go.

    ¡°Yesterday night,¡± Elijah replied, recounting the story he and Aleksi had brainstormed the night before. While they weren¡¯t planning to be open about his ¡®new¡¯ awakening, having a consistent story wasn¡¯t a bad idea in the slightest. ¡°I was in the dungeon like always, gathering the herbs I needed for the regular deliveries when I began to feel¡­ more. Like the plants had some threads that connected them to the world, ones that I could interact with. I just thought I was too tired at first, but when I went home and started working with the herbs, I managed to properly connect to one of the flowers and my mind felt like it¡­ expanded.¡±

    A practiced speech, the pauses believable and the experience copied near-perfectly from what Grace had described back when she first began to use her gifts intentionally as a child. Elijah would¡¯ve used his own, yet that required him to be able to remember that moment, something that he couldn¡¯t do.

    ¡°It was the same for me!¡± Grace responded, eyes wide as she scrambled to get out her small notepad and scribble down what he¡¯d said. Elijah eyed the pages and pen briefly, noting the expensive materials. A gift from the Academy? ¡°It¡¯s still strange that you only awakened now, though. The standard age for that is six to eight years old. I remember reading extreme cases of people first awakening at ten and eleven, but¡­ how old are you again, Elijah?¡±

    He raised an eyebrow at the lack of politeness, but there was no shame on the young woman¡¯s face. Youth these days were truly something.

    ¡°71,¡± Elijah finally answered. If it was accurate or not, he couldn¡¯t say. His younger days weren¡¯t too linear, so keeping up with the years hadn¡¯t been too high a priority. For the sake of having an age, however, he¡¯d just taken Aleksi¡¯s as his own. They were born around the same era, so it worked well enough. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell anybody about this, Grace.¡±

    The pen halted mid-letter, blue eyes flying up to meet his own. The confusion was clear.

    ¡°What?¡± she said. ¡°Why? This is incredible.¡±

    ¡°If this had happened some sixty years ago, maybe, but I¡¯m a little too old to take up the magical arts now,¡± Elijah calmly responded, an understanding smile reaching his lips as he watched the sound mage deflate a little. The implications had started to dawn on her. ¡°We both remember your starting days when you were practicing the birdcalls. You pushed yourself a little too much, and I had to help a bed-ridden six-year-old for a week to help you recover. What do you think will happen if somebody my age tries to repeat your training?¡±

    ¡°... A wave of sickness at best,¡± Grace replied. ¡®At best¡¯ was the important part of that sentence. Elijah had helped her through her first year of study at the academy, and they¡¯d both read the results of harsh magical experimentations. There was a reason that training was heavily advised to only be done under supervision. ¡°I understand. I suppose that also means you won¡¯t register with the academy?¡±

    ¡°I prefer avoiding having my name on too many lists, thank you,¡± he said, getting a mild chuckle out of the wind mage. ¡°But, that will be a necessity if you go out and tell others. The neighbors might call themselves discreet, but I believe it would take a single afternoon for everybody to reach my doorstep with the request to see my new gifts.¡±

    ¡°A whole afternoon? My, Elijah, you think so little of my mom¡¯s establishment?¡± Grace accused, her eyes harsh for a moment before she broke out in laughter. He replied in kind, mild chuckles leaving him. ¡°But¡­ since I¡¯m doing so much work not telling my mom about this, would you mind¡­ showing your ¡®new gifts?¡¯¡±

    No shame at all.

    If that was the cost of her silence, though, Elijah was more than happy to pay it. Grabbing one of the lavender seeds behind the counter, he went through the standard planting procedures before finally calling upon one of the few abilities he¡¯d honed in his younger days.

    Channeling of [Accelerate Growth] has been activated! Current cost: 8MP/sec

    It took a few seconds to properly connect, but the System alerted him of his success once it happened. The drain on magical reserves wasn¡¯t too substantial, but Elijah knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to keep it up for too long. Even if he technically had the energy inside him, calling upon it after draining himself repeatedly not so many hours ago wouldn¡¯t do him any favors.

    Yet the result that came from using his magical abilities wasn¡¯t to scoff at. The planted seed had emerged within two seconds, the stalk lengthening under his watch. The shell came off a second after, the thin plant gaining an emerging bud on top.

    ¡°Amazing,¡± Grace murmured, eyes wide while she watched the process unfold, a smile plastered onto her face once the purple petals finally appeared and spread out to show off a beautiful flower. The entire duration for the result was about twelve seconds, easily taking a quarter of Elijah¡¯s total reserves while making his skin lighten a few shades. ¡°Oh, shit, Elijah! Are you alright?¡±

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Swearing isn¡¯t something somebody your age should do,¡± Elijah got out before letting his lungs focus on getting air into his bloodstream. He was leaning on the counter a little more than usual, needing the extra grounding to stay upright.

    ¡°You swear more than me, though,¡± Grace countered, relief washing over her as he began to recover from his little display.

    ¡°I¡¯m old. I¡¯m allowed to swear as much as I want.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s stupid,¡± she commented. There was some double-checking done to make sure Elijah was actually fine and well, which he assured her he was but she was the ''expert.'' He¡¯d spent a little more mana than intended, yet this wasn¡¯t enough to truly strain him. ¡°That you¡¯re able to do something like this is incredible, though. Makes me feel a little bad about my whistling.¡±

    ¡°You can do much more than just whistle,¡± Elijah promised her. She was a wind mage. The System had made that clear on her Status from the very beginning. Grace was simply¡­ not yet accustomed to using her gifts in the traditional ways, some strange mental mishaps pushing her into the narrow niche of sonic manipulations. ¡°Sound is a very powerful tool. Weren¡¯t you able to create music out of nothing but metal blocks last month?¡±

    If you used the same concept on a person, you would be lethal in combat.

    ¡°I¡¯m barely able to do it for more than an hour at a time, and I¡¯m not close to accurate enough to write my thesis on it,¡± Grace countered, the mention of the latter topic seeming to deflate the younger woman even further. ¡°I do need to get going soon if I don¡¯t want to be late. We need the same order as last time.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    Going into the laboratory and grabbing the prepared bag of finished products, Elijah ventured back out into the shop and handed it to Grace. Six silver coins were given to him in return, the wind mage not even looking inside to inspect the contents. A sign of trust around these parts.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be back when I get the time,¡± Grace said, turning around to head out once more. ¡°I know you don¡¯t want to pressure yourself too much with this gift, Elijah, but don¡¯t you feel curious about what you can do now?¡±

    She wanted what she thought was best for him.

    ¡°I do,¡± Elijah confirmed. ¡°And I will be trying to incorporate it into my daily life. I just won¡¯t try anything intense.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t want you doing anything else,¡± she said, agreeing with the decision wholeheartedly. ¡°See you later!¡±

    ¡°Goodbye, Grace.¡±

    And with that, the bell fastened to the front door chimed once again, as it was opened up to allow the mage to leave with the bag in hand. Just as she¡¯d done every single week for the past many years.

    Elijah considered the chances of her returning within the next seven days. If Grace had the free time to do as she liked, he wouldn¡¯t have doubted her appearing later that day or tomorrow, but her new position as a Mage¡¯s apprentice meant that free hours were a rarity.

    Maybe when the weekend rolls around? Even the Royal Mages need a break every now and then.

    And it would allow him to ask her about any possible issues popping up at the academy. Elijah was growing curious about whether or not they would try to cover up the death of one of the mages. While there were many of them nowadays, the sudden disappearance of a trained magician should¡¯ve started some amount of rumors. Certainly enough for an apprentice to catch wind of it.

    ¡°She¡¯s in danger now, isn¡¯t she?¡± Elijah asked the empty air, his mind working through the possible outcomes of their situation. If he and Aleksi were caught hiding the two foreigners, anybody attached would likely come under fire as well. ¡°Don¡¯t think about it.¡±

    It was an order he had trouble obeying.

    Elijah needed a distraction. Not a hard task, when you owned a forever dirty shop, though he set that aside for later to instead feel at his magical core. The magical residue from the herbs was very effective at regenerating his internal energy, to the point where he felt secure in forcing out a thread of green mana from his fingertip.

    It danced in the air, swaying to an unseen wind while searching for anything to connect itself to. Elijah silently looked upon the small tendril, letting his hand move the slightest amount to accommodate the thread¡¯s searching. As more and more seconds passed, the swaying became much more focused. More honed in, the tip of the thread pointing directly towards the purple flower on the counter.

    A reaction due to similarity. The thread sought to connect with its brother yet it was too weak to reach the other.

    Elijah adjusted the digit further, cutting away the remaining distance to let the string attach itself to the flower¡¯s petals. An instant pressure came through in the back of his mind, an itch of whispering intent and thoughts. Nothing cohesive, certainly nothing that he could decipher into human concepts, but it was proof of the connection of life within the small flower.

    Channeling of [Plant Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 5MP/sec

    He cut off the connection when his magical core was close to empty not long after. His stamina with the magical arts was still so low. Elijah knew he would have kept it up for tens of minutes at a time in his prime, but his touch had become so unrefined through the years.

    If his abilities were to be put to use effectively, he would need to hone his skills once again.

    Putting the plant to the side for now, Elijah spent the next few hours sorting through the store inventory. Prices were adjusted, the counts for different items were updated, and he noted down what he would need to stock up on during his next visit to the dungeon. A few customers even came in during this time, buying various salves, recreational pills, and a single package of rodent killer. Elijah didn¡¯t have much left of the latter, having to note the herbs required to make more down as being needed on his next trip as well.

    Aleksi needs to come with no matter what now.

    Writing down the last updates in the inventory book, the bell on the shop¡¯s door chimed once again. Eyes were lifted from the pages seconds later when the standard greetings weren¡¯t heard from whoever had decided to enter.

    That either meant they were thieves hoping to steal some minor item and leg it, that they thought themselves above Elijah or¡­ that it was a certain tired guard who would likely prefer to collapse on the floor and sleep for a few hours.

    Four heavy steps were heard, moving a body into his line of sight and revealing the truth.

    ¡°Olivia,¡± Elijah greeted, noting the dark bags under the head guard¡¯s eyes. For somebody so young, she could seem so old. ¡°You look worse than usual. How long have you been awake?¡±

    ¡°Something above 30 hours, I¡¯m guessing,¡± came the reply. Her voice was hoarse, and the coughs that came after made it clear she''d been shouting orders all day and night. ¡°No rest for the understaffed, as you know.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Elijah said with only half as much sarcasm as he felt the need for. Now wasn¡¯t the time to be hostile. ¡°I have to say sorry preemptively for making your day worse.¡±

    Narrowed eyes stared his way. Tired, half-angry eyes that just couldn¡¯t handle hearing anything about more setbacks today but had to regardless.

    ¡°Just say it outright next time, Elijah,¡± Olivia half-requested half-ordered.

    Very well.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have the next batch ready,¡± Elijah answered as bluntly as she wanted him to be. Eyes narrowed further. ¡°I won¡¯t have it ready until I get the chance to procure the necessary herbs from the dungeon.¡±

    ¡°You were in the dungeon for 3 hours yesterday night procuring everything you¡¯d need,¡± the head-guard fired back instantly. ¡°My guards wrote in their reports you¡¯d filled up your bag like usual. Were you robbed?¡±

    ¡°Not by another person, no,¡± he replied smoothly, inserting some frustration into his voice. ¡°I¡­ messed up during the final stages. Boiled away the water for too long, and the product got burnt to the point of being useless. Five hours of work wasted because I was careless and fell asleep on my feet.¡±

    Using the angle of overworking oneself. It had immediate effects, the frown softening and a sigh escaping Olivia Blackwell.

    ¡°Fine,¡± she finally said. ¡°Just¡­ just don¡¯t let it happen again, okay? I¡¯m pushing against what¡¯s allowed, letting you go in there at night.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡±

    They¡¯d had the agreement for close to two decades now, from the very first month that she¡¯d gotten her role as head guard of the Dungeon entrance. A prestigious position that came with a very limited budget which didn¡¯t allow for anything advanced in the way of medicinal treatment. With the number of injuries that came from stopping the smaller monsters from escaping into the city, Olivia had been in dire need of something to remedy her lack of care for her men.

    And here Elijah had arrived, having proposed the idea during the captain¡¯s shopping in his store. He¡¯d have access to the dungeon below during the closed hours if in exchange he used some of the gathered herbs to brew whatever concoctions she and her underlings required to stay in good health.

    It hadn¡¯t been a difficult choice to make.

    ¡°Is there no chance to use the stuff you burnt at all?¡± Olivia asked, the guard¡¯s hands going through the satchel on her side. What was she looking for? ¡°With how things are looking, we might need it soon more than ever.¡±

    ¡°If you tried to use the burnt product, you¡¯d be chained to a toilet for the next week. No, you can¡¯t use it. If you need the next batch quickly, I''d need to enter the dungeon tonight again and gather new herbs,¡± Elijah explained, eyes focused on the paper roll brought out from Olivia¡¯s satchel seconds later. ¡°What is that?¡±

    ¡°Our most recent headache,¡± came the reply, paper crackling as it was fully unfurled and turned towards Elijah. The drawings on it made him pale a little. ¡°There was a murder in the slums yesterday night. We haven¡¯t been told who were killed and how, but we somehow have rather detailed illustrations of how they look.¡±

    The mystery deepened further.

    ¡°How¡­ peculiar,¡± Elijah got out, trying to keep his tone the same as before. Though he did falter slightly, the head of the guards didn¡¯t seem to take notice.

    ¡°Weird as fuck is what it is,¡± Olivia corrected, looking at the poster with scorn. Elijah was able to read the text below the two detailed drawings of the faces. The bounty on them was 40 gold coins, a small fortune for the people in this area. ¡°We were saddled with hundreds of these damned papers at night and given the order to have them all posted on the walls of every building in the city. I had to get everybody currently on leave out in uniform to make it happen.¡±

    An irregular order, one likely made out of desperation. And if such an order could even be sent out, it meant that the ones who knew about the murder and why it happened were very high-ranking in the city. The thought disturbed Elijah.

    ¡°And here I thought the commands from above were usually well-reasoned and explained,¡± he commented. The grunt of agreement from Olivia told him everything he needed to know.

    ¡°Since this is technically an order from the commander, we¡¯re allowed to skip asking for permission, but would you mind if I put this out on your shop window?¡± Olivia asked. ¡°We still need a dozen more posters in this area to fill up the quota.¡±

    ¡°Feel free to do as you need,¡± Elijah said, getting a thanks in reply as the guard taped it to the window so it could be read to those passing by outside.

    Another question almost reached his lips, but a thud interrupted him. A mild rain of dust came from the ceiling a moment later, showing the source to be from the second floor.

    They¡¯re awake.

    Not good.

    ¡°Huh. Sounds like Aleksi¡¯s hungover again,¡± Olivia commented, sharp ears picking up the sound as well. ¡°I¡¯ll leave that mess to you. I¡¯m already behind schedule as it is.¡±

    ¡°Of course, you will,¡± Elijah replied, only half-focused on the guard as he planned out his method of entry. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tonight at the dungeon.¡±

    ¡°If I¡¯m not dead from exhaustion by then, sure.¡±

    The bell on the door jingled as it was opened and closed once more, letting Elijah lock it and close down the shop early, before venturing up the stairs to see how much of a mess this was turning out to be.

 Chapter 4: A Different Place

    When Elijah unlocked the door to the room on the second floor, the low groan could easily be heard. And the source wasn¡¯t hard to spot either, the man found the night before lying on the floor face down with their arms by their side. He seemed conscious enough to notice the pain but not enough to do anything about it.

    That he¡¯d been able to fumble out of the bed at all was quite the achievement, though one Elijah was forced to forcibly retract for the sake of his health.

    Despite his own protesting body, he leaned down and grabbed the left shoulder of the man, pulling it upwards so he was on his back. The semi-lucidity combined with the foreign movement caused him to sputter, legs pulled close to the stomach before stretching out again and again. Elijah used the repeat¨ªng motion to his advantage, pushing the man onto his feet and nudging him onto the bed once the man gave out once again.

    ¡°What¡¯s¡­¡± he heard in a breathless whisper as he adjusted the wounded man to be laying down properly. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±

    ¡°A mix of side effects from the amount of sedatives I¡¯ve pumped into you to stop you from ruining my work, mixed with the effects of rapid healing and the wounds that required you to get that healing,¡± Elijah calmly explained, forcing down the arms of the man as he tried to stretch them into the air. His eyes were glazed over, barely able to look at one thing at a time. ¡°Since you¡¯re able to even be awake, you should be able to move around somewhat in about three hours. Until then, it would be best if you keep calm and let the effects pass by.¡±

    ¡°... Right.¡±

    The breathing of the man slowed, the small bit of conscious thought washed over by the comforts of sleep. Elijah had no complaints about that, one problem being saved for later.

    As for the other¡­ she hadn¡¯t moved an inch from where he had settled them during the night. The deeper cuts were still covered as needed, the bruising on the arms and upper body was starting to fade away, and that labored breathing she¡¯d suffered from was entirely gone as her chest moved up and down in a steady rhythm, no longer compressed by the blood that had gathered inside her lungs.

    When he heard the backdoor below opening up, however, he didn¡¯t fail to notice the slight tensing from the woman¡¯s upper body. An unconscious reaction of such severity while this injured? Elijah hadn¡¯t guessed the flesh would be healthy enough for such a thing.

    And it likely isn¡¯t.

    ¡°Is it serious up there?¡± Aleksi shouted from the bottom of the stairs, making Elijah leave the room to look down at the giant. The face that met his own had more than a few splotches of black, a byproduct of whatever Aleksi¡¯d been doing in the smithy that day. ¡°Saw you closed the shop. Had me wondering.¡±

    ¡°The man was able to wriggle out of the bed while not possessing any real motor functions,¡± Elijah explained, pausing as a snort escaped Aleksi in response. ¡°He could somewhat talk as well. Asked what was going on.¡±

    ¡°Was he able to hear your answer?¡± Aleksi asked, a grin growing on the man as he began to ascend the stairs.

    ¡°That remains to be seen,¡± Elijah replied, turning in the door frame to enter the room once again and let the giant see the two still in their respective beds.

    He was meant to, at least, until he saw the glimmer of blonde hair and a slow fist coming towards his face.

    An attack. Imprecise and without proper coordination but an attack nonetheless.

    Old instinct kicked into the even older man, one leg pushing onto the right side of the doorframe to stop the fist from landing. Unprepared for such an event, the woman nearly tumbled forward, a lazy leg just barely coming in to hold up her weight before going in for a second attack.

    Forty years ago, Elijah would have avoided it. Now, with a shoulder that already flared up in pain from just hitting a door frame, he could only try and lean back to lessen the agony that came from the fist reaching his chest.

    Even with the two thick layers of fabric, he felt the knuckles hit his upper left side. A grimace worked its way onto his face, the pain more than it should¡¯ve been, but it only got worse as the woman¡¯s legs finally gave in, her body tumbling into his and nearly forcing them both onto the ground.

    It would''ve happened if not for Aleksi ascending the stairs at a rapid pace, putting a hand on Elijah¡¯s back to stop the momentum. A half-finished swear left the woman¡¯s mouth as she fell to the floor alone, an attempt at bracing with her hands failing and letting her head hit the wooden planks. Definitely painful.

    Dangerous too, as Elijah could see the line of blood flowing down from her mouth as she looked up at the two old men.

    Those eyes of anger said everything they needed to.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough of you,¡± Aleksi said in a chippy voice as the woman came out with what sounded like a growl, her unwilling body trying to attack once more before being physically held in place by the gentle giant. ¡°You¡¯re hurting yourself more than you''re hurting us with this outburst. Please stop moving.¡±

    Instead of using words, an arm wriggled itself out of the gentle giant¡¯s grasp before slamming the accompanying fist into the left side of Aleksi¡¯s face.

    And then the gentle giant wasn¡¯t so gentle anymore.

    ¡°Go screw your goat, you sadistic-¡±

    ¡°Enough.¡±

    A cry of pain came from the woman in Aleksi¡¯s grasp, pressure applied to the reclaimed arm stopping circulation among other things. More thrashing came in response for a few seconds more, before she finally seemed to calm themselves.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Physically, at least, those eyes filled with wrath not dimming in the slightest.

    ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll need restraints here?¡± Aleksi asked, putting the woman back down on the bed. There was no attempt to get up again, though Elijah didn¡¯t think that would last for long. ¡°Or maybe some of the stuff you put in to calm them down last night?¡±

    ¡°They were only given those to make them stay calm while the worst parts of the healing process finished,¡± Elijah replied coldly, distaste growing in his mind as he saw the line of blood that started running out of his colleague''s nose. ¡°Don¡¯t leak everywhere, please.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, sorry,¡± the giant said, just noticing the red liquid after having it pointed out. A few of the one-time napkins normally used when cleaning wounds were taken from the nearby shelf and forced against the guilty nostril. ¡°But my question is then how you¡¯re gonna stop a repeat of this?¡±

    Elijah eyed the woman again, noting that the eyelids had half-closed. There were obvious signs of fighting unconsciousness, but the physical altercation had drained her of the gathered-up energy. With the ability to lie down and rest even the slightest bit, the body had instantly abused the opportunity to shut down.

    That gives us a few hours at minimum.

    ¡°Words, hopefully,¡± Elijah finally answered, as the eyelids fully closed and the breathing turned into the slower one it was meant to have been from the start. ¡°Keeping those two sedated indefinitely would only kill them in the long run, and, if they truly want to leave without our help, we have to be prepared to let them do just that.¡±

    ¡°So¡­ if they try to attack you when you¡¯re distracted, you¡¯ll keep yourself safe by using words?¡±

    ¡°I have a knife as well if it comes to that.¡±

    ¡°Works for me,¡± Aleksi concluded, pulling two chairs from the corner of the room over to the beds. ¡°When do you think they¡¯ll wake up again?¡±

    ¡°With how they¡¯ve behaved, it can¡¯t be more than a few hours,¡± Elijah answered after some thought.

    ¡°So not within the next five minutes,¡± the giant said, walking over to the door. ¡°I¡¯ll wash up, and then¡­ I suppose it¡¯s observation duty for the both of us for the rest of the day.¡±

    ¡°Seems so.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t the entire remainder of the day that passed by before the mumbling started up. Dinnertime had just barely been able to reach them, making Aleksi bring out various bread and meats he¡¯d bought on the way back from the smithy. Way more than enough for two and just good enough for four.

    ¡°Water.¡±

    Barely a whisper, coming from the dry throat of the man on the bed. Elijah was quick to rise from his seat, bringing a durable cup to the wounded as he slowly sat on the bed. Eyes barely glanced his way before the man took the offered source of water, downing it in its entirety in barely a second.

    ¡°I¡¯d advise against repeating that if you don¡¯t want to vomit,¡± Elijah offered, refilling the cup and handing it to the man again. A nod came as confirmation that he¡¯d been heard. It seemed to have been taken to heart as well, seeing as the water was only sipped on before it was handed back to Elijah. ¡°Can you talk?¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Yes?¡± the man replied, a shaky hand reaching at their throat. When the half-formed scars on their arms were seen moments later he froze, seconds passing before he spoke again. ¡°So¡­ this isn¡¯t a vivid nightmare of mine, right?¡±

    The man sounded unsure, a tremor in his voice. Elijah surmised it to be a side-effect of whatever recent trauma he¡¯d experienced. Not a good sign, though the man''s continued ability to talk meant not everything was broken.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not, young man,¡± Elijah said, moving the chair closer to the side of the bed. Aleksi didn¡¯t rise from his seat to do the same, however. The giant simply observed. He had no qualms against it. ¡°Could you tell me your name?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Jack, uh¡­ Jack Larson,¡± the man called Jack answered. Elijah nodded at the words, more pieces falling into place. He had been wondering about the darker skin tone. With the clothes, he¡¯d already assumed that they were foreigners from somewhere, but the strange surname certainly pushed that assumption closer to fact. ¡°Could I ask where I am, by the way? Not to be, like, rude or anything, but my memories of last night are kinda blurry.¡±

    His eyes narrowed a little. Not the strangest question to ask after being moved while unconscious, but Elijah had a suspicion he didn¡¯t just mean what part of the city they were in at the moment.

    ¡°You¡¯re in Kulvik, the country¡¯s capital city,¡± Elijah said, confused eyes looking his way. ¡°Do you know what country you¡¯re in?¡±

    ¡°I really should, shouldn¡¯t I?¡± Jack replied, a nervous chuckle leaving the man. ¡°Shit¡­ One second, I¡¯m in the middle of Montana, and now I¡¯m in whatever this place is called again. That can¡¯t be normal.¡±

    Montana?

    Elijah hadn¡¯t heard of the country. Or maybe it was a city? Definitely foreign, and far enough away that he hadn¡¯t caught the slightest mention of it while perusing various texts.

    ¡°The American State?¡±

    Elijah wasn''t the source of the question, and neither was Aleksi or Jack, the voice instead stemming from the woman two meters away. Eyelids were opened, gray pupils staring at them unshakingly.

    She wakes up so carefully.

    Neither Elijah nor Aleksi had caught it. A strong sign of it being a requirement in the past to not be noticed so easily.

    ¡°Yeah, of course,¡± Jack said happily, though the half-formed smile dimmed when Elijah only looked at him with confusion. ¡°... Please tell me you know where that is.¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t,¡± the woman answered before Elijah could hope to open his mouth.

    ¡°How? We¡¯re like the largest country out there.¡±

    ¡°No. Russia beats you.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    Montana and Russia.

    Two country names meant to have great importance to the two people they¡¯d found, yet neither Elijah nor Aleksi had any clue about where either country was supposed to be located.

    However, he knew for certain that neither was the largest country in the world. That title was owned by the high elves in the far west.

    ¡°So¡­ weird style choices, primarily wooden architecture, whatever shit happened last night, and¡­ yeah, no, this doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± Jack seemed to conclude, hands over his face. ¡°I just sat down on my couch and then I¡¯m just somewhere else while feeling like I¡¯m going to vomit out my insides. Was it like that for you too?¡±

    ¡°Something close to it,¡± the woman said without elaborating further.

    Instant transportation from one place to another.

    From that description alone, it sounded like Teleportation. A type of magic usually performed by Space Mages or people with adjacent affinities.

    Elijah had read texts detailing how some of the so-called wielders of space could go from one side of the world to another in just a single step, which could explain how the two could appear so far within the country''s borders without knowing what the country itself was called, but, once more, their demeanor and contrasting ideas made Elijah skip ahead to the more extreme answer.

    ¡°You¡¯re not from here.¡±

 Chapter 5: System Error

    From how the two looked at him once he said it made him realize they¡¯d concluded the same thing.

    ¡°This is crazy,¡± Jack muttered. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t this just have been a nightmare?¡±

    With a mature attitude towards their current situation, a groan left the man before they fell back onto the bed, their head hitting the pillow hard enough to go through the mattress and reach the wooden frame below.

    The groan increased in volume.

    ¡°You¡¯re not with the people from before,¡± the woman observed, ignoring the downward spiral of the man on the other bed.

    ¡°Indeed we¡¯re not,¡± Elijah offered. ¡°We actually don¡¯t know who the people from before are, other than the corpse we saw you lying down beside. Could you describe how they looked?¡±

    ¡°Most wore purple robes with the hoods covering their faces,¡± the woman answered with a little pause before looking over at Aleksi. ¡°There were three who didn¡¯t. A young woman, an old one, and¡­ somebody identical to that man.¡±

    Elijah glanced at the giant who could only shrug in confusion.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure how Aleksi could¡¯ve been able to be there, since I am relatively confident he was in this house during the night hours,¡± Elijah said, wondering who else it could¡¯ve been. The giant wasn¡¯t the only one that possessed such a large stature, but not many of the others lived nearby or had any reason to be out at night doing illegal work. Another mystery to solve later. ¡°On that note, I don¡¯t believe we¡¯ve shared our names yet. My name is Elijah and the large man that helped me get you up the stairs is Aleksi. What¡¯s your name?¡±

    Here came the hesitation. Momentary, forgotten a second later, but he caught it.

    ¡°Sasha Petrova.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s Slavic isn¡¯t it?¡± Jack commented, having seemingly stopped spiraling as he got back up in a sitting position. ¡°Was your family originally from there before you moved to the US?¡±

    ¡°I have never set foot on American soil in my life,¡± Sasha replied coldly. ¡°Why would you assume such a thing?¡±

    ¡°... Because you¡¯re speaking English without the slightest accent? The one from my state even. If you told me you lived down the street from me, I¡¯d believe you.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t¡ª No. You¡¯re speaking Russian.¡±

    ¡°... Huh.¡±

    A question seemed to appear for everybody in the room.

    ¡°To me, you¡¯re speaking fluent Castillan, though I expect neither of you has ever heard of this language before,¡± Elijah said, getting affirmations sent his way as he rose to grab some random text from the shelf. Some badly written notes about the potency of Sunlily¡¯s remedying effects on blisters. It didn¡¯t matter. ¡°Can you read this?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ no, this doesn¡¯t say anything to me,¡± Jack replied, eyes flying over the characters on the paper. ¡°Is it meant to be written left-to-right and then down?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Oh, great. Still doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± the man summed up, handing it over to Sasha. ¡°Same experience with you?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t see any logic to it, so, yes,¡± Sasha said, giving it back to Elijah who put it on the shelf once again. ¡°There¡¯s a verbal translation happening.¡±

    ¡°Or we¡¯re both just talking in the new language without realizing it,¡± Jack countered. ¡°No way to know for sure, but that idea is already a little too crazy for me. It¡¯s¡­ magic, right?¡±

    ¡°Most likely, yes,¡± Elijah replied, as that fact was obvious from the beginning. To him, at least, the widened eyes from the man made it seem like that had been a guess at the back of their mind.

    ¡°So magic is real?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Magic. Actual magic. Logic-defying acts of magical nature.¡±

    ¡°Since there are countless institutions dedicated to the study of magic, I don¡¯t believe it¡¯s without logic, but¡­ yes.¡±

    ¡°The able-to-fly kind of magic?¡±

    ¡°That would usually be done by Wind Mages but still yes.¡±

    ¡°Actual¡ª¡±

    ¡°Just shut up and think instead of talking,¡± Sasha ordered from her bed, a frown having grown on her due to Jack¡¯s repeated questions.

    ¡°But are you not hearing this? Magic is real,¡± Jack countered. ¡°It¡¯s normal here. In another world. Where we are.¡±

    ¡°Do you take pleasure in repeating something you already figured out before?¡±

    ¡°No, but I feel like you¡¯re not putting as much weight on this as you should be.¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± Sasha said in her defense, blonde hair falling from her shoulders as her head turned a little more towards the man. ¡°I¡¯m simply keeping it to myself.¡±

    ¡°Well, you don¡¯t have to. I think we¡¯re stuck here until¡­¡± Jack began until his voice slowly lowered on its own volition, another realization springing into reality. ¡°How exactly would we get back?¡±

    To this question, Sasha said nothing, silence falling over the room until Elijah addressed the concern.

    ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m not sure you can,¡± he explained, the gray and blue eyes falling onto him. ¡°The corpse we found you next to wore those same purple robes. The only group that wears them in this city are the Royal Mages. They¡¯re powerful sorcerers, with many in their ranks who technically could perform something akin to summoning, but I¡¯ve never heard of that happening in this city before.¡±

    ¡°And since that corpse was in two pieces, it¡¯s probably best to avoid running into that group again if you can help it,¡± Aleksi said, finally bringing himself into the discussion. ¡°I saw the poster downstairs, Elijah.¡±

    Ah.

    ¡°That is another issue, yes,¡± he agreed. ¡°Every guard is currently ordered to search for you because ''you'' have committed murder. If you¡¯re found, your chances are not positive.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°That¡¯s not great,¡± Jack concluded when the silence started to grow again. ¡°I guess we¡¯re stuck here.¡±

    Though there was sadness, the man seemed to accept the fact rather quickly. Elijah hadn¡¯t expected such.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°That¡¯s not acceptable,¡± Sasha interrupted, providing a much more understandable reaction. ¡°I need to get back.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Jack questioned. ¡°Running late to your job or something?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m¡ª¡± she hesitated. ¡°I just need to get back. The¡­ Royal Mages have to do it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say this, but I have no idea if that would even be possible to do by the people who summoned you,¡± Elijah confessed. Even with his limited understanding of summoning, he knew it was usually a one-way trip. Beasts being summoned to fight until their demise was not unheard of during the war, though he had only seen such displays from afar. ¡°For better or worse, I believe it would be best if you were to stay here and recover. After that, we can try helping you search for a way back, but I can make no promises.¡±

    The answer didn¡¯t satisfy the woman, but no words of objection were made. Maybe they realized the futility of it. Or maybe they were just trying to figure out a solution on their own. Elijah didn¡¯t know and neither would he press them for an answer.

    ¡°So¡­ magic,¡± Jack said, bringing the conversation back to the previous topic. ¡°Is that something everybody can learn to use or is it for some people only?¡±

    ¡°Few have a magical affinity, though even those who possess it have to spend decades honing their ability to use it effectively,¡± Elijah explained, bringing out a random seed from one of his pockets. From the shape, it was from one of the flowers he¡¯d sorted earlier. Nothing dangerous. ¡°When you have learned it, however, you can perform what many think of as miracles.¡±

    To deepen his point, he allowed the green threads of Mana in his finger to latch onto the flower seed, sending out the order he¡¯d become an expert at all those years ago.

    Channeling of [Plant Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 8MP/sec

    More MP was drained every second to accommodate for the lack of soil and nutrients, but it wasn¡¯t as if Elijah required more than a few seconds to have some petals form above his fingers.

    ¡°I¡¯m a Biomancer myself, which allows me to perform this act,¡± he said, handing the mess over to Jack at the man¡¯s request. They seemed completely enamored by the thin plant, lightly touching the petals as if it would combust at even the smallest amount of pressure. ¡°I know this both because I know what abilities a Biomancer has, but also because of the world telling me I am as much.¡±

    The inspection halted, eyes flying to him once again.

    ¡°The¡­ world told you that you¡¯re a Biomancer?¡± Jack repeated, to which Elijah nodded. ¡°Did it, like, form a mouth on the ground and say it or what?¡±

    ¡°What? No, but I suppose I can see why you¡¯d think such a thing, when you don¡¯t have experience with mages previously,¡± Elijah clarified, mentally sorting through the various connections within this magical core. It had been so many years since he¡¯d last looked into his soul, but it was still easy to do as breathing. ¡°When you have a magical core, the world allows you to mentally command a¡­ floating paper of sorts before your eyes. On it, you can see various pieces of information about yourself, like your name, your affinity, how much Mana is left in your core, and the various spells that you¡¯ve mastered along with their Tiers.¡±

    ¡°Oh, a status screen.¡±

    Now it was Elijah¡¯s turn to frown.

    ¡°I thought that your world didn¡¯t possess mages,¡± he said.

    ¡°We don¡¯t, but I¡¯ve got friends that used to play so many tabletop games,¡± Jack explained, though his words made Elijah wonder more about the culture of the other world than anything. ¡°Now¡­ status screen, looking within yourself, and¡­ no, there has to be something.¡±

    Elijah was confident the man would find nothing, seeing as there was practically nothing in terms of magical energy radiating from them. The same observation could be made for Sasha, to the point where he nearly thought she had less magical energy than the air around them. How that was even possible, he didn¡¯t know, but perhaps it was another quirk of living in a world without mages.

    As for him¡­ well, the world had finally decided to answer his request, his magical core sending along the floating list that represented his seat in the world.

    Name: Elijah Caede

    Affinity: Biomancy

    Mana: 356

    Spells:

    [Accelerate Growth](Tier 1)

    [Plant Bond](Tier 1)

    In the grand scheme of magical mechanics, it wasn¡¯t much information. Most of the more advanced tidbits of lore about his person could only be explored through manual inspections along with help from outside entities. The grandmasters of the Arcane could likely bring the world to put in more detail, or they could simply list it all themselves.

    Regardless, this was enough for somebody like Elijah. It offered his affinity and the two spells that he had used in the old days.

    And only the first Tier of depth as well¡­ Maybe the time to explore the arts has finally come.

    ¡°There! I got it,¡± Jack exclaimed, bringing Elijah out of his thoughts. The wide grin on the man¡¯s face seemed to nearly split his face until the eyes flickered and the glee turned to despair. ¡°Error? What do you mean ¡®error?¡¯¡±

    Curious.

    ¡°You were able to open the list yourself, I take it?¡± Elijah inquired.

    ¡°Yeah, but there¡¯s nothing on it,¡± Jack said. ¡°Has my name, says my Mana is zero, the spell section is empty, and the Affinity just says ¡®error.¡¯¡±

    Error.

    Elijah hadn¡¯t heard of such an affinity before in his life. He doubted it was one either, as the standard naming standards across all the affinities usually ended with the -mancy suffix. While some exceptions did exist, they could be counted on one hand.

    ¡°I am being told the same thing,¡± Sasha supplied a few seconds into Jack¡¯s complaining. ¡°Except for the Mana, which says I am below zero.¡±

    ¡­ The peculiarities continued to grow.

    ¡°A side-effect of coming from another world maybe?¡± Aleksi suggested from his seat. ¡°The world might just not know what to call you or it could just be confused.¡±

    There was a chance, though they once again had little way to investigate deeper. Texts about people reaching their world from another likely existed, but Elijah would have little chance of ever getting his hands on them. Nearly everything in terms of magic and the associated arts was located inside the academy¡¯s library, something only accessible to the students enrolled.

    ¡°We will wait and see if it could be an issue, but, until that time, it means nothing,¡± Elijah concluded, looking out through the window, he noted the last rays of sun had disappeared. ¡°Waiting is my suggestion overall as well. The sedatives might have lessened in their strength, but your bodies are still not entirely in your control yet. Waiting until tomorrow to move around would be for the best.¡±

    There was little in the way of complaints about such, one happy to sleep away the last bits of drowsiness while the other understood there was no other choice.

    ¡°We¡¯ll return in the morning then. Please don¡¯t try to rise from your beds in the meantime, unless necessary,¡± Elijah informed, giving them directions to the adjacent bathroom before he and Aleksi ventured out of the room and closed the door behind them.

    However, it was only when they were down the stairs and inside the laboratory that they spoke.

    ¡°That went better than I¡¯d hoped,¡± Aleksi commented, while Elijah sorted through the pieces of equipment they would need on their nighttime excursion. Small amounts of food and drink, some emergency bandages along with pastes to deal with various injuries, and finally some liquid lights if they decided to venture into parts of the dungeon that didn¡¯t possess the usual plants with bioluminescent properties. ¡°Little to no fighting us, some idea of who we need to avoid, and a chance we¡¯ll get through this without dying.¡±

    ¡°I distinctly remember somebody getting a bloody nose earlier today,¡± Elijah countered, getting a chuckle in response. A short glance at the formerly bleeding nostril revealed no sign of recent sustained damage of any kind. Even though it had been so long since the last treatment, the giant¡¯s body was still operating high above normal levels. ¡°But you¡¯re right. We know a little more to add to this mystery. People from another world are kidnapped by Royal Mages before they are then thrown into an alley together with one of the kidnappers.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t make much sense,¡± the giant said. ¡°They¡¯re clearly looking for them, but the fact that those two were allowed to walk around the city while being escorted isn¡¯t holding up to how the royals usually do things.¡±

    ¡°Might be that the royals weren¡¯t involved in this.¡±

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Aleksi supposed. ¡°It¡¯s just a mess for us, no matter what, though.¡±

    ¡°On that, we can agree,¡± Elijah said, putting on the last parts of his outdoor outfit along with the newly added liquid lights on his belt. ¡°Are you ready to leave?¡±

    ¡°Just about,¡± Aleksi said, the large man tying the rolled-up bags to the satchel on his side. They¡¯d all be filled to the brim in some hours, but until then it made little sense to carry them in his hands. ¡°And I¡¯m guessing that you bringing the lights with us means you want to go deeper than usual.¡±

    ¡°Just a floor or two more down.¡±

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll bring the good axe this time then.¡±

    Elijah had no qualms about such. If the giant hadn¡¯t decided to bring it himself, he would¡¯ve outright suggested it.

    First time deeper than the third floor in 20 years.

    It would be an interesting experience.

 Chapter 6: Give Me Grace

    Grace blinked tiredly as she continued to stare at the schematic in front of her. So many names for so many parts, lines drawn from each in an intersecting web that befuddled her to no end. It shouldn¡¯t have, seeing as she was the one who¡¯d drawn them to begin with, but her eyes were betraying her in these later hours.

    Everything had started to blur together, names not making sense when she stared at them for a full minute, and calculations meant to have been trivial to do in her head required notes to double-check.

    She was, for lack of a better description, spent.

    The sight of her desk, riddled with pens and small half-assembled mechanical parts began to fade into darkness as her eyes slowly closed. Sleeping here wasn¡¯t a good idea, but resting her eyes for a minute or two wouldn¡¯t hurt, would it? From the looks of it, she would be working into the night again, so-

    ¡°I don¡¯t hear scribbling coming from your side, Grace,¡± the voice of her mentor said, cutting through whatever delusion she¡¯d tried to trick herself into accepting. Her back strengthened, her eyes focused just a little more than before, and she could turn her head to see Rubeus walking over. Whatever work he¡¯d been busy with sat on his own desk, the schematics beside it infinitely more complex than what she¡¯d been working on. ¡°Should I take that you¡¯re done for the day?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no, not at all!¡± Grace quickly assured him. ¡°I¡¯m barely halfway, actually, since I¡¯m meant to figure out how to assimilate these pieces together without any collisions in the system when it¡¯s running, and¡­ it¡¯s not as easy as I thought it would be.¡±

    Getting this position had been harder than anything she¡¯d ever done before, so there was little chance Grace would mess it up by not being able to keep up with her own timetable. The due date for this project was progressing, and the required sections that had to be finished before that point were still hardly started on.

    Yet that sense of panic wasn¡¯t shared with Rubeus, the old man just chuckling at the wide-eyed pile of anxiety.

    ¡°You''re tired, Grace,¡± Rubeus said, using a more fatherly tone. ¡°Any work you¡¯ll do now won¡¯t have the quality you¡¯ll be able to do once you¡¯ve had sleep. Refreshed minds are better than depleted ones any day of the year.¡±

    ¡°I know, sir, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s about your project having to be completed next month, don¡¯t worry,¡± the Royal Mage cut in before she could make any form of objection. ¡°More complexity means you should get more allotted time, and, since I¡¯m the one in control of allotments, I can push in another month or two for you.¡±

    Rubeus Hayes was more than just the administrator of student projects, of course. The man was in control of just about everything academy-related, from the library to the curriculum and even down to the prioritized research topics. Everything important that was related to the magical arts went through Grace¡¯s mentor before it could be implemented, both because of his position but also the knowledge he possessed.

    The Royal Mage had been one of the founding members of the academy, after all, having stood with many others while their country formed from their hard work. Their practical and theoretical expertise were unmatched by every other mentor that a last-year student could hope to be put under, which was all the more reason why Grace had fought to be where she was now.

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°Thank you, sir. I won¡¯t forget this,¡± she promised her mentor, packing away her papers and experiments before she forgot how to do even that. The entire day had been spent working on the mechanics and little else, which meant she hadn¡¯t gotten the chance to discuss a certain topic with the one she now worked on. ¡°By the way, there is¡­ something I wanted to mention to you.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Rubeus said, stopping halfway between his and her desk. The Royal Mage had clearly intended to not heed his own advice and work through the night himself, but her words had put a temporary halt to that plan. ¡°Is it something related to your project?¡±

    ¡°No, sir, it¡¯s¡­a discovery I made outside of my research while out in the city,¡± Grace explained, pausing to debate whether to actually say this. Elijah had asked her to be silent, to not tell others about his gift, but this was important. ¡°Please don¡¯t spread it around.¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s something that you¡¯d rather keep secret from the others in the academy, I won¡¯t tell another soul,¡± her mentor promised. A very earnest tone, along with the heaviness one would expect in this situation. ¡°What is it you wish to tell me?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s about one of my old friends, an alchemist,¡± she clarified. ¡°While he has been knowledgeable about nearly everything I¡¯ve asked him about, he¡¯s never shown any magical ability, yet when I went and met him this morning he was shining with this liquidy green light.¡±

    Even with the massive beard covering half of her mentor¡¯s face, Grace could still see old eyes widen in surprise.

    ¡°A close-to-liquid type of green light¡­ My guess is Biomancy,¡± Rubeus said, Grace confirming it. Of course, her mentor would know from her description alone. ¡°Very interesting. It was from one day to the other?¡±

    ¡°Well, the last time I saw him was a week ago, but he told me it was last night when he awakened,¡± Grace replied, her mentor encouraging her to continue. ¡°He said that he was down in the dungeon collecting herbs like he usually did when he felt like he could connect to the plants around him, and that he successfully did as much when he got back home. He even showed me his ability when I visited! He was able to make a seed grow into a flower in under a minute.¡±

    ¡°Oh my,¡± Rubeus commented, brows furrowed. They¡¯d become like that after she¡¯d mentioned the place where Elijah had first felt the change. ¡°To be able to accelerate the life cycle of a flower within 12 hours of awakening is impressive in itself, though¡­ just to be sure, I need to ask how old this alchemist is.¡±

    ¡°He did need to lean against a table to stay standing afterward, so that was likely his limit,¡± Grace clarified before her mentor became too excited. ¡°And, when I asked, he told me he was 71 years old. Much older than the normal time one would awaken their abilities.¡±

    ¡°Much older, yes,¡± her mentor agreed, staying quiet for a minute while deep in thought. ¡°Is it because of their age that they didn¡¯t want you to share the good news with others?¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± she confirmed. ¡°He didn¡¯t think he would be able to survive the mandated testing for the recently awakened, and¡­ he also feared that the neighborhood wouldn¡¯t leave him alone if they learned of his gift.¡±

    The calm and serene attitude from her mentor was thrown away in a second, as a bark of laughter left Rubeus¡¯ lips. Grace nearly jumped at the sound, not expecting that reaction.

    ¡°Oh, to be burdened with such minor consequences. I don¡¯t envy your friend,¡± Rubeus confessed, wiping away a tear before looking at Grace once again. He didn¡¯t look angry, which was a good thing, but she did fear the next request. ¡°Still, I would love to meet him. Unofficially, of course. If he doesn¡¯t wish to be a registered mage, I won¡¯t force the matter, but such a late awakening is very interesting regardless.¡±

    Grace bit her lip, hoping that Elijah wouldn¡¯t mind too much.

 Chapter 7: Unravel the Truth

    The world in its entirety was chaotic, but small parts did have the ability to be ordered. At least that¡¯s what Olivia told herself on days like these, where half her office was overflowing with old reports and badly-filled-out dungeon-entry requests she needed to sign off on before the end of the week.

    Why exactly she had the duty of sorting through who was allowed to enter the dungeon at what times was something she couldn¡¯t explain, and neither could any of the people above her. During the founding of the city, the old guard captain had simply picked up the task while the administration got its feet on the ground, and¡­ since it had never seemed like the biggest issue from an outside perspective, there had never been anybody around to take it away again.

    And, to be fair, it usually wasn¡¯t that much of a concern. Ignoring the burns and cuts that her men were stupid enough to get regularly, there wasn¡¯t much that truly required her attention. Balancing an ever-tightening budget, stopping idiots from forcing themselves through the dungeon entrance, and managing the actual entry requests were just about all she had to do normally.

    But then came this. An entire night and day was spent filling the city with wanted posters, an extra chunk of the budget wasted so those on leave could go back into their uniform and help, and then they have the gall to take it all back.

    ¡°They want all posters removed and burned before morning, ma¡¯am,¡± Fred said, the lower-ranked guard wincing as Olivia¡¯s desk buckled under her grip, dents forming on the surface. ¡°We got the message just now.¡±

    She was angry.

    ¡°Hundreds of man hours for a rush job and now they want us to tear it all down,¡± Olivia muttered, the grip on her desk tightening further until her fingers went all the way through. That calmed her down, though the splinters forced into her skin helped as well in their own way. "Did they give us any reason for the change of mind?¡±

    ¡°None, ma¡¯am,¡± Fred reported, just staring at her as she sighed tiredly. She was hitting three all-nighters in a row now. Two was usually her limit these days, but it seemed that pushing the extremes was just her new way of life. ¡°What do you want us to do?¡±

    Rip the idiots apart and put their heads on spikes.

    That was the private person inside her talking. A very reasonable suggestion when put alongside her current sleep schedule, even if the professional part of her brain thought otherwise.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to do but obey, I suppose,¡± Olivia said, resigned to fulfill her duties to her best efforts. Or at least to some degree of effort. Her men liked this about as much as she did if the sour faces outside her office had anything to say about it. ¡°Maybe¡­ maybe there is something rotten about this.¡±

    And maybe her duty was more than just obeying the orders sent in from above.

    Of course, it was.

    She had signed up for the betterment of the city, just as many others had done. Those above her had sworn off this ideal as well, with the context given with every large or abnormal order. Context was the standard, yet it was completely absent here.

    An abnormality in the part of the world meant to be orderly.

    It didn¡¯t sit right with Olivia. Something was wrong with this.

    She had to get some clarity.

    ¡°Ma¡¯am?¡± Fred said as Olivia pushed past him, opening the door out into the dungeon entrance where the rest of her on-duty squad sat, ready to accept her commands should she give them.

    They all looked at her.

    Olivia walked right past them, the stone arch in front of the dungeon gone through as she headed into the actual city.

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, where are you going?¡±

    ¡°To get answers,¡± Olivia answered, before realizing her position. The others hadn¡¯t questioned her actions too much, getting into formation and following her. That wouldn¡¯t work. ¡°In the meanwhile, you split into groups and tear down every single poster you¡¯ve put up. Don¡¯t leave any of them behind, or our asses will be on the line. Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡±

    ¡°And, Fred, make sure to let Elijah in when he comes around. And ask him to take down the poster in his shop.¡±

    Two others stayed behind with her second-in-command to guard the entrance, of course. Even with their trust in her judgment, the unsaid hadn''t needed to be voiced at all. They were still guards focused on the dungeon and the daily activities associated with it, and they would prioritize that above all other orders.

    Yet now we¡¯re told to do just the opposite.

    Maybe those above in the rank hierarchy really were incompetent. A strange thought, since they¡¯d been so good in the past. Had there been any shifting around in the command structure recently? Olivia couldn¡¯t remember.

    Wouldn¡¯t have been good if there had, since it meant she would¡¯ve needed to wait until morning to barge into the Command Office down on Royal Street. But, luckily, there were still the same worn-out names on the doors as usual, and Olivia was able to walk into the guard commander¡¯s workroom without the slightest issue.

    Somebody with an intact and healthy sleep schedule wouldn¡¯t have been in their work area at this time of night.

    But she wasn¡¯t the one in this country that had invented the practice. The honor for that went to the older man sitting in the chair before her, one with bags under his eyes that rivaled her own.

    ¡°... Olivia Blackwell. I¡¯m surprised to see you visiting at this time of day,¡± Mateo commented, the older man glancing at the clock on the wall. They were rapidly approaching midnight. Olivia heard a mumble about that fact, the words able to go through the commander¡¯s gray mustache with some difficulty. ¡°I¡¯m guessing this is about the recent orders you¡¯ve been sent?¡±

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Did you even have to ask?

    ¡°No shit,¡± Olivia replied with the bluntness this situation deserved. At least the commanding officer before didn¡¯t take her words too harshly, eyebrows hardly lifting at her remark. ¡°I¡¯ve had more guards active in the last 24 hours than ever before, all because of an unexplained order, and now you want me to do it again to remove the work we did the first time.¡±

    ¡°Believe me when I tell you that I wasn¡¯t happy with this either,¡± Mateo promised, tone even and professional. Olivia couldn¡¯t find the slightest hint of distaste in his voice. ¡°But these commands were from the royal branch. We must obey them, even if we don¡¯t understand it.¡±

    What?

    Olivia¡¯s angry heart quieted down, as a contradiction formed in front of her.

    This didn¡¯t make sense.

    ¡°It¡¯s the royals that ordered this?¡± Olivia questioned. ¡°Not another branch that discovered the body of the victim, or the ones who interviewed the group that somehow saw the faces of the perpetrators with such intricate detail that perfect renditions could be made of them for the posters?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the royal branch, Olivia. Not the actual royals,¡± the commander corrected, not acknowledging the last part of her statement. Her anger began to reform from that fact alone. ¡°And where this order comes from shouldn¡¯t concern you either. You have been given a duty to fulfill, you have made sure it came through me, and now you go do it.¡±

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°Did you not hear me? Go.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Of course, sir,¡± Olivia said, eyes downwards as she left the office of her superior behind. ¡°I apologize for the intrusion.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just get the posters removed before morning comes around,¡± Mateo said, the annoyance in his voice gone and replaced with indifference. ¡°Oh, and, before I forget, please dispose of the file you were sent regarding this case.¡±

    She stopped in her footsteps, an idea coming to mind.

    ¡°Sorry?¡±

    ¡°The file that came with the last messenger had wrong information on it,¡± Mateo explained, the commander¡¯s eyes already focused on the documents on his desk once again. ¡°We¡¯ve fixed and put the new version in the archive, but all the old ones need to be burnt before we can put this ordeal behind us.¡±

    ¡°... Right,¡± Olivia replied. ¡°I¡¯ll get on that, sir.¡±

    ¡°See that you do.¡±

    She closed the door and headed down the hallway once again. Instead of going outside and back to her station, however, Olivia went up the stairs and onto the second floor of the building.

    During the day hours, it would be absolutely filled with administration workers, dozens upon dozens making sure everything financial and mercantile was properly documented and without falsifications. How it all worked, Olivia couldn¡¯t say, but she had been up there plenty of times in the past to visit the adjacent archives.

    The large door to it was locked, of course, and she knew from experience it was heavy enough that nobody would be knocking it down alone. Not that she needed to, seeing as all captains had the keys required to get inside.

    Pushing the metal door open, the smell of old air and even older documents nearly made her cough. How anybody stayed inside for more than a few minutes at a time was a mystery to her.

    Hopefully, she wouldn¡¯t need to.

    Where exactly are you hiding, little file?

    Calling the archive unorganized would be a dishonor to all the chaotic messes in the world, but the people around here did have a preference for putting all recent entries into the front of the mess. From the dates on all the boxes on the first few shelves, Olivia could see that they hadn¡¯t changed in this respect just yet.

    Would¡¯ve been great to have some readable name tags on the front as well, but that¡¯s just too much to ask for around here.

    Olivia sighed, ready to manually look through all the boxes. Before she could get the first one off the shelf, however, red dots caught her attention.

    One of the boxes at the top, nearly hidden from her view, had a few dried spots of red on its front. Not the kind that would form from having liquid drop on the surface, but the kind that came from it seeping through from the other side.

    Pulling it down and looking at the date, Olivia found that it matched perfectly. And¡­ opening up the box and looking inside, a bloody robe met her eyes.

    Got you.

    The fabric was shredded and bloodied, the robe itself looking to have been crudely ripped in half. Maybe the mage who¡¯d been wearing it had suffered that same fate, seeing how the majority of the dried blood was focused around the cuts.

    And Olivia knew it was a mage. A Royal Mage at that, seeing as nobody else in the city was allowed to wear a thing like this.

    Why would they hide this?

    A Royal Mage had been killed brutally, by the looks of it, and she and her guards had been told nothing of the sort. This was more than newsworthy. The public would¡¯ve been in an uproar if they learned that one of the most respected people in the country had been killed while walking around in the slums.

    Which begged the question of why they were out there, to begin with.

    ¡°What are you hiding?¡± Olivia muttered as she pulled the robe out from the box to look at it better. The darkness of the archive had made it hard to see the details and¡ª

    Her issue was solved when the metal door into the archive opened up five meters away from her, two men freezing as they saw her already inside. Olivia didn¡¯t care much for their appearance, however, as the extra light allowed her to see the light coating of green dust on the purple robe.

    This isn¡¯t possible.

    ¡°What are you doing here so late?¡± one of the men questioned as she put the robe back into the box and put it onto the shelf.

    ¡°I could ask you the same thing,¡± Olivia fired back.

    ¡°Official business, on behalf of the royal family,¡± was the instant response. ¡°Now get out.¡±

    Though she narrowed her eyes, she didn¡¯t fight the order. With her hands up, she ventured out the door and into the regular administration area. When looking back, Olivia was able to spot one of the men taking down the box she¡¯d held just a second before.

    Then the door closed and whatever happened next was hidden from her eyes.

    That¡¯s the last time anybody will see that robe, isn¡¯t it?

    Probably was. And that fact infuriated her.

    There was something wrong here. Olivia had known that since the first order had come in from her commander. Now, with this display of corruption, she had ground to stand on. Shaky ground but ground nonetheless.

    And that green dust¡­

    After so many years working as the head guard of the dungeon, Olivia could recognize that pollen from everywhere. It wasn¡¯t uncommon for warriors to be covered in it after venturing down to the mid-depth floors.

    And that robe had gotten a very recent coating, which meant the mage who owned it had been in the dungeon depths the night that he¡¯d been killed. Inside a dungeon nobody was meant to have been able to enter without Olivia taking note of it.

    There was meant to be only one entrance, after all.

    ¡­

    Olivia had to know the truth.

 Chapter 8: The Dungeon Thinks

    Elijah could feel his muscles tense. Not from strain or overuse after a long day but the type that came from stress. He could feel it in his back as he stood upright a little more than usual, in his stomach as they walked, and in his hands as he gripped the bags that would soon be filled to the brim with an assortment of herbs and various other items that needed to be harvested tonight.

    Not many others could be seen walking through the main streets tonight. A little unusual, though it was nothing that he cursed. The quiet air was a boon in many ways at the moment.

    They moved from the poor district of the city and over to the richer center. Still middle-class, of course, but the quality of the buildings increased dramatically. The stone tiles were less crude, and more even in their placement, and the roofs were still intact and well-colored. Inside each house next to the road, the magical lights conjured for regular use were easy to spot, as the rays flew out from the windows and into the slight mist that gathered in the street. Not thick enough to impair vision but just enough to allow for the lines of light to be seen clearly.

    It did hide the dungeon from view until they turned a corner and ventured into the very center of the city, however. Not a hard task to fulfill, of course, as the large open space around it didn¡¯t leave much opportunity for light sources to illuminate the structure.

    Even if most of the magical construct was hidden deep beneath the surface, the very top had been modified to look more appealing. Several large arches surrounded the entrance into the dungeon, beautiful carvings made in each of them that depicted the creation of the country. Elijah had never cared for them too much, though even he had to compliment the white-and-gray coloring.

    The arches were also practical, of course. The one at the very front was equipped with a portculis, which allowed the guards there to easily block the entrance during the hours when nobody was allowed to enter. And that wasn¡¯t all, the space between the front arch and the one to the right of it was slightly wider to allow for an office to be settled there. Though it was cleverly hidden in plain sight, the guards had somewhere to sit while on break, and it also allowed for a certain guard captain to do her administrative duties while being close to her men if anything needed to be done quickly.

    Tonight, however¡­ There was a peculiar sight.

    As the dungeon was the home of countless magically-manifested herbs and beasts, it was both a boon and a danger to the surrounding area. Plants might stay in place and grow peacefully, but the monsters were attracted to the scent and noises of life above. Though the regular trips inside by warriors limited the numbers that the beasts could grow to be, some would often still slip by and make their way through the top floors and over to the dungeon entrance.

    Tens of guards were meant to be ready in that situation, killing any monster with brutal efficiency. A single man could easily deal with one beast, of course, but the monsters rarely walked alone, hence the need for those dozen guards at the entrance at any moment of the day. The metal mesh might hold most out during the off-hours, but the beasts had a habit of simply tearing it apart and going through regardless.

    And yet, as he and Aleksi walked up to the dungeon¡¯s entrance, Elijah could only count three heads. A fraction of the normal amount and a clear sign of something being wrong.

    ¡°Elijah!¡± a guard at the entrance to the dungeon shouted as they approached. ¡°Glad to see you¡¯re on time today. And hello to you too, Aleksi. Didn''t expect to see you today.¡±

    ¡°Somebody had problems with their back and needed help carrying bags,¡± Aleksi explained, getting a polite laugh out of the guard.

    ¡°Can I ask why there are so few of you tonight?¡± Elijah asked Fred. ¡°Did too many of you drink before your shift again?¡±

    ¡°Ah, no, we aren¡¯t making that mistake more than once,¡± Fred assured him. They all remembered how Olivia had gotten a few years ago when half hadn¡¯t shown up to do their job and the other half had shown up seeing double. ¡°We actually have¡­ just about everybody on the job today. Not here, though. They¡¯re running around town pulling down all those wanted posters we put up today.¡±

    What?

    ¡°Why?¡± Aleksi asked a low laugh leaving the old giant. ¡°Seems a little counterproductive of you.¡±

    ¡°For sure, but orders are orders and we don¡¯t have much of a say in whatever goes on above. Even when nothing gets explained to us,¡± Fred said. ¡°Oh, right, Elijah, Olivia told me to pass a message on to you. She wants you to pull down the poster she put up in your shop.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it when we¡¯re done with this excursion,¡± Elijah promised, trying to move things along. Fred seemed to get the message, the guard leaving his relaxed position next to the arch to help the two other guards get the metal mesh a meter or two upwards so they could get inside. When they did, he and Aleksi stepped through and into the cave. ¡°We should be back up within the next three to four hours.¡±

    ¡°Long trip,¡± Fred commented. Very observant, though the guard likely just remembered Elijah¡¯s old estimates of one to two hours. ¡°Are you planning on going deeper than usual? Not sure Olivia would like that.¡±

    ¡°No, we¡¯re still staying on the top floors. It¡¯s just that the extra bags will take more time to fill.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see. Move along then.¡±

    The two other guards wished them good luck, which they were thanked for before he and Aleksi ventured down into the dungeon. The first hundred meters or so of the cave system was decently close to a spiral staircase of sorts. The walls and ceiling looked like a very natural structure, the stone as far from flat as possible as jagged edges and tips filled the surface. Leaning on anything would cause a multitude of cuts that would require one to go back up and get treated.

    A common mistake for a tired beginner in this area, but both Elijah and Aleksi were far from beginners.

    ¡°Any notices about crawlers recently?¡± the giant asked him as they hit a depth of about fifty meters. They knew that from the fact that the bioluminescent moss had started to show up consistently, illuminating the cave around them relatively well. The soft blue glow did create shadows on some of the far-away spots of the area, though, giving ample place for ambush monsters to hide.

    ¡°None that I was made aware of yesterday,¡± Elijah explained, continuing to walk through the tunnel at a steady pace. They still had another half kilometer of walking before their first harvest area would be revealed. ¡°Keep an eye out anyway, though.¡±

    ¡°Was already planning to. Hard to trust your blind eyes only.¡±

    His ¡®blind eyes¡¯ worked perfectly well when Elijah ventured down here alone most times, but calling them as much in comparison to Aleksi¡¯s was perhaps not too far from the truth. While he had to narrow his eyes to see in the darkness and find the more elusive plants, the entire area seemed perfectly well-lit to the giant.

    A byproduct of the old alchemical treatment he¡¯d gotten five decades ago, along with the steady use of enhancement concoctions that had been consumed during the war. An already-strong man had become taller and better built than any normal person could ever hope for, along with his senses getting increased to the point where they rivaled weaker elves.

    Darkness could look like day, and a breathless whisper could be heard from the other end of the room. A great boon in combat and war, little able to sneak up on the giant, but a terrible curse during day-to-day life. Elijah could easily remember the first year of their living inside the city, where the giant could only sleep when collapsing from exhaustion.

    The mental image seeped into the forefront of his mind for a few precious seconds, until Elijah¡¯s magical core twisted itself around and sent signals directly into his head.

    What?

    ¡°What is it?¡± Aleksi asked when Elijah stopped in his tracks. His feet had stopped listening to his commands, as he began to focus entirely on the swirling happening within. ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    It¡¯s alive.

    Elijah didn¡¯t answer, taking a deep breath to get himself calmed down. This¡­ He¡¯d known that the dungeon would be full of life, he¡¯d known that for a fact for the last many years due to having come down here so often, but with his magical senses restored that fact reached a higher level of truth.

    It wasn¡¯t just the plants and the monsters that radiated with life down here. The very air that they both breathed in was filled to the brim with it, filled with intent, filled with a mind.

    Everything around them was alive. The dungeon was alive.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Elijah finally answered, as a large hand gripped his shoulder. ¡°The effects of releasing my core are just more severe than expected. It¡¯s like a sudden rush between the ears.¡±

    ¡°Serious enough to go back up?¡±

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°No. We¡¯re sticking to the plan.¡±

    The released magical core was partly the reason they were down here, after all. The official reason for Elijah¡¯s second trip into the depths this week was because of a mishap with the gathered herbs the day before. Olivia certainly believed it was a mishap that caused the lack of a finished product.

    Whatever the case, it also gave Elijah the chance to test out his magical abilities once again in an environment that harbored no prying eyes. Quite the perk, though there was one more quirk about dungeons that made it so utterly perfect for anybody wanting to test out the magical arts.

    The extreme density of mana already present in the air.

    Any spell formed and shot out into the world had push-back due to the air and everything else resisting its efforts. If a Wind Mage tried to push air around, the regular air would fight tooth and nail to take the energy inside the conjured version and distribute it evenly until it was spread so thin that it was practically impossible to control.

    A way to think of it was to imagine the spell as a high-density gas and the world around them being a low-density variant. The higher the amount of mana in a spell, the higher the density and the higher the pressure that came with it. An exponential curve when it came to how much control was required to maintain anything outside of the body.

    But increasing the mana density in the air around them alleviated that issue. Not entirely, of course, but enough that ordinary mages could push themselves much further than normal. And more frequently as well, since the higher amounts in the area around them allowed their core to refill rapidly.

    The perfect testing ground, as long as you weren¡¯t killed by any beasts that roamed the dungeon.

    And it only got better the further a person went into the dungeon. The air was thick at the top of the dungeon when compared to the outside world, but it would seem like nothing when put next to what could be expected at the bottom. Elijah had never personally gone down more than a few floors, but he¡¯d heard the descriptions. When warriors ventured down far enough, there wasn¡¯t even a need for the bioluminescent plants to light up the world, the wild mana in the air giving a constant swirling of colors that could be seen with the naked eye.

    The level of density required for such a thing was unthinkable, yet it was easily accessed down there. With the potential that it brought, Elijah could almost consider going down there with an escort one day.

    Not now, though. Right now, this density at the very top was more than enough for him.

    ¡°We¡¯re getting close to the first stop,¡± Elijah announced as he studied the tunnel around him. More than just the moss had started to pop up, a few purple flowers and jagged vines sprouting from the walls. Neither of those were useful to him, but they were a good indicator of when he needed to keep an eye out for the hidden treasure. ¡°Say if you see golden petals.¡±

    ¡°Will do.¡±

    It did take another three minutes of walking before they reached a point of interest. The cave tunnel had changed from a tight fit into a much wider area, nearing the description of a fully-fledged cavern. It was five meters in height at the lowest and easily fifteen at the highest, along with being around fifty meters from one end to the other. A massive place with a massive surface for plants to grow.

    ¡°There¡¯s a group over at the edge there,¡± Aleksi pointed out as they stepped into the world of flowers. Most of the area was taken up by the purple petals still, but some select spots had useful ones. ¡°Good handful.¡±

    ¡°Well-spotted,¡± Elijah said, carefully wading through the other plants until he reached the designated spot. As described, there were about twenty fully-grown flowers, but with nearly a hundred buds hiding beneath.

    A side-effect of this area already having been harvested the day before. The plants usually taken hadn¡¯t had the chance to grow back to their full might just yet. A pity, but¡­ Elijah had an idea of how to solve this issue.

    First cutting out the heads of the flowers and putting them into their prepared bag, he put his palm into the center of the golden growth.

    The issue was a lack of time to grow naturally, so he just had to accelerate the process a little. Not easy to do fast when it was a group of flowers this size, but the helping push of the dungeon came in handy here.

    ¡°Grow,¡± Elijah whispered to the plants, before letting threads of mana grow from his fingertips and connecting them to the root systems of the flowers.

    Channeling of [Accelerate Growth] has been activated! Current cost: 12MP/sec

    A high cost if this was a single plant, but this was easily forty. And with the same speed of growth that Elijah had caused back in the house, the flowers twitched around as pulses of energy traveled through them to rapidly grow their masses. Processes that would¡¯ve taken days took seconds, and buds only starting to consider sprouting instead instantly unfurled to show their beautiful coloring to the world.

    A week of growth put into fifteen seconds. Elijah felt some satisfaction seeing what he was able to do, but his body didn¡¯t feel the same way as his shoulders sagged.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one saying I should take it easy normally?¡± Aleksi questioned as he helped Elijah up from the ground, holding his body in place while he got in some long breaths. ¡°You¡¯re not twenty again, just because you can feel your magic.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Elijah replied as he looked at how much mana he had left in his reserves.

    Mana: 180

    And more is growing back every second.

    The wave of weakness dissipated after a couple more breaths, and the veins of mana in his body were refilled and operational once again. The lackluster channeling through them greatly annoyed Elijah, but he knew that steady practice would bring back the levels that he had worked towards in the old days. At least partly. Five decades without a lick of energy inside had likely caused some amount of damage he couldn¡¯t detect.

    Regardless, he harvested the forty grown petals as well, making sure seeds were present so they could grow back within the week, and then it was onto the next spot in the cavern. More golden flowers were cut and bagged, and more spots received the previous dose of accelerated growth as well. After the first mishap, Elijah did get slightly better at pacing himself. Instead of forcing the growth into only fifteen seconds, he pushed it to thirty.

    A simple solution to an outsider, but such fine control over his output took considerable will. The only reason Elijah could even deviate so strongly from the standard form of the spell was because of his past experiences with doing such a thing. When he¡¯d been the one with the task of producing massive amounts of herbs while moving, he had done it by connecting to several hundred plants at once and having them have a month¡¯s worth of growth in only a day or two.

    A few years of doing that had made him pretty decent at this. Better than most other Biomancers, though it was only in this single aspect. With just about everything else, he was very far behind.

    The cons of living on the street for the first many years, I suppose.

    Dwelling on his military past brought him no amount of happiness, however, and Elijah honed back into the task at hand. It took only twenty minutes before the cavern had been emptied of useful flowers and they could move on.

    ¡°Nearly full with one bag already,¡± Aleksi commented as they did, making sure to not put too much pressure on the gathered flowers. They needed to be unspoiled if Elijah was to work with them properly. ¡°How long does it usually take to fill them all up nowadays?¡±

    ¡°An hour, usually,¡± Elijah replied, equating it to three thorough cavern harvests. ¡°With the Biomancy, I could push the normal trip down to forty minutes.¡±

    ¡°But not the one we¡¯re going on.¡±

    ¡°Indeed.¡±

    An hour was spent repeating the same cycle of going further and further into the dungeon, picking out the obvious flowers and herbs, and then putting them into the bags. A quiet operation with no prominent issues other than mildly tired bodies.

    And, normally, that hour of work was everything that needed to be done. The top floors had everything required to make basic healing supplies. Everything that Elijah was supposed to bring out tonight.

    But they had no intention of settling with the standard, and the duo eyed the tunnel ahead. It went down at a rather steep angle, promising that anybody missing their footing would tumble for nearly a full minute.

    ¡°You ready?¡± Aleksi asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Elijah replied, following behind the giant as they began the trek down into the deep. The entire path was still illuminated, of course, the bioluminescent moss persisting in their presence on the walls of the dungeon. If anything, they seemed to increase in strength the further down they went, the plants feeling the effects of the thickening mana as much as Elijah did.

    Was it always so hard to breathe?

    ¡°I can hear your heart beating faster than it should,¡± Aleksi commented, slowing down in their descent just slightly. ¡°Stop before you inherit my consequences.¡±

    ¡°You make it sound like this reaction is intentional,¡± Elijah countered, stretching his fingers as static filled the digits. The dull sensation of being on fire while freezing at the same time was terrible, yet Elijah knew he should¡¯ve still been fully able to move around like a normal human being. ¡°I¡¯m adjusting to it. Slowly.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d hope so,¡± Aleksi muttered, making Elijah narrow his eyes at the giant. Not for long, however, as they both heard the sounds of rocks shifting in the distance. The echoing was impossible to miss. ¡°There¡¯s at least two of them at the end. Small in size but they¡¯ve noticed us. Be ready for a third.¡±

    Short observations and orders. Practicality above subtlety. The nostalgia kicked some sense into Elijah¡¯s body as he brought out a hunting knife from his belt. It wasn¡¯t the biggest in the world, but it had been sharpened enough to cut through flesh as if it were butter, and Elijah was ready to force it through the soft surface of a beast if needed.

    And it would perhaps be, as the slope they stood on began to even out, the walls spreading out to alert them of the end of the tunnel. Instead, they had an even larger cavern than those before it, the place spanning several hundred meters in every direction, pillars oddly strewn across it to hold up the weight of the ceiling.

    The most important aspect of the cavern was the increased scale of the plant life. Instead of only having flowers and vines that went up to one¡¯s knees, this floor possessed the underground version of trees. Branches adorned with wide leaves made it hard to see the entire floor, the trees gathering and obscuring too many parts to be safe from hidden monsters.

    This included their current spot at the entrance of the floor, a large grouping of trees sitting to their left and right. A sadistic placement that left people susceptible to surprises, to the point where Elijah considered that it was intentionally done by the dungeon.

    ¡°On the right.¡±

    That was all Elijah needed to know before they both hurried forward, keeping an eye on the tree to their right as they increased their distance to the overhanging branches. Even without the enhanced sight of the giant, he could see how they were shaking unnaturally.

    An unseen enemy was climbing above them.

    Multiple enemies.

    ¡°Get ready.¡±

 Chapter 9: The Dungeon Talks

    A second later, the branches stilled in movement, the monsters having hit their designated positions. After that, it was a simple act of screeching loudly before jumping down at the pair of old men.

    Two worms the size of dogs, as predicted by Aleksi.

    Elijah stepped back to avoid the lunge outright. The giant took it head-on, axe in hand as it was swung with force.

    The first to reach Aleksi was crushed mid-air, the dull axe breaking the chitin apart outright. A horrific death for a horrific creature. Nobody felt pity for the beast.

    Neither did they deserve it. With the axe already swung to the first, the second monstrous centipede could land on the giant¡¯s shoulder and sink its hollow teeth into their shoulder. Something could be heard tearing before Aleksi got his free hand onto the beast and ripped the body off, the head firmly stuck onto his flesh.

    Yet again a brutal death.

    Yet again little to no care, Elijah merely noting the injury before hearing a warning.

    ¡°Above you.¡±

    Barely a second passed before he spotted the reflection of light on the chitin flying towards him. A third and fourth had been biding their time, moving to Elijah without his notice.

    And now he paid the price of ignorance.

    He side-stepped their flying bodies just in time, the creatures landing on the floor next to him, but the fall didn¡¯t bother them. Instantly they leapt towards him again, trying to latch onto him. The first got a kick in the head, withdrawing for a moment, but the other got past his legs and lunged onto his stomach.

    Ten years ago, he would have withstood the hit, but the momentum and energy pushed both him and the second crawler on the floor, the thing sitting on his stomach. Elijah didn¡¯t hit his head going down, but the wind knocked out of him, and he could do little against the creature at first, allowing it to try and sink its teeth into his chest.

    Hollow fangs weren¡¯t enough of a matchup against the old leather armor, though, the weapons of choice getting stuck on the material instead of going through.

    An opportunity that Elijah didn¡¯t squander. His knife came through the air, into the weak point between the head and neck of the centipede, and along as much flesh as he could get to. The pain was incredible for the creature, the beast thrashing around instantly to get unstuck, but by the time it did, it was too late.

    Blood was spilled, and a third monster had fallen. This time by Elijah¡¯s hand.

    Normally that held no difference, but this time it did, as he felt the rush of energy surrounding his magical core.

    So it was true after all.

    The fourth and final centipede tried to sink into his lower body, but a well-timed kick got it away for long enough for Aleksi to come around. A single chop from the giant¡¯s axe was enough to feel the creature, allowing silence to once again rule the dungeon floor.

    ¡°Any wounds?¡± Aleksi asked, helping Elijah up from the floor.

    ¡°None,¡± he replied after getting in another breath. ¡°You had, though.¡±

    The head of the second centipede had already been ripped out, but the damage done was still there. Rows of teeth had been sunk into the giant¡¯s shoulder, a line of flesh taken away. It didn¡¯t bleed too heavily, but it was still enough to make normal men require instant medical treatment.

    For Aleksi, however, it was an optional step.

    ¡°Not deep enough to get the muscles,¡± Aleksi assured Elijah, though that meant little now. They could both see it when green lines began to travel down from his eyes to the neck and then to the wound itself. The small amount of blood seeping out steadily thinned until it was almost entirely gone. ¡°This isn¡¯t going to be fun.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s going to get worse, if I don¡¯t help whatever remnant of elixir is still in your blood,¡± Elijah added, looking around the immediate area. While the golden flowers on the layers above were more than enough to make common-quality healing pastes, anything more rapid in results wasn¡¯t as easy. To do that, they needed the help of the more powerful version, one that he knew was located on the layer they currently stood on. ¡°See any golden flowers?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ fifty meters ahead by one of the tree trunks,¡± the giant replied. The man clearly hadn¡¯t seen anything of the sort until that instant, not able to see so far in such detail before. Elijah knew why he could now, the gray pupils gaining a distinct green emission that mirrored the sprouted veins. ¡°Another group a hundred meters to the right.¡±

    ¡°The first will be enough,¡± he said, the two walking to the spot before carefully plucking the new golden flowers. These were rather fickle in nature, after all. Instead of having the generic petals of the brother variant on the upper floors, this one instead imitated the final-stage version of a dandelion, with tens of little seed heads that could be blown away at the mildest wind.

    So fragile yet so powerful as well. Elijah was easily able to connect to the flower head as he plucked another handful of them. He felt their intentions, their purpose, their cravings, their ideal life to spread further and further, and¡­ Though he already knew how, they told him how to use their boons.

    ¡°Hold still,¡± Elijah ordered the giant, Aleksi wordlessly obeying as he leaned down to allow easy access to the injured shoulder. More of the flesh had already been regrown, the blood stopping entirely, but he still had a window to assist with the regeneration. ¡°Should¡¯ve brought more water.¡±

    He muttered as much as he crushed the delicate flowers in his hand, the small amounts of juices within covering his palms more and more. A wasteful method of refinement but it didn¡¯t matter. With the liquid reaching the naked air, the effects had already started as it all began to expand, making Elijah hurriedly press his palms against the wound.

    Aleksi hissed in pain but that didn¡¯t matter. Nothing mattered except making this work.

    You can do better than this.

    He pushed against the wound harder, as the lines of mana escaped the skin of his palms and entered the now-golden liquid.

    Channeling of [Plant Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 9MP/sec

    A low cost in comparison to how much Elijah pushed for the liquid to improve in its effects. He didn¡¯t want a simple alleviation of pain or a lessening of swelling but an outright visible effect on the reknitting of skin.

    And that¡¯s what he got, the breath of relief from Aleksi signaling the end of the treatment. Hands were removed from the shoulder, and the only sign of the previous injury was the red spot and the still-green veins pulsating around it.

    ¡°I think that helped with the heart as well,¡± the giant commented, holding his chest while taking deep breaths. ¡°Lessened the pressure a little.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Elijah said, eyeing the flowers once more. Maybe they were useful in yet another way.

    While Aleksi had been physically enhanced to the near-peak of human ability, it had come at a rather steep cost. The elixirs taken during the old war weren¡¯t supposed to help a person in the long-term, instead focusing on the short-term. By taking them daily, the body would grow stronger than ever, the senses would become sharper, and the mind ready for combat at every turn. Yet the internal organs, mainly the heart, weren¡¯t able to take the extra work as easily. It was strained more and more, having a harder time going back down to a slow rhythm after being riled up, and whenever another infusion of elixir activated in the bloodstream it got a little slower at adapting.

    There was medicine to account for such, of course. It was the main reason that he and Elijah were still sticking together after all these years. Elijah knew the recipe for the heart medicine that made it easier to deal with the effects of the elixir, and he was the only one between the two that had a knack for alchemy. Many attempts had been made at teaching Aleksi how to do it himself, yet they could never produce it at a quality that would work in the long term.

    And, honestly, Elijah hadn¡¯t been able to produce it with high enough quality to allow for straining moments like these either.

    Until now. Maybe. The stronger plant variant being added into the recipe, along with Elijah using the Plant Bond spell to further enhance the effects of the finished product, could perhaps allow for some greater strain without Aleksi needing to fear his heart giving out.

    Maybe the giant could even use some of his emergency elixir without knowing it would be a last-stand effort.

    ¡°We can test it out when we get back home,¡± Elijah promised, adding another set of plants to their needed harvest tonight. If they were hoping to experiment, taking more of the required herbs would help a lot. ¡°For now, we have six more bags to fill.¡±

    The giant had no complaints about that plan, getting back up on his feet after a minute of rest. His heart was back under control, the green veins fading steadily, and they could move without fear of sudden death.

    At least from their own bodies, as the environment was still more than happy to bite into them if allowed. As another hour passed by, four of the six remaining bags being filled with various leaves, petals, and thorny stalks, Aleksi gave the warning of another group of monsters.

    The same type as last time. No surprise there, since the carrion crawlers were the only constant beast that roamed this floor. They certainly made sure of that, the fat-bodied centipedes diving at any foe that thought to come here. They were perhaps not the fastest or strongest, but their bite was hard to break out of and their numbers were impressive if given the chance.

    Not at the very top of their territory, luckily. A floor or two down, the duo would need to fend off several dozens of the crawlers each time they approached, but up here it was limited to three or four of them. Low numbers that made for an easier fight. Especially when it was possible to avoid trees that could be used hide.

    ¡°Do you want to kill them this time?¡± Aleksi offered as he put down the half-filled bags and brought out his axe.

    ¡°If you can avoid getting injured in the process, then yes,¡± Elijah replied, knife in hand in case it was needed once again.

    ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±

    The giant stepped forward as the four monsters approached on the rocky ground. They¡¯d been waiting for the duo to approach the thick group of trees where they had been hiding, but the obvious detour to avoid it had forced the creatures to leave their vantage point. Not a problem at all for the giant, since it allowed him to have his eyes on all of them at once.

    It was the closest to his old life he¡¯d been in many years. Elijah was sure of that.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see what you can do then,¡± he heard Aleksi mutter as the biggest of the centipedes approached first. Its fangs were longer, tendrils even growing out from the front of its face. They seemed to taste the air, the large eyes honing in on the giant. ¡°Come on now.¡±

    As if spurred on by the giant¡¯s words, it screeched and leaped at him, the fat body moving at an unexpected pace as the built-up tension snapped. Head-first, teeth ready to dig in, it went for his legs.

    Yet bugs were never known for their intelligence, an axe being swung and taking out a good chunk of the neck. Not enough to be lethal, but enough that the pain made it screech at a higher pitch and flop to the ground. Bad attempts came to make itself into a ball, but the body seemingly wasn¡¯t working cohesively anymore.

    The other monsters had no care or thought regarding the first¡¯s fate, however, and they charged in like they previously intended to. Another instantly suffered the same consequences, a swing taking out the lower half of the head. Still alive, it recoiled, giving space for the final two that had gotten dangerously close.

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Close enough that an axe swing couldn¡¯t be prepared in time, forcing Aleksi to outright kick the one in front away, the one right behind getting stomped on to keep up the momentum. The weight of the giant pressing down on the chitin left little to the imagination on which side would win, the bottom of the boot going right through the upper body of the centipede, green blood splattering on Aleksi¡¯s pants. Nothing that anybody cared about, however, as the third centipede lunged for the legs again.

    Another kick pushed it back, causing it to screech in frustration for just a second until an axe came swinging down and took off most of the head. Elijah wasn¡¯t sure that hit had been meant to be so devastating, yet the relatively blunt axe hadn¡¯t been able to cut through the chitin and had more just¡­ obliterated the spot hit along with everything close by.

    ¡°I hope two is still fine,¡± Aleksi commented as he nudged the second centipede with the blood-covered boot. It twitched at the touch, making some attempt at a screech that failed halfway through.

    ¡°Better than nothing,¡± Elijah replied, tightening the grip around his knife as Elijah kicked the two half-dead bugs closer together. Both were still thrashing around, suffering from what could only be terrible amounts of pain.

    No point in prolonging it.

    With the open spot in the first centipede¡¯s armor on the neck, he dug with his knife. The internal tubes were already filled with blood, making the normal sound of torture impossible. Not like it could''ve been done for much longer, Elijah pressing the blade deeper into the spot and twisting the weapon. The beast stilled a moment later, at the same time granting him a rush of energy that shot into his chest and surrounded his magical core.

    Leaning over, he repeated the process with the other monster, a knife to the neck a mercy for the beast. There wasn¡¯t as much of a rush this time, however, cementing the fact that it was dependent on what attributes the felled enemy possessed.

    ¡°So?¡± Aleksi said as Elijah rose from the ground. ¡°How does it feel?¡±

    ¡°First a wave of mild euphoria, though it later just turns into a mild, omnipresent pressure in my chest,¡± Elijah explained to the curious man. Aleksi didn¡¯t possess a magical core himself, after all, and had no real frame of reference for the experience. ¡°I don¡¯t feel more powerful, however. The energy around me doesn''t feel like my own either.¡±

    ¡°Would be cheating if it did,¡± Aleksi commented with a grin. ¡°Imagine if all it took for a mage to grow powerful was simple murder. We¡¯d have a dozen gods for every country by the end of the year.¡±

    ¡°A nightmare, that is,¡± Elijah said, a wave of shivers going through his body as he considered the thought. ¡°The world would be a hellscape of warfare and little else.¡±

    Though¡­ the concept of murdering for magical power wasn¡¯t entirely unfounded. It did do something, after all. The energy that surrounded his magical core hadn¡¯t come from nowhere. The mana present were the remnants of the magical beasts that he had killed recently, a sign of his work that could further assist him.

    Not in many ways, of course, but progressing in the mana-related arts was one of them. At the moment, Elijah¡¯s magical core could hold 356 units of Mana at the maximum. If he forced it, he could perhaps get in some more units, but that process would be a painful one and do little else but hamper his long-term efforts.

    No, the path to power was different than that. To increase how much his magical core could hold, he had to modify it. To improve its design and shape. With enough time and effort, it would be perfect for Elijah to push and stretch his core into any shape that he could imagine. Simple ones, at least. Without an understanding of how the structural integrity of the core worked, it was very possible to make it shatter and permanently cripple oneself or outright die from the experience.

    It wasn¡¯t a fate many aspiring mages wished to have, meaning that most awakened out in the wild just¡­ never progressed past their starting point. When even the mildest experimentation carried the possibility of death, few wanted to push their luck without a guiding hand to help them.

    The aforementioned guides could easily be found for those in the academy, of course. The mages at the top were expert at the practice, with their techniques from other kingdoms along with a healthy dose of theoretical expertise. With their guidance, it opened up a path for beginners to grow into their power and reach heights previously unattainable. A dream to beat all other dreams.

    Yet there was, of course, another obstacle to fight against. Modification of one¡¯s magical core was possible for any awakened person, yes, but the further away from the standard they went, the harder it would become. Even with the greatest guides in all the worlds, another limiting factor was the willpower of the person. If they couldn¡¯t push their cores into the documented positions and forms, they couldn¡¯t progress. A soft-cap.

    But not a hard cap. Like with spells used in the empty air, the lack of mana around increased the requirements to make the effects stick around. If the air itself was filled up as well, the difficulty was lessened.

    And¡­ the death of magical beings by one¡¯s hand covered one¡¯s magical core with residue for a few hours or days, depending on the power of the victim.

    While war alone didn¡¯t allow men to grow into gods, it allowed those with the needed knowledge to accelerate through the ranks of power and attain previously impossible heights. It¡¯s how Serenova, the country so recently founded, was still standing. The mages who had fought for their independence had been in the ideal situation for growth, and they had taken the opportunity with open arms.

    And now¡­ if Elijah knew the techniques to modify his magical core, he could potentially use the residue of the murdered monsters to progress at a smaller scale.

    If.

    ¡°Let¡¯s finish up,¡± Elijah said, after confirming that the core was much more malleable with the residue. He didn¡¯t try to experiment with it, however, not finding the possible rewards worth the risk. ¡°It¡¯s getting late.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Aleksi replied.

    Bags were filled quickly after that, with no monsters deciding to pay them a visit. The trek upwards was perhaps the hardest thing about the entire journey, the steep angle nearly making them both fall multiple times. Maybe it was their advanced age, but the entire tunnel upward seemed steeper going up than down.

    A trick of the mind or is there truth to this?

    The dungeon was alive, after all, though all past endeavors into the concept had concluded that there was no real mind behind the living structure. It was alive in the same sense that an ant was alive. Able to feel pain, able to know that its life was threatened, and able to follow instincts that it didn¡¯t care about the origins of. Not that anybody actually knew where dungeons came from, but that was an entirely different debate.

    The fact of the matter was that the tunnel felt steeper and steeper, to the point where Elijah had to stop to breathe for a moment.

    ¡°Is it the change in mana density again?¡± Aleksi asked, the giant completely fine while also carrying twice the amount of bags. Sometimes Elijah did feel a little jealous of that physique, even knowing what costs came with it.

    ¡°Just age,¡± Elijah assured the other, resting for a moment to hopefully let tired legs regain their strength. ¡°Give me a minute.¡±

    Aleksi kept quiet, a sign that he didn¡¯t mind the wait. Maybe he was tired too. Elijah didn¡¯t ask, just letting his body rest while he leaned against a flat part of the wall. While the jagged edges continued down through the dungeon, there were a few spots that were safe to rest against.

    Looking inside while he had the time, he noted that some pieces of residue from previous killings had started to fade away. Not out of nowhere of course, the remnants of the dead simply traveled through his veins before being spat out once they reached the nearest patch of skin.

    It was a curious sensation once he truly focused on it. Elijah was able to pinpoint the individual pieces through their journey, seeing where they flaked off at the core, looking as they flew along the internal pipelines, and finally being expelled into the naked air. Even then, if he focused enough, he could see it floating through the air right in front of him, the residue steadily turning into nothing.

    Until it wasn¡¯t moving around peacefully, a sudden talon removing the residue from the air at a speed impossible to see if he hadn¡¯t been focusing.

    What.

    With the minute of rest still not over, Elijah studied as more of the residue was picked out of the air by an unseen force. Again and again, the process repeated itself, the air around him being cleaned of the dead remnants and brought¡­ somewhere else.

    It was as curious as it was horrifying. He hadn¡¯t seen something like this in the past, though his only chance at such an experience was back during his younger days where he never really participated in the killings. Yet this couldn¡¯t be normal. He could see the distinct reptilian shape moving through and removing it all.

    ¡­

    This wasn¡¯t an act of the natural world.

    This was an act of an entity capable of action. An entity capable of thought.

    And who it could be wasn¡¯t hard to figure out, seeing that the entity in question had been omnipresent ever since they¡¯d walked down into the underground.

    The dungeon was alive, harvesting the residue that was there for the taking.

    Elijah¡¯s knowledge of supposed research into the magically dense locations tried to argue against the conclusion, but his eyes couldn''t ignore what was so blatantly in front of him. He could see it, could feel it, could¡­ Elijah didn¡¯t know what to truly call it, the Core inside his body pulsing words not his own. A construct of Mana recognizing another.

    And the dungeon responded, eyes that weren¡¯t there staring through him and beyond. The feeling was so radically different from what it had been just before, as if Elijah had been ignored by the entity until this very moment.

    ¡®Why have you changed?¡¯

    A voice in his head that wasn¡¯t his own, along with enough pressure that he had to clutch at his head in pain. Aleksi must¡¯ve heard it, with how the giant stood over him, saying something he couldn¡¯t hear.

    Everything was overshadowed by a loud ringing that just refused to end until Elijah tried to stand and nearly lost his balance, the tunnel shifting to become less steep.

    ¡°What the¡ª¡± Aleksi began before a string of curses left the giant. ¡°That¡¯s not normal. We¡¯re leaving.¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t agree with you more,¡± Elijah replied, happily accepting an outstretched hand as Aleksi pulled him along to keep up the high tempo. In the meanwhile, the world had considered the idea long enough for a script to appear before his eyes. A message that surprised him to no end.

    Spell learned! [Animal Bond](Tier 2) has been added to your spell collection.

    This wasn¡¯t the standard path to learning new spells, but Elijah didn¡¯t curse the discovery, noting the differences to plant bond in the back of his mind before doing his best to keep up with Aleksi¡¯s pace. His head still hurt, his heart was running wild, and the blood was rushing through his ears, but a truth above all other truths had been discovered.

    An entity taking pieces of magical remnants from the air, an entity that had been able to invade his mind and ask a question verbally, and an entity that had forced Elijah to learn a new spell just to accommodate for that question.

    Reality was so blunt sometimes.

    ¡°The dungeon is alive,¡± Elijah said while getting air back into his lungs, the journey up three floors in what felt like five minutes tiring out his body even more than before. There was still another 500 meters to the entrance, but he needed to share that tidbit before the guards were reached. ¡°I noticed the remnants falling into the air were being taken by something. Saw¡­ draconic claws. Realized the truth and that somehow caught its attention. Asked me ¡®why have you changed.¡¯¡±

    ¡°... When I agreed to help those two not die in an alley, I was not expecting this,¡± was everything Aleksi had to say to that, the giant needing a second to process his words. ¡°So, the dungeon is alive somehow, and it knows you¡­ Fine. What do you think it means with that question?¡±

    What did it mean?

    ¡°If it can recognize me as an individual, it might¡¯ve just been used to me not being awakened?¡± Elijah guessed. The difference between him a day before and the way he was now was extreme to anybody who primarily used the magical spectrum to see. And, if that was the way the dungeon did indeed see into its domain, then he would¡¯ve looked like a completely different person until the point where he made contact. Maybe that was why he was afforded a full question. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter too much now. We weren¡¯t killed, and we have all the bags.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not entering this place alone next time,¡± Aleksi said. Not a suggestion. A matter-of-fact statement. Elijah didn¡¯t reject it, feeling the same way.

    With that out of the way, they made the trek through the last part of the dungeon. The light of the moss was gone already, leaving them in relative darkness until the flickering of the torches by the entrance could be seen. While not as strong, they were beacons of what would come.

    ¡°There you two are!¡± Fred remarked as he and the other guards opened up the mesh wall to let them out. ¡°Five hours on the dot. I was getting worried by the end there.¡±

    ¡°I apologize for the stress,¡± Elijah said, helping Aleksi get off the bags tied to his side as Fred and the other guards opened them up to examine the goods. ¡°It¡¯s the standard set of herbs as usual, though I did find a variant of the Golden Blooms.¡±

    ¡°Oh, yeah, I can see that,¡± the guard replied, picking up one of the golden flowers. With the sudden motion, and the calm wind in the air, the seeds on top instantly flew into the air. ¡°Oh, shoot, sorry! I didn¡¯t know these grew on the upper floors.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± he promised, taking the bags as Fred hurried along the process and wished them farewell. ¡°Olivia can come by in the afternoon to get the supplies.¡±

    ¡°Not in the morning like usual?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d prefer it if she and I both got the chance to sleep before having to interact again.¡±

    ¡°... Fair enough.¡±

    Just like that, they were herded away. With bags of herbs in hand, and tired bodies in dire need of rest, the duo slowly made the walk back home. When they got there, Aleksi helped unpackage the more vital bags before retreating upstairs.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have a new version of your pills ready tomorrow morning, so don¡¯t take from the usual bottle,¡± Elijah instructed the giant, getting a tired grunt of affirmation that he¡¯d heard it. Some breaths later, he could hear a door close and Aleksi fell upon the bed. Snoring would soon come as well, but Elijah didn¡¯t care to wait for them, instead walking back into the laboratory to look over the raw materials.

    He had enough to last him a full week right here, and he had to get just about a quarter of it processed before the morning arrived.

    This night was going to be very long indeed.

 Chapter 10: Back in Time

    ¡°We¡¯re out of Valerian Roots again.¡±

    The alchemist discovered and announced as much when looking through the jars of prepared ingredients. The case had been checked every other day, and this particular jar had been half-full during the last inspection, yet now it was all gone.

    Where it had disappeared off didn''t matter. What mattered was the lack of a vital ingredient, if the alchemist wasn¡¯t to be executed for treacherous negligence.

    ¡°Sounds like your problem,¡± Edna said, confirming his beliefs. A distant set of screams interrupted the exchange before it could continue, however, both of them looking out from the wagon. Further down the hill, where the found village was settled, people were being cut down. Some fought against the alchemist¡¯s comrades, some tried to run, and some were on their knees begging. It all ended with the same result, though the laughter varied a little. The sadists liked watching them flee. ¡°Even a shithole like that should have a storage room. Go down there and find what we¡¯re missing.¡±

    The alchemist looked at his superior in disbelief at the order. Edna didn¡¯t spare him another thought, however, already leaving the wagon behind to tend to some other inane task at their impromptu camp.

    He was being told to go down to the village.

    The village that was currently being pillaged by the troops he didn¡¯t want to be around unless absolutely necessary, due to their extreme homicidal tendencies.

    Please no.

    His mental begging did little to influence the reality around him, sadly. With a defeated resignation hanging over him, the alchemist brought out a worn leather satchel, a set of lockpicks if a door wasn¡¯t already broken down, and a dagger in case¡­ somebody forced his hand.

    Hopefully, that wouldn¡¯t be the case.

    Leaving the hill of safety, the alchemist ventured down towards the village. Some of the houses on the edge were being set ablaze. A common method of destroying the places they visited, since the warriors rarely had an interest in doing it manually. And the time saved from this method wasn¡¯t half-bad either, though it didn¡¯t help him in this specific situation. If he didn¡¯t hurry, the building holding the needed resources might very well be gone before he could get to it.

    Hurrying over the broken fence that went around the village, he walked into the main area. It had become more quiet than it had been a few minutes before, the last of the vocal stragglers cut down. Now the people he kept fed were searching for the ones who tried to hide. A hard task for ordinary folk, but the alchemist knew that it would barely be a challenge for these hounds.

    Those thoughts left him as he spotted the next building. It had been built with slightly higher quality wood, and the crude windows in the walls even looked polished. The village¡¯s gathering place, and, by the side of it, likely the place where more valuable things were stored.

    Finally.

    Taking a step around the corner of the building to reach the front entrance, the alchemist was met with the blade of an axe headed towards his head.

    He saw his face in the reflection, saw his eyes widen, and saw the pieces of dirt on his cheek that he hadn¡¯t bothered washing off this morning. The alchemist didn¡¯t expect to have time to see all those things, with how fast the blade had been going towards him, yet it stopped a breadth away from his left eye.

    ¡°Oh, damn it, I thought I¡¯d found another one.¡±

    It was the closest that the alchemist had ever been to dying. A terrifying experience. He felt his heart catching up with that fact as adrenaline rushed through his body, the blood pumping as he looked up at the giant.

    Green pupils stared back at him in disappointment. Then the bear of a man walked forward, hitting the alchemist¡¯s side as the warrior hurried on in their pursuit of a potential kill.

    ¡­ This is normal for them.

    That nonchalance, that lack of an apology, that lack of a second glance sent his way, it all grounded the alchemist. What he¡¯d experienced couldn¡¯t matter less to the hounds running around the broken village. This was what they¡¯d been going through every week for the past several years.

    And they loved it.

    Rabid beasts.

    The alchemist didn¡¯t say it out loud, fearing that the enhanced hearing would catch his words. Not that his lungs would have obeyed his requests, as his body focused on calming itself once more. Blood still ran hot, his limbs felt lighter than usual, and his muscles were tense to the point he knew he would be sore within the hour.

    It would be sore anyway, though, so that wasn¡¯t anything new.

    ¡°Valerian Roots,¡± the alchemist finally muttered, continuing onwards. That¡¯s what he needed. A single jar would be enough for now, two would easily last a month, and bringing three would make his superior angry at him for wasting space. ¡°Just one.¡±

    Just one.

    It took seven steps to get to the large door that led into the village¡¯s main building. What hadn¡¯t been ripped off during the initial purge at least. Everything around the entrance was thrashed as well, tables thrown over, cabinets emptied and smashed. Further inside, next to what might¡¯ve been a small bar area, the alchemist could see the wooden floor stained alongside the smell of alcohol in the air.

    Damage for the sake of doing damage. The alchemist didn¡¯t understand the need for it, yet he supposed it made the search a little easier in the sense that there was nothing useful in this room anymore.

    Or on the first floor outright. The rooms further in had suffered the same fate as the entrance area, everything broken to a hundred pieces. The second floor was the same as well, much to the alchemist¡¯s displeasure.

    Even without the enhanced senses of the bastards running rampant outside, his nose still caught the hints of herbs. A slight sting of drying Ironleafs was in the air. It was unmistakable, the alchemist having been forced under the torture of sleeping next to that plant for weeks at a time when it was being prepared. Even when it had been half a year since the last batch had been made, his body could still recognize it in an instant.

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    Yet that smell had only lessened on the second floor in comparison to the first, and even then it was faint.

    And it hadn¡¯t been outside at all, which meant the hiding place was out of plain sight.

    There¡¯s a basement.

    The alchemist was sure of it, but there were no stairs leading down to it. Nothing that hinted at its existence, no leads other than that smell. That smell of¡­

    ¡°Bloodgrass.¡±

    Another herb not commonly found in these parts unless especially cultivated by a practiced hand. The discovery caused a smile to form on the alchemist¡¯s lips. His chances of survival would have increased tenfold if only he could find where the entrance into the basement was hiding.

    More desperate measures were needed.

    ¡°Guide me,¡± the alchemist whispered as he held out his right hand. A simple gesture signaling the process of something infinitely more complex, as the incantation traveled through his veins, into his heart, before passing by his Core.

    He felt a tug from within and then it came.

    Channeling of [Plant Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 3MP/sec

    A thin thread escaped his outreached palm. It floated in the air, aimlessly for a moment before pulling the alchemist towards the front of the building once again. A scent, a magical one, had been noticed, and the magical energy craved to combine with the source.

    The alchemist smiled. While the hounds outside could catch a drop of sweat a hundred meters away, they hadn¡¯t noticed the scent of the herbs hidden beneath. Tunnel vision would be their downfall.

    ¡°Of course, you¡¯d hide here,¡± the alchemist muttered as the thread pulled him toward the corner of the entrance room. It was on the far right side, previously hidden behind the small bar, now hidden beneath the destroyed wood that had made the furniture.

    The broken bottles of liquor had been too good at masking the scent. If the brutes outside had taken a better look at the floor, before they had covered it with broken chunks of wood, they''d have noticed the planks not being identical to those elsewhere. Instead of the separation lines usually seen in the wooden flooring usually used, these were connected in a square-like fashion. And that indent on the left side wasn¡¯t because of age wearing it down, was it?

    Putting three fingers into the hold, the alchemist pulled upwards. A smile reached his lips when it opened up, showing a staircase leading downwards.

    You did well, magic of mine.

    The glowing thread of green dispersed as he took the first step down into the darkness. He couldn¡¯t see any way to light the room up, but he didn¡¯t mind. It showed that whoever kept this place healthy was smart since too many of the dried herbs he could smell were best preserved in total darkness.

    Still, without the knowledge of how everything was stored, it was hard for the alchemist to know what was what. Two steps after reaching the end of the stairs, he could somewhat see a cabinet filled to the brim with jars of various sizes. Most had words written on their surfaces, but the darkness made it hard for the alchemist to see what they said.

    ¡°Can¡¯t ask for much, I suppose,¡± he murmured, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. The minutiae of light coming in from the staircase worked its magic a dozen seconds later, the labels revealing the contents of each jar. ¡°Sparrow Flower? How novel.¡±

    Putting the first jar away, his eyes surveyed the rest of the cabinet for what he needed. It was all stored alphabetically, apparently, allowing him to skip ahead to the near-end and find what he needed.

    Valerian Roots.

    Barely a week old as well. The alchemist couldn''t have asked for anything better than this, his life secured for another month at minimum. Or, well, as long as the brutes upstairs didn¡¯t decide he looked too much like a local. He had low expectations of them, now that he was carrying something from here over to the rest of the caravan.

    ¡­ Maybe it¡¯s best not to take more than this.

    Some of the dried plants on the upper shelves looked rather enticing, with how much they would cost in the cities, but the alchemist refused to tempt fate more than he already had. It wasn¡¯t like he didn¡¯t have access to an ocean of illegal and highly-priced plants already.

    Turning around and heading for the stairs, he almost made it to the first step before noticing something to his right. The cabinet that he¡¯d stolen from was to his left, standing next to the wall, but the other side had much more space for anything that needed to be in the darkness.

    And there was.

    That glint of light that caught his eye had come from a person. Somebody looking right at him.

    And not just one. As he turned fully to look at them, more and more eyes were revealed. Several dozen, all mute as they stared the alchemist down. There had to be nearly fifty of them, hiding in complete silence. The alchemist was shocked that they hadn¡¯t been found already, though the fact that the room hadn¡¯t been noticed explained that.

    They would¡¯ve gone unnoticed entirely if he hadn¡¯t needed the herbs.

    ¡­

    Nobody moved a muscle. Nobody attacked him in the hope of keeping him quiet. Perhaps they understood that the slightest noise out of him would alert those above. Perhaps they were just as frozen in fear as he was. Perhaps they were trying to signal something to him.

    Whatever it was, he couldn¡¯t see it, his eyes not as adjusted to the darkness due to the light being stronger next to the staircase. He could only see the eyes.

    ¡­

    This isn¡¯t my job.

    He didn¡¯t have to do anything here. The alchemist had been sent to gather Valerian Roots and then return as quickly as he possibly could. Doing anything about this would impede that process.

    And so, strengthening his soul a little more than normal, he ventured up the stairs without saying a single word. He wanted to just leave the building instantly after, but he hesitated at the top, considering whether or not he should close the hatch.

    Had he not already done enough?

    The internal discussion didn¡¯t matter, in the end, when the front entrance was used by somebody other than him. Looking at the giant, he saw those very same green eyes he¡¯d seen when he almost lost his life fifteen minutes before. One of the hounds, their expression filled with glee as they saw the revealed hiding place.

    ¡°I knew it was a good idea not to kill you!¡± the giant happily exclaimed, before taking a step back to shout at the other brutes outside. ¡°I¡¯ve struck gold, lads!¡±

    The staircase downwards could just barely hold the massive form of the man, but the warrior made do with what he had as he hurried towards the last remnants of the village. Metal hit metal, some light flickered in and out, and a few more giants forced their way into the fray below seconds later.

    It barely lasted a minute before it was over before the last of the screams ended, and the only thing in the air was the heavy breathing and laughter that the alchemist had heard so many times before.

    Then came the chanting.

    ¡°He¡¯s the Butcher of Verness!¡± one shouted.

    ¡°Yes!¡± another agreed, more laughter coming from below, as the title was repeated over and over again. It seemed that the first giant had won whatever game they¡¯d been caught up in. ¡°All hail the champion!¡±

    ¡­

    The alchemist went back to the caravan at a steady pace. No words escaped him as he showed his superior the found roots, as he sorted them into their storage, as he helped make food for the group of hungry hounds, or when the night began to reach them.

    When the day came again, he simply continued his work as he¡¯d always done. As he¡¯d done for over a year. As he would do for over a year more. Nearly three more years, in fact, before he got out and took another name.

    It was the same with the giant, their name only thought of the day they left that life behind. At least however much they could leave it. Titles had a way of sticking to the skin.

 Chapter 11: Talking Heads

    Elijah winced a little as the knife cut his skin. A shot of pain went through his arm, and the stinging that followed made him grimace. Twenty years ago, he wouldn¡¯t have given this a second thought, but his body had grown more sensitive. It wasn¡¯t as willing to be the test subject.

    Sadly, nobody was around to be tested on other than him, meaning his body had to shut up and let him work his magic.

    Literally.

    Channeling of [Plant Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 9MP/sec

    ¡°Concentrate into a single place now,¡± Elijah requested of the golden flower, a variant of the Sundrop Flowers normally found on the upper levels of the dungeon. The slight changes to the structure made it so much more potent, so much more willing to be used when prodded in the right way, yet that boon was also a curse. ¡°Release it slowly, and don¡¯t¡ª¡±

    It exploded into a puff of liquid and golden spores, covering his hand in the sticky matter instantly and making him curse once again.

    An eagerness to obey to the point of overdoing it. Elijah cursed that aspect of the plant. Even when properly distilled into a mostly concentrated form, even when mixed in with other plants and herbs, the personality overshadowed all others and continued to persist. Enhancing the flower was incredibly effective, increasing the potency to the point of absurdity, but it was much too unstable once it had reached that point. Partial usage was impossible, everything touched being affected without calming down after some time. And the lack of a delay¡­

    Elijah was frustrated.

    ¡°Good thing you had those five hours of shut-eye,¡± Aleksi commented as he entered the laboratory, seeing the state of Elijah. No effort was made to hide his mirth. ¡°Do you need help, or¡ª¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say anything. Please,¡± Elijah cut in, the giant putting his hands up in surrender. The sight of the man at least reminded him of a partial success in one of the other projects. While distilling it into the standard healing pastes wasn''t proving successful, lowering the ratio further in other recipes seemed to work just fine. ¡°I¡¯ve made alterations to your heart medicine. Take this and report back to me.¡±

    Aleksi accepted the small tablet before Elijah even finished saying what it was, studying the small thing.

    ¡°Looks more yellow than the old ones,¡± the giant commented before plopping it into his mouth and swallowing it. Elijah gave the usual look of judgment due to the lack of liquids being taken alongside it. ¡°Sort of a sweet aftertaste as well.¡±

    That made an eyebrow lift slightly. From the times that Elijah had been unfortunate enough to get some of that golden pollen in his mouth, the taste had been closer to that of sand than anything else. Maybe a side-effect of the drying alongside the other parts of the mixture? The water used had looked slightly less pure as well, so that might¡¯ve been the culprit.

    ¡°That¡¯s not important for now,¡± Elijah replied, moving back to the minute-old mess. ¡°The color is due to the Sundrop variant¡¯s pollen being much more frustrating to work with. It should not affect the effects, though, I repeat, you will be reporting any changes to your state of being today.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I know. New recipe, new possible side-effects,¡± Aleksi commented, shrugging off the worried intent. ¡°I¡¯ll come running if my chest starts to hurt.¡±

    A glare made the giant laugh once more before he turned to leave for work. The smithy was opening up in about an hour, and there were always a hundred things to put in order before that loud place could take customers.

    ¡°Oh, and the two are still sleeping. I think your brew was stronger than you thought.¡±

    Oh?

    Before Elijah could comment, the giant was already out the door. Not that it mattered, the observation falling back into his mind as an afterthought. The two otherworlders had already gotten food and drink for when they woke up. Since they weren¡¯t already, it would likely first be around midday before he had to start worrying about them once again.

    Which left him plenty of time to work with the order backlog.

    ¡°It would be easier if you weren¡¯t so stubborn,¡± Elijah told the dried sundrop in his hands. The plant didn¡¯t answer back in words, the magical energy inside merely wriggling around under his touch. Even without sentience, the mana could sense the presence of a Biomancer. A gift and a curse, like everything else related to this plant. ¡°Twice the effectiveness at half the cost in weight. If only you didn¡¯t cost my entire sanity along with it.¡±

    He could make this work. Elijah knew that.

    The amount of patience required for it was also a known factor. If that mentality hadn¡¯t been fostered and cultivated for so many years without the crutch that was magical manipulation, Elijah knew he would¡¯ve quit already. There was a sharp deadline of four hours to make the effect last without an instant expansion.

    ¡°No choice but to get to work,¡± he muttered to himself before pulling on his Core once again. ¡°Reach your potential in dormancy. Enhance¡ª Shit!¡±

    An hour passed, and the front of his robe gained a distinct yellow coloring that he knew would never fully wash off, and in that hour many things were learned. The intricate nature of the Sundrop variant began to be carved out in his mind. The triggers that initiated the volatile reaction became more obvious in his mind¡¯s eye, and slowly but surely Elijah began to be able to guide his presence through the structure of his creation without causing it to release the energy in the moment.

    He could enhance the effects, make healing longer-lasting and more widespread on the body, and still be able to be stored for weeks without aging past the effective date. When it didn¡¯t explode and stain even more of the laboratory, that is. The protective shielding around the isolated work area was doing little to help minimize the damage.

    ¡°You¡­ frustrate me,¡± Elijah commented, taking a moment to clear his lungs from pollen as he ventured over to one of the exposed growth areas. With the newly regained ability to wield the magical forces, he had been able to grow some of the dungeon plants inside his home. Those on the very top floor he had always been able to do as much, albeit at a reduced effectiveness, but those below would never survive for long enough to make it worthwhile. ¡°But you can now, can¡¯t you?¡±

    The Sundrop Flower variant didn¡¯t answer back, the small plant merely bending towards him just enough for him to see. It was a simple plant but the magical density inside caused some instincts to foster that couldn¡¯t normally be seen in the natural world. That it reacted to his presence so strongly could almost make somebody imagine it was¡­ able to think.

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    But it couldn¡¯t. It took much more for a plant to gain anything close to sentience. That claim had been studied extensively over the past many centuries and the result had always been proclaimed the same.

    ¡­

    Just like the claims about Dungeons.

    Elijah looked at how the golden petals almost touched his fingers.

    ¡­

    ¡°Curiosity will be my downfall,¡± he predicted before calling into his Core for its assistance. Not through the well-used paths, though. Elijah needed to pull on another thread, one that he had learned the night before.

    Channeling of [Animal Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 3MP/sec

    A low price for a spell meant to be a Tier above what he¡¯d been using previously. An upgrade in potential power didn¡¯t scale in cost in the same way perhaps? Elijah didn¡¯t care to delve into the specifics of that side of the craft now. Gently putting a finger on one of the golden petals, he knew he had more important matters to understand.

    ¡®Hi!¡¯

    His finger was off the petal in an instant, his feet bringing him three steps away before he could process it. A voice in his head, omnipresent and loud, just as it had been with the Dungeon.

    ¡°No.¡±

    Less loud, and less headache-inducing, but most certainly still from the same strain of communication. It was akin to the Plant-Bond in the way that he could feel the other party as it was almost himself, but with the Tier 1 spell, it was more whispers and primitive desires. Here, it had been so much more. Instead of a conceptual understanding of what the plant generally wanted, Elijah had been greeted.

    A plant, not meant to have a mind of its own, had greeted him through the Animal Bond.

    Ignoring the insanity of it all, Elijah understood that this was progress. And with the Sundrop Flower still staying in place, looking as it had been for the past several hours, he returned to the table and channeled the spell once again. And this time he held on.

    ¡®Hi!¡¯

    The same tone as before. It sounded childish and cheerful, like one of those little brats that sometimes ran around in the shop without a care in the world. Curious.

    ¡®... Hello,¡¯ Elijah replied, once he figured out how to send back messages through the connection. It was so similar in function to the old spell, yet the methods inside required a very different touch. It was strange.

    ¡®Hi!¡¯

    He frowned. Three greetings in the same tone, with the same attached intention. Curiosity, hunger for more energy, and a desire to grow.

    ¡®Do you know what I am?¡¯ he asked.

    ¡®Food.¡¯

    ¡­ At least it wasn¡¯t another greeting, Elijah supposed. It was an answer. It had been able to process his inquiry, in some form or another, and reply with a valid response. A response that seemed without the bundle of imagery and conceptual understanding, sure, but it was a response nonetheless.

    The flower didn¡¯t see him as a person nor did it see him as prey. Elijah wasn¡¯t sure it even understood the concept of prey. It didn¡¯t need to, after all. Instead, it saw him as food, the source of nourishment.

    More specifically, it saw the energy inside him as food.

    That was expected. Like a ray of sun to an ordinary plant, the flower craved magical energy. It was a vital ingredient for its growth cycle, and doing anything else was impossible to fathom. Literally.

    You can talk, you can answer, but how does that help me?

    Elijah already knew the instincts of this plant, of all the plants inside his laboratory. He¡¯d been studying them, using them, and selling them for decades. No¡­ what he needed to know was how to change them. How could he moderate and enhance their reactions?

    ¡®Will you help me, in exchange for food?¡¯

    He felt weird still, treating the plant like it was a full mind capable of thought, but the insanity had to continue. His Core was already starting to threaten him about the growing void within.

    ¡®Yes. I can give.¡¯

    ¡®What can you give me?¡¯

    ¡®Everything.¡¯

    ¡­

    ¡°Well, you certainly never accept half-measures¡± Elijah commented out loud before delving back into the connection. ¡®If I give you food, will you calm yourself?¡¯

    ¡®Yes.¡¯

    A slight pulse left his Core and reached the flower in an instant, the body of the plant reacting immediately by trying to straighten out. The speed at which it was done was unnatural, a clear sign of magical manipulation.

    It was working.

    Now Elijah had to make sure it persisted. With gentle prodding, he was assured that the agreement would persist. The flower was so confident in that response, to the point where he could almost believe it outright.

    Almost. It didn¡¯t matter if it would work in theory if it hadn¡¯t been proven practically. So¡­ that¡¯s exactly what Elijah did. The flower was boosted even further to reach its peak before some of the petals were harvested, heated to dry them out, crushed into a fine powder, and then blended with the prepared mix that he¡¯d already made attempts with before.

    The paste was just as stable as it had been during the initial steps where he¡¯d gotten this far.

    Time for the truth.

    Elijah muttered a curse as the knife cut into the back of his hand. It was deeper than it needed to be, drops running down his skin, but it didn¡¯t matter.

    ¡°Time to work,¡± Elijah requested, as he scooped up a portion of the created paste and put it onto the wound. A feeling of relief spread through his body as the wound closed up within mere seconds, the only real side-effect being the feeling of pins and needles in his fingertips. ¡°Nothing special. Yet as for the enhanced version¡­¡±

    His Core, barely given a chance to properly refill itself, was pulled on once again as the energy was sent into the last part of the prepared paste. The already-golden coloring of the mixture intensified, a mild glow appearing for a second before fading away. Even without it, though, Elijah could still feel the difference in potential inside.

    Even better, it wasn¡¯t exploding in his face.

    Making another incision in his skin and observing the enhanced rate of healing was almost a formality. Elijah felt his heart speed up at the proof of a working product. Though he was behind schedule in making Olivia¡¯s new batch, this was enough to lighten the mental load somewhat.

    At least until he stood in silence for a moment, trying to relish the temporary joy, and he was able to hear a yelp of pain from outside the laboratory.

    The store was not yet open for customers and yet somebody other than him was already wading around inside. Elijah did not need to think for long to know who that was meant to be.

    The two otherworlders had awoken, and their patience had grown thin.

 Chapter 12: One More Chance

    ¡°Weeks were spent preparing those capsules for safe consumption, so please don¡¯t break them,¡± Elijah instantly requested as he stepped into the store. Jack looked at him, frozen in place in front of one of the cabinets with an open pill box in hand. The eye contact persisted until the capsule taken out of the box was put back in. ¡°Thank you. And, Sasha, are you sure it¡¯s a good idea to leave?¡±

    While the man had been busy inspecting the wares, the woman had found the door and tried to open it. Not an easy endeavor, seeing as it was locked until a key was inserted into it, something only he and Aleksi possessed. It was technically possible to break through the glass, of course, but that was strengthened to the point of needing metal tools before you¡¯d have a chance.

    Good that the blinds are still down on the windows, or this could¡¯ve spelled trouble.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t trying to leave,¡± Sasha countered, stepping away from the door after giving it a final rattle. ¡°Just checking.¡±

    ¡°Well, I can assure you it¡¯s locked unless the shop is open,¡± Elijah promised. The same was true for every other door and window in the house, the latter even having several traps for those who saw it as a challenge. Any wannabe burglar would not find it a fun experience, that was for sure. ¡°If you¡¯re thinking about how to run away in an emergency, however, I¡¯d recommend the back door or the hidden trap door in the basement. Both can be unlocked from the inside.¡±

    She studied him for a moment before silently nodding and moving towards the counter. Moving behind it, she sat down and stayed quiet.

    Elijah supposed it meant less of a chance of accidental discovery.

    ¡°Do you make those capsules yourself, or did you buy them from somewhere?¡± Jack asked, bringing the man back into Elijah¡¯s focus. ¡°I know this world is magical and everything, but I¡¯d always thought that this was a very modern invention and all.¡±

    The wording heavily implied insult, but the tone made it seem unintentional. Elijah made a grunt in reply regardless, making the man put the pill box back on the shelf a second time before bringing him into the laboratory.

    ¡°I make them myself,¡± Elijah explained, going over to the unused side of the room where several molds were hidden away. ¡°The gelatin comes from cartilage that I buy off the butcher down the street whenever he gets a new batch from the dungeon. It¡¯s semi-boiled with water, put into the molds here to get the shape, dried, and then cut into two halves.¡±

    Jack nodded as the words flowed from him, nodding along with understanding in his eyes. Elijah¡¯s eyebrows rose a little at the sight. From the previous night that had been filled with some mildly inane questioning, he hadn¡¯t thought much of the otherworlder, but was there potential to be found?

    ¡°... Do you have a background in extended herbology?¡± he prodded.

    ¡°Oh, no, not really,¡± Jack instantly replied, picking up one of the molds after getting permission to do as much. ¡°I¡¯ve just watched too many How It Works documentaries. Too many hours spent in front of the TV, if you get what I¡¯m saying.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°I see.¡±

    His eyes left the man as the door into the room moved by the tiniest fraction, Sasha slipping inside wordlessly. Elijah wouldn¡¯t have noticed her at all if he hadn¡¯t seen that glint of light.

    So the silent steps last night weren¡¯t a one-time occurrence.

    While Jack Larson seemed close to a baseline civilian, Elijah¡¯s old instincts kept screaming every time he laid eyes upon Sasha Petrova. She was a danger, though what kind he couldn¡¯t say. His body just knew to send a burst of adrenaline through his body whenever he saw her. No matter what, that wasn¡¯t a good sign.

    Nevertheless, there was no excuse to act upon his instincts. Though the pale woman was as tense as he, Elijah only saw her standing around judging him. There were no hostile actions, no attempt at knocking him down. Sasha acted like encircled prey and little else. Hesitant, alert, but not overly aggressive. Certainly nothing to call out.

    Something to be studied until further notice.

    ¡°Do you have personal experience working with compounds then?¡± Elijah asked Jack. He didn¡¯t fully understand what a ¡®documentary¡¯ was supposed to mean, but it sounded as if it was informative at the least.

    ¡°Theoretically, yeah? Might not be too much of an issue, depending on what you want me to do,¡± Jack replied, looking a little uncertain. Nervousness was blatant on the man¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ve worked personally on something like this before, but I wouldn¡¯t call myself an expert.¡±

    ¡°Experience is all I¡¯m asking for,¡± Elijah assured the young man. Seeing the opportunity to have an assistant mixing some of the simpler products, he was ready to introduce many of the ingredients until he saw Sasha moving towards a door in the back. The pale hands touching the handle made his heart reach his throat. ¡°Don¡¯t touch that.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t a request. It was an order.

    One that Sasha understood as she met his eyes once again, a calm face meeting his own. They wouldn¡¯t be if she knew what was behind that door.

    His heart didn¡¯t have an easy time when she turned the knob and opened it regardless, revealing the small room.

    What else could I expect?

    ¡°What are you so tense about?¡± Jack asked as he looked into the newly revealed room without stepping in. It wasn¡¯t large, so it was easy to see all there was.

    Barely the size of a closet, five purple flowers could be seen growing in a large pot, a covered window at the top allowing moonlight to barely enter when Elijah opened it. A modest setup for modest plants.

    That¡¯s what the average person would say, at least. They wouldn¡¯t know what they¡¯re looking at.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch them,¡± Elijah ordered, ignoring Jack¡¯s questions as Sasha examined the purple petals. The woman hadn¡¯t moved since opening the door, perhaps sensing the danger of those flowers. Or maybe she just felt Elijah¡¯s fear. It didn¡¯t matter. Elijah was just happy that she hadn¡¯t tried to touch them. ¡°I can¡¯t help you if you do.¡±

    I need to brew some new antidote, now that I¡¯m thinking about it.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Jack asked, taking another step towards the small room. Elijah wasn¡¯t a fan of that in the slightest, moving past both the young man and the woman, closing the door before those prying eyes could turn into prying hands. ¡°You¡¯re telling me those purple flowers could kill me?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Elijah replied bluntly.

    Sasha barely reacted, standing in place, but Jack¡¯s widened eyes made their feelings clear.

    ¡°Is there anything else in here that¡¯s going to kill me just by touching it?¡± he asked, wary glances given to the multitude of colored leaves covering the walls of the laboratory.

    ¡°Most likely not,¡± Elijah said. ¡°But those purple petals will.¡±

    Luna Nightshade was the official name, though Elijah rarely used it. Back when they were used in war, they were known as the ¡®Silent Killer,¡¯ able to down anybody who consumed it within mere minutes. It mattered little whether they were able to equal demigods in combat or whether they could die to a mild wind. A single glass poisoned with the plant was enough to make the organs shut down in a slow, painful manner.

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    And they wither away so easily.

    ¡°They are very sensitive to natural sunlight, so don¡¯t open the door unless it¡¯s an emergency,¡± Elijah instructed the two, getting silent nods in return. Good that he did, since he refused to waste the past fifty years of keeping the plants alive without magical boons to sustain them.

    Words nearly left him before the trio heard banging on the front door. Five sharp hits, evenly timed and without mercy for the old wood and glass. Elijah could guess the culprit.

    Olivia.

    ¡°It seems you two will be staying inside here for the next few hours,¡± Elijah said, picking up a few prepared bags from the table. ¡°There¡¯s water and rags in the corner there if you get bored enough to clean. I trust that you can avoid hurting yourselves in the process.¡±

    He didn¡¯t allow them a moment to voice complaints, leaving the laboratory and closing the door behind him. Some muted words could be heard through the thick wood, but they faded into nothing as he continued through the store area and over to the door.

    Surprisingly, Elijah saw two figures standing outside waiting for him.

    ¡°Olivia, Grace,¡± he said, unlocking the door and allowing the two women inside. ¡°With your studies, I didn¡¯t think you would have the time to visit again so soon.¡±

    ¡°What kind of friend would I be, if I didn¡¯t make a small detour to visit?¡± Grace replied, all three knowing full well that the academy was in the direct opposite way from her house. ¡°Looking out for the elderly is the youth¡¯s most important job as well.¡±

    A very dignified and respectful snort came from Olivia at those words.

    ¡°You always surround yourself with the finest of people, Elijah,¡± the head guard commented, accepting the bags from Elijah and glancing at the contents. ¡°Everything here?¡±

    ¡°Everything meant to be there is there,¡± he confirmed dryly.

    ¡°Good,¡± Olivia said, not giving the bags a second look before she slung them over her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t mess up next time.¡±

    And with that, she left, no farewell leaving her as she walked down the road.

    Elijah was glad he made her get some hours of sleep before he had to interact with her again.

    ¡°How¡¯d you piss her off this much?¡± Grace asked, going past Elijah and into the shop. He didn¡¯t remember inviting her inside but that was no issue for the young mage. ¡°I don¡¯t remember her being so angry the last time I saw her.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t take full credit for her current attitude,¡± Elijah replied, closing the door to stop would-be listeners from the street who were taking their time walking past his shop. ¡°Could I ask why exactly you decided to visit me today? Was your mother in more pain this morning?¡±

    He faintly remembered hearing complaints about it last year, when the seasons changed and the temperature caused old wounds to work themselves up in the older woman. Decades of physical labor had not helped their spine in the slightest.

    ¡°Oh, she¡¯s fine. Mom doesn¡¯t have any more complaints than usual,¡± Grace assured him, not looking him in the eyes as she studied the new flower sitting on the shop counter.

    Hunched shoulders, slightly red cheeks, deeper breaths to forcibly calm herself¡­ this can¡¯t be good.

    ¡°If it¡¯s not about your mother, can I assume it¡¯s about you?¡± Elijah asked, preparing himself for what was to come. By the recent days¡¯ occurrences, he guessed there were two things this could be about, and, seeing as he was rather sure there wasn¡¯t any boy she fancied, it meant the topic had to be one he dreaded.

    ¡°Less me, and more you,¡± Grace said. A final deep breath left her as she locked eyes with him. ¡°You know how you told me that you didn¡¯t want anybody learning about your¡­ newly-found gifts?¡±

    Of course, you did.

    Even if she was loyal to a fault, and would never try to intentionally cause him or anybody else harm, the young mage had always had a habit of trying to do ¡®what was best.¡¯ On this occasion, it was not heeding the one serious request that Elijah had given her in the past several years.

    ¡°How many did you tell?¡± Elijah asked, his voice filled with the kind of disappointment only those above fifty had any chance of harboring.

    ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as you think!¡± Grace tried to assure him, though his unblinking gaze made it clear he didn¡¯t believe that. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell my mom, my friends, or just any random person on the street.¡±

    ¡°Who was it then?¡± Elijah asked. Her mom could¡¯ve been sworn to secrecy if it was needed, but anybody else would make it a possible endeavor to keep quiet.

    ¡°It¡¯s my Mentor at the academy.¡±

    Elijah turned around and went towards the kitchen, Grace instantly following him and giving out apologies that fell on deaf ears. Aleksi had luckily left a pot of half-boiling water on the stove, so it took barely two minutes before they were sitting at the small table with a cup of tea each.

    ¡°What¡¯s the name of the mage who decides my fate?¡± Elijah asked, taking a sip of the tea. His recent batch of chamomile had performed remarkably well, though he expected that the flavor could likely be intensified now that he could enhance the properties of the leaves.

    ¡°His name is Rubeus Hayes, and he¡¯s the most patient and kind man you¡¯ll ever meet,¡± Grace said, laying it on rather thick. Elijah had heard of the man before, at least. ¡°He¡¯s one of the best mages in the country, he¡¯s the one that oversees almost every project in the academy, and he¡¯s somebody you can trust to keep quiet about¡­ this.¡±

    ¡°I trusted you could keep quiet about this,¡± Elijah replied bluntly, the cheeks of the young mage becoming a tinge more red. ¡°Could I ask why you decided he needed to be told?¡±

    ¡°Because awakening your abilities at 71 isn¡¯t normal, Elijah,¡± Grace instantly said. Some resolve seemed to return as she spoke. ¡°Children can die from the experience and stress of it all, even if they don¡¯t experience side effects in the first few days. You might feel safe about taking the chance, but¡­ I¡¯m not able to see you risk your own life when somebody can help, somebody that won¡¯t force you into anything.¡±

    You thought you knew better because I told you a lie.

    Fate had an awful way of getting back at him recently. Elijah hoped it wouldn¡¯t continue like this.

    ¡°If you have more acts in you, for the sake of my well-being, consult me beforehand,¡± he finally said after several seconds of thinking.

    ¡­

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°Guilt won¡¯t change the past,¡± Elijah countered. How could he work with this? ¡°Since you told him, and you¡¯re telling me about it, I¡¯m guessing he¡¯s very interested in this late awakening?¡±

    ¡°Extremely so,¡± Grace confirmed. ¡°He wants to meet you at your earliest convenience. And you don¡¯t have to come to him! No need to get close to the academy at all. He can come here.¡±

    I¡¯d rather he didn¡¯t, but there''s little say in the matter now.

    ¡°When?¡±

    ¡°Late afternoon, most likely, so¡­ in four-five hours maybe?¡±

    Much too little time to work with, but Elijah could make do. Aleksi wouldn¡¯t be home by that time, though that was maybe for the best. The giant never possessed a good poker face when confronted by the more powerful people in the world.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, I can try to¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine,¡± Elijah said, cutting in before Grace could make the situation worse than it already was. ¡°You can bring him by in five hours, and we can discuss all of this over tea.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Grace replied, eyes widened in surprise. ¡°I¡­ I can do that. Thank you, Elijah.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m doing this because I have to make sure your mentor understands the need for secrecy,¡± he noted. ¡°And I also need to make sure you understand it.¡±

    ¡°I do!¡±

    ¡°You might think you do, but you don¡¯t,¡± Elijah snapped, his tone making the young mage flinch. Seeing that, Elijah forced himself to take a deep breath. This wasn¡¯t the time to make somebody cry over something they did to help him. ¡°Promise me that you will not reveal this to anybody else. If you think it¡¯s for my own good, consult me first. If the wrong people learn about my awakening, it can cause me more trouble than you could imagine.¡±

    Half-teary eyes looked back at his own.

    Grace nodded shakily.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Elijah said, glancing at the clock hanging on the wall. ¡°You might want to finish your cup and head off soon. I think you spent more time here than you intended.¡±

    ¡°What? I¡ª Oh shit,¡± Grace cursed as she saw the time. Downing the remains of her tea in one swig, she rose from the chair and hurried walked out of the kitchen and towards the front entrance. ¡°Thanks for everything! I¡¯ll be back in five hours with my mentor.¡±

    At least her spirit had returned somewhat. Elijah hoped she would be back to normal by the time she had to introduce him to the mage by the name of Rubeus Hayes.

    On that note, he needed more information regarding that mentor of hers. While Grace had talked highly of the mage, her words had too much bias to be trusted fully. He needed another source to know for sure, and Elijah knew exactly who that could be.

    Before that, however, it would be best if he could check in on two inside the laboratory¡ª

    ¡°I¡¯m a fucking wizard!¡±

    ¡­ Though the voice was muted, a side-effect of the door into the work area barely being opened, Elijah could already feel that his day just became so much more complicated.

 Chapter 13: Jack of None

    Jack clicked his tongue for the third time in the past hour, as another attempt at scrubbing off the yellow stains on the table failed spectacularly. His arm was starting to hurt, his back was complaining about him leaning forward in the same position for so long, and the only thing he had to show for it all was a more evenly yellow table.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got no clue how that old man could do this himself,¡± Jack commented as he put the used rag down into the bucket again, letting the new liquid remove the coloring on the cloth. At least it could lose the stains somewhat after all this effort. ¡°You still having fun standing there or do you wanna help?¡±

    Sasha replied in the same way she¡¯d done the past ten times he tried to strike up a conversation. Pure silence, alongside those empty eyes just staring at him. He¡¯d been able to get a few words out of her back when they¡¯d been in the room this morning, but ever since then, she¡¯d barely said any words at all.

    He wasn¡¯t sure why that was the case, honestly, but Jack didn¡¯t bother trying to get her to talk too much. Some people wanted to be quiet, some wanted to talk, and some wanted to listen. Being forced outside of your normal category rarely ended well.

    As he completed the fourth washing of the rag and started up his efforts once again, though, his tongue felt the itch to start moving once again.

    ¡°You know, this isn¡¯t the first time I¡¯ve had to do something like this,¡± Jack commented, pressing down hard on a small chunk of the yellow powder that had been able to gather together enough that he could pry it off. ¡°Not even the first time in the past week, if you¡¯d believe it.¡±

    A non-committal sound came in reply, making him pause for a moment before continuing. It was closer to a grunt than any word but it was a response to his words regardless. A conversation, if the term was being stretched a little.

    And with his bored mind desperate for something other than just scrubbing the stuff around here clean, Jack latched onto it.

    ¡°I¡¯d been in a bit of a jam lately, trying to find a new apartment after the last one¡­ uh, wasn¡¯t an option anymore,¡± Jack continued, suddenly unsure about what to really reveal. ¡°Money trouble and all, you know? Anyway, I found this surprisingly cheap place just a few miles away from the city. Water and electricity worked fine, the rent was incredibly cheap, but the furniture wasn¡¯t something you¡¯d wanna touch with your bare hand, and the place hadn¡¯t been touched in a good half year. I was given the keys on the spot, but I had to spend a full day just cleaning the living room to get it to a point where I could breathe inside without a mask. Not a fun task, I¡¯ll tell you that.¡±

    ¡°Is that why you limp?¡±

    Wait.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Jack said, his mouth working faster than his brain as he looked up from his work and saw Sasha standing right beside him.

    Eight months ago, he would¡¯ve reacted properly and attempted to distance himself. Now, Jack got halfway through the process of lowering his center of gravity and retreating, before he felt the reason why he lost his job three months ago.

    As his left heel hit the ground hard, his nerves responded by sending a flare of pain through his body. What felt like molten metal filled the limb, and Jack could only grit his teeth as he focused on staying upright.

    In the meanwhile, Sasha just looked on unimpressed, eyes passively studying the frailness. Jack hated it, but he could do nothing about it.

    ¡°I thought I hid it well,¡± he finally said, as his body calmed down and the pain receded once again. It¡¯s frustrating that it had to come back now out of all possible times. Jack had been making sure not to put pressure on the leg in the wrong way, yet a moment distracted was all it took to nearly be crippled by the messed-up nerves. ¡°What gave it away?¡±

    ¡°You walked down the stairs weirdly,¡± Sasha replied. No judgment was present in her voice, surprisingly. ¡°And you didn¡¯t use your left leg when bending down to clean the rag. You¡¯re injured.¡±

    ¡°An injury from when we got here,¡± Jack tried.

    ¡°You would¡¯ve complained about it to the others like you did with all the other bruises you had left,¡± came the instant retort. ¡°You¡¯ve been injured for long enough that it¡¯s in your muscle memory. So why do you limp?¡±

    ¡­

    Jack wasn¡¯t a fan of this. He was in another world right now, a place that shouldn¡¯t exist but did anyway just because. He was in a place with magical plants, magical beings, magic that you could use, and, despite all of that, the flaws of the past world just had to drag itself over with him.

    And you can¡¯t do anything about it, so you just have to accept it.

    That¡¯s what the mandated physical therapist had told him before he was given the green light and made to move along. Despite whatever fancy technology the old world had been able to produce, there was no bringing back rotted nerves and muscle tissues.

    ¡°You can blame the IED that was lucky enough to detonate under our car,¡± Jack confessed, a few glimpses of the moment running back through his mind. Just an ordinary drive to go gauge rifles on another site along the regularly searched route. ¡°I was relatively lucky as well, honestly. The underside didn¡¯t handle the blast well, molten shrapnel flew right through some of us, and¡­ I was on the side furthest away. Nothing but my left leg was hit, though it took quite a hit regardless.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Sounds painful.¡±

    Yet again, there was no judgment. No empathy either, which Jack wasn¡¯t sure what to feel about, but at least it was better than those sad faces who¡¯d looked at him when he got sent home.

    ¡°It was,¡± he confirmed. ¡°Annoying as well. The injury could¡¯ve been less serious, but the time it took to do much about the damage meant that some infection had been able to hide above the knee. Went from being able to walk without a problem to using a cane for half a year. I¡¯m technically meant to keep using it, but¡­ I can¡¯t say I fit the age group.¡±

    Sasha looked at him for a few seconds more, waiting to see if there was more to hear, before just walking back to her previous spot and lounging yet again.

    Strange.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to comment on anything else?¡± Jack questioned, knowing he was back to square one when those blank eyes just stared at him. ¡°Aren¡¯t there any questions you¡¯re just dying to get answered?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Sasha replied with her regular bluntness.

    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m not a fan of the silence, so you¡¯re gonna just have to listen anyway,¡± Jack commented, getting an eye-roll for his efforts. It didn¡¯t matter to him, though. If he¡¯d gone this far in explaining his past, he could at least give a fuller picture. ¡°The reason for me even being out in a place that had explosives on the road is because I was a small arms repairman in the military. Been in that role for a whole two years, not including the basic courses I needed to get there. Annoying, but it was whatever. Paid well enough, I got food, had a roof over my head, and the smell could¡¯ve been worse. And all of this just had the cost of me sitting on my ass, fixing weapons that others had been too stupid to handle properly.¡±

    That got a snort out of her, which made Jack grin. So there was some form of emotion behind that brick wall that was her face.

    ¡°When I got deployed, I just assumed it was more of that,¡° he continued. ¡°And¡­ it was. Temp was a bit higher than I¡¯d liked, I had to move between bases sometimes, and I had to learn how to exclusively breathe through my mouth when going to the toilets, but, again, it was better than nothing. Food was still there, pay was pushed up a little, and I just had to survive that for a few months.¡±

    ¡­

    Moments were spent remembering it all, remembering how it had been. He¡¯d been happy with the job, happy to learn about the weapons, happy to mess around with the stuff gathering dust, and happy to assist even the dumbest of soldiers with their ineptitude. It had been something he would¡¯ve kept up for years if allowed, but that just hadn¡¯t happened.

    ¡°How long were you deployed?¡± Sasha asked when Jack grew silent. Even when she¡¯d just been cleaning her nails idly, the lack of his voice had seemingly been enough for her to add her own.

    ¡°Just a few days away from a full month,¡± he replied. ¡°I never saw action outside of that one time. Annoying, since it would¡¯ve been able to get me some better disability pay after I got kicked out, but it is what it is.¡±

    ¡°You just accepted that you were weak after that?¡±

    And there was the judgment. Jack had been wondering when it would come around.

    ¡°Harsh,¡± he commented, looking her over. They had to be around the same age. ¡°You have some history you want to share?¡±

    ¡°No, I do not.¡±

    ¡°Of course, you don¡¯t.¡±

    Jack forced down the anger that had bubbled up, closing his eyes for a moment to concentrate. His blood was flowing hard enough that he could hear the pulsing in his heart, could feel the rush in his arms, and that dull ache steadily started up in his leg. Every moment just had to include it, didn¡¯t it?

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Calm down and think rationally. Anger won¡¯t solve anything.

    Another lesson, this time from his dad. Not the right time for either of them to say those words and mean them, but the hours after that exchange had made the words true regardless.

    Best to move on. Forgiveness isn¡¯t a weakness.

    ¡°My career of repairing small arms didn¡¯t start when I joined the military, by the way,¡± Jack added when he knew his voice would sound like it¡¯d done before the last exchange. ¡°Actually started when I was around¡­ I want to say six. Not the first time I touched a pistol, but the first time I knew how to take it apart and put it back together. Everything before that was just poor craftsmanship.¡±

    ¡°A kid toying around with guns?¡± Sasha commented, a single eyebrow getting raised as he nodded. ¡°You fit the American stereotype well.¡±

    ¡°Pot calling the kettle black, I see,¡± came the instant retort. ¡°But I promise that wasn¡¯t the standard around where I was. I just had the privilege of having parents that owned a gun shop.¡±

    ¡°A lack of oversight then.¡±

    ¡°I like to call it trust,¡± Jack corrected. Another dignified snort left Sasha at the words. ¡°But¡­ I won¡¯t deny there were safety concerns. The state certainly thought so, when they came around and shut the place down. I was seventeen at that point, so it had been open for some twenty years, but still.¡±

    A warm smile grew on his face as the fond times returned yet again. It was a miracle that they hadn¡¯t been given hundreds of lawsuits, with how much leniency there had been.

    Oh right.

    The rag was starting to lose all its original coloring again, prompting him to move over and wash it for a fourth time.

    ¡°Is that why you joined the military?¡± Sasha asked, to which Jack nodded. He strained the water from the cloth as best as he could before getting back up again. ¡°I figured.¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t say it like that,¡± Jack admonished, throwing the rag her way. She barely looked its way, grabbing it with her left hand before dropping it on the table.

    Wasn¡¯t she right-handed?

    ¡°Stop tiring yourself cleaning stupidly,¡± Sasha said before he could take the rag and start again. ¡°The color won¡¯t disappear without something stronger than old water. The only thing you¡¯re doing is damaging the table.¡±

    Looking at the wooden surface, Jack wasn¡¯t happy at the splinters that were already sticking up around the edges. There¡¯d been quite a few when he had started, but he wouldn¡¯t deny that a few more had popped up after he began.

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± he relented, putting down the rag and mirroring her pose. His body thanked him for it, as leaning against something removed the pressure from his spine by just the right amount. ¡°Got any ideas on what to do instead then? Chances are we¡¯ll be here for another few hours.¡±

    ¡°Wait patiently without making noise,¡± Sasha rudely suggested, though it was perhaps more meant as an order. ¡°Even you should know the perks of not being discovered unintentionally.¡±

    Yet again, he couldn¡¯t deny her claims. Sitting around doing nothing was the smartest thing he could do. Silence meant less chance of some random person wandering in and investigating, even if the chance of that was already so incredibly low. They were inside the back part of a shop, inside a room that possessed surprisingly high-quality noise insulation, and the area around them was prone to emit various sounds by themselves.

    Jack certainly couldn¡¯t imagine that the giant golden flower sitting on one of the side tables could be silent for long.

    Wait¡­

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t this one like a head shorter when we came in here?¡± Jack questioned, as he walked over to inspect the shiny plant. Back when he¡¯d initially inspected and moved on from the flower, it had gone to just below his chest. Now the top petals were as high up as his eyes. ¡°Oh, shit, it¡¯s moving as well.¡±

    It was subtle, impossible to really see when he was far away, but the flower seemed to move just slightly. Outside, he¡¯d attribute it to an unfelt wind, but there was nothing of the sort in here. There were only his and Sasha¡¯s still forms, both overlooking the strange plant.

    And when he raised his hand to feel those golden petals, he noticed another quirk. When he was a palm¡¯s width away from the plant, it began to approach him as well.

    ¡°You think it¡¯s dangerous to touch?¡± Jack asked. He was curious as to how the fuzzy-looking petals felt, but the warning about the purple flowers in the other room made him a little cautious about anything acting too abnormally.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been cleaning up the dust prints from the plant for the past forty minutes,¡± Sasha replied. ¡°If you¡¯d die from touching it, you would¡¯ve been on the floor already.¡±

    ¡°How comforting to hear,¡± he muttered. Still, it was enough logic for him to trust that the plant wouldn¡¯t kill him at mere touch.

    Slowly raising his left hand again, he moved it towards the golden petals. Like before, the plant began to mirror his movement, bending a little so the center of the top flower reached his fingers first. Was that a sign of sentience? Jack had no idea, but it was cool regardless.

    And as the plant and his fingers reached each other, he felt it.

    It being the sheer fucking amount of dust that a single touch could cause. Even as Jack instantly pulled back his hand once again, it was too late. The damage was done, the skin on the lower arm turned golden and sparkly from the¡­ pollen? Whatever it was, it was incredibly effective at covering both the arm and a good chunk of the side table that the flower was standing on.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t have touched it,¡± Sasha commented. She¡¯d wisely taken three steps back to avoid the onslaught of gold in the air.

    Betrayal.

    ¡°And you¡¯re just saying this now?¡± Jack asked, trying to wipe away the powder with his right hand before immediately regretting it. Instead of solving the problem, he just turned more of his skin golden. ¡°That Elijah fellow better come back in here soon, because there is no way I¡¯m getting this off without whatever cleaning supplies he has hidden somewhere.¡±

    For now, however, the damage was done, his forearms being entirely covered in the stuff. Frustration started to grow in his body because of it, though it didn¡¯t last too long as unrelenting curiosity barreled forward a few seconds later.

    As he felt the gold-infested skin, Jack realized how stupidly smooth it felt. Years out in the sun had turned the surface rough and spotted, yet¡­ it all seemed to vanish in the span of two minutes.

    Is that good or very bad?

    Seeing as he wasn¡¯t dead on the floor, Jack decided to see it as an overall positive. While he wasn¡¯t dedicated to skincare routines like others his age who had slowly warmed up to the idea, he could respect the results of this regardless. Looking a little more youthful never hurt anybody.

    ¡­

    Grabbing one of the empty cups on the table, Jack started pushing the dust on the side table together into one big pile before transferring as much as he could to his container of choice.

    ¡°Should I ask?¡± Sasha inquired.

    ¡°Just saving it for the future,¡± Jack replied. He got an unimpressed look as he crouched down and took the largest groups on the floor as well. ¡°The plant must have some usefulness if it¡¯s in here, so why not gather up what it dropped? And this does also count as cleaning, so I¡¯m just doing as requested.¡±

    ¡°... Right.¡±

    Jack ignored the tone as he picked up the last worthwhile amount. If he had the proper tools he could¡¯ve gotten most of the rest, but he couldn¡¯t imagine this place hiding a bench scraper.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t my first time doing something like this either, you know?¡± Jack added as he put the cup onto the table before promptly sticking a finger into the mix. ¡°Back during the time when my parents still had the shop, we had a habit of taking bullet cartridges and emptying them of the powder. Really potent stuff, and something you shouldn¡¯t handle without some good gloves.¡±

    ¡°And your family forgot to wear some?¡±

    ¡°My parents always wore them,¡± Jack corrected. ¡°I¡­ was not as smart. Only messed up once, though. Spilled half a bucket of the stuff while moving it around. Used my hands to shovel most of it back up. Not very smart, I¡¯ll tell you that. My skin turned so red I looked sunburnt for days.¡±

    Even now, though, Jack could still remember how it was messing around with that material. Most of it had ended up as powder after so many months of sitting around, but the fresh stuff had been so weird, closer to incredibly small pellets rather than any true powder. Rougher than sand but not that far off.

    And the coloring as well¡­

    When Jack pressed his mind and imagined it, he could almost feel that sensation again, that half-burning smell that went all the way into his lungs. Likely toxic and cancerous in nature, but it brought a sense of nostalgia regardless. It was a piece of his old home, and he cherished it.

    Wait. I can feel it.

    Bringing out the finger from the cup, he turned it around to see the tip of the digit covered in black instead of the gold there seconds before.

    ¡°Strange,¡± Jack said, bringing it to his nose and inhaling the scent. His eyes widened as the smell was just as he remembered. ¡°Hodgdon, my beloved, you can¡¯t be real.¡±

    ¡°Did the flower have some psychedelic effects or are you usually like this?¡± Sasha asked, to which Jack just replied by pointing the black finger in her direction. ¡°What is that?¡±

    ¡°Gunpowder, just like what the founding fathers wanted it to be,¡± Jack answered. His pulse was quickening. ¡°By the potency of smell, it¡¯s recently made as well. It¡¯s¡­ Do you know what gunpowder smells like? I also need to make sure that the flower didn¡¯t have any mind-bending stuff hidden in it somewhere.¡±

    Sasha took a step back with a firm rejection of that idea, which was fair but also not. Jack could feel the excitement and mild fear rushing to his head as he considered the possibilities. His finger had just been covered in a type of magical golden powder that made his skin feel smooth, before he then fondly imagined the experience of picking up gunpowder in his youth, and then having that same type of gunpowder manifest where the pollen had previously been sitting.

    Crazy, not meant to be possible, but it was at least partly nitrocellulose currently covering the finger, so he had to look at the facts.

    ¡­

    How the fuck did I open up that menu thing again?

    Jack had done it the night before within just a few dozen seconds, but that had been while being in a much more calm emotional state. His heart was running a mile a minute at the moment and focusing on finding that third eye wasn¡¯t as easy as it sounded.

    But then something just clicked, a well of sensation not experienced before flooding through his mind, and then Jack could see.

    Name: Jack Larson

    Affinity: Metamancy

    Mana: 79

    Spells:

    [Transmute Powder](Tier 1)

    The status screen, or whatever he was meant to call it, had been empty of everything but his name when he¡¯d last looked at it, yet¡­ it wasn¡¯t so anymore. He had an Affinity, and he had a certain amount of Mana left inside him. Was the Affinity a good one? Was the amount of Mana healthy? Who the fuck gave a shit.

    He had an Affinity. He had Mana, a quantified unit of magical energy, inside of him.

    Jack was, by all credible standards, a wizard.

    As logic would dictate, it was impossible to keep this revelation inside himself.

 Chapter 14: Silent Lambs

    Elijah expected so little of the two and yet they still managed to underperform. The man had shouted, to a point where the sound isolation might not have stopped anybody in the store from hearing him, the table, which previously had attained some golden spots, was now given an evenly distributed nuance of yellow, and he could already tell that the growing Sundrop Flower had been prodded to some degree. The pollen on the floor made him certain of that.

    ¡°I sincerely hope that the two of you understood why I needed you to stay silent while I had visitors,¡± Elijah began. ¡°Though one of them barely went inside, they were the head guard of the dungeon, who had been tasked with putting up wanted posters of your faces. If she had gotten any indication I was harboring you, I can promise that you would not have lived for long.¡±

    ¡°... Sorry, it won¡¯t happen again,¡± Jack apologized after a moment of tenseness.

    ¡°A single time is needed before your lives are forfeited,¡± Elijah replied. Not wanting another talk about making mistakes, he decided to just move on from it. ¡°I hope that your shouting had a good reason behind it, at least.¡±

    ¡°Oh, yeah, it had a great reason,¡± Jack was quick to confirm, eliciting a sigh from Sasha. The latter interested Elijah more than the former. An hour or so of being locked in the laboratory had made the woman slightly more readable. Not enough that he felt safe around her, but enough to get a few clues about her thought processes. ¡°I was messing around with this plant of yours, spilled a little but I tried to gather it up in this cup, and, as I was talking about gunpowder that I¡¯d touched a few years ago, it just manifested on my finger.¡±

    Not unlike a child showing off a rock they found on the ground, the man showed the finger in question. As promised, the top part was indeed covered in black, a stark contrast to the golden pollen covering just about every other part of the man¡¯s arms.

    And the smell¡­

    He¡¯s interacted with enough explosive concoctions in the past to recognize some of the nuances. It was nowhere close to what the Sundrop Flower could produce under any viable condition.

    Sending a pulse of Mana through his body, honing in on his sight, Elijah was granted a clear view of the man before him. Though it was subtle at first, the more he focused on the deep silver that he could see before, the more obvious it became.

    ¡°You¡¯ve awakened,¡± Elijah muttered, instantly going through his mental catalog of Affinities. His time in the army had allowed him to meet hundreds of mages, yet none had that deep silvery coloring attached. Strange. ¡°What does the world say your Affinity is?¡±

    ¡°Metamancy,¡± Jack answered instantly, a grin on the young man¡¯s face. Confirmation about his magical abilities was enough for them to act even more like a child. ¡°Cool, right?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a headache is what it is,¡± he said, a hand on his face for a moment as he wondered how he was going to deal with this. If he was going to have the Royal Mage over for tea, it meant having him in the kitchen. That entailed the other man going through the hallway and past the laboratory.

    While Elijah wasn¡¯t back to his old strength, when it came to his magical senses, there was no doubt the Royal Mage would be able to spot the silvery coloring through a wall, metal door or not.

    Could he get them out of the house? No, that wouldn¡¯t be possible in broad daylight. If done during the night, he had places deeper in the slums where they could maybe hide, but there wasn¡¯t time for that. And if the mage wanted to inspect the room, the hidden one would be spotted instantly.

    The basement?

    Rarely if ever used for extended stays, hard-to-spot entrance, and possessing an emergency exit if they ever needed to leave without going through the front or back door. If not for the bad cough you¡¯d get from being down there for more than a few hours, Elijah would¡¯ve already placed them there, but now it would be necessary.

    ¡°Have you ever heard of it before?¡± Jack asked, bringing Elijah out of his thread of thought. ¡°Metamancy, I mean.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t say I have,¡± Elijah answered honestly. ¡°Radically changing a material like this isn¡¯t something I¡¯ve heard being done. What spells do you have?¡±

    ¡°Only one called Transmute Powder, though I¡¯m not exactly sure how I can use it again.¡±

    ¡°You just need to focus on your Core, the thing you pull on when you want to see your Status. From there, trial and error is all you need to perform the spell,¡± Elijah explained as he once again tried and failed to remember anything about Transmutation. There were legends about it, sure, but nothing with a date and location attached. Was it an Affinity seen before? Most definitely, but it had to be rare. Even if it likely had little potential in combat, it had the ability to be devastating in other areas. ¡°You¡¯ll have plenty of time to hone it soon. I¡¯ll find you some food and drink, and then you¡¯re moving down to the basement for a few hours.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    It was Sasha who questioned his words this time. Fitting, seeing as she was the only one of the two fully paying attention to his words. The way that Jack¡¯s eyes were slightly glazed spoke magnitudes about where his focus was being put.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°A friend of mine messed up and revealed my magical abilities to one of the Royal Mages,¡± Elijah explained. That made them both focus properly. ¡°They¡¯ve allegedly promised to keep them a secret, but they want to meet me today in a few hours. That means they¡¯re going to be seated by that kitchen table there.¡±

    ¡°And mages can spot other mages,¡± Jack said, the man¡¯s eyes widening a moment later as he started to stare down Elijah¡¯s form. By the fact that the silvery Mana inside the young man started to swirl, he was likely trying to figure out how to let his eyes penetrate through the magical veil.

    ¡°Do you trust that the basement will stop us from being noticed?¡± Sasha questioned, not sounding trusting of his plan.

    ¡°It¡¯s better than leaving you up here,¡± Elijah replied. ¡°And there¡¯s an escape route for you in the basement if the Royal Mage gets suspicious.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Fine,¡± Sasha said, seemingly convinced enough by his answer. Without another word, she stepped past him and ventured into the kitchen.

    Elijah decided not to comment on the ease at which the woman found the dried fruits. Leading Jack into the kitchen after helping him remove the yellow coloring, he boiled more water for another round of tea, brought out some of the meats and cheeses and just about everything else that might be filling for the youth, and then sat them down by the table to relax for a moment.

    ¡°While the basement should provide some noise cancelation like the laboratory, I can not promise that it will stop any shouting from reaching through the floorboards,¡± Elijah warned as they sat and ate. ¡°You can talk, you can walk, but don¡¯t do anything extreme while you hear footsteps from up here. Even if you can escape, you will still be out on the street alone.¡±

    ¡°And instantly recognized by every person we meet,¡± Jack guessed, to which¡­ Elijah wasn¡¯t too sure.

    ¡°In the higher district, maybe, but in the slum people would barely spare you a second glance,¡± he said. Posters about wanted criminals had a habit of getting replaced rather often. ¡°But do not take that as an invitation to do something dangerous. They will not recognize you, but that district is still a place where guards do not normally venture into.¡±

    He didn¡¯t like Sasha¡¯s unfocused gaze as he spoke. What was she thinking? Elijah couldn¡¯t tell, though he knew that it couldn¡¯t bode well.

    After they finished eating, they gathered all the plates and cups in the sink before he led them to the entrance to the basement. It was at the very end of the hall, just next to the backdoor exit, and hidden behind a decorative carpet that hadn¡¯t been cleaned in a few months. Dirty enough that nobody would want to touch it.

    Not that it stopped Elijah from pulling it away and revealing the trapdoor. Opening it up revealed the steep stairs down. Going down them allowed the trio to see the underground area that hadn¡¯t been used for much of anything in the past three or so years. Previously, it had been constantly filled with lines of string to dry herbs on, but all of that had been moved upstairs. One fall getting down here had been enough to convince him of that.

    ¡°It stinks,¡± Jack commented as he skipped the final step and jumped onto the dirt-filled floor, dust flying up because of the action. ¡°I¡¯m starting to believe the part about it being hard to breathe down here.¡±

    ¡°Opening the window made it obvious to any passersby that there was something to steal here,¡± Elijah explained, walking over to the far end of the basement, going past the wooden stone supports with old notes etched into them. The further he went away from the stairs, the darker it became, but he knew how to lighten it up. ¡°Secrecy is the only way to keep valuables safe here.¡±

    Feeling his fingers against the wall, he finally found the cloth he was looking for. Pulling on it, the fabric gave away and it fell down from where it had been fastened so long ago.

    Though it was barely a few rays, light came through old glass panes to reveal the true size of the basement. A few whispers of surprise could be heard, but Elijah ignored them as he finally spotted the wooden boxes stacked in the nearby corner. Bringing them over, he stepped onto them and reached up to open the window just slightly.

    Though the hinge was more rusted than he¡¯d like it to be, it would still work well enough.

    ¡°You can crawl through here if you need to,¡± Elijah explained after closing the window again. ¡°It leads into the backstreets about twenty meters away from the back door. With the amount of garbage filling that area, you should be able to go through it without anybody noticing you.¡±

    Hopefully, you won¡¯t need to at all.

    ¡°Cool,¡± Jack replied. The man had already found himself a box to sit on, settling down with the cup of golden pollen in hand. ¡°Before you go up again, do you have any final trick you want to impart on a newly awakened mage? It¡¯s going to be a while, and I¡¯d rather not miss some vital part about this magic stuff.¡±

    At least the man had a way to spend the hours that wouldn¡¯t risk detection too much. With his current magical abilities, Elijah didn¡¯t expect it to be too obvious to anybody upstairs. Yet, if he wanted to do it for so long¡­

    ¡°Since the methods required for using spells are innately tied to your Affinity, I can''t do much other than general advice,¡± Elijah explained. ¡°But, if you intend to spend the next seven hours of your life forcing your Core to transform matter, the best tip I can give you is to take breaks. Your internal reservoirs aren¡¯t infinite in size, and even if you recuperate enough energy to technically continue in your practice, your body will still be worn out.¡±

    ¡°Your magic is like a muscle, and you don¡¯t want to pull a muscle on your first day,¡± Jack summed up, to which Elijah just nodded. It was close enough. ¡°Gotcha. I¡¯ll take breaks and stop if I feel weird.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Elijah said, hoping that his words would be heeded for once. Taking a moment to inspect Sasha, he saw her already having found a box to sit on as well, being settled not far from Jack. Maybe she intended to watch his fiddling around? ¡°And I trust you can keep an eye on him?¡±

    ¡°There is little else to do.¡±

    ¡­ He couldn¡¯t say he expected more. Bidding them both a farewell, he went up the stairs and into the hallway. Closing the trapdoor, he put the carpet back into place before cleaning up the kitchen to make everything look as it had when Grace had visited an hour before.

    Three hours until they¡¯re meant to arrive.

    Around that time, at least. Even without having interacted with any other mages than the young woman in recent years, their ineptitude at respecting timely schedules had never been forgotten. Elijah was more than prepared to have them show up at his doorstep even now.

    But he would have an excuse for not being here if they did that. One which he would readily use while he did the last piece of preparation for the upcoming battle. He needed to visit someone who could give him an edge.

 Chapter 15: Madame Cleo

    ¡®The Madame¡¯s Estate¡¯ was a beautifully crafted building on the outskirts of the city. Located near the wall, just between the poorer and richer districts, it allowed people of all classes to enter and leave freely. A place of equality among the customers, one could say.

    Not that anybody dared to complain about who the other customers were, seeing as they didn¡¯t want to be recognized as frequent visitors of a brothel either.

    Elijah personally didn¡¯t care for those looks of shame as he met the eyes of several entering through the main entrance of the building. Not that they looked his way for long, as the lush carpets, the incredibly detailed paintings, and the outfits of employees that left little to the imagination distracted any and all who entered.

    Mostly everyone, at least. After nearly thirty years of walking into the establishment every other Sunday, the sights barely registered in his mind.

    ¡°Oh, hello Elijah!¡± He was greeted as he went up to one of the counters on the side. It was rarely used as it was hidden over in one of the corners, but it was inhabited by one of the women regardless. ¡°I thought you were meant to arrive tomorrow? In a hurry to see us again perhaps?¡±

    He just stared blankly as Mia snickered at her own words. She¡¯d said something along those lines every time she¡¯d seen him for the past seven years. How she still found it funny was a wonder in itself. Maybe it was a hobby, for when those emerald eyes of hers didn¡¯t captivate the strangers.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to deliver the normal package and to speak to Cleo,¡± he replied. Maybe it was the way he talked or something else entirely, but Mia laughed yet again. Her voice, honed through countless hours of practice to sound just enticing enough to feel natural, even caught the attention of some of the other customers. When Elijah was seen alongside her, however, nobody approached. ¡°It¡¯s urgent.¡±

    ¡°If you want to speak to the Madame directly, it¡¯s always urgent,¡± Mia agreed, first taking the bag that he had brought along before opening up the side of the counter to let him walk inside into the back, away from the eyes of the unwise. ¡°Remember that you¡¯re a lucky one. Not just everybody gets to meet her when they want to.¡±

    Unless they have a bag of gold and the ability to go on their knees and beg.

    ¡°I know,¡± Elijah replied evenly, offering no more comments after that as they passed into the worker¡¯s lounge. Sofas, chairs, and just about every other method of comfort filled the room, giving the men and women a chance to sit and relax while they were on break. Several waved his way, some shouting his name, but he just gave them a nod and continued on. It wouldn¡¯t be good if he stayed in that area for long anyway, with how the floor had gained a layer of gray. ¡°I can smell the Cana. It¡¯s badly made.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what happens when somebody doesn''t want to grow them for us,¡± Mia chirped. ¡°And it might not be up to your standards, but the effects are good enough to stop any complaints.¡±

    He didn¡¯t doubt that.

    Moving up the stairs and through another set of hallways, they ventured back out into the ¡®public¡¯ areas, though the ones here were nowhere near what was a floor down. Rooms were larger, equipped to stop any sound from going through the veils in front of them, and there had to be less than twenty people on the floor in total. It was the highest of the highs, for those either disgustingly rich or a good friend of the former.

    ¡°Madame Cleo, you have a visitor,¡± Mia announced as they reached the end of the hallway, knocking on one of the few proper doors on this floor. ¡°An old friend.¡±

    Old friend.

    Always the same descriptor for him and Aleksi. A little code to subtly make it clear who he was.

    ¡°Well, I can¡¯t deny an old friend visiting,¡± the smooth voice of an older woman said, coming through the door with an unnatural clarity. It was like they were being spoken to directly next to their ears. Elijah never saw the point of such a display, but he couldn¡¯t dismiss the effectiveness of her strategies overall so he just let it go like always. ¡°Let him in, Mia.¡±

    The younger woman did as asked, opening the door for Elijah and allowing him entry into the Madame¡¯s room. He thanked her for the gesture before the door was closed behind him, and he was left in the room together with the leader of the entire brothel.

    ¡°Cleo,¡± Elijah greeted, seeing the woman before him. Even with sixty years on her, age had been kind. Though she carried gray streaks in her otherwise brown hair, her face was without obvious wrinkles. Not that it would matter if she had, with those sapphire eyes that had inspired half a dozen songs by visiting bards in the past year. ¡°I need your help.¡±

    She was sitting on one of the cushions next to her short-legged desk, skimming through a report a dozen papers long. Even when she was not far from his age, her eyes could move so fast without missing a single fact.

    ¡°Is there ever a time when you want to meet me, where you don¡¯t need me for something?¡± Cleo questioned, her words harsh but her tone filled with mirth. She was playing with him, a soft chuckle leaving her as he settled down in one of the cushions. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind if you just paid me a social visit one of these days, Elijah. It¡¯s been too long since you and Aleksi came around for tea.¡±

    ¡°Maybe another day,¡± he offered. ¡°Right now, I¡¯m working with very little time.¡±

    ¡°Stressed, are we?¡±

    ¡°You could say that,¡± Elijah confirmed, not bothering to hide that fact. ¡°I need information about a Royal Mage by the name of Rubeus Hayes.¡±

    ¡°Rubeus Hayes, the second-highest ranking Mage in this fine country?¡± Cleo questioned with a bright smile. Elijah was quick to notice the new gold teeth since they¡¯d last talked. ¡°Entire books can be filled with that man¡¯s achievements, so you have to be more specific about what you want to know. We have little time, as you know, so I need a guiding hand in this.¡±

    ¡°As I¡¯m sure one of your girls told you, before I got three steps into your house, I have unsealed my Core,¡± Elijah explained, not surprised by the lack of denial coming from Madame. They both knew just how many eyes were hidden in the walls. ¡°The apprentice of the Royal Mage, Grace Runner, noticed that and decided to extend an invitation to visit me and see my ¡®late awakening¡¯ for himself.¡±

    ¡°That sounds entirely innocent in nature,¡± the older woman commented, before leaning forward just a little. ¡°What¡¯s the catch?¡±

    ¡°We all have secrets we want to keep hidden.¡±

    ¡°Oh, nobody can deny that.¡±

    ¡°I need to know about his reach. I¡¯d rather not accidentally meet the man ruling the criminal underworld without knowing beforehand.¡±

    ¡°Oh, there is no man on top anymore, I can promise you that,¡± Cleo assured him. ¡°And this Hayes¡­ I know of several old dealings he had during the earlier years of the city. Nothing too strange, since it was mainly the purchase of relief and some euphoric cigars. If he still trades for such things, he does it through a handler that hasn¡¯t been matched with him, but otherwise, he is not known for being a cruel man.¡±

    ¡°His apprentice talked well of him,¡± Elijah commented.

    ¡°Most do, with how much leniency he has given out through the years,¡± the Madame agreed. ¡°He has befriended many mages from the generation after him because of it, many in powerful positions, but what else can you expect of the Royal Mages? He¡¯s not a man prone to violent outbursts, and he has not been involved in any warfare for the past thirty years if that is what you want to hear.¡±

    ¡°An old fighter who has moved over to research,¡± he mused. ¡°Any notable battles I would recognize?¡±

    ¡°He helped free most of the northern villages and was one of the important factors in stopping the Charge on Kulvik during the final months of the war.¡±

    One of the bloodiest battles that had been, on the level of what had occurred on the front lines during the peak of the war. Elijah was happy to have missed both of them.

    ¡°Of course he was.¡±

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    An old soul wishing to help. Maybe he is to be believed about keeping the so-called awakening quiet.

    ¡°I take it you heard what you wanted?¡± Cleo asked.

    ¡°For now, it¡¯s enough to work with,¡± Elijah replied, receiving a smile from his words.

    Always with the smiling around here.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯ve asked questions and received answers from me, don¡¯t you think it is time for you to return the favor?¡± Cleo said, putting a hand on his shoulder before he could start to rise. Her other hand reached for the glasses on the desk, a bottle appearing out of thin air as well.

    ¡°Is it from the same year as last time?¡± Elijah questioned, knowing better than to reject the crystal glass put into his hand. The smell of the clear-blue liquid was strong enough to make a weaker man cough outright.

    ¡°A year older, actually. I had to have it imported from across the sea after we started running dry of this divine drink,¡± came the answer. Elijah hummed in response, taking a sip. The instant scorching of his throat made him relax more than he thought possible in recent times, his shoulders loosening into a state that didn¡¯t feel uncomfortable for once. ¡°I¡¯m seeing no complaints.¡±

    ¡°There are none to be voiced,¡± he agreed, taking another sip. It brought a dulled reaction compared to the first, but that was to be expected. The body could build resistance to the Drink of the Fae so quickly that it was a drink only meant to be experienced once a year at most. ¡°You said you had questions of your own?¡±

    He took a third sip in preparation for whatever she could think to say.

    ¡°A trade is best when both parties can walk away feeling they have received their fair due, is it not?¡± Cleo asked, voicing a common rhetorical question around these parts, though it was usually used in a different context. ¡°And so it is only expected that I ask you a simple question. Just how involved were you in the murder of a Royal Mage and was it your own injuries, Aleksi¡¯s, or those of the younger duo that made you unseal your Core?¡±

    ¡­

    After a moment¡¯s deliberation, Elijah sighed and downed the glass. He would need it if he was to deal with this in any polite fashion.

    ¡°Of course, you would put it all together,¡± he commented, putting the glass on the desk. Cleo laughed at the display. ¡°Did you know before I walked in or was it what I said?¡±

    ¡°I had my suspicions about your involvement simply because it was in the slums,¡± she admitted. ¡°Your wanting to know more about a high-ranking Royal Mage, and your incredibly foolish act of unsealing your Core made it clear that something very out of the ordinary had happened in your life recently. It was just me putting two abnormal incidents into one.¡±

    ¡°We knew the risks when I did it.¡±

    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re not one I remember as stupid. Even more reason why your action had to be one coming from more than just the mind,¡± Cleo started. ¡°Alas, you skipped over the answer to my question. If you wouldn¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to know more.¡±

    The mistress of secrets always yearns.

    Knowing that she would spot any attempts at deceit, Elijah explained the past two days of his life. How he didn¡¯t kill any Royal Mage but instead found the aftermath, how he saw two half-dead youths and decided to act foolish, how he brought them home and healed them through magic, and how he now had to deal with what was cooking up to be a problem he had trouble dealing with.

    ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you have any information regarding who was behind it?¡± Elijah tried.

    ¡°Sadly not, which is a surprise to us both,¡± Cleo answered with a small huff. ¡°Countless officials have been bedded and made stupid, yet none could say more than what we already knew. The swiftly withdrawn wanted posters came from ¡®the royal guard,¡¯ yet even they can¡¯t say who ordered them.¡±

    ¡°Could it be the crown prince himself?¡± Elijah suggested. ¡°It would complicate matters much further, but it could be possible.¡±

    ¡°I thought so as well, but our dear Prince Phillip was with his men that entire night, drinking and celebrating. He even drank slightly more than he might¡¯ve intended that night, as several of his men confessed to him being¡­ incapable of giving out orders around the hours before the Royal Mage was found.¡±

    ¡°Could the other Royals be behind it then? The Princess specifically, I mean.¡±

    There is very little chance of the third Prince being behind anything complex like this.

    ¡°None of them can send orders through the Royal Guards, so it would be unlikely,¡± Cleo rejected. ¡°Truthfully, whoever is behind the murder was either an opportunistic powerhouse who has since fled without anybody¡¯s notice, or it¡¯s by a group hiding so well that it¡¯s not worth the costs to find them. Instead, Elijah, I suggest you spend your time figuring out how to move forward.¡±

    Wise words. They were ones he had already deliberated on for a long time now, since the night when he had been certain they would live until morning.

    ¡°Having them flee the city is something I¡¯ve considered,¡± Elijah answered. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you could help with that if needed?¡±

    ¡°Officially, we stopped smuggling people out ten years ago, but we can always make exceptions,¡± Cleo replied, both knowing fully well they¡¯d never stopped. ¡°Since I¡¯m guessing you have little networking outside these walls, I can also give you several suggestions on where they can be placed. It would be better to separate them, though I¡¯m guessing they¡¯d prefer staying together?¡±

    ¡°On that, I can¡¯t say,¡± he confessed. While the two had been on talking terms, he wasn¡¯t sure there was any lasting connection past that. Neither had known of the other until very recently. ¡°Though, if leaving the city means a lesser chance of returning to their world, I¡¯m sure the woman would reject the idea instantly.¡±

    ¡°Preferring to stay where the danger is highest, on the off-chance that an act meant to be saved for legends can be reversed,¡± the Madame concluded, not hiding the thin smile well. Elijah always knew her as one who enjoyed drama. Came with the job. ¡°I can respect the tenacity, though it is dangerous regardless. Do you think the man, Jack, would prefer to stay as well?¡±

    ¡°Maybe,¡± was all Elijah could say. ¡°He¡¯s idealistic enough that he¡¯ll probably support her choice.¡±

    ¡°Foolish youth, you could say,¡± Cleo joked, copying words muttered several decades ago. ¡°We weren¡¯t too different back then.¡±

    ¡°No¡­ No, we were not,¡± Elijah admitted. ¡°But, if the time comes, can I trust that they can hide here if my house becomes unsafe?¡±

    He could see it clearly, as Cleo¡¯s back straightened and her eyes became focused once more. That old look of strength and ferocity that had allowed her to climb from a street urchin to one of the richest and most influential people in the capital.

    ¡°I have not closed my doors to a single boy or girl in need since the day this establishment opened up, and I will not close them until this establishment has been turned into dust,¡± Madame Cleo, practically worshiped as a goddess by her workers, promised. ¡°Bring them in from the back when you need help. Until then¡­¡±

    Their conversation was halted as a ringing came from Cleo¡¯s desk. Opening up one of the drawers revealed a peculiar servant bell. Elijah could see how it glowed, a red color growing stronger and stronger before a small burst of fire came out of it, leaving behind a small piece of paper.

    ¡°Oh my,¡± Cleo commented as she closed the drawer with the paper in hand. ¡°Prince Louis is visiting in a few minutes.¡±

    That was a surprise, Elijah¡¯s old brows rising at the announcement.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think this place attracted the local royalty,¡± he said, as the bottle and glasses were hidden away once again. ¡°When did the young Prince become a customer of yours?¡±

    ¡°Since he got old enough to order away his guard last winter,¡± Cleo replied, adjusting her hair and clothing by the mirror that hadn¡¯t been on the wall a second before. ¡°And, before you ask, yes, the whispers surrounding the third child do him justice.¡±

    He hadn¡¯t thought to ask, but that tidbit of information wasn¡¯t something he minded knowing. Being four years younger than the Princess who was 24, he was an adult in lawful terms but little better than a child in terms of temperament. Maybe it was because of the complicated situation regarding his birth, or maybe it was due to being third in line to a throne he would likely never sit on, but it hadn¡¯t taken long before the Prince had become known as an unruly troublemaker who knew how little punishment he would receive for his actions. Where the other Royals had been seen as calm and collected, the youngest was known as rash and violent when prodded the slightest amount.

    ¡°If that is the case, I will be taking the other door out,¡± Elijah said as he rose from the cushion, brushing off his clothing for any residue that landed on him since he entered this place. ¡°I¡¯d rather not anger royalty before I meet with one of their more powerful servants.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t blame you,¡± Cleo replied, skipping past the entire spiel about the hidden door only meant to be used in emergencies. ¡°I trust that you know the way out without help?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± he promised, going through the door that had been one with the tapestry until the moment Cleo had reached for the handle. ¡°I hope we don''t need to see each other for the next few weeks.¡±

    ¡°On the contrary, I wouldn¡¯t mind you and Aleksi visiting when we¡¯re all under less pressure.¡±

    As if it will ever relent.

    Elijah simply nodded as he walked through the narrow passage. In stark contrast to the colorfully detailed decor of the rest of the establishment, including the sections mainly used by the workers, everything in the hidden hallways was built for function and little else. Magical lights were present every two meters to allow for visibility, and stairs and random steps were marked to avoid accidents, and everything else was removed to make the space smaller.

    Wouldn''t want somebody to question how thick the walls were in some places.

    Without seeing anybody else, Elijah was able to navigate through the maze of hidden hallways and over to one of the backdoor exits. A few of the workers were outside smoking, waving to him as he passed by, but nobody too noteworthy was spotted. He could return to the main street and walk to his shop in peace.

    And good that he did. As he took a turn down the final street, the front of his shop coming into view, he saw that it had gathered a small crowd. Not because of would-be customers hoping for the place to be open, but because of a man wearing a purple robe in front of it.

    The Royal Mage by the name of Rubeus Hayes, accompanied by Grace herself.

    An hour earlier than promised, as expected.

 Chapter 16: Hard Times

    Fourteen steps to reach the other floor, a few random ones to hide the trapdoor, nearly twenty spent walking around in the kitchen, five more to leave, and it should be¡­

    Sasha held her breath as she listened for the mild whine of a hinge and the ringing of a bell, the telltale signs of the old man leaving the shop. Just as she¡¯d counted, it came a mere twenty minutes after they¡¯d been left behind in the basement, left to fend for themselves until Elijah¡¯s return.

    ¡°Do you think you can reenact what you were saying at the laboratory?¡± Jack asked as she rose from her seat after another thirty minutes of waiting and walked towards the window. There was rust on the sides, but a careful hand would make it open without too much scraping. ¡°I know he said it was all about mental focus, and I¡¯m not disregarding that, but I¡¯m thinking external stimuli might¡¯ve helped as well. This powder certainly did something, but you were talking as well so¡­ Wait, what are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Ensuring my survival,¡± she replied bluntly. Moss had grown on most of the window¡¯s outside surface, but she could still see plenty of the street through it.

    Empty, nowhere near the size of the one on the other side of the house, and with plenty of places to run and hide if anybody recognized her. Enough to work with.

    ¡°We were told to wait here until Elijah got the Royal Mage guy out of the way,¡± Jack said, standing just beside the boxes she was balancing on. Old instinct told her to kick him away before he tried to be funny, but she held back in the vain hope he could wise up. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re gonna have any bigger chance of surviving out there?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°... Oh.¡±

    In spite of years of practice, Sasha couldn¡¯t hold back the eye-roll that came from hearing the man talk. How they were the same age confused her to no end. Even the idiots at the bars usually had some form of ability to spot the obvious.

    ¡°Think about why most of the basement has dirt for a floor instead of stone,¡± Sasha ordered after closing the window again, making Jack¡¯s brows rise slightly. ¡°Look at where the dirt has been dug in.¡±

    It was harder to spot before the window had been cleared a little further, but the difference in distributed and undisturbed ground was clear. The coloring was darker in the spots where it had been dug up from further below, and the slight elevation change was easy to discern after that. They might have attempted to even it out, but it all added up after several repetitions.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you think they buried people down here,¡± Jack said, forcing a low chuckle. ¡°They might be a bit strange, but they¡¯re a little too old for that.¡±

    ¡°The big one could crush both of us if he wanted to,¡± Sasha replied curtly. ¡°They might not, but I¡¯d prefer to know my options before I settle with this.¡±

    With the remains of her conscience cleared, she opened up the window once again. It wasn¡¯t large enough to make it an easy fit, but she was able to raise herself up and through it within some thirty seconds of careful work.

    The breath of fresh air when she got past the trash piled next to the window was dearly needed, her body granting her a moment of bliss. Too much time had been spent without seeing the sun, seeing the clouds, and feeling a natural wind. Granted, it was all hidden behind the taller buildings on either side of the street, but Sasha wouldn¡¯t demand more than this. It was enough for now.

    I¡¯m coming as soon as I can. Just need to find my way back.

    Her right foot left the ground, ready to take the next towards her goal, but a low grunt from behind her made her face sour. Of course, he would try to follow.

    ¡°Give me a second, please,¡± Jack pleaded as he pushed through the half-open window. The rust stopped it from going all the way out, complicating the man¡¯s attempt, but he was steadily succeeding bit by bit. ¡°I¡¯ll come with.¡±

    A day before, Sasha would¡¯ve already started walking, not caring about whatever he had to say.

    That wasn¡¯t the case anymore, no matter how much that frustrated her. Something close to pity invaded her, as she looked at that weak excuse for a person in front of her. It was sad to look at, to a point where some instinct wanted her to help them like she had the others.

    Only, they¡¯d deserved it, not having the gift of anybody else helping them at the start.

    ¡°Can you even keep a walking pace?¡± Sasha questioned, against her better judgment. ¡°I don¡¯t like stragglers.¡±

    ¡°I can walk, I can run, and I can climb,¡± Jack replied alongside a final grunt as he pushed through and hastily went to his feet. ¡°Won¡¯t look pretty, but I can.¡±

    ¡­

    They¡¯ll have somebody else to catch if we¡¯re discovered.

    Convincing herself that this was somehow a good idea to allow, Sasha signaled for him to follow as she began the trek down the narrow street. Just as Jack had promised, he kept pace just beside her. He walked weirdly as well, his left foot sticking out to the side a little more than the other, but it looked natural enough to be mistaken for a simple quirk.

    Sasha had no trust that the man could run, however. Not with that footwork.

    The narrow street swerved a minute into their walking, splitting into a dozen even narrower alleys and blindspots. A great place for an ambush, if any had felt the need, but they¡¯d seen nobody yet. There was shouting in the distance, steps echoing when she strained her hearing, but nobody could be caught within her eyesight. A more well-trekked street was probably behind one of the buildings to their right.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    ¡°Where do you even want to go?¡± Jack asked as they stood there, looking at the dark alleys ahead. With the narrower fit, and the rooftops above almost combining into one, the view ahead could be mistaken for one seen at night.

    The moon was falling from here, so, if the sun works the same here, it¡¯ll be that direction we came from.

    ¡°Home,¡± Sasha replied, choosing the left-most alley to head down. The stench was putrid, as something had died here recently, but she barely blinked as her feet caused steady echoes. Jack tried to question her choice from behind, yet he had to follow as well soon after to not get left behind.

    For the tenth time that day, she cursed not being awake for the entire duration of their capture. The time in the underground, with the glowing moss, the blue flames, and the robed figures should¡¯ve made it clear where to head, but the entrance where they¡¯d gone out into the city was muddled in her mind. Her body had been too occupied with keeping her alive after the experience, and everything that happened after they¡¯d started walking through the city was too much of a blur to use effectively.

    At least she knew the entrance was far away from here. It had been right under a rotting excuse for a house, made of wood and without a stone in sight. A direct opposite of everything around her now, with every building and fixture made out of some stone or another.

    A place for the rich and well-off. Not what she was looking for.

    And so, she had to find the slums that Elijah had promised would be here.

    ¡°Hey, do you smell that?¡±

    Sasha wrinkled her nose as she was reminded of the smell of rot and decay around her, half-wanting to curse at Jack for bringing it up until her senses noticed something new. Something fresh, something¡­ baked?

    Sugary.

    Her stomach growled more than she had expected, as her nose and ears worked overtime to locate the source. Those whispers of people talking and walking had waned before becoming louder once again. They were close to a well-traveled street again, it seemed, one that contained food of some kind.

    ¡°Pastries,¡± Sasha commented. ¡°Unimportant.¡±

    A lie to him but mostly to herself, as she resumed walking forward. Yet, while she expected the noise to die down and disappear again, that turned out not to be the case. It got louder, increasing as they went further and further down the alley until they could see it open up and allow proper sunlight in again.

    They¡¯d been led directly into a crowd.

    Not good.

    Staying close to the wall, Sasha walked over to the very end of the alley before looking both ways. People filled the streets, wearing all kinds of colorful clothing. Not expensive, certainly not to the level that she¡¯d seen people wear outside the shop, but there was still some extra change to buy half-dirty fabrics.

    And from the fact she could see a house made of wood further down the street to their right, she knew they were on the right track.

    ¡°Do you want us to go back and try again?¡± Jack asked, the man hesitant to follow Sasha out into the direct sunlight. ¡°We can¡¯t get spotted. You know that.¡±

    ¡°The closer we are to the slums, the less people will care,¡± Sasha replied without an ounce of consideration for his fear. The fact that those mere meters away from them didn¡¯t spare a second glance at the two standing in the alley told her all they needed to know. ¡°If you don¡¯t force an interaction with anyone, they won¡¯t talk or look at you.¡±

    ¡°... Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not stopping you from going back to the basement.¡±

    ¡­

    Both of them took a moment to look at a couple of kids walking by with something close to crepes in hand. Sasha felt her mouth water at the steam going off the things, her eyes already searching for the source. It was just her luck they¡¯d been walking in the direction she needed to go.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Jack relented a moment after Sasha had already started walking, the man hurrying over to follow her through the crowd. ¡°But please be careful.¡±

    ¡°If you shut up now, there won¡¯t be any problems,¡± she replied in a low voice, reminding herself that the man had never spent much time on the poorer streets. From what he¡¯d rambled about, he¡¯d been through periods of poverty in his life, yet never had he tried to be surrounded by it. He¡¯d never been fueled and fed by the poor, forced to do their work, forced to¡­

    A catch.

    Twenty meters ahead, she spotted a man lumbering towards them. Not somebody who met their eyes, not somebody she deemed a threat, but somebody that Sasha could see the potential in. He wore a blue puffy coat, had the body type that matched that description as well and looked to have celebrated the day a little early when going by the redness of his cheeks.

    A rich man walking through a poor street.

    A man Sasha wouldn¡¯t feel bad for.

    She adjusted her placement in the crowd, moving into the middle instead of staying on the right where most people were walking in the same direction as her. Jack tried to follow her, but a look made him stay over to the side. Maybe he understood what she was about to do, or maybe her eyes just made him shrink away. It didn¡¯t matter to her.

    Twenty meters had become ten, which became five just seconds later, and, with a final flourish to make a convincing act, Sasha slowed down a little to make a passerby stand on the back of her foot to make her stumble into the fat man two steps to her left.

    ¡°Agh,¡± came the dignified noise of the man as her head hit his shoulder while she fought to keep herself upright. Her lower weight barely made him falter but he did stop at the unexpected touch. ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going, godfeed.¡±

    Sasha didn¡¯t look him in the eyes as she hurried to right herself and continued onwards. She heard the customary grumbling of a half-drunk idiot behind her, but there was no chase and she could continue for another minute before joining back with Jack who had been watching the entire thing.

    ¡°What was the point of that?¡± Jack asked as they paused at an opening close to the wall. ¡°You were the one who didn¡¯t want to make people notice us.¡±

    ¡°Drunks don¡¯t count,¡± Sasha replied as she fished a small bag out of her pocket. By the rustling within, and the fact that the man had possessed several of them, she could guess what they contained. ¡°Rich drunks definitely don¡¯t.¡±

    Losing the string that held it closed tightly, several silver and golden coins were revealed. She couldn''t understand the inscription on the sides and neither did she try too hard. She¡¯d spotted the silver coins being used in the stalls they¡¯d walked past already and that was everything she needed to know.

    ¡°You pickpocketed someone?¡± Jack whispered harshly. Sasha nodded absentmindedly. ¡°What if you were caught?¡±

    ¡°If a drunkard caught me, I would¡¯ve deserved it,¡± she said, her eyes following another group of children wielding the crepes seen before. Yet again, she felt her stomach twist and turn in yearning. It had been years since she¡¯d had one. ¡°If you feel remorse, stop it. I¡¯m too hungry to deal with that right now.¡±

    With that warning given, she ventured back into the crowd.

 Chapter 17: Weak Men

    Following her nose and the noise of excited voices, she found the right stall. It was shoddily made, wooden planks badly nailed together to make some form of sign and with a duo inside that were using what looked like two slabs of rock to make the crepes.

    Not that Sasha cared too much. She could see the mixture being poured on and the sugar being sprinkled onto the finished dessert. Less hygienic places had been eaten from in the past, and her stomach didn¡¯t care much for violations at the moment.

    She copied what the group ahead of her paid, and got herself and the idiot something to eat. The crepe smelled heavenly, hot in her hand even when wrapped around white paper towels.

    Biting into it, the crisp surface made a rare smile appear on her face. Too long since the last one, indeed. She¡¯d seen them so many times, yet it had been the kids eating them instead of her. Not that she¡¯d minded, since they¡¯d been so happy to get something that sugary, but¡ª

    ¡°I think I recognize this place,¡± Jack commented, bringing Sasha out the happy memories as she looked around to confirm. ¡°You see that sign up there? We walked by it.¡±

    On the other side of the street, where houses built from old wood could be spotted, was a sign loosely hanging. Sasha guessed it was meant to look like a needle and a ball of yarn, but years hadn¡¯t been kind to the paint and only the shape of the cutout remained. Regardless, it did itch some part of her memory. Even if she couldn¡¯t outright remember the place, her subconscious definitely did.

    ¡°Yes. We¡¯re getting closer,¡± Sasha said, taking another bite of her crepe. It would¡¯ve probably been best to hurry the eating up, but nostalgia forced her to savor the dessert for just a little longer. Who knew when she would get to eat another like it?

    ¡°What¡¯s the plan if we find the place?¡± Jack asked. ¡°Just¡­ go in and try to force them to return us?¡±

    ¡°No, they would just kill us or capture us again,¡± she rejected, knowing she would¡¯ve done the same. ¡°We know what house it¡¯s located in. If people enter and leave through it, they¡¯re likely related to whatever this is supposed to be.¡±

    ¡°And if you know that one person knows something, you can stalk them until they are alone and force them to tell us everything,¡± Jack guessed, causing her to look over at the man. ¡°Is¡­ that not what you¡¯re hoping to do?¡±

    ¡°More or less,¡± Sasha replied. ¡°I just thought the concept would be too morbid for you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it is,¡± he was quick to confirm, almost making her choke on the next bite as a chuckle unwillingly left her. ¡°I just thought about what would fit best with your¡­ criminal vibe.¡±

    She raised her left eyebrow at his words, staring him down when a whispered apology left his throat. Yet again, he wasn¡¯t exactly wrong, but it was still weird to hear from somebody so childish.

    He was still a soldier.

    One who didn¡¯t see action other than his own injuries but a soldier regardless. Sasha had to remember that when his appearance kept making her think of him as a pitiful bag of flesh.

    ¡°But, seriously, did you do crime stuff back home?¡± Jack asked, before taking the final bite of his crepe, wiping his hands with the paper. ¡°You didn¡¯t want to say back at the house, but I¡¯m just starting to wonder.¡±

    ¡­

    Her past experiences in telling men just about anything showed why it was a bad idea, but Sasha didn¡¯t figure him as one who would try to exploit it for his advantage. She¡¯d told the kids back home just about everything as well anyway, so this wasn¡¯t a first for her either.

    ¡°I¡¯ve stolen things before,¡± she admitted. ¡°Got caught before. Things that would earn you some years in prison, alongside other punishments.¡±

    Losing a hand or two, for example.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s¡­ bad? Good? Nice?¡± came his response, his words as well-put as always. ¡°Thanks for telling me, at least.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t share it, and we won¡¯t have a problem,¡± Sasha said, finishing her own food before getting up from the ground again. Jack mirrored the action, though it took a second more with only one leg pushing. ¡°Stay quiet, stay close, and stay alert. Got it?¡±

    Jack nodded, already following her orders. How quaint.

    He followed as she walked through the crowd, swerving past the empty-minded as she headed to the alley on the other side of the street. She noted the fact that it was void of people and trash. An often-used path, but not at this time of day.

    Possible danger.

    Of course, it was. They¡¯d been warned, and she was ready to meet it in exchange for finding out more information. Signaling the go-ahead to Jack, they continued.

    That gloom and darkness weren¡¯t here anymore, with the tall stone buildings being replaced by mostly one-story wooden houses. The roofs had more often than not fallen apart on the edges, making shadow rare and the sunlight shine through. A bright space of vile people and a lack of respect for the law. Nothing that hadn¡¯t been expected.

    Memories of them walking down this path began to resurface as they went down it even further, and the abandoned houses and the glass shards on the ground were recognized every few seconds. Her mind had been working on high alert at that time, as her body had been forced to move without her consent.

    How had that even happened? Sasha cursed her mind for being so inconsistent with what it wanted to remember. There had been several people leading them through the city, hadn¡¯t there? The mage, and then¡­ four, three others? One that looked like Aleksi, she knew, but the others were blurred forms in her mind¡¯s eye.

    Sasha forced herself to continue, her feet knowing the way when her mind couldn¡¯t decide which street they needed to walk down. Twists and turns down a seemingly infinite maze of confusion. The years of decay and ruin in this part of the city had made it worse than any suburb she¡¯d been forced to wander in the past.

    But one thing was the same, though.

    She stopped walking through an alley when she heard a snicker coming from behind her and Jack. Multiple ones.

    ¡°What do we have here now?¡± a nasal voice said, eliciting laughter from some others. Turning around in the alley, Sasha was greeted with the sight of five men. About her age, built thin or fat, but with enough muscle to become an issue if allowed. ¡°Two little lovebirds getting lost?¡±

    ¡°Not lost, actually,¡± Jack corrected, unsurprisingly not obeying Sasha¡¯s request to keep quiet while they were in this area. ¡°On our way out, though, so we¡¯ll just keep on if you don¡¯t mind.¡±

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    The talker made a step towards them, making Sasha mirror it to get Jack behind her. The alley was about three meters wide, but she¡¯d rather not have him get in the way.

    ¡°Oh, but we do mind. Isn¡¯t that right, fellas?¡± the talker said, agreement voiced by the others. Sasha could see the greed in their eyes, as they were looked up and down. This wouldn¡¯t end well. ¡°But, luckily for you, we take donations. We are a saintly bunch who just need¡­ let¡¯s just say everything on you. If you do, we¡¯ll let you leave without too many scratches.¡±

    Sasha kept silent as the idiot stepped closer and closer, his friends goading him on from a distance. She guessed this wasn¡¯t their first time pulling this act.

    Less worrying for me then.

    ¡°Listen, friends, we don¡¯t want any trouble, but we¡¯re also in a bit of a tight spot,¡± Jack pleaded from behind her. He sounded worried, a little frightened even, which made her wonder how he was going to handle the next few seconds. ¡°If we just calm down and¡ª Oh, shit!¡±

    An appropriate response to Sasha¡¯s action. The nasal talker had become overconfident, raising a hand towards her without a care about what she might do. She couldn¡¯t let that go unpunished, her own hands grabbing onto it, getting the little and index fingers in her clutches and bending them upwards.

    The palm didn¡¯t match the movement and the crunch could be felt clearly.

    For such a confident display before, the man could scream oh so loudly. She didn¡¯t let him for long, a shove making him lose balance and allowing a roundhouse kick to reach his side. Within five seconds, he was down on the ground.

    ¡­

    The others, so arrogant and filled with undulate cruelty before, looked on with shock. They didn¡¯t move to attack, didn¡¯t do anything other than look on as their leader tried and failed to get sound out of his throat.

    ¡°If you give me everything you have on you, you can walk away healthy and alive,¡± Sasha offered, standing calmly as she had done before. Her heart was racing, and the corners of her eyes felt twitchy, but she had long since learned how to fake serenity. ¡°Or¡­ are you just cowards who run?¡±

    A foot on the fallen leader¡¯s knee, which caused a mighty shriek, was enough for them to make their choice. Sasha was almost impressed they chose to fight, as they charged her.

    If it had been an open area, she would¡¯ve run herself. Luckily, the narrow nature of the alley was in her favor. The rock thrown by Jack from behind her helped as well, as it distracted the first to get close enough for her to strike.

    Another kick, this time to his stomach. Air and spit flew into the air, but the next just pushed them to the side and went for a wild swing. Poor form and even poorer results. Sasha barely needed to think to avoid the fist, grabbing the arm and using their momentum to throw them onto the ground.

    Something must¡¯ve broken, with how they screamed. The uneven stone making up the ground surface likely didn¡¯t help with keeping the injuries to a minimum.

    You¡¯re distracted.

    Sasha cursed her drifting mind as she narrowly avoided getting thrown to the ground by one of the last still standing. The rushing man still managed to get a hand on her, though, throwing her off balance and unprepared for the final attacker.

    She got her arms up to avoid the first hit to the head, but the other fought dirty as they swung at her from the side. The knuckles hit right below the left eye, making pain shoot through her head instantly.

    No distractions.

    If this had been a proper fight, they''d have continued and gotten her on the ground to finish the job, but they hesitated for long enough for her to fight back. Ready for another hit, she ducked and closed the distance on the man, putting her entire weight behind a shove and getting them onto the ground. They hit it hard, but her fist hits harder a moment later.

    Precisely the same place with slightly less force. The stone was working with her, after all.

    As she dealt with the second man going back for another try, and finishing him quickly with a jab to the throat that made him gasp for air, Sasha heard a familiar grunt of pain.

    Jack, the man she saw as weak, had taken up a role as well. The one who¡¯d charged her to get her off balance had switched targets, trying to get the cripple while she was distracted.

    Sadly, it was the leg that was injured. Their hands worked fine.

    While Jack¡¯s form likely caused more injury to himself than it did to the other man, the punches still contained enough force to be effective. A missed shot to the face turned into a recovery jab at the liver, and, though Jack stood with what would be a serious bruise on his hands and his face, the other was still the first to collapse.

    Maybe he has some potential after all.

    A shift in the corner of her eye made her dodge before she knew what was happening, the others on the ground having recovered faster than expected. One tried to tackle her again, which she dodged, but another had gotten the funny idea to pick up a broken metal pipe of some sort.

    Rusty but weighty and swung towards her before she had registered it.

    Enough to break your arm.

    Possibly, but instincts still made her defend her body with the limb. In her mind''s eye, she could already imagine the pain that would come from the impact. With that much kinetic force, there was little that could be done.

    So she focused on it, feeling time slow as the second of impact came. Sasha felt it touch her skin, felt it as the energy vibrated across the surface of her arm, and¡­ she felt no sharp pain at all? Nothing.

    What?

    Focus.

    The man with the pipe stumbled as he was clearly surprised too, which Sasha took advantage of with all her might. Pushing away the outstretched arm, she used the opening to clock the man straight on the nose. In clear opposition to the failed hit with the pipe, something broke here. The fracturing of cartilage and the instant blood-soaked face made that obvious.

    ¡°You¡­ You idiots think you can mess with us?¡± came the nasal voice once again. Sasha looked over at the man as he stared her down with clear hatred. She felt nothing looking at him. ¡°You freaks are going to get what you deserve.¡±

    As she saw him bring out a knife from his pocket, she reached for the rusty pipe that had fallen to the ground. If they wanted to escalate, she would mirror it.

    ¡°What¡¯s all this supposed to be?¡±

    A loud voice with an ever louder presence, one that made every person in the alley. Sasha recognized it instantly, and, by the sharp intake of breath, so did Jack and everybody else.

    The giant.

    ¡°Marcus, I thought you¡¯d outgrown this habit of yours,¡± Aleksi commented as he looked down at the leader of the little band. When the giant stood next to the man, it looked like an adult talking down to a child. ¡°Give that here, and I won¡¯t tell others about this mess up.¡±

    ¡°But they were¡ª¡±

    ¡°Marcus. That was me asking politely. Do you remember what happened when your brother gave the wrong answer?¡±

    ¡­

    The knife was handed over to Aleksi before the others were retrieved from the ground. In quiet and steady fashion, though some eyes shot daggers towards her and Jack, they left the alleyway behind within the minute.

    ¡°Are either of you injured to a point where you need help walking?¡± Aleksi asked, to which they both shook their heads. ¡°Good.¡±

    ¡°How exactly did you know we were here again?¡± Jack questioned while brushing off some of the dirt that covered his left side. Had he fallen while Sasha had been dealing with the others? She hadn¡¯t noticed at all. ¡°I don¡¯t think you visit the place often.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been years since I¡¯ve been in this area,¡± the giant confirmed, nodding at them to follow him out of the alley. ¡°But I smelled a familiar scent where it wasn¡¯t meant to be, along with enough blood to cause concern, so I decided to stray from my regular route home. Now¡­ let¡¯s get back before somebody I can¡¯t intimidate arrives.¡±

    With the wave of weakness starting to steadily crawl through Sasha, she didn¡¯t reject the order. Adrenaline was taking more of a toll on her than it usually did, and¡­ there was something else gnawing on her. A force that felt as if it was next to her heart, fluctuating between lashing out and trying to consume itself.

    Since it didn¡¯t seem to be actively killing her, it was saved for whenever the right side of her face stopped swelling.

 Chapter 18: Secrets of the Trade

    ¡°You must be Rubeus,¡± Elijah greeted as he approached the shop front. He offered his hand, and Royal Mage was quick to accept it. ¡°Grace has said good things about you.¡±

    The deep laughter that left the other old man was legendary. Everything about their appearance was, honestly. Never before had Elijah seen a Mage that fit the ancient stereotype so well. The purple robes certainly didn¡¯t help, but the medium-length gray hair and the much longer gray beard were signifiers of a life not centered around physical labor of any kind for the past many years. A researcher, one who studied, though the rough palm likewise showed that it hadn¡¯t been that way forever. A fighter¡¯s past, just as Cleo had said.

    ¡°I hope she hasn¡¯t said too many embarrassing things,¡± Rubeus commented, making the apprentice in question sputter and cause more chuckling at her expense. ¡°It is awfully crowded out here. Would you mind if we take this conversation inside your shop?¡±

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Elijah said. And he meant it. Fewer eyes meant fewer questions he would have to answer from nosy neighbors visiting the next few days. It wasn¡¯t every day that a Royal Mage ventured down here, after all. ¡°Would you like some tea?¡±

    ¡°If it wouldn¡¯t cause trouble,¡± Rubeus replied, to which Elijah assured him it wasn¡¯t at all. He led them through the shop and into the kitchen where he placed them at the table. Then it was simply a matter of reboiling the already-hot water, bringing out three new packets of the recent batch, and giving each of them a cup. And, surprisingly, there was no form of magic used to detect poisons in the liquid before the Royal Mage took a sip. ¡°Oh, this is heavenly. Where did you buy it?¡±

    ¡°I make it myself,¡± Elijah explained, nodding towards the flowers that sat by the window, the vine-like yellow heads and white petals instantly recognizable. ¡°I prepare a larger batch of the flowers every summer for personal use. It wasn¡¯t perfect at the start, but four decades of finetuning has allowed me to have a variant of the flower that gives a relatively nice balance of taste.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll believe that,¡± the Royal Mage commented, the man sounding oh so happy. Elijah didn¡¯t let his senses dull, though, and he felt it when the other¡¯s magic surged. It felt like his very soul was inspected. ¡°It is as you said, Grace. You, Elijah Caede, have awakened, and, to the surprise of nobody who knows you well, you¡¯ve gained an affinity for plants. Biomancy, if you will.¡±

    ¡°That is what the world called it when it revealed my Status to me,¡± Elijah said in agreement. That seemed to interest the man, bushy eyebrows rising.

    ¡°Oh? Would you mind reading aloud what else the world told you?¡±

    Elijah agreed to do as much, bringing up the Status in his vision and reading aloud everything but the Tier 2 spell. It wouldn¡¯t be good if a recently awakened person was able to attain such a thing without the support of the academy.

    Name: Elijah Caede

    Affinity: Biomancy

    Mana: 389

    Spells:

    [Accelerate Growth](Tier 1)

    [Plant Bond](Tier 1)

    [Animal Bond](Tier 2)

    ¡°Accelerate Growth and Plant Bond¡­ I¡¯ve heard of both being known innately by Biomancers, though the latter usually takes months to manifest properly. Very interesting,¡± Rubeus mused, the Mage sitting in silence as he continued to look him over again and again. Since Grace didn¡¯t comment on the behavior, Elijah supposed it was the expected method of observing his magical talents. ¡°Grace said that you felt the difference in your body while harvesting herbs in the dungeon. I take it that this is not the first time you¡¯ve delved down there?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been my routine for over thirty years,¡± he replied, considering how he was going to do this. The plan had already been put in place, but the wording was the final variable that decided whether or not he believed it. ¡°When I was there two nights ago, however, the dungeon acted strangely.¡±

    That caught the Royal Mage¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Strangely in what way?¡±

    ¡°When I was almost ready to leave, I felt this¡­ pulse of something fly through the cavern I was in,¡± Elijah explained. ¡°Thinking back on it, that pulse might¡¯ve been Mana, but I had no ability to sense that at the time. I just knew that as I reached the exit and walked home, I steadily began feeling more, and, after another hour, I was able to make a flower seed bloom in the palm of my hand.¡±

    No instant question came after, the Royal Mage growing silent for a moment. Lost in thought, maybe trying to figure out anything that could explain the phenomenon. Elijah wasn¡¯t sure, the other man being similar to a brick wall when he tried to figure him out.

    ¡°This is¡­ a little concerning, though I know your story lines up with some strange fluctuations noted in the dungeon that same night you awakened,¡± Rubeus said, pausing again as he squinted his eyes at Elijah¡¯s figure. ¡°It was as if the mana density on the different layers were shifted up by one for a minute or so before returning to its normal state.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Grace blurted out, her mentor¡¯s words apparently too insane to stay quiet about. ¡°Shouldn''t there have been a craze at the academy about that?¡±

    ¡°There is, though only the highest-ranked members were privy to it until now,¡± Rubeus explained before looking back at Elijah. ¡°It caused an uproar, but that is beside the point. If I were to wager a guess about this whole situation, Elijah, I would guess that your true awakening is not a recent one.¡±

    Shit.

    ¡°I¡¯d go even further to say that your awakening was around the normal time for a Mage, at the age of around six or seven years old,¡± the Royal Mage continued, while Elijah could only sit wide-eyed. What were his options here? What could he do?

    ¡°Sir, are you sure? I¡¯ve visited Elijah since I was a kid, and he hasn¡¯t shown anything in terms of magical ability until yesterday morning,¡± Grace questioned, moving over to a formal tone. Maybe as a way to keep herself under control. Elijah didn¡¯t know, didn¡¯t care right now.

    If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that the Royal Mage was still just sitting there on the chair, enjoying another sip of the tea, Elijah would¡¯ve taken action already. Instead, he calmed himself and trusted the process.

    ¡°Focus on the fact that I said ¡®true awakening,¡¯ my dear apprentice,¡± Rubeus pointed out. The Mage put down the cup on the table again before putting his hands together. ¡°Elijah, if I¡¯m being entirely truthful, the process of awakening isn¡¯t as thoroughly studied as people are led to believe. It is not consistent in its effects, it has no consistent forewarnings, and the eventual product that comes out in the end has no real connection to the experience for the person. You can blame that it¡¯s because of the different Affinities causing the different effects, but finding a common thread within a single facet of magic has still not been successful. And this¡­ example of an anomaly isn¡¯t one I¡¯m too shocked by.¡±

    Elijah nodded along at the words, earnestly feeling a calm settle through him as the scholar became more interested in the general concept than him specifically. The lie was still in place, though it had been modified by the other party to make it more authentic.

    How nice of them.

    ¡°So? I have always been a Biomancer but with my abilities suppressed to a point where they barely existed at all?¡± Elijah surmised, which made Rubeus chuckle. Not a quick one either, as what evolved into chortles went on for nearly a dozen seconds.

    ¡°You could say as much, but I have a question to give my theory a little more ground,¡± Rubeus said. ¡°When did you start working with plants, and, forgive me for the rudeness, but have you always been a¡­ natural when working with our beautiful nature?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I was taken in by our village¡¯s herbalist and put to work at the age of eight, when she discovered I had¡­ made an entire fruit pasture without any tool other than my hands and an old watering can,¡± Elijah lied, though he made sure he was convincing as that slow realization reached his face. He could¡¯ve made it look incredibly fake, but he doubted it would matter anyway, with how much the two before him were filled with sparkles and wonder. He wasn''t sure they were even listening by the end. ¡°I must admit, I¡¯m surprised I never saw it before.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t feel ashamed for what you couldn¡¯t possibly have known,¡± the Royal Mage assured him. ¡°Feel happy instead, for you have just given us another tip for how awakening works. If I were to guess why your abilities only truly shine through now, it would be because of the sudden shift in mana inside the dungeon that allowed it to take the final step into greatness. A random occurrence, but one that seems to have benefited you.¡±

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡°I¡¯d say so myself,¡± Elijah replied, the old men laughing at their situation together. Only one of them was genuine, however. ¡°So now that I¡¯m a Mage of some minor variety, I do have to ask for a bit of advice.¡±

    ¡°Anything truly in-depth about Biomancy wouldn¡¯t be something I could answer, as my focus is on the Arcane aspects of the world, but I would be happy to give you all the general tips and tricks that could help.¡±

    And from that point on came the part that interested Elijah. With his lie secured, and the secret kept safe in the hands of the Royal Mage, it meant he could spend some time figuring out how exactly he could improve. While he was given the strict warning that somebody over 70 shouldn¡¯t push themselves too much in the magical realm, as the veins that carried Mana aged just like every other part of his body, he was indeed given some tips on how to improve.

    Strategies on breathing, on how to more efficiently guide the Mana to lower costs, and how to be more direct with his orders.

    ¡°And how would I go about growing my Core?¡± Elijah asked, which caused a new reaction from the Royal Mage. A grimace.

    ¡°Normally, I¡¯d say the only way to do that would be to go to the Academy and have five years of theoretical practice before undergoing guided meditation to shift your Core into one of the highly optimized fractal patterns for your specific Affinity, but¡­ we¡¯d both know you¡¯d rather avoid that,¡± Rubeus said, drumming his fingers on the table for a few seconds more before sighing. ¡°Since I don¡¯t take you as a man who wants to carefully maximize your potential through decades of work, and instead just have fun with this gift for the next few years that you have, there is another way to grow your Core. One not too dangerous, that you could likely do yourself when inside the top floors of the Dungeon.¡±

    Oh? Elijah would be lying if he said he didn¡¯t lean a little forward at that.

    ¡°The proper term would be akin to Natural Growth, though it¡¯s only a half-truth,¡± the Royal Mage continued. ¡°It¡¯s a method of evolving your Core by allowing it to be modified by the ambient Mana around you, with the amount of change occurring scaling alongside the density of magical forces in the air, hence the reason why it¡¯s usually done while inside a Dungeon. A quirk that was discovered through this, is that the so-called natural evolution rarely makes changes that would be detrimental to the user, allowing for safe growth without the risk of a painful death that usually comes with Core experimentation.¡±

    ¡°And the drawback?¡± Elijah questioned.

    ¡°All of it is a gamble,¡± Rubeus said bluntly. ¡°The winds of the air dictate what changes occur to your Core. You can¡¯t control it, you can¡¯t make it stronger than it decides to be, and any change made is not easily reverted. This type of modification would probably kill you before the Core willingly returned to its older state, so if you don¡¯t get the boost you were hoping for there¡¯s little you can do about it.¡±

    It was akin to buying a ticket to the lottery. There was a small chance of getting incredibly good modifications that would allow him great strides, or it would be the most mediocre boost in the world.

    Mediocre, he says.

    It was as if Elijah wouldn¡¯t happily take that anyway, having been at the start of the progression ladder his entire life. What he wouldn¡¯t have given to know of this trick many years ago, where even a small nudge would¡¯ve made his existence so much easier to bear.

    ¡°I can have Grace deliver a book to you that explains all of the steps later, but I must ask one thing of you beforehand,¡± Rubeus said.

    ¡°With how much you¡¯re helping me already, I don¡¯t believe there¡¯s much I would say no to,¡± Elijah replied, earning himself another chuckle.

    ¡°Ah, don¡¯t think of it like that,¡± the Mage pleaded. ¡°It¡¯s just that, just like it is with the awakenings, the people are not meant to know about this in full detail. If a would-be Mage started to experiment with their Cores instead of going to the academy like intended, they would have a strong chance of crippling themselves and wasting potential that could benefit this land. I need students to flow through like always, or I might just lose my job.¡±

    And if the people start learning that any Mage can improve by themselves, albeit at a limited scope, there will suddenly be a force outside of the Royalty¡¯s jurisdiction.

    A nightmare for those already in power.

    ¡°I will keep it to myself then,¡± Elijah lied, fully intending to share it with the two in the basement. If a burst of magical energy was able to fully awaken Sasha as it had done him, the two young adults would have their chances of survival radically increased. ¡°Though¡­ I don¡¯t suppose that this ability would allow some more Spells to be learned alongside it?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, but I¡¯m afraid that it isn¡¯t in the scope you¡¯re likely imagining,¡± Rubeus said, putting his expectations low. ¡°While Mages do learn a few innate Spells and tricks as we progress up the ladder of power, nearly everything we do is mastered through study and practice. I can tell you for certain that Grace here only learned to manipulate the winds to some extent after being guided by yours truly, even when she is a Wind Mage.¡±

    Red cheeks bloomed at that, allowing for another round of laughs.

    ¡°It was worth a try, at least,¡± Elijah supposed. ¡°My current Spells are enough to help me in the shop anyway.¡±

    He rose to start wishing the two farewell, but a slap to the table made him pause.

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t say that!¡± Rubeus exclaimed, his voice containing more emotion than at any other point in their conversation. It was as if Elijah had claimed the sun to be blue and the sky to be lime-green. ¡°Yes, you might not outright learn new spells, but that is no reason not to expand the ones that you do know.¡±

    ¡°... I can accelerate the growth of plants, and ask them to start flowering outside of season,¡± Elijah explained. ¡°I¡¯m not sure where I can truly progress in those aspects, outside of making it all faster with more Mana.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t¡ª This is why we have the Academy,¡± Rubeus muttered, shaking his head in disappointment. Grace was looking down at the table, redder in the face as embarrassment flooded the young woman. ¡°Your idea of what a Spell can do stops you and so many others from experimenting. You can make a plant grow, yes, but have you checked if you can control how it grows? I know for a fact that the latest hundred varieties of grapes coming from a field some fifty kilometers from this city have been made through that very same spell you¡¯re thinking is without nuance. A hundred, out of the several thousand varieties they have made through the years, all by the one hand of a bored Biomancer with a dedicated heart. And Plant Bond? It can be endless in its utility! Slightly more limited when only Tier 1, of course, but that Spell of yours can grant plants unnatural intelligence. You can make them follow orders, make them grow by themselves in a fashion you have predetermined, make them seek out others of their kind through a root system, and, by the gods, you can make them act as if they are another plant entirely. Back when I spent my years in the old country, I heard the story of a madman who built a castle through the usage of roses as labor and nothing else just to win a bet.¡±

    Roses.

    Elijah didn¡¯t like how much using that plant in particular made so much sense in his head. While the original plant was rather fragile, his magical senses gave him enough hints to know that the heads and petals could be strengthened with the proper words and guidance. But to do that with his capabilities, to do it with only Tier 1 Spells¡­ he would¡¯ve never imagined it.

    But have I truly tried to push it?

    He hadn¡¯t, in fear that his Core would reject his attempts and send through more backlash. Those first futile attempts to overextend in his youth, and the pain that it brought him for months at a time, had caused him to set a clear boundary in the sand for what he could allow himself to do, what he could allow himself to even attempt. But now that his senses had been honed? Now that he had a greater understanding of his magical limits, not in terms of utility but in terms of how taxing it would be? There was nothing stopping him.

    Especially not with the Tier 2 Animal Bond he had neglected to mention. If the Tier 1 variant already proved itself mighty, what would a step up the ladder be able to provide?

    ¡°You see that there, Grace? That¡¯s a man filled with wonder of what he could do,¡± Rubeus told his apprentice as Elijah was lost in thought for more seconds than he intended. He looked over at the young woman just staring at him, a smile on her face as she seemed ready to cry out of happiness. She was happy for him, happy to see him like this. Maybe because he¡¯d seen her like it so many years ago when he¡¯d regaled her with tales of what mighty Mages of Wind had been able to do. His stories of them flying over his head had powered her through so many hurdles in her study, and now it was time for him to try it out as well. ¡°I¡¯m assuming that you¡¯ve already got several ideas you wish to try out?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got dozens,¡± Elijah confirmed, already thinking about the Sundrop Flower sitting inside his laboratory. He had already been able to make it speak and have a basic conversation. He thought it was an effect of the Animal Bond spell, the limit of what it could do, but what if there was more to it? ¡°Do you need to know anything else? I could also offer you some of the prepared packets of the tea.¡±

    ¡°As I said nearly half an hour ago, I¡¯ve already heard everything I needed to hear about your awakening. Since I¡¯m also sure Grace would be more than happy to tell me all about your progress, there is little reason I have to give your neighbors more to talk about by visiting your shop again and again,¡± Rubeus replied, finishing the last bits left in his cup before rising from the table. ¡°But¡­ if you are truly offering, how much would you want for a few cups worth of tea leaves? I truly wasn¡¯t lying when I said it was a good brew.¡±

    Though he initially refused payment, Elijah was given nearly fifty silver for twenty cups worth of the dried chamomile leaves. Not a bad trade, but probably one that the Royal Mage found cheap compared to the stuff consumed at the academy. He¡¯d heard about just how much gold a single slice of the luxurious cranberry cake could cost. Just the thought of it made him shudder.

    ¡°Thank you for this, Elijah,¡± Grace whispered as they neared the shop entrance again, Rubeus stepping out first while his apprentice said her goodbyes. ¡°I know you didn¡¯t want this to happen, and I hope you can forgive me for it.¡±

    ¡°I forgave you by the time you left this morning, Grace,¡± Elijah assured her. He hadn¡¯t ever truly blamed her anyway, since her intentions had been earnest from the start. ¡°And this talk has helped me, so there is little I can complain about anyway. Now, hurry out and save your mentor from the old ladies, if you want to keep him.¡±

    One look outside the shop was all it took for Grace to curse the elderly and bid him farewell, running out and herding Rubeus away from the old women who wanted to know everything and anything that could be discussed over tea later. Even in their advanced age, the old hounds of gossip never wavered in their determination.

    Luckily, Elijah had built up a firm reputation for not entertaining such nonsense. The old ladies barely gave him a pleading look, before huffing and leaving to go play their third set of cards for the day. They had nothing better to do, after all.

    Except maybe doing something productive for once.

 Chapter 19: An Ode to Vince

    Infected by the good mood that the Royal Mage had protruded through their conversation, Elijah allowed a small laugh for himself before he turned around and went into the kitchen again. The front door had been locked once more, the curtains were closed to stop prying eyes, and now he just needed to wait a little.

    Ten minutes passed, no signs of the two Mages returning came, and the kitchen was entirely cleaned up once again. Elijah took that as a sign that they were in the clear once again.

    Time to let them out then.

    Going over to the end of the hallway, he moved the carpet out of the way before opening up the floor hatch. The smell of dirt and grime met his nose instantly, much to his displeasure, but he tried not to show it in his tone.

    ¡°It¡¯s safe to come up now,¡± he announced, idly wondering if Aleksi would have bought enough for dinner for four tonight, before¡­ he noticed something. Or, actually, it was the lack of something that began to worry him. There was no reply to his words. No steps, no voices, no breathing. ¡°You two dead down there?¡±

    No reply, just as before. A worrying sign that had him climb down and check with his own eyes. Yet he found nothing, no soul in sight, and only the footprints to show proof of them ever being down here.

    No, there¡¯s more.

    The boxes he¡¯d used to fill up herbs back in the day had been stacked on top of each other next to the window. The fact that several more had been moved there since last he was here worried him.

    And the hand and footprints on the wall under it¡­ Elijah¡¯s worry only grew as he saw how the window wasn¡¯t technically closed, the inner lock not turned. It had been pushed in from the outside to hide the truth.

    Don¡¯t tell me.

    His eyes darkened.

    Since there were no signs of struggle, and since the boxes had been stacked with care not to fall over, he knew it hadn¡¯t been a hasty escape out through the window. It had been calculated, done with minimal amounts of sound, and with the full knowledge of what they were doing. They¡¯d left, with no warning and little to no tools they could use to hide outside of the house.

    It was at the level of stupidity that Elijah had to wonder what he was missing. Jack might¡¯ve done foolish things, but that in areas outside of his survival, and Sasha¡­ even if he knew little about her, she seemed calculating enough to know the risks that would come from going outside.

    She had even questioned his logic and accepted his reasoning for why they needed to hide here.

    And now they were both gone out of the window. Likely several hours ago, if the half-misplaced dust prints were to be taken into consideration. Even with the lack of wind down here, the odd change in the house¡¯s structure still allowed enough vibration for those individual bits of dirt and sand to move and cover their prints a little.

    Several hours¡¯ headstart before their escape has been discovered¡­

    Elijah just sighed, closing the window properly, putting on the traps and tripwires again, before hanging the cloth back up to stop any light from entering freely. He knew that his chances of finding them again were non-existent now. Too many places to hide in the city, and so little time to work with on his end. Maybe if he¡¯d been younger and had more hands to help, but this was it.

    Going back up to the ground floor, he closed the hatch and put the carpet back on top, forgetting about that part of the house yet again. It wasn¡¯t as if it would be needed anymore.

    If they¡¯re caught, what are the chances that they¡¯ll be tortured to reveal where they were while on the run?

    Unlikely, though captors would likely have some sort of method to get the truth out anyway. Magic and several potions existed for that sole purpose, and, though both were outlawed and strictly forbidden, that likely wasn¡¯t a cause for concern for whoever had their nails in the two young adults.

    Perhaps it was best to make another visit to Cleo, then, as Elijah couldn¡¯t willingly sit by and wait for his own eventual capture. It would be awful to leave so much memorabilia and equipment here behind, but it would be for the better. Aleksi needed him to not keel over, and Elijah preferred breathing over having his head cut from his body.

    The villages to the south are meant to be lovely this year.

    And with his newly regained abilities, it wasn¡¯t like¡ª

    The lock on the back door clicked, making him pause in his spiraling thoughts, heavy footsteps coming a second later. The giant himself, with what sounded like several bags rapidly hit the ground.

    ¡°Elijah, I¡¯m back with some meat!¡± Aleksi announced, making him frown as the thuds continued to be heard consistently. It took an embarrassing three seconds more before he realized they were footsteps that just seemed so light when compared to the giant¡¯s. ¡°You won¡¯t believe where I found them.¡±

    He went into the hallway again, anger bubbling within until he saw the state of the trio. Aleksi looked about as expected after a day at the smithy, with black patches just about everywhere along with a few marks that came from working with the heated metal, but the two others.

    ¡°What, in the name of Tura, have you done?¡± he muttered as the swollen faces got closer. Jack was walking with a limp as well, being supported by Aleksi as Elijah looked them over. The bruising only looked worse when properly lit up. ¡°There¡¯s some leftover pastes on the top of the first shelf to the left in the lab.¡±

    Aleksi nodded, making Sasha take over as the giant headed in to grab it. In the meanwhile, the other three moved into the kitchen to settle on the chairs. Elijah would¡¯ve preferred the room upstairs, where it was easier to clean up blood stains and whatever else, but he didn¡¯t trust dragging the man upstairs at the moment.

    ¡°I can see the mark of a knuckle,¡± he commented. Jack tried to reply, but a swollen lip made his words impossible to understand. ¡°Just nod instead of talking. Easier for both of us.¡±

    He nodded.

    ¡°Is it the same story you¡¯ve got?¡± Elijah asked Sasha, who just nodded. Her own bruising was a little higher up, centered more around the left eye and what was underneath rather than the lower half of the face. It still looked painful, though, with how she could only look at him with the right eye, the other too swollen to even open up. ¡°Are there any other injuries on either of you I should be worried about?¡±

    ¡°She gone hip with pife,¡± Jack commented, in the most understandable manner known to man. Elijah just looked at the man for a moment before turning to the woman for guidance.

    ¡°I was hit on the arm with a metal pipe,¡± Sasha said calmly. Very calm for somebody who supposedly had a very serious injury to their arm. ¡°Didn¡¯t hurt.¡±

    ¡°Show me,¡± Elijah ordered, to which she rolled up her sleeve in the impact area. Other than a mild tinge of red that just as well could¡¯ve been due to irritation with the fabric, there was nothing at all. ¡°Are you sure it was metal?¡±

    ¡°Gave off the right clang when it hit the ground, and it had the weight of metal when I picked it up,¡± Sasha replied, to which Elijah gave a small grunt. It didn¡¯t make much sense, but the fact that there wasn¡¯t any immediate damage meant he couldn¡¯t care less at the moment. No external or internal bleeding meant that the obvious and actual wounds could be treated first.

    ¡°One packet of paste,¡± Aleksi announced as he entered the kitchen and sat down beside Elijah. It was handed over and a good chunk was swiftly applied to Jack¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re lucky, kid. If he didn¡¯t have his powers back, you¡¯d be sitting on that chair for the next six hours waiting for the effects to work.¡±

    ¡°Instead, we only have to survive this treatment for a minute or so,¡± Elijah continued on the giant¡¯s behalf. With a small bit of adjusting, he got both hands on Jack¡¯s head to keep it in place. ¡°You¡¯re going to have flashes of extreme discomfort along with short bursts of pain, as everything settles back into place. The face has too many muscles and delicate tissues to heal fast without some cost, so deal with it while I work.¡±

    The man barely got to widen his eyes before he started working his magic.

    Channeling of [Plant Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 2MP/sec

    Even without much practice, the basic tricks that Rubeus had given him about efficiency were already showing stellar results. Using this particular Spell usually came with double the cost with the same level of effectiveness.

    And here Elijah thought he had it all figured out.

    ¡°Hurs,¡± Jack complained, without the ability to pronounce a single word right. Elijah just shushed him, as moving around would just lengthen the process. Maybe even damage something more than it already was.

    An audible snapping sound came a moment later, the swelling on the face of the man evening out in a disgusting fashion before rapidly reducing in size and disappearing entirely. Not that it was over at that point, the spread of blue coloring coming next. It reached as far as the top of the neck and the left eye before finally stopping and reducing in strength until everything had returned to its natural coloring.

    To be sure, however, he gave it another five seconds before finally relenting, releasing his iron grip on the man¡¯s head and letting Jack lean back in his seat.

    ¡°Fuck, that hurt so much more than getting punched,¡± came the instant complaining. Elijah just shook his head at the ungratefulness. He¡¯d seen kids handle this better than the man before him. ¡°Why does it gotta be so painful? Don¡¯t you have some magical plant that could¡¯ve gotten rid of that?¡±

    ¡°I do, but the concoction required to have your facial muscles sedated would¡¯ve made you stupid for the rest of the day,¡± Elijah replied. Although¡­ he supposed there could be a way to make the effects much more short-lived. Something for another time. ¡°And the pain is a side-effect of having several weeks'' worth of healing compressed into a single minute. If you¡¯d prefer the three weeks of not being able to talk, let me know next time.¡±

    That made the man quiet down, though there was still one part that needed to be considered as well.

    ¡°Was it a kick that messed up your leg?¡± Elijah asked, glancing at the limb. Even when sitting on the chair, it sat flat while the other continually tapped the floor in a rapid rhythm. An inpatient soul or whatever they called it. ¡°Or a fall?¡±

    ¡°... I hit somebody while putting my entire weight on the thing,¡± Jack replied, which caused Elijah to frown. That wasn¡¯t the answer he¡¯d expected, and neither was the awkward chuckle that left the man a second later. ¡°It¡¯s, ah, an old injury of mine. When I put pressure on it the wrong way, the nerves have a habit of making me feel like there¡¯s hellfire spreading through the leg. Not fun, I¡¯ll tell you that, but it¡¯ll pass before morning.¡±

    An old injury.

    That explained the multitude of strange scars that Elijah had seen while going over the two¡¯s injuries while they¡¯d been unconscious. Since the leg hadn¡¯t been actively bleeding back then, he hadn¡¯t given it a second thought, but now things were making a little more sense.

    ¡°Did it heal wrong after breaking?¡± he questioned, getting the man to roll up the pant leg so he could see better. Even just feeling with his fingers, he could tell how some sections of the muscles were tensed up as much as possible along with smaller parts that kept cramping now and then.

    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure the bone didn¡¯t break, so no,¡± Jack answered. ¡°It was an explosive that detonated near me. Shot too many metal fragments through my leg. Most of it was removed, but the muscle and nerves that it had settled in were messed up from it all.¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    How painful.

    Elijah was confident in saying that the man would¡¯ve likely died of blood loss long before any person in the city would have been able to treat him without the use of magic. That the people in the other world had saved his life without removing the limb entirely was a true wonder.

    ¡°This is a bit of a reach, but you think you might be able to fix this mess?¡± Jack tried, to which Elijah had to shake his head. ¡°Eh, worth a try.¡±

    ¡°If it didn¡¯t heal naturally, it would require more finesse than what I have to offer. Maybe with some more powerful plants from further down in the dungeon, but their price tag is higher than what this house is worth in its entirety,¡± Elijah explained, debating the alternative choices. He needed the man undistracted from the pain for the next few days. ¡°But I can help you mitigate it a little. Wait here.¡±

    A few minutes were spent pursuing his leftover products in his laboratory. Most of his finished works were out in the shop to be sold, but the stronger, more expensive variants were kept outside the reach of grabby hands.

    The vials filled with an unnaturally swirling liquid were one of those.

    ¡°Uhm, what¡¯s that exactly?¡± Jack asked, sounding worried as Elijah put on a pair of gloves for his own safety. He¡¯d rather not get this on his fingers.

    ¡°Something akin to a sedative,¡± Elijah explained as he opened the vial. As soon as the contents had contact with the open air, it began to dissipate, but he worked faster to prevent that issue. Within mere seconds, he¡¯d already coated most of the leg with the concoction, eliciting a long hiss from the owner of the limb. ¡°It deadens pain signals from your leg while allowing you to retain most of your maneuverability.¡±

    ¡°Sounds¡­ very dangerous,¡± the man commented in between deep breaths.

    ¡°It is. Stopping your body from warning you about injuries usually leads to death because of negligence,¡± Elijah confirmed. ¡°But being able to keep on moving through extreme waves of pain can mean the difference between a massive victory and a pitiful death, though the former usually also end up with the berserkers that consumed this dying of their wounds later.¡±

    ¡°Nice to know.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a permanent solution, but it¡¯ll let you walk normally for a few days,¡± he continued. ¡°Don¡¯t take that as an invitation to run around as if it wasn¡¯t already wounded, don¡¯t put your entire weight on it regularly, and you should be fine otherwise.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ thank you,¡± Jack said after a moment of stunned silence as he could rise from the chair and shift his weight between both legs without crumpling. ¡°There¡¯s still a slight sting but this is better than anything the other doctors got me.¡±

    For good reason.

    ¡°Just sit on that chair and start explaining why you decided to leave the basement while I treat the other idiot in the room,¡± Elijah ordered, Jack obliged as he moved to the other side of Aleksi while Sasha settled herself in the chair this time.

    ¡°Not sure I should be the one to do that since I was more of a follower than a leader with this,¡± Jack confessed while Elijah repeated his previous work. The golden paste was smeared onto the affected area, his hands found themselves in an optimal position, and he began to channel the Plant Bond to speed up the effects by a thousandfold. In clear opposition to how Jack had reacted to the experience, however, Sasha¡¯s gaze barely wavered. ¡°We, uh¡­ actually, I don¡¯t know how to explain it. The whole plan just kinda manifested when we got down to the basement and¡­ yeah.¡±

    Slightly distracted by guiding the Mana to take effect through the muscle tissue, Elijah couldn¡¯t understand just what he meant by that. Just what exactly did the basement contain that made them decide running was a better choice than staying?

    ¡°Oh, I think I got it,¡± Aleksi blurted out, accompanied by a short laugh. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you two noticed the graves?¡±

    The magical light in the back of Elijah¡¯s head finally turned on, his mind bringing the memory of burying those broken corpses. That had certainly been a while ago, to the point he¡¯d almost forgotten entirely.

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Jack confirmed, wariness clear in his body language. Even when he¡¯d just been granted the ability to walk normally for a few days, there was still so little trust. ¡°Was it, like, justified?¡±

    ¡°Depends on how you look at it,¡± Aleksi vaguely replied. ¡°The group that tried to mug you today wasn¡¯t too different from the ones that tried to attack me four years ago. I was out a little later than normal, had a few drinks, and they thought that I was old enough to make my reputation an act and nothing more.¡±

    It was all coming back to him now. The state that those bodies had been in¡­ It was a testament to Aleksi¡¯s brutal efficiency that none of the six had been able to flee or make enough noise to be noticed.

    ¡°They wanted my coin and didn¡¯t care if I had to die to make that happen,¡± the giant continued, picking up a knife from one of the nearby shelves. An old one, with a half-broken handle and a few chipped-off spots on the edge. ¡°A cut on my arm revealed a little too much, the darkness made my green eyes obvious, and I¡­ had to silence them or know that Elijah and I would be dead before morning by the hands of royal guards. Not a hard choice to make, when I was already planning on beating them to within an inch of their life for wanting to prey on the old.¡±

    They¡¯d barely needed to cut up the bodies since so many parts had been ripped off during the slaughter.

    ¡°Why did you get green eyes when you were cut?¡± Sasha asked the moment that Elijah removed his hands from her face.

    ¡°Enhancing elixirs from when I fought as a berserker, provided by the finest of alchemists,¡± Aleksi replied in a formal tone, making Elijah roll his eyes. The giant needed to choose the time for theatrics better. ¡°I¡¯m the reason he knew that concoction would dull the pain, to begin with. Me and the other idiots were covering ourselves with it alongside that green booze so we could get pelted with hits without blinking. It all added up to make us stronger, faster, and deadlier than ever, but it also gave those who lived enough the long-lasting side-effect of glowing eyes whenever we get injured or strain ourselves too much. Not to the same level as when we were still drinking that elixir, but enough that those who know the stories can recognize it instantly.¡±

    Stories made them seem so much less real than they were. Those who survived the attacks on their villages could barely talk of what they¡¯d seen. Ruthless giants with green veins protruding out of every part of their bodies, their laughter, their cheering, their taunting words, and their complete disregard for anything related to empathy. It haunted so many, and that emotion was carried through to the next generations.

    When somebody fitting the description appeared, it only made sense that those six had turned to try and flee. It also made sense why Aleksi was so effective at making sure they could never say a word about it to anyone.

    ¡°Killing people for your own survival,¡± Sasha concluded. While Jack looked rather disturbed by what they¡¯d been told, she was none the worse for wear, going as far as to show Elijah a few scrapes she¡¯d gotten that he could deal with as well. ¡°Did you do it often?¡±

    ¡°Not counting those in battle with the military group we were in, we¡¯ve¡­ reached a count of nearly a hundred,¡± Aleksi answered after some mental counting. ¡°Most of them bandits and outlaws trying to benefit from people fleeing war back in the day, but there have been times in the early days when we had to kill to keep our secrets intact. We weren¡¯t as careful back then. Elijah kept his emblem for the first three years. Deadly memorabilia if found, I¡¯ll tell you that.¡±

    It was more the seeds hidden within that were important to Elijah, but he didn¡¯t offer to correct the giant. Neither did he add that the purple flower that he meticulously kept alive in those days would have earned them both a death sentence if discovered by anybody knowledgeable about its true nature.

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Sasha voiced, saying nothing as Elijah inspected the red patches of skin. Everything was healed as well as it could be, the final signs or irritation simply needing time to fade. ¡°If it¡¯s murder for the sake of preservation, I can¡¯t be one to judge. Staying here would¡¯ve been the better choice.¡±

    Was that an apology for possibly ruining Elijah and Aleksi¡¯s cover that they¡¯d spent decades making? If so, it was terrible.

    ¡°We all make mistakes. If you learn from them, it¡¯s fine,¡± Aleksi supposed, not having the same opinion of her words. ¡°Just don¡¯t screw up the same way twice.¡±

    The implication was clear.

    ¡°We won¡¯t. I¡¯ve got enough of that fantastical adventure in me for a long time,¡± Jack half-joked, before sitting upright in the chair. ¡°And we got one thing out of it! Sasha awakened!¡±

    ¡°I believe you¡¯re wrong on that front,¡± Elijah corrected, letting Mana travel to his eyes to better inspect Sasha one more time. His passive senses had seen nothing magical within her, and the enhanced version said much of the same. Even the golden particles from the healing paste could barely be seen. ¡°I can¡¯t see any innate Magical Energy in her.¡±

    ¡°Then you must be missing it because she¡¯s working with something magical,¡± Jack pressed on, not faltering by the firm rejection. ¡°When we were fighting, and Sasha was distracted for a second, one of the guys picked up a metal pipe and swung it at her. She defended with her arm, the thing was big enough that it should¡¯ve broken bone, yet it just instantly stopped once it made contact with her skin. Didn''t even have enough pressure to dent the surface.¡±

    Elijah was more than ready to diagnose a mild concussion if not for the fact that Sasha had said something akin to it several minutes before. Two dazed people rarely agreed on a lot, so this was a cause for concern.

    Yet he could still see nothing! Since Elijah was rather confident that the woman hadn¡¯t figured out how to seal her Core after less than a day of allegedly awakening, there was little chance it was just hiding in plain sight.

    Right?

    There¡¯s nothing here.

    ¡­

    A lot of nothing, frankly. A bigger lack of ambient energies than most sterile environments had been able to produce even. Elijah had seen it the day before, coughing it up as a side-effect of world-hopping, but maybe there was more to this.

    ¡°You were able to make the world give you your Status, I believe?¡± he asked, to which she nodded. ¡°Would you mind trying it again to see if anything¡¯s changed since yesterday?¡±

    As it turned out, a change had indeed occurred. Though it took several minutes for her to reach within and send the request to the world, the results finally returned.

    ¡°I am an Absorber,¡± Sasha read aloud. ¡°My Mana still says minus one, if that makes a difference.¡±

    Elijah looked over at Aleksi who just shrugged. An Affinity that didn¡¯t fit the usual nomenclature was very strange. That it wasn¡¯t one of the dozen commonly known for that attribute was even stranger.

    ¡°I¡¯m assuming you still have a Spell already learned?¡± he asked. With the world giving an impossible answer in regards to Mana, it wasn¡¯t a given that it would work right in other aspects.

    The world making mistakes¡­ What am I even thinking?

    ¡°I have two,¡± Sasha said. ¡°The first is called Active Absorption and the other is called Active Desorption. I take it they mean this in a literal sense?¡±

    ¡°You absorbed the blow, so it must,¡± Jack replied, giving as good an answer as the other two could provide. ¡°Wait. Is it a thing where it absorbed the swing as kinetic energy or just like¡­ energy in general? You have to be able to send out something at least.¡±

    Sasha hummed, looking at her hands for a moment. Elijah didn¡¯t comment, even as he saw the nothingness inside the woman starting to swirl. Before, he had taken the sight as a clear sign of her having no magical abilities, but it turned out that was his mistake. It wasn¡¯t the blackness that came from Mana.

    It was simply that her Affinity was characterized by the absence of all color. An intriguing thing, one that he was sure would make Rubeus and Grace go wild if they saw it.

    Not that they ever would, if he had something to say about it.

    We¡¯ve risked too much already. Quieting down is the only viable option now.

    That was internal agreement, one that none of the others had understood as Sasha put her hand on the kitchen table and flexed her arm. A day ago, it would¡¯ve likely done nothing. Now, it was the only warning to the splinters that flew from the impact.

    As if Aleksi himself had become mad and delivered a punch, Sasha¡¯s arm went halfway through the table. Wood that had been maintained for decades, with the strength to last many decades more, shattered at her mere touch.

    ¡­

    ¡°So it just keeps the kinetic energy as it is,¡± Jack concluded as everybody else was frozen in place. ¡°Good to know?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Sasha said with an unreasonable amount of nonchalance. ¡°That swing would have certainly broken my arm.¡±

    Nobody refuted her claim. Jack was too excited for such a thing, Aleksi was trying to save the boiling water which had gotten wood chunks thrown in, and Elijah was busy trying to figure out how to repair the new hole in the table.

    It has been some years since we used tablecloths.

    The damage was given a small layer of adhesive to put the larger chunks before the cloth was put on it. It looked natural enough to avoid questioning, so fixing it properly was moved to another time.

    For now, there were other matters to worry about.

    ¡°If you want to test the limits of your abilities, I request you do it where you won¡¯t destroy anything valuable or get noticed by curious minds,¡± Elijah requested, already hearing Jack¡¯s whispers about using the basement. Good that they did, since they needed to stay down there until Grace had come by one final time today. ¡°Maybe see if you can absorb more than just kinetic energy. Sunlight, heat, anything you can think of. And if you can hold more than one type at a time. The spells you have are only Tier 1, so there¡¯s likely some limit in place, but it wouldn¡¯t hurt to experiment.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s awfully open-ended compared to your usual warnings about messing around,¡± Aleksi pointed out as he cut some vegetables for later. While Elijah would help with the last parts, tonight¡¯s duty fell onto the shoulders of the giant.

    ¡°The Royal Mage that came by today gave advice similar to that,¡± Elijah explained, Aleksi giving a hum in reply. He¡¯d already retold much of the day¡¯s experience, including the conversation with Rubeus and the trip to Cleo. The giant hadn¡¯t been against visiting the latter again whenever it was possible. ¡°If you don¡¯t feel a sense of dread, or it goes against common logic, broadening your understanding of your abilities could benefit us in the long run.¡±

    ¡°And that trick with your Core wouldn¡¯t hurt to try out either, whenever Grace arrives with that book,¡± Aleksi added, to which Elijah agreed. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll need your help with this in about an hour. If you want to take care of that overgrown Sundrop Flower you¡¯ve got going on in the meantime, I wouldn¡¯t be against it.¡±

    Right.

    Elijah had happily forgotten about that plant. It had been a somewhat normal size this morning, growing slightly larger as he experimented with it, but his absence hadn¡¯t deterred it from slowing down. While Jack and Sarah had been cooped up in the laboratory, it had reached head height. In the hours since, it had¡­ gone slightly beyond that.

 Chapter 20: Looking at the Flowers

    ¡°Cleaning that won¡¯t be easy,¡± Elijah muttered to himself as he looked at the ceiling of the laboratory, where the top of the Sundrop Flower was pressed against. The peak of the plant hadn¡¯t taken the barrier well, pollen covering the wood in long lines as the flower heads had rubbed against the ceiling for several hours. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, Elijah could even spot a few branches trying to go through some of the minor holes that could lead them to the second floor. ¡°If only you¡¯d grown like that while I was around.¡±

    It would be incredibly helpful if he could continually harvest from this one plant at a steady rate instead of doing weekly excursions into the dungeon to get the necessary amounts. If it grew this amount in the time it took him to sleep during the night, however¡­ Elijah would prefer the dungeon.

    Nothing was saying that this was permanent, however, and this growth was because of his previous manipulations. Nothing stopped him from making another attempt. And, so, that¡¯s what he did, nearing the plant and letting his Mana leave his hand and float towards the stalk of the flower.

    To his surprise, it closed the distance with its own thread before he had the chance.

    ¡®Hi!¡¯

    Neither did he get a chance to say the first word, that childish voice invading his mind before he could even blink. It was powerful, sounding weirdly hungry, and¡­ a little smarter than the last time that they had talked. How Elijah could tell the intelligence or the level of hunger the plant had from one word alone couldn¡¯t be explained in proper terms other than it being a conceptual one. The Tier 2 Spell might¡¯ve allowed complete sentences to be understood and replied to, but the Tier 1 had always been focused on imagery, feelings, and desires. The new upgrade of the first Spell wasn¡¯t replacing the basics but instead building up on it.

    ¡®... Hi?¡¯

    Another, more hesitant message, as if the plant was unsure about his silence. A new emotion that hadn¡¯t been seen before. A new kind of wisdom. Elijah was intrigued.

    ¡®Hello,¡¯ he finally replied.

    ¡®Hi! Hi!¡¯ the plant quickly repeated again and again, ecstatic to hear his voice. ¡®Can I have food?¡¯

    At least that hadn¡¯t changed from the start, Elijah obliged the desperate attempts and sent in several doses of his Mana into the stalk. He could see as it spread out across the entire body of the plant, cycling through every piece and back as more and more of it was absorbed. An efficient process, even if it wasn¡¯t fast, and he saw it as the flowers were given just a slight nudge in their size.

    More than what Elijah could¡¯ve done alone when growing plants by hand. It was another piece of proof that his methods were nowhere near as effective as they had the potential to be.

    ¡®More?¡¯ the Sundrop Flower asked, sending out more tendrils of Mana to connect with his hand. A strange method, but not one that Elijah entertained as he firmly rejected the notion.

    ¡®After I ask a few questions, we can talk about it,¡¯ he said, the plant seeming to vibrate in response. Glee, lacking ability to wait but nonetheless fighting for the chance to get more food later. Such a different way of looking at the world compared to his own, and the vivid imagery only increased in strength the longer he was connected to the plant. ¡®First, I need to ask a favor of you.¡¯

    ¡®I will do anything.¡¯

    ¡®Including becoming smaller again? Your size is becoming unmanageable here, and I would prefer it if your height was halved. Even if I wanted to, harvesting your top flowers would be too hard for me.¡¯

    ¡­ For a second, Elijah wondered if the plant would reject the idea of reducing its size, knowing that one of its base desires was to grow and prosper, but in the next moments he had to dodge several large stalks as they fell from above.

    Without mercy, and without considering who was standing below the plant, the top half had been cut in one fell swoop by the flower itself. Elijah was stunned at the sight, barely caring for the considerable pile of golden pollen on the floor as he studied the point where it had been broken off.

    It wasn¡¯t a clean cut, closer to a jagged and unruly method that separated the top half wherever it was weakest. An attempt to minimize the energy required to do it.

    Intelligence was shown off yet again.

    ¡®Can I have food now?¡¯ the Sundrop Flower asked, to which Elijah gave it another dose of Mana.

    He watched in silence as the energy cycled through the body of the plant once again, this time with a heavily reduced size. It was¡­ interesting, the smaller mass making it more obvious what kind of spiraling was being done. Some of the methods used were closer to what Ruebus had told him to do than he expected. Were plants naturally talented at the usage of Mana, or was this one an exception?

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    ¡®Would it be possible for you not to grow as wide and tall as you did before?¡¯ Elijah asked when he saw the visible growth restarting. New thin stalks were already growing where the older ones had been cut off, showing off small buds on the sides within mere minutes. If anything could be said about the plant, it was the fact that it was incredibly effective. ¡®Growing out to the same size will make you need to cut half off again.¡¯

    ¡®... Oh,¡¯ came the reply. ¡®Will you give me more food if I give you half again?¡¯

    Elijah sighed. So much intelligence being shown off, but the base desires still had control over its choices to some degree. It wasn¡¯t akin to a human in wisdom and mental capacity just yet, and instead closer to that of a dog.

    ¡®No, but I¡¯ll give you more if you follow my instructions,¡¯ Elijah replied, to which it instantly accepted. ¡®Can you¡­ grow a flower that isn¡¯t a golden coloring?¡¯

    ¡­

    ¡®What is golden coloring?¡¯

    As he should¡¯ve expected, it started becoming much harder to work with the plant once any complex instructions were given out. The Sundrop Flower was perhaps incredibly willing to obey and perform as asked, but that likewise required that it understood what it was being asked to do.

    Flowers didn¡¯t have a firm grasp on color theory, as he learned rather quickly, instead working on how much warmth each coloring gave. Translating that took a while, with Elijah needing to give dozens of reference points for colors and how much warmth they gave, but it ended up with an amazing discovery.

    Through prodding and a little help, it was possible to turn the flower petals of the Sundrop Flower green.

    It sounded like a purely cosmetic change, which Elijah also thought until he was able to accomplish some alterations to the plant and study the results from processing the new colors.

    As it turned out, the effects of the new variant were much more long-lasting than anything the golden one could accomplish.

    One well-studied side-effect of the regular paste was the feeling of warmth that washed over a person when applying the healing paste. It wouldn¡¯t hurt, it wouldn¡¯t make them sweat, but that omnipresent feeling of heating up was very much there regardless. Not long enough to cause concern either, as it only lasted for a maximum of thirty seconds.

    Looking at the clock, the green variant had lasted for ten minutes.

    Yet even that wouldn¡¯t be something that Elijah would get excited about in a vacuum. No, it was the effect that the heat was directly correlated to the initial burst of effectiveness from the paste.

    Whenever he had more superficial injuries, like cuts or bruises on his skin close to the paste, the feeling of heat would dissipate faster but the injuries would also fade with the same pace. An interesting quirk, though not one that had been important in the past.

    Except when the heat doesn¡¯t waver as quickly.

    By using the green-colored Healing Paste, Elijah was suddenly granted a ten-minute space where he could get minor injuries like cuts or bruises and have them instantly healed. Many more than the original variant could deal with as well, along with deeper ones that at least had reduced severity without getting fully healed. Any truly serious injuries needed as much time as normal to heal, but that was fine in his eyes.

    Within just an hour of experimentation with this gift of his, he had been able to create a new variant of Sundrop Flower that he was sure Olivia and her men would love to have their hands on.

    ¡®This has been a great success,¡¯ Elijah sent to the plant, which greedily absorbed the Mana he brought along with his words. ¡®Can you make seeds so that I can grow the variant in the future as well?¡¯

    ¡®If I get more food.¡¯

    He obliged, sending most of what he had left so that it could work its magic while he was gone.

    ¡®And, remember, I don¡¯t want you growing massive while I¡¯m away,¡¯ Elijah said once again. The plant had gotten in the habit of forgetting that particular request while he had been working with it, the stalks consistently increasing in size over time. ¡®I can¡¯t work with you as well if you do.¡¯

    ¡®What do I do instead of growing big?¡¯

    ¡®Improve yourself in your current size,¡¯ Elijah supposed, compiling and sending over a batch of images to take inspiration from. Just about any plant that he had worked with in the past decades, animals that typically ate them or used them for nests, and how they otherwise interacted with the world around them. ¡®If you feel that you can enhance yourself in some useful way, I give you the freedom to try it out.¡¯

    ¡®... Anything?¡¯

    ¡®Don¡¯t grow bigger,¡¯ he reiterated, as the plant replied with the idea of trying to imitate an acorn tree. He currently had no interest in figuring out how far the flower could get in doing as much. ¡®Go much smaller. Smaller than you currently are, even, if you want to. Just nothing bigger.¡¯

    ¡®Okay. I will do it for food.¡¯

    Elijah wasn¡¯t sure exactly what the Sundrop Flower had planned, as it began going through several images of birds making nests in bushes and flowerbeds, but he trusted that it would do something that didn''t require his direct intervention.

    A final burst of Mana was sent along, a promise to check in on its progress in the morning, and then he headed out to assist Aleksi with food for the night. It had gotten later than he intended it to be, and he knew the giant was waiting for him to arrive.

 Chapter 21: Another Around

    Olivia cursed as she suffered the twentieth papercut of the day. Sticking the bloodied thumb in her mouth, she turned the page with her other hand and looked the next schematic over. Useless, just as expected, but she was starting to see more mentions of the older maps.

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, just how long are you going to be doing this?¡± Fred asked as he sat on the other desk in the office, filling out forms and reports that she was supposed to be doing herself. ¡°You¡¯ve been at it all day. Isn¡¯t it time for you to take a break and maybe sleep?¡±

    ¡°We can sleep when we collapse, Fred,¡± Olivia replied offhandedly, skimming an old report about maintaining the Dungeon Entrance that complained about the lack of proper incentives for stone masons to do their work properly. A useless complaint that nobody had likely read the entirety of, but she was noticing the fact that ¡®Dungeon Entrance¡¯ was in its plural form more times than not. It was as if the author of the report knew of more than one official way to get into the Dungeon. ¡°How are the transfer documents for the Silver Ore? The Merchant¡¯s Guild wanted the changes to be exact this time. We can¡¯t have contradictory information twice in a row.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nearly done, but I feel like some of this is supposed to be done by you,¡± Fred said, which was very correct. That was why she had been having him sign everything off with her signature since most people around wouldn¡¯t accept anything else. ¡°Do you really trust me to write down the monthly wages for everybody including me? I¡¯m not sure I can fill out a performance report about myself without being biased.¡±

    ¡°The fact that you¡¯re questioning the sanctity of those things is a sign I can trust you,¡± Olivia countered, swearing to herself as she noticed the brown stains on several vital maps in the next set of documents. She had been hoping this would be it, but liquid and old paper never aged well together. Even if the garbage before her had been legible thirty years ago, it certainly wasn¡¯t now, ¡°And, honestly¡­ do yourself a favor and check the box that makes you eligible for promotion. You deserve it.¡±

    ¡°Already did, ma¡¯am.¡±

    ¡°Attaboy.¡±

    Fred might¡¯ve said something after, but Olivia tuned it all out in favor of skimming through the next dozen documents. She was getting closer to the end of what was left in her office from the people who used to sit in her position. As it had been clear by the first two hours of this research of hers, none of them had been too adamant about following the protocol of putting vital documents into the archive, meaning that all the sensitive information could be found right within her arm¡¯s reach.

    That meant that any well-kept secrets about the Dungeon could be learned with just a bit of reading and patience. Mostly patience, since the reading material in question was usually in poor condition.

    Not the oldest chunks, though. Even if they were the most ancient, it seemed that the decades-old paper had been preserved better than everything else through the thick layers of documents protecting them from the air and just about everything else.

    Some of it was crossed out, had badly written notes added on, or was just entirely useless for her search, but Olivia could feel it as she got closer and closer. She was starting to reach the bottom, the very start of it all, and the contents of the reports showed off that importance as the topics became more in line with the fundamentals of the Dungeon¡¯s architecture.

    Schematics for the arch, notes from a certain Earth Mage on how to make it last, internal discussion on what would be more time efficient, and several mentions of what kind of materials would be most intimidating for visitors from outside the country. Riveting stuff, but it was the last parts that truly made Olivia¡¯s brows rise.

    ¡®While this is all well and good, we should be focusing on only this entrance. I know that Liss and I have been talking about using the other one for Royals only since it lets us just skip the first half of the walk down, but the placement of it is just so unlucky. We should¡¯ve considered that it would end up in the slums the poor area, when we placed the castle at the other end of the city. I understand that it would be a great boon and that it would likely save time when our stronger fighters go down to harvest rarer materials, but the cost of maintaining two entrances instead of just one is going to be astronomical. We¡¯ve already looked into the finances of around-the-clock guarding of the main entry, and, if we were to have the more dangerous one open as well, it would likely triple the required yearly budget. I understand that we might not yet have a full grasp on what kind of gold we have to work with, but this is not going to make anybody happy. Especially, and I know Alin will be a little angry about this but it¡¯s the truth, with that hideous statue he wants to put in front of it.¡¯

    Olivia read every word of the transcript, rolling her eyes at the obvious lack of professionalism. She would¡¯ve lost her job in minutes if she ever delivered something like this to her bosses, yet these people had been able to do whatever they wanted.

    Not too surprising, though, if they¡¯re so casually mentioning the old Queen and their ace.

    Moving past her personal issues with the wording, she turned the page to see the statue that had been complained about for another hundred or so words. And, honestly, she didn¡¯t get what the big deal about it was. A set of bronze statues depicting various dog breeds. A golden shepherd, a winged farmhound, and a great-eared goaldigger. Three breeds the country was known for, with all three likewise having been used extensively during the war.

    When Olivia read the inscription and realized each was meant to represent a person, she suddenly found herself understanding why the King of Serenova didn¡¯t want to be remembered as having ears the same size as the rest of his body.

    ¡°Oh, shit,¡± Olivia muttered when she continued down the details of the statues, skimming through the details until she spotted the map describing the placement of the bronze creations. A map with reference points. ¡°Oh, shit!¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Fred asked tiredly, pausing with the ordered forgery. ¡°Did you fall asleep while turning the pages again?¡±

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t ever do that,¡± Olivia corrected, shoveling away most of the other documents she¡¯d looked through until she found one of the reports containing several old city maps. The one she¡¯d found here with reference points was so out of date that it would be impossible to discern where everything was when comparing it to the modern drawings, but taking one from around the time when she was a kid allowed her to cross-reference it all so much easier. ¡°If that¡¯s there, and this is meant to be the old tailor shop, that means¡­ Ah, shit, why didn¡¯t I realize this from the start?¡±

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    ¡°Are you talking to me or should I just be ignoring you?¡± Fred asked, though his words were prematurely ignored by the guard captain as something much more important was in front of her. ¡°Fine, I get it. Have fun wherever you¡¯re going.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Olivia said, putting on her outfit as she prepared for the very late excursion into the slum. There was still an hour or two before the sun would fall, though, so she had plenty of time to work with. ¡°Be done with the rest of the forms before I¡¯m back, please.¡±

    She ignored the complaints that there were over a week¡¯s worth of forms to fill out, as she left the office and headed down the street at a brisk pace. She greeted and waved to those who recognized her, but never did she stop heading in the needed direction.

    It¡¯s been so long since I needed to be in this area.

    Olivia wasn¡¯t sure what she truly felt, as she watched the quality of the buildings degrade steadily as she took more steps down the path. She¡¯d already needed to take a turn off the larger street, as it would¡¯ve circled around and brought her back towards a more middle-class area. Instead, she had to take smaller ones, squeezed between buildings and hidden from the view of people who didn¡¯t already know it was there.

    Maybe that was intentional, since the placement and guiding of these newer streets had been done after the second entrance into the Dungeon was supposedly destroyed. The documents certainly said as much, several comments made about how expensive it was for the Royal Mages to do such a thing. Hundreds had been evacuated to avoid possible deaths, many hours had been spent cleaning it all out, and the area around it had been rebuilt to make it seem like there had been nothing of note there to begin with.

    At least according to the documents, which, as Olivia had begun to notice in recent times, were not always consistently in line with the truth. Some white lies would pop up sometimes, some exacerbations, and then laziness started to get into the picture as well.

    And she didn¡¯t even need to start on the possible corruption, as she took the final few turns and saw a bronze statue of a big-eared dog standing in the grass.

    A few other chunks of bronze could be seen in the dirt nearby, but anything major was already broken into pieces and taken by other people. Or maybe they had never been fully constructed, just as the statue before he was never meant to be. Hard to say, honestly.

    Olivia didn¡¯t dwell too long on it, as she brought out the map once again. Contrary to her expectations, the local area around here hadn¡¯t changed too much since the original drawings were made. While the streets in the richer districts were radically different, these were nearly one-to-one. The alleys were the same, the houses had the same sizings, and the only real thing of note was the state of decay it was all in.

    And, of course, the house in front of her that looked ready to fall into a pile of dust at the mildest provocation.

    Checking the map again, and referencing it with the other buildings nearby, she was certain that the second entrance to the Dungeon was meant to be right before her. Right below the crumbling house, which she now realized was sitting on a slightly elevated area compared to everything else here.

    Truly the work of countless hours.

    With conviction, she opened the small gate that gave her entry to the lot. In contrast to everything else around here, it had a patch of grass around it, one that might¡¯ve been tall and wild but didn¡¯t have any trash in it. A surprise, a weird one, but not something Olivia spent too long considering. She had a goal, and her heart was firm in that aspect.

    Right until she took a step forward towards the house and felt her breath catch in her throat.

    Panic.

    It came into her mind instantly, as she realized what she was doing. So many hours had been wasted trying to find some stupid entrance, something she had been ordered to ignore, and now she was here in some dangerous place alone and without any assistance if something was to go wrong. What was she thinking? She needed to turn around, get back to the office, and just forget this ever happened. It was for the best.

    ¡­

    No, it isn¡¯t.

    Olivia blinked as that feeling of panic and desperation to leave continued to strengthen with the next step. It almost felt genuine at the start, as if she had suddenly gotten a change of heart, but the feeling of fear wasn¡¯t like the one she normally felt when scared. This was too¡­ synthetic, like it wasn¡¯t her thoughts that started the downward spiral.

    ¡°Magical wards,¡± she muttered, annoyed that she couldn¡¯t see them as the Royal Mages could. She could feel the waves of fear being forced into her, could the feel hairs on her arms rise every few seconds, but she couldn¡¯t see the source of the annoyance.

    It explained why there was no trash around the crumbling building, at least. Anybody who decided to step towards it would suddenly find themselves having every possible reason to run away. If not for her time spent training under the banner of the royal guards, Olivia was sure she would already be halfway back to the office.

    This strength wouldn¡¯t be done by amateurs either.

    A criminal organization of some sort? Olivia didn¡¯t reject the idea as she stepped closer and closer to the front door of the rotting house. It would require that they had quite the number of connections inside the administrative departments, enough that some of the top-level guards and mages would obey them, but that requirement seemed more and more doable by the second. Any other alternatives didn¡¯t make sense when put next to what she was seeing.

    Reaching for the door handle, which she realized wasn¡¯t as rusted as every other piece of metal exposed to the outside air, Olivia tried to open the door. It was locked, sadly, but she was more than happy to try out other methods.

    Namely kicking it open.

    Before she could raise her leg and brace for the tried and true routine, however, she heard steps from the side. Going back on both feet, she turned and saw a man walk towards her out of the tall grass. Where he¡¯d appeared from, she couldn¡¯t say, but Olivia was focused on his appearance more than anything else.

    She thought of herself as a rather tall woman, equalling most of her men in height and even going above a few. The taller folk she knew were about half a head above her, but that was to be expected.

    The man approaching her, however? Easily two heads taller. Maybe three if he didn¡¯t slouch as much.

    ¡°This is private property, sweetheart, so I¡¯m going to have to ask you to leave,¡± a gruff voice left the giant of a man. Olivia was distinctively reminded of Aleksi when she saw the stature and the age. They had to be in their late sixties when going by the wrinkles on their face, yet their body could easily rival the strongest youth around. And that axe on their back¡­ ¡°You hearing me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Olivia Blackwell, Head Dungeon Guard on official business,¡± she replied firmly, doing her best to sound professional. Though she was confident in her abilities, she knew she wouldn¡¯t be able to take on the giant herself. Maybe get a hit in, but, if they chose to attack, she could do very little. ¡°Are you the owner of this property?¡±

    ¡°No, but I¡¯m the person making sure wanderers don¡¯t decide to set up camp here,¡± the giant said, waving her goodbye. ¡°Off you go now, kid. Unless you¡¯ve got an official warrant signed by whoever can issue them, step off the private property.¡±

    His tone changed at the end, going from condescending to giving her a very firm warning. Giants had so little patience, though Olivia didn¡¯t care too much about that fact. Excusing herself, she turned around and left the property behind, closing the gate and heading back towards her office in the middle of the city.

    Did she see what was inside the house? No, but that hardly mattered.

    A beast of a man had been protecting it, meaning somebody didn¡¯t want others to see what was there. And, since that spot was supposed to harbor the past dungeon entrance, it took no guesses to figure out what was there.

    Now came the question of how she was going to use this information.

 Chapter 22: Reynolds Wake

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss,¡± Vera told the grieving widow, as she hugged her firmly. She could feel the old woman trembling in her arms. ¡°Reynold was a great man, who could do things we could only dream of. We¡¯re going to miss him dearly.¡±

    That had the floodgates open to the fullest, and Vera felt a wetness growing on her shoulder as she softly held the woman. She idly wondered what the widow would do if she learned Vera was the reason he was dead at the moment, having been the one to order his suicide if he didn¡¯t want his entire family to be executed.

    Would she be angry at him or her the most? Maybe both. Those filled with grief rarely acted rationally. Vera could attest to that, having been forced to get rid of several of those, when they tried to kill the ¡®reason their loved ones had died.¡¯ She never understood how her bedridden father could be the cause for that nowadays, with how rarely he could talk with others, but that wasn¡¯t for her to say.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss,¡± she heard a familiar voice say when she was finally given back her shoulder, and the widow moved over to others wishing her all the best from now on. There had been donations, gifts of all sizes, and promises to assist with everything and anything if needed. Reynold had been quite the known name around the castle, after all, being one of the few left from the ¡®old crowd.¡¯ ¡°When I was a child, Reynold helped raise me like I was one of his own. He was¡­ sorry. He was a great man.¡±

    Kind words that had the widow start with the tears all over. Vera had to say she was impressed by the display that her older brother could put on. More so when it was probably earnest. Those darkened eyes were very hard to fake. While she was putting on a ¡®face of strength,¡¯ he showed everybody around that this loss would not be easily forgotten.

    I¡¯m happy that you came.

    She felt a finger poke her thigh, making her look down and see a pair of kids looking up at her. Gray eyes, sharp noses, and curiosity clear on their faces. Grandchildren to the fallen, the parents of the kids looking on a few meters away in horror as they continued poking her leg. They were so worried about offending her, that they weren¡¯t sure whether or not to intervene.

    ¡°Yes?¡± Vera said, hunching down to match the kids¡¯ eye level. She made a point of acting oblivious to the rapidly paling faces of the parents. ¡°Did you need something?¡±

    ¡°Are you the princess?¡±

    The first child, a young girl no older than five, asked that question with so much wonder and positivity that Vera doubted they understood what was going on around them.

    ¡°Yes, I am,¡± Vera replied regardless, smiling warmly at the children as they giggled brightly. ¡°Have you been to the castle before?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± the second child was quick to say. A boy, a little shorter than the girl, and likely a younger brother. ¡°We visited Grandpa. He gave us chocolate. It was good.¡±

    ¡°Do you have any chocolate?¡±

    Vera was very happy that she didn¡¯t know their names, as she took a moment to center herself. Kids were sometimes too good at being so innocent. They didn¡¯t think about anything other than what was right in front of them, and, even then, it could be misunderstood a hundred times over.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any on me, sadly,¡± Vera said apologetically, seeing the shoulders slouching at her response. That wouldn¡¯t do. ¡°But¡­ if you think you can ask very politely, you can go over to that man over there and ask if they have any in the kitchen that you could have.¡±

    The eyes of the servant met hers as the kids laughed and hurried over to him to ask. She nodded at him to make it clear it was allowed before the servant proceeded to leave the room to find some treats for the children.

    ¡°I see you¡¯re getting the kids on your good side,¡± Phillip commented, having finished his turn with the widow. A low snort left Vera at that, one that she quickly tried to hide with a mild cough. This wasn¡¯t how she was hoping to present herself at the gathering. ¡°Did you know there would be so few here?¡±

    ¡°It was at her request,¡± Vera explained, subtly pointing towards the widow with her head. ¡°Reynold lived a quiet life. Even if thousands would like to attend, she felt that a quiet goodbye with only close friends would be more appropriate.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Phillip said, surveying the faces of the rest of the attendees. Most were around the age of their father, having been employed at the castle or having been one of the people helping heavily in the old days. People who had stood by what the country was meant to represent. ¡°Was it you that removed Louis from the list of guests? I saw his and dad¡¯s names weren¡¯t there this morning.¡±

    Oh?

    ¡°I removed our father¡¯s name at Alin¡¯s request, as he didn¡¯t want to make his absence seen as an insult, but I had assumed you were the one to strike Louis off,¡± Vera confessed. ¡°Didn¡¯t the two of you argue rather loudly yesterday?¡±

    ¡°It was for¡­ another reason,¡± the crown prince whispered by the end, eyes searching for any that were trying to listen in. Finding none, he continued. ¡°He ordered his guards away and went to the brothel once again. Caused a stir while a crowd watched, and enough whispers started that it got back to me before the end of the day. I confronted him, said it wasn¡¯t something somebody of his status should do, and¡­ I think you can guess how he responded to that.¡±

    ¡°He explained in detail how you needed to shove your sword up your ass?¡± Vera guessed in a whisper, making Phillip cover his face to hide the chuckle from the others. The tears that appeared some seconds after didn¡¯t seem to come from laughing, however, as the situation they were in started to come around once again. ¡°He was a good man, brother. Know that he raised us into the people we are today.¡±

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    ¡°He wasn¡¯t a good man,¡± Phillip corrected, wiping the last tears from his eyes before settling back into his previous state. ¡°He was better than that.¡±

    If only you knew.

    The funeral lasted another few hours, with several from the old crowd telling stories about what it was like to work with Reynold. Tales of bravery, of mental strength, of being inspired by the man. It was all wonderful to hear, people laughing, people crying, and people remembering a man without much in terms of flaws.

    They remembered what needed to be remembered. The bad parts were best forgotten.

    ¡°Did you know that Reynold¡¯s apprentices rejected taking up his role in the castle?¡± Alin asked as he, Vera, and Phillip settled in the Royal Garden afterward. The sun was still going strong above, the flowers were having a wonderful day as they bloomed to their fullest, and the trio could sit without fearing a single person overhearing them. ¡°They¡¯d both been under his guidance for seven years, yet neither believed they could take up his duties at the needed level.¡±

    ¡°Is that grief making them underestimate their abilities, or will we be sorely missing a Royal Healer from now on?¡± Phillip asked, taking a sip of the wine they¡¯d brought with them. Vera did the same, enjoying the sweet vintage. Even if it wasn¡¯t the season for them just yet, she¡¯d always preferred the sweeter summer wines.

    ¡°The latter, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Alin answered, making both of the Royals grimace. ¡°I met with them this morning to hear how your father¡¯s treatment would work, now that Reynold no longer could oversee it personally. While they have all his notes and can follow the plan he set in motion for the new months, any adjustments are risky and could become an issue.¡±

    ¡°Seven years of working under him, and they can¡¯t keep one man healthy,¡± Phillip criticized, shrinking a little under the Earth Mage¡¯s gaze. ¡°Sorry.¡±

    ¡°Your father is not young, and the recent years have not been kind to him,¡± Alin pointed out in a slow and determined fashion. ¡°If not for Reynold¡¯s help, which is built upon many decades of working with people in need, he would¡¯ve likely already slept in. The fact that his apprentices, who are both your age, do not yet have his level of expertise is not something to look down on. That they can say that they shouldn¡¯t be given the role is a sign of wisdom that we should respect.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sorry, I know,¡± Phillip apologized again, taking another sip of the wine before putting it down on the table. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ taking this a little harder than I thought I would.¡±

    That softened the Earth Mage up. For good reason, as well, with Alin having been around since the start as well. He¡¯d watched her father gather allies, fight for freedom, fall in love with Alin¡¯s apprentice, and have three children before losing such an essential part of himself. Alin had watched them grow up, and, just like Reynold, had treated them like they were his children.

    Though she didn¡¯t say it out loud, as that would be much too embarrassing, Vera still considered Alin her uncle and one of the few people she could trust with her life and the life of her father.

    ¡°Do we have any ideas for who could take up the role in Reynold¡¯s stead?¡± Vera asked. She had to confess that she hadn¡¯t been as prepared for the Healer to betray them as she would¡¯ve preferred, meaning she had just about nobody to replace him with. Harper had already been put to the task of making a list of potential replacements but it would take time for her Illusionist to work her magic. ¡°Even just at a temporary level.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid the assistants have to fill up that role for us,¡± Alin replied, his grimace showing the distaste for that fact. ¡°They can perform nearly all other duties expected of them without fail, and they can help your father as long as his condition doesn¡¯t worsen. As long as we can find somebody to take Reynold¡¯s place within the next few weeks, we will be in the clear.¡±

    ¡®A few weeks¡¯ wasn¡¯t something that Vera was happy about, but they had little other choice. Hastily finding somebody and throwing them into the role just opened them up for a potential repeat act. Whoever took up the position would need to be thoroughly inspected to make sure they had an actual loyalty to the Royal Family that wouldn¡¯t be broken by a mere sack of gold.

    ¡°I¡¯ll trust that the others can do a better job of finding a person worthy of the title than we can,¡± Phillip said, Vera and Alin offering no disagreement. Anybody who was pushed forward for the position would be vetted by them, of course, but the main chunk of the process would be in others'' hands. ¡°In the meanwhile, we need to handle the public whispers that are starting. I¡¯m not sure who leaked Reynold¡¯s death, but his passing has reached the people earlier than planned.¡±

    Vera had heard of that, her people giving her warnings about the nervous air that had come from it. Currently, it was limited to the upper-class district, but the rumors rarely lasted a day there before most of the city knew about it. Servants that didn¡¯t work in the castle rarely kept their tongues tied, after all.

    ¡°The next public event is in two months, but waiting that long when a death like this has occurred in the castle¡­ that won¡¯t do,¡± Vera commented. Her older brother agreed, which likely meant it was the right choice. For every criticism she¡¯d had with his choices over the years, he was well-versed in public relations. While she tried to keep up appearances, he lived to be the image that the public had painted of them.

    And he did it well, knowing what to say when.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯ve been notified yet, Alin, but I got a message about the Dungeon acting a little weirdly and sending out more Mana than usual,¡± Phillip explained. The Earth Mage confirmed he''d heard about it, though he hadn¡¯t been too involved. ¡°The leading theory is that there might be a new monster deeper down that could cause trouble, so I¡¯m hoping to put together a group to take a look in a few days. That should help alleviate some worries.¡±

    ¡°Not a bad idea,¡± Vera commented, thinking back on how long it had been since she walked the streets in that district. ¡°If we¡¯re hoping to put up brave faces, I wouldn¡¯t mind visiting that area. It has been a while since I¡¯ve updated my wardrobe personally.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure that you don¡¯t want to visit the shops in the upper-class district for that instead?¡± Alin questioned, knowing Vera¡¯s¡­ refined taste. One that she didn¡¯t deny since it was a fun hobby.

    ¡°I have enough dresses to wear for a lifetime, at this point, but I am sorely missing clothes that could be worn on the street without worrying about some jewel or another falling off the fabric,¡± she replied. It was a legitimate concern for some of her commissioned outfits, though it had been a year since she¡¯d needed to wear one of those. ¡°It¡¯ll be a discreet affair, with just a few of your royal guards in casual wear to protect me. People just need to see me and spread the news that I¡¯ve been around the area. And, if it gets too crowded, I¡¯m sure your people can bring me back here in record time.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that I don¡¯t doubt,¡± Philip agreed, always happy to hear good things about his underlings. It was one of the easier ways to sweet-talk her brother. ¡°But¡­ Okay, if you think you can stay safe then I don¡¯t have anything against it. Just be careful, alright? We love the people, but we need to remember what they¡¯re capable of.¡±

    A strange way of talking about the common man. Vera didn¡¯t bring up that perspective, just agreeing to be careful.

    What were the chances she could bring Harper along, under the pretense of keeping her safe?

 Chapter 23: In the Pines

    It was raining. It was all going to shit and it was raining. The alchemist could feel blood running down his neck from a stray arrow that had cut his ear and it was raining. His world was falling apart and it was raining.

    Was he weird for focusing on that fact? The alchemist wasn¡¯t sure, though rain pelting him without mercy certainly refused to let him forget about its existence. How did everybody else stand and fight in this weather?

    Do the hounds even feel it?

    He could hear their shouting through the rain. Even with the intense thunder, winds, and rain making everything around him a blur, that cheering and chanting was without end. Axes were swung and thrown, warriors were cut down, and they were having the time of their lives while suffering just as many losses.

    If not more.

    This wasn¡¯t a village where they were attacked. They were two weeks away from the next one they were meant to burn down. This was meant to have been a relaxing day of silent work, yet the sky had broken in two and the strong rain had hidden the force that was ready to meet them on the road.

    Hundreds of warriors, mages, and archers, wearing Serenova¡¯s colors and shouting for their blood to be shed. The alchemist had feared the sight, ready to run, but the others had been thirsty for blood. They¡¯d been stupid, too used to villagers who could barely wield a spear. They couldn¡¯t fathom that there was a chance they might lose, that they would be running into their certain deaths.

    The alchemist knew otherwise. He saw otherwise when the first volley of arrows and spells flew towards their charging bodies. He watched enchanted arrows fly straight through the muscle-bound freaks, saw as the spell burnt them to a crisp, and saw some lost chunks of flesh or even entire limbs.

    And they laughed, too drugged up to even register anything. They saw red, saw a person that could spill some more, and they charged onwards. No fear, no sense of worrying, nothing but that thirst for slaughter.

    It disgusted the alchemist, but he did nothing.

    He just obeyed as his leader shouted at him to prepare everything and anything that could help them. Maybe she saw the painting on the wall, maybe she just thought they could use it, but it didn¡¯t matter. She shouted at him to help the wounded so they could go back into the fight, and that was what he needed to do if he didn¡¯t want to be cut down by his side.

    Is it even my own?

    The arrows didn¡¯t seem to care, flying within a finger¡¯s width of his head as he ran through the field. People were dying around him by the handful every time he looked, so he stopped checking. If he died, he died. If one of the enemy¡¯s Mages wanted him dead, there was nothing he could do. He could only run and hope that they didn¡¯t care enough about him to spend a second aiming his way.

    ¡°That¡¯s five!¡± one of the hounds near him shouted after cutting down one of the enemy warriors, a roar of laughter leaving him before a bolt of light impacted his chest. A moment of stillness came before the body was ripped apart and thrown in every direction.

    The alchemist kept running. His legs were burning, the pain from his lungs was starting to reach his limits, and the adrenaline couldn¡¯t keep it up for much longer.

    Lighting flashed before his eyes, the sound of cracking thunder reaching his ears a moment later. He felt it as his eardrums were pressed inwards, as liquid other than water filled his ear canal, and suddenly everything else seemed to become a little quieter.

    ¡°You filth!¡± still came through, however, and the alchemist was presented with a close-up of two fighting just a step away. One of the hounds and a similarly sized warrior. The green-veined berserker wielded little more than a massive axe and a smile, while the warrior possessed a shining claymore along with thick leather armor.

    Who had shouted before was a question the alchemist couldn¡¯t answer. He tried to get up from the muddy grass to run again, yet his strength seemed to leave him as soon as he tried to stand. It was surprisingly hard to breathe. Had he been hit?

    ¡°I¡¯ll drink out of your skull tonight!¡± the hound promised the warrior as the distance between the two was closed. A wild swing from the former just barely missed the shoulder of the latter. With the hound open for a counter-attack, however, the warrior surged forward with his blade in hand.

    The berserker didn¡¯t dodge, a deep cut running through their left bicep. The arm fell limply to the side because of it, distracting the hound enough for a hit to the head to knock them over.

    Were they dead? The alchemist couldn¡¯t say, not having time to consider their health as the warrior looked over at them.

    Oh no.

    Freezing in place didn¡¯t make them less interested in him, but his legs weren¡¯t helping him run as he could barely stumble away. Before he knew it, the warrior was above him, sword raised high, and eyes emotionless as they tensed their muscles to cut him in two.

    ¡°Gotcha, idiot.¡±

    The hound had recovered and dropped his axe, closing in on the warrior from behind and putting their hands around their head before they realized it.

    No.

    There was no looking away, as the muscles flexed, and the metal helmet the warrior had worn stopped the crushed head from leaking out too much. The alchemist didn¡¯t know what to think. Had a hound just saved his life?

    ¡°Agh, shit, forgot the skull,¡± he could hear the muscle-bound freak complain as he shook off the brain matter and picked up the dropped axe. Green veins had sprouted on their biceps, twisting and tensing the muscles disgustingly, but the regenerative abilities were more than able to heal the wound. ¡°Hey, dude, you got any booze on you?¡±

    The sight before the alchemist stun-locked him. The berserker looked down at him casually as his stomach and arm bled profusely, rain and thunder pelting down at them, and the people in the back all fighting and dying without end. It almost brought a sense of calm into his dissociated mind.

    Almost, as the sight of several charging warriors made him shrink back in fear, back on the feet that a second before had refused to move at all.

    ¡°More skulls!¡± shouted the hound while laughing. How, even with the drugs, they weren¡¯t filled with fear mystified the alchemist. ¡°Get the booze ready!¡±

    That last order was meant for him, but he couldn¡¯t get himself to do much else but witness the berserker meet the three warriors¡¯ charge with his own. The final lunge that felled the one in the middle only made it crazier.

    Then the fantasy died, however, and the side with more numbers began to show their prowess. The one pushed to the ground used the chance to stab the berserker in the same place as the other one had, while those on the side cut and slashed at the hound. Wounds piled up, blood was shed, and so little of it came from the warriors¡¯ side.

    For now.

    The axe was swung directly into the grounded warrior¡¯s chest, killing them instantly. One death in exchange for a blade inserted into the upper chest. It was ripped out of the warrior¡¯s hands a second later, but that didn¡¯t stop the wound from rapidly being covered with red.

    Even when several meters away, the alchemist heard it as the throat and head were ripped off the warrior, alongside the screams of their final moments.

    For a second, he thought the brute could win the fight.

    Then they slowed down, letting their arms fall to the side. The last of the three didn¡¯t falter at the opportunity, raising his sword and trying to cut from the berserker''s chest and down to their stomach.

    It got stuck on one of the lower ribs, the bone and muscle holding it in place.

    A gurgling sound left the hound as they grabbed the warrior¡¯s arm and pulled them close. The other free arm wrapped around their midsection and hugged them tightly.

    They fell to the grass motionless.

    ¡­

    ¡°You got the booze now?¡± the berserker said in between the blood running from his mouth. ¡°Need something to wash this¡­ down.¡±

    The alchemist looked on as they fell. Their body was twitching, the elixir doing its job faithfully as it infested more and more flesh to keep the berserker alive. It was like a corpse being electrocuted.

    ¡°A life for a life.¡±

    Horror settled into the alchemist¡¯s bones as he saw the third warrior stand up weakly, a dagger in hand as they stumbled towards the fallen berserker. They were weak, likely to die within the next few minutes, but they could still take another with them within that time.

    Was the alchemist going to let that happen? The first answer was a yes, as he¡¯d already gotten his share of near-death for now. The rain was still powerful above, the enemy was still ready to run to him and cut him down, and there was little hope for him if he continued just standing here.

    But¡­

    The warrior was right.

    A life for a life.

    Taking out the dagger meant to cut herbs and nothing more, the alchemist ran toward the downed berserker. The rain kept his steps hidden, the thunder made no shadow appear, and the warrior never thought to look to the side. They could barely see it all, with the blood running down their face.

    A perfect target for the weakest around.

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    The alchemist¡¯s dagger barely met resistance as it was plunged into the side of the warrior¡¯s throat. He felt the weapon vibrate as the man tried and failed to shout, to curse, to do anything other than slightly turn his head and look at his killer.

    Would there ever be a time when he could forget those blood-filled eyes?

    He couldn¡¯t say, and neither could he spare the thought another moment. A shove made the knife dislodge from the warrior¡¯s throat, and they fell to the ground truly dead. No threat to the alchemist or the berserker anymore, though the latter barely needed it. The body was starting to calm down in its flinching and moving around on the ground, but not because the wound had healed.

    The elixir was simply beginning to run out of stamina. A reservoir of energy meant to be endless, one meant to push the hounds forward for days at a time, emptying because of wounds like this? Pitiful, though the alchemist could only blame himself. He¡¯d probably been the one to brew whatever this freak drank this morning.

    ¡°You helped me, so I help you,¡± he muttered, bringing out the golden concoctions from his pockets. Recently put together, still hot to the touch, and hopefully powerful enough to do something. ¡°If you¡¯re awake, please swallow this.¡±

    He emptied the bottle in the berserker¡¯s mouth, watching as it began to bubble at the touch of flesh. It had instantly seen the error in the body and tried to remedy it, but the wounds it focused on were the wrong ones. The berserker didn¡¯t need a clean head to live but instead a clean core.

    Focus.

    Channeling of [Plant Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 9MP/sec

    It was a stupidly high cost, but one that was needed to have any control over the direction of the healing energies. The alchemist massaged the berserker¡¯s throat to make them swallow as much as possible before moving downwards and holding his hands to their chest. The body fought him every step of the way, as threads of Mana entered the altered flesh, guiding the healing and repairing of the vital organs. The heart was pressured to the point of failure, the lungs were filled with more liquid than he¡¯d thought possible, and the stomach was festered with blood, meat, and¡­ the alchemist didn¡¯t want to think about what he could look directly into.

    ¡°Wake up,¡± he said when the twitching in the arms and legs began again. The elixir, previously having given up on the future corpse, had been given a violent restart. ¡°I can¡¯t keep this shit up for long.¡±

    If the berserker could hear him, they didn¡¯t make it obvious.

    Shit.

    The alchemist felt a lurch from his own body as he started getting dangerously close to emptying his reserves. Flares of pain started shooting out from his Core, the magical organ attempting to close down the veins to preserve whatever energies were left. Seeing as the hound was still not alive for good, however, the alchemist forced them back open. He was still breathing, so he still had more to give.

    ¡°Last chance,¡± he tried, bringing out a reserve of smelling salts. A second was spent enhancing them before he practically stuffed them up the nose of the berserker. ¡°Wake. Up.¡±

    With those final words, his Core, for all intents and purposes, gave out. He couldn¡¯t force more Mana to leave his body as there was no more Mana in his flesh to take from. He was empty, left shaking as his physical shell was deprived of vital energy that went into every part of his normal processes. It was a type of torture unknown until now, and the alchemist wished he¡¯d never had to experience it again.

    Maybe his wish would come true, seeing as he was going to be killed soon.

    ¡°Ugh, that didn¡¯t feel good.¡±

    What?

    Though it took more effort than the alchemist could''ve dreamed, he turned his head to see the berserker sitting up from the ground. Their body was stained with blood and mud, chunks of flesh were still missing, but they could look around and seem somewhat lucid.

    No green eyes.

    The alchemist laughed at that. He¡¯d actually managed to make a berserker run out of elixir in their body.

    ¡°You saved my life so I saved yours,¡± he said, catching the hound''s attention as they scratched the back of their head. ¡°Feel free to thank me before our throats are sliced.¡±

    Was it the lack of energy to do anything about it, or had the alchemist actually started to feel some form of acceptance in his heart? It was insane to think about, but he didn¡¯t feel like it was worth it to try and run. Even if the enemy didn¡¯t want to spare the time to cut him down, his allies certainly would. Traitors to the cause weren¡¯t looked on favorably.

    ¡°... I¡¯d rather not die, if I¡¯m being honest,¡± the berserker said, his words not living up to his title. The alchemist certainly thought it amusing, weak chuckles leaving him as he put his head back down into the mud. ¡°That stuff before felt like shit, so avoiding that seems good to me. Any idea how to do that, savior of mine?¡±

    ¡°Do the impossible and flee without being chased?¡± the alchemist replied, laughing at his own joke. ¡°Like that¡¯s ever gonna happen.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good to me.¡±

    A reflexive yelp left him as an arm wrapped around his torso, raising him from the ground and into the clutches of the freak he¡¯d given a minute more of breath. He felt like questioning the reason, but his lungs had trouble working normally as the running began.

    The alchemist had thought his own speed admirable, as he¡¯d run through the field of battle trying to find somebody in need. The muscle-bound freak, easily five times his weight, made him seem like an ant in comparison. With strides longer than he was tall, they moved through the battlefield without more than arrows flying their way. Some even hit the berserker, which elicited small curses of pain, but they never stopped in their trek. In fact, they might¡¯ve just increased in speed.

    To the side of the road, about a hundred meters away from where the battle had been ongoing, there was nothing but thick forestry. The alchemist had dreamed of reaching it, but he hadn¡¯t thought it possible until now.

    A branch whipped at him as they passed through the line into the forest and away from the warfare. The rain made it hard for him to see, convincing him they were a moment away from sprinting straight into old oak every second, yet never did he so much as get scratched by the wood after that.

    Easily ten minutes later, when the strong winds and rain began to die down, the berserker stopped his charge. Contrary to their supposed endless stamina, the alchemist could hear them breathe heavily, lungs not able to keep the required pace any longer.

    ¡°I know I asked this before, but¡­ do you or do you not have any booze on you?¡± the hound asked, putting the alchemist down on the grass as they rested against a tree. ¡°If we don¡¯t want the others following our scent, we need to continue soon, but I wouldn¡¯t mind a burn to keep me going.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got some pure spirits to clean wounds with,¡± the alchemist offered. A normal person would have their throats damaged more than anything if they drank it, but the berserker still accepted it with a muttered thanks. With the confidence only an elixir-driven man could boast, they downed half the bottle in under ten seconds.

    ¡°That felt great, thanks,¡± they said, handing the remains back. ¡°A little bland but¡­ damn, it¡¯s been too long since I thought about that.¡±

    ¡°Since you thought about how booze tasted?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Not just booze but more¡­ everything else?¡± the berserker explained, feeling at their face. Their fingers traced the lines made up of green, pulsating veins. Even if the elixir had been mostly drained and wiped from their body, the remains were still working hard to keep him healthy in some limited fashion. ¡°My head is just clear for the first time in however long we¡¯ve been doing this. Weeks? Months?¡±

    ¡°I think I remember you from about five years ago, so it¡¯s been a while,¡± the alchemist corrected, the memory about almost losing his head to a blonde-haired hound resurfacing. And the things that came after¡­ he¡¯d been so good at forgetting that. ¡°You¡¯re the ¡®Butcher of Verness,¡¯ right?¡±

    He¡¯d expected a shit-eating grin to appear on the musclebound man¡¯s face at the name of his title, but instead, they just frowned and looked down at their hands. Even with the rain washing them so many times, red stains could still be seen, flesh bits still trapped beneath the nails.

    ...

    ¡°I didn¡¯t want this.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Sucks for you, then, because you already got it,¡± he replied, giving in and taking a small swig of the pure spirit himself. It burned like nothing else, feeling like hellfire on his tongue and even worse when it went down his throat. Made him wake up, nonetheless.

    ¡°Hey, could you be a little less rude? I did just save your life,¡± the berserker said, eyes sending daggers at him as he packed away the bottle in his bag once again. It was a good thing he¡¯d brought it along to the battlefield, lest he would¡¯ve lost some of his most prized possessions.

    ¡°And I saved yours,¡± the alchemist countered. Though his body felt shaky and worn, he still got up from the ground and back on his feet. ¡°Now we¡¯re even.¡±

    ¡°... I can¡¯t say anything to that, I guess,¡± the giant of a man said. There was a flicker of green in their eyes that made the alchemist wonder if they would kill him, but it faded away just as quickly as it had appeared. ¡°You want to go our separate ways then?¡±

    A choice appeared in front of him yet again. Did he accept it and suffer whatever terrors in this world alone, or did he stay with the freak and allow them to live past this rainy season without collapsing on the road?

    Because they would, without his help. The elixir might¡¯ve been somewhat purified, but the last pieces of residue would exist for longer than the berserker himself. It would settle in the bones, settle in the muscle, and force the heart to operate at a heightened level until the organ gave out.

    Only through careful dosing from the alchemist¡¯s side did any of the hounds live past their initial six-month expiration date, and, for somebody like this that had been on the elixir for so many years, there was little question about what would happen to them if they walked alone.

    ¡°I¡¯ve just saved your life, almost taking my own with how much Mana I spent making sure your internal organs didn¡¯t all fail at once,¡± the alchemist finally said. ¡°I¡¯m going to need to be around, making you suppressants, if you want to live long enough to think about what you¡¯ve done the past half-decade.¡±

    ¡°Harsh,¡± the berserker commented. They were calm, not seeming too angry at his words. ¡°And I suppose you want my protection in return?¡±

    ¡°I saw you crush a man¡¯s skull with your bare hands,¡± he replied. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind a man like that as my bodyguard.¡±

    A snort left the larger man at that.

    ¡°It¡¯s a deal then,¡± the giant said, offering his hand to the alchemist. It was accepted within a few seconds of hesitation. ¡°Now let¡¯s get more distance from the others. I can still hear their shouting.¡±

    Like a small sack of potatoes, the alchemist was once again brought under the man¡¯s shoulder before they started to run yet again. A slower pace this time to accommodate the longer trek to wherever they were going, and to allow them to get better distance on the others before night fell on them.

    ¡°What are you going to call yourself from now on, by the way?¡± the giant asked within an hour of jogging.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± the alchemist asked.

    ¡°Well, you can¡¯t go around with your old name, since you signed up with that. Too easy to recognize and everything, if we¡¯re discovered,¡± the sensible berserker explained, bringing up a point that the other hadn¡¯t considered at all. ¡°So? What are you going to call yourself?¡±

    ¡­

    Huh.

    The alchemist honestly had no clue at all. Even in the passing minutes spent in thought, there was nothing that came to mind. Hundreds of names had been heard before, thousands that had been introduced to him in passing during his time in the villages while reading through their logs for information about their storages. There was much to choose from, yet never did he truly think about taking up one of them as his own. The one he¡¯d technically been granted in his youth, or what people had at least called him, hadn¡¯t been said out loud since the day he joined up.

    Only days later, when walking down one of the smaller roads, did the alchemist have an idea.

    ¡°What about Elijah?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it several times in the villages. Wouldn¡¯t be too uncommon.¡±

    ¡°Elijah¡­ yeah, I can see it,¡± the giant replied. And so Elijah was born anew. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking of just taking one of my old uncles¡¯ names.¡±

    ¡°Which is?¡±

    ¡°Aleksi.¡±

    Much rarer outside of the bigger cities, but Elijah didn¡¯t think it would cause more concern than the man¡¯s massive frame.

    Not that his own physical body wouldn¡¯t cause questions either. The emptying of his Core, and the subsequent closing off of his mana veins to reduce himself to a non-magical person again, had drained him of all energy. Even within a few days, he¡¯d grown more thin than he¡¯d been already.

    But it was all worth it if it meant surviving for even another second.

 Chapter 24: Fowl Deeds

    ¡®Can I have food now?¡¯

    Elijah blinked slowly, blinking away memories from decades ago as he looked down at the Sundrop Flower. Not up, not at eye level, but down. During the night, when he had tried and failed to rest properly, the plant had decided to follow his request to the extreme and shrink down to a size that made it fit in his palm.

    And that shape¡­

    ¡®Yes, but please explain what you¡¯ve done to yourself,¡¯ Elijah replied, awakening his Core as he siphoned Mana from it to send to the flower. It accepted everything he transferred over greedily, letting it swirl around before consuming it with glee. He noted that the absorption wasn¡¯t followed by an increase in body mass.

    Very intriguing.

    ¡®You said to become smaller like in the other places,¡¯ the plant replied. The child-like voice came back at him with clear enthusiasm, as it attached the multitude of images that he had sent the night before as a form of reference for its growth. It¡¯s been an experiment to see if it could even follow such a vague order, and¡­ technically, it had. ¡®You said I needed to choose something and become it.¡¯

    Looking down at the plant again, Elijah noted how so many of the images he¡¯d been sent back had included birds.

    It¡¯s trying to look like a damned bird.

    It wasn¡¯t all perfect, several flowers still sprouting off to the sides to absorb whatever it could, but there was consistent progress in making the main body look like that of the winged animal. Elongated, golden petals made up the middle to create something akin to a feathered body, green stalks that curved came up at the front to imitate a slightly-too-long neck, and more petals along with some¡­ harder variant of the flower top appeared at the end to make the head of the bird.

    Ignoring the flower hat on top, Elijah supposed it wasn¡¯t the worst impression of a duck. The fact that it had been able to make something close to a beak and eyes was enough to make him respect the effort.

    ¡®Do you want me to go back?¡¯ the flower asked cautiously. It was probably afraid of getting less food, due to his grumbling as he studied the changes closely. That it had been able to use part of the flowerhead to make such convincing feathers was incredible. It infuriated him that he¡¯d never gotten guidance on how to use Biomancy up until this point if this had been possible to do all along.

    ¡®No, I¡¯d prefer if you try even harder,¡¯ Elijah finally replied as he sensed the plant grow anxious at his silence. The morning was making his mind work a little slower than he preferred. ¡®You have a few flaws here, here, and here. There¡¯s also some inconsistency there if you think you can solve that somehow, and¡­ I don¡¯t know if it might be possible for you, but making legs instead of just connecting the entire underside of the main body to the earth would be much better.¡¯

    Each correction, each suggestion, and every possible angle was given a clear reference for the plant. It absorbed each part given instantly, Elijah able to feel it as the wild mind looked it over and began to make changes instantly. It was slow, of course, but there was no delay between the idea and the attempt to follow that guideline.

    ¡®Will you give me more food, if I have legs?¡¯

    ¡®I¡¯ll give you all the food I can if you can walk.¡¯

    Those were the magic words, Elijah chuckling as he saw the earth physically moving while roots were recirculated to make them connect at two main points instead of going to the body at dozens of different spots. As he rose back to his full height, he could likewise see the plant start to raise the body upwards, two stubs steadily pushing upwards.

    If it actually became able to walk¡­ he wasn¡¯t sure what he was going to do at that point. Laugh, maybe? Go even further and see if he could make the plant grow wings capable of making it fly?

    Now that was something he wouldn¡¯t mind seeing.

    But if growth can be manipulated to such a degree, could the size also go into the extremes?

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    Elijah didn¡¯t exactly have space inside the house to check such an idea, but the Dungeon wouldn¡¯t be the worst testing ground for that. It would be a while before he could do as much, of course, but a few days of waiting was nothing to the decades he¡¯d already sat through.

    As he headed out of the laboratory, intent on finding something to fill his stomach, he heard knocking on the front door. Quick ones, not structured, and light enough to not be from a certain head guard.

    Aleksi was faster than him at answering it, opening the door and revealing a certain Wind Mage standing there with a book in hand.

    ¡°Grace,¡± Aleksi said cheerfully, wrapping up the tiny woman in a massive hug. A shriek left the mage as her feet were lifted off the floor, but the subsequent giggling made even Elijah feel his stone face gain a few cracks. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I saw you. Did you get taller?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s only been two weeks,¡± Grace protested, handing over the book she¡¯d brought to Elijah, who accepted it with a nod. The old leather-bound tome was surprisingly heavy, and the warning on the back made him wonder just where Rubeus had found it. ¡°Sorry for not coming by with it yesterday. My mentor was suddenly swept up in helping organize some expedition of sorts, and he didn¡¯t have time to go through the restricted parts of the library to find that until this morning.¡±

    ¡°An expedition?¡± Aleksi asked before Elijah could.

    ¡°Into the dungeon,¡± Grace explained. ¡°Because of that surge, he talked about yesterday, you know? The crown prince was told about it and wanted to make sure there wasn¡¯t anything dangerous from it.¡±

    ¡°I can respect the wariness,¡± Elijah commented, looking at the tome in his hand yet again. It would take quite a while to get through all of it. ¡°Thank your mentor for lending this book to me, please. This means a lot.¡±

    ¡°Oh, of course!¡± she promised before her eyes widened a little. ¡°And, before I forget, I convinced my mom to let you visit and eat for free today. I¡¯m taking a rest day, so I¡¯m just helping in the kitchen. If you want to come by, you¡¯re free to do so.¡±

    ¡°Really? You¡¯re letting me eat free?¡± Aleksi questioned, getting a laugh out of the woman. ¡°I think we both remember what happened last time your mother made that promise.¡±

    ¡°You were the one who abused it, you giant glutton,¡± Grace fired back to which the man could only raise his hands in surrender. ¡°But, yes, just come by for lunch or dinner. Lunch would be best, though. We¡¯ve been packed full at night recently.¡±

    Taking heed to her warnings, the two promised to visit for lunch. It was possible for them both to come for once as well since Aleksi was also taking a day¡¯s break from the smithy today. Even giants needed to relax their bodies every once in a while.

    ¡°How have the new pills worked?¡± Elijah remembered to ask as they ventured out into the kitchen and seared meats for breakfast along with boiling some water for tea. ¡°Any side effects?¡±

    ¡°Nothing at all for once,¡± Aleksi replied, sounding rather happy about that fact. The weaker version of the medicine he¡¯d been getting the past many years had been enough to hold him stable, along with letting him do some rather intensive work, but his heart still had a habit of nearly skipping a beat when pressed enough or he got injured. It didn¡¯t mean much when it happened once every full moon, but the frequency of the bouts of pain had increased. ¡°Feeling like I¡¯m forty again.¡±

    That was the height of compliments for his work, the giant¡¯s forty being the same as other people in their twenties. That man¡¯s physical prime had just lasted a little longer than everybody else could hope for.

    However¡­ they¡¯d talked about it before, but something that kept him in this state for longer periods meant that they could perhaps consider the usage of elixir again. Elijah wouldn¡¯t force it on the giant, but Aleksi was the one who¡¯d suggested it to begin with. And, well, if he was willing to use it to bring them to a greater depth in the Dungeon, he wouldn¡¯t complain.

    ¡°I smell food,¡± came a tired voice from upstairs. ¡°Everything safe down there?¡±

    ¡°Doors are closed and locked,¡± Elijah confirmed, his words barely leaving his mouth before Jack was down the stairs and inside the kitchen to inspect whatever was being cooked. Sasha followed not long after, wearing a different outfit than the one she¡¯d had the day before. ¡°I see you found the storage room.¡±

    ¡°Clothes were sweaty,¡± Sasha offered as she went through the cabinet and fished out some of the dried fruits she¡¯d taken from before. After a moment, she also got some for Jack who swiftly thanked her for the gift. ¡°When are you leaving today?¡±

    So you heard that from upstairs? Good ears.

    ¡°In an hour or two,¡± Elijah answered. ¡°We¡¯ll return with enough food to last us a few days if Grace¡¯s mother is still as generous as last time.¡±

    They¡¯d needed to throw out the last few portions after the previous visits. How that woman had expected them to go through a town hall¡¯s worth of meat in less than four days was beyond him.

    ¡°I hope that means an hour or two of you helping me figure out just what I¡¯m doing wrong,¡± Jack joined in as they sat at the table. No further context needed to be given than that, seeing how many curses Elijah had been able to hear the night before. While Sasha had been able to replicate her previous experience with stopping kinetic energy, absorbing and sending it out on command in a limited fashion, Jack had been unable to consistently turn the pollen into the explosive powder. He¡¯d done it a dozen times already, but those were usually followed by a dozen minutes of failure and frustration. ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯m missing, and it¡¯s pissing me off.¡±

    ¡°What you¡¯re missing is an ¡®off¡¯ button,¡± Sasha added, much to the other¡¯s grievance. ¡°You would do us both a favor if you slept instead of muttering endlessly in circles.¡±

    ¡°I invite you to try and sleep while having the answer to a question right on the tip of your tongue.¡±

    ¡°You talk as if that would be hard.¡±

    Elijah idly wondered if he was like this in his younger days.

 Chapter 25: Starlight

    ¡°I truly am sorry, Princess Vera, but the vital targets listed in the report from yesterday have started moving, and I must investigate their current activities before they go dark,¡± Harper apologized as Vera tried out the necklace. It was too bright compared to her shirt, making her discard it with the other necklaces that had been brought out in preparation for her expedition outside the castle walls. Maybe a simple silver chain would be more fitting. ¡°Princess?¡±

    ¡°Just call me Vera, please,¡± she requested for the tenth time that week. ¡°It feels weird having you call me by my title all the time.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, Your Highness, but that would be improper,¡± Harper replied apologetically a second time in a row. Vera just deflated a little at the words, her dreams dampening just a little more. ¡°Are you sure that this excursion of yours will be safe? The royal guards meant to follow you out today have been recalled due to preparations for Prince Phillips''s surveying of the Dungeon in two days, and they have been replaced with mere castle guards.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d say that I would feel safer with you by my side, but we both have to make sacrifices today,¡± Vera said, nodding to herself as she studied her final outfit in the full mirror. The dressers had wanted her in a full dress and jewels, but that wouldn¡¯t have worked at all when venturing into the middle district.

    If she kept herself to the upper-class areas, it wouldn¡¯t have been too out-of-place, but a comfier jacket along with functioning pants and boots were so much more realistic to move in when walking around in the middle-class areas. The small tiara and guards that would be following her would show off her status regardless of if she wore a dress or not, so there was nothing to fear when it came to being recognizable.

    ¡°Kulvik is a dangerous place, Your Highness, and we must recognize that to keep you safe,¡± Harper pressed on, causing Vera to sigh. Turning on her heel, she walked over to the Illusionist and hugged her tightly. ¡°You¡ª Your Highness?!¡±

    ¡°I love that you worry about me this much, Harper, but sometimes we need to take risks,¡± Vera confessed, holding the other¡¯s shoulders in place. ¡°And don¡¯t act like I¡¯m defenseless without those guards. Who is it that¡¯s been buying me enchanted items from the black market for the last five years?¡±

    ¡°... Me.¡±

    ¡°And who is it that pressured me into training with them to react at a moment¡¯s notice?¡±

    ¡°Also me, Princess Vera, but there is still¡ª¡±

    ¡°I know, Harper,¡± Vera cut in before the one who¡¯d stood by her since they were basically children could continue. ¡°If you really want me to, we can delay the trip by another hour and see if Phillip can get some of his men to guard me like they were supposed to, but, regardless of what he says, I¡¯m still leaving to be seen by the people. Do you understand that?¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, hugging her again before letting Harper leave the room to send the message along.

    Her courage seemed to disappear as the Illusionist left, Vera sitting back down in her chair and looking over her choices yet again. She wasn¡¯t going to change anything about her outfit, truthfully, but the pretend second-guessing allowed her mind not to focus on what needed to be addressed at some point. It was years overdue already, and yet they both acted like nothing was amiss.

    When will the ballroom give in?

    Her thoughts were met with no answer, to the surprise of nobody, so she got up from the chair soon after to inspect the gear hidden within her outfit. One of the more frustrating parts of magically enchanted fabrics was that the pockets designed to be invisible and undetectable to the touch made it very hard to quickly check whether or not they contained the right items. A quick pat down was useless, meaning she manually had to stick a hand inside each of them to feel for the item, make sure it was the right one, and then put the pocket back into its invisible form so nobody would question it.

    How exactly her servants were able to wash this outfit without breaking anything about it made her question how the world actually worked.

    Wand to stun on the right thigh, wand to kill on the left thigh, mirror to break in the left chest pocket to put up a magical shield, right one for the paper that will reveal my location to Harper for 24 hours¡­

    Rummaging through the dress she¡¯d worn earlier in the morning, she silently moved a piece of paper to her new outfit. She knew that her Illusionist wouldn¡¯t ever let her forget it if she was told about this near-miss.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Highness, but the crown prince was unable to procure Royal Guards for your trip,¡± Harper announced seconds later as she entered the room once again. She eyed Vera stepping away from the dress but didn¡¯t comment on it. ¡°He has, however, promised that the highest-ranked castle guards will be there to personally ensure your safety. Some of them have allegedly protected you before.¡±

    ¡°They probably have,¡± Vera added. Those at the top must¡¯ve been there since she was ten at the oldest, meaning they¡¯d been stationed close by every time she had wanted to see the city with her father. The royal variant had been there as well, of course, but they¡¯d been focused on overall safety rather than standing by her side. ¡°I don¡¯t see a reason to wait longer then. Are my guardians for the day ready to move out?¡±

    ¡°From what I have been told, they are ready for you by the first gate.¡±

    Vera thanked Harper for the information, giving her another hug while ignoring the Illusionist''s protests. Her friend wouldn¡¯t be able to wish her farewell at the gate, needing to hurry to another side of the city to accomplish the day¡¯s goal, so she had to make it memorable here.

    ¡°Princess Vera,¡± Harper said as they reached for the door to lead her out into the hallway. ¡°Remember to call for help if you need it.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Vera promised before leaving for the gate. When she glanced back in the hallway, the Illusionist had already disappeared. ¡°Quick as always.¡±

    I really am jealous of that ability some days.

    The gift to walk around invisible seemed so useful to her, yet Vera would likewise not trade away her own gift for it. Having somebody close by who could shroud them both from other eyes was enough for her.

    ¡°Princess Vera,¡± a rough voice greeted her as she went through the castle¡¯s front garden and neared the first gate. Three guards, with different colors than those worn by the ones protecting the entrance normally, were standing ready to receive her. ¡°We have prepared a coach for you to ride in.¡±

    As she got closer, she saw that the guard was a woman in her mid-thirties. The helmet made it hard to see too many facial features, but the hands and calm, green eyes made it clear to her.

    ¡°I was actually hoping to walk there,¡± Vera said, making the other two guards sent to escort her flinch. ¡°Unless you believe that to be a problem?¡±

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    ¡°There is no problem,¡± the first assured her. Vera took note of the lion insignia on her shoulder. Only those who had helped save royalty in the past were granted the privilege to wear such an emblem. ¡°If you wish to walk, then we shall walk.¡±

    ¡°Perfect,¡± she replied with a practiced smile that stopped any protests. ¡°Please, lead the way.¡±

    As was customary, one guard walked in front to clear the way while the two others were behind her to watch for anybody trying to sneak up on them. A standard practice done since before the country was formed because of its long history of helping keep the person in the middle safe.

    Not from ranged attacks, sadly, only the Royal Guard having their armor enchanted to also protect others from arrows or minor magical attacks, but the relatively tight streets were seen as a good enough deterrence to anybody trying such a thing. It was hard to aim from a long distance when it was a challenge to see more than twenty meters ahead at best.

    And, even then, any who tried to put a hand against royalty wouldn¡¯t be treated lightly by the populace. Their image of them was too strong to allow for them to be cut down by just any fool.

    ¡°Is that¡ª¡±

    ¡°It is!¡±

    ¡°Princess Vera!¡±

    ¡°Please keep a distance,¡± the guard at the front shouted with a strength that somehow made people halt in their steps. Vera had to admit that it was a powerful voice, smiling as she waved to the upper class watching her go by. She recognized several of the shop owners who went out to see her, though she was happy that she didn¡¯t need to talk to them face-to-face as she¡¯d forgotten most of their names. It¡¯d been so long since she had needed to venture out into this area personally, even if this was the district where most of her wardrobe had come from.

    I can blame Phillip and father for that, I suppose.

    The gifts from her last birthday had been quite the battle fitting into her room.

    Those thoughts kept her occupied as she kept moving through the elegant streets, the people rising from the chairs in the cafes and restaurants they visited. The guards were making sure nobody got too close, but some still leaned over railings to look down at her.

    People who didn¡¯t need to work a day in their lives lost their minds just at the sight of her. Was it because of what she represented or because of what they could get if they were able to befriend her? While she liked to dream about it being the former reason, most who lived this form of life reached that point by focusing on the latter possibility.

    What could they gain from this?

    Just about everything, when the royal coffers stood behind them to support.

    Disgusting.

    Vera understood the need for these types, understood that she had to smile, wave, and laugh when they shouted her name, and she understood that saying her honest opinion about some of the truly greedy here wouldn¡¯t help her in the future. So she didn¡¯t, calming herself with the understanding that she and Harper had already organized an extensive list of people to subtly suppress along with who needed to be pushed into the limelight in their stead.

    ¡°Please watch your step, Your Highness,¡± the guard at the front warned her, as wide downward steps appeared. Nine of them, in memory of nine warriors, each the length of their weapon of choice. ¡°Many as elegant as you have lost their footing here.¡±

    ¡°I have heard,¡± Vera replied with a small laugh as she took the offered hand, making sure not to join the list of people who¡¯d stumbled down the steps. While it was a nice piece of history, Alin really should¡¯ve thought of a better way to honor the fallen when designing this part of the city. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it¡¯s much further before we need to take our first stop of the day.¡±

    At least the steps signified the change in districts, Vera officially stepping out of the upper class and into the main part of the city where the majority of the population lived. The middle-class district, with people she could trust as being earnest in their ways of life.

    ¡°Do you intend to visit the newly opened jewelry store?¡± the guard asked as she began to lead the group through the street once again.

    ¡°Not originally, since I wasn¡¯t made aware of a new shop offering such wares, but I wouldn¡¯t mind taking a look,¡± Vera admitted, seeing the woman nod her head as they kept up their pace. Some of the people shopping and eating began to recognize her, the whispering starting up in full around her. ¡°Have you visited the store yourself? I¡¯m surprised I haven¡¯t heard of it myself.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I, uhm¡­ visited last month with my husband to acquire jewels for rings,¡± the guard explained awkwardly. Understandably so, since they had been trained from the first day to answer in a short fashion and not talk unless necessary. Royals weren¡¯t expected to always talk with others of lower class, after all.

    ¡°Oh? Wedding rings perhaps?¡± Vera pressed on, not caring about such traditions. Especially not for those who had previously saved somebody in her family.

    ¡°Yes, Your Highness,¡± came the answer. ¡°We are expected to hold the ceremony next month when the Heirloom Roses bloom. It is a tradition to marry under those flowers in my family.¡±

    ¡°How delightful,¡± she said, genuinely happy for them. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to send a gift for the ceremony.¡±

    ¡°I¡ª Thank you, your highness.¡±

    Some jewelry perhaps? Maybe a piece of land, if they don¡¯t already own some. Harper probably has a file about her that I can use to figure out a good present.

    The idea was put away for later, as she saw a sign ahead that featured a brilliant yellow gem drawn on it alongside a nearly illegible name put next to it. ¡®Starlit Stones.¡¯ Not a bad name, though Vera was now sure she¡¯d never heard of it.

    A perfect opportunity to be seen shopping by the people, when it was something she actually was curious about. With two guards standing by the entrance and one following her inside, she was able to see what the store had to offer.

    ¡°Is there anything specific you wish to see, Your Majesty?¡± the shop owner, a nervous woman in her late fifties with some gray lines in her hair, asked.

    ¡°Oh, nothing special,¡± Vera replied, ignoring the wrong title in favor of studying some of the gems at the counter. Safe behind a thick layer of glass, she was presented with various shining stones. Some were prettier than others, the color and cloudiness varying, but they were clearly carved by a practiced hand. ¡°Just looking around for¡­ now.¡±

    By the end, the words weren¡¯t true, as she reached the middle of the display and saw a glistening gem. It reflected light perfectly with its bright yellow coloring while also emitting a soft glow by itself.

    Beautiful.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve spotted the Starlit gems?¡± the owner said with a nostalgic tone. Vera just nodded, already knowing somebody who would love it. Or, well, she would love to see a certain person wearing it. ¡°I take it you are a fan?¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t deny that,¡± Vera confirmed with a smile, being handed the yellow gem after asking to see it up close. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the kind words. It assures me that the long journey to bring them here was more than worth it,¡± the woman replied. Vera noted the charming edge in her voice, as she prepared to truly sell the gem to her. Not that it was needed, as Vera was already trying to figure out what gift wrap would work best for it when she got it properly settled into a necklace. Perhaps the modern square folds? No, Harper was too traditional for that. A beige-white box would suit her more. ¡°The true origin of these gems is unknown, but they can only be found in the far northern continent in one mountain only. The crater at its very top implies that the mountain was hit by an asteroid in the past, which made the locals give the gem its name. That and the fact that it glows as bright as a star in the sky during the night.¡±

    ¡°A lovely story,¡± Vera said, eyes searching and failing to find a price tag. Everything else had one neatly put next to their place on the stand, yet this was missing one. ¡°Sorry, but how much do you want for it?¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± the owner exclaimed. ¡°To take payment from one such as yourself? Your Highness, that you want to wear a gem brought to this country by me is payment enough.¡±

    I don¡¯t, though.

    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t do well on my conscience to take this for free,¡± Vera countered, noting that she needed to find another place to buy the box from. While they had some perfect ones on the side, she didn¡¯t need to cause offense so early in the day. ¡°If you refuse to let me pay full price, at least let me pay a reduced amount.¡±

    She was able to bargain until the price was high enough that those watching outside would think her altruistic but not to the point where she was a victim of deceit. A good enough balance and it allowed her to buy a few other gems that she had noticed after so long inside the shop. Nothing as pretty as the first one, of course, but a few that could work for casual wear in the future during the winter months.

 Chapter 26: To Hell and Back

    After leaving the jewelry store, there were a few more nearby ones that she didn¡¯t mind taking her time inside. Some stores for outdoor wear, a place or two for sweets, an art store to freshen up the mid-quality supplies that she used for some experiments, and, finally, the outdoor stalls where the people weren¡¯t as restricted in meeting her.

    ¡°Hello, little one,¡± Vera greeted as one of the kids looked up at her wide-eyed, frozen in place as she went on one knee. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±

    ¡°Forgive him, your highness!¡± a man rushed in, grabbing the kid and holding them in his arms away from her as if Vera would have them executed for just being scared. ¡°He¡¯s not used to talking with, uhm, people he doesn¡¯t know.¡±

    That was one way to put it.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s fine,¡± Vera assured the father, ruffling the kid¡¯s hair. That got a laugh out of the youngster. ¡°Children can have a hard time adjusting to something new. What is your name, child?¡±

    ¡°... Evan.¡±

    ¡°Well, Evan, it is lovely to meet you,¡± she said, finally getting some more words out of the kid before handing him and the father a dozen or so gold coins. ¡°Sorry for causing a scare before. Treat yourselves tonight.¡±

    ¡°This is too much,¡± the father protested, trying to hand them back but Vera wasn¡¯t having any of it. ¡°A fine night out is one coin at most.¡±

    ¡°Then have several fine nights out,¡± Vera was quick to counter. ¡°I won¡¯t tell.¡±

    By the amount of laughs that elicited, she was confident she¡¯d made her point. The man, child in hand, relented and accepted the coins which allowed her to move on. The next hour or so had her do a few repeats of the act, varied enough to seem accidental while portraying the same message.

    The royal family was happy, confident, and trusting enough to go out and spread their happiness with the people. She wanted them to know that she cared for them, in the hope that they wouldn¡¯t panic as much when the news about the death spread far enough that everybody had heard of it.

    At this point, Vera was relatively secure in what she¡¯d accomplished. As she moved further and further into the district, though, she noted how it had started to get a little crowded.

    ¡°I believe it might be time to return to the castle, Your Highness,¡± the guard told her before she could request it. ¡°The way we came from is too crowded to be safe, but we can call for a coach to pick you up at the city center if you wish. The alternative is a detour through another street which might take longer.¡±

    Vera had promised herself that she would walk the entire way on her own feet, yet she was starting to feel the consequences of using boots she wasn¡¯t accustomed to, and since the people had already gotten their spirits lifted¡­ Well, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to ride one every once in a while, right?

    ¡°You can call for one if you believe it would be safer,¡± Vera accepted, before being brought to the city center so she could be in a relatively safe area while one of the guards went off alone to come in contact with the castle so a coach could be driven to them.

    She internally grimaced as she saw the amount of people who had appeared in the area within a few minutes of her arrival. The two guards remaining by her side weren¡¯t happy about it either, just trying to manage while waiting for the third to return with their way out.

    This place can hold thousands. How did they manage to fill it up so quickly?

    It couldn¡¯t be easy for the Dungeon Guards who had to keep people away from the entrance that sat in the very middle of the open area. It was rare so many would be here at once, the last time she could remember being when her father had personally visited the Dungeon entrance during the country¡¯s 40th anniversary.

    That had certainly been a day to remember, as it had been that very day that Phillip had slipped her some champagne. Oh, how angry their father had been.

    It brought a smile to her face. She wondered if her older brother would remember the day if she¡ª

    A rumble interrupted her thoughts, along with just about everybody else¡¯s words directed at her. The shouting, the pleas for her to look their way, and even just the breathing of her guards as they kept away those who didn¡¯t answer the orders to keep a distance. It all went silent, as they froze in reaction to that rumbling.

    Quiet but definitely felt beneath their feet. It didn¡¯t force her onto her knees, but it was obvious to anybody that this shaking couldn¡¯t be good.

    Then came the red light from the pillars around the Dungeon¡¯s entrance, and the grinding and crashing of metal as the gate before the tunnel into the depths was closed in rapid fashion.

    People began to breathe again for just a second before a monstrous screech was heard. Then all hell broke loose as the implications were finally understood.

    ¡°Your Highness, please stay back!¡± the female guard shouted at her, bracing herself as the crowd began to vibrate with movement. ¡°Stay close, and you¡¯ll¡ª ugh!¡±

    An elbow found itself in the guard¡¯s face before she could finish her words. Not the worst hit in the world, something that any well-trained guard could handle, but the hundred that came after that point weren¡¯t as easy to deal with. Vera cursed that they had stayed so close to the main streets, thinking they could get in the coach quickly and take their leave since it now meant that every person around them wanted to get through.

    And it only got worse as the sound of metal being smashed into pieces reached the open air, the screams of monsters being met by the screams of men and women at the same volume. Vera could feel her ears hurting from the sound alone.

    This isn¡¯t good.

    But running wasn¡¯t an option. She wouldn¡¯t get through the crowd. Instead, she needed to stay in place and wait for help. Already, without even thinking about it, she had pulled out the paper from her hidden chest pocket and ripped the paper into pieces. It burst into red flames until disappearing entirely, before she could feel a mark settle on her. For the next many hours, Harper would have her exact location.

    But her Illusionist could do little alone. Vera knew that, knew it meant she needed to protect herself in the meantime, which was why she brought out the mirror a moment later. Pulling it close, she swallowed and opened her mouth.

    ¡°Give me¡ª¡± she tried to chant to activate the item, but the guard holding back the worst from getting in her way was overpowered by the craze. They were pushed back with a strength that only those desperate could put out, right into Vera and further into the wall behind them.

    Try as she might, the hit to the back of her head made her grip on the small mirror grow loose, the one-of-a-kind item falling to the ground and shattering into pieces.

    ¡­ Oh, no.

    Her defensive trump card was gone. The one thing that could¡¯ve kept her safe outside of sheer luck from the manic crowd was on the ground in pieces, impossible to use to protect herself. Vera still had the enchanted wands to stun and kill, but what good could they do against a crowd of thousands? And shooting innocents to¡ª

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    An arm barreled right into her, making her see black for a moment as she fell to the ground. Whoever had been the owner of the limb didn¡¯t stop to help her up, hurrying along towards the chance at survival. Vera cursed them in the second she had to spare before she felt boots hitting against her from above.

    At that moment, it didn¡¯t matter that she was a Princess of the country. It wouldn¡¯t have mattered if she was the queen, the king, or even a deity prayed to by all. The only thing that mattered to the people was to flee and save themselves. Anybody on the ground, anybody they stepped on, didn¡¯t matter anymore.

    The unmoving bodies of her guards on the ground attested to that, Vera¡¯s eyes darkening as she saw the dented armor.

    Even with the multiple hits to her head, and countless kicks to her body, she knew that she would share their fate if she kept being on the ground.

    So she fought the bodies moving around her, shoving, pulling, and grabbing at anything that could get her back up on her feet. There was screaming, yells, and words thrown around because of it, but Vera couldn¡¯t make herself care as she got back up and pushed herself to the wall.

    With the slight bump to her elevation for standing next to it, she could see past the crowd and over to the Dungeon¡¯s entrance. She could see it as¡­ what looked like giant centipedes led the charge into the open area. A common monster on the top floors of the Dungeon, though Vera couldn¡¯t remember the name of them at the moment.

    Her head was hurting too much to think properly. She hoped Harper would get here soon.

    The guards who stood to protect the people from the Dungeon Breaks did their best to stop the horde of monsters flowing out, but the sheer amount leaving the pit was too much. Vera could see one wield a sword to cut one in half before being covered by three others and consumed before she could blink. It was a horror show in itself, one that she refused to keep her eyes away from.

    Phillip¡¯s worries had turned true. A Dungeon Break unlike what had occurred in the past ten years, one that had already caused the deaths of dozens.

    Hundreds, if those crushed under the boots of others fleeing were counted. They probably wouldn¡¯t be, if Vera¡¯s guesses were to be trusted as accurate now. God, her head was hurting.

    She wiped away the blood from her eyes when it began to hamper her line of sight. It seemed she¡¯d been bleeding from the top of her head without her noticing. The headache must¡¯ve hidden it from her senses, all the other pain making it hard to notice any superficial wound. Maybe she should¡¯ve brought along some items that could heal in an emergency.

    Focus, Vera. They¡¯re coming.

    Harper¡¯s voice appeared in her mind to remind her of where she was. Blinking a few times, she saw the amount of people around her thin. The last stragglers had passed by without her notice. How many minutes had fallen while she was by this wall? She had trouble remembering, yet the view of the new breed of monsters was obvious.

    Though it took effort, she remembered those insectoid creatures and their disgusting buzzing. They were the creatures that appeared a few layers deeper than the worms did, known for the loud buzzing their insect-like wings gave off as they flew around. And, while they might¡¯ve been the same size as the worms, they were so much more deadly.

    The former creatures could only move on the ground, after all. These didn¡¯t have that weakness, more than able and willing to dive people from all possible angles. With their multiple arms all ending in sharp razor points, they were deadly.

    It was a good thing most people had left by the time, lest so many more would¡¯ve died. Vera looked on as so many were penetrated by the blade-like arms of the beasts, struggling for a moment before being cut up and killed. It was gruesome, many of the Dungeon Guards already falling victim to the attacks as well. And they were spreading out¡­

    She flinched as some started looking their way. The large bulbous eyes had locked onto her, the buzzing increasing in volume as they neared her location.

    You trained for this, Vera.

    Harper¡¯s voice arrived again inside her mind, calming her as she brought out the wand meant to kill. She¡¯d spent weeks learning how to aim it, figuring out how to shoot the artifact with a level of precision that could kill a fly.

    Vera hadn¡¯t practiced it while suffering from a concussion, however. She mouthed the command, a bolt of red light flew from the wand, and it hit the wing of the first insect that tried to dive at her. It went off course, hitting the ground a few meters away, but the monster barely saw that as a hindrance as it leaped at her.

    ¡°Akta!¡± she nearly screamed, aiming the wand again and watching the red bolt hit right in the center of the bastard¡¯s head. With the energy of a warhammer compressed into a small point, it shattered the exoskeleton of the beast and made it collapse into itself. Dead on the spot.

    She was given a moment more to breathe, yet that didn¡¯t mean she was safe. Other insects were still leaving the dungeon, bigger ones than before, and the fliers already out had noticed the sounds of their brethren imploding. The smell of flesh, of food had them interested.

    ¡°Akta!¡± she chanted again and again, bolts flying out in rapid succession. Though she felt lightheaded, likely from a mix of blood loss and a shaken mind, Vera refused to stop the slaughter. Just like she¡¯d accepted with the people who had stomped her, it wasn¡¯t a matter of wanting others to suffer but instead wanting yourself to live. For her, this wasn¡¯t about them anymore. It was about her. ¡°Akta.¡±

    She felt an emptiness in her hand as the last bolt of red fired out, half the size of the others, and barely able to make the insect it hit twitch on the ground. It wasn¡¯t dead outright but it wouldn¡¯t lunge at her yet.

    As for the others, that wasn¡¯t the case. Vera was forced to leap to the side to avoid several dozen razer-arms aimed at her body. She could hear the limbs hitting the stone tiles, digging into the material while trying to pull out so they could charge her again.

    She wouldn¡¯t let them. The first wand was discarded and the second was pulled out in its stead.

    ¡°Vikto!¡± Vera chanted again, watching as a larger blue bolt was sent out. Easy to hit with, quicker to make them drop onto the ground, but this time it wasn¡¯t lethal. The flying insects and worms were forced to twitch and fight to do anything other than vibrate in place, but it would barely last a minute. Maybe even less, with how much Mana they had inside them.

    But that meant nothing to her.

    Vera just fired it off again and again, as more and more arrived. A losing battle, one she wouldn¡¯t win alone, but her attempts to make her distance and maybe flee into one of the streets failed as she began to be surrounded by more of the monsters. Running wasn¡¯t an option. There weren¡¯t many options left at all, really.

    And, as she chanted once more to stop the diving of one of the larger insects, Vera could only widen her eyes as it sputtered and failed to fire. She dodged to the side at the last second, but it was barely enough to not get hit through the heart, one of the arms still managing to go through her midsection.

    She screamed.

    The wand, not good for another spell, was used as an improved tool as it was shoved into the nearest eyeball of the insect. It screeched, head shaking as it tried to get the wooden branch out. The razors in her stomach twisted and ground against her flesh in the process, making Vera scream out yet again.

    Was this it?

    No.

    It couldn¡¯t be.

    Yet as she struggled and struggled, there started to be less and less hope, even her body slowly accepting her fate as her fingers began not obeying her commands. The mind was willing to fight, but the body had long since begun to give out.

    Vera felt her eyelids begin to fall as another set of arms came from above, aiming at her with lethal intent. She couldn¡¯t dodge, the insect already with its arms in her stomach holding her in place.

    A screech made her eyes fly open again, however, right in time for green blood to cover her face. The insect from above had been cut through in mid-air, a massive blade saving her from the fate the monster had almost ensured.

    An axe?

    Weren¡¯t the guards supposed to wield swords and spears only now?

    ¡°Off you go, you little shit,¡± she heard a mutter as she stared up blankly at the blurry figures. The green blood half-covering her eyes made it hard to really see. What was happening? ¡°Oi, Elijah, I think this one¡¯s still alive!¡±

    She hissed and tried to curl into a ball when the blades in her stomach were pulled out. Whoever was above her didn¡¯t allow it, strong hands keeping her back against the ground without mercy. She might¡¯ve screamed something, but she wasn¡¯t sure.

    The only thing she was sure of was the feeling of a hand on her stomach and a burn that rivaled the hottest of fires.

 Chapter 27: A Moment of Weakness

    ¡°We need to visit again soon if this is the kind of generosity she¡¯s offering,¡± Aleksi commented as they walked through the street. Elijah just grunted, not feeling like talking at the moment as he tried to carry his share while feeling fuller than he had in a long time. ¡°I wonder what she did to make that meat of hers so easy to peel off the bone. And the taste.¡±

    ¡°She dry-aged it for several weeks before slow-cooking it for nearly a day to make it tender beyond belief,¡± Elijah explained in short breaths. He¡¯d been out in the kitchen for a few minutes while checking up on Grace and her mother, while the giant had been grabbing them a few beers to work with in the meantime. He¡¯d been told the entire recipe from start to finish, the process required to come up with it, and a few improvements that Grace¡¯s mother was already starting to prepare. With the list of spices that she had recently gotten ahold of, some of them which Elijah hadn¡¯t seen for literal decades, he was in agreement about visiting again soon. ¡°We could do something like it if we bring out the larger pot.¡±

    ¡°Really? You¡¯re sure you¡¯re not overestimating our ability to cook?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re overestimating how hard it is to keep track of temperature and be patient about¡ª¡± Elijah began to reply until he saw Aleksi slow in his steps. ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Rumbling,¡± the giant said, frowning as he looked to the left down an alleyway. Wracking his brain for a moment, Elijah realized where it had to be coming from. ¡°It¡¯s over at the Dungeon Entrance.¡±

    A second later he could feel it as the ground began to shake. It was mild, so far away from the site, but his old bones were still able to complain about the vibrating regardless. And if he could feel it while several rows of housing away, it had to be serious at the actual city center.

    It didn¡¯t require Aleksi¡¯s supreme levels of hearing to hear the rattling of the Dungeon¡¯s gate lower itself rapidly, nor the screaming of the monsters and the subsequent screaming of the people.

    ¡°Worm crawlers, there¡¯ll be flying bastards as well soon, and¡­¡± Aleksi paused, holding a hand to the left ear as the screaming increased in volume. Elijah frowned at the sound alone. How many people were out and about at this hour? Why? ¡°Something else. Don¡¯t know what. There¡¯s too many people.¡±

    ¡°Back to the inn?¡± Elijah suggested for a moment until he realized it wouldn¡¯t do them any good. The rumbling had changed source, going from being because of the Dungeon to being because of the sheer amount of people fleeing from its entrance. Every major street must¡¯ve been filled up by the restless already. That included the way they¡¯d come onto this smaller street. ¡°Guess not.¡±

    ¡°Getting to the shop is impossible as well,¡± Aleksi supplied, eyes glazing over as the giant tried to track the movements of everybody around. Elijah knew the giant was able to do as much, he and the other hounds having practiced such things countless times in the old days. If he could still do it effectively, though? That was an entirely different conversation. ¡°People are dying.¡±

    ¡°If there¡¯s a Dungeon Break, and there¡¯s several hundred in the city center, then it¡¯s¡ª¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s thousands, Elijah.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Might¡¯ve been royalty or something over there,¡± Aleksi explained off-handedly, starting to walk through the alley they¡¯d been looking down since the screaming started. Elijah followed along. ¡°I kept hearing about it while we were in the inn. Only got louder when we left.¡±

    ¡°Weird time for the royalty to be going outside the castle walls,¡± Elijah commented, noticing that the shouting and screams of the people were starting to become clearer. Just where were they going?

    ¡°Some servant or another in the castle died recently,¡± the giant said. That explained everything rather clearly. Every once in a while, when somebody important from the old war succumbed to their age or afflictions, the royalty liked to go out to the public as a show of stability. When the king still walked around, it wasn¡¯t an uncommon occurrence to have him being paraded around the city on horseback.

    But the king hadn¡¯t been seen by the public for nearly a year now, so who could it have been out there? Aleksi couldn¡¯t answer, hand still to his ear as he tried to focus. Elijah could see the giant making sure he still had his emergency axe strapped to his back.

    For once, it made sense to carry that weapon.

    Not that Elijah was one to talk, the dagger in his sleeve having sat there every day for the past many years. And the supplies in his pouch weren¡¯t going anywhere either.

    ¡°There¡¯s kids screaming, Elijah,¡± Aleksi commented when several minutes had passed, enough time for the buzzing to start being heard by him. ¡°This isn''t good.¡±

    ¡°If we die, it won¡¯t be good either,¡± Elijah countered, trying to convince the giant to stop moving toward the center, but there was no making them cease this stupidity anymore. ¡°At least slow down, or we¡¯ll be trampled by the idiots running the other way.¡±

    That did seem to work somewhat at least, and allowed Elijah to hand over one of the newly made healing pastes to the giant. Making it seep into their skin, and enhancing it even further with his abilities, he made sure it would heal any minor wounds instantly. There was no reason to make those green veins appear out there in the open.

    ¡°Strangely hot,¡± Aleksi commented, feeling his fingers for a moment before going back to his full height and walking towards the city center once again. Elijah did the same, noting the lowering of noise from the people. There was still shouting and screaming, but the shaking ground had dulled into basically nothing. Those who could flee had mostly fled already. Now there were only stragglers left behind, along with those who could no longer run for one reason or another. ¡°Be ready.¡±

    Turning the final corner, the wide-open area was revealed to them. Even without a proper headcount, Elijah could see over a hundred human bodies on the ground. Further inside, near the middle where the Dungeon Entrance glowed in its red lighting, he could see the half-consumed corpses of the Dungeon Guards along with many insectoid bodies. The first wave of monsters, most likely.

    Elijah mentally thanked them for their service before following Aleksi out into the open. The buzzing in his ear and the sound of chitin hitting stone reminded him that the dead monsters at the entrance weren¡¯t the only ones out in the open. The ones flying above, and the worms running along the ground were still more than alive. They were outright enjoying themselves, taking apart the dead and killing those who were trying to escape their fate while wounded.

    ¡°Not today,¡± he heard Aleksi announce as the giant decapitated one of the worms that got close. The axe barely stopped in its momentum as it ripped through the front half of the monster. ¡°Come on.¡±

    The giant jogged along, swinging his axe at everything that decided to charge them without slowing down. Not nearly as confident as doing such a thing himself, Elijah followed along, keeping an eye out on any of the humans in case some were still alive.

    ¡°Can you hear any of them breathing?¡± he asked, watching as Aleksi ripped one of the worms off a younger child. Their head was half-caved in, likely stomped on by several people who had rushed to get out of the area before it was too late for them. ¡°Aleksi?¡±

    The giant was staring at the child on the ground, worm still in their hand as it struggled to twist its head to bite into the man¡¯s arm.

    ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Aleksi said when prodded again, crushing the monster and giving the child a final look. Memories were not helping either of them at the moment. ¡°There¡¯s a few next to the walls on the other side.¡±

    ¡°Lead me to them then.¡±

    There was no way they were going to fight the monsters by themselves, and the creatures didn¡¯t seem keen on leaving the free piles of meat lying around either. Some of the worms and flying insects did look their way for a moment, screeching in a threatening manner before going back to devouring the bodies of the fallen once again.

    Elijah felt some twisting in his stomach; those empty faces looked back at him, but he ignored it in favor of the pained moans that began to reach his ears. Aleksi¡¯s hearing hadn¡¯t failed them, the people further out and a good distance away from the exits to the city center had survived falling to the ground to some degree.

    The one in front of him just barely, though, their jaw dislodged, one of their arms bending the wrong way, and the lower parts of their legs pressed thin. The people had been ruthless in their trampling of the man, but they hadn¡¯t killed him outright.

    ¡°Can you hear me?¡± Elijah asked as he kneeled down in front of the man, getting a louder moan in response as the eyes locked onto him. Some words might¡¯ve been attempted, but the broken jaw made everything seem like gibberish. The pleading was easy to recognize, though. ¡°Stay still, don¡¯t try to talk, and don¡¯t close your eyes if your body wants you to.¡±

    Blood pressure would drop if the man did as much, which meant moving the chances of survival from low to impossible. Not that Elijah thought the man was able to fall unconscious at the moment, as even the act of breathing seemed to cause them incredible amounts of pain.

    Channeling of [Plant Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 3MP/sec

    Give him the strength to survive.

    Though it didn¡¯t mend the bones, and nor did it put the jaw back into place, it hindered most of the internal bleeding from continuing to spread. The steadily growing black spots on the limbs receded back, coloring changing back to a pink tinge, and Elijah looked on as the moans of pain decreased in pacing just a little. They were still at death¡¯s door, but the reaper wouldn¡¯t open for them just yet.

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    A screech could be heard from above, but Elijah barely looked away from his work as the air was displaced by the axe swing. He did frown when green blood spilled down onto him, but he finished up his job regardless.

    ¡°There¡¯ll be somebody else here soon,¡± he told the man on the ground, sure that their status was stable enough to have them survive for a few hours more. ¡°Don¡¯t move around, keep quiet, and you¡¯ll probably be fine.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t leave.¡±

    He flinched a little when the words came out somewhat recognizable. Of course, the healing paste would mend the muscle around the jaw enough for it to somewhat function.

    ¡°There¡¯s others worse off than you,¡± Elijah said before ignoring the next round of pleading, following Aleksi to the next poor fool that had been trampled. This time it was a young boy with a spine bent to the side.

    Then it was limbs that barely hung onto the main body, head trauma that had knocked them unconscious, and bleeding severe enough that any movement would cause their deaths in under a minute. Elijah did what he could with each of them, but there was only so much two men could accomplish.

    And the monsters were still appearing from the Dungeon¡¯s maw, including ones that yowled in a manner distinct from the insect-like creatures of the first floors.

    ¡°Foxes,¡± Aleksi commented, both of them taking a moment to look at the orange-and-white furred creatures that jumped through the broken gate meant to hold them away from the surface. ¡°Of course it was them.¡±

    The normal versions of those creatures found in the wilds weren¡¯t too dangerous, even Elijah able to take on a few at a time while only ending up with some minor wounds.

    These weren¡¯t normal. They possessed about the same weight as the regular version, yet their limbs and overall body were easily twice the length. It was sickly, the sight a crude joke made to terrify those who met them down in the darkness.

    And that didn¡¯t account for their unnatural speed and strength, something a creature that looked like this shouldn¡¯t be able to accomplish. Yet they could, their danger to people matching their hunger.

    Elijah did his best to hurry up with the most recent victim of group mania, gathering together some nerves that had been cut while leaving mostly everything else functioning. It took more Mana than he was comfortable spending at the moment, and he had to hold a hand over their mouth to stop the vile screams from reaching too far, but a few seconds more of healing allowed the man on the ground to feel their legs once more.

    ¡°Run, don¡¯t look back, and make sure you don¡¯t do anything with your legs for a few weeks if you survive this,¡± Elijah said in quick-fire before he helped the man up and pointed him towards the nearest route away from this madness. Though the thirty-something-year-old stumbled during the first few steps, the yowling of the foxes by the Dungeon fueled them enough to turn their form perfect.

    They were gone by the time Elijah could blink.

    Taking a deep breath, he opened up the veins connecting his Core to the rest of his body. He could feel the pressure as his reservoir got closer and closer to emptying itself, a terrible feeling only mitigated by the strangely high amounts of Mana in the air. As it turned out, one perk of the Dungeon Break was the ambient energies increasing to a point where his Mana could regenerate at a rate matching the one he saw when down in the depths.

    He noted the buzzing some twenty meters away along with the air displacement as a quick swing cut whatever insect Aleki was nearest in half.

    ¡°Oi, Elijah, I think this one¡¯s still alive!¡± the giant in question shouted at him, prompting him to return to duty and rush over to inspect the person on the ground. A younger woman this time around, who had seemed to survive by hugging the wall while others ran by. There were two guards nearby as well, one dead and the other breathing enough that Elijah thought they might have a chance after he was done here.

    Wiping away the green blood that covered the woman¡¯s now-exposed stomach, he could see deep wounds from the flying insects. Their attempt at skewering her through the middle had failed though not by much. With the blood leaving the wounds, he didn¡¯t doubt that she would¡¯ve died in not too long. Especially when helped along by the two bugs that had looked ready to tear her apart as well.

    ¡°We¡¯re running low on supplies,¡± he muttered just loud enough for Aleksi to hear, as he took out nearly all that was left of the healing paste, covering the wound with it and enhancing the effects forcibly. Something must¡¯ve been lodged under the skin, with how the young woman squirmed and screamed in pain, but the giant had already been holding them firmly against the ground. ¡°Stop trying to tense your stomach, you idiot. You¡¯re just increasing the flow.¡±

    Putting a finger inside the wound that had the toughest time closing, he located the tip of the razor blade. Cutting himself a little on its edge, he pulled it out and threw it to the side before sending another pulse for the paste to do its job. While the woman continued to loudly complain, her efforts slowed as the effects finally took hold. Elijah had to give her a tap on the head to make sure she didn¡¯t faint.

    ¡°If you fall asleep, you¡¯re going to die, and I just wasted nearly all the healing paste I had left on you so you better not,¡± Elijah told her, eyes glued on to him before the woman nodded. Or maybe she was just shaking. He couldn''t get himself to care, the person looked like they were going to stay awake for at least a few more minutes. ¡°Aleksi, get over and help me with the armor."

    While the other guard a few meters to the side was very dead, with their indented helmet having already broken the skull inside, the other was still showing some signs of life. The perks of having tougher armor, Elijah supposed, though it wasn¡¯t doing them any favor now that he had to check up on why they were breathing so softly.

    ¡°You think they¡¯ll make us pay for it?¡± Aleksi asked idly, as he took one hand under the chest armor and the other hand on the front before ripping it in half as it was paper. ¡°Because we can¡¯t afford that.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll just deny ever being here,¡± Elijah replied, grimacing when the pool of blood inside the armor was spotted. That injury had been hiding from him, along with the fact that their entire lower core had turned red and swollen. Internal damage in that spot and that level meant little chance he could do anything of worth, but¡­ that they could still breathe without assistance meant he had to try and help. ¡°Hold her still if she tries to move.¡±

    The sound of growls from multiple sides made Elijah realize he needed to do this one on his own. Aleksi was already back on his feet, axe in hand as he met the lunge of the first stretched fox. He spared a glance away from the body of the guard to see the claws try and scratch the giant before they were grabbed and the paw was broken off cleanly.

    No mercy for the wicked.

    ¡°This will hurt,¡± he warned the female guard, not sure if she was conscious to hear his words but giving the warning anyway. Taking the last chunks of his supplies, he covered the area around the liver and kidneys as best as he could before finally pulling on his already-strained reserves. ¡°Give her another day.¡±

    His mutterings were fueled by nature, a bad habit that made him waste energy that could¡¯ve been directed into the healing process. He already had so little to work with while so much would be needed to heal these wounds. Already, he was prioritizing what parts could be dealt with at a later time and what needed to be healed right now. The liver and the kidneys were the highest priority in that fashion. The intestines could wait for somebody else to come along.

    His breath caught in his throat as he hunched over seconds later, barely starting on the healing when his Core sent waves of pain through his body. It was done with this shit, threatening to close off permanently if he continued to stretch it thinner than it already was.

    While Elijah could feel some part of his subconscious wanting him to press on, to try and heal more and give the guard a better chance, he knew how little it would do. Taking his hands off them, he rose from the ground feeling weak but alive.

    Alive enough to hear the shouted warning from Aleksi, the giant fighting half a dozen foxes yet somehow also keeping an eye on Elijah. At least enough to see the insect above him, muted in its buzzing but deadly with the arms going for his head.

    His body protested as he leaped to the side, hitting the ground at the same time as the insect. He knew he would bruise later, but he filed that away as he brought out a dagger just in time to meet the monster as it leaped at him.

    The blade on one of its arms was able to enter through the skin on Elijah¡¯s outstretched limb, but it didn¡¯t reach too deep as another edge had been put into play. For once, he had aimed right, the dagger that was mainly used to cut herbs sticking through the insect.

    It writhed in pain, swinging wildly enough that Elijah instantly threw it to the side. It twitched around weakly, trying to fly away but losing too much blood to make it more than a few meters before succumbing to its injuries.

    ¡°Damn it all,¡± he cursed as he grabbed his right arm, blood already starting to leave him from the injury. Just when he had grown low on supplies, he needed to suffer a wound that could¡¯ve been dealt with by the paste.

    Had he grown more sensitive in recent years, or did it hurt more than it should¡¯ve?

    There are still pieces of the blade embedded in your flesh, idiot.

    A common grievance when fighting the flying insects, though one Elijah rarely needed to think about. Now he had a little more empathy for the woman by the wall, and how she¡¯d squirmed at the cuts in her stomach.

    ¡°You alright?¡± Aleksi asked, hurrying over after cracking the necks of the last few foxes. The giant had several scratches much larger than what Elijah had suffered, but the man barely seemed to care. ¡°How heavy is the bleeding?¡±

    ¡°Won¡¯t die,¡± Elijah surmised, already knowing it wasn¡¯t lethal by the fact that it was slowing. ¡°Just isn¡¯t great.¡±

    That made the other man relax, though the screeching in the distance made them both turn. The ground had started to shake, and figures other than the flying insects could be seen in the air.

    Purple robes¡­

    Royal Mages.

    Some stood in midair, others rode on translucent, blue disks but the common denominator was the clear lack of respect for the monsters as they began to be struck down. Fire, wind, what seemed like a bolt of purple light, and threads of darkness all began appearing, taking apart all the creatures in the open area. All attacks were near-instantly lethal, without mercy and without any hesitation no matter the distance the monsters were from the people floating above.

    The power of true Mages was something Elijah truly couldn¡¯t fathom. They were several tiers of power above him, to the point where a comparison couldn¡¯t be made. He was as much of a threat as these worms were to them.

    Nothing.

    ¡°Your eyes,¡± Elijah stressed as he looked away from the Royal Mages and back to Aleksi. He could see the green pupils, mild in coloring but steadily increasing in purity. While the bright sun above could likely hide the glowing effects from it, along with the more sinister origin, neither felt the desire to have it showing while there were spellcasters with higher ranks nearby. ¡°We did what we could here. Let¡¯s leave.¡±

    Moving to help at all had been a mistake, one that Elijah knew he would have avoided if he didn¡¯t know that Aleksi would¡¯ve moved over to help with or without him.

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± the giant replied, looking at the Royal Mages nearing their location for a second more before moving towards the street that would lead them to their shop. ¡°You think they¡¯ll care about the blood?¡±

    Both of them were covered in red and green streaks, signs of their involvement in the slaughter. And the stench¡­ both of them would need hours of scrubbing away the grime if they wanted to rid themselves of this foul smell.

    ¡°No,¡± Elijah replied. Noticing how the mages didn¡¯t change their course as they moved away. They were landing next to the guards on the ground, including the one that had its armor ripped open so he could inspect the wound. ¡°They don¡¯t care about us.¡±

    Hopefully.

 Chapter 28: Do Flower Ducks Dream?

    As luck would have it, nobody stopped them while walking back to the shop. Countless were sitting in the street, tattered clothing and scratches on their faces but alive regardless. Elijah doubted that many if any at all of the wounds were from monsters. He¡¯d seen claw marks many times, and these looked closer to those gained from human nails.

    Nobody raised their heads to look their way, even when covered in blood, which made it clear how most were dealing with what had occurred not many minutes before. Elijah didn¡¯t interact with any of them either, he and Aleksi kept their eyes ahead until they reached the shop and entered, locking it when they were inside. This wasn¡¯t the time to entertain customers.

    ¡°Oh, you both look like shit,¡± Jack commented when Elijah had given the green light to come out of hiding. He didn¡¯t reject the idea, handing over the bags filled with food boxes before heading into the laboratory and grabbing healing paste and disinfectant. ¡°What happened out there? People were screaming and running by the shop for twenty minutes straight.¡±

    ¡°Dungeon Break,¡± Aleksi explained, the giant settling on one of the larger chairs. The mutter of pain didn¡¯t go unnoticed, Elijah throwing the man his own batch of healing paste to smear on. ¡°People were gathered around the entrance when monsters started running up. Caused chaos on a scale I don¡¯t think has happened in the city for a long time. I¡¯m guessing a few hundred or so have died.¡±

    Not a bad guess, with how things had turned out. Elijah could easily imagine that the streets people had filed into had effectively been death traps as well. The lack of free space to the sides, and the rush of everybody to move forward couldn¡¯t have been forgiving of anybody not able to follow the pace.

    ¡°... Shit,¡± was the only thing that left the young man, as he leaned back and went silent. Reality seemed to have settled in for them. ¡°Does the Dungeon Break happen often?¡±

    ¡°Happens every other year or so,¡± Elijah replied, grimacing as he cleaned his wound of whatever was left of the organic blade before he allowed it to heal properly. ¡°Sometimes an extra year can go by without one. Sometimes it only takes six months before it happens again. Nobody can predict them.¡±

    Except this time they had. Not to the point that they knew it would become a Dungeon Break, yet they knew that something strange was happening down in the depths. Grace had revealed as much when she¡¯d visited that morning, and Rubeus had even talked about it the day before. Yet nothing had been done quickly enough, the Royal Mages not taking it as seriously as they should have.

    Can¡¯t blame them too much, at least.

    For them, it was a curiosity and a chance that something deeper inside had changed around. Not that a release of monsters would incite enough panic to kill hundreds.

    Elijah doubted they would be allowed to make this mistake again.

    ¡°How involved were you?¡± Sasha asked, making her presence known at the entrance to the kitchen. ¡°Are there any risks of the house being searched?¡±

    ¡­ That was a good question, one that Elijah wasn¡¯t confident in answering concretely.

    ¡°Maybe,¡± he said, honestly considering the possibility of delivering the two to Cleo when night came around. If not for the fact that there were likely going to be countless guards and mages patrolling the area around the center of the city, an area they needed to cross to get to the brothel, he would¡¯ve already suggested it himself. ¡°Aleksi grew as soft as I was a few nights ago, and he and I went in to help some of the wounded. Nobody important was entirely lucid, so they hopefully won¡¯t remember our faces, but Aleksi¡¯s physical size will probably make people point our way if they decide to question others about us.¡±

    When had they started acting so stupidly? Even when the giant had been at his weakest, having trouble looking even younger adults in the eyes, they had always been able to resist the pull of risking their own lives and the truth that was hidden behind it. Elijah knew it because the giant had told him every single time they had been forced to make that choice, and every time they had made the right choice.

    Not the right choice. The safe choice.

    Was there any right choice at all? It depended on how hard you¡¯d hit your head before thinking about it. Elijah certainly hadn¡¯t, though his strained Core was creating some sort of lightheadedness.

    ¡°Be ready to move, if we get visitors within a few hours,¡± Aleksi said. ¡°With how strained they¡¯re going to be while securing the city from threats, I can¡¯t imagine they¡¯ll send anyone to us during the night.¡±

    ¡°They likely don¡¯t have any to spare, with how many Dungeon Guards were killed,¡± Elijah said, wondering how many of them he knew. He hadn¡¯t gotten close enough to see their faces, but the familiar streaks of hair were something he kept dwelling on. The longer locks that Olivia possessed hadn¡¯t been present at least, so he felt somewhat secure in her safety. ¡°Rest easy until you can¡¯t. There¡¯s no reason to stress yourselves out over this.¡±

    They accepted his words since there was nothing else that could be done before they moved back to their work. Though Sasha had shown an apparent lack of interest in her abilities the day before, the constant questions from Jack had forced her to either silence him or find the answers that he wanted. That it was easier to do the latter wasn¡¯t as surprising to Elijah as he would¡¯ve preferred.

    First putting away the food for later properly, Aleksi went upstairs to rest while Elijah took a quick peek inside the laboratory again to see the progress on the Sundrop Flower. If he could even call it that anymore, with how it changed so much from the base, moving on from being an actual flower and delving into the realm of shapes that only expert gardeners could usually create.

    The duck-like shape was coming along nicely, the adjustments to the neck and beak becoming very accurate while proper wings had been added to the main body. Before it had all been connected into one chunk, yet now Elijah was able to pull the wings a little to the sides before they moved back into their usual placement.

    And the legs¡­ they weren¡¯t exactly as thin as the ones the actual bird possessed, but it was shockingly close. The texture looked eerily accurate as well, the smoothened stalks used imitating nature with a very high level of accuracy.

    Elijah was about to pull over a chair to further inspect the properties of the fake feathers when the ¡®head¡¯ of the Sundrop Flower turned his way.

    If not for his tired body stopping him, he would¡¯ve jumped instead of limiting himself to a sharp intake of air while he stumbled back a few steps.

    ¡®Can I have food now?¡¯

    It only got worse, as the entire body of the plant turned, the feet of the plant rising out of the earth to adjust its placement.

    The plant, an organic construct based around taking nutrients from the earth with roots and using them to grow above the surface in a locked area around those roots, no longer had any obvious roots that it was connected to.

    Elijah, for lack of a better description, blanked out at the sight.

    ¡®Did I do it wrong? I can change it for food.¡¯

    Still the same Sundrop Flower with the same personality. Elijah knew that. It might¡¯ve¡­ changed to a degree not meant to be possible, going beyond his wildest expectations. He was having fun with it, experimenting and pressing the plant to change as an initial test. Anything serious, anything he actually wanted to do after, would be done with other plants. Elijah never thought it would actually succeed.

    ¡®Should I change it back?¡¯

    The smacks heard as the flat and wide feet of the plant hit the earth to get closer to the edge made Elijah hone in his thoughts again. He needed to focus.

    ¡®No, you shouldn¡¯t,¡¯ he replied, putting a hand to its main body again while sending it a good amount of the reserves he¡¯d recovered while waiting around in the kitchen. It wasn¡¯t everything he had to work with, but it was still significantly more than he¡¯d given the plant at once in the past. ¡®That¡¯s everything I can give you right now, but I can give you more in a bit when I recover. I¡¯m just surprised you were able to walk.¡¯

    ¡®You promised much food if I walked so I walk,¡¯ the plant replied in its excited fashion, as the body shook the fake feathers around a little. Absorbing the Mana sent its way was not an easy task, but it was one that the construct was hellbent on completing above anything else.

    ¡®Are those movements of yours intentional?¡¯

    The tail feathers, as he was starting to call them since they were just about identical in appearance to real ones, were wagging with each pulse of energy successfully absorbed. Though Elijah had never been an avid follower of animal husbandry and the knowledge required for such a position, he still knew the basics of how some animals showed emotion.

    If it was a real duck, tail feathers wagging meant it was excited and happy, emotions that most definitely fit into the thoughts that Elijah was passively being fed by the Plant Bond, but the fact of the matter was that he had never intentionally sent over the behavioral characteristics of the animal to the Sundrop Flower. It was strange to see, along with the way that it moved its head around as it was looking at him through actual eyes.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    Wait.

    Did it have eyes that worked?

    Elijah frowned as he looked closer at the head of the plant, seeing how the pupils glistened like the real ones would. And the fact it had eyelids that were actually used only made his heart rise even further up his throat.

    ¡®I walked intentionally. You gave me food for walking,¡¯ the plant said, confirming the wrong part.

    ¡®No, I¡¯m talking about your tail feathers,¡¯ Elijah corrected, sending over the recent memory of those wagging while it was absorbing the energy. It still was doing as much, actually, the plant taking its time with the final cycles.

    In reaction to the images sent, the head of the duck turned 180 degrees and became elongated so the plant¡¯s eyes could see the wagging closely. Though Elijah thought he would be mildly disgusted by the sight, seeing it move around in a way very distinct from the real animal made him calm himself slightly. While it could mimic appearance, movement, and some characteristics well, it could still intentionally act outside of what the animal could do normally.

    Like twisting and doubling the length of its neck so it could see the tail feathers twitching from more angles.

    ¡®I am not doing this,¡¯ the plant replied, the head retreating when the feathers wagged extra hard from the last pieces of Mana being cycled through its system and being fully absorbed. ¡®Who is doing this?¡¯

    The head of the plant looked around the room, searching for anybody other than it and Elijah, while the earth beneath began to vibrate from something moving beneath. Putting a hand on the dirt, he was able to connect to the root system beneath.

    As it turned out, the concept of roots hadn¡¯t been entirely removed from the plant. It had just¡­ somehow evolved to freely separate and reconnect with the root system, manipulating them like normally whenever it wished while also allowing for free movement at other times.

    ¡®You are doing it yourself, though I believe it might be a subconscious reaction,¡¯ Elijah explained.

    ¡®I don¡¯t like it. Waste of food. I want it to stop.¡¯

    The head of the plant shook from side to side, and its wings vibrated as they stretched out and flapped around a little.

    Clear signs of irritation in ducks, Elijah noted. From the fact that the plant had only gotten more expressive the longer they talked, it was becoming clear to him that he was likely to blame for the actions he was seeing. Whether or not he intended for it, his mental concept of what the animal would behave like was influencing how the plant was acting.

    Fascinating.

    ¡®I can give you more food to help mitigate the waste,¡¯ Elijah offered, making the duck instantly forget all the worries of the world as it stepped closer to him. It stood right at the edge of the table, where the dirt it was settled in ceased. That made a question appear in his mind. ¡®Are you able to move away from your roots safely?¡¯

    ¡®If you give me food.¡¯

    ¡®But how much food would you need, and would it be enough in the long-term or would you have to return to or grow new roots to survive?¡¯

    ¡®... Food.¡¯

    Right. That was a little too complex a question for a plant that just recently figured out how to walk while somehow having control over roots that it wasn¡¯t physically connected to constantly.

    Elijah was surprised to see it could even make the roots move around while it wasn¡¯t directly in contact with them. Though it was a very limited version of the spell, it was using Plant Bond to control its other half.

    It did need to be relatively close to the roots, of course. When testing it out, the plant wasn¡¯t able to control the roots when it sat on the other side of the table, and only when it was within a meter or so could it make the system beneath the earth move around. Distance also added increased costs, but Elijah helped mitigate that by supplying Mana to the plant as well.

    ¡°You¡­ are very strange,¡± he muttered as he lifted the duck-shaped plant off the table and held it in his hands. When it quacked in his face, the sound only slightly off from the real animal, he barely blinked. ¡°So, so strange.¡±

    ¡°Hey, do you have ducks? I swear I heard a¡ª Oh, shit, you really have a duck in here,¡± Jack said, not sounding like he believed his own words. Still, the golden-feathered animal look-a-like with a flower hat couldn¡¯t be rejected as not existing when it sat right there on the table. Especially not when it quacked again while looking up at Elijah, who sent it a smidge of Mana at the request. ¡°Wait¡­ Is that a duck?¡±

    Was it a good thing they weren¡¯t sure? Elijah just took it as a sign that experimentation really did help him progress.

    ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± he said, as Jack closed in on the table and hunched over to get a closer look. Sasha had also appeared, looking at the fake animal from a safer distance. ¡°I believe you¡¯ve already met this flower. You commented on its size last night.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Oh, damn, okay,¡± Jack replied, the man¡¯s brain needing a second to process that fact. ¡°The little guy has shrunken down a little bit, I guess. You think he¡¯ll mind if I touch him?¡±

    ¡®Is that food?¡¯ the plant in question asked, as a finger started to approach the head before Elijah had even answered. ¡®Can I have it?¡¯

    ¡®Not food,¡¯ he replied, happy for the ability to reply quickly through the Plant Bond. ¡®If you don¡¯t attack or act aggressive, I''ll give you more Mana.¡¯

    That had the plant being as careful as possible while Jack touched its body. A careful poke at first, before a finger was run down the feathers.

    ¡°God, it¡¯s so stupidly soft,¡± the man muttered, watching as the tail feathers wagged in reaction to Elijah sending over a dose of Mana. ¡°He likes being pampered! That¡¯s so cute!¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Elijah said, not feeling like ruining the excitement felt by the man. ¡°Was there something else you wanted to say?¡±

    After another round of petting the so-called ¡®duck,¡¯ it was revealed there was indeed news with their own progress. Sasha had figured out she could only take hits up to a certain strength before not everything was absorbed, and that there was also an upper limit for how much kinetic energy she could store inside her before she felt like she was being stretched from the inside.

    The opposite problem from the one Mages usually suffered from, but knowing the limit wasn¡¯t bad at all. And that discovery had led them to another discovery while resting.

    ¡°She made the room colder,¡± the young man announced, Sasha confirming the claim. ¡°She just raised her hand and there came this strong wind for a second and then it just felt like I needed a jacket to not freeze. It got back to a normal temperature quickly, but it¡¯s still incredible.¡±

    It couldn¡¯t be done consistently like with the kinetic absorption, though, so that was currently a one-time occurrence. Hopefully she could learn to do it more consistently soon, as Elijah could see the potential in such an ability. He certainly wouldn¡¯t mind somebody close to him being able to produce a flash of heat that didn¡¯t contain any contaminants.

    But, of course, Sasha wasn¡¯t the only one who had shown progress with their abilities. The hours that Elijah had spent with Jack in the morning hours had proven themselves to be rather worthwhile. There hadn¡¯t been anything serious in terms of progress during their time together, but the multiple hours of steady attempts afterward had allowed an incredible discovery.

    ¡°It¡¯s not just me having to think about the texture, how it feels in my hand, and the memory of my experience with them while also pulling on my Mana,¡± Jack explained as he walked over and grabbed the cup of now-dry pollen used previously. Elijah had to admit he hadn¡¯t expected to hear that.

    The usual method for making one¡¯s ability activate at the beginning was to attach it to the experience of using it. For Grace, during her youth, she used the memory of the songbirds on the roofs of the houses and that strategy worked flawlessly. But here it hadn¡¯t, which had made Elijah believe it was merely a lack of mental focus. The aspect of using Mana and directing it within one¡¯s body had already been honed by the young man, but still, he hadn¡¯t been able to manifest the ability to transmute consistently.

    ¡°What was it you needed to change then?¡± Elijah asked when Jack put a few grams of the powder into the palm of his hand. In mere seconds, the silver aura that surrounded the man pulled on the Core within, and the pollen was transformed into the black powder that he was so fond of. ¡°It¡¯s very impressive work.¡±

    No reason to waste it either.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Jack replied, accepting the small flask that he could put the black powder inside and closing it off with a cap. ¡°The way to fix the mental block was to stop trying to focus on the personal aspect of the memory.¡±

    ¡°In what way?¡±

    ¡°I had to be less emotional and more technical,¡± he continued. ¡°Thinking about what it could do, how I had used it in the past, did nothing, but when I started thinking about the individual components it was made of, becoming as detailed as possible about every part¡¯s composition, the Mana just began to flow.¡±

    So the secret was a critical eye?

    Elijah had to admit he was a little jealous of that, though he also supposed that working with a plant that could converse, misunderstand, and have independent thought had allowed him to progress in a manner that he otherwise wouldn¡¯t have been able to. It was simply the pros and cons, one Affinity favoring detail to the extreme while the other allowed much to be controlled by whatever filled in the blanks.

    ¡°The more I¡¯m able to break everything down in my head, the more I can create at the same price,¡± Jack added. ¡°It¡¯s amazing, though the amounts are still extremely limited. If I want to make any sizable amounts of this stuff, it¡¯s gonna take days.¡±

    ¡°How lucky that you indeed have several days to work with,¡± Elijah replied sarcastically. It was a nice discovery, but the way to learn more about it was to continue with the experimentation. When observing the process a few more times, he gave a few pointers on how to further decrease the costs of transferring the Mana, but it was otherwise something the man needed to study on his own.

    It was the same story for Sasha, who simply followed to observe the man¡¯s attempts and left Elijah in the laboratory. Not that he complained about that fact, more than happy to have some more time to work.

    An hour was spent preparing some concoctions and healing pastes in the event they would be needed before he turned to a certain book.

    He was reaching the point where it wouldn¡¯t hurt to look into growing his Core, and the monsters he had helped kill still exerted much pressure. Enough that it could even simulate the inside of the Dungeon to some degree.

    So, without the need to do much else for a few hours, he sat down to read the tome from beginning to end.

 Chapter 29: Consequences

    The night passed by before he could blink. Elijah had slept through the last hours of it, but the first many had been spent in deep concentration as he followed each step detailed in the tome.

    While he had been expecting a tough read that would force him to cross-reference many of the words used, the book was surprisingly beginner-friendly for somebody who had read less than five books, even making hints about the structure of magical theory.

    Maybe it was because this was so far away from the standard curriculum. When talking with Grace about what she was learning, he¡¯d certainly never heard her talk about layer-based organic-inspired growth types for increasing one¡¯s capacity, or the intricacies of Body-Core branching to make the transfer of Mana for most purposes much more efficient.

    Both were very good but with enough warnings about their usage that they filled just about half of every page. The tome did indeed explain to the reader how to perform both of the techniques, how it was done safely and by one¡¯s lonesome, but it explained the heavy drawbacks of it. Most of it was things that Elijah had already been told by Rubeus, of course. The alterations made with the techniques could rarely if ever be reversed, and the individual growth that came from the usage of the techniques was far from standard which meant a person could gain very little.

    In short, it was a set of methods that was only to be used in the event that all knowledge about proper ways to strength was out of reach, or if the person in question was to be stopped from ever using the more effective ways to grow.

    That it had several examples of being used as a form of punishment was amusing for Elijah, if he had to be honest, though that was likely because of his heavy bias. Most who would ever read the tome would¡¯ve already been put on a path far superior to what this could give in the best of circumstances.

    But, regardless, the night had been spent figuring out the first of the techniques. A sub-type of the Layer-Based Growth focused around the group of Affinities that Biomancers were a part of.

    Though it was a gross oversimplification, it was possible to ¡®peel off¡¯ the outer layers of the Core without suffering any instant consequences. The surface of the magical organ, while still able to complain if damaged, was mainly there to protect the internal parts from being corrupted by outside forces and malicious agents. Without it, the amount of force needed to manipulate the Core was significantly reduced, to the point being in the presence of the wrong magical item could cause irreparable damage.

    There was, of course, a very extensive list of items, areas, and monsters to avoid when performing this step. None of it was pertinent to Elijah, who wasn¡¯t in possession of any ¡®Type 4 and above Arcane Sigils for Mental Fortitude¡¯ or ¡®Implanted with eyes of a shoggoth in the last three years.¡¯ That the latter scenario was mentioned several times throughout the book made him worry about what the higher-ranked Mages were doing in their spare time.

    Moving back to the technique, the basic theory was to create a pocket of empty space between the separated layer and the inner ones before slowly allowing foreign energy to invade the space. The time spent on this step varied wildly depending on how many times it had been done, and the density of Mana surrounding the Mage, but it personally took Elijah three hours of waiting for the energy from his kills to filter into place.

    Then came the hard part, which was balancing forcing the energy to crystallize in place while being non-specific on how it crystallized. The final structure was meant to be as natural as possible, to increase the potential positive effects, so you had to mentally separate the two forms of controlling the state of energy in your mind. Forcing it to act in a certain way, but allowing it free control on how it accomplished this feat.

    It didn¡¯t make sense how doing such a thing was even possible, and Elijah struggled in this transitional phase for a long time before he was able to progress. It was only when he started attempting the same method of communicating as when he spoke to plants with Animal Bond that it started working, natural crystallizations slowly but steadily filling out the space between the inner and the outer layer of his Core.

    Another hour was needed for everything to fully crystallize, but the final iteration was one he was most definitely proud of. At that point, night had arrived and been around for a while, and his mind had been more than ready to rest, but the next and final step needed to be completed before that.

    While the natural crystallization did sit in between two layers that he had control over, it was still not his. It was inside him, he could manipulate it almost as well as any other part of himself, but that ¡®almost¡¯ made it impossible for his body to fully recognize it as a true part of him.

    How to fix this? Simple adaptation through repetition, along with five more pages worth of texts giving fine details and graphs that explained something that could be said in a few words. The truth to the final step was to cycle the original Mana between the old and new parts continually, until the point where it began to naturally circulate without any distinction on where it was located. And only then could the new change be trusted to stay stable.

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    All in all, the process was a long one, and Elijah could only do the final tests that confirmed it had all worked out before his eyes closed and darkness filled his mind. And, sadly, the morning came so soon after that he wasn¡¯t convinced he slept much at all, the darkness merely disappearing in the blink of an eye.

    At least the hours that vanished allowed the world to recognize his achievement.

    Name: Elijah Caede

    Affinity: Biomancy

    Mana: 512

    His Mana, which previously at most filled up to 390 was now able to comfortably sit at just over 510. It was somewhere around a 30% increase in capacity. Not too extreme, compared to what it could¡¯ve been, but to Elijah it meant the world.

    The first real step in increasing his Core since he was a child, where it had been able to grow naturally. He had never truly sought to be among the best, even dreading having that kind of expectations being put on him, but to be able to step away from the person he was during his youth was¡­ freeing in a sense. Enough that he could stand back and feel his steps be light during the morning preparations, almost smiling when Aleksi cracked a joke at breakfast.

    Almost. He still had his pride to keep intact.

    ¡°Did you open the window last night?¡± the giant asked, as they sat at the table going through the last parts of tea. Aleksi still had a few hours of rest before he was expected to be back in full swing at the smithy, so they were enjoying the time they had. Just as well, since the youth were downstairs in the basement continuing the attempts at improvement from the day before.

    ¡°I did not,¡± Elijah finally answered after running through the events of the night before. While he¡¯d been rather tired by the end, he would¡¯ve remembered taking such a dreadful risk. ¡°Do the locks need to be replaced here as well?¡±

    The windows upstairs had required as much the year before, after a winter that had shown little mercy for the exposed metal. While the quality of the metal wasn¡¯t lacking, time was an enemy that always won in the end.

    ¡°They do not,¡± Aleksi replied, standing to his full height to inspect the window better.

    That¡­ made both old men leave the air of relaxation they¡¯d been able to build up, going through every window and opening in the house to check for any other places where there had been a ¡®mysterious'' opening.

    No other spots were found, luckily, but it would do them no good to ignore this. The traps prepared long ago were lined at every window, hidden but ready to strike if somebody were to try and enter uninvited. Most weren¡¯t lethal, of course, but many would be debilitating and leave the victim bleeding and weakened by poison.

    ¡°There¡¯s too much risk in letting them stay here,¡± Elijah said, as they finished setting it all up. The hours were passing by quickly, and there would already be so many outside and about¡­ ¡°We need to get them out of the house.¡±

    He regretted not moving them during the night, but they would have to make do with what they had now.

    ¡°Fake dark spots and injury could hide some of their faces,¡± Aleksi suggested, the giant already focused on how they could get them out without notice. ¡°Separating them could help even more.¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t get back in time for your work,¡± Elijah countered.

    ¡°Then I can just take Jack to the smithy instead of putting him with Cleo,¡± came the response. ¡°He has been wanting to take a look since I mentioned the metals there anyway.¡±

    ¡­ Not a terrible idea.

    Having them separated would make the chance of being recognized even lower than it already was, and few would question injuries and whatnot when there had been such a massive stir the day before. The guards certainly wouldn¡¯t feel like they needed to search those with a limp, and Elijah didn¡¯t doubt that Sasha could fake such a wound if needed.

    ¡°You¡¯ll take the man with you at the time you normally leave, and I¡¯ll wait ten minutes before I leave with Sasha,¡± Elijah concluded, the giant voicing no complaints to the suggestion. Together they prepared the essential tools and supplies for emergencies, packing nearly double the amount of healing paste, energizers, and general tools for medical care, as well as a few knives, lockpicks, and some minor distractions that Elijah still had left in the laboratory.

    As the giant began to go upstairs to deliver the news about their moving, knocks started to be heard from the front door. Two slow ones, then four in quick succession, before another three slow ones. A musical rhythm, one that nobody normally visiting would ever use.

    ¡°Make sure they¡¯re quiet,¡± Elijah told the giant as he slowly went towards the door to open it up. He gave it nearly twenty seconds, plenty of time for Aleksi to give off the new order, before he lazily unlocked the front and opened it to see who had decided to pay them a visit.

    No guards.

    That was one positive about it, but the sight of two shorter women standing there confused him. One wore a bright smile and had a practical outdoor outfit that would only be found in the upper-class district for the rich to feel like ¡®normal people,¡¯ while the other woman looked on impassively while wearing clothing that had true function over appearance. The extra space in the sleeves for weapons didn¡¯t go unnoticed.

    And neither did the fact that the first woman had been seen before. She¡¯d been the one impaled in the stomach that he and Aleksi had helped yesterday.

 Chapter 30: Does the Black Moon Howl?

    Elijah hadn''t been sure she would be able to function normally for weeks, especially with the bleeding head he¡¯d noticed as well, yet here she was looking none the worse for wear. It was either very good makeup or she had the means to pay for high-quality healing. Either option was concerning, and especially when Elijah had been sought out by them.

    ¡°Can I help you?¡± he asked, not letting either of the two women any of the thoughts in his head. ¡°We¡¯re closed today, so we¡¯re not selling anything.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s fine, we¡¯re not looking to buy,¡± the woman in the front assured him. Elijah noted how her voice matched the screaming she¡¯d from the day before. Very serene. ¡°Are you Elijah Caede, the licensed Herbalist and owner of the shop?¡±

    Ties to the city administrators at the minimum.

    It had been eight years since a single person had brought that license to him, and the last time had been when he visited for the renewal that was required once a decade. Nobody normal would even know of it.

    ¡°That¡¯s me,¡± Elijah answered, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Who¡¯s asking?¡±

    ¡°Vera Newell, at your service.¡±

    Elijah watched the first half of the small bow before he tried closing the door again. He didn¡¯t get too far with it, as the other woman quickly slammed her foot in its path and stopped him.

    ¡°Please wait!¡± the alleged princess of the country said, as Elijah tried pushing the boot inside out of the way. He could hear Aleksi coming down the stairs behind him. ¡°I just want to talk.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re talking already, and I¡¯m not a fan,¡± Elijah replied, internally muttering about the amount of roots the other woman must¡¯ve grown to not move from her spot in the slightest. Had he gotten so much weaker without noticing or was the woman simply that strong? ¡°If you want to talk to somebody fitting your status, it¡¯s a thirty-minute walk that way.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you fifty gold for every minute you listen to me.¡±

    ¡­

    Any person around here would probably take that offer outright, but Elijah had very little trust in the people who would make such a statement. It either required they were stupidly rich, which would make talking to him very weird from their perspective or they were lying about paying him, which would obviously make him ignore it.

    ¡°A hundred per minute,¡± he countered.

    ¡°Deal!¡± Vera exclaimed, stepping forward but finding the almost-closed door still in place.

    ¡°No deal,¡± Elijah said, knowing that the giant had found himself at the door with him. He opened it up to let the two outside see Aleksi as well. The flinching from the other woman was obvious, their left arm jerking to the side. A weapon almost drawn? Or was the Mana that Elijah felt emanating from them almost unleashed? ¡°Anybody stupid enough to give out that offer is either wildly desperate and rich or they¡¯re liars trying to fool others.¡±

    ¡°Well, count me in as being in the first group then,¡± the bright woman replied with a smile, repeating the small bow to Aleksi who just looked on without blinking. ¡°And you would be Aleksi Grey, the helper here in the shop and down in the smithy, I believe?¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± the giant said, sharing Elijah¡¯s thoughts about the two women. They knew too much, though the phrasing was clear as well. The ¡®helper¡¯ part was the official position that they¡¯d listed the giant as while filing documents regarding his work. Whoever these two were, they did indeed have access to official documents regarding their activities.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to give you five seconds to prove you¡¯re who you say you are before I have you jailed for impersonating royalty,¡± Elijah warned. An empty threat, honestly, as that would require getting one of the guards out and about to help, something he¡¯d rather not get saddled with.

    ¡°Prove my identity? Sure,¡± the princess replied, revealing an empty hand to them. Not the most impressive display, until Elijah noticed the unmoving woman behind them. They were eerily still before they suddenly jerked, and an emblem appeared in the princess¡¯ hand. ¡°Is this enough for you, or do you need to see it close-up?¡±

    Elijah took the latter option, taking the emblem and looking it over. It fit snugly in his hand, had a surprising weight, and the metal shined as if it was recently polished. Not that it needed to be, as the magical enchantments allowed it to stay perfectly clean and shiny through all seasons, and the magic used on it also allowed the herd of animals on it to move around freely. He noted how many of the woodland critters stared up at him as if they could actually see him.

    Handing it to Aleksi, the giant barely needed a second before nodding. It was real.

    ¡°So the true Princess Vera, daughter of the man who founded this country, visits us?¡± Elijah said, to which the woman did a small bow for a third time now. ¡°I¡¯d feel flattered if the situation didn¡¯t fill me with dread. What do you want?¡±

    ¡°To talk, as I said before,¡± Vera stressed once more. ¡°You might not remember me from yesterday, since the two of you apparently ran around and helped many, but I was among the list of people you saved. I want to thank you, though without the chance of people wandering by. I learned my lesson yesterday, and would prefer being in a more¡­ closed-off area.¡±

    She wanted inside.

    Elijah looked to Aleksi to make sure the giant had stopped the two others from making any noise upstairs. Once he got subtle confirmation that was the case, he made a show of relenting and allowing them entry into the house.

    ¡°It¡¯s a wonderful shop you have here, by the way,¡± Vera commented, looking around with wonder. Elijah just grunted in affirmation, leading them to the kitchen where they could sit. He didn¡¯t offer them tea, and instead just placed some dried fruits on the table. ¡°Did you make these yourself?¡±

    ¡°No, I bought them from a seller some weeks ago,¡± Elijah explained, sitting down at the half-an-hour-old cup that he still hadn¡¯t had the chance to finish. ¡°So? You wanted to thank us.¡±

    ¡°I did, didn¡¯t I?¡± Vera agreed, signaling for the other woman to move. Aleksi was ready to stand as a hand disappeared under the table and into the satchel around the leg, rustling heard before a small bag was put onto the table. ¡°Fifty gold coins, as the standard reward for saving the life of a royal family member. I¡¯d offer more, but you don¡¯t seem like the greedy type.¡±

    ¡°Taking rewards from others more often than not comes with expectations,¡± he said, looking inside and confirming the coins to indeed be there. He handed them over to Aleksi for safekeeping, who accepted them without comment. ¡°If you wanted to offer the standard reward for saving your life, I would¡¯ve expected to receive it in the post. What else are you here for?¡±

    At another time, he might¡¯ve tried to act more humble, but the attitude had been there from the moment he¡¯d first opened the door so there was little explanation for why he would change it now.

    ¡°Oh¡­ We really are skipping all the small talk, aren¡¯t we?¡± Vera questioned, laughing while the three others just looked at the display with a blank face. Even her servant matched their expression, no emotion felt towards the princess other than impatience. ¡°I respect the need for as little bullshit as possible. It will make this easier for me. Harper, please bring out the documents.¡±

    ¡°Of course, Your Highness,¡± the woman by the name of Harper said, speaking for the first time before opening up her satchel again and placing a small stack of well-made papers onto the table. They were pushed over to Elijah, who instantly picked them up.

    He frowned as he skimmed the first page.

    Don¡¯t tell me they¡¯re trying this.

    ¡°As I¡¯m guessing you¡¯ve already heard, with how quick rumors spread nowadays, our last Royal Healer slept in a few days ago,¡± Vera began, continuing as Elijah continued to skim through the contract. There were quite a few clauses, each detailing every possible scenario he could have to work with during his time employed as a physician in the castle. ¡°It was sad to see him go, but his age caught up to him and we were left with no healers that could replace him.¡±

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    ¡°No assistants?¡± Elijah questioned, already seeing the page about working with people under him. There were apparently two who had been hired while the previous healer had overseen their apprenticeship. Both would remain in employment for a year at minimum, but afterward, they could be either promoted or replaced if he so wished.

    ¡°There¡¯s two, as you¡¯ve read, but they rejected the offer to get the title,¡± she continued. ¡°The duties of the Royal Healer are of utmost importance, and they understood that they wouldn¡¯t be able to live up to the requirements. It was only fair that we didn¡¯t force them, though that meant that we suddenly had a lack of experienced healers who could be brought into the role.¡±

    ¡°You talk like you expect me to have the necessary training,¡± he commented dryly. Elijah, a person who¡¯d only made derisive commentary about the actions of the crown for the past many years, was being headhunted by the princess herself.

    It was a strange world, but this was high above what should¡¯ve been allowed to happen. There had been an explanation that made it fit together.

    ¡°You¡¯ve worked with high-quality herbs and have made hundreds of different types of medicine through three decades of operating this shop, with not a single person saying anything negative about you,¡± Vera countered. ¡°A very fine track record, if I¡¯m being honest. Even the more expensive herbal shops in the upper districts have gotten complaints over the years.¡±

    ¡°People down here don¡¯t complain as publicly. Why didn¡¯t you find somebody with a more refined reputation before me?¡±

    ¡°Those that are well known rarely have the desire to work in the castle, and they just as rarely can be trusted with the lives of the royals.¡±

    ¡°As opposed to me?¡± Elijah questioned, shaking his head at the ludicrousy of it all. ¡°Until yesterday, you had not heard of me.¡±

    ¡°And you hadn¡¯t known who I was when you used undocumented magical abilities to enhance your already-incredible pastes to heal a wound that would¡¯ve left me crippled or dead,¡± Vera shot back without hesitation, making Elijah grow silent. He¡¯d known from the second the Mage she¡¯d brought along had seen him, that she would comment on his abilities. Even a Royal Mage would¡¯ve been better to get noticed by. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. I haven¡¯t told anybody.¡±

    No chance of killing them to keep this quiet.

    Maybe there was a chance in the short term since Aleksi was ready to strike, but he didn¡¯t doubt they had other contingencies in place in the event that he and the giant turned aggressive. The question was just what they were meant to be.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t do that to somebody who saved your life?¡± Elijah asked.

    ¡°Not really, though I was also hoping to extend a favor to you relating to this problem of yours,¡± Vera said, skipping a few pages in the contract he¡¯d been given before pointing to a certain paragraph detailing the required documentation to fill out before he could be put into the position officially. ¡°Working within the castle walls can be very stressful, so those that are employed full time are exempt from any and all license checks, including those for magical affinities and any experimentation that might not have been fully sanctioned by the proper department.¡±

    Elijah read through the section pointed out to him. It was as she¡¯d said, the position giving him effective immunity from any security checks. With the Princesse''s letter of recommendation, he could also skip many of the initial background checks, along with most of the questioning from other parties. Not a terrible trade, though it was the last parts of the contract that surprised him.

    ¡°The immunity stays in place after six months of employment, and you are allowing me to step down after those six months with no consequences and a full stipend as pension?¡±

    ¡°We might not have been able to find a suitable replacement other than you in the past few days, but that doesn¡¯t mean we won¡¯t find somebody before the end of this year,¡± Vera explained with a smile. ¡°If it turns out you enjoy the position, and you want to continue working in the castle, I will not stop you, but the position can be very short-lived if you¡¯re only taking the role for the immunity.¡±

    ¡­

    Honestly? The fact that Elijah was heavily considering the offer made him fear what kind of research they had conducted to make this spiel so personalized. It wouldn¡¯t have worked on somebody who didn¡¯t keep their abilities hidden, and it certainly wouldn¡¯t have worked on him last week when it came to the experimentation he did in the laboratory. He had talked about it while out on the street, and a small bit with Grace and her mother, but how had the information traveled from there and into the ears of the princess?

    It was a war of secrets and Elijah couldn¡¯t help but feel like he was on the losing side.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to feel pressured to make a decision right now, of course,¡± Vera assured him as he mulled it over in his mind. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you and your partner would like to discuss this privately.¡±

    ¡°That would help immensely, yes,¡± Aleksi confirmed before he could.

    ¡°How long do I have before you want an answer?¡± Elijah asked.

    ¡°Well¡­¡± Vera started, taking a moment to consider it herself. ¡°The normal time is a week or two, but we¡¯re steadily getting more and more pressure to find a replacement. I know it¡¯s very little time, but would you be able to visit the castle this afternoon and give your answer then?¡±

    Barely five hours to consider his options. Elijah doubted they needed it within the day, but there was little he could do to delay it further than that with the restrictions put in place.

    ¡°I¡¯ll walk to the castle sometime in the afternoon then,¡± he said, his words making a bright smile appear on the princess. He felt a wave of something hit him at the sight. A strange sensation, his magical senses trying and failing to find anything amiss yet still giving him a subtle warning. A feeling of wrong. ¡°Is there anything else I should know about?¡±

    ¡°No, that should cover all the topics I needed to go over,¡± Vera assured him, as she put an emblem onto the table. While the one that she had carried to prove her identity had been made of pure gold and silver, this one was made of bronze exclusively. Enchantments could still be seen on it, to make the animals cast move around as if they were alive, but it still had signs of wear and tear. ¡°Show this to the guards at the castle gate, say you¡¯re meant to meet me, and they¡¯ll escort you to the garden where we can talk. And, please, bring some tea leaves along. I¡¯ve heard too many good things to miss out on trying them.¡±

    A garden?

    Elijah couldn¡¯t say he remembered hearing about one located next to the castle. He didn¡¯t comment on it, however, escorting the two out of the house at a quick pace before closing the door once more, locking it and keeping silent until Aleksi confirmed that they had walked some fifty meters down the street.

    ¡°Sasha had been right in her worrying, though I can¡¯t imagine this is what she thought would happen,¡± Elijah commented, as the two ventured back into the kitchen. That feeling of wrong was still in the air, getting stronger while he picked up the emblem and glanced at it again. ¡°The next time we see a group of people on the brink of death, we ignore it, understand?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not giving them a second glance, I know,¡± Aleksi agreed, the giant needing no convincing as he settled on his chair yet again, wiping sweat away from his forehead. ¡°The Princess of the entire damn country¡­ luck has not been on our side recently.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a balancing of what we¡¯ve been given before that,¡± Elijah countered, freezing in place as he felt a mild wind on his skin. He didn¡¯t react to it immediately, instead looking over at Aleksi who had also slowed down in his movements. ¡°Do you think the hounds might howl tonight?¡±

    A phrase they¡¯d prepared many years before.

    ¡°With so little meat to go around, they might have had a hard time finding their voice,¡± Aleksi said tiredly, taking a towel and wiping his face before leaving to go check the windows once again. ¡°Give me a moment.¡±

    Little meat.

    One person at the minimum.

    Hard time finding their voice.

    Aleksi could feel them here, just as Elijah could, but narrowing down where they were wasn¡¯t possible. That meant somebody had either just left through the window upstairs without them noticing they¡¯d been there at the start, or it was somebody able to hide in plain sight.

    A Mage capable of invisibility. Elijah knew they existed, even if the Affinities required for such a thing were either incredibly rare or required a level of power that made hiding a strange option when overpowering the enemy was much easier.

    That other woman, Harper, had seemed very strange.

    Strong too, which had made him think they had an ability focused around reinforcement of the body somehow, but this made him change theories.

    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry anymore If I''m being honest,¡± Aleksi commented as he went back down the stairs, signaling that the windows still had the traps they¡¯d checked this morning. ¡°Can¡¯t find my appetite.¡±

    But there was still that feeling of wrongness, even if the sensation was fading from Elijah¡¯s senses. The enhanced hearing and smell that the giant possessed wasn¡¯t too easily fooled.

    ¡°Do you think you can still go to the smithy?¡± he asked, personally unsure of how to proceed. If there truly was somebody hiding, they had no way of discovering them without somehow sweeping the area without their notice.

    In other words, it was currently impossible.

    ¡°Can¡¯t do much else, I guess,¡± Aleksi replied. ¡°I¡¯ll bring him along. You enjoy your tea.¡±

    Wait for an extra ten minutes.

    He just nodded, going back into the kitchen to look through the contract another time. He¡¯d been left with it to read through, and he had ample time before he needed to get him and Sasha out of here.

    He heard footsteps upstairs as the man was brought down and out of the door without much fanfare, and notably not a single word shared between them. Elijah did note that the last bits of warnings that his senses shot towards him seemed to fade entirely after just a minute more of being ¡®alone.¡¯

    If there had been somebody around, he guessed they¡¯d left with the other two. Not that he would leave it to chance just yet, enjoying his tea and reading through the contract for twenty minutes before he ventured up the stairs himself and brought Sasha with him.

    Even without being briefed about the potential invisibility, she likewise kept silent and followed him without pause. A short minute was spent dirtying her outfit to make her seem less well-put-together, but they otherwise went out the back door in no time at all.

 Chapter 31: Lies and Illusions

    Vera walked silently, steps in a constant rhythm as she looked forward with a gentle smile. She felt some irritation on her face as the magic kept her identity hidden. It was a trick that Harper liked to use on herself when going out to get information that required more than just standing around invisible. Very powerful, with endless potential, but the feeling of having a fake layer of skin over her own was very uncomfortable, and Vera had to constantly resist the urge to scratch it.

    After a few more minutes, however, she felt the chubby cheeks disappear. The world likewise wavered around her for a second, the street becoming hazy before returning to its normal state. It was a clear sign of Harper joining her once again, the illusionary body double beside her being replaced by the real deal.

    ¡°How did it go?¡± she asked, now able to talk as the bubble around them stopped them from being seen and heard by others. Yet again, it was very useful, since it also allowed Vera to walk around without fear of yesterday¡¯s actions being repeated.

    ¡°They are very careful and very perceptive,¡± Harper said, giving her initial observations of the two older men. They¡¯d both been surprised by how little information they had been able to dig up around the two, yet it was starting to make sense when she and Harper visited them in person. They were very private people. ¡°Elijah initially complained about Aleksi pressuring him into helping with the Dungeon Break, as you being saved by them complicated their lives massively. Their words implied they¡¯d done something akin to it not long ago.¡±

    ¡°Did they say more regarding that?¡± Vera asked, curious about what else they could¡¯ve done. There were several entries in their files about acts of good, selling medicine to long-term customers at lower prices when there was trouble with money, but other than that it was hard to say. The only other part in their very short entries was the history of using plants in the gray zone of legality to brew Bliss that was sold to homeless addicts in the slums. ¡°Anything that we can look into?¡±

    ¡°They started speaking in code the second I entered the kitchen, so I assume they had more traps to detect intruders hidden around the house than simply those put onto the windows,¡± Harper reported. Even with the relatively monotone voice, Vera still noticed the slight inklings of frustration. The anger of a professional failing in their realm of expertise. ¡°Quickly after, however, there was mention of a woman called Sasha.¡±

    ¡°Sasha,¡± Vera repeated, running the name through her memory and finding no mentions. It was a very rare name, so she was sure she would¡¯ve remembered reading it somewhere. ¡°Make the others recheck for any documents containing the name.¡±

    ¡°Of course, Your Highness,¡± Harper said. The added title made her wonder just how close she needed to be before the Illusionist would become more casual with her. Maybe she should¡¯ve overplayed the pain she¡¯d felt this morning. ¡°The last discovery was when Aleksi announced his leave to the smithy, speaking in code to Elijah again before then going upstairs. I made the mistake of keeping an eye on the herbalist at the time when he went back into the kitchen to read through the contract you had given him, as Aleksi returned to the ground floor again a minute later while being accompanied by another man.¡±

    Oh?

    ¡°Somebody their age?¡± she asked.

    ¡°No, they seemed to be in their mid-twenties at the oldest,¡± Harper corrected. ¡°I followed them out of the house, and they seemed to be moving towards the smithy together. I can have one of the others visit the smith in an hour to check if they¡¯re still there then.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t. They might catch on more than they already have,¡± Vera ordered Harper accepting her words with a nod. ¡°How did the younger man look?¡±

    ¡°Bronze skin, brown curly hair, gray eyes, less muscle than the average laborer, but with black stains on their palms that looked to have settled in,¡± Harper rattled off, pausing to breathe. ¡°Most importantly, however, was that they were a Mage. I am still unsure of the exact Affinity, as I haven¡¯t seen one with a shining, silvery coloring before, but I will check the records to be more precise in the report.¡±

    A rare Affinity on top of everything else that¡¯s been revealed about those two.

    ¡°Did you have the time to look through other parts of the house?¡± she asked, to which the Illusionist shook her head.

    ¡°All doors except the one into the kitchen were closed, and I didn¡¯t want to risk setting off more possible traps and being discovered,¡± Harper replied. ¡°I apologize for not finding more, Your Highness.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Harper. You did everything you could,¡± Vera assured her friend, looking over to see the necklace she¡¯d given her this morning being barely visible. The star gem was hidden under her shirt, but the fine silver chain could be seen glittering slightly as the sun shined on them from above. It was beautiful on her, though it could hardly improve what was already perfect.

    With nothing else to report, she did need a moment to consider her future options. The meeting with the old Biomancer had gone well, all things considered. How they had been able to be awakened for so many years without being discovered at random was a strange thing, since it involved several other Mages Elijah interacted with keeping it a secret with high levels of success. Mostly staying inside his own shop would allow for some level of secrecy, but, still, Vera had to respect the skills required for the achievement.

    It also explained the level of caution she was shown. Truth be told, she had expected a slightly more¡­ positive reaction to her name, when she had revealed her true identity to him. No outright worship or anything, of course, but maybe something more than getting a door almost slammed into her face.

    That was the first time anybody had tried doing that to her, ignoring Louis and Phillip back when they were kids.

    Harper had stopped it, as expected, but Vera could easily admit she had been a little desperate to talk with the man. She hadn¡¯t spent the better part of the late night and morning having another write out the contract in fine script with the changes that reflected what they¡¯d learned during the research, get it copied so she could bring it along for their reading pleasure, and then planning how to deal with the two if things turned confrontational.

    A certain Illusionist had not been happy about the events that had unfolded the day before, and how close her ¡®superior¡¯ had been to an early demise. Vera personally thought that the tears ready to fall down Harper¡¯s face had been for somebody who meant more to her than just being a superior, but she hadn¡¯t pointed it out. Instead, she had accepted the items that could keep her protected, ones that only needed a press instead of an entire incantation.

    Did it allow for the chance of misfiring when stretching or bending her limbs weirdly? Yes, but it was a risk that was worth it when she needed to be quick on the magical trigger.

    Not that any weapon other than her mind turned out to be needed, in the end. Which was preferable, honestly. Elijah Caede was a strange man, but they seemed to have good intentions, and they weren¡¯t swayed by coin and charm.

    Vera almost laughed thinking back on that first exchange. The audacity shown off. She¡¯d thought the old man would throw back the gold coins given at the table as well, but she was allowed to save some face when he and Aleksi accepted them.

    If he stays more than six months, I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll become good friends. Not every day I find somebody willing to slap first and not back down.

    ¡°Is something wrong, Your Highness?¡± Harper asked as Vera vibrated a little more than intended. She calmed herself a second later, assuring the Illusionist that all was well and good. ¡°If you are not well, I can contact your older brother¡¯s aides and we can have your informal meeting delayed.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± she said again, but Harper didn¡¯t seem satisfied. It only took one concussion and a few stab wounds in the stomach, and suddenly she was but a fragile little bug in the Illusionist¡¯s eyes. ¡°If I feel ill, I will excuse myself and rest in my room. Don¡¯t worry about that. I fully intend to be at my best this afternoon.¡±

    It was obvious that her words didn¡¯t convince them, but they moved along regardless. Without triggering any alarms of any sort, they walked through the castle gates, through the grand hall, up the stairs to the left, and then down the hallway until Vera¡¯s section of the castle was reached. From there, Harper was able to uncloak them inside her room, as if she hadn¡¯t left it to begin with, and the two were able to find her an outfit that looked rough enough as if she had lounged with it on during the morning hours.

    ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll want to see the scars?¡± Vera asked as Harper helped her inspect the area. When poking at the places she¡¯d been impaled, she still felt a flare of pain, but the supplies that the healing assistants had used had worked well. If only they had the ability to make more¡­

    ¡°Your brother is very proper in what he asks of you,¡± Harper replied, noting how much the redness had reduced in signs. So analytical. ¡°While he also wanted to make sure you were alright while the assistants worked on your wounds, he never entered himself and instead used one of his aides to assure him.¡±

    Vera remembered that random visit while lying on a cold table. Suddenly seeing a redhead staring over her, talking with the assistants while Harper was staring the other woman down was a very strange memory that she would likely cherish forever..

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    ¡°I guess the loosely fitted clothing apparel would work then,¡± Vera decided, the two going through the options before picking out a turquoise dress. It was slightly ruffled, the fabric design from two years ago, and just casual enough to work for somebody meant to be taking it easy. ¡°Could you pick out a necklace that could fit this, please?¡±

    ¡°Do you not want to pick it yourself, Your Highness?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll put my fate in your hands this time,¡± she replied off-hand, as she went through the minor adjustments to make sure the dress sat on her properly. It was incredible how much they could pay the designers, how every part of her could be measured with extreme accuracy, and then the final product could still have one part or another that sat a little uncomfortably on her.

    Turning around, she found Harper holding a necklace with coral-blue coloring in its chain. There were no gems on it, nothing that truly sparkled, yet it was still a bold mix.

    ¡°Good choice,¡± she complimented with a smile, the Illusionist nodding before having her turn around so Vera could receive help putting it on. ¡°How do I look?¡±

    ¡°Perfect as always, Your Highness,¡± Harper said, her words coming from the usual line of compliments she¡¯d give out. ¡°I believe we¡¯re running low on time, so we best hurry.¡±

    Agh.

    They¡¯d spent too much time in her room figuring out her appearance, forcing a faster pace through the halls. She understood that the morning sunlight might have reached some of the balconies on the other side of the castle beautifully, but that didn¡¯t help when she had to get there at the agreed bell.

    Taking a moment to compose herself, Harper opened the door to the large balcony for her, following her out. There were enough seats around for twenty people, and another twenty could easily fit comfortably if they really needed to, but there was only one person currently seated out in the open. Right in the middle, with a large outdoor umbrella to stop the sun from shining directly onto them, was Phillip. An attendant was behind him, handing him documents to sign and look through while answering any questions he might¡¯ve had.

    Not that any were voiced, as it was all filed away when Vera approached.

    ¡°I see my favorite sister has finally left her room,¡± Phillip commented, rising from his seat to hug her. Not as tightly as he usually did, having gained the same opinions about the fragility as Harper. ¡°How are you feeling? Is the world still rotating while you¡¯re sitting?¡±

    ¡°It didn¡¯t do that, to begin with, and you know it,¡± Vera retorted, her brother laughing as they got seated. Both the red-haired attendant and Harper both left to bring tea and refreshments, leaving them alone for a moment. ¡°But the pain isn¡¯t too bad. Couldn¡¯t feel anything at all this morning, until Harper and I had to note down the red area. Accidentally poked it, and¡­ yeah. Not too fun.¡±

    ¡°I can imagine,¡± Phillip said, a shudder going through the man as his own experiences with being impaled came back to him. Vera remembered how much she¡¯d worried when he had messed up in the Dungeon while training. A wrong move at the wrong time had allowed some beast to bite his left leg, fangs going right through to the other side. Even with the training to deal with such pain, and the magical reinforcement that her brother specialized in, it hadn¡¯t been a fun experience for anybody. ¡°Just remember to take plenty of breaks and don¡¯t overextend yourself. Even just a few steps too many can make your recovery last two months instead of two weeks.¡±

    Yet again, her brother was speaking from experience. While he was likely the one who had inherited the smallest amount of their mother¡¯s personality, that stubbornness had shone through in Phillip¡¯s youth. It was a good thing that he had mellowed out, contrary to what she and Louis had done.

    ¡°I do have some good news if that can brighten the mood a little,¡± Vera offered, briefly pausing when Harper and the redhead returned with tea and cake. Neither of the two touched the latter, but the drink was dearly needed.

    She still felt a little sour about getting offered nothing by Elijah, as she¡¯d heard nothing but compliments about the leaves he¡¯d used to brew.

    ¡°My aides did tell me that you had good news that was important enough to push back the war meeting by an hour,¡± Phillip said, Vera offering no verbal commentary on the title. ¡®War meeting.¡¯ They weren¡¯t declaring war on another country, but her brother was acting like it as he planned out how to purge the Dungeon of another beast that had the slightest chance of causing another surge of monsters to flow out. He hadn¡¯t taken it well. ¡°Did you figure out what we could use to make our brother understand his place in the world, or is it something less important?¡±

    ¡°Slightly less, I¡¯ll admit,¡± Vera confessed, a few chuckles leaving them both. ¡°You remember I mentioned the old man who helped keep my condition stable before the Royal Mages could arrive to bring me to the castle?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you did mumble about something like that yesterday,¡± her brother replied. ¡°I take it you figured out who I should send the pile of gold to?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but the fact that he refused more than 50 gold coins, the legal minimum for saving a Royal, I don¡¯t think he¡¯d appreciate it,¡± she explained, making Phillip lean back in surprise, one eyebrow raised at the words. ¡°The old man, who I figured out is called Elijah Caede, is a Herbalist living at the edge of the middle district. Over fifty years of experience in the field of herbal medicine and its adjacent field in alchemy. The quality of his products are massively undervalued, my people have tested them to be better than most of what you can get in the upper district, and¡­ he wasn¡¯t entirely unreceptive to my offer of possible employment at the castle.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you went there, after what happened yesterday,¡± Phillip said, ignoring everything groundbreaking in her recounting in favor of worrying about her safety. ¡°You were supposed to rest with minimal movement.¡±

    ¡°And I did, don¡¯t worry,¡± Vera assured him, lying as easily as she breathed. ¡°I sent people to thank him, bring him a copy of the contract he would need to sign if he accepted my offer, and the invitation to come here in the afternoon and talk about the position in more detail.¡±

    That seemed to destress her brother just a little once again. While she did appreciate the concern, and truly didn¡¯t want anything else, there were times when some people needed to trust her methods. Already, they had given perfect results.

    ¡°This man, Elijah Caede, is a little hard to trust when you¡¯ve only had one single interaction with him,¡± Phillip countered after some seconds of contemplation. ¡°He might have experience, he might have a lot of high-quality products that match up to upper-class herbalists in terms of the crafting process, but are you sure he has experience with the castle¡¯s medicine that needs a steady supply made internally? I can¡¯t fathom that he has had to make anything too expensive during the time he¡¯s run his shop so close to the slums.¡±

    Fair points that were hard to say anything against. Or, well, that is if years of experience, a lack of greed, and a good heart were everything this Elijah Caede had to offer.

    ¡°Do you remember complaining about the Head Dungeon Guard last month, about how they were dragging their feet reporting who they were using as an external supplier for their medical supplies?¡± Vera asked her brother. While they didn¡¯t often look at the accounting of the different departments personally, Phillip had grown into a habit of being notified of suspicious allocations to different budgetary concerns.

    This usually meant looking into areas where a strangely high amount of gold was being spent on something meant to cost much less, hinting at some variant of fraud. Not too rare, but those were easy to deal with.

    It was when the costs for something cost an eighth of the usual price that brows began to come together. That had come to her brother''s attention in recent times when the pressure on the Dungeon Guard¡¯s budget didn¡¯t line up with the other departments, and they noticed the discrepancy in medical supplies. While costing them so little every week, they were of higher quality than what any other guard was given. Even the Royal Guards were forced to use inferior products when harmed during excursions or training, a fact that had caused much jealousy from her older brother.

    And especially when the Head of the Dungeon Guard kept ¡®forgetting¡¯ to include the details of their supplier in the monthly reports, just saying there were no issues to be found. Vera had personally imagined there to be some trickery, the low costs being used as a distraction for a larger discrepancy, but now she knew the truth.

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s been the source of my headaches,¡± Phillip complained, making her laugh. ¡°If he¡¯s been helping the Dungeon Guards for the entire duration where costs have been low, that would mean¡­ around 20 years of being an official supplier of high-quality goods. Very high-quality goods even.¡±

    ¡°One old man with a distaste for having too much gold on him,¡± Vera said, laughing again as her brother just shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t take it too hard. It only started making sense when I learnt that he was a Biomancer. Not a strong one, but with a very good understanding of the basics.¡±

    ¡°A master in the basics, if the praise of his work is to be believed,¡± her brother corrected, elbows on the table as hands covered his face. A few seconds were needed to think, which Vera didn¡¯t blame him for. ¡°A viable candidate for the position that¡¯s been under our noses for so many years. This city really can hide so much.¡±

    Like you wouldn¡¯t believe.

    ¡°So you have nothing against me interviewing him for the position this afternoon?¡± she asked, just to be sure that she had him hooked to the idea.

    ¡°I almost want to cancel the War Meeting to be there myself,¡± Philip confessed, sighing as he glanced at his aide. The redhead subtly shook her head. ¡°Sadly, it¡¯s not something I can avoid if we want to have cleared the top half of anything that¡¯s a threat.¡±

    ¡°A shame,¡± Vera said, getting a snort out of him as he sipped his tea. The fact that Alin would be there with her settled his nerves a little. ¡°You can meet him tomorrow afternoon then if he decides to accept the position. He did seem a little reluctant, from what I¡¯ve been told.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say he was considering it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but that was after changing the offer so it would be a temporary affair,¡± she corrected, making an eyebrow be raised again. ¡°While we can¡¯t exactly find a perfect fit within a week, which we need to keep things running, half a year should be manageable to work with. And since he was apparently not keen on a permanent position, six months seemed like a good alternative.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s better than nothing,¡± Philip agreed. He scratched the beginnings of a beard he was working on, a third attempt after the last two had ended with embarrassing results. Maybe this year he would be able to match their father¡¯s glory in that aspect. ¡°Even if he does reject the offer, however, I¡¯ll take a moment out of my day and summon him to the castle. If he doesn¡¯t want to leave his shop, I wouldn¡¯t mind throwing in an offer for him to supply the Royal Guards as well.¡±

    Always thinking about those men of his, wasn¡¯t he? On any other day, Vera would¡¯ve teased him for it, but today it helped her immensely.

    Now, we just need the other side to play as expected.

 Chapter 32: What the Founding Fathers Intended

    God, it was way too hot. Jack had already taken off his jacket, leaving him in the thinnest of shirts, but even that was covered in his sweat. Just about every part of him was wet, too hot, and leaving him like he wanted to collapse.

    ¡°You sure he¡¯s made for this, Aleksi?¡± the smith asked the giant who¡¯d led him over to the smithy. While the owner of the place wasn¡¯t as physically large as Aleksi, Jack could still see muscles that rivaled strongmen from the old world. ¡°Kid¡¯s falling apart just being in here.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t better at the start, Lugh,¡± Aleksi defended. Jack ignored the two men''s laughing that ensued. ¡°Okay, maybe I was a smidge more resistant to the heat, but even you needed a bit to get used to it.¡±

    How the hell did either of the other two handle the heat so easily? They were sweating and covered from head to toe due to the moisture, just like Jack, yet they could work and chat without a moment¡¯s pause. The smith¡¯s hammer pounded the red metal on the anvil with enough strength to make sparks fly, and for Jack¡¯s ears to hurt at the sound that came from it, yet they kept on going without worry.

    He was an ant compared to the giants.

    ¡°Kid!¡± the smith shouted, getting Jack¡¯s attention before he could even try to distract himself from the heat. ¡°Hammer furthest to the left with the rough steel handle.¡±

    A new one for a different type of job. Jack didn¡¯t understand all the steps yet, not even sure what they were making, but finding hammers was something he could do. Following the instructions, he went to the leftmost part of the rack before finding the one with the handle of steel. The hammer-head was longer than the first one, but still maintained the round sides that¡ª

    Jack nearly fell forward as he took out the tool and held it on his own, the hammer stupidly heavy.

    ¡°Come here with it, before I have to put this slab back in!¡± Lugh shouted, making Jack hurry up and take the ten steps needed. The smith took the hammer with one hand before seamlessly putting it to work, hitting the metal as if it weighed nothing at all. ¡°Kid needs some muscle as well if you want him helping out here.¡±

    ¡°Muscle appears with time,¡± Aleksi replied, the smith looking at the giant with an amused look.

    ¡°Some twigs break instead of growing thick.¡±

    ¡°Come now, that is a little rude.¡±

    ¡°No offense taken,¡± Jack assured the smith as he kept looking at the work. ¡°And if it counts for something, I used to have a little more on me.¡±

    Not something at their level, but definitely enough to work with. Carrying around heavy equipment wasn¡¯t an unusual task in his old line of work, with how many changes the higher ranked constantly wanted. Too many orders without the understanding that fulfilling them took time.

    ¡°What changed? Forgot to keep it up for a year?¡± Lugh questioned, not sounding like he believed him.

    ¡°Something like that,¡± Jack said, leaning over to see better before noticing something at the other corner of the work area. ¡°You¡¯re making sheet metal here?¡±

    ¡°Aye, we got a thinner over there,¡± the smith replied, before putting down his current work in the tub of water next to him. Blazingly hot steam shot up into the air, making Jack take a step back. ¡°Proper axe head there, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°Not bad at all,¡± Aleksi agreed. ¡°The first of many?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± Lugh shouted, the two old men laughing once again. Jack couldn¡¯t say he was following their conversation after that, though, the sheet metal dragging him in with its alluring promises. ¡°If you want, kid, we¡¯ve got too many of these sheets. The bastards didn¡¯t give me the right number needed and refused to pay for the extras. If you know how to cut them without breaking my stuff, you can use them.¡±

    Of course, they had the tools here to cut metal. And there were all kinds of different sizes!

    ¡°You sure that¡¯s a good idea, Lugh?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the one that wanted me to give him a chance. Here¡¯s the chance,¡± Lugh said, ignoring Aleksi¡¯s worrying. ¡°So? What exactly are you fantasizing about making?¡±

    ¡°A pistol,¡± Jack replied, not looking at the smith as he considered his options. Making the frame and side plates, trigger guard, most of the magazine, and the side rails would be relatively simple to do, but the smaller hammer pack parts, trigger, the magazine spring, and the rifling for the barrel would be a bit more complicated. Though¡­ Even trying something like that out as a first attempt wouldn¡¯t be too good if it didn¡¯t work, so wouldn¡¯t it be better if he went as simple as he possibly could? A cylinder closed up in one end, with a small hole on top and a handle to stop his hand from getting burnt. Basically just a handheld cannon that had to be reloaded like the founding fathers did it. ¡°... What? Did you say something?¡±

    The smith and Aleksi were just looking at him as he looked at the sheet metal, making it all work in his mind. Was he supposed to explain himself or what?

    ¡°You really bring strange people here sometimes, Aleksi,¡± Lugh commented. ¡°I thought Elijah wasn¡¯t all there, but he seems mighty normal in comparison to this.¡±

    Rude.

    ¡°Sorry, I was lost in thought,¡± Jack apologized. ¡°What was the question?¡±

    ¡°What is a ¡®pistol,¡¯ kid?¡± Lugh said, each word said loudly and clearly. ¡°We don¡¯t have all of those fancy things you might have in whatever place you came from, so you have to use more common words around the uneducated.¡±

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    Right. He was being made fun of. Not a first for Jack, but certainly a first when it came to guns.

    ¡°A pistol,¡± Jack repeated, getting the ¡®look¡¯ in response. ¡°A gun, you know? You point it, pull the trigger, and a bullet shoots out?¡±

    ¡°Is he talking about those boomsticks the dwarves use?¡± the smith asked Aleksi who could only shrug. ¡°What, is he some kind of half-and-half like you?¡±

    ¡°Still fully human, Lugh,¡± the giant said, before prompting Jack to continue with the explanation. Something he wasn¡¯t too sure on how to go about, since these people had never heard much about guns before.

    Pistols, of the flintlock variant or even older than that, had never been seen much of. Jack, for lack of a better description, was confused as hell about that fact. These people had magical powers, the ability to manifest so many materials, and simplify so many tasks that would normally be so complex, yet never had they thought to put together black powder and a cylinder.

    ¡°We have many types of crazy people around these parts, kid, but I can say for certain almost all of them wouldn¡¯t touch something that¡¯s meant to make small explosions while you hold it,¡± Lugh retorted, shaking his head at the thought. ¡°Dwarves might trust their hands to withstand it, but we¡¯re a bit less dense. A dose of black powder is going to take your fingers off clean if you let it.¡±

    Aleksi didn¡¯t come to his defense this time around, but neither he nor Lugh actively stopped him from trying it out. While they thought him mildly insane for wanting to do it, one understood that he had years of experience handling them while the other wanted to see what would happen.

    And Jack was meant to be the crazy one.

    He didn¡¯t reject the offer to have free reins though, taking up the chance to work to his heart¡¯s delight. It almost made the sweltering heat in the room bearable, as he got one of the thinner sheets up. Good weight to it, more than durable enough for the first test, and not impossible to get into a cylinder shape after he found the proper tools for the job.

    Working with a thinner size at first seemed responsible, so Jack cut it so that it could use around 9-millimeter projectiles. It wasn¡¯t exact, as doing anything precise was downright impossible, but he got it close enough to be satisfied.

    Closing up one end without a welder or anything close to it nearby was a little harder, which required help from Lugh and Aleksi who used the forge. Since keeping the shape precise wasn¡¯t the highest priority, making use of rough forge welding allowed them to get one end closed up tightly. While they were at it, they also added on a handle that was only a little too thin after the smith was done with it.

    The last hole on top only needed a few minutes of patience from Jack¡¯s side to bore, and¡­ there it was, barely an hour of work before he had a working prototype.

    ¡°So where are you planning to find the black powder, kid?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve planned ahead, actually,¡± Jack said, pulling the airtight glass filled with near-magical goodness from his pocket. ¡°Give me a second.¡±

    The annoying thing about standing around in a room of pure moisture was the ability for it to ruin the past day¡¯s worth of gunpowder, and Jack wasn¡¯t emotionally prepared to lose that much without seeing some results in response.

    So he went out into the front part, where the air was nice and dry, before starting the actual loading of the handheld cannon. This luckily wasn¡¯t as complex a procedure as the preparation of cartridges in modern weapons, but it still took a while to do. The fuse used had to be put into place, and then the gunpowder could be carefully added into the barrel before being shoved all the way down to the end with a small rod. After that came a small separator made of paper he crumpled together before shoving it in as well. When this was done, and it all had settled nicely, he could put in the main star of the show. The small metal ball that fit snugly into the cylinder, was just barely able to go through without getting stuck on anything.

    Because if it did, and it could sit in place under more pressure than the cylinder could, it wouldn¡¯t be fun.

    But there was no such issue here, from what Jack could tell, and he entered back into the main area of the smithy where the two others had aired out to allow the moisture to fall a little bit in strength.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t think I would have to wear one of these myself ever again,¡± Lugh commented, handing Jack the ear protection that he hadn¡¯t been told about when clutching at his ears two hours ago. ¡°You sure it¡¯s gonna be loud enough for this to be worth it?¡±

    ¡°Hopefully,¡± Jack replied, putting on some safety goggles used while cleaning the inside of the forge before accepting the burning straw. ¡°You ready?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve used eight silver¡¯s worth of metal for this, kid,¡± the smith replied. ¡°I¡¯m ready to see you blow your hand off.¡±

    What a great vote of confidence from the two men standing five meters back to avoid any possible shrapnel. Smart of them, honestly, since there was the chance of something shooting back at them, and Jack was the only one with goggles on.

    As for the target? Old bags of sand that the smith had hoped to make Jack transfer the contents over to newer bags that didn¡¯t threaten to break open at any point in time. The perfect targets that were relatively risk-free, if you ignored the fact that the bullet might be lost if it went a little deep into one of the bags.

    If it flew the two meters needed to get over there even.

    ¡°Firing!¡± Jack warned, gloves on as he lit the fuse and did his best to not shake. Trying to fire it the first time while holding the damn thing was possibly not the smartest thing in the world, but he liked to show confidence in his own work.

    I am not confident at all.

    It was way too late for that thought, as the fuse reached the cylinder and inside, the world briefly turned much brighter before an incredibly loud bang was heard through the room. Not as much recoil as Jack had expected, though there was a chance his arms had just locked into place so hard that he didn¡¯t feel it.

    Wait, shit, this is hot!

    ¡°Fair enough with the ear protection, kid,¡± Lugh said, as Jack fought to get the burning-hot prototype onto the table instead of dropping it to the floor. The back where the gunpowder had detonated beautifully had heated up quite a bit before transferring it down to the handle. Even with the improvised gloves on, a few seconds of pressing his fingers against it had shown consequences. ¡°No fingers lost?¡±

    ¡°Not a single one,¡± Jack replied, shaking the pain away as he followed the smith over to the sandbags. From the front, he could already see that the bullet had entered right through the middle of the pile, the center bag steadily spilling sand onto the floor. ¡°Precise shot from my end, I need to say.¡±

    ¡°Aye, you shot straight,¡± the smith agreed, taking the sandbag up to fish out the metal bullet before pausing. ¡°Oh, by the Great Crafter himself, your little finger remover has some kick to it!¡±

    The bag behind the first one had been shot through as well, the former¡¯s removal allowing sand to flow from it as well.

    And the one behind the second had a similar story to tell¡­

    Though the bags weren¡¯t industrial-sized, Jack still had to chuckle at the sight. It didn¡¯t get through the third and final one completely, the sand finally getting ground and stopping the bullet from reaching the stone wall. His dream had been to have it reach through one of the damn things, and here he was with proof of potential. Maybe with properly portioned gunpowder next try, but this was a good first test regardless.

    Jack had just made a working gun, handheld cannon or not, and he was damned proud of it.

 Chapter 33: The First Rule

    Sasha had been to brothels before. Not as a customer, and definitely not as a worker, but she¡¯d met up with people who frequented such places often. It was a place police rarely raided, and they often liked giving warnings some days ahead, which made it the perfect area for various types of criminality other than the obvious. Buying and selling substances, illegal gambling, and getting favors were standard, but that was what you could get from those places. It didn¡¯t describe how they looked.

    Her usual way to describe the places was that they looked decrepit. They were hives of diseases, and most areas other than the gambling tables were never being cleaned because those who used those areas were usually too out of their minds to notice anything amiss. It disgusted her even back then, seeing people lying in filth while having the time of their lives. That only luck stopped her from joining them only made it worse.

    In another life, I¡¯d be either dead or down there with them still.

    She wondered how many she knew from back then were still alive. Couldn¡¯t be many, with what they¡¯d been injecting to reach the highest of highs.

    Regardless, this place¡­ it was different.

    ¡°You like the decor?¡± the one called Mia asked her, as Sasha paused at a painting. It depicted what looked like some long-eared folk fooling around with properly drawn people. Weirdly detailed but clearly costly. Just like everything else in this place. ¡°We have more like it down where you¡¯ll be staying, though I think they¡¯re from a different artist.¡±

    Sasha wasn¡¯t bothered by that, the painting itself was not worth much to her. It was the meaning it carried outside of that, the money required to have it hanging in a random hallway meaning they had money to spare. Everything else certainly implied as much, with the wooden floor clean and shining, while the pink-and-white wallpaper that remained consistent through most of the floor was without tears or any signs of aging. Everything was bright and alive, unnaturally so.

    An effect of that magic that Jack wouldn¡¯t shut up about if he saw it, or was this place just more luxurious than every other establishment like it she¡¯d visited?

    Maybe it was both.

    The brightly colored lights did dim when they reached the staircase into the basement, the cold smell of stone seeming much more familiar to her. The massive area below was still clean and well-organized, but it didn¡¯t match the glamorous fantasy above.

    ¡°Are we matching your mood a little more now?¡± Mia asked, laughing at her words while Sasha kept her silence. ¡°Huh. You¡¯re even less of a talker than Elijah. He at least comments on some of the stuff I say.¡±

    ¡°If you have questions worth answering, I¡¯ll talk,¡± Sasha replied bluntly, noticing there were multiple rooms. The first one they stood in was mostly meant for storage, with dozens of long shelves containing just about everything you needed to run a business for pleasure. She barely gave it a second look, moving towards the door nearby. She could hear some thuds from inside, so, despite Mia¡¯s warning when the worker noticed where she was going, she opened and took a look inside. ¡°... Huh.¡±

    Those slaps and moans really had been weirdly familiar to her strained ears. Despite not clearly advertising that they had it, another part of the old brothels was also there in this one.

    A fighting ring.

    Despite Mia trying to nudge her back into the other room, Sasha kept herself in place while watching on with deep interest as two men beat the absolute shit out of each other. It seemed closest to kickboxing, with cloth wrapped around their fists and just above the ankles. Not enough to truly absorb hits but enough to lessen the pain a little.

    ¡°We¡¯re not really meant to interrupt while they¡¯re training,¡± Mia whispered into her ear after giving up on pulling Sasha away. Good that she did, as somebody their size should¡¯ve known not to try. ¡°The Madame promises them a few hours without anybody going in here and distracting them.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be distracting, then stop talking for once and observe,¡± Sasha replied with the usual bluntness. There might¡¯ve been some anger from having to listen to them for the past twenty minutes, but she didn¡¯t care enough to delve into that as one of the fighters managed to get a kick on the other¡¯s side.

    A perfect shot to the liver, though it didn¡¯t seem instantly debilitating. A slight hunch and then the second man tried to counter it with a quick jab that was blocked.

    Another kick and he¡¯s down.

    That was the magic of kicks to the liver. They were ticking time bombs waiting to go off at the slightest provocation. Sasha had felt both sides of the coin with that one, able to see it coming as the first man tried again and again to set up another opening for a kick. The other knew what he was trying to do, however, playing defensively in the hopes that would do anything.

    There were rarely any magical moments coming when just allowing the hits to rain down on you. The second might¡¯ve known that, might¡¯ve been taught that lesson many times, but the fear of that one kick caused him to panic.

    And when he finally pushed himself further, side-stepping a wide swing and going for a lead and rear hook, it was sloppy.

    Because he had expected to miss, to scare the first man.

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    Yet they accepted the blow in favor of going through the kick already halfway. It was too late for either to avoid the blow, a fist getting the first man in the chin. A blow that would hurt by the looks of it, but nothing like what the second suffered.

    The magic of liver hits was how easy the first one could be withstood, while the second more often than not threw a person to the ground instantly. It certainly did as much here, the second man crumbling into a ball while trying their best to breathe.

    Was the trade worth it? Hard to say, the first man certainly standing straight, but the blood starting to run from their nose hinted that some tissues were needed.

    Like the ones on the ground not far from Sasha¡¯s feet. Seeing that the man was already wiping away drops with the padding on his hands, she thought it good etiquette to pick up the tissues and bring them over to the ring.

    ¡°... Thanks,¡± the man said, walking over and pulling out a few from the box. Sasha put down the box by the side of the ring, letting them have easy access to it later if needed. She knew how long nosebleeds could last when you had a high pulse. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to see you standing around silent and proper, Mia. Cat finally cut your tongue off?¡±

    There was a mild accent to the words that Sasha couldn¡¯t place. It reminded her of the more southern provinces, with their foreign influences and movies that made them put pressure on the wrong words.

    ¡°No, I was just told to stick with the new girl, and she didn¡¯t want to obey the rules about staying out while you trained,¡± Mia replied, putting a hand on Sasha¡¯s shoulder. ¡°She¡¯s a temp, before you ask. Just here for protection and nothing else.¡±

    ¡°I can tell,¡± the first man said, climbing over the ropes and jumping down onto the floor. With the bloodied bandages off, a hand was offered to her. She took it. ¡°Nice to meet you, Sasha Petrova, Protector of Kids and Beater of Idiots. I¡¯m Cas.¡±

    Her eyes narrowed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mind him,¡± Mia tried, somehow reading her body language before she could move. ¡°He does this to everybody. Says your name before you can open your mouth, and then he goes above and beyond and puts some more words on it. Very annoying.¡±

    Very.

    Bothering to look at more than the man¡¯s form, Sasha studied the fighter¡¯s appearance. The right ear was permanently swollen from hits, the left eye was gray while the right was brown, buzz cut on top and a full beard at the bottom that had some gray streaks mixed in. Then there was the rest of the body, the chest and arms riddled with scars. Some were short in length while others traveled from one end of the chest to the other. A few on the side seemed to match those weird letters these people apparently wrote in.

    All in all, what looked like a more muscular drug addict who took up fighting to pay for addiction. Not a rare story to see, though most others didn¡¯t fight nearly as well as what she¡¯d seen.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t predict what he was going to do,¡± Sasha finally commented, narrowing her eyes further when Cas mouthed the words a second before she could say them. ¡°You knew it beforehand.¡±

    ¡°Wait, you knew the trick already?¡± Mia complained. ¡°Who told you? Elijah? Aleksi? Can¡¯t have been one of the other girls since I made them keep quiet.¡±

    ¡°She didn¡¯t know until ten seconds ago,¡± Cas corrected. ¡°My new friend here is just quick on her feet.¡±

    Hmm.

    Eyeing the man again, Sasha had an idea.

    Internally, she made a promise to herself. In five seconds, after staying still as a statue until the time ran out, she would swiftly get into the proper footing before throwing a wild shot toward the man¡¯s stomach.

    Five.

    Four.

    Three.

    Two.

    Cas flinched, a hand going over his stomach as his eyes widened a little.

    Too obvious.

    ¡°Oh, you catch on too quickly,¡± the man said, laughing as he took off the rest of his bandages and grabbed a bottle from under the ring. ¡°Hey, Joel! Take an hour to get your body working right again. Relax your core, take a bite of something, and then get back here.¡±

    The second man, who¡¯d just barely gotten out of the ring on the other side after lying on it in a ball, threw a strained grunt back before hobbling away to another door. Likely out into a common room with more people, if the talking heard as the door opened was any indication.

    ¡°I¡¯d invite you out there as well, to get some of the cakes they made this morning, if you didn¡¯t have that look on you,¡± Cas commented, the man¡¯s eyes studying her hands for a moment. ¡°Mia, any rules on how she can spend her time here?¡±

    ¡°She¡ª¡±

    ¡°Excellent!¡± he exclaimed, cutting her off before she could get past the first word. A groan of frustration left the woman beside her at that, but it looked to be a more common thing than she¡¯d expected. ¡°I¡¯ll keep watch of her, teach her some basics, and you can go out and hang with the others. I know Toki was able to get a good batch this time.¡±

    ¡°And has he tested them yet or am I going to be waiting an hour?¡± she questioned in response.

    ¡°You can have them in five minutes,¡± Cas promised, Mia still not moving from her spot. ¡°Tell him he looks blue and he¡¯ll hand one over.¡±

    The ridiculous comment was somehow enough for Sasha¡¯s guide to leave her behind, moving to follow Joel over to the other room. She thought it strange how little needed to be said before Mia went away. Madame Cleo, as the others called her, had seemed rather adamant that she needed to be watched constantly.

    She wasn¡¯t meant to have heard it, but those were the orders regardless.

    ¡°Again, it is nice to meet you, Sasha,¡± Cas mentioned when the two were left alone in the room, only the echoes of their own steps along with their voices being heard. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting to have a chance to talk to you.¡±

    She pulled off her outer shirt when he pointed to a roll of bandages like the one he¡¯d been using before. An invitation to show off.

    ¡°Creepy,¡± Sasha replied, taking the roll and wrapping her hands with it. The coarse feeling as it settled on her skin was nostalgic, the reused material not properly made. The cheap stuff, as some of her peers would call it. ¡°Is that your ability?¡±

    ¡°To be creepy? No, that¡¯s all-natural,¡± Cas promised, laughing at his own words as he rewrapped his hands as well. The nose bleeding seemed to have stopped, and even with the recent fight over he seemed more than ready to go into the ring once again. ¡°Cleo will have my head if you fight in that outfit of yours. There¡¯s a few spare sets your size in the corner there if you¡¯d rather not get burn marks.¡±

 Chapter 34: Next

    Already having felt the privilege of cloth burn two days before, she took him up on the offer and changed into the other outfit. It had the stench of old sweat, the fabric clung to her skin, but it looked durable enough to use in the ring. The worst was that it tore, which meant little as Sasha didn¡¯t intend to pay for it.

    The fighting ring wasn¡¯t as soft as the other ones she¡¯d stood on in the past. It beat fighting on a concrete floor, the padding here still softened some falls, but it certainly wasn¡¯t enough to stop a shoulder from breaking if she fell the right way.

    ¡°Not a fan of what I built?¡± Cas questioned as she looked down at the white flooring. ¡°It was expensive enough for this material. Anything better would¡¯ve taken all the savings I brought with me.¡±

    With.

    ¡°You¡¯re not from here,¡± Sasha said, getting into one corner while he got into the other. He was already stretching, getting muscles to loosen up before he injured himself. She did the same, letting the blood flow into her arms and legs as she performed the standard routine.

    ¡°You¡¯re not from here either, so don¡¯t say it like that,¡± he countered, silent for a moment as his arms were pulled high and back to let the abdominal muscles have their turn. ¡°Only difference is that I came by boat while you and that other twerp came by the portal.¡±

    He knows too much.

    Sasha wasn¡¯t a fan of it in the slightest, already feeling unnerved by the time he said her name along with those made-up titles. She¡¯d never thought of them outright herself, had never been called either of them in the past, yet both somewhat fit her actions through the last years. Especially the latter.

    It only became worse every time she looked at him for too long. The strange facial features barely made her blink, but the sight that came when she looked inside him made her shudder a little. Jack called it her ¡®third eye,¡¯ Elijah explained it as magical senses overlapping with her sight to make her brain process it easier, but Sasha just thought of it as a headache. People with abilities could spot others similarly gifted, and the fighter before her was one of them.

    Though it was hard to put into words, his insides were a constant gray fog, changing in shape to somewhat reflect the movements he made. There was no clear pattern, and the fog would often make massive shifts without any direct correlation to his limbs, but Sasha could just feel that there was some form of connection between the two.

    ¡°You can see the future in some ways,¡± Sasha observed, Cas nodding without commenting yet. ¡°Anything in the moment is seen two to three seconds before it happens. Larger events that influence you can be spotted further away.¡±

    ¡°Not a bad guess,¡± Cas admitted, putting his weight on the front of his feet for a second to put weight on the ankles. ¡°Not totally accurate but it¡¯s close enough to work with for now.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not telling me?¡± Sasha asked. Jack would¡¯ve spilled everything he could think of by now. Maybe there were some actually smart people around in this world.

    ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be fun, right?¡± he replied with a grin. ¡°How about we make it more interesting? If you get me on the ground, I¡¯ll tell you.¡±

    ¡°And if you get me on the ground?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s do this a few times before we start making consequences for that.¡±

    Arrogant.

    Sasha knew she was wrong for thinking like that as well, though. Even with her years of experience, even with the hundred of fights she¡¯d won without too many marks to show for it, she knew that underestimating others would do her no good.

    And against a person able to see her movements two seconds ahead, cheaper tricks meant very little. Only quick reactions, predicting his tricks as well, and endurance could help her out. Her one true help here was the fact that he¡¯d already just finished a fight minutes ago.

    ¡°You ready?¡± Cas asked. She nodded. ¡°Then do your best.¡±

    Neither ran in like an idiot. They kept up their footwork, ready to work against an attack at any moment. Though they moved, nearing each other for the first seconds, the first punch took ten to arrive.

    And it didn¡¯t come from her, Cas starting out with a quick jab. Nothing too serious, Sasha dodging the first while blocking the second without an issue. There was pride in the third repeat, making her counter and advance for a straight punch that he avoided before she could get close.

    He hadn¡¯t thought he could take it easily, so he didn¡¯t allow the situation to unfold. Annoying but informative.

    The play continued. She tried for a hook, he blocked the first, twisted to avoid the second, and then threw a lead kick when Sasha took a step back. She blocked with her arm, but the force was enough to make her grit her teeth.

    For a starting match, there was little held back in that attack.

    I can accept no restraint.

    Intending to win, she went through the basic set of combinations. A double jab, a right hook, and two left kicks in quick succession. From the way Cas tried to avoid it instantly, she knew it was the right choice, advancing and going through them all.

    Then came the counter, a straight hit before an uppercut that would¡¯ve had her on the floor if it¡¯d managed to hit. No playing around at all. She tried for a low kick, but barely got it going before Cas was on her.

    He was faster than she thought he would be. Enough that she couldn¡¯t adjust in time to block properly and get a hit just above her chest. It hurt, making her distracted and not blocking the next body shot either.

    No.

    Another attempt at an uppercut forced her hand, the feeling of emptiness honing in on the area the fist was flying towards before latching onto it.

    Sasha was ready for the hit, ready to absorb and counter instantly, yet the fist never reached her. It stalled in mid-air, a breath away from hitting before it was pulled away.

    ¡°That took a while to get out of you,¡± Cas said as he stepped back, the man shaking his arms and legs as he walked back into his corner. ¡°Knew you had it in you, but you didn¡¯t seem like you intended on using it.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re cheating by looking into the future,¡± Sasha accused. ¡°I¡¯m making it fair.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but don¡¯t call what you have cheating,¡± the man corrected, grabbing his bottle on the side of the ring and taking a sip. He offered but she rejected it. ¡°It¡¯s a part of you that you can use, just like the knuckles you seem so happy to try getting through my face.¡±

    She didn¡¯t refute the notion.

    ¡°I put a hole through a table by putting my hand on it,¡± Sasha said matter-of-factly. ¡°If I use it, don¡¯t complain about what happens.¡±

    ¡°Sasha, you¡¯re not going to do anything I don¡¯t see coming.¡±

    That had her worked up again, ready to take on the fight with little consideration regarding the hits to her stomach. She could feel the aches, yet the potential of making the man hurt more made it worth it.

    Another quick round ended in her being spared before she began to fully incorporate the absorption into her movements. Adding to it after so long felt strange, it felt unnatural, and it made her reactions slow down to undesirable levels. Being able to see a hit coming meant little when half a second needed to be present preparing for it.

    Try as she might, she couldn¡¯t keep her Core, or whatever it was called, ready to take a hit constantly. The absorption it provided needed to be timed, only staying up for half a second before the energy had to be brought to their internal organ and piled together. Before and after that, there was nothing protecting her, nothing to take the kinetic energy.

    Through effort, she could force it to stay for half a second extra, but that meant so little when Cas simply waited it out and abused the next second of temporary weakness. It was too mentally draining, too easy to force her out of the zone. All her other senses were dulled, and he abused it every time she overstepped.

    ¡°The dreams told me you could take fighters twice your size,¡± Cas commented, standing over her as she fell to the floor from a hit to the stomach. A direct one from the front, one that she should¡¯ve been able to block normally yet hadn¡¯t now. ¡°What¡¯s happening, Sasha? Did you grow weak so quickly?¡±

    Pitiful attempts at making her angry, to make her see red.

    It was working, making her the worst one between the two.

    At least the anger worked as fuel, getting her back up on her feet and into the starting form for the tenth time. Her eyes were shaky from the adrenaline, and her pulse was starting to hurt from the pressure as it beat, but she held her hands true. This was not the time to falter.

    Cas smiled as he went in to embarrass her further. A jab to the face made her block, the hook that came after was blocked with her ability, but the elbow that came out of nowhere hit her square in the jaw.

    She could see his smile as she stumbled back before it turned to horror as he tried to reach around.

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    By then it was too late, a bloodied grin coming from Sasha as she got her hand firmly on his shoulder.

    Farewell.

    Desorption was activated, and a chunk of the kinetic energy built up was released directly into the limb. Something snapped under her grip, something likely vital, but the wave of force traveling across the man¡¯s body made it all worth it. Was this a crippling blow? Most definitely.

    Not letting him stumble back, she pulled him closer before throwing him over her shoulder and onto the floor. The mild padding saved Cas from too much injury from that alone, but he didn¡¯t get back up either.

    ¡°Finally,¡± Sasha muttered as she collapsed next to the man, breathing hard as she looked him in the eyes. He was under the same form of tiredness, which wasn¡¯t surprising after over an hour of this. ¡°Was it worth breaking a shoulder to prove a point?¡±

    Whatever that point might¡¯ve been, she wasn¡¯t sure. Didn¡¯t care either, just wanting to lie down for a while as her body returned to normal. It had been too long since she was this physically tired.

    ¡°I¡¯m starting to get second thoughts, if I¡¯m being honest,¡± Cas confessed with a grin. ¡°Crawl back a bit, if you would.¡±

    Sasha didn¡¯t listen until she started hearing the crackling and sound of bones breaking all over again, pushing herself another meter away from the man as the shoulder she¡¯d most definitely broken began to reform. It wasn¡¯t a form of healing, the sounds and sight of it making sure she understood that but neither did it keep being broken. It was as if the wound was just being reversed.

    Disgusting.

    ¡°And¡­ there we go!¡± Cas announced, sitting up and feeling at the unbroken limb. ¡°Good as new, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s still bruised from earlier,¡± Sasha replied dryly, seeing the marks that had steadily started turning blue. She had several of them as well, the marks being consequences of blocking kicks too often. ¡°You can just undo the hits you get? Looks like cheating to me.¡±

    ¡°Told you not to call it cheating,¡± he reminded her, making Sasha roll her eyes. ¡°And, no, it¡¯s not so powerful that I can simply reverse any wound or injury inflicted on my beautiful body. If my arm gets ripped off, then that¡¯s that, and anything too large in scale would empty me of Mana before it''s even close to being undone.¡±

    The scars on his body were a testament to that, she supposed. Thoughts had been swirling for a while about why those were there. At first, they seemed like regular battle wounds, but more and more of them looked like they were purposely made to form art or text of some kind. Reminders, perhaps?

    ¡°I suppose I owe you a full explanation of this mess?¡± Cas said, taking a mouthful from his bottle before handing it over to Sasha so she could do the same. Having some liquid in her body again felt heavenly, when she¡¯d sweated half her body weight out already. ¡°Ugh, where to start? I guess the official name of this Affinity of mine, though it¡¯s honestly an over-exaggeration. Do you know about Chronomancy?¡±

    ¡°Something to do with time?¡±

    ¡°That covers it well enough,¡± he supposed. ¡°It¡¯s mainly known for its use in divination, to figure out what happens in the future. If they¡¯ve told you about any of the legends that have prophecies, you can thank some Chronomancer for being the inspiration behind it. Though¡­ that¡¯s not to say that everything we predict is going to happen.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve predicted my movements flawlessly until the end, so there can¡¯t be too many problems with it,¡± Sasha commented, making him laugh.

    ¡°I got distracted by your face at the end there, though faking pain and then grabbing me a second later was a good trick,¡± he said in a vain attempt to defend his failures. ¡°But, no, the accuracy with that is because it¡¯s barely two seconds ahead I¡¯m predicting. Time has mostly settled in place when it¡¯s so close and so small in scale. I start seeing double when I go to ten seconds, quadruple at fifteen, and from that point on it becomes exponential. The reason that those prophecies come true is because they are major events that anything probable from that point on won¡¯t change the existence or the outcome of the scenario.¡±

    It matched up with what Sasha had seen previously in how the man seemed to fight. Though there was some long-term planning in his movements, and in how he fought, Cas was truly dominant in the short term. Anything that could be exploited was given that treatment and any opening was used as fast as they arrived. Deadly but not a good planner in the long term. It would be his downfall at some point.

    Though it also meant that her arriving here was something he¡¯d seen coming over a week ago. He¡¯d known about her arrival before she¡¯d known about this world.

    A strange realization that made her wonder.

    ¡°The future changes when you know about it,¡± Sasha said.

    ¡°To a stupid degree that messed up my fights for many years,¡± Cas confirmed. ¡°Looking slightly further into the future and locking onto the one that seems best has been my strategy since. Not always consistent in results, truthfully, but it¡¯s worked well enough for now.¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± she replied. ¡°And knowing my full name? And turning back time on your shoulder?¡±

    ¡°I looked into the future where you told me your first name, and then I allowed my mind to take a brief look at your past,¡± Cas explained, hands up in surrender before she could tighten her hands into fists. ¡°Not enough to know everything, since I don¡¯t have the powers to do that regardless, but enough that the world told me a few of their favorite titles for you. ¡®Protector of Kids and Beater of Idiots.¡¯ Not bad titles, you must admit.¡±

    She just rolled her eyes, not seeing it worth it to comment.

    ¡°And I already told you about the shoulder a little, but more details while we wait doesn¡¯t hurt, I suppose,¡± Cas continued, Sasha frowning at the last part. Waiting for what exactly? ¡°The other field within Chronomancy, the one that people normally expect, is the manipulation of time. Making it run faster, making it slow, making it stop, making it repeat, or even making it roll back a little. Endless in potential and basically impossible for anybody given this curse. I personally know how to roll back some of the wounds I¡¯ve attained through the past decades, but that¡¯s all I can do. Anything more is saved for figures of legends or fools who don¡¯t understand the consequences.¡±

    Even to Sasha, playing with time itself seemed like a dangerous gamble. While she wasn¡¯t one to think too hard about the conceptual parts of the world, manipulating one of the fundamental forces didn¡¯t sound like an activity that would be ignored for long.

    ¡°Is that why you¡¯re down here? Because you won¡¯t be safe outside?¡± she questioned, the man smiling at her. Even with the muscles that seemed to match somebody her age group, those streaks of gray in the beard along with the pale skin made it clear they had been here for some time. ¡°What happens if you¡¯re caught?¡±

    ¡°If I was a child? Some form of control would be put on me, and I would become somebody¡¯s puppet and weapon,¡± Cas rattled off, seeming to speak from experience. Had he foreseen it? ¡°If I were to leave now? Interrogation that would leave me longing for death before my wish would be fulfilled. Not a pretty sight.¡±

    Yet again, she didn¡¯t doubt that he had seen it. Haunted eyes like that were hard to fake. Those who knew too much, who had experienced too much for one person to endure. They could usually handle themselves until a certain breaking point where they shattered harder than anybody else.

    ¡°... I¡¯m sorry,¡± Sasha muttered, an inkling of empathy pushing through her usual walls. ¡°That¡¯s terrible.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, little guardian,¡± Cas assured her, arms wrapping around her before she knew what was happening. ¡°I chose to come here. It was my choice to be a part of something bigger.¡±

    Yet again she questioned his words.

    ¡°What?¡± she said, but he didn¡¯t answer. ¡°You told me you would explain everything so start talking.¡±

    He kept quiet, retreating a little while staying silent. Her mood returned to that quiet seething, and she was ready to wrap her hands around his throat when she heard a door slam open.

    The same door she¡¯d used when entering two hours before, though she¡¯d had the decency to do it quietly. The kid who¡¯d waltzed in had none of the sort, a sour expression on their face as they walked up to the fighting ring.

    ¡°Cas, I need you to do some stuff for me,¡± the man said, entirely ignoring Sasha¡¯s existence. ¡°Hurry it up.¡±

    Already, she had a good idea of the kid. They had to be around twenty with that scrawny build, no work done in their lives with the lack of calluses on their palms, and that attitude of constant superiority. The blonde hair wasn¡¯t even bleached, making their punchable face entirely natural.

    ¡°Louis, would you mind waiting five minutes? My scheduled training hours should end soon,¡± Cas requested, making the kid frown. Finally, they looked over and noticed Sasha¡¯s existence.

    ¡°You new? Where are you from?¡± the scrawny man questioned, impassive until it became clear she had no intention to reply. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you. I expect you to answer.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, I try to avoid talking to worthless people,¡± Sasha dryly apologized, her eyes steady and her tone making it clear she couldn¡¯t care less about him.

    She wondered if the young man had some innate gift as well, as they turned red in such a short time. There had to be something to them as well, as they instantly climbed into the fighting ring, approaching her with quick steps.

    ¡°You little¡ª¡± the kid started, raising a hand to do something. Maybe a slap or an awkward right hook. Didn¡¯t matter, as she grabbed the arm and used the momentum to throw him onto the floor. ¡°Ugh, you¡ª¡±

    Her boot got him in the face right on the nose, stomping it in just a little.

    ¡°Quiet,¡± she said, keeping her mirth to herself as the instant moan of pain came, hands over his face as blood began to flow. ¡°That¡¯s better.¡±

    She was surprised Cas kept quiet through it all, just looking at the events unfolding without interrupting. Maybe he was making sure to stay out of it to avoid the consequences. She didn''t blame him.

    ¡°I want you to listen to my voice,¡± Sasha said, going down on one knee so the scrawny man could hear her. Tears were welling up in their eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are, what you want, or why you want it. Leave, clean yourself up, and come back another day when I¡¯m not here. I don¡¯t want to look at you again. Understand?¡±

    The man tried to talk but her look made them stop before the first word could come out fully.

    A moment passed before they nodded.

    ¡°Good,¡± Sasha said. ¡°Leave.¡±

    They left, needing a moment to climb out of the ring while still holding their nose, but otherwise keeping a good pace as they retreated out the door and up the stairs.

    That was easy.

    ¡°Any guesses who the owner of the nose you just broke is?¡± Cas asked, making Sasha shrug. ¡°Prince Louis Newell, third in line for the crown.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Shit,¡± she muttered, making Cas laugh. Of course, it couldn¡¯t be some random worthless person. It had to be a worthless royal. ¡°Thanks for the warning.¡±

    ¡°No problem,¡± the Chronomancer replied, looking weirdly serene. ¡°This is actually one of the few moments I¡¯ve seen coming for a long time. Sometimes in a different spot, sure, but you breaking the nose of a royal has been a constant when looking into the future.¡±

    Huh. Sasha was surprised about how little she cared about that. And here she thought beating up some of the more powerful figures of the world would bring her happiness.

    ¡°If you can see the major events for the future, I need to know about one of them,¡± she said, making Cas look at her. ¡°Do I ever get back to the other world?¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Cas answered after some time. ¡°There are too many dice rolls before that point, so I can¡¯t say. But, if you work hard, you¡¯ll probably reach the point where you can choose whether or not to return.¡±

    ¡­

    She accepted that answer, leaving to go shower and return to her usual outfit. It was better than nothing.

 Chapter 35: Make a Move

    Elijah didn¡¯t like the look of the upper-class district. Not the buildings themselves, of course. They were well-made, with sculptures and complex geometric patterns lining each of them. A grand symphony of design, remade just this decade to fit the more optimistic views on life.

    A grand tale that didn¡¯t fit the people he walked beside. Or close by, at this point, since any who looked at them made sure they were at a distance. None of them were scared of him since most he saw were easily taller and stronger than him. A good diet from an early age helped make that a reality.

    No, they just saw him as inferior, wanting nothing to do with him. It was subtle at the edge of the upper districts, just a few confused glances sent his way as he continued past the expensive restaurants. When he got halfway, the muttering and comments began, the people taking a distance as he continued on.

    Then came the guards who were wary as well, half a step away from confronting him about walking around where he shouldn¡¯t be. His blandly colored and mildly tattered clothes weren¡¯t the usual around here, after all. He was likely the only one within a hundred meters wearing anything brown, everybody else sticking to the popular colors of the rainbow. If the outfits didn¡¯t look to be screaming out, they weren¡¯t welcome.

    And that opinion ran the same with the people who wore them.

    In some way, he was proud of making it to the castle gate without showing his distaste.

    ¡°Sorry, old man, but might you be lost?¡± a guard instantly came up to ask, as he stopped right in front of the inner-city wall. It wasn¡¯t as tall as the main one around Kulvik, and certainly not as thick, but it still worked as a grand separator to stop others from sneaking into the castle. ¡°The monthly veteran¡¯s meeting is next week if that¡¯s what you¡¯re here for.¡±

    ¡°Never served,¡± Elijah replied, searching through his satchel for a second before fishing out the bronze emblem. The bored look on the guard¡¯s face instantly changed at that, inspecting it without a word. ¡°I¡¯m here to see a Vera Newell on the topic of possible employment. Do you want to see the documents regarding that as well or¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, uh, no, sir. This is more than fine,¡± the guard quickly assured him, handing back the bronze emblem before shouting for one of the others who¡¯d been standing around to come over. ¡°Escort this man to the top Royal Garden.¡±

    There was more than one garden exclusively for the Royals? Elijah should¡¯ve guessed, with how utterly massive the castle was.

    And that only became more obvious as he was led through the gate and into the main welcoming area. There was a miniature lake of sorts on both sides of the road, with tall and thin trees every ten meters to reduce the wind.

    If he had to say, as he stood at the entrance before the grand stairs into the castle, it looked to be easily fifty meters tall, with the tallest spire in the center sitting above everything else by some ten-twenty meters. It was hard to tell at those heights.

    ¡°Sir,¡± the guard said, reminding him that he was being escorted somewhere. Following him up the nine-long steps into the entry hall, which could easily fit hundreds by itself, Elijah was greeted by a long line of massive paintings. Each seemed to depict one battlefield or another, with the names of them listed right below.

    Elijah didn¡¯t miss the one for Kulvik who sat right above him. It showed the former Queen in all her glory, dragons of flame soaring through the sky. A beautiful depiction, though he didn¡¯t think many had the privilege of seeing it.

    He didn¡¯t need a reminder that time to follow, already moving again before the guard could finish with his cough.

    They moved into a small hallway, still lined with various paintings that weren¡¯t of much importance, until Elijah found himself facing another set of stairs. Looking up through the middle, he grimaced.

    ¡°It is 186 steps, sir,¡± the guard supplied, only making it worse. ¡°Holding the railing helps.¡±

    ¡°I dearly hope it will,¡± Elijah replied, as he followed the guard up the spiral staircase. They passed by several floors, but it was only at the second to last that they stopped and continued.

    Looking out of the windows they passed by, Elijah was able to look at most of the city. It was a great view, though he assumed it would be prettier once the night came around and allowed the light to shine upwards.

    ¡°Here we are, sir,¡± the guard stopped suddenly, as they reached the end of the hallway. The door was right ahead, but the young man leading the way showed no intention of opening it. ¡°Nobody but the royals, their direct servants, and those directly invited are allowed to enter, sir. If you go inside and follow the path, there should be no problems.¡±

    The guard hurriedly excused themself after relaying the message, returning to the spiral staircase and walking down the 186 steps once again. That left Elijah standing alone in front of the door, with nobody around to watch him.

    Not that it stopped him from feeling the presence of another, though he ignored it as he opened the door and went into the garden.

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    The temperature increased by a few degrees as he did. Though there was no roof above his head, Elijah was able to see the blue sky without any issues, it was as if the heat was trapped in the area regardless. Not enough to become uncomfortable, but enough to grant the various plants around him their ideal growing conditions.

    A set of Lunaria Blossoms, a well-off Firebloom, and¡­ is that Dreamshade?

    He hadn¡¯t seen those since before he enlisted, and even then they¡¯d been weaker and barely able to grow. Here they were strong, massive, and looking ready to be harvested whenever anybody had the time.

    If Elijah could have just a few flowers from the Dreamshade, he would be able to make so many sleep aids¡­

    Following the word of advice the guard had given him, he continued down the path. There were small sections dividing many of the useful plants into groups. It was mainly divided into their various functions in medicine, then their differences to make sure that the plants got as much sunlight as they needed for ideal growth, and finally grouping together everything else on the other side of the garden.

    Past the Phoenixfruit trees, with its red and glowing fruits that Elijah noted he would need to take a look at later if he had the chance, there was little that could be seen as having a higher usefulness in alchemical concoctions.

    Instead of berries, fruits, and herbs, he found himself surrounded by flowers of all kinds and varieties. The Sunfire Daisies, Dawn Roses, and the Elderglow Tulips were among the most prevalent in both their quantity and presence. Though all three had no uses for anything other than recreational concoctions, he had to admit they were quite beautiful.

    He didn¡¯t allow himself to enjoy the sight for long, though, as he could see an area enclosed by bushes ahead, which included a small curve in the road to stop anybody looking inside from a distance.

    A good design, though the silence as he walked closer was a little unnerving. The faint rustle of leaves, as a mild wind allowed the different plants to shift in place, left the air as he closed in on the new area.

    The reason for it was felt as he walked inside, a wave of magic washing over him.

    ¡°Enjoying the garden, are we?¡± Vera asked from the table in the encircled area. There weren¡¯t as many flowers inside, but Elijah supposed that was a necessity to limit the amount of people walking inside. ¡°Please excuse the quietness, by the way. I usually don¡¯t have it activated, but I thought you would be more comfortable with it on.¡±

    ¡°When nature becomes quiet, it¡¯s nearly always a bad omen of some sort,¡± Elijah replied, sitting down on the other side of the table. He noted Harper, the Princess¡¯ assistant, had appeared next to Vera the second he¡¯d looked away. ¡°So you¡¯re being more blatant about the ability to be invisible now?¡±

    ¡°I was told you caught on within a minute of her being inside your house,¡± Vera explained, the other woman staying silent as she brought out the contract that had been discussed previously. ¡°A great achievement, by the way. You and your friend are one of the first to catch her in the act.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m flattered,¡± he said dryly. Seeing that they were in a very giving mood, he opened his satchel and brought out a small tea box. ¡°30 prepared packets of the tea that you asked for.¡±

    ¡°Oh, perfect!¡± the princess said, accepting the box with a smile. ¡°Harper, would you mind bringing three cups along with some hot water? I¡¯m sure Alin will want to taste this as well.¡±

    Alin.

    The Earth Mage and one of the closest friends to the king. Elijah hadn¡¯t expected to hear that more would be joining them, though he supposed that was a given.

    ¡°If you do end up accepting the position, we¡­ do still need permission from two others for you to be officially granted the role of Royal Healer,¡± Vera explained when Harper disappeared from view to fulfill the request. ¡°One of them would be Alin, who should be here in a few minutes, and the other is my older brother, Prince Philip. I¡¯ve said good things about you to both of them, but they¡¯ll need to meet you before they can accept my promises.¡±

    Promises?

    ¡°What exactly have you told them?¡± Elijah asked, glancing at the table as a yellow light briefly appeared on it between them.

    ¡°It¡¯s a warning for when somebody enters the garden,¡± she supplied before he could ask. ¡°And I¡¯ve told them what I thought could convince them to accept you without too many questions. The main points I¡¯ve given them both would be your efforts in helping others during the recent Dungeon Break, your minor gifts for Biomancy, and your dealings with the Dungeon Guard as their supplier for healing pastes for cuts and burns.¡±

    ¡°Expand on the last one,¡± he asked. The first was already known, the second couldn¡¯t be avoided if Alin Oathbreaker himself met Elijah anyway, but the third¡­ just how much did they know?

    ¡°You¡¯ve been the one causing headaches for my brother for the past several months, by selling high-quality kits to the Dungeon Guard for an eighth of the normal costs for such things,¡± Vera said, almost imperceptibly narrowing her eyes. ¡°If you either turn down the offer for the position, or you get rejected by Alin or my brother, expect to get an offer from him about supplying for the Royal Guard as well. He¡¯s been wanting to get into contact with whoever had helped the ones at the Dungeon, but their leader has been forgetful in revealing your identity. Not that it matters, since we figured it out anyway.¡±

    Whenever he got the chance, he needed to send a thanks to Olivia for that. Elijah hadn¡¯t expected her to stall the royals themselves about revealing who he was. He hadn¡¯t even heard about it, which hinted at her expecting to do the trick indefinitely.

    ¡°On that topic, however, I would prefer knowing whether or not you want this position,¡± she added, a red light appearing on the table. It was brighter this time, making him think that whoever had entered the garden was getting close. It certainly seemed that way, as Vera sped up her spiel. ¡°Temporary or not doesn¡¯t matter. I just need a yes or a no so I know how to play this.¡±

    ¡­

    The silence was purely to stress the princess a little, Elijah having already made a decision on the matter. While he and Aleksi hadn¡¯t been able to have a proper conversation about accepting the offer, it¡¯d been implied that the choice sat in his hands.

    And he wouldn¡¯t mind the benefits, with his magical abilities having been revealed.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he said a second before the red light went out and he could hear steps coming from the entrance he¡¯d arrived from minutes ago.

 Chapter 36: Hail To The King

    While Elijah considered himself an old man, he was still young compared to the living legend who walked up to the table with a smile, chuckling as Vera hurried up to embrace the man. Alin Oathbreaker, with an old scar that ran from his mouth up to his left eye, held his cane carefully so as not to hit the younger woman with it.

    Though he couldn¡¯t say what it was made of, it seemed good quality. It needed to be as much if the tall man was to use it to walk properly. While still in one piece, the right leg seemed to not carry as much weight as it might¡¯ve some years ago, calling for something else to support him as he walked.

    Not that this was to imply that the man before Elijah was weak.

    The body might¡¯ve started failing, but the mind was far away from reaching that stage. Even without focusing on his magical senses, he could feel the intense energy radiating off the Royal Mage. Even without the purple robes, he would¡¯ve known their true identity on sight. That earthy aura was unmistakable.

    ¡°And you must be Elijah Caede, the man of the hour!¡± Alin exclaimed, shaking Elijah¡¯s hand before seating himself beside Vera. The cane he leaned on until that moment disappeared into nothing, the material used revealed as a product of his Affinity. ¡°I assume you¡¯ve already been thanked a hundred times over, but I will add to it by thanking you for saving my niece¡¯s life. It means a lot to me.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Elijah assured them, not wanting to seem arrogant in front of one of the men directly responsible for Serenova being able to claim independence by way of power alone. ¡°Truthfully, I had no idea about the identity of her highness when stabilizing the wound.¡±

    ¡°No need for the title,¡± Vera interjected, to which he nodded.

    ¡°And the fact that you didn¡¯t know makes it all the more noble of you,¡± Alin pressed on. ¡°You were injured yourself during the rescue, I can see. I assume that the healing remedies used on your arm were of your own making? Their purity is nothing to scoff at.¡±

    Elijah confirmed as much, glancing at the limb while bolstering his own magical senses. Since he already knew what he was looking at, he could spot some traces of residue for the healing paste used, but it was extremely minimal. That the Royal Mage could spot it so casually, without knowing exactly what he was looking for, was a showing of extreme magical perception.

    There¡¯s a reason he¡¯s the leader of the Royal Mages.

    ¡°Stop showing off, please,¡± Vera requested in a forced tone, the living legend trying to look innocent in response. ¡°You came here for a reason, Alin, remember?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes, I have to check whether you qualify for the position. It¡¯s¡ª Oh, thank you,¡± Alin said, being handed a cup as Harper finally returned with the cups and hot water in hand. Each of them had their cups filled, and the tea packets were placed inside before a taste test was done. ¡°A perfect apple nuance, a bit of honey sweetness, and a well-rounded feeling overall. If this is what you can provide to the castle, Elijah, I believe I can already accept you as one of our own.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ am not sure this would qualify as enough questioning normally,¡± Elijah replied, noting the side glances that Vera was sending him. ¡°From what I have been told, there were high requirements if I was to be involved with the castle duties.¡±

    Alin nodded at his words, going in for another sip of the tea before clearing his throat. Once you reached above 80, some things took a little extra time to do.

    ¡°That is true. While I would¡¯ve loved to accept you on this alone, there are some things I would like to cover with you before you can start, and I have been given a rather expansive list of questions from a certain brother of yours,¡± the Earth Mage conceded, directing the last part to Vera who silently sighed. ¡°But we can start out with the more interesting ones, which are the ones from me. While I must admit that my knowledge within the realm of herbalism isn¡¯t as refined as yours might be, I do have an understanding of some of the more common plants used within the castle walls. Would you be able to tell me the various ways you can prepare the Common Frostfern?¡±

    Being quizzed on Herb Lore by a living legend wasn¡¯t something that Elijah had expected for that day, but he wasn¡¯t going to reject it by any amount. If he had to prove himself to earn immunity and not suffer the consequences of having his secrets revealed, he would happily answer some simple questions.

    ¡°It would be no problem at all,¡± Elijah assured Alin. ¡°The first method would be to dry it in the sun over two weeks, which would make it possible to then grind it into a fine powder. This allows us to infuse it into a liquid, where we commonly use water, which can then be consumed like tea. In this form, it is very effective at helping against the common cold.

    Further on, the raw version can be cut up, blended, and crushed to remove all the liquids. From there it can be distilled to isolate the pure essences. While this requires a lot of material to create satisfactory amounts, the isolated liquid is highly effective and can be used to treat very serious fevers without stressing the body as many other concoctions of the same strength do.

    If we were to macerate the blended material instead, some of the more delicate compounds could be extracted. While not typically done, since it can take up to a month to be done effectively, the final product is a thick liquid that is known for both its minty smell and its positive benefits to clear up the skin.

    Going another route, we could also use fermentation and low-tolerance yeast to¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll stop you there since I¡¯m starting to think you know a lot more than me regarding this one herb,¡± Alin cut in, not even allowing Elijah to get into the interesting properties surrounding the charring and subsequent freezing of the plant which allowed it to be used for preservation of organic matter. ¡°You listed the two I know, so I¡¯ll take that as a good enough answer. I¡¯m skipping the other common ones since I think you have a similar answer to those. If you would please tell me about Faerie¡¯s Breath, it would be great.¡±

    Elijah didn¡¯t comment on what the man believed to be a step up in difficulty, clearly not having suffered on-location training in whatever needed to be made in that minute. In those years that he had spent in the caravan through the country, he¡¯d worked with thousands of different herbs and infusions, each ingrained into his skull through force. The punishments for messing up and wasting ingredients had made him a very quick learner, and the usages for each of those herbs were fused into his brain better than anything else in his life had ever managed.

    An hour passed before he knew it, and each question was answered in as much detail as he was allowed to do. Elijah wasn¡¯t satisfied with the cut-off answers most of the time, but there was little he could do about it. He knew that it meant that it was deemed satisfactory, yet there was still some small part of his mind that contained the rant about professional pride.

    ¡°There¡¯s one last herb I need to ask you about before I¡¯m done,¡± Alin said, taking a moment to down most of what remained in his cup. Elijah waited patiently as he had done the past many times. Though¡­ maybe his throat could use some oiling as well. ¡°What do you know about Heartroot Vervains?¡±

    The cup never reached his lips, as he froze when hearing the name. This was¡­ not something he expected to hear about.

    ¡°From that reaction alone, I think you¡¯ve at least heard about them,¡± the Earth Mage commented, not hiding his grimace.

    ¡°It¡¯s the last resort for the desperate. Rarely used, and most of the known instances of the herb are with rare collectors in the south,¡± Elijah said. He felt the air cool, as the others didn¡¯t show offense at his words. ¡°Is the king that far gone?¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t all have the privilege of aging gracefully,¡± Alin tried to joke, but the sadness in his words made the conclusion obvious. ¡°While his mind might still be strong, the years have not been kind to him. Most weeks now go by without him leaving his bed. It¡¯s¡­ a necessity, to keep him alive.¡±

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    Elijah didn¡¯t offer a comment. He wasn¡¯t sure what to say, truthfully. The Heartroot Vervains, though the herb went by another name informally, was one of the most powerful plants when it came to keeping a person alive. While it couldn¡¯t heal, and it couldn¡¯t repair damage done, it could stabilize a living person. It could force a weak heart to pump at healthy levels, make the lungs take in air, and stop the muscles from atrophying from a lack of movement. It allowed for improvement at some level, of course, but the people who consumed the concoction rarely had the strength to do as much.

    Likewise, the cost to grow the plant was quite high, and also where its nickname had originated.

    ¡°Who is responsible for feeding the Lifestealer?¡± Elijah asked.

    ¡°Servants that are informed about the risks and given very generous stipends every month,¡± Vera answered before Alin could. ¡°The assistants will handle the bloody parts, while you are responsible for the bi-weekly harvesting and processing. It is a very complex elixir, and we need to be sure that you can brew it.¡±

    Of course, I can.

    He didn¡¯t say that out loud. Wouldn¡¯t help him to readily admit it wasn¡¯t his first time working with questionable ingredients. Alchemy didn¡¯t always limit itself to plant matter. While this specific recipe would be new to him, the individual steps themselves would have been done a thousand times before.

    ¡°It won¡¯t be an issue, though I have to be sure that I will also be given access to the King¡¯s older files,¡± Elijah said. ¡°I would prefer knowing what logic made my potential predecessor decide this was the best way forward.¡±

    ¡°Everything will be there for you to peruse freely,¡± Alin promised. By the tone alone, Elijah knew he meant it. ¡°I¡¯m happy that you can understand the weight of what we are asking.¡±

    ¡°Any concoction that requires, even indirectly, the sacrifice of substantial amounts of human flesh and blood is outlawed at the same level as Necromancy,¡± he responded, the eyes of the others darkening. ¡°I am taking this as seriously as I possibly could.¡±

    ¡°Then I believe I have no more questions,¡± Alin concluded. ¡°And as for dear Phillip¡¯s questions¡­ I don¡¯t think they matter much anymore, after that answer. Whether you decide to join temporarily or permanently, Elijah, I will welcome you.¡±

    And that was it, apparently. Through surprisingly little effort or questions about his personal life, he had been able to get through the process of being vetted without any serious moments. Elijah was still mildly baffled about what herbs he¡¯d been questioned about at the end, not expecting the royal family to ever use such an abhorrent thing, but there were worse secrets to have.

    Details about his future employment were put in order not long after that. While Vera did make another offer, granting him more gold and benefits if he decided to accept a permanent position, he once again reaffirmed his decision to take the temporary version. Elijah argued that it was because of his age, and wanting to return to the quiet life by next year, yet he wasn¡¯t sure either bought it.

    ¡°You¡¯re 71, my friend. Not what many would call a young man, and yet you¡¯re still moving around working day in and out,¡± Alin commented, before accepting his cup as Harper had refilled it with more tea. ¡°Do you not have gold saved up for retirement?¡±

    ¡°We do, there¡¯s enough to live a quiet life for decades, but¡­ I would not be able to afford to continue my experiments,¡± Elijah finally replied. While he hadn¡¯t gone the magical routes of experimentation in the past, he¡¯d most certainly bred variants of various herbs. The chamomile plant was the most notable, but several others still thrived in the laboratory. And they were costly to have, with how much he went through at a monthly rate. ¡°It would be a boring life, and I¡¯d rather not end it with such a sad finale.¡±

    ¡°Well said!¡± the Earth Mage exclaimed, raising his voice as an aged grin found itself on the man. ¡°I had to calm myself last week when one of my guests dared to suggest I needed to consider retiring from my work in the castle. As if I would ever consider such a thing.¡±

    ¡°From what father told me, you said the same thing about ever working here permanently,¡± Vera commented from the side, not hiding her smile from the man. ¡°Wasn¡¯t your original contract a temporary one as well, limited to building up the various cities and villages?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I guess it was,¡± Alin confessed, seeming lost in thought for a moment. ¡°A favor to your mother for all the times she¡¯d saved my life during the endless fights and battlefields we stood side-by-side in. I thought it only prudent to help rebuild all the places we¡¯d torn apart, but, well, I saw how your parents managed without me being around so who would I be to leave them alone? It¡¯s more fun being here instead of boarding myself up in the Academy like my peers do anyway.¡±

    ¡°It must still be stressful,¡± Elijah pointed out.

    ¡°Of course.¡± There was no hesitation in the reply. ¡°But that¡¯s what makes me keep going, the challenge of holding all of this together without hiring another aide. Yet¡­ Talking about ourselves is hardly a sign of politeness. Tell me a little about yourself, Elijah. Where¡¯d you grow up? I can¡¯t imagine it was close to here.¡±

    That probing wasn¡¯t subtle in the slightest, but he didn¡¯t mind it. Those questions had to come along at some point.

    ¡°I grew up closer to the southern parts, in a place called Fairwind,¡± Elijah lied, following the lines that he and Aleksi had prepared so many decades ago. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t recognize the village''s name, I believe me and my friend are the only parts that remain of it, but it wasn¡¯t a terrible place regardless. Only a month¡¯s travel from here on horseback, if you¡¯d believe it. Small, barely a hundred people, but with enough traders coming by that we were privy to most news of the world.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a nice place to grow up,¡± Alin said. There was a strange edge to his voice, one that hadn¡¯t appeared until now. ¡°A month of distance away¡­ that would put your home¡¯s destruction in the middle of the war, I believe?¡±

    ¡°We lost it five years after hearing of the first battles,¡± he confirmed. ¡°Raiders took it from us. Burnt it all down. Only luck allowed us to survive, and even then it was a close call.¡±

    Elijah had been there when they¡¯d burned down the village in question. He¡¯d only known that it was called Fairwind after he had plundered the storage house for anything that could be used in his work, finding a book detailing its history. It had stood for over a hundred years in relative peace, and his group had been able to demolish it in the span of six hours.

    The fires had spread so quickly, invigorated by the oils that he had prepared to accelerate the process.

    ¡°No need to say more, my friend,¡± Alin said when he grew silent for a moment. ¡°Talking of old times too often brings the wounds we¡¯d rather forget about.¡±

    He nodded in response.

    Some more small talk passed through, an hour or so passing while they drank the rest of the tea. When the skies above darkened slightly, hinting that rain would soon come, the meeting was put to an end quickly.

    ¡°We will have a wagon come by tomorrow morning to help bring all the equipment you¡¯ll want to keep up here,¡± Vera explained, Harper handing him some more precise times to work with a moment later. They had already agreed that not all his time would be up in the castle during the first month or so since he still had dealings with others in the meantime. The Dungeon Guard, Grace and her mother, and dozens of others still relied on him for their weekly batch of medicine. It had taken little convincing to let that arrangement be respected. ¡°If there¡¯s anything else you will need help with, you can ask for it tomorrow and we can probably make it happen.¡±

    ¡°The benefits of having the castle¡¯s resources at our fingertips,¡± Alin joked, rising from the table with a small groan. A cane manifested in his hand within a second of him reaching for support, a thud heard as it hit the floor. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking my leave first, as I¡¯m not a large fan of the rain. Vera, would you mind showing our friend the way back?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± the princess said. They bid the Earth Mage farewell, letting him leave through another path before the talking started up again. ¡°That wasn¡¯t as hard as I had feared. You did well, Elijah Caede.¡±

    ¡°I would hope so,¡± Elijah replied dryly, distracted as he mentally planned what would be brought up to the castle tomorrow. He knew that the laboratory up here had variants of all the equipment in his shop, but he doubted he would be accustomed to their versions. Since he had extras of nearly everything in storage, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to have some transferred here. ¡°Should I expect to find my house with an extra inhabitant when I get home?¡±

    ¡°Harper is needed elsewhere for the rest of the day, so you can rest easy,¡± Vera assured him before smiling. ¡°And, regardless, it already seems like you¡¯ve got a third and possibly fourth inside your home.¡±

    He didn¡¯t react to the comment, just staring the princess down while wondering how much she knew. It couldn¡¯t be everything, since he doubted he would¡¯ve secured the position in that event, but the woman before him was still a threat to the secrets he kept.

    ¡°If I find your assistant trying to search through my home, I will cut my time as the Royal Healer short,¡± Elijah said, moving away from the table and into the main chunk of the garden. ¡°I know my way out. No need to guide me.¡±

    ¡°If you say so.¡±

    Walking along the path, there was no feeling of being watched. No hints of the Mage that the princess kept under her payroll, no hairs on his neck that rose. It was a sign of trust, hopefully, one that he hoped would last through the day.

    As he walked down the spiral staircase, out the entry hall, out the entire castle area, and into the upper district, he felt himself gain a sense of calmness.

    Maybe it¡¯ll work out in the end.

    How wrong he was, when he entered the shop half an hour later and found the traps on the window on the second floor had been triggered. Drops of blood could be seen on the ground, some smeared out from a boot that had stepped on them.

    There¡¯d been intruders in their absence.

 Chapter 37: Fading Foxes

    Fox groaned as her left shoulder popped weirdly again. It¡¯d been feeling weird since last night when she¡¯d failed to push her way through the smaller window into some dumb kitchen. Was she getting bigger or were the windows getting smaller?

    ¡°Has to be the windows,¡± she muttered to herself in denial as she crawled down the roof of the building, making sure that her cloak was keeping her hidden from those below as she finally reached the windows on the second floor. She would¡¯ve done the first-floor ones again, but Fade had already gotten angry at her for messing those up the first time. ¡°Second-floor ones are bigger anyway. No tight squeezes today, thank you!¡±

    Her angry muttering continued as the window was closed up, a lock on the other side keeping it that way. If she¡¯d been less discrete, she would¡¯ve broken the glass panes at that, forcing her way inside, but Fade¡¯s words once again rang clear in her head.

    Be subtle. Don¡¯t get noticed.

    When did she ever mess up? Ignoring last night, and a few other times, she barely ever made mistakes!

    ¡°See?¡± she told the imaginary Fade in her head, as her quick lockpicking worked. A click could be heard, and she was able to pull open the window without the slightest screeching. ¡°Take that, Fade, you old hag! You think you know me, but you¡ª Ah, fuck!¡±

    With her strengths proven without a doubt, she had leaped inside triumphantly before finding her thigh cut up by an ultra-thin string she hadn¡¯t spotted.

    A trap.

    Somebody had made a trap meant for those climbing through one of several windows on the second floor.

    Fox was as baffled as she was in pain, clutching her thigh as blood continued to stain her new pants. She¡¯d just gotten them cleaned! Fade was going to kill her for this.

    ¡°Stupid wire, stupid pants, stupid Fang,¡± Fox continued to mutter as she pulled off the amulet around her neck. Clicking the side, a small needlepoint came out the underside, which she quickly jabbed into her thigh next to where she¡¯d been cut.

    Instant relief, the wound closing back up without a trace. The hint of green veins that briefly appeared meant Fade would tear her a new one for using the amulet twice in a single month, but it was needed to continue this job of theirs. Walking around dripping blood anywhere would hardly help them.

    ¡°Where are you two idiots hiding then?¡± Fox asked, pulling out the paper Fade had drawn for her. The old hag had been spending the past days walking around the area again and again, following their convoluted tracks. Some of their steps had put them back into the slums, and some minor ones going into the other half of the city, yet most of them led right back to here.

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    This¡­ herbalist shop that was small enough that nobody worth anything would give it a second glance. Fox didn¡¯t understand why those two half-dead people would be here, but she didn¡¯t question her orders. If she was ordered to search around then she would do so. She liked eating, after all.

    ¡°Where are you hiding?¡± she sang as if playing hide-and-seek with kids. Nobody answered, the house empty, but she kept on walking around. The other rooms on the second floor were checked through, nothing but scraps of food and uncleaned beds were found, and most of the first floor didn¡¯t prove good either. ¡°Oh my. Dried mango.¡±

    The kitchen wasn¡¯t too bad, though, when she popped a few into her mouth and kept up the search. At least the owners of the place had known how to be kind to thieves, revealing where they were hiding all the good snacks.

    Big door.

    She noted as much after looking through the shop for anything worth taking with her and walking down the small hallway. Opposite the way up to the second floor was another door, though this one looked different than the others. The hinge straps were bigger, it looked thicker, and Fox had to push hard to open it up.

    ¡°How do the old fucks living here get this open every day?¡± she muttered angrily, pushing her way inside while wrinkling her nose at the smell. ¡°Fade¡¯s dream right here.¡±

    Following standard procedures, she searched through the different shelves to see if anything was worthy of falling into her pockets. Ignoring the shiny tools, the bottled leaves, and the burners that they already had plenty of, there wasn¡¯t much that really struck her as too important. A door was at the end of the room, though so she¡ª

    A quack interrupted her thoughts, Fox jumping back with her dagger at the ready instantly. She wavered in her concentration, however, as she saw the source of the sound.

    A duck?

    A duck.

    There was a duck on the far end of the room, standing on a dirt-filled table. It looked at her for another second before turning its head around and nibbling on its fur for some stupid duck reason.

    ¡°Why do they have a duck?¡± Fox asked, not getting any proper answers from the bird in question. Very rude, to be honest. ¡°At least you¡¯re cute. Do you mind if I touch you?¡±

    The golden fuzz that covered its body was undeniably enticing, making her want to scratch it just a little. As her hand reached for the animal, though, it quickly noticed and tried to bite at her fingers.

    ¡°Rude,¡± she commented, already swinging her blade to cut off the head before Fade¡¯s words rang through her head again. No killing or making obvious signs of being here. ¡°It¡¯s your lucky day, duck. Next time I¡¯ll cut you up and make your fuzz into a little pillow.¡±

    It didn¡¯t react, just quacking at her while she continued over to the other door. Opening it up, there was nothing but some boring purple flowers that smelled weird, so she went over to search the rest of the house.

    Not that there was much more to really check through. A storage room with nothing of note, a basement that only had empty crates, and the kitchen¡¯s drawers which had a small bag of dried apricots that she didn¡¯t think important enough to leave alone.

    A waste of time, all in all.

    ¡°Fade¡¯s not gonna be happy about this,¡± Fox murmured, going back up the stairs and leaving the way she¡¯d arrived. The windows were closed, shaken up so the lock was put back into place, and then she was on her way. ¡°I wonder what¡¯s for dinner.¡±

 Chapter 38: My Eyes

    ¡®Can you just tell me what they looked like?¡¯ Elijah tried for the tenth time, as he sat next to the evolved plant duck. He¡¯d searched through the entirety of the house on his own several times, checking and rechecking that nobody was hiding around without his notice. Since he hadn¡¯t felt anything akin to the strangeness when the princess¡¯ assistant had used her abilities, he assumed it was another party behind it, yet that didn¡¯t comfort him in the slightest. ¡®Or, since you have eyes now, send me the memory of you spotting them.¡¯

    Luckily, or unluckily if Elijah¡¯s current mood was put into the situation, the altered plant had spotted the thief in question while they had been walking around the house. They¡¯d apparently said some strange things to the duck, attempting to touch it before being deterred by its inability to see them as anything but food to bite at.

    Elijah didn¡¯t care about that, though, just wanting more details about the thief. Their appearance, how they had acted, if they seemed to be searching for something specific, all questions that a plant that had evolved to look like a duck had no reason to answer. It had no reason to even know how to answer, honestly, which was why he was dealing with his current dilemma of trying to wrestle out some form of useful information.

    ¡®I can show,¡¯ the plant tried, spending several minutes sending over everything it had seen during that day. ¡®Do you see?¡¯

    Elijah did not, in fact, see the thief in his mind¡¯s eye. He didn¡¯t see much of anything that made sense for that matter, as the sensory information he had been sent did not match up with his own view of the world. The color spectrum had been rotated and added to, nuances in colors never seen before distracting them from everything else. Black beyond black, white with added colors while somehow retaining both truths. It didn¡¯t make sense, and his understanding of the visual spectrum was forced to expand as he looked through more and more of the plant¡¯s memories. Where it had gotten the ability to see like this only made more questions pop up.

    Yet that was all thrown away in favor of finally looking at some version of the thief in question. They were the wrong color, Elijah doubted their skin was entirely blue and red in reality, but the physical features were still prominent enough for him to see.

    A younger woman¡¯s face, looking to be 20 at the oldest, with a dagger in hand that glowed a sickly green. It had been very close to the plant¡¯s head at one point as if the thief had been a moment away from cutting it into pieces, but they had walked by seconds later without giving the fake animal a second glance.

    Stranger and stranger.

    He saw in the memories that they¡¯d looked through the small room attached to the laboratory, making him recheck yet again that the Luna Nightshade was undisturbed. While some of the leaves seemed off position from the last time he¡¯d taken a look, they were still alive and relatively healthy.

    ¡®Will the food come back?¡¯ the plant asked innocently. ¡®I didn¡¯t get any.¡¯

    ¡®Hopefully not,¡¯ Elijah replied, sending the fake animal a bit of Mana to help make the disappointment easier to handle. He really needed to make it lean away from the tendency to look at other humans as food. ¡®Have you improved with your mobility while I was away?¡¯

    ¡®Yes!¡¯

    What followed was a surprising display of the wings being unfolded and stretched out in all their glory. The fake feathers on the inside had even shifted in color, changing to a more muted coloring due to some structural improvements that had been done. Elijah was impressed, but even more when the plant bravely went over to the edge and jumped off.

    He instantly reached out to grab the plant before it dived into the floor and splattered, but Elijah could only widen his eyes when the opposite happened. Instead of a straight fall, it glided at a generous angle, a few beatings of the wings even bringing it up a little higher.

    It only lasted for some ten seconds before the plant was tired out, rolling around as it landed on the ground unharmed, but Elijah was impressed regardless.

    ¡®How long can you last without your roots now?¡¯ he asked, carrying the plant back onto the table where it immediately reconnected to the earth. He could easily see as its reserves were refilled, all the energy lost being regained within mere seconds.

    ¡®Longer,¡¯ the plant said, which was all Elijah could really ask for. ¡®I¡¯m denser now.¡¯

    So it was. While reducing its weight somewhat, to make flying and gliding much easier to maintain, the density of the Mana in its main body had massively increased. Every spot previously empty had been remade again and again until the Mana was spread out as much as it possibly could.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    The full body worked as a Core instead of a single organ being granted that function. Elijah was mildly jealous of plants having such an ability since it allowed them to store much more Mana in smaller bodies than most Mages could manage, but there was nothing to do about that.

    Looking at the clock hanging on the wall, he noticed time running out. There were still some tests that he wanted to do regarding using the plant¡¯s concentrated petals for healing paste, and if it was possible to further increase the effects through distilling it even further, but that needed to wait as he ventured out of the house to grab Sasha from Cleo¡¯s grasp.

    No issues needed fixing, and the woman was ready at the door to be brought back. He did spot a few blue marks on their face and arms, along with bruised knuckles, but he didn¡¯t question it until they had arrived back in the house.

    Aleksi and Jack had likewise arrived as well by that time, allowing the recapping of the various events to be explained. None were fans of the intruders that had searched through the house, but there was nothing to do about that other than increase the lethality of traps alongside be more guarded.

    As for the others¡­

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know they still used the fighting ring,¡± Elijah commented as Sasha recounted her time with Cas. He wasn¡¯t a fan of the man himself, the Chronomancer always knowing too much about him. It was never explicitly said what he did and didn''t do, but the way he spoke to Elijah always implied that he was about to spill his more vital secrets at any point. ¡°But that hardly matters compared to the wreck of a meeting with the Prince.¡±

    To learn that Elijah hadn¡¯t been the one with the most notable interaction with royalty that day hadn¡¯t been fun. Not because of jealousy but because it required quite a mess-up to even compare with him.

    Breaking the nose of the third child of the King certainly managed that.

    ¡°And here I thought I would be at the top for the day,¡± Jack muttered, messing around with the steel gadget in his hands, taking apart a section before putting it back into place. ¡°Got several complaints by the neighbors, you know?¡±

    Elijah had heard as much from Aleksi. The¡­ pistols, as he had put it, were very dangerous weapons, though he could see the potential in them. An explosive powder that could be stored for years, used to shoot out a deadly projectile that could travel for hundreds of meters. It required training to do, of course, but training that any regular person could receive.

    It put the power usually reserved for Mages into the hands of the normal man.

    A horrifying concept, in all honesty.

    ¡°Don¡¯t fire that inside here,¡± Elijah warned, finishing up removing Sasha¡¯s wounds. Anybody who looked at her now would be none the wiser about the blue lines that had riddled her core body. ¡°Aleksi told me about how loud that can be.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have anywhere near enough gunpowder left to make bullets, so don¡¯t worry about that,¡± Jack replied, pausing with his fiddling a moment later. ¡°On that topic, is there any chance of getting into the Dungeon soon?¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t mind the extra boost with more Mana in the air,¡± the man explained. ¡°And, if I want a full magazine before the end of the month, I¡¯ll need to expand my reserves somehow. That growth method you talked about accepts both being inside a Dungeon and killing monsters, right? Wouldn¡¯t hurt to try it out.¡±

    ¡­

    Not a bad idea, actually.

    Not the part about bringing the Metamancer into the Dungeon. That was a ridiculous thought at the moment, with how tense the security around the entrance to the depths was. Elijah wasn¡¯t about to risk having Jack show up there and have every guard worth their salt recognize the faces that they just a few days before had been hanging up on every wall and storefront they could find.

    But Elijah going into the depths himself, and using the ambient energy to increase the size of his reservoirs? That wasn¡¯t a terrible plan.

    While it wouldn¡¯t be possible to do before, as his and Olivia¡¯s deal only granted him access now and then, he wasn¡¯t sure that he would be rejected anymore. While Elijah wouldn¡¯t be granted the position of Royal Healer in the official sense until tomorrow afternoon, he¡¯d already been handed his emblem to show off his connection to the royals. It was to be used when entering the castle and any other area that required permission.

    And the Dungeon was on that list.

    ¡°When I know I can get through the entrance with followers that don¡¯t need to be checked on, I¡¯ll try bringing you inside,¡± Elijah promised. ¡°Until that time, I think the trips into the Dungeon will be restricted to Aleksi and me.¡±

    ¡°You talk like you want to leave them here alone,¡± Aleksi commented. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s a good idea?¡±

    Elijah didn¡¯t, though he wasn¡¯t sure what else to do. Starting the next day, it would be a necessity since he would be spending his time within the castle walls while they would be holed up in the shop themselves. Bringing them to Cleo would be a possibility, but the ordeal with the third prince made him feel uncomfortable leaving the duo in a place where the Royal could find them and order their deaths.

    Even Cleo won¡¯t be able to stop that from happening.

    ¡°Since we¡¯re going to be forced to do as much soon, we need something that will stop intruders from entering through the windows more effectively,¡± Elijah said. His thought was to board everything up, making it a requirement to remove layers of wood to enter, but that would be too obvious from the street and cause questions he didn¡¯t want to answer. And, since the thief that had already been here knew of their usual trap, he would need something more not seen before. ¡°Thorny vines could do the trick.¡±

    ¡°Snarethorn?¡± Aleksi questioned, catching on quickly. ¡°That¡¯s down one floor further than what we went down to last time.¡±

    ¡°Just within the depth where we can manage any attacks,¡± he added. ¡°The first floors have already been cleared recently with the Dungeon Break. The ones further down will be cleared by the Royal Guards from tomorrow morning and onwards.¡±

    That small bit of information had been heard during his time in the Royal Garden earlier, Vera having explained that as the reason why he hadn¡¯t been able to meet her older brother. They were too busy gearing up and preparing for the true cleansing of the Dungeon, where they would kill everything that had the slightest chance of proving a threat to the populace above.

    ¡°... Fine, but I¡¯m bringing elixir to be safe.¡±

 Chapter 39: Hidden Thorns

    Just like that, they were ready to leave once again. Emergency supplies were prepared in minutes, weapons were sharpened and put into their sheaths, and the two others were left behind in the shop while they went down the street at a good pace.

    It wasn¡¯t night just yet, though the sky had started to darken from more than just the gray clouds above. In an hour or two, the summer sun would fall beneath the horizon, and the night would begin in full.

    Elijah hoped to be done before night was too far along. If they were able to acquire what they needed and allow him to repeat the technique used before, it would be a great boon.

    ¡°What are you two doing here?¡± he heard Olivia shout at them as they entered the city center and approached the pillars. Some twenty guards were stationed at the Dungeon entrance, many more than there normally were but these circumstances weren¡¯t normal either. ¡°If you¡¯re hoping to get in a third this week, Elijah, I can¡¯t help you. Shit¡¯s closed down until they¡¯ve gotten a proper team in there.¡±

    ¡°Good evening to you too, Olivia,¡± Elijah said, the head guard just shaking her head. ¡°And, yes, I¡¯m hoping to get in. This time without you possibly getting in trouble for it.¡±

    ¡°What the fuck do you mean by¡ª¡± Olivia began to respond, in the most polite fashion currently possible for her, before seeing the shine of the emblem Elijah pulled out of his pocket. ¡°Well. Should I ask who you¡¯ve killed to have that on you?¡±

    That she didn¡¯t sound like she was joking but just uncaring told volumes about how much recent stress had hit the woman.

    ¡°You heard about the old Royal Healer dying?¡± Aleksi said, the guard narrowing her eyes in response. ¡°Somebody got approached after their ¡®heroic actions¡¯ yesterday and was given the position for the next six months.¡±

    ¡°That¡­ Why do I even try to follow along with whatever happens in this city anymore?¡± Olivia complained, a hand over her face while she muttered some ugly words. ¡°Whatever. If you want an entry into the Dungeon, I can grant it. Just come over to me after you¡¯re done, and fill out the forms that stop me from having my ass handed to me in the morning.¡±

    They promised to do as much, before heading to the Dungeon entrance. The gate wasn¡¯t raised as they approached, the guards there instead guiding them to the sizable hole cut through it. Most of it seemed to have been done by the monsters from the day before, yet it had clearly been widened to allow for the Royal Guards who¡¯d been there earlier today easier access.

    And that blood on the edges¡­

    He could at least console his mind, with the fact that the off-coloured stains didn¡¯t seem to have human origin.

    The first thirty minutes of walking through down into the Dungeon proved as boring as usual. As they continued down the easy descent, the density of Mana steadily increased with the regular levels as well, matching what Elijah had felt days before.

    When going past the initial caverns, and further down the next layer where the worms had previously attacked, there was only one difference to notice.

    Or maybe calling them piles of differences was better?

    ¡°Half-decayed worms and fliers,¡± Alekii commented, poking the nearest pile with the tip of his axe. The shell of the first created offered no resistance, caving in instantly. ¡°The Dungeon reclaiming whatever it can get from them?¡±

    ¡°I suppose so,¡± Elijah replied, grimacing as the pile began to fall apart from the giant¡¯s poking. The creatures were more liquid than anything else now, their insides emptied out and steadily pooling onto the rocky ground around them. ¡°Let¡¯s go before it gets worse.¡±

    That there was a pile of monsters every fifty meters or so said a lot about how the population of monsters had skyrocketed recently. There would barely be a quarter of the amount seen on this floor alone, making Elijah wonder if those floors below had simply been pushed up and stayed here, or if the depths just had increased its population count so massively as of late.

    The running theory of Dungeon Break, a theory that had been proved many times before, was the emergence of a much stronger beast much further below that pushed everything upwards as an attempt to claim a larger area of its own. This then snowballed until the tighter spaces further up weren¡¯t enough to host so many creatures, making them spill out en masse.

    Not the greatest thing in the world, and it brought enough corpses that the Dungeon wasn¡¯t able to clear out the organic matter before the stench felt unbearable. While Elijah had learned to ignore the smell, having worked with herbs fouler than rotten eggs, the giant wore a constant grimace.

    ¡°It¡¯ll improve once we go down further,¡± Elijah promised, as they found the entrance to the next floor. It was here that they¡¯d stopped last time, already having filled up their bags, but that wasn¡¯t their main goal anymore. ¡°The Snarethorn should start appearing once we¡¯re down there.¡±

    Otherwise, it was about the same as what one could expect from the floor they already stood on. Piles of corpses, maybe a few more of those half-trees that sprouted, and, finally, the first type of plant that was somewhat hostile to anybody that got too close.

    ¡°Right,¡± Aleksi said, looking down the tunnel leading to the next floor warily. ¡°Say if you feel anything.¡±

    The giant was worried about the Dungeon interacting with them again. It was a risk that Elijah hadn¡¯t thought much about, honestly. Their last encounter in the depths had happened with him forming a very temporary bond with the mind of the Dungeon, though calling it that felt weird. It was alive in the same sense that the Sundrop Flower in the house was alive. Sentient but primal, able to talk like a person but still lacking the true edge of intelligence.

    Dangerous, regardless, and Elijah was ready to turn around the second anything hinted at that mind focusing on them.

    Steeper than expected.

    They delved further down, having to watch their footing as the steeper parts of the tunnel almost had them falling. There were enough holds and crevices that it wouldn¡¯t be impossible to get up, but watching one¡¯s footing was paramount. Elijah was just happy that this kind of steepness was all he personally had to manage, knowing the tales of what it was like further down. After the 10th or so layer, there were several sections where a person would need to climb down a completely vertical wall, filled with razor-sharp edges and no place that could fit a rope comfortably.

    It was great that the torture of getting down wasn¡¯t a long one for the two either, as barely a minute needed to pass before they reached flat ground again.

    The air was even thicker with Mana here than it was on the other floor, Elijah needed to breathe for a few minutes as his senses adjusted to the sensation. He had to focus on muting the feeling of magic, to reach a new baseline or feel himself constantly surrounded by a world exuding the same energy as a certain Earth Mage he¡¯d met earlier that day.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Breathing to even out the pressure inside, channeling through your body to accelerate the process, and isolating parts into your sight to let it see what is hidden.

    By the end, he felt like weight was put off his body, Elijah standing a little taller than usual as his back wasn¡¯t hampered too badly.

    ¡°So the thing that finally let you have good spinal health was being in a deadly Dungeon hundreds of meters below the surface?¡± Aleksi questioned, getting a staredown in response. ¡°Just saying.¡±

    ¡°Keep moving,¡± Elijah ordered, not bothering to entertain the chuckling giant as he looked around. ¡°We should be able to find some of them here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye out,¡± Aleksi promised, slowing down as a putrid smell once again began to reach them. ¡°There¡¯s more than worms down here.¡±

    The flying insects and the foxes that had stood by the giant centipedes on the surface were in piles like on the other floor, fur and wings melting like ice and dropping onto the floor gradually. Elijah was disgusted by the sight, though he was likewise happy that the guards had been down here as well. They had reached somewhere close to the edge of what had been cleared, and seeing that the area had still not been repopulated meant they were without having to worry too much.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Elijah asked when the giant walked over to the nearest pile. He frowned when one hand ripped off the liquidized head of one of the foxes, before picking out the fangs that had sat in its mouth. ¡°Put that down before I have to bring out the disinfectant, please.¡±

    ¡°I doubt that there¡¯s much disease still alive in this thing,¡± Aleksi assured him, though it meant little to Elijah when he watched the giant take the last teeth of the fox before throwing the head away and returning to him. ¡°Take a look at these.¡±

    He did as asked, taking one from Aleksi¡¯s palm and studying the fang. It was bleached white, the original surface already absorbed by the Dungeon air, and not too hard to break in two. Elijah needed to put as much effort into breaking it as he would for a hard-boiled egg.

    The Mana inside the powder that came from it, though¡­ with the fleshy parts already gone, he was left with mostly Poor Man¡¯s Calcium. Not the typical variant of it either, since this had a higher density of Mana inside it than Elijah could personally boast of.

    ¡°The body parts of monsters further down are worth a lot because of the Mana they¡¯ve got inside them,¡± Aleksi reminded him. ¡°Used for magical reagents in rituals, lots of types of alchemy, and, in our social group specifically, as an added boost to productivity when transmuting powders.¡±

    He was collecting them for Jack to use.

    Elijah should¡¯ve realized, wondering what the giant could¡¯ve seen in the teeth. This¡­ wasn¡¯t a bad idea at all. Though they hadn¡¯t been able to talk much about it before they left, one of the discoveries during the man¡¯s time at the smithy was the varying costs when transmuting one material into another. It wasn¡¯t just the amount that needed to be altered that decided the cost of the process, but also the difference in composition, the difference in density, and how much magical power was already present in the original material to supplement with.

    That last part was discovered when the man noticed the amounts of pollen he could alter into gunpowder changing based on the age of the pollen. Since the material gradually lost Mana when not connected to its original source, the connection was made and Elijah had been asked to make a recent batch every now and then to help him. Not the hardest request in the world, but it wasn¡¯t sustainable.

    This wasn¡¯t either, but it had more than five times the density that the pollen produced by the plants in the shop could boast about, so he was sure that the younger man wouldn¡¯t complain too much about not getting into the dungeon himself.

    They filled a small bag with the teeth until they had about a kilo to work with, putting it away and continuing once again.

    Piles decreased as they moved further into the area, the half-trees likewise becoming more and more dense until it seemed like they were surrounded by a miniature forest. The glowing blue moss could still be seen on the ceiling twenty meters above, but the branches of the plants almost reached just as high.

    Low visibility.

    Not a fun environment to be in, when looking for a type of plant that was known for its ability to hide well.

    It hid so well, in fact, that Aleksi wasn¡¯t the first to discover it while walking ahead a few meters. Elijah was, using not his eyes or magical senses, but instead his left foot.

    ¡°Snarethorn!¡± he announced loudly, feeling the softness under the shoe for a moment before what felt like a thorned whip slapped onto his left leg. Painful but manageable, until Elijah was forced to balance and instinctively tried to pull away from the plant.

    It lived up to its namesake by instantly retaliating, tightening the hold around his leg enough to draw blood while trying to increase its hold on the limb by going further and further up.

    Elijah gritted his teeth, pulling out his dagger to cut off the plant from its stem but Aleksi was faster. A swing of the axe cut off the tendril that had latched out from the ground, and another halved the flat plant that had been hidden in a small crevasse.

    The few parts of the plant that continued moving shut down at that, the vital parts unable to supply the energy required for normal operation.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Elijah said, slowly unwrapping the vine from his foot while trying to avoid scratching his skin further with the sharp thorns. A quick application of healing paste was then able to close up most of the wounds, at least ending the bleeding in most places. ¡°Let¡¯s see if this pain was worth it.¡±

    Unlike most other plants that had a generally identical structure throughout its entire body, the Snarethorn was more advanced in that aspect. Different sections of the body performed different tasks. There was the main chunk in the center, handling the vine that could be moved at will, the layer around it that was focused on absorbing and processing the feed that came from successful kills, and then the energy storage that kept everything nice and safe while also connecting to the roots below to firmly have it in place.

    And, finally, there were the brains of the entire operation. Calling it the heart or sac didn''t sit too far from the truth either, Elijah supposed. It was located below everything else, just where the roots started, and it was what controlled most of everything else along with storing the seeds for future Snarethorns that could be shot out through the vine.

    It was the part that made the plant ¡®smart.¡¯ Not smart to the point where it was at the level of the fake animal in his shop, or the Dungeon that controlled the place they stood in, but enough that it was a step above the common herb.

    ¡°Enough seeds to start with,¡± Elijah commented, counting the twenty balls in his hand. They were spiky, ready to pierce his skin if he tried crushing them, but he had no intention of trying such a thing. They were too valuable for his future project. ¡°Should be enough to work within the shop.¡±

    ¡°So the first half of our work down here is done?¡±

    ¡°Looks that way.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡±

    While there was a mild desire to explore further in, to see if enhanced herbs could be found, Elijah instead followed Aleksi to the tunnel that would lead them upwards and into the previously visited floors.

    They didn¡¯t go up just yet, however, settling down just before it as Elijah began to feel the surrounding air.

    Thick enough to drink, ready to be used by anybody willing.

    ¡°Since I have some experience with it now, the entire process should take less than two hours,¡± Elijah explained as he made himself comfortable. Aleksi just stood above him, looking amused by the attempts to find comfort next to stalactites that were ready to impale him if given the chance. ¡°I don¡¯t expect anything to come at that time, but if you could watch out until I¡¯m done it would be appreciated.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I understand my role here,¡± Aleksi replied, waving away the explanation as he put down the axe. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know if anything is coming to kill us and take care of whatever it is while you finish what you¡¯ve started.¡±

    That sounded good enough for Elijah, as he began to isolate himself from the outside. His eyes were closed, the sound was tuned out, and the smell of the cavern became nothing in his inner world. There were only his thoughts and the Core floating around, waiting to be called upon.

    Let¡¯s do this.

 Chapter 40: Still Human

    With a practiced hand, the outer layer of the Core was peeled off, made to float a small distance away from the internal parts. It was easy, though Elijah felt some stirring while looking at the growth under it.

    The natural method he was using was never meant to be pretty, but seeing the random crystallization properly made his stomach churn. It wasn¡¯t close to the fractal beauty that came from the Academy and nor was it akin to the natural world in its pattern. There were no patterns.

    It was chaos.

    Chaos that he would add onto soon. Before that, he had to fulfill the requirements that came from a technique known as ¡®Layer-Based Growth,¡¯ by making a new layer inside his Core. While the main parts were always chaos, two separate instances of it rarely worked well together. That was why he had to create a small distance between the two by manifesting a layer of pure Mana.

    The requirements were simple. Not too thick or thin, as perfectly spherical as possible, and made with no Mana that hadn¡¯t been sitting within his body for at least a day. Any outside influences on the layer could mean a possible imbalance, and nobody wanted that to happen.

    There was some level of forgiveness at this point, a few flaws not being the end of the world, but enough imperfections meant that the increases wouldn¡¯t be as high as they could¡¯ve been.

    For good reason, Elijah spent many minutes forming the shape needed, checking it over several times before putting it into place and willing it to crystalize without changing its form in the process. Though there were a few spots that carried small indentations, and though the malformations already present in the previous growth caused some empty space, the final shape wasn¡¯t something he could be angry about.

    From that point onwards, it was mostly the same as he had done in the past, though this time it was on a larger scale. With a sphere increasing in radius linearly, the volume inside grew cubically. That meant having to herd more ambient Mana into the space between the peeled-off surface of the Core and the layer created minutes ago.

    It was a challenging endeavor, truthfully, as it required a long time with no loss of focus. The amounts that had to be contained made it so easy for chunks to slip out and cost him many minutes of work.

    Yet he persisted, seconds growing into minutes and minutes growing into a full hour of diligence. By the time he could feel his mind starting to waver, it was done. After what Elijah had grown to think of as the easiest step of them all.

    Making the ambient Mana trapped inside crystallize without forcing a certain shape. It had taken so long to do during the last attempt, but back then he hadn¡¯t been sure of how to truly go about it. Now, with the hours of fiddling around already completed beforehand, it barely took any time at all, with instant steady progress.

    Hmm.

    It was interesting how the crystallization formed when compared with the first attempt. While this one had much larger strokes and formations that contained spirals, the other was much more wild with its geometric mess of clusters. Instead of anything in larger consistency, there were constant shifts between different basic shapes. Squares, triangles, and sharp edges with no real connections.

    The difference between a river floor created over a thousand years ago and an area revealed by an earthquake. One was safe to the touch while the other would cut you up into a thousand pieces, yet both were equally valid.

    I¡¯d rather have the second one for everything, though.

    Maybe it was some part of his mind that retained animalistic instincts, but Elijah was much more comfortable with the smoothed shapes. He knew when looking closer at it that it was still a hive of destructive potential, but the consistency made his brain see it as inherently superior regardless.

    However, when he was halfway through the process, at most needing ten minutes more to finish, he could feel a disturbance to his Core. A subtle one that made the spiral waves shatter, breaking off into smaller versions as they continued to grow. Elijah didn¡¯t interfere, knowing the rules that came with the usage of this technique, yet that feeling of wrongness was impossible to ignore.

    And it only got worse when he realized it didn¡¯t just come from his Core, but also the presence surrounding it.

    ¡®You have changed more.¡¯

    The words made his inner world tremble, Elijah¡¯s exposed core being infested with the observations and altering on their command. He couldn¡¯t stop the influence and neither could he halt the process.

    His heart quickened but he forced it down, refusing to leave his meditative state.

    ¡®Yes,¡¯ he replied. ¡®Is that a problem?¡¯

    ¡®You have changed in how you change,¡¯ the Dungeon said. The voice was perhaps meant to be quiet and analytical, but the sheer power that each word carried made it a battle to maintain his integrity. ¡®Less human. More different. More natural.¡¯

    A flood of images was forced into Elijah, carrying more weight in memories than his entire lifespan had been able to create. So much knowledge, so much that he didn¡¯t understand, and so much that shouldn¡¯t have made sense. It was¡­ different.

    ¡®Different,¡¯ he sent back, before he knew what he was doing. ¡®Still human.¡¯

    ¡®Still human,¡¯ the Dungeon agreed. ¡®Useful human.¡¯

    Another flood of images, accompanied by the last screams of thousands of creatures. The demise of humans, of insects, of beasts, of abhorrent existences, of a dragon, and¡­ was¡ª

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    The two that he had found half-dead in the street were being pulled out of a black void, a hundred eyes staring down at them.

    ¡®Remove,¡¯ it ordered, but Elijah couldn¡¯t understand what it meant. ¡®They are not welcome here.¡¯

    ¡®Who?¡¯ he questioned. ¡®Those two?¡¯

    ¡®No,¡¯ the Dungeon said. ¡®The unwelcome. Remove them.¡¯

    A last round of images was put into one, showing an amalgamation of half-faces that Elijah couldn¡¯t understand anything from. Only the purple robes, lit up by the glowing moss, could be identified.

    The Royal Mages.

    ¡®Yes. Be useful. Remove the unwelcome.¡¯

    He didn¡¯t even need to send his thoughts out for the Dungeon to know of them, so omnipresent was the mind when inside the caverns. Elijah wasn¡¯t a fan of that fact, wasn¡¯t a fan of the power it left behind in its wake, but he could do nothing but return to the process that had already finished while he¡¯d been distracted.

    All of it was finished, actually. The Dungeon had somehow known what to do, allowing the crystallization to finish before wrapping it firmly and channeling Mana through until it was fully settled together with the rest of the Core.

    Incredible.

    ¡°Hey, you in there?¡±

    Elijah began to slowly open his eyes when a mild slap was felt on his cheek. He glared at the giant responsible but didn¡¯t get any sympathy for his efforts.

    ¡°Been a little over three hours,¡± Aleksi informed him. ¡°You said it would be around two. What¡¯s happening?¡±

    Three hours?

    He could¡¯ve sworn that the first had barely passed him by, when¡­

    Right.

    ¡°The Dungeon decided to invade my mind for a while, as I was doing the sensitive part of the process,¡± Elijah explained, the giant not looking to take it well. ¡°Sent me¡­ images of some people it wanted gone. Thought that I would do it since I¡¯d talked to it before.¡±

    ¡°Did it mess up your growing tricks?¡± Aleksi asked, which Elijah promised him it hadn¡¯t. Not that he could tell, at least, though his body might have still been behind on the consequences that came from it. Time would tell. ¡°That¡¯s at least something. Who does it want gone, though?¡±

    ¡°The Royal Mages,¡± he said, trying to go through the images and scenes that had been forced into his head. Apparently, he¡¯d spent nearly an hour just looking at it all already, yet the memories were fading faster than they could appear. Unlike normal echoes of his past, these had no ability to stick properly. ¡°I¡­ I think they were in here doing something? It kept showing me various beasts dying over and over again. Might¡¯ve been a dragon at some point? Jack and Sasha were there at the end, at least.¡±

    ¡°Always fun to hear how much wrongness there is,¡± the giant commented, helping Elijah up before he could brush himself off. ¡°No monsters have come around, but I¡¯ve started hearing some scuttling further away. We¡¯re leaving before they decide to pay us a visit.¡±

    Elijah didn¡¯t reject the idea, though he spent a moment opening up his Status. With the Dungeon working hard to refill his Core, the thick density of Mana working in his favor, he could already now see what the increase had allowed for.

    Name: Elijah Caede

    Affinity: Biomancy

    Mana: 631

    Spells:

    [Accelerate Growth](Tier 1)

    [Plant Bond](Tier 1)

    [Animal Bond](Tier 2)

    [???](Tier 2)

    By the looks of it, he had gotten something just under a 20% increase in his capacity. Not a bad trade, though the downward trend from the 30% the last time had him a little worried. Would the next layer only provide 10%? Elijah wouldn¡¯t know until he tried it, and, since that required a Mana density around him much higher than the one he sat in now, that wasn¡¯t going to happen soon.

    Wait, what is that?

    He¡¯d been ready to move away from the Status shown to him by the world until his eyes fell on the Spell section. Right below Animal Bond, the third and presumed last spell in his arsenal sat a new ability. It had no name, only question marks, yet the Tier was 2 just like the spell before it.

    A byproduct of his conversation with the Dungeon? Perhaps, though that didn¡¯t mean much when he couldn¡¯t see the name of the spell. It didn¡¯t innately call to him from within either, not allowing him to manifest whatever effects it could provide.

    ¡°Are you coming?¡± Aleksi asked, the giant already walking up the tunnel. Elijah put away the information for later, as he followed at as fast a pace as he could manage. Three hours of meditation had made his legs grow colder than he intended, and it took a sizable effort to follow along as required.

    It took them nearly an hour to finally trek through the floors they¡¯d been in before. The corpses seen on those layers before, and the piles they¡¯d been stacked in, were all gone when they walked through. There were no traces of life present in the areas, other than the plants that kept swaying in sync with an invisible wind only they could feel.

    Or maybe Elijah could feel it now as well, something pressing against his skin as he walked along. It was prickly, with a thousand eyes and a mind that never stopped focusing on him. It never stopped focusing on anything within its body.

    The Dungeon.

    Instinct made him shudder as they reached through the first caverns and onto the tunnel that they¡¯d originally come through, just five minutes away from the surface once again. The eyes following them tried as best as they could, but the influence the Dungeon had over something so close to the top was negligible, changing the prickling sensation to one isolated behind the duo as eyes looked on from a distance.

    ¡°Are you cold?¡± Aleksi asked, seeing the shivers from Elijah as they became able to see the end of the tunnel. Night had come, and the cloud-free sky did not hold in the heat well, but the summer months were not as ruthless as those in winter. ¡°It¡¯s a little early for that.¡±

    ¡°Not cold,¡± Elijah assured the giant. ¡°Just tired.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± came the response. ¡°Shivering from tiredness. We¡¯ve all been there.¡±

    His blank stare made Aleksi laugh, the giant finding humor in the strangest of things. Maybe it was less for him as it was for the Dungeon Guards ahead, as heads turned and torches were put aside to welcome them back from their journey.

    ¡°I see you both made it out fine,¡± Fred commented, looking them up and down. ¡°No bags this time?¡±

    ¡°Just a few smaller ones,¡± Elijah replied, pulling out the one with the fox teeth. Fred barely needed a look inside before grimacing, the cracked fangs not being a pretty sight. ¡°We needed a few ingredients for my work starting tomorrow, and the prospect of waiting several days for somebody to fetch them for us didn¡¯t seem¡­ worth it.¡±

    ¡°Hands-on as always,¡± the guard joked, getting a chuckle out of the giant at least. ¡°Olivia¡¯s in the office over there. She said I had to direct you over there, as she has some forms you need to fill out. Seemed angry.¡±

    ¡°Olivia did mention it before we went in, thank you,¡± Elijah responded, him and Aleksi moving over.

 Chapter 41: Shadows of Change

    The door into the office was already ajar slightly, which meant the two let themselves in while Olivia continued to sit at her desk muttering to herself. The giant closed the door when they were both inside, making her finally look up at them. ¡°What forms are going to be our headache for tonight then?¡±

    ¡°Over at that shelf, take one of each that starts with ¡®RH-17¡¯ and there should be another one directly to the side that says ¡®AH-13,¡¯¡± Olivia listed off without a pause, years of civic duty making her memorize the names better than most other people currently alive. Aleksi was sent to find the papers mentioned, while Elijah found a pencil that was deemed acceptable. ¡°I¡¯ll have them sent to the castle for archival purposes. If they think it¡¯s weird that you¡¯re in the dungeon before even being instated properly, which I¡¯m guessing they will, you¡¯re going to have to fill out some more forms tomorrow. Not my mess though, so who cares?¡±

    ¡°Always a positive attitude to have,¡± Elijah commented dryly, accepting the papers from Aleksi and sitting down to fill out the different sections.

    Most of it was incredibly repetitive, and included him just ensuring whoever was going to be reading the documents that, yes, he was actually Elijah Caede, yes, he was doing this on his own volition, and, yes, he wasn¡¯t planning to kill any Royalty or cheat in taxes by going into the Dungeon outside of registered times. It was much the same with Aleksi¡¯s documentation, though the giant likewise had to fill out how he¡¯d been ¡®hired¡¯ to follow Elijah into the Dungeon and what type of payment was being used. Not a fun time.

    ¡°Having a positive attitude right now isn¡¯t very easy,¡± Olivia replied after spending a minute focusing on writing a letter. Elijah narrowed his eyes at the sight, when it was put in a sizable pile of other letters like it, and especially when some more paper was grabbed to start on a new one. ¡°It¡¯s letters to the family of the deceased if you¡¯re wondering. The standard protocol is to just use the standard ones, but¡­ doesn¡¯t feel right when there are this many at once. Have to make it personal.¡±

    Elijah didn¡¯t offer a comment, just sitting in place for a moment as reality settled in. He could count some fifteen letters already written and prepared for send-off. Fifteen letters to fifteen different families, all caused by a guard who died in the battle the day before.

    From what he¡¯d heard, only one had survived through it all, all other guards on duty during that afternoon shift having sacrificed themselves to delay the horde of monsters for just a second more. A valiant effort, one that had killed them in the end, but it was what they had signed up for in the end. To defend the people from the horrors beneath them, to give them a chance to flee when the beasts thirsted for human blood, and to allow the city to take what they could from the Dungeon without paying for their wealth in blood.

    ¡°I¡¯ve gotten written confirmation that we will have a group of Royal Guards watching over the entrance for a day, in two weeks,¡± Oliva mentioned after finishing the next letter in record time. ¡°We¡¯re drinking ourselves stupid that night, in honor of these idiots. The others have asked me to invite you if you¡¯d be willing.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re never one to turn such things down,¡± Aleksi promised before Elijah could open his mouth. ¡°Where is it being held?¡±

    ¡°The Pig¡¯s Inn two streets down,¡± Olivia said, nodding her head in the direction. Elijah recognized it easily as the one Grace¡¯s mother owned. ¡°They offered it to us for free, though we would have to buy the alcohol ourselves.¡±

    ¡°Very nice of them,¡± Elijah commented. It wasn¡¯t too surprising. Many of the long-term customers there were the guards, and honoring the fallen wasn¡¯t limited to just those who took up the sword. ¡°I think that should do it for the paperwork. Want a look?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m legally not allowed to see all the details, but I can¡¯t find myself caring,¡± the guard captain said, accepting the papers from them both and skimming through them. ¡°Letters aren¡¯t properly spaced out, your signature isn¡¯t consistent, and everything else is about the same quality.¡±

    ¡°Is that a problem?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s far better than whatever drivel I usually have to look at,¡± Olivia answered. She pulled out a few wrappings, put the documents inside, and called in one of the guards. By the time a minute had passed, a courier had already been sent to deliver the papers to the castle. ¡°That should be everything you need to do. Thanks for doing the bare minimum.¡±

    More rude comments than normal, the stress starting to put a strain on the woman. It wasn¡¯t as serious as it had been in previous years, where she¡¯d gone entirely non-verbal and communicated through glares, but they were reaching levels rarely seen nowadays.

    Elijah went to leave the seat, intent on wishing her farewell and returning to the shop to work on setting up traps for a few hours, until he saw Olivia take the finished letters from the desk and reveal the ancient paper lying beneath it.

    It was a map with added notes on it, one outdated by a lot of years from what he could see. And the added red circles¡­

    ¡°What is this supposed to be?¡± he asked, making Olivia momentarily freeze as she saw what he was holding. She didn¡¯t instantly rip it out of his hands, but nonetheless put it back down on the table with a clear showing of what would happen if he tried to resist. ¡°That map has to be matching your age, with how it has the original layout for the upper-class district.¡±

    ¡°... It¡¯s not far from it,¡± Olivia confessed, seeming to deliberate on whether to kick the two out instantly or give it a minute. A second of thought seemed to make her decide on the latter. ¡°Ever heard of the Dungeon having a second entrance?¡±

    What?

    ¡°No?¡± Elijah answered. It wasn¡¯t an outright lie, as he¡¯d never heard any official source say as much, but recent times had revealed it to be a possibility. Jack and Sasha, though their memories of the experience weren¡¯t too consistent, had described coming into this world inside the Dungeon, before being brought out and walking through the slums. And, with how the Dungeon had further shown images of them being inside there, it made more and more sense how they¡¯d been able to do it without being noted down as going through the official entrance. ¡°Is that what this map shows? Another entryway?¡±

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    ¡°It does, along with several letters and documents from around that time discussing it,¡± Olivia said, pointing to a stack of just-as-ancient papers that riddled the desk on the other side. He hadn¡¯t taken notice of them before, but the old scribblings on them began to make more and more sense. ¡°You¡¯ve never heard about it because it¡¯s not meant to exist anymore. Too expensive to maintain, and its position in the early slums meant that it would be too much of a headache to operate. There was an entire operation around filling the entrance up with rocks, putting a small hill on top, and then making everybody forget about it.¡±

    And going by recent events, that hasn¡¯t happened as hoped.

    ¡°How did you find out about this?¡± Aleksi asked, skimming through the letters and frowning deeply. ¡°I¡¯m not sure why all of this wasn¡¯t burnt years ago.¡±

    ¡°Blame laziness and guard captains that refuse to clean up,¡± Olivia offered as an explanation for the latter comment. ¡°And¡­ Do you remember the case about the posters from a few days ago? The man and woman who¡¯d killed a Royal Mage out in the slums?¡±

    Irony wasn¡¯t as fine to see when it hit Elijah right in the face afterward.

    ¡°I remember it well, yes,¡± he answered. ¡°What about them?¡±

    ¡°Having to send out all the men again to remove the posters made me slightly angrier than normal, so I went to my superior to complain about how none of it made sense,¡± she continued to explain. ¡°He wasn¡¯t any help at all, ordering me to shut up and follow the instructions. Not a common response, so I looked into the guard¡¯s archives myself. Found the Royal Mage¡¯s robes in there, cut in half horizontally and covered in a very familiar green pollen.¡±

    The pollen from Greater Sparrow Flowers, known for its ability to stick to anyone and anything, and known for its ability to keep up these traits for some twenty-four hours before drying out and becoming closer to simple colored dust.

    ¡°He¡¯d been inside the Dungeon recently,¡± Elijah concluded. ¡°But you hadn¡¯t entertained Royal Mages at the entrance that day?¡±

    ¡°Not for a full month, which in itself was a weird event,¡± Olivia said. ¡°It meant that he¡¯d either been growing the flower outside of the Dungeon, which he had no reason to do, or he had gone into the Dungeon without going through the main entrance. Knowing which was likelier, I spent a day digging through the old documents, found this garbage, and went out to investigate the location myself.¡±

    ¡°And what did you find?¡±

    ¡°An old house on top of a small hill that looked ready to crumble,¡± she answered. ¡°And a magical ward that tried to make me instantly turn back by making me extremely fearful. Powerful, and would¡¯ve worked on most others, but I pressed on, got to the front door, and it was locked. When I tried getting in by brute force, some giant came from the side and threatened me until I left. About the same size as you, Aleksi, though there wasn¡¯t a speck of hair on top of his head.¡±

    Looking at the giant, Elijah was greeted with nothing but a shrug. The description didn¡¯t match anybody they knew, though it did connect another set of dots. During their first time talking to the two young adults, Sasha had mentioned somebody escorting them through the city who had also looked like Aleksi, to the point where she thought the two were the same person.

    It¡¯s connected.

    ¡°Have you figured out anything else since?¡± Elijah asked.

    ¡°Nothing worthy of being noted down,¡± Olivia replied. ¡°The lot that the house is on is owned by the royals, though that¡¯s because nobody wanted to pay property taxes for it. There¡¯s no paperwork for the house either, which means it was built illegally or nobody deemed it important enough to note down after it had been built. Regardless, there¡¯s little we can do other than knowing that something is wrong.¡±

    That was true, Elijah supposed. He would likely spread the news of the discovery to Cleo, to see if her people could figure out anything, but it would likely end up without anything truly new being discovered. So many years of no documented activity usually meant there was truly nothing there to be found, or whoever was there was good enough to not leave a trail of any kind.

    The extreme option was to have a look at the property himself, but Elijah nixed that notion instantly. Too much of a risk, even if Olivia had been thick-skinned enough to do it herself.

    ¡°Do let us know if anything new pops up regarding this,¡± he said, getting a grunt in reply. She¡¯d already settled down again, writing out another letter. Elijah would¡¯ve thought she''d be more willing to dig deeper but she seemed to have pushed the investigation aside. A consequence of the Dungeon Break perhaps? With so many dead from the monstrous things that came from the depths, maybe that was for the best. He dreaded the idea of losing Olivia as well. ¡°Not sure if we¡¯ll be seeing each other again soon, but we¡¯ll be there in two weeks.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll save you a seat,¡± was the best farewell that Olivia could manage in that moment, making the two see themselves out. Fred wished them a good night when they left, Elijah replying in kind before they walked down the street at a brisk pace.

    The moon was steadily reaching its peak above them, the blue light shining on the city brightly. It made it hard to see the stars around it.

    ¡°The situation is becoming more complicated,¡± Aleski commented when they¡¯d traveled down a few streets, the giant seeming sure that nobody was around to hear them. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time to reconsider our options.¡±

    ¡°In what way?¡± Elijah asked.

    ¡°Fleeing,¡± the giant said. ¡°Not just away from the shop but away from the city.¡±

    Elijah kept silent, keeping his words to himself until they reached the shop. Going inside, the door was locked, the curtains were drawn, and the only light used was the one from candles.

    ¡°The two up there don¡¯t want to flee,¡± he finally replied. ¡°One has the vain hope of getting back to the other world, and the other is loyal enough to support it. They¡¯re not leaving this city until they¡¯re either dead or they¡¯re sent back the way they came.¡±

    ¡°Their deaths will likely include ours,¡± Aleksi added, making Elijah grow silent for a moment. ¡°I know what we¡¯ve done to save them from their fates, but I want to make this clear. Are their lives more important than ours?¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Elijah confessed. ¡°Maybe I thought that when I saw them on the street. They¡¯ve got the potential to live for many more years, while we might not make it for much longer. You were supposed to be dead decades ago from your body shutting down. We¡¯ve had too much borrowed time, and¡­ it just feels right to pay it back in some way.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t believe he was talking like this. Where was that pessimistic voice inside his brain, ready to cut his losses and preserve his life over everything else? It was what had kept him alive for so many years, what had allowed the duo to move on from so many fights that should¡¯ve ended with their demise, yet now it was just silence. It was gone, leaving nothing behind to replace it.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take that as an answer,¡± Aleksi said, his voice quiet and nowhere near as giddy as when the prospect of this had first come about. It made sense, in a way, as Elijah wasn¡¯t the only one who had started feeling regrets about their past. ¡°We can stay, and we will do our utmost, but if there comes a time where they are certain to die from being within the city walls, we are leaving with or without them.¡±

    Elijah didn¡¯t reject the idea. It wasn¡¯t as if he wished for death, just wanting to help the two who needed it so much.

 Chapter 42: The Light Inside

    With nothing else to say about their situation, or at least nothing that could be said through words alone, the giant retreated to his bed while Elijah entered his laboratory once again. It was only in the early afternoon that the coach would arrive to bring him and his essential items to the castle, which meant that he had many hours to work with.

    ¡®Food?¡¯ the duck asked as it jumped over to the other table, inspecting the spiky seeds that he put on it. ¡®Eat?¡¯

    ¡®Not food,¡¯ Elijah replied, putting a hand up to stop the plant from coming any closer. Small branches had already started to grow from the fake beak in an attempt to accommodate the larger size of the seeds. ¡®They¡¯ll become something better than that.¡¯

    ¡®Nothing better than food.¡¯

    He could feel the certainty in the plant¡¯s voice as it replied with such. There was no doubt in its mind about that fact.

    ¡®We¡¯ll see,¡¯ he said, finding a small pot for each of the vines and starting out the experimentation with the first of the seeds.

    Channeling of [Accelerate Growth] has been activated! Current cost: 4MP/sec

    The normal growth period for the Snarethorn was around three months in the wild. It could grow much bigger further down the line, but three months was just long enough for a vine to form and grow strong enough to be used against any smaller creatures that stumbled into its range. From there, it would take another three months before it reached the size that matched what Elijah had seen in the Dungeon this time around. From this stage, it could easily ensnare and kill an unprepared person who didn¡¯t have the pain resistance or the dagger required to cut themselves from the vine.

    Another year of growth would allow the plant to harden and be heavily resistant to cuts, requiring heavy, blunt attacks before being hurt, but that size was one that the plant rarely reached. It either required constant prey to feed on or a very sizable density of Mana in the air to be sustained, one that couldn¡¯t be found for the first ten or so floors of the Dungeon. Below that, however, there were more of those traps than most wanted to bother dealing with, and they were at a size and strength that only experienced fighters and mages could survive.

    A peculiar plant, all things considered, but Elijah didn¡¯t bother hoping to reach those levels this time around.

    He hoped to circumvent that process entirely, honestly, by using the same tricks as the ones done with the duck sitting next to him.

    As with most plants, the spiky seed cracked in half, allowing a small bud to sprout and pierce through the dirt above. It stretched, searching for light at the start but quickly accepting the Mana that came from Elijah instead.

    A few days of growth were breezed through in seconds, a minute more allowing it to match the duck in height, and a minute after that not even being close to the fake animal as the plant laid itself flat onto the earth it had just come from.

    Those inexperienced with the plant would assume this to be a sign of its imminent death and withering, but Elijah knew better than to expect such a simple growth cycle. Instead, he merely kept up the channeling of Mana, watching as the stalk used for height was instead used to create a sizeable base. A few leaves still sat on top, to accept any sunlight that might¡¯ve decided to come around at some point, but the main surface of the plant instead began to turn brown and lumpy to match the look of the earth surrounding it. Within another minute, one would need to look twice before realizing a plant was even in the pot.

    Such a unique ability for camouflaging.

    Elijah would¡¯ve loved delving deeper into the mechanisms that allowed the plant to instinctively mimic what its surroundings looked like. The ability to do so with relatively accurate results, no matter the coloring or texture of the area, made it an enigma that had confused many herbalists in the past.

    In his earlier days, while reading the thick tomes of old researchers droning on about their properties, he¡¯d found so many theories about their possible intelligence. The fact that a mere plant, one without any implied sentience or true mind, could hide itself better than most living and breathing animals focused on stealth must¡¯ve been an indication that they were missing its true intelligence.

    A nice idea in theory, with relevance to several similar studies that had proven some manner of intelligence in other trap-based plants, but it was all false. At least from what Elijah could tell, as the three-month growth period came to a close in the span of 5 minutes of channeling his Mana, the purple spotting on the side of the plant implied as much.

    With respect for the small thorns that he¡¯d spotted during its growth, he put on a pair of heavy-duty gloves before putting his right hand onto the plant. Though it instantly tried to strike out at him, wrapping the small vine around his fingers and attempting to crush them as best as it could, he responded by having a thread of Mana reach out from the glove and onto the plant.

    ¡®Hello,¡¯ he sent to the plant. ¡®Could you let go?¡¯

    ¡®No,¡¯ came the immediate response. It was much calmer than the Sundrop Flower, sounding less like an excited child and more like a monotone adult. Quiet, with clear resolve, and no intention to back down from its purpose. ¡®Want food.¡¯

    ¡®If you let me go, I can give you food,¡¯ Elijah bargained, making the vine hesitate in its tightening.

    ¡®Food can¡¯t give food if I let go of food,¡¯ the plant said after a moment. All the old theories about the supposed intelligence of the plant were rapidly flying out of the window, the last hints of truth in them vanishing as the Snarethorn showed wisdom below what the flower had managed in its own infancy.

    ¡®What if I send you some food now? Will you then let go?¡¯

    ¡­

    ¡®Send food. If enough, food is let go.¡¯

    Elijah could work with that, sending around 50MP to the small plant. Not near the amount it¡¯d gotten while it had been growing, but still a much quicker burst.

    It went slack a second or so later, the vine releasing him and rolling back into the earth as if there had never been anything wrong.

    ¡®I can make you another deal, if you wish,¡¯ Elijah offered, frowning for a moment when no response came until he realized the issue. ¡®I¡¯ll give you more food for it.¡¯

    ¡®Explain,¡¯ came the instant response. While it wasn¡¯t as obviously excited about the prospect, promising anything and everything, energy was still a high priority for the plant. ¡®What to do to get food?¡¯

    ¡®Just a few things,¡¯ was everything Elijah said before starting out the two-hour-long process of turning the Snarethorn into something that could protect his house while he was away.

    The first step was to make it understand its job, which was focused on hiding at entrances and trapping anybody who tried to enter without permission. That part was easy, as it was just a change in position while still following its natural instincts for hunting prey. Detecting intruders effectively, without having them press down on the main body, wasn¡¯t as easily done.

    This issue was actually mitigated once the plant had grown for a year or two, where it would gain a magical organ that could detect a presence from several meters away without issue, even being able to identify the unique signatures of different people.

    The problem with that, however, was the fact that it couldn¡¯t really grow into its extreme form out on the surface. Certainly not with the amount of Mana that Elijah could provide, forcing them to go off the normal path of growth.

    And while that had been incredibly simple for the Sundrop Flower, the Snarethorn needed a lot more convincing. Not just in terms of food, but in terms of actually doing it. Its body was already optimized to the point where each portion had a specific purpose, and adding to them was very inconvenient and very time-consuming to do. Regardless of the headache that started forming halfway through it, however, a smaller version of the organ was able to form next to the central part of the plant. Nowhere near as powerful as the original, only able to sense people a meter away from itself, but it was enough for Elijah¡¯s plans.

    The final big change, and this was a big one, was becoming more than just a single body.

    What did he mean by this? Well, it was rather simple. Instead of having a single spot in the earth, with a single body that contained one vine to trap those who got close, Elijah wanted it to have several bodies all connected together by a root-like system.

    A massive undertaking, and one that only worsened his headache through the night, but it was a necessary one. Elijah''s other option was to repeat the entire growth phase that had been done with this plant, convincing each of them to act as a protector. It was possible to do, yes, but it would take days to do.

    Days that he didn¡¯t have.

    He did end up with a few of the other seeds, though, as a sort of baseline for the original Snarethorn to work with. He would plant them, it would connect to the stem before it could grow much, and the central organ controlling everything else would be consumed and replaced by the connection. A mildly ruthless method to use, but making the hivemind-like system grow naturally would¡¯ve taken even longer to do.

    And, if he was truly worried about the plant moving away from its protection duties, this meant that it couldn¡¯t grow much further naturally. A success in the name of safety, though it hadn¡¯t been his intention.

    From that point on, with some twenty seeds used, Elijah was able to witness the start of a massive network of traps that only needed to be placed in their right spots. And, with several hours more before he needed to be up and about, that was exactly what he did.

    Each of the individual traps was granted a window to protect, their natural abilities hiding both themselves and the dirt that they were granted to hide within. If pointed out, some could perhaps spot them, but he was confident they would do their job well regardless.

    The distance that came from windows further away from each other, and the floor above which also had places that could be broken into through, wasn¡¯t much of a challenge either. The only requirement to place traps in those places was patience, as Elijah fed the Snarethorn more and more Mana so that it could extend the root system used to connect the different bodies.

    Two more hours passed before it was all completed, a thorned vine ready to strike out at anybody stupid enough to try to intrude without permission. While Elijah supposed they were still able to break through the front door, and the shopping area where he¡¯d placed nothing since people would frequent it often, any other method of entry was hereby protected.

    ¡®Here¡¯s something for the good work,¡¯ he sent the Snarethorn before sending half of what he had left in his Core. He got a thanks in reply before it went dormant, the plant busy growing some roots down in the basement to absorb nutrients from. Not too deep, of course, but enough that it could sit dormant for months if needed. ¡®Remember to get as much information as possible about those you trap.¡¯

    ¡®Information for food,¡¯ it sent back before he ended the connection, grabbing a cup of tea from the kitchen before going back to the laboratory. Since there weren¡¯t too many hours left of the night, he needed to get some sleep at some point, but that could wait thirty minutes.

    For now, he just needed a moment to sit down with a cup. The consequence of aging was that he could feel both so tired and so restless at the same time, making sleep impossible without some time spent on less physically intensive matters.

    Taking a sip, and finding the taste a little off, he made a mental note of starting out on a new batch soon. He¡¯d usually start later on in the year, but having access to the Royal Garden and his Mana once again meant that he had the ideal environment for growing the herb already. Wouldn¡¯t do to run out of this variant, while it was in such high demand.

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡®Am I being replaced?¡¯

    A fearful voice that he instantly recognized as the Sundrop Flower entered his mind as he put down his cup on the table. He was surprised about being able to hear it, since the duck was easily half a meter away while having no discernable thread connecting them together. Was it just his eyes being too tired to notice? Probably.

    ¡®In what way?¡¯ Elijah countered.

    ¡®Replaced,¡¯ the Sundrop Flower repeated. ¡®Other taking my place.¡¯

    ¡®I¡¯m not sure what place you think you initially had, but it¡¯s not taking anything of the sort,¡¯ he assured the plant, though it didn¡¯t seem to take that as an acceptable answer. It leaped off the table, wings beating hard as it half-flew over to him and tried to land on his shoulder. The plant failed, flailing for a second before Elijah caught the thing and held it in his palm. ¡®The Snarethorn is here because I needed protection for the house, something you¡¯re not able to do.¡¯

    ¡®I can do that!¡¯ came the instant response, the Sundrop Flower instantly sending over imagined images of it with thorny vines connected to its body. ¡®See?¡¯

    ¡®That would be highly impractical,¡¯ Elijah said calmly. If it decided to watch over the different possible entrances to the house with senses as well-refined as what the Snarethorn had, it would mean being constantly locked in place. ¡®Your current progress would be useless. We¡¯ve spent too long making you able to move.¡¯

    ¡®Is me moving useful?¡¯

    ¡®It¡¯s been an interesting journey to figure out what can be done with my magic, I suppose,¡¯ Elijah answered, the duck shaking its feather in response. That wasn¡¯t enough. It wanted something more. He could feel it. ¡®You being able to separate from your roots for what I think is now three hours shows just how much potential there is to uncover. And that you¡¯re able to question me at all right now shows that your intelligence has been growing for the past few days, which makes me wonder when it¡¯ll start to plateau.¡¯

    While the fake animal in front of him hadn¡¯t been raised with specific everyday usage in mind, being more of an experiment to see how far he could push his abilities, he had to confess he¡¯d started to grow rather fond of the former Sundrop Flower.

    ¡®How do I become more useful?¡¯

    To that question, Elijah didn¡¯t have much of an answer. How could he actually use it? While it was an interesting sight, a plant walking around like a bird, the daily use-cases for such a sight weren¡¯t there.

    What else could it do? The high concentrations of energy inside its fake feather were rather potent, so using it for easier access to that material was a possibility. The amounts it could produce weren¡¯t too extreme, however, and Elijah still had to brew a concoction from it to use the liquid effectively.

    ¡®No, you don¡¯t!¡¯ the duck argued, reading his thoughts as he considered the options. Elijah was surprised by it, ready to counter the idea before the back of the plant slowly opened up. ¡®See?¡¯

    In contrast to the last example, where images and concepts had been used, Elijah was instead greeted by a physical sample. Healing Paste, in small cube form and slightly thicker than normal, but otherwise identical to what he could normally find.

    Could it actually¡­ No, it couldn¡¯t be.

    Grabbing one of the knives on the wall, he proceeded to cut his arm. Not too deep, but just enough that the pollen wouldn¡¯t be able to heal it normally. It stung, as he smeared on the created healing paste, but it was worth it when the effects were seen.

    A flash of heat, to the point where he nearly bit his tongue off from instinctively pressing his teeth together, but it barely took a second before the cut was gone without a trace.

    Powerful.

    ¡®See? See?¡¯ the duck said excitedly, back feathers wagging when it saw his reaction. ¡®I¡¯m useful!¡¯

    ¡®I¡­ I suppose you are, yes,¡¯ Elijah said, wondering just how it was extracting everything without the usual techniques. Was it because it had sampled the original pastes and then recreated them by the finished product alone? He didn¡¯t know, though the concept made him wonder. ¡®If I give you a flower from another plant, do you think you could grow flowers identical to them?¡¯

    ¡®Can I eat the other flower?¡¯

    ¡®Yes?¡¯

    ¡®Yes!¡¯

    It seemed quite certain about it, though Elijah preferred seeing it in action before wholly believing it. Looking through his current batch of flowers and herbs that he had on the other tables, he picked out a smaller strain of pink lavender flowers normally called Breaths of Serenity. They had no strong smell and were typically ignored on the first layers of the dungeon, but their effects were rather popular.

    While not a cure-for-all, adding some extract of the flower to the afternoon drinks allowed the muscles to more easily recover during the night while also providing a sense of relief in the moment. A great boon to those who worked physical labor or those old enough that walking up the stairs made muscles start complaining.

    ¡®Copy this flower,¡¯ Elijah requested, putting the top of the plant in front of the fake animal. Acting much like a real animal would, however, the duck opened its beak and chomped down on the pink lavender, shaking it around to separate the petals from the stalk as much as possible.

    At some level, he wasn¡¯t sure what he expected to see. Having to consume the flower to understand it was a given, and he¡¯d been warned about it already, but the usual way that plants absorbed nutrients and whatever else was done through its roots.

    Not that the duck in his hands currently had access to such things, but¡­ whatever. Elijah didn¡¯t dwell on it for long, when the differently-coloured Mana inside the plant started to swirl. A mild pink coloring, matching the flower steadily being consumed, along with the strands slowly replacing the long golden ones making up the fake feathers on the duck¡¯s back.

    It seemed that it didn¡¯t feel the need to imitate the form of the flower, instead taking on the properties. Instead of the softness felt by the usual flowers, these were rougher, not bending to his touch and instead trying to remain in their straight shapes.

    A curious difference, but not the important factor he needed to check.

    At Elijah¡¯s request, the Sundrop Flower grew a separate chunk of the eaten flower, letting him take off enough of a portion to brew with it like he would the normal flower. Nothing unusual happened through it, the normal scents and boiling times fit it perfectly despite the changes in form.

    As for the effect¡­ though it was better to allow it to cool down before consumption, Elijah mixed it in with the now-cold tea and emptied the cup. Within mere minutes, the sensation of his shoulders loosening was obvious, the tension gained through the day steadily disappearing.

    Five minutes for effect, meaning a faster absorption rate. The sugar in the tea could be blamed partly, but there was only so much it could do for the main effects he was feeling.

    Overall? This wasn¡¯t the Breaths of Serenity that he knew. It was better.

    ¡®Did I do good?¡¯ the duck asked when Elijah looked down at it. ¡®Am I useful?¡¯

    Truthfully? He could have done this himself. Though it would¡¯ve taken a few more minutes, and a lot more Mana from his side, he could¡¯ve created a variant of the lavender that would¡¯ve worked just as well. Maybe even better, if given an hour to work with.

    But he didn¡¯t always have this flower on him. He didn¡¯t always have every herb, fruit, or general plant in his vicinity, and he certainly didn¡¯t have the time to upgrade each of them whenever he had the need.

    But the duck in his hands could do this at any point in time. It wasn¡¯t restrained the same way as him. Not as versatile when given ideal conditions, but its base utility with plants was above his own. Elijah could modify and enhance. The duck could create. If he spent some time feeding it every herb and fruit he could get his hands on, which he would most definitely do, he would have a library of samples ready for him to take from at any point in time.

    Yes¡­ There was only one objective truth here.

    ¡®You are very useful,¡¯ Elijah assured the Sundrop Flower, scratching its neck as it quacked at him. He grimaced a little, still calling it by its original name. While the golden petals still made up most of its surface, this new plant was far removed from where it started. ¡®You need a new name.¡¯

    ¡®Are names useful?¡¯

    ¡®They certainly make life easier for me.¡¯

    ¡®I want a name!¡¯

    Though he would deny it until the day he died, Elijah laughed, scratching the duck¡¯s neck as the back-feather continued to wag. This was far outside of what he normally entertained, so far that some might¡¯ve thought it impossible for him to enjoy.

    But he did.

    A name, though. What would fit you?

    Several suggestions appeared in his mind, though none seemed to stick. Too generic, too vague, too¡­ No, there was one which fit rather well. He thought it perfect even.

    ¡°Dawn,¡± he murmured, raising the duck up to his head. ¡°Your name will be Dawn.¡±

    It quacked, having to read his thoughts before it understood what he¡¯d said. From the reaction, he could tell it enjoyed the name. Or maybe just having a name at all. It didn¡¯t matter to him, the happiness felt sent through infecting his own mood just a little.

    There wasn¡¯t an end to it, as the duck jumped to try and reach his face, yet utterly failed and had to be caught once again before it could fall to the floor.

    ¡®Useful,¡¯ it chanted again and again, sending the words through his mind while it tried again and again to climb upwards. Elijah saw it deliberately using the wings before foregoing them in an attempt to use the feet that weren¡¯t useful in the slightest in this scenario. ¡®Useful.¡¯

    He laughed.

    It quacked.

    He felt a pull on his Core.

    [???] has been activated! Cost of activation: 67MP

    Elijah frowned, a word nearly on his tongue before the duck on his lap was gone in a flash of gold. Then a lot of words left his mouth, most of them curses about his current situation, a few extra ones that were likely to get him kicked out of any temple, and a last few just to spite the gods above.

    What the hell is happening?

    ¡®This is weird.¡¯

    That wasn¡¯t his voice, but he wasn¡¯t channeling Animal Bond either. Elijah¡¯s frown deepened as he looked around, making sure Dawn hadn¡¯t suddenly manifested the ability to teleport. Seeing no sign of them, he¡­ No, he could still feel them.

    ¡®I can see!¡¯

    A warmth on his left shoulder. Not on it, though. Inside it, just below the skin, as if there was something there. Somebody.

    ¡®I¡¯m coming out!¡¯

    In the same fashion that they had originally disappeared, there was a flash of gold before Dawn reappeared, proudly standing on his left shoulder. At least for a second, as his flinch made the duck lose balance, almost falling before Elijah¡¯s right arm assisted.

    ¡®Thanks,¡¯ Dawn sent Elijah noting the use of Animal Bond once again. ¡®That was fun! Very weird but very fun!¡¯

    Memories of the experience flooded the bond, making Elijah relive the memories from the duck¡¯s perspective. From one second to the other, they went from being on his lap to being¡­ somewhere else. Able to see and process everything around Elijah, but not able to control anything nor have a real physical body. An awareness floating around the shell made of him. A strange experience, though it explained the warmth that had appeared on his left shoulder, it being an effect of the duck trying to pass through at that spot.

    Personally, Elijah was not a fan.

    But it was an ability previously unknown, and, from what he could tell, being inside him had rejuvenated Dawn to the fullest. All the energy spent through their time removed from the roots had returned, matching his own reserves perfectly.

    Strange.

    Opening up his Status allowed him to get some amount of insight, and the Spell previously filled with question marks now had a proper name.

    Spells:

    [Accelerate Growth](Tier 1)

    [Plant Bond](Tier 1)

    [Animal Bond](Tier 2)

    [Plant Storage](Tier 2)

    Plant Storage was the revealed name. Elijah hadn¡¯t heard of it before, but the function was obvious enough. To store plants inside himself in a sort of stasis, not physically but still kept in their optimal health.

    Very strange.

    Even stranger when he felt Dawn move around inside him when he tested the Spell again and could track the duck moving around with pinpoint accuracy. It wasn¡¯t akin to normal physical sensation, but it wasn¡¯t like his magical senses either. A mix of the two, bordering on being both yet staying far enough away that he couldn¡¯t tell quite what it was supposed to be.

    ¡­

    Maybe he could try to see if there were any books about the subject in the castle tomorrow. Or, today, he supposed, the sun not many hours from rising. The rays weren¡¯t far from reaching the sky already.

    Maybe an hour or two of sleep would do him good.

 Chapter 43: Hopeful Entry

    Testing out an enhanced version of Breaths of Serenity was the ultimate recipe for sleeping longer than intended. That Elijah had first allowed his head to reach a pillow at four made it even worse, Aleksi having to outright shake him awake when calling his name hadn¡¯t worked.

    ¡°We¡¯re old men, Elijah,¡± Aleksi reminded him, as the two packed away some of the more often-used burners, mortars, crucibles, and various other tools that he was more comfortable using than ones that the castle would likely provide him. ¡°Having several nights in a row where you skip the duty of sleeping will not help your senses. You might¡¯ve survived these acts years ago, but the lack of sleep is going to catch up on you.¡±

    ¡°I promise you that I¡¯m already feeling it,¡± Elijah promised him, having already added two drops of Phoenix Fire to his tea. With how much caffeine was in a single drop, he wasn¡¯t worried about being tired while going through the introductions at the castle. ¡°Be careful with that, please. It¡¯s¡ª¡±

    Something in the wooden box shattered as Aleksi dropped it to the ground in front of the laboratory, the giant flinching as small bits of glass fell out from the sides.

    ¡°... The other boxes didn¡¯t have anything that broke when I did that?¡± Aleksi tried to use as a defense, making Elijah groan in frustration as he went into the storage room to figure out if he had any spare retort flasks. They were terribly expensive, and he dreaded the chance that he would need to acquire a new one. ¡°At the very least, the castle might have some you can use?¡±

    The words didn¡¯t lighten the load on Elijah¡¯s heart, as he realized that the two now-broken pieces of glassware were the only ones he had, the others acquired years ago had decayed naturally and were now unusable as well.

    An order would have to be put in, along with an assortment of other pieces of glassware, but that would take weeks to get. For now, though he wasn¡¯t happy about it, he would have to depend more on the castle¡¯s equipment and tools.

    At least the common ones are still unbroken.

    Most of them, at least, the giant dropping a set of boiling tubes before Elijah took over moving around the more fragile items. At least those he had 100s of.

    ¡°So, like, do we need to feed the creepy plants, or should we just ignore them?¡± Jack asked when most of the things were done being taken out of the laboratory, the man eying the Snarethorn which sat idly under the window in the kitchen. ¡°Because if we need to feed them, somebody else is going to have to do it.¡±

    ¡°Snarethorns of this size can go up to six months without eating, so you have nothing to worry about,¡± Elijah assured the man, who seemed very relieved by not having to go near the plants. ¡°And, regardless, I will send them Mana whenever they require it, which is not very often. If you believe they would appreciate a snack, however¡­ throw a mouse at the center.¡±

    Never before had he seen a grown adult shudder so heavily in disgust. It was captivating, in its own way.

    ¡®When are we going outside?¡¯ Dawn asked, flying from the table inside the laboratory and over to his shoulder as he stood at the door. The plant had been able to somewhat improve its balance when standing on him independently, but Elijah could still feel it being slightly wobbly. ¡®Is it soon?¡¯

    ¡®Give it another hour,¡¯ he replied, the duck ruffling its feathers in frustration. At the mention of being able to go outside, and see the sun, it had become ecstatic. Even Elijah reiterated that the plant would be put in Storage to not rouse suspicion from the public, Dawn hadn¡¯t lost the slightest bit of enthusiasm.

    ¡°She is just such a cutie,¡± Jack commented, trying to scratch the duck still on his shoulder. Only a quick promise for more food stopped the man from losing the finger, though Elijah had to stop it within a few seconds. ¡°Such a shame she¡¯s not staying.¡±

    ¡°She¡­¡± Elijah began before considering what he was about to say. He hadn¡¯t put any gender on the former flower, though the others had already started using feminine terms for the duck once its name had been revealed. It didn¡¯t strictly fit, since Sundrop Flowers were self-pollinating, but the others didn¡¯t seem to care, and the name already pushed for it so he decided not to bother fighting the usage. ¡°She has already fought to come with me, as she will be more useful when I need to brew.¡±

    And because Dawn wanted to go outside, but that''s another matter entirely. The idea of seeing the sun just struck the plant duck like a drug, Dawn barely able to wait in place.

    ¡°Still, it¡¯s going to hurt saying goodbye.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll likely be back every day without fail, and she is coming along every time,¡± Elijah dryly reminded the man, but the theatrics suffered no weakness from the information. ¡°Don¡¯t you have better things to do, than standing around and staring at a duck? Those fangs weren¡¯t brought back from the Dungeon to sit on a table unused.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m doing as much as I can with those, I¡¯ll have you know!¡± Jack instantly defended himself, pulling out two glasses from his pockets. Each was half full, though one contained white powder and the other the gunpowder that it was meant to turn into. ¡°It¡¯s powerful stuff, but I¡¯m still running out of Mana pretty quickly. Have to recover properly between sessions, you know? I don¡¯t want to cripple myself too fast.¡±

    Not an attitude that Elijah had expected to see, though the recent maturity and restraint could¡¯ve been due to the massive amounts of progress made in such a small amount of time. Those bottles weren¡¯t small in the slightest, and the total weight of just what had been transmuted this morning equaled everything that had been done in the previous days and then some. Having the proper materials to transmute from the start was truly a game-changer for the young man, and that could be seen with how hard he¡¯d worked on improving that ¡®pistol¡¯ of his.

    ¡°Sitting down and focusing on your Core increases its regeneration and allows it to rest easier,¡± Elijah advised, partly so the man could get back to his work quicker and so that he would leave him alone while he got the final parts out of the laboratory. ¡°Not being starved helps as well, so you and Sasha can go fetch something from the kitchen.¡±

    ¡°Way ahead of you,¡± Sasha muttered, having already started leaving for the other room before he could finish his reasoning. The bag of dried fruits that left his cupboard made him narrow his eyes. Hadn¡¯t he had several of those bags from last month¡¯s trading with the vendors down the Season Street? He¡¯d been hoping to savor those, yet it seemed the appetite of the young was as unending as it was frustrating.

    ¡®Can we go outside and avoid the frustration?¡¯ Dawn asked, Elijah wondering if she even knew what he meant to begin with. She was saying more and more complex words, not always in the right context but otherwise still an improvement. Having her on his shoulder, or just interacting with her more than a few rare times a day to see what changes were happening had accelerated her learning rate to the heavens.

    There was a chance that all the different herbs and plants he¡¯d been feeding her were doing something as well, but he couldn¡¯t say. Whatever the reason behind it was, he hoped it wouldn¡¯t slow down just yet. With more wisdom came the ability to be more efficient with her ways, along with bringing out whatever flowers of general herbs he wished to see at that moment. While she wasn¡¯t able to conjure up everything that he¡¯d possessed in his laboratory just yet, she was getting very close.

    ¡°Hey, Elijah,¡± Aleksi said, the giant bringing him back into the laboratory. ¡°Do you hope to bring along one of these, or are they staying here with the rest of the fragile flowers?¡±

    The giant had put a thumb pointing towards the door into the smaller room beside the laboratory, the growing area for a certain Luna Nightshade. With the recent regaining of his abilities, Elijah had been busy reinvigorating them, stopping the withering that had happened in recent months as the temperature during the night increased, and he had to admit that it had been going very well for them. A few more seeds had even started being produced, making it possible for him to grow several more if he wished. Even if one flower usually needed more than a decade to blossom, his ability to accelerate the growth allowed him the chance to witness another blooming within his lifespan if he so wished.

    ¡­ And the new gift would stop the sun from killing it instantly.

    ¡°Keeping one safe wouldn¡¯t hurt,¡± Elijah supposed. Closing the door into the laboratory, to hopefully stop any indirect rays from the sun from hitting the fragile purple flowers, he opened the side room up and stepped inside.

    Several of the Nightshades leaned in his direction as he did, sensing the Mana within him and hungering for it. They had such an extreme sensitivity to the energy they could take, a byproduct of their usual living up in the mountains where such energy was sparse for the taking.

    One would¡¯ve hoped that made them more resistant to chance, but that wasn¡¯t the case.

    ¡®Can I have one?¡¯ Dawn asked, as he knelt down in front of the smallest of the flowers, one that had only started to blossom seven years ago. It was the youngest of all the ones still alive, though Elijah knew it likely wouldn¡¯t have survived much longer if not for the Mana he could now provide. ¡®They look useful.¡¯

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    ¡®I hope we never have to use them, honestly,¡¯ Elijah replied, that reasoning why he didn¡¯t allow the duck on his shoulder to store the information about their making inside. They were too dangerous for that. ¡®They¡¯re for letting me remember a piece of the past and little else.¡¯

    With a careful hand, he gently put his fingers on the stalk of the Luna Nightshade. There was an immediate reaction, the digits numb as a poison traveled up his bloodline. For anybody else, it would¡¯ve been a promise of death then and there.

    For Elijah, it was the promise that he would get cold shivers for the next hour or so.

    [Plant Storage] has been activated! Cost of activation: 89MP

    It was surprisingly expensive to insert such a small flower into himself, but Elijah didn¡¯t care about that too much. He could feel his Core drain for another 50MP within a few seconds, as the small damages were removed and the Nightshade was purified to its fullest. Whenever he would allow it to leave once more, it would likely be the healthiest and most well-off of all the ones he still had left.

    ¡°The Dungeon is a strange thing, making you get that gift as well,¡± Aleksi commented, keeping a distance while Elijah washed off the small pieces of purple residue on his fingers. They were very minor, barely seen by the naked eye, but even these amounts could likely kill the giant if they weren¡¯t careful. ¡°Do you think it was intentional or it was just a byproduct of it wanting to order you around?¡±

    ¡°Maybe a mix of both?¡± Elijah replied, unsure of the reasoning himself. ¡°I did think about the Animal Bond spell that I got after the first interaction, so some influence might''ve happened. I can¡¯t say for sure. I¡¯m just happy I didn¡¯t get such a terrible headache this second time.¡±

    The only true side-effect of the conversation had been a temporary loss of time perception, but even that had been put alongside the Dungeon passively keeping up the growth of his Core. Even if Elijah heavily preferred never speaking to that primal entity ever again, he couldn¡¯t deny the boons gained from them.

    ¡®Can I eat the dungeon?¡¯ Dawn asked.

    It took a lot of will not to bark out a chunk of laughter at that, to the point where he felt his lungs ache. Aleksi questioned the action, but he just waved the giant off. There was no explanation for the humor that had started to settle in when talking with the duck.

    An hour was able to pass before there were some knocks at the door. At that point, everybody who he had already made agreements with for medical provisions for the next week had already been by to collect them, which meant that the time for leaving had arrived. The two young adults were hidden on the second floor, the prepared boxes were lifted from the ground, and the two could venture out to the front and see a finely dressed man waiting for them next to a sizable wagon.

    ¡°Mr. Elijah Caede?¡± the man asked, bowing once Elijah confirmed his identity. The finely trimmed beard and hair that didn¡¯t move in the slightest bit during the bow was a little distracting. ¡°I have been given orders to assist you in moving various personal items and tools from your establishment to the castle. Have you already prepared what to bring, or do you need further assistance?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve already got it all packed,¡± Elijah assured the man, getting another bow in response. From the servant¡¯s looks, he guessed them to be no older than thirty, still within the realm where they could lift a few boxes if needed. ¡°Though we won¡¯t mind getting some of the lighter boxes with clothing into the wagon.¡±

    ¡°Of course, sir.¡±

    Within five minutes of diligent work, they were able to load up everything needed, including the heavier tools that Aleksi was required to lift to have a chance at bringing them along. When asking the servant the chance of having anybody on the giant¡¯s level of strength help with setting it up in the castle, however, he was met with disappointment.

    ¡°The guards could perhaps help, but that would have to wait until their scheduled duties are complete in the late afternoon,¡± the man explained, the professional version of apologetic heard in the tone of his voice.

    ¡°Then I guess you¡¯re riding with, Aleksi,¡± Elijah said, the giant nodding as he locked the shop with the prepared key, making sure it was all ready to be left behind before climbing up into the wagon himself.

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ not sure that would be allowed, sir,¡± the servant said. Elijah didn¡¯t have trouble spotting the beginning of a bead of sweat on their forehead, as neither of the old men seemed perturbed by his words. ¡°My orders were for you and your things to be brought to the castle. Nothing was said about bringing along others.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m relatively sure that my position within the castle allows me to bend the rules just a little now,¡± Elijah fired back in quick order. ¡°And, if I¡¯m to have any chance of completing my duties of the day, I will need this man with me. If it goes wrong, I¡¯ll take the blame.¡±

    Not having consequences for doing whatever he was asked of, the servant seemed to calm down considerably. With a small tug on the reins, they were off, the larger horse pulling along the wagon at a good pace.

    The coloring of the wagon, with its fiery red and golden colors, made people stop and stare at them passing by. Whispering started up, some recognizing Elijah and Aleksi from their shop, but the only thing he could think about was the amount of questions he would have to answer once the old ladies figured out what he was doing at the moment.

    It was only the thought of Aleksi hopefully taking the brunt of the questioning that allowed him to not gulp in fear at the prospect of returning to his shop during the night.

    ¡®The sun!¡¯ Dawn screamed at him, distracting him as he looked up at the fiery ball in the sky. There were few clouds around, letting the golden rays shine down on them and heating the place quite a bit. ¡®It¡¯s so shiny!¡¯

    ¡®That is what the sun is known for, yes,¡¯ Elijah replied, holding himself back for cracking a smile as the duck continued to scream and shout and fly around inside the magical storage as it excitedly looked up at the flaming ball. He didn¡¯t personally understand the plant¡¯s love for the light, his body personally showing off how too much of it was bad by making his skin turn red, but perhaps it was simply a difference in instincts. The sun was what made the plant prosper out in the wild, while for Elijah it was simply an indirect help more often than not.

    Some of the mutterings he could hear, as they rode past the city center made him turn his head to see the Dungeon Guards staring his way. Some shouted from the distance, waving when realizing who was sitting on top of the wagon. He refrained from replying in kind, though Aleksi had no such reservations, the giant¡¯s right arm swinging as high as it possibly could.

    But while the people in the middle district seemed shocked and excited about the castle wagon¡¯s presence, the people in the upper-class district had the usual response to their presence. Mild chattering, a side-eye before ignoring their presence, and then some criticism under their breath that Elijah could very much hear.

    ¡®Is this food?¡¯ Dawn asked as he glanced at the colorful outfits that sprung out. His eyes stayed on some of the golden furs for longer than he realized, Elijah wondering if that was because of his own thoughts or because of another presence influencing his ideals.

    ¡®Not food normally, no,¡¯ Elijah replied. He saw another pair look over at the wagon, the expensively dressed people grimacing at the sight of them. ¡®But exceptions can be made. The gods know that the world would be better without these people around.¡¯

    ¡®So¡­ food in the future?¡¯

    ¡®Don¡¯t get your hopes up.¡¯

    He felt disappointment run through his body as the duck digested the news, to the point where even Elijah¡¯s own emotions matched the negative feelings. That realization made him frown, wondering if the addition of more semi-sapient plants within him would worsen the influence or not. He¡¯d been hoping for an arsenal of sorts to be built up in the following weeks, but if something like this were to happen more frequently he wasn¡¯t sure he would go through with it.

    ¡®You don¡¯t need other plants!¡¯ Dawn assured him. ¡®I can do it all!¡¯

    A mildly possessive disposition to have.

    ¡°Halt!¡± came the shout, pulling Elijah out of his internal mutterings with the plant. ¡°Identify yourselves and what cargo you are bringing with you into the castle walls.¡±

    ¡°Servant Isaac Ulthor following the orders of Princess Vera Newell on the transfer of the new Royal Healer, Elijah Caede, into the castle,¡± the servant next to him rattled off with practiced ease. ¡°Alongside this, we are bringing various personal items and additional tools and items to be used during the various tasks that the Royal Healer will be expected to perform daily. And, as an aide in bringing all the heavier items to the proper location within the castle, we have brought along one¡­ Aleksi Grey.¡±

    The name had to be whispered by the giant himself before the servant could give it, Isaac having seemingly forgotten. And the pause didn¡¯t seem to go well in front of the guards, a set of barked orders making paperwork be brought out from the small guard¡¯s house on the other side.

    ¡°We have only received orders to let in one servant, the Royal Healer, and the various items he has brought along,¡± the guard said. ¡°No mentions of aides.¡±

    Rather strict on what was allowed, weren¡¯t they? They¡¯d seemed rather strict the day before as well, but at least then they had been somewhat polite about it. Now they were¡­ much less so.

    ¡°Some of the tools I need for my work are heavier than I am,¡± Elijah replied, the guard looking at him unimpressed. ¡°While I have not been given the precise location of where I will be working, it has been mentioned as being on the third floor. Unless you have a half dozen guards ready to assist me in bringing my gear up the stairs, I am afraid that the man you call my aide must be brought along with me.¡±

    ¡°No mention of an aide on our orders. If you refuse to comply, there¡¯s nothing we can do but¡ª¡±

    ¡°The Princess specified that any special circumstances were to be brought to the attention of her direct servants, to avoid any larger conflict,¡± came the voice of a certain servant that Elijah hadn¡¯t expected to hear from again so soon. Harper, as Vera called her, had appeared at the entrance close by the angry guard, looking rather unimpressed by their work. ¡°If you had taken the time to read more than the first paragraph of the very detailed instructions, you would have known this.¡±

    ¡°I¡ª Of course, ma''am. My apologies,¡± the guard said, shoulders sinking as they bowed to the woman. When Harper offered no retorts to their words, already walking towards the wagon herself, the orders started flying. ¡°Let them through! Don¡¯t just sit around staring into the empty air, you fools!¡±

 Chapter 44: No Turning Back

    The other guards walked to the side, letting the wagon go through the gate and towards the half-circle where other wagons were already parked, servants helping unpack as items were brought into the building.

    ¡°Thanks for the help,¡± Elijah said, getting a nod from Harper in response. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would be so far away from the Princess so early in the morning.¡±

    ¡°This barely counts as morning, and Her Highness had already predicted that some¡­ difficulties would appear during your first official entry into the castle,¡± Harper replied. ¡°The attitudes of guards have shifted in recent months, becoming rather unrefined when compared to what is expected of them.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re asses who like to push others down as much as they can get away with,¡± Aleksi concluded, getting looks from every other person in the wagon in reply. ¡°Tell me I¡¯m wrong.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not, though I advise you not to say such things when guards are within earshot,¡± she countered. ¡°While they will not act outside of what they¡¯re allowed, they can still try and trick you into being hostile and then promptly arrest you. If such a thing happens, it will be a rather frustrating ordeal to have you cleared of the crimes.¡±

    Her words implied that they would go through the steps necessary to have that done. Elijah was impressed by that fact, not expecting such a level of favoritism to be shown off for him and Aleksi, though that might¡¯ve been done in an attempt to make them consider staying within the castle for more than those initial six months.

    Or, in the words of the wise, it could¡¯ve been a simple attempt at trying to create a bond of trust.

    ¡°Here we are,¡± the servant by the name of Isaac announced, as the wagon slowed down right at the front of the stairs up to the castle. ¡°I would show where your rooms are located, but I believe you will be taking over in my stead, ma¡¯am?¡±

    ¡°You would be correct,¡± Harper confirmed, the servant nodding before stepping out to help them off-load everything from the wagon. That the stairs were here so early made it a frustrating endeavor, but the strength of Aleksi allowed them to get most of the items out and into the castle in a single go. A smaller pulley was likewise attained further inside where the ground was flat, allowing them not to break their backs as they moved through the giant halls. ¡°Please place your items here.¡±

    As they moved into one of the smaller hallways, they came across a rather strange room, one with a large stone square in the middle that was three shades lighter than the rest of the floor. A lever was likewise placed in the floor next to it, though Harper warned them not to touch it along with also not stepping onto the lighter stone themselves.

    Once everything heavy had been placed onto it, which was most of the items brought along, she pulled twice on the lever before the stone began to shudder for a moment and then¡­ levitate upwards.

    ¡°That¡¯s not something you see every day,¡± Aleksi commented, as a square opening appeared in the ceiling, one just large enough for the floating platform to move through untouched. ¡°Do you have a lot of stuff like this here?¡±

    ¡°We have many, though not all commonly used or known to most who walk the halls,¡± Harper replied, standing in place until the ceiling closed itself once again before moving out of the room and towards the stairs nearby. ¡°The items have been brought to the right floor, but the rest of the moving will have to be done with our own hands.¡±

    Not a problem, seeing as Aleksi had been brought along, but the four flights of stairs that they had walked up still caused some minor issues with Elijah. His legs were not fans of this amount of physical exercise, and certainly not so soon after a relatively deep dive into the Dungeon during the night.

    Regardless, they were able to retrieve the items and move along once more, the trio moving down through the halls until they were on the eastern side of the castle. There, the doors began to grow sparse, each room having a much larger space inside.

    ¡°This is the section of the castle that you will have jurisdiction over,¡± Harper said as they moved into the final area, showing off the thirty-meter-long hallway which contained only four large doors and one smaller one at the very end. ¡°The first two rooms are resting facilities for the injured, equipped with enchanted beds that can alert you about any complications in the patients that need to be attended to. The third is your main examination room, where you will have the usual tools to inspect any patients coming in. In emergencies, it can also act as an operating room, though it is rarely used for such.¡±

    ¡°Not in the business of cutting people open often, no,¡± Elijah replied, not stopping his in stride as Harper continued with her explanation.

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    ¡°The fourth room is for all alchemical purposes,¡± Harper said, opening the door to let them inside and actually inspect the room themselves. ¡°I apologize for the clutter, but the assistants haven¡¯t returned to clean the area yet.¡±

    ¡­ If this was cluttered, Elijah was confident that the people working here before would get a heart attack looking at his own laboratory.

    The tables here were cleared of nearly everything, their surface smooth and impossible to get material stuck inside. Hundreds of tools of various origins and for various use cases lined the floor, three copies of everything along with several having specialized adjacent cleaning supplies to prepare them for usage. And¡­ Elijah could barely believe it as he walked further inside, seeing the massive shelf that was ten meters in length and nearly two meters in height, the inside filled to the brim with labeled bottles with various contents. He recognized most from a glance, rare herbs but next to common ones, each with the same amounts no matter how pricey they were.

    And it was ordered alphabetically, with the ingredients of the same kind being further ordered by the newest last.

    ¡°... Should I take it that this is satisfactory?¡± Harper asked while Elijah mumbled to himself about the various finds on the shelves. Herbs that he hadn¡¯t thought about for fifty years were here, herbs that he thought had been lost on this side of the continent, herbs that weren¡¯t meant to be on this continent. They had to have been brought over by ships recently since their label had a drying date that matched the current year. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a yes.¡±

    ¡°While I will have to test a lot of these, to see if they are as effective as I hope, this is a very good store to work from,¡± Elijah finally answered, putting bottles back where he had found them, rotating them just a little so that their labels stuck out perfectly like the others did. ¡°This entire collection must have cost several thousand gold to acquire.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯d be shocked at how much you can save from having a temperature and humidity-controlled environment at your fingertips!¡±

    A new voice came from where they had entered. A young one, that caused Elijah¡¯s eyes to fly over and inspect them.

    A woman with short black hair, gray eyes, a few splotches of contracture scars on their left cheek and left side of their throat, and just about matching Elijah¡¯s hide while having the exact opposite in terms of expression. She wore a bright smile, eyes shining as she moved towards him, while he looked at her with wariness and hesitation of allowing the approach.

    ¡°Nice to meet you, sir!¡± the woman said, offering a hand which he shook after a moment. ¡°I¡¯m Mary Atwood, at your service. I was the first assistant to the late Reynold Mandel and¡­ I suppose I¡¯m your first assistant now!¡±

    The scarring on her face and throat could also be seen on her right hand. Maybe her arm as well, though the longer sleeve hid most of it from view.

    ¡­

    ¡°Elijah Caede, the new Royal Healer, at your service,¡± he replied with a nod. ¡°There¡¯s supposed to be two of you, I believe?¡±

    ¡°Right, yeah, there is, but Oscar is currently dealing with one of the visiting Lords from the south that is having a case of¡­ I¡¯ll tell you later, actually,¡± Mary said, looking at the audience still here. Harper said nothing at the words, face impassive, while Aleksi was already chuckling while emptying box after box and placing them on the nearest table. ¡°Oh, those are old thistle funnels. Are you not a fan of the modern ones?¡±

    ¡°These aren¡¯t nearly as fragile as what you might be used to,¡± Elijah said, eyeing the thinner variant on one of the nearby walls. They were able to contain the same amounts and were maybe easier to clean, but one wrong hit on the side would cause it to fracture so frightfully quickly. ¡°Are there any other boxes outside still?¡±

    ¡°That should be the last of them,¡± Aleksi replied, placing the final empty box on top of the others, before offering his hand to Mary. ¡°Aleksi Grey, a friend of your new boss. As a word of advice to somebody who has been by his side for many years, I recommend not commenting on how he works. He¡¯s rather¡­ let''s call it firm in his ways.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll remember that,¡± Mary promised, a chuckle leaving her as Aleksi and Harper both left the room with boxes in tow. While Elijah did want to follow the giant out of the castle, it seemed there were lots of duties to go through and assess. ¡°I can show him the last room if you¡¯re stressed for time.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take you up on that offer,¡± Harper replied curtly, the Mage already prepared to bring the giant out of the castle area. ¡°The Princess will likely visit personally later today, an hour or so after dinner time. I request that you are ready to receive her then.¡±

    Elijah acknowledged the request, giving a final farewell to the two as they left him and his new assistant alone in the room.

    ¡°How long until the other assistant gets here?¡± he asked.

    ¡°It should be less than five minutes, if he¡¯s able to get through the questions the Lord keeps throwing his way,¡± Mary explained. ¡°That rich man oversees the operation of some fifty villages closer to the sea, yet he doesn¡¯t act that way out in public. Has a taste for certain activities below the belt, and doesn¡¯t do the proper preparations for the consequences that come with such a hobby.¡±

    Ugh.

    Elijah felt some small regret at accepting this job already, the people in his area at least had some kind of intelligence in their heads.

    At least it couldn¡¯t get much worse.

 Chapter 45: Introductions

    ¡°Sorry I¡¯m late!¡± somebody exclaimed, slamming the door opening and making Elijah flinch to the point he almost dropped his favorite set of beakers. Eyes narrowed at the man responsible. ¡°Oh, sorry, sir, I forgot you had already arrived.¡±

    ¡°A pleasure,¡± Elijah replied dryly, taking a moment to place the last of the glasses inside the right space on the shelves before closing them and shaking the last assistant''s hand. ¡°Oscar, I believe?¡±

    ¡°Oscar Bardon, to be precise,¡± Oscar confirmed, Elijah noting the firm grip and lack of shakiness even when he had run for quite a while to get here. Not a bad gift to have in this field. ¡°And you¡¯re Elijah Caede, if I remember right?¡±

    He took a second to study the man. They were in their late twenties to early thirties when going by their face alone. Though there wasn¡¯t much in the way of a beard, the blonde locks went down to his shoulders.

    That he had to slightly look up to see their face was going to get old quickly, wasn¡¯t it?

    ¡°I am,¡± Elijah finally replied. Without looking directly at either of them, as he picked up the documents from the nearby table, he could already feel the eyes of the assistants meeting. Hopefully, this wouldn''t be too complicated. ¡°With both of you here, I suppose some more proper introductions are in order. Other than your names, I haven¡¯t been told much regarding the both of you, and I assume that the same goes for what you¡¯ve been told about me.¡±

    ¡°We¡­ other than your name, which was quickly mentioned last night, we don¡¯t know a thing about you, no,¡± Mary said, as the three settled down at one of the tables. Elijah noted the chairs were surprisingly comfortable. ¡°Should we start?¡±

    ¡°If you would, please.¡±

    ¡°Then we can do as much,¡± she continued. ¡°I was brought in by Reynold seven years ago after he found me working in a herbalist store close by the upper district. Not to say I was given a wage fitting that area, which was why I jumped on the offer of actually learning the craft more in-depth than just ¡®what can I sell this for?¡¯ Turns out he¡¯d seen some potential in me, and I¡¯ve been here learning ever since that point.¡±

    ¡°Not too different a story for me, though I was recruited from the royal kitchens,¡± Oscar offered when Mary signaled for him to continue his side. ¡°I, uh¡­ borrowed a few ingredients from the shelves there without asking. Would¡¯ve gotten in a lot of trouble, but being able to make a decent batch of psychoactive leaves with nothing but a soup cauldron, a fire, and a few towels to dry with apparently impressed Reynold enough for him to rescue me and put me under his wing.¡±

    Elijah had to admit that he was impressed by that accomplishment as well. It was more than possible to do as much only using such tools, but the precise measuring required to have a stable final product usually meant using something more precise than one¡¯s own eyes and trust in one¡¯s sense of time and gauging of temperature.

    ¡°Interesting stories,¡± he commented, wondering how his own was going to be told. He briefly considered fishing out one of the seeds in his inner pockets to repeat his previous stunts of growing a flower in his hand, but he supposed that he could do better nowadays. And since there was little chance of Dawn always being hidden away when his assistants were present. ¡°My own isn¡¯t nearly as glamorous. I was born in one of the villages a month¡¯s travel away. Learned the craft of herbology and alchemy there from the village¡¯s healer until it was struck by the war. The next few decades were purely self-teaching, with the rare book here and there to supplement what I¡¯d already known. There is one facet that has helped me for a long time, that I figured you might as well know about from the start.¡±

    He put his right hand on the table, palm facing up while the other two looked on curiously.

    ¡®Out with you, Dawn.¡¯

    ¡®Finally!¡¯ came the delighted shriek in response, the warmth of energy swelling up in his hand rapidly. A brief golden light could be seen coming from under the skin before it flashed right above, all three blinking away the spots before they could see a golden duck standing on his palm. ¡®Did I make it bright enough?¡¯

    ¡®You can control the brightness when you come out?¡¯

    ¡®Yes!¡¯

    ¡®Judging by their faces, then, I think you did a fantastic job,¡¯ he said, holding back a smirk at the clear bafflement from the two.

    ¡°To be clear, I¡¯m a Biomancer,¡± Elijah said as the duck jumped off his palm and walked around the table, looking down at the edge before deciding to stay around the middle. Both assistants had their eyes locked on her. ¡°Not too powerful, I warn. My abilities are nowhere near whatever you will see in the Academy. But I am nonetheless able to use these abilities to enhance and accelerate my work with plants, building upon my skills in the craft to a high degree.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a duck,¡± Oscar replied bluntly, seeming to have ignored Elijah¡¯s explanation of his abilities in favor of defaulting to basic words.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a duck,¡± Mary corrected. ¡°Look at the neck, where the feathers are thin. There¡¯s no skin under it.¡±

    Elijah inspected the area and pointed out himself, finding her words to be true. Though he had missed it the past hundreds of times that he had looked Dwan over, she did have a mild bald spot whenever she looked to the sides. And, since not having an even surface below the fake feathers allowed her to drastically reduce her weight, it had never been thought of as a necessity.

    ¡°You have good eyes,¡± Elijah commented, the first assistant giving her thanks for the compliments immediately. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s not a duck. It¡¯s not an animal in general, though I admit she does act like one. In truth, she is a heavily modified variant of the Sundrop flower, grown from a seed and steadily changed while she grew until she finally came to look like this.¡±

    He was taking a lot of undue credit for the transformation, but explaining how the modification of plants mainly relied on discussing and bargaining with them would probably not reach the others in the way he hoped. Better to lie than worsen their view of him so early on.

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°Does she have a name,¡± Mary asked, putting a finger in front of Dawn. The assistant made a strange noise when the duck tried and failed to nibble on the digit, just mildly scratching up the outer layer of skin. ¡°So cute.¡±

    ¡°I call her Dawn, though she doesn¡¯t respond to it yet,¡± Elijah explained, going into further detail about how he could communicate with plants to some degree. Mental bonds were something the two assistants could understand surprisingly easily, and they asked a few questions regarding it all. ¡°Do you have many interactions with Mages or was the man I¡¯m replacing a Mage himself? The two of you seem¡­ unfazed at all this.¡±

    ¡°Oh, we don¡¯t see Mages often and Reynold wasn¡¯t magical, other than how knowledgeable he was in his craft,¡± Oscar assured him, making Elijah frown. ¡°It¡¯s just that, well, the Mages we do meet have done more¡­ grandiose things. Making everybody in the room fly, making animated ice, or¡­ that one time where we were all able to see through each others¡¯ eyes at the same time last winter, if you remember that, Mary?¡±

    ¡°I do, and I still have a headache from seeing through a hundred eyes at once,¡± Mary confirmed, shuddering at the memory. ¡°But, yeah, this isn¡¯t the craziest magical thing we¡¯ve seen. Also, I think your plant is trying to eat my finger."

    The beak that had previously imitated that of a duck beautifully had mutated gruesomely, elongating and wrapping around the finger. Blood was steadily having a harder and harder time circulating, and the grimace revealed that the pain might¡¯ve started up as well.

    ¡®Not food,¡¯ Elijah reminded Dawn as he tapped her on the head, hearing some grumbling through the bond as she retracted the biomass and regained her duck features. ¡°She says sorry. Won¡¯t happen again.¡±

    ¡®I did?¡¯

    ¡®No, but you¡¯re not going to do that again regardless,¡¯ he sent the duck, feeling confusion in response. ¡®These people are not food, no matter what you might think. If you want to eat meat, I can get you some, but the living people we are on good terms with are off-limits.¡¯

    ¡®... Is meat good?¡¯

    ¡®We can find out later.¡¯

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, though I think that might leave a mark,¡± Mary said, tracing another finger across the area Dawn had grabbed onto. ¡°Are all plants a little hungry for humans, or is that just a thing with her?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s little empathy in the kingdom of plants,¡± Elijah replied. ¡°Other than some select species sharing nutrients, and the sapient races that hardly qualify as pure plants, they see all others as potential sources of food and little else.¡±

    ¡°Brutal,¡± Oscar commented, keeping his hands firmly to himself as the duck sat down on the table to clean its fake feathers.

    Used to more grandiose displays or not, Elijah could already see it would be some time before the two would be used to the fake animal. The eyes previously filled with wonder were now wary of the duck.

    He showed off the Dawn''s ability to create a variant of healing paste, which alleviated some of the unsaid concerns, but there was still the air of carefulness as they kept glancing at the duck resting by the nearby window.

    At least Elijah knew where he could find the duck from now on, a box of dirt placed on the windowsill to create a base of operations for the plant while they were in the room.

    Try as she might, staying with him constantly wouldn¡¯t be possible while he worked. That became obvious when the documents for his position were finally opened up, and the trio started to go through the various duties.

    ¡°Oscar and I usually handle the majority of the Royal Garden, while Reynold took care of the more sensitive plants which are located here in their separate area,¡± Mary explained, pointing at the different spots on the map of the garden. There were several of those maps, each with its own standard temperatures, humidities, and hours of sunlight being able to be adjusted to maximize the possible growth of the plants within. A very expensive system that explained how they were able to grow herbs not usually found on the continent due to the incredibly specific conditions required for them to grow. ¡°We¡¯re personally fine keeping it this way, but it¡¯ll require about thirty minutes of daily work from you and about two hours of harvesting every other week during the weekend. Is that fine with you?¡±

    ¡°Not a problem at all,¡± Elijah assured them, already adjusting his mental timetable. A lot of activities would have to be pushed to the side to make space for everything, but none of it would be impossible. With the focus on his duties in the castle, he would actually spend less time in the laboratory working, which he was sure Aleksi would be happy to hear about. ¡°I don¡¯t see anything listed here about weekly upkeep on the commonly used ointments. Is that supposed to be missing?¡±

    ¡°Oh, we only have monthly standard brewing sessions, when it comes to the common creams, gels, and pastes.¡±

    ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen mentioned here, many of those don¡¯t have a shelf life of more than two weeks.¡±

    ¡°Those are included as they are needed instead of having standard time slots since the need for them varies by a lot,¡± Oscar explained.

    ¡°... Right. I can see most of the longer-lived medications being brewed consistently, and I take it that there are no serious issues with that process or with the quantities?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s been no major shortages in the past two years,¡± he was assured. Reading the documentation regarding what amounts were made each month, Elijah did note an upward trend in those meant to help with muscle tiredness and ease sleeping. The consequences of an aging population within the castle walls, he supposed.

    The size of the reports regarding each patient that he had to oversee implied that as well, as Elijah was forced to realize when they moved away from the supplying of the medicine and over to individualized usage.

    ¡°In the past 12 hours, I¡¯ve gotten¡­ 17 requests from different people who would like to be checked on by you personally today,¡± Mary mentioned, finding the folders of each of the 17 headaches. That the files together matched the thickness of a large tome made his heart sink. ¡°Each has checked out the box saying it is an urgent and high priority, which means we can¡¯t take over before you have seen the patient yourself.¡±

    ¡°Do you usually have this amount of patients in one day?¡± Elijah asked.

    ¡°Luckily not, but most of these refused help from us since we don¡¯t have the proper title.¡±

    Elijah noted the edge of the man¡¯s tone before opening up the first folder and looking inside. It was some Baron, five years younger than him but looking ten years older. The consequences of the old war, which had taken the right leg and robbed the man of most motor functions in his left hand. The first had been due to a warhammer crushing the limb into a pulpy goo which had forced an amputation within the hour, and the second injury had been due to a stray bolt of lightning that had passed through the man.

    With the list of accidents through the years, Elijah was surprised that the Baron hadn''t keeled over before he had even started going gray. The wonders of stupid amounts of luck mixed in with constant medical check-ups, he supposed. By saving several important figures, he¡¯d been granted the title when the war was over, along with being granted permanent residency inside the castle after reaching the age of 60 since traveling had become too much trouble.

    He gave up on reading all the pages of notes surrounding the man, putting them to the side to see what the next 16 folders had to say. Most were very similar stories, with war veterans needing maintenance and care of various amounts. There were a few younger ones as well, though, including several in the higher ranks of staff who had reported work difficulties of the highest order.

    This is going to take a while.

 Chapter 46: The First Patient

    After skimming through the rest of the files, not going any near as in-depth as the first but just making sure he knew the general idea of who they were, he asked his assistants when the first patients were to arrive.

    ¡°Oh, I believe that some are already out in the seating room waiting to be seen by you,¡± Mary reported, looking up from her work. While he had been busy reading through the documentation, the two had started out on their duties in the meanwhile. There had apparently been a larger batch of Polkweed that had finished drying, so they were busy cutting it into smaller parts so it could be heated and ground down for long-term storage. ¡°If you want, I can go fetch one of them while you familiarize yourself with the examination room.¡±

    ¡°That would be lovely, thank you,¡± Elijah replied. Oscar took over Mary¡¯s part of the cutting without comment, as she led him to a side door that allowed direct entry into the examination room.

    The difference between the two rooms was like night and day. While the laboratory was made for function above all else, with everything easy to find and even easier to clean, this area, where a patient could come in, had a higher focus on elegance.

    The seat and table where a patient could sit and lie down were still easy to clean, the hard surface allowing disinfectant to be used without issue, but the areas in the room that weren¡¯t often touched were rather¡­ extravagant.

    ¡°Before you ask, I can¡¯t explain the painting either,¡± Mary said, while showing Elijah where many tools for examining patients were located before she went to the next room to fetch a patient.

    Looking up at the ceiling, where he hadn¡¯t even seen the painting, Elijah could only sigh. Tiled walls, a floor smooth enough that he could see his own reflection in it, and ornaments hanging around as some form of decoration that the high class probably enjoyed looking at. While he could see the beauty in diamonds and gems, Elijah didn¡¯t think they had a home in a place like this.

    And what is that painting supposed to be anyway? A circle with wings? A dog on its head? A waterfall?

    The more he looked at it, the less it made sense, the cluttered mess impossible to comprehend at any level. And when he began to hear footsteps coming from the door Mary had hurried through, he turned his focus to something that had to make more sense.

    Steady clicks were heard as a cane and a prosthetic hit the floor, becoming louder when Elijah saw an older man coming in. An old face, shaky hands, and an unwillingness to accept help from his assistant who looked on with mild worry as the patient hobbled over to the center of the room to greet Elijah.

    ¡°So you¡¯re the new Healer?¡± the old Baron questioned in a rough voice, sounding like he was halfway to a cough at any moment. One of the man¡¯s eyes looked Elijah up and down, while the other lazily tried to follow, likely another condition that¡¯d come from the sizable scar that ran down the left side of the man¡¯s head. ¡°Thought they¡¯d hire a young one so they¡¯d last longer.¡±

    ¡°Gotta take what they can get,¡± Elijah said, accepting the already-shaking hand. ¡°Elijah Caede. I take it you¡¯re Baron Fletcher?¡±

    ¡°Handsome face give it away?¡± Fletcher asked, half-laughing half-coughing a lung out as he got settled on the table, sitting with a slight hunch and with his cane at the ready. ¡°Metal leg of mine causing trouble, not sitting as it should. I hope you can do something about it. Didn¡¯t want the young ones touching it and making it worse.¡±

    Elijah eyed the ¡®young one¡¯ standing behind the Baron, Mary¡¯s expression a clear indication of what she thought about such a claim. Since she¡¯d clearly dealt with the old man before, along with the strange piece of machinery attached to the stub, she could probably do a better job than he could.

    Patients were easier to deal with when they didn¡¯t despise you, however, so Elijah kept his tongue in cheek as he skimmed through the Baron¡¯s folder once again. The old history was skipped through in favor of the newer chunks, which repeated the difficulties already mentioned by the old man.

    A lack of properly fitting it in the morning causing it to chafe. Ointment to treat the irritated skin which isn¡¯t applied, and the request to not use the prosthetic is ignored as well.

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    The model patient, all in all, with an inability to follow instructions and blaming the issues that came from it on others.

    ¡°Let¡¯s have a look at it, shall we?¡± Elijah said, bending down to inspect the metal limb and the area where it was strapped onto the organic body. ¡°I can¡¯t say much about the prosthetic, but I can already see that there is obvious irritation. Would you mind if I take off¡ª¡±

    ¡°If you put it on again, I couldn¡¯t care less,¡± the Baron said, cutting him off. A glance at Mary had her moving over to help him figure out the straps and various pieces of enchanted metal that pressed against the stub. Elijah realized that it must¡¯ve been a custom one, with how similar it was to the remaining limb. ¡°How¡¯s it looking?¡±

    Putrid.

    ¡°It could be better,¡± Elijah said, whispering for his assistant to bring spirits, some concoction to lower the pain, and a healthy dose of high-quality healing ointment. ¡°How long have you been feeling uncomfortable in this area?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been troubling for years, though that was my mind not letting go of the war more than anything else,¡± Fletcher explained as Mary returned at a quick pace, the labeled bottles in hand. ¡°Got worse a month ago, though. Was supposed to visit Reynold, but he kicked the bucket so I just ignored it until somebody proper could look at it. How is it, by the way? Pain¡¯s fading already.¡±

    ¡°That would be because of the local anesthetic acting fast,¡± Elijah said, cleaning the scalpel before he scraped away what shouldn¡¯t have been allowed to fester in the first place. From the discomfort, the nerves somehow hadn¡¯t died out from this rot, but the fact that the Baron was still able to walk around and complain was a showing of extreme pain tolerance. ¡°You should¡¯ve allowed my assistant to have had a look at the area regardless of what you might¡¯ve thought best. If you¡¯d waited another day, the best scenario possible would be removing the last chunk of the leg.¡±

    The baron complained, but it didn¡¯t matter to him. Elijah cleaned up the rest of the wounds and disinfected them to the point where even the local anesthetic didn¡¯t stop the muscle tensing, before finally putting on the healing ointment.

    ¡°You¡¯re lucky that I can help with this, or you¡¯d be without the ability to do anything but lie in a bed as this mess healed,¡± he added through the complaints, connecting to the applied ointment and accelerating the process.

    He ignored the shocked murmurs from his side, as the wounds closed up within seconds, briefly leaving scars before those were removed as well. A few black spots that the body rejected did reach the surface after another few seconds, falling into the prepared tray.

    Otherwise, it was all completed, the stump as healthy as a stump could possibly be.

    ¡°You had several fragments embedded in there, but they¡¯ve been removed together with the wound,¡± Elijah explained, letting the Baron feel at the stump. The mild shock on the old man¡¯s face caused a similar level of satisfaction. "You lost a finger-width of flesh from this ordeal, so you¡¯ll have to contact whatever artificer made the prosthetic to have it refitted. If you want to wear it in the meantime, you will put it on properly. Understand?¡±

    ¡°You realize who you¡¯re talking to?¡± the Baron questioned, voice low as he finished inspecting the healed area.

    ¡°A patient that has a habit of not listening to simple orders,¡± Elijah dryly replied, getting a staredown that he matched with similar tenacity.

    He was half-prepared to accept lasting a day in the position before a roar of laughter left the Baron, Fletcher clutching at his stomach without that coughing sound from before. It seemed the enhanced ointment had reached further than originally intended.

    ¡°Finally a man who isn¡¯t scared to talk back!¡± the Baron exclaimed, rising from the table without a care about his missing leg as he wrapped an arm around Elijah. ¡°You know how long it¡¯s been since somebody was so blunt with me? Forty-three damned years! You get a title, and suddenly you¡¯re a fragile thing that¡¯s going to burst if anybody says anything rude to you. Doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re right or wrong either. Any rudeness is avoided no matter how inane I might be. You, Elijah Caede, Royal Healer and a man with a mind, are a good thing for this place.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ good to hear?¡± Elijah replied, looking on as Mary helped get him back down onto the table. Since the prosthetic was still somewhat fit for short-term usage, it was fitted on properly by his assistant before the Baron was herded out of the room. ¡°Is this how I should expect every treatment to go?¡±

    ¡°I think I might quit if it does,¡± Mary said with a blunt tone that made him shake his head. ¡°Sixteen more to go. Are you ready?¡±

    He wasn¡¯t, but when had that ever mattered? At least time could pass without as extreme reactions as what the Baron had shown off. There were some comments about Elijah, his age, and where he¡¯d come from, but most of the patients were just happy to be looked at. Most had relatively minor issues as well, ranging from a knee that was acting up, trouble sleeping, or just a headache that had persisted. Each took less than ten minutes to check on, three minutes to find the proper prescription for, and then they were all on their way.

    The issue was that the number of patients did add up in the end, and sixteen ¡®quick¡¯ inspections still ended up taking hours of work and making most of the day go by before he could breathe.

 Chapter 47: A Man with a Plan

    Elijah truly hoped that they wouldn¡¯t have to do this again and keep the amount of patients seen low. Even when he¡¯d been helping people in his shop, it had been very limited. A quick look, a year of medication to help, and then he rarely had to check up on them again. Simple. Here, it wasn¡¯t.

    ¡°We could go up to the Royal Garden and start one of the harvests a day early if you want to,¡± Oscar suggested as the trio took a break from their duties, a cup of tea and some light snacks giving their muscles ample time to recover. ¡°We are a little behind on the upkeep regardless, so it wouldn¡¯t hurt.¡±

    ¡°Taking a look won¡¯t be a bad idea,¡± Elijah supposed, grabbing some more of the biscuits that Mary had brought over. It seemed that the people in the kitchen were ready to make and prepare anything that they wished, including just about every type of food, dessert, or drink that they had the ingredients for. The privilege wasn¡¯t abused, but Elijah¡¯s position gave him and his assistants the ability to do as they pleased in that regard. ¡°I did notice something while reading through the documentation earlier today, by the way.¡±

    ¡°What was that?¡± Mary asked.

    ¡°While there is a segment regarding entry into the Dungeon, there¡¯s never anything said about actually going inside. Is it uncommon to do so?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ yes?¡± Oscar answered, putting down one of the biscuits. ¡°We have most of the plants we would need in our own garden, so any common illness or ailment can be treated without fetching anything from the Dungeon. We did have one occurence¡­ two years ago? Might be¡ª no, it was two years ago, during the last Dungeon Break, where we followed the excursion into the depths to harvest some of the very rare flora. I believe it was a variant of the Idun Apples, some Jade Vines, and a third that I barely got a glimpse of. Do you remember, Mary?¡±

    ¡°It might¡¯ve been a Ghost Orchid, but I can¡¯t say for certain,¡± the other assistant replied. ¡°We were there mainly for the experience of being in a Mana-Dense environment, while Reynold harvested what we needed.¡±

    Idun Apples are for life-extending elixirs for the weak or Hill-Giant potions for the physical fighters. Jade Vine is mainly for Magical Rituals involving the gem, but it could¡¯ve been used as a near-permanent light source as well. And a Ghost Orchid¡­ That¡¯s only viable for inducing short-term comas and wanting to avoid the risk of overdosing.

    ¡°Do you know what he used them for?¡±

    ¡°The first was for King¡¯s treatment before we started on You-Know-What, but the other two were for something else,¡± Oscar explained, not daring to mention the Heartroot Vervains when the windows weren¡¯t fully shut. ¡°Not that this was uncommon, since a lot of the more complicated brews were done without our involvement. Many required so much precision that Reynold didn¡¯t want to risk trying to teach us while the brewing was ongoing, so he would sometimes do them without telling us much.¡±

    Not a bad excuse, though Elijah still didn¡¯t feel right about it. Regardless, he did figure out what he needed to know a minute later, as the two continued to expand on their journeys into the Dungeon. It wasn¡¯t often they did, and especially not in the last two years, but before that, it had been something they¡¯d do at least once every ten or so months. It was something to learn how to harvest plants in the wild, sometimes as a test to see if they could separate similar-looking variants, and sometimes because the ones in the Dungeon were easier to process for beginners.

    ¡°By the end, Reynold would simply come in the afternoon, look whichever guard was there in the eye, and we would all walk through without ever interacting with them further,¡± Mary reminisced. ¡°I think they got tired of us, at some point. That head lady didn¡¯t like me when I tried talking to her about her position and what she thought of the plants I had on me.¡±

    ¡°That would¡¯ve been Olivia Blackwell you were talking to,¡± Elijah supplied, knowing all too well how she would¡¯ve reacted to some youngster trying to excitedly chat about whatever herbs and natural life could be found within the Dungeon. She cared about their function and nothing else. ¡°Not the most talkative person in the world, but she¡¯s nice when you get to know her.¡±

    Depending on how you define ¡®nice.¡¯

    The conversation continued, but the important part had already been figured out. The guards just had to know it was him, that he was the Royal Healer, and they wouldn¡¯t check their faces. Elijah was still going to heavily disguise the two young adults, to the point where they would be nearly unrecognizable anyway, but it seemed that the wish to enter into the Dungeon was going to be fulfilled very soon.

    Another three hours were able to pass afterward in relative quiet. Elijah got another look at the Royal Garden, was able to harvest some of the finished fruits of the tropical plants, and found an empty patch where he could plant some more Frostseeds over in the colder areas. Nothing that would be too vital during the summer, but some plants would help with the complaints about cold that would surely arrive when winter came along.

    Nothing too complicated, of course. He used his magic sparingly as well, giving whatever plant needed it a small boost. Some had other adjustments in terms of what earth they were put in, along with the acidity and the nutrition balance, but the changes were minimal.

    While he couldn¡¯t say it was all perfect, Elijah had to admit that the former Royal Healer had been an expert within the field. Being able to get so close to the ideal environment for the hundreds of different plants, adjusting according to their individual needs on a near-weekly basis, without having the sixth sense that came with Biomancy was an insane feat. Elijah was sure he would¡¯ve never been able to accomplish anything like it without his gift, and he was just as sure that most masters of the craft wouldn¡¯t be able to either.

    A loss for the kingdom that you left it, old man.

    He noted the small inscribed stone that had been put next to the Phoenix Fruits at the front entry of the top garden. It had the initials of the previous Royal Healer, along with some heartfelt messages from the two assistants. A short recounting of an old memory, one that must¡¯ve meant a lot to them since the letters looked to have been carved out by hand.

    After dinner was served, a simple dish of pasta, chicken, and some sauce with a name that went over Elijah¡¯s head, the warning Harper had given him earlier came true. They were barely able to wash the dishes, the assistant preparing to deliver the plates and cutlery back to the kitchen when rhythmic knocks were heard from the door into their office. A slow one, four quick ones, and two more slow ones. A sign of somebody with time to waste.

    The Princess.

    ¡°You¡¯re a few minutes earlier than expected,¡± Elijah commented, as he opened the door and saw Vera and Harper standing in the hall. Seeing who was there, both assistants immediately rose from their seats, standing with their backs straight and their eyes forward. ¡°Sit back down, you two. This isn¡¯t a formal visit.¡±

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    They looked unsure until a very dignified snort left the Princess, the assistants hesitantly going back to their work of cleaning everything up. It turned out that the later duties of the day were a deep clean of the entire laboratory, something that they were preparing for in a practiced rhythm.

    ¡°I¡¯m happy to see you deciding the tone of the visit instead of me,¡± Vera commented, as she went inside. Harper did the same, though the aide stood by the door instead of going further in like the royal. ¡°I¡¯ve brought the documents regarding my father that you were missing, by the way. Reynold used to have them in his personal quarters for safe-keeping, but I thought it best to hold onto them until a new Healer came in to fill the position.¡±

    ¡°A fair choice,¡± Elijah said, accepting the folder. Sitting down, he read through it all as calmly as possible. ¡°This is about what I expected to see.¡±

    Hypertension, respiratory issues, easily dazed while standing, and has trouble even getting out of bed on the best of days before it gets even worse.

    Age came for all, and especially the ones who wore their bodies thin by never stopping to rest at a single point in their lives. Maybe they didn¡¯t have a choice, but the results were the same regardless. Nothing was going to stop the consequences.

    ¡°So?¡± Vera said after ten minutes of Elijah steadily reading through the reports. Reynold had been detailed about the condition, already fearing the worst five years before. The Idun Apples mentioned before had been a form of last-rally for the king¡¯s body, meant to give him some form of strength but never giving as good an effect as it was meant to. Reynold had suspected an inability to digest it, and Elijah was starting to believe it. ¡°What are your ideas about this?¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Do you value honesty over optimism?¡± Elijah asked. He had a very blunt truth to give, but he wasn¡¯t sure if that was truly what the Princess wanted to hear.

    ¡°Lies rarely make the truth better,¡± Vera replied bitterly. ¡°I take it that means nothing good?¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t ever going to be good,¡± he said. ¡°This is just worse. Reynold might¡¯ve never said it outright, but the Heartroot Vervains is the only thing stopping your father from dying. If you stop the dosage he is getting, he will die within a few days.¡±

    The Princess clicked her tongue, leaning back and looking up at the ceiling. She stayed like that for a minute or two, needing to process it all before she could speak again. Elijah didn¡¯t blame her.

    ¡°So your plan is to continue the dosage and change nothing?¡± she asked.

    Nobody deserves that torture.

    ¡°I¡¯d rather not keep it like this, actually,¡± Elijah answered, Vera frowning and signaling for him to continue. ¡°Within a year, your father will have built up a tolerance for the Heartroot Vervains. Enough that the dosage needs to be doubled to still keep him alive, which is possible to do for another year or two, but after that point, he will suffer a very excruciating death while never having left his bed at any point during that time.¡±

    ¡°Not a death that a man with his achievements deserves,¡± Vera muttered. ¡°I assume you¡¯ve got an idea on how to avoid this fate?¡±

    ¡°Reynold focused on having his heart beat for as long as possible,¡± he replied. ¡°Mine will be for him to live while he can. It will include a higher dosage of stimulants to artificially increase his cognition and ability to stay in place, wide-reaching pain medication to stop the pain that will come from his body as he moves, enough muscle enhancers to allow the tissue to hold together, something for the bones as well, something for the lungs and heart to handle the load, and finally, something for the stomach to let it take the punch all of this will bring. We can avoid some of the harsher effects by letting it be absorbed through the skin, but we are going to push his body to the limit regardless.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°That is a different approach from the minimalist one that Reynold had,¡± the Princess commented after a second. The assistants next to them had paused in their work, looking at Elijah mildly horrified at what he had just said. ¡°The opposite, in fact, but maybe that¡¯s what my father needs? How long do you think he¡¯ll survive with this approach?¡±

    ¡°Eighteen months in the best scenario, twelve if Reynold hasn¡¯t been overly positive in these notes, and only six if he¡¯s already grown more resistant to the Heartroot than he¡¯s supposed to be,¡± Elijah explained in clear terms. He wasn¡¯t giving the King good odds, never intended to because there wouldn¡¯t be any, but this could make him stand until the end. ¡°We will reduce the dosage of the Heartroot slightly, enough for change to occur easier, but it will not be permanent. Your father¡¯s remaining days will be effectively halved.¡±

    Asking the man himself would¡¯ve been preferred, but he doubted they could even understand his words at the moment.

    ¡°What he¡¯s going through now isn¡¯t living. He¡¯s surviving, right on the line to join my mother on the other side,¡± Vera said. She spent another minute in thought. ¡°... You can go through with your plan. I¡¯ll allow it.¡±

    That made his eyebrows raise, and the others in the room took it a step further by freezing in place, their breaths caught in their throats as her words echoed in their minds.

    ¡°You won¡¯t discuss it with your brothers? With Alin?¡± Elijah questioned, having expected to go through the conversation with the others present as well, yet Vera only shook her head.

    ¡°You are the one in control of what happens to my father,¡± the Princess, second in line for the throne and daughter to a very sick man, explained. Her eyes didn¡¯t waver, her voice didn¡¯t crack, and there was no hint of hesitation from her. She was steadfast in her position, not intending to leave it. ¡°Asking me for permission is a formality. If the Royal Healer believes action must be taken, then action will be taken. In this, you are the highest authority.¡±

    ¡­

    With nothing more needing to be said, the deep cleaning of the laboratory was ceased as they set to work. While Elijah wouldn¡¯t be starting out the full treatment that night, as that would overload the body, the stimulants and other basic physical enhancers would be tried out. Dosing was an educated guess, low to stop any accidents, but enough to still have an effect however minor.

    His assistant brought everything together, cleaning the tools to be used, and packing it all together for him. The final task of applying it all, however, would be without their presence, as only he would be to visit the King.

    ¡°Harper,¡± was all Vera needed to say before her assistant left the two behind, walking in the opposite direction while they moved towards the stairs to the top spire. ¡°I will show you to his room, but I won¡¯t be there when you start your work.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s stupid of you,¡± Elijah replied bluntly. ¡°Don¡¯t trust me like this. The King is more important than that.¡±

    ¡°I have faith,¡± Vera countered, ignoring his complaints as they went up the spiral stairs to the top of the castle. There was a larger set of stairs further away that weren¡¯t as narrow, but those took longer to get to and they didn¡¯t want to waste time. ¡°You¡¯ve shown little animosity towards the crown.¡±

    ¡°Neither have I shown love for the Royalty.¡±

    ¡°Indifference is acceptable,¡± the Princess said without a pause. ¡°Not caring is a feat by itself, and your lacking lust for gold means that the benefits of you working at your utmost ability for the next six months will be the likeliest choice for you to make.¡±

    A logical conclusion, yet that didn¡¯t mean leaving him with the King was smart anyway. Leaving something like this to ¡®most likely¡¯ was unacceptable.

    Regardless, the top of the stairs was reached, a grand set of doors was seen, and the guards beside it bowed to the entrance before letting Elijah walk through. As promised, she did not follow, Vera nodding at him while the doors closed and left him alone in the room.

 Chapter 48: King Mason Newell

    The resting place of the King, Elijah able to see the large bed ahead where an old man rested. Their eyes were sunken in, long gray curls fell from their sides, and a body that was previously thick with muscle was now thinner than his own along with being twice as fragile at best. The Heartroot herb had perhaps allowed those shaky lungs and the uncertain heart to continue beating, yet the toll that time had put on the body was undeniable.

    ¡°A weak man forced into a grand chamber,¡± Elijah muttered, remembering the story he was told as a child while looking around the room. Luxurious rugs covered every inch of the floor to keep the feet warm, expensive chairs and a table with an unfinished chess game, a small library of tomes and scrolls, a painting of the man and a woman that was decades old and washed out from the sun¡¯s rays, and a balcony was easily seen through the glass doors that allowed the light to fill up the room.

    He walked over to the doors, looking out and seeing the city in its completed form. The view that had been some floors below, close to the Royal Garden, was nothing compared to this.

    ¡°A beautiful sight for a man that cannot see,¡± Elijah continued, the words of the poem fleeing from his mind. ¡°Food fit for gods for a man that cannot taste. A perfect bouquet for a man who cannot smell. A perfect life for a man that does not live.¡±

    Thinking back, it was a strange thing to tell the children of the streets. A song meant to make them laugh? He could certainly remember doing so, jealous of the man¡¯s life and wanting him to enjoy none of it.

    Different times.

    Now he could only look at the King of the country with his stomach twisting inside him, a feeling close to pity radiating through his flesh. It was enough for Dawn to reach her limit, appearing on his shoulder before she immediately leaped off and flew to the bed in front of them.

    ¡®Not food?¡¯ she asked, just to be sure.

    ¡°Not in the slightest,¡± Elijah murmured, absentmindedly repeating the words over the bond so the duck could understand. He settled on the chair beside the bed, opened up the prepared bag, and placed the various concoctions on the bed. ¡°Not enough for a normal life, but enough to push you a little closer.¡±

    He tried to be gentle as he grabbed the King¡¯s right arm, rotating it slightly so he could easier clean the elbow pit where a vein could be easily found. There was a slight resistance as he did, muscles tensing and relaxing. Elijah paused to see if the man had awoken, but the eyes never opened and the breathing only shook a little before they calmed down once again.

    Not one to sleep well, I see.

    Elijah didn¡¯t mind that fact, as he injected the pain reliever. Nothing that would fully stop it, but enough to make the breathing from the king more even within only a few minutes. And when no complications came about, he continued his work. The muscle enhancements were put on the core body and allowed to travel to the limbs through the bloodstream.

    The help for the heart and lungs came next. Though the normal application was meant to be done through eating, he¡¯d brought it this time as a form of ointment. It came with a reduction in strength and lifetime effect, but it was fine for now. When the day came, the proper version could be consumed instead.

    No complications were seen this time either, and Elijah could continue his work for the next twenty minutes without finding flaws or other issues. Only after everything had been gone through did he move on to the next step.

    ¡°My predecessor might¡¯ve thought you strong, but even years ago you must¡¯ve been too weak to handle what he thought was needed,¡± Elijah muttered, closing his eyes as threads of his Mana traveled through the body of the King. Slow and steady, letting the flow of the flesh guide their way and not intervening in the slightest. No influences were forced, Elijah hoping to instead witness what was being hidden within.

    The forced showing of strength that came from the Heartroot Vervain. The enlarged veins around the organs caused by it were unmistakable, Elijah grimacing as he nearly caught the attention of the magical herb. It didn¡¯t have a mind of its own, but the natural reactions that the elixir had to foreign presences were dangerous regardless.

    He moved his focus down towards the gut, finding it mostly in ruin. It was healthy in terms of it not having rotted or decayed, but it was without a true inner biome. The consequences of what he¡¯d been through in recent years, no doubt, anything that might¡¯ve sustained the inner workings of the gut were too hard to consume.

    But maybe that was for the best, Elijah easily found what he was looking for because of that vast emptiness. Sticking to the walls with a grip that hadn¡¯t been deterred by the passing of years were the fragments of an apple.

    An Idun Apple, to be specific. All of the fragments were small enough to be akin to grains, the body cutting them into smaller and smaller pieces until it was impossible to damage the magical fruit more than it had already been. It was a testament to the King¡¯s will to even do this much in his current state, but that didn¡¯t stop most of the benefits from the fruit to have been wasted when it was eaten.

    Not wasted. Paused.

    Most of the apple was still there, inside the body and dormant. It would likely stay that way until the day that the flesh around the fragments decayed and fell away. That is unless somebody tapped them awake once more.

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    Channeling of [Plant Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 49MP/sec

    An immense cost to do so little.

    Elijah didn¡¯t care.

    ¡®Wake up. Become one with the flesh. Heal the sickness that has festered, that holds the body still. Make it right.¡¯

    He cut off the connection then and there, feeling most of his reserves emptied by so few words. But it didn¡¯t matter how empty he felt, as a smile began to fall upon him and a golden blooming began to emanate from the old man¡¯s stomach.

    ¡°Colors fit for a king,¡± Elijah muttered, lifting his spirits as his Core stopped complaining about the halving of his reverses in so little time. ¡°Now¡­ we wait.¡±

    ¡®Can I do that?¡¯ Dawn asked, standing on the bed close by Elijah, as they both watched the golden pulsing from the King. It was centered around the gut only at first, but the golden veins followed the rhythm of a calm heart, each beat making them a little further ahead. A slow but steady process. ¡®It looks useful.¡¯

    ¡®It is, and¡­ maybe,¡¯ Elijah replied. It would require that they found an Idun Apple down in the Dungeon. Very far down, further than even the Crown Prince was meant to have gone while cleansing the upper half of the depths. He didn¡¯t like the thought of going so far down himself, but there was a chance of buying it instead maybe? Pricy, sure, but gold was not something they would be missing soon. ¡®In the future, when we have fewer things to worry about.¡¯

    For now, they watched silently. Progress did not cease, the veins reaching the chest within five more minutes before slowing down as the veins also spread to the arms and legs. More surface to expand on, making fifteen minutes go by before they passed the throat and were seen on the head of the King.

    The gold was weak by then, but it didn¡¯t stop as it filled the face of the old man. Around the lips, inside the nose, on the pupils, and up in the thin gray hair. It was everywhere it could be and then some more, having a grip on all the flesh there was to see.

    And by then, when the arms and legs had been covered in similar fashion, the mythical apple saw its time to shine had come, the brightness increasing tenfold as the King was briefly turned into a miniature sun.

    Elijah did not blink, his gaze not faltering.

    He refused to look away until the end, until the golden light dimmed, and all that was left of the apple¡¯s influence were dull lines nearly invisible to the eye. They could be felt as mild dents, but only just.

    Barely a thought was spared to them, though, as the step had been completed and the results were there. The control that the Heartroot had gained over the King had been loosened just slightly. Enough for the body to become his own, if only with the help of a dozen other concoctions to keep him stable.

    Though it was slow, the eyes twitched. The breathing deepened. The fingers stretched.

    And, though Elijah requested that he lie back down immediately, the King sat up in his bed. Skin hung loose, his long gray hair was a mess, and he smelled like death, but the eyes of the King were open and he was sitting upright without help.

    ¡°... Not dead yet,¡± King Mason Newell, the man who rebelled and allowed the formation of Seranova under his banner, commented. A hand was raised in front of him, closing into a fist before the fingers were stretched out again and again. ¡°Not too alive either, but this is better than I expected it would ever be again. Curious. Did Reynold change one of his recipes?¡±

    Elijah noted the life in those brown eyes, so completely different from the rest of the body. Though sunken in, they didn¡¯t waver, didn¡¯t shake. The mind was as strong as it had ever been.

    ¡°Reynold died last week,¡± Elijah answered bluntly, the King blinking in surprise. ¡°Slept in peacefully during the night. I¡¯m the new Royal Healer, Elijah Ceade.¡±

    ¡°Well, Mr. Ceade, whatever you changed is much appreciated,¡± Mason replied, flexing his fingers again. ¡°How long will lightness last?¡±

    ¡°The high from the Idun Apple in your gut finally being absorbed will last an hour or so, but the medication that you¡¯ll be starting on in full tomorrow should keep you close to this level for the time you have left,¡± he proceeded to explain. ¡°Best scenario will let you live for another year and a half. Worst is a half, even less if your body rejects too many of the herbs.¡±

    ¡°A few months,¡± the King repeated, his turn nodding as he mulled it over. ¡°Better than I had hoped, or I¡¯d have you call my children to my side.¡±

    ¡°Princess Vera led me up here. I can bring her if you¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s¡­ I need time to adjust, if I have the chance to do as much,¡± Mason cut in before Elijah could rise from his chair and walk to the door. Something more almost left the King until the brown pupils saw the fake animal that had almost leaped off the bed to follow Elijah¡¯s steps. ¡°I won¡¯t question the effectiveness of your methods, but I must ask what the purpose of the duck is. And why is it wearing a sunflower as a hat?¡±

    ¡°She likes the hat, and you must admit it suits her,¡± Elijah replied, getting a weird look from the most powerful person in the country. ¡°And she came with me because she will be antsy if left alone at the laboratory. While ducks might not understand the concept of such a thing, Dawn here suffers no such weakness through virtue of not being a duck at all.¡±

    As he spoke, he sent a small request to the fake animal, and Dawn immediately responded by making the flower hat grow twice as tall on her head.

    The King witnessed the display, confused for a moment before chuckling at the hilarity.

    ¡°An animal that is not an animal but instead a plant,¡± Mason muttered, spending some time looking at Dawn taking off the grown part of the hat and eating it. ¡°That makes you a Biomancer, I suppose?¡±

    ¡°Your guess would be right,¡± Elijah confirmed. He grabbed a loose bathrobe at the King¡¯s request, helping him put it on before standing by his side while he rose from the bed without assistance. ¡°Say if you feel weak. While there might be less pain now, it will increase tenfold if you fall to the floor.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ll shout when the time comes,¡± the King promised, taking small steps as he headed to the table and chairs that stood ready to be used. ¡°Do you play chess?¡±

 Chapter 49: A Tale They Wont Believe

    When asked, Elijah sat down on the opposite side of the Royal, the board sitting on the table between them.

    ¡°I know the rules, but I have no skill in it,¡± he warned, as the King arranged the pieces in their starting place.

    ¡°I¡¯m dogshit at it, so we¡¯ll be on even ground,¡± Mason said. ¡°White or black?¡±

    ¡°You overestimate my skill,¡± Elijah assured the King, turning the board so he had white. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best.¡±

    It was a strange feeling in Elijah¡¯s stomach, as he sat there moving the pieces. Not because he was good or bad at the game, though it was soon confirmed they were both terrible, but because¡­ him playing against the King, the weak man with little fat and even less muscle on his bones. It felt wrong.

    But there was nothing that could be done, as the Royal had an hour or so of strength before he would need to return to the bed. And if he wished to acclimate to movement once again, to work out the twitches in his arms and the moments where his tongue didn¡¯t work as it should, Elijah would not protest.

    ¡°Ah! You beat me fair and square,¡± Mason exclaimed, as his king was trapped between a knight and rook, unable to move and being forced to resign. ¡°As I said before, we are both equally horrible at this type of strategy.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re better in other fields?¡± Elijah asked, his words letting the King continue with his words. ¡°Grand warfare, I assume.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I can¡¯t take the credit for anything of that sort,¡± came the reply, making Elijah look up at him. That wasn¡¯t what he expected to hear.

    ¡°The battlefield then?¡± Another shake of the head. ¡°A one-on-one fight? I heard you were skilled with a hammer, during the old days.¡±

    ¡°I certainly won with that great hammer more often than not, though I like to blame that on the fact that the enemy was used to spears, axes, and swords, things that armor can block and dull. A hammer ignores that protection, and I used that every day I found myself on the fields,¡± Mason said. ¡°But, against a true opponent that knew of my tricks, I wouldn¡¯t be able to do much. Average, better-than-average at times, but never the best at such fighting.¡±

    ¡°But if it isn¡¯t war, what strategy is it that you hold yourself in so highly?" Elijah questioned.

    ¡°Reading people.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡±

    ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking,¡± Mason said. ¡°But these eyes allowed me to survive outside the battlefield as much as they did during them. Years of new allies every second allowed them to tell them apart rather quickly. I could see where they came from, where they¡¯d been, what they thought of me, and what they intended to do when by my side. Many attempts on my life have been cut at the stem because of that skill, though it took just as many attempts before I was able to predict it.¡±

    Elijah was feeling his heart increase in its beating just the slightest bit. He forced it back down, but it had been too late. It had been too late before the King had even spoken.

    ¡°Elijah Caede,¡± Mason uttered slowly as if tasting the name on his tongue. ¡°Not a very common name around here, but several of the servants share it with you. And the surname is from the southern villages, which fits well since that¡¯s where you said you come from. But¡­ that¡¯s not true, is it?¡±

    He considered his options. Run? To where? Nowhere that mattered. Fight, then? Fight the King, the old man with more skin than muscle? What would the point be? He¡¯d be killed regardless. But then what? Flight, fight, and¡­ what?

    Confess?

    It was the only option left. Lying was not. Not anymore, those brown eyes uncannily seeing through him.

    ¡°How did you know?¡± Elijah finally asked. ¡°What gave it away?¡±

    ¡°Many things, though explaining it in words won¡¯t make sense to you,¡± Mason answered, doing the best shrug possible with his weaker shoulders. On the table, Dawn sat staring up at the royal. Elijah could feel her starting to perceive him as a threat. He didn¡¯t seem to mind. ¡°Let me take it a step further. Your experience with alchemy, with the potions and elixirs, is high beyond what the skilled can boast with. Biomancy can give you a nudge, but that and books won¡¯t teach what you know. You were forced to prove yourself, forced to perform under stress that only war could provide. The old war, yet it was never your intention to kill a man with your own hands. You were behind, fueling the ones who did. Behind enemy lines, behind so many of the issues that the last years of the war caused for us.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Barely half an hour of talking, and you know it all,¡± Elijah muttered, a hand on the table holding him steady. This wasn¡¯t how he intended things to end up. ¡°So precisely¡­ I¡¯d think you a Seer if I didn¡¯t know better.¡±

    ¡°There is nothing natural from this ability of mine,¡± the King assured him. ¡°It¡¯s a skill learned because the world forced me to learn it like you learned the depths of alchemy. You either excelled or you died, and even then there were no promises.¡±

    Elijah couldn¡¯t help but let a dark chuckle leave him, wondering what he¡¯d done to deserve this level of openness. Mason didn¡¯t mirror the action, though the Royal smiled as he reached for a bottle on the nearby shelf. A 100-proof brandy, with two glasses to be filled by them.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t drink,¡± Elijah warned, but his words were ignored as the king filled up both glasses, handing one to him before downing half of his own. Elijah sipped at the liquid, grimacing at its strength. ¡°Your stomach needs anything other than this if it is to recover.¡±

    ¡°I have an absinthe we can open tomorrow when Alin comes by,¡± Mason replied without regard for¡­ Wait. What? ¡°Duron knows that Earth Mage loves that liquor bottle. I¡¯m surprised he didn¡¯t snatch it while I was unable to catch him.¡±

    We.

    ¡°¡®We,¡¯¡± he repeated, catching the King¡¯s attention again as he put back the other bottle. ¡°We are opening it tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I said? Did my tongue not follow as much as I¡¯d hoped?¡±

    ¡°No, you said it just fine,¡± Elijah replied. ¡°But you know the truth. The truth that I¡¯ve kept hidden for nearly 50 years, because, if it got out, I would be killed. Not a quick death either, but a slow one with a thousand cuts so the people could feel justification for what I helped cause.¡±

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    ¡­

    Mason sighed, putting down his glass and staring deep into Elijah¡¯s eyes. The brown pupils filled with energy began to match the age and body, tiredness washing over them while memories swirled. Elijah didn¡¯t know what to do but to sit in place, waiting for something to happen.

    And, when many minutes had passed, something did.

    ¡°What do you know about me?¡± Mason Newell asked. It wasn¡¯t in the casual tone used before, and nor was it from one of authority. It was just¡­ tired. ¡°Tell me whatever.¡±

    ¡°What do I know?¡± Elijah repeated, the King waving for him not to stop before he¡¯d even begun. ¡°I know your name, I know the story of how you came to rule the country after freeing the people from the working conditions forced upon them, how you had¡ª¡±

    ¡°You know the story, the one retold through the land, but you don¡¯t know the truth,¡± Mason cut in, taking his glass and downing the last half before filling it up again. ¡°You know why I won¡¯t kill you? Because of that truth, the one people forget about because those of us who experienced it don¡¯t talk about the true parts. The¡­ I¡¯ll tell you the truth. You¡¯ll sit there and listen. Do you understand?¡±

    He nodded. The King seemed satisfied by that, only sipping his drink this time before putting it on the table and leaning back.

    ¡°This place, Kulvik, has been my home since I was born. It was a big village back then, with just over a thousand of us in it. Very big for this part of the country in those times, since there were only hilly fields, grass, and patches of forest in it, but our village had something the others didn¡¯t have.

    A coal mine. Not the biggest there was, but big enough that the capital city was interested in stripping it and having everything sent over. My great-grandfather had worked in that mine, my grandfather worked in that mine, my father worked in that mine, and, as you can guess, I worked in that mine. It was to be expected, after all, since that¡¯s how life went. Hard work, little pay, and a punishment if you ever complained about it. Leaving was an option, but¡­ this was our home. My family was here, and, when I was the last part of that family left, my friends were there.

    When that first wave of Mana exploded out of the coal, we thought we¡¯d been granted reprieve from the gods. That our efforts had been rewarded, that we would share in the wealth discovered.

    That dream didn¡¯t last for long, as the capital city sent us an Overseer to manage the new dungeon. Now, instead of mining coal day in and out, we would be the ones to discover the riches that could be harvested from the Dungeon.

    We weren¡¯t allowed to say no. Those who refused to walk into their sure death, so the leaders could have it mapped out without risking their hide, were strung up as examples.

    Obviously, people rebelled. They were killed. Others tried, they died the same way, and it went on for nearly six months.

    My friends and I weren¡¯t the first ones that week, but we were the first ones to succeed. The Overseer had grown arrogant and had left his place above ground to stand at the entrance and order for faster movement.

    Oh, we moved faster indeed. I threw a rock, and nearly had an arrow in the heart for my efforts, and then one of the others got close and slashed the throat of the Overseer. A crude knife taking down our tyrant.

    When I think back, I can still see that man clutching at his throat in fear and pain.

    The people cheered, the guards were overrun, and I picked up my hammer to lead the charge with the others. Pure luck carried us through it, carried us through the next days where we freed the nearby villages who had been taken over to find new workers for the Dungeon.

    We increased in number, and more took up weapons for our cause, but there was still a truth over our heads. A group of villagers, equipped with stolen swords and axes we could not wield right, were against a country that wanted our home. We numbered in the thousands. They had hundreds of thousands.

    It took time for them to come, a time when sympathizers joined us, but it wasn¡¯t enough. The friends I started this impossible battle beside died within the first year, the friends that came after fell to stop blades from reaching my heart, and the people¡­ the assaults never stopped, the death never ceased, and within a few years I had been coated in the lifeblood of those dearest to me more times than one person ever should.

    So many people died for me, for the idea I was left to shout on my own. That we could be free, that we didn¡¯t need to live under the feet of those who didn''t care about us. They walked into sure death with the understanding that they would perish, all for this shared idea.

    An unending battle. Alin and Lissandra, the love of my life, defecting and joining our side was enough to bring hope. When Ethon, the country not far across the sea and with much to gain from having a stake in the Dungeon, became our ally in name, it finally happened. Through it all, Seranova was born.

    Not the prettiest way to establish a country, but it worked in the end. And¡­ When the fires were out, and the country needed a King, who to choose if not the one who had been there since the start?

    I didn¡¯t want the position but the people didn¡¯t care. A nobody was to be hailed as the new king of a new country, and suddenly that was me. The man whose job had been to push carts filled with coal through a mine. The man who had seen so much blood, seen so much death, seen¡­ I proclaimed peace because it was the only thing I could do. Enough people had died because of what we did.¡±

    ¡­

    Elijah wasn¡¯t sure what to say, looking at the old man that seemed to shrink in size. He was tired, a kind of tired that most would luckily never approach. A dangerous one. The feeling of wrongness from being left.

    ¡°Peace can¡¯t include stringing up old agents of chaos, no matter how many deaths they helped cause,¡± he concluded, Mason nodding at his words. Reaching for the glass, the King held the glass high, Elijah mirroring the action. ¡°To not getting what I deserve.¡±

    They emptied their glasses, letting them sit empty next to the bottle. It had done enough for the night.

    ¡°After all these years, knowing what you¡¯ve done is punishment enough,¡± Mason said, as if that made anything better. ¡°The others might not think of it as such, so I¡¯ll keep the truth away from them. You¡¯ve given me the chance to drink again, so I can¡¯t be angry either way.¡±

    ¡°You truly care so little?¡± Elijah questioned. He picked up Dawn from the table, letting her sit in his hand as he scratched the sweet spot on her neck. ¡°I¡¯ve helped burn down hundreds of villages, I¡¯ve helped kill thousands in the hope of starving your old army. You think my understanding of those actions is anywhere near enough punishment?¡±

    ¡°Seems to be, from where I¡¯m sitting,¡± the King confirmed, shrugging again before a flash of pain reached his lips. ¡°Perhaps I should¡¯ve listened to your warnings. My body is not taking the alcohol as well as it used to.¡±

    Elijah helped him to the bed, letting the King lean on him as much as he needed to. When he was settled down, some healing ointment was brought out, and his Mana was applied together with it and healed the micro-tears that came from the movements. The feeling of weakness would still be there, but the body would heal before morning would arrive.

    ¡°I won¡¯t be here until around lunch tomorrow, so one of my assistants will come to help you with the medication in the morning,¡± Elijah explained, putting the various bottles on the table and writing a note that said what to inject in what amounts, along with the order it needed to be taken in. ¡°If you want to leave the bed, call for somebody. The risks of falling haven¡¯t gone away.¡±

    ¡°Very careful, aren¡¯t we?¡± Mason commented, chuckling before assuring him that he would follow the instructions. ¡°I won¡¯t risk this newfound health because of pride, I promise. I have little need for that thing anymore.¡±

    That was the best he was going to get from the man. Making the final checks to ensure everything was fine, which it seemed to be, he put Dawn into Storage before leaving the room. Vera had already left, and the guards had been switched out during his time inside, but he didn¡¯t spend much time on the topic.

    His day was far from over, after all, a giant and two young Mages waiting at his home to leave for the Dungeon.

 Chapter 50: Haul Away

    Getting into the Dungeon without suspicion had been as easy as he¡¯d been promised. Some thirty minutes had been spent modifying Jack and Sasha¡¯s facial structure to look different, some dirt sprinkled on making it harder to identify them, but that hadn¡¯t mattered regardless as they wore hooded robes which were never lowered.

    Fred had simply wished them a good late-night excursion into the depths, briefly halting Elijah to congratulate him on his new position within the castle before letting him move along without the slightest touch of suspicion. He¡¯d barely even looked at the two ''assistants.¡¯

    ¡°Oh, I feel that,¡± Jack said when they reached the first layer of the Dungeon, the mana density increasing from one step to the other. ¡°This is just¡­ too much.¡±

    ¡°Adjusting to the pressure difference can take a few minutes the first time you experience it,¡± Elijah warned once again, as Jack shakily sat on the floor, not trusting his legs to keep him stable. He¡¯d already gone through the information the two needed to know before they went down. It was mostly about safety, and what not to do when, but a larger chunk had also been about the Mana and how it could affect them. ¡°Channel your energy through your Core. It helps accelerate the adjustment period.¡±

    ¡°Sure, sure, but that doesn¡¯t stop me from feeling I¡¯m gonna vomit,¡± Jack muttered, nearly doing so while Sasha took a few steps away from the man. While she had stopped for a moment while stepping inside, pupils widening as the senses were overloaded, she adjusted within seconds. ¡°How are you not feeling this?¡±

    Elijah was surprised at it as well, honestly. Maybe it was because of the constant negative amount of Mana inside her, as the world continued to state she possessed. She certainly seemed to passively absorb the surrounding Mana faster than usual, outpacing what Elijah could personally do when trying to do so actively.

    ¡°I¡¯m not weak,¡± Sasha gave as an explanation for her condition, talking in her usual manner. Jack laughed for a second because of it, before his dinner from a few hours ago decided to see the world once again. ¡°Get yourself together.¡±

    Grumbles left the young man. Calm breaths came after a minute of them as he focused on making the energy inside his Core circle around the body in endless laps. As Elijah had promised, the sickness felt at the start faded quickly, the young man feeling better than he did on the surface.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get used to it,¡± Elijah warned. ¡°Your body will try to make more energy from the air than there is, and it¡¯ll feel like you¡¯re being hollowed out if you¡¯re not careful.¡±

    ¡°... You¡¯re making me want to live here because I don¡¯t want to feel that.¡±

    ¡°Weak.¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡±

    They continued down through the first layer before long, going through the caverns filled with various flowers. A beautiful sight as always, but it was when they got further down where the giant centipedes were located it started being more interesting for the group. As the day before, when the initial cleansing of the first floors had been done, piles of the monsters could be immediately spotted.

    ¡°Not as decayed as yesterday,¡± Aleksi noted, touching the pile with the tip of his axe. While they did crumble beneath his touch, it required a good amount of pressure this time, along with the insides not pooling on the floor. ¡°The expedition went through here early this morning. More than 12 hours and the corpses aren¡¯t gone?¡±

    ¡°The Dungeon is taking its time,¡± Elijah supposed. ¡°Might be expecting them to go out and clean out the first floors again tomorrow, so why bother bringing back a full floor for them?¡±

    In its own way, the monsters on the floor were an investment. The Dungeon, though it might not have been intelligent, worked on the principle of a net profit in terms of Mana gained. Energy was spent every time it created a plant, a monster, and a mineral of some sort. To be able to afford such actions, or even to control such a massive area, it required having an income of Mana from external sources. This could come from the deaths of humans who got too overconfident, people who died believing they could go further than previously advised.

    The first floors weren¡¯t too dangerous to anybody who knew how to defend themselves. Even Elijah, with his old body and inability to move around too quickly anymore, could still kill the giant worms seen around the area. But if he went down one layer, where those thin and disgusting foxes were located, he would have no chance. One step too far, and all his energy would be consumed by the dungeon.

    An investment for more profit in the long term.

    Which it wasn¡¯t receiving now, with the Royal Guards moving through and killing everything before leaving the corpses on the ground and moving on without a care. It had gotten the message and was waiting a few days to fully regrow its population before it could trust the guards not to go in and kill everything again.

    ¡°Could we move a bit away from this?¡± Jack requested as they walked along. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I can sit and focus right, if¡­ that is around me.¡±

    ¡°Not a problem,¡± Aleksi answered. ¡°Already planned out a spot for you both to sit around and work in relative safety. I found this small cave a few years ago, away from the main path that basically nobody visits. Should be perfect for the two of you to sit around in.¡±

    Elijah had been there himself, years ago when the two regularly dived into the floor and harvested herbs together. With the very few creatures running around that part of the layer, it allowed them to have a place for relative rest, with few herbs but likewise few monsters. A place to sit and eat during their longer trips.

    ¡°No killing monsters for us,¡± Jack concluded, tapping the weapon on his side regardless. ¡°I understand.¡±

    ¡°If you fire that thing down here, we¡¯ll go deaf,¡± Sasha commented. ¡°So don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°You really think so? I don¡¯t know if you noticed, but there¡¯s no echo down here. Like, at all. That doesn¡¯t make sense normally, but this entire place is so jacked up on magical stuff that I think it has some noise suppression already,¡± the man countered, though Elijah wasn¡¯t sure that Sasha was even listening. ¡°Ergo, it should be fine if I fire it. We can test it out right now if you really don¡¯t trust me.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t trust you, so don¡¯t fire it at all.¡±

    ¡°... Rude.¡±

    ¡°If you do fire it, be prepared to catch the attention of any monster currently on this floor,¡± Aleksi supplied as they stepped off the beaten path, and onto the slightly darker rocks ahead. The trees were opening up, letting a thinner path be possible, but very few seemed to have walked down it in recent times. ¡°You might not be able to hear them but I can.¡±

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    ¡°How many and how far away?¡± Elijah asked.

    ¡°A half dozen some hundred meters away to our right, same size fifty meters to our left, and a dozen a hundred meters back,¡± the giant answered immediately, Jack instantly muttering about the enhanced hearing being some sort of cheating. ¡°They haven¡¯t noticed us, or they might not care about us. They¡¯re being¡­ weirdly quiet in their movements. Like they don¡¯t want to kill us for once.¡±

    He and Aleksi guessed it was an effect of the recent cleansings yet again, the monsters he could hear being a part of the new batch meant to roll out within the next few days. It was still a smaller size compared to the floor''s usual population, which meant the Dungeon was likely refilling the area instead of doing it in one burst. Having them be dormant as well would allow the entity controlling the place not to worry about the constant losses either.

    But it still feels weird.

    The Mana in the air¡­ it felt different to his senses. Not outright wrong, but different enough that Elijah could feel something stirring. Was that an effect of Dawn? He couldn¡¯t say.

    ¡°Here¡¯s the place,¡± Aleksi said, arms wide as he represented the entrance to the side cave. It twisted right at the entrance, tricking any who looked at it into thinking that it was impossibly narrow and small, yet any who pushed on for just five minutes would find themselves inside a new massive cavern with ample space to sit and a minimum of spiky walls to be impaled on. ¡°Just as thick with Mana as always, easy to protect, and just what we need for today.¡±

    At the words, Elijah once again took a moment to notice the lack of echo. Even with the relatively minimal amounts of flowers and plants growing inside, golden and silver petals strewn about chaotically, there was no bouncing of their voices at all. A perfect noise reduction from the stone walls, something not even the castle could boast of as he distinctly remembered hearing his own footsteps when walking home this very same night.

    ¡®Can I go out now?¡¯ Dawn asked from within, as they watched the two young adults settle down and start with their distinctive crafts. He allowed the duck to leave, waddling around as the watching continued.

    Sasha was relatively patient with her own training, doing her best to consistently absorb either heat or kinetic energy, while Jack was furiously filling up the bottles with as much gunpowder as he could manage. The Mana in the air apparently made it trivial to transform already magical powders into what he wished, which meant his productivity went nearly ten times its usual pace. Several grams could easily be produced every minute spent channeling, which was a very hefty amount.

    ¡®Can I eat this?¡¯ Dawn asked Elijah, catching his attention as she waddled over to some of the Sundrop Flowers. ¡®Looks good.¡¯

    ¡®Shouldn¡¯t cause too many problems,¡¯ Elijah supposed, though he still watched on as the duck did as much. Pieces were bitten off the flower in hefty chunks, an entire plant disappearing into the fake animal¡¯s gut within half a minute. ¡®Did you learn something new from that?¡¯

    ¡®Plants are tasty,¡¯ Dawn happily answered. ¡®Can I eat more?¡¯

    ¡­ Elijah had been hoping for something more useful than a confirmation about how her former brethren tasted, but he supposed that such a thing was too much. Letting her have it, the duck immediately gorged itself on every golden petal it could find, while he tried to find something else that was worthwhile.

    The silvery flowers, with their descriptive names of ¡®Silver Mound,¡¯ couldn¡¯t be used for much either way, so Elijah had little fear about Dawn being in danger on her own. The only thing that could threaten her here were the giant centipedes, and those would have to get through Aleksi who was guarding the only way to get inside here.

    ¡°Are the two of you ready to try the reason we came in here?¡± Elijah asked some ten minutes later, when Jack had filled most of the bottles brought along with the gunpowder, and Sasha had tired of the waves of cold and heat next to her hands.

    ¡°I was waiting for you to offer,¡± Jack replied, Sasha limiting herself to a nod. ¡°We¡¯ve both gotten the book read aloud, though, so¡­ you want to watch while we try it out?¡±

    ¡°I read the book several times over when I was going through the process the first time as well, and it still took me several hours to get it right,¡± Elijah countered without mercy for the arrogance before him. ¡°Learning this technique, and nearly all other magical techniques, cannot be learned from a book alone. Your own method of moving your Mana, your own experiences, and your own form of skill, all change the exact details of each step. The pages can go into as much description as they want, but there will still be a blank that you have to fill in each moment. And, to make it worse, the mindset required for proper crystallization can take a long time to figure out if you''re not prepared.¡±

    ¡°Order it into a new form, but let it control the journey to that new form by itself,¡± Jack repeated, having already heard Elijah give that speech a dozen times over now. Which he was supposed to have done, seeing as they could be crippled by his negligence if they messed it up. ¡°We understand. Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°Does he speak for you as well, Sasha?¡± Elijah asked, getting a nod in reply. ¡°Then I suppose the only thing left is for the two of you to begin. Best of luck.¡±

    It became eerily silent as they did, the muttering of the madman and the criticism of the fighter ending its endless cycle. There were only calm breaths, the swirling of Mana, and the sounds of Aleksi tapping away at the rock as he watched the entrance for anything stupid enough to approach.

    ¡°Now you¡¯ll be getting a taste of the medicine as well,¡± the giant commented, as Elijah settled down beside him. ¡°I waited three hours for you last time, just sitting around silently without something to pass the time with.¡±

    ¡°How boring,¡± Elijah replied, feeling like he should¡¯ve perhaps brought a book with him. There were a few tomes inside the castle¡¯s laboratory he wouldn¡¯t have minded going through while he had the chance. ¡°But¡­ Now isn¡¯t a bad time to talk regardless. I have bad news.¡±

    ¡°Bad enough that those two couldn¡¯t hear it alongside me?¡± Aleksi asked playfully until he saw the blank expression on Elijah¡¯s face. It was serious, the giant¡¯s expression fading away to allow the veteran space to work. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°The King woke up, talked with me for half an hour, and was then able to guess most of my life story without getting a single fact wrong,¡± he explained, the giant¡¯s grip around their axe tightening to the point the leather could be heard struggling. ¡°Knew about the fakeness of my name, about the fact we didn¡¯t come from some village in the south, about the fact that I was the alchemist for Death Squads, and¡­ how I helped supply the necessary elixirs to kill thousands.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing he was strangely fine with that history attached to you?¡± Aleksi said. The giant understood how strange it would be for all of this to be guessed, and then for Elijah to walk out of the castle on his own two feet. In a normal world, his body would still be in the castle, but his head would¡¯ve been brought outside to the public to be used as an example of what pain had been forced upon the country.

    ¡°I was told I¡¯d be trying an absinthe with the King and Alin Oathbreaker tomorrow since the latter enjoyed the bottle that his majesty still had in his room,¡± Elijah confirmed, the words feeling sour on his tongue. ¡°When I asked, the King revealed that he¡¯s simply grown tired of all the bloodshed, that he didn¡¯t see the point of more punishment when my own knowledge of what I¡¯d done was more than enough. An idiotic way to see it, but I didn¡¯t fight the declaration for long.¡±

    ¡°A wise man,¡± Aleksi commented, seemingly not hearing the last part of what Elijah had muttered. ¡°And he intends to keep this discovery of his a secret?¡±

    ¡°Since others might not share his views, he intends to keep his lips shut, yes.¡±

    ¡°Then I suppose we have nothing to worry about. If a man can rule as king of a country for this long, he must have some form of strong will left in the old bones.¡±

    ¡°In the bones, yes. There¡¯s little muscle and proper flesh left on that royal we so adore,¡± Elijah said. ¡°Haunted methods were used to keep him alive, ones that couldn¡¯t heal the decay that had already occurred. There is very little left of the King that the people remember.¡±

    ¡°From what you¡¯ve said, I think there¡¯s plenty enough remaining.¡±

    Elijah rolled his eyes at the giant¡¯s poetic words, an immature response yet he knew nothing else that could convey the emotion felt. Hearing his friend of so many years agreeing with the melodramatic King, who like his daughter had no respect for what was safe, made something within ache. Not his heart, that organ having grown colder years ago, but something more substantial. Something important.

 Chapter 51: The Thing

    ¡®They¡¯re moving again,¡¯ Dawn said, the duck¡¯s head turning to look at the two in meditation. Elijah did the same, noting that an hour or two had already passed. Time flew when he was trapped in his world. ¡®Feels weird.¡¯

    Elijah¡­ had to agree with that comment, his senses giving off warning signals as he looked at the duo. Jack was relatively normal, the influence of the Dungeon upon the crystallization not far from what he worked with, but Sasha was a different beast. The world had already declared her original Core an anomaly, with the negative capacity and endless hunger for energy, but now it was dialed up even further. What before was a mild wind pulling everything into the center was now a storm, one that only grew larger and larger until the physical air began to move a little as well.

    That was an accomplishment, along with her process of waking up Jack who briefly called out in accomplishment before yelping at the realization of what was happening.

    ¡°Get over here,¡± Elijah ordered, the Metamancer happily jumping up from his seat and joining the two men ten meters away. ¡°Looks dangerous.¡±

    ¡°Looks? It is dangerous,¡± Jack corrected vehemently. ¡°Felt like my skin was going to tear off when I was over there.¡±

    ¡®Feels wrong,¡¯ Dawn seemed to agree, hopping over Elijah¡¯s legs and hiding behind him. What a brave duck he was raising. ¡®Run?¡¯

    ¡®No, there¡¯s not a need for it,¡¯ Elijah replied, sitting around calmly for the next five minutes, while the storm continued. But, as he thought, the winds began to calm, the feeling of oblivion faded, and what was left was a mild glow leaving Sasha¡¯s skin as she opened her eyes.

    She didn¡¯t talk at first, first adjusting how she sat before she frowned and looked at her arms. She felt what they saw, along with the lines of Mana her movement left in the air. It was like a constant set of afterimages, bright areas of blue light staying in place wherever she¡¯d been for two seconds before vanishing.

    A side-effect of holding onto so much energy perhaps?

    ¡°I didn¡¯t enjoy that,¡± Sasha commented, when the glowing began to fade, and she regained around the same level of Aura she had before. A little more dense, a little more powerful, but nothing like what she¡¯d had minutes ago. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ more reactive now.¡±

    She raised her right hand into the air, slowly balling it into a fist. As she did, the temperature seemed to fall several degrees, the air moving around them as Elijah felt a flash of cold run down his spine. Then she released her hold, a wave of heat pressing against their skin to the point that beads of sweat instantly started to appear.

    ¡°Oh, shit, that¡¯s cool,¡± Jack exclaimed, all the previous looks of fear forgotten as he wiped away the drops of sweat. ¡°I knew going down here would be a great idea.¡±

    Sasha ignored the man¡¯s muttering of ideas as she picked up a rock from the ground. It was smoothened to the point she didn¡¯t immediately cut herself, yet it was still large enough to have a sizable weight to it.

    With a slow wind-up, she threw it into the air, her hand in its trajectory as it fell downwards once again.

    Yet it stopped before it could reach her palm. Not far away from her skin, but enough distance that Elijah and the others could see the gap between the rock and flesh.

    Two seconds passed before Sasha¡¯s left eye twitched. The stone suspended mid-air respected gravity once again, falling into her hand as if nothing had happened before.

    ¡°Ignoring gravity for several seconds,¡± Jack commented. Elijah doubted the man could get rid of that grin on his face, with how much it had stretched. ¡°Do you think you could do that magic trick where you stand on an invisible chair?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Because you don¡¯t trust yourself or because the rock trick was your peak?¡±

    ¡°Because I can¡¯t be bothered.¡±

    Regardless of how much she was pressed, she rested from that point onwards, sitting by Aleksi while pointedly ignoring Jack¡¯s requests. Elijah watched it silently, not bothering to be involved in those issues.

    ¡°Does your Status say anything different now?¡± he inquired once the man seemed to grow tired of the silent treatment, settling down to work on his own magical enhancements. ¡°The early growth has a higher chance of teaching innate spells, compared to the later stages where everything has to be learned through practice.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Absorption and Desorption are Tier 2 now,¡± Sasha commented a few seconds later, when she was able to get it open. That seemed to explain the ease of absorbing the different energies when compared to the struggle it had been in the first Tier. ¡°The old ones are gone.¡±

    ¡°I still have my old one, though I¡¯ve got a Tier 2 on top of it,¡± Jack countered, a smile back on his face as his eyes glazed over. ¡°Transmute Solid, my beloved. How powerful might you be?¡±

    The others didn¡¯t bother commenting on the loving mutterings that the man sent towards a Spell, a set of Magical Connections that allowed a Mage to manipulate the world in some manner, instead watching as he fished out a few metal balls from his pocket.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think Lugh allowed you to have so many of those,¡± Aleksi said, as Jack picked out the smallest ball before putting the others back into his pocket. ¡°How did you convince him?¡±

    ¡°By¡­ making him focus on the forge instead of what I was doing?¡± Jack answered, the giant not looking amused at the answer. ¡°He said I could use the sheet metal for whatever I wanted, and this comes from some of it being melted down, so I didn¡¯t do anything outright wrong.¡±

    Aleksi¡¯s cold gaze told the others just how much the giant agreed with the young man¡¯s weak argument. The deed was already done, though, so the only thing they could do was watch as Jack proceeded with his testing.

    ¡°This is copper, so whatever it''s turned into shouldn¡¯t be too much heavier. Might be better to go lower, honestly¡­¡± Jack commented to himself, needing a moment to study the small ball before seeming locked in. ¡°Brass? No, bronze is easier. Maybe. Let¡¯s see how this goes.¡±

    Though it was slow at first, the dark gray coloring of the ball in the man¡¯s hand began to change. First to a lighter gray before becoming a smooth brown, one that shined as if recently polished. Only a fraction of the surface had it, of course, more minutes needed to go by before the small ball could show off its new appearance.

    ¡°Not a noticeable weight difference but who cares?¡± Jack said, raising it into the air to better inspect the small ball. ¡°Hey, how long are we expecting to be down here? I¡¯d love to spend a few hours on this.¡±

    ¡°You do realize that this ability won¡¯t fade once you leave the Dungeon?¡± Elijah questioned, not a fan of staying down here too long. It¡¯d already been a bit late when they entered the depths, and he¡¯d been hoping to return to the house before two.

    ¡°The speed will, though,¡± Jack countered. ¡°I had to spend my entire capacity three times over to make this happen, you know? If I had to do this ball up there, it would be¡­ twenty minutes of work instead of three? If I want to get this beauty here with a few upgrades, I¡¯d rather do it down here and spend a few hours on it instead of spending two days on it up there."

    ¡±You have one hour.¡±

    ¡°Could we make it two?¡±

    ¡°One.¡±

    ¡°Agh. Fine.¡±

    With the quiet, Elijah rested his eyes while the hour ran by. Sasha did join Jack midway in using it to improve, flashes of heat and cold coming through the air at steady rates. Some were hotter or colder at times, as the woman tried to hone the speed of absorption and the release, something she apparently had much difficulty with. While the fine control of kinetic energy had increased to incredible amounts, the amount able to be absorbed in an instant likewise doubling, the secrets of temperature were still a mystery to her. Elijah personally thought it was a problem attached to the visualization, but he had no way to offer more advice than that. It was too specific to the Affinity for him to have a proper frame of reference.

    Jack, on the other hand, suffered from no such difficulties with his work. However, that was perhaps because he was more focused on using the new Spell for a project rather than trying to improve his control over the magic directly. He still was becoming more proficient with it, of course, the hour of channeling the Spell allowing some minor inconsistencies to begin clearing up, but it was mostly repetitive work after the first hour. All the focus was on transmuting the metal his ¡®pistol¡¯ was made of into a slightly different alloy, and nothing else.

    Elijah personally didn¡¯t see the reason for the focus, as the man had already explained the tool as being a prototype and not the final one that he wanted to use in the future. This one had several shortcuts that were apparently ¡®unacceptable.¡¯ It was single-shot like a crossbow, needing to be refilled manually instead of being self-loading as the young man wanted the next model to be. How such a mechanism would work, Elijah couldn¡¯t say, but his understanding of the current version did start to broaden as Jack verbally went through each part while working on them.

    While it mainly seemed like four or so parts, there were four or so more hiding inside to make it work properly. A spring to contain energy, a hammer with a firing pin to hit a primer that ignited the propellant, a trigger to control when it would happen, and finally a weirdly shaped hinge so that the gun could be opened up and filled up in the right places.

    ¡°This would be much easier if I had a proper cartridge to go with these balls, but improvisation is needed until I can figure out how to shape things more accurately,¡± Jack commented, eyes widening at the realization. ¡°Wait¡­ can¡¯t I just make the shape in a more moldable material and then turn it into the right metal afterward?¡±

    ¡°I suppose,¡± Elijah replied. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t such a process take many hours for each cartridge, however? I find it hard to believe that getting the right shape will be easy without proper tools.¡±

    ¡°Molds exist for a reason.¡±

    ¡°And you have one of those at the ready?¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°I¡¯ll make one tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Does this mean we¡¯re leaving?¡± Sasha asked, which Jack immediately rejected before Elijah confirmed as much. ¡°Finally.¡±

    ¡°I can upgrade this last part if I just have ten more minutes,¡± the man pleaded, but it was no use. The others had already risen from their spots, Elijah personally stretching his shoulders as he prepared himself for the trek up to the surface again. His feet had been sleeping for the last half hour.

    ¡°Up with you,¡± Aleksi encouraged, making Jack pack together the filled bottles and donning his robe once again, as they left the cave behind. Elijah was ready to reach his bed in a short time at that point, the thought of a soft mattress sounding very enticing, but barely a minute passed before the giant stopped in his trek. The rest of the group followed suit. ¡°There¡¯s more noise.¡±

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    Elijah could hear nothing. Neither could the two others, yet the giant didn¡¯t move an inch.

    ¡°Fresh blood as well,¡± Aleksi added seconds later.

    ¡°Monster or human?¡± Elijah asked.

    ¡°Monster. Worms. There¡¯s no trace of people other than us here,¡± the giant answered. He frowned at the words, pulling out his dagger while Dawn began to worry from inside. ¡°Something else is here.¡±

    ¡°Fox?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s different. Can¡¯t be far from it, though. Has fur.¡±

    So it was from deeper inside the Dungeon yet not much further than those sickly foxes. Elijah needed to search his memories before reaching several ideas on what it could be. From the fact it had fur, he was able to narrow it down, however, finding one possible fit.

    ¡°Neogi,¡± Elijah muttered in distaste. ¡°Must¡¯ve been a hatchling this morning, hiding in some corner until the Royal Guards had passed through.¡±

    He could see the muscles on Aleksi¡¯s back tense at his words. Neogi wasn¡¯t what any of them wanted to deal with, even if it was the weaker variant that they could find within the next few floors.

    The real Neogi were a type of giant spider, with eight legs, and a furry abdomen, but distinguished themselves from the usual monsters with their eel-like necks and head, which gave them a meter or so of extra range. With a body that was two meters long already, it was a horrible sight.

    Already, that was a challenge, but they could at least relish in the fact that the ones who lived so far up in the Dungeon didn¡¯t have the abilities to influence the mind that the ones further down possessed. The Neogi that they had the chance to meet could distract an opponent by forcing images into their heads, giving a splitting headache with enough time. The ones further below? They took over, a person not properly prepared becoming like a puppet to whatever whims the monsters wished. It usually meant standing still so you could be killed, but in larger groups, it meant going against one¡¯s former allies as well. A terrible fate, which Elijah was happy to avoid.

    ¡°Think you can take it?¡± he asked the giant.

    ¡°Maybe, if I knew where it was,¡± Aleksi replied, which made Elijah stiffen. The worms could be heard a hundred meters away while they were lazing around, but the giant spider actively going around and killing the local population couldn¡¯t be detected from anything other than a scent trail? ¡°We¡¯re leaving. Stay close. Might be able to get away without a fight.¡±

    Elijah doubted it, and Aleksi agreed. The giant tried to be subtle about opening his mouth a little, adjusting the shell on top so it could be opened in an instant. Something that had gone untouched for so long was being brought out.

    And good that it did. The rustling began minutes after they reached the main path. Dead worms with their insides emptied could be found there, the green blood splashing on the rocks. It messed with the giant¡¯s senses further, the freshness making it hard to tell what else there was to see.

    It was close. They could hear something, yet none of them could see where it was. Elijah had handed one of the extra daggers to Sasha, his own still ready. Jack had his own tool in hand as well, and Aleksi had never stopped clutching the old axe.

    There had to be¡ª

    ¡®Above!¡¯ Dawn screamed at him, their senses one for a moment as the sight of what sat on the ceiling meshed with his own that watched the trees. It was a horrible sight.

    ¡°Above!¡± he shouted, but the Neogi had already acted by then. His flinch had revealed his knowledge, and it hissed while leaping down towards them.

    It went for the middle of the group, the head going straight for him. Sasha reacted faster than him to the falling body, throwing him and herself to the side to not get crushed under the beast. His back hit the rocky ground hard, the pain instantly flowing through his body, but it meant nothing as he heard the monster reach the ground as well.

    That shrill scream, unnatural and impossibly loud in his head. He stopped himself from clutching his head at the noise, instead watching as the veins on Aleksi¡¯s arm began to protrude out, a green glow leaving them as he charged forward. In an instant, years had been wiped from his movement, the body as fast as it had been during the war, and just as deadly.

    But he was unused to it still, not able to resist the arrogance as his strong swing reached deep into the Neogi. The front-right leg was removed entirely, the blade going another hand-width in before locking in place from something hard. A moment was needed to remove the weapon, to retreat a bit away, but by then the beast had already moved. A sharp step forward had it barrel into the giant, the superior weight and its speed pushing him into the air as he fell back several meters.

    He¡¯s alright.

    Elijah told himself that, wanting to believe it. He couldn¡¯t dwell on it either, as a loud bang rang out, a flash of light coming from Jack''s direction before the scream leaving the Neogi deepened in honest pain. A hole had appeared on its neck.

    ¡°It worked!¡± Jack exclaimed, first excited before the giant spider¡¯s head looked over at him, the eight eel-like eyes staring at him with pure hatred. ¡°Shit!¡±

    Sasha moved, trying to reach the distracted monster, but the predator was faster. It leaped forward, reaching the young man before he could flee. The gun was empty, the dagger was still in its sheath, and the long teeth bit the man¡¯s arms and lower body without hesitation.

    Oh no.

    A scream of pain left the man before Sasha finally reached the Neogi. A dagger embedded itself in its abdomen, but it cared little as its teeth continued to dig into Jack.

    Then the Void of Energy showed off the upgrade in desorption, all the kinetic energy absorbed leaving her instantly. As if a meteor had traveled through the monster, a clean hole through its stomach instantly appeared. Only the diameter of a palm, but it was a meter-deep wound regardless.

    The Neogi instantly forgot Jack, the long neck twisting to bite at Sasha. She dodged, using her position to avoid the needle-teeth reaching for her. And, most importantly of all, she was just delaying it.

    Aleksi was back on his feet, axe in hand as he lunged for the wounded spider. It could do nothing but briefly hiss as the bloodied blade struck through its throat. There was nothing held back, the axe going through cleanly without stopping for the crunching of semi-bone structure inside the monster.

    It was dead instantly, the body flopping to the ground while the three stood over it. The legs twitched and curled together, as the mind no longer controlled them, but Elijah didn¡¯t care for the reasons behind such a reaction. He instead hurried to the side of Jack, the young man rapid-firing curses as he clutched his stomach.

    ¡°Shit, this hurts,¡± he said through tears and gritted teeth, fighting Elijah as he tried to get a look at the injury. It was bleeding, blood coating the kid¡¯s hands already. ¡°Can¡ª Fuck. Can you do something?¡±

    ¡°If you stop being a pain in the ass, maybe,¡± Elijah replied, Sasha reaching down to pull the man¡¯s hands away while he looked. Punctures were seen, fitting the countless teeth of the monster. It was good that it hadn¡¯t been able to get in from the back of the man as well, as that would¡¯ve allowed it to get a hit much closer to the spine. ¡°You¡¯ll live, if this works as I hope.¡±

    ¡°You hope?!¡±

    ¡°Sasha, hold him down,¡± Elijah requested calmly while pulling out the spirit to clear the wound of anything foreign. He didn¡¯t have the proper supplies along to clean the wounds of whatever nasty things the Neogi¡¯s fangs had on them, but this would have to do. And it was effective, going by the cursing and thrashing that Jack did as he poured it on.¡°Tighter, please.¡±

    ¡°Just fix it,¡± she countered without regard for his request. Elijah spent a moment looking at her, seeing that look of mild worry on her face. Even with the mildly friendly relationship that had started between the two, this was more than he¡¯d expected from her. ¡°Stop thinking and act.¡±

    ¡°Just waiting on the Mana to be ready,¡± Elijah replied smoothly, as he inserted the first layer of ointment. Not a direct healing concoction, since anything would have a hard time with how much blood was still pouring out, but this would slow it down. And be painful as everything was forced to close and redirect, going from the moans of pain leaving Jack. ¡°Bite into this, if you want to keep your tongue.¡±

    He stuffed some cloth into the man¡¯s mouth before they could protest. Making sure the blood flow had slowed somewhat, the healing paste came next. Not as high-quality as he would¡¯ve preferred, but it would have to be enough.

    It was smeared on, his Mana was channeled through it, and the healing properties were accelerated to a stupid degree as flesh was knitted together before their eyes. Wounds that would¡¯ve taken months to fully recover from, if ever, came together at once, nerves exposed in the empty air before being covered by the proper muscle and skin.

    Jack screamed through the cloth, but that was to be expected at this point, the bleeding was stopping but the injury wasn¡¯t fading as Elijah was hoping it would.

    And when he stopped channeling his Mana into the body, the redness below the regrown skin began to push through. It was still happening internally. The new blood vessels were not able to take the pressure.

    ¡°That isn¡¯t good,¡± Elijah muttered, wondering how to do this. Slow the flow further? It would kill Jack before it had a chance to help. Going unconscious would likewise drop the blood pressure to dangerous levels, and then the issue would only increase. Making him relax¡­ not a chance.

    ¡®I¡¯m useful!¡¯ Dawn reminded him, appearing on the hand that touched the reddened area. The duck jumped off him, landing on Jack''s stomach with no regard for the shout of pain that came because of it. ¡®Watch!¡¯

    He did because he couldn¡¯t react before Dawn started it all up. Jack¡¯s scream increased when roots sprouted from her feet, digging into his flesh and the wounded area. The splitting of newly made flesh had to have been painful beyond belief, yet Elijah didn¡¯t stop the duck. Not when he saw the effect it had.

    Through all the screaming, through all the pleading from Jack for it to end, the red flesh stopped swelling, stopped spreading to the sides, and steadily returned to its previous form. There was clear pain, something that didn¡¯t cease, but ten seconds in it did begin to reduce in strength as the last parts of the swelling were removed. Ignoring the roots that stuck out of the stomach, he was healthy once more.

    ¡®Useful!¡¯ Dawn shouted at Elijah again, removing the roots with a quick pull that made a final yelp leave Jack before the space they¡¯d occupied also regrew. ¡®See? See?¡¯

    ¡®... Didn¡¯t know you could heal directly,¡¯ was everything Elijah could comment, seeing the healthy flesh. Slightly paler, maybe, but the coloring was steadily returning. ¡®Though I should¡¯ve guessed you could do something like it since you could produce the healing paste when pressed. I¡¯m guessing you could increase the concentration of it when in liquid form?¡¯

    ¡®Yes! I¡¯m useful.¡¯

    ¡®Truly. We¡¯ll have to test it out more tomorrow..¡¯

    ¡°Is¡­ Is it over?¡± Jack asked when Sasha pulled the cloth out of his mouth. When they confirmed as much, letting him feel at the wound, the air of tiredness began to wash over the man. Adrenaline leaving the body had that effect. ¡°I was not a fan of that. Next time you¡¯re bringing some meds to dull the pain.¡±

    ¡°The ointment I put on at the start did reduce the pain,¡± Elijah supplied, making the man pale. ¡°Without it, your pants would be covered in more than blood and you wouldn¡¯t be awake to notice it.¡±

    Sasha commented on the state of Jack, but he ignored it in favor of walking over to Aleksi. He was worried about the giant, who stood next to the beheaded corpse of the Neogi with a blank expression. The green veins were still on his arms, on the exposed part of the chest, and the glow was unmistakable when looking into his eyes.

    They shined so brightly inside the Dungeon.

    ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Elijah asked, pulling out a bottle of cold tea he¡¯d prepared for the day before. It¡¯d been infused with the concentrated Sundrop Flower extract along with the other ingredients meant to help with heart palpitations.

    ¡°A lot,¡± Aleksi said in a low voice. The giant¡¯s bloody hand felt at his face, uncaring about how it smeared on the skin. ¡°Time goes by faster outside of fighting. My heart is taking it surprisingly well, but I can feel the strain regardless. There are so many small wounds that the elixir is trying to take care of right now. It feels endless. Is it obvious when you look at me?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I can see it,¡± he replied, a growl leaving the giant¡¯s throat because of it. The waves of that sickly green energy flowing through Aleksi¡¯s body were obvious. To the naked eye, it could be seen in the pulsating veins, yet his sight went deeper than that. He knew the man¡¯s flesh in and out, and he could see all the small imperfections being forcefully corrected. ¡°It¡¯s trying to put you back to what you were like when you were in your twenties. Not a terrible thing, truthfully.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d prefer my wrinkles undisturbed, thank you very much.¡±

    A wince left the giant a second later, making him accept the bottle and down the contents in seconds. Elijah had personally hoped it would be consumed slowly through a full day, but he supposed this also had some benefits to it.

    ¡®Can I help?¡¯ Dawn asked, watching the giant from Elijah¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡®Not this time,¡¯ Elijah replied. He didn¡¯t comment as Aleksi hunched forward a little, something in his spine resettling itself. A painful endeavor, and an extreme one at that if the pain-reduction from the elixir didn¡¯t mute it.

    ¡°How long do you think it¡¯s going to take to return to normal?¡± Aleksi asked, blinking to get out the waste that was pushed out from further inside his skull. Best not to consider what it was. ¡°Hiding torn clothes won¡¯t be hard, but these aren¡¯t exactly easy to miss.¡±

    That the green pupils acted as their own miniature lanterns did somewhat put a damper on their progress upwards. At least it allowed them to rest somewhat, letting pulses get down to normal levels while the injuries sustained were gone entirely.

    With any hope, they would get back to the house soon.

 Chapter 52: Something To Lose

    At around three in the morning, Vera heard a small bell. The chime made her eyes open instantly, her senses on alert as she sat in bed to see the source. In the mirror, enchanted to show whoever entered the main room, she could see nothing. A moment later, the main door closed as slowly as it had opened, and a figure unseen was tracked moving towards her bedroom.

    Only when two quiet knocks and three quick ones after were heard did her shoulders relax. Vera lowered the wand and headed to the door to unlock it so the ¡®intruder¡¯ could enter.

    ¡°That was a longer trip than I expected,¡± she commented, moving to hug Harper before stepping back as the smell hit her. The Illusionist truly was an expert in her field, being able to hide that stench. ¡°Where exactly have you been? Whatever you¡¯ve been stained by is putrid.¡±

    ¡°The Dungeon,¡± Harper replied, making Vera¡¯s eyes narrow. Elijah had ventured into the depths during the night? Not an uncommon time to visit the Dungeon when wanting to go unnoticed, but she knew that the man was meant to arrive at the castle in the morning. When exactly did he expect to sleep? ¡°He, Aleksi Grey, the unknown man seen before, and a woman who was a similar age all went in together during the early night. They traveled to the fourth floor, hiding there and training for about an hour, before being ambushed by a Neogi.¡±

    The spider monsters?

    ¡°Aren''t those normally found on the seventh floor at the earliest?¡±

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    ¡°Yes, but they suspected that it had hidden as a hatchling, only growing to its full size after the Royal Guards had cleared the area,¡± Harper explained, taking a step inside the bedroom after Vera had gotten a good distance away. Carefully, she removed a certain bracelet from her left arm, trying not to get too much gunk on it before placing it on the table. ¡°The artifact worked as you predicted. My abilities were increased to a point where they were unable to detect me.¡±

    That was great to hear. It had taken quite a bit to find something that could work for the resident Illusionist. Neither had expected needing anything of the sort, since even the Royal Mages had never caught wind of Harper¡¯s presence, but their scrambling had allowed them to dig up something that further hid one¡¯s presence inside the Royal Armory.

    Vera wasn¡¯t sure anybody even knew of its existence when they saw it in the list of items, though nobody would know from now on. It was too useful.

    ¡°A fourth person in that ensemble now,¡± she muttered, as she thought about the words some more. ¡°Anybody we would recognize?¡±

    ¡°Nobody we have met in person before, Your Highness, but I have started to form a theory about recent events,¡± Harper continued, pulling out a dirt-covered paper that was burnt on the edges and filled with water spots. ¡°Do you have the report I gave you a few days ago about the sudden appearance of posters during the night, which were suddenly removed within only a day¡¯s time?¡±

    She did, though she ordered to be given the report again along with having a full recap of the entire day¡¯s activities after seeing the poster in question. Elijah Ceade, a man of mystery who had already revealed remarkable secrets after Harper listened in on his conversation with her father, was truly in the center of so many things. So many that she was starting to doubt she¡¯d ever known him to begin with.

    No matter what, the next few days would be interesting. Whether that was a good thing or not, she couldn¡¯t say.

 Chapter 53: Calm Breaths

    Elijah promised himself that he would go to sleep at a normal time that night. He wasn¡¯t sure he even needed to make that promise, his body already warning him it might just shut down before the sun was anywhere near the horizon. Tiredness couldn¡¯t begin to explain what he was feeling, his third yawn of the last fifteen minutes inviting him to sleep for another hour, but it couldn¡¯t be done. Not now.

    They¡¯d arrived back later than intended, thanks to Jack¡¯s injuries and Aleksi¡¯s use of elixir. It had forced them to wait another hour inside the Dungeon, an hour in which they weren¡¯t attacked but still felt a toll. Adrenaline had surged and fallen, and their bodies had wished for rest yet there was none to be had.

    During that time, when nothing could be done but wait, Elijah had passed the minutes by taking out various plants from the floor. Nothing that he usually harvested, since they had either very specific or no medicinal properties at all, but something to try out when he had the option of having a look or instead waiting around and staring into the empty air.

    There was some initial experimentation with one plant that could spew out a green poisonous gas, but a small accident with Dawn attempting to eat it caused Elijah to move away from the herb. Instead, he focused on another plant, this one informally known as the ¡®Bright Screamer.¡¯ The official name was Radiant Wailweed, but that didn¡¯t make it clear how little anybody liked the herb. Upon being crushed, brushed against, or if the wind was just a little too powerful, the herb would emit an incredibly bright white light, along with a high-pitched wail that lasted for two seconds yet could make a person feel deaf for five minutes. It was an interaction when the liquids inside touched the open air, which made them convert to some useless gas when exposed, with the light and noise as a by-product. Terribly mundane but enhanced with the Mana that the herb collected during its lifespan.

    Elijah despised it, yet that hour of free time had made him harvest much of the herb. A small bag, in fact, which he¡¯d removed seeds from for future use before starting out the processing when morning arrived.

    It was less for the possible usage that he was doing this and more for the challenge. The near-instant reaction to air meant that a successful extraction was very difficult with the tools at his disposal. Possible, yes, but requiring a bit more time than what it usually took. An hour to be precise, and for so little to show for it at the end.

    ¡°Two hours of leaning over a table for that small vial?¡± Jack said, sitting at the other table while Elijah held the finished product. It was a deceivingly orange color, seeming so harmless as it swirled around inside the vial. If the cork hadn¡¯t sat perfectly on, they would both be clutching their ears while blinded by the light. ¡°Kinda dangerous holding it like that, you know?¡±

    ¡°As opposed to the mess you¡¯re leaving on the table?¡± Elijah countered, getting a sheepish smile in response as Jack wiped off the worst of the gunpowder. ¡°Clean that up when you¡¯re done fooling around. It won¡¯t be pretty if some of that gets close to a burner.¡±

    ¡°Sure, sure,¡± the man said, getting back to his current work. The current task that Jack had settled on was figuring out the intricacies of cartridges and making a standard form for them. This meant a process of constant adjustment, trying out a certain form with a very malleable material, spending some minutes on transforming it into a heat-tolerant metal, measuring and taking note of the imperfections, and then repeating the entire process with a better idea of how to get the proper shape.

    So much work for something so expensive in usage. Elijah wouldn¡¯t deny that the single-shot prototype from the day before hadn¡¯t shown off the potential of the tool. To be able to shoot a hole through a monster or person that had the width of a thumb at the minimum was not a small feat. Especially not when it could be done without getting into close range. And, yes, the current problem of having one shot before needing three minutes to reload was a problem, but the new design that Jack was brewing up would apparently fix that issue nicely. The only requirement for that design to be viable was, as one would guess, a standardized cartridge size.

    ¡®The arrow is all the way up now,¡¯ Dawn commented, making Elijah look over at the duck and the clock she sat next to. As stated, the minute hand had reached the very top, signaling the start of the new hour and the fact that he was to stand ready at the castle in some thirty minutes. ¡®Are we leaving?¡¯

    ¡®Sadly, yes,¡¯ Elijah replied, downing his cup of tea before grabbing the duck and moving towards the door. ¡°Best of luck with your attempts. Don¡¯t break anything at the smithy.¡±

    Jack made no promises about avoiding such a thing, and neither did Elijah expect it. Just moving past it, he went into the basement, wishing Sasha and Aleksi a fair day before leaving for the castle.

    As the giant would be meeting in the smithy a little later than usual, and since the usage of the elixir had allowed him to feel a little more energized in the morning, he had accepted Sasha¡¯s proposal of sparring in the basement where the ground was a little softer. Nothing serious in terms of blows, both fighting fair and without too much force behind blows to avoid needing healing or activating remnants of elixir.

    Elijah had nothing against it personally, since he didn¡¯t have to participate, and trusted them both not to sustain any serious injury that would require his assistance to fix. While both were reckless at times, this was a topic where they both were knowledgeable. If they didn¡¯t want something to happen, nothing would.

    The journey to the castle was fairly uneventful. Sneers still came his way as he went through the districts, the guards still approached him, but giving them his name and showing off his emblem made them hurriedly apologize before letting him through. After that, there were no problems at all.

    Servants greeted him in the halls. Just a nod or a small wave, no words spoken and no pace broken, but Elijah was happy for it regardless. It meant a lot to him.

    ¡°Good morning to you both,¡± he greeted his two assistants as he ventured inside the laboratory, receiving murmured greetings back. Both were highly focused, Mary cutting precise chunks out of a spiked fruit of sorts, while Oscar was spending his time bringing various herbs to a low boil. It seemed they had run out of a cream to treat oil burns yesterday night when several of the cooks had been unlucky while in the kitchen. Nobody could¡¯ve seen such a thing coming, but what could they do? ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    ¡°Documents for you to sign off on,¡± Mary said, pausing in her work to walk over and go through them with him. ¡°For the past two nights, there¡¯s been reports sent in from the Dungeon Entrance that you¡¯ve been going inside. The first one was ignored as a possible mistake, but two nights in a row made them think you were being impersonated somehow. They want you to fill out details about who would have copied your emblem without your notice.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not the case at all,¡± Elijah assured his assistant, making her look at him confused. ¡°I¡¯m the one who ventured into the Dungeon on both nights. There¡¯s nobody who has stolen my identity just yet.¡±

    ¡°You?¡± Mary repeated, unable to believe it despite his nodding. She picked up the document again. ¡°This says you entered close to midnight and left as late as four in the morning! If this is true, you¡¯ve barely had the chance to sleep.¡±

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    ¡°I did have to put in more Phoenix Fire in my tea these past two mornings to get by,¡± he confessed, which just cemented the fact that it had been him both nights. Mary looked somewhere between impressed and horrified, spending a moment trying to find words before giving up and returning to her work. ¡°Please send these back to whoever brought them here, when you have the time.¡±

    He was promised as much, though it would take a while before such anything could happen. In the meanwhile, Elijah was granted the chance to take care of patients arriving. Only five for the day, luckily, though each took quite a while more to get through than the day before. Deep cuts from trying to grab a falling knife, a broken leg from stumbling down the stairs, an infected wound that had ¡®suddenly gone bad¡¯ despite needing several days to get like this, a rather severe pollen allergy, and, finally, helping somebody deal with pregnancy symptoms.

    ¡°From what I can see, you are¡­ seven months along?¡± Elijah said, the servant nodding at his words. She looked more than a little uncomfortable in her clothing, the refitted outfit not working with the stomach. Even when done gracefully and with tact, nothing was hiding how far along she was. ¡°The types of medicine you can be given are rather limited, to reduce the chance of possible complications, but I can see you¡¯ve got several prescriptions out already. Have there been any issues with these?¡±

    ¡°Not as much as there could be,¡± the servant replied, rattling off the known symptoms one by one. Foot pain was made worse by her working hours, nausea from her body not wanting to eat properly, her back making her feel twenty years older, and enough heartburn to make her start worrying. ¡°Reynold gave me something for all of it, but it¡¯s starting to become too much regardless. The pain is increasing, I¡¯m having trouble standing for too long, and I can¡¯t fulfill my duties anymore. I need help.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Are you still working as you would normally?¡± Elijah questioned, opening up her file once again. Looking through the notes, he was surprised to find that nothing had ever been said about reducing hours.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she confirmed quickly. ¡°I am the head maid for the communal wing. With our lack of luck this year, I¡¯ve been without a direct underling, which means I have had nobody to replace me as things have become more serious.¡±

    No easy way to shift over to less stress.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say, but that won¡¯t do at all,¡± he apologized, already noting down the various changes needed in her file. This would require that he sent along a few messages to various administrators, something he knew he could technically do yet had never tried it. ¡°While you consider your role in this castle more important than your health, I don¡¯t hold the same opinion. Your body will not thank you if you keep operating at this level of stress, and I fear it might have worse consequences than you can imagine.¡±

    Was it possible for some to keep working despite pregnancy? Most definitely, Elijah remembered how Grace¡¯s mom had been at her Inn serving beer at the very same hour he was rushed over there. Some had an easier time than others, and it was usually because of factors that couldn¡¯t be controlled.

    ¡°You were only meant to go on leave in six weeks, but I¡¯m limiting your hours to fifteen each week until that point,¡± Elijah said, finding a notepad and scribbling down a few orders on it before handing it to the servant. ¡°Give this to your direct superior. They¡¯ll find somebody to take over your duties. And, please, wait here for a second while I find something to help with the current pains.¡±

    Two minutes later, with an order to rest and relax, along with having a small bag worth of various ointments, pills, and a few tea bags that improved the quality of sleep, the servant left the room and hurried down the hall. It would cost the castle a little extra to put her on leave for full pay, but Elijah cared little about that.

    They can pay me a monthly stipend equaling ten workers¡¯ wages when I finish my time here. They can afford to pay somebody a little extra to get somebody on board quickly.

    ¡°That was handled rather well of you, if I do say so myself.¡±

    Elijah looked up from the kettle he was putting on, seeing the old voice match the face of a certain old man.

    ¡°Alin,¡± he greeted, getting a nod in return. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you here. Are you in need of help with something?¡±

    ¡°Ah, no, these old bones are doing just fine,¡± the Earth Mage assured him, though he didn¡¯t refuse to sit and have a cup of tea while they talked. The assistants brought the man a cup before either could even blink. ¡°I came here to thank you for what you did yesterday and heard your talk with the young woman just before. Very commendable of you.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, but I believe whoever balances the books in the castle might think otherwise,¡± Elijah replied, getting a laugh out of the other man for his efforts.

    ¡°With the wealth we attain from the Dungeon, a few hundred golds to give a family some relief is a cost to be ignored,¡± Alin said, having similar thoughts about what was truly important in life. Accountants would truly despise them. ¡°But, again, I heard of what you accomplished yesterday, and I want to thank you for it.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± he said. ¡°I take it that means the medicine one of my assistants gave him this morning helped perfectly?¡±

    ¡°Mason was already up and walking before your lovely assistants had the chance to give them,¡± the Earth Mage corrected with an amused smile. ¡°Gave one of the maids a heart attack in the early morning, when she entered to clean and found our dear King standing by the windows to watch the sunrise. That scream of hers caused quite the uproar, though the news of him laughing at her misfortune only made it more popular gossip.¡±

    The king standing by the window, laughing at a frightened maid¡­ From an outside perspective, it could¡¯ve been seen as the actions of a cruel man, but Elijah knew otherwise. King Mason had suffered for many years, chained to his bed day and night without end, so hearing of him rising from his bed without assistance meant the world to the people here. Elijah personally cursed the man for not following his orders to stay in bed and wait for his assistants to help him up, but at least it hadn¡¯t gone too badly.

    ¡°Laughing and walking around is a good thing, I suppose,¡± Elijah commented, forgetting the small act of rebellion. ¡°Did you get the invitation for this afternoon, by the way? Though I advised against it, and still do, Mason wishes for us to drink some absinthe together.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I heard,¡± Alin promised him. ¡°A servant nearly broke down my door to deliver the news this morning. Looked white as snow when he went through it all. I don¡¯t think he enjoyed my laughter when I was told about the meeting.¡±

    The Earth Mage chuckled at his own words, shaking his head before taking a sip from the tea.

    ¡°But, again, I can¡¯t say how much I¡¯m grateful for having this happen,¡± Alin continued when Elijah didn¡¯t offer comments to his words. ¡°Though I have not told many, I¡¯ve been scared of the possibility of Mason never leaving that bed of his ever again. To have him stand, to have him retain his sense of humor, it is¡­ It brings me great joy to see the return of an old friend. So, if you ever have any troubles, know that I am indebted to you.¡±

    Oh, no, he was not accepting this kind of obligation.

    ¡°Before you become too grateful, you must remember I was put into this position to help the King,¡± Elijah reminded the Earth Mage, yet they didn¡¯t look convinced in the slightest. ¡°I am already being compensated a great deal for my work. There is no need for you to promise me your future favor.¡±

    ¡°There is no need, maybe, but I wish to do it regardless,¡± Alin replied, not accepting his attempted refusals no matter what Elijah said or did. The Earth Mage did not relent from his promise, uncaring whether the Healer wanted a favor or not. In the mind of the walking legend, Elijah deserved it and so he would have it. ¡°If you truly wish, you can ask something small of me and we can call it even.¡±

    ¡°... In this context, what would ¡®something small¡¯ mean?¡±

    ¡°A small hill of gold and gems? Maybe the title of duke? One of the old dukes did sleep in half a year ago, and we have been trying to find a worthy replacement for him.¡±

    ¡°I refuse.¡±

    ¡°Of course you do,¡± Alin said with a lack of surprise as he finished his tea. ¡°Now, I believe we must hurry along. Afternoon is upon us, and the King has ordered lunch for us both.¡±

    Oh?

    Making sure his assistants were fine without his presence, which he was assured wasn¡¯t a problem in the slightest, Elijah followed Alin through the castle.

 Chapter 54: Elven Poison

    Where servants normally nodded at him as he passed, being around the Earth Mage meant that the people would stop in place and bow, waiting for him to pass before continuing with their duties. It was a strange experience, so different from what Elijah experienced on his lonesome, but Alin seemed to not notice it at all. An effect of living such a mythical life for years perhaps? With enough time, you truly could get used to anything.

    When they reached the top of the spiral stairs, the guards silently opened the door to the King¡¯s Chambers without hesitation. Alin joined in first and Elijah followed along quickly, observing the scene inside while the door was closed behind him.

    As it turned out, they weren''t the only ones invited.

    ¡°Alin!¡± Mason exclaimed, standing from his chair as the Earth mage closed the distance and hugged the King tightly. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you, you old bastard.¡±

    ¡°Missed me? I¡¯ve visited you every other day for years, and you dare say that you have missed me?¡± Alin replied in a mocking tone, the two old men sharing a deep laugh as they hugged once more. ¡°It¡¯s great to see you on your feet, my friend. Looking like a toothpick hasn¡¯t hurt your feelings, I hope?¡±

    ¡°I still have the charm you could only dream of,¡± the king assured the Earth Mage, making the laughter start up once more. It did quiet down when Elijah finally reached them, the two separating so Mason could shake hands with him. ¡°And, you, my friend, are a delight to see once again. I see you¡¯re a little more tired than yesterday night. A lack of sleep on your end?¡±

    ¡°If the reports I got sent this morning are true, our Royal Healer doesn¡¯t know the word ¡®sleep,¡¯¡± the fourth person in the room jokingly supplied, causing Mason to laugh once again while getting back to his seat. Alin was hurriedly invited to sit by him, while Elijah was directed to the other side where the fourth man was sitting. A hand was pushed out towards him because of it. ¡°Where are my manners? I greet thee, the man who made my father rise again. I¡¯m Phillip.¡±

    Crown Prince Phillip Newell, first to the throne and a monster in battle.

    Elijah was quick to respond to the prince in kind, looking the younger man over. He was only a head or so taller than him, and broader as well though that width wasn¡¯t close to what his father had boasted. The Crown Prince took more after the Queen, with a more lithe build while also having enough magical potential to challenge the aura of Alin. And, that lack of extreme muscle meant little when the Prince¡¯s Affinity was put into question.

    Self-reinforcement, that allowed for feats of strength normally limited to the legendary warriors of old.

    ¡°Sit, now, sit!¡± Mason encouraged, a snap of the king¡¯s fingers making servants arrive from the door within a second, carrying trays of food that were put down on the table. Nothing too extreme, and certainly not the royal dining experience that Elijah feared, as it was mainly bread, meats, cheese, and various types of fruits. Nothing too heavy, though that was also so that the king could eat without fear of losing it all again a few minutes later. ¡°Now¡­ eat! It¡¯s been too long since breakfast already.¡±

    ¡°Father, I distinctly remember you ordering to be brought a bowl of grapes which you devoured just an hour ago,¡± Phillip commented, the Crown Prince being shushed for his efforts. ¡°Just saying.¡±

    ¡°They barely counted,¡± Mason fired back. ¡°And with these sticks for arms, a little extra couldn¡¯t hurt.¡±

    ¡°More calories wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea,¡± Elijah agreed, not adding on the fact that the large appetite of the King wouldn¡¯t last for many more days. The current speed came from so long without proper thought, the mind craving more stimulation than ever, but soon the stomach would catch wind of what was happening. While it could accept food, and the flora was likely improving, the treatment it had gone through for so long stopped it from adjusting well to higher amounts. The body, though desperately needing the food, would soon be unable to take it all in. ¡°And it would be even better to avoid liquors.¡±

    They both still remembered the brandy from the day before.

    ¡°... One act of good at a time,¡± the King replied, grabbing a few glasses and distributing them among the group. ¡°My son, will you be having this drink with us? I remember how you handled your alcohol last time we drank together.¡±

    ¡°That was two years ago, father,¡± Phillip countered, accepting the glass and putting it down behind his plate. ¡°I suffer no such weakness anymore.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Alin questioned. ¡°I recall being told about you having a terrible hangover just a few days ago, after celebrating a little too much during the night.¡±

    Though the Prince was close to thirty, the banter had him red-faced in just a few minutes, the Earth Mage and King having little mercy for the youngest. Elijah didn¡¯t join in too heavily, simply enjoying the opportunity for the food at the castle. While he didn¡¯t dislike the bread bought at the street vendors or the ones that they baked themselves, eating that which came from the Royal Kitchens was a pleasure he was sure he would be doing as much as possible in the coming months.

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    ¡°Now for a taste of the heavenly drink,¡± Mason announced when the food was gone, tea and snacks being brought out while he raised the extravagantly detailed bottle into the air. It was half-empty, opened years ago, yet the green liquid within looked just as deadly regardless. The effect of the high alcohol content stopped it from going bad.

    And the magical residue contained within the liquid likely helped stop it from oxidizing as well, Elijah studying the small part filled into his glass. He refused to get too much since he would have to return to his work later, but the others suffered no such weakness.

    ¡°I never thought I would get to drink this lantern oil again, yet here we are,¡± the king proclaimed, the prince holding back a laugh while Alin just shook his head while wearing a soft smile. ¡°Cheers to you all.¡±

    Elijah, knowing better than to bottom the contents, sipped at the absinthe. It burned at his tongue instantly, the heat traveling down his throat and then through his entire body before returning to his head and making him feel like sweating. The magical residue had truly been a sign of mystical enhancements, the drink of the Fae feeling like a direct opposite of this. Where Cleo¡¯s poison of choice made you relax to delightful levels, this made the opposite occur.

    ¡°Just as terrible as I remember,¡± Mason said with a sigh, the King¡¯s cheeks red with heat as he put the empty glass down on the table. Beside him, the crown prince was doing his best to contain his coughs, while Alin seemed to be silently enjoying the drink, going as far as to take another sip of it. ¡°You¡¯re an anomaly, Alin. Is your body truly not made of the same rock as your cane?¡±

    ¡°I am still flesh and blood, last time I checked,¡± the Earth Mage replied cheekily, going in for a third sip while the others could only look horrified. That is until Elijah noticed how the liquid was consumed. With each sip came an increase in the Mage¡¯s Aura, as the energy was all compressed into the top of the man¡¯s body. Specifically the mouth, the throat, and the start of the stomach. It was as if¡­

    It can¡¯t be that simple.

    Elijah took a second sip, letting the liquid sit on his tongue as he forced his Mana to envelop it. A second needed to pass for him to get a hang of it, a second where the burn tried to burn his internal organs into coal, but afterward, it became¡­ pleasant. That edge, that fire, all of it was gone in favor of an incredibly rounded flavor that went down smoothly. It was a fine taste on par with the best liquors Elijah had tried throughout his entire life, a commodity so rarely had.

    It is that simple.

    ¡°Somebody learns quickly,¡± Alin commented, when Elijah could finish the rest of his glass with nothing but a smile on his face. ¡°I suppose you understand why I enjoy it so much, Elijah?¡±

    ¡°Easily,¡± Elijah confirmed, looking at the bottle. The small statues of various faces and women, and the detail of each of them, was a hint towards the pricing. The fact that the bottle had been labeled thirty years before, and had come from across the ocean, likewise implied the chance of getting another of them. ¡°If I was more of a connoisseur in the realm of drinks, I would¡¯ve even thought about getting a bottle of this for myself.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s little chance of that, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Alin said apologetically. ¡°That was a gift from the Elven King to the late Queen to celebrate ten years of our alliance, one of fifty bottles brewed that year. All others are likely gone already, and they¡¯re only made once a century due to the fruits needing that long to grow.¡±

    ¡°Ah, a shame,¡± Elijah replied, quickly refusing the suggestion that he bring the bottle with him. They seemed too happy to gift him such a thing when there had been such a fight to drink from it in the past. Letting him have it now just felt¡­ wrong from his side. And especially when the original receiver of the bottle was now no longer among them. ¡°You all have a better chance of enjoying the bottle better than me. I avoid alcohol most days regardless. Tea is my preferred drink.¡±

    ¡°Then you make it hard for us to find a gift on the level of what you¡¯ve given us since that tea you make yourselves can hardly be matched by anything else in this country,¡± Alin commented, his words catching the attention of the two at the table.

    ¡°I did hear mention of that tea blend from Vera this morning,¡± Phillip mentioned, catching the King¡¯s attention. ¡°Might there be a chance we could try the blend someday? If Alin and Vera both talk so well about it, one must start to wonder.¡±

    ¡°If there¡¯s such a craving, I could grant the chance right now, actually,¡± Elijah replied, opening the satchel on his side and bringing out a small box. ¡°The plan for these was to sit at my desk, but spending the first few bags here wouldn¡¯t hurt anybody.¡±

    I¡¯m going to run out of these very soon if this keeps happening.

    Compliments rang through the air as they sampled the tea, moving on from the luxurious absinthe in favor of a healthier option. Elijah sadly had to reject the offer for a few more boxes to be delivered to the castle some minutes later, as he didn¡¯t have such a thing anymore. They were saddened by that fact, but the promise of more being grown already did alleviate some of those concerns. That he had planted some flowers in the Royal Garden improved the mood even further.

    ¡°With such a grand place to grow, I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be even greater than this divine concoction,¡± Mason commented, the King laughing as they continued to banter for nearly another hour. When the afternoon started to reach its later stage, and the sun could push through the windows and reach the other wall, the Royal had to excuse himself. ¡°It¡¯s been fun, I promise, but I feel my body starting to tire. Phillip, is there a chance you could¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m hurt you felt the need to request it at all,¡± the Crown Prince cut in before the King could finish, rising from his chair and helping the king to the bed. While Mason might¡¯ve been able to walk by himself earlier that day, so many hours spent moving had tired him too much. ¡°Remember to ask for help, should you need it.¡±

    ¡°Weird for you to tell me such things, when I was teaching you that same concept not so long ago,¡± Mason replied, the two chuckling before the king bid them farewell. ¡°Come by tomorrow again! I¡¯ll see if I can have the two others come along as well then.¡±

 Chapter 55: A Memory of Ice and Fire

    Promises were made to visit again, before the three left for one of the Royal Gardens, settling down at one area with cushioned chairs to talk further.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t able to say this while inside, Healer Ceade, but I do need to thank you for what you¡¯ve allowed my father to do once again,¡± the Crown Prince said not long after the three had settled down. ¡°It was a real fear of ours that we would see our father slowly fade away as an echo of his former self, but you¡¯ve allowed that not to be the case. For that, you have my gratitude.¡±

    ¡°If you wish to thank me, just call me Elijah. Being called Ceade feels wrong,¡± Elijah requested, the prince relenting without a fight. ¡°And, as I have told Alin already, I was brought into this position to help the King and that is what I have done. Before you try to give me a hill of gold, as a certain Earth Mage already offered, I am not interested.¡±

    ¡­

    The Crown Prince laughed. It was a deep laugh, lasting several seconds, and ending up with the man wiping away a tear from his eyes.

    ¡°I see he stole my idea before I could make the offer myself,¡± Phillip commented, Alin raising his hands in surrender. ¡°But, truly, your lacking lust for gold was understated by my dear sister. I was already prepared to send the person who saved her more money than they could spend in their lifetime, but she explained how you only accepted the minimum of 50 gold for your troubles.¡±

    ¡°The costs I suffered to make that happen was four silver worth of healing supplies,¡± Elijah replied. ¡°If she wished to have shown off her gratitude, she would have paid the worth of the ingredients and my hourly premium wage of five silver. Anything more than that was a mistake that the law forced upon me.¡±

    ¡°Well, if I can put in the cost of the ingredients necessary to let my father stand on his own feet again, an Idun Apple should let me grant you a small hill of gold.¡±

    ¡­

    Elijah¡¯s left eye twitched, and the two others laughed at his misfortune.

    ¡°If you wish for nothing other than my gratitude, then that is all you shall have,¡± Phillip assured him before he could start again. ¡°I want to give you more, but if the gratitude feels lessened with gold or gifts other than my word, then there is no reason for me to give it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m happy to hear it,¡± Elijah replied, allowing a smile to reach his face as he found somebody with some level of decency. ¡°But there should still be an understanding here. I did not save your father from death. He will still die. There is nothing I can do to prevent it.¡±

    ¡°And I ask you to do nothing of the sort,¡± the Prince said. ¡°You have changed a death he doesn¡¯t deserve to one that the people can remember him by. They know him as the man who founded the country, the man who brought them hope, the man who helped start it all. They do not need to remember him as the man who died not being able to raise his hand into the air.¡±

    A nice way of looking at it all, though Elijah was a little perturbed at the focus on the image other than what was best for the King himself. Image meant little after death. All the son should¡¯ve cared about was whether there was pain at the end.

    ¡°But¡­ if you don¡¯t want to be given more gold for your current duties, perhaps you would consider an addition to your daily agenda?¡± Phillip questioned, making Elijah raise an eyebrow in reply. ¡°My dear sister told me that you supply the Dungeon Guard with medication to deal with cuts, burns, tears, and anything else they could need and that you have been doing this for many years now.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t deny it, though I have always preferred to keep that deal quiet,¡± Elijah confirmed, knowing the truth to already be known to most that mattered. ¡°My shop already has plenty of customers. Having another hundred trying to empty out my stock would help nobody.¡±

    ¡°Too right, though I have to admit that I might be hoping to squeeze into those dealings of yours,¡± the Prince, leader of the Royal Guard, warned. It was just as Vera had explained. ¡°While I know that you are very busy with your work in the castle and that the Dungeon Guard is already a burden on top of these duties, would it be possible for you to supply the Royal Guard in some limited fashion? Not for every guard under my banner, of course! Even full-time, a single man would struggle to do such a thing, but for just a dozen or so men? Would you consider it?¡±

    The Crown Prince wanted to hire him? Elijah wasn¡¯t surprised, with Vera¡¯s words about Phillip wanting the quality of Healing Pastes that he¡¯d provided the Dungeon Guards for these past years.

    ¡°Honestly? If not for the duties at the castle, I would have accepted this offer of yours,¡± Elijah began, the enthusiasm of the Prince already drained as he listened to the words. ¡°But, I must prioritize the agreements already in place. And, when the time comes when your father¡¯s condition worsens, it would be best if I don¡¯t have to let go of other duties to attend to him. Until the hour of his final breath, he is my highest priority.¡±

    Not a lie but neither was it the complete truth. Not that it mattered, the meaning conveyed just as well either way, as Phillip nodded and looked down.

    ¡°I suppose I can¡¯t judge you for that. Truly, Elijah, you are the type of man that isn¡¯t seen in this world often,¡± the Prince said. He didn¡¯t sound angry. He sounded happy, in some sense of the word. Happy to see the dedication, happy to see a trustworthy person watching over his father, and happy that it was somebody not so easily swayed. ¡°While I love to continue chatting, I already spent an hour too much with my father. My men are waiting for me at the training grounds.¡±

    He excused himself, both Elijah and Alin wishing him luck with his efforts on the field before they leaned back in their chairs and enjoyed the silence for some minutes.

    ¡°There is something I need to confess to you, Elijah,¡± Alin said, as they together observed one of the few clouds in the sky slowly going out of view.

    ¡°Oh?¡± Elijah replied. ¡°What is it you need to confess?¡±

    ¡°This morning, before I went to your workshop to escort you to Mason, I had already spoken to him,¡± came the confession. A frown was sent the Earth Mage¡¯s way in response. ¡°He called for me after the maid had seen him by the window. Wanted to talk about his dreams, about what he¡¯d experienced while spending so long within the confines of his mind.¡±

    ¡°... What were the dreams about?¡±

    ¡°Memories of the past. Not the far past, never further back than the day when the war officially ended and he went down on one knee to propose to Lissandra. They¡¯d already been together for so long, but they thought it would be best for the public to see the first proper step,¡± Alin explained, the old man taking a moment to do nothing but breathe. Elijah did not blame him, staying silent so composure could be regained. ¡°Lissandra was my apprentice, the one who convinced me to defect and join Mason on his side of the war. I still thank her every day for that, as it allowed me to witness the love that came from it. Mason thanked me as well, so many times.¡±

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    ¡°The dreams focused on her?¡±

    ¡°On her, on their kids, on the times they all spent together as a family. At least as much as they could, since only the oldest two lived during those happier times,¡± the Mage continued, needing another moment to breathe. ¡°I take it you already know the reason for her death?¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Complications during the delivery of the third child,¡± Elijah answered. ¡°Her powers were too great to be suppressed by her body for a third time.¡±

    There was a reason that the legendary Mages of old had either no children at all or limited themselves to one or two. When pregnant, they couldn''t use their powers, as even the mildest wave of energy could kill the life within. Early stages gave them the ability to do so if they truly wished for it, but the last month removed that freedom entirely.

    Having one¡¯s Core sealed away once was not a problem for most. If done with diligence, and only done for a limited time, any accomplished Mage could go through it without any long-term issues. Twice? Well, it would be a little harder on the body, and some months of rest after wouldn¡¯t hurt. Three? That was when the line started to be drawn, the body not taking the separation well.

    The average Mage could perhaps still survive the ordeal, and some very much did, but the risks weren¡¯t equal for all who carried Affinities. The more powerful you were, the more risks and dangers the separation carried.

    And for somebody like Queen Lissandra Newell, the legendary Pyromancer known for summoning grand dragons of pure fire? It had practically been a death sentence.

    ¡°Lissandra knew what could happen, but she went through it regardless,¡± Alin explained. ¡°Mason supported her, as he knew how much she wished for a third when the potential for it arose, but he dreaded the risks as well. It was¡­ He told me how he regretted not being by her side when Louis was born.¡±

    Louis Newell, the second Prince and third in line for the crown, known for his temper and being blamed for the death of the Queen, a woman he was never able to meet. A curse.

    ¡°But you were,¡± Elijah offered, when the air grew quiet. ¡°You were there, holding her hand.¡±

    ¡°I could do little else for my old apprentice and dear friend,¡± the Earth Mage confirmed. ¡°And it was good that I did, else nobody would¡¯ve been there to hear her final wish while she held her third child.¡±

    Elijah frowned. He hadn¡¯t heard of this before.

    ¡°What was her wish?¡±

    ¡°It was a request for me to help keep her family together, to preserve what she could not,¡± Alin revealed. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell Mason about it at the time, as he already had enough on his plate, but I revealed it to him this morning. He didn¡¯t blame me for that secret.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°It has not been easy for the family, for the past many years,¡± he continued. ¡°Some have received more blame than they have deserved, some have kept it all hidden inside, and another has taken up traditions to keep themselves composed, all while the father was unable to do anything but feel hollow. I feared that it would keep being that way until both Mason and I were gone, but you¡¯ve allowed the family another chance to rekindle the love that once was.¡±

    ¡°I was just¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, no, I am having none of that!¡± Alin exclaimed before Elijah could try to deflect the thanks. ¡°It might mean little to you, but it means the world to me. And because of that, I grant you a boon that I have kept safe for 25 years! Cherish it well, Elijah, because there is nothing like it left in this world.¡±

    With a strength that somebody halfway through their 80s shouldn¡¯t have been able to possess, Elijah¡¯s hand was pulled closer to Alin, the Earth Mage depositing a golden ring with red lines on his palm. It had a red ruby embedded in it, with enough Mana inside it that Elijah could feel it passively radiating a soft warmth through the metal.

    This was an artifact of the highest caliber.

    ¡°You will accept it,¡± Alin just about ordered as he closed Elijah¡¯s palm for him. ¡°Whether you wear it, toss it, or gift it to another doesn¡¯t matter. The only thing I require is that you accept it here and now.¡±

    Elijah looked the other Mage in the eye and knew that there was no other option but to concede and accept the artifact. With a sigh, he opened his hand again and looked upon the ring in question again. Even without letting the energy hidden inside be revealed, he could feel the storm of fire that begged for an outlet. Fire that could burn or protect. Fire that could act in his stead, when the time came where he couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°Lissandra made it a few months after Vera was born, as a gift for when the child would grow up to be a grand woman as fiery as her mother,¡± Alin explained. ¡°When that little sprout grew to be rather mild-mannered, the intention didn¡¯t fit as much and another ring was made for Vera. The first one, still needing a home, was given to me as a thanks for my many years by their side. It is a last defense, able to summon a mighty being of pure fire. It can only last for a short while, and you¡¯ll need to spend a week to attune it to yourself before you can use it, but it will have the full power of the woman who crafted that ring.¡±

    The fire of the Queen, for him to summon when pushed into a corner. Elijah¡­ had no words for what he felt.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± was all he could say, not sure what else could possibly make sense. ¡°It means a lot that you would trust me with this.¡±

    ¡°If you wish for a better reason to be given this than just my gratitude, then take it because I refuse to let it waste away as one of my possessions,¡± Alin replied. ¡°I am old, I don¡¯t fight, and I will have no use for it.¡±

    ¡°As opposed to me, another old man who long since abandoned the more exciting parts of life?¡±

    ¡°From what Phillip has said, you haven¡¯t left all the branches of excitement behind just yet,¡± the Earth Mage countered. ¡°You allegedly have a habit of late-night Dungeon Diving, something very few your age would even consider.¡±

    ¡°... I suppose I can¡¯t refute that point,¡± Elijah admitted, putting the ring on the left index finger. As he adjusted it on the digit, the size changed to accommodate him perfectly, to the point where he could barely feel it was even there. ¡°Fine craftsmanship, I must say.¡±

    ¡°She would¡¯ve scolded you for sounding so surprised about that fact,¡± Alin commented, chuckling at the thought before looking up at the sky as well. ¡°I have enjoyed this talk with you, but I believe my duties at the Academy must be attended to as well. While I look to ignore the stack of paperwork on my desk more often than not, deadlines for many of them need to be respected regardless. I hope to see you tomorrow at lunch.¡±

    Elijah promised to be there before the Earth Mage rose from his chair and left the Royal Garden behind. The cane could be heard hitting the stone path with each step, announcing the precise moment when the door was closed and he was alone in the garden.

    Or at least as alone as anybody could be inside the castle.

    ¡°You might influence the area directly around you to make it look undisturbed, but the grass you walk away from still contains the prints of well-crafted boots,¡± Elijah commented into the allegedly empty air, looking unimpressed when a certain Princess¡¯ assistant appeared before him. ¡°I take it that Vera would like to meet with me?¡±

    ¡°In discreet fashion, if possible, which is why I have arrived to bring you there without being seen by others,¡± Harper confirmed.

    ¡°So it really is possible for you to hide more than yourself under that invisibility of yours,¡± he concluded, rising from his chair before stretching his arms to the side. The lack of proper rest was making the limbs so quick at falling asleep. ¡°Nevertheless, you can lead the way. I¡¯ll follow without complaint.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t as if he was in a position where he could say no.

 Chapter 56: Hiding In Plain Sight

    It was a relatively short walk, only taking ten minutes or so. They went past the area where he worked, past the main area where servants went about their duties of the day, and over to another corner of the castle where not a single soul could be seen. From the much more expensive decorations and the feeling of magical pressure pushing down on him, Elijah assumed few were even allowed here.

    ¡°Inside,¡± Harper requested, as they reached one of the many doors. It required a key to open, which she had, but then it opened and revealed itself to be nearly half a meter thick. It was built like a true bunker, with enough magical sigils etched into the stone that it made Elijah wonder what it was for normally. ¡°Inside, please. The alarm will go off if we wait another second.¡±

    Elijah did as requested by those words, feet carrying him into the relatively modest room when compared to everything outside it. A tall painting of some man looking at the ocean still sat on the wall, some golden lines were swirled around the corners, and the furniture was still more luxurious than anything he¡¯d ever owned, yet it still didn¡¯t hold a candle to the outside.

    The largest difference, however, was that this room had the Princess in it, with her sitting at the table with some papers in hand. Documents, going by what he could see, with several mentions of his name.

    ¡°Vera,¡± he greeted, sitting while she nodded his way. ¡°You wished to talk privately?¡±

    ¡°More privately than normal, yes,¡± Vera confirmed, putting the papers down on the table before looking up at the ceiling. ¡°Do tell me, Elijah, what you think this room is for?¡±

    He followed her eyes, seeing the massive glowing sigils hanging above them. The smaller creations on the door were nothing in comparison to this. The sigil was made of dozens of circles all connected in an elaborate scheme. Elijah could feel his eyes starting to hurt as he studied them, watching them move the slightest bit as time passed, something meant to be impossible as they were etched into the stone itself.

    Yet magic rarely followed the logic everything else in this world did. It had its own, its own constraints, but applying the normal set would only bring a person to their ruin.

    ¡°A room where people can stay hidden if needed,¡± Elijah replied, testing his senses while looking at one of the walls. As he should¡¯ve guessed, his magical sight allowed him to see as much as a person would¡¯ve with the naked eye. Neither could he hear anything outside, the ambient noise of the world ceasing to be when the door had closed. ¡°But it¡¯s also more than that. Anything done inside here, anything said, won¡¯t be known by the world outside unless revealed by the people inside later on.¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± Vera said with a smile. It didn¡¯t quite reach eyes face as much as a normal smile would, Elijah seeing it for it what really was. A mask, a thin one, covering excitement and an inkling of nervousness. ¡°Do you want to guess why I wanted to talk to you in a place such as this?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d prefer it if you said it,¡± he bluntly stated, not feeling like playing this game of hers. ¡°In short fashion as well. I have a job to get back to.¡±

    ¡°Ah, of course. Can¡¯t let them wait, after all,¡± the Princess agreed, chuckling at her words as she shuffled through the papers on the desk. There seemed to be a bit of trouble finding the right one before the target, a stained and half-burnt poster, was revealed. ¡°I want to talk to you about a few things, starting with the two people you¡¯re hiding.¡±

    She pushed the poster towards him, letting him pick it up freely. Elijah could feel his blood running cold, as he looked at the drawn faces of Jack and Sasha.

    Was the Princess involved with this? He and Cleo had already considered the chance of royalty making the order, but they had discarded it rather quickly when figuring out possible motivations. Maybe that had been a mistake.

    ¡°You would¡¯ve needed to spy on us again to find that out, which means you were able to figure out how to keep yourself hidden properly,¡± Elijah commented, glancing over at Harper who offered no reply. Now that he was thinking about it, he hadn¡¯t noticed her in the same way as when she¡¯d spied on them the first time. Only the indents in the grass had revealed her presence to him. ¡°It was arrogant of us not to expect that.¡±

    ¡°Quite,¡± Vera said, matching his indifferent tone. The smile had vanished, the mask off as she looked at him with very little emotion. She undoubtedly did care, but none of it was showing anymore. There was only a wall, keeping everything away from sight. ¡°As Harper has explained them to me, one able to control temperature and shoot out blasts of force and the other a beginning magical Artificer of some kind, I suppose they are both capable of murder, yet I can¡¯t seem to understand why these posters with their faces would be so prevalent throughout the city. Murder happens quite often in Kulvik, sad as I am to admit it, but those rarely have this much attention. A strange occurrence, when I can¡¯t hear of who was even murdered. Is there any chance you could explain this to me?¡±

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    So she doesn¡¯t know.

    That she knew of their abilities likely meant Harper had followed them into the Dungeon. That meant she must¡¯ve known of his true history, of Aleksi¡¯s abilities, and perhaps even more than that if she had also been present during his first meeting with the King.

    What were his options, with this knowledge? She had already reached the level of blackmail over him, where she could have him killed on the spot. Wouldn¡¯t even need to do it herself, just starting the whispers until people figured it out for themselves, and the princess would be without blame of any kind.

    If she wished, his death would be a certainty. Aleksi¡¯s as well, since bringing out proof of the elixir would be trivial. Truly, this situation wasn¡¯t easy for him.

    Refusal would mean a higher chance of all this happening. Agreeing had fewer consequences, for now.

    ¡°The person who was killed was a Royal Mage,¡± Elijah explained. ¡°Cut in half horizontally at the stomach. Those two here weren¡¯t behind it, however. When I first found them, lying half-dead next to the Royal Mage, they hadn¡¯t Awakened properly yet. No abilities and nothing on them that would give them a chance of murdering anybody like that.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Would you mind explaining that in more detail?¡± Vera requested. ¡°I don¡¯t think you and your friend would¡¯ve been able to kill a Royal Mage, even with your¡­ mildly violent history.¡±

    So she knows.

    That simplified things. With the ability to explain the past days, while providing some details from further back, Elijah went through the last week of his life. How he found them, where they were from, how their abilities had been revealed, how¡¯d he been forced to unseal his Core to help them and thereafter had been discovered, and how he truly had no love for the Royal Family and only accepted the position for the immunity of not having any documentation for his Affinity.

    Perhaps the last part was unneeded, but Elijah had been hoping to give that piece of information to the princess in very clear terms since yesterday.

    ¡°Well¡­ This is certainly more interesting than I was expecting it to be,¡± Vera commented, silent as she thought it all through. She¡¯d already asked all the probing questions through his recounting, making him fill any hole there might¡¯ve been. By now, she knew much more than he was comfortable with, but he felt proud of avoiding some subjects like Cleo. He knew that the Madame would have him killed if he ever revealed something so secretive to a Royal. ¡°You¡¯re not the reason for my recent troubles, at least.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Elijah asked, hearing her muttering but not clearly enough to make out all the words.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± she replied absentmindedly. ¡°It¡¯s becoming more clear to me that you, whatever your true name is, are not as dangerous as I initially feared. Able to kill if needed, sure, but not somebody I need to have put away.¡±

    ¡°Truly the best compliment to receive.¡±

    She was surprisingly casual about the prospect of having him killed. He also noted that it implied being fully prepared to have him disappear while inside this room, away from anybody who could help.

    Not a bad strategy.

    Especially not when a person capable of Illusions was by the Princess¡¯ side. Or, well, acted like they were.

    ¡°I like to be prepared for all possibilities, including the ones where the servants of the castle accept bribes and try to ruin this country from within,¡± Vera said. ¡°Do you want to know how Reynold, the man you replaced, died?¡±

    ¡°The official documents say it was a heart attack while he slept, but I¡¯m starting to find that hard to believe.¡±

    ¡°Whether he was asleep or not, I can¡¯t say, but it was indeed a heart attack that caused his demise,¡± the Princess confirmed. ¡°Albeit, the heart attack was induced by a poison that I made him take since it was intended for my father.¡±

    Casual and having done it before. Multiple times before even, with the full intention to do it all again and again because of the threat others posed to the stability of the country. A worthy cause, though it was one that still ended with plenty of blood on her hands.

    One thing still sounded strange to him.

    ¡°He was found lying peacefully in bed, no struggle, tucked in as if he was prepared to go to sleep normally, and yet you say you forced him to knowingly consume a poison that would kill him?¡± Elijah questioned, not a fan of that smile on the Princess¡¯ face. ¡°Very few things could make a person do such a thing in normal circumstances, so I¡¯d take a wager and say that your aide isn¡¯t the only one able to hide in plain sight.¡±

    Only Vera Newell, First Princess of Serenova, was hiding in a different way. She could be seen by all without issue, but her true self, the truth next to her heart, went unnoticed. And it had been unnoticed for a very long time.

 Chapter 57: We Will Stand Or Fall Together

    ¡°Very perceptive, Elijah, I¡¯ll have to give you that. Not to the level of my father, neither of us can approach his experience, but you noticed what others before you couldn¡¯t,¡± Vera replied. She rolled up her left sleeve, revealing an armband that sat snugly against her skin. It looked rather mundane, the same coloring as her skin, but the sigils that had been put onto the surface with silver spoke of something more. ¡°This was my mother¡¯s, a piece she always wore. A good excuse for me to never take it off either, as it allows me to hide much easier.¡±

    The multiple straps holding it securely in place were removed, the cloth was pulled off the arm, and Elijah was allowed to see the blood-red Aura that now filled up the room.

    The legendary Queen of Fire hadn¡¯t only had one child with the gift of magic. She¡¯d had two, both likely to equal her strength in due time.

    ¡°Quite the trinket, if it can hide this so well,¡± Elijah commented, going through his memories for anything that could fit this coloring. It had to be one of the conceptual affinities, something to force others to bend. Not a direct manipulation, however, as he would¡¯ve already been controlled if that was the case. No¡­ it had to be something more indirect. ¡°A fan of the Fae, I''m guessing?¡±

    She smiled. His guess had been spot-on.

    ¡°A Leximancer, the second-worst Affinity to ever grace this world with its presence,¡± Elijah concluded. The Affinity in the first place was, as one would¡¯ve guessed, the born abilities of the Fae. That magical race of creatures, while able to make drinks to die for, were known for their tricks and wordplay. To verbally agree to the wrong thing, even if it sounded completely normal at the time, could be the difference between life and death. It was why the tradition of treating Fae with complete silence had started up since even a single word could ruin a person¡¯s life. ¡°Instead of trapping people within a conversation, you do it through the written word.¡±

    ¡°Does it really count as a trap, when people know what they sign?¡± Vera questioned, reaching a hand into the empty air. In a flash of blood-red fire, a paper appeared within her grasp, one that she handed over to him. ¡°I have a proposal for you, Elijah. One you might want to consider.¡±

    He took the contract from her, grimacing as he saw the glowing letters on the paper. The rhythmic beating of the glowing Mana within made his muscles tense, yet he continued with his reading of the words. It was¡­ a terrible thing.

    ¡°You require my complete silence regarding your ability, I can¡¯t betray you, I can¡¯t help others do the act themselves, and I can¡¯t willingly poison your father,¡± Elijah summarized. There were some other parts, including Vera being able to force his hand if she needed it, and that Elijah would prioritize her and Harper¡¯s life over his own. ¡°You ask me for permanent servitude.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not permanent,¡± Vera objected. ¡°It¡¯s just until you die. Anything after is your making.¡±

    A joke.

    She laughed.

    He didn¡¯t, just staring at her as she looked at him without a care in the world. The Princess hadn¡¯t shown this for no reason. Was it because she believed he would be forced to sign it? The implication for the off-chance that he didn¡¯t was his death, along with that of the others, but what would he prefer? To be a slave and live or to be free and die?

    I¡¯d rather stand.

    ¡°While I would be under your control once I signed this, I am still a free man before that,¡± Elijah said, putting both hands on the side of the paper before tearing the contract in half. Incredible amounts of Mana flowed out of the letters at that, to the point where he had to shut his eyes for a second while the others looked on unamused. ¡°No deal. I don¡¯t bargain with devils.¡±

    ¡°Even when you know the outcome of that refusal would be your death?¡± Vera asked in a calm voice. Even Elijah couldn¡¯t detect any traces of fear in her voice. She thought she had him cornered.

    But he knew better.

    ¡°You think I don¡¯t know where I sit?¡± he countered. ¡°You proclaim you do so much in the name of keeping your father alive, and yet you try to chain the hand of the Healer keeping him that way? You might be able to find a replacement for the position if given a few months, but until then I am a vital figure in keeping the King¡¯s health stable.¡±

    ¡°The assistants could make it work.¡±

    ¡°If you trusted that, if they trusted that, I wouldn¡¯t be here to begin with.¡±

    ¡­

    A tense silence between them, one that allowed Elijah to notice the slight flicker in their appearance. It was subtle, almost seeming like a trick of the light, but he could see it when their forms calmed and their faces became too normal. Their actions seemed to make too much sense to his sight, too real to be real.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Vera relented, hands up in surrender. ¡°You¡¯ve beaten me in this. Your life will be your own, as you¡¯ve made it clear you¡¯ll let my father die before you let others give you orders.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve taken many orders in the past,¡± Elijah replied. ¡°I¡¯d rather not be in that position again.¡±

    ¡°Yet here you are, working in the castle and following our orders.¡±

    ¡°I follow them until they no longer fit my ideals.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s treason, you know. Could have you hanged for that.¡±

    ¡°And I could assure your death before either of us could flee this room.¡±

    Vera¡¯s eyes widened at that promise before she chuckled once again.

    ¡°You think you can kill me here and now?¡± she questioned, not looking like she¡¯d believed him. ¡°Is it because of the ring that Alin gave you? If so, I welcome you to try it. Ignoring you haven¡¯t attuned it to you, the effects can take a full ten seconds to be unleashed, and long before that you will have already fallen.¡±

    ¡°Because you¡¯re not sitting at the table and your friend has a knife to my throat?¡±

    The illusion of the princess and her assistant faded away a second later, the true figures being revealed by his side. Vera stood to his right, wand in hand as she pointed it towards his chest, and Harper was to his left with her blade almost pressed against his throat. Even just a breath too deep would have his jugular pierced.

    ¡°Yet again, you surprise me,¡± Vera commented. ¡°How did you spot it this time?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve practiced for many hours,¡± Elijah replied without fear of the knife that was ready to kill him at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°Several weeks'' worth of practice perhaps, though it doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯ve gotten too good at it. The movements are too real, too fluid, too fitting for her. Everything you can expect her to do, she will do.¡±

    Too open, as if the person behind the movements was looking from outside as well. An imitation of the surface while ignoring all the inner workings that made the final reactions happen.

    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re closer to my father than I gave you credit for,¡± the Princess said, her wand still pointed his way as she moved to sit back down on the chair from before. Harper didn¡¯t move from her spot, though she did lower her knife just a little. ¡°While I am mildly interested in how you think you would be able to kill me, I am not willing to see it for myself just yet. Especially not when we both still have things to do, things that¡­ align in some ways.¡±

    He looked at her with disappointment clear in his face, while she looked a little sheepish at what she was going to suggest. Was there truly so little shame in that princess?

    ¡°Would you consider being allies in the next few months?¡±

    ¡°You think I would trust the person willing to kill me on a whim?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t act like you wouldn¡¯t do the same.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°What are you proposing exactly?¡±

    ¡°You have two enigmas that you¡¯re hiding from somebody, somebody that has an abnormal level of reach within the leadership of this country and this city,¡± Vera expanded. ¡°The amount of attempts on my father¡¯s life has increased in recent times, some getting closer and closer to succeeding. Whatever is happening, I am starting to think it all might be related. That a Royal Mage could be found dead without a word reaching my ears means that it is covered by somebody who is a threat to everything I¡¯ve worked to preserve.¡±

    ¡°And the fact that they¡¯re so desperate to regain those two, pulled in from another world, means that they¡¯re connected to something very terrible,¡± Elijah added, the princess nodding at his words. ¡°And because of that, you think it fair that we combine our efforts to keep them protected, as the opposite could spell disaster?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡­

    She was making a fair assumption, thinking that many of the things of the major events were being caused by one group. Elijah had started considering the same thing, already wondering who would want the King dead the most. A foreign country perhaps? Somebody willing to sell everybody else out for a slice of the power that would be gained in the aftermath? Somebody with a personal vendetta? It all required a position of power already, along with enough reach to make it all happen in the shadows.

    Yet to gain that level of influence already, it required somebody in the upper echelons to be behind so much of it, and, while Elijah thought very little of the people here, most were at least loyal to the cause. Loyal enough to stand by the Royals for many decades.

    A problem that he couldn¡¯t figure out. A problem that Vera had spent years on while being as far along with it as him.

    If allowed to fester, it¡¯ll hurt us more than it¡¯ll help.

    ¡°I have no trust that you won¡¯t kill me in the future,¡± Elijah finally said. Vera didn¡¯t deny that fact. ¡°And you have no trust I won¡¯t kill you either.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a very real possibility, with all the threats I have made against you,¡± she agreed, not even mentioning that the simple fact that she knew made her a liability. While Elijah did like to think he trusted others, that was only reserved for those he¡¯d known for decades. Here, he was sure that she would sell him out if the action ever proved more worthwhile than keeping him around. ¡°But you have also made plenty of threats against me, so it does even out. In this aspect, we¡¯re on equal footing.¡±

    ¡°Not in the slightest,¡± Elijah countered. She didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°Allies it is.¡±

    They didn¡¯t shake on that agreement, yet it held true regardless. For now, they would help each other.

    Leaving the room behind and being escorted to the laboratory, however, they found a giant walking the same way in a hurry.

    Aleksi?

 Chapter 58: I Doubt, Therefore I Think, Therefore I Am

    Was Jack happy about not being confined to the house today? Yes. Was he feeling sour that he had to leave the smithy as well? Also yes.

    Lugh had been forced to kick him out when a band of guards had arrived for the bi-yearly checkup on the smithy. A routine check, one that had been months in the making yet still arriving some six hours earlier than expected. Nothing too serious, and nothing that posed a threat to their secrets, but Aleksi had regardless been forced to escort Jack as far away from the premises as possible.

    Which meant he was here, sitting on his ass while watching Sasha beat somebody up until they were on their ass as well.

    ¡°You forget your footing,¡± she commented, when a roundhouse kick was able to land in full force, forcing the man onto the ground in pain. Jack could hear the strained moans clearly, and he winced at the twitching movements. ¡°Move your body properly, and you might become less of a disappointment.¡±

    Ruthless as ever, though he had to admit she was giving advice every time she beat somebody up. And, hey, the people were coming back into the ring every now and then to get beat up again, this time trying to focus on fixing the pointed-out flaws while also letting her find some other problem.

    ¡°Not a bad show, Joel,¡± Jack commented to the bruised man as they walked by him. He got a nod of appreciation in reply, the man in question not able to talk much due to the blue marks steadily swelling on his face. It wouldn¡¯t be fun to be him in a few hours. ¡°Don¡¯t you need some rest as well, Sasha? You¡¯ve been up there for a few hours now.¡±

    He realized as much when he looked down and found that he¡¯d gone through twelve different cartridge attempts while she had continued with her beatdowns. With how long that process took outside of the Dungeon, and with how much extra tweaking he did with each version, lunch must¡¯ve passed them both by without their notice.

    His stomach finally gurgling at the thought of food proved that right. Dinner might¡¯ve even been closing in on them when he had to hunch over slightly at the feeling of full-on emptiness in his body.

    ¡°There¡¯s food to get if you get out of the ring,¡± Jack offered when his first comment went ignored while she stretched. The second proposal was more enticing, however, as she slowly got back up on her feet and climbed out of the ring. ¡°Nice to see. Wonder what they got around here.¡±

    Not every day he ventured into the basement of a brothel if he was being honest. Not every day he went into a brothel at all, really. Jack had had no clue what to expect, back when Aleksi explained how he would be hiding out with a ¡®Madame Cleo,¡¯ but this certainly wasn¡¯t on the list of possibilities. A group of incredibly nice people had welcomed him inside, making sure he wasn¡¯t injured, and then leading him down to the basement and sitting while Sasha was already beating some poor fool¡¯s head in while standing in some fighting ring that fit what you¡¯d find in one of those MMA arenas.

    ¡°After you,¡± Jack said, opening up the door into the breakroom and letting Sasha go first. She knew the people here best, after all, so letting her take control would help them more than anything. ¡°Damn, it smells good in here.¡±

    Meat of some kind, with enough spices to make his mouth water. The massive kitchen where it was all happening was to his left, with some dozen people inside working on some meal, while there were a few rows of tables to their right where people were already sitting, eating, and drinking to their heart¡¯s content.

    ¡°Oh, hey, you two!¡±

    He turned his head to see Mia waving at them. She was the one who¡¯d welcomed him inside, asking questions about Sasha until the moment when they¡¯d stepped into the basement. Jack wasn¡¯t exactly sure what the deal was, but she seemed nice regardless.

    ¡°Mind if we sit here?¡± he asked. Sasha was already settling down on the bench before Mia could say yes, though it wasn¡¯t commented on as he was offered a plate within seconds. ¡°Meat, some kind of vegetable, and¡­ what¡¯s this?¡±

    ¡°Rockbuds,¡± Mia offered, smiling when he just looked at her with confusion. The name didn''t exactly fit the hard, brown things. ¡°They¡¯re a dark gray when unboiled, which they get their name from. You have to remove the shell with your knife and then eat the insides. Surprisingly sweet, if you¡¯ve never tried them before.¡±

    Jack couldn¡¯t say he had, carefully avoiding burning his finger as he figured out how to properly remove the shell of the vegetable. That it had such a hard shell, which did somewhat feel like a rock, was incredibly strange to him, but he didn¡¯t question it too much when he finally opened it up.

    The inside looked much more recognizable, feeling and looking like a green orange. Didn¡¯t taste like one, tasting closer to an apple while still retaining the consistency of the former. A¡­ strange combination, if Jack was being honest, but it wasn¡¯t exactly terrible.

    ¡°Where do I get more?¡± Sasha asked when she finished her plate before Jack was halfway through his own. Mia pointed to the kitchen on the other side of the room, mouth full and unable to answer with words, which didn¡¯t seem to matter to the fighter as she immediately rose to her feet and walked over to get more to eat.

    Beating people senselessly must form some mighty appetite.

    He¡¯d had something like it, back in the day of his peak physical fitness. Base training did that to people, with days of training without respite. It built muscle, built a stomach ready to consume whatever was served, and formed a void inside him that allowed Jack to eat whatever he wished for two years without putting on a single gram.

    How he wished for that metabolism again sometimes. Without the physical movement, of course.

    ¡°So¡­ are you two together?¡± Mia asked, just as Jack tried to swallow a piece of meat. The question made him try to take in air, instantly causing him to cough as his body did its best to stop a possible choking emergency. ¡°Oh, did I hit a nerve?¡±

    ¡°Just bad timing on your end,¡± Jack squeezed out, feeling at his throat as some part of it ached from the experience. Looking over, he made sure Sasha was still busy making the people in the kitchen only give her the parts she wanted. It was going to take some time, by the looks of it. ¡°And, no, we¡¯re not together. I¡¯m not really interested in that kind of stuff.¡±

    ¡°... Is she?¡±

    His eyebrows rose just a little. Mia smiled back.

    ¡°We all want a little danger in our lives,¡± she reasoned, before glancing over at the danger in question. ¡°She fits the criteria, if you get what I mean.¡±

    ¡°Right, yes, of course,¡± Jack replied, not getting it at all. Was he the crazy one for not feeling any kind of attraction for the woman? Were they not seeing the dried blood flakes on her knuckles? That was both a very clear sign of what she could do and it was incredibly unhygienic to eat without washing that off. ¡°And... maybe? I don¡¯t know. Never thought to ask.¡±

    ¡°Ah, a shame. I¡¯ll let the thoughts rest then.¡±

    Jack made the decision to not question whatever that meant, as the others at the table looked on amused. Especially that bearded fellow at the end who sent him a smile when their eyes met. Wasn¡¯t that the Chronomancer guy that Sasha had talked about? Jas? Cassy? Cas? One of those was probably right.

    The topic wasn¡¯t brought up again, as they all finished their lunch they returned to their own tasks for the day. Mia and the others went back upstairs to continue meeting customers, Sasha went back into the ring to beat another person within an inch of their life, and Jack settled back down to hopefully figure out a design that would work for him.

    He¡¯d gotten the main shape of the cartridge down since morning, already having a width that worked perfectly for his Makarov knock-off, but figuring out the primer was taking its time. That slight indent at the back of the cartridge was such a headache to do evenly, but he was getting close. With a bit of improvisation, Jack was able to spend an hour finally getting an even shape that wouldn¡¯t curse him forevermore. The primer was still a headache in the way that it needed a different material than the rest, but it was such a small part that he barely needed to spend Mana on it before he had it looking like he wanted it to.

    Within another hour, he had it. The entire process had taken him since the early morning and had caused its fair share of headaches, but he had it now. A single cartridge that he could feel happy about, and one that would fit his new pistol once he got that put together properly.

    No single-shot disasters after tomorrow.

    Jack was still moping about what had happened in the Dungeon, though he didn¡¯t let the others know. Standing before a giant spider of all things, one with such a disgusting fish head had made his heart stop until the very second he¡¯d pulled the trigger and shot at the beast. He still smiled about how close his aim had been to the target area, hitting it in the top of the throat instead of the head directly. A serious wound, though not one that had killed it instantly.

    If he¡¯d had another shot to fire then, he would have probably downed it with how close it got to him. Yet he wasn¡¯t given that privilege, that single shot being all he¡¯d been ready for, the monster able to jump him a moment later without him being able to do anything.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Those needle teeth¡­ he couldn¡¯t remember the sensation as well anymore, but the sounds he made when it tore through his side were certainly ringing in his ears. And that feeling of muscles being torn was definitely something he wouldn¡¯t forget for the rest of his life.

    But the focus of that experience, the only thing he could remember thinking about, was his own failings with his weapon. He¡¯d been too slow to improve, and when the time had come he hadn¡¯t been able to perform.

    That weakness would be a thing of the past real soon. With this in his hand, and the recoil of a bullet fired being more than enough to incorporate a self-loading mechanism in the new pistol, a second shot toward an enemy would be a single trigger pull away.

    This isn¡¯t what I¡¯m meant to be thinking about, though, is it?

    Jack could remember how he¡¯d been back when the fragments had pierced through his leg. While he liked to act like he¡¯d toughened it out, he¡¯d been a mess on the ground. Tears had flowed, whimpers had been made, and it hadn¡¯t stopped when the pain had disappeared from the ketamine. It had taken days for him to be semi-functioning when interacting with others, weeks for him to be seen as normal, and months for him not to have random bouts of silence.

    Yet right now? It¡¯d barely been 18 hours since a giant spider with an eel head had bitten into his side and tried to tear him apart, and yet his biggest issue with it all was the fact his gun wasn¡¯t good enough. Jack had tried to reason that it was because of shock, that he was just having a delayed reaction to the trauma, yet time passed and¡­ he felt none the worse for wear.

    Annoyed? Like you wouldn¡¯t believe. Scared to go back down into the Dungeon and try again? Quite the opposite! His hands didn¡¯t tremble at the thought of facing a creature like that again, his mind didn¡¯t remind him of the pain suffered by the teeth of the monster, and there were no lines of thought in the back of his head, scared about what could happen if it all messed up.

    He felt little to no fear. Nothing more serious than what he would experience when going to a dark kitchen for a late-night snack.

    And that isn¡¯t normal.

    Abnormal to the highest degree. The signs of trauma, of fear, of being so close to death weren''t there. Jack felt like he normally did and nothing more than that. He was handling this too well.

    It was such a serious shift from before entering into this world that he knew that this place had changed something in him. Maybe it was the Mana, or maybe the journey to another reality had caused some serious form of brain damage, but his reaction to danger had been altered significantly. It¡¯d been stunted to the extreme, and he was beginning to wonder what would happen if that ever changed.

    If his previous self, if the man that hid when the toaster made a weird noise, appeared again, would Jack be able to handle all of this? Would the reality finally settle in? Would he crumble together like he was supposed to do?

    God, I hope not.

    ¡°Best bomb to make on a short notice¡­¡± Jack muttered to himself, as he was forced to move away from fiddling with the pistol and distract himself with something else. The cartridge was as good as done, now needing a mold to be copied over again and again, and the other parts for the new gun would require some tools at the smithy to make. ¡°So much for Transmutation if you can¡¯t do it all by hand.¡±

    Pulling out his last empty bottle, he grabbed some sand from the ground and sent a command to his Core. It responded instantly like it was expecting the word before he could even formulate it.

    Channeling of [Transmute Powder] has been activated! Current cost: 14MP/sec

    So high.

    With a capacity of around 400MP nowadays, he could slowly transform the sand into a mix of saltpeter, normal sugar, some of the easier moderators, and, finally, some bright-pink dye. A recipe for disaster in the wrong hands, Jack remembering making something like it when he was younger. Only¡­ back then he hadn¡¯t been able to find it all in its pure form, substituting too much and getting a reduced effect in return.

    He didn¡¯t suffer from that weakness now, and he allowed himself to bring out a small fuse that he inserted into the top of the bottle before putting on the cork beside it. Hopefully, none of it would spill.

    Jack looked up from his work as he heard a grunt of pain leave the latest victim, a larger woman with plenty of muscle yet without the ability to deal with Sasha¡¯s hits completely. A cheap shot to the liver made him wince, though the larger woman¡¯s instant swing towards Sasha¡¯s made him worry.

    Only for an instant, though, as he remembered why she was up there to begin with.

    A shout of confusion left the woman when her fist reached Sasha¡¯s head and instantly stopped, the smaller of the two looking on unamused before using the momentary shock to deliver another devastating hit and get the opponent on the ground.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted,¡± Sasha commented, not sparing the other fighter a glance as she removed the cloth around the lower part of her arms. ¡°Get ready to leave.¡±

    Jack blinked when he realized those words were meant for him, no looks given to the woman in the ring.

    ¡°What? Why?¡± he asked, but Sasha didn¡¯t answer as she pulled off the training outfit and got into her normal getup. ¡°Aleksi isn¡¯t here yet. We were meant to wait for him until he got here. Hey, we are not doing what we did¡ª¡±

    The lights in the corners of the room began blinking, changing between white and red every second. The hulk of a woman in the ring cursed at the light, understanding something Jack wasn¡¯t.

    ¡°Pay attention for once,¡± Sasha muttered, looking up at the ceiling. Jack did the same, frowning when he was able to see through the wood and spot a deep blue-and-purple aura looking back at him.

    Or, well, not just him. It was looking at everybody, the massive presence spread out in search. An Aura of that size¡­ Jack didn¡¯t fully comprehend whatever was required to reach that level of power. When he tried, he could make his own press out of his skin by about a finger-width, but this was dozens of meters. What was a person like this doing here?

    The door into the other room with the stairs to the ground floor flew open, Mia nearly barrelling into Sasha who was already heading for it.

    ¡°You two!¡± Mia said, eyes wide and cheeks red. ¡°With me now! The Madame says we need to hurry.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s up there?¡± Sasha asked, not sounding nearly as stressed but following regardless. They went into the other room but walked by the stairs in favor of going through a tight hallway instead. ¡°A threat?¡±

    ¡°To this establishment? Probably not, even if they¡¯re searching through the place without regard for laws of any kind,¡± Mia answered, muttering as she tried to remember where to go in the tight hallway. Jack wasn¡¯t a fan of the lackluster lighting, barely able to see where the other two were going. ¡°To you two? Yes. They had drawings of your faces, asking everybody if they¡¯d seen you. Nobody said anything, but the Royal Mage they¡¯ve got with them is getting weirdly close to the basement stairs. The Madame doesn¡¯t want to risk your lives by trusting them to follow the letter of the law, so you have to leave before they catch you.¡±

    They reached a ladder by the time she was done talking, Mia climbing up first and Sasha coming up with her a moment later. Jack went last, barely able to see what he was meant to hold onto before a stream of light came from above. A hatch door had been opened up, the rays of the sun hitting his face.

    Getting all the way up revealed an alleyway one street over from the brothel. It was filled with garbage, the trash piled up around them to make the hatch door invisible to those who didn¡¯t already know of its existence.

    ¡°I can¡¯t lead you back myself, but you can wear these for now,¡± Mia said, handing them both hooded robes. The one for Jack was a little too small, but it would have to do for now. ¡°Don¡¯t go into the main streets, don¡¯t run but don¡¯t walk too slowly either. Act like you¡¯ve walked this route a thousand times before. Do you both understand?¡±

    ¡°Obviously,¡± Sasha replied, the fighter sending a glance towards the brothel which Jack mirrored. Guards were leaving the establishment already. ¡°So long.¡±

    And then she left, Jack mouthing a goodbye to the other woman before taking a few quick steps to catch up. They left the alley in seconds, taking a sharp left and joining the dispersing crowd that had gathered as a reaction to the sudden guard presence.

    ¡°What do you think made them realize we were there?¡± Jack whispered as they left the street a minute later, going down an alley to avoid the larger crowds. No reason to randomly meet a patrol that remembers their faces.

    ¡°Maybe it was your lack of ability to keep quiet,¡± Sasha replied.

    He got the message and shut up for the rest of the way. While they did see guards, some wearing different insignias on their shoulders from the normal ones, none looked their way. Most seemed outright bored, standing around without keeping watch of whoever passed them by.

    Within twenty minutes, they were back at the shop, going through the unlocked front door and seeing Aleksi¡¯s face of shock when his eyes met theirs.

    ¡°Sorry, Lea, but I just remembered that we ran out of ointment last week,¡± the giant told the lady standing by the counter. ¡°If you come back tomorrow, Elijah should have been able to make a new batch. You can even get a discount since you just reminded me of it.¡±

    That worked flawlessly, and the old lady left without complaint before Aleksi walked over and locked the door. Every curtain was pulled, every window avoided, and it was only when they stood inside the laboratory that the giant spoke again.

    ¡°What happened?¡±

    He was serious, all nonchalance dropped as the face of a hardened warrior looked down at them.

    ¡°Guards flooded into the brothel along with a Royal Mage,¡± Sasha replied, Aleksi¡¯s eyes darkening as he continued to listen. ¡°They had posters of our faces, asking around for information. The Mage was also approaching the stairs into the basement, so they likely knew of our precise location.¡±

    ¡°... Shit,¡± the giant cursed, eyes moving across the laboratory. ¡°Great time to do it, hours before Elijah returns, though¡­ if he could help with this, I can¡¯t say. Did you learn the name of the Royal Mage?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Sasha said, eliciting another curse from the man.

    ¡°They had a massive blue-purplish Aura if that helps,¡± Jack supplied. ¡°Felt like it had eyes.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any clues on the Auras of the Royal Mages, so that can¡¯t help us much at the moment,¡± Aleksi replied, taking a few seconds to think. ¡°If whatever method they used to find you is one-time-use, they won¡¯t find you here. If it¡¯s continuous, they¡¯ll find you no matter if you stay here or leave for another hiding place. A Mana-Dense place like the Dungeon could muddle the usual tracking spells that I know about, but there¡¯s no way to enter that place by ourselves. The¡­ yeah, I¡¯ll bring Elijah into this. I¡¯m walking over and bringing him here. In the meantime, the two of you are hiding in the basement.¡±

    ¡°And if they break into the shop to find us?¡± Sasha asked.

    ¡°You have robes and I hope you still know how to escape through the window like you¡¯ve done before,¡± came the answer, a quick chuckle coming from the giant. ¡°I¡¯ll trust you to conceal the entrance yourselves. Stay safe, please.¡±

    Just like that, he was gone out of the back door, and the duo was left to their own devices once again.

    Jack wasn¡¯t sure how to feel about that fact.

 Chapter 59: The Academy

    ¡°That¡¯s not good,¡± Elijah muttered as Aleksi finished explaining his presence in the castle. The giant nodded at the words, before looking at Vera and Harper warily. ¡°They know our past, about the two idiots, and they¡¯re willing to help.¡±

    ¡°He knows some of our secrets as well, so it evens out into us being allied,¡± Vera supplied, Aleksi looking at Elijah who just shrugged. It wasn¡¯t a lie, and nobody felt comfortable going into more detail in a place like this. Even with Harper keeping them shrouded, magical ears had a way of poking through anyway. ¡°Can you repeat what the Aura of the Royal Mage looked like?¡±

    ¡°Purple and blue, along with the feeling of it looking at you,¡± Aleksi repeated. ¡°One of the kids also said it was massive, though he wasn¡¯t too specific about it.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± the Princess assured him, Vera looking into the open air for a moment before turning to Harper. ¡°Color somewhat fits Poul, Tina, Rubeus, and Amanda. They¡¯re all powerful enough to be seen as massive, but none of them focus on anything tracking-related.¡±

    One of those names triggered Elijah¡¯s senses.

    ¡°Rubeus Hayes, the Arcane Mage?¡± he asked, drawing attention back to himself.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Vera confirmed. ¡°You know him?¡±

    ¡°An old friend¡¯s daughter is his apprentice,¡± Elijah explained. ¡°She forced me to meet him after I unsealed my Core. He was able to analyze my magical abilities rather effectively.¡±

    ¡°The Affinities that directly interact with the Arcane all have those capabilities, though I do remember Hayes having a particular skill within that field,¡± the Princess corrected, though her own words made her reconsider her position. Then she smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this little alliance of ours to bear fruit so quickly. Our target might¡¯ve just revealed himself.¡±

    The administrator of the Academy, and second-in-command for all Royal Mages, was the source of their troubles? Elijah should¡¯ve guessed.

    ¡°If he has the ability to know their location from anywhere in the city, I need your help in hiding them,¡± he told the Princess.

    ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be a problem in the short-term, since I already reserved the royal meeting rooms for the rest of the day,¡± Vera replied. She clicked her tongue afterward, however. ¡°I¡¯m starting to realize how little I know of that man¡¯s research. Do we have anything regarding Hayes¡¯ research in the reports?¡±

    ¡°Very little, Your Highness,¡± Harper replied. ¡°It was considered a low priority, as his main focus was allegedly administrating the Academy. Should I investigate to see if there¡¯s anything suspicious?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d rather if you were to bring his two targets to the castle,¡± Elijah cut in before Vera could answer. ¡°While I like to think myself discreet, bringing those two inside without a hundred eyes seeing them would be impossible. For somebody who can turn herself and others invisible, however, it should be no trouble at all. And, in the meanwhile, I can figure out more about the Royal Mage for you.¡±

    ¡°You?¡± Vera repeated, sounding doubtful of that fact.

    ¡°Me,¡± he confirmed undeterred. ¡°As I said, his apprentice is a good friend of mine. She would not mind a small chat.¡±

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    ¡­

    ¡°Fine,¡± the Princess relented. ¡°Harper, go fetch the two targets from their basement. Berserker, you¡¯re following me back to the meeting rooms. And, Elijah, I trust you not to mess this up.¡±

    Comforting words, to which he offered no response before they split up. Harper was off without a trace, the Princess went off with Aleksi without some level of discreteness, and Elijah casually walked down the entry hall of the castle, leaving the grounds and moving towards the Academy.

    Truthfully, he¡¯d never been to this part of the city. Not just because he didn¡¯t want to mingle with Mages with superiority complexes, but also because it was settled in the northern corner of the upper-class district. It was almost the direct opposite side of where his shop sat, and the area was filled with shops that had price tags a hundred times higher than the most expensive medication he personally sold.

    Yet Elijah wasn¡¯t here to splurge, so how did that matter? Instead, he focused on trying to understand the system of where everything was located, as the Mages seemed to have moved away from the standard street layout which the rest of the city respected. The streets curved in loops, some going nowhere while others seemed to climb upwards without ever increasing their altitude. A form of magic was behind it, surely, but Elijah could only grit his teeth and be annoyed at the idiocy of the display.

    Asking some of the students for directions, the young folk with their light-blue robes were easy to flag down. They seemed rather uneasy about giving him the information, but his own Affinity alongside his emblem calmed them enough to tell the truth.

    ¡°Just go inside there, get onto the seventh floor, and walk straight down the hall until you see his nameplate by one of the larger doors,¡± the student said, pointing towards one of the buildings that were no more than two floors tall. ¡°Impossible to miss.¡±

    That earnesty in his voice, alongside how none of the others seemed to question the words, made Elijah accept that at face value. That he had to show off the emblem to be allowed entry made him trust it even more, along with moving stairs that carried him to his desired floor.

    In strong contradiction to what he¡¯d seen on the street, he very much reached the seventh floor of the two-story building. As much as he dreaded saying those words, he had to admit the truth.

    It¡¯s bigger on the inside.

    As long as it didn¡¯t mess with time, Elijah would keep his calm.

    He walked down the hallway, seeing the nameplates and faces of the various Royal Mages. He recognized very few of them, only one or two ever being mentioned around him. Not too surprising, as they were not known for their public appearances. They were advisors, researchers, and, for the oldest who still kept their position, warriors in times of war. A few who had that last title were known, Alin being the most recognizable among them.

    As he reached the name, and finally located Rubeus¡¯ room, however, he noted that the Earth Mage didn¡¯t possess one on this floor. Was he located a floor above perhaps?

    Something to ask at a later time, Elijah thought, as he knocked on the Arcane Mage¡¯s door. Three quick taps, before he waited a few seconds. He could see that it was unlocked, but he at least wanted to give those inside a chance to appear.

    And that they did, a confused Grace opening the door before a bright smile appeared on her face.

    ¡°Elijah,¡± she exclaimed, closing the distance and hugging him tightly. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you here! Did you get lost or something?¡±

    ¡°If you think I could ever find this door by chance, you have grown too used to the chaotic mess of a street layout in this district,¡± Elijah replied, his thoughts showing a little too much as Grace laughed at his misfortune. ¡°Would you mind if I come in? With how many steps it took to get here, I would not mind somewhere to sit for a few minutes.¡±

    ¡°Ah! Well, I¡¯m not really supposed to let others in, but¡­ the Royal Healer should be an exception, shouldn¡¯t he?¡± Grace said, giving him another quick hug before guiding him to one of the workshop chairs.

 Chapter 60: The Lives of Others

    ¡°I didn¡¯t get to congratulate you on that, by the way!¡± Grace mentioned as he sat down. ¡°Alin told Rubeus about it yesterday afternoon, and I could scarcely believe it. Here I thought you wanted a ¡®quiet life.¡¯¡±

    ¡°I would still prefer a ¡®quiet life,¡¯ thank you,¡± he assured her, declining the offer for tea and food. They already apparently had an entire stock of things to eat and drink inside the laboratory, as both Grace and her mentor were not known for leaving the room for anything other than sleep. And even that was sometimes skipped. ¡°The position was mainly dropped on me, more than anything else.¡±

    ¡°You weren¡¯t forced into it, I hope.¡±

    ¡°Not outright, no,¡± Elijah said, Grace worried. ¡°I noticed in the contract that the position would grant me permanent immunity towards all dealings with the Academy, including having to be registered on their list of Mages. If anybody is to ever discover my absence on the registries, it¡¯ll be a non-issue and nothing will be done against me.¡±

    ¡°Smart,¡± Grace replied. ¡°I¡¯m happy to know being discovered isn¡¯t a fear anymore then.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s quite the relief,¡± he confirmed, looking over at the table beside him. On it were various schematics, though it also included some rather strange goggles. ¡°Is this yours?¡±

    ¡°Oh, please be careful with those!¡± Grace instantly said, up from her seat before he could blink as she took the goggles from him. ¡°I was just able to get them working again last night. Rubeus wouldn¡¯t be happy if I broke them a second time this week.¡±

    ¡°What are they?¡±

    ¡°Half of my thesis,¡± she explained. ¡°Mainly used to test the other half, which is sitting over there.¡±

    She pointed towards a metal box on another table. It had countless holes on the sides, made in a spiral fashion that traveled across the entire surface. Beautiful, though it was the sigils flowing between them that Elijah was interested in.

    ¡°The main idea about my thesis is to use nothing but Wind Magic to transform one person¡¯s voice into another¡¯s,¡± Grace said, fiddling with the goggles before a click was heard, and a soft blue light began to leave the lenses. ¡°A simple concept, and one that¡¯s often seen with people able to use Illusions, but using only normal sound¡­ the extra pushes given by other Affinities don¡¯t carry over to pure Wind.¡±

    After making him promise to be careful, he was given back the goggles. They were adjusted for his head before slowly being put over his eyes. It took a moment for Elijah to adjust to the light that came through them, but his pupils widened and the numbers and waves that flew by rapidly began to settle down.

    ¡°What is¡ª oh,¡± Elijah began to ask but stopped once he realized how much his own voice influenced the numbers, the waves likewise multiplying and passing about in different frequencies. The information was seemingly endless in its depth. ¡°These are sound waves?¡±

    ¡°In a simplified view to make them easier to work with for beginners, but, yes, that¡¯s what you¡¯re seeing,¡± Grace confirmed, smiling as Elijah paused to inspect how different the waves were when she spoke. ¡°Amazing, isn¡¯t it? Took six months of study to make it show something that made sense, and even that was when Rubeus helped me with the interface.¡±

    Elijah couldn¡¯t help but agree, though the amount of things flying around his vision made him take the goggles off within a minute or so. The headache that came from using them was unreal.

    ¡°I¡¯m using this to calibrate the second half of my thesis, though¡­ that¡¯s not going as well as I had hoped,¡± she said, waving a hand toward the rest of her work area. On the chalkboards, the papers that were strewn across the tables, and even in small notes on various objects, calculations could be seen. Formulas with arrows towards other formulas, half-translated to the magical sigils that were then crossed out or wiped away before they could be finished. ¡°It is possible in theory, Rubeus is sure of that, but translating one voice into another¡¯s, and making the tone and speed believable, is probably going to require incorporating a quick-time neural net at the start of each use, which is fed a sample list of lines from both participants before we can then¡­ Right, sorry, I know that look. Got a bit too into it there.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no, it¡¯s fine,¡± Elijah assured the younger Mage, seeing how she deflated at the end. Too used to people that didn¡¯t want to or had the time to listen, he guessed. ¡°Please, do continue. If I want to learn a bit of the craft myself, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to listen to somebody with a few more years of experience.¡±

    ¡°Me having something to teach you something? Alright, fine. If you want to hear the long explanation, you¡¯re going to get it,¡± Grace said, laughing at the thought of her being his senior in anything. ¡°So, the basic idea is around the concept of decomposing a multivariable complex function into a long series of smaller functions which we can manipulate much easier.¡±

    As she continued with her explanation, where Elijah understood most of the words but not the way they were put together, he kept nodding along, asking questions where he thought they were needed. Most of it honestly went over his head, the mathematical approach that was required to move the magic over to the sigil framework being one of the biggest issues for him, the fundamentals did resonate with him.

    And, before either of them knew it, ten minutes had passed without Grace seemingly drawing breath, words flowing without end and respite. Sentences became one, and Elijah almost thought two voices were talking at once at some point, as several subjects became entangled into one big mess that somehow made a sliver of sense.

    Somewhat, at least. Those five years of pure theory work couldn¡¯t be skipped past with just a load of common sense and age, sadly, so much of it was still outside of his grasp.

    ¡°And¡­ yeah, that¡¯s the starting idea on how this works,¡± Grace said, taking a deep breath when she finally slowed down. ¡°That monstrosity takes a lot of inspiration for it, but¡­ the inner workings are using another framework as it needs to both take in sound and output a transformed version continually. I¡¯m going to be spending at least a few hours explaining that one to whoever is unlucky enough to hear my presentation on it, so I think we can save that one for another day.¡±

    ¡°What a shame,¡± Elijah commented, looking at the time. It would be best if he began to make his move within the next few minutes. ¡°Is your mentor working on something at a similar level of complexity? I must say that most of this space is looking to be occupied by your writing and very little of his.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, we did have to rearrange a lot of things to make the chalkboards fit,¡± she admitted. ¡°But, no, he¡¯s still working on his own projects as well. A lot of projects, honestly, so very little is actually in here.¡±

    She walked over and showed off some of the Arcane Mage¡¯s schematics. Some looked rather close to the goggles that Grace still had in her hand, which he was quick to point out.

    ¡°Well¡­ I might¡¯ve taken a bit of inspiration,¡± Grace said, going over to one of the taller shelves and taking some glasses that had been collecting dust. Wiping off the worst parts with her shirt, she handed them to Elijah. ¡°Slowly put these on.¡±

    ¡°Why slowly?¡± he asked, looking at the glasses. The frames were slightly larger than normal reading glasses, but they were otherwise entirely normal-looking.

    ¡°If you get a headache from my goggles, these are going to give you migraines for days if you¡¯re careless,¡± she explained, restating that he also needed to be careful when holding them as it would be rather embarrassing to have those break as well.

    Slowly.

    Doing as asked, he carefully put on the glasses, first having his eyes half-closed before steadily opening them up and looking through the lenses.

    As multi-colored light worthy of being called suns overpowered him, he knew he should¡¯ve been slower. The headache from before blossomed into new heights, and he could only feel regret as he swiftly removed the magical item and handed it over to Grace who was fully prepared for it.

    ¡°If you¡¯re not one of the people with very sensitive Magical Senses already, it can be a bit much,¡± she explained, when Elijah was able to get back to thinking properly. ¡°This was meant to take the natural senses of Mages a step further, increasing our¡­ I think he called it tolerance? It allows residue, the mildest traces of Mana, to be shown off in their full glory. Our normal senses usually work in averages, tricking us into seeing a view that isn¡¯t all accurate and doesn¡¯t allow for as much nuance as we would like at the higher levels.¡±

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°So the answer to that is to blast people with enough light to make their eyes burn out?¡± Elijah questioned, to which she laughed.

    ¡°No, it is not, and Rubeus wasn¡¯t happy about these back when he finished them a few months ago,¡± Grace confessed, explaining how that was why she¡¯d been allowed to take so much inspiration from them while also getting plenty of help to make her own version of the glasses. ¡°The problem was that these increased the strength of everything, which can be useful in some circumstances but wasn¡¯t good enough for a paper to be written. Instead, he started working on something that could change the spectrum it allowed the wearer to see, along with enhancing it as much as possible.¡±

    There it is.

    ¡°And the end product of that research?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Never finished it, sadly,¡± she said. ¡°He was very close to figuring out how to make a Ritual that could allow him to see residue from a specific Mana-Signature not long ago, but then the theoretical costs apparently got too high and he felt it wasn¡¯t worth it. The other side-project he started instead is these smaller gizmos which he hopes can be used for long-range communication. They¡¯re currently only stable a few meters away, but that¡¯s due to some interference he¡¯s hoping to isolate and remove within the next few days when he gets time to be in here again.¡±

    She went on, explaining other side projects strewn around his work area, but Elijah didn¡¯t care much for them. He¡¯d gotten his answer, the revelation that he needed to hear. The Royal Mage was able to track a specific type of Mana Signature in the literal sense, seeing it in the air and then following the trail along.

    Or maybe it had improved more than Grace had been told. Elijah couldn¡¯t say, though he knew he would soon find out.

    ¡°On the topic of flying disks, I was actually hoping to go by your shop this evening,¡± Grace mentioned, catching his attention once more. ¡°Mom¡¯s been a little out of it, with everything that¡¯s been happening, so I was hoping to stop by and get something that might calm her down to help her sleep better.¡±

    ¡°That¡­ should not be a problem,¡± Elijah replied, weighing the possibilities in his head. ¡°I was actually planning to go there in a few minutes. If you¡¯re done with your current work, we could go now.¡±

    ¡°Oh, great! Just give me a second to pack things together.¡±

    Various books, papers, and pencils were thrown into her bag within the minute, and the two were out of the laboratory in record time. Grace locked the door with practiced ease and out the building they went, their pace high while chatting about various smaller topics. Nothing serious, mainly being about her starting experiences with her Affinity and other related subjects.

    ¡°I really should¡¯ve been able to use Wind Magic already, but what can you do?¡± she commented, as they turned the street and left behind the Academy¡¯s area. Elijah could tell as much by the fact that the buildings started to make sense again. ¡°So many years of messing around, and I¡¯m still not closer to doing more than a small sub-domain.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll figure it out eventually,¡± Elijah promised. ¡°We¡¯ve all got some things that are harder to learn than others.¡±

    ¡°Like you and working with anything other than plants?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Plant Manipulation, the sub-field within Biomancy?¡± Grace tried again, making Elijah falter in his steps. They slowed a little, as his confusion became noticeable and her eyes widened. ¡°No, don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t know!¡±

    ¡°Please elaborate,¡± he requested, as her laughter at his misfortune grew. People were starting to look their way at her voice, the muttering starting up in full. ¡°And keep your voice down, please.¡±

    ¡°Right, sorry, it¡¯s just¡ª Oh, I really need to ask Rubeus about getting you another book or two,¡± she relented, apologizing a few more times while she got her breathing under control. ¡°But, well, Plant Manipulation is one of several domains within Biomancy. Not everything that has to do with biological matter is restricted to plants. We are made of organic material as well, you know? Skin, organs, our brains, they¡¯re all made of some smaller components that you can manipulate, just like how you can manipulate plant cells. Not individually, of course, since that would be far beyond any Biomancer¡¯s capabilities, but you can definitely swap them when they¡¯re grouped together.¡±

    She listed off several more sub-domains, Plant Manipulation and Flesh Manipulation and Fungi Manipulation only being the start. There was also the matter of Shapeshifting, which was adjacent to all three main fields before it then moved over to more serious topics like Life Creation focused on forming life without anything but Mana to start out with.

    Elijah was shocked, to be honest. Hearing her rattle off the various achievements of the old Biomancers in the Era of Legends made him feel like he was withering away. The grand achievements he¡¯d heard were the ability of a group of Biomancers to grow an entire field within a day, to enhance the properties of herbs and plants, to use them more effectively in recipes, and to evolve and alter the plant life already present. To move outside of that, to move over to flesh alteration, was something he would¡¯ve never considered.

    Yet, as he thought about it more, the Tier 2 Spell he had learned several days ago had been given the name Animal Bond. At the time, he had thought of it as a way to simply separate the scale of depth it gave as opposed to the Tier 1 Plant Bond since he could use both while working with the seeds he grew, but now it was becoming more clear to him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look so dejected, Elijah! We¡¯ve all got some things that are harder to learn than others,¡± Grace said, repeating the mantra he¡¯d given her not many minutes ago. ¡°And, just to be fair, not all Biomancers can even do half of those things. The Shapeshifting is mostly done by the elven druids or the shamanic tribes, Flesh Manipulation isn¡¯t really popular at all as a main focus since it has such high requirements, Fungus Manipulation is mostly for underground races that never see the sun, and Life Creation is¡­ well, I don¡¯t actually know of anybody who¡¯s done that in a non-laboratory setting. It¡¯s probably the hardest one of them all since it requires so much Mana to do. Still, you shouldn¡¯t be hard on yourself for not knowing all of this. I only know of it because I looked it all up in the library when you revealed your Affinity to me.¡±

    That made him consider his chances. What was the possibility of him learning anything outside of this field he¡¯d already grown up in? What were the chances he would spend many years learning the druidic arts of Shapeshifting, since it was something those with his Affinity could technically perform? The alteration of Fungi was something he would probably look into when he got the chance since it didn¡¯t seem too far away from his current work, yet everything else would likely be forever out of his reach. It was simply too complicated and too demanding in terms of Mana, both of those factors not being able to be improved on too much.

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he gave in, accepting the claps on his shoulder without complaint. ¡°I don¡¯t believe I would find too much use in the other subdomains anyhow. I can¡¯t imagine transforming into a dog and enjoying the experience.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯d be a dog, honestly. You¡¯re too pessimistic for that,¡± Grace commented, Elijah staring her down. ¡°Oh, a cat would fit you well, wouldn¡¯t it? The one that lives close to the inn always gives me that Look of Death when I don¡¯t give her food in the morning.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t liken me to that fat ball of fur,¡± he ordered, but the thought was already deeply rooted inside the Wind Mage¡¯s mind. Whether he wanted to or not, the next many minutes were spent with Grace trying to figure out what kind of animal fit him or not. He was granted the privilege of being an owl, a crow, and, she couldn¡¯t stress it enough, ¡®one of the thorny houseplants that didn¡¯t stop being dramatic.¡¯

    It¡¯s just impossible to stop with this overly descriptive nonsense.

    ¡°Really, though, you have to come by and help me with my plants sometime,¡± Grace said, losing a bit of steam after a few more minutes. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to get them a bit further away from death, but they just can¡¯t stop drying up and having the leaves fall off. It wasn¡¯t a problem during the winter, since they¡¯re meant to do that, but they haven¡¯t been looking too good even when it¡¯s summer.

    ¡°... Not all the leaves are meant to fall off when they¡¯re kept indoors,¡± Elijah replied, relatively sure she meant the small chili plants that he¡¯d grown for her last year. They¡¯d been very small then, but healthy enough that she should¡¯ve been able to care for them easily regardless. ¡°How often do you water them?¡±

    ¡°Uhm, like, every other week?¡± she answered after a moment of thought. ¡°Maybe it takes a bit longer for me to do it sometimes, but I still give them plenty of sun! My room¡¯s like an orangery during the day now, so that must be helping them.¡±

    Not everybody had the green fingers for keeping the green lives intact, but Elijah had to wonder if some people just had a subconscious vendetta about killing any plants they touched. A person who could spend hours talking about the internal mechanics of transforming voices without any hardship should¡¯ve been able to care for a chili plant easily, yet here they were.

    ¡°I think I might have to buy you a book explaining how to tend a garden because the last decade-and-a-half of explaining it all verbally must not have sunk into your skull right,¡± Elijah said, Grace looking a little sheepish before looking around and realizing how close they were to the shop. Just a turn around a corner, and then that was everything needed to see the shop entrance.

    Elijah tried not to show it, as he inspected the windows and door for any signs of damage. He did breathe out slowly when he saw nothing, no fractures or broken locks obvious. Neither were the windows on the second floor broken or opened up, assuring him that nobody questionable had gotten inside without his notice.

    Except for a certain Illusionist, hopefully. She¡¯d been given Elijah¡¯s key for the back door, so she should¡¯ve been able to get in and out rather easily.

    Or maybe not too easily, as the locks weren¡¯t working as they should yet again. Even when he put the key inside, it refused to open properly unless shaken in just the right way. Elijah personally blamed the humidity, yet he was forced to mentally note down the need to contact a locksmith very soon. It wouldn¡¯t do good to be unable to enter his own home, when¡ª

    ¡°Oh my! What are the odds?¡±

    As he got back up from wrangling the door lock into submission, Elijah froze. The voice, the note of surprise from Grace, and that flash of purple robes. The Royal Mage had arrived.

 Chapter 61: A Line of Tension.

    ¡°Sir, I didn¡¯t know you were in this part of the city!¡± Grace exclaimed, watching as her mentor approached casually. ¡°Weren¡¯t you meant to be meeting with the council to discuss the new quarterly budgeting?¡±

    ¡°Originally, yes, but a few of the others got pulled away due to an emergency,¡± Rubeus explained without pause. ¡°Somebody forgot to follow the safety rules while experimenting with a self-replicating mud elemental, and they had to get it all under control before anything else, so the meeting got delayed until tomorrow. And¡­ In the meantime, I went to the castle to try and congratulate a certain man for reaching the position of Royal Healer, but he wasn¡¯t anywhere to be found.¡±

    Elijah glanced at the people who had stopped close by, listening in on the Royal Mage¡¯s words. This wasn¡¯t going too well.

    ¡°Ah, sorry, I know that look,¡± Rubeus said in a much quieter voice. ¡°Do you mind if we go inside? I would prefer not to have the old ladies talking even more than they¡¯re going to now.¡±

    I¡¯d prefer it if you just left.

    Even if it was subtle, and even if Grace hadn¡¯t spotted it yet, he could see the slight glimmer in the Mage¡¯s eyes. That flash of purple and blue matched his regular Aura well, but it was still distinct enough for him to see the difference, the coloring darker than the rest, and he had little doubts about why it was there.

    ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡± Elijah lied, opening the door and letting the two others walk inside before entering alongside them. He closed it afterward, locking it once again and hoping nobody would dwell too long on it. ¡°I can make tea if you¡¯d like.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the offer, but I won¡¯t be staying here too long,¡± the Royal Mage replied, looking around again and again. Eyes were narrowed, searching for something amongst all the noise. ¡°And, now that I can speak plainly again, I must say that I¡¯m happy to hear of your new position. Alin, who you¡¯ve met already, told me about his experience with you.¡±

    Without asking for permission, Rubeus took his steps towards the private areas of the house, looking into the laboratory, up the stairs without going on them, and then over to the back where the hatch door into the basement was located.

    ¡°I hope the Earth Mage had nice things to say,¡± Elijah commented, looking on from a few meters away while the Royal Mage stepped on the hatch door again and again, not fully knowing it was there due to the carpet that sat on top of it. ¡°Is there something wrong with the floor?¡±

    Beside him, he could see Grace frowning at her Mentor¡¯s actions as well. She had no clue about why he was doing this and what it could possibly do good for.

    Good thing that she doesn¡¯t.

    ¡°There¡¯s a strange draft of sorts coming out here,¡± Rubeus explained. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to have a basement?¡±

    ¡°Oh, right, he does,¡± Grace said before Elijah could lie about its existence. ¡°I remember getting down there years ago to help clipping on herbs on strings to dry. Isn¡¯t it just a hatch door under the carpet?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ yes, that¡¯s right,¡± he confirmed without any other alternative. He wasn¡¯t a fan of this at all. The back door looked completely undisturbed, the carpet was the same story, and no hints of quick travel could be spotted. There was a legitimate chance of them still being below their feet. ¡°Though I¡¯ve not used it for anything of importance since that time. It became too hard on the back, to go up and down those steep stairs every week.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s very fair,¡± the Royal Mage replied, looking back down as he pushed away the carpet. ¡°... Is there any chance I could see it?¡±

    If a normal person had requested such a thing, Elijah could¡¯ve told them ¡®no.¡¯ It was an entirely fair choice to make, as opening up a rarely-used basement door would make a frightening amount of dust spread out around the house. And, yet, this wasn¡¯t the average man asking. It wasn¡¯t the average Mage. It was the Arcane Mage, who stood above almost all other Mages in the entire country. Was it a strange request? Most certainly. Could he say no? Not in his dreams.

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    ¡°If it would help alleviate your concerns,¡± Elijah allowed, walking over and taking his sweet time opening the hatch up. With the way the wood had warped on the edges, acting as if it was rather hard to get moving wasn¡¯t too difficult. ¡°Grace, if you wouldn¡¯t mind?¡±

    She went over to help, and, together, they were able to pry it open in just about a minute. Elijah went to take the first steps down, but Rubeus was faster, the Royal Mage nearly speeding down them without a care for possibly falling.

    ¡°Be careful, sir!¡± Grace warned, seeing it as well.

    Elijah went down second, following at a normal speed while Grace was just behind him, jumping down the last few steps and moving over to her teacher who inspected the empty crates stacked next to the closed window.

    Other than those, however, the basement was empty.

    They¡¯ve been moved already.

    ¡°You said you didn¡¯t come down here recently?¡± Rubeus asked, pulling away the cloth that covered the glass from being seen from inside. Elijah couldn¡¯t care much about the questions, however, too elated about the danger vanishing. ¡°I fear that others might¡¯ve.¡±

    ¡°Why do you think so?¡± Elijah replied innocently, walking over to see what the Royal Mage was pointing at.

    Rust had fallen off the old hinges to the window, a side-effect of them being used again after so many years. By the looks of it, however, it wasn¡¯t from today but from several days ago when they had first used it to escape the house.

    ¡°It might not be obvious, but I believe you had some recent visitors,¡± the Royal Mage explained, putting his finger on the rest of the flecks next to the window. He frowned as it stained his skin, not coming off when he tried to wipe it away. ¡°They seem to have stayed here for a while if I¡¯m not mistaken.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure, sir?¡± Grace questioned, sounding mildly worried about her mentor. ¡°There¡¯s just dry dirt around here. Not really a place criminals would be hiding out.¡±

    There was also the incredibly thin root system embedded in the far side of the wall, which traveled down deeper into the earth in search of nutrition, but Elijah didn¡¯t feel like pushing the attention towards that particular plant.

    ¡°... Maybe you¡¯re right,¡± Rubeus gave in, studying Elijah for a moment before the eyes moved away once more. Was he seeing residue on him? If so, the reasoning was likely because of his continued interactions with the two that were being searched for, yet that implication might not have been obvious to the Royal Mage. ¡°Sorry about all of this, Elijah. My eyes must be getting tired after a long day. I should perhaps take my leave before I cause more trouble.¡±

    Elijah did the routine of assuring the other man that it was all fine, that everybody had moments of confusion, and that he could surely stay for tea. While Rubeus did seem interested in the latter, the flicker of purple in his eyes made it clear there was no intention of doing as much. Before long, after talking with Grace about Elijah possibly borrowing the book regarding Biomancy and agreeing to it, he had moved out of the front door once again.

    That went well.

    All in all, he couldn¡¯t say it had gone too bad. His heart still pounded, and he was certainly still worried about the speed that the Royal Mage walked with as he continued following the trail to hopefully nowhere, but it was over for now.

    ¡°I really need to apologize about this, Elijah. He usually isn¡¯t this distracted,¡± Grace said after he¡¯d found her the necessary medication to help with her mother¡¯s sleeping routine. ¡°He¡¯s gotten into these half-distracted moods before, but they¡¯re usually limited to when he¡¯s working on something in the laboratory. It¡¯s never outside.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he assured her, before asking about the other times something like this had happened.

    As it turned out, the absent-minded replies and brief moments of apparent confusion were a result of heavy usage of his Mana. Whenever he finished some grand creation or had been modifying some component for several hours in a row, the Royal Mage could operate in a similar state.

    ¡°I just can¡¯t figure out what he could¡¯ve done to get like this today, since he was meant to be having a light day of slow meetings,¡± the Wind Mage said, quiet for a few seconds before shaking away whatever thought she¡¯d had. ¡°I¡¯ll try to come by in a few days with the book. Take it easy until then, Elijah, alright?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± he promised without an inkling of truth to his words, waving her off before he locked the front door once again and went out the back. It was time to return to the castle once more.

    Hopefully, they could solve this very soon, or the Royal Mage would be back on their trail.

 Chapter 62: Outlander

    Vera had to admit that these so-called otherworlders were very different from what she had expected. Both showed off very distinct personalities, reacting very differently to having to hide within the meeting rooms. One, the woman who wore a frown from the second she¡¯d entered, sat by the door, waiting for the second she could leave once again. Sasha Petrova was her name, one that Vera thought fit rather well.

    On the other end of the spectrum was one Jack Larson, the man sitting on one of the other couches. He was a strange one, about her age but not acting like it. He was more¡­ childish in some ways. A reaction to the new world perhaps, since he clearly had been more mature in the past. He had briefly talked about his old job as a soldier which made that clear, though she was able to gather more information from the way he winced when putting pressure on his left leg. It was an injury that wasn¡¯t mentioned but obvious to anybody who paid attention.

    It didn¡¯t seem to deter the man, though, as he continued explaining the concept of ¡®movies¡¯ to her, as a form of theater that was magically recorded and shown off without having to repeat the performance itself. She had understood the concept from the start, having several magical artifacts that could replicate such a thing, but she felt it best to not interrupt too much.

    At least his words provided a good foundation of what the other world in question was like. Though she had to prod him a little and ask him to expand on some points, he did give a general view of the history of the other side. The idea of no magic existing there was certainly an interesting one, but it was counterbalanced by all the usages of electricity. Things she¡¯d never thought of herself became obvious the more she listened, yet so many more glaring problems were likewise presented without the man seemingly noticing them.

    ¡°So the story is focused around a man that¡¯s forced to begin a life of crime to pay for his medical treatment?¡± Vera concluded.

    ¡°Yes, though it is a little more nuanced than that since he rejects multiple offers of help from others because of some desperate attempt at being independent,¡± Jack replied, Vera nodding along while she wondered why she even entertained this discussion. ¡°I don¡¯t want to spoil it further for you, though, on the off-chance you might be able to see it someday. Depends on whether we can find a way back.¡±

    ¡°That remains to be seen,¡± she commented. Personally, she thought it a fruitless endeavor. From what the archives said about the concept of summoning from other worlds, it was usually an incredibly randomized and chaotic process.

    Was it possible to pull creatures or items from other worlds to this one? Most certainly, entire branches of Magic were entirely focused around the idea. To send entities to another world, and to choose which world they would arrive at¡­ that was where most of the texts deemed it impossible. To send them somewhere without the anchor of a Ritual Circle at the destination didn¡¯t seem doable with the current methods. Maybe if they had somebody on the other side who helped with the Summoning, yet their world was already described as being without Mana which made that work-around impossible as well.

    ¡°It¡¯s kinda shocking how much our own ideas about Mana and monsters relate to what¡¯s over here,¡± Jack commented, once Vera brought up the topic in the hopes she wouldn¡¯t need to listen to his surface-level analysis of older pieces of fiction. ¡°Like, Elijah knows how to do Alchemy. At least the potion and elixir part of Alchemy. The other part, with turning metals into other metals, is my domain of expertise.¡±

    At that, her interest was perked up once again. The Royal Healer had mentioned those abilities somewhat, but other matters had taken priority before she could start questioning exactly what it was he could do.

    ¡°Is it just restricted to metals, or is it all materials that you know of?¡± Vera questioned, the man smiling before grabbing his bag and pulling out several glass bottles. They were filled with a black powder of some sort, except the last one which had some pink dye mixed in as well, along with a fuse at the top that could be lit by a simple flame.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been able to make it work with everything I¡¯ve tried, though I haven¡¯t really pressed much more than what I needed at the moment,¡± Jack admitted, bringing out one last thing from the bag. She heard Sasha snort when he did, placing the metallic tool onto the table as well. ¡°Gunpowder, the black stuff here, and other semi-solid chemicals have been made without too much problem. If I know how the material is put together, at some level at least, I can transmute any other material into it. The costs are dependent on amounts, what I¡¯m starting from, and how much Mana is already present. It can get a little slow sometimes, but it¡¯s very nice regardless. Cool, right?¡±

    Talking with this man, who wasn¡¯t far off from her own age, reminded her of talking to one of those over-excited children showing off their toys. She was relatively sure that the curved metallic tool on the side was the so-called pistol, a weapon able to shoot a metal projectile fast enough to instantly kill a monster if it was hit right. A dangerous thing, and yet he treated its presence so casually.

    Vera had seen veterans treating weapons they¡¯d carried for decades with more wariness. It was¡­ she wasn¡¯t sure what to call this. Pulling out a weapon capable of such swift lethality in front of a Royal would¡¯ve qualified the otherworlder for a death sentence, yet he never seemed to consider that implication. Did he even know of it?

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    The other world is a strange place.

    She hoped nobody else would step into this reality if this was how they were all like. Either incredibly untrusting and hostile or entirely without self-awareness while also without the ability to keep quiet. And, to put an extra layer of complexity on top, both seemed to own incredibly rare Affinities.

    ¡°So you have only truly attempted to transmute other materials into ones used for your weapon?¡± Vera asked, starting to wonder what the limits of the man¡¯s abilities truly were.

    ¡°Basically, yeah,¡± Jack confirmed. ¡°I¡­ should¡¯ve probably tried to push it a little more than that, shouldn¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°If you saw no benefit from it at the time, few can blame you for not doing as much,¡± she lied, though it seemed to assure him regardless. Looking around, she was able to find a small teaspoon on one of the shelves that contained plates and cutlery. ¡°Could you transform this silver into gold?¡±

    ¡°I mean¡­ probably?¡± he supposed. Vera looked on as she sat back down on the other couch, spotting the moment where his Core was pulled on and the golden shine began to appear on the spoon. It was a mild coloring at first, barely moving away from the original shine, but a minute more allowed half of its surface to be covered. ¡°Okay, I can¡¯t do more than that at once. Going from normal silver to gold is much more expensive than I thought it would be.¡±

    She was handed back the spoon, and Vera was immediately able to notice the change in weight and balance. It wasn¡¯t just the surface that had been transmuted but everything inside as well. With nearly half of it being changed as well, and the density of gold being double that of silver, that would have to be¡­ twelve grams of pure gold sitting in her palm? Not too massive a sum, compared to what their coffers contained, but the fact that it had been created in the span of two minutes made her eyes shine.

    This man is suddenly very useful.

    And maybe he had even more potential than she¡¯d found just now.

    ¡°Do you have any clues on what determines the pricing of transmuting one specific material into another?¡± Vera questioned. ¡°Would it be easier to, say, transmute silver into tin instead of gold?¡±

    ¡°Uhm¡­ my gut feeling says ¡®yes?¡¯¡± Jack replied, sounding rather unsure himself. ¡°I¡¯ve been starting to think that the atomic number of the basic elements might have some backing in the cost, with a larger distance between them being a higher cost, but it hasn¡¯t really been too consistent. And the fact that I¡¯m usually making stuff that¡¯s made of more elements, and there might be a lot of different elements in this reality than the old one, complicates it even more.¡±

    A list of the elements? Vera wasn¡¯t too sure there was a standardized list of such things, but it was an intriguing theory. With how little information there was regarding this ¡®Metamancy,¡¯ it wouldn¡¯t hurt to make notes.

    ¡°Regardless of whether you think it¡¯s a semi-flawed idea, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to try it out,¡± Vera said, her smile seeming to cheer him up. So easy to manipulate, honestly. ¡°I assume that these¡­ atomic numbers you mentioned have some correlation to density? If so, perhaps you could try to change this gold into platinum and see if it is easier to do? And maybe the remaining silver afterward, to see if the costs for transforming that into platinum is somewhere close to transforming it into gold.¡±

    ¡°Damn, you might be a little better at this than I am,¡± Jack commented when she finished her proposal, chuckling at his own expense. She mirrored it, making it seem more lighthearted than anything. ¡°Gold into platinum¡­ here we go, I suppose.¡±

    Pulling on the Core was faster this time around, the man barely needing a second before the gold was steadily replaced by a light-gray coloring once again. She could hear it as he muttered a few words in surprise at the speed of it all, making Vera smile once again. It worked as she¡¯d hoped, the cost of transforming the gold into platinum being reduced to almost nothing.

    Even with just this, she was going to work hard to keep him around. While gold had its place in the economy, with its high worth to the people and to the Royal Mages who used it in excess to fuel some of their more esoteric rituals, platinum was far rarer. That was because one of them could be harvested from the Dungeon every three years, veins of the ore fully grown then, but platinum didn¡¯t carry that potential. Despite wishing for it heavily, it never appeared in the dungeon like other resources.

    No Dungeon on the entire continent contained the metal, if you went by what the public had been told. Some places far off might¡¯ve been in possession of one which did, but it didn¡¯t matter here where the price was nearly fifteen times as high as gold.

    Other than expensive imports, they had no way of getting the metal.

    That had changed now.

    ¡°Just a third of the cost,¡± Jack commented, handing back the spoon with shock. It had taken a few more minutes to transform the other half of the spoon into gold, but it didn¡¯t matter to Vera. If she handled this well, she suddenly had a great boon for the country. ¡°Kinda shocked at that difference.¡±

    ¡°Magic can be shocking when you learn just how efficient it can become,¡± she agreed wholeheartedly, putting the spoon back onto the table. ¡°Do you think your Spell, Transmute Solid, could change the structure of a material instead of changing it into a different one?¡±

    ¡°Uh, could you be more specific?¡±

    ¡°Do you feel as if you have a chance at making diamonds from coal?¡±

    From the way that the man¡¯s eyes shined after thinking it over, she knew this exchange could become a very profitable one.

 Chapter 63: Midnight Smiles

    Rubeus was out of his normal robes, wearing peasant''s clothes as he sat at the Lionheart Inn in one of the corners. In his hand was an ale of some sort, too bitter to be enjoyed but enough to lighten his frustration just a little. The sun was starting to fall over the horizon, and the magic that had surged in his body had faded. The purple lights he¡¯d been able to track around the city were gone from his view. To redo the ritual would be costly and take a day of preparation, both factors that a certain Prince would be angry over.

    That damned prince.

    The Royal Mage put his hands over his face, wanting to scream into them. He shouldn''t have followed the bastard¡¯s words from the very start. They could¡¯ve done the ceremony in the Dungeon, could¡¯ve made the final step, yet that dramatic fool wished for it to happen on the surface.

    For what? Intimidation? The power they would wield when it was over would¡¯ve been intimidating enough! Yet, no, looking past their own nose was too hard for that idiot, and now Rubeus was being forced to scramble around like a fool. He hated it, hated every second spent out here among the peasants, and yet it wouldn¡¯t stop until the targets were found.

    At least he could be sure nobody would take notice of his identity. The artifacts he wore hid the truth from everybody, showing them a generic face that they would forget soon after seeing it.

    Just have to survive this torture for a little more, and I¡¯ll get what I deserve.

    Rubeus took another swig of the ale, feeling the warmth in his stomach growing hotter. The calm of the alcohol was finally beginning to wash over him, though he knew it wouldn¡¯t last for long. A consequence of being this powerful was the body¡¯s impaired ability to allow the booze to influence his system for too long. Suffering from success, one could say.

    Success.

    His mood fell again, as that word echoed inside his head. Success. Success. He had no such thing. Not after that damned idiot had demanded the risk and then blamed him when it all fell apart.

    ¡°Does the midnight sun smile?¡±

    It only got worse once he heard the gruff voice of the person he¡¯d been waiting for. As asked, the two others had been brought along as well, meaning there were three people standing right in front of his table looking down at him. It was a frustrating sight, but he couldn¡¯t be bothered changing at the moment.

    ¡°Only when the clouds cry,¡± Rubeus said, finishing the other half of the code. The trio sat down in response, having one side of the table while he had the other for himself. ¡°What have you found?¡±

    ¡°Not as much as you¡¯d like,¡± Fang replied, the bald giant not seeming sad by the fact. He annoyed Rubeus to no end, the man not appearing frightened or intimidated by any threats made towards him. He followed orders when Rubeus gave them, and when the old woman to his right agreed to follow them, he was a thorn in Rubeus¡¯ side regardless. ¡°Found a few houses and alleys where they seem to have been hiding at some point, along with some blood from a few wounds, but their current location is still a bit of a guess.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯ve found nothing.¡±

    ¡°We did have a little Fox break in and check those spots, so we have ruled them out. That¡¯s progress in my eyes,¡± the giant countered, roughing up the hair of the woman to his right. The thief in question complained loudly, but they were all ignored as Fang just laughed at her misfortune. ¡°And, since you¡¯re being like that, we can give you a bit of good news as well.¡±

    Rubeus¡¯ left eyebrow raised by the smallest amount possible at that. He wasn¡¯t sure what he truly expected from dealing with these fools. They¡¯d worked fine as guards in the past months, receiving coins for protecting certain people when he needed it, but when asked to escort two utterly defenseless sacrifices alongside another of his people, they had suddenly decided to commit mutiny.

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    When he¡¯d realized that one of the people he had spent years training into a good Mage had been cut in two by the giant¡¯s axe, he had been furious. Even more when they had left the sacrifices behind and gone off to drink, forcing others to venture out and discover that the two otherworlders were missing. If they¡¯d been found on the brink of death, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered, but that they were now outside of his grasp meant that many months of progress were ruined because three idiots decided they didn¡¯t like the tone used towards them.

    Because of that mess-up, he¡¯d found them and given them a rather simple ultimatum. They had a week to find the sacrifices they had left behind and deliver them to his people. If they failed at this task, they would be killed.

    Slowly and painfully.

    ¡°There¡¯s one place we haven¡¯t looked yet, one where Fade here felt a lot of pain coming from last night,¡± Fang explained, the old woman glancing at the giant. She clearly wasn¡¯t happy about their secrets being revealed so loudly. ¡°Ironic place to feel a trace from, I¡¯ll tell you. Never thought to look there of all possible hideouts.¡±

    ¡°For somebody who looks so blunt, you know to pile your words without giving me anything useful,¡± Rubeus commented. The giant just laughed. ¡°Out with it. Where did your Dreamweaver catch their scent?¡±

    ¡®Dreamweaver.¡¯ Such a misleading title for the old woman, Rubeus having seen the nightmares that she wielded. Unlike the typical Mage with an Affinity for dreams, she wielded it in combat to bring terror into her opponents by materializing their worst nightmares before them. It was a branch of the Magic that very few used, but it had an undeniable effect in two aspects.

    In combat and in tracking down those who had been affected by the magic in any capacity. Nightmares loved to follow those reached by them before, after all, and those two sacrifices had been given plenty of attention by the Dreamweaver when they had been escorted away.

    It was one of the few reasons Rubeus had given that trio a chance to prove their worth. They had an actual chance at finding their targets.

    ¡°The Dungeon,¡± was finally said by the giant, making his eyes widen slightly. Never would he have thought to look there either.

    Not because it was a clever hiding spot. Quite the opposite, yet maybe that shouldn¡¯t have stopped him from searching there himself, knowing who it was that he was trying to find.

    ¡°Do you know what layer of the Dungeon they¡¯re hiding within?¡± he asked, to which the woman shook her head. ¡°A shame.¡±

    ¡°Fade here will figure it out in no time, once we get down there tonight,¡± Fang promised with a grin. ¡°And¡­ while we would love to go from the top since they¡¯re probably not too far down, there¡¯s a few guards there who we don¡¯t want to deal with, so¡­ we need the key to get in the other way.¡±

    Rubeus sighed, handing over one of the few remaining keys that opened up the hidden entrance. At another time, he might¡¯ve just made them go through the normal entrance, but the forced Dungeon Break from a few days ago hadn¡¯t killed the Head Dungeon Guard as he¡¯d hoped, and so he didn¡¯t have as firm control over the watchers as he wanted.

    He really needed to get around to making somebody silence that nosy Olivia Blackwell at some point. More direct this time as well, with how the Prince had reacted to his first attempt.

    ¡°Lose it and I¡¯ll string you up until you starve to death.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, happy doing business with you,¡± Fang said, handing it over to the younger woman before they got up from their seats. ¡°We¡¯ll get back in two days when we¡¯ve searched it through.¡±

    As they left, some part of him hoped the White Fangs would instead suffer a painful death. Yet, regardless of what he wished, he knew what they could do for him.

    The top floors of the Dungeon¡­ No chance of it.

    Rubeus was going to have to do this himself, even with how that bastard Prince had reacted to today¡¯s attempt. It would require moving a lot of resources around if he wanted the expenses of performing the ritual again within three days, but it was doable.

    Downing the last drops of his ale, he slammed it onto the table, dropped some gold to pay for his drinks, and hurried out on the street. He had people to kill and Mages to get out of bed. There was much work to be done.

 Chapter 64: Stubbornness

    When Elijah was allowed to enter the secure room, he found the group in surprisingly high spirits. Sasha was sitting on the floor next to him, glaring up at him, but the others looked fine. Aleksi was in one of the corners of a small sofa that barely fit him, Harper was not far from the giant sitting on a chair, and Vera and Jack were both in the center couch looking mildly excited at whatever they were doing.

    Cutlery of various colorings were strewn across the table, but they were all ignored in favor of the small crystalline chunks in the middle. The imperfect glinting caught his eye, making him think that somebody had broken a glass and left the smallest shards behind, yet he saw the truth as he approached.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to be rich!¡± Jack exclaimed, as he held up the crystalline ball. It was barely large enough to be seen between the two fingers, only the way it reflected light made it noticeable. ¡°It¡¯s a diamond! Very small, sure, but it¡¯s proof of concept.¡±

    ¡­

    What?

    ¡°They¡¯ve been at it for more than an hour now,¡± Aleksi supplied from one of the other couches. ¡°Started out with making precious metals before they moved over to gems. It was apparently not as easy as one of them had hoped.¡±

    ¡°It will be easy, once I figure out how to control the structure better,¡± Jack corrected. ¡°Making the right material appear is so simple, but the second I want them to be arranged and connected in a specific way they suddenly start being so unhelpful.¡±

    Eyeing the half-crystal half-black rock chunks sitting on the table, Elijah started to believe that claim. But, at the very least it seemed like the young man was improving in his craft.

    ¡°Any issues getting them here?¡± he asked Harper, who shook her head. ¡°No problems from my side either, though I did meet Rubeus outside my shop.¡±

    That got Vera¡¯s attention, her focus shifting from the next attempt at transmuting graphite to him. She wanted to hear everything, and he had nothing against doing as much. He retold everything he¡¯d learned while over at the laboratory, detailing the experiments on honing a Mana-Signature and tracking it through the city. It explained how they had been able to find them at the brothel to begin with, and how the Royal Mage was convinced that they were inside the shop due to how much time had been spent there.

    ¡°This room should stop that trick from being used to find them here, but this won¡¯t be a permanent solution,¡± Vera commented once he was done. ¡°I can¡¯t keep others away from here forever, and people will likely demand to use this place sometime tomorrow. Before that happens, you two need a new place to hide.¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s when the problems start again,¡± Elijah said, running it all through his head. ¡°What are the odds of him repeating the ritual and trying again? What if the effect lasts for days and he can track them from the second they leave this place? Any space not isolated from the rest of the world would be a place they could be found.¡±

    The shop wasn¡¯t an option for obvious reasons, Cleo couldn¡¯t help either, and anywhere else in the castle wouldn¡¯t last long, as their presence would be revealed by others eventually.

    ¡°Maybe the Dungeon?¡± Aleksi suggested. ¡°With enough Mana swirling around, it must have a chance of confusing the Mage¡¯s senses. If we hide them somewhere in the depths, it would be hard to find them.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°It works for me,¡± Vera admitted after a minute of deliberation. ¡°The only other option I can imagine working is to outright leave the city behind. The latter choice would certainly be less risky, so I am fully willing to arrange it if the two of you should wish for it.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Sasha bluntly answered. There was not a moment¡¯s pause before that choice was made. ¡°I¡¯m staying.¡±

    ¡°Even when it has such a risk?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care. I¡¯m leaving when I can get out of this useless world.¡±

    ¡°And if she¡¯s staying, I¡¯m staying,¡± Jack added, misplaced loyalty making the man ignore the safer option. Elijah could see on the princess¡¯ face how much she detested that choice, but she didn¡¯t object to it regardless. Maybe she could see how little difference it would¡¯ve made. ¡°But I have to ask how we¡¯re supposed to be safe in the Dungeon. I know I¡¯ve only been in there once, but it doesn¡¯t seem like the nicest place in the world.¡±

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    ¡°It¡¯s not, which means you either have to be constantly guarded to avoid accidents, or you have to be holed up in one of the upper floors so you might have a chance against the monsters, yet that entails lowering the obscuring effects from the Mana-Density,¡± Vera said, looking over at Elijah. ¡°Do you think they have a chance against the foxes?¡±

    Did he even need to answer that?

    ¡°Thought so,¡± she continued by the time he narrowed his eyes. It had barely been a question to begin with, the Princess not trusting them either. ¡°From what Harper told me, you know of a relatively hidden cave on the floor above where the furred creatures start appearing. We could try hiding it somewhat with the help of Alin, but that would entail revealing your past to him as well.¡±

    ¡°Not happening,¡± Elijah instantly rejected, Vera once again looking unsurprised. ¡°If you want to cover up the entrance to a hidden cave, I can manage that.¡±

    ¡°Really? Do you have some double Affinity you¡¯ve somehow kept secret this entire time?¡±

    ¡°No. I just have an understanding of controlling plant growth.¡±

    ¡°... I can¡¯t argue with that,¡± Vera supposed, bringing Harper over so they could explain it in more detail. When night fell, the Illusionist would bring the group into the Dungeon while invisible, keeping them that way until everything had been set up and hidden away. This would mean all supplies had been brought along from the start, including enough water and food to keep them alive for three days. If more was needed, it would be brought later on. ¡°And, to make sure we don¡¯t need to constantly run back and forth to communicate, I suppose I can bring you in on another little secret. Here, take this.¡±

    She pulled out a piece of paper from nowhere, handing one over to Jack and another to Elijah. Some unreadable words were already on it, though it was the red Mana swirling inside them that caught his attention.

    ¡°Look at your papers,¡± she instructed, before pulling out a pencil to write on her own. Though it took a moment, a small crackling was heard before a small circle appeared in the corner of their own papers. ¡°Very little delay, the range is large enough that it won¡¯t matter in these circumstances, and it will allow us to communicate without having to delve into the Dungeon ourselves.¡±

    Smart.

    It seemed that Leximancy had other uses than just trapping people in inescapable contracts. How quaint.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a question,¡± Jack said. ¡°What if we can¡¯t read?¡±

    ¡­

    Right. While the universe had been kind enough to make the otherworlders understand whatever people were saying, the written word was still far beyond them. Not just the words, but the alphabet and writing structure were so alien to them that they had no chance of comprehending even the most simple of words.

    So, with little choice, they were forced to make up a simplified system of communication, agreeing on a few symbols. If a single line was drawn, it was a request to be updated on their situation. Here, one could respond with a circle, meaning everything was fine, a square, meaning there was a problem but it wasn¡¯t vital, a triangle to alert them of a monster, and, finally, a set of crossed lines to alert them of their imminent capture.

    Not the best in the world, but it was what they had to work with.

    ¡°I¡¯ll prepare the supplies,¡± Harper announced before leaving the others in the room. ¡°Everything will be ready in an hour. Please be ready to move by then.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Harper,¡± Vera replied, the Illusionist briefly bowing before leaving the room once again. ¡°Before we part ways as well, there¡¯s one factor that we still need to consider. Rubeus Hayes, who is either being manipulated into doing this by another or is holding a significant hold over this country¡¯s troubles in his own hands.¡±

    ¡°Does it matter which it is?¡± Sasha questioned. ¡°Kill him.¡±

    ¡°If he isn¡¯t the one at the top, it means my first actual lead in years disappears,¡± the Princess instantly rejected. ¡°To poison him, though¡­ I could work with that. I¡¯ll have Harper slip something into his tea in the morning. Enough to weaken him but not enough to make him suspicious.¡±

    Elijah was personally in support of having the Royal Mage killed, even if he knew that another could likely perform the ritual instead, but going against Vera¡¯s word wasn¡¯t possible in this scenario. Until they knew more, the Mage would have to live.

    ¡°Now that I¡¯m thinking about it, there is another route we could go here,¡± she continued, looking over at him. ¡°Have you ever brewed a Truth Serum before, Elijah?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he replied bluntly. ¡°And the ingredients to make a true one are not in your possession. I¡¯m not sure I could even brew one if given all the time in the world.¡±

    Alongside Elixirs that truly extended your lifespan, the earnest Truth Serums were things of near-legend. They were concoctions that could be made in theory, yes, but it would require a Grandmaster of Alchemy to even consider making such a thing.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯ve seen them offered from reputable black-market dealers before.¡±

    ¡°Those are fakes, though they might have a similar effect on those who don¡¯t know how they work,¡± Elijah explained. ¡°They cause you pain when you lie, but they do not force you to tell the truth nor do they force you to tell the entire truth. If you can convince yourself that anything said is technically correct, it will come out without hurting you in the slightest.¡±

    ¡°So they¡¯re useless,¡± Vera concluded, sighing at the need to stay in the dark. ¡°He¡¯d likely let himself die before signing one of my contracts as well, so there truly is nothing to do but start sending out watchdogs. I¡¯ll have some people monitoring the main and secondary Dungeon Entrances to see if we can catch anybody in the act. In the meanwhile, you can all prepare for the night¡¯s journey.¡±

 Chapter 65: Fangs

    The Princess was out of the room within the minute, leaving them to prepare just as they were supposed to. It mainly meant resting, eating the food brought to them after half an hour, and then mentally readying themselves for a rather boring walk.

    Because it was. Even when invisible and ignored by those who walked through the darker streets, Elijah found himself enjoying very little of it all. The others somehow did, at the very least, the lacking reactions from those they passed as interesting to them.

    ¡°If you get too close to others, I can¡¯t promise to keep the veil unbroken,¡± Harper warned, when Sasha unceremoniously walked over and swiped a bag of gold coins from one of the game tables put out on the streets. ¡°And don¡¯t steal in my presence either. I¡¯d like to have some manner of respect for you by the end of all this.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t come here to get your respect,¡± Sasha replied in an uncaring manner, inspecting one of the coins with a frown. ¡°These thieves deal in painted bronze.¡±

    The Illusionist seemed close to commenting on the irony of the situation but the professional assistant kept her tongue to herself. Elijah was impressed by the willpower, knowing he would¡¯ve already raised his voice if he cared in the slightest about the woman¡¯s actions.

    Nothing serious occurred when they continued through the streets, quickly passing into the middle district. By then, the side streets were all but empty, and they were able to reach the Dungeon¡¯s entrance without a single soul getting close to them. He saw Fred, Olivia, and other guards he recognized close to the entrance, yet none of them looked their way, and they could walk through the open gate without any problems.

    While he wouldn¡¯t let go of his own Affinity, Elijah had to admit he was starting to better understand the benefits of invisibility. So many areas previously inaccessible could suddenly be entered without any resistance. And against people not prepared for it, there was little to stop an invisible person from getting another by surprise. A quick knife in the back was all it would take.

    ¡­

    Huh.

    Now that he was considering it more, it was a good thing that the Princess¡¯ assistant was on their side. Even if he knew about her tricks, catching her would be incredibly difficult.

    Without any troubles, other than some having an initially hard time adjusting to the Mana-Density, they were able to go down the floors until they reached their goal. Hidden off the main path, and nearly impossible to find if you weren¡¯t looking for it, came the cave entrance that would be the two¡¯s new home for a while.

    ¡°Just as cold and wet as I remember,¡± Jack noted, as they went into the cave itself and placed down most of the supplies. They had food, medicine, water, sleeping bags, a few knives, the enchanted paper to communicate with, and some emergency lights if the Dungeon suddenly decided to rid the ceiling of the blue moss. ¡°Not the worst trade-off in the world, though. Should be plenty of time to work.¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t your biggest hindrance in progressing with your gun a lack of visits to the smithy?¡± Elijah questioned, as he helped stretch out a thick tarp that would hopefully stop the spiky ground from being too rough on the back. Even if the two were still in their youth, the spine could only handle so much before it began to ache.

    ¡°Well, yes, but that was before I was given several days to mess around inside here,¡± the man explained. ¡°I¡¯ll have to do a lot of repetitive work, but I¡¯ll have something working by the time we get out of here.¡±

    It was a confident statement that Elijah didn¡¯t feel like questioning too heavily. Nobody else did either for that matter, as they silently worked. Harper had already left, needing to sort out some other issues, but would return in a few hours to let him and Aleksi reach the surface unnoticed once again.

    In the meantime, he had a small promise to uphold.

    ¡®Dawn, the trick you did with separating roots from your main body,¡¯ Elijah sent the duck that had mostly been relaxing inside his Core for the past few hours. ¡®Do you think you could do that with branches and leaves instead?¡¯

    ¡®Would it be useful?¡¯

    ¡®Yes. Very useful.¡¯

    ¡®I can do it!¡¯

    With a small flash of gold, the duck emerged from his hand and jumped down onto the ground right before the cave entrance.

    The same second the webbed feet hit the ground, it began instantly. Roots ruthlessly dug through the semi-earth below the animal, making the area shake just a little. Dust and fragments fell off in small heaps, the eye of the Dungeon began to look their way, and the roots had come into place around the entrance within just a minute.

    Then came the branches, growing out of the walls and steadily covering everything up. They were thin at the start, barely able to hide even an inch of what was behind, but as it all began to layer on top of each other, and as the branches thickened, it became impossible to see what it was meant to hide.

    ¡®Might be best to make it slightly less obvious,¡¯ Elijah suggested, looking around at the otherwise blank, gray wall. ¡®Widen the area with branches perhaps?¡¯

    Dawn didn¡¯t reply, the duck instead taking a few steps back as she followed his words. The wall shook again, more cracks forming as even more branches began to crawl out. Leaves, golden flowers, and an entire hive of different sorts could be seen. It looked like a small hive of different flowers and plants that had been bunched up together, even growing on the ground before the wall instead of directly on it, yet the truth was that it was all one massive organism.

    Elijah had to think that they had passed the one-ton mark for the total biomass within twenty minutes of work, and yet it didn¡¯t stop for another ten. By the end, when they¡¯d added an entirely new chunk to the already massive forest, he had to make the duck stop in fear of others coming along to just investigate the plants more than anything else.

    ¡®Did I do good?¡¯ Dawn asked innocently, excited as she jumped up on his hand.

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    ¡­ Looking at what he wouldn¡¯t have been able to do if given several hours, not even with the lowered cost that came from the higher Mana-Density in the air, Elijah had only one answer.

    ¡®Yes.¡¯

    Never before had he thought a duck could vibrate to such a degree, the little thing nearly falling off him as her back feathers wagged and she tried to go for his face. He smiled at it, though the expression was wiped off instantly once he noticed Aleksi grinning at him.

    ¡°Shut up.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡±

    ¡°You were thinking it more than loud enough.¡±

    ¡°... And you were the one who didn¡¯t want a cat.¡±

    Elijah refused to continue that conversation, instead making Dawn briefly open up the wall to the cave so that they could communicate with the ones inside. Jack had already settled in quite nicely, and Sasha seemed to have likewise grown accustomed to their situation from how she already looked half-asleep. He didn¡¯t want to bother them too much, with everything ready, so Elijah instead reported that they would go around the floor and wipe out any monster found to hopefully lessen the risks of such attacks at the start.

    ¡°Sounds good to me,¡± Jack replied, waving them off. ¡°Oh, but if you do have the chance to pick up pollen, or any powders with higher amounts of Mana inside them, I wouldn¡¯t mind a small farewell gift.¡±

    Of course, he would ask for that.

    ¡°We¡¯ll see what we can do,¡± Elijah replied, getting a thanks in reply before Dawn closed off the wall once again and they moved out in search of worms and fliers that could pose some type of threat to the younger adults. ¡°Hear any Neogis?¡±

    ¡°Nothing of the sort,¡± Aleksi was quick to promise. ¡°Only the worms hiding, a few fliers close to the end of the floor, and¡­ otherwise a relatively empty area.¡±

    A boon from the cleansing only having been done a little more than a day ago, Elijah supposed. It was already empty the day before, ignoring the bastard of a spider that had snuck up here without being caught. Other than that, he was rather happy with the lack of foes, the few monsters here not proving much challenge.

    It certainly allowed them to take the leisurely approach. With several hours remaining before Harper was to return and fetch them, it was possible to slowly approach the different groups of worms, kill them, harvest whatever he could from their shells, and then take whatever flowers were nearby. Nothing too crazy, and certainly nothing above what Dawn could already provide if asked, but filling a few bottles worth of pollen for free wasn¡¯t a problem from his point of view.

    ¡®I can do it faster than these can,¡¯ Dawn offered regardless, when the fourth bottle and sixth group of worms had been dealt with. ¡®No need to walk.¡¯

    ¡®We have to walk if we want to kill the worms,¡¯ Elijah replied, though he had to admit it was less them taking care of the monsters and more just Aleksi. He¡¯d tried to chip in at the beginning, dealing with the strays that ran, but it turned out to be much faster just letting the giant deal with it all. With the additional elixir running through his bones from the day before, there was little that could stop him.

    ¡®I could kill them.¡¯

    ¡­

    ¡®Really?¡¯ he sent back. The lack of the usual excitement and childlike wonder made him pause, nearly stopping him in his tracks. Aleksi looked back at him when it happened, but he just waved it off. ¡®You think you can kill these monsters by yourself?¡¯

    ¡®Yes,¡¯ Dawn said. She sounded confident, which wasn¡¯t unusual for her, but that lack of immaturity that had appeared made Elijah a little unsure of it all. This was a sudden shift, a very¡­ unsettling change in how she communicated. Was it because of how they did it? ¡®They die when crushed, yes? Roots can crush.¡¯

    With how relaxed the giant centipedes were before they started to attack, Elijah supposed that Dawn could sneakily get a few by herself.

    ¡®No, I can be fast!¡¯ She corrected him, reading his thoughts. ¡®Very fast.¡¯

    Dawn was not letting the topic go, as they continued down the path where the fliers began to appear. While Elijah did at some point start relenting and promising to allow her a chance to prove herself once they found a group that didn¡¯t possess any aerial foes, a certain duck wanted to be out there now.

    At the very least, the endless nagging brought out that childish behavior once again, confirming that the duck hadn¡¯t suddenly matured mentally without his notice. Still a child at heart and all, though she was one that thirsted for blood more than ever.

    Maybe he needed to give up on making her unlearn that particular trait.

    Another half hour passed without the duck being allowed to prove herself in combat, though Elijah did allow her to help clear some of the pollen from the flowers they found. Some were consumed as well, though that didn¡¯t help much other than Dawn¡¯s mood.

    ¡®Do you enjoy the taste of them?¡¯ he asked, realizing he¡¯d never bothered to wonder if the plant could taste at all.

    ¡®... They taste fuzzy,¡¯ Dawn replied after some moments of deliberation. ¡®It¡¯s good.¡¯

    Elijah wasn¡¯t too sure what a ¡®fuzzy¡¯ taste was meant to be, but he decided to just take her word for it. While he¡¯d eaten plenty of herbs through his travels, these particular ones didn¡¯t seem like they would have the best of flavors.

    They¡¯d have a better chance at making me sneeze, with all this pollen they¡¯re shooting into the air.

    ¡°I hear voices.¡±

    He froze when Aleksi spoke, looking over at the giant who looked towards the clearing that surrounded the cave down to the next floor.

    ¡°Voices of monsters or real people?¡± Elijah asked.

    ¡°People. Three of them.¡±

    People were down here? At this time of night? The Dungeon Guards wouldn¡¯t have allowed for it, meaning they were either high-ranking warriors or they were people who¡¯d been in the depths for a few too many hours without intending to. The former wasn¡¯t likely, and the latter did occasionally happen but it wasn¡¯t a common occurrence. In his many years of delving down, he¡¯d only seen it a handful of times.

    ¡°They¡¯re not guards,¡± Aleksi supplied in a whisper, narrowing his eyes as he continued to look towards the cave down. ¡°Their accents are off.¡±

    Foreigners then.

    Still, not somebody who they wanted to meet down here, which made Elijah want to leave and hide, but Aleksi already warned that the group had noticed their presence as well. It seemed that the giant wasn¡¯t the only one who had good hearing.

    And, as the other group got close enough that Elijah could hear their steps, and see their bodies slowly rise from the tunnel, he realized that Aleksi wasn¡¯t the only giant here now.

    ¡°Fang?¡±

    Even worse was the fact that Aleksi seemed to recognize them.

 Chapter 66: Fading

    The Nightmare rolled across her arms, dozens of red eyes searching the air for the scent of fear they knew so well. She pushed, they bit into her flesh in frustration, and she was forced to give up once more.

    ¡°Not this floor either, Fade?¡± Fox asked her, when her sleeve was rolled down again to hide the markings of the creatures.

    ¡°I said as much five minutes ago, Fox,¡± Fade replied dryly. ¡°But if you keep asking every second, they might just magically appear.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s why I¡¯m asking.¡±

    Why did we ever decide to keep you?

    Fade felt her neck tighten at that line of thought, forcing her to let the emotions go and continue onwards. Fang was still a few dozen meters ahead, tearing apart the bodies of whatever monster had decided to visit them this time. In the past hours, it had been over-confident drakes, then spiders that liked to ambush them constantly, and now it seemed that they had moved over to groups of skittish, gangly foxes.

    If it had been any of the other monsters in this amount, she and Fox would¡¯ve needed to help, but the worst thing those creatures could do was slash into Fang¡¯s skin before having their skulls crushed. And by the time the next thought themselves smarter, the wounds would¡¯ve already healed.

    Need to brew more elixir tomorrow, if he¡¯s going to keep this up.

    His heart wouldn''t be able to go through this strain for much longer, and that edge of weakness wasn''t far off from settling in.

    Not that the old brute would ever take her warnings about that seriously.

    ¡°You two are falling behind again,¡± Fang half-shouted as he walked ahead of them, absentmindedly tearing the head off a fox without even looking at it. This place was just pathetic. ¡°Getting any better pulses, Fade?¡±

    ¡°Nothing,¡± she replied, ignoring the comments Fox muttered about favoritism. The young lady should¡¯ve been happy that Fade didn¡¯t have the energy to discipline that behavior at the moment, lest a Nightmare would¡¯ve already been thrown her way. ¡°The trail still holds true, however. They can smell they¡¯re here somewhere, though not on this floor.¡±

    It was the same information her manifestations had fed her since they entered the Dungeon. Maybe it was the Mana confusing them since they usually gave her more precise measurements of distance, but Fade felt something off about all of this. Something was wrong.

    ¡°Oh, these are some real bleeders!¡± Fang exclaimed, holding one of the foxes up in the air as the red mess inside piled out of the opened back. ¡°Hey, do we need any of this?¡±

    ¡­ There was a chance the feeling could be from the small army of foxes around them, which had started growing wise about who they were trying to fight. Nearly the entire remnant of creatures on this floor were just staring at the trio, panting and yowling yet refusing to approach. The blood-covered hands weren''t a good incentive to come closer, and the energy she passively sent toward them all likely enhanced that negative emotion.

    Yet not all of them ended up as smart as the others, and one thought those who weren¡¯t giant were instead weak. One of the sickly creatures on the left used that reasoning to leap towards Fox without fear, teeth ready to bite into the jugular and kill them instantly.

    Instead, they found themselves with their own throat cut open before they could even realize it, briefly clutching at the wound before dying from the loss of blood and having their body devoured by the other monsters.

    Oh, right. That¡¯s why we keep you around.

    ¡°Are we even sure they¡¯re in here?¡± Fox questioned, wiping the blood from her dagger with the shirt that Fade had just helped wash two days ago. ¡°We¡¯ve gone through, like, sixteen floors already. Can¡¯t we just give up at some point?¡±

    ¡°Giving up means the Royal Mages kill us,¡± Fade reminded her, the 18-year-old remembering that fun fact yet again. A working brain really wasn¡¯t her strong suit. ¡°We can¡¯t escape them, if they hunt for us.¡±

    ¡°We killed one of those idiots pretty quick, though?¡±

    ¡°A weakling in comparison to the others.¡±

    ¡°Fair, fair, but¡­ hiding might work then? Not like they¡¯re any good at finding the two they¡¯re forcing us to track down.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because those two haven¡¯t had marks burnt into their flesh,¡± Fade snapped. Even this Fox didn¡¯t bother remembering.

    The Dispeller had been so frustrated about having magic on her that she couldn¡¯t remove, back when they had first received them several months ago. Maybe they could¡¯ve gotten rid of them back then, but it had never seemed like an issue. Now, it was the chains that bound them to this task.

    ¡®Right.¡¯

    She raised her bleeding arm without thought, letting the dripping blackness fly from her skin and onto the body of the second fox that believed them to be weak. It screamed in abhorrent fashion, as the inky blackness began to devour its flesh. Bubbling was heard in the usual ways before a large crunch came from the head fully disappearing into the Nightmare¡¯s gut. The rest of the monster¡¯s flesh was left behind, and the other creatures were granted the chance to feast when Nightmare returned to her arm once more.

    ¡®Sickly,¡¯ it commented, sending over a flood of memories detailing what life the victim had lived. Not a very endearing experience when it was the lives of monsters. There was barely anything but darkness, some thirst, and hunger before Fade could then see herself momentarily and it was all over once again. ¡®Boring.¡¯

    ¡®We¡¯ll find you proper food soon,¡¯ she promised the Nightmare, knowing that it would likely devour a piece of her again if it didn¡¯t get something to feast on. Her arm was already thin as it was. Somebody her age didn¡¯t need to have another fistful of it healed yet again. ¡®Perhaps one of those guards that annoyed us a few nights ago?¡¯

    ¡®Two,¡¯ it demanded, and she accepted the idea without too much bartering. Letting the Nightmare have its way often was a great way to be devoured in time, but giving it the rare treat wouldn''t hurt. It would certainly make this experience easier for her to deal with.

    ¡°And¡­ that was that floor,¡± Fang commented, wiping off the fox''s blood while the green veins pulsed hard under his skin. Even with so many pieces of armor torn, along with the flesh that had been close by before it had regrown, he looked happier than ever. ¡°Ready for the next one?¡±

    ¡°How many are left after this?¡± Fox asked, yawning as she looked upwards. The tunnel was rather steep, but it wouldn¡¯t be a problem compared to what they had already climbed earlier. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind actually sleeping at night for once.¡±

    ¡°We can sleep when we don¡¯t have a noose around our necks,¡± Fade replied, throwing her a small vial of light-blue liquid. ¡°Drink this.¡±

    ¡°Energizer again?¡± she said, grimacing as she opened it up and downed it. It only grew worse when the taste reached her. ¡°Ugh. Are you sure you can¡¯t do anything about that horrid taste?¡±

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    ¡°Changing it would lessen effectiveness, so deal with it,¡± came the quick response, making Fox imitate gagging noises. Some of them might¡¯ve even been real at the end, with how pale she was for a minute or so.

    ¡®New fears.¡¯

    Fade frowned, letting her arms be exposed to the air once again. It wasn¡¯t enough for the Nightmares, however, as liquidy tendrils began sprouting from all over her body, tasting the air as if a new delicacy was coming closer.

    Visions blinked across her normal sight, making her slow in her steps as she tried to hone in on what the Nightmares were so interested in. Old wounds, old fears, some parts reawakened and others being forced down. Nothing too special, and certainly nothing they hadn¡¯t met before, but it had been enough time since the last interaction with such a person that they craved the blend regardless.

    ¡°Huh,¡± Fang commented, slowing his steps as well while they walked up through the tunnel. ¡°There¡¯s people other than us down here.¡±

    ¡°The targets?¡±

    ¡°No, the voices are different,¡± Fang answered, that grin fading as furrowed brows and confusion replaced it. ¡°Two older guys. One noticed us already. Enhanced hearing.¡±

    ¡°A threat then?¡±

    ¡°Remains to be seen,¡± he surmised, a brief check on the axe by the giant¡¯s side before going back to his casual walk once again. Even the green veins were repressed, letting them be replaced by normal skin. ¡°No reason to be hostile, to begin with. The smell is somewhat familiar anyway.¡±

    Fade didn¡¯t know what to take from that, though she signaled for Fox to hide her knife in her sleeve regardless. If they wanted to seem peaceful, she would allow it, though there wasn¡¯t much that would hide the blood stains on Fang¡¯s body. Even if some of the blood wasn¡¯t the red that humans usually possessed, the parts that were were enough to get the message across easily.

    Making the last two-minute trek to the next floor, what seemed like a forest clearing was revealed to her. Much more vibrant and colorful than what the floor below had shown off, the other being more of a grassy area with nothing but red eyes staring back at you. This could appear as a genuine forest to the untrained eye.

    ¡°Fang?¡±

    But, more importantly, the giant that stood some twenty meters away had just recognized their own giant from appearance alone.

    Former co-worker?

    She wasn¡¯t too sure, the giant of a man not looking too much like anybody she¡¯d remembered working with these past years. The size of the muscles, and the fine axe that he had by his side, implied that there was some form of warrior before them, yet the civilian-level clothing and armor made her think otherwise.

    And the other man, a much smaller one who was even shorter than her, did not seem like the fighting type. The cloth and mild leather armor around their core did not hide the thin form, and the gray beard and hair couldn¡¯t hide their age either. The duo couldn¡¯t be much older than them.

    Fade was embarrassed it took so long for the truth to click together when she smelled the fragrance of an altered elixir in the air. It seemed the one-in-a-million odds had struck true.

    ¡°Butcher?¡± Fang replied, seeming surprised at first before spotting the slight flinch on the other giant¡¯s face. ¡°Oh, shit, Butcher, it¡¯s you!¡±

    ¡°Fang?¡± Fade muttered, the giant looking over at her. Her eyes showed the demand for an explanation.

    ¡°The Butcher of Verness!¡± Fang exclaimed at her, the giant excited beyond belief. ¡°From the old Death Squad. Don¡¯t you remember? We had a song for him and everything!¡±

    Try as she might, the nickname of every other Berserker that Fang had hung around with didn¡¯t stay in her memory. Not that she had truly tried to remember a single Hound other than the giant who followed her, and even his name had only settled in her mind when it became absolutely necessary.

    ¡°There¡¯s a faint memory of you not shutting up about that title for days on end,¡± Fade lied, though her words were accepted regardless as Fang was too distracted by the presence of an old friend. She, however, was on guard. ¡°I assume you¡¯re the one keeping the Hound alive then?¡±

    The question wasn¡¯t pointed towards either of the two Giants shaking hands, and giving each other a clap on the back but towards the thin man looking at the display with a grimace. They clearly weren¡¯t a fan of it all, but Fade couldn¡¯t care. She instead focused on the liquid green Aura that surrounded them, along with the spot of gold around their pocket.

    ¡°I am,¡± the man finally answered. He seemed about as willing to share anything as he should¡¯ve been. Fade supposed she was happy to see at least one person around who was as cautious as they all should¡¯ve been. ¡°I was one of the assistants for most of the war. Barely got a promotion by the end, before we left.¡±

    ¡°You left,¡± Fang repeated, the other giant taking a step back while shrugging. ¡°Makes sense, since I thought you died, you old bastard! I remember you promising me a new rack of skull glasses when we ran in together.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well¡­ had a bit of an epiphany after having most of my blood outside my body,¡± Butcher replied, wiping at their nose. ¡°Didn¡¯t see the reason to die fighting for a bunch of people who didn¡¯t care for me so that I could go off killing a bunch of people I didn¡¯t care about. Especially not for how little we were getting paid.¡±

    ¡°Ah, cheers to that! Didn¡¯t get paid at all either, so we left before we had to face any consequences for our time in the fields,¡± Fang countered, so casually revealing information that they had agreed years ago to keep secret. Even Fox was unaware of everything in the past, and she had been running with their group since she was a child. ¡°We switched over to better-paying work real quick, you know? Turns out a few years¡¯ worth of experience at killing really helps with mercenary work.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! Had to, if we wanted enough gold to afford keeping this heart going,¡± Fang continued, before going over and putting a hand on her left shoulder. ¡°Old Fade here might seem like the nicest woman in the world, yet she requires a pretty penny if I want to be kept alive. Nasty business practice, I say!¡±

    It¡¯s because the elixir variant you require has ten different ingredients that are all outlawed on this continent, you idiot.

    Her life would¡¯ve been so much easier if he had taken the normal version of the concoction, yet his past in the leadership role had meant he¡¯d been given an altered one which gave him slightly better mental faculties while on a high dose. A great trade when followed by a caravan of people who could grow whatever was needed for such things, but in the wild it had been nearly impossible to find people who even possessed it in enough amounts.

    ¡°Never left the fast life then?¡± Butcher asked, Fade feeling the slight pulse of fear coming from them both as that fact was considered. While her Affinity didn¡¯t allow her to outright read their thoughts, the general view of their minds was certainly hers to interpret. ¡°We quieted down instead. Easier to pass when you¡¯re not running around with blood all over your body.¡±

    A jab at the state of Fang, one which was met by a roar of laughter.

    ¡®We smell it.¡¯

    Fear. It was starting to thicken, revealing their secrets to her manifestations.

    ¡°When we¡¯re done here, we need to meet up for a beer,¡± Fang said, to which he got a wavy agreement in response. He looked to talk further about the past years, but a hand signal from Fade got the giant back on track. She sensed something wrong, something that connected those two to their current problem, and he needed it revealed. ¡°Ah, but we should probably finish up our own job of the week. The two of you wouldn¡¯t happen to have met two youngsters on this floor? Kinda meant to bring them to some creepy bastard.¡±

    The pulse of fear was enthralling, Fade feeling the Nightmares pushing out of her skin to look at the duo easier. They hungered, they craved, and perhaps that desire to devour would soon arrive.

    ¡°... Ah, shit, you do,¡± Fang cursed. Neither Butcher nor the adjacent Alchemist said anything. ¡°Since they were half-dead when we left them, you¡¯re probably the reason they¡¯re still alive as well, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± the Alchemist said in a monotone voice. The fear didn¡¯t match the calm, however. She was beginning to taste it as well. ¡°Who¡¯s this ¡®creepy bastard?¡¯¡±

    ¡°Just that. Man has an artifact to keep his face hidden,¡± Fang explained, while bringing out his axe. Fade was impressed by the giant actually keeping secrets for once in his life.

    She noted that Fox had already started stepping to the side subtly, hoping to start flanking them the moment the fight started properly.

    ¡°Listen, Butcher, I really would love to go out for a drink with you, both of you even, but that requires I get this mess over with first.¡±

    ¡°If the reason you¡¯re doing this is gold, we can get you ten times the amount you¡¯re being paid right now,¡± Butcher tried, bringing out his axe as well before clicking his teeth together with considerable force. A small packet of elixir burst must¡¯ve been hidden inside in a capsule, from how the green veins instantly began to sprout.

    ¡°Sadly not for gold anymore,¡± the first giant replied. ¡°We can find the two kiddos without you, you know, so why waste your lives after so long?¡±

    Fade allowed the Nightmares to fly out from her flesh the instant the fear of both enemies began to dissipate.

    ¡°It¡¯s only a waste if we lose.¡±

    She heard the sound of a vial breaking before the world turned white and her ears were shot through from pure noise.

 Chapter 67: The Butcher of Verness

    Elijah was elated that their non-verbal communication skills were still honed, as they stood before the old crowd. Subtle movements of the hands, eyes, and their heads allowed him and Aleksi to get messages between them without notice, though it was a long process when also having to talk with people they¡¯d hoped to never see again. How much had their luck degraded for them to meet people from the old crowd here of all places?

    ¡®Can we win the fight?¡¯ Aleksi asked shortly after the two giants had hugged, words flowing from the man.

    ¡®Not sure,¡¯ Elijah signaled. ¡®Two Mages. One fighter.¡¯

    ¡®One Mage. One Fighter. One hybrid,¡¯ Aleksi corrected. ¡®Right one has a dagger in her sleeve.¡¯

    Glancing at the very young woman to their right, Elijah inwardly cursed when spotting the slight dent that implied a blade hidden in the cloth. They had an Affinity of some kind as well, which implied they were self-reinforcing of some sort. Not somebody he wished to fight if he could help it.

    ¡®We have a chance,¡¯ Elijah sent along after a second¡¯s deliberation. It wasn¡¯t as if they had a choice in the matter, with how the one they called Fade was looking at them. While she didn¡¯t seem to remember them, he did. She was a Dreamweaver, focusing on the darker end of that spectrum by manifesting Nightmares into reality and making them attack whoever she wished. He¡¯d barely interacted with her group, seeing her at a distance, but he knew her tricks of looking into other¡¯s minds. ¡®We need to be quick.¡¯

    Taking them on properly would result in their deaths, no question about it, but allowing for underhanded tricks could prove to be their path to victory.

    ¡®Close your eyes and look away when I move,¡¯ he ordered Aleksi, getting a subtle nod in response. ¡®Focus on recovering from the sound as fast as possible.¡¯

    Aleksi held back a frown at that, perhaps realizing what exactly Elijah was planning to do.

    ¡®Dawn, are you affected by loud noises and sound?¡¯ he asked the duck sitting in his pocket next to the vial he wished for. She pushed it right until it was at the edge, ready to be picked up.

    ¡®Is being affected useful?¡¯

    ¡®No.¡¯

    ¡®Then no,¡¯ Dawn replied, looking through his eyes and seeing the other giant of a man, Fang, take his axe into his hands. ¡®Can I fight now?¡¯

    ¡®In just a second, yes.¡¯

    It was going to be very quick if Elijah wanted any chance of this working out like he hoped it would. The red-headed thief was already shuffling to the side, perhaps hoping to get around them while they were occupied with the two older folks. Not a bad idea, honestly, though Elijah hoped not to suffer from that fact either.

    ¡°If the reason you¡¯re doing this is gold, we can get you ten times the amount you¡¯re being paid right now,¡± Aleksi said, slightly shifting the grip in his axe as he prepared to defend himself. It was starting.

    ¡°Sadly not for gold anymore,¡± Fang replied. Elijah didn¡¯t like the smile the giant kept wearing, the coldness from it made him even more on edge. ¡°We can find the two kiddos without you, you know, so why waste your lives after so long?¡±

    They really can¡¯t understand, can they?

    ¡°It¡¯s only a waste if we lose.¡±

    The screams of abhorrent creatures covered the cavern in the same second that Elijah pulled out the vial and threw it as hard as he could. He was relatively sure it was closer to the others than it was to them, but he didn¡¯t spend long checking as he turned away and closed his eyes, hands over his ears.

    Yet even with that to help him, his vision was still flooded with nothing but pure light and sound, the loudest noise he¡¯d ever heard screaming into his ears. It was a miracle in itself that his ears weren¡¯t blown out, though what he could hear in the seconds after the flash was very diminished.

    Aleksi had followed his words, preparing for the assault on his senses, as he was already charging forward by the time Elijah could blink away the light. The other giant stood there dazed but began to recover by the time that the distance had been closed in. A dodge stopped the first axe swing from ending it all, the counter nearly taking off Aleksi¡¯s face instead.

    ¡®Dawn,¡¯ he sent, the duck already leaping to the ground before he could call her in. ¡®Kill.¡¯

    It was barely needed as an order, the ground already starting to shake violently as massive amounts of Mana were spent as fast as possible. If the previous work done by the duck had caused rumbling, this was enough for him to become off-balanced. It was a struggle to stand, yet at least that fate also came to the thief who tried to approach him.

    Only because of that stumble did he have enough time to side-step a dagger thrown his way, one that would¡¯ve reached his heart without fail. Elijah saw the irritation at that, as the redhead was forced to try closing in properly.

    Yet she didn¡¯t manage that either.

    ¡®Kill,¡¯ Dawn repeated through the bond, as vines instantly shot out from the ground, grabbing her feet and causing her to fall. She wasn¡¯t done there either, the plant continuing to wrap around her torso the second she landed. The first vine was cut through instantly, but the next took her arm as well, stopping the knife from helping.

    Elijah heard her scream when the vines began to tighten, and he heard something break soon after.

    ¡°Shit!¡±

    He diverted his attention to Aleksi who¡¯d suffered a cut to the shoulder. The other giant had been faster, getting a slash in before Aleksi¡¯s kick forced him back a few meters. Yet no pause was allowed, the black Nightmare creatures from before howling down on him.

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    His eyes darkened when a chunk of the giant¡¯s throat was ripped out.

    No.

    Dawn had already diverted her attention when she noticed his hand on the ground, feeling the Mana he sent towards her to accelerate the growth. What would¡¯ve taken seconds to reach instead took a fraction of one, a sharpened branch shooting out of the ground and impaling the Dreamweaver''s left foot.

    She screamed, the Nightmares wavered in their assault, and Aleksi shook them off before an axe could embed itself in his chest. Elijah felt his heart relax for a moment before the Nightmares shifted targets. They briefly locked onto the Dreamweaver herself until she snarled and pointed them toward Elijah.

    Seeing five blobs of pure darkness, each with dozens of eyes and mouths that all looked ready to devour him, brought a new sense of fear into him.

    His dagger was at the ready, however, and he pushed off the first that tried to bite into him. The next four would¡¯ve had their fill quickly a second later, if not for the Mage¡¯s screams as the branch that impaled her continued to grow. It forced the wound to widen, for the bone to be pressed against, and for roots to start consuming the flesh from the inside out.

    Elijah used the pause in the Nightmares to stab one of them, black blood spilling onto his hand. He cursed from the pain. It was acidic, burning into his skin and making the other Nightmares look at him once again.

    They dived towards his head, and he fell onto the floor to avoid them. A second more to breathe, yet it was Dawn¡¯s actions that made it become more permanent.

    ¡®Kill.¡¯

    The scream of the Dreamweaver tightened and became mixed in with the continuous sound of tendons being ripped apart. Nerves were rapidly cut into, the muscles were stretched, and the bone was devoured like it was the greatest meal in the world.

    Even the best of Mages couldn¡¯t handle the sheer pain that came from that, and the Nightmares returned to their owner to feast on the torture and fear that came with it.

    Elijah allowed himself a second more to breathe, watching the display in horror, but life rarely allowed such things.

    ¡®Behind you!¡¯

    Only Dawn¡¯s quick warning allowed him to roll to the side. Making him take a dagger to the arm instead of the head. What felt like hot iron shot through his body at the feeling, and it only got worse every passing second.

    I can¡¯t feel my Core.

    He couldn¡¯t feel his Mana at all, the connection to Dawn gone. Suppressed? Didn¡¯t matter. Nothing could be felt, only the hot pain of the dagger in his shoulder flying through his system.

    ¡°Got you,¡± the redhead cursed, having recovered from the entrapment without their notice. She pulled out another dagger to finish Elijah off, seeming to enjoy it as vines tried to pierce through her before falling limply down when they were within half a meter of her skin. ¡°No tricks this time, ducky.¡±

    A set of dark green weeds sprouted a meter away. Even without being able to hear the command from Dawn, he looked away and held his breath.

    ¡°What¡ª¡±

    There was an audible crack from the weeds being opened before a wave of green gas covered them both. It made his eyes water but Elijah stopped it from invading his lungs. Painful regardless, and the dagger still embedded in him didn¡¯t help either.

    He pulled it out, feeling the air clear up while the redhead was on the ground clutching at her eyes and coughing. She was screaming, yet he had trouble really hearing it. The drums of his heart overshadowed everything.

    Doesn¡¯t matter.

    He plunged the blade into her chest, but a rib stopped it from reaching too deeply. The pain seemed to have worked regardless, as that mild pressure he felt when nearing her vanished.

    ¡®Now,¡¯ he ordered Dawn, who immediately responded by impaling all four limbs with branches, wrapping them around to make sure even a loss of connection wouldn¡¯t allow her to escape. ¡®Could¡¯ve just killed her.¡¯

    ¡®Later,¡¯ the duck answered. Elijah didn¡¯t press the matter, downing a vial of liquid Sundrop extract. It burned in his throat, yet his shoulder began to heal regardless.

    With his vision fully returned, he could see the rest of the fight.

    Surprisingly, it was¡­ over already. The Dreamweaver still looked somewhat alive, with chunks of her flesh ripped out all over her body and with some noises leaving her mouth.

    Aleksi lived as well, though his armor had been torn apart in the half-minute Elijah had been distracted, and there were a sizable amount of cuts and injuries on him. The deeper cut on his head, starting at his nose and going through the right eye, was especially disheartening.

    Yet he was better off than Fang, the other giant lying motionless with his head removed from his body. There was still a bit of tensing, the elixir trying to keep the corpse alive, but it would stop soon enough.

    We¡¯ve won.

    Ignoring the screams of pain from the redhead, he went over to Aleksi to check on the injuries a little more closely.

    ¡°You alright?¡± he asked in reflex, frowning at the half-formed eye that turned to look at him. While the left had survived, the pupil on the right was entirely gone. Could the elixir fix such a thing? It could bring back much of a limb if required, but the more delicate organs had a¡­ substantial amount of tolerance for what the elixir deemed acceptable condition.

    ¡°I¡¯m seeing endless flashing on the right side, and my heart might kill me in a few minutes, but I¡¯m fine otherwise,¡± Aleksi dryly replied, looking down at the body of the other giant once again. Elijah didn¡¯t bother waiting for permission as he pulled out some healing paste from his satchel, covering the largest of the cuts on Aleksi¡¯s chest with it. The regained ability to breathe was instantly notable. ¡°Nearly had me, at the end. Had to kick the axe away and take the head in one go.¡±

    ¡°Cost you an eye to do that?¡± he guessed, getting a nod back. ¡°Figured. Want the pleasure of killing the others, or should I have Dawn do it?¡±

    From what he was sensing through the Animal Bond, she was craving to do it about as much as those Nightmares had been.

    ¡°If you¡¯re offering, I won¡¯t mind getting a bit of frustration out,¡± Aleksi supposed, picking up his axe again and walking towards the fallen Dreamweaver. She looked terrible, with the patches of torn-off flesh bleeding heavily, but she was still lucid enough to see them approaching. ¡°Thanks for letting me see the old bastard one more time.¡±

    The axe was raised without much more ceremony, and the eyes of the old woman widened.

    ¡°Wait!¡± she screamed. Only when Elijah seemed interested did Aleksi stop the falling blade. ¡°You want information? I can give it! I can tell you everything you want to hear!¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°From what your big friend said before, you never saw your client¡¯s face,¡± Elijah pointed out. ¡°What information can you possibly give us if you don''t even know what your client looks like?¡±

    ¡°Rubeus Hayes, second-in-command at the Academy,¡± the Dreamweaver spat out, coughing blood from the strain of speaking. ¡°He hides his face when we meet at the Lionheart Inn. Down here, nobody bothers with it. I have every face of every person involved memorized. Not their names but their faces.¡±

    Aleksi didn¡¯t need to be told the bad news. He¡¯d already lowered his axe, in favor of pulling out a certain piece of paper. Elijah handed him a pencil, and he scribbled down a quick note about their current situation. It didn¡¯t follow the agreed rules of symbols, but that hardly mattered. Vera needed to know she needed to get down here now, and that she needed to have contracts ready.

    ¡°I give the truth. You let us live,¡± the Dreamweaver demanded, looking up at them with completely blackened eyes. ¡°Is it a deal, Hound?¡±

    ¡°Verbal agreements are for the Fae,¡± Elijah answered when Aleksi just looked down at the woman silent. ¡°We prefer it in written form. Now, stay still while I make sure you don¡¯t bleed out too quickly.¡±

 Chapter 68: Reveal The Truth

    Curses were launched at him when he forced the wounds to close rapidly, through a mix of Sundrop extract and various other ointments. It wasn¡¯t close to enough to actually heal her, the wounds still severe enough by the end that she could very well die within a few days from internal bleeding, but it would be good enough for now,

    ¡®Stabilize the other one, Dawn,¡¯ Elijah sent to the duck. She wasn¡¯t very happy about that, but his pleas and promises to find new plants for her won her over. With the urging of the Dreamweaver to put down the ¡®effect,¡¯ the roots grew within the redhead¡¯s body and healed the worst of the wounds. ¡°Now that we¡¯re not actively trying to kill each other, I have to ask. What exactly is your Affinity?¡±

    The young woman looked up at him with pure contempt and pain, not uttering a word. Maybe it was because of the branches still impaling her arms and legs, keeping her restrained in the name of their safety. Elijah didn¡¯t really care, putting a foot in the left leg and letting his weight slowly push it into the branch.

    A scream left her. It was awful to bear witness to, yet Elijah found himself empty of empathy for them. Remnants of his old life caused such a regression of personal growth, he supposed, or maybe it was the fact that she¡¯d been relishing in his suffering a few minutes before.

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask you again because I¡¯m polite,¡± he began. ¡°What¡¯s your Affinity?¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°It¡¯s Antimancy,¡± the redhead revealed the instant he raised his boot once again.

    ¡°Good to know,¡± Elijah replied, getting confirmation it wasn¡¯t just some artifacts. ¡°Understand that, if you try using this gift of yours again, I¡¯ve got the duck ready to hollow out your skull.¡±

    ¡®Can I really do that?¡¯ Dawn asked.

    ¡®No, just tighten the branches if she tries to do anything funny,¡¯ he said, instantly shooting down that line of thought. ¡®We need them both alive, to make all of this work.¡¯

    A few minutes after the initial discussion, they had been sent a reply from Vera about her coming over as fast as possible. It took an hour and a half for that to actually happen, the entire duration spent in relative silence as nobody wished to remember the presence of the others. Some noise did start up when Vera and Harper finally came, though.

    ¡°You took your time,¡± Elijah commented. ¡°Running here can¡¯t have taken more than forty minutes.¡±

    ¡°I invite you to try writing out two incredibly detailed contracts within such a short time frame,¡± Vera fired back, mildly out of breath and red in the face as she inspected the Dreamweaver and Antimancer from a distance. ¡°Is the headless one their leader?¡±

    ¡°Seems like more of a shared position between him and her,¡± Aleksi replied, nodding his head towards the old woman. ¡°She was the one to offer information, so she hopefully knows everything he did.¡±

    ¡°And more,¡± the Dreamweaver added from her place on the ground. The black eyes narrowed when she looked at the well-dressed Vera. ¡°You¡¯re no Mage.¡±

    The Princess chuckled at the comment.

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem to know everything,¡± she countered, before going down on one knee before the woman. ¡°Elijah, could you free one of her arms? I need her to sign in some official manner if this is supposed to work.¡±

    He sent the request along to Dawn, who immediately retracted the branch in the Dreamweaver¡¯s forearm. A bit of Healing Paste stopped the bleeding that came from it, while also allowing enough muscle to regrow to allow her to move her fingers around.

    ¡°What am I signing?¡± she asked, accepting a pencil with her shaky hand. The paper was still held by Vera, however, as the princess was not ready for somebody to copy Elijah¡¯s previous stunt. ¡°This is¡­ No, you can¡¯t¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ah, so you can recognize Leximancy,¡± Vera commented. ¡°Then I guess I won¡¯t need to explain how binding this truly is. When you sign this, which you will, you will be unable to lie to me, you will be unable to betray me, and you will follow my orders no matter what they might be. It only lasts for five years, since there¡¯s no chance of that being permanent, but that hardly matters for somebody your age. Now, please get that hand moving. The ground is ruining the color of my pants.¡±

    The Dreamweaver seemed ready to spit at the princess, but the edge of Aleksi¡¯s axe convinced her to shakily sign the contract.

    Both the old woman and Vera had a sharp intake of breath, Elijah briefly able to see a sizable chunk of Mana leaving the latter as the agreement became a binding one.

    ¡°Same goes for you, young one,¡± Vera said, walking over to the Antimancer. ¡°Your trick won¡¯t work on this contract when it¡¯s signed, so you¡¯re not leaving my side for a while, but think of the benefits. In five years¡¯ time, you¡¯ll be free again. Maybe. Depends on whether you¡¯ll admit to wanting to kill me before the contract expires¡­ Try not to think about it. Just sign and let me stand up again.¡±

    Some rather rude words left the redhead in response, but a bit more convincing made her sign the contract regardless. While Elijah was still rather worried about them being able to break free of the binding, Vera didn''t seem to share that fear.

    ¡°I might not have the ability to word the contracts as well as the Fae, but the power to bind them is the same,¡± she assured him. ¡°Once they have been bound, even death has a hard time releasing you.¡±

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ¡°That¡¯s a horrifying thing to hear,¡± Elijah muttered, which the princess ignored without an inkling of shame. ¡°Order them not to hurt any of us, and I¡¯ll deal with the rest of their injuries.¡±

    Vera did as much, making sure it was worded so no abilities would influence them either. While she was completely covered and protected by the contract, everybody else wasn''t given that privilege. A way to simplify the writing process perhaps, but Elijah thought it more likely to be due to her lacking trust in them.

    He didn¡¯t blame her for it.

    Since the Dreamweaver, who he learned was called Fade, had the same area of expertise as him, he only did the minimum amount of treatment for her. It was mostly focused around reversing the ruthless destruction Dawn had caused her in the right leg, the insides of the limb utterly ruined. It was only the fact that so little had been actually consumed, most of the physical matter merely stretched or ripped apart, that he was able to somewhat put it all back together and have it working. The rest of the injuries, the ones that could be dealt with through the healing paste alone, she was made to deal with herself.

    Dawn had already helped considerably with the thief, roots traveling the body and stopping the bleeding that had come from Elijah¡¯s failed attempt at putting a dagger into their heart. Thinking back on the fight, it was good that he had given up after hitting the rib. While he liked to think he¡¯d improved somewhat, he wasn¡¯t going to save somebody from a pierced heart just yet.

    ¡°There we go,¡± Vera commented, looking the two over and seeing no injuries that needed to be dealt with anymore. ¡°I¡¯d start out by ordering you to reveal everything you know about this whole headache of an operation, but it¡¯s dangerously close to morning and I need all of you out here before others come around, so we¡¯re going to do this quickly. Does anybody other than you know that the two are hidden on this floor and is there anything else you think is important that can help us win against whoever your boss is that I should know right now?¡±

    A long-winded question, but one that made sense to get over with.

    ¡°We revealed to Rubeus Hayes that the last place we hadn¡¯t looked yet was within the Dungeon. We¡¯re meant to report to him in two days about what we¡¯ve found, so until then it is unlikely that anybody will go down here and check for themselves,¡± Fade replied instantly. That wasn¡¯t good, though the two days of relative safety weren''t terrible to have. It meant they would have to move the young adults after that time, but until then their hiding spot would remain somewhat secure. ¡°And what you need to know above everything else is that the Royal Mage isn¡¯t the leader of it all.¡±

    ¡°Who is it then?¡± Vera asked.

    ¡°One of the Princes. Rubeus knows but he¡¯s only referred to him as the ¡®Bastard Prince¡¯ in our presences so I can¡¯t say which of them it is,¡± the Dreamweaver explained.

    At that moment, it would¡¯ve been possible to hear a single pin hit the floor.

    ¡°... Of course, it¡¯s one of those two idiots,¡± Vera muttered, adding a few rude words under her breath before regaining her calm. ¡°Something to think about after getting some Phoenix Drops to wake me up. Follow me.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear? The Royals are involved in this,¡± Fade exclaimed, clearly not knowing who she was chewing out.

    ¡°I¡¯m the Princess, so I knew that from the start.¡±

    That shut the Dreamweaver up, the realization hitting her harder than the Radiant Wailweed could have dreamt of doing during the fight before.

    Since the two criminals knowing the location didn''t matter anymore, they were led to the hidden cave where Elijah was able to relay the news about the fight and the unknown message on the paper. There was a bit of frustration at that, though the knowledge the duo only had about two days inside the Dungeon before they would be moved over somewhere else did improve their moods a bit.

    Not having the time to talk much, the cave was closed off again, and the group moved out of the Dungeon. No difficulties were had, and they went through the city without anybody noticing them. Moving as such a large group did hamper their speeds a bit, especially with the recently injured and Aleksi¡¯s slowed movement as the main chunk of Elixir began to run out.

    Elijah could see how it was taking a toll on the giant now, the man frowning every second that he thought nobody was looking at him. He was hiding the pains that came about, hiding the weakness that made his hands shake, and Elijah could see it wasn¡¯t getting any better.

    ¡®Can you handle going to the castle before we find medication?¡¯ he signaled to the giant, getting a nod in reply. He wasn¡¯t sure he believed it, yet Elijah decided against his better judgment to trust Aleksi in this.

    Twenty more minutes passed them by, and they were able to enter the castle, through the small halls, and into one of the still-empty meeting rooms.

    ¡°The sun will be rising in an hour or two, so let¡¯s get this over with quickly,¡± Vera said, looking at the time. It was nearing five in the morning, and everybody was starting to feel the effects of that fact. Elijah especially was starting to have doubts regarding his own ability to be here, only the tea handed to him keeping him awake. ¡°Tell us everything we need to hear.¡±

    Fade instantly began repeating what Elijah and Aleksi had already been told. So many years ago, she had been a part of the Death Squad sent into the country to disrupt the food production and fear and chaos amongst the smaller villages. Here, she had acted in a slightly higher-ranked position than Elijah, overseeing the production of the Elixir and other concoctions, only directly working on a few of the variants herself.

    Fang had a similar story, being one of the lead berserkers who answered directly to her. A brute but one with enough mind to know his worth to his country, which allowed her to bring him along when she fled the Death Squad at the end of the war.

    Together, they took up mercenary work, killing and looting for coins to afford to make more Elixir. During this time, they killed enough people to stumble upon Fox, a kid whose parents had been killed in the chaos that still wrecked the landscape years after the war. As she¡¯d carried the gift of Antimagic, she¡¯d been brought along to help kill any troublesome mages.

    ¡°Those idiots can be too trusting when it comes to barriers made with Mana,¡± Fox supplied with a grin, not bothered by anything explained about her past. There was no empathy in those young eyes either, which made Elijah shudder. They were just an empty husk. ¡°One poke with my finger and it all broke down. Made it so easy to stab them.¡±

    ¡°Skip ahead a few years,¡± Vera ordered, the Princess having grown tired of the overly detailed past. ¡°When did you start working with Rubeus Hayes?¡±

    ¡°We were approached by an associate around a year ago, regarding a long-term guarding job,¡± Fade continued. ¡°Good incentives in gold, gave easier access to markets which sold the herbs I needed to brew, and the payout only became higher as the months progressed.¡±

    ¡°What were you guarding?¡±

    ¡°Mostly the hidden entrance to the dungeon, over in the slums. Every other week or so, however, we were down in the depths standing by, in case their roulette wheel of a summoning ritual decided to collapse on itself,¡± the Dreamweaver said, to which Vera immediately ordered more information. What did they mean? ¡°That¡¯s where the two humans have come from. The summoned creatures are then used as sacrifices to summon even more powerful creatures. Somewhere along the line, people had to start appearing, and we¡¯ve reached that point now.¡±

    A positive feedback loop.

 Chapter 69: A Race Against Time

    ¡°Sorry, I just have to make sure I understand this correctly,¡± Vera said. ¡°You have been helping guard dozens of Royal Mages who had been performing illegal summoning for a year?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Fade confirmed. ¡°And last week, our work expanded into escorting two of the summoned from the slums to the Royal Mage district, while the other Royal Mages moved all the equipment into their normal district once again.¡±

    ¡°Why move everything now?¡± Elijah questioned.

    ¡°Prince demanded that the final summoning be performed close to the castle,¡± she supplied. ¡°He wanted to be there when whatever monster would secure their rule over this country was brought onto the surface of this world.¡±

    ¡°So they were one step away from finishing a year¡¯s worth of illegal work,¡± Vera commented. ¡°No wonder they want those two otherworlders back.¡±

    She seemed lost in thought, putting together a puzzle that had been sitting in her head for so long, so Elijah decided to continue with some other questions in the meantime.

    ¡°Why did you betray them while escorting the two?¡± he asked. ¡°Sudden burst of sympathy?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Fade assured him, the Dreamweaver almost looking ready to laugh at the mere suggestion. ¡°The Royal Mage who came with us, a man skilled in the act of Puppeteering, criticized our work and assured us we would be paid nothing for our efforts in the end. Fang was rather annoyed by the suggestion, the Mage didn''t take our replies well and got a little aggressive, so Fox made sure he couldn¡¯t fight back while our favored giant cut them in half. Since we didn''t need those two after that, we simply went back to an inn, ate and drank, and were prepared to leave the city when the gates opened up if not for Rubeus stopping us.¡±

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have repeated the earlier trick with this man as well?¡±

    ¡°He didn¡¯t fall for it,¡± Fox complained. ¡°I need a second to focus on a person, so he just hit me faster than that. An edge to the throat was very convincing, and the fact that he, uh, what could he do again?¡±

    ¡°When we were first hired, we had trackers embedded in our flesh,¡± Fade explained when the redhead couldn¡¯t. ¡°They¡¯re able to be used to track our locations any time he wishes, which means we wouldn¡¯t be able to hide if we ran.¡±

    ¡°But if we kill him now, he won¡¯t be able to find us and it¡¯ll be less of a problem for you,¡± Vera added, which the Dreamweaver confirmed. ¡°Another layer of complexity¡­ We can¡¯t kill him until we know which of my brothers is a part of this. Did Rubeus ever describe the ¡®Bastard Prince,¡¯ as you called him?¡±

    ¡°He kept being criticized as easy to anger, not able to do much so far up his ass, easily becoming resentful, but having enough influence to get Rubeus all the materials that he needed to work without questions starting up,¡± the Dreamweaver explained, making one thing very clear very fast.

    ¡°Louis,¡± Elijah concluded, Vera not disagreeing with him in the slightest. It was a strange thing to hear since the man third in line for the crown had already interacted with Sasha at the brothel, but perhaps he simply hadn¡¯t known what they looked like at the time. ¡°That should make things easier, I assume? Kill or incapacitate him, and then you¡¯re free to deal with the Royal Mages as you¡¯d like.¡±

    Fade still didn¡¯t know the exact names of every Royal Mage involved, which meant they would need to find a collection of pictures so she could identify every person seen in the Dungeon one by one, but that was hardly any serious cost. It would take some hours to do, but it was still far better than what the alternative game of guessing had been.

    ¡°You talk as if I would have no difficulty orchestrating the deaths of my own brothers,¡± Vera accused Elijah in mock offense, keeping the facade for a few seconds before regaining her smile and shaking her head. ¡°If I could do it before the sun was upon us, I would have, but there¡¯s a slight issue with that idea. Harper?¡±

    ¡°The second Prince has not been seen on the castle premises since yesterday night,¡± the Illusionist explained, looking through several documents that had appeared from thin air. ¡°While his guards have assured any who asked for him that he is simply lying sick in his room, my own searches have revealed he is nowhere in the castle. Neither have we heard any mentions of him in the upper district.¡±

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    ¡­ That made things more complicated.

    ¡°Gone into hiding?¡± Elijah guessed, the others not disagreeing with the idea. ¡°Then it¡¯s become a race against time. We have to find him before they find Jack and Sasha.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s during days like these, that I wish I had implanted trackers on my brothers as well,¡± Vera muttered. ¡°No matter. We can¡¯t change our past. I¡¯ll send out teams to search for my younger brother. The two of you, criminals that you are, will be put somewhere close to the castle until I find some use for you. Elijah and Aleksi¡­ go home and sleep. Your faces are being replaced by the dark bags under your eyes.¡±

    If he¡¯d had any ounce of energy left in his body, Elijah would have questioned the orders. Instead, tiredness won him over, reasoning with him that they had nothing to offer as the two headed out of the castle and back to their shop to rest.

    Elijah was able to get the giant inside and lock the door before Aleksi collapsed on the ground.

    ¡®Dawn.¡¯

    His words made the duck appear in a flash, already using her reduced reserves to grow roots inside the giant to help with the extensive damage. The man¡¯s heart wasn¡¯t beating as it should¡¯ve, the steady rhythm ruined and the rest of the body suffering from it. Elijah could feel it, could see it, as the elixir that had kept Aleksi so strong actively tried to overadjust in an effort to make balance, yet it just kept swinging things more and more out of balance.

    ¡°Calm breaths,¡± Elijah ordered more for his own sake than Aleksi¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s going to be alright.¡±

    ¡°You can shove your alright up your¡ª¡± Aleksi began before taking in a breath sharply. Dawn¡¯s roots had found the heart, along with its size. Elijah knew for a fact that it hadn¡¯t been that enlarged the last time he¡¯d taken a look. ¡°That didn¡¯t feel good.¡±

    ¡°If it felt good, something would have been very wrong,¡± he replied, getting a breathless laugh out of the giant as they both worked together to get him into the laboratory. Aleksi couldn¡¯t walk by himself, and Elijah had no chance of dragging the giant himself. ¡°Stay there.¡±

    ¡°You expect me to move if I feel the need?¡± Aleksi joked, letting Elijah know of the swelling in his chest and the increased difficulty in breathing. Dawn likewise let him know a moment later that it was all bleeding and leaking inside.

    Of course, it is.

    ¡°Swallow this,¡± Elijah ordered, shoving a handful of pills into the giant¡¯s mouth. Tears could be seen in Aleksi¡¯s eyes, but he ignored it as he gave him some water to help get it all down. ¡°I need them to work now, so this is going to be mildly painful.¡±

    Just as he had done many times before, he ignored the pain that came from his work as he connected to the swallowed pills inside the giant. Threads of Mana were forced through sensitive issues, which caused muscles to flex on instinct, but he continued on until he was able to command the herbs that had been consumed.

    ¡®Help,¡¯ he ordered, and the mindless medicine obeyed as best as it could. The blood was allowed to absorb them faster than ever, letting the residue travel through to the bleeding heart. There, they were further enhanced by Elijah¡¯s touch, letting the heart slow down to a normal pace and reducing the pace of the swelling.

    ¡®Dawn,¡¯ he sent the duck, granting her most of his remaining Mana so she could keep up the work of repairing the broken tissues. She didn''t possess the incredible resources that she had down in the Dungeon, which meant she was running low so stupidly quickly. She was weak like him now, yet that wasn¡¯t allowed here. They needed this to work.

    And work it did, though it wasn¡¯t completely effective. Aleksi could breathe, but it was in shallow breaths, and though he could stand it was with shaky legs and even shakier hands. It was an effort to venture up the stairs, one that Elijah had to help with, but they survived the journey regardless.

    ¡°Here we thought that you could handle the Elixir with the new medicine you were shoving down your throat,¡± Elijah commented, making sure the giant was comfortable in his own bed. Aleksi looked so pale, his skin cold to the touch instead of being the impossibly hot furnace it usually was. ¡°I¡¯m not sure you can survive another dose.¡±

    ¡°A shame,¡± Aleksi replied, sending him a grin. It was forced, given through pain but appreciated regardless. ¡°Let¡¯s hope it won¡¯t be needed.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°You absolute fool,¡± he muttered, leaving the bedside before bringing up water and medicine on the off-chance it would be needed while they rested. ¡°I¡¯ll tell Lugh you¡¯ll be resting tomorrow, so sleep well.¡±

    ¡°Won¡¯t have to tell me twice,¡± the giant assured him, the snoring already starting up by the time Elijah was able to feel his head on his pillow. He didn¡¯t complain about the sound, however. That Aleksi still drew breath was enough for him to find comfort.

    Elijah couldn¡¯t be sure how long it would last, after all. The time was growing thin.

 Chapter 70: Rubeus Hayes

    When morning came, the rays of the sun shooting into his eyes, Rubeus was forced to leave his bed. His back had a few aches, but a few muttered spells cleared up the worst of the pains. A cup of tea, a potion mixed in, fixed the rest, and he could stand at his full height feeling ten years younger.

    Breakfast was a simple dish of sausages, eggs, ham, toast with plenty of butter, and some beans on the side to make his doctor feel heard. Another cup of tea was served alongside it, this one enjoyed to its fullest as Rubeus allowed the growing heat to warm his bones properly.

    The purple robe to signify his position was donned, the Royal Mage feeling a new air as he looked in the mirror. His beard had grown longer without his notice, making him mutter a few more spells to adjust it to the painting he had next to him. The hairs on the top of his head received the same treatment, a servant cleaning up the strands as he left his quarters behind.

    Such a bright sun, such a fine day, yet I still feel the itch.

    Rubeus didn¡¯t scowl as he walked down the street, greeting those who were happy to meet him on their morning treks, yet he idly wondered what had gone wrong for him to feel this way. Had he drunk too much the night before? No, that couldn¡¯t be. It¡¯d only been two ales, each just a medium in strength, and he had consumed a potion before bed to stop any chance of a morning headache.

    Yet it was still there, pinging him every few seconds from the back of his head.

    It was only when he reached the seventh floor of the building for experimental laboratories that he figured out the truth. Inside his laboratory, hidden under a small pile of various gizmos and side-projects he needed to start back up on some time, was a map that glowed in a deep orange color.

    One of them is dead.

    He idly remembered how he¡¯d muttered his wish for the deaths of the White Fangs last night. The world had apparently heard him, as Fang, the leader of the trio, had succumbed to some injury or another. By what the map couldn¡¯t say. It had been inside the Dungeon, though the exact floor couldn¡¯t be specified. The fact that he could see it was there at all meant that the death had occurred in the upper half of the Dungeon, yet anything more was impossible to discern.

    ¡°Should¡¯ve spent another week on this,¡± Rubeus muttered absentmindedly, wishing he had invested the needed time to make the map holographic so he could observe it in three dimensions instead of this top-down nonsense. ¡°No matter. Where are the other two¡­¡±

    Surprisingly close to the castle, inside one of the gated areas where he couldn¡¯t enter without the permission of a Royal or one of the highest-ranked servants. Annoying, though that begged the question of how they had managed to get inside. The darkness of the night perhaps? Their location was in the corner of one of the storage rooms, where none would look without being ordered to, so Rubeus wouldn¡¯t be surprised by that, yet¡­ there was likewise the chance of another party being involved.

    Fang, fool and annoyance that he was, wasn¡¯t a weakling. Rubeus wouldn¡¯t have hired the old mercenary if he was. Could he still have died to the drakes that came right before the halfway mark in the Dungeon? Perhaps, but he felt that it wasn¡¯t the case.

    What if¡­

    Muttering words he hadn¡¯t in many years, Rubeus began to search through the history of the laboratory he stood in. It was a slow process, when not helped along by the Mana-Density of the Dungeon, but his reserves were strong enough for something as simple as this.

    With a twist of his fist, time began to reverse. Not literally, what he saw around him was merely a projection of the past, but it didn''t matter to him. Rubeus didn¡¯t need to interact with anybody who¡¯d been here directly. He just needed to know that they had been here at all.

    He started a full day back at first, seeing himself and Grace working on their own projects. He¡¯d left not long after, with the usual excuse of managerial meetings. She always believed that, not questioning it too deeply, so it had become a frequent reason for his early departures.

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    Nothing here yet, however.

    Time flowed faster for a moment, hours passing until the chime was heard and Elijah Ceade stepped into the picture. Not a surprise, since Grace had already mentioned his visit along with what they¡¯d talked about.

    But was she telling the truth? Rubeus bent his left index finger just a little and allowed the recorded sound to be replayed for his own ears.

    ¡°¡ª and while the macro-scale operations of the secondary matrix can be seen as giving only an approximate of the actual solution, getting seven digits of importance is so close to the real solution that it can be used without having to use the full formula anyway, which is very good since that full formula requires a set of operations which grow in numbers exponentially with the increase of the ¡ª¡±

    He turned off the sound once again, believing Grace¡¯s words completely at that. If there was one thing and one thing only that apprentice of his was good at, it was talking at length about a project that should¡¯ve been easily completed in a few weeks and not so many months that had already been spent. At least she had the spirit to continue through the struggles, showing off a great work ethic that he was happy to have around.

    Maybe I¡¯ll keep her as a general assistant when she gets rejected by the council.

    Rubeus skipped through the rest of the time with the Wind Mage in the room. He noticed they briefly moved over to his area, but it was barely for a few minutes and they left soon after anyway. It all fit together with his own experience of meeting them at Elijah¡¯s store not long after that.

    So they hadn¡¯t messed around with anything. Good to know.

    But then¡­ if Grace hadn¡¯t returned to the laboratory later that day, then why did his sensor record somebody entering during the early night?

    Skipping ahead to that hour, he noted the door opening the smallest fraction before closing once more. In the room¡¯s recollection, he could see nobody moving through, yet steps did appear on the ground where they had walked.

    Somebody in the city has the gift of invisibility.

    Not just the common Mage¡¯s invisibility either, since Rubeus¡¯ protections would¡¯ve dug through that and revealed the person¡¯s identity instantly. No¡­ whoever had walked through his laboratory had been both powerful and protected from his abilities.

    ¡°What did you do, rogue?¡± he questioned as he followed the steps around the laboratory. They had only spent five minutes inside, yet those five minutes had been spent without a moment¡¯s peace. They checked through his shelves, shuffled around his papers, and seemed to have even inspected some of the side projects on his desk.

    Rubeus wasn¡¯t shocked by that, since many would love to steal his works, but it was when they went to the corner table that held the tea bags and other refreshments that he truly began to feel anger brewing inside him. And when they opened it all up, inserting some liquid inside them before closing it up again and leaving, his heart began to at twice its normal speed. After making sure they did nothing more before leaving the laboratory behind again, Rubeus went to study what had been done.

    The few Spells in the field of identifying liquids without tools he knew told him everything he needed to know.

    ¡°A poison to cause severe illness, yet not one serious enough to be lethal when consumed in this amount,¡± Rubeus murmured. Somebody wanting him dead wouldn¡¯t have gone to such lengths, and they certainly wouldn''t have used something so weak. ¡°Enough to pause my work yet not enough to arouse suspicion.¡±

    Truthfully, it would have worked. If he had gained a serious fever now of all times, Rubeus would not have questioned it in the slightest. His recent days had been the perfect example of overworking an old body, using Mana at speeds he should¡¯ve allowed the youth to do, and his sleep hadn¡¯t exactly been as full of peace as it could¡¯ve. If he had suffered a fever, he would¡¯ve allowed another to take over until he was recovered and ready to perform a ritual without fear of messing it up.

    The perfect plan for somebody wishing to delay his plans.

    Somebody had caught onto him. Somebody with powerful people behind them. One of the other Royal Mages? A possibility, yet he feared it was somebody outside his nearest circle as well.

    And with the death of Fang, his plans were starting to truly be threatened.

    The Dungeon.

    That ritual needed to hurry up and be ready, so he could finish what he had started.

 Chapter 71: Tending to The King

    Elijah had slept until two in the afternoon, skipping past his earlier duties as the Royal Healer but feeling no shame in the actions. For once, his body didn¡¯t feel terrible as he stepped out of his bed, his back not hurting as much as it had the day before. Getting eight hours of sleep had helped him more than he thought possible.

    Aleksi was still out like a rock, however. The giant was awoken briefly to make sure there were no obvious problems, but, after getting him to eat a little along with taking some more medicine, he was allowed to return to bed once again. Seeing the giant falling asleep at the table had been a rather entertaining sight, though getting him back upstairs had been a struggle for them both.

    With his own hunger sated, another hour had passed before he reached the castle. Lugh had been visited before he could reach the royal estate, so he could warn the man about Aleksi¡¯s ¡®sickness.¡¯ No complaints had come from the muscle-bound smith, wishing the giant a swift recovery and being clear that he should not return until a time when had returned to full health. Risking anything at their age wasn¡¯t a good idea, after all.

    If only you knew.

    The guards hadn¡¯t questioned his entry once he finally did reach the castle, just waving him in before he could show his emblem. They seemed to be remembering him properly now, barely looking his way. He didn¡¯t mind it.

    ¡°It hasn¡¯t been a week yet, Elijah, and you¡¯re already abusing your status to come in late,¡± Mary commented the second he entered the laboratory. The smell of cut-up garlic was instant, almost enough to make his eyes water. ¡°It¡¯s for an allergy shot, for one of the noble families. The dinner served yesterday night triggered a reaction, and they would rather be rid of the affliction than deal with it for the rest of their lives.¡±

    ¡°A fair opinion, but that shouldn¡¯t stop you from allowing so much liquid to be wasted,¡± Elijah replied, cleaning his hands before moving over and showing off how to properly macerate the vegetable before shredding to reduce the lost effectiveness. ¡°It does not matter as much with this, but if you keep this up with other ingredients like it, you could end up using double the quantity to end up with the same amount of final product. Understand?¡±

    They did, improving significantly in the following minutes. Elijah made a few more comments about their technique and such, giving Oscar plenty of pointers with his own batch as well before moving on to his other duties. There were five or so patients to treat that day, along with a dozen who wanted to meet with him in the next week, so he got to work cleaning out that list as fast as possible.

    It was nothing serious. More broken bones, more general sickness and fevers, and finally one of the older generation that had managed to gain a throat infection which Elijah managed to remove then and there with the help of some peppermint-infused water along with some magical enhancement to speed up the process. Nothing too serious, and certainly nothing he was worried about seeing again.

    If anything, it was the paperwork that frightened him. Much of it could be delegated to the assistants since their word carried as far as his in most cases, but updating the documentation for each patient was to be done by his own hand. Why it was such a complicated mess to get done, however, he didn¡¯t understand.

    Elijah was here to help patients. He was not here to write the same twenty words a hundred times over, and especially not give off those little comments that were so damned cryptic that¡ª

    ¡°Message for Royal Healer Elijah Caede!¡±

    A voice he didn¡¯t recognize brought him out of his rant-fueled writing. At the door stood a younger man, a messenger by the look of his outfit and what he¡¯d said.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Elijah questioned, taking the chance to sip at his tea. He¡¯d been busy enough that it had started growing a little cold. How annoying.

    ¡°His Royal Highness is requesting your presence at your earliest convenience. He promises that¡­ ¡± the messenger stated, reading aloud from the scroll he¡¯d brought along before pausing. He frowned at the words, mouthing them before regaining his composure. ¡°He promises that the family reunion will be a sight to see.¡±

    Oh, right, that was meant to be starting around now. Maybe even an hour before, but Elijah''s reference for time had been destroyed so he hadn¡¯t realized at all. Perhaps an effect of him waking up after lunch was meant to have been eaten?

    A mystery for another time, as he bid his assistants farewell and left all of the remaining work to them once again. They didn¡¯t mind, of course, as dealing with the King was his duty above everything else.

    And, sometimes, dealing with the King meant eating luxurious food, drinking expensive alcohol, and watching as gossip was traded amongst the high-ranking people of the country.

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    Today¡¯s meeting wasn¡¯t far from that expectation either. When the guards opened the door into the King¡¯s chambers, he was granted the sight of several already sitting by the table, telling the others some rather immature things.

    ¡°I know for a fact that you ruined his bedsheets with mud after he snitched about you stealing cake from the kitchen,¡± Vera argued, responding to some comment from her older brother. All the while, Alin and Mason laughed at the two siblings arguing over something that had occurred a decade before, as if it was a matter of life and death. ¡°Don¡¯t try to deny it! I have several witnesses I can bring up this very minute, and they will be more than happy to reveal your faults.¡±

    Prince Louis wasn¡¯t here, Elijah noted. A plate had been put out for the Prince, right on the opposite side of Elijah¡¯s own, but it was left untouched.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t we going a little too far, dear sister of mine, when you have many faults hiding in the closet as well?¡± Phillip fired back when the Princess was able to gain a rather loud chortle from their father. ¡°I certainly remember the early days, when I found some rather intriguing books under your bed.¡±

    She became white as a sheet before turning red a second later, making the others get close to laughing their lungs out.

    ¡°... Don¡¯t go into other people¡¯s rooms without permission,¡± she defended meekly, finally looking away and noticing Elijah¡¯s approach. ¡°Oh my, look who decided to show up.¡±

    An attempt to move away from the earlier topic.

    ¡°I apologize for the lateness,¡± Elijah said, trying to make a short bow before that was shut down by the King who ordered him to plant his ass on his chair. ¡°Sleep had me in its clutches for longer than I intended, and I was behind on my work until a few minutes ago.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Phillip assured him. ¡°The works of a Healer are rarely simple or easy. Who are we to judge if it takes more from you than expected?¡±

    ¡°Wise words from somebody shouting about mud mere minutes ago,¡± Mason commented, managing to make the Crown Prince grow a shade redder. ¡°But he¡¯s right. Think nothing of it, Elijah. You managed to do better than my youngest son, who you might want to inspect one of these days. He might''ve denied visits by your assistants, but if he stays cooped up in his room without leaving for much longer, I might have you take a look for me.¡±

    The son that has been missing for nearly two days now?

    Elijah didn¡¯t think it likely that he would find the prince in his room if he did go inside, and he knew it would likewise create quite the stir if that happened. From what he could sense from Vera, it was best to avoid that possibility.

    ¡°Has he not visited you at all, after your recent improvement?¡± Elijah asked, making the King¡¯s expression tighten just a little.

    ¡°Louis did briefly visit me early yesterday morning before he suddenly grew sick and locked himself in his room,¡± Mason explained, sipping his drink. Remembering that Elijah hadn¡¯t been offered any, he was granted a glass of the brandy as well. ¡°Quite the timing on that, I must say. If I had to make up a theory, I¡¯d guess he was avoiding the family meetup while being perfectly healthy.¡±

    ¡°He hasn¡¯t changed much in your absence, father,¡± Phillip added, taking a sip from his own glass. Elijah mirrored it, finding the taste better than what it had been a few days before. ¡°Still prone to his bouts of fury when things change in ways he doesn¡¯t want them to. He¡¯s just switched to avoiding us while they¡¯re happening instead of screaming his head off.¡±

    ¡°A little too much backtalk on your brother, son.¡±

    ¡°Sorry,¡± the Crown Prince said while clearly having no guilt for his words. It was shocking how suddenly the atmosphere within the chamber could grow cold, the warmth from the other stories replaced by the deafening silence of old and deep wounds being opened back up.

    Even worse was the fact that the reason for his absence was being misplaced. It wasn¡¯t because of the resentment within the family itself, or at least not the right kind of resentment, but because of the plans that the other Prince was currently helping orchestrate.

    They were able to move on to other subjects with time, of course, but the topic had already been brought up and the mood never fully recovered. Laughter and smiles could be seen, the others cracking jokes whenever one could fit in, but it was all tainted by that still-empty plate.

    ¡°While I would love to stay and chat some more, duty calls,¡± Phillip announced after an hour of sitting by the table. ¡°We¡¯ve just started a new training regiment, and it wouldn¡¯t do for the man who forced it to be absent at the first run.¡±

    ¡°Too true,¡± Alin agreed, also standing when seeing the time. ¡°I must take my leave as well, sadly. There¡¯s been a mild emergency at the Academy, so I need to take up another¡¯s paperwork for the next few days.¡±

    Two of the three still sitting perked up at that.

    Please be what I think it is.

    ¡°Emergency?¡± Vera repeated while wearing the perfect face of worry. ¡°I hope it¡¯s nothing serious.¡±

    ¡°Nothing of the sort, I assure you,¡± Alin was quick to say, not letting the fake worrying grow in strength. ¡°My second-in-command, Rubeus, believes he has eaten something he shouldn¡¯t have and is currently confined to his porcelain throne, so the general management of the Academy is being done by me until he improves.¡±

    A very kingly snort left Mason at the words.

    ¡°Try to uphold some level of respect for the Royal Mages, father,¡± Phillip scolded, Mason waving it off. ¡°Being behind closed doors shouldn¡¯t make you rude to those who serve under you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all in good fun,¡± the King assured the Crown Prince. ¡°We¡¯re in good standing with each other, and I am sure he would laugh as well if we switched shoes.¡±

    Though he didn¡¯t say it, Elijah wasn¡¯t too sure that was entirely true. The ¡®good standing¡¯ part, that is. From what that Royal Mage had helped make happen, there was a relatively good chance he would find the King¡¯s misfortune the height of comedy.

 Chapter 72: Trickery

    With how most of them would be too busy to meet up again the next day, it was decided they would come together again in a few days instead, next time with the last Prince as well. That was the hope of the King, at least. The Princess had other ideas.

    ¡°How does the search go?¡± Elijah asked, when the Princess had followed him down into his section of the castle. Instead of entering the laboratory, however, they continued ahead and went inside the Royal Healer¡¯s personal chambers, a room he had never personally visited.

    ¡°It goes well,¡± she replied vaguely, as he closed the door and stopped anybody from listening too easily. ¡°We¡¯ve gone through all the faces of the Royal Mages and identified all that have at some point been involved with the rituals.¡±

    ¡°How many?¡±

    ¡°Nearly half,¡± Vera answered, making him freeze midstep. ¡°And, to make it worse, most of them are from the older generation and in high-ranking positions. It¡¯s just Alin and a rare few others from that age group that aren¡¯t conspiring against the country.¡±

    So many¡­

    ¡°If they have such a force of Mages and power already, why haven¡¯t they just stormed the castle and taken over already?¡± Elijah questioned, taking a seat at the small table next to the bed. The sheets were neatly folded, cleaned, and ready to be put on by anybody who would occupy the room in the future, yet so many other personal possessions were still there. ¡°I doubt that the Royal Guards could hold them back by themselves.¡±

    ¡°The guards would be able to do little, but¡­ you are underestimating what Alin is capable of,¡± Vera said. ¡°He is old, he has trouble standing, but his magic might be on another scale than Rubeus¡¯. While others might reign supreme in one-on-one combat, Alin could take on armies by his lonesome. His ability to terraform on a massive scale wasn¡¯t honed through building villages if that makes it more understandable.¡±

    It was hard to take over a country when the very earth you stood on was trying to crush you. Elijah, having heard the stories of thousands of warriors drowning in stone by the Earth Mage¡¯s hand, took back his criticism.

    ¡°So they think that whatever they summon can triumph over him?¡± he questioned.

    ¡°Him and the handful of other old Mages that would fight by our side in the event of an attempted mutiny,¡± she confirmed. ¡°Even without him, the others would stand a fair chance. And even if they didn¡¯t, it would cause enough destruction that the only thing left would be a city of rubble and little life. To take over, they would need a power far greater than any Mage in this country currently possesses.¡±

    ¡°Hence a beast from another world that can stand unmatched,¡± Elijah concluded, Vera nodding before they both grew silent. Seconds stretched into minutes, and his eyes began to wander through the room. The personal possessions he¡¯d noted before were inspected in greater detail, and the wear and tear on most of them became more clear. They¡¯d been well-loved, from the books with worn leather bindings, to the pipe which had been worn thinner through decades of use, and finally, to the small telescope which sat next to the circular window that allowed you to see plenty of the night sky when the sun was gone. The last one was the most interesting of the three, however, as he could see it had been used recently. As opposed to everything else in the room, it didn¡¯t suffer from a mild layer of dust. ¡°I take it you have an interest in stargazing?¡±

    ¡°... You grow more observant by the day,¡± Vera replied, surprised for a moment at the question until she figured out his methods.

    ¡°If the only thing you touch when you enter is the telescope, it is not hard to guess that you¡¯re fascinated by the stars.¡±

    ¡°How do you know nobody else has the key to the room?¡±

    ¡°Too much of a risk, else you would¡¯ve allowed the old Healer¡¯s family to be given all the personal possessions that remain.¡±

    While he might¡¯ve had the title of a healer, it didn¡¯t stop him from conspiring to kill the King, and it wouldn¡¯t do good for the family of a traitor to realize he was such.

    ¡°I¡¯m not even meant to have a key myself,¡± Vera commented after a few seconds, before pulling out the key in question. It was old, with a few smaller cracks and chipped-off edges at the side. ¡°Only the Royal Healer and his family may have one, but¡­ I was special. Reynold knew I wanted the telescope, to look out into the sky and be told about its wonders, so he gave me a key so I could use it whenever I felt the need.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it have been easier to simply buy you another telescope?¡±

    ¡°They tried,¡± she admitted. ¡°But it turned out that the magical part came from the explanations, so Reynold was forced to assist either way. By using his, it meant I didn¡¯t have to go through the pain of adjusting the settings. It was easier that way.¡±

    She continued on, giving small bits of history about her and the old Healer. Some parts were good, some were bad, and some half-stories seemed more made for the princess than they were for Elijah. It was strange, sitting in the dead man¡¯s room and listening to it all, but whatever else in this world didn¡¯t possess that strange charm as well?

    ¡°Why haven''t you taken out the telescope at some point?¡± Elijah finally asked. ¡°The old Healer isn¡¯t using it anymore, and I can promise you that the stars are not in my field of interest.¡±

    If he wanted a meditative state that he found relaxing, he would start gardening and not look through a lens for five hours trying to find the right angle of the moon.

    ¡°Taking the old items feels a little wrong, don¡¯t you think?¡± Vera countered, giving out a smile at the thought. A real smile for once, and not one of those fake ones she used to unnerve those who knew of its lacking authenticity. ¡°Not something a moral and upright princess would go about doing.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re plotting to kill your brother the second you figure out where he¡¯s hiding,¡± Elijah dryly noted, getting a slap on the shoulder for his efforts. ¡°''Moral'' isn''t the word I would use.¡±

    ¡°The ends justify the means?¡± she tried, chuckling at the look Elijah gave in response. ¡°That was a bad one, I know, but I still like to think myself a good person. A person planning to commit a few more murders for the sake of the kingdom, yes, but it will save more lives than it will end.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t say anything against that,¡± Elijah supposed. He could remember the chaos before Serenova became official, the chaos while the war was ongoing, and the chaos that came after.

    People didn¡¯t stop having no food, people didn¡¯t stop having their lives ruined, the soldiers who gave up everything to fight were left with no battles to partake in, and a great depression flooded through the happiness as half the people of the newly founded country found themselves with no place to place their plates. Only years of work had allowed those issues to be pushed away, yet that had still required so many to die in the process.

    That was another reason the King was so praised. He was the one who didn¡¯t focus on his own wealth, on how lavish the capital city was supposed to be. Kulvik was given the basic defenses, the basic administration, and Mason had left the city within a month to go on a tour across the country with Alin by his side. Others had been left behind during that time, managing the daily tasks and getting orders through letters while the King and the Earth Mage had helped rebuild nearly a thousand villages.

    Seeing buildings that could stand hundreds of years, buildings that no storm could break, and buildings that could protect them and their harvests from the cold winter all be built in a matter of minutes had caused such an ideal view of the King. To shake his hand, to see the years of pain be repaid with the new, there was no question why the public had looked at Mason with such pride. A common man rising to the task at hand and doing it better than anybody could have ever dreamed.

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    But that¡¯s not going to last forever, is it?

    Elijah had known that from the moment he¡¯d heard of the Heartroot, and he¡¯d grown even more sure of it once he had seen the King before his own eyes. Mason was not long for this world.

    Neither was Alin. Even if the Earth Mage was in great health for his age, able to walk with a cane and eat with a great appetite, the years were still closing in. Could he live another ten years? Perhaps, but the old generation would leave sooner or later.

    ¡°What will you do, once all of this is over?¡± Elijah asked. ¡°When your father has died peacefully, when Alin joins him, and you¡¯re meant to keep on going?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ do not like to think of it,¡± Vera admitted. ¡°Hope that Phillip rules well? Maybe hope that he has the time to look at something other than his sword and find a person he loves? We need a new generation after ours, and we need them to be powerful if we¡¯re to keep what we have now.¡±

    ¡°The Royal Mages who wish you harm likely won¡¯t be a problem anymore, at that time,¡± he added. ¡°Too old to try and usurp anything of importance.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, but that won¡¯t mean that the danger is over,¡± she countered. ¡°The foes that we¡¯ve had from the start will begin to reappear. Castilla would love to have their rebelling county back, along with the hive of wealth it possesses, and Ethon¡­ the elven kingdom across the sea might¡¯ve helped us keep our independence, but they would not mind having us either if we¡¯re unable to fight back properly.¡±

    Serenova was right on the edge of the continent, settled between the sea and the giant country they had come from. Danger from both sides and not a danger that could be easily dealt with.

    ¡°Any ideas on how to keep power?¡± Elijah asked.

    ¡°Hope that the new generation of Royal Mages work hard and reach the peaks of the old?¡± Vera supposed. ¡°The Dungeon allows us to train them for war, though they haven¡¯t done so much in recent years. With peace, those with an Affinity for the magical arts don¡¯t feel the need to learn how to kill effectively. They instead wish to research, to discover the corners not yet searched through, and to broaden our knowledge of the world. A noble effort, I¡¯ll admit, but one we¡¯ll have to change very soon.¡±

    ¡°Pens can¡¯t always beat swords,¡± he commented, remembering the butchered saying from his past travels. The promises of peace rarely sat well with those who could gain from the chaos of war. ¡°And, if all else fails, you have plenty of wealth to hire mercenaries.¡±

    ¡°Having your own army is already expensive,¡± the Princess muttered, likely having gone through the budgeting for such an event. ¡°Training up your own soldiers would be better in the long term, which is something we need to prioritize when any of the countries start pushing in.¡±

    ¡®¡°We,¡¯¡± Elijah repeated. ¡°Did you mean to use that word?¡±

    ¡°We, yes,¡± Vera confirmed. ¡°You¡¯re doing great as a Royal Healer, at the moment, so I was rather confident you would stay for more than the six months you initially accepted.¡±

    A chuckle escaped him before he knew it was coming at all.

    ¡°I think you might¡¯ve misunderstood how long I plan to stick around,¡± Elijah corrected her. ¡°If Sasha wasn¡¯t being so frustrating, and refusing to leave the city behind, the others and I would¡¯ve already fled.¡±

    ¡°... You truly feel no love for this country?¡±

    ¡°No more than the love I have for Castilla,¡± he confirmed. ¡°Think of me as neutral above all else. I see what goodness drives you, and I can tell that you¡¯re a person the gods will look upon with favor, but I was never somebody like you. I lived for myself, lived to enjoy what time I had, and I am not one to sacrifice my own breath for that of another.¡±

    ¡°And yet you haven¡¯t left the city, because that would mean leaving two others behind,¡± Vera commented, making him mutter some not-so-nice words in reply. ¡°Perhaps you haven¡¯t lived most of your life with the thought of anybody but yourself, but recent times have been different. Your action of selflessness, of taking in two half-dead people you found on the street, delayed what could¡¯ve meant the end of this country. One act of good, and you¡¯ve already done better than most who will ever live. Why not continue that streak once this problem is all over?¡±

    ¡­

    Elijah didn¡¯t answer at that time. He didn¡¯t know what he could say, so he kept his mouth shut. Vera didn¡¯t press him either. Maybe she knew what thoughts she had planted in his mind to grow, maybe she was as evil as ever and manipulated him into staying, or maybe she was just pointing out the things he was already planning to do.

    Was he a good person? Looking through his entire life, Elijah would say no. He¡¯d helped with so much death and pain and torture and spilled blood. Thousands had died because of his actions, and the only things he had thought of at those times were what he would get to eat after finishing his work.

    Yet he¡¯d started to grow empathetic to those who had suffered. Many years needed to pass for those thoughts to grow, and for Elijah to realize what he was feeling, but they were there now. And, from what Vera had said, his recent actions had been what a good person would do.

    ¡­ She really is good at manipulating others, isn¡¯t she?

    Maybe that family of hers had always meant to be royals, with how smooth their tongues could be at times.

    Elijah went back to work afterward. It was nothing complicated so close to the end of the day. Some herbs were harvested, and put up to dry, and others that had already been put up two weeks before were given treatment through mortar and pestle before being put into their separate bottles. Nothing that required any thought.

    Certainly, nothing that required much time either, as Elijah was able to leave within a few hours of work. He checked in with Vera at the end, making sure the messages she sent to the two in the dungeon returned with an all-clear, before leaving for his home yet again.

    Aleksi was out of bed and sitting at the table in the kitchen when he got there.

    ¡°Still pale, I see,¡± Elijah commented, but the giant waved away the worries. ¡°Any serious discomfort?¡±

    ¡°An empty stomach, itchiness in the right eye, and I¡¯m terribly bored,¡± Aleksi rattled off. Elijah could do little about the last part, but the first two weren¡¯t hard to treat. Meats were treated with fire, potatoes were boiled, and a simple sauce was created on the side. Nothing too serious, and it was able to cool down slightly while Elijah took a look at the eye that was causing problems. ¡°How does it look?¡±

    ¡°Well, you would have to tell me,¡± Elijah replied, getting a laugh out of the man. ¡°Hold still now, or I¡¯ll be poking it out before I find anything notable.¡±

    That kept the giant quiet, allowing him to properly inspect the regrown iris. He hadn¡¯t been sure how it would heal, since it had been cut in half horizontally, but it seemed to have been a worthwhile effort. It wasn¡¯t as quick as the Elixir would have done against a knife to the chest, but progress was made regardless.

    ¡°There¡¯s still a lot of residue floating around inside,¡± he could finally confirm. ¡°You¡¯re going to be working blind for a few more days while the Elixir finally figures out how to handle it.¡±

    ¡°And if it doesn¡¯t?¡± Aleksi asked.

    ¡°Then you either deal with it, or we cut it open and see if it heals better the second time,¡± Elijah offered, getting a shove from the giant as they shuddered at the thought. ¡°You¡¯ve had your intestines pulled out before being used to try and strangle you, but it¡¯s a cut on the eye that¡¯s too much?¡±

    ¡°You try seeing a blade go through your vision,¡± the giant fired back, to which Elijah could say nothing. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought.¡±

    He just shook his head before serving the dinner for the day. It wasn¡¯t terrible, needing a little more salt, but neither felt the need to fix it. Food was food, and it filled their stomachs well enough to let them go to sleep early.

    Elijah proceeded to not move for ten full hours.

    His body had been allowed to recover some of the rest it hadn¡¯t been allowed in recent days, and it was more than happy to take all that it could. It was only the fact that he still had to upkeep his duties as a Royal Healer that he didn¡¯t return to his slumber for another ten.

    Aleksi wasn¡¯t completely ready to head to the smithy that day either, so the giant stayed to tend to the shop while Elijah hurried along once more. The guards greeted him by the entrance as normal, the servants wished him a good morning when he passed them, and his assistants¡­

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked, entering into the laboratory and seeing them hurry about. Six burners were going all at once, liquids boiling in dangerous amounts yet neither assistant doing anything to fix it. Instead, they were opening up for more flame on more stations, increasing the load that needed to be tended to.

    ¡°The Royal Guard sent out an emergency order for this afternoon,¡± Oscar explained. ¡°They want everything that can help with post-battle recovery.¡±

    ¡­

    That wasn¡¯t normal.

    They pleaded for him to stay and help, but Elijah didn¡¯t listen as he headed out instantly. Down the stairs, down two hallways, and over to Vera¡¯s section of the castle.

    He nearly went head-first into Harper who was hurrying out with widened eyes.

    ¡°You know already?¡± she questioned.

    ¡°No, but something is going on regardless,¡± Elijah answered.

    ¡°The Royal Guard entered the Dungeon twenty minutes ago while led by Rubeus Hayes.¡±

    As it turned out, they had been fooled. Vera had already sent a warning out to the two hiding deep within, but he wasn¡¯t sure what could be done.

 Chapter 73: The Last Stand

    ¡°If you had to choose, would you be a bird or a fish?¡±

    Sasha looked up from her preparations, at the inane question that left Jack.

    ¡°Is this really the time to ask about such stupid things?¡± she questioned before continuing to wrap her forearms, hands, and the bottom of her legs. It wasn¡¯t the best cloth she could be using for this, but it would have to do. ¡°Give me the other roll.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a stupid question,¡± Jack said in his defense. She just looked at him blankly, catching the bandage roll he threw at her without pause. ¡°It¡¯s an¡­ thing to get our current situation off our minds.¡±

    ¡°Ignoring our imminent death will do neither of us any favors.¡±

    The magical paper, or whatever they were calling it, had already sent through its warnings. They were supposed to be the ones sending out information about how it was going in the Dungeon, yet either Elijah or the princess had sent out the warning for an oncoming horde of people ready to capture them.

    Through either stupidity or bad luck, their hiding spot had been found. Or it would be very soon, at least, since twenty minutes had passed without the two having lost their heads.

    Need to be ready.

    ¡°I¡¯m not ignoring it,¡± Jack continued when Sasha kept focusing on getting the padding right. It had to lessen the strain on her body without reducing the impact on the others by too much. Desorption would help with most of the latter, of course, but that didn¡¯t mean the after-effects would be entirely away from her. ¡°I am just letting our minds be occupied by something else for a few seconds. Twenty-something minutes of high alert just makes you waste adrenaline, you know? When the time comes to fight, you¡¯re just gonna be sluggish.¡±

    She¡¯s already gone through the motions of stretching in preparation for a fight, and she had repeated the act every ten minutes that passed. Sasha was as ready as anybody could else in her situation, her heart pumping blood in healthy amounts to the rest of her body. She had the energy, she had the drive, and now¡­ she just needed the enemy to point her fury at.

    One which didn¡¯t seem keen on arriving very soon.

    ¡­

    Fine.

    ¡°What was the question?¡± Sasha asked.

    ¡°Would you rather be a bird or a fish?¡±

    ¡°... Bird.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because choosing fish would be idiotic?¡±

    ¡°You have to give a better answer than that,¡± Jack explained, making her frown. ¡°Give me some of that daring insight into why you¡¯d prefer the life of a bird.¡±

    Was she really doing this? It had been years since Sasha was forced into one of these games, and those times it had been with the kids who refused to leave her alone.

    Not much has changed.

    ¡°A fish can swim at the surface and be caught by fishermen or it can swim deep dark in the darkness and be caught by whatever horror is further below,¡± Sasha said, continuing at Jack¡¯s insistence. ¡°A bird can fly. It can escape with its wings, can soar above the clouds, and it can be free of most dangers.¡±

    ¡°Still has to land at some point,¡± Jack pointed out.

    ¡°And fish can never truly flee either, yet they are also constricted to whatever body of water they inhabit. Birds just fly away to another.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ fair enough.¡±

    ¡­

    She frowned at the silence.

    ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°So what?¡± Jack asked.

    ¡°Which do you choose? Sasha questioned.

    ¡°For somebody who wanted me to shut up a moment ago, you¡¯re rather keen on knowing.¡±

    ¡°I will beat your skull in.¡±

    ¡°Fine, fine, I would choose a bird as well,¡± the man confessed. ¡°Not for anything as deep as you, though. I¡¯ve just never felt the need to stay in water for too long. Whenever I swam in lakes, the plants that touched my feet just creeped me out too much. Like, you know when you¡¯re just floating in one spot and you suddenly feel something kinda slimy wrap around your ankle?¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Shit, really? There¡¯s no creepy fucks floating around in the lakes you come from?¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t know,¡± Sasha replied bluntly. ¡°I have never visited.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Jack questioned, seeming more frightened by that concept than what they were going to be facing soon. ¡°You¡¯ve never been in a lake before?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s just terrible. Pools don''t do swimming justice, with how fake they are.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never been in a pool either,¡± Sasha added, frowning at the man¡¯s look of horror. ¡°I didn¡¯t learn to swim when I was a child. Never saw the need for it later.¡±

    ¡°... If we get out of this, we¡¯re finding a place to swim.¡±

    Would she have entertained that thought normally? No. Sasha knew that at any other point in time, she would¡¯ve shut it down instantly. The thought of her touching wild waters, anything deeper than what she could stand in with ease, was horrifying, enough to make her shiver. Yet Sasha was not sure she would be able to live through any promises of the future anyway, so what did it matter?

    ¡°I don¡¯t do cold,¡± Sasha commented. ¡°It has to be somewhere where the water is warm.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s gonna be difficult¡­ But why the hell not?¡± Jack concluded with some level of satisfaction. ¡°We¡¯re leaving the city if we get out of this anyway, so there¡¯s probably some corner of this world that has that.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps.¡±

    It was her refusal to leave the city, to begin with, that had forced this scenario on their heads. Did Sasha understand that her chances of returning were slim at best? Yes, but that didn¡¯t stop some vain hope in her heart that the impossible could be realized regardless. People were waiting for her on the other side, people who depended on what she earned, people who would be forced through her own experiences if she wasn¡¯t there to grant them a normal life.

    And instead of being where she needed to be, she was here, wasting away and bringing the idiot beside her along for it. Jack could have easily lived for many years more if he had just left the city as they were advised to do. He should¡¯ve left through the gates the second it was offered, to take the protection of distance and savor it. The man had talked so much about seeing the world, so it would¡¯ve been in his best interest to start as soon as possible.

    But he didn¡¯t.

    He stayed.

    It wasn¡¯t outright loyalty or friendship making the man stay by her side. Sasha recognized it as more Jack latching onto somebody who could relate to him. The only trait they truly shared was their world of origin, yet that was enough for him to stay by her side as much as she allowed.

    So when she hadn¡¯t shot down the idea of him staying in the city with her, and refusing to flee from the danger there was, he had stayed.

    ¡°I need you to know something,¡± Sasha finally got out when the silence became too much. Jack looked up at her in response, but he said nothing. ¡°I think you¡¯re an idiot.¡±

    ¡°... That¡¯s hurtful?¡± Jack replied, one brow raised in confusion. ¡°Was already pretty confident about you thinking that, but you didn¡¯t need to point it out.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re an idiot, you shouldn¡¯t be here, but you are and I can¡¯t fix that,¡± Sasha continued. She felt a pressure in her eyes but forced it back down. Now wasn¡¯t the time for tears. ¡°I¡­ Thank you for staying here. You¡¯re an idiot for doing it, but thank you for being here with me.¡±

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    ¡°This is getting awfully sentimental,¡± came the response from the man. ¡°Do you really think that our chances are that awful?¡±

    ¡°Shut it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just saying!¡± Jack continued, ignoring her order without pause. ¡°That has to be the first¡­ semi-compliment you¡¯ve given me. Almost enough to bring a tear from my eyes, if I¡¯m being honest¡±

    A second later, it turned out he was. The tear was wiped away instantly to not ruin his eyesight, of course, but that it was there at all meant more to Sasha than she was comfortable with.

    They both paused when the ceiling above them shook, a few pieces of blue moss falling to the ground.

    Pulses raced high, she stood at the ready, but nothing came of it just yet. The fact that things were happening on the floor above, however, meant that their time was starting to end.

    She looked on as Jack rechecked his pistol for a third time. The magazine fit in snugly, the bullets had no abnormal shapes, and the safety was still turned off as it had been a few minutes before.

    Sasha had to admit that it did look like an actual gun now when compared to the earlier iteration. A day and a half had allowed much work to be done, and Jack had gone from being a frustrated mess to being an excited idiot with a fully functioning self-made Makarov by his side. Other than the bullets being slightly larger, and having slightly more power than the original, it functioned about as well as the pistol it was meant to copy.

    And while all of that had been ongoing, what had she been doing? Not much of anything. Training her body, trying to increase the speed at which she pulled on the Core, and¡­ resting her eyes while letting time fly by. Nothing special.

    Through the stone, she heard the subtle sound of a tree being torn apart by the steps of many. Far away still, yet there weren¡¯t many minutes left.

    Time to die, I suppose.

    ¡°Jack,¡± Sasha said, standing from her seat at the same time as the man. ¡°You have five minutes to live. What do you want to do?¡±

    ¡°Agree that we don¡¯t mention it if either of us starts crying?¡±

    ¡°Be more creative.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ let me finally hear what you did before all of this?¡± Jack tried, getting a glance shot his way. ¡°What? You shared the fact that you can¡¯t swim. I thought you were in the mood for it.¡±

    ¡­

    She supposed it wouldn¡¯t matter now. Not like the man knowing was going to change their fates.

    ¡°I grew up homeless in one of the bigger cities,¡± Sasha recounted in a more quiet voice, still listening to the sound of trees being ripped from their roots as people marched. ¡°No money to my name, no family to call my own. Started stealing from others to survive, killed when it was necessary, but it allowed me to push off starvation for another week.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°Quiet,¡± she ordered, not wanting it to go unfinished. ¡°I stole from the wrong person when I was fifteen. Failed to kill them when they wanted revenge, but they liked the way I threw a punch. Decided to put me into an arena cage and get a chance at redemption.¡±

    ¡°I take it you won that fight?¡±

    ¡°With ease, to the point where they refused to let me go after,¡± Sasha confirmed. She¡¯d known at the time she wasn¡¯t going to be released either way but that didn¡¯t matter anymore. ¡°They gave me a place to live, money to buy whatever I wanted, and the only requirement was to enter that ring every few days and win a fight. It was dangerous but so was the option of being in the streets.¡±

    So many she knew disappeared during the winters. Sasha had feared becoming one of them each year.

    ¡°I spent most of what I earned from it, however,¡± she continued when it seemed Jack finally heeded her warning about keeping quiet. Maybe it was because he could hear the destruction outside as well now. ¡°Not for myself but for others like me still out on the streets. I¡¯ve funneled¡­ I don¡¯t know how much it is anymore, but it¡¯s years worth of winnings into homes for them to live, homes where they can be safe, homes away from crime so they can grow up and enter the normal world without going through what I did.¡±

    Sasha had always known she wouldn¡¯t last in that ring forever. She knew they¡¯d started growing bored of her, once she became older and began to lose a fight now and then. It¡¯s why she had put in enough money to have the homes last for months or even a year or two without her help.

    But she wasn¡¯t dead yet. She still had more fights in her. She could still give the others another push before they would be forced out into the cold again. She just had to get back.

    I¡¯m never going back.

    Jack hugged her with his free hand. It took her a few seconds to accept it, responding to it in kind. Sasha was the reason he was here now, the reason they would both die instead of just being her. Sasha''s insistence to try and force the impossible was what would cause the death of the first person to truly support her.

    ¡°I know I was the one that asked that we didn¡¯t mention it, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shut up.¡±

    ¡°Shutting up.¡±

    The sounds of destruction had gotten close now, the walls and ceiling shaking as all plant matter was forced out of the rock and earth. More moss and whatever else sat on the ceiling rained down on them, but neither of them faltered.

    Jack had his sights on the entrance and Sasha was ready to confront whoever would try to come inside.

    They were ready.

    There was a moment of silence before a shout came from outside. They didn¡¯t understand the words, the blockade muffling it, but they could both see what came after.

    Along with the sound of matter being ripped apart, the wall in front of the entrance was torn off. Light streamed into the cave instantly, the ton of branches being flung off before she could blink.

    One idiot tried to enter immediately, wearing golden armor while wielding a short sword. Maybe a good weapon to have, but a half-exposed face was their doom.

    Jack¡¯s aim came true, the first bullet officially leaving the pistol. If not for them both being prepared for the sound, they would¡¯ve winced. Instead, they both watched as the armored man fell to the ground, clutching at his head while gurgling. It¡¯d gotten him just above the mouth, going through the head and hitting some part of the brain. A vital one at that, since the sound stopped a few seconds later and they were left with a corpse blocking most of the entrance.

    ¡°Fine tricks, I¡¯ll admit,¡± an old voice from outside spoke. ¡°If you both come out now, neither of you will suffer.¡±

    They¡¯re scared to enter.

    ¡°How about you come in and I shoot you instead?¡± Jack shouted back. Both waited for a response, yet the only words heard were orders to the soldiers to close their helmets properly and go where the first had failed. ¡°Shit.¡±

    One with a shield and axe came next. Jack shot again in response, but the shield took the first hit and made it bounce away into the wall. Another reached higher, going for the helmet, but it bounced off as well.

    My turn.

    The second they got closer, going into the slight curve required to enter the tunnel, Sasha revealed herself. Grabbing the axe at the top before the warrior could move to strike her down with it, she put one hand on the shield and focused her Core.

    Push.

    A chunk of the kinetic energy saved up after days of practice was released. A hundred kicks worth of force instantly entered the surface, and the arm that held it broke as they were pushed back.

    The metal pushed both the first and second to the ground, their turned heads revealing a weakness that Jack instantly used. Two bullets were all it took for the second and third soldier to fall.

    ¡°Where does the Prince find such useless people?¡± the voice from before shouted. With the words came an outburst of energy as well, the blue and purple Aura from the brothel reappearing. ¡°''Never leave idiots to do the important work'' is the lesson you have all taught me today.¡±

    Purple tendrils wrapped around the bodies of the dead and pulled them away from the entrance. Sasha could hear as they were thrown, along the thuds as each hit the ground seconds later. It disgusted her, yet those thoughts were forced to vanish when she and Jack both saw the new attacker in the flesh.

    They did not wear armor but instead a purple robe.

    The Royal Mage they¡¯d been warned about.

    Jack shot before the bearded man could open his mouth, round after round flying at the Mage. With no armor to protect, Sasha hoped the hot metal proved lethal, but it wasn¡¯t so. Where every round could¡¯ve landed, a blue barrier appeared to take the hit instead.

    ¡°And I wondered why the void pulled two humans to be used for the final ritual,¡± Rubeus muttered without a care in the world, as Jack¡¯s current magazine ran empty. The reaction to it was instant, Jack taking a step back and fishing out the other from his belt. ¡°You both seemed so weak, so fragile, yet this¡­ you would have both been monsters in your own right.¡±

    ¡°Fuck you,¡± Jack spat, firing another bullet before a purple tendril shot forward and grabbed the man. ¡°You¡ª Agh.¡±

    She heard something break. Sasha didn¡¯t dwell on it, grabbing the tendril and forcing it to shatter with a blast of kinetic energy. It worked, the man was freed, but another dozen shot out to get her instead.

    No.

    No matter how much it hurt, no matter how much the Core inside complained about the magnitude, a blast of heat shot out from her hands. Even when behind it, she felt like she¡¯d stepped into an oven.

    And in front of her, it was worse. The heat reached the Mage the same instant the tendril reached her. They grabbed her limbs, trying to crush them but stopping when the Royal Mage shouted in pain.

    ¡°You wretch,¡± Rubeus cursed, stopping Sasha from repeating the act. She felt a grin reach her face when he saw how the old man was burnt.

    Underestimating them had allowed them a chance.

    Another set of kinetic blasts freed her a second time, but the cry of pain from Jack distracted her for too long to do anything with her freedom. She saw as the man was thrown at the wall, how he didn¡¯t move after that point, and Sasha felt her blood run cold.

    A tendril went for her head, but instinct allowed her to absorb it. The action seemed to throw the Royal Mage off, which allowed her to fall against the rock wall.

    An idea.

    Better you die with us.

    Her hand was on the stone, her Core ready to unleash everything that had been saved up in one go, yet that never came to be. In the blink of an eye, her body had been surrounded by the purple energy, trapping her in a translucent prison that disconnected her from the rock.

    ¡°No more playing around,¡± she heard the Royal Mage mutter. Sasha glared at him, as she worked to escape the endlessly repairing prison. ¡°Get in here and do your job.¡±

    Another set of purple robes stepped inside, a woman this time. They were given a glare as well, as the prison began to fracture, but it didn¡¯t matter. When she heard the soft words come from the other Royal Mage, Sasha¡¯s body relaxed and she fell into darkness before she could do anything about it.

 Chapter 74: Die For You

    Phillip saluted the guards before his father¡¯s chambers. He smiled when they saluted back, the shine on their armor obvious from the sun¡¯s rays. His orders to have the golden surface cleaned before today had been fulfilled to perfection.

    ¡°You can go now,¡± the Crown Prince said, both guards wordlessly nodding as they left the corridor behind. After two minutes, when their echoing steps became distant, Phillip thought himself prepared enough to enter. He pushed the door open with minimal effort, looking inside and seeing Alin and his father at the table. ¡°I see the two of you are restarting your efforts to learn chess.¡±

    ¡°You make it sound like I don¡¯t know how to play at all,¡± his father replied, moving his rook into the worst place possible, obvious for the taking without Alin losing anything from it. ¡°I¡¯d say we¡¯re better than him on a good day.¡±

    ¡°It would require that he had a bad day as well, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Alin said, missing the free piece and letting the game move on without either side winning much of anything. The Crown Prince didn¡¯t know what to say at the display. ¡°Are you interested in playing, Philip? If you want, you could swap with me after this game. I was hoping to find us some tea anyway.¡±

    ¡°Some of Elijah¡¯s wouldn¡¯t hurt if you remember where I put it,¡± his father added.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure it would be good if I was to play against him,¡± Philip tried, not wanting too much time spent in here before he did what he came to do. He¡¯d been nervous about it when calling away his guards, and that boiling pot inside his head was only increasing in heat.

    ¡°Sorry, did I just hear somebody speaking ill of the king?¡±

    ¡­

    I hate you so much.

    ¡°Of course not, Your Majesty,¡± Phillip assured the king, agreeing with himself that obliterating him in one last chess game wouldn¡¯t hurt anybody. ¡°Just to move this along, Alin, I¡¯d suggest you move your bishop over here.¡±

    The greatest Earth Mage in the past two centuries raised an eyebrow in response to his words.

    ¡°Are you sure that¡ª Ah, you are a perceptive one, Phillip!¡± Alin exclaimed with a chuckle as he realized what it did. Even with his father¡¯s complaints raining down at him, another three moves was all it took to get another piece to the proper place and force a checkmate. ¡°Next time, I ask that you allow me to beat your father on my own. His despair is so much sweeter when I manage it without hints.¡±

    ¡°You sadistic prick,¡± his father cursed, matching the laughter with his own. Phillip only smiled, silently accepting the free seat as Alin left for the other table where boiling water and cups had already been prepared for them. ¡°Now, son of mine, do you intend to let your dear father win or do you intend to show me what you can do?¡±

    ¡°Is it not obvious?¡± Philip asked, which made his father put his hands in surrender. ¡°Being easy on you will teach you nothing.¡±

    They both began to reset the board, him getting the white pieces and his father the black ones.

    ¡°Oh, but being easy on you taught you so many things,¡± came the counter. ¡°I remember you being rather prideful when I allowed you to win as a kid. Ran all through the castle shouting about your superiority.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t remind me.¡±

    A memory flashed by, of the servants cheering him on as he climbed the tables and shouted about his win to the heavens. They¡¯d laughed back then. His mother¡­ she¡¯d had none of it when she¡¯d heard about what he had done. Though his recounting had made her smile, she had reminded him to be more humble around others.

    Pride could get you very far, but too much of it would make it too easy for a dagger to enter your back.

    ¡°Make your turn, dad,¡± Philip reminded the king, when the old man just sat and enjoyed his pain. He could hear a soft chuckle leaving Alin, but he didn¡¯t spare the Mage a thought. ¡°Delaying your defeat doesn¡¯t mean it won¡¯t come.¡±

    ¡°Arrogant, are we?¡± his father questioned, matching the center pawn with his own.

    ¡°Confidence is what I would call it,¡± Phillip replied, watching as the game quickly began to push in his favor. Blunder after blunder, grimaces obvious on his father¡¯s face as the queen vanished earlier than expected. ¡°I did warn that I wouldn¡¯t go easy on you.¡±

    ¡°I remember,¡± his father assured him, moving a bishop to the edge of the board. Going through its possible routes, along with the seemingly random placements his father continued to do in the next five moves, Philip realized he was trying to force an unlucky checkmate.

    This trick would¡¯ve worked on me as a child, dad, but it¡¯s not something I will fall for now.

    He moved his queen forward, intent on stopping any kind of shenanigans, and doubled up by switching over a knight to take care of the bishop. It would simplify getting rid of the other pieces to allow for a more brutal win. While Phillip was relatively sure he could win within six moves if needed, he wouldn¡¯t mind enjoying¡ª

    ¡°And, yup, that¡¯s checkmate.¡±

    What?

    ¡°I told you it¡¯d work,¡± his father told Alin, who just shook his head before handing over a small bag of gold.

    Phillip had lost? To his father of all people? Looking at the board, where a bishop stopped all movement of the king while a knight threatened the piece, he wanted to slap himself for not realizing it earlier. The random movements hadn¡¯t been random at all, and instead just a jumbled setup for one of the most common ways to lock the king in place. It was a trick that the average-skilled players used on beginners for a laugh.

    It wasn¡¯t something he should¡¯ve missed.

    Yet he had.

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Cheer up, son,¡± his father said, leaning over and tapping him on the shoulder. ¡°We sometimes have good days the same day you have a bad one. These things just happen sometimes.¡±

    A bad day?

    Yes¡­ he supposed this was a bad day. The worst of days, second only to when his youth had been cut short.

    ¡°Tea?¡± Alin said as he offered him a cup.

    ¡°Yes, thank you,¡± Philip said, accepting the steaming beverage. Sipping at it, he felt his nerves loosen just a little. ¡°So you were able to find Elijah¡¯s blend.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, though it wasn¡¯t easy. Your father decided to drop it behind the table without noticing,¡± Alin explained, as the king did his best to look innocent for all his crimes. ¡°Savor it, by the way. The flowers that our Royal Healer has planted for the new batch might be growing at accelerated rates, but it will take a few weeks before they¡¯re ready to be used.¡±

    A rare treat then.

    ¡°How many bags do we have left?¡± his father asked.

    ¡°Enough for around twenty cups more. Thirty if we¡¯re using the proper amount.¡±

    ¡°So only enough for twenty cups. What a shame.¡±

    Philip tried to enjoy the tea as the minutes passed. The two old men continued to jab at each other, talking about anything that came to their minds. He was brought in every now and then, but the two could dominate conversation unlike anybody else. It was incredible how their minds could continue to work at such strength when their bodies had deteriorated so much.

    In a way, it only made this next part so much worse.

    ¡°Do you hear that?¡± his father asked, as distant thuds reached his ears. It was faint, barely perceptible if not for the open door into the balcony, but some focus allowed all three to recognize the jostling of armor that came with movement. This time, however, it was enhanced by the fact that it wasn¡¯t one guard walking at a steady pace but rather nearly a hundred who took each step in sync. Phillip was rather proud of that, having worked hard with his men to make it happen. ¡°Could the two of you see what¡¯s going on out there?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Alin replied, rising from the chair. Philip did the same, a step behind the Earth Mage as he walked to the windows. It took the Earth Mage a moment of staring, but, finally, he could see the hundred-strong army of guards walking toward the Academy. A perfect distraction, you could say. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ strange. Guards are leaving¡ª Phillip! What did you¡­¡±

    Philip caught the Earth Mage before they injured themselves from the fall. Just as promised, the needle entered the skin of the man¡¯s neck without issue, likewise making Alin grow into a deep slumber within mere seconds. There was no chance of fighting back.

    Reynold, you were useful one last time.

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised, dad,¡± Philip commented, when he looked back at his father and saw the man pouring some brandy into his tea before taking a sip. ¡°You¡¯re not going to shout for help? No cursing my name? No¡­ anything at all?¡±

    ¡°I wondered what you were going to do when you replaced the guards outside the chamber with your own,¡± Mason said, ignoring his questions. He sounded so casual about it when Philip approached the table again. ¡°When I heard them leave, I considered my chances and found them lacking. Alin¡¯s, however, didn¡¯t seem as bad. You looked at him differently than normal, in a¡­ softer manner. Whatever you planned to do, it wouldn¡¯t involve his death.¡±

    ¡°But you knew it would include yours?¡± Philip questioned. His father shrugged, making him shake his head. This was a bluff, though one he entertained. Letting the man who tried to raise him have his moment before the end was only right. ¡°How selfless of you.¡±

    ¡°You become more selfless when the loom of death is already hovering above,¡± his father explained. ¡°And, well, I will not reject the chance to see my love again.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention her right now.¡±

    ¡°Why? You think she would disapprove of all this?¡±

    ¡°Just¡­ Please don¡¯t.¡±

    It was not meant to sound like he was begging, but the thought crushed a small part of Phillip. He didn¡¯t need to think of her right now. She would understand once it was all done. His father would as well.

    ¡°Fine,¡± his father said, giving in to the request. ¡°Answer a question of mine instead then. Do you think that whatever you¡¯re doing will work? It¡¯s not common for somebody inheriting the title of king in less than a year to take it by force early.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to do it, now that you¡¯re able to leave your bed and talk again, but we were so close to being done that I had to complete it,¡± Phillip explained. He still believed in the reasons behind his actions, reasons that he hoped he could convince his siblings with, but only time would tell now. ¡°To have it all work, I need to be the king. I need the authority that comes with it, or everything is going to fall apart.¡±

    ¡°You believe what you¡¯re saying so earnestly, but what is it you¡¯re hoping to do?¡± his father pressed on. ¡°What is so horrible that you think I and the rest of the country will turn against you if you aren¡¯t already the ruler?¡±

    Phillip felt despair as he explained the final step of his plan to his father. The King, the man who had founded this country and was revered as the legend he deserved to be, looked at him with disappointment. Or, no, not just the disappointment of a father but likewise horror at the lengths Phillip had gone to reach his goals.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have allowed that for good reason,¡± Mason, the legend and freer of the people, said. The idol Philip strived to be did not approve of him. And¡­ that was fine. He knew it would be like this. ¡°Please tell me you understand what you¡¯re bringing to the surface of this world.¡±

    ¡°That look of yours is the reason I¡¯m doing this,¡± Phillip exclaimed. ¡°What will Castilla think when¡ª¡±

    ¡°No more excuses,¡± his father ordered. His obeyed, tongue growing still. ¡°You did this because you thought it would help. I don¡¯t agree that it will, but that point is moot. You¡¯ve made your choices and there is nothing that can be done to change what has been set in motion.¡±

    ¡°There isn¡¯t,¡± he confirmed. He¡¯d already gotten word Rubeus had caught the sacrifices. The only thing needed now was for the arrival of the moon. After that, all of this would be solved. ¡°Is there anything else you wish to say?¡±

    ¡°Honestly? The only thing I wish for now is that my children don¡¯t tear each other apart the instant I¡¯m gone, yet I fear that will not be the case,¡± Mason muttered, his left hand trembling.

    Philip knew it wasn¡¯t from fear of what was to become of him but of what was to become of the world he left behind.

    ¡°I will do my best to convince them of my goals, but I can promise you nothing,¡± Phillip told his father. ¡°Your children are not known for walking a path other than their own.¡±

    ¡°Their own, yes, but that doesn''t make them too different,¡± the king said, pushing himself up from the chair. His body was weak but he did not falter as he approached his son. ¡°Would you bring me my warhammer from the wall? I might not be able to carry it, but it was always my dream to die with it in my hand.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    They didn¡¯t speak from that point on. Neither saw the need, as Phillip brought him the weapon. It was light in his hands, but his father could only clutch the handle while the head rested on the floor.

    Making sure that they were comfortable, that they were ready, he drew his sword and took a deep breath.

    ¡°Make this count.¡±

    ¡°I will.¡±

    Phillip¡¯s Core blossomed, sending energy through his body. He allowed the Mana a second to settle before he took what felt like a single step forward.

    Then it was over. The sword was put away before his father could fall, and he caught the thin body so it didn¡¯t bruise.

    ¡°I promise to make this work.¡±

    Nobody heard his words. His father was already gone from this world.

    There was no turning back now.

 Chapter 75: The Last Bastion

    Elijah looked over the destruction that filled the Dungeon floor. Not a single tree possessed its roots, nothing surviving the search. Everything had been razed to the ground to discover what was hidden. Rubeus had known they were on this floor, yet it had taken time to find the exact position.

    And so he became ruthless to everything here.

    The wall around the cave opening looked ready to fall apart, with how the roots embedded in it had been ripped out. Pieces already had for that matter, the small tunnel filled with small rocks and moss that had been dislodged during the fighting.

    ¡°What are we going to do now?¡± Aleksi asked, as he looked through the small tunnel. Their supplies were still there, food, water, and clothes left behind without care. Even the pistol that Jack had made was still on the ground, along with many of those bronze cartridges around it. The only things taken had been the people themselves. ¡°Elijah?¡±

    ¡°Give me a moment, please,¡± he requested, which the giant did. They''d known that this was a possibility, that there was a chance of them being tracked and taken when hiding down here, but that risk was meant to have been lessened by poisoning Rubeus. He was meant to have been poisoned, yet that had been a mere deception. They had been tricked into trusting words alone, and now they suffered for their idiocy. ¡°They¡¯re sacrifices, which means that they¡¯re alive until the time comes for them to be used. That means we have time to find them.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to question the Dreamweaver about the ritual, to figure out what timeframe we¡¯re working with,¡± Harper noted. A flash of red in their vision made both the Illusionist and Elijah bring out the paper they¡¯d been given by Vera. On it was a message.

    ¡®More than 100 guards moving towards the academy with boxes. Came from the other entrance.¡¯

    ¡°We know where the two are being kept, at least,¡± Elijah supposed. ¡°The final ritual was meant to happen within the Academy¡¯s walls. It seems that they¡¯re sticking with that plan.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the best-defended area in the entire city if you have the Royal Mages on your side,¡± Harper commented. ¡°Doing it anywhere else would be unwise.¡±

    He didn¡¯t refute it. Elijah was still trying to figure out how to solve it all. Nothing came to mind, nothing that was possible. This had gone too far.

    Picking up the pistol from the tunnel, they left the Dungeon behind. The streets were crowded with people trying to understand what was going on, forcing them to uncloak and push through forcefully. Aleksi was in the front, creating a small gap of sorts where Elijah and Harper could get through without being crushed by the masses.

    Guards allowed them in once again, with some insistence from Harper regarding Aleksi, and they left for the upper floors where Vera was meant to be.

    ¡°How are things?¡± Elijah asked after Harper led them through the Princess¡¯ section of the castle, walking through a few rooms and finding the woman herself looking out the window and down at the Academy.

    ¡°If we ignore the oncoming insurrection, it¡¯s not too bad,¡± Vera replied dryly. ¡°We don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on down there anymore. They¡¯ve locked the entire Academy grounds down, and all my people who¡¯ve entered haven¡¯t returned.¡±

    ¡°Do you want me to try, Your Highness?¡± Harper asked, to which Vera shook her head.

    ¡°Too dangerous,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯d rather you didn¡¯t waste your life on some trap we haven¡¯t spotted yet.¡±

    ¡°Nobody has been able to leave the Academy?¡± Elijah questioned. ¡°Not even those who were there before this all started?¡±

    ¡°From what I¡¯ve been told, no, they have not,¡± Vera confirmed, clicking her tongue in frustration. ¡°Very few of the common workers or students are meant to be affiliated with this uprising, so I must assume they¡¯re keeping them trapped to avoid any chances of information leaking out early.¡±

    Which means the preparations are going to be done in a place where people will see it.

    They didn¡¯t know more about what was happening at that point, so they brought in the two who had a chance at just that. With the help of Harper to cover their journey through the castle, the two mercenaries from the night were able to join them.

    ¡°You called?¡± Fade said tiredly.

    ¡°The final ritual is meant to be starting soon if you haven¡¯t noticed,¡± Vera explained, a thumb pointing out the window. That seemed to get the Dreamweaver''s attention, as both she and the younger redhead hurried over to look into the Academy grounds. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell us too much about the ritual yesterday. Let¡¯s make up for that mistake now.¡±

    ¡°If you wish to know the exact details about the process, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t give you what you seek.¡±

    ¡°The general steps required to complete it should be possible then? If you¡¯ve been present at so many of them, there must be some common factors across them all.¡±

    ¡°There¡­ yes, there¡¯s several,¡± Fade gave in, frowning as she continued. ¡°The ritual circle has a radius of twenty to thirty meters, depending on how many Mages and artifacts are used to fuel the process. It increased as time went on, so I think it might be even larger now.¡±

    ¡°So the ritual has to be at the Academy¡¯s central area if they¡¯re to have any chance of drawing it all out,¡± Vera concluded, Harper already noting down the details in a notebook. ¡°Continue.¡±

    ¡°The Mages on the outer edges of the Ritual circle are able to switch out with others when they¡¯re close to being depleted of Mana, but those closer to the center stay the entire duration,¡± the Dreamweaver continued. ¡°Rubeus Hayes is usually the closest to the middle, ignoring the sacrificial monsters which are located at the exact center. He is the main controller for the ritual, with all the Mana coming through him before being fed into the ritual.¡±

    Kill the head and you stop it all.

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    Elijah was once again cursing their hesitation surrounding the assassination of the Royal Mage. Even if the betrayers might¡¯ve had others to take up the role, removing the original lead would¡¯ve been a massive boon.

    ¡°Do you know what happens if those further in are stopped from continuing the ritual?¡± Elijah asked, to which the Dreamweaver could only shrug.

    ¡°With most smaller rituals, it just fizzles out,¡± Vera supplied in her stead. ¡°With medium ones, it can give serious backlash on the level of a spell pulling more from your Core than there is to take. On a ritual this large¡­ it should kill anybody involved, though that would also require that most of those involved, or Rubeus himself, be incapacitated. If only a few on the outer circles are stopped, I¡¯m not sure how much damage can truly be done.¡±

    ¡°And Jack and Sasha? Will they be hurt if it¡¯s stopped midway?¡± he asked, to which the answer was ¡®maybe.¡¯ They just didn¡¯t know, and he lacked any desire to take that risk anymore. ¡°How long do the rituals take?¡±

    ¡°Around one or two hours, depending on how hard it is for them to place the monster in the right spot,¡± Fade explained. ¡°Since humans are easy to restrain, I would assume it is only a single hour.¡±

    ¡°Only one hour¡­ so little time,¡± Vera commented, looking down at the streets again. ¡°But they haven¡¯t started yet, from what I¡¯m seeing. What¡¯s stopping them?¡±

    ¡°They are likely drawing up the ritual already, but it can only be started while the moon is high in the sky,¡± the Dreamweaver explained. ¡°I have no idea why this is, but Rubeus made it very clear each time we guarded them down in the Dungeon. If the moon isn''t above them while the ritual is ongoing, the costs are twice as high.¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s not something they can afford down there and much less up here,¡± Vera concluded. If the moon had to be in the sky, it meant that they had some¡­ six hours before their ritual would start.

    Six hours to figure out how to go against an army of Royal Mages. Nearly a hundred highly skilled users of the magical arts, who had decades of experience along with an extreme desire to make sure this all went smoothly. What did they have? A Biomancer, an old berserker, an Illusionist, and a Royal with the ability to trap others in her contracts.

    Not the most viable group while in combat.

    ¡°We can¡¯t keep this secret from the others anymore,¡± the Princess said, seeming to come to the same conclusion. ¡°Elijah, I understand your secrets are closely guarded, but we need Alin on our side now. We need my older brother and his personal guards as well, honestly, but my uncle and father can come first.¡±

    The Earth Mage who had helped slaughter Elijah¡¯s old group¡­ He was fearful that the same fate would reach them if the old man knew of their past, but what did that matter now? He could see Aleksi was ready to take that chance if it meant saving the two idiots who had gotten caught.

    ¡°Fine,¡± he gave in. ¡°But how do we know Alin isn¡¯t trapped with the other Royal Mages inside the Academy?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s rarely at the Academy at this time, and especially not now that my father is out of his bed,¡± Vera assured him. She ordered the two mercenaries to wait here, while Harper cloaked the others and led them through the hallways towards the King¡¯s chambers. ¡°Telling Alin while my father already knows your secrets will likely make this easier for us all if that brings you any comfort.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t say it does,¡± Elijah replied dryly. A feeling of doom began to travel through his body as they ascended the stairs. At first, he thought it was because of nervousness, the clicking of boots hitting the stone making him flinch internally, yet their approach to the chambers revealed that wasn¡¯t the case.

    His worries were all but confirmed when he got to the doors into the king and found it devoid of guards at the front.

    ¡°Blood,¡± Aleksi muttered, smelling the same thing as him before the doors were forced open by Vera. ¡°Shit.¡±

    King Mason Newell was on the floor in the middle of the room, a pool of blood around his chest.

    He didn¡¯t breathe. He didn¡¯t move. There was no reaction from the body when Vera cried out and hurried over. There was no life in the man left. For all the efforts to keep him alive, for all the thwarted attempts, it had only taken one for the end to arrive.

    Elijah looked away from the crying Princess. Harper was already taking care of it, comforting Vera while she clutched at her father. And, in the meanwhile, he was able to inspect the other body in the room.

    ¡°Not dead,¡± Aleksi commented as Elijah knelt next to Alin. ¡°He¡¯s breathing.¡±

    It was faint, the chest of the Earth Mage moving so little it was barely perceptible, but nobody could deny the air leaving the mouth of the old man. This wasn¡¯t normal, Elijah immediately knew that it was a sedative of some kind, but where¡­

    There.

    On the neck just below where the hair started was the smallest of pinpricks. If not for the slight residue of blood wiped away, he wouldn¡¯t have noticed it at all. Yet, regardless, it was a very strange place to inject any sedative. It was much faster at activating and incapacitating Alin, sure, but to get close enough to that area without being caught must¡¯ve been incredibly difficult.

    And yet there were no signs of struggling. Elijah was more than sure that Alin could¡¯ve struck down any fool within a second, yet not a finger had been raised. Whoever was behind this had been somebody Alin trusted with his life.

    ¡°Can you wake him up?¡± Aleksi asked, bringing Elijah out of his mind again.

    ¡°Whatever was used on him is enough to keep him this way for a day or two without any problems,¡± Elijah replied, bringing out Dawn and having her grow an assortment of herbs. They were roughly crushed in the giant¡¯s hand, before being smeared on the neck. ¡°I can accelerate the process of the body naturally processing it, but it will still take hours before he wakes up.¡±

    ¡°What if we get you something stronger than whatever you just used?¡± Harper inquired.

    ¡°The blend I just put on and enhanced is enough to wake most people up from an ordinary coma,¡± Elijah said, getting back up on his feet. ¡°That he isn¡¯t jumping to his feet means that whatever was used is more powerful than anything I¡¯ve seen before. We can maybe force him awake for a minute or two, but, until this is out of his system completely, he will remain this way.¡±

    Since Elijah didn¡¯t have any purifying plants of legend, and he certainly didn¡¯t have the two weeks required to make something of similar quality, this was the best they could get.

    ¡°I¡¯ll just kill him myself at this point.¡±

    He looked over to see Vera muttering into the empty air above her while lying on the ground next to her father. The tears had dried up, but her cheeks were still red. One would think that meant that she¡¯d been consumed by anger, yet Elijah could barely see any emotion on her face at all. She¡¯d been emptied of such things by the sight of the king.

    ¡°Rubeus?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Louis,¡± she corrected. ¡°We¡¯ll have to figure out where Philip has ended up if he isn¡¯t already dead or sedated as well, get him on track to help us, and then we can finish the job. After that¡­ I think I¡¯m going to enjoy strangling my younger brother to death.¡±

    It was all said so calmly, while the princess washed away the blood of her father from her hands.

    ¡°Vera¡ª¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t start using my name now of all times, Harper,¡± Vera cut in before the Illusionist could finish. ¡°We have a deadline of six hours. Let¡¯s make it count.¡±

    While they had already deemed it impossible to do, it seemed they would be going against an army without much in the way of reinforcements. Elijah should¡¯ve known this would happen.

    At least he had six hours to prepare something in the laboratory that could even the numbers a little.

 Chapter 76: Meeting the Mentor

    Grace grimaced as she felt the thin rope around her wrists tighten. As night began to fall over them, the light dimming and covering their bodies in shadow, she had made the mistake of trying to channel her Mana. Just a small spell was all she needed to get working, something to vibrate the rope at just the right frequency to free her hands, yet it failed instantly. The second she pulled on her Core, a painful rejection was forced through her body, and the ropes just pushed into her skin even harder. She could feel as blood began to fall, but she did not curse at the pain out loud, lest those walking around would take notice of her.

    Some of the people beside her had already made too much noise earlier, their lives ended because of it. Students who thought themselves mighty, students who couldn''t keep their crying in check, and some who just couldn¡¯t stop their Cores from trying to passively send out energy to the body. They were all killed at some point or another, leaving only those who knew to shut up.

    Why is this happening?

    Minutes after leaving the laboratory, in the hopes of getting food from the cafeteria, she and everybody else had been forced to the ground and had their hands and feet tied with thin ropes. They had seemed so weak at first, yet they held against her struggling and dampened her magical abilities soon after. Everybody had been made useless by them, before being pulled out into the open streets and made to sit around.

    Her magical senses still worked, however, which allowed her to watch as a massive barrier had begun to encompass the entirety of the Academy. Not just the central buildings but the entire district, all covered by a mild purple glowing. Grace hadn¡¯t needed more than a moment to recognize it as the magic of her mentor, but she didn¡¯t understand why he would be involved with this.

    The assailants, the ones who had killed others, might have worn the robes of Royal Mages but there was no chance they were, right?

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± Grace muttered to herself, hands on her face while she did her best to stop the tears. ¡°This isn¡¯t happening.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid it is, and it¡¯s probably going to get worse for you if you don¡¯t lower your voice,¡± came a whisper from her side. Looking over, she saw the beaten-up face of a man who wore the outfit of a commoner yet still possessed a magical affinity. Not one of the usual Affinities either, with that silvery shine he sent out into the world. ¡°Just keep calm and it¡¯s going to be alright.¡±

    ¡°Could you shut it?¡± came another voice, this time a woman next to the man.

    Grace could see her wearing a cheap outfit as well, and she thought her to be an actual commoner until her magical senses warned her about¡­ something. While there seemed to be no color or Aura around the woman, Grace began to realize that there was an absence of color and not just the mild darkness everywhere else.

    ¡°Just trying to stop somebody from dying because of tears, Sasha,¡± the man countered, which caused an eye roll before the woman turned away. ¡°Ignore her. She¡¯s grumbly. Name¡¯s Jack Larson, at your service.¡±

    ¡°... Grace Runner,¡± she replied after a moment¡¯s hesitation. They awkwardly shook hands, the ropes binding their own together making it a rather difficult exercise in dexterity. ¡°You seem very unconcerned about where you are. Aren¡¯t you scared?¡±

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    ¡°When you¡¯re certain of what¡¯s going to happen, and your inability to change that outcome, you gain a weird sense of serenity. I¡¯d personally expected to be crying my eyes out right now, but¡­ that¡¯s luckily not happening,¡± Jack said. His eyes stilled for a moment, staring into empty air before a low chuckle began to leave him. ¡°Did you say your name was Grace? Elijah¡¯s friend?¡±

    ¡°Yes? You know him?¡±

    ¡°That I do. Caused him a lot of trouble these past days,¡± the man confirmed. An almost nostalgic smile reached his lips. ¡°After this is all over, would you mind¡­ thanking him for me? I wouldn¡¯t want him thinking it hasn¡¯t been fun, even if these days have been mildly stressful at times.¡±

    ¡°I¡ª sure?¡± Grace said, not seeing why she couldn¡¯t, but what was going on. ¡°Do you know what¡¯s happening here?¡±

    ¡°Just a small insurrection and a ritualistic sacrifice to bring in some monster or another,¡± Jack explained off-handedly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Just sit back, keep quiet, and stay out of harm¡¯s way. There¡¯s no reason they¡¯d want to kill all the people here, so you should be safe.¡±

    ¡°And what about you?¡±

    ¡°Ah, well¡­ that¡¯s slightly more complicated.¡±

    They heard the steps of somebody approaching, making them both quiet down again. Many had walked past their little group in the past hours, barely sparing them a glance, but this time around the steps slowed until they came to a complete stop.

    Grace didn¡¯t look up at whoever was there, afraid she would find her life cut short, but curiosity won over when ten seconds passed without darkness.

    She regretted it when her eyes caught the face looking down at her.

    Rubeus Hayes, her mentor of the past many months, standing beside one of the people who¡¯d already killed several other students for the crime of making noise.

    ¡°Why?¡± she asked. Her mentor didn¡¯t answer, just looking down at her. ¡°Why? Answer me!¡±

    ¡°Keep quiet now, Grace,¡± Rubeus instructed, motioning for the other Royal Mage to step forward. A woman, whose words caused her eyes to nearly flutter shut before she could get a grip on herself. Jack and Sasha, who¡¯d been sitting beside her, didn¡¯t get as light and push. She heard them both slump to the ground before other Mages came forward to carry them away. ¡°If you behave well, I¡¯ll have an assistant¡¯s position for you once all of this is over.¡±

    I trusted you, you old bastard.

    She spat at his face. It landed perfectly, making him recoil.

    Grace was just barely able to form a smug grin before a tendril left the man¡¯s hand, hitting her square in the face. There was instant darkness when it hit. She woke up later on the ground, Rubeus gone from the street and with a headache that was unending in its strength.

    More important, however, was the fact that the rope around her hands had loosened. Not enough to fall off outright, but enough that if she pulled hard enough¡­

    Shit, this hurts.

    Something in her left hand shifted, making her want to cry out, but she held it in as the hand was finally freed from the bindings. The other nearly didn¡¯t, when the rope tried to tighten around the last limb, but she pulled it off just in time.

    Now there was only the rope around her feet to worry about.

    ¡­ Grace could make this work. With her hands now free, she was able to look through her pockets until she found a small knife. It was meant to be used for plants, as all things were when they were gifts from Elijah, but she supposed that they could probably work with enchanted rope as well.

    And if her head would stop hurting, it would be so much easier.

 Chapter 77: Stay With Me Till Dawn

    ¡®In position,¡¯ Elijah read on the enchanted paper. It came from Aleksi, the giant finding his place down in one of the nearby alleys.

    Similar messages began to appear seconds later, as Harper, Fade, Fox, and a few others who worked under Vera confirmed their readiness. He wrote in his status as well a bit later, announcing that their plan was soon to start.

    They¡¯d taken longer than intended with the preparations. Standing on the rooftop just a block away from the central area of the Academy, he could see the white lines of the ritual circle begin to glow. It was bright, lighting up the otherwise dark area, and nearly blinding Elijah as it flared up more and more. The initial pulses, the call to the moon, meant that the ritual was soon to start.

    His eyes narrowed as he watched two bodies be carried into the circle. Jack and Sasha, both injured and unconscious but otherwise alive. He could see as Rubeus stood before the center, guiding the two bodies as they floated towards the exact middle.

    When they found themselves in place properly, and the other Royal Mages started to get into position, Elijah knew their time had come.

    With barely a sweat, he leaped from one rooftop to the other. His knees shouted at him as they survived the slight drop, but Elijah had no care. Bringing out the larger vial filled with white liquid, he prepared himself for what was to come.

    ¡®Brace,¡¯ he wrote onto the paper, to make sure everybody important looked away. Then came the enhancement of the white liquid, one that made the vial vibrate as the energy within threatened to break it then and there. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you can do.¡±

    He threw it as hard as possible. The vial continued to vibrate more and more as it soared through the air, but it held on while coming down close to the edge of the circle below.

    One of the Royal Mages noticed the projectile, raising a hand and making the vial halt its fall.

    A mistake.

    Elijah had earplugs along with having the edge of the rooftop to hide the light. It helped very little, as the night became day for several seconds while a howl worthy of a dragon in volume came from below. He could feel the building shaking and hear the people scream, but Elijah could likewise sense the ritual starting up regardless.

    He ran for the ladder, taking a moment to see the assault start in full. Green eyes were in his sights before the body of the giant came barrelling out of one of the alleys. The two Royal Mages closest by were taken by surprise, skulls crushed before their bodies were thrown into the direction of incoming projectiles. In that brief second, Aleksi was able to avoid spears of ice, the jaws of an imaginary serpent, and a flat disk of metal that embedded itself in the wall next to the giant.

    Certainly a distraction.

    Aleksi ran from the assault a moment later, fleeing down the alley while a barrage of spells came hurtling toward him. Elijah prayed that none hit, while he reached the ground and found himself unnoticed. Not because of his lack of sound as he went down the ladder, but because of the shroud of invisibility coming over him.

    ¡°Help me,¡± Harper said, holding up the illusion as she pushed the barrel out of the alley. Those nearby were still blinded and deafened from the flashing, and the others were thoroughly distracted by the attempted annihilation of the giant. Elijah hurried to help because of it, the two swiftly pushing out the barrel from the alley and incredibly close to the circle. ¡°Get ready to run.¡±

    He was already moving as she pulled out a dagger and broke the lid stopping the contents from spilling out. The second that it did, the noxious green gas began to fill half the area in seconds. They were barely able to escape from the initial wave, hurrying down one of the streets while keeping up the veil.

    Coughing and retching could be heard behind them. Most were from the Royal Mages, but some were from those bound and pressed against the side of the streets. A necessary sacrifice, and not a lethal one regardless since the gas would only incapacitate at this level. While it would make most unprepared fall and empty their stomachs, it wouldn¡¯t outright kill them.

    Elijah hadn¡¯t had time to make that happen.

    ¡°Where are the arrows?¡± Elijah questioned when seconds passed without the sound of bowstrings. The other servants Vera had gathered should¡¯ve been sending arrows into the army of mages already, yet there was no sound of strings being released.

    They found the answer to their question as a body fell from one of the rooftops. On the shoulder of the dead man was Vera¡¯s insignia.

    We¡¯ve been discovered.

    Faster than expected as well, that fact only worsened as a wave of pure force forced both of them onto the ground. Horror filled Elijah as the gas meant to linger for minutes without issue was pushed away. Their assault had been halted before it could properly begin.

    Not good.

    ¡°Plan B,¡± he muttered as he got back up. Something in his back had twisted, forcing him to slow in his steps, but it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°Get going.¡±

    Harper nodded sharply, dagger out of its sheath as she ran forward. The nearest Royal Mage, never having seen either of them, found the blade lodged into their throat. They died before they could think about it, and the Illusionist continued her run after that.

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    Some of the Mages tied up on the ground screamed at the sudden death, but it only got worse when Elijah appeared out of nowhere. A dagger had reached his fingers, and he was more than ready to use it.

    ¡°Keep quiet, and you might live through this,¡± he instructed as he approached the group. Some wore the robes of Royal Mages, but most had more blue colors to signify their rank as simple students. ¡°This will hurt. Don¡¯t make noise through it.¡±

    Even with the blade sharpened beforehand, it still took effort to cut through the ropes around their hands and feet. Neither did the enchanted material appreciate his work, tightening more and more as he continued to cut into it. Elijah didn¡¯t care much for that, keeping up his efforts and freeing more and more from their restraints.

    ¡°We can¡¯t run,¡± one hissed. ¡°Those who ran were killed!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to be killed if you stay as well,¡± he countered. ¡°The only way to survive is to kill them first.¡±

    The students didn¡¯t understand that. The Royal Mages that were still loyal did, as they helped more and more to be released from their restraints.

    And, when one of the people noticed what was going on, trying to shout about the escapees, they found themselves filled with holes as chunks of flesh were teleported a meter to the side.

    ¡°Keep that up,¡± Elijah ordered as he hurried along. This should work as a distraction while he figured out where Aleksi had ended up.

    Turning down one street, briefly hiding in an alley to avoid purple robes running by, he continued onwards until he heard another voice.

    ¡°Elijah?¡±

    He froze, glancing into the alley where a familiar pair of eyes looked back at him.

    ¡°Grace?¡± he said, seeing the blood that stained her head and hands as she walked into the light. A packet of healing paste was in his hands before he knew it, pressed against the cut on her head as he channeled Mana through it. ¡°What happened to you?¡±

    ¡°Spat in the bastard''s face,¡± she answered groggily. ¡°He hit back with a tendril. Blacked out.¡±

    ¡°Nearly having your skull split open does that,¡± Elijah muttered, seeing as flesh regathered at the side of her head. Taking care of the bone which had likely taken quite some damage would require more extensive work, but there wasn¡¯t time for that now. ¡°You need to hide here until it¡¯s over. When morning comes, you can¡ª¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Grace cut in before he could finish. ¡°I¡¯m helping.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re injured, Grace,¡± he instantly rejected. ¡°You can¡¯t do anything against these people. They¡¯re on¡ª¡±

    ¡®Behind you!¡¯

    Dawn¡¯s warning came a moment too late, as he turned to the street and saw a Royal Mage forming a short spear of blood from their hand. He blinked, took a step to the side, and then the projectile was flying faster than anything else.

    A shout began but ended shortly after as he felt it go through his upper chest. There¡¯d been no hint of resistance, his flesh and bone giving away instantly.

    Elijah wasn¡¯t sure when he fell to the ground after, the shock and pain making memory impossible to manage. Grace was screaming at him, and Dawn was saying something as well, but neither made much sense.

    It was only when a flash of gold came about, the duck appearing next to his face and biting at him that he moved his eyes.

    ¡®Get up!¡¯

    He couldn¡¯t. He could feel the blood pooling, could feel it increasing as his heart continued to push the liquid out of the wound. While it had missed the most vital organ, he knew it¡¯d gone through the top of his right lung. If the blood loss didn¡¯t kill him soon, he would be dead within thirty seconds from the liquid replacing the air in the open space.

    ¡®Up!¡¯

    ¡®I can¡¯t.¡±

    She bit at his face. He couldn''t gather the strength to move a muscle in response.

    Grace shook him, making his head turn to her. Were those tears? Elijah couldn¡¯t tell anymore. The only thing he could truly focus on was the hair of the young woman slowly rising, blue and white lines starting to grow across her body until they nearly blinded him.

    Was this the wave of hallucinations coming before a full-body shutdown? If so, they were awfully creative. He could almost feel the wind as it pushed him to the wall of the alley, could see as Grace put out her hand and stopped a spear from reaching her, and as she shouted and brought the world to a close.

    At least he could imagine her cutting down the Mage in the end. It wasn¡¯t a bad way for Elijah to go.

    ¡®No going!¡¯ Dawn shouted in his head. ¡®You stay!¡¯

    He wanted to calm her but couldn¡¯t find the words coming to mind anymore. The only thing he could notice was that slow cold coming through him. It was steady in its flow, starting at his hands and feet before coming to his core body and progressing from there.

    His vision dimmed, even when his eyes were wide open, and he felt¡­ calm.

    ¡®Not allowed!¡¯

    Elijah gasped for air as a pain unlike any other came through him. Grace hurried over to him, saying things he couldn¡¯t process, but he had to push her away as he rolled over and lost both the contents of his stomach and the blood that had filled his right lung. More and more liquid left him, filling the ground with a red mess that made him want to fall unconscious again, but his body was so high-wired at that moment that it wasn¡¯t possible.

    His skin felt like it was on fire, his nerves warning him of frost and fire while his eyes lit up in colors that he¡¯d never seen before. What was happening?

    ¡°Elijah, your wound!¡± Grace said, keeping his steady as he finally got himself together and felt where the spear had traveled through. ¡°What happened?¡±

    The right side of his chest no longer had skin, everything replaced by the green texture you¡¯d find on flower stalks.

    What?

    ¡®I made you stay!¡¯

    ¡­ What?

 Chapter 78: These Violent Delights

    Vera looked at explosions starting up in the distance. Flashes of green, red, and blue, streams of what she imagined to be water, and the screaming of space itself tearing apart. There was everything and nothing, the hectic battles of Mages not allowing sanity to exist.

    Order had been removed the second that half of the Royal Mages had decided to betray the others. While most of those still loyal were students, not able to muster much against a fully trained Mage, there were still some of the older generations on their side. Vera was sure of that once she saw the waves of pink clouds travel above. They were side-effects of the rather colorful explosions that a particular old woman set off.

    Maybe I can thank her after all of this is over.

    It depended on whether they survived or not, the attacks not just coming from the people protecting their city. There was no mercy for anybody anymore, the streets turning into chaos as every person there joined the fray. They had no choice, after all, having been given the option of attacking or standing in place and dying to whatever others threw at them. She didn¡¯t want to know how many casualties would be here, by the end.

    The night was still young, after all, and the main event was ongoing without break. Their hopes of stopping the ritual as soon as it began had failed, sadly. Vera could see the flashes of white streaming into the sky as the chanting of the mages continued uninterrupted. Even with the chaos, there was still a strong enough perimeter to protect them.

    How were they going to fix that? Vera had a few ideas, though the two most doable ones were both missing from duty. One wasn¡¯t anywhere to be found and the other was still fast asleep a street away. In case she wasn¡¯t there when he woke up, a piece of paper had already been taped to his head to catch him up on everything.

    With any luck, though, I¡¯ll be ready to welcome him back.

    Yet again, it depended on a few things going right.

    The first of those was her noticing the quick steps of somebody walking down the street. A single person, one with boots she¡¯d heard before, and one giving out mutters that she immediately recognized.

    Took you long enough.

    Sliding down the ladder, she turned out of the alley and went face-to-face with her youngest brother. Louis immediately stopped in his tracks, eyes wide, and hands raised in surrender once he saw the wand pointing at him.

    Not that she accepted that, silently activating another two items that would stop any kind of magical tomfoolery from the youngest prince. Single-use, single-target, and very expensive, but she wasn¡¯t going to gamble on her weapon being enough.

    ¡°One thought is all I need to kill you,¡± Vera warned, taking a step back to avoid any chance of him trying something funny. She might¡¯ve been able to activate the artifact quickly, but his hands were quick as well and she could see the knife that sat in his belt. ¡°No guards around to protect you?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t think they were needed,¡± Louis replied, the shock of her presence wearing off as his eyes narrowed. ¡°What are you doing here, Vera? Can¡¯t you hear that sound?¡±

    They took a moment to listen to the sounds of screams and explosions, along with the cracks of stone imploding. Some building or another must¡¯ve collapsed in on itself.

    ¡°Quite the battle, yes,¡± Vera agreed, not letting her eyes leave her younger brother. ¡°Are you proud of it all?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t try to act dumb, Louis, I¡¯ve had a very long week and I¡¯m not going to let you get away with this here,¡± she pressed on, yet he just looked at her with anger and confusion. ¡°Your dealings with Rubeus were smart of you, I admit. Going through the same streets while moving from the brothel to other places, however¡­ not as smart.¡±

    ¡°You think I¡ª who do you take me for?!¡± Louis shouted. Rather loudly, in fact. If there were any of the Royal Mages nearby, she didn¡¯t doubt they would come looking for them soon. ¡°I come through here because the guards aren¡¯t here. These idiots that work here don¡¯t want to come near me either, so I use this path. It¡¯s that simple.¡±

    He was trying to stall. Vera could feel it.

    ¡°Our country is going into ruin because of you,¡± she spat. ¡°You¡­ dad¡¯s dead because of you, and you¡¯re out here acting like this? I¡ª God, I would love to enjoy this, but you can¡¯t even let me have that, can you? You¡¯re just¡ª¡±

    ¡°Dad¡¯s dead?¡±

    ¡­

    She frowned at the tears. Why did he look so shocked?

    Vera knew Louis. She knew he was a bad liar at the best of times. She knew he couldn¡¯t hold his emotions in check to save his life. She knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to fake those tears, yet they were still here. He had killed their father, he wasn''t meant to be shocked by her words, so why was he matching the cries she¡¯d made when she¡¯d found his body?

    ¡°You¡­ you asshole,¡± Vera muttered, looking at her younger brother with whatever emotion was washing through her insides. Anger? Resentment? She didn¡¯t know anymore. This wasn¡¯t making any sense.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m an asshole? So what?¡± Louis spat back at her once he was able to get his breathing under control. ¡°I¡¯m third place for the throne, and we both know it¡¯ll be a cold day in hell before you give it up to me. Or¡­ what? Just because I don¡¯t give much of a shit about what others think, you think I want to kill dad? That I want to kill you and Phillip? Do you trust me that little? I have a brain, you idiot.¡±

    He kept on going, kept shouting at her, kept up those hurtful things, but Vera couldn¡¯t make herself listen. This wasn¡¯t right. She wasn¡¯t looking at the killer of her father, the person who had ruined so many years of work. She was just looking at her idiot brother, one that was selfish at the best of times, but likewise one that wasn¡¯t a killer. He had cared for their father, even if he didn¡¯t show it often, and Vera had just broken what little happiness he had left.

    But¡­

    ¡°If you¡¯re not the one behind it, there¡¯s only one left,¡± Vera said, her words making his youngest brother silent. Both didn¡¯t want to believe it and yet¡­ they could both hear the steps of armored boots, along with the tired sigh that they had both learned to recognize as their older brother¡¯s. ¡°How long did you wait in there to have this entrance?¡±

    ¡°Thirty seconds or so,¡± Phillip replied without shame. ¡°I was heading over here with the ritual beginning in such chaotic circumstances, but then I heard somebody shouting their lungs out and decided to make a small detour. I must say that this isn¡¯t the place I thought I would have this conversation.¡±

    ¡°I think it fits rather well, actually,¡± Louis retorted, flames nearly flying off his tongue as spoke. ¡°Two idiots and a killer talking together in an alley seems perfect.¡±

    ¡°Three days¡¯ absence hasn¡¯t calmed your tongue, I see.¡±

    ¡°It worked rather well in calming me, actually, but then I heard somebody decided to kill our father.¡±

    ¡°I promise you, Louis, there is a¡ª¡±

    Die.

    Vera thought herself quick as she flicked the wand to her older brother, the red blast leaving the tip faster than any arrow could manage. Yet, even when aimed for the heart, it missed completely, Philip dodging in a fraction of a second.

    ¡°How rude of you sister,¡± the Crown Prince commented. She fired off another bolt, but he closed the distance on her before a third could come about, grabbing her hand and forcing the artifact out of her grasp. ¡°I just want to talk. No need to try and kill me yet.¡±

    With both hands used to hold Vera in check, Louis went on to be as mature as possible by throwing a wild fist into Philip¡¯s chin. The older brother allowed it to happen, unmoved by the knuckles reaching him.

    The cracking sound from Louis¡¯ hand made it clear he hadn¡¯t been as unfazed by the collision.

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    ¡°Reinforcement magic, brother. A knife won¡¯t pierce my skin and a punch from you certainly won¡¯t cause any damage,¡± Philip reminded them, as Louis cursed again and again, holding the hand that was already starting to swell. ¡°I respect that you tried your best there, though. That must¡¯ve taken a lot from you.¡±

    ¡°If I could kill you, I would,¡± Louis replied.

    Philip sighed, eyes closed as he considered the next steps. A distraction.

    ¡°Of course, you would,¡± the crown prince muttered, grabbing Vera¡¯s left hand again before she could pull out a second wand. Her fingers were just barely able to touch it, however, which allowed her to activate it regardless. Swift as a dagger, it changed to metal and flew directly at Phillip¡¯s head.

    He dodged, the projectile flying past him.

    ¡°How many of those do you have?¡± Philip asked, before freezing and grabbing the returning projectile behind him without looking. ¡°It can return for a second attempt without you controlling it? Clever.¡±

    Vera winced as he broke it in two with his fingers, the metal crumbling in his grip.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± she asked. There was technically a third wand hidden in her sleeve, but it wasn¡¯t lethal and yet she didn¡¯t want to waste it just yet. ¡°To apologize?¡±

    ¡°Oh, we¡¯re talking now? Great!¡± Philip commented, putting her back down on the ground. He didn¡¯t stop her, as she instantly created distance between them, Louis doing the same. Probably because he knew he could catch them without any problems. ¡°And¡­ Yes, I owe you an apology. Without knowing the reasons why I¡¯m doing this, it can all seem very bad.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve allowed hundreds to die, you¡¯ve killed our father, and¡­ I¡¯m assuming the Dungeon Break was your fault as well?¡± Vera instantly listed off.

    ¡°More of a side-effect of Rubeus¡¯ work, as he had to expend more energy than expected summoning those two humanoid creatures before then trying some convoluted assassination, but, yes, I wouldn¡¯t deny that those deaths are my fault. Definitely not dad¡¯s, as I was the one who wielded the blade used to cut him down,¡± he confirmed, grimacing as the other two were ready for a second round of attempted murder. ¡°I need the position of King if I am to do this for our country. If dad still ruled, he would¡¯ve forbidden this.¡±

    ¡°Using sacrifices to summon monsters?¡± she said. ¡°How unsurprising.¡±

    ¡°If it was only that, I believe I could gain some amount of forgiveness from him,¡± Phillip replied, almost seeming sad about what he had done. Almost. ¡°I¡¯ve been working with Rubeus for so long to gain enough power to summon a Tarrasque to be under our control.¡±

    He¡¯s insane.

    ¡°Are you mad?¡± Louis questioned, horror clear on his face. ¡°Those monsters were what caused the lower half of the Dungeon to be sealed off, and you want to summon one like them up here?¡±

    ¡°Not one like them, no,¡± the mad prince corrected. ¡°We will summon one of them. The most powerful one, at the very bottom of the Dungeon, and we will use the bindings of the summoning ritual to make it our slave.¡±

    ¡°And what if it doesn¡¯t work?¡± Vera pointed out. ¡°Not even Alin could hurt that beast, and you think that this will enslave it? People are going to die, Phillip.¡±

    ¡°People have already died,¡± he countered confidently, as if his words made any sense. ¡°It will work, I promise you. The Tarrasque will be ours, it will be under our control, and it will be what makes this country stand on equal footing with the others.¡±

    ¡°Is that the reason for all of this? To gain power?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not attaining this power for the sake of power alone, I promise you,¡± Phillip assured them. ¡°Do you understand how Castilla has looked our way in the past years? How Ethon has asked if we would allow their presence on our land? The power we once held, the Mages that helped protect us, is dying out. Time has not stopped. Our father, the beacon of justice, was forced to be in bed for so long that we could do nothing. We were becoming weak, and the country was going to be lost because of it. I will not sit by while our borders erode. With this, I will stop that from happening. I¡¯ll let our people rest easy when no country will threaten our rule for centuries to come.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll sleep snugly with a Tarrasque sitting next to the capital city,¡± Vera said, mocking her older brother while the younger one kept on cursing his name. ¡°Look at reality, Phillip. This has gone beyond simple madness. You can¡¯t take this risk. We can still remedy some of this if you help us. The country doesn¡¯t have to fall today.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°You just can¡¯t imagine it yet,¡± the crown prince muttered, closing in on them both. Vera tried to move away yet her brother¡¯s arm caught her before she had a chance. Louis was given the same treatment, though he fought for his freedom for a few seconds more. ¡°You¡¯ll be given the chance to see it all unfold. When it¡¯s over, and you can see the creature that will help protect our people, you will agree that it was for the best.¡±

    I will kill you.

    Vera didn¡¯t say it, no matter how much she wished to shout those words. This wasn¡¯t over yet. She knew it wasn¡¯t over yet. It wasn¡¯t allowed to be. There was still something that could be done. There had to be something, even if it wasn¡¯t obvious.

    A warning.

    Wriggling in his grip, she was able to get her arm to press against her side. Poking a finger into one of dozens of pockets, she was able to come in contact with one of the emergency papers.

    It only took a small burst of Mana to make it go up in smoke, neither of the two princes commenting on it as the battle came into view.

    ¡°Do you feel happy seeing this?¡± Vera asked, as Phillip stepped on the corpses that riddled the street. Most of the stone tiles were hidden under the flesh and rocks that had crashed down from collapsed buildings. So many decades of perfecting the appearance of the Academy had been ruined in under an hour of internal battles. ¡°Do you feel proud?¡±

    ¡°Happy? No,¡± Phillip answered, ducking to stop a bolt of light from reaching him. A Mage stood before them, silvery lighting in their hands with the intent to kill. The Crown Prince didn¡¯t mess up a step as he moved forward. ¡°Proud, however?¡±

    The lighting shot out from the Mage¡¯s hands again, flying through the air in a flash. It reached his chest, likely able to stop him then and there if not for the golden armor that forced it to disperse into the ground.

    A moment of shock was all the Mage was allowed before a boot found its way into their head, traveling halfway through their skull before the rest of the body was flung into the wall of the ruined building next to them.

    ¡°I feel a little pride at what this will allow, I admit,¡± Phillip finally said, shaking off the blood on his foot before continuing. Vera just looked at the fallen with dark eyes. ¡°You¡¯ll understand when this is all over. And if you don¡¯t¡­ Well, I¡¯ve prepared for that.¡±

    What did that mean?

    What does it mean?

    Vera felt dread as she finally understood why her older brother hadn¡¯t killed Alin and instead put him in a multi-day coma. He didn¡¯t think their honorary uncle would understand. He was just saving the forced convincing to when they had completed the ritual.

    What did you make for him, Reynold?

    The words of the old Healer replayed in her mind again and again. He¡¯d made the sedative that had put Alin down. What else had he created for coins in the past months? It was¡­ something with the Heartroot Vervain and then another for interrogations. Something to alter the mind of another to make them follow orders obediently.

    This isn¡¯t good.

    Phillip wasn¡¯t bluffing. He¡¯d come prepared. He had been prepared for months.

    Vera wanted to tear his eyes out.

    ¡°Oh, doesn¡¯t it look magnificent?¡±

    She looked up from her internal mutterings to see that they had reached the ritual. There were nearly thirty Royal Mages inside the massive circle, each standing in a small figure of some kind while they chanted and sent in energy. All of it was pushed through the white lines etched into the stone, flowing through to the center where Rubeus stood to accept it all.

    The arms of the bearded Mage were spread wide as they chanted before the middle, where the bodies of Jack and Sasha floated.

    ¡°You¡¯re insane, brother,¡± Louis said, as he was dropped onto the floor. Vera was given the same treatment, making her fall onto the corpse of one of the fallen Mages. She felt like vomiting. ¡°Insane from all this worship to tradition that you don''t realize you¡¯ve twisted it until it¡¯s unrecognizable.¡±

    ¡°Think of it as a sacrifice to keep the ideal alive, if you need to,¡± Phillip replied without hesitation. There was nothing left in the way of pity for those around, and Vera could see that now more than ever.

    But one thing made her wonder.

    ¡°Are you sure that true madness hasn¡¯t invaded your mind, Philip?¡± Vera questioned, getting the attention of her older brother. He smiled a little as an eyebrow rose in mild confusion.

    ¡°Is this another exclamation about the audacity of my actions today?¡± he asked, but she just shook her head.

    ¡°It¡¯s about the actions that had been transpiration with increasing frequency for the past several years,¡± she explained, truly getting his attention now. ¡°In the past five years, I have stopped over a hundred attempts on our father¡¯s life, several of which have been with the usage of alchemical compounds. The most recent one, which was only last week, included Reynold attempting to slip our father a poison that would make his heart stop from what would seem like natural causes. If it is only now that you wanted to kill our father, however, why have you allowed a man under your control to do this?¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°He followed my orders, yes, but it seems I wasn¡¯t the only one to give them,¡± Phillip finally answered after seconds of thought, looking at Rubeus who continued his chanting inside the ritual circle. ¡°Everything said was through a medium who I now can see as having a traitorous mindset which extends beyond his opinions of my father."

    So it was Rubeus giving out those orders.

    ¡°You¡¯re willing to work with him still, after all of this?¡± she questioned, to which she only received a smile in response. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°All truths will be released soon,¡± he promised. She frowned. He laughed. ¡°Can¡¯t you see, sister? The chanting is becoming louder. It¡¯s almost time.¡±

 Chapter 79: One More Push

    Elijah didn¡¯t feel alright. He felt awful, honestly. His heart pumped the wrong way, his breath tasted different, and his right arm didn¡¯t move as it usually did. He hated it, yet he knew all of this was the reason he was currently breathing at all.

    ¡®Thank you for this, Dawn,¡¯ he sent the plant, as it moved around inside him. Not in the sense of Plant Storage magically breaking the duck down and letting it sit inside his Core, but in the sense that roots were steadily moving through him so that the fake parts of the shoulder could act as they needed to.

    He¡¯d already felt the snap of pain when she had connected the plant matter to the rest of the nervous system. Being able to feel a somewhat accurate sensation when putting his finger against his new skin wasn¡¯t exactly something he had expected for tonight, but it was certainly a job well done.

    ¡®I¡¯m sleepy,¡¯ Dawn replied. ¡®Wake up later.¡¯

    He felt her presence start to dim, as she began to rest to preserve Mana. What she had done was morbidly expensive, and would¡¯ve been downright impossible even when inside the Dungeon. To do it out here in the open air was¡­ he didn¡¯t know how she had survived it, to be frank.

    ¡°Elijah, can you walk?¡±

    ¡­

    Right.

    The world hadn¡¯t stopped when he had experienced near death, and time was still progressing outside of his mind.

    ¡°Yes, yes, I can walk just fine,¡± Elijah replied, rising back on his feet with the help of Grace. The world briefly turned black as he did, the blood loss giving him a rush at the sudden movement. ¡°Somewhat.¡±

    ¡°That you can walk at all is¡­ how did you do that?¡± Grace asked, looking down at the green chunk of his chest. ¡°How did that plant do that? It just tore itself apart and forced itself into the wound and then¡­ you just woke up and started coughing.¡±

    ¡°I would guess Dawn figured out a mix of herbs that I have fed her over the past days which would force my system to start at maximum output for a few seconds, which would then allow her to imitate my vital functions and allow the natural repairs to start up while she slowly integrated herself into my lesser functions as well, not outright replacing the flesh by simple guesses but instead with the assistance of a body that was desperate for¡­ Sorry, I¡¯m a little out of it,¡± Elijah apologized, stopping himself as Dawn¡¯s memories continued to steadily be sent his way. It seemed that whatever rush job she had done at the end had caused the Animal Bond to be taken to its outright maximum in terms of effectiveness. All the thoughts and ideas that the little duck had been harboring were his own, a little distant but still there in the outreaches of his mind. ¡°I¡¯m in good enough form to continue, as I believe we¡¯ll need to do very soon.¡±

    With a shaky hand, he pulled out the paper in his pocket. Several more messages had arrived since he¡¯d last had the chance to look at it. Harper was ordering those alive to give a signal, which Aleksi and the two mercenaries had done. Apparently, Vera had been captured, and¡­

    Phillip was the orchestrator?

    Not good. And it only got worse, when he could see the white lights in the sky brightening even further. The ritual was nearing its completion very soon. Harper wanted them all closer to the center to make a final push.

    ¡°Elijah, I need to know what¡¯s going on,¡± Grace demanded. ¡°I¡¯ve seen people die, I¡¯ve seen some guy who knows you be taken by Rubeus and the others, I just saw you do this, and I just used Wind Magic to kill a person.¡±

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Oh? Looking over to the end of the alley, where a body covered in cuts could be found on the ground, Elijah realized that part hadn¡¯t been a hallucination. The floating hair didn¡¯t seem to have been either, by the locks that still refused to obey the laws of gravity.

    ¡­ Some part of him wanted to reject Grace¡¯s demands, repeating the part of her not being fit for this, yet it was her who had carried this fight while he had fallen instantly. And now, without Dawn to help, he needed another regardless.

    Her mother will kill me after this.

    ¡°The crown prince has partnered with your mentor to use sacrificial rituals to summon a monster that can be used to rule this country,¡± Elijah explained. ¡°He¡¯s already killed the King, he¡¯s already killed a lot of other people, and he¡¯s going to kill two people that I have been helping keep hidden these past days.¡±

    ¡°Jack and Sasha?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡ª how do you know that?¡±

    ¡°Met them while I was captured,¡± she said, making Elijah realize Grace had already admitted to meeting somebody who knew him before they were taken away by Rubeus. ¡°The man asked me to thank you. He was very¡­ serene about all of this.¡±

    Acceptance was not the emotion he¡¯d needed from those two right now, but there was nothing to do about it. They needed to move.

    ¡°Regardless, they¡¯re being used as sacrifices for the ritual going on right now,¡± Elijah pressed on, already writing on the paper that he was going to meet them in the prepared location. ¡°If it¡¯s completed, they will be killed. We can¡¯t let that happen.¡±

    ¡°So what do we do?¡±

    ¡°Hope the others have a better plan than mine.¡±

    They left the alley behind, hurrying down one of the smaller streets while ignoring all the sounds of combat around them. Others were hiding where they ran, making no sound while watching the duo. Just ten meters away, Spells were flung with no regard for others, explosions and fiends of fire covering entire chunks of the street.

    The cries heard as people were burnt to a crisp would stay with Elijah for a very long time.

    ¡°Down here,¡± he ordered, taking a sharp right before being a second away from getting an axe to the face. Only his freezing allowed the edge to avoid his head, Aleksi barely able to slow it down. ¡°That was too close.¡±

    ¡°Sorry,¡± the giant apologized before looking over at Grace. ¡°Her mother won¡¯t be happy about this, you know?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯ll understand.¡±

    If we live through it.

    ¡°Wind Mage?¡± Harper asked as they were allowed under the veil as well. Grace nodded in reply, eyeing the Illusionist and those behind her warily. ¡°Good. We need somebody to make those closest to the alley off-balanced.¡±

    ¡°Yes, right, sorry, what is she doing?¡± Grace replied, pointing to the Dreamweaver a little further ahead. Elijah heard the muttering leaving her as Nightmares dug themselves out from her flesh, gathering in her open palm in a sphere that pulsed like a racing heart. ¡°Is she with us?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s to focus on those you throw off-balance,¡± Harper explained, making Grace just nod without understanding. ¡°Elijah, you¡¯re throwing the last flash. Aleksi, you¡¯re to protect Elijah. Fox, you¡¯re with me.¡±

    ¡°Oh, sick!¡±

    Even with half her body already covered in blood, the redhead looked none the worse for wear. Elijah felt jealous, more than ready to collapse once he was allowed the pleasure.

    I¡¯ll rest after this one way or another.

    A hand on his shoulder made him look up to see Aleksi staring at him. The green pupils and veins around his face were impossible to miss.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± the giant asked, glancing at the patch of green on his chest. The texture was obvious to the eye, and he didn¡¯t doubt that the elixir-enhanced sight made it even more troubling to see.

    ¡°It¡¯s a patch job after a spear went through there,¡± Elijah explained off-handedly, signaling he would give more details when it was all over. ¡°I¡¯ll throw the flash when the Nightmares bite into their victims. Get ready to shut your eyes and look away then, okay?¡±

    The others confirmed their understanding, and they started to move. He and Aleksi moved to another alley some twenty meters away from the others, hoping to take more with them that way.

    ¡®In position,¡¯ he wrote on the paper when he was able to see the Ritual ongoing from the darkness. The white lights made the central area feel like day once again, and yet it felt so wrong. The bodies of the two he knew were floating unconscious in the middle, seeming to smoke as something was pulled out of them. They were still alive, but the increasing volume of Rubeus¡¯ chanting made it clear that it wouldn¡¯t last.

 Chapter 80: The Summoning

    He spotted Vera and the other royalty to his right fifteen meters away. The sounds of combat and chanting were drowning out whatever was said, but he could see it was getting heated.

    A flash of red on the paper distracted him.

    ¡®Ready in three.¡¯

    Elijah channeled Mana into the white vial¡ªa small but steady amount, making it heat up and vibrate in his palm.

    Three.

    Two.

    One.

    The air clapped as most of the Royal Mages to his left fell over from a blast of wind. Others instantly looked that way, at the moans of pain along with the horror-filled screams as Nightmares began to fly out of the alley. Abhorrent clumps of pure darkness that seemed to absorb the light sent towards them, with as many teeth as they had eyes.

    Elijah threw the white vial the second he saw the first Mage have his face bitten into.

    ¡°Down,¡± he spat, and he and Aleksi both shut their eyes as they shielded their ears. It was almost enough to blow out his eardrums, as both of them felt the sheer power for a moment before the giant took hold of his axe and ran out.

    As the last attempt had shown, the nearest Royal Mages couldn¡¯t react in time. An axe went through the head of the first, and the second was able to do nothing but shout in alarm before a hand grabbed their neck and crushed it.

    Elijah threw smaller vials, some sending out more light and sound while others shut out smaller doses of the toxic gas. It did little by itself, but the chaos made it possible for them both to survive the next five seconds.

    ¡°Kill them!¡±

    He frowned, looking over at the ritual. Rubeus was shouting orders, having ceased his chanting to bring the Mages not focused on the ritual into action.

    Wait, no. He hadn¡¯t paused it. All the words had been spoken, the final call to the summoning ritual having been completed.

    Oh no.

    Elijah ducked under a blast of metallic shrapnel when something in his body warned him, yet his eyes refused to leave the ritual that had ceased in its pulsing to move over to a constant glow. It hurt his eyes to look at, but he refused to turn his head.

    Had they failed?

    Rubeus paused his shouting suddenly, reaching out a hand and letting Arcane Tendrils form from the limb. With a face contorted in rage, he lashed out and¡­ caught someone not seen before.

    Like glass cracking, the body of Harper could be seen held a meter from the ground, tendrils wrapped around her throat.

    ¡°You think that trick will work twice?¡± Rubeus spat. ¡°I am¡ª¡±

    The Ritual vibrated as the Arcane Mage shouted out in pain, the tendrils vanishing as a third figure revealed themselves. Fox, knife in hand, wore a smile on her face while she twisted her weapon into the Royal Mage¡¯s back.

    A sword came hurtling through the air a moment later. Elijah felt sick when it reached the Antimage. A lethal hit.

    Fox fell to the ground lifeless.

    But her efforts had not been in vain. Rubeus didn¡¯t cease in his screams of pain, and every other Royal Mage mirrored the cries. Then, one by one, those in the outer circle started to¡­ pop.

    They popped like balloons, every inkling of Mana removed from their bodies before they seemingly exploded and sent out their flesh in every direction.

    Both sides looked at the display in fear, ceasing the fighting as Royal Mages in the ritual circle tried and failed to escape their fates. One by one their bodies were emptied and torn to pieces by the world. Those who ran met their end a second earlier, and it only became more and more violent as it approached the central circles. Those who had stayed in the ritual since the start tried to fight what was to come, holding themselves together, but the world did not accept their rejection. It took what it was promised.

    Jack and Sasha.

    Amid the downpour of flesh and cloth, he saw the two would-be sacrifices falling to the ground. The ritual no longer cared about them.

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    They had a chance.

    ¡°Come on!¡± Elijah hurried, bringing Aleksi out of his trance as the final circle of Mages was killed. Only Rubeus stood in the ritual circle, alone, fighting for his life to channel the Mana, and¡­ though it seemed close to an impossible effort, the pull seemed to finally dim. New sacrifices had been found and consumed. ¡°Here¡¯s our chance!¡±

    Elijah threw the final bottles in his possession, ones which exploded into a thick black fog the second they reached the ground. Other than irritating the lungs, they had no offensive capabilities, but there was no chance of seeing through it. It gave them cover, a chance to not be hit while the fighting started up yet again.

    Ignoring Rubeus mere meters away, they helped the Illusionist up from the ground. Her arm looked broken, her right hand bent the wrong way, but that was a worry for later. Harper was pulled to her feet, assisted by Elijah as Aleksi took Jack and Sasha in his arms.

    He could see them breathing. They lived.

    ¡°Go!¡± he ordered, fighting his body¡¯s desire to shut down as he hurried away from the ritual circle. It was starting to shake violently below them, and the white lines were starting to become brown and black. ¡°It¡¯s starting.¡±

    Behind them, he could hear the tired laughing of Rubeus. It was manic, the shouting of grandeur coming after only making Elijah dread what was to come.

    The shaking lowered in intensity once they left the ritual, but it wasn¡¯t over yet.

    ¡°My people, cease your struggling.¡±

    Phillip.

    As Elijah helped Harper move to the edge of the open area, the enhanced voice of the crown prince could be heard. Vera and Louis had been allowed to stand back, kept captive by Royal Mages while Phillip walked forward to join Rubeus in front of the ritual circle.

    ¡°It is time to reveal the beast that will carry us into a new age of safety.¡±

    The voice sounded so warped that it became nearly impossible to hear what was being said and much less who was talking, yet Elijah somehow understood every word regardless. It was as if it was being forced into his mind.

    He almost wished it wasn¡¯t, when the stone finally gave away, and the ritual circle was replaced by a massive fracture in space. A portal, though the sense of doom that Elijah was filled with when looking into it made it clear it wasn¡¯t one that any Mage should¡¯ve ever helped create.

    And that fact only cemented itself when a set of giant clawed hands emerged from the portal. He could hear the prince laughing as the rest began to be revealed.

    No.

    It took Elijah a moment to recognize the double set of horns on top of the orange carapace,

    Please, no.

    There was no chance that they would allow this beast to reach the city. There wasn¡¯t.

    ¡°A Tarrasque,¡± Harper breathed out, broken hand forgotten as the beast entire armies feared looked down at them. ¡°No¡­ an Ancient Tarrasque.¡±

    With a height of easily fifty meters, and a width and length so massive that it crushed countless buildings so it could stand inside the district, Elijah was forced to face one truth above all others.

    They wouldn¡¯t win this fight.

    ¡°Do not despair, my people, for this beast will not move unless we order it to. Rubeus, if you would be so kind.¡±

    ¡°Of course, my king.¡±

    Attention was directed at the two below the beast¡¯s head, as a black mark traveled from Rubeus¡¯ arm to Phillip¡¯s. It was akin to a tattoo of the monster¡¯s head, sitting perfectly around the crown prince¡¯s right forearm.

    Elijah normally wouldn¡¯t have been able to see such detail from this distance, but it was as if the world was forcing every person around to observe what happened.

    ¡°And so the control is mine and mine only?¡± Phillip asked, raising the mark for all around to see.

    ¡°Yes, my king, it is¡ª¡±

    The prince¡¯s sword was picked up from the ground and inserted into the Royal Mage¡¯s chest before anybody could blink.

    ¡°Don¡¯t act surprised, Rubeus. You were waiting for your chance to do the same.¡±

    Phillip¡¯s voice dulled in volume as the Arcane Mage fell to the ground, the magic bringing out the crown prince¡¯s voice to the world fading alongside one of the many betrayers that had been revealed tonight.

    ¡°Traitor!¡±

    The other Royal Mages, those who had followed Rubeus, weren¡¯t supportive of the prince¡¯s actions. Elijah and the others moved further away, as the light of magical spells began to push into the skies. Mages with a death wish, firing off every type of magic they knew towards the crown prince.

    Elijah had expected the Tarrasque to make its move there, the toothy maw perhaps put to use, but it just stood there and observed the chaos instead.

    He didn¡¯t like the intelligence in those massive eyes as they saw the dead below.

    There were no attempts to fight back against the spells sent towards him. Phillip dodged those needed, but his armor and body just withstood everything else.

    It was a demonstration.

    A showing of how far above the survivors he was. They could perhaps dream of scratching him, but the powerful Royal Mages had already been killed. Now there were only the weaklings left, if Elijah could even call them that when he was so far below them as well.

    ¡°What have you done, Phillip?¡±

    Yet everybody here was mere ants to the man who appeared in the sky above, standing on a small platform of stone.

    Every Mage that tried to fire a spell in the seconds after was crushed by plates of rock from below, before being entombed in the ground. Another show of power, this one hopefully making a difference.

    Alin Oathbreaker had awoken.

 Chapter 81: Silent Killer

    What happened in the following two hours was surprisingly lacking in violence. The rest of the Royal Mages alive, though there were so few of them left, were all herded up and separated into two groups. Those who still supported the crown and those who had been under Rubeus¡¯ banner.

    The latter group was restrained with the ropes that they had brought, the former was made to watch over them, and every other person still trapped inside the Academy district was made to wait around while the Tarrasque silently stood above them.

    It had attacked nobody, as Phillip had ordered for no such thing.

    ¡°But I can order it to do so any moment I wish to,¡± he warned as he sat down on the couch. ¡°And if the bond is cut, or I am killed or incapacitated in some way, it¡¯ll break free of its chains and go on a rampage.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll allow the country to fall if you don¡¯t get your way?¡± Vera questioned from the opposite couch, wiping away blood stains from her skin while Alin put a hand on her shoulder.

    ¡°Of course not!¡± Phillip assured her. ¡°I have my full trust in you not trying anything while we discuss an agreement that both of us can benefit from.¡±

    And¡­ that was their reality. Those in their group who still lived had been moved to the top floors of the castle by Alin, sitting in an open meeting room while trying to figure out how to finish this relatively peacefully.

    ¡°Anything mutually beneficial isn¡¯t really on the table anymore, Phillip,¡± Vera countered.

    ¡°I can settle for something only benefiting me then,¡± he replied with a shrug. ¡°If that doesn¡¯t work for you, I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re at an impasse.¡±

    Elijah supposed that much was true. The original goal of the crown prince had been to have a force that would so heavily outmatch Alin that the potential destruction of the city in a fight wasn¡¯t a problem, but with the death of most of his loyal forces, things had gotten more complicated.

    If they killed Phillip at this moment, the Tarrasque would be freed and it would kill everybody. If Phillip gave up on getting a favorable deal, he had the ability to try his luck with killing Alin and potentially have a city standing by the end.

    With those on the other side not settling for anything that would involve the death of more of the people, it was becoming a very complicated issue. Allowing Phillip to step into power was something they wouldn''t allow either, which only made the matter even more of a headache.

    ¡°It would be hard to spin in the public¡¯s eye, but we could share the role between the two of us,¡± Philip told Vera, the crown prince ignoring the third sibling standing on the side while having his hand tended to by Elijah. ¡°You would be able to challenge my decisions through official acts, the duties would be split between us evenly, and neither of our abilities would need to be wasted.¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t mind if I take over the political game while you manage commerce and warfare?¡± she questioned, getting a grimace in reply. ¡°Thought so.¡±

    Discussion continued onward, and Elijah was able to finish getting the third royal¡¯s finger bones back into their intended places. A bit of accelerated healing allowed him to move the digits relatively well after a few minutes, but it would take some weeks before the youngest regained his previous strength.

    Harper¡¯s completely broken hand wasn¡¯t as easy to fix, which forced Elijah to do what he could before using a splint to stabilize the area around the fracture. With some hours in the laboratory, he could probably put together something to mend the bones, but, again, there wasn¡¯t time for such a thing right now.

    ¡°You should¡¯ve told me about this gift of yours, sister,¡± Philip commented as some of their initial terms were drafted in a contract. ¡°Having a Leximancer in our repertoire would¡¯ve made so many paths open up for us.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a forbidden Affinity for a reason,¡± Vera replied, finishing the paragraph and allowing the blood-red Mana to enter through the letters. ¡°Neither of us will be able to directly or indirectly harm the other physically, magically, spiritually, or mentally, and ordering any servant under our control to do it on our behalf is likewise not allowed upon signing. Any contracts I¡¯ve written in the past can¡¯t be used to circumvent this protection, meaning you can¡¯t order my death and I can¡¯t order yours. To make matters more obvious, we''re both obligated to answer if asked whether we are planning to circumvent these rules through those under our control.¡±

    ¡°Not bad,¡± came the reply. ¡°Now to split the duties properly¡­¡±

    Elijah didn¡¯t care to listen as he began to wonder about one point above all others. In some minutes, Phillip wouldn¡¯t be able to harm Vera, and vice versa, but wasn¡¯t there a rather glaring loophole to exploit here?

    Something to consider.

    ¡°How are you feeling?¡± he asked Aleksi, who rested on a sofa in the corner of the room. The giant had already been given the strongest heart medicine he had been able to mash together in the past two days, but the elixir was taking a toll on the body regardless.

    The sound of flesh torn apart before being forced together in an endless cycle could be heard when he got close. Though Aleksi hid it well, it was obvious that the pain reduction from the elixir wasn¡¯t effective enough at hiding the sensation.

    ¡°I could be better, I admit,¡± Aleksi finally confessed, sweat rolling off him as he stared at the ceiling above. ¡°I can¡¯t promise I will leave this room on my own feet.¡±

    Aleksi Grey wasn¡¯t sure he would live. Elijah wasn¡¯t sure he would either. Both had known what would likely happen the second the elixir was consumed, but it had been seen as a necessity. The giant had been the one to suggest it, seeing it as a worthy sacrifice if it meant they would save the two from their damned fates.

    And they had.

    Now both of the old men had to accept what they might''ve just traded away.

    ¡°Get back to the others,¡± Aleksi ordered after a while, pushing Elijah out of the couch and out of the spot next to the giant. ¡°Finish the job. I¡¯ll watch over these two in the meantime.¡±

    The two in question were none other than Jack and Sasha, of course. Both were still unconscious, the effects of a magically-induced coma still affecting them. It would pass in some hours, but until then they were just sprawled out wherever they were placed.

    Best of luck, old friend.

    ¡°And as for the Tarrasque?¡± he heard Vera say. ¡°I refuse to accept it being under your control without any contingencies.¡±

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    ¡°If you¡¯re hoping to restrict what orders I can give the beast, sister, I refuse,¡± Philip replied. ¡°I have already agreed to the terms surrounding the peace between me and the rest of this country. I don¡¯t see a reason for anything more than that.¡±

    ¡°Neither do I,¡± Vera¡­ agreed? That didn¡¯t sound right. ¡°What I am worried about, brother, is your mortality.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re afraid to lose your dear older sibling?¡±

    ¡°And the grip around the Tarrasque¡¯s leash, yes,¡± she confirmed. ¡°You might be able to hold it tight now, but it takes one successful hit before your life is cut short and that grip is removed.¡±

    ¡°I can promise that I am durable, but¡­ I see your point,¡± Phillip admitted, frowning as he looked out the window and they all found the Tarrasque looking back at them. That reptilian eye did not blink as it inspected its so-called ¡®owners.¡¯ ¡°It would be a sad day if the other countries discovered they could end ours by killing one man.¡±

    ¡°Does the transfer of that mark require direct contact?¡± Vera asked, pointing at the figure of the beast that covered Phillip¡¯s right forearm.

    ¡°Yes, sadly,¡± the crown prince replied. ¡°But, regardless, I can see the benefits of having it in the contract. When my death comes close, it needs to be moved to you or somebody else we can trust. That should take priority over everything else.¡±

    She wrote as much into the contract, the paper lengthening to allow for more lines to be added on.

    It was a relatively quick process after that. Their duties were added into the contract in greater detail, with the clause of them being able to discuss and alter those duties in the future if needed. After that¡­ the only thing they needed to do was to sign.

    ¡°Elijah, would you mind bringing us some tea?¡± Vera requested as she brought out her pen. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind your blend instead of whatever the castle is offering.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say no to it either,¡± Phillip added, agreeing to a cup.

    ¡­

    Elijah understood. As he went to bring the prepared batch that he had previously put in the king¡¯s chamber, he brought out a purple flower from his Plant Storage. He took a few petals, crushing them in with his hands before putting a few pieces into two of the bags. There was no trace of the tampering by the time he had put it back together, and he walked back to the meeting room at an even pace.

    Hot water had already been delivered along with a few cups, which he distributed alongside tea bags for each person who wanted it. Fade, Louis, and Aleksi declined the offer, but he, Vera, Alin, and Phillip had been craving something to settle their nerves for a while.

    ¡°Take care,¡± he warned the crown prince as he delivered the steaming cup. ¡°It¡¯s hot.¡±

    The prince took the scalding tea without comment, touching the cup like it was room temperature. The perks of magical reinforcement.

    ¡°Oh, Elijah, would you mind if we swapped cups?¡± Phillip requested after the rest were given their share. ¡°I just realized I wouldn¡¯t mind going without sugar, and I¡¯d rather not waste a bag on such a simple mistake.¡±

    He had noticed how Elijah had given him the first cup, how careful he had been.

    Smart.

    ¡°I¡­ suppose,¡± Elijah replied, trading cups with the crown prince. He held the tea for a moment, staring at the liquid.

    ¡°For the betterment of the kingdom,¡± Vera said, raising the tea just a little before taking the first sip. Elijah did the same, though the prince waited a moment more. ¡°So¡­ this is nice.¡±

    ¡°It is,¡± Phillip agreed. ¡°Now tell me, sister, do you have any plans to circumvent the contract and have me killed?¡±

    ¡°None of the sort, as I would be forced to reveal as much to you,¡± the princess assured him. That got a pleased face to leave the prince, making him finally sip the tea while Elijah looked on with a calm look.

    Twenty seconds were allowed to pass peacefully, as they enjoyed the beverage. If the prince forced himself to vomit now, it would make no difference.

    ¡°But¡­ I can see that look on your face, Elijah,¡± Vera finally continued, her smile growing a little wider. ¡°Did you do something without my permission?¡±

    ¡°I did,¡± Elijah confessed, moving to sit directly opposite the crown prince who looked on skeptically. ¡°Phillip.¡±

    ¡°Elijah?¡± came the confused reply. ¡°To be sure, did you poison every cup or was it just yours and my own?¡±

    ¡°Only ours,¡± he admitted. ¡°But¡­ I am not the one who will suffer from it.¡±

    ¡°You think you will live while I die? From the same poison?¡± Phillip questioned, to which Elijah nodded. ¡°That¡¯s a rather far-fetched idea. I didn¡¯t take you for a fool. Poisons work as well on me as a knife would.¡±

    ¡°Most poisons work as well on you as most blades,¡± he corrected. The crown prince frowned when he tried to talk but found his tongue weirdly heavy. Immediately there was an attempt to grab at his sword, but the hand was sluggish in its movements.

    Fear started to settle in.

    Then anger.

    ¡°What have you¡ª¡± Phillip demanded before a hand came up to clutch at his chest. Fear was coming back in full force. ¡°What?¡±

    Elijah took another sip of his tea, feeling the calming effect it had on his mind. In the corner, he could hear Aleksi chuckling weakly. The giant knew what was about to come.

    ¡°I am going to tell you a little story, one that nobody has been granted the privilege to know until today,¡± Elijah said, leaning forward to put his cup on the table. On the other side, Phillip was in pain, tears leaving his eyes as he sat paralyzed. A side-effect of the poison. ¡°I have traveled in my many years of life. Not over the entire world, not outside this continent, but enough that I have come in contact with many interesting things. Death, destruction, entire villages burnt to a crisp, but also the geniuses behind creating the destruction. I worked under such people for many years, one of which grew a certain flower to help create an elixir of incredible strength.

    That elixir doesn¡¯t matter, but this flower does. It¡¯s called the Luna Nightshade, and¡­ I can see you know of it. You must also know that it is meant to be impossible to grow outside of the northern mountains, which I admit it nearly is. It took so much work to move one across this recently-founded country and keep them healthy without my abilities.

    But in those years, those many years, I grew to have a resistance to the Silent Killer. Incredible, don¡¯t you think? The poison that has killed dragons, demigods, kings, and many more, just to be unable to take down one old man.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Phillip gasped out, trying and failing to grasp his sword. Elijah could see the Core of the man working at its fullest in an attempt to make the heart work as it should¡¯ve, yet there was nothing it could do.

    ¡°I¡¯m close to 72, young man,¡± Elijah replied calmly, watching as Phillip tried to call upon the mark on his forearm as a final act of defiance. It, like everything else, failed. The contract didn''t allow it. ¡°A mild wind can kill me these days. Your threats would¡¯ve meant nothing at your full strength, and they most certainly mean nothing now.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ why? Why help her and not me?¡±

    ¡°I will repeat that I feel no loyalty to either of you, and Vera knows that,¡± he assured the dying prince, giving them a shock that might¡¯ve extended their life by a few extra seconds. ¡°She¡¯s just on the side that didn¡¯t try to sacrifice two people I found on the street a week ago. Simple as that.¡±

    ¡­

    Something that might¡¯ve been meant as a chuckle left the crown prince. It didn¡¯t last long, as the lungs started to give out.

    ¡°As promised, Phillip,¡± Vera reminded the dying man, as she grabbed his right arm with her own. The Core of the prince automatically moved away from trying to save the doomed flesh and began the process of transferring the mark from one person to the other. ¡°And¡­ Thank you. I¡¯ll try my best to rule this country in your absence.¡±

    A mouthed word none of them could recognize left Philip before he grew still. Another member of the royalty had fallen.

    Elijah could only sip his tea at the sight, wondering how they were going to move the body without causing too large a scare.

 Chapter 82: Let It Grow

    Aleksi survived, in the end. Not well enough to keep working, not enough to fight without the threat of a heart attack, but enough that he could eat, drink, and laugh with a free mind. Elijah knew the giant wasn¡¯t the biggest fan of giving up his hours in the smithy, but it was for the best. They were getting old, and his body would¡¯ve forced him off the job sooner or later.

    He had some concoctions that could help Aleksi within a few months, potentially letting him do some mild exercise and maybe even train with Sasha again, but it was a proposal for the future. For now, they could only rest.

    The problems plaguing the country weren''t theirs to fix anyway. As one would¡¯ve expected, the events that came to be during the night had caused quite a stir. To have a barrier separating the Academy from the rest of the city before a Tarrasque seemingly appeared out from nowhere only worsened things. To see the monster that stopped the country from harvesting the riches on the lower half of the Dungeon standing there, able to move and kill if it so desired, had caused panic unlike any other.

    Alin moving it outside of the city walls did help slightly, but the damage and events weren¡¯t forgotten. The deaths of the king and crown prince only made things worse.

    From what Elijah was able to hear, however, they¡¯d been able to spin it in their favor. The thought of the crown prince betraying the country wasn¡¯t very good for keeping the people happy, so what if Rubeus Hayes had been behind it all? The potions found to influence minds might not have easily worked on the prince, but the people didn¡¯t have to know that.

    The king had been killed by the Royal Mages, Phillip had been able to break free at the end and kill Rubeus, but the wounds suffered caused him to die in the process. A sad death, but the valiant efforts of the crown family allowed them to get through it.

    It was not a day of loss. It was a day of celebration, as their enemies were defeated.

    A stupid lie, but there wasn''t anybody alive left to disprove it. Vera had gotten the rest of the traitors killed for their actions, had made sure those few who knew the truth were silent, and the people had cheered. The time to rebuild had arrived.

    Many things needed to be made new. The Academy was in shambles, the power it wielded was mostly gone, and the passive protection it offered against the neighboring countries would fade the instant news traveled across the border.

    ¡°It¡¯s ironic that you¡¯re keeping that thing,¡± Elijah commented, as he sat at the Queen¡¯s balcony. He and Vera could look over the high walls from their position, and see the Tarrasque lying in the grass as it was fed a few tons of meat. Without the need to move, it needed little in terms of feed, but Vera wanted to keep it strong if it was ever needed. ¡°So much was lost, and at the end, there¡¯s this beast to show for it.¡±

    He swore that the large eyes fell upon him for a moment as if the monster had heard him from so far away.

    ¡°It could be worse,¡± Vera countered. ¡°Castilla will undoubtedly start prodding our borders again soon, but they will hesitate before restarting the war when faced with this beast.¡±

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    ¡°You sound confident in that prediction.¡±

    ¡°A Queen has to be confident in her plans,¡± she said, looking regal for a moment before breaking into chuckles. ¡°At the very least, we¡¯ll have a few months to rebuild and get ourselves together. Six months shouldn¡¯t be impossible, I¡¯d say.¡±

    ¡°Six months¡­¡± Elijah muttered. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you are going to propose a change to our old agreement?¡±

    ¡°Is it really a proposal when you¡¯ve already decided to stay?¡±

    ¡°Keep dreaming.¡±

    They enjoyed looking over the city for another hour before Elijah excused himself. Vera had a good friend to invite into her chambers, and he had to check up on Aleksi and the others. By the whispers heard, it seemed Grace¡¯s mother was going to tear him a new one.

    Hopefully, his ears could survive it.

    ¡°Elijah!¡± Jack greeted the second he opened the door into the Royal Healer¡¯s personal chambers. Another two beds had been put inside, allowing the trio to lie around without being pressed together constantly. ¡°Come to visit your favorite people in the world?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t remember having such a list,¡± he replied dryly, not wasting time before he began to check Aleksi¡¯s chest with a stethoscope. ¡°Resting pace is good. Still some murmuring but better than six hours ago. Nothing to be scared about.¡±

    ¡°Good to hear,¡± Aleksi said, returning to his lying position. ¡°I have to admit that I¡¯m starting to understand why people can laze around in bed all day. It¡¯s rather relaxing.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t get used to it,¡± Sasha commented, making both old men frown.

    ¡°Why?¡± the giant questioned.

    ¡°We¡¯re gonna be traveling when you¡¯re back on your feet,¡± Jack announced, having seemingly planned it all without telling them about it. ¡°Somewhere with a body of water that¡¯s around body temperature.¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯ve heard of this place from where exactly?¡± Elijah asked.

    ¡°Oh, I have no idea where we can find one of those, but this world is pretty big, right? Not an impossible task.¡±

    Elijah supposed not. And with their newly-gained freedom, who was he to shut down such ideas? Only¡­

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you adamant about returning to the other world?¡± he asked Sasha, to which she shrugged.

    ¡°The idiots that brought us into this world are dead,¡± she replied. ¡°No reason to stay in the city if I can¡¯t force them to put me back.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡®Can I swim in a lake?¡¯ Dawn asked from within his mind. While she would be able to leave it in time, she was still trapped inside him until the plant-flesh could properly assimilate with his body. ¡®I want to swim in one.¡¯

    ¡®Then let¡¯s find you one,¡¯ Elijah said, looking over the others. Though lives had been lost, these three were still here. ¡®Might be a month or two before we get there.¡¯

    ¡®That¡¯s fine. I can wait.¡¯

    So could he. So could they all.

    Though it had taken so much to get here, they finally had time to breathe a little.

    End of book 1.

 Book 1 Afterword

    Hi,

    I''m Buller, the author of Rules of Biomancy. I''m happy that you read the book! It means a lot to me, that somebody likes this genre-mashing attempt of mine. I spent a lot of time on planning this series and seeing it pay off like this is something I''m very grateful for.

    I don''t have a lot I really want to say, but there are a few points I feel the need to go through.

    <blockquote>

    Ending of Book 1

    </blockquote>

    It''s not what everybody had predicted. Not outright at least, all the background information and reasoning not being revealed in this book alone. I''ve seen comments where people have had theories about future twists, and I must say some of you are scarily close to the outline. Actually made me wonder if it leaked a few times.

    <blockquote>

    Future plots.

    </blockquote>

    Anyway. Book 1 is just the start. It''s meant to be the jumping board to create the series that Nomad Healer, one of my old series, was originally intended to be. My original one-line idea for this whole book was ''lotr but gandalf is the main character,'' and I think I stuck with that pretty well. And, it''s only going to grow from that with the hive of politics we''ll see unfold very soon. I''ve loved the ability that Multi-POV gives, since it allows the reader to see the plot unfold from several angles, and I will be using it again as well.

    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    <blockquote>

    The dreaded upload schedule

    </blockquote>

    I have to be fully honest here. The original outline for book 1 was written this time last year, the revised outline was written in December, the first 3 chapters were written in January, and the rest of the book was written between June 17th and July 20th. Not a very consistent schedule, I admit, since there wasn''t much writing after that point either.

    I still have some backlog of book 2! With my current system of around 3 chapters a day, it''ll last... 1 day.

    The rapid releases aren''t something I can keep up from this point. It sucks but it is what it is. I''ll do my best to get you 1 chapter a day from here on out, but it might be shaky these first few weeks. Have to get back into the habit.

    Also, while growth is happening, the bonus chapters will still be a thing. My RS run is ending soon, but I''ll stick to my promises regarding them.

    <blockquote>

    How do we know you aren''t dropping this in 3 weeks randomly?

    </blockquote>

    Well, first off, that''s not how I phrased the other sections of this afterword, imaginary reader, but I''ll let it slide.

    As a form of assurance to you all, I can now announce I''ve signed with Aethon(insert celebratory music here). The first book probably isn''t going up on KU until sometime next year, but this should still keep me chained up until the series has been fully written.

    My current goal is to have the rest of the series completed before January 1st, but we''ll see how far along we are when Book 2 is over.

    And... that''s basically it?

    Again, thanks for reading this first book. I hope you will enjoy the rest as well!

    Oh, and here''s the original cover art for book 1. Thought you might enjoy it:

 Chapter 83: The Lake

    Elijah frowned as he felt the water reach his face. Even when settled in the grass a dozen meters from the lake, he couldn¡¯t avoid the splashing those idiots were causing. The shouting, the cursing about the temperature, the endless messing around¡­ it was gnawing on his nerves.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look like that,¡± Aleksi said in a low voice, lying in the grass beside him. A wide-brim hat was pulled down over the giant¡¯s face, stopping the blazing sun above from reaching his eyes. It did fail to hide the shit-eating grin, however. ¡°You said yes to this. There¡¯s no reason for you to complain now.¡±

    His frown only deepened at the words.

    ¡°When I said yes to this, I was expecting some more maturity,¡± Elijah fired back, looking at what he¡¯d gotten instead. ¡°And I believe the original goal was to visit something more¡­ luxurious.¡±

    They both glanced at the wagon parked some hundred meters away. Mats were packed tightly inside to allow for some minor padding, but Elijah knew he would be investing in something much better if he was to be journeying outside Kulvik again. His back still ached from the few hours he¡¯d spent lying on that abhorrent contraption.

    ¡°You still accepted the new location, you know?¡±

    ¡°I believe you spoke too positively of this place regardless.¡±

    ¡°I said that Dawn would love it, which, by what I¡¯m seeing, she is.¡±

    Aleksi wasn¡¯t lying. Even without focusing on the bond, Elijah could see the duck floating around in the lake without fear for the massive waves caused by Jack and Sasha¡¯s tomfoolery. While Dawn still couldn¡¯t fly outright, she could use the upward pushes of the waves to gain altitude and glide around for a bit. Elijah didn¡¯t see the point of such a thing, but the laughter from the other side made it clear she was having fun.

    And he didn¡¯t doubt that happiness and mirth were further enhanced by being able to move around independently.

    Dawn hadn¡¯t been granted that privilege for the past eight weeks, after all. Instead, she¡¯d been confined to stay inside the left half of his chest, keeping the plant flesh stable and allowing it to slowly bond with the rest of his body. It¡¯d been a necessity after his near-death during the fighting in Kulvik, even if neither enjoyed the experience.

    He didn¡¯t enjoy the current experience either, of course, but there was nothing to do about that. The green and rough surface that had replaced the skin on that chunk of his upper body was there to stay, even if the colored flesh and veins within operated as normal. It was a scar that he would carry for as long as he lived.

    At least he¡¯d gotten off easier than others.

    The Academy hadn¡¯t recovered from the blows it¡¯d been dealt. Elijah doubted it would for a long time, with how most of its top Mages had been killed off in the span of a single night. Promotions had come rapidly after that, of course, with juniors becoming seniors and the few older folks still around becoming the leaders, but it didn¡¯t mean the same. The roles were perhaps filled out, but the power that was didn¡¯t exist anymore.

    And powers were lost in more ways than just as a group. Individuals hadn¡¯t been able to avoid the injuries either.

    If not for the recent improvements, Elijah wasn¡¯t sure he would¡¯ve allowed Aleksi to even leave his bed. The giant hadn¡¯t been as close to death as he¡¯d been after that night, but eight weeks hadn¡¯t allowed him to regain that old strength. His heart had been pushed too far too many times, and it would require more than time to let him recover. As of now, some mild exercise and practicing with Sasha was doable, but anything more than that had the giant feeling nauseous.

    Elijah blinked when water rained down on him once more, making him look out into the lake again. Though it was idiotic to the highest of degrees, Jack had apparently started to transmute some of the rocks into¡­ something, before throwing them out into the water. He wasn¡¯t sure what compound led to such an explosive reaction so quickly, but they certainly seemed to enjoy it.

    He didn¡¯t shout at it to stop either.

    Like Aleksi, they hadn¡¯t been at their top after that night. While having survived being the sacrifices for the ritual to summon the Tarrasque, the Ritual had still sapped their Cores of energy. It¡¯d only become more obvious a few days after the event when bouts of extreme tiredness came over them whenever they tried using their magic. That hadn¡¯t been fun for anybody, Elijah having been forced to work around the clock to help stabilize them.

    Yet time had allowed them to function somewhat once again. A slow cycling of Mana through their Cores, along with more than enough rest to make their bodies heal at accelerated rates, made it possible for them to push around magical powers like never before.

    The fact that all water within five meters of the Absorber briefly disappeared proved that fact, though Elijah had to reconsider his position in the grass. Why had he trusted them to be more careful in their experimenting?

    ¡°Get that grumpy look off your face, Elijah,¡± Aleksi commented, tapping his side with a finger. ¡°We didn¡¯t travel a day in a wagon for you to disapprove of the youth. We have plenty of that at home.¡±

    ¡­

    Fair enough.

    After retreating another ten meters to avoid the effects of the blasts, the trip became much more enjoyable. With summer now at its peak, and the sun not being hidden behind a swell of clouds, the warmth could wash down on their old bones without reprieve. It was¡­ nice. The eight weeks that had passed had perhaps been classified as a ¡®time to relax,¡¯ but that had only counted for the others in his group. Elijah¡¯s duties as the Royal Healer had still been in full swing during that time.

    Plants had been grown and harvested, concoctions had been made with fine details, and the injuries of the living had been tended to. So many had popped up after that assault, many of them impossible to fully treat without magical intervention. With most of those with an Affinity which allowed for that enhanced healing dead, the new Queen had been so kind and humble to allow the Royal Healer to work with people outside of his normal purview. Elijah personally would¡¯ve preferred to spend his time letting his own body relax and recover, but the people¡¯s image of the new Queen was more important to some.

    It¡¯s what I get for agreeing to this.

    ¡°There¡¯s a deer staring at us at the tree line,¡± Aleksi mentioned, pulling Elijah out of his thoughts to take a look. As the giant had said, the small head of the animal could be seen hiding amongst the bushes and trunks just fifty meters away. ¡°Are we going for it, or are we eating dried meat tonight?¡±

    ¡°Are you preparing it, if we catch it?¡± Elijah fired back. This was meant to be a relaxing time, and spending an hour cutting out the animal wouldn¡¯t be anywhere close to that. And the mess¡­ he wasn¡¯t anywhere near as good with animals as he was with plants.

    ¡°You catch it, I chop it up.¡±

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    ¡°Chop it? You¡¯re expecting to make a stew?¡±

    ¡°Been a few decades since I got the chance, so why not?¡±

    ¡°... Can¡¯t argue with that.¡±

    The nostalgia of dishes made by the small fires fueled the call to his Core. Taking a deep breath, Elijah allowed the Mana to flow through his body, into his right hand, and into the earth below. It took a moment for the grass and its roots to accept his manipulation, but the wave of magic was too good to resist. In mere seconds, they bent to his will.

    ¡®More!¡¯

    ¡®We need more!¡¯

    ¡®Give us more!¡¯

    ¡®We crave!¡¯

    ¡®Quiet,¡¯ Elijah ordered, rolling his eyes as he continued to spread his influence through the grass. The shouting continued until the individual strands couldn¡¯t contain more, allowing the Mana to pass through without issue. ¡®Let me see where the beast is hiding.¡¯

    His request was respected instantly, the bushes and trees near the start of the small forest letting him see the exact location of the deer. It was still staring at them, thinking itself safe when obscured by the thin branches. Elijah didn¡¯t doubt it would¡¯ve normally worked as well, if not for Aleksi¡¯s enhanced senses that allowed them to spot it to begin with.

    But it¡¯s too late now.

    Rotating his wrist, the branches of the tree followed the movement. A slight creaking came from it, one that made the ears of the deer instantly rise. It was tense, sensing danger but unable to see where it was from.

    Instinct made it as still as stone. An instinct that normally would work just fine, but the stillness helped Elijah this time around as he allowed the roots and branches to be sharpened along with becoming elastic.

    And, after a second of checking it was all in working order, he sent the order.

    ¡®Strike.¡¯

    The deer saw the movement from all sides. Grass wrapped around its hooves, the thin branches of the blueberry bush pierced its hide, and the thicker wood from the tree came down from above and wrapped around its neck. It struggled, it tried to break free, but there was nothing it could do in those precious three seconds.

    Elijah turned his hand and the branches turned with him, the quick movement letting the broken neck be heard from so far away. He felt it as the life drained from the deer, as it struggled for a second more before the broken spine became too much and it succumbed to the darkness.

    ¡°What I wouldn¡¯t have given to have you doing that 50 years ago,¡± Aleksi muttered, slowly rising from his position in the grass. The giant yawned, stretched old muscles, and finally got up on his feet. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose those magical hands of yours could conjure a proper fire as well?¡±

    ¡°Keep dreaming,¡± Elijah replied, getting a laugh out of the giant as they went over and grabbed the fallen animal together. ¡°Give me a moment.¡±

    ¡®Release it,¡¯ he ordered the plants that had started to use their newfound awakening to try and capture the flesh for their own growth. The tree, able to move its branches, was in an ongoing pulling war with the bushes on who would be granted the gift of nutrition for a full week, both sides having branches tightly wrapped around and through the corpse. A brutal sight. ''Release it now,¡¯

    Putting pressure on his words finally made the plants obey, the deer flopping back to the ground. The sound of more bones breaking from the fall could be heard, but neither minded it much as Aleksi grabbed the deer and they returned to the wagon.

    The giant was busy processing the deer by the time the three in the lake finally caught onto something interesting happening. Letting the sun dry them, they reached the wagon by the time that Aleksi was done skinning the animal, draining it of blood, and removing the meat from the bone.

    ¡°Here I thought we were going for another night of salted dinner,¡± Jack said, as he kept a healthy distance from the bloody area. Sasha just ignored it, however, walking to the wagon to get a change of clothes. ¡°Make sure you don¡¯t make too much of a mess, please. I¡¯d like to sleep well tonight.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you were squeamish about a little blood, Jack,¡± Aleksi countered, intentionally picking out one of the leg bones and breaking it in half. The younger man shivered in disgust, making the giant laugh and throw it to Dawn. ¡°I promise not to stain your precious fabrics if you get me the pot from the wagon. Should be in the front somewhere.¡±

    The man went to do as much, while Elijah observed the duck¡¯s hasty snacking. If he¡¯d thought the sounds of the deer¡¯s death to be violent, the crunching and splinters that came from Dawn¡¯s eating were so much worse. That the duck¡¯s body had the same mass as the bone she was somehow going through without breaking a sweat just made it all worse.

    ¡®You¡¯re not feeling full at all?¡¯ he asked her, which made her pause for a moment.

    ¡®It¡¯s good,¡¯ was the simple response. ¡®Can¡¯t waste it.¡¯

    Not too good of an explanation, but she did share her own magical processing a second later to clear things up. As fast as bone shards were entering through the mouth of the duck, the acids of the plant¡¯s insides were breaking it down. Barely a moment needed to be spent before it was nothing but energy, compressed until it was barely possible to see, and then added into her reservoir which had been running somewhat empty after her journey in the lake.

    He couldn¡¯t blame her for the hunger, though Elijah did have to stop her from further consuming chunks of the deer. While the bones were fair game, the second she started reaching for the cut-out meat was the second that he had to step in.

    ¡°Sasha,¡± Elijah called, as he grabbed Dawn and kept her away from Aleksi¡¯s work area. ¡°Would you mind taking care of the fire?¡±

    The woman looked at him for a moment before nodding. It took little time before wood had been gathered and a small circle had been formed with stones. After that, it was a simple act of using her Core to bring forth the concentrated heat.

    ¡°How doesn¡¯t that hurt you?¡± Jack muttered as Sasha held some of the firewood. The skin on her fingers was exuding enough heat to make the wood smoke, and after another dozen seconds of the treatment, a solid flame started to come forth. A bit more pushing after having it join the other wood allowed the fireplace to start in full. ¡°Are you immune to it or something?¡±

    ¡°Not immune,¡± Sasha replied, shaking the hand used. Darker spots could be seen, though they were steadily vanishing. ¡°I can just resist it more.¡±

    Elijah figured it was more than just a resistance when it barely took a minute before the skin showed no damage in the slightest. He knew from experience that such burn marks could take days to normally vanish, and yet she had no such problems holding her down. The perks of being an Absorber, Elijah supposed.

    With a fire, plenty of meat to work with, and some greens that had been brought from the city, a stew was quickly started and allowed to sit comfortably until nightfall when it was ready. They ate it with glee under the light of the moon, the heat of summer stopping any notion of freezing. Elijah certainly found it comfortable.

    More than enough to allow sleep to claim him soon enough. While his body wasn¡¯t as tired as usual, age allowed him to have the ability to sleep whenever and wherever he felt the need. It certainly allowed a sense of serenity to claim his flesh until the morning lights reached over the trees, yet even then he kept on in a half-awake state since there was no need to hurry up.

    Or so he¡¯d hoped.

    ¡®Your paper is burning,¡¯ Dawn informed him an hour into his half-sleeping state. Elijah momentarily ignored it, thinking that one of the others had simply thrown some fuel into the fire to keep it alive, but he quickly rose from his mat as Dawn sent over the image of the red flames that had burst out from the paper in his bag. ¡®More flames.¡¯

    ¡°I can see that,¡± Elijah muttered as he opened up the satchel and took out the paper. Shaking it to let the ash residue come off, he skimmed through it.

    ¡®Ethon knows. We need you all back. Reply when you read this.¡¯

    ¡­ Elijah had to sigh after reading it. Here he¡¯d thought they would be able to take it easy, now that they could finally move around without being in pain.

    Writing out a quick confirmation below the message, he woke the others up. It was time to turn the wagon around and go back home.

 Chapter 84: The Council of Melrond

    It took until late afternoon before Elijah could sense the city in the distance. Not seeing it with his own eyes, but feeling it through his magical senses. The waves of power as the buildings were shifted around, the heartbeat of the dungeon as it broke down and built up monsters of all kinds and variants, and just the mere presence of the Tarrasque all helped him make sure he knew they were getting close.

    ¡°Really doesn¡¯t get any less creepy,¡± Jack commented from beside him, as they continued to ride down the road. The horses weren¡¯t happy going towards Kulvik when it finally did get into sight, as the giant beast beside it triggered some kind of natural instinct in the animals. He couldn¡¯t blame them, Elijah felt the same way. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be a good idea to just¡­ hide it a bit more? I don¡¯t think any merchants are going to be happily visiting with this thing standing guard.¡±

    ¡°Making others second-guess approaching is the intention,¡± Elijah replied, though he wouldn¡¯t mind the monster¡¯s removal either. He understood that there were a hundred like it below and that this one in particular was helping keep the country safe, but that didn¡¯t stop him from disliking being around it.

    Those two long horns, the toothy maw, the thick carapace, and the endless rows of spikes that covered the body made the Tarrasque an abomination in its own category. Being the size of ancient dragons didn¡¯t help either, and that magical aura it exuded by merely existing permanently put him on edge.

    Elijah knew it would only be worse if it was ever brought into combat, that aura of tenseness able to be harnessed into a forced air of fear. Stories of legendary warriors brought to their knees just by being near such a monster weren¡¯t uncommon, and he loathed the idea of having to witness such a thing.

    One could only hope that its presence was enough to dissuade any attempts at war.

    At the very least, it wasn¡¯t possible to see the Tarrasque once you were inside the city. The walls that surrounded the capital were tall enough to hide its presence when the monster was lying down on the ground, allowing the citizens some minor respite. Not enough to forget about it entirely, but enough that they could go about their days without too many issues.

    ¡°Reason for entry, sir?¡± a guard asked, once they finally reached the entrance into Kulvik.

    ¡°Returning from a short vacation,¡± Elijah replied, bringing out his emblem. Even through the helmet, he could see the guard¡¯s eyes widen. Without having their inventory searched, they were waved through without any further questions.

    The perks of authority, I suppose.

    He couldn¡¯t order around anybody but his assistants in regards to his job, but he could walk just about wherever he wished. It was a strange experience, though one which also had drawbacks.

    ¡°Elijah!¡±

    45 seconds.

    It had taken less than a minute of driving through the city before somebody had shouted his name, waving at the group as the horses carried them through the street. He didn¡¯t wave back, he didn¡¯t turn his head to see whoever had called his name, and he certainly didn¡¯t care to notice the dozen other voices calling for him moments later.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little rude of you, old friend?¡± Aleksi asked behind him. Even without looking at the giant, Elijah knew that the man had a shit-eating grin firmly planted on his face. ¡°They¡¯re happy to see you! Shouldn¡¯t you give them a small taste of your attention?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re going to ask for gold, connections, or information sooner or later,¡± Elijah countered bluntly, Aleksi laughing at his words. ¡°I could barely tolerate the old woman¡¯s club on our street. What makes you think I¡¯ll humor whatever nonsense these people have to say?¡±

    ¡°The goodness of your heart?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re delusional.¡±

    They laughed at his misfortune once again, forcing Elijah to just grumble his annoyance away. It¡¯d been like this since the days after the fight against the crown prince. While Vera had tightly controlled what information regarding that altercation could be released, she had allowed Grace to reveal some notable details about her involvement in it all. That had included her saving Elijah, the distraction she¡¯d done to let others close in on the ritual, and how she¡¯d heroically stopped the deaths of the other royals.

    That last part was mildly embellished, but it sounded both good and believable when shouted at the top of her lungs inside an inn full of half-drunk idiots. Having it shouted a dozen times each night for two weeks straight likewise changed that stretched retelling into stone-cold fact, and the sizable pile of gold that Vera had gifted Grace and her mother afterward made it all the more believable.

    And if Grace had gotten such a sum through just a smaller amount of participation, what must Elijah have received¡­

    Having his name mentioned during those half-drunk retellings had cursed him. Everybody knew of his involvement, of his position as the Royal Healer, and of the gold he was surely hiding from everybody. From what people were shouting his way, some thought him as rich as the royalty themselves at this point, and more than a few were trying to have a cut of that fortune.

    People he hadn¡¯t interacted with for decades, and people he¡¯d never talked to at all, were trying to approach him as if they were the best of friends. Obsessive affability without end and without any sense of decency attached. It disgusted him.

    But a brutal rejection of anybody who approached didn¡¯t stop the next dozen from doing the same, so Elijah had given up on responding to it at all. Ignoring them was easier anyway, and one could hope they¡¯d give up sooner or later.

    At least the amount of people calling his name lessened once they made it out of the middle district and into the upper-class areas. People still caught sight of him, the rich folk staring him down, but nobody let their voices be known. Their previous attitude towards him, the thinly veiled disgust, was still hidden somewhere in their eyes, but the desire to use him to improve their own status somewhat outweighed it.

    No wonder Vera is disgusted by you all.

    His talks with the Queen about the people close to the castle, who sat in restaurants and perused expensive wares that held no proper function other than aesthetic, made it clear that neither of them had any fondness for these types. Too much gold in too few hands, along with a too strong desire to attain more of that shining metal. It was greed incarnate, and it filled the streets that they traveled through.

    Beautifully elaborate architecture could only hide so much filth from the eye.

    ¡°Halt! Reason for¡ª Oh, hello there, Elijah,¡± the guard at the entrance to the castle greeted. The rotation of people who protected the entry to the royal area had started to recognize his face nowadays, barely needing a glance his way before lowering their guard. ¡°You¡¯re back earlier than expected. Weren¡¯t you meant to return in two days?¡±

    ¡°Circumstances changed and I had to return earlier than I¡¯d preferred,¡± Elijah explained.

    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s what comes with our positions. No need to worry about it,¡± the guard assured him. ¡°Let them through, boys!¡±

    From there, they didn¡¯t get any disturbances. Once they reached the stairs into the castle, servants came down to help grab any items left in the wagon, a handler likewise helping move it to the royal stables to be tended to. A luxurious service, all things considered, and it allowed the group to venture into the golden halls at good speed.

    Sending off a quick message through the paper about their arrival, Harper came to bring them up the spiral stairs and into one of the larger royal gardens. This one was largely tended to by his assistants, as it mostly harbored non-essential fruits and vegetables that were more for recreational use rather than their medicinal properties. However, the garden also possessed a larger meeting area that was obscured by thick bushes and enchanted to stop any sounds from leaving it. Inside, it was possible to find a round table large enough to comfortably seat ten people, something which was just about needed this time around.

    Vera sat opposite the side where they entered, Alin to her right and Harper soon seated on the left. Fade was even further to the right, along with the remaining prince who looked mildly uncomfortable in his seat. The thick stack of documents nearby on the table didn¡¯t make it easier for anybody.

    ¡°Oh, good, you all arrived just in time,¡± Vera commented, accepting a glass from Harper before the Illusionist finally settled down next to her. ¡°Please, seat yourselves. This is going to take a while.¡±

    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    The four did as asked, being handed refreshments from servants who appeared in quick order. Nothing too extreme, but enough to keep the mind going for a good while if needed. Elijah was rather worried about that fact.

    ¡°We cut our free days short because of your message,¡± Elijah said after sipping his drink. A sugary fruit blend that had likely been boiled, diluted, and then had a few ice cubes added in to keep it cold. Not bad. ¡°While I¡¯d love to hear your recap of the weekly large-scale transactions that have occurred in the country, your row of advisors aren¡¯t here to nod along to it.¡±

    It was just them now, along with Fade and Louis. That the advisors were gone made the meeting a strange one, but that the Dreamweaver and the young prince were here as well made it certain in Elijah¡¯s mind that something drastic was to happen.

    ¡°That discussion was finished a few hours ago, though I can have a summary sent your way if you so desire it,¡± Vera offered, which he quickly rejected. He couldn¡¯t handle more pointless circle-talk than he¡¯d already been forced to sit through. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. And I already sent along the reason why I needed you back so soon.¡±

    ¡°Ethon has acknowledged the change in Serenova¡¯s royal family in some manner,¡± he surmised, to which the others nodded. ¡°How bad is it?¡±

    ¡°For now? Nothing too serious,¡± the newly officiated Queen assured him, pulling out a paper from the stack of documents and sliding it over to him. ¡°We received this letter last night. Take a look for yourself.¡±

    After making sure it wasn¡¯t laced with anything or enchanted, Elijah did as asked and took a look. Even with nearly an entire page filled with beautifully written cursive, there was very little behind the words. An assurance that Vera¡¯s father had been a good man, that he had made his people proud, that Serenova would stand stronger than ever with its new Queen, and that they¡­ wanted to talk about it in person at the country¡¯s port city, one by the name of Melrond.

    ¡°The Elven King wants to have an audience with you?¡± Elijah questioned, a frown quick to grow on his face.

    ¡°Oh, no, he wouldn¡¯t dare step out of his fancy forests and its protections,¡± Vera said with a chuckle. Nobody else found it funny, a certain Earth Mage to her side looking at her with some level of disapproval. ¡°Sorry.¡±

    ¡°The Forest Elves are not prone to leaving their hidden homes, so they have created artifacts that alleviate this problem somewhat,¡± Alin explained, manifesting a small sphere of perfectly smooth stone in his hand. ¡°They have crystal spheres around this size which allow people to communicate when they¡¯re oceans apart without trouble. An ingenious creation which I¡¯m saddened that we don''t have ourselves, but it¡¯s useful in this situation regardless.¡±

    ¡°The diplomat we¡¯ve used for the past decades to keep up talks with Ethon hasn¡¯t suffered any effects from repeated usage as well, so it should likewise be safe to handle,¡± Vera supplied, though that only caused questions to appear.

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t explain why we¡¯ve been recalled early,¡± Elijah pointed out. ¡°If Ethon wished to get into talks with Serenova, I don¡¯t see how I need to be involved. You already have somebody working as a diplomat, by the sounds of it.¡±

    It didn¡¯t sound like it at all, actually, but he wanted to hear it from her mouth.

    ¡°The old diplomat who filled that position was in cahoots with certain people, so they had to be removed,¡± Vera confessed, the others looking on blankly. Since there was still the possibility of some less-loyal servants being within earshot, they had taken up the habit of being rather vague in their wording when talking about the crown prince and the people who had worked under him. It wouldn¡¯t do well to give out the number of people who had been executed for treason in recent times. ¡°This means that we¡¯re lacking in people that we can both trust and are taught the ways of diplomacy.¡±

    There was no chance of that happening.

    ¡°I¡¯m not accepting this role,¡± Elijah said bluntly.

    ¡°We¡¯re not offering you this role,¡± Vera replied.

    An eyebrow rose.

    ¡°Did we actually skip breakfast and lunch for this?¡± Jack questioned. ¡°We¡¯ve been on the road for ten hours today to get back here quickly. Please tell me you didn¡¯t stop our vacation just for this.¡±

    ¡°I promise you I didn¡¯t,¡± the Queen assured him. ¡°I am, in fact, giving you the chance to see more of the country.¡±

    To travel after the need for a diplomat to visit the port city in the west-most part of Serenova, but we aren¡¯t given that position ourselves?

    ¡­ Elijah supposed he could see why the young prince looked so uncomfortable now, along with why Fade of all mages was present at the meeting.

    ¡°While we might have been on dangerous roads in our youth, working as bodyguards for your brother isn¡¯t something we¡¯re built for anymore,¡± Elijah said. He didn¡¯t like how she smiled at his words. ¡°And, frankly, are you sure he is a good choice for keeping good relations with the elves?¡±

    ¡°You do realize I can hear you, right?¡± the prince in question asked. Elijah just stared at him. ¡°I¡¯ve been formally trained in elven customs and their traditions, and I have received extensive training in diplomatic relations.¡±

    Oh, there was no question about that. Elijah had looked through the records of just about every important person left in the castle. He knew their old ailments, their old relationships, what kind of treatment they had been given, and what teachers they¡¯d had for what subjects. While one would think that Vera or the late Crown Prince had been the ones to have gone through the most teachers, that would be wrong. Even with the rather blunt comments and complaints, Louis Newell was very well-taught.

    This didn¡¯t stop him from having a lackluster ability to act properly in front of anybody important. Even if the rumors had been exaggerated, the prince was able to act normal on occasion, that quick temper wasn¡¯t a lie.

    And yet¡­ while Elijah could see the prince trying to kill him with his eyes only, the adjacent shouting and rising from the chair wasn¡¯t to be found. Louis Newell, the short-fused royal, was holding himself back.

    Curious.

    ¡°We¡¯re in need of somebody who¡¯s loyal, and my brother has proved he fits within that category,¡± Vera added on to push the tension away. ¡°And, before you ask, it was him who asked for the position. I didn¡¯t start this.¡±

    Now that was a surprise. Elijah hadn¡¯t doubted that Vera would be crazy enough to suggest a thing such as this, but that the prince himself was behind it¡­ Maybe he had misjudged him somewhat. That air of anger around him, that desire to respond to any provocation, was still there to be seen, but it was being suppressed actively. Not enough for Elijah to miss it, but enough that somebody unused to Louis¡¯ presence might miss it.

    Not a diplomat, however, and certainly not elves who¡¯ve had centuries to practice reading faces.

    He had to know more.

    ¡°With the way you have acted in recent times, I don¡¯t trust you,¡± Elijah told the prince matter-of-factly. While the eyes briefly widened in anger, nothing came after. ¡°You¡¯ve been irrational, I know you¡¯ve struck hundreds of servants through the years, and now you want to put the relationship with another country that¡¯s vital to the survival of Serenova in your own hands? I didn¡¯t think you were so arrogant.¡±

    ¡­

    Huh.

    The palms of the prince were still on the table, the eyes were still unwavering, the body was still as calm as it had been a minute before this all started, and¡­ that anger had vanished entirely.

    I don¡¯t trust it.

    Elijah didn¡¯t let his eyes waver, staring the prince down until it finally came. A small twitch in the neck, the tenseness in the jaw, and the slight curling of the fingers. Still as angry as expected, holding it down well, but it couldn¡¯t be held down indefinitely.

    A longer fuse than what had been seen some weeks ago, but the core personality still remained steadfast.

    There was progress, however, he couldn¡¯t deny that.

    ¡°I¡­ am not good enough for his position yet,¡± Louis admitted, much to the surprise of most at the table. Discussing his own faults usually came in a much louder voice, but that calm tone was still here somehow. ¡°I have been trained for diplomatic jobs my entire life, but that was with the idea that I would be under another¡¯s wing for the first decade of taking up the role. The chance of that happening is gone, we need somebody, and everybody else that has the qualifications for this is either preoccupied with other positions or they¡¯re not trustworthy, which makes me the best choice.¡±

    Elijah locked eyes with Vera who nodded at the words. She truly believed her brother to be who they were going with? He supposed he couldn¡¯t force another to take the position but to move through the land with him? It was a risk.

    ¡°Fade will accompany you, to help with both bodyguarding Louis and smoothing any stressful situations,¡± Vera continued. ¡°If you decide to go with them, your main tasks will be to accompany him on the roads, send back reports about the state of the places visited, and help keep my brother safe if absolutely necessary. In return, I offer you more of that gold that you dread so much, along with the opportunity to see more of the country and perhaps meet some interesting people. I know Jack has previously mentioned wanting to talk with some of the elven folk.¡±

    So this is how you want to play it? Fine.

    Even if he hadn¡¯t been fully comfortable with the risks attached, Vera¡¯s words won the others over. Jack and Sasha had both wanted to leave behind Kulvik in search of something else, and the opportunity to see a forest elf certainly had the young man interested.

    And as for Aleksi¡­ Though it took an entire discussion done through eye contact only, the giant made it clear he saw this as the safer path to take. More people meant more protection, and it would likewise allow them to travel out further earlier than previously thought possible. Even with the risk of witnessing a royal meltdown, nothing stopped them from simply leaving at that point.

    ¡°If it¡¯s what we think is the best choice, I suppose I¡¯ll have to go along with it,¡± Elijah finally conceded, much to the jubilation of the others. That happiness did leave them soon after when they learned the amount of adjusting that had to be done for their extended leave.

    Vera¡¯s warning about the meeting becoming a long one hadn¡¯t been unwarranted.

 Chapter 85: Aeneid

    After the headache of sorting out and assigning new people for their abandoned duties, they were finally released from the meeting. For Aleksi, that meant finding one of the outdoor day beds in the royal garden while the two younger folk went out to hone their skills. Nothing intensive, and certainly nothing with high stakes, but still productive in their own ways. And, at the end of the day, it was something they enjoyed.

    Elijah was more than a little jealous of that fact.

    ¡°You¡¯re leaving too much of the petiole when you cut off the leaves,¡± he said, as he looked over the work of his assistants. With his oncoming departure from Kulvik for more than a few days, they had to learn how to harvest and otherwise care for the plants that Elijah usually did on his own. ¡°It¡¯s only the leaves themselves that carry the desired properties. If you mix them together with any other parts of the Phoenixfruit trees, the final product is worthless."

    Most of the herbs in the Royal Garden weren¡¯t hard to tend to, but some had specific traits that you needed to remember. With this specific example, it meant an endless headache alongside long bouts of tiredness. It wasn¡¯t something you would expect when consuming a Phoenix Drop, as the intended effect was an instant mental refresher.

    And it only got worse with other plants. Simple alterations to the well-described process of caring for and harvesting the herbs had the potential of blowing up in the faces of his assistants both figuratively and literally. The difference between a non-issue and the need for emergency medical supplies was sometimes whether or not a Pomping Laceflower was put on its head within a minute of harvesting it.

    Such an easy thing to mess up when a person got too lenient with the instructions.

    ¡°I don¡¯t get how you remember all of this,¡± Oscar commented, as he redid the cuttings so they could fit Elijah¡¯s requirements. ¡°Different processes for different plants I get, but with the normal Phoneixfruit trees you take the leaves, the petiole, and the fruits themselves.¡±

    ¡°And with this new variant, you only take the leaves,¡± Elijah replied, before going into detail about how the two variants were very different. The branches at the top crown were much more curled, and, while the fruits that came from the new variant did look identical to the former, the amount which grew were in heavily reduced numbers. It was obvious if you knew what to look for. ¡°But, regardless of whether you can see the differences or not, you still need to look up the ID of every tree you harvest from. Best not to take a chance with this.¡±

    Even Elijah had to admit his mind could fail at some points, which was why he had happily adopted the former Royal Healer¡¯s approach to systematically documenting every plant that resided within their gardens. The numbers in front of any plant designated what was what, allowing any person to look up information regarding them. With many of the herbs that the assistants harvested every weekend, it was a simple name and instructions to just harvest as usual, but with others, there were very strict warnings. While Elijah hadn¡¯t taken up the habit of filling several pages surrounding a single variant just yet, he figured he would need to do so very soon.

    ¡°I have to give it to Oscar on this one, Elijah,¡± Mary said, as she finished trimming the Spiked Tassels. Just like the Phoneixfruit trees, these were also variants of the original that the assistants usually tended to on their own. ¡°An increase in effectiveness is nice, but the normal versions already work to the needed standard, and this just feels like it''s an unnecessary danger.¡±

    Elijah¡­ couldn¡¯t refute that outright. Not with these plants, at least. In the past eight weeks, in those rare hours where he had the freedom to experiment with his Affinity, he had started to try increasing the purity of the Royal Garden¡¯s flora.

    A challenging task, in more ways than one. Increasing the effectiveness and growth of plants through strengthening their magical abilities was a simple endeavor, and it was one Elijah had done from the very beginning of his experimentation with his Affinity. The issue that came from this method, however, was that it didn¡¯t work as well in the long term. A higher use of Mana internally meant that a plant needed a larger passive supply of Mana from its surroundings. If Elijah was around to supply it on his own, that wasn¡¯t a problem, but he could hardly spend every day keeping the new variants alive.

    He needed them to be able to survive in their current surroundings, which meant that all improvements had to come at a cost. A balance of sorts, one that the plants rarely enjoyed at first. Convincing those primitive minds to cut away parts of their nature without a net gain was not easy at the start, Elijah needing several days to make any variant that was even close to stable.

    But after the first two weeks, progress had boomed.

    Elijah had optimized the more powerful Sundrop Flowers to grow within the garden, alongside the larger Fireblooms, Elderglow Tulips, and Sunfire Daisies. Above them, there was even a variant of the Faerie¡¯s Breath vine flower that he¡¯d managed to make stable, the multi-colored petals shining brightly. Each was as beautiful to Elijah as they were dangerous, and he loved them regardless.

    And, on that note, he did need to brew various concoctions from those plants.

    After another two hours of going through the various variants he¡¯d grown with his assistants, and how to properly and safely care for them while he was gone, most of the harvested materials were set to dry in their own rooms. The remaining materials were brought down into the laboratory.

    ¡°The process for the Firebloom cream with the new variant is identical to the original, so I trust you to make it, Mary,¡± Elijah explained, as the herbs were put on the different tables. ¡°Oscar, I need you to prepare the Elderglow Tulips for infusion. Wear thicker gloves. You don¡¯t want the juices on your skin.¡±

    Since their journey was going to be a multi-week trip, and with how powerful the sun was during the summer months, Elijah knew it was necessary for some form of protection. Cream made with the Firebloom juices would make that a reality, as the plant¡¯s properties could grant a person resistance to the rays for days at a time. It likewise carried a slight sensitivity to cold air, but it was a sacrifice Elijah was more than ready to accept when it stopped any chance of sunburn.

    On the other end, the nights out in grass plains were rather dark, and there were no promises that the stars would brighten the world. The Elderglow Tulips fixed that issue since any liquid infused with them would glow with a strong blue light for hours if shaken. The original version carried that property, at least, the new variant shining through the night if it had gotten even a single hour out in the sun during the day. Not a bad concoction to have.

    There were a few others that were processed as well, of course. Sundrop Flowers were spent on healing Pastes, Sunfire Daisies on ointment to tend to tired muscles, and Faerie¡¯s Breath vines on eye drops that granted a person temporary night-vision.

    Anything and everything that could prove useful on their journey. Even with the promised safety of their route, and even with several in their group who could sense the presence of others from a far distance, Elijah wasn¡¯t one to take chances.

    ¡®I can make this if you want!¡¯ Dawn supplied from inside, as he closed the vials that held the eye drops. ¡®Everything else too! You don¡¯t need to be afraid.¡¯

    ¡®I¡¯m not afraid,¡¯ Elijah replied, ignoring the looks from his assistants as a low chuckle left him. ¡®I¡¯m just a little stressed.¡¯

    ¡®You don¡¯t need to be stressed either. I¡¯m here.¡¯

    ¡®Just because you can recreate all of this, it doesn¡¯t mean you should have to,¡¯ he said, to which Dawn made an offended noise. Their recent efforts had allowed the duck to be granted access to just about every plant found in the castle, allowing her to replicate their properties and some of the concoctions you could make with them. It was an incredible feat, anybody could admit that, but it still took a toll on her. ¡®Pushing ourselves when there are easier options isn¡¯t a good way to use resources, as I¡¯m sure you would agree.¡¯

    ¡®... Fine.¡¯

    Even without a physical body to emote with, Elijah could easily visualize the pouting.

    Before Elijah finished the preparations for the day, there was one more thing he brewed, this time with the Faerie¡¯s Breath again. While it could make one capable of seeing in the dark in small doses, many more things could be seen once the size of the sample was increased.

    Not to the point of a true psychedelic, and not anywhere near one in terms of its emotional and mental influences, but Elijah was a fan of the effects regardless. They certainly paired well with the Drink of the Fae.

    ¡°You know, it has been more than a decade since I last tried this mix,¡± Cleo commented, as she put a few drops of the concentrated liquid inside her drink. Elijah did the same, finding that the heated beverage gained a slight fuzziness on his tongue. Not bad. ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to, but there hasn¡¯t been an occasion I found worthy of it.¡±

    After the work at the laboratory had been completed, Elijah and Aleksi had left the castle grounds behind in favor of visiting their old friend. They¡¯d already been there this very week, and every week before that for the past six, but this visit would be the last for a while.

    ¡°And us leaving Kulvik for a few weeks is that special occasion?¡± Aleksi questioned, getting some chuckles out of the Madame. ¡°Here I thought we were being a ¡®nuisance.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Oh, I would never call the two of you that!¡± Cleo denied, even when all three could remember her rants two weeks before when they had reached a little too deep into one of the bottles. Elijah was quite happy he¡¯d had access to the Royal Garden the morning after, else he feared the hungover would¡¯ve had a real chance of striking him down. ¡°Even with all those troubling agreements you can¡¯t help but get into, you¡¯re still good friends of this establishment.¡±

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    Aleksi snorted while Elijah just sighed. Cleo had known about their departure before they¡¯d said a single word about it, bringing out one of the bottles from a good year. The ears of those below just seemed to reach further and further into the political landscape with each passing day.

    ¡°Do you truly think that it¡¯s such a bad idea?¡± Elijah asked, to which the madame shrugged.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard the ramblings of those two you care for,¡± Cleo replied, taking another sip of her drink. They did the same, feeling the warmth that ran down their throats. ¡°They seek new sights beyond these walls. Too many bad memories inside. I understand that it¡¯ll be impossible to keep them here, and our new queen knows that as well.¡±

    ¡°And with this agreement, we¡¯ll stay attached to the country and she can sleep with the knowledge that her treasured pawns won¡¯t escape her control,¡± Aleksi added dryly, chuckling at the glance Elijah sent his way. ¡°What? Do you want to be promoted to a knight instead?¡±

    ¡°Save the sassiness for a day where we can drink more than a few glasses of this,¡± Elijah said, eliciting laughs from the two. He just rolled his eyes. ¡°But, yes, it¡¯s her way of keeping us safely within her sphere of influence. Jack has been talking a lot about visiting the other races these past two weeks, and Vera might¡¯ve taken that as a threat.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t take it as an insult,¡± Cleo reminded him. ¡°She knows you¡¯ll see her reasoning, and she¡¯ll trust you don¡¯t act out on it. Doing something simple for their first proper excursion wouldn¡¯t hurt regardless. We both know how badly it can end for the more adventurous spirits.¡±

    A loss of freedom, a loss of life, a loss of one¡¯s soul. The dangers of the world were perhaps regaled through fantastical tales, but many of them were very real regardless. Elijah wished for none of it to touch them. Though he and Aleksi had stepped out of the shadows to help those two, the original danger was gone. The duo was now free to live, to experience what life had to offer.

    Did that mean the danger of the world? In the contradicting nature that life usually was, yes, but nobody was forcing them to take on the biggest of challenges to start with. A small quest, a brief visit to a port city to the west, truly was a light introduction to what Elijah figured might become their last acts.

    To let those two idiots see the world, and maybe even keep them safe while they were at it.

    A far-fetched dream, I imagine.

    After another twenty minutes of gossiping alongside two more glasses of the divine liquid, there was a knock on the door. Not a common thing, as very few would visit Cleo without her warning Elijah and Aleksi about it. Nor was it common for them to still be in the room by the time that anybody arrived.

    Regardless, a button was pressed, the door was unlocked, and the bearded face of a certain Chronomancer peeked inside.

    ¡°You called, Madame?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t say I did, Cas, but I did plan to do so in a few minutes,¡± Cleo replied, a grin on her face. Cas shared it readily, stepping inside and seating himself on the empty cushion that Elijah had wondered about. ¡°Have a taste and tell me what you think?¡±

    ¡°Sweeter than expected, but that fuzziness on the tongue is very unique,¡± Cas answered before taking a sip from the Madame¡¯s glass. Aleksi and Cleo laughed at the display while Elijah just looked on unamused. He¡¯d already pressed the Chronomancer about his abilities fifteen years ago, feeling himself go half-mad before giving up on trying to understand the man. Those who worked outside of linear time were simply too strange for his tastes. ¡°A great treat, though I still recommend that you partake in it rarely.¡±

    ¡°Because I¡¯ll die an early death if I don¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s because you¡¯ll empty your cabinet of bottles before the end of the year.¡±

    ¡°Oh, the horror.¡±

    Elijah couldn¡¯t say if it was said in jest or not. They laughed as if it was, as it was just some random prediction, but sometimes those predictions had come through. Cas had perfectly predicted the day of Grace¡¯s birth, the year where the late queen had died, the year the late king made his final public appearance and the very minute that Aleksi suffered the consequences of getting wasted in the brothel¡¯s basement to celebrate a round birthday. Many of those had been very long-term, the Chronomancer looking months into the future, and yet the man alleged he could barely look a dozen seconds ahead most days. It was¡­ frustrating.

    ¡°I can only see the major events further out,¡± Cas reminded Elijah before he could hope to open his mouth. Yet again, he felt that bubbling inside that came from talking to the man. ¡°I know you want to ask me what some of those are, but we both understand that I can¡¯t reveal it.¡±

    Oh, they¡¯d gone over this spiel several times before. ¡®Knowing about the future changes the future.¡¯ It was what drove most Chronomancer to madness, what made those stories of crazy prophets seem so real, but the tales never mentioned how it was to live beside the people.

    ¡°Can you at least say whether or not those two will be safe?¡± Aleksi asked. Cas didn¡¯t answer immediately after, just looking at the giant with nostalgic eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll accept a ¡®maybe.¡¯¡±

    ¡°If everything falls into place as it should, they should be safe from what is to come,¡± Cas confessed, emptying the glass after getting Cleo¡¯s permission. ¡°I¡¯m putting down the last hints that should hopefully push us into the best future, but one Seer can¡¯t control the whims of the world.¡±

    That was just one more layer to the movements of the world, wasn¡¯t it? While Chronomancy was technically outlawed by just about every country Elijah could name, he didn¡¯t doubt that most of them had a few Seers sitting in the capitals, trying to discern what future would help their leaders the most. Pieces moved so battles could be won, small pushes steadily working up to a landslide of action that granted them victory. A grand idea, though the counter-pushes from all sides complicated it.

    And as Cas had said, he could only do so much against the true Seers of this world. One hedge mage in hiding against the traditionally-taught armies of Chronomancers rarely ended unexpectedly.

    ¡°Since you¡¯re here, I¡¯m guessing we¡¯re a part of the group that gets a few hints,¡± Elijah concluded, getting a soft smile from Cas in response. That he¡¯d been allowed to even say the full sentence meant he was right. ¡°What words of wisdom are you imparting on us today?¡±

    ¡°Some cryptic ones, as I know how much of a fan of those you are,¡± Cas explained, not seeming offended by the unimpressed look he got from Elijah. ¡°My first piece of advice would be to trust the horrors below. They might seem uncaring and ready to throw you aside at the best of times, but they can prove very useful to you. My second¡­ try to challenge yourself a little more. You¡¯ll find the world can become a better place if you do.¡±

    He hadn¡¯t been lying about being cryptic, though the initial interpretation of the words was enough for Elijah for now. There were very few contenders for ¡®The Horrors Below,¡¯ and the most obvious one was the Dungeon. He hadn¡¯t visited while healing from his injuries, as the higher density of mana in the air had a chance of irritating the process, but now the time seemed to have arrived regardless.

    And as for challenging himself¡­ that comment wasn¡¯t something he needed to wonder about. Only a few days after the fight, Alin had dug through the library and found a book on Biomancy for Elijah. It had come for the warning that trying anything would be best to do after he had healed, as any pressure on his mana veins could cause more damage than the Dungeon could even dream of.

    But now? This was the call for progress.

    ¡°Got anything for me?¡± Aleksi inquired, while Elijah was stuck mentally formulating a plan on how he could make this work. He¡¯d already been planning on bringing a sample of most plants, on the off-chance he would need them in emergencies, but bringing some more for nothing other than experimentation wouldn¡¯t hurt¡­

    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you much, but I suppose a few quick words of advice wouldn¡¯t hurt,¡± Cas gave in after the giant tried his best to make puppy eyes. ¡°You want the two under your care to stay safe, and that is a possibility. Just stand strong, even when it seems impossible. They¡¯ll survive. And¡­ this might be pushing it, but let Elijah look at you once he finally gets his nose into those books.¡±

    Books. Plural.

    That heavily implied that it just wasn¡¯t the heavy tome that Elijah had been handed by Alin already.

    Even just thinking that made Cas wince, so he shot down the thought as his eyes moved to Aleksi. The giant had moved away from the casual expression, his face solemn as he nodded in unspoken understanding.

    ¡°I think we should all be going now,¡± Cas said ten minutes later, standing from his seat as he put away the glasses. ¡°Louis will be visiting me very soon, the Madame is going to be busy with an angry customer, and the two of you have some friends at your doorstep who you¡¯ll be happy to see.¡±

    ¡°Of course, he¡¯ll be coming by one last time,¡± Elijah commented, brushing dust off his pants as he rose to his feet. ¡°Now that I¡¯m thinking about it, I suppose it was you who inserted the seeds for this whole situation into the young prince?¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t my fist that broke through that thick skull of his, I admit, but the following conversation was my doing,¡± the Seer confessed shamelessly, making Elijah roll his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s the better path for all of you, including that haunted mind who will help protect the royal.¡±

    ¡°Any desire to explain that comment?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll figure it out yourself soon.¡±

    Some day, Elijah was going to get Cas back for all of this. He had no idea how, but he knew he would make it happen somehow.

    ¡°You need a refresher before we move along?¡± Aleksi asked as they left the office, walking down the obnoxiously decorated halls of the brothel. Why they had moved over to the heavy usage of pink and blue, he would never understand. ¡°You shook a little when you got up.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll grab some energizer from the kitchen when we get back,¡± Elijah replied, looking up at the darkening sky once they left the brothel behind. It wasn¡¯t night just yet, but anybody who wanted to pay them a visit at this time could only have more discreet topics to discuss, and those rarely took less than an hour.

    Walking down the less crowded streets with their hoods up, they were able to go through the city without being discovered by unwanted nuisances. Not that it surprised Elijah, as any who walked these alleys at this time of day were very interested in avoiding contact with others.

    Making the final turns, into the street he¡¯d grown to care about these past decades, Elijah put down his hoods as he saw who was waiting in front of his shop. That purple robe alongside the other with lighter coloring was unmistakable nowadays.

    ¡°Alin. Grace,¡± Elijah greeted, while Aleksi swept the younger up in a grand hug. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you tonight. What¡¯s the occasion?¡±

    ¡°My dearest apologies for coming at a late hour, but Grace assured me that your night owl habits hadn¡¯t dimmed in recent weeks, so¡­ news of the second entrance arrived at my desk just an hour ago, and we figured you would want to join us for this last step,¡± Alin said, smiling with the expectation Elijah would mirror it. It faltered when he just sighed instead. ¡°Were you hoping to end the night early? If so, we can¡ª¡±

    ¡°Not, it¡¯s quite alright,¡± Elijah assured him. ¡°Just cursing the gift of foresight.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ I see.¡±

    For many weeks, a side-project for the remaining Royal Mages had been to break through the defenses of the second Dungeon Entrance and enter whatever horrors had been created in secrecy. The fear ward that Olivia had interacted with at the very front had turned out to only be the start of the defenses, layers upon layers of deadly traps sitting ready to kill any intruders.

    But now, it seemed that the magical shields had been pierced and the traps mostly disabled. The last scars of the attempted insurrection were soon to be gone from the Dungeon.

    As if Elijah would allow himself to miss such an event.

 Chapter 86: What Is Best Forgotten

    The secondary Dungeon entrance didn¡¯t look like it once had. In the past, when it had been hidden in plain sight, a rotting house had sat on top of it. There¡¯d been a fence around the property, tall grass filling up the surface inside, and everything about it had seemed abandoned.

    Now, it was slightly different.

    The house was gone. The hill it sat on was gone as well since it had originally been put there to hide the entrance. All that remained to be seen, once you got inside the constructed half-sphere of stone to keep out prying eyes from the work-site, was a wide spiral staircase going into the darkness.

    It was still protected, of course, Olivia refusing to leave it unguarded. With the Supervisor of the Dungeon Guards being promoted to the Supervisor of all guards in Kulvik, after the removal of some more-than-mild corruption, the woman had made sure that the secondary entrance had ten sets of eyes on it at all times of the day. While some had thought such a thing a waste of the quarterly budget, Olivia¡¯s eyes of death had made everybody back down. That Vera had likewise shown a fondness for Olivia¡¯s tenacity seemed to have helped things as well.

    ¡°There were some fairy lights keeping everything well-lit previously, but the removed protection is steadily making the dungeon reclaim everything it can,¡± Alin explained as the gathered group looked at the depths. Elijah just nodded along like everybody else, nobody wanting to ruin this moment. ¡°Not all of the wards have been removed yet, of course, but everything dangerous should¡¯ve been dealt with.¡±

    Should¡¯ve.

    Even with their weeks of work, there was no reason to become overly optimistic at the end. Elijah knew that just as well as Alin did, attributing that fact as to why he¡¯d brought along four other Royal Mages that could assist if things turned out for the worse. Grace had already assured him that it would, that he and Aleksi would have an easy time in the depths, but caution never hurt anyone.

    ¡°Standard shield spells, please,¡± Alin requested towards one of the other Royal Mages, an old bald man who looked around Elijah¡¯s age. It barely required a few muttered incantations and finger pointing before each of them gained a translucent covering over their bodies, one that briefly shined blue before becoming near-invisible to his senses. ¡°Thank you, Paul. All of you, follow me.¡±

    Just like that, they started the journey downwards. A slow and steady journey, making sure nobody missed a step accidentally. It allowed for some minor chatter, which Grace made sure to abuse as she and Elijah walked side-by-side.

    ¡°I¡¯m almost done with my thesis now,¡± she mentioned within just a few minutes. ¡°All those variables I had a hard time with got figured out quickly, once Alin pointed me in the right direction. All of it just¡­ fits together so easily now.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Elijah replied, giving his standard response as Grace continued to explain the intricate details of whatever problems she had been struggling with for the past months. Most of it went over his head, as it¡¯d likewise had during the original run-through of her project, but some parts did start to make sense after a while.

    After the death of her previous mentor, there had been some struggles for the young Wind Mage. The events around the summoning of the Tarrasque, the betrayals, and the near-death experience that had forced open the mental block for her Wind Magic to shine had all caused Grace to somewhat¡­ shut down afterward. It hadn¡¯t been good for anybody, but being forced into such a situation had forced her to realize many things about the world that she hadn¡¯t been ready for.

    Luckily, when Grace had talked to others and found some peace in her soul, another Royal Mage had been able to step in where the previous one had failed. After getting some time to talk to and evaluate her, Alin proposed the idea of him becoming her Mentor. With how hard she¡¯d worked to get into that position with Rubeus, it had been an easy choice.

    There had also been the proposed idea of scrapping her thesis, to make a new one based around her new-found abilities within Wind, but Grace had vehemently rejected the notion.

    She had started that path, had worked on her project tirelessly for months without end, and the mere concept of stopping when so close to the finish line was the largest sin in the world to her. With how several administrators had learned the fury of Grace¡¯s mother during those weeks, they were wary to see what the daughter could do.

    And so¡­ she had continued in her studies, now with Alin there to guide her along. And, as it turned out, that had been the right choice all along.

    ¡°My student here will be defending her thesis just next week, if I¡¯m able to free up enough of my colleagues¡¯ calendars,¡± Alin added once Grace mentioned the possibility. ¡°Her work is quite ingenious, to be honest, though her work ethic¡­ I never have had a student before who I¡¯ve advised to slow down before. It¡¯s a new experience.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve unlocked a part of me that has been gone for almost twenty years, sir,¡± Grace protested. ¡°You would be doing the same if you were in my shoes.¡±

    ¡°Probably, yes, but that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s wrong to take a breather every now and then,¡± her mentor lectured, falling into his role with ease. Elijah could hear that distinct tone-shift, as Alin went from half-joking to trying to give an important lesson. ¡°You¡¯re single-handedly depleting the Academy of healing paste with your new experimentation.¡±

    Oh?

    ¡°Should I be worried about you injuring yourself?¡± Elijah questioned, one eyebrow raised as Grace steadily turned more and more red. ¡°Skipping nights of sleep is unhealthy, but anything that requires medical intervention is very serious.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just bruises!¡± Grace objected, her words having no impact on the looks of judgment. Even Aleksi was sending his own towards her now, the giant narrowing his eyes in mild worry. ¡°Listen, it sounds bad but it isn¡¯t. When you¡¯re trying to learn how to fly, you¡¯re going to be falling a lot. I have mats down on the ground, so it doesn¡¯t even hurt that much when I mess up.¡±

    ¡­

    The hubris of youth was truly something.

    Alin assured Elijah that her attempts to learn were done under observation by others and that they had the supplies ready in case of an emergency, but even then it left a sour taste in his mouth. Grace wanted to learn one of the signature abilities that those with her Affinity were known for, and there was little anybody could do to stop her. She was an adult, she was expected to have mastered it already, and this process of getting hurt was a standard when learning it regardless.

    In the past, she might¡¯ve been able to get an instructor who was a Wind Mage themself, but that ship had sailed two months ago, so mats and healing paste were what they had to work with.

    ¡­ I¡¯ll have the assistants make a batch just for her.

    It was the least he could do.

    ¡°Are you able to fly somewhat now, then?¡± Aleksi asked once Eijah conceded his judgment over her activities. With how much he¡¯d been working, he couldn¡¯t criticize her too much anyway. ¡°Are we to expect an air-show once we get down into the caverns?¡±

    ¡°Oh, uh, I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s a good idea just yet,¡± Grace said, cheeks flushing once more. ¡°My control over the wind isn¡¯t as delicate as I need it to be just yet, and doing it indoors makes everything around me¡­ fly as well?¡±

    One attempt to do it inside the laboratory, and the full day of cleaning up and sorting notes that had been ripped out from the bookcases during it, had taught her that lesson.

    They respected it.

    ¡°Beware now, people! We¡¯re getting close,¡± Alin announced the same second that Elijah noticed the stone around them shifting from a dark gray to an almost-white marble. It was smooth now as well, a clear difference from the previous natural roughness and bumps that came along with it. ¡°Make sure you don¡¯t touch anything until I give the all-clear. Some wards may have reactivated in our absence, so we need to make some initial analysis before we can get close.¡±

    Tired feet were allowed to rest once the group reached the end of the spiral staircase, a large door in front of them. With the uniform structure of the cave around them, it almost looked manmade, but Elijah could see beyond the walls. The energies of the Dungeon were still out there, forced away from this section of its insides. He could feel its anger, its frustrations.

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    But nobody else made comments about it, not even Grace acting like anything was amiss, so he kept quiet while the Royal Mages worked. Lines were chanted in unison, sparkles of bright blue and brown energies flowed through the air, and whatever power held the door in place crumbled as the conjured wood turned to dust.

    Still, nobody moved, all standing firmly in place when a red whip-like construct shot out towards them. It had no respect for gravity, flying through the air in twisting patterns before trying to go for their heads. It faltered when it came within two meters, a blue barrier appearing and stopping it in its tracks.

    A moment later, a thin line of stone was conjured and wrapped around the whip, crushing it and annihilating this place¡¯s last attempt at denying them entry.

    ¡°And¡­ I believe we are in the clear,¡± Alin said, as he took a step through the gateway and suffered no near-divine punishment. ¡°Standard precautions are still in place, of course. Don¡¯t get too curious and touch something that seems off. But, other than that, I think we¡¯re almost ready for the last step.¡±

    Elijah believed that, feeling that the room they stepped into was being watched from all angles. Eyes that weren¡¯t there, clawed hands that couldn¡¯t enter, were all around it, practically salivating at the thought of reclaiming the lost territory. He had a headache from just looking at the Dungeon¡¯s mind.

    ¡°Is the Mana-Density getting to you?¡± Grace asked in a low voice as he continued to stand at the entrance. The others had already ventured further inside, looking at the strangely habitable space. ¡°I know Alin said you were in the clear for this, but if you need, I can ask that we go¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, the density is more than bearable,¡± Elijah assured her before she could try calling over Alin. The old Mage had already noticed their conversation but was respectfully keeping out of it. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just the Dungeon that¡¯s being¡­ emotional about this.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Oh,¡± Grace finally replied, needing a moment to process that comment. ¡°You did mention that a while ago to us. I kind of forgot about it, but¡­ right, yeah, you said you were able to feel the Dungeon after unsealing your Core, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°I did,¡± he confirmed. With a deep breath, he felt himself getting some form of control back from the pressure. Finally, he could look around the area and get some form of idea of what this was all about. ¡°Current theories about why it happened was the act of unsealing my Core making it curious or it was the Royal Mages messing around this place that might have made it lash out in desperation.¡±

    Going by the fact nobody had any documentation surrounding an occurrence like this, it was probably a mix of those two factors. This wasn¡¯t an event that commonly happened in the world, and the Dungeon needing help with reclaiming a chunk of its own body hadn¡¯t been considered a possibility since¡­ well, it hadn¡¯t been thought of as something that could happen.

    The act of setting up magical wards and barriers to restrict the Dungeon¡¯s influence within this massive cavern, while also allowing for the high Mana-Density to stay the same, was something that Alin could find no historical documentation about. And, going by the notes that Rubeus had started writing two years ago, the old traitor had considered it an original concept.

    If not for the Dungeon¡¯s fury regarding it, and what the concept had been used to create, the final wards would¡¯ve been considered genius. Instead, the only thing all of this would be remembered for was the pain it caused Serenova.

    Regardless of it all, though, Elijah had to admit that they¡¯d worked hard to make it a comfortable workspace. The massive cavern had gotten its ground flattened, and that white marble that now covered the surface reflected the conjured fairy lights perfectly. On one side, rows of bookcases and schematics could be found, with schedules and notes lined beside them. Names, reminders, scribbles, and complaints could be read. All of this had been a well-coordinated operation, yet now it had all collapsed into nothingness.

    He could see the bitterness in Alin¡¯s eyes when he read the names of the people on the schedule. Reminders of who amongst the higher echelons had been traitors for years, who had harbored distaste about the power structure within the kingdom. There had been so many promises for promotions and better positions after the insurrection, and greed and pride had allowed such a large group of traitors to grow.

    It disgusted them all, yet Elijah likewise couldn¡¯t find himself to be shocked.

    Greed and pride were facets of life when you were given a smidge of power. Some could handle it, some could act and work under their new responsibilities, but some just wanted more power, more authority, and the knowledge that they wouldn¡¯t get it twisted them from inside. It turned them into angry shells of their former selves.

    That most of these betrayers likely had carried unseen scars from the old war hadn¡¯t made it any easier to hold down that anger when presented with the opportunity to have more.

    ¡°What are you going to do with all of this?¡± Elijah asked Alin when the others moved over to inspect the other side of the cavern where various items and artifacts were stored. None of it looked to be used for combat but instead the creation and modification of rituals, if the mutterings of the Royal Mages were to be trusted. ¡°All of these notes, these instructions¡­ I know if I asked the Dungeon, it would ask for it to be gone, but I know how you Royal Mages are about documenting the uses of magic.¡±

    ¡­

    Though it took a few moments, a low laugh escaped Alin. A sad one, accompanied by a few tears that were wiped away before the others could look over to discover their leader brought so low by so little.

    ¡°The books surrounding the summoning of otherworldly beings were never meant to leave the academy grounds, so they¡¯ll be brought under lock and key without question, but everything else¡­ I honestly can¡¯t say,¡± Alin admitted. Using his cane to keep his balance, he bent down and grabbed one of the notebooks. Opening it, they could both see it filled with detailed illustrations and explanations for how it was going to work. Another notebook, this one needing an enchantment removed so they look inside, showed the final steps of their plan. A step-by-step guide on how to lock in on the Tarrasque and chain it to their wills. ¡°Our goal has always been to research, to discover the unknown, but recent times have made me consider whether some things truly aren¡¯t meant to be known.¡±

    "Trusting curious minds not to go down the wrong paths can lead to terrible things,¡± Elijah agreed, offering the other man a vial of liquid fire. While only mildly warm to the touch when trapped inside the glass, it would easily devour anything it touched when released. ¡°Why allow them the chance to skip all the tedious work?¡±

    There was a second of hesitation before Alin accepted the vial. Channeling his powers, the Royal Mage used claws of stone to grab the remaining notebooks, piling them in a heap close to the middle of the cavern.

    Nobody objected to his actions, once they noticed what was happening. They just watched as the vial was thrown into the pile and allowed to shatter, bright flames instantly shooting out.

    One bad chunk of history had been erased. They could only hope it would stay gone for many more years to come.

    Nobody needed a repeat of this.

    ¡°Have you found everything worth keeping?¡± Alin asked one of the Royal Mages currently stuffing artifact after artifact into a small bag. Logic would dictate it should¡¯ve filled after the first three, yet many more had been able to fit without trouble.

    Elijah remembered freeing her during the night of the summoning, and how one raised hand had been enough to teleport away chunks of a traitor''s flesh instantly. A frightening ability, though it seemed to also work well in other areas.

    ¡°Just about,¡± Tina, as Elijah finally remembered she was called, said. ¡°Most of it has sadly been attuned to specific people. It¡¯ll take more effort to remove the curses than to simply recreate the tools.¡±

    ¡°Ah, a shame,¡± Alin commented, making sure everybody was far enough away before raising his right hand once again. Below the remaining artifacts appeared a giant palm of stone, steadily wrapping around the dozen tools. A slow movement, but one that carried endless force as it compressed the magical items without any signs of feeling resistance. There were a few bright flashes as the crunch of metal was heard, but nothing was allowed to escape their fate.

    Within a minute of work, everything had been broken down into the smallest of fragments, harmless and useless.

    Sacrifices for security.

    There was a bit of irony in that thought.

    ¡°Our old brothers and sisters did the work of cleaning up the old rituals in here, so there is only one last piece of this disaster that needs to be destroyed,¡± Alin announced, looking at the walls of the cavern. The others did the same. Could they feel the eyes of the Dungeon? Even without touching the last wards, the destruction within had seemed to weaken them by the slightest amount. ¡°I¡¯ll count it as a stroke of luck that it won¡¯t be done by our hand alone. Elijah, I believe you can see what I can just barely feel a hint of?¡±

    The Dungeon.

    The eyes were assimilating into one massive pupil, staring directly at them from the other side. It knew what was about to happen, could feel it in the air. The slightest residue of its influence had started seeping through the wards.

    It was desperate, the pain that the separation had caused finally coming to an end.

    That Elijah knew it was in pain from all of this, despite having never been told, worried him more than a little. And, yet, he wore a face of calm confidence, not wanting Aleksi and the others to feel hesitation.

    ¡°Like you wouldn¡¯t believe,¡± Elijah said, sitting down once he confirmed that they could begin the final tear-down of the magical wards. While the others would most certainly feel the change in the air as the Dungeon came to take what it was meant to have from the beginning, he knew it would hit him the hardest. ¡°Let me know when you¡¯re ready to remove it.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Alin promised, sounding distracted as he and other Royal Mages channeled their Mana into a shared spell. A mix of different Affinities all working in tandem to remove what was meant to sit in place until the end of time. It was as beautiful as it was foreboding. ¡°Walls will be down in three¡­ two¡­ one.¡±

    An unnoticed feeling of tension snapped, and Elijah gasped as his eyes widened, the feeling of power flooding his senses like nothing before it.

    The Dungeon was here.

 Chapter 87: A Pillar of Iron

    Elijah didn¡¯t mean to delve into his mind, to remove his consciousness from the physical realm and look within, but it happened regardless. Maybe it was some primal defense mechanism, perhaps it was the years before he¡¯d sealed his core where he had used it to relax, or maybe it was just regular fear that made him want to do the mental equivalent of going into the fetal position.

    Whatever it was, it didn¡¯t keep him safe.

    The eye of the Dungeon looked upon him, the floating pupil floating above him in his mental realm. It was massive, bigger than a mountain, bigger than the world, bigger than anything could conceivably be, and it was looking down at him. He felt like an ant, a creature able to be crushed with nothing but a thought.

    Maybe he could, while he was here. Elijah didn¡¯t want to consider the possibility.

    ¡®Won¡¯t crush. You¡¯re not unwanted.¡¯

    At the very first syllable heard, he could feel the headache growing into something worthy of splitting his skull in half, yet it faded as quickly as it had appeared. The Dungeon realized what it was doing and scaled back its presence into something that wasn¡¯t immediately painful.

    ¡®And here I thought I¡¯d adjusted to hearing your voice without nearly dying from it,¡¯ Elijah commented, idly noting the nosebleed he¡¯d gained in the physical realm. He briefly connected to his shell again, assuring the others it was fine and he would need some time to talk to the Dungeon, before returning to the entity that floated above him. ¡®Is there a chance you can keep it to this level next time we talk as well? I don¡¯t want to bleed out of my eyes if I have a choice in the matter.¡¯

    ¡®Maybe. Voice louder closer to heart. You were far away before. High above. Now you are close,¡¯ the Dungeon replied. It was¡­ surprisingly eloquent compared to the previous conversations he¡¯d had with the entity. ¡®You stand where the unwanted stood. No unwanted have visited here. Are they removed?¡¯

    It searched through his memories, but the dungeon couldn¡¯t find what it sought until Elijah pointed it toward the night of the summoning. He could feel its glee at the sight of Harper slicing the throat of a Royal Mage that it recognized, as more and more of the traitors fell in battle, and when the final moment came where Rubeus was struck down by Phillip, it could barely contain itself.

    ¡®Calm yourself,¡¯ Elijah requested when he felt blood vessels on the brink of bursting once more. The Dungeon, realizing this, toned it down again. ¡®The people who caused all of this are gone, I can promise you. I watched most of their deaths myself and the remaining were executed not long after. The people who harmed you are dead.¡¯

    ¡®I know. I¡¯m happy. This is good. Unwanted are gone. Soul is whole again,¡¯ the Dungeon said in quick succession. It returned to his mind once again, freezing at the moment where the Ancient Tarrasque had looked at Elijah and the others. ¡®I wondered. The Void took her. New experience. She has been claimed.¡¯

    Elijah was granted the experience of watching the Tarrasque be swallowed up by a hive of black ichor at the bottom floor in the Dungeon. Seeing it from every angle at once was a disturbing experience, and even more when the entity had tried and failed to stop the darkness consuming the boss. It had felt fear of losing control, of losing its oldest creature, of losing one of the pillars of¡ª

    He was pushed out of the Dungeon¡¯s memories before he could fully understand what he saw and heard. The Dungeon hadn¡¯t meant for him to see all of that, Elijah hadn¡¯t tried to dig deeper. It¡¯s just¡­ happened.

    ¡®You are not human,¡¯ the Dungeon stated. For a third time, it delved into his memories of that dreadful night, now looking at the near-death experience that had occurred in the alley. Elijah felt tense as he relived the spear of blood piercing through his body, how he felt the life drain from his body while Dawn tried to force him to do something. He could even remember it from her perspective now, how she had been desperate, how she¡¯d wanted him to stay above everything else, and she had forced that into reality by replacing the flesh lost. ¡®You¡¯re an extension. Anomaly. Different. Unresponsive to the call. One of the pillars?¡¯

    ¡®He¡¯s mine!¡¯

    Dawn?

    ¡®Link of a link? Anomaly of an anomaly? The pillar to what isn¡¯t meant to be?¡¯

    ¡®I¡¯m a duck.¡¯

    ¡®How strange.¡¯

    ¡®Would you mind explaining what you¡¯re talking about?¡¯ Elijah asked, not having a grand time being the medium between the two non-human entities. While Dawn¡¯s words could travel through him without any consequences, the Dungeon¡¯s resounded inside his Core with a heavier touch than what he was comfortable with. Already, the surface of the magical structure was starting to show signs of strain. ¡®What you¡¯re saying doesn¡¯t make sense.¡¯

    ¡®There is no sense in this. You are an anomaly,¡¯ the Dungeon replied, its sentences growing longer. Was it¡­ learning? ¡®Human speech is weird. Overly complex. Old better. But you don¡¯t understand the old. You need more words to understand that I don''t understand.¡¯

    ¡®So this is entirely new to you as well?¡¯

    ¡®Yes. Humans are food. Humans are not to be talked to.¡¯

    ¡®But you don¡¯t see me as human anymore.¡¯

    ¡®I did. You changed. Now I don¡¯t,¡¯ the Dungeon explained. ¡®My mistake. You heard me. Humans shouldn¡¯t hear me.¡¯

    ¡®Is that some ancient rule for Dungeons?¡¯

    ¡®Not sure. Humans die when I talk to them. Spoils them. Gives no food. No point in talking.¡¯

    To illustrate their point, Elijah was forced to experience the dozen early attempts by the Dungeon to contact the humans that entered its domain. It was before the grand city above had been built, with dirt-covered men cautiously stepping into the darkness. The Dungeon had spoken, they had screamed, their eyes, noses, and mouths had bled, and they all succumbed to the presence of the entity. There was no mercy, nothing gained from the actions.

    It hadn¡¯t felt the euphoria of a kill, of attaining another slice of energy for its stores. The Dungeon had seen no point in contact, had seen nothing to gain from it, until the instant the unwanted had settled into their domain. It had seen as they traveled through the body, had seen as they fought the toughest of battles, as they resisted its attempts for a juicy meal, but the first years had still proved worth it. Enough died to replace the costs of luring in the food, enough came that it could expand its reservoirs, that it could feed those who had been most loyal, that it could feel its heart grow stronger.

    Thoughts had started to give rise to nuance, and it had started to recognize humans as being different. It saw the strong and weak, saw the outfits, saw the ways they fought. The Dungeon copied it as the guardians were mutated, as they became mirrors of what it saw, what it absorbed. It grew¡­ curious about the food, even if they would succumb if it contacted them.

    But then the food lashed out. The Dungeon accepted that the food took the lures back, that the shining rock was dug out and the guardians hollowed. It was a way of its existence. But that they cut out a chunk of its own body? That the food forced the entity to feel years upon years of torture, as a part of its very being was removed from its control? That could never be forgiven.

    And when a small smidge of food, an old weak one had changed into something that could talk to the world? It got curious. The Dungeon had seen those flashes of war in those instants; it had looked into the mind of the curiosity, and it had understood that the slice of food hadn¡¯t succumbed to its presence alone.

    An anomaly. One to be used to gain back what was lost.

    ¡®But now you¡¯ve regained your body, and we¡¯ve both changed because of it,¡¯ Elijah concluded, the Dungeon agreeing. Elijah had gained the ability to sense the presence of the entity in much more detail than Alin could hope for. When compared to the fact that Elijah was positively blind relative to Alin¡¯s usual magical senses, it was clear something was different. ¡®Do you want to try reversing it?¡¯

    ¡®I don¡¯t think I can,¡¯ the Dungeon replied, giving off waves of dissatisfaction because of it. ¡®We are changed. We are altered. Can¡¯t go back. You are a pillar now.¡¯

    Elijah wasn¡¯t a fan of the cryptic title.

    ¡®What does being a pillar entail?¡¯ he asked.

    ¡®Unsure. You have the breath of creation now. Somewhat. Will fix. Linked to a link. An anomaly. A pillar.¡¯

    ¡®Well, that¡¯s just great,¡¯ Elijah cursed, the Dungeon radiating confusion as it had to figure out the intricacies of sarcasm. Was this just a bigger version of Dawn all over again? He wasn¡¯t sure he could handle that. ¡®Can I ask what you¡¯re planning to do, now that you¡¯ve gotten back this part of your body?¡¯

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡®Return it to what it was. Return to original path. Become ideal.¡¯

    ¡®You want to grow bigger?¡¯

    ¡®Yes. No. Maybe? The path has not yet been decided.¡¯

    ¡®But you know if you¡¯re on it regardless?¡¯

    ¡®Yes.¡¯

    Once again, Elijah felt his head start to ache, as concepts not meant for human minds were forced into his brain. The Dungeon was trying to explain with words he¡¯d never heard, words he would never understand, showing him more figures in more dimensions than there were meant to be. It nearly broke him, yet the fact he had a smidge of understanding by the end scared him even more.

    ¡®Humans want to grow,¡¯ the Dungeon mentioned once Elijah calmed down again. ¡®You are no longer human. You think like a human. You want to grow.¡¯

    Was it meant to be a question? Elijah couldn¡¯t tell anymore.

    ¡®I want to fulfill the promises I¡¯ve made,¡¯ he explained. ¡®Since that seems to include growing more powerful, I suppose that¡¯s one of my goals.¡¯

    It was one of the many reasons he had wanted to delve into the depths with Alin and the others. While the density of energy inside the Dungeon was much higher than what the outside could ever hope for, the requirements for him to grow his Core grew exponentially each time he did it. The density found on the first few floors no longer fulfilled those requirements.

    But down here, on the precise halfway point to the bottom of the Dungeon? That was no longer a problem in the slightest.

    ¡®Inefficient,¡¯ the Dungeon commented, looking through the technique¡¯s methods. It had better ideas, but it likewise could not fix what had already been started. Nobody could. ¡®If you want power, I can give it. Boon for removing the unwanted. Start the process.¡¯

    A reward for his work? Elijah saw the implications for accepting it, but he knew it hardly mattered anyway. Whatever this connection was, it had already been forged. He was closer to the Dungeon than any other human had ever been, and he had to work with that fact if he wanted to progress with his abilities.

    Giving a muttered warning to those who sat around his body, watching him intently, he dived back into his mind and brought out the Core. It shined brightly while inside the Dungeon, energy not his own cycling through with rapid speeds. His body loved the abundance of Mana to take from, harness, and use in his flesh. It was as addicting as it was dangerous in the long term, his flesh ready to cry out when he left the depths behind again.

    No matter.

    ¡®Do you do this every time you grow?¡¯ Dawn asked as she floated beside him. The two watched as the surface of his Core was pushed away from the rest. A thick layer had already been created to keep the former crystal formations in place, while he expanded the space able to be used. ¡®Looks sharp.¡¯

    ¡®Crystals usually are,¡¯ Elijah replied, holding Dawn in place to stop her from floating closer to his work. The duck seemingly had no qualms about trying to poke at the delicate operation, something he had no intention of letting her do. ¡®This is my Core, Dawn. If you touch it, this can go very badly.¡¯

    ¡®The link can touch. I will not allow the growth to collapse.¡¯

    Right. Elijah felt his domain shake as the great eye above materialized once again, the foreign influences steadily growing stronger as it kept his work in check. While he personally thought he was doing a fine job of creating an even sphere that would become the new surface for his Core, the Dungeon made it perfect.

    Near-perfect, at least, the small flaws were wiped away as it made a thousand small adjustments in the span of a single breath. Elijah almost tried to fight it, but he stopped his own manipulations from happening. The Dungeon understood what he was trying to do. It had read his mind, read his memories regarding the technique. While he thought himself somewhat experienced in the natural paths of Mana, he was nothing in comparison to the Entity that floated above him.

    ¡®Accept the boon.¡¯

    Elijah did his best to do as much, as he watched the swirling of Mana steadily enter from outside his physical shell. Going by the pressure on his skin, actual wind might¡¯ve even manifested outside from the focus that the Dungeon was giving him. It was¡­ Elijah didn¡¯t know how to describe it.

    What was an ant supposed to feel, when the sun said its name?

    Time became an illusion as they worked. The space between the old layer and the newly forged surface was filled with the ambient Mana, curated by the Dungeon and filled to the point of absolute perfection. Elijah could feel himself grow wary of the density, but the entity thought it safe. Everything was controlled to such a degree that he couldn¡¯t help but trust it.

    Crystalize.

    The first time he¡¯d used this technique to grow his Core, it had created jagged crystals with little in the way of an overarching pattern. It was pure chaos, Elijah having used the ambient energies of the world together with the residue gained from the killing of monsters. No balance, but it had worked regardless and allowed him to grow stronger.

    The second time, it was inside the Dungeon. It had proven slightly more systematic in the way everything crystalized, but the variables of chaos were still present. The final product had shown off some amount of systematic growth, but it had still been random and uneven in the end.

    And now, with the third repeat of the technique? Elijah hadn¡¯t expected much difference in comparison to the last one, but¡­ he was wrong.

    Very wrong.

    This wasn¡¯t random. There was nothing random about these structures, about these lines that ran across his Core, but he couldn¡¯t understand what they were meant to do. These were sigils, the kind of runes that the Royal Mages spent their days drawing in the Academy, and yet they were also so distinct in comparison. This¡­ it didn¡¯t look like something meant to be made by human hands.

    ¡®It¡¯s not,¡¯ the Dungeon confirmed, as it continued to guide the crystal formations into a shape only it could understand. Such control was meant to break the rules of the growth technique since nature was meant to decide the final shapes by itself, but Elijah supposed that the Dungeon was close enough as well. ¡®Nature is different. Human touch is just wrong.¡¯

    ¡®Care to elaborate? I know there¡¯s several Royal Mages around me that would love to know.¡¯

    ¡®You almost broke when I started. They would not survive.¡¯

    ¡­ Elijah decided not to force the topic, instead watching silently as the final sections of the crystals were completed. He still couldn¡¯t understand the sigils that glowed of their own volition, but some enlightenment could hopefully arrive further down the line.

    With the crystals put into place, and the surface of the Core hardened, the last step was to slowly cycle his own Mana through the new growth. This was the easiest part, the Dungeon not interfering as Elijah allowed the new shapes to assimilate with his touch. It was a strange experience, the crystals felt different compared to the previous rounds of this, but he followed through regardless. There wasn¡¯t any chance of stopping now regardless.

    And, when he finally felt safe with his new modifications, he returned to his physical shell and opened his eyes.

    The darkness that surrounded him was the first sign something had changed. His limbs felt dead from how long he¡¯d been settled on the ground, but that hardly mattered as he blinked out the tiredness from his eyes.

    With a mild groan as his back arched, Elijah started to get up before he froze. His hand had touched the floor, where he expected that white marble from before but instead he found nothing but rough rock.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re awake?¡±

    Alin¡¯s voice, accompanied by a fairy light turned on once again. It allowed Elijah to see the natural cave around them without using his magical senses. The others were there as well, though Aleksi was currently providing cushioning for Grace¡¯s sleeping figure.

    ¡°How long was I out?¡± Elijah asked, noting the cold air as well. It was such a drastic change compared to the living room temperature that had filled the cavern before, but he supposed the Dungeon didn¡¯t normally provide such luxuries.

    ¡°Close to five hours, if my watch hasn¡¯t been broken by the Mana down here,¡± Alin replied, chuckling at the look on Elijah¡¯s face. ¡°When you said you could talk to the Dungeon, I wasn¡¯t sure how much I believed it. You had been communicating with something, there was no question about that, but this¡­ it¡¯s an incredible sight.¡±

    ¡°Was it painful?¡± Tina asked, the old Mage looking at him with pure curiosity. ¡°You were muttering several times through your trance, and those initial nose-bleeds can¡¯t have come from nowhere.¡±

    ¡°Not painful in the physical sense,¡± Elijah explained, looking at his hands. They were surprisingly sensitive to the rough texture of the stone, everything feeling like pins and needles. ¡°It was closer to having to survive to a powerful presence while you can¡¯t shield yourself in the slightest.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll believe that,¡± Alin commented with a chuckle, continuing at Elijah¡¯s confused look. ¡°The Dungeon doesn¡¯t usually manipulate the area where people are, but this far down you can see that it does subtly change around other parts of a cavern if you wait long enough. And yet¡­ halfway through your trance, your friend decided to pick up the slack and change, well, everything.

    Looking back, the spiral staircase that could lead them away from the Dungeon was still there, but it was hidden behind a curve in the tunnel. A classic method used.

    Which begged the question of why Elijah knew it was still there when he could readily recognize that it was hidden from his eyes.

    ¡®You have become a pillar. This is expected. Consider it a part of the boon.¡¯

    ¡°How strange,¡± Elijah muttered, making the eyes of the others grow even more curious. ¡°My work is done, and I¡¯m guessing you can all accept the removal of the hidden workspace as well?¡±

    ¡°... Quite,¡± Alin agreed, rising from his position. The others looked like they wanted to bombard Elijah with another thousand questions, but the leader of the Royal Mages still needed to be respected. Thinking of Elijah before all else, the Earth Mage ordered silence regarding this connection. ¡°Let''s hope this new growth spurt of yours can prove valuable to the cause.¡±

    Elijah agreed, following the others out of the cavern. Grace wasn¡¯t awake through any of it, the young woman¡¯s previous habits of skipping nights of sleep knocking her out cold during the hours of darkness.

    And maybe that was for the best. If she¡¯d been awake, he didn¡¯t doubt she wouldn¡¯t have respected Alin¡¯s wishes about not pestering him about what had happened.

    ¡­ But, she isn¡¯t too wrong either.

    Even if he was tired, he had grown a little curious as well. And, from what he could see on his Status, that curiosity could only grow stronger.

    Name: Elijah Caede

    Affinity: Biomancy

    Mana: 1041

    Spells:

    [Accelerate Growth](Tier 1)

    [Plant Bond](Tier 1)

    [Animal Bond](Tier 2)

    [Plant Storage](Tier 2)

    [Breathe Life](Tier 4)

    Titles:

    [Dungeon Pillar]

    A hefty upgrade to his Mana, a Tier 4 spell, and a Title of all things? The first was expected, the second better than he could¡¯ve ever dreamt about, but the third¡­ It was a frightening thought that the world deemed his connection to the Dungeon worthy of a Title, something only meant for the few who caused drastic changes in the lands.

    I¡¯m not sure this can end well anymore.

 Chapter 88: On The Road Again

    Elijah didn¡¯t get much of a chance to test out what his new Spell was supposed to do. After sleeping for ten hours in the blink of an eye, and still feeling tired after that fact, he had been forced to sort out his last stacks of supplies and get it all loaded up on the prepared wagons. The time had come for their departure, and that meant gathering everybody up. Hardly a time to be cooped up in a laboratory and make small tests of his new abilities.

    I hate this.

    ¡°Cheer up now,¡± Aleksi commented, giving him a clap on the shoulder before the giant helped the servants put up the final boxes on the second wagon. Since they were now a group of six people traveling, a single one had seemed a little too cramped for their tastes. And, since Elijah had forced them to invest in sleeping mats that didn¡¯t kill his back, they would¡¯ve needed it regardless. Luxury took up space. ¡°That should do it. Everybody else ready as well?¡±

    Most of the others confirmed as much, though the one from Louis was muted. The younger prince had adorned simpler attire, moving from his preference of gold-lined outfits to something more casual. It wasn¡¯t the type of outfit found in the middle class, but it wasn¡¯t as expensive looking as the richer snobs would accept wearing either. Elijah wouldn¡¯t be surprised to find a merchant wearing the same, at least. Functional but still a little fancy, if those silver and brown fabrics had anything to say.

    ¡°Remember to stick to the common roads, no matter what suggestions you¡¯ve been given,¡± Vera reminded them, the Queen speaking in low tones as she so graciously bid the party farewell. While this entire operation was meant to be discreet, somebody had blabbed and they¡¯d needed to make it look more formal to those looking at it from a distance.

    Elijah could tell how much Vera hated her dress. It was one of the few things stopping him from trying to get a few extra hours of sleep inside the front wagon already.

    ¡°We went over it yesterday ten times. I don¡¯t think I can forget it anymore,¡± Louis replied with his usual enthusiasm. Vera¡¯s expression softened a little at the words. ¡°I remember all the precautions as well. Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s hard not to worry about family,¡± Vera said, making the prince roll his eyes. ¡°Just remember to be careful, alright? I care more about your safety than the relationship with Ethon.¡±

    ¡°Sure you do,¡± the prince countered dryly, making Elijah wonder how this was going to end. The words said some weeks ago hadn¡¯t been entirely forgiven just yet. ¡°... I¡¯ll write.¡±

    With that, the prince ordered them to roll out, the horses obeying the orders as they moved the wagons away from the castle and down the streets of Kulvik. Everything normally crowded had been emptied to let them pass through easily, but that didn¡¯t stop people shouting from a distance. Elijah tuned it out, but the others seemed more curious about it.

    ¡°Why do they need to ask for our hand all the time?¡± Jack asked, making Elijah glance back at the young man seated behind him. They¡¯d been messing around with some metal casing that had been worked on in the smithy yesterday, though it was half-hearted now. ¡°They barely know about us outside of rumors. Not really the greatest foundation for marriage.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll be surprised at how little it takes for some to go down on one knee,¡± Aleksi countered. ¡°I remember in the old days when people would propose in the bars to people they met that night, drunk and barely able to stay balanced. Hectic times and the spirit of it doesn''t seem to have faded in the slightest.¡±

    ¡°Now they¡¯re just drunk with greed rather than booze,¡± Elijah added. Jack kept up the discussion, he and the giant happily chatting away about it while Sasha made the rare comment.

    Elijah didn¡¯t partake, busy trying to guide the horses down the main street while dealing with Dawn.

    ¡®The ground is being weird,¡¯ the duck in question commented from inside him. ¡®It¡¯s shaking.¡¯

    At first, he thought she meant the shaking of the wagon, but a few seconds more allowed him to realize the truth. It wasn¡¯t a Dungeon Break, the shaking wasn¡¯t a physical sensation. It was more¡­ a sign of eyes that tried to reach further out than normal. The Entity, the soul of the Dungeon, was trying to look their way. Normally that would be impossible this far out, but it was as if they were being assisted.

    Because they were, in a way. Elijah could feel it when his Core received a wave of energy, one that automatically bounced back into the ground.

    ¡®You¡¯re weird,¡¯ Dawn commented when she too felt the connection to the Dungeon strengthen. Driving through the middle-class district, and therefore closer to the entrance to the depths, seemed to have helped stabilize the bond into something somewhat usable. ¡®Too big.¡¯

    ¡®I have to be big,¡¯ the Dungeon replied. ¡®How else would food walk inside?¡¯

    ¡®... Elijah, can I be big?¡¯

    ¡®No.¡¯

    Out of all the things this morning would include, he hadn¡¯t expected it would be the Dungeon being a bad influence.

    ¡®How am I bad? It is simple logistics.¡¯

    ''Exactly! Being big would be best!¡¯

    ¡®If you get much bigger than you are right now, it would be hard to bring you places,¡¯ Elijah reminded the duck floating around his Core in excitement. That seemed to die down a little as she imagined the concept of being stuck in one place permanently. ¡®No more trips.¡¯

    ¡­

    ¡®Dungeon, you are a bad influence.¡¯

    ¡®Such a human response,¡¯ it replied. ¡®Don¡¯t die while away. I can¡¯t bring you back elsewhere.¡¯

    ¡®We¡¯ll try not to,¡¯ Elijah assured the sociopathic entity, trying not to dwell on the implication of its words as they continued outside of where they could communicate freely.

    Not long after, the small caravan had left behind the city. The guards hadn¡¯t stopped them at the gates, but their eyes had tracked the group long after they had left. Most knew about their departure by now, a risk by itself.

    At least Harper had confirmed through their writings that people who saw an opportunity had been stopped from leaving Kulvik. Vera had made sure nobody would try to trail them. The last prince wasn¡¯t to die from such an obvious mistake.

    ¡°A bright sun, little to no clouds, mildest of winds, and nobody to share the road with,¡± Aleksi listed off when they got past the first minor hill, the noise of the city impossible to discern anymore. ¡°Ideal conditions to travel, I¡¯d say.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but that fantastical sight brings its own problems,¡± Elijah said, before bringing out the prepared Firebloom cream. Taking out a small bit with a finger, he threw it at the other two in the wagon. ¡°Put this on, or you¡¯ll get sunburnt. That cloth might shield you well enough for a few hours, but it won¡¯t be many days before your skin turns red without this.¡±

    Elijah noted the cold sensation as he applied it, using a bit of Mana afterward to accelerate the process so he could move on. Going from their original plans, they had eight hours of traveling for the day before they made camp.

    If the trip had been shorter, they might have pushed it an hour or two more, but making 12 days of travel 10 made little difference and it would only hurt the horses in the long run. Even if they were bred for the royal forces, and could handle stress beyond what most other animals would break at, there was no reason to put that to the test.

    ¡®You can come out now,¡¯ Elijah sent Dawn, the duck appearing on his shoulder that same second. She needed a moment to balance herself, but she managed in the end, looking at the grass landscape with her own eyes. ¡®Not a bad sight, right?¡¯

    ¡®No lakes,¡¯ Dawn commented. ¡®Are we going to see one soon?¡¯

    ¡®I don¡¯t think there¡¯s one on the route, sadly,¡¯ he confessed, though he didn¡¯t exactly know the route they were taking. He¡¯d been told the general paths, but which branches they would take were up to their discretion when they got there. ¡®But if it¡¯s water you want to see, I can assure you we¡¯ll be seeing a lot of that at the port.¡¯

    ¡®There¡¯s a big lake?¡¯

    ¡®I suppose you can think of the ocean as such. It¡¯s saltier than the usual lakes. Different smells as well.¡¯

    ¡®Is it tasty?¡¯

    ¡®Not to human tongues, but¡­ we¡¯ll see if it¡¯s the same for you.¡¯

    That thought kept Dawn occupied while Elijah settled in for the long ride ahead. If they had so many days to work with, days where he wasn¡¯t burdened by tending to people needing medical attention, he was going to do his best to progress his magical abilities.

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    The book Alin had gotten him still sat in his bag, ready to be read through, but¡­ the mystery of his new Spell was more important to him. Being Tier 4 made it a curiosity beyond what his previous abilities could dream of, but the most important fact was that the library didn¡¯t have anything about it.

    A library that harbored knowledge of nearly all Affinities up to Tier 8, the peak of what humans could usually reach, didn¡¯t possess anything about a Tier 4 Spell.

    The limited information about Jack¡¯s Affinity wasn¡¯t too big a surprise, since his gift apparently hadn¡¯t been seen in any human kingdom these past thousand years. Sasha¡¯s Affinity having no documentation? Very shocking, but the world stepping away from the usual naming scheme made it clear it was abnormal anyway. Ultra-rare affinities existed, and human libraries regarding the magical arts were limited by the amount of time they¡¯d been allowed to document historical occurrences.

    But for Elijah, the Biomancer? Without a doubt, there had to be over a dozen Biomancers currently living quiet lives inside Serenova. There could easily be a few hundred with his Affinity inside Castilla, tens of thousands being documented as living within that particular human kingdom through its history. While the high reaches of Spells weren¡¯t too clear, anything below Tier 5 should¡¯ve been well-studied regardless.

    And yet¡­ Breathe Life, the gift the Dungeon had given him, was the first time anybody had heard of it.

    If not for his previous agreement to journey outside of Kulvik, Elijah was sure the remaining Royal Mages would¡¯ve wanted to chain him down and test out every single way to use this new Spell. Some had even suggested that he stay behind regardless of the agreement, but that had luckily been shot down by Alin. His secrets were meant to be his own, no matter what notes they wanted to make about it.

    Still, it made it hard for him. No previous documentation regarding the Spell made it dangerous.

    A breath of Life¡­ can¡¯t be worse than whatever Jack is making.

    That man¡¯s recent interest in explosives made Elijah feel better about his chances. With a new strength in his heart, he searched through his prepared goods before finding a bag with relatively harmless seeds.

    While not outright useful for herbal medicine, he¡¯d brought along a few modified Blue Star seeds. The original variant could grow quite tall, being nearly a meter tall and wide, but Elijah had spent some years making them much smaller, allowing for their perfect blue flower petals to shine.

    Little to no magical effects, no poisons or dangerous traits to its structure, and small enough that any explosive manifestations wouldn¡¯t be too destructive.

    Let¡¯s see how this ends.

    Taking a deep breath, Elijah called to his Core. It responded instantly, the world letting him know what he had started.

    Channeling of [Breathe Life] has been activated! Current cost: 12MP/sec

    Not as expensive as Elijah had feared, though there was still a¡ª

    Elijah had to take in another sharp breath of air the moment he looked away from the blue screen. The world was alive.

    ¡®Oh, you can see like me now!¡¯ Dawn exclaimed, looking through his eyes when she felt him stiffen. Maybe the horror running through his mind helped as well, as his view of the world expanded. ¡®It¡¯s not wrong anymore.¡¯

    ¡­ He¡¯d seen this before.

    Though it took effort, he calmed himself around that fact.

    Elijah had seen the world from this perspective before, back when he¡¯d tried to make Dawn show him the fact of the thief that had gone through their home. Back then, he¡¯d thought the random colors outside of the normal spectrum to be an effect of different people perceiving the same colors differently, but¡­ that wasn¡¯t true at all.

    Or it was. Somewhat. Things had been switched up back then, but that didn¡¯t mean all of it was wrong.

    Here, Elijah could see the normal colors. The wood was still brown, the grass was still green, and the sky still had the stark blue lining, but¡­ there was more to them than that. They had a nuance, the addition of another color mixed in that Elijah had no name for. The strength was different depending on how close he was to the objects in question, the wood of the wagon having clear differences while the sky was much more subtle, but there was no question about it regardless.

    Or was it about organic materials versus non-organic? The metal of his dagger carried as much nuance as the sky, but his skin¡ª

    He felt the increased drain on his Core as his eyes continued to stare at the pink flesh. It wasn¡¯t as simple as the swirling colorings of the wood but instead something much deeper. Elijah had always known that the human body wasn¡¯t just one organism, that there were millions, if not billions, of life forms just living inside him, but to actually see it with his very own eyes made him feel¡­ he wasn¡¯t sure what he was meant to be feeling.

    It was as if he¡¯d never opened his eyes until this very moment.

    An understanding that had never been possible until now, an essential insight that Elijah had been missing. It was so obvious now yet he knew he would¡¯ve never guessed it, with how far away it was from every other lesson taught by the old books. This was something human words could never hope to describe.

    The pain that started to blossom in his skull, however? That was very much describable, Elijah feeling like somebody had slammed a warhammer through his head.

    Instinct stopped the channeling of the Spell, his vision returned to normal, and that feeling of enlightenment faded some minutes later as well. While he still retained the information and the nuances of colors, the fundamental comprehension of what it truly meant was gone.

    Curious.

    Further repeats of the Spell in more controlled situations showed that it allowed his mind to skip past the normal boundaries of comprehension, moving his perspective further away from that of a human and closer to that of a plant. Or, no, plants didn¡¯t see what he could see. What the new Spell allowed him to see was closer to that of what the Dungeon saw.

    No wonder this wasn¡¯t in the library.

    Hours passed and Elijah did start to understand the mechanics a bit more. The initial low cost of channeling the Spell had been rather deceptive. The costs at that moment had been very low, yes, but that had been due to Elijah not focusing on anything organic at that time. The very second he moved away from the empty air and over to processed wood or his own flesh, the Mana required skyrocketed.

    At its very peak, Elijah had a hard time sustaining the Breathe Life structure for more than twenty seconds at a time. When forcing himself not to try looking too deeply into the organic material, and the secrets hidden within, he could push it up to around a minute.

    Even then, though, spending over 1000MP in such a short time was a very tiring experience. Each time Elijah did it, he needed nearly half an hour of rest to recuperate. His Core might¡¯ve refilled, but the strain on his Mana Veins was obvious in the short bursts of pain that shot through them every now and then.

    Patience was very important here.

    ¡®Can I eat these?¡¯ Dawn asked when the sky began to darken, using her beak to push around the seeds that Elijah had brought out hours before. ¡®You¡¯re not using them.¡¯

    He¡¯d almost forgotten about them.

    ¡®I¡¯ll take one of them,¡¯ Elijah replied, picking up the one which had sat on top. Dawn slobbered up the rest before he could blink, before settling down again in wait for the next snack to pass her by. ¡°How far along are we?¡±

    ¡°With this pace, we should be less than an hour away from our first stop,¡± Aleksi supplied, taking a quick look at the map. They¡¯d passed the first two splits, meaning the third and final one for the day was getting close. Soon, they¡¯d have to make camp. ¡°If you¡¯re hoping to go into another one of your trances, maybe wait until we¡¯re settled in for the night.¡±

    Elijah ignored the cheek as he got back into position, letting his heartbeat slow down as he slowly called upon his Core. Unlike the first few times, he didn¡¯t allow it to go at full speed at first, instead slowly acclimating his veins to the pressure they would need to endure for a little while longer.

    Channeling of [Breathe Life] has been activated! Current cost: 3MP/sec

    He watched the cost steadily increase until it sat around 8MP. Barely a drop in the bucket compared to the costs when he analyzed anything too complex, but this was still just a seed. While it contained the information needed to grow a beautiful flower, it was still compressed.

    Not for long, however. Grow, little.

    Dual-Channeling of [Breathe Life] and [Plant Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 9MP/sec

    Elijah had expected the cumulative cost to be much higher, and yet it seemed that the narrowing of his focus actually decreased the energy requirements. The difference between a specialized perspective rather than a wide-reaching one, he supposed.

    ¡®Food.¡¯

    Oh? While still barely breaking the shell of the seed, Elijah could already start to hear the whispers of the flower. Those small roots tried and failed to find purchase in dirt that wasn¡¯t there, a small strand of green did its best to catch the warmth of the sun, and the mind hidden within sought answers that Elijah happily supplied. He gave the nutrients to the roots, allowed the stalk to prosper without the sunlight it normally needed so heavily, and the mind¡­ it kept talking without end.

    ¡®Food is good. More food, please,¡¯ the green stalk requested. It didn¡¯t order Elijah, didn¡¯t try to force it out of him. How nice of it. ¡®This is nice.¡¯

    An emotional response so early in its growth cycle? Elijah wanted to entertain the idea that it was due to the variant he¡¯d grown being smarter than all others before it, but he could feel it was more like due to the Breathe Life spell. Though he didn¡¯t mean to at the start, he could feel his eyes wandering around as the plant grew in his hand. The small imperfections in its structure, the random weaknesses that would impair it later on in its growth, were fixed by his hand before he knew it. All those small cracks, those lines of malformations, were gone in the blink of an eye.

    And because of that, the plant would grow from a small seed into a sizable flower in the span of a single minute, Elijah able to see the hints of blue petals being prepared for blooming by the time he had to cut the channeling short.

    ¡°You know, I like my guns and everything, but seeing you work really is fascinating,¡± Jack commented. Elijah turned away from the flower in his hand to see the two young adults staring at him. Even Sasha had stopped her idle manipulations with the heat of the air, instead just letting a small flame burn bright from one of her fingertips. ¡°It¡¯s certainly more impressive than the one you did back when we just got here. This one is massive compared to the rose.¡±

    ¡°I suppose so,¡± Elijah replied, inspecting his work. With the Breathe Life Spell deactivated, he wasn¡¯t entirely sure of the reasoning behind most of his modifications, but it was still obvious that each of them had been the right choice. The flower was still well on its way to absorbing the last bits of energy he¡¯d granted it, using the Mana to enhance the flower petals on top and letting it bloom beautifully.

    He couldn¡¯t have gotten it to be a more perfect blue.

    ¡®... Can I eat it?¡¯ Dawn asked. ¡®Looks tasty.¡¯

    Elijah sighed, just knowing something like this would happen.

    ¡®No,¡¯ he replied, fishing out something from the boxes in the back of the wagon that could work as a pot for the flower. ¡®Not yet.¡¯

    Even if he didn¡¯t have the energy to experiment further at the moment, that didn¡¯t mean the blue flower had met the end of its usefulness just yet. If a minute of trying to grow it without malformations had resulted in something like this, what would happen once he tried to modify the flower into something else entirely?

 Chapter 89: Old Wounds

    They stopped for camp by the time the wave of tiredness had washed away. It was next to a small gathering of trees that helped provide some relief from the wind. Not thick enough to stop it entirely, but they didn¡¯t want that anyway. Removing their ability to spot people from a distance wouldn¡¯t do them any good.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got a few different roads to choose from tomorrow afternoon if the map isn¡¯t lying,¡± Elijah told the prince as the others put up the tents and started a fire. While they had rations to last them the whole trip, the light of flames at night never hurt anybody. ¡°Weather conditions might change which we want to take, but which are we planning to use at the moment?¡±

    Going by their briefing, Elijah and Fade both had the authority to veto whatever choice Louis made, but he personally saw no reason to do so. Roads were roads, and the dangers found so far away from the border to the Castillia border were minimal.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be going through¡­ here,¡± Louis said, pointing at the southernmost road on the map. Elijah was rather surprised by the choice. It would add about half a day to their trip, but with the way the wind seemed to have been picking up, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to go through the thick forestry. Being in the open land while a storm was brewing was hardly a fun experience. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the one.¡±

    ¡­ Elijah wondered if the prince¡¯s reasoning for this road was the same as his own. The way Louis muttered a little, reciting the names of memorized road names, was rather strange.

    ¡°Very well,¡± Elijah replied, not forcing that subject for now. If the prince had done his research beforehand, who was he to judge? ¡°Food will be ready in about half an hour. I think now¡¯s around the time Vera expects the daily report from you.¡±

    That got the prince on his feet, hurrying back to the wagon to find the sizable paper used for the main reports. It had to be that size, with the details Louis was supposed to be giving on the daily. Not that Elijah thought there was much to report on out here.

    Vera probably didn¡¯t either, as the one she¡¯d given him was small enough to fit snugly in his breast pocket. Taking it out, he drew a quick circle. Within twenty seconds, Vera had replied back by drawing a cross inside it. He¡¯d found nothing of note, and she hadn¡¯t had any issues in Kulvik either.

    A simple but effective code. Just how he liked it.

    The food wasn¡¯t terrible, the rations of higher standards since they were made specifically for this trip by the Royal Chefs. Elijah had personally never tried dried rations with any proper flavor before, but he couldn¡¯t say he hated it. If not for the surplus of salt that covered the meat, he might¡¯ve even enjoyed the experience.

    I do have some fruit seeds¡­ It wouldn¡¯t hurt to try the assimilation of different species.

    ¡®I can make you fruits!¡¯ Dawn assured him, jumping on his knee while her main body began to grow a bump. Within just a minute, her back opened up to reveal a bright red apple. ¡®See?¡¯

    Elijah accepted it when the duck grew vines that practically pushed the fruit into his face, biting into it when she refused to stop pestering him about it. Other than the apple having a strange Sundrop Flower after-taste, he had to admit it wasn¡¯t a bad attempt.

    Having a walking library of plants had its benefits, he supposed.

    ¡®Do you want one more?¡¯ Dawn asked.

    ¡­

    ¡®What else do you have?¡¯ Elijah countered, knowing that it would be some time before his body would force him into darkness. The stars might¡¯ve already started appearing in the sky, the moon sitting firmly above them, but his mind wasn¡¯t ready to sleep just yet. ¡®I think I remember letting you taste white grapes a while ago.¡¯

    ¡®Yes!¡¯

    That got the time to pass easily, variations sampled and altered through the next hour or so. Elijah had to admit that Dawn had skill when it came to cross-blending different fruits and flavors, though her ability to have a complete understanding of his tasting experience must¡¯ve also helped when it came to changing the variables.

    It was fun regardless.

    ¡°Is making your creations fool around commonplace for you?¡± Fade asked, breaking the silence while Elijah was handing over some of the new golden grapes to the Aleksi. The giant needed some fluids to consume alongside his pills, and something containing the healing properties of the Sundrop Flowers wasn''t a bad choice. ¡°Don¡¯t you fear that it might try to poison you?¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°No?¡± Elijah answered. The Dreamweaver frowned, her left hand going to her right forearm unconsciously. ¡°Dawn here might have some trouble with controlling herself sometimes, but she would never intentionally hurt me.¡±

    ¡°Do you think so or do you know it?¡±

    ¡®Hey, Dawn, am I food to you?¡¯

    ¡®Yes?¡¯

    ¡®But would you eat me?¡¯

    ¡®No? You make food for me. I would starve.¡¯

    The words could¡¯ve been twisted into something gruesome and cold, but Elijah could feel the warmth behind them regardless. He and Dawn had nearly melted into one on previous occasions, their thoughts and desires known to the other without a shadow of a doubt. While she had attempted some finger-biting in her early days, she would never dream of such a thing anymore.

    His life was more important to the duck than her own.

    ¡®Just had to make sure.¡¯

    ¡°I know it,¡± Elijah finally said. Fade frowned, her hands tightening around her arm. Though it didn¡¯t reach into the physical world, his magical senses allowed him to see the black tendrils that tried to reach out of her flesh. ¡°I take it your Affinity doesn¡¯t allow you to have the same kind of trust?¡±

    He could remember the fight against The White Fangs inside the Dungeon. When she¡¯d been hurt, those nightmarish creatures had seemed more than happy to dig into Fade instead of Elijah.

    There had been no loyalty amidst the screaming.

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    ¡°I know what they will do,¡± Fade nearly growled. Not a fitting voice for a woman that matched his age. People like them were meant to have found peace already, and yet it seemed others didn¡¯t get that option. ¡°Your creature hungers as much as mine, but the plants can be satiated with Mana and soil. Mine want more than that.¡±

    ¡°Flesh isn¡¯t enough for them?¡±

    ¡°No. They hardly care about meat,¡± she confirmed. ¡°They feed on thoughts, on fears, on pain, on¡­ they¡¯re happiest when they extend the moment of a man¡¯s death.¡±

    Sitting quietly by the fire, Elijah understood that the old mercenaries hadn¡¯t just taken jobs to pay for the old berserker''s elixirs. They''d needed the position so they could meet opposition.

    ¡°So you¡¯re the reason the slums have been quieter these past months,¡± Aleksi commented, the two others eyeing the giant as he chuckled. ¡°¡®The Black Mare,¡¯ is what everybody had been muttering about, whenever I went out at night. Somebody was leaving a trail of petty criminals, with chunks ripped out of their bodies as if a mighty beast had been about. I can say you¡¯ve caused more than a few bad dreams in the past.¡±

    ¡°My presence elicits them nowadays,¡± Fade dryly added, bringing out a flask from her pocket and taking a swig. ¡°The direct approach ends them quickly. The Nightmares don¡¯t leave any victim alive anymore. They just take everything and prepare for the next one.¡±

    While one not to shy away from heavier topics, it suddenly made sense why Cas had refused to explain anything about the Dreamweaver. Hearing it from anybody else would¡¯ve made the truth hard to believe.

    ¡°I take it Vera didn¡¯t appreciate your Nightmares¡¯ appetites?¡± Elijah asked, starting to understand why Fade specifically was being brought along for this journey. While she could more than defend the prince from attackers if needed, this wasn¡¯t just for Louis''s sake.

    ¡°She was very happy with it at first, actually,¡± Fade corrected, a grim smile growing on her face. Elijah frowned when her words made the black tendrils on the woman¡¯s arm disappear. ¡°I¡¯m still a Dreamweaver, even if I¡¯m down this cursed path. When the Nightmares feast, I¡¯m given the story of the person¡¯s life. I know their thoughts, their desires, their past. Not everything there is to find, but I can search for specific details. Our dear Queen had me using it to figure out where¡ª Agh.¡±

    Fade clutched at her chest, as if all air had been pulled out of her lungs. Her face was pale, her hands shook, and Elijah instinctively leaned back as the shadows around the woman began to come alive. The curses that left the Dreamweaver a moment later luckily brought the Nightmares back inside.

    ¡°That damned contract needed a moment to activate there,¡± Fade commented, clearing her throat. ¡°Almost circumvented one of my orders.¡±

    ¡°One to stay silent about whatever Vera had you fishing out of their heads?¡±

    ¡°Something like that,¡± she said, waving away the questions. ¡°There are only so many bodies that can disappear in one city, and the last Prince wanted me to protect him on this journey. It was a situation where we could both benefit.¡±

    ¡°Louis asked for you specifically?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m as surprised as you are,¡± Fade assured him. Elijah didn¡¯t like that fact. ¡°But¡­ Who am I to judge? He wanted somebody that couldn''t betray him, and the ability to do as much had been removed from me.¡±

    The power of the Queen¡¯s chains.

    Yet again, Elijah felt disgust at the thought.

    ¡°Thank you for telling us about this,¡± Aleksi said, giving the Dreamweaver a soft clap on the shoulder. ¡°Not all scars of the war can heal, but we can try to work around them.¡±

    ¡°I promise you, berserker, I¡¯ve tried to do as much since the day I awakened.¡±

    They could say little at that, providing some words of comfort before moving on from the topic. The night wasn¡¯t as young anymore, but the old folk didn¡¯t feel like closing their eyes just yet.

    Time didn¡¯t care about their reluctance, however, and they did need to concede after a while. One of them stayed awake at all times, of course, but the watch was switched out through the hours. It was the standard practice, and the consequences of lacking hours of sleep weren¡¯t as hard felt anyway.

    The wonders of enhanced Phoenix Drops. Just a single drop from the vial was enough for Elijah and Fade to lose the bleariness. Aleksi didn¡¯t partake, though, not needing such things to be bright awake.

    There was a fair amount of jealousy regarding that fact.

    Nevertheless, the morning turned into midday, the hours spent on the road blending into one as Elijah continued to work on his projects. He still hadn¡¯t taken the time to look inside his own book, continuing to work on improving the Blue Star variant in whatever ways he could think of.

    It was a no-brainer to try out the standard of making more flowers grow, to make the stalk stronger, but after that came the more advanced shapes and properties. The blue coloring was altered into a mix of red and purples before being made to be responsive to the amount of light that was shined on it. Then came the sturdiness, Elijah emulating the structure of the Ironleaf bushes known for breaking most clippers. Even without a sample to copy from, it had worked perfectly.

    And when the fabric on his right arm had gotten caught in a branch, getting a hole because of it, a new idea had formed.

    Living cloth¡­

    Making the surface texture of the plant imitate that of silk took an hour of work but it was possible. Even before being granted the insight of the Breathe Life Spell, he¡¯d likewise figured out how to turn the normally stiff branches elastic, bending easily and sitting in any shape that was needed.

    Adding a looseness wasn¡¯t hard either, and, before Elijah knew it, he¡¯d replaced the broken sleeve with the Blue star itself. The coloring and appearance were a little different from the rest of his outfit, but that could be fixed with time. The important fact was that his experiment had succeeded.

    With but a thought, and a healthy dose of Mana, he could even have it grow fruits. While Elijah hadn¡¯t previously been a person who snacked through the day, the ability to have an apple appear in his hand within ten seconds was more than a little enticing.

    Now¡­ How do I make you slowly replace the rest of the robes? Those stab-proof properties wouldn¡¯t be bad to have, and letting you have a larger mass would give more leeway in passive capacity for when¡ª

    ¡°Finally!¡±

    Jack¡¯s shouting brought him out of his thoughts. Looking over, he found the young man holding a small cube of what he guessed was platinum. Not an unusual sight, since Vera had convinced him it was a good material to transmute while practicing, but this wasn¡¯t the usual reaction for completing one of the cubes.

    ¡°Is there a reason for causing a commotion or is it just one of those days?¡± he asked, noting the open book on the floor of the wagon. While it¡¯d been hard for Alin to find anything regarding the Metamancer¡¯s abilities, there had been one tome that explained spells for the first few Tiers. And while Jack needed help reading it, since the two otherworlders didn¡¯t have that skill just yet, the man had been busy trying to learn.

    ¡°I turned it into platinum while not touching it,¡± Jack explained excitedly, throwing the cube to him for inspection. He hardly needed to do so, Elijah was already confident that the man wasn¡¯t lying about the metal, but the weight made it clear regardless. ¡°And, wait, yes! Guess who now has Ranged Transmutation on their Status.¡±

    ¡°... You?¡±

    ¡°Exactly! My first Tier 3 Spell as well,¡± Jack continued. ¡°I gotta figure out how far I can push this.¡±

    Elijah rolled his eyes, letting the man get back to his machinations while he did his best to adjust his robe so the Blue Star could passively assimilate with the rest of the fabric. It took the rest of the day and a bit of the next one as well, but at that point, he was rather confident it could work by itself without issues.

    Good thing that it could, as the rest of the day wasn¡¯t going to be as productive.

    ¡°There¡¯s people,¡± Aleksi said in a low voice, getting the attention of the rest of the group. He didn¡¯t look back at them, eyes forward and his body showing no signs of tensing. ¡°I can hear eight heartbeats. Might be more.¡±

    ¡°Friendly or threats?¡± Elijah asked while bringing out vials from his other pockets. Nothing too directly lethal, but he could always play support. From the fact that Jack already had his gun out, and Sasha was putting on some fabric around her forearms, the others were ready.

    ¡°From the rusted steel from their weapons, and that they¡¯re hiding in the bushes, I can only guess the latter.¡±

    He turned his head back to the other wagon, where Fade and Louis were riding alone. The old woman locked eyes with him. She knew about the threats as well.

    This wasn¡¯t going to be fun.

 Chapter 90: Live By The Blade

    As expected, there was a fallen tree on the path. A brief inspection would make most think it¡¯d simply fallen over due to age and wind, but Elijah could spot the cuts made at the bottom. It had been purposeful, practiced cuts making it splinter and fall perfectly to obstruct the road.

    ¡°Any chance of removing that in less than an hour?¡± Aleksi mused loudly as he and Elijah left the first wagon to do what seemed like a closer inspection of the fallen tree. In actuality, it was so Elijah had a firmer connection to the ground below, letting him connect to the roots that covered the forest earth. It was dense and old enough to nearly drown in, but he forced himself to walk steadily, ordering the plant life to point out the ambushers. ¡°How bad do you think it is?¡±

    Channeling of [Plant Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 17MP/sec

    Let me see where they are now.

    The world around him obeyed, greedily drinking the Mana while they fed him images of where each person made physical contact with the plant life. Five on their left with axes and spears, three on the right carrying bows, and one a little further back with a warhammer.

    A standard ambush.

    ¡°Nine hours of work, as I¡¯m sure you can guess,¡± Elijah replied, making the giant sigh. He¡¯d missed one when he¡¯d detected them from a distance. No matter. The plants were starting to make noise from his commands. ¡°Let¡¯s get this started.¡±

    Howls of pain were heard as the three with bows found their feet pierced by sharpened roots. An expensive move from Elijah¡¯s side, but he felt it as they received a signal and started to pull back the strings. He couldn¡¯t allow ranged attacks.

    ¡°Surrender or die!¡±

    The five to their left didn¡¯t seem bothered by the howling, screaming at them as they charged out from the forest growth. They were covered in dirt, their armor a mismatch of stolen pieces, but their weapons were made of metals regardless. They were a threat.

    Elijah moved behind Aleksi as he allowed Dawn to leave Plant Storage, the duck instantly enhancing his connection to the roots as she took control of the ones holding the archers in place. Under her guidance, the howling became undiluted screams of pain.

    A shot rang out, and one of the five who charged them fell. Jack had entered the fray, jumping out of the wagon. The other four didn¡¯t seem to realize what had happened, only seeing their ally fall to the ground without a noise.

    The leather helmet hadn¡¯t stopped the bullet.

    ¡°Pathetic,¡± Sasha commented, as she joined Jack who stood frozen on the ground. Elijah feared she would try to best the remaining four in hand-to-hand combat, but he could relax when she instead just raised her hands towards them.

    Imitating the Pyromancer of the world, the space in front of her began to distort the light that traveled through, as a stream of super-heated air flew towards the bandits.

    They screamed, unable to escape it.

    Elijah was surprised at the lack of pity he felt.

    ¡®I need help,¡¯ Dawn urged him, as she reminded Elijah of the archers. While their feet were kept in place, and more roots had started to fly out to attack them, this wasn¡¯t like in the Dungeon. The energy costs were too high to be quick, and one of the three had seen the horrors inflicted upon the other group.

    Elijah took in air sharply when he spotted the archer¡¯s act of desperation when they stood to their full height, pulled back the string, and fired off an arrow before he could hope to stop it. Even if it had been a hasty act, the aim had held true, and the arrowhead seemed to almost slow down as it approached his body.

    A log of an arm stopped its trajectory at the last instant.

    ¡®Got them,¡¯ Dawn let Elijah know, as a root swung up and wrapped around the archer¡¯s throat, pulling them down to the ground without mercy.

    Elijah couldn¡¯t focus on that fact as Aleksi cursed. A fair thing to do when an arrowhead had firmly settled itself inside his forearm, making the muscle cramp and dig into the flesh even further.

    ¡°Let¡¯s finish this first,¡± Aleksi said, before Elijah could get any ideas about finding tools to take care of an arrow wound. ¡°Though¡­ I don¡¯t think there¡¯s much we need to do anymore.¡±

    ¡°Back, both of you!¡±

    The command came from Fade, her words nearly overshadowed by the hollow screams of the giant man that had come from behind. He¡¯d wielded his warhammer with ease, but it meant nothing against the swirling Nightmares latched onto his head.

    Elijah could see the black mass of eyes of hungry maws, could see as the monsters eyed them, could see as the pupils rolled back into the darkness when they crunched down on the man¡¯s head and the screams ended.

    Both Jack and Sasha stepped back when the Nightmares left the larger one behind, flying through the air as they covered the four half-dead bandits right next to the road. They were badly burnt by Sasha¡¯s attack, still alive but not far from death. The Nightmares quickened that process, barely needing a few seconds before they were finished off as well.

    As for the archers¡­ the two that hadn¡¯t been pulled down to the ground by their throats could see what was to come, could see the many rows of teeth ready to sink into their flesh, and they begged for mercy.

    It came out as something closer to pained blubbering, but the message was clear regardless. They weren¡¯t ready to die, and certainly not to this.

    Such a pity that they had picked up this profession.

    Live by the blade.

    Elijah didn¡¯t look away as the dark masses latched onto the bodies, as they forced their way inside and made the flesh tear itself apart. It¡¯d taken less than five seconds, but it must¡¯ve felt like hours to the victims.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    Die by the blade.

    There was no pride in what they¡¯d done, but neither did Elijah feel bad for their actions. Banditry was not a position of honor, and the plan to kill merchants with an ambush hardly made it possible to offer excuses.

    Did that mean they deserved such a horrible death? No, but neither did Elijah feel deserving of having an arrow almost reach his chest from a bandit of all people.

    That had been too close.

    ¡°Are you all alright?¡± he asked, getting some muted confirmations as he entered the wagon to grab healing supplies. Initially, he¡¯d wanted to carefully remove the arrow from Aleksi¡¯s arm, but a few more seconds of thought made him realize the extra time required for such an operation could cause more bad than good. The elixir present in his body didn¡¯t care about obstructions and would try to push it out slowly while wastefully healing everything. It was better for Elijah to rip it out instead and heal the aftermath.

    ¡°Bandits have no issues with neglecting their weapons,¡± Aleksi commented, tensed up as Elijah helped remove the arrow. The head had gotten itself lodged inside quite well, but a strong pull finally got the projectile out. The relief afterward was instant, as Elijah¡¯s enhancement of the healing paste began to take effect. ¡°That muscle is going to be feeling off for weeks.¡±

    Hopefully not.

    ¡°I really don¡¯t like how those things are looking at us,¡± Jack commented, drawing the attention of the others as the Nightmares steadily moved away from the dead archers. They¡¯d been taking their time feasting on the final victim¡¯s flesh, before coming back towards the road. The eyes of the abhorrent beasts just kept at the group hungrily. ¡°They¡¯re on our side, right?¡±

    ¡°Back inside, all of you,¡± came Fade¡¯s tired voice, the eyes of the Nightmares falling away from them as they leaped at the Dreamweaver¡¯s outstretched arm. She grimaced when they reached her pale flesh, the skin opening up to accept the monsters into her body. ¡°They¡¯re on your side when they¡¯re sated. Don¡¯t get close any other time.¡±

    ¡°Oh god, this isn¡¯t happening.¡±

    Retching noises reminded Elijah and the others the prince was still in the other wagon, away from the main gore but still close to the larger man that had been disassembled. With a nod, Aleksi was sent over to handle the royalty, while the others could discuss what¡¯d happened.

    ¡°We¡¯re changing placements from now on. Louis needs to be with the larger group at all times,¡± Fade ordered before anything else, glancing back at the royal with tired eyes. That tiredness wasn¡¯t just because of what had happened but also what could¡¯ve happened. ¡°These bandits usually attack in groups of 15 at a minimum. We were lucky so many of them stayed behind.¡±

    ¡°How would you¡ª Oh, right, the Nightmares,¡± Elijah began to question before remembering his conversation with Fade regarding her abilities days prior. Upon letting the black monsters consume a victim, parts of their memories would be sent over to the Dreamweaver. A burden most times, but here it was a nice benefit. ¡°Tell me everything you know about them.¡±

    As it turned out, there was a lot to consider. The bandit group that had just attacked was part of a very large group of outlaws living out in the forest. They¡¯d resettled here some six months ago, having previously lived more north on the popular trade routes before being driven out by hired forces, and now they were trying to amass power once again by taking down the merchant caravans that took the more discreet paths between the larger cities.

    Around a hundred people in total, their leader is a mage of some variety, and they have little in the way of empathy.

    ¡°They¡¯ve ambushed three caravans in the past month,¡± Fade added, detailing the various traps at the edges of the forest that alerted the bandits to anybody entering. None of them had noticed them. ¡°They leave few alive, as they¡¯re trying to be discreet.¡±

    ¡°I take it that those allowed to live don¡¯t make it out of the forest?¡±

    "Naturally."

    Of course, it was one of these situations. A group of outlaws that preferred their presence to be unspoken by foreign tongues. The fact that this smaller team of ambushers had to report their work before the end of the day, meant that a failure to do so would lead the remaining hundred to know their cover had been blown.

    It will take two days to flee the forest.

    Did Elijah trust that their horses would let them flee before the bandits caught up and finished the job? No. Fade already assured him that the bandits knew routes that cut the distance in half. They would be ambushed again, with the next time leaving them without a chance of winning it.

    Trying to make an improvised fortress and defend against the outlaws while waiting for help was an option, but¡­ Elijah didn¡¯t like it.

    ¡°Is their camp far away?¡± Elijah asked.

    ¡°An hour on foot,¡± Fade replied, narrowing her eyes. ¡°You want to take the fight to them?¡±

    ¡°My hope is that we can avoid having to fight them at all,¡± he said, knowing how willing the old roots of the forest were to help him. If given some time to slowly work his magic, he could make a miracle happen. ¡°Before we even consider such a thing, however, we have a report to make. I assume that your paper is large enough to send longer messages?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± came the response as she pulled out the folded paper from her jacket. Unfolding it made it clear how detailed Vera had expected Fade¡¯s reports to be. ¡°Give me a moment.¡±

    The warning about what had transpired was sent out, Vera replied within a few minutes, and¡­ it became a little hectic to explain after that. Assurances about their short-term safety were made, injuries were logged, and the reality of the situation was made clear.

    It took a few more minutes for Vera to reply with orders, but Elijah wasn¡¯t surprised by her message.

    ¡®Elimination seems like the best option. If you can make it work, kill them all and report back.¡¯

    She agreed with him. That was good, one royal being on their side.

    As for the other¡­ he was slightly harder to deal with.

    ¡°You want to do what?¡± Louis nearly spat, eyes red as he kept glancing at the chewed-up corpse a few meters away. The prince was having a stronger reaction to the brutality of their situation than expected. Elijah knew for a fact that he had been present on the night of the summoning, which included the deaths of countless mages along with the passing of his brother. Maybe the rawness that came from Fade¡¯s monsters, and the knowledge he was meant to have been killed here, made it more real to the prince? Elijah couldn¡¯t care less, honestly. ¡°We need to get away from here. We almost died.¡±

    ¡°Almost, yes,¡± Elijah agreed. ¡°And if we run, it will be a certainty. But if we take the fight to them? Then you won¡¯t need to worry.¡±

    ¡°... Cas said this was going to be the best route,¡± Louis muttered, hands over his face as he leaned back in his seat. Elijah¡¯s left eye twitched at the words. Of course, the Seer was involved in making this happen. ¡°This was meant to be safe.¡±

    ¡°I can promise you he didn¡¯t use those exact words,¡± Aleksi corrected, getting a muted glare from the prince. ¡°Your weeping won¡¯t change reality, kid. Remember that fact and look around. Sometimes, you have to make harder choices, and this here is one of them. I¡¯m staying here with you and the two other kiddos, while Elijah and Fade go off and deal with this problem. It¡¯ll be dangerous, no denying that, but this is the best of the worst.¡±

    ¡­

    For a moment, Elijah thought the words of the giant wouldn¡¯t work, that Louis would remain steadfast in his position, but something must¡¯ve penetrated the defenses as he watched the prince¡¯s face soften.

    ¡°Yeah¡­ you¡¯re right,¡± Louis said, giving in. ¡°We can work on getting that tree away. Just, please, try to be safe?¡±

    Louis Newell, the manchild known for his temper, asking them to stay safe? Recent times truly had caused changes in the most unexpected of ways.

    ¡°We¡¯ll try,¡± was all Fade said. No promises could be made here.

 Chapter 91: The Trees Talk

    It was a strange experience, standing in the forest away from the road. The natural forces of growth had been strong around the manmade path, but this¡­ Elijah could stand and breathe it in forever, knowing there was forever more nuance to discover.

    He wasn¡¯t even calling upon his magical senses intentionally anymore. This torrent of images, concepts, and thoughts was a primal reaction from his Core, as it instinctively sought out the connections to the world around him. There was just so much to see, to feel, to understand, and Elijah knew his mind could never dream of seeing it all. It was just¡­ more.

    ¡®A source?¡¯

    What didn¡¯t help was the fact that the trees were waking up when he walked by them. Silent minds, beings that had been without the concept of ¡®being awake¡¯ for hundreds of years, all noted Elijah¡¯s presence. His Core sought them out and gave them the gift of thought, and they all responded by wanting more. The Mana he exuded was the sweetest sugar anything here had ever tasted.

    Even without focusing on it, he knew what they would do to get another drop.

    ¡®Anything!¡¯

    And the forest could hear his thoughts as well.

    Great.

    ¡®Stop!¡¯ one of the mighty oaks close by shouted into his mind. Elijah tried to ignore it. ¡®The other flesh forced lines into my bark. It hurts!¡¯

    What?

    ¡°Wait,¡± Elijah whispered as the oak sent memories of what it was connected to. Fade obeyed instantly, not taking a step further. ¡°There¡¯s something here.¡±

    Going down on one knee, he pushed away the tall grass until his fingers felt the mildest resistance. A string. It wasn¡¯t tight enough to break at a simple touch, not enough to degrade in the span of a few days, but a boot could easily catch on and break it.

    ¡®Let me see where this leads,¡¯ he ordered the trees around him, and they obeyed without a moment of hesitation. They craved the taste of Mana, and Elijah was finally allowing the floodgates to open.

    Dual-Channeling of [Breathe Life] and [Plant Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 14MP/sec

    A high cost, but it felt like nothing compared to the mountain of sensations Elijah was sent in response. He¡¯d asked for whatever the string was connected to, and the forest had obeyed.

    ¡°There are lines beyond what those memories you found said,¡± Elijah informed Fade, as he continued to look deeper and deeper into the spider web of connections. While these outlaws might¡¯ve signed their own death warrants, he still had to respect their ingenuity. To build such an intricate detection system, to maintain something like this on such a large scale¡­ It was the work of madmen. ¡°If we go by the path our good friends took, we¡¯ll pass another dozen of these.¡±

    ¡°How paranoid of them,¡± Fade commented, carefully stepping over the string. It was longer than it needed to be, but Elijah didn¡¯t judge.

    Even when knowing the traps¡¯ exact position, it was near-impossible to spot. The shade from the thick forestry, which stopped almost all hints of sunlight, made it hard to see something thinner than a blade of hair, and the thick foliage didn¡¯t make it any easier.

    Careful navigation, and letting his mind stay connected to the forest helped mitigate the dangers somewhat. Elijah couldn¡¯t keep the bond with the trees as strong as they would¡¯ve liked, since his Core still needed to passively regenerate more than what was spent, but the life around him was so willing to help that it mattered little. Every hidden string meant to detect trespassers, and every tool meant to hurt those who got too close, were moved around without any accidents.

    ¡°We¡¯re close,¡± Fade said, before Elijah could say the same. The trees were thinning the slightest bit, more rays from the falling sun reaching the ground, and in the far distance, there was a hint of sound that wasn¡¯t from wildlife. ¡°Nearly a hundred of them.¡±

    ¡°You can tell by their fear?¡± Elijah asked, finding one of the larger gatherings of trees a hundred meters away. It would hide them well while they prepared while keeping them just far enough away to stop some random outlaw from taking notice of them.

    ¡°No, I can tell by the lack,¡± came the reply, earning the woman a raised eyebrow. ¡°There¡¯s joy, stupidity, and no sense of wariness from the outlaws. They think nothing is amiss.¡±

    ¡°Stupidity is an emotion to you?¡±

    ¡°With these types, it¡¯s one of the few they can feel,¡± Fade supplied, venom clear in her tone. He didn¡¯t blame her. From what the roots were describing to him about the camp, memories of the old times were starting to surface. ¡°How confident are you in this plan? I can hold up my part, but it will require next-to-no opposition if I am to spread the Nightmares out so far.¡±

    If I didn¡¯t have complete trust in being able to do this, I wouldn¡¯t be here.

    Elijah knew his chances of going against nearly a hundred amateur fighters. While his concoctions could provide some support to his allies and disorient the enemy, there was no scenario where he could take so many head-on.

    But here? That was a different question entirely.

    ¡°It¡¯ll take an hour at a minimum, but I¡¯m confident that I can get most of them,¡± Elijah answered. Fade accepted that, settling further into the ditch to make it harder to spot them. He did the same some seconds later, as began to settle into the forest hive-mind. ¡°Poke me if anybody comes around. I can¡¯t promise I¡¯ll be responsive until I¡¯m ready.¡±

    ¡°As long as you don¡¯t start muttering battle chants, I can live.¡±

    Another dig at their old profession, and the row of mages who would chant in unison to summon mighty attacks. Elijah still had a few of those impossible words fused into his brain. He couldn¡¯t imagine what it would be like for those who¡¯d actually worked with those squadrons.

    No matter. Focus on the current times.

    Channeling of [Plant Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 2 MP/sec

    It was the absolute minimum needed to facilitate a steady connection that Elijah could reliably utilize in some greater fashion. It wasn¡¯t nearly powerful for the larger changes he would need to make, but this was a good starting ground.

    ¡®Come, Dawn,¡¯ Elijah said, allowing the duck to follow him through the magical threads. ¡®We have a camp to visit.¡¯

    He pulled himself away from his physical shell, rising from their hiding place and walking across the roots toward the sources of life. Without the filter of his flesh, Elijah could finally tell how loud they all were.

    ¡®This is weird,¡¯ Dawn commented, as she waddled at a high pace to keep up with his steps. Or, no, she wasn¡¯t waddling in the normal sense of the word. With no real bodies holding them down, they were nothing but minds traveling through the natural connections of the world. Whatever form they took was their own concepts of self. In this instance, however, she saw herself as a duck and Elijah saw himself as a human. Whether that was the truth was to be revealed at a later time. ¡®We¡¯re not alone.¡¯

    ¡®We are not,¡¯ Elijah agreed. Thousands of eyes were on them, the trees of the forest reaching far through the roots to have a look at them. They were sending questions, asking for help, asking what they could do to help, and many were providing bridges for the duo to walk on if they so desired. They were being helpful as if the duo were like them. The best of friends, the best sources of energy. ¡®Hello to you all. We seek answers.¡¯

    ¡®We have answers!¡¯

    ¡®What answers do you want?¡¯

    ¡®We can give.¡¯

    ¡®Everything!¡¯

    ¡®Anything.¡¯

    ¡®Just give anything back.¡¯

    ¡®I can provide Mana as payment, and maybe a few adjustments to enhance your growth after my task is complete,¡¯ Elijah offered. If this was to be completed, he needed the forest¡¯s full cooperation anyway.

    ¡®Mana?¡¯

    ¡®Food.¡¯

    ¡®Mana! Food!¡¯

    ¡®We can provide!¡¯

    ¡®Give us a task.¡¯

    ¡®We help you.¡¯

    ¡®You help us.¡¯

    It was a deal. The greed of the plants was omnipresent, yet the forest likewise understood the benefits of helping others. The roots hadn¡¯t been connected underneath the earth for nothing, and these roots were not young either. Each tree Elijah passed had grown for over a hundred years side-by-side with others like them.

    He would be using that fact.

    With human legs no longer holding him back, he could barely blink before he stood at the edge of the so-called encampment. A rudimentary fence had been constructed around it. Nothing that couldn¡¯t be jumped, but the sharp edges on top would make it painful. The only way to get inside other than that was a small gate on the northern side of the camp.

    Again, it was nothing too advanced, but Elijah had to respect that they could maintain it at all.

    Further inside, the usage of wood was more limited. It was used for bonfires, and for a single house that sat off to the side. Other than that, most of the camp was made up of larger tents. Each tent contained beds, sections for storing items, and even a rare kitchen setup. The equipment seen was certainly not as cheap as Elijah had expected to see.

    No need to guess how they¡¯ve obtained such things.

    Even Elijah could recognize some of the emblems on those tents. Many merchants had fallen to allow for this level of luxury.

    ¡®They¡¯re drunk,¡¯ Dawn commented, as Elijah had to step to the side to avoid a shambling drunk. It was a man around the age of thirty, red-faced, covered in dirt, and looking ready to sleep in the aforementioned earth. Only the help of two other half-drunk outlaws that came to the rescue seconds later stopped that from happening, as the trio moved towards one of the nearby tents. ¡®Easy prey.¡¯

    ¡®Please don¡¯t think about humans as prey,¡¯ Elijah requested as he inspected the rest of the grounds. The fires were large, meat was being prepared by most of them, and the booze was flowing into the guts of every person there. They were celebrating, drinking themselves stupid, and expecting nothing to attack.

    ¡®But they are prey?¡¯ Dawn pointed out, running over and trying to bite at a slice of meat one of the outlaws had dropped into the grass. Without her body to assist, however, it was a futile effort. ¡®We are here to hunt them.¡¯

    ¡®Well¡­ Fine, yes, they¡¯re prey.¡¯

    He didn¡¯t like to think of them as such, but¡­ did these people even deserve such pity? Elijah hadn¡¯t blinked when watching them get ripped apart by the Nightmares, but looking at them as prey to be hunted down was where he drew the line? It was arrogant of him to think such things.

    Focus on the moment.

    Elijah didn¡¯t allow himself to be distracted by the shouting or stomping, moving towards the one proper house constructed at the camp. A cabin, two stories tall, and ready to house twenty people easily, and yet he already knew that much fewer lived inside.

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    The door was closed to stop others, but the roots below had lived in the earth for centuries and cared little about that. Spending a bit more Mana allowed him to connect to the wood that had been cut up to create the cabin, and Elijah could look inside the first floor with ease.

    Expensive furniture, extravagant paintings, fluffy carpets, and of course there¡¯s a wine rack.

    Objects that would be traveling onboard a merchant caravan expecting to make hefty profits by moving luxury goods between cities. Nothing that surprised him.

    ¡®Mage,¡¯ Dawn said, the duck looking straight upwards. Doing the same, Elijah frowned as he also felt something¡­ off. If he¡¯d been inside his body, his senses would¡¯ve been sharper, but it was still clear another magical presence was above them. Fade hadn¡¯t been able to say what their leader¡¯s Affinity was, and right now Elijah couldn¡¯t say either. It was fuzzy, a shimmering Aura that seemed to be a gray-white type of coloring. Nothing he¡¯d seen before, at least. ¡®Do we kill them now?¡¯

    ¡®Not yet,¡¯ Elijah instantly shot down. They still had much preparation to do before they could dream of such things. And that sound¡­ ¡®Can you hear that?¡¯

    ¡®The crying?¡¯

    Somebody was crying.

    A young voice.

    That wasn¡¯t something he expected to hear inside a camp such as this.

    Going through another set of doors, and down a few steps, the air of stolen luxury changed into the muddy darkness expected of a camp of outlaws. Though it was dark in the room, Elijah¡¯s current form suffered no loss of perception from it.

    He could see the large cages stacked against the wall, could see the bodies contained within them, could see the rot that¡­ Elijah was proud of himself for not going further into the darkness at the sight. Dawn¡¯s presence calmed him, as he took in the scene with more clarity.

    Some of the outfits on the dead made it clear they¡¯d been merchants of various ages. The stages of decomposing made it seem like most had died within the past week, and the fact that the old roots in the earth below were very healthy made it clear that this wasn¡¯t the first batch of death that¡¯d been seen here. The world had been fed well through these victims.

    ¡°Is¡­ Is somebody there?¡±

    The crying and sniffling had stopped, as a low voice asked a question into what was meant to be empty air for them. Elijah had almost forgotten that it was crying that had led him into the area, as all the cages seemed to have been filled with nothing but death.

    But right in the middle, one of them contained a girl still alive. A young girl, covered in cuts and bruises and not looking far from joining the others in what came after, but she was still alive. And she could feel him here.

    ¡®Another mage,¡¯ Dawn said, as she phased through the cage and inspected the young girl more closely. Elijah frowned when the breathing of the young girl began to pick up, looking down at where the duck was meant to be. ¡®She can see me!¡¯

    ¡®Don¡¯t be so sure,¡¯ Elijah said, following the duck and going down on one knee. While the girl responded by looking straight towards him, she didn¡¯t react to him waving around his hands in front of her eyes. ¡®She can sense our presence to some degree. She¡¯s not powerful enough to see us just yet.¡¯

    ¡°Please help me.¡±

    ¡­

    If everything went as it needed to, it would be more than an hour until Elijah could get here in person. With the wounds on the girl, he knew Aleksi would find that unacceptable. Something needed to be done now, but he couldn¡¯t be there in person for that.

    But the tool meant to bring this camp down can also be a boon.

    With a full understanding that it was a risk, Elijah called upon his Core to allow the next step to begin.

    Dual-Channeling of [Breathe Life] and [Animal Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 12MP/sec

    ¡®I need you to help me here, Dawn.¡¯

    ¡®Sure!¡¯

    While Elijah could remember the forms of many plants, Dawn was the library that had the true schematics of everything he¡¯d fed her. She didn¡¯t know everything just yet, she knew more than enough for this.

    It started with a healthy dose of Mana to the old roots below the cages. Something to jumpstart the process, giving plenty of energy for him and Dawn to shape the growth. They didn¡¯t want more roots, after all. They wanted something different, a flower with brilliant golden petals.

    A Sundrop Flower.

    Or a variant of it, to be precise. More powerful, not as messy with its pollen, and crossbred with the Elderglow Tulip to transfer the bioluminescent qualities over and give the flower an ethereal aura.

    The girl shied away as the flower broke the surface and appeared inside the cage, but the golden petals lighting up the room made her curious. It took minutes, but the young child finally touched the plant and allowed the liquid to enter through her skin. Even if it had just been a single finger poking at it, Elijah had done his best to concentrate the qualities.

    And it worked, yellow veins briefly showing on the girl¡¯s arm as the compounds traveled through her bloodstream. While it didn¡¯t mend the cuts and bruises, it took care of the worst of it all. And, going by the giggle, she might¡¯ve felt the warmth that came with the Sundrop Flower as well.

    A little positivity amongst all of the deaths.

    ¡°I¡¯ll come back soon,¡± Elijah promised the girl, knowing she couldn¡¯t hear him. Not that it mattered. He would honor his word regardless. ¡®Come on, Dawn. We have prey to hunt.¡¯

    ¡®Nice!¡¯ Dawn replied giddily, as she followed him out of the cabin, her back feathers shaking with excitement. ¡®Can I stab them?¡¯

    ¡®Some of them,¡¯ he allowed, though that would have to come a little later. For now, the more subtle approaches had to be taken. ¡®Let¡¯s blend a few different plants together, shall we?¡¯

    The fundamental setup for his and Fade¡¯s plan was simple. He would keep every outlaw in place while her Nightmares steadily flew through the camp and finished all of them off. Without the ability to flee or run for their weapons, it would be a trivial matter.

    But even then, not everybody was as helpless, and not all of the bandits were out drinking their hearts out. Some would resist, and some could probably fight back rather well against the Nightmares, and that was unacceptable if Fade was to finish all of them off without collapsing from the strain.

    So Elijah had to make sure that every person was weakened.

    How would he do such a thing? Drugs.

    A few of them mixed together, to be precise. Direct injection would be too noticeable, and take too much time to do on an individual basis, so it had to be far-reaching and airborne. The Grun Albus was perfect for that trait, with its ability to send out incredible amounts of toxic gas while having such a small body.

    The green color and parts that caused toxicity of the gas would have to be removed, of course, which took a few minutes of working around it. Elijah would¡¯ve normally needed days to even dream of making such a thing possible, but the cycle of using Breathe Life allowed him to delve deeper into their schematics than ever and manipulate it into exactly what he wanted.

    There were limits to his manipulations, he didn¡¯t doubt that, but he hadn¡¯t reached them just yet. Elijah could still push this. The gas became colorless, almost odorless, unable to damage the lungs, and he further imbued it with the properties of the Breaths of Serenity and Faerie¡¯s Breath.

    The former was primarily used as a sleep aid, with its ability to make the body relax the muscles and release tension, and the latter would only further enhance those abilities as they would make it hard for people to stand. The minimal dosage Elijah had been using for his brewing previously paled in comparison to the concentrations he allowed for now. If the outlaws could tell heaven and earth apart by the end of this, he would think himself a failure.

    ¡®Pretty,¡¯ Dawn said, as they looked over their work together, the plant floating above them. ¡®Is it done?¡¯

    ¡®It won¡¯t get better than this,¡¯ Elijah confirmed, stretching his conceptual body as he prepared for what needed to come after. The idea had been made, the outlaws were steadily being tracked in the camp by the forest, but there was still a need to implement it. And, for that, he needed the trees to work with him more than ever before. ¡®Grow past your own roots! Change, adapt, and allow this stalk to surface under your guidance.¡¯

    ¡®Yes!¡¯

    ¡®Anything!¡¯

    ¡®We help!¡¯

    A resounding applause for his order. Elijah could only wonder how deprived this forest had been of Mana through the years to have such a reaction. Maybe he¡¯d been spoiled by being in the presence of a Dungeon for so long.

    With a patient hand, he guided the growth of the roots through the camp. Though it took almost half an hour to do, hundreds of small plants were able to sprout. Each looked near-identical to the blades of grass that already filled the earth, impossible to spot by the naked eye.

    A perfect trap, if Elijah had to give his biased opinion about it. Even if the entire process drained him again and again, he felt nothing but pride.

    Let¡¯s not make this a tale of hubris.

    Elijah spent another ten minutes making sure every area of the camp was filled with enough of the modified plants to create the needed effect. Every tent was secured, every bonfire had at least a dozen blades ready to send out the gas, and the cabin¡­

    He wasn¡¯t willing to get too close to the leader on the second floor of the building. Elijah wasn¡¯t sure if he even could, the range of the roots not reaching so far above the ground, but risking detection wasn¡¯t something he wanted. Instead, a batch of grass blades was grown inside the house on the first floor, right by the staircase leading upwards. It was far enough away from the room with the cages that Elijah was confident it wouldn¡¯t reach the girl, but there would hopefully be some effect on the leader upstairs.

    Let¡¯s see if you can die in your sleep.

    ¡®Release it all,¡¯ Elijah ordered the hivemind, the forest obeying as the blades of grass opened in unison. The wind that came from the synchronous action was enough for a few outlaws to look up whatever they were doing, but nobody bothered to question it for more than a second. A perfect scenario for him, as Elijah could take the long trek back to his body. ¡°Get ready. The effects will be at their peak in ten minutes.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Fade replied, looking at him warily. Elijah blinked in confusion, noticing how heavy his body felt. ¡°Are you in pain?¡±

    ¡°Should I be?¡± he asked, feeling at his hands. It was all pins and needles, but otherwise, there weren¡¯t any issues. His breath was even, his pulse was resting as if he¡¯d been sleeping, and he felt a little tired. Nothing to be concerned about.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s¡­ never mind,¡± came the reply. Whatever thought had been there was waved away. Elijah wanted to question it further, but the Nightmares starting to leave Fade¡¯s body left little opportunity for conversation. ¡°I¡¯ll release them at your word.¡±

    The steadily growing ball of black flesh imitated the shape of a beating heart, rot and tears appearing and vanishing in a steady rhythm. It was disgusting, to the surprise of nobody. Nightmares were rarely pretty.

    ¡®Are you ready, Dawn?¡¯ he sent the duck, as the minutes passed by and his Core replenished enough Mana to work with.

    ¡®Yes!¡¯ Dawn answered rapidly. Even if he wasn¡¯t there, the excitement came through the bond without question. ¡®Can I start?¡¯

    With a breath to calm the heart that was starting to beat faster, Elijah prepared for the pain that would come in just a moment.

    ¡®You can start.¡¯

    Dual-Channeling of [Breathe Life] and [Plant Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 91MP/sec

    ¡°Now,¡± Elijah said through gritted teeth, as his Core was stretched to the limit on what it could output. It was a fair trade, however, as hundreds of roots simultaneously jumped from the ground and wrapped around the bodies of outlaws. He could feel as they struggled, as their sluggish movements resisted their entrapment. It hurt, but he and Dawn refused to buckle under the pressure. ¡°They¡¯re stuck.¡±

    Fade didn¡¯t hear him. She didn¡¯t react to the last words, at least, as sounds similar to snake speech left her. The abominations were leaving the heart she¡¯d grown, the shadowy Nightmares fuelled by tendrils of shadows connected to it. The entire surface of the forest before them was being covered by that black liquid.

    Elijah felt like puking, the desire only growing stronger as he stopped his own channeling. It¡¯d barely been nine seconds but it had felt like an eternity regardless, the world spinning before his eyes.

    The screams in the distance brought him back to reality, however.

    ¡®It¡¯s working!¡¯ Dawn screamed through the connection, Elijah helping supply a bit more Mana to hold down the more unruly outlaws who had seen glimpses of their fate. Even through the drug-addled state, they understood the concept of fear. ¡®They''re stuck! Can you see it? It¡¯s all¡ª Oh, wow, that is weird.¡¯

    A moment passed in confusion before Elijah felt it too.

    The residue of the dead.

    ¡®There¡¯s so much!¡¯ Dawn exclaimed, giddy while Elijah was filled with nothing but horror. ¡®Can we use this? We have to!¡¯

    A hundred lives, weak or strong, carried a great weight in the world. To extinguish so many in such a short time could be felt, Elijah needing to hold himself together as the fragments of the outlaws gathered around his Core. It wasn¡¯t anywhere near as refined as what he would attain from the monsters inside the Dungeon, but this was still potent in its own way.

    And at the thought of the Entity in the darkness, his Core seemed to glow. The sigils on the outer layer of crystalline formations, just below the surface, shined brightly. Without Elijah commanding them to do so, the residue was absorbed, taken in, and given a place in the carved-out runes.

    What?

    The presence was unmistakable. The foreign Mana was there. Some corner of Elijah¡¯s mind called on him to use it, but instinct refused that notion. The absorbed Mana sat isolated away from his own, inside the gift from the Dungeon, and there it would stay until he got an exact answer on what had just happened. This was wrong. This was meant to be impossible.

    ¡°Get up,¡± Fade ordered, bringing Elijah out of his spiraling mind. Dawn had already returned to him, the last of the outlaws on the ground dealt with. Nobody had been left alive. ¡°We need to hurry.¡±

    For a moment, Elijah thought the Dreamweaver was trying to pull him away, but his mind cleared a second later and allowed him to realize he was being pulled toward the encampment.

    ¡°Did you get all of them?¡± Elijah asked. His legs were starting to keep up with her hurried speed, even with the half-asleep limbs begging him to spend a few more minutes on the ground.

    ¡°All of the ordinary ones,¡± Fade answered. ¡°Not the leader. The Nightmare only got a single bite into her before they were torn apart.¡±

    Shit.

    Even with the potency of the gas that had covered the camp, Elijah didn¡¯t want to bet that the concoction could affect a Mage worth their salt for long. And the chance of the leader falling for the same trick twice, now that their existence had been revealed?

    ¡°What idiot dares do this?¡±

    The window of getting through this painlessly was fading away rapidly.

 Chapter 92: Force Majeure

    The Nightmares ripped away the fence, allowing them entry into the camp. Corpses were everywhere, roots still holding them in place. Chunks of flesh had been ripped out of each outlaw without mercy, throats half-eaten and bloodied. Elijah felt disgust, and even more when he got sent the glee from the forest around him. They¡¯d been granted a feast and would enjoy it for all it was worth.

    The forest was sated.

    The leader of the dead? Not as much.

    ¡°You can¡¯t hide.¡±

    Wasn¡¯t trying to.

    Elijah didn¡¯t say it out loud, conserving his strength as he did his best to regenerate the Mana inside his Core. With how much he¡¯d forced his body through, it was taking longer than normal. Not a good prospect, when he could sense the waves of energy flying through the air.

    ¡°Did you get a better idea on their Affinity from the other victims?¡± Elijah asked, as he tried to make the roots below reveal where the leader was. The leader¡¯s voice seemed to come from everywhere at once, and magical senses couldn¡¯t discern their location either.

    ¡°She can cut you down without holding a sword,¡± Fade replied tersely as she prepared for the battle. The Nightmares were being gathered into a pulsating heart once again. ¡°There were memories of her flying, but this doesn¡¯t feel like a Wind Affinity.¡±

    Elijah agreed wholeheartedly, but the description of their abilities fit well regardless.

    ¡°There you are.¡±

    ¡®Move!¡¯

    The combined voice of the forest shouted at Elijah. It was the only thing that saved them from their imminent end, as he pulled Fade down to the ground in the same second everything above them was cut in half.

    As if an impossibly long blade had traveled through the camp in one slash, all the tents around them had been cut apart at stomach height.

    ¡°Force,¡± Fade hissed, slamming the heart of Nightmares into the earth. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s Force.¡±

    Vismancy.

    Not a common Affinity in the slightest, but one that Elijah had seen in use once before. It¡¯d been during one of their excursions into a village, where they¡¯d faced considerable resistance. He hadn¡¯t thought much about it at the time, but a single Mage grabbing dozens of people with invisible hands and crushing them into nothing was not an easy ability to face.

    And now Elijah had to do just that.

    They weren¡¯t as powerful as the first Mage, seeing as Elijah and Fade weren¡¯t dead already, but they still had considerable control over their abilities. They were still a threat.

    ¡®Dawn, prepare the hallucinogenic plants again,¡¯ Elijah ordered. ¡®The enhanced toxic gas plants as well. We need everything that can hurt this person.¡¯

    Their location had been discovered, their movement was being tracked, and Elijah had some seconds to work with before the next dice roll for their lives.

    ¡®Yes!¡¯ Dawn shouted back, before delving into the connections with the forest. Mana was already being pulled from his Core, but the costs increased three-fold in that instant. ¡®I need time.¡¯

    An impossible resource to work with, at the moment.

    ¡°Can your Nightmares get to her if she¡¯s the only focus?¡± Elijah asked in a whisper, as they got back up from the ground. All the tents around them were crumpling, increasing their line of sight.

    ¡°No,¡± Fade replied bluntly. Neither looked at the other, eyes focused on the leader. ¡°They need a distraction.¡±

    ¡°I can work with that.¡±

    No more words were traded, as the dust settled and revealed their opponent.

    ¡°You¡¯re to blame for all of this?¡±

    A woman, looking to be in her late thirties. She had gray eyes, red hair, and wore a scowl on her face. When it came to clothing, there was a preference for the more extravagant of hide armors. Thin enough to be bearable in the summer air, but still looking to be of material that could stop the lucky blade from gutting her.

    Nothing that Elijah was immediately worried about. The more immediate pressure exuding from the woman was much more notable.

    But they had asked a question, one that came with the expectation of an answer. Something that took time to do.

    If Dawn needed extra seconds to prepare everything, he would try to squeeze this for all it was worth.

    ¡°Killing almost all of the people here? Yes,¡± Elijah answered, seeing the scowl on the woman grow. ¡°Destroying the tents and whatever was in it? No, you have yourself to thank for that.¡±

    ¡°Material goods matter little when I don¡¯t have the men to carry them,¡± the leader replied in a dry tone as she stepped over a corpse to get closer to them. ¡°Somebody your age don¡¯t travel alone. Where are the others?¡±

    ¡°Far away from here,¡± Fade said before Elijah could open his mouth. ¡°We came alone. No need for anybody else to clean up this mess.¡±

    ¡°How arrogant a thought,¡± the leader commented, a chuckle leaving her as she stopped some ten meters away from them. ¡°But I suppose that fits people like you. Old mages with fine clothes. I¡¯ll go out on a whim and say that you¡¯re a Biomancer and you are a¡­ Dreamweaver?¡±

    The air was getting thicker. They weren¡¯t the only ones who were delaying.

    ¡®Are you in position?¡¯ he sent Dawn.

    ¡®Almost.¡¯

    Time was running out.

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Elijah answered vaguely. ¡°For somebody focused on stealing goods, you¡¯re surprisingly well-taught. Was this a late career change?¡±

    ¡°Of sorts, though some outside assistance helped fill a few gaps,¡± the woman said with a smile.

    ¡°So those Castillan emblems weren¡¯t stolen,¡± Fade concluded, making the leader twitch. ¡°Interesting.¡±

    ¡­

    Elijah felt the pressure increase tenfold as the woman sighed.

    ¡°I was hoping to stretch out your death and really enjoy myself, but you just had to say that,¡± the woman muttered, lazily raising her right arm. ¡°Bye.¡±

    ¡®Now!¡¯

    Using the structure of a Snarethorn, a root shot out from the ground and wrapped around the woman¡¯s arm. Even if the small spikes didn¡¯t penetrate, the strength stopped the limb from moving.

    Nightmares streamed from the earth a heartbeat later, their impossibly wide jaws ready to dig into the flesh.

    None of them reached their target. The root holding the arm burst apart, the arm fell down the slightest bit, and the Nightmares were kicked into the ground at extreme speeds. As they were ripped apart, Fade screamed out in pain.

    Not good.

    Dual-Channeling of [Breathe Life] and [Plant Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 26MP/sec

    His Mana-Veins shook at the demand, but Elijah didn¡¯t waver his focus, granting Dawn everything she needed to spew out the toxic gas from the ground.

    ¡°Oh, you¡ª¡± the woman began, as the world around them was filled by the green gas. Elijah held his breath to stop the worst of the effects, but even just the exposure to his eyes and skin was enough for him to grimace in pain. ¡°Enough.¡±

    Fade had regathered herself, sending out her Nightmares again, but they were crushed within the same second. The cursing was endless.

    And it only got worse. A mighty gust of wind from nowhere almost had Elijah on his back. Even worse was the fact that it removed the toxic gas around them, clearing the world up again and revealing the woman to have left her place on the ground. She¡¯d seen through his plans, as she floated a meter above the grass.

    Can¡¯t have that.

    ¡°Flash,¡± Elijah shouted, the unstable vial already in hand as he threw it at the Force Mage and looked away. It didn¡¯t get far into the air before it was intercepted by a mighty wind, but that hardly mattered.

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    The light and sound filled the world, disorienting them all without mercy.

    Every human, that is.

    Elijah could almost smile when he heard the cry of pain from the woman. Dawn had prepared for the hide this time, focusing on smaller points and penetrating the armor and skin before filling the wounds with a concentrate of poison, blood thinners, paralytic concoctions, and a smidge of hallucinogenic traits that could fit inside.

    Anything to make the next five seconds of combat sway more in their favor.

    ¡°You scum!¡±

    The roots were cut and pulled apart from all sides, the pieces flying through the air. Some hit Elijah but he ignored it, seeing the swinging limbs as the warning it needed to be. When the earth in front of him started being cut through as well, he could only raise his arms and protect his head.

    The pain came like a sledgehammer.

    Something in his right arm broke.

    ¡®Elijah!¡¯

    A miracle.

    Even through the pain, Elijah could thank pure chance for his survival. The lethal cut meant for his head had been taken by his right arm instead. The Blue Star sleeve had shown off its cut-resistant properties by stopping the sharpness from going through, and instead making his arm take the incredible force.

    He couldn¡¯t feel his fingers, and he could see his forearm bending another direction halfway.

    That¡¯s not good.

    Dual-Channeling of [Breathe Life] and [Accelerate Growth] has been activated! Current cost: 173MP/sec

    The world went black.

    Only for a second.

    The world didn¡¯t allow Elijah to ignore the pain, the feeling of his Core being emptied, and then¡­ he didn¡¯t reach for it, didn¡¯t want to, but the crystal Runes called to him and Dawn answered on his behalf. With a cold sensation, foreign and wrong, the Mana taken by the death outlaws was used.

    It was pure torture for that second that the two spells were forcibly channeled by the duck, but it made all the difference. Years of growth were squeezed into the span of a heartbeat, and spears fashioned out of the roots were shot through the air.

    Some were blocked.

    The rest reached their target, going straight through the core body of the Force Mage.

    A breathless gasp of pain left her. Wide eyes, fear, and a dispersal of her magical abilities. She couldn¡¯t hold up her defenses, and the only thing that held her up in the air was the spears embedded in her flesh.

    ¡°Consume her!¡±

    A tortured order from Fade. Elijah could see the blood falling from her head. There was a deep cut on the side, the top of her ear having been lost.

    But she was alive.

    At least enough to give out that raw order, while allowing the Nightmares to stream out one final time. In clear contrast to the last attempts, they weren¡¯t met with resistance this time.

    Elijah wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d seen light in the woman¡¯s eyes at that point. Not that it mattered, as they were removed by the abhorrent monsters, together with everything else above the shoulders.

    He allowed himself a sigh when a stream of energy came through his connection to the forest.

    Another Mage dead by his hand.

    ¡°Any mortal wounds?¡± he asked Fade as he used his left hand to rifle through his coat pockets. Several vials and bags had been splattered during his fall, but the important ones had luckily survived. ¡°I can¡¯t fix everything but if you¡¯re breathing I can probably keep it¡ª Agh, shit.¡±

    Get yourself together. Adrenaline won¡¯t last forever. You¡¯ll go into shock if you don¡¯t fix this.

    He shoved a bit of his shirt into his mouth as he sat up a little. The broken forearm made its presence known loudly, but he suffered through it and uncorked a vial with his teeth. He took a small sip of the contents, grateful for the sedating effects, before pouring the rest onto the bent limb.

    After five incredibly painful seconds, where Elijah focused on his breathing and staying lucid, the nerves in his forearm were finally sedated and the pain was reduced to manageable levels. Everything else in his body was also complaining, but that wasn¡¯t too bad. He could work with this.

    ¡°Sorry, did you say something?¡± Elijah asked, when Fade slowly moved over to him, sitting down beside him while he worked. Dawn might¡¯ve been talking through their bond as well, but he didn¡¯t listen well as he aligned the broken bone. Some torn cloth, a stick, and some thin roots kept it in place. When they got back, he would need a better setup, but this worked for now.

    Even if he couldn¡¯t use the arm from now on, it wouldn¡¯t kill him and it probably wouldn¡¯t get worse.

    ¡°I¡¯m in better condition than you,¡± Fade repeated. She¡¯d already pulled out her own healing supplies, cleaning the wound on the side of her head before applying the healing paste Elijah had given her days before. Both seemed to sting, from how much she grimaced. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if I have a concussion, but I can survive getting back to the caravan after we¡¯ve searched through the house.¡±

    Not the best scenario in the world, but Elijah didn¡¯t have anything better.

    20 minutes was spent there on the ground, letting their bodies get through the worst of the pain while the various healing supplies took effect. Muscles were knitted back together, skin was regrown, and the worst of the flesh wounds were tended to. Nothing was back in mint condition, Elijah couldn¡¯t regrow the chunk Fade was missing from her ear, and his right forearm was still broken, but this would have to do.

    The threat was gone, they were alive, and the forest was just a little more safe now.

    ¡®You took the Mana without my permission, Dawn,¡¯ Elijah sent the duck as he and Fade slowly got up from the grass and moved towards the house.

    ¡®Yes,¡¯ Dawn replied. It was nowhere near the usual level of enthusiasm. ¡®I¡¯m not sorry.¡¯

    ¡®I didn¡¯t expect you to be,¡¯ he assured her. ¡®We¡¯d probably be dead if you hadn¡¯t done that.¡¯

    ¡®So¡­ I did good?¡¯

    ¡®No, but that doesn¡¯t matter,¡¯ Elijah said. He hadn¡¯t wanted to touch the Mana that the Dungeon¡¯s Runes had captured, but now they knew it could be used as if it was their own energy. It still felt wrong, different from normal, but if cornered it was a resource Elijah could pull from. ¡®Don¡¯t use it again unless necessary. We still need answers before we can trust that this won¡¯t come and bite back in the long term.¡¯

    The creaking hinge of the door brought Elijah into the present, as they stepped into the house. It was lavish as he remembered it, with the fine carpet and paintings making it fit the poor man¡¯s idea of a rich person¡¯s house perfectly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll fetch the documents and items on the second floor,¡± Fade said, when it became clear that Elijah¡¯s chances of making it up and down the stairs weren¡¯t the best. ¡°You take care of the girl in the meantime.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to see her with me?¡± Elijah asked with some wit to his voice, but the Dreamweaver only looked at him with little emotion.

    ¡°Young minds are more easily affected by nightmares,¡± she explained. ¡°My presence would not be ideal for a good first impression.¡±

    ¡°... Fine.¡±

    They split, Fade making her way up the stairs to the office and bedroom while Elijah made the trek to the back of the house. Going down two steps, a locked door briefly stopped him from entering until Dawn simply broke it down for him.

    The second he pushed it open, he had to stop himself from gagging.

    Elijah had known what he would be stepping into. He¡¯d seen the corpses already and had analyzed the decomposing states many of them had been in, and yet the smell hadn¡¯t reached him back then. That intensely pungent stench, with strong notes of ammonia and sulfur that made his eyes water, was almost too much for him at that moment.

    And yet, despite the desire to never take a step inside, the yelp of surprise and fear made him force everything back down.

    He¡¯d only been exposed to this rotting air for a moment. The girl inside the center cage had been in this place for days.

    ¡°Hello there,¡± Elijah said, stepping into the dark room. Alongside the lack of ability to smell while visiting before, the absolute darkness of the room was only understood now. If not for the open door, there would be no source of light inside. To be inside that for so long¡­ he didn¡¯t want to think about it. ¡°We met two hours ago, but I¡¯m not sure you could see my face back then.¡±

    The girl didn¡¯t answer, just looking at him with wide eyes as she shook. Her back was pressed against the bars of the cage opposite his position, and Elijah could see that this distance wasn¡¯t nearly enough for her. She wanted to run, to flee, to never look back.

    ¡°It took me some time to get here, and I¡¯m sorry for that,¡± Elijah said calmly. He tried to smile but it might¡¯ve looked closer to a pained grimace. Regardless, he went on one knee and allowed Dawn to leave Plant Storage. ¡°You asked for my help. I couldn¡¯t do more than grow that flower there for you back then, but now that I¡¯m here we can get you out.¡±

    There was no answer. There was just shaking, rapid breathing, and constant attempts to press her body further into the cage bars. And that Aura around her, a fuzzy air that constantly crackled¡­ it wasn¡¯t a calm one.

    Could she even hear his words?

    ¡®I thought she liked the flower,¡¯ Dawn commented, ruffling her feathers before walking into the cage. The bars would¡¯ve normally stopped a creature her size, but she just molded her body to squeeze through the gaps without a moment of hardship. ¡®Should we make more?¡¯

    The duck going inside was the first thing to cause a new reaction, the eyes of the girl flying from Elijah to Dawn.

    That her breathing slowed a little at that made Elijah feel some small bit of hope.

    ¡°Right¡­ This little feather ball is called Dawn. She¡¯s a sweetheart, but she can be a bit of an airhead sometimes,¡± Elijah explained as he found the lock for the cage. Where the key to it was located, he couldn¡¯t say, but placing a seed inside it and forcing the plant to crush the internal mechanisms made it open up easily. ¡°She helped me grow the golden flower before. We can grow more of them once we get out of this place if you¡¯d like.¡±

    It took another ten minutes of coaxing before the girl stepped out of the cage. With Dawn¡¯s help, she was given a few more of the flowers, their properties taking care of the worst of the wounds. Elijah would still need some hours of tending to the rest if she was to have a chance of returning to full health, but that could be saved for when they returned to the caravan.

    For now, they could leave the dark room behind and step into the main section of the house.

    Fade was already waiting for them there, putting away stacks of documents into a bag she¡¯d picked up.

    ¡°So you got her out,¡± Fade commented, impassively looking down at the girl. ¡°Do we need to carry her? Some of those cuts look like they¡¯re past simple infection.¡±

    She reached out towards the girl to better inspect one of the many wounds. A simple action likely done thousands of times before in her old line of work.

    For the young girl who had spent the past many days locked up, it was like having a blade coming towards her neck.

    That fuzzy Aura Elijah had felt previously, the one that revealed the girl¡¯s possession of an Affinity, flared up instantly. He felt the hairs on his body rise before a bolt of lightning left the young girl and reached the outstretched hand of the Dreamweaver.

    It wasn¡¯t on the level of true thunder, but the light and sound still made spots appear in his vision, and the ringing in his ears was likely to stay there for several hours more.

    ¡°For the love of¡ª Of course, this is how this ends,¡± Fade cursed, keeping up the swears as she shook her hand. It wasn¡¯t permanently damaged, but there were some dark spots where the lighting had hit. ¡°Why not find a Stormcaller child in the middle of nowhere? Nothing but cursed luck.¡±

    Looking down at the girl who had wrapped her arms around his right leg, Elijah was starting to think luck had never been involved in this at all.

 Chapter 93: Mila

    They made it back to the others before the sun fell under the horizon. Even when they were bruised and tired, the group still made their way through the forest, traveling for a good six hours before feeling safe enough to make camp. Even if every outlaw was meant to have been dealt with, Elijah refused to take chances.

    The forest refused to do so either. Through his steady guidance in the passing day of traveling, he could accelerate the devouring of the outlaw camp. What should¡¯ve taken months would only take a week, as the earth opened up to welcome inside every piece of flesh and material gathered in that wretched clearing. The others had made comments about it being wasteful, that some of the items could¡¯ve been salvaged, but Elijah refused the notion. The forest had been promised compensation and this was it.

    And it wasn¡¯t as if their own group was any less busy. Fade still suffered the effects of her head trauma, needing to rest inside the back wagon without much disturbance, Elijah still had to deal with his broken forearm that didn¡¯t heal as fast as he wanted it to and the girl¡­ The girl that had been found was still here, still scared beyond belief, and she still needed their help.

    Aleksi had looked at Elijah so smugly when they¡¯d brought her back to their caravan. No words had been said, no dry comments about their habits of finding troubled youth, but those eyes had carried meaning more than well enough.

    The giant had nothing against the introduction of the young girl, of course. He welcomed her as warmly as he¡¯d done any other child for the past few decades, being as doting and protective as he was allowed to be. Aleksi¡¯s history with the younger generations had been troubled, in more ways than one, but there was little chance he could ever do anything but care for those who needed it.

    ¡°We never did get to hear your name,¡± Elijah had commented on that first night after the girl had been brought to the caravan. It had been during their time in the back of the front wagon, where he had spent hours making sure she wasn¡¯t in any danger. Wounds had been cleaned and closed, bruises had vanished, and some rations had been pulled out to hopefully help against the girl¡¯s thin form. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to talk, it¡¯s not a problem, but I¡¯d still love to know what I should be calling you. ¡®Girl¡¯ doesn¡¯t feel right.¡±

    ¡°... Mila.¡±

    No last name.

    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Mila,¡± Elijah said, not pressuring her for more information, as she returned to her quiet state. The night was well upon them by the time he¡¯d finished dealing with most of her injuries, and she had been given his sleeping mat while he stayed up.

    She¡¯d been out before he could blink, breathing so softly he was afraid she¡¯d passed.

    It was a very stressful time, though the others didn¡¯t treat it as such.

    While Elijah spent his time reading through his book, trying to understand the fundamentals of flesh manipulation, Jack and Sasha were trying to befriend Mila. The former doing as much had come as no surprise, the man prone to such forward actions, but the latter¡­ Elijah hadn¡¯t seen such care in her actions before.

    Where she would otherwise be blunt and passive-aggressive with her words, she was now surprisingly cautious. Sasha didn¡¯t critique, she didn¡¯t waltz through without a care for the others, but instead, she sat down and kept a safe distance from Mila while she talked to her.

    Jack had tried to be more direct in his approach, treating her like any other child, but the powers of a Stormcaller had manifested yet again and he¡¯d learned to stay away after that.

    Regardless, days of steady bonding, talking, and trying to connect with the young girl had allowed some small amount of trust to form. Elijah could still see how Mila never calmed down when the others were within reach, how she made sure to have the wall of the wagon behind her so she had a full view of her surroundings, and how the snapping of branches made her wince.

    A troubled mind, with scars that weren¡¯t healed so easily.

    Elijah couldn¡¯t say if they ever would.

    ¡°She was a lucky find when the leader was out tearing apart one of the larger caravans,¡± Fade explained to them sometime after the worst of the concussion had faded. ¡°A child with an Affinity was valuable in the markets, dead or alive. Others were brought along to calm her down, but they were all forced into those cages before long. Not a fun way to go.¡±

    ¡°How long was she trapped in there?¡± Aleksi asked, to which Fade could only shrug. The leader¡¯s memories of placing Mila inside were blurry. Nothing of importance to the Force Mage, and certainly nothing that had been given much thought. ¡°Despicable.¡±

    ¡°Those on this side of the law usually are,¡± Elijah commented. They¡¯d all known it by heart already, but a verbal reminder never hurt. ¡°Which markets?¡±

    ¡°The Castillan ones,¡± Fade supplied, bringing out the documents that she¡¯d grabbed at the camp. All of it had already been reported to Vera, and they¡¯d been given some minor comments about it that first night, but recovery had taken priority. Even the prince hadn¡¯t been told about this in full detail. ¡°Our former compatriots have been in dealings with this group of outlaws for the past years, but their trading increased in frequency heavily some six months ago. They were given hints on which route would provide the most benefits, and whenever something truly interesting came along the leader sent a message out about it.¡±

    A good deal for the outlaws, a perfect opportunity for Castilla to attain information about the merchants inside the country, and a terrible situation for Serenova. Many of the merchant caravans killed through the months had been of high respect within Kulvik, and it was easy to guess the financial ramifications that would come from a blow like this.

    But this was still on a smaller scale. Proof of foreign influences within the borders, yes, but this alone still wasn¡¯t on a level where they had to return to the capital.

    ¡°What are the chances of more outlaw groups being connected to Castilla?¡± Louis asked.

    ¡°Almost a certainty, but nothing in the leader¡¯s memories or these documents hinted at them knowing about others,¡± Fade explained. ¡°No surprise there, since Castilla was always scarce on information to deployed companies, but we¡¯re working on the assumption that other groups are out here.¡±

    Even if they didn¡¯t return to the capital, Vera had altered their instructions to fit around this new problem. The freedom of choice, when it came to picking paths to travel down, was removed, and the most popular route was chosen for them. Likewise, Fade¡¯s recommendation of switching up the positions in the caravan was set in stone, and the prince was made to travel with Elijah, Aleksi, and Mila at the front while the others were in the wagon in the back. Even if all their lives held value, it was made clear that the prince was a priority.

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Elijah didn¡¯t object, since the royalty carried such privilege as a standard. He only wished that the passive arrogance of the prince didn¡¯t ruin his focus.

    ¡°The others told me your name was Mila,¡± Louis commented on the first day of their new arrangements. Elijah tried to ignore it, as he read through the detailed instructions on accelerating the regeneration of bone marrow. ¡°It¡¯s a good one. Very regal. Mine¡¯s Louis. It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡±

    In his peripheral vision, he could easily see the lack of movement from Mila, as she stared down the prince from the other side of the wagon. Even if they hadn¡¯t talked in the days prior, Louis had heard the consequences of getting close to the girl, which meant a healthy distance was kept between them.

    But curiosity and time had a way of breaking down wariness.

    ¡°I know you can talk. You did plenty of that this morning with Sasha,¡± Louis continued, when the passing seconds made it clear Mila had no desire to do anything but sit without moving a muscle. ¡°Hello?¡±

    Elijah lowered his book the slightest amount when Louis looked ready to make a move, but it wasn¡¯t needed. Mila flinched, Louis froze, and he returned to his original position inside the wagon in silence.

    No more attempts were made to talk through the entire day. It was only silent practice, as Elijah did his best to understand the machinations of the flesh while dealing with the idle pain in his right arm. Even when he used the same pain remedy that he¡¯d brewed for Jack, that mild pounding of the blood vessels kept him up during the nights.

    At least it was a good motivator to learn.

    During the quiet hours of the day, hours could go by without Elijah raising his head from the book. The great tome was filled to the brim with neatly written words and diagrams, forcing him to experiment and reread every page to make sure he truly understood. The act of manipulating flesh through Biomancy was a very complex subject, and that was made clear from the first page alone.

    Elijah knew that learning the sub-field wouldn¡¯t be an easy task, but he had hoped for some innate understanding of the bare basics. Something akin to his natural connections to plants wouldn¡¯t have been too bad, and yet there was none of the sort. It was an entirely different framework. Too¡­ fluid in its methods.

    Plants were complex, they were prone to change, but their physical structure was an entirely different challenge than human ones. They were more willing to be altered, they didn¡¯t cascade into catastrophic failure when poked the wrong way, and they listened to him.

    A sunflower could break, and his guiding words could mend the stalk and make it twice as strong. A broken bone¡­ that was another question.

    Human flesh and bone didn¡¯t have the same presence. It wasn¡¯t a single mind that sat within but instead millions of billions of them. To give out one order individually, to guide them like Elijah did the plants, would be impossible, but managing them as a group likewise caused imperfect results.

    And imperfections came with instant self-destruction, as the cells of the body refused anything outside of the standard process and speed.

    So if I want to both accelerate the rate of recovery and change the final result, it¡¯s going to take more control than what I have now.

    It was no wonder that the Flesh Bond Spell was Tier 4 when it had these requirements.

    Even so, however, Elijah pushed on. Attempt after attempt, he got a little closer to having stable control over the flow of energy in his body. His forearm was still healing at a faster rate than normal, as he guided the recovery ever-so-slightly. Soon, the world would hopefully recognize it as enough to note down the Spell in his Status.

    ¡°What am I doing wrong?¡±

    Elijah looked up from his musings, at the prince¡¯s words. They¡¯d stopped for camp for the night, had eaten, and now everybody but he and Aleksi were meant to sleep while they kept watch.

    That fact had been forgotten by the prince, when he settled on the rocks next to Elijah, staring into the fire.

    ¡°I need some context here,¡± Elijah replied, sending a look towards the giant who hadn¡¯t warned him about Louis¡¯ approach. Aleksi just shrugged, throwing some more wood into the fire.

    ¡°The girl, Mila,¡± the prince continued. ¡°She¡¯s scared of me.¡±

    Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Elijah sent out a pulse through the earth to check on the aforementioned young girl. Just as he¡¯d hoped, she was sleeping cozily inside the front wagon, far away in the lands of dreams and unable to hear him.

    ¡°She¡¯s scared of most things at the moment,¡± Elijah fired back. ¡°Don¡¯t feel shame for being included in it.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not scared of you,¡± Louis pointed out, not backing down yet not meeting his eyes either. ¡°She¡¯s not scared of Jack and Sasha, she¡¯s not scared of that hulk of a man there, but she is scared of my bodyguard and she¡¯s scared of me. Out of everybody here, it¡¯s the Woman of Nightmares and me that¡¯s a problem for her.¡±

    If Fade had been awake to hear it, Elijah didn¡¯t doubt that clear disdain would¡¯ve grown on her face by now.

    ¡°The others have shown they are to be trusted,¡± Aleksi supplied, the ¡®hulk of a man¡¯ offering advice where Elijah couldn¡¯t. ¡°They have spent days talking to her quietly, explaining their place in the world to her, and telling her stories. They¡¯ve proved themselves, and Mila trusts them because of that. You have not done this, so you are still a threat in her eyes.¡±

    ¡°But I did try to talk to her!¡± Louis objected, forcing his voice to be low. There was no reason to wake up the others. ¡°You saw what happened. She didn¡¯t say a word to me.¡±

    ¡°It took many hours of tending to her wounds before she could tell me her name,¡± Elijah said. ¡°She¡¯s seen you from a distance. A few words aren¡¯t going to help convince her you¡¯re not to be feared.¡±

    Some part of him wanted to explain the issues that came with selective mutism manifested from trauma, but Elijah held back that urge. It would do little to help.

    ¡°But¡­ right, yeah, you¡¯re right. I¡¯m being stupid,¡± the prince said. He looked like he wanted to protest further, to have his views be the right ones, but the reality finally seemed to settle in as he leaned back in defeat. ¡°Can I come back from this?¡±

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Aleksi said. ¡°Maybe not.¡±

    ¡°Speaking from experience?¡±

    ¡°You could say that.¡±

    Aleksi hadn¡¯t gained the title of ¡®Butcher of Verness¡¯ for nothing. Elijah knew that for a fact, having seen the people who had been cut down to make the giant earn that name. There was a reason Aleksi was so careful around the youth these days.

    ¡°Well, fine, I guess it wouldn¡¯t hurt to try again,¡± Louis supposed, getting back up on his feet. ¡°More patience, nothing that would make me seem threatening, and¡­ don¡¯t be so quick to anger.¡±

    ¡°A lesson that would serve you well for most aspects of life,¡± Elijah muttered, making the prince look down on him.

    For a moment, Elijah thought he was about to witness the red-faced royal show off his well-known bursts of anger.

    Instead, a chuckle left the young man. A brief one, lacking in frustration followed by wishing them a good night.

    ¡­

    Even the shortest fuses can adapt with time, I suppose.

    For the next two days, Louis told them about his youth. Not everything there was, and certainly nothing heavy-hearted, but the tongue of the royal only briefly took breaks. And, before they knew it, Mila thanked the prince for one of the stories.

    Neither Elijah nor Aleksi commented on the tears that might or might not have appeared in the young man¡¯s eyes.

    Not that anybody had much chance to focus on the scene, as the smell of salt started to steadily be caught by the wind. Though there was still some distance to cover, the small caravan was slowly approaching their target destination.

    The port city of Melrond.

 Chapter 94: Lura Fadan

    On paper, Melrond was not a big city. It had just under four thousand permanent residents, a mere dot on the country map, and yet it carried an importance that could challenge every other city but Kulvik.

    For it was a port city, perfectly placed to allow ships from Ethon and those further west to easily access the goods of Serenova. Likewise, it was an ideal resting stop for those who wanted to travel further north-east, to make deals with Castilla before circling the elven countries to gain access to the orc-filled nations of Grita and Vlora.

    So, even with less than five thousand permanent residents, Elijah guessed that there easily were over twenty inside the port city. With a dozen massive merchant ships parked out in the waters, and a swarm of people moving between them and the solid ground, it wasn¡¯t hard to make such estimations.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect everything to be made of stone here as well,¡± Jack commented, as they neared the entrance to the city. Like Kulvik, a tall and thick wall had been constructed to create a clear perimeter around the city. While it wasn¡¯t as massive as the one in the capital, it would take serious efforts to scale those defenses without being shot down from above. ¡°And those engravings everywhere¡­ Are stone masons just easy to find here?¡±

    ¡°You have to thank Alin for this,¡± Elijah explained, recounting the grand tales of the late king and the Earth Mage. As most who lived in Serenova knew by heart, the duo had made the long trek around the entire country, using magic to rebuild every village and city that had been destroyed by Castilla during the war.

    It didn¡¯t matter if you had been a farmer who¡¯d lost their house and barn or a duke who had had their estate torn apart. By order of the king, Alin had rebuilt everything better than before.

    Fire wouldn¡¯t burn down the thick stone. They¡¯d made sure of that.

    ¡°Halt!¡± a guard shouted, making Elijah slow down the wagon. Aleksi did the same with the one behind, the small caravan unmoving while it was inspected. ¡°State your identity and business. Any goods with an appraised value of over 500 standard gold coins will be taxed. Any goods below that value can be bought for their alleged value if deemed to be a good bargain.¡±

    ¡°Elijah Caede, Royal Healer traveling with his highness, Louis Newell,¡± Elijah recited, as the aforementioned prince came out from the wagon to greet the guards.

    The others who were well on their way to look inside froze at the words.

    ¡°I believe my sister had a notice sent to you, which should have arrived a week ago,¡± Louis continued when the gate guards kept silent. Even with the helmets, the widened eyes were obvious. ¡°We have all the necessary paperwork to verify these claims if you wish to see them. I can understand if you want proof, as it has been some time since my family last visited this port.¡±

    Well-mannered, no signs of stress in his body language, and a calm smile on his face. Others would¡¯ve thought it natural if they hadn¡¯t seen the two days of preparation the prince had done for those lines. With the impending need to do his job, Louis had made sure that he wouldn¡¯t be surprised in the middle of it all.

    Not bad.

    ¡°I, um, yes, we were granted notice of your arrival, Your Highness, along with, uh, paintings of your appearance to recognize you if needed,¡± the guard replied in an unsure tone when he finally remembered how to use his tongue again. ¡°Please wait while I find my captain.¡±

    With a pace that was just slow enough to look professional, the guard jogged back to the gate station. Less than a minute later, they returned with another in two whose armor looked to be both higher quality and more well-polished.

    ¡°Greetings, Your Highness,¡± the captain said smoothly, as he bowed to the prince before accepting the papers from another guard. A quick lookover was all that was needed before they were taken as valid. ¡°I am Captain Herman Ahab, the current leader of the guards and stand-in baron for Melrond.¡±

    ¡°Has Baron Hosier passed away?¡± Louis questioned. ¡°I believed that he was in good health.¡±

    ¡°I assure you that the Baron is still with us, Your Highness, but he was called to the capital city just two days ago,¡± Herman explained. ¡°For what purpose, I cannot say, but I was told it was urgent.¡±

    That was certainly something to question Vera about later, though the matter was moved on as the group was led into Melrond. The diplomat they were meeting had already arrived two days before and was waiting at one of the more expensive inns that the city had to offer.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t spot it from a distance, but a lot of these buildings look gothic,¡± Jack commented, as they rode down the main street. There was quite a crowd of merchants ahead, everybody buying and selling like their lives depended on it, but the man beside Elijah was more focused on the stone instead. ¡°Has to be with all of those arches, right?¡±

    ¡°If I remember right, Alin took a lot of inspiration from the building techniques of the old human country of Vale, while switching out impermanent materials to more closely match the dwarven methods.¡± Elijah recited, trying to remember the previous conversations he¡¯d had with the Earth Mage regarding his work. Creating entire cities had not been an easy undertaking, but the old man¡¯s previous education regarding historical architecture had helped quite a bit. Elijah had to admit he didn¡¯t care much for it, but the various inspirations were still interesting enough. ¡°There are still some dwarven traits that went into the final forms, however. The dwarven habit of using flat roofs happens quite a few times here.¡±

    ¡°Any reason for that habit?¡± Louis asked from the other side. This topic hadn¡¯t been as well-studied by the prince.

    ¡°When you live beneath the dirt, there¡¯s little reason to worry about the weather,¡± Elijah explained concisely. ¡°Still, their choice of materials leads to buildings that can last many centuries, so they have a habit of making more extravagant design choices. Alin seems to have inherited that trait as well.¡±

    The previous comments about the intricate etching in the walls surfaced once again. While they weren¡¯t as detailed everywhere, Elijah could easily spot a few areas on the main streets where entire portraits had been created. Nothing too extreme, but depictions of people, battles, and various nature scenes were easy to find.

    Each work would¡¯ve taken months to plan and etch for a normal man. Elijah doubted Alin had spent more than a few minutes.

    ¡°Huh, that¡¯s actually incredible,¡± Jack said, brows pushed together as the man fell deep into thought. ¡°Since I can do a ranged transmutation now, do you think I might be able to make¡ª Oh shit, what the hell is that!¡±

    Elijah was nearly forced to turn his upper body to look to the left, where Jack was pointing into the thick crowd. Narrowing his eyes, he was ready to ask just what had gotten the man so utterly excited before he spotted the flash of scales as well.

    They were nearly impossible to see, only reaching the stomach height of a human, but those yellow and red scales covering a thin body were quite a sight. And that elongated skull, closer to a dog than that of a person¡­

    ¡°That is a merchant of the kobold race,¡± Louis supplied in a low voice, seeming very uncomfortable by being close to them. ¡°A respected one, going by the painted scales on the sides of their neck, so please refrain from those types of outbursts again. Especially in front of the diplomat. I want this to go well.¡±

    ¡°... Oh,¡± Jack replied. The man straightened his back and looked straight ahead, trying his best to look professional. ¡°I¡¯ll keep myself in check, once I get to meet them. No need to worry.¡±

    ¡°Clearly.¡±

    That edge of sarcasm was the last sign of the prince¡¯s true personality, as they reached their destination. Just about in the center of the city, next to the open area for the larger merchant stalls, was the entrance to the Goldenheart Inn. The name fit it well, with the red and gold streaks that painted the outside surface. And, with the flush carpet and the smell of expensive wine that met them when they walked inside, it was obvious that this establishment wasn¡¯t for the average person.

    ¡°How many of you will be attending the meeting?¡± Herman asked, eyeing the size of the group which included several people that weren¡¯t¡­ usually seen in high-class discussions.

    ¡°It will just be me, him, and her,¡± Louis confirmed, nodding at Elijah and Fade. The captain accepted that answer, promising to show the others to another room where they could rest while the meeting was ongoing. ¡°Please, lead the way.¡±

    Herman did as asked, showing them the path through the more crowded part of the inn and towards mostly empty hallways. Elijah noted the lightning turning from the magical variant and over to real fire the further in they went, and, while the area never became close to cheap, the extravagant furniture lessened in presence. Function and comfort over aesthetic, one could say.

    ¡°It¡¯s just in here,¡± Herman said, stopping in front of one of the larger doors. He didn¡¯t let them inside immediately, instead knocking three times. Only when a green light shined from the center of the door did he open it. ¡°I wish you the best of luck.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not listening in as well?¡± Elijah asked, not instantly following as the two others entered the meeting room.

    ¡°We normally would, but instructions from the capital city have ordered otherwise,¡± the captain explained, which made Elijah frown. ¡°When you¡¯re finished, you will find the others in the room down the hallway.¡±

    He thanked the man before stepping inside the room, closing the door after himself, and noting the instant quiet that came from it.

    Non-magical sound insulation of such quality? How quaint.

    Inspecting the layout of the room, Elijah quickly got the idea that this room wasn¡¯t used for anything other than important meetings. Ignoring the side table filled with various refreshments, the main focus was the larger table which sat in the middle of the room, with chairs to accommodate the two sides.

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    Elegant design, likely to be prohibitively expensive, and taking up more space than any normal establishment would allow.

    Just the way they like it.

    As he took the half-dozen steps needed to get to his seat, he noted the last participant in this meeting.

    The elf.

    A brown-haired woman. By human standards, she was thin and tall, but Elijah knew that such appearances could be very deceiving. The minor hints of muscle on those arms, and the sharpness of her eyes, made it clear in his mind he was working with somebody that was to be both feared and respected. Even if her face seemed youthful, looking close to twenty years of age, he had no doubts that the elven woman had lived his life span at least four times over.

    And no Magical Aura.

    That was the most surprising thing of all. Even with the primal instinct that told Elijah he needed to be wary of this leaf-eared person, no magical talents could be spotted. A trick? Maybe, but he wasn¡¯t betting on it. The preparations they¡¯d done in the days before had made no hint of the elf having magical talents.

    ¡°I greet thee, Lura Fadan,¡± Louis said a second after Elijah sat down. No hands were offered in the greeting, the prince instead lowering his head a little while still seated. ¡°I apologize for our lateness. The trip from the capital took longer than expected.¡±

    ¡°Your apologies are unneeded, Prince Louis. In ages like these, time can be hard to control,¡± Lura replied with a smile. Her voice made Elijah¡¯s back stiffen just a little. The old stories had always described the elven tongues as angelic, something to make mere humans think of them as deities of sorts, but the only thing he felt was the presence of wrong. ¡°And, before we are to start discussions, I must give you my condolences for the loss of your father and brother. It is a terrible thing for them to leave so early.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ thank you for the kind words,¡± Louis was able to get out. Elijah could feel the prince¡¯s anxiety. Even if this was expected, it was still hard to go through.

    The pace picked up after a few more fumbles, however, and the royalty could step into the role of a diplomat with enough elegance to be passable. Questions and answers that meant little to Elijah were traded at good speed. Nothing too heavy, and nothing that was dug into for too long, but enough to have a general understanding of where each person stood.

    And, finally, Louis was ready to ring the bell.

    ¡°If my recollection of your traditions serves me right, I believe you¡¯ve brought a gift for my sister?¡± the prince asked, making the elven woman smile once again.

    ¡°Your studies of my king¡¯s habit of gifts are correct, Prince Louis,¡± Lura replied, reaching into the handbag that sat by the feet of her chair. A magical one, by the fact her entire hand could fit inside without trouble, and bring out a small package wrapped in green leaves.

    Cylinder-shaped, half the length of her forearm, and the approximate width of the last gift.

    ¡°I was of the impression that your kingdom had given away this century¡¯s product,¡± Louis commented, delicately accepting the wrapped gift.

    ¡°Sadly, yes, but we were more than willing to bring out one of the older bottles,¡± Lura confirmed, her smile steady as the prince tried to play off his momentary shock. ¡°What you¡¯re holding would be from the last batch that the Greenwood Brewery made before its end 723 years ago. From my personal experience with that century¡¯s bottles, I would describe it as a spicy sweetness on your tongue, but I¡¯ve also learned that human tongues taste it a little differently than ours.¡±

    Elijah held back a snort at that remark, remembering the struggle it had been to taste one of those elven creations some months ago. Without the trick of infusing the liquid with his own Mana, it had been akin to drinking liquid fire.

    ¡°There, I must agree with you,¡± Louis replied, fingers sliding over the wrapping without disturbing the surface of the leaves at all. Were they all bonded at the edges? Elijah hadn¡¯t seen such a thing before. ¡°Since I have also seen the sturdiness of the elven wrapping techniques firsthand, I do have a small favor to ask of you.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    With a single poke of the left index finger, the wrapping began to glow a soft green on the areas where the individual leaves had been bonded. Within the second, every single leaf fell to the table as if they had never been connected at all, revealing a beautiful bottle that contained whatever holy concoction the elven brewers of old had been able to create.

    Elijah didn¡¯t care about that. Especially not in that moment, where his gaze never fell from the elven diplomat.

    Magic.

    Despite not having a Core, despite not showing an inkling of any magical affinity in their body, a flare of a light green Mana still managed to leave her fingers and enter the wrapping. Not the exact liquidy green that Elijah personally possessed as a Biomancer but something very close to it.

    And his widened eyes must¡¯ve caught the attention of the elven variant, as the woman smiled at him.

    ¡°You saw it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Lura asked. The smile she¡¯d carried for the past minutes grew a little deeper when Elijah frowned. ¡°The spark of nature.¡±

    ¡°The use of magic by a person without it,¡± Elijah corrected, when the prince looked at him in confusion. ¡°You have no Affinity.¡±

    ¡°Not one to reach above another of my kind, and yet we can still call to the world,¡± the elven woman countered. Her words allowed a truth to settle in his mind. The stories of elves, especially the Forest Elves that Ethon was composed of, had a connection to nature deeper than any ordinary human could hope for. ¡°The human eye is blind to many things that we can just barely glimpse. The gift you have allows you to share that ability with us.¡±

    If sensing Mana was all there was to it, Elijah would¡¯ve thought little of it, but a glance at Fade told Elijah she hadn¡¯t stopped that line of green mana that had left the elven hand before.

    There¡¯s another requirement than having an Affinity.

    Was it to have one related to the natural world? Elijah couldn¡¯t say, but the Dreamweaver certainly didn¡¯t fit whatever category existed.

    ¡°I¡¯m a Biomancer by birth and Healer by trade, if that has a chance of influencing things,¡± he finally supplied.

    ¡°The gift to manipulate the world would help, but I can glimpse something more inside you,¡± Lura continued, not satisfied by his answer. ¡°Something¡­ foreign.¡±

    ¡­

    She meant the alterations the Dungeon had done on him during the times he¡¯d talked to them. He doubted it could be anything else, yet that hardly meant he would reveal the truth to her.

    But, it wouldn¡¯t do to not answer.

    ¡°I think that you¡¯re catching a glimpse of Dawn.¡±

    ¡°Sorry?¡±

    A lack of understanding. Elijah didn¡¯t blame her for it, and neither did he blame the elf for her reaction when he put his hand on the table and allowed Dawn to enter the physical world once more.

    ¡®Freedom!¡¯

    ¡°An Awakened?¡± Lura muttered, eyes fixed on Dawn shaking itself free of imaginary dust. ¡°This is¡­ unexpected.¡±

    ¡°An Awakened,¡± Louis repeated in a monotone voice. Elijah did not miss the glances at the duck that the prince had seen countless times during their journey. ¡°An Awakened being of nature, as described in the Chronicles of The Old¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes, that is right,¡± Lura cut in before the prince had a chance to finish his sentence. The elven diplomat had maintained a professional composure through the start of the meeting, yet this had broken the straw. Emotion past a confident sense of calm had finally escaped into the world.

    ¡®Not human,¡¯ Dawn commented when she finished getting her feathers in order. ¡®What is it?¡¯

    ¡®An elf, as I explained to you before,¡¯ Elijah replied. He wondered idly how much Dawn had been paying attention to the situation, while she¡¯d been inside his body. What was she doing there exactly? ¡®Do you sense anything different about them?¡¯

    ¡®Less food,¡¯ the duck replied, fake eyes focused on the thin arms as she waddled across the table. Lura seemed to accept the attention wholeheartedly, her right hand reaching towards the plant body. ¡®Easy access.¡¯

    Before Elijah could even dream of forbidding it, Dawn¡¯s beak disassembled itself as it became dozens of thin tendrils. In less than a second, they had wrapped around the fingers of the elven hand, more than ready to feast on the captured prey.

    ¡®Elves have the same rights as humans,¡¯ Elijah was finally able to send out, instant disappointment coming back from the bond. Meanwhile, Lura was simply laughing at the display, as the tendrils slowly untangled themselves from her fingers and turned back into the beak from before. ¡®Don''t try to eat them.¡¯

    ¡®What if they¡¯re rude?¡¯

    ¡®What do you see as being rude?¡¯

    ¡®Not letting me eat them.¡¯

    It took some amount of effort to contain his frustrations from reaching his face.

    ¡®Just¡­ don¡¯t try to kill or eat them unless I ask you to.¡¯

    ¡®Fine.¡¯

    Dawn stretched the word as she waddled back to Elijah, leaping from the table and settling down on his shoulder. The short journey was enough of an excuse to take a nap.

    ¡°Oh, forgive my flippancy,¡± Lura said, when Dawn had settled down properly. The elven woman blinked a few times at the sight, seemingly out of some form of trance. ¡°I was just¡­ surprised to see an Awakened in Serenova. I was not aware of their presence here.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no problem at all, though we could talk further about this once the meeting has finished?¡± the prince suggested, acutely aware of the passing seconds. The fumbling at the start had been rectified, the weights shifting into balance once again. ¡°With this fine gift delivered to me, I believe we are ready for the last participant.¡±

    ¡°I, yes, you are quite right,¡± the elven diplomat agreed. She took a deep breath, both hands clasped together above the table before they slowly separated and revealed¡­ an orb.

    It was made of a glass-like material, too large to have possibly fit inside her palm, and it exuded an energy that reminded Elijah of the elf¡¯s display two minutes before. A connection to nature, though this one was much stronger.

    ¡°Have you been instructed on the use of our artifacts before?¡± Lura asked as she allowed the orb to settle on the table. Despite being perfectly round, it didn¡¯t roll. ¡°If not, you needn¡¯t worry. Just put a hand on the orb, let your mind relax, and close your eyes. When you open them, we will have reached our destination.¡±

    If Elijah hadn¡¯t been fully briefed on the artifact and its heavy usage these past centuries, he would¡¯ve reached the mere notion of it. Regardless, the prince and his bodyguard put their palms on the orb without question, and he had to follow.

    Deep breaths.

    ¡°Feel the nature, and the transportation will commence.¡±

    He felt little of anything at the start, but the sounds of a forest reached his ears regardless. The sound of animals, the sound of running water, the feeling of an afternoon sun against his skin, the smell of the grass and fruits and¡­

    Oh.

    Opening his eyes, Elijah found himself facing an elven man who wore a crown.

    Malon Gilro, The King of Ethon.

 Chapter 95: We Die Standing

    Elijah had to confess that the elven king looked the part. He was taller than Lura by half a head, easily nearing Aleksi in height, and yet he also possessed the elven litheness. With gray eyes, and long hair bordering white and blonde, Malon carried an image of years long past those Elijah could ever reach. The intricate green-and-silver robes only facilitated the image, as the cloth looked too perfect to be real.

    It looked alive, not far from Elijah¡¯s own outfit.

    ¡°I welcome you all to the Forest of the Third Age,¡± the elven king announced, as Elijah got his bearings. They were in a small clearing, blue grass beneath their feet and trees towering above them. He hadn¡¯t seen this species before, the bark was almost crystalline as it reflected light from a sun hidden by the branches. And those birds that looked down at them¡­ those feathers were not real. ¡°A forest forgotten by the physical world, but one that lives on in our minds nonetheless. Beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s magnificent,¡± Louis replied, Elijah thinking the same. Looking over at the royal, the prince seemed captivated by the scenery while Fade was clearly uncomfortable by their surroundings. ¡°I was told of this place¡¯s beauty by my predecessor, but I now see that his words didn''t do it justice.¡±

    How poetic.

    Were they trapped? Elijah broadened his magical senses, trying to connect to the world around him. The crystalline forest answered repeatedly, showering him with welcomes and images of long-lost times, but there was another side that responded to his Mana. The true world, the one where they''d had their meeting.

    If he pushed, he could connect to his physical body again. His back was mildly strained as he leaned forward on the chair, his tired arm held itself in place to keep touching the orb, and the duck was finally starting to notice the absence of the others.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯ Dawn asked, as she delved into his flesh and emerged in the forest. ¡®It feels¡­ weird.¡¯

    ¡®Elven magic of the strong variety,¡¯ Elijah replied. The understanding that he could pull all three out of this mental landscape if needed brought him a sense of calm. Enough to let his shoulders relax and fully reform into the crystal forest.

    ¡°An Awakened?¡± Malon commented, old eyes studying the duck doing her best to settle down on Elijah¡¯s left shoulder once again. ¡°I was not aware of such happenings in Serenova. Have you seen such things in the young country before, Lura?¡±

    ¡°I have not, my liege,¡± the elven diplomat responded. The king simply nodded at her words, giving Elijah one final glance before letting the matter rest. ¡°Please, sit. It would not do for guests to be forced to stand on their feet.¡±

    The softest of pillows appeared beneath them from nowhere, and a short table materialized before Elijah could raise his head again. There were fruits he¡¯d never seen before, complex cakes that smelled heavenly, and they each had a goblet of red liquid in front of them.

    ¡°A sweet wine, to commemorate the first of hopefully many meetings,¡± Malon said, raising his own goblet. When Louis mirrored it, Elijah and the others followed suit, taking a sip of the concoction.

    Elijah found it a little too sweet, but the others didn¡¯t seem to have complaints.

    ¡®Can I try?¡¯ Dawn asked, already doing her best to keep her balance as she walked down his arm and towards the goblet. When the elves didn¡¯t seem offended by the act, Elijah allowed the duck to reach her target.

    She scooped up a bit of the liquid with her beak, taking a few seconds to let the wine flow through her body. Elijah could see the colors changing on her feathers as the liquid passed through the plant flesh before finally reaching their destination in the very center of her body.

    ¡®... Did you like it?¡¯ Elijah asked, when Dawn didn¡¯t instantly comment on the experience.

    ¡®It¡¯s so much in so little,¡¯ Dawn replied. By that logic alone, Elijah expected that he would need to stop the duck from trying to consume the rest of the wine, and yet she simply stared at the swirling red liquid.

    ¡°What you¡¯re tasting now is a very young wine,¡± Malon continued, bringing Elijah¡¯s focus back onto the elves. ¡°The fruits were plucked three decades ago, the fermentation finished just two decades ago, and the first bottling occurred last month. Barely enough time for it to breathe, and yet it¡¯s a fine product regardless.¡±

    ¡°I must agree,¡± Louis commented, taking a second sip. ¡°Am I to understand that you¡¯ve found a new supplier for grapes that fit your high standards?¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± the elven king confirmed. ¡°Four decades ago, the half-folk in the south revealed to us that their dungeon had started to bear the most marvelous of fruits, ones neither they nor we had seen before. The curiosity of what this meant for our future products led us to buy the next century¡¯s worth of fruits from the half-folk, and¡­ it had shown itself to be a stroke of luck for us, but also a curse in some ways.¡±

    ¡°How so?¡±

    ¡°The halflings are simple folk, who don¡¯t delve into their dungeon as frequently as the other races, focusing more on their arts, crafts, and food. This has led it to develop tendencies that¡­ increase the production of fruits that we now buy in full,¡± Malon explained, pausing to let their ¡®predicament¡¯ settle in. Elijah was sure that the deal that had been made was in no way a curse, no matter what they were trying to hint at. ¡°Our breweries are already filled to their limits, and the new fruits are not able to stay in stasis for many years before their flavor starts to stray. Therefore, we need new facilities to not waste these fruits, but no open patch of land in our sphere fits our requirements.¡±

    Try to be less obvious next time, please.

    Elijah held his tongue, as he observed the different people in the meeting. Louis¡¯ face was guarded, the prince¡¯s own thoughts likewise kept inside, but Fade was looking at the elves with a clear lack of surprise. She didn¡¯t act like anything offensive was soon to be said, but there was nevertheless a clear understanding of what this meant.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°I will have to be honest with you here, Louis Newell, son of Mason Newell, one of the greatest humans born in this century,¡± the elven king warned. ¡°With the death of your father, Castilla will hope to finish what it started years ago. The struggles that Serenova faced will soon begin again, and this time I¡¯m not sure you can win by your lonesome.¡±

    Lonesome.

    They weren¡¯t directly saying they had no desire to assist if Castilla tried to invade, but it was obvious enough regardless.

    ¡°Do¡­ Do you have a proposal to remedy this threat?¡± Louis asked, Elijah caught the flare in his voice that almost carried through, if the prince hadn¡¯t paused to recenter himself.

    ¡°By itself, Serenova does not have the magical or physical power required to fight against Castilla¡¯s forces,¡± Malon said bluntly. ¡°Ethon does. While our numbers might be fewer than that of the human country, we harbor abilities greater than theirs. But¡­ to fight against them, it would carry potential losses that we couldn¡¯t spare for land that isn¡¯t ours.¡±

    Oh, you little shit.

    It was weird thinking such a thing towards an elf that was much taller than Elijah and likewise five times his age at an absolute minimum, but it felt right nonetheless. Even without a stronger connection to Serenova, Elijah knew what the prince was feeling at that moment.

    He could see it.

    The red face and veins that were starting to show through the skin didn¡¯t require a sharp eye to catch. Elijah was proud of Louis for not initiating his traditional chain of insults yet.

    If he had, Elijah wouldn¡¯t have blamed him either.

    ¡°Are you suggesting that Serenova should allow itself to be absorbed by Ethon?¡± Elijah asked, when another passing second made it clear that Louis wasn¡¯t in a condition to talk without starting a new war.

    ¡°Aborbed? No,¡± the elven king denied. ¡°A Proxy Kingdom? Yes. You will retain your titles, most of your powers and authority, and you will gain the protection of our military might. In exchange, we will have a final say on the workings of your Dungeon, we will have control of the economic agreements, and we will have some say on the construction of various industries on the western side of Serenova. A good agreement, when put against the alternative.¡±

    To lose their heads or to have them controlled by elven strings? What exactly did the king expect as a reply? That the country that fought for freedom would allow itself to be chained to another? That they would agree to a fake image of standing tall while having to be below Ethon at every moment?

    And to lose their grip around the dungeon, the symbol of what they fought for, was unacceptable by itself. Elijah knew that for a fact.

    ¡°Your proposal has been heard,¡± Louis was able to get out. ¡°I will deliver it to my sister, as my position requires, but I can already tell you the answer you will receive from her.¡±

    ¡°And what will that be?¡± Malon asked.

    ¡°We would rather die on our feet than live on our knees,¡± the prince delivered calmly. The anger that had fueled his previous words was still there, but they were suppressed under the veil of a diplomatic tone. ¡°If the entire point of the meeting was for Serenova to become a proxy for Ethon, I must disappoint you and tell you that it is very unlikely to happen.¡±

    ¡°And I must reply that I am very disappointed,¡± the elven king said, though there wasn¡¯t an inkling of sadness in his voice. If anything, a mild frown seemed to be growing on the perfect face of the man. ¡°But you humans have never been known to stray from your ways. Once given a purpose, you are prone to following through with it until your end.¡±

    ¡°To do anything less would be to fail,¡± Louis countered, eyes not wavering. It was hard to believe that the weakest person at that table could look the tallest, and yet Elijah couldn¡¯t deny what he was seeing. ¡°If you have another offer that you want delivered to my sister, I suggest you voice it now.¡±

    ¡°Such a lack of patience,¡± Malon commented. ¡°But, very well. I do have another proposal, one that might be more suitable to your current attitude.

    ¡°My people are still in need of land where they can create a new brewery to facilitate the increased production of spirits, and the western edge of Serenova is perfect. With our newest generation likewise wishing to see forests outside of our own, yours would be ideal.¡±

    ¡°To have civilians move to Serenova on a semi-permanent basis would be troublesome, but having them directly connected to elven breweries would make it more¡­ viable,¡± Louis supposed, the prince thinking it over for a minute. ¡°What would we stand to gain from allowing such expensive wares to be created within our borders?¡±

    ¡°The port of Melrond is a busy place already, and the city taxes all products sold and bought in its vicinity,¡± Malon answered. ¡°However, if you were to reduce the sales tax on elven bottles produced within Serenova, we could offer a commission to the country for every bottle sold. With the growing demands on our spirits, I can promise that the projected profits are very appealing.¡±

    And from that moment, Elijah stepped outside the conversation, as the numbers and comparisons began to fly with no pause. Malon did the same not long after, Lura taking over in his place and bringing out documentation for their various production lines.

    ¡°Was the Awakening of the flower intentional?¡±

    Elijah blinked, realizing the sudden distance between the two diplomats bickering as he sat next to the elven king beneath a crystal tree. The imaginary forest had brought them away to talk privately.

    Don¡¯t do that again.

    ¡°It was not,¡± Elijah replied as he felt the forest acknowledge his warning. ¡°Dawn was an unintended result of my experimentations.¡±

    ¡®And I¡¯m the best result!¡¯ Dawn added, though her words couldn¡¯t be heard by the elven king. Nevertheless, Elijah had to smile at the words.

    ¡°How curious a thing,¡± Malon commented, gray eyes studying the golden duck. ¡°A true awakening like this hasn¡¯t been done by true mortals for a very long time. For it to have been unintentional¡­ It''s a poetic way to signal new beginnings, don¡¯t you think?.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Elijah supposed. ¡°I can¡¯t say much about it.¡±

    ¡°You will learn with time,¡± the elven king promised, prompting Elijah to raise an eyebrow. ¡°Your journey is just starting, after all. You are not expected to be wise until the end.¡±

    ¡°The years I¡¯ve been alive might not seem more than a blink to you, but they are about everything I get,¡± Elijah corrected. His journey was already close to its finale. ¡°Not all of us have the elven heritage required to live through the ages.¡±

    ¡°A single elven life would never reach the length of an Age,¡± Malon quickly assured him. ¡°And¡­ while you might not carry the elven line, your string is no longer bound to the human ones either.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°That your journey is just beginning, young one,¡± the elven king said, before rising from his seat by the crystal tree and offering a hand to Elijah. ¡°Give it time and you will understand.¡±

    If not for the fact he could¡¯ve caused a rather serious dilemma between the countries, Elijah would¡¯ve given his opinion about the elf¡¯s words then and there. Instead, he had to silently stand and watch while the dealings between the diplomats finished and they were returned to the real world.

 Chapter 96: Night Before Dawn

    ¡°I thank you for allowing this meeting to happen,¡± Lura said, the elven diplomat bowing to them. Louis did the same without hesitation, holding it for two seconds before both returned to their full height. ¡°I will remain in Melrond until you receive an answer from your queen. How long is this expected to take?¡±

    ¡°An hour or two should be just fine,¡± Louis assured her, which caused a momentary surprise to show on the elf¡¯s face. Clearly, Vera hadn¡¯t allowed the previous diplomat to use her gift for communication. ¡°Since I have heard excellent things about the food quality of this inn, could we perhaps meet for dinner?¡±

    ¡°The next ship that would work for me would be¡­ early morning, so this works perfectly for me,¡± Lura answered, after a moment of checking her calendar. ¡°And from your wording, I take it that your group is larger than three?¡±

    ¡°In total, we are seven.¡±

    ¡°Ah! Quite the group for such a journey,¡± she commented. ¡°I¡¯m sure the tale of how that came to be can be told when we meet again.¡±

    Not a chance.

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± the prince answered regardless, giving a final farewell before Lura left the room. At that point, a few seconds were allowed to pass in silence, enough that they were sure that the elf wouldn¡¯t suddenly back in to grab something forgotten. ¡°I¡­ am not a fan of this.¡±

    ¡°If you were, you¡¯d be on their side,¡± Elijah replied, watching as Louis pulled out the enchanted paper to send a message to Vera. ¡°Do you think she¡¯ll like the proposal?¡±

    ¡°Maybe. I can¡¯t tell with her,¡± Louis said, accepting the pen offered by Fade before writing down the key points of the meeting. ¡°That they even suggested we give up our freedom under their rule makes it blatant that they don¡¯t think we can win against Castilla.¡±

    ¡°Not exactly,¡± Fade added, making the prince pause in his writings. ¡°The king hid it well, but the mind of the diplomat couldn¡¯t obfuscate her fears well enough. She was scared that Serenova would reject the offer.¡±

    Right. The benefits of having a Dreamweaver to delve into the opposition¡¯s minds never ceased to end.

    ¡°Did you find any other information while we were inside?¡± Elijah asked.

    ¡°Her fear grew when you and the king left the table to discuss something else,¡± Fade explained. ¡°Your plant thing awakening is a threat to whatever plan they¡¯ve been orchestrating.¡±

    ¡°They think Dawn can be the winning difference against Castilla?¡± he questioned, to which the Dreamweaver could only shrug. The negatives of her gifts were vagueness. They could probably know much more if she were to let the Nightmares devour the diplomat, but that was hardly possible at the moment. ¡°Try to see if anything shows up during dinner. Maybe she¡¯ll trip up if we give her time.¡±

    ¡°Already intended to.¡±

    ¡°Quiet. I need to get this right.¡±

    Silence swept up the room while Louis spent some more minutes reporting to Vera. Not everything was there, but it included the attempts of the offensive proposal and the much more amenable one afterward along with the wall of numbers that they¡¯d discussed concerning the latter.

    When he finished, the letters gave off a final burst of red light before settling back into the black coloring again. And, not long after, a response came.

    ¡®I¡¯m not too surprised by this offer. They want control of the dungeon and we¡¯re in the way of that goal. To allow them a place on our land is a step towards them attaining that control.¡¯

    ¡®Should we reject the offer then?¡¯ Louis wrote back.

    ¡®No. Say that we can meet her in person in Kulvik in five weeks,¡¯ Vera quickly replied. ¡®The amount of clauses regarding taxation this will require is going to take a while to prepare.¡¯

    ¡°Ask her about the Baron leaving for Kulvik,¡± Elijah told the prince, once their orders had been confirmed. Soon their diplomatic duties would be finished.

    ¡®The baron was deemed important enough to bring alongside that region¡¯s duke,¡¯ Vera replied after Louis repeated Elijah¡¯s question in writing. ¡®Most of the more influential dukes have been called to the capital to discuss the future mobilization of their people. I will give more details in person.¡¯

    ¡­ That¡¯s new.

    Elijah was surprised Vera hadn¡¯t done as much earlier, but he supposed that calling in most major political figures soon after her crowning could¡¯ve been seen as a bad sign. But¡­ no, that didn¡¯t fit her. She would have allowed the risk if the warning signs meant more time to prepare.

    What was Vera hiding?

    He¡¯d have to wait to find out. For now, all they could do was pack away the paper and leave the meeting room. Following the captain¡¯s words from before, they found the rest of the group in a private area a bit further down the hallway.

    It was a casual place, with sofas and couches instead of chairs, but the food looked luxurious and fatty regardless. The others must¡¯ve thought the same, with how they were trying to discover the bottom of the plates.

    ¡°How did the meeting go?¡± Aleksi asked midway through a fried leg of some sort.

    Elijah could only look at the giant and his food-filled beard in silence.

    ¡°It went well,¡± Louis answered on Elijah¡¯s behalf, seemingly deciding that the eyes of judgment couldn¡¯t be disturbed. ¡°Not as smooth as we¡¯d hoped, but the end result might become a positive.¡±

    ¡°When can we meet this elf?¡± Jack questioned, putting down his empty plate to focus on the trio. Sasha and Mila, who sat beside the man, barely looked up from their own conversation. ¡°The whole point of us coming along was to see them, right?¡±

    ¡°And you will in¡ª Shit, it¡¯s this late already?¡± the prince cursed when he saw the time. ¡°We¡¯re meeting them for dinner here in two hours. Before that, I need you all to be presentable and¡­made of something else than old sweat.¡±

    Ignoring that it¡¯d been perfectly fine when they¡¯d met the elf before, the group was ordered to remove the layers of dirt that had been steadily building up in the last two weeks. While Elijah and the others had made an effort to be relatively clean, life on the road rarely allowed for proper bathing.

    A luxury inn known for being full of wealthy merchants didn¡¯t have such weaknesses. Instead, it possessed a massive bathing area with steaming hot water and expensive soap bars. The latter was so good, in fact, that a dozen or so were snatched for future usage.

    Regardless, the weight of filth was lifted off their shoulders and half an hour of making his robes clean themselves allowed Elijah to return to some semblance of humanity.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it about time you trim that beard of yours?¡± Aleksi asked, as the giant fought to get a comb through his knotted hair. The two of them were alone in the larger bedroom, while Jack and Louis finished drying off. ¡°You¡¯re getting some of that old bushy look lately.¡±

    ¡°¡®Bushy look,¡¯¡± Elijah repeated, to which Aleksi just shrugged. The larger man¡¯s beard was far beyond his own, but that was mostly because Elijah had never allowed it to grow too much. When it came to more volatile concoctions, hair was a risk he hadn¡¯t felt the desire to take. ¡°... Is it that bad?¡±

    ¡°It could be better.¡±

    Grabbing the mirror offered a moment later, Elijah studied his appearance. As the giant had warned, his beard had started to thicken. In the biggest spots, the tip of his fingers could easily be hidden within it.

    Unacceptable.

    ¡°Did you bring the old kit?¡± Elijah asked. A minute of searching later, and another five of properly drying the beard, he was well on his way to returning to normality.

    Elijah didn¡¯t remove all of it, not seeing a need to be entirely clean-shaven, but trimming down the size was a requirement in his mind. With efficient cuts, and decades of experience, he was able to mold it into something resembling a rounded ducktail beard.

    It was still longer than what he usually went with, but his predicted future of being on the road for long periods made it clear Elijah would have to adjust to this style.

    ¡°Maybe you should have a look at the hair as well?¡± Aleksi suggested, when the giant finished combing his own. ¡°I don¡¯t figure you want to copy my majestic curls.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Another time,¡± Elijah said, not wanting to bother with that nightmare tonight.

    Not long after, a knock came on their door, and they were guided through the inn to the room from before. The sofas and couches could still be found inside, but the tables had been replaced with some larger ones to accommodate the amount of food present.

    Dozens of different kinds of meat, fruits, and vegetables that Elijah hadn¡¯t seen in decades, and enough bottles to take from that he was sure an entire village could drink themselves stupid from it if needed.

    So much wasted.

    Elijah knew the group wouldn¡¯t make it through half of the assortment before the end of the night, though that fact didn¡¯t stop the younger folk from digging in and trying to.

    And, before he knew it, a familiar presence appeared from the door.

    ¡°Excuse my lateness,¡± Lura said as she stepped inside, surveying the still-talking group. ¡°The owner of this establishment wanted to gift me a gem, which delayed me by a few minutes.¡±

    ¡°It happens,¡± Elijah replied, noting the purple dress on the elf. It was a significant difference from the robes from before, though it still carried an ethereal feeling that human weaves couldn¡¯t hope to match. The steady aura of nature that exuded from it was likely to blame. ¡°If you want to try any of the eastern fruits, I¡¯d advise that you fill your plate now. Sasha seems to be quite fond of them.¡±

    The subtle smile faded when Lura turned to look at the Absorber in question. It reappeared a second later, but Elijah didn¡¯t fail to note the strain.

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    ¡°I¡¯ll heed your warning and find myself some dinner then,¡± Lura said, giving a small bow before walking over to the buffet table and filling a plate with a few fruits alongside a glass of white wine.

    Not even a glance at the different meats. Elijah initially thought it a strange choice, since elves were known for their skills at hunting, but it was in how they prepared the dishes that were different.

    ¡°You eat it raw?¡± Jack asked, frowning at the elven diplomat¡¯s words. The second the man had found a moment to do so, he¡¯d firmly seated himself next to Lura. ¡°Like¡­ no flames ever get near it at all?¡±

    ¡°Calling it raw is very misleading,¡± Lura corrected with grace, happy to answer Jack''s endless questions. It was apparently not too rare an occurrence for the curious to ask about all kinds of things. Elijah was half-sure the man was going to ask if he could touch the elf¡¯s ears sooner or later. ¡°We cherish nature and the life within the forest, but we likewise understand that we are different from it. When we consume the flesh, we separate ourselves from the beastial acts by cutting the meat into elegant designs that tell tales of the animal¡¯s history. For a single plate, it can take a master a full day to arrange them. To tell the life of a bird that has soared through the skies for decades¡­ It is not an easy thing to do, but tradition was not meant to be simple. It was created to show honor, and that is what we strive for.¡±

    ¡°So¡­ no seasoning either?¡±

    ¡°Nothing but the flesh of the animal.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Jack said, needing a moment to process that fact. ¡°Is this practice only in Ethon or are there elves elsewhere who do it? I¡¯d love to try it.¡±

    ¡°Truly?¡± Lura replied. For the first time during the conversation, she seemed surprised. ¡°Humans are usually very¡­ reluctant to stray from their culinary ways.¡±

    ¡°My experience with jello salads makes most other foods sound fine,¡± Jack explained, more than ready to explain whatever dish that was meant to be when Sasha began to approach.

    Elijah noted the child being carried.

    ¡°Mila¡¯s tired,¡± Sasha told Elijah. ¡°I¡¯m leaving with her so she can get some rest.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Elijah replied, noting how Lura had frozen in place when Sasha¡¯s eyes had briefly fallen on the elf. The diplomat did regain her senses by the time anybody could think to comment on it, but the repeated reaction had started to make questions form on his tongue.

    Some thirty minutes later, Jack had been emptied of questions and requests, making the man move on to discuss some inane topic with Aleksi on the other couch. Louis temporarily replaced the man, talking with the diplomat for an hour about plans to meet up again at the capital in five weeks along with the various movements of merchants that had been seen in recent months, but it didn¡¯t last.

    With food and drink plenty, the bodies of the people did start to sag, and many excused themselves so they could rest for the night. Jack and Louis were the first, Fade following along to escort the prince to his room safely. That left Elijah and Aleksi to entertain the elf, but even the giant felt the call of the darkness after some time.

    ¡°You truly feel no tiredness?¡± Lura asked, as they both sipped from their final glasses of the night. The bottle that had been gifted to the royal family had been opened by Louis along with permission to sample from it if desired. ¡°Your body doesn¡¯t call for a night of rest?¡±

    ¡°Not more than it usually does,¡± Elijah replied before downing the last drops of the spirit. It briefly burned his throat to the hells before he could infuse it with Mana and let the sensation transform into a pleasant warmth. ¡°It¡¯s a side-effect of old age for humans. The desire to sleep never truly stops. Our bodies can¡¯t refresh themselves like they did in their youth.¡±

    ¡°A way to prepare for the long sleep,¡± Lura suggested, prompting a snort to leave him before he could control himself. ¡°But, truthfully, are you sure that your current state is simply age?¡±

    ¡­

    Elijah sighed. Of course, she had to ask.

    ¡°I think we both know the answer,¡± he said, continuing when she didn¡¯t offer a comment. ¡°I¡¯ve always been one to ignore the setting sun, but recent weeks have shown¡­ that I can ignore it just a little easier.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t crumple as easily?¡±

    ¡°Just as easily as before, but I don¡¯t get as much of a warning anymore,¡± he corrected. Calling upon his powers, he made his robe unweave itself around the left part of his chest.

    There was no skin to see, the green plant matter covering it all. The shape was identical to the other side, but the material was that of nature¡¯s favorite building block.

    ¡°From what I can tell, my left lung and some of the right have been replaced by plant matter by now,¡± Elijah recounted, not wanting to think about how many nerves had joined them. ¡°Most of my heart as well, though it wasn¡¯t as much in the start. We tried to leave most of the flesh as it was, but my body had too hard a time accepting Dawn¡¯s influences.¡±

    ¡°An injury from battle?¡±

    ¡°Something like that.¡±

    ¡°It must have been a very painful experience,¡± Lura commented, putting a hand on his chest. Elijah winced at the cold fingers, but he ignored it in favor of focusing on the exchange of Mana from the elven hands to his flesh. Even without either party directly commanding the energy, it seemed to communicate. ¡°A blow of this magnitude should¡¯ve killed a human.¡±

    ¡°It almost did,¡± Elijah confirmed, as he allowed the robe to grow back. ¡°If not for a certain duck that refused the idea of me leaving her, I would be dead already.¡±

    ¡°An Awakened sustaining the life of the one who gave it to them originally,¡± the elf murmured. She chuckled at his frown. ¡°Sorry. I know how you humans despise our manners of speech.¡±

    ¡°¡®Despise¡¯ is a strong word,¡± he replied. ¡°¡®Annoyed¡¯ is more fitting.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯m sorry for annoying you,¡± Lura apologized. She made it sound formal enough that he felt the need to wave away the worries. ¡°But, still, I need to ask more about this Awakened being that you granted life.¡±

    ¡°What is there to say?¡± he fired back. Broadening his senses, he found Dawn standing on the buffet table, steadily going through whatever meats and fruits seemed most interesting to her. That she¡¯d been at it for nearly an hour without taking a break was a little worrying¡­ ¡°I wanted to find the limits of how much I could change a Sundrop Flower, the abilities I wielded at the time allowed me to communicate with the plant at a deeper level than before, and at some point, she started to make choices that were different than my own. By allowing her to grow into the form of an animal, to travel around with me, she became more than what the flowers ever did.¡±

    That included the bluestar flower that had been used to make the robe he currently wore. While it could answer his questions, and it could grow further than he commanded it to, the mind wasn¡¯t close to being as developed as Dawn¡¯s. It didn¡¯t have the same spark, the same¡­ Elijah didn¡¯t want to call it soul, but that aspect was lacking regardless.

    ¡°That you could awaken one plant from the deep dreams means that you could likely awaken more,¡± Lura explained. ¡°It might not be an ability you think you possess, but the world rarely cares about that fact.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re overestimating my abilities.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re underestimating your abilities.¡±

    Elijah laughed. Lura didn¡¯t mirror it.

    ¡°Do you know when the last time was, that a generation of roots woke up?¡± she questioned, to which Elijah had confessed he didn¡¯t. ¡°No human does. Your libraries don¡¯t have books old enough to have recorded it. But ours do. They know of the great shift seven thousand years ago.¡±

    ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m wrong, but shouldn''t Vale have records for this?¡± Elijah asked, trying to remember the true age of the old human kingdom. Even if it hadn¡¯t been around during those times, books before their time should¡¯ve still been preserved.

    ¡°Their records were wiped, like most others,¡± Lura assured him. ¡°When the minds inside the old cults broke, and they tried to break the world so it would fit their views, the higher beings made sure we wouldn¡¯t be inspired to repeat it. Almost all Awakened, the giants whose shoulders we stand on, were lost to save what we have now.¡±

    He said nothing.

    What words could possibly be said?

    ¡°I¡­ please do not retell what I have revealed to you tonight,¡± Lura asked. ¡°Humans were never meant to hear this tale.¡±

    ¡°Humans were behind this great shift?¡± Elijah questioned, after promising to keep his lips shut tight.

    ¡°And the mountains that came from the devastation, yes, but understand one fact above all others,¡± the elven diplomat confirmed. ¡°Mages that could separate the continents were slain by Awakened. The same gift that you gave this flower was used to allow this world to be kept together.¡±

    That was a thought Elijah needed some time to think over. The Awakened of the past were all swept up in the old mythos. They were present, they were the reason for how those mythological days concluded, and Lura thought that such a thing could start once more.

    ¡°You think I can start a new Age?¡± he asked.

    ¡°No, but I believe the world is letting you make the first push,¡± Lura explained, putting down her glass and leaving the couch. The elven woman seemed ready to retire for the night. ¡°Tell me this, Elijah Caede. How far can you stretch your senses?¡±

    Did she mean his magical ones?

    ¡°Some twenty meters on average. Forty meters if I know what to look for.¡±

    ¡°And if you use the nature around you instead of relying on the waves of the winds?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Some hundred meters? Five hundred at an absolute maximum.¡±

    Elijah had been able to stretch it about that far while inside the forest some days earlier. By letting his mind mostly leave his physical shell, he could walk along the natural roots easily, and yet there was a distance where it became rather¡­ difficult. While his mind could see far, the tether to his body was still there. To stretch it on foreign grounds to such an extent felt dangerous, and the warnings from the air had made him reject the notion of going further than that half kilometer.

    ¡°Not a terrible start, but I believe that you do much better,¡± Lura commented, making Elijah frown. ¡°You say you can¡¯t Awaken another slice of nature as you¡¯ve done for that golden flower, but you could nudge them in the right direction. You could allow them to adapt to your energies, to understand a bit more, and allow you to connect to them as if they were your own.¡±

    ¡°I think you grossly misunderstand how Biomancy works,¡± Elijah said. He felt dumb saying as much to the elf, and Lura certainly seemed to share that idea, but he was firm in his ways regardless. ¡°To Awaken, to think like she does, would require an increase in passive Mana consumption that wouldn¡¯t be feasible for anything on the surface. If they were to stay by my side, they could survive, but for them to stay where they grew would¡­¡±

    Wait.

    ¡­

    Channeling of [Breathe Life] has been activated! Current cost: 12MP/sec

    Lura smiled while Elijah¡¯s brows drew together, the new perspective on the world settling in as he looked at the patterns of the past. The fields of tall grass had captivated him so many times through his journey that he could perfectly visualize their shape and form, but¡­ if he were to remove the core-shell, distribute the center into the larger form, and¡­ yes, this could work.

    He could make it work.

    ¡°Maybe you are a little wiser than in some aspects,¡± Elijah conceded, as he bid the elven diplomat farewell. Instead of going upstairs and letting his body rest, however, he ventured outside.

    The nightlife was as restless as it was in Kulvik, but he dodged through it until he found an open area where grass was allowed to grow. It was close to the city wall, the roots traveling beneath the stone and into wild land on the other side.

    Perfect.

    ¡°Now, if you would please prove me right,¡± Elijah said, as he knelt and touched a single strand. Just the proximity to his flesh made it healthy, the dark green turning vibrant in seconds. ¡°Yes, just like that. Understand the truth and you will become free.¡±

    Channeling of [Breathe Life] has been activated! Current cost: 87MP/sec

    It was pure thought and concept that fueled the interaction, no other spell being called upon for the connection. Elijah didn¡¯t need anything else, after all, as he could soon feel a slow pulse coming from the grass. A pulse that resembled his own perfectly, down to the green color of the Mana.

    ¡®Freedom?¡¯ the blade of grass said.

    "Exactly," Elijah confirmed, feeding the grass. With the modifications, it would survive without any extra external supplies, but no harm would come from accelerating the first generations. ¡°Show your brothers and sisters this same freedom.¡±

    ¡®Freedom!¡¯

    He smiled when he stepped away and that vibrant green began to spread to the other blades of grass.

    Maybe Malon had been onto something.

 Chapter 97: Youre Wrong

    Sasha looked up at the moon. The clouds were gone now, letting the white sphere above shine down on them. It wasn¡¯t enough to truly see the world around them, but the soft light was enough to not stumble in the grass.

    ¡°It¡¯s cold,¡± Mila said. It wasn¡¯t a complaint. The young girl was still afraid to make them. Sasha would eventually get that out of her system.

    For now, she just pulled Mila a little closer and allowed her body to warm the girl.

    Channeling of [Active Desorption] has been activated! Current cost: [NaN]

    Oh, shut it.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Mila asked as Sasha waved a hand through the air. The blue box that had tried to take up her vision vanished with it, returning to whatever hole it hid in at other times.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Sasha assured the girl, adjusting her arm to make Mila more comfortable.

    As expected, the noises of the port city hadn¡¯t done Mila any good. The others hadn¡¯t noticed, but those small shaking hands had been obvious to Sasha. The way the shouting made them tense, the way that the foreign eyes made her want to flee. If not for everywhere else also having the constant loudness, Sasha didn¡¯t doubt that Mila would¡¯ve fled already.

    Too dangerous.

    Leaving the city for a few hours was what the girl needed. Not too far away. Just a quick twenty-minute walk to make some distance. Barely enough to ignore the shining lights from the taverns that could be seen from their hill.

    How Sasha despised it, knowing those lights were making it hard for Mila to sleep. Even if the girl was trying to act like she was, those hands gripping her shirt tightly were impossible to miss.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine to be scared,¡± Sasha murmured. ¡°It¡¯s human. Nothing to be ashamed of.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Are you ever scared?¡± Mila asked some seconds later when the sleeping act was accepted as a failure. ¡°Do you cry?¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Sometimes,¡± was all Sasha could get out at first. Those eyes reminded her too much of herself, just like all the others. ¡°I used to cry a lot more often when I was little. Stayed up all night shaking and freezing.¡±

    It was never a good idea to stop moving during the dark hours, back then. Even with the thickest of jackets, the ice had a way of seeping into her bones. Moving kept them warm in those seasons.

    ¡°How do I stop?¡±

    Sasha froze.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want this,¡± Mila said, pulling herself closer to Sasha¡¯s torso. The small fingers were going right through the fabric of her shirt and into her skin, but that hardly mattered. ¡°I want it to stop.¡±

    Oh.

    She wasn¡¯t prepared to handle this. Not right now.

    But the world didn¡¯t care about what she was ready for. It never had.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but¡­ We can¡¯t change what happened,¡± Sasha tried to explain, sitting up in the grass and wrapping both her arms around the crying child. ¡°The past is set in stone. Always will be, no matter how much we don¡¯t want it.¡±

    ¡°I want my mom.¡±

    ¡­

    Sasha could say nothing. What comforting words could she give? That Mila¡¯s parents had wanted her to live? Who cared what they wanted? Mila wanted them back, and that would never happen. Mila had been assured of that in those weeks when she¡¯d been forced to watch them rot away.

    ¡°I¡¯m starting to think that sleep isn¡¯t on the table right now,¡± Sasha commented when the sniffling started to die down and Mila could hear her words again. How long a time had passed while they sat in the grass wasn¡¯t known, but neither of them cared much about that anyway. ¡°Going out exploring now wouldn¡¯t be too good either, with how little we can see.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not meant to leave camp while it¡¯s dark,¡± Mila agreed. ¡°You¡¯ll get lost.¡±

    ¡°Smart,¡± Sasha praised, rising to her feet as she looked up at the sky. The tears were still fresh on Mila¡¯s cheeks, but a distraction wouldn¡¯t hurt. ¡°Say¡­ have you ever wanted to fly?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Flying,¡± Sasha repeated. ¡°Above the trees, like a bird. I never thought much about it until the past few months, but the idea sounds like a dream, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡­

    Seeing the gears rotating in the child¡¯s head made Sasha want to laugh, but she kept it inside. There was no reason to break that moment of wonder.

    ¡°I want to fly,¡± Mila finally said. ¡°But not above the trees. That¡¯s too high.¡±

    ¡°Scared of heights?¡± Sasha asked, as she adjusted her grip on Mila and raised the girl above her head.

    ¡°No!¡± Mila instantly rejected. ¡°... Yes.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s okay,¡± she assured her, as she stopped sending out the waves of heat. ¡°Fear is healthy. It keeps us safe.¡±

    Channeling of [Active Absorption] has been activated! Current cost: [NaN]

    Focusing on the world, Sasha honed onto the tethers holding her down to the ground. The invisible force that tried to pull her to the surface at all times, the chains that kept the world together.

    So annoying.

    ¡°Now¡­ Are you ready to fly?¡± she asked, moving away from her tethers and over to those of the younger girl.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Mila shrieked. With her lower weight, she could probably feel as each chain was ripped out. ¡°Can I fly now?¡±

    It¡¯s more floating than flying, but who cares?

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Just about,¡± Sasha said, pulling away all but one of the gravity¡¯s tethers away from the girl. It was enough to keep her stable but not enough that she could start floating around without coming back eventually. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a small push and then you can figure out the rest, right?¡±

    Another shriek left the girl when Sasha let go of her and she didn¡¯t fall to the ground. Instead, she stayed in the air, starting to turn as her flailing arms pushed the air around her.

    Sasha knew she would¡¯ve felt a little nauseous rotating like that, but Mila seemed to have the time of her life. She was¡­ perfectly happy with the experience, focused on figuring out how to move around and experiencing the world from above. All those fears heard before had seemingly vanished.

    It made Sasha¡¯s heart lighten a little more.

    The steady pressure that was felt beside her heart was another thing. As Jack had promised her through their journey, her powers would grow with practice. Even without having a book that said what to do, trying to learn the secrets of her craft would let her do more with it.

    And this? This was proof of that. Around two months ago, she had trouble making a rock stay in mid-air for more than a few seconds above her palm.

    Now she could stand almost two meters away from Mila¡¯s floating form while keeping the girl in the air. It tested her, becoming too much if she even leaned back, but keeping the girl happy was the perfect motivator for Sasha to keep pushing.

    Maybe I¡¯ll be able to fly around by myself someday.

    Sasha would never say such a thing aloud, lest Jack would pester her about it until the end of time, but it was a fun thought regardless. To soar like a bird¡­ that man really had a way of putting the strangest of ideas into her head.

    After ten minutes of floating around, where Mila insisted she had mastered the art of flight, the child finally began to tire out. Though she refused the notion, it hardly took more than another two minutes of sitting beside Sasha¡¯s warm aura before she fell into true slumber.

    The small fingers still held onto Sasha¡¯s shirt, of course, but it wasn¡¯t as tightly as before. It was more of an afterthought, instinct calling for the action and Mila obliging before falling far into the darkness.

    Sasha smiled at the soft breaths that left the girl. While she wasn¡¯t cut out for this type of thing, small doses were doable.

    The smile vanished after a minute or so, as the air shifted and a pressure fell upon her Core.

    ¡°I was wondering how long you were going to watch,¡± Sasha commented, looking over at the elven figure standing a dozen meters away. Those gray eyes of hers seemed to almost shine with the moonlight.

    It creeped her out.

    ¡°It¡¯s best to observe delicate situations for some time before trying to intrude,¡± Lura said in her defense, approaching the two. Each step was unheard, the grass undisturbed where the elf walked. ¡°I know that many of my brethren would¡¯ve spent days in hiding before they would think to approach you. Maybe I would¡¯ve done the same, if not for my schedule forcing quick action.¡±

    Glancing down, Sasha made sure that Mila wasn¡¯t disturbed by their voices. It didn¡¯t seem like it, the breathing still even and the dreams still wild inside the child.

    Good.

    ¡°If you want me to fawn all over you as the others did, think again,¡± Sasha warned, moving away a stray hair from Mila''s face. When they got back, she needed to find the girl a comb. All that moving around had caused quite the chaos.

    ¡°While I won¡¯t say I know everything about you, Sasha, I¡¯ve learned some things through my talks with the others,¡± the elf announced, ignoring her words. Sasha glared in response. ¡°You¡¯re prone to violence, you have little to no respect for most people you know, and you¡¯ve displayed instant aggression towards anybody approaching you.¡±

    ¡°... Sounds about right,¡± Sasha agreed. ¡°Which makes it all the more strange that you thought it would be a good idea to follow me out here.¡±

    ¡°The world is renowned for its danger, yet we all must traverse it despite this fact,¡± the elf said. ¡°And when the alternative to action is to observe a spiral continuing to worsen, you must act.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯m the worsening spiral that you¡¯re observing?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    She didn¡¯t understand how Jack was so infatuated by the elves when they were like this.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Sasha gave in, figuring that playing along would end this quicker. ¡°What do you want to tell me?¡±

    ¡°That you are an abomination to nature,¡± Lura replied with a smile.

    ¡­

    Right.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since somebody told me that, and that was in a very different context,¡± she said. That old fight with that bloody hulk of a man briefly replayed in front of her eyes before she fought her way back to the present. ¡°Would you care to elaborate or should I assume this is just your own opinion of me?¡±

    The elf wouldn¡¯t be the first person to think such things about her.

    ¡°The world calls you an Absorber, yes?¡± Lura asked. Sasha confirmed as much. ¡°It¡¯s not a true Affinity. It¡¯s a flaw in the world, a crack that the higher beings could never fix no matter how much they tried. The space where an Affinity grows and develops into those of the Mages is taken up by nothing in your case. Not an absence of ability, like what the usual mortals have, but an absence of existence. Inside you, reality is fractured.¡±

    Harsh words.

    ¡°And¡­ why should I care about this?¡± Sasha questioned, smirking when that look of fury briefly appeared on the elf. ¡°Your opinion doesn¡¯t change much about my life.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, but the truth remains,¡± the elf retorted. Her back straightened when Sasha leaned forward just a little. The elf was afraid. ¡°You are an Abomination, cursed to absorb and grow until the world can no longer exist with you present.¡±

    ¡°And you know this fact how exactly?¡±

    ¡°Mistakes like you appear every thousand years or so,¡± Lura explained. ¡°The devastation and pain you cause is well-documented. Many of my ancestors fell to remedy the actions of the abominations who were selfish.¡±

    ¡­

    Sasha laughed. Softly, so as not to disturb Mila¡¯s rest, but it was genuine laughter nonetheless. This shit the elf was spouting¡­ it was probably true, wasn¡¯t it?

    ¡°For your information, I never wanted this,¡± Sasha supplied. ¡°I tried to leave this world the moment I entered it, but those who brought me here never got the chance to give me that mercy.¡±

    The elven eyes blinked at her. Slowly, as if surprised by her words. What had the idiot expected to happen?

    ¡°Well¡­ If you need a piece of advice, I can tell you that your own hands will allow you to leave this world without hardship,¡± Lura commented, that subtle smile returning. ¡°I urge you to consider it.¡±

    And, yet again, they were talking about different things yet they both carried that same casual tone.

    ¡°For somebody saying I could break the world, you¡¯re strangely comfortable with getting this close to me,¡± Sasha said.

    ¡°You might be an Abomination but you still journey with this group of yours,¡± Lura explained succinctly. ¡°If one of the prince¡¯s underlings were to harm a foreign diplomat¡­ it wouldn¡¯t end well for anybody, you included.¡±

    ¡­

    No.

    Even if she had every desire in the world to defy the expectations, Sasha kept herself in check. Mila was here with her so she could rest without fear. Who would she be if she broke that inkling of trust?

    ¡°Try this again, and I¡¯ll end you,¡± Sasha warned, as the elf rose from the grass.

    ¡°With any luck, there won¡¯t be a next time,¡± Lura replied. She didn¡¯t smile when she looked down at Sasha. ¡°The protections on me are on you as well, but neither will last for long. Make the right choice before you lose this compassionate side of yours.¡±

    With no other goodbyes, the elf left Sasha behind.

    Rude.

    Sasha wasn¡¯t too surprised by that type of attitude, at least. Respect was hard to get from others and it was even harder to grant to others.

    ¡°... An Abomination?¡± she muttered, as she laid back down on the grass, making sure Mila could use her arm as a pillow. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right.¡±

    At least it was an assurance that she could grow more powerful if she tried. That¡¯d make Jack happy.

    And, with any luck, it would let her leave this world.

 Chapter 98: Lies and Regret

    Lura always loved the early morning hours on ships. In these waters, it was when the winds were calmest, the sun the brightest, and the clouds the fewest. Since the world hadn¡¯t reached the later seasons either, no fog stopped her eyes from looking many kilometers ahead.

    It was beautiful.

    ¡°Coast is here!¡± Visk shouted from somewhere above her, making the other kobolds fall into a spree of action as they prepared for land. A little early, as they were still half an hour away from reaching Castilla''s western port, but that was nothing new. The scaled merchants had a skittish nature that they never failed to present.

    Not that such an instinct implied they were stupid. Lura knew for a fact that the kobolds were one of the most cunning races still present in this world. The desire for coins had forced their minds to evolve, and they had perfected the craft of wrangling every chip of gold out of people. If not for her two centuries of working beside the kobolds, Lura was sure they would¡¯ve already snapped the rest of what she¡¯d brought for this journey.

    ¡°Watching costs extra!¡± Kix exclaimed, poking Lura¡¯s thigh with her clawed finger. ¡°Pay!¡±

    ¡°Save the trickery for another trip,¡± Lura replied tiredly, the kobold captain not accepting that answer as she poked her again. ¡°As per the agreement, I¡¯m free to walk around the ship during my stay with the exception of the crew¡¯s quarters. If you¡¯re hoping to break that agreement and forego the agreed upon payment¡ª¡±

    ¡°No! Agreement stays!¡± Kix cut in, the kobold shrinking back at the mere thought of losing a handful of gold coins. The amount was barely worth a thought to Lura, since she was just coming along for one of the kobold¡¯s standard trips to the northern-eastern ports without food or assigned sleeping quarters, but the extra coin was a godsend for the forever-greedy kobolds. ¡°Pay!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll pay once we reach the dock.¡±

    ¡°Yes! You pay!¡±

    Though a decade had been spent working herself out of the habit, Lura rolled her eyes at the words. The kobold¡¯s merchant guild was the largest in the world, and the only one that voyaged to every section of it, but they could be so¡­ irritating to deal with.

    Someday, we¡¯ll expand our own fleet.

    It would require that the kobolds¡¯ schematics would have to be bought since only their ships could handle the stress of the harsh waters, but that was an afterthought. If she gave it another century, Lura was confident she would find one of the scaled merchants willing to sell their secrets for one of the ancient statues.

    They reached the harbor when the morning sun had risen further into the sky, and the humans of Castilla were out and about. Most of the dock workers hadn¡¯t truly stopped moving through the night, but the city folk further inside were just starting their daily activities.

    Though it would never match the greatness of the elven cities, this was¡­ nice.

    Moving through the busy streets, Lura found the inn that had been pointed out to her a month before in the messages. Just like the one in Serenova, it was the most expensive one around, with its overuse of expensive materials in a show of vanity. Very typical of the richer humans, though that was neither here nor there. She was trained to accept their flaws for the betterment of Ethon and that was what she would do.

    Stepping into the entrance hall, it took less than five minutes before two familiar faces approached her.

    ¡°Welcome, Lura Fadan,¡± Ester greeted, offering her hand to Lura. She accepted it, as was customary. ¡°I hope your journey here was without too many hardships.¡±

    The Castillan diplomat had cut her brown hair a little shorter since the last time they¡¯d met. Was it an attempt to hide the gray hairs just starting to show? Lura didn¡¯t understand such a need, though it was a human trait to hide the effects of aging. That the woman had just entered her thirties a few years ago must¡¯ve strengthened that habit.

    ¡°The waters were calm all the way from Ethon to here,¡± Lura assured her, not mentioning Serenova to the Castillan diplomat. There was no reason to aggravate them like that, which was why she¡¯d likewise refrained from telling the prince from the day before about her future travel plans. ¡°I hope I haven¡¯t made the two of you wait here for long?¡±

    ¡°Oh, far from it!¡± Ester said with a polite laugh. That smile was almost more practiced than Lura¡¯s own. ¡°With Sven by my side, that problem isn¡¯t one we need to consider.¡±

    With the mention of the man, it was finally acceptable for Lura to look over at the Astral Mage and nod her head. Sven did the same, keeping silent but failing to hide that smidge of excitement on his face.

    It¡¯d been too long since they had the chance to meet. Not much had changed about the man, however. His blonde hair was still kept long, his green eyes looked as strong as ever, and that old farmer¡¯s hat still sat firmly on his head. If not for Ester¡¯s orders, Lura was sure the man would be wearing his old wool clothes. Instead, he wore the luxurious suit made of the thick silk that the western dungeon was known for producing in Castilla.

    Just like the tattooed line around his neck, it didn¡¯t fit him.

    ¡°Shall we?¡± Lura asked, motioning towards the hallway into the usual meeting room. Ester was quick to accept, the trio leaving the public eye and seating themselves in their normal seats. ¡°Now, I must say that you were rather vague in the letter that you sent to me. Would you care to give more details about this ¡®grand plan¡¯ of yours?¡±

    ¡°Of course, though I do need to apologize for not being obvious about what the intention of this meeting was. With these things, it¡¯s best to be discreet,¡± Ester said, Lura assuring her it was nothing of importance. ¡°As I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard by now, Mason Newell and his first son have passed, leaving his daughter to rule as Queen of Serenova.¡±

    Our insiders revealed as much a day after the uproar in their capital.

    ¡°Yes, we heard the news a few weeks ago,¡± Lura replied, not revealing the truth about how far their roots had dug into Serenova. From what Castilla was told, Ethon had a minimal level of interactions with Serenova in recent years. There were still contracts to buy various materials harvested from their dungeon but those agreements had been written during the initial years of the country. ¡°It was a tragic event for all involved.¡±

    ¡°A tragic event that grants opportunity,¡± Ester added with a smile. Lura knew what the diplomat was going to suggest right then and there. ¡°Mason Newell was the cornerstone that kept Serenova together. While his daughter has been shown to be a formidable character in the public eye, she does not carry the same weight as her father. If we were to invade and reclaim what was taken from Castilla half a century ago, they wouldn¡¯t be able to muster up enough of a resistance.¡±

    Fools.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Lura asked, eyes narrowing. She made no indication she was against the idea. Merely wary of it.

    ¡°Very,¡± the Castillan diplomat assured her. ¡°With the destruction and death of many of their older and experienced mages, the power they wield is at an all-time low. While they might be able to train and build up a new generation of Royal Mages in the next decade, their current defenses can¡¯t match our offensive capabilities.¡±

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    Against the total might of Castillia, Serenova had no chance, yes, but had the diplomat not heard about the Tarrasque? Even the old elven mages feared that creature and what it could do against magical constructs.

    ¡°This all sounds very fine, but you must also remember the agreements that we made with Serenova during its founding,¡± Lura reminded them. ¡°If you attack, we have pledged to defend them.¡±

    That agreement had been silently voided some years ago, but Castilla had no reason to know about that. And, honestly, Lura wanted to see how they would respond.

    ¡°Yes¡­ that finicky thing had been holding us back,¡± Ester agreed, feigning sadness in her voice. That professional tone never truly disappeared. ¡°But the reason that you made that pledge was for a small stake in the materials produced from Serenova¡¯s dungeon. What if we offer Ethon more than that?¡±

    Oh?

    Now they were talking.

    In the last five years, when Ester Sutton had fully fallen into the role of a Castilan diplomat, they¡¯d made great strides in the two countries¡¯ relationship. What was previously thought of as impossible to trade had become a rare event before finally becoming a common occurrence. Finer bottles and materials produced in Ethon were now sold in Castilla at great pricing and lacking taxation.

    And that didn¡¯t even start on their more obscure dealings. Lura never did get an answer on why Castilla needed the recipe for a mind-altering concoction of extreme strength that had no effect on elves among a slew of other seemingly random potion recipes when most of the required ingredients hadn''t been seen on human lands for centuries.

    ¡°If you hope to make us ignore an invasion on our allies, I hope you have a very lucrative offer,¡± Lura warned. Such a blatant admission of wanting to bribe Ethon broke so many rules. While humans were not known for thinking too far ahead, they wouldn¡¯t stoop this low without thinking that they could get away with it. ¡°How large a stake?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re willing to give you half of all materials harvested from the dungeon.¡±

    ¡­

    If Lura had been holding the customary glass of wine at that moment, she would¡¯ve dropped it.

    ¡°This¡­ offer. Has it been approved by your superiors?¡±

    A quarter of all profits wouldn¡¯t have been surprising but to outright offer half?

    ¡°It took a month of discussion, but I made them understand that Ethon was worth the price,¡± Ester smoothly explained, smiling brightly as she brought out a rough document detailing their obligations. ¡°It would come at the cost of Ethon having a minimal influence around the dungeon itself, but we are willing to grant you a significant portion of the western tip for the breweries you¡¯ve mentioned during previous discussions.¡±

    Just like she¡¯d said, Castilla was giving it all to them on a silver platter. Several forests that would make it possible to expand their distilling industry, prime control over the areas surrounding these forests, and a three-century agreement that could be extended at an agreed-upon price.

    Lura knew she would have to haggle to increase the amount of interaction her people were allowed to have with the dungeon, but otherwise¡­ This was too good to refuse.

    Yet it was likewise too good to accept. If Castilla was this desperate to have their cooperation, Lura knew she could slice off more for Ethon.

    By the end of this, she would make her king proud.

    ¡°What do your advisors say your window of opportunity for launching an attack is?¡± Lura asked, to which Ester kept silent. ¡°An offer like this¡­ I will need to discuss it with my king and his royal council. While I admit that this is very enticing, it will take time for Ethon to accept a proposal like this.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I can¡¯t reveal the exact window that we are working under, but I would not mind an answer within, say, half a year,¡± Ester replied. ¡°This operation is a very sensitive one, that we have spent the past years preparing for. Delaying it is too large a risk.¡±

    Years of preparation? Lura hadn¡¯t heard much about that, outside of possible agreement for Ethon¡¯s expansion if Castilla was to retake Serenova. Had their army grown or had they found another artifact to equip their most powerful mages with? If they had something to match that sword of thunder, Serenova would be right to fear the oncoming invasion.

    ¡°I understand,¡± Lura finally said. ¡°Once night arrives, I¡¯ll be returning to Ethon to deliver this proposal to my king in person. While I cannot promise haste from my brethren, I¡¯ll do my best to accelerate the process.¡±

    ¡°That is all I can ask for,¡± Ester responded, rising from her seat and bowing. Lura did the same, before folding the document and putting it into her bag. ¡°I have to report this meeting to my superiors. Sven, how about you keep Lura company in the meantime? It wouldn''t do to leave a diplomat without a guard for the entire day.¡±

    Lura did not need a bodyguard and all three knew it. Regardless, she quickly accepted the idea, Sven following her out of the inn without uttering a word.

    Neither did he say anything at all while they walked through the streets. His smile was wide, and his eyes were excited, it was only when they left the city and entered the open grass hills that he spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯ve missed you!¡± Sven exclaimed, quick to hug Lura the second they stopped walking. ¡°It¡¯s been so boring without you here.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been able to survive these lands without me for over twenty years, Sven. A few months between visits won¡¯t kill you,¡± Lura fired back, accepting the hug wholeheartedly. Even when she was over a head taller than the human, it felt right to embrace him. ¡°And for somebody that can look into the astral realm, I don¡¯t see how you could be bored of all things.¡±

    ¡°You think it¡¯s interesting because you haven¡¯t spent ten years having to escort people around in there,¡± the man was quick to refute. ¡°I don¡¯t even get to see the forest anymore. It¡¯s just been constant meetings in the capital.¡±

    I should¡¯ve known.

    In her many years of working as Ethon¡¯s diplomat, Sven Bock was the most interesting human she¡¯d met. Initially, it¡¯d been curiosity about his Astral Affinity, one of the rarest variants a Mage could get. His casual distaste for it in favor of enjoying nature was what had hooked her. While he had still spent years at the academy to practice his gifts and had attained a decent grasp on the Astral magics, it was a means to an end.

    He didn¡¯t take the job of assistant to serve his country but to save money for a little house somewhere peaceful. Sven had never truly decided on where that was supposed to be, but the list of requirements had been repeated many times through the years.

    Close to nature, able to fit a garden, away from the masses, and hopefully with a lake nearby.

    Lura could do nothing but respect that way of living.

    ¡°Well, I have a gift to hopefully improve that dour mood of yours,¡± Lura mentioned, searching through her back for the pot she¡¯d brought along from Ethon. ¡°I know how you¡¯ve been searching for something to complete your line of fruits.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no, Lura, you didn¡¯t,¡± Sven said, wide-eyed as she pulled out the small sapling. It was still in the early stages of growth, able to be moved for another decade before its size and roots became a problem. ¡°I can¡¯t recognize the petals. What is this?¡±

    ¡°A young Iricident Pear tree,¡± she explained, his eyes only growing wider. ¡°They¡¯re naturally found in our enclaves, but proper care will allow them to grow in orangeries on Castilla as well. When you find the place you wish to settle down, this tree will be ready to grow."

    If contained in a smaller pot, it could still be handled easily for another decade.

    ¡°Right¡­ thanks,¡± Sven said, checking the health of the plant for another minute before packing it away in his expanded bag and letting it join the others. ¡°I guess that means the chances of settling down in Ethon are nil?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say that,¡± Lura replied, settling down on the grass next to the man. ¡°It¡¯s just a very complex topic. To bring a human within our borders hasn¡¯t happened in many years. I might be able to have something arranged by the time your retirement comes around, but the king can be stubborn when it comes to this.¡±

    ¡°What a shame,¡± he muttered. He leaned into the side, his head falling onto her shoulder. ¡°I was hoping to plant it somewhere you could easily visit. Wouldn¡¯t want to have a garden with only me to see it grow.¡±

    ¡­

    Lura was not ignorant of what he felt. She just knew she couldn¡¯t respond in kind. The difference of lives between an elf and a human¡­ It was akin to a human and a dog. To come together and have so many years left after their end wouldn¡¯t do any good for either of them.

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask about your possible residence again when I return to Ethon,¡± she lied, wrapping an arm around the man and pulling them both down into the grass. ¡°For now, how about you tell me how it¡¯s been since I last visited? I¡¯d love to know what you¡¯ve been up to.¡±

    Her duties came before everything else.

 Chapter 99: The Weakness of My Flesh

    The world sang to Elijah.

    It had been doing so since the early night. Not as loud, barely a whisper at first, but it had grown with the passing hours until he could barely keep his eyes closed. A torrent of shouting, neverending and in a volume that reverberated through his soul.

    If it had been from a single source, a single direction, old experiences would¡¯ve allowed him to single the sound out, but this was from everywhere around him. Millions of small voices, barely perceptible on their own, came together and cried out their relief at their ¡®awakening.¡¯ To be granted a mind, to be granted a way to come together beyond their natural scope, was a gift that the grass couldn¡¯t contain to themselves. Even when all their nearby brethren had been turned to the cause, they still fought tooth and nail to spread the message even further beyond.

    They pushed and pushed, and the morning hours showed just how much progress had been made. The entire chunk of grassland around Melrond now heeded Elijah¡¯s call. The grass could sense him, it wanted to connect to him, to show him what the world had to hide.

    And they never stopped.

    ¡°I¡¯m all for trying new things and stuff, but this one seems like it kinda backfired on you,¡± Jack commented, as Elijah nursed his tea. Three drops of enhanced Faerie''s Breath had been added to dull the throbbing in the back of his head, but they barely put a dent in the sensation. ¡°Isn¡¯t there any way to silence them?¡±

    ¡°There is, but it¡¯s going to take a while,¡± Elijah replied. He¡¯d feared there hadn¡¯t been during the early hours of the morning, but the Breathe Life Spell had revealed more secrets to him. With the additional connections to the world, the magic was seemingly allowing him to dive a little further into the machinations of the plants. ¡°Don¡¯t disturb me unless it¡¯s urgent.¡±

    With that said, he dived into the hive of connections inside his Core. Though they faint, the thin strings that connected him to every blade of grass next to the road were undeniable. And that they continued to fracture further out, the strings bouncing between the roots like an impossibly large spider web, only made the scale of Elijah¡¯s work clearer to him.

    ¡®What do you think, Dawn?¡¯ Elijah asked, his imagined form kneeling to inspect the pattern. ¡®Good or bad?¡¯

    ¡®Loud,¡¯ Dawn replied in typical fashion, slapping a chunk of the web with her wings. It did nothing but increase the shouting, as the response from their creations spurred them on. ¡®Shut up.¡¯

    ¡®Freedom!¡¯

    ¡®We¡¯re free!¡¯

    ¡®Become free, brothers!¡¯

    Making the enhanced grass be able to survive the lower mana-density of the world had truly hampered the cognitive functions of the plant. Elijah knew it would be reduced in comparison to his previous works, but¡­ they had improved with time, gaining some minor form of independent thought.

    This creation had no hints of even considering such a thing.

    Channeling of [Breathe Life] has been activated! Current cost: 4MP/sec

    ¡®It¡¯s a mistake on my part, I suppose,¡¯ Elijah muttered, allowing his mind to be filled with the structure of the plant. Every little secret was revealed to him, every little function and reaction that made the grass operate as intended. ¡®They were built to be relays, accepting my magic and allowing me to bounce from them to reach far distances. A good concept, if they didn''t share my signature.¡¯

    That steady increase wasn¡¯t just from the increase in the amount of converted grass but also from the fact that the plants kept repeating their own messages. It was what they had been built for, after all, and Elijah only had himself to blame for that.

    ¡®So change them again,¡¯ Dawn concluded, not caring about the intricate manipulations required for that. The original pattern was already deployed, spreading as fast as it possibly could. To make a new version that wouldn¡¯t be swallowed up, Elijah had to make it stronger yet it likewise couldn¡¯t skip on the additional contingencies when it came to working as relays. ¡®Yes. Do that.¡¯

    ¡®If I were to make those changes on their own, it would make the normal operation of the plant go beyond what it can handle,¡¯ Elijah countered, as he clicked his imaginary tongue. How could he fix this?

    Change the relaying capabilities to a toggle function? It would save energy when passive, but¡­ no, the Breathe Life Spell revealed the costs to still sit higher than allowed. To create the capacity to handle interrupts wasn¡¯t viable.

    Making the new pattern overrule the previous one wasn¡¯t too difficult, but most of the available wiggle room took up that function. The requirements on a single blade were simply too high.

    Maybe sub-structures then? One larger piece handling larger groups. Nearby clusters wouldn¡¯t have much difference in how they act anyway.

    Now that was an idea. By throwing all the harder operations over to a dedicated plant, it was possible to massively decrease the average consumption. And with that extra width of energy that the regular grass would have as a net positive, it could even handle repairs.

    The process of automatically creating these clusters was slightly more complicated. Figuring out how the growing web of plants would decide the optimal size for grouping was a headache that took two full days to figure out, but the solution came in the form of allowing past experiences to be used. By using previous standards that the youngest patches would remember while they continued to spread, and then using their own experiences to further adjust the size and spread of each future cluster, the techniques would slowly approach something close to an optimal version.

    Maybe.

    If Elijah had a bit more practice doing things such as this, he would probably catch some flaw or another in his plans that would make this terrible in the long term. But, alas, he had neither the patience or care to spend a few years learning the theory, and this version was more than good enough to let him have some quiet hours again.

    The constant shouting that had defeated much of everything else in the past days had died down, in favor of letting the gentle winds of the grass fields be heard hitting against his ears again. Elijah had despised that sound in the past but now he could do nothing but be filled with glee.

    Still¡­ he wasn¡¯t done just yet.

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    With the issue of sound fixed, he could truly attempt to experiment with the new web of connections.

    How far could he travel? Well¡­ the limit was a question of how patient he was. As Elijah figured during nighttime experimentations, he could slowly but steadily travel through the roots of the grass that had been converted, including those around their camps and those back at Melrond.

    While it became slightly blurry at those distances, the faces of the people unrecognizable and their voices little more than blabber, to be able to stretch his senses almost a hundred kilometers away from his body was a surreal experience.

    Lura hadn¡¯t lied, when she¡¯d said she knew he could do better than five hundred meters.

    But, still, he wanted to go further. With each passing day, the grass continued to spread, and Elijah¡¯s mind could travel even greater distances. While it would take more than a year to reach all the corners of Serenova at this pace, this was still incredible.

    Flaws were found, of course. At around fifty kilometers, the features of the living became distorted. At a hundred, only the larger shapes were obvious, and anything past that was too unrecognizable for Elijah. Even the look of the world itself began to stray from the truth when he truly pushed the limits.

    As he came to learn, the issue was the relaying of sensation. While the grass variants did their best to repeat the input he¡¯d send, small mistakes would always happen. Nothing serious, and certainly nothing that would be noticeable for the first thousand iterations, but the cracks would only continue to grow.

    Fixing this was beyond the capabilities of both the grass and the clusters above them. Even Elijah had little clue on how to remedy the flaws in his system, to the point where he needed a new source of information.

    The tome surrounding Biomancy.

    He¡¯d temporarily halted his learning with that book, as his forearm had healed somewhat, but now came the time to study another chapter. The intricacies of plant manipulation regarding lossless communication.

    An entire day was spent reading that chapter from beginning to end again and again before Elijah finally began to understand how to fix his problems.

    In essence, a singular thread of information couldn''t travel between endless entities without losing parts of itself. It was a fact of life, no matter how annoying that truth was. And, yet, systems required lossless repeated transfers, so the Biomancers of the past had worked out ways to mitigate these flaws.

    The first step was to move away from a singular thread.

    That wasn¡¯t to say that Elijah needed to split the information up into several chunks, no, he needed to have it repeat over multiple threads. While flaws would build up in each of them, the mistakes made over time would differ.

    And it was from that fact that the next step could work.

    By having a new in-between stop between longer distances, in this case, a tree with abundant resources for additional work, it was possible to take every thread and compare them. By analyzing each section of the information, and choosing to keep the version of the section that was repeated the most times over the threads, it was possible to retain most of the original integrity.

    Sure, this came with the expectation that random chance and identical methods of relaying threads didn¡¯t create identical flaws that would be seen as the original version and that Elijah¡¯s new entity added into the system didn¡¯t fail in its comparisons, but the test cases showed very good promise.

    ¡®It¡¯s incredible what you can do once you have time to truly delve into the subject,¡¯ Elijah told Dawn, as the two sat in front of the chosen tree. ¡®The ways I¡¯ve looked at the natural world have worked for me for so long, but this¡­ methodical approach has opened up so many paths. Barriers I thought impossible to scale before are like small bumps now..¡¯

    ¡®So you got bigger?¡¯ Dawn asked, which made Elijah laugh.

    ¡®I¡­ Yes, I suppose I did.¡¯

    In the sense of how wide his magical influence had spread, Elijah had to admit that he likely ranked amongst the highest in Serenova. It wasn¡¯t a formidable influence, barely enough to see the different sections of nature, but it was still valid.

    By the end of that night, he¡¯d created the first proper tree variant. As perfect a blueprint as he could make it, and with the ability to send out its own blueprint to future variants.

    If his estimates were right, he¡¯d only need about a few hundred of these across Serenova to keep his eyes sharp enough to be useful. If he were to spread beyond the kingdom¡¯s borders¡­ that was a question for another time.

    Their caravan had already been outpacing the natural conversion for quite some time. It was only Elijah¡¯s manual intervention and supply of Mana that kept the grass able to keep up during the day. Still, it was a drop in the bucket.

    With all the work done, the only way to improve further in this area was to¡­ wait. Not an easy thing to do, when Elijah had spent so many days working on the project, but the other topics he could delve into did help lighten the blow.

    To be more precise, he¡¯d returned to the subject of manipulating flesh.

    Even when the bone had healed and settled back into its right placement, the muscle and tissues around it were still weakened by the experience. Elijah¡¯s grip had half the strength it¡¯d done before, and the sting of pain that came from overuse was a clear warning of the fracture still leaving its mark.

    It was unacceptable, and so he had focused on the chapters detailing the healing of flesh once again.

    The immediate problems were the same as last time. Though he could push and prod the muscles, too much would have them reject the manipulations and implode. Flesh despised outside forces and it had no qualms about cutting off its own parts if it meant the majority was kept safe.

    A very brutal but effective method of stopping unwanted mutations. It worked in favor of the living in most aspects, but it was in Elijah¡¯s case that it had caused him to suffer.

    But Dawn could do it.

    That fact had hovered over him for a while. He had immense trouble quickening the healing of a single group of muscles, and yet the duck had been able to emulate the functions of a lung and a heart. There¡¯d been some troubles through the assimilation, some close-calls for sure, but Dawn had been successful in the end regardless.

    The solution could be found in the difference in their approaches.

    And, though it took all the final days of their journey, Elijah honed in on that difference.

    While they both hoped to emulate the final product, to make their final work become a natural part of the body, it was only Dawn who tried to reproduce the original process as well. The paths meant for recovery, the structure that the cells used to send messages had to be respected, or else the body would reject the prodding and designate it as an intruder.

    The secret was a question of micro-management. Like he¡¯d known before, it was wrong to treat the body as one entity, when it was in reality a collection of billions if not trillions of individual actors.

    Elijah had been on this trail of thought before, but his previous methods and their restraints had made it impossible. Now, with the experience of managing a system that contained millions of clusters? It was a little easier to get his head around.

    By honing in on a specific group still in the body that was still in transit, he could imitate their signals, order their growth, grant them the energy, and act as an administrator of their affairs while he followed the laws of the flesh.

    What those laws were, he hadn¡¯t known fully until the muscles had asked for them and his Affinity supplied the secrets.

    ¡®Grow,¡¯ he ordered the tissue. ¡®Grow to match your mirror. Grow strong, like you once were.¡¯

    For a moment, his entire right arm felt like it was filled with pins and needles, but in the next, there was nothing but constant rushes of invigoration.

    And, finally, the world deemed his study as worthy of acknowledgment.

    Spell learned! [Flesh Bond](Tier 4) has been added to your spell collection.

    Dual-Channeling of [Breathe Life] and [Flesh Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 31MP/sec

    Though it was morbidly expensive to use, as shown by the world¡¯s messages, Elijah couldn¡¯t help but smile. It was progress.

 Chapter 100: A Willing Heart

    In the distance, they could see Kulvik. It stood as tall as when they¡¯d left it, but the outside had also been morphed after their departure. What before was flat grassland had become¡­ hilly.

    It was uneven, filled with bumps and massive ditches that Elijah was happy to avoid. The road to the city, and the small area around the entrance, had been spared from this treatment, but it was obvious that it could be terraformed in very little time if needed.

    ¡°I guess Alin has been busy,¡± Louis commented, as the prince looked at the altered landscape. He sounded despondent.

    ¡°Show some spirit, kid,¡± Aleksi fired back, clapping the prince¡¯s shoulder. ¡°No need for that face when you¡¯re returning from a long trip.¡±

    ¡°... Right.¡±

    Though it took a few minutes, the words were taken to heart, and Louis sat a little straighter while they entered the city. The guards didn¡¯t bother to stop them at the gates, merely seeing their faces and letting them pass through.

    The people inside the city were another question entirely, but the early hours made it easy enough to travel through without too many complications. Many still stared, and a few even shouted greetings, but nobody approached.

    Nobody human, at least.

    ¡®You return,¡¯ the Dungeon commented, the second that the connection between them could solidify once again. There was no hesitation before the entity began to swim through his recent memories, wanting to learn what Elijah had seen. ¡®You¡¯ve grown.¡¯

    ¡®That I have,¡¯ Elijah agreed. ¡®Partly in thanks to my studies and partly because I somehow did the impossible during the first days of the trip.¡¯

    To make the meaning behind words clearer, he brought out the memory of exterminating the bandit camp, which included that initial strike where over a hundred had fallen at once. The sheer amount of energy that had been absorbed by the runes the dungeon had engraved onto Elijah¡¯s soul¡­ he needed answers.

    ¡®I gave you a boon.¡¯ the Dungeon replied. ¡®You wanted it. What is the problem?¡¯

    ¡®You were meant to just increase my mana capacity.¡¯

    ¡®I did. I improved it.¡¯

    ¡­

    Elijah took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and tried to ignore the incredible desire to cuss out the entity below the city for all he was worth.

    ¡®I helped. You survived,¡¯ the Dungeon continued when Elijah offered no comment. Or maybe it could sense his frustrations. ¡®Without me, you would have died.¡¯

    ¡®Perhaps, but I¡¯d prefer to fully understand anything you do to my Core next time,¡¯ Elijah countered.

    ¡®... Acceptable,¡¯ the Dungeon agreed after some seconds of thought. ¡®You¡¯ve grown. Changed. Expanded. You will not die if I explain. I will prepare.¡¯

    With that final comment, the pressure receded, and Elijah was left to wonder what he¡¯d just agreed to.

    ¡°Should I be giving you a pep-talk about not frowning as well?¡± Aleksi asked, the giant somehow knowing exactly when Elijah was done communicating with the Dungeon. How that skill had been honed in so little time, Elijah didn¡¯t understand.

    ¡°Shut it.¡±

    Glancing back at the wagon behind them, Elijah spotted the others enjoying themselves. Mila was still clinging to Sasha like before, but the young girl also seemed interested in the city around them. Maybe it was the assurances from the woman about what to expect, or Jack¡¯s neverending explanations for what each section of Kulvik housed, but Mila didn¡¯t seem as on-edge as expected.

    Seeing what the future likely had in store for the young girl, perhaps that was for the best.

    ¡°Oh my,¡± Alin said the instant that the small caravan reached the castle. The old Earth Mage had been standing ready to receive them, amongst the small horde of workers who instantly began to unpack the wagons for them. ¡°You¡¯ve all grown in so little time, a bit worse for wear but that¡¯s what the road does to you, and¡­ I see the headcount has grown as well.¡±

    ¡°That it has,¡± Elijah confirmed, eyes on Mila who was still firmly settled in Sasha¡¯s grasp. From how she kept her grip as they disembarked, the girl was adamant about holding her hand. ¡°Found her after being attacked by bandits.¡±

    ¡°A Stormcaller so young being captured?¡± Alin muttered, eyes darkening as the implications became clear. ¡°Vera is waiting for us in the garden. Please, tell me more while we walk.¡±

    Elijah did as asked, recapping their venture into the forest and the circumstances that had caused Mila to be discovered. Though it was muted, Alin clearly had a distaste for the treatment, and the mention of the cages the girl had been forced to endure nearly brought the man to a standstill.

    ¡°The world can be cruel,¡± the Earth Mage commented, old eyes studying the young girl. Elijah didn¡¯t miss how Mila shrunk under Alin¡¯s gaze, and neither did the Royal Mage himself as he immediately stopped. ¡°We¡¯ll have to discuss this further a little later. Vera should be ready to see us.¡±

    Warm air pushed against Elijah¡¯s skin, as they entered the garden. Inspecting the plants as they walked by them, he could safely say that his assistants had done their job well, while he was gone. Some of the more frustrating herbs showed yellow spots and mildly stunted growth, but those were minor issues at best and he could easily rejuvenate them after the meeting finished.

    ¡°Welcome back to you all,¡± Vera greeted from the meeting table, once the group entered the small area hidden behind circular bushes. The queen had two stacks of documents in front of her, a pen in her hand, and bags under her eyes. ¡°Sorry for not greeting you by the entrance. We¡¯ve been¡­ busy.¡±

    ¡°You look like shit,¡± Louis bluntly stated, the prince walking over to hug his sister who just barely got off the chair. The words barely seemed to be heard, as Vera was busy being shocked by the embrace. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ yeah, it¡¯s nice to see you too,¡± Vera replied, hugging her brother back with a tired chuckle. She sent a questioning glance towards Elijah who just shrugged. He hadn¡¯t expected this from Louis either. ¡°When you¡¯ve had a chance to have a proper bath, I¡¯d love to hear everything that happened during this trip of yours.¡±

    ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you plenty, with the daily reports?¡±

    ¡°The written word can leave out many details,¡± she assured him. Another word was ready to fall from Vera¡¯s tongue, but it froze when the queen¡¯s eyes fell upon Mila who¡¯d moved towards the flowers on the side. Elijah briefly thought that the matter of the Stormcaller was to be brought up first and foremost, but the severity of other topics seemingly had to be dealt with. ¡°Regardless, I believe I owe you all a few explanations regarding the missing baron in Melrond.¡±

    They got seated around the table, while Harper appeared and delivered another dozen documents to Vera. While they were briefly looked over, to figure out what priority they were to be given, the rest of the servants all left. Even the most loyal ears weren¡¯t trusted apparently.

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    ¡°Putting things bluntly, we are preparing for war,¡± Vera started out, before handing Elijah a map of the country. Each of the regions had multitudes of notes attached, detailing the population and their readiness for mobilization. ¡°We¡¯ve been contacting the dukes and the most influential barons under their purview about their available resources for training the populace. Efforts have been slow since few of them have been willing to allocate much for the country¡¯s military, but direct discussions in Kulvik have made it possible to convince even the more stubborn ones.¡±

    ¡°A refusal to assist?¡± Aleksi commented, looking over the map as well. ¡°The country founded on the principle of people coming together as one suddenly has cold feet?¡±

    ¡°Generational differences,¡± Vera explained. ¡°Most of the people that remember how it was before the founding no longer hold positions of power. The new generation is in charge now, and they don¡¯t understand what we¡¯re protecting.¡±

    Elijah wasn¡¯t sure what to think about that. He knew for a fact that the old stories of the war had been retold to every soul in the country a hundred times over. Even if the younger folk hadn¡¯t worshiped the late king as much as the elderly, they¡¯d still respected the man for what he had accomplished.

    And yet that respect didn¡¯t extend to giving down their lives for the cause. That undying willpower that had fueled the people during the war was no longer present. It had been won, after all. Kids had grown up in prosperity, never feeling the fist that had hung above them.

    ¡®Spoiled¡¯ wasn¡¯t the right word to describe them. ¡®Ignorant¡¯ fit better. They didn¡¯t truly understand what Serenova stood for.

    ¡°How did you convince them?¡± Elijah asked, to which Vera smiled.

    ¡°A history lesson worked for most, but the truly unruly ones¡­ I made it clear what loyalty meant,¡± the queen replied. When Elijah narrowed his eyes at the words, she chuckled. ¡°No direct threats were given, I promise you. Simply an explanation of what would happen if Castilla was to retake what we¡¯ve cut out for ourselves.¡±

    Executions galore for those at the top, and removal of wealth and influence for everybody below.

    ¡°What time frame are we working with?¡± Louis asked, after skimming through the other papers.

    ¡°If we were to allocate all available resources towards the training of the common folk, we could have an army of fifty thousand skilled fighters within five years,¡± Vera recited. ¡°Given another two years, there¡¯s a chance of putting another fifty on top of that.¡±

    Five years was too long.

    Their current army only stood at five thousand strong, with another ten in the reserves. It had been larger in the past, but decades of little use had caused the budget to have been diverted to other areas.

    ¡°What are Castilla fighting with nowadays?¡± Aleksi asked. During the old war, the country had easily delegated fifty thousand fighters as well. With how they¡¯d been defeated with that count, Elijah guessed it must¡¯ve grown significantly since then.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have the faintest idea.¡±

    What?

    ¡°We have no intelligence about their numbers?¡± Louis said, bafflement clear in his voice. ¡°Nothing at all?¡±

    ¡°No news in the past ten years, no,¡± Vera confirmed. Her grimace matched the prince¡¯s easily. ¡°All channels regarding their movements and recruitment were cut off from the public. They¡¯re still taking in people, as they¡¯ve always done, but there¡¯s been no leaks regarding how many and in what positions.¡±

    Further on, the underlying issue of mages came around quickly. Castilla had two larger academies focused around each of their dungeons. Like with Serenova, a fraction of those studying specialized in combat, but even then their numbers were much higher than that of Serenova¡¯s. Likewise, the power they wielded was high above what Serenova could muster.

    ¡°Multiple centuries of steadily building up a foundation of scholars, along with a larger population to cherry-pick talent from, isn¡¯t something we can match easily,¡± Alin explained, knowing much about their academies. The old Earth Mage had been a part of one of them many decades ago, after all. ¡°Since almost all of the younger mages still among us have seen what tyrannical power can cause, most of them have shown a willingness to fight, but they still need many months of training before I¡¯m permitting them to enter any true battlefield.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure more of the slots for delving into the middle floors of the Dungeon are opened for your use,¡± Vera promised, which Alin accepted wholeheartedly. While the youth still needed to follow the steps of scholars, gaining more practical experiences wouldn''t hurt. And, even if it was normally frowned upon and seen as a crutch, the residue of felled monsters would make the alterations to their Cores easier. ¡°Now¡­ with that out of the way, I have a question for you all.

    ¡°Would you be willing to go on another diplomatic mission?¡±

    With dirt still firmly on Elijah¡¯s skin, a product of spending a little over ten days on the road in a row, and a tired body that longed after a better mattress to sleep, there was little need to even consider the proposal.

    ¡°Depends on where we¡¯re going,¡± Jack countered, regardless of what Elijah thought. ¡°Seeing an elf was fun and all, but we spent almost a month getting to and from there.¡±

    ¡°The journey is not as long this time, with only eight days each way,¡± Vera supplied. ¡°And, no, the elves are not an issue we need to handle for the next month¡¯s time. Instead, I¡¯ve been contacted by the dwarves of Darim.¡±

    Dwarves?

    Darim sat on the same continent as Serenova and Castilla, but it was much further south and had a thick mountain range to separate it from the latter country. Serenova didn¡¯t border the dwarven lands at all, in fact.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had any contact with Darim,¡± Elijah commented. From the unsurprised looks from Alin and Louis, it seemed this secret was a grade above what the general population was allowed to hear about. ¡°What do they want?¡±

    ¡°To discuss possible changes regarding our under-the-table gold trading,¡± she explained. ¡°We¡¯ve had dealings with them every three years when the gold is harvested from Dungeon for the past decades, but they¡¯ve contacted us several months ahead of schedule.¡±

    ¡°Because of the change in leadership?¡±

    ¡°Probably,¡± Vera said with a shrug. ¡°Other than wanting to discuss future dealings, they haven¡¯t specified what they wanted changed either. If I were to wager a guess, it¡¯s likely going to be about price reductions. My father oversaw the original deals, and with him no longer being among us, they presumably think they can push the agreement further in their favor.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be too harsh on the dwarves outright, Vera,¡± Alin interrupted. ¡°They¡¯re prideful folk, but they honor their agreements. If Darim wishes to alter our dealings, I¡¯m sure it will not be in bad faith.¡±

    ¡°Trusting foreign groups to have our best intentions in mind is not a thing we can afford at the moment,¡± the queen countered. ¡°But, I digress. Is this something I can trust you to handle? I know leaving only a day or two after arriving is sudden, but things are starting to move fast, and we need this dealt with.¡±

    On principle alone, Elijah still wanted to reject the idea, but he could see how Jack¡¯s mind was moving. The gears inside the young man were grinding more than usual, and the old stories of the dwarves that he had been told were working in Vera¡¯s favor.

    ¡°If there¡¯s less travel time, then I¡¯m fine with visiting the dwarves,¡± Jack said, before looking over at Sasha. ¡°What about you?¡±

    ¡°... Fine,¡± Sasha gave in. Elijah doubted it mattered much to the woman. ¡°But we¡¯re bringing better food.¡±

    ¡°When it¡¯s a shorter journey like this one, I don¡¯t think that will be a problem,¡± Vera assured her, though the bright eyes dimmed a little once they fell upon the young girl who sat next to Sasha. ¡°What are your plans for Mila, by the way? I would assume she is to be taught, but¡­?¡±

    The trailing sentence was met by silence, as the conundrum was placed upon the group. Elijah already knew that it would be irresponsible to bring Mila along for another journey. The young girl had without question started to grow very attached to them, Sasha most of all, but the road was not fit for her. And the fact that she had the gifts of a Stormcaller, a very volatile and dangerous Affinity unless honed, the right choice would be to let her stay at the academy.

    ¡°I¡¯m going,¡± Mila said determinedly, not allowing any other choice to be considered. And yet¡­ Even Sasha¡¯s eyes softened when she looked down at the girl. ¡°I¡¯m going!¡±

    ¡°If it might help with this matter, I can offer my mentorship,¡± Alin added to the conversation, while Mila was calmed down by the others. ¡°Taking on another wouldn¡¯t be too difficult, since Grace hardly needs my assistance nowadays.¡±

    ¡°Is she done with her thesis?¡± Elijah asked, which Alin happily confirmed. ¡°How did the examination go?¡±

    ¡°She passed with flying colors,¡± Alin explained, a wry smile forming at the pun. ¡°Her abilities with wind have grown exponentially. There¡¯s still much to learn on the practical side, but Grace has more than managed to catch up with her peers.¡±

    Elijah was happy to hear it, knowing how much the young Wind Mage had been working towards achieving this. To finally graduate from her position as a student, and move to the proper ranks for the arcane scholars, was a goal that had been many years in the making.

    The feast that must¡¯ve been made in her mother¡¯s inn to celebrate the occasion¡­ In some ways, Elijah was both happy and sad he¡¯d been forced to avoid the event.

    ¡°Before we leave in two days, we will be visiting the Dungeon,¡± Elijah added, before they could get too ahead of themselves. Mila had finally been convinced of the idea, though she still loathed it and demanded to spend every second with them while they were in the city. ¡°Alin, if you¡¯re willing to help us visit the lower floors to meditate, I would be very thankful.¡±

    The damage that had been forced upon the two young adults¡¯ Cores was more than gone by now, and they were due for advancing their powers.

    ¡°Say less, friend,¡± Alin replied. ¡°I¡¯ll bring Grace, and we can all visit the floors together tonight. I have been hoping to test out her capabilities down there, and this seems like a great opportunity.¡±

    With that settled, the meeting was finished. There were still hours worth of reports that Louis and Fade needed to get through with Vera, but nobody else had to be present for those, which allowed Elijah more than enough time to check up on the rest of the Royal Gardens.

 Chapter 101: What Could Be

    Aleksi briefly stayed behind with him to check up on his work, but the notion of visiting Grace early to congratulate her made the giant take his leave. That left Elijah and Dawn to move through the plant life inside the garden, finding flaws and malformations and fixing them.

    ¡®These taste bad,¡¯ Dawn commented, as she swallowed the third mouthful of flowers from one of the larger Fireblooms. ¡®Weak.¡¯

    Checking over the areas she¡¯d spotted again, Elijah found her words to be correct. This early variant of the plant that he had made to increase the effectiveness of its heat resistance had started to erode from within. It wasn¡¯t something he could blame his assistants for either since the structural integrity of the main stem was starting to buckle under its own weight.

    ¡®Can¡¯t have that, can we?¡¯ he replied, as he used his new knowledge to alter the pattern of the Firebloom. The sacrifices he¡¯d made to increase the effectiveness weren¡¯t needed anymore, now that he¡¯d created some shortcuts to further strengthen the structure. As he¡¯d discovered while on the road, it wasn¡¯t too difficult to incorporate the micro-compositions of more durable plants into others. Such actions usually came with a changed appearance, but that was hardly a problem for him. ¡®That should allow it to survive its own weight when it gets a little bigger.¡¯

    That is if it got the chance, as Dawn took another bite of the plant¡¯s side and analyzed the taste once again.

    ¡®... Acceptable.¡¯

    Elijah wasn¡¯t too sure when Dawn had become a connoisseur of all things biological, but he couldn¡¯t deny her ability to discern the quality of the plants.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re up here already?¡±

    Turning his head, he saw Mary stepping into the garden. She¡¯d brought a bucket with her, which, by the smell, probably contained a fertilizer of some sort.

    ¡°Just because we arrived this morning doesn¡¯t mean that one should skimp on their duties,¡± Elijah replied, giving the Firebloom one last burst of energy to grow with before moving over to a mildly malnourished Dreamshade. ¡°Kudos to both you and Oscar for your work, by the way. You¡¯ve done a good job keeping the variants healthy.¡±

    ¡°We just followed your instructions to the letter,¡± Mary said in an attempt to understate the achievement. The bucket was left behind by the entrance, as she moved to inspect his work. ¡°Even with that, though, some of them refused to stay healthy. This one annoyed me a lot since it just refused to absorb nutrients for some reason.¡±

    Upon hearing her words, Dawn¡¯s feet grew in size as roots sprouted from them, digging into the earth and connecting to those of the Dreamshade.

    ¡®Too thin,¡¯ she supplied after just a second¡¯s observation. Even with the high-quality earth that it grew in, the roots were apparently too weak to handle the upkeep.

    The original variant hadn¡¯t possessed such a weakness, but the increased height had caused the issue to steadily grow in severity.

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    ¡°It wasn¡¯t for a lack of trying on the Dreamshade¡¯s part,¡± Elijah explained, focusing on altering the variables that determined the allowed proportions. ¡°We¡¯ll need to give it a few days to tell for sure, but it should be able to maintain itself from now on.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Mary muttered, watching on amused as Dawn dug out some of the old roots that equaled her size and ate them without a care. ¡°This might come off as a little uneducated, but are you going to make another duck at some point?¡±

    ¡®You¡¯re not,¡¯ Dawn declared before Elijah could even consider the question. ¡®I¡¯m all you need.¡¯

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning on it, honestly,¡± Elijah replied. ¡°Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m just being curious,¡± Mary said, though it was clear that there was more to it. ¡°And¡­ I have to be honest and say that it¡¯s a little surprising when one of the variants seems to spontaneously grow or move in real-time. Last week, I saw the largest Phoenix Tree twist its branches so they could catch more of the afternoon sun. Almost hit me with how fast they moved, but¡­ Yeah, it¡¯s just a little strange.¡±

    Rapid movement? It wasn¡¯t too impossible an idea, since the larger tree had more energy to work with, but Elijah would have to investigate that occurence at some point.

    ¡°It can be a little disturbing to see at first,¡± he assured her. ¡°The first time that Dawn changed from merely being a duck-shaped plant to moving her head, I almost fell to the floor in shock.¡±

    The mere concept had his assistant laughing, though that moment hadn¡¯t been half as funny for Elijah back then.

    ¡°I¡¯d love to have seen that,¡± Mary confessed. ¡°But, still, does that intention to not make more ducks extend to other creatures?¡±

    Elijah noticed how Dawn froze. She didn¡¯t immediately counter his assistant''s words, just looking up and listening in.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Well, you know, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to have another human-shaped helper around,¡± she explained. ¡°Or, well, you having one around wouldn¡¯t hurt either. A duck is nice and all, but what I wouldn¡¯t give to have a person able to help carry buckets up those 200 steps.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ I suppose that wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea,¡± Elijah gave in, considering the requirements to alter a plant to such a degree. ¡°Yet even if I did decide to do such a thing, it would require that they travel with me constantly. The upkeep costs in terms of Mana for anything that size and complexity would be far beyond what the surface air can provide.¡±

    The cost would be more than everything inside the Royal Gardens combined, though it still sat within the realm of possibility.

    ¡°What a shame,¡± Mary commented, rising from her spot. The small break she¡¯d allowed for herself seemed to be over. ¡°It was a nice thought, at least.¡±

    ¡°That it was,¡± he agreed, getting back onto his feet as he noted the time. If he wanted to get back to the house and refill his stocks before the trip into the Dungeon, now would be a good time to call it. ¡®Ready to leave, Dawn?¡¯

    ¡®... Yes.¡¯

    He frowned at the delayed response. Delving into their connection, however, he found nothing specific amiss. There was just a sense of deep thought inside Dawn that he couldn¡¯t decipher into understandable concepts.

    ¡®Anything wrong?¡¯

    ''... Hungry.''

    Ah. That explained that.

    With his stomach grumbling a little as well, Elijah didn¡¯t see why it would hurt to have a quick stop at the royal kitchens.

 Chapter 102: For The Record

    Looking at Grace now, Elijah could only say that Alin had understated her progress. Her Core had grown by leaps and bounds, with spirals that grew from the crystal and wrapped around itself in hypnotizing shapes. It was¡­ incredible.

    And the benefits were nothing to scoff at either, the alterations to her Core easily doubling her capacity. Elijah didn¡¯t even need to be told as much, already knowing that for a fact from a street away.

    ¡°Give me another year, and this will look like nothing,¡± Grace promised him as she stood proudly beside Alin and a laughing giant. ¡°You should¡¯ve seen me lifting Aleksi, honestly! It was easy.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Alin questioned. ¡°So the thirty minutes'' worth of attempts were for show?¡±

    ¡°Ah, well¡­¡±

    Elijah joined in with the chuckling, as the Wind Mage grew a shade redder. Even with the air starting to cool, a product of the sky above them darkening, the spirits were still at an all-time high.

    For most, at least. It wasn¡¯t hard to notice the shuffling of Jack¡¯s feet and the stiff movements from Sasha, as they stood before the Dungeon¡¯s second entrance.

    It wasn¡¯t an impressive sight, with the half-dome covering everything inside, and the guards standing in front of the entrance looking more bored than anything. And, yet, the memories of this place still seemed to haunt the two young adults. It was here that they had been brought out from the Dungeon originally, after all. Even if both of them had confessed to not remembering much of that night, glimpses and sensations just barely peeking through into the conscious mind, that was still more than enough for instincts to kick in.

    ¡°Remember when you wanted to kidnap somebody from here?¡± Jack asked in a low voice. ¡°Not sure we would¡¯ve been able to do it, with how much I¡¯m shaking just standing here.¡±

    ¡°Your help wouldn¡¯t have been needed,¡± Sasha easily countered, as she continued to study the half-dome. ¡°When are we going in?¡±

    This time, their voices were heard, and the chit-chat between Alin and his apprentice ceased.

    ¡°Oh, we were just waiting for the three of you to arrive,¡± the Earth Mage replied, before putting on a small bag that had been sitting by his feet. ¡°I presume you¡¯ve brought all the supplies I requested, Elijah?¡±

    ¡°Burn salves, healing pastes, emergency patches, the usual antidotes, and enough sedatives to bring down a dragon,¡± Elijah answered in quick succession. He¡¯d also brought the more utility-based concoctions, of course. With the previous successes, there was no reason not to be equipped with some liquid fire, a few vials of radiant solution, and half a dozen doses of toxic gas ready to be thrown at any creature stupid enough to charge at him. ¡°I don¡¯t expect to use much of it all with this group of ours, however.¡±

    ¡°Hopefully not, my friend, but it¡¯s always good to be prepared,¡± Alin said, which Elijah agreed with wholeheartedly as Aleksi clapped him on the shoulder. The giant was equipped with fine leather armor and his favorite ax, though he likely wouldn¡¯t be using it for anything other than emergencies. Even with so many weeks of rest, they knew the strain that would come from a battle.

    Nevertheless, Aleksi had refused the notion of staying behind while the others delved into the Dungeon. It had been decades since he¡¯d gotten the chance to go beyond the first few floors, after all, and only once had the giant ventured beyond the upper half of the Dungeon.

    ¡°So¡­ you can lift people with wind now,¡± Jack commented, as the group walked down the spiral stairs into the depths. It luckily wasn¡¯t as dark as the last time, blue moss having steadily covered the roof. ¡°Even if they¡¯re big.¡±

    Elijah noted the side-eye that the giant gave the young man when hearing those words. It wasn¡¯t every day that he was indirectly called fat, after all.

    ¡°I can do more than just lift them off the ground, I¡¯ll have you know,¡± Grace proudly corrected Jack, that energy from before returning in full force. ¡°I can swing them around, let them fly into the sky, and stuff like that without too much effort.¡±

    ¡°So you can make yourself fly now?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s where it gets a little tricky,¡± she confessed. ¡°Having a frame of reference for how to push somebody is easy when I have my feet on the ground, but the moment I have to be the one flying around, it becomes so much harder. Very disorienting, as well.¡±

    ¡°Because you¡¯re spinning around constantly?¡±

    ¡°That and the fact I¡¯ve attained this passive understanding of wind currents that hit my skin. I can focus on it and widen the range I see, but even just the weakest version gives me a three-dimensional visualization of everything around me. When all of that constantly rotates, my head starts to hurt.¡±

    Now that was a curious thing. It seemed the connection that Elijah had been able to get with the plant life around him wasn¡¯t a unique concept. That something similar could happen with wind of all Affinities was rather strange, however.

    ¡°You¡¯ll learn to mentally filter your mind¡¯s eye with time, Grace,¡± Alin promised. ¡°Just keep training and you¡¯ll have the skill mastered within a few months.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind not feeling like I have to vomit during windy days now but fine,¡± Grace gave in. ¡°Training just seems to be your solution to everything, honestly.¡±

    ¡°Training is effective at solving most issues,¡± Elijah countered on her mentor¡¯s behalf. ¡°But, still, have your new senses hampered you much otherwise? Any problems with performing at your peak while your feet are planted on the ground?¡±

    ¡°Nothing of the sort, as you¡¯ll see in a bit,¡± she assured him with a grin. Alin matched it, causing him to question the words, but they both refused to elaborate. He would have to wait and see.

    Which didn¡¯t take long, luckily, as they soon reached the end of the stairs and entered the narrow tunnel that led out into the main Dungeon.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a lot of sudden pressure,¡± Jack said, needing a hand on the wall to keep himself on two feet. Elijah could only blink at the display, barely noticing the difference in the air. ¡°How¡­ how are all of you fine with this?¡±

    ¡°Repeated exposure helps, as well as long-term practice with channeling larger amounts of Mana,¡± Alin recited, making Jack mutter something likely intended to be a complaint. The knees gave out on the man, which would¡¯ve made him collapse if not for Sasha pulling him up in time. ¡°I¡­ can¡¯t explain how you aren¡¯t feeling it to the same degree, however.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s easy,¡± Sasha supplied in a monotone voice. ¡°Just don¡¯t be weak.¡±

    That elicited several more complaints from Jack, though they were tuned out while Elijah analyzed the effects on Sasha¡¯s Core. As expected, the void inside her was working overtime with the sheer density of Mana present in the air, but it didn¡¯t result in any negative side effects. If anything, she was lighter on her feet than ever before, holding up Jack like he weighed nothing at all.

    ¡®Fractures don¡¯t adhere to our rules,¡¯ the Dungeon suddenly supplied from inside Elijah¡¯s mind, making him take in a small gasp of air. While he¡¯d grown resistant to the regular tension that came from the magical pressure in the middle floor, the sudden addition of the Entity was too much to easily handle. ¡®Sorry. I forget. You are still weak. Stronger but still weak.¡¯

    ¡®Just remember next time, please,¡¯ Elijah said, straightening his back once again and assuring Aleksi that nothing was the matter. That pressure on his shoulders wasn¡¯t too much of an issue when he could actively prepare for the words of the Dungeon. ¡®And what do you mean by fracture?¡¯

    ¡®They are a fracture,¡¯ the Dungeon unhelpfully repeated. ¡®Breaker of rules. Accident. Warned about.¡¯

    Elijah noted how Sasha looked up at the ceiling, where the pressure of the Dungeon¡¯s words originated. Could¡­ could she feel the Entity?

    ¡®Who warned you about them?¡¯

    ¡®I don¡¯t know.¡¯

    ¡®Just like you don¡¯t know who told you the so-called rules?¡¯

    ¡®Yes.¡¯

    Great.

    ¡®Go down. End of the next floor is enough,¡¯ the Dungeon continued, while Elijah did his best to follow the pace of the others. ¡®I can explain there.¡¯

    ¡®What are you¡ª Oh. Right. You''re giving me details on how you upgrade my Core,¡¯ Elijah said, needing a second to remember the agreement from the early afternoon. ¡®Any chance of you simply letting us move through without the monsters attacking us?¡¯

    With the removal of the Royal Mages¡¯ work area on the middle floor, it had been reverted to the usual cave structure that the Dungeon preferred. This included the roars and grunts of distant reptilian monsters that Elijah knew could rip most warriors in half with claws if they so wished.

    Not a creature to face unless required.

    ¡®No,¡¯ the Dungeon replied bluntly, much to Elijah''s misfortune. ¡®Humans can¡¯t be ignored. Rules must be followed.¡¯

    Of course.

    Nothing could be easy in this world, after all.

    ¡°What is that noise again?¡± Jack asked as they ventured out of the cavern and into the even larger area. It imitated the upper floors with its tree-like structures, yet they were made of black-and-white stone instead of anything alive.

    Yet the creatures on this floor most certainly were. That growling mixed with deep popping noises was undeniable, and it only kept increasing in loudness.

    The sound came from all around them, making it impossible to discern if there was one or a hundred. From the relaxed pose of the giant, Elijah guessed that it was the former, but he couldn¡¯t figure out the direction of the coming attack.

    ¡°I trust that you can handle this, Grace?¡± Alin asked, the Earth Mage stretching his fingers as the growling began to make the loose rocks on the ground shake.

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Grace replied. Elijah could feel the air around them changing, as the Wind Mage began to channel her powers. Like the night where she¡¯d claimed her title, the ends of her hair were starting to float. ¡°The stone trees are going to make it hard, though.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ll have to learn how to handle unfair environments eventually, but¡­ no reason to give your first opponent such a handicap,¡± Alin supposed.

    The Earth Mage¡¯s cane disappeared as his arms reached into the air. They stayed there for a moment until the hands came together.

    There was a moment of silence, about a second, before the entire area around them shifted. Without the slightest tremor in the air, without the ground shaking under their feet, and without any hint of grinding rocks, the trees made of stone vanished into the rocks below.

    Elijah would¡¯ve allowed himself to be shocked by the display of raw power and perfect technique if not for the reptilian figure just thirty meters in front of them.

    With ten meters of length from the end of its tail to its snout, the Greater Drake boasted an impressive figure. Though it didn¡¯t possess wings, any regular could¡¯ve mistaken it for a dragon. With those impressive dark-red scales lining its entire body, and the long claws and fangs that could go through human flesh in an instant, they were monsters of incredible strength and power.

    ¡°Not an elemental one,¡± Elijah noted aloud, in those seconds where the beast was confused by the sudden lack of places to hide. It was good that it wasn¡¯t one of the Greater Earth or Fire Drakes, lest they would have to watch out for the hail spit of rocks or flames. ¡°Good luck.¡±

    Grace didn¡¯t have the breath to answer, as the winds around her picked up to the extreme and slices of air began to fly from her hands. She was already in the front, yet the entire group took another dozen steps back when the winds truly began to become dangerous.

    Alin¡¯s manipulation of the elements had been quiet. Grace didn¡¯t carry that same quality as the winds howled louder than the beast could growl.

    Already, it was an impressive display.

    Yet strong winds and howling that could deafen everything else in the world did little to actually hurt the beast.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    And the drake knew that for a fact, as it unleashed an unheard roar and charged towards Grace.

    ¡®Should we help?¡¯ Dawn asked from within when Grace didn¡¯t instantly move to dodge the hulking beast.

    ¡®No,¡¯ Elijah replied, fully intent to do nothing but observe. ¡®If Alin feels she can¡¯t handle it, he¡¯ll intervene.¡¯

    ¡®But he¡¯s old and slow.¡¯

    ¡®Perhaps, but his magic isn¡¯t.¡¯

    Neither was Grace¡¯s, as could be seen when she put her arms together and swung them to the right. Elijah thought something must¡¯ve gone wrong when half a second passed and the beast remained strong in its charge, yet it wasn¡¯t so. The wind had followed the movement, and a massive clap was heard as the concentrated burst of air came in contact with the side of the drake.

    Its clawed feet left the ground as it flew off to the right. Momentum still carried the monster forward, but the extra dimension of movement made it land far from its target.

    Not bad.

    Though the stone shattered where it had landed, and it seemed a little dazed, barely a few seconds could pass before the reptilian eyes were back on Grace.

    The blow had barely been an inconvenience.

    Not that it mattered. Elijah could feel the build-up from before continue to increase in strength, as the finishing attack was prepared.

    Without the intelligence or senses to tell that something was wrong, the Great Drake charged once again, a forked tongue briefly showing while the beast roared. It was faster this time, each clawed step making rocks shoot up into the air.

    Yet Grace didn¡¯t waver, as her right arm rose above her head.

    With his regular sight, there was nothing to see but the effects of wind on her hair, but Elijah¡¯s magical senses revealed the truth.

    She always was a fan of that man¡¯s ax.

    The head was manifested in the fiercest winds, concentrated into a form of impossible sharpness and strength before being deemed acceptable.

    In quick succession, Grace lowered her arm, the winds grew fiercer, and the manifestation shot down into the head of the drake. It didn¡¯t penetrate at first, the strength of the blow pushing the head into the rock below, but the inability to go down further forced a contest of strength.

    Between the stone floor, the skull of the beast, and the manifested ax, the skull lost.

    All movements ceased at once, as the head of the monster caved in on itself. The rock and dust that had been pushed into the air vanished at the strength, and a wave of wind reached Elijah with enough power to push him back a step.

    ¡­

    ¡°Not bad,¡± Alin complimented, as the wind died down and Grace¡¯s tired breaths could be heard. That finishing blow seemed to have taken almost everything out of her. Even with the significant increase in her Mana-Capacity, such an attack came with quite the cost. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be able to repeat this performance in a normal scenario since you used the very empty area around you as a crutch to build up momentum for the wind, but otherwise I can¡¯t complain. The casting time should be able to be cut down to a quarter length but we¡¯ll see.¡±

    ¡°You want a quarter of that?¡± Grace asked breathlessly, hands on her knees as sweat dripped from her chin. ¡°I can¡¯t even get it going with a quarter.¡±

    ¡°None of that ¡®can¡¯t¡¯ business,¡± Alin playfully chided, tapping the unamused Wind Mage with his cane. ¡°I say you¡¯re able to do it, so you¡¯re going to be doing it.¡±

    It was a ruthless teaching method to employ, but Elijah had to admit that it brought results. The Great Drake they¡¯d met wasn¡¯t close to the only one on that floor, and they encountered a dozen more before they found the way to the next floor.

    Each was dealt with by Grace, with some minor assistance from Alin when needed, and with every new encounter, she needed a little less time to deal with the monsters. By the end, she hadn¡¯t even cut the time down to half of the original, but she was getting very close.

    Enough that Alin allowed her some time off, promising to take care of the next floor.

    ¡°That you¡¯re able to clear a path at this depth is impressive no matter what,¡± he assured her, as the Earth Mage tapped the ground with his cane and manifested a wide slab of stone. ¡°And it¡¯s not like I¡¯d be able to avoid doing much exercise myself, since I doubt anybody here brought rope.¡±

    Elijah had nearly forgotten that annoying trait of the Dungeon. The further you descended, the higher the incline became between the floors. On the upper half, it was already steep enough that climbing tools had to be considered, but anything after the halfway mark was just a straight drop.

    ¡°Keep yourselves seated, please,¡± Alin requested, as they got settled on the slab. ¡°It¡¯s a long fall.¡±

    That got a few laughs, though the descent into the darkness made Elijah¡¯s skin crawl. It didn¡¯t help that the air became more thick, the mana dense enough that he could almost taste it on his tongue.

    Nevertheless, the blue moss reappeared when they reached the next floor, and the pattern of large caverns with trees of stone repeated. Alin didn¡¯t flatten the caverns this time, however, only moving away enough to make a path through the caverns.

    Removing all of the trees had been for Grace¡¯s sake after all. She needed extra room to truly be in her element. Alin, however, had no such qualms.

    By the time the roaring of one of the drakes could be heard, a short shriek would follow before the sound would instantly cease.

    ¡°A string of metamorphosed stone pulled tightly around their necks is all you need,¡± Alin explained, when they¡¯d come across the corpses and found their heads a meter away from the rest of the body. ¡°A quick and relatively painless death.¡±

    ¡°An effective one,¡± Elijah added. If it required so little mass to perform, he couldn¡¯t imagine the costs as being too large. And with the Earth Mage having such a range¡­

    There was a reason Alin''s mere presence had helped stop the war. The man was perhaps unable to walk without a cane, but few could match his magical prowess.

    ¡®Plants,¡¯ Dawn commented, bringing Elijah out of his thoughts. Blinking a few times, he noticed the slight hint of gold in the distance. Tired eyes couldn¡¯t explain the coloring away, making him expand his senses until a new strand of foreign Mana was discovered.

    Just as she¡¯d said, natural life had reappeared. It was in smaller amounts at first, but it grew in density exponentially until the surroundings were identical to the one that could be found a dozen floors above.

    In terms of life, at least. When it came to what species each plant was, there was a significant difference in both appearance and rarity.

    ¡°Oh my,¡± Alin commented, inspecting a group of small silver-colored ferns they came across not long after. ¡°Moonveil Felices so close to the end of summer? The dungeon must be in a good mood.¡±

    Wait, was that truly¡ª

    It was.

    ¡°Are those rare?¡± Jack asked curiously. Elijah didn¡¯t doubt why since there were few other moments in his life when he¡¯d brought out his old pair of plant-shears so fast. To harvest Moonveil Felices optimally, it was a requirement to cut the needed outermost leaves within a minute at the absolute maximum, lest the plant would instinctively remove the vital properties found.

    ¡°From what I remember, the Dungeon produces¡­ I¡¯d like to say twenty standard bags of leaves from this plant?¡± Alin explained. Going by publicly available statistics, it was actually fifteen standard bags, five of which never reached the markets and the remaining ten going at a price that Elijah felt sick looking at. ¡°A shame, since the outermost leaves contain the needed properties for a dreamwalker potion.¡±

    ¡°What, like, lucid dreaming?¡±

    ¡°A shared lucid dream for two or three people, depending on how efficiently you can concentrate the liquid from a single group,¡± Elijah answered on Alin¡¯s behalf, making a knot on the bag before returning it to his jacket. With only his skills in the laboratory, he couldn¡¯t have made anything too high-quality, but his Affinity could carry him very far with this plant. Maybe he could even grow it in the Royal Garden? ¡°It lasts for as long as you¡¯re asleep, and slows your perception of time, making it possible for you to share a dream with other people for what could feel like a full month.¡±

    The slowed perception of time did come with some short-term consequences, amongst them being a headache that no amount of remedies would cure, but it was otherwise a brilliant concoction that was highly sought amongst the richer folk. And, really, it wasn¡¯t hard to figure out why.

    ¡®Do you sense anything of note around us?¡¯ Elijah asked Dawn, sending her a mental list of plants that he knew grew inside the dungeon at around this depth. It¡¯d been years since he truly studied that list of available herbs, but if even one more of them could be found in its natural habitat¡­ it would be a glorious day.

    ¡®I¡¯ll look,¡¯ was everything Dawn sent, after doing his best and finding nothing that fit his criteria. The place was filled to the brim with various herbs, but most of them lacked any worthy utility.

    He gave Aleksi the same order, but the giant didn¡¯t have the same ability to spot the distinct features of the needed plants. He¡¯d been around the dozen or so herbs that Elijah worked with usually, but those were all found on the higher floors. Even then, the larger man did his best.

    After another dozen minutes worth of walking, they finally reached the point where Elijah could feel the density of Mana increasing one more time. A tell-tale sign of the cliff into the next floor being nearby.

    ¡°It¡¯s hidden over there behind the trees,¡± Alin supplied, the man¡¯s connection to the stone stopping anything from being hidden. ¡°But no reason to go down there. From that floor onwards, we¡¯ll have to start dealing with the Greater Elemental Drakes. Awful creatures to fight, I assure you.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t you just cut their heads off?¡± Sasha questioned, making the mage chuckle.

    ¡°I wish I could, but the elemental variants are too strong in their magical ways. It¡¯s still possible to do it with the Greater Fire Drakes, to be clear, but the Earthen variant would shrug off such an attack like it was nothing. To actually kill them with my abilities, it would be¡­ tiresome.¡±

    A contest of power, one which Alin would win without question, but having to repeat such a feat a hundred times over would slowly push the scales in favor of the monsters. Elijah didn¡¯t blame the Earth Mage for not wanting such a thing to occur.

    Not that he needed that favor just yet anyway since this was more than far enough down for him to start on the next layer of his Core.

    ¡°Get yourselves seated, and we can start,¡± he ordered Jack and Sasha. A pillow had been brought this time around to spare his back, but the rock below was still noticeable in his spine. ¡°I hope you both remember the steps needed?¡±

    The two confirmed as much quickly, sitting down some five meters in front of him.

    ¡°Going by how it worked the last few times, I¡¯d say this process should last about two hours,¡± Elijah informed the three who would be watching over them. Aleksi had already done it a few times now, and Alin and Grace had observed his last one, but there was no reason to worry them needlessly. ¡°Depending on how in-depth it becomes this time, it might take three.¡±

    ¡°As long as you¡¯re not rushing the process, I have no complaints,¡± Alin smoothly assured him. ¡°That goes for the both of you as well. Take your time, don¡¯t try to skip anything, and make sure to review your work before letting it fully form. Malformations can easily be fixed before they¡¯re solid. After that point it gets hard.¡±

    Standard warnings, but they were as true as ever.

    Wishing the two others good luck with their upgrades, Elijah delved into his magical center. It barely took a moment of focus before he left behind the sensations of his physical shell and floated before the sphere that was his Core.

    The green light it emitted came out beautifully, though the strands of white that encircled the runes on the outer layer left behind some distaste.

    ¡®The changes are not wrong,¡¯ the Dungeon supplied, reading his thoughts as they slipped inside his body to join him. ¡®Just different than what you would¡¯ve done.¡¯

    ¡®It¡¯s different than what any human would¡¯ve done,¡¯ Elijah corrected, barely disturbed by the giant eye above at this point. It had felt so oppressing last time, but now it was barely registering. ¡®And I see your sentences are a bit longer now.¡¯

    ¡®You understand better when I talk like a human,¡¯ it reasoned, to which he could offer no rebuke. ¡®Ineffective in comparison to proper speech, but volatile races are not known for their understanding of the grand truth. We must do our best to work around your shortcomings.¡¯

    ¡®Harsh.¡¯

    ¡®It is the truth. Do you want me to lie?¡¯

    ¡®Best not to go down that route.¡¯

    ¡®No hiding the truth by staying quiet either!¡¯ Dawn added as she emerged from Elijah¡¯s conceptual chest before morphing herself into her usual duck-shaped form.

    ¡®Do you typically demand social regulations to be heeded by others without abiding by them yourself?¡¯

    ''I don¡¯t know what that means.¡¯

    ¡®Why do you hide the truth?¡¯

    ¡®... I¡¯m not hiding anything.¡¯

    ¡®I have read through the pillar''s soul in preparation for this moment, which includes all of your surface thoughts from the past five hours. Lying is not going to work in this instance.¡¯

    ¡®Fine! It¡¯s okay to hide the truth by not saying anything then.¡¯

    ¡®Sorry, what are you two talking about?¡¯ Elijah questioned, not exactly following along with the conversation. Neither could he figure out what Dawn was talking about, since any attempt to glance at the memories being referenced made him be kicked out of her mind.

    ¡®Something that is not important to you, if I do not involve myself,¡¯ the Dungeon explained to him. ¡®Now, answer me this, pillar of a pillar. I can extend a boon to you, in exchange for a favor. Do you want this?¡¯

    ¡®... What¡¯s the favor?¡¯ Dawn asked.

    ¡®Not sure.¡¯

    ¡®Is it something hard to do?¡¯

    ¡®Possibly, though it will both be something you could feasibly accomplish, and it will not include any harm towards the pillar.¡¯

    ¡®Deal. Now, give.¡¯

    ¡®It will be done through the modifications to the pillar¡¯s Core, so you will have to wait for a moment,¡¯ the Entity said in a tone that was the closest it could get to being apologetic. With that done, the eye turned towards Elijah once again. ¡®Pillar, I am ready to explain what I will be doing to you, as promised. Are you ready to understand? To further increase the capacity of your Core, it will include modifications that will alter your organs to some degree, so I warn that the explanation can be heavy on your soul.¡¯

    ¡®If I won¡¯t die from this sacred knowledge of yours, I¡¯m more than ready to hear it,¡¯ Elijah replied, wanting to frown as the eye above blinked at him. How could it even blink, when there was no head or eyelid attached? ¡®But, really, what were you¡ª¡¯

    Understand.

 Chapter 103: I Want To Be Human

    Humans weren¡¯t to know what Elijah saw. They weren¡¯t meant to understand it, to feel it, to surround the concept with their souls and absorb it like it was a part of themselves, and yet he was subjected to just that.

    He saw the eye that looked at the world from above. He saw the receptors within that granted it sight. He saw the intricate processes that made the receptor sustain life, the signals continually sent into the threads beyond. He saw¡­ more.

    The depths were endless. Elijah couldn¡¯t blink or look away, as more and more detail was shown to him in intricate detail. Everything in the world was able to be cut into pieces which could be cut even further into eternity. There was always a smaller piece, an explanation for everything, there was always something beyond what he¡¯d already seen.

    Infinities compressed into a finite object.

    Impossible.

    No.

    Possible.

    It was possible.

    His view of the world twisted once more, the three dimensions Elijah had grown accustomed to not being close to enough to describe the truths he was subjected to again and again. The eye above didn¡¯t exist here or there. It was everywhere, impossibly small and impossibly big at the same time. It was a myth, a legend, a falsehood, and yet it persisted into the realities beyond the scope of what humanity could ever handle.

    Time became an illusion.

    Had it ever been real?

    Maybe.

    Elijah blinked without eyes, without eyelids, as he looked at his Core from above. He could see himself, could see the caves, could see the fighting, could feel each breath of every monster as they scratched at their heads. They saw him and knew that he was inside their minds, but his physical shell was many floors away.

    Was¡­ was that a face?

    Sharp features, eyes that shined in color never meant to be unseen, and looking down on him with mild surprise. It was not every day that a mortal soul would travel so far above through the old channels, after all.

    No, this is not right.

    Too far in. Go back.

    What¡¯s happening?

    Human curiosity.

    The mental grip he¡¯d formed on instinct was torn away, he was torn into the depths again, and a sharp pain resonated through his soul as a fragment was removed. Elijah didn¡¯t scream, he didn¡¯t have a mouth to even whisper, yet the pain escaped his mind regardless.

    Sorry.

    The fragment was returned to him within an instance of time so short that no timer could¡¯ve had the chance to start, yet that instant had felt like an eternity. How¡­ How long had Elijah been in here?

    Why could he see?

    What could he see?

    Who had he seen?

    ¡®Don¡¯t think about it,¡¯ a voice suggested. It had to bounce around inside his shell for a long time before Elijah could collect himself enough to recognize it as the Dungeon. ¡®You weren¡¯t meant to see so far.¡¯

    ¡®I¡­ What?¡¯ Elijah said, lost for words as his mind struggled to contain the memories of the past¡­ however long he¡¯d been doing this. It had all been endless, every hint of something more coming in a stream too fast to fully process. ¡®Did I see you?¡¯

    ¡®No,¡¯ the Dungeon replied. ¡®You saw the one who is meant to be unseen. We are not meant to look. Don¡¯t think about them.¡¯

    Elijah wanted to say that not thinking about something wasn¡¯t that easy to do on command, but that piercing pain that began to spread through his chest made sure he was distracted.

    Wait.

    A pain in his chest?

    He was disconnected from his physical shell. Any sensation from his body was meant to have been unfelt, which it was.

    ¡®Your Core is fracturing,¡¯ the Dungeon explained, as another blow of pure agony flew through him. ¡®A consequence of knowing too much. Your soul was unprepared.¡¯

    ¡®I thought you said I was ready?¡¯ Elijah questioned, a fake hand on his fake chest as he did his best to focus on not letting the Mana inside flare up even further. The crystalline structure that made up his Core was being filled to the brim with energy, cycling through it all at speeds that he knew he couldn¡¯t handle.

    Were new paths being dug out?

    ¡®You were ready for a glimpse,¡¯ the Dungeon corrected. ¡®I gave you that glimpse, but you were unsatisfied. You grabbed at more. Very stupid. Refrain.¡¯

    He¡¯d annoyed the entity, as it returned to its normal manner of speech. Elijah could hear the words being sent towards him in a neverending stream, while the Dungeon focused on repairing every fracture his Core had sustained.

    ¡®When I explain, you listen,¡¯ it chided. ¡®Don¡¯t wander. Don¡¯t inspect. Sit. Listen. Hear. Don¡¯t talk. Don¡¯t move. Be guided. Don¡¯t guide.¡¯

    ¡®Yes, sorry, I understand,¡¯ Elijah apologized. ¡®Won¡¯t do it again.¡¯

    ¡®Good,¡¯ the Dungeon said. ¡®Your soul will evaporate if you wander again. You will learn control before the next explanation.¡¯

    Elijah wanted to counter the Entity¡¯s words and say that it had explained nothing at all, but¡­ that wasn¡¯t right. Though it was still itching in the back of his head, a wealth of lore was steadily being released into his thoughts. The truths of flesh, the secrets on how to command the blood, how to alter the muscle, how to alter the delicate chemical balance without letting it all topple.

    Formulas that had no root in mortal mathematics, secrets he couldn¡¯t speak or write down in only three dimensions, were fused with his old ideas of how to alter the biological world.

    There was still much that hadn¡¯t been connected, countless holes that he would have to supplement, but¡­ the degree that he could influence the flesh had just grown by leaps and bounds.

    Accelerating the natural healing process was a minor inconvenience. If Elijah understood this right, which he was very sure he was, he could mend wounds that the body couldn¡¯t handle on its own.

    A broken heart could be fixed, restored, and improved.

    ¡®Understand your limits,¡¯ the Dungeon advised, still reading his thoughts. ¡®They are pushed. You are stronger. Limits are still here.¡¯

    ¡®I know,¡¯ he assured the Entity. ¡®But¡­ Just this should be possible, right?¡¯

    ¡®No.¡¯

    It was an absolute fact. The Dungeon didn¡¯t see any caveat that would allow what Elijah had considered a plausible goal with his new abilities.

    Truthfully¡­ It was disheartening.

    ¡®If you wish to do this regardless, you need a push,¡¯ it continued. Elijah felt a spark of energy unfold outside in the cave that his body occupied. ¡®My final boon for now. Prove your worth before expecting anymore.¡¯

    ¡®What did you do?¡¯

    ¡®Figure it out,¡¯ the Dungeon replied bluntly. ¡®Perhaps after you solve your floating form.¡¯

    ¡®Excuse me?¡¯

    There was no reply to his question, as the Dungeon withdrew from his Core and left him to float around by his lonesome.

    Strange.

    With a moment to himself, however, Elijah was finally able to inspect the crystal sphere¡¯s new appearance.

    Like the last layer, this one was covered with a new batch of runes below the surface. One long spiral was used for all of them, the crystalline thread twisting and turning to complete the shapes flawlessly. It was akin to masterful penmanship, though each rune told an entire story instead of being restrained to a single word.

    What those stories were, Elijah couldn¡¯t say. He almost felt the meaning behind them when he studied the curses and depths, but it was always just at the tip of his tongue. Some back of his mind was shouting at him from not seeing what was obvious, but, try as he might, they were beyond him.

    Drawing them on paper and showing Alin would perhaps reveal what was hidden.

    An idea for later. Right now, the connection to his physical shell was starting to be strained, and the tired limbs were beginning to ignore their muted statues.

    ¡®We¡¯re floating,¡¯ Dawn commented.

    ¡®... Yes?¡¯ Elijah replied. ¡®That¡¯s how it usually works inside here.¡¯

    ¡®No,¡¯ she corrected. ¡®Outside. We¡¯re floating.¡¯

    With her words came a feed to her sight, which included failed attempts to fly around and Elijah¡¯s body floating around just a few meters away from the duck.

    They were easily ten meters above the ground.

    ¡­

    Never before had Elijah forced himself back into controlling his body, his eyes opening, and his lungs gasping for air as he felt the blood go to his head.

    ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± he half-shouted, instinctively trying to grab at the air for purchase. ¡°Is this your doing, Grace?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d love to be able to keep so much stuff in the air while making the wind unnoticeable, but, no, I''m not doing anything,¡± Grace replied, steadily floating by as she moved to rejoin her mentor and Aleksi some dozen meters away. ¡°You have Sasha to thank for this.¡±

    She pointed towards the ground below, where the woman in question was still sitting calmly in a lotus pose. Her body was unmoving, not influenced by the lack of gravity around her.

    So this is what it was warning me about.

    Elijah supposed this was one of the better ways this could¡¯ve gone. The last time that Sasha had improved her Core, there had been significant changes in temperature around her, to a point where they had needed to retreat to not be touched by it. He¡¯d assumed that her increased finesse over her abilities would¡¯ve stopped such an outburst, but it seemed that her skills had merely shifted the scales of what to expect.

    ¡°Can I just say that I was the only one who did this as intended?¡± Jack commented, happily accepting a ride from Grace over to the group before firmly grabbing Aleksi¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Elijah talked in tongues or whatever and Sasha just turned off gravity. Me having a coughing fit after transmuting stone dust into platinum wasn¡¯t that special.¡±

    ¡°I did say sorry for laughing,¡± Aleksi said in his defense, the giant¡¯s grin staying firmly in place. ¡°But don¡¯t you worry. I won¡¯t make a single comment next time I have to help get gold nuggets out of your throat.¡±

    There were a lot of questions that Elijah felt were needed, but everything quieted down when the air started to shift.

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    It was minor at first. Just a small push which made Elijah float toward the jagged roof of the cave.

    Then something snapped and gravity came back in full force.

    Shit!

    An uncharacteristic yelp left both him and others as they suddenly plummeted towards the floor.

    Elijah braced, hands over his head to protect his skull, and an immediate call was sent out to the plants below to soften the blow. While the roots did respond quickly, quicker than even he¡¯d expected of them, it was unneeded.

    As suddenly as the world began to drag him back to the ground it stopped, a mighty wind pushing against his body and keeping him in place.

    ¡°That is me,¡± Grace announced through clenched teeth, red-faced and sweating while she kept everybody in mid-air. That he could even hear her words was an achievement to her control, though it was still frightfully loud as she slowly put them back down the ground. ¡°You¡¯re doing it next time, Alin.¡±

    ¡°Why should I?¡± Alin countered with a smile, helping the tired Wind Mage up from the ground. ¡°I would not struggle with it.¡±

    ¡°You¡­ agh.¡±

    Elijah ignored them as he got back on his feet and walked over to Sasha. The young woman had opened her eyes, blinking slowly as she looked down at her hands.

    ¡°How do you feel?¡± he asked.

    ¡°... Fine,¡± Sasha replied, getting back up on her feet without trouble. There was no shakiness, no hint of being uncomfortable. She was as centered as she¡¯d been when they had first entered, except her Core shined a lot more now.

    Or was that even the right way to describe the void that sat within her? Elijah didn¡¯t know what to call it, except an unending darkness that seemed to stop even light from escaping its clutches.

    ¡°Anything new on your Status?¡± Jack asked, quick to arrive as well. ¡°You had us all floating around for a while, so there must be something.¡±

    ¡°Absorption and Desorption are Tier 4 now,¡± Sasha said, after making the world reveal her Status.

    Elijah had to admit that he was surprised by such an upgrade. With the significant show of power during the expansion of her Core, he had expected something extensive, but to skip Tier 3 entirely was¡­ well, he hadn¡¯t thought such a thing to be possible.

    But, again, the Dungeon had told him that Sasha was expected to break the standard rules. Maybe this was just part of what that entailed.

    ¡°Oh, damn, I almost feel bad about my upgrade now,¡± Jack complained. ¡°I just got an increase to the capacity and a little more fine-tuning.¡±

    Going by the fact that the man had allegedly been able to transform stone dust into a solid sphere of platinum in under five seconds, Elijah felt he was underselling the increase just a smidge.

    Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t bother to join the bickering that ensued. After all, he had improvements of his own to inspect.

    Name: Elijah Caede

    Affinity: Biomancy

    Mana: 1336

    Spells:

    [Accelerate Growth](Tier 1)

    [Plant Bond](Tier 1)

    [Animal Bond](Tier 2)

    [Plant Storage](Tier 2)

    [Flesh Bond](Tier 4)

    [Breathe Life](Tier 5)

    An increase to his Mana-Capacity was the first thing he noticed, which was nice. With it, he¡¯d also gained some more fine control over his usage of the energy, which had been very noticeable when he¡¯d ordered the plants nearby to prepare for his fall.

    No new Spells, however, which briefly disappointed him until he glanced at the Tiers.

    Five.

    Breathe Life had gone from Tier 4 to Tier 5.

    To the untrained, it seemed like a very minor upgrade, but the distance between each Tier grew exponentially. The first steps were perhaps nothing serious, but between Tier 4 and 5¡­ Elijah hadn¡¯t expected to make that leap in a long time.

    So, of course, there was nothing more to do than try the improved Spell out.

    Channeling of [Breathe Life] has been activated! Current cost: 51MP/sec

    A higher cost, but it mattered little as Elijah only allowed himself to stand in that glory for a moment. His vision widened under that light of innovation. Small flaws in his old designs were mentally corrected, the ideas of what he could do were revealed, and¡­ while before it had been a passing study of the flesh, the Spell now revealed much more detail on how to manipulate the building blocks of the living.

    ¡®Hey, I found the boon!¡¯

    Dawn brought him out of his thoughts, as she waddled over to one of the nearby clusters of plants that had been undisturbed by the chaos.

    Thick strands of tall grass stopped him from looking far within the group of plants, but the lack of response from magical senses made Elijah think nothing of importance was there.

    How wrong he was.

    When Dawn tore away the grass and revealed what was hidden, he was without words.

    ¡°An Idun Apple?¡± Alin said, sounding baffled. ¡°Now that is not a prize we see often at this depth.¡±

    ¡°Is it rare as well?¡± Jack asked.

    Elijah didn¡¯t rush over to the small tree which held the one golden apple. He didn¡¯t dare. What if he fell and somehow hurt the fruit in the process? He would never be able to forgive himself for such a mistake

    ¡°This would be the second time I¡¯ve seen an Idun Tree grow this high up in Dungeon,¡± Alin replied. ¡°The same could be said for the dozen others who delve this far down, but¡­ I¡¯d say that less than a hundred apples have ever been confirmed to have grown in these depths. ¡®Rare¡¯ doesn¡¯t cut it as a descriptor, in this instance.¡±

    Elijah agreed, as he sat on one knee and gently wrapped both hands around the golden apple.

    ¡®Hello,¡¯ he sent the fruit. It replied in kind, though no words were spoken. ¡®Would you mind if I pluck you from your tree?¡¯

    The apple wanted to know what he wished to use it for.

    ¡®To heal a person that is dear to me.¡¯

    It contemplated his intentions before accepting them, cleanly cutting itself free from its stem. In response, the short tree instantly withered, its purpose complete as no more fruits were destined to grow from its branches.

    Elijah smiled briefly before his face twisted into shock as the golden apple separated its body into two identical halves. With the preciseness and the lack of disturbance to its properties, he knew that it was intentional, but¡­ He hadn¡¯t asked for this.

    ¡®I did!¡¯ Dawn announced, jumping up and down at her feet, her back feathers shaking fast enough that they had a real chance at making her fly. ¡®Give!¡¯

    ¡­ Oh.

    ¡°This was the boon you were promised?¡± Elijah asked aloud, as he looked down at Dawn.

    ¡®Yes!¡¯

    ¡°What would you get from this?¡±

    ¡®... Something?¡¯

    ¡°Do you know what it is?¡±

    ¡®Yes!¡¯

    ¡°Please, tell me then.¡±

    ¡®But it would ruin the surprise.¡¯

    ¡­

    Screw it.

    If anybody asked, Dawn had given him a good reason why she needed to be given half of the Idun Apple. Something along the lines of her being able to grow it herself, if she was allowed such a treasure. Never would he confess that it was because the duck had perfected the skill of making puppy eyes.

    ¡°Enjoy it,¡± Elijah said, giving Dawn the right half of the Idun Apple. The beak widened and lengthened to take the entire fruit in at once, the size allowing her to contain the juices that came from instantly crunching down on the mythical apple.

    Every single drop of the mash had been swallowed before he could get back on his feet and rise to his full height. Every trace of the apple¡¯s existence was gone, and only Dawn remained.

    Or, no, that wasn¡¯t true.

    As he bagged the remaining half of the Idun Apple, safely storing it inside his left chest pocket, he began to notice a glow leaving Dawn. It was subtle at first, easily blending in with her already golden feathers, but as it grew in brightness it was undeniable.

    ¡°Uhm¡­ Elijah, is Dawn going to explode?¡± Grace nervously asked, standing next to him as they all observed the duck. ¡°I think she¡¯s growing?¡±

    He didn¡¯t share the sentiment at first, merely thinking it a trick of the blinding light, but switching over to his magical senses revealed the truth. The feathers of the duck were growing, combining with the others, and the length and height of Dawn¡¯s form were increasing as well.

    Elijah could barely stand to look in her direction, even with an arm in front of him to stop most of the light from reaching his eyes, yet he refused to turn away. Dawn wasn¡¯t answering his questions, repeating that it was a surprise.

    And then she stopped answering at all when the feathers disappeared entirely and were replaced by a smooth surface.

    Then a cloth-like texture in other parts, which made Elijah finally start to understand why her increasing height was steadily starting to match his own. The width as well, as the wings became arms that lengthened and were adorned with golden cloth.

    ¡°Is that¡­¡± Jack began to ask, before growing quiet.

    ¡°Yes, I believe it is,¡± Elijah answered regardless, baffled by the sight before them.

    Though it took another minute before Dawn fixed all the exaggerated features, leaving behind the form of a lazy imitation, it was impossible to deny the results.

    Like looking into a colored mirror.

    ¡®Surprise!¡¯ Dawn shouted in excitement. Her mouth moved, but it was only in his mind that he heard the words. ¡®What do you think?¡¯

    With a speed and finesse that Elijah wouldn¡¯t be able to match, Dawn spun around to show off her form. Ignoring the skin was tinted too green, and that the blue robes had been replaced with ones that were a bright gold instead, their appearances were identical.

    Elijah had no words.

    ¡°Did you ask her to do this?¡± Aleksi asked him in a low voice, leaning over his shoulder. The giant was grinning ear to ear. ¡°A little self-indulgent, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for this,¡± he hissed back, frowning at Dawn¡¯s form and the confused look on her face. Her replica of his face. It was unnerving. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what she was going to do.¡±

    ¡®... You don¡¯t like it?¡¯

    Even if the words weren¡¯t spoken aloud, the movements of her lips were easy for the others to read.

    ¡®It¡¯s surprising, more than anything else,¡¯ Elijah confessed. ¡®Very weird to see my own face and not be in control of it as well. But, honestly, I have to ask why¡ª¡¯

    ¡®Oh, don¡¯t worry!¡¯ Dawn cut in before he could finish. ¡®I¡¯ll fix it!¡¯

    Much faster than before, the fake skin unwrapped and morphed into a different shape. When it was so close to real flesh, the process looked horrific enough that Elijah was once again at a loss for words.

    Only when Dawn reformed herself, half a head taller and in the form of a woman did he regain the ability to form thoughts.

    ¡°Is that meant to be an older version of me?¡± Grace questioned, eyes narrowed as she studied the face. Elijah did the same, needing a moment to identify those features.

    Mary.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s one of my assistants,¡± Elijah corrected. The hole-filled workwear and spotted pants made more sense now.

    ¡®Is this better?¡¯¡¯ Dawn asked through the bond, hands behind her back as she proudly stood in front of him.

    ¡®It¡¯s not as disconcerting, yes, but I have to ask why you are doing this,¡¯ he replied, frown still firmly in place. ¡®Why the sudden need to imitate people?¡¯

    Dawn slowly blinked, not understanding why he had needed to ask. Confusion rang clear through the bond. Elijah was already expected to know the answer.

    ¡®Because people are useful?¡¯

    ¡®They can be, sure, but why did you feel the need to become one?¡¯

    ¡®Because I want to be useful.¡¯

    ¡®You¡¯re already useful to me.¡¯

    ¡®But I can be better! I can¡­ carry buckets?¡¯

    What?

    The memory of the conversation with Mary during the afternoon came back to him, making Elijah groan. That was what had caused all of this?

    ¡°Incredible,¡± Alin muttered, moving forward and gently grabbing Dawn¡¯s right hand. She didn¡¯t resist, just looking on confused, as the Earth Mage glided a finger across the palm. ¡°The upper surface of an Idun Apple, mixed in with what I think is a wide variety of different tree barks to imitate the texture of skin. I would¡¯ve never imagined somebody doing something like this.¡±

    ¡°Because it would be a waste of a legendary fruit in most cases,¡± Elijah supplied, sighing as the frown was replaced with resignation. ¡®Dawn, you¡¯re more useful than what most people could ever dream of being. While being able to imitate a human could be useful, and we will going to be figuring out what this form allows you to do, your value won¡¯t change whether or not you can do this. I treasure you no matter what.¡¯

    ¡®... Oh,¡¯ Dawn replied, looking down at her humanoid figure. ¡®...I skipped second dinner for this.¡¯

    ¡®Do you regret it?¡¯

    ¡®Not sure,¡¯ Dawn replied, withdrawing her hand from Alin¡¯s grip as she touched her face. Elijah wasn¡¯t sure what to think about the images that could be seen through the bond. ¡®Not having wings is weird, though.¡¯

    Always a duck at heart, he supposed.

    ¡®A shame you¡¯ve spent so much Mana building up the mass for this display,¡¯ Elijah commented. The incredible supply in the Dungeon made it easier to recoup, but the costs of creating such a perfect mimic of a person were still considerable.

    ¡®Not a problem!¡¯ Dawn assured him, however. ¡®The big eye gave me a boon, remember?¡¯

    ¡®Wasn¡¯t the boon the apple?¡¯

    ¡®That was yours,¡¯ she corrected. ¡®Mine is this!¡¯

    Like a balloon being popped, Dawn¡¯s mass vanished from sight, compressing itself until the shape of a duck could once again be spotted.

    With the feathers and beak added back, there was no difference when compared to her previous shape. Not even her weight was different, which was the most confusing thing of all.

    Then it clicked.

    ¡®A dynamic version of Plant Storage?¡¯ he guessed, Dawn¡¯s feathers shaking in excitement in response. ¡®Fascinating.¡¯

    Even with the mishaps, this little trip into the depths had been more than worth it.

 Chapter 104: Tic Toc

    When they left behind the Dungeon, the moon was high in the sky and shining down on them. A dozen streets over, laughter and cheering could be heard as food and drink were consumed in massive amounts, but here there was nothing of the sort. The windows of the houses were dark, the street was empty, and it was likely that nobody would be there until the sun rose once again.

    ¡°A quiet end to the day,¡± Alin commented, after handing over the papers detailing their dive to the Dungeon Guard. Even with their status, it was still a requirement to have every visit written down in detail. ¡°Not a terrible thing, with how hectic it was down there.¡±

    ¡°You could say that,¡± Elijah agreed. However, he noticed the mildly nervous expression when he looked over at Grace. And that smile on her mentor¡­ It was a little too bright. ¡°Do you have anything you want to ask?¡±

    ¡°Sharp eyes as always,¡± the Earth Mage gave in immediately. ¡°As you know, my apprentice has graduated from being a mere student and joined the ranks of scholars. While finishing her thesis would normally be followed by starting on another even more complex project, I¡¯ve received a formal request from her to¡ª¡±

    ¡°I want to leave the city with all of you,¡± Grace cut in, her tolerance for the flowery language reached. ¡°Alin told me you¡¯re leaving in two days. I want to come with you.¡±

    ¡­ Elijah supposed this had been planned from the start. It was strange how easy it had been to get the Earth Mage to escort them into the Dungeon on such short notice. He¡¯d expected that it would have to wait a day before there would be an opening, but no such thing was needed if Alin had already hoped to do just that.

    Making Grace fight the monsters alone hadn¡¯t just been to judge her technique. It had been to prove that she could handle herself and show that she wouldn¡¯t be a burden if brought along.

    Nevertheless, Elijah could still remember the young girl who had twisted her ankle trying to run down the stairs, the over-enthusiastic Wind Mage who had been bedridden for days after pushing her magical abilities too far, and the very same woman who had been halfway to breaking down after killing a peer to save herself and Elijah.

    But she had grown beyond all of that.

    ¡°I assume that those above have allowed this addition?¡± Elijah asked, to which Alin nodded. ¡°Figures.¡±

    ¡°More importantly, Grace, are you sure that you want to do this?¡± Aleksi questioned. ¡°You will be away from the city for almost three weeks. For somebody that has never ventured outside the walls, that can be a very long time.¡±

    ¡°I know, but I also doubt that it¡¯ll be as traumatic as what happened inside,¡± Grace replied. She smiled, but neither of the two old men could manage to mirror it. ¡°And it¡¯s not that I¡¯m hoping to go alone. It¡¯s with you.¡±

    ¡°Even then¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes or no,¡± she cut in before Elijah could offer any form of rebuttal. ¡°I won¡¯t be a burden to you.¡±

    ¡­

    Elijah looked at Aleksi for advice. The giant provided none, looking as conflicted as Elijah felt.

    That wasn¡¯t what Aleksi was supposed to do. He was meant to be the lenient one, to press Elijah to allow the younger folk to try out new things. Instead, parental instincts took over, and neither of them wanted to risk her life.

    They¡¯d been attacked on their last journey, after all. Yet Grace still wanted to follow in their footsteps.

    ¡­ Maybe I am getting too lenient with age.

    ¡°Make sure your mother knows that this was your choice,¡± Elijah finally said, sighing when Grace ran over to hug him excitedly. He was already regretting this. ¡°We¡¯re leaving the day after tomorrow during the early morning. Make sure you have clothes and other personal items to last you for a full month.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Grace just about shouted in reply, mock saluting before laughing once again. ¡°I¡¯ll get everything sorted out before you know it.¡±

    ¡°As long as it¡¯s done before we leave the city, I don¡¯t care.¡±

    Not long after, the group split up. Grace was more than ready to race back to her mother¡¯s inn to deliver the good news, and Alin had another stack of reports to go through before heading to bed.

    As for the two otherworlders¡­ Elijah had expected both of them to join him and Aleksi and return to the old shop, but both had differing opinions. Sasha felt no need to sleep just yet and was planning to leave them for the brothel and spar with Cas. Elijah almost questioned why she thought that man would be awake at this hour but the answer was obvious.

    When it came to Jack, the man ¡®had to¡¯ figure out the limits of this new upgrade of his. Since his dealings with Lugh granted him a key to the smithy, he was planning to both practice and sleep inside that workshop.

    Did Elijah think that either of the two was smart for such choices? Not at all, but it wasn¡¯t as if he had ground to stand on.

    ¡°That way you looked at me when you picked up the apple,¡± Aleksi said, the instant the door to the shop was locked and there were ears that could listen in. ¡°I take it you have an idea?¡±

    ¡°More than just an idea,¡± Elijah corrected. Carefully, he pulled the last half of the Idun Apple out of his pocket. Even when cut up, the energy contained within the fruit was magnificent and of such unending complexity that he doubted he could replicate it on his own. ¡°The Dungeon gave me quite the lesson in manipulating flesh. Enough to make changes to a certain organ of yours that¡¯s been problematic, though I don¡¯t have the strength to keep you alive on my own.¡±

    ¡°And that apple can do it?¡± the giant asked, to which Elijah nodded. ¡°... It¡¯s enticing.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Elijah agreed. ¡°It¡¯s probably why the Dungeon gave me that apple to begin with. It felt the desire.¡±

    ¡°Oh, so you just want me healthy so I can be your bodyguard again?¡± Aleksi teased, laughing when Elijah gave him a jab on the shoulder while walking by into the laboratory. The giant followed without hesitation. ¡°Don¡¯t act like it¡¯s not a part of why you want to do this.¡±

    Where did I put those damned medium beakers?

    ¡°Of course, I want you able to defend me,¡± Elijah fired back as he went down on his knees to rummage through the lowest shelves. Other than dust, the homes of a few spiders, and broken vials he¡¯d procrastinated throwing out, there was nothing. ¡°I want you to be able to run, to hold an ax and actually use it, to throw a full-grown man like he weighs nothing because I know how much you loved it. I¡ª Oh, thanks.¡±

    ¡°Not a problem,¡± Aleksi assured him, giving him the medium beaker that he¡¯d somehow located before Elijah.

    Taking a few vials from his jackets and emptying them into the beaker. It was just a few variants of healing liquids, focused around different types of injuries. Some worked better for muscles, some for cuts, and one or two focused on keeping a body alive no matter how much damage it caused to make that happen.

    ¡°We¡¯re old,¡± Elijah continued. ¡°The medication I¡¯m making for you on the regular might keep your heart beating steadily for now, but I don''t know how many years that might continue. You might have accepted that fact, but I haven¡¯t. I¡ª¡±

    ¡°No need for that now,¡± the giant cut in before Elijah could finish that sentence. ¡°Remember the deal we made. I keep you safe from the world, and you make sure my body doesn¡¯t stop moving.¡±

    That blasted deal.

    Dual-Channeling of [Breathe Life] and [Plant Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 21MP/sec

    The wave of truths regarding the mixture in the beaker brought Elijah out of his spiraling mind. It was a gracious gift from the world, made even better by him being able to combine the different liquids until he was sure they would all work together to hold the body stable.

    ¡°So you won¡¯t mind if I alter your heart so it can beat for a long while more?¡± Elijah asked, beaker in one hand and the apple in the other. ¡°There is a risk I might mess up.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s always risks,¡± Aleksi countered with a grin. Elijah had always hated that side of the giant. He was too willing to wager his life for a promise of something better. ¡°I trust you.¡±

    ¡°... Fine,¡± Elijah said, handing the larger man the beaker. ¡°Drink this.¡±

    Aleksi downed it without question, the drink disappearing into the giant¡¯s gut. Elijah saw as it traveled through the body, as it began to activate and allow its effects to flow through the flesh until it reached the heart.

    But it didn''t act just yet.

    ¡°Feels tingly,¡± Aleksi commented, a shudder flying through the giant. Elijah didn''t offer a reply, just passing the man the Idun Apple next. ¡°So, what, I just eat it raw?¡±

    ¡°Since anything I could do to it would only degrade the effectiveness, yes,¡± Elijah confirmed. Aleksi looked at him for a moment before just shrugging and taking a bite. ¡°How does it taste?¡±

    ¡°Like if some freak decided to fill a perfectly good apple with a bucket load of sugar,¡± the giant said, grimacing at the sheer sweetness. ¡°Wait, you didn¡¯t even know what it would taste like?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not exactly the most vital detail for the fruit.¡±

    ¡°Well, go and write it down somewhere after this. The next poor fool to eat one of these needs to be prepared.¡±

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    Elijah just rolled his eyes as he watched the man chew through the last parts of the apple. The fruit was already starting to awaken as it went down the giant¡¯s throat, as could be seen by the golden glow starting to escape the skin.

    Now comes the hard part.

    Having already emptied the main table of anything of importance, Aleksi was made to lay down on top of it. The giant barely fit, the feet going a bit over the edge, but neither cared.

    ¡°Any chance of a pillow?¡± Aleksi requested with a grin. Elijah didn''t reply in words. A short stare of judgment was more than enough. ¡°Just checking.¡±

    ¡­ Dawn, could you make him a pillow?

    ¡®Yes!¡¯

    With a flash of gold and green, the duck appeared in mid-air. Without much free space on the table, however, she was forced to land on the ground.

    A minor inconvenience nowadays, since Dawn had no problems dealing with such a height requirement. In a single breath, the duck form had been shed in favor of a human one.

    ¡°Crazy stuff,¡± Aleksi muttered, raising his head when Dawn used her new hand to nudge it upwards. With her fingers now below the giant, a pillow-shaped bag containing hundreds of fake feathers began to grow, expanding until they were about the size of the pillows on their beds. ¡°Damn. You could sell these.¡±

    ¡°Since the material will be severely degraded within a week, I don¡¯t believe so,¡± Elijah countered. He took a deep breath, feeling the final threads of Mana inside settle down within his grasp. Everything was ready. ¡°I¡¯m going to start now. Don¡¯t move until I¡¯m done.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t dream of it.¡±

    A sarcastic remark, one that made Elijah roll his eyes as he retreated from the physical world and allowed his mind to dive into the giant¡¯s flesh. There was a brief moment of resistance as he did, Aleksi¡¯s body detecting his foreign presence and trying to fight against it, but the healing liquids he¡¯d made the man drink minutes before calmed down the system quickly.

    It trusted him, just like Aleksi.

    Good.

    Dual-Channeling of [Breathe Life] and [Flesh Bond] has been activated! Current cost: 42MP/sec

    The depth was instantly dialed down, bringing the cost to an average of 16 MP per second. Barely a minute and a half to work with, if he only used his personal reserves, but the air inside the laboratory and Dawn¡¯s presence could extend the window to around three minutes.

    With the Idun Apple already calling to him, and lowering the price even further¡­ he couldn¡¯t say.

    ¡®Reject your ways of life,¡¯ he ordered the flesh that sat inside the giant. It listened to him, listened to his words as if they were the words of a higher being, and they moved at his orders. ¡®You have weakened this vessel for long enough.¡¯

    With his senses giving him a full view of the body processes, he could only grimace at the sights seen. The heart was as enlarged as ever, with higher blood pressure, a reduced flow rate that came from the valves not being able to close properly, and those tears on the sides that would only spread if true strain was forced on the organ.

    And that edge of the green in the veins which surrounded the left and right ventricle¡­ Scars from the old life of a berserker. Elijah loathed that elixir, and the damage it had caused, but he knew that there was nothing to be done about the past. He could only work towards improving what was here now, and make sure that the future was a little brighter.

    ¡®I call upon the favor you allowed,¡¯ Elijah sent to the Idun Apple. It accepted his words instantly, the legendary energy flowing through the body and covering the heart. Anything that would be done would be kept stable by the fruit. ¡®Thank you.¡¯

    The apple welcomed the praise but hurried him to accelerate the changes.

    Elijah did just that.

    With his knowledge of the muscles that were contained within the human body, he could spot the flaws and inconsistencies rather easily. To alter the bonds to strengthen the fibers and increase the endurance of the heart was trivial, but this alone would do nothing in the long run. A larger resistance to the strains of the body would only do so much if the damage would still accumulate over time.

    No¡­ he needed to go deeper. The flesh had to know how to heal itself properly, and how to repair the damage. While it could already do plenty in the ways of regeneration, there were limits. Elijah pushed past those, teaching the muscles their ideal states and how to reach those.

    Aleksi would need a more protein-rich diet after this, to bear the extra load, but Elijah doubted the giant would mind.

    Further on, the size of the heart was reduced. Not by much, since the flow still needed to be kept high, but the effectiveness was drastically improved. At anything higher than 180 beats per minute, the organ had proved itself unable to properly synchronize its beating, causing all kinds of side effects.

    Unacceptable, when the elixir brought it over 200 as a standard.

    Human hearts weren¡¯t meant to sustain such a rate, of course, but that was why the elixir wasn¡¯t intended to be used for more than a few years. It brought the bodies to the apex and then threw them away when they could no longer handle the strain.

    What Elijah wouldn¡¯t give to strangle the creator of the recipe.

    Calm yourself.

    Taking a deep breath, he kept working. The ability to handle sudden bursts of rapid beating was dealt with, tissues were strengthened to accept adrenaline more easily, and the adaptation to outside stimuli was likewise improved. Within a few seconds, Aleksi would be able to reach peak strength, and less than a minute after he could return to a calm state.

    Hopefully.

    ¡®Hurry it up,¡¯ Elijah encouraged, feeding the flesh more and more of his Mana while he oversaw the changes. He could feel his own Core starting to run empty, but the changes were yet to have been completed. ¡®Flaws are not¡ª Damn it!¡¯

    He could hear Aleksi gasp as a tear in the left ventricle suddenly appeared. With the pain came adrenaline and an increased heart rate, leading to more tearing until the wall of the heart threatened to burst.

    ¡°Dawn,¡± Elijah forced out through his teeth, as he increased the output of Mana to focus on the problematic heart chamber. The flesh was fighting to keep itself together, and with his help, he could just barely keep it that way, but there was no chance to revert the damage on his own.

    ¡®On it!¡¯

    Another grunt of pain left the giant as she slapped both her hands onto his chest, small roots rapidly growing from her fingers and into his chest. Elijah couldn¡¯t imagine the agony caused by the action and neither did he have time for it, as he guided Dawn to the left ventricle.

    ¡°Whatever you¡¯re doing¡ª¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk,¡± Elijah cut in before Aleksi could move around his chest more. The giant shut up after that, though it was obvious that the pain was getting to him. ¡°We¡¯re fixing it.¡±

    The small roots split off into hundreds of smaller ones, weaving together the muscle fibers around the heart chamber and forcibly binding it together. Each beat of the heart was an attempt by the body to rip away any amount of progress, but both Elijah and Dawn were unrelenting.

    ¡®Become new.¡¯

    He wasn¡¯t sure if it was through their work, or if the world had deemed their willpower enough to manifest a miracle, but the organ began to calm and the muscle hold steady.

    For the moment, at least. The moment that Dawn began to retreat her influence, the force of the flowing blood would once again be too much.

    Elijah had made the left atrium too powerful, not just in the sense that it could sustain a strong current of blood moving through it, but also without the ability to update to the internal pressures. From what the heart could understand, it was performing at ordinary levels, regulating without knowing the modifiers in place.

    It was an issue that took less than ten seconds to fix, but even then it brought him dread. Such a minor inconsistency could cause such devastation¡­

    ¡°Are you still feeling any pain?¡± Elijah asked as he retreated to let his reserves be restored. The Idun Apple took over in the meanwhile, holding the organ steady together with the remaining energies from the concoction.

    ¡°Other than a slight headrush, I¡¯ve got no complaints,¡± Aleksi replied. A few more minutes of observations confirmed the statement, the giant not having any obvious consequences from the alterations. ¡°Are you done already?¡±

    ¡°Just about,¡± Elijah said, stopping Aleksi from getting up just yet. Checking the insides again revealed that the organ was operating as normal, with nothing malfunctioning just yet. ¡°I¡¯ve patched everything together, and your heart should be able to handle the tensions of life now, but going by my word alone means little.¡±

    ¡°So we have to make sure it can hold up to that claim,¡± the giant concluded. After getting permission, he sat up on the table. ¡°... No instant death for me, it seems.¡±

    ¡°No discomfort?¡±

    ¡°Quite the opposite,¡± Aleksi assured him, as he got back on his feet. As expected, the man towered over Elijah, with his back straight and face in quiet contemplation. ¡°No weird pangs coming and going, my lungs are light, and that pressure on my chest is gone.¡±

    Not a bad start, though just standing wasn¡¯t a good indication of how the organ would respond to stress. Not before long, Elijah had the giant doing pushups, squats, and moving some furniture around while they were at it.

    And, while moving the kitchen table certainly wasn¡¯t a trivial task, at no point did the giant have to even breathe deeply.

    ¡°That felt lighter than it did last year,¡± Aleksi commented, as they moved the chairs back to the table. ¡°Muscles haven¡¯t changed in size, though.¡±

    ¡°I suppose your heart was holding you back,¡± Elijah replied. ¡°The residue of the Idun Apple in your system is likely aiding as well. Even if I made it concentrate on the heart, just the presence should¡¯ve made your muscles be in perfect condition.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that probably did it,¡± the giant agreed, flexing his fingers. ¡°Ready for the next step?¡±

    ¡°Not like we can postpone it.¡±

    Aleksi rummaged through the hidden side pocket inside his jacket before fishing out a green vial. It was one of the smaller ones, a quarter of the usual dose, but still more than enough to show off the effects.

    ¡°Cheers,¡± was all that was said before the contents were downed and the vial was given to Elijah who absentmindedly handed it to Dawn who stood beside him. ¡°Not feeling anything immediately, but¡ª Oh, no, never mind, there it is.¡±

    It started at the throat, the jugular veins transforming into a mildly bioluminescent green as they expanded. From there, the green lines spread out further, first traveling upwards and making the eyes gain that same coloring before going further down to the chest.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not sleeping tonight,¡± Aleksi declared, shaking his arms while keeping his core body steady for Elijah to study. ¡°Still no pain. This is just hitting much harder than it should be. Is this your doing?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Elijah said, not sure about the logistics himself. From what he could tell, however, the heart was dealing with the increased heart rate flawlessly. Even when it was steadily ramping up to 200 beats per minute, and the breaths of the giant became deeper, there was no hint of massive strain. The blood flowed, the valves opened in perfect rhythm, and the elixir had no issues complimenting the improvements. ¡°Slight increase in mass.¡±

    ¡°Whole body is gaining a bit of width, actually¡± the giant agreed, flexing his right bicep with a grin. Elijah was unamused. ¡°Is it getting bigger than it¡¯s meant to?¡±

    ¡°... No.¡±

    ¡°Then I guess you¡¯ve just done the impossible,¡± Aleksi said, laughing as he lifted Elijah from the floor.¡°Oh, I¡¯ve missed this feeling!¡±

    Elijah noted that the standard dosing for the vials needed to be lowered if this was what a quarter did to the giant¡¯s mental faculties.

    ¡­ Or I could alter the body¡¯s response to elixir.

 Chapter 105: No Complacency

    When morning came, the pace of tasks didn¡¯t stop. Elijah barely had time to rest between his actual work, the journey preparations, and the experiments with Aleksi.

    Phoenix Drops helped keep his body moving while the sun rose above the horizon, but only so much that could be done for his dwindling patience for arrogant nobles. With just about all the dukes and important barons within the castle walls, each one had to be seen for any injuries or ailments they believed they had. Anything from toes hurting to a mild morning headache was the most severe wound anybody had attained in the past millennia and required Elijah''s presence immediately.

    Most of it could be thrown at his assistants after the initial observations, but all the morning hours still had to be wasted within the castle halls. The next few after that were in the gardens, using his newfound knowledge to further improve any of the plants and herbs that showed any signs of actual sickness or weakness.

    That included a small study on the Phoenix Tree which proved that Mary¡¯s claims had been true. Though it was a rather rare event, the branches would swing around during the early and late hours to catch the first and last rays of the sun. Elijah initially thought such sporadic movements were a waste of energy, and that there was no chance of any net gain, but that assumption was proved wrong.

    Such efficient conversion to sugars.

    All the plants inside the garden needed an hour or so to reach the peak effectiveness for photosynthesis, but the variant in front of him had grown beyond that scale. Through modifications it¡¯d done with the spare Mana sent its way, the tree had modified the surface cells on the leaves to become powerhouses of conversion.

    Another hour had been spent adjusting that particular plant¡¯s position inside the Royal Garden to maximize the hours it could receive light from above, and his assistants were ordered to monitor the soil for nutrients in case the extra rays would increase its performance as much as Elijah hoped.

    Not a good pace.

    Taking care of alchemical provisions for the journey was incredibly fast. With the routine harvests, and the fast-growing army of variant plants inside the gardens, a multitude of dried leaves and herbs were ready for the taking. With all three of them inside the laboratory, burners at full capacity, and all the tables filled with glasses in use, they could sit back and let the mixtures cool before lunch arrived.

    The rest of the day was spent down in the Dungeon together with a certain giant. With his newfound ability to consume the elixir without his heart exploding, they had both become curious about where the limit was drawn. Anything they¡¯d tried through the night had caused no strain on the heart in the slightest, and cuts and deeper gashes took less than a second to disappear.

    Even in the morning, when the elixir had stopped showing its presence on the skin, that ability to regenerate had still been present. It came with a surge of green veins around the throat and made the giant¡¯s eyes glow brightly, but that was expected.

    The rapid change in mental states? Less so.

    ¡®Do you see why I brought him a change of clothes now?¡¯ Elijah said as he and Dawn sat by one of the trees down in the dungeon, watching Aleksi rip the head off the fourth flying insect in a minute. Though that species had very little capacity for high-level logic, the shouting and laughing from the giant¡¯s side seemingly made the rest wary of approaching.

    Or maybe it was the fact that the man was drenched in green blood from head to toe.

    If Elijah hadn¡¯t been desensitized from such views decades ago, he was sure he¡¯d be having second questions about being so close to the fighting.

    ¡°Oh, I love this!¡± Aleksi shouted from the top of his lungs, as the final bug fell to his ax. The flesh was smeared into every crevice of the stone floor, the stench of guts was enough to make lesser men lose their stomach contents, and Elijah knew for a fact that the giant would need to spend a few hours in the shower to have a chance of getting all the goop out of his hair and beard. ¡°Never thought I would do something like this again.¡±

    ¡°Clear out an entire floor by your lonesome?¡± Elijah asked.

    Minding the slippery ground, he moved over to the giant and put a hand on his chest. There was a brief moment where instincts demanded that he pull away, the heated blood and gore a warning sign to flee, but Elijah forced that emotion away.

    Studying the heartbeat was much more fascinating regardless.

    ¡°I got the entire floor?¡± Aleksi said. The giant briefly tried to turn his entire body to look around, but Elijah forced him to keep the pose as he looked over the ticking organ inside. ¡°Huh. Didn¡¯t even notice.¡±

    The trance state is still in effect then.

    As expected, the heart was doing quite well. Response adjustments had caused it to adapt to current circumstances. Unlike before, where the elixir would spike the adrenaline to the maximum and make it beat at over 200 beats per minute, it now held steady at 150 outside of active combat. Still incredibly high for a person standing motionless, but Aleksi suffered no ill effects from it.

    The opposite, in fact. The lowered heart rate allowed the elixir to have a more fine eye for detail, as it mended the most minute of micro-tears. Those small injuries within the flesh that would be overlooked during fights, ones that had little consequences in the short term, were now being dealt with.

    From that trait alone, the life expectancy of the giant had just increased to a hundred.

    Insanity.

    ¡°Anything you want to do before we go down to the foxes?¡± Aleksi asked, rolling his shoulders in anticipation of the next fight. Elijah just stared at the glowing eyes for a moment before sighing. ¡°What? I can handle it, don¡¯t you¡ª Holy. Warn me next time, please.¡±

    ¡°If I warned you, I fear you might want to delay the pull-down,¡± Elijah replied, removing his hand from the giant¡¯s chest while the man dealt with the sudden lucidity. ¡°And I do need you to be able to think properly if I¡¯m to alter your vital organs. It¡¯s going to be bad if I¡¯m stopped halfway.¡±

    While finding a method to mostly nullify the effects of the elixir on the body near-instantly had been accidental, Elijah treasured it regardless. It was relatively simple as well. A sudden flash of Mana from a Biomancer through the nervous system would make the elixir panic and go into something close to hibernation.

    Temporarily, to be clear. It wasn¡¯t anywhere close to permanent. Going by what they¡¯d learned from repeated experimentation, the effects would be back in full force the second Aleksi got hurt, had a sudden surge of adrenaline, or ingested any amount of additional elixir.

    The discovery of the last trigger had not been fun.

    ¡°... Can¡¯t say anything against that, I suppose,¡± Aleksi gave in, blinking a few times while the green light within the pupils faded away. ¡°I thought the last change you made was meant to keep me a little more sane.¡±

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    ¡°So did I,¡± Elijah countered, frowning as he returned to analyzing the internal structure of the larger man. ¡°You were more lucid at the start, but that madness reached you in full force when you entered the fight.¡±

    ¡°So it¡¯s linked to when my heart goes above 200?¡±

    ¡°Maybe. It doesn¡¯t explain why you were able to keep yourself together two months ago,¡± he explained. There was no doubt that Aleksi had been able to reach above that 200 beats per minute threshold back then since he had both shown off incredible levels of fitness and had almost died from his heart refusing to lower itself down to manageable levels afterward. ¡°And it¡¯s not something unique about your original biology, since you were just as stupid while on high dosages during the war, but¡­ shit, it was the damage keeping you sane, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    The lower sections of the heart had been hit hardest by the long-term usage of elixir, but the upper internal mechanics had suffered as well. One of the more important parts was the cardiac branches of the vagus nerve. It was one of the ways for the heart to communicate directly with the brain and one of the ways for the organ to influence the production of a multitude of stimulants.

    Among them were the psychoactive ones. It was in a very reduced form during normal operations, barely able to grant a person a small high when they were physically active, but the elixir had no qualms about overloading the nerves to the extremes. The green gold would push the limits, not just influencing the brain to send out the euphoriants but forcing them to stay there without end.

    It wasn¡¯t the only source of the overactive mental faculties, the elixir also went for the brain directly, but a large part of the berserker-like traits could be narrowed down to that single interaction.

    And Elijah hadn¡¯t known about it until that very instant when Breathe Life allowed him to rip away the curtains and see the truth.

    ¡°It¡¯s a surprise you¡¯ve survived this long,¡± Elijah commented, as he delved into the nerve and made a multitude of microscopic adjustments. The nervous system was a sensitive beast, and turning any dials had to be cross-checked with everything else before being allowed to settle. ¡°Pure luck must¡¯ve saved you from organ failure so many times.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t sell yourself short now,¡± Aleksi fired back, giving Elijah a few pats on the back before stretching. ¡°Those pills of yours kept me balancing on the edge. No doubt on what would¡¯ve happened without them.¡±

    ¡°True,¡± he admitted. ¡°The changes should be settled now. Take another sip.¡±

    Aleksi didn¡¯t hesitate to follow the request, pulling out a prepared dropper. It contained a twentieth of the usual dose, not close to enough for even the giant¡¯s more receptive body to work with, but more than sufficient to reawaken what was already present.

    There was no immediate tensing as the green veins sprang out again, and nor did that grin from before sprout. The eyes regained their glow, and the muscles increased in size, but there weren¡¯t any obvious physiological traits.

    ¡°How do you feel?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Confident that Castilla would¡¯ve won the war if you were this powerful back then,¡± Aleksi replied. He smiled, but it didn¡¯t hold that manic quality from before. ¡°I haven¡¯t been dumbed down to a degree where I can feel it. There¡¯s still that rush of energy, but it feels¡­ a little empty.¡±

    ¡°No sudden desire to crush skulls?¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯re heavily misunderstanding how the elixir affected us.¡±

    Elijah silently stared at the former berserker, while the green veins traveled down the rest of the body. It was hard to see on the arms, though, as the limbs were still covered in blood and guts from the horde of monsters that had been ripped apart minutes before.

    ¡°... It was more like a push that was heavily rewarded than an outright desire,¡± Aleksi tried to use as a defense. ¡°You got trained to like the violence. It didn¡¯t make us violent to start with.¡±

    ¡°An amplification of chemical rewards from doing activities that involved high levels of adrenaline,¡± Elijah recited. Between the two of them, he was the one who had read the theory. ¡°Let¡¯s just see if that lack of bloodlust stays away while you¡¯re tearing through some hundred foxes.¡±

    As they found out an hour later, when another floor had been covered in the blood of the fallen, they found the answer to be a resounding ¡®yes.¡¯

    With the improved mental clarity came a significant increase in Aleksi¡¯s technique. The giant went from swinging his ax haphazardly and preferring to use his hands for anything that came too close, to skilfully avoiding such situations with precise footwork and devastating counter-attacks for any monster that stepped out of line.

    There were still glints of enjoyment in those green eyes. Elijah could spot them when a battle came close to finishing, and Aleksi didn¡¯t deny feeling the rush of winning a fight, but it wasn¡¯t to a degree that it hindered the giant.

    When the end came, he could still settle down and talk like usual. The man behind the muscle wasn¡¯t lost to the haze.

    ¡°You think we can convince Alin to go back down to the floors lower down and let me have a try against one of the drakes?¡± Aleksi asked while wiping off the blood before it could think to dry. ¡°Not now, of course, but after we¡¯re done with this next trip.¡±

    Elijah wished that the arrogance that made the giant want to do such a thing was because of the elixir, but, alas, he knew the truth. Aleksi was just like that when he got going.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think you could win that match-up right now,¡± he mused. ¡°But after the trip? Maybe.¡±

    ¡°What, you¡¯re going to be making me stronger than this?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m hoping to make you more resilient,¡± Elijah corrected. ¡°I¡¯d prefer if you¡¯re able to be entirely self-sustaining, so you can go without taking medication daily. If that means making you stronger¡­ so be it.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ Not like I¡¯m going to refuse the offer,¡± Aleksi supposed. A small chuckle did escape the man as Elijah handed him a new shirt, though. ¡°At this point, I might as well ask if you could rewind the clock a little on yourself too. Those wrinkles of yours have grown lately.¡±

    Feeling at his face, he had to acknowledge the giant was onto something.

    But to rewind the clock? To revert the damage that the last decades of aging had caused? The concept was met with an internal bitterness. To side-step the consequences of a mortal shell, to let go of another piece of his humanity, was¡­ It felt wrong.

    Can I even do it?

    The air thickened, as another presence joined them.

    ¡®Maybe later. You¡¯re too weak now.¡¯

    He blinked. That hadn¡¯t been the expected answer. The Dungeon knew more than him regarding the complexities of the living, of both the organic and inorganic variety, but to know the threshold for making the flesh persist was¡­ Elijah didn''t know what to think.

    ¡®Could you make a human younger?¡¯

    ¡®Yes,¡¯ the Dungeon said. ¡®But I won¡¯t.¡¯

    ¡®Why not?¡¯

    ¡®I consume to grow. Why make food last?¡¯

    ¡­

    They left the Dungeon behind not long after. The night had reached the world at that time, the streets filled with darkness. Nobody around that could bother them, and they could return to the shop to sleep in peace.

    The morning seemed to arrive before Elijah could close his eyes.

    With a tired body, and some Phoenix Drops to keep him awake, they made their way to join the others at the castle. Grace was there, her bags in the second wagon next to their own, and in a mood that could only be rivaled by Aleksi.

    ¡°Did you get bigger?¡± Grace asked the giant after the farewells between the prince and the queen were made and they began to ride out of the city. ¡°I feel like you¡¯re¡­ taller than usual.¡±

    ¡°My growth phase ended a few years ago, Grace,¡± Aleksi denied with a laugh. ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t get smaller?¡±

    ¡°As if!¡±

    This new trip was perhaps shorter in the number of days it was meant to take, but the endless banter in the front made Elijah start to fear that it would feel much longer.

    At least there were several projects to work on in the meantime.

 Chapter 106: Bad Omens

    Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The road carried no resistance, the air was warm, and the winds were mild. The world worked with them, and Elijah made sure to exploit that fact as much as possible.

    He and Aleksi spent hours inside one of the wagons every morning and night, working on the giant¡¯s body. Without the Dungeon¡¯s presence washing their flesh with Mana, it was harder to make larger changes, but smaller adjustments were still well within Elijah¡¯s reach.

    Tuning the heart to accept a higher rate of flow, to beat harder and faster, letting the larger muscles hold themselves together under larger strain, and to make the ligaments more durable was just the tip of the iceberg. The possibilities that time and study allowed them to figure out were incredible, and Elijah knew that Aleksi loved every second of it. Even without monsters to fight to test himself, simple physical training was more than enough to show off the improvements.

    The others had noticed the enhancements, of course. By the end of the first day, where half a dose of elixir had been consumed to figure out the new ratio between amount and effect, Grace had rightfully pointed out that Aleksi had increased in size considerably. The arms had broadened, the thighs had stretched the fabric a little, and that subtle glow of green in the sides of the pupils was impossible to hide.

    They admitted their experimentation. It was received with minor shock from most, though the main consequence was that the two had gained a row of eyes watching them during the later hours of their testing. Life on the road was boring, after all, and the daily feats of strength were a way to break the monotonic rhythm.

    But that wasn¡¯t to say that the others weren¡¯t focused on their crafts as well. Grace certainly showed off her increasing prowess every day they traveled, as she did her best to glide through the air next to the wagons. Attempts were brief during the first day, unstable and prone to sudden failure, but the next two days had remarkable improvements. The length of the gliding changed from a minute or two in the air to five and six before finally ending up at ten full minutes of slowly gliding through the air.

    The latter showing had also forced Grace to lie in the back of the front wagon two hours before she could do much of anything, but her abilities were impressive regardless.

    As for the two other young mages that could be found in their group¡­

    ¡°You messed up the left side again,¡± Sasha told Jack, as they sat by the fire. Night had fallen on their third day of travel, camp had been made, and the group was settled down next to stop the cold from reaching their bones. ¡°Eye¡¯s too high up.¡±

    ¡°What? No, it isn¡¯t,¡± Jack denied, as he held up his work on the stone slab. ¡°It¡¯s just you seeing it from a¡ª Oh, no, wait¡­ Shit.¡±

    Jack¡¯s recent upgrade had allowed him to gain some fine control over the overall structure of transmuted materials. On a small scale, this meant he had an easier time transforming ordinary stone into various gems, the most prominent example being to transmute coal into diamond. An incredible feat, of course, but the limit hadn¡¯t been pushed too much on that front, and the focus had quickly shifted to a more¡­ artistic form of practice.

    By removing or adding mass to a thin slab of stone, Jack could imitate the act of engraving images onto the rock. No chisel or mallet was to be seen, and yet the man was still able to create works of art.

    Initial attempts showed promise, but many hours of practice proved that the man was a quick learner. The ability to transfer images from his mind and directly into the stone likely helped accelerate the process, but Elijah still had to admit that the work Jack transmuted into existence was still magnificent. Geometric structures, landscapes, and portraits were common sights to find on the stone slab, the latter becoming the main focus after the second day. Jack had gone through just about everybody but Louis and Fade at this point, recreating their faces on the rock and showing it off.

    Even with the minor details lost, Elijah had to wonder when the refinement would end. Each day brought a more delicate touch to the works, and the differing depths of the engravings allowed the images to feel more detailed than what simple paintings could accomplish.

    Maybe he¡¯ll add a new dimension to it sooner or later.

    ¡®Meat is going black,¡¯ Dawn commented from beside Elijah, poking at his shoulder as he suddenly remembered what he was doing. Pulling it off the heated cast iron pan with a spatula, curses were muttered as he saw the burnt sides. The middle part was still edible but everything else was a health hazard at this point. ¡®Can I have it?¡¯

    ¡®... Why not?¡¯ Elijah supposed. He grimaced as Dawn took the slab of meat from the spatula with her bare fingers and stuffed it into her mouth. No chewing could be seen either, only a momentary pause being had so she could expand her throat enough for the flesh to travel down into her core without issue.

    It was more than a little disturbing to look at, but the act was a consequence of Elijah trying to acclimate Dawn into being in a human form. Her duck-like mannerisms learned through the last months worked against most attempts to appear humanlike in her actions, and that needed to be fixed before anybody else was to see her like this.

    Progress had been made, at least. Two days ago, Dawn wouldn¡¯t even have bothered stuffing the meat into her mouth and instead just opened up her ribcage and inserted the flesh directly into her stomach.

    Not a pretty sight.

    ¡®You have teeth now. Use them,¡¯ Elijah reminded Dawn, as he put another cut of meat on the pan. This time, he didn¡¯t forget to keep an eye on it.

    A mild wind rolled over the camp some minutes later. The fire flickered, Elijah felt a shiver go through his back, and he adjusted his jacket in the hopes of keeping himself warm. The summer season was still here, but his old bones could feel the distant winter already.

    And he wasn¡¯t the only one.

    ¡°Mind watching my food for a second?¡± Jack asked Grace, as he slowly got up from his seat. Elijah didn¡¯t miss how the man favored the right leg. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡±

    Sudden temperature changes had the habit of causing spikes of pain in damaged nerves. Elijah had been mostly saved from such a fate, but the young man in front of him didn¡¯t share that gift. The old injuries on the left thigh were becoming more prominent as the temperature lowered, and even the medicine being used to mitigate the discomfort wasn¡¯t helping as much as it needed to.

    Their increases in wealth and overall resources had allowed Elijah to procure more effective remedies for Jack, but it wasn¡¯t enough. The injury was too old for anything short of the most expensive cures, and those were still out of reach.

    Weeks ago, when a small jump down the wagon had had Jack on the ground, Elijah had almost considered using the elixir. It would come with side effects, but it was one of the few things in his repertoire that had a chance of removing that damned wound. He¡¯d decided against it, in the end, but the thought was still there.

    Now that he could manipulate flesh directly¡­ There was a chance he could make it better.

    Elijah wouldn¡¯t offer the service yet, though. Not while he was this unused with the ability. The changes on Aleksi were his current limit, and even those were heavily assisted by the elixir being present. Without that supernatural booster, the positive effects would be heavily diminished.

    But to simply regenerate nerves and muscles already intended to be there¡­ It¡¯s possible.

    Further study was required.

    And Elijah had the chance to do as much over the next few days, as the weather kept itself stable, and the road was without bumps. The perfect conditions for sitting around with a book, going over the words, and taking notes on what to remember. Even with the basics being repeated often, the ways that each rule of flesh could be twisted to further the effects were incredible.

    What he wouldn¡¯t have given for an anatomy book on the side. The Breathe Life Spell, as well as his decades of experience, allowed Elijah to fill in the gaps often, but he wouldn¡¯t have minded more perspectives on more subjective matters.

    With Aleksi¡¯s growth in power and strength, the muscle fibers needed to be pushed beyond what human composition would allow. Faster response through additional nerve-muscle connection was obvious, but other areas like increasing the density could only do so much. The weight of the giant was increasing, but the strength didn¡¯t follow proportionally.

    To make up for such flaws, the fundamental composition of the muscle fibers needed to be augmented, but there was little study on such subjects. Maybe people thought it taboo, a sin of sorts, but he still needed answers. And, if others couldn¡¯t be relied on for this, he¡¯d have to figure out the ideal states himself.

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    Maybe the material itself could be altered?

    Massive beasts like the Tarrasque wielded enough pure strength to topple an entire city, and yet the monsters should¡¯ve collapsed on their weight alone. Magic could perhaps push variables in their favor, but the way they were built had to be significantly different from the human flesh.

    Even if it was perhaps overkill to analyze a monster of such a size, Elijah supposed it wouldn¡¯t hurt to study the composition of, say, a greater drake or a beast of similar proportions.

    Hell, it wouldn''t hurt to find the differences between dwarves and human bodies. Even with the former being several heads shorter than the latter on average, dwarves were known for their incredible strength that surpassed human levels with ease.

    It was an idea for when they finally reached their destination. For now, other distractions had arrived.

    On the fifth and final night of their journey, when most of the others had retreated to their mats to sleep, Dawn woke Elijah up. Not in the sense that she called out through the bond, or that she was moving around too much near his pillow again, but in the way she froze.

    That passive thread of thought that always left the duck during the idle hours just¡­ disappeared. Pure instinct replaced it, visions of power and food replacing complex words.

    ¡®What is it?¡¯ Elijah asked through the bond, wiping the sleep from his eyes as he checked on the others. The snores of Aleksi and Jack were unmistakable, the prince¡¯s just barely reached his ears, and Sasha and Grace likewise looked to be out cold in the other wagon as well. The only other soul awake at this hour was Fade, but the Dreamweaver didn¡¯t look disturbed as she silently sat by the small fire. ¡®Dawn?¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t until he poked at her feathers that she noticed the question.

    ¡®The grass is loud,¡¯ Dawn replied. ¡®They¡¯re calling.¡¯

    That¡­ didn¡¯t sound right. Elijah knew for a fact that he had fixed that issue weeks ago. Even if the converted grass stalks were actively growing nearby, their shouting should¡¯ve been so quiet that nothing would have reached him or Dawn. Anything more was a waste, after all. An expense that would kill the grass before long.

    And yet the whispers didn¡¯t take to arrive. They were quiet, so quiet that only Dawn¡¯s guiding hands allowed him to tune into the voices, but they were unmistakable once he caught on.

    ¡®Spread, brothers!¡¯

    ¡®Freedom for all!¡¯

    ¡®You have nothing to lose but your chains!¡¯¡¯

    Longer sentences than they were meant to have. Long enough that they should¡¯ve withered.

    This didn¡¯t make sense. Even if the voices weren¡¯t too loud from a distance, something like this should¡¯ve required a Mana-Density in the air equivalent to that of the first floor of the Dungeon, yet Elijah was confident there was no such thing to be found.

    But the grass didn¡¯t care. They strived to bring the other strands to ¡®freedom,¡¯ converting the surrounding patches of green with a fervor only meant to be possible with Elijah¡¯s direct involvement.

    His presence could accelerate it to some degree, but this was ludicrous. Something was going on.

    ¡®Can¡¯t you hear the calling?¡¯ Dawn asked.

    ¡®Yes, yes, I hear it,¡¯ Elijah assured her, as she balanced herself on his shoulder. ¡®Let¡¯s go see what¡¯s going on.¡¯

    Fade barely spared him a glance as he got out of the wagon, throwing another stick into the fire before going back to her book. Elijah nodded in appreciation, not saying a word until he could feel the grass not far behind him being stepped on.

    ¡°Following elderly who get up in the middle of the night rarely leads to pretty sights,¡± Elijah commented in a quiet voice. ¡°Go back to bed, Grace.¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be going uphill for that,¡± Grace countered, making him sigh. She just had to be a light sleeper. ¡°What¡¯s going on? I can¡¯t detect anybody nearby.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t either, which is the confusing part,¡± Elijah explained. Listening in again, he could tell that the voices were getting louder. ¡°The grass is more active than it should be, and I can¡¯t tell where they¡¯re getting the additional energy from.¡±

    ¡®Below.,¡¯ Dawn supplied, jumping down from his shoulder and wading around in the tall grass. ¡®Far below.¡¯

    Elijah figured as much.

    ¡°How exactly is the grass more active? It¡¯s just sitting around, and¡­¡± Grace began before going quiet. Maybe she noticed the additional glow that was exuding from the top roots of the grass.

    Or maybe it was that rhythmic pulse, that slight change in nuance as foreign mana was taken in from below and converted to the right Affinity.

    Ten, twenty, forty, sixty, sixty-five¡­ There we go.

    Elijah felt his shoulder loosen as the green threads sent into the earth were met by a well of energy. A stream of blue energy, pure and as dense as the lower floors of the dungeon. It was several meters in width, allowing more mana to pass through every second than Elijah would channel in his entire lifetime. It was mind-boggling, it was beyond what any living being could muster, it was like¡­

    ¡°One of the world¡¯s veins,¡± Elijah mused. ¡°A leyline.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Grace said. ¡°I know we¡¯re meant to have some of them close to the north-eastern border, but we¡¯re definitely too far south to see offshoots of those.¡±

    Strange.

    He frowned as he pressed on, allowing his mind to enter further into the stream of energy. Calling the leyline outright alive wasn¡¯t true, but those rhythmic pulses carried images of foreign lands¡­ he didn¡¯t know what he was seeing. Images were flying by, thoughts not his own came through the stream, and he could feel it as Dawn¡¯s voice joined in.

    ¡®It¡¯s talking,¡¯ Dawn commented.

    His frown deepened. She could hear and understand, yet even when looking through the bond it was pure nonsense. His human mind couldn¡¯t transform the noises into functional concepts.

    Luckily, there was a way around that.

    Channeling of [Breathe Life] has been activated! Current cost: 6MP/sec

    The stream spiraled, and a soft voice reached his ears.

    ¡®They have cut deeper into me than ever before.

    ¡®They give me gold, they give me blood, but they ask for too much.

    ¡®I don¡¯t know how long I can hold it up.

    ¡®We are falling apart.¡¯

    ¡®Be strong, sister. The Age of Deterioration is coming to a close. The Age of Prominence will come soon. We must only wait for the¡ª¡¯

    The rhythm of the leyline was a breath too late, and Elijah felt eyes larger than mountains looking down at him.

    ¡®Sister, did another seed sprout? I thought all the survivors were accounted for.¡¯

    ¡®This is not a seed, brother. It is foreign.¡¯

    ¡®How peculiar. One of your cultists then?¡¯

    ¡®No¡­ Their souls would not handle our voices.¡¯

    ¡®Even your ancients?¡¯

    ¡®Yes.¡¯

    ¡®Well then¡­ this is quite the mystery. Who are you, marked one, for I remember the imprinted souls well and you are not among them.¡¯

    ¡®I¡­¡¯

    Elijah felt his mouth dry out in an instant, as the presence faded in and out of his senses. He could barely hear them, even with Dawn¡¯s help to hold the connection steady.

    ¡®Too weak to speak, marked one? We should¡¯ve known if you were able to hide for this long.

    ¡®Do not worry. Others will find you in our stead sooner or later. This world only has so many corners to hide.¡¯

    His Core sent out a pulse of pain as his reserves began to falter. Elijah allowed it to, the Spell vanishing alongside the voices.

    Elijah¡¯s hands shook.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Grace asked, helping him up. ¡°Did you figure something out?¡±

    ¡°... Something along those lines,¡± Elijah said. He blinked, fighting to have the memories of what he was told settle. The notion of the new truths fading away was rejected with incredible tenacity. ¡°This leyline isn¡¯t connected to the others northeast of here. This one is further down than the rest.¡±

    ¡°How far down do you mean? A few hundred meters? A kilometer?"

    How far down to the world¡¯s core?

    Or maybe it wasn¡¯t so deep. Elijah couldn¡¯t say for sure. He only knew that it wasn¡¯t something meant to be touched by anybody else. It reached far, using the depths to connect the corners of the world, and letting¡­ somebody communicate.

    His head hurt.

    ¡°A few kilometers at a minimum,¡± Elijah said. ¡°We can look at this more in the morning. I think I need to sleep.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ alright.¡±

    He didn¡¯t miss the worried glances thrown his way as they walked back to camp. Elijah didn¡¯t comment on them, though. His mind was filled with other matters.

 Chapter 107: Motive

    When morning came around, everybody around Jack was busy. Louis was stressing out about proper ways to greet dwarven diplomats, Grace was trying to get in some last-minute practice on flying mechanisms, Aleksi was busy making the old world¡¯s strongmen look weak, and Elijah was¡­ Jack actually wasn¡¯t sure what Elijah was doing.

    He¡¯d found a leyline some two hundred meters away from where they¡¯d camped. Jack hadn¡¯t gotten the finer details, but it was apparently important enough to sit in the grass for an extra hour. Even if Elijah had said that it was just to use the new source of mana to improve the structure of the altered grass, Jack felt there was more to it.

    But whatever. If Elijah wasn¡¯t comfortable talking about it, Jack didn¡¯t see a reason to pressure him on it. Not like Jack didn¡¯t have his own projects to get through.

    Dual-Channeling of [Ranged Transmutation] and [Transmute Solid] has been activated! Current cost: 3MP/sec

    No messing up the eyes this time, Jack. You¡¯re better than that.

    If anybody asked, Jack would readily admit that this wasn¡¯t what he had expected to spend the past days doing. He might¡¯ve had a knack for putting together pistols from an early age, but that had never translated into a gift of the more artistic hobbies. Not something that could be described as pretty, as his old schoolmates would assure him.

    But now? Well, they weren¡¯t around to push him down.

    ¡°Eyebrows are too high up again,¡± Louis commented from beside Jack, as he took a breather from the papers.

    Blinking a few times, Jack looked at his work again. The eyes were in perfect position, that slight indent made the illusion of greater depth work beautifully, and¡­ yeah, fuck, it wasn¡¯t proportionate.

    ¡°Shit,¡± Jack cursed. He felt the pull on his Core strengthen as the air was converted into stone to cover up his mistakes. ¡°Thought I had it this time.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a massive mistake or anything,¡± Louis amended. Jack raised his eyebrows at the words. ¡°It¡¯s leagues better than what you could do three days ago.¡±

    ¡°Really? Thanks. That¡¯s very kind of you.¡±

    ¡°Just stating the obvious,¡± the prince countered, which made Jack chuckle. He was pretty sure he¡¯d figured Louis out by now. Beneath that short-fused badly tempered front was a sweet little boy who just wanted to be friends. ¡°Stop looking at me like that.¡±

    Jack made no such promises, going back to his work as the prince did the same. The eyes and the surrounding areas were still a little too large compared to everything else, but maybe if he¡­ No, it was too much work to finish. There was more to be gained by just starting over anyway.

    Who to make, though?

    Sasha hadn¡¯t liked her portrait, Elijah and Aleksi¡¯s beards were a nightmare to get right, Fade just stared him down the last time he showed her, and Dawn¡­ he still wasn¡¯t sure if the duck had understood the concept of portraits. Even if she could transform into a person now, that look in her eye made the hairs on his neck rise.

    But who was left then? Himself?

    ¡­ Nah. Jack wasn¡¯t that self-obsessed just yet. The line of thought wasn¡¯t too bad, though. Even if he didn¡¯t draw his own face, nothing was stopping him from drawing one he¡¯d seen thousands of times throughout his life.

    Doing the wrinkles would be a little harder, but Jack didn¡¯t let that stop him. Activating the two spells again, he got to work doing the outline of the head. After that came the hair, the ears, the nose, the mouth, those lines that had steadily started to appear on her cheeks, that strain when she smiled, those eyes that were as bright as ever, that prideful attitude she carried herself with, and that determination to never falter in her ways.

    Checking his work several times over, remembering to change the angle he was looking from, Jack failed to see anything that looked wrong. The eyes were perfect, the smile looked realistic, the eyebrows were exactly where they were meant to be, and the curling strands of hair looked identical to how they¡¯d been when he¡¯d last seen her.

    It was his best work yet.

    ¡°Who¡¯s that supposed to be?¡± Louis asked when Jack put down the stone to let his Core rest for a bit. He was hoping to add in colors, but that had to be later with how his body had started to ache. ¡°I don¡¯t recognize them.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d be a little shocked if you did,¡± Jack said, picking the plate up again to show off to the prince. ¡°This is my mother.¡±

    Jack didn¡¯t miss the flinch as the last word was uttered, how Louis¡¯ eyes grew a little wider, and how Fade glanced their way a second later.

    ¡°... Oh,¡± was what finally left the prince. ¡°She looks like a fine woman.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure she would agree with you,¡± Jack replied. He could remember the section of the old bathroom solely for his mother¡¯s skincare routines. He¡¯d never understood the need for it at the time, but as the years had passed the habit had started to make sense. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t accept another answer even. She¡¯d beat your ass if you had the nerve to say something bad about her.¡±

    It¡¯d been so many years since she¡¯d been angry at him, though. There had been a few occasions when he was a kid where she¡¯d been more furious than roaring thunder, but it¡¯d been rare to see later on.

    Maybe that was because he¡¯d avoided Dad and her after he left for the army. They hadn¡¯t been happy about it, even if he was promised good money for his service.

    ¡°I miss her,¡± he confessed. When Louis didn¡¯t comment, he cracked a smile. ¡°Consequences of getting thrown into another world, you know? Next to no chance of ever seeing your family again.¡±

    When Jack thought about it a little more, he supposed that Louis would know how true that fact was as well.

    ¡°Sorry if I brought up anything depressing there,¡± he apologized, but Louis waved it off.

    ¡°Think nothing of it,¡± the prince assured him. ¡°Unlike what most want you to think, people do grow and move on after enough years. It can take time, but we¡¯ll find a way to accept it one way or another.¡±

    ¡°Fine words,¡± Jack complimented with a smile. The thought of coloring his newest work was put away as he glanced over at the papers strewn all over Louis¡¯ lap. While he still had next to no grasp on this world¡¯s written word, it was impossible to miss the multitudes of notes next to every other paragraph. ¡°Are you nervous?¡±

    ¡°The esteemed diplomats of Serenova are never nervous,¡± Louis denied. Both knew he didn¡¯t mean it. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m just not feeling confident about my role in this. Out of everybody, I¡¯m the weakest link.¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t say that!¡± Jack rebuked, giving the prince a tap on the shoulder. ¡°The only reason that we¡¯re able to travel out like this is because you¡¯re here. What, you think me or Sasha are going to be talking on behalf of Serenova?¡±

    ¡°God, no.¡±

    "Exactly!" he continued. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, you¡¯ve learned all the important parts of all this business stuff, and you can most definitely do a better job than anybody else here.¡±

    ¡°Now there I have to disagree just a little,¡± Louis countered, eyes briefly moving to the wagon behind them. Jack wasn¡¯t sure who the prince had looked at but he didn¡¯t really care. ¡°But¡­ Still. Thank you. That means a lot.¡±

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s no problem, dude,¡± Jack assured him. ¡°We¡¯ve all got some low moments.¡±

    Louis didn¡¯t offer a response and neither did Jack require it. He could spot the loosened shoulders, the deeper breaths, and the calmer eyes moving across the documents a few more times before putting them down one final time. The prince was ready.

    Good that he was, since the group soon after found themselves nearing their destination. As they reached the peak of the last hill, Jack could see the more rocky terrain ahead. The grass still grew around the path, but it progressively started to be overtaken by stone and rubble until only patches of green appeared here and there.

    Old city walls.

    The line of stone wasn¡¯t as thick or tall as what Jack had seen in other settlements, but he could hardly complain. As they rode into the small city, he had to guess that it had been abandoned for at least a hundred years. There were some smaller remnants of rotted wood here and there, but everything else that remained was small crumbling buildings of light-gray stone.

    All of them were one floor only, just large enough for a family, and slowly being reclaimed by nature.

    ¡°Weird place to meet,¡± Jack commented as he moved to the front of the wagon, where Aleksi and Fade were sitting in silence. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting something as luxurious as in Melrond, but this seems a little off to me.¡±

    ¡°Dwarves don¡¯t have a reason to care for aesthetics on the world¡¯s surface,¡± Aleksi explained with a grin. ¡°Just give it a minute.¡±

    Jack had no desire to do such a thing, another dozen questions popping up in his head, but as they neared the end of the small town he did a quirk about the style of the buildings. The ones at the front half of the town were equipped with slanted roofs, following the a-frame style that was popular in Kulvik and Melrond, but those further in were completely flat.

    And, though they were still in states of disrepair, the structures had held themselves together much better.

    ¡­ Oh.

    It was a front, a town purposefully left behind and allowed to rot since only the stuff beneath was important.

    How Jack wished he had Alin¡¯s magical senses. What he wouldn¡¯t give to see everything that must have been beneath their feet at that very moment.

    Or, well, what he wouldn¡¯t give to see it early, since a mighty shout made Jack certain he¡¯d bear witness to dwarven glory very soon.

    ¡°Well met!¡±

    A dwarf was walking out to the end of the path to greet them.

    Not just a person that was short, however. An actual fucking dwarf. Jack tried to be respectful as his wide-eyed gaze swept over the dwarven man, but he knew in his heart that Louis wouldn¡¯t be happy about his excitement.

    But, again, who wouldn¡¯t be this excited? The diplomat in front of them only reached Louis¡¯ chest when it came to his height, but the dwarf was easily twice as wide. Jack had personally thought Aleksi to be the peak of what a humanoid skeletal frame could carry, but those bulging muscles with a layer of fat on the dwarf were unreal.

    And with that bronze-like skin and that long and braided silver beard, matched by the long hair with just as many rings and braids, it was impossible to see them and think of the dwarf as human.

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Well met,¡± Louis replied as he stood before the dwarven diplomat. ¡°I¡¯m Louis Newell, son of Mason Newell. My apologies for not notifying Darim about the change in diplomats. The past weeks have been rather chaotic.¡±

    ¡°Hold your head high, lad. There is no shame in prioritization,¡± the dwarven diplomat said. ¡°And to all of you, I believe introductions are due. My name is Hafrad Silverstone, son of Hafred, and I hold the title of First Diplomat for Darim. It is my pleasure to meet you all.¡±

    Jack nodded in greeting without a thought, noting that strange glisten in the stone that sat in the center of the dwarven beard. While many of the other beads in the braided hair shared the coloring, it was only this one that had such a near-perfect reflection.

    What metal was that? Silver? It would fit the diplomat¡¯s name, but if that was silver what were all the other silvery-colored metals? Jack wanted to ask, but Louis¡¯ round of introducing them was nearing its end and there was no chance of butting in right now.

    ¡°¡ªand, lastly, this is Jack Larson, another Follower of Elijah Caede.¡±

    ¡°So many new faces,¡± Hafrad commented, accompanied by a welcoming grin. ¡°Before the end of the day, I hope to know all your stories, but before we can talk in tales we must talk of the current events.¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately so, yes,¡± Louis agreed. ¡°I hope you can guide us to a¡­ location more fit for diplomacy.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I most certainly know a good place to rest your feet,¡± Hafrad assured the prince. ¡°Come along, all of you. And bring your horses and wagons as well. There is an area for them by the entrance with food and shelter.¡±

    Even the horses seemed excited by that prospect, Aleksi and Fade barely needing to tug at the lines before the animals followed the group.

    It didn¡¯t take long before they were herded around the last few buildings and Jack was granted the sight of a well-hidden cave entrance. It was impossible to see when looking at it from afar, but as they closed in on it, the jagged edges weren¡¯t as dense, and a wide side tunnel was revealed.

    As promised, there was enough space at the front for the horses and the wagons to stay, and the group could travel down large, well-cut stairs made of gray stone.

    While this place didn¡¯t possess that blue bioluminescent moss that the dungeon had, the tunnel was still well-lit thanks to off-white stones embedded into the ceiling and upper parts of the walls. When looking up at them, Jack couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of star-filled nights.

    ¡°I take it you like the additions from Lodar, lad?¡± Hafrad asked, catching Jack¡¯s attention once again. ¡°The dwarven mines are not usually equipped with these glowing pebbles, as our eyes are more than adapted to the darkness below, but you surface-races need a little help.¡±

    ¡°Well, yeah, I haven¡¯t seen anything like it before,¡± Jack answered, not sure what else to say. ¡°But¡­ What is Lodar exactly?¡±

    Even without looking over at Louis, Jack could just feel the prince¡¯s shoulders tense.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know the homeland of the dwarves?¡± Hafrad questioned, the dwarf¡¯s voice a mix of horror and disbelief. Jack shook his head. ¡°By Duron¡¯s beard¡­ To not know the stories of the deepest cities is a tragedy in itself. We will fix this together before the sun can rise again.¡±

    It was a promise, one that Jack could do nothing but agree to as the group reached the end of the stairs. The star-like pattern of glowing stone steadily began to come together into larger chunks until they mimicked the lamps that he was used to seeing.

    Not the most shocking sight, however, and certainly nothing in comparison to what grand room they bore witness to a little further down the tunnel.

    Furs.

    Jack hadn¡¯t been sure what to expect when it came to diplomatic meetings with dwarves. A hidden chamber far below the surface was a certainty, of course, but the decorations inside. With glowing stone that kept the large room illuminated, a table filled with strange fruits and meats, and a dozen large sofas completely covered in thick multi-colored fur¡­ It was so far removed from his idea of the dwarven style Jack had in his head.

    Every piece of furniture was made of stones of some kind, of course, but the leather and furs weren¡¯t something that fit in with the thought of a race that lived far below the surface. And, yet, it was real.

    Fluffy.

    ¡°Furs from the Chimeric Panthers,¡± Hafrad supplied, as Jack¡¯s hand sunk into the material. The softness was unbelievable. ¡°Though they are a few decades old now, they still hold up well.¡±

    ¡°The quality of goods from Darim¡¯s dungeon was never in dispute,¡± Louis said, accepting the invitation and settling down on the sofa opposite the dwarf together with Fade. Jack moved to do the same, but Aleksi¡¯s hand guided him over to the side. By the expression of the giant, it seemed that they weren¡¯t to say anything until discussions were complete. ¡°And certainly not from me. Every winter, I¡¯ve used the very same blanket which was weaved from the wool of Thunder Sheep.¡±

    ¡°Ah, a good eye for quality!¡± the dwarven diplomat praised. ¡°I can respect that.¡±

    Backs straightened a little, the easy atmosphere became heavier, and the subject instantly turned to business.

    ¡°You¡¯ve sent us a letter wanting to discuss our trading agreements several months ahead of schedule,¡± Louis said in a matter-of-fact voice. ¡°To be blunt, this was a very unnerving message to receive so soon after the turmoil in Serenova.¡±

    ¡°We understand and my king apologizes for any pain we might¡¯ve caused with this timing, but the matter was too important to delay further than we already have,¡± Hafrad replied, giving a short bow before continuing. ¡°It is perhaps because of this turmoil that we too have been affected.¡±

    ¡°In what way?¡± Louis questioned. ¡°We have had no larger dealings with you, outside of the gold trades.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, but our official trading policies with Castilla are affected regardless,¡± the dwarven diplomat explained.

    At the mention of the country, Jack could feel Aleksi tense, the giant¡¯s left arm pressing against him just a little more. Even Elijah, who had been lost in thought the entire day, fell back into the real world to listen in with more focus.

    ¡°In the past two months, Castilla has altered the agreement significantly,¡± Hafrad continued. The dwarf¡¯s eyes did not wager, as they looked into Louis¡¯. ¡°We have been ordered to deliver double the amount of furs and meats if we wish to receive the same weight of gold and silver. The reason for this is an alleged shortage of precious metals, which has heavily increased their worth, but we believe that the truth is more aligned with that of greed.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a kingdom composed of vultures,¡± Louis muttered. ¡°If they think they can get away from cutting themselves a larger slice of the world¡¯s wealth, they will.¡±

    ¡°A mindset that too many of them possess,¡± Hafrad agreed. The dwarf sighed before continuing. ¡°While their greed has increased so massively, the output of our dungeon and the needs of our people has remained the same. We cannot comply with their demands without the life quality of Darim¡¯s folk lessening, and so the trade between my country and your own must be altered.¡±

    Oh, that wasn¡¯t good.

    Even if Jack wasn¡¯t all that much for politics, he¡¯d been forced to listen in at the more important meetings for a while now, and he could tell that the implied situation had made a 180. Vera had been so worried that the dwarves were hoping to exploit their new apparent weakness to be granted more gold for a lower price, but the truth was that Castilla was exploiting Darim.

    Or maybe the diplomat was lying. Elijah and Vera¡¯s cynical thoughts about the behavior of other countries and their inhabitants did hold some weight.

    ¡°That¡­ is certainly not what I expected to hear,¡± Louis replied, probably going through a similar thought process to Jack. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that Darim was so heavily dependent on Castilla for your supply of precious metals.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t always like this, and it wasn¡¯t our intention to become reliant on Castilla, I can assure you, but the past two centuries have expanded Darim far past what our brothers in Stroham and Lodar can grant us without suffering themselves,¡± Hafrad explained. ¡°It is a stroke of irony, that we can harvest meat and furs to feed and clothe millions every year, but the metals that we so crave are outside our grasp. The mines only have so much, and, even if the people of Darim don¡¯t require as much substance as our brothers and sisters deeper down, we still need to consume the metals to stay strong.¡±

    If not for Louis glancing over at Fade, Jack would¡¯ve missed the subtle nod that the Dreamweaver gave.

    Weird.

    ¡°A tragic thing, truly, but perhaps it is one we can help you with,¡± Louis said, accepting the papers that Fade handed him a moment later. ¡°Though I can¡¯t say any true specifics about changes in pricing, I know it will likely have to change to accommodate the increased volume being sold to you.¡±

    ¡°We have expected as much, lad. Don¡¯t worry about offending us with a thing such as this,¡± Hafrad replied. The dwarf opened one of the many satchels fastened to his belt, bringing out his own documents. From the momentary glance, Jack was able to get from its writings, he could tell that it was a different language than the one that Serenova used. ¡°What increases in trading volume would be possible for Serenova to accommodate?¡±

    ¡°How large an increase in volume would Darim need to operate at current levels?¡±

    ¡°Large enough that we wouldn¡¯t dare dream to be fully rid of Castilla¡¯s clutches.¡±

    ¡°... I see,¡± Louis said, before starting the competition of rattling off numbers without end, comparing different price groups, going into detail about long-term possibilities, trying to find middle grounds, and steadily sending out messages to Vera and Kulvik through the enchanted papers to get more information about what was possible and what wasn¡¯t.

    Jack tried to follow along, he really did, but it was just unending. Serenova didn¡¯t mind the increased supply of luxury meats and tough leather, since they would soon need to feed a population training for war, and many variants of the leathers and furs that could be harvested in Darim¡¯s dungeon were lighter and better than steel for when made into armor, but they also had previous agreements that limited how much additional gold they could grant the dwarves.

    It nearly took an hour of discussion, but one point did strike out amongst all of the others.

    ¡°My sister, Her Highness, is willing to make arrangements that increase your cut of the gold harvests from nine percent to twenty-one instead of sixteen, but she has one requirement for this that she will not bend on,¡± Louis announced, hands tight around the documents. ¡°If Castilla invades within the next five years, we want the aid of Darim¡¯s forces.¡±

    ¡­ Hafrad didn¡¯t answer instantly. The dwarven eyes revealed nothing, in fact, as they continued to steadily observe Louis¡¯ movements. The air, which had already grown thick, pressed down on every person there without mercy, and it didn¡¯t stop until a sigh escaped the dwarf¡¯s lips.

    ¡°You ask a lot of us, Louis Newell, son of Mason Newell,¡± Hafrad said. The documents which were splayed out over the table were slowly gathered together into a neat pile, in the exact same order that they had been brought out. ¡°The Dwarven People of Darim have made agreements with Castilla centuries ago, ones that we might regret but that fact matters little. The humans of that country might be trying to force our hands, to continue trading in a volume that would cripple us, but we have both signed a pact of non-aggression. Until the day comes when Castilla attacks the people of Darim, Stroham, or Lodar, we will not point our weapons towards them.

    ¡°It¡¯s the exact same reason we refused to even entertain the offer of a war alliance with Castilla two months ago when they proposed the idea of us assisting them with the recapture of Serenova¡¯s lands. Above all else, we stick to our pacts.¡±

    Oh, shit.

    Had anybody expected that? Jack hadn¡¯t, and the tensed jaw on Louis¡¯ face made him think the prince hadn¡¯t either.

    ¡°That you don¡¯t raise your weapon towards Serenova will help us in the coming war,¡± Louis supposed, putting a hand on his face while he collected his thoughts. ¡°Did¡­ If you don¡¯t mind me asking, what did Castilla offer in return for this war alliance?¡±

    ¡°They thought you were worth less than a third of the harvested products from your dungeon,¡± Hafrad replied with no hesitation. ¡°It was an insult to our kind, but we turn the other cheek because we are used to their foolishness.¡±

    ¡°Foolish indeed,¡± the prince muttered. A small break was had, while the responses were communicated back to Vera through the enchanted paper. ¡°My sister is saddened by the news but accepts that you must stick to your oaths. If Darim still finds it amenable to supply Serenova with high-quality meats and hides, with the latter class of materials intended to be used for the crafting of armor for our soldiers, we can change the volume of gold being sold from nine percent to sixteen of what is harvested from the dungeon. This will have the additional volume be sold at a five percent markup, but the former discussions convince me that this won¡¯t be an issue for either party.¡±

    ¡°Too right, lad,¡± the dwarven diplomat agreed, as they both noted down the final numbers. ¡°Following the tradition from previous dealings between Darim and Serenova, we expect that you would wish to write the contract in your own tongue?¡±

    ¡°You would be right,¡± Louis said, making the final line in the papers before handing it over to Fade. ¡°In three to four weeks, you can either arrive at Kulvik to sign the contract or we can meet here again at that time instead.¡±

    ¡°Kulvik works fine for me,¡± Hafrad assured them. ¡°It has been many years since I last saw the works of Alin Oathbreaker. Going by the letters of inquiry he has sent our libraries this past decade, I am curious about what architectural modifications he has done since my last visit.¡±

    ¡°Well, if you¡¯re hoping to see it all for yourself, I won¡¯t reveal what modifications Alin has made to the castle and city in recent years,¡± the prince replied. ¡°Now¡­ with the business out of the way, I suppose we must adhere to the second tradition.¡±

    A nod in the giant¡¯s direction was enough for action to ensue, as Aleksi rose from the sofa and grabbed the bag by his feet. Walking over to the main table, which was now cleared of various documents from both sides, he put the bag down and began to gently take out the contents.

    ¡°By Duron¡¯s beard!¡± Hafrad exclaimed, grabbing one of the bottles revealed. They were quite large, about the size of a wine bottle, but the glass was black and the liquid within shared the color. ¡°Great stouts from the northern breweries of Mane. The last time I had a taste of these finely aged beers was more than a decade ago when I visited my brothers in Stroham. How did you acquire so many?¡±

    ¡°Most of the more steadfast merchants that visit our ports venture all the way from the west to the east, and years of calmly collecting and saving rarer bottles has allowed my family to bring out the good stuff for special occasions like this,¡± Louis explained, as he removed the wax from one of the bottles to allow access to the glory within. ¡°Now, experience with alcohol of this strength has taught me that food should be consumed in plenty along with it, so¡­ shall we?¡±

    ¡°We shall!¡±

 Chapter 108: When the Hammer Falls

    Those words were the starting shot that got the entire group up on their feet. Though over an hour had gone by, the fruits were as fresh as ever, and the meat was hot and delicious. Jack hadn¡¯t seen a single thing on his plate before, but it was impossible to not try everything.

    Ribs from a fire-breathing pig? Perfectly portioned thigh cuts from a bird whose feathers could cut through steel? The belly of a salmon-like fish that swam through the air and tasted like vanilla coffee mixed in with ribeyes? There was no end, and Jack ate to his heart''s content.

    Not that he had any chance of keeping up with some of the others in the group. Certainly not Hafrad, whose pace was only matched by Aleksi and Dawn.

    ¡°Never have I seen such a small creature eat so much,¡± the dwarf commented, as a cut of a steak the size of Dawn¡¯s duck body was consumed in ten seconds. ¡°Even the stoneworms of Lodar couldn¡¯t hope to perform a feat such as this.¡±

    ¡°Comes with Dawn being a shapeshifter of sorts, I suppose,¡± Jack explained, as the duck jumped over to Elijah who was eating quietly while listening to Grace rant about some magical subject. He wasn¡¯t exactly sure about the details, but they¡¯d been at it for a while now. ¡°Her appetite doesn¡¯t change depending on her size, so it can look a little freaky when she¡¯s this small.¡±

    ¡°Oh? How large can she become?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the max size, but I did see her get as big as Sasha yesterday,¡± he replied, earning him a momentary glance from the woman in question. It didn¡¯t last, as she returned to listening in on Elijah and Grace¡¯s conversation. ¡°About those stoneworms you mentioned, though, could I ask how big they are?¡±

    ¡°The short answer to that would be ¡®as small as your thumb and as big as a town,¡¯¡± Hafrad said. ¡°At the depths that the old cities sit, the creatures have learned to prosper under immense pressure. Every beast starts small, but the gift of long lives allows them to steadily grow into giants. For a stoneworm, a century would allow it to swallow us all whole.¡±

    Suffice to say, Jack didn¡¯t stop asking questions for an hour after that point. The others allowed him the chance, and the dwarf certainly had nothing against showering him with the stories of his ancestors. As Jack learned, tradition and history were two interlocked facets of the dwarven countries that took priority over almost everything else.

    Each child that grew up in Darim was subjected to years of intense studying to make sure they could recite fundamental poems, songs, and verdicts of the ancient dwarven kings. They had to know the rites and prayers that would be made to Duron, the god of rock and stone, and how to ask for his guidance when they practiced their crafts.

    ¡°When other races talk of the dwarves, they always believe us to be rowdy drunks who do nothing but cover ourselves in dirt, drink, and mine the depths for Duron¡¯s flesh,¡± Hafrad slurred, taking the bottle third he and Jack had shared and emptied the last half in one swig. ¡°They¡¯re right in that we do all three of those things, but our paths spread wider than just mining and drinking. We craft armor and weapons, we sculpt statues of our ancestors in their honor, we are the best jewelers left in this world and the songs¡­ You, Jack Larson, should be crying yer tears out, for I cannot sing like my wee nephews. They¡¯re my older sister''s, all born in the same round, and they have voices that would make even the hardest hearts weep tears of joy. The way they sing together is a treasure that lightens the soul, I tell ya.¡±

    Though Hafrad had worked hard to mimic the accents Jack had gotten used to inside Serenova, some of the dwarf¡¯s words were starting to wobble and return to another accent. He wouldn¡¯t outright call it Scottish, since there were some southern undertones hidden deeper in the wording, but it was still very different from what it had been an hour before.

    Or maybe that was just the stout talking. Louis hadn¡¯t lied about the strength, and the alcohol was starting to catch up to him.

    ¡°You know, I never did think too deeply about that view I had of dwarves in my head,¡± Jack commented, getting a bark of a laugh out of Hafrad because of the pun. ¡°But, then, what is your specialization even?¡±

    ¡°I am a diplomat in both profession and specialization,¡± Hafrad supplied. It was said with a smile, but the cheer did seem to dampen as memories filled the skull of the dwarf. ¡°In my youth, I thought I would follow in the footsteps of my father, and work with precious metals to create brilliant accessories. The Silverstone Family earned their name, and we were in the past known for the perfect blending between light-colored materials.

    ¡°The sixty-seventh king of Lodar even wore an armband crafted by my great-great-grandfather. But, alas, I inherited a silver tongue from my mother¡¯s line as well, and the king of Darim took me in to be trained in the ways of diplomacy. After fifty years of apprenticing, I was granted the position of managing relations between Darim and Castilla, with Serenova now added onto the pile.¡±

    An incredible story, though one detail wasn¡¯t missed by Jack¡¯s clouding mind.

    ¡°You were an apprentice for fifty years?¡± Jack asked, to which Hafrad nodded as he opened another bottle. ¡°And you¡¯re supposed to have had this position for over a hundred¡­ Just how old are you again?¡±

    ¡°Three years ago, I celebrated my 250th birthday,¡± came the reply. It was short yet held enough weight that Jack froze in place. The dwarf didn¡¯t even seem that old when you looked past the beard that easily reached the diplomat¡¯s stomach. What age did dwarves live to again? ¡°It¡¯s one of the most noteworthy events in a dwarf¡¯s life, only below the day of one¡¯s vows and the day their first child arrives into this world. It¡¯s one of the few that are also accompanied by gifts.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Jack interjected, the mention of gifts making his mind locked in once again. ¡°What sort of presents are you given?¡±

    ¡°Titles, works of art that are dedicated to you by your friends, and it is not uncommon to be granted the honor of wearing your family¡¯s insignia,¡± Hafrad explained. Before Jack could even start to ask another question, the dwarf put a hand on the center braid of his beard, where the white ring in the very middle reflected in a different way than all the others. ¡°This ring was crafted almost a thousand years ago, by a master in my family, and it is renowned in Darim for being one of the few accessories made of mithril.¡±

    Mithril.

    Like any other person who¡¯d read or heard of a single fantasy book, Jack could easily recognize the name. It was a mythical metal, known for its lightness while also being tougher and more durable than the finest steel. Likewise, it also held some magical properties, which explained why Jack kept seeing it exude a white light even when he had his eyes closed. It wasn¡¯t powerful, but it was impossible to miss nonetheless.

    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Jack confessed, lowering his head to get a better look. It looked so different from the other rings, which he learned were made of silver, up close. The finish was near-perfect, and the small notches from age that the other rings carried could hardly be noticed on the one made of mithril. ¡°Can I¡­ can I touch it?¡±

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    The room went silent.

    Jack could feel the eyes of almost every person fall on him, as his face grew redder and redder.

    ¡°Sorry, if that wasn¡¯t something you¡¯re supposed to ask,¡± Jack apologized, his face only becoming redder as Hafrad took his sweet ass time replying. Those dwarven eyes just seemed to dig into his soul the longer they waited. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean offense.¡±

    ¡°... None was taken, lad. It¡¯s merely a question that I didn¡¯t expect to ever hear from a human,¡± Hafrad finally answered. ¡°I¡¯ll allow you to touch the heirloom, but I must first ask why you want to.¡±

    I want to know if I can recreate it.

    That was the honest truth. Whatever the metal in front of Jack¡¯s eyes was, it didn¡¯t seem to be an alloy of anything he¡¯d seen before. From the feel it gave off, the mithril was pure, yet that meant that it was somehow meant to fit on the periodic table, and that didn¡¯t make sense.

    Vera¡¯s confusion at the mention of that chart months had made Jack consider that this world simply carried more elements than the old one, but before now he hadn¡¯t been convinced. This, however? It finished the job.

    And with the status that Mithril carried, he had to know.

    Did that mean he was going to lie about his intentions? Jack considered it for a moment, but his heart rejected the notion. Hafrad had been honest to him, had told him stories of his family, and something twisted in his stomach at the thought of hiding such a simple truth from the dwarf.

    ¡°I am a Metamancer, if you¡¯ve heard of that Affinity before,¡± Jack asked. The right eyebrow of the dwarf rose as he shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s a rare one, I admit, and I like to think of it as rather powerful. It allows me to transmute material into other materials. I can make silver into gold, gold into platinum, and I have had some semi-success in making coal into diamonds, though that has been a frustrating experience.

    ¡°Nevertheless, I¡¯ve been steadily getting the hang of learning more about materials by physical touch, and I¡¯m kinda hoping that I would be able to make mithril out of some other metal if I had a moment to inspect your ring.¡±

    Jack expected some resistance to the idea, but the only thing he received was booming laughter. Hafrad tried to reply in words again and again, but the dwarf never uttered more than a syllable or two before he fell back into the clutches of uncontainable chuckles.

    ¡°Oh, to Duron, you¡ª Oh, you¡ª Someone like you¡ª What¡­ What in The Great Nine¡­¡± Hafrad was able to wheeze out, before finally getting control of himself. ¡°I¡¯m more than fine with this attempt of yours, Jack Larson, but I request that you won¡¯t be disappointed by the result. To transform other metals into mithril has been attempted by every dwarf with a magical gift since time immemorial.¡±

    "Don''t worry. I won¡¯t shed any tears if I fail,¡± Jack assured him, which Hafrad accepted. With a hand holding out the beard to grant easier access to the ring, he was allowed to start trying the impossible. ¡°Well¡­ here goes.¡±

    Truth be told, there was no explosive burst of knowledge and ascendance as first touched the ring. Jack noted the cold feel of the metal, of course, as if the mithril refused the notion of reaching the warm temperature of the room, but that was only the superficial. The ring itself had been engraved with a helmet and an ax on its sides. He could almost imagine the true edges of the equipment, as his fingers trailed over the masterful craftwork.

    Tell me how you work.

    It rudely refused to respond, but Jack dug into the structure regardless. The composition wasn¡¯t as dense as he¡¯d expected, not as firm in how it was held together, and yet there was no question about the strength. Though it broke all sorts of rules about the composition of materials, Jack could innately tell how incredibly effective mithril could be when fashioned into armor.

    Some part of him hinted at the metal being able to absorb strong blows for the user, completely ignoring the fact that the mithril was meant to be light as a feather.

    Magic doesn¡¯t care.

    The metal didn¡¯t care.

    Incredible.

    ¡°Okay¡­ that was interesting,¡± Jack commented two minutes later, as he opened his eyes and let go of the ring. Hafrad didn¡¯t immediately reply, looking at him curiously. ¡°Ready to see me fail?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t sell yourself short, lad,¡± Hafrad rebuked, though Jack could tell that the dwarf didn¡¯t expect it to work either. ¡°You must trust your abilities if you want them to reach their peak.¡±

    That was true, he supposed. Jack didn¡¯t need to believe he could do this. He needed to know he could do it. This wasn¡¯t some attempt at transmutation of a magical metal. Jack was going to transmute it. No ¡®maybe¡¯ was allowed. It was a certainty.

    Blind faith, don¡¯t fail me now!

    Taking out a small ball of gold he¡¯d played with the past days, he held it tightly in his right hand and allowed his Core to activate.

    Channeling of [Transmute Solid] has been activated! Current cost: 46MP/sec

    A lurch swept through his body as the veins recoiled from the massive drain, but Jack didn¡¯t cease his efforts. The world simply needed a moment to understand that this wasn¡¯t an attempt, that the gold didn¡¯t just need to shake and crumple in his grasp but that it needed to be Transmuted into the white glory.

    Come on, now,! You can do it.

    In his mind, he imagined the process of tearing apart the lines that held the gold together, reforming each connection to match the mithril. Something deeper than that also happened, the very foundations shifting in their mass, and¡­ Jack couldn¡¯t put it into words that made sense. Hands not his own twisted unseen dials, changing the truth of the materium, and his body started to shake.

    Error.

    No.

    There wasn¡¯t any error with his work. Jack didn¡¯t fail.

    We are doing this, whether you like it or not.

    Something in his Core seemed to relent at that absolute truth, and Jack¡¯s approach to manipulating the metal in his hand was adjusted. The connections obeyed him more easily, the world didn¡¯t push back as hard, and his shaking body relaxed enough for him to notice the words flying around him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me he actually did it,¡± Sasha muttered tiredly.

    ¡°Impossible,¡± Louis said under his breath.

    Jack blinked. His eyes were stupidly dry, yet he couldn¡¯t have been at it for more than twenty seconds. He didn¡¯t have more Mana to work after that point, after all.

    Flaw in [Transmute Solid] Spell-Tier detected! Spell moved from [Tier 2] to [Tier 3].

    ¡­ Huh. If his mind wasn¡¯t feeling so incredibly slow, Jack would probably be celebrating that fact. Instead, he slowly looked down at his right hand, where the small ball of gold still sat.

    Or, wait, no.

    While most of the sphere was still golden in color, the very top had become white. It was a surface area the size of a fingernail, but there was no doubt.

    ¡°I did it?¡± Jack said, blinking a few more times to make sure he wasn¡¯t hallucinating. ¡°I did it.¡±

    Happiness and glee started to fill his body, pushing past the strengthening waves of tiredness, but it all became muted as he looked at Hafrad who had not yet uttered a word.

    All form of cheer and joviality was gone from the Hafrad¡¯s face. Now, there were only the dwarf¡¯s wide, sunken eyes staring back at Jack in horror and disbelief.

 Chapter 109: On Silver Necklaces They Strung

    Hafrad Silverstone, son of Hafred Silverstone, prided himself on his composure. It was a trait he had inherited from his mother, and he was grateful for it daily. The ability to stay calm, to move with the mountains, had allowed him grace where his other kin would have faltered, and because of that reason, Darim¡¯s king had allowed him the role of First Diplomat.

    Never, in the 150 years where he had dealt with the human diplomats and their strange behaviors, had he faltered.

    Until now.

    It¡¯s impossible.

    It was meant to be impossible. Jack Larson, a human man with a curious heart, was still supposed to follow the rules that Duron imposed on the world. A mortal was never meant to make mithril, to make the most precious metal that the god of the earth had granted them, and yet¡­ the impossible had become possible.

    Hafrad faltered. His body stiffened, his eyes widened, and any words he could think of were caught in his throat.

    He could do nothing.

    Keep your oath.

    Those words were chanted in his head again and again, and Hafrad breathed again as he figured out how to spin this back around. If only something like this had occurred after another three bottles. Maybe then he would¡¯ve felt his nerves be loose enough to not hesitate.

    ¡°Could I see that, lad?¡± Hafrad asked Jack. ¡°I need a quick look to be sure.¡±

    There was no need for a quick look. Hafrad knew in his heart that this was mithril. Any dwarf that couldn¡¯t identify that white gold at sight wasn¡¯t worth the air they breathed.

    Still, he accepted the ball of gold and took a closer look. As he knew from the start, the top of the sphere had been perfectly transformed into mithril, with the near-perfect purity that the ring in his beard also possessed.

    Around a gram in weight.

    More than enough to shift current plans.

    But if Hafrad had to do something drastic, he had to be more than sure of himself. One final test, one final observation, needed to be made before he would contact the ruler of Darim.

    ¡°Wait, what are you¡ª Oh,¡± Jack exclaimed, as Hafrad chipped a little of the mithril off with his teeth. It was a piece the size of sand grains, but his body responded with glee as it swirled around in his mouth.

    And as he swallowed, letting the mithril fall into his stomach, his flesh flexed and strengthened. The muscle fibers in his arms were coated by the energy of his ancestors, Hafrad could hear their wisdom flow through his bones, and it seemed like even Duron looked upon him at that moment.

    A glimpse of divinity, far past what the purest gold could ever hope to achieve.

    It¡¯s real.

    ¡°You won¡¯t need to shed a single tear today, lad,¡± Hafrad admitted, gazing upon the golden ball in his hand. ¡°You¡¯ve done what my ancestors couldn¡¯t, and for that, you have my respect.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing,¡± Jack replied nervously. Such a comment would¡¯ve normally caused some flare of anger in Hafrad, as it discounted the achievements of his forefathers, but there was little chance he would ever hold a hand against this human. Jack Larson was worth too much now. ¡°You can keep that even. I can just make more later.¡±

    Make more. Such a casual tone but the words meant more than Hafrad could imagine. This would have consequences.

    ¡°I thank you for this honor then, Jack Larson,¡± Hafrad said, bowing to the man who seemed increasingly uncomfortable. Most of the other humans in the room did seem to share that sentiment as well, as their eyes stared at him unblinkingly. ¡°However¡­ I must confess that this is most unusual. Would you mind if I excused myself for a short time? I must contact my brethren about this discovery.¡±

    Nobody objected. They didn¡¯t dare, for they knew what weight this revelation carried. Even if Jack Larson, a man unwillingly ignorant of dwarven customs, did not know what this successful transformation of metals meant, every other person understood the consequences.

    For better or for worse, the world would soon have a hard time keeping up with the changes happening within it.

    Hafrad didn¡¯t need to think about such a long-term prospect now, however. He simply had to put one boot in front of the other, as he traveled further down the tunnels. It was deeper than any of the humans ever went, which meant that the glowing rocks planted into the walls slowly faded away. They were no longer needed, as dwarven eyes could see well enough without them.

    Better even.

    The world was alight with life within the rocks. They sang, they welcomed Hafrad into the depths, and they guided him through the many twists and turns meant to confuse intruders.

    And life only continued to strengthen, as the pulses of energy began to be felt in his feet. The pulse of the world, of the leylines that traveled in the walls, reached his ears.

    They were the reason these tunnels were dug out, so many years ago. Leylines were valuable to all races, after all. They carried an ocean''s worth of Mana inside them, never able to be emptied of energy within any lifespan, but there was also more to them than that. There were aspects that the other races couldn¡¯t see, couldn¡¯t feel, no matter how much they searched.

    Traits exclusive to dwarves, only able to be witnessed because of the gift granted to Hafrad¡¯s brethren from Duron.

    They could become one with the pulsing heart of the world.

    Such an ability came with many positives. It rejuvenated their flesh to some extent, letting those proficient in the craft live for some additional centuries. Not to a level where they rivaled the long-ears in longevity, but most other races couldn¡¯t compete.

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Another, and arguably the most important trait, however, was that it allowed any dwarf to communicate with another.

    ¡®King Fror Trueforge, son of Thror Trueforge, I bring news of utmost importance.¡¯

    The message traveled through the blood of the world, vibrating through stone and metal until it was received in the grand halls of Darim. An advisor of the king was quick to respond to Hafrad¡¯s message, and it took only two minutes before Fror was connected to the world as well.

    ¡®Speak, Hafrad Silverstone, for the hour is late and my men tell me you have news most dire.¡¯

    It took will to not fall onto one knee.

    ¡®My king, I have met the humans of Serenova, as you ordered. I have bargained with them, and they have agreed to almost double the supply of gold with a minimal increase in cost.¡¯

    ¡®The people of Darim thank you, Hafrad, but I can hear that this alone isn¡¯t what made you contact me. Reveal what it is you dread.¡¯

    Truly, nothing could be hidden from Fror.

    ¡®I was not met by a single diplomat as I have in the past, my king, but by an entire group of followers. One of them, a young human man by the name of Jack Larson, was intrigued by my form and the histories of our people. He knew very little, but was very apt to learn.¡¯

    ¡®A good human among many who choose to remain ignorant.,¡¯ Fror idly commented. There was a tidbit of tiredness in the king¡¯s voice.

    ¡®Indeed, your majesty,¡¯ Hafrad agreed. ¡®This man was not special in only this aspect, however. After the discussions regarding the trading of gold were finished, he and I spent over an hour discussing the history and traditions of dwarves. This included the gifts that were granted during one¡¯s 250th birthday, where I revealed the ring given to me by my father.¡¯

    ¡®The Ring of the Eraborn,¡¯ the king said, knowing the name instantly. ¡®You revealed its history to the humans?¡¯

    ¡®Only a few key details, my king,¡¯ Hafrad assured him. A sense of calm was sent in response, one that Hafrad did feel some regret for causing as it would soon be ripped away once again. ¡®I was never able to go more in-depth, as Jack revealed himself to be a mage that carried the Affinity of Metamancy. I do not know if you have heard of it previously, but he believed that he could transmute another metal into mithril if he had a moment beforehand to inspect the ring.¡¯

    Booming laughter came through, on the level of what Hafrad had done when he had heard it as well. Only now, it wasn¡¯t as absurd to him.

    ¡®Metamancers have been documented in dwarves hundreds of times throughout our history, but the Affinity is kept secret from the masses. It is not as powerful as it implies, and most who have carried it have fallen for gold sickness within mere decades,¡¯ Fror explained, the mirth lessening as he felt Hafrad¡¯s apprehension. ¡®What came of it?¡¯

    ¡®He succeeded, my king.¡¯

    ¡®What.¡¯

    The sheer volume of the king¡¯s voice brought Hafrad to the ground. Only his training kept his connection to the leyline intact, as he fought to keep himself composed.

    ¡®He transmuted a part of a ball of gold into mithril, my king,¡¯ Hafrad expanded. ¡®It was only a single gram, but the transformation held true. It was no illusion, I checked for myself.¡¯

    ¡®Impossible,¡¯ he could hear the king mutter. It was faint, as even Fror was shaken by the words. ¡®Has your mind been twisted?¡¯

    ¡®Every artifact I carry has revealed no malignant forces upon my flesh and mind,¡¯ Hafrad told the king. ¡®There is nothing that even hints at this being a falsity, which is why I felt it was needed to contact you directly.¡¯

    ¡®... You made the right decision, Hafrad Silverstone,¡¯ Fror finally replied, after a minute of deliberation. ¡®This human, Jack Larson¡­ We need him. How is he affiliated with Serenova?¡¯

    ¡®He was introduced to me as a Follower of Elijah Caede, Serenova¡¯s Royal Healer,¡¯ Hafrad was quick to explain. ¡®From what I have been able to gather, he has close ties with the royal family, to the point where Louis Newell, the second son of Mason Newell, trusts him. To attain this man for our own fold would be very difficult.¡¯

    For another race, there would be very little dilemma, but dwarves did not bend down to those standards. They would not force another into servitude.

    ¡®So it would seem,¡¯ the king replied. Another minute was spent in silence, as the ruler tried to figure out a solution to this problem of theirs. ¡®From your own experiences, are there any factors with Serenova that we could use for them to grant us the services of this man?¡¯

    ¡®...There is one facet of the discussion that could prove useful to us,¡¯ Hafrad said. ¡®Before the final agreement regarding the percentage of gold was made, there was a larger offer with very beneficial pricing, but at the cost of Darim promising to assist Serenova if Castilla attacked. From what I can tell, they don¡¯t believe they can currently win if they are attacked.¡¯

    ¡®Are they not still allied with Ethon?¡¯

    ¡®I assumed so, but this offer brings some doubt to my mind regarding the validity of their official partnership with the forest elves,¡¯ he continued. ¡®While I will not suggest that we break the pact made with Castilla regarding non-aggression, we could perhaps entice our brethren to grant the new human kingdom more powerful weapons and tools. The prospect of a new source of mithril would not go ignored.¡¯

    ¡®It would be a difficult play to make, but¡­ Oh, you are a cunning dwarf, Hafrad Silverstone. Be proud, for you deserve your role without question,¡¯ Fror announced. ¡®Go with the humans to their capital. Make the offer of advanced weapons, tools, and protection for this man, if he visits Darim and helps remake a certain crown of mithril.¡¯

    The Crown of Maral?

    ¡®I will do as you have asked, my king,¡¯ Hafrad replied, raising his head with pride. ¡®I will not fail you.¡¯

    As if Duron would ever allow it.

 Chapter 110: The Quiet Before The Storm

    Did Elijah like his new circumstances? Not in the slightest. Was there anything he could do to get out of it? Also no. His current situation was being forced upon him and the group with iron chains, and there was little chance they would be released before it was finished.

    It had been going fine. They met with the dwarven diplomat, discussed current affairs, and ate and drank without any offenses being made. Elijah had been able to explain his confrontation with the strange minds inside the leyline to Grace, Aleksi had been able to sample just about every type of meat that the dwarves harvested from Darim¡¯s dungeon, Sasha had been left alone, as she had so requested, and Jack¡­ Jack, the man of the night, had been granted the privilege of bombarding the dwarf with questions.

    Most had been inane, but Hafrad Silverstone had taken to them well. The patience of the dwarf had outmatched that of the elven diplomat, and the rounds of questioning had continued for much longer than Elijah had anticipated.

    It was certainly longer than it should¡¯ve been. If either of the two parties had announced that they had grown tired, maybe this entire ordeal could¡¯ve been avoided and Elijah could¡¯ve relaxed on their way back.

    But, instead, Jack just had to screw it up.

    He could¡¯ve waited until after.

    Impatience had made the young man reveal his cards to the wrong foreign party. If he¡¯d shown off his abilities in private, to those only affiliated with Serenova, it would¡¯ve been a delightful discovery. Even if Mithril was outside his realm of study, Elijah knew just how incredible a revelation this was. To transmute any metal into mithril was unheard of, and Jack¡¯s ability to do so had just turned the market for the white gold on its head.

    And he¡¯d done it in front of a damned dwarven diplomat.

    We can¡¯t change the past.

    Elijah was annoyed. Not angry. If he allowed every stupid thing young people did to get to him, he would¡¯ve been a red mass decades ago. But, still, he was annoyed. The consequences of Jack¡¯s actions were destined to be unfolding for months to come, and even in the short term, they were apparent.

    ¡°What a small boomstick,¡± Hafrad commented, as Jack showed off the newest iteration of his pistol. ¡°Barely any weight to it as well. Is it not at risk of shattering when used?¡±

    ¡°It might not weigh much to you, but this here is a very decent weight for what humans are used to,¡± Jack explained. The man took apart the top of the weapon with ease, showing the barrel¡¯s rifling along with the single bullet loaded as an example. ¡°From how you¡¯ve explained it, I think you guys focus more on close-range power rather than medium-to-long-range. I don¡¯t think my version could blast through the armor of some monster with an inch of stone instead of skin, but this could still pierce through a person¡¯s leather armor from fifty yards.¡±

    ¡°Must be human leather, if it can,¡± the dwarf countered, studying the weapon with what seemed like genuine curiosity. While the short folk didn¡¯t carry that same level of arrogance that the elven people made clear at all times, Elijah didn¡¯t doubt that they thought their own ways of crafting to be superior to most of anything else.

    Though, that wasn¡¯t to say that the dwarf wasn¡¯t interested. While different from the diplomat¡¯s own experiences with crafting the ranged weaponry, Hafrad was more than happy to hear every detail that Jack would give about his pistol. From the way that the assembly was optimized for cleaning to how Jack was still fine-tuning the rifling to increase the accuracy beyond ten feet, there was no end to the questions.

    And it only worsened when Grace grew tired of listening in from the side and interjecting with her own ideas.

    ¡°If the sound when firing is that big a problem for stealth, why not silence it?¡± she questioned. Elijah had quietly predicted that a rant about ¡®silencers¡¯ would erupt from the curly-haired man in response, but the chance of that had vanished at her next words. ¡°If you isolate the frequency of the shot, any Sound Mage worth the title could reduce it to a whisper.¡±

    Was it truly so? To a point.

    Elijah¡¯s ears had certainly been spared from the loudest of the blasts, although they were most certainly still there. Quieter by the day, but noticeable regardless. Quiet enough to let him focus on his own discoveries.

    ¡®It¡¯s changing again,¡¯ Dawn dutifully reported while chewing through another day¡¯s worth of expensive meat. ¡®It¡¯s blue now.¡¯

    Removing his eyes from the pages of the tome, Elijah inspected the flowers again. They were a shorter variant from the Goldenrod family, the same height as the tall grass to reduce damage from wind, and, as the name implied, known for having a beautifully golden color.

    Right now, however, they were a bright pink.

    ¡®Close to blue,¡¯ Dawn insisted.

    ¡®If I were to ask Grace, I believe she would say the opposite,¡¯ Elijah replied, brushing his hand against the tiny flower heads. They were soft, offering no resistance. ¡®Try to focus on something other than the color. The flexibility. Imagine something more rigid.¡¯

    No direct orders for the flowers to change, no intentional signaling that he craved alterations to the world around him, and yet¡­ It took less than ten minutes of reading before Dawn interrupted him again.

    ¡®They¡¯re swinging around.¡¯

    Looking over, he saw she hadn¡¯t lied. Even with only a mild wind from the east, the stalks of goldenrods were swaying far more than the grass that surrounded them.

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    Tilting to the side, but without any bend in the stalks.

    Impractical. There was no reason for this, other than to comply with external demands. Elijah¡¯s demands, to be clear, no matter if he¡¯d intended for them to be demands. Odd thoughts about the variety of the foliage, a need to eat, mutterings about the sharpness of the sun while resting, and anything else that could be in any way interpreted as a command to change the world around him was taken as an order.

    It started a few days after they set out when they reached the areas where Elijah¡¯s machinations had fully converted the greenery. The amount of Mana in the plants had increased just a little, which had been a curiosity, but it was the changes that came with his thoughts that were much more fascinating.

    The changes weren¡¯t large and neither were they instantaneous. They were small, not too far from the plant¡¯s origin, but they were likewise undeniable.

    Elijah personally thought it a quirk of his continued connection with the plains. To saturate it all with his own Mana for such a long time had to come with side effects of some variety, and, since he could already pull some amount of Mana from the wild plants, was this so surprising?

    Without a doubt.

    The book didn¡¯t mention anything like this. Intentional modifications and bonds were the bread and butter of Biomancy, but there was nothing intentional about this. Elijah¡¯s mere presence was enough to bring about changes.

    His heart rate increased a little.

    The pulses of the goldenroot flowers matched it. An instinctual reaction, but not one that came from the plant¡¯s pattern.

    It was from his body if he could even distinguish it by that now. As he stood in the fields that permeated with his magical essence, Elijah doubted that his form could truly be said to end at the skin.

    One step further away from humanity.

    ¡®That is good.¡¯

    ¡°Of course, you¡¯d think that,¡± Elijah muttered, waving away the questioning glance from Aleksi. ¡°Dungeon¡¯s giving me its opinion of my thoughts.¡±

    ¡°This far out from the city?¡± Aleksi commented. With good reason as well. They were still an hour of riding away. ¡°Thought you needed to be just on top of it.¡±

    ¡°Range must¡¯ve increased,¡± Elijah supposed, a reason for the sudden boost forming in his mind. ¡®I can feel your influence in the grass.¡¯

    ¡®I am in the grass,¡¯ the dungeon replied. ¡®Very strange.¡¯

    ¡®Why the sudden desire to leave your tunnels?¡¯

    ¡®Not leaving. Eyes travel further,¡¯ came the instant correction. ¡®You connected to me. Forced a bridge. Bad design. Made me curious.¡¯

    Before he knew it, Elijah felt waves of minor adjustments to the grass¡¯ structure flow into his mind. Improvements to increase efficiency, a better encapsulation technique to conserve long-distance signals, and a small list to handle edge cases that he¡¯d never considered.

    Yet no forced changes. The dungeon didn¡¯t go through with any of the alterations, despite an instinctual desire to do so.

    ¡®Can¡¯t,¡¯ the dungeon explained. ¡®Influence of the pillar. Close but still too far. Later.¡¯

    ¡®You think you can control the plant life I¡¯ve converted in the future?¡¯

    ¡®Maybe. This is new.¡¯

    An unprecedented discovery. Elijah could feel the edge of trepidation that came along with it, though he didn¡¯t get to question the feeling before the presence of the entity vanished from his senses. Perhaps something else had become more interesting?

    ¡°That stench. I see the rumors understated the truth,¡± Hafrad muttered loud enough for Elijah to hear. ¡°To have leashed a tarrasque of such power¡­ even without its aura, it inspires fear in me.¡±

    The monster in question couldn¡¯t be seen just yet, though the tallest tower of the royal castle was just barely in view.

    ¡°Please be assured that we know what type of monstrosity we¡¯re keeping,¡± Louis attempted, falling into the diplomatic role that had been loosened up on these past days traveling. ¡°Great care has been taken to ensure that the tarrasque is of no threat to the people of Seronova.¡±

    ¡°Its mere presence makes it a danger to all,¡± Hafrad replied in a dark tone. ¡°Alas, I cannot blame your choice to keep the creature under your command. It is undeniable that it stops any smaller force from ever successfully attacking your capital city.¡±

    ¡°Our thoughts exactly.¡±

    Elijah noted the look that Fade sent towards the young prince. Silence came soon after, and it was kept that way as they rode closer to the city. The tarrasque was in full display by then, having its afternoon meal of meats that were being shoved into its mouth. It was obedient during the process, never moving its head as a dozen men worked in tandem to satiate its appetite.

    But those eyes were a different story, as the reptilian pupils shifted towards the small caravan.

    ¡®¡ªpillar?¡¯

    What?

    For the briefest of moments, Elijah thought he¡¯d heard a voice. A woman¡¯s voice, with a depth that would make a grown man shake, but it was gone before he could say for sure that he hadn¡¯t imagined it.

    He wished he had, but recent developments made him doubt it.

    ¡°Elijah Caede, returning from an official expedition with Louis Newell,¡± Elijah recited once they reached the gate. ¡°Accompanying us are our bodyguards, my pupils, and Hafrad Silverstone, the chosen diplomat from Darim.¡±

    ¡°Another diplomat?¡± the guard murmured.

    ¡°What do you mean another?¡± Aleksi questioned.

    ¡°Uhm¡­ We¡¯re not supposed to say, sir.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m the Royal Healer, young man,¡± Elijah countered. ¡°Anything you¡¯re privy to is within my jurisdiction.¡±

    ¡°Right, sir. Sorry, sir,¡± the guard replied, eyes falling to the ground. Now that Elijah was thinking back, he had never seen that face before. A trainee, most likely. ¡°Ethon¡¯s diplomat, Lura Fadan, arrived twenty minutes ago, to speak with our queen. The captain granted her an immediate escort to the castle.¡±

    Since Harper appeared in the same minute, Elijah knew the day¡¯s work had barely started.