NEWT AND DEMON 2

©2025 EDWIN M. GRIFFITHS

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Chapter 1

Belgar

The battlements on the walls of Broken Tusk sat shrouded in a haze of rain. Each local within the town spoke of the rain with reverence. The Season of Blooms signified the start of a new cycle for them, ushering in a muggy era of muddy boots and unfinished work. Being deep into that season saw them cursing those memories they had from childhood. Hanging on the lips of all citizens were hopes for the end of the constant rain.

A Drogramath Dronon named Theo Spencer sat atop those battlements, legs hanging over the edge. He kicked lazily, whittling away the day as he had done for the past two weeks. The horns on his head swooped, tracing a line with his hair, matted by the constant drizzle. His black robes were soaked through, moccasins filling with water. The purple tinge of his demonic skin caught what little light there was, setting off the peerless gaze of his violet eyes. Behind those eyes worked a ceaseless search for answers, though none came.

Of the three cores, resting somewhere in his chest, his Drogramath Alchemy Core was the most stubborn. While it flooded his mind with unwelcome thoughts, typically related to the art of Drogramathi Alchemy, it failed to whisper the secret to push beyond Level 9. What little information he gleaned from passing traders and artisans alike failed to push him beyond that barrier. He had it on good authority that he was the only living Drogramathi alchemist in the mortal realm. His peers were locked away in some demonic dimension, banished by the hand of the Order of the Burning Eye.

Theo pressed his hand against his chest, summoning a description of that core with a thought.

[Drogramath Alchemy Core]

Legendary Alchemy Core

Bound

2 Slots

Level 9 (99%)

Alchemy core given to the descendants of Drogramath.

Effect:

Increases the synergy of Alchemy abilities.

+3 Wisdom

The descendants of Drogramath. That phrase stuck out in his mind like an iron spike driven through his skull. He traced his demonic name, in the old drononi script, on the wet stone. Belgar. Even when he thought of it in the low Qavelli tongue, it sounded evil. In old dronon, it whispered of greatness. The sort of name he’d expect to hear from some influential leader. It didn’t sit well with him either way. The strange world he found himself in hinted at neither of those things. While his alchemy helped the people of this town, something else was brewing. The death of Earth flashed through his mind in a series of horrific images.

Theo’s daily ascension of the mighty battlements wasn’t for self-pity, though. It was an exercise meant to break that barrier. Over the past two weeks, he’d gotten closer to the truth of the barrier, but no closer to breaking it. His experiments proved his theories on essences and their volatility. Basic Drogramathi Alchemy remained useless, but the strange poems were coming into focus. Recipes under Level 10 held a Drogramath alchemist’s hand. It removed the complexities of advanced alchemy to give the user a chance to adapt to distillation.

When he first arrived at Broken Tusk, he assumed the distillation process extracted exactly one property from reagents. His theory contradicted that knowledge. The System was the biggest player in this, creating that safe environment and designating an essence as a single property concoction. This brought him to the core of the issue. His high Wisdom score let him know this was the right path. He just needed to prove it.

In the time he’d spent experimenting, his Drogramath Herbalism core caught up to his alchemy core. He pressed his hand against his chest to inspect his herbalism core.

[Drogramath Herbalism Core]

Rare Herbalism Core

Bound

2 Slots

Level 9 (15%)

Herbalist core given to the descendants of Drogramath.

Effect:

+3 Vigor

It was almost on the cusp, and his Wisdom once again informed him ‌that it would be vital to level this to 10 as well. Theo rose to his feet, letting the gentle patter of rain play over his face. He had a meeting to attend as mayor of Broken Tusk. It was a position that he didn’t know he wanted and knew less about how he got. That was a mystery that begged answering, although, like his barrier problem, nothing came. The previous mayor was thrust into the position, although she wouldn’t explain the exact circumstances. Someone was pulling the string behind the scenes, but they remained cloaked in obscurity. No amount of Wisdom could produce the answers to unknowable things.

Theo descended the slippery battlements, intent on checking in on a friend before his meeting. He tracked a lazy path through the town, splashing in the puddles along the hard, cobbled roads. The roads were something he fought for under his Lord Administrator position, offering to cover the money owed by the town ‌for the choice. He found his way to the ex-hunter’s core building, which still needed a name. The door was open, and Luras sat inside, working on one of his projects.

“Can I come in?” Theo asked, poking his head inside.

Luras looked up, narrowing his brown eyes and grunting. The half-ogre’s dull ochre skin caught the candlelight inside, his proud features standing out in the gloom. “You’re wet.”

Theo withdrew a vial of Cleansing Scrub from his inventory, placing a droplet on the crown of his head and smiling. The scrub worked across his body in a wave of white light, removing both water and grime from his clothes and body. Luras grunted his approval, and Theo entered.

“You’re still stuck,” Luras said as Theo took a chair.

The alchemist craned his neck to get a look at the moccasin the half-ogre was working on. The design improved significantly since Luras had honed his craft.

“Desperately stuck,” Theo said.

“You’ll find no help from the artisans here,” Luras said.

That was true. The artisans, a name that Theo had coined though not at all original, were the producers of completed goods. They faced barriers between levels that others didn’t. For leatherworking, the barrier was well known. Some more obscure cores were harder to find information on and often came at a price from scholarly cults that clung onto the information as though their lives depended on it.

After a silent moment, Luras spoke again. “Tell me what you know.”

Theo smiled, going through everything he’d learned so far. Essence extraction was, under Level 10, a simple thing. An alchemist simply placed reagents in a still, heated it, and extracted the unpurified essence. Those essences would react with catalysts, typically Copper Shavings. Essences could also interact with each other, typically resulting in explosive results. The goal with the extraction process was to create potions. He continued, detailing the impurities within his current essence production process.

“Catalysts,” Luras said, grunting the word. “You told me a lot about how the unpurified essences respond to catalysts. Your theory centers on impure essences.”

Theo furrowed his brow. “Right.”

“So, have you tried experimenting with different catalysts?” Luras asked.

Something shifted in Theo’s mind. He didn’t think to consider that fact, immediately falling back into his thoughts. His books mentioned different catalysts, but they were too unstable to try at his level. One catalyst he’d used before was Flaky Agate, which was used to create Stabilized Water.

Theo, lost in his own thoughts, muttered, “Thanks,” before leaving through the door.

Luras didn’t bother responding, knowing the alchemist’s behavior too well. The rain still fell outside, playing a beat that quickened Theo’s thoughts. He worked a winding path back to the alchemy lab, bypassing the front entrance and moving into the gravel yard in the back. Shards of magic glass crunched underfoot as he crouched near the far end of the yard. The trees above swayed with a gust of wind, the relentless storm pushing in from the south.

This was the constant push and pull that Theo felt. The urging of his Wisdom attribute, mixing with his powerful Drogramath Alchemy Core shoved him in the right direction. Often, he lacked the Intelligence to interpret the vague whispers, but Luras was right. Catalyst reactions were one of those guarded secrets, even by the alchemy world. That hidden piece of knowledge was worth a fortune, he realized.

Theo withdrew a vial of Hallowed Ground Essence from his inventory. The [Hallowed Ground] property was the closest thing he had to an advanced reagent, coming from a rare truffle that grew under the ground. It was another strange twist of fate that he found some, but it became clear at that moment. He unstoppered the bottle and withdrew a piece of Flaky Agate, dropping it in and retreating to a safe distance.

The reaction was swift and violent. A column of white fire shot from the vial, dramatically shattering it to pieces. The flames licked the wet canopy above as the air filled with a mingling smell of burning foliage and peppermint. A wave of light washed over the yard, stinging Theo’s skin. He shielded his eyes and waited for the reaction to stop, but it remained for a few moments before finally abating.

Theo felt the familiar tingle in his mind as his soul-partner, Tresk, sent a telepathic message.

Is the town on fire?

The words came with a tone of urgency, but the alchemist was distracted. A wave of knowledge flooded through his chest, born from the Drogramath Alchemy Core. Whispers clawed at the back of his neck, seeking to gain purchase but finding the stout barrier Sulvan Flametouched had erected. The Grandmaster Exalted Extra-dimensional Tracking Blocker flared on his chest, wrapping him in ribbons of holy light. He felt something shrink back from the barrier, stung by the smiting power of the Order of the Burning Eye. A system message flashed, but he ignored it.

A voice filled his head for only a moment. The tone was disappointed, every word drawn out. “Too soon.”

Theo sat on the wet gravel for some time, his breath coming in labored gasps. Whatever foresight the Order had was appreciated. He didn’t need to let the knowledge of the experiment seep into his mind; it was already there. He checked the System messages to confirm his suspicions.

Drogramath Alchemy Core gained experience (1%).

Drogramath Alchemy Core reached Level 10.

Obtained free Drogramath Alchemy skill point for hitting Level 10 with this core.

Drogramath Alchemy Core gained an additional skill slot!

Drogramath Alchemy Core gained an enhanced effect: +4 Wisdom.

Drogramath Alchemy Core gained an additional effect: Unstable Material Handling

Your Grandmaster Exalted Extra-dimensional Tracking Blocker has prevented the entity Drogramath from performing an interdiction event!

Further attempts by Drogramath will alert The Order of the Burning Eye.

Your Mark of the Burning Eye has been activated.

Sulvan Flametouched has been alerted to the presence of a Demonic God.

Theo only had a moment to think about his discovery. The Flaky Agate reacted with the third property still present in the Hallowed Ground Essence, causing a violent reaction. This solidified everything he theorized about excess properties in essences, earning him Level 10 in the core. The issue was that Sulvan was alerted. The man would be there any moment.

“Everything is fine,” Theo said to Tresk. “Sulvan is going to show up, I think.”

“What!?”

The sound of heavy footfalls came from around the corner, falling wetly on the soaked ground. Luras turned the corner with a bow, an arrow nocked and ready. His eyes scanned the area, then he relaxed.

“You need to warn people when you’re experimenting on—” Luras started.

A sound like a thunderclap shook the ground under Theo. A mountain of a man appeared at the far end of the gravel yard, sword held aloft and glowing with white fire. His only remaining eye twitched over the scene, a look of relief washing over his face. His pitted face was covered in a sheen of sweat mingling with the falling rain. Another sound filled the gravel yard, and another man Theo didn’t recognize appeared.

The interloper wore a long, threadbare robe and held aloft something that looked like no more than a tree branch. His features were similarly marred by a series of scars that ran the length of his sharp face. By the alchemist’s measure, this one was an elf. A chain hanging from the man’s neck betrayed him as a member of the order.

“You’re far too fast, Sulvan,” the elf said.

“You’re far too slow, you old doddering fool,” Sulvan grunted, returning his sword to his hip. The Paladin strode over, lifting Theo off the ground and tugging at his clothes to reveal the tattoo on his chest. “What happened?”

Theo gave him the short version of the encounter.

“Nonsense,” the elf said, gaining a withering gaze from Sulvan.

“Your manners are lacking,” Sulvan said. “This is Uharis, Archmage of the Burning Eye. He’s itching for combat.”

“As are you,” Uharis spat. “I nearly soiled myself when the ward alerted us of Drogramath himself. In the middle of the southlands.”

Luras stayed at the edge of the building, not daring to interfere in the duties of a Level 130 Paladin. He watched as the archmage waved his hands, muttering something before shrugging.

“It’s a quirk of his heritage,” Uharis said. “The more power he gains, the closer to Drogramath he gets. He just hit Level 10 with his Drogramath Alchemy Core. My, what an interesting turn of events. I’d very much like to study⁠—”

“Silence, wizard,” Sulvan said, casting another look of daggers at him.

Suddenly, a small form burst from the shadows. Her pale pink body dove for Sulvan, leading with her daggers as the frills on the side of her head bounced.

“Get away from Theo! I’ll kill ya!” Tresk shouted.

Sulvan simply held his hand out, stooping low to keep the enthusiastic marshling at bay. She swung her daggers wildly, hitting only air.

“Tresk, it’s fine,” Theo said. “I hit Level 10. Drogramath tried to talk to me.”

“I’ll kill him, too!” Tresk shouted, growling.

Sulvan let the marshling go, a smile creeping across his face. Tresk lost the nerve, whatever rage she felt fizzling out in an instant.

“They’re here to help,” Luras said from around the building.

“There’s nothing to help with,” Sulvan said, straightening up. He placed his hand on Theo’s chest, energy swirling in motes of light, before backing away.

“I’d really like to stay for a while, if you don’t mind,” Uharis said, eyes bright.

Sulvan rolled his eyes. “Fine. A day. No more.”

Uharis was giddy with excitement, dancing in place. Sulvan disappeared in a rush of wind, off to find some more demons, no doubt. The archmage had a wide grin on his face.

“He can’t teleport, you know,” Uharis said, raising his eyebrows. “He ran here. From Qavell.”

Theo let out a labored groan as the sound of more feet came padding around the corner. The entire town came to investigate the disturbance.

“Nothing to see here!” Tresk shouted, puffing out her chest and waving at those gathered. “Just interdimensional demon business. Move along.”

Uharis came to clap a hand over Theo’s shoulder. “Come, tell me how you came to be here.”

Theo grimaced. The elf stank of ale and wet clothes. It was going to be a long day.

Chapter 2

Miana Kell

Acandle burned in the lab's corner on the second floor of the Newt and Demon. The slow drizzle outside gave way to a downpour, the open window providing a constant drone of noise. Several chairs sat by the open window surrounding a table. Theo sat, drumming his fingers on the table as the mad wizard went around his lab, remarking about everything.

The situation was something he expected, though. It was amazing that no wizards or other folk interested in the appearance of an outworlder had shown up to inspect Theo. Things seemed to fall by the wayside in Qavell—a fact not unnoticed by the alchemist. Tresk stood at the far end of the room, arms folded as she watched the wizard. Her figure was hardly imposing, standing at nearly half the height of the dronon and several heads shorter than the elf. There was no need to inspect the archmage. It was obvious he was at a high level, and that action was often seen as rude in this world.

Uharis pricked his finger on the spikes of the Drogramath Still, cursing before turning to meet Theo’s gaze. He managed a sheepish smile, then shrugged.

Azrug appeared at the top of the stairs, Theo’s shopkeeper. The boy had recently gained his cores, finding himself with useful, mercantile cores that made his job easier. His sister ran the town’s tavern, a woman who bore the same sharp, hawkish features and pale red skin. He lingered there, eavesdropping without a thought to stealth.

Uharis straightened up, smoothing back a head of greasy hair. Theo couldn’t stand the stench of the man and withdrew a bottle of Cleansing Scrub from his inventory, crossing the room and thrusting it into the archmage’s hand.

“You stink,” Theo said.

“Ah, yes,” Uharis said, dumping the entire bottle over his head.

“You’re just supposed to use a drop, stinky,” Tresk said.

“No,” Theo said. “It’s better this way.”

Light swirled around the archmage, furiously scouring away the man’s horrid smell. After a moment, he let out a long breath and smiled. “This has already been enlightening, but I have some questions,” Uharis said.

“Questions will cost you,” Azrug blurted from the door.

“Merchants,” Uharis said with a shrug. “So discerning.”

“Questions for questions,” Theo said, thinking on his feet for once. “I’ll ask you one, then you ask me one.”

“Well, that’s fair. I had a line of questioning closer to how are you handling the transition, but I see you’re handling it well,” Uharis said.

The elf bore a crooked grin that Theo didn’t want to trust. He’d learned recently that information was valuable.

“The world-wide monster wave,” Theo said. “What do you know about it?”

“World-wide? Certainly not. That’s nonsense. Oh, naturally you ask about this first—how did you even know? Sorry, that was a question,” Uharis said, clearing his throat. “Across all of Iaredin? Not likely. It seems to be localized to Etul, but perhaps even more localized to the southlands of Qavell.”

Theo had more questions about that. He didn’t know what Iaredin or Etul were. He shuffled uncomfortably, facing the fact that he wasn’t well informed in this world. His haste to build up Broken Tusk left fragments of information that couldn’t be filled so quickly. Uharis picked up on this and broadened his grin.

“I’ll allow a follow-up question to that. I can see your confusion,” Uharis said.

“Iaredin and Etul,” Theo said, his face flushing. “I don’t know what those are.”

“Ah! An easy one. You know, I’m an instructor for some of the more prestigious scholarly cults in the realm,” Uharis said, beaming. “Allow me to instruct you.”

“Iaredin is what people call the world; Etul is the continent we’re on,” Tresk said, scowling.

Uharis shot her a baleful gaze. “Iaredin is more than the name of the world, girl. Well, I guess that’s what it is, but⁠—”

“That’s all I wanted to know about that,” Theo said, waving a dismissive hand.

“Well, I thought you were one that enjoyed knowledge,” Uharis said, puffing up. “I’ll spare the lecture. Iaredin is from the old elven tongue, and Etul was ‌constructed by the humans. Now, my turn. Who brought you here? This was not a standard transition.”

Theo knitted his brow. That question was harder to answer than giving a simple name. The entity that sent him to this world never gave its true name, simply earning the title of Harbinger from the alchemist’s planet. He thought about giving the elf the runaround but decided against it.

“I don’t know its name,” Theo started, drifting into his thoughts for a moment. “An entity. It looked like a bird-person. I don’t think he caused the end of my world. It was just watching.”

“Curious,” Uharis said, nodding. “A watcher of some kind—I’ve heard of such beings. Well, I’ve read about them. In folk tales and legend, but there’s never been a first-hand account.”

“It had to be powerful, right?” Theo asked.

Most people shrugged him off when he talked about the Harbinger. They knew nothing about the entity and provided little in the way of information. Even a folktale was more than he could hope for.

“That doesn’t count as your question,” Uharis said, striding across the room. He made an excited noise when he found the teapot, materializing something from his inventory and dropping it inside. With a slight gesture, the teapot floated into the air, and a small flame appeared underneath. “Naturally, it must be powerful. Even gods have trouble crossing between dimensions, even between their own realm and ours. To pierce the veil between our world and yours. Now, that’s power. Your question.”

“What can we do about our dungeons? They’re growing in power,” Theo asked.

Uharis swiped his hand, stoking the fire under the teapot. “Nothing. I won’t play dragon’s claw with you. I’ll lay it out plainly. This seems to be your chief concern, and I don’t blame you. As mayor, it’s your duty to protect this town. There’s a concentration of magic, something unnatural. This is a lecture, but I’ll be brief. Sometimes dungeons form a connection. It requires study, but I believe the four dungeons I detect around here are all connected with each other and other dungeons throughout the kingdom. The alteration is intentional.”

“Who?” Tresk asked, baring her teeth.

“Ah, answer that, and you’ll have a king’s bounty,” Uharis said. “Although I didn’t agree to answer any more questions. No, I suppose it's academic. No, I’ll pose another question. May I stay here for a week? The concentration of magic here is particularly powerful.”

“Ten gold,” Azrug blurted out. All eyes turned to him, forcing the red on his cheeks to go a deep shade of crimson.

“Shrewd,” Uharis said. “Do you know what my salary is with the Order, boy? Don’t answer that.”

“Wizards find all kinds of magical things. You’re Level 80! You have at least nine cores,” Azrug said, narrowing his eyes. “You can afford it.”

“I have 11 cores,” Uharis said, flashing a devious grin. “That is a secret worth selling, boy. Fine, 5 gold upfront, then 5 when I’m done.”

The elf produced five coins from nowhere and handed them to Theo. The alchemist didn’t hesitate to shove them in his inventory. He expected the tax collector to show up five days ago but still hadn’t heard from the capital. The meeting, which he was dangerously late for, was to talk about that.

“Thank you,” Theo said.

“You’re most welcome, Theo,” Uharis said.

Theo didn’t remember giving the elf his name, but he reasoned the archmage had methods for obtaining that.

Uharis finally poured a cup of tea and slurped it down without cooling the steaming liquid. He grimaced, let out a long breath, then yelped. The elf slouched for a second before straightening out again, pounding his chest and nodding to himself. He marched out of the lab without saying another word.

“I wonder what kind of tea that was,” Tresk said.

Theo inspected the leaves at the bottom of the pot.

[Sanchrin Leaves]

Rare

The Sanchrin plant grows on the slopes of high mountains. Their leaves are said to relieve nausea.

Properties:

[Cure Hangover] [???] [???]

Theo laughed, dumping the remaining leaves out the open window. “It cures hangovers.”

The group shared a look before bursting into laughter. That the powerful Archmage was hungover didn’t surprise the alchemist at all. It was a wonder the elf didn’t simply teleport away, but Theo was thankful for that.

“With that, I ask that you all get out of my lab,” Theo said, gesturing to the door. “I’m late for a meeting with Lauris.”

Lauris was a hard person to pin down. Theo wasn’t sure what he should think about her, but she was nice enough to talk to.

“I’m gone!” Tresk said, vanishing on the spot. Her voice then came from nowhere. “I teleported.”

“We know you’re just invisible,” Azrug said, receiving no reply.

“This shouldn’t take long,” Theo said, withdrawing the communication crystal from his inventory and taking a seat.

“Good luck,” Azrug said.

Theo squeezed the glowing crystal in his hand, feeling the familiar sensation of being tugged through infinity by his navel. Pillars of shapeless mist rose around him, the only source of light a dim glow from the sky. The mist formed, creating a platform where he was unceremoniously placed. The form he took was an incorporeal, dark body that only approximated his real visage. An unfamiliar shape churned in the darkness at the other end of the platform, coming together to form someone the alchemist didn’t recognize. It was a lizard-like person, but the shape was too vague to make assumptions as to exactly which type.

“Greetings, Mayor,” the voice said. “I am Lauris’ replacement, Banthub.”

Theo’s heart skipped a beat. “What happened to her?”

The figure paused for a tense moment, pressing a clawed finger against his obscured face. “Nothing to be concerned about.”

Which meant it was something to be concerned about. Something was stirring in Qavell, but Theo was too far removed to figure it out. He assessed the facts of the situation many times but always came up short. For the moment, he would attribute it to the war in the west—something he knew little about.

“I’m here about the taxes,” Theo said.

“Right,” Banthub said, shifting on the spot. “There have been issues in the capital. Nothing to be concerned about, I assure you, but we’re working to resolve the problem.”

“Issues?” Theo asked.

“Ah, well, it's nothing that concerns a town like Broken Tusk,” Banthub said. He titled his head and let out a surprised sound. “You only owe around a gold. That’s curious.”

That was less than Theo’s calculation, although his math was bad. Luras, who had been pumping more Intelligence for some reason, ran the number for him and came up with a 5 gold total, rounding up. Between the taxes on the property and the massive sales the town had been doing, they should have owed 10 percent of the total value. There had to be a mistake.

“That doesn’t line up with my books,” Theo said.

“Nor mine,” Banthub said. “A collector should be able to reach your town soon. Once we clear the—once we find the right person for the job. The tally must be an issue on our end. We’re having some issues with the kingdom seed core in Qavell.”

Once we clear the what? Theo thought. His Wisdom hinted at something he didn’t want to consider, so he pushed it away.

“What do you recommend we do?” Theo asked.

“Well, your town was already behind by a few silver; nothing absurd. That’s the main reason we replaced the previous mayor, that and—ah, sorry. I’m rambling. I recommend you pay the amount you’ve calculated. You can choose how the excess is used.”

“What are my options?” Theo said, making a mental note of the man’s next slip.

“We can invest it, put it toward future payments, or toward the war effort,” Banthub said.

Theo thought before responding. The war effort—that was an interesting thought. He was reminded of war bonds on Earth—a thing that almost came back in their most recent world war. This was nearly three hundred years before his time, a fact written in books but not experienced by anyone still living.

“How is the war going?” Theo asked.

“Listen, I don’t know,” Banthub said. “I’m an administrator for the crown, nothing more. I handle finances, but that’s about it.”

“Sore subject,” Theo said, neglecting to bring his voice below a whisper.

“It is. Now, is that all?” Banthub asked.

“I’m also interested in more stipends for my adventurers,” Theo said.

“You’re already getting the maximum allowance—actually, you’re getting more than you should get. Lauris really messed this up, but I can’t change it. Told you, the core is acting weird,” Banthub said. “You’re doing fine for yourself. Just thank the gods you’re not in the western provinces.”

“All right, thank you,” Theo said.

Banthub ended the connection without responding, sending Theo tumbling up into the air. He slammed into his real body again, nearly falling out of the chair. Both Tresk and Azrug were standing there, poking at his face. The alchemist tried, and failed, to bat their hands away.

“You two are the worst,” Theo said.

“How’d it go?” Tresk asked.

“Poorly,” Theo said, explaining the meeting. “He slipped up more than once, although I wasn’t trying to catch him on anything. Someone wanted me in the mayor’s seat, perhaps specifically Miana out of the position. There’s also trouble in Qavell. That’s why the tax collector never showed.”

“Fenian might know,” Azrug said.

“Fenian knows—without a doubt,” Tresk said. “That elf is hiding something.”

“Seems like everyone is hiding something,” Theo said. “I think I need to talk to Miana.”

Miana Kell’s house sat on the southern edge of Broken Tusk, far from the northern center of town. It was a squat, Level 1 seed core house made of stone and a slatted roof. The chimney that poked from the edge of the roof bore wisps of a fire. Theo knocked on the door, and a moment later, she answered.

Miana was a hard woman at the best of times. She’d been tempered in the fires of leadership, even when she wanted to do anything else. She was as tall as Theo, as most half-ogres were, with light olive skin and her black hair kept short. The look in her eyes was one of constant annoyance, but the alchemist smiled.

“Hello, Miana,” Theo said.

“You’re ruining my retirement,” Miana said. Still, she gestured for him to come inside.

Theo sat near the fireplace, swishing his tail to the side and regarding the interior. It was a simple home. Some ancient heraldry hung from the far wall near the window, a bed sitting in the far corner. Miana sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her face and groaning.

“What do you want?” Miana asked.

“I’ve put this off for longer than I care to admit,” Theo said, withdrawing two gold coins from his inventory. He handed them over to her, watching as the System flashed a window into his vision.

[Quest Completed: Pay Your Debts!]

The quest came with no rewards, but it felt good to have it out of his quest long, which was now empty. Miana smiled, nodding.

A small stack of copper coins appeared in Theo’s hand, which he quickly stuffed away.

“Is that the actual reason you’re here?” Miana asked.

She could sense that he had more on his mind than paying his debts. Something lingered in the back of his mind that he wanted to bring to the fore.

“Who forced you out of the mayor's position?” Theo asked.

Miana’s eyes lit up for a moment, extinguishing immediately. It wasn’t something that Theo missed; he was far too perceptive.

“I stepped down on my own. You were doing a great job,” Miana said, almost monotone.

“Well, if that isn’t a pile of Karatan crap,” Theo said. “Out with it. I’ve got too little information as it is. I don’t need someone in my town that wants to hide secrets.”

“Your town,” Miana said, shaking her head. “Yes, I suppose this is your town. Perhaps all the southlands are yours, as well. Maybe even the pass into the sea—why not the ocean itself? You can have the desert and Khahar while you’re at it. Why not build a kingdom?”

“Come on,” Theo said, his shoulders slumping. “I took the position to help people.”

Miana regarded him for a moment before staring into the fire. Her eyes lingered there for a moment, as though something was on the edge of her mind.

“A man”—something broke inside her then, Theo could see—“contacted me through the crystal. I was given instructions before you arrived.”

Theo’s brow knitted tight on his forehead, sweat forming in the deep-set paths. The fire was blisteringly hot, but Miana stoked it that way.

“That’s not possible,” Theo said. “Who could have known I’d arrive here?”

Miana managed a sheepish shrug, turning her attention to picking at the fabric of her bedsheets. She was more of a scolded child at that moment, all bravado falling away in thick plates of shame. He wondered how long she’d been keeping this secret and the cost of it all.

“How long?” Theo asked.

“Years,” Miana said with a shrug. “Gods, I can’t even remember anymore.”

The ex-mayor pulled a notebook out of a cupboard and flicked through the pages, pressing her finger on one and shaking her head. A look of pain flashed across her face.

“850, Year of Balkor’s Betrayal,” Miana said. “Twenty-three years ago.”

Whatever distrust for Miana he felt melted away at that moment. She’d been sitting on a secret for that long, telling no one. The cost must have been too great to betray this man, whoever he was. This left the alchemist with more questions than answers, a state of being he was growing accustomed to.

“What did he say, exactly?” Theo asked.

Miana turned, holding the journal so it caught the light of the fire. “In the 873rd year of Balkor’s Betrayal, a demon will appear in Broken Tusk. From the Earth, into the sky, then the farm. Nurture him, for he will turn the tide.”

Her voice was a lilting thing, barely above a whisper.

Theo’s heart was hammering hard in his ears. The confluence of events he’d predicted went wider than he expected. The entire thing was some damned prophecy—something he wanted nothing to do with. He was left with a single question. How deep did it go?

“Anything else?” Theo asked, swallowing his fear.

“Instructions,” Miana said, shrugging. “Keep the town at a low level, preserve the alchemist’s building, and manage the dungeons.”

Theo stood up, pacing between the fireplace and the door. “This is too much, Miana. No one knows?”

“Not a soul,” Miana said. “He had… collateral.”

There it was. The thing the alchemist feared from the outset. His list of suspects was long, but Drogramath was on top of it. There was also Fenian, but that didn’t line up well. The Harbinger could have been at the root, but that entity seemed disinterested at best. Then there were the countless actors in the Kingdom of Qavell, including the Order of the Burning Eye.

“Did you get what was yours back?” Theo asked.

A smile played across her face, something that drove a dagger through Theo’s heart. “Yes.”

Theo moved to the door, placing a shaking hand on the handle. His body trembled, clothes soaked through with a mixture of rainwater and sweat. For the first time since his arrival in the town, he doubted. He doubted himself. His ability to see them through whatever storm was on the horizon. The idea that his cause was just.

“I need to gather my thoughts,” Theo said, his voice quavering. “I’ll be back with more questions.”

“Theo,” Miana called, forcing him to turn around. She had tears in her eyes, begging relief at the corners. Another dagger through his heart. “You’re a good man. A good mayor. Whatever this was, you were the right pick.”

“I feel like I’ll need to be more than good,” Theo said, something catching in his throat.

Chapter 3

High-Pressure Refining

Theo tried hard to push the intrusive thoughts out of his mind. Not even the endless list of new abilities gave him relief. He stood outside of Miana’s house, staring into the sheets of rain for what felt like hours. Tresk sent telepathic communications several times, but he ignored them for the time being. A clap of thunder from the south woke him from his stupor. He blinked away the rain, looking over the town that he helped upgrade.

“I have some information,” Theo said, sending a message to Tresk.

He explained how sensitive the information was. Despite her sporadic behavior, the woman could be trusted with a secret. He’d told her many things in the past that he knew she would take to the grave. She responded attentively, voicing her concerns where appropriate and listening to others. He could feel her emotions in his chest, somewhere near his Tara’hek Core.

“This changes nothing,” Tresk said. “If someone wants you here, that’s fine. But we’re making our own fortune. They can’t have you—you’re mine.”

“I knew you’d have a positive spin on this,” Theo said.

He wanted to be more upset about the situation, but he wasn’t. It changed nothing in the wider world and still placed them at the center of a conflict he wanted nothing to do with. Power was the only thing that mattered. Fenian’s words echoed through his mind then, a quirk of his Wisdom giving him near perfect recall.

“Power draws power.”

It was some saying from a long-forgotten empire named Zalabar, if the elf could be trusted. Broken Tusk had been given the reins to power, and it would draw others to it. As mayor, he would need to be ready to face whatever power came to wash over them. He needed to turn the tide. Whatever that meant.

Theo returned to the lab, bypassing Azrug’s questions and closing the door behind him. A new skill appeared in his available skills window. He had scrolled through the endless barrage of skills in the past, but this was the first one with a level requirement. He inspected the skill.

[High-Pressure Refining]

Uncommon Alchemy Skill

Requires: Drogramath Alchemy Core Level 10

Pressure has an interesting effect on essences. This skill allows you to safely operate a pressure vessel. Learning how a pressure vessel works is up to you.

Effect:

Allows the user to operate an alchemical pressure vessel safely.

Gives the user access to refined essence identification.

+1 Intelligence

He learned to wait before selecting things by this point. The Intelligence boost would be appreciated, but it was a single point. The real gem of the skill was exactly what he expected from hitting Level 10. It gave access to an additional step of essence refinement. Before taking the plunge, he opened his copy of Basic Drogramath Alchemy and flipped through the pages. Most of it was still in riddles, but one section stood out. Half of the poems were now replaced with something the alchemist could understand. This section detailed the High-Pressure Refining skill, confirming his suspicions.

According to whatever Demon had penned this book, High-Pressure Refining was a necessary skill. It allowed the alchemist to remove the impurities from the essence distillation method. He breathed a sigh of relief as he went over the instructions. They were detailed. Unlike the massive amount of guesswork he’d done in the past, he now had explicit instructions on how to perform the process. Each reagent produced at least three properties. When distilled into an essence, that essence contained impurities, which amounted to the other properties. When put under extreme pressure and in the presence of a catalyst, these additional impurities were removed.

The result ‌would produce a different essence than the base form. The book detailed them as refined essences and was complete with a list of sample recipes based on essence properties. This was more information than he could have hoped for. Theo had to wonder if Fenian knew the value of this book. His brush with the archmage clarified that information was worth a fortune. Whatever price he paid for this book wasn’t enough. It was priceless.

Theo bought the skill, equipping it in his Drogramath Alchemy Core without hesitation. The only thing he needed to worry about now was leveling his herbalism core to 10. Once he had that, he’d have a free core slot. It would sit empty for some time, just like Tresk’s. She was still looking for the perfect core to fit her build, but she was coming up empty. The trader’s visits to the town had become more frequent, along with adventurers, but that brought her no closer to making a decision.

Broken Tusk had become accustomed to their mayor not making appearances. Theo spent all his time working on breaking the barrier, and now that it had fallen, he didn’t know what to do with himself. He went downstairs, surprised he didn’t notice the ringing of the bell upstairs. Azrug was with a customer, selling the wares the alchemist produced. He clapped his hand over the shopkeeper’s shoulder before leaving the store, heading back out into the rain. He went south, intent on checking on Perg.

Her tannery had undergone a transformation in recent days. She demolished the old, hand-built building in favor of a seed core tannery. From Theo’s experience, this enhanced the effects of whatever craft was performed inside. With her Tanner Core, she could produce impossibly supple leathers. Even when the alchemist used his specialized process, it seemed to pale when compared to her work. The door was open, but he knocked on the frame.

“Come in,” Perg said from within. Theo entered.

He found her over a shallow pit, pouring some of his alchemical mixture over unprocessed hides. Theo watched with pride as the mixture stripped away the hair in an instant, reflecting a year’s worth of work the old way. Perg Grott was a hearty woman, like most of the half-ogres in Broken Tusk, as tall as him and muscular beyond reason. Most citizens in the town favored dumping their attributes into Strength, as they were mostly laborers. She had dull red skin like most half-ogres, long black hair, and gray eyes. There was always something lurking behind her eyes, though. As though she knew more than she let on.

“Finally got it to 10,” Theo said.

“Oh, I saw the explosion,” she said, grinning. “Congratulations. I also saw the wizard. Those are dangerous folk.”

“He’s a drunk,” Theo said, watching the women work.

“That’s worse,” Perg said. “Can I expect to see you around more now that you’re past the barrier?”

“I think so,” Theo said, smiling. “I’ll be working on the town a lot more.”

“Don’t forget my tanning potions,” Perg said, furrowing her brow.

“Never.”

Theo stood there for some time, just watching Perg work. When he upended her business, he sent five of her employees onto the street without jobs. The alchemist was more than willing to put them to work on another project of his. But so long as they fit in, it hardly seemed to matter. He realized now, looking back on the entire thing, that it was a bad move. Theo spread himself too thin over everything, snatching at the newest shiny thing in front of his face. Pumping some attribute points into Intelligence might help, but he would learn from his mistakes. He needed to.

Watching Perg work sent waves of comfort through his chest. Perhaps this entire place was constructed by forces unknown, but that didn’t matter. People were living good lives here. They’d been pulled out of poverty by that convergence of things, and if Theo’s intuition was anything to go by, the center-stage of something bigger. His current train of thought led him to the immediate concerns of the town. In his absence, the adventurers had been jamming monster cores into the monolith, increasing Broken Tusk’s level close to 15. Fenian promised there would be an upgrade to mount his weapons, and he had to trust the elf’s word.

Theo thought of all the things he needed to accomplish in Broken Tusk. First, he promised himself he’d take it easy. He wouldn’t take on more jobs than he could handle, focusing on his alchemy and elevating the people of the town. Second, the farmers needed help. If that was an investment from him or the creation of some growth potions, he didn’t know. Those were his objectives. The alchemist wouldn’t accept additional work and would aim to get Ziz and the stonecutters on their own. Whatever magical gemstones they found would be theirs to deal with.

“I can’t remember the last time I saw you so deep in thought,” Perg said, smiling.

Theo cleared his throat and straightened up. He was leaning against a table, scratching his chin as he thought. “I think I need to speak to Throk.”

“Have you seen the old man recently?” Perg asked, grinning. “He has a new core.”

“Really? Which one?” Theo asked.

“If you go to the blacksmith, you’ll find out,” Perg said. “At least then you’d be leaving me in peace to work.”

“Right. Later,” Theo said, excusing himself.

The sun shone through the haze of rain, barely piercing the veil cast over Broken Tusk. The rain ran down the cobbled path south, splashing underfoot as Theo made the trek to the center of town. He saw the old mayor’s office looming in the distance before he saw the blacksmith. Both buildings were built by hand and needed to be replaced with seed core buildings. Someone was managing the replacement of the rotten buildings south of the farmer’s plots, but it wasn’t a project he was managing. Friendly faces gave greetings as he made his way through the square, finding Throk tinkering with something in the attached workshop. The forge was cold, the old marshling man hunched over a workbench.

“Afternoon,” Theo said, waving to get the man’s attention.

A grin spread across Throk’s face. “Finally. Well, I’m glad you’ve disappeared for as long as you have.”

“That’s nice,” Theo said.

“Watch,” Throk said, retrieving something from across the workshop. He waddled out into the rain, set some contraption down and prodded it for a moment. After a swift kick, the object came to life. It sputtered for a moment, producing a small, wild flame.

“Artificer,” Theo said. “You got an artificer core.”

“Yes, I did,” Throk said. “Cost me a fortune to get the epic one, but it was worth it.”

“I have a project for you,” Theo blurted out.

“Hah! Of course you do. You always have a project,” Throk said, grinning. “Give me the specifications—just be warned. My prices have gone up.”

Theo spent the rest of the day working with Throk. The marshling’s blacksmithing core gave him an edge over regular artificers, according to him. He could fabricate almost anything from metal, thanks to his skills, and attach artifices based on need. They eventually settled on a plan for a large tank with several artifices attached. Throk had access to an array of different designs he could work from, having bought a design book from Fenian. The first artifice would be an isolation artifice, which would negate the pressure and allow Theo to insert and remove objects while the tank was under pressure. The second one would create extreme pressures inside the tank without creating heat. The last one would extract the solid waste at the bottom, which was basically another isolation artifice.

“That’s fine‌,” Throk said, stepping away from his parchment. He had scribbled his notes there in a rough form. “I know you’re good for the coin, so we’ll talk about payment later. We’re looking at a few gold. The copper is cheap for the tank, but the mechanisms for the artifices are pretty pricey.”

Theo withdrew a single gold coin from his inventory and handed it over. “For a down payment.”

“More like, ‘I need to buy supplies,’” Throk said, chuckling. “I have most of what I need, though.”

“Perfect.”

Theo departed from the smith’s workshop, stopping to stand by the monolith for a while. He let out a sigh. This was the exact thing he was trying to avoid. Miana spilled her story to him in confidence, and he internalized that information. Instead of processing it, he pushed it to the deepest parts of his mind. He locked it away like some feral thing, refusing to look at it. The alchemist jumped at the next, shiniest thing in his sight to wash away those uneasy feelings.

The people of Broken Tusk were suffering when he arrived. The man who told Miana to keep the town at a low level was responsible for that; it was clear the swamp held a bounty. If they had attracted some traders earlier in their history, they would have exported the reagents and made a fortune. Even Ziz’s mine in the north foothills was making obscene amounts of money. There was another line of thought he had, though. Not that the things within the town were always there. It was the idea that they only manifested when he arrived.

A sudden crack of thunder brought Theo’s mind to the present. The haggard wizard appeared in front of him, stumbling over the cobble for a moment and almost colliding with the alchemist. He caught the elf, now stinking of liquor once again.

“You’re a dirty dealer, Dronon,” Uharis said, narrowing his eyes. He pointed an accusatory finger.

“How so?” Theo asked, welcoming the distraction.

“You’ve taken ownership over the swamp dungeon,” Uharis said. “How am I going to experiment if I can’t fiddle with the thing?”

“Well,” Theo said, taking a steadying breath. He thought to channel some of Azrug’s spirit at that moment. “That costs extra.”

“Oh, fie,” Uharis said, brushing some mud from his robe. “I hope you’re joking. You’re joking, right? Oh, what does it matter? You’re going to fleece me while I’m here—do you know what happens when you anger a wizard?”

“Are you angry?” Theo asked, casting his eyes over the gathering crowd. Maybe this was a bad idea.

“No, not really,” Uharis said, straightening himself up. “I’m hungry. And tired, perhaps. Still a little hungover, yes. Not angry.”

Theo tried to get sight of the sun through the haze above, but he couldn’t. His rumbling stomach told him dinner time was close enough.

“Want to join us for dinner?” Theo asked.

Uharis perked up suddenly. His eyes went wide to bulging, and he nodded, patting his stomach. “I’d like that.”

Theo beckoned for the strange elf to follow him south to the Newt and Demon. He sent a mental message to Tresk to meet them there, and she agreed.

“We’ll talk about your dungeon access,” Theo said. “I might have you experiment on the other dungeons, though. The one in the swamp seems unstable.”

“That’s what I was trying to say!” Uharis bellowed. “I may be able to stabilize it.”

Theo stopped on the cobbles, turning to face the archmage. “May be able to. What is that? A low chance of success? High chance?”

“Extremely high,” Uharis said, folding his arms. He was suddenly serious in a way Theo hadn’t seen him before. “Outlander, I’ll tell you this much. You’re right to be cautious. Tampering with dungeons is dangerous. I give you my word, as the archmage of the Order of the Burning Eye, that I will not harm your dungeon.”

Uharis hoisted the icon from his chain in the air, pulling the chain hard against his neck. “I swear it on the Burning Eye.”

Motes of light poured from the icon, dancing across the wet ground. Theo was going to let him tamper with the dungeon anyway. He was close enough to upgrading the town that he could mount his defensive artifices if things went wrong. The alchemist smiled, placing a hand on the elf’s shoulder.

“That means more than you know,” Theo said. “The order has been nothing but nice to me. If Sulvan thinks you’re cool, you’re cool.”

“Cool,” Uharis repeated, wiggling his eyebrows. “Outworlder slang, no doubt.”

Theo smiled, leading the way for the archmage to follow. They made their way into the Newt and Demon, the smell of cooking meat obvious from the shop downstairs. Uharis rubbed his hands together as they ascended the stairs, finding Azrug, Tresk, and Luras crowded around the Flame Artifice.

“Steak for everyone,” Tresk said, giggling and flipping the contents of her wide copper pan.

Uharis blustered, pushing his way to the fire and shaking his head. “No salt. No butter—this place really is savage.”

He yanked the pan from her hands and withdrew several items from his inventory. Tresk began to object, but silenced herself as he took the items out. The archmage sprinkled salt, cut a fat knob of butter, and started moving the pan back and forth on the flame. The group watched as he worked his magic over the fire. Before long, and without prompting, he found five plates and dished the food out.

“Thank you for the butter, magic elf,” Tresk said, tearing a large section of her steak out with her teeth.

“Oh, this is good,” Azrug said, slumping in his seat dramatically. “Really good.”

Theo cut himself a section of his steak and took a bite. It had been a while since he’d had the amazing combination of salted steak with butter. He really needed to find a way to get both things in the town. The group ate through their meal with light conversation. Uharis revealed more about himself but was slightly cagey about it all. Tresk claimed that’s just how wizards were.

“You have a free core slot,” Uharis said, nodding to Tresk.

“I do,” she said, perking up.

“Well, Assassin and Tracker are good bases,” Uharis said, nodding. “Ah, well. This is a service I provide for the scholar cults—quite expensive. But if you’ll hear me, I'll give you a good suggestion.”

Tresk leaned over, her eyes wide. “Tell me, wizard man.”

“Combine any rare rogue core, with a rare Illusion Hedgemage Core. You’ll find yourself with a Shadowdancer Core, of epic rarity. With Shadowdancer Core, you’ll have many options for stealth. More than you have now, even. There’s a passive ability you can buy that grants you a bonus to all stealth abilities. Increased damage, reduced cooldowns. It’s quite a sight to watch a shadowdancer work.”

Tresk was on the edge of her seat. It was the most attention Theo had ever seen her pay to anyone, even him. While she might not ‌remember the information, the alchemist’s memory was nearly perfect. He could remember it easily.

“You’re giving that information for free?” Azrug asked, blustering.

“Yes, my normal fee is quite expensive. Who thinks of combining those two cores, right? The scholars guard the information closely. The Outlander gave me permission to study the dungeon. And we’re all friends here,” Uharis said.

