ã€ŠTerminus Ritual: Level Up or Dieã€‹


 Progress Updates

    Some of you may have noticed that yesterday I posted a "new" chapter and forgot to tick the "Don''t notify followers about the update" box. After that chapter got a few dozen views I didnt expect, I thought I''d create this update post to create a record of current progress that I can edit with the latest info instead of everything being hidden in Notes in various chapters, and so that I can update new and current readers of the changes and things to be aware of.

    13/01/2025

    Chapter 10: Tribulations of the Solknight and Chapter 6: Love//Potions are the two "new" chapters that I posted over the past few days, but they are just previous content from chapters that I thought were too long split into their own chapter, so the first volume is now two chapters longer, and every chapter number past that has had to be changed. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    I''ve been working on a new draft of Volume 1 in January 2025 so the first ten chapters are a bit more polished now. Some stuff has been cut and a few extra thousand words have been added throughout. One change I still need to make is to the "System" parts. I will be changing everthing from using "-" to "[ ]" as it is becoming a nightmare trying to convert it to Kindle.

    The most current note that is fairly important for new readers is from the chapter Hunters in the Dark (was 22, now 24): I am still currently reworking Volume 2 to include a plotline that I stripped from Volume 1 although progress on this edit is slowgoing. The draft past this point is still the original so some parts related to the original plotline will feel out of place, although the overall plot remains the same.

    The first draft of Volume 3 is about half finished but between work and my PhD progress is also slowgoing.

    I am also messing around with changing the title.

 Book 1 - Chapter 1: The End of the World on the Banks of the Phlegethon

    Lightning struck wildly and a fierce wind howled through every crack in the walls. Alix tried his best to wrap the rotten blanket around himself but it didn¡¯t do much good. It was threadbare, motheaten and smelled strongly of mildew. The mattress, if it could be called that, was little more than a large coarse sack stuffed with old dusty straw, but in the crumbling ruin it was better than nothing.

    The room he had locked himself in was luckily the most intact of the few he had dashed past, with only a few of its windows smashed and a small leaking hole in the roof, but the wind and the cold still permeated the place as if he was lying stark naked outside in the heart of the storm. After what he had seen, it almost felt preferable.

    The wooden frame of the small bed was grandly carved in a way that belied the dilapidated surroundings. He tried to keep still, to avoid alerting anyone, or anything, to his presence, but his bed continued to betray him. It creaked terribly with every shivering movement, threatening to snap into kindling at any moment, and the straps holding up the mattress groaned.

    The night ahead was looking long and miserable, if he even managed to survive it. If he did, he was sure the next day would be even worse, but he didn¡¯t want to think of what might be waiting for him on the other side of the door he had managed to bolt shut behind him after the terrifying flight through the castle. The violent shivering had started soon after he had collapsed into the bed, fully dressed. He had hoped he would pass out from sheer shock and exhaustion, but the biting draught kept fighting off his attempts at sleep.

    After what felt like an age of shivering in the miserable bed, the howling of the storm seemed to fade, his senses diminishing until there was nothing left of him.

    This is it, Alix thought to himself, I¡¯m not going to make it.

    He thought about getting out of his damp clothes and trying to start a fire with the debris scattered around the room, the remains of chairs and tables, but it was wishful thinking. He had nothing to start a fire with and the scraps of wood looked like they were more likely to turn to dust. More than that, he suddenly found that he could no longer move, the exhaustion forcing his body to sleep while his mind remained too terrified to lower its guard.

    Shadows moved in the darkness around him, sleep paralysis demons chasing him into oblivion, but with them came a new sensation. It felt like the clothes melted from his body and a warmth slowly began to come over him.

    Alix succumbed to the embracing warmth as thunder rumbled in the distance, sure he would never wake again.

    48 Hours Earlier

    The last thick notes from the amp faded like echoing thunder. Alix waited with baited breath until silence filled the room, afraid any movement might ruin the otherwise perfect take. He took a quick glance at the clock on the wall.

    5pm. Right on time.

    They had finished just within their allotted time, unable to afford to pay the studio for any more.

    The sound engineer in the booth gave them the thumbs up, indicating that the tapes had been turned off and that they could start packing up their gear before the next band arrived to use the space. ¡°Great job guys,¡± he called over the intercom. ¡°I should be able to get the master back to you in a couple of weeks.¡±

    Alix could hardly believe it. His band, Riff Wizard, had just completed the recording of their debut album. It was a surreal feeling. He had walked into the studio full of nerves, even though they had practised the songs relentlessly for months before booking the session, until they were able to play everything perfectly without making any mistakes. The less mistakes they made, the quicker they could finish the recording and save money on extra studio time. Now it was suddenly all over and he didn¡¯t know what to do with himself. As the last riff faded his adrenaline drained with it, leaving him mentally and physically exhausted, and dying for a drink.

    ¡°That was sweet. I don¡¯t know about you guys but I need a pint,¡± Alix said to the others as he began to pack up his gear.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to take my gear back to the flat, might join you later though,¡± Mac said as he unstrapped his bass guitar and stuck it back in its case, although he sounded less than enthused at the idea.

    ¡°Yeah, same here,¡± Sean said flatly from behind the drumkit.

    ¡°It¡¯s a studio kit, Sean. You can¡¯t take it home,¡± Alix pointed out. What was going on with them all? He had expected them to be raring to jump into the closest pub for a pint to celebrate their success. The hardest part was over now. All that was left was to relax and have fun thinking of what they were going to call the album.

    ¡°I¡­need a shower at least,¡± Sean replied, looking anywhere but at Alix. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a shout if I¡¯m up for it later.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s cool, I¡¯ll be at Brauhaus if you change your minds. First rounds on me. We should be celebrating but I understand if you are shattered. I¡¯m exhausted as well but I¡¯m too excited to head home. Give me a shout later.¡± Alix zipped up his guitar case, packed away his pedalboard and leads, then headed out to make room for the next band.

    Alix exited Sound Cavern Studios onto a dirty, run down looking side alley. He didn¡¯t even know if the street had a proper name. He had always just called it Studio Street because the studio was the only worthwhile thing there. He walked down the alley and turned onto Argyle Street, the Phlegethon that flowed through Glasgow, a sluggish torrent of human detritus hemmed in by charity shops, out of season Christmas shops, discount stores and boarded up windows. He always hated the long trek from one end of it to the other, getting caught behind another gaggle of oblivious shoppers every few steps. Brauhaus called to him like a beacon from the far end.

    After fighting half way down, he stopped at a crossing waiting for the light to turn green. He pressed the button and WAIT appeared in dull yellow letters. Above the box, he caught sight of a poster emblazoned with cheap clipart of a guitar and a stack of amps. Alix¡¯s first thought as he lazily read the poster while he waited for the light to change was what sort of poor excuse for a graphic designer still used Comic Sans. Then the words sank in as he read them again, the light still red.

    Guitarist Wanted for up and coming

    Doom Metal Band in Glasgow.

    Needs to be available immediately

    For rehearsals and live shows.

    Must have knowledge of the genre

    Bonus if you can do vocals as well

    Serious enquiries only.

    Above the clipart was the logo of a band in a generic psychedelic font, with probably an equally generic combination of words like Fuzz, Witch, Bong or Goblin. The overall impression he got of it was so bland that his eyes wandered over the logo without taking in the name. Below the requirements hung a row of perforated strips with a phone number on it for potential applicants to call. He had no need or time to be playing in a second band so he turned his eyes back to the opposite traffic light. Still red.

    Wait¡­

    Alix spun back to face the poster and tore off one of the number strips. He stared at the numbers on the paper until the light had long since turned green and back to red again. Then he noticed the band logo again. It was a name he recognised, but with the different font it hadn¡¯t clicked before. Riff Wizard. Alix tore down the poster, crumpled it up and threw it into the closest bin, tore the phone from his pocket and stabbed the Call Mac buttons so hard he was surprised the screen didn¡¯t crack.

    ¡°Guitarist FUCKING WANTED?¡± Alix screamed down the line as soon as Mac answered the phone.

    ¡°Fuck. I can explain Alix,¡± Mac spoke quickly, a hint of fear entering his voice.

    ¡°Explain what, you piece of shit. Riff Wizard is my band. I hired you! You have no right to be looking for new members, or thinking for even a second that you can kick me out,¡± Alix yelled, oblivious to the stares the patrons of the Phlegethon were casting his way.

    ¡°Look Alix, we were going to tell you tomorrow. It¡¯s just¡­we don¡¯t think you fit the band anymore. You stopped smoking because of that girl you¡¯re with, you want us to give up all our free time for practise. It¡¯s just sucked the fun out of it. We just wanted to smoke a joint and have a good time messing about but you¡¯ve changed. After recording an album we just wanted to chill but you are talking about touring and Spotify and vinyl pressings. It feels like we are in a band with our dad.¡±

    ¡°What the fuck are you talking about Mac? We can¡¯t play tiny venues like Audio for the rest of our lives, a bunch of stoned nobodies with only a few hundred views on YouTube and a half-assed Bandcamp page. Do you know how much money we made at our last gig? We fucking lost money! If that¡¯s how you feel then you can all fuck off and I¡¯ll find some proper musicians to replace you all. I wrote every single fucking riff and lyric on that album. I soldered every custom pedal on both of our boards, which you can give me back now you cheeky bastard. How did you think this was going to go? Did you think I was just going to let you release my album without me?¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°We would have paid you back for the studio-¡° Mac started to say but Alix was too enraged to hear him out. He had a mind to turn around and head back to the studio and confront Mac directly. It sounded quiet on his end so he still had to be there. Likely he was trying to convince the staff to send him the masters instead.

    Suddenly he realised why neither of them had wanted to come for a pint. They both knew they were planning on trying to chuck him out of the band. His band. Their stupidity was unfathomable. There was another reason he had wanted to have a drink with them all. A label had shown interest in the demo he had sent them and were interested in checking out the final album. If they liked what they heard, there was potentially a deal in it for them. That had just gone out the window.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to tell you how this is going to go. I¡¯m the one that signed and paid for everything so you can forget about trying to get hold of the masters. I¡¯m going to send the studio an email reminding them of that fact. Then you are going to return all my gear. That includes all the pedals I built for you because you were too cheap to buy yourself a Big Muff.¡± Alix couldn¡¯t understand it. Mac¡¯s reasoning made no sense. They had all joined the band with the intention of being successful, but by the sounds of it Mac just wanted them to stagnate. Neither him nor Sean had given him that impression before. He hadn¡¯t quit smoking either, just decided to take a break while they were recording to help pay for the session and to help make his days more productive.

    ¡°That¡¯s not fair Alix, Riff Wizard is just as much ours-¡° Mac tried to say, but that only infuriated Alix further.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t written a single decent riff in your entire life Mac! If you are thinking writing Merlin¡¯s Beard gives you any sort of credit or claim to the entire band, a song that was going to be a bonus track or B-side at best, then I will just cut it. I tell you what, since you are so unhappy with the band, why don¡¯t I make it easy for you?¡± Alix heard Mac sigh with relief but he wasn¡¯t done yet. ¡°Since I wrote everything, I will treat you and Sean as studio session musicians. What¡¯s the going rate these days? Two hundred quid per session? Well since you were both so cheap and I had to front the bill myself, we could only afford one session to record the album. I¡¯ll send you and Sean your money and then you can both fuck off.¡±

    Alix punched the end call button. Suddenly he wasn¡¯t in the mood to go to the pub. He wanted to go home and open a bottle of something stronger. That meant turning around and walking back the way he had come. The traffic on the Phlegethon was just as thick flowing in the opposite direction. Trying to wade through it felt like the ferryman of the damned in a sinking boat with no oar, but his anger kept him pushing forward.

    As Alix walked he called another number on his phone. It seemed to ring for minutes before the call was finally answered.

    ¡°Hey babe, you won¡¯t believe what¡¯s just happened,¡± Alix said to the female voice on the other end.

    ¡°I¡¯m pretty busy just now Alix, can it wait?¡± Molly replied in an exasperated tone.

    What the fuck? Alix silently cursed to himself. What the hell was going on with everyone today? ¡°You know what, I¡¯ve just realised that we haven¡¯t spoken on the phone in over two weeks, and that you have been ¡®too busy¡¯ to come over for almost a month. Are you going to be free later? I¡¯ve had a very shit day and I really need someone to talk to about it.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great babe, I¡¯m just really swamped just now, I¡¯ve got to go,¡± Molly said, hanging up before Alix could reply.

    He wanted to call her back or text her that he knew she wasn¡¯t swamped. For the past two years, she had been trying her hand at new things, each one a bigger failure than the last. Despite his best efforts to try and support her, there was only so many MLM and crypto scams he could watch her fall for before he couldn¡¯t do it anymore. Her latest obsession was to become a social media influencer on Instagram and TikTok, coupled with a lifestyle blog. Going by her latest posts, she would be sitting at her parents flat right now taking pictures of, and credit, for the dinner her professional chef of a father had prepared.

    In that moment he realised she wasn¡¯t the one he wanted to be around. There wasn¡¯t any comfort she could provide when she was glued to her phone all the time. She was gorgeous, and funny, and they shared the same tastes in music, films and video games, but now that he thought about it, he realised just how little contact they had recently. He messaged her good morning every day, hoped she had a good day, that he loved her, good night, but he received nothing in reply other than stock ¡®k thx¡¯. She liked having him around, but didn¡¯t put in any effort to keep him there. When had everything fallen apart? That morning he had woken up thinking his life was perfect.

    Alix stopped himself from messaging her right then and there breaking it off. There was no point making his foul mood even worse if she didn¡¯t take it well, although going by her lack of effort to keep things going, she probably wouldn¡¯t care.

    It would be best to take a few days to clear his head before making any decisions.

    Get back to the flat, email the studio, message Sean that he¡¯s a spineless bastard, turn off phone, open a bottle of whisky and stick on a good revenge film.

    He would have liked to play the new Switch games he had been waiting months for, the first being Golden Sun 4: The First Djinn, and the second being Final Fantasy Tactics Collection, but just to run salt in the wound, Molly had ¡°accidently¡± smashed his Switch the last time she was over. Her words at the time echoed in his mind, ¡°it¡¯s just a game machine for kids, grow up¡±, and his rage returned to boiling point.

    Grey clouds built overhead as the day drew to a close. As he trudged along the street, it began to rain, the sky filling with a heavy downpour that turned the grimy streets even darker. Hoods were raised and the flood down the street became faceless.

    Alix robotically followed the path back home, a route he had taken hundreds of times before, barely taking in his surroundings.

    A mist began to fill the streets, growing thicker as he turned off Argyle onto quieter streets. The exhaustion of the day finally hit him all at once. He felt mentally drained, his bullshit meter maxed out for the month. He never noticed as the mist built and built until he could barely make out the streets around him. Had he taken a wrong turn somewhere?

    There were no landmarks to be seen, no visible shop signs to guide him. There wasn¡¯t even any traffic on the road. When was the last time a car had passed? He couldn¡¯t believe that he had gone the wrong way. Even in his most drunken state, he was almost like a homing missile when it came time to finding his way home. He kept on walking, hoping it was just the weirdly heavy mist messing with his sense of direction. If he hadn¡¯t taken a wrong turn, he should be coming up to his favourite takeaway shop soon. Maybe he would stop and pick up the fattest donner wrap he could get. He hadn¡¯t eaten in hours, and he was planning on doing some heavy drinking later.

    The kebab shop never appeared. The street became endless. The shops had disappeared, replaced by windowless and doorless unwashed sandstone facades to nowhere. Alix had never felt unsafe in the city before, but now he felt utterly lost. A sense of unease gripped him. The streets around him were silent, with no sign of life anywhere. The buildings around him were vague shadows rising above him in the mist. He decided to turn around, sure he must have become distracted in his rage and gone down the wrong street. Goddamn Phlegethon.

    But when he turned, even the shadows of the buildings faded away, the rain stopped, and he was left in a world of endless swirling mist. Even the gum encrusted street beneath him was gone. He should have felt panic, but instead an overwhelming sense of numbness washed over him, like his body was melting away along with all his fears and worries. None of the shit he had just gone through mattered. It was insignificant.

    With the last of his consciousness, he became aware of a black void rushing towards him out of the mist, swallowing up everything in its path. Or was he being drawn towards it? It made no difference. In moments he was consumed by the darkness. As the wave of darkness hit, there was a gut-wrenching sensation of vertigo, then he lost all feeling and became nothing.

    Approximately three hundred and sixty four miles away, Leon drove down the motorway in the Duesenberg SJ Phaeton he had just stolen from his grandfather¡¯s garage. Well, borrowed is the term he like to use. He was going to bring it right back.

    It had once belonged to his great-grandfather, who had imported it from America ninety years previously. Back then, he had grand ideas to recreate the roaring twenties in the English countryside, but he had been too tight fisted to throw any parties. He had died a very rich man, a fortune the family were still living off of to this day, although if his family¡¯s habits didn¡¯t change soon, it wouldn¡¯t last much longer.

    Leon doubted anyone would even notice the car was gone. His grandfather had the beginnings of dementia and lived away in a home, and his father only cared for modern supercars and spent most of his time in his London penthouse, wasting the family fortune on bad stock investments and hedge fund scams. His mother spent the days lounging around their vast mansion, wrapped in furs and watching daytime TV, pillaging his grandfather¡¯s extensive wine collection. He felt like he was the only one that realised these things were their inheritance, and they were squandering them before they had even techinically been given them.

    All he personally cared about was the family mansion and the collection of classic cars stored there before everything fell into complete disrepair, but he knew once his grandfather died, his aunts and uncles would appear out of the woodwork and start demanding the estate be broken up so they can get a slightly larger slice of the pie. He already had a plan for that though.

    Leon¡¯s inheritance, or whatever little of it he hoped not to be scammed out of, meant nothing to him.

    Last weekend he had been out with the boys for a few pints to celebrate the completion of his master¡¯s degree. Stopping at a corner shop for a pack of cigarettes, he spotted the National Lottery sign and asked for a lucky dip ticket as well. He had been so hungover the next day that he forgot about it until he saw his mum watching the draw on the TV. She threw her losing tickets into the open fire and stormed off to drink herself into a gin coma.

    Leon rummaged around in his pockets until he found the crumpled up lucky dip ticket and read the numbers. He read them at least a dozen times, for sure the numbers weren¡¯t matching. It had to be a hallucination. His head was still pounding. It wasn¡¯t until he ran the numbers through the official app that he believed what he was seeing. He had just won the lottery.

    It was the biggest jackpot in UK history, and he had just won it all. As soon as the shock had passed and he realised that he didn¡¯t have to worry about anything, he took the Duesenberg out for a joyride.

    His plan was to buy out the family estate and let the rest of the family waddle back to their dens to squat with their riches, which he doubted would last them more than a few years. If there was one thing his family suffered from, it was an obsession with keeping up appearances even when they couldn¡¯t afford it.

    Then he would carry out the repairs he had been begging his father to pay for. He seemed to be the only one that noticed the collapsing roof and the crumbling chimneys, while his father spent the funds that could have saved the family home on a new flat in the city to hide away his latest mistress. The mansion could become a perpetual source of income in the right hands.

    The way his father treated women had put Leon off the dating scene so he didn¡¯t have to worry about a girlfriend or a wife trying to take half his winnings. He suddenly wished he had someone to spoil, but he was set for life anyway. When he met the right one, he would be able to give them everything they desired.

    The roar of the Duesenberg washed over Leon as his mind raced with what he would be able to buy, where he would be able to go, and what he would be able to do.

    As he drove, suddenly it began to rain.

    Damn, I¡¯ll have to get the Duzy back inside. Rain won¡¯t do the old girl any good.

    Leon was several miles from home, but before he could make it back to the estate, a thick fog rushed quickly out of the woods to envelop him. He let up on the pedal and brought the car to a crawl. He didn¡¯t even know if the car would be repairable if he crashed it in the fog, but with his new resources he could just buy another one. He tried squinting ahead to see the safe turn off to the estate, but all he could see was a black spot on the horizon.

    The blackness grew with terrible speed. Leon had no chance to react, no chance to bring the poor car to a stop before the strange blackness hit him and the world fell away.

 Chapter 2: Out of the Darkness

    Sensation returned slowly. First, the dry feeling in his mouth, as if he had been asleep for days. Then the uneven, hard ground beneath him. Had he fainted and fallen to the pavement? If he had been lying there for as long as the ache in his bones and the lack of moisture in his mouth suggested, he was surprised no passer-by had called an ambulance for him.

    What the hell happened?

    Alix¡¯s first thought was that he was discovering the beginnings of a serious hangover after a night he couldn¡¯t forget, but it didn¡¯t feel like he was in his own bed, and he had never been so rough before that he couldn¡¯t remember a single detail of what happened. Not even his cheap couch was this uncomfortable, and his floor, even in his dungeon of a flat, wasn¡¯t this bumpy. He couldn¡¯t even remember what he had been drinking. He felt like he hadn¡¯t been drinking anything at all.

    Suddenly he remembered his conversation with Mac, and then the strange mist that descended upon him, followed by the rushing darkness.

    Alix tried opening his eyes but all he could see was the same all-encompassing darkness as before. No street lamps, no stars in the sky. The smell of the city was gone, replaced by a dry earthiness. Alix got to his feet to have a look around, trying not to panic.

    There was a rustling in the dark as Alix stirred, the sound echoing around the room. He was definitely inside somewhere, although he had no idea how that had happened. It didn¡¯t feel like a dream, he felt wide awake, but he had no idea where he was. The rustling turned to moaning, and then grunting. There was someone else with him.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± he asked instinctively, instantly hating himself for breaking the first rule of ¡®how not to get killed¡¯.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± a man¡¯s voice replied. ¡°What are you doing in my house?¡±

    Oh dear. Received Pronunciation bordering on the Queen¡¯s English?

    Alix could almost visualise his companion from their accent. It was undeniably English, and posh, far removed from the accents he was used to hearing locally. Which made his new surroundings even more confusing.

    ¡°We aren¡¯t in a house, unless you live in a cave.¡± As he got to his feet, Alix felt the dirt and rocks beneath him, and from the dank smell and the echo, a cave is the only place he could imagine them to be.

    ¡°A cave? What on earth is going on?¡±

    ¡°I know just as much as you do, which is nothing.¡± Alix¡¯s eyes were slowly getting used to the darkness. The faint outline of a man standing a few metres in front of him slowly revealed itself. Two large angular shapes rose up beside them.

    ¡°Look, there¡¯s a light,¡± the stranger said, hope filling his voice.

    Alix looked around until he spotted the light. It was faint, a short distance off. He took a few awkward steps in the dark to check that the ground was stable, and then made his way towards the light, inching slowly in case there were any hidden obstacles. Eventually he reached the source of the light. It came from cracks in a flat surface, one line running vertically and another horizontally along the ground. He pushed on the surface, and felt that it was wood, but it didn¡¯t budge. ¡°This looks like¡­a giant door. Give me a hand opening it,¡± he called back to the stranger as he examined the lines. Alix jumped when he noticed the man was right behind him.

    Together they pushed on the door but still it didn¡¯t open. There was no lock or handle that he could see, so as a last resort he knocked on it. The sound echoed around the chamber, growing louder and louder.

    ¡°Maybe there is another way out of here,¡± the other man asked, trying to look around in the darkness. ¡°It feels like a bloody tomb in here.¡±

    Alix wanted to keep trying to find a way through the door, the sunlight beyond tantalisingly close, but before they could wander off into the darkness, a rumbling cut through the dwindling echo of his knock. The door began to move, and light spilled in to the room. He had to shield his eyes from the sudden brightness.

    When his eyesight recovered, he saw a pair of men dressed in leather armour standing in front of them. Their eyes went wide at the sight of them.

    ¡°W-w-what are you doing in there?¡± one of the men asked. His hand hovered warily by a sword hanging from his belt. They looked to be some sort of medieval soldier, but Alix hadn¡¯t heard of any Renaissance fairs nearby. That sort of nonsense was more of an American thing anyway. From their accent, which he couldn¡¯t place, they weren¡¯t anywhere near there.

    Now that Alix could see, he saw that it really was a cave they had been in, and an elaborately columned one at that. The two shapes he had seen rising in the darkness were massive thrones carved from stone. It was more of a grand hall than a cave, but it held no comforts, only hard angles, like some ancient temple, or an abandoned throne room for giants.

    Alix got his first look of the man that had appeared with him in the cave, and his suspicions turned out to be correct. He was tall, blond haired and blue eyed, with annoyingly well chiselled features. Statuesque even in the throes of confusion.

    The men before them wore leather armour dyed a deep red, with a golden sun emblazoned on the front. One was old and grizzled. The one that had spoken was young and fresh faced. Both looked stunned to see them appear out of the darkness.

    ¡°Idiot!¡± the older man barked, punching the younger on his armoured shoulder with his gauntleted fist. ¡°Remember your duty, Osian.¡±

    ¡°Bastian¡­isn¡¯t it too early? No one is supposed to be here for another-¡° the young soldier tried to say but at a glare from his superior, he fell silent.

    ¡°It¡¯s not our place to question such things,¡± the one called Bastian hissed at the young soldier. When Osian remained silent with his hand wavering above his sword hilt, Bastian grabbed him by the arm and dragged him to the now open chamber. ¡°Look!¡± he said, pointing to the giant thrones. ¡°The statues are gone! If they aren¡¯t the right ones then the king can deal with them, but I won¡¯t be the one accused of not doing my job properly. Hurry up and get on with it.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, sir,¡± he murmured in apology, finally dropping his hand away from his sword. Then he picked up a horn looped over his shoulder. He took a deep breath and blew into it hard. A mournful blast echoed around the clearing and then swept out over the fields.

    Alix looked around and saw that they were at the base of a mountain, surrounded by lush meadows, full of tall grasses and flowers. A few trees swayed lazily in the warm breeze and the sun hung low on the horizon. He couldn¡¯t tell if it was rising or falling. It was pristine, picturesque. Definitely not anywhere near home.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°Can you tell us what is going on here?¡± Alix asked the pair. His companion was still staring awestruck at the view. He had to admit, he felt invigorated at the freshness of the air, and the untouched look of the place. It was almost enough to make him forget that he had no idea how he had gotten there. The more he thought about it, the more he felt the panic rise within him so he focussed on the view instead. It was a lot nicer than where he had come from anyway. Still, there was something disturbingly alien about the place.

    ¡°I apologise, my lords, but I cannot say anything,¡± Bastian replied, bowing slightly.

    A chill ran up Alix¡¯s back at the same time his companion replied; ¡°My lords? My father is the Lord. I¡¯ve got no interest in that nonsense. Leon will do fine.¡±

    ¡°I am sorry, Lord Leon,¡± Bastian replied, ¡°but I would be executed for not referring to you by your proper title.¡±

    Leon turned to Alix and mouthed what the fuck? but Alix didn¡¯t have any answers for them. He was too busy thinking Posh bastard.

    ¡°Where are we anyway? The last thing I remember is driving my car. If you have so much as scratched her-¡±

    ¡°Leon, is it? My name is Alix. What is the last thing you remember?¡± Alix asked, drawing Leon¡¯s furious attention away from the hapless guards.

    ¡°I was out driving. There was this weird fog, then everything went dark, and then I woke up in that cave. What about you?¡±

    ¡°I was just on my way home, then I was surrounded by a fog as well, and then I passed out or something. Everything went dark and I can¡¯t remember anything else after that. How the hell did we end up in that cave?¡±

    While Alix spoke, Leon took out his phone and took a quick look at the screen. ¡°I have no idea what they did to us, but as soon as I get a signal they will be hearing from my lawyers. Have you got anything?¡± Leon asked, waving his phone around in the air to try get a signal, while the two soldiers looked on bewildered.

    Alix had completely forgotten about his phone and he suddenly felt like an idiot for not thinking to use the torch function back in the cave. He pulled his phone from his pocket, but found he had no signal either. He still had a good amount of battery left, which told him that he couldn¡¯t have been knocked out that long. His crappy phone barely lasted a day without needing charged.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Alix replied. He couldn¡¯t help but take a photo of Osian and Bastian as they stared at them with their mouths hanging open.

    Before they could take their conversation further, a carriage appeared from out of the trees. It was then Alix noticed the dirt path that led from the cave off through the trees. The carriage turned around in the open field before the giant door, before coming to a stop in front of them. Bastian opened the door and motioned for them to get inside. The driver up front was dressed in similar red leather armour, with a dark brown cloak. He didn¡¯t so much as look in their direction. Was that a bead of sweat Alix saw rolling down his face?

    A curious flag waved in the slight breeze from a flagpole on the back of the carriage. It showed a white dragon entangled around a black dragon on a field of dark red.

    At the sight of the carriage, Leon¡¯s spirits seemed to lift. It wasn¡¯t anything either of them would have considered normal, but anything was better than hanging around in the cave or with the two weird sword wielding soldiers. Alix however, was becoming more confused by the moment. It felt awfully like a kidnapping, but one dressed up as an honour.

    ¡°We have an encampment nearby. A royal carriage is kept there at all times for this situation,¡± Bastian explained, sensing some of Alix¡¯s unease. He bowed again and ushered them inside. ¡°Please, my Lords.¡±

    ¡°Can you not even tell us where we are?¡± Alix asked. Leon had already clambered inside and taken a seat on the cushioned benches, suddenly a lot happier at the sight of the luxurious carriage. He was probably used to such pomp and ceremony.

    ¡°The coachman will take you to Galdea. I will send a raven ahead so that they will expect your arrival. Everything will be explained to you there,¡± Bastian replied, trying to keep his gaze from lingering on Alix and Leon for too long. He examined a smudge on his leather armour instead. Osian looked like he couldn¡¯t wait for the pair of them to be gone. His face had lost all its colour once Bastian had pointed out the empty thrones, but Alix had no idea what the significance of that was. He couldn¡¯t care less though, he had a lot more important questions he wanted the answers to. It sounded like this place Galdea was where he would get them.

    Alix sighed and climbed aboard. As soon as he took a seat, the door was closed and the carriage took off at a brisk pace. Alix watched out the window as the two soldiers in their red armour and the giant door disappeared around a bend in the road, and soon all was obscured by woodlands and gently rolling hills. What was it they were doing guarding the cave anyway? There had been nothing inside other than the two stone thrones and dust.

    Leon seemed engrossed in the views from the window as the carriage trundled along the road, but Alix heard him mumbling under his breath.

    ¡°It must be a dream. It has to be a dream. I fell asleep without realising it. Did I crash and fall into a coma? Cant be real.¡±

    Alix was feeling similar thoughts. He decided it would be better to discuss them than drive himself mad trying to figure it out for himself.

    ¡°If this was your dream then I wouldn¡¯t be real, and I can assure you that I am. I seem to have been stolen off the streets just like you were,¡± Alix said, trying to calm down the panicking Englishman before him.

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly the kind of thing I would expect to hear from a dream to convince me otherwise,¡± Leon replied.

    ¡°Look, I¡¯m just as freaked out as you are by all this, but it doesn¡¯t seem to be dangerous here. They speak English, don¡¯t they? I don¡¯t think this is a dream, everything feels too real, but my other guesses aren¡¯t any better.¡±

    ¡°What are your other guesses, because I¡¯m about to lose my mind if things don¡¯t start making sense again soon.¡±

    ¡°Well, it could be an elaborate prank? No, that wouldn¡¯t make any sense. It would cost a lot of money to set up something like this, and I don¡¯t think either of us are worth it. That same logic kind of rules out everything else. Drug experiment? Again, why waste good drugs on us?¡±

    ¡°Maybe folie ¨¤ deux?¡± Leon offered.

    ¡°Shared hallucination? I¡¯ve never met you before in my life so that doesn¡¯t seem likely. How did we end up together in the first place? From our accents we live very far apart, but my phone battery is still pretty full, so I don¡¯t see how we managed to travel so far in so short a time. Unless they were kind enough to charge it for us, but then who are ¡®they¡¯ and why did they pick us for ¡®this¡¯?¡±

    Before they could discuss the madness further, the forest broke and the path led them through a village, which appeared out of the trees as an explosion of colour. Alix braced for them to come to a stop but the coachmen kept the horses going, speeding past the colourfully painted houses with their golden thatch. The houses were built in a whimsical style, with curiously tall roofs reminiscent of storybook architecture. At the centre of the small village was a bustling market, full of stalls and tents. At the sound of the carriage, every pair of eyes stopped what they were doing and turned in their direction.

    ¡°Wait¡­¡±A chill ran down Alix¡¯s back at what he was seeing. At first glance, the people going about their shopping looked normal. They were dressed in loosely draped robes and shawls, dyed in all the colours of the forest, but as the carriage got closer, his gaze was drawn to those that had their voluminous hoods down. Sticking out of thick heads of hair were tufts of fur that looked disturbingly like ears.

    ¡°Look at their ears!¡± Leon exclaimed, the sight of them finally breaking him from his crazed spiral into madness. He sounded excited, as if he had forgotten they had both just been abducted from their homes to this strange land. He pressed his face against the window, and the eyes that followed them grew wider at what they saw. They were as transfixed by the sight of their passing as Alix and Leon were with them.

    ¡°Are those¡­tails?¡± Alix asked, pointing at what he had at first mistaken for more draped fabrics.

    ¡°Incredible,¡± Leon whispered once he spotted the black and white striped protrusions curling out from under hems and around legs. ¡°They look like foxes. I think this confirms that I¡¯ve actually died and this is some sort of weird heaven or limbo. I¡¯m sorry Alix if that means you are just a figment of my imagination or if we both died at the same time, maybe I was in a car accident or something, but it¡¯s the only thing that makes sense.¡±

    ¡°If that helps you handle whatever this is better then go for it.¡± Alix was beginning to think the same thing. Had a car run him down in the street? Was that the black shape that had rushed towards him? ¡°I don¡¯t think they are foxes though. Maybe racoons?¡± Alix replied. He cringed internally when he heard himself.

    What the hell am I talking about? Foxes? Racoons? What is this? Some sort of Furry village? Impossible!

    ¡°Such a shame, I had just won the lottery as well,¡± Leon lamented. The village slipped back into the trees but he continued to gaze out the window as the miles passed them by.

 Chapter 3: Into the Tempest

    In the quiet moments of the carriage ride, Alix thought of home and the ones he had left behind. Like Leon, the only scenario he could believe was that he had somehow had an accident and fallen into a coma. Unfortunately that meant that they both thought the other one was a hallucination.

    When he thought of his home, his shitty job, his crappy friends and his indifferent girlfriend, he realised that he didn¡¯t care. Had anyone even noticed that he was gone? His parents were probably the only ones that would care, but even then it would probably take them a week to become concerned.

    The calendar on his phone told him that it was only the next day, but he wasn¡¯t sure how much he could trust that. He hoped everything would make sense once they reached their destination, although he had never heard of a place called Galdea before and he was unable to get any word out of the coachman when he had tried to ask what country it was in. The fact that he had zero signal told him that it had to be the middle of nowhere. The alternative made his brain hurt to think about.

    Alix and Leon spoke for a while, establishing that they were indeed from the same country, but other than that they had absolutely nothing in common and their lives couldn¡¯t have been more opposite. Alix didn¡¯t know if he entirely believed Leon¡¯s story about his lottery win but it made no difference if they couldn¡¯t get home.

    When every conversation circled round to topics that just spiralled into panicked conspiracy theory, they decided it was best to wait out the rest of the journey in silence until they arrived at wherever it was that the carriage was taking them.

    They passed through no more villages, but they passed other travellers as the road grew wider, and changed from compact dirt to a smooth paved surface. Men and women rode horses or walked the road, and other carriages passed them by with hidden occupants. Their carriage picked up its pace as the road improved, speeding them onwards to their destination, which the coachman seemed to be in a disparate rush to reach.

    Everything he saw, and everything he had seen, was screaming one irrefutably fact at him, but it was one he was unwilling to admit to himself yet. Alix was an avid reader and what he was seeing was exactly how he had imagined every fantasy world to feel.

    Definitely a hallucination then. Never knew my imagination was this good.

    The road eventually met with a large river and continued on along its banks, until they reached a plaza in front of a large bridge. The bridge spanned the river in large gentle arch to a city beyond that looked plucked straight out of fantasy. There wasn¡¯t much to see due to the high wall that rose along the other side of the riverbank, stretching both ways until it curved out of sight, but above it rose impossible spires.

    ¡°What¡¯s the rush, coachman?¡± Alix heard a voice say as the carriage jerked to a stop in front of the bridge. He looked out the window and saw that the bridge was guarded by a group of soldiers, dressed and armed similarly to the pair they had met before, but whereas the cave guards had looked more ceremonial, these men looked like they were ready for a fight at any moment. Everyone looking to cross to the city beyond, which had to be Galdea, queued in front of the guards while their goods were inspected.

    ¡°Do you not recognise the royal emblem, soldier?¡± the coachman asked, pointing towards the elaborate seal inlaid with gold into the side of the carriage. ¡°I need to speak with your commanding officer, I require an escort to the castle.¡±

    The soldier took a quick look at the carriage, finally recognising something that Alix didn¡¯t understand. His eyes locked with Alix¡¯s as he stared out the window and he went as pale as Osian had. He quickly ran off to a stone structure on the outskirts of the plaza, some sort of barracks, and returned a few moments later with another soldier.

    The commanding officer wore the same red leather armour but he sported a golden cuirass, and a white plume adorned his helmet, making for an imposing sight as he strode across the plaza, everyone moving out of his way.

    ¡°I apologise coachman, I received the raven from the Temple, but I was dealing with a few unauthorised personnel that were trying to enter the city,¡± the commanding officer said, pointing over to a group that sat in a corner of the plaza surrounded by guards. Each one of them had their hand on their sword, ready to draw if the group made a fuss. The group were dressed in rags and didn¡¯t look like they could give the soldiers any trouble. ¡°Bloody Ringless always giving us trouble. I didn¡¯t have time to let the men on duty know of your arrival. Follow me, I will escort you personally.¡± Before turning away, the officer glanced towards the carriage window where Alix was listening to the exchange. Instead of blanching like the others had, he stared at Alix with an intensity that caused him to retreat into the carriages shadows.

    The commanding officer strode off, shouting orders to his men. In short order, a barded horse was brought forward for the officer and he was joined by half a dozen other horsemen. He jumped up into the saddle with ease, as if his cuirass and sword weighed nothing. He took up position in front of the carriage while the others spread out around them. The soldiers on the bridge parted and they made their way across into the city of Galdea.

    Alix only got a feel for the city¡¯s size after they were escorted for what felt like an hour along its winding streets. The waves of traffic made way for them at the constant calling from the mounted officer. The crowd did a double take as they caught sight of the strange flag that adorned their carriage. Alix had no idea of its meaning but it seemed to speed them on their way.

    They rushed past the fantastically quaint houses, tall multi-storeyed wooden constructions with whitewashed walls that obscured the streets beyond, apart from the castle he began to see glimpses of as they drew closer to the city¡¯s centre. He wished he could get out and roam the streets of this strange new place, but he doubted the carriage would stop at his command. If he tried to bail out, he was likely to smash his head on the cobbles or become trampled by the heavy horses.

    The streets lead higher and higher, until the vast expanse of the city was laid out below them. The feeling that they were rising higher had been with him for a while and now he realised why. The city was built in rings, one above the other, each one getting smaller and fancier as they rose higher.

    The spires he had seen from the now distant plaza were part of an elaborate building that looked like a cathedral. What looked like stained glass windows glinted in the sun but they were too far away to see what the design was. It was several rings below their final destination, which was a grand castle at the city¡¯s peak.

    The castle walls bristled with cannons peeking over the parapet, while more soldiers patrolled the walls. These ones, and the ones that guarded the castle gates, wore black robes adorned with the same emblem on the side of their carriage. They were briefly stopped once they arrived at the gates, the guards there speaking briefly with their escort, but after a few words the gates were hurriedly opened.

    They crossed a narrow bridge beyond that crossed over to an exposed courtyard, above which rose another battery bristling with guns. A path curved around to the right and their escort led them ever higher. The castle was extremely well defended, muzzles pointing in their direction at every turn. They passed barracks and guard towers, then a building that looked like it had a religious purpose, before the road looped around and over the first battery they had seen from below, before finally reaching the pinnacle of their climb.

    The secluded courtyard of the royal palace was surrounded on all sides by grand halls, and filled with more black robed, red armoured soldiers that rushed to surround them as the carriage came to a stop.

    ¡°Looks like we are finally here,¡± Leon said, as the officer that had escorted them jumped from his horse and walked over to their door.

    Alix had no reply, he only hoped they would finally get some answers, although he couldn¡¯t think of anything at this point that would make any sense.

    The coachman also jumped from his seat, but he chose to get as far away from the carriage as he could, disappearing behind the ranks of soldiers, as if terrified of what was about to be unleashed.

    ¡°I am still not sure that this isn¡¯t a dream, but I have never had a dream that felt this real before. I keep expecting someone to jump out with a camera and tell us that it is a joke,¡± Leon said, staring in awe at the magnificent castle before them. It rose in spires and towers, all adorned with flags that displayed an ornate looking tree.

    ¡°This is way too much to be a joke. If these were fake sets it would have cost a fortune. More than a fortune. I¡¯d believe it all to be some sort of drug hallucination, but I feel completely sober. Let¡¯s just get on with it and see what they have to tell us. They are obviously leading us somewhere, or to someone.¡±

    The officer opened the door and motioned for them to step out, bowing respectfully and stepping out of their way. The other soldiers lined up in front of the door, creating a corridor that led to the castle doors. It felt awfully like they were being treated like dangerous prisoners, or royalty. It was hard to tell. Everywhere Alix looked, eyes were averted.

    Alix stepped out of the carriage first, stretching out the stiffness in his legs after the long journey. The officer took a step towards the castle, and as he did the ranked soldiers took a step in behind them, closing their way, forcing them to keep moving forwards. Alix was glad for the exercise, but he didn¡¯t appreciate being herded like an animal. It wasn¡¯t until he was moving again that he realised how hungry he was. He couldn¡¯t remember the last time he had eaten.

    There was an air of anticipation as they stepped through the castle doors, which only grew as the hallway opened onto the throne room. The galleries were filled with noble looking men and women, dressed in gowns and rich suits, and the long hall was lined by guards ten deep on either side. Alix and Leon were marched up its centre to an elaborate raised dais at its head. There were a handful of people standing there, as well as a few seated, but the hall was so long it took until they were a few steps in front of them before he could get a good look at them all.

    A pair of thrones stood high above those standing in the hall, with a regal couple sitting in them, one a sage looking man, powerfully built, with short black hair and a wild black beard. A golden crown sat on his head. Beside him sat an equally powerful looking woman, dressed in what looked like a cross between a grand dress and full plate armour burnished a deep red. The man was more modestly armoured in a similar plate of red under his red cloak that flowed over his golden throne.

    On the step below there was a smaller throne which sat a young girl. She was dressed in a tight-fitting red dress that matched the colour of the regal pair above. The only ornamentation she wore was a bejewelled tiara. She might have looked beautiful, if her features weren¡¯t so sharp.

    As well as the seated few, a handful of heavily armoured soldiers stood to the sides of each throne. Only one of them had a bare face, and he stared expressionlessly at Alix and Leon as they approached. The largest sword Alix had ever seen hung strapped to his back.

    The last on the dais was a man robed in white, leaning on a white staff, capped with an elaborate gold construct, two golden dragons wrapped around a large faceted crystal.

    It was quite the welcome party, although Alix still had no idea what was going on. He noticed there was a distinct lack of food. Everyone around them seemed to be too scared to speak. The commanding officer that had escorted them from outside the city bowed to the pair on the thrones, before stepping to the side to join the rest of the stationed guards. Eventually the man on the throne broke the awkward silence.

    ¡°Welcome, my lords. I apologise that there is not a greater welcome, but your arrival wasn¡¯t expected and we had little time to prepare once we received word,¡± he said in a deep voice. The bass echoed around the hall. Alix and Leon exchanged confused looks before the man continued. ¡°I am King Azuran.¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    King?! Alix wanted to scream at the room, demand to know what was going on, but at a glare from the intimidating guards he kept silent. As if reading his mind, King Azuran continued.

    ¡°I am sure you have a lot of questions, but first I must let Cardinal Alecto speak. There is an order that these things must take.¡± He sunk back in his seat and motioned to the white robed man to step forward.

    Cardinal Alecto hobbled forward with his staff until he was a few paces away from Alix and Leon. Alix took an involuntary step back at the intensity of his gaze. He raked them with his intense blue eyes, which stared out of a lined and leathered face, then raised the staff with both hands and began to chant. A circle of intricate burning lines appeared in the air before him, and then two similar circles appeared beneath the feet of Alix and Leon. A bright light burst from them, rising up to engulf the pair.

    ¡°What the fuck is this!¡± Alix and Leon yelled almost in perfect unison. It felt like a strong wind was blowing beneath their feet. They both made to step out of the large circled that had engulfed their feet but after a few short moments the wind and the light subsided.

    Alix took a few more panicked steps back, but at the sound of drawn steel he quickly jumped back to Leon¡¯s side. Leon was busy inspecting the new clothes he found himself wearing. Alix looked down and saw that his own clothes had somehow changed. He was now wearing a clean fitted dark shirt under a black robe. Beside him, Leon had been similarly transformed, but he wore a white suit that matched his blonde hair. He was almost blindingly bright.

    He felt an unfamiliar weight on his right hand. A black ring in the shape of a dragon had appeared on his finger. He saw Leon catch sight of the silver ring on his own finger.

    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± Leon said, fixing the Cardinal with an acid glare. ¡°I thought you just wanted to talk but instead you play some trick on us instead. Why did you bring us hear?¡±

    ¡°The Solknight and the Darknight have been chosen,¡± the Cardinal proclaimed, ignoring Leon¡¯s indignation. Alix had no idea what that meant but an excited whisper spread throughout the crowd.

    ¡°What-¡° Alix began to say.

    ¡°Silence!¡± the king roared, cutting him off.

    ¡°How dare you speak in the presence of my father, you filthy beast,¡± the young girl sitting below the king hissed with venom.

    Alix felt naked under the hateful glare of all the eyes on him and a deep chill washed over him. This wasn¡¯t fun anymore. He couldn¡¯t spot a sympathetic pair in the crowd. Most avoided his gaze, and the rest threw pure loathing at him. When had every soldier in the room drawn their weapons? A hundred blades were suddenly pointed in his direction.

    A pair of attendants stepped forward and bowed before Leon. ¡°We will bring you to your residence,¡± they said in near unison. Leon was dragged away in a daze, and Alix was left to confront the guards that drew swords on him.

    ¡°You have five years, Darknight. Do with that time what you will, but do not return here. Get him out of here,¡± King Azuran demanded of the officer that had brought him in.

    As Alix turned to face the king again, flashes of white appeared in the air around him. When he focussed on them they came into focus as text. He focussed on the line above the king¡¯s head. It read King Azuran XIII. Alix thought he was seeing things, then he noticed similar text above the woman beside him. Queen Theodora. Then there was Princess Prisca. More flashes of text coalesced around him in a confusing blur of random words.

    SoldierSoldierLvDukeSoldierKnightLvLv.

    The swords began to usher him out of the hall before he could study them further.

    ¡°Hey, what the hell is going on here! Leon, help me!¡± he exclaimed when a pair of guards grabbed him by the arms.

    ¡°I-¡± Leon began to say but the king rudely cut him off.

    ¡°Please my Lord, you don¡¯t need to concern yourself with this filth any longer,¡± Azuran boomed over him.

    What is this, Tales of Shittingonalix?

    Not very kingly behaviour, Alix thought to himself as the guards continued to drag him down the hall, all eyes watching him with obvious disgust. What the hell had he done wrong? Leon just shrugged as if he didn¡¯t want to get in the middle of anything. Why would he anyway? He thought Alix was just an illusion. The crowd stared at Leon with open adoration, while they threw nothing but scorn in Alix¡¯s direction, likely fuelling Leon¡¯s conviction that everything around them was part of his own hallucination.

    Alix was glad to leave at everyone¡¯s sudden change. His warm welcome had turned frosty, and he quickly found himself back outside the castle doors. He tried to shake off the rough gauntleted hands but they refused to let go until he was thrown into the back of a cart. The plush carriage had been replaced by a rough looking cart of splintered wood banded in battered rusty metal. He was forced to take a seat in the back and then the cart took off at a brisk pace, bouncing wildly over the hard cobbles, before he got a chance to jump out again. They were swiftly given passage through the city but this time all eyes turned away from him. They passed too quickly for any of the names hanging over their heads to be readable, although he could see the flashes of text were still there.

    Only two names appeared readable, the two soldiers that drove the horses. Durgun and Bolo. The title Imperial Soldier appeared above their name, followed by Lv. 22 and Lv. 24 respectively.

    ¡°Can you please tell me what¡¯s going on here?¡± Alix tried pleading with the soldiers that drove the cart, but they refused his cries, sneering at his desperate desire for answers. They were both low level Imperial Guards, but he had no intention of fighting them. They both wielded swords at their sides, while he was unarmoured. He could jump out and run, but where would he go anyway? The complete lack of any forthcoming information gave him a pounding headache.

    Alix checked the pockets of his new garb as they rushed down the rings of the city, but he found nothing new apart from the ring. His phone was still there which was at least some comfort, but he had yet to get a signal and from the look of the place he doubted he would ever get one again. He left Galdea more confused and frustrated than he had ever been in his entire life. The fury he had felt after learning of Mac¡¯s betrayal paled in comparison to the mix of emotions he was feeling now. Culture shock, motion sickness, hunger, rage, indignation.

    Where did you come from? Alix thought to himself as he played with the ring on his finger, a distraction from the painfully uncomfortable ride. He wasn¡¯t used to such an accessory and couldn¡¯t help but mess with it. He kept his eyes on the curious ring until they passed back over the bridge.

    The cart drove him back into the countryside, but this time Alix was brought further into the mountains, taking an easterly route where before they had travelled south. He was worried at first, his immediate thought that he was about to be executed for some crime he didn¡¯t know he had committed, but the guards kept their swords sheathed.

    Clouds drew in until they covered the sky and towered dark and angry overhead. Heavy rain began to fall, washing all the warmth out of the land. The picturesque landscapes vanished as the cart drove him into the mountains. It was hard to make out anything in the downpour but the road looked like it hadn¡¯t been travelled in a long time.

    Hours passed. They passed barren heaths, gnarled trees, and overgrown scree slopes as they passed higher into the mountains. Once he thought he could make out stone houses hidden in the trees, but they looked thoroughly abandoned, no life shining through their gaping windows. They sped past without slowing down. At least he wasn¡¯t going to be abandoned in such a place, although he would have fallen asleep anywhere at that point. The hunger was gnawing at his insides and the day¡¯s events had left him feeling dazed and exhausted.

    Again he tried asking his escort where they were taking him when there was no end to the rough road in sight, but they remained silent, mumbling only to themselves. He tried to quieten the voice in his head that told him he was being taken out to the mountains to be disposed of. The king had told him he had five years though, but he had no idea what that meant. Five years for what?

    The horses powered on through the building storm. The sun set as they climbed. The one called Durgun unshuttered a lantern to light their way. The cart rolled higher and higher, until they eventually came to a stop. Just as they did a crack of lightning lit the sky, illuminating a sprawling ruin. Alix only caught a quick glance of it before the lighting faded, but the sight was burned into his eyes. The lightning showed broken towers and crumbling walls of a monstrous castle beyond a crumbling gate, perched precariously on the edge of a cliff high up the mountain.

    ¡°This is where you get off,¡± Bolo turned and said to Alix, finally speaking to him for the first time. When he didn¡¯t make a move, he drew his sword. It was pouring down and miserable, but Alix reluctantly jumped down from the cart into the soggy darkness. He landed in a puddle that instantly soaked his new shoes straight through.

    ¡°Good luck, Darkshite!¡± Durgun jeered as they drove off, leaving him alone in the downpour, taking the only source of light with them.

    Alix watched the light float away in the darkness, until the wind began to cut too deep. He tried to wrap his robed around him but they were soaked through and didn¡¯t help to keep out the elements. He turned to gate. The moon gave off enough light for him to make his way through the broken gates, half falling off their hinges, and down the overgrown path, lined by a thick impenetrable wilderness he had no desire to wade through in the dark, to the closed doors beyond, which at least looked like they were in good condition. Maybe there would be somewhere to shelter inside after all. The ruins didn¡¯t look inviting, but he would take anything that would shield him from the storm.

    The place looked thoroughly abandoned so he didn¡¯t think twice about opening the front door. The door opened easily at his touch despite its weathered appearance, but the squealing of the hinges echoed through the empty rooms beyond. He slipped inside and quickly pushed the door shut, mercifully cutting off the biting wind.

    The room he found himself in was dark, which meant that at least part of the ruins were solid enough to keep out the light of the moon. The wind howled around the place, but it was nothing compared to the brutal gale outside, and there was no rain either. It was still cold, and the place smelled of dank rot, but he felt relief that he at least wasn¡¯t going to die from exposure.

    That was until he saw some text floating in the darkness, alerting him to another presence in the dark before his eyes could adjust.

    Skeleton, Lv. 49. The text appeared small at first but quickly grew closer, accompanied by spine chilling scraping noise. It contrasted sharply with the text he suddenly spotted in the top left of his vision. Alix, Lv. 1.

    It took all his restraint not to scream and curl up into a ball of fear on the floor. The rattling grew closer but he wasn¡¯t about to wait around to get a look at its source. He had caught sight of a staircase to his right in the brief flash of moonlight that shone through the door before it screeched closed behind him, so he ran for the stairs and hoped he wouldn¡¯t trip over anything in the dark.

    ¡°Heee¡­ooooooo,¡± a voiced moaned behind him as he ran, the sound chilling him to the bone worse than the wind and rain already had.

    Alix looked around for a weapon as he climbed, his eyes slowly adjusting to the dark, but he couldn¡¯t find anything. He stopped on the upper landing and made a quick decision, turning down a random hallway. The roof had caved in in several places, dripping water from somewhere far above. A beam of light shone down through a hole and illuminated the hallway. He dashed down the path, quickly checking the open rooms he passed, but all had windows smashed in, caved in roofs, or pools of water for a floor.

    Alix came to another door, this one shut. He couldn¡¯t hear anyone following him, but his only instinct was to find somewhere to hide. He tried not to think about what was waiting for him below as he hurriedly opened the door.

    Alix scrambled through and felt around for a lock, hands trembling from a combination of cold and fear. He breathed a sigh of relief when his hands found a bolt. It resisted at first, stuck solid with age, his frigid fingers refusing to work properly, but he finally managed to wriggle the bolt free with a strength born from fear. He slid it shut and stumbled back into the room.

    His heart raced as he stared into the darkness. Slowly his eyes accustomed to the dark and he saw that he was alone in the room. The door seemed to be solid enough, and the room at least had a roof and four solid walls.

    After what felt like an age of waiting in silence, and with no attempts from anything beyond the door to try and open it, he quietly inspected the room. Apart from a few pieces of ancient furniture, there was nothing but a bed in the corner, which he collapsed onto. Its sheets were musty, old, and threadbare, but he didn¡¯t care. He kicked off his soaking shoes and then lay there listening.

    Whatever had been with him in the dark down below either didn¡¯t care about his presence or hadn¡¯t manged to find him, but he was too tired and cold to care. If anything tried to break down the door he would hear it anyway, although he didn¡¯t know what good that would do him. He would still be trapped in this room.

    Lightning struck wildly and a fierce wind howled through every crack in the walls. Alix tried his best to wrap the rotten blanket around himself but it didn¡¯t do much good. It was threadbare, motheaten and smelled strongly of mildew. The mattress, if it could be called that, was little more than a large coarse sack stuffed with old dusty straw, but in the crumbling ruin it was better than nothing.

    The wooden frame of the small bed was grandly carved in a way that belied the dilapidated surroundings. He tried to keep still, to avoid alerting anyone, or anything, to his presence, but his bed continued to betray him. It creaked terribly with every shivering movement, threatening to snap into kindling at any moment, and the straps holding up the mattress groaned.

    The night ahead was looking long and miserable, if he even managed to survive it. If he did, he was sure the next day would be even worse, but he didn¡¯t want to think of what might be waiting for him on the other side of the door.

    What a monumentally shit day.

    After what felt like an age of shivering in the miserable bed, the howling of the storm seemed to fade, his senses diminishing until there was nothing left of him.

    This is it, Alix thought to himself, I¡¯m not going to make it.

    He thought about getting out of his damp clothes and trying to start a fire with the debris scattered around the room, the remains of chairs and tables, but it was wishful thinking. He had nothing to start a fire with and the scraps of wood looked like they were more likely to turn to dust. More than that, he suddenly found that he could no longer move, the exhaustion forcing his body to sleep while his mind remained too terrified to lower its guard.

    Shadows moved in the darkness around him, sleep paralysis demons chasing him into oblivion, but with them came a new sensation. It felt like the wet clothes melted from his body and a new inviting warmth slowly came over him.

    Alix succumbed to the embracing warmth as thunder rumbled in the distance, sure he would never wake again.

 Chapter 4: In the Castle of the Dead

    When Alix woke to silence he breathed a deep sigh of relief. Somehow he had managed to survive the raging wind, the crashing lightning, and skeletons chasing him through ruined hallways. Best of all, he hadn¡¯t died from hypothermia in the night. Had it had all been a dream? The cave, the fox-racoon people, King Azuran and whatever the Cardinal had done to him? He vowed to never pick up a fantasy novel ever again.

    As he breathed the dank and dusty air, glad to be alive, he felt a solid shape along the length of his body, and something soft and squishy in his hand. It must have been quite the dream if he had become so wrapped up in his duvet, but at least he was home, back in his own bed. Strangely, he still had no memory of reaching it.

    What he did remember were his wildly erotic dreams. Despite the new feeling that his relationship with Molly was over, he had to admit that she had been exactly his type. Thick and voluptuous in all the right places. He had dreamed of being wrapped in her arms, pressing himself against the warmth of her soft curves, one last night together before it was all over.

    ¡°Good morning, master,¡± his duvet replied as he subconsciously embraced its warmth, wondering why the old scents of the room were slowly being replaced by an aroma of fresh flowers and sweet cinnamon.

    Still asleep. The duvet is talking to me. Something about the duvet felt off though. It felt surprisingly solid. He felt around some more and his hand slid down a soft, slender body that wasn¡¯t his own. A back was pressed to his chest, legs curled up against his own, and a rear that writhed at his roaming touch. His hand moved back to its original perch, an unmistakably fleshy mound.

    There was a girl in his bed. He was definitely still dreaming, unless Molly had a change of heart and let herself in during the night. That¡¯s not right. She would stab me before she called me master. Definitely still dreaming. Unless I really did die. Is this what heaven feels like?

    Alix opened his eyes. There was no duvet to be seen, just the pathetic rags he had wrapped himself in the night before, crushing him with the knowledge that he wasn¡¯t dreaming, that all the craziness was still real. The last dregs of sleep left him when he saw who he was sharing his poor excuse of a bed for. Silky black hair draped over dusty brown shoulders filled his vision. Another one of the strange text boxes floated into view. It read Tifayn, Lv. 226.

    Alix cleared his throat, suddenly unsure of what to say or do. He had no room to back away from her nakedness.

    ¡°Tifayn?¡± he eventually said, trying out the name.

    ¡°Mmm?¡± she murmured in reply, rolling over slightly to look at him. As she did, her hair caught the light and he saw that it wasn¡¯t black, but a lustrously dark shade of blood red.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Alix asked, the only words he seemed to have spoken repeatedly in days, still with no reply. ¡°I¡¯m not complaining, but what are you doing in my bed?¡±

    Or is this her bed? Did I break into this girls room? No, this place looked totally abandoned.

    ¡°Keeping you warm master. You looked so cold when you arrived last night but I didn¡¯t want to disturb you. Why don¡¯t I get us something to eat, and I will tell you everything. I¡¯m sure this has all come as quite a shock,¡± the weird girl replied, her words coming as the understatement of the millennium. She pulled away from him, an oddly painful loss, and crawled from the bed.

    Without Tifayn¡¯s body to warm him, the bed quickly grew cold. When had he lost all his clothes? He was certain he had collapsed wearing them. In his dazed state he had stupidly thought that the flimsy blankets wouldn¡¯t be enough to keep him warm, so he would be better off dragging his soaking wet clothes into the bed with him as well. Somehow they were gone, leaving him as naked as the curvaceous girl standing brazenly before him.

    Tifayn was gorgeous, but her skin was the strangest hue he had ever seen. It was almost a grey tinted olive in the shadows, or like a faint bloom on chocolate. She slipped into a black robe, cinched it tight around her generous figure, then left barefoot without another word. Were those horns poking out of her dark hair? Why did she keep calling him master?

    Alix wanted to stay in bed, force himself to sleep and wake up from his dream, but it was too cold and the bed could barely be classed as such. It was more like a torture device. The sheets itched like mad all over his naked body, poking and prodding like a gaolers tools. With Tifayn gone, so had the nice smell as well. He threw aside the sheet and got up.

    Alix found his clothes, miraculously dry and folded neatly in a pile on the floor, and quickly dressed before the cold got to him. As his senses returned, he began to feel worse and worse. He was absolutely starving, he hurt all over and he felt like he hadn¡¯t slept at all. If he was going to have to be spending any more time here, the first thing he would have to do was find a better bed. After he found out who Tifayn was though, and what he was doing here in the first place. Did she live in these ruins? It was a sorry place to call a home.

    Then he remembered the skeleton from the night before. He felt the urge to rush after Tifayn, but the door opened just as he was stepping towards it. He panicked, hand reaching for a weapon that wasn¡¯t there, but it was Tifayn returning with a tray in her hands, covered with assorted fruits and vegetables he didn¡¯t recognise. She gracefully sat on the bed and placed the tray on her lap. Then she motioned for him to sit beside her and eat.

    Alix was ravenous but Tifayn absorbed all of his attention as she lounged on the turd of a bed like it was a throne. A pair of stubby, slightly curled horns poked out of her shoulder length hair and framed a pretty face with deep violet eyes. It was a strange but stunning combination of features. ¡°What would you like to know?¡± Tifayn asked, tilting her head as she stared at him with a cheeky smile.

    Alix didn¡¯t know where to start so he sat back down and took a breath. It took him a few moments to calm the maelstrom in his head. When his stomach growled furiously at his indecision, Tifayn picked up a fruit that looked like a blue peeled orange and fed him a segment before he could stop her. It helped to dull the ache in his stomach. ¡°Everything, I guess? I have no idea what¡¯s happening to me and no one seems to be willing to give me any straight answers. In fact, everyone seems to get violent and aggressive when I try and ask. I was walking home, then I blacked out and woke up in a cave with another guy. Then we got taken to meet this King, and then some religious guy waved his staff around and I was wearing these clothes, and this ring.¡± He paused to show her the ring but she didn¡¯t look surprised at anything he had said. ¡°Then I was shouted at for some reason, Leon was taken away and I was herded into a cart by some soldiers. They dropped me off in front of these ruins. Then I was attacked by a skeleton and I ran up here to hide. I found this bed and woke up to¡­¡± Alix trailed off as the memory of what they had done rushed back to him.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think the skeleton was trying to attack you, master. He was probably trying to welcome you, but I can see how you might have been alarmed. The ones the church summon don¡¯t always come from world¡¯s where these sorts of things are common,¡± Tifayn said in a voice like honey.

    ¡°¡­so it really was a skeleton walking around down there?¡±

    ¡°Yes, all of the servants in the castle are undead,¡± Tifayn replied as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

    That explained why the place was in such a rough state. What use did skeletons have for windows or roofs? Still, that didn¡¯t answer any of his questions. Tifayn noticed his confused expression and continued.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure it must be a lot to take in, but I will do my best to explain. I expected better of King Azuran and the Cardinal, they should have explained everything to you before escorting you here. It sounds like they have decided to try and make things as difficult for you as possible so that you have the greatest chance of failure. Technically they are supposed to provide you with assistance, but it seems they are interpreting those instructions very loosely.¡±

    ¡°All he said was that I have five years, and he called me the Darknight. I don¡¯t know what any of it means, but once these clothes and this ring appeared on me everyone turned on me pretty quickly. I just want to know what¡¯s going on.¡± Alix was beginning to sound like he was whining, repeating the same request over and over again.

    ¡°I will try to explain it as best as I can, but if something doesn¡¯t make sense then please let me know. It is my duty to help you as best as I can.¡±

    ¡°Where exactly am I?¡± Alix asked for what felt like the millionth time. ¡°That¡¯s all I really want to know. Where the hell am I and how did I get here?¡±

    ¡°We are in the Darknight¡¯s Keep, on the outskirts of the Kingdom of Galdea, which itself is part of Babyl, the name of our World Tree and all the lands it covers. Beyond its reach are the Deadlands, where you must never go. No life can survive there. You were brought here as the commencement of the Terminus Ritual, although you are several years early which is strange. It is not like the church to lose track of these things. Babyl must be in a dire condition for the summoning to have been moved up. You see, Babyl, the World Tree that gives all of us life, is in a constant state of decay, and only the Terminus Ritual can prevent its death.¡±

    ¡°OK¡­¡± If he thought of it as the backstory for a JRPG or something it made sense, but in the context of the real world, it was all insane. If he wasn¡¯t witnessing it with his own eyes, he wouldn¡¯t have believed a word of it. He still found it hard to accept, although coming from such an attractive source he was more willing to listen. ¡°What happens then?¡±

    ¡°That is where the Solknight and the Darknight come in. Every two centuries, the Church of Babyl perform the summoning ritual, bringing forth two from another world to save us, one destined to become the Solknight and the other the Darknight. Once you have been named, you have five years before you have to fight each other. The king will do everything he can to help the Solknight as his ancestors always have. He is the Hero of the Babyl religion. He could have at least given you some money though.¡±

    Tifayn scrunched up her face in disgust but she looked even more attractive angry.

    ¡°He knows that if you die before then, the Terminus Ritual will fail and the World Tree will die, along with everyone and everything in Babyl. He is forbidden from laying a finger on you before then, as is the Solknight, but once the five years are up, you will both be irresistibly drawn together for the final battle, the Terminus Ritual. One Knight will cut down the other and their lifeforce, the greatest source of Mana in Babyl, made greater by all they have learned in their time here, will be drawn into the World Tree, replenishing it for another two centuries years, after which the ritual will repeat itself. It is how it has always been and how it will always be.¡±

    ¡°I think I¡¯m going to need the long version,¡± Alix replied. He felt like he had blacked out half way through her explanation and missed some vital piece of information. ¡°It sounds like you are saying I was just brought here to be a sacrifice for Leon?¡± Alix couldn¡¯t imagine the blonde haired man wielding a sword, much less killing someone with one. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem very fair.¡±

    ¡°Well, the Solknight won¡¯t necessarily win, but it is a greater certainty. The Kingdom provides the Solknight with whatever he needs, trains him for five years into the perfect champion, while the Darknight is left to fend for himself, an outcast from the world. There is no reason you cannot win, you just need to spend your five years wisely.¡±

    ¡°Can I go home if I win?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know the answer to that.¡±

    ¡°And what do I get to help me win this fight?¡±

    ¡°This castle. And Me,¡± Tifayn replied, smiling and winking lasciviously. Alix¡¯s eyes subconsciously slid down to her long slender legs, then up to her perky breasts that were almost spilling out of the loose robes as she lounged on the bed, picking at the platter of fruits laid across her thighs.

    Alix sighed deeply. He felt like a bad joke was being played on him, but he was long since passed waiting for the hidden cameras to jump out, although he hoped none of what they had done was on film.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like much of a castle. What am I supposed to do with these ruins? I¡¯d be better of finding somewhere better to live for the next five years. Why can¡¯t I just get a house in Galdea?¡±

    ¡°Ah, I guess things have become rather rough, haven¡¯t they? There are nicer quarters I could have brought you too last night, but you looked so comfortable and inviting. As I said, you are a bit early. I had hoped to get more work done on the place before you arrived. As for Galdea, now that you have been named the Darknight, no one will help you there. They aren¡¯t allowed to harm you but they will make your life miserable in other ways.¡±

    ¡°If there¡¯s somewhere nicer then can we go then? This room is just depressing,¡± Alix said. The wind no longer howled through the holes but there was still a damp in the air. Even if Tifayn looked like she didn¡¯t mind the uncomfortable bed, Alix would appreciate a better seat.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Tifayn said, rising languidly to her feet with the half-eaten tray of food and leading the way out of the room. Alix was glad to leave it behind, although he did so with trepidation now that he knew he really had encountered a skeleton the night before.

    The corridor beyond looked just as shabby as the room they left. The floors were damp and light shone in through holes in the ceiling. There were no skeletons in sight but Alix still quickly followed Tifayn down the corridor towards a different wing of the castle.

    A few stout doors later and the breeze that had been his constant companion was finally cut off. The walls they passed were devoid of moss, the floor felt sturdy and all the windows were whole. She brought him to a cosy room, with a large plush bed along one wall and a cooker that reminded him of his grandmothers Rayburn on the other. The dank smell was replaced with the pleasant smell of spices and herbs.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Several side rooms held a pantry, a washroom and a small study. It was a comfortable living space. From the brief glance he had seen of the castle, he hadn¡¯t imagined anywhere inside could be so well maintained. If nothing was done though then he couldn¡¯t imagine it lasting much longer. The damage would spread and Tifayn¡¯s small cosy den would rot away like the rest of the place.

    Alix longed to crawl into Tifayn¡¯s bed but that wouldn¡¯t be decent. He would have to find another room for himself later. Tifayn led him to a table by a blissfully whole window and took a seat in one of the chairs beside it. She placed the tray of foods down and motioned for him to sit and finish eating.

    ¡°The castle looks like it needs a lot of work. How have you managed to live here?¡± Alix said, taking a seat, finally managing to find an appetite in the comfortable surroundings. The sparse fruits did little to dull his seemingly insatiable hunger, but it was better than nothing. It had to be close to two days since he had eaten last.

    ¡°It used to be maintained in your absence, but¡­¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Alix asked when he saw how uncomfortable Tifayn suddenly was. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything you can say to upset me at this point.¡±

    ¡°I guess you don¡¯t know anything about our history but it still feels like a shameful thing to say. The Darknight wasn¡¯t always abandoned to his fate. There were many races that once called you their lord and master.¡±

    ¡°What happened to them?¡± Alix asked, suddenly feeling a small flicker of hope. If there were entire races out there that worshipped the Darknight, maybe he could call on them to help them in his fight.

    ¡°They got tired of the Darknight constantly being defeated. It is difficult to follow someone that is only around for five years out of every two hundred. In those centuries they were left to defend themselves from the wrath of the other races and kingdoms of Babyl. The last time the Darknight was defeated, they gave up, and your keep has been left to ruin. Now they follow only themselves and no longer recognise your authority. Now that the ring is back, I¡¯m sure you will have no trouble in fixing it up, but unfortunately you can¡¯t count on the support of those you once could.¡±

    ¡°I guess I can understand that. What is this ring anyway?¡± Alix said, holding up his hand and examining the strange black ring on his finger. The dragon seemed to writhe with a life of its own when he wasn¡¯t looking directly at it. It refused to come off. Then there was the question of the curious words appearing in the air. He hoped he wasn¡¯t getting a brain tumour. He didn¡¯t want to see what hospitals were like here.

    ¡°It is the ring that marks you as the Darknight, and gives you all of the power that entails. If the other one had appeared on your finger, then you would have been marked as the Solknight. I can¡¯t tell you much else about the summoning ritual or the ring. You will have to ask him yourself.¡±

    Him? What are you? Alix thought as he held up the glinting ring. It had tiny faceted emerald eyes he hadn¡¯t noticed before.

    I am the only thing that can save your life, a voice spoke, the dragons head turning towards him. It sounded like it had come from the air all around them but Tifayn seemed not to have heard it.

    ¡°What was that?¡± Alix gasped. If he had been able to get the ring off, he would have thrown it across the room, but no matter how hard he pulled it remained firmly stuck, as if it was a part of his own body. It would be just as easy to tear off his own hand and throw it away.

    ¡°Mmm?¡± Tifayn said, tilting her head and staring at him with those gorgeous violet eyes.

    ¡°You are going to have to start getting used to things a lot faster than this if you want to have any hope of surviving,¡± the tiny dragon spoke into the room.

    ¡°You can¡¯t expect me to just accept all this so quickly. It¡¯s insane!¡±

    ¡°Calm down, that is why you have me. I can teach you a lot of things, if you are willing to learn,¡± the ring replied.

    ¡°How many Darknights have you saved before then?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°Well¡­if you want a specific number then I would have to say zero.¡±

    Alix felt the panic begin to rise again, but then he felt a flow of warmth emanating from the ring, and then a rush of information filled his head. Some of the tension left his shoulders and he relaxed a bit.

    ¡°What did you just do?¡± Alix asked, looking down at himself to try and see what change had come over him. He felt like he had been given some calming drugs and a massage at the same time.

    ¡°I¡¯m just starting you off slowly. I gave you some basic information on how to use your powers. It will take a while for your body and mind to process it all though. Give it a few days and then we can take things from there. There is some standard information that will be available to you from the beginning, but then much of it you will have to discover yourself.¡±

    It felt strange to suddenly have new memories in his head that weren¡¯t his, but at least they made him feel more secure. The words he was seeing in the air came from the ring, analysing friend and foe for their name and level. As soon as he began to wonder why they had a level, the answer came to him. The ring found a comparison in his own memories. Every living creature in the land levelled up through age and experience. It was disturbingly like living in an RPG, but at least that was something he was familiar with. It was a point of reference he could understand.

    Alix focused on his own marker that hovered at the top left of his vision and a new menu appeared in the air. It felt like what he imagined wearing augmented reality smart glasses was like. The menu had several submenus within it.

    Status.

    Equipment.

    Items.

    Skills.

    Titles.

    Map.

    Before he checked any of them further, he noticed a bell icon in the top right of his vision. A Notification menu? The number 3 hovered beside the bell. He focussed on the bell and a new list of text appeared below it.

    Title Unlocked: Darknight

    Title Unlocked: Adventurer

    Alix quickly cycled through the other menus, finding them depressingly bare, before closing them all with a thought. ¡°I¡¯ve got a few Titles but apart from that, all the other menus are empty.¡±

    ¡°The Solknight will be starting at the same place you are, so don¡¯t worry too much about it. I¡¯m not sure the Title Pampered will help him out at all anyway. If you think about it, this place is much more suited to giving you a fighting chance at beating him,¡± Tifayn tried to say reassuringly, but the more they talked of fighting the more panicked Alix became. He had never been a confrontational person. He had never been in a fight before in his life.

    ¡°Do you know about all this stuff that I¡¯m seeing? It¡¯s making me feel like I¡¯m in a virtual reality game or something.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s a virtual reality game?¡± Tifayn asked, face tilting in confusion.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to explain, but the things I¡¯m seeing feel like a user interface in a game or something. I can see your name and your level. I can see menus and unlocked Titles. My life has a Notification menu.¡± It sounded crazy as he said it but Tifayn looked happy to hear it.

    ¡°I can¡¯t see those things myself, but I have read about them before. Only the Solknight and the Darknight have such abilities, granted by their rings. They can help or hinder you. I¡¯ve heard that the Solknight always gets the Pampered Title because of how the royal family treat him. I¡¯m not sure exactly what it does, but I know that it makes the Solknight more arrogant the longer he has it.¡±

    ¡°How am I supposed to win a fight with just a ring though? I don¡¯t have a weapon. I don¡¯t even know how to use a weapon.¡± From the sudden dump of information, and from what he had seen hanging on the belts of every soldier he had seen, Alix knew that this world used medieval weapons; swords, bows and other assorted blades. He thought of the decorative mall-ninja swords he had back home and cringed internally. If he ever got out of here, they would be the first things he threw out, followed by his stash of RPG¡¯s. He doubted he would be able to play one without getting PTSD now.

    ¡°This is the Darknight¡¯s castle. I¡¯m sure if you look around you will find something that can be of use. There are many areas I haven¡¯t been able to access, and many more that only the Darknight is able to enter.¡±

    ¡°What are you doing living in this place anyway? Surely you could have found yourself a nice house somewhere instead.¡±

    ¡°My grandmother served the last Darknight. My family have always been at your service, although only a few of us live to see your arrival. I am the only one left that still believes in you. It has been almost two centuries since the last Darknight so I knew you would be arriving soon. I arrived a few years early to see what I could do to restore the place but I only managed to fix up this small part in those years. I wouldn¡¯t have managed it without the skeletons help. There is not much more I can do without money, or without your help. The skeletons only have limited skills in carpentry and stonemasonry. Maybe you can find a way to make us some money. I can at least teach you the sword in the meantime.¡± Tifayn said with a hungry look, although that was something Alix was content to leave for future Alix to deal with.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m in the mood to start that today. I should probably have a look around first, get a feel for the place. I¡¯m starting to feel restless doing nothing.¡±

    ¡°I should introduce you to everyone else as well. There aren¡¯t many of us but maybe you can wake up some more,¡± Tifayn said, getting to her feet. Alix didn¡¯t want to know what she wanted him to wake up.

    Before they left the comfort of Tifayn¡¯s quarters to return to the chill of the hallways, she untied the sash around her waist and let the robe fall to the ground. Alix forced himself to look away as she dressed herself in a pair of loose trousers, and a blouse that fell down around her shoulders.

    Once dressed, Tifayn led him back down to the ground floor where he had almost pissed himself the night before. He knew it was coming, but it was still a shock when he finally saw a skeleton in the light of day. He had only seen the name floating in the air the night before, and heard its dry joints scraping together, but it had been enough to scare him off. When one walked up silently behind them, he almost passed out from the fright. He temporarily lost his voice as he jumped behind Tifayn, putting as much distance between him and the skeleton as he could.

    ¡°Ah, Mr Bones,¡± Tifayn said in greeting. It wasn¡¯t the skeleton he had run into the night before, as his name clearly said Mr Bones, Lv. 999. ¡°He¡± wore a crisp black suit. The hollows where eyes once were stared at him, before he bowed slightly. Alix had to admit that it wasn¡¯t such a terrifying sight, once the initial shock wore off, although the suit definitely helped. Mr Bones looked more like a regular guy wearing a very good Halloween costume.

    ¡°He cannot speak in the normal sense, obviously, but he can understand you. You should also be able to communicate anything you wish him, or any of the other castle servants for that matter, to do through the ring, even at long distances. You will hear his reply in your head as if he had spoken the words himself.¡±

    Mr Bones walked off silently before he could think of a command to give him, although his only command would have been to leave him alone for now. Alix got the impression that Mr Bones understood that already and had decided to leave the introduction deliberately short for now.

    Tifayn looped her arm through Alix¡¯s and lead him through the castle, a vast sprawling maze of rooms, towers, courtyards, staircases and hallways. It looked like it would take years to repair it all. A lot of the rooms near the centre of the castle seemed to be in better condition. He experimented opening his Menu, and then the Map submenu, and saw the track of where they had been appear in the top right of his vision. Focussing on it, the map grew larger and filled his vision. Labels marked a few of the rooms they had passed; Kitchen, Dining Room, Library. Some were marked ??? A marker for Tifayn glowed right beside his own. He was glad to see that there was now a marker for Mr Bones wandering around as well. If he knew where the skeletons were at all times, it would be a lot less frightening running in to them.

    They came across several more skeletons and they all bowed in greeting, although these seemed to move more crookedly than Mr Bones, and all were unnamed other than Skeleton of varying levels. They rattled away in shabbier clothing, their tags appearing in his map as they disappeared down the hallways, going about their mysterious tasks Tifayn had set for them.

    ¡°Is it just you and the skeletons here?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°Yes, it is just us.¡±

    ¡°What about your family?¡± She had mentioned that her family had always served the Darknight, but he had seen no other sign of anyone in the castle. Anyone living that was.

    Tifayn seemed like she didn¡¯t want to answer first. ¡°It is complicated. The last Darknight was a long time ago. The skeletons are my family now. We are the only ones that remember our duty,¡± she eventually said.

    ¡°What do they even do around here?¡± Alix asked once the chill had left his spine. He would never get used to the sight of skeletons walking around. One had tried to communicate with him through the ring but all he heard was an unintelligible Ughhhh.

    ¡°Protect the place mostly, do what basic maintenance they can. Every couple of years they have to scare off robbers that hear a rumour about hidden treasure. For some reason they never seen to believe the rumours that this place is still being guarded, and that it is a worthless ruin to anyone but the Darknight.¡±

    They eventually exhausted all the areas that were still accessible, which was only a fraction of the castle¡¯s full size, so Tifayn led him outside to show him the grounds.

    ¡°I hope this isn¡¯t rude of me to ask, but what exactly are you Tifayn?¡± Alix asked as they passed through the large entry doors. The hinges squealed terribly. His eyes couldn¡¯t help but twitch towards her horns, although they did nothing to make him less attracted towards her.

    In the light of day, he finally got a good look at the castle from the outside. It was built on the edge of a cliff on the side of the mountain, its grand spires rising up and out over the precipice. The cliff provided a natural defence on that side, but the other was surrounded by a large wall that extended off into the forested mountainside. Inside the wall, it looked like the grounds had once contained a grand garden, but it was now thickly overgrown with weeds, shrubs and trees. It was so dense that it was impossible to find a path through it. Instead Tifayn led him to a crumbling set of stairs that climbed up the side of the wall to the parapet walkway.

    ¡°I am a demonette,¡± she replied matter-of-factly.

    A demonette. Of course. Why am I still surprised?

    It took Alix a few moments to find his voice again. ¡°Do all demonettes have horns like that?¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course, all demons do. I am still young though so mine haven¡¯t fully grown in yet.¡±

    Alix didn¡¯t really know what to ask after that. There was too much running through his mind to verbalise, and he didn¡¯t want to talk about the Darknight and the Solknight, or what they had both been summoned here to do. He felt like he could hear a clock ticking menacingly in the background everywhere he went, counting down to his doom.

    They continued their walk along the parapet, but there was little more for him to see apart from the overgrown and ancient forest on one side of the wall, and the overgrown gardens on the other. It looked like a five year project just to clear the gardens, and that was before they reached the sections of the wall that had collapsed over the centuries.

    At that point they had no choice but to turn around and head back. It had only been a few hours since he had woken up, but he was already exhausted again. His rest had been non-existent and the light breakfast hadn¡¯t been enough to restore his energy. Tifayn noticed his declining state.

    ¡°You should rest, master. Tomorrow we will have to begin your training,¡± she said, taking his arm again in hers as he struggled to keep his eyes open. If he fell asleep on the parapet it would take weeks to dig him out of the jungle below.

    ¡°Please, just call me Alix.¡±

    With Tifayn¡¯s help he managed to make it back to the castle. He tried to insist on finding somewhere else to sleep, but Tifayn declared that she would just follow him, so he eventually caved and climbed into her plush bed. She crawled in naked beside him, ¡®to keep him warm¡¯ she said, but he made sure to lie facing away from her. As soon as he closed his eyes he fell into a deep sleep.

    Alix awoke the next morning with what felt like the worst hangover of his life. He silently cursed his existence. Why was he suddenly incapable of having a decent night¡¯s sleep? He felt rougher than the morning after his 21<sup>st</sup> birthday, but this time he woke up to the sensual feeling of a woman in his arms. He had rolled over onto his back in his sleep, and Tifayn had taken the chance to roll onto his chest. Or had she pushed him over deliberately? Thankfully he still had his underwear on. He felt too dizzy to enjoy the feel of her large soft breasts pressing against him.

    He let out a low groan and threw an arm over his face to block out the light. The piercing sunshine was doing nothing to help his spinning head. It felt like a dozen voices were trying to speak to him all at once. He was desperate for a drink of water, or a beer to dampen the headache, but he feared any movement would wake Tifayn.

    Slowly the voices began to fade and he realised what was probably happening to him. He had forgotten the rings words from the day before, that it would take his body a while to absorb all the information he had received. He seemed to have processed it during his sleep. With the new knowledge Babyl suddenly felt a lot more familiar. Where before his thoughts had been blank on what to do next, he found that he now had an idea of what he had to do, but for now fell back asleep in Tifayn¡¯s grasp. He had plenty of time.

 Chapter 5: The Joy of Crafting

    It wasn¡¯t until his fourth day in Babyl that Alix finally awoke feeling warm, comfortable and well rested. On the third day, he had been able to do little other than stay in bed nursing his headache while Tifayn occasionally brought him water to drink. At one point he awoke to the smell of baking and thought he was home again, but that thought soon vanished when Tifayn presented him with a purple loaf of bread. He devoured the entire loaf, the first food he had seen that wasn¡¯t some sort of deconstructed muesli, then fell asleep again.

    Next time he woke to the sight of Tifayn climbing into bed beside him again but he was too sore to complain about it. She seemed to delight in showing off her naked body. Her presence helped to soothe his aches and when he woke again, he finally felt like he wasn¡¯t drowning in an endless ocean anymore. Before he had felt blind, but now he could see a light at the end of all this mess.

    By the fourth day his head had stopped spinning and he had begun to accept that it was just possible that everything happening was real. It wasn¡¯t entirely unpleasant. Having Tifayn to share a bed with was almost worth sacrificing everything he had left behind. It wasn¡¯t the loss of his life he was frustrated about though, but the questions that still remained unanswered. What was so special about Leon and himself? Where exactly was Babyl? Although, the answers to those questions probably wouldn¡¯t do him any good. He was already coming to terms with the fact that he was stuck here for the foreseeable future, and that he might as well make the most of it. If it wasn¡¯t real, then the same thing applied. There was nothing to do but enjoy it.

    I am surprised to see you awake so soon, the ring said quietly in the corner of his mind. Some Darknight¡¯s sleep for weeks after receiving that much information.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have that much time to waste,¡± Alix replied softly so as not to wake Tifayn. He didn¡¯t want her to jump awake and stab him in the eye with one of her horns. From her perch on his chest, the tines were disturbingly close.

    Good, I can¡¯t stand those that wallow in depression for months. By the time they finally realise the opportunities available to them, it¡¯s too late for any amount of effort to save their lives. What are you going to do first then?

    ¡°I¡¯m going to clear the garden.¡±

    ¡­Great. Wake me up when you decide you don¡¯t want to die.

    ¡°You were the one that told me about Crafting. Don¡¯t blame me now that I want to try it out.¡±

    Alix opened his Menu now that he had a spare moment to check it out further. Skills was still bare but he hoped to rectify that soon. He selected Titles, curious to see exactly what he had unlocked. He started with Darknight.

    He had expected a massive list of buffs, +100 to Strength and every other conceivable stat, but it only said one thing.

    Infinite Growth.

    ¡°What does this mean?¡± Alix asked the ring.

    It means exactly what it sounds like. Everything you do here will make you stronger. If a random person goes outside and digs a hole, they are just wasting their time. If you go and dig a hole, who knows what you might unlock? Holemaster? Dirt Lord? Rock Enthusiast? The Titles and Skills available to you are infinite.

    Alix scrolled down to the second Title he had yet to check; Adventurer.

    Infinite Storage.

    Now that was more like it.

    Tifayn stirred as he finished checking his depressingly low Lv 1 stats. Now that he had an idea of what he could do, he was itching to get started. Back home he had been a horrible procrastinator but here he found it was near impossible to sit still, apart from when he had a gorgeous naked demon draped over him. Right then he was itching to experiment with the new information the ring had given him, but he didn¡¯t want to wake Tifayn. She deserved her rest for looking after him the past few days, and he would have to get used to doing things by himself soon enough. He couldn¡¯t rely on others doing everything for him, although it sounded like that tactic worked wonders for the Solknight.

    The demon girl had her arms wrapped around him. How was he going to get away without waking her?

    Hug and roll, hug and roll¡­

    Tifayn flopped onto her back without stirring, arms spread wide, and her breasts burst from the covers. Areola the colour of dark plum stared back at him, inviting him back to bed, but Alix forced himself to retreat. Manoeuvre successful, he rolled out of bed and dressed in his only pair of clothes. That was something else he would have to sort. He couldn¡¯t wear the same outfit for the next five years, while Leon probably had a hundred new outfits already.

    Slipping out of the warm bedroom into the chill of the hallways reminded him of his uni days, leaving the comfort of his student accommodation for the miserable Scottish mornings, although the thought of crafting was a lot more motivating than the early morning lectures had been.

    Keeping an eye on his map, he crept through the hallways, making sure to avoid the various skeletons that were roaming around, still uncomfortable around them. The ones he had met before seemed to be congregated around a portion of the map he hadn¡¯t uncovered yet. He managed to slip outside without encountering any of the others.

    Alix was greeted by the sun shining down on the mountain. From the dankness within the hallways he had expected to find the day wet and cold, but that was just the ruined castle hoarding the miserable chill within its pockmarked walls. He would have to get the place fixed up so he could explore the place in relative comfort. Several times he had almost jumped out of his skin at a cold touch down the back of his neck, thinking a skeleton had crept up behind him, only to find a drop of water had fallen from a cracked ceiling.

    The sun had come out and burnt away the clouds, but the overgrown grounds were still littered with shadows and thorns. It looked like it was going to be a nice day, perfect for doing some well needed gardening. Or did it count as weeding? Or landscaping? The easiest thing to do would be to burn it all down and start from scratch, but he wasn¡¯t really thinking about what he would be able to grow there in the future, but what he could harvest from it now.

    Before leaving Tifayn¡¯s rooms, he had grabbed one of the myriad knives she had lying around in drawers. A pair of secateurs would have been handier but he had no idea where he would be able to find something like that. If there was a tool shed in the garden, it was long overgrown. Likely he would have to forge some himself, another skill the ring had hinted at, but that was something he was content to leave for another time.

    No place looked better than any other to start with, the only clear area being the path from the castle doors to the gate, so he walked over to a clump of oddly serrated looking grass and cut a bunch with his knife.

    Instead of throwing them aside, he fed them to the ring. They glowed and sank into the lustrous black dragon. Text appeared in the bottom left of his vision like an activity log.

    <ul>

    <li>Obtained 5 Dumpweed</li>

    </ul>

    Alix opened his inventory, a previously empty semi translucent square, and found the five units of Dumpweed sitting there as a leafy green icon. He had hoped there would be some sort of information screen telling him what to do with but there was nothing. Instead he selected it, which was as simple as focussing on it with his eyes, and two new options appeared.

    <ul>

    <li>Dismantle</li>

    <li>Discard</li>

    </ul>

    Alix couldn¡¯t imagine how you could dismantle a plant so he chose that option to see what would happen.

    New text appeared in the activity log.

    <ul>

    <li>Dismantled 5 Dumpweed</li>

    <li>Obtained 10 Aloe </li>

    </ul>

    The Dumpweed disappeared from his inventory and a new item,

    Aloe, appeared. Its icon was a pale green droplet. A rush of excitement hit him, It was a tiny effort but it still felt like he was getting somewhere. Now he just needed to find something to do with the items. The library might hold the information he was looking for, but he wasn¡¯t ready to stop just yet. He was only getting started. The urge to find new and interesting components fuelled him, triggered his obsession for collecting things. Maybe if he could craft something like potions, he could sell them for some money to help rebuild the castle. He was sure Leon was probably rolling in mountains of gold at that very moment.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Alix cut more of the weeds, working back and forth between the wall and the castle until he uncovered a forgotten path, after which he managed to start clearing large swathes as he moved further into the grounds. His inventory filled with Dumpweed very quickly, stacking to x99 before a new icon appeared. Once he reached a total of one hundred units, there was the notification sound again. He opened the notification menu and saw that he had unlocked a new Title.

    <ul>

    <li>New Title Unlocked: Horticulturist. </li>

    </ul>

    It doubled the amount harvested from every plant. His inventory filled even faster, but with Infinite Storage there was always space for more.

    Further down the old path he was focussing on uncovering, hoping it lead to somewhere interesting, he began to encounter new plants and he was surprised when he recognised the names; Dill, Basil, Sage. Alix doubted they would be much use for the sort of potions he had in mind, but his mind began to race with the foods that might suddenly be possible here now. The Dismantle option appeared beside the herbs and he couldn¡¯t help but check out what they could possibly be reduced to. Three new items appeared in his inventory.

    <ul>

    <li>Obtained Dill Essential Oil </li>

    <li>Obtained Basil Essential Oil</li>

    <li>Obtained Sage Essential Oil </li>

    </ul>

    Better be careful not to dismantle too much stuff, don¡¯t want to end up with a load of junk.

    Alix wasn¡¯t sure what use they could be, never having been one for essential oils, but they had to have some use if he was able to harvest it. The notification bell rang again and he saw that he had a new Title.

    <ul>

    <li>New Title Unlocked: Herbalist</li>

    </ul>

    Alix opened his Titles menu, glad to see it was filling up fast with

    four already, and hovered his gaze over the newest one. Text appeared over it.

    <ul>

    <li>Increased Potion Efficiency</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°I guess I¡¯ll be using these for potions after all,¡± Alix mused to himself. Some creature in the tall grass scurried away at the sound of his voice.

    Among the herbs and weeds were other plants he had never heard of before but he collected them all anyway. Ivory Leaf was one that seemed to be pretty abundant, while Lovebud was one he really wanted to know what it was used for. Unfortunately it seemed to have no effect as it was.

    A few trees had grown out of control but he couldn¡¯t do anything about them without a saw or an axe. They would need wood soon though. The fallen stones could be refitted, but the rotten and cracked roof beams couldn¡¯t. He would have to look for tools next, and see how far the skeletons skills with carpentry went.

    Alix worked his way around the garden until his inventory held hundreds of new items, although if he had been playing a regular RPG he would have considered it all junk. If he only had five years, there was no time to waste hoarding junk.

    Just then his notification bell went again.

    <ul>

    <li>Reached Level 2</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Nice!¡± Alix exclaimed. He had expected to need to grind against slimes or some other low level creature to level up, but it looked like he had slowly been gaining experience either from harvesting or dismantling items. Looking through his menu he noticed that his Stats had all increased by about ten percent, but there wasn¡¯t anything to say how much EXP he had earned. He was just glad to be getting somewhere.

    Another text box appeared in the air before him, one he hadn¡¯t encountered before.

    <ul>

    <li>Choose 1 New Skill:</li>

    <li>Analyse</li>

    <li>Wainwright</li>

    </ul>

    Wainwright? What the hell is that?

    Analyse sounded like it could be handy so Alix selected that.

    ¡°I was wondering where you had gone,¡± a voice said behind him before he got a chance to check out the new skill.

    ¡°I was wondering where you had gone,¡± a voice said behind him.

    Alix jumped but he calmed when he saw that it was just Tifayn. The cleared path behind her was a lot longer than he had realised. The hours had sped by as he became lost in harvesting everything he could find. The grounds were still a mess but he had made good progress.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to wake you. I thought I would get started on clearing the grounds. The ring told me about Crafting so I wanted to harvest some materials to craft with. All this mess needs cleared anyway.¡±

    ¡°I would have been happy to help you cut down these weeds, but I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know anything about the crafting the ring mentioned,¡± Tifayn said, looking a bit disappointed that he hadn¡¯t thought to call on her for help.

    ¡°Like you said, Pampered won¡¯t do Leon any good, so I should be trying to do as much for myself as I can.¡±

    ¡°You must have been out here for hours to clear so much. You should stop for a break,¡± Tifayn said, taking his arm in hers and steering him back towards the castle.

    The thought of going back inside such a dank place didn¡¯t appeal to him when he could be outside working in the nice weather, but there was only so much he could do in the grounds, and he had built up quite a hunger. He had harvested hundreds of components and ingredients, but so far he didn¡¯t have any recipes so Crafting was still locked to him.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask. How is it you are able to give the skeletons commands without the ring?¡± Alix asked as they walked.

    ¡°Well, like demons, the undead here have always served the Darknight. Mr Bones remembers my grandmother when she lived here. If I tried to do something like destroy what¡¯s left of the keep, I¡¯m sure they would try to stop me, but since I¡¯m here for the same reason they are, they help me out. The skeletons recognise my devotion and listen to my words. I guess it is handy that they will obey no others, but it means that the place has fallen into ruin. The skeletons don¡¯t feel the elements like we do, so they think nothing of a broken window or missing roof. Their bones are under an ancient spell and the weather has no effect on them. If you commanded them to though, they would stop following my commands. Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°I was just wondering if you knew some way to summon them all. I¡¯d like to get them all started on clearing the rubble lying around. I¡¯m not going to be able to relax properly until the castle is more secure. Right now anyone could just walk in and attack us.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone would be that stupid. I¡¯ve heard the stories they tell in Galdea. Apparently anyone other than the Darknight is supposed to drop dead as soon as they walk through the gates. The skeletons have always managed to scare off anyone that thought to put the rumours to the test. Are you saying you cannot gather them to you yourself?¡±

    ¡°Am I supposed to be able to do that? I can see the ones we met before on my map, but I assumed there were dozens of them.¡±

    ¡°You should be able to call them all with the ring, but I guess it will take you a while to figure it all out. Once you have mastered it, you will be able to see where they are at all times, as the power that animates them is related to yours. You will be able to track me as well, if you like,¡± Tifayn replied, pressing herself closer against his side. ¡°Anyway, the skeletons should be working on clearing the rubble already. It¡¯s what I asked them to do, but there are not many of them to get the work done quickly.¡±

    ¡°I saw them all congregating at a place deep in the castle this morning. I wonder what they are clearing down there.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go find Mr Bones and ask.¡±

    They went and found Mr Bones and found that the skeletons were no longer working on whatever it was they had been doing earlier. Mr Bones was standing in the entrance hall as if he had been waiting for their return. Alix quickly checked his map and saw that the other skeletons were in various corners of the castle, doing their rounds to check for intruders.

    Tifayn pushed Alix forward, forcing him to confront his undead servant himself for the first time. He cleared his throat, unsure of how to start. He pushed down the queasy feeling he got when confronted by the undead. Should I be polite? Formal? Informal? Commanding?

    ¡°Mr Bones¡­you are looking¡­well.¡±

    ¡°Just get to it!¡± Tifayn hissed from behind him. ¡°He¡¯s thousands of years old, he knows he looks well. It is well established that Mr Bones is the most distinguished skeleton amongst the undead of Babyl.¡±

    ¡°Ok then¡­I was just wondering what the skeletons were doing earlier. I saw you all working on something deep in the castle. Did you find something?¡± Alix asked the well-dressed skeleton. Is that why he dresses so sharply? He¡¯s a skeleton celebrity?

    ¡°Find something? No, we were looking for something,¡± Mr Bones¡¯ said, his voice coming as if from his own mouth although there was nothing left of it. The sound of it gave Alix chills, like the wind in a graveyard given voice, although there was something distinguished about the way he spoke.

    ¡°What were you looking for?¡± Alix asked in a wavering voice that he didn¡¯t intend.

    ¡°The vault is down there, but the passage is underwater and some sections of it have collapsed. I could clear it with time, but I need more of my brethren awoken for the task,¡± Mr Bones replied.

    ¡°Is the path to the crypt clear?¡± Tifayn asked, understanding what Mr Bones was saying when Alix turned to her with a blank look.

    ¡°It was. There was a recent collapse. I would have cleared it already, but your rooms took priority, Lady Tifayn,¡± Mr Bones replied, bowing his head slightly.

    ¡°So if the way to the crypt was cleared, you would be able to repair the castle a lot faster?¡± Alix asked, still unsure of what was being suggested, but at least it was somewhere to start.

    ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Mr Bones replied, bowing slightly again.

    ¡°Alright then. I take it the skeletons listen to you as well, Mr Bones, so please give them my orders. I would like to get all this rubble cleared away as soon as possible, so get them all started on opening the crypt. If you could repair what you can as you go, that would be great. Otherwise deposit the rest in organised piles. I¡¯ll find a way to get some wood to start working on the major repairs and then we will see where we are at then.¡± He wasn¡¯t used to giving orders but he was eager to uncover more of the castle. If there was something here that could help him, he wanted to find it, but it would take him weeks to shift all the rubble himself.

    Alix liked the idea of rebuilding the castle even more than seeing what secrets it might hold. It was a mechanic in games he had always enjoyed, rebuilding towns and ruins. He had never expected to be confronted with such a task in real life, and it was going to be a lot harder than just pushing a button, but he hoped more satisfying.

    ¡°It would do you some good to get some heavy lifting in, build those muscles. I¡¯m not going to say that¡¯s the key to defeating the Solknight, because they all failed no matter how well built they were, but the largest men always lasted a bit longer,¡± Tifayn said, eyeing up his scrawny frame.

    ¡°I¡¯ll come and help them later on. I want to at least figure out how to do some Crafting first. I just need to find some recipes to try out. I found a lot of materials out in the garden so I want to see what I can do with them.¡±

    ¡°I know of some books I can show you. Follow me,¡± Tifayn replied, taking him by the hand and leading him up the stairs, as Mr Bones bowed once again and left to complete his new task.

 Chapter 6: Love//Potions

    The library was one place that had managed to survive the centuries unscathed. Since the Darknight was historically given no help from the kingdom of Galdea, the library had become their only hope of learning about the new world they had been unceremoniously dumped in. Every Darknight had expanded on it and placed their own seal of protection over it, ensuring every book in the collection managed to weather the years. The result was a cavernous room filled with thousands upon thousands of books. The shelves had long since been filled, until there was no choice but to start piles on the floor.

    ¡°How are we supposed to find anything in this mess?¡± Alix asked when he was led into the chaos.

    ¡°I guess the previous Darknight¡¯s didn¡¯t think organising the library was the best use of their time. It would take a lifetime to go through everything and sort it, but even then, the library would need to be expanded. I¡¯ve spent quite a lot of time here so I know the general layout. There is an old card catalogue that is generally accurate, but the newer books are uncatalogued. It is a task I have found too daunting to undertake. There are some I can¡¯t read, written in the language of other worlds.¡±

    Other worlds? How many others are out there? It was a question that made his head spin to think about. If he was going to succeed without having a panic attack, he needed to remain grounded, focus on the things he could control.

    ¡°I wonder if the skeletons will be able to help?¡± Alix asked. It was obvious that they could see somehow, but he didn¡¯t know if that extended to being able to read as well. He could get them to cart the loose books to a new room, build some shelves and organise them by genre. He wondered what sort of genres existed in this world. Did fantasy exist within a fantasy world?

    ¡°They might, but I think it is more important now for them to work on clearing the path to the crypt and rebuilding the castle. There are enough books for us to get started on for now.¡±

    Tifayn motioned for him to take a seat, then headed into the stacks to retrieve some books. Alix sank into a plush chair beside a large  table stacked with books, ones Tifayn or the last Darknight had been reading last. He picked one up to pass the time. It was called Deulatorum, and it appeared to be a combat manual of some kind. Part of it was an autobiography, which he found more interesting than the many pages of fighting forms.

    Alix suddenly wished that he had made more of an effort to stay in shape as he read the training regimes. He wasn¡¯t fat, but he didn¡¯t have any muscle to boast of. The book had been written by a previous Darknight that had called himself Lector. He had found the warriors of the time woefully untrained and created the book as a guide for anyone wishing to improve themselves. He had to write it in the language of Babyl, which the book mentioned that the ring had given him the ability to do with ease. Alix wondered if any of his wisdom had spread. He set the book aside, deciding it would probably be handy to read properly later, assuming he managed to build up his strength. He was just about to pick up another book when Tifayn returned with her arms full of various volumes.

    ¡°I think you might find these useful. There are a few basic volumes on potion making in there, detailing recipes and methods.¡± Tifayn deposited the pile on the table.  ¡°Get started on these and I will bring you some more.¡± She sashayed back into the stacks, leaving him alone with the books. How fast did Tifayn think he could read? He had been a much avid reader in his youth, but now he was lucky if he got through a few novels a year.

    Alix picked up the first volume, Practical Potions. It was nicely bound in a dark green leather, the name emblazoned in fading silverleaf. The print inside was still fresh, the enchantments on the library sealing it from the effects of time. He opened it to the first few pages to find an introduction from the author and a foreword on the art of potion making, but he wasn¡¯t interested in reading that just now. It ran for several dozen pages so he skipped ahead to the first potion, assuming it would start with the easiest and work up to the hardest.

    Just as he had hoped, the first potion was a healing potion. It was one of the things he had been thinking about since the first mention of a fight and he was glad to find that such things existed in this world. He hoped there would be all the staples of an RPG within the book, or at least enough to keep him alive until he could learn more.

    The first recipe was called Basic Healing Potion. It looked fairly simple. The ingredients were listed as 5x Aloe and 1x Ivory Leaf. He had plenty of both from his time spent clearing the garden. By the time he was finished clearing the whole thing, he would have stockpiled enough for thousands of potions.

    The method listed was fairly simple, but he soon realised he didn¡¯t have the tools to carry it out. First, he had to add the liquid Aloe to a beaker of some kind, which he didn¡¯t have, and bring it to a boil over a flame he also didn¡¯t have. Once it was hot, he was to add the Ivory Leaf to the beaker, which would melt into the Aloe and change its colour from colourless to a grassy shade of green. Then it was ready to pour into a vial, another thing he didn¡¯t have. He was ready to give up then, feeling like the ring had lied to him, but as he finished reading the page, the notification bell rang again and text appeared in the air in front of him.

    <ul>

    <li>Acquired Crafting</li>

    <li>Recipe Acquired: Basic Healing Potion</li>

    </ul>

    Alix opened his menu and found a new submenu named Crafting had appeared. He opened it up and selected Basic Healing Potion and more text appeared in the activity log.

    - Removed 5 Aloe

    - Removed 1 Ivory Leaf

    - Obtained 1 Basic Healing Potion

    Alix closed the Crafting menu and opened his inventory. The number of Aloe and Ivory Leaf had decreased and a new item had appeared; Basic Healing Potion. There was a small x1 marked beside it. He tapped on it, and a green liquid appeared in the air, then fell with a splash into his lap. He cursed to himself, but the liquid shone and quickly sunk into his clothes without a trace. He should have expected that. The potion had appeared as a green blob in his inventory. He would need something to hold it in.

    Alix picked up the book again, unscathed from the falling liquid, and noticed an asterisk he had missed the first time. It pointed him to a footnote which read; Vial, pg248. He skipped ahead to the page and found the method for crafting vials. He was surprised to read that it only required 1 Aloe to craft a vial. It could be cast into a shock resistant rubbery material. Glass could also be used, but that required sand and a furnace, it was more costly, time consuming and the end product was infinitely more fragile, which wasn¡¯t a good thing for a healing potion to be.

    As he finished reading the page, another text box appeared.

    <ul>

    <li>Recipe Acquired: Basic Vial</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Let¡¯s try this again,¡± Alix said to himself. He opened up the Crafting menu again and found Basic Vial as a new option. He tapped it ten times, and the log showed -1 Aloe, -1 Aloe, -1 Aloe. He had plenty to spare so he stocked up. Then he tapped Basic Healing Potion ten times and the corresponding items left his inventory. He dragged the ten green blobs and dropped the icon over the Vials x10. The icon changed to a vial filled with a grassy green liquid and he finally had his potions. He didn¡¯t know how effective they would be, but he felt safer knowing that he had them.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    Tifayn was still gone so he decided to move on to the next recipe and see if he could learn that one just as easily. The potion on the next page was called Lesser Antidote. The recipe to craft it appeared when he finished reading the ingredients and method, which was similar to the healing potion, but he didn¡¯t have all of the ingredients. It took 4 Aloe and 3 Abyssia. He hadn¡¯t encountered any of that in the garden, but if such a basic potion required it then he hoped it would be a common plant, if it even was a plant. Abyssia could be a fruit or a vegetable for all he knew, or some sort of mineral.

    Alix read through page after page, unlocking as many recipes as he could. Out of the ones he read, he could already craft about half of them, and he felt like he would have no trouble crafting the other half once he managed to clear the overgrown garden. After learning ten new recipes, the notification bell went again and he saw he had unlocked a new Title.

    <ul>

    <li>Title Unlocked: Botanist</li>

    </ul>

    It was always cool to get something new but he was disappointed to see that the new Title had the same effect as Herbalist. Increased Potion Efficiency.

    It was sorely tempting to craft as many potions as he could, but now that he saw just how many there were, he became wary of running out of his supplies. He was still on the first book as well. The new Title reminded him of the essential oils he had created from the herbs, but he had yet to come across a recipe that used them.

    At the back of the book there was a handy Index to search for a potion by ingredient. He suddenly remembered the Lovebud at the same time he caught himself remembering the joys of Tifayn¡¯s body that morning. The book listed two potions. Virility Philtre and Temptation Philtre.

    Alix quickly flicked to the pages, but his excitement faded at the ingredient requirements. The Vitality Philtre seemed to require one of every ingredient, as well as a substantial volume of Lovebud. As for the Temptation Philtre, he didn¡¯t bother reading further after the first listed ingredient was 100x Lovebud. Both joined the list of recipes under his Crafting menu, but they remained greyed out alongside the others that he had read about but didn¡¯t have the ingredients for yet.

    Another potion caught his attention as he went back to randomly flicking through the pages; Mana Potion. Like the healing and antidote potions, it came in various strengths. Antidote potions came in Lesser and Greater varieties, the pair of them able to deal with the majority of inflictions, although he wasn¡¯t familiar with all of the curses and venoms they were effective against. Healing potions came in Basic, Greater, and Perfect varieties, although he only had the ingredients to craft basic ones just now. He had the ingredients to craft a Basic Mana Potion as well and he was curious to see its effects. The book said that it restored Mana, which he assumed was the MP gauge under his status menu. It was full at the moment, but he didn¡¯t know how to deplete it in the first place. He had played enough games to know that magic was usually the thing that depleted mana. The book referenced and recommended he turn to Practical Magic if he wanted to learn more. He hoped the book existed somewhere in the library. If he could learn magic then that might make this whole ordeal worthwhile.

    Alix had another reason for wanting to craft a mana potion though. Near the end of the book, some composite potions were listed, those that could be crafted from combining other potions instead of raw materials. They could be created from the pure ingredients as well, but they required rarer ones and in greater quantities. He decided to practise with crafting an Elixir. It required one healing potion and one mana potion, with the types determining the potency of the final draught. He only had basic and lesser potions to work with. It was a simple process of combining one with the other.

    - Removed 1 Basic Healing Potion

    - Removed 1 Basic Mana Potion

    - Obtained 1 Elixir

    ¡°That is very impressive, master,¡± Tifayn said as the Elixir appeared in his hands.

    Alix almost dropped the vial in surprise, but he managed to grab hold of it and return it to his inventory before it could fall to the ground. It wouldn¡¯t shatter like glass but he didn¡¯t trust it not to spill everywhere.

    ¡°It is easier to craft things here that I imagined,¡± Alix said as she dumped a fresh pile of books on the table. He caught sight of a few of the titles.

    Practical Potions: Volume 2, Practical Magic, Metallurgy, The Woodsman¡¯s Guidebook, The Home Hearth, Cakes & Delicacies. The others had names that were too long and finely printed to read at a glance. What use did he have for a cookbook? Was Tifayn hinting at something?

    ¡°Crafting potions is usually a time consuming and tricky business. I am surprised you managed it without any tools, but I wouldn¡¯t expect anything less of the Darknight. I found a few books written by previous ones that you might find helpful. They detail their experiences and tell of things you might need to know. What have you managed to craft so far?¡± Tifayn asked.

    Alix showed her the vials he had created. He had too many to take out and show her, so he settled for showing off one of each.

    ¡°These are very fine,¡± she said, ogling each of the colourful vials. ¡°I could probably take these into any town and sell them for good money. It might be an option if the skeletons can¡¯t unearth the vault. There is said to be a great wealth lying in the castle, but so far, I have been unable to find it. We will need to find some money soon. I have been able to manage by myself, but you won¡¯t be able to find everything you need by foraging alone. You would need to travel across the whole land as an adventurer to find all the materials you need for every recipe in these books.¡±

    ¡°I better get started then. It looks like I¡¯ve got a lot of reading to do,¡± Alix said, gathering up a handful of books. Tifayn picked up the rest and they headed to more comfortable surroundings. The library was still in good condition compared to the rest of the castle, the spell on it a particularly powerful one, but it had little natural light and the air was still and heavy with the scent of wood and paper. Tifayn¡¯s rooms were warm and had plenty of sunlight. He wondered if he would be able to find a recipe to craft coffee in the books, one of the things he found he missed the most. It would make his circumstances infinitely more bearable.

    Alix spent the rest of the day lazily reading, unlocking new recipes, and for a while he forgot about all the crazy things that had happened to him. He lost himself in the books and felt like he was back home with the latest fantasy novel.

    The book on metallurgy proved to be very interesting. He hoped it would be just as easy to craft blades as it was potions, but he didn¡¯t have any of the materials just yet. They weren¡¯t anything he expected to get from cutting plants in the garden. Unless there was some sort of quarry in the castle grounds, or stores in a hidden room, he would have to venture beyond the walls or buy in the materials he needed. He would trade whatever potions he could for them if he had to. He had always wanted a sweet sword and the book gave him a few good ideas.

    When the light faded, and his eyes began to ache from reading too much, he decided to head to bed. It was relatively early, but after the laborious morning clearing the grounds, followed by the large information dump, he felt completely exhausted. Tifayn blew out the candles and crawled in beside him after disrobing, a silken wave of flesh enveloping him.

    ¡°Are you sure there is nothing more I can do for you?¡± she asked, suggestively stroking his chest.

    ¡°You are a very attractive¡­demon¡­Tifayn, but I-¡° Alix caught himself about to say ¡®I have a girlfriend back home¡¯. Even if he managed to get home, that relationship was done for and he found that he didn¡¯t care. As far as he was concerned, he was a single man. ¡°I barely know you,¡± he said instead. He slipped his arm around her slender waist but made no further move.

    Tifayn blushed at his words. ¡°Thank you, master. I apologise if I have been too forward. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help it. I mentioned that my family, and the demons as a whole, have always served the Darknight, but it is more than that. Like the Terminus Ritual draws the Solknight and the Darknight irresistibly together, us demons are drawn towards and have a connection to the Darknight.¡± As Tifayn spoke she pressed herself closer, but made no further move other than to nuzzle up against him. ¡°They used to live near here but once they decided enough was enough, they moved far away to start their lives anew, so that they wouldn¡¯t be drawn to the next Darknight. I should have explained this to you before, but I was just so glad to see you had arrived. I never expected the effect to be so potent, but I will keep my distance for now, no matter how much I can tell you wish it were otherwise,¡± Tifayn giggled softly, and then quickly fell asleep with him tightly in her grasp.

 Chapter 7: Sepulchral Activity

    One of the items Tifayn managed to find in the library were a set of plans for the castle. As Alix examined them, the data loaded up into his map, but until he travelled to each place in person the data was still faded. The blueprints could be out of date, rooms expanded or demolished, or their use changed. One room caught his attention, appearing in the area of his map that had been a void before. Crypt.

    The Crypt was in a deep part of the castle, and the path was obstructed by rubble at several points.

    Just as he had hoped, the skeletons got to work, efficiently carrying out his command. The hallway that led off to the left of the once grand entrance hall was now clear and a few of the stones had been replaced in its regal arch. It looked like there used to be a door in it, but the wood had long since rotted away. He would have to try and replace a few of them soon, if only to cut down on the merciless breeze that blew through the abandoned hallways.

    The collapse Mr Bones had mentioned was more substantial than Alix had expected. When he first traipsed down into the depths to see, he found the entrance hall filled with neatly collected rubble. The splintered and rotting wood had been thrown out into the grounds a pile in to be burned, while fresh cut logs were being used to temporarily hold up the rest of the pathway.

    So the skeletons at least have axes and know how to use them. Once they had cleared the path, he would borrow one and see what carpentry or lumberjacking skills the ring would unlock within him. It looked like the intricacies of stonemasonry were beyond the skeletons, so wherever the stone had crumbled beyond use, and another one wasn¡¯t available to fill the gap, the gap was left.

    It was going to take the skeletons a while to get it cleared and after speaking with Mr Bones and seeing the skeletons work, he realised they would work faster without him getting in their way. Alix had to hold in a scream every time one of them moved. Their appearance wasn¡¯t improved by the flickering lantern light he and Tifayn needed to see by, their empty eye sockets filling with burning embers. The skeletons were more than capable of working in the dark, so after making a quick round of their progress, Alix left them to it.

    ¡°It will take several days to clear the path,¡± Mr Bones said, his voice twice as unnerving in the dank depths of the castle, so Alix decided to spend some time filling in his map of the castle, clearing away the fog that marred its scale.

    By the time he had checked out every accessible corner of the castle, he found that at least half of it was still blocked off due to one form of damage or another, mostly collapsed floors or ceilings. He returned to Tifayn¡¯s quarters to read more of the books they had brought back from the library.

    When he first saw the pile of books Tifayn had procured for him, he was worried it would take him precious weeks, or months, to study them properly, but he was pleasantly surprised when he heard the notification bell go again after he spent most of the day carefully reading Practical Potions: Volume 2.

    <ul>

    <li>Title Unlocked: Bibliophile</li>

    <li>Increased Reading Speed</li>

    <li>Increased Knowledge Retention</li>

    </ul>

    As well as the new Title, he got a notification that his level had increased as well.

    <ul>

    <li>Reached Level 2</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Sweet,¡± Alix said to himself as he read the new benefits. It probably wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference for potions but it should come in handy for magic. He had flicked through Practical Magic and was eager to start learning some of the things it contained. He wanted more space in the grounds first before he started throwing around fireballs though. Or maybe he could use fireballs to help clear the grounds faster? He probably wouldn¡¯t gain any harvested materials but it would speed things up a bit.

    Another screen appeared but before he could study it, Tifayn drew his attention.

    ¡°What¡¯s sweet?¡± Tifayn asked from where she lounged on the bed, confused when she couldn¡¯t see any food in his hands. She seemed to spend all her time in the room there, trying to tempt him to follow her into the sheets. He couldn¡¯t deny that the thought filled most of his waking moments, but he had to control himself. Pampered might be Leon¡¯s downfall, but he didn¡¯t want Debaucherous to be his.

    Alix had noticed that Cakes & Delicacies seemed to appear on the top of his reading pile every time he turned his back. Tifayn seemed to think he would be able to craft food as easily as potions once he read it, but so far he had continued to put it aside, finding the others more immediately appealing.

    ¡°It means something is good,¡± Alix replied. Even though he seemed to be able to speak the language here, slang still didn¡¯t translate well.

    ¡°Am I sweet then?¡± Tifayn said with an inviting smile.

    Alix blushed furiously as he almost blurted out I¡¯d like to find out. Instead he stuttered over his words then went back to his books.

    Debauchery is going to be the death of me¡­

    Tifayn giggled and went back to the book she was reading. She had taken to reading the autobiographies that previous Darknights had left behind in an attempt to learn more about Alix¡¯s world. Alix had expected the most recent one to be at least two hundred years out of date, but it seemed time moved differently between Babyl and the worlds the knights were summoned from. He found several that referenced events from the past century and Tifayn was currently devouring them as fast as she could, sure that they must hold the clue to defeating the Solknight.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t healthy to resist your desires, master,¡± she teased. She lounged on the bed, bouncing one crossed bare leg in the air.

    That¡¯s not the point, Alix wanted to say, but he knew it was futile to argue the point with her. Instead he pretended not to hear her, or notice how her robe ¡®accidently¡¯ slipped further from her shoulders, shamelessly exposing her violet tipped exceptional assets. After living by herself for so long, half of the time she had to consciously remember to put on clothes. He went back to his book, glad for his new reading retention skill, as his mind continued to wander to other things.

    I know what you are thinking Alix, the ring suddenly whispered in his ear.

    Alix flinched, forgetting that the ring was there for a moment. There were definitely moments when he didn¡¯t like having a sentient object on his hand, especially one that seemed to be able to read his thoughts.

    I fully support you making the most of your time here, but I thought I would just give you advance warning. There are spells you must know now that the crypt is being uncovered. You shouldn¡¯t have had to make use of them so soon, if at all, but circumstances don¡¯t always work out like we intend. If you check the notification from when you just levelled up, you can chose from two new skills. I highly recommend that you select Necromancy.

    Alix went back to his notifications and selected the screen he had ignored before.

    <ul>

    <li>Choose 1 New Skill:</li>

    <li>Analyse+</li>

    <li>Necromancy</li>

    </ul>

    You can decide what new Skills I¡¯m able to unlock? Alix asked the

    ring.

    To an extent. I am able to offer you those that will be beneficial at the time, and if none are suitable then the selection will be random.

    What the hell is a wrainwright then? How would that have helped me?

    The Wrainwright skill would have allowed you to craft wagons and carts. I thought it would be helpful in clearing the mess here and making it easier to travel up and down the mountain, but I guess you would like to do that the hard way.

    Shit. Will it ever be offered again?

    Perhaps. But for now you need Necromancy. They are powerful spells though, so the knowledge might knock you out for several days. Your body still isn¡¯t used to receiving information this way. Usually you would be at a higher level before needing these spells, if ever.

    Are you sure I can¡¯t learn them from Practical Magic?

    Most definitely not. The spells are from a book of Necromancy, every physical copy of which has been destroyed. It now only exists within me. You are just going to have to deal with being bedridden. Poor you. If you could just fully let go of your old life, that would be a much more enjoyable situation.

    Alix sighed, annoyed more at himself than the rings words. He wanted nothing more than to let go and embrace what Babyl, and Tifayn, was offering, but he was still coming up against a mental block telling him it wasn¡¯t right. It felt like he was taking advantage of her. He resigned himself to his fate and selected the Necromancy skill. The sooner he learned what the ring wanted him to know, the sooner he could get the fatigue over with.

    Alix felt a rush of warmth flow into him from the ring. This time the influx of new information wasn¡¯t as difficult to deal with. He wondered if his new Title was helping him to understand it better. Still, he knew the worst was yet to come. He tried to focus on the words on the page before him, as his mind swirled with new necromantic concepts of resurrection and other grisly skills.

    Does this mean I¡¯m the bad guy in this world?

    Alix didn¡¯t feel like a bad guy but he most definitely felt like he was being shoehorned into the role against his will. Who else would know such dark magic and live in such a dark castle? Who else would share a bed with a demon and have undead servants? He silently apologised to every RPG villain he had ever defeated. They were just misunderstood.

    The book became impossible to focus on, even with his Bibliophile Title. Every time Tifayn turned a page of her own book she would moan and sigh heavily.

    ¡°Your world sounds like so much fun. I wish I could see it.¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t that Darknight a soldier in World War One?¡± Alix asked when he recognised the cover of the book she was reading.

    ¡°You have no idea how long it¡¯s been since I saw a good war,¡± Tifayn replied, sighing heavily again, writhing on the bed as if the words were akin to an amazing massage.

    Is that how bad things are on Earth? Alix wondered. He had always imagined fantasy worlds to have a lot more violence but it seemed humanity had managed to outdo even the wildest imaginings of a demon from another world.

    ¡°Maybe I will be able to show you one day. It is a lot more peaceful now than it was back when that book was written,¡± Alix said, giving up on his book and standing to stretch out his muscles from sitting so long.

    ¡°Really?¡± Tifayn suddenly lit up at the thought. ¡°You would take me with you?¡±

    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I? I will owe you at least that much if I manage to survive. This castle is barely habitable and from what you have told me it sounds like you don¡¯t have a place among your own people anymore and I feel responsible for that.¡±

    As soon as he said the words he had nightmarish thoughts of the reality of that promise. At best Alix would appear on Argle Street with a girl with horns at his side, looking like they had just left a dodgy OnlyFans shoot dressed in cosplay. More likely the government would descend and run off with her to conduct experiments, or religious zealots would start a crusade against her. The street preachers would probably drop dead at the sight of her. Maybe it would just be best if I found a way to stay here.

    Suddenly another thought occurred to him. If he never made it back, then Mac would get exactly what he had wanted. There was nothing to stop him from stealing the master tapes to his music now.

    Before he could ruminate on the fate of his music longer, the fatigue hit him as a crippling wave of headrush. Suddenly Tifayn was there to hold him up. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked, leading him to the bed.

    ¡°The ring gave me some new information, but I didn¡¯t expect it to wipe me out this quickly.¡±

    As he lay down, the sparks flying past his eyes faded, and his vision was filled with Tifayn¡¯s breasts hanging over him. She had completely lost her robe as she helped him to bed, and was now straddling him, looking deep into his eyes for injury. The concern slowly left her face as she realised he was alright and that he wasn¡¯t under some magical attack.

    ¡°Do you promise to take me with you?¡± she said, pulling him into a deep kiss before giving him a chance to reply.

    ¡°I promise,¡± he managed to breath once she finally let him go, just as he was getting into it, just as the darkness overcame him.

    Alix regained full consciousness three days later. The feeling wasn¡¯t as rough as it had been before, but he still found himself in a daze. The first thing he noticed was the x3 beside the notification bell. He opened the menu and checked out what had happened to him while he was out.

    <ul>

    <li>Reached Lv. 4</li>

    <li>Reached Lv. 5</li>

    <li>Acquired Necromancy Suite</li>

    </ul>

    How the hell did I level up twice in my sleep?

    Tifayn had been a lot more vigorous in her ministrations the past few days whenever he woke up, bringing him food and drink when he needed it, and offering to crawl into bed to sooth his fatigue other ways. Always he refused, but more than once he woke up from a good dream to find himself spooning her.

    Alix opened his Skills  submenu and checked out the range of new unlocks. They were far from what he had expected to be unlocking. He wondered again if he really was the villain here, having unlocked Skills such as Animate and Soulbind before much of anything else. There were about two dozen ominously named Skills under a new Necromancy tab, most of which he hoped he would never have to use.

    As well as the new skills, his notifications tab filled up again as he cleared the messages.

    -              Choose 1 New Skill:

    -              Analyse+

    -              Mercantile

    As Alix had yet to use his first Analyse skill, he decided to go for Mercantile.

    <ul>

    <li>New Skill Unlocked</li>

    <li>Mercantile</li>

    <li>Discarded Items generate gold. </li>

    </ul>

    Instantly another screen appeared.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    <ul>

    <li>Choose 1</li>

    <li>HP+</li>

    <li>Persuasion </li>

    </ul>

    HP+? Alix hadn¡¯t given it much thought before, but suddenly he

    wondered what would happen if his Health bar reached zero. It seemed to be at a healthy 100 at the moment. Was that actually considered low? It had started at 50 and increased by 10 for every level he had gone up. His Mana had increased slower, at 5 per level. His last stat bar was Stamina, which had remined stubbornly at 10 no matter how much he levelled up.

    Did Tifayn have a Health bar as well? He couldn¡¯t see anything pop up when he looked at her, just her name and her insanely high level.

    Since it sounded like he wouldn¡¯t have much chance to speak with anyone else, he decided to pass on Persuasion for now and selected HP+.

    His Health instantly doubled to 200. There didn¡¯t seem to be any other benefits, but he was happy with that.

    Tifayn was snoring, spreadeagled beside him, having worn herself out. It was the first time he had seen her in such a state. Usually her hair was immaculately combed, with a silkiness he had thought innate. Now her hair was a sweaty tangled mess, silent witness to the past few days activity. She still looked beautiful. He was torn between wondering what he had done to deserve her, and feeling guilty that she was only attracted to him because of the aura he seemingly emitted as the Darknight.

    If you had some wizardly sex magic back home, you wouldn¡¯t have complained about using it so stop being such a bitch! the first voice constantly shouted to the second.

    At the thought of magic, the daze cleared and excitement filled him. He was finally going to use magic today. Necromancy wasn¡¯t quite what he had wanted to start with, but magic was magic.

    Tifayn had given him rare updates the past few days as to the skeletons progress so he was eager to see where they were at. Last he heard, they had cleared the initial debris, and then the challenge became clearing the stairs they uncovered that descended downwards. The floor above had caved in and filled the opening, and further down the steps themselves had collapsed into the depths. Any further questioning was cut off by her pressing something or other into his mouth to sedate him.

    Mr Bones had just finished reconstructing the steps when he arrived, having managed to crawl out of the bed without waking Tifayn. He knew better than to proceed without her, he just wanted to see if they had to wait any longer for whatever Mr Bones was suggesting. He still wasn¡¯t clear on it, but he could guess well enough by putting his new Skills together with the name of the place where he found all the skeletons congregated.

    The newly cleared hallway to the Crypt was surprisingly well restored, although it was only a temporary fix until the stone could be properly refitted and the wooden logs replaced with milled timbers. It was more than serviceable for their needs though. The clean look of the rebuilt path was marred by the smell that now wafted up from the unsealed chamber below, the smell of rot, earth and long trapped air.

    The path ahead both called to and repelled him, which lead to a twitchy walk further onwards, passing the skeletons that lined the passage waiting for their next command. He wondered if they ever got tired out. He meant to work them hard, if only so they weren¡¯t able to surprise him around every corner. He wanted to know exactly where they were at all times, so that he could avoid them. He expected at any moment to unlock the Title Bitch.

    Mr Bones was waiting for him at the top of the reconstructed stairs, looking down into the dark depths. The stone steps carried on for a few metres before they were lost to the darkness. They would need to grab some torches before they attempted the descent. The last thing he needed was to trip and break his neck. At least they wouldn¡¯t have to move his body far to his final resting place.

    ¡°Good to see you up and about again, my lord,¡± Mr Bones said at his arrival.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Alix replied awkwardly. ¡°This is great work. So what are we supposed to do now?¡±

    ¡°There are many of my brethren down in the Crypt. They should have awoken when I did a few years ago, but something has happened and the spell didn¡¯t work. As the Darknight, you will have to replenish the spell.¡±

    ¡°A few years ago? I thought you had been awake for a lot longer than that. How long has it been?¡±

    ¡°One hundred years I would say, give or take a few decades.¡±

    ¡°Who was it that woke you up then? That sounds like it was long before Tifayn arrived here.¡±

    ¡°The last Darknight, Farquhar. He was a wise master, wise enough to know that he wouldn¡¯t win in the fight against the Solknight. He knew the castle would be pillaged afterwards, and he didn¡¯t want us to perish along with it, so he put us all to rest and then went to fight the Solknight alone. He knew that the people would soon forget about the Darknight, and set a spell to wake us after a while to try and undo what damage they caused before the next Darknight arrived. It seems the spells have weakened since then though, as only a handful of us woke up, not enough to restore the damage done, and then the passage collapsed shortly afterwards.¡±

    ¡°Well I don¡¯t know much about magic but I will take your word for it. I will do everything I can to help. I should probably go and wake Tifayn before we get started.¡±

    ¡°That would probably be wise, my lord. She is very eager to explore the Crypt and determine why the spell failed. She said she could sense something was off, but I have been unable to find anything of concern. The Crypt looks exactly as I left it.¡±

    Alix left Mr Bones and the skeletons to go and wake Tifayn. Now that he knew the way was clear, he was eager to get started, although the smell that emanated from the cavern was almost enough to put him off.

    He found Tifayn just as he had left her, and heard her before he had even walked back through the door. If she¡¯s going to make a habit of snoring, I¡¯m going to have to learn how to craft some earplugs.

    ¡°Tifayn,¡± he called softly, sitting on the edge of the bed. Instantly she snorted and her eyes opened.

    ¡°Are you alright, master?¡± she said after a short moment of confusion. Before he could answer, she jumped from the bed, still completely naked, to make sure he was safe and recovered. ¡°Are you sure you should be up?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry. I just came to let you know that Mr Bones has finished fixing up the path to the Crypt.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s excellent news. Let¡¯s go at once,¡± Tifayn declared, marching towards the door.

    ¡°Hold on,¡± Alix called, pulling her back.

    ¡°Finally want to taste how sweet I am?¡± she said, allowing herself to be pulled back into his arms, pressing a kiss against his lips.

    ¡°You can¡¯t go out there like that,¡± Alix replied, ignoring her invitation.

    But think of the exp!

    Shut up!

    Bitch¡­

    Tifayn dressed begrudgingly, but bent and squirmed a lot more than she needed to before her robe was securely cinched around her waist. It did nothing to hide her voluptuous figure.

    Back at the entrance to the Crypt, Tifayn took the lead, rushing down into the darkness before Alix could catch up to her with his torch. Evidently she could see in the dark. Why was she so interested in what had gone wrong down there? She had charged into the darkness with a determined look on her face.

    ¡°Good luck, my lord,¡± Mr Bones rattled as he walked past.

    ¡°You are not coming?¡± Alix asked, surprised the skeleton would miss what he had advocated for himself.

    ¡°There is no need. I have faith in you, my lord. Besides, there is much work that still needs to be done. We would just be in the way.¡± With that he turned and motioned for the skeletons to follow him to their next job.

    Alix descended alone into the darkness. The steps were cracked and gouged where the worst of the collapse had occurred, but after that they were solid. He expected to reach the bottom fairly quickly, but after a few minutes he was still descending deeper and there was no sign of Tifayn, although he could smell her cinnamon scent cutting through the dry rot.

    Eventually the wall to his left fell away. He couldn¡¯t tell if it was a secondary collapse or if the steps here had once been free floating, secured into the castle wall, but in the light from the torch he could see that the skeletons had just piled up the rubble underneath to build some rough steps. It did the job, but he hoped he would be able to teach them stonemasonry somehow. The castle had a lot of complicated structures that weren¡¯t easily rebuilt by just stacking the stones up again or propping things up with wood. If he couldn¡¯t teach them then hopefully it would be a Skill he could unlock by levelling up and he could do the work himself.

    When he finally reached the last step, he found Tifayn waiting for him in the darkness.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked, wondering why she had run ahead. It wasn¡¯t like any of the crypts occupants were going anywhere any time soon.

    ¡°Something happened here¡­I can feel it,¡± she replied, looking off into the darkness at something Alix couldn¡¯t fathom. ¡°Something unnatural.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Alix looked around, lifting his torch to spread the light further, but all he could see were row upon row of stone sarcophagi. Some of the closest had their lids cracked in half or fallen off to the side to reveal empty interiors. Others were still sealed shut. He had never been fond of graveyards or coffins so he couldn¡¯t help but feel a constant chill run through him at the sight of the endless rows of the dead. What else was hiding out there in the darkness?

    ¡°The spell that should have been on the skeletons down here, it hasn¡¯t just failed, it is completely gone.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the same thing?¡±

    ¡°No, if the spell failed there would still be a remnant of it. The skeletons were in a kind of hibernation, so that spell should still be here, with only whatever part that was meant to wake them up having failed. I expected to find a few stragglers trapped down here, having woken up after the cave-in, but there is nothing. There is no longer any spell on these skeletons whatsoever. They are completely dead. I can sense the magic of the Darknight usually, feel it wash over me when I¡¯m in its presence, but down here there is nothing, until you arrived. You are like a beacon of warmth beside me, in a dark sea of nothingness.¡±

    ¡°What do you think caused it then? Could the magic have worn off naturally after all these centuries? Nothing lasts forever.¡±

    ¡°That is unlikely. The spells that used to be at work here were the efforts of dozens of Darknights over the millennia and not once before have they failed. Something has removed them.¡±

    ¡°So Mr Bones wants me to wake up all these skeletons? Maybe some of them will be able to answer your questions.¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t be able to just wake them up anymore. It¡¯s going to require a larger spell. It probably would have been better for you to practise with something smaller first, but we don¡¯t really have time. We desperately need the help these skeletons can provide.¡±

    ¡°I might as well give it a shot. If it doesn¡¯t work I can just practise until I¡¯m ready to try again.¡±

    Amongst the list of new Necromancy Skills, he had expected to be using Awaken, but going by what Tifayn was saying, there was another one that he would need to use. The skeletons were no longer ¡®sleeping¡¯. It was accompanied by others Skills such as Revive, Resurrect and Animate, which sounded similar but had completely different uses. They couldn¡¯t be revived as they were too long dead for such a spell. Animate would create mindless puppets that would be good for nothing without his constant supervision and direction. He needed them to have some semblance of sentience, so Resurrection was what he would have to try.

    It looked like there were a lot of bodies down in the Crypt though. He just hoped he had enough MP to cast the spell. In an RPG he would have expected to be able to look up the level requirement and the mana cost but here he was going in blind. Resurrection was usually a fairly late game spell with a high mana cost, but he had to remind himself that this wasn¡¯t a game. It was real life with cheats activated. If he was the villain of this world then surely he had the mana to cast such a spell.

    Alix placed his torch in a holder on the wall and then activated Resurrection. Intricate lines began to form on the ground in a circle around him, similar to the one that had appeared when the Cardinal had cast his spell, but the symbols within his own circle made him nauseous to look at and they gave off a sickly glow.

    The spell built until a green wave shot across the chamber, illuminating the expanse of the underground necropolis. He had expected something more, expected it to need a direction, but it shot away with a life of its own. Tifayn alternated between anxious looks towards him and out into the green tinged shadows as the light of the spell fragmented and sank into every sarcophagus in the chamber.

    For a while, nothing happened. In his anticipation, he didn¡¯t notice that his MP gauge had been completely depleted. It wasn¡¯t until he felt a weird sense of weakness wash over him that he thought to look. So that was magic. It was very anticlimactic.

    ¡°Something¡¯s happening¡­¡± Tifayn whispered. He turned his gaze from the stone coffins to see what she was talking about, but he found her trying to fan herself with her voluminous sleeve, her skin flushed in the torchlight.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked, worried his spell had somehow gone awry.

    ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong¡­your spell¡­so big,¡± she spoke in short quick bursts as she continued to fan herself. At first he thought she was in pain but the look on her face was unmistakably one of pleasure. ¡°I¡¯m very impressed master.¡±

    Before he could ask how the hell Necromancy was turning her on, a low rumbling began to cut through the dead air, followed by the moans of long dead voices. In another time it would have scared the shit out of him, but interspersed with Tifayn¡¯s own moans, the effect was lessened, making the scene almost comical. He just hoped the spell would work properly and that the skeletons would listen to him instead of tear him to shreds.

    A loud scraping soon filled the entire chamber, of stone lids sliding clear of caskets and the rattling of bones. Several dozen answered his call, shuffling out of the darkness to line up before him. Either some of the lying dead were too far gone for his spell to take effect, or he had run out of mana before the spell could raise them all, but he had expected more. He only wished he could clothe them all. They wore nothing but rotten scraps at best, armour and cloth having fallen away from their bones. Maybe he would be able to craft some clothes for them.

    ¡°What do you command, my son?¡± the first skeleton to reach him asked, the words whispering into his mind through the ring. The words caught him off guard for a moment, but there was no time to ponder them. The space at the bottom of the stairs was quickly filling up, and Tifayn¡¯s moans were becoming wilder. She had untied her robe to use the entirety of its length to try and fan her flushed naked body. Something was causing her to sweat profusely.

    ¡°Our castle is falling apart. I would like your help in fixing it,¡± Alix commanded simply. ¡°Mr Bones is waiting for you above.¡±

    The skeletons began to make their way up the stairs, and the ones that came after followed. Alix watched the procession in awe at what he had done. I just raised the dead. I guess there¡¯s no denying I¡¯m the bad guy now. As they marched past, a new Title appeared before him.

    <ul>

    <li>Title Unlocked: Necromancer</li>

    <li>Increased Mana</li>

    <li>Passive: Talk to the dead. </li>

    </ul>

    It also unlocked a new Skill.

    <ul>

    <li>Acquired Greater Resurrection</li>

    </ul>

    With the new Title, his Mana gauge refilled. Since the first spell hadn¡¯t been as effective as he had expected, he decided to give it another go. He tapped on Greater Resurrection and the strength once again left him in a rush as another green light, larger this time, filled the chamber with its pulsing glow. No inch of the chamber was left in darkness.

    Tifayn¡¯s feverish moaning reached a new level. She threw her robe to the ground and began pacing back and forth.

    Another few dozen skeletons appeared and Alix gave them the same instruction. Eventually the chamber was silent again, apart from Tifayn. When the last of the skeletons finally disappeared up into the castle, she cried out an unintelligible shuddering gasp.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong Tifayn,¡± Alix said, rushing to her side.

    Tifayn looked at him as if she was seeing him for the first time. ¡°Please, don¡¯t look at me Alix,¡± she managed to heave between moans as she continued her feverish pacing.

    A chill washed over him at her words. It was the first time she had called him by his name. Something is definitely wrong. Tifayn tried to move away as Alix reached out to help her, but at his touch she suddenly lost control of her legs. Her fingers dug painfully into his shoulders as she clung to him for support.

    ¡°You feel feverish, Tifayn,¡± Alix exclaimed. A sheen of sweat covered her body and in the light from the torches he thought he could see goosebumps rippling across her skin.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, just help me get out of here,¡± Tifayn said between trembling breaths.

    Alix helped Tifayn to make her way towards the stairs with difficulty. With her clothes lost to the darkness, his hands kept slipping across her skin.

    ¡°I never expected such an outpouring of mana from you,¡± she said as they hobbled along the wall. ¡°In a place so devoid of magic, the sudden surge of your spells was overwhelming.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you mention that might happen before?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t realise it would happen, or that it would make me so¡­flustered. Please, let¡¯s not speak of this, it is embarrassing.¡±

    ¡°I will try to be more careful from now on,¡± Alix said, still slightly dazed and unsure of what had happened.

    He grabbed the torch from the wall and used his other hand to help Tifayn back up the steps. Her legs continued to shake until they got back to her room. She immediately lay down on the bed and passed out.

    Alix had drained his mana twice, a move which he noticed had also drained a portion of his stamina. It seemed even if he restored his Mana, eventually his Stamina would run out and he wouldn¡¯t be able to cast anymore spells. He probably should have tried out some of his stocked potions, but he was too busy worrying about Tifayn to think about it. He hoped in time calling on a potion would become a reflex. Despite it being barely midday, he was already exhausted from the mornings events, and soon he was fast asleep beside her.

    Alix woke to darkness, with something clamped over his mouth and a weight covering his body.

    ¡°Shh,¡± Tifayn whispered, barely audible. For some reason she was crouching on top of him, pressed low against him, her hand covering his mouth, staring off into the darkness.

    What is going on? Alix called silently to the ring.

    Before he could get a reply, Tifayn launched herself from the bed. Alix expected her to fly into the far wall, but she hit something hiding in the shadows and she fell to the ground, dragging the scrap of shadow with her.

    Tifayn began to yell, not words but just meaningless angry sounds, as she rolled around in the dark, fighting with something.

    Alix jumped from the bed and fumbled to light a candle to see what was going on.

    How the hell did I unlock Necromancy before a simple fire spell?

    The flame sputtered to life, painfully slow, revealing Tifayn straddling a form on the floor, a form that was writhing furiously in her grasp trying to escape. It was all wrinkles and shrivelled skin the grey colour of a miserable morning, but as a pair of eyes locked with his, the skin began to smooth and the pallid complexion brightened. Alix suddenly felt a bit lightheaded.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare, suckling swine!¡± Tifayn yelled, swinging back her head and giving the form a swift headbutt. The intruder went limp.

    Between Tifayn¡¯s legs lay a petite girl, with the palest skin Alix had ever seen, and silver hair to match. Her mouth hung open, revealing a pair of long fangs. The two girls were as naked as the day they were born. It took him a few moments to notice that the pale girl had a pair a of black bat-like wings spread on the ground beneath her.

    ¡°What the hell is that?¡± Alix exclaimed at the sight.

    ¡°Vampire!¡± Tifayn hissed through gritted teeth.

 Chapter 8: How to Train Your Vampire

    ¡°What the hell is a vampire doing here?¡± Alix asked once the shock of what he was seeing wore off. He didn¡¯t know why he was shocked though. Crazier things happened to him on a daily basis. A vampire shouldn¡¯t have fazed him at all. ¡°Am I just seeing things or did she look a lot worse a moment ago?¡±

    ¡°You aren¡¯t seeing things. She is the one that destroyed the spell on the skeletons. Or should I say, she is the one that ate the spell. I knew something wasn¡¯t right in the crypt but this wasn¡¯t what I was expecting,¡± Tifayn seethed.

    ¡°I thought vampires fed on blood?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°You are right, vampires usually feed on blood, but that is only because it is the quickest way to absorb the magic within it. They are like magic parasites. It is harder for them to feed off of pure magic, but in a place like the Crypt where it was so heavily filled with spells, it must have been a banquet. She fed on the spells and that is why most of the skeletons never woke up. She must have been down there a long time after she ran out of mana to have become so shrivelled. She started to absorb yours and that¡¯s why her form changed. Please master, let me kill her.¡±

    Alix had never seen Tifayn so pissed off before. He couldn¡¯t understand the anger. No real harm had been done and the girl looked defenceless. He opened his stats and saw that his mana had indeed gone down without him doing anything, but this time he thought to pull out a mana potion. He downed the sweet blue liquid and his mana was instantly restored.

    It was only then that his racing heart calmed enough to notice the text floating above the prone girl.

    Evory. Vampire, Lv. 319.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to hear what she has to say,¡± Alix said, motioning for Tifayn to loosen her vicelike thigh grip.

    ¡°If that is what you wish, but it is my job to keep you safe so at least let me tie her up first,¡± Tifayn said, reluctant to get off the unconscious vampire.

    The vampire looked like little more than a small child but he reluctantly agreed. He went and found some rope while Tifayn kept her perch on the girl. Only once she was securely tied up and Tifayn had thoroughly checked the bonds herself did she release the girl.

    Tifayn had hit her pretty hard and she showed no signs of waking up any time soon. If she was as weak as Tifayn had said, she could be asleep for days. Alix opened up his inventory and threw together a quick potion. Instead of just giving her a plain healing potion, he decided to try one of the composite potions he had read about in Practical Potions. Using an Elixir as a base, he added in a selection of herbal stimulants he had come across in the grounds. He hoped the combination would be enough to revive her, so that he didn¡¯t have to resort to Necromancy skills to do the job.

    <ul>

    <li>Obtained Fortified Elixir</li>

    </ul>

    Alix pulled the purple vial from his inventory and examined his

    Handiwork, still fascinated at his new abilities. The vial was crystal clear, with a sleek but angular design that would have taxed the best craftsmen to replicate. The purple liquid inside rolled around with a pleasing viscosity, and like all the other potions it seemed to give off a slight phosphorescent glow.

    ¡°Hopefully this will wake her up. Hold her up for me.¡±

    Tifayn positioned herself behind the girl and took a rough grip on her bonds. The girls head fell back limply, mouth opening to reveal fangs that looked too big for such a small mouth. Alix unstoppered the vial and poured out the contents. As soon as the liquid hit the vampires lips, it sank into her body.

    The potion worked almost instantly. The girl gasped in a ragged breath and flailed into waking, her eyes going wide. She looked around frantically, relaxing only a little when she caught sight of Alix, but when she noticed her bonds she began flailing wildly again.

    ¡°Release me!¡± she screeched in a high pitched, almost childishly petulant voice.

    ¡°I suggest you quit your pathetic attempts to escape and answer my masters questions,¡± Tifayn hissed menacingly into the girls ear. ¡°Unless you want me to knock you out again, and this time it will be permanent.¡±

    The girl stopped her fighting when she realised her bonds weren¡¯t about to break, although Alix thought it had more to do with Tifayn flashing her horns at her. A headbutt from those would probably have split his skull. He was surprised the small girl had managed to survive it.

    ¡°Your name is Evory isn¡¯t it? Look, I don¡¯t want you getting hurt. I just want to know what you are doing here,¡± Alix said in an attempt to calm her, although he imagined it didn¡¯t sound very sincere since they had tied her up. His thoughts were quickly proven wrong when a new piece of text appeared in his log.

    <ul>

    <li>Persuasion Successful </li>

    </ul>

    What the hell? Guess I don¡¯t need to unlock Persuasion after all.

    Evory turned her attention on Alix, but as soon as her eyes met his, Tifayn yanked her head away so that she was facing the opposite direction.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. The Darknight has been kind enough to give you a healing potion. If I sense you trying to feed off anything else I will cut off your wings and feed you to the wyrm.¡±

    Do we have a wyrm? The thought of either a giant worm or a wingless dragon living in the depths of the castle didn¡¯t do anything to comfort him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me, if you had a wyrm I would know about it already. I¡¯ve lived here longer than you have, demon,¡± Evory snarled. ¡°I¡¯m not going to harm the Darknight. He saved my life.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, I saved your life?¡± Alix asked her.

    ¡°What was that spell you cast?¡± Evory replied in a way that implied he was an idiot for not understanding what she was trying to say already.

    ¡°Resurrection¡­¡± Alix said, realization dawning on him. ¡°You were dead? I thought you were feeding on the spells down in the crypt?¡±

    ¡°I already told you, I have been here longer than this stupid demon. I finished feeding on all the mana down there years ago¡­or was it decades? What year is it?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what year it is, but I know it¡¯s been about one hundred years since the skeletons down there were supposed to revive so you must have been down there since before then,¡± Alix said, remembering Mr Bones¡¯ words.

    ¡°A century? You must be lying. I remember some of those pesky skeletons woke up and walked off, taking their precious mana with them, but there was still enough down there to keep me full. Until the entrance collapsed¡­got so tired¡­just wanted to rest my eyes for a bit¡­¡± Evory said, voice growing quieter and quieter as it trailed off, until she was mumbling under her breath to herself.

    ¡°She must have been trapped down there after the roof caved in and fed on the spells there until she ran out of mana. Once all the spells were gone, she had nothing left to feed on, so she fed on herself until she became a shrivelled husk. Then she died, painfully and alone, just like she deserved,¡± Tifayn surmised, relishing every word.

    ¡°Why do you hate vampires so much?¡± Alix asked. What Evory had done was annoying, but not enough to wish death upon her.

    ¡°Vampires have preyed on demons for millennia. Compared to races like Humans and Dwarves, Demons have a lot more mana within us. Babyl provides enough mana for everyone, but for some reason the Vampires still go out of their way to kill for their mana. They don¡¯t need to consume blood to get their mana fix, but they still choose to do so. I would be doing the world a favour if you would let me break her neck and drive a stake through her miserable heart.¡±

    ¡°Please, I wasn¡¯t hurting anyone. I thought this place was abandoned! Do you think those skeletons had any blood for me to suck on? I felt the strong presence of magic when I was passing by this castle so I had a look and found all that mana stored in the crypt. There was so much of it¡­I couldn¡¯t stop myself. I guess I was down there for longer than I thought. If I had known the place was going to fall apart, I never would have gone down there,¡± Evory whined.

    ¡°Better down there than out killing my people,¡± Tifayn said, giving the girls bonds a sharp tug. ¡°Who knows how many you killed before you got trapped down there. You probably would have killed master if I hadn¡¯t stopped you just now.¡±

    ¡°I never hurt anyone! It hurts my teeth, that¡¯s why I just wanted to feed on those spells. I woke up so hungry and followed the aura I felt up here. I wasn¡¯t going to attack anyone, just feed off his mana a bit. If you have a problem with other vampires then take it up with them!¡± Evory countered, starting her writhing again at Tifayn¡¯s unfair treatment. ¡°If you treat all vampires like this no wonder they hate you!¡±

    ¡°So what do you intend on doing now?¡± Alix asked Evory, trying to distract the two from their fighting. ¡°You have devoured all of the mana that was down in the crypt, which in turn was the reason you became trapped down there. The spells you destroyed would have woken up the skeletons, and they would have repaired the castle which would have prevented the crypt collapsing. I can¡¯t deny that I¡¯m annoyed the castle is a shithole because of your actions, but you literally paid for it with your own life. This second chance you owe to me. If I let you go, do you promise never to return? There¡¯s nothing left for you here. I will be able to see everywhere you go so don¡¯t think you can try and fool me.¡± Alix had quickly checked his map and, other than the dozens of new skeletons walking around, he noticed a new dot in the room with him and Tifayn. Even if Evory wasn¡¯t one of his followers, his actions in saving her life seemed to have been enough to mark her on his map.

    ¡°I promise, I never want to see this place again.¡± Evory tugged weakly at her bonds, making sure to keep her gaze away from either of them in case Tifayn became riled up again.

    ¡°Alix, you can¡¯t just let her go,¡± Tifayn pleaded with him. It was still weird hearing her use his name, but when she did he knew she was being serious.

    ¡°If she can feed off of my mana, then isn¡¯t far away from here the best place for her to be? Besides, I¡¯m not going to give her life just to rip it away again. I¡¯m not a murderer, and neither are you.¡±

    ¡°You are too kind to be an effective Darknight,¡± Tifayn said, cutting the ropes with a knife she seemed to pull out of nowhere. Then she grabbed the vampire girl by her scrawny wrist and dragged her to the closest window. With the other hand she unlocked the hatch and pushed it open and, with a mighty swing, threw Evory out into the darkness. ¡°You know, now that I think about it, she¡¯s the first vampire I¡¯ve heard of in a century. I was beginning to think they were all dead,¡± Tifayn said as the sound of wings faded into the night. She shut the window latch firmly and casually went back to bed.

    Well that was weird. Alix hadn¡¯t expected vampires to be such pitiful creatures but he had felt bad for Evory. His mind raced with questions but Tifayn didn¡¯t look like she was in any mood to answer them. If anything, she looked like she was pissed off at him for letting Evory go. He couldn¡¯t imagine such a thing bringing down a demon. It didn¡¯t seem like Tifayn really had anything to fear from her, but he was sure Evory wouldn¡¯t have left alive if Tifayn had come across her sooner.

    They were questions for another day, but he found he was wide awake after all the commotion. He had slept through the entire day from the fatigue of using so much mana and now he was ready for a new day. It was the middle of the night though, so he brought up his inventory, cycled through his recipes for a sleeping potion and threw some ingredients together. He added in some herbs he recognised like valerian root and chamomile flower for good measure, and he was left with a vial containing a pale blue liquid.

    <ul>

    <li>Obtained Nightbringer Draught</li>

    </ul>

    The name sounded ominous, but Alix wanted to sleep too much

    to care. He downed the contents, blew out the candle and crawled in to bed.

    True to its name, the Nightbringer potion knocked him out almost instantly and woke him as the sun was rising, feeling wonderfully refreshed. Alix made sure to spend a few moments crafting a decent stock of the potion before Tifayn woke. He was surprised she had managed to fall straight back to sleep again after everything.

    In the quiet moments before she woke, he thought back on the previous day¡¯s events. It felt like it had all gone by in such a rush. After summoning the skeletons, he had then instantly abandoned them. Then he had done the same with the vampire he had inadvertently resurrected.

    At least he knew he had such powerful magic at his disposal if anything happened to Tifayn. It wouldn¡¯t do to make a habit of relying on Necromancy so he made a mental note to return to the library and search for some more advanced potion books. Hopefully he could craft some sort of Revive potion or Phoenix Down, although he hadn¡¯t seen any such magical creature so far. The ingredients for such potions would likely be a lot rarer than anything he could find in the grounds as well.

    Tifayn stretched herself awake shortly afterwards, and he was suddenly reminded of what had happened with her after he had woken the skeletons. The frantic lustfulness still weighed heavily on his mind and he was worried that it would happen again at any moment. Whatever it was that was affecting her so, he had to figure it out so that he could find some way to control it.

    Once they had both risen, and Tifayn had brewed them a cup of what passed for tea in Babyl, which was a thick dark drink that was almost unpalatably sharp and bitter, he finally managed to ask her what had happened and get some answers to his burning questions.

    ¡°I really need to know what it is that causes you to act that way around me sometimes Tifayn. I know you say you can¡¯t help it, but I¡¯d like to find a way to try,¡± he began, hoping she didn¡¯t take any offense to his words.

    ¡°There is not a simple answer. I guess I should just start at the beginning. The demons were once little more than beasts, although I don¡¯t like to admit it, and you wouldn¡¯t think it from looking at us now. Among all the races of Babyl, we were the ones that didn¡¯t belong, reviled by everyone. All of the other races have their own realm, their own lands, history, culture, but us demons seemed to spring out of the darkness.

    ¡°It was a Darknight that eventually made us who we are now, gave us our humanity, for lack of a better word. Mirella raised us out of the dark pits we used to call home. No one knows where we originally came from, maybe we were summoned from another world like you were, but when the races found us in our dark city among the roots of Babyl, they said we had to be the ones that were causing the World Tree¡¯s death. Mirella travelled deep beneath the earth, with the intention of wiping us out and gaining some favour from the races above, but once she found us she took pity on the creatures she found.

    ¡°Through her magic we evolved as a species and left our miserable lives for the world above. The Darknight became revered as a Demon Lord, which did nothing to gain her favour, but at least she managed to prove that it wasn¡¯t the demons that were causing Babyl¡¯s sickness, although it was a stupid claim to begin with. Babyl gives us life, as he does every other race beneath his boughs.

    ¡°Ever since then, all demons have had a connection to the Darknight. The connection manifests in different ways, and it also varies from Darknight to Darknight. Some feel a desire to protect, some feel great respect, others overwhelming devotion. That is the reason they chose to leave this place. When they are in the proximity of a Darknight, they can feel like their actions are no longer their own.

    ¡°For me, I feel a very physical attraction. I can control it most of the time, but when you used your magic down in the crypt, your aura rushed into the void, and it felt like pouring oil on an ember within me.¡± Tifayn finished her explanation, leaving Alix feeling all the more guilty that it was all his fault but there was nothing he could do to change it.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like the thought of you being manipulated against your will Tifayn.¡±

    ¡°It isn¡¯t like that. It¡¯s more like the bond amplifies feelings that are already there. If I wasn¡¯t naturally attracted to you, I wouldn¡¯t be affected so.¡±

    ¡°Still, I feel I should look into if there is a way to mask the effects of this connection, or my aura. I like you Tifayn, but I won¡¯t be comfortable knowing that there is something else affecting your feelings for me. I guess I¡¯ve got time to check out some more books in the library while the skeletons get to work on uncovering and repairing other parts of the castle. I should probably go and see how Mr Bones is getting on with all the new recruits first.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d almost forgotten about them. I still can¡¯t believe it was a vampire that caused all the mess down there. If only I¡¯d gone down there to check sooner¡­¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no point worrying over it now. We don¡¯t have the time to obsess over ¡®what if¡¯s¡¯. I do have one more question about demons though. If I manage to find a way to mask the effects of whatever connection I have with them, do you think they might return and help me out?¡±

    ¡°I guess it is possible, but you would have to have something to offer them to make it worth their while returning. We were always told that you would be the one to lead us, but time after time, the Darknight was always defeated. Most waited a lifetime to see your return, only to live out the rest of their days knowing it had been in vain. They decided eventually that they would look to their own to elect a Demon Lord to lead them, and abandoned the Darknight.¡±

    ¡°Why did you come then? You would have had no idea who I was going to be, what I was going to look like. I could have been a complete asshole, or an old man, or a woman.¡±

    Tifayn turned away, taking a few moments before she replied.

    ¡°I told you my grandmother served the previous Darknight. She loved him, but he never returned her affections. When he was killed by the Solknight, something in her died as well. Still, she found a mate and had my mother, but by then the other demons had abandoned their faith in the Darknight. She continued to live here in the castle, but with the skeletons asleep she was unable to look after the place by herself. I think my grandmother chose a mate at random, just to have a child that she could teach the old ways to. She taught my mother than the Darknight had been an honourable person that hadn¡¯t deserved to die, but my mother hated it here. She ran away young, and I was the result of her misadventures. She dumped me here with my grandmother, and that¡¯s when I learned of the Darknight.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°I lived here with my grandmother until she passed. My rooms were once hers. When she died, I didn¡¯t want to stay here alone so I travelled Babyl. By the time I decided to return to prepare for your arrival, I was convinced that the Solknight will be this worlds ruin. There is nothing but selfishness in this world and it is destroying it. I visited the demons as well, and saw the chaos that rules them now. Without the Darknight to guide them it is like they have half returned to the beats we used to be.

    ¡°I am the only one left that still believes in you. I know there is nothing that says the Solknight has to win, only that one of you must to gain the power to restore the World Tree by defeating the other. The bias for the Solknight means that you will always be at a disadvantage, unless there is someone here to help you, but I don¡¯t think the demons would return to help you unless you can prove to them somehow that you have a better chance of defeating the Solknight than all the previous Darknights.¡±

    ¡°Well, thank you for staying and believing in me. I would have been screwed without you. I probably would have died on the spot the first time I saw one of the skeletons coming at me.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t think so little of yourself, master. You are already doing better than some. I heard one Darknight begged on the streets of Galdea for months before they found him and threw him out. He became wild and unstable, and caused a lot of the damage to the castle himself. A lot of his spells are still hidden in the ruins. I think I¡¯ll have a look around today and see if there¡¯s anything else hiding from us.¡± Tifayn quickly finished her cup and strode out with a purpose.

    Alix finished his own bitter cup of ¡®tea¡¯, checked his map for Mr Bones¡¯ whereabouts and headed off. It felt good knowing that he was making progress, although it was annoying it was progress he shouldn¡¯t have had to make in the first place.

    It seemed like he couldn¡¯t turn a corner without almost bumping into a new skeleton. They all ranged in Level, with some disturbingly close to single digits, while others were in the hundreds, but none reached the Level of Mr Bones. There was something he wanted to ask the skeleton before he moved on to the topic of what to do with the new arrivals.

    ¡°When I was down in the crypt, after I had cast my spell, the first skeleton that came up to me said something weird. He called me son. Do you know what that is all about?¡± Alix asked Mr Bones.

    Mr Bones stood silent and unmoving for a few moments, to the point where Alix thought the spell keeping him going had worn off, or Evory had broken her promise and returned to feed, but eventually he stirred.

    ¡°Without knowing exactly which skeleton it was, I can only guess, but there are several from your world among the ones you resurrected yesterday,¡± Mr Bones answered.

    ¡°Are you saying some of the skeletons here are previous Darknights?¡± Alix said after a moments shock. He had never thought about where the skeletons had come from before, but at most he had thought them to be the original servants of the castle, or soldiers from previous Darknight¡¯s armies.

    ¡°We are all Darknights. Did the ring not mention that?¡±

    ¡°No. It did not.¡± Alix glared down at the ring on his finger, which somehow managed to keep its sparkling dragon eyes averted no matter which way he turned it. Knowing that the skeletons were all previous Darknights themselves sent a chill through him that he couldn¡¯t shake. Was that the future he had to look forward to if he died here? No eternal rest, just wandering the halls, waiting centuries at a time to serve the next unlucky bastard, all the time in the world to ruminate over everything he had lost. Would Tifayn still stay by his side then? Would he have to watch her throw herself at the next Darknight if he failed? It was a sobering thought.

    ¡°The power of the Darknight connects us all, making us all in turn a descendent of the other. You can be sure that the skeletons will have the utmost devotion to you. If you are able to defeat the Solknight, then their deaths will have been avenged.¡±

    Alix suddenly felt a disturbing bond with the skeletons, and at the same time wished he had never brought it up. Every time he looked at the skeletons now he would see himself. Was he going to be wandering these same halls himself as reanimated bones in centuries to come? If he was ever going to have a chance of succeeding in getting back home, he was going to have to put such thoughts out of his mind.

    ¡°I noticed they all have wildly varying levels as well. I would have expected previous Darknight¡¯s to be pretty strong, but none of them even come close to your Level.¡± Were they ones that had died as teenagers? Or were they Darknights that had done nothing but waste the five years they had been given? He couldn¡¯t imagine how it was possible to only ready Level 12 after five years, while he was already at Level 5 after little more than a week, and after doing little more than just living.

    ¡°Everyone wears the mantle of the Darknight in their own way. Some train relentlessly for all the time they have available. Some feel like they are already strong enough when they arrive,¡± Mr Bones replied slowly, as if he was choosing his words carefully.

    ¡°I saw one that was only Level 12. How is that possible?¡±

    Mr Bones was silent for a while but eventually his words came, compelled to answer his master¡¯s question.

    ¡°It is not unheard of for some to ignore the task that they have been given. They refuse to let go of the world they have left behind, refuse to acknowledge the new reality they find themselves in, think it is all just a figment of their imagination. The Darknight cannot be harmed by others before the Terminus Ritual, but he can harm himself.

    ¡°I know the one you speak of. Junichi was barely older than a child when the ritual summoned him. I never understood why one so young was brought here for such an important task.¡±

    ¡°The Church summoned a child to fight the Solknight? Does that mean that a person¡¯s level is related to their age?¡±

    ¡°You will level up rapidly until you reach the same level as your age, after which your progression will require increased effort. Junichi was only ten when he arrived here. He was in the middle of his birthday party when the summoning took him. He levelled up twice in his time here, once a year for two years.¡±

    ¡°What happened then?¡± Alix asked when Mr Bones grew silent again. ¡°Were there no demons looking after him?¡±

    ¡°There were plenty. The women doted on him, but he feared them, and kept on trying to run away. He feared us undead even more, but back then there was little need for us to be seen around the castle. The demons were able to look after the place, but Junichi fought with them constantly, thinking them his captors. I can only guess as to what happened to him, but after his twelfth birthday, he gave up. He locked himself away and stopped eating. After two years of trying his hardest to escape the castle, he knew its secret corners better than anyone. By the time he was found, he had cut the ring from his finger and starved himself. I questioned the demons afterwards as it was a tragedy that had never happened before. They told me he thought he had gone mad, and that if he got rid of the ring, the voices in his head would stop and he would wake up back home.¡±

    ¡°You never know, maybe that¡¯s what happened to him.¡± Alix wished there was something he could do for the boy but he guessed the only thing he could have done was to let him rest. Instead he had dragged him from the grave to continue his torment. ¡°Maybe I should send him back to the crypt and undo the spell on him, so that he can finally rest.¡±

    ¡°It has been a long time since then. Only I remember everyone¡¯s past. Junichi no longer remembers anything other than his afterlife.¡±

    That was both a depressing and comforting thought, but there was still a lingering feeling within him that he was tormenting the Darknight¡¯s in death. This wasn¡¯t what he would want for himself. He promised himself that he would only use the skeletons as long as it was necessary, and then he would find some other way to look after the castle.

    ¡°What happened with the Solknight and the Terminus Ritual after Junichi died? I thought that wasn¡¯t possible until the five years were up?¡±

    ¡°In my anger, I went to Galdea and asked the King and Cardinal that question myself.¡± Mr Bones made a wheezing sound that Alix eventually realised to be laughter. ¡°I made for quite a sight, storming my way up the levels of the city. Everyone was so terrified that no one got in my way and all doors were opened to me. My visage frightened them so that they told me everything in an attempt to get me to leave, as they had no magic that could harm me and I am already dead.

    ¡°They told me that the Solknight had been summoned almost on his deathbed, a man in his eighty-fourth year with an unknown illness. For two years the best healers in the land tried everything to cure him. I arrived shortly after his death, with the kingdom in disarray. The Cardinal couldn¡¯t explain to me why both the Darknight and Solknight that had arrived were so incapable. They were already planning a new summoning ritual as Babyl could not wait another two hundred years, so I left them to it and things seemed to work fine after that. You should read about those days if you have the time. The other realms have always questioned why only the Church of the Kingdom of Men have the secret to performing the ritual, and after this failure a war between all the races almost broke out, with every other race claiming they should have the right to perform the ritual as well. The Cardinal quickly performed another summoning ritual and Emanuel arrived as the new Solknight. His charisma kept further talk of war at bay until the Terminus Ritual was performed, and by then war was no longer necessary.¡±

    The history of Babyl was beginning to sound like it was longer than the recorded history of his own world so he doubted he would be able to read about it all, but with his Bibliophile Skill hopefully he could learn some of it. Maybe there would be some useful information in there. If he could learn more about the war, maybe he could find out which races had the greatest animosity towards Azuran¡¯s Kingdom, and that might be where he could look for new allies. It would take his mind off of what his fate might be in a few short years at least.

    ¡°Do not worry, my lord. I can sense a great mental fortitude within you,¡± Mr Bones said, as if he could sense the growing unease within Alix.

    ¡°How are you getting on with the skeletons?¡± Alix asked in an attempt to change the subject. He almost wished he hadn¡¯t learned the things he had, but it was better to hear them now than in a few years. ¡°Are they going to be enough to get the place sorted out?¡±

    ¡°Yes, they will be more than sufficient. You succeeded in resurrecting almost every single one of them. I will have to go down into the crypt at some point and see what stopped the last few from answering the call, but it could be their bones are just too old to hold the spell anymore. It happens to us all eventually if we aren¡¯t cared for properly,¡± Mr Bones replied, with as melancholic a tone as was possible for a skeleton to conjure up.

    ¡°What have you got them working on now? I would like to clothe them at some point as well if you have any suggestions. Or maybe I should ask the ring about that. It sounds like I have been ignoring it too much recently.¡±

    ¡°I have some of them clearing as much rubble as they can just now, others are repairing the stairs to the west tower. Some I have down in the flooded dungeon searching for a way to unblock the drains.¡±

    ¡°Is there something in the dungeon that we need?¡± Alix asked. He had seen the group marked deep on his map but hadn¡¯t thought anything of it.

    ¡°Not particularly, but it is always handy to have a dungeon. You never know who else might wander in unannounced. I thought it a worthy measure after Lady Tifayn told me of the vampire. I have another group working on clearing the path to the Armoury as well. It is now more vital than ever that you arm yourself.¡±

    ¡°You are probably right. Evory said she had no intention of attacking me, but it still shows how vulnerable we are here. If it wasn¡¯t for Tifayn, I never would have noticed her. I don¡¯t think I have been taking this whole thing seriously enough.¡±

    ¡°There used to be many good weapons in the castle. I will let you know if I find anything suitable,¡± Mr Bones said, walking off to get back to work.

    With the skeletons all busy and Tifayn away on her own mission in the dark corners of the castle he didn¡¯t want anything to do with, he didn¡¯t know what to do with himself. Mr Bones had thoroughly ruined his mood. He didn¡¯t want to take any tools away from the skeletons to see what carpentry skills he might unlock while they still needed them. There was no point in practising magic until the grounds were cleared either, as he couldn¡¯t afford to waste all the materials he could harvest there. He could head to the library to read more but he had just spent most of the past week indoors, so he decided to get outside for some fresh air.

    Under the bright morning sky, he felt a bit refreshed, but a gloom hung over him that wouldn¡¯t be so easy to clear. A cigarette would have hit the spot right about then, or something stronger to help him kick the crushing sensation that his destiny was to become a walking skeleton. He wandered towards the grounds he had last been clearing, wistfully hoping to spot some familiar buds in the overgrowth.

    The early morning sunlight cast the grounds into partial shadow. Alix began working his way towards the sunlight, finding nothing but the same ingredients he had already found, all the while trying to think of something he could do to regain the trust of the Demons. Maybe the key was in finding a way to block the connection with Tifayn first, but the only idea he had for that was looking up what else could be made with Lovebud and trying to make the opposite.

    Just as he was bending down to cut another patch of Dumpweed, he felt a jolt in his left shoulder as if an invisible presence was pulling on his arm.

    Watch out! he heard the ring call out to him, and as he fell to the side, a knife rushed passed where he had just been standing a moment before. The man holding it lost his balance at Alix¡¯s sudden movement and fell passed him into the Dumpweed. Before he could regain his footing, a dark shape shot out of the shadows and pounced on the dirty man.

    The two figures rolled around in the dirt and the weeds, wrestling each other for the upper hand. The man lost his weapon but he had substantial muscles at his command. His rescuer, although slight of appearance, seemed to be made of tougher stuff than he had imagined, as they beat back every attack with impressive jumps and evasive moves, a swiftly moving patch of shadow.

    Without a weapon Alix felt entirely useless against the bruiser. He briefly considered trying to use some magic but he was just as likely to hit his rescuer with a lightning bolt as the assailant. He looked around in the dirt to try and find the dropped knife.

    The knifeman roared in frustration as he failed to take down his opponent, resorting to grabbing them by the legs and swinging them overhead in an arch, slamming them down into the ground. Alix frantically continued to search for the knife, sure the man¡¯s attention would turn to him at any moment, but his rescuer bounced up from the ground as if they were made of rubber and pounced for the knifeman¡¯s throat, mouth open wide.

    ¡°Evory!¡± Alix called, suddenly recognising his rescuer under the large dusty robe she had found to cover herself with.

    The vampire didn¡¯t respond until the man had fallen to his knees, weakened from blood loss, and then fell back into the dirt.

    With the sudden calm he was finally able to read the text floating above the man¡¯s head. Casimir Brant. Lv. 89.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I didn¡¯t kill him,¡± Evory said when she saw the look on his face, spitting as if she had something unpleasant stuck in her teeth. ¡°It just seemed like the easiest way to knock him out. He was stronger than I thought he would be. My teeth are really sore now though. I hate doing it that way.¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you doing back here Evory? If Tifayn sees you again she will kill you.¡± Alix couldn¡¯t help but look around for any sign of the demon. ¡°It didn¡¯t take you long to break your promise,¡± he said after it appeared the fight had gone unnoticed by anyone in the castle.

    With every word Evory shrunk back, and with the last accusation she flinched like he had just hit her.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to reveal myself but¡­he meant to kill you. I heard him muttering something about the Darknight stealing his wife-¡°

    ¡°I haven¡¯t stolen anyone¡¯s wife!¡± Alix interrupted. ¡°Thank you for jumping in to stop him, but that doesn¡¯t answer what you are doing here. Did you actually leave in the first place?¡± He had stupidly neglected to check his map to see if she had kept her promise.

    ¡°Yes, I swear I did! I had no intention of ever coming back, but when I went to find my people, I couldn¡¯t find anyone.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve only been gone a day. You couldn¡¯t have looked that hard in such a short amount of time.¡±

    ¡°I can fly very fast. I looked everywhere, but all I could find were bones. I don¡¯t know what happened to them, but all of my people are dead,¡± Evory said, verging on tears as she told her story.

    They can¡¯t all be gone, he almost said, before he remembered just how long she had been down in the crypt, and Tifayn¡¯s words about not having seen any vampire¡¯s in a long time.

    Did something happen to the vampires? Alix asked the ring, hoping for once that it could be useful.

    I have been asleep for hundreds of years, remember? If anything happened to the vampires, I don¡¯t know about it.

    Great. Thanks.

    ¡°Look Evory, I¡¯m sorry about your people, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s safe for you here. Maybe you should have another look for the vampires. You have been gone a long time. They could have just moved somewhere else?¡±

    ¡°No! They would never abandon the Hexnkryp. They are all dead, I know it,¡± Evory said, almost wailing.

    What is the Hexnkryp? Alix asked the ring, not wanting to burden Evory with too many questions.

    It is the domain of the vampires, their castle that floats among the boughs of Babyl. Like the girl says, they would never abandon it. There are many secrets there that cannot be left unguarded. If what she says is true then it is not good news.

    From out of her robes she pulled a battered crown and handed it over. ¡°Here, this is how I know they are all gone. I am the last of my kind and I have nowhere else to go.¡±

    ¡°What is this?¡± Alix asked as he examined it, but the ring gave him an answer before the girl could.

    <ul>

    <li>Acquired Crown of the Vampire King</li>

    <li>Passive: Mana Absorption</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°It was my fathers. I found it among his bones. Please, let me stay here until I can find out what happened to them all. I promise I will do whatever you say. I will guard this castle better than anyone else and make sure no one ever intrudes.¡±

    ¡°Like you did?¡±

    ¡°How can you be so mean to me master. I am the last of my kind and I just saved your life.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t call me that, and I think the ring saved my life, but thanks anyway.¡±

    ¡°Does that mean I can stay? I won¡¯t survive anywhere else. You exude such a strong aura that it sustains me just being in your presence. Even if I were to feed more directly, your mana replenishes itself faster than you would notice it going down, and with my father¡¯s crown, your mana will replenish even faster.¡±

    Before Alix could reply, the man on the ground, Casimir Brant, groaned and stirred. Brant seemed to be fuelled by pure hatred and wasn¡¯t going to let a little blood loss get in the way of reaching his goal. He surged to his feet in a rippling mass of muscle. Alix didn¡¯t waste any time this time.

    ¡°Soulbind!¡± Alix called, casting his arm towards the charging man.

    An intricate red spell circle appeared around Alix¡¯s wrist, rotated, grew and then split. The lines shot from his hand and struck Brant in the head and he stopped as if he had struck a brick wall. His eyes glazed over and he just stood there staring into space.

    ¡°That was incredible, master. What did you do?¡± Evory asked as she walked around Brant¡¯s still form, poking and prodding but getting no reaction.

    ¡°It¡¯s another Necromancy spell. It seemed the best way to deal with him. I want to question him but he didn¡¯t seem in the right frame of mind before. This way, his soul is in my control. I will let him go eventually, once I get some answers. What were you doing-¡° Alix began to ask of Brant, but his glazed eyes suddenly rolled into the back of his head and he fell back to the ground. ¡°Looks like he¡¯s lost too much blood.¡±

    ¡°I can look after him until he is recovered, master,¡± Evory pleaded again.

    Alix was still hesitant to let her stay, but much of that was only because of what Tifayn might do. He held no grudge against the girl, and she had proven herself handy already. He was curious to know what had become of the other vampires as well. He didn¡¯t want to spend his time nursing his would be murderer back to health either.

    ¡°Listen to me carefully Evory. I will let you stay, but only temporarily. I want you to watch over this man until he is recovered, and I will take you up on your offer to guard the castle, but you can¡¯t let Tifayn see you. The skeletons are repairing the west tower at the moment, but the north tower is still blocked off. It looks like it¡¯s fairly intact above the blockage so you can stay there and no one will see you. I just need to figure out how to get this guy up there as well.¡±

    ¡°I can fly him up to the top,¡± Evory said, after she had finished celebrating.

    ¡°Are you sure you can carry such a weight? No offense, but you are pretty small.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, you are right. Is it alright if I feed on your mana, master? Just this once.¡±

    Alix thought about it for a moment before relenting. He had plenty of mana and plenty of mana potions if she tried to take too much, and if she did that then he would know she still wasn¡¯t to be trusted. ¡°Alright, but don¡¯t tell Tifayn.¡±

    Evory opened her mouth wide until her fangs were protruding into the air and then inhaled deeply. Alix felt an odd sensation, almost like how it felt getting his blood drawn. It lasted a few uncomfortable moments, but like Evory said, his mana began to replenish itself even as it was falling, until it hung around the 50% mark.

    As Evory inhaled, she seemed to grow taller. Her body filled out, her hair grew longer and thicker, and the lines of her face matured, until he was no longer looking at a little girl but a grown woman of a beauty to match Tifayn¡¯s. She kept on feeding until she could grow no further, and then she let out a disturbingly loud moan that was becoming all too familiar to him.

    The Evory that was left standing in front of him suddenly towered over him. The only word he could find to describe her new appearance was buxom. A shiver ran over her as if she was throwing off her old form. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever been this full before. It¡¯s incredible,¡± Evory said in a new deeper velvety voice as she examined her new form. The old robes she had found were suddenly filled to bursting. ¡°Thank you, master.¡±

    With her new form, Evory was able to pick up Brant with ease. She took off into the sky, winging her way towards the north tower. As she did, the notification bell went again.

    <ul>

    <li>Title Unlocked: Vampire King.</li>

    <li>Acquired Curse Resistance.</li>

    <li>Reached Lv. 6</li>

    <li>Choose 1 New Skill</li>

    <li>Defence+</li>

    <li>Defence+</li>

    </ul>

    Are you trying to tell me something? Alix asked but the ring was silent.

    Well this is going to cause trouble, I just know it.

 Chapter 9: Grinding for the Harvest

    <u> </u>

    Alix awoke to knocking, and then Mr Bones entered the room without waiting for a reply. It was going to take him a while longer yet to get used to the sight of a skeleton bowing before him, especially first thing in the morning.

    ¡°My lord,¡± his strange disembodied voice echoed around the room, ¡°We have made good progress. There is something you might like to see.¡±

    ¡°Mmm,¡± Alix mumbled in reply. ¡°Give me a moment,¡± he said, trying to think of anything to get the skeleton out of the room while he dressed.

    ¡°Of course, my lord,¡± Mr Bones replied and promptly left.

    Alix tried going back to sleep, but between Tifayn¡¯s nakedness pressed up against him, and the curiosity at what the skeletons had found, it was impossible. He unwrapped himself from her embrace, but she followed him out of the bed, proving she had been awake the entire time. She was completely unashamed of her nakedness as she stretched in the morning light, although she had nothing to be ashamed of with a body like hers. He tried not to stare as they dressed but his gaze kept returning to all her curves.

    ¡°You don¡¯t happen to have any coffee around here, do you?¡± he asked Tifayn when they were both dressed. The thought of another cup of what she called tea was already making his stomach churn.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t have any coffee, only tea. I have heard the nobles in Galdea prefer to drink coffee. It is pretty expensive, but it should be possible to get hold of some if you really want it,¡± she replied. He heard the unspoken If we had money and his thoughts changed from the secrets hiding in the north tower to how he could get hold of some coin.

    ¡°I guess we can¡¯t send the skeletons into town to buy some. I¡¯ll see what stock of potions I have once I¡¯ve cleared more of the grounds, then maybe I can sneak into town and sell them. I¡¯ll sell as many as I need to get some coffee. Maybe I could even buy some beans and we can grow some of our own.¡± Even as he said it he realised what a foolish thought it was. He had no time to be growing coffee beans. If he had money to spare, he needed to spend it on more important things, like a new pair of clothes, or some proper food.

    ¡°If it is something master enjoys then I will make sure to find some beans, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea for you to go to Galdea. King Azuran will have made sure that everyone knows your face and they will all have been instructed to deny you service.¡±

    ¡°I could grow a beard I guess, or make sure to cover myself up well. I could pretend I am horribly disfigured or something.¡±

    ¡°You will look even more conspicuous if you are walking around with your face covered. The people don¡¯t take kindly to demons either so I would have difficulty traveling there as well.¡±

    ¡°Is there any other way we can make some money then?¡±

    ¡°There are a few small villages near the mountain that I have traded with before. We will make less money there but it will be safer.¡±

    ¡°Great, let¡¯s do that then,¡± Alix said, wondering why she hadn¡¯t mentioned the villages sooner. He had thought he had been abandoned miles from civilisation. ¡°I¡¯ll go and see what Mr Bones wants to show me, then I¡¯ll get in a full day clearing the grounds.¡± The thought of waking up to a cup of coffee was enough motivation to get him working double time.

    Tifayn led the way out of the room and they found Mr Bones waiting for them silently outside. He set off ahead, leading them down the grand staircase to the ground floor. Alix could instantly tell a difference in the place. The majority of the debris had been cleared, the skeletons able to work tirelessly through the night, and the newly uncovered passageway Mr Bones led them down was freshly restored. It still needed further repairs the further down the passage they went, but they stopped before they had to start traversing the piles of rocks the skeletons hadn¡¯t cleared yet.

    Mr Bones led them into a room he hadn¡¯t been able to reach before but it was one he had known was there after loading the castle blueprints into his map, one he had been eager to reach.

    The Armoury.

    The sleep left him in a rush at the thought of finally getting a good weapon.

    ¡°They wanted to see if any of their old weapons remained but it looks like most of them have been looted,¡± Mr Bones said. Half a dozen skeletons worked inside organising what remained. There were a few tarnished pieces of armour and some weapons that looked like they had been blackened in a fire. ¡°I apologise for this, my lord. I regret that I wasn¡¯t awake to stop it from happening. Unlike the Library and some other areas of the keep, the Armoury was never under any protective spells or traps.¡±

    ¡°Is there anything here that can be of use?¡± Alix asked instead. Had Mr Bones really just dragged him here to see these scraps? What had happened to all of the old swords and the other various weapons and armour of the old Darknights? He had expected there to be a Darknight¡¯s Greatsword lying around for him to inherit, but the once grand room was now full of shelves, empty apart from dust and debris.

    ¡°Of course, it can all be of use. With the ring you should be able to break it all down into core components. The blades and armour are old but they were made with the finest materials. We will work on making our way to the forge next. Take this for now,¡± Mr Bones replied, passing him a sheathed blade. ¡°It is small but the only thing left that managed to weather the centuries.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Acquired Azurite Knife </li>

    </ul>

    Alix quickly checked the knife¡¯s stats, but it didn¡¯t look like it had any special abilities. It had a Power rating of twelve, but he didn¡¯t know what that meant. He was just glad that it wasn¡¯t single digits. ¡°Does it¡­do anything?¡± Alix asked, just in case he was missing something.

    ¡°An Azurite blade doesn¡¯t need to do anything, its benefit is that it is resilient and it will never dull or break under duress from a lesser blade,¡± Mr Bones explained. ¡°It will serve you well until the forge is running again.¡±

    Drawing the blade from the sheath, he found it was crafted from a sinister black material that shone with an oily gloss. Streaks of bright blue cut through the material in lightning like patterns. Despite the small size of the blade, Alix felt safer already.

    ¡°Thanks, this should help with clearing the grounds as well. Some of the weeds out there are as tough as old trees. Do you know if there are there any other tools around here I can use? I should probably see if I can craft simpler things first and get some practise in before moving on to blades. Maybe I will be able to find some ores to help with that, or at least cut some wood to light the forge.¡±

    ¡°There is a storage room we just uncovered by the front entrance that looked like it had a few serviceable tools inside.¡±

    ¡°Great, thanks,¡± Alix replied, leaving the skeletons to their work while he went to find the tools. They were making swift progress, and he began to feel pressure to keep up with them. His accomplishments so far didn¡¯t feel like enough. He had to work harder. Still, it wasn¡¯t his fault there had been so many distractions.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    The door to the storage room opened noisily on dry hinges. The room was musty and everything was covered in dust and cobwebs, but he found a selection of rust covered but useable tools; a pickaxe, an axe and a range of shovels and hammers. He grabbed a hammer to start with.

    ¡°I will leave you to it then,¡± Tifayn said once he was armed with his new tools. ¡°I will probably go foraging later to replenish the stores. I wasn¡¯t expecting you for a few months yet so I hadn¡¯t stockpiled enough. I guess it is lucky that we don¡¯t need to feed an army of skeletons as well.¡±

    Alix breathed a sigh of relief as Tifayn walked away. At any second he was worried he would say something to alert her to the two hiding in the north tower, or that she would suddenly reveal that she could read his thoughts. He had yet to think of how he would broach the subject with her, but he was going to have to think of something soon. Brant would recover in a day or two and he was eager to question him.

    Once outside, he forced himself not to look towards the north tower. He felt like he could feel eyes on him with every step he took. As calmly as he could, he made his way to another overgrown corner of the grounds he was eager to clear.

    The outer wall was a large series of interconnected curves and angles, hiding nooks and new grounds around every bend. There were even other smaller walls that cut across the grounds, separating them into different areas. The one he wanted to work on looked like it had once been quite a spectacular place, a garden for rest and relaxation. There were paths and courtyards, stone ornaments and benches, but all was now overgrown with tall swaying grasses, ferns and other bushes he couldn¡¯t name. A few ponds and streams cut through the grounds, but they were thick with weeds, the water at best a sluggish trickle.

    Alix lost track of time as he worked, the Azurite blade cutting through everything with ease. He was surprised at just how many materials he managed to harvest from the overgrown mass. Blackberries that had grown wild and out of control produced Thorns and Blackberry Fruit, which he was able to dismantle into Blackberry Seeds the constant Aloe, which every plant seemed to produce in different quantities,. Thorns hadn¡¯t been in any of the recipes he had read, but if it was harvestable then it had to have some use. He couldn¡¯t see what good it would do to plant the seeds, so when the Dismantle option appeared again, he checked it out.

    <ul>

    <li>Obtained Seed Oil</li>

    </ul>

    Alix didn¡¯t know if that was a cooking or potion crafting ingredient, but it sounded more useful than the plain seeds. Clearing the blackberries exposed a courtyard paved with flagstones, along with a stone bench that was green with moss. He managed to tear it off in one large carpet, but he was disappointed when it yielded nothing but a small amount of Aloe. With the bench cleared, he took a short rest, and he found himself facing the north tower and its dark windows. The slates that had been loose and falling off the day before had miraculously realigned themselves.

    Unable to sit peacefully with the thought of Tifayn or someone else watching him, he soon got back to work, and came across another familiar plant, although it wasn¡¯t the familiar one he was hoping. He was harvesting things so quickly that the process had become automatic and he only stopped to check on what he had collected every so often, but one thing caught his eye due to its odd normality. He was expecting to find fantastical herbs and plants, but instead his activity log read:

    <ul>

    <li>Obtained Wheat</li>

    </ul>

    It was then he realised that all the bread he had seen had been purple. So far he hadn¡¯t thought to ask Tifayn why she cooked such loafs, he had just assumed that different ingredients existed here, but with wheat growing in the grounds, he would have to ask her why she wasn¡¯t using it.

    The Wheat had the Dismantle option so he selected that and the Wheat was converted into Wheat Flour in his inventory. He made sure to hold some back so he could replant it. He had collected a large variety of seeds now, enough to start a respectable garden. He didn¡¯t really have the time to become a farmer, but they still needed to eat, and he could probably delegate a few skeletons to the job.

    There was a greenhouse on the far wall that would be of help if he could clear the way. It looked like it was in sore need of repair though, but he didn¡¯t know how he would get hold of glass out here. Maybe he could scavenge some broken windows from the castle. He didn¡¯t need to use all the rooms anyway. As long as he had a warm bed, he would be fine. All the other comforts were just a bonus.

    The grounds continued to fight him as he worked his way deeper. In a dark corner he came across a large patch that once harvested revealed itself to be Abyssia, something he had been on the lookout for so that he could finally craft some Antidotes. He stocked up with as much as he could and then carried on deeper into the overgrown grounds.

    He came across a patch of grass that he almost stepped through, until he noticed the edges of each leaf glinting in the sunlight like the edge of a sharp blade. With the Azurite blade he carefully cut down a few leaves and fed them to the ring.

    <ul>

    <li>Obtained Steelgrass</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°What is Steelgrass?¡± Alix asked the ring, after trying and failing to dismantle it any further.

    ¡°It is pretty self-explanatory, is it not?¡± the ring replied with its

    usual level of usefulness. ¡°It is a forgeable component. With the junk the skeletons found in the armoury, you should be able to make something half-way decent if you throw in some Steelgrass, or if you harvest enough of it you can turn it into a blade by itself. If you had used your Analyse skill it would have told you as much.¡±

    ¡°A blade of grass? That would be pretty cool. Maybe I could practise making one of those before working with rarer components.¡±

    Alix tried to carefully harvest as much of it as he could, but he still finished with both hands covered in tiny nicks. It was a handy component but it wasn¡¯t really something he wanted growing out of control. Once the grounds were fully cleared, he would have to keep an eye on its regrowth.

    Some of the bushes he moved on to were almost as thick as wood but the Azurite Knife managed to cut through then with ease. Some of the thicker pieces produced Fibre, something he could use for crafting rope, or hopefully clothes if he could find a crafting recipe for them. When he got tired of working with the knife, he took out the hammer. It was about time he practised harvesting other materials.

    The rocks turned out not to be as exciting as the plants. There wasn¡¯t much they could be broken down into other than Sand. For some stupid reason he thought he might have been able to work the rocks into blocks for the castle, or find gold in the rubble, but despite feeling like he had fallen into a Harvest Moon game, things weren¡¯t going to be that easy. He would have to look elsewhere for proper building materials, or valuable gems. The Sand might be of use in the forge, but for now it was just weighing him down. He felt its weight greater than all the plant materials combined.

    One rock cracked open at the swing of his hammer. It was dark and knobbly, picked from a stagnant stream he was trying to clear, one of a few water features he wanted to get running again. The two halves opened in his hand, revealing a purple crystal centre. He tapped the surface with the hammer and a new item appeared in his inventory.

    <ul>

    <li>Obtained +10 Purple Fluorite</li>

    </ul>

    Fancy.

    Alix almost asked the ring what he could use it for once he noticed it couldn¡¯t be dismantled, but he stopped himself and tried out the Analyse skill instead.

    ¡°Analyse,¡± he said, while focussing on the Purple Fluorite in his hand.

    <ul>

    <li> Can be processed by a Lapidary</li>

    </ul>

    Well that was helpful¡­

    Now that he knew what it looked like, he tried to find more, but the stream was empty. It looked like he couldn¡¯t do anything with it anyway. He cleared the overgrowth and it gurgled back to life, the centuries of grime washing away.

    Alix switched back to his knife and continued to clear the path to the greenhouse. He had always wanted a garden but back in the city there hadn¡¯t been any space for one. Now he had plenty of exotic new seeds to try and grow, but he didn¡¯t know if he could justify the time tending to them. Even if he established a garden, it would be long dead by the time the next Darknight showed up.

    A curious flower produced Poppymilk but he didn¡¯t think it would be anything he could use to mellow Tifayn¡¯s tea. It was an ingredient he had read about in Practical Potions, one that had many restorative properties.

    He was mere metres from the greenhouse, one that looked like a long glass mansion, when he heard a voice calling across the garden.

    ¡°Alix!¡± the voice called, a man¡¯s voice. He had only heard a few voices in this world and recognised it instantly, although it was the last one he had expected to hear.

    Alix looked across the garden and spotted Leon entering the open gates on top of a wagon, waving frantically.

 Chapter 10: Tribulations of the Solknight

    ¡°What the hell is he doing here?¡± Alix said with genuine surprise. ¡°I¡¯m really going to have to fix those damn gates.¡± That was twice now that someone had just been able to walk right on in unchallenged.

    When he saw that Leon was alone and that no soldiers appeared behind him, Alix headed towards the gates before Evory could swoop down and attack him, but he made sure to stick the hammer through a loop on his belt and keep the unsheathed Azurite Knife in his hand.

    The last time he had seen Leon, the man was being dragged away by castle staff after leaving him to face the wrath of the Galdeans alone. He felt a rising panic that the king had gone back on his promise of giving him five years, but when he reached the gates, Alix saw that Leon had truly come alone, apart from the horse drawn wagon he was driving.

    Leon jumped down from the seat, wearing a blindingly bright suit of silver and gold armour, in sharp contrast to Alix¡¯s dirt covered clothes. He looked like he was doing well for himself, which was about as much as Alix should have expected, with all the resources of the kingdom behind him. Suddenly his Azurite Knife felt very insufficient.

    ¡°You look fancy,¡± Alix couldn¡¯t help but remark.

    ¡°They refuse to give me any other damn clothes. It¡¯s an absolute nightmare here, Alix. I can¡¯t believe they left you here. It looks like a shithole,¡± Leon said at the sight of the place. Alix felt underdressed next to him, but he was glad he didn¡¯t have to walk around in such heavy, bulky armour all day. He felt a slight bond with Leon over their mutual suffering over clothing.

    ¡°It¡¯s pretty rough but I¡¯m doing alright. I don¡¯t have much else to do but fix the place up. How did you find me?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story. Is there anywhere we can sit down? My ass is raw from sitting on this wagon so long,¡± Leon replied. Alix noticed his cheeks were flushed. Had he been drinking?

    Alix suddenly felt embarrassed that the place was such a mess, although he couldn¡¯t help but remember Leon¡¯s insistence that none of what was happening to them was real, so why did he care? There wasn¡¯t really any place comfortable to sit apart from in Tifayn¡¯s rooms, but he wanted to at least ask her permission first before inviting the Solknight inside the castle, not to mention alerting the skeletons. He could only imagine the chaos at them seeing the Solknight.

    ¡°The place doesn¡¯t really look any better inside but I should be able to find us some seats,¡± Alix replied, calling silently on the ring. Is there any way to contact Mr Bones?

    Of course. Speak and he will hear you, the ring replied, speaking only to him.

    Alix thought of Mr Bones and sent out a message. Mr Bones, could you bring me two chairs?

    At once, my lord, a reply came instantly.

    ¡°What have you got in the wagon?¡± Alix asked while the chairs were on their way. The wagon was sturdily built, with metal rimmed wheels and gold filigree inlaid in the wood. A white sheet covered the arched ribs, emblazoned with a golden sun. It wasn¡¯t a subtle look at all, but he imaged the king wouldn¡¯t have let the Solknight travel in anything less. He wondered again how Leon had managed to find the place, and travel without a guard. He had played enough RPGs to know that the situation wasn¡¯t normal. It felt like a weird glitch in a game.

    ¡°You won¡¯t believe it Alix. It¡¯s my birthday, but apparently, they don¡¯t celebrate birthdays here. You are the only one that understands. They don¡¯t deny me anything, and apparently neither of us can touch each other for five years, so they had no choice but to tell me where you were and how to get here. I told them to fill me a wagon with drink and send me on my way, and no one was to follow me if they weren¡¯t going to join in with the party.¡±

    Just as Leon finished his story, Mr Bones appeared out of the front door with a plush leather chair carried under each arm. The chairs were large and unwieldy but he caried them as if they were nothing. The skeletons had unnatural strength, despite their appearance and form, some strange magic binding them together.

    Before Alix got a chance to explain, Leon drew his sword. They had only been in this world a short while, but even though Leon had already been given a glorious sword, he obviously hadn¡¯t been trained how to use it properly yet, or he was already too drunk to be of any threat. He held it with a shaking hand and trembling muscles, although Alix was sure he still looked like he had gained some since he had seen Leon last. Looks like his training has started already, while I¡¯m here digging in the dirt.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Leon. I¡¯m sure you have been given maids or something in Galdea. Mr Bones is my equivalent here. You can trust him,¡± Alix said, trying to calm the Solknight. Leon looked at Alix like he had completely lost his mind, but he slowly put away his after Mr Bones had deposited the chairs and stepped back without any threat.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t believe it when I was told you had just been abandoned her. This entire thing is barbaric, don¡¯t you think? No matter how much I complain, they don¡¯t listen. Don¡¯t even get me started on the maids,¡± Leon said, climbing back into the wagon and re-emerging with a small barrel under his arm, and two mugs. ¡°Every single one of them has tits like watermelons and dotes on me like a child. It¡¯s ridiculous.¡± He took the barrel and sat in one of the leather seats. The wood creaked under the weight of his armour but the legs held. Leon rested the barrel on his leg, placed a mug under its spout and turned the tap. A golden liquid poured out. Leon passed him the foamy beer.

    Alix took it gratefully, all thoughts of coffee evaporating from his mind. If there was beer here, he could live without the coffee. He took a sip of the beer as Leon poured himself a mug. The beer was light, and would have been refreshing if it wasn¡¯t lukewarm. Beer that wasn¡¯t cold wasn¡¯t beer in his opinion. Still, it was a drink so he kept on sipping at it. He felt a weight lifting off his shoulders as the alcohol washed over him.

    Leon quickly drained his mug and poured himself another. The keg would soon be empty at this point but it looked like his wagon was full of enough alcohol to kill them both.

    ¡°Did they tell you anything more about what¡¯s going on here?¡± Alix asked once they were comfortably seated and warmed by the drink. ¡°I tried asking the king more questions but they got rid of me pretty quick after you left.¡±

    ¡°I barely understand any of it. They worship me like some kind of god. I can¡¯t even go for a shit without causing a fuss. They tell me we are going to have to fight in five years, to save their god or something. The church seems to be in control of the whole thing, but I¡¯m not really keen on the Cardinal. He is very intense.¡± Leon seemed to be handling things better now than he had been before. He no longer seemed to be wandering around, detached from reality.

    ¡°I guess they will have you training day and night. It looks like they have outfitted you well,¡± Alix said, passing his mug over for a refill. When Leon passed back the mug, he analysed it with the ring.

    [Galdean Ale, 4.8%. Intoxicant]

    ¡°One of the first things they gave me was this sword. It¡¯s called Solas, the Hero¡¯s Sword, according to the ring. They are handy things, aren¡¯t they? It¡¯s like something out of a game,¡± Leon said, holding up his hand to look at his own silver ring. ¡°It is a bit of a joke that they didn¡¯t give you anything else. I asked everyone I could why they treated you so poorly, but every time I mentioned your name, they acted like I had farted in their cereal. They gave me more than enough wealth to last me ten lifetimes, lands of my own and rooms in the castle, an army of servants and the greatest trainers in the land. I¡¯m still useless with the sword, but I don¡¯t think I am going to be given a choice in the matter. They mean for us to fight in five years¡¯ time, and they are going to train me mercilessly until that day. I¡¯m sure the king will send some guards to fetch me eventually, but until then he can get fucked. I¡¯m exhausted and I just want to drink on my birthday. I¡¯ll be almost thirty in five years. I don¡¯t really know what they expect of me after that.¡±

    ¡°Well, there is plenty of time to worry about all that later. At least we seem to have powers that the others don¡¯t, and these rings. I wouldn¡¯t have much of a chance without it. The crafting is a particularly handy feature,¡± Alix said, eager to move the conversation away from the future.

    ¡°Crafting? No one told me anything about that. They have only just begun explaining all the Skills they are expecting me to learn. The church have it all planned out for me already. I¡¯m forced out of bed everything morning to train. My every move is watched, and whenever I unlock one of those skill option things, it sets of a hour long debate about which one I should choose. It all feels a bit childish to me. I was never much in to games. The map is handy feature though. It would have taken me days to find this place otherwise.¡±

    ¡°Well I haven¡¯t tried wielding a sword yet, I¡¯m going to have to forge one first, but the rings can do a lot more than that.¡± Alix thought it would be easier to show Leon instead of explaining. He bent down and picked some flowers growing nearby. Then he tapped the flower on the ring and it disappeared in a flash of light.

    [Obtained 1 Sweetwater ]

    ¡°What just happened?¡± Leon asked, staring at where the flower had been.

    ¡°The ring can break things down into craftable materials. I¡¯ve only tried making various potions so far but I think it will be an invaluable skill. We probably aren¡¯t immune to everything here. Here, try this.¡± Alix crafted a quick potion, dragging an Aloe ono the Sweetwater. It created a [Tonic] which he pulled from his inventory. It appeared as a small glass vial filled with a faintly pink liquid.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Leon asked as Alix passed it over.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a basic tonic. It won¡¯t replenish your health, but it will give your stamina a boost. It will do until I can find some coffee.¡±

    ¡°I thought you might be craving some home comforts so I brought a few bags of beans. I sure know I was miserable until I thought to ask for it. It¡¯s a weird place isn¡¯t it? Half of it seems so familiar while the other half is completely alien.¡±

    Alix was stunned at how casually Leon mentioned it, after everything he had planned to get hold of some.

    ¡°That would be great. You have no idea how much of a nightmare it is to get anything around here. I feel bad that I don¡¯t have a gift for you, but as you can see I¡¯m not exactly living the luxurious life.¡±

    ¡°If you can teach me how to use the ring then that will be a good enough gift, as long as you drink with me as well.¡±

    ¡°That will be easy enough.¡±

    The vial was fully sealed, but it had a pinched top on one end. Leon snapped it off with his thumb and it disappeared in a shower of sparks. He drained the contents and the vial vanished.

    ¡°Tasty.¡± Leon bent down and picked a flower. He tapped it on the ring and it disappeared. ¡°Fascinating. I wonder why they didn¡¯t tell me about this before? I¡¯m starting to think there is much they are hiding from me.¡±

    ¡°They can probably give you more potions than you could ever craft yourself, and enough money to buy more than you could ever use. I guess with those sorts of resources, all this becomes a waste of time.¡±

    ¡°I hate feeling like I am in their debt.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure if you ask the ring for guidance, it will help you. Just take some of the money they gave you and go your own way. I doubt you would be harmed in any way. I bet if we drank that whole wagon dry it wouldn¡¯t kill us.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡°They told me something about that, when I asked where they had taken you. They said no harm could come to us before the five years are up and that is why they felt no remorse about leaving you here. I didn¡¯t believe them of course, but then they said that the powers of the ring would ensure you could at least fend for yourself. I wonder why mine seems to be silent in comparison?¡±

    ¡°I find the ring doesn¡¯t like to be very forthcoming with information unless I ask first. Maybe you should give that a go.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea,¡± Leon said, then realised the first keg was already empty. He retrieved another one from the wagon and refilled their mugs. ¡°What else have you been getting up to here? I have to say Alix, I would have abandoned this place instantly.¡±

    ¡°There was a horrible storm when they dumped me here so I didn¡¯t have anywhere else to go. I¡¯ve just been trying to tidy the place up mostly. I was working on clearing the grounds most days. It might seem like a waste of time but I¡¯m managing to harvest a lot of materials for crafting, and I think if I can figure that out, I will be alright.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have anyone to train you though, and that seems like the most important thing. I hate to think you will be left here alone with no one but skeletons while I am being trained by the greatest the kingdom has to offer.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got five years to figure that out. Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± Alix said, and just then Tifayn appeared.

    Leon¡¯s jaw dropped at the sight of her. ¡°I thought you said it was only this skeleton that was waiting for you here?¡± he said, drinking in the sight of her.

    ¡°Well, the skeletons and her,¡± Alix mumbled. He was about to ask Mr Bones if he could find an extra chair but Tifayn took a seat in his lap. ¡°There are other seats you know.¡±

    ¡°This is for your own protection. Who is your friend?¡± Tifayn asked, as she writhed around to get comfortable.

    ¡°This is the Solknight, Leon,¡± Alix replied, tensing for her reaction.

    Tifayn was silent for a moment. ¡°A Solknight has never stepped foot within these grounds. What brings you here?¡± she said coldly, pressing herself against Alix protectively.

    ¡°It is my birthday. I have just come to drink with Alix, if that is alright with you. Despite the differences that have been thrust upon us, he is the only one that understands what I am going through, as he is going through it himself.¡±

    In response Tifayn jumped up and rummaged around in the back of the wagon. She emerged with another mug and a larger cask under her arm. She carried it under her arm as if it was a pillow.

    Alix wondered if Mr Bones had somehow heard his silent thought, as he appeared with another chair and Tifayn mercifully sat down in it.

    ¡°I hope you are looking after Alix,¡± Leon said, unable to keep his eyes off of her. Alix had to admit that he was still getting used to the sight of her himself. Everything about her was alluring, but Alix knew that behind her looks she was extremely skilled. She had managed to look after herself for a long time, and she had promised to teach him the sword. Now that he had seen Leon with a sword, he suddenly felt the urge to learn it himself. He didn¡¯t want to be out done. He felt he could do better than Leon. It was suddenly and clearly obvious to him how much harder he would have to work to achieve even a fraction of what Leon had been handed.

    ¡°Of course. I do all that I can for master.¡±

    ¡°She sounds disturbingly like the maids back at the castle, Alix.¡± Leon whispered, but they could all hear him. ¡°What about this castle though? It doesn¡¯t look like its fit to live in.¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s the best I¡¯m going to get,¡± Alix replied, taking a sip of the beer, slowly getting used to the warm drink. At least it was carbonated. ¡°I should warn you that there are more skeletons inside. They scared the hell out of me when I first saw them but they are surprisingly handy. They are restoring more of the place every day.¡±

    ¡°Well, I will be sure to help out where I can. If the king is going to give me all this money, I will do with it what I want.¡±

    Alix didn¡¯t know how sincere Leon¡¯s offer would be in the days to come, but he appreciated the sentiment. Money would only be able to help him out so much anyway. There was nowhere nearby to spend it and no one to spend it on other than Tifayn and the dead.

    ¡°I think we should take this inside,¡° Alix said, spotting clouds moving in on the horizon. He hoped he would be able to craft another set of clothes soon so he didn¡¯t have to worry about keeping the same pair clean and dry.

    ¡°That sounds like a good idea, it¡¯s starting to get cold out here. I¡¯ve heard there are spells you can imbue armour and clothes with to protect against the weather but I guess they don¡¯t want me getting too soft,¡± Leon said with a drunken laugh, the first one he had heard since arriving in Babyl, although he hadn¡¯t said anything funny.

    Alix got up from his chair and Mr Bones whisked them away as soon as they were all on their feet. Leon tried his best to keep his eyes averted from the skeleton and turned to Alix. ¡°Can you help me unload the wagon? I made sure to fill it with enough food and drink to last us a fortnight,¡± Leon grinned. At his words, half a dozen skeletons appeared without warning. They began to unload the wagon as Alix led Leon inside. A line of skeletons followed them, carrying larger casks and baskets of food.

    Leon¡¯s goods were deposited in the hallway outside the rooms where it was cool, but he had one barrel brought inside with them, along with the barrel Tifayn carried under her arm, and a few baskets of food to soak up the alcohol. Leon stood around awkwardly until Mr Bones brought in the extra chairs for them to sit. With all the chairs, casks and baskets of food, there was barely any room to move.

    They took their seats again and Leon filled his empty mug with a ruby red wine. Alix quickly drained his beer and poured himself some of the wine. It was exceptionally balanced, smooth but he could also taste the bite of the alcohol. He preferred that over something so smooth it tasted like juice.

    ¡°Wine was more my father¡¯s drink, but this stuff is better than anything I have tried back home,¡± Leon said when the skeletons left them to it. ¡°They gave me a personal mage, you know. All I¡¯ve used him for so far is for chilling my beer,¡± he said, laughing again.

    ¡°Are they going to train you in magic as well?¡± Alix asked. That was one thing he would be jealous of, although he seemed to be doing alright in that regard already. He wished he had beer chilling magic over Necromancy though, but he already knew which one would come in handier in a fight.

    ¡°I think so, but I¡¯m not looking forward to it. It feels awfully like going back to high school, and I hated those days.¡±

    Alix wouldn¡¯t have said that he loved school, but he had completed his bachelor¡¯s degree. If magic had been an available course, he probably would have taken his studies further. His degree was in music but he didn¡¯t think that would help him out here. He wondered then what had become of his guitar. Was it still lying out on the street? Had someone found it and pawned it? It was painful to think of, so he turned his attention back to his drink.

    ¡°Do you know any magic?¡± Alix asked Tifayn, wondering if she would be able to teach him something more wholesome than raising the dead.

    ¡°I know a little. With my help, along with the books and the ring, you should be able to accomplish much,¡± Tifayn replied, taking a sip of her wine while at the same time glaring daggers at Leon, as if she was trying to say how much better Alix was than him. The drink didn¡¯t seem to be having any effect on her.

    ¡°This is such a crazy situation, isn¡¯t it?¡± Alix suddenly thought as he looked around the room. ¡°I wonder if there is any way for us to get back home?¡±

    ¡°I thought about that as well. I¡¯ve asked a lot of questions, but I feel like everyone is holding back. The church answers my basic questions, but I never feel like I¡¯ve learned anything. Maybe I need to be firmer with them. I will give them a good grilling when I get back, and see if I can get any help sent your way.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me, Leon. I¡¯m actually enjoying myself here,¡± Alix said, realising the truth in his words as he spoke them. He was beginning to feel like he had a purpose here, something he had been lacking back home. His work and personal life were a disappointment, but here there was plenty for him to do, and it was almost enjoyable if he forgot about what it was leading up to.

    ¡°Well that¡¯s a weight off my mind at least,¡± Leon laughed. ¡°I brought all the food I could carry for you anyway. They filled my pantry with more than I will ever be able to eat and they just throw it out when it goes off and replace it instantly. I was worried you were shivering under a bush or something while I was surrounded by luxury. It was a novelty at first but I¡¯m sick of it already. Enough about that though. I want to hear about all the enjoyable things you have been up to.¡± Leon took a deep drink of his wine and waited for Alix to tell his story.

    They continued drinking into the night, finding their tolerances actually were higher in Babyl, so they kept on drinking.

    At one point, Alix heard a voice whispering in his head.

    Do not tell the Solknight too much, the ring whispered as he was mentioning the skeletons he had raised from the crypts and his plans for them.

    Why not? Alix asked silently. He couldn¡¯t understand how anything he was saying could be considered secret. He expected Leon would be trained to use the ring a lot better than he already could himself. Raising the dead didn¡¯t sound like anything the church would teach him about, but surely his ring had the ability to impart the knowledge to him if it was necessary.

    You cannot forget that he is the enemy. In the castle he will be pampered and that is to your benefit. Already you are more skilled than he is, despite appearances.

    I will be careful then. He probably won¡¯t remember this conversation tomorrow morning anyway.

    Hmm, was the last the ring said, and Alix got back to drinking.

    Leon was red in the face long before they finished for the night, several barrels later. The wine was fifteen percent alcohol but they managed to handle it like weak beer. The effects finally caught up with them in the early hours of the morning. When his speech was a slurred mess, he decided he was done for the night. It had been a good time, but he was desperate for bed.

    Alix asked Mr Bones if there were any other rooms they could set up when it was apparent Leon was in no state to be heading anywhere, and no guards arrived to carry him home, and surprisingly he had said that there were.

    Leon swung his arm around Mr Bones enthusiastically as if they were old friends. He tried to get the skeleton to join him for a drink, his earlier animosity completely forgotten. Suddenly skeletons were the most normal things in the world. He was led away to his room, and Alix quickly undressed and fell into bed.

    Alix wanted to curl up and die when he woke the next morning. His mouth was thick and dry, and he could feel every single drink from the night before. He had to drag himself from bed to relieve himself before he burst. He was glad at least that the castle had some semblance of functional plumbing. He felt better after draining what felt like a few gallons, then he washed out his mouth with a drink from the tap in Tifayn¡¯s kitchen. She still slept soundly in bed, looking no worse for wear. She was just as glamorous asleep as awake.

    This hangover is going to kill me, he thought to himself. He tripped on the empty barrels rolling around the floor as he tried to make his way back to the bed. He couldn¡¯t just sleep a hangover off anymore. They knocked him out for days, and these were days he didn¡¯t want to waste.

    Alix painfully brought up his inventory to try and craft a strong hangover cure. His health bar was still full so he didn¡¯t think a healing potion would do much, but had learned many other potions, it just took him a moment to get his sluggish mind working enough to think of one.

    There was a Restorative potion he had read about that was highly customisable depending on the ailment so he decided to combine a few ideas and see what happened. He started with a Healing Potion as a base, added some Sweetwater, Poppymilk, then a rare ingredient he had come across the day before called Golden Drop, and topped it off with a selection of herbs from the grounds; mint, fennel, rosemary and something called Veritas Root which he thought looked similar to turmeric.

    [Obtained Vitality Draught]

    The vial appeared before him, filled with an opalescent liquid. He snapped off the lid and downed the watery contents.

    The effects were instantaneous. His headache faded, and all the aches washed away from his body. He felt even better than new. Aches he hadn¡¯t even realised were there were gone. He lay down and fell into a blissful nap.

    Leon¡¯s wails woke him a short while later. Alix let him suffer for a bit while he lazily dressed. He went to find Leon to give Tifayn privacy to get dressed, although she had already shown that she didn¡¯t care if he looked or not. He didn¡¯t know where Leon¡¯s rooms were, but it didn¡¯t take him long to find them. He only had to follow the moans.

    When he found Leon curled up in a ball of pain, he crafted another Vitality Draught and passed it over to the suffering Solknight. ¡°Here, drink this. I¡¯ve invented the first cure for a hangover that actually works.¡±

    Leon grabbed it, still only half aware of what he was doing, and downed the clear potion without taking a second glance at it. Alix left him to get dressed in private. His pristine armour from the day before was strewn all over the room Mr Bones had made up for him.

    Alix felt a bit annoyed that he hadn¡¯t been shown the room first himself. If there was a spare bed why had he been pushed to share one with Tifayn? He wasn¡¯t really complaining though. Tifayn¡¯s bed was the most comfortable place he had slept in years, even without her soft presence.

    Leon emerged from his room and found Alix sitting with Tifayn at the table by the window in her rooms. She had a pot of tea on when he returned, and had just poured them a cup when he appeared.

    ¡°What the hell did you give me?¡± Leon asked Alix as he took a seat. He picked up the offered warm cup instinctively, but Alix silently motioned for Leon not to touch the brew. The sharp bitter drink was likely to send him straight back to bed.

    ¡°It was just a tonic I crafted. What¡¯s wrong with it?¡±

    ¡°There is nothing wrong with it. I feel like a new man.¡±

    ¡°It looks like you are becoming awfully proficient with potions.¡± Tifayn said around a sip of tea.

    The talk descended into Leon praising him for his skills, but he soon declared it was time for him to leave.

    ¡°If I stay any longer, the king might send the guards after me. I had a good time Alix. I hope you manage to look after yourself,¡± he said as the skeletons loaded his wagon with the empty barrels. One of the empty baskets of food had been refilled with some more of the hangover tonics. Alix had almost given him the recipe, before remembering the ring¡¯s warning not to share too much. He had to hold on to every advantage he had. ¡°And I hope Alix looks after you,¡± Leon said to Tifayn when he was seated.

    ¡°Of course he is, although I wish he would take greater responsibility,¡± she said, staring at Alix intently.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be such a prude Alix. None of this is real anyway! Enjoy yourself!¡± Leon laughed as he whipped his horses into motion. He continued to laugh to himself until he vanished out of sight.

    ¡°I never thought I would say it, but the Solknight is very wise. You should enjoy yourself, Alix.¡± Tifayn purred his name is a rich voice he had never heard her use before.

    For a moment he almost gave in to his weaknesses, but a voice within him held him back, refused to believe that none of it was real. Succumbing to her advances felt like it would mean he was giving up on ever returning home.

 Chapter 11: A Walk in the Woods

    Alix remembered the coffee beans that Leon had brought. He found a sack in the multitude of stores that now filled all the cupboards. Tifayn lit a fire while he picked up a handful of beans and fed them to the ring. Once they were in his inventory, he dismantled them down further into ground coffee. Then he dumped the grounds in the teapot, filled it with water and slumped into the nearest seat.

    Once the coffee was brewed, he poured himself a strong cup. He used one of the large beer tankards from the night before. It was strange drinking coffee from a wooden mug, but it was better than no coffee at all. It had only been a few weeks since he had last had a cup, but it already felt like it had been years. It was the best coffee he had ever had. It restored him like the tonic couldn¡¯t.

    Mr Bones appeared just as Alix was finishing off his second cup of coffee.

    ¡°What are your orders, my lord?¡± Mr Bones asked. Alix still felt foolish giving them commands in their own home, he wished he could just tell them to do what they wanted, but they seemed to enjoy him telling them what to do.

    ¡°I guess we should continue to focus on repairing as much of the castle as we can. Start with the rooms around these ones and work your way out,¡± Alix said, still unsure of how best to make use of the skeletons. He pulled up his map and scanned it for any parts of the castle that could be ignored. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about the Chapel, the Stables, or the Barracks for now. The Kitchen probably isn¡¯t urgent either since we are only feeding ourselves, and thanks to Leon we have plenty of food.¡± And ignore the north tower, he almost said, suddenly remembering yet another stressor he had to deal with.

    ¡°We can mix mortar ourselves, but soon we will need other materials like wood to get any further. The collapsed roofs will be a big job, and then we will have to replace all the broken glass,¡± Mr Bones said.

    ¡°I will see what I can do about that. I managed to collect a load of sand already. Maybe I can learn how to craft it into glass.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, my lord. That will give us something to go on for a few weeks at least,¡± Mr Bones said, leaving to carry out his orders, even though they were basically the same as they had been before.

    With his coffee finished, Alix decided to return to the garden and finish the job he had started there. It felt like a mental block that was stopping him from thinking further ahead. The gardens had to be cleared and the castle restored to a liveable state before anything else.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about me,¡± Tifayn said, urging him to go. ¡°I know the needs of the Darknight better than you do yourself, so I can handle the skeletons if they have any more questions.¡±

    ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Alix asked, worried she meant to help the skeletons with the heavy lifting. Don¡¯t be an arse, Alix. She¡¯s more capable of that work than you are.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to start planning your training. After seeing what this Solknight is like, I have no intention of letting you lose to him.¡±

    Alix felt a weight drop into his gut at what that meant. If he was to live then Leon would have to die, and he would be the one that killed him. He pushed the thoughts far to the back of his mind and left Tifayn to her planning, content knowing that she wasn¡¯t going to be doing anything dangerous.

    As soon as he stepped back outside and saw just how much of the grounds were still a mess, he decided he had to change how he worked. Pulling up his map, he found the dot of Mr Bones and tapped on it, opening a line of communication.

    Mr Bones, could you send a dozen skeletons to my location? I¡¯m sick of the grounds taking so long to clear, I¡¯m going to borrow some labour for the day and get it finished, Alix said to Mr Bones through the ring.

    They will be with you shortly, came the reply.

    A few minutes later a dozen skeletons appeared before him.

    ¡°Orders?¡± one of the more intact skeletons inquired.

    ¡°I want to finish clearing the grounds today. Grab whatever tools you need, or use your hands if you have to, but I want everything cut back. Dump it all in a pile and I will absorb it with the ring.¡± Alix led by example and began hacking away at every overhanging thorny stem and leafy weed, working with frantic energy. The skeletons got to work behind him, spreading out to every corner.

    By the time he had built up a good sweat, a dozen large piles of cut material dotted the grounds waiting for him to absorb and the skeletons had cut deep into the worst of the tangle. With a swipe of his Azurite blade, he finished clearing a patch of large broad leafed weeds that had nothing of value other than Aloe. The notification bell went and he saw that he had unlocked a new Title. Harvestman. Bulk Harvesting.

    As he looked around, he noticed a glow appear around the plants yet to face his knife. ¡°What does this do?¡± Alix asked the ring.

    ¡°If I had known you were going to spend so much time in the grounds I would have mentioned it sooner. It unlocks after harvesting one thousand plants. That glow you are seeing lets you target all the plants of a kind in an area and harvest them all at once.¡±

    I really hate you sometimes, Alix thought, hoping the ring heard him, but there came no reply.

    The closest plant was an Ivory Leaf and as he focussed on it, a glow appeared around half a dozen other plants in his vicinity. The closest glow grew into something that almost resembled a magic circle, something he could almost reach out and touch¡­

    Before he realised what he was doing, his outstretched arm tapped on the glow and the Ivory Leaf disappeared with a whoosh, along with half a dozen others.

    <ul>

    <li>Obtained 12 Ivory Leaf</li>

    </ul>

    I could have been finished with this bloody job ages ago¡­

    With renewed fervour Alix began to clear large swathes of the grounds, exposing old pathways, streams, wells, and a large walled area that looked like it had once been some sort of training ground. Old doors appeared from behind walls of vines, entrances to parts of the castle he hadn¡¯t been able to reach before.

    <ul>

    <li>Obtained Mercy Vine</li>

    </ul>

    What looked like the entire lower half of the castle lit up as he harvested the vine. Without thinking, he tapped on the harvest button that appeared, and the castles lower walls were exposed for the first time in centuries. A slight groan came from the walls as years of growth were removed from the bricks, as if the castle was sinking down on itself. Alix froze for a second, expecting the walls to fall down on him, but everything appeared remarkably solid, or at least most of the walls did.

    A few steps in front of him were the remains of what had once been a doorway into the back rooms of the castle. A collapse inside had destroyed the entrance, with only part of the arch above it the only indication that a door had once been there. Over the years there had to have been further collapses behind it, as when the vines suddenly disappeared, the debris rushed out of the hole.

    Once the tumbling stones came to a stop, Mr Bones popped his head out of the darkness beyond.

    ¡°Thank you, my lord. That has saved us a considerable amount of time. We have uncovered the forge and now this doorway is finally cleared,¡± Mr Bones said once he caught sight of Alix.

    ¡°No problem,¡± Alix replied awkwardly. ¡°We will have to repair this entrance as soon as possible now. Make sure there are some guards placed here tonight. The last thing we need is another unguarded entrance.¡±

    Mr Bones quickly got to sorting out the rubble, finding the stones that had once made up the doorway, the arch and the keystone, and which stones belonged to the compromised walls within. I really hope the place holds up long enough¡­

    By the time Alix had finished clearing all of the weeds and the overgrown plants, reducing them all to seeds or their baser components, the sun had almost set. It was only then that he realised he had worked throughout the day without a break. The tonic kept the edge of his hunger, and he managed to get a drink from one of the streams he unclogged. Once the stagnant water was flowing again, it soon became fresh water off of the mountain, fresh and invigorating.

    A new notification that had gone unnoticed flashed again, catching his attention.

    <ul>

    <li>Reached Lv. 6</li>

    </ul>

    Alix had a quick look at his stats and noticed that they were steadily climbing, but he still hadn¡¯t really noticed any difference in himself. His HP and MP were constantly full and the rest of his stats felt near meaningless at the moment. His Strength and Defence were increasing, as was his Agility, but he hadn¡¯t suddenly developed a sixpack or become noticeably nimbler. His Luck was increasing the slowest, but that was probably the one thing he needed the most of now. His Attack matched the Power Rating of whatever weapon he was carrying, currently the Azurite Knife with a rating of 38.

    The sun glinted off of the great glass panes of the greenhouse as it sunk behind the horizon. Some spell had to have been placed on it for it to have survived fairly unscathed so long. Alix decided to head inside and call it a day. He had cleared the garden, and tomorrow he could focus on more pressing matters. For now, the drink that Leon had left was calling to him.

    Just as he sat down with a mug of wine, deciding to wait until he had figured out the spells for chilling the beer before he tapped anymore kegs, Tifayn appeared.

    ¡°How was your day, master?¡± she asked, after pouring herself a mug of wine.

    ¡°Can you please call me Alix?¡± It didn¡¯t feel right being addressed as master. She was acting like she was his property and he didn¡¯t like it. ¡°Treat me like you would anyone else.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t do that¡­Alix,¡± Tifayn said after a pause. ¡°You aren¡¯t like anyone else. You are the Darknight, and it is my duty to help you as much as I am able to.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad that I have you here at least. I would probably be sleeping in a ditch if you hadn¡¯t found me.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous m- Alix. You think too lightly of yourself. The ring will always help you find shelter.¡±

    ¡°You can see from Leon that the rings are a bit more difficult to use than you think. I feel like I am just figuring out the basics, but he didn¡¯t even know that.¡±

    ¡°That is to be expected, and it will work to our benefit. He is being provided so much by the king that the ring has no need to tell him anything. He has a roof, unlimited food and help, money and training. The less he figures out by himself the better. I heard the last Solknight managed to break away from the king¡¯s grasp, so he will try even harder this time to keep Leon under his control. The king thinks that he is punishing you by sending you out here, but he is doing you the greatest favour that he could.¡±

    It didn¡¯t really feel like much of a favour to Alix, but as the alcohol washed over him it was easier to not care. This was the path he had been given and he would have to deal with it. After hearing what Leon was going through, it was easier to enjoy the life he had here.

    After that he told Tifayn of the progress he had made in the garden and all the materials he had acquired. He would try make a few new potions tomorrow. He wanted to try repair the greenhouse as well, but that was going to be a bit more complicated.

    ¡°What are you going to do next? I would like to begin your training soon,¡± Tifayn asked him.

    ¡°I think I will check out the forest next. I would like to explore the area a bit, fill in some more of the fog on this map. What sort of training do you have in mind?¡± Alix asked. He wasn¡¯t the athletic type, and he didn¡¯t have any muscle to boast of. It would be a bit much to go straight into sword fighting.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°The sooner I can get a sword in your hand the better,¡± she replied, confirming his fears. If he was going to be put through his paces, he was going to enjoy himself now while he still could. He refilled his mug and tried to forget his troubles.

    Alix went to hunt down Mr Bones the next morning to ask after an axe. He found him working alongside the other skeletons finishing off the repairs to the doorway they had uncovered the day before. They had already made great progress, now that he stopped to take a look at their work. Half a dozen rooms had been cleared. Mr Bones had already prepared him a restored axe in anticipation of their need for lumber.

    Alix was reminded of the poor state of the gates as he left the confines of the castle grounds. He had expected heavy oaken doors wrapped in iron standing strong behind a thick portcullis but there was just the pair of rusted gates, stiff on their hinges. If he was safe from being attacked by others then he guessed he didn¡¯t really need anything else, but he would feel safer repairing them and knowing that they were locked at night. In every RPG he had played though, there had been the ability to repair equipment, whether through Repair Kits or Blacksmithing skills. His favourite mechanic had been repairing ruined buildings, or even whole towns, building them up again from the ground to be grander than they had been before.

    ¡°Hey ring, is there a skill here that will let me repair the gate? Or anything else for that matter,¡± Alix asked the ring. It was still awkward talking with it but he would have to get used to it sooner or later. There was no time to waste being shy.

    ¡°Of course,¡± the ring replied. ¡°The skills you can acquire here are endless. That is what differentiates one Darknight from another. They all learn different skills, and specialise more in others than the rest, so no two Darknight¡¯s are ever the same.¡±

    ¡°So how can I learn those skills? Can you not just tell me them?¡± Alix asked, although he knew it was never that easy, unless you used cheat codes, but there was no such thing here.

    ¡°That is all part of Infinite Growth. I can guide you in some regards, like with Necromancy, which is something you wouldn¡¯t have been able to learn by yourself, but it is always better if you are able to unlock Skills yourself. If I told you everything I know all at once, you would be knocked out for the next five years. Once you unlock a Skill, you can improve and master it. To repair the gate you need a hammer, and the raw materials. You cannot restore what is already lost, and the gate will need new iron to replace what has rusted away, strengthen what has cracked.¡±

    ¡°That seems pretty easy, if I can find some iron somewhere. I don¡¯t even know where to begin looking for that.¡±

    The gate led out onto the path that cut through the woods. It looked like it had once been wider but the trees had grown over most of it until it was just wide enough for a wagon to pass through. A few more years though and it looked like the path would disappear completely. To the left the trees fell sharply down the mountainside, huddling along the cliff that held up the castle. To the right the trees grew thicker and blanketed the upper reaches of the mountain. It was his first time going beyond the wall since he arrived, and it was disappointingly normal, the view of the castle behind him the most fascinating thing. At least there¡¯s plenty of lumber¡­

    Alix took a right turn and headed along the outer wall. A lot of the trees were growing closer to the wall than he would have liked, and they would be some of the first that felt his axe. There was one in particular that he was looking for, one he had spotted from the other side of the wall once that section of the grounds had been cleared, where it had knocked down several of the stones already. Even if he repaired the gate, anyone that wanted to intrude could simply climb over the hole in the wall, or up the tree to the top of the wall itself. There were a few towers along its length he had yet to explore, which were currently unreachable with the damaged wall.

    When he reached the river that ran underneath the wall and fed the water features beyond, he had to take a detour further into the forest to find somewhere to cross. It was a lot larger on the outside than he had expected, growing into a large pool when the streams beyond became clogged up. The murky depths weren¡¯t anything he wanted to swim through. The ring wasn¡¯t picking anything up, but he was wary of the skills that he didn¡¯t know yet.

    Alix scrambled through the trees for a while, hacking down small bushes as he went. They didn¡¯t produce anything of any use other than Fibre. Before he found a suitable place to cross the river, he came across the outline of another wall in the forest. He soon realised it was the remains of a house, its thatched roof caved in, and there were others ahead of him, all around him. It was an entire village that had been overtaken by the trees. A new dot appeared on his map, followed by a new label. Valon.

    ¡°What is this place?¡± Alix asked. It looked like a sad place, the light shining through the empty windows. What was it doing so close to the castle? It looked like it had been abandoned just as long. Was this where the demons had once lived? Although it seemed quite small for what sounded like a large race.

    ¡°It was a Dark Elf village. They are the offspring of Elves and Demons. When the Demons abandoned this place, without their protection the Dark Elves were kicked out as well.¡±

    ¡°Where are they now?¡± Alix asked, thinking that he might have found a friendly race. If they were still close by maybe he could trade with them.

    ¡°They haven¡¯t been seen for hundreds of years. If they still exist, they probably live in the north, far away from Galdea¡¯s reach.¡±

    It was a disappointment but there was nothing he could do about it. There was nothing for him in the village, but there was an old rickety bridge that still held up across the river. He crossed over it quickly before it could collapse under his weight. He wasn¡¯t a heavy man, but everything the Dark Elves had built looked frail. The spindly bridge looked almost like it had grown naturally out from the banks.

    It took him a while to return to the castle wall. He had walked further into the woods than he had realised, but it wasn¡¯t a hard thing to find. Alix made his way through the dense trees until he found the one he was looking for. The ring saved him the task of pretending like he knew how to identify a tree by its leaves. The name Elm appeared in the air as he focussed on the gargantuan tree. He had always been against deforestation before, but this tree had to come down. Parts of the wall were already falling against the force of its branches. The debris had fallen on either side.

    Now that he was up close to the tree, he realised what a task he had given himself. It would take him ages to hack through the trunk with the axe. He had to try though. As it was, he could climb up the pile of fallen stones, and pull himself through the hole in the wall by hanging from a branch.

    Alix took out the axe Mr Bones had given him. It was called Azurite Axe, and it looked like it was a fine piece of work. He circled the tree and picked a spot to take an experimental swing.

    The axe sunk into the wood and chipped out a large chunk. Before it could hit the ground, it vanished in a burst of light, and some wood appeared in his inventory.

    <ul>

    <li>Obtained x3 Lumber</li>

    </ul>

    It wasn¡¯t much, but it filled him with motivation. It appeared that no matter what size of wood he cut, it reformed itself into a usable size within his inventory. Maybe the job wouldn¡¯t be so hard after all.

    Alix took another swing and the axe sunk deeper into the wood. He worked his way around the trunk, cutting the deepest groove so that it would fall away from the wall. It felt like it only took him an hour before the elm began to creak and bend. He took one last swing with the axe and it fell with a loud crash. Splinters of wood flew everywhere, and the elm took down a few other trees in its path.

    The tree was down, but he still had to think of a way to turn it into useable planks. He thought about calling on some of the skeletons to help, they had unnatural strength, enough to carry the tree in manageable sections to work on later inside the walls, but it would be a hassle moving it all through the forest back to the gate. Maybe he could get them to build a ramp over the tumbled down section of the wall, but both those options would take a long time. He would have to walk back through the forest regardless.

    If the ring can process plants, then maybe it would be able to help with the tree as well, he thought to himself, stepping up to the fallen elm and taking aim along its length with the axe. With a final swing, he slammed the axe into the wood. The elm split along the grain, before bursting into a shower of sparks, the whole thing disappearing. It took him a few shocked moments before he noticed the new entry in his log.

    <ul>

    <li>Obtained 400 Lumber</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Now that is handy,¡± Alix said to the suddenly empty hollow, the butchered stump the only sign that the elm had once stood there. His EXP also received a hefty boost.

    The notification bell went and he saw he had unlocked a new Title: Lumberjack. It seemed to be similar to Horticulturist, doubling the amount of Lumber he received from every felled tree.

    The few other trees that the elm had knocked over soon joined the other timber in his inventory, bringing his total to over one thousand Lumber. Once he hit that total, the notification bell went again.

    <ul>

    <li>Acquired Carpentry </li>

    <li>Acquired Woodworking</li>

    </ul>

    It took Alix a few moments of scrolling through his menus to find that the two new skills had unlocked as a new submenu under Crafting called Woodcrafting, and that it was currently empty.

    ¡°How am I supposed to use this?¡± Alix asked the ring, hoping he could craft a quick ladder to climb over the wall.

    ¡°Like with Crafting, you need to know the method first. Either read a book or practise woodworking yourself. Trial and error will soon turn to mastery.¡±

    ¡°But I already know what a ladder looks like. Why can¡¯t I just manifest one now?¡±

    ¡°In time you might be able to do such a thing, if you can unlock the right Skill.¡±

    ¡°So I need to find Carpentry ¡°Recipes¡± before I could use it for anything.¡± Alix debated for a moment about heading back and seeing what he could learn from the library, but he decided to stay and harvest some more lumber.

    A few more trees that were encroaching upon the wall soon fell to his Azurite Axe, a wonderful tool he wished Mr Bones had given him sooner. Once a few thousand more lumber were deposited into his inventory though, he began to feel a weight dragging him down, despite his increased Strength after having reached Level 7 half way through the harvest. It felt like he had eaten too much, his movements becoming sluggish, as well as the feeling on an invisible weight around his shoulders.

    So much for Infinite Storage¡­

    Alix begrudgingly decided to call it a day before it got to the point that he couldn¡¯t move anymore. He had made a good amount of progress, but ideally he would like to cut down enough trees so that no one could come up on them by surprise. It wouldn¡¯t have taken longer than a few days, but it was apparent he was going to have to empty his Inventory every so often. He opened up his Inventory to see if there was anything to say what was happening, but there was no indication that his storage was anything less than infinite. There was no Encumbrance stat, or upgradable backpack.

    Closing his Inventory, he switched to the Map to see how much of the fog had been cleared. Apart from Valon, it was still depressingly foggy. Before he closed it, he noticed a dot he hadn¡¯t noticed before in a corner of the castle.

    Evory.

    A thought popped into his head. He tapped on the dot and then spoke as if he was communicating with Mr Bones.

    Evory? Alix called into the void.

    Took you long enough to try it on, the reply came almost instantly.

    Try what on?

    My father¡¯s Crown.

    I didn¡¯t try it on, it¡¯s still in my Inventory.

    What¡¯s you Inventory?

    Never mind. I¡¯m sorry I haven¡¯t managed to speak to you sooner. I should have thought of this before but it¡¯s been pretty busy.

    Yes, I saw the Solknight¡¯s arrival. That was very dangerous of you to let him in.

    Not as dangerous as having Casimir Brant running around here. I need to deal with him soon.

    I think you better listen to what Casimir has to say before you come to any decisions.

    He¡¯s woken up? The thought of the man roaming lose around the castle almost set him scrambling straight up the wall, but he had to remind himself that in her new form, Evory would be able to handle him easily. With the Soulbind spell on him, he wouldn¡¯t be a threat anyway.

    Yes, he woke up and I managed to convince him to tell me everything. You really should hear what he has to say. When will you have time?

    Do you know the old Dark Elf village in the woods? Bring him here tomorrow and I will hear him out then.

    Yes, I know it. I will see you there tomorrow. Oh, please bring some food for Casimir as well. I can survive up here fine without but unless you want me sneaking around downstairs, he will need something soon.

    Alright, I¡¯ll bring something.

    Alix closed his menus, cutting off the line of communication, and began to make his way back to the castle with his precious cargo. He wished he had thought of a way to get over the wall instead, but he had seen no rope or ladders in the castle, and it was quicker to walk back than it would take to build one.

    His steps were noticeably heavy as he trudged through the woods. Still, it was worth the extra weight to be able to carry so much. He would have had to carry the planks one at a time otherwise, or try throwing them over the wall, but he didn¡¯t want to risk damaging them. They would need every single scrap of wood he could cut.

    As he walked back through the abandoned village, he felt like there were eyes watching him from all the dark windows. The canopy was too thick for the sun to pierce through and the shadows were deep. He made his way past the buildings as fast as he could. They might come in handy one day, even if it was just to use their bricks, but for now he wanted to leave them far behind. He held the axe firmly in his hand until the village was far behind him.

    Alix breathed a sigh of relief when the gates finally came into view. The sweat was dripping off of him by then, all of his muscles aching like he had just completed a strenuous workout. With the grounds freshly cleared, there was plenty of room to drop the load of lumber. Thousands upon thousands of planks erupted out of his inventory, filling a remarkably large portion of the grounds in neat rows and piles.

    The weight that had been pushing him into the ground faded all at once, leaving him feeling as light as a feather, but the exhaustion from the exertion still remained. Before he braved the stairs to find a chair to collapse in to, he sent a message to Mr Bones.

    Mr Bones, I managed to gather a bit of wood. I have left it in the grounds. Let me know when you need more.

    With that Alix made his way inside without waiting for a reply. He would have been bouncing on his feet from the feeling of weightlessness if his muscles didn¡¯t ache so fiercely, a deep pain that not even half a dozen tonics could touch. Still, the ache was worth it for the weight that had been lifted off his mind. The grounds were clear and they had the building materials they needed to make real progress on the castle.

    Alix bypassed the chair and collapsed into bed instead, deciding he needed the rest before whatever Casimir Brant had to say became another weight on his mind.

 Chapter 12: A Tale of a Ringtail

    Alix only intended on resting for a bit, but he woke next morning with Tifayn lying beside him. His clothes had vanished during the night, likely Tifayn¡¯s work when she climbed into bed herself.

    The low light told him that it was still early morning. Alix gingerly swung his legs out of bed, expecting them to ache as bad as they had the day before, but he found the pain to be completely gone. As he stretched in the morning sunlight, he felt a strength in his arms and legs, and the rest of the muscles that had been burning like fire, that he hadn¡¯t noticed before. Muscle tone had appeared where there had been pathetically little before. You didn¡¯t build up much by sitting down playing RPG¡¯s all the time, but he seemed to be building them by living one. Even his chest had more definition. It had to have something to do with Infinite Growth, he just wished he knew exactly what it was so he could keep doing it.

    Before Tifayn could wake and drag him away to begin the lessons she had been vigorously planning, Alix quietly dressed, slipped out of the room and headed to the library. Half the time he spent there felt like he was procrastinating, but time and time again he was forced to return there to learn something important. After all the time he had spent there though, he had yet to come across a book on woodworking, which was the latest problem he hoped to remedy.

    As he stepped into the massive library, he suddenly understood why the ring was unable to tell him everything there was to know about his powers all at once. The room contained all the knowledge that the collective Darknights had learned, or at least the knowledge that they had thought to write down, plus books that had been sourced from further afield, and even if he read every book here, he still wouldn¡¯t have learned everything he could about his potential powers. It would take him lifetimes to read all the books in front of him. It was way more information than the ring could safely give him all at once.

    Dozens of books caught his attention, with fascinating titles such as Knight Flight, The Lost Races, Beyond Babyl, Alchemical Synthesis, and one that almost derailed his entire day, Chords of Destruction & Melodies of Creation. Alix couldn¡¯t help but pull all the volumes from the shelves and pile them up by the lone reading table, which was already overflowing with books he needed to read eventually. The last one he couldn¡¯t help sitting and skimming through for a few moments.

    It wrote of the use of music as both a weapon and a tool, a rare and complex form of magic that only one previous Darknight had managed to master. Some notes at the end from later readers spoke of how they hadn¡¯t heard of such a magic anywhere else and all attempts to replicate it had failed. It ended with a warning that the contents could just be a hoax or a myth and not to waste precious time on it. It was an engrossing book, one he would have to study at length later, although without his guitar maybe it would be better for him to heed the warning. Still, if there was a possibility that there was a musical form of magic here, he had to investigate it. He put the book back down before he read too much and went back to look for any on woodworking.

    ¡°Are you able to help me out at all here?¡± Alix asked the ring after searching the shelves fruitlessly.

    ¡°Of course. Start using the card catalogue instead of walking around blind,¡± the dragon replied.

    ¡°Shit, I completely forgot about that. Why didn¡¯t you mention it before?¡±

    ¡°The struggle is all part of the experience. I¡¯m glad you have finally remembered about it though. One of the previous Darknight¡¯s was a librarian in their own world. It was very difficult watching Astrid spend most of her time cataloguing the library instead of training, but I finally managed to convince her to show the demons how it was done and they took over the job. Astrid managed to put up a good fight in the Terminus Ritual, after having read so many books she knew a lot of nasty tricks, but in the end the Solknight¡¯s brute strength was impossible to overcome. The demons pledged to continue the work she was most passionate about, and by the time the next Darknight arrived, the entire collection had been sorted. When the demons proudly showed off their work, his exact words were ¡®reading is for nerds¡¯. Those were the first demons to abandon the Darknight and I think you can probably trace the current state of things back to that moment.¡±

    ¡°I wonder if that Darknight is among the skeletons? Maybe she would be able to continue the job of cataloguing all the newer titles?¡± Alix wondered aloud, but the ring was silent.

    Glad of the lack of company to watch his sheepish retreat to the card cabinets, a long stretch of hundreds of small drawers handily placed so the light from the windows illuminated them, Alix began searching for the right card. Card catalogues were a thing of the past in his time but he still understood how they worked. Each book in the library probably had several cards but generally they would be sorted by author, title and subject. Since he didn¡¯t know the author or the title, he began by searching by subject.

    First he found the ¡®W¡¯ drawers, squashing the temptation to search for more music related books, and searched for the subject wood. The first book he came across was titled Identifying Wewd by Robert Baron, which didn¡¯t sound helpful at all since the ring could identify anything for him. He kept flicking through the delicate old cards. The Woodsman¡¯s Guidebook appeared again but he already knew where that was. It was sitting half read up in Tifayn¡¯s rooms. Finally he came across one that sounded promising. The Complete Book of Woodworking. He made note of the shelf number and headed off to find it, hoping the book was still where it was supposed to be.

    The shelf mentioned turned out to be hidden behind a pile of unsorted books that took him a while to clear first, but once the books had been shifted to a new location, he managed to find the book he was looking for. It looked like it hadn¡¯t been touched since the day it had first been placed on the shelf.

    The book purported to contain detailed plans for hundreds of projects, as well as all the essential skills and techniques he needed to complete them, along with a large catalogue of woodworking tools and how to craft them as well. It was a very large book but the curious thing about it was that it looked like it had been lifted straight from his own world, with a glossy professionally bound hardback cover, clearly printed text and images, some in full colour. All it was missing was a tacky paid for review emblazoned on the front.

    ¡°This book looks way too high quality to be from this world¡­¡± Alix said, looking down at the ring to see if it had an explanation.

    ¡°I can assure you that it is from this world. I suggest you check out a book called Materialization when you have time,¡± the ring said.

    Alix made a mental note to check out the book another time. For now he had to get learning woodworking.

    The book was unwieldy in its size but with his Bibliophile skill he didn¡¯t need to spend too long studying each page before the information lifted and imprinted itself in his mind. The sun continued to rise as he devoured page after page, unlocking plan after plan. Most of the things he learned how to build were things he couldn¡¯t justify using the wood on just yet, such as wardrobes, bookcases and wall cabinets, but they were things that would make the place a lot nicer once the major restorations were complete. Eventually he began to skip ahead to builds he could actually use now, such as doors, chairs, tables, ladders, stairs, roofs. The book really did have pretty much everything imaginable that could be crafted from wood, more than he had time to read with all the other things he had planned for the day.

    Once Alix had several dozen new plans stored under the Woodcrafting submenu, he decided it was time to give some of them a go. He left the library and headed outside, grabbing a loaf of bread from the stores on his way. Outside, the skeletons were already hard at work utilising the vast stores of lumber, which had already taken quite a dent. Mr Bones shambled over when he caught sight of him.

    ¡°I see your skills with the ring are coming along well, my lord. This wood will go a long way to fixing the worst of the damage. We have already begun laying new floors, but it will take us a while longer before we can get to work on the roofs.¡±

    ¡°I will be able to help you with some of the work now, I have learned a lot of Woodcrafting plans. I came out here to give them a go if you can spare a bit of the wood.¡±

    Alix had emptied his entire stock of wood from his inventory so he had to reabsorb some lumber before he could get started. Since there was so much, and he intended on cutting more soon, he absorbed 100 units of lumber. Then he went to his Woodcrafting submenu and selected Door. Thanks to already having acquired the castles blueprints, a new option popped up asking which door in particular he would like to craft. Luckily most of the doors in the castle were grouped into only a handful of shapes and sizes, with doors like internal room doors all the same size. He found the one he was looking for, External Entrance (Small), and tapped on it. A freshly crafted door appeared on the ground before him, the perfect size to fit the hole that had been uncovered in the wall the day before.

    Almost before the door had even materialised, a few pairs of skeletal hands grabbed it and hauled it off to install in the side of the castle.

    ¡°We should have the placed fixed up in no time at this rate. I¡¯m going to go gather some more lumber,¡± Alix said to Mr Bones, taking his leave as the skeletons got back to work with renewed vigour. When he was back he would have to ask Mr Bones about the librarian Darknight.

    Instead of heading through the gates and back into the woods, he made his way to the opposite side of the wall from where he had been working. With the grounds cleared, it was only a short walk compared with the trek through the dark woods.

    Once he was positioned under the tumbling portion of wall, he opened up the Woodcrafting options and selected Ladder (long). A stoutly crafted ladder sprung into existence against the wall, extending from his feet to just above the height of the defensive wall. Alix climbed its length and stepped onto the solid wall to the side of the crumbled section. Then he crafted a second ladder down the other side and he descended back into the woods.

    The woods were as quiet as when he had left them, but every time he turned his back to the shadows he still felt like he was being watched. He felt like he would have to explore them further one day, but for now there was no need. The troublesome elm had been felled, and he had a plan to repair the wall soon, but there was still plenty for him to cut. The Azurite Axe was calling to him. He felt safe having it with him, with its Power Rating more than double that of the Azurite Knife, at 86.

    The trees immediately surrounding the freshly cleared area were no more than small saplings, which yielded little materials other than Aloe and Fibre, a material he hoped he could use to craft paper. He didn¡¯t have anyone to write to, but was beginning to feel the need to keep a diary, a record of what had happened to him. From all the books in the library, he knew the previous Darknight¡¯s had felt the same urge. Once the smaller trees were out of the way, he turned his attention towards the larger trees.

    The Azurite Axe made light work of the trees, cutting through them like they were made of fudge. Their names were familiar at first, species such as Birch, Ash, Oak and Pine, but then he started to encounter stranger varieties. Albacia, Muginut, and Gumheart were all new to him, but all produced the same Lumber.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    A steady diet of tonics helped to keep the ache away from his arms, but like before, the weight pressing down on him began to grow the more his inventory filled. He hadn¡¯t been built for such things, but he was slowly feeling his strength begin to grow. It helped that every time he emptied his inventory, he felt twice as light as before.

    Alix managed to deposit four more loads of timber on the other side of the wall, clearing a large swathe of the overgrown forest, before Tifayn emerged from the castle. He had just stopped for a break after making good progress in his push along the wall to the gate, the tonic not enough to stop him from breaking out in a furious sweat.

    ¡°You can¡¯t put this off forever,¡± Tifayn said, passing him a wooden sword before he could slip back out to the forest again.

    ¡°I was just gathering some more wood,¡± Alix replied, although from the mountain of lumber already filling the grounds, it was obvious there was no rush for him to gather any more.

    ¡°I saw that. You have been working hard, but don¡¯t think I¡¯m going to go easy on you. I¡¯ve been able to wield a sword for hundreds of years and even I wouldn¡¯t want to go up against the Solknight.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not the kind of thing I want to hear. So where are we going to practise?¡±

    ¡°Here seems as good a place as any. Not many sword fights take place inside,¡± she said, raising her own wooden sword. The swords were crude looking but he still wouldn¡¯t want to be hit with one. She looked like she could kill him with a wooden sword just as easily as with a steel one.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t there a training hall or something? Somewhere with more padding?¡± Alix asked, looking around at the sparse rocky ground. There was little to protect him in a fall now that he had cleared all the overgrowth. He felt a bit pathetic worrying about falling and getting a scratch.

    ¡°There is, but it will take weeks to clear the way there and weeks longer to restore it. We can¡¯t waste that time just sitting around drinking and gardening.¡±

    Suddenly she lunged forward and, taking her sword in both hands, swung it down at him. Alix instinctively raised his own sword to block the blow and their swords slammed together. The blow ricocheted through his body, his arms instantly going numb, but she didn¡¯t give him a chance to recover. Tifayn quickly reversed her sword and struck a quick blow to his midriff with the hilt.

    The next thing Alix knew, he was curled up on the ground gasping for air, no idea where he was or what had happened to him for a moment. Tifayn helped him to his feet once he had caught his breath. She looked like she was disappointed but she shouldn¡¯t have expected anything else. Still, he hadn¡¯t expected her to be so rough with him.

    Tifayn gave him no time to rest before she came at him again. After another swift beating, she gave him a few pointers on how to hold the sword properly, and how to correct his weak stance. Suddenly the notification bell went and a new Title appeared.

    <ul>

    <li>Title Unlocked: Swordsman</li>

    </ul>

    Along with the title, he received some healthy stat boots, especially to his Agility. He had never been a quick study before but now the moves came easily to him.

    As she came at him again and again, he deflected more and more blows. He felt like he was in The Matrix, downloading new moves in an instant. It was easier to pick up how to dodge and defend than attack though.

    At one point he noticed the skeletons had lined up to watch them. They were expressionless as always, but he got the feeling like they were laughing at him. Bastards, Alix thought to himself. They should have had some sympathy for him, after going through the same thing themselves. Then he realised most of them probably hadn¡¯t had it as bad as him. If they had come from different period throughout time then chances were high that they had already known how to swordfight by the time they arrived here. In his time, it was no more than novelty. He tried to ignore them, and concentrate on the wooden death spinning around him. Even he could see that Tifayn was incredibly talented.

    Alix was sore in places he had never felt before by the time Tifayn declared, several hours later, they had done enough for the day. The time had passed quickly, but he felt like he had achieved weeks¡¯ worth of training, and he had quickly breezed through Level 8 and 9, finishing on Level 10. He felt awfully like he was being put through the tutorial of a game, but he was just glad he hadn¡¯t ended up on a prison or a sewer. ¡°The ring will help accelerate the growth of your muscles and strength, but all this work still takes a physical toll. Rest now, and we will begin again tomorrow.¡±

    Tifayn looked like she had barely broken out into a sweat as she turned and headed back inside, but Alix was ready to collapse on the ground. There was still something he had to do though.

    As his skills had improved, Tifayn had increased the ferocity of her attacks, leaving his HP with a sizeable dent. He downed a few health potions and some tonics until was able to move again, and headed back towards the woods.

    Within seconds of his feet touching the ground, he heard a rush of wind and Evory appeared in the clearing with Casimir Brant under her arm. It was almost comical seeing her carrying such a large man like a loaf of bread. Alix expected Brant to try and attack him again, but the man stood there calmly, the effects of the Soulbind spell still holding strong.

    ¡°What took you so long?¡± Evory hissed. ¡°I told you that you had to hear what Casimir has to say.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve been getting my ass beaten.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear what you have been doing in the bedroom, master.¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not¡­never mind. Let¡¯s just get this out of the way quickly. Alright, what¡¯s Brant¡¯s story?¡± Alix asked.

    Brant glanced at Evory first, as if asking for her permission to speak.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, he¡¯s not the one you are looking for, but he might be able to help you,¡± Evory said reassuringly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you have done to me,¡± Casimir Brant began in a deep gravelly voice, ¡°I want nothing more than to wring the life from your pathetic body, but there is something stopping me. I will remind you of your crimes, if Lady Evory asks it of me, although I do not believe that you are innocent.¡±

    ¡°I have cast Soulbind on you, Casimir Brant. I am telling you this because I am not trying to hide anything from you. Whatever you think it is that I have done, I promise you that you are mistaken. I¡¯m sure Evory has already explained that to you, but I can see you don¡¯t believe me. I will release you when you are no longer a threat to me. Now tell me, what is so important that I have to hear?¡±

    Brant shifted uncomfortably on his feet for a moment, until it seemed he could hold the words back no longer. As he began to speak, it sounded like the words were being forcefully torn from him.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t always like this. I used to be a soldier in the Imperial Army. Worked my way up the ranks, earned the respect of my men. Then I met my wife, Ophenia. My men though, they didn¡¯t agree with the relationship. Ophenia is a Ringtail you see. That probably wouldn¡¯t have been so bad, even though relationships between humans and Ringtails is frowned upon, but she is Ringless, an outcast born without any markings. It always seemed a bit ridiculous to me, to cast out your own kind because of the way they were born. It didn¡¯t change how I felt about her. I married her, moved her into my home, and told my men that if any of them had a problem with that, I would deal with them personally.

    ¡°I still heard some of them whispering, but most of the men soon thought as I did and began to see the Ringless as more than they had been told. I even began to trust some of the men to look after her when I had to go away on occasion. A week ago she wanted to go out foraging in the woods, spending time in nature is important for Ringtails, but I had been assigned to investigate a rumoured Dark Elf sighting. I left two of my men behind to watch over her.¡± Brant¡¯s face hardened into a grimace before he continued. ¡°When I returned, I found my two men in the infirmary, and Ophenia was gone. I asked them what had happened, and they told me two of the Darknight¡¯s men jumped them and took my wife, but I¡¯m sure you already know that. I tried to find her but she was already gone, so I came to find you instead.¡± Brant was almost spitting the words by the end. He looked like he was trying his hardest to fight the spell on him, either to throw himself at Alix or to run off in search of his missing wife, but he could do nothing other than stand and answer Alix¡¯s questions.

    ¡°Look man, this is the first time I¡¯m hearing about this. I¡¯m really sorry about what happened, but I¡¯ve never heard of your wife before and I never sent anyone to go after her or your men. The only ones here are me, a demon, a vampire and hundreds of skeletons. You say this happened a week ago? A week ago today I was passed out in bed, and before that I was still trying to convince myself that I wasn¡¯t dreaming.¡±

    ¡°You expect me to believe that my men lied to me?¡± Brant snapped in a barely restrained bark.

    ¡°No, but I would really like to know why they were so sure that the men that attacked them were sent by me. I honestly don¡¯t understand what I would stand to gain from such a thing.¡±

    ¡°They said that you tasked them with rounding up every Ringtail they could find. They are worth a pretty penny on the black market. Everyone knows the king refused to give you any aid, so you found yourself a lucrative business to fill your pockets, selling the people of this world you don¡¯t care about into slavery.¡±

    ¡°I would never do such a thing. I only have a little time in this world, do you think I would waste it living a life of crime?¡± Suddenly Alix remembered the food Evory had asked him to bring and he handed over the loaf of bread, something to occupy the man before he became any louder. ¡°Eat this, and keep the noise down,¡± he commanded him. ¡°What?¡± Alix asked Evory when he caught her staring at him expectantly.

    ¡°You have to help him master! His poor wife is still out there somewhere. If you help, Casimir and Ophenia can go back to living their lives and maybe the kingdom will think kinder of you,¡± Evory said.

    ¡°That won¡¯t happen. I deserted my post when I learned Ophenia was missing. If I go back they will arrest me. I would rather spend the rest of my days on the run searching for her, or for the one who took her so I can get my revenge.¡± Brant took a ravenous bite of the bread and chewed in brooding silence, suddenly realising how hungry he was.

    ¡°I agree with the bitch and the brute,¡± a voice came from behind the trees.

    Alix yelled in fright. He was even more frightened when Tifayn walked out of the shadows. I¡¯m dead¡­¡±Tifayn, I can explain,¡± he started to say but Tifayn cut him off with a raised hand.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to explain master, I heard the brute¡¯s story. You cannot let your name be abused by common criminals. You must get to the bottom of this and rectify the insult. The bitch can help you, in payment for letting her live in the north tower.¡± Tifayn glared over to where Evory had jumped up to hide in a nearby tree. ¡°I¡¯m not going to attack you, vampire, but I can¡¯t ever forgive what your people did to mine.¡±

    ¡°You can put your feud behind you then. Her people are all dead,¡± Alix said, pulling the crown from his inventory.

    ¡°The Crown of the Vampire King! That explains it¡­¡± Tifayn exclaimed, then suddenly went quiet.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Alix asked, turning over the crown in his hand, examining it properly for the first time. It was roughly hewn in a material that felt like metal but looked like bone, with tines that rose haphazardly like thorns.

    ¡°That crown is said to nullify and make the wearer impervious to all curses. It explains why I¡¯ve felt more¡­reserved¡­around you lately. The curse of the Darknight bond is nullified now that you are holding that crown,¡± Tifayn explained, looking at him in a way he had never seen before. The look of lust was gone from her eyes, and even though it was what he was hoping to achieve, his heart sank a bit. He placed the crown back in his inventory before he was tempted to throw it away.

    I knew this was going to cause trouble, Alix thought to himself, although it might come in handy if he were to encounter any more demons. With the curse of the bond nullified, they had no reason to stay away from him now, although they also had no reason to rush to his side or help him either. He was a nobody to them.

    The look of lust had faded, but it was soon replaced by a new fire. ¡°This might be the perfect opportunity, master. We can help you track down the real criminals that took this man¡¯s wife and find out what happened to her. Just think of it as training. You might be able to get some fighting in, and you can feel safe in the knowledge that their blades won¡¯t be able to harm you. In return for letting the brute live after his barrage of insults against you, he can assist with your training. The help of an ex-Imperial soldier will be invaluable.¡±

    Throughout everything, Brant continued to devour the loaf of bread until every scrap of it was gone, showing no sign of shock at having a demon appear in front of him, but at the sound of Tifayn¡¯s plans he made his presence known again.¡±

    ¡°I would rather die-¡° Brant began to rage, but Tifayn turned her full attention on him.

    ¡°That can easily be arranged. We will find your wife, and in return you will assist with the Darknights training.¡±

    Brant stewed over the offer for a few moments. Alix could almost see the thoughts swirling in his head, see him come to the conclusion that he had no choice.

    ¡°If you help me get Ophenia back, and she confirms that you had nothing to do with it, then I will believe you were not involved. If you bring the ones that really did do it to me, I will train you,¡± Brant said, choosing each word carefully.

    ¡°Deal,¡± Tifayn said, forcefully shaking Brant¡¯s hand before Alix could even contemplate the offer. ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the castle and we can discuss things in more detail.¡± As if the matter was completely decided, Tifayn climbed up the ladder and disappeared over the other side.

    Evory finally came down from her perch up the tree once she saw that Tifayn had retreated far into the grounds on the other side of the wall.

    ¡°Phew, I thought for sure she was going to headbutt me with those horns again. I think I¡¯ll stay in the north tower for now. At least I know she can¡¯t get to me there. Come on Casimir, let¡¯s get you something else to eat and a proper bed to sleep in.¡±

    Once again Alix was left without time to object before Evory and Brant were back over the ladder again and he was left alone in the woods.

    That definitely didn¡¯t go the way I expected it to¡­

 Chapter 13: Impractical Potions

    Alix longed to stay behind in the woods and forget all his problems. He wanted to throw himself into clearing all the trees around the walls, collecting enough lumber that they could replace every scrap of rotten wood in the castle, but his heart had sank at Brant¡¯s tale. If his wife had been sold into slavery a week ago, there was little chance of finding her now. She could be half way across Babyl by now, although he didn¡¯t have much idea of its scale. Maybe she was already on the other side of the world. Plus, the combined strain of carrying thousands of lengths of lumber, and the hours spent training with Tifayn, had exhausted his body. If everyone was set on this course of action though, they needed to get moving as soon as possible. With a heavy sigh, he left the clearing and climbed back over the wall.

    ¡°What in the Naether is that!¡±

    Alix heard a voice yelling as he entered the castles once grand entrance chamber. The voice came from upstairs, and as he rushed up the steps he noticed that some of the dodgier ones had been recently replaced with fresh wood. He quickly opened his map and found where Tifayn, Evory and Brant were congregated, in a room near to where he had taken refuge his first night in the castle. He distinctly remembered the room being in pretty rough shape back then, but when he entered the room, through a newly installed door, he found a fire burning in the hearth, the holes in the floor repaired, and the skeletons installing shutters over the broken windows until they could source some glass. The chairs had been brought into the room, and a remarkably intact dining table had been found.

    Tifayn was sitting at the table, nursing a large glass of wine, and Evory was sitting as far away as she could at the other end with a glass of her own. Brant was pressed up against the wall by the door, a look of fear plastered on his face as he stared at the reanimated dead installing the wooden shutters and tending to the fire with remarkably nimble fingers. Damn, they are working fast, Alix thought to himself.

    ¡°I told you already, the only ones here are me,¡± Alix began, pointing at himself, ¡°a demon,¡± he pointed at Tifayn, ¡°a vampire,¡± he pointed at Evory, ¡°and hundreds of skeletons,¡± he then waved his hand around the entire room. Just then Mr Bones entered the room with a tray of food, followed by a couple more skeletons carrying yet more food, a keg of beer and some mugs. Brant stayed frozen where he was until the food had been placed on the table and the skeletons retreated from the room, to continue their endless tasks. ¡°The sooner you start believing what I say the better. Now, pour yourself a drink and we can discuss what to do next,¡± Alix said, taking a seat beside Tifayn and pouring himself a drink.

    Brant unpeeled himself from the wall and stiffly followed Alix¡¯s command. He poured himself a full tankard of beer and after taking a few appreciative sips, downed the whole thing, before filling another one and then taking a seat up near Evory. Alix stated at him expectantly but he wasn¡¯t forthcoming with any plan.

    ¡°What? My plan was to come here and kill you. I don¡¯t have any more ideas. If you have any, feel free to share,¡± Brant eventually said around a mouthful of beer.

    ¡°Well, it sounds to me like we don¡¯t have much time to sit around and discuss what to do. If the men that took your wife mentioned slavers, then the logical thing to do would be to find some and try get some information from them. As an Imperial soldier, I¡¯m sure you must know something of the kingdom¡¯s underworld,¡± Alix said, trying to coax more useful information out of him.

    ¡°There are a few slavery gangs working in the kingdom. There is no way of knowing which one she might have been sold to,¡± Brant replied bluntly.

    ¡°Then we will just have to look into them all. We should try and question the men you left your wife with as well, see if there¡¯s something they remember.¡±

    ¡°I trust my men to have told me everything they know already.¡±

    ¡°But I don¡¯t. I¡¯ve had dealings with the Imperial Army before and I can tell you that there are a few assholes among you.¡±

    ¡°This is all meaningless, unless we can find a way to get you into the city,¡± Tifayn said, bringing all his plans crashing down. Alix had completely forgotten that he couldn¡¯t just walk in there and look around.

    Alix groaned in frustration. Back to the library. Again. Actually... Alix opened up his map again and opened a communication line with Mr Bones.

    Mr Bones, there¡¯s something I meant to ask you. I heard one of the previous Darknight¡¯s was a librarian and she was the one that created the card catalogue system. Is she among the ones I resurrected from the crypt?

    She is, my lord, Mr Bones replied.

    Excellent. Could you send her to me?

    She will be with you momentarily, my lord.

    ¡°What are you planning?¡± Tifayn asked. She smirked at him as if she was glad he was starting to come up with ideas by himself.

    ¡°I can¡¯t keep spending all my time looking through the library for the information I need, so I might have found someone that can help me find it, and help organise the uncatalogued books,¡± Alix said.

    A few moments later the door opened and a skeleton walked in.

    ¡°Are you Astrid?¡± Alix asked the new arrival.

    ¡°Yes, my son,¡± the skeleton replied in the same disembodied voice as Mr Bones, but distinctly feminine. The text hovering above her changed from Skeleton to Astrid, Lv. 724. With her name back, it almost looked like she stood straighter, prouder, if that was possible for a skeleton.

    Damn, all that reading must have done her some good. Alix suddenly wondered if the skeletons could keep levelling up after their death? He wished he had a notes section in his interface where he could store all the questions he wanted to ask.

    ¡°Great, I was hoping you would be able to help me. The ring told me that you are the one that came up with the card catalogue system for the library. It¡¯s been very helpful for me so far, but over the centuries none of the new books have been added to the catalogue so its becoming a bit of a mess. I was wondering if you would be interested in continuing the work you started? I would also really appreciate it if you could help me find certain things when I need them.¡±

    ¡°I have wished for nothing more. Thank you, my son. I will begin at once.¡±

    ¡°Before you go, there¡¯s two things I would like you to find me first. I need a book on making clothes, and another on how to change my appearance somehow so I can go into town unnoticed.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°I think I know just the thing,¡± Astrid said, before leaving with a new sense of purpose.

    ¡°Why did she keep calling you her son?¡± Brant asked from across the room. He had shifted seats once Astrid had entered the room to put Evory between them.

    ¡°She used to be a Darknight. All of the skeletons used to be Darknights. It only just occurred to me that I should be utilising their knowledge instead of just their labour though,¡± Alix said.

    ¡°Let us eat for now,¡± Tifayn said to the group. ¡°We only have a day or two to spare before we need to leave so let¡¯s enjoy it while we can.¡±

    It took several hours before Astrid finally returned, just as Alix was about to call it a night. Evory and Brant had already retired for the night. Evory didn¡¯t need sleep like a normal human did, but Brant was still weak from his ordeal. He had been sleeping rough for the past week, hunting after ghosts, and he had drank too much beer on a stomach that had been light on food for days. Alix couldn¡¯t understand why he was sticking with Evory so much, considering she was the one that had fought him in the grounds. He suddenly thought back to all the vampire films he had seen. Had Evory biting him created some bond between them? Was Brant going to turn into a vampire? He hadn¡¯t shown any signs of it, if that was even how it worked in Babyl. He hoped Evory wouldn¡¯t take it upon herself to rebuild the entire vampire race by stealing people from others. Although it really didn¡¯t matter in the end. Once his five years here were up, she could do what she liked without him stopping her.

    Tifayn had also gone to bed. Brant had tried to insist they leave first thing in the morning, but Tifayn had resisted. The whole thing would be a guaranteed failure if they weren¡¯t prepared, and they needed at least a day or two for that. What she really wanted was to spend more time training Alix, which was fine with him if they were going to be going up against slavers. He didn¡¯t want to rely on the ring¡¯s abilities to save him if it came to a proper fight. The sooner he learned how to handle himself in battle, the better. Plus, they needed to see what Astrid came up with as well.

    Astrid was as flustered as it was possible for a skeleton to look when she returned to the dining room. She carried a handful of books in her arms and she deposited them on the table with a shake of her head.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry it took me so long to return. I cannot believe the state the library is in,¡± Astrid said, all formality gone from her voice. Now she sounded more like a mother about to chastise her son for doing something wrong. ¡°It is such a simple system, I don¡¯t know why no one thought to keep it up. I know it is not your fault, you have only just arrived. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to restore it to its rightful state. I have found the books you requested, although there may be more among the unsorted. It will take me a while yet to catalogue them all. If you will excuse me, I would like to get back to the library.¡±

    Astrid left as quickly as she had arrived, before Alix could ask her exactly what part of the books were relevant. She had found more books than Alix was expecting, some of them fairly thick. Any thought of getting an early night faded. If they wanted to leave within the next couple of days, he needed to read through the books.

    The first one he picked up was another that looked like it had been lifted straight from his own world. The Complete Book of Tailoring looked more like The Complete Book of Fancy Ass Suits, but that would still suit some of his needs. The next book, The Weaver¡¯s Handbook, was what he was really looking for.

    It began with a brief overview of the converting of raw material into yarn. The raw material is turned into fibre, which he already had, and then the fibre combed and blended into a roving. The roving was then spun into thread and at that point the thread could be woven into fabric. A few more pages were dedicated to diagrams of all the tools used, the various forms of looms, before each step was further expanded upon. It covered every aspect of the fabric making process, all the way up to dyeing and fabric finishing.

    By the time he had finished power reading the book several hours later, he had unlocked various new Titles, and a whole range of new Crafting abilities. Together they all meant that he could now open his Crafting menu, select Fabric, and the Fibre he had collected immediately wove itself into Fabric.

    Alix crafted a tonic with the addition of a few coffee beans before he opened the book on tailoring. It was a very dry read, full of the intricacies of tailoring the perfect suit for any style or occasion. He was at least glad to see that it contained designs for more clothes other than suits. The tonic was wearing off by the time the notification bell finally went, telling him he had unlocked Tailoring.

    The option appeared under the Crafting menu and he eagerly selected it. All of the various clothes he had read about appeared in a list, along with a list called Outfits that grouped together bits and pieces. One of them was called Librarian Uniform. It had a stated Fabric cost underneath the icon, which he was able to cover ten times over. He selected the uniform, and then another menu appeared asking him to select who the outfit was for from another list, which showed everyone that had been logged into his Map. It only took a second to find Astrid, as the majority of the names on the list were Skeleton. He would have to find a way to learn all of their real names soon.

    With a flash, a fresh pair of Librarian Robes appeared on the table before him. The voluminous robes were a rich shade of red, with gold bands around the hems and sleeves. They seemed pretty elaborate and ornate for a librarians uniform to Alix, but he had yet to see another librarian in Babyl to compare them to. They suited his purpose though; to give back the skeletons some of their humanity by restoring their names and clothing them. The other skeletons would have to wait a while yet. Even with his large stores of Fabric, he would only have enough to clothe a dozen or so.

    Alix left the clothes on the table and moved on to the next book; Impractical Potions. It was thicker than both Practical Potions Volume 1 & 2 combined. He debated leaving the book until tomorrow, thinking it had to only be a few hours until sunrise, but on the other hand he longed to know what impractical potions were. Then he noticed the book had a ribbon bookmark. He flipped to the marked page, and saw that Astrid had already done the work for him. Then Alix learned just what an impractical potion was.

    This potion is impractical for several reasons. The first one is the problematic ingredient, Lovebud. Lovebud is a very rare and highly potent aphrodisiac, one that¡¯s use is banned in most regions across Babyl. The second is that the process of distilling its essence into a non-lethal form is lengthy and prone to failure. If the process is successful, the resulting essence can then be used to produce the potion known as Obscene Privilege, the production of which is itself length and expensive.

    The last impracticality are the effects of the potion itself. Even diluted, the effects of the Lovebud are extremely potent, although the potion does not affect the drinker themselves, but those around them, with the effects increasing the longer the user is in contact with someone.

    The user will no longer appear as themselves to anyone around them. They will become an object of desire, differing from eye to eye. The beholders will do anything that is asked of them to appease the user, with the effects increasing to harmful levels of worship and devotion after long exposure. In most cases, the user is forced to flee and live in solitude until the effects wear off.

    Use with extreme caution.

    <ul>

    <li>Recipe Acquired: Obscene Privilege.</li>

    </ul>

    Despite the books claim that its ingredients were extremely rare, he found that he already had them in his inventory in abundance. He was apprehensive about creating the potion but now that he finally knew something that Lovebud could be used for, he was eager to try it out, although he wasn¡¯t entirely sure that it was going to be appropriate enough for their needs. He didn¡¯t want Brant falling madly in love with him. He made sure to craft a new vial first, and then he selected the recipe for Obscene Privilege.

    <ul>

    <li>Obtained x1 Obscene Privilege. </li>

    </ul>

    Alix took the potion out from his inventory to have a look at it. The contents of the vial at first looked like an ominous black, but as he turned it and it caught the light, it began to glitter and swirl with captivating shades of red, pink and purple. Before he could stop himself, he found the vial half way to his lips. It felt like his head was full of cotton, unable to think clearly. He quickly returned the vial to the safety of his inventory and decided to call it a night.

    Alix sent a quick message to Astrid letting her know the robes were for her, then retreated to his rooms. He downed a Nightbringer Draught and hoped he wouldn¡¯t be too exhausted for whatever Tifayn had planned for the morning.

 Chapter 14: Forging the Dark Sword

    The first thing Alix noticed on waking the next morning was the visible increase in his muscle mass. It was weird waking up to an unfamiliar body, but it helped that he was slowly getting the body he had always wanted. It was just as painful as he had expected. He made sure to craft a few more tonics while he was still in bed before Tifayn began working him again.

    Alix rolled over to look for Tifayn, but found the bed already empty. Ever since Evory had given him the crown, their relationship had taken a noticeable turn, although he was glad that she was no longer being swayed against her will. He couldn¡¯t deny that he missed the attention. He suddenly wished he hadn¡¯t cut down every flower in the garden. Did demons even like flowers?

    With the bed empty, he suddenly panicked, thinking he had overslept and that the day was already half over, but looking out the window he could see that the sun was just rising. Tifayn must have woken early to get a head start on their preparations.

    The Nightbringer Draught had left him feeling well rested despite the fact that he must have only slept three or four hours so he jumped out of bed. There was a lot to discuss with everyone.

    A quick look at his map showed him that everyone had already gathered back in the dining room so after brewing himself a cup of coffee he made his way there. Holding the steaming brew gave him a sense of normalcy.

    There was already a debate raging by the time he arrived, although it sounded like it was just the same things they had already discussed the night before.

    ¡°We need to leave, today!¡± Brant almost begged the impassive Tifayn.

    ¡°We cannot. Alix needs one more day of training, and we need to see what our options are to get him into Galdea. He doesn¡¯t have any weapons or armour either so if we can make a plan to get some money to buy some, then that would be a bonus,¡± Tifayn explained calmly over a cup of her bitter tea.

    ¡°I found a solution for that last night, but I don¡¯t think you are going to like it,¡± Alix said as he walked into the room, taking a seat near Tifayn.

    ¡°I was wondering why you came to bed so late. What did you find?¡± Tifayn asked.

    ¡°It was Astrid that found it. She brought me this book,¡± he pointed towards the volume that was still sitting on the table. The robes had disappeared sometime in the night. ¡°I managed to craft the potion, but it sounds like it has some issues.¡±

    ¡°Well what is it? Can it get you into Galdea unnoticed?¡± Tifayn pressed.

    ¡°Not really¡­¡± Alix pulled the potion he had crafted the night before and placed it on the table for everyone to see. The shimmering liquid glittered even brighter in the light of the rising sun that shone through the one remaining window pane. ¡°This potion is called Obscene Privilege. If I take it then it basically means that everyone will give me anything that I want, will do anything to please me. It won¡¯t get me into Galdea unnoticed, but it will let me move freely within the city, at least for a time. There is just one problem though. If I take this potion, I will have to go alone.¡±

    There was an instant uproar from Brant and Tifayn, both competing to argue with him the loudest. They were both to go with him, no questions asked. The way Alix saw things though, that wasn¡¯t an option.

    ¡°Look, I know it sounds like the worst possible plan, but this potion will affect everyone around me. If I take it and you all come with me, if will affect all of you as well. You won¡¯t focus on the mission anymore, only what you can do to please me, and the longer you are around me, the worse the effects will get. You will probably start fighting each other over me and then the entire thing will be a disaster. Unless Astrid can find something else today, I don¡¯t see how we have any other choice. I¡¯ll go to Galdea alone and find out what I can. The potion should at least ensure that I won¡¯t have any trouble selling the potions I¡¯ve crafted for a good price, or any trouble buying a decent set of armour, and anyone that I ask any questions will answer me truthfully without delay. The only thing I¡¯ll need to worry about it spending too much time there.¡± Alix said his piece but Brant and Tifayn weren¡¯t about to be dissuaded to easily.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be that much different than the effects of the bond,¡± Tifayn said.

    ¡°Considering it is banned across Babyl, I¡¯m going to assume the effects are a lot worse. We can¡¯t risk it, Tifayn. I¡¯ll get in and out as quick as I can, and then keep my distance from everyone until the effects wear off.¡±

    ¡°How long are the effects meant to last?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t check, I just made the potion and then went to bed.¡± Alix pulled the book towards him and scoured the pages for any extra information he might have missed. On the opposite page, he found what he was looking for. ¡°It says it last for one hour per millilitre. Damn that must be some potent stuff. If I drank this whole vial it would probably last for a week. I¡¯ll have to be careful with it.¡± Alix stuck the potion back in his inventory.

    ¡°I think we should see if Astrid can find any alternative. If she comes up with nothing by the end of the day, then I don¡¯t think we have any other choice,¡± Tifayn announced.

    ¡°Do you expect me to just sit on my arse all day waiting for a skeleton to read some books?¡± Brant exclaimed.

    ¡°No, I will be training Alix and it would probably do you some good to get some training in as well.¡±

    ¡°I told you, I will only help after you bring me the ones responsible for taking my wife.¡± Brant gathered an armful of food and stormed out of the room.

    ¡°You really should be making more use of the Soulbind,¡± Tifayn said once Brant was gone.

    ¡°I¡¯m not intending on treating him like a puppet. I only cast Soulbind to stop him from attacking me. It doesn¡¯t really matter anyway. I can see him on my map and all he does is wander down hallways until he bumps into a skeleton and then he runs the other way until the same thing happens again.¡±

    Alix was keen to visit Astrid but Tifayn wouldn¡¯t let him go. She forced him to eat a hearty breakfast, and then she dragged him back outside to continue his training. He didn¡¯t really see what difference one more day would make, but Tifayn insisted.

    With the sword in his hand, the morning hours sped past. Alix was soon attacking, returning Tifayn¡¯s blows as quick as she could strike, but his footwork was still sloppy. Learning to balance wasn¡¯t coming as naturally to him as he would have liked, but with his Swordsman Title, he still gained months¡¯ worth of experience in a few hours. He had expected to unlock special move skills like all the characters in the RPG¡¯s he had played before, powerful sword moves that could defeat an opponent in an instant, but nothing popped up, other than the notification when he reached Level 11. Instead he was left with what he could only describe as turbo charged muscle memory.

    Their session only came to an end when he deflected yet another blow, but this time both their swords cracked and half their lengths flew off into the grounds.

    Tifayn smiled and then threw away the rest of her sword. ¡°You should keep that as souvenir,¡± she said, pointing at the ruined sword.

    ¡°It¡¯s not going to do me much use now. Do you have any more?¡±

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t expect you to break them so soon. This is good though. You are getting stronger. I was hoping we would have the forge up and running before this happened, but you are learning faster than I expected. I think you are ready for a proper sword.¡±

    Alix had yet to check in with Mr Bones about the forge since he had last mentioned uncovering it, but from the occasional look at his map, he knew the skeletons had maintained a constant presence there so they had to be working on it somehow.

    Before heading to check it out, he opened a communication line with Astrid.

    Astrid, have you found any alternative solution to the Obscene Privilege potion?

    None yet. I know there is a book in here on illusionary magic, but it seems to have been misplaced over the centuries.

    How are the robes?

    Magnificent.

    From where they were practising in the grounds, it was only a short walk to the newly installed side door which led directly to the forge. The doorway had been completely restored, as had the hallway beyond, fresh mortar lining the re-laid stones. Only a few steps along the path was the entrance to the forge, which they found bustling with skeletons.

    Alix had expected the forge to be a run down and dingy place, a forgotten hovel in a far corner of the castle, but it was the complete opposite. It had a low vaulted ceiling, a solid stone floor and a remarkably intact stone hearth. Every surface was blackened from centuries of soot, but the skeletons had done an admirable job sweeping the floor clean. A large pair of double wooden doors which led outside to another part of the grounds were in the process of being replaced. He was surprised he hadn¡¯t noticed them before, but then he remembered a portion of the west tower had collapsed around that area of the grounds.

    ¡°What are these vents in the roof for?¡± he asked Mr Bones when he found him overseeing the cleaning.

    ¡°They are part of an old heating system. Each one has a special spelled brick placed around the entrance that filters out all the harmful fumes in the smoke, sending clean hot air around the castle. Warmth never used to be a problem in the castle as the forge used to be run all day, and the underfloor heating kept everything warm at night,¡± Mr Bones replied.

    ¡°¡­underfloor heating? You are telling me I¡¯ve been shivering my ass off and this whole time there¡¯s been underfloor heating?¡± Alix couldn¡¯t believe this was the first he was hearing of it.

    ¡°Apologies, my lord. Warmth is one of the things us skeletons have long forgotten about. The system is still mostly intact from what I¡¯ve seen, apart from a few of the further away wings where the floors are damaged. I would have mentioned it sooner, but the system needs to be activated with the keystone. Unfortunately the keystone is in the vault, the passage to which is still underwater.¡±

    ¡°Damn, I¡¯ll have to have a look at some point and see if there¡¯s a way through. Heating would change everything. Is the forge useable just now? We can at least try out the heating vents, and it looks like I have need of a sword.¡±

    ¡°It is still a bit rough and there are only a few tools left, but it will work. When I saw your training had begun, I concentrated my efforts on fixing it up, knowing you would have need of it sooner rather than later. The castle has never been in quite this state before, but the Darknight has always had to rely on the forge. I expected the ring to have told you as much.¡±

    ¡°It hasn¡¯t mentioned anything about the forge so far. What is it that I am supposed to know?¡± Alix asked, wondering again why the rings were making it so hard on Leon and himself. They were the one thing they had been given to get them through this mess, but so far, they hadn¡¯t been forthcoming with the information that they needed, unless he knew what question to ask first.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Any of us could handle the forge if needed, but most of the Darknights before have taken to it themselves. It would be easy to pass on the last Darknight¡¯s sword, but all have ended up forging their own. No other blade will ever feel like the right fit. Eventually you will be drawn to the forge as well, and the ring will help you to craft the perfect weapon. The Darknight has not always wielded a sword, so it may be that a sword won¡¯t be the best fit for you either. You might forge a hammer, or an axe. I have seen plenty of both before, as well as halberds, spears, knives, staves, even bows, although the carpentry workshop is still a mess. We will need to replace the windows before it is a suitable place to work with wood again. Still, it will need to be stocked with tools, and we will need the forge running for that. We just need materials to work with now,¡± Mr Bones replied.

    Alix had always thought it would be cool to be a swordsmith, although he knew that wasn¡¯t a reality for most blacksmiths. It was an extreme niche reserved for YouTube, one he had spent many hours enjoying. It was a shame he didn¡¯t have the ring back then as he currently knew nothing about how to forge a sword, or anything else for that matter. He had read a book on metallurgy, but hadn¡¯t gotten around to one on metalworking yet.

    Astrid, could you bring me a book on metalworking to the forge as soon as you can please, he quickly communicated with the librarian.

    There was no reply but in a few moments he noticed Astrid¡¯s dot leaving the library and make her way down to the forge.

    ¡°We better get started then, we don¡¯t have any time to waste,¡± Alix said, stepping over to the hearth.

    There was no usable coal left in the place, all the stocks having rotted away to dust, so they would have to rely on wood to light the forge. They couldn¡¯t spare any of the good timber, so he dipped into his inventory and drew out the scraps he had collected, the stumps and some of the curvier branches that had broken down into generic wood. In an empty corner of the room, he deposited as much of the wood as he could. The stack rose from floor to ceiling, and he still had plenty remaining in his inventory. He had a plan for that once the book arrived.

    Tifayn and Mr Bones seemed to be just as excited as Alix was to get the forge running again. They both carted armfuls of wood over to the hearth and piled it high with fuel. Once it was filled, he raised his hand and spoke the spell he had already chosen.

    ¡°Ignite!¡±

    A red spell circle wove itself out of his hand, rotated and grew, and then condensed into a beam that shot into the depths of the hearth. The wood ignited with a boom that shook the room, as if the wood had been sitting in a pool of petrol, sending scorched splinters flying into the air, followed by a plume of smoke. Alix thought it had been an embarrassing failure at first, but then he noticed red flames licking up through the smoke. Soon the smoke was sucked up through the vents and away, and the fire in the hearth was burning steadily.

    When they had the fire going, Alix realised that he had nothing to work with. It had felt like an accomplishment just getting the fire going. The chill had left the room, the damp drying from the stones, when the skeletons turned to him expectantly. Mr Bones had gathered the ones that still retained a bit of their blacksmithing knowledge. The older the skeleton, the less they remembered who they had been, but still some of their memories remained.

    ¡°What are we supposed to work with?¡± Alix asked, and Mr Bones suddenly realised their problem.

    ¡°I will fetch some pieces from the armoury. Most of them aren¡¯t good for much other than smelting down anyway.¡±

    As Mr Bones left the room with a few of the skeletons in tow, Astrid entered the forge. He didn¡¯t recognise her at first wearing her librarian robes. They were as magnificent as she had claimed. The look was completed by an official looking hat she had found from somewhere.

    ¡°Here is the book you asked for. I see you are forging your Darknight weapon. So soon. You must have an affinity with the blade. That is good,¡± Astrid said, handing over a book simply titled Metalworking: Tools, Materials & Processes for the Artisan.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know about all that, I just need a weapon. Did you manage to find any alternative to the Obscene Privilege potion?¡± Alix asked, hoping she had found the missing book.

    ¡°Unfortunately not. I have noticed quite a few handy books are missing, many of which hold great value. I dread to think what has become of them.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure they will turn up somewhere. Thanks Astrid, you are going a great job.¡±

    Astrid bowed slightly and then departed back to the library. She spent every moment of her time there now and she seemed to be enjoying every second of it. Alix found a stool and took it over to sit by the wide double doors, where the light from outside would help him read. He quickly turned to the first page and began to read, his mind filling with all the swordmaking skills he had longed to master as a nerdy teenager reading the latest epic fantasy tome.

    Mr Bones returned while Alix was getting started on powering through the book. Between him and the other skeletons that had gone with him, they were carrying a small hoard of damaged blades and armour. They deposited the load on the ground and began sorting through it.

    Most of it went into a pile which the skeletons moved to the smelting furnace on the other side of the room, where the pieces beyond use or repair could be melted down for their precious metals. Mr Bones kept back a few choice blades, narrowing it down to one, a bent and chipped short sword.

    Alix analysed it with the ring, thinking Mr Bones had to have made the wrong choice.

    <ul>

    <li>Azurite Short Sword. Power Rating 0. </li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Are you sure this is what I should use? It looks like it would be better of going into the smelter,¡± Alix asked, taking a quick break from the book.

    ¡°Of course. The Azurite is wasted on this blade. It deserves to be saved. It was never tempered correctly, so it is useless as it is, but Azurite is a very precious material. You don¡¯t want to make your own sword out of anything less. The Solknight will have a dozen fine blades to choose from already, but none will be as good as one he forges himself. We can only hope he never follows the urge to forge his own if he is convinced that his money can buy him something better.¡±

    ¡°If you are sure. I¡¯ll finish reading this book and get started.¡±

    Mr Bones nodded his approval and went back to tend the hearth while Alix read. Tifayn alternated between examining the broken blades herself, and helping the skeletons fill the smelter. They would need more than just the wood to light the smelter, but Alix thought he should have a solution before he was finished reading.

    The solution came shortly after, when he noticed that a new option to Dismantle the wood had appeared. It was now possible for him to turn it into Charcoal, which he did with a large portion of the remaining wood in his inventory. He deposited the load in a large stone bin and both Mr Bones and the other skeletons quickly started shovelling it into their respective furnaces.

    Once Alix knew what sort of blade he was going to be working with, he skipped through the book to the relevant chapters, after finishing the introductory chapters that covered the basics of metalworking, which unlocked the Title Blacksmith. He was no longer surprised by the random text that popped up in the world around him. He didn¡¯t miss his phone or Google at all. He knew the names of everything around him, and he was learning new skills at a swift rate. With his Bibliophile skills, he was able to read a page in a matter of seconds. Within an hour, the notification bell went and a new Title appeared: Swordsmith. At that point he felt like there was no time left to keep reading so he put down the book and went to join Mr Bones and Tifayn by the forge. With the addition of the charcoal, the forge was now at a scorching heat.

    The pair of them continued to stoke the fire while Alix broke down the Azurite short sword and prepared it for forging back into an ingot to begin from scratch. They only had a few tools to go around so he was forced to do the brunt of the work alone. The skeletons worked away in the corner. They seemed to be more skilled than he had given them credit for. He hoped they would be able to run the forge and create some basic tools without him. As it was, he was left holding the only serviceable hammer in the place.

    It was fairly basic work, heating the blade and then hammering it on the anvil. It folded easily under his strikes, compressing into a thick bar. He felt his muscles growing under his shirt as he worked. Soon he had to strip down under the sweltering heat from the forge, but with his new skills and titles, he felt perfectly at ease, the forge no more than an old familiar friend. Tifayn worked the bellows and Mr Bones kept the fire well fed.

    When the ingot was ready, he began to hammer it to form, continuing to fold the metal as he did, until he had long lost count of its layers. The ring guided his movements, and he felt a power flowing through it, into the Azurite. He thought of what he wanted and the ring made it happen, the Azurite lengthening into the shape of a sword again. Suddenly he realised that he was being drawn towards the work, that he wouldn¡¯t be able to stop at this point no matter how hard he tried. If anyone tried to stop him, he would fight them to the death.

    He forgot the skeletons, Tifayn and Mr Bones as he hammered away, forgot himself as he shaped the edges and crafted the tang. He didn¡¯t notice when they stopped their own jobs to watch him work. The blade became longer than the piece he had started with, until something told him it was time to stop. It felt like waking up from a dream, and he suddenly noticed the eyes on him, or the stares from where eyes had been. The skeletons were somehow able to convey a range of emotions without them. He shoved the blade back into the fire.

    Alix knew that it was time to heat treat the blade. He asked the ring how, and the ring told him what to do, turning him towards a curious stone pit carved into the floor.

    I need oil, he thought, and he once again found what he needed in his inventory. A mixture of seed, plant and wood oils pooled as a viscous in the carved pit. With a pair of tongs he grabbed the shining blade and dropped it in the oil.

    The blade hissed and smoked, until it had cooled. Then he grabbed the blade and pulled it from the pit. The Azurite came out perfectly straight, and it had turned a glossy black, whorled elaborate patterns hiding just beneath the glossy surface. It was a lot longer than the blade he had started with, yet it somehow felt lighter and more balanced.

    Alix took a quick drink of water before returning to his work. Some of the wood he had harvested had been used to repair the frame of the forges grinding wheels, and he used them to sharpen the blade. Once he was pleased with the edge, he plunged the blade back into the fire one last time, performed a final tempering, and then stopped to admire his work, and as he did so, his notification bell went again.

    <ul>

    <li>Reached Lv. 12.</li>

    </ul>

    Alix never imaged he would be able to craft such a fine piece. He had always admired those that could accomplish such things with their hands.

    ¡°That is a fine blade, my lord,¡± Mr Bones said, breaking the silence. It was still strange, hearing words coming from the bones, but it was stranger still that he was getting used to it. The others muttered amongst themselves, in their own language of clacking bones.

    Alix was unwilling to stop and speak until he had completely finished the blade. He dug through his Woodworking crafting menu until he found what he was looking for, a basic sword hilt. He crafted the hilt and pulled it from his inventory, already pre drilled for the tang. He burned the handle onto the hilt, and then a name appeared above the sword.

    Xilian.

    Alix thought it was strange that the sword had a name of its own, considering he had just been going for a plain Azurite sword, something that would hold up against Tifayn¡¯s swings.

    ¡°Well done, Alix. I didn¡¯t expect you to be able to craft such an extraordinary sword so easily,¡± Tifayn said once he had the finished blade in hand. He could barely remember half of the steps he had taken to complete it. He passed the sword over for her to examine when she wouldn¡¯t take her eyes off of it.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything extraordinary about it really. I feel like the sword did most of the work,¡± Alix replied, although his body was still the one that had taken the brunt of the work and his muscles ached. He drank a tonic as Tifayn poured over the sword, inspecting every inch of it from every angle. ¡°It is called Xilian. Does that mean anything?¡±

    ¡°That is what is extraordinary about it. I can tell it isn¡¯t a normal Azurite blade. Only swords imbued with their creator¡¯s magic become sentient enough to name themselves.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying this sword is alive?¡± Alix asked. He couldn¡¯t deny that he felt a bond with it, although he thought that was just pride at his accomplishment. He was more eager to wield and train with this sword than the wooden one.

    ¡°In a way. It has only just been forged, but as you grow, it will grow alongside you, and the more you use it, the stronger it will become.¡±

    That seemed a bit overpowered to Alix, but he had to keep reminding himself that was the way things were in this world. He couldn¡¯t let anything surprise him or he would have no chance at surviving. He had pondered curling up into a ball somewhere and hiding for the rest of his life, but he knew that wasn¡¯t an option. The ring had made it clear that he couldn¡¯t hide from what was coming. Once the five years were up, the rings and their wearers will be compelled to come together and fight until there was only one of them left standing. He would have to make use of every overpowered weapon and spell he could think of, even if it did feel a bit like he was cheating, although if RPGs had thought him anything, it was that the first sword he received was nowhere near the strongest in the game. Either Xilian would grow into that weapon or he would have to find it elsewhere.

    To Alix it had only felt like an hour or so since he had begun working in the forge, but by the time his senses returned to him, the sun was beginning to set and he realised it had taken most of the day to finish the sword. The cold began to blow in the open double doors. Alix felt bad that they hadn¡¯t managed to make any other preparations for their journey, but by the time he was finished crafting Xilian, he was too exhausted to do anything else. It felt like when the sword dumped a load of information on him all at once. He just hoped he didn¡¯t pass out for days again this time.

    They let the fire die down and Alix and Tifayn retreated to their rooms. The skeletons that never tired headed off to work returned to their smelting. Mr Bones assured him they would be able to handle the forge themselves from now on, as long as they had a supply of fuel and materials. Alix thanked them for their work, and then fell into bed, exhausted, and Tifayn curled up beside him.

 Chapter 15: Obscene Privilege I - Gold

    Seeing the pristine white walls of Galdea again, Alix was suddenly struck by just how different his life was in the castle. He had forgotten what it was like to see a crowd, forgotten the convenience of being within walking distance of anything he might need. The sights and sounds were almost overwhelming at first, but he had a job to do, one that was becoming more urgent by the minute.

    As he feared, he had been knocked out after forging Xilian, the ring having imbued him with the knowledge of how to forge the Darknight¡¯s weapon. It also didn¡¯t help that he had spent the morning training so heavily. The result was that he woke up a day later in Mr Bones arms, being carried through the woods towards Galdea.

    ¡°How come he gets to be carried like that?¡± were the first words he heard upon regaining consciousness, whining from Brant he had assumed was part of a bad dream.

    ¡°I can carry you if you like,¡± Alix heard Evory reply, seemingly oblivious to his petulant attitude.

    ¡°The lord has agreed to help you find your wife. He deserves to rest as much as he sees fit,¡± Mr Bones voice came from somewhere above him.

    Alix fought through the dregs of sleep to see what was really going on, still unsure if he was dreaming or not. Wherever he was, he wasn¡¯t in Tifayn¡¯s comfortable bed. He opened his eyes to see Mr Bones skull floating above him, bobbing in rhythm with his swift pace.

    ¡°You must really be a miserable bastard Brant if even Mr Bones is sick of your shit,¡± Alix said, signalling to them all that he was awake.

    Brant quickly shut his mouth but it took a while longer before Mr Bones finally set him down on the ground. Alix couldn¡¯t bring himself to tell him how uncomfortable it was, instead going with the argument that it made him feel too much like a child.

    Could have at least padded his arms or something¡­

    He soon learned why Mr Bones was carrying him in the first place, and just how far from the castle they already were. It turned out Evory had offered to carry him when it became apparent that he wasn¡¯t going to wake up in time to leave, but Tifayn vehemently refused to let that happen, but unless she wanted to take turns with Evory carrying him, she wouldn¡¯t be able to carry him all the way to Galdea herself, so Mr Bones offered to carry Alix until he woke up. When he did, he saw the unfamiliar stars of Babyl shining down on him.

    As soon as he was back on his own feet, the first thing he did was to craft a strong tonic to soothe the pain from being carried by a skeleton for so long.

    ¡°How long was I out?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°We left the castle yesterday morning so only about a day and a half. You woke up just in time, we are almost there. We thought it best to travel through the night to reach Galdea by morning, giving you a full day in the city,¡± Tifayn replied.

    Mr Bones soon left to return to the castle, uneasy at leaving it unguarded so long. Now that progress was being made with the restoration, they couldn¡¯t risk anything going wrong.

    ¡°Good luck, my lord. I wish you a safe return journey,¡± Mr Bones said, disappearing off into the dark. It would have been a terrifying sight to him before, a black clad reanimated skeleton stalking the woods at night, but now he was just sorry to see him go so soon.

    As they continued on, Alix lost in thought as to what he was getting himself in to, he realised that he had no idea where to find what he was looking for. The time he had spent in Galdea before hadn¡¯t exactly been pleasant, and his recollections of the streets were non-existent.

    ¡°You don¡¯t happen to have a map of the city or something, do you Brant?¡± Alix asked the forever brooding soldier.

    Before he could reply, Tifayn pulled out a roll of parchment from the bag she carried.

    ¡°I already thought of that. I checked the library while you were asleep and Astrid managed to find this map. It¡¯s very old, but Brant confirmed that the district¡¯s marked on it are generally still correct,¡± Tifayn said, handing over the map.

    Alix unrolled the map as they walked and scanned its contents. As he did, Brant explained the layout.

    ¡°Galdea is a fairly simple city to navigate. The Kingdom has always been run by arrogant royalty that consider themselves superior to every other race in Babyl. The city itself is laid out like Babyl itself, with the castle at the centre representing Babyl. The rest of the city is laid out in concentric rings until they reach the outer wall with cardinal entry points. The wall represents the furthest reaches of Babyl, while the river running around it represents the Deadlands. Stick to the Merchants District, the 7<sup>th</sup> Ring, to do your business, then head to the 3<sup>rd</sup> Ring to find the Military District. The hospital is in the western part of the ring.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Acquired Galdean Map (Archaic)</li>

    </ul>

    I guess that¡¯s better than nothing¡­

    The map loaded up into his interface, a circular city surrounded by fog. Now that he had left the castle, a new feature to zoom in and out appeared. A thin line leading from the castle to their current point showed the path they had taken while he was asleep, mostly travelling through the countryside to avoid running into anyone. Compared to Galdea, the castle was a speck. When he returned he would have to find a map of Babyl to see just how big it was, or maybe he could find one in the city. If it wasn¡¯t safe for him to be travelling then he would never manage to clear the fog from the map without buying the information he needed.

    Alix spent the time studying the map further. There were eight separate districts that made up Galdea, plus the castle at the centre, named as either their District or Ring.

    <ul>

    <li>8<sup>th</sup> Ring ¨C Warehouse District</li>

    <li>7<sup>th</sup> Ring ¨C Merchant District</li>

    <li>6<sup>th</sup> Ring ¨C Lower District</li>

    <li>5<sup>th</sup> Ring ¨C Upper District</li>

    <li>4<sup>th</sup> Ring ¨C Guild District</li>

    <li>3<sup>rd</sup> Ring ¨C Military District</li>

    <li>2<sup>nd</sup><sup> </sup>Ring ¨C Artisan District</li>

    <li>1<sup>st</sup> Ring ¨C Aristocrat District</li>

    <li>Imperial Ring</li>

    </ul>

    Like Brant said, it didn¡¯t look like it would be too difficult to navigate. It looked like they were going to arrive at the East Gate so he planned the route he would take from there, although it would be very hard for him to get lost with the information he already had. The rest of the time he spent Crafting a large stock of potions to sell.

    They came upon Galdea as the sun was rising over the grand white walls. From a vantage point on top of a rise he noticed details about the city he hadn¡¯t had a chance to before. The parapet was painted in a yellow that gave the city the appearance of being ringed by gold, as if the sun was rising from the walls themselves. The castle at the city¡¯s centre was easy to see now, as were the circular rings that made up the city¡¯s districts. Despite the early hour, queues were already building at each of the four entry gates, carts loaded with wares heading for the Merchant District, or weary travellers looking for an inn to rest for the night.

    ¡°I guess this is it,¡± Alix said when the silence drew on too long as they all stared down at their objective.

    ¡°Do you not want to go over your plan one more time?¡± Tifayn asked, a look of concern stuck on her face.

    ¡°There¡¯s not much more to say really, I only have one choice. I¡¯ll find a merchant to buy my potions, hopefully one with deep pockets, then I¡¯ll find an Armourer and get some proper gear. Then I¡¯ll make my way to the Third Ring and find the army hospital and look for Brant¡¯s men. Then I¡¯ll make my way back here. What are the men¡¯s names again?¡± Alix asked Brant, realising he had forgotten to ask before.

    ¡°Warrick and Durgun,¡± Brant said.

    ¡°Durgun?¡± Alix exclaimed, barely able to contain himself. ¡°Is that a common name around here?¡±

    ¡°Not really. Why? What do you know?¡± Brant asked, suddenly tense at Alix¡¯s change in demeanour.

    ¡°One of the assholes that drove me to the castle was called Durgun. The other one was called something stupid like Baldo or Dolo or something.¡±

    ¡°Bolo is his brother. You have met them before? They never mentioned such an assignment to me before.¡± Brant¡¯s face darkened as he began to sense something was amiss.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say I met them. They refused to talk to me the whole way and then kicked me off at the castle. I would say they took great relish in seeing me stumbling through the pissing rain into the ruins. I can¡¯t wait to hear what Durgun has to say now.¡± Alix started to make his way down the wooded slope with a new sense of purpose. ¡°Don¡¯t follow me,¡± he called back when the others started to follow behind. ¡°Once I take the potion, I don¡¯t want any of you anywhere near me. I need to change as well and I don¡¯t want you all watching me.¡±

    Once he was a ways further into the woods, he found a large crop of bushes to hide behind and change, but first he had to craft the new clothes to change into. From his options, he selected a suit that looked semi formal enough that he wouldn¡¯t be given any trouble, but inconspicuous enough that he wouldn¡¯t attract attention in the wrong place. The Fabric disappeared from his inventory and a new outfit appeared. Selecting it showed an Equip button, which he tapped, and then he felt a rush of wind around him. In an instant it settled, and he looked down at the new set of clothes he was suddenly adorned with.

    Alix was worried that the robes he had been given in the castle would be recognised by the wrong person, so he had done away with it and replaced it with a dark green frock over a dark green vest and breeches. Over the whole getup he wore a light black travel cloak, and a simple black tricorne hat, which he chose to spend the extra Fibre crafting so that he could hide his appearance until he had need to use the effects of the potion, which he pulled from his inventory and took a careful sip of. Back in his world it would have been considered opulent, but as he joined the queue waiting to enter the East Gate, he blended right in.

    After taking the potion, nothing felt different, and as he drew closer and closer to the front of the line, he began to panic that he hadn¡¯t taken enough. When he saw everyone in front of him passing some sort of paperwork to the soldiers guarding the East Gate, he panicked further. One guard was checking the paperwork while half a dozen others guarded the open gate.

    What is everyone giving to the guards? he asked the ring.

    Identification Cards. Everyone needs one to enter the city, the ring replied.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    You didn¡¯t think to mention it before now? Alix seethed silently.

    Not really, it wouldn¡¯t have done you any good. They are only issued by the Archivist Guild. Their headquarters, the Iron Chapel, is marked on your map but it wont do you any good going there now. Your Identification Card would still say Name: Alix, Job: Darknight, Address: Darknight¡¯s Castle.

    What the hell am I supposed to do then?

    You are currently the recipient of obscene privilege. Use it.

    Suddenly it was Alix¡¯s turn to approach the guards and he did so on unsteady legs.

    ¡°Identification and purpose of your visit,¡± the guard asked gruffly. He wore a steel breastplate with the Imperial emblem over simple leather armour while the others behind him were fully kitted out in plate mail. It didn¡¯t look very comfortable, and it was likely to get worse once the sun had fully risen. It was looking like it was going to be a hot day.

    Alix lifted his face from under the brim of his hat and then did his best to sound as natural as possible. ¡°I¡¯m sorry friend, I don¡¯t have my Identification Card on me. Lost it in the woods you see. I was just on my way to the Archivist Guild to get it replaced.¡±

    Alix watched as the look on the guards face turned from utter boredom to furious irritation, but as he raised his head from his board, where he was keeping track of numbers entering and exiting the city, to get a look at the asshole causing him trouble, a look of confusion cut through all the anger.

    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Alix continued. ¡°I¡¯m not planning on staying long, just a quick in and out.¡±

    ¡°Problem? Of course not, my love- I mean, my lord.¡± The guard flushed an impressive shade of red. Then he rummaged around in a satchel looped over his shoulder and pulled out a thin piece of wood the size of a credit card. ¡°Please, take this day pass. Is there anything else I can do for you?¡±

    ¡°No, thank you.¡± Alix took the offered card and stepped past the guard before his behaviour turned to full on grovelling. The effects of the potion were truly terrifying. Alix had barely let the liquid touch his lips, and he already had a soldier risking their job for him.

    The line of soldiers behind the guard gave him curious looks as he passed, but he kept his head down and he was allowed to pass without further issue. Alix didn¡¯t breathe a sigh of relief until he had passed under the towering East Gate and slipped into the crowds of the Warehouse District beyond.

    It was easy enough to find the Merchant District. The road ran straight from the East Gate up through at least the first two or three rings and he only had to follow it up a slight incline before he left the Warehouse District behind. It was a long row of bland and bulky buildings. In the area immediately around the gate, stables were set up to care for visitors that had ridden their horses to the city. As he walked, his map updated with the curre2nt street names and layout, which were remarkably similar to the map from what had to be hundreds of years prior.

    On the second ring, or the seventh depending on how you counted, the buildings changed to a mass of crowded shop fronts. It was overwhelming, suddenly being surrounded by so many people after being alone for so long. He suddenly wished he was back in the castle, where the hardest thing to deal with was the cold draught.

    The shops immediately surrounding the East Gate Highway, as it was now called on his map, were all selling fruit and vegetables, bread, meats and every other sort of food he could imagine, the daily necessities that the people living in the upper rings needed. His mouth began to water at the enticing smells of freshly baked pies, ripe fruit and cured meats, but he forced himself to walk past them all. He didn¡¯t have any money anyway.

    Alix kept on walking, making sure to keep his head down, until the food stalls were replaced with the shops he was looking for; potion merchants, and other sellers of magical items. In front of one, a man was calling out to passers by to try and entice them into his store.

    ¡°You there! You look like you have fine taste. Come inside and I¡¯m sure I will have what you are looking for,¡± the man called out to Alix as he passed by the shop. He had intended on ignoring it as the tattered looking fa?ade didn¡¯t tell of a wealthy proprietor, but the man seemed earnest enough, if slightly desperate.

    ¡°Actually, I was looking to sell,¡± Alix replied to the man¡¯s call.

    ¡°Really? I have never seen you around here before. Are you registered with the Alchemist Guild?¡± the man replied. Alix took a quick look at the text floating above the man¡¯s head. Rune, Shopkeeper, Lv. 24.

    ¡°I¡¯m only passing though,¡± Alix said to Rune.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know where you are from then mister but you aren¡¯t authorised to sell in Galdea unless your merchandise is authenticated by the Alchemist Guild first.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a shame. Would you like to see what I¡¯ve got for sale anyway? Maybe something will interest you.¡± Before Rune could decline, Alix placed a few potions from his inventory into his pocket and then pulled them out for him to see.

    Rune put his hands up as if he was about to turn Alix down again, but when he caught sight of the vials glinting in the sun, his attitude quickly changed. Rune looked up and down the street for any sign of anyone else and then dragged Alix into his small shop, sandwiched between a shop that seemed to sell nothing but empty vials and other containers, and another selling books claiming to be ancient grimoires but from the quick look he got at the volumes in the window, they were nothing more than fakes or Herbology texts at best. Rune flipped the Open sign to Closed as he shut the door behind them.

    ¡°Where did you get these potions?¡± Rune asked him once the door was securely locked. At first Alix thought Rune meant to rob him, even though the slight man would have had a hard time doing so, but as his eyes gazed almost lovingly at the vials, Alix knew he had the man hooked.

    ¡°I made them myself. This one is a Healing Potion, this one is an Elixir, and this one is my personal favourite, a Nightbringer Draught.¡± One by one, Alix deposited the vials into Rune¡¯s trembling hands.

    Rune took them over to a counter that lined the far end of the shop and placed them down beside a large counter mounted magnifying glass. Both side walls were lined with various potions and ingredients in boxes and jars. With the ring Alix was able to analyse them all and saw that they were all fairly low quality. There wasn¡¯t even a basic healing potion among them, only salves and basic tonics that he doubted would be of much use. The main thing he noticed was that everything seemed to be for sale for very cheap prices. He admittedly didn¡¯t have much experience or knowledge of what constituted expensive or cheap in Babyl, but everything in the shop was priced in copper or silver coins.

    ¡°These are of exceptional quality,¡± Rune said as he examined each one closely under the magnifying glass.

    How does the monetary system work her? Alix asked the ring as Rune continued to pour over the vials.

    Assuming things haven¡¯t changed recently, there are ten copper coins to a silver, and ten silver coins to a gold. The conversion to ingots and faceted gems is a lot more complicated but you won¡¯t need to know that here.

    ¡°They can be yours for a fair price.¡± Alix was sorely tempted to lean on the effects of the potion to get an even better price, but Rune¡¯s business didn¡¯t look like he wasn¡¯t doing too well. If he couldn¡¯t offer a good enough price, he would just have to try elsewhere.

    Rune debated with himself for a few moments, whispering and cursing under his breath, until he finally asked, ¡°How much?¡±

    ¡°I need a gold coin apiece.¡±

    Rune blanched at the cost. For a moment, he went to pick up the vials to return them to Alix, but Alix made the mistake of raising his head too high when he spotted something on a high shelf that was priced in gold instead of silver or copper, the only thing in the shop. He quickly analysed it. Lesser Antidote.

    That¡¯s odd. I¡¯ve got dozens of those. Why is it being sold for 10 gold pieces?

    ¡°Deal!¡± Alix heard Rune exclaim, bringing him back to his senses.

    Shit.

    He dipped his head but it was already too late. Rune was already under the effects of Obscene Privilege.

    ¡°Now look Rune, I don¡¯t want you buying these if you can¡¯t afford them,¡± Alix said, feeling bad that the man had been about to decline his offer, obviously unable to pay the cost.

    ¡°How do you know my name? Never mind, I don¡¯t care. It must just be fate. Please wait here, I will get the money.¡± Luckily for Alix, and Rune, he had only shown him three potions. Rune handed over three gold coins, the most substantial amount of gold Alix had ever held before in his life, and eagerly took possession of the potions. ¡°Please, is there anything else I can do for you?¡±

    ¡°Yes actually, there is. Why is that Lesser Antidote selling for so much money?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°There is an epidemic in the city at the moment. A poison is spreading, but the cause hasn¡¯t been determined yet. Antidote¡¯s are selling out all over the city. As demand is so high and unable to keep up with the supply, the prices have risen.¡±

    ¡°Do you know a shop that would be interested in purchasing a large quantity of antidotes?¡±

    ¡°I would, I will buy everything you want me to,¡± Rune burst out.

    ¡°Could you afford to Rune? Be truthful.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t afford it, but I would find a way.¡±

    ¡°How about this. I will give you a Lesser Antidote for free if you can tell me someone that would buy a hundred off of me.¡±

    ¡°Only Chanters would be able to buy that much at once,¡± Rune said, the words rushing out of him as if he couldn¡¯t answer Alix¡¯s questions fast enough. ¡°His shop is just around the ring from here, you can¡¯t miss it.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Rune.¡± Alix deposited a Lesser Antidote potion on the counter and left the shop before he caused any further damage.

    Alix made his way around the ring as quickly as he could, chastising himself for being so careless. He hadn¡¯t come here to ruin the lives of those that couldn¡¯t afford it, but he was sure Rune would be able to sell the potions for a profit anyway, and if not, the Antidote would cover it.

    Chanters turned out to be a garish potions shop that almost brought him in line with the South Gate Highway.It was adorned with flags and banners, with its name embossed in gold over the arched entrance. It was still early enough in the morning that he was able to step inside during a quiet moment where he was the only customer, after taking another careful sip of Obscene Privilege.

    A large bespectacled man with an even larger black beard stood behind the counter at the centre of the shop, which was in jarring contrast with Rune¡¯s. The shelves were stacked high with glittering and glistening vials of all shapes, sizes and colours. Cauldrons bubbled aromatic smoke in the corners for effect. Alix quickly scanned the shelves and saw nothing priced cheaper than several gold coins.

    The man behind the counter, named by the ring as Chanter, Alchemist, Lv. 42, was dressed in robes of a rich blue colour, embroidered with almost clich¨¦ stars and runes. Alix half expected him to be wearing a pointed wizards hat to complete the look, but he looked up at Alix from the book he was reading with a half-bored expression.

    ¡°The Antidote¡¯s aren¡¯t ready yet, come back tomorrow,¡± Chanter said in a deep voice, going straight back to his book.

    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m here to sell some Antidote¡¯s, if you are interested.¡± On the way to the shop, Alix had bulked up his supplies, crafted a few crates, and prepared something else special. He placed the crate filled with twenty Lesser Antidotes on the counter, and removed his hat. The crate was a finely crafted display piece by itself.

    Chanter repeated the same questions that Rune had just asked him still refusing to lift his eyes from the book. ¡°Never seen you around here before. When did you join the Guild? What¡¯s your membership number?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure these fine potions would serve your customers well,¡± Alix replied, ignoring the question. He just needed Chanter to raise his eyes¡­

    Finally Chanter put down his book with a sigh and turned his attention towards the crate on his highly polished counter. He lifted a vial from the crate and his brows furrowed.

    ¡°Where did you get these? This quality of antidote sold out in the capital weeks ago,¡± Chanter said, almost to himself.

    ¡°I made them myself. I have plenty more, if you would be interested in purchasing them. I see you are selling Lesser Antidote¡¯s for twelve gold apiece. I will sell you these for eight gold apiece, and for every crate of twenty you purchase, I will throw in a Greater Antidote for five gold pieces. That¡¯s twenty Lesser Antidotes, a Greater Antidote and one of these finely crafted display cases for the bargain price of one hundred and sixty five gold pieces.¡±

    Chanter finally raised his eyes to stare as Alix, as if to say he was out of his mind to demand such a price, but as soon as his eyes went wide, Alix knew he had him.

    ¡°Yes, a bargain most definitely. How many did you say you have? I will take them all,¡± Chanter said, his deep voice growing higher and higher until he sounded like an excited boy at Christmas.

    Alix bent down below the counter, drew three more cases from his inventory, and then lifted them up beside the first. Chanter didn¡¯t even question where they came from as his eyes lit up. He quickly bent down below his side of the counter and emerged with a small chest, which he unlocked with a key from a chain around his wrist. Inside was a small fortune in gold coins, and from it he quickly began to count out six hundred and sixty gold coins. Each one Alix dropped into a bag he had crafted for the express purpose of holding a large amount of gold.

    Alix thought about crafting a few more crates of antidotes and seeing just how many he could get Chanter to buy, but the satchel of gold was already hard enough to carry as it was once it was full.

    ¡°Thank you kindly,¡± Alix said once he had all the gold safely stowed away in his inventory. A handy counter appeared in his interface with his total money.

    ¡°Please, come back any time my lord. I would be honoured to purchase anything else you have for sale,¡± Chanter called, almost bowing down to the ground, as Alix left the shop before any other customers walked in on the odd scene.

    With his newfound fortune, it was time he found some armour.

 Chapter 16: Obscene Privilege II - The Sword & The Dragon

    As Alix kept on walking around the 7<sup>th</sup> Ring, it soon became apparent that the Merchant District wasn¡¯t just home to shopfronts. Every business in Galdea had a presence on the ring. There were workshops of all kinds; academies, banking houses, lumber mills, printmakers, bath houses. Everything the population of the city needed was within its walls. Above the bustling sound of the morning crowds was the hammering of the blacksmiths.

    Alix assumed the Armourers and sellers of swords and other weapons would be near the blacksmiths, if not the same businesses, so he followed the sounds until he found what he was looking for. Most of the West Gate quadrant seemed to be dedicated to the manufacturing and sale of weapons and armour so he had plenty of options to choose from. The shops were easy to identify, the armourers displaying a hanging sign adorned with a shield, while the weapons shops used crossed swords.

    At seeing the rows of fantastical weapons shops lined up before him, he suddenly felt like a kid in a candy store. Alix almost jumped into the first shop, eager to see what they had to offer. The first shop seemed to focus on plain, practical swords such as shortswords, broadswords and longswords, the kind of early game weapons he would expect to find in any typical RPG. There was also some simple warhammers, axes and knives. Their prices were lower than he had been expecting. He could have traded a few vials of antidotes for almost any weapon in the shop.

    The second shop he checked out, mostly for the flaming sword emblem hanging beside the door, carried a much more interesting variety of weapons. It felt weird seeing such high level weapons being sold so close to low level weapons, when he would have expected to have to travel half way across the map to upgrade his gear so drastically, but such logic only made sense in games, and he had come to terms with the fact that this was no game.

    The shop was named after the style it specialised in; Flamberge. The walls were adorned with blades the ring helpfully identified as Zweih?nder, Flammenschwert, Kris Dagger, and Claidheamh M¨®r, the last one of which he didn¡¯t need help identifying. He easily recognised the sloped quillons with quatrefoil terminations of a Claymore. Everything he saw told him that people from many different cultures had come to Babyl throughout the years, bringing with them the weapons of their time, but the last one sent a tingling down his spine.

    A Highlander was here¡­

    Suddenly he was filled with a longing for home, not the city he had been taken from, but the Highlands he had grown up in. He wondered if the G¨¤idhealtachd had been a Darknight or a Solknight?

    Alix had to stop himself from purchasing the Claymore right then and there. It was significantly more expensive than the swords in the previous shop had been, but cheaper than the fancier and more elaborate Zweih?nder. He made a note of the shops name though, and vowed to return another day to ask the proprietor about the history of the sword. As it was, the day was wearing on and he had no time to waste. There was no guarantee that the two men he was looking for were still where Brant had said they were.

    Turning to leave, Alix suddenly realised he had every reason to buy the Claymore. It would be the perfect weapon for Brant, only as a loan of course, so that he could have it for himself after they were finished. He could easily forge him a new sword once they were back at the castle.

    ¡°Excuse me, I¡¯ll take this Claymore please,¡± Alix said to the shopkeeper, a stout man named Hastur.

    ¡°What?¡± Hastur asked as if he hadn¡¯t heard him properly.

    ¡°Sorry, I meant the Claidheamh M¨®r.¡± Alix put down the asking price of one hundred gold, more than he wanted to spend but this was one purchase he didn¡¯t mind paying full price for. He could always get more gold, but he didn¡¯t know the next time he would get a chance to buy a piece of his homeland. ¡°What can you tell me about the history of this sword style?¡± Alix asked as Hastur went about finding the swords sheath.

    ¡°Not much to tell really. It¡¯s an ancient design, not very popular these days. Everyone¡¯s grown too soft for them if you ask me. Most of those that come in here calling themselves Tanks, asking for the biggest sword I¡¯ve got, can¡¯t even lift it. Takes a real man to wield one of these beasts,¡± Hastur said, easily lifting the Claymore despite it almost being taller than he was. ¡°No offense lad, but you don¡¯t look like you¡¯ve got the muscle for it. It¡¯s a real weapon of war, not something for prancing around with.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about me, it¡¯s for a friend.¡±

    Hastur handed him the blade, sheathed in a belted shoulder scabbard for easy access. The scabbard was simply wrapped in black leather with silver accents. The weight of it almost dragged Alix to the ground, but he managed to take hold of it and carry it out of the shop before he embarrassed himself. Once out of sight, he stuck the Claymore in his inventory.

    Alix made one more stop in another weapons shop, to get a better idea of just what was available out there. The third shop fell solidly in the middle of the previous, selling a jarringly wide range of swords. He spotted Gladius, Katana, Falchions, Sabers, Estocs, Dadaos, and even a locked box on a high shelf named Durendal. He had yet to see a shop selling bows or polearms. He had no interest in spears or halberds, but a bow would have been a cool thing to have, especially living in a castle. What was the point in having all those murder holes if he didn¡¯t have a weapon to take advantage of them? He was fairly certain he had seen reference to a bow in one of the woodworking books so maybe he would be able to craft one himself.

    It was finally time to move on to an Armourers after taking stock of all the prices. The first one he passed was too crowded while the second seemed to sell nothing other than full suits of medieval plate armour for knights and their horses. If he was planning on going after slavers, he didn¡¯t want to be making that sort of noise. The third was more to his taste, one that looked like it catered to serious adventurers instead of professional soldiers.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    The gear inside the aptly named Questers, looked like it catered to every imaginable job class in a typical RPG; wooden shields for the adventurer, light leather armour for rangers, bracers for archers, battle robes for Mages, greatshields for a paladins, various forms of brigandines, chainmail and everything else in between. It was part tailor, part woodworker, part leathercrafter and part blacksmiths.

    ¡°How can I help you?¡± the shopkeeper said, appearing out of a back room at the sound of the door opening. The text floating above his head read Argyle, Armorer, Lv84. Alix was momentarily taken aback at the mans level, but he was tall and well built, the physical nature of his job increasing his level far beyond that of his youthful appearance.

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for some armour,¡± Alix began, still not sure exactly what style he was after.

    ¡°That much was obvious. What kind of armour? Or better yet, what Guild Quest are you on? If I know that, then I can recommend the best armour for the job,¡± Argyle asked.

    ¡°Unfortunately I can¡¯t answer any of those questions. I do know that I am looking for something that is light, quiet, easy to move in, but will easily deflect a blade. Preferably something that isn¡¯t bulky plate armour, or anything too ostentatious.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s quite the list. I think I have some fereep wool robes that might suit. Popular with assassins and the like,¡± Argyle replied, staring at Alix as if he was the most annoying customer in the world.

    What is fereep? Alix asked the ring.

    They are like sheep, but their wool is like steel. A previous Solknight brought them to Babyl. She was a shepherd in her own world and half her flock was accidentally summoned along with her.

    That sounds like it could be handy.

    It could be, but you don¡¯t want to go around dressed like an assassin. You would be better off getting hold of some of the wool and crafting something better with it yourself. Besides, I can tell this man has something better here.

    Oh?

    ¡°What do you say?¡± Argyle asked after Alix was silent for too long.

    ¡°That sounds good, but I¡¯m looking for something better,¡± Alix said.

    ¡°Are you sure you can afford it? Fereep is already one of the more expensive materials. If you are looking for better, the price starts to jump drastically.¡±

    Alix was hoping to treat the man as fairly as he could, pay him well for his work with the gold he had procured, but now he was just getting annoyed. He took of his hat and placed it on a nearby rack which held a leather cuirass styled to look like it was covered in scales.

    ¡°Bring me the best armour you have in the shop,¡± Alix said, staring Argyle straight in the face and holding his eye until he saw the man begin to sweat.

    ¡°At once boss, my apologies.¡± Argyle almost sprinted through to the back room and quickly came back with a box about the size of a large briefcase. He opened the box and lifted out a series of armour pieces that looked like they were crafted from some form of black dyed leather, but from the way the whole thing fit inside the box, and the way the pieces flowed, Alix could tell it wasn¡¯t normal leather. Every piece was styled with overlapping plates and scales.

    Before Argyle could explain to him what it was, Alix analysed it with the ring. Primal Ruin, Dragonhide Armour Set.

    ¡°This is the finest armour I have ever crafted. I was saving it for the right customer, but I would like you to have it boss,¡± Argyle said, passing over the cuirass. It looked like he could easily pull it on like a t-shirt.

    The armour felt hard to the touch, but the way it flowed was almost unnatural, like it was half liquid.

    ¡°How much does it cost?¡± Alix asked, not having to fake his interest in the set. It was glorious.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter boss, just take it, please.¡±

    ¡°I refuse to do that, Argyle. I will pay you fairly. What were you going to ask for this set originally?¡±

    ¡°One thousand gold pieces, boss,¡± Argyle replied, wringing his hands as if he were embarrassed.

    Damn, I didn¡¯t expect it to be that expensive¡­

    One thousand gold was almost double the amount he had on him. Considering even the fanciest flame-bladed sword in Flamberge was only fifty gold, he had expected to spend only a few hundred on some armour. He had asked for the best though¡­

    "Tell me more about this armour. It looks very interesting.¡±

    ¡°It is crafted with dragon hide, a very rare and expensive material. I had to bribe a worker from the Imperial Tannery a small fortune to get hold of even this little. It is supposed to have magical properties, but I am no wizard so I have been unable to find out what they might be. It is a full set, but you can wear as much or as little as you like. This is to be worn underneath,¡± Argyle lifted out another item from the box, this time a shimmering vest of the finest chainmail he had ever seen. ¡°This chainmail fastens to the armour, gives it more rigidity. Its crafted from the scales of sea serpents, by the sirens that live in the lake around Babyl.¡±

    ¡°That sounds very special indeed. I¡¯ll take it.¡±

    Argyle exhaled an overly dramatic sigh of relief. ¡°Thank you boss. Please, allow me,¡± Argle took back all the pieces and carefully repacked them into the box. ¡°Could I gift wrap it for you?¡±

    Alix couldn¡¯t help a smile from breaking out, and he decided it was time to put his hat back on to try and dampen the effects of Obscene Privilege before Argyle tried to give him his whole shop.

    ¡°No thanks, it will be perfect just the way it is. We still need to decide on a price though. Unfortunately I don¡¯t have one thousand gold, but I can offer you five hundred-¡°

    ¡°Of course, that¡¯s more than I deserve-¡°

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t finished Argyle, I don¡¯t expect want you to be that out of pocket. I can offer you five hundred gold, and a case of Greater Antidotes. I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s a problem with a mysterious poison in the city and the stocks of antidote are running low.¡±

    Five hundred gold was more than Alix had been planning on buying, but it turned out good armour was more expensive that he had realised. He didn¡¯t expect to have to replace this one any time soon though and the unknown magical effects were intriguing. He knew Argyle would accept his deal, no matter what he offered, but he wouldn¡¯t have felt good about cheating him out of so much money. With the case of Greater Antidotes, he would be able to get more than the one thousand gold he had been asking.

    What he didn¡¯t expect was for Argyle to break down and burst into tears. ¡°You are too kind boss. My family are all struck down with the illness and I haven¡¯t been able to find enough antidotes to help them.¡±

    Alix withdrew the gold and the case of antidotes and deposited them on the counter, then stuck the case with Primal Ruin in his inventory and left the shop while Argyle was blinded by his tears. He was sorely tempted to equip the armour, examine it for its magical properties, but it was bound to draw a lot of attention. Instead he opened his map and looked for the fastest way up to the Military District.

 Chapter 17: Obscene Privilege III - The 3rd Ring

    Alix was glad to see that the map had continued to update as he walked, with about half of the Merchant¡¯s District now current. Due to Galdea¡¯s limited space, it seemed that the buildings never changed much, only their names and purpose, so the streets were mostly the same.

    The quickest route to his next destination to take a short walk further around the ring to the West Gate Highway and follow that up through the Lower and Upper Class Districts until he reached the Guild District. Once there the road was diverted back around towards the South Gate Highway, then it was just a short walk up to the next ring.

    The four highways that rose up from the gates were a constant stream of activity and the West Gate Highway was no exception. Alix slipped into the crowd, making sure to keep the brim of his hat pulled low, and made his way up to the residential districts.

    The Lower Class District was the widest and most populated ring he had seen so far, and looking at the map, it looked like it was the largest of the lot. It made sense that there would be more commoners living in the Kingdom¡¯s capital than Aristocrats. The streets became cramped as every inch of space was utilised to house the population, every building precariously tall. If any of the buildings in front collapsed, there would be a domino effect all the way down to the Warehouse District. The feeling that the looming buildings were about to fall down on him at any moment spurred him on to the next district as fast as he could.

    Alix quickly began to feel the burn of constantly climbing upwards. He suddenly wished he hadn¡¯t been knocked out for the duration of the walk to Galdea. With the ring seemingly at least doubling the effects exercise had on his muscles, he had missed out on some good leg day action. He was getting in his steps now though as he climbed upwards, the rings becoming ever steeper as they reached towards the castle. This deep in the streets, it had vanished from sight again. King Azuran¡¯s words suddenly echoed in his ears. You have five years, Darknight. Do with that time what you will, but do not return here. What would Azuran do to him if he was caught back in the city? Would the effects of the potion make him hand over the throne? It was a tempting thought, but for only a moment. He had no desire to spend his five years as a politician.

    The Upper Class District was more spacious than the one below, but the houses were no less storied for it. The Fifth Ring was also home to more frequent patrols so Alix made his way through the district with haste. It wasn¡¯t far to the next ring, but it was as arduous climb.

    The road finally levelled out on the Guild District. The highway was blocked from going any further by a large cathedral. When he noticed elaborate spires and stained glass windows, he suddenly realised he had seen the cathedral before, from the carriage window during his first journey through the city. It felt like a lifetime ago but it had to have been only a few weeks at most. Now that he was in front of it, he could finally see what design was shown in the stained glass.

    A stylised version of what had to be the World Tree, Babyl, rose above the grand arched entrance of the Cathedral, which text from his interface told him was also the Guildhall for the Church of Babyl. Posters of Leon adorned either side of the double doors, alongside a pair of heavily and elaborately armoured Cardinal Knights. Down the side of the church were five smaller windows, but still on a grand scale, which showed an armoured figure in gold in various stages of battling a figure in black, with the final pane showing the figure in black decapitated, the figure in gold standing triumphantly over him, sword raised, Babyl glowing with life in the background.

    That¡¯s not going to be me you bastards¡­

    Alix turned right and continued on around the ring towards the South Gate Highway, taking another swig of the Obscene Privilege, trying to time the hours in the city as well as he could. The street wasn¡¯t as busy as the rings below, but it was filled with the wildest variety of people Alix had ever seen, men and women dressed in dressed in every sort of outfit he could imagine, wielding a greater variety of weapons than he had seen for sale below. He couldn¡¯t help but stare at the armoured dwarves that stomped past, and the Elves with their elegant bows, until he caught sight of a Ringtail and he remembered why he was here. The Ringtail wielded a wicked looking hook sword and wore an eye patch over one eye, the scar running down to his mouth to cast him in an eternal grimace. Alix counted seven rings on his tail. He still wasn¡¯t sure what the black rings meant, but he knew the size and amount of them denoted a complicated hierarchy. They worshipped their own goddess, as well as the World Tree.

    Alix passed the Alchemists Guild, Archivists Guild, Carpenters Guild, Metalworkers Guild, Merchants Guild, the Guild of Brewers and Distillers, Magicians Guild, Librarians Guild, Banking Guild, and plenty others, one for each of the races as well, but one stood out to him above all the rest. It had the look of a very large hunting lodge. A man with a placard stood outside calling for new recruits.

    ¡°Will you be the next S-Rank Adventurer?¡± the man called. The Adventurers Guild Wants You! the sign said. Sign Up For 1 Silver Piece Today!

    Alix had to fight a deep urge within him to take the man up on his offer, walk inside and spend the rest of the next five years levelling up to become a legendary S Rank Adventurer, taking on all sorts of fantastical quests for guaranteed rewards, finding the rarest gear in the deepest dungeons and having plenty of adventures along the way. If anime had taught him anything, the Guild receptionist was guaranteed to be buxom beyond belief as well. Then he remembered his Identification Card would probably be required to register, or a new one would be generated for him, and then everyone would know who he was.

    As he sped past the Adventurers Guild, making sure to make note of where it was on his map for another time, he took out the day pass the guard had given him at the gate. Now that he studied it, he saw that it wasn¡¯t just some letters painted on a piece of wood. The card was made from a very thin black lacquered wood, with an elegant golden filigree border. The letters on the card were a shimmering gold and seemed to hover slightly above the surface of the card, similar to how his interface looked like AR. The card read Day Pass. The bearer of this pass is to be granted access to all Rings and Districts without hindrance for the duration of the date of issuance.

    A timer was counting down in real time. It said he had eleven hours, forty eight minutes, and twenty three seconds left until the pass expired. Alix hoped he would be long gone by then.

    Is there any way I can duplicate this card or something? Alix asked the ring.

    There is a spell named Duplication, but it does not work on everything and it has a very high mana cost.

    Can you give me the spell to try out anyway?

    Like I said, it has a very high mana cost. It would likely knock you out before you left the city.

    Fine then, I will just put the ID card in my inventory and take it with me when I leave, then try the spell another time.

    If you wish, but I cannot guarantee that it will work.

    The walk around to the South Gate Highway was a lot shorter this high up the rings. Alix breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted the sloped path reading up to the Military District, but he instantly tensed when he spotted the guarded checkpoint that was once again checking everyone¡¯s paperwork before they were allowed to continue further. Alix joined the short queue just as a posh wagon was waved on through without issue. Alix guessed it was due to the emblem emblazoned on the side, with the same image on small flags flying from the back.

    The queue moved quickly, with what looked like a fifty/fifty success rate at being let through. Soon it was Alix¡¯s turn and he handed over the pass he had been given.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°What¡¯s the purpose of your visit?¡± a gruff guard asked Alix as he examined the Day Pass.

    ¡°I heard some friends of mine are in the army hospital. I¡¯ve come to see how they are doing,¡± Alix replied.

    The guard looked like he wanted to find any excuse he could to turn him away, but his pass clearly said he was to be allowed past without hindrance, so in the end he had no choice but to wave him through. ¡°Be quick about it, we don¡¯t need civilians getting in the way,¡± he said as he handed back the card.

    The Military District was the quietest ring so far, with the majority of the people there clad in heavy armour and wielding heavy swords and other weapons. Alix suddenly realised that it was probably the most dangerous place he could possibly be. He took a quick look at his map, wishing that he had spent a few moments longer in the Merchants District to look for a modern map. His old map told him that the hospital used to be further left around the ring. He set off, keeping his head low.

    The Third Ring was also the smallest out of the ones he had climbed through so he kept a wary eye out for any sign that the building had moved. It only took him a short while to walk the distance around the ring to where the hospital was supposed to be. It felt like a bolt of lightning had shot down his spine when he got to the point on the map and saw that what had once been the hospital was now an administrative building named Imperial Records.

    Alix tried to show no sign that he was bothered or lost and kept walking. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw text floating above a nondescript building named as New Hospital a few buildings further on. Alix made his way inside liked he belonged.

    A quiet reception hall opened straight from the entrance. A young girl sat behind a counter doing paperwork when he entered.

    ¡°Can I help you?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m looking for some old friends of mine, I heard they were here. Warrick and Durgun?¡±

    ¡°They are on the first floor, third door on the left. It is a shame you came all this way to see them though, they are due to be discharged tomorrow,¡± the girl replied, her voice so soothing and quiet Alix could barely hear her.

    ¡°Well, I was in the area anyway and thought I would stop by. I will be gone by tomorrow. Thank you for your help, I won¡¯t be long.¡±

    Alix left the girl behind before she could ask for any identification or invitation and took the stairs two at a time. He took a left at the top, counted the rooms, braced himself and then stepped through the door.

    Alix instantly recognised Durgun as one of the soldiers that had carted him off to the castle. Warrick was one he didn¡¯t recognise at all. He had the feeling that he wouldn¡¯t need to bother with him anyway. Alix closed the door behind him and then he stepped over to where the men had been playing a tile based game of some kind.

    ¡°Hello, Durgun. I never got to thank you for your hospitality before.¡±

    Durgun put down his tiles facedown so Warrick couldn¡¯t see them before turning to see who the newcomer was. The excitement at a visitor quickly turned to confusion as he saw the unknown man hidden under the hat standing before them.

    ¡°Who the fuck are you?¡± Durgun said with a lisp he hadn¡¯t shown before, likely due to the bandage wrapped around his face, so the words came out as ¡®U th¡¯fak r u?¡¯. He most definitely had received a beating from somewhere.

    Alix had no intention of dragging things out here, and he was worried the effects of the potion would be wearing off soon, so he lifted his head and stared the pair of them full in the face. He turned his attention to Warrick first.

    ¡°Did you have anything to do with Ophenia¡¯s disappearance, Warrick?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°No, I swear!¡± the soldier cried.

    ¡°Good. I want you to turn around and cover your ears while I have a talk with Durgun, and then you will forget I was ever here.¡±

    Warrick scurried back into his hospital bed, pulled the covers up over his head and curled up into a ball.

    ¡°Your turn Durgun. Tell me the truth. What happened to Ophenia?¡±

    Durgun was already sweating profusely, as if he was trying to fight the effects of the potion, but he was a weak minded man and soon blurted out the whole story. He was a bit hard to understand at points, so Alix made him go over things several times until he had the full story.

    It turned out all the discontent among Brant¡¯s men about him marrying a Ringtail came directly from Durgun and Bolo, but as Durgun put it, it was a burning jealousy that made him do what he did. Their plan was simple. They got Bolo to dress up all in black robes and meet them where Durgun said he was going to be taking Ophenia out to the woods. They pooled their wages and hired a couple of mercenaries to beat up Durgun and Warrick, just enough to make it look real, while Bolo made a show of claiming to have been sent by the Darknight. Then Bolo grabbed Ophenia, took her to a slave gang known for dealing in Ringtail¡¯s, and sold her. Durgun was just waiting to be discharged before collecting his half of the money from Bolo, which more than covered their expenses. Even under the effects of the potion, Durgun showed no remorse.

    ¡°D¡¯yu wan me t¡¯grab u one s¡¯well?¡± he asked after spilling his story.

    ¡°Durgun, you are a real piece of shit.¡± In that moment Alix decided that he didn¡¯t want to let Durgun go unpunished, but he couldn¡¯t exactly do him any harm here. He thought about it for a moment, as Durgun grinned at him stupidly.

    Just then the door opened behind him.

    ¡°Durgun, I managed to get you out a day early so we can celeb-¡°

    When Alix saw Bolo, he instantly knew what he had to do.

    ¡°Soulbind!¡± Alix called, pointing the spell towards the two men. Durgun¡¯s stupid grin turned to slack jawed bewilderment, and Bolo froze in his tracks. Alix quickly stepped over and closed the door again, making sure to lock it this time. ¡°Listen to me very carefully, Durgun, Bolo. You are going to forget I was ever here today. You are going to forget everything that happened with Ophenia. From this day forward you are going to be perfect soldiers until I call on you again. Do you have the money you got for Ophenia on you?¡± Alix asked Bolo.

    The effects of the Soulbind seemed to override the Obscene Privilege potion, so he mechanically put his grubby hand in his pocket, pulled out two gold bars and handed them over. Alix took them and placed them in his inventory.

    ¡°You are going to forget about this gold. And never mention a bad word about the Darknight again. In fact, make it known that you were wrong, it wasn¡¯t the Darknight that attacked you, it was the slave gang that attacked you and stole Ophenia, and you are devastated that you couldn¡¯t do more to help her. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, master,¡± Durgun and Bolo said in synchronised monotone.

    Alix unlocked the door and slipped out without another word. He had the information he needed, the name of the slave gang, and the location where Bolo had taken Ophenia. He walked straight back around to the East Gate Highway and started the much easier journey down through the rings.

    When he reached the Merchants District, he took a very quick detour into a printmakers shop and bought the latest map he could find. Then he splurged a bit more and purchased a complete map of Babyl. It was a large and unwieldy thing, but he only had to carry it down to the next level and out the gate before he was able to deposit it into his inventory. First though, he had to get back through security.

    Alix stepped into the queue, making sure to stick the day pass into his inventory, and then waited until he was face to face with the same guard again.

    ¡°How was your day, my l¡­my lord. It is so good to see you again.¡±

    ¡°It went well, thank you. I¡¯m afraid I lost the Day Pass you gave me. I hope that isn¡¯t too much of a problem?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m just glad your day went well. Thank you for visiting Galdea, please return some day soon, I will have another Day Pass ready for you.¡±

    Alix made his way over the bridge on shaking legs, expecting at any moment to be chased down by an armoured column of soldiers for the chaos he had caused in the city, but he managed to reach the other side unimpeded.

    Once there he deposited the bulky map into his interface, and the majority of the fog cleared away. He was unable to zoom in on any individual villages, towns or cities, but it was a lot better than what he had previously. He noticed with some amusement that his own castle wasn¡¯t on the map, and the area around it was simply marked Deathmount, Enter At Your Own Risk.

    Just in case anyone was still watching him, he kept walking until he was out of sight of Galdea, and then doubled back through the woods to the rise where he had left Tifayn, Brant and Evory. Before he could even sit to rest, Brant stormed up to him.

    ¡°Well? What did you find out?¡± Brant demanded.

    ¡°Keep your eyes away from me, the effects of the potion are still pretty strong.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t try and stall,¡± Brant said, becoming almost hysterical in his need for news.

    Alix sighed and spilled everything he knew.

    ¡°Like I said, I had nothing to do with your wife¡¯s disappearance. The whole thing was organised by Durgun and Bolo, the same two men that drove me to the castle. I don¡¯t know why they tried to implicate me, but they hired a couple of mercenaries to rough up Durgun and Warrick while Bolo snatched Ophenia and took her to a group called the Ghost Company in a village called Mortlake.¡±

    ¡°Those bastards!¡± Brant roared. He almost stalked off in the direction of the city to snap Durgun and Bolo¡¯s necks himself until Alix reigned him in with the Soulbind.

    ¡°Stop Brant! I have already dealt with those two. We have no time to waste now. We have to heard for Mortlake and find the slavers. I¡¯ve got the gold they were paid for her, so either we can buy her back, or we will take her back by force.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not purchasing my wife back! I¡¯m going to kill every one of those fuckers myself!¡±

    ¡°If you want that opportunity, then we have to leave right now. I managed to pick up a new map, and Mortlake isn¡¯t exactly close, but we should be able to reach it by the end of the day if we leave now.¡±

    Brant seemed to know the way already, as he silently turned and began walking in the villages direction.

    ¡°Does anyone have any food? I¡¯m starving,¡± Alix asked the others as they rushed to catch up.

 Chapter 18: Demon on the Lake

    The fog rolled in off the lake to engulf the village in a foul smelling blanket, although it was less of a lake and more of a festering swamp. Alix kept himself low amongst the debris in the alley, a mess of broken barrels and crates, rotten straw, and a constant slurry that seemed to flow throughout the village underfoot. Mortlake was an all-round foul place, but he was just glad the sun had set before they reached it. If he was able to see what he was smelling, see the filth he was standing in, he probably would have run back to the hills.

    With Primal Ruin equipped, Alix managed to fade into the darkness, Tifayn and Brant crouching behind him. He could hear Brant¡¯s furious breathing, fighting Alix¡¯s command not to charge ahead. He held the unbelted claymore in his hand, having removed the sheath the instant Alix handed it to him. It looked almost like a toy in his giant hand, buy a toy that could murder dozens. Evory had flown off to a rooftop somewhere to scout ahead, while Tifayn stared into the fog as if she could see through the thick miasma. She had been unusually quiet and brooding throughout the day. When Alix had asked her what was wrong, and also where her weapon was, she had replied in a harsh voice that she despised slavery, and that she wouldn¡¯t need a weapon. Then she had refused to speak another word.

    Mortlake barely earned the right to call itself a village. It was a dingy collection of ramshackle building that appeared to be built mostly from scrap. The main focus of the village were the docks that stretched out onto the waters, where a large ship had just docked moments earlier. Up until then, the village had been as silent as the grave, apart from a whistling that emanated from the trees and rooftops every so often.

    The ships bell let out a mournful toll that cut dully through the fog, and from doors all around, figures dressed in raggedy grey outfits appeared. Strips of cloth were sewn onto whatever rags they wore underneath, giving them the appearance of wisps of fog floating through the streets.

    What¡¯s happening Evory? Alix asked though his connection to the vampire.

    I can see them carrying cages out of some sort of warehouse and down to the ship. It¡¯s too dark to see what¡¯s inside them, Evory replied.

    I thought vampires had no trouble seeing in the dark?

    I can see fine in the dark, but this fog is different. Those weird whistling sounds are messing with my senses as well. I had a look at one on a rooftop. Well, I smashed it open. It looked like it was set to make a noise at random times but I don¡¯t know what it was for.

    How many of the Ghost Company are out there?

    I can see about a dozen on the ship and another dozen in the village, but there could be more.

    ¡°Evory thinks there¡¯s at least two dozen of them out there,¡± Alix said to the two waiting patiently behind him. Now that he was here, he didn¡¯t know what to do next. He was suddenly faced with the question of what he would do if he had to kill one of these men. Could he do it? He realised he still felt detached enough from this world that he probably could, if he had to. It was just a game. The lives of slavers didn¡¯t matter at all.

    ¡°What¡¯s in those cages?¡± Brant asked, catching sight of the boxes moving down the docks.

    ¡°Evory said she can¡¯t make that out in the fog.¡±

    ¡°Are you fucking blind Alix? Slavers carrying cages means there¡¯s bloody slaves inside them! Let¡¯s get out there!¡±

    ¡°Are you able to take on twenty four men by yourself?¡±

    ¡°Just watch me. With this sword, I¡¯ll carve them to pieces.¡±

    ¡°We need to know if Ophenia is here for sure first, otherwise we are risking our lives for nothing. I¡¯ve got a better idea,¡± Alix said, bracing himself for what he was about to do.

    ¡°I told you I¡¯m not fucking buying my wife back from these bastards!¡± Brant hissed against his invisible chains.

    ¡°You won¡¯t have to. Wait here. Don¡¯t move, unless they draw weapons on me.¡±

    Alix stood up out of the muck and stepped out of the alley before Brant of Tifayn could say another word. They hissed behind him but he ignored them. He was tired of sneaking around. He took a small sip of Obscene Privilege but left Xilian in his inventory. The last thing he wanted was to come across as hostile. His hat also stayed behind. This was one encounter in which he wanted the potion to have full effect.

    ¡°Good evening!¡± Alix called out into the fog as he reached the end of the dock. A backlog of cages had been piled up there from the warehouses they had been lifted from, waiting for the ship¡¯s crew to haul them the rest of the way. He instantly noted shapes moving behind the hard iron bars.

    Master, what are you doing! Evory called in a panic.

    Stay hidden and stay quiet, Alix promptly replied.

    The men of the Ghost Company all stopped what they were doing and rushed to intercept Alix¡¯s march towards the dock. Close up he could see that the grey streamers were attached to some sort of hooded poncho, with the hoods covering the faces of everyone there. Wide lenses had been fashioned into the hoods, along with more strips of grey material. It gave them all the look of malevolent owls, which would have been comical to Alix if they weren¡¯t involved in such horrible crimes.

    In moments he was surrounded by the owls, the ring identifying them only as Ghost, with levels ranging from low-twenties to mid-forties. Alix suddenly felt like he had stumbled into a new game area wildly outside of his current level.

    Just keep remembering, you¡¯ve got cheats¡­

    ¡°I think you are in the wrong place, stranger,¡± one of the higher level Ghosts said from underneath their hood in a distinctly male voice. The ring told him he was level thirty nine, but he didn¡¯t look like much. In fact, all of the owls looked like their costumes hid thin spindly figures beneath them.

    ¡°On the contrary, it looks like I¡¯m in exactly the right place. Some friends of mine in Galdea told me you boys were the ones to find if I was looking to purchase¡­shall we say an exotic mate.¡±

    ¡°You heard wrong,¡± the Ghost replied. As one, they all drew thin white blades. Alix analysed one and saw it was named Venbrill Blade (Poisonous). That doesn¡¯t sound good¡­

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so hasty boys, I can pay well,¡± Alix said, taking the two bars of gold from his pockets, trying to catch their eyes with the glinting fortune. None of them seemed to pay any attention to the offer, but he could feel Brant¡¯s furious gaze burning into his back.

    ¡°We will be taking that gold as payment for you bothering us, and that fancy suit of armour. If you have it over without a fight, we might let you out of here with your life,¡± the Ghost said, beginning to advance on him.

    Why the hell isn¡¯t the potion working on them? Alix asked the ring, the first hints of panic building within him.

    It must be the lenses in their hoods, the ring offered. It was as good an explanation as any.

    ¡°Look boys, I¡¯ve come here in good faith, with good money, but you are idiots if you think I¡¯ve come here alone and defenceless. My men are waiting outside the village for my signal to help me carry back my purchases.¡±

    ¡°Looks like you are alone to me,¡± the Ghost replied, looking dramatically to his left and right.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going to give you guys one last chance not to die tonight. Do you have any Ringtail¡¯s for sale or not? I suggest you stop being so obtuse and answer the damn question.¡±

    The Ghost was silent for a moment, before he turned to his men. ¡°Show him the merch, boys,¡± he said with a theatrical air.

    A few of the Ghosts produced lanterns that had been kept shuttered until then, and walked over to the cages, shining the light on what was within.

    Sickly looking Ringtail¡¯s were crammed into every cage. It was hard to tell if they were breathing from such a distance, but they all looked very limp.

    ¡°Your merchandise doesn¡¯t look very¡­alive,¡± Alix said, hoping Brant couldn¡¯t hear him.

    ¡°It¡¯s to keep them quiet on the ship until they reach their destination. Just a quick jab with one of these Venbrill blades and they go as limp as a bag of sand.¡± The Ghost chuckled and the rest of the crowd joined in. Suddenly Alix realised that he was surrounded by a lot more than two dozen. More had crept out of the fog as he had talked.

    Evory, this has gone on long enough. Their hoods are stopping my potion from affecting them. Are you able to remove a few?

    I¡¯ll try¡­wait, master, there¡¯s something wrong with Tifayn, Evory replied.

    What do you mean, there¡¯s something wrong with her?

    Before Evory could reply, a scream of pure terror cut through the fog. It was a gut-wrenching sound, made all the more disturbing by how quickly it was cut off. It came from back in the village, near where Alix had left Brant and Tifayn.

    Evory, what was that!

    No reply came. The Ghosts suddenly forgot about Alix and raised their poisoned blades against the fog, waving them around wildly at every wisp that shifted in the soft breeze.

    Alix decided the time for games was up, so he drew Xilian from his inventory and raised it defensively. Suddenly what Alix could only describe as the Devil raced out of the fog, snatched up a Ghost and then disappeared again. The creature had to have been eight feet tall at least, with leathery pitch black skin, hooved feet and twisted horns that pierced the sky, which, along with their eyes, burned with an inner fire. Alix froze solid, completely unsure of what to do now.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Before he could think of retreating, another shape dashed past him out of the fog, enormous sword raised high. Brant charged in absolute silence as the Ghosts were distracted by the sounds of their companions last excruciating moments.

    With a powerful swing born from a lifetime of training, Brant swung the Claymore in a wide figure eight. The Ghost Alix had been talking to lost his head, as did the one beside him, and then their legs were cut out from under them as the sword made its return swing. Blood gushed from half a dozen different directions, spraying the surrounding Ghosts with red, making them easier to spot in the fog.

    Suddenly they all forgot about the devil stalking them in the fog and concentrated on the one slashing and flailing about in their midst. Their small thin blades were no match for the reach of the Claymore though. A pair tried to flee, but they were bowled down by the remains of their companion coming flying out of the shadows of the village. He was no more than a pulped mass of bones and sinew.

    Into the fray Evory appeared, diving out of the darkness to snatch away as many hoods as she could. Alix managed to catch the attention of every one that was unmasked, and he was saddened to see how young they all appeared to be. Before Brant was surrounded, although he seemed to be holding his own well enough, Alix charged in. Having given them enough chances to do the right thing, and seeing what they had chosen to do otherwise, his conscious was clear.

    The Ghosts that were unfortunate enough to catch his gaze instantly turned towards the cages and began unlocking them in an attempt to give Alix what he had been asking for. It gave Brant plenty of chances to cut down those that became distracted wondering what their companions were doing.

    Just as Alix was about to engage with one of the Ghosts, the monstrous devil appeared out of the fog again and impaled his opponent on their horns. The Ghosts flesh sizzled where it made contact with the horns, The Ghost didn¡¯t even have a chance to scream before the beast tore him from the horns and threw him out into the lake.

    ¡°Master, that¡¯s Tifayn!¡± Evory called as she swooped down to yank off a few more cowls.

    Alix¡¯s blood ran cold at the sight of her. She had called herself a demon before, but he hadn¡¯t imagined she had this sort of beast lurking within her. At the sight of her, a handful of Ghosts turned to flee, but she chased after them, catching them easily in a few strides. She grabbed one in each giant hand, and used the bodies as clubs to beat the others to death, leaving a smearing of bloody pulp all along the road.

    Brant continued to hack away in the background, steadily cutting down the number of Ghosts, his blade a whirlwind of death. It didn¡¯t look like there was any safe way to join in the fight without getting in Brant¡¯s way, so instead Alix rushed over to the cages to check on the Ringtails.

    They were a sickly looking bunch, incredibly thin and unwashed to the point that their tails were a mass of matted fur, but he could see that all of them appeared to be Ringless.

    You better be here Ophenia¡­

    If she wasn¡¯t, he doubted even the Soulbind would be enough to stop Brant¡¯s rampage.

    ¡°Spare one of them!¡± Alix called over to where Brant was fighting the last few Ghosts. Their choice had been to run towards Tifayn or try their luck fighting Brant. Both were losing options. The bodies were piled up around him like he was in the middle of building something. ¡°I want some questions answered.¡±

    There was little Alix thought he could do for the Ringtails, all of which were female, other than check that they were all still breathing, which luckily they all were. Then he remembered what the Ghost had said, and the Poisonous tag his analysis had given their blades.

    Alix withdrew his last case of antidotes, grabbed a vial and picked a Ringtail at random. He unstoppered the vial and poured the contents into the girls mouth. He wasn¡¯t sure, but it looked like the girls breathing improved, and a bit of colour returned to her pale skin, although it was very hard to tell in the uneven light.

    One by one, he fed the girls an antidote, as the sounds of fighting grew quieter and quieter, until there was only one whimpering voice behind him. Just as he finished administering the last potion, Brant threw down a now one armed man that was bleeding profusely.

    ¡°Here¡¯s your one,¡± he said, then began to scan the Ringtails. After a few moments his eyes spotted one familiar. The claymore fell from his hands, its length sticky with gore, and he rushed over to one of the seemingly lifeless Ringtails lying in the dirt.

    ¡°They all seem fine. I have given them an antidote to counter whatever poison the Ghosts gave them,¡± Alix called to Brant, before turning to the last remaining Ghost before he bled to death. As soon as he saw Alix, his whimpering stopped and he forgot all about his missing arm.

    ¡°Most of them recover perfectly fine,¡± the Ghost said in an attempt to be as helpful as possible.

    ¡°What do you mean, most?¡±

    ¡°Well, the journey can take a while some times. If they don¡¯t get the antidote at the other end in time, it can cause some permanent damage. Their bodies are still fine, don¡¯t worry about that, but their minds are gone.¡±

    Alix was unable to express how disgusted he was with the man, but he wanted to get some answers out of him before he disposed of him. ¡°Where were they going to be taken?¡±

    ¡°Celadon, they go to Celadon.¡±

    ¡°Are there any more here in the village?¡±

    ¡°No, this is the last shipment of the month. The rest have already gone,¡± the Ghost replied, ecstatic that he was able to answer Alix¡¯s questions.

    ¡°How about you go show me how long you can hold your breath underwater? Don¡¯t come up until I tell you,¡± Alix said, heading over to Brant.

    The Ghost hauled himself up from the ground, ran down the dock and then dived into the murky water.

    Alix found Brant leaning over one of the Ringless, holding her up in his arms. She was still to wake, but text floating above her showed what he had been hoping for; Ophenia Brant, Lv. 28.

    ¡°It looks like she will be alright. Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± Alix said.

    ¡°We can¡¯t just leave the others. Look at them. They will die out here without out help.¡±

    ¡°Shit. I¡¯ll go look for a wagon or something.¡±

    Just then he heard the sound of cracking timbers and the ground shook as something caused the ramshackle buildings to violently explode.

    Evory dropped down from the sky. ¡°We¡¯ve got a problem. Tifayn has reverted to her original demon form and she¡¯s going on a rampage.¡±

    Alix had no time to react to her revelation, as a commotion came from the ship hiding in the fog. Over the side poured a stream of Ghosts, way more than Alix would have expected from a ship with such a shallow draft for navigating the swampy waterways. Flashes and glints drew his eye, and as the men got closer, he realised they were all armed with rifles. Ten, twenty, thirty gunmen he counted, as the monster that had once been Tifayn continued to wreak havoc on what remained of the village.

    As the numbers continued to grow, Tifayn finally caught sight of the new enemies. She appeared out of the fog dual wielding roof beams like swords.

    There¡¯s something I think you should see, the ring said as Alix watched the chaos unfold before him. Brant was paying no attention to the army rapidly assembling around them and the unconscious Ringtails.

    I don¡¯t think now is the time- he began but the ring cut him off.

    You read Practical Magic? You need to cast Telescopic Vision right now. Focus on the ship.

    Alix quickly flicked through his menus to look for the spell, one he barely remembered reading about. It took him a few precious moments, but he managed to find the spell and tap on it.

    The effects were dizzying at first, until he learned how to control the magnifying effects. He quickly focussed on the ship and saw what the ring was talking about.

    Fuck¡­

    Text that had been floating out in the fog finally became visible.

    Chase Gun ¨C 8 Pounder

    Carronade ¨C 68 Pounder

    As well as the cannons, the upper decks were bristling with Swivel Guns, and all were pointed in the direction of Tifayn and the helpless Ringtails.

    ¡°Brant get the fuck out of here now! Grab a Ringtail and run as fast as you can. You too Evory!¡±

    ¡°Wh-¡° Evory began to ask.

    ¡°NOW!¡± Alix roared.

    Brant had no choice but to obey. He flung his wife over one shoulder, then picked up another Ringtail and flung her over the other and sped off into the fog before the ship¡¯s crew could fully surround them. Evory grabbed another two and took off into the sky, but Tifayn ran past the Ringtails still lying in the dirt.

    Just before she reached the line of men, that were furiously trying to load and aim their guns at the demon, a thunderous roar came from the ship as the carronade fired its huge load. With demonic reflexes, Tifayn raised the crossed roofbeams before her. The cannonball tore through the fog, leaving a clear tunnel in its wake, and struck the wooden beams head on. The impact shattered the beams and threw Tifayn to the ground.

    They had run out of time. The next shot would tear through Tifayn. He couldn¡¯t lose her. Alix put away Xilian, took the Obscene Privilege potion of out his inventory, which was still almost full, threw away the stopper and downed the whole vial. Then he ran in front of the men as they raised their guns at a dazed Tifayn, and yelled into the night. ¡°Turn your guns on those firing from the ship!¡±

    This time, after consuming so much of the potion, Alix didn¡¯t need to rely on Evory to tear off their hoods so he could catch their eye for the effects to overwhelm them. As his voice reached the first man, he instantly swung his gun over the head of the others, took aim, and fired at one of the men manning a swivel gun. The man slumped to the deck, but another stepped forward to take his place. Unsure of where the shot had come from, everyone on the ship continued to aim at Tifayn. The rest of the men suddenly they turned in a wave and battered the ship with a hail of gunfire.

    With the Ghost distracted by their companions turning on them, Alix rushed over to where Tifayn was lying in a shallow pit dug by the force of her hitting the ground. She was unrecognisable. Black scales had grown to cover her once silky soft skin. The fire had left her horns now that she was unconscious, but as he stepped up to her, her eyes shot open and the flame returned, scorching the air with their heat. She bared her black teeth filed to deadly points.

    The potion didn¡¯t seem to be having much effect on her just with eye contact so he tried a different approach, hoping that his gamble would pay off.

    ¡°Tifayn, I order you to get control of yourself. Get the rest of the Ringtails out of here and get back to the castle,¡± he spoke clearly.

    Tifayn¡¯s gaze shifted to the commotion around the boat, a growling growing deep in her chest.

    ¡°Tifayn!¡± Alix barked, and her attention shot back to him. ¡°Do as I command, Tifayn. I will deal with the ones here.¡±

    Slowly the flame left her horns and the fire in her eyes died down, but not all the way. She struggled out of the shallow pit, shaken from the cannonball, all the while keeping her eyes locked on the battling Ghosts. Instead of charging them again, she mechanically stepped over to where the Ringtails were, loaded them back into cages, stacked them up precariously and carried them off into the fog, as if they were shopping bags she was determined to get inside in one go.

    With all the Ringtails safely away, Alix turned back to the confused battle going on behind him. The Ghosts on the ship had finally realised it was their own men firing on them and had begun turning their guns on the men ashore. The carronade fired again, and half a dozen Ghosts were blown into the air.

    ¡°Get in there and fight them to the last man! ¡± Alix yelled to the Ghosts, still following their orders to the letter, to fire on those in the ship. ¡°Then I want you to sail the ship out to deeper waters, gather in the hold, set a charge and blow out the hull. Then you are all to play a little game and see who can hold their breath underwater the longest.¡±

    Ignoring the carnage and body parts strewn around them, they rushed back down the dock and up the side of the ship. Soon screaming and gunfire erupted from inside the ship, and then the clashing of swords. After a few moments the sounds faded into eerie silence. Without a word the remaining Ghosts appeared back on deck, soaked in blood, and the ship floated silently back into the fog.

    Alix watched the ship disappear, numb. There was no sense of relief in what he had accomplished. His only consolation was that most of the men probably deserved their fate. A pair of lanterns, miraculously unscathed, caught his attention. He grabbed their handles and walked back into the streets of the ruined village.

    After Tifayn¡¯s rampage, there was barely anything left of it. All of the houses seem to have been built over pits in the ground, holes where they must have kept their slaves until the ships arrived to collect them. There was no sign of any women or children, or any sign that anyone other than the Ghost Company lived in the village, which was little more than a dozen buildings squatting close together on the water¡¯s edge.

    Alix threw the lanterns into the splintered remains of the village and walked off into the darkness. The fire quickly spread among the ruins, a foul smelling smoke billowing up into the air. A dull boom echoed out across the water. The fire grew into a towering inferno until there was nothing left of Mortlake other than a pockmarked black stain.

 Book 2 - Chapter 19: Good Morning Dbu!

    ¡°How¡¯s everything going on there?¡± Alix asked Evory through the crown. It was entirely possible for him to communicate with her silently, but after so long alone, the company of his own voice was better than silence.

    ¡°Same as before really. The Ringtails are still struggling to settle in, but they are all Ringless so they don¡¯t really have anywhere else to go. At least here they have food, and shelter, or at least they would if they would stop panicking every time a skeleton tried to help them fix up their rooms,¡± Evory replied. As usual the vampire didn¡¯t sound like such things fazed her.

    ¡°What about Tifayn? Same again?¡±

    ¡°Last I heard. Mr Bones is the only one that is able to get down there so I have to take his word for it.¡±

    By ¡®down there¡¯, Evory meant the vault. After Tifayn had returned to the castle, she had proceeded to dump her cargo of Ringtails in the entrance hall and retreat into the castle¡¯s sunken depths. So far, she hadn¡¯t made a reappearance. Since Mr Bones didn¡¯t breathe, he was able to track her down and confirm that she seemed to be alright, having found her on the other side of the flood, but her demon form still held. He guessed some old part of her was keeping her down there, in an attempt to keep them all safe.

    Alix was anxious to hear more news but he knew there was nothing else for Evory to tell him. Tifayn was always on his mind and it was hard for him to stay away, but he knew it was necessary. It had given him time to think, time to realise how much the thought of almost losing Tifayn had hurt. He had already wasted so much time, but he was finally ready to accept that his old life was gone. He had to focus on what mattered now, and what mattered the most to him then was Tifayn.

    ¡°I wish I knew what caused all this in the first place. Tifayn can¡¯t stay like that forever. Has Astrid found anything?¡± Alix had tried contacting the librarian himself, but it seemed only the crown was able to communicate at such distances, and the only vampire left to communicate with was Evory.

    ¡°Not yet, other than what we already know. Something has caused her to regress to her original demonic form.¡±

    ¡°How are you getting on?¡± Alix asked Evory, meaning how was she getting on without him there as a source of magic. All she cared about was feeding on magic, something Alix was keenly aware of. It had already been too long and she was beginning to get restless.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­difficult. There is no other magic here for me to feed on. The Ringtails have already been through enough without me bothering them for help in other ways. How is the Obscene Privilege? Still in effect?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s still working, otherwise I would tell you to come here and feed,¡± Alix replied.

    ¡°How will you know when it¡¯s worn off?¡± Evory asked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that, I¡¯ve got it all sorted. I¡¯ll talk to you tomorrow, got to go.¡±

    At that moment Dbu walked into the cave with a basket full of food.

    ¡°Good morning Dbu!¡± Alix called. ¡°Do you still love me? Are you still willing to do anything for me?¡±

    Dbu was the guard that had taken over the guarding of the Summoning Cave from the pair Alix and Leon had woken up to. For their role in the whole thing, which really amounted to nothing, they had been promoted and carted off to better jobs. Dbu was a large man, with a perpetually ruddy face, and a uniform that was too small for his beer belly.

    ¡°Yes Alix, of course. What do you need me to do today?¡± Dbu asked with a fanaticism that Alix had very quickly grown bored with. It was obvious to him now why Obscene Privilege was banned. It was a pain in the ass.

    ¡°Same as yesterday Dbu. Go about your day as usual and come back here with more food tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, of course. Would you like a beer?¡±

    ¡°Why not Dbu. I¡¯ve got nothing better do.¡±

    That was how the days have been going for the past week. After Mortlake, Alix knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to go back to the castle with everyone else with the potion still in effect. With the amount he had taken, he eventually worked out that at 1 millilitre an hour, it should wear off after about ten days. With nowhere else to go, he had returned to the only other place in Babyl that he knew; the Summoning Cave where he had first arrived.

    It took him a few days to find the place, as it wasn¡¯t marked on the map he bought, and the last time he had been there was before he had the ring, but once he tracked down the Ringtail village they had passed through, it didn¡¯t take too long to find. He wanted to spend time with the Ringtails, learn how they lived, what they needed and what they liked, so that he could provide for the ones at the castle, but he knew the potion would make any contact impossible. Evory had told him that she had spoken with all of the Ringtails, and all of them other than Ophenia didn¡¯t have any family that were interested in taking them back. The castle had plenty of room anyway, and the place could do with more life.

    The walk across Babyl to the cave had been a lot more pleasant than the wagon ride he had taken previously. This time he was able to stop and enjoy the breathtaking views that all seemed to have the saturation turned up beyond natural. He crafted blankets and pillows and spelt under the stars.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    When he reached the cave, he had expected to find the same two soldiers standing guard, although there was now no point. Instead he found Dbu sitting in a comfortable seat he must have dragged all the way there, smoking a pipe beside an elaborate tent, drinking from his large supply of beer. He seemed like the most content man in the world. As soon as he had caught sight of Alix though, he jumped from his seat and offered it to him, offered him his pipe, his beer, his bed, everything to try and please him.

    ¡°Just act like I am a normal person, Dbu, but don¡¯t tell anyone that I am here,¡± Alix commanded once he had learned the jolly man¡¯s name. ¡°I¡¯m going to be staying here for a little while if that¡¯s alright. I would appreciate it if you could bring me some food every couple of days. I can give you some money to buy some from the Ringtails or something,¡± Alix asked, forgetting that such offers were useless to those under the effects of the potion. Dbu would have let himself starve to death and given Alix all of his food, drink and bed if he had asked for it, and he would have been overjoyed to do so.

    I¡¯m never making one of these damned potions again¡­

    Although he had to admit that it had been very handy. He just wished he had been able to do more to help the slaves they had arrived too late to save. The long walk across Babyl had given him time to agonise over his decisions. He now wished that he had tasked every one of the Ghosts with tracking down every slave they had ever kidnapped and returned them to their families or otherwise freed them. If he was ever in that situation again, that¡¯s what he would do. But even then, the effects would wear off and the Ghosts would go right back to what they had been doing before. This way he had put a permanent stop to anything like that ever happening again.

    One positive about the whole thing was that he found out what poison had been plaguing Galdea. The news spread to Dbu through his weekly updates from the Imperial Army sent to him by raven. After questioning Dbu further on a few points, he thought he had a pretty good idea of what had happened.

    The members of the Ghost Company had been carrying weapons called Venbrill Blades, which were made from the bones of the Venbrill, a type of bird that native to the swamps around Mortlake. Alix had guessed the next part but it made sense to him with the other information he knew. The Ghosts took advantage of their poison, but at the same time didn¡¯t want the hassle of living near the birds, so they had created the whistling machines and stuck them all around Mortlake. This meant that the Venbrills were unable to rest within its vicinity, constantly harassed by the erratic whistling, so they left the area entirely. The closest place just happened to be Galdea, where they took up roost. A few of them had been spotted recently, which confirmed that the Venbrills had migrated from Mortlake for some reason.

    In Galdea the children had been doing what children do and playing with the feathers that fell on the street. The wind blew them through windows, and their faeces entered water. Luckily the poison was counteracted by a simple antidote, but with how wide the poison quickly spread, across every district and ring, the price of antidotes skyrocketed at the same rate as the supply diminished. To craft more, the potion makers had to travel far outside of Galdea¡¯s walls to harvest the ingredients themselves, or pay a premium to those that grew them or brought them in.

    Alix also heard the commotion his own potions had caused in the city. He had been filled with pride at his work as he listened to Dbu¡¯s words.

    ¡°About a week back, a new stock of potions entered Galdea. It was only about a hundred vials, which is but a drop in the ocean compared to the hundreds of thousands that call Galdea home. The problem was that they were so pure and potent, that they were able to be watered down to such a degree that the market became flooded in a day. The potions were still sold at the same price as before, but even watered down to a fraction of their original volume, they were still as potent, if not more, than the Alchemist Guild approved potions. The Merchant and Alchemist Guilds are in an uproar over it, and what¡¯s worse, no one knows where they came from. Chanters has been summoned to appear before the Guild, but they say he has no recollection of where the potions came from.¡±

    Alix hoped no one got into any trouble over his potions, but he was glad to hear that the poison was under control.

    Even more exciting was what he found in the Summoning Cave. He had intended on sleeping inside the cave, but after Dbu offered him his tent, which Alix declined, he ended up with a luxurious bed made up for him in a corner anyway, so he had no need for the cave. Still, he felt drawn to the place and had little else to do but explore the area until the potion wore off anyway.

    Stepping back into the cave was a weird feeling. It made the whole thing feel more real, especially when he caught sight of a black case lying in the shadows, one he had never thought he would see again. Alix rushed over to the spot, thinking for sure it had to be a trick of the light, but there it was; his guitar, just as he remembered it. He pulled it from the softshell case and held it in his arms, the smell of it transporting him to a different world. In that moment he knew for sure that it was all real. Some force really had stolen him from the streets of Glasgow and dumped him here in this new world. It was just a shame that he had no amp to play the guitar with. He spent his evenings strumming the guitar around Dbu¡¯s fire, the soldier wondering why he was so obsessed with the instrument when the sound was barely audible.

    The next surprise was what else Alix found in the Summoning Cave. He couldn¡¯t understand how he hadn¡¯t noticed it sooner, but tucked away in a corner of the cave was a spectacular looking vintage car. Classic cars had always been an interest of his, but one he was only able to indulge at a distance, such things way out of the budget of an amateur musician. When he read the emblem on the front grill, he couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing; a real, mint condition Duesenberg. Analysing it with the ring told him that it was a Duesenberg SJ Phaeton.

    If the guitar is mine¡­then this has to be Leon¡¯s. Lucky bastard¡­

    The thing still ran as well. Dbu choked on his pipe smoke when he saw the roaring machine roll out of the Summoning Cave. Under the sun it was even more glorious. Dbu had a lot of questions, and it took a few more days to answer them all. In the meantime, he didn¡¯t know what to do with the car. There were no roads to drive it on, but he couldn¡¯t just leave it in the cave. He did the only thing he could think of and absorbed it into his inventory. Other than a slight increase in his noticeable weight, it seemed to go work without issue. It was of no use to him but it felt a shame to leave it to rust or for some curious local to find it and tear it apart.

    Alix kept on asking Dbu the same question every day, until finally, almost two weeks after the events on Mortlake, he got a different answer.

    ¡°Good morning Dbu!¡± Alix said as the soldier appeared from the tent for his morning smoke. ¡°Do you still love me? Are you still willing to do anything for me?¡±

    ¡°Who in the Naether are you? What are you doing in my camp?¡± Dbu asked, all jolliness gone.

    ¡°Well it¡¯s about damn time,¡± Alix said. I¡¯m coming Tifayn. He didn¡¯t have any possessions to gather so he got to his feet and started walking.

 Chapter 20: The Drowned Vault

    It took Alix longer than it should have to return to the castle, as he couldn¡¯t stop himself from wandering off the path to harvest plants and materials he had never seen before, thinking everything and anything might be helpful in restoring Tifayn to her old demonette self. He also managed to replenish his sorely depleted stock of Abyssia. There was no more need to craft antidotes, but that wasn¡¯t the only potion it was used for and he wanted to be prepared for any situation.

    Things hadn¡¯t changed with Tifayn so there was no rush for him to return to the castle, but alone with his thoughts, he couldn¡¯t stop imagining the worst happening. Evory¡¯s daily updates told him everything was still fine, and it sounded like with the new arrivals in the castle, the skeletons had redoubled their efforts to restore as many of the central rooms as they could. One thing he had asked Evory to pass on to Mr Bones was that he could put the kitchens back on the list of areas to restore.

    Figuring out a reliable food supply was one of the things he had been worrying about, but the only idea he had involved Brant going out and trading with the closest villages, a face that would hopefully bring them the least amount of trouble, less than Ringless Ringtails, skeletons or a demon would. That was if Brant agreed to stay and train him after he removed the Soulbind on him. Alix felt like it was time to give the man his freedom, although he had already said he couldn¡¯t return to Galdea. It gave him plenty to think about as he spent the days walking cross-country back to the castle.

    Alix didn¡¯t keep track of the days, but he guessed that it took him around a week to get back to the castle. He felt a warmth he hadn¡¯t expected at the sight of its ramshackle towers clinging to the cliffs edge. The castle was noticeably more presentable compared to his first sight of the place. The gate was still in dire need of repair, but the grounds were neat, or as neat as they could be while acting as a lumberyard. The walls of the castle were cleaned of all vines and many of the pockmarks that had littered them were filled with freshly laid stones and mortar. The front double doors had also had a few rotten planks replaced. It also helped that the place now had a lived in feel to it as well.

    To get any further the skeletons needed more tools though. Currently there weren¡¯t enough to go around, and those they had were old. For that he needed a source of metal, which was another issue high up on his to do list.

    First, he had to deal with Tifayn. As soon as he reached the castle, the dots reappeared and he was able to see where everyone was. His heart thundered in his chest as he scoured the map for sign of Tifayn. Mr Bones, somehow sensing his arrival, was already on his way towards him. Evory was in her tower, doubtless staring at him that second, just waiting for the right moment to approach him for mana. Brant was in one of the castle¡¯s rooms, likely with his wife, if not more of the Ringtails as well. He would need to get them loaded into his map soon if they were going to stay. The skeletons were bunched in groups around the castle, working at restoring rooms. Astrid was in the library, while Tifayn was a dot far below them all, in an area of the map he had never visited before, the sunken depths she had yet to re-emerge from.

    I¡¯m going to help you Tifayn, just wait for me a little longer.

    ¡°My lord,¡± Mr Bones said, arriving at the front door before Alix could make his way inside. ¡°It is good you have returned. We need to discuss Lady Tifayn.¡±

    ¡°I heard. Has Astrid made any progress in figuring out what¡¯s happened to her?¡±

    ¡°None so far, but I doubt she will find anything. There is very little written about the demons before they emerged from the roots of Babyl, and it is apparent to me from seeing her as she is now that she has somehow reverted to an unbound demon form. The vampire and the soldier were only able to tell me so much about what happened at Mortlake, and unfortunately the Ringtails have not taken well to their new environment, so I have been unable to learn exactly what happened there. Can you shed any new light on the situation?¡± Mr Bones asked, wringing his skeletal hands.

    ¡°I¡¯ve thought it over hundreds of times and I can¡¯t think of anything. We were watching the Ghost Company from an alley and she looked perfectly normal then. I thought she had been a bit moodier recently but nothing concerning. Whatever change came over her, none of us saw it happening, only the thing that she became,¡± Alix replied, trying and failing to think of an answer to Mr Bones¡¯ question.

    ¡°A mood change? What do you think caused that?¡±

    ¡°The only thing she mentioned is that she had been feeling more reserved around me since I gained Curse Resistance from the Crown of the Vampire King.¡±

    ¡°Curse Resistance¡­¡± Mr Bones mulled over the words. It was odd watching a skeleton think when he could see there was nothing within its skull, but Mr Bones was a more thoughtful being than most people he had met. ¡°Could it be possible that the spell Mirella cast was not a boon on the demons, but a curse on the Darknight?¡±

    ¡°How would saving the demons have been a curse on the Darknight?¡± Alix asked, unable to see where Mr Bones was going with his line of thinking.

    ¡°It could be there was no grand spell cast, only that Mirella bound the demons to her own magic, or the same magic source that fuels the Darknight and the ring. That would also explain why vampires have historically hunted demons for their increased levels of mana compared to other races. Even if none of that were the case, would you not admit that being responsible for an entire race is a burden? Especially for one that has come here from another world, unprepared, alone and confused. Suddenly you are met by a race that worship you, have the highest of expectations of you, and look to you to meet their needs, plus the five hundred years of issues that have built up within their ranks waiting for you to resolve every time there is a new Darknight. Mirella wasn¡¯t just burdening herself, but every Darknight that came after her. Until you arrived of course, now that the demons have finally decided to go their own way. That begs the question though, are the other demons still bound to you if they have already forsaken you?¡±

    ¡°Is Mirella among the skeletons for us to ask?¡± Alix asked. Mr Bones¡¯ explanation sounded fairly convincing but he couldn¡¯t think of any way to test the theory.

    ¡°Unfortunately she is not. The demons worshipped her as a god and took her body after she was struck down by the Solknight. I am not entirely sure what they did with it but I think they might have carved the majority of her bones into sacred relics. Tifayn might know more, if you are able to restore her to her bound form.¡±

    Evory! Alix called through the bond. I need to see you at once.

    In the blink of an eye the vampire was there, swooping down from her tower to Alix¡¯s side. She had grown shorter and slighter since he had seen her last, as if the years had fallen off her, reducing her almost to the stature of a malnourished teen. Within moments though, he noticed his mana depleting, and Evory quickly returned to her buxom form.

    ¡°Welcome home, master,¡± Evory said with renewed vigour.

    Alix pulled the Crown of the Vampire King from his inventory and handed it over to her. ¡°Please, take it,¡± he said when she just stared at it in confusion.

    Evory took the crown reluctantly, but as she did, nothing spectacular seemed to happen. He still retained the Title Vampire King, and he didn¡¯t feel any different, although he hadn¡¯t felt any different when he had first been handed the crown anyway.

    ¡°Why are you giving me this?¡± Evory asked, holding the crown as if she was worried she was going to prick herself on one of its crooked points.

    ¡°Mr Bones has suggested that the Curse Resistance I received from this crown might be the reason why Tifayn¡¯s demon form has become unbound. I¡¯m hoping that by giving you the crown, I will lose the Curse Resistance and Tifayn will return to her bound form.¡±

    ¡°Master, I can¡¯t take the crown. The Vampire King needs to be someone powerful and wise,¡± Evory argued.

    ¡°I never would have agreed to take the crown if you had told me it would make me the Vampire King. I¡¯m not a vampire so I shouldn¡¯t be the one to hold it. You are the last of your kind Evory. I give you the crown and name you Vampire Queen,¡± Alix said.

    Suddenly his notification bell went again and his activity log filled with new text.

    <ul>

    <li>Title requirements no longer met ¨C Vampire King</li>

    <li>Lost Curse Resistance</li>

    <li>Title Unlocked: Vampire Prince</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Well I guess that¡¯s better than nothing,¡± Alix said, hoping losing Titles and Skills didn¡¯t become a trend.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Evory asked.

    ¡°I lost the title of Vampire King, but it appears you still wish for me to be a Vampire Prince. I also lost the Curse Resistance.¡±

    ¡°Hehe,¡± Evory grinned mischievously. ¡°Alix the Darknight, First of Queen Evory¡¯s Court. Maybe I will bring the Hexnkryp here and we can rebuild the vampire race together. Ooh, maybe you can do what you did with the skeletons here and reanimate the bones in the Hexnkryp?¡±

    Alix supposed that could be possible but it wasn¡¯t something he wanted to focus on at the moment. He felt like he had gotten side-tracked with too many side quests as it was and now the main quest required his undivided attention. Before he could reply, she shot off into the sky, shouting ¡°Thanks master!¡± as she went.

    ¡°I will go and check on Lady Tifayn at once,¡± Mr Bones said, turning to leave.

    ¡°Hold on, I would like to be the one to talk to her first.¡±

    ¡°The vault is still flooded, my lord. It is impossible for anyone but a skeleton to reach her. It is a perilous journey.¡±

    ¡°Is there any way I could drain the flood? Couldn¡¯t I just absorb all the water into my inventory and move it somewhere else?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°It might be possible, but I am afraid the water has been contaminated and is fairly toxic now. Even the Darknight is not immune to the effects of everything you carry. Groundwater tainted with poisonous chemicals has been seeping into the chamber down there and the centuries of rain water pouring in have done nothing to dilute it. The sewage system has also been backing up, but that hasn¡¯t been a problem until now. It is curious, like we are in the vicinity of an active mine, but a very destructive one. The stairs down there have also collapsed, similar to the crypt, so it is currently easier to swim through it than to construct ladders to navigate all the drops.¡±

    ¡°Tifayn swam through it?¡±

    ¡°She did. It seems her unbound demon form is able to handle the foul water without any noticeable effect.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I could find some sort of poison resistance spells and something to help me breathe under water?¡± Although Alix really wasn¡¯t keen on swimming through Brant¡¯s shit.

    ¡°I would really feel more comfortable clearing the blockage, my lord. I have found the problem, but I have yet to think of the solution.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great. Maybe I can help with that instead then.¡±

    ¡°I am not sure, my lord. I told you about the keystone for the Heating System that is currently inaccessible in the vault, but that is not the only keystone that is there. There are many other latent systems in the castle, one of which is the Security System.¡±

    Why the hell isn¡¯t anyone telling me about these things sooner! Alix wanted to rage and scream, but he knew Mr Bones had nothing but good intentions in everything he did.

    ¡°I had thought the system was destroyed for good, but on my last visit to Lady Tifayn, I finally found the cause of the blockage that had flooded the vault. It is the Gargoyles, my lord. They are meant to keep a constant watch on the keep, from the parapets, towers and gate, but for some reason they are down there, frozen in stone and blocking the drain until the system is restored, with the collapsed floors from above burying them further.¡±

    Gargoyles? Oh yeah, we definitely need to get them back up and running. As a child of the nineties, Alix was suddenly staring one of his childhood dreams in the face, although he doubted these Gargoyles had been transported from medieval Scotland.

    ¡°So we just need to reactivate the Security System and then everything will resolve itself?¡± Alix asked, itching to get started.

    ¡°That is the intention, but the vault is still inaccessible, and only the Darknight can reactivate the keystones. With everything that has been going on, none of the skeletons have been tasked with clearing that particular passage recently.¡±

    Alix¡¯s mind was suddenly racing with all the options. Could he craft a pump somehow? A giant Archimedes Screw? What would he even do with the water? Pump it into the grounds and forever taint the soil with its poison? Try and Dismantle it down further, and end up with a load of poison in his inventory he was unable to dispose of?

    Astrid, are you there? Alix called, an idea suddenly coming to him.

    Always. How can I be of assistance?

    Are there any spells for water purification?

    I would assume so, probably something like Cleansing in a book on Light or Holy magic, or something more direct in a Druidic handbook. Would you like me to have a look for you?

    If you have some time that would be great. If I can cleanse the water flooding the lower levels of toxins, I should be able to get rid of it easier.

    I will let you know what I find.

    ¡°I just had a word with Astrid, she is going to look for any sort of water purification spell that might help,¡± Alix said.

    ¡°That could work, but there is still the task of navigating the collapsed stairway,¡± Mr Bones replied.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve got an idea for that, but I¡¯m going to have to head to the library first. I¡¯ll be quick. I intend on getting Tifayn out of there and back to normal by the end of the day.¡± With that, Alix left Mr Bones and headed inside.

    Alix barely made it up to the first landing before he was accosted again by someone else needing his attention.

    ¡°We need to talk,¡± Brant said, not looking happy in the slightest.

    What the hell¡¯s wrong now? I saved your wife and you are still pissed at me?

    ¡°I¡¯ve only just got back Brant, can¡¯t it wait?¡±

    ¡°No, this can¡¯t wait.¡± Brant turned to the half open door of the room he had taken as his own. ¡°Ophenia?¡±

    From out of the room, Ophenia the Ringtail emerged, scurrying along the hall to hide behind Brant¡¯s broad back. All cleaned up, she almost looked like a different person, but she kept a wary distance and kept her eyes down. Her clothes were also the same ones she had been wearing that day in Mortlake, the ones she had likely been kidnapped in. They were clean, but a little worse for wear. Looks like I¡¯ll be crafting clothes for more than just the skeletons¡­

    ¡°Was this man there that day?¡± Brant asked. ¡°Did you ever seen him in Mortlake before the day I found you?¡±

    Ophenia peeked out from around Brant¡¯s muscled shoulder, giving him a quick look over. Instead of speaking, she shook her head no and ran back to the safety of their room.

    ¡°Alright, I guess that confirms that you had nothing to do with it, but I still don¡¯t trust you. You are the Darknight, the one stories have been told about for centuries, the trickster that comes once every fifteen generations to wreak havoc across our world.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t blame me for anything those previous Darknight¡¯s might have done. I feel like I¡¯ve been pretty accommodating considering how we met. If all those stories were true, do you think you would still be standing?¡± Alix said.

    Brant was silent for a moment as his mind tried to comprehend a reality different from what he had been told for his entire life. ¡°I¡¯ll admit I have seen nothing to suggest the stories are true yet, but there is always some truth in these things,¡± he mumbled quietly.

    ¡°Great, so you will help me train now? If I can get Tifayn back to normal I¡¯m sure she will need to rest after the ordeal, but I¡¯ll need to continue my training.¡±

    ¡°If you remember, I told you if you bring the ones that really did do this to me, I will train you. You claim it was Durgun and Bolo that were behind everything, but you didn¡¯t bring them to me. You let them go,¡± Brant replied with barely restrained anger.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t exactly let them go. I used the same spell on them as I did on you. Their souls are bound to me now. For now, they are my spies within Galdea. I thought it would be handy to have some men on the inside. You can be sure that they are fully under my control and won¡¯t commit any crimes ever again. For all intents and purposes, they are now the perfect soldiers that don¡¯t even remember what happened. I thought it best not to draw too much attention to ourselves by murdering a pair of Imperial Soldiers. If it is that important to you, I will call them to me now and you can do with them what you wish. Oh, that reminds me. Here, I guess you should take this.¡± Alix withdrew the two heavy bars of gold from his inventory and handed them over to Brant.

    ¡°Is this all that a life is worth? Two bars of metal?¡± Brant said as he took the gold. ¡°The things those men did were disgusting beyond measure. I don¡¯t intend on letting them get away with it, but knowing they are bound against their will is at least some solace. I have something I would like you to promise me though. Once your five years here are up, I want you to promise to turn over those two men to me. Maybe by then I will have thought of a suitable punishment for them.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the vote of confidence. Whatever happens, I promise you will have final say on their fate. I will hand them over to you once my task here is finished, or before if I am able.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°Alright then. I have decided that I do not want to return to Galdea right now after the way we were treated there, so Ophenia and I will stay here, with the other Ringtails. You have the space anyway so it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. We will begin your training tomorrow.¡±

    Without giving him a chance to reply, Brant stalked off down the hall, slipped into his room and shut the door. Alix quickly got moving again, wanting to resolve the issue with the flooded levels today if he was going to be put through his paces by Brant so soon. He wanted to get in a good night¡¯s rest beforehand, with plenty of tonics and Nightbringer Draughts flowing through him.

    ¡°I would have brought the book to you,¡± Astrid said as he entered the library. It was the first time he had been there since Astrid had taken over and it looked like she had been working without rest to organise it since, which she probably had.

    Not a speck of dust was to be seen on any of the shelves, the wood almost glowing with a warm lustre. All of the books that had littered the floor between the rows had been lifted and placed on a series of tables, organised into a system only Astrid knew as she slowly created new cards for them in the catalogue. A lot of the shelves looked like they were fuller, as books had been returned to their rightful place and as she slowly made progress organising the centuries of new volumes.

    ¡°That¡¯s alright, there¡¯s another book I need to look for now anyway,¡± Alix replied, heading to the card cabinets, going straight for the ones with subjects labelled ¡®B¡¯.

    Ba¡­Be¡­Bh¡­Bi¡­Bo¡­Boars; Rearing, Hunting, Butchering¡­

    Finally he found the entry he was looking for: Boat, Building. He made note of the shelf and book number and set off into the stacks. With Astrid¡¯s attentiveness, it made things a lot easier and he soon had the book he was looking for in hand, a tome on the designing and construction of various forms of wooden hulled boats. The title caused him to do a double take: Brother, May I Have Some B?ats?

    ¡°Curious title isn¡¯t it? I always thought so,¡± Astrid said, causing Alix to drop the heavy tome on his foot in fright at the skeletons silent arrival. Astrid picked up the book with skeletal but gentle fingers, flipping through its crisp pages. It looked like no previous Darknight¡¯s had found the need to build a boat, although from looking at the maps of Babyl, it didn¡¯t look like it had any seas anyway, only a vast network of rivers and lakes. ¡°It has a curious history as well. It wasn¡¯t written by a Darknight, but by an ancient king, or at least compiled by him. It was written to his twin, a master boatwright. It was probably just a thoughtful gift in a time when such books were a valued rarity, but the story goes that the king commissioned a fleet of vessels from his brother, who assuming his familial connection to the king gave him license to take his time with the order. This in turn, reflected poorly on the king, who commissioned the book and presented it to his brother, as if to say, if you do not have the skills you claimed, allow me to teach them to you myself. I do not know if the king ever got his boats, but we at least got this book. It is an unrivalled resource in the crafting of wooden vessels. What need do you have of it?¡±

    ¡°I need to learn how to craft a small boat so I don¡¯t have to swim through everyone¡¯s shit,¡± Alix said, taking back the offered book.

    ¡°Well good luck with that. Ah, here¡¯s the other book you requested,¡± Astrid said, taking a book from one of her voluminous pockets and handing it over. It was named Ritual Magic of the Living Earth. ¡°It is a book written by Druidic priests on their particular kind of magic. Their magic focusses on the fact that all magic comes from Babyl, so they only concern themselves with the magic stored in the elements bound to the World Tree. It is an interesting read, but a bit self-indulgent at points. The Druids always did think that they were superior to others. I hope this will suffice.¡± Astrid promptly left to get back to sorting. The more she worked, the more human she seemed to become. He suddenly thought of the book of illusionary magic she had mentioned. If she managed to find it, he hoped he would be able to find something in there to at least give the skeletons the appearance of their old bodies back.

    Alix took the two books and retreated to a different part of the castle to read them, the seat and table he had previously used to study at now covered with books waiting to be sorted.

    It was an odd feeling entering Tifayn¡¯s rooms without her there. He hoped more than anything that everything would work out fine. The thought that something might happen to her was enough to make him want to give up entirely. None of it was worth it if she wasn¡¯t by his side. What would have happened to him if she hadn¡¯t been here? It wasn¡¯t something he wanted to think about. He put on a pot of coffee, the smell of the ground beans soothing his nerves. With a steaming mug of fresh coffee, he got to work reading the books.

    Either he was frantic in his reading or his Bibliophile skill was upgrading the more he read, as his notification bell went a lot sooner than he had expected.

    <ul>

    <li>Title Unlocked: Druid. Increased Elemental Magic Potency. </li>

    <li>Title Unlocked: Boatwright. </li>

    </ul>

    The Boatwright Title was accompanied by dozens of crafting recipes for different varieties of wooden boats, ships and every sort of vessel in between.

    One final notification appeared.

    <ul>

    <li>Requirements Met, Skill Unlocked: Inventor. </li>

    </ul>

    Well that sounds interesting¡­

    Alix didn¡¯t have time to ponder the new Skill yet. He had quickly found the spell Astrid had found for him, part of a whole series on the purification of different elements, mainly for use in their sacred Druidic rituals, but they could easily be used for other purposes.

    Mr Bones, I¡¯m ready to get started. Would you like to meet me down there?

    I am on my way, my lord.

    Alix opened his map to refresh his memory of the lower levels of the castle, somewhere he had never been before. The passages leading that way had always had a foul smell wafting up from them, and now he knew why. The path began in the entrance chamber. On the far side there were three doors, one which led to the left, home of the armoury, forge, crypt and yet to be restored areas such as the stables. A central door led to the kitchens, expansive pantries, a rear exit to the greenhouse, and a shortcut to the currently unused servants routes through the walls. The door to the right he had so far ignored, the smell wafting through the rotting panels of the door enough to turn him away. This time he found a burning torch and made his way inside, the door now no more than a splintered mess on the ground from Tifayn tearing it off its hinges.

    The corridor branched a few times, leading up to various towers and other rooms for less revered guests, before it ended at an iron grate that had also been torn from its hinges and now lay crumpled on the ground like a discarded beer can.

    Beyond, the ancient stone floor continued for a few paces, before it opened up unto a circular chamber, with a spiral staircase lining the walls, descending down into the darkness. Alix stuck the torch over the side and looked down into the depths, unable to see the bottom.

    ¡°It is quite a walk,¡± Mr Bones said from behind him.

    Alix jumped in fright, almost falling over the edge into the stinking mess, but Mr Bones was there with his unhuman reflexes, unbound by the constraints of muscles, to make sure he didn¡¯t fall.

    ¡°After you, my lord,¡± Mr Bones said after Alix had calmed down, motioning the way down the stone steps jutting out of the wall.

    They descended for what felt like miles, dropping down further and further into the depths of what his map showed. He had never expected the castle to go this deep.

    ¡°All this for a vault?¡± Alix asked as they walked, his words echoing up and down the shaft.

    ¡°It is more than just the vault. There is a chamber down here, where Lady Tifayn is currently resting. It is a place of great magic, a chamber of healing, where one of Babyl¡¯s great roots breaks the surface.¡±

    That sounded like it could come in handy, if he could manage to clear the way there. It was far down the list of things he had to do first though. Saving Tifayn was first and foremost in his mind.

    As they descended deeper, the foul smell in the air thickened until it started to become hard to breathe. Just when he was beginning to think that he couldn¡¯t take it any longer, the steps disappeared into a murky black liquid so much worse than he had imagined. The chamber suddenly became a bubbling cauldron of foetid poison.

    ¡°Holy shit, that¡¯s nasty.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, my lord. How do you intend on cleansing it?¡±

    ¡°Astrid found some Druid spell that should do the job.¡±

    ¡°Ah yes, the Druids know their stuff when it comes to this sort of thing.¡±

    Alix couldn¡¯t stand to wait any longer. He opened up his menu and selected Purify Water from the list of Druidic Spells. The spells always seemed to work better if he selected them manually from the menu first, although he was fully capable of casting them without it. The fear that he would mess something up was still present so he preferred to do it the boring way.

    A bright shining magic circle of blue bordered with a holy pure white blossomed from his hand, before expanding further and further, the spell sensing the size of the job before it. Then a dozen arrows of light shot out from the circle, hitting the water at various points around the shaft. The light sunk into the putrid mass, spreading until it covered the entire surface. For a moment it dimmed, as if the poison had overcome the healing effects of the spell, but eventually the black mass began to shrink and the light burst up through the surface, from cracks at first, until the entire shaft was aglow with a blazing light so strong he imagined it had to be piercing the sky above the castle. Please, not the Pillar of Light clich¨¦¡­

    In a matter of moments the light faded and the torch light reflected across a pool of crystal clear water. The first stage of his plan looked to have gone perfectly, but that still left the problem of getting the rest of the way down the shaft. Now that the water was cleared, he could see that shortly down the stairs, the steps vanished and fell into darkness.

    ¡°What now?¡± Mr Bones asked.

    In response, Alix opened up his Crafting menu and looked for the newest additions. He was glad to see that his menus were becoming filled up with such a wide range of options. The only problem now was that it was becoming a bit of a nightmare navigating it all. He would have to ask the ring about a sorting system when he had the change. He selected the design he wanted from the now expansive list of woodworking projects, selected the sizeable cost of lumber, and in a flash of light, a basic wooden skiff appeared in the water, complete with a pair of oars.

    ¡°That¡¯s not quite what I had in mind, my lord,¡± Mr Bones replied, always polite even in the face of what had to appear as absolute stupidity to him.

    ¡°Just get in,¡± Alix said, motioning for him to take a seat in the boat. ¡°I¡¯m not planning on going around in circles for a bit of fun.¡±

    Once they were both seated, he focussed on the water around him, imagining it as a harvestable material. He had never done such a thing before. It felt like he was trying to suck the very air into his inventory.

    Eventually he noticed a label floating above the pool.

    Purified Water.

    Alix stuck his hand out over the side of the boat and stuck the surface of the ring to the water, and then tried to absorb it into his inventory, just like it was Dumpweed in the garden, or a Duesenberg in a cave.

    How the hell is this supposed to work? What¡¯s to stop me absorbing Tifayn by accident, or the rest of the world around me? he asked himself, but the ring, always listening replied.

    I can sense your purpose, trust in me to carry it out. If you are to succeed, in this and your other endeavours, we must be as one.

    <ul>

    <li>Acquired x10 Purified Water </li>

    </ul>

    The boat sank by a fraction as the water appeared in his inventory.

    ¡°Sweet,¡± Alix said at the revelation that his plan was going to work.

    ¡°Do not drink the water, my lord!¡± Mr Bones suddenly exclaimed, reaching forward to pull his arm back from the pool. ¡°Even sweet and purified of contaminants, there may still be other things to worry about.¡±

    ¡°Like what?¡± Alix asked, trying to supress as smile at the thought of the skeleton being freaked out at the thought of him drinking purified toilet water.

    ¡°There may be other creatures that have called these waters home for the past few centuries.¡±

    ¡°Have you seen them?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°Well, no¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr Bones, I¡¯m not going to drink it. It is a phrase back in my world. It just means by plan is working. I managed to absorb the water into my inventory. Now hold on, I¡¯m going to speed things up.¡±

    Alix began to worry when the ring began to absorb hundreds and hundreds of units of water. Slowly he felt the weight dragging him down, as surely as the boat continued its downward journey past the jagged remains of the steps that had long since fallen into the watery depths.

    Using the oars, Alix pushed them away from crashing into the obstacles that rose out of the water, stone steps and other pieces of debris that had fallen down the shaft over the centuries. By the time the boat finally came to a stop on an uneven stone floor, he held tens of thousands of units of Purified Water. Luckily all the walking across Babyl had helped to increase his muscle mass, especially in his legs, so he was able to step out of the boat with only the slight sensation of an uncomfortably full bladder and slightly bowed legs.

    Mr Bones stepped out of the boat behind him onto the debris the boat had landed on, the remains of the fallen stairs, his silence enough of an indicator that he was impressed with Alix¡¯s progress so far. Still, he had only delayed the problem, not solved it completely. He couldn¡¯t carry the water around indefinitely, and he couldn¡¯t safely dump it all in the grounds without flooding the place. He needed to get the Gargoyles cleared out of the drain.

    ¡°Let¡¯s keep going,¡± Alix said to Mr Bones, heading off into the tunnel that led off from the bottom of the shaft.

    The shaft led to a large open chamber, one littered with piles and piles of debris from various cave-ins above. All the debris came from failures in the arched roof above them. Without the mess, the chamber would have looked fairly grand, like the courtyard in front of a country estate. From the amount of debris everywhere, he was surprised that light wasn¡¯t shining in from above.

    To the side of the chamber was a larger pile of debris that looked to be half covering another entrance to the chamber.

    ¡°What¡¯s in there?¡± Alix asked, pointing towards the darkness beyond.

    ¡°It is a service entrance to the sewers. It took me a while to clear enough of the rocks to have a look inside and that¡¯s when I saw the gargoyles.¡±

    Another pile of debris obscured a large door on the right wall. Straight ahead, several sets of winding stairs led up to a balconied area, behind which the path continued, shining from within with a verdant green glow. His map showed him that he was indeed in the chamber of the vault.

    ¡°It seems obvious now that all the water is gone, but I can assure you it was a lot more difficult trying to figure out what was going on here in the dark. Over there the Gargoyles are blocking the drain, and over there is the vault. You can see how I was having trouble investigating. I don¡¯t know what possessed anyone to cover this chamber in such monolithic stones.¡± Mr Bones said, pointing out the respective piles of gigantic debris. The pile Mr Bones names as the Gargoyles was obscured underneath centuries of silt and slime, a filth he hoped he would be able to clear without having to handle it himself. Even absorbing it into his inventory would make him feel dirty.

    ¡°I guess I should focus on the vault. If I can restore the Security System, hopefully the other blockage will resolve itself.¡±

    Alix stepped across the courtyard, marvelling at the architecture so deep underground. The doors to the vault itself had to be ten times larger than the castles front door. At least this door was crafted from a more durable material than wood, some sort of metal that still shone after all these centuries. It didn¡¯t even show a scratch from all the stones that had crashed against it.

    Alix began the laborious process of absorbing the large stones into his inventory. He felt each one hit his storage like a brick stacked on his back.

    It¡¯s only temporary, you can do it. Just a couple more¡­.

    Alix kept on absorbing, every so often causing a small avalanche as the stones higher up were set lose, until one half of the doors were finally revealed. He had expected some elaborate mechanism to open them, but with the stones cleared all he could see was a normal door handle. Mr Bones had said only the Darknight was able to open the Vault, so he stepped forward and grabbed the handle. It opened easily at his touch, as if the lock hadn¡¯t just spent centuries underneath a toxic swamp.

    As Alix pulled open the Vault door, he expected a torrent of water to rush out of the crack, but there was nothing. If anything, the air smelled remarkably fresh.

    ¡°That is a good sign,¡± Mr Bones said, ¡°The seal on the door held all these centuries.¡±

    Before stepping into the Vault, he first deposited all the stones in his inventory into a neat pyramid . If anything unexpected happened, he didn¡¯t want them weighing him down.

    Alix stepped into the Vault, raising the torch high in anticipation at all the piles of gold awaiting him.

    The reality was a lot more disappointing. A few small piles of gold and silver lay around the floor, but other than that it looked like it was littered with junk, random objects he couldn¡¯t identify in the flickering torchlight.

    ¡°What is all this stuff?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°The possessions of past Darknights. Some things they considered too dangerous to store elsewhere, or things that were precious to them, objects of their home worlds. I would advise caution when inspecting them. The keystones are over there on the wall,¡± Mr Bones said, pointing to a row of stones on the wall.

    Alix ignored the rest of the junk and stepped over to the keystones. They were a row of large stones engraved with various spell forms, below which were round dimpled protrusions. It looked like they were designed to be able to rotate. Around the rim of the round stones was an elaborate design, but it was only half complete. The other half was engraved onto the wall around them, but they were jutting out too far for them to be completed.

    There were no labels on any of the keystones, but he was able to analyse them with the ring and find out which one was which.

    <ul>

    <li>Heating Keystone</li>

    <li>Security Keystone</li>

    <li>Lighting Keystone</li>

    </ul>

    The Lighting Keystone had an extra button in the centre of the protrusion labelled Intimidating Lighting. There were several other keystones lining the wall but once he found the one he was looking for he ignored all the others. Alix grabbed the knob below the Security Keystone and rotated it, and as he did it sunk further into the wall until the design on the rim lined up with the one on the wall. With every turn, he felt his mana drain, the cost for activating the keystone. Eventually the stone would turn no more and a light bloomed from underneath his hand, flowed down into the spellwork and then up to the larger design. Once the keystone was fully lit, a line of yellow light began to rise up the wall along a path carved into the stone he hadn¡¯t noticed before, like a neon sign coming to life. The light reached the vault¡¯s ceiling and disappeared into the rock.

    While the yellow light was travelling towards its destination, Alix activated the Heating and Lighting keystones, a red and blue light appearing out of them and rising up along the wall as well, disappearing into the far reaches of the castle. As he activated the Heating keystone, a deep rumbling shook the ground beneath him, as if he has just awakened a volcano under his feet. When he activated the Lighting system, glowing orbs appeared in the vault and in the chamber outside. He put out his torch, no longer having any need for it. Then he heard another rumbling coming from the chamber and he rushed out of the vault.

    Across the chamber, there was the sound of tumbling rocks, and then the pile of debris and filth began to shake. The stones rocked and fell, until a dozen forms began to burrow their way out of the muck. Alix thought they were dogs at first, but as they shook off the caked on dirt, the blue grey skin underneath was revealed, as were the wings that sprouted from their backs. Then he noticed their enormous clawed feet and giant bat like faces, although they had an elongated snout. The look was completed by a pair of stubby horns and a long tail. They bounded around the room on all fours, sniffing at every corner, jumping playfully around Alix, although he made sure to keep his distance. With every jump it sounded like two rocks slamming together.

    Eventually another rumbling echoed out from the pile of debris still clogging the drain and another dozen forms crawled out, these one a lot more human in appearance, although a lot larger in stature. They would have dwarfed Brant, and put his muscles to shame. They shook out great wings, stretched and cracked long frozen limbs, and then barked a command at the dog-like forms running around the place. In an instant they shot out of the room, back the way Alix and Mr Bones had come. The tall figures all bowed slightly as they caught sight of Alix, then they followed the smaller ones out of the tunnel. The ring identified them as Gargoyles, and the smaller ones as Gargoyle Hounds.

    One last Gargoyle crawled from the mound, holding something in his hand. He looked around the chamber, caught sight of them and headed over.

    ¡°Some things never change. It is good to see you Mr Bones,¡± the huge Gargoyle said in a deep gravelly voice, throwing the mud covered object to the ground.

    ¡°It has been too long, Ajugor. I apologise for taking so long to set you free. I¡¯m curious as to what happened here.¡± Mr Bones replied.

    Ajugor kicked the pile of mud at his feet, revealing the remains of some bones wrapped in rotten clothing. Then a blade fell free from the remains.

    ¡°It happened shortly after all you skeletons were put to rest. Someone broke into the castle, managed to evade our watch, and made their way all the way down to the Vault. The Hounds only caught his scent once he was already inside. I do not know how he managed to get access to the Vault, but when I found him down here he was trying to crawl through the drain to get out. I dove in after him and grabbed him by the leg. Then the stupid Hounds piled in after me. The others were trying to get them to clear out when it happened.¡± Ajugor carefully picked up the sword on the ground. It looked fairly unremarkable but he held it like it was venomous. A name appeared above it: Nullblade. ¡°I recognised the blade he had stolen too late. He swung it towards me, and as soon as it made contact we all returned to stone. That¡¯s the last thing I remember.¡±

    ¡°The Nullblade! That is a very dangerous artifact. Do you know who the man was?¡± Mr Bones asked, looking down at the bones, but keeping one wary eye socket on the blade.

    ¡°It was the Solknight. He must have known what he had, if he risked so much to come down here and find it, but I can¡¯t fathom why he attacked me with it knowing what would happen. The Nullblade nullifies the effects of magic in anything it strikes, therefore the Security Keystone turned off and we all returned to stone, with him stuck in my grasp. It seems he never managed to escape and died in there with the rest of us.¡±

    ¡°The Solknight? After defeating the Darknight, he broke into the castle and tried to steal this blade? I guess that answers the question of do the winners get to return to their own worlds,¡± Alix said, feeling like the wind had just been knocked out of him.

    ¡°You must be the new Darknight,¡± Ajugor said, quickly taking a knee and bowing deeply. ¡°I vow to serve you, hopefully better than I did the previous Darknight. It appears we have been frozen for near five hundred years. I will leave you to your business and return to my long overdue tasks.¡± Ajugor got to his feet, placed the Nullblade back in the Vault, making sure to keep the edge far away from hitting anything, and then headed up the tunnel after the other Gargoyles.

    ¡°This is quite the mystery. I wonder what the Solknight planned with the Nullblade? I wonder how he knew about it in the first place? Questions for another time. Come, my lord. Lady Tifayn is just a little further along.

    Alix followed Mr Bones across the chamber to the stairs that rose to the arched opening and they stepped into the glowing green tunnel.

 Chapter 21: Roots of Babyl

    Alix rushed down the earthen passageway, terrified of what he would find at the end, hoping he wasn¡¯t too late. After only a short way, the rough ground gouged by the passage of Tifayn in her demon form, the tunnel began to spiral upwards. They climbed the winding path until they passed a watermark in the wall, beyond which the walls were thick with a glowing moss. A few more turns later, Mr Bones stopped and motioned for Alix to take the lead.

    Good luck, my lord, he said through the ring as he caught sight of the demonic form lying beyond.

    The path came to end at a small chamber, from the floor of which grew a curling, branching white stem with a few leaves sprouting from the ends; a root of Babyl. A reverent hush lay about the chamber. As Alix stared at the root of the World Tree, text appeared before him:

    <ul>

    <li>Gifts of Babyl Received</li>

    <li>Health and Mana Increased</li>

    </ul>

    At any other time he would have felt elated at boosting his Health and Mana, and whatever else the gifts were, but at that moment it meant nothing to him and he didn¡¯t care to ask. Curled around the root lay Tifayn, still in her unbound demon form. Alix felt a weight slam down into his gut at the sight, wondering where they had gone wrong.

    I¡¯m going to win the Terminus Ritual, Evory, if only so that I can punish you longer for handing me that damn crown.

    ¡°Tifayn?¡± Alix called softly as he stepped into the glowing chamber.

    As he got closer, he saw a sheen of sweat covering her body, her breathing coming in short gasps, as if she were wrestling with some invisible foe holding her tight.

    ¡°What can I do to help you? Why are you still in this form? The bond should have been restored once I gave up the crown.¡± There was no response from Tifayn. Was she still under the effects of another spell?

    As soon as he had the thought, he turned and ran out of the room, back down the circling path, until he was standing back before the vault. He quickly grabbed the Nullblade, making sure to keep it away from himself in case it somehow destroyed the ring or something else, closed the vault and made his way back up the spiral pathway.

    ¡°Do you think this will harm her?¡± Alix asked Mr Bones once he was back up at the top of the spiral. ¡°All I can think is that she is under the effects of a different spell. Maybe the blade will be able to nullify it.¡±

    ¡°It is worth a try. I cannot understand it myself.¡±

    Alix stepped forward, whispered an apology to Tifayn, and then touched the blade to her exposed skin.

    The demon Tifayn roared, and Alix was worried that he had made a horrible mistake, but almost instantly, Tifayn¡¯s body began to retract in on itself, almighty horns reversing into her skull, bones cracking and reshaping, black scales sloughing off into the moss, skin like a new born appearing underneath. The process felt like it took forever and looked and sounded painful, but eventually Tifayn was lying naked before him in her bound demonette form.

    Alix carefully placed the Nullblade off to the side, making a mental note to craft a scabbard for it as soon as possible, preferably one with a lock so the sword couldn¡¯t be drawn accidentally, then knelt down by Tifayn¡¯s side. He was relieved to see that her breathing had steadied and she was no longer sweating profusely.

    ¡°Tifayn, are you alright? I¡¯m sorry it took me so long to return.¡±

    Tifayn slowly opened her eyes, but it took her a while to focus on his face and recognition took even longer.

    ¡°Alix? Where am I?¡± Tifayn said groggily, her mouth fighting what her brain was telling it what to do.

    ¡°You don¡¯t remember? You turned into an unbound demon when we were at Mortlake. You only listened to me when I took the whole Obscene Privilege potion. I told you to bring the Ringtail¡¯s back here, but I wasn¡¯t able to return until the potion¡¯s effects wore off. I was told you came down here as soon as you got back, and I came to find you as soon as I could. I¡¯m sorry Tifayn, this is all my fault. That bloody vampire crown cut the effects of the bond, but for some reason you never changed back,¡± Alix said, relaying the events as he knew them in an attempt to return her memory. He had to believe she had still been in there somewhere, otherwise why would she have come to the roots in the first place? No one would come here unless they already knew what was down here. Maybe that was how she was able to deal with the toxic water. She knew it was fine to swim through them temporarily, as the roots could heal any damage caused.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ¡°No Alix, it wasn¡¯t your fault. I will make Evory pay for being so careless with such powerful artifacts, but that isn¡¯t all that happened. I remember now.¡± Tifayn tried to get to her feet, but the effort caused her to flinch and gasp with pain. Alix was quickly there and she lay back down in his arms. ¡°I never knew it was so painful to become a demon. The history of those times are barely remembered legends. The first thing I remember is your command cutting through the fog of rage driving me. It helped me to think clearer for a while until I had carried out your command. I knew I had little time so as soon as I had deposited the Ringtails, I came here as fast as I could. The root of Babyl gives off immense healing powers and I thought it would help to shield me from the other presence I could suddenly hear within me. I was terrified of what I might do if I couldn¡¯t control myself. I feel like I have been fighting for an eternity.¡±

    ¡°Other presence?¡± Alix asked. ¡°I thought you had to be under the effects of another spell, so I used the Nullblade to nullify the effects. Who is it that dared to cast a spell on you?¡±

    ¡°Alix, I¡¯m not the only demon that turned into their unbound form. Something ancient inside of me recognised what was happening. With the bond to the Darknight broken, the elected Demon Lord manifested his ancient powers, which according to the legends was the ability to command all demons. It was one of the reasons we were thought of as so animalistic. Only the cruellest and wildest demons ever became Demon Lords. All they desired was to fight, and none of the other demons had any ability to stop them or themselves from carrying out their will.¡±

    ¡°What did the Demon Lord try and tell you to do?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. The roots of Babyl were able to protect me from the full influence, but it still took all my control not to listen. As soon as that sword touched me, the voice instantly cut off and I was myself again.¡±

    Alix felt a comforting glow in the presence of the roots of Babyl, but suddenly Tifayn shivered in his arms and he remembered she was naked and in a pit deep underground. He lifted her up from the ground, his newfound muscles making it an easy task he would have found impossible only a few short weeks earlier, and made the way back down the spiral. He left the Nullblade where it was, thinking this had to be the safest place for it until he could return.

    ¡°So is the bond back now?¡± Alix asked Tifayn as he walked, Mr Bones following silently behind.

    ¡°It is,¡± she replied, and Alix thought he saw her blush but she hid her face behind her hair. ¡°I realised something as well, something I was unable to say before. I realised my feeling for you are the same, with or without the bond, so you can stop worrying about trying to find a way to mask the effects, and just take me to bed already.¡±

    It was Alix¡¯s turn to blush then, but he still had some work to do. In a matter of moments they were back at the boat at the bottom of the shaft. Alix placed Tifayn carefully inside, and Mr Bones took over helping her steady herself while he performed his next task.

    Once they were all securely seated, he opened his inventory and began selecting the copious amounts of Purified Water, and then withdrew a load of it at once so it burst through the shaft into the chamber beyond. He kept pumping the water out until the level reached the boat and it began to rise, and then emptied his inventory faster, only pausing to steer them away from a collision with the stairway. He could just imagine the water washing away all the filth that had built up, the drain finally unblocked after all these centuries.

    The upper platform drew closer at a steady rate.

    ¡°Get ready to jump out with Tifayn,¡± Alix said to Mr Bones, unsure just how quickly the water was draining out down below.

    It became obvious that it was draining pretty quickly, as Alix dumped out the last few units of water and the boat was a lot farther down the shaft than the he remembered. Mr Bones jumped out onto the stairs with Tifayn in his arms as soon as they reached the top unbroken piece of stairway. Alix had to make more of a step when it was his turn. He quickly turned and absorbed the boat into his inventory so as not to lose it down the shaft, then turned and followed Mr Bones back to their rooms and the comfortable bed calling to him there.

    There were probably a dozen other things that needed his attention, but they could wait until tomorrow. He needed to rest after so many days on the road, and he was sure Tifayn needed the rest as well. He intended on offering her a Nightbringer Draught but as soon as Mr Bones lay her down on the bed, she curled up in the sheets and instantly fell asleep.

    ¡°Thanks for the help,¡± Alix said quietly to Mr Bones, ¡°I¡¯m going to rest for a bit as well. I trust you can handle things until tomorrow? I¡¯d like to talk with the Gargoyles at some point, but I¡¯m sure they already know their job better than I do.¡±

    ¡°I will take care of any issues that arise, my lord. The Gargoyles are an industrious bunch, I¡¯m sure they are working on repairing their perches already.¡±

    ¡°Great. Well, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow, and then the real work can begin, now that all this mess is out of the way.¡±

    Mr Bones bowed slightly and left him to it. Alix quickly undressed out of the road weary clothes, making a mental note to craft himself some new ones tomorrow, and climbed into bed. It felt like an eternity since he had slept peacefully beside Tifayn. He downed two Nightbringer Draught¡¯s, not wanting to be disturbed for anything, and felt his whole body sigh with relief as the soothing darkness washed over him.

 Chapter 22: Gargoyles and Ringtails

    Brant¡¯s claymore swung at Alix¡¯s head with more rage behind it than he would have liked. The man had taken to the greatsword like a duck to water and he relished every opportunity he got to swing it around like a madman, even when he was supposed to be training Alix instead of decapitating him. It forced him to learn quickly though, much to Brant¡¯s chagrin.

    As Alix deflected the would be killing blow with Xilian, he realised it was the first time he had properly wielded the sword. At Mortlake, Tifayn and Brant had managed to do all the damage by themselves. It was disconcerting how quickly the blade began to level up as he deflected blow after blow. Lv. 2, Lv. 5, Lv. 7. With each level, Xilian moved faster in his hands and deflected blows harder, until he was worried he was in danger of destroying the claymore, something he really didn¡¯t want to do. He had made sure to remind Brant it was just a loan, until he either returned to Galdea, bought himself a new one, or helped to forge one himself.

    ¡°I think that¡¯s enough for today, Brant,¡± Alix said after a particularly powerful deflection sent a jarring vibration coursing through both of their bodies. ¡°If we go any further, the claymore is going to shatter.¡±

    ¡°You are just trying to think of an excuse. I don¡¯t like weak people,¡± Brant replied, trying to coax him into another round.

    ¡°If you are willing to reimburse me the one hundred gold coins I paid for that sword, then we can keep going, but I would prefer things didn¡¯t go that far. I think we should take a break until I can forge us a pair of training swords, ones of equal strength that my Darknight abilities won¡¯t keep powering up. We could both do with some armour as well. I feel like I¡¯m pretty much impervious when I¡¯m wearing Primal Ruin, and you don¡¯t have anything other than your clothes,¡± Alix said, trying to reason with the man.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t been able to hit me yet though. I think I will be fine. Come on, we¡¯ve barely started.¡±

    ¡°We have been at it since daybreak, and I¡¯ve deliberately not hit you because you would probably die. I¡¯ve got more to get done today than take a beating.¡±

    Before Brant could argue further, Aix put Xilian back in his inventory and left the grounds. Brant flinched at the sight of the sword disappearing, still finding it difficult to wrap his head around Alix¡¯s abilities.

    The first task on his to do list was to have a talk with Evory. It felt like she had caused nothing but trouble since the day she had arrived at the castle, however many hundreds of years ago that was. She had destroyed the spell on the skeletons, which in turn led to the ruination of the castle. She gave him the vampire crown, a holy relic of her race, which caused who knows how many demons to revert to their rage filled unbound forms. Then she dragged him into a war with slavers which led to the deaths of dozens of men. The only positive he could think of was that the Ringtails had been saved. He would have uncovered the Vault and the Gargoyles sooner or later without her chaotic intervention, but he probably would have ended up killing Brant.

    Alix was no longer able to speak to Evory through the crown, but he found a new ability had been unlocked that pretty much did the same thing. As a ¡°Vampire Prince¡± he was able to locate Evory on the map, if she was in close proximity, and ¡°request¡± an audience with her. This he did and she instantly accepted, still insisting on thinking of him as her master. Before he even had time to catch his breath from the brutal training, she dropped out of the sky.

    ¡°What is it master?¡± Evory asked eagerly.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you have noticed the Gargoyles running around by now, Evory,¡± Alix began, bracing himself for what was to come.

    ¡°Big brutes keep interrupting my sleep. They say the tower is one of their ¡®lookout points¡¯, but I have been here longer than they have been gone so it should be mine now,¡± Evory pouted.

    ¡°They are the original security system of the castle, Evory. I wish I had known about them earlier. If they can help repair the castle as well then that is just a bonus. I¡¯m sure you can still keep your tower, they only need the roof, but I guess you don¡¯t really need to keep an eye on things anymore now that they are back.¡± Alix braced himself for an outburst but Evory just went quiet.

    ¡°Are you telling me to leave?¡± she eventually asked in a quiet voice.

    ¡°No, of course not!¡± Not in so many words anyway, he thought, hoping the crown didn¡¯t give her some sort of power to hear the thoughts of everyone in her ¡®Court¡¯. ¡°There is plenty of room here for everyone. I am just saying that with the Gargoyles back, there¡¯s now dozens of others guarding the place so you don¡¯t have to. This means you can do whatever you want now. You can go and look for more vampires, or find some humans that are willing to become vampires or however it works here. You could find a proper job, one that actually pays you money. You could find somewhere to live that doesn¡¯t leak,¡± Alix said, but with every word her face darkened until he started to wish he was still wearing Primal Ruin with Xilian in his hand.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ll stay, master,¡± Evory said through gritted teeth. ¡°But I think you are right. I should be planning how I¡¯m going to rebuild the vampire race. I¡¯ll get to work on it immediately,¡± she said, taking off into the sky as quickly as she had landed, barely having heard half of his suggestions for what she could do. He had half a thought of sending her to investigate the slave trade in Celadon, something that had been bothering him. He knew he wasn¡¯t going to be able to let it go now that he knew. He doubted anyone else was going to do anything about it. There was no chance Leon was going to go out and do anything so heroic with the tight leash he was on. He was even going to offer to craft her a pair of metal teeth so that she didn¡¯t have such a hard time finding other victims. He didn¡¯t have time to ponder where she had gone. He had said what he needed to say and that was enough.

    Alix retreated inside and after a quick bite to eat, and finding that Tifayn was still asleep, he got to working on one of the things that had been waiting for his attention for too long. With all the blueprints and books he had absorbed, he knew how to craft pretty much every piece of wood the castle needed. For the next few hours he did just that. He called on Mr Bones and some of the other skeletons he had entrusted with taking charge of some of the work, and got them to list off everything they needed.

    The piles of lumber in the ground depleted one stack at a time as he crafted roofbeams, doors, floorboards, walls, stairs, bannisters, trim, and countless other things, each piece carted off into the castle as soon as it appeared. Then he got to work on making the place more comfortable for the Ringtails. He crafted new beds, chairs, tables, wardrobes, everything a proper house needed, even if they didn¡¯t have any clothes to store in the chests or belongings to lay on the surfaces. He cushioned the chairs and beds with Butterfloss, a fluffy plant not unlike cotton that had grown in abundance in the grounds.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Once the woodworking was done, the stocks of lumber dangerously low, he changed track to clothes. First he practised on himself, crafting a few pairs of shirts and trousers, then made a few durable work outfits for himself and the skeletons. Once those all turned out well enough without any issue, he offered to craft the Ringtails anything they liked from the books he had on hand. They were shy and reluctant to engage with him at first, until he seemed to pull a dress straight from the pages of a book. Then they all got in line with their demands. He kept on crafting until he ran out of Fibre.

    I¡¯m going to have to spend a week in the woods cutting down more trees at this point, he thought to himself, although that was still another item on his to do list. He needed to cut the forest back far enough that no one could sneak up on them. At that thought, he decided it was time to have a talk with the Gargoyles, or at least the one that seemed to be their leader, Ajugor.

    With the activation of the Security System, a new tab had appeared under his Map menu named Gargoyles. It showed the two dozen or so Gargoyles and Hounds in and around the castle, with the areas they had just been in coloured green, and the areas they had yet to patrol in red, with an active zone constantly updating in their field of vision. It really helped him to feel more secure in the place, as did getting all the rotten doors finally replaced, but there was still the question of the metalwork. Until that was also replaced, the Gargoyles on his map were the next best thing, if not better. He was able to communicate with each one and send them to help each other or patrol a specific area.

    Alix checked the map and found Ajugor on a high floor of the castle, in an area he had considered too dangerous to explore before, but as soon as the Gargoyles had been released, they instantly got to work making their rounds, and once they were satisfied that the area was clear, they turned their attention to restoring the stonework, while a few of the hounds continued to patrol the grounds. He would have trekked all the way up there, but the dozens of skeletons were working fervently throughout the castle installing all the new wooden fixtures. Likely half the stairs he would need to climb to get up there had already been torn down, so he called to Ajugor and asked him to meet him by the gates. Alix grabbed his Azurite Axe and headed out to the forest to get started on more of the trees encroaching on the wall.

    Ajugor wasn¡¯t as prompt as Evory or Mr Bones, instead taking his time to finish the task he was doing before he soared down on large wings that looked too heavy to support his weight in the sky. Even animated, the Gargoyles still looked like they were made of smooth solid stone.

    ¡°You called master?¡± Ajugor said formally, standing as stiff as a soldier in front of his commander.

    ¡°I just thought it would be good for us to have a talk. We didn¡¯t get much time in the Vault. How are you finding things since waking up? And please, this place has been your home a lot longer than it¡¯s been mine, and it will be yours long after I¡¯m gone, so you don¡¯t need to be so formal.¡±

    Ajugor cleared his throat and relaxed slightly, a sound like a landslide echoing in the distance.

    ¡°The castle is in a poor state, but the skeletons are doing an admirable job of restoring what they can. Some of their stonemasonry leaves much to be desired, but we Gargoyles will be able to sort that. All in all, it could be worse. The myriad spells on the place have kept the important parts standing and the rest is basically structurally sound, even if it does look a bit worse for wear, and the foundations are still as strong as the day they were laid down. It will take more than a bit of wind and rain to knock this place down.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Alix said, taking a swing at the closest tree and feeling instant satisfaction at seeing it fall, and then burst into hundreds of new units of Lumber. With his new muscles, the trees easily fell with one strike, where before it had taken him close to an hour to cut down the first tree. ¡°The skeletons are stronger than they look, but I always worried the stonemasonry was going to be beyond them, especially without any tools. You say the Gargoyles will be able to take over that side of the repairs?¡±

    ¡°Of course, we have already started. The holes in the wall will be repaired before nightfall, the towers along its length fully serviceable again, and then we will work on the roof. Us Gargoyles are able to shape stone with our hands, which seems like it¡¯s going to be a handier skill than ever in these times. The most use I got out of it before was tearing a slate off the roof and fashioning it into a javelin to skewer an intruder.¡± Another three trees fell to Alix¡¯s axe as Ajugor spoke, some pride filling his voice as he spoke of the Gargoyles strengths and powers. ¡°It pains me to see the castle in such a state, so I will endeavour to do everything in my power to restore it to its former glory. Us Gargoyles and the castle are one and the same after all. We were carved from the same rock that was cut to build the castles foundations, an ancient vein that runs to the heart of the mountain. Maybe that makes the castle more like our father.¡±

    ¡°I never thought about who built the castle. For some reason I just assumed it was always here. Do you remember who built it? It must have been tens of thousands of years ago,¡± Alix asked, taking a break from felling the trees to hear Ajugor¡¯s story. The Gargoyles were just as interesting as he had hoped.

    ¡°Of course I remember. It was the First Darknight. His name was Afthalos, but he goes by Mr Bones now.¡±

    ¡°Mr Bones is the first Darknight?¡± Alix burst out after a moments silence. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he mention it before?¡± He suddenly felt like he had been played for a fool, struggling to make his way in this world when Mr Bones already knew the answers to every question he had. Why had he changed his name? If he was the first Darknight, did he know what Babyl was like before the Terminus Ritual? Maybe he knew what caused its need in the first place.

    ¡°He is thousands of years old. Every time he is put to rest and brought back, a little bit more of him becomes lost. He forgot his own name a long time ago, but every time I try to remind him of it, he stops me,¡± Ajugor said, staring off towards the castle, as if he could sense Mr Bones¡¯ presence.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to have a word with him about that and see what the deal is. It¡¯s a real pain that no one seems to tell me things unless I ask the right questions directly. I hope you will be more forthcoming, Ajugor, as well as all the other Gargoyles. If there¡¯s ever anything you think I need to know, please tell me at once. Oh, and if you find any intruders, please bring them to me first, alive. I just realised that if you had been here when Brant attacked me, you probably would have killed him, and his wife would be half way across Babyl by now on a slave ship.¡±

    ¡°I will be sure to employ less lethal methods with anyone bold enough to intrude in your domain. I will let the other Gargoyles and Hounds know as well. Best I get on that now. They are elated to be back and eager to return to their old positions, maybe with too much enthusiasm. I take it we are to treat these fox people, the angry man, the demonette and the buxom vampire as your guests?¡±

    ¡°Yes, the Ringtails, Casimir Brant, Tifayn and Evory are allowed to stay for now. Let them come and go as they please, but make sure they stay out of the Vault.¡±

    ¡°Of course, master. If you will excuse me, there is a lot of work for me to catch up on.¡± With that the Gargoyle took off into the sky with a heavy beating of stone wings that almost threw Alix off balance.

    I¡¯ll have to get them some swords as well, I bet they would be handy in a fight¡­

    Alix began to wonder what sword was bigger than a claymore as he went back to cutting down more trees, harvesting hundreds upon hundreds of units of lumber, clearing a substantial swathe of forest along the wall. Did they even have need of swords? If what Ajugor said was true, they could just pick up a boulder and fashion it into a sword at will. He hoped he would never have need to call on them in a fight, but he felt infinitely safer knowing that they were there.

 Chapter 23: Sword & Sorcerous Hips

    For the next several days, he ignored Brant¡¯s calls to train more, instead retreating to the forest to clear ever more of the trees that were encroaching too close to the wall. It took him less than a week to get back to where he had first started, over the tumbled down portion of wall, which was now so perfectly repaired he wouldn¡¯t have known it was the same place if the trees hadn¡¯t been cleared there already.

    His progress was helped with the Harvestman Title and its associated skill, although it had limitations that hadn¡¯t applied when harvesting plants. When several trees around the one he was aiming at suddenly lit up with the golden glow, he had thought his task was about to swiftly come to an end as he cut the forest down in one stroke, but the skill only let him cut down three trees at once. Still, it was an improvement over felling them one at a time, although his muscles developed at a slower rate when he was using it. At times he chose to return to cutting down one at a time, becoming more aware by the day at how weak he was in this world compared to others. As he was, Brant could probably beat him in a fight. Ajugor certainly would have no trouble dealing with him.

    As the days passed, he was able to carry more and more in his inventory without feeling the physical strain on his body, which just meant that he needed to push himself further to make any difference. Every time he stopped for a break, he pulled a ladder from his inventory and climbed over the wall, called on the skeletons and crafted any piece of woodwork they needed for the castle, and they needed a lot.

    The skeletons were unable to keep up with the blistering speed with which the Gargoyles repaired the place. Towers he hadn¡¯t even realised were missing rose from fallen piles of rubble, holes in the walls were filled and all the temporary fixes the skeletons had made were completed in stone. Still, the metal fixtures were missing, and there was only so much they could do without nails. They were also in need of hinges, pipes, chain, and grating, not to mention tools, and simpler things such as pots and pans once the kitchen was up and running again.

    As the stonework was completed, more of the Heating and Lighting Systems came online. The rooms were filled with a constant cozy temperature and soft light filled the hallways wherever he walked, even along the outer wall at night.

    Tifayn slept away most of the first week she was returned to her old self, recovering from the strain the change had wreaked on her body. Horrible bruises darkened her already dark skin, turning it sickly shades of green and purple. His potions helped to lessen them, but demons were powerful creatures, and that was when he learned that his potions were designed for a human constitution. To make the potions as effective on demons, he would have to make small changes, but until he knew what they were it was easy enough to double up the dose to get basically the same effects.

    A week after his return, he was just fineishing the last of the skeletons requests for woodwork, when he saw Tifayn step out of the castle door. She held a wicked looking blade, long and curved with a black leather hilt capped with a highly faceted violet gemstone. The sword almost reminded him of his Azurite blades, but Tifayn¡¯s was white and patterned with angular red designs. The demonette advanced on him with a hungry look. Alix paid her no mind at first, focussed on crafting the correct style of floorboards the skeleton needed, until she raised the sword and began to charge at him.

    Half way through crafting the last floorboards, Alix realised Tifayn wasn¡¯t going to stop. He dropped the floorboard to the ground and in one smooth, swift motion, drew Xilian from his inventory and raised it to block Tifayn¡¯s brutal overhead strike with the sword, which the ring identified as Cinnabite.

    ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± Alix yelled as the sound of the blades striking echoed around the grounds. He almost asked if she was well enough to be out of bed already, but she would probably punch him in the gut for saying so. He was greeted with silence as she withdrew, and then attacked with another lunge. With every swing of Cinnabite, there came a wailing from the blade that chilled his bones and tore at his nerves.

    It took Alix a few moments to realise that she was testing him, nipping at his edges, checking his reflexes and speed since the last time they had fought. He was keenly aware of his lack of armour, but what set him to panicking the most was Tifayn¡¯s lack of protection. She wore tight fitting trousers and what looked like one of his baggy new shirts, sleeves rolled up, buttons haphazardly stuck through the first holes she found. They would be cut to shreds if his sword hit her, as would his clothes if she hit him.

    ¡°This is madness Tifayn, you need armour,¡± he exclaimed between deflected blows, but that only seemed to set her off more, the wailing of the blade rising in intensity.

    The swings became faster, targeted, forcing him to jump back several times. Alix quickly built up a sweat, the first he had felt in a good while, and still Tifayn refused to speak apart from with the sword, showing off the true skills she had hidden from him before. He knew she was talented, but he hadn¡¯t expected her to wield such a horrifying blade. He should have expected as much from a demon.

    Alix deflected her blade again, but this time she twisted the sword in her hand and with a flick Xilian slid harmlessly past her, while her own blade rushed in to score a vicious strike along his upper arm, the wailing becoming a throat tearing scream, then jumped back out of reach with a satisfied grin. His HP dropped by a dozen or so points. It was only a small fraction of his total, but it was the first time he had taken such damage and it hammered home how he wasn¡¯t as immortal as he had thought.

    ¡°Bloody hell Tifayn,¡± he yelled, before realising the wound hurt a lot less than it should have. It was a deep gash, but it felt no worse than a day old bruise. Still, he quickly pulling a healing potion from his inventory and downed it. The wound faded in seconds, along with the mild pain. Then he donned Primal Ruin and went on the attack.

    Before he had held back, worried he would strike Tifayn accidently. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her just as she had recovered. Xilian came alive in his hands, flowing like no natural sword could, becoming an extension of his body. He didn¡¯t realise he was hammering at Tifayn keeling in the grass until she began laughing. He quickly stopped his fevered assault and threw Xilian back into his inventory. It almost felt like the sword was beginning to develop a mind of its own, protecting him as fiercely as the ring was supposed to, but doing a better job.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Alix panted, helping her to her feet. ¡°You could have gotten yourself hurt.¡±

    ¡°You are still a long way from being able to hit me, Alix, but Brant has trained you well,¡± Tifayn said, sheathing her deadly looking blade, then quickly stepping in close to steal a kiss. It was their first such contact in what felt like months but he tried not to show his excitement.

    ¡°What do you mean? I only trained with him once before I decided there was no point until I could get him some better armour, and until I could forge myself a weaker weapon. His Claymore won¡¯t stand up to Xilian for much longer.¡±

    ¡°That one day probably taught you weeks¡¯ worth of technique and style. At least the brute is good for something. I have heard he just spends all his time with Ophenia, burning through our food stocks without helping with the reconstruction at all.¡±

    ¡°I was content to give him some time alone with his wife, but I guess he will need to start pulling his weight around here. What was this all about anyway? I didn¡¯t think you were actually going to strike me.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°You can¡¯t just practise with wooden swords for five years. You need to learn to fight for real. If you know I¡¯m not going to hold back, then you will learn how to really fight, instead of just learning how to defend against harmless moves.¡±

    ¡°I understand what you are saying, but you could have warned me.¡±

    ¡°There is nothing courteous about war, Alix, but I see I can lay off for a while. You could probably outmatch Leon already, but you won¡¯t be able to raise a sword against him for a long time yet.¡±

    The last thing Alix wanted to think about was raising his sword against Leon. He almost considered the man a friend, although he doubted they had anything in common back home.

    ¡°I want to at least pause any training until I get the forge up and running properly. The repairs to the castle have sped up immensely since the Gargoyles returned, but I need metal now. The skeletons have told me that the forge is good to go, they just need ore, but I have no idea where to look for it. I offered them Steelgrass, but turns out you need ten times as much of it as you would normal steel to make anything.¡±

    ¡°You will have to find a mine I suppose. You can probably have a look in the library for where the previous Darknight¡¯s found their ore. I doubt any of them were able to do business with Galdea so they must have found their ore somewhere. There are some relics that still survive, but I would not want to destroy them for parts unless it was absolutely necessary.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll check the library and see if I can find anything. I really need to put aside a few days after this and learn all the skeletons¡¯ names. I¡¯m sure some of them know the answers to all the questions I have but just aren¡¯t able to give them yet.¡±

    ¡°You have plenty of time for that. I would also appreciate some of your time later. I¡¯d like to thank you for everything you have done for me,¡± Tifayn said, giving him a look that set his heart hammering. Then as quickly as she arrived, she left him standing confused and alone in the grounds.

    Alix headed for the library to see what he could find, once Tifayn had finished sashaying out of sight. Astrid immediately offered her help, but Alix declined. He felt bad relying on her so much, and she still had hundreds of volumes left to sort. After a quick perusal of the card catalogue, he knew where to look, but he spent some time browsing the other shelves for a while. Every page he read filled in more information on his map or gave him new ideas for crafting. A book on the races of the lands caught his attention, but he had to stop himself from getting too engrossed in it. After a quick flip through its pages, he found there were a lot more races in Babyl than he had thought, although some hadn¡¯t been seen for centuries. He set it aside to read later, and pulled out a sheaf of maps.

    One old map showed the forest a lot further back than it was now, and gave it the name Walach Woods, but he could see on his map how much progress he had already made in returning it to that state. He couldn¡¯t defend himself from what he couldn¡¯t see, but it wouldn¡¯t matter if he couldn¡¯t repair the gates. They looked more like the gates you would see in front of a stately home instead of something defensive.

    The next map showed the lands beyond the wall. The old Dark Elf village, Valon, was marked close by. Dozens of paths were dotted throughout the woods, most of which had probably long since vanished. Some led to caves on the mountainside, marked by triangular emblems. His map updated with the new finds. One of them was helpfully named Iron Cave.

    Alix scanned the rest of the maps for anywhere else that sounded promising, but finding Iron Cave the only obvious lead, he returned the other maps to their designated spot on the shelf and went to find Tifayn. He couldn¡¯t imagine she had spent all these years here and not explored the place at all. Such isolation would have driven him mad, without the comforts of home, although he realised he hadn¡¯t even thought about his tv, console or phone in ages. His phone battery was already on low power after wasting most of it in the first few days taking pictures of the skeletons, and a few subtle photos of Tifayn to prove to himself later that she had been real. He didn¡¯t think the internet would do him much good here anyway, although he wondered if he would be able to craft some of the things from home somehow? He knew how some things were made and that should be as good as any recipe.

    ¡°This was the closest place I could find,¡± Alix said when he found Tifayn in their rooms and showed her the map. She had lit some candles around the room and Alix suddenly realised he had spent more time reading in the library than he had thought. It was so much easier to get lost in books now that each one had the potential to unlock some new hidden skill.

    ¡°It sounds promising, but it is pretty far away,¡± Tifayn replied, putting a damper on his plans to source iron ore before the days end. ¡°The scale on this map isn¡¯t very accurate. Look here, it shows Wailing Cave so close, but I know that¡¯s a six hour walk. We can¡¯t get there and back before nightfall. If you find iron ore in the cave, it will add another day to the trip to harvest the amount that you need.¡±

    ¡°We could leave today and camp out. That would give us all day tomorrow to check out the cave, and if there¡¯s nothing there we can check out some of the other ones nearby as well.¡± Alix was anxious to get going, now that he could see the end of the restorations in sight.

    ¡°We could, but I had other plans,¡± Tifayn replied, and Alix suddenly realised that she had changed out of the sparring clothes she had been wearing earlier, into one a short black silken robe which revealed her long legs. The robe was embroidered with a floral pattern accented with violet and red to match her eyes and hair.

    ¡°What did you have in mind?¡± Alix asked, all thoughts of the dirty dark cave in the mountains fleeing his mind.

    ¡°You saved me from becoming an unbound demon forever. I wanted to thank you properly for that.¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t have just left you like that. After everything you have done for me already, I owed you that much as least.¡±

    ¡°Well, now that the issue with the bond had been sorted I thought we could¡­¡±

    ¡°Could what?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be such a fool, Alix. When the bond was restored I could sense your feelings for me. Or rather, I was overwhelmed by them. I know you want this just as much as I do,¡± Tifayn said, suggestively lifting the corner of her robe, brazenly revealing that she wore nothing underneath.

    Why is the room getting so hot? Alix thought as he tried to swallow past the lump in his throat. There was a faint spicy hint in the air.

    Tifayn untied the robe and let it fall to the ground, baring her voluptuous body. The candlelight flickered over her smoky skin, and reflected the fire in her violet eyes. Her blood red, almost black, hair was longer now than when they had first met, tumbling down her back in thick curls. Her horns curled out and back to follow the flow of her hair. He had seen her body plenty of times before, but this time felt different. Before, she hadn¡¯t cared if he looked. This time, she wanted him to look, but she looked slightly nervous, as if she was worried he wouldn¡¯t like what he saw.

    ¡°What do you think?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve never seen anything more incredible in my entire life.¡± Alix replied truthfully. He absorbed all the maps into his inventory, as Tifayn gave him a brilliant smile.

    I really have been a fool, Alix cursed himself. Tifayn had already been a better partner to him than any of his previous girlfriends. Even if none of it was real, he had nothing to lose. His heart raced as the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen in his life stepped over and wrapped her arms around him, pressed her perky breasts against him, and pulled him into a hungry kiss that left him breathless. Before he could catch it, Tifayn began to tear off his clothes, buttons pinging around the room. If her loving is anything like her sword fighting, I¡¯m in for a rough time.

    A heady scent of cinnamon filled his senses Tifayn dragged him to bed. Then they crawled under the covers and revelled in the touch of each other¡¯s embrace, the restored bond bringing them both to greater heights of ecstasy.

    The next morning Alix was greeted with several new notifications. The first was that he had gained a full three levels overnight. The second was a new title.

    Title Unlocked: Demonlover. +2 Def, +1 Luck, Increased Persuasion.

    What level would I be at now if I hadn¡¯t wasted all that time? There was no time to beat himself up over lost opportunities though. It was a new day, and he already knew what he had to do.

    Alix tried to untangle himself from the mess of bedsheets and hair without stabbing himself on a horn, and in the process felt a tinge of pain across his back. Flashes from the night before returned to him, of Tifayn¡¯s fierce embrace raking across his back. He was lucky that his muscles had grown tenfold since first arriving in Babyl. He might have broken something otherwise.

    As he took out a potion from his inventory to heal the scratches, Tifayn woke up.

    She stretched like a lioness and when she caught sight of him standing over her naked, a hungry look filled her eyes.

    ¡°Ready for more so soon? I guess we do have a lot of fun to catch up on.¡±

    ¡°Maybe another time. It¡¯s already late.¡±

    ¡°We better get going if we want to reach the cave before we run out of daylight then. You really shouldn¡¯t have kept me up so late.¡±

    I don¡¯t think that was really my choice, Alix thought to himself. He forced himself to stop reliving the night before and rushed to get ready for their journey, his motivation renewed. Things were finally feeling like they were going his way.

 Chapter 24: Hunters in the Dark

    The Woodsman¡¯s Guidebook finally came in handy, allowing Alix to focus on packing the necessities such as food and water instead of the usual things he would have expected to take on a trek into the woods back home, like tents and sleeping bags. Everything else they needed he would be able to craft as they went from his now extensive list of options. The only thing he made sure to take with him was the Azurite Pickaxe for any iron ore they happened upon.

    Tifayn quickly prepared herself, having slept a lot better than Alix had, and rounded up a pair of skeletons to accompany them after Mr Bones insisted that they didn¡¯t go alone. Mr Bones tried to volunteer himself to come with them, but Alix wanted him to stay behind and keep an eye on the skeletons. The skeletons could all follow commands easily enough, but some were unable to make decisions on their own.

    The sun was still high in the sky when they set off, passing through the sagging gates to the woods beyond. It was a good sign that the previous Darknight had felt himself safe enough not to warrant an upgrade, but it would be just as much work to restore them as to build a new pair. He wanted to replace the wrought iron bars with solid wood wrapped in steel bands.

    The path they followed down the mountain still showed the grooves cut by the passage of Leon¡¯s heavily loaded wagon, but otherwise everything was overgrown with grass and seedlings. On the one hand, he would have liked to clear the path as well, but on the other he wanted it to be as hard as possible for anyone unsavoury to find or reach the castle, although the castle was fairly monstrous and visible jutting out of the side of the mountain for miles around.

    The land fell away only a few paces to their left, a natural defence which meant the castle didn¡¯t need a wall that fully encircled it as it was built up the cliff itself, but the trees were a dense wall separating them from the drop.

    They could have cut through the forest to their right, but it would have taken them longer to wade through the wild overgrowth. Instead they just enjoyed the gentle walk. Alix felt like he was off for a picnic, until he remembered the skeletons lumbering behind him, disturbingly silent as they trudged through the tall grass.

    Alix harvested ingredients as they went, a habit he had built that he couldn¡¯t stop now. Whenever his stocks fell below a few dozen, he began to panic. Nothing too serious had happened to him yet, but if anything did happen, he didn¡¯t want to be short of anything to craft anything less than a Greater Healing Potion. The skeletons waited patiently, uncomplaining, as he harvested a rare patch of Abyssia, followed by a new plant he hadn¡¯t encountered before called Lunamoss. As he finished harvesting a bunch, his notification bell went and a new Title appeared: Phytologist. It came with a multitude of new passive skills. Increased Potion Efficiency. Increased Harvest Via Dismantle.

    What does that mean? Alix asked the ring as he continued on along the winding path.

    It means when you Dismantle, say, Dumpweed for instance, you will get more Aloe, as well as potentially extra materials, such as Fibre or trace minerals and elements that you were unable to harvest before, the ring replied.

    What am I, an Apothecary? This is getting ridiculous.

    Don¡¯t underestimate anything, for everything has its use, otherwise you wouldn¡¯t have learned it. When you are all alone and lost out in the wild, it can be quite handy to be able to compound food out of proteins and minerals from simple grasses and herbs.

    When am I ever going to be in that situation?

    You never know.

    Before they descended too far, the trees thinned slightly where an old path was dotted on the map. There was little left to suggest there had once been a path there, nothing in the woods more substantial than an animal path, so Alix let the skeletons take the lead, trampling a swathe through the woods to make for easier going.

    What¡¯s this Inventor skill all about as well? I forgot to ask about it before but it sounds like it¡¯s pretty damn powerful.

    It is. There are several different classes of Spells. Inventor is fairly simple to unlock, but it is one of the most difficult to master. It allows you to create something without a recipe, even without all the required materials, but it greatly depletes your Stamina and your Mana.

    I¡¯ll have to give that a try, Alix thought to himself, but at that moment he didn¡¯t want to waste either his Stamina or his Mana when he had no idea what awaited him in the forest or the cave. Instead he spent the time fantasising over the things he would create. When he realised that meant he could create an amplifier for his guitar, he almost gave up on the expedition right there to craft one, but then he realised he still wouldn¡¯t have anything to power it with.

    After what felt like a mile or two, they passed an area where their current path intersected another that went back towards Valon, but instead they continued onwards, walking parallel to the base of the mountain.

    Alix tried speaking with the skeletons that accompanied them, but they weren¡¯t the best conversationalists. They were more lost in the sights of the forest than he was, enjoying a world they hadn¡¯t seen in centuries. He hoped they would remember more of themselves eventually, but for now they seemed content to be told what to do and enjoy their curious half-life.

    The path became wilder as they trekked deeper into the woods, the path no longer covered by saplings but cut by girthy oaks rising to a leafy canopy. The land rose, littered with moss covered scree slopes as the path drifted closer to the mountain. With the map they were easily able to keep to what remained of the ancient roads, and just as the sun was setting, they came upon the cave in the side of the mountain.

    Alix had expected to have a harder time finding the place, after being abandoned for decades, or was it more like centuries? He had come prepared to cut down a few trees, or even smash a few boulders, but the entrance was exactly where it was supposed to be, a dark gaping hole in the mountainside. A few small boulders had tumbled down over the years, and plants had grown to hang over the entrance, but they wouldn¡¯t have any trouble making their way inside.

    A metallic tang wafted out of the cave, trying to lure him in, but after last night¡¯s vigorous exercise, Alix was due a rest. He found a clear area a short distance from the cave entrance and crafted a quick lean-to, followed by a comfortable bundle of blankets and pillows from his Fibre stores. It was warm and dry enough that they could just as easily sleep under the stars, and the cave looked like it provide ample protection if the weather turned, but his old achievement hunting addiction was kicking in again. With every action he took, he braced to hear the sound of a new Title or Skill being unlocked. Crafting the shelter unlocked nothing, leaving him with little else to do then but light a campfire and enjoy the sounds of the forest.

    Eventually he crawled into the covers on the leaf padded ground, accompanied by Tifayn¡¯s softness. He hadn¡¯t expected the ground to be so hard, but he managed to fall asleep with ease, knowing that the skeletons would be constant guardians over them while they slept.

    * * *

    Alix was dreaming. He knew that for sure because he was standing in line to get into Cathouse back in Glasgow, and Tifayn was about to fight the bouncer at the door. For some reason she was dressed like she had just stepped off the set of The Matrix, in a long black leather coat. Her hair was slicked back with something that gave it the look of liquid blood, accentuating her horns, which were suddenly twice as long as usual, rising to serrated points like a demons breadknife.

    ¡°It¡¯s no Halloween luv,¡± the rotund bouncer said, blocking the door. ¡°Take the horns off, they could poke someone¡¯s eye out¡±

    ¡°What in the Naether is Halloween? Alix, can I kill this imbecile?¡± Tifayn said, pulling off her coat to prepare for the fight, revealing the incredibly tight black leather outfit underneath. A black whip suddenly appeared in her hand, but it was more 50 Shades of Grey than Indiana Jones, and when she struck the stoic bouncer with it, the sound of metal on metal echoed down the street.

    ¡°You better do something about this before I do, son,¡± the bouncer said as he took the ineffective beating. ¡°Son?¡± the bouncer said with every metallic strike, lengthening more and more until the moaning was barely recognisable as a voice. The moaning finally tore him from the dream, and the metallic clangs followed him.

    Soooooonnnnn¡­.the words continued to echo in his head upon waking, and he realised it was coming from one of the skeletons trying to speak to him through the ring.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Alix called into the darkness. Tifayn, wrapped in his arms, suddenly woke at the noise and sprung naked from the covers. In a second she had Cinnabite in her hand and ran off into the night.

    Daannggerrr¡­ was the only word he managed to get from the skeleton.

    Alix was quick behind Tifayn with Xilian, but in the dark he was unable to see anything. He could hear the sounds of clashing swords coming from several places around the lean-to, but he didn¡¯t want to wade into anything blind. He opened his Magic menu, glad at least that much was visible to him in the dark, and scoured the list of spells. After a few moments that felt like hours, he found something useful, raised him arm into the air, and shouted:Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    ¡°Illuminate!¡±

    A white magic circle burst from his hand, then shot up into the sky and exploded like a flare. It lit up the surrounding woods like a miniature sun. The first thing Alix noticed was the blood sprayed everywhere. It stained the trees, the ground, the skeletons, and the bodies that were lying around the clearing.

    The skeletons fought with their own swords, blades that were more dangerous from how ragged they were than how sharp. Despite their difficulty in communicating, they still remembered enough of their old skills to hold their own in a fight. Three bodies already littered the ground, while two more men continued to fight. The two were dressed in dark clothes to hide them as they slipped through the night.

    Alix noticed the exact moment the men lost their fight. With the sudden light, they saw exactly what they had been fighting in the darkness and all the colour drained from their once hard looking faces. One man froze with fear, and one of the skeletons jagged swords cut a horrible gash through his throat just as he was about to let out a scream of terror. The other, seeing all of his companions fallen, wisely threw down his own sword and began to beg for his life.

    The other skeleton raised his sword to deliver a final blow, but Alix stopped him with a silent command.

    I want to hear what he has to say, he said to the pair, grateful for their actions, but he wanted to learn what had warranted them to begin with.

    ¡°What the hell is going on here?¡± Alix said, still feeling like he was half asleep. The last bandit answered from where he had dropped to the ground.

    ¡°Watch out, these skeletons are dangerous,¡± the man rasped. Alix noticed the man hadn¡¯t left the fight entirely unscathed. He sported a vicious wound on his leg. It looked like it needed attention, the sword that had caused it ancient and jagged with disrepair. It was more a tear than a cut.

    ¡°Well you shouldn¡¯t have been creeping around our camp in the dark if you didn¡¯t want to deal with the consequences,¡± Alix said, as he silently asked the skeletons; Why did you attack these men?

    ¡°What is that supposed to mean? Are these monsters your pets or something?¡± the man asked.

    Bounty¡­hunters¡­want¡­kill¡­you¡­stop¡­steal¡­prize¡­

    What prize? Alix asked. He couldn¡¯t tell which skeleton the words had come from. The conversation almost felt like it was a joint effort, the pair of them having to pool their fragmented memories together to form the story, although it was apparent it was going to take too long to learn it from them, so he turned his attention back to the lone survivor of the group. Text floating above him identified him as Darick, Lv. 36. Bounty Hunter.

    ¡°These skeletons are my guards. I will ask you again what you are doing here. Why were you trying to kill us?¡±

    ¡°What kind of a person has skeletons as guards? What are you, the Darknight or something?¡± Darick said, laughing at the absurdity of his situation, but then his face lost all its remaining colour as he saw how no one else was laughing.

    It was the first time Alix had felt the significance of the title. The man looked terrified. His first instinct was to deny it, but Darick looked like he would obey any command he gave out of pure fear, although he didn¡¯t look like he would be capable of doing much with his wounded leg.

    Alix opened his inventory and quickly crafted a Greater Healing Potion. The potion appeared in the air and he handed it over to Darick. Darick eyed the potion warily, but his desire to be healed was greater than his fear of Alix so he took it and downed the contents. They both watched as the ragged edges of the gash closed together, leaving no scar. Without the blood that stained his clothes, there would have been no proof that he had been wounded at all.

    ¡°Unfortunately it looks like there¡¯s nothing I can do to help your friends, Darick, but if you tell me what you are doing here, I might be persuaded to let you go. What prize of yours is it that you think I was trying to steal?¡± Alix asked.

    It took the man a long time to find his voice, first showing surprise at Alix suddenly knowing his name, then wonder at his healed leg, then fear again once he saw the blood covered skeletons standing over the mutilated corpses of his companions.

    ¡°Dark¡­Dark Elves. We thought you were Dark Elves, or another group looking for the bounty,¡± Darick managed to eventually reply.

    ¡°What bounty? I haven¡¯t seen any Dark Elves around here. I thought they were long gone.¡±

    ¡°There has always been a bounty on Dark Elves,¡± Darick replied with a half-hearted scoff as if the answer should have been obvious. ¡°We heard a rumour some had been sighted around here. The King pays a good price for every Dark Elf head that¡¯s brought in.¡±

    ¡°And just when I thought the King couldn¡¯t be any more of an asshole. Why the hell did he do that?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°They are the unholy spawn of Elves and Demons,¡± Darick spat, instantly making Alix regret healing his wound.

    ¡°So it¡¯s just racism is it?¡± Alix sighed. ¡°That still doesn¡¯t explain why the Dark Elves have been singled out like that. Why isn¡¯t there a bounty on demons as well?¡± He turned to Tifayn, hoping she would have a more sensible answer.

    ¡°It is the fear of the unknown,¡± Tifayn offered. ¡°Do we possess some magic gifted to us by the Darknight, or some weapon we could raise against him? It is safer for the King to leave us alone, but we have no protections in Galdea. As for the Dark Elves, they are rarely seen so little is known about them, although hatred of both races is still deeply ingrained in Galdean culture. Some say they wander the Deadlands as a nomadic people, able to survive the harsh conditions there, devoid of mana. The Church keep up their propaganda against Demons as they still believe we are to blame for the curse afflicting Babyl, and the Dark Elves are tainted by association. They have the increased mana of Demons and the longevity of Elves, which the King views as a dangerous combination. He fears if they were ever to unite they could be a serious threat to his rule.¡±

    ¡°Well, there won¡¯t be any Dark Elves killed around here tonight,¡± Alix said, turning his attention back to Darick. The bounty hunter looked like he was about to cut in and argue several times, but he cleverly decided that his life was more important than his misguided beliefs. ¡°I¡¯m going to let you live Darick, even though my better judgement is telling me that you don¡¯t deserve it. I want you to return to Galdea and spread the word that no one is to intrude on these lands. If the King is going to exile me to this mountain, then I will make it my own. You have seen what the punishment is for breaking my laws,¡± Alix said with as much authority as he could muster, motioning towards the gored bodies on the forest floor. ¡°What is the bounty for a Dark Elf anyway?¡±

    ¡°Eighty gold coins,¡± Darick replied hesitantly.

    ¡°How about this then. For every Dark Elf you find, bring them to me alive, and I will pay you double that.¡±

    ¡°Eighty¡­ plus eighty¡­ one hundred¡­¡± Darick mumbled under his breath, trying to get the math right.

    ¡°That¡¯s one hundred and sixty gold coins, Darick. The offer stands for anyone willing to do the right thing. I¡¯ll pay for the names of those that don¡¯t take me up on my offer as well. Maybe I¡¯ll send my ¡®pets¡¯ to pay them a visit.¡±

    Get him out of here, Alix silently commanded one of the skeletons.

    Hard fingers covered in dried blood grabbed hold of Darick by the arm and pulled him to his feet. The bounty hunter instantly began to whimper, thinking he was about to meet the same fate as his companions after all, but the skeleton silently dragged him into the woods in the direction of Galdea. The occasional squeal and whimper echoed through the trees in their wake.

    ¡°What should we do with the bodies?¡± Tifayn asked once they were once again alone.

    Alix had been trying to think of an answer to that very question ever since he saw the skeletons cut them down. Part of him wanted to loot the bodies, see if they had any cool weapons or items, but another part of him felt like this was a good opportunity to deal with an issue that had been bothering him. He quickly checked his stats. The Illuminate spell had barely cost him any MP at all, and it still hung just above the canopy, lighting up the clearing.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got an idea,¡± Alix said, opening his Necromancy menu and selecting the Revive spell.

    The same green magic circle that appeared when he cast Resurrection burst from him to strike the four prone bodies on the ground, and his MP depleted in four large chunks. Torn edges of deep wounds stitched themselves back together until the only sign of the fight was their torn clothes, and the pools of blood everywhere. Four sets of lungs began to take ragged breaths, but none of the men woke up, and they looked incredibly pale.

    ¡°Why did you save them?¡± Tifayn asked, unable to hide her disappointment.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to get something out of my mind ever since Mortlake. One of the Ghosts told me that the slaves were bound for Celadon, and that they had shipped who knows how many others there already. There is no one else out there trying to help those girls. I feel like it¡¯s my responsibility now that I know, but I don¡¯t have the time. That¡¯s where these men are going to come in.¡± Alix took a few tonics and healing potions out of his inventory and went around pouring them into the mouths of the bounty hunters. Then he downed a mana potion, and cast another spell on them as they began to stir.

    ¡°Soulbind!¡± he called, and the men calmly got to their feet. ¡°Damn, now that I see them standing, they really do look like shit.¡± Their clothes were torn to shreds and drenched in their own blood, sweat and piss. Alix was loathe to waste the materials, but he couldn¡¯t let the men go looking as they did, so he crafted four new sets of clothes for them that more suited their new purpose in life.

    They changed mechanically into the new black outfits, with matching travelling cloaks, gloves, hats and tough boots. The men looked remarkably sharp once they were dressed. ¡°Now, I¡¯ve got a new task for you all. You are to forget about the Dark Elves, but if you ever see one in distress, you will do everything in your power to help them. Bring them to me if they have nowhere else to go that is safe. Your purpose now is to head to Celadon. Once there, you will use all the skills and contacts at your disposal to investigate the slavers operating there. There will be some connected with the Ghosts of Mortlake, and they will probably be wondering what happened to their companions. I want you to find out what happened to the slaves the Ghosts sold in particular. Any you can purchase, do so and I will reimburse your costs. Any you find but cannot free, bring me the information, and whatever you need to free them I will provide. I want to know everything about them. Where their safehouses are, where they sell their slaves, who buys them, for how much. Everything. You will tell no one you are working for me or your true intentions. I expect frequent updates. Get going.¡±

    The men slipped away into the trees, blending into the shadows with their new clothes even better than they had with their old, leaving them in silence. Only then did Alix feel his racing pulse, feel the blood pumping through him.

    Unable to sleep, he sat on a moss covered boulder, waiting for his body to calm and his mind to quiet. A while later the skeleton returned and laboriously told him that Darick was on his way. He didn¡¯t question what had happened to the bodies.

    Alix contemplated downing a few Nightbringer Draughts, but he didn¡¯t want to be comatose if anyone crept up on them again, as unlikely as that was. The skeletons had already proven themselves as worthy guardians anyway, but still he couldn¡¯t bring himself to sleep, so he told Tifayn to sleep while he took the first watch.

    ¡°Wake me in a few hours then and I will take over so you can get some sleep,¡± she said, begrudgingly rolling back into the covers. She kept Cinnabite unsheathed within arm¡¯s reach.

    Tifayn quickly fell asleep as the flare in the canopy slowly faded. Even when it was completely extinguished, Alix kept watch, until the sun began to break on the horizon.

 Chapter 25: Frost & Iron

    The roughly hewn walls glistened with moisture, and rusty stalactites dripped with constant disharmonious rhythm, feeding the stagnant pools of water that filled the tunnels. Alix had expected a dry cave with nice wide passages, iron ore sparkling all around them, but instead he found a labyrinth of confusing shafts that fell deeper and deeper into the mountain without any ore in sight.

    As the path went deeper, the walls drew in, forcing Alix to crouch down to avoid hitting his head on the stalactites. His heart beat faster as he imagined having to crawl through a murky water filled tunnel to reach his goal, a new fear he hadn¡¯t realised he possessed until that moment.

    Finally a glint caught his eye and he almost stumbled in a pool in his rush to reach the ore.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch that!¡± Tifayn called as his hand reached for the glowing rock protruding out of the tunnel wall.

    Alix pulled his hand back as her bark echoed painfully around the cramped space.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked. Only as the light of the torch fully exposed the rock did he realise that there was no way it was iron. A chill emanated from it that quickly began to seep into his bones.

    ¡°That is Frostite,¡± Tifayn said, at the same time as the ring also identified the rock as such.

    The Frostite was a crystalline material, shimmering like metallic ice, a lustre he had mistaken for iron, although he felt stupid now thinking that. Iron ore held a duller shine, and didn¡¯t grow in such long faceted pieces.

    ¡°Is it dangerous or something?¡±

    ¡°It can be, if you don¡¯t handle it properly. It is a mineral formed from the condensed mana of Babyl. There are others, all extremely rare and valuable. It can be used for forging spellblades, but I have heard it is incredibly difficult. You are more likely to lose your hands to frostbite before you can even begin working with it,¡± Tifayn explained, pulling him back from the Frostite

    At the mention of spellblades, his mind began to run wild at the possibilities. He could only imagine how much he would be able to sell such a blade for if he was able to craft one. No other similar blades had adorned the walls of the shops in Galdea.

    ¡°Just as well I don¡¯t have to touch it then,¡± Alix said, taking out his Azurite Pickaxe and taking a swing at the base of one of the crystals. It cracked cleanly with the sound of breaking glass. Then he touched the ring to the icy blue surface and the Frostite disappeared.

    <ul style="text-align: left">

    <li>Obtained Frostite. </li>

    </ul>

    It appeared his previously gained skill of harvesting twice as much materials didn¡¯t have any effect on the Frostite. Maybe he would have to mine more to unlock the equivalent skill, but Tifayn hissed with disappointment as he stepped so close to the crystal.

    ¡°Come on, this isn¡¯t what we came here for. You can¡¯t repair the castle with Frostite nails,¡± Tifayn said, leading the way past the crystals and deeper into the cave.

    The Frostite became more frequent as they walked, until they eventually passed through a cavern full of the stuff. Alix had never felt such a biting chill before. It felt almost like walking into a solid wall as they stepped into the cavern. He cut them a path as quickly as he could with his Pickaxe to get to the wide mouth at the other side. They managed to escape the Frostite¡¯s range seconds before he felt like his teeth were about to chatter right out of his skull.

    The path on the other side of the Frostite field led to a tunnel that was a lot better worked than the rough passages before. The walls were smoother, and he no longer felt like the roof was going to cave in on top of him. He doubted even the rings powers would be able to save him from the weight of a mountain crushing him.

    The path split at several points, forcing them to backtrack several times when they reached a dead end. One led to a cavern full of gemstones similar to the crystal protrusions of the Frostite but these sparkled a deep red.

    ¡°Is this another form of Babyl mana?¡± Alix asked at the incredible sight. It looked like a room made entirely of ruby.

    ¡°No, that is just plain Kingstone.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound very plain. Is it worth anything?¡±

    ¡°I guess this much of it would be worth quite a bit, but it¡¯s not useful for more than decoration as far as I know.¡±

    Alix made sure to mine as much as he could reach before Tifayn realised there was no other exit in the chamber and left. Such a fancy looking and sounding gemstone had to be worth more than she thought.

    Alix was sure they would have become permanently lost without the map, but it updated with every turn they took, showing the twisting route behind them, and it kept on going with no sign of iron ore.

    Throughout everything, the skeletons followed in silence, other than the sound of their bones clacking on the stones. Alix wondered who the skeletons had once been in life. What world had they come from? Until recently, Earth was the only world that he had known, but now he knew there was at least one more, and he couldn¡¯t know for sure if all of the previous Darknights had come from Earth. What was it about them that made them special anyway? Why couldn¡¯t the Solknight and the Darknight come from this world?

    The path came to a set of steps that looked like they had been carved for giants. By the time they jumped to the bottom, they found themselves on the edge of a giant lake that stretched off into the darkness. Alix almost decided to give up then, thinking they must have already been descending for hours and not wanting to get trapped in the mine once night fell, although there was no way to tell when that was. When he caught the distinct smell of metal in the air, he suddenly felt hope, but he couldn¡¯t see anything in the rock around them.

    ¡°I can smell metal somewhere,¡± Alix said aloud, hoping to get confirmation from the others that he wasn¡¯t just imagining it. ¡°Also, I have to say, this doesn¡¯t look anything like an iron ore mine.¡± He tried looking around with the ring, but it couldn¡¯t identify anything other than dirt and water.

    The shore of the lake gave them little room to stand on. It was obvious that there was nowhere else to go. He had no desire to cross the dark water, but Tifayn had other ideas.

    ¡°You¡¯re right, this cave is an unusual place. Maybe we missed a turn that led to an open seam, or maybe the whole place is already mined out, but I can smell metal as well. It¡¯s coming from across the lake. How good are you at swimming?¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious. We can¡¯t swim carrying torches and I¡¯m not going out there in the dark. I could build us a boat-¡°

    ¡°Do that then.¡±

    ¡°-but I don¡¯t like using the wood like that,¡± Alix finished. The last boat had taken more wood than any other single object that he had crafted.

    ¡°You can just absorb it into your inventory and take it with you, can¡¯t you? You might have a chance to use it again some other time.¡±

    Alix began to point out how few rivers there were in Babyl, but then he remembered how he had already had need of a boat before, and it hadn¡¯t even been for any body of water on his map. ¡°I guess we have already come this far. It would be a shame to turn back now with so little to show for it. Alright, I¡¯ll craft a boat, but if there¡¯s nothing out there we turn back and try again tomorrow, or look for a different mine. If we have to come this far to find it, we are probably better of just trading for it.¡±

    Alix quickly crafted a boat large enough for the four of them and they all climbed in. Then he crafted a pair of oars and the skeletons began to row them out into the lake as Alix and Tifayn held their torches high. Alix watched his map as they glided across the water, watching as the lake extended out of sight all around them.

    The skeletons rowed straight out from the shore. The water all around them was deep and dark. Once the shore was out of sight, a low roar reached them from out of the darkness, growing louder as the skeletons continued their tireless labour.

    ¡°What¡¯s that sound?¡± Alix finally asked once it became too loud to ignore.

    ¡°Let¡¯s find out,¡± Tifayn said, trying to pierce the darkness.

    A short while later the far shore appeared, but Alix was dismayed to see that there wasn¡¯t anywhere to land. The shore was more of a rising cliff, other than a wide tunnel where the lake drained into a river. The roaring sound came from further along. The rock to either side of the entrance was blackened as if by fire.

    ¡°We should turn back,¡± Alix said as Tifayn urged the skeletons onwards.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, I can see a platform just inside the tunnel,¡± Tifayn said, seeing something in the dark that his human eyes could not.

    Alix was already regretting crafting the boat. At most he felt like he should have sent the skeletons onward themselves. They were at least capable of mining any iron ore they came across, or returning if they found the route impassable.

    The skeletons rowed them towards the rocky platform that appeared just within the mouth of the tunnel. They quickly disembarked and tied the boat up to a rock before the current could drag it further. Alix hoped they wouldn¡¯t have any trouble fighting it on the way back.

    The smell of metal was stronger in the tunnel, although there was still no sign of ore. Alix ran his hand across the nearby wall and his hand came back covered in a black soot. He assumed it was the remnant of some sort of blasting material and took it as a sign that they were getting close. He hoped the journey was going to be worth it. It would have been easier to disguise himself and return to Galdea to purchase the metal directly.

    Tifayn set off down the riverbank, searching for a path onwards. It was hard to tell if the place was manmade or natural. The path led only a few paces before the rocks fell back into the water and a mist rose up into the air from the source of the roar, a waterfall their torches couldn¡¯t quite reach. They were way too close to the edge for his liking, but Tifayn continued to look amongst the rocks for something.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°There has to be something here,¡± she said almost to herself.

    ¡°It¡¯s a dead end Tifayn. Who would come this far for some ore. It must have been long mined out by now,¡± Alix tried to reason.

    ¡°There are footprints other than ours in the dirt,¡± she said.

    Alix couldn¡¯t see anything, but he took out his pickaxe anyway and began tapping it on the rocks in search of something he didn¡¯t know. All the rock sounded the same, until he hit a patch of wall and it gave off a different tone. It clanged like metal, the echo faint under the roar of the waterfall.

    Tifayn rushed over to his side at the sound. It took him a few moments to realise that the wall in front of him was a well disguised door. Tifayn scoured the walls for a way to open it, but there was no handle or secret latch to be seen.

    Alix thought at first that it was an old mining hatch, to block off a dangerous route, but the door showed no sign of rust and grooves on the rocks showed a history of use.

    With the head of the pickaxe, Alix hit the door three times, nothing else to try but knocking. The sound echoed far into the distance beyond.

    After a few moments of silence, they gave up and turned back to the boat. There were still miles of passageways they had yet to explore. Suddenly a grating cut through the roar of rushing water as the door opened a crack on heavy hinges. A pair of eyes shone back in their torchlight.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± a voice spoke softly from beyond the door.

    Tifayn stepped forward to stand in front of Alix protectively, but there didn¡¯t appear to be any threat. Heavy chains could just be seen hanging across the inside of the door, preventing it from opening any further.

    ¡°We mean you no harm,¡± Tifayn said, but suddenly the skeletons were standing to either side of him, swords drawn.

    ¡°I asked you a question,¡± the voice replied. It was obviously that of a man, but they sounded young and uncertain in their authority. ¡°Who are you that walks with the undead?¡±

    Alix was sure the eyes were looking directly at him, but he didn¡¯t know how to answer. His first instinct was to lie, but the man didn¡¯t seem scared at the sight of the skeletons. If anything he sounded a bit excited.

    ¡°My name is Alix. We are just looking for some iron ore. We aren¡¯t looking for trouble.¡±

    ¡°Alix of what? You look Galdean, but no Galdean would be caught dealing in necromancy.¡±

    As Alix had hoped, his name hadn¡¯t spread to such deep corners of Babyl quite yet, but there was only one way for him to explain where the skeletons had come from if he didn¡¯t want to appear like he was here for some darker reason, or that he lived a nefarious life. The man could have a weapon pointed at them in the dark that they couldn¡¯t see, ready to strike if his answer wasn¡¯t acceptable.

    ¡°Alix of the castle on the mountain. Look, we¡¯ve obviously come the wrong way-¡°

    ¡°Wait here,¡± the man said, quickly pulling shut the door.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± Alix said, turning to leave, but Tifayn grabbed his arm.

    ¡°Wait. I think that was¡­a Dark Elf. I couldn¡¯t see much of him beyond the door, but I sensed a familiarity.¡±

    ¡°What the hell are the Dark Elves doing down here?¡±

    ¡°I guess we are about to find out.¡±

    They waited, and then they waited some more. Alix wished he had thought to store some beer in his inventory for such occasions, or something to smoke. He would have even settled for tobacco.

    Several imaginary pints later, the door finally grated open again. This time three more set of eyes joined the first.

    ¡°See! I told you,¡± the first voice said to his companions.

    The door was shut again after the eyes finished scouring Alix, bolts and chains were drawn back, and the door squealed open again, fully this time. Four figures stepped out, armed with heavy iron crossbows, loaded and pointed at him. Tifayn and the skeletons stepped in front of him again, as he quickly opened up his Magic menu and looked for a defensive spell. He silently cursed himself for not picking up Tifayn the best set of armour he could find in Galdea.

    ¡°The boy says you are from the castle. I have heard stories about the undead that roam the halls there, eternally waiting for their absent master,¡± one of the newcomers said.

    Alix had expected the Dark Elves to look more like elves than demons, judging by their name and the previous media he had seen back home, but the three new arrivals were as tall as Tifayn, and built like barbarians from the cover of a pulp fantasy novel. They were of a lighter shade of skin than Tifayn, but there were still some faint similarities, a devilish look, minus the horns. Alix could see pointed ears poking out from beneath their long tousled black hair. The one that had spoken to them before was the only one that looked different. He was a head shorter, skinny and lithe.

    ¡°We are from the castle, but like I said to the boy, we were just looking for some iron ore.¡±

    ¡°You know what we are asking,¡± the apparent leader replied. ¡°There is only one person that would be foolish enough to take up residence there.¡±

    ¡°What difference does it make? We are the ones that slew the bounty hunters on your doorstep. You are the fools for being seen, and for not having revealed yourselves to the Darknight sooner,¡± Tifayn lashed out at the dark elves.

    Alix expected them to attack as Tifayn revealed who he was, but they instead lowered their crossbows.

    ¡°The Revenant will want to see him,¡± Alix heard the young dark elf say to the others. The apparent leader looked annoyed that he had spoken, but the others whispered the same thought.

    Alix had no idea who the Revenant was, and didn¡¯t really care to find out, but when the group motioned them through the door, Tifayn marched through as if on a mission. Then the skeletons abandoned him and followed her through the door, sending him a disjointed message as they went.

    Revenant¡­honourable.

    Alix quickly stepped back down the shore to retrieve the boat, then followed after the others, the young dark elf excitedly taking the lead as they were herded on with the crossbows. The thought of all that power coiled behind him made his back itch.

    Who is the Revenant? Alix asked the ring as they walked down a roughly hewn passage.

    It is the name given to the leader of the Dark Elves, like their king, although it is not a hereditary position, the ring replied.

    What did the skeletons mean by honourable?

    The path reached a set of carved stairs worn smooth with age that spiralled tightly downwards.

    They meant he is trustworthy, or at least previous ones were. I have no knowledge of the current one, but his predecessors were trusted advisors to the Darknight when they still resided in Valon. They have a curious sort of magic, with a ritual not unlike the one that brought you to this world, but instead of summoning an otherworlder, it gives the Revenant knowledge of his successor, telling him who the wisest is among their race. They hold a ring as well, although its origins are a closely guarded Dark Elf secret. I am not sure of the extent of its powers, but the one thing I do know is that when the ring is passed to the next Revenant, it gives them a vision of how they are going to die. It is a cruel fate to be given, but it ensures that the Revenant rules wisely and make the best decisions for their people.

    So the Revenant can see the future?

    I always suspected they could see some things, but the Dark Elves are a secretive race and the Revenant only reveals what he has to.

    The steps came to an end, opening up into a larger passage that continued onwards. As they walked, the roar of the waterfall that had faded on the steps returned. Alix suddenly developed a new fear of the tunnels flooding with water.

    Alix was starting to tire from the walk by the time they finally reached another door, similar to the metal one they had entered through, although this one was already slightly open and a light shone through the crack. The Dark Elves had remained silent until then, but now they ushered them inside.

    The door led into a room that looked like the inside of a barracks. A few beds lined one wall, while the rest of the room was a rough living space, with a half empty weapons rack against the other wall. Everything seemed to be crafted from metal or stone, the only other material a rough fabric that made up the bedding. The room was warmed by a brazier burning with what looked like coal but gave off no smoke or fumes.

    ¡°Wait here,¡± the leader of their troupe said, to them and the other dark elves. ¡°I will let the Revenant know of your arrival and see what he wants to do with you.¡±

    Alix was becoming annoyed at the way the Dark Elves were speaking. He hadn¡¯t intended on coming across them and had no desire to intrude unwanted. If they were going to give him hassle, he would prefer to leave then, but the dark elves locked the door behind them, and then the leader locked the outer door as he left.

    ¡°Why do you think the Revenant will want to see me?¡± Alix asked the young dark elf as he added another handful of black rocks to the fire. The ring identified it as Bludium.

    The older ones gave him stern glances, but he chose to ignore them and answer Alix. He pulled up a seat, an uncomfortable and unwieldy metal thing, and sat by the fire before he did.

    ¡°We have¡­a problem here, I guess you could say,¡± the boy said, giving an annoyingly vague answer.

    ¡°I imagine you have a few problems, living so deep under the mountain, but I¡¯m not sure how I can help.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t think you can help either, but we have to report all intruders to the Revenant.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not an intruder. You brought me here yourself. I don¡¯t even know where I am.¡±

    ¡°This is Nytherai, our city,¡± the boy said, ¡°We were kicked out of the world above, so this is the safest place for us to be. Or it was¡­¡±

    The guards hushed him for speaking too much, but the door suddenly opened and the leader returned with another man. The boy quickly got to his feet.

    ¡°That is the Revenant,¡± he whispered. It had only taken a moment for him arrive, as if the Revenant had been waiting just outside. The other two straightened their posture as he walked into the room. Even the skeletons had sheathed their swords.

    The Revenants eyes took in the skeletons and then focussed on the ring on Alix¡¯s finger.

    ¡°The Ring of the Darknight. What brings you to our city?¡± the Revenant asked in a slow, thoughtful voice, as if every word was chosen and charged with meaning.

    ¡°We were just looking for some iron ore,¡± Alix replied. Tifayn studied the Revenant intently, as if he, and the other Dark Elves, were not what she was expecting. The Revenant was of a larger stature than the others. Alix had never thought of himself as short but he was by far the shortest one in the room.

    ¡°I might be able to help you with that. In exchange maybe I could tell you of the problem I have.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see why not.¡± If listening would get him the ore then he could spare the time.

    ¡°Let us go for a walk,¡± the Revenant said, stepping back outside. The guards herded them out, but at a raised hand from the Revenant, they stayed behind in their barracks.

    Outside Alix was met with the grand view of the Dark Elf city. The door led onto a small raised platform that was carved into a sloped cliff face, with more stone steps leading down to the city. It was entirely carved of stone, but the buildings rose to delicate spires and arched across the river at the base of the waterfall. It was lit by faceted crystals that glowed along the streets. On top of many of the buildings were metal contraptions that looked like giant crossbows. In the distance the rivers spilled out into another lake. Along the shore were countless lights of a different kind. They glowed with the deep red of fire and rang with the sound of hammering.

    Definitely looks like there¡¯s plenty of iron ore to go around, Alix thought to himself, although he couldn¡¯t see what the Revenant¡¯s problem was yet. The city looked clean and lively, and abundant with forges. They appeared to be doing a lot better than he had imagined.

    The Revenant reached over to a dulled crystal caged on top of a metal pole and grazed its surface. At his touch the crystal brightened.

    ¡°We are used to the dark down here, but I know you are not. The crystals will guide your way.¡± He led the way down the steps and more crystals illuminated just as the others glow was getting out of reach. The crystals illuminated blackened spots all over the cliff face.

    Fresh water flowed in channels along the streets and through aqueducts overhead. Alix could barely believe such a place existed under the mountain. The heavy tang of metal hung in the air, permeated with the smell of old fire.

    ¡°So what is your problem?¡± Alix asked once they reached the streets that had been carved to look paved.

    ¡°A dragon,¡± the Revenant said bluntly.

 Chapter 26: The Forges of Nytherai

    The Revenant walked them through Nytherai, a settlement that had to be at least one hundred times the size of Valon, attracting stares from everyone they passed, only continuing his tale once they were alone again.

    ¡°A dragon?¡± Alix asked incredulously, sure he had misheard. He had been feeling pretty confident in his ability to deal with anything Babyl could throw at him up until then, but a dragon felt like it was well beyond his skill level to deal with. He had never been to a gym before in his life but the Dark Elves looked like they lived for pumping iron.

    ¡°I am sure you noticed the blackened walls on your way here. This mountain is deep and ancient, home to more than just our humble city. One of those beings is a dragon that keeps attacking our forges. I am hoping that the ring you carry might be able to tell us why. I have heard that it can show its bearer truths invisible to the eyes of others. I would prefer not to kill it as dragons are rare and sacred beasts, but I will not put its survival over that of my people.¡±

    ¡°The ring is powerful, but I am still just a normal guy. I don¡¯t see how I can be of any help against a dragon.¡± Alix had barely learned how to wield a sword, and he doubted any of it would be of use against dragon. He was woefully unequipped for such a job. It felt more like he had gone off track from the main quest and ended up in an area he shouldn¡¯t have braved for a while yet.

    The Revenant led them through the perfectly straight streets towards the lake. Everything looked like it had been carved straight out of the mountain. It was hard to imagine how the Dark Elves had managed to live down here for so long. The place had an atmosphere that put Alix on edge. There was little sound other than the flowing water and the striking of hammers in the distance. It didn¡¯t help that all the Dark Elves they passed were built on a scale bordering the gargoyles. They all carried massive weapons of various kinds, mostly giant double edged swords or warhammers. As well as their weapons, they all carried pickaxes twice the size of his own their belts, which looked like a toothpick in comparison.

    ¡°I will give you free reign of the city to try anyway. If you succeed, I will be able to provide you with as much iron ore as you need. Right now it is too dangerous to cross the lake to the mines, but there are still large stores in the city,¡± the Revenant said as he stared out towards the dark lake. The light from the city wasn¡¯t enough to reach the far end of it.

    ¡°I have some questions I would like to ask first,¡± Tifayn said before Alix could reply. He was glad she had come with him. He wouldn¡¯t have known what to say.

    ¡°I will answer them as best I can.¡±

    ¡°What are you doing down here? I thought the Dark Elves had moved far from these lands?¡±

    ¡°It was the only place we could go. We have been here so long now that it no longer matters where we once called home. I thought a demon would understand that.¡±

    ¡°I understand, but you could have come to the Darknight already and asked for his help, or offered some yourselves. The Terminus Ritual affects us all. You were once allies of the Darknight and the demons.¡±

    ¡°I heard from my men that you had a run in with some bounty hunters looking for us already. Thank you for dealing with them. It is dangerous for us to be seen outside. I would have come to you in time, but the dragon required my attention first. It has only been a couple of weeks since I heard of the Darknights arrival but it is difficult to keep track of time down here.¡±

    ¡°I think one of you could have easily handled the bounty hunters yourselves. I can see you have spent your time down here wisely. I never heard of Dark Elves looking so¡­formidable before. Each one of you would be worth ten men in a fight.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, but our numbers are limited, and our existence here is fragile. It is easier for us to survive in secret, and in silence. Still, we have had to learn how to fight, and so we have become masters of war, but we cannot wage war against a dragon.¡±

    Tifayn continued to grill the Revenant on what had happened to the Dark Elves the past few hundred years, while Alix spoke with the ring.

    What can you tell me about dragons?

    You would not be the first Darknight to fight one, but I wouldn¡¯t recommend it. There must be a reason the dragon is causing trouble here. It cannot just be the Dark Elves presence, otherwise the dragon would have come for them a long time ago. I would suggest you look for something else that is causing it distress.

    They walked until they arrived at the edge of the lake, surrounded by countless noisy forges. The sound of their hammers echoes out across the lake and an acrid tang filled the air from their fires. Mountains of Bludium were piled everywhere, feeding the flames. The lake shimmered with a layer of filth that washed out from the forges. Hisses echoed along the shore as metal was quenched in its waters.

    Alix noticed a change of pressure in the air first before he felt the sudden gusts. The fires nearby dimmed as they were almost snuffed out, and the hammering all around stopped instantly. Before he could ask what was happening, a painful roar burst out of the darkness. It echoed until Alix felt like his skull was about to split. Then the dragon appeared out of the dark, winging just at the edge of the light. The roar finally cut out, replaced by a stream of fire spat from the dragons mouth. It lit up the lakes surface for half a mile, and for a brief moment, Nytherai looked like it was illuminated by the sun.

    Screams rent the air, but these ones came from the rooftops around them. Dark elves had manned the machines there and were firing silver shafts towards the dragons path along the shore. Alix thought they were large bolts at first, but they were too thick. They were more like tubes that wailed as they flew through the air.

    The dragon shied away from the sound, heading back into the dark after a few terrifying passes.

    In the silence Alix suddenly realised how terrified he was. His legs had turned to jelly at the sight of the giant beast. His terror hadn¡¯t been helped by the text he had seen above it. Water Dragon, Lv. 8658.

    Tifayn grabbed painfully on to his arm, which was the only thing that helped him to stay standing. The Revenant remained annoyingly calm throughout the whole ordeal.

    ¡°Now you know my problem,¡± he said as the hammering picked up again, as if a dragon hadn¡¯t just threatened to kill them all.

    ¡°Why do you not fire bolts at it?¡± Tifayn asked, the same question Alix was thinking. It looked like the Dark Elves weren¡¯t even trying to fight it.

    One part of the attack stuck in his mind. The Bludium he had seen before had given off no smoke, and yet something on the lakes surface had ignited with the dragons fire, burning with thick black clouds. The fire itself, still burning off shore, looked to be tinged a sickly green by whatever fuelled it.

    ¡°You do not wish to harm the dragon, as it doesn¡¯t mean to harm you either,¡± Alix said half to himself.

    ¡°That is what I think, but I do not know why. The dragon puts on a show, but so far none have been harmed. It fights off any that try to reach the mines, but more importantly it has blocked off our food supply. It doesn¡¯t have to do anything more to destroy us.¡±

    ¡°I think I might have an idea,¡± Alix said, walking over to a nearby pile, picking up a chunk of Bludium and absorbing it with the ring.

    <ul>

    <li>Obtained 2 Bludium</li>

    </ul>

    Then he selected the Bludium and Dismantled it. It broke down into a small amount of charcoal, and a crystalline substance he recognised. He had read about it as an ingredient in several nasty potions, ones he had no desire to craft.

    ¡°There is a very toxic substance in Bludium. It must be getting washed into the lake from all the forges. That is what is burning out there,¡± Alix said to the Revenant.

    ¡°Why should that bother the dragon? Our forges have been running for centuries.¡±

    ¡°That dragon is a Water Dragon,¡± Alix said, the knowledge returning to him from a book he had read in the library. Once he had seen a book that claimed dragons were actually real, he couldn¡¯t resist picking it up. He hadn¡¯t expected the information to come in useful so soon, if at all. ¡°Water dragons can purify water, absorbing and filtering it through their scales. All of the toxins they consume is one of the reasons they are so deadly. This must be where the poison Mr Bones was talking about comes from,¡± Alix said, directing the last part at Tifayn. For all the Revenants supposed wisdom, he was surprised he hadn¡¯t figured it out himself already.

    ¡°I see the powers of the ring do not disappoint,¡± the Revenant replied, seeming unconcerned with the revelation. ¡°I admit we have stepped up production after we heard of the summoning. Trouble always seems to come our way in its wake.¡±

    ¡°What exactly is it that you are producing down here in such volume? Nytherai looks like it has expanded as far as it is able to in these confines, and every Dark Elf that I have seen has been heavily armed,¡± Alix asked the Revenant, feeling like there was more the Dark Elf was hiding from him. The Revenant spoke freely and to the point, but he never seemed to say more than was necessary.

    ¡°Like I said, trouble always seems to find us, and we have grown tired of it. Why should we be denied the same rights as everyone else just because of the circumstances of our birth? Unfortunately, land in Babyl is limited, and we are the youngest race beneath its boughs. We have no land to call our own, but that does not mean that we don¡¯t deserve some. We wish to live freely among the other races, and to that end we have created a new metal alloy, one that is stronger than steel, something we can trade with the Galdeans for the right to live unmolested. I don¡¯t expect them to agree to those terms immediately, so we have also developed weapons, and trained ourselves in their mastery. If war comes to us, we mean to be ready, and the way things are going, I see no other choice.¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Alix wondered if the Revenant had seen something of the future. He longed to ask, but he knew he wouldn¡¯t receive a reply. His fate had no impact on them. In five years he would be gone, but their struggle would still continue. If he wasn¡¯t able to help them, he hoped a later Darknight would.

    ¡°If your industry is causing the issue with the dragon, then I guess the only help I can offer is to suggest that you shut it down, or at least scale it back, unless you can find a non-toxic alternative to Bludium. Maybe I will be able to find something in the castle library.¡±

    ¡°If there was such a thing, we would have discovered it by now. Nytherai is all we have known for centuries but still we are hunted. Bludium is the only fuel we have. If I had known it was a Water Dragon that was living in the lake, I would have done things differently. I will do as you suggest, but I am afraid the effects might take a while to become apparent. It is an arduous journey here from the path you came so I imagine you are tired. You can rest in my home if you like, before you begin the return journey. I have another proposition that might interest you, if you would care to listen while I have some of my men bring you some iron ore from our stores. You can wait here a few days if you would like to see the mines themselves, otherwise this is all I can offer.¡±

    Alix couldn¡¯t deny his exhaustion. The crawl through the tunnels had been mentally and physically exhausting. His fear of the roof caving in was lessened in Nytherai, on account of no longer being able to see it in the darkness, but he could at least do with some food before attempting the return journey.

    ¡°I could do with a break at least,¡± Alix decided for the group. ¡°Then we will decide whether to stay or not.¡± There was nothing that urgently needed his attention back at the castle, but he already longed to feel the heat of the sun on his skin again. It had to be tough for the Dark Elves, being confined to constant near darkness, although he had to remind himself that they were born into it. Still he pitied them, and vowed to do what he could to help them.

    The Revenant only led them a short way before they reached a large tower. It was unguarded, and the door was unlocked. Inside, the ground floor room was not as starkly furnished as the barracks, but it still didn¡¯t have the comforts of home. It. A selection of bows hung on one wall beside a rack of weapons, while a Bludium fire burned in a hearth on another. Some tables and chairs filled the rest of the space but Alix was given little time to examine the space.

    The Revenant led them up several flights of stairs, passing one level that looked like a workshop littered with crystals in various stages of faceting, until they reached the top of the tower, which opened out onto a wide view of Nytherai. A short wall ringed the roof, low enough that they were able to see clearly over the top of it while sitting in the chairs the Revenant motioned them towards. The skeletons chose to stand guard, a lot more wary of the Dark Elves hospitality than he was. His senses were telling him to trust the Revenant.

    Refreshments were brought for them, pure water from the streams before the forges, along with some snacks, which went a surpassingly long way to filling his hunger.

    ¡°I apologise that I cannot offer you more but the dragon is interfering with our crops as well as our mining operations,¡± the Revenant said as the food was passed around. ¡°They are called Granates,¡± he added when he saw Alix staring at the food suspiciously. ¡°They are grown under phosphorescent light from Firewyrms but the dragon has scared many of them into hiding. If we cannot deal with the dragon soon, our crops will begin to fail.¡±

    Alix picked up a handful of the granates and took a bite. They looked like green grapes but had a consistency and taste closer to apples.

    ¡°What were you proposing?¡± Alix asked once they were all seated and refreshed.

    ¡°The Dark Elves have always worked with metal. Even before our time under the mountain, we were known as excellent metalworkers. We were still hated, but the other races respected our work, especially the craftsmanship of our blades. There are old stories from Valon, a time few of us remember. One tells of tools that the Darknight bestowed upon us, forgehammers that brought our work to a new level. They were all lost in the exile. I propose that some of the Dark Elves return to your castle with you and work the forges there, with new tools that you forge them. If a Darknight was able to make forgehammers before, you should be able to make them again. With the work my men do there, they should be able to help you with the rebuilding of your castle, which I am told is in dire need of repair, and also make up the loss here.¡±

    Alix couldn¡¯t see how a few men could do the work of dozens, as there wasn¡¯t room for many in the forge, but he wasn¡¯t about to turn down help rebuilding the castle. With the Dark Elves¡¯ new alloy, he would rebuild it stronger than it ever had been before, enduring throughout the years so that no other Darknight had to go through what he had. Although he thought then on all he had learned in the process. If he had been handed a life of luxury, would he have learned even a fraction as much? Leon was proof enough of how much more he had learned. He hadn¡¯t known anything about crafting the last time he saw the Solknight.

    ¡°I will take as many as you are willing to let go. I am sure the village of Valon could be rebuilt eventually, and all would be under my protection. Still, there is room for plenty within the castle. If they can provide weapons and armour for my men, then all the better. I will have to get back to you about the forgehammers.¡± Alix hoped the previous Darknight had left a record of them. He decided it was time that he learned the skeletons names, so he could ask him directly, if he was among the ones in the castle.

    ¡°We can discuss the rest later then, once the iron ore has been delivered. Make yourselves comfortable here, or wander as you wish. For now, I have other duties I must attend to.¡± The Revenant told them how to find beds if they wanted to sleep, and then left them to do whatever they chose.

    Alix wanted nothing more than to fall into bed with Tifayn and forget where he was for a while, but he felt like he should explore the city while he had the chance. He didn¡¯t think he would be able to sleep with the knowledge that there was a dragon nearby anyway. The fear of the roof caving in had diminished, but the fear of a dragon attacking the city was still on his mind. Surely where there was one, there were others.

    ¡°If I had known there was a dragon in these tunnels I wouldn¡¯t have come anywhere near them,¡± Tifayn said once the Revenant had left.

    ¡°Are there many dragons in Babyl?¡± Alix asked. He had always thought it would be cool to see one, but now it was just one more danger he would have to look out for.

    ¡°I always thought there had to be some still living, but there have only been rumours of sightings in recent memory. Too many think it sport to hunt them, but they are sacred creatures. The story I heard was that the remnants of them live in Babyl¡¯s canopy but I guess that isn¡¯t true. Let¡¯s hope your theory works and it doesn¡¯t become a greater threat. Still, I¡¯d like to be away from here as soon as possible,¡± Tifayn replied, looking around for any sign of the dragon returning.

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go have a look around,¡± Alix said, thinking anything was better than sitting around waiting for the sky to fall down on them.

    Tifayn reluctantly followed him off the rooftop, the skeletons only a few steps behind. Alix had always found them to be quiet walkers before, but on the stone streets of Nytherai they rattled loudly. Maybe the castle was so full of dust that their steps had been muffled.

    It turned out there was little to see in the city, other than the interestingly carved buildings, but just as many of them were practical and plain. There didn¡¯t seem to be any sort of market but Alix guessed they had no reason for shops. The city was more of a permanent war camp. There were open squares where dozens of Dark Elves were lined up in rows, practicing their sword forms, and others where they were exercising and lifting weights. Instead of taverns they had gyms.

    Alix had secretly been hoping to find a souvenir somewhere, but he guessed the Frostite and the Kingstone would be good enough. He had been on the lookout for a weapons shop as well, but it appeared the Dark Elves worked together as a community to provide for all. If anyone needed a sword, they were simply given it. Water was available for all, as were all the materials available to them in the caves. Although he spotted Kingstone jewellery on the fingers and around the necks of many of the Dark Elves, so there had to be a lapidary or a jewellers somewhere in the city creating more luxury products. He wasn¡¯t able to find them before Tifayn asked if they could return. She wanted to see the sun again just as much as he did.

    It wasn¡¯t difficult to make their way back as the streets were all built in straight lines. Once they reached the tower, they found several carts waiting for them outside. They were piled high with dull metallic rock. The ring identified it as Iron Ore.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know how much you would be able to carry, but you can always return for more,¡± the Revenant said, meeting them by the carts. They were heavy metal things, that looked to have been pulled by the two dozen Dark Elves that had joined the Revenant. It was hard to tell if they were soldiers or not with their giants swords, but they wore lighter armour and each carried a full bag.

    ¡°Let¡¯s find out,¡± Alix said, touching piece after piece of ore to the ring and absorbing it into his inventory. He knew his storage was technically infinite, but he was still restricted by his own physical strength.

    Piece after piece disappeared from the cart, the Dark Elves watching with interest as the ore vanished in a shower of sparks. After the first cart was empty, he could definitely feel the weight beginning to drag on him, but he could still carry more. Since he had begun training with the sword, his strength had grown daily, but even then, his new muscles had their limits. He managed to absorb most of the second cart before he had to concede defeat.

    ¡°That¡¯s about as much as I can carry,¡± Alix said. The Dark Elves stared at him with newfound respect.

    ¡°I have selected these men to go with you. Take this token as well. It will allow you to return here freely,¡± the Revenant said, handing over an intricately carved iron rod.

    The two dozen Dark Elves, a mix of male and female, gathered their belongings and made their way towards a different section of the cliff face, where a more impressive gate was built into the stone, a much grander thing than the hidden entrance they had stumbled through. This one had a greater number of guards, but they already knew to let them past. The tunnel beyond was just as rough though. Anything more worked might alert others to their presence, although a large iron gate at the heart of the mountain would probably do that anyway.

    The path beyond was twice as labyrinthine as the one they had taken in, splitting and rising until Alix was thoroughly lost. Even the pathways on his map had become a convoluted spiderweb that broke and joined, looped, rose and fell.

    They passed no rivers as they climbed, and the tunnels remained mercifully dry. Alix thought they were still in the cave once they finally reached fresh air and a soft breeze, but then he saw the stars and realised night had fallen. The mountain surrounded them, and as his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Alix saw that they were far up its side, although looking at his map he could see that they had come out closer to the castle from a nameless cave. He thought Dark Elf Cave was appropriate, and the name appeared beside it. Nytherai now appeared as a dot deep in the mountain.

    It was dark, but Alix had no desire to camp out in the woods again. The bounty hunters were nowhere to be seen, but he didn¡¯t want to risk running into any more with so many Dark Elves. He pulled a tonic from his inventory and re-energised.

    Tifayn and the Dark Elves ended up having better eyesight in the dark than he did so they led the way down the mountain until they reached the woods and found a proper path. As Alix walked, he could swear his night vision was improving. He had once worked as a background extra in a production filming near Glasgow for some extra money, and one of the scenes called for was shot in the forest at night. He had seen how they lit the scene with dimmed lights high in the trees and by the time they reached the castle gates several hours later, he felt like he could have led the way there himself.

    It was then that Alix realised he didn¡¯t know if there were enough beds for the Dark Elves. He stopped before the doors to the castle and turned to speak to them, but they walked right past him to the grounds and began unrolling bedrolls and setting up a camp. Finding them capable of looking after themselves, and too tired himself to speak with them anyway, he turned back to the doors and headed inside to his own bed.

 Chapter 27: Imperator

    Alix slept long into the next morning. As he rolled from bed, he couldn¡¯t understand why he felt so heavy and sluggish, until he realised he had forgotten to deposit the Iron Ore before going to bed. Tifayn was already gone when he awoke, so he made himself a cup of coffee in silence, preparing himself for the day. He expected it to be long but satisfying, so he treated the coffee the same way while he had the time.

    Alix checked his map as he savoured the dark brew. The Ringtails were all huddled in Brant and Ophenia¡¯s room, while Brant himself was out in the grounds, most likely practicing with the claymore. The Dark Elves were still where they had set up camp. Brant was probably keeping an eye on them more than the sword. The gargoyles were dispersed throughout the castle, repairing the stone everywhere they went. The skeletons were just as equally spread out, working on smaller jobs, while the hounds patrolled the walls and into the woods. Evory was nowhere to be seen. Tifayn appeared to be talking with some of the Dark Elves, while Mr Bones was pacing in the corridor outside the door.

    Once he finished his coffee, and made sure to savour the time cleaning it in the sink, he went to greet Mr Bones.

    ¡°Good morning, my lord,¡± Mr Bones said as soon as Alix appeared. At the sight of Alix he seemed to relax as much as it was possible for a skeleton to do so. ¡°I take it your journey was a success.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but not in the way I was expecting. I¡¯m sorry for the inconvenience, but it looks like we are going to have to focus on fixing up some of the other rooms for the Dark Elves to stay in. They can¡¯t camp out in the grounds forever.¡±

    ¡°I will set the skeletons to it at once. If there are Dark Elves here, I take it you met with the Revenant?¡±

    ¡°I did. He was an interesting guy. I hope I will be able to count him as an ally in the future. Come and see me later, Mr Bones, after I have a chance to talk with the Dark Elves,¡± Alix said before the skeleton turned to leave. ¡°I think it¡¯s time I gave all the skeletons back their names, and their memories. If they can teach me what they once knew, I will have a much better chance of surviving here.¡±

    ¡°Of course, my lord. I think that is a fine idea.¡± Mr Bones walked him to the front doors and then left him as Alix first made his way to the forge.

    The Iron Ore seemed to weigh on him the longer he carried it but he felt a hundred times lighter once he had deposited the load in the forge, almost filling the place to overflowing. The few skeletons that spent their time there quickly got to smelting it down, a process Alix hoped he could speed up with a quick trip to the library. He would have to make a stop there later anyway, before he met with Mr Bones. He would have to find something to write with as well. He was beginning to feel the need to write down his own story already.

    Once the ore was unloaded, he took the back exit to the grounds and went to meet the Dark Elves. Brant was glaring at them from a distance, while Tifayn spoke with a pair of them.

    ¡°This is the leader of the group, Vindel,¡± Tifayn said as he arrived, motioning to one of the pair.

    Alix held out his hand to greet the man, but when he showed confusion at the gesture, Alix awkwardly withdrew. Tifayn didn¡¯t introduce the girl, and she kept silent. She was as tall as the men, but more lithe than the rest, and held a regal bearing. Alix almost felt like a child in their presence.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I forgot the castle was not yet fit to house so many. I have rooms being prepared for you now, but it might take a day or two. If you need anything before then, just ask.¡±

    ¡°We are fine to camp out here, Darknight¡± Vindel said, bowing his head slightly. ¡°We are eager to get started though, if you could show us where to go.¡±

    ¡°The forge is just through the door I came from, but it will not fit all of you. Feel free to go explore the castle as you wish. I¡¯m sure the skeletons and the gargoyles would appreciate your expertise anywhere. Is there anything else that you need?¡±

    ¡°With the iron ore that you carried here, and the extra materials we brought with us, we have everything we need, apart from the forgehammers.¡±

    ¡°I am going to start looking into the forgehammers today. If I am able to create them, I will bring them to you as soon as I am able.¡±

    ¡°Then there is nothing else we require. Although we would appreciate it if that man would stop watching us so fiercely.¡±

    ¡°Of course. Brant can be a difficult man but he won¡¯t give you any trouble, I will see to that.¡±

    Vindel headed off to find the forge and a handful of the dark elves followed him. Most of the others began to wander while a few remained behind to guard their camp, while Alix went to join Brant. The soldier looked like he had been practising, but Alix only saw him staring at the dark elves with contempt.

    ¡°What¡¯s the problem, Brant?¡± Alix asked him.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t realise you were going to be harbouring Dark Elves. They have been exiled from Galdea.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been exiled as well, but I never catch you glaring at me like that. The Dark Elves won¡¯t be a problem. They have come here to help us. They are masters of the forge.¡±

    ¡°I have seen you do some incredible things already. Why can you not do their work in an instant with the ring?¡±

    ¡°I probably could, if they taught me, but I can¡¯t spend all my time here in the forge or crafting things out of wood. There are more important things I need to learn, things you should be teaching me.¡±

    ¡°If you vouch for them then I will trust them, but a Dark Elf does nothing for free.¡±

    ¡°You will need to get used to them soon, they will be moving into the castle as the rooms are readied. For now they have begun working in the forge so I should be able to get us some new swords to practise with in a few days.¡±

    Suddenly Ajugor fell down from the sky beside them. Brant instinctively turned his sword towards the sudden presence, and the dark elves all picked up their warhammers at the sight of the gargoyle. Alix had to admit he was pretty intimidating. He could have sharpened his sword on the gargoyles jaw.

    ¡°Sire, the hounds have informed me of someone approaching the castle,¡± Ajugor boomed.

    ¡°Who is it?¡± Alix asked. Brant lowered his weapon as he recognised the gargoyle, but he didn¡¯t sheath it entirely. It was taking him a long time to get used to all the strange sights in the castle. He still twitched at the sight of the skeletons.

    ¡°I do not recognise them. There is one man on a horse leading a dozen others.¡±

    Just then Mr Bones arrived. ¡°My lord, there is an Imperator at the gates.¡±

    Brant looked towards the gate with a sudden look of fear at the name. Then his glance turned towards the castle, to Ophenia. He still worried someone from Galdea would come for him.

    ¡°What the hell is an Imperator?¡± Alix asked. Could he not be left in peace for one day?

    ¡°They are elite members of the church¡¯s private army. They are dangerous men.¡±

    Alix headed towards the gates, cursing the fact that they were still falling off their hinges, but when he reached them he saw that the newcomers hadn¡¯t stepped beyond them. The dozen and one mounted men had stopped just outside. He quickly read the words that hung over them. Their lead was simply named Imperator while the others were revealed as Imperial Guard of varying levels. They were heavily armoured, apart from the Imperator. He wore a long black coat, and a silver mask concealed his face.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Alix called to the newcomer, trying to sound as calm as possible. He itched to draw Xilian but thought it was best not to threaten any Galdeans so soon.

    ¡°I have come to warn you, Darknight,¡± the Imperator replied cooly, feverish eyes staring at him from behind the mask.

    ¡°Warn me about what?¡± Alix replied, his anger rising. ¡°I was abandoned here without any explanation and now you bring soldiers to my home? I¡¯ve had to deal with enough of the King¡¯s nonsense already so I would appreciate it if you would just leave. I don¡¯t have time to waste on his shit.¡±

    ¡°Do not attempt to influence the Solknight again,¡± the Imperator replied as if Alix hadn¡¯t spoken. ¡°We are forbidden from bringing you harm, but that does not extend to your¡­followers,¡± the Imperator said in a monotone voice from behind the silver fa?ade, staring pointedly behind Alix.

    Alix suddenly realised that Brant had followed him to the gate, as had Mr Bones, Ajugor and the female dark elf that had been speaking with Tifayn. The Imperial Soldiers weren¡¯t able to keep their eyes off of the imposing gargoyle, but Alix couldn¡¯t help but notice the hatred and contempt they directed towards the dark elf.

    ¡°What do you mean? I have done nothing to Leon. I haven¡¯t seen him in ages. As for my followers, they are under my protection and any harm done to them will be returned in kind,¡± Alix said, although he didn¡¯t know exactly what that meant. He only knew he felt an overwhelming desire to distrust the Imperator and a need to defend himself. ¡°The king exiled me to these lands, so as far as I see it, they are mine, and I can do whatever I wish on them.¡±

    ¡°Do not let the ring fill your head with grand ideas. Your only purpose here is to die.¡±

    ¡°We will see about that. If that is all you came here for, then I think it¡¯s time you left.¡±

    ¡°That is not all, Darknight. Your arrogance has already caused enough trouble. You gave the Solknight a potion, which has caused him to ask questions that are interfering with his training. He has no need to learn of your filthy arts.¡±

    Alix couldn¡¯t help but laugh at the accusation. The potion he was talking about had to be the hangover tonic. Leon must have tried asking how he could make such potions for himself, training that wasn¡¯t part of the Church¡¯s guidelines. They probably had an army of potion makers themselves, crafting only approved potions for Leon to take.

    ¡°I completely agree with you,¡± Alix said after he regained his composure. ¡°I promise I won¡¯t help Leon again. Maybe try doing a better job yourselves next time.¡±

    ¡°You would do well to heed our warning, Darknight. We will only give it once.¡±

    For a moment Alix thought the silver mask turned to stare at the dark elf, but the Imperator turned his horse without another word and led the soldiers back down the mountain. Gargoyle hounds appeared out of the woods and followed them at a distance to make sure they left their masters lands.

    ¡°Well that was weird. Couldn¡¯t they have just sent a letter?¡±

    ¡°It is strange indeed,¡± Mr Bones said, watching the Imperator leave intently. Alix thought he could almost see his skull frowning. ¡°There must be more to warrant sending an Imperator. You should be more careful from now on, my lord. I would advise against any more trips to Galdea.¡±

    ¡°They can¡¯t be that pissed off that I gave Leon a tonic, but I can¡¯t think of anything else it might be. I feel like I barely knew anything back then.¡±

    ¡°Maybe it is what we did in Mortlake?¡± Brant said, fearing the Imperator had come for him.

    ¡°Unless the Ghosts were the king¡¯s men, I don¡¯t see why that would rile him up so much. I guess there¡¯s no point worrying about it now. The most important thing is that they have shown they are willing to bring soldiers this far, so we should think about replacing the gate as soon as possible, and setting a watch on the walls. I¡¯ll have to clear more trees as well. Maybe the Dark Elves will be able to help with that while I look into the forgehammers.¡±

    Alix was eager to get back to work, suddenly filled with renewed energy. The church had said their piece, and nothing had been said of Brant or the Ringtails, but he should have thought to tell the dark elves to stay out of sight. Likely the Imperator was rushing back to tell the king and the cardinal that they were here. If they returned, Alix meant to be ready for them.

    Alix started with a visit to the library. Part of him wanted to grab an axe to get back to work cutting back the forest, while another wanted to work on building a new fortified gate immediately, but he had put off learning the skeletons names for long enough. He knew at least some of them had to carry memories and knowledge that could help him in ways he didn¡¯t even know he needed. He asked Mr Bones to join him and they left the others to return to their jobs.

    Astrid greeted him as he reached the library, the room feeling more organised with every visit.

    ¡°There doesn¡¯t happen to be a list of all the previous Darknights in here somewhere?¡± Alix asked the librarian.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. There are many books written by them, but there has never been one complete history of the Darknights written,¡± Astrid replied. By the tone of her voice, it sounded like she thought that was a terrible thing.

    ¡°Well then I guess I better do it myself. Could you find me something to write with?¡±

    Alix took a seat with Mr Bones and waited for Astrid to find him the tools. It only took her a few moments to bring him a blank book, and a selection of pens that looked remarkably advanced. He had expected a pencil, or a quill and ink at best, although he didn¡¯t know how to use one, but as he picked up one of the pens he saw that it was a rollerball.

    ¡°Where did these come from?¡± Alix asked. The pen was made of metal, with a comfortable grip.

    ¡°A previous Darknight crafted them after finding a quill too difficult to use, and a pencil too impermanent. The words they write are spelled never to fade, and they never run out of ink.¡±

    ¡°This will definitely make things go faster. Let¡¯s get started then. Mr Bones, can you tell me the names of all the Darknight¡¯s you remember?¡± Alix was unsure of just how many Darknight¡¯s there had been, but going by the number of skeletons there had to be a few hundred at least. Babyl had to be a lot older than that. He wondered exactly what had caused the Terminus Ritual to start in the first place?

    ¡°I can try, although I am sure we will have to consult at least some of the books here to compile a more complete list. I can remember some that are not counted among the skeletons as well, but I will list them anyway, so as to honour their memory.¡±

    Mr Bones began to list off the names of the Darknights he could remember, and anything notable about them. The one common thing among them all was their grim fates. The majority had met terrible ends, some so brutal that there weren¡¯t any bones remaining. After several hours, Alix had over a hundred names, the pen allowing him to work faster than a quill would have.

    ¡°How many of these are counted among the skeletons?¡± Alix asked when he had to stop to rest his wrist. He hadn¡¯t done so much writing in years.

    ¡°Most of those I can remember are here,¡± Mr Bones replied.

    ¡°How do the skeletons end up here anyway?¡± Alix wondered aloud.

    ¡°I have brought many of them here myself. I counted most of them as dear friends. Some begged me to leave them to return to the earth, and I granted those requests, but I felt like the others deserved better fates than that. Skeletons do not dream, but I had a hope that one day they could be granted a second chance at life. The Terminus Ritual is a cruel game that I would wish on no one.¡±

    ¡°Well tomorrow I will give as many of them back their names as I can. I will ask Astrid if she can help identify any of the others as well.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, my lord.¡±

    For another few hours they went through the list, finding the ones that matched those in the castle, and Alix wrote up a separate list of those that he felt might be able to teach him something, those that had mastered an obscure art.

    By the time they were finished, the sun had set. All the talk of death and how each Darknight had met theirs had drained all of his energy and left him feeling depressed. He longed for a drink and a comforting bed, to forget everything that he had heard, but he knew it would only begin again in the morning.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr Bones, I will get to work on this tomorrow.¡± Before he left the library he also had a quick word with Astrid. ¡°The Revenant told me about something called forgehammers that a previous Darknight forged. Do you think you could have a look for some mention of them? The Dark Elves have agreed to help us but in exchange I need to recreate their ancient gift.¡±

    ¡°I will have a look. I will come to you if I find anything.¡±

    Alix also had a backup plan if she wasn¡¯t able to find anything. Several of the Darknights Mr Bones had mentioned had been blacksmiths in their old lives. Some even sounded like they came from a future version of earth. He hadn¡¯t considered that the forgehammers might be a product of future technology instead of magic until then. Those were on his list of skeletons to name first.

    After leaving the library he quickly returned to Tifayn¡¯s warm rooms and poured himself a glass of wine from one of the barrels Leon had left. He wished he had a smoke to go with it, but he had forgotten to look for anything in Galdea, and so far he hadn¡¯t encountered anyone that carried anything. He would have to learn some illusionary magic soon so that he could return to the city without alerting the king.

    Tifayn returned after he had finished a few glasses. She told him she had been checking on the repairs and helping with preparing some rooms for the Dark Elves. She wanted to get at least the women housed within a few days. The Ringtails had taken all the habitable rooms, and it wouldn¡¯t be fair to ask them to move. They had already gone through enough.

    With the days wearing on him, Alix called it a night, and Tifayn followed him into bed, her warm curves helping him forget the fate that awaited him.

 Chapter 28: Forgehammers

    Alix spent the next day naming the skeletons, but none of them remembered having crafted the forgehammers. As he named each one, he crafted a new set of clothes to suit them. He managed to assign each a job better suited to their talents, and made note of those he would have to learn from later. He was beginning to feel like he was back in school, having to set aside each hour of the day for a different subject.

    When he suddenly noticed Evory had appeared back on his map, he decided to take a break.

    Evory, can I have a word with you? he called when he noticed she was back in her tower.

    She took longer to reply than she usually did, keeping Alix waiting a few moments in the entrance chamber before making an appearance.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you around for a few days,¡± Alix said.

    ¡°You told me I could do whatever I want, so I got a job,¡± Evory replied with a bit of a pout.

    ¡°You got a job? How? When? Where?¡± Alix asked incredulously.

    Evory¡¯s attitude changed, averting her gaze as if she suddenly realised she shouldn¡¯t have said anything.

    Alix took a breath and calmed himself. It wasn¡¯t his place to demand anything of Evory, even after what she had done in the crypt. She was ten times older than him, old enough to be able to think for herself and do what she wished. He had already been forced to learn many skills he otherwise wouldn¡¯t have bothered with if the castle hadn¡¯t fallen into such disrepair, so he should have been thanking her instead of chastising her.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Evory, I shouldn¡¯t be mad. I guess I should congratulate you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. I know it was foolish and dangerous of me to go out like that, but I was so angry. You would have learned soon enough anyway. I was planning on coming to you soon with some things I heard.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? Where have you been?¡± Alix asked, suddenly worried again.

    ¡°I found a job in Galdea. Before you get too mad, listen to what I have to say. I¡¯m not going to say where I am working, but I hear a lot of gossip. The Church sent the Imperator to warn you to stay away from the Solknight, but I heard rumour that it was the King that wanted a message sent. Azuran can¡¯t prove that you were the one that sold all the antidotes, but he suspects it. The market is in disarray and the Guilds are appealing to the king to punish you somehow.¡±

    ¡°How can Azuran be pissed off about that? I saved who knows how many lives. The Venbrills should have left Galdea by now anyway and returned to their swamp. The market should have sorted itself already.¡±

    ¡°That took me a bit of persuading to find out. There is a rumour that the king ordered one of the antidotes brought to him, to see what all the commotion was about. The Solknight was by his side at the time, and apparently he remarked that he recognised the vial. The Solknight produced an identical vial, and said that you were the one that gave it to him, a miraculous tonic. Word has spread that the Darknight saved Galdea from the plague, but it is whispered in hushed voices. No one wants to get caught speaking your name, but the king is worried the people might begin to think differently about you if you can provide better care than the kings own guilds. The people are already demanding cheaper access to potions, in case something similar happens again. Many died because they couldn¡¯t afford the antidotes. It has made the guilds look very bad.¡±

    Evory paused for a breath, giving Alix a chance to think on what she had said.

    ¡°Surely I¡¯m not the only one using vials. I got the design from Practical Potions after all,¡± Alix said.

    ¡°That is exactly why he cannot pin it on you, but the design is outdated, the creation immaculate, and it is an unfortunate coincidence. I think it would be a good idea not to sell any more potions in Galdea for now.¡±

    ¡°I was hoping that could become a decent source of income, but I guess there must be others out there that we can still sell to. Thanks Evory. Good luck with the job, just don¡¯t do anything too risky. Let me know if you hear anything else.¡±

    For the next few days, Alix enjoyed the relative peace and quiet. There were no threats on his doorstep, no rush to do anything. The dark elves slowly moved into the castle as rooms were completed, starting with the one Tifayn had been speaking with, who she commanded got a room of her own. Before Vindel got to work, he set his men to fixing up the forge to their standards. By the time they finally got to work, the forge was probably the nicest looking room in the castle.

    Alix kept an eye on Evory and noticed she spent most of her days away, leaving early and arriving back late. Some days she would stay in her tower all day and leave all night. He asked Tifayn if she knew anything of the vampires new job but she claimed she didn¡¯t, she was just glad to have Evory kept busy elsewhere. Alix noticed Evory was no longer feeding off of his mana, which concerned him, but as long as she brought him no further trouble, he was content to let her be.

    Brant finally began his training in earnest, once he decided that the dark elves posed no threat. Still he carried the claymore with him everywhere, and kept the Ringtails away from the grounds while they still camped there. Alix expected the dark elves to be housed in the castle within a few days, but he soon noticed that the skeletons were working on many more rooms than necessary, so that their guests could each have a room of their own. Vindel assured Alix that they didn¡¯t mind sharing, but Alix thought it was a good idea to show the dark elves the greatest hospitality. He still hadn¡¯t found a way to craft their forgehammers, so he wanted to hold on to their help for as long as possible.

    The Dark Elves that had little to do in the grounds took to guarding the walls, and dismantling the rusted gate within it. It was doing no purpose other than showing Alix¡¯s weaknesses. He didn¡¯t have enough metal to replace it yet. What metal the forge produced quickly went towards the castle¡¯s construction. Nails and bolts were more important for now. He only took a little to craft two basic swords with dull blades for him and Brant to train with. Until there was enough for proper armour, they used tough leather protection, but Alix soon grew confident enough in his movements that their protection never had to be tested.

    Alix checked up with Astrid several times a day, but she still hadn¡¯t found anything on the forgehammers. Many of the Darknights had taken an interest in weapon craft, and it was taking a while to research them all thoroughly. She was able to question some of the skeletons now that they had their names, but none of them could give her the answers she was seeking.

    Just as Vindel was beginning to question him again, Astrid called to him. Alix had just woken up, and was marvelling at how quickly Tifayn¡¯s belly was growing. He wished he had been wearing a watch when he had been summoned, but he had always found it annoying to wear anything like that when he was playing guitar. He could have checked his phone but he was loathe to waste the battery, so he was left to guess the date and time.

    Already he was losing track of how long he had been in Babyl, but it had to only have been a few months at most. It was almost scary thinking about. It felt like he had done more in those few weeks than in his entire lifetime back on earth. What was everyone thinking back home? Had anyone noticed he was gone yet? Had his music already been stolen and released without him? He was sure previous Darknights must have longed to return home as well. Maybe it would be a good idea to look into what they had found out, if anything, on how to do so.

    Alix, I have found reference to the forgehammers. I will need your assistance to investigate it any further, Astrid words came.

    I will be along in a moment, Alix replied, taking the time to spend a few moments more with Tifayn. He was finding it harder and harder to leave her side, as if she would vanish in a puff of smoke at any second and the whole dream would come crashing down on him. He was beginning to feel like he didn¡¯t want it to end. Was his life here really any worse than it had been before?

    ¡°Here is the book,¡± Astrid said when he reached the library a short time later, handing him the volume as soon as he stepped through the door.

    Alix took the book and then a seat to examine it. It appeared to be one of the more recent books. The style of writing and the hand in which it was written helped him to imagine what time the author had come from. The ones that came from his time or later seemed to have created the coolest stuff.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    The book was bound in black leather and emblazoned with a hammer that almost made it look like a Warhammer rulebook. Inside was the authors name, one Mr Bones hadn¡¯t given him the day before. From a quick skim of the book, it had definitely been written by a Darknight. Alix began to read the pages thoroughly, until he reached the mention of the forgehammers. Astrid had marked the page, but Alix wanted to learn more about the writer.

    Alix called on Mr Bones when he finished the volume. It wasn¡¯t particularly long, as the Darknight spent the majority of his time trying to craft the perfect hammer, one that might be able to shatter the ring. He thought this the key to returning him home. The book never said if he was successful or not. The forgehammers he mentioned as failed attempts, but ones the Dark Elves seemed to treat as relics. The book only mentioned the hammers, but not the exact method of their creation.

    ¡°Mr Bones, I think this is the Darknight we are looking for. Do you remember this guy Harumlir?¡±

    ¡°I am afraid not,¡± Mr Bones replied.

    ¡°If you are the first Darknight, then how come there are Darknight¡¯s that you never met?¡± Alix asked, more curious than accusatory.

    ¡°Some of them weren¡¯t comfortable around the undead, and put us to rest while they were here. The Demons took care of the castle in our absence, and sometimes it took them a while to convince the next Darknight of the benefits of our services again. Also, after so many years, it becomes easier to forget things. Some of the Darknights left very little impression,¡± Mr Bones replied.

    Once again Alix wondered why the Summoning summoned those that it did, but he felt like that was a much deeper conversation for another time.

    Alix decided there was only way to find out if Harumlir was in the castle. He would have to ask them all directly. Instead of calling them all from their tasks and wasting a day¡¯s productivity, he would have to travel around the castle and find the as yet unnamed skeletons. Alix got to it, glad at least that he had risen fairly early and should be able to complete the task before nightfall. He just hoped Harumlir wasn¡¯t among the few still lying in the crypt that he hadn¡¯t been able to resurrect.

    As he walked along the corridors, crossing the skeletons off his list, he thought on the Inventor Skill he had unlocked. He was desperate to try it out, although apparently he already had. He wanted to see if he could create an amplifier with it. Otherwise he would have to find some way to get hold of an acoustic guitar. He thought on all the other things he could try making as he searched out each skeleton. None of them responded to the name.

    Eventually he came to a group of skeletons working in a high tower on a leak in the roof, one of many. This one was over the core of the castle though, so it needed greater attention. With a new roofbeam in place they were just resecuring the last of the slates.

    ¡°Are any of you here named Harumlir?¡± Alix asked the group, almost turning to leave instantly as he expected the same reply as before.

    ¡°Harumlir¡­¡± one of the skeletons said in a weak voice. The text beside him changed from Skeleton to read Harumlir. His level was fairly low, which probably had to do with him spending his whole time in Babyl at a single task.

    ¡°Great,¡± Alix said with surprise. ¡°Come with me, I am hoping you can help me with something.¡±

    Harumlir followed in silence. Alix almost turned towards the library before deciding it was probably best to go straight to the forge.

    Mr Bones, I think I found Harumlir. We are on our way to the forge now. Could you meet us there? Alix realised he had a question he needed answered, but he was sure he would find out the answer one way or another.

    I am on my way, Mr Bones replied.

    By the time Alix led Harumlir to the forge, Mr Bones was already there. The Dark Elves continued to work around them, already used to the skeletons.

    Alix turned to Harumlir and began his questioning.

    ¡°Harumlir, I read the book you wrote during your time as Darknight. I am very interested in learning how you made the forgehammers that you gave to the Dark Elves. Could you tell me how?¡±

    ¡°Forgehammers¡­just a mistake,¡± Harumlir replied.

    ¡°He must be an old one to have lost his voice so much,¡± Mr Bones said to Alix. The Dark Elves had perked up at word of the forgehammers and had turned to keep an eye on the conversation.

    ¡°Hopefully it returns to him soon. I should have asked this before, but how much of their old Darknight powers do the undead possess?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°We lose access to much once the ring is gone, but we still remember some of what we learned.¡±

    Alix guessed that had to mean that the skeletons didn¡¯t have access to Infinite Storage or skills that relied on the rings powers, such as crafting. His stomach sank at the thought that Harumlir wouldn¡¯t be able to show him how he had made the forgehammers if their creation had been guided by the ring. Magic was still a real thing in this world though, so it wasn¡¯t too wild to think that it existed in other worlds as well. Some that came here probably knew how to wield it already, so he hoped there was a chance that some of the skeletons could teach him some cool magic.

    Harumlir looked down at his empty hands as if he longed to see the ring on them again. He stepped over to a workbench and picked up a spare hammer, holding it like an old friend.

    ¡°Can¡¯t make again¡­can tell you.¡± Harumlir made his way past Alix and back into the corridor. Alix followed, confused at what was happening. As Harumlir held the hammer, he seemed to move quicker, stand straighter.

    Alix became even more confused when they arrived back at the library. Harumlir motioned with the hammer for him to take a seat. Then he motioned to the pen and paper and Alix realised Harumlir meant for him to write the method down. He hoped that would provide him with a blueprint that would unlock the option to craft it.

    ¡°It is a shame you do not have time to read more books on the subject,¡± Harmulir¡¯s voice came clearer and stronger before. Grabbing hold of a hammer again seemed to do more for him than naming him had. Alix was just glad that he no longer sounded like he was on his deathbed, again. Now he sounded like a weary teacher. ¡°Much of it probably won¡¯t make sense to you, but the ring should be able to cope.¡±

    ¡°I have read books on metalworking and unlocked the blacksmith title already-¡°

    ¡°Those are only the beginning, the very standard basics. The ring can unlock skills you cannot even imagine. Let¡¯s begin,¡± Harumlir said, cutting Alix off.

    Harumlir began to tell Alix of the forgehammers, but he seemed to start a pointlessly long time back, and he went off on tangents as if he was writing a second volume instead of crafting a blueprint. Alix recorded it all, and slowly Harumlir got to the point, after listing off his impressive list of Titles, with those relating to hammers alone counting in the dozens. The Title he was proud of most was Hammergod.

    Alix¡¯s notification bell went before the ink was even dry.

    <ul>

    <li>Unlocked Blacksmithing Blueprint: Forgehammer</li>

    </ul>

    Harumlir cut off mid-sentence when he noticed Alix had stopped writing.

    ¡°There is much more for me to tell you,¡± Harumlir, staring at the motionless pen as if trying to will it back into motion.

    ¡°I just unlocked the blueprint. I should be able to make the forgehammers now. You have been a great help.¡±

    ¡°If you are so easily able to craft them, then you might be able to finish the last project I was working on. I am sure it will come in handier than the forgehammers.¡±

    ¡°You can write it down for me if you would like. This pen doesn¡¯t run out of ink and there are plenty blank pages. I promise I will read it later. I am just in a bit of a rush to get the hammers finished, before the Dark Elves decide to run off.¡±

    Alix stood and Harumlir awkwardly took his seat, and just as awkwardly lifted the pen. Slowly he began to write, quickly ignoring them completely as he got to filling up the page after page.

    Alix headed back to the forge to gather the materials he would need. Harumlir had told him what physical items he needed, and the ring told him what the cost in mana would be. Without the skills Harumlir himself possessed at the forge and the properties he had imbued it with from his Titles, he had to pay the cost in mana, and the cost was high. He only had enough mana for one, but he had plenty of Mana Potions on hand.

    There was iron ready for him to use in the forge so he absorbed just enough, leaving the rest to fill the mountain of other orders. Then he opened his Menu and found the option to craft the hammer.

    The iron disappeared from his inventory, along with a few other materials, and then his mana dropped to single digits. Alix suddenly felt hollow, an annoying new sense he found himself burdened with. The loss of mana made him feel like he hadn¡¯t eaten in days.

    <ul>

    <li>Crafted Forgehammer.</li>

    </ul>

    Before examining his creation, he pulled out a strong mana potion and downed it. The feeling of starvation instantly faded. He replaced the empty vial in his hand with the Forgehammer, the weight of it suddenly filling his hand. It was larger than he had expected it to be, covered in etched spell lines. Harumlir had given the Dark Elves the Forgehammers, but it looked like they had been created for them especially. It looked like it would fit in a Dark Elf hand better than his own.

    Looking at the stats, he couldn¡¯t see how Harumlir thought of it as a mistake. The Forgehammer had several benefits that would make it invaluable to any blacksmith or forge worker, or anyone else that didn¡¯t have Crafting available to them like Alix did. It helped to remove impurities from any piece of ore or metal worked with it, it produced stronger alloys, and generally carried out any job in a fraction of the time. Even someone without any blacksmithing skills at all could pick up the Forgehammer and craft a piece to match a master.

    Alix could see the dark elves staring at the Forgehammer with wide eyed reverence. He held it out for them to take, but it took them a few moments before they reached out for it, as if it was too holy for them to touch. Then they ran off outside with it to show off to the others once the awe wore off. Alix quickly downed a mana potion, crafted a second Forgehammer, and followed them out. His notification bell went again.

    <ul>

    <li>Title Unlocked: Hammer Enthusiast. </li>

    </ul>

    Outside Alix found Vindel examining the Forgehammer, with the other dark elves crowding around for a look.

    ¡°I believe I owed you two Forgehammers,¡± Alix said, handing over the second one. It was quickly grabbed from his hand and passed around.

    ¡°If the Revenant hadn¡¯t said it, I wouldn¡¯t have thought it

    possible. The Forgehammers have been lost for longer than anyone can remember. Many of us thought them to be myth,¡± Vindel said, as the forge workers took the hammers and headed back inside to test them out.

    Alix was glad he didn¡¯t have to spend years chasing after an old legend. He just hoped the they didn¡¯t disappear in the night, now that they had what they wanted.

 Chapter 29: Spellgenesis

    Harumlir kept Alix waiting several days before he finally left the library and presented him with his masterpiece. Alix checked up on him once, only to find him deep in conversation with Astrid and the pair of them shooed him away. Harumlir had some final research to do, the final piece of the puzzle that he managed to find a previous Darknight had stumbled upon and written about. Astrid helped him in his research, understanding what he was trying to achieve. She told Alix that it was for his own good to leave them alone until they were ready.

    Until that time came, Alix spent his time finally testing out the Inventor skill. There were probably countless better things he should have tried to build first, but an amp was what he wanted the most. He wondered if he could use the skill to invent something to cure whatever was wrong with Babyl, and thus put an end to the Terminus Ritual, but that would require him to know what had gone wrong in the first place. Although, if it¡¯s own mana could cure it, he felt like the method would have been discovered a long time ago. Surely hundreds of others before him, both Darknight and Solknight, had tried to find out that very thing, and obviously failed.

    ¡°So how does this work?¡± Alix asked the ring. He had chosen an empty room to practise in without any distractions. If he didn¡¯t cause any damage to the room, the last dark elf would be moving into it once he was done.

    ¡°Select the skill, and then think of the object you wish to create, and everything you know about it. Picture it down to the finest detail,¡± the ring replied.

    ¡°Well I don¡¯t know the finest details. I know basically how it works, but the only experience I have with electronics are a few pedal boards. I could probably do a repair if it broke down, but I don¡¯t know how to blindly build one from scratch.¡±

    ¡°Just try it and see what happens.¡±

    Alix selected the skill in his menu and then new text he had never seen before appeared.

    <ul>

    <li>You are about to use a Grand Skill. Are you sure you want to continue?</li>

    </ul>

    Alix wasn¡¯t sure what a Grand Skill was, but he tapped Yes anyway and then a faint while spell circle appeared on the floor in front of him. He thought of an amplifier, the one he had played on for years; a Laney AOR 50 head and cabinet. He knew every sound it could produce, every dial on its face.

    From within the spell circle, a shape began to coalesce, and his mana instantly dropped to near zero. He suddenly wished he had thought to try out the spell near the roots of Babyl, where his mana was constantly replenished. As his mana showed no sign of stopping, he pulled out a mana potion and downed it. His mana continued to fall again as soon as it was full but slower than before. The shape in front of him finally took solid shape.

    The amplifier looked perfect. He checked his inventory and saw that a lot of random ingredients and materials had been consumed, along with the enormous amount of mana. Even still, his mana was slowly depleting, as if Evory was lurking over his shoulder, but she wasn¡¯t in the vicinity of the castle. She spent most of her time at her mysterious new job. He still wanted to know what it was, but no one knew, only that she flew far beyond the forest.

    ¡°That seemed to work alright?¡± Alix said, examining the amplifier for any fault. It looked ready for him to summon his guitar and plug it in. Then he realised he had forgotten to craft a lead, and that the plug running out of the head had nowhere to go.

    ¡°Since you don¡¯t know how it works, it is empty inside, and it requires mana to create the effect you imagine it to have. As you can see, your mana is still depleting. With Inventor, you can create anything you can imagine, but if you don¡¯t have the materials needed to craft it, a greater amount of mana is needed to make up the shortfall. It always uses the same amount of mana to initially cast, which is high, but depending on how complex the item is and how much mana is being used to replace the missing components, it will drain your mana faster. This creation needs a constant supply of mana, and once the flow stops, the item will disintegrate.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to ask Astrid if there is a book on electronics or something in the library then. I think some of the previous Darknight¡¯s came from a future version of my own world. I¡¯m sure this sort of technology was simple to them.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps. Until then, this skill has limitations. You have to decide if it is worth spending so many resources on for such a short term reward.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure it will come in handy,¡± Alix replied, beginning to think on how he could build a source of electricity to power the amp. Solar panels were beyond him, but wind power might be an option. If he couldn¡¯t figure out how to build a turbine, then he would just have to find a way to increase his mana capacity. If he got desperate enough, he could just craft a mountain of Mana Potions. ¡°It looks like it worked anyway.¡±

    Alix began to think of other things that he might know exactly how they worked, anything else that might help him in Babyl. Suddenly he had a thought. If he couldn¡¯t create electricity, would it be possible for him to create a mana fuelled battery to power his creations? Surely if it was something he designed himself, something that could work without having to learn any electronics or engineering, it wouldn¡¯t need to draw on his mana. He couldn¡¯t afford to have all his creations draining his mana all the time, but there was plenty of it out there for the taking.

    Alix was snapped out of his thoughts at the sight of the amp vanishing with a puff of sparks, his mana having been fully depleted already by the hungry spell. Before he could mourn the loss, Astrid called to him.

    Harumlir wishes to speak with you. He has finished his writing, she said through the ring.

    Before heading off to the library to see what Harumlir had devised for him, he pulled a Mana Potion from his inventory and wolfed it down. The loss of mana always made him feel sluggish until he was able to replenish it.

    Harumlir passed him the notebook when he arrived, as if he was eager for Alix to read it.

    ¡°This is what I spent my years working on,¡± Harumlir said as he handed over the book. ¡°I thought it might help me destroy the ring, but I see now that I was a fool. I thought I was doing my best to harness its powers, and I like to think that I learned more than most, but I became too obsessed with my niche. I don¡¯t doubt that my design is an incredible tool, but it cannot defeat the Solknight or the ring alone. Still, it should be able to help you.¡±

    Alix spent a few moment reading the pages Harumlir had written. Half a dozen pages were carefully filled with concepts, diagrams and spells. Half a dozen others were filled with more of his autobiography, a repeat of what he had already read. It sounded more like Harumlir remembering who he was than anything new. Alix felt more than ever that he had to avoid such a fate. He had to learn everything the ring had to offer and find a way to survive the Terminus Ritual. He would have to find if there was any record of what happened to the Solknights that survived. There had to be such a record somewhere if they didn¡¯t return to their own worlds. So far, everything he had learned told him that leaving Babyl was impossible.

    ¡°This sounds pretty clever,¡± Alix said once he had finished reading the pages. A notification appeared telling him that he had unlocked how to craft Harumlir¡¯s hammer, but he kept quiet for now.

    Harumlir¡¯s grand design was another hammer, as Alix had expected, but it was specifically crafted to hold a finely honed spell, one which carried multiple purposes. The hammer was able to instantly repair anything it struck, or craft anything with a simple swing. It was a combination of his metalworking, woodworking, and inventor skills working together to create something that could quick time the crafting of something in place.

    ¡°I am just glad that I managed to finally write about it. I wish I could have held it, but I would be unable to use its powers without the ring, unless further spells were added, ¡± Harumlir replied, then he headed out. Alix watched on his map as the skeleton headed down to the forge.

    Alix crafted the hammer then, having to fortify himself with more mana than the forgehammers had taken to do so. He had absorbed more iron and materials over the past few days, in anticipation of Harumlir¡¯s creation, as well as another project he had lined up.

    <ul>

    <li>Crafted Quickhammer. </li>

    </ul>

    Alix had expected it to have a cooler name, but it had the one

    Harumlir had given it, which was good enough for him. ¡°I better give this a try,¡± he said, heading outside to test it.

    The gap in the wall where the gate had once been stood empty. The rusted bars had been taken away to be smelted down in the forge, but the stone had been repaired by the gargoyles.

    Alix imagined the blueprint, a fortified gate the castle had once had in times long past. Then he lifted the Quickhammer and struck it down against the stone. Mid-swing a spell circle appeared around the hammers head. When it hit the stone, the spell circle spread to fill the empty gap, becoming brighter until Alix couldn¡¯t look at it straight on.

    Once his sight returned to him, a brand new gate filled the space. At the front was a pair of strong iron bound oak doors, behind which was a portcullis, and then another pair of gates, but this last inner pair were constructed from thick strips of iron and heavy rivets.

    At the sight of the new defences, Alix felt a weight lift from his shoulders. The wall at least was now fully restored. There would be no more unwanted intruders. With the gate complete, as well as the forgehammers, he could get back to clearing the trees around the perimeter. The skeletons would be in need of more wood soon, as they had to use what they had unexpectedly to fix up the rooms for the dark elves.

    Alix decided to start clearing more trees as he thought of how he could create a mana battery. The inner gate was bolted shut with bars that fed deep into the wall, but he found they were too heavy for him to lift by himself. Even if he could manage them alone, he suddenly realised that he couldn¡¯t open the portcullis by himself either. It was attached to a chain and pulley system that sat on top of the wall.

    Ajugor, could you come to the front gate for a moment, Alix called to the gargoyle, thinking he had to be the strongest person in the castle.

    Ajugor didn¡¯t reply but he arrived out of the sky a few moments later. ¡°What do you need master?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve managed to craft this gate, but I am unable to open it myself. Could you give me a hand with the bolts and the portcullis?¡± Alix asked. He would have to work on building up his strength so that he could handle it himself.

    Alix had half hoped the gargoyle would congratulate him on the work, as it had been a bit anticlimactic without an audience, but he just turned to the bolts and got to work. Then he jumped up to the wheel above and raised the portcullis. Once it was out of the way, Alix was met with the final gate, which was secured with several oak planks along its length. He managed to lift those out of their holds himself, but Ajugor had to drag them out of the way for him.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to get some of the skeletons or the dark elves to man the walls and the gate from now on,¡± Alix said once the way was clear.

    ¡°I will set a pair of gargoyles to the job. It is our duty to be sentries after all,¡± Ajugor replied.

    ¡°Thanks, that would be great. I never actually thought of how I would open the gate while I was crafting it. It would be easier to pull out a ladder and climb over. I¡¯ll probably do that when I¡¯m done, so you can just close the gate behind me.¡± Alix set off into the woods as Ajugor pulled shut the wooden gates and resecured the locks, followed by the portcullis and the iron gate.

    Alix had already cleared a good bit of the woods, but it amounted to less than half of what he needed to fell. He hoped to make it to at least half way today. It wasn¡¯t crucial, with the gargoyles and hounds watching over the place now, but they needed the materials he would harvest.

    ¡°Is there any way to create a mana battery?¡± Alix asked the ring as he got to work, sharing his idea.

    ¡°It might be possible, but I would advise against creating too many, or any too powerful,¡± the ring replied.

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°The mana in Babyl is already in decline, hence the need for the Terminus Ritual. A self-sustaining spell will constantly drain it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to do anything that crazy. I just want something to power my amp.¡±

    ¡°That already cost a lot of mana. Your mana potions are running low. The mana is not as plentiful as you might think.¡±

    Alix still believed that there was enough mana out there for his one amp. It was used throughout Babyl on a daily basis. Evory herself had to absorb a constant supply. He had already seen what happened to her when she ran out.

    The ring was right about one thing. His mana potions were getting low. Compared to health potions, he had only managed to craft a fraction, the ingredients harder to come by.

    ¡°I¡¯d still like to give it a try. If I can design it myself, like Harumlir did with the Forgehammers, I won¡¯t have to waste time learning electronics and engineering. I imagine such specific subjects aren¡¯t written about in the library anyway. It¡¯s not the kind of thing I would waste my time writing about if I knew I only had a few years.¡±

    ¡°There is a book in the library that should be able to help you. The self-sustaining spell has been thought of before, but none thought you use it like you have. Look for the book Spellgenesis.¡±

    Alix spent the next few hours thinking on the blueprint for a battery that could convert mana into electricity. He lost track of time as he worked and thought on the amp, only realising how much time had passed when the sun began to set. From a quick look at his map, he saw that he was over half way around the wall now. Instead of walking all the way back, he pulled the ladder from his inventory and used that to climb over into the grounds, and then made his way to the library to look for the book the ring had mentioned.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°I take it the hammer was a success?¡± Astrid asked him when he entered the vast chamber. She never seemed to rest, content watching over the books and reading the additions since she had been gone.

    ¡°Yes, it worked perfectly. It has already come in very handy. I¡¯m looking for another book now. Do you know where Spellgenesis is?¡± Alix asked, hoping to save some time.

    ¡°I remember reading about it, but other than saying it should be in the Mana section, I¡¯m not sure exactly where it is.¡±

    Alix headed to the card cabinets, looked for Mana and searched the cards alphabetically by title. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found the card for Spellgenesis, and another when he found the book on the corresponding shelf. It was a fairly thick volume, one that wouldn¡¯t be a quick read.

    Alix took a seat with the book in one of the comfortable chairs that were scattered around the library, and flicked through the dense book from the light of the now restored lighting system. At a glance, it didn¡¯t look like it was going to be an easy read. Some pages looked like advanced physics textbook instead of a spellbook.

    The book opened with one word, which Alix assumed to be the name of the author.

    Zalim.

    As he began to read, he realised it wasn¡¯t a spellbook at all, but more of a discourse on mana in Babyl. Zalim had spent his time trying to understand magic at its deepest, basest level.

    How am I supposed to begin writing what no one will believe? These words will be perceived as heresy but why should I care? If they are ever read, it will be long after I am gone. Still, the injustice I feel knows no bounds and the only audience I have that will listen are these empty pages.

    Let me begin by saying that everything told about magic in these lands is only the most basic of basics. The peasant tricks that encompass Practical Magic and its ilk are instruction fit for a child, and yet the so called Magician¡¯s Guild sell these meagre pamphlets at bloated prices, and have the audacity to claim that they are the fundamental teachings of their order.

    I have read the books myself and found countless errors among their pages. For all intents and purposes, they are a scam, designed to keep the attention of the masses away from what the guilds are really doing.

    For all intents and purposes, the guilds claim that basic magic, involving flailing movements and spoken invocations, is the only form of magic. Let me be clear that this is as far from the truth as it is possible to be. Such spells can be cast by anyone with the talent for magic, which I have figured out in Babyl amounts to one in fifty. Across the entire population, that isn¡¯t an insignificant figure. If they were to all assemble and learn the extent of their powers, they would be an unstoppable force, but of course, there isn¡¯t enough mana to go around. That is the only one good decision that the guild have made. By restricting the knowledge, they are making sure that the mana isn¡¯t used up. Unfortunately that is only an unintentional side effect of their true reason for doing so. There are higher forms of magic, rarer magic, that uses more mana, and that is what they are hiding, although they are hiding it in plain sight.

    As I said, one in fifty have the affinity for magic, but only one in fifty again of those have the talent for higher magic, and that is the true knowledge that the upper ranks of the Magician¡¯s Guild deal in, while the lesser ranks eat up the scraps.

    How do I know all this? By some curious coincidence, some twist of universal fate, I came from another world that also has a World Tree of its own. There, I was regarded as the greatest sorcerer that ever lived, but here, in Babyl, with such weak mana, I was locked out of all but a fraction of my powers.

    When I first arrived here, I asked to join their ranks, but I was refused. Even as constrained as my powers are here, I should have been accepted into their ranks immediately. I could have taught them much, but due to the title given me by the Church, who I also suspect are in on the concealing of magical knowledge from the general population, I was shunned and rejected in the most forceful terms.

    Even if I was not, I am certain they still would not have shared the knowledge with me easily. Unless you are already part of their inner circle, the cost to gain the knowledge is extremely high, and with the meagre coin I was provided with, entirely out of my reach.

    It is of no matter though. I could have spent my years trying to buy my way into their ranks to learn what they know, but instead I spent them wisely, uncovering the knowledge that I will record in these pages.

    Before that, I must say a word about spell circles, which I found to be an instantly fascinating area of study. When I first saw one, during the ceremony that named my one time companion and myself, I knew then that they were the secret behind magic in this world. I know that the Magician¡¯s Guild and the Church know this as well, but when I came to notice the extent of the substandard level of magic in this world, I realised that they weren¡¯t hiding grimoire upon grimoire of advanced magic. The truth was that they didn¡¯t have anything to hide in the first place. What they were hiding were their attempts at creating new spells, the secret of which lay in understanding spell circles; how they are constructed and how each part interacts to form a whole, a task which they were wholly incapable of undertaking.

    If the guild had shared their mission with a mathematician, or a linguist, if such professions exist in this world, they would have made much greater progress by now, but as it stands, they have made little. Most of them have been told their whole lives that they are special, and therefore feel like there is nothing further for them to learn, when in reality none of them could pass an Academy entrance exam back home. Most of them are incapable of analysing the spell circles and instead hoard the few advanced spells that were created by greater men, passed down to lesser men, over many centuries.

    If they had shared their mission with me, they would already have all their answers. Instead, I will leave those answers here, out of their reach. If I accomplish nothing else in this world, I still leave it content in the knowledge that I did what they could not.

    Alix continued to read, fascinated by what Zalim had discovered, well into the early hours of the next morning. Zalim had become fascinated by the question of where spells originated from. He studied magic circles and found connections between them, common patterns and links. He began his studies by drawing copies of the spell circles of all the spells he knew and identified the similarities that grouped spells together. If a spell involve fire for example, it had to contain a certain spell glyph, as Zalim termed the individual building blocks of the spell circles. They were a language he was determined to decipher, and he seemed to make quick progress, or at least that¡¯s how Zalim described it. In reality it took him a year to catalogue all the known spell circles, but he claimed that the work would have taken anyone else at least a decade.

    Alix still didn¡¯t understand how the book could help him, although it was very interesting stuff. He got the impression that Zalim hadn¡¯t been a pleasant man, but he had been an undeniable genius. Spellgenesis was the culmination of all his research and experiments. It wasn¡¯t something that he could read and understand in a day, so after finishing his notes on deciphering spell circles, he put the book down and retired for the night.

    Alix returned to the library early the next morning with a large pot of coffee, eager to continue reading the book. He picked up where he had left off, where Zalim had been about to explain the different types of magic users in Babyl.

    I have been able to place the magic users of Babyl into four distinct categories, although with difficulty as the strongest sorcerer in this land would barely be able to best an Apprentice of my own. The lowest I am calling Wanded, as they require a conduit as well as an incantation to cast their spells. Without some sort of wand, the incantations are ineffective. The second I am calling Artisans, as they are able to draw the spell circle on a surface and then speak an incantation to get it to activate without a conduit. The third I am calling the Silent, as they require neither a conduit in the form of a wand, or a vocal incantation. Their skills are enough that they can visualise the spell circle and incantation in their minds.

    The fourth category is the rarest, as there are only ever two occupying it at a time; the Knights. The ring bestowed upon me in this world is the most powerful magical artifact I have ever heard of or come across in all my years. With it, someone that has never shown any magical talent before can instantly become more powerful than a Silent, with access to potentially countless unknown spells. With this book, any that come after can equal what took me a lifetime to achieve.

    Now that I have mapped as much of the spell glyphs as I have been able to find, the question now becomes what can be done with them? With this knowledge, it is theoretically possible to combine the glyphs into infinite combinations, creating infinite new spells. The problem then becomes that the current spell circles correspond to current incantations, and there is no knowledge on creating new ones. If the Magician¡¯s Guild had such knowledge, I am sure they would have made it known by now. Which leads me to believe that the glyphs have to correspond to a spoken language and the reason no new spells have been created is because it is a lost language, or the translation to the common tongue is being gatekept.

    I think the reality is a combination of both. The Church of Babyl have their own archaic language that they use in their ceremonies, which they call the Word of Babyl. It is not a language that has been written down anywhere that I can find, and from what little I have heard spoken sounds like only a small handful of phrases are remembered, and even those may not be correct after all this time. I think this is the original language that the incantations were written in, or maybe the incantations came first and the language evolved out of it. Whatever the truth, for us Knights, it doesn¡¯t matter.

    On the next page there was a neatly drawn spell circle, which Alix recognised as containing the glyph for fire among six rings.

    This spell circle is one of my own design. I didn¡¯t have anything in mind while drawing it, I just found the Fire glyph a pleasing design. It grew almost organically, and after the last glyph was in place, a new spell appeared in my menu, along with the name.

    The amount of rings and other shapes within the circle denote the number of different categories of glyphs within the spell, so for this spell, which is named Firestorm, there are six glyphs. The first is Fire, the second is Heat, the second is Wind, the fourth is Air, the fifth denotes duration, while the sixth was a foolish idea on my part. It is Amplification, which doubles effect of the spell so I have never tested this particular inferno. I don¡¯t see it having any use other than devastation.

    The rest of the book was filled with the many new spells Zalim had created through experimenting with the glyphs. Each one was accompanied by a passage explaining its effects and how the experiments went with each one he tried. Some he cautioned never to try, but he left knowledge of them there so they could be avoided. He also cautioned any reader of the dangerous of what could be achieved with the glyphs in the hands of the Knights. Alix thought a few times that some of the pages contained spells so dangerous the thought of them being used terrified him, but when he thought about tearing those out and disposing of them, he came across a note where Zalim had the same idea. He warned that the book was spelled with one spell he wouldn¡¯t reveal, so that it could never be destroyed, or read by a hand that didn¡¯t wield the ring of the Knights. He just apologised that there was nothing he could do to stop the Solknight from reading its pages.

    Alix took notes of what he thought might be useful glyphs as he read and he finally began to form an idea when Kingstone was mentioned in the book. Zalim had come across the stone and recognised it as a material similar to one in his own world. He said that it would be good to use for conduits, although the people of Babyl had yet to discover that use yet as it needed to be properly faceted, becoming more powerful the more sides that were cut into it, but Alix didn¡¯t have the time to learn that skill. It sounded like becoming a lapidary was something that required a lot of specialist equipment, things he couldn¡¯t find on the mountain. In its raw form it was still capable of storing large amounts of mana.

    That still created another problem for Alix. His mana was only enough to get the amp to appear for a few moments before he was drained. It would take hundreds of mana potions, constantly restoring and imbuing the Kingstone, to get it to last for a meaningful amount of time.

    Alix¡¯s original plan had been to try and create something that could somehow create electricity to power the amp, but with the mention of Kingstone a new idea began to form.

    Ajugor, he called to the gargoyle as he continued to read and take notes in the library, scrunched up balls of discarded spell circle designs littering the floor around him.

    Yes master? the reply came instantly.

    Do any of the gargoyles have time to work on repairing the stairs down to the vault? I think I might have need to get down there again.

    I am sure we can make time. I will set some of them to work on it immediately.

    Thank you Ajugor. Let me know when the work is done.

    His only chance at giving the Kingstone a meaningful charge, he hoped, was by placing it by the roots of Babyl. It was worth a shot before he wasted time and material on other ideas.

    Instead of creating a battery to power the amp, his idea was to create a mana battery that would instead feed the spell used to create the amp, keeping it constantly fed with enough of a trickle that it will remain without draining his own mana, and without him having to learn any sort of electronics or engineering. The only thing he would have to worry about then would be replacing the charged Kingstone once their mana was fully drained by the spell on the amp.

    It took him another few days to finish reading the book, and once he reached the last page he was met with a complex spell circle, one he hadn¡¯t come across in the book yet. He had unlocked dozens of new spells, but this one was special. Zalim claimed that it was unfinished, but that what was there was most definitely correct, as he had an impeccable memory. He had only seen it for a moment though so he had been unable to memorise all of it.

    It was the spell circle that had appeared beneath him when the Cardinal had finished chanting his invocation, the spell that had placed the ring upon his finger. He had spent his time trying to decipher and decode the glyphs, but they were incredibly complex and he had been unable to finish the task before his time in Babyl was up.

    The book never said what became of Zalim, but Alix assumed that he had failed to triumph in the battle of the Terminus Ritual. A supreme sorcerer from another world losing didn¡¯t exactly fill him with confidence in his own abilities. Alix knew that he wasn¡¯t among the now named skeletons at least.

    It took the gargoyles a few days to fix up the steps down to the vault. They could have finished the job sooner, but they spent the extra time clearing up the vault chamber as well. When Ajugor finally told him that the work was complete, Alix made his way down the spotless, strong steps, across the repaired chamber to the path that led to the roots of Babyl. Once there, he deposited all of the Kingstone that he held. He hadn¡¯t found any other use for it so he saw no need to hold any back. This way, he wouldn¡¯t have to wait to charge up any replacements when the battery was running low.

    Finally the time came to execute his plan, a few days later once he felt like he had given the Kingstone ample time to absorb the potent mana released by the roots. He had a blueprint for a shell to hold the Kingstone and a spell circle drawn up that had unlocked a spell to imbue the whole thing with called Sustain.

    He gathered all the materials, and found a secluded part of the grounds to experiment in. If the spell went wrong, he didn¡¯t want anyone around getting hurt. Only Ajugor kept watch, ready to jump in and help if anything went wrong.

    Alix was filled with nerves as he stood ready to cast the spell. He didn¡¯t know what he would do if it didn¡¯t work. He needed it to work, needed to be able to play his guitar again. An acoustic just wouldn¡¯t feel right. It wasn¡¯t suitable for the kind of music that he wanted to play.

    After reading Spellgenesis he felt a lot more confident in his abilities, but he still took a deep steadying breath before he selected the Inventor Skill and thought on the blueprint he had designed.

    The materials fled from his Inventory, and his mana quickly began to drain. A shape just as quickly began to appear out of the spell circles light.

    In moments the Mana Battery was sitting before him, just as he had envisioned it, a cylinder with a row of plugs on the top beside an On switch, but this time the creation didn¡¯t continue to drain his mana. He let out the breath he had been holding, quickly downed a mana potion, and then selected the Skill again and recreated his amp.

    Alix felt a flush of excitement as he saw the amp reappear, this time making sure to craft all the leads he needed as well. Once all the gear was sitting before him, solid and stable, he plugged it all together and held his breath.

    His mana stopped draining, but the amp remained solid. He almost screamed with excitement as he realised his plan had worked. He went to lift it to bring inside, he found it the mana battery heavier than he had expected. He took a few heavy steps, before realising he could absorb it into his inventory until he was inside.

    Ajugor flew off once he realised there was no danger, and Alix eagerly headed inside to try out his new creation.

    In an empty room, he took out his guitar, amp and battery and connected it all together. He didn¡¯t have his pedalboard with him, but the head he had crafted would be good enough. He flicked the on switch, and the amp came to life with a comforting hum.

    Just as he was about to strum the first note, Ajugor¡¯s voice burst into his head.

    Master, the hounds have sensed a presence on the mountain! Ajugor boomed.

    Who is it? Alix asked.

    It is an army!

 Chapter 30: Demoniabellum

    Alix abandoned the guitar in a rage as he headed back outside to see what was going on, furious that he had been interrupted at the last second. What the hell did the hounds mean by an army?

    Ajugor met him at the front door with several of the hounds at his feet, energetic boulders of excitement.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Has the Imperator returned?¡± Alix asked, rushing to the steps that led up to the top of the wall for a look, but there was no sight of anyone coming up the path.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t an Imperator,¡± Ajugor replied, following him up the wall and then turning to look into the woods. ¡°The hounds aren¡¯t able to speak like you and I, but they wouldn¡¯t have coming running so wildly if it wasn¡¯t serious. I only know that there are many of them, and they should be considered dangerous. I sent a gargoyle to have a look.¡±

    Just then the gargoyle returned, slamming down on the wall with such force Alix was worried it was about to crumble beneath them.

    ¡°Demons are coming,¡± the gargoyle bellowed, the only tone of voice the gargoyles seemed to possess.

    At any other time, Alix would have thought that was a good thing, but with the way the gargoyles were acting, he wasn¡¯t sure what to think. The only thing he knew for sure was that his day was already ruined.

    Tifayn, the gargoyles say there is an army of demons approaching. Come to the wall, Alix called to Tifayn through the ring. If there was anyone that could stop his head from spinning and tell him what he should do, it was her.

    Tifayn must have sprinted because she arrived in under a minute. By then, the sound of crashing could be heard coming through the trees, like a distant landslide of bodies rushing towards them.

    ¡°Demons? Are you sure?¡± Tifayn demanded of the gargoyles as soon as she arrived, jumping swiftly up the steps.

    ¡°That is the only way to describe them. They stand as tall as I, but hooved and black scaled, with burning horns and red eyes,¡± the gargoyle that had been sent to have a look replied.

    Tifayn cursed with a word Alix had never heard before, but there was no doubt in his mind that it was a foul one, and then her face went ashen.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Alix asked, wondering how things could possibly get any worse.

    ¡°Remember I told you that I was not the only demon that turned into their unbound form? And that I felt a presence calling to me? I had a dream about it as I was recovering, but I thought it was just that. The Demon Lord called to all demons to march on the Darknight, and it sounds like none of them, apart from me, were able to resist that command.¡±

    ¡°What the hell are they coming here for? I thought they didn¡¯t want anything to do with me?¡±

    ¡°They are unbound, Alix, their worst aspects unleashed. I was the only one that managed to regain my senses. The Demon Lord is coming to stop you from doing the same to the rest of them. It is something none of us have experienced before, so we have no knowledge on how to control it. It is a feeling of power that is overwhelming, but with that power comes some downsides, one of which is the loss of rational thought. All they are thinking about now is how to keep their power, and the only way to do that is to destroy you so that it can¡¯t be taken from them.¡±

    Alix had a few choice curses of his own before he managed to calm down enough to think straight himself. ¡°How the hell am I supposed to fight an army of demons? Is that what I¡¯m supposed to do? I might as well just chuck myself off the cliff now and be done with it because there¡¯s no way I¡¯m a match for even a single demon by myself. The only reason I managed to save you was because Ajugor had the Nullblade.¡± Alix suddenly wished he had thought to take the sword with him from the vault, but it had felt too dangerous to keep around.

    Tifayn seemed lost for words herself. There would be no talking with the demons, which left only a fight, or more likely defending themselves as best they could. In between curses he scrolled through his library of spells. There were plenty that sounded like they could do a lot of damage, but he wasn¡¯t confident enough in their use to stop them causing just as much harm to Tifayn and the others.

    ¡°Maybe it would be best if you went inside. If things start getting crazy out here I don¡¯t want you getting caught in the middle of it,¡± Alix said as he stared into the woods, trying to spot the first sign of the approaching wave. He could almost feel the ill-intent speeding towards him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare suggest something so ridiculous again. We will need all the help we can get to withstand their assault, mine included. You forget, I am more experienced with a blade than any other here, apart from Mr Bones probably.¡±

    ¡°I need to get the Nullblade then. That worked before, and I don¡¯t have any other ideas, but I don¡¯t know what use it will be. They aren¡¯t going to just let me go around and rebind them. I might be able to hit one or two, if I¡¯m lucky, before they crush me, but I don¡¯t really want to put my claim of immortality to the test.¡±

    Just then Mr Bones appeared on the wall. ¡°If you are heading to the vault, perhaps I could you ask you to acquire something for me. There is a long thin box by the wall, just inside the door.¡±

    Alix didn¡¯t have time to ask questions, so he nodded his agreement and quickly left the wall. He rushed through the castles hallways until he reached the freshly restored stone steps that led down to the vault. It was a long way down so he forced himself to slow his pace. The last thing he needed was a nasty fall.

    Lights bloomed along his path, as they did everywhere with the restored lighting system. The hush in the chamber below was jarring compared to the chaos that was brewing above. It only took him a few moments to reach the vault, but with the thought of an army approaching, it felt like it took an eternity.

    As he ran, he thought that his idea at using the Nullblade against all the demons might not be so ridiculous. Was there some way he could increase his speed, or slow the demons down? There hadn¡¯t been anything like that in Spellgenesis, but he thought there might be a few glyphs he could combine together to create something that might do the job. He didn¡¯t have time to practise until he unlocked a spell so he would have to be sure it worked the first time. He gave a passing thought to the more destructive spells in the book, but thought against it. There was just as much chance that they would harm his own meagre forces and that was something he couldn¡¯t afford to risk, at least not yet. Alix didn¡¯t want to have to hurt anyone unless it was necessary. If nothing else worked, he would get everyone to retreat to the vault, have the gargoyles destroy the stairs, and then test out Firestorm on the demons.

    Alix opened the vault and retrieved the Nullblade from the box he had thrown it in for safekeeping. It was too dangerous to leave around on the floor unsheathed. He almost forgot about the box Mr Bones had asked him to retrieve as glyphs flew through his head, but he spotted the box by the door as he was leaving. It was a lot larger than he had expected, forcing him to absorb the two swords into his inventory, too unwieldy to carry. He needed his hands free for another task anyway.

    Some paper quickly crafted from Fibre appeared in his hands, along with a pencil to draw with. It was a challenge to draw perfect circles as he walked, but the spell circle didn¡¯t need to be perfect to unlock the spell. Still, each attempt resulted in either a spell unlocking that was of no use, or nothing happening at all. He left a trail of balled up paper scraps as he ran. Finally on his last piece of paper, his notification bell went and he saw a spell had unlocked that sounded promising. He didn¡¯t have time to practise longer anyway. As he had climbed, the roaring had built, which erupted into a crescendo of braying howls as he stepped out of the castle.

    By the time he returned to the wall with the sword, the Dark Elves had gathered, with their warhammers drawn, which was something he hadn¡¯t expected. There was no reason for them to risk their lives for him, but he was glad to see them anyway. The skeletons that had weapons had appeared as well, summoned by Mr Bones. Alix wished he had spent more time crafting weapons for the skeletons, the only army he had at his disposal, but as it was they had nothing but the rusty blades they had been entombed with. He suddenly felt like he had been wasting his time with his stupid projects. What use was an amp against a hoard of murderous demons?

    Alix was about to ask what was going on as he reached the landing where he had left Tifayn, but the answer was staring him in the face. As far as he could see, demonic shapes stood within the shadows of the trees. One that he assumed to be a female, from the scaled protrusions on her chest, stepped forward and called out to him at his arrival, somehow recognising who he was instantly even with the bond broken.

    ¡°Darknight!¡± she yelled with the voice of an erupting volcano, pointing her massive sword towards him, and then the rest of the demons charged the wall. A unit rushed the gate with a battering ram while others emerged from the woods with crude ladders. All of them carried weapons longer than Alix was tall.

    Alix barely had any time to react. Tifayn, Mr Bones and Ajugor turned to him, awaiting his next command. He drew out the box Mr Bones had asked for and handed it over.

    Mr Bones quickly took the box and laid it down on the ground. He unlatched it, and drew out a sword that would have been impressive in its size, if he wasn¡¯t staring down hundreds of others twice the size pointing at him. It made his own sword look like a butter knife in comparison. It had to be one of the most wicked looking blades he had ever laid eyes on before, the sword of item you would only unlock as end-game content. As he focussed on it, a name appeared in the air above it.

    Mishlachtvhar, the First Blade.

    With sword in hand, Mr Bones ran off down the wall to meet the ladders, wielding the massive blade with ease. The skeletons rallied to the sight of the sword of the first Darknight. The Dark Elves realised they would have to take the fight to the ramparts and followed behind, after a few brief moments watching the spectacle with awe.

    Tifayn still looked like she couldn¡¯t believe what was happening. They had thought to get the Demons on their side eventually, but now here they were, at their gates in force, determined to see them all dead.

    With incredible speed, the demons reached the wall and raised their ladders, slamming them against the ramparts. Moving with furious speed, they leapt up the ladders towards the waiting blades. Alix felt a bottomless pit open in his stomach as he compared the two forces. The skeletons and the Dark Elves were going to be swatted aside like flies. The demons threw themselves against the wall of warhammers in a fearless black wave, only to meet the unyielding skeletons beyond, led by Mr Bones. Mishlachtvhar tore through the first demon, cutting him cleanly in half. The Dark Elves rallied at the sight that the demons could be defeated, but the demons showed no sign that the death of one of their own meant anything to them.

    Alix opened his Magic menu and quickly scrolled through all the new spells he had unlocked. Timestill was the most recent, but as he didn¡¯t know how long the effects would last, he looked for one that he had read about in Spellgenesis to complement it. It was going to cost him a lot of mana, but he had no choice. He tapped Timestill, followed quickly by Swiftfoot, a spell to help him move faster.

    A wave rippled through the air around him. The first change he noticed was the sudden lack of sound. He was left with nothing but the sound of blood rushing through his veins. He looked around and saw that the demons had stopped mid stride. Some were falling from the ramparts with grievous wounds from Mr Bones. One of the ladders was falling backwards from a push by the Dark Elves. They weren¡¯t a match for the demons size, but they made up for it with their strength, honed for generations under the mountain.

    Alix could have stood there for hours marvelling at the frozen sights, but as he studied the fight around him, he started to imagine that he could notice slight movements and the weight of what he had to do suddenly hit him. He turned to the closest ladder and took a step towards it, and in an instant he arrived above it, looking down at the angry demonic faces.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    Making sure not to hit the Dark Elves in the middle of pushing it away from the wall, he took out the Nullblade and held it towards the closest demon. He touched the blade to the black scaled flesh and a ripple of light washed over the demon. The change didn¡¯t happen as quickly as it had with Tifayn, but he was sure that it was working. When time resumed its normal flow, the demon would soon return to his bound form.

    Alix took out his own ladder and placed it beside the other. Climbing down, he tapped each demon he passed, and then moved his ladder along the wall and did the same with the ones there. It probably only took him thirty minutes to cover all of the demons on the ladders, but it felt like days before he turned to face the rest of them. He would have to make sure he didn¡¯t miss any, but they didn¡¯t show any sign of rank or order.

    Slipping in between the large demons, he tried his best to hit them all. It probably took him longer than it should have, as he tapped each of them twice to make sure he hadn¡¯t missed any, although he was sure the Dark Elves, skeletons and gargoyles between them could handle at least one or two themselves.

    By the time he reached the woods, he was already feeling tired. It was still early in the day, but the initial rush of adrenaline had faded as he realised his plan was working. He tried not to think what would happen if the spells wore off too soon. Alix shook his head and downed a quick tonic to clear away his anxiety. He was already noticing the small movements among the fighting; blades cutting deeper, demons moving forward, some closer to hitting the ground.

    Alix sped into the woods, heading towards the one that seemed to command them. It almost looked like her eyes turned to glare at him with furious fire as he approached. He half expected the spell to have no effect on her, but the same ripple of light bloomed on her scales as the Nullblade forcefully slapped her exposed leg.

    Once he was a few rows deep, he realised just how many demons there were. Hundreds more lurked between the trees, all with fierce weapons, and as he moved deeper in he spotted enough supplies for a lengthy siege. It looked like they had expected greater resistance.

    The Swiftfoot spell ran out first, but by then he felt like he didn¡¯t need it anymore. It was more of a hindrance than a help in the tight confines. Half the time he felt like he had sped past half a dozen demons and had to backtrack. Then time began to speed up. There were still dozens of demons left, and the exhaustion was growing. He pushed through it, tracking the demons all over the mountain.

    A demon sluggishly turned at his arrival and Alix almost speared him with the Nullblade instead of tapping him. He managed to pull back the blade, leaving a cut that slowly oozed blood. Alix began to run. He couldn¡¯t decide if it was lucky or not that all of the demons began to turn towards him, showing him which ones he still needed to reach.

    Swords swung at him, but he was already gone by the time they passed. He reached the final demon and tapped him with the Nullblade. The demon instantly began to shrink, scales dissolving and horns retreating into thick hair.

    There were no more demons left in sight, but Alix no longer had the strength to continue on anyway. If he had missed any, the others would have to deal with them. He sank to his knees and fell into the soft undergrowth. Just before the darkness overcame him, his notification bell went.

    <ul>

    <li>Title Unlocked: Chronomancer.</li>

    </ul>

    It appeared to Tifayn as if Alix suddenly vanished into thin air. The sounds of fighting were replaced just as quickly by the yells of pain and surprise. In a wave staring by the ladders on the wall, the demons began to revert to their bound forms. Half of the demons looked around in confusion, while the other half collapsed to the ground, interspersed with the wounded and the dead.

    ¡°Where is Alix?¡± Tifayn called to Mr Bones and the gargoyles. They had better abilities to find him than she did.

    Once the pair realised the demons were no longer fighting, Mr Bones said something to Ajugor and the gargoyle took off into the forest. He returned a few moments later with an unconscious Alix.

    ¡°He is alright, he is just asleep,¡± Ajugor said to Tifayn.

    ¡°Get him inside. I will deal with the demons,¡± Tifayn said, heading towards the closest ladder. In her bound form she now recognised their leader, and Tifayn had words for her. Mr Bones ordered the other gargoyles and Dark Elves to remove the demons weapons and then accompanied her with the skeletons.

    Alix awoke two days later. Tifayn stirred at his movements, rolling over and pressing her naked body against his own.

    ¡°Alix, thank the Aether you are alright,¡± Tifayn said, staring down at him as if she had expected him to wake up blind or with one leg.

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Alix replied, distracted by the skin against his own. It took him a few moments to remember everything that had happened. ¡°What happened with the demons? Is everyone alright?¡± he asked when the memories came back to him.

    ¡°Ajugor found you collapsed in the woods with a bunch of demons surrounding you. He said they seemed concerned about you but he got you out of there as soon as he could anyway,¡± Tifayn replied. When she realised that he was alright, she turned away from him and slipped out of bed.

    ¡°Tifayn, what aren¡¯t you telling me?¡± Alix asked. He could tell something was wrong with the way she was acting. Now that she had seen he was alright, she refused to meet his eye.

    ¡°You are going to find out sooner or later so I might as well be the one to tell you. The Demon Lord¡­she is my sister.¡± Tifayn said as she dressed.

    Alix processed the words in silence for a few moments, but in truth, he found that he didn¡¯t care who the Demon Lord was. All he cared about was that they had been stopped. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter Tifayn. I just want to know if everyone is fine.¡±

    Tifayn finally turned to look at him once she was dressed. There was no more reason for Alix to stay in bed, he felt fully rested, so he rose from bed himself and dressed in the pile of clothes that had been neatly folded nearby.

    ¡°A few of the Dark Elves are injured, but I think they will all recover, especially with a few of your potions. What did you do anyway? What were you doing out in the forest?¡±

    ¡°I came up with a new spell which let me slow down time long enough to rebind all the Demons with the Nullblade. I just wish I had acted sooner so that no one was injured in the first place. What about the demons?¡±

    ¡°Twice as many Demons are dead, mostly from Mr Bones blade, but they bloody deserved it. It is hard not to blame my sister, but I feel like if she had more sense, she wouldn¡¯t have done something so stupid. Are you not angry with her? She could have destroyed everything we have worked towards.¡±

    ¡°She is just as much to blame for her actions as you are for what you did at Mortlake. Are you saying that you were able to control yourself back then?¡±

    Tifayn turned away again, refusing to answer his question. There had to be another reason for Tifayn¡¯s thoughts, some history Alix wasn¡¯t aware of. She should have been glad that he found a way to avoid having to kill her sister, or that she had been unable to kill him. He felt like he wasn¡¯t about to get an answer from her any time soon so he changed course.

    ¡°Where is she? I would like to speak with her,¡± Alix asked, shocking Tifayn enough that she finally turned to look at him again.

    ¡°She is in the dungeon. With her locked up, the other demons aren¡¯t putting up a fight. They are still outside the walls, but they peacefully made camp, once they all woke up. None of them have tried to gain entry inside the walls.¡±

    Alix checked his map and noticed a concentration of skeletons deep within the castle. Mr Bones was with them. He would have to ask him about his sword, Mishlachtvhar. Alix thought the skeletons lost most of their Darknight powers once they died, but Mr Bones seemed to have powers that the others lacked. How many other Darknight weapons were stored in the vault? If he could arm the skeletons with the ones they had originally crafted in life, he would have quite an army at his disposal. He had no thoughts of conquest, only the security and stability of a peaceful nights rest.

    Alix made his way down to the dungeon, and Tifayn followed. He hadn¡¯t been to that part of the castle before, so it took him a few moments to find the correct path, but he finally managed to find the group of skeletons guarding the single occupied cell in the deep, cold chamber.

    The cell, even with its freshly cast iron bars, wouldn¡¯t have done much to contain the girl in her unbound form, but bound as she was, it was impenetrable. Mr Bones still held his impressive sword, point down on the stones in front of the cell, ready to swing at a moment¡¯s notice.

    ¡°My lord, I am glad to see you awake,¡± Mr Bones said at his arrival. He didn¡¯t take his gaze off of the demon sitting calmly behind the bars.

    Alix nodded at the skeletons, but he quickly turned his focus to the demon.

    ¡°What are your intentions?¡± Alix asked simply. A name appeared in the air above her.

    Alowyn. Demon Lord. Lv 192.

    ¡°I¡­hate that I am here,¡± Alowyn replied, first staring daggers at Tifayn, and then her eyes turned to Alix, as if drawn by a magnet. One of them was noticeably swollen, as if she had been punched hard in the face. ¡°I wanted to kill you before, but now I just want to get as far away from you as I can. I hate myself for saying it,¡± Alowyn spat, her calm demeanour vanishing.

    Alix understood what she was talking about. The bond had been restored to them, and in his presence she was feeling it stronger than ever. The words were being dragged from her against her will, but she was telling the truth.

    ¡°I will let you leave if you wish. I will not abuse the bond, but I would ask that you don¡¯t do anything like this again, and also that any that wish to remain do so. I won¡¯t lie, I can do with all the help I can get.¡±

    ¡°I will make sure to ask them,¡± Alowyn said through gritted teeth. Her words sounded sincere, but her eyes were still filled with contempt.

    ¡°Is she going to cause us any more trouble?¡± Alix asked Tifayn.

    ¡°She will not. She no longer has the ability to command the demons,¡± Tifayn replied, clenching her fists as she stared at her sister.

    ¡°Good, that¡¯s the last thing we need with a baby on the way.¡± Alowyn¡¯s eyes shot in his direction and went wide. Then her skin turned ashen. She suddenly looked like she expected to be executed at any moment. ¡°Let her out,¡± Alix continued, ¡°We don¡¯t want the demons thinking we mean them any more trouble either. The sooner this is all behind us the better.¡±

    Mr Bones hesitated for a moment, but then he withdrew a heavy key from his pocket and unlocked the cell. Alowyn refused to step out so Alix left them to it, hoping she would relax with him gone. Tifayn looked like she wanted to stay and give her sister another beating, but she chose to follow Alix instead.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that was a good idea,¡± Tifayn said once they were back in the castle proper.

    ¡°I trust you if you say she isn¡¯t going to cause us any trouble. With the bond restored, everything should be fine.¡±

    ¡°Her murderous intent is gone, but she will still try and fight the bond.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I said she could leave. I don¡¯t want anyone here that doesn¡¯t want to be.¡±

    Alix went to check on the wounded while Alowyn decided what she was going to do. Some of the injuries that had been caused to the demons, that they could have shrugged off in their unbound forms, had turned into grievous wounds. He crafted as many Perfect Healing Potions as he could, but they required a large amount of ingredients. His stock was entirely depleted by the time he had seen to all of them.

    Alowyn appeared later, once Mr Bones had assured her that Alix was far away in his rooms. Mr Bones followed her, to make sure she lived up to the promise she had made. Mr Bones relayed everything to him as it happened.

    ¡°The Darknight will let us leave,¡± Alowyn said, spreading the word among the demons. ¡°He has also said that any that wish to remain here can do so.¡± Then she retreated to the furthest corner of the grounds, where boxy tents had been erected.

    The demons stayed for several days while the worst of the wounded were given time to heal, and they were all given time to decide what to do. Most of them were still reeling over their transformation. They were only now beginning to realise what had happened to them and many were ashamed at their actions. Their feelings were only amplified by the newly restored bond and proximity to the Darknight.

    Alowyn refused to speak with Alix, but she insisted on speaking with Tifayn. She apologised profusely for bringing an army to the gates of her pregnant sister, but she had thought Tifayn was dead when she could no longer sense her. Alowyn thought the Darknight had killed her, but when word spread that he had saved her instead, the demons began to say that maybe Alix was stronger than previous Darknights. The respect the other demons began to show for him infuriated her, but there was nothing she could do about it.

    Alix tried to speak with some of the demons, but in their transformation they had lost all their clothing. They didn¡¯t seem to care but Alix found it difficult to focus on the conversation. Tifayn had given Alowyn some of her clothes as they were the same size, but there wasn¡¯t enough for all of them.

    ¡°Are all of the demons here then?¡± Alix asked Tifayn when they were alone. ¡°I thought there would be more of them.¡±

    ¡°None of them could have resisted Alowyn¡¯s command so it has to be. There would be more of us, if we had more land to grow, but Keravia is only a small place. It is not quite barren, but it is hard enough land that no others wished to claim it. Still, I don¡¯t think they all wish to abandon it. We have had to fight hard for even that little.¡±

    In the end, around a hundred of the demons chose to stay, while the others packed up and began the journey back to Keravia. It would take them longer than it had before with their new bodies. They had marched relentlessly, from almost the moment they became unbound. They were resilient though. Tifayn wasn¡¯t worried about them.

    They left early, leaving Alix to decide what to do with the ones that remained. He hadn¡¯t expected so many to stay, but Tifayn told him that they were impressed by the power he had shown and they respected that more than anything. He didn¡¯t have to spend much time thinking of a solution. The castle would be able to accommodate them all eventually, but they would have to increase the scale of the restoration tenfold first. At least he had more manpower to get on with it.

    With most of the tents having been taken by the army, they got to work cutting down trees to build themselves a small village. They also began work on a second line of defences outside the wall to stop any other army from approaching it as easily as they had. While the work continued, Alix got to crafting them all clothing, calling them in one at a time, learning their names, and filling up the dots on his map.

    Alix wanted to continue his training, but Brant refused to leave his room with the demons camped out in the grounds. He was even more wary of them than the Dark Elves. Tifayn was one thing he said, and he never would have believed she was a demon if he hadn¡¯t seen her unbound, but a hundred of them was quite another. Their weapons had been returned to them so that they could carry out their work. With the bond back, he trusted them to have them, even if Brant begged him to reconsider. If it came to it, he could force them to return them.

    Instead he focussed on his magic. Chronomancer had unlocked an interesting ability. It let him appear to teleport a step in any direction by slowing time around him for a second. His mana capacity had also drastically increased, as had his level, the number almost reaching his age. Once he reached it, it would become harder to level up.

    When he finally had a moment to relax, he returned to his guitar and turned on the amp. The air was filled with a hum of anticipation. He slowly began to play the opening notes of his favourite song, fine tuning the dials on guitar and amp. Then he cranked up the fuzz and let loose.

 Chapter 31: Years End

    Brant burst through the door with claymore drawn at the sound, thinking they were under attack again by some terrible audio force. He almost struck the amp before Alix could stop him. It took him a long time to convince him that the music wasn¡¯t an attack, and even longer to explain what it was.

    ¡°Your world enjoys that?¡± he asked in disbelief once he realised the music posed no threat.

    ¡°Some of us. You have no idea how good it is being able to play again. This is what I wanted to do with my life, not waste it fighting.¡±

    ¡°You were a bard in your world?¡±

    ¡°I guess you could say that. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to make any money out of it here though. I will try to keep it down,¡± Alix said begrudgingly. He wondered if he could create a soundproof room so he could play as loud as he wanted.

    With the demons dealt with, and no more threats looming on the horizon, Alix was able to slow down. Everyone seemed to get along, the demons and the dark elves working together to speed the renovations along. His plans of planting crops and other useful plants in the grounds faded as the demon village grew. They were able to build at a remarkable pace.

    Their help was very much appreciated within the castle. New floors went in while the gargoyles repaired the walls and the roofs, the stone flowing under their hands like water. Alix thought it would be handy to make more of them, but Mr Bones couldn¡¯t remember the spell he had used to create them and there was no mention of it in the library. He did manage to find a simple spell that blocked sound though and he soon built himself a comfortable room to play in.

    When a merchant arrived at the gate, he was finally reminded of the outside world again. The hounds brought word of the new arrival, giving him time to call the demons inside the walls. Many of them spent their days in the forest, cutting down trees for their growing village and exploring the new lands, far removed from their own.

    Alix greeted the merchant from the top of the wall, keeping the gate firmly closed. The merchant drove a large horse drawn wagon, its arched back covered with canvas, concealing its contents.

    ¡°How can I help you?¡± Alix called down to the bewildered merchant. Looking around at the fresh fortifications, he had to be wondering if he was in the right place. The castle was only known as a ruin to those that knew anything about it at all.

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for the Darknight,¡± the merchant called in an uncertain voice.

    ¡°What do you want with him?¡±

    Mr Bones and Tifayn stood down the steps behind him, listening silently to the exchange.

    ¡°I wish to trade with him.¡±

    ¡°I thought the king had forbidden anyone to have any dealings with the Darknight?¡±

    ¡°The king¡¯s reach is not as great as he would like to think. It is simple to operate right under his eye. I have seen the quality of the products the Darknight has created myself and there is a great demand for them. Are you him?¡±

    If there were merchants willing to do business with him, he realised he would have to take the risk. The king could threaten him all he liked, he had already dealt with worse. He had thought to make money somehow and use it to buy food. He had expected the food and drink Leon brought to last him months, but with the added mouths they went through it in no time. The demons still had some stores the army had left them, the rations going a lot further now, but soon they would turn to him to survive. The Dark Elves wouldn¡¯t be able to trade him any. Whatever meagre rations they were able to squeeze out of the mountain they needed for themselves. Any crops he managed to plant would take too long to grow. They needed supplies now.

    ¡°What sort of things are you after? What are you able to offer?¡± Alix asked, deciding to hear what the man had to say before deciding on his next course of action.

    ¡°Potions. I have gold,¡± the merchant replied, getting straight to the point.

    ¡°I would prefer food, for now at least. Potions might be a problem though. The vials give away where they come from.¡±

    ¡°I can provide vials, or you can give me what you have and I will rebottle them. I have a little dried food with me, but I was expecting you to ask for gold so that is what I brought most of.¡±

    ¡°How about this. Bring me as much food as your wagon can hold, and all the crop seeds you can find, and I will fill it with potions. It will take me some time to make them.¡±

    ¡°I can trade you the supplies I have on me right now. I think I might have some seeds in the back as well. If you have any potions to spare, I will pay you well for them. There is still a demand for antidotes, even though the plague is over, but the people still want them out of fear that it might happen again. Even the nobles are said to be hoarding them as a defence against poisoning attempts. I will use my own vials.¡±

    ¡°I might have some lying around,¡± Alix replied, considering the offer.

    Eventually he instructed the merchant to leave the supplies by the gate. Then he had Ajugor fly over and deposit three boxes of Lesser Antidotes on the ground. The merchant yelped at the sight of the gargoyle and he had to work fast to calm his horse.

    The value of the potions was a lot more than the food and seeds the merchant had on him, so he placed a bag of gold coins with them. The food was mostly dry staples, things he would have no trouble selling anywhere, but it would be enough to do them until he could return. The merchant packed away his prize and made off down the mountain, careful not to rock the wagon too much.

    Once the merchant was out of sight, the gate was raised and the supplies were hauled inside. The gold was substantial, he just wished he had something to spend it on. Alix rummaged around until he found the boxes full of seeds. With the ring he was able to identify wheat, corn and lettuce. The rest were foreign to him but it was enough to get started with.

    Alix called on Ulron, the demon that had been left in charge of the group that remained. Tifayn told him about his curious background before she introduced him to Alix. She told him that he had been the Demon Lord before they had become unbound and Alowyn had taken his position. While the demons had voted for Ulron to lead them, Alowyn had been revealed to be the strongest among them when unbound. He had been kept on as a chief, but the original powers of the Demon Lord had been denied him. Still, he knew the demons better than anyone. Alowyn had offered to return command to him, but Ulron had decided to stay and told her to take over for him back in Keravia.

    ¡°Do any among you know anything about farming?¡± Alix asked Ulron.

    ¡°No, our lands have never been suitable for growing crops. Legend has it that we survived under Babyl on the sap that leeched from the roots, but now we herd animals and fish the Dreadloch.¡±

    ¡°The Dreadloch? I haven¡¯t seen that on any of my maps.¡±

    ¡°It is on the border of Babyl, half of it within the Deadlands. The fish that roam there are wild and ferocious, which is why no one else risks its waters. I have noticed that you have no livestock around here.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t had a chance to think about it. I don¡¯t even know how I would go about finding some.¡±

    ¡°We could hunt the forests. We have seen plenty deer.¡±

    ¡°That might be a good idea if we are going to be planting crops. I don¡¯t want any animals wiping them out before they can grow. I¡¯ve managed to get a hold of some seeds and I was hoping some of your men would be able to help me prepare some ground outside the walls to plant them, and tend to the crops if they can.¡±

    ¡°I am sure we will be able to manage that,¡± Ulron replied. ¡°Although we know nothing of farming like the Galdeans.¡±

    ¡°I will see what I can learn in the library.¡± Alix left him with instructions to work on clearing some suitable land. They still had a great need for wood, but Alix would have to source them other tools to prepare the land. The stumps had to be torn up and the land ploughed. First he had to go to the library and learn how to become a farmer. He couldn¡¯t risk messing up the grow.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    He didn¡¯t expect to find many books written by Darknights on the subject, and he was right. All the relevant books he found were written by natives of Babyl. The most interesting were written by Darknights, but he wasn¡¯t always able to choose what he read. He had spotted a few books by Solknights as well, which were on his long list of things to read.

    For several days he devoured book after book on farming, crop raising, animal husbandry, until he was dreaming about irrigation in his sleep. The Dark Elves had masterfully been able to produce the tools the demons needed to prepare the grounds and on a warm sunny day they planted the first three fields.

    It was around this time that Brant came to him with the Ringtails, although he stood back in silence as Ophenia stepped forward to speak with him.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Alix asked the nervous lot.

    Brant looked like he was about to say something but at a stern look from his wife he kept silent.

    ¡°We wanted to thank you for everything you have done for us,¡± Ophenia began. ¡°Never before in our lives have we been treated as equals. We feel like we should be doing more to show our appreciation.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s alright, I am just glad I managed to help out. I¡¯m sure you could find work anywhere you like if you are looking for something to do.¡±

    ¡°I heard that you planted some fields with the demons. I was wondering if we would be able to tend to them instead?¡± Ophenia asked, while the rest of the Ringtails looked on hopefully. ¡°All Ringtails have an affinity for plants.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s what you want then I¡¯m sure that will be fine. It¡¯s only a short walk to the fields. I would appreciate your expertise.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Darknight,¡± Ophenia said, bowing her head slightly.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that Ophenia. You were some of my first guests here. I know the circumstances around our first meeting weren¡¯t pleasant, but I want you to think of this place as your own home, and of everyone here as your friends.¡±

    Ophenia shifted uncomfortably before continuing. ¡°Thank you, but that is another issue I would like to discuss with you. It is hard for us Ringtails to live in such a place as this.¡±

    ¡°Is there a problem with your rooms?¡± Alix asked, suddenly worried that they were being mistreated again somehow.

    ¡°No, the rooms are fine, it is the environment that is wearing on us. We need the open space of the wilds. I was wondering if we could be given permission to rebuild the village of Valon as our own?¡±

    ¡°Valon? I don¡¯t see why not, but it might be dangerous living outside of the walls like that.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I said,¡± Brant finally spoke up, ignoring the glares the Ringtails shot his way. ¡°Our rooms are just as comfortable as the ones we had back in Galdea. I don¡¯t see why you can¡¯t look after the fields from here.¡±

    ¡°You know why!¡± Ophenia snapped at him, before turning back to Alix, ¡°There is one last thing. I would like to go and look for more Ringless and bring them back to Valon with me. It makes me sick to think that others out there might be going through what happened to us. None of the Ringless have anywhere to go, nowhere to call home. I would like to make Valon that home.¡±

    ¡°That sounds like an admirable plan. Valon is yours. I will get the demons to work on building a new defensive wall around the village and the fields while you are away. How many of you are going?¡±

    ¡°All of us. We will be able to find more of the Ringless that way. It will be dangerous, but we have to try.¡±

    Alix suddenly had a thought. He opened his menu and scrolled through the various recipes he had unlocked. As part of learning to craft clothes, he had also unlocked recipes for dyes. He found the one he was looking for and tapped it.

    <ul>

    <li>Removed 10 Stryga Bark. </li>

    <li>Obtained 5 Black Dye.</li>

    </ul>

    Alix pulled the vials of dye from his inventory and passed them over.

    ¡°You should be able to use this dye to give yourselves some tail rings. That should help you get around without being harassed. Actually, you should probably take these as well.¡±

    Alix quickly crafted a bunch of lightweight knives and handed them over.

    They thanked him profusely and spent the rest of the day dyeing rings into their blank tails. It seemed ridiculous that such a small thing had relegated them to a lifelong exile. They left early the next morning, Brant leading the way down the mountain. He was still wary of going anywhere near Galdea again, and Alix was just as worried that someone might recognise him and try to give him trouble. None of them knew what his status was with the army after he had deserted. As a precaution, and to make them both feel better, he crafted another vial of Obscene Privilege, just in case he found himself in a situation that was otherwise impossible to escape.

    ¡°Keep is secret Brant. You know better than most what this potion can do, but I¡¯ll feel better knowing you have at least something to defend yourself with. Look after my sword as well.¡±

    It felt oddly empty in the castle without them around. The Ringtails had become just as much of a constant around the castle as the skeletons. Everyone else was always so busy, but the Ringtails had exuded an aura of calm. Without them, there was no escape from the chaos.

    It was a week before the merchant returned, this time towing a trailer behind his wagon. Alix had spent the time hunting the forest for more materials and crafting as many potions as he thought the merchant could carry. He crafted a dozen different kinds, taking the opportunity to practise the more obscure potions he had unlocked, such as Opticure, which cleared up cataracts, cured glaucoma and improved eyesight, and Nifreum, which was an extremely powerful painkiller.

    The merchant was happy to take all of them, but Alix had once again produced more than the merchant was able to trade for. He still left with ten times the amount he had taken previously. He returned the vials from the last batch and told him how well they had sold.

    The floor of the trailer was filled with boxes of seeds. He was pleased to find a small sachet of hemp seeds among them, but growing that would have to be a project of his own. Hemp couldn¡¯t feed them all, and unless they ran out of other building materials, there wasn¡¯t much use for it. There was no point wasting his years here harvesting hemp for Fibre when it was readily available everywhere else.

    With their new supplies, Alix tasked the demons with clearing more land and sowing the other seeds that were in season. With what he had learned, he hoped his work would be up to the ringtails¡¯ standards. He stored the leftovers in his inventory, those that were out of season or they had too many of, so that they didn¡¯t lose viability.

    The demons took to their tasks with enthusiasm, leaving him free to do other jobs, of which he was beginning to feel there were little. With Brant gone his sword training was on hold for now. Tifayn¡¯s pregnancy was advancing at an alarming rate. Every day her stomach grew, but apart from her appearance, it didn¡¯t seem to affect her much. Still, he wasn¡¯t comfortable swinging a sword at her.

    One morning he woke in a cold sweat from a dream. Tifayn asked what was wrong, but he didn¡¯t know if he should answer her. Something about the dream left him feeling strange though and against his better judgement he told her about it.

    ¡°It was about Nima, the Dark Elf girl,¡± Alix replied, trying his hardest to avoid mentioning the graphically erotic nature of the dream. He must have blushed as he spoke because Tifayn¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed and her body tensed.

    ¡°Nima? I always knew there was something strange about her. I couldn¡¯t understand why the Revenant would send his daughter.¡±

    ¡°Nima is the Revenants daughter? Why doesn¡¯t anyone tell me these things?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t relevant before. There is an old legend about the Dark Elves. It says once you dream of them, your dreams can become prophetic. I hope this one wasn¡¯t,¡± Tifayn replied stiffly.

    Alix had never put much stock in dreams before but now he stressed over every one, but those that he could remember didn¡¯t seem to hold any prophetic meaning. He didn¡¯t dream about going home, or fighting with Leon, just banal dreams about life around the castle, until he had the dream about the tree.

    Alix dreamed he was standing on the edge of a vast lake, from the middle of which rose a tree of gargantuan proportions. Its canopy was a raging inferno that he could feel licking against his skin. A fleet of galleons sailed the waters around its base, dangerous close to becoming engulfed in the flames and embers falling from the tree. Xilian was in his hand and blood dripped from the blades edge. A body lay on the ground, just at the edge of his vision, but as he turned to look, he woke up. He was disturbed to find himself standing in the dark, with Xilian in his hand. He stuffed the blade under the bed and went back to sleep. He didn¡¯t give the dream much thought though. After obsessing over the World Tree so much, and having his life entwined with the Terminus Ritual, he was bound to dream about it eventually. From what he had read of Babyl, it should be even larger than the one he saw in his dream.

    It seemed like it was no time at all before Tifayn went into labour, several months earlier than a regular human pregnancy. By then the restoration of the castle was complete, years¡¯ worth of work having been accomplished in months with the help of magic, and several hundred pairs of hands.

    ¡°You should probably go away for a few days,¡± Tifayn said when she felt the time was getting close. ¡°A demon birth can be¡­noisy.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. I want to be here for you and the baby.¡± Tifayn didn¡¯t seem happy about it but she didn¡¯t argue with him further.

    When the time came, and he had been pushed out of the room by the female demons that had taken charge of her, Alix almost wished he had listened to Tifayn. The screams that echoed throughout the castle traumatised him, terrified the Dark Elves and even worried the demons. Ulron told him that no matter how many times they heard the screams, they never got used to them. The screams weren¡¯t like a human birth. They sounded like Tifayn was in a furious battle with the child, full of cursing and barks.

    Suddenly there was silence. He wanted to break down the door but the demons had warned him not to enter until they allowed him to, or they would throw him out themselves. He didn¡¯t doubt that they were stronger than him so he listened to the warning, pacing anxiously back and forth beyond the barrier.

    Finally the door opened and he was ushered inside. From the sounds he had heard, he had expected the room to be in ruin, but Tifayn sat calmly on the bed with a quiet bundle in her arms.

    ¡°It¡¯s a girl,¡± Tifayn said as he sat beside her and saw his child for the first time. Her skin was a lighter shade of ash than Tifayn¡¯s. There was no hair to be seen, but a small pair of horns protruded from the baby¡¯s head. In that moment Alix vowed that he would emerge victorious from the Terminus Ritual. He wouldn¡¯t let anything separate him from his child.

    ¡°What should we call her?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°She will tell us when she is ready.¡±

 Book 3 - Chapter 30: Welcome to the Adventurers Guild

    ¡°Welcome to the Adventurer''s Guild. How may I help you?¡± the receptionist said through gritted teeth, a fake smile plastered on her face. She stood behind an expansive wooden counter, with ledgers and drawers filling the wall behind her.

    ¡°I would like to join the guild,¡± Alix replied awkwardly, keenly aware of the people around him. None were giving him a second glance, but he felt like the room was about to draw their weapons on him at any moment.

    The Adventurer¡¯s Guild was housed in a multi-storied building with golden thatch, both quaint and grand at the same time. It looked like it had once just been a small construction of brick, which still stood as the guild¡¯s ground floor, but over the years as the guild had expanded in membership and wealth, the building had grown, upwards and outwards, the upper floors supported by arches and pillars that rose to balconies and widely sloping eaves. The woodwork was elegant, the windows latticed, short towers poked through the myriad roofs and it was adorned all over with banners and flags.

    It had been several months since the birth of his daughter, but she had yet to name herself. Alix hadn¡¯t understood what Tifayn had meant at the time, but as he watched his daughter grow before his eyes, understanding dawned. She was unlike a human child in every way. By the time she was a few weeks old she could already walk. He had panicked the first morning he found her missing from her crib, but Tifayn hadn¡¯t shown any concern.

    ¡°I told you before, I was living alone by the time I was five years old. You don¡¯t have to worry about her. Soon she will be able to look after herself better than you,¡± Tifayn said as he furiously dressed to go in search of his rogue daughter.

    She had grown rapidly in the weeks since her birth, her hair coming in within days, her teeth coming in within a few weeks, and now she was walking by herself. Alix found her tailing Mr Bones around the castle.

    ¡°I apologise my lord, I was going to bring her back soon. I tried telling her to go back but she is a curious child.¡±

    She stumbled over to him and reached up to be lifted into his arms. Alix did as he was told, and carried her back to their rooms. He felt woefully inadequate, although he knew he would be having a worse time if she were a normal child.

    Her wandering only grew worse as the weeks flew by in what felt like minutes. She was curious of everything. She watched the Dark Elves in the forge and Brant practising in the yard. She chased after the Ringtails tails, wrapped the demons around her finger, in whose company she was treated like a queen. More than once he found her on the roof perching with the Gargoyles or chasing the hounds through the woods. Alix was run ragged just trying to keep up with her.

    ¡°This might be a good time for you to get out there and see Babyl,¡± Tifayn said one morning. ¡°There is no point in you spending all your time here chasing after the girl. I know it might sound cruel to hear it, but she needs no one but herself.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t abandon the both of you.¡±

    ¡°You still don¡¯t understand how independent our children can be. If anything, she is progressing slower because of her mixed blood. She will be fine. Give her time to grow.¡±

    ¡°Where do you expect me to go? There is still plenty for me to do around here.¡± Alix suddenly grew cold at the thought of being thrown out into the world alone again. The comforts of the castle had been hard won. He wasn¡¯t ready to give them up so soon.

    ¡°All of the Darknights that have travelled out into Babyl, explored what it has to offer, have fared a lot better than those that locked themselves away in the library. There is much out there that books are unable to teach you. You know enough to get around now. Go learn from the Dwarves, or join a Guild. You cannot learn those skills here.¡±

    Alix almost argued, but the ring pointed out that she had a good point.

    You are right that there is still much for you to learn here, but there is also more for you to learn than is possible in the time you have before the ritual, and not everything can be learned from books.

    If he was going to go back to Galdea, he would have to go about it differently this time. He needed a disguise, as well as an identification card. One of the skeletons was able to tell him what he needed to know. Using the card he had been given previously, he was able to craft a new one, one that retained his current level and current experience points but gave him a new name and class. After that he only had to wait for Astrid to find him the book on casting illusions. His daughter had taken to following her around the library, learning how it worked and helping to catalogue new entries. Still she refused to give them her name. She wasn¡¯t speaking at all, although Alix got the impression that she understood every word said.

    Once everything was assembled, he left early in the morning towards Galdea. He didn¡¯t realise how much he missed solitude and silence until he was on the road. Before he left, he made sure to cast the spell to change his image. It was a fairly complex spell, but the book recommended a certain version for beginners. Mr Bones managed to find him a ring that had been found amongst the debris in one of the rooms and he was able to implant the spell into the ring so that as long as he was wearing it, an illusion would be cast over him, so that he didn¡¯t have to worry about the spell running out.

    With his new look, he travelled the roads with newfound anonymity and confidence. He felt a bit of trepidation when, several days later, he joined the queue waiting to enter Galdea, but the guards barely gave his new identification card a glance before ushering him through. He had expected some sort of magical scan, disappointed that his efforts hadn¡¯t been fully tested.

    Alix made his way straight up to the fourth ring of the city, to the Guild District, and then made his way to the Adventurers Guild he had spotted on his last visit, energised to begin the next stage of his adventure. On the walk he had realised that he didn¡¯t want to spend the short time he might have in this world stuck in one place. There was so much Babyl had to offer, and he wanted to experience as much of it as he could before the end.

    When Evory turned to face him at the reception counter, he almost lost his barely contained composure.

    ¡°Good after-¡° Evory began to say but cut off sharply at the sight of him. Despite his illusion magic, she still instantly recognised who he really was.

    Master! What are you doing here? her voice screeched into his head.

    ¡°I would like to join the guild,¡± Alix replied as calmly as he could, although he was dying to ask a multitude of other questions, but the room was full of ears hungry for gossip. He had never expected that this was the job Evory had found, but here she was dressed in a receptionists dress, her hair tied up in an artful bun, and wearing a pair of glasses he had never seen before.

    ¡°Welcome to the Adventurers Guild. How may I help you?¡± she said, as if the sight of him had reset her brain.

    ¡°I would like to join the guild,¡± Alix repeated himself.

    ¡°Of course. Identification card please,¡± Evory replied after a slight pause, blushing furiously as she noticed him looking her up and down.

    Alix noticed her breathe a sigh of relief as he passed over the card and saw that it bore a different name. He hadn¡¯t seen her around the castle recently so she must not have heard of his plans to leave. Now he knew where she was spending all of her time. ¡°The registration fee is five gold coins. That also comes with free access to one Rank F job,¡± Evory said, motioning towards a large noticeboard that filled most of a side wall. It was covered in posters and other scraps of paper advertising jobs for the guildmembers. The guildhall reminded him of an old traditional pub, with a low roof and a wood fire burning across from the reception desk, although the similarities ended there. Within the jobs wall was an arched doorway that led to a larger back room he hadn¡¯t noticed from outside, where the various adventuring parties met to eat, drink and exchange stories. A bar stretched along the wall, and various doors led to other rooms, one of which had to be a kitchen from the plates of food that kept appearing from beyond. A large stairway rose from the centre of the back room to the higher floors.

    Alix handed over the coins, and then Evory took his card and placed it down on a metal plate inlaid in the counter. A silver light raced across the card, leaving behind his new membership written on the surface.

    Adventurer ¨C Rank F.

    Evory handed back the card with a slight tremble in her hand.

    The process went a lot easier than Alix had expected. He would have to ask Evory about her new job later, when they had some time alone, but for now he was curious to see what sort of jobs were on offer. It sounded like he was restricted to Rank F jobs for now, but he hoped he would be able to take on more interesting jobs soon.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Alix said, taking back his card. The ID card was similar to the day pass he had received before, a thin piece of wood, lacquered to such an extreme that it looked and felt more like a sliver of glass. Despite its size it held a comfortable weight. Within the gold filigree border were his new details. He had been sorely tempted to come up with a cool new name for himself, to suit the fantasy world he found himself in, but walking into the guild as an entry level adventurer with a name like Hector Hammerhand or Glorian Dragonslayer would likely attract the kind of attention he didn¡¯t want. He needed a name that would help him blend in with the masses.

    Orwin Marshall was written at the top of the card in shimmering letters. Below were the rest of his carefully chosen details.

    Name: Orwin Marshall

    Level: 18

    Race: Human

    Class: Adventurer

    Title: HerbalistYou could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    Affiliations: Adventurer¡¯s Guild ¨C Rank F

    Out of all his Titles, he felt like Herbalist was the one that was most suitable for him to start out with. He had plenty to chose from, but they were ones that someone of his rank shouldn¡¯t have possessed. The card also held several icons to denote the various privileges the card afforded him. He had managed to copy the stamp of Galdea from the day pass but if he wanted to gain free access to any other city he would have to apply for their stamps individually. The Adventures Guild stamp appeared along with the affiliation, a sword and a staff crossed over a shield, which allowed him access to the guildhall services and upper levels. In one corner of the card was a circle with eight coloured rings within it, showing that he was allowed access to all but the First, Second and Third rings unhindered. In another corner were four bars showing his Health, Stamina, Mana and EXP.

    Alix stored the card in a deep pocket and turned to the wall of jobs. The cosy room held half a dozen tables to sit at and contemplate the jobs by the fire, but most sat through in the bar area. The wall held back a lot of the noise, leaving him to peruse the listings in peace, although a few figures still sat at the tables in brooding silence. One grizzled looking old man sat at the table closest to the fire, smoking a long pipe, while a party of young adventurers crowded around another, talking in excited hushed tones.

    As Alix read the jobs, a theme began to emerge. An abundance of the lower ranked jobs were searching for herbs or plants of one kind or another, many of which he had plenty of in his inventory. Potion makers all over the city seemed to be on the hunt for premium supplies. He picked one from the board and returned to the counter. Alix cleared his throat and handed over the slip of paper

    ¡°I¡¯d like to fulfil this job,¡± he said. It was a Rank F job for a potion maker. He wanted Abyssia mostly, but he also offered extra payment for any Ivory Leaf and Mercy Vine that could be found. Alix drew out fifty Abyssia and a dozen each of Ivory Leaf and Mercy Vine. Consuming some of the abundance of Fibre he held, the plants appeared in neatly tied bundles.

    Master! You can¡¯t just use your powers like that around here! Evory screeched into his head.

    Alix jumped at the sudden tongue-lashing, spilling the bundles all over the counter. Luckily no one was looking in their direction. He cursed himself for his stupidity as the ring explained to him the problem. He had chosen the Adventurer Class, but it was the Title that came with the Infinite Storage skill, and they were apparently distinctly different. The Adventurer Class was just the name for a low-level being that wasn¡¯t particularly skilled in any one area, but has aspirations to one day become something greater, even if that was only to level up to a simple Swordsman, Archer, or any of the other standard classes. The Title was another thing entirely, and poorly named for it true meaning. It was unique to the Knights and stood for an adventurer through time and space, an adventurer from another world. It was one thing to have a magical sack that could hold more than its size, but it was quite another to pull items from thin air.

    Evory quickly stored the plants away in a drawer with shaking hands, and drew out some coins from another. With the extra plants he was left with two gold coins, but it was nowhere near enough to affect his ranking. He returned to the board and looked for some harder jobs. Alix couldn¡¯t help but notice the Rank A job pinned prominently to the centre of the board advertising five gold coins for every Dark Elf head handed in. Alix quietly took down the paper and crumpled it up in his pocket.

    Alix spent a few moments clearing the simple jobs on the board, those asking for supplies he already carried in abundance. He had made sure to harvest everything he had come across on his walk to Galdea. He made more than enough coin from selling his ingredients, making sure to appear to be pulling them out of deep pockets or the bottom of his pack. It seemed like every herbalist and potion maker in the city was looking to recreate his success. Antidotes still carried a high price which meant that raw ingredients had gone up in price as well, but he hoped if he supplied enough then the price would fall. He didn¡¯t want to leave the market only accessible to the rich. He would fulfil the jobs for free if it guaranteed a cheaper price in the end, although he hoped no plague afflicted them anytime soon.

    Don¡¯t clear them all at once or you might draw too much attention to yourself, Evory cautioned when she realised what he was doing, although no one was paying him any attention. If anything, the others in the room were becoming a distraction to him. The party at the table had only grown louder, the excited chattering turning to arguing. The old man glared at them from under a hood.

    Alix cleared half of the Rank F requests for materials and only stopped reluctantly, but it would be easy enough to finish the rest over the next few days. He was planning on staying for a while yet. There were a few more stops he had to make. Xilian still rested in his inventory but he would have to pick up a different weapon, one that wouldn¡¯t stand out so much. The only thing he was worried about was running into Leon out in the streets. He would be able to tell who he was instantly if the powers of his ring were the same as his own. He could fake an identification card, but the ring would still reveal him as the Darknight.

    Alix made a note of all the available jobs so that he could plan around them later. He still had to find somewhere to stay first before he took on anything more laborious. One job was looking for a missing person but they didn¡¯t want anyone lower than Rank D taking it on. He could still accept higher ranked jobs, but the pay was lower to discourage those that didn¡¯t have the abilities. He would have to prove himself first, but he would have to do so in a way that didn¡¯t draw attention.

    Several of the jobs were courier jobs, one of which went to Celadon. He wondered how the soulbound men he had sent there were doing. He would have to frequent some of the taverns and see if he could hear any stories coming out of there. After smelling the aromatic smoke coming from the old man¡¯s pipe, he would have to find a tobacconist as well.

    Many of the higher ranked jobs were looking for guards for a merchant train, or otherwise escorting someone through dangerous lands, but he wasn¡¯t ready to leave Galdea yet. He hadn¡¯t heard of many threats before, but from the job descriptions Babyl appeared to be a more dangerous place than he had thought.

    There was an ongoing job to hunt down Ringless in the city, which he quietly tore off the wall as well. If he came across any, he would help them as much as he could, send them to the castle if he had to.

    As he was making note of the next few jobs he was interested in, planning on asking Evory to hold them for him if possible, the party of young adventurers argument finally came to a head.

    ¡°I¡¯m not listening to any more excuses!¡± one of the group suddenly shouted. The others watched him anxiously as he stood and stormed over to the wall of jobs, tore off a large poster and, walking over to Evory, slammed it down on the counter. ¡°We want to take on this job,¡± he proclaimed, while the others rushed up behind him. Altogether they were six, four young men and two young girls.

    ¡°Are you sure we are ready Faisal?¡± one of the girls asked. Millie. Mage. Lv. 19.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry but-¡° Evory began to say, but Faisal turned back to his party.

    ¡°We will never amount to anything if we keep taking these crappy jobs that barely pay enough to feed us! This way we can advance quicker, earn more money and finally make a name for ourselves!¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s a Rank C job,¡± one of the boys said. Weiss. Paladin. Lv. 23. ¡°We are all Rank E.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already reached Rank D. Plus it is only a suggestion. It also suggests a party of four. We are six! We will be fine. Don¡¯t you remember the party that was in here last week? There was only four of them and they took on a Rank B job all by themselves, and they were all Rank E as well.¡±

    ¡°Faisal, they were all of them Archers and the job was to take down a single Griffon! Those brothers have been training since they were children and will be Rank S in no time. They only joined the guild because they have run out of other challenges. One of their bows is likely worth more than the entirety of our gear combined. They took the job despite the lower pay-out they would receive because they don¡¯t need the money in the first place. We have only been doing this for a few years and I only earned my Anointed Reliquaries last year.¡±

    ¡°This young man is correct,¡± Evory said, cutting in loudly before Faisal could offer a retort. ¡°Jobs are ranked for a reason. It is not worth the risk taking on one so far above your own when the pay-out is scaled to match. No one wants your blood on their hands.¡±

    ¡°But you cannot deny us the right to accept the job, right?¡± Faisal replied, turning back to Evory. Suddenly he noticed the deep cut of her dress and averted his gaze again. Millie poked him with her mage¡¯s staff at his blush.

    Evory held her unnatural paleness but Alix could tell her anger was building. ¡°I cannot,¡± she eventually said. Alix dreaded to think what she was wishing she could do to Faisal at that moment.

    ¡°Look, the only reason this job is Rank C is because the guild think it is related to what happened at Mortlake and the guild has designated that no job dealing with criminal activity be ranked any lower. But, so far none of the jobs have been dangerous at all! The guild has just been throwing money away trying to investigate something that was most likely just a disagreement between two groups of assholes that did us a favour by wiping each other out. This job will be the same. Free money, free experience. Afterwards you can all apply for Rank D and the Sixfold Sanctum can start to make a name for ourselves. It¡¯s just investigating a beached shipwreck. How hard can it be?¡±

    ¡°Well the Survey Corps notes mention that something was spotted in the surrounding waters, darting in and out of the fog, but it is not their job to investigate such things. Something might have attacked the ship, or from the smell, they noted a plague might have consumed the ship. Neither tasks are fit for such a low party,¡± Evory pointed out, but the party seemed to ignore her words, instead looking to Faisal for guidance.

    A shiver went through Alix and he wondered if he had heard Evory correctly.

    Evory, are you talking about what I think you are talking about?

    I think so. That is why I tried to dissuade them, but the guild rules say anyone can accept any job at their own risk. There is probably nothing there anyway, other than a few a few bodies rotten beyond identification. I would have gone to check myself already but I have been¡­preoccupied.

    Maybe I should take this job instead, burn whatever¡¯s left.

    By all appearances, you are even less qualified than they are. The quest requires them to identify the ship, by recovering its bell, logbooks, or anything else that might name it, and to deal with any threats in the area so that a salvage contract can safely be sold to another guild.

    ¡°If you really say we will be fine, then I believe you,¡± Millie said, stepping to Faisal¡¯s side to show her support.

    Weiss sighed. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s do it.¡±

    Evory coldly took the job poster. ¡°The deposit required for a Rank C job is two gold coin per party member.¡±

    Each of the members of the Sixfold Sanctum took out their awfully light looking coin purses and handed over the gold. Then Evory stamped the poster with an In Progress guild stamp and handed it over.

    ¡°Hand this in once you are finished to get your deposit back, and your reward. Good luck.¡±

    Faisal grabbed the poster triumphantly, rolled it up and led his party out.

    ¡°Faisal, I swear if we fail I¡¯m taking your sword and selling it to get my money back,¡± Weiss said as they left.

    Maybe I should ask to join their party, just for this one quest, Alix began to think, but then the old man by the fire spoke.

    ¡°You should have done more to dissuade them, the stupid buggers that they are. They couldn¡¯t find a pair of tits in a brothel,¡± he said as he pulled down his hood, revealing an eye patch over one eye, and tapped his pipe out on the hearth.

    ¡°They¡¯ve been eyeing that job all week, Cobalt. I already convinced Faisal to take four other low rank jobs before this one.¡±

    ¡°Aye and that just made him cockier, thinks he can take on the world because he chased some slimes away from the fereep herds and slept rough for a few nights.¡±

    ¡°You could have taken on the job yourself you know. You barely take any jobs these days,¡± Evory said.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t worth it. I¡¯d rather sit here and look at you,¡± Cobalt replied, grinning mischievously through a thick white beard.

    Alix almost laughed but at the look Evory shot at them he changed his mind. Instead he took note of the few jobs he was interested in, one which was a guard job that would lead out east, away from the realms of men. Then he thanked Evory for her help and made his way towards the door, to find a room for the next few days while he prepared to head out on his first real quest.

    ¡°That was a fancy trick with your pockets,¡± Cobalt called to him before he reached the door. He was repacking his pipe with fresh tobacco and staring at him intently with his remaining eye. ¡°I¡¯ll be keeping my eye on you,¡± he said, laughing manically as Alix rushed out the door, an awkward expression on his face, as if he had no idea what the old man was on about.

    I should have joined a different guild¡­

 Chapter 31: Black Market Contortions

    As Alix headed down the rings to the Lower District, he realised there was something he had forgotten to do before leaving the castle. The merchant that had been coming to buy potions off of him would arrive expecting another shipment which wouldn¡¯t be available. The coin in his pocket was from the previous bountiful sales, a weight that guilted him into descending one more level once he reached the Lower District, to the seventh ring, the Merchant¡¯s District.

    When no more Imperator¡¯s showed up at his gate, Alix began to trust Javin more, and Javin trusted him in turn as his profits grew. Alix insisted in hearing exactly what he was doing with the potions, and through his stories Alix learned of the shop Javin ran in Galdea. He reached the street he knew the shop to be on, and realised he had passed by it before, but it was so non-descript that he hadn¡¯t noticed it. It had no decoration or sign to say what sort of shop it was, other than a simple sign that read Javins.

    Alix stepped into the shop. His first impression of the place was that it must be closed. The shelves were almost bare. From the amount of potions Alix had sold Javin only recently, the shelves should have been teeming with all Antidotes and Healing Potions. His last purchase had been particularly sizeable, the demand for his new stock of potions only increasing as word spread.

    There was one other person in the shop with Javin, a customer, and they didn¡¯t sound like they were having a good day.

    ¡°Please Javin, you must have something,¡± the man pleaded, oblivious to Alix¡¯s entrance. ¡°I¡¯m losing business, I need some of those-¡°

    Javin loudly cleared his throat, and the man suddenly noticed they weren¡¯t alone anymore.

    ¡°Listen Pentos, as you can see I am all sold out.¡± Javin stared at the man pointedly until he begrudgingly left the shop. Then Javin turned to Alix. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was just about to close,¡± he said, swinging on his voluminous coat. ¡°If you are looking for something in particular and it¡¯s not urgent, why don¡¯t you try again in a week?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I forgot I was wearing this,¡± Alix said, realising Javin wouldn¡¯t be able to recognise him while wearing the illusion ring. He pulled off the ring and the illusion dropped.

    Javin almost dropped to the floor in fright at the sight of him, but after a gasp he quickly ran to the door and bolted it shut.

    ¡°What in the Naether are you doing here?¡± Javin furiously whispered.

    Despite their continuing business relationship, he still hadn¡¯t allowed the man to enter the walls of the castle. He had tried to keep him as separate from the dark elves and the demons as possible and he had refrained from talking to him about his relationship with Tifayn.

    ¡°I just thought I¡¯d get out and see the world. Why does everyone expect me to stay locked up in that castle forever?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­that¡¯s not what I meant. I meant what are you doing here, in Galdea, where the king has forbidden you from entering and anyone from doing business with you. If anyone sees you here I will be ruined.¡±

    ¡°No one will see me. I¡¯m sure only a handful of people know what I actually look like anyway. Besides, this way it¡¯s easier for us to do business. You don¡¯t need to drive out to the mountain anymore. Speaking of, what happened to all your stock? You should still have plenty left from the last sale.¡±

    Javin peaked out on the street through slatted windows to make sure Pentos had left and no one else was about to visit him unexpectedly before he replied.

    ¡°I had to get rid of them all,¡± he said in a low voice. ¡°It was that idiot Pentos¡¯ fault. I was about to give him an earful before you came in. You know I was shifting the potions mostly through my network in the outlying villages. There they are slightly watered down, and then sold on again and spread out throughout the city in smaller quantities. No one has noticed they are cut and they still adorn the shelves of the richer shopping districts, selling for ridiculous amounts.  I stupidly broke the cardinal rule of not drawing attention to myself when things were going so well and I decided to stock my shop with your wares as well. Word quickly got out that they rivalled the mysterious antidotes of last years plague. That was when Pentos showed up and bought my entire stock. His shop has been failing so he put every last bit of gold he had into buying up the whole batch.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think anything of it until an Imperator came to visit me. Pentos, that stupid bastard, had the stupid idea to claim that these potions were even better than the ones from before, which drew the wrong attention. He denies it, but I¡¯m sure Pentos pointed the Imperators in my direction when they came calling on him. I am a paying member of the Merchant¡¯s Guild, so they had no right to see my books or demand that I answer their questions, which were all about how my stock had suddenly and drastically increased in quality.¡±

    ¡°What did you tell them?¡± Alix asked, suddenly realising how dangerous it had been for him to come here.

    ¡°I told them there was nothing illegal about having good quality wares. That¡¯s a merchant¡¯s job after all. Now, I don¡¯t mean to be rude, but if you are going to be in Galdea I would prefer if it wasn¡¯t hiding out in my shop. I really was just about to close, I¡¯ve got head up to the Adventurer¡¯s Guild,¡± Javin said, unlocking the shop door and ushering him out.

    ¡°The Adventurer¡¯s Guild? I¡¯ve just joined up there. What business do you have with them?¡±

    ¡°I have a job I want to post.¡± Javin locked the door again behind them and took off up the street, taking great strides to get as much space between him and Alix as he could, but Alix was taller than the merchant and easily able to keep up.

    ¡°A job? Anything I might be interested in?¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t expect anyone will actually accept it.¡± Javin suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned to Alix. ¡°You know, I think this actually might just be the perfect job for you.¡±

    ¡°Oh really? What is it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to cover my tracks, and what¡¯s good for me is good for you. If the Imperator¡¯s are going to accuse me of peddling in higher quality wares than I have been previously known for, then I¡¯ll start doing just that. The job is for resource gathering for extremely rare materials.¡±

    ¡°Sounds easy enough. Why did you think no one would accept it?¡±

    ¡°Because the resources I¡¯m asking for might as well not even exist. Here, have a look.¡± Javin handed over a slip of parchment.

    Job: Hunter Class - Rank F

    Reward: Lesser Encrusted Ingot

    Looking for people to gather the following materials for the purposes of apothecarial manufacturing. No experience necessary. No time limit. Locations unknown.

    <ul>

    <li>Diamond Sphinx Tears</li>

    <li>Titania Pollen</li>

    <li>Harpie Egg</li>

    <li>Terron Ossia</li>

    <li>Gorgonic Excrement</li>

    <li>Atranoch Essence</li>

    </ul>

    ~ Javins - Merchant¡¯s Guild #779

    Alix didn¡¯t understand most of what he was reading but a few things did make sense. It was a rank that he was able to accept, and the reward sounded great, although he had never heard of a lesser encrusted ingot before.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°So these things are all pretty hard to find?¡± Alix asked as he handed back the parchment.

    ¡°Hard? Most of them I¡¯ve only read about in ancient bestiaries which are more fairytale than fact, and some I¡¯m pretty sure I misremembered. The first one doesn¡¯t exist at all. I was passing through a remote village when the local drunk tried to sell me what he claimed were Diamond Sphinx Tears. Turned out he had just pissed in a vial and tried to sell it off for more beer money.¡±

    ¡°Why the hell should I take this job then? I came here to actually learn some things, but you might as well ask me to go off and find you some tartan paint, or wild haggis. This is a waste of my time.¡±

    Javin¡¯s brow furrowed at the unfamiliar terms, but he didn¡¯t question it. He was used to Alix¡¯s unusual phrases and speech patterns by now, and knew that he wouldn¡¯t understand any explanation anyway.

    ¡°Calm down for a moment. If you think about it, this job is perfect for you. It gets you out of the city and gives you a pretext to go anywhere you like.¡±

    ¡°That still doesn¡¯t help me Javin. I don¡¯t have time to wander about aimlessly.¡±

    Javin sighed with exasperation. ¡°Look, you aren¡¯t understanding me. This is what¡¯s known as a filler job. Let me give you an example. It¡¯s an exaggeration, but it will help you to understand. Say there¡¯s a Rank S job for slaying a dragon, which is highly illegal without the proper permissions, but you are only Rank F. The reward would set you up for life, but you can¡¯t afford the deposit, and even if you could, you aren¡¯t a high enough rank to accept the job. Yes, you can technically take any job up to Rank B as you are, but Rank A and above have different rules. Only a Rank S, or a large party of Rank A adventurers, can take on a Rank S job. But say you are an archer and you have in your possession an Instant Kill Dragon Arrow. That isn¡¯t a real thing, but bear with me. You have this arrow, and you know you can kill the dragon. So what do you do? You take the filler job that you can accept, go kill the dragon, then return and claim the reward.¡±

    ¡°That seems like a convoluted way of doing things. Why can¡¯t I just kill the dragon? Why do I have to accept the filler job first? I was able to fulfil a load of resource gathering jobs already without accepting them first, I just happened to have the stuff on me already.¡±

    Javin rubbed at his temples, as if he was trying to explain something as simple as two plus two, but Alix kept asking why water was wet instead.

    ¡°Like I said, the rules for Rank A and above jobs are different, but there are other rules that apply depending on the class of job as well. Those other jobs you already completed were Gatherer Class. For those you could walk down the street and buy the materials from a street vendor then hand them back in at the guild for a loss. No one cares. Killing a dragon would be a Hunter Class, and they are not so simple to fulfil. The deposits are larger and the requirements are harder. You can¡¯t just walk in with the dragon and claim the reward without first having been contracted on a Hunter Class job, but, if you are on a different Hunter Class job, and you just so happen to run into the dragon, and just so happen to kill it, you can forfeit the reward of your original job to the Guild and claim the reward for slaying the dragon. It causes a lot of headaches and paperwork of course. If someone else has already accepted and paid for the job then everyone needs to be interviewed to make sure there was no skulduggery involved. You also need to compensate them for their losses, but with such a large reward it doesn¡¯t matter. You see what I¡¯m saying? It¡¯s a convoluted but legal loophole in the Adventurer¡¯s Guild, one that many used to advance quickly through the ranks. So take this job, find a different one that you know you can handle, as I¡¯m sure you will be able to easily handle all Rank S jobs already, and then go off and do that one instead. It gets you out of the city, and I can breathe easier.¡±

    Alix¡¯s head spun as he tried to unwrap the mess Javin had just laid out for him. I¡¯ll have to ask Evory if the Guild has a rulebook or something¡­

    It makes sense in a roundabout sort of way, but he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the higher ranked jobs. Jumping in and clearing a few Rank S jobs as a beginner would just attract the kind of attention he wanted to avoid. At the very least, it would give him the excuse to head out and investigate the shipwreck the other party had managed to grab the contract for. If he could beat them to it¡­

    ¡°Alright, give me the job and I¡¯ll get out of here,¡± Alix said, sticking his hand out for the parchment.

    ¡°Hold on a moment, I need to get this up to the Adventurer¡¯s Guild first and log it officially, otherwise it¡¯s useless.¡±

    Alix groaned at the thought of so soon returning up the three steep rings to the Guild¡¯s District but he followed after as Javin quickly took off.

    As they walked Alix asked him what the encrusted ingot reward actually was. He assumed that it would be against the rules to offer a reward that didn¡¯t exist, even if the job itself was an impossible task.

    Javin withdrew a small wooden box from the wild contraption that was his merchants backpack, a mass of leather, wood and strong clothes that held everything he could ever need in his daily work; spare vials, books, examination equipment, scales, and money. He unlocked the box from a skeleton key held around his neck and showed Alix the contents, after pulling him into a shaded alley first.

    ¡°Coins are fine enough for low value transactions, but once you get up to bigger purchases, coins become cumbersome to carry. Ingots and gems are desired then, but Encrusted Ingots are even better.¡±

    Within the box lay a large silver ingot that at first reminded Alix of a Chinese sycee. They were supposed to resemble a womans shoe or a boat, but Alix had always thought they looked more like fancy hats. This one was fat and rounded, probably one hundred grams in weight at least, and inlaid in the surface were trillion cut shining white gemstones. A large stamp in the centre, some sort of makers mark or Guild sigil wrapped in artful linework, completed the design.

    ¡°Very nice.¡± I wonder what a Greater Encrusted Ingot must look like¡­ ¡°How much is this worth?¡±

    ¡°Around eight thousand gold coins.¡±

    ¡°Why are you carrying around something so valuable? Are you not worried it will get stolen?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that, I have a few tricks of my own. Anyone other than me that tries to open any pocket, box or lock of my pack will be in for a nasty surprise. You never know when you might come across something you just have to buy. I actually brought that expecting to trade it with you for your potions but you asked for food instead.¡±

    If you had shown me this first I might have changed my mind. ¡°Maybe next time then. I¡¯m sure I can whip up something that you have never seen before.¡±

    ¡°Maybe, but I don¡¯t want anything like that lying around my shop just now. Get out there for a bit and let everything cool down, then come back and talk to me.¡±

    Evory wasn¡¯t happy to see Alix back so soon, but after a momentary lapse, the fake smile was plastered all over her face again. She ignored Alix and turned to Javin instead. ¡°How can I help you sir?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to post this job,¡± Javin said, handing over the piece of paper.

    ¡°Of course.¡± Evory took the paper and as she read the contents her smile visibly slipped. She looked like she was about to throw it back in his face, which was firmly staring at her chest. It seemed she knew exactly what sort of job it was, but Evory was taking her new role with unexpected seriousness.

    Javin turned to leave, but Evory wasn¡¯t about to let him go that easily. ¡°One moment sir, the Guild has recently updated it¡¯s procedures. We now require a ten percent downpayment on the offered reward. Too many customers reneging on payment. I hope you can understand.¡±

    Javin¡¯s face soured, but he reached back into his pack and took out, not eight hundred gold coins, but a few more pouches and a box. The box contained a set of scales with a small abacus built into the lid. He ran through a few quick calculations, then picked a few weights out of the box and added them to one side of the scale. On the other he placed a selection of gemstones, of different colours but all the same cut, until the scales balanced.

    ¡°These briolette cut gemstones should suffice,¡± Javin said as he carefully placed them inside a velvet bag and handed them over.

    Evory¡¯s smile returned, and she stamped the paper with a red APPROVED guild stamp.

    ¡°Excellent, I¡¯ll hang this up immediately.¡±

    ¡°Actually, I¡¯d like to take that if I can,¡± Alix said, before anyone else in the room got a chance to read the new job.

    Evory started to protest but caught herself in time and turned it into a clearing of the throat.

    Master, this job is a joke! He probably just came in here to stare at me like all the others.

    I know it¡¯s a joke, but it gives me an excuse to check out that ship, hopefully before that other party gets there.

    Very clever master. How did you figure that out?

    This is the merchant that has been buying potions from me at the castle. I guess you never met before with your new job. Don¡¯t go too hard on him.

    I can restrain myself. The Magician¡¯s Guild sustains-

    ¡°Of course sir!¡± Evory suddenly cut herself off. ¡°The deposit for this job will be ten silver coins.

    What was that about magician¡¯s, Evory?

    Nothing!

    Alix handed over the ten silver coins and Evory quickly added In Progress stamp to the parchment.

    ¡°Thank you. If you will excuse me, I need to deposit these in the safe,¡± Evory said, taking the gems and silver and heading through a door to a back room.

    Javin watched her go, but Alix couldn¡¯t tell if he was sad to see her or the gemstones leaving.

    ¡°Well, thanks for the help. I¡¯ve still got to find somewhere to sleep, and I really need to grab a few things before I go as well. Last time I was here, I think my purchases were a little too grand,¡± Alix said under his breath. He still had Xilian and Primal Ruin stored away, but he couldn¡¯t go around wielding them as a low ranking adventurer. He had to find some more suitable equipment. But first, he had to find an inn, preferably one with a bar. Javin saved him some time by suggesting one that would suit his needs perfectly so he set off back down towards the sixth ring.

 Chapter 32: Ship of Ghosts

    Alix was three days out of Galdea when he finally reached the place. The morning after his meeting with Javin, he had quickly found a weapons shop, nothing as fancy as the places he had shopped at before, and made some purchased. The first was a new sword, one suitable for a beginner adventurer that wouldn¡¯t draw any attention. He had thought about having the dark elves craft him one from their new alloy, but he decided to leave that for another time. He outfitted himself with a short sword instead. It wasn¡¯t anything special, but it was well made and the freshly worked leather scabbard hanging at his waist at least made him look slightly professional.

    As the Sixfold Sanctum had taken on the job, he usually wouldn¡¯t have been allowed to have access to the details, but Evory was able to be persuaded that just this once, it was necessary. It still amused Alix how seriously she took the job, following at least the majority of the rules to the letter. He marked on his map the location where the ship was said to be and set off early, hoping to beat the young party there. He would feel bad if they missed out on the reward, but it was for their own good that they didn¡¯t see what was there, assuming there was anything to see in the first place. If he found the place to be empty, he would leave them to explore it as much as they liked, no harm done.

    As he walked, he studied his map, and saw clearly that the location of the shipwreck was miles away from Mortlake. If it was indeed the Ghost¡¯s ship, it was miraculous that it had ended up so far away. Alix couldn¡¯t understand how it hadn¡¯t sunk straight away. His instructions to the men had been clear and they couldn¡¯t have refused them. He had heard the explosion himself. It had to be another ship, but he still had to check it out.

    The location was far to the west of Mortlake and Galdea, in an area known as the Ekaiza Marshes. It was hard to tell from his maps but he thought it looked like it was a place where the furthest reaches of the poisoned waters of Mortlake and an offshoot of the tainted waters of the Dreadloch pooled in a lowland area, surrounded on most sides by inhospitable rising crags. If the job hadn¡¯t been ranked so high because of the potential criminal activity involved then it would have warranted it from the landscape alone. It was utterly miserable. He hoped there would be nothing to see there so that he could get back to solid, dry ground as soon as possible.

    A rough animal path led up through the steep peaks surrounding the Ekaiza Marshes. Even if the Sixfold Sanctum managed to make it here, he doubted Weiss would be able to make the arduous climb with his large, unwieldy armour. Alix tried not to look down as he climbed, but soon the ground was hidden from sight as thick fog rolled in. Several times he thought he saw dark shadows pass through the fog around him, but as long as nothing came out of it at him, he was content to just ignore it and keep going.

    Alix knew he was close when the smell from the marshes hit him. The dank smell of stagnant water and rot was overlayed with an acrid metallic scent that burned at his nose and eyes. He quickly checked his stats but there didn¡¯t seem to be anything dangerous in the air. Just as he was about to take a fortifying potion, a scream rent the air, echoing wildly around the craggy peaks.

    Damn kids!

    They were the only ones that could be there. It sounded like one of the girls was in trouble. Alix picked up his pace, moving as fast as he could without tripping along the barely perceptible paths.

    The buggers must have marched through the night!

    Alix reached the bottom of the slope after a few dodgy moments, almost falling over a drop hidden in the fog several times. The slope led straight onto soggy marshland, which looked identical in every direction. Another cry echoed through the fog, and this time he could hear more shouting from the other men. It sounded like they were fighting. He took off in their direction, trying to keep his feet as dry as possible but after only a few steps he was already soaked to the knees.

    The hulking ruin of the ship appeared out of the thick mists a few moments later, like the beached corpse of a deep sea creature, skeletal ribs beginning to show through peeling skin. He almost ran right over the top of Millie in his haste to reach it. She was lying on the ground as if she had collapsed. Alix quickly dropped down to check on her. She didn¡¯t appear to be wounded at all, but she didn¡¯t respond to his presence. Instead she kept staring straight at the rotting mass of splintered timbers a short distance away.

    It only took Alix a moment to recognise the ship. It was definitely the same one from Mortlake. He had noticed debris higher up the slope, which told him that the marshes were in a way tidal, or it had recently had a major flood. It would explain how the ship had ended up on land. He hoped the waters wouldn¡¯t suddenly return until he could get back up to higher ground.

    ¡°Millie, what the hell happened?¡± Alix asked, shaking the girl to try and get a response. She lifted her hand weakly, pointing in the direction of the ship where the sounds of fighting could still be heard.

    Alix left Millie¡¯s side and ran towards the ship, deciding the others probably needed his help more from the sounds of things. The ship looked way more intact than he was expecting, especially considering the last command he had given and the sound of the explosion he had heard. He had been certain that the ship had been blown to pieces, burned up and sunk.

    ¡°How is this ship here?¡± Alix asked out loud, only half to himself.

    ¡°The waters of Mortlake are toxic. You didn¡¯t notice how the ship floated higher above the waters than usual? It is generous calling the lake water in the first place, it is more chemicals. It seems the increased buoyancy of the ship in the lake stopped it from sinking and the chemicals in the water preserved it.¡±

    ¡°If they preserved the boat then they probably preserved what¡¯s inside as well,¡± Alix said, although his mind was more focussed on what they were fighting inside the wreck.

    A large hole in the side of the ship afforded him a quick entrance, likely the damage done by the explosion. The keel of the ship was missing around the hole, but somehow it had managed to remain afloat. He had expected to be hit by the stench of death but the hold just smelled damp and mouldy. He could make out white lumps he tried not to look too hard at, but everywhere he turned there was more of them. What remained of the bodies of the Ghosts were piled in every corner, pressed against the ribs and littering the floor. Half of them had been picked clean to the bone, while the exposed remaining skin of the others held a waxy hue. White shards of splintered bone pincushioned the inside of the ship.

    Large cages lay haphazardly around the hold among the corpses, the ones that had at one time been destined to hold the captive Ringtails. Now they held what looked like giant nests.

    The sound of fighting continued to echo from somewhere else in the ship. Alix looked around and spotted a ladder hanging at an angle that led up to gun deck. He made his way over to the ladder with more than a little difficulty. The entire surface beneath him was slimy or littered with preserved remains, that turned to mush at the slightest touch. Footprints crushed into the bodies told him he was going the right way. What had possessed them to go further into the ship?

    In the darkness of the far reaches of the hold Alix could just make out small barrels scattered all over the floor. Text hovering above the closest ones read Gunpowder Barrel. Before he could grab any, the yelling above intensified and he turned back to the ladder. The ladders rope railing was thankfully still intact which allowed him to drag himself up the steps. He found the gun deck in chaos.

    In the low light, it was hard to understand what he was seeing. The rest of the Sixfold Sanctum (Celeste, Bjorn, and Guillem), were crowded around the hole while Weiss was wildly swinging around a morning star, trying to knock away a flock of giant birds that swarmed in the air above him, while at the same time trying not to get his weapon stuck in the low ceiling. Alix was impressed the heavily armoured Weiss had managed to make it up the stairs.

    ¡°What is going on here?¡± Alix shouted into the fury of wings and feathers. Celeste, Archer class, jumped at his sudden arrival, but like Millie she seemed shocked into silence.

    ¡°Terrons!¡± Bjorn yelled above the screaming birds. The ring revealed his class as Berserker, but at that moment he looked terrified. The ship was filled with oddly metallic sounds, as if the birds were wielding swords and striking back at Weiss. ¡°They got Faisal!¡± he said, pointing at a prone form Alix had missed lying at Weiss¡¯ feet. The amount of blood pooled around him didn¡¯t look good.

    ¡°Can you help?¡± Guillem, an Adventurer class like Alix, asked in a quiet voice, staring at him with wide eyes.

    What are Terrons? Alix asked the ring, the name sounding familiar for some reason. They looked like normal herons to him, if slightly larger, and a lot more aggressive.

    They are very bad news. You need to get them all out of here, now. There is nothing they can do.

    ¡°I can only help if you, Celeste, and Bjorn out of here, right now,¡± Alix replied to Guillem. It looked like they had all completely lost the ability to think for themselves. ¡°Grab Millie and get as far away from this place as you can.¡±

    ¡°What about Faisal and Weiss? We need to help them,¡± the young man said, turning back towards the battle continuing down the gun deck.

    Alix grabbed Guillem by the arm and dragged him back, and then slapped him full across the face. ¡°If you don¡¯t get out of here now I will throw you out myself.¡±

    Guillem finally seemed to find sense as his hand went to his stinging face.

    ¡°What are you going to do?¡±  Bjorn asked. He at least had heard sense and was about to head down the ladder.

    ¡°There¡¯s enough gunpowder left in this ship to destroy it completely. It will be too much of a hazard if it gets washed away again into a busier river. I will get rid of it here, and deal with these terrons while I¡¯m at it.¡±

    ¡°But we won¡¯t get the reward if-¡±

    ¡°Will you boys stop thinking about nothing but money!¡± Celeste screamed, surprising them all. ¡°Faisal is dead and it¡¯s all because of his own stupidity and greed. I¡¯m not going to risk my own life as well.¡± Celeste pushed past Bjorn and Guillem as they stood around stupidly, descending the ladder with a swift jump.

    At seeing one of their own flee, Bjorn and Guillem finally saw sense and abandoned the ship as well. That left Alix to get Weiss out. The ring told him that Faisal was already dead.

    Alix drew his short sword, hoping it wouldn¡¯t be entirely useless against the vicious birds. He longed to draw Xilian and don Primal Ruin but he couldn¡¯t risk Weiss or the others seeing them. The only part of Primal Ruin he allowed himself to wear were the gauntlets, which looked close enough to black leather gloves that he could get away with wearing them without drawing attention to their true nature.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    He took one last precaution. He pulled a potion from his inventory one of the dozens of experiments he had crafted in an attempt to find new and interesting things to sell to Javin. Unfortunately Javin had said that the potions were too good. Some were so rare that only kings or the richest of lords could possibly afford to possess them, and that wasn¡¯t something he could explain selling in his shop.

    Alix downed the Iron Skin potion, which left a horrible metallic taste at the back of his throat, and instantly made his tongue feel like a lead weight. Whatever the terrons had done to Faisal, he didn¡¯t want the same happening to him.

    Up until then, the terrons had kept their attention on Weiss, but as soon as Alix took a few steps closer, the swarm broke and dived on him as well. Alix swung his sword at the first attacking bird, but his blade bounced harmlessly off of its feathers.

    ¡°What the fu-¡° Before Alix could finish his curse another terron swooped down at him, landed on his shoulders and began to peck violently at every part of exposed flesh. As the beak hit his spell-protected skin, there was a metallic sound. Are these birds made of metal somehow?

    The terron showed no sign of giving up its attack, even as his skin continued to resist its hits. They still hurt, but so far the terron wasn¡¯t able to puncture him. Alix wondered if this is what had happened to Faisal. The chinks in his armour wouldn¡¯t have been any protection against the knife like terron beaks. He shook off the terron and ran as quick as he could over to Weiss, who continued to stand guard over Faisal¡¯s body.

    ¡°Weiss! You have to get out of here!¡± Alix yelled. His armour seemed to be holding up well to the terron¡¯s attacks, but it was badly scratched and dented all over. It was only a matter of time before they managed to get through his defences and attack the unprotected areas around his head.

    ¡°Help me with Faisal!¡± Weiss shouted, batting away another terron.

    Up close, Alix could see just how badly wounded Faisal was. His body was covered in holes. The snapped off beak of a terron was lodged in his chest, likely the killing blow that had pierced his heart. .

    ¡°He¡¯s already gone! We have to get out of here!¡±

    ¡°What? No, we need to get him to a healer.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing in Galdea that can heal these wounds! He¡¯s dead, Weiss!¡± Alix felt bad saying the words, especially when he saw Weiss¡¯ tears and the anguished look on his face. He already knew there was nothing he could do for his friend, he just didn¡¯t want to admit it. ¡°Unless you want to end up the same way, get out of here! Everyone else has already gone.¡±

    Weiss smashed his morning star over the head of another swooping terron, the air all around them a whirlwind of flying swords. The terron was slammed to the deck, but the attack didn¡¯t seem to faze it at all. It shook its head and then began to advance on them again, taking sharp jabs at the air with its metallic beak. Weiss roared, and then charged off down the gun deck. Before Alix could ask him what he was doing, he jumped through a rotten gunport and disappeared into the fog outside.

    With Weiss gone, the terrons turned their full attention on Alix. He worked quickly then, alternating between carving the wood beneath his feet and swinging his sword above his head. He carved the glyphs for fire and wind, then a delayed trigger. Once complete the spell circle looked awfully crude, but he thought it would do. It was a basic form of the Firestorm spell, which he felt would be over the top for his needs. The others could still be right outside. He still needed to give them time to escape.

    Once done, he braced himself, then bent down to pick up Faisal¡¯s limp form, the blood soaking his clothes making him difficult to hold securely. As soon as his back was turned the terrons dived on him, stabbing and pecking him all over. He could feel his clothes shredding under the assault, but his skin still held up, as did his gloves. With Faisal in his arms, he took inspiration from Weiss and ran for a hole where a gunport had once been and jumped out. He chose one on the opposite side of the ship as the others had taken. He didn¡¯t want them to see what he was going to do.

    Alix landed a pile of soft but stinking moss, got to his feet as quickly as he could and dragged Faisal¡¯s body away from the ship. He counted the seconds in his head. Ten, nine, eight, seven¡­

    There was barely anything for him to find cover behind in the marshes so he found a particularly large growth of moss and pressed himself into the ground. Three, two, one.

    Wind rushed towards the ship and then the air filled with violent crackling, followed by shrill cries from within. Alix didn¡¯t look but within seconds he could feel the heat coming from the other side of his hiding spot. He hoped the others had managed to get to safety. If they hadn¡¯t started running before, they would be running now.

    As the fiery tempest within the ship quickly spread, the air itself burning, the flames found the gunpowder stash and exploded with a boom that shook the earth. The cries were suddenly cut off and the echo was quickly dampened by the dense fog.

    His notification bell went, telling him he had unlocked a new title and levelled up.

    Title Unlocked: Ferocious Hunter. Increased damage against Beasts.

    Reached Lv. 28.

    Finally, his level exceeded his age, although he had expected it to be a lot harder to break that barrier. What was so special about the terrons that they had provided him with so much experience? Once again he wondered why the name was so familiar, but his thoughts were interrupted by a deluge of blades that began to rain from the sky. They bounced harmlessly off his strengthened skin, but some found their mark in Faisal¡¯s body.

    ¡°It¡¯s not your lucky day, Faisal,¡± Alix said as he bent down to pick out the terron beaks. ¡°Actually, this is probably the luckiest day you have ever had, although I doubt you will see it that way.¡± Then he gathered up Faisal¡¯s body and headed off into the fog before the others returned to see what had happened to the ship.

    Alix didn¡¯t stop until he found a flat spot a short climb up the mountainside. He was worried the rest of the party would come back looking for him and he didn¡¯t want them seeing what he was about to do. He laid Faisal¡¯s body down on the ground and then checked him over to see if was impaled with anything else, but it looked like he had managed to find all the terron beaks.

    Once he was ready, he cast Revive on the prone form. Green light lit up the surrounding fog, which Alix cursed himself for forgetting would happen. He should have waited until he was in a more secluded area.

    When nothing happened, Alix thought the spell had been a failure. Faisal¡¯s wounds were too great and he would have to try something else. So far he had been unable to find the ingredients for a revival potion. He would have to ask Javin if he knew what they were and where to get them.

    Suddenly Faisal took a ragged breath and then a coughing fit overtook him. Then he jumped to his feet and swung his arms around his head, as if trying to bat away phantom terrons. Then he collapsed to the ground again, the loss of blood still affecting him. He looked around in confusion, seeing nothing but Alix and the thick fog.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Faisal said through weak breaths, as if the holes in his lungs hadn¡¯t quite fully healed yet.

    ¡°Ok, listen to me Faisal. This is going to be difficult but I need you to stay calm. You were attacked by terrons, remember? You died, but I managed to bring you back,¡± Alix explained as calmly as he could. He wanted to ask Faisal what had happened, what he could remember, but he thought it best to wait until another time to hear the whole story. He needed to get Faisal away from here. The others couldn¡¯t see him.

    ¡°I died? But I feel fine. Did you give me a potion or something?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly. I don¡¯t have any potion that could have cured the wounds you suffered.¡± Alix took out the terron beak from his pocket that he had retrieved from Faisal¡¯s body and handed it over. ¡°This was lodged in your heart. I had to use a revivification spell to save you.¡±

    ¡°This is a terron beak,¡± Faisal said as he examined it. ¡°They are worth a fortune¡­wait, revivification? That¡¯s impossible. It¡¯s rumoured only the highest ranked members of the Church, or the Sorcerer Supreme of the Magician¡¯s Guild, have access to such spells and it is obvious that you are neither of those. Aren¡¯t you the one that just joined the guild? If you are done playing jokes, I think I should go and find my party now.¡±

    Faisal tried to get to his feet, but the exertion was too much and he fell back down again.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid you can¡¯t go back to your party. They saw you die, saw the wounds you suffered. How would you explain your recovery? They knew I was there, and I¡¯m can¡¯t let you expose me. Even if you tried to lie, Weiss¡¯ Anointed Reliquaries would make you feel excruciating pain in their presence.¡±

    ¡°Why? Those trinkets only work on the undead. I feel like death, but I am very much alive.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that they work on the undead, but on anything touched by the magic of Necromancy, as one cannot exist without the other. Unfortunately, that¡¯s what I had to use to save you, which is what the reliquaries would reveal.¡±

    Faisal¡¯s face lost its last touch of colour. ¡°I think I¡¯m going to be sick.¡±

    ¡°Here, take this,¡± Alix said, pulling a tonic from his inventory.

    ¡°Keep your filthy sorcery away from me. Who knows what else you will try to drug me with,¡± Faisal said, pushing away the offered vial. ¡°I¡¯m going to report you to the guild for coming here to steal our bounty, as that¡¯s obviously what¡¯s going on here. You drugged me somehow and intend to rob me.¡±

    ¡°If I was trying to hurt you I would have just left you dead.¡±

    ¡°Better if you had. Where am I supposed to go now? I can¡¯t return to Galdea with this taint on me. I don¡¯t even have the strength to get up. Just leave me to die here.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this, Faisal. I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m going to have to cast another spell on you. You¡¯ve already been touched by Necromancy, so what harm will one more do?¡±

    ¡°Nooo!¡± Faisal tried to scream and roll away but Alix¡¯s magic was faster.

    ¡°Soulbind!¡±

    Faisal instantly calmed and stopped his struggling. As weak as he was, he wasn¡¯t able to fight it and he fell completely into a trance.

    ¡°I want you to know that I really don¡¯t like doing this, but you left me no choice. I can¡¯t risk you revealing my identity, but I couldn¡¯t just let you die like that either. It¡¯s not ideal, but just be thankful you are alive. Now, take these and start walking.¡± Alix pulled out enough dried foods to last Faisal until he reached the castle, and gave him enough tonics and potions to keep his strength up until he managed to get there to rest properly. He also gave him a cloak to cover his ruined armour and keep him warm. Then he gave him directions to the castle. He made Faisal take a few tonics to get his strength back and then set him on his way.

    Mr Bones, Alix called through the ring, I¡¯m sending someone to the castle. Could you get Brant to look out for him? He will be coming from the direction of Ekaiza Marshes.

    I¡¯m afraid Mr Brant hasn¡¯t returned yet from his search for the Ringless.

    Of course, I forgot about that. Well, I had to use Soulbind on the guy so he will show up there eventually. Make sure he¡¯s looked after well until I return. He¡¯s not going to be happy, but I couldn¡¯t leave him to die here.

    What are you doing in the Ekaiza Marshes, my lord? It is a cursed place.

    That damn ship from Mortlake washed up here and a bunch of kids went investigating it. One of them was killed by a bunch of terrons that had taken up nesting in it. He¡¯s the one I saved and sent to the castle. It¡¯s an unpleasant place but what makes it cursed?

    It is named for an ancient kingdom that once stood there. The harsh mountain ranges surrounding it kept it safe for many generations, until the tainted waters of Mortlake and the Dreadloch carved their way through the land and by some misfortune found each other there. The land withered from the poisons, driving the people mad until the kingdom collapsed. Now most that venture there never return. If terrons call such a place home then that explains it. They are fiercely territorial and very hard to kill. Be careful.

    I will. I mean to be gone from here soon. I¡¯m just going to take one more look around.

    Alix cut the connection and ventured back down to where the remains of the ship lay, glad to see that there was no sign of the party. There was little left of the ship, the ground littered with scorched fragments of wood, and metal bones and bladed beaks. Faisal¡¯s words came back to him at the remains having value, and as he bent down to pick up a piece, he noticed the text above it for the first time.

    Terron Ossia.

    Suddenly he remembered where he had heard the word before. Javin¡¯s impossible job. Alix absorbed the piece into his inventory and searched the area for as many other pieces as he could gather. He was relieved to see that the explosion seemed to have erased all sign of the Ghosts from the wreck, and what was left was barely identifiable as a ship. The next high tide would wash all of it away. Before it started to get dark, he made his way back to the path through the mountains that would lead him to safer lands.

    High among the crags, just as he was about to reach the ridge and begin his descent back down, he tripped over something hard on the ground. A dull echo rang out, and as he bent down to investigate he saw that it was a bronze bell. He was just able to make out a name engraved on the surface in the low sunlight.

    Dromo.

    The name didn¡¯t mean anything to him but it had to be the ships bell, blown up here in the explosion. He absorbed the heavy bell into his inventory, and picked up his pace, keeping a wary eye out for any more terrons, or anything else hiding in the mists.

 Chapter 33: Student of Bells and Bones

    The only thing on Alix¡¯s mind when he stepped foot back in the Adventurer¡¯s Guild several days later was how much he wanted a cold beer, until he spotted the remaining members of the Sixfold Sanctum sitting despondently in a corner of the back bar nursing full tankards. A large collection of empty glasses lay scattered across the table they were sitting around, mostly in front of Weiss, who was slumped over on the worn wooden surface.

    How the hell do they move so fast?

    Alix felt like he should say something to them but before he could make his way across the otherwise empty room to say he was sorry for their loss, Evory called out to him.

    ¡°Ah¡­Orwin! It is good to see you again. It has been a while. Did you have any luck with your job?¡± she asked in an odd mechanical cadence, as if overthinking the choosing of every word.

    ¡°I found what I expected. Did you hear what happened?¡± Alix asked under his breath so that the group couldn¡¯t hear him gossiping.

    ¡°They¡¯re refusing to speak,¡± Evory whispered back. ¡°What happened to the annoying one?¡±

    ¡°A terron stabbed him in the heart.¡±

    Evory gave a hint of a smile before she could stop herself. ¡°I would like to have seen-¡°

    ¡°Hey you! You¡¯re the one from the ship,¡± Celeste said, stumbling over to him. It looked like she had been matching Weiss drink for drink, and yet somehow she was still conscious. ¡°How did you survive the splosion?¡± she slurred.

    ¡°I jumped out one of the gunports just after Weiss,¡± Alix replied, telling the truth as much as he dared.

    ¡°We went back to look but couldn¡¯t see any sign of you or Faisal. What happened to him?¡±

    ¡°I guess I got turned around in the fog. I¡¯m sorry, I had to leave Faisal behind. There was nothing I could do for him, he was already gone. The fire must have¡­¡± Alix trailed off, leaving her to believe what she would. He didn¡¯t like lying to them, but he couldn¡¯t reveal the truth. It had taken too much effort to create ¡°Orwin¡± and he wasn¡¯t ready to give up his new life so soon.

    ¡°Those fucking terrons!¡± Celeste spat, anger sobering her slightly. ¡°I told Faisal not to go into that damned ship. I knew something felt off about the whole thing. After all that and we can¡¯t even claim the bounty on the job.¡±

    ¡°Terrons?!¡± Weiss suddenly shouted, raising his head from his drunken slumber, before quickly passing out again.

    ¡°Why can¡¯t you claim the bounty on the job?¡± Alix asked, confused.

    ¡°Ask this bitch,¡± Celeste glared at Evory.

    ¡°I¡¯ve told you already, without any proof of what happened, I cannot close the job. If you could explain what-¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the point of being part of this guild if we don¡¯t even get an ounce of sympathy! One of our party is dead and all you can say is prove it? There wasn¡¯t anything left! Not even a single terron bone to pay for the whole damn thing!¡±

    ¡°What sort of proof do they need?¡± Alix asked Evory, suddenly feeling an awful guilt weighing on him. He had selfishly hoarded every terron bone he could find. He had just assumed that they would have found any evidence they needed before he arrived there.

    ¡°The job required them to identify the ship somehow, which they have failed to do, other than to claim it was filled with the bodies of dead members of the Ghost organisation. I¡¯m sorry about your party member, but I did try to warn you. It was mentioned that something was spotted in the surrounding area, which had to have been the terrons. The guild did everything we could to prevent you from taking this job. I¡¯m sorry, but there is nothing I can do.¡±

    ¡°Hold on, I think I might be able to help. Give me a moment.¡± Alix stepped outside and darted around the side of the guildhall. Making sure no one was watching, he pulled the heavy ships bell from his storage and hauled it back inside.

    ¡°I found this on my way out of the marshes, will this be good enough? I assume the Survey Corps didn¡¯t find trace of any other ship out there that it could be confused for?¡± Alix said, dropping the heavy bell on the counter in front of Evory.

    ¡°Where did you¡­¡± Celeste breathed. ¡°We looked so hard¡­¡±

    ¡°They didn¡¯t find any other ship. Dromos¡­let me check that name quickly.¡± Evory turned to the wall of ledgers and files behind the counter. As she scanned the titles with an expert eye, she reminded Alix of Astrid in the library, scrutinising the books as if she could force them to reveal their secrets with only her gaze. After a few moments she pulled down a thick leatherbound volume and opened it on the counter. She flipped through the pages, reached the one she was looking for, ran her finger down the scrawled lines. ¡°Here it is. Dromos. Fourth rate. Sixty guns. It says here she was part of the Galdean Imperial Fleet but she was captured by pirates. The captain was accused of being in on it and executed when Neridian slaves were found in a dungeon on his estate.¡±

    ¡°So this is enough to claim the bounty?¡± Celeste said, eyes brightening.

    ¡°Well yes, but Orwin here is the one that found the bell.¡±

    Celeste looked like she was about to jump over the counter and strangle Evory, but suddenly Bjorn and Guillem were there to hold her back.

    ¡°Calm down, Cel,¡± Guillem said. ¡°You know the rules as well as I.¡±

    ¡°Look guys, I¡¯m not interested in claiming the bounty on this job. You can have the bell.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Celeste asked. ¡°Why would you do that for us?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need the money. You deserve it more.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not just the money. We will all rank up after this, which means we can chose new, and better, jobs. If you let us take the bell, you will remain as a Rank F.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine with where I am. Please, take it.¡± Alix pushed the bell over towards the party, and they pushed it back towards Evory.

    ¡°We would like to claim the bounty on this job,¡± Guillem said, pulling a tattered and bloodstained slip of paper from his pocket.

    Evory gave Alix a pointed look, but then she took the offered stained scrap of paper and stamped it with a bright red guild stamp.

    Completed.

    ¡°Congratulations. You have successfully completed this quest. With this experience the members of the Sixfold Sanctum are all promoted to Rank D. Here is your reward. One hundred and twenty gold coins.¡± Evory handed over a large bag of gold, retrieved from a hidden safe beneath the counter, while the party members handed over their identification cards to be upgraded. Bjorn quickly retrieved Weiss¡¯ card from his prone body.

    The atmosphere in the hall quickly changed, celebration replacing the doom and gloom, although they were all pretty far gone already. After one or two more drinks, Alix expected them all to join Weiss in sleep. Alix had hoped to hear from the party exactly what had happened before he arrived, but he felt like there was nothing left for them to say that he didn¡¯t already know. Instead, he slipped out of the guild, after putting a few coins down towards their bar tab, not wanting them to spend their newfound riches on something as fleeting as drink, and headed down the rings to Javin¡¯s shop.

    Javin looked like he was about to pass out when he looked up and saw Alix entering his shop again. ¡°I expected you to be gone for-¡° he began to say, but when Alix removed a handful of Terron Ossia from his inventory and dumped them on the counter, Javin quickly lost his words. ¡°Wha¡­ho¡­no¡­these can¡¯t be what I think they are.¡±

    ¡°Well you did put up a job for Terron Ossia. I didn¡¯t want to disappoint.¡±

    ¡°Do you know how valuable these are? The bones of terrons can be used to purify liquids, not to mention their incredible blade making properties.¡±

    ¡°Just as well I¡¯ve got plenty then,¡± Alix said, dumping his entire store of them on the shop floor, which quickly filled the space a foot deep. Javin¡¯s eyes widened until they looked like they were about to pop out of his head.Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°But how? Terrons are incredibly hard to kill. They always travel in large packs and hold a grudge against anyone that attacks them. They can scent a bloodline. If you piss off one, the pack will remember your scent for generations. They will risk their own lives to make a kill, spearing their prey with their metal beaks until one or the other stops moving. If that wasn¡¯t enough, if the bones aren¡¯t harvested quickly enough, the toxins they store in their bodies dissolve the bones and everything of value is lost. These all look pristine. What happened to you out there?¡±

    ¡°Those stupid kids from the adventurers guild managed to get out there before I could and found the ship I was looking for. It turned out to be infested with terrons and one of them was already dead by the time I arrived. I managed to deal with the terrons and they left behind all these bones.¡±

    ¡°Well, what do you want to do with them? You could live comfortably for the rest of your life with what these are worth, but unfortunately I don¡¯t have enough money to purchase them all. It would probably bring me more attention than I would like if I was found with this many anyway.¡±

    ¡°How about you let me hand in enough to the guild to complete the job in exchange for that encrusted ingot? I know the job was for a lot more than this, but you can agree to change the terms can¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°I guess I could do that. I never thought you would actually succeed in finding any of that stuff though. I really wasn¡¯t planning on letting that ingot go but for a handful of terron ossia¡­¡±

    ¡°You said they are good for making weapons as well? Do you think you could point me in the direction of someone that might be able to make me something? Someone with discretion.¡±

    ¡°That will still leave you with hundreds of ossia., but if you want to remain anonymous, I suggest you don¡¯t reveal to anyone just how many you have in case someone puts a price on your head for them. I can¡¯t overstate just how valuable they are.¡±

    ¡°I will keep them in my storage, I am the only one that can get to them there.¡±

    ¡°Well, don¡¯t blow through the encrusted ingot all at once. I¡¯ve had that for a long time. At least spend it on something good. Give me a day to update the requirements of the job with the guild and it will be yours. What will you do now?¡±

    ¡°I think I¡¯ll look for a job that takes me a bit further afield. After I¡¯ve had a talk with your weaponsmith, of course. Can you give me the address? I might as well go see him now. The sooner I do, the sooner I can sit down and relax with a drink.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not quite as easy as that. The kind of work you need isn¡¯t the sort of thing that can be done on this ring. You will need to go to the Artisans Ring.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve managed to find some pretty good stuff here before. Here, take a look at this.¡± Alix drew Primal Ruin from his inventory and equipped the black scaled armour.

    ¡°Dragonhide? You didn¡¯t happen to buy this from Argyle did you?¡±

    ¡°I did, why?¡± Something in the way Javin said the name made Alix¡¯s stomach sink. Had he been scammed? ¡°Is there something wrong with it?¡± Alix said, looking down at himself for any hidden flaw the ring hadn¡¯t noticed.

    ¡°No, there¡¯s nothing wrong with it. It¡¯s flashy, but it pales in comparison to what the true artisans can create. Getting a hold of dragon materials for crafting is usually more effort than it¡¯s worth. The metallic bones of terrons are the exception in that regard, but you will need a true master to work them, and for that you will need to go to the Artisans Ring. Look for Sylvin Gyle. You will need an invitation letter first,¡± Javin said, producing a sheet of parchment and a pen from one of his many pockets. He quickly wrote down a few lines before stamping it with his merchants seal, folded it, and then wrote a few more lines on the front. ¡°Here¡¯s the address,¡± Javin said, handing over the letter. On the front it read Sylvin Gyle, 28 8<sup>th</sup> Radial, 2<sup>nd</sup> Ring.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Alix said, storing Primal Ruin back in his inventory, then starting on the mess of ossia. A despondent look came over Javin as he watched the terron ossia disappear into Alix¡¯s inventory one by one. ¡°How much is one of these worth anyway?¡± Alix asked, hefting the final bone in his hand. It was heavier than he had expected, but also unusually balanced, as if it was straight instead of curved and of varying thickness. He had no idea how it could be used to purify things, but the lustrous metallic surface looked ripe for forging. He was excited to see what it could be turned into.

    ¡°I think the last one I saw sold for eight hundred and seventy eight pieces of gold, but that was for a fairly small specimen. There has been a drought in the market recently so I think if you are careful you could get around a thousand gold pieces each for them. Or turn them all into weapons and outfit your own private army.¡±

    Well at least I won¡¯t have to worry about money for a while. It was comforting knowing that he had that security.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll go that far. I can¡¯t draw too much attention to myself. I¡¯m worried enough about having to travel through the Military District again. I feel like everyone can see all the stuff I¡¯m carrying.¡±

    ¡°Oh you don¡¯t have to travel through the 3<sup>rd</sup> Ring, there is a passageway that tunnels direct from the 4<sup>th</sup> Ring to the 2<sup>nd</sup>. The Imperials only travel through the Military District because they always have a military escort. The Aristocrats barely leave their own Ring, and the Artisans need quicker access to the city than walking through the Military District affords. The gate is about two radials beyond the Adventurers Guild. Since I¡¯ve got to make a stop there anyway, I¡¯ll walk you there.¡±

    Alix wasn¡¯t sure he would have noticed the shortcut from the 4<sup>th</sup> to 2<sup>nd</sup> Ring if Javin hadn¡¯t pointed it out to him. It was a passage recessed into the back wall of the ring, guards barely visible along the inside walls. Alix had expected something a lot more reinforced. Javin pointed him inside and unceremoniously turned back towards the Adventurers Guild.

    Alix made his way inside, expecting a sword to be drawn on him at any moment, but his passage wasn¡¯t barred until he reached a cage at the base of another vertical tunnel that he recognised as an elevator. In front of the cage, a pair of guards finally stopped him.

    ¡°Papers?¡± one of them asked lazily.

    Alix handed over Javin¡¯s letter and the guard took it over to a lantern hanging from the wall to read in the light. After a few moments the guard stuck the letter into the lantern and the flame greedily ate up the dry paper.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Alix cried out. Had there been a problem with the letter? Had Javin sold him out? A thousand thoughts sped through his mind.

    ¡°This letter was good for one trip only. You can use your letter of enrolment next time,¡± the guard said, leading him into the cage.

    ¡°My what?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a student, aren¡¯t you? That¡¯s why you are going to see Professor Sylvin.¡±

    ¡°Oh. Yes, of course.¡± Professor? Javin hadn¡¯t mentioned anything about that.

    The cage doors closed and it juddered into life. Smooth stone paved walls surrounded him as the elevator rose upwards. Alix felt like he was being dragged into the mouth of a beast that dwelled in the heart of the mountain, but suddenly the darkness fled as the elevator was raised above the ground and came to a stop in the light of the 2<sup>nd</sup> Ring.

    ¡°Better not be late for class,¡± the guard said, opening the elevator door, and then a second pair of protective gates, ushering Alix through onto the paved street. ¡°Professor Sylvin hates tardiness,¡± the guard called as the elevator quickly descended back into the darkness.

    Turning away from the dark tunnel, Alix was hit with the incredible view. The last time he had been this high up had been his first day in Babyl and he had been too overwhelmed to appreciate the view. Then he caught sight of the infantry performing their exercises on the ring below and he was dragged back to reality. It was dangerous for him to be here. He had to get in and out as quick as he could. He studied his map, located his current location and saw that he was only a short walk from the 8<sup>th</sup> Radial.

    The architecture was markedly different from the rings below, making them seem ramshackle in comparison. There was an air of clean perfection around everything. At first Alix thought he was in the wrong place when he reached the 8<sup>th</sup> Radial. He had expected a home or a small workshop but when he reached 28, he found himself in front of place that looked closer to a palatial manor house. Alix climbed the wide stone steps to a set of double doors and awkwardly knocked.

    The sound echoed deep into the bowls of the mansion and was quickly answered by the door swinging open. A well-dressed man looked Alix up and down with disdain.

    ¡°Are you lost, sir?¡± the man replied. Alix couldn¡¯t tell if he was a servant, steward, housekeeper or otherwise, but he was sure the man wasn¡¯t who he was looking for.

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for Sylvin Gyle. I had an invitation letter from Javin.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Well, despite your uncouth appearance, you wouldn¡¯t have been able to get this far if it were not. Quickly now, down the hall and to the right. I suggest next time you come properly dressed, if you are even afforded the opportunity. Class has already begun.¡±

    An anxiety the likes of which he hadn¡¯t felt since his high school days hit him as he walked down the corridor, his shoes falling heavily on the stone floor, announcing his arrival to the authoritative voice he could hear coming from the room at the end. He suddenly wished he had just tried to make something with the Terron Ossia himself, sure the powers of the ring could handle it, but he didn¡¯t know what he was supposed to make with it in the first place. Alix reminded himself that he was an adult, with power far beyond those around him, and opened the door to the classroom.

    The room fell silent at his entrance. Almost like a mirror of Galdea, the room descended in half rings around a podium below, where a man glared up at him. On all the rings, students sat at desks with open notebooks. Every pair of eyes turned towards him.

    Alix cleared his throat and walked down the steps to the floor.

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for Sylvin Gyle,¡± he said once he reached the speaker.

    ¡°You have found him. Take a seat and don¡¯t interrupt me again.¡±

    ¡°Oh I¡¯m not a student.¡± Alix was taken aback at the man¡¯s attitude. Was this really the master that Javin had meant for him to see?

    ¡°I did think you looked a bit too penurious to be here. Get out then, this class is for those that can afford it.¡±

    Alix¡¯s anger built with every word. He had to restrain himself from drawing Xilian and charging the man. Damnit Javin, who is this asshole? Wait , what does penurious mean, he asked the ring.

    It means he thinks you look like a peasant, that you are too poor.

    "How much does your class cost?¡± Alix said through clenched teeth.

    The question brought snickers from the students.

    ¡°If you have to ask then you cant afford it,¡± Sylvin replied.

    In a moment of stupidity, Alix stuck his hand in his coat, quickly withdrew a Terron Ossia from his inventory, and placed it down on the table between him and Sylvin.

    ¡°Is this enough?¡±

    Sylvin¡¯s expression barely changed as he studied the Terron Ossia, but a hum of whispers grew around the room behind him. It sounded like none of them knew what they were looking at, but from the look in Sylvin¡¯s eyes, Alix could tell he knew exactly what it was.

    ¡°Take a seat, Mr?¡± Sylvin said after a few moments, brushing the bone off the table into a drawer

    ¡°Orwin ¡®Penurious¡¯ Marshall.¡±

    ¡°Professor Gyle.¡±

    Alix turned and found an empty seat far at the back of the room. Everyone else seemed to be trying to sit as close to Sylvin as possible.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s this class about?¡± Alix whispered to the student closest to him. The student rolled his eyes and went back to his notes.

 Chapter 34: The Philosophy of Alchemical Metallurgy

    ¡°Now, before I was so rudely interrupted, I posed you all a question. It should have been simple enough for any of you to answer, but with the several extra seconds Mr Marshall bought for you all, if you haven¡¯t thought of an answer yet you might as well leave my class before we go any further.¡±

    No one made to move but a few shuffled in their seats uncomfortably. Alix quickly scanned the room, reading the text that lit up above the head of each student showing their names and levels. They all had particularly pretentious sounding names, such as Smythe Allencourt Lv. 24, Percival Quintly Lv. 26 and Genevieve Charmain Lv. 27. Their levels seemed to match their age, or be a little bit higher, which Alix guessed was to be expected from the richer kids in town. Access to better, or more niche, education was bound to raise their level faster and higher than a standard education was.

    After a few awkward moments, one of the students raised her hand. Compared to the others, her name was surprisingly normal.

    ¡°Beth? Are the rest of you going to let yourselves be outdone by an Eighth Ring?¡± Gyle said, raking the other students with his disappointment.

    When none of the others raised their hands, Gyle sighed and motioned for Beth to speak, but then cut her off as soon as she opened her mouth.

    ¡°First, why don¡¯t you repeat the question back. Both for the benefit of our new arrival, and to convince me that you were actually paying attention.¡±

    Beth looked like she was holding back tears as she clenched her fist and took a breath before replying.

    ¡°You asked us¡­what was the primary material that was used to create the sword of Our Lady Selene.¡±

    ¡°Good. And? What are your words of wisdom?¡± Gyle replied, arms crossed.

    ¡°The sword of the Solknight Selene is known to be of an exceptional lustre, almost liquid in appearance, but all attempts to recreate it have failed. The only thing that is known for sure is that the primary material she began working with was Quicksilver, although how she managed to work it into a solid form isn¡¯t known.¡± Beth said everything in a rush and then looked down at her desk, as if expecting a reprimand.

    ¡°Are you sure it was Quicksilver?¡±

    Beth visibly froze in her seat. ¡°That¡¯s what you taught us,¡± she replied in a small voice.

    ¡°True, that is the standard hypothesis, but there are many metals that can be liquid at room temperature, and therefore resemble Quicksilver.¡±

    Beth cleared her throat, suddenly realising where she had gone wrong. Her answer had been correct, but not correct enough for the demands of Sylvan Gyle¡¯s class. Alix found he was sweating himself, his heart beating faster with anxiety, even though he wasn¡¯t even the one being questioned.

    ¡°In this instance, Quicksilver is a reference to liquid mercury,¡± Beth replied in a wavering voice, Gyle¡¯s scrutiny almost more than she was able to handle. ¡°There are many other metals that have a liquid form at, or slightly above, room temperature, such as gallium and aquilium, but mercury is the only one mentioned in the Opulentiam Lunae, most specifically in the chapter on The Seventh Treatise, where she said ¡®whosoever understands the method for killing the liquid silver, will become a master of this art¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± Gyle said begrudgingly before turning back to face the rest of the class. ¡°This point begs another question. Why did Selene, if she knew this method, keep it to herself when the rest of her magnum opus was written in such depth that it created the entire movement for which you all hope to be a part of? Everything we now know of metallurgy in Babyl is based on her writings. Or maybe she didn¡¯t know the method herself and the Selinite sword is created of a different material? I want you all to prove to me that you have enough capacity of thought to come up with a theory on the method for killing liquid silver, or another plausible method for creating Selenite. I will give you all two weeks to craft a reply, after which we will have our first cull. To get you all started, tomorrow we will meet at a different venue. I want you all to meet me at midday at the Church of Babyl Guildhall. It pains me that the sword is interred there, but they allow all to view it.¡±

    The Church of Babyl Guildhall? He couldn¡¯t possibly mean¡­the Grand Cathedral?

    A dread filled Alix as he thought of the danger he had put himself in, all for a stupid new weapon. He already had an excellent sword and a sweet suit of armour, no matter what Javin said. Why had he been so obsessed with crafting the Terron Ossia into something? He could just now show up tomorrow, but Gyle¡¯s attitude was so abrasive that Alix found he wanted to prove himself to the asshole.

    Suddenly Gyle turned to address Alix. ¡°I can see from your dumfounded expression and the absence of any literature in front of you that you are unaware of the founding text of alchemical metallurgy, Opulentiam Lunae, a basic knowledge of which is a requirement for this course.¡±

    ¡°I take it, despite the extortionate cost of this course, that a copy of this book isn¡¯t provided?¡±

    ¡°It is not,¡± Gyle smirked. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can find yourself one for sale somewhere, but I wouldn¡¯t go wasting any more of your money quite yet. Whoever scores the lowest on the test will be cut from this class, and I think we can assume that you will guarantee everyone else here a free pass.¡±

    Alix seethed but kept his mouth shut. With his Bibliophile skills he would be able to absorb the book in no time, if he could find where to buy one. He hadn¡¯t really thought to keep an eye open for any book shops, due to his already extensive library. It was likely the keep library held a copy of the book, if it was written by a previous Solknight, but he didn¡¯t have the time to go back and check.

    The rest of the lesson was hell. Gyle treated his students like trash but none of them seemed to mind. Despite his rambling, Alix didn¡¯t unlock any new Skills or Titles, he was just glad when the lesson finally ended, although he wasn¡¯t sure what he had actually learned. When no one was paying him any attention, he quickly crafted a notebook and writing implements to take some notes, although he didn¡¯t really understand any of the notes he had taken.

    As the students filed out of the room, shuffling not unlike the skeletons he had raised from the crypt, Alix made his way back down to Sylvan Gyle¡¯s podium.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to know where you got the Terron Ossia, but it is enough to gain you entry on this course. I am surprised you even knew it had enough value, since you seem to know little else.¡±

    ¡°You would be surprised at what I know. I was sent here by Javin. He told me that you might be able to help make me something out of the ossia, but I¡¯m starting to think he¡¯s playing some trick on me.¡±

    ¡°Javin? That snivelling merchant? I do owe the wretch a favour, but I seem to remember you already relinquishing possession of the ossia. Still, I will humour you, for the next two weeks at least.¡±

    ¡°I have plenty more. So can you help me or not?¡±

    ¡°Really? I will make you a deal then, Mr Marshall. I will consider your request, if you pass the task I have set for the class. Until then, I will speak on this no further, and you are to act as nothing other than a conscientious student. Now, you better get going. You are going to need every second of the next two weeks.¡±

    Alix turned to storm out of the classroom, thinking of the words he would have ready for Javin the next time they met, but then remembered the words of the guard that had operated the lift.

    ¡°The guard on the way up mentioned I would need an enrolment letter to get up here next time. Where can I get some?¡±

    Gyle rolled his eyes and sighed, then walked over to his desk and pulled a sheaf of paper out of a drawer. He quickly scribbled down a few lines, messily signed it and then gave it a swift jab of a red stamp. He silently handed it over and left out a side door.

    Thirstier than ever, Alix made haste back down to the 4<sup>th</sup> Ring and headed for the Adventurer¡¯s Guild.

    The Sixfold Sanctum were gone by the time he arrived but Evory was still standing behind the counter, handling the paperwork of a queue of Adventurer¡¯s returned from a days questing. Alix grabbed a large pint from the bar and took a seat. The first sip of the frothy dark ale helped to wash away the labours of the day. He sat drinking to the sound of Evory stamping various documents, until the line thinned and his drink was finished.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to post a job,¡± Alix said to Evory once her work had quietened down.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    Evory gave him a strained, worried smile. ¡°Of course,¡± she said, handing him a standard job form and a pen. ¡°I hope it¡¯s nothing too¡­incriminating,¡± she said under her breath.

    ¡°Nothing of the sort, I¡¯m just looking for a book but I can¡¯t be bothered traipsing about the city looking for a copy myself. Have you ever heard of the Opulentiam Lunae?¡±

    Evory gave him a curious look, as if to say ¡®what have you got yourself into this time?¡¯.

    ¡°The Opulence of the Moon? Sounds like a children¡¯s book, or a religious text. What do you need it for?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s for¡­school.¡± As he said it, Alix felt a familiar pit open in his stomach, the anxiety of school days returned. He couldn¡¯t believe that in this world of incredible magic and opportunities, he had ended up in the place he hated the most. This time at least he could cheat without consequence.

    Evory supressed a laugh, then took the completed job form and stamped it with the official guild seal after checking its contents.

    Job: Open

    Reward: 10 Gold Coins + cost of the book

    Looking for the book known as Opulentiam Lunae.

    Time Limit: Job valid today only.

    ~ Orwin Marshall ¨C Adventurer¡¯s Guild ¨C Rank F, Unaffiliated

    ¡°Ten gold pieces as a reward? That seems awfully generous for a book. Someone of your rank wouldn¡¯t really have that sort of money to throw around for something so trivial,¡± Evory whispered.

    Alix handed over the required deposit and took back the job form to post on the job board. ¡°I need it quickly and like I said, I¡¯m in no mood to look for it myself. I¡¯d rather sit here and drink until someone can bring it to me. Ten gold coins might be a lot, but I have a point to prove.¡± The last he said a bit louder.

    At the sound of ¡®ten gold coins¡¯ several heads in the room turned to look as he walked over to the job board and pinned up the paper. Before he had even reached the bar to order another drink, a scuffle broke out between a trio of men trying to claim the job first. One was too drunk and fell flat on the floor after taking one step towards the board. The other tried to rely on his speed, but the third huge man simply grabbed him with one arm while he plucked the job from the board with his other.

    ¡°That¡¯s not fair,¡± the small man said once the bigger one had deposited him back down. ¡°I need the money more than you do.¡±

    ¡°Shut up Rinx, I know fine well you have no idea where to find the book. I bet you¡¯ve never even held a book before in your life. You would just end up trying to pay someone else to find it for you. You need the money because you keep messing up your other jobs, and keep getting fined for stealing.¡±

    Rinx scowled but went back to his table and half finished drink. Alix was glad the weaselly looking little man hadn¡¯t claimed the job first, although the other man didn¡¯t look like the type he had expected to claim the job either. He looked like he wrestled bears for fun. He walked up to where Alix was sitting with another beer, his thick leather armour squeaking as he moved. He handed Evory the paper and she stamped it again with the In Progress mark.

    ¡°This your job?¡± the man asked, even though he had just watched Alix pin the paper on the board.

    ¡°It is. You know where to find this book?¡± Alix asked. Text appeared above the man¡¯s head reading Wulf, Gladiator, Lv. 44.

    ¡°I do. Had notions of being an Alchemist myself when I was a boy, but it wasn¡¯t for me. Too much sitting around.¡± With every word and movement, Wulf seemed to flex one muscle or another, his body a constant rippling mass.

    ¡°Excellent. Well, I¡¯ll be waiting here.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s just one thing. This isn¡¯t a cheap book, so I thought I¡¯d make sure you have enough to cover the cost before I go and get it.¡±

    ¡°Really? How much is it?¡± Alix asked, genuinely surprised. It hadn¡¯t sounded like it was anything special.

    ¡°It costs one hundred gold coins.¡±

    Alix choked on his pint. He put the cup down on his table before he spilled any more and wiped down his shirt as the coughing fit passed. Had he heard Wulf right?

    ¡°One hundred gold? That can¡¯t be right. Why is it so expensive?¡± Was Wulf trying to con him? Pocket the difference in the real price?

    ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a story, but the short version is that the Archivists Guild holds the copyright for the book, not the Alchemist Guild. They know that the Alchemists need it for their studies, so they jacked the price up. It doesn¡¯t help that they only make it as an illuminated grimoire. It¡¯s nice to look upon at least,¡± Wulf explained.

    Alix sighed, but then remembered he didn¡¯t really need to worry about money. He just didn¡¯t like showing off that fact. He would have to up his rank soon to avoid suspicion.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting to spend that much money, but I have it. I will pay whatever the book costs, providing you bring me a receipt. Here, how about this.¡± Alix stood and walked over to Evory. ¡°I think I have a reward to claim from Javin¡¯s job.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Evory said, staring at Wulf warily. Master, I don¡¯t think its wise to show off the ingot.

    It¡¯s alright, I just need him to see it, then you can put it back in the safe.

    Evory headed to the vault in one of the secure back rooms and returned a few moments later with a box. She placed it carefully on the counter.

    Alix drew the box close so that the contents would be hidden by their bodies and opened the lid for Wulf to see. He gasped slightly at what he saw.

    ¡°You know what this is?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°I do.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have one hundred gold coins on me right now, but I promise I will have it ready by the time you return, and I will have the money kept securely in the Guild vault. If I don¡¯t have it, then this will be your reward, which will also be kept in the vault until then.¡± Alix closed the lid and passed the box back over to Evory. Wulf turned and ran out the door, likely hoping he could return faster than Alix could make it to a bank.

    Before Evory left, Alix pulled one hundred gold coins from his inventory and lifted the heavy bag out of his pocket, after making sure no one was watching. It would have looked strange to draw out so much in front of Wulf. He passed the bag over to Evory and she heaved the bag through to the vault room. Alix returned to his table and ordered another pint as he waited for Wulf to return.

    Night had fallen by the time Wulf reappeared, carrying a large box in his arms. After a couple of pints, Alix perused the job board, thought about accepting a few, but decided to check again tomorrow when he was sober. Silently he cursed thinking that remaining Rank F to avoid attention was a good idea. It meant that he had to pretend like he had no money, that he had to pay larger deposits to take on the better jobs. Then he reminded himself that he was still fairly new to everything and it was a good idea to take things slowly. He was just lucky that Evory was working at the Guild, or else he would have been having a much harder time.

    Wulf walked over to where Alix was sitting with his fourth or fifth pint and deposited the box on the table, along with a piece of parchment. The parchment was bordered with elaborate designs and filled with artful calligraphy. In more words than necessary, it thanked the bearer for their purchase of a copy of, and confirmed the receipt of one hundred gold coins for:

    <ul>

    <li>One Illuminated Manuscript of Opulentiam Lunae: Alchemical Treatises of Solknight Selene, in Gold Inlaid Ebony Box</li>

    </ul>

    The receipt was signed by a Thaxter Hart, 2<sup>nd</sup> Rank Magna Librarian of the Archivists Guild.

    ¡°I apologise for the delay,¡± Wulf began, although Alix hadn¡¯t expected him to return so quickly anyway. The hope of the ingot must have spurred him to near flight. ¡°The Archivists Guild is on the opposite side of the ring, and then head librarian refused to serve me. Said the box was too heavy to be lifting this late in the day. Luckily I recognised a second rank that I used to go to class with before I left that path. I owe him a favour now though but I got the book.¡±

    ¡°Excellent. Here is your reward, and a little extra for the trouble,¡± Alix said, pulling a bag with ten gold coins and a few silver coins thrown in from his pocket. ¡°¡°You can collect the rest of the money from Evory. It is waiting for you in the vault. Why don¡¯t you take this as well, you must be tired after going across the ring and back with this box¡± he said, feeling in a generous mood after the refreshing pints, pulling a strong tonic from an inner pocket.

    The vial looked miniscule in Wulf¡¯s huge hands but he took the rewards gratefully. Alix noticed a slight tinge of disappointment that he hadn¡¯t managed to get the ingot, but after downing the tonic his mood brightened. It looked like his muscles grew even larger and a shine of wonder filled his eyes. He barked out a laugh and struck a pose, flexing his muscles.

    ¡°Incredible. I was about to join you for a drink, but I think I¡¯m going to pay the Warrior¡¯s Guild a visit. They are having a Fight Night tonight,¡± Wulf said, almost purring. Laughing to himself again, he bounded out of the guild, ignoring Evory as she tried to wave him down to complete the job so he could claim the rest of his reward.

    Master! You shouldn¡¯t be drugging strangers like that! Evory admonished him.

    It was just a tonic, I didn¡¯t realise it would affect him so strongly.

    You couldn¡¯t tell he has some Giant blood in him? Despite their size, Galdean potions have a tenfold greater effect on them than other races.

    Well, I guess I wouldn¡¯t want to be part of the Warrior¡¯s Guild tonight then.

    Suddenly his notification bell went for the first time in a while, and for a second he looked around for the source of the sound before he realised what it was.

    Title Unlocked: Malefactor

    What the hell did I do wrong? Alix thought to himself. Instead of worrying about it, he ordered another pint and turned to the ebony box that filled most of the table. It was latched shut with a heavy brass clasp. He unlocked it and uncovered the book inside. He had expected the cover to be as elaborate as the rest of the package, but it was simply bound in black leather with a silver embossed title. Silver capped the corners, and also gilded the pages. He opened the cover to the first page. It took him a few moments to adjust to reading the stylised font amongst all the decorative flourishes, but his skills quickly kicked in and he began spreading through the pages.

    Every page of the illuminated manuscript was decorated with borders and illustrations. Every couple of pages was filled with whole page illustrations showing the supposed feats of Selene. The book would have been half the size if they had all been removed, but then the Archivists wouldn¡¯t have been able to charge so much. Most of the cost was in the box, materials, and paintings, but even without them, he felt like the book didn¡¯t contain much of value anyway. All that he knew of Alchemy back home was that it had been a pseudo-science in the pursuit of impossible to achieve goals, most commonly the transmutation of base metals into noble metals. The book sounded like it was talking about similar sorts of theories. He would have been completely lost without his new skills but by the time he was finished, unlocking the Title Illuminated Alchemist, he felt like he understood what Selene was trying to talk about, even if much of it was left unexplained. Still, he felt like he would be prepared for the next days class at least, and then he could look into other texts that might make more sense.

    Alix placed the heavy book back in its elaborate box, thinking he would probably never have to open it again, and ordered one more drink, trying to ignore how stupid of an idea it was for him to step foot within the Grand Cathedral. It was likely to be crawling with Imperial Guards, maybe even an Imperator. He quickly finished his pint and retreated to his room.

 Chapter 35: The Secrets of Selene

    Alix awoke with a hangover and suffered with it for an hour before he remembered he didn¡¯t have to. By then he was half way through getting some tailored robes made, paying extra for a rush job so that they were ready before his midday class at the Grand Cathedral. He downed a quick tonic and the throbbing in his skull abated.

    At the sight of the tonic, he remembered what Evory had told him that morning. Wulf had earned over two thousand gold wrestling the night before and had been banned from any future Fight Nights. He had appeared at the Adventurer¡¯s Guild the next morning in a daze to collect the rest of his money, mumbling something about finally being able to afford the downpayment on a house on the 5<sup>th</sup> Ring.

    Shortly before midday, the robes were finally finished, a stylish black ensemble that matched the finest outfits the students had been wearing the day before. Alix made his way nervously towards the Grand Cathedral. It was only a short walk as the cathedral was located in the Guild District, the place doubling as the guildhall of the Church of Babyl. A small crowd of black at the entrance stood out, the rest of the students waiting on Professor Gyle¡¯s arrival. Of course all of them were early, just in case it was another test. They all stood in anxious silence, awaiting the arrival of the asshole.

    Sylvan Gyle appeared at exactly midday. He brushed passed them and headed inside without a word. The robed students quickly followed. Alix made sure to keep up, putting all his hopes at remaining undetected into blending in with the others, despite the fact that they were the only ones wearing black in the whole place, looking like a funeral procession amongst the colourful crowds. Heavily armoured Imperial Guards stood in the shadowy corners with their stout  halberds. With their thick plate armour, they all matched Wulf in size. Alix couldn¡¯t understand how they remained standing under such weight.

    The stained glass windows provided a welcome distraction. The intersecting circles and lines caught his attention, and he soon realised he was looking at crude spell forms. His first thought was to take out some paper and a pencil and sketch some quick copies, but his ring instantly began to analyse the patterns. Those that had real functions were copied to his system, but many of them appeared to be nonsense, likely designed by craftsmen that didn¡¯t understand the significance of the originals.

    ¡°Are you finished gawking?¡± a voice that needled at his nerves said. Professor Gyle suddenly stood behind him. ¡°I didn¡¯t recognise you at first Mr Marshall. You can try and dress up all you want but it wont turn you into something you aren¡¯t. This way, the sword is in a back chamber and we need to be out before the afternoon devotion begins or we will be stuck here for hours.¡±

    Gyle led the group across the central chamber, their footsteps echoing around the vaulted arched ceiling, to a door that led to a stone stairwell leading below the cathedral. As they crossed the fairly empty room, worshippers only arriving for the twice daily devotions, Alix couldn¡¯t helped but be awed at the giant altar of Babyl that took up the entire far end of the main hall.  It was a monstrous thing that rose from floor to ceiling, beginning with a trunk of stone, then branches carved in wood, curling around stained glass windows representing foliage.

    The chamber of the sword was sombrely lit by a single shaft in the stone roof. The sword of Selene was illuminated by a beam of light that shone down the shaft. The chamber looked and felt ancient in its simplicity. It felt like there should have been dust piled beneath their feet but everything was spotless. Not even dust motes could be seen through the beam of light.

    The sword was resting on rich red velvet pillows, encased in a glass or crystal case. A reverent hush filled the room, finally broken by Gyle¡¯s low voice.

    ¡°Get to it then,¡± he said simply, eyes fixed on the sword,

    The students spread out and soon the hush was cut by the sounds of pens scratching in notebooks, the students noticing countless things that Alix couldn¡¯t see. Gyle gave Alix a questioning look when he saw that he wasn¡¯t taking any notes himself.

    Alix stepped around the chamber to find a clearer view of the sword and to get out of Gyle¡¯s line of sight. Then he used the ring to analyse the sword. First came the name, identifying the sword truly as the blade of the Solknight Selene. Then the analyses went deeper, and the list of components appeared. He had to restrain himself from laughing out loud at what he learned.

    The Quicksilver was listed first, then came Frostite, a welcome addition as he had plenty of it in his inventory. Then came Osmiridium, which he had never heard of before. Lastly was Gold. Selene must have been too embarrassed to write down the formula, embarrassed to admit to using what was supposed to be the ultimate end goal of alchemy to create her own magnum opus.

    Alix had no idea how it was all supposed to go together, but he guessed that the Frostite might in some way increase the melting point of the Quicksilver, and then all the materials were somehow alloyed together. He hoped somewhere in there the toxicity of the Quicksilver was addressed.

    The other students continued to take notes and draw diagrams for reference, but Alix felt like he already had everything he needed. When he turned to leave, Gyle hissed out at him.

    ¡°Where do you think you are going, Mr Marshall?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to start the assignment. I¡¯ve seen everything I need to see,¡± Alix replied, hurrying out of the cathedral. At every moment he felt like a group of Imperators were about to descend down on him.

    Once back out on the streets, he breathed a sigh of relief that he had survived the ordeal unscathed. Alix made his way back to the Adventurer¡¯s Guild, needing time to plan his next course of action. He knew a few things for sure. He needed a supply of Quicksilver, and he needed the use of a forge. As well as all that, he had to learn how to craft a spellblade, which is what he thought the sword of Selene was. Evory had mentioned them before, but he had yet to learn how to make one.

    The other option open to him was returning to the keep and making use of the Dark Elves knowledge and the forge there, but he would lose several days walking there as he couldn¡¯t hire a ride and he didn¡¯t know how to ride a horse yet. Even then, he was sure Tifayn would be too much of a distraction, and he didn¡¯t think he was prepared to see just how much their daughter had grown since he had left. He had heard she was the equivalent of a three year old child now. She was beginning to talk but she had yet to tell anyone her name. It would have been a welcome break, but he felt like there was nothing he could accomplish there that he couldn¡¯t accomplish in Galdea.

    Evory was off duty when he arrived at the Adventurer¡¯s Guild, a simple looking man known as Dilbert manning the desk instead. Alix gave him an awkward smile and nod of the head as greeting and then went to get a pint.

    Is there anything you can help me with here? Alix asked the ring as he sipped on the pint, a newly installed keg of refreshing but flavoursome black lager.

    You are already on the right track. I cannot tell you exactly how the Solknight Selene crafted her weapon, only that it is a Spellblade. You could inquire at the Magician¡¯s Guild. They are right next door.

    Alix groaned internally. Asking for a copy of the Opulentiam Lunae was one thing, but enquiring about how to craft a spellblade, as a Rank F Adventurer, was inviting too many questions. From what little he knew of spellblades, he knew that they weren¡¯t the kind of thing that just anyone walked around with. He had also yet to see a shop selling them in Galdea. He had hoped to ask Evory, the only one he could say he trusted in the city, but he didn¡¯t have the time to wait around for her to return. Wherever she was, he just hoped she was being careful to not reveal her true identity, a constant worry he carried.

    There was one more thing he had to be careful about. Tifayn¡¯s words came back to him. You are more likely to lose your hands to frostbite before you can even begin working with it. Not only did he need to find a way to handle the Quicksilver carefully, he also had to figure out how Frostite could be safely worked. Although he assumed he would be fine, if he needed any help during the process, he couldn¡¯t reveal that.

    Alix contemplated contacting Mr Bones for advice, but he realised then that he was just procrastinating. There was only one thing he could do. He needed to ask the Magician¡¯s Guild for help. He finished his drink and made his way next door.

    The Magicians Guild was an impressive building, a miniature castle in the heart of the city. It was a crowded mass of rising spired towers and branching antechambers built around a central keep, all lavishly decorated with rich purple tile and whitewashed walls.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    A pair of tall, thin doors, bound in swirling bronze, stood open to visitors and resident magicians. Alix had expected large vaulted ceilings and grand stairways but space was at a premium in Galdea so every spare inch of space inside the guildhall was utilised.

    Inside the front doors there was a reception area, at which sat a bespectacled man in robes, reading from a large tome at a desk. He looked up lazily at Alix¡¯s entrance.

    ¡°The next entrance exam isn¡¯t until next week,¡± he said in a drawl before returning to his book.

    ¡°I¡¯m not here to join the guild, I¡¯m an adventurer from next door,¡± Alix replied. He stepped closer to the desk as a pair of robed magicians entered the guildhall behind him and rushed up a spiral staircase that rose straight upwards in the cramped entrance hall. Then a door that led deeper into the central keep opened and a man Alix recognised from the Adventurer¡¯s Guild stormed out. The man recognised Alix as he made his way towards the exit.

    ¡°Better not waste your time here lad,¡± the man said as he passed without slowing down. ¡°Tried to charge me a year¡¯s wages for a simple weapon enhancement spell. They should rename this place the Thief¡¯s Guild.¡±

    Alix awkwardly turned back to the receptionist. Text above his head read Cylin, Lv. 32. 6<sup>th</sup> Tier Apprentice Mage.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you are here to ask for a discount on guild approved spell rates as well?¡± Cylin said once the man was gone.

    By guild approved, Alix assumed Cylin meant the Trade Guild. Different from the Merchant¡¯s Guild, the Trade Guild didn¡¯t sell anything, but it was their duty to make sure that the other guilds offered their wares and services at a reasonable cost. The Magician¡¯s Guild must have been able to prove that the weapon enhancement spell was worth its asking price, otherwise the man would have threatened to report them.

    Alix heard that more than half of the Trademasters of the guild had been removed from their posts and exiled from the guild after the controversy around potion pricing the previous year. Rumour had it that they had taken bribes to turn a blind eye to the extortionate pricing during the plague. Many deaths were blamed on their actions and after losing the protection of the guild, they fled Galdea.

    ¡°If someone here can help me with my request then I will happily pay the going rate,¡± Alix offered, although he sincerely hoped that he didn¡¯t have to pay a years wages for the information he needed.

    ¡°And what is your request?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for someone that can help me make a spellblade,¡± Alix replied after a moment¡¯s hesitation.

    ¡°We don¡¯t do that sort of thing around here,¡± Cylin replied snidely. ¡°Especially not for such low ranking adventures.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? Spellblades are by their very name a thing of magic.¡±

    ¡°Of course they are, but there is something you are missing. By their very name, they are also within the purview of the Blacksmithing Guild. The only Spellblades we deal in are those created before the dispute.¡±

    The dispute? Alix almost asked what Cylin meant but he was already finding the man to be unpleasant and didn¡¯t want to go around in circles with him all day. He had a momentary thought of using an Obscene Privilege potion, but quickly quashed the idea.

    ¡°Fine, what about books on the subject? Is there any information you can give me on the creation of Spellblades?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that as long as the dispute is ongoing, those need to remain protected guild secrets.¡±

    Alix groaned internally. Why the hell was everything in Galdea so complicated? Everyone always seemed to be out to rip off everyone else, and to be as big of an asshole about it as they possibly could. He tried to think through the problem. It sounded like he couldn¡¯t get either the Magician¡¯s Guild or the Blacksmithing Guild to individually craft him a Spellblade, and it sounded like they were rarer objects than he had imagined.

    I thought you said I was on the right path? Alix said to the ring.

    You are, but you are thinking about it wrong. You don¡¯t need a Spellblade right now, you need Selenite.

    Of course!

    ¡°Fine then, forget I said anything about Spellblades. What I need is help creating an ore, that could hypothetically then be used to create a Spellblade. I know what materials I want to use, I just need the guild¡¯s help in combining them safely and successfully. After that, it will be no one¡¯s business what I do with the ore and I won¡¯t be intruding on any disputes.¡±

    Cylin¡¯s mouth twisted, annoyed that Alix had managed to find a loophole in his argument.

    ¡°It will be impossible for you to create a Spellblade without a high ranking magician¡¯s aid, but I suppose there¡¯s no harm in setting you up with a student or something. As spelled ore cannot be claimed by another guild such as the Mining Guild, as we name it Spellbase and use it for many other uses than Spellblades, there shouldn¡¯t be a conflict. If you have your own materials then the cost should just be for the time spent using our equipment. Wait here while I call on a student.¡±

    Cylin glided up the stairs and returned promptly with a student in tow. Text named him as Katin, Lv. 24, Student Mage.

    How does a student differ from an apprentice? Alix asked the ring, but Cylin provided the answer.

    ¡°This is Katin. He is only a student for now, but maybe if he does well with this job it will look good on his application for apprentice. His time to prove himself is running short, so you will both fail or succeed together,¡± Cylin said, leaving Katin looking both furious and hurt.

    Why is everyone in this city such an asshole?

    ¡°Come on,¡± Katin said through clenched teeth, glaring equally at both Alix and Cylin.

    Well this is going to be fun¡­

    Katin led him to a small room a few floors up. It was cramped and hot inside and it looked not dissimilar to the forge back at the keep.

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve been smelting something,¡± Alix said as a way to break the tension. He felt like he had gotten Katin into trouble somehow, or put him unnecessarily under the spotlight.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been doing more than that. I¡¯ve been creating the best Spellbases in the guild but no one cares. They all think it¡¯s a waste of time.¡±

    ¡°Why would creating Spellbases be a waste of time?¡±

    ¡°Well, my Spellbases are mostly suitable for Spellblades, but most of the guild are content to keep the dispute with the Blacksmithing Guild going. Their ¡®dispute¡¯ is pathetic. We all know blacksmith¡¯s can¡¯t create a Spellblade as they are a magic item, and the blacksmiths aren¡¯t mages. It is literally impossible for them to create one from scratch without any assistance.¡±

    ¡°How are they stopping the Magician¡¯s Guild from creating them then? It doesn¡¯t make any sense to me.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all just politics, a game between the guild masters that¡¯s only causing suffering for the rest of us. The Blacksmithing Guild saw how much we were charging for Spellblades, and then they got the ridiculous idea to submit a complaint to the Trade Guild that we were infringing on their business. As if their profits were in danger because we were creating something that they could not. The guild master should have just let it go, but he took the complaint as a personal insult. He made a counter complaint that the Blacksmithing Guild are trying to steal our secrets. There is some truth to that claim, as they have tried sending blacksmiths to take the entrance exam in an attempt to spy on us and now they need to prove that they aren¡¯t engaged in espionage. It¡¯s all a mess, with both sides just trying to cost the other one as much money as possible in fees. Meanwhile, my advancement is on hold as the direction of my research is currently ineligible for an apprenticeship. My life¡¯s work is now seen as a waste of time,¡± Katin finished in an angry rush, almost spitting the words.

    ¡°It sounds like you are just the sort of person I¡¯ve been looking for.¡±

    ¡°I apologise if I appear short tempered, but Cylin is an ass and always tries his best to rile up the students. He is bitter because he can¡¯t rise further than 6<sup>th</sup> Rank after trying for so many years. He sees all us students as competition. So what is it you need my help with? If Cylin has asked me to help you, it probably means he thinks we are both going to fail.¡±

    ¡°Well let¡¯s prove him wrong. I need to create a Spellbase using a certain list of materials. Quicksilver, Frostite, Osmiridium, and Gold. Can you help me with that?¡±

    ¡°What in the name of Babyl are you trying to create? I¡¯ve never heard of such a combination. Where did you hear about it?¡±

    ¡°Just think of it as an experiment. I know what the end result should be, I just don¡¯t know how to go about combining the materials to get there.¡±

    ¡°I can see why you need my help. Working with Frostite is tricky business. I haven¡¯t heard of anyone trying to combine it with Quicksilver before but I suppose it can be done. Osmiridium would be a smart thing to alloy it with after that. It is the densest element in Babyl. As for Gold, I can¡¯t think of any logical reason for its inclusion. It is mostly a decorative metal. You have all these materials already?¡±

    ¡°I have Frostite and Gold.¡± Katin let out a deep sigh and Alix suddenly felt like a fool for coming here so unprepared. ¡°I can easily pay for whatever¡¯s missing,¡± he added to try and help smooth things along.

    ¡°You don¡¯t look like you are that high ranking an Adventurer, no offense. How did you come by Frostite?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story. I was down the wrong hole at the right time I guess.¡±

    ¡°Well I hope you are storing it correctly. It is a very dangerous material. You are lucky you managed to collect it without injuring yourself. What about the other materials?¡±

    ¡°I was hoping you would have them on hand.¡±

    Katin snickered. ¡°They don¡¯t let me keep a decent stock of materials here since I¡¯m just a student. They don¡¯t even give me any research funding. I need to prove myself on my own before they will give me any resources. You will need to find the rest yourself.¡±

    ¡°Damn. Where can I find Quicksilver and Osmiridium then? Is there a metal merchant or something in the city that sells them?¡±

    ¡°There are merchants but they don¡¯t carry Quicksilver because of its toxic nature. You can harvest it from Metal Slimes. As for Osmiridium, it is only available in small batches as it is prohibitively heavy. If anyone was to store too much of it, the floor would cave in. You should be able to find some for sale in the city, but if you need a lot of it, and I get the feeling that you have something large and pointy in mind, you will need to visit all of the dealers in Galdea. I can give you some names to start with. Come back with everything you need and I will help you if I can.¡± Katin found a scrap of dirty paper and scrawled down some names and addresses.

    Metal Slimes¡­I¡¯ve read about them recently¡­

    A job posting Alix had read in the Adventurer¡¯s Guild suddenly came back to him.

    ¡°Well, luckily I¡¯ve got two weeks to get this done,¡± Alix said, taking the note. ¡°Thanks for your help. I¡¯ll hopefully be back soon.¡±

    Alix headed back for the Adventurer¡¯s Guild, hoping the job he had seen before was still there.

 Chapter 36: Borrel Tonks Slime Dungeon

    Alix breathed a sigh of relief when he found the job still posted to the board, although he wasn¡¯t surprised that it was still there. It didn¡¯t pay much, but it was worth more to Alix now than just the monetary reward. He pulled the job from the board, passed it over to Dilbert to get stamped, quickly changed into proper travelling gear, and then headed out, eager to get started on the job as soon as possible, as it was unlikely that he would make it back to the city before nightfall, if he even made it back today at all. He read over the job again as he made his way down the rings of the city.

    Job: Open

    My mine is infested with Metal Slimes, which has forced me to pause operations. I need them cleared out so I can get back to work. Location is the Tonk Mine, a league east of Galdea.

    Reward: A warm meal daily for as long as it takes to complete the job, a lifetime discount of 15% on all ores and minerals sold by the Tonk Mining Company, and various uncut gems valued at two hundred gold in cut form.

    ~ Borel Tonk - Mining Guild #381

    For anyone else, the job would be considered pretty poor. For the time it would take to complete, the average adventurer could earn a lot more than the miner was offering, which amounted to nothing more than a hot meal. The discount on their wares was useless to them as they were adventurers, not merchants, and uncut gems were worth a fraction of what they were worth cut. At best they could be sold for a few gold coins to the right buyer, which wasn¡¯t enough to justify the trek out to the mine. That was after a day spent underground fighting an unknown number of slimes, which Alix had heard most thought of as ranging from unpleasant to mind-numbingly boring.

    For Alix, the uncut gems were merely a bonus, something to give him an excuse to use his lapidary skill. If he was lucky, Borel Tonk would have some Osmiridium for sale that he could get a decent discount on. The meals were negligible. It was what he could harvest from the metal slimes that drew his attention and made the whole thing worthwhile. Whatever loot he was able to gather from fighting them would be his to keep.

    By the time he reached the towering main gate that led out of Galdea¡¯s defensive wall, festooned with guard towers and battlements, it was approaching late afternoon, and Alix realised that there would be no chance to complete the job and return before nightfall. It wasn¡¯t a problem for him, as the weather was pleasant and he carried enough supplies in his inventory to live comfortably out on the road. They included stores of food and drink, a spacious tent, several changes of clothes and footwear, and a warm bed.

    The dust filled air of the Warehouse District was quickly replaced by the clean meadow air as he made his way across the bridge and out into the countryside. Alix felt a weight he hadn¡¯t realised he was carrying lift as Galdea fell away behind him. Every moment in the city he was tense, worried that he would somehow be unmasked. The ring told him that none of the Galdean¡¯s should be able to do anything to harm him, but he didn¡¯t want to test the depths of what they could make him endure.

    It would have been simple to turn and walk towards the mountains, back to the keep, leave the guilds and all their drama behind, but he found he was truly enjoying himself for the first time since arriving in Babyl. He felt like he had more of a purpose other than just to die for the Terminus Ritual. Although he missed Tifayn¡¯s company terribly and he wanted to spend time with his daughter, he respected that she knew what was best for a demon child, and he hoped to return before too long. He couldn¡¯t spend the rest of his time adventuring, no matter how appealing it sounded. Already he was beginning to forget that he had other commitments.

    What is it that I actually want to achieve here? Alix contemplated as he walked. I need to get back to the keep eventually. Maybe after I¡¯ve ranked up a bit. I hope Faisal isn¡¯t causing any trouble.

    It took Alix a couple of hours to reach the Tonk mine. The farmlands around Galdea were extensive but they were soon replaced by rocky hills. Luckily the road was well built, to handle all the traffic of ore and minerals that presumably was supposed to be flowing out of the place, so it was easy enough to follow it to its source.

    The scars of the mining operation were visible long before he came upon the group of buildings that stood a short distance away from the mines entrance. One appeared to be a house, while another looked more like a small guildhall, while the last looked like a large warehouse. They were all stout buildings carved from tight fitting blocks. The mine itself was a bowl carved into the side of the mountain, stepped sides signs that some surface mining had once been done, but it looked like most of the activity was now confined to underground mining, as the entrance was heavily fortified, with a large gate, although as Alix drew closer, he noticed the gate currently had a massive tear through wide enough that he could have walked through it.

    What kind of a slime can tear metal like that? Alix wondered. I thought slimes were barely more than blobs of jelly.

    Before he could ponder further, a voice called out to him.

    ¡°What business do you have here boy?¡± a man called from the doorway of the nearby house.

    ¡°I¡¯m from the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. I¡¯m here about the job that was posted,¡± Alix replied.

    ¡°About time one of you answered. I¡¯ve been shut down for weeks.¡± Text above the man read Borel Tonk, Lv. 42, Miner.

    What do you expect when the reward isn¡¯t worth the cost of the commute?

    ¡°Is there anything else you can tell me about what the problem is?¡±

    ¡°Not much to tell. Woke up one morning and the mine door had that massive gash in it. I sent some workers in to investigate and something chased them out. Only thing they could tell me for sure was that there were some metal slimes in there. Well, good luck.¡± Borel Tonk stepped back inside and closed the door before Alix could ask any further questions, of which he had plenty.

    Is he trying to say a slime made that hole in the door? Alix wondered if anyone else had shown up to attempt the job and given up as soon as they saw the place. It was no wonder the job had been there for so long. Just by looking at the condition of the door, the job should have paid out four to five times the amount. Remember, you aren¡¯t here for anything other than the Quicksilver.

    Without any idea of what was waiting for him, or where exactly he was supposed to look, Alix headed down through the open quarry to the mine entrance.

    A sharply metallic breeze blew out of the gash in the door. It was roughly double his height, and cut clean through the solid metal door. Up close, he saw that the door had to be at least five inches thick. How could a slime have carved through such a thick door?

    I didn¡¯t think Metal Slimes were this powerful, Alix mentioned to the ring.

    Slimes in general are not this powerful, but not all of them are as simple as everyone thinks. I am curious to see what did this.

    You¡¯re curious? I¡¯m worried whatever is in there is going to bring the mountain down on me.

    Alix slipped through the crack in the door and entered the dark mine. He pulled a self-igniting torch from his inventory, an item he had purchased from the Adventurers Guild that he had been looking forward to trying. It came with a tab that once pulled would ignite the torch. He gripped the end of the string, pulled, and in a shower of sparks the torch burst into flames.

    In an instant the mine was illuminated. There was no sign as to what had torn a hole in the door, or of any Metal Slimes. The inside of the mine was easily traversed from years of work. Tracks littered the floor, heading off into the darkness, with the occasional mine cart sitting idle. Some were full, some were empty, abandoned on the day the slimes invaded the place. He couldn¡¯t help but notice that the ground seemed to be remarkably clean for a mine.

    At first there was only one path to take, but after a short walk the path began to branch, tracks heading off further into different parts of the mine. The walls glittered with trace elements of whatever it was Tonk mined here. Alix had expected to see ore littered in corners and rough gemstones embedded in the walls but everywhere was unnaturally clean.

    Alix took turns at random, walking until he reached dead ends, or the passages became too confining to walk down, when they changed from well worked paths to rough cut shafts. He ended up always returning to the largest central shaft that led gently downwards into the mountain.

    Alix guessed that he walked for an hour before he finally found a Metal Slime. His torch had been burning low, its hour burn time about to run out. He pulled a fresh torch from his inventory, lit it, and the flames illuminated further down the path than the dregs of the previous one had been able to. Just on the edge of the shadows, a lustrous orb on the ground reflected back the flame.

    Metal Slime. Lv. 2. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Finally,¡± Alix said quietly, unsure if the slime was even able to hear or not. They didn¡¯t have ears, but he had encountered weirder things during his time in Babyl than a ball of metal that was able to hear.

    Alix drew his sword and advanced on the slime. It didn¡¯t move at his approach, or when Alix raised his sword. When he pierced the slime with his blade, it burst with a puff of metallic dust, leaving behind a silver puddle, which Alix quickly absorbed into his inventory.

    <ul>

    <li>Obtained 10 Quicksilver. </li>

    </ul>

    ¡°NOOOO!¡± a cry screamed out from deeper in the mine. Then a towering mass of metal sped out of the darkness, a shape that looked like a beast of legend armoured in blades and spikes.

    Alix barely had time to wildly swing his sword to deflect the creatures swift blow. It didn¡¯t carry any weapons, instead using its entire body as a weapon to beat at him. He expected to be pummelled into the ground, but his sword sliced through the swinging metal appendages as easily as it had the slime. With another cry, a shower of Quicksilver fell to the ground. Alix quickly absorbed the precious metal as the creature stumbled back, grasping the severed stump where an arm had been.

    This had to be the creature that had rent a hole in the mine door. Alix couldn¡¯t believe the cheek of Borel Tonk offering a reward that amounted to no more than some near worthless uncut gems and whatever he decided to class as a warm meal, when the truth was so much worse.

    What is this thing? Alix asked the ring. It was the first time his analysis skill had failed to identify something. All he saw was Slime Construct ???

    Watch out where you poke your sword, I think there¡¯s something else within the slimes.

    Is it using the metal slimes as armour?

    Something like that. Individually they are weak, but as a mass they present a greater danger.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt you,¡± Alix called as the slime construct amassed itself for another charge. Already metal slime was flowing across its body to reform a new arm. ¡°I just needed some Quicksilver. I have what I need already. If you leave this mine peacefully, I won¡¯t hurt you.¡±

    The slime construct froze for a moment, although liquid still rippled across its surface like a strong wind over a lake. Alix couldn¡¯t tell if it had understood him or not. He held his sword before him defensively as he backed up the passage, hoping to lure the construct to the exit.

    All at once the rippling metal moved like a tidal wave, stretching to fill the width of the mine, screaming a sound like metal being twisted to breaking point, a sound that grated on his nerves like fire. Alix turned and ran.

    The slime construct chased after him, screeching with every fluid step. There was nothing human about the noise. Every time it paused as if to turn and retreat back into the mine, Alix was forced to advance on it again and slash at it, making sure not to cut too deep. No matter how careful he tried to be, the creature still screamed out as if in deep anguish at every cut.

    Once he reached about half way back to the exit, retreading his steps much faster in his flight, the creature stopped, as if unwilling to go any further.

    ¡°You are making this difficult for the both of us. If you will just leave peacefully, I will put down my sword,¡± Alix called out, unsure if the thing could even understand him.

    With another scream, an explosion of rage, the metal wave rushed forward.

    Alix raised his sword to strike again, but at the last moment he dashed to the side and slashed at the outer edge of the slime wall, then slipped through the sudden opening, dragged his sword across its rear, then slashed at the other side and jumped back around. Quicksilver rained down and he absorbed it before it could land all over him. He didn¡¯t want to test if the potions here could heal mercury poisoning or not.

    Instead of an outburst of rage like before, the slime construct was deathly silent for a few moments. The rippling vanished. Suddenly all the liquid metal dropped to the ground. Amongst the floor of Quicksilver, stood a very naked girl. Or at least that¡¯s what she appeared to be at first.

    Rising out of the puddles of mercury, the girl was all shapely curves, but her skin appeared light blue and slick, like glass, or gloss paint. Or Slime. Adding to the otherworldly look of the girl was the fact that her body was smooth and featureless, like she was wearing a skintight rubber bodysuit. Her eyes, liquid blue, glared at him from under hair that was the same shade as her skin. It hung heavily down her back as if it was wet. It was hard to tell if it was individual strands or one solid mass.

    ¡°Murderer!¡± she screamed at him.

    ¡°What? I didn¡¯t kill anyone. I¡¯m just here to do a job. You aren¡¯t supposed to be in here.¡±

    ¡°You killed my children!¡±

    ¡°Your children? Those slimes were your kids? How was I supposed to know?¡±

    ¡°They were a part of me and yet separate. When you attacked them, I felt their pain. You didn¡¯t have to be so mean.¡±

    ¡°I did ask you to leave nicely.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t want to leave,¡± the slime girl replied, pouting.

    ¡°Well that¡¯s too bad. This isn¡¯t your mine and one way or another, you are going to leave. I told you I wouldn¡¯t hurt you if you left peacefully. You can¡¯t blame this all on me.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t hear my cries of pain?¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t hear me asking you to leave?¡± Alix retorted, losing his patience.

    ¡°If you want me to leave that badly then you will have to take responsibility for what you have done.¡±

    ¡°What the hell does that mean? You aren¡¯t coming with me.¡±

    With a gracefully fluid motion, completely opposite from the jagged spiky rush of her previous state, the slime girl moved closer to him. Text appeared above her head, his analysis finally managing to identify what she was.

    Pinum, Divine Slime, Lv. 326.

    ¡°What are you?¡± Alix asked, shocked at her high level when she had appeared to be so weak. Suddenly she was beside him, slipping her arm fluid around his, pressing herself up against his side, her liquid body conforming to his own.

    ¡°I¡¯m what would have become of my children in time if you hadn¡¯t mercilessly slaughtered them.¡±

    ¡°Come on, don¡¯t give me that rubbish. I apologise for the pain I caused you, and for that first slime I attacked, but I can¡¯t take responsibility for anything that happened afterwards.¡±

    Pinum pressed up against him further, an odd sensation like a wave washing up against him.

    ¡°That¡¯s the only way I¡¯m leaving here without a fight.¡± She began to cry again, silver tears leaking from her watery blue eyes.

    Alix was about to argue, but then he caught sight of her level again. Level three hundred and twenty six? How come she didn¡¯t put up more of a fight? Also, her tears were pure Quicksilver and it took a lot of effort to absorb them all before they soaked into his clothes.

    As he looked down at her watery eyes, and the body that seemed to undulate against his side without moving, he realised that this was probably the true fight.

    ¡°If it gets you out of here then I don¡¯t care. Let¡¯s go, we can discuss this later.¡±

    Suddenly the tears stopped and she grinned in a way that made Alix feel completely outmanoeuvred. Then the grip around his arm rippled, and Pinum shrunk into herself. In an instant the girl was gone, replaced by a lustrous metal vambrace wrapped around his forearm.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Alix hissed, reflexively trying to pull the bracer off but having no luck. It was stuck to his arm as surely as the ring on his finger.

    ¡°I can be useful. Look.¡±

    In a rush the vambrace melted and surged forward, expanding into a metal shield extending from his arm. Despite the size of it, and the fact it was solid metal, it weighed surprisingly little.

    ¡°My sword cut through you easily enough before. How will this shield do me any good?¡±

    ¡°Those were regular Metal Slimes, my own body is different. No other sword of weapon made of metal can get through my shield.¡±

    Pinum reverted back to her position on his forearm.

    ¡°Do you have to stay there? How am I going to explain this?¡± Alix asked her, but she remained silent. He groaned and left the mine, deciding it was a problem to deal with another time.

    Night had fallen while he had been dealing with the slimes but the moon was bright enough to guide him. He followed the path back down to the house and knocked on the door.

    ¡°Gave up so soon?¡± Borel Tonk said when he answered, tankard of ale in hand. The smell of roasting meats wafted out of the house, and he looked like he was already a few drinks in.

    ¡°Not quite. I¡¯m all done. The slimes shouldn¡¯t bother you anymore.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± he replied after a few shocked moments, once the words managed to get through the haze of drink. ¡°Are you sure you go¡¯em¡¯all?¡± he slurred.

    ¡°I did. You don¡¯t need to worry about the warm meal, but I will take the uncut gems you offered if you have them handy, otherwise I can collect them from the guild in the next few days.¡± Alix knew that job posters had forty eight hours to settle their accounts, which some used to buy time to find the money while they tried to placate the adventurer with the deposit, but he would prefer to claim his reward now.

    ¡°What? Oh yes, of course,¡± Borel said, flustered, as if he hadn¡¯t expected Alix to succeed. He retreated into his house for a moment, and finally reappeared just as Alix was expecting him to renege on his reward.

    Borel handed over a large sack that he was visibly struggling to carry.

    Looks like I misjudged this guy, Alix thought as he helped Borel lift the heavy sack. He took a quick look inside to verify its contents and saw dozens of large gems in the rough, far removed from the shards he had expected. A quick analysis revealed plenty of valuable gems. With his lapidary skill, he would be able to cut some magnificent gems. If he could find someone to buy them without asking too many questions, he would make a nice profit.

    ¡°You don¡¯t happen to have any Osmiridium for sale?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°Usually I would, but my men told me that the metal slimes devoured all of the stocks, and all other ore traces. They cost me a damn fortune,¡± Borel said, laughing to himself as if he couldn¡¯t quite believe it had happened. ¡°Do you have the job sheet with you? I¡¯ll give it my seal. I¡¯m not going to have time to travel to the city to close the job myself. I¡¯m going to have to work double time to recover from this.¡±

    Alix handed over the job sheet and Borel retreated back inside for a few moments. He returned and handed Alix back the sheet, now with a wax seal showing the Tonk Mining Company sigil and Borel Tonk¡¯s signature. ¡°Thanks for your help young man. Come back in the future if you are ever in need of ore and I¡¯ll make sure to give you a good deal.¡±

    Alix walked off into the night once Borel closed the door, a look of relief on his face. Once out of sight, he absorbed the bag of rough gems into his inventory.

    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Pinum asked, the words coming from some unidentifiable part of the vambrace. Alix couldn¡¯t understand why she suddenly sounded excited.

    ¡°It¡¯s too late to walk back to Galdea tonight. There¡¯s a glade down the road by a stream I found earlier, enough space to set up camp for the night. I¡¯ve had a busy day and I¡¯m exhausted.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you are trying to get me into bed so soon,¡± Pinum replied, gripping onto his arm tighter.

    ¡°That¡¯s not¡­never mind.¡±

    Alix led the way to the glade by moonlight, and then cut into the woods when he heard the stream, quickly finding the flat stretch of ground where he had grabbed a drink from earlier. He pulled the tent from his inventory and quickly assembled the shelter. Once done, he pulled out the bed, a large wooden thing complete with plush pillows and mattress. He was too tired to light a fire to cook anything to eat, too tired to eat anything at all, so he instead stripped down and climbed into bed. Pinum only loosened enough for him to remove his shirt but quickly reattached herself.

    This is the last thing I need, a disturbingly clingy slime girl. The thought chased him in to sleep. He dreamed of being embraced intimately in ways that should have been physically impossible.

 Chapter 37: A Touch of Gold

    Pinum remained stubbornly silent as Alix walked back to Galdea. She didn¡¯t even loosen her grip on his forearm when he dressed, which actually worked out for the best, as it left her hidden under his clothes. It shouldn¡¯t have mattered, but knowing that she was there and sentient made him feel even more conspicuous, and the road was anything but empty.

    So early in the morning that the sun had yet to fully rise above the distant mountains, compared to the lateness of the hour the day before, meant that bands of adventurers passed him on the road at a frequency that only increased the closer he came to Galdea. Luckily they paid him no attention, focussed on their jobs for the day. Merchants began to trundle past, wagons loaded with crops from outlying farms or piled high with goods from further afield.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a busy day, so if you aren¡¯t going to talk, that¡¯s fine with me,¡± Alix whispered under his breath when the great gates came into view, before he found himself among the mass of people looking to gain entrance to the city, the sleepy guards barely managing to get everyone into orderly lines. ¡°If you decide you have something to say, at least wait until we are alone. I don¡¯t want to have to do anything drastic to get you off my arm if you insist otherwise,¡± he warned.

    There was no reply from Pinum, other than an uncomfortable tightening of the vambrace.

    Once past the guards, his Guild ID card getting him swiftly past the gate, Alix headed for the Merchants Ring and found the first ore merchant on Katin¡¯s list. The vambrace began to vibrate as soon as he stepped through the door. The sharp tang of metal filled his senses.

    ¡°What do you need?¡± a gruff voice called from behind a counter made of stacked metal bars, tarnishing after years of use. The man was bald, with a giant moustache. Alix felt his mouth twitch before he could hold back the grin, as the man looked like a parody of a circus strongman. Text appeared above his head reading Rode, Lv 48, Ore Merchant.

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for Osmiridium,¡± Alix replied, ignoring the tugs of Pinum trying to reach out and grab the nearest stack.

    ¡°How much?¡±

    ¡°As much as you¡¯ve got.¡±

    Rode looked out the door behind him. ¡°You sure? It doesn¡¯t look like you have a cart and you don¡¯t look like you have the strength to carry it yourself. No offense kid.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I guess I need a few kilos worth. I can collect it in batches if it proves too unwieldy.¡±

    ¡°A few kilos? Now I think I am the one that should be taking offense here. Don¡¯t be wasting my time kid. Osmiridium isn¡¯t sold by the kilo.¡±

    ¡°My mistake. How is it sold? I promise I¡¯m not wasting your time, I¡¯ve just never had to buy any before.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s sold by the cube. Each one is one inch square, and each cube weighs ten kilos. You sure you are in the right place?¡±

    Alix silently cursed himself. He assumed a sword weighed several kilos at least and that¡¯s how much raw materials he would need, but he needed to think more about the volume of the materials. A swords volumes worth of Osmiridium would weigh a ridiculous amount.

    Does Selene¡¯s sword weight hundreds of kilos? Alix asked the ring.

    No, the metal loses weight as it¡¯s alloyed.

    What¡¯s that voice! another presence shouted into his mind.

    Pinum? Keep your voice down. That¡¯s just the ring, don¡¯t worry about it.

    I¡¯ve never seen that kind of metal before. I wonder what it tastes like?

    I recommend you don¡¯t try and find out, the ring replied dryly.

    Will you two be quiet!

    As Alix stared blankly into space during the few seconds of the inner conversation, Rode¡¯s face grew redder and redder.

    ¡°Look kid!¡± Rode began to bark, but Alix quickly cut him off once he noticed the explosive look on his face.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take everything you have.¡±

    Rode huffed and went into the stacks. He returned a few moments later with four cubes of smooth sided, polished looking metal, and placed them on the counter. Then he repeated the trip to retrieve four more.

    ¡°This is all I¡¯ve got. Can¡¯t have too much of the stuff in here, what with the weight of the rest of the stock, otherwise the whole shop would collapse.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. Sorry for the misunderstanding. How much do I owe you?¡± Alix asked once the pile was stacked up.

    ¡°Ten gold per cube,¡± Rode replied, shocking Alix.

    He had had expected the cost to be extortionate, but it was reasonable as the Osmiridium was so heavy that it didn¡¯t have many practical uses that couldn¡¯t be achieved with cheaper and easier to work materials. He handed over the asked for amount, and threw in a few extra coins for the annoyance he had been.

    Rode slid the money into a drawer behind the counter without counting it and watched to see how Alix would handle the Osmiridium. At ten kilos a cube, he probably could have carried one fairly easily in his old life, but two might have been pushing it. He made a show of trying to lift two, then settled on one and carried it outside and around the corner, as if he had a cart waiting for him there. Then he absorbed the cube into his inventory and repeated the task until all the cubes were stored away.

    Alix had similar experiences in all the other shops on Katin¡¯s list, but he finally managed to return to the Magician¡¯s Guild with forty cubes, weighing in at four hundred kilos. It was probably more than he would need, but he would rather have too much than too little. He was already getting tired and the Osmiridium was beginning to weigh him down.

    Cylin rolled his eyes when he saw Alix return. Instead of wasting time dealing with him, Alix headed directly to Katin workshop. There he found the student mage engrossed in his work. Alix wondered how a student mage was able to have such a well provisioned workshop, complete with its own micro forge, all to himself. He guessed it had to do with the dispute with the Blacksmithing Guild. Katin was the only one left that was passionate enough to continue his work.

    ¡°Back so soon?¡± Katin said once he noticed Alix was standing beside him. It took him several moments, which Alix took to check out what he was working on. It looked like notes for Alix¡¯s job. The paper contained different hypothesis and practical notes on the proper way to combine all the materials he had mentioned. ¡°I take it you weren¡¯t successful then,¡± he said, about to crumple up the paper.

    ¡°I was. I work quickly.¡± Suddenly Alix realised he had a problem. Katin had thought of something Alix hadn¡¯t, and he had just read it in the student¡¯s notes.

    It was impossible for a normal person to carry forty cubes of Osmiridium like he was. He couldn¡¯t just dump them on the floor. It would probably collapse. He also had no idea what the proper way to store Frostite was so he couldn¡¯t just whip that out either, or the toxic Quicksilver. Katin¡¯s notes correctly theorised that the Osmiridium¡¯s properties would change as it alloyed with the other metals, otherwise it would be a pointless alloy to create, but that the equipment he had could only hold one hundred kilos. Until he advanced further, he didn¡¯t have access to the grander forges and smelters within the Guild.

    ¡°Really? Where is it all then?¡± Katin asked, looking behind Alix for the materials.

    ¡°Ah¡­I didn¡¯t bring them up here with me. It¡¯s quite a weight. If you can show me where to deposit them, I¡¯ll begin unloading it all and call you when I¡¯m finished.¡±

    Katin seemed so engrossed in his notes that he didn¡¯t bother questioning him further.

    ¡°Alright, I need to finish these notes anyway. This is a very curious recipe you have given me and it¡¯s taking a while to finalise the steps, but I am almost there. If you go down to the ground floor, head down the hall, then take a right and look for the room marked Autoforge Four.¡±

    Katin returned to his writing and Alix quickly left to get set up.

    Autoforge? The Magician¡¯s Guild, from what Alix had seen and heard of it, was beginning to feel more and more like the Blacksmith¡¯s Guild. He had no idea what an Autoforge was but it sounded like Katin was confident they could complete the job, leaving plenty of time to figure out how to actually turn the result into a sword.

    Cylin glared at him as he reappeared in the entranceway. When Alix  turned and headed deeper into the Guild instead of leaving, he almost made to follow him, but he couldn¡¯t abandon his post.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    The arched hallway had many branching corridors and it turned out Katin¡¯s instructions were overly basic. He never mentioned which right turn to take, so Alix had to try several before he came to a hallway lined with large rooms. He found Autoforge 4 and stepped inside.

    Lanterns lining the walls lit themselves, illuminating the Autoforge. What looked like an oversized anvil filled the centre of the room. It had a large flat surface leading out from a central structure that had a firepit beneath what looked like a crucible with various pipes sticking out of it. Alix immediately noticed that there didn¡¯t appear to be any ventilation in the room.

    Alix quickly got to work. He deposited the Osmiridium in small piles to distribute the weight, not wanting to be held accountable for doing any damage to the floor, although it had to be strong enough to hold the weight of the monstrous Autoforge. With some scrap materials, he quickly crafted a heavy duty box to hold the Frostite shards, and a vial to hold the Quicksilver. He tried to take his time, but within only a few moments, he had everything ready and he was eager to get started. He returned to fetch Katin, and helped him carry armfuls of notes down to the Autoforge.

    ¡°What is this thing anyway?¡± Alix asked, pointing towards the Autoforge.

    ¡°It is called an Autoforge. I can¡¯t tell you exactly how it works I¡¯m afraid, Guild secrets and all that, but it is basically an all in one blacksmithing tool. Of course we don¡¯t call it that so as not to fan the flames of the dispute with the Blacksmithing Guild any further, but it is basically a combined smelter, melter, and forge, and through the use of secret spells, it can automatically filter off any waste material created and bring out the best qualities of the base materials to create the perfect Spellbase. It has various loading mechanisms, which we are going to have to take full advantage of. But first, we have to get it started.¡±

    Katin ignored how Alix had managed to carry four hundreds kilos of Osmiridium into the place so quickly, although as a member of the Magician¡¯s Guild he was probably used to spells being used to simplify tasks and no longer questioned anything. Katin filled the forge with coal and lit it with a wave of his hand. Bellows built into the base automatically began to pump, but no smoke rose from the top.

    ¡°Another one of the spells,¡± Katin explained when he saw Alix  sniffing the clean air. ¡°It helps to keep them hidden away, and we also can¡¯t be releasing those sorts of fumes all over the city. All of the fumes are collected and safely disposed of. Can¡¯t risk a goblin or something crawling down a chimney to get a look can we?¡±

    The forge continued to heat up as Katin examined the collected materials.

    ¡°Such an odd combination. What did you say this was called again?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t, it¡¯s just an experiment. It might not work at all,¡± Alix replied, although he knew that the chances of the procedure failing were low. He just had to hope that Katin wouldn¡¯t figure out that what they were creating was Selenite, something that no one was supposed to know how to make. Although even if word did get out, the materials weren¡¯t exactly easy to acquire.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get started then, the forge is hot enough to load in the Frostite now.¡± Katin donned a pair of heavy duty gloves and a thick apron, and then opened a panel in the side of the Autoforge that contained the giant central crucible. He pulled out another crucible, although this one was rectangular and a lot smaller than the giant one above them.

    Alix lifted the box full of Frostite and carried it over to where Katin waved him over.

    ¡°How much should we use?¡± Alix asked.

    ¡°All of it I guess, if you don¡¯t mind. I have never worked with Frostite before so I am unsure how it will react.¡±

    Alix still had plenty in his inventory, and he could always easily harvest more, so he tipped the contents into the crucible and Katin quickly pushed it back into the forge, then sealed the panel shut again. ¡°Now, we have to prepare the Osmiridium. Let¡¯s go with eight cubes. We are going to have to mix the materials together slowly.¡±

    They took it in turns picking up cubes from the pile, climbing the steps build into the side of the Autoforge and dropping them inside. The giant crucible within the Autoforge was glowing a deep orange as it hungrily awaited its meal of metals. The cubes fell with a loud band. By the time the eighth one was dropped in, the pile was beginning to melt.

    ¡°Frostite should be ready now,¡± Katin said, opening the panel and pulling out the drawer inside. The rectangular crucible was now filled with a liquid metal, but the container didn¡¯t glow with the same deep orange of the larger one. Instead it burned with an angry dark red, the heat of the Autoforge fighting with the icy properties of the Frostite.

    Katin put on what looked like a welders mask, then grabbed the vial of Quicksilver and motioned for Alix to step back. ¡°This might splash, and you do not want to get liquid Frostite on your skin.¡±

    Alix stepped back until he was out of the splash zone and watched as Katin, fully kitted out with protective gear, gently poured the Quicksilver out of the vial and into the rectangular crucible. The Frostite hissed and spat, but there were no dangerous gouts flying across the room, so Katin poured in more and more until the vial was empty. The crucible at first turned an even darker red, as if the Quicksilver was causing the Frostite to cool even further, but as the Autoforge continued to blast it with heat, the colour began to change from red to deep orange.

    Alix heard a loud breath escape from behind Katin¡¯s mask as he pushed the crucible back into the Autoforge and closed the panel.

    ¡°How is it looking?¡± Alix asked, having no idea if what had happened was a good or bad thing.

    ¡°It looks like it¡¯s going well so far. The Quicksilver should help the Frostite to remain liquid at heat, otherwise it takes an incredible about of fuel to keep it in that state. It doesn¡¯t like being melted and always tries hard to return to a solid. Even with the addition of Quicksilver, if I were to remove the crucible now and place it outside of the Autoforge, it would return to an icy block in only a few moments. The next step will be where we really see if this is going to work. I¡¯ll need your help again. Stand by this lever,¡± Katin said, pointing out a lever that protruded from the Autoforge as he walked around to the steps and climbed up to peer into the giant crucible. On the way he grabbed a long pole.

    ¡°The Osmiridium has fully melted. Now, when I tell you, I need you to pull that lever very slowly and carefully, which will release a small amount of the liquid Frostite and Quicksilver mixture into the main crucible. Just a small amount, and then stop. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Sounds easy enough,¡± Alix replied, taking hold of the lever. At a sign from Katin, he slowly pulled down.

    ¡°Hold there,¡± Katin said, staring excitedly into the crucible. He lowered the pole into the crucible and began to stir the contents.

    ¡°Incredible, it looks like its working. It takes a moment to get back up to temperature, but once it does it appears the effects of the Frostite fade. Add a little more.¡±

    Alix pressed the lever further and held it again as Katin continued to stir.

    ¡°It¡¯s creating a huge amount of slag. I hadn¡¯t anticipated that, but I guess that¡¯s not the worst problem to have. Let go of the lever now, I think its time to add more Osmiridium.¡±

    They continued like that for an hour, slowly adding cubes of Osmiridium, waiting for it to melt, then adding in another drop of the Frostite mix, then repeating again and again until all of the cubes were gone. A dial on the side of the Autoforge kept track of the weight within the crucible. Whenever a cube of Osmiridium was dropped inside, the weight would increase, but as the Frostite mix was added in, it would decrease.

    ¡°I think we are ready to pour,¡± Katin eventually said. They were both tired, faces sweaty and clothes dirty from the work, even with the spells cleaning the air.

    ¡°What about the gold?¡± Alix asked, pulling a few gold coins from his pocket.

    ¡°Ah yes, almost forgot. I still can¡¯t figure out its purpose. In these quantities the effect will be negligible.¡±

    Alix was of the opinion that it didn¡¯t have a purpose, it had just been added for the aesthetic, but he wasn¡¯t about to mess with the recipe at this stage. He handed Katin the coins and he threw them in. Katin gave the crucible one last stir and then came down the steps.

    ¡°Right, let¡¯s see what we¡¯ve got.¡± Katin lifted a cover in the large table sized anvil that protruded from the Autoforge, revealing a long trough, one end of which was connected to a pipe that led into the Autoforge. Then he pulled on another level, one of dozens that covered the thing, and after a few moments a golden stream of liquid metal poured out of the pipe and into the channel. The pit filled with the efforts of their labour, the flow stopping just as it appeared the trough would overflow. ¡°Very curious,¡± Katin murmured, ¡°From the amount of slag in the crucible, I expected to yield half this much. A very curious alloy indeed. It is a shame the dispute has put a halt to my work, I would very much like to study it further and try creating a Spellblade with it, but alas, that work will have to wait.¡±

    Alix analysed the glowing metal and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the text Selenite. It had worked, but he felt reluctant to share the good news with Katin. He wanted to let the man know what he had accomplished, but it would bring up too many questions that might reveal who Alix was. He couldn¡¯t stop Katin from doing anything with the recipe in the future. If he ever attempted to recreate the material, it would likely take him so long to gather all the materials that Alix would be long gone. It was unlikely Katin would ever figure out it was Selenite anyway, as there was only one other example of it in the world.

    ¡°Thank you for your help Katin, this is exactly what I was looking for. How long will it take to cool?¡±

    ¡°With the Autoforge it should only take a few moments.¡±

    ¡°Great. In that case, please that these,¡± Alix said, handing over a bunch of gold coins.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s this for? You don¡¯t need to pay me,¡± Katin asked, but at the same time taking the offered coins.

    ¡°For taking up your time the past few days. I¡¯d also like to ask that you keep this recipe to yourself for now.¡±

    ¡°If you wish. This has already given me plenty more to write about without naming the full recipe, but none of it will be useful until the dispute is over with.¡±

    With the project complete, Katin went about shutting down the Autoforge and tidying the workshop. It didn¡¯t take him long, and by the time he was ready to go, the Spellbase was also ready. Alix put on a bit of an act as he lifted the slab of metal, unsure of how heavy it really was with his newfound strength. He carried it with two hands, unable to absorb it into his inventory with Katin around, and made sure to grunt an appropriate amount.

    Katin bade him farewell and returned to his rooms while Alix made for the exit. Before he could make it, Cylin loudly cleared his throat and drew him over to the counter, where a bill was waiting for him for use of the Guild Autoforge and Katin¡¯s time. The bill felt like it had been inflated but Alix was in no mood to debate it. He already had what he came for so he paid the bill and left.

    Once back at the Adventurer¡¯s Guild, and with the Spellbase safely secured in his inventory, he handed in the completed job for Borrel Tonk then sat down for a drink. He got curious looks from the other adventurers, as he looked filthy from the past two days work, but he didn¡¯t care.

    As he drank, Alix thought of his next steps. He was beginning to long to return to the Darknight¡¯s Castle, where he would have all the privacy he needed to work on the blade, but there were too many other things there that would require his attention. It wasn¡¯t quite time to return yet. He needed the use of a blacksmiths workshop to create the sword, as there was no other option than to make it himself.

    Alix thought about returning to Javin, and asking for yet another weaponsmith or blacksmith that might be convinced to let him use their workshop, but Javin was the reason he was currently in this mess in the first place. No, he would have to figure it out himself. Tomorrow he would head down to the Merchant¡¯s District and try find a quiet place to work. Tonight, he was going to celebrate the progress he had made. He couldn¡¯t wait to see the look on Sylvin Gyle¡¯s face.