“Yeah, friends,” Tresk said, her eyes wide.

“To a new friendship,” Uharis said, smiling. “And disobeying the High Inquisitor of the Order of the Burning Eye!”

Theo grimaced, only managing a weak smile. They stayed there for some time, only just before the sun set. Azrug left first, followed by Luras, who seemed completely absorbed in the steak. When the archmage left, he went intending to find a room at the Marsh Wolf Tavern.

Tresk pressed her forehead against Theo’s before they made their way to bed. The Tara’hek Core was on the verge of hitting Level 10, and he couldn’t wait to see what they’d get. The pair drifted off to sleep at the same time, enveloped in a sense of comfort brought by breaking the barrier.

Chapter 4

The Farmers

Pale moonlight filtered through the upstairs window of the Newt and Demon. A flame danced above a Fire Artifice, licking over the edge of Tresk’s copper pan. The marshling dutifully flipped the morning steaks, sending globs of grease over the edge. The pair woke that morning before dawn, as they typically did. Theo sat at the table near the window, staring out as crisp night air flowed inside. He swatted away the intrusive thoughts that would steer him away from his goals, the shiny things that he wanted to fix.

“I don’t even want to consider it,” Tresk said with a weak shrug.

Theo had explained Miana’s words in more detail, a fact the marshling didn’t care for. She was always good at keeping the past where it belonged, looking forward to a brighter dawn. The alchemist was typically there with her, but the mystery nagged at the corners of his mind. Last night was the first in several weeks where he didn’t have haunting dreams. Not nightmares, just uneasy images of things he didn’t understand. After hitting the threshold of Level 10 and meeting with Sulvan, those dreams left him like carrion on the wind.

“No, we shouldn’t dwell on the past. I agree,” Theo said. “It’s the strangeness of it all that gets me. Someone wanted me to be here.”

“Well, the answer to that is simple,” Tresk said, perking up. “You’ll refuse to be put on a leash. Whoever comes to collect will find a dagger in their back; just you wait.”

“Especially if you’re a Shadowdancer,” Theo said, grinning.

“We gotta get the cores,” Tresk said. “I’ll pay for them. I need them!”

“Don’t worry, we’ll get them,” Theo said.

Tresk served the steak, a dish that seemed lacking without the salt and butter. Theo had a greedy thought to push the farmers into raising Karatans but shrugged it away. Salt would go a long way, though.

“Plans?” Tresk asked through a mouthful of meat.

“I’m taking it easy, still,” Theo said, waving her away. “I’m going to make my rounds with the rest of the town. Aarok’s adventurer’s guild is my first stop, then Banurub’s farm.”

“Finally getting to the farm?” Tresk asked, chuckling. “I bet they feel abused.”

“Not as much as Ziz and the miners,” Theo said. “I told them I’d look into the magic rocks they found, but I haven’t.”

“You can’t do everything,” Tresk said. “At least they paid off the debt they owed.”

Theo reflected on that. The few weeks he spent trying to break his barrier saw the quarry being paid off in full. Ziz and his stoneworkers worked tirelessly to pay off their debt, handily producing the 3 gold they owed him and a little more. Now he had the pleasure of sitting back and taking 10 percent of their profits without lifting a finger. He felt guilty, but only for a moment. Without him, they’d still be laboring for poverty wages.

That was a selfish thought that led back to Miana’s portent. The entire town would still be on the verge of starving, living in the mud. He didn’t want to be anyone’s savior, let alone set up by some nonsense concept like destiny. Theo often felt like an invader in Broken Tusk. Thrust into the mayor’s seat with little fanfare. He wanted the position, but that didn’t make it any better.

“I deserve the mayor’s position, right?” Theo asked. “Even after what Miana told me.”

“Of course,” Tresk said, blowing raspberries. “Look, you didn’t have to stay here. It made the most sense for you, but you could have left. Some big-time alchemist in Qavell would have killed to have you in their shop. Anytime you feel doubtful, talk to me. I’ll set you straight.”

“That’s brilliant advice,” Theo said, grinning.

He wasn’t just inflating her ego, either. Tresk made a great sounding board for his doubts.

“Of course it is, you dirty Demon,” Tresk said. “Eat your food.”

Theo obeyed, cutting off a sizeable chunk of steak and shoving it in his mouth. Instead of dwelling on something he couldn’t change, he shifted his thoughts to the task at hand. The problem with the farmers wasn’t a single problem. There were several problems. He didn’t have the growth potion but had reserved that until he talked to them. Unlike with Perg’s tannery issue, he couldn’t be sure if making things grow faster would be a good thing. Perhaps the demand for Zee, the corn-like crop the farmers grew, wasn’t as high as he expected.

“I wonder what the farmers need,” Theo said, taking another bite.

Tresk shrugged, swallowing the rest of her meal with little chewing. “Good question. Karatans, maybe. I don’t know how they do in the southlands. Maybe a breeding program for another kind of creature. Access to different seeds. Some growing potions—that was your original plan.”

“Well, no sense sitting here,” Theo said, looking out the window. “The farmers rise well before we do, so I’ll go have a chat with Banurub after I’ve met with Aarok.”

“Guess what I’m doing?” Tresk asked.

“Dungeon?”

“Nope. Patrol duty,” Tresk said, grinning. “Someone said they saw a goblin riding a wolf.”

Theo grimaced. “That’s weird. Does that normally happen? Monsters working together like that?”

“Yeah, they get more organized. It’s like phases of development. More monsters, more cooperation, stronger—you know. Phases.”

“Right. I’ll tell Aarok to reserve monster cores for the town,” Theo said.

“Yeah, come here,” Tresk said, holding her arms up, beckoning him to stoop to her level. She pressed her forehead against his, and they gained a bit more experience. “Almost 10. So close. We’re gonna get something cool—I can feel it.”

“I can feel it, too,” Theo said.

Tresk departed first, leaving Theo to look over his lab before he went. The Newt and Demon had grown considerably since he inherited the place. Even with the expansions, he didn’t know if pressure tanks would fit inside. The artifices Throk was creating might need to go outside. These thoughts fell away as he descended into the empty shop below. A scatter of useful potions sat on the shelves, but the supply was dwindling. The alchemist would need to perform profitable alchemy soon.

The ground was slick outside from morning dew, glistening in the fading light of the moon above. That pale light mingled with the fire of sunrise, splashing the eastern horizon with a wash of purples and oranges. The sunlight scoured away the wispy clouds of the night, banishing them for the day. It made way for the constant storms of the Season of Blooms already visible to the west. Theo pulled his robe closer and moved north to the center of town, the night chill still biting in the air.

Aarok’s adventurer’s guild occupied the ex-mayor’s building. It was a hand-built place made of rotting timber with a failing roof and shoddy foundation. Theo knocked on the door and waited. The guildmaster appeared moments later, smiling. He was larger than most half-ogres, earning his station by both strength and intellect. Like most of his kin, his skin was a pale red color, bordering on ochre. He’d trimmed back the mess of black hair since Theo saw him last, revealing his powerful features in full.

“Finally,” Aarok said, the smile turning slightly sour. “Come in.”

Theo followed the half-ogre back to Miana’s old office. Aarok plopped down into a hard wooden chair and let out a sigh. The alchemist joined him on the opposite side of a heavy table.

“Any problems?” Theo asked.

“Yeah, my mayor was on a spirit journey,” Aarok said, laughing. He was in higher spirits than normal. “No, it’s fine. I just wanted a little direction.”

“All right, what’s going on?”

“Well, I have a few problems,” Aarok said, reclining in his chair. “First, I got an offer from the adventurer’s guild in Rivers and Daub. It’s a pittance.”

Theo waved him away. “Don’t take it. Whatever they’re offering you to join their group isn’t worth it.”

“Agreed. I just wanted your word on it,” Aarok said. “We think alike, in a lot of ways. They offered a lump sum, but it was an insult. The guild will remain localized, outside of their influence.”

“Perfect,” Theo said. “That was my thoughts on the matter, anyway. We’re strong enough to make it on our own, for now.”

“Next problem. Should I be reserving cores?” Aarok asked. “The adventurers won’t like it, but I can make them put the monster cores into the town.”

“Yeah, put everything into the town. You’re right, we think alike,” Theo said, laughing. “We won’t need the protection of a foreign guild if we have big lightning flingers on the walls.”

“Agreed. That’s it,” Aarok said, grinning. “I have no more issues.”

“You’re the easiest to deal with,” Theo said. “How are you doing, by the way?”

“I’m getting into it,” Aarok said with a shrug. “I expected to hate the position, but it’s nice. It really reminds me of my days training for the Qavelli Irregulars. Seems like a stupid dream, looking back on it.”

Theo shrugged. “Gotta take what we can get. I see what you mean, though. You’re building a force here.”

“They’re getting strong, too,” Aarok said. “The way the monsters are spawning in the Swamp Dungeon gives them a chance to push themselves.”

Theo nodded. That made sense. More monsters meant more stuff to kill. Broken Tusk had the dungeon all to themselves. In reality, they had four dungeons to themselves. Once the others started overflowing, the adventurers would get even stronger.

“Well, it’s been a pleasure,” Theo said, standing up. “Come find me if you need anything.”

“Sure.”

Theo left the adventurer’s guild, heading directly for the farms. He was happy that Aarok enjoyed his position as the guildmaster and excited that he agreed to stay independent. There was something about the other guilds that rubbed the alchemist the wrong way. They seemed to provide little in the way of support while still collecting dues. Since the adventurers in Broken Tusk were mostly natives, they were happy to agree with whatever their guildmaster said.

The town’s tight-knit community ‌gave it charm and would see it prosper in the future. That sense of community made the alchemist’s journey to the farm that much more painful. He’d ignored them since he got to the town, taking on too many other side jobs before turning to address their issues.

The ascent to the farmer’s hill was arduous. It left Theo gasping for breath by the time he saw the sprawling fields, some currently fallow. The smell of tilled earth filled his nose, mingling with the scent of oncoming rain. Ozone was a common smell in Broken Tusk during the Season of Blooms. One could rely on that thing alone to precede a storm, but the advantage of height gave him a clear picture of the clouds brewing west of the town. They hung in the sky, low and filled with rain, prepared to cover them in another thick downpour.

The people who worked the farm represented the lowest, least-earning peoples of the town. Theo watched as they toiled in the fields, performing tedious work for little pay. Whatever he did to help these people, he needed Banurub to agree to an increase in wages. Without that trickle of income, they couldn’t hope to overcome the growth in the local economy. The alchemist worked his way over the cobbled path through the middle of the fields, Zee growing on the left where the right remained fallow for the season. He found Banurub’s farmhouse before long, knocking on the door and waiting for the half-ogre to appear.

Banurub, who preferred to be called Banu, appeared at the door with a smile on his face. He was like most half-ogres, if not a little stunted. He didn’t rise to their typical heights, standing a head shorter than Theo. What he lacked in height, he made up for in width. The man had the kind of build and strength only a farmer could have, and the alchemist suspected he put all of his points into strength. He didn’t know what level he was, but it had to be pretty high.

“Morning, Mayor,” Banu said, grinning. “Finally break that barrier?”

The farmer gestured, allowing Theo inside his home. It was a quant, hand-built structure that felt cozy. The alchemist assumed a chair near the rear window, looking out over the fields.

“I did. The answer was right in front of me,” Theo said.

“It often is,” Banu said, taking a seat. “So, is it my turn?”

Theo snorted a laugh. “Yeah, it’s your turn.”

“Honestly, we’re fine,” Banu said, leaning forward. “I’m sure there are others that need your help.”

“No, you’re next on my list,” Theo said, knitting his brow. “I wanted to elevate the whole farm. I wanted the laborers to get paid more.”

“I already raised their rates,” Banu said, waving a dismissive hand. “Laborers can make 5 copper a day now.”

“Why?” Theo asked. “How can you afford that?”

“Cost of Zee went up,” Banu said, grinning.

Theo let out a long breath. He pressed his fingers into his temples. A sum of 5 copper a day was good, but it wasn’t sustainable. People earning that wage would make a decent living, but they wouldn’t thrive. And what would happen when the price of Zee went down? They’d be left living a lifestyle they couldn’t support, coming back to the same problem they had before. No, that wasn’t acceptable.

“All right, Banu. We need to think of ways to improve your business,” Theo said. “Things that I can invest in, so you can make more money. You need to expand to support your workers.”

Banu’s brows knitted tightly, and he stared out of the window. He stayed like that for some time before responding.

“Well, I guess I can think of a few things,” Banu said. “Exporting Zee is profitable, but we could grow other things.”

“Would you have any use for potions that make your crops grow faster?” Theo asked.

“The problem with that idea is that I don’t know what it’ll put in the soil,” Banu said. “Zee has a very specific need, namely the mud from the marsh. If that gets screwed up, the Zee won’t grow.”

“All right, that’s a start,” Theo said. “I can look into improving the quality of the soil. Do you have any interest in starting a ranch? Raising livestock?”

“Well, that’s quite expensive,” Banu said.

“Good thing you have an investor sitting in your house,” Theo said, narrowing his eyes.

The alchemist couldn’t figure out if the man was leading him on, being intentionally short-sighted, or if it was honestly just the way he was.

“We’ll put a ranch on the back-burner and focus on improving the production of Zee,” Theo said. “I hope you don’t mind if I stop by the farm occasionally to experiment.”

“As long as you don’t hurt the crop, I don’t care,” Banu said.

Theo reached out a hand for the farmer to shake, which he did. “I’ll be back often. We’ll sort this out.”

“Bye.”

Theo left, feeling worse about the problem than when he started. Banu’s farm would need a firm hand, he could tell. He walked down the avenue between the fields and scooped up a handful of dirt from the base of a Zee stalk, intending to return to the lab and begin experimentation immediately. The Drogramath Alchemy Core whispered in tandem with the Drogramath Herbalism Core, urging him to investigate the soil. There was something special in that mud. He just had to discover what it was.

Plants needed nutrients in the ground to grow—Theo knew that much. Earth was a mess when it was destroyed, and he never tried his hand at growing anything in the fouled soil there. Still, he understood the base concept, and his cores would do the rest of the work. His mind reached for information it shouldn’t have, his intuition coming up with a few ideas to start with. Then his thoughts shifted to his own needs. The needs of his lab and the constant hunt for the never-ending reagents.

“Back burner,” Theo said, nodding to himself.

The storms opened up over the swamp, a sheet of rain visible from the distance. Theo pulled his robe tight and let the storm wash over him. The curtain pulled itself over Broken Tusk, visible clearly from the height of the farmer’s hill. Tresk had been collecting Spriggan Hearts from the dungeon, giving him a hefty stockpile. He reserved himself to grinding out herbs to get to Level 10 in his herbalism core, letting everything fall by the wayside until the pressure vessel was done.

“Light experimentation until then,” Theo said, barely audible over the driving rain.

The alchemist made his way back to the Newt and Demon, watching as people ran to cover from the rain. He pushed through his front door, pouring some Cleansing Scrub on his head before greeting Azrug.

“No customersyet,” Azrug said.

“I doubt we’ll see much in this rain,” Theo said, peering out the front window.

“You never know. Any plans for the day?” Azrug asked.

“Experimentation,” Theo said. “The farmers don’t want my help.”

“That’s farmers for you,” Azrug said. “You need to show them they want your help.”

Theo nodded, clapping a hand over the shopkeeper’s shoulder. “I think you’re right.”

Chapter 5

Drogramath Fermentation

Tresk grumbled about the rain in Theo’s mind. When questioned about the matter—she had always claimed to love the rain—she brushed it off. The Drogramath Still sputtered the last of its essence into a flask, a small batch to test the properties of the Growth Essence. He’d already separated out the smallest amount of farm dirt, dropping a fraction of a unit of the essence on top. The explosion that resulted was sizable, especially considering the tight confines of the lab.

After removing the soot from his face, Theo approached the pile of dirt. Azrug didn’t even come up to check on the alchemist, too used to the random explosions from within the building. An experimentation room would be helpful, ‌but there was no point in worrying about it now. There was something inside the dirt which reacted with the growth essence, which led him to the conclusion that it needed to be refined‌. The only example he had of essence refinement for large-scale applications was Perg’s tannery solutions, but his intuition told him it wouldn’t work.

Unsurprisingly, Basic Drogramath Alchemy didn’t hold any answers for farming applications. There was a section related to “elemental separations,” but he couldn’t read it yet. Theo reserved himself to studying the reagents themselves, namely the intact Water Lily that sat on his table. He moved in, almost pressing his nose against the plant to take in its scent, scanning across the dark green leaves and bright blue flowers. There was something in there that he couldn’t understand lurking beneath the surface. He turned his attention to the pile of dirt.

With the farm dirt, he found a similar sensation. He concluded it was the contaminants, or rather the things that made the Zee grow. Tiny things that felt like properties in his mind, but not exactly that. He made a mental note that these were the elemental parts of all things. A realization struck him—a thought he’d had before. Everything consisted of small amounts of stuff. He wasn’t smart enough to know the science of it, but he knew that much from his time on Earth. The idea of extracting elemental resources wasn’t so far-fetched anymore.

Theo left the Newt and Demon, intending to walk through the rain and collect reagents. He inspected everything as he went, getting close to the trees that grew behind the lab and taking in their small properties. He was sure there was a proper word for it, but he couldn’t think of what to call them. Everything had a distinct flavor in his mind. Trees were wet and rigid, whereas the dirt was teeming with something alive. The reagents that sprouted from the ground were entirely different, having a sort of electricity within them.

“Magic,” Theo said, plucking a Spiny Swamp Thistle from the ground. “They’ve got a bunch of magic in them.”

It wasn’t much of a leap to assume that the alchemy reagents were made of magic, or at least had enough suffused through the plant matter to be noticeable. Hours passed with the alchemist stooping low to inspect plants, appreciating their properties. He gathered whole plants instead of the useful parts for distillation. They fit in his inventory nicely, stacking up to 999 the same way ingredients did. The rain let up for a moment, and a window startled Theo.

Drogramath Herbalism Core gained experience (1%).

Drogramath Herbalism Core reached Level 10.

Obtained free Drogramath Herbalism skill point for hitting Level 10 with this core.

Drogramath Herbalism Core gained an additional skill slot!

Drogramath Herbalism Core gained an enhanced effect: +3 intelligence.

Theo Spencer reached Level 10.

Theo Spencer received one free point.

Theo Spencer received one free skill point.

Theo collapsed to his knees, drawing a ragged gasp as a rush of power flooded through his body. He waited there for a long while, fearful of Drogramath’s attention. But it never came. Unlike the Drogramath Alchemy Core, the Drogramath Herbalism Core didn’t draw the entity’s ire. He rose to his feet, brushing the caked mud from his knees and grinning to himself. He spent his free attribute point on Intelligence, bringing him to 14, although he didn’t feel noticeably smarter. The alchemist started the walk back to his lab, rummaging through the short list of Drogramath Herbalism skills. One stood out over everything else. He’d leave his other free skill point for later.

[Drogramath Fermentation]

Epic Herbalism Skill

Drogramath was fond of fermentation. Not only for the brewing of alcohol but also the strange effect it has on reagents.

Effect:

Fermentations you perform happen rapidly, compared to those without this skill.

Allows the modification of reagents to produce special modifier essences.

+1 Intelligence

The increase in Intelligence was nice, but this would provide him with another way to experiment with new potions. He didn’t know what “modifier essences” were, but he was certain that he wanted them. Theo bought the skill, equipping it in his herbalism core. A rush of knowledge filled his mind, sitting right on the edge. Like most information provided by his cores, it was just a whisper. The faint voice was a guide, not a solution.

Azrug greeted him as he entered, watching as Theo dropped some Cleansing Scrub on his head and allowing him to retreat upstairs with little fuss. The alchemist plopped down in front of his copy of Basic Drogramath Alchemy and flicked through the pages. Something told him the book would contain all the information he needed. He was right. There was an extensive section on fermentation and the effects of the modifier essences. This part of the book once read like a series of choppy essays about nonsense, but now it was as clear as day.

The author was still vague in places, but it was enough to get started. Modifier essences weren’t traditional essences. An alchemist couldn’t make potions from them, only apply them to existing potions. This form of the art was a delicate balance between effect and overreaction. He could create a modifier essence that would make a potion turn into smoke when the glassware was broken, blanketing an area with the effect of the potion. The important part was that this effect was at full strength for everyone who inhaled it.

The list of modifiers went on. A note from the author informed Theo that these were only a few of the effects he could produce, theorizing that there was no limit. There was a modifier that would turn his potions into a heal-over-time, or damage-over-time version without the need to find the specific essence. He could invert the effect of any potion, create area-of-effect potions, or even change the nature of the potion entirely. The section on nature-swapping potions was interesting. As Theo understood it, there were two kinds of potions. There could be more, but he knew of the drinkable kind and the pour-over kind. The book detailed more natures.

Then there was the combination of modifiers. Theo was thankful that the book detailed this, as it was a dangerous practice. The example given was the combination of an area-of-effect modifier and a monster identification modifier. An alchemist could toss a poison potion at their feet, a potion containing the area-of-effect modifier and the monster identification modifier, and only hit enemies. There were even details on how to apply two modifiers.

It was too much information to take in at once. Theo reeled from the sudden influx, reclining back in his chair to process everything. He was certain that no practicing alchemist in Qavell, perhaps all of Iaredin, could make an area-of-effect potion, let alone the others. The discovery was the single biggest thing he’d learned from the book, and he praised Fenian’s name once again. The elf couldn’t have known what he had on his hands when he gave it up.

Theo thought for a moment, taking his new mantra to heart, about using the trader’s crystal to ask him about the new discovery. Fenian could be trusted. The alchemist already gave him too many secrets for a betrayal to be on the horizon. They were even locked in an exclusivity contract. He withdrew the communication crystal from his inventory and squeezed it tight.

“Theo!” Fenian shouted into his mind. “Are you finally through that barrier?”

“I am,” Theo said, unable to suppress his smile. “How are you doing, old friend?”

“Old friend? My, what a great compliment. I like you more every day, dear dronon,” Fenian said, his lilting voice practically swooning. “I’m doing extremely well. There’s a lot of profit to be made with the current situation.”

Theo didn’t want to know what the current situation was. He wanted to distance his mind from the war that raged in the north as much as he could.

“I’m finally deciphering the book you gave me,” Theo said. “It has a lot of weird references, but something stuck out. Have you ever heard of an area-of-effect potion?”

“Like a firebomb?” Fenian asked.

“More like an area-of-effect healing potion that only heals your friends,” Theo said.

Fenian blustered into his mind. “Can you make something like that? I’ll pay an absolute fortune for that—brew me some and you can buy an island somewhere warm.”

“I appreciate it, but I’m just asking if you have heard about it,” Theo said.

“Never. Not in a century of trading. I’m friends with the master alchemists in Qavell—from two separate guilds—and I’ve never heard of it,” Fenian said. “Oh, I’m practically giddy. This is one investment that’s going to pay off!”

“Don’t get too excited,” Theo said. “We’re a long way off from there. It’s a note in the book, nothing to set in stone.”

While that was a lie, it was purposeful. Fenian wouldn’t leave him alone until he’d crafted a thousand such potions. It was better to temper his expectations.

“Well, if I know you, you’ll figure it out. Let me know if you need any supplies for this new enterprise. Let me tell you about my demonic Karatans, Theo. They’re absolutely splendid. I’m making a small fortune simply running supplies for the kingdom.”

“I remember them. They were scary. And fast,” Theo said.

“Like you wouldn’t believe,” Fenian said. “So, while the roads are mostly blocked, I can get anywhere I want. I simply order my little Galflower to leap over those crazed cultists, and we soar through the air. Hah! You’ve seen nothing like that, I promise you.”

“Galflower?”

“That’s what I named my lead Karatan,” Fenian said.

“Of course you did,” Theo said. “I’m going to get to work on this. Let me know if your situation changes.”

“Absolutely! By the many teets of Balkor, I am excited! I’ll talk to you later, my little demon. Galflower! Don’t eat that!” Fenian said. “I’m cutting the connection. My sweet, precious Galflower is eating my hats.”

The connection cut suddenly, but Theo was glad for it. He wished his memory wasn’t so sharp. Perhaps then he could forget what he heard. Crazed cultists in the northlands. That would be the blockage on the roads. The pieces connected quicker than normal, aided by the alchemist’s newly boosted Intelligence. He focused his mind on the important bit of information. No one was making area-of-effect potions. It was an ability exclusive to Drogramath’s brand of alchemy and something he would exploit for the sake of Broken Tusk.

Theo relayed the information to Tresk. She seemed excited about it but tepid because of her patrol duty. She was like that, sometimes. He made sure she knew not to relay the information to anyone, under any circumstances. Now that the information settled in, he went over the information in the book again. The method for fermentation was fairly simple, but there was a catch. To discover modifier properties, he needed to ferment the reagents and inspect them. He couldn’t simply eat something to discover the modifier properties.

Fortunately, the process of fermentation was easier than that of Earth’s version. He needed a few things, some he couldn’t get on his own, but it wasn’t bad. Magically infused wood, which he had access to thanks to the Ogre Cypress, and a supply of motes. The book detailed the process. Create a barrel made of magical wood, place the reagents inside with at least one mote—the mote would change the reaction—and let it sit for at least a day. It was mercifully straightforward.

Theo was glad he’d brought both cores up to Level 10 near the same time. The pressure process from his alchemy core would no doubt pair well with the fermentation process from his herbalism core. The only issue was sourcing the barrels, which could be done from the town’s woodworker. He knew nothing about the elusive person, but he had a habit of making good impressions. He stood up, leaving his book for another time.

Downstairs, Azrug was haggling with an adventurer. The man on the other side of the counter was a broad man covered in a thick layer of banded brown fur. Unlike the cat people he’d seen in the past, this man’s facial features resembled something closer to a bear. Despite the man’s ferocious appearance, the shopkeeper was talking him into paying the most for a set of healing potions.

“You’re shrewd,” the man said, something like a scowl playing across his muzzled face.

Theo noted the deep scars that ran valleys through the man’s fur. The curious thing about the adventurer was that he wore barely anything in the way of armor. A simple skirt protected his modesty, likely for the sake of others, but he was otherwise unclothed. He produced the coin, despite his objections.

“Your shopkeep runs a tight ship,” the man said. “Name’s Boral.”

“Theo, thank you for your business,” Theo said. “We don’t get many of your kin down here in the southlands.”

“No, I don’t imagine you would. Far too hot,” Boral said. “Alas, the allure of the dungeons is too great.”

“Indeed. Care to tell me about your people?” Theo asked, always hungry for more information of those outside of Broken Tusk.

Boral raised a furry eyebrow, leaning over the counter as he collected his potions. “You’re a curious one. Qavell knows us as the Toora, although that name is spoken with venom in the capital. In truth, we are wanderers. Nomads of the Gora Sat—or World Spine as they call it. Mountains as far as the eye can see. Snow.”

Boral let out a deep groan, rumbling through the shop.

“Homesick?” Azrug said, smiling.

“Absolutely. I’m exiled, but that’s our way. When I return to the mountain with treasure, they’ll accept me again,” Boral said.

“You’re an adventurer,” Theo said, gesturing to the man’s attire. “I usually see adventurers in more armor. Is that a cultural thing?”

“Hardly,” Boral said. “The only reason I can stand this swamp is my cores. Barbarian and Pugilist classes grant me not only the ability to fight without armor, but also without weapons.”

“Now that’s a very interesting combination,” Theo said, nodding to himself. “Well, while you’re in town, let us know if you need anything else. Lodging is available at the Marsh Wolf Tavern. Try the soup.”

“I already found my room,” Boral said, shrugging his massive shoulders. “But this soup you speak of is not good.”

“I’m afraid Xam might be slipping,” Azrug said sheepishly. “My sister runs the tavern, but I won’t take offense. At least the beds are nice.”

“The beds are lovely,” Boral said. “I’ll kill and eat my food tonight.”

“Stop by the adventurer’s guild, if you like. Aarok could always use muscle,” Theo said.

“I don’t trust the adventurer’s guild,” Boral said with a scowl.

“Good news, ours is independent,” Theo said. “We hold no affiliation with the wider adventurer’s guilds in the kingdom.”

Boral brightened up, his massive shoulders straightening. “Is that so? I’ve never heard of an independent adventurer’s guild.”

“Only the finest here in Broken Tusk,” Azrug said.

“Well, I’m off,” Boral said, turning and leaving without another word. The bell rang behind him, tinkling for a little longer than normal.

“I’ve never seen a Toora,” Azrug said.

“I’d imagine there’s a lot either of us have never seen,” Theo said. “Who is managing the housing project?”

“Ah, I think I’m supposed to ask you about that,” Azrug said, knitting his brows. “Xam is managing the project, but she’s just directing the laborers for the demolition. She wants you to take a look; make sure everything looks good.”

“Well, it’s a good chance to meet the carpenter,” Theo said.

“You haven’t met Sledge?” Azrug said, laughing. “That’s a shock.”

“Sledge? No, I’ve seen the name on my mayor screen, though,” Theo said.

“Oh, you’re going to like her,” Azrug said. “Real fiery person, that one.”

Theo nodded, bidding farewell to the shop once again. He was intent on both meeting the carpenter, woodworker, or whatever they liked to be called and check on the housing project. He handed enough House Seed Cores over to give everyone a place to stay. They’d be in far better conditions once they were all planted, no longer hunkering under leaky roofs and rotten walls.

The alchemist approached the area north of the Marsh Wolf Tavern, spotting signs of demolition immediately. There were already rows of houses arranged in a neat grid pattern, but a single building stood near the eastern side of the development. Piles of lumber betrayed it as the woodworker’s shop, although he’d never spotted it before. The sounds of handsaws chewing through wood and the scent of freshly cut lumber assaulted him as he grew closer. A single marshling woman stood out front, using her tools to saw a piece of timber in half. She was quite powerful. Theo had to remind himself that size didn’t mean strength.

“Excuse me, I’m looking for Sledge,” Theo said, smiling at the woman. Sledge was the most half-ogre name he’d ever heard. This assistant would fetch the woodworker in short order.

The marshling looked up, scowling from her work. “You’re looking for Sledge? Well, you found her. What d’ya expect? A hulking half-ogre? Well, I’m what ya got.”

Chapter 6

Sledge

Sledge smelled like a combination of sweat and shaved wood. She stood as tall as Tresk, half the height of Theo, with pale brown skin with bright red frills on the side of her head. Her gray eyes were piercing, despite their dull color. The alchemist was taken aback by her appearance, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. It took his mind longer than he’d care to admit catching up to the present, and he stammered for a moment.

“Sledge. Yeah, I was expecting a half-ogre,” Theo said.

“Everyone does. You’re not special. Not even when you’re the mayor. How come you haven’t come to give me your lavish greetings? Sending your lackeys—what a shame,” Sledge said.

“I don’t have an excuse,” Theo said, trying not to laugh.

Sledge squinted at him, and it took everything inside him not to chuckle. She had all the mannerisms of the half-ogres, including the overblown bravado. “I’ve heard it all before. Take a shot,” she said.

“No, I mean,” Theo said, knitting his brow. “It’s just—were you adopted by half-ogres?”

“I was,” Sledge said, resuming her sawing. Theo noticed she was cutting through the wood far quicker than she should be able to, likely thanks to her cores. “Folks took me in when no one else would. Too many mouths, they’d say. Who’s laughing now! Everyone needs a good table.”

“So, you have woodworking cores?” Theo asked.

“Oh, Mr. Bigshot. Coming to invest in my little old shop,” Sledge said, narrowing her eyes. “Yeah, I’ve got cores. Good ones, too. Do I want an investment from you? Nope.”

Theo didn’t think it was possible for someone to have more sass than Tresk, but here she was. Covered in sawdust, wearing a tattered leather apron, and spitting in his face. As much as he wanted to be offended by her behavior, he couldn’t bring himself to dislike her. She was a straight shooter, saying whatever was at the front of her mind. This was honesty he could respect. He didn’t even need his Wisdom to get a read on her. It was right out in the open.

“I need to commission some work,” Theo said, smiling.

“Oh,” Sledge said, moving away from the timber and leaving the handsaw where it was. “Now you’re speaking my language. This is a paying job, right? I take coin upfront.”

“Naturally,” Theo said, waving her off. “I need some barrels.”

“Barrels? I got a hundred barrels crowding my shop,” Sledge said. “Take your pick.”

“Specific barrels. They need to be made of Ogre Cypress. Watertight and banded,” Theo said.

“I can do that,” Sledge said, nodding. “How many do you need, how big of a unit capacity, blah blah.”

“Start with one 200-unit barrel. I have a feeling I’m missing something about this,” Theo said.

“One barrel, all right,” Sledge said. “Ogre Cypress is a pain to work with. Give me 2 silver and a few hours to work it out. I’ll band it with copper.”

Theo happily forked over 2 silver for the barrel, and Sledge took the money without hesitation. The marshling had no more kind words to say to him, waving him off with a dismissive hand. He left, feeling a mixture of confusion and amusement. Something in his cores whispered a flaw in the barrel’s design, but he couldn’t hear those voices clearly. It was something to be left to experimentation, the same reason he didn’t order the 10 barrels he wanted.

Leaving Sledge’s place led him to the construction sites of the planned housing area. The grid pattern they created was great. Most of the cores were already planted in the ground, creating a delightful sight against the remaining crumbling homes. The wood in the hand-built homes was rotted through, revealing the interiors in some places. Each planted house had the same stone appearance on the outside, complete with slatted roofs. They all had different quirks, though. It was in the details that Theo found the character of the buildings.

It was easy to be proud of what they’d done so far. He moved off from that area after watching the laborers go about dismantling a home. The Marsh Wolf Tavern loomed in the distance through a sheet of spitting rain. The downpour calmed down, as it typically did nearing midday, giving Theo a break from the constant soaking wetness. He heard voices inside the tavern before pushing through the threshold, a voice faintly familiar. As he entered the musty building, he spotted Uharis leaning over the front counter.

Xam, the proprietor of the tavern, had a look of complete annoyance on her face. She rolled her eyes at every word the archmage said, casting a desperate glare at the alchemist when he entered. She was shorter than most half-ogres, a head or so shorter than Luras, and had skin far darker than the others in town. It was closer to a dark brown than a red.

“And with every breath I take, I swear to speak only your name,” Uharis said, slurring his words. “You are the midnight jewel of the swamp—I shall pluck you from these moist confines and elevate you.”

“Moist?” Xam asked, a look of horror spreading across her face. “Oh, hello Theo. I have some business to talk to you about.”

“But I’m not done serenading you,” Uharis said, frowning and almost slipping from the bar.

Theo moved to place a firm hand on the archmage’s shoulder. “I think it’s time for a nap.”

“A nap? A nap would be splendid,” Uharis said, his face brightening. “I’ll let you get to your business, my midnight jewel. Farewell.”

The archmage turned on the spot and stumbled into a stack of chairs before eventually finding his way to the stairs. He missed as many steps as he hit, falling over himself repeatedly.

“Gods, I thought he’d never leave,” Xam said, letting out a sigh of relief. “He’s been wooing me for an hour.”

“Is he serious?” Theo asked.

“That’s my greatest fear,” Xam said with a shiver. “Sometimes I put on the charm to get more money from the outsiders, but this is too much.”

“Well, you might have invited the wrong guy into your heart,” Theo said, smirking.

“He’s been giving me tips, so I won’t complain. Not yet,” Xam said. “Don’t look at me like that. I know what I’m doing. I just needed a break.”

“Fair enough,” Theo said. “How's business?”

“Since you’ve been holed up in that lab, things are going great,” Xam said.

“Oh, that’s nice.”

“There are more adventurers than ever. Merchants, too. And guess what those two kinds of people have in common? They gotta eat,” Xam said.

“Now, if only you dropped your prices,” Theo said.

“How? I can’t split a copper. They’re magical,” Xam said.

Something in Theo’s mind twitched at that word. The copper coins were magical. He knew that. The alchemist withdrew his old Copper Alchemy Knife and set it on the counter, staring at the enchanted metal. It was exactly the same as regular copper, the same stuff the water tower was made of, but it was infused with magic. If regular copper got in contact with reagents, they could create a reaction. The gears in his mind churned to a stop. He wasn’t even at the lab, yet he knew what the issue with Sledge’s barrels was.

“Are you robbing me?” Xam asked, eyeing the knife.

“No. I’m thinking about enchanted copper,” Theo said, running his fingers over the length of the blade. “Enchanted copper doesn’t react with reagents. But regular copper does.”

“That sounds dangerous,” Xam said.

“It is. Very dangerous‌,” Theo said. “But I need to make regular copper enchanted somehow. Or at least make it non-reactive with my reagents.”

“You won’t find the answer here. If you’re interested in expensive stew, I’ve got you covered,” Xam said, glowering.

Theo waved her off. “If you have trouble with the archmage, let me know. He’s a drunk.”

“Nothing I can’t handle,” Xam said, her face shifting to concern for a moment. “In small doses.”

Theo nodded, pushing his way out onto the rainy street yet again. Tresk complained about the rain in his mind again but offered no additional information on the state of the swamp. He wandered northward for a while, without a destination in mind. Over the farmer’s hill and into the rocky rise of the northernmost section of the town. A single house, smoke rising in thin wisps against the rain through the chimney, sat on the open plane. As he passed, he saw the faces of the owner’s children. They were of a race known as the Khahari, hailing from the vast desert to the east. The alchemist hadn’t met the children yet, but they were likely to be as delightful as their mother and father.

Theo’s thoughts drifted to an alchemical solution to his problem, which seemed counterintuitive at first. But as he thought about it, he realized that the copper would react with reagents and essences, but not the final potion. It required research, but there could be an approach through alchemy. His near-perfect memory allowed him to cycle through all the ingredients he knew, finding only one that might do the trick. The River Clam Pearl had a property called [Hone Edge], although he hadn’t used it. His intuition said there was more to that, but he pushed it aside. It was possible that the pearl had more properties. He concluded that his intuition was pushing him to that, but how would he eat a pearl? There was also the problem of grinding it up.

Two squat buildings, larger than he’d remembered them, sat in the distance. They were set against a steep incline against the rocky face of a cliff. The rise of the mountain to the north was gradual, enough to allow the construction of the quarry and stoneworker’s workshop. Where he expected the sound of labor, there was nothing. Even though the storm raged overhead, the workers would have been at it. Approaching the workshop, he spotted light from within. After a gentle knock, the door swung open.

The square jaw and prominent forehead of Ziz greeted him, a smile spreading across his face upon seeing the alchemist. The man was extremely wide, his skin a pale red color, with a shaved head. He didn’t hesitate, pulling Theo into a tight embrace.

“Thought you’d be gone forever,” Ziz said, squeezing him a little too hard.

“Good to see you, too,” Theo said. “How goes the mining?”

“At the moment? Horrible,” Ziz said. “Oh, before I forget. Come in.”

Ziz beckoned, leading Theo inside the workshop. The building was meant for the cutting of stone, but the half-ogre turned it into half-workshop, half-barracks. Four other half-ogres lounged on the ground, stretching over bedrolls and waving half-heartedly.

“Looks cozy,” Theo said.

“We’re working on it,” Ziz said, withdrawing four gold coins from a pouch on the far end of the room. He handed them over to Theo, smiling.

“Well, you’ve only gone and done it,” Theo said, laughing. “Seriously, that quick?”

“That quick. The gemstones we found are worth a lot. That’s what Thistum says.”

Thistum was the dwarven merchant who offered to buy the stone in the first place. He was a contact of Fenian’s, which made him one of the good merchants of the land. Theo had heard tales of crooked merchants, but he hadn’t seen one yet. Those who were willing to make the journey to Broken Tusk saw only opportunity and knew not to push things too far.

“Then this place is yours,” Theo said.

He summoned his mayor’s screen, transferring the ownership of both the quarry and the workshop to Ziz. He inspected the workshop to verify the change went through.

[Stonecutter’s Workshop]

Owner: Ziz Rotgut

Faction: Broken Tusk

Level: 5 (20%)

Rent Due: 3 days

Expansions:

[Hewing Efficiency]

None

“You got it to Level 5,” Theo said. “I was wondering why it was bigger.”

“We did. Thanks to you,” Ziz said, suddenly looking sheepish. “I have a question.”

“Yeah?”

“Why? Out of all the things you could throw your gold at, why this?” Ziz asked.

The other laborers in the workshop perked up, craning their heads to set their gaze on the alchemist. He’d seen this before, back on Earth. Even if he tried to push those memories down, they still lingered. People were desperate for work, typically doing hard labor for little more than rations. The truth Theo knew in his heart was that his charity washed away some of those feelings. It cleansed the image of ruined cities and starving people. It made him feel good. He was still making a tidy profit—some absurd amount of return on his investment that he couldn’t calculate in his head.

Theo smiled. “I could have just paid you a wage to work the quarry. But I’d have to feed it cores, check on you often—no, I didn’t have the time for that. I’ve already made my investment back, and you owe me 10 percent on all sales. Fenian taught me something important a while ago. It’s not about making the most amount of money now. It’s about creating relationships that pay off in more ways than one.”

“You could just say you’re nice,” a laborer said, sending the group into fits of laughter.

“He tries to hide that fact,” Ziz said, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.

“The wealth of the town is going to mean more than just one person holding all the coin,” Theo said. “Everyone I’m setting up is going to become a force of mercantile power soon. Broken Tusk might call on her sons and daughters to face whatever problems we have in the future.”

“Well said,” Ziz said. “We’re all more than happy to pitch in.”

Theo took another look around the cramped interior of the workshop. It was hardly a good living situation. “You should get some House Seed Cores up here,” he said.

“We’re planning on it. A merchant came to town the other day, but he wanted an absurd amount of money for a few seeds,” Ziz said. “He left when he saw we weren’t so easy to fleece.”

There was the dishonest merchant Theo had heard so much about. He was glad the people of the town had the good sense to drive them off, when needed. His intuition said this was going to happen more often, but he had to question that logic. If the roads were almost impassable, how was that going to happen?

The rain played across the roof of the workshop, filling it with a constant ringing sound. Theo had no idea how these men were able to sleep under such conditions but shrugged it off. They could stay closer to the town if they needed—they had the funds. His mind drifted away from the concerns of the quarry, back to more immediate concerns. He looked at Ziz’s broad shoulders and smiled.

“I have a favor to ask,” Theo said.

“Anything.”

Theo withdrew a River Clam Pearl from his inventory and handed it over to the man. Ziz rolled it over in his fingers, shrugging after a moment. “What do you want me to do with it?”

“Crush it,” Theo said. “Into a fine powder, if you could.”

Ziz grinned, withdrawing a hammer from his belt. A thick slab of marble sat unworked on the far side of the room. The half-ogre placed a small section of cured leather on top, nestling the pearl there and drawing the hammer back for an overhead swing. His hammer came down quickly, crushing the pearl into dust in an instant. The ground shook from the force of the strike, but the slab of rock was unharmed.

“You came to the right guy to crush something. That’s the one thing I’m good at,” Ziz said.

Theo nodded in agreement, approaching the crushed pearl. He licked his finger, placing it in the fine powder before placing it on his tongue. An electric sensation spread through his mouth, tingling his tongue and coating it with a layer of something. After a moment, the System produced a notification.

[Properties Discovery!]

You’ve discovered an additional effect from the River Clam Pearl by eating it.

[Infuse] discovered.

The alchemist’s intuition shouted its approval. Even without the ability to inspect the property, he knew that would do the trick. He also doubted it was the intended use of the property, but it didn’t matter. A detergent-style potion came to mind, something that could coat any material in a resistant layer. He produced all the pearls he had in his inventory, handing them over to the strong half-ogre and grinning.

Ziz happily crushed all the pearls into dust, and Theo was thankful they went into his inventory without a problem. The laborers all talked amongst themselves, mostly complaining about the rain while the work was being done. The half-ogre seemed proud of himself once he’d finished, sticking his chest out and flexing his muscles.

When Theo went to say his farewells, Ziz stopped him. “We have a bit of an issue, if you’re willing to help.”

“I’m always here to help,” Theo said, smiling.

“Of course. Well, let me show you the problem,” Ziz said, gesturing to the door.

Theo followed him out into the rain, crossing the distance between the workshop and the quarry. A large square hole represented the section of stone they’d already removed. Glowing markers designated the bounds of the quarry on four sides, spanning 50 paces in every direction. As the alchemist peered down into the hole, he saw the problem. While the quarry was at an angle, the constant downpour filled it with water. He watched as it drained off on the low side of the hole, running in small waves across the rocky terrain.

“Ah, that’s a big problem,” Theo said, scratching his head in confusion. “A really big problem.”

“It drains out on its own, but it can take a few days,” Ziz said. “I was wondering if there was an alchemical solution to this. We thought about putting a roof over it, but the runoff up the mountain is bad.”

A few things came to mind, but nothing completely formed. From his current list of ingredients, the [Flame] property from the Fire Salamander Egg might do the trick, the idea being to boil the water off rapidly. The Manashrooms also had the property [Freezing], which might cause more harm than good.

“The thing that jumps to mind is a fire detergent that boils the water out,” Theo said. “[Withering] might do something, but I’m unsure. It may just cause the water to become poisoned.”

“Whatever you can do,” Ziz said. “Just don’t rush it. We can wait the rain out.”

Theo nodded, giving his farewells with the intent to actually leave this time. He departed the operation and made his way down the steep incline of the hills. The smoke still billowed from Zan’kir’s place, but the town seemed sleepy otherwise. The deluge outside was likely the cause, but the alchemist made his way back to Sledge’s place anyway. He wanted to check on his latest project.

Chapter 7

Infusions

Theo didn’t think he was at Ziz’s quarry for that long, but his barrel was sitting outside of Sledge’s workshop when he arrived. He inspected it before greeting her. It was a sturdy barrel, half his height and wider than expected. The slats smelled of pine and were banded together by thick ribbons of copper, which held no seam. The alchemist noticed Throk’s handiwork in that. Only the blacksmith could get such a flawless piece of copper around the barrel.

Sledge emerged from her workshop, hands on her hips, with a wide smile painting her face. “What do you think?”

“It’s perfect, thank you,” Theo said, inspecting the bands of copper. “I have concerns about the copper.”

“I sourced it from Throk. If you want to complain, talk to him,” Sledge said.

“The problem is my reagents,” Theo said, withdrawing a piece of Spiny Swamp Thistle Root from his inventory. “They’re typically reactive with untreated copper.”

“That’s your problem.”

Theo scored the edge of the root with his alchemy knife and rubbed it against the copper. It sizzled, sending streams of red smoke into the air. The alchemist stepped back and nodded, taking the barrel into his inventory and turning to Sledge. “As I expected. I’ll be back with an updated order.”

Sledge shrugged. “You’re the one paying.”

Theo left, ignoring the brusque woman’s comment. The issue with the reactive copper was one thing, but perhaps there was a hint in his alchemy book. The more he increased his core’s level, the more he understood from the book. It was a grim omen and a blessing at the same time. Without it, he wouldn’t have a straight path for the next stages of alchemy, but with it, he had to deal with the demon breathing down his neck. He only hoped to outpace the speed with which Drogramath pursued him.

The alchemist stopped by Throk’s blacksmith to check on the pressure tank. A half-assembled copper tank sat in the front of the workshop while the blacksmith tinkered with something inside. Theo popped his head in the shop and waved for the marshling’s attention.

“Still working on the project,” Throk said, grumbling. “You’re quite a few days too early.”

“I just wanted to know if I could have a length of copper,” Theo said. “In bar form, if possible.”

Throk gestured to a table strewn with ribbons of copper. “Take what you want. I won’t expect it back.”

Theo smiled. “You know me too well.”

He returned to the Newt and Demon, finding Azrug haggling with another adventurer inside. The shopkeeper seemed too busy to pay attention to him, leaving him to retreat to the lab upstairs. Theo saw his lab in a new light that day. Running up against the barrier of Level 10 was draining him of his desire to perform alchemy. Now he was beyond that. Reinvigorated by both his breaking of the barrier and the impact he’d had on the town. He flicked open the book and scanned through the pages, finding a section near the back that detailed a process for alchemy-proofing a section of metal with alchemy.

There was irony in that, but Theo couldn’t care to find it.

The instructions in the book were for another ingredient, but Theo didn’t have access to it. He didn’t know where he’d come across a Flame Tongue Wisp. The pearl would do just fine. It was a similar setup to the tannery potions, but the final product needed to be put through some different steps. Instead of pouring the solution over the metal he wanted to harden against alchemical intrusion, he needed to soak the metal for an amount of time. Otherwise, the distillation and mixing process was the same as the tannery ingredients.

Theo poured 50 units of Purified Water in his still, adding 50 pearls worth of dust before setting his Flame Artifice to low and placing it beneath. He poured his intent into the still, willing it to focus on the [Infuse] property. He placed a flask beneath the condenser unit and went back to check his book. The artifice sputtered into silence and he cursed, moving to jam an Earth Mote in the contraption's side slot. The air inside became oppressive immediately, forcing him to prop a window open.

“I saw the goblin!” Tresk shouted into his mind.

Theo stared out the window, knitting his brows as he tried to piece together what she was talking about.

“The goblin? Aren’t we already aware of the goblins?”

“No! Not just a goblin. The goblin. The one riding a wolf,” Tresk said. “I’m gonna stab him.”

Theo glanced at the stack of health bars in the side of his vision. The Tara’hek core allowed him to see her health, stamina, and mana, which were all currently full. Suddenly her stamina dropped significantly, followed by her health. Her health then returned to full, the entire sequence of events forcing the alchemist’s heart to hammer in his ears. It was hard to ignore what the marshling was doing when he was idle, something that pained him when he was breaking the barrier.

“Nevermind,” Tresk said. “I used my Vanish ability and I’m hiding. That goblin has a spear.”

“Be careful,” Theo said. “Do you need me to talk to Aarok about it?”

“I’ll handle it. This thing is Level 20, or something,” Tresk said. “I thought if I got the jump on him, he’d be dead. Turns out that wolf is the problem.”

“We’ll post a contract at the guild if need be,” Theo said. He wanted to talk her out of attacking it again, but she wasn’t stupid. She didn’t need him to be her nanny; if anything, it was the other way around. Tresk was powerful for her level, mostly because of her legendary Assassin’s Core.

“All right. Looking for weaker monsters,” Tresk said. “I’ll stay safe—don’t worry.”

Theo nodded to himself, letting out a sigh of relief. He noticed the smell of the condensing essence behind him. It was a strange stench, somewhere between rotting fish and machine oil. He plugged his nose as he waited for the process to complete. Even the open window did little to ease the smell. The alchemist stuck his head out into the rain, fanning the fumes away. Azrug burst through the lab door, nose pinched.

“By the gods, what are you brewing? Bottled farts?” Azrug asked.

“It’s supposed to be Infuse Essence,” Theo said, gagging. “It wasn’t that bad, but now it’s awful.”

“I’m opening the windows downstairs,” Azrug said, turning on the spot and sprinting down the stairs.

Theo heard the amazing sound of the condenser sputtering the last of its contents into the flask. He dashed over, taking the flask into his inventory and dripping Cleansing Scrub into the still. He went around the lab, sprinkling drops of the cleaning liquid on every surface. The fresh scent returned to the lab after a while, but the smell still stung his nostrils. The alchemist inspected the essence in his inventory, refusing to take it out.

[Infuse Essence]

[Essence]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

50 units (liquid)

Concentrated essence of infusion. Used to imbue materials.

The description wasn’t much help. It imbued materials with what, exactly? He pushed the thought away, moving to his book, which still smelled a little. Another drop of Cleansing Scrub made it right, and he referenced the section on infusions. According to the author, the stench would go away during the next phase of the process. He wished he had read that part sooner. It was a simple detergent-style recipe, and he set up the required flasks. The Drogramath Dronon who penned the tome used copper as the catalyst and warned against using simple Purified Water, favoring the Stabilized Water.

Theo made a 20-unit flask of Stabilized Water by introducing a Flaky Agate, watching the solution bubble until completion. He brought out his smallest measuring pipette, introduced the Copper Shavings, and dripped the Infuse Essence into the mix by the tenth of a unit. When the reaction finally kicked off, it sent a cloud of blue smoke into the air. Mercifully, it smelled like nothing. Perhaps ozone before a big storm, but nothing offensive. The air washing in from the storm outside mixed with that scent, bringing something nostalgic into the alchemist’s mind.

Theo discarded those idle thoughts, inspecting the potion.

[Potion of Infusion]

[Infusion Agent]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Used to infuse base materials with alchemical essences. Soaking anything in this will render it alchemically inert. Does not work on reagents or other living materials.

Effect:

Renders object alchemically inert.

Basic Drogramath Alchemy detailed the next part of the process, but he could have figured it out from the description. A material needed to be soaked in the solution for an amount of time, it wasn’t specific about that part, but the author claimed it would be obvious. Theo found an unused vessel for his experiment, hoisting an old washtub from his Dimensional Storage Crate and placing it on the table. He poured the liquid in, unworried about the wood reacting with the copper, and dipped the ribbon of copper Throk gave him inside.

The copper bubbled, the solution immediately taking on a blue hue. Theo studied the reaction intently, taking mental notes on whether the process was taking a turn for the worst. Eventually the bubbling let up, the copper taking on a color similar to the blue solution. His instinct told him he could use the liquid a few more times, but only a few. After that, it would lose its potency and become unable to infuse the metal. He withdrew the copper with his gloved hand, withdrawing it quickly when the leather on his hand bubbled. It kept a hint of blue, but nothing more.

Theo set the copper ribbon down on his table and removed a Spiny Swamp Thistle Root from his inventory, scoring it with his alchemy knife. A grin spread across his face when nothing happened. The juices from the root spread across the length of the copper, causing no reaction at all. He set up several flasks for some more Potions of Infusion, thankful that he only had to withdraw the essence from his inventory for moments at a time. By the end of his run, and the slow crawl of the day towards dusk, he had enough solution to be satisfied.

Azrug still had his nose pinched downstairs, although the smell was long gone.

“The stench has lifted,” Theo said.

“Are you sure?” Azrug asked, narrowing his eyes. “I’m not about to risk it.”

“Only the distillation process makes the stink,” Theo said. “I’m done distilling that horrid stuff for now.”

“What was it supposed to do?” Azrug asked.

“The book didn’t describe the extent of the potion, but I’m certain it causes non-magical items—also non-living—to become alchemically inert,” Theo said. “The non-magical part is my personal theory.”

“Oh. Is that useful?” Azrug asked.

“Extremely. I need to use it on my fermentation barrels,” Theo said.

Azrug rubbed his hands together, removing his fingers from his nose. “Oh, are we making some booze?”

Theo chuckled. “Not yet. We’re making essence modifiers.”

“Whatever that is,” Azrug said, frowning. “I wanted booze.”

“You’re too young,” Theo said, waving him off. “I’m off to talk to Throk. Maybe Sledge.”

“You met Sledge?” Azrug asked, laughing. “Oh, I bet she had fun with you.”

“She really did,” Theo said. “She’s a pistol.”

“A what?”

“Hot-headed.”

“Yeah, she really is,” Azrug said, sighing longingly.

There was a twinkle in the shopkeeper’s eyes that Theo didn’t want to entertain. Love was in the air over Broken Tusk, but he’d have no part of it. People could run off and do what they wanted, but the drama was always too much. Whether it was Xam and Uharis or Azrug and Sledge, he didn’t want to hear about it.

“I’m off,” Theo said, stepping into the rain before the boy could fawn anymore.

Throk was still absorbed in his tinkering, pressing a strange rod into a series of glowing crystals. He cursed and brought himself closer to his work, muttering to himself. Theo cleared his throat, gaining the attention of the annoyed marshling.

“I’m still not done,” Throk said.

“I need to buy some copper ribbons. The kind you use to make barrels,” Theo said.

“Gods—there’s a stack over there. Just leave whatever you want to pay on the table and leave me alone,” Throk said. “I’m getting frustrated with these mechanisms. They’re more complex than I expected.”

“Take your time,” Theo said, finding the thick copper ribbons used to band the cypress barrels. They were already magically welded to the right size and shape for his 200-unit barrels, which seemed to be standard. He took enough for his ten barrels, stowing them in his inventory, and leaving a few silver on the table.

He wouldn’t normally pay anything over a few copper coins for the ribbons, especially regular untreated copper, but Throk was working hard. Theo thought of it as a tip in his mind, remembering Xam’s words about the drunk wizard. The alchemist retreated to the Newt and Demon once again, darting upstairs to set up his washtub. He treated the copper ribbons, finding that the wooden container’s capacity could treat three of the circular pieces of copper before he needed to dump it out the window. The generous ratio of essence to water meant he could treat all the copper without the need to brew more of the stinking essence, a fact he was thankful for.

Theo was once again out in the rain. His steps fell on the cobbles with sloshing moccasins, the familiar sense of comfort coming back. Something was missing from his life when he was working on the barrier. This frantic dash to get endless tasks done, just to find another task over the hill, was something he missed dearly. Only when he was working without end did he feel happy. He found Sledge, working another section of timber and cursing under her breath.

The alchemist thought about her station within the town. It didn’t appear she was making repairs to the homes within the town, so what was her revenue source? She was far too prickly to ask outright, so he would weasel it out of her over time.

“Sledge,” Theo said. “I have something for you.”

“Oh, more work?” Sledge said, brightening slightly. There was the glimmer he didn’t like to see. The destitution in her eyes.

“More work,” Theo said, producing the infused copper from his inventory and placing all 20 ribbons on her workbench. “I have some alchemically treated copper for the barrels.”

“As long as it's the standard size from Throk, I can work with it,” Sledge said, coming over to inspect the copper. She pressed her nose against it, furrowing her brow. “Alchemically treated? Why?”

Theo was surprised at the way she softened her personality for him. Perhaps there was a gooey center under that hard shell of hers. “They’re for fermenting alchemy reagents. Even though the barrel is watertight, if any of the contents leak, they’ll react with the copper. Explosively, perhaps.”

“Right,” Sledge said, running her fingers over the metal. “Well, standard rates.”

Theo knew her standard rate was 2 silver a barrel, which was already robbery. Perhaps the Ogre Cypress was harder to work than the hardwoods, but it couldn’t have been that much of a bother. No, she was likely charging him at least a silver over what she’d charge other people, and he didn’t mind. She was the most vulnerable of all the citizens of Broken Tusk. What place was there for a carpenter in a town of magical buildings, even if they had to buy furniture?

“30 silver,” Theo said, placing the stack of coins on her workbench. His mental math was good enough to multiply 2 by 10, but he feigned ignorance for her sake. She eyed the stack hungrily, refusing to cast that knowing expression at him. “The barrels may need to be replaced regularly, but we can reuse the copper.”

Theo didn’t know if the barrels needed to be replaced at all. The magic in the Ogre Cypres could last for centuries for all he knew, but he wouldn’t tell her that. This was the only avenue that he could think of to approach her poverty. The pride of the half-ogres that seemed to run through her veins wouldn’t allow that. That same pride was likely the same reason she never approached him, looking for work. Very few half-ogres would do that, and the marshling took a page from their book. Even Ziz didn’t approach him about work, simply being pawned off by Perg.

“Nice doing business with you, Mayor,” Sledge said. “Stop by anytime you need something. Your coin is always welcome.”

The alchemist left the woodworker’s workshop, heading back to the center of town. He wiped sweat, mingling with the falling rain from his brow as his stamina bar dipped lower by the moment. Dusk wasn’t far off, but he had one more task to attend to for the day. He entered the adventurer’s guild, which really needed a name to call its own, and found Aarok in the back room talking with some adventurers.

“Mayor,” Aarok said. “What can I do for you?”

“Have you heard about the goblin riding a wolf?” Theo asked.

“I have,” Aarok said. “It's a menace.”

“Do you have a contract out for it?” Theo asked.

“I’m working on that.”

“I can offer money for its head—their heads—if it helps,” Theo said, smiling.

“Leave the adventuring to me,” Aarok said. “If you post a gold for the monster, people are going to die. That’s too tempting. They’ll throw themselves into danger for a chance at that money. Allow me to handle this, Theo.”

Theo nodded, feeling useless about the situation. Money typically solved all his problems, but this was a bridge built out of something other than coin. He’d defer to Aarok’s expert opinion about all things adventuring. “I understand. Let me know if you need any help.”

“Will do,” Aarok said, returning to his conversation with the adventurers without breaking his stride.

Theo left the adventurer’s guild, heading back to the shop for the night. He found Uharis inside, chatting with Azrug at the front counter. They were discussing something about the state of trade in the central section of Qavell. The shopkeeper had a lot of opinions with little experience to back them up. They broke off their heated discussion, turning their attention to the alchemist.

“Time for dinner? Your Tara’hek is upstairs,” Uharis said, smiling.

“Are you cooking?” Theo asked.

“I am,” Uharis said. He’d clearly already had his Sanchrin Leaves for the day, clearing away whatever hangover he slept off in Xam’s tavern.

“Then let’s go,” Theo said.

Azrug gave Theo’s share of the take for the day. It was a few silver coins and a smattering of copper, but enough to make the boy’s position worth it. They found Tresk upstairs, looking out the window. She turned on the spot when they entered, smiling.

“I almost got that goblin today,” Tresk said.

“Aarok thinks it's dangerous enough to be worried about, so don’t get yourself killed,” Theo said.

“A goblin? I could take care of that issue for you,” Uharis said.

Theo waved a dismissive hand. “No, don’t interfere.”

“He wants Broken Tusk’s adventurers to cut their teeth on strife,” Tresk said, flashing a grin. Perhaps as the Tara’hek Core leveled, it granted her better access to his feelings, because that was the exact thought he had.

“We won’t always have an archmage in town,” Theo said. “Least of which one of such high prowess.”

“Oh, you flatter me,” Uharis said. “I’ll deliver a meal to remember.”

Uharis flitted around the room, more nimble than his gangly appearance gave reason to. The cause was likely that he wasn’t currently drunk, but being at Level 80 didn’t hurt matters. From Theo’s understanding, it was common for people to distribute their attributes across the board. What use was there in being an all-powerful wizard if you stumbled when you walked? That was his reasoning, anyway.

The archmage made a sign in the air, a trail of light glimmering behind. He nodded to himself and withdrew six plucked birds from thin air. They were about the size of a chicken, but with dark skin. He zipped around the lab, pulling things out of thin air and producing vegetables and sauces from nowhere. A glowing cube came into existence in the center of the lab, and Uharis placed the prepared birds inside, stuffed with vegetables and sauces. Theo, Tresk, and Azrug watched with amazement.

“Why six?” Azrug asked, tilting his head.

“Because your friends have been lurking outside, near the front of the shop,” Uharis said. “Perg and Luras, I think they’re called.”

Theo laughed. “Just wait for the smell to waft out the window. They’ll be up.”

Sure enough, the moment the magical box cooked the meat enough to send the tantalizing scent outside, the bell downstairs rang. Luras emerged up the stairwell with a sheepish expression on his face.

“I knew it!” Tresk said. She hopped from foot to foot, clasping her hands before her chest. “Archmage Uharis just confirmed that you two lurk outside. Waiting for us to cook!”

Perg stammered.

“You guys can just come up,” Theo said with a smile. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Understood,” Luras said, finding his traditional spot by the window.

The scent of the cooking birds was intoxicating. The mixture of slightly sweet-smelling vegetables mingled with the savory bird and sauce smell. Theo felt his stomach rumbling more than it ever had, and he realized now that they had been culinarily bankrupt until that point. A livestock program for the farm suddenly jumped to the top of his to-do list.

“I have a question for you, Luras,” Theo asked, watching hungrily as Uharis plated the six birds.

“What?”

“Sledge,” Theo said, nodding solemnly to himself. “How broke is she?”

“Beyond broke. She’s refused my help many times,” Luras said.

That tracked with what Theo understood about the half-ogre. She didn’t have tact when it came to these things. He likely offered to just give her money, which was the wrong approach.

“We need to set her up with something,” Theo said, trying to keep his mind on track as the six plates were set out, complete with two-pronged forks.

Luras nodded, not taking his eyes off his plate. “We’ll work on it.”

“We’ll find her something,” Perg said, rubbing her hands together.

“You may eat,” Uharis said, gesturing at the tables.

Theo didn’t hesitate, but by the time he pulled the leg off the bird, Tresk had already hoisted the entire thing up, slurping the vegetables out of the thing’s cavity. The alchemist bit into the dark meat of the leg, a mixture of flavors exploding into his mouth. Whatever sauce the archmage put on it was divine. It was a strange yet satisfying mixture between a thick brown gravy and a sweet sauce. Uharis stood back for a while, watching and giggling as the group ate. He sat down after a moment, digging into his meal.

The entire time the group ate, no one said a word. It was the most luxurious thing any of them had for quite some time. Idle chatter filled the room as the plates were emptied. Theo leaned back in his chair, patting his full belly and letting out a groan. He ate the entire bird and was far too full. But it was worth it.

By the time everyone cleared out of the lab, Theo had forgotten about Sledge’s plight. He’d kick himself for this later, but it wasn’t time for that. It was time for sleep in the impossibly comfortable bed. He drifted off the moment his head hit the pillow, Tresk belching loudly as she snuggled under her sheets.

Chapter 8

Offensive Improvisation

It was difficult for Theo to rise from his bed the next morning. The entire night was not enough time to digest all the food in his stomach, but eventually he rolled out of bed. Light from the early morning filtered through his window, signaling the extent of the damage the heavy meal had done. He stumbled into the lab, finding Tresk already there, preparing breakfast. She had the same thing in mind, apparently, forgoing the heavy meal in favor of small cuts of steak and a bubbling pot of tea. He groaned into his chair, reclining and shaking his head.

“We’re not used to food that rich,” Tresk said, grinning as she flipped the steaks. “Good call on telling the wizard off about helping.”

Theo nodded. “We can’t always rely on outside help.”

“Independence is more important,” Tresk said. “This path is more costly, but it's worth it.”

The spiritstone coins required to buy the town from Qavell shot to the forefront of Theo’s mind. It was the next coin up from gold, although he didn’t know if it was 100 gold to 1 spiritstone or not. The dream of owning the town outright was very far away, though. Even if he had the coin to make it happen, there was the implication of independence from the capital. Would they treat Broken Tusk as a duchy or an independent state? The only way to make that happen was to create such a powerful mercantile force that no one could deny their power. The confluence of events would help with that.

Theo long suspected that things weren’t what they seemed in the town. The herbs that grew behind his lab were a testament to that. The quarry was the next thing that sealed it away in his mind as a fact. He’d confirmed that plants shouldn’t regenerate as quickly as they do in Broken Tusk. The quarry sat atop a perfect-quality marble mine, and Miana’s words about the mysterious man just tied it all together. There was something strange about this town. Forced to sit at a low level for all those years, it would now soar to become what the alchemist needed it to be.

“Sledge,” Theo said, breaking out of his trance. “We need to improve her business.”

“How do you think we should do that?” Tresk asked, serving two plates of steaks.

Theo poured himself some tea, ruminating on the idea for a moment. With only woodworking cores, she’d be in trouble. He suspected she had a woodworking or a carpenter core, but logic dictated she was at least Level 10. That gave way to the idea of getting her a different core for her third slot—something that would set her apart from a common carpenter.

“Uharis,” Theo said. “He said he lectured for some scholarly cults, whatever those are. He’ll know the best combination. Something that sets her apart from everyone else.”

“Good idea. We get him in here, get some food in him—maybe some liquor—and we get him to tell us the best combo,” Tresk said, a devious grin spreading across her face.

Theo drank his moss tea, feeling the invigorating effects spread through his body. The slackness that came with the heavy meal melted away, sending waves of warmth through his body. He ate his steak slowly, trying to use his intuition to think of an excellent combination for the carpenter. He was too uneducated on the topic to come up with anything useful. The information was just out of reach.

“What are you getting up to today?” Theo asked finally.

“Well, some adventurers wanted to scout the other dungeons,” Tresk said, smacking her lips and swallowing a large hunk of steak. “I don’t think anyone has explored the Ocean Dungeon yet.”

A bell suddenly rang in the distance, frantic and repeated. Tresk bolted from her chair immediately, drawing her daggers and narrowing her eyes. Theo almost fell out of his chair from panic, casting a worried look at his companion. “What?” he asked.

“That’s a call to arms,” Tresk said. “Come on!”

The marshling darted to the stairs, leaving Theo woefully behind. He stumbled over himself, clambering down the stairs and out the front door. He saw Luras dart off toward the western gate, the source of the bell, with his bow drawn and a grim look on his face. Tresk was already most of the way up the road to the town center. The alchemist simply didn’t have the same speed as the others, trailing behind as they ran ahead.

By the time he got to the town square, Aarok was calming a group of townsfolk down, the bell still ringing in the distance.

“It's under control,” Aarok said, waving his hands dismissively. “No need to panic.”

Theo leaned in, casting his eyes over the worried crowd. “What’s going on?” Theo asked in a whisper.

“Follow me,” Aarok said. “Everyone stay here.”

Aarok led the way to the western gate. Theo spotted that the portcullis was dropped, a wolf on the other side attacking the metal. Then he noticed the thing on top of the wolf. It was a small creature, covered in sore sand boils and brandishing a wooden spear. The weapon lashed out through the holes in the metal gate, threatening to wound anyone who got close enough. Tresk and Luras had ascended the battlements, the half-ogre trying to get an angle on the monster with his bow. He cursed, descending the stairs to take a shot from behind the gate. The green skin of the mounted monster gave it away as the goblin everyone was talking about.

Boss Monster spotted!

Wolf Rider Grek’Stinks has been sighted. This monster is stronger than regular monsters. Use caution.

“Stand back,” Luras said, drawing his oversized bow fully.

The mighty half-ogre loosed an arrow, aimed directly at the goblin’s heart. But a swift swat from the monster sent the arrow tumbling to the side, striking only the muddy ground outside. Luras cursed again, nocking another arrow and releasing. This happened several times before the goblin let out a shrill scream, turning its wolf around and bounding out into the swamp.

“That stupid goblin,” Luras muttered. “I can’t hit it.”

“Yeah, he has some kind of ability,” Tresk called from the battlements. “Smacks all attacks away with his spear.”

“That monster has given us nothing but problems out in the swamp,” Aarok said, placing a hand on Theo’s shoulder. “I’m afraid something is going to happen, and I know you don’t want the wizard’s help.”

Theo understood the words Aarok didn’t speak. Maybe he was reading into it, or maybe it was the push the alchemist needed to experiment with less friendly means of potion making. He turned on the spot without saying a word, marching off toward the Newt and Demon. He heard Tresk say, “Don’t worry about him.”

The marshling was close behind him, joining him inside the lab. Theo paid her little mind, getting to work right away. He raided Tresk’s stash of Fire Salamander Eggs, setting them near the stills and moving to consult Basic Drogramath Alchemy. There was a section on offensive improvised potions. It exploited a quirk in the essence system, and he intended to use it against the boss. Perhaps he wouldn’t be the one to hurl the deadly potion, but he would be its creator.

“What are you making?” Tresk asked.

“A potion,” Theo said.

“Are you going to use my eggs?”

“Only a few of them. I don’t need the insides—just the shells,” Theo said.

“Crack them into my open mouth,” Tresk said, tilting her head back and opening her maw wide.

Theo shrugged, cracking ten of the eggs into her mouth, crumbling the shells, and placing them in the Drogramath Still. He added equal parts water and set the flame to its lowest setting. The alchemist moved to the Glassware Artifice, a device capable of producing any glassware he could imagine.

“I understand you’re trying to be a pacifist, but you know,” Tresk said. She had that stabby look in her eyes.

Theo let out a heavy sigh. “I’m not a pacifist. Not really. I understand what it takes to defend something you love, and I’m willing to do it. I won’t throw this, but I’ll create it.”

“I understand you’ve had enough of killing,” Tresk said, coming to bring her comforting presence behind him.

Theo appreciated her just being there. He focused his mind, inserting a mote into the side of the device and projecting an image from his mind’s eye. It was a strange-looking flask with two chambers on the inside separated by a glass stopper. The alchemist forced his will on the machine, detailing that the two center stoppers should be brittle enough to break from an impact. There would be a small gap between the two stoppers, separating the individual chambers. The machine whirred, spitting the item directly into his inventory. He withdrew it, holding it up for Tresk to see.

“Fancy double bottle?” Tresk asked, squinting at it.

“A bottle with two chambers,” Theo said, moving to the table. He placed the flask there, withdrawing a flask of Withering Essence from his inventory. It was the most unstable essence he’d ever worked with. When he brewed it, during his attempt to break the barrier, it would react with almost anything. He placed the bottom stopper inside, sealing off the first chamber.

“And why is that useful for the wolf?” Tresk asked.

Images flashed through Theo’s mind, and he let them come. Pieces of his memories from Earth. Painful things that drove an iron spike through his heart. “When I worked on my planet, I killed people. We had technology that would allow us to kill someone from long distances. Guns, if you could call them that. High-tech rifles that could make a straight shot for miles. The computer did most of the work, and I only used one of those a few times. Do you know what I was really good at, Tresk?”

“What?” Tresk said, her eyes wide. She could feel the pain he felt. He knew it.

“Bombs. Sneaking in. Placing explosives and getting out,” Theo said, a painful sense of pride spreading through his chest. “I was good. I could blend in anywhere. Social camouflage, or something like that. This hits close to home. That’s all.”

The condenser on the Drogramath Still sputtered, releasing the last of its contents. Tresk waited a tactful moment before speaking again as Theo went to collect the Flame Essence. “You’re telling me you were a bad guy. Not anymore.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Theo said with a shrug. “That’s the thing, though. I look at the people in this town, and I see a common factor reflecting in their eyes. The same thing I killed those people for. Food. Comfort. A sense that the world wasn’t ending.”

Theo placed a Copper Shaving in the center chamber, stoppering it with the top stopper. He poured the Flame Essence in, taking comfort because the dual stopper system worked. If it hadn’t, the Newt and Demon would be a smoldering crater. The alchemist was confident in his skills, having no doubts about his design.

“These are the things we do to protect the things we love,” Tresk said, almost too tenderly for a murderous marshling.

Theo felt better about himself than he had in ages. He got his true feelings off his chest, something he hadn’t done before. It wasn’t as though he didn’t trust his Tara’hek with the information. He didn’t want those floodgates to open, giving way to something far worse. But there were things outside of those walls. Things that wanted to kill him and everyone else inside. No, he wouldn’t allow that. Not while he could do something about it. He stoppered the top of the potion, shaking it for good measure.

“Perfect,” Theo said. “If any of the seals failed, it would have exploded.”

Tresk’s eyes went wide. “Wait. Huh? How big?”

“This one is for demonstration,” Theo said. “The one I make to kill the goblin will be smaller. Wanna see?”

“Uh, yeah!” Tresk said, jumping up and down.

Sweat accumulated on Theo’s brow. Despite his bravado, he was nervous about this invention. It was a design that lingered in the back of his mind for quite a while. A weapon he hoped to never create, but that was a childish thought. The monsters lurking around in the swamp weren’t friendly. They didn’t listen to reason. Their primary motivation was death.

Aarok was talking with Luras near the western gate. Uharis had assumed the battlements, looking over the swamp and muttering something. Streams of light issued from his body, snaking out toward the swamp with searching intent.

“I’ve come to show you something, Aarok,” Theo said, holding his improvised weapon aloft. “Be careful what you ask for next time.”

Aarok exchanged a concerned look with Luras.

“Luras, join me on the battlements,” Theo said, gesturing.

Luras and Tresk accompanied Theo to the battlements. The alchemist handed the half-ogre the potion and smiled. “This is incredibly dangerous. My cores are screaming at me to stay far away from where this is thrown. Think you can get it at least a hundred paces out into the swamp from here?”

Luras shrugged. A crowd gathered below, murmuring indistinctly. “Yeah, easily.”

“When you throw it, duck,” Theo said.

Uharis gestured, muttering something under his breath. A thick, blue barrier formed in front of him, glittering with magical runes. Theo smiled. The archmage knew what he was doing.

“On your count,” Luras said.

“One… Two… Three… Throw!” Theo shouted.

Luras hurled the potion in the air, sending it at a steep angle toward the swamp. Theo watched its trajectory for a moment, ducking after he was satisfied it would land far enough away. Even the impact against the marshy ground would be enough to set the thing off. It was incredibly unstable.

Luras, Tresk, and Theo huddled behind the crenelations of the battlements when the weapon exploded. A plume of fire rose into the air. The boughs of the mighty Ogre Cypress Trees shook from the force of the blast. The air was filled with a deafening explosion, the wall under their feet shaking from the raw power of that experiment gone wrong. Those gathered below shrieked in terror, running away from the rising plume of fire. Uharis tutted.

“I could have done as much,” Uharis shouted, digging his fingers into his ears.

“You shook that thing in the lab? Like it was a ripe nut! You’re psychotic!” Tresk shouted, punching Theo in the arm.

Theo looked down, catching sight of Aarok’s mouth agape. The alchemist cast him a devious grin.

“Glanthier’s balls, Theo!” Luras shouted. “A little more warning next time.”

“I told you to duck,” Theo said unapologetically. “I knew you could throw it far enough.”

“I’m afraid that might be a little too powerful for what we need,” Aarok shouted from below.

The group descended the battlements. Theo clapped his hand over the guildmaster’s shoulder. “It was just a demonstration. That one was very unstable. I forced two essences to interact with themselves and a catalyst at the same time. I’ll create smaller ones to take out the goblin.”

“Well, that was impressive,” Uharis said, clearing his throat. “Incredibly stupid. Extremely dangerous. But impressive. Drogramath’s alchemy is a hair different from the standard form.”

“I know nothing about the standard alchemy cores,” Theo said with a shrug. “I know my essences and how they work.”

Uharis thought for a moment, cupping his chin in his hand. “Those Drogramath Dronon who live in our realm choose a life of solitude. Even before the Order was established, they kept their secrets for themselves. Not that it would matter. Without your cores, handling essences can only be done by a high-level alchemist.”

“How high?” Theo asked.

Uharis shrugged. “Level 50, perhaps? The alchemists in Qavell are secretive. Even in my formative years studying magic, I wasn’t able to collect as much information as I would have liked.”

Theo cast his eyes over the scattered townsfolk slowly filtering back into the town center. “How dangerous are my cores?”

Uharis came closer, placing a hand on the alchemist’s shoulder. His next words came in hushed tones. “You’re hearing their whispers, aren’t you?”

“Fairly often,” Theo said, managing a weak smile. “You can drop the pretense, by the way.”

“Of course,” Uharis said, waving a dismissive hand. “You’ve been focusing your attributes on Wisdom, haven’t you? My high Wisdom score and the hundreds of hidden wards on my person should have blocked your intuition. Then again, you might just be a naturally clever person.”

“What are you talking about?” Tresk said, leaning in to whisper conspiratorially with the pair.

“My cores have a direct connection to Drogramath,” Theo said. “My intuition is a mix of my high Wisdom and his knowledge. Uharis stuck around to see how close that connection was under the pretense of checking on the dungeons. He’s really been watching me. Likely with Sulvan’s permission.”

“Very astute,” Uharis said, smiling.

Theo wanted to be offended, but he didn’t blame them. The display he just put on outside of the gates would be enough for anyone to be concerned. There was a lot of power in Drogramath’s essences—power that could do horrible things in the wrong hands. He only hoped that the Order of the Burning Eye could see that he wasn’t the wrong person. He was the perfect vessel to contain that evil power.

“Wow. You figured that out, Theo?” Tresk asked.

“Not really,” Theo said. “It was a guess.”

“Can he handle it?” Luras said, edging closer to the whispering group. “The power of a Demon god?”

“It appears so,” Uharis said, straightening his robes. “This was all precaution, of course.”

“Well, now that you’ve had your fun, I have a few questions to ask,” Theo said. “Questions about cores.”

Chapter 9

The Power of Friendship

Rain pattered playfully outside the windows of the lab. The clean, chilly breeze it blew into the stuffy place was a welcome reprieve. Fires danced along the boughs of the Ogre Cypress in the distance, suffocating from the daily drizzle. Theo sat with Uharis and Tresk in the Newt and Demon. They’d explained their problem with Sledge’s cores, making sure the wizard understood how useless they were to the town currently. The archmage had a grin on his face even before he began talking.

“More free consultations, huh? Well, I suppose it’s worth it for the display outside,” Uharis said.

“And the fact that you’re a dirty spy,” Tresk sneered.

“Dirty? Not after pilfering a vial of your Cleansing Scrub. A spy? Absolutely,” Uharis said. “Well, more of a minder. See, this ties in well with my suggestion for your carpenter. What do you know of the pantheons?”

“Gods,” Tresk blurted out. “There’s a lot of them.”

“Fair enough,” Uharis said. “How about you, Theo?”

“Nothing,” Theo said with a shrug. He never put much thought into what gods there were or how they operated.

“There are gods. Many of them. They exist in their own realms but can travel to others on rare occasions. The demon gods are the ones most likely to jump between the realms, but they’re typically banished by my order. The Burning Eye is a god, considered being the god most opposed to demons. Now, why is this important? Because the best way for them to influence our realm is through cores. Even Tresk’s Assassin’s Core is aligned with a god named Zaul.”

Uharis paused for a moment, casting his gaze out the window. “Do you understand so far?”

“You’re implying that the whispers I’m hearing are Drogramath’s,” Theo said.

“You already determined this on the wall,” Uharis said, shrugging. “Although I think you knew it for a long time. Here’s something you didn’t know. Your Tara’hek Core is acting as a more powerful buffer than anything else. Even the sigil Sulvan inscribed you with pales in comparison.”

“Wait. The power of friendship is keeping the Demon God at bay?” Tresk asked, eyes going wide. “I always knew friendship was the most powerful force in the world.”

Uharis smiled. There was something below that facade that Theo picked up on.

“Things seem to fall into your lap, don’t they, Theo?” Uharis asked.

“Because this whole place was planned,” Theo said, letting out a sigh. “I already knew that, too.”

“Indeed. Gods, mortals with agendas—I don’t know who. But someone designed Broken Tusk for something,” Uharis said.

A silence that lasted a painfully long time washed over the group. Theo gleaned as much from what Miana told him, but to hear another source confirm it was strange. It was difficult for him to know how he felt about the situation.

“Is this a gift, or a curse?” Theo asked.

“See, that’s the interesting part,” Uharis said, withdrawing a leather-bound journal. “I would put money that this depends on you.”

“I’m the determining factor? What about the dungeons and the coming monster wave?” Theo asked.

“I don’t know,” Uharis said. “That’s beyond me at the moment. What I understand about this place is that there’s high-level magic at work. The herbs that grow in the wild replenish at an alarming rate. Your quarry has perfect-quality stone—it certainly shouldn’t. And there are more monsters and a more powerful dungeon.”

“A confluence of events,” Theo said, the term already solidified in his mind.

“That’s a good way to put it,” Uharis said with a nod.

Another silence consumed the room, a rush of wind outside punctuating the lull in conversation.

“I’ll take it as a good thing,” Theo said, nodding. “There’s no reason to give up on my positive attitude at this point.”

“Good idea!” Tresk said, jumping from her chair and pumping her fist. “What could go wrong?”

“Now, shall we talk about the other topic? The reason you brought me here?” Uharis asked. “There’s an obvious choice for your woodworker. Fabricator is the only option that makes sense.”

“What does a Fabricator do?” Theo asked.

“Well, do you see all these seed core buildings you’re planting in your town? Someone with a fabricator core, even one unaligned with Delcan the God of Construction, can change seed core buildings. She could keep doing what she loves and make a tidy profit.”

“I didn’t know that was possible,” Tresk said. “How much could she change?”

“Well, she can’t expand the buildings beyond what they’re currently upgraded for in terms of floor space. She would use mana to create upgrades and reform the buildings if she wanted. Unlike most artisan cores, it’s a school of wizardry.”

Theo thought about that for a moment. He had to make sure it would fall into line with a core that would benefit both Sledge, and the town. The alchemist wasn’t even aware seed core buildings could be modified by anything but upgrades. That would influence the flow of money, sending it straight to the woodworker. She’d be providing a useful service to the town, and it gave everyone something to spend their money on. Since seed core buildings came in random arrangements, this all made sense.

“That’s perfect,” Theo said, nodding. “But that was the simple part. Now we have to find one and convince Sledge it was her idea.”

“Oh, leave that to me,” Tresk said, grinning. “I’ve known Sledge for a long time.”

“How much will she need to know about magic?” Theo asked.

“Not much. The seed core buildings have a mind of their own,” Uharis said, casting his eyes around the lab. “Your alchemy lab is a good example of that, I think.”

Theo had to agree. His lab seemed to have a mind of its own, ‌or at least a mind to influence his alchemical reactions. The bonuses he got from the building alone were great, and the artifices within were even better.

“I don’t mean to treat you like my personal consultant, but…” Theo said.

“But you have a free core slot,” Uharis said, shrugging. “And you want to know the best one. I thought you would have grown tired of my prattling by now, but if you insist.”

“Please,” Theo said, gesturing for the archmage to continue.

“You’re in a rare position. You started with the herbalism core and an alchemy core. This isn’t always the case. I’d wager most people start with one or the other, with a secondary core that’s mostly unrelated. They have to go out and buy the core they’re missing. So, you have a new core slot. There are thousands of options to pick from. You could get a core focused on administration. That would allow you to manage your town better, reduce taxes, and so on. You have an herbalism core, so you could do farming, brewing, and so on. There’s the Loremaster’s Core, which would work if you increased your Intelligence. There’s also the Scholar’s Core route, if you’d like.”

“That’s a lot of information,” Theo said, letting out a heavy sigh.

“Well, what are you interested in doing?”

Theo took a long moment to think. He didn’t really know what he wanted to do. Initially, the loremaster route seemed interesting, but Uharis had presented so many options. Knowledge seemed like a powerful thing in this world, and he was accumulating a lot. When he considered how much he knew about Drogramath alchemy, it appeared he was the expert on this planet. Whatever dronon existed throughout the world were too tight-fisted with their information to share. Even the tome the alchemist had was absurdly rare, by his measure.

“I want to accumulate knowledge,” Theo said, shrugging at his incomplete description. “What’s the difference between a scholar and a loremaster?”

“A loremaster is a specialized type of scholar. Loremasters specialize in lore, as you might have guessed. Their primary attributes are Intelligence and Wisdom. You’d be uncovering the hidden lore of the world. If it happened, you can determine who did it and why. It’s also incredibly lucrative. Every item generated by the dungeons has a hidden story. Perhaps an adventurer died in a dungeon hundreds of years ago. The System attaches the lore of that death to the item. You uncover the additional properties on the items, and uncover the lore.”

“All right, what are the mechanics of loremaster?” Theo asked. “How do I uncover that lore?”

“Well, you inject small amounts of mana into the object, and you get a clue. Let's say you find a pair of old magical boots in a dungeon. They’re made of leather, so you know the person who wore them used light armor. You’ve deduced something about the person, so you’ll gain knowledge based on that assumption. This is a class where Wisdom and Intelligence work in tandem, unlike most classes that have a single primary attribute,” Uharis said. He had assumed the tone of a lecturer. “So, you’re stumped. You cannot find the rest of the lore. Channel some mana into the boots, and the System tells you to look at the size. Suddenly you realize they’re small boots. The last person who wore them was from a diminutive race, perhaps a marshling. More information. This goes on until the System relents. The higher level the item, the harder this process is.”

“That’s a lot to take in,” Theo said.

“Well, I think loremaster is a good fit for you. Administration cores are also a good fit for you. Both have their advantages, but since you’re not worried about money, you could consider the administration core first,” Uharis said.

Theo nodded, trying to process everything. “What are the mechanics of the administration cores?”

“Well, the standard Administrator’s Core is fairly lackluster. There are rare cores that might suit you better—since you have the budget,” Uharis said, shrugging. Since some skills are locked behind cores, meaning you need a certain grade of core to view the skill, nothing but a legendary administration core would do. Perhaps a Governance Core, Baron’s Core, or Taskmaster’s Core. The mechanics of it are fairly simple. You’ll gain abilities that help you manage the town. Between keeping your books straight to getting a small map in your vision. You can manage your people easier, sending commands telepathically or granting various advanced titles that come with benefits.”

“It's a toss-up,” Theo said.

“Loremaster sounds great,” Tresk said. She had given her full attention to the elf his entire speech, sitting on the edge of her seat and nodding as he spoke. “I have these boots that have three properties. You could identify them for me.

“I guess administration is nice, too,” she added dismissively.

Theo nodded, lost in thought. He wondered how many pairs of boots had come out of the dungeon. How many items that weren’t identified. Then, there was the allure of learning more about Broken Tusk. That was something he was incredibly interested in. But he didn’t forget Uharis’s earlier warnings. About cores and how they were aligned. It was obvious that core pairings were a massive thing. If the Loremaster’s Core was aligned with some other demon god, he wanted nothing to do with it.

“Are there other, unaligned loremaster cores?” Theo asked.

A smile painted plainly across the archmage’s face. “You have a high Wisdom score already. Well, that’s the logical line of reasoning. All scholar cores are aligned with Uvuqor, God of Knowledge.”

“So, that’s the question. Does Uvuqor align with Drogramath?” Theo asked.

“Yes, they align nicely. Drogramath is an outcast Demon Lord, by demon standards. He stands on the edge of the Demonic Pantheon. Uvuqor stands outside of the Prime Pantheon, right on the edge near the lesser gods. He does not elect a champion, nor does he take part in any of their quarrels. Better still, he seeds dungeons with his cores. Some gods withhold their cores for the chosen few, such as Glantheir.”

“That’s perfect,” Theo said. “You’re giving this information for free, but I have one more question.”

“For you? Ask away.”

“Are there bad core combinations? Combinations that would affect the user negatively.”

“Indeed, there are. It can be as minor as bad synergy and as bad as having two personalities warring inside your mind,” Uharis said. “I’ve seen Sulvan wait decades to pick a new core. I’ve even seen him remove and destroy old cores that went out of alignment with the Burning Eye.”

“Thank you, Uharis,” Theo said. “This is a lot to take in.”

“Not a problem. You’re too interesting not to befriend,” Uharis said, grinning. “This little swamp is going to do great things. Very soon. Now, I’m off to have a drink. It’s been a day.”

Uharis turned on the spot and descended the stairs without another word. Theo and Tresk sat there in silence for several long moments.

“It’s not even noon,” Tresk said, grimacing. “Does he have a problem?”

“Maybe,” Theo said, scratching his chin. “It might be an act, though. Uharis is operating on a different level. His spying was obvious and innocent. I’m worried about the things we don’t know about.”

The pair lingered there for some time. Theo had enough things to worry about today and would cast the far-reaching thoughts about core combinations to the back of his mind. Sledge should be done with his barrels if her bravado had anything behind it. Tresk would hit the dungeon, influenced by Uharis’s mention of the magical items. Then, there was the issue of making weapons for the town. They’d want them, but the alchemist didn’t know if it was the best approach. It was to prove a point more than anything. The towers he bought for the walls would do more than anything to defend against that wolf-riding goblin. It couldn’t dodge a bolt of lightning, or so he hoped.

“I’m going to collect my barrels,” Theo said, clapping his hand over Tresk’s shoulder. She nodded, lost in thought. He stooped low, pressing his forehead against hers before departing.

The rain outside came as a slow drizzle, moving across the town in a calming wave. People moved about the town, shielding themselves from the rain and muttering low whispers about Theo’s display outside the gates. It was nice to prove a point, but he could have done without the stares. He pushed on to the center of the town anyway, stopping to check the progress toward the next rank.

[Town]

Name: Broken Tusk

Owner: Kingdom of Qavell

Mayor: Theo Spencer

Faction: Qavell

Level: 14 (20%)

Features:

Alchemy Lab

Blacksmith

Large Farm

Tannery

Tradesmen

Quarry

Adventurer’s Guild

Core Homes (x12)

Upgrades:

Stone Walls and Gates

Stone Roads

It was close enough that he wouldn’t worry about it. The adventurers would put enough cores in to level it up, although if Fenian came to town, he’d finish it off with some Level 30 monster cores. He dismissed the screen, moving up toward the housing development and Sledge’s workshop. He mentally prepared himself for dealing with the woman, forcing a smile on his face as he approached the building.

Sledge was working on another wooden beam outside. She actually smiled for a moment when she saw him, quickly reverting her face back to that stern appearance. The alchemist let his genuine smile show, noticing the crowd of barrels in the woman’s shop.

“About time,” Sledge said, shaking her head. “I’m guessing that big explosion was you.”

“You’re right,” Theo said. “How are the barrels?”

“Well, I learned a new recipe. When I added your magic bands, they turned into Alchemy Equipment,” Sledge said, letting out a bark-like laugh.

“Hopefully it wasn’t too much trouble for you,” Theo said. “Can I inspect them?”

“They’re yours,” Sledge shrugged.

Theo moved into the messy woodworker’s shop, brushing the sawdust from the lid of the barrel and inspecting the item.

[Alchemy Fermentation Barrel]

[Alchemy Equipment]

Uncommon

Created By: Sledge

A 200-unit-capacity barrel capable of fermenting any reagents placed inside. Placing a mote with the mash is required for the process to take effect. Additional motes and mana may be required over the course of the fermentation.

Effect:

Creates a fermentation reaction when reagents are placed inside with a mote.

The speed of fermentation is greatly increased, depending on the strength of the mote.

Theo didn’t expect it to generate the barrel as an actual piece of Alchemy Equipment, but he wouldn’t complain. The System just recognized it as the correct item to give it that label. The advantage was that he knew it would work for fermentation. This also led him to believe that Sledge was completely capable of performing more tasks in the town. She was just another destitute citizen unable to lift herself above the impoverished area. The alchemist found himself wanting to help those who weren’t asking for it more than others. The farmers came to mind.

“Well, you’ve outdone yourself,” Theo said, taking all 10 barrels into his inventory.

“Any other work you need done?” Sledge asked, her eyes glittering.

“Not at the moment. I have some things to tend to,” Theo said, waving her off.

As Theo went to pass by the marshling, she reached out a clammy hand and grabbed him by the forearm. She had a look of pain mingled with relief on her face, something he knew all too well.

“Thanks,” she said, her tough facade falling away for only a moment. “Now get out of here. I’ve got boards to trim.”

Theo bid her farewell, retreating back to the Newt and Demon. Azrug was downstairs, although there were no customers. They shared a few words, mostly about the massive explosion, before Theo retreated upstairs.

Theo didn’t have any use for ten barrels. He doubted he’d use more than two of them, but that wasn’t the point. The silver coins he forked over to the woodworker would last her a long time. Enough time that he could sort out a better position for her among the citizens of Broken Tusk. The alchemist rearranged the room, shoving a table out of the way and exposing the north-facing wall. He removed two empty barrels from his inventory and set them there, shoving his entire body against them to line them up perfectly. He removed the remaining eight from his inventory, shoving them in the Dimensional Storage Crate.

The sound they made when being sucked into a too-small space was satisfying.

Theo retrieved his Drogramath alchemy book, set it up on the table nearest the barrels, and cracked it open. He rubbed his hands together, turning to the page about fermentation.

“All right,” he said, grinning. “Time to ferment some stuff.”

Chapter 10

Bagragrubbin Rubgrubbin Grubbin

Theo settled on two simple reagents for his first run at fermentation. According to his information, the reaction only needed motes to occur. There was no need for yeast to break the sugars down; that all came down to magic. The reagent he had the biggest stockpile of was Spiny Swamp Thistle Root, followed by Moss Nettle. They both produced the valuable restoration potions that every adventurer seemed to desire and was curious as to the modifiers they would produce.

The process was simple, especially when compared to distillation. The Alchemical Grinder Artifice magically resized itself to fit onto the top of the first barrel. He simply piled 50 of the healing roots over the first barrel and 50 of the stamina regeneration moss over the other. The grinder whirred to life, cutting the reagents into a perfect mash. The contents within both barrels glowed with a faint green light. A system prompt followed shortly after.

[Alchemy Fermentation Barrel] requires one of the following:

Mana Input from user.

Mote Input from user.

Theo was certain that Basic Drogramath Alchemy said it required at least a mote, and perhaps mana. His intuition said this was a discrepancy between the fermentation vessel he was meant to use and the one Sledge had fabricated. The alchemist shrugged, placing an Earth Mote in each barrel and closing the lids. He had a sense that a 50-unit fermentation would take a shorter time than a 100-unit fermentation but couldn’t get a solid grasp on how much of a time difference.

The fermentation process was a new thing for the lab. Where distillation required constant attention to avoid the overflowing flasks, the fermentation barrels would do their work with no attention. Theo turned his attention to some leftover Flame Essence. He wasn’t currently under contract from Fenian and had enough potions in the store to last a few more days. He could experiment with the dangerous essence, although he wished he had the [Experimentation Room] upgrade for the lab.

In the gravel yard behind the Newt and Demon, Theo began his experimentation. The goal was to create something that would be safe for people to use. His complex contraption from before had more failure points than he could count, and looking back on it, he realized it was a miracle it didn’t misfire. His plan wasn’t to abandon the concept entirely, but to make it safer for the user.

Flame Essence was the most temperamental essence Theo had ever worked with. It refused to react stably. Introducing tenth-of-a-unit drops of the essence into Purified Water saw violent reactions. The water bubbled ominously on the first attempt and created a minor explosion on the second. Even Stabilized Water didn’t do the trick, seeing a similar, if less violent, reaction. The Drogramathi tome mentioned the volatile nature of offensive essences.

Theo experimented for some time with that essence, finding it to be impossible to work with. His understanding of essences, the thing that brought him his breakthrough, revealed the problem with his planned firebomb. Until he could remove the impurities through the pressure tank, the project wouldn’t work. The second and third properties of the essence were still present, preventing him from getting a stable reaction in the potion form. He nodded to himself, making a mental note about the issue, before returning to the Newt and Demon.

“Very unimpressive explosions today,” Azrug said, tutting. The shopkeeper was leaning against the counter, shaking his head.

“I need to wait for Throk to make my pressure artifice,” Theo said. “I can’t work the next tier of potions without it.”

“Well, I’m selling things. Getting experience. Increasing my attributes,” Azrug said, grinning.

“How do you gain experience with mercantile-focused cores?” Theo asked.

“Selling stuff,” Azrug said. “Speaking of, I have a proposition.”

“Ah,” Theo said, closing his eyes for a moment. “Let’s hear it.”

“I want to sell other stuff. Not just potions,” Azrug said. “We don’t have a general store in town. Adventurers can barter with the townsfolk, but there’s no centralized place. I’ve had many people come looking for supplies. Food, water, maps, all that.”

“Perhaps you could sell adventuring kits,” Theo said. “Bundle them with potions. Rations, water—you could use the glassware artifice for bottled water—whatever else you can think of.”

“Problem is, that stuff is expensive,” Azrug said, a slight frown painting his face.

“And you’re broke,” Theo said, sensing another investment coming.

“Well, I’m not broke,” Azrug said. “But I can’t afford to buy supplies for the shop.”

Theo waved a dismissive hand. “Just hold back the money you make from the shop. Take your cut and reinvest the rest.”

Azrug’s face lit up. “You think it's a good idea?”

“Listen to your cores,” Theo said, nearly grimacing at his advice. “You’re the expert.”

“Okay, good. I already posted a notice at the adventurer’s guild about mapping routes to the dungeons,” Azrug said, jabbering. “I signed a deal with Throk to display his work here at a fee. You’ll get a cut of everything, don’t worry.”

Theo smiled. “I wasn’t worried. You blew in this place like a storm to start with. Took over and started selling stuff better than I ever could. You’ve run this place better than I ever could.”

“Thanks, Theo,” Azrug said, puffing out his chest a little.

A sound like rolling thunder came from outside the shop. Theo narrowed his eyes at the door, recognizing that specific cadence. Azrug’s brow knitted tightly. “Thunder? Lots of thunder?”

“No, I don’t think so,” Theo said, letting out a heavy sigh. He pushed his way outside, squinting north toward the town center.

He spotted the wreaths of dark fire before he saw the carriage. A mighty vessel built for war, armored and lacquered black, came barreling toward him. The five creatures that pulled it were the demonic Karatan of Fenian Feintleaf, driving hard across the hard cobbles. They looked like normal Karatan, according to the elf, although Theo had never seen a regular one. These demonic Karatan were multi-limbed horse-like creatures that looked more centipede than horse. The carriage rumbled to a stop, the lead horse Galflower letting out a sound like a chittering whinny.

The merchant elf, Fenian, sat atop the carriage, flashing a devious smile. His pale skin, damp from the constant rain, caught what little light there was. He wore his traditional ruffled tunic, ruffled coat, and pants with more ruffles. The hat that sat upon his head was adorned with a long, red feather ending in an intricate runic pattern. Fenian dismounted, affected a deep bow near his lead horse, and smiled wider.

“Theo,” Fenian said. “Galflower!”

The elf turned on the spot, stomping his feet in anger. Galflower had removed the hat from his head and was happily munching on the fabric. The merchant slapped at the side of the creature’s chitinous face to little effect. He let out an exasperated breath, retreating to the back of the carriage to retrieve another hat. This one was just as fancy as the last but lacked the interesting plumage on top.

“Fenian,” Theo said, reaching out a hand for the elf to shake. “I didn’t expect you in Broken Tusk.”

“Nor should you have,” Fenian said, casting one last glare at his horse. “I’m here on other business. My courier business.”

A small man stepped out of the side of the carriage, blustering. He was shorter than a marshling by a head, his tan fur bristling from the jostle of the ride. He stomped across the wet cobbles and extended a hand for Theo to shake. The alchemist had to stoop low to accomplish the task. He noticed how much the man’s appearance resembled that of a hamster. The resplendent robe gave him away as someone important.

“Bagragrubbin Rubgrubbin Grubbin, at your service, Mayor,” the man said.

Theo blinked. “Pardon me?”

Fenian laughed, for perhaps the first time. Theo cast him a glare, then turned his attention back down to the small man.

“The Broglings all have long names. They typically take a shorter name,” Fenian said, finally stifling his chuckles. “I’ve taken to calling this fine gentleman Grub.”

“Grub is fine,” Grub said, waving dismissively. “Now, if you could file a formal complaint with me against this smuggler. That ride was anything but pleasant.”

“Trust me,” Fenian said. “You wouldn’t want to travel those roads with anything but the best. And this is the best carriage in the land.”

“Fenian, are you going to stick around for a while?” Theo asked.

“Yes, at least the rest of the day,” Fenian said.

“Good. I’ll find you later,” Theo said. “Grub, would you like to come inside to discuss business?”

Grub straightened himself up, pulling at the ends of his tiny coat. A smile spread across his chubby face. “Certainly. Good to see someone has a sense of decorum.”

Theo gave his greetings to Azrug, pushing through the shop section of the Newt and Demon to ascend the stairs. Grub followed closely behind, having trouble with the stairs before finally pulling himself to the landing. They settled in near the window, the little Brogling jumping to get onto his chair. The alchemist smiled, gesturing to his well-used tea kettle.

“Tea?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Theo put a pot of Purified Water on his Flame Artifice, setting it low and returning his attention to the man. “You’re here for the taxes,” he said.

“Indeed, and more,” Grub said, straightening his little coat. “You have friends in high places, Theo Spencer. Places that even I can’t reach.”

Theo narrowed his eyes, his suspicions peaking. Someone in Qavell put him here for a reason. What that reason was sat in the realm of speculation—something he couldn’t hope to penetrate. The functionary sitting before him even knew more, but that was a matter for another time. News outside of Broken Tusk came in slowly, censored ‌by Qavell itself. More than anything, the alchemist wanted to know about the state of the kingdom.

“What’s this business with the roads?” Theo asked.

“An insurrection,” Grub said with a weak smile.

“A civil war?” Theo asked.

“Not quite,” Grub said. “Well, I suppose this is privileged information, but yes. A small sect of cultists has risen, but they won’t last long—they never do. The crown has summoned the irregulars, while the bulk of her force battles in the west.”

“Sounds like something a mayor should have been informed about,” Theo said. He felt a strange appraising sensation wash over his body as Grub narrowed his eyes for a moment. He realized the functionary was inspecting him.

Grub let out a long sigh. “I’m here to collect your taxes. I put in an order to your town to begin a manual collection for a reason.”

“What reason might that be?” Theo asked.

“Well, you’re Level 10. So, you have access to a third core slot with any luck. You haven’t taken a new core, so I’d like to advise you on some finer points of politics,” Grub said.

Theo groaned. He wasn’t very interested in politics.

“Now, it might be daunting, but it's necessary,” Grub said. “Politics is about more than just backstabbing and betrayal. Important things happen in the political realm, so I’d advise you to take an administration core.”

“All right, what are the advantages? I have an advisor who is pushing me toward loremaster rather than administration,” Theo said.

“A scholar? Perhaps a high-level adventurer,” Grub said, nodding. “Right. Loremaster is a good pick. A great pick if you can find a legendary core. Those goals are short-term, though. I can sense something inside you. A fiercely independent spirit, which is a good thing. So, I’ll lay this out for you plainly. Something is strange in Broken Tusk. There are forces at play that the crown doesn’t understand, and it doesn’t want to get involved. I’ve never seen an independent adventurer’s guild get approval so quickly. Your requests for funding are being signed by a blind man, it would seem.”

Grub nodded his head to the steaming kettle. Theo removed it from the fire and set it down on the wood table, adding some moss to the mix and stirring it gently. He replaced the lid and turned his attention back to the functionary.

“What does that have to do with my cores?”

“You could take another core; perhaps make some decent profits. A gold here or there, but that’s not where the money is at. If you want Broken Tusk to thrive, you’ll take your leadership role seriously. How much money are you making on exports?”

Theo stammered for a second. He pulled his mayoral screen up and scanned through the various tabs. There was a section for exports, but the data was incomplete.

“I don’t know,” Theo said.

“Because you have to work the numbers manually without a core,” Grub said with a shake of his head. “I know you have the means. I urge you to pick up a Governance Core as soon as possible. They’re terribly expensive, but I have a feeling someone in the king’s court will approve a subsidy.”

Theo steepled his fingers and turned his attention to the wisps of vapor rising from the teakettle. The earthy, citrus smell filled the lab. Someone in the court had an interest in Broken Tusk. That person might be the same person who coerced Miana to keep the town as it was, reserving it for the alchemist’s arrival. If this was a good thing was beyond him. Another thought crossed his mind.

“Can’t I just swap the cores out?” Theo asked. “When needed.”

“Of course. Talk to whoever is consulting for you on this matter, though. The process is difficult and reserved for someone of a high level. It is quite painful if you’re under-leveled.”

“So, what are the benefits I’d get from an administration core?” Theo asked. “Sell it to me.”

“Well, that’s where I was going. The true power of a core focused on governance is your ability to interact with other towns,” Grub said. “Have you considered that Rivers and Daub might want to buy the stone you’ve been exporting? Or perhaps your abundance of timber?”

“What use would they have of stone and wood?” Theo asked.

“When a town crosses the Level 20 threshold, they require materials to maintain themselves. I suppose you haven’t noticed, since you’ve been feeding your town cores constantly, but a town degrades over time. Before Level 20, it simply requires monster cores to survive, unless damaged. After that point, you need to feed it motes and raw materials such as stone and timber, along with other things,” Grub said. “There, I’ve filled in the gaps of your knowledge. You should get a refund from your advisor. Or perhaps you should speak with your contact more often.”

Grub paused for a long moment, gesturing to the tea. Theo obeyed the silent command, pouring out two cups of the steaming liquid. He took a tentative sip as the information rolled over in his mind. The Brogling took a sip of his own, pausing for a moment before continuing.

“So, the legendary Governance Core will grant you a few abilities by default. Everything is tallied automatically. Population, finances, town resource levels, all of that. Once you have the core, a tree of skills opens up. I recommend the Contracts skill,” Grub said. Theo deduced the man had such a core, because a window appeared describing the skill.

[Contracts]

Epic Governance Skill

Allows the user to create binding contracts between parties. These parties may be individuals or entire towns or cities. The extent of the contract is agreed upon, including duration, payment, and expectations, by both parties.

Effect:

Allows the user to track contracts like quests.

Allows the user to create contracts.

“You’re implying I could create trade deals,” Theo said.

“Exactly,” Grub said, smiling. “Excellent tea, by the way. The best part about the Governance Core is that you’ll gain experience by doing what you’re already doing. The high-level skills for the core are quite good. It starts with a reduction of tax and goes as high as creating money from thin air. Rewards for trade agreements and growth.”

“You’re saying I’d be a fool not to take it,” Theo said, nodding.

“I am,” Grub said.

The Brogling wasn’t being rude about it, and Theo had to wonder what Uharis had to gain by steering him away from the core. Perhaps it was a hatred for the government that dwelled in the archmage. The alchemist wouldn’t make a decision like this lightly. He’d consult both Fenian and Uharis on the matter before going through with it.

“You’ve convinced me,” Theo said, lying. “Now, what tax does the town owe?”

“That’s the curious thing,” Grub said, revealing another sheepish smile. “Very little. I’m assuming you haven’t tampered with the town’s seed core, but you only owe a single gold coin. You were 5 silver in debt before you transitioned from your old world. By the time Miana transferred the mayor’s position, you had soared well beyond that. Again, friends in high places.”

There was a tone in the man’s voice that said he knew Theo didn’t know what he was talking about. It was like being the mouse when a cat came to play. The alchemist withdrew a single gold coin and handed it over to the man.

“Are you staying in town for a while?” Theo asked, knowing that Fenian said he’d only stay for the day.

“Just for today,” Grub said, taking the coin. “Then I’ll climb back in that death trap and head back for Qavell.”

“Well, you’re welcome to stay as long as you want‌,” Theo said.

“Do you have any more questions?” Grub asked.

Theo had a hundred questions that he knew wouldn’t find answers from the Brogling. “Not at this time.”

“Well, I’ll run around and explore what you’ve done for the rest of the day. I have a feeling I’m going to be impressed by your progress,” Grub said, standing, shaking Theo’s hand, and departing from the lab.

Theo was left to sit there with his thoughts on the matter. The Governance Core was appealing to him. More so than the Loremaster’s Core at this point. He summoned his mayoral screen again, scanning through the incomplete data and frowning. His time spent working on his barrier caused the town to suffer. He wasn’t fulfilling his duties, even if he didn’t want them in the first place.

I need to speak to Fenian, Theo said, sending a mental message to Tresk.

What for?

I have a feeling I need an administrator’s core.

Dang. I had such a great feeling you were gonna identify all my junk!

Chapter 11

Modifiers

Theo had a sense as he left the lab that his barrels were almost done fermenting. He never experimented with fermentation back on Earth, but he knew this was quicker than it should be. Azrug tried to strike up conversation as he left, but the alchemist waved him off for the time being, explaining that he had to catch Fenian before he left town. The shopkeeper seemed understanding, that excitement for his new venture bubbling to the surface at every opportunity.

The rain was falling, as expected, outside. A gentle mist settled over the town like a shroud, enveloping the workers with a wet haze that put off work for another day. Theo worked his way north over the wet cobbles, streams of water falling from the roof of the Newt and Demon. The rain played a song for his journey, giving him time to reflect on the decisions that lay ahead. In his mind, loremaster was the best pick. But Uharis had undersold the core to him. The man’s motives were as ethereal as his magical practices, leaving the alchemist without an answer to his suspicions.

The Marsh Wolf Tavern sat like a sentinel in the rain, dim lights flickering from warped windows. Despite her high prices, it was a refuge from the constant rain. A place where people could share their stories for the day, looking forward to a season without the constant drive of unforgiving rain. Theo pushed his way through the front door, finding a few of those people scattered around the interior. Fenian was eating something near the back window while Xam herself looked on with disinterested eyes.

Theo assumed the seat next to the elf and smiled. “Good to see you again.”

“Old friend,” Fenian said, holding his arms wide. “Fortunately, I’ve been very busy. I’ve been making a fortune while the roads are impassable. Things will calm down in the next few days. I’ll have a nice order for you to complete then. How have you been?”

“I’m good,” Theo said. “If the roads are impassable, how did you get here?”

“Ah, that’s a secret. I’ll say there are other paths one can take,” Fenian said, grinning.

“Paths only accessible to demonic Karatan,” Theo said, smiling back. “I want your expert opinion on something. I have to pick a new core, and I’m torn between loremaster and administrator.”

Fenian’s face lit up. The grin painting his face widened. “That’s a simple question to answer. You’re the mayor of a town—that’s not a common thing. Loremaster would grant you more income on a short term basis. You’d learn a lot about things, but Administrator? I might be able to source an extremely rare core for the right price. If you want Broken Tusk to go from well-off to rich, I recommend the administrator route.”

“I was afraid you’d say that,” Theo said. “My instinct says to take the Administrator class and find a Governance Core if I can.”

“I don’t have a mind for politics or governance. What I have a mind for is trade. That’s the exact core I was thinking of—with it, you can strike deals with other towns. Create town-specific titles and assign those roles to others.”

“That settles it,” Theo said, lowering his voice. “Grub seems to think someone in the capital likes me.”

“Because someone does,” Fenian said, also lowering his voice. “They’re respecting your sovereignty and giving you a clear path forward.”

“How much could you source the Governance Core for?” Theo asked.

“For you? Make me your trade liaison, and I’ll find it at cost,” Fenian said, gesturing with a dismissive flourish.

“You’d be my first pick for that kind of title anyway,” Theo said. “How much?”

“Perhaps 15 gold,” Fenian said.

“A steep price,” Theo said, nodding.

“It’s a rare legendary core. Sought after by the nobility. Anyway, I can find it,” Fenian said, puffing up with pride.

“Then it's just a matter of finding some cores for Tresk,” Theo said.

“For the Shadowdancer’s Core? She already saw me about that. I was happy to sell her the two cores,” Fenian said.

“That sneaky little marshling,” Theo said, narrowing his eyes. “I was going to buy them for her.”

“She also sold me a lot of magical items,” Fenian said, ticking off his fingers as he listed them. “She also bought a bigger dimensional bag.”

“She’s been busy,” Theo said.

Fenian nodded, eating some of his meal. He took a long moment before speaking again, slurping the broth of his soup noisily.

“Take the administration core,” Fenian said. “For the sake of Broken Tusk.”

Theo furrowed his brow, staring out the window into the constant haze of rainfall. His mind swirled with possibilities, a whisper in his chest baiting him to take that path. He was already playing a dangerous game with Drogramath so close to his heart, but to seize the reins of power would be another thing. But that, too, was a fallacy. He’d already taken the reins unwittingly. He wouldn’t admit it to himself, but he wanted that power. Not a yoke cast over the people of Broken Tusk, but the power to steer her destiny wherever he wanted. The alchemist wasn’t vain enough to think himself the soul savior of the town, but the self-appointed title was tempting.

He kept his mind focused on doing the most good, whatever that meant. The people of the town were in a better place now that he was at the helm. They were fed, sheltered, and getting fat from his efforts. It was the least he could do, in his mind. If this place was some kind of elaborate set-up was beyond him. It didn’t matter.

“Right,” Theo said. “Find one for me. I only have one more question.”

“What is it?” Fenian said, swallowing a mouthful of mystery meat.

“Grub suggested that Qavell would finance my core,” Theo said, narrowing his eyes. “I can feel Drogramath himself screaming into my chest about that.”

Fenian smiled. “Then the old potioneer is smarter than anyone could hope. That’s absolutely a trap of some kind. A ploy to get you to relinquish your independence. Don’t trust a word Grub says about that.”

Theo tilted his head back and loosed a sigh. The crown, Fenian, Uharis, Sulvan… They were all steering him in a direction, but which one was right? Of all those interests, the elf before him was the most trustworthy.

“An honest merchant,” Theo said, snorting a laugh. “We’re a strange pair.”

“We are,” Fenian admitted. “But that’s what makes this work. I’ll put up my own gold before I let you take coin handed by the crown. If you can’t afford my price, let me know.”

Theo nodded. “You have a stake in Broken Tusk. The least I can do is give you the position to negotiate our contracts. Without you, I wouldn’t have accomplished all this.”

Fenian set down his wooden spoon, leaning back in his chair. “Think of it like this. We’re all disparate pieces, strewn over the land. Tresk, you, me, Broken Tusk, Drogramath… We’re all tiny pieces in a gigantic puzzle. No one expected us to come together, but here we are. Standing in defiance of what others thought possible. This town is special. I came here because I heard of a new alchemist. What I found was an alchemist exploiting some cosmic loophole. I found a companion.”

Fenian was right about Broken Tusk being different. About things coming together to form something larger. The confluence he thought about was forming before his eyes. The town produced more than it should be able to. His quarry in the north, the timber in the swamp, and the reagents scattered around the fields. They all grew back at extraordinary rates. Everything leaned in the favor of a prosperous town. The alchemist would be foolish not to take advantage of that quirk in the System.

“You’re right. We’re stronger together,” Theo said before lowering his voice again. “You know my ambitions, don’t you? The things I seek to accomplish?”

Fenian leaned in, smiling. “A kingdom. An independent state born of the swamp. A force of mercantile greatness. Yes, I know what you want to do. I know how high you’ve set your expectations.”

“Then I have to ask. Do you think I’ll succeed?” Theo asked.

“With the company you keep?” Fenian asked, pointing to himself. “Absolutely. We’ll have the northlanders by their toes. Every merchant's guild will beg me for a piece of the action.”

“Khahar Sefo Zus,” Theo said, going glassy in the eyes. “The desert of the Khahari provides.”

“Was that the old Khahari tongue? The cat-people?” Fenian said, cocking his head to the side.

He couldn’t explain how he knew the phrase. It was indeed the old tongue of the Khahari tribe from the western desert nations. Zan’kir had said a few words in the old tongue around him, but he didn’t think he picked much of it up. It was likely a hidden trait of his outworlder origin that revealed the strange language to him. Something deeper inside him was whispering those words into his mind, though. Something demonic.

Theo leaned in further, pressing most of his torso against the table. “The Khahari. Who trades with the Khahari? What about the Toora?”

Fenian’s eyes went wide. “Qavell trades with the Toora, on a small scale. No one trades with the eastern deserts, though.”

“Broken Tusk will,” Theo said, nodding to himself. “Other paths… How well can you move goods between here and Khahar?”

A smile crept across Fenian’s face. “I love the way you think, Dronon. Gods, you have a knack for this. Or perhaps you’re being led by something else.”

Theo’s face went pale for a moment. “I have a feeling Drogramath is steering me that way.”

Fenian placed his hand over Theo’s and nodded. “Don’t let the Order hear me say this, but that Demon isn’t so bad. He’s so far outside the realm of Demonic influence, he may as well be unaligned. From what I understand, he’s currently banished. Take those whispers in stride, but listen to them. This is a fantastic idea.”

“One more thing,” Theo said. “I need a fabricator core.”

Fenian didn’t skip a beat, producing one from thin air. It had a wooden mesh exterior with a glowing green center. Theo inspected the glowing object.

[Fabricator’s Core]

Rare Fabricator Core

Unbound

2 Slots

Level 1 (0%)

Fabricator specializes in creating upgrades and modifying seed core buildings.

Effect:

+1 Vigor

“How much?” Theo asked. “And why do you keep so many cores on you?”

“Many merchant cores grant a vast inventory,” Fenian said, setting the core down on the table. “My supplier has an array of cores that I get for cheap. I paid 50 silver for this one, you can have it for a gold.”

“Your standard double-rate,” Theo said, nodding. He produced a gold coin and handed it over to the trader. “Your prices are still fair.”

“For you? Always,” Fenian said. “You could have talked me down to my cost, of course. But as always, you’re unwilling to barter. All the more reason you need someone representing the town in trade deals.”

Theo stuffed the core into his inventory.

“My woodworker needs something more meaningful,” Theo said, nodding to himself. “Now I just need to trick her into taking it.”

“A task for which you’re most suited,” Fenian said, returning to his soup. “There’s a certain charm in this soup, isn’t there?”

“What do you mean? It’s very plain,” Theo said, grimacing at the bowl.

“Ah, the charm of imperfection,” Fenian said, letting out a wistful sigh. “When something is too perfect, it becomes mechanical. I find the light of things in their flaws.”

“That’s an interesting perspective,” Theo said, laughing. “Sounds like Broken Tusk.”

“Indeed.”

Theo checked in with the elven trader a bit more, lingering on less serious topics. Fenian couldn’t be happier with his position as a courier, although he feared it would end sooner than expected. It was a strange middle ground where he paused most of his normal trading in favor of carting around dignitaries and military personnel alike. The alchemist departed the inn once he was satisfied with the conversation, his mind wandering to the fermentation barrels back at the lab.

“So long,” Theo said, waving.

Fenian waved absentmindedly, returning his attention to the soup. Theo departed into the rain, working his way back to the Newt and Demon. Azrug was standing proudly behind the counter, gesturing to an array of junk strewn about the surface.

“What’s all this?” Theo asked.

“Part of the new business plan,” Azrug said. “I’m buying up the magical gear from local adventurers, then I’ll sell it to foreigners.”

“Whatever you think is right,” Theo said, waving him off. “You bought this with the profits from selling potions?”

“Yeah, I think it's going to work out,” Azrug said. “I got experience for buying the stuff, too.”

Theo often dismissed the shopkeeper’s intelligence. In a lot of ways, Azrug was still a boy. The alchemist couldn’t know for certain, but he was likely around 15 years old, which was early for getting one’s cores. He had a natural affinity for trade and a keen mind for negotiation.

“What core should I slot for my third core?” Theo asked.

“Oh, right. You hit Level 10,” Azrug said, nodding. He leaned in and flashed a grin. “You gotta take something for the town, right? How can you not? You’re our mayor.”

Theo smiled. That statement was as reductive as he could get, boiling the problem down to a simple fact. The people of Broken Tusk needed him. He needed to be there for them in any way possible, including giving up his ambitions to be a good mayor.

“Thanks,” Theo said, patting the shopkeeper on the shoulder.

“Hey, no problem,” Azrug said. “I’m really smart.”

Theo retreated upstairs, a strange scent lingering in the air. It was a sharp smell like alcohol mixing with something else like decaying vegetation. He assumed it was the fermentation going to work, but upon inspecting his latest project, he found that the process was done. The contents of each barrel had undergone a transformation. The small pieces inside the mash had broken down, covered in a layer of frothing foam as bubbles rose from the bottom of the mixture.

It was time to consult Basic Drogramath Alchemy yet again. The fermentation process was the first step in creating essence modifiers, the second step being a familiar one. Once the mixture had fermented for enough time, which the book assured him would be intuitive, he’d transfer the mash into the still and run it on a higher heat setting than normal. The thing that set the fermentation process apart from a regular mash was that the fermented mash would only produce one property. This new property would be the essence modifier property, but the tome claimed there were advanced processing methods after this. Something far out of Theo’s reach with his current skills.

He transferred the 50 units of the Spiny Swamp Thistle Root fermented mash into his Drogramath Still, and the 50 units of Moss Nettle fermented mash to his Custom Copper Still, lighting medium-strength fires beneath both. The alchemist went back to the book to read more about the modifier essences.

Each reagent produced a unique modifier. Once fermented and distilled, they could be added to any potion to change the way it worked. The book had many examples, but a friend-or-foe-style firebomb was high on his list of things that interested him. Some modifiers didn’t work with some potions, but the information on that was scarce. Theo would need to upgrade his lab to get the testing area, which would hopefully allow him to experiment with explosions without damaging the building.

Theo patted the top of the hot Drogramath Still, grinning as it completed its run before his non-magical still. He inspected the still itself to appreciate the bonus effects.

[Drogramath Still]

[Alchemy Equipment]

Legendary

Created By: ????

A 500-unit-capacity Drogramathi still with attached advanced condenser. The advanced condenser allows for a more efficient cooling of essences, decreasing the time needed to distill. The Drogramathi metal increases the spread of heat, providing an even distribution across a run.

Effect:

Distillation time reduced.

Occasionally produces more essence per run.

As promised, it produced more than the 50 units he put in—58 units—and ran significantly quicker than the still built by Throk. The essence it produced had a different appearance than the normal essences. Streams of silver baubles ran through the liquid, rising through it like bubbles. The System informed him about the experience he gained, but he disregarded the notification and inspected his new creation.

[Over-Time Modifier]

[Essence Modifier]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

50 units (liquid)

Add to a completed potion to add the [Over-Time] modifier. May not work with all potions.

Theo made a mental note. A mash of Spiny Swamp Thistle Root and an Earth Mote produced an Over-Time Modifier. He dug an old healing potion from his inventory, appraising it for a moment. The potion was 2 units of liquid, and his intuition told him to add an equal amount of the modifier solution to gain the effect. The alchemist created a 4-unit vial and transferred his existing potion over. He examined it before adding the new effect.

[Lesser Healing Potion]

[Potion]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

A lesser healing potion. Drink to restore health.

Effect:

Instantly restores 30 health points.

It wasn’t his best work, created back before he could get excellent quality out of his stills. Theo slowly introduced 2 units of his modifier essence to the potion, watching as the silvery liquid mixed to spout plumes of red smoke. It bubbled for a moment before settling down, filling the lab with a scent crossed between fresh-tilled earth and industrial-strength solvent. He inspected his new creation.

[Lesser Healing Potion]

[Over-Time]

[Potion] [Modified Potion]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

A lesser healing potion. Drink to restore health.

Effect (Modified):

Restores 30 health points every minute for 5 minutes.

Theo gawked for a moment at the System screen. The potion was absurdly better than the last version. The imbiber would get the same effect of the potion five times in total over the course of five minutes. He stoppered the vial, rushing downstairs and thrusting his still-warm creation into Azrug’s hands. The shopkeeper’s mouth dropped open.

“This is powerful,” Azrug said. “My Merchant’s Core is screaming at me. You’ve at least doubled the value of the regular potion.”

Theo grinned. “I knew you’d think this was awesome.”

Chapter 12

Face Your Demons

Azrug and Theo spent some time messing around with the new modifier essence. When mixed with a Lesser Vigor Potion, the essence fizzled, then exploded violently. The alchemist began making mental notes about what worked and what didn’t. It was logical what would work and what wouldn’t. When they were done having their fun with the first modifier, they inspected the second modifier he’d crafted.

[Surge]

[Essence Modifier]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

50 units (liquid)

Add to a completed potion to add the Surge modifier. Surge applies bonuses as an instant, temporary effect.

The description of the modifier was confusing. The alchemist determined it was derived from the Moss Nettle’s [Surge] property but couldn’t figure out what it meant. He found another healing potion and applied the faintly green liquid to it in a 4-unit vial. The effect was instant, creating a pungent citrus smell throughout the lab. He inspected the result.

[Lesser Healing Potion]

[Surge]

[Potion] [Modified Potion]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

A lesser healing potion. Drink to restore health.

Effect (Modified):

If the user is at full health, add 30 health to their maximum and restore that amount. Effect lasts 1 minute.

“That makes more sense,” Theo said, nodding to himself.

“Wow. The modifiers really change the potion,” Azrug said. “Both effects you made are great. I can sell these.”

“They’re useful,” Theo said. “I want to find all the modifier properties. I know there’s going to be some cool stuff.”

“Better get fermenting,” Azrug said.

The pair went to work with transforming what stock they had and creating new stock for the store. Every potion he modified with the modifier essences granted him a small amount of experience, something he was grateful for. He now had more steps in the process, which would give him more experience. While the modified potions cost more in reagents than the base potions, it would net him more experience. If Azrug could get double for the new potions, that would help make up for the additional cost in raw materials.

Theo made plans in his mind to ferment everything he could get his hands on. It turned out the 10 barrels he’d commissioned were going to be exactly what he needed, even if the lab didn’t have the space for it. There was also the idea of experimenting with different motes during fermentation. His intuition and references in his book said that this would produce different modifiers. The day was getting late, though. The unexpected arrival of Grub and Fenian had already drawn the labors of the day out, forcing him to focus on things other than alchemy. He felt the slow tide of responsibility washing in and focused the rest of the day on his mayoral duties.

Azrug retreated down to the shop, intent on manning it for the rest of the day. Theo consulted his mayor’s screen, flicking through the population screen. Broken Tusk had grown marginally, but not enough. With the roads clogged, only the adventurers already in the southlands could come to inspect the town. The alchemist needed to entice more people to make this place their home. Population was one marker that determined if the town upgraded from town status to something larger.

Theo let out a sigh at the financial screen, focusing on the sales tax section. Grub had calculated the taxes he owed, likely using some administration cores, but the screen the alchemist viewed was barren. It listed all parties that had to pay taxes, but their entries were mostly blank. The section regarding property taxes was filled out, although he didn’t know why. It was another section that revealed how derelict he’d been in his duties. To further drive the point home, the export tax section was also empty.

Theo felt as though he didn’t have an option anymore. Manually calculating all the taxes was a burdensome task that he wanted nothing to do with. He resolved to push Fenian for that governance core, dismissing the entire thing from his mind and turning his attention elsewhere. After a moment of staring out the window, sullen, he felt Tresk’s approach. The sun was getting low outside, signaling the end of her adventuring day. She burst into the lab, the wide smile on her face washing away any sense of sadness from the alchemist’s mind.

“Azrug told me about the modifiers,” Tresk said. “Gimmie!”

Theo smiled, producing several modified potions from his inventory. The marshling took them, pressing a vial close to her face and whistling. “That’s some fancy stuff. The adventurers are asking about your bombs now.”

“Of course they are,” Theo said. “I regret my demonstration.”

“Nah, they just want to blow stuff up. Who doesn’t?” Tresk asked. “I’m sure you have a plan.”

“I do,” Theo said. “I’m relying on the modifier essences. There’s one that makes it so a firebomb will only affect monsters.”

“You’re worried people will blow themselves up,” Tresk said, shrugging. “I mean, if you saw how they conduct themselves out there, you’d be more worried.”

Theo nodded. “The modifiers are going to set us apart.”

“Have you talked to Fenian? I think he’s still in town,” Tresk asked.

Theo craned his neck, looking out the window and into the colors of approaching dusk. “He has a way to travel long distances quickly. I guess he doesn’t need to worry about having sunlight.”

“Yeah, there’s something fancy about that carriage,” Tresk said. “Come on, he’s still at the Marsh Wolf.”

Tresk tugged on Theo’s arm, forcing him to his feet. She dragged him up the avenue, his diminishing stamina bar making the journey exhausting. By the time they reached the Marsh Wolf Tavern, it was alive with the sound of excited patrons. The pair pushed through the front door, waded through the crowds, and found their way to Fenian’s table. Grub was there with him, the small Brogling grimacing as he ate through Xam’s legendary soup.

Tresk departed for the counter, ordering several bowls.

“Well, I didn’t think I’d see you again before we left,” Fenian said, smiling. “The Karatan are almost charged and ready to go.”

“I have something you might be interested in,” Theo said, withdrawing a modified healing potion from his inventory. He handed it over to the trader, grinning. This new discovery boosted his mood, despite his stamina.

Fenian’s face lit up, then his brow furrowed. “This is advanced stuff. You made it?”

“Of course,” Theo said, waving him away. “What do you think?”

“I think this is unique,” Fenian said, rolling the hefty potion over in his hands. “You made this with your Level 10 skills?”

“One of them,” Theo said. “I haven’t tested the other.”

“Hand that here, you grubby-mouthed elf,” Grub said, snatching the potion from Fenian’s hand.

“Rude,” Fenian said.

“I’m no alchemist, but I’ve never heard of modifiers,” Grub said.

“You don’t run in the right circles,” Fenian said, sneering. “The concept behind Theo’s cores is that they put him in a strong starting position, revealing paths of alchemy out of reach to normal alchemists. I’ve seen modifiers before, but only from high-level alchemists.”

“The legacy of Drogramath,” a familiar voice called from across the room.

Uharis stumbled from the other side of the tavern, tripping several times before depositing himself in a chair opposite Theo. Tresk returned with two bowls of soup, ‌setting one down for the alchemist and slurping hers.

“Well, now it’s a party,” Fenian said, shaking his head. “A drunk wizard and a functionary of the crown. Exciting.”

“Drogramath, as you all should know, is an outsider amongst the Demon Lords. His cores are never seeded into dungeons, and besides Theo, there are no recorded cases of a Drogramath Dronon transitioning,” Uharis said, smacking his lips. “Now, some might assume this means⁠—”

“Get to the point,” Fenian said.

Uharis blustered for a moment, shaking his head vigorously before continuing. “You’re right to assume he has a special start. Essence handling is an alchemical art reserved for masters of the craft. Theo is in an interesting place because he cannot produce high-level potions. When a master alchemist masters essences, they’re already crafting fifth-tier potions. What we’re witnessing is the birth of a new art, unknown in this land.”

“So, you’re just blowing smoke up Theo’s butt,” Tresk said, swallowing a large piece of meat. “We know this already, Mr. Archmage.”

“Seems that way,” Fenian said, grinning. “I have a few contacts at those master-level alchemy labs.”

“Well, Mr. Knows-everything-there-is-to-know, you’ll know that modifiers are common among sixth-tier alchemy, around Level 60,” Uharis said, casting a smug look at the trader. “The skill unlocks after hitting that level, by which time any sane alchemist would have a Master Alchemist’s Core. The scholarly cults, which I frequently lecture for, have pontificated on the reason for this for ages. Why lock fermentation away behind such a high level?”

“Because modifiers are powerful,” Theo said, shrugging. It was that simple. Changing the baseline potion was an extreme measure. Unlocking the fermentation skill opened a new world of potion making, unbound by the normal conventions.

“Because modifiers are extremely powerful,” Uharis said, hiccuping. “Drogramath seems to disagree, as you can see with our alchemist here. Although, if you could determine the motives of a Demon Lord, my order would pay you handsomely. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have someone to attend to.”

Uharis stood from his chair, wobbled dangerously, then sauntered over the Xam. The half-ogre woman rolled her eyes as he approached, busying herself with cleaning the bar as he came.

“I don’t much like that man,” Grub said.

“It’s an act,” Theo said. “I mean, he might really be drunk, but he knows what he’s doing.”

“He likes to drop these seeds,” Tresk said, slurping her soup. “I think he’s trying to influence Theo.”

“Me, too,” Fenian said, narrowing his eyes on the archmage. “The scholars charge a fortune for that kind of information. Why drop it here and now?”

“My intuition says he’s trying to light a fire under me,” Theo said. He wasn’t entirely comfortable discussing this around Grub, but he was taken by the moment. “He was steering me toward the Loremaster class.”

“Horrible pick for your station,” Grub said, waving a dismissive hand. “You’d be a fool not to pick an administration class.”

“I know,” Theo said, finally taking his first sip of the soup. It was as plain as ever.

“Hey, I wanted loremaster, too,” Tresk said, frowning. “I have all this magic crap that I can’t identify.”

Fenian was more focused than normal. His eyes didn’t leave the archmage, as though he was trying to unravel the man’s very being from afar. Theo didn’t dare interrupt him, allowing him to continue his vigil. Grub, Tresk, and Theo fell into light conversation about the state of the kingdom. Things were already getting better, a fact that surprised the alchemist. The roads would clear in days, and the war in the west would continue, although ‌those battles were beyond anyone in Broken Tusk. They were cogs in a much smaller machine.

“That’s why Broken Tusk will prosper,” Grub said proudly. “Towns headed by those with a mind for crafting and commerce tend to do very well. Just consider Rivers and Daub!”

“I remember when they were just Daub,” Fenian said, snapping out of his concentration. “A crafter at the helm has little to do with their success.”

Grub shrugged. “Exploitation of natural resources is a valid strategy.”

“Until all your timber is gone. And your mines are empty,” Fenian said.

“Well, they should have been upgrading their core buildings,” Grub said, nodding. “Thus the merger with Rivers.”

Fenian nodded at Theo, sensing his confusion. “You can upgrade core buildings like a quarry, mine, or forester to increase the rate that resources regenerate. Daub failed to do so, thus their debt to the crown.”

“Are most towns in debt?” Tresk asked. “We’re not in debt.”

“Most of them are,” Grub said, smiling. “But, loans are an important thing for a growing town. You should take a few out—take me up on my offer to finance your Governance Core.”

There it was. The hidden piece of information the Brogling was holding back about the free core they’d provide him. The man wanted Theo to go into debt to the crown, something he wanted nothing to do with. If Broken Tusk couldn’t afford to pay for it with coin, they wouldn’t buy it. But now wasn’t the time for picking fights. It was a time for playing nice with the important government functionary taking his dinner in the alchemist’s town.

“Absolutely,” Theo said, receiving a swift kick under the table from Fenian. “Once I sort our long-term finances out, I’ll be talking to my contact.”

Fenian’s brow knitted for a moment, then the deep tracks on his forehead vanished.

“Well, I think it's about time we get going,” Fenian said, straightening his ruffled coat. “Galflower doesn’t enjoy waiting.”

Grub reached out a hand for Theo to shake. “It’s been a pleasure.”

Theo rose from his seat, affecting a shallow bow. “You’re welcome here any time.”

The pair departed the table, setting off into the onset of dusk.

“We’re not going into debt, are we?” Tresk asked.

“Absolutely not,” Theo said. “More people are trying to manipulate me. As long as I’m alive, Broken Tusk will be as free as possible.”

“Good. I don’t want any of that crap,” Tresk said.

The pair settled into their meal, watching as Uharis withdrew a flask from his robe several times, draining the contents. As the sun set, the archmage stumbled upstairs toward the rooms, vomiting at the landing and disappearing through a door. The sound of raucous conversation died down after a while. Theo felt himself falling asleep at that dingy table but endeavored to finish his soup. With the last spoonful of the bland liquid down his throat, he blinked heavily. A sudden sound came from outside, a sound that seemed foreign in his dazed state.

Tresk bolted upright from her chair, withdrawing her two wicked daggers. She shouted something that Theo couldn’t hear, the words blocked out by his exhaustion. The marshling withdrew a yellow potion from her inventory, tipped the alchemist’s head back, and poured it down his throat. A rush of energy flooded through his body, banishing his tiredness away in a single heartbeat. He recognized the sound. The clanging bell that signaled a call to arms.

“Let’s go!” Tresk shouted, pulling Theo along.

The tavern was a blur of motion, adventurers hoisting their weapons and downing their own potions. Out on the street, he spotted Fenian cramming monster cores into the monolith at the center of town.

“Of all the days to leave late,” Fenian shouted, “I pick the one where you’ve failed to upgrade the town!”

Aarok emerged from the adventurer’s guild, shouting orders among the gathered adventurers. Pandemonium set in over Broken Tusk, the sounds of a pitched battle coming from the western gate. The guildmaster shouted something at Tresk, and she vanished from the spot. Luras appeared from the southern road, removing something from his chest before inserting something else. He was equipping his Hunter’s Core in preparation for a fight. The pain was evident on his face.

“What’s happening?” Theo asked, the haze of the night still clouding his thoughts.

“Monster wave!” Grub shouted, his voice quavering. “By the Gods, a monster wave in the southlands. We’re dead!”

“Someone remove this idiot,” Aarok shouted, pointing at the Brogling. “We’ve trained for this. Ranged attackers on the wall, everyone else in reserve near the gate. Someone go raid Theo’s stash of potions.”

A pair of adventurers escorted Grub into Fenian’s black carriage, the Brogling screaming the entire way.

“Theo!” Fenian shouted, shoving monster cores into the monolith. “Your prompt should appear… now!”

A prompt flashed into the alchemist’s vision.

Broken Tusk has advanced to Level 15!

Broken Tusk is eligible for an upgrade. As the mayor, you may make a section of the following:

[Watchtowers]

Your town will gain watchtowers placed along the border. The watchtowers will move to match the edge of your borders, should you expand. Twelve watchtowers will be placed.

[Water Tower]

Your town will gain a single 1,000-unit water tower in its center. The tower will not automatically fill.

[Defensive Emplacements]

Your town gains weapon slots at each gate, and sporadically along the wall. You may place a single defensive artifice in each slot.

Theo selected the Defensive Emplacements upgrade, hearing the gate rumble from the west. Aarok shouted more orders as the adventurer’s scattered. Tresk reappeared from nowhere, nodding to the guildmaster.

“The boss is there,” Tresk said. “Leading an army of goblins, wolves, trolls—some other things in the swamp I couldn’t see.”

“Mount the Chain Lightning Towers, Theo,” Fenian said, his face painted with grim resolve. “My Galflower can get us out of here, but I won’t see your town fall.”

Theo nodded, walking on shaky legs to the western gate. This was a day he’d feared for a long time. The manifestation of a monster wave was something people talked about a lot, but it seemed so far off. He thought he had more time to mount his guns but was grateful that Aarok was taking command. The Lesser Stamina Potion flooded through his body, speeding his thoughts up by the moment. Any desire for sleep was banished, leaving only a resolve to defend his town.

“Stay close,” Tresk said, crouching low. Her daggers caught the light of the rising moon, glinting with a pale blue glow. She removed a Basic Poison from her inventory, coating the length of both blades.

The alchemist spotted the western gate. Flashes of fire streamed over the top, sending adventurers tumbling onto the ground below. Theo froze on the spot, watching as the defenders pulled the wounded away from the wild battle. Flashes of his life on Earth drove an iron spike through his skull, sending him to his knees. The sharp sting of pain brought him from his stupor. Looking up, he saw Tresk huffing angrily. She’d slapped him across the face.

“Move,” Tresk said. “To the battlements. Plant the Chain Lightning Tower. Defend Broken Tusk.”

Those simple words were enough to bring him to his feet, moving in lockstep with the marshling woman. His feet played an unhappy sloshing song to join in chorus among the ring of steel and the loosing of arrows. Nausea spread through his stomach, but he swallowed the bile down. He couldn’t run any longer. He needed to face his demons head-on.

Chapter 13

The Siege of Broken Tusk

Theo’s legs felt like two unresponsive tree trunks. Tresk pulled him by the collar, dragging him up the rise of those stone stairs. The sound of the battle grew more intense, a flash of fire nearly consuming Luras above. The half-ogre shouted his battle cry, knocking another arrow and loosing it. His arrow split into many smaller arrows that peppered the attackers below. The alchemist spotted the mounting point on the battlements, a circle etched into the stone and glowing with a pale white light.

“We sure could use some bombs,” Luras shouted, managing a chuckle.

A goblin sprung up over the wall, and Theo witnessed, for the first time, Tresk’s prowess. She vanished from the spot, covered the distance to the shrieking creature, and ended its life in a single heartbeat. She spun on the spot and dispatched another creature before it came fully over the crenelations.

“Plant the seed, Theo!” Tresk shouted, pivoting and ending another monster’s life.

She was a whirlwind of death. A pair of daggers that struck from nowhere, vanishing from where she stood only to reappear behind another monster. Theo was in awe but snapped out of his thoughts to scramble along the hard stone. He removed the Chain Lightning Tower from his inventory and slammed the small orb into the slot.

Installing Chain Lightning Tower. Please wait…

“Please wait?” Theo said, slamming his fist on the ground. “I should have done this earlier.”

Theo sat on the ground for a moment, watching as the crowded shuffle of feet danced around him. Another gout of fire sent an adventurer over the edge of the wall. He spotted Azrug approaching from the center of town, producing an array of potions from nowhere. He began tipping them in people’s mouths, bringing them back from the brink of death. The alchemist dared to look over the edge of the wall, his face turning the hue of paper when he saw the assembled army. It was a sea of monsters, throwing themselves against the wall with abandon.

A plan formed in his mind, something he should have already done. He put off his bomb project in favor of his mayoral duties. Theo shouted, gaining Tresk’s attention for a moment. “Feed the gun motes when it comes up. I’m going to make some bombs.”

“All right!” Tresk said, dancing atop the wall. “Someone escort him!”

No one volunteered, too entrenched in the battle to notice her words, but Theo descended the steps anyway. Aarok had formed a makeshift command post below, shouting orders to groups as they flitted around to obey his every word. The guildmaster yanked Theo by his robe when he made to push past. “Where are you going?”

“Bombs,” Theo said breathlessly.

Aarok gestured to Ziz and his four laborers, pointing at the alchemist and nodding before releasing him. “They’re your escort.”

“Well, this is exciting,” Ziz said, resting a massive hammer over his shoulder. “How's your day going?”

“It was fine before the attack,” Theo said, increasing his pace.

The streets south of the center of town were dark and slick with water. The shrieks of the attacking goblins rang in the distance, sending a chill down Theo’s spine. A small creature burst from behind the Newt and Demon, brandishing a rusted sword and chittering angrily. Ziz and his workers were on it in a flash, clobbering the doomed creatures with their hammers. The alchemist didn’t even move during the ambush, just watching his friends remove the monster from existence.

“Good thing you were here,” Theo said, pushing through the threshold, wide-eyed.

“What are we making? Bombs?” Ziz asked, following him up the stairs.

“Bombs,” Theo repeated, finding his way to the Glassware Artifice. He silently generated five containers for his makeshift firebombs, setting them on the table and getting to work. “Half power, compared to the first one. No time to make something fancy. Quick and dirty. Maximum damage.”

Theo worked feverishly to create the weapons, withdrawing the Withering Essence and Flame Essence from his inventory. He primed each one with shaking hands, remembering with perfect clarity the process he used before. He felt like a robot, repeating steps he’d done previously. His mind raced with images of the fight outside, but peace came from a loud cracking sound. Even at this distance, the night sky outside lit up with a flash of lightning. The boom of thunder came afterwards.

“They got the lightning tower working,” Theo said, stoppering the last of his improvised explosives.

“We need to check with Aarok,” Ziz said, nodding. The grim look that painted his face was haunting. The people of the swamp were used to this kind of strife, even before the Swamp Dungeon grew. They were always prepared for the eventual encroachment of the monsters.

Theo took the bombs into his inventory, steeling himself to go outside again. “Let’s go.”

The group was out on the street again, weapons out and prepared. They encountered several goblins on the way to Aarok’s command post, but they were quickly dispatched by the strength of the laborers. These people had worked the fields, hauled piles of rotting hides, and placed almost all their points into Strength. Their might was unquestionable.

“Got my bombs?” Aarok asked, managing a smile.

“Half the power of the demonstration,” Theo said, withdrawing a single bomb and handing it over to the guildmaster.

“Luras!” Aarok shouted.

The big half-ogre descended the battlements, covered in minor wounds and heaving breath. Aarok handed it over and nodded.

“Half the power of the first one,” Aarok said. “How many more do you have, Theo?”

“Four more,” Theo said. “I’d hand them over, but you need to have an inventory.”

Azrug poked his head from the crowd, holding up his hand. “I have an inventory now.”

Theo withdrew the remaining four bombs from his inventory, urging the shopkeeper to take them in his own as quickly as possible. Azrug shuffled his way up the battlements, taking a position behind Luras. “They’re unstable. Be very careful.”

“Right,” Aarok said, letting out a long sigh. “Theo, you have three more lightning turrets, don’t you?”

“I do,” Theo said.

“I have adventurers stationed at every gate. The monsters are filtering around the walls; we need those weapons up⁠—”

Aarok’s words were cut off by the thunderous sound of lightning. The turret shot a bolt that split through the night. Theo watched as the lightning weaved its way around the crowd of monsters outside, chaining between them.

“Ziz, accompany him,” Aarok said, digging his finger into his ear. The half-ogre winced. A plume of fire rose from the swamp, hoots of excitement joining shortly after it. Luras had thrown the bomb. “Go.”

Ziz pulled Theo along the path, urging him toward the northern gate. It was a long walk from the center of town.

“Now, it’s getting extremely exciting,” Ziz said, chuckling.

Theo and his escort made it to the farmer’s fields, assisting the laborers with a few stray goblins. Despite the walls protecting the town, the determined creatures found a way inside. This wouldn’t have been a problem if the alchemist installed the turrets beforehand. Zan’kir was standing outside his house, twin tulwars out and waiting. He gave them a solemn nod as they passed by, a nervous expression hanging on his face.

Ziz and his laborers cleared out a small group of goblins rummaging through the quarry’s workshop. They climbed the rocky slope, finding their way to the northern gate. A small group of adventurers was guarding the wall, looking out into the darkness, startling when Theo approached. He ignored them, placing the Chain Lightning Tower into the magic circle and stepping back.

“When it sprouts, you need to feed it motes,” Theo said. “Do you guys have a lot of motes?”

“Tons,” one adventurer said.

“Right,” Theo said. “There should be a port you can feed the motes into. Then it’ll start firing automatically.”

“Thanks.”

“Let’s walk the wall for the other gates,” Ziz said, nodding. “Aarok should have patrols, but I’d like to bash a few heads along the way.”

“Right,” Theo said, taking a slow breath. He was falling back into that pace set by battle. The frantic scramble to do anything he could to turn the tide. Another explosion sounded from the west, lighting up the night sky to be joined by another blast of lightning. “Let’s go.”

“Did you hear that?” Tresk asked, cackling into Theo’s mind. “That bomb took out most of them.”

“Stay safe,” Theo said.

“I will. Keeping an eye out for our wolf-riding friend.”

“He’s not with the main group?” Theo asked in a whisper to himself. He banished the thought, focusing on what he could change now. “Half-ogres with weapons first.”

Ziz took the lead with another laborer, while Theo remained protected on his rear flank by three laborers. The northern section of the wall didn’t have monsters on it, as far as they could see. When they turned the bend, heading toward the eastern gate, they encountered several goblins who were dispatched easily. The alchemist’s eyes darted to Tresk’s health bar in the bottom-left of his vision. It plummeted suddenly, then was restored. His heart hammered in his ears as they approached the eastern gate, greeting the adventurers stationed there. He planted the seed and instructed them on its use before leaving, nervous about his Tara’hek’s situation.

“Got him!” Tresk shouted into Theo’s mind. “Luras almost blew me up, but we baited the wolf-riding goblin! He’s dead!”

Is the main force breaking off? Theo asked. He prayed for a route.

“Not yet. Oh wow. That’s a big troll,” Tresk said.

The sky was a constant light of colors at this point. Bolts of lightning shot into the sky from the northern gate, joining those from the western gate. Theo picked up his pace.

“Most people think a monster wave is a bad thing,” Ziz said, looking back to talk to Theo. “But it’s not.”

“How is it not a bad thing?” Theo asked, still feeling sick.

“It’s hard, there’s no doubt. But the loot and experience people gain during the wave is legendary,” Ziz said.

“I heard there’s a bonus for defending towns, too,” a laborer put in.

“Me too,” another said.

“Let’s hope it's worth it,” Theo said, swallowing hard.

Tresk’s health dropped again, and Theo stumbled on the battlements. He almost felt the pain of that blow, some phantom thing emanating from his chest.

“Big troll hits hard!” Tresk shouted into his mind. “I retreated behind the wall—don’t worry.”

“Big troll at the west gate,” Theo said, furrowing his brow. “Let’s pick up the pace.”

The group broke into a jog, slipping more than once over the slick battlements. They traced a path along the walls, encountering no monsters as they went. Tresk reported on the big troll as they went. The lightning was keeping it at bay, but the tower took an absurd amount of motes to operate. For every bolt of lightning struck, the thing seemed to regenerate its health just as fast. The adventurers at the southern gate were grateful to see their mayor. He installed the turret and gave instructions on its operation, ensuring that they had enough motes to feed.

“Haven’t seen many monsters this way,” an adventurer said. “How is the west doing?”

“They’re holding out,” Theo said, watching as another plume of fire rose skyward. It bathed the town in its orange light. “We need more bombs. Different bombs.”

“These guys are fine. Let’s head back to the west gate,” Ziz said, placing a reassuring hand over Theo’s shoulder.

“Let’s stop by the lab first,” Theo said. “We’re gonna make a nuke.”

“What’s a nuke?” Ziz asked.

“Something big enough so that troll doesn’t regenerate,” Theo said. “Something with more fire.”

The group dismounted the battlements there, heading to the Newt and Demon directly. They encountered a group of goblins and wolves outside of Miana’s house, which they quickly dispatched. They found the half-ogre woman inside, holding a chipped sword aloft. Relief washed over her face as they entered to check on her.

“Get to the center of town. That’s the procedure. Everyone goes to the center when the bells are rung,” Theo said, casting her a concerned look. Did she not know about the procedure, or perhaps she didn’t care. Whatever her thoughts were on the matter remained a mystery as she nodded and sprinted out into the night.

“Spiky woman,” Ziz said, watching her go.

“She’s complicated,” Theo said.

Ziz shrugged, leading the way to the Newt and Demon. Theo had an idea for which potions he’d create for the troll. The answer wasn’t a single potion, but a combination. If the creature was regenerating damage and Tresk’s poison wasn’t doing the trick, he’d create a twofold attack to bring the monster down. Basic Drogramath Alchemy mentioned basic firebombs. While his supply of Flame Essence was almost depleted, he had enough for a few potions.

The lab was empty when they arrived, and Theo chugged another Lesser Stamina Potion, feeling a sudden surge of energy that tingled his brain. Most potions didn’t have deleterious effects from repeated consumption, but he could feel something stirring in his body. A fatigue that couldn’t be cured by alchemical means. The first firebomb required a special flask, something that would shatter on impact. Once the potion was bottled, according to his tome, it couldn’t be un-bottled. Not until it struck a surface, releasing the deadly flames within.

The reaction was extremely simple once he had the correct container. It was a round bottle with a glass cork for the top. When he poured the Flame Essence inside, adding a Copper Shaving and Purified Water, the reaction was immediate. Fire swirled inside, coalescing at the bottom into a thick, viscous liquid. The fire danced atop the oil-like substance, licking the top of the bottle. Theo inspected his first proper bomb.

[Basic Firebomb]

[Bomb]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

Shatter against a surface to release flames that stick to the target.

Effect:

Fire DoT effect based on potion quality.

“Fire in a bottle,” Ziz said, chuckling.

“Don’t touch it,” Theo said. “I’m not sure if I made the container too weak.”

“Understood,” Ziz said, straightening his posture and putting his hands behind his back. Likewise, the other laborers tucked their hands under the armpits, standing at attention as not to disturb the delicate contents of the lab.

Theo created an identical version of his bomb, adding a [Surge] modifier essence to the mix. The potion boiled under the effects of the modifier essence, thick tar bubbling with seams of green running through it. He inspected the result, knitting his brow when it wasn’t what he expected.

[Basic Firebomb]

[Surge]

[Bomb]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

Shatter against a surface to release flames that stick to the target.

Effect (Modified):

Consumes all DoT fire effects on target and applies them as double instant damage.

A plan was forming, though. He had enough Flame Essence to create another bomb, but that was it. He made one more Basic Firebomb, pulling all three into his inventory.

“I’m ready,” Theo said. “Let’s go.”

“Troll broke the gate!” Tresk shouted into Theo’s mind. “He’s mad at Miana’s old house!”

“We’re coming,” Theo said.

The group broke into a sprint, the stone path flickering with light as the lightning turret fired another round, this time into the town. Theo flinched as they drew closer, watching the mayhem near the town center. A wild melee was underway, the host of adventurers doing their best to bring the beast down. The troll towered above them, its skin a fetid green color and covered in moss, pocked skin seared by the constant assault of the tower. Its face was a lumpen thing, more boils than features, but the alchemist spotted rows of rotten teeth, streaming ribbons of green slobber onto the ground.

Boss Monster spotted! Foul Lord Ughlak has been sighted. This monster is stronger than regular monsters; exercise caution.

“Luras!” Theo shouted, spotting the half-ogre near the monolith. He had a vacant expression on his face. The alchemist withdrew the three bombs and thrust them forward. “Throw this one, then this one, then this one.”

Luras didn’t respond.

“Step aside,” Miana said, pushing through the crowds of cowering citizens. “This, that, then that? Fine, easy enough.”

Miana snatched the bombs, cradling the two spares in the crook over the elbow and leaning back to throw the first bomb. “Heads up!”

The ex-mayor of Broken Tusk threw the bomb with more force than was reasonable, sending it hurtling directly at the monster’s torso. It exploded in a shower of fire and oily liquid, coating the troll and forcing it to let out an ear-shattering bellow. With no hesitation, she threw the next bomb. The modified firebomb sucked in all the flames surrounding the beast, collecting them into a pea-sized bubble before rocketing into the troll’s chest. It let out a whimpering moan, going prone on the ground. Ribbons of green light surrounded the thing, representing the regenerative properties of the boss monster.

“Last one,” Miana said, hurling the last bomb.

The firebomb applied another instance of the fire DoT effect, negating the monster’s regenerative abilities.

“Attack!” Aarok shouted, urging the adventurers to come from their hiding places. They assaulted the monster with a coordination Theo had never seen before, dancing around the flaming troll with expert precision. Before long, a window popped into the alchemist’s vision.

Boss Monster defeated! Foul Lord Ughlak has been slain. Kill the remaining monsters to complete this wave.

“Plug the hole,” Aarok commanded, pointing to the shattered western gate.

Theo watched as Azrug passed out Lesser Stamina Potions to the adventurers before Aarok sent them on their way. Luras snapped out of his daze after a moment, giving way to a steely resolve bolstered by the stamina potion he downed. The night became a flurry of movement. Teams spread throughout the town to destroy the remaining monsters.

Theo spotted Zan’kir and his wife Zan’sal moving together, swords out with grim expressions on their faces. Xam was watching their two children near the monolith, comforting the poor creatures. Tresk appeared from the shadows, pulling the alchemist into a tight embrace.

“That was close,” Tresk whispered.

“Any dead?” Theo asked.

“None,” Tresk said. “Not a soul lost. Thanks to the towers and your potions.”

“Thanks to the grit of the people of Broken Tusk,” Miana corrected.

There was something different about the half-ogre woman. A kind of resolve that Theo had never seen in her eyes. It was something beyond steely, boarding on fanatical. He wondered what that man took from her twenty-three years ago. What kind of horror he inflicted on her for decades. He pushed those thoughts away as soon as they came, focusing on the task at hand. He stooped low, pressing his forehead against Tresk’s. A sense of comfort flooded through his body, joined by a sensation of power.

Tara’hek Core gained experience (10%).

Tara’hek Core reached Level 10.

Tara’hek Core has evolved a skill: Tara’hek Inventory.

Tara’hek Core gained an enhanced effect: +5 Strength.

Tara’hek Core gained an enhanced effect: +1 Vigor.

“Oh DANG! That’s an excellent skill!” Tresk shouted.

Theo inspected the new skill.

[Tara’hek Inventory]

Epic Marshling Bond Skill

Sharing is caring.

Effect:

Creates a sharable inventory between both holders of the Tara’hek Core. Inventory slots are equal to Tara’hek Core’s level.

The attribute boost from the core was strong enough, but this was absurd. Theo summoned his regular inventory, dismissed the screen, and summoned the Tara’hek inventory. They existed as two separate things, functionally giving him two inventories.

“That’s absurd,” Theo said. “I have two inventories.”

“You two,” Aarok said, pointing at the pair. “Look alive; we’re not done.”

Chapter 14

Cleanup

The battle for Broken Tusk raged until the small hours of the morning. While the wave’s boss had been defeated, the monsters didn’t back off. They surged forth, pouring through the opened gate only to be cut down by the waiting adventurers. Theo finally got a good look at his new tower, a circular accumulation of stone that rose to a point, adorned at the top with a floating ball of lightning. When it arced off, it passed through multiple enemies at once. Fortunately, it was smart enough to target only monsters, leaving the fighters below safe.

The alchemist wavered on the spot as the last monster fell. Only the System’s message brought him back to reality, flashing in front of his face.

Monster Wave complete!

526 Monsters Destroyed!

10 gold bonus (paid to the mayor of Broken Tusk).

Bonus for defeating both wave bosses:

Obtained: Robe of the Defender.

Obtained: 2 gold, 25 silver, 3 copper.

Broken Tusk gained a new effect: Troll Slaying.

Theo absentmindedly inspected the town’s new effect by selecting the prompt on his screen.

[Troll Slaying]

All fire effects within the territory of Broken Tusk have their effectiveness enhanced against greenskins.

Theo would have cheered in celebration, joining those around him, but he was beyond exhausted. His excitement for their victory was tempered by the sobering sight of the piled corpses and sapping exhaustion. He didn’t inspect his new robe or consider the implications of such a large reward. He simply passed by Fenian’s carriage, supported by Tresk, and made his way back to the Newt and Demon. The alchemist was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

The next morning, during the dawn hours, the streets of Broken Tusk were empty. The rain fell over unfinished work, banishing away any thought to labor. A long figure moved amongst the rubble and bodies, prodding them with a stick. The vestments of the archmage repelled the constant downpour of rain, allowing Uharis to conduct his research. He ascended the battlements of the town, casting his eyes over the untold hundreds cast to the ground in the swamp.

“Far more interesting than expected,” Uharis muttered, shaking his head.

Theo woke in the morning, his head pounding. The sleep he took was born of exhaustion, not helped by the stimulating effects of the Lesser Stamina Potions. He rose from bed, smelling the familiar scent of moss tea and wolf steaks wafting in from the lab. As he emerged from the room, stumbling on shaky legs, he found Tresk preparing his breakfast. She had a wide smile on her face. Her untamed excitement was, as always, infectious.

“What a day,” Tresk said, shaking her head. “You slept all the way through yesterday.”

“What?” Theo asked. “Wait, it’s not the day after the battle?”

“Nope. It’s the 27th day of the Season of Blooms,” Tresk said. “You slept through the 26th.”

“Gods,” Theo said, lowering himself into his customary chair. “It’s all a blur.”

“I slept most of yesterday, too. But I made my rounds through the town. They’re talking about rebuilding the adventurer’s guild,” Tresk said. “Fenian and Grub are still here.”

“What about Uharis?” Theo asked.

“I didn’t see him,” Tresk said. “No one died, miraculously. Everyone who took part got awesome loot.”

Tresk raised her wet little hand, revealing a silver ring with emeralds inlaid. “More damage from behind,” she explained.

Theo withdrew his reward from his inventory. It was a closed purple silk robe that would sweep the ground when he wore it. There were intricate symbols etched in gold thread on the surface. The entire piece of clothing was impossibly soft, and he undressed there in the lab, removing his threadbare black robe. The material wasn’t only soft, but it was also cool. Unlike his previous robe, this one breathed. He inspected its properties.

[Robe of the Defender]

[Cloth Robe]

Epic

Scaling

Robes granted to the alchemist with the determination to defend his home.

Effect:

Aura: Reduces stamina depletion for the wearer and nearby allies.

“Reduced stamina depletion in an aura,” Theo said, nodding. “That sounds good. The bonuses from the Tara’hek Core are also getting awesome.”

[Tara’hek Core]

Legendary Tara’hek Core

Bound

2 Slots

Level 10 (11%)

Tara’hek cores are given to those who accept a marshling life partner. You cannot change the skills inside the core or remove it.

Effect:

+5 Strength

+1 Vigor

The core was scaling to where it made up for Theo’s naturally low attributes. He inspected his character sheet to see where he was on that front.

Belgar (Theo Spencer)

Drogramath Dronon

Level 10

Alchemist

Core Slots: 3

Attributes:

Health: 61

Mana: 20

Stamina: 53

Strength: 15 (+10)

Dexterity: 5

Vigor: 11 (+4)

Intelligence: 15 (+4)

Wisdom: 23 (+6)

Points: 0

Strength and Intelligence were now at an acceptable level for his purposes. He could feel his mind race with new thoughts and his muscles surge with new strength compared to when he arrived. His Vigor was catching up, albeit slowly. He had no plans to put any points into Dexterity, though.

“Yep,” Tresk said. She dished out the steaks and poured the tea, swiping her hand to make them vanish into the Tara’hek inventory. “Now I can deliver your meal directly to your inventory!”

Theo laughed, opening his new inventory to retrieve his food. The concept of sharing an inventory with someone else was big. He assumed there wasn’t a range restriction for the skill, bringing thoughts of logistics to his mind. Could they instantly transport objects from one place to another? That would be truly powerful.

The pair settled into their meal without another word. The food filled Theo’s stomach, which felt like an endless pit. Going without food or water for a day had parched his lips and set him on a course for lethargy. Once his belly was full and he was watered, he felt his strength returning. As soon as he felt satisfied, a knock came from the shop below.

Theo groaned to his feet, descending the stairs to find Fenian smiling. “Quite a show,” he said.

“Come in,” Theo said, beckoning the elf to follow him upstairs. They sat at the table, sipping moss tea and appreciating the breeze filtering in through the window.

“Well, I suppose I should get down to business. That’s why I stayed here. I’d like to commission your bombs,” Fenian said.

Theo scowled, quickly adjusting his expression. “That is too much to ask, friend. I’m not comfortable exporting weapons.”

“Ah, worth a shot,” Fenian said. “No, this is an understandable stance. I’m not upset. You don’t want the town associated with weapons like this, I know.”

“That’s strangely understanding of you,” Tresk said.

“I thought about it for a long time,” Fenian said. “A town’s exports count for a lot, regarding their reputation. Perhaps it was selfish of me to ask.”

“No, we’re all looking for the same thing here. Money,” Theo said.

“Speaking of that,” Fenian said, reclining and slurping his tea. “I have a different order for you. Modified potions. Whatever and however many you can make. We can talk about the price of each when you’re done.”

Theo’s instincts told him the potions created from the High-Pressure Refining ability were going to be worlds better than his current potions. “I’ll keep you informed, but I’ll do it. I’m going to make some potions that are going to amaze you. Things you’ve never seen.”

“That’s the Theo I know,” Fenian said. “Oh, just so you know… Grub is writing poetry about you.”

“What?” Theo asked.

“Yes. During the battle, he stayed in the carriage and wrote poems about your heroism,” Fenian said.

The group burst into laughter. Theo couldn’t imagine the little Brogling doing much but complaining the whole time. Everyone had their coping mechanisms, though. They sat at the table for some time, replaying the battle through conversation. Fenian was impressed with the way Aarok commanded the adventurers. He also remarked on the nature of the monster wave.

“You really don’t see monster waves like that,” Fenian said. “Not against such a small town—it was localized to the Swamp Dungeon.”

“But those prizes,” Tresk said, letting out a long sigh. “Imagine if we get another wave.”

“I even got a reward,” Fenian said. “A few silver, but that’s fine.”

“I got 12 gold,” Theo said.

Fenian let out a long whistle. “I’m going to assume you’ll attempt to loot all the monsters out there.”

“Hopefully, Aarok is already organizing that,” Theo said.

“He is,” Tresk said, nodding. “Says we’re gonna make a fortune.”

“He’d be right,” Fenian said. “Sort everything out, and I’ll buy whatever junk you loot the next time I’m around. Although I wouldn’t begrudge you if you sold it to another trader.”

“There’s just the matter of repairing the western wall,” Theo said.

“That should fix itself over time,” Fenian said. “The turret wasn’t destroyed, which is good. Broken Tusk is a [Town] now, which means you can feed it raw materials for repairs and maintenance. That should speed the process up quite a bit.”

“Thank you for the help, as always,” Theo said. “I value your judgment more than most, Fenian.”

“Well, that warms my cold, black heart,” Fenian said, grinning.

“No! You’re one of the good merchants,” Tresk said, stamping her feet. “We love you.”

Fenian patted Tresk on the head and smiled. “We certainly are strange bedfellows, aren’t we?”

“We are,” Theo said.

Fenian rose after a while, excusing himself. Excited chatting came from downstairs. The group didn’t hear Azrug assuming his post at the shop, but his boisterous voice could be heard through the walls. Theo waited a tactful moment to allow their conversation to come to a natural end before descending the stairs. He found the shopkeeper there, dark circles under his eyes and an uneasy smile.

“That was intense,” Azrug said, nodding to punctuate his words. “Almost got killed by a goblin.”

“Well, you did a good job. Raiding the pantry, as it were,” Theo said, gesturing to the mostly empty shelves.

“Those potions were vital to our success, Theo,” Tresk said. “You can make more. You can’t make more people.”

“That’s true,” Theo said, smiling. “Not people like this, anyway. Hard people—people raised in the swamp are different. They’re tough.”

“That’s right. We endure,” Azrug said, nodding again.

He was shaken from the events of the battle. Theo expected most of the citizens to be in such a state. Long stares that meandered into nothingness, sensitivity to sound, the telltale signs of stress. He’d seen it many times before and experienced it himself.

Tresk and Theo departed the shop, making sure Azrug knew he didn’t need to man the store today. He insisted it would help him reclaim some of his sanity, a familiar place that he could anchor his mind. The pair departed without another word, heading off to inspect the damage.

Theo was surprised at the progress Aarok’s people had already made on the adventurer’s guild. The rubble was cleared away, leaving only the muddy foundation where it had sat. The guildmaster himself was shouting orders to people, sending them around. He smiled when he noticed the alchemist and his Tara’hek.

“Good to see you awake,” Aarok said.

“Even better that everyone is unharmed,” Theo responded.

“Check this out,” Aarok said, ignoring Theo’s empathy and withdrawing something from his coat. It was a seed-shaped object, glowing with energy. “Guild Hall Seed Core. Bought it off Fenian earlier.”

Theo cast his eyes over Fenian's carriage. Galflower was pawing impatiently at the ground, pulling against the chocks holding the thing in place. He could see two beady little eyes peering out of the window.

“Congratulations,” Theo said. “The guild was homeless for exactly a day.”

“Well, there’s work to be done. That’s for sure. The wall needs repairs,” Aarok said.

“Fenian gave me a hint about that,” Theo said, moving to inspect the monolith.

[Town]

Name: Broken Tusk

Owner: Kingdom of Qavell

Mayor: Theo Spencer

Faction: Qavell

Level: 15 (1.5%)

Features:

Alchemy Lab

Blacksmith

Large Farm

Tannery

Tradesmen

Quarry

Adventurer’s Guild (Destroyed)

Core Homes (x16)

Towers (x4)

Upgrades:

Stone Walls and Gates (Damaged 25%)

Stone Roads

Defensive Emplacements

Effect:

Troll Slaying

Current Resources:

Timber: 0

Stone Blocks: 0

Metal: 0

Motes: 0

As expected, there was now a section detailing stored resources. It also detailed the damage done to the town. The adventurer’s guild was the only section to be demolished, but it was a good thing. Since Aarok bought a seed core for a new guild hall, this took out some of the work regarding the demolition. None of this eased the other problem. The mounds of dead monsters strewn about the streets needed clearing, but the adventurers were working on that problem.

“We can add raw resources to the town to help it repair,” Theo said.

“Good news,” Aarok said.

“What are we doing about the corpses?” Theo asked.

“Tossing them in the river,” Aarok said. “We’re looting whatever we can, then just sending them downstream—into the ocean.”

“Oh, the ocean monsters are gonna be happy,” Tresk said, giggling.

“Extremely happy,” Aarok said, nodding in agreement. “Theo, this wave is going to produce more money than your alchemy projects have since you got here. There’s a fortune in gear and supplies on these monsters.”

Theo thought about that for a moment. Another confluence that turned things in their favor. If they got another wave, one they would be well prepared for this time, they could farm it for money.

“So, we’ll buy more turrets,” Theo said. “Stronger defenses to keep the monsters at bay.”

“More bombs, too,” Tresk said, nodding. “I got an entire level during that wave.”

“Most of our adventurers did,” Aarok said. “Everyone shot up from the constant combat.”

“What a curious sight,” Uharis said, appearing from nowhere.

“The drunk Archmage arrives,” Tresk said, rolling her eyes.

Theo understood, with little thought, that the archmage’s absence during the battle was convenient. The man might have been drunk, but it would have been impossible to be blackout-drunk for the entire fight. Not with the constant explosions either from the bombs or the lightning turrets. The alchemist was already wary of Uharis but had no interest in pushing the point.

“Not presently drunk,” Uharis said, smiling. “Well, the monster wave was bound to start sometime. Good to see you were prepared.”

“Is it localized?” Theo asked, probing for information.

“No, it’s not,” Uharis said. “I received word from my order. I suppose it was more worldwide than I expected.”

“So, you were wrong,” Theo said. “It is a worldwide monster wave.”

“The strength of the waves radiates out in a convenient circle. I wonder if you can guess where it's centralized?” Uharis asked.

“Broken Tusk,” Aarok answered.

The half-ogre had done more research into the increase in strange magical occurrences than anyone else in town. Qavell even sent records regarding the topic to him directly, teleporting the materials into the now-ruined adventurer’s guild. The conclusion he reached was a connection between the various dungeons of the land. Some sharing of power that enhanced all their powers, making them more deadly than before. The result was a monster wave, where the dungeons released an impossible number of monsters at once.

“We saw that coming,” Theo said. “More or less. How did they hold up in Rivers and Daub?”

“The Order of the Burning Eye doesn’t track these sorts of things,” Uharis said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “I only have the information Sulvan gave me concerning Qavell. They had it rough, but managed. I imagine Rivers and Daub didn’t fare well.”

“I understand,” Theo said, nodding.

That fact weighed heavily on his mind. If the monster wave was localized to Broken Tusk, it wasn’t a problem, but it wasn’t. He felt Tresk’s bright reassurance next to him, enhanced with the new level his Tara’hek Core had reached. It bolstered his heart, sending a flood of her optimism racing through his mind. Rivers and Daub wasn’t their responsibility. They had ample time to prepare for something that seemed inevitable.

“They can call for aid, can’t they?” Theo asked. “They can raise their own adventuring army, plant turrets along their walls, summon healers—they’re not our responsibility,” Theo said.

“They aren’t,” Aarok said, nodding. “If the strength of the wave weakens as it gets further from Broken Tusk, they are better off than us.”

“Maybe,” Uharis said. “Monster waves aren’t uncommon, but this is a different situation.”

Theo waved him away. “I’m not concerned about them.”

Uharis is being a pain, Theo said, sending his words into Tresk’s mind. He has a motive; I just can’t figure it out. He’s too hard to read.

I never trusted him, Tresk said, narrowing her eyes on the archmage.

“Aarok, call a meeting with all the mercantile chairs,” Theo said. “Have them meet me at the Newt and Demon.”

“I can do that,” Aarok said, turning on the spot and walking off.

Theo withdrew a communication crystal from his inventory, rolling it over in his hands. It was the device that gave him a link to Qavell and his contact, Banthub. The lizard-person had been silent lately. The alchemist wanted nothing more than a status report for the other towns, although he doubted the functionary would give him a straight answer. He turned on the spot and bid farewell to Uharis.

“I have a call to make,” Theo said. “How much longer are you going to be in town?”

Uharis cast him a knowing look. As always, he was hiding something.

“A few more days, perhaps,” Uharis said.

“All right. How long until the next monster wave?”

To that, Uharis flashed a devious grin. “One day. One week. One month. Perhaps in a few minutes. I cannot say.”

“Can’t or won’t?” Theo said.

“Can’t. That’s not something I can determine from my magical probing,” Uharis said. “After seeing the wave, I can fashion an early warning system.”

“And what does that cost me?” Theo asked.

“Oh, nothing. Just allowing me to remain without banishment is payment enough,” Uharis said. There was something hidden in those words. As though Uharis knew Theo knew he was up to something. Perhaps it wasn’t malicious, but it was there. Under the surface. Like a bird surveying the land below for something juicy.

Theo departed the archmage’s presence without saying another word.

Chapter 15

Killing Monsters Always Helps

Theo settled into his chair in the lab of the Newt and Demon. He watched as Tresk settled in next to him, kicking her feet up and reclining. The alchemist didn’t need to ask her why she was hanging around. With his Tara’hek Core strengthened, her emotions were bleeding through. She put on a brave face, but there was worry in her heart. He wondered if she could feel his emotions too. Fear mingling with hope that had become a familiar friend. It wasn’t fear for his life or the people of Broken Tusk. It was a fear of the unknown. Things he couldn’t control barreling down on the small town faster than he could process. The two emotions ran together, creating a sense of urgency he couldn’t shake.

The alchemist squeezed the communication crystal in his hand, preparing to delve back into that strange shadow realm. But nothing came. Only a sharp, haptic sense in his mind, which meant something went wrong. He tried again, receiving the same strange buzz in his skull.

“No answer,” Theo said, casting a concerned look at Tresk. “I don’t know what that could mean.”

“No one on the other end,” Tresk said.

“I suppose they could be busy,” Theo said. “So, who do we trust?”

“No one,” Tresk said. “Not a soul but Broken Tuskers.”

“Spoken like someone from Broken Tusk,” Theo said. “I trust Fenian, mostly. I don’t trust Uharis or Grub.”

“The archmage is up to something,” Tresk said. “He missed out on the entire battle.”

“That might be a matter of innocence,” Theo said. “Well, mostly. If he knew the wave was coming, he should have told us. If he didn’t, then he really is just a drunk. I told him not to take on the boss goblin.”

“So, you think he’s trying to help you save face?” Tresk asked. “Maybe.”

Theo stretched, casting his eyes out the window. Rain might have been coming soon, but it was a long way off. The sky outside was blue, with only streaks of white clouds visible through the canopy of trees. He wanted to turn his mind to experimentation once again, but mayoral matters clouded his thoughts. The alchemist rose from his seat, returning the crystal to his inventory.

“We’ll secure supplies for the town,” Theo said. “Care to join me?”

“Of course,” Tresk said, smiling. “Thanks for letting me come along.”

“You’re always welcome,” Theo said, gesturing to the door.

Azrug was nowhere to be found in the shop. He was likely helping with whatever efforts Aarok had ordered, pitching in however he could. Theo knew he’d need to replenish his potion stock, something he could handle today, but securing supplies for the town was more important. Fortunately, he had a source of timber and stone within the town’s boundaries. They passed by the monolith, spotting the townspeople gathered around Aarok. With a simple wave, they pushed forward to Sledge’s place, the sound of sawing wood heard well before they spotted her workshop. The marshling was shaping raw timber, for what purpose Theo couldn’t even guess.

“Sledge, I have a job,” Theo said.

“More money?”

“Yes, it’s paying,” Theo said.

“Then count me in,” Sledge said. “Hey, I’m happy no one was hurt during the attack, but is it going to happen again? Do we need to get out of town?”

Theo was slightly offended at that comment, but none of that indignation reached his face. He would never abandon Broken Tusk.

“That’s where you come in,” Theo said. “I assume you can produce raw timber? It’s needed for the town’s repairs.”

“Isn’t it a core town? Why does it need timber?”

Theo explained the situation. Since they’d upgraded to the [Town] status and Level 15, the city could repair itself with supplied resources. Sledge simply shrugged.

“I can get timber,” Sledge said. “How much do you need?”

“I don’t know,” Theo said. “I don’t think the town has a capacity, so as many as you can craft.”

“I mean, that’s a lot of wood,” Sledge said.

“All the wood,” Tresk said.

“Don’t gouge me on this, Sledge,” Theo said, his tone one of warning. “I’m more than happy to pay above your standard rate, but when it comes to helping the city, I expect Broken Tusk rates.”

“Fine,” Sledge said, holding her hands up defensively. “How much coin are we talking?”

“Come find me when you’ve worked on it for a day,” Theo said, unwilling to negotiate with the woman. “I’ll pay whatever you normally sell raw wood for, plus a premium.”

“Sounds good to me,” Sledge said. “I’m just over here trying to look busy so Aarok won’t recruit me to move rubble.”

Tresk laughed.

The pair departed the woodworker’s shop. They passed by the housing area, happy to see that nothing seemed damaged. The farmers were similarly unaffected. Their fields spread out, either fallow or full of grain, untouched by the wild battle that raged through the town. Theo found Ziz, and only him, at the quarry.

“Well, that was a bit of an adventure,” Ziz said. “Bet that’s the most combat you’ve seen here, huh?”

“It was,” Theo said. “And I didn’t even fight anything.”

“What’s going on? Need help with something?” Ziz asked.

“We need stone blocks for the town,” Theo said. “The wall will repair itself if we feed it stone.”

“Ah, well,” Ziz said, gesturing to marble blocks, stacked neatly near the workshop. “I’ve got a few of those.”

“Right. I’ll pay whatever you’re getting at market,” Theo said.

Ziz laughed. “You’re joking, right? No, I’m not taking a single coin from you, Theo. You could clean out all my stone ten times over, and it wouldn’t be enough to repay you for what you’ve done. People in Broken Tusk come together when things get hard. We don’t get at each other’s throats, backstabbin’ for a few extra coins.”

“Yeah! Spoken like a true Broken Tusker!” Tresk shouted.

Theo noticed her tactfully not throwing Sledge under the bus. While the woodworker was spiky about the timber situation, it was driven by need. Ziz was much better off than her in that regard, but it would change soon enough. She’d have an industry of her own, either in the form of trade agreements with other towns for their wood or the Fabricator class core she’d eventually take.

“We’ll start with 20 blocks,” Theo said.

With his new Intelligence, he knew that was 6 silver worth of stone. An amount that this town could only dream of only a few months ago. Now they dealt in gold regularly.

“Twenty it is,” Ziz said, nodding. “Where do we take them?”

“Bring them to the town center,” Theo said. “Try shoving them inside the monolith if you can.”

Ziz let out a bark-like laugh. “All right. Do you want to take them down there with your fancy inventory?”

“We have a shared inventory now!” Tresk said.

“Right,” Theo said. “Certainly. Grab 20 blocks, Tresk.”

Tresk hadn’t used their inventory on large items yet. Theo could store the 200-unit barrels in his inventory but wasn’t aware of its limits. The marshling waddled up to the blocks and tapped them with her hand, shrieking with excitement as one disappeared.

“It worked!” Tresk shouted, repeating the process for the remaining blocks.

Theo checked the shared inventory, finding it filled with junk. It was a mess of random things Tresk had been picking up. Furniture, kitchen utensils, and rows of motes crowded the screen. The blocks stacked, fortunately, but this wasn’t a good use for the limited space they had. The alchemist brushed it off, considering the marshling’s excitement yet again.

“All right, Tresk,” Theo said. “Let’s see how far this inventory goes. Head back to town and try to shove those blocks in the monolith.”

Tresk cast him a wary look, eyes darting between him and Ziz.

“Ziz will protect me,” Theo said. “Don’t worry.”

Tresk managed a weak nod before darting south toward town. After she was out of earshot, Ziz spoke.

“She’s worried,” Ziz said. “About you.”

“When the Tara’hek Core leveled to 10, she got more of my emotions,” Theo said. “Anxious feelings, you know. Worries and fears. I kept it from her well, but this was only a matter of time.”

“You gotta let that stuff out,” Ziz said, clapping his hand on Theo’s shoulder.

“Maybe,” Theo said. “When I got here, I felt like there was a lot of pressure put on my shoulders—not in a bad way. I work well under pressure; it helps light a fire under my butt. I need to talk to her about it, but you know Tresk.”

“Yeah, she’s hard to deal with on a normal day,” Ziz said. “She’s been spicy lately.”

Theo nodded. “What do you understand about core synergies?”

“Nothing,” Ziz said.

Theo thought as much. Information was expensive, but he’d gotten this bit cheap. His intuition could fill in the gaps left by Uharis’s tutelage. “Cores are a weird thing. Some of them are unaligned, but others aren’t. Tresk’s Assassin’s Core is aligned with some God of Shadow named Zaul. That’s giving her the extra spice, I think.”

Ziz thought for a moment. Theo could see him coming to the obvious conclusion. “What about cores aligned with a Demon Lord?”

Theo smiled. “Do you believe in something like fate?”

“Not really,” Ziz said, chuckling. “I like to make my own destiny.”

“The Order of the Burning Eye is doing a lot to suppress Drogramath’s influence, but can you guess what the other thing is?” Theo asked.

Ziz fell back in though, cocking his head to the side. “The Tara’hek?”

“The more I level that core, the more protection I have from outside influence,” Theo said. “Core synergies. Alignments. Houses. Domains. There’s more to this than I know, but the Tara’hek sounds a lot like fate to me. How rare is it?” Theo asked.

“I’ve never seen one,” Ziz said. “My grandfather used to tell stories about one, but that’s the only time I’ve heard of it. Both parties have to be perfect for each other. And both have to be willing.”

“Seems kinda like fate to me,” Theo said. “This place. These cores. The abundance of resources. Tresk. There’s a lot of million-to-one odds there, Ziz.”

“Just don’t squander it,” Ziz said, flashing a weak grin. “Two cores that give you absurd fortune at the cost of your soul, and one that gives you the soul back. Seems as close to fate as I’ve ever seen.”

“Yeah,” Theo said, looking with bleary eyes over the rocky highlands below. “I really got lucky on that one. If you count having your planet destroyed lucky.”

“Seems like you didn’t like the place,” Ziz said. “What made you hate it so much?”

“Ah, just being old,” Theo said, laughing. “Being too tired to keep on fighting. Too tired to keep on killing. Not that my method of assassination was physically taxing—no, the act was very easy. It’s just the toll it takes on your mind.”

“Old?” Ziz asked, cocking his head to the side. “I mean, I don’t know how dronon age, but you look young.”

“Yeah, that’s funny, too,” Theo said. “I think this body is in their early 20s. My body on Earth was in its 40s.”

“Oh, that’s a twist,” Ziz said.

“The town took the stones! Those things are heavy!” Tresk said into Theo’s mind.

Theo bid farewell to his friend, heading back down into town. Things seemed a little brighter, despite the rain. The idea of expressing his feelings to another person was a relief. Keeping them bottled up had served no one, not even his selfish interests. Guilt gave way to relief, the way it usually did for him. There was simply too much to worry about and not enough time.

“I know my emotions have been bleeding through,” Theo said, passing by Zan’kir house. He waved at the children, happily playing outside. “The stronger our core gets, the stronger the link is.”

“Yeah?” Tresk asked.

“Things have been crazy, and I’ve been dealing with it in my own way. Running around and doing whatever to keep my mind off it, Theo said. It has never been fair to you—or me, you know? I’m going to try to talk about how I’m feeling more. I’m worried. Scared of where this path is taking me. Drogramath is bad enough, but I’m going to rub against other mayors soon. We’re shifting to a larger stage, and it’s daunting.”

“You couldn’t say this to my face?” Tresk asked. He could hear the annoyance in her voice. “I had to sit here feeling scared of nothing for a week?”

Theo dabbed the corners of his wet eyes. “I really couldn’t. This feels more pure.”

The alchemist trudged through the farms, spotting Banurub in the distance. He stood there, waiting for his conversation with Tresk to finish so he could have a word.

“Sorry. I’ll be better about it,” Theo said.

“Since we’re sharing, I’ve been wanting to stab EVERYONE lately,” Tresk said.

Theo’s thoughts drifted to the Assassin’s Core. It had an influence over the marshling, and he was now doubting its pairing to the Shadowdancer’s Core. There wasn’t a simple solution to the problem, although he suspected the Tara’hek was helping her through it the same way it was helping him. The alchemist watched as Banurub crossed the fields, pushing past stalks heavy with grain.

“I need to talk to Banu,” Theo said. “Try to keep your murderous rage in check. Maybe kill some monsters.”

“Killing monsters always helps.”

“How can I help you, Mayor?” Banu asked, rubbing his dirty hands off on his clothes.

Theo gestured widely to the fields. “The farmers endure, huh? Did you have any ideas to improve the process?”

“I thought that was your job,” Banu said, grinning.

Theo hid the anger radiating from his chest. Some of Tresk’s murderous rage must have been leeching through the Tara’hek. He straightened his silken robes and cleared his throat. “A mill. Soil enrichment through alchemy. I’m going to buy the eastern reaches of the farm and turn them into a ranch. We’ll raise Karatan.”

Banu’s mouth fell open, his brow knitting tight. He stammered for a moment.

“This is what inaction brings you,” Theo said. This was the first hard stance he’d taken with the townspeople of Broken Tusk. “Clear a section of your farm for the mill. A hundred paces square.”

Banu narrowed his eyes. “You can’t tell me what to do. I own this land.”

“I know. But you’ve been floundering for how long now? You need to adapt to the new situation or perish—that’s simply the way it is. How many bushels do you produce in a season?” Theo asked. “How long do your seasons run?”

Banu straightened up. “We rotate the fields. Five west and five east. A good harvest is a few hundred bushels—50 silver’s worth before taxes set in. Zee grows fast here. Extremely fast. Two weeks from seed to harvest, thanks to the swamp mud.”

“We’ll cut that time in half,” Theo said. “And use all ten fields at the same time.”

“The nutrients in the soil need time to rest,” Banus said, shaking his head. “We need to transport the mud and let it dry.”

“Not with alchemy,” Theo said.

The alchemist summoned his mayor interface, selecting the eastern reaches between the farm and the river. It was a section about as large as the farmland itself and would cost him 5 gold to incorporate completely. He clicked the button without hesitation, gaining ownership over the land.

“I own the eastern reaches now,” Theo said. “Clear half a field for the mill—your choice. One near the road, preferably.”

Banu deflated a little, nodding his head. Theo turned on the spot and left, not letting that nagging guilt enter his heart. He made his way back to the town’s center, inspecting the monolith to confirm the stone had been placed there before making his way to the western gate. Aarok was standing with a few adventurers, watching a light stream from the broken thing.

“I guess the stone was all it needed,” Aarok said.

Theo glanced back toward the town square, noticing that Fenian’s carriage was gone. It would have been better if the trader stuck around, but he had things to do. The alchemist wanted to purchase a stable for his future Karatan herd, along with a core for a rancher. With the elf trader’s magical Karatan team, he could return with haste. It wasn’t that big of a deal.

“I worked out a deal with Sledge for some wood,” Theo said. “I just need to source metal after that.”

“You’ll need to import that,” Aarok said. “There has never been raw metal in Broken Tusk.”

Theo thought about that for a moment. He had a feeling the guildmaster was wrong about that. “I also had to push Banu around.”

“Poor old Banurub?” Aarok said, laughing. “That codger is hard enough to work with. What did you do?”

“He wouldn’t agree to any of my changes on the farm, so I forced them on him,” Theo said. “Why has it been so hard to get the farmers to make their lives better?”

“Some people are happy the way they are,” Aarok said. “Look at Miana. What did you suggest as changes?”

Theo detailed the mill, alchemical soil enrichment, and ranch.

“Who is going to own the ranch?” Aarok asked.

“Me,” Theo said, smiling. “Since no one wants to jump at the chance, I’ll run it with a hireling.”

“Wow. Has Theo Spencer’s legendary charity run out?” Aarok asked.

“No, it’s not that,” Theo said, watching as a stone magically lifted itself into place. “I always liked the idea of owning a ranch. Raising animals. I’d like to have a hand in it, somehow.”

“That’s a humble profession,” Aarok said, smiling. “I assume you’re going to hire someone, or give a citizen a Rancher’s Core. That’ll make the animals grow significantly faster, produce more, and ‌be happier in general.”

“Yeah,” Theo said, nodding. “Do they eat Zee Kernels?”

“I think they eat anything,” Aarok said.

“I’m just going to keep dreaming about that Karatan butter,” Theo said, letting out a long sigh. “Well, how is the collection of the monster corpses coming?”

“Well enough,” Aarok said. “We’re having trouble keeping track of everything. Most things have loot rights to the person who killed the monster; everything else seems to fall to me.”

Theo nodded. “Good. We’ll work it out later.”

Chapter 16

Enriching Soil

Very few people knew about raising livestock in Broken Tusk. Without the wall, any animals they tried to raise were quickly picked off by the swamp’s creatures. Even the monstrous swamp turtles would lumber in to pick off small pens filled with Rabbabs. Rabbabs, as someone explained it to Theo, were a strange cross between a rabbit and a chicken. He spent hours discussing his strategy with anyone who would listen outside of Throk’s blacksmithing shop. He was taking his own advice. Lying low for the day. Not concerning himself with creating more potions. Things were quiet once again.

“Another day or so,” Throk said, gesturing at his creation.

The pressure tank project had taken on a life of its own. Theo didn’t understand most of the things that were bolted onto the massive tank, even when the marshling tried to explain it to him. The artificer’s art was a strange mix of science and magic that was well beyond him. Small gears mingled with mana condensers. Input ports hooked up to magical batteries—it was all too much. What the alchemist understood was that Throk was going to get a lot of work in the town.

“I need to trick Sledge into taking this,” Theo said, holding up the Fabricator’s Core.

“Bah. She’ll help if you really press her,” Throk said.

“I don’t want her to help, I want her to do well,” Theo said.

“Like you wanted the farmers to do well? I’ll have Banu yapping in my ear by the end of the day—quote me on that,” Throk said, stooping closer to his webwork of artifice. “Don’t you have work to do?”

“I’m waiting on this, mostly,” Theo said. “Listen, the farmers needed a nudge. They’d just keep harvesting what they harvested forever without outside help.”

“And you’re the one to help them?” Throk asked, shaking his head. “Why’s it always gotta be you?”

“Who else?” Theo asked, leaning against the edge of the workshop. “No one else is stepping up.”

“Cause no one is dumb enough to force the farmer’s hands,” Throk said. “Banu has been running that farm for as long as I can remember. His methods work. Now you come in and dredge up his failures.”

“He’ll get over it,” Theo said. “Once he sees the coin.”

“I agree,” Throk said, pressing a gear into place. The object glowed purple for a moment, then fell apart. He sighed. “That’s your job, though. Being nice works for some people. Others need a prod in the back. Assuming you want to help them at all.”

Theo pushed himself off from the wall, casting his eyes over the road leading north. “It’s more than helping them, at this point. Think about it. One day, that crop might feed the entire kingdom.”

“Ambitious, and a bit childish… But I get your meaning,” Throk said. “Now, can you go bother someone else?”

“I think I’m going to go eat dinner and go to sleep,” Theo said, looking at the fading sun through the clouds.

“As long as you’re not here, bothering me, that’s fine,” Throk said.

Theo left the blacksmith’s workshop, taking no offense from the marshling’s words. The alchemist expected to be kicked out a long time ago. He wasn’t one to chew an ear, but there was nothing else to do for the day. Nothing he had an interest in, anyway. He wandered through the town for a while, picking herbs and talking to Tresk over their telepathic communication. She kept making him open their shared inventory to inspect her findings. It was a very easy way for him to grade alchemical ingredients, although she typically found common grasses and leaves. Every so often, she found something useful.

Theo scooped a handful of dirt outside the Newt and Demon, inspecting it before entering. To his surprise, it was labeled by the System.

[Soil]

[Soil]

Common

Basic soil. Commonly found everywhere in topsoil layers.

He didn’t know what he was expecting from the window. When he entered the Newt and Demon, he had to pause to take stock of the sea of junk resting on every surface. Azrug stood behind the counter with a wide smile on his face, gesturing at the massive accumulation.

“I’ve been buying up everything,” Azrug said.

“Have you sold any of it?” Theo asked.

“Well, I’m out of potions,” Azrug said. “A certain alchemist hasn’t made good on his promise to make more.”

“Ah,” Theo said, nodding. “So, you haven’t sold anything?”

“I have. Little pieces here and there,” Azrug said. “I have seen no adventurers today—likely to do with those jammed roads.”

“They should clear up soon,” Theo said. “Well, this is your operation. Do you know anything about raising Karatan?”

“Only what I heard from traveling traders—which isn’t much,” Azrug said. “Some dwarf told me you had to feed them rocks.”

“Rocks? Really?” Theo asked.

“Yeah, other normal stuff, but rocks,” Azrug said. “Something about digestion.”

“Tresk will be home soon. You’re welcome to stay for dinner,” Theo said.

“Not today. I’ve got things to do,” Azrug said.

Theo ascended to the second floor, placing his pile of dirt on a table for experimentation. The Water Lily he had plucked the other day was still alive, sitting on the side table without a care. The alchemist wanted to experiment with cultivating his own reagents, but that would come after the farm job. There was no time left in the day for a run of his stills, his stamina stores too depleted, but he set up a row of fermentation barrels and set them to work. He ground up everything he could get his hands on, setting them off to do their work overnight.

When Tresk finally arrived, she seemed calm. She was covered from head to toe in mud but washed it all away with Cleansing Scrub and prepared dinner. For the first time in a while, they had no visitors while they ate. The mood seemed calmer than it was earlier. Theo was grateful that he cleared the air, never one to linger on the past. He made plans for the next day, focusing on creating something that would enrich the soil of the farm without forcing them to cart mud back and forth.

Theo fell asleep that night without an issue. He attributed it to the Lesser Stamina Potions he took during the siege. Any worry he had fell away into his impossibly soft mattress.

Theo worked his Drogramath Still before they’d even finished breakfast the next morning, getting it ready for a run. He darted back and forth between the still and the table, eating his wolf steak breakfast and theorizing about the quality of the soil—the thing that made the Zee grow. Tresk listened politely, never one to impede an excited person. She was the kind of person who fed into that excitement, driving him to new heights.

“It’s obvious when I think about it,” Theo said with a chuckle. “First, this is live soil. Soil that has all kinds of junk in it to help plants grow. The problem is, the farmers plant the Zee, and then the junk gets eaten by the plants. They have to repeat the mud transportation process at the end of every season.”

“How does alchemy fix this?” Tresk asked.

“We make it so the soil never loses its nutrients. With alchemy. Magic. Whatever you want to call it,” Theo said, withdrawing a Spriggan Heart from his inventory. The thing oozed over his hand, dripping onto the ground. “My cores guide me to conclusions now more than ever. I know this heart is the key to solving my problems, but I always thought it was because they had the [Growth] property.”

Theo grimaced, swallowed hard, and then took a bite out of the side of the Spriggan Heart. Tresk’s eyes went wide with horror. He retched, doubled over, then spat the thing on the ground. It tasted like a mouth full of scummy pond water mixed with a chunk of wood. But the System flashed a window, confirming his suspicions.

[Properties Discovery!]

You’ve discovered an additional effect from the Spriggan Heart by eating it.

[Rejuvenate] discovered.

“You’re disgusting!” Tresk shouted. “Do you have any idea where that thing came from? I dug it out of a Spriggan’s chest! With my knife!”

“Worth it,” Theo said, slowly climbing to his feet. “The [Rejuvenate] property is exactly what I’m looking for.”

“Ugh. Wash your mouth out, you filthy dronon,” Tresk said.

Theo obeyed. It was a good idea. The remnants of the heart left something tingling on his tongue. He washed it down with a ladle of Purified Water from his barrels. He dipped into his stores of the hearts resting in his Dimensional Storage Crate, plucking 50 of them and sending them through the Alchemical Grinder to create a glowing green mash. Lastly, he topped the still off and sent it working, returning to the table.

“I’m fairly certain that property will enrich the soil,” Theo said, taking a big bite of wolf steak. “The [Growth] property is the obvious choice, and it still might work, but without the soil, the plants will grow to be weak.”

“All of this comes from your intuition?” Tresk asked.

“My Drogramath Herbalism Core is screaming at me,” Theo said, chuckling. “I’m pretty sure my Wisdom alone wouldn’t do anything. I’d have a vague sense of how it should work, but nothing exact. The information doesn’t come from nowhere, though. I feel as though I need to have a base for it to work. The rejuvenation idea is similar to the Cleansing Scrub, in a way.”

“How?” Tresk asked, tilting her head.

“Cleansing Scrub, Stripping Solution, and Alchemic Tannin are similar things,” Theo said. “The scrub is a utility potion, but they all fall under the [Cleaning Agent] or [Leatherworking Agent] item type. I’m pretty certain that there are hundreds of these types of potions, meant to enhance other crafts.”

“You’re the support specialist of the crafting world,” Tresk said, laughing. “That’s kinda awesome.”

“Yeah. Drogramath is an outsider Demon Lord, so it makes sense,” Theo said. “I’d wager he isn’t even that evil. Maybe just a little evil.”

Tresk lifted her steak with her hands and took a big bite of steak. “A little evil still isn’t good.”

Theo waved her away. “Evil in small quantities. It’s not bad. But, no. This should work the same way as the others. I even have some dirt to experiment with.”

Tresk gave him a flat look. “Don’t act like dirt is an accomplishment. You’re too happy about the dirt.”

“Let me show you something,” Theo said, withdrawing a vial of Cleansing Scrub from his inventory, transferring it to a larger vial, and grinning. He added an equal amount of Over-Time Modifier essence and watched the silvery sheen transform the potion. It bubbled for a moment, then settled down. He inspected the result.

[Cleansing Scrub]

[Over-Time]

[Cleaning Agent]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

Cleansing Scrub instantly restores clothes, surfaces, skin, and so on to a clean state. Leaves behind the smell of Qavellian berries.

Effect (Modified):

Cleans anything it touches repeatedly, once every hour for 12 hours.

“I mostly knew that would happen,” Theo said. “Cleaning Agent can have the modifier essences applied.”

“Woah! I can stay clean all day?” Tresk asked.

“Yeah, although I don’t know how this works for others. The tannery potions would likely reject the modifier, but I think it’ll work for the soil-enhancement ones.”

The Drogramath Still bubbled, condensing the vapors of the mash and sending them down the condenser.

“That’s another thing I need to fix,” Theo said, pointing at the flask under the condenser. “I need to find something that can hold a lot of essence. Perhaps an infused copper reservoir.”

“That would be nice,” Tresk said. “Then you wouldn’t need to sit here all day. You could come on an adventure!”

Theo’s face paled. He shook his head. “No adventure for me.”

Tresk laughed, slapping her knobbly knees.

“I’m just messing with you,” Tresk said. “I felt your anxiety spike the moment I said it.”

The pair finished breakfast, Tresk scampering off to perform her daily duties with the adventurer’s guild. That was the only thing that made them so strong, even if they were independent. Every adventurer in Broken Tusk would put in the hard work and do their part. With the Drogramath Still running a batch of the Spriggan Hearts focused on the [Rejuvenation] property, Theo turned his attention to the fermenting barrels. It was a row of 50-unit fermentations, the purpose of which was to discover the various essences they held. The problem was, he couldn’t examine the raw mash to discover their secrets, but he could run small batches in his copper stills.

His first experiment would be with fermented Widow Lily and Manashrooms. Each experiment was done with an Earth Mote to promote consistency. Theo waited around for some time, relying on the building’s improvements to shorten the time of distillation. It was only a theory he had about different motes producing different effects on essence modifiers. He couldn’t be certain about that theory. Switching out motes might just provide a different mana source. The alchemist wanted to conduct consistent experiments, though. Leaving something up to chance could have consequences down the line.

At the end of the modifier essence’s distillation, while the Spriggan Hearts were still cooking, he was left with two new modifiers. They seemed of dubious use, save for that generated by the Widow Lily.

[Decay]

[Essence Modifier]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

10 units (liquid)

Add to a completed potion to add the “Decay” modifier. Decay applies necrotic effects to offensive potions.

Theo’s intuition told him this was useful for mixing in with poison potions, as it would add additional effects. Basic Drogramath Alchemy backed this idea up with its extensive section on poisons. According to the book, decay was a status modifier that acted a lot like poison. It wouldn’t double the effect of the poison, but it would provide another DoT effect to the weapon coating.

[Mana Bloom]

[Essence Modifier]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

10 units (liquid)

Add to a completed potion to add the “Mana Bloom” modifier. Mana Bloom applies bonuses related to the mana resource.

[Mana Bloom] was obscure, having no reference in his book. Logic dictated that it would add a bonus to mana with every potion. He’d need to experiment with this, particularly with Lesser Mana Potionsbut he hoped it’d be useful. Each modifier represented a new dimension to potion making. Something that would add an unexpected element, and more importantly value. If no one else was producing these rare things, then he could rake in the money. With the idea of his ranch looming in the distance, he’d need every shiny copper coin he could get his hands on.

Azrug entered the shop below during his session, although Theo didn’t hear the bell. Only when the bell rang again did he notice, as it was followed by an exchange of words. The sound of someone ascending the stairs broke the alchemist’s concentration, followed by a tepid knock at the door.

“Come in,” Theo said, looking up from his work with a furrowed brow.

To his surprise, Miana Kell walked in the room. She straightened her shoulders at the threshold and marched in, slamming her hand down on the table. The gesture was lost on Theo. The quills of her personality had been disarmed long ago, painting her as an unwitting rube rather than the defiant woman she presented herself as.

“I want the ranch job,” Miana said, staring into Theo’s eyes. There was a fiery passion there that he hadn’t seen before. Something that lingered deep in her soul. His high Wisdom score told him she was serious.

“Word travels fast,” Theo said, nodding. He cast his eyes over the essences he had crafted, lingering on the dripping condenser.

“Aarok told me,” Miana said. “He knows I love animals.”

“A love for animals doesn’t make you the right person for the job,” Theo said, feeling rather spiky today.

“I didn’t have the funds for a ranch seed core—or the cores,” Miana said, suddenly going pale. Her gaze shot to the ground and remained there.

Theo tilted his head. He didn’t need intuition to know what was going on in her mind—it was painted plainly on her face. A mix of regret and anger that flared to the surface easily. He put the pieces together but wanted confirmation.

“What cores do you currently have?” Theo asked.

Miana shuffled her feet along the ground. “Oh, shut up. You will not bait me.”

Theo let out a long sigh, finding a seat near the window. “That’s what he took, isn’t it? Your cores.”

Miana set her eyes on him, fixing him in a withering glare. “More than that, Theo. Gods, more than you could ever imagine.”

Theo looked at the door, ensuring the half-ogre closed it on her way in. She did. “He took your core slots—how is that possible?”

“I don’t know. Hah! Can you imagine. Mean old Miana Kell—running this dirt ball for twenty years without a single core… What a laughing stock I’d be if they found out.”

Theo pressed his fingers into his closed eyes until he saw stars. This was too much for him. Her story was so tragic he couldn’t stand to think about it, but that would be avoiding his problems. It was a simple request, and he needed a rancher.

“What do you want?” Theo asked.

“Fund the seed core and the animals,” Miana said. “I’ll get the skill core.”

“How do we split the profits?” Theo asked.

“I don’t care.”

Theo reached out a hand and shook hers, avoiding eye contact. “We’ll figure out how to split it later. Miana… I don’t know what else I could do for you.”

“This is everything,” she said. He could hear the hope in her voice. “Twenty years wasted, leading to this. This is all I need, Theo.”

“Perhaps you can reclaim those lost years,” Theo said, shaking his head. “I don’t even know how long I was between worlds. Not that it matters—Earth was destroyed.”

“We both have lost time to make up,” Miana said.

“I wish you could tell me more about this mystery man,” Theo said.

“I didn’t even see him,” Miana said. “He spoke into my mind when I was a kid. Thought it was just some strange magical something—but then I never got my cores. When you became mayor, I got my core slots. Empty.”

“That’s harsh,” Theo said. “That’s downright evil.”

“We move on,” Miana said. “We keep on living, despite our problems.”

Theo gestured to his pile of dirt. “If you’ll excuse me, I have an industry to revolutionize.”

“Of course. Thanks, Theo,” Miana said, turning on the spot. Her shoulders were back, her chest swelling with pride. With hope.

Theo heard her exchange words with Azrug downstairs. The tone that carried up the stairs was happy. The alchemist felt the smile spreading across his face pinch the corners of his eyes. He turned his attention to his main goal. The dirt.

Chapter 17

Tax Brackets

Theo knew his new Rejuvenation Essence could be created into a normal potion, but he had little interest in that. It was likely something that created a restorative effect, perhaps something in the lies of affliction purification. Like most support potions, the one he wanted to create needed a second essence to work properly. The result was a very favorable ratio of essence to water, but discovering the perfect combination took time. The alchemist spread the list of suspected essences on the table, tapping his chin as he considered which to try first.

Essences with the properties of [Regeneration], [Healing], [Purifying], [Cleansing], [Preserving], and [Imbuing] sat on his table. He scooped them up in his inventory and headed to the gravel yard out back. The rain was some ways away for the day, putting Azrug in a good mood. The shopkeeper was organizing his piles of junk as the alchemist pushed his way outside.

Theo started down the line of essences, copying the format of his tannery potions exactly. Five units of Stabilized Water to 0.1 units of two essences each. The first reaction, combining the Regeneration Essence with the Rejuvenation Essence filled the yard with a thick, choking fog. The next produced a surprise potion he hadn’t expected. When he applied the Healing Essence to the same style of mixture, it bubbled and produced a thick paste the color of blood.

[Alchemic Regenerative Salve]

[Alchemy Salve]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Applied to wounds to restore lost digits.

Effect:

Repeated application of this salve will restore lost fingers and toes. The effect is not immediate, often taking weeks depending on the level of the user.

“I found a potion that restores lost toes and fingers,” Theo said, using the telepathic link to Tresk.

“Oh, that might be useful,” Tresk said. “But marshlings can regrow toes and fingers.”

“You can?”

“Yep.”

Still, it could be useful enough to sell. It was another thing he’d need to run by Fenian. The [Purifying], [Cleansing], and [Preserving] property essences all created something similar to the horrid fog. Some caught the air on fire, forcing Theo to leave the gravel yard and wait for the flames to subside. Once it cleared, he attempted to make the [Imbuing] property take hold. The liquid bubbled and sent gouts of steam high into the air. It filled the area with a sickly sweet smell, burning the alchemist’s nostrils as he waited for the reaction to subside. What remained was a liquid, the hue of wet grass, although the smell remained. He placed the stopper on the vial, smiling as he inspected the result.

[Alchemic Soil Enhancer]

[Farming Agent]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Improves the quality of soil, immediately restoring all nutrients.

Effect:

Restores the state of any soil back to arable conditions.

Theo retreated to the lab, waving off Azrug as he went. More piles of junk had appeared since he last saw the shopkeeper, but he dismissed it for now. The pile of dirt sat on his table, and he approached, sprinkling the smallest amount of the solution on before inspecting his new dirt.

Enhanced Arable Soil

[Soil]

Uncommon

Enhanced soil currently ready to accept seeds. This soil has been imbued with alchemical properties, reducing the time it takes to grow crops and increasing the yield significantly.

Theo scooped the soil into his hands and darted downstairs, holding it out for Azrug to inspect.

“Why are you thrusting dirt into my face?” Azrug asked.

“Look at it,” Theo said, grinning. “Inspect it.”

Azrug sighed, then his face brightened. “Hey! You made magic dirt.”

“I need to show Banu,” Theo said, opening the door and tossing the soil outside. The farmer wouldn’t be satisfied with his example; he’d need to see the transformation of the soil first-hand.

“Before you go,” Azrug said sheepishly. “I still need some potions.”

“I’ll work on those today,” Theo said. “What’s with all the stuff?”

“I’m buying everything the adventurers are looting from the monsters. They’re eager to get rid of all this junk,” Azrug said.

“You need a Dimensional Storage Crate,” Theo said.

“I know.”

Theo was out the door, half-running up the main street toward the farm. He found the farmers toiling away as they always were. Banurub was in his farmer’s workshop, scowling for only a moment before correcting his expression.

“Another visit from the mayor,” Banu said, smiling a fake smile.

“I have something to show you,” Theo said, leading the half-ogre toward a fallow field. He bent low, scooping a handful of the depleted dirt.

[Depleted Soil]

[Soil]

Common

This soil has been drained of all its nutrients.

“So, this is the soil that you have,” Theo said. “You’re waiting to get the labor to go down to the swamp and bring back mud, right?”

“That’s correct,” Banu said. “Very labor-intensive work. Takes as long to get the mud as to grow the crops.”

“Not with this,” Theo said, producing a green vial. “Watch.”

Theo sprinkled the liquid over a section of the fallow field, tracing a path along the edge. Five units of the Alchemic Soil Enhancer covered more ground than he expected. The liquid seemed to spread as though it knew where to go, avoiding the dirt outside of the designated field. The alchemist confirmed that the Depleted Soil had been changed to Enhanced Arable Soil, smiling up at Banu.

“So, this is how you replace our jobs?” Banu asked, letting out a heavy sigh. “With fancy alchemy.”

“I have not replaced your job,” Theo said. “The land still needs to be tilled, seeds planted, crops harvested. We just removed one annoying step from your process. You’ll more than double your output.”

Banu let out another sigh, casting his eyes over the farm. “Change is hard, Mayor. Some of us don’t like it.”

“You’re not changing for me. You’re changing for Broken Tusk. To serve her best interests, you need to change. I assume milled Zee sells for more than the raw product.”

“It does. Significantly so,” Banu said, shrugging.

“We’re doubling your output and increasing your profits,” Theo said. “Have you increased the price of your Zee?”

“Nope.”

“Yet everyone else is increasing their prices and wages,” Theo said. “You need to grow alongside the town.”

Something twinged in Theo’s mind, like an itch he couldn’t locate. He narrowed his eyes, expecting something to happen before the System’s window popped up.

Tax brackets of Broken Tusk adjusted (manual change).

Property Tax Change: 10% to 15%.

Export Tax Change: 10% to 20%.

Sales Tax Change: 10% to 15%.

Tax changes take effect immediately.

“What the…”

“Did you see that?” Banu said, scoffing. “Did you change that?”

“That wasn’t me,” Theo said. “Qavell controls the brackets, I think.”

“This is outrageous,” Banu said. “Are you joking? A 10 percent increase on export tax? We’re going to go under, Theo.”

“Absolutely absurd,” Theo said. “Grub had something to do with this. That little… Can I use your workshop to contact the capital?”

“Are you going to yell at someone?” Banu asked.

“Yes.”

“Then be my guest.”

Theo found a chair inside Banurub’s makeshift home-workshop. He grasped his communications crystal tight, felt the haptic buzz in his mind, then the angry beep. The alchemist scowled, squeezing again and receiving the same result. He repeated the process until suddenly plunging into the icy depths of that dark dimension, finding himself on that stone platform. The familiar form of his contact sat on the far side of the platform, shrouded in darkness.

“What is it?” Banthub spat.

“Who the hell raised my taxes?” Theo asked. “10 percent increase on exports? Are you insane?”

“I have nothing to do with those changes, alchemist.”

“Well, you certainly haven’t been taking my calls,” Theo said, folding his arms. “I’m wondering what the value of the Kingdom of Qavell is, exactly. Not like we got any support for the monster wave.”

“You were meant to report the wave here,” Banthub said, likewise folding his arms. His tone was annoyed.

“You didn’t answer!” Theo shouted.

Banthub shook his head. “If you want to buy the rights to a duke title, that’s on you. Scrape together the 3,000 gold if you can. Otherwise, you’re in the kingdom's embrace.”

“The interface said it was 3 spiritstone coins,” Theo said. “Not 300.”

“There’s 1,000 gold to a spiritstone, boy,” Banthub said. “The tax increase was across the faction. You have no place to complain.”

Theo was more flustered than he’d ever felt in his new world. Banthub wasn’t even trying to work with him. A new goal filled his mind, even if it was further off than he thought. “Thank you for your time,” he said, severing the connection before the lizard-person could say another word. Banu was standing there when he returned, casting a concerned expression over the alchemist.

“You looked angry,” Banu said.

“He told me to kick rocks,” Theo said, shaking his head. “The change was intentional.”

“What can we do about it?” Banu asked.

“Make more money,” Theo said. “Make as much money as we can to get out from under Qavell’s thumb. I need to talk to someone about this. Someone who knows more than he’s letting on.”

“All right. Well, consider the farmers a participating party from here on out. When can you produce enough of that magic liquid for my fields?”

“Today,” Theo said.

Banu’s eyes went wide for a moment. “All right.”

Theo stomped out of the workshop, making his way to the Marsh Wolf Tavern. People hailed him as he went, trying to ask about the new tax, but he brushed them off. The person he was looking for was likely wooing Xam, drinking, or both. As he pushed into the tavern, he found that his suspicions were correct. Uharis was swaying on the spot, making eyes at the poor owner of the tavern. The alchemist made his way to the bar, grabbing the archmage by the arm and dragging him to a table.

“What the hell is going on?” Theo asked, plopping down in a seat and crossing his arms. “We just got a tax increase. And you’re leading me down the wrong path.”

Uharis swayed in his chair, a stupid smile playing across his face. He withdrew a kettle from nowhere, setting it down on the table, filing it with water, and conjuring a magic flame before dropping a pinch of Sanchrin Leaves inside. After a moment, he drank the liquid directly from the hot pot, shuddering for a moment before straightening up.

“Well, you’re smarter than I expected for one,” Uharis said, smiling. “Do you think I’m leading you astray by my suggestions?”

“I don’t know what you’re doing, and that’s the problem,” Theo said.

“Well, here’s some good faith,” Uharis said, withdrawing a crystal from his inventory.

The crystalline device was small, able to fit in the palm of Theo’s hand. It was currently a placid blue color, thrumming with power. He rolled it over in his hands, trying to inspect it with no luck. “What is it?”

“Your early warning system,” Uharis said. “The closer the hue is to red, the closer the next monster wave is—and there will be another monster wave, I know. Your taxes were increased because there’s a war. Wars are expensive.”

Theo softened for a moment. An early warning device was an amazing boon. The last monster wave came without notice, leaving them to scramble for defenses.

“So, you’re here in an innocent capacity,” Theo said, taking the device into his inventory. “Am I supposed to believe that?”

“Believe what you want,” Uharis said, straightening his ruffled robes. “I came to keep an eye on you and monitor the events taking place here.”

“What does that mean? The magical convergence?”

“Naturally,” Uharis said. “The world is in a strange place, and Qavell is no exception. We’re on the brink of something big, although no one seems to know what it is. I have a different theory.”

“You’re going to make me ask, aren’t you?” Theo asked.

“Of course,” Uharis said. “Well, you’ll earn your independence from Qavell easily. The thing that hamstrings most towns is their access to resources. But they’re in abundance here. Every direction you turn, things are growing faster than they should. Your reagents, the crops on the farms, the trees, the stone. I wonder what a prospector would find in the hills to the south…”

“Is that a hint?” Theo asked. “Should I be expanding my resource collection schemes?”

“You should,” Uharis said. “I’ve caused you a great deal of trouble during my meddling, and I apologize for that. I wanted to see how you’d react. To my advice, to my prodding. Most mayors would have ordered me out onto those walls to solve their problems. ‘Reform my landscape. Kill those monsters. Give me gold.’ is what I normally hear. Begging. You called me a drunk. Didn’t ask for a single thing. That independence is what I wanted to see.”

“Well, I hope you’re happy,” Theo said, shaking his head. The archmage might have been rude in the way he tested Broken Tusk, but the alchemist understood. It must have been a common sight—people begging the high-level elf for free things.

“A gift,” Uharis said, withdrawing something from his inventory.

It was a small, box-shaped crystal. Theo could inspect this one.

[Celestial Resource Storage Crystal]

[Dimensional Storage]

Legendary

A resource storage device. Only raw resources may be placed in this storage space. Has infinite capacity.

Theo frowned. “How much is this worth?”

“I’d rather not say,” Uharis said. “I’ve had it for quite a while. It dropped from a Demon Lord, if you can believe that story. You can attach it to the town, allowing you to insert and withdraw resources from anywhere within the town’s boundaries. It will only accept raw resources such as stone, wood, and metal.”

“Metal,” Theo repeated. “What kind of metal is in the southern hills?”

Uharis smiled. “I’m glad you picked up on that. You’re not as dull as I first thought. My magic detected copper veins mingling with iron.”

“Hmm. Copper is as cheap as dirt,” Theo said, leaning back in his chair.

“I wonder how expensive infused copper is,” Uharis said, grinning. “Well, I think that’s enough hints for now. I’ll leave your town without a word. That’s what you want, right?”

Theo thought for a moment before responding. Moments ago, he wanted nothing more than the strange archmage to leave Broken Tusk forever. Now he was torn. The elf was testing him for aptitude and intelligence, but that test was for something greater. A path laid out for the alchemist, a road he couldn’t depart.

“Stay if you’d like,” Theo said, “but I don’t think Xam likes you.”

“I know,” Uharis said. “But she humors me.”

Theo nodded. “How do I apply this storage crystal?”

“Press it into your monolith,” Uharis said. “The upgrade will apply automatically.”

“Thanks,” Theo said, standing. “Please don’t lead me on again. I do value your counsel.”

“Ah, the highest of praise,” Uharis said with a slight bow. “I’ll be back, but Sulvan has been pestering me. There are demons to slay.”

A blinding flash of light saw the archmage gone in an instant. The chair he was sitting in blasted back, clattering against a table and shattering. Xam let out an exasperated sound, coming over to inspect the damage.

“He destroyed my chair!” Xam shouted.

“I have a feeling you got off easy,” Theo said. “I’m sure the tips he gave you cover the cost of chairs.”

Xam huffed, but Theo was already out the door. He withdrew the resource storage crystal from his inventory and pressed it into the monolith, receiving a prompt.

Apply Celestial Resource Storage Crystal to Broken Tusk? Y/N?

Theo sent his mental approval, receiving another prompt.

Celestial Resource Storage Crystal applied to Broken Tusk. You may now access the dimensional resource storage space from anywhere within the town’s limits. Access currently restricted to the Mayor role. You may change this in the interface.

Theo inspected the new menu in his mayor’s interface, creating a list of people that could add and withdraw items from the storage space. He gave permission to every producer in the city—everyone related to the collection of raw resources—before heading out to check on Sledge’s progress with the wood.

It was a short walk. He spotted the marshling working a length of timber with some scraping tool. It had two handles and a sharp metal blade in the center. She pulled it toward herself with impossible strength, taking a thick section of bark with each stroke. A pile of boards, worked from raw timber, sat in neat stacks near the workshop. Theo counted them out mentally before getting her attention, finding hundreds of boards waiting for him.

“Sledge,” Theo said, tapping the woman on the shoulder. She looked tired but happy.

“How did I do, boss?” Sledge asked. “I had to hire laborers to help me move the raw lumber, but I made good progress.”

“You made great progress,” Theo said. “What price do you think is fair? Per hundred boards.”

Sledge screwed up her face, casting her eyes over the endless piles of worked boards. “Five silver?”

Theo’s Intelligence was finally getting to the point where he could estimate that kind of math. It was something like 5 copper per board, which seemed fair enough. If she could work a hundred boards in a day, that would place her in the upper tier of producers in the town.

“Five is more than fair,” Theo said. “Perhaps a bit cheap.”

“It’s for the town, right?” Sledge asked, nodding to herself. “We gotta take a hit sometimes. For the sake of Broken Tusk.”

Theo withdrew ten silver from his inventory, handing it over to the woman. “Double for the first batch. Keep your workers happy.”

“Thanks, Theo,” Sledge said. “So, Tresk was telling me you have an open position? Fabricator?”

“Ah, right,” Theo said. Tresk must have enacted her plan to get the woman the Fabricator’s Core. “It doesn’t pay directly, but you’d be taking jobs from citizens and me. I want at least a hundred boards a week, so if you can’t manage that, I can find someone else.”

“No!” Sledge blurted, suddenly trying to compose herself. “I mean, if you have someone else in mind. It just sounds interesting. Very creative work.”

Theo withdrew the Fabricator’s Core from his inventory and handed it over. “Well, consider yourself hired. This comes with extra responsibilities regarding both the town and the buildings within.”

“I can manage a weekly board quota and learn this class,” Sledge said, smiling. “Just wait. I’ll be the best fabricator in the land before long.”

Theo smiled, patting her on the shoulder. “I’m counting on it.”

The alchemist made his way over to the piles of wood, pressing his hand against them and adding the resources to the town’s storage. He consulted his screen, finding that it fell into a different inventory than the resources meant for repairs. He could transfer between the two inventories easily, though. Theo transferred every board into the town’s repair pool, turning to nod at the marshling.

“These are perfect,” he said. “Keep up the good work.”

“I will.”

As he turned to leave, he saw something new on the woman’s face. It was a smile that bled into her eyes, creasing the corners of her wet face. The smile was genuine. She was happy.

Chapter 18

The Importance of Storage

Broken Tusk would repair itself with the newly added materials, despite the lack of raw metal. Uharis’s tip about there being metal in the southern reaches of the town gave him hope for complete independence. There was also the hint about infusing copper for sale, which the alchemist had little hope for. The archmage was trying to help. Even setting aside his other dubious intentions, he seemed to be on the level. That left his other hanging projects to attend to. With Banu finally broken by the crushing weight of new taxes, he’d speed up the farm’s productivity beyond a reasonable level.

“Double output? Perhaps,” Theo said, standing over his workbench in the lab. “Triple is more likely. If not more.”

The alchemist knew, based on the description of his Alchemic Soil Enhancer and the resulting Enhanced Arable Soil, that their yield would increase. The description said “significantly,” which was all he could ask for. Things tilted further in his favor with the recipe to create the soil enhancer. Since it followed the detergent-style recipes, it produced large quantities of end product for little input. The 50 units of Rejuvenation Essence he made were more than enough to fertilize every field twice.

Theo started kicking off his reactions inside, a task normally reserved for the gravel yard. His confidence in his abilities was soaring at this point, making the work simple. He reflected on the agreement with the farmers. He expected nothing in return, except that they’d increase their output and pay their workers better. His intuition said that closing the gulf between the lowest-earning and highest-earning people in the town was wise. It had nothing to do with the disparity of wealth and everything to do with making sure everyone could keep up. If the farmers couldn’t afford to live in Broken Tusk, they’d miss out on a massive boon when the tax finally fell to Theo himself.

“Everyone is furious about the new taxes,” Tresk said, laughing into Theo’s mind.

“They should be, but we can’t do anything about it. We’re short a few thousand gold,” Theo said. “I double-checked—3 spiritstone coins get us out from under Qavell’s thumb, but I have a bad feeling about the result.”

“What kind of feeling?”

“My contact said that paying the coins gives us a different status in the kingdom, not complete independence,” Theo said.

“That’s a scam,” Tresk said.

What made it more of a scam was the fact that he’d have to pay the money directly. They would essentially buy a title from Qavell without knowledge of the impact. Theo needed to do more research on the subject and find a way to make the mountain of coins. Until that point, growth was the defining factor of Broken Tusk. He examined the mayor’s screen to inspect the requirements for growth.

Broken Tusk can be upgraded to a [Large Town] when the following conditions are met:

Medium Population: INCOMPLETE

Expanded Land Ownership: COMPLETE

He’d flipped the tables since last time. The last time he went to increase the town’s size, he didn’t have the land required to expand. Now he didn’t have the population. And it wasn’t expanding as rapidly as he’d have liked. They’d received a single citizen over the past month, that of Zan’kir and his family. Each person counted toward the population, but it wasn’t enough.

“I have a plan, though,” Theo said. “The first step is to get my Governance Core, then we can make deals with other towns. I want to export to the Khahari people, but that’s a long-term hope.”

“We’re gonna need boats,” Tresk said.

“Big boats. So, we need to expand the town all the way to the ocean,” Theo said. “It's another three or four expansions to the ocean, so this is long-term.”

“If an expansion can be stabbed, I’m your girl,” Tresk said. “Politics, trade—those aren’t my strong suits. Stabbing is. I’m a good stabber.”

“Yes, you’re the best stabber I know,” Theo said.

“Yes, I am.”

With the ingredients already distilled, the creation of the Alchemic Soil Enhancer was simple. He spent an hour or so carefully measuring everything out before he found himself with several 200-unit flasks of the liquid. The massive glass flasks were more like small barrels, weighing an absurd amount. Without the strength bonuses from his items and the Tara’hek, he wouldn’t be able to lift them.

As with Perg’s tannery job, he held back a flask for future use. Something about handing everything over to the farmers at once didn’t sit well with Theo. He wanted to make sure to have some on reserve, allowing him to appear more competent than he was. This was the kind of failsafe the alchemist enjoyed, preparing for future failures, which were inevitable. He waded through the piles of junk downstairs, bidding farewell to Azrug and trudging out into the falling rain.

Theo’s new robe seemed to be water resistant, although the description didn’t mention the feature. The magic that ran through the garment must have been repelling the water, leading him to the conclusion that he needed a magic hat. Once he had the hat, he’d be completely waterproof. Just in time for the Season of Blooms to end, giving way to the Season of Fire.

Banu’s mouth hung open when Theo delivered the potion. “Already?” Banu asked. “You said today—I didn’t think you meant before midday.”

“I don’t mess around, Banu,” Theo said. “There’s a lot of work that needs doing and not a lot of time.”

Banu nodded, casting his eyes over the fields. “Are there going to be any adverse effects from the potion?”

“Well, I haven’t thoroughly tested it,” Theo said. “But you can be assured that I’ll cover any lost crops. The likelihood of that happening is almost zero.”

“I don’t mean to insult your work,” Banu said, laughing. “Farmers are superstitious folk, alchemist. We’re wary of most things that aren’t the same. I’ll appreciate the help when I see results.”

“That’s fair,” Theo said. “I’ve taken people at their word for too long, I think.”

“But that’s why we like you,” Banu said, placing a firm hand on Theo’s shoulder. “You’re honest to a fault. You didn’t ask me for anything in return.”

“At-cost prices for some grain,” Theo said, smiling. “The Karatan are going to be hungry.”

“I heard Miana is heading that project,” Banu said. “I saw her scouting the area near the river.”

Theo shook his head. “News travels fast.”

“Naturally. So, I just sprinkle this on the earth?” Banu asked, returning to the fields.

“Yes. You can inspect the soil after you’ve done so, making sure everything is covered. The potion seems to spread out on its own, only infusing the fields,” Theo said.

Banu nodded. “As the owner of the farm, I can designate which sections of the farm are active fields. We’ve already cleared away the requested section for the mill—it wasn’t hard. That field was fallow for some time. We couldn’t get the mud to take.”

“Good,” Theo said. “I’ll get the appropriate seed cores when I can.”

Banu bid farewell, and Theo made his way back down into town. He reached his goal, Throk’s blacksmithy, finding the marshling fiddling with things in his workshop. The pressure vessel was mostly assembled at this point, a wild tangle of pipes, valves, and gauges. It didn’t look much like what they initially planned, but the blacksmith had a mind for creating something better than requested.

“This is coming together faster than expected,” Throk said, setting a gear in place. Purple light issued from the strange device. It didn’t fall apart this time.

“Because you’re the best,” Theo said.

“Hah! Flattery will get you everywhere, boy,” Throk said, looking up and squinting. “Even though my Artificer’s Core is only at Level 5, the skills it provides are valuable.”

“I have another request, once you’re done with this,” Theo said.

“You’re going to single-handedly fund my retirement,” Throk said.

“I know.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Nothing fancy. Not like this monstrosity,” Theo said, patting the thick copper tank. “Just some transfer and storage tanks for my essences.”

“Easy enough,” Throk said.

Something lingered in Theo’s mind. Even without confirmation of the metal in the south, he wanted to know if anyone in town had cores for mining. As always, he’d prefer to find someone within Broken Tusk to run his enterprises rather than hiring from afar.

“Does anyone in town have mining cores?” Theo asked.

“Stonecutting… Well, you know that. Ziz has the Stonecutter’s Core, but nothing else,” Throk said. “Why, planning on doing some prospecting?”

“Well, I think the archmage did the prospecting for us,” Theo said. “Claims the southern hills have iron and copper.”

Throk raised an eyebrow, centering his attention on Theo. “That would be big. A massive boon. There are no mines in the southlands—none that I know of. Rivers and Daub had a pit mine for crude, low-quality iron for a while. That tap ran dry—now the northlanders provide all the metal in the land. They have a ton of high-level copper mines. They regenerate faster than you can mine them.”

“Good news,” Theo said. “We’ll be the largest supplier of wood, stone, and metal in the southlands. I want to create trade deals with the other towns.”

“Well, this is the place to do it,” Throk said, glancing around the various buildings of the town. “Things just grow here. I watched a tree go from a sapling to a towering cypress in a few days this week. It seems to be getting stronger.”

“Hopefully, it stops,” Theo said, bringing his early warning crystal out of his inventory. He frowned. The pale blue light had gone green.

“Fancy bauble you have there,” Throk said, nodding at the crystal. “What’s it glowing for?”

“Nothing good,” Theo said, not wishing to elaborate. News traveled too fast in Broken Tusk. “A gift from a friend.”

“Bah. Don’t get cagey on me now,” Throk said. “I can keep a secret.”

“Can you?” Theo asked.

“Nope.”

“Then be happy knowing it keeps us safe,” Theo said, turning on the spot. “I need to check the repairs.”

Throk waved him off, the alchemist trudging down the wet road toward the western gate. Theo considered a few things before he arrived at the gate. He kept a skill point in reserve, expecting to get a new skill core any day. While the Governance Core was a ways off, he had no desire to squander the point. His alchemy was doing fine for the time being, and he saw no need to grab any of the new skills, although some were tempting. One skill improved raw essence handling, reducing the chance of explosions. Another was almost useless for him, improving the distance he could hurl bombs. It was simply a scatter of skills that would give him small advantages, but he needed huge boosts for it to be worth it. Once he got the new core, he could inspect those skills.

“Aarok,” Theo said, waving at the half-ogre.

Aarok assumed his permanent perch near the growing guild hall. They weren’t feeding it enough monster cores, and the seed was hungry.

“The gate is almost fixed,” Aarok said. “We’ve burned all the corpses, too.”

“Perfect,” Theo said, thrusting the green crystal into Aarok’s hands. “This was blue earlier.”

Aarok gave him a flat look. “And now it's green. Congratulations.”

Theo leaned in, bringing his voice down to a whisper. “Uharis gave it to me. Supposed to predict a monster wave when it turns red.”

Aarok’s eyes went wide. “You’re kidding. We need more bombs, Theo.”

“I know,” Theo said. “More healing potions, too. More stamina potions… Would you mind posting a quest for me?”

“Yeah, what do you need?”

“Fire Salamander Eggs. As many as they can get—don’t put a limit on the quantity,” Theo said. “I have enough Moss Nettle to start a tea empire, so no worries on those.”

Aarok gestured through the air, nodding after a moment. “It’s done. The adventurers should get a daily update about it if I’ve done my job right.”

“Same rate?” Theo asked. “A silver per 500?”

“Same rate,” Aarok said. “They’ll swarm me by the end of the day. Have I properly expressed the importance of those bombs?”

“You have,” Theo said. “I’m well aware of the issue. During the last monster wave, I had very little time to prepare. This time we’ll be ready. They won’t breach the wall.”

“I hope not.”

“They won’t,” Theo repeated. “I need to get working on that.”

Theo glanced at his stamina bar, finding it depleting fast, but not as fast as it would before a few choice upgrades. His Vigor was rising, thanks to the Tara’hek, but there was another trick he had. The Refreshing Ring had become a fixture on his hand, something he barely noticed, especially beneath his leather gloves. The silver band was inlaid with rubies, and the effect of the ring was amazing.

[Refreshing Ring]

[Ring]

Rare

An enchanted silver ring, inlaid with rubies.

Effect:

The efforts of crafting are less taxing.

[Effect Locked]

[Effect Locked]

Even with two effects locked, the first one was noticeable. Theo couldn’t estimate the effect, but it was potent.

“Feed that thing more monster cores,” Theo said, patting Aarok on the shoulder. “It’ll grow faster.”

“I think it’s just big,” Aarok said.

Theo bid farewell to his friend, departing for his lab. The day had already been full of excitement, but there were jobs he needed to do. Pushing past the piles of junk, he set up distillations for three more fermented essences. Marsh Tubers, Swamplight Spider Silk, and Flame Roses were next. The alchemist had no idea what to expect from them, as the modifier essences seemed random. His instincts told him it was a matter of processing them further to get different effects, but his pressure vessel was still in the works. He settled for discovering the new modifiers, whatever the System threw at him.

The small, 10-unit distillations went quickly. It didn’t go unnoticed to him that each modifier essence so far had produced at “great” quality. His process wasn’t down for fermentation yet and required a lot of work. He inspected the first essence, produced by the Marsh Tubers.

[Solidify]

[Essence Modifier]

Epic

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

10 units (liquid)

Add to a completed potion to add the “Solidify” modifier. Solidify has unpredictable effects and varies wildly from potion to potion. Typical effects include solidification of the potion itself.

This was a wild card modifier. Unpredictability and potions rarely mixed well, and he reserved this one for experimentation later. He imagined a solid potion and grimaced. Next was the modifier essence created by the Swamplight Spider Silk.

[Web]

[Essence Modifier]

Uncommon

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

10 units (liquid)

Add to a completed potion to add the “Web” modifier. Web applies weak binding effects to offensive potions and weak bonus-sharing to restoration potions.

Another vague modifier. The offensive potion effect was easy enough to understand—it should root the target for some amount of time. The bonus-sharing effect for restoration potions was a bit of a mystery. Theo withdrew a Lesser Stamina Potion from his inventory. The item’s description was simple enough to understand. He transferred it to a 4-unit vial and added equal parts of the [Web] essence modifier. It bubbled and steamed before thick webs worked their way through the potion. He inspected the result.

[Lesser Stamina Potion]

[Web]

[Potion] [Modified Potion]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

A lesser stamina potion. Drink to restore stamina.

Effect (Modified):

Creates a web between you and the nearest friendly target. The web restores 35 stamina for both targets if unbroken for 15 seconds.

Now that was a weird modifier. It was the first modifier he encountered that changed the nature of the potion so drastically. This was also the first example he found of potion-sharing, something that was likely useful. Theo imagined a team of adventurers, the tank fighting in front while the support crew hid behind, where someone ran around and spammed web potions. It might be something worth selling in the shop.

Next up was the Flame Rose’s modifier essence. Theo expected something that enhanced strength.

[Embolden]

[Essence Modifier]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

10 units (liquid)

Add to a completed potion to add the “Embolden” modifier. Embolden triples the effects of beneficial potions while adding a debuff on the opposing attribute/resource.

This modifier could be amazing or horrible, depending on the context. Once again, Theo found himself curious about the effects and withdrew a Lesser Healing Potion from his inventory. He transferred it to a 4-unit vial and added equal parts of the [Embolden] property modifier. The result was interesting.

[Lesser Healing Potion]

[Embolden]

[Potion] [Modified Potion]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

A lesser healing potion. Drink to restore health.

Effect (Modified):

Instantly restores 135 health points. Instantly drains 65 mana. For every point of mana the imbiber doesn’t have, 0.5 health will be drained to make up for the difference.

It was the first potion Theo crafted that was downright dangerous, aside from the bombs. It restored 135 health, sure, but if the user didn’t have the mana to make up for the secondary effect, they’d die. If the user of the potion had 30 health and 0 mana, the potion might restore 135 health, putting them at full, but then it would drain 32.5 health, killing them. The alchemist concluded this was an advanced-use potion if ever he’d seen one, filing it away in his mind to run by Fenian when he had the chance.

With his discovery session over, Theo was left with mixed feelings about the essence modifiers. The clear winner was [Web], which seemed wholly good with no drawbacks. He set his sights on the next task, rubbing his hands together as he approached his Dimensional Storage Crate. It was time to do a big run of Lesser Healing Potions, the bread and butter of his alchemy shop.

Chapter 19

Settlers

Theo ran his stills for the rest of the day, flagging as his stamina drained to nothingness. He woke the next day to take breakfast with Tresk, ruminating over the power of the modified potions.

“I’m more than happy to test them out for you,” Tresk said with a wide grin.

He spent the last of his essence modifiers creating an assortment of healing potions for her. While the [Over-Time], and [Surge] modifiers were immediately useful for her, the others were dubious‌. The worst was the [Solidify] modifier essence, which turned a Lesser Healing Potion into a semi-solid thing that felt vile in Theo’s hand.

[Lesser Healing Potion]

[Solidify]

[Potion] [Modified Potion]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

A lesser healing potion. Drink to restore health.

Effect (Modified):

Turns the liquid of the potion into a solid item, which can be removed from the vial. If eaten entirely, 45 health is restored. Eating small amounts of the solid will restore a proportional amount of health.

Tresk looked at the potion-jelly with a wary gaze. As it sat upon the table, she poked it, causing it to wobble in place. She grimaced and shook her head.

“You can keep that one,” Tresk said.

“Yeah, I don’t know if we can sell that one,” Theo said.

Theo began the fermentation process for the useful modifiers as he ate breakfast, inquiring from Tresk as to her plans for the day. As with most days, she sought to delve into the dungeon for levels and loot. It had been her holding pattern for some time, and now that the threat of the monster wave was done, she could go back.

The alchemist pinned his hopes on Throk’s work. The store would be well stocked for the day, but he wanted to get into more advanced potions. With more of Basic Drogramath Alchemy revealed, he knew the pressure vessel was the way forward. It would separate out the impurities of the essences, rendering them down to a superior form. He knew this was the way forward, but how it would change the potions was beyond him. His book simply stated that it would generate a more powerful form of the base potions.

Theo settled on delving into his reagent stores and creating fermentations for the [Over-Time], [Surge], and [Decay] modifiers. Experimenting with the [Decay] modifier saw an interesting result with his standard Basic Poison.

[Basic Poison]

[Poison] [Modified Poison]

Uncommon

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

Coat your weapon to deal additional damage over time to an enemy.

Effect (Modified):

Apply poison and decay to an enemy. Poison inflicts DoT damage, and decay increases the effects of all poison damage.

The modifier would make the poison more potent, setting it apart from the minimally useful potion. Tresk swore that the poison was useful, but Theo couldn’t really see it. Potions that restored health or enhanced someone’s base attributes seemed far more useful to him, but then again, he was never an adventurer. He nodded to himself, remembering to defer to his companion’s superior judgment.

Azrug arrived early that day, entering the shop and ascending the stairs. He knocked gently on the door before entering, a sheepish smile playing across his face.

“How's it going, boss?” Azrug said, laughing. “Got some potions for me?”

Theo smiled, holding out a modified potion for the shopkeeper to take. “I do. I made a few modified potions, but I don’t have enough modifier essence to give you many.”

Azrug took the potion, rolling it over in his hands. “Very good stuff. These are rare, right?”

Theo shrugged. “That is your domain.”

“Well, my abilities have limits. I need to be within range of a trading hub for them to work properly; otherwise, I just get a general sense for if something is worth a lot. I can feel that this [Surge]-modified potion is worth at least double from the base.”

“Well, that’s not surprising. It has double the ingredients,” Theo said. “See if you can get more than double. 20 copper for the base potion… 40 for the modified seems too low.”

“I’ll pitch it at 50 copper,” Azrug said, shrugging. “I can’t think of a more fair deal.”

“How is your new plan going?” Theo asked.

Azrug brightened up a bit, coming to take a seat next to Theo. “Extremely well. I have a big plan. A long-term plan, and a short-term plan.”

Theo gestured for the shopkeeper to continue.

“I sent off for a loremaster to identify this stuff for now,” Azrug said. “The word around town is that you’re taking an administration core, so I figure I’ll take a Loremaster’s Core when I get to 10.”

Theo raised his brow, nodding. “How quick are you leveling?”

“Quickly. I was talking to some traders the other day. This isn’t a normal setup. They were talking about working apprenticeships at shops for years to get experience. No one hands a Level 1 shopkeeper a store and tells them to go wild.”

“We really are caught in an inescapable current, aren’t we?” Theo asked, sighing.

“You all right?” Azrug asked, his brow knitting tight. “You still seem kinda glum.”

Theo waved him off. “No, I’m fine. I’m just always thinking about how to steer us in the right direction.”

“You need to go with the flow. Accept your fate and just lay back,” Azrug said, reclining in his chair. “If everything is so perfect here, maybe you need to give in to the master plan. Relax.”

“You have a way of simplifying problems, Azrug,” Theo said, placing his hand on the shopkeeper’s shoulder. “I appreciate it.”

“Any time,” Azrug said. “Now, I need to organize all my crap downstairs. I found a Dimensional Storage Crate.”

“Where did you find one?”

“Trader passed through town yesterday,” Azrug said.

“What? How do I keep missing these traders?” Theo asked.

“You’re always busy,” Azrug said, rising from his chair and descending the stairs without another word.

Theo sat there for a while, contemplating how busy he was. Even when he tried to take some time for himself, he ended up neck-deep in alchemy all over again. For him, it was always brewing potions or managing the town. The alchemist was snapped out of his thoughts by Azrug, coming back up to get his attention. A small family had arrived in town yesterday interested in property. Between the trader showing up and the travelers, this was a sign that the roads were in better condition. When he went downstairs, he was surprised to see a small family of humans waiting for him in the shop.

They were traveling from a small town north of Qavell, nestled near the Gora Sat mountain range. Instead of interviewing them in the stuffy lab, Theo beckoned for them to follow him through the town. It was a family of three. Gridgen Dev was the husband, a stocky man with a Laborer’s Core. The wife was as short as the man, bearing the same raven-black hair and icy demeanor. Her name was Sarna. Their son was named Gasem, a slight boy with a shy personality. The boy had extra difficulty warming up to Theo, but he wouldn’t blame the child.

“You must have had issues on the road,” Theo said, smiling. Gasem cowered for a moment as the alchemist spoke.

“Gasem,” Gridgen said. “He’s not an actual demon. Are you?”

“No, I’m not,” Theo said, explaining what he knew of the various Demonic factions. He laid special emphasis on Drogramath being on the outside of the Demonic Pantheon. “How did you manage the road? I heard it was blocked.”

“The main road, aye,” Gridgen said. “We took the long way—through the forests south of Qavell.”

“Rough going,” Sarna said, shaking her head.

“Well, if you decide to settle here, you’ll be the first humans,” Theo said. “Our population is split between marshlings and half-ogres.”

“We met a few,” Gridgen said, laughing. “Nothing we can’t handle. Our town traded with the Toora for years before the revolt.”

Theo didn’t want to know about the Toora revolt. He wanted to focus his mind on the southlands.

“Well, our walls are strong. We have weapons on the gates and we’re getting more weapons eventually,” Theo said. “What we lack is population growth, but there’s always room for more laborers.”

“Good,” Gridgen said. “We planned on settling in Rivers and Daub, but got word you had property for cheap.”

“Relatively cheap, I’m sure,” Theo said, smiling. Rivers and Daub was legendarily haughty and expensive.

“They wanted 50 gold at Rivers,” Sarna said, shaking her head. “Can you imagine? Who has 50 gold?”

The group passed by the center of town, Theo waving at those who greeted him. The friendly atmosphere brought young Gasem out of his shell. He smiled for the first time after spotting another child, waving sheepishly.

“Is it safe for him to run off with the other children?” Sarna asked.

“I don’t think there’s a more safe place for a child in all the southlands,” Theo said. “We have an active independent adventurer’s guild.”

“Independent?” Gridgen asked, raising his brows as the boy ran off to play. The group pushed further north, toward the farm.

“Yes, completely independent,” Theo said. “We get stipends from Qavell, but nothing related to the united adventurers in the other towns.”

Theo smiled as they approached Banu’s fields. They were all filled with budding crops. Stalks of Zee pushed through the ground, defying the logical growth time they once had. The family seemed excited that the town had its own food-production system, but the alchemist corrected them on that one.

“Zee is a big export right now, but I’m working on other sources. Currently, we subsist on the monsters,” Theo said.

Gridgen nodded. “I heard you have a dungeon here. That can be very lucrative.”

Theo smiled again, deciding it was too much information for them to know. Who would want to settle in a place that had four dungeons?

“You could settle here, if you like,” Theo said, gesturing to the wide, rocky expanse of the northern section of town. The lone house sitting along the road sat, smoke rising from its chimney. “Or south, near the tannery.”

“Well, I guess that brings us to a question. How much?” Gridgen asked.

Cutting out a small lot would cost Theo nothing. He’d already purchased the entire expanse leading toward the northern mountains for himself. The House Seed Cores he had were extremely cheap, relative to other seed cores. Shirking his typical charity-driven mind, he thought of a number that would please them. Something too cheap, and they might assume it wasn’t worth settling here. Too expensive, and they might pass.

“Could you afford 50 silver?” Theo asked.

Gridgen looked at his wife with a pained expression. “I’m afraid not.”

Perhaps the northlands were as impoverished as the southlands. It didn’t matter either way if they could toss half a gold his way; the thing he wanted wasn’t immediate money. As much as it pained him, the small family represented a future investment. People that he could get on the hook for future work.

“Well, that’s fine,” Theo said, gesturing to the road for them to follow. “Come with me.”

“Are you going to kick us out of town?” Sarna asked.

Theo laughed. “Absolutely not.”

They made their way to Perg’s tannery, talking about the amenities of the town. Theo stressed that no matter what happened, he would make sure they were sheltered and fed. But his actual intention was to show them the termination of the road to the south. They looked over the slight rise of those hills. The hills that apparently contained metal.

“What experience do either of you have working the earth? Mining? Stoneworking?” Theo asked.

“I hauled stone for some time,” Gridgen said, nodding excitedly. “So did Sarna.”

“There’s copper and iron in these hills,” Theo said. “If you want to be a part of this town, you need to do more than survive. I’ve made it so anyone can make a wage here. I’ll give you property and a House Seed Core for free.”

“But you want us to mine,” Sarna said. Theo made a mental note that she was sharper than her husband. She didn’t miss a beat, catching on to the alchemist’s scheme immediately.

“I’ll speak plainly on this matter. I’ve offered other citizens better deals for business opportunities, but I don’t know you yet,” Theo said. “So, here’s my offer. Laid out plain. A home and property for your labor. I’ll pay you a standard wage to find the ore in the hills and offer you both cores to enter into a contract.”

“What kind of contract?” Gridgen said, drawing himself up. Even so, he couldn’t hide the excitement in his eyes.

“I’ll establish a mine, and you’ll both work it. You’ll share the position of mine foreman, conducting it however you like. When the mine is established, you’ll switch from a wage to a profit-share. I’ll pay you 10 percent of the value of all ore mined.”

The couple shared a shocked look.

“Forgive me if I’m overstepping my bounds, but that’s too generous,” Sarna said. “Even if the mine has low yields⁠—”

“It won’t,” Theo interrupted. “The yield will be extremely high, with perfect-quality ore.”

“Even worse,” Gridgen said, laughing. “Why give it to strangers? Why so much of the profit?”

“Because I need people,” Theo said. “If I sent everyone that came here to toil in the fields, this town would still be where it was when I found it. We set folks up for success here. Broken Tusk doesn’t deal in copper and silver. We deal in gold.”

“How can we say no?” Gridgen said, managing a weak shrug. He reached out his hand for Theo to shake, which he did.

“You can't,” Theo said, withdrawing a House Seed Core from his inventory. “I suggest we find a property near the southern road, so you can access the mine easily.”

They spent some time looking for a suitable place to put the seed core, settling on a plot south from Perg’s tannery. Theo helped them plant the core and feed it until the building sprung up from the ground. It was a sturdier building than most, more squat at the base than he’d seen before. The House Seed Cores seemed to reflect something of their owner, and this one was no exception. The alchemist transferred the property ownership and escorted the couple to find their child. Young Gasem was playing with Zan’kir’s kids as well as some marshling children Theo had not seen before.

Throk got Theo’s attention as he watched the children playing a strange game involving smacking each other with sticks. The blacksmith grinned, gesturing to his work.

“Done,” Throk said.

The pressure vessel was absurdly big. It was as tall as Throk’s workshop and wide enough so that Theo couldn’t wrap his hands around it. Scattered on the side were ports labeled with charcoal scrawl in low Qavelli. The blocky characters designated the essence input, mote port, extraction port near the bottom, and refuse port at the very bottom.

[Custom Copper Pressure Vessel]

[Alchemy Equipment]

Rare

Created By: Throk

Pressure vessel used to refine essences through extreme pressure.

While the description was simple, the operation of the machine wasn’t. Throk went through it, showing the alchemist how to open the valves. A feature, which the marshling claimed was advanced for his level, was that each artifice strapped to the copper tank was powered by the same mote port. Theo could feed it from one location instead of having to power each individually. There was one problem. The vessel wouldn’t fit in his inventory.

“How are we gonna move this thing? There’s no way this fits in the lab,” Theo said.

“I don’t imagine it would,” Throk said, laughing. “We’ll round up some laborers. Mount it to the side of the lab.”

“Do you need some labor?” Gridgen asked, overhearing the conversation as he rounded up his son.

Gathering enough people to move the massive pressure vessel was a chore. Where Theo offered to pay them a wage, they refused. The farmers that pitched in had heads filled with recent memories about the crop’s sudden growth. The adventurers who helped had to only look at the walls for a reminder of the alchemist’s foresight in protecting the town. When the crowd finally gathered, it took 10 people to move the tank. They were those who had put most of their points into strength. When they set the behemoth down, the base of the frame settled into the ground and groaned ominously.

Theo settled his debt with Throk, paying for the materials and the man’s work. The components were rare enough to set the alchemist back 3 gold, but it was worth it. If Basic Drogramath Alchemy was accurate, it would pay for itself in short order. He thanked everyone for their help and bid them farewell, shooing them from the gravel yard.

“Your dad’s pressure tank is done,” Theo said, sending a message to Tresk.

“Well, I guess I know what you’re doing for the rest of the day,” Tresk said.

Theo rubbed his hands together, approaching the intimidating machine and producing a flask of essence from his inventory.

Chapter 20

Operating the Pressure Vessel

The operation of the pressure vessel was a mystery, even to its creator. Throk provided general instructions for its use, but it was only on a theoretical level. The device was built to Theo’s specifications, but the artificer filled in the blank with whispers from his cores. The alchemist inspected it for a long time, garnering a small crowd of townspeople. He pushed their prying eyes away in his mind, focusing on the task at hand. Their whispers were drowned out, aided by the unique tingling sensation of the Lesser Stamina Potion he downed.

The pressure vessel was a simple machine. Theo reasoned in that direction, although it might have been far from the truth. Insert an essence into the tank through the port, add a mote, and inflict his will upon the machine. He could select which essence he wanted to target with a thought, or so the old Drogramathi tome said. The reality of the situation was that he did not know where to start besides jumping into it.

Theo tipped a small flask of Healing Essence into the artifice, imparting his will as he added a simple Earth Mote. He focused on the first property present in the essence, and the most important. [Healing] was a property provided by the Spiny Swamp Thistle Root and the thing that made the Newt and Demon the most money. The artifice sprung to life, rocking against the house for a moment. A sound like an air compressor filled the gravel yard, startling those gathered around.

The alchemist watched with interest as the machine settled down, turning the loud noise into a gentle hum after a moment. He nodded with satisfaction and retreated to the lab to consult Basic Drogramath Alchemy. The crowd below drew nearer to the vessel but backed away when it jumped ominously. Theo laughed and turned his attention to the book.

This was the second time he’d come across a new ability within his Drogramath cores and had material to reference for the process. It detailed how the pressure separated the impurities of the essence, sending the unused properties out the bottom chute as refuse. Since Throk’s design followed the one suggested in the tome, it incremented the pressure slowly. The process was only bound by the time to reach maximum pressure, whereby it would shut down automatically. The resulting essence represented the second tier of Drogramath alchemy, something Theo understood to be around a Level 60 alchemist’s skill.

The absurdity of the situation wasn’t lost on him, but he grasped at every advantage he could get. The downside was that he had a new step in his process. While the tank’s capacity might be massive, there was the concept of essence loss. Where he might put in 10 units of essence, the book suggested he could expect to retrieve half of that in purified essence. He spent the time waiting for the pressure vessel to finish going over the book, even though he could remember most of it at a whim.

While the new device did its work, Azrug came bounding into the lab, informing the alchemist of another group interested in settling in the town.

“Was there a migrant train?” Theo asked.

“Beats me,” Azrug said. “They mentioned taking the long way here, whatever that means.”

Theo knew it meant that they avoided the main road that ran north to south from Qavell. What little he knew about the spaces in between was bad, especially in recent times. The war and whatever cultist activity made the road difficult to travel, but even before that there was the threat of monster attacks. Now that the dungeons were acting up, that would be doubly difficult. The alchemist winced when he thought of those who wouldn’t make the journey, falling by the wayside and forgotten forever. The least he could do was offer them a safe place to live.

When he went down to the store below, still rather cluttered, he found more than a single group of people. As introductions were made, Theo found there was a group of three brothers who were all human adventurers. The next group was a small family, a father and three children, who all hailed from a race of lizard-people he still hadn’t heard about. The alchemist led them on a tour of the city, relying on his pressure vessel to shut off automatically as they walked the cobbled streets.

The man with the children had a hard face, even for a lizard-person. He had laborer cores and showed interest in the mine that hadn’t been established yet. Work in the north was scarce if a person wasn’t a fighter. Theo finally got a picture of how laborers were treated up there, and it wasn’t good. They were typically paid in food and shelter rather than coin. This sent a knot through his stomach as he looked into the hungry eyes of those children.

The group entered the Marsh Wolf Tavern, and Xam turned her head expectantly, sighing when she saw the mayor.

“I thought you were Uharis,” Xam said, wiping her brow.

“He’s gone,” Theo said, smiling.

He withdrew a single silver coin from his inventory and flicked it across the room, missing the woman completely. She cast him a knowing look and scooped it up from the floor. “What’s this for?”

“Feed the children and care for them,” Theo said. “I’m going to finish the tour and set these folks up.”

“I’m not a nursemaid,” Xam said, wrapping her arms around herself and eying the children suspiciously.

“You are now,” Theo said. “We won’t be long.”

Xam held the silver coin in her hand. The value of the coin was more than she’d make that day by a margin. She shrugged. “Come along, children. Do you like soup?”

The lizard-person named Ger turned to Theo as they left, the three brothers close behind. “Is this manner of kindness normal in Broken Tusk?”

Theo winced again. “If the northlands see starving children and turn a blind eye, I want nothing to do with them. Broken Tusk is rich, by some standards, but we don’t squander our coin. The swamp provides everything we need, and there’s more than enough to go around.”

“Good to hear,” one human adventurer put in.

“For you three, we have an adventurer’s guild,” Theo said. “Unaligned with the others in the kingdom, so you can join without a fuss.”

“Even better,” another brother said.

They passed by the new adventurer’s guild, which was still having issues taking hold. Roots tangled around half-nailed boards with ribbons of energy snaking around the entire structure. That was Aarok’s problem to deal with. He had the entire adventuring guild at his disposal, so the job should have been done. The foundation of the building gave some clues why it wasn’t taking hold. A normal Level 1 core building might take up ten to fifteen paces in a square, but this new foundation was massive. It was at least 50 paces in either direction, taking up the land that Miana’s house occupied and then some.

“We heard stories of Broken Tusk in Qavell,” Ger said, flashing a frightening grin with his rows of sharp teeth. “One of those things you hear in passing. A dronon alchemist was running a town—how strange would that be?”

“One that helps his people, rather than living on some secluded mountain,” a brother said.

“The dungeons drew us here,” another brother said. “Those in the midlands and northlands are crowded—owned by misers.”

“We have five dungeons, if you can believe it,” Theo said. That earned some surprised gasps. They approached the place where Gridgen Dev, the newest addition to the town, was settling down. “This lot will be for you, Ger. I’ll make sure you get in with the mining team when they’re ready. Daily wages, none of this food as pay nonsense.”

“Thank you, Mayor,” Ger said, affecting a deep bow. “How much do I owe you?”

“Whatever you can spare,” Theo said, withdrawing a House Seed Core from his inventory. He cut out the property for the lizard-person and handed the item over with a few cores to get it started. “Otherwise, keep your money.”

“You can’t give away stuff like this for free,” a brother said.

“He’s broke,” Theo said, gesturing at the lizard-person. “He can’t feed his children. Would you take what he doesn’t have?”

The brothers shared a pained look, two of them hanging their heads. Ger simply looked meek.

“Those that have should give to those that don’t,” Theo said. “If you can’t understand that, you don’t belong in Broken Tusk.”

Theo turned on the spot, leaving Ger to plant his House Seed Core and marching up the road. He intended to cluster people throughout the town in logical places, mostly near the place of work. The brothers sputtered, running to catch up. The largest of the three placed himself in front of the alchemist, holding his hands out in apology.

“We can learn,” he said. “I’m Bal. My brothers, Dal and Ral, are all willing to learn.”

“Good,” Theo said, pushing past the man. “Things can get tight around here. I won’t lie to you. We just had a monster wave and were lucky to have no casualties.”

“We saw the weapons on the gates,” Dal or Ral said. Theo didn’t know which he was, and they all looked too similar. “That’s when we knew this was the real deal.”

“Then show more faith in the town‌,” Theo said. “You’ll be called on to perform various tasks, including defense.”

“Once again, Esteemed Mayor, I apologize,” Bal said. “Qavell is cutthroat. We’ve all advanced by stabbing someone in the back, stealing their contracts, or spreading rumors.”

“You’ll learn fast,” Theo said, nodding. “You don’t have a choice.”

The group moved through the town, heading north beyond the farms. The fields were already sprouting higher than the last time Theo saw them. His potion was working. In the distance, they spotted Zan’kir’s lone house billowing smoke as always. Theo spotted the adventurer’s wife in the yard, playing with the children. Zan’sal was a spicy woman with much more spirit than her husband. The alchemist greeted her and introduced the three brothers.

“Keep an eye on them,” Theo said. “They’re Qavelli.”

“I know the sort,” Zan’sal said, narrowing her eyes. “Backstabbing bastards.”

Bal paled, his brothers joining suit. “We’ll pull our weight, don’t worry.”

“Do you want one plot or three?” Theo asked.

“Two should do,” Bal said, managing a smile.

Theo shrugged. He could charge them anything he wanted for the land and the House Seed Core, although he suspected they might have their own seeds. Why ask for two otherwise?

“I assume you have seed cores?” Theo asked.

“We do,” Bal said.

“Two gold for the plots,” Theo said, holding his hand out.

The brothers shared a look.

“1 gold, 50 silver.”

“1 gold, 80 silver,” Theo countered, holding his gaze firm.

“1, 70.”

Theo reached his hand out for the lead brother to shake. The man produced the money from a satchel at his hip, handing it over with a smile. The alchemist opened his mayor’s screen and assigned two plots to all three men.

“Make friends with Zan’sal and Zan’kir,” Theo said, gesturing to the Khahari woman. “They can direct you to the adventurer’s guild and explain the dungeons. You can sell your loot directly to my shopkeeper, Azrug, or wait for a trader.”

“Thank you, Mayor,” Bal said, smiling. “We’re going to fit in. I promise.”

Theo smiled, turning on the spot to leave. He didn’t care if they really fit in, so long as they pulled their weight. When the time came, he needed fighters for the walls. Whether they understood the depth of the charity within the town wasn’t his concern. Their blood would be enough to sate the alchemist’s desires, although he didn’t wish for their deaths.

Theo informed Tresk of the new citizens as he returned to the lab. She seemed excited that there were more people, but wary of the three brothers. The marshling promised to spy on them with her stealth abilities to ensure they were on the level, although the alchemist didn’t see that as necessary. When he finally returned to the lab, rain fell in a lazy pattern, nothing like it had been. The pressure vessel was done processing his essence and rested still in the gravel yard.

The port at the bottom of the Custom Copper Pressure Vessel fell open with a clatter, releasing two solid blocks of stinking material onto the ground. The odor they put off stung his nose. He identified the items by touching them, but the prompt simply said they were Alchemical Refuse. An extraction artifice sat near the middle of the tank, allowing Theo to withdraw his refined essence with ease. He filled a vial with light pink liquid. As expected, he gained about half of what he put in.

He inspected the new essence.

[Refined Healing Essence]

[Essence] [Refined Essence]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

Purity: 50%

20 units (liquid)

Concentrated, refined essence of healing, used to create healing potions.

Theo knitted his brow, looking over the result. He expected a drop in quality, but there was now something that declared the essence’s purity. It was hard to know if this level of purity was good, but he shrugged it off. His book told him this would produce a more powerful version of the Lesser Healing Potion, likely resulting in a Healing Potion. He retreated to his lab for testing, trading a few words with Azrug before finding himself back in his element.

The book warned about the instability of the refined essences, causing the alchemist to store the vial in his inventory only to withdraw it and place it delicately on his table. Purified Water was no longer an option for the advanced potions. Even with a single ingredient reaction, it could go sour. The next tier of potions required carefully measured vials of Stabilized Water, combined with specific catalysts. He’d been relying on the Copper Shavings for some time now, but they were no longer acceptable. Theoretically, he could still use the copper, but it would cause a wild array of results that he couldn’t risk.

In terms of catalysts, Theo was at a bit of a loss. Copper Shavings were at the bottom of the barrel, but the next tier included rare materials such as ground gemstones, iron flakes, and so on. Lowest on the list of second-tier catalysts was Flaky Agate, which he had in spades. It wouldn’t elevate the quality of the potion, but he had some.

The alchemist’s core allowed him to measure things out in precise quantities. As it grew stronger, he could measure down to the hundredth of a unit in measurement. Basic Drogramath Alchemy mentioned that the second-tier recipes needed to be within that hundredth of a unit, or it would explode. Fortunately, the catalyst didn’t need to be measured with such precision. Only the water and essence had to be measured to such a grueling degree.

He measured out a unit of Stabilized Water—a unit that he was confident was exactly 1 unit, added his catalyst—and exactly 1 unit of his newly refined essence. Theo was grateful that he propped the window open and created a vial with especially thick walls. The reaction was violent, sending streams of smoke into the air that glittered like stars. An earthy scent filled the room, somewhere between freshly tilled land and fruit. Smoke billowed out of the window and clouded his eyes for a moment. A tingling sensation spread through his body, but when the smoke cleared, he examined the potion.

[Healing Potion]

[Potion]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

A healing potion. Drink to restore health.

Effect:

Instantly restores 65 health points.

The resulting potion was significantly better than the base version. Even if the title was unimpressive, he was left with a potion that was twice as potent as the previous one. Each step of the process made creating the elixirs more daunting, but it was worth it. He rushed downstairs after stoppering the vial, thrusting it into his shopkeeper’s hands with a wide grin on his face.

“New potion?” Azrug asked. “Woah! You did it! How did you do it?”

Theo explained his new process, smiling the entire time. He felt a flood of excitement rushing through his body that he hadn’t felt since he arrived in the town. The world of essences would open up to him with this new stage. He knew it. While the basic healing potion might have undergone a minor transformation, others would gain different effects. Azrug handed the potion back to the alchemist and clapped his hand over his shoulder.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Azrug said. “We need more stuff like that.”

“Agreed,” Theo said. “Let me know which potions you’re interested in.”

“Well, some [Over-Time] Healing Potions would be nice. I think I can sell the ones with the [Surge] modifier and the [Web] modifier,” Azrug said.

“We also need to consider having potions on hand for the next monster wave,” Theo said, withdrawing Uharis’s magic crystal from his inventory. It had gone a darker shade of green. “Sooner rather than later.”

“Right, so get on it,” Azrug said, chuckling.

Theo nodded, attending to the pressure vessel once again. While his stamina was draining, he could easily set up the vessel to make another run, especially since he didn’t need to watch it. Once he had more Healing Essence in there, he turned his attention to walking the streets of his town. He wanted to make good on that promise he made himself—to take it easy when he could. With his failing stamina, this seemed like a great time to enjoy the evening without work.

Chapter 21

Tax the Adventurers

Walking the streets of Broken Tusk was less taxing than crafting, even with the Refreshing Ring. Theo walked through the streets, poking his head in on the activities of his citizens and smiling to himself. The new settlers were adjusting to their new homes, but Gridgen Dev was already scouting out the southern hills for ore. The alchemist didn’t know how the man intended to find the ore, and he didn’t care. It was that level of determination his town needed more than ever.

Theo invited every new citizen into his lab for dinner, although space was tight. He’d need to upgrade the building if he wanted to host dinner parties. The three human brothers ate like adventurers did, barely using utensils to slurp up a massive pot of wolf meat stew. Gridgen, Sarna, and Gasem all ate politely, the young boy happily with the lizard-person Ger’s child. The alchemist still had learned little about the man’s people, and he seemed reluctant to talk about it.

Introducing new citizens to Broken Tusk this way seemed like a splendid idea. They got to see what the town was made of outside of the lab, but they needed to see true southlander hospitality. This wasn’t a completely selfless act by Theo, though. He certainly cared about the wellbeing of his citizens, but he needed them to have a good impression of the town. Most people were just hungry for a new start, or just plain hungry. They needed a place to call their own, where their actions mattered.

Theo ruminated on that for most of the night, even after the guests left. His actions mattered in Broken Tusk, even more than back on Earth, but he wasn’t certain they were his own. A hand hovered over his with every action, steering him to the right answer. He accepted the unseen will of Drogramath combined with his high Wisdom as a positive thing, embracing them both. He was certain his Tara’hek Core would balance them out.

The alchemist rose the next morning with a mind for automation. He didn’t want to give up his duties as mayor, but he favored putting most of his time into alchemy. This left him with a single, logical option. He would automate the last piece of his process that could be automated, the collection of essence after a run.

Theo had breakfast with Tresk, slowly sipping his moss tea as he ran the items of the day through his mind. The weekly tax collection came up soon, but he wasn’t interested in collecting taxes every week. He’d flag everyone as completed and collect it at the end of the month, which seemed more efficient until he got his Governance Core. On that front, he’d heard nothing from Fenian. The elf trader should have already reported back to him, but then again, the man was eccentric at the best of times.

“What are our goals?” Tresk asked in a rare moment of foresight. Normally, the woman was all over the place, or focusing on only doing dungeons.

Theo shrugged. “Increase potion production, for one. We also need to increase the population of the town.”

“Good idea,” Tresk nodded. “How about Qavell?”

Theo narrowed his eyes at the marshling. “Why do I have a feeling this is a war meeting?”

“Well, we gotta be ready,” Tresk said. “How much are we getting in subsidies?”

Theo opened his mayor screen, not willing to question Tresk further. She had a good intuition for native concerns, something he was still catching up on. There was a standing bounty on every wolf’s head, but it was a pittance. Two copper coins per head, paid through their adventurer society. There was also an adventurer relocation bonus, which provided a similar amount of money. Something like a living wage in the town, which struck him as odd. He explained the amount of money they were getting, or rather the amount the adventurers were getting.

“So, we’re not getting anything,” Tresk said.

“Not to mention it's a drop in the bucket,” Theo said, reclining in his chair. “I could have paid for every monster’s head during the siege with little effort. Even if 1,000 monsters assaulted the gates, I could pay.”

“Kinda seems like they’re stringing you along for something,” Tresk said.

Theo waved her off. That seemed to reach too far, considering the dynamic between Broken Tusk and Qavell. The alchemist saw his town as an outpost, or a colony. That was how the capital treated them, anyway.

“Someone is stringing me along, but I don’t know if it's Qavell,” Theo said. “It won’t matter once I have my trade routes established. What are the chances they think we’ll trade with the east?”

“They might have thought of it,” Tresk said. “Hard to say what anyone in that city is thinking, though.”

“Well, to answer your question. We build power as quickly as we can,” Theo said. “Power for us is not money. It’s defense and production.”

Tresk nodded excitedly. “Agreed! Well, you need to tax the adventurers.”

Theo leveled his gaze at the marshling. “Excuse me… What?”

“Yeah. Everyone uses the dungeon for free, but you own it. Well, Broken Tusk owns it.”

Theo let out a heavy sigh. He considered his current streams of revenue for a moment before responding. The monster waves were worth an absurd amount of money—they hadn’t even finished counting their coin from the last wave and another was fast approaching. Alchemy was second, strictly in the sense that Fenian’s requests often brought in tens of gold at once. Next was his investments, namely Perg’s tannery and Ziz’s quarry. Each of them brought in a trickle of silver, but it was far more than he made in taxes. Taxes owed to the town slipped through his fingers, directly to Qavell. It might be nice to have another stream of revenue for the town.

“How would the adventurers take that?” Theo asked.

“Talk to Aarok about it,” Tresk said. “Figure something out with him. I think the adventurers would love it—most of them are rich beyond their wildest dreams already.”

Theo nodded, and they fell back into the relative silence of their meal. When they finished, Tresk scampered off to do whatever it was she did all day. The alchemist met with Azrug downstairs to straighten out some plans regarding the piles of loot he bought. The shopkeeper claimed to have made his investment back on every item he had, which seemed doubtful.

“The wider I go with my items, the more the adventurers buy,” Azrug said, rubbing his hands together. “Especially since you’re letting me play with all this money. This wouldn’t be possible without that, Theo.”

“Well, you’re doing a good job,” Theo said sheepishly.

Theo left before the boy could tell him more about his scheme, preferring to get his order in at Throk’s and discuss a tax on the adventurers with Aarok. The alchemist would have preferred to create the new system of taxation after he got his new core to create a binding agreement, but verbally accepting the concept would be enough for now. As he moved up the road to the square, he saw that the adventurer’s guild was finally done growing. It was a massive, two-story building made of wooden slats. The sloped roof was made of individual shingles painted blue. He bypassed the imposing guild for now, finding his way to the blacksmith.

“My best customer,” Throk said, looking up from a mechanism. “What can I do for you today?”

Theo explained an idea he’d been sitting on for a few days. He wanted a series of tubes that could collect and sort his essences into large vats, removing his need to sit and watch the stills. He also requested a Flame Artifice that shut itself off after a set time.

“Automatically sorting? I can’t do that,” Throk said, shaking his head. “I can do the Flame Artifice easily and give you something with a valve to switch between collection tanks. How many tanks and what capacity?”

The exchanges between Theo and Throk had become smooth recently. Once the blacksmith had done enough of the alchemist’s orders, he learned what he wanted.

“Up to ten 1,000-capacity tanks,” Theo said, smiling.

Throk gawked for a moment, shaking his head. “How many input ports? 3? You have three stills right now, right?”

“Three is fine,” Theo said.

“All right. Pipes are easy—I can do pipes without my Artificer’s Core, but the splitter and valves need to be magic. I’d want to have the extraction ports magic, too,” Throk said, thinking for a long moment. He pressed his finger into his chin and hummed. “Well, I keep enough copper in my inventory for an army, thanks to you, so I can do three or four tanks. It’ll take a day. I assume you want this to be a rush order.”

“Always,” Theo said, smiling.

“Blah, blah. I won’t bore you with the cost,” Throk said. “A few gold, no doubt. I know you’re good for it; now get out of my shop. I might need to get Sledge in on this job—to run the pipes through your walls.”

“Thanks,” Theo said, waving and departing immediately.

With his day so busy, he didn’t want to inquire about Sledge. He also didn’t want to check on her. The independent streak that ran through everyone in Broken Tusk was especially clear on her. It was more than just the regular rebuking of authority. She sat on the edge of anarchy with her attitude.

Theo arrived at the new adventurer’s guild hall, passing by a group of adventurers on his way in. Directly inside was a massive foyer, mostly devoid of furniture. The interior was done in a tasteful wood-paneled wall with wooden slat floors. A small rug sat at the entrance, and a fire burned on the far side of the room, nestled between two swooping staircases that led to the balcony above. Aarok was standing in front of the fireplace, casting Theo a devious grin as he entered.

“Too hot for a fire, yeah?” Theo asked, laughing.

“It is for ambiance,” Aarok said.

“Is there some place we can discuss things privately?” Theo asked.

Aarok nodded, gesturing to the staircase on the left. They ascended, pushing through a heavy wooden door and into a place that must have been the man’s office. It was sparsely decorated, with weapons hanging from racks on the wall, while a wide window gave an excellent view of the square outside.

“I’m here to float an idea. Testing the waters, nothing more,” Theo said, sitting down in a hard wooden chair. It was quite uncomfortable.

“Oh, great,” Aarok said, laughing as he sat down behind his desk. “Talks like these always end well.”

Theo smiled, casting his eyes out the window with a longing expression. He’d rather be working his stills, but things like these needed to be done. Planning for the future was more important.

“I want to tax the adventurers,” Theo said.

“Ah, that’s a popular opinion,” Aarok said, his face brightening. “They’ve been talking about that for a while.”

“Really? Well, that’s what Tresk said, but I didn’t believe it,” Theo said. “I’m not interested in robbing them, just taking some of the wealth of the dungeon back for Broken Tusk.”

“No one would object,” Aarok said. “Perhaps when we first established the guild, they would have. But now, after the attack, they’ll throw their coin at you.”

“What’s the best play?” Theo asked.

The alchemist had a basic understanding of how the guild worked. Anyone could post a contract with Aarok and offer a reward. He’d done it several times in the past to collect more of his reagents. An amount of that reward went to the guild, and the rest was paid out to the adventurer who completed the contract.

“Membership fee, dungeon access fee, or straight off the top,” Aarok said.

A dungeon access fee fell under the umbrella of a membership fee, so that was out of the question. Theo didn’t like the idea of taking from the contracts themselves, either. That money should go to the guild or the adventurers, not the town. The only option that made sense to him was a membership fee, but he had a few changes in mind.

“Membership fee,” Theo said. “Everyone can sign up for free, but we charge dues. Perhaps we should create a ranking system and levy the fee based on that.”

“We already have a ranking system,” Aarok said, gesturing to the only piece of furniture in the room that wasn’t either a weapon rank, chair, or desk. A large scroll had been nailed directly into the wall, containing a list of names. Tresk’s was on top.

Theo knitted his brow. “Why didn’t Tresk tell me she was the best adventurer in Broken Tusk?”

“She doesn’t like for you to worry,” Aarok said.

Theo nodded. He didn’t want to think about that one too much.

“Can you run the numbers? Come up with something sensible to charge them based on their rank?” Theo asked. “Every single coin will go to the town, not my personal use.”

“I assumed as much. I can run the numbers; don’t worry. The adventurers clear an absurd number of contracts, so I expect the town will see a few gold a week,” Aarok said.

Theo stood up and reached a hand out for the guildmaster to shake. “This is a boon.”

Aarok shook his hand. “More than you know. Since we’re independent, the town gets the money. If we belonged to the United Adventuring Guilds, we would owe them a large percentage of our extra money.”

Theo engaged in as little small talk as was socially acceptable. It was easy with Aarok, though. The man had few words to say that weren’t about business, giving the alchemist a chance to get out of there and back to his lab. Once there, he organized his stills for a few simple runs, keeping another idea in the back of his mind. For now, he was satisfied running his three stills with the three basic reagents for restoration potions. He used his Alchemical Grinder to make a mash of Spiny Swamp Thistle Root, Manashrooms, and Moss Nettle before kicking each into action.

With a vial of Alchemic Soil Enhancer in his inventory, he left the lab for the area behind the building. With the pressure vessel sorted with another run of refined essence, he went searching for swamp thistle. Digging them up to the root was easy with his gloves, allowing him to grasp the plant at the base without worrying about the spines. Theo arrived back at his building with ten full plants in his inventory and got to work doing something he’d thought of since he first arrived.

Unlike the Banu and his farmers, Theo had no experience in farming. He dug into the ground with his bare hands, cursing under his breath as he hit more rocks and roots than soil. It took a long time to figure out the best place to plant the thistle, finding a section next to the gravel yard that could fit all ten of his new plants. A rush of excitement filled his body as he dripped the Alchemic Soil Enhancer in each hole and on the loose soil. Ribbons of light flowed through the dirt, instantly changing it from useless soil to Enhanced Arable Soil. The alchemist then planted each of his thistles, covering them with the new dirt.

Where they had wilted slightly from being uprooted, the plants perked up immediately. If Theo sat there for longer, he could even see them growing slightly. The leaves waggled in the air, turning to search the sunlight as he watched. But the simple experiment wasn’t enough; he wanted to see the full power of his alchemy, so he retreated to the lab.

Using his existing Growth Essence, at excellent quality, he performed a simple reaction—1 unit of Purified Water, 1 unit of Growth Essence, and a single Copper Shaving—and saw an immediate reaction. It put off a smell like an oncoming storm, filling the air with a green smoke that felt like inhaling a rain cloud. He inspected the result.

[Lesser Potion of Growth]

[Potion]

Uncommon

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Drink to grow 1.25 your current size. May age the imbiber of the potion by an unknown quantity of time.

Effect:

Affect the [Growth] property of any living thing.

That wasn’t a good thing. The potion claimed that anyone drinking it would age an unknown amount of time. It didn’t seem worth it to take a few years off his life to grow to such a small amount. It also didn’t detail how long he would be larger or if it would fade. The good part about the potion was the effect description. It would work on any living thing. He presumed this meant it would also work on plants, not just people.

Theo bolted back out into the yard, potion in hand and excitement in his eyes. He selected the plant furthest to the right before dripping the smallest amount onto the soil. Nothing happened, and he stood there, watching as the leaves sought the sun. He shrugged, dumping the entire potion on the plant and waiting. Faint light shone from under the dirt, and the plant wiggled. The plant suddenly grew larger, increasing its size by a quarter before flailing its leafy limbs. The alchemist stumbled back as the thing continued to flail, letting out a horrible shrieking noise.

Theo stammered, withdrawing his alchemy knife from his inventory and holding it in front of him. A crude bulb-shaped face formed at the top of the plant, complete with gnashing teeth. It flailed its limbs more, slapping at the ground and growling at the alchemist.

“Tresk! Help! I’ve created a monster!” Theo shouted into Tresk’s mind.

“You WHAT?”

Chapter 22

Monsters and Mines

For all of Theo’s fear of the initial assault of the plant monster, its roots dug deep into the ground, rooting it there. The monster howled with rage, flailing razor-sharp limbs in the air to little effect. Once he caught his breath, the alchemist was on his feet, dusting the dirt from his backside and letting out a low chuckle.

“That was close,” Theo said, observing the monster for a few moments.

While the one that received the growth potion had turned monstrous, the other plants were fine. They showed no sign of monstrous tendencies, simply swaying with the gentle breeze. Perg poked her head around the corner of the Newt and Demon, laughing as she watched the monster.

“We’re making monsters now?” Perg asked.

Theo turned his gaze to the half-ogre woman, smiling despite his fear. “I didn’t mean to. I was trying to cultivate my own reagents.”

“Well, you’ve cultivated something. Is it immobile?” Perg asked, moving toward the monster with a stick in her hand. She poked at it, the creature slicing the piece of wood clear in half. “Guess so.”

They stood there for some time, watching as the monster did its best to uproot itself. The implications of creating monsters were vast, but no practical applications came to Theo’s mind. Lining the walls outside with monstrous plants might seem good on the surface, but if the constant shrieking impacted the lives of the citizens, it wouldn’t be worth it. Several minutes passed by before a shrill voice sounded from nowhere, cutting through the monster’s protests.

“Die fiend!” Tresk bellowed, emerging from the shadow of the building and leading with both of her wicked daggers.

Theo could barely keep up with the fight. The marshling moved in a blur, popping up behind the plant monster only to vanish a moment later. She ended the fight as quickly as it started, leaping over the monster, vanishing from sight, and appearing as a thin white line that split it in half. Each side of the creature fell away, soaking the ground in a vile green ichor.

Tresk rushed over, patting Theo down with a concerned look on her face. “Are you all right?”

Perg laughed.

“I’m fine,” Theo said, patting the marshling on the head. “I was just experimenting.”

“With monsters?” Tresk asked, heaving a breath. “I ran all the way here from the dungeon.”

“Wow,” Perg said. “How did you do that?”

Tresk perked up, puffing her chest out and grinning. “I have secret assassin powers.”

“She burned her cooldowns,” Perg said, nodding.

Theo laughed, shaking his head and approaching the monster. He inspected the corpse, pushing away the dirt and pressing his hand against the roots. They looked different, swollen with that same green, sticky material. He was shocked when the System produced an item description.

[Immature Monsterized Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]

[Junk]

Rare

The root of an immature monsterized spiny swamp thistle plant. This item has no practical use. If left to mature, this monster will produce a reagent.

“Oh, that’s interesting,” Theo said, explaining what the description said.

“I’m not saying you should start a monster farm,” Tresk said, dancing in place. “But I got experience for killing that thing.”

Theo ran his fingers along the line of his jaw, falling into thought. That was an interesting thing to consider. The Lesser Potion of Growth was easy enough to make, and he could create an enclosure for the monsters to keep everyone safe. He shook his head, banishing the thoughts from his mind. For the time being, this was another distraction that took away from his immediate goals. He filed it away in his mind and set his gaze on Tresk.

“Another time, I think,” Theo said. “We’ve got a few too many projects going on.”

Tresk nodded. “I heard you were going to tax the adventurers.”

“How did you hear that?” Theo asked, knitting his brow. “You keep saying word travels fast, but this is ridiculous.”

“I saw Zan’kir earlier,” Tresk said, shrugging. “He knew.”

“Taxing the adventurers?” Perg said, moving closer to inspect the monster. “Is that smart?”

“We want to be taxed,” Tresk said, shrugging. “Everyone thought it was a good idea, since we pull so much money out of the dungeon. None of that goes back to Broken Tusk. Only those dirty Qavelli fat-cats get any of it.”

“Speaking of fat-cats,” Perg said, withdrawing a single gold coin from a satchel at her hip. She handed it over to Theo with a smile. “Your take of a few sales.”

Theo took the coin graciously, stuffing it in his inventory. The deal he made with Perg granted him 10 percent of all her sales. Forever. As long as he provided her with the tanning potions, he got a cut. Although he didn’t care to say it out loud, he considered this money a fund for the town, not that he distinguished between his purse and the town’s.

“Thank you,” Theo said. “Aarok is still working on tallying the money from the monster wave.”

“Ah, well,” Perg said, shrugging. “We’re doing good, so whatever money it provides is good. I need to get back to work.”

Perg turned on the spot and left without another word. Theo was relieved as he withdrew Uharis’s early warning crystal from his inventory. He winced. It was glowing a strange brown color. The alchemist wished that he was left instructions for what the colors meant, other than red being the worst possible color.

“What does brown mean?” Tresk asked.

“Nothing good,” Theo said, returning the item to his inventory. “I think we’re going to have a monster wave soon.”

“How many bombs have you made?” Tresk asked.

Theo winced again. As much as he promised himself not to get distracted, he’d done it again. “None. I need to work on that.”

“None? At all?” Tresk asked. “How many healing potions have you made?”

Theo managed a weak smile. “A handful. Maybe 100.”

“You’re an idiot! What are you doing playing gardener? Get in there and make some potions!” Tresk shouted, slapping her wet little hands at the alchemist’s robes.

Theo’s shoulders slumped. “I know. I will.”

Tresk punched him playfully in the arm. “Perk up, Theo. You’re just getting distracted, but I know you can brew all that crap in a day.”

“What I really need are more Fire Salamander Eggs,” Theo said. “I have a quest in at the adventurer’s guild, but it hasn’t been completed yet.”

“A chance to make money and bombs? Don’t mind if I do!” Tresk said, vanishing from sight.

Start making those healing potions, Tresk said.

I will, Theo said.

Theo went back into the lab, swapping his flasks out for fresh ones. This wouldn’t be an issue when Throk made his storage vessels, and it wasn’t time to focus on creating the best possible potions. He wasn’t familiar enough with the process to do it quickly, although whatever time he had left today would go to creating Healing Potions, the second tier of restoration potions he could make. Until then, he’d crank out as many Lesser Stamina Potions as he could.

Once his other two stills were free, producing 200 units of Mana Essence and Stamina Essence, he set them all to produce Healing Essence. His stamina flagged somewhere near midday, forcing him to down one of the Lesser Healing Potions he made. The effects of the potions were immediate and invigorating, but they came with a downside. As he’d seen during the siege, the potions were simply borrowing time from the future. He’d feel the consequences of the stimulant in the morning.

Theo started his mass-production method for creating as many Lesser Healing Potions as he could, lining up as many vials as he could, and kicking off the reaction in a large flask. The motions were like second nature, something embedded in his mind from creating so many in the past. Once the bulk of the Lesser Healing Potions were taken care of, he turned his attention to the Healing Potions. He lacked the volume required to create absurd quantities of this potion, even after the pressure vessel spat out more of the refined essence.

The alchemist mopped sweat from his brow as clouds moved in over Broken Tusk, startling slightly when a knock came from the door. Aarok marched in with Tresk close behind. They shut the door firmly behind them, grim looks on their faces. The marshling waddled over to the Dimensional Storage Crate and deposited something Theo assumed to be his salamander eggs.

“Tresk said you have something to talk about,” Aarok said, folding his arms.

“A monster wave is coming,” Theo said, producing Uharis’s crystal from his inventory.

“How soon? Aarok asked.

“If this thing has a steady pace, maybe two days,” Theo said.

Aarok’s eyes went wide for the briefest of moments, his expression quickly returning to its normal, stoic state.

“Hopefully we have bombs ready this time,” Aarok said.

“We will,” Theo said, withdrawing the Fire Salamander Eggs from the crate and approaching his stills. Aarok and Tresk watched him as he cracked the eggs into a bowl, crushing the shells in his hands and depositing them straight into the still.

“Theo, it’s late,” Tresk said.

Theo cast her a sheepish grin. “The bombs will be ready. We’ll be prepared this time. How is the wall?”

“The wall is completely repaired,” Aarok said. “I have motes staged in dimensional crates near the weapons, so we won’t be caught with our pants down again.”

“Good,” Theo said, starting the Flame Artifice under his Drogramath Still. “I’ll have a few hundred standard bombs for the assault. And a handful of more potent stuff once this is done brewing.”

Theo repeated the process for his two other stills, filling them both with 200 units worth of salamander egg shells. He did not know how Tresk could collect so many of the rare eggs, but he didn’t care. The marshling came up behind him and hugged his waist, making an angry, frustrated sound.

“You can do it,” Tresk said. “We have another day—don’t take another potion.”

Theo let out a frustrated sigh. She was right. He needed to be conscious when the attack happened, even if he was worthless in combat. He could let the stills do their work when he slept after swapping out the flasks once. After that, he could spend the next morning distilling the remainder of the eggs. If he did a full run, he’d have an obscene amount of Flame Essence. The alchemist looked at an eggshell on his hand, shrugging and popping it into his mouth. The spice spread across his tongue instantly, bringing tears to his eyes.

[Properties Discovery!]

You’ve discovered an additional effect from the Fire Salamander Egg by eating it.

[Force] discovered.

“I should have done that earlier,” Theo said.

But it wasn’t a safe bet to make a large run of a newly discovered property. It didn’t help that [Force] was not a good descriptor, and he didn’t remember it appearing in the bomb section of Basic Drogramath Alchemy. Instead of departing from his current path, he stuck to it.

As he continued his work, Aarok made himself at home. Tresk and him were conspiring near the window, whispering between themselves before setting up the marshling’s copper skillet on a free Flame Artifice. They cooked the meal as the alchemist worked the stills, setting them up for the last run of the day. By the time each of the three stills was running, the wolf steaks were done cooking. Theo had to push the scent away as he worked, his stomach grumbling its objections by the time he sat down near the window.

“I’m surprised we don’t have visitors,” Aarok said, gesturing to the door.

“Perg and Luras must be busy,” Tresk said, tearing a chunk of steak off with her teeth.

The group settled into their meal. Theo had grown accustomed to eating steak for every meal, even when it got repetitive. It was hard to argue against having steak every morning and night, but he dreamed of a day when a ranch would produce other things. There was a lot of work to be done on that front, and something the alchemist would prefer to keep in the back of his mind for now.

“Now, I have a very loose plan,” Aarok said, cutting a small chunk of his steak. “During the last assault, we were surprised. Now that we know when they’ll come, even if it’s not exact, we’ll be ready.”

“I saw some guys digging pits outside of the walls,” Tresk said, laughing. “Is that part of your plan?”

“Part of it. To slow the monsters down, we really just needed to focus our ranged attackers last time,” Aarok said, shrugging. “Combined with Theo’s bombs, that would have taken care of them.”

Theo craned his neck, looking to see his filling flasks near the still. With his current run of Flame Essence, he could make enough bombs to catch the swamp on fire. He didn’t want to fool with his improvised bombs, as they seemed more likely to explode in someone’s hands than on an enemy. He regretted making one in the first place, kicking himself for the needless show of force. The alchemist withdrew a Manashroom from his inventory, setting it down on the table and thinking out loud.

“I want to make more than the one bomb type this time,” Theo said. “Perhaps a bomb to freeze the monsters in place.”

“Maybe more artifice weapons,” Tresk said.

“Hard to get those on short notice,” Aarok said.

“We’re filling gaps before they appear,” Theo said, nodding to himself. “That’s the important part. To stay proactive. One of those gaps is the adventurers. We’re getting more as the days roll on.”

“I met the three brothers,” Aarok said. “They’re strange.”

“Well, they bought two plots of land,” Theo said with a shrug. “I also have a few people to run the mine.”

“The mine?” Aarok asked, raising a single brow.

“Apparently, the new people don’t gab as much as Broken Tuskers,” Theo said, grinning. “I think there is ore in the southern hills. I’ve set the new settlers on finding it.”

“Smart,” Tresk said, nodding.

“What can we really do with more metal?” Aarok asked.

“Exporting,” Theo said. “We can process the ore, and I can treat it alchemically. My intuition says it’ll make us some money. Also, the town can use more metal.”

“Even though it repaired itself with stone and wood,” Aarok said, grinning.

“Planning for the future, my friend.”

Theo felt exhaustion rolling through his body like an upcoming storm. He forced himself to stay awake long enough to talk with his friends. Tresk’s suggestion to take it easy for the evening was a good idea. That kind of exhaustion caught up with a person quickly, he knew all too well. The conversation among his friends gathered to small things, the way it always did. The alchemist zoned out as they talked about the people in the town, nodding off several times.

Tresk cleared Aarok out, pressing her forehead against Theo’s and leading him to the impossibly soft bed. The world swirled around him as sleep took over, pushing away all the concerns he had for the future of his town.

Chapter 23

Custom Artifice

Theo woke to the sound of banging the next morning. System messages crowded his vision as he stirred from his slumber, bringing a rush of confusion to his mind. Setting up the stills to run while he slept was a waste of motes in his Flame Artifice, but it bore fruit. Both his alchemy and herbalism core leveled to 11, also increasing his level to 11. He considered his options for a moment as the banging continued, Tresk cursing and springing from her bed. He inspected his character sheet.

Belgar (Theo Spencer)

Drogramath Dronon

Level 11

Alchemist

Core Slots: 3

Attributes:

Health: 61

Mana: 40

Stamina: 53

Strength: 16 (+10)

Dexterity: 5

Vigor: 11 (+4)

Intelligence: 15 (+4)

Wisdom: 23 (+6)

Points: 0

The alchemist was still absurdly clumsy, but he was getting brawny beyond anything he expected. The Strength attribute didn’t seem to affect his physical appearance much, but he was looking less like he had noodles for arms. Out of the attributes he’d been pumping, Intelligence was finally at a decent level. He could do basic math in his head and extrapolate on information better. It also informed his Wisdom, to a lesser extent. He could sort through those whispers that influenced his actions to determine who was steering him. That left Vigor for him to consider. He placed a single point in the attribute without hesitation. More Vigor meant more stamina, and he’d been struggling with that issue for quite some time.

The sound of a slight scuffle issued from downstairs. Theo bolted upright, running to the landing to see Tresk pinning Sledge to the ground.

“You can’t assassinate an assassin! I’m too damn good!” Tresk shouted.

Sledge let out a groan, Tresk’s knife laying across her throat.

“Tresk, let her go,” Theo said. “She’s a carpenter, not an assassin.”

Tresk removed herself from the carpenter, straightening her clothes and scowling up at Theo. “Who knocks so early?”

“I’m just here to install these pipes,” Sledge said, looking rather fearful. The powerful face she put on had melted away in the face of Tresk’s power. For all her quirks, Theo’s companion was a fearsome fighter.

“Say you’re sorry, Tresk,” Theo said. “I hired her.”

“Sorry,” Tresk said, narrowing her eyes. “But I’m watching you.”

“Whatever,” Sledge said, brushing herself off. “It’ll take more than that to startle me.”

The carpenter pushed past Tresk, moving up the stairs without another word. Theo could see that she was shaken from the encounter, but no more worse for wear. He followed her, watching wearily as she stood and nodded to herself. Sledge withdrew several lengths of pipe from a dimensional bag at her hip, setting them around the lab and humming to herself.

She eventually turned her attention to Theo and Tresk, watching her from the door to the lab. “Throk gave me instructions. He has all your tanks ready to go and just needs a fabricator to do some of the work.”

Sledge held up a pipe for them to see. With a wave of her hand, the stone on the north-facing side of the building parted, creating a perfect hole. She slid it through and closed the building around it again. The pipes fit into one another with clamps that tightened down at a touch, making the process quick. The carpenter continued her work, connecting the pipes together and placing three funnels under each condenser. Those pipes led to holding tanks at the edge of the room, about 500 units of capacity each. Then the pipes led outside, waiting to be connected to something.

“This valve here is your flow valve,” Sledge said, pointing at one of three pipes leading through the wall. “These three tanks are just staging tanks, but you can extract your alchemy stuff directly from them with this port.”

Sledge gestured to the ports on the side of the three tanks. She then pointed to the pipes leading through the wall.

“You have to power these for the suction to work, but these will all lead to large tanks outside. Throk said that they’re 10,000-capacity each. Leave the valves open if you want these to go directly to the tanks outside. Press this button to clear it for a new run,” Sledge said, attaching the last pipe.

The button she gestured to was on each of the three interior tanks. Theo was confused about the operation of the System. Three funnels led to three holding tanks. Those tanks led to bigger tanks outside—that was easy enough to understand. What he didn’t get was resetting the tanks after each run.

“Why do I need to reset the tanks?”

“Throk built in a sensor that remembers the last thing that ran through here,” Sledge said, smiling proudly. “He said you’d blow up your lab if you accidentally mixed the alchemy junk.”

“I also need to alchemically treat the copper,” Theo said, inspecting the woman’s handiwork.

“Whatever. I need to go attach these tanks outside,” Sledge said.

“Could you attach the tank out back? I assume that’s part of your Fabricator skills,” Theo said.

“It is,” Sledge said, nodding. “And I will.”

The woman disappeared down the stairs, Tresk watching her the entire way. Eventually, she let out a sigh. “Well, this is a fancy bit of work. Pipes everywhere, now.”

“Yeah, that might be an issue,” Theo said. He ran his hands over the pipes, smiling to himself. “This is going to be great. If he has my timed Flame Artifices ready, I can distill a full run without worrying about my flask overflowing.”

It was a big issue for the alchemist to deal with his flasks. Creating glassware that was larger than 200 units was tricky. It was like handling a giant glass barrel, which wasn’t as much of an issue with his increased strength. The awkwardness of it was enough for him to separate out the large runs into 100-unit flasks, the situation made worse by his 500-unit-capacity Drogramath Still.

The Newt and Demon shifted ominously under their feet, a loud clanging sound issuing from outside. Tresk and Theo bolted down the stairs, turning the corner to the north side of the building to find Sledge working her magic. Large copper bands held three massive tanks to the side of the structure, holding them steady. The carpenter moved to the back and the pair watched her, streams of light flowing from her body to summon the magical copper.

“All done,” Sledge said, flicking her hand to attach the pressure vessel. She marched up to Theo and held out a hand, a smile on her face.

“What?” Theo asked.

“You’re supposed to tip the fabricator,” Sledge said, scowling. “Don’t be cheap on me now, Mayor.”

Theo did not know how much her time was worth, or how much she’d charged others in the town. He produced an amount of coin from his inventory that seemed twice what her time was worth, trying to encourage her to keep up the good work. The alchemist placed 10 silver coins in her hand.

“Nice doing business with you,” Sledge said, marching off without another word.

“That is a very useful core,” Tresk said, speaking once Sledge was out of earshot.

“I can imagine the issue with not having a fabricator,” Theo said. “I’m not sure if the System allows you to modify a seed core building. Maybe if we just shoved some pipes through the wall and expanded the building, it would destroy them.”

“Your guess is as good as any,” Tresk said, shrugging. “So, do you want breakfast?”

Theo nodded, and the pair retreated into the lab. While Tresk prepared breakfast, their standard fare of wolf steaks and moss tea, the alchemist worked on alchemy-proofing his new toy. He dug through his storage, finding his Potion of Infusion and dumping down each of the three funnels. His intuition said that when the potion came in contact with an untreated material, it would spread. This ensured that the interior of the tanks would be protected against the reactive nature of the essences.

The pair ate breakfast together, but Theo’s mind was on the storage vessels. It would be perfect if he commissioned two new stills from Throk, similar to his old design but with a higher capacity.

“We should upgrade the building,” Tresk said.

Theo nodded. He knew that was a good idea but had been focusing on other projects. “Have you been hoarding monster cores?”

“I’ve been donating them to Aarok,” Tresk said. “The guild hall was a hungry little monster. Well, not little at all—that place is massive.”

Theo scooped the essence he’d distilled last night into his inventory, returning to the table to sip on his tea. Bombs were on his mind, but not just the firebombs. As he’d told Aarok, he had a few ideas for other types of bombs. While a freezing bomb wasn’t in his book, his intuition said that it would be easy enough to make. That left him with an arsenal of things to defend his town with—something that brought comfort to his mind.

Tresk departed, pressing her forehead against his before leaving, and made a surprised sound. They received more experience to their Tara’hek than normal. The curiosity passed, and the marshling departed without another word. Theo had a feeling it was because she defended him, even if Sledge wasn’t a threat.

Theo found his way to the back of the lab, loading the pressure vessel with 500 units of Flame Essence and setting it to work. He knew this would produce a more powerful version of his standard firebomb recipe but was interested in the effects the modifiers would have. The alchemist left his gravel yard, intent on letting the copper pipes imbue while he checked in on Throk.

Dawn had hardly painted the eastern sky with its brilliant colors, but the town was already buzzing with activity. The sound of a hammer meeting metal came from up the road, signifying that the blacksmith was already hard at work. That was the standard in Broken Tusk, though. The people raised in the swamp were workers. They left nothing for tomorrow, preferring to get it done then.

“How are my new Flame Artifices coming along?” Theo asked, catching the marshling by surprise.

“Hah! Your Flame Artifices? Wait until you see this,” Throk said, rubbing his hands together. He beckoned Theo into his workshop, turning a corner to reveal two massive stills, approximately the size of his Drogramath Still.

“I didn’t order these,” Theo said, laughing.

“But you wanted them,” Throk said. “Hah! I can see it in your eyes. You were going to ask me to make new stills after you saw the 500-unit holding tanks!”

Theo couldn’t help but laugh. The old man was right, after all. That is exactly what he was going to do. The alchemist pressed his hand against the still, receiving a popup from the System.

[Custom Copper Artifice Still]

[Alchemy Equipment]

Epic

Created By: Throk

A 500-unit-capacity copper still with attached advanced condenser and internal heating element. The advanced condenser allows for a more efficient cooling of essences, decreasing the time needed to distill.The internal heating element provides an even heating of the still, preventing burning.

Effect:

Distillation time reduced.

Occasionally produces more essence.

Reduces the chance of producing low-quality essence.

“Built in heating?” Theo asked, searching near the bottom of the still. He found the heating artifice attached to the bottom, complete with a mote port.

“Hah! I knew you’d like that one. Bet your fancy Drogramath still can’t do that,” Throk said.

“No, it can’t,” Theo said.

“But I also built you a Flame Artifice with an auto shut-off. You can dial it in,” Throk said, producing another artifice from nowhere. It looked a lot like his old ones, with the exception of another knob near the bottom. Theo inspected that one as well.

[Timed Flame Artifice]

[Specialty Artifice]

Rare

Created by Throk

Feed the artifice motes to produce a steady flame. Each mote provides 6 hours of fire. The intensity of the flames is determined by the dial on the side. Setting the artifice’s power to zero preserves the mote’s stored energy. The attached timer will shut the artifice off after the designated time.

“How are you so good at this?” Theo asked, taking each item into his inventory. Strangely, the stills fit.

“That’s just me. Over here. Being the best,” Throk said. “The materials were about 2 gold, so whatever you want to toss me.”

That made sense to Theo. Throk had no reason to lie about his expenses and often made this stuff at cost. Each element of an artifice required those tricky little gears and whatever other nonsense he hadn’t seen yet. He knew they were incredibly expensive based on the Flame Artifices he’d bought from Fenian in the past. The elf trader sold those near cost, somewhere around 1 gold each. The alchemist withdrew three gold coins from his inventory and handed them over.

“Always a pleasure doing business with you, Throk,” Theo said.

“Well, you paid for my new core. And my retirement,” Throk said, laughing.

“You’re going to retire?” Theo said, feeling a flash of fear run through his chest.

“Nope. But I like to pretend I will. One day,” Throk said. “No, the forge calls me. I can’t give that up, no matter how much I envy the idea of an easy life.”

“Simple lives aren’t for Broken Tuskers,” Theo said, grinning. “We’re born from the mud to toil.”

“As far as I’m concerned, Theo, you’re part half-ogre and part marshling,” Throk said.

“I like that,” Theo said. “Well, I’ll be off. Time to rearrange my lab.”

“So long.”

Theo left feeling slightly guilty. No, he squashed those feelings down as soon as they arose. He wasn’t a good mayor; he was a great mayor. When the time came, he would inform everyone about the impending monster wave. Withdrawing the crystal from his inventory, he saw it was an orange-yellow color, lining up with his estimate of the attack window. The alchemist returned the item to his inventory, casting those concerns as far away as he could. Things would line up if he planned properly, and he was actually good at that. His intuition drove him close to the right answer, even if he didn’t understand the implications.

Reorganizing the lab was easy. The magical stills could be returned to his inventory, and his relatively high Strength made it a simple thing to scoot them along the wooden floorboards. Throk’s new stills were very similar to his old design, only larger. The section near the bottom was different, though, containing a mote port to power the built-in Flame Artifice. Theo fiddled with the controls for a moment but shrugged. They were simple. The same intensity-based dial sat near the bottom of the device along with another one, labeled with various times. They seemed to increase from 30 minutes to 5 hours in increments of 30 minutes.

Theo flushed another Potion of Infusion down the funnels, watching with satisfaction as steam rose from the spout. He also bathed his new stills in the potion, although he didn’t know if they needed the treatment. It wasn’t a problem before. With the volatile nature of the essences, it was better to be safe.

The alchemist repeated the flushing process once more before cleaning the entire system out with a vial of Cleansing Scrub, just to be sure. He tested the valves at various parts of the line, then went outside to test the extraction method on the storage vessels. The artifice extraction system removed every drop of his infusion potion, drawing the liquid through the tank magically. Theo went between the gaggle of artifice ports in and around his building, feeding them motes. Upon returning to the lab, he positioned the condenser of all three stills over their respective funnels and rubbed his hands together.

Shredding mass quantities of his reagents was easy with his Alchemical Grinder. It felt like no time passed, and he had each still firing away with their mashes. Health, freezing, and stamina set to 1-hour timers. He flicked the valves on each holding tank, ensuring they would remain within the lab for this run. With that sorted, he turned his attention to the Refined Healing Essence, intent on spending most of his day crafting Healing Potions and testing their modifier effects.

The process was slow, especially compared to the Lesser Healing Potions. The first-tier recipe was forgiving and required barely any attention. Those second-tier recipes stood in stark contrast, refusing to react in a large container. His Drogramath Alchemy Core whispered that his skill was still too low to handle them easily, but it made sense. He went back to that old process he’d hung up ages ago, individually distributing the potion in 4-unit vials. While the reaction produced 2 units of liquid, he settled on the idea of either having breathing room for the new potion or adding the 2 units of modifier essence.

A question popped into the alchemist’s mind as he labored away. These potions were second-tier, but his modifier essences should be first-tier. What horrible reactions would take place if he dared to add the inferior modifiers to his valuable potions?

Theo waited to answer that question, diligently adding exact amounts to each vial with painstaking precision. Not all the Refined Healing Essence got used up during his reaction, and he returned the rest to the Dimensional Storage Crate. By the time his hands were cramping from the repetitive action, he only had 200 of the new healing potions with hours gone by. It was significantly less efficient than the old potions, but he gained almost an entire level from the run.

“Higher-tier potions give more experience,” Theo said to Tresk.

“Duh. Did you think they’d give less?” Tresk asked.

Theo smiled. That was a stupid question, after all.

“I have enough healing potions for the next wave. I just need to make the bombs,” Theo said.

“And plenty of time to do it. Right? What color is our crystal at?” Tresk asked.

“Yellow… Now, orange,” Theo said, noticing the subtle change of the crystal as he removed it from his inventory. “I think I need to call a town meeting.”

“Meeting after bombs. Bombs first,” Tresk said.

He could hear her bouncing up and down, even through the telepathic connection.

“Right,” Theo said, clearing away his work space. “Bombs.”

Chapter 24

Prepared for Battle

Theo popped a Lesser Stamina Potion before continuing his efforts. Yesterday might not have been the time to grind away, but the crystal was drawing dangerously close to red. By the alchemist’s estimation, the wave would come early tomorrow. This left ‌informing the citizens of his town about the attack—something he wasn’t looking forward to. At least they were relatively prepared this time.

The standard bomb recipe was easy enough to make. With the massive amount of Fire Salamander Eggs Tresk retrieved, he would have enough bombs to last the attack. Each adventurer within the town could toss bombs for the duration of the attack, but that would only help against the massive hordes. When the bosses came, and they would come, they’d need to switch tactics. They may have known when the attack was happening, but they couldn’t know what the bosses were going to be.

Theo reserved himself to creating a new type of bomb, adding a third element to his arsenal. After creating his entire stock of Basic Firebombs, several hundred in all, and setting aside 20 of those for modification, he turned his attention to the 500 units of Freezing Essence. He crafted his standard bomb flask, a rounded, flat-bottomed thing with dangerously flimsy walls, and sat down to think. Last time he created a bomb, the vessel mattered as much as the ingredients. Basic Drogramath Alchemy confirmed this, which he knew, so he followed his basic recipe, replacing Flame Essence for Freezing Essence.

Theo poured his Freezing Essence inside the round flask, adding a Copper Shaving and Purified Water. The first-tier potion kicked off immediately. The liquid bubbled and swirled for a moment, ice crystals forming on the side of the bottle before flecks of white formed in the blue liquid. It looked like a snowglobe, snowflakes caught in a viscous liquid and dancing around the container. The alchemist inspected the resulting bomb.

[Basic Freezebomb]

[Bomb]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

Shatter against a surface to release ice that roots the target.

Effect:

Effectiveness of the root is based on the quality of the potion.

Roots were good, but Theo was looking for an ice-based elemental attack. He repeated the process to create 100 Freezebombs, watching his stamina plummet and the sky darken outside. He was running out of time but withdrew his [Surge] modifier essence for more testing. With the modifier applied to a Freezebomb, he watched. The flakes of snow within the orb moved faster, darting around the flask and taking on a blue-yellow color. He inspected the result.

[Basic Freezebomb]

[Surge]

[Bomb] [Modified Bomb]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

Shatter against a surface to release ice that roots the target.

Effect:

Consume a root effect on target, dealing damage equal to time remaining on root in the form of Ice Shards attack.

The result was exactly what he was looking for. He now had access to lightning, ice, and fire damage types. When Theo encountered the troll, it was out of instinct that the fire would work. It made sense, considering the monster was constantly regenerating health. He suspected that his Freezebombs would work against that pesky wolf-riding goblin, too. The alchemist grabbed another bomb, applying his [Web] modifier.

[Basic Freezebomb]

[Web]

[Bomb] [Modified Bomb]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

Shatter against a surface to release ice that roots the target.

Effect:

Tendrils of ice shoot from the affected target, applying a weaker version of this effect to 5 adjacent enemies.

Theo clapped his hands together triumphantly. The [Web] modifier was even better. He peered out the window, cursing under his breath, and the sun drew lower. The town would need to get by on what he had accomplished, and the alchemist drew all of his creations into his inventory—thousands of restoration potions and hundreds of bombs to be distributed among the adventurers tomorrow. It was an accomplishment that would make the greatest alchemists in Qavell blush, but in Broken Tusk it was just another monster wave. Theo smiled at that thought.

Azrug had cleared out from the shop below, and Theo locked the shop up before leaving. He informed Tresk that he was headed to talk to Aarok, instructing her to round everyone up for a meeting in the center of town. As he was walking up the street, he felt a familiar haptic buzz in his mind. Fenian was calling him through his crystal, stuck in his inventory. He answered immediately.

“Theo! I have a job for you,” Fenian said. “I’ll be in town tomorrow if you wish to discuss this in person.”

“Not a good time, Fenian,” Theo said, trudging up the street.

“Oh?”

“Monster wave tomorrow,” Theo said. “We’re preparing for battle at the moment.”

“Oh, my little alchemist. Growing up so quick,” Fenian said, his voice sing-song. “That’s fine; I’ll delay my arrival. How long will it take you to mop up the creatures?”

“The entire day‌,” Theo said.

“Well, I apologize for interrupting your brooding. I have a magnificent find for you, although you won’t like the price,” Fenian said. “A Governance Core, which was very hard to source. Qavell has them locked down, for some reason.”

“Really?” Theo asked, stopping in the street. He watched Tresk flit by, jumping between shadows and knocking on Throk’s door. “How much is it going to cost me?”

“Well, you won’t like that part. I sourced it for 50 gold,” Fenian said.

Theo let out a bark-like laugh, his face painted with surprise. That was far more than he was expecting to pay.

“You’re joking,” Theo said, gripping the crystal tightly in his hand.

“Fortunately, you’re a rich alchemist,” Fenian said. “And I’m a rich trader. I’ll give it to you tomorrow, and we’ll come to an arrangement.”

“I can make second-tier potions now,” Theo said. “And I can apply modifiers to those, I think.”

“You’ll be rich, I’m sure. Shall we discuss this over dinner? Tomorrow evening?” Fenian asked.

Theo didn’t know if he should be offended by the man’s casual nature. The alchemist’s town was staring down a monster wave, perhaps twelve hours away. His anger faded away when he realized Fenian’s cavalier nature reflected his confidence in Broken Tusk.

“That should be fine,” Theo said. “I’ll be hopped up on Lesser Stamina Potions, though.”

“That’s quite fine,” Fenian said. “I have some settlers coming to your town. Did I mention that? Some mage that’s looking for a new home—I told him Broken Tusk would be perfect for his research.”

Theo groaned. He didn’t hate mages, he just didn’t like the ones he’d met. He let out a heavy sigh and nodded to himself.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Fenian,” Theo said, spotting a crowd already gathering at the square. Tresk worked fast.

“So long, my friend.”

The connection ceased suddenly, and Theo returned the crystal to his inventory.

Theo approached the square, finding Aarok calming the crowd down. They knew something was up, and some of them suspected it was a monster wave. The guildmaster pulled him aside, talking in hushed tones.

“So, tomorrow?” Aarok asked. “That’s quite soon.”

Theo cast his gaze over the crowd, noting the absence of several people.

“Where’s Luras?” Theo asked.

“Crafting, I suppose,” Aarok said. “He really didn’t want to swap his cores last time. That’s painful if you’re not the right level. Takes something out of you. Anyway, got the bombs?”

“Yeah, we have enough to repel an army,” Theo said. “Are the motes stationed, like you said?”

“They’re stationed and ready to go,” Aarok said.

“Fine. Now we just need to break the news to these people,” Theo said.

“Let me do it,” Tresk said, suddenly appearing from the shadows.

“No,” Aarok said. “Tresk isn’t the right person. They want to hear it from Theo. Most of them know what’s going on, but still.”

“Fine,” Theo said, crossing his arms and watching the crowd. Some townsfolk weren’t present yet. They didn’t have to wait long until everyone was there. The alchemist even spotted Luras, lurking near the back. He approached them, waving his hands to gain silence.

“Good evening,” Theo said, clearing his throat awkwardly. He looked back at Tresk, who gave him two thumbs up and a cheesy grin. “When Uharis left town, he gave me something to detect monster waves. As many of you may have gleaned, we’re expecting one tomorrow.”

A murmur spread through the crowd like a wave. It was a mixture of surprise and resignation. Those that expected the wave seemed unaffected, shrugging indifferently. The three adventuring brothers looked at each other with excitement while the families brought their children close. Theo held a hand up for silence.

“We’re ready this time. I crafted enough bombs to set the swamp ablaze. Our adventurers have been training hard, and the turrets have mote supplies near them,” Theo said. “Aarok hasn’t even finished tallying how much money we made on the last wave. I want everyone to see this as a chance to make as much experience and cash as possible.”

That got a little rise out of the crowd. The adventurers cheered, pumping their fists in excitement.

“10 gold at last count,” Aarok said. “We just need a merchant to buy all the gear.”

“Right. There might be a way to stop the waves, who knows. Uharis couldn’t figure it out, but this is a chance for us. So, we’re ready,” Theo said. “Aarok, do you have anything to add?”

“So, tomorrow morning at dawn we’ll ring the bell 20 times slowly,” Aarok said. “Slow and methodical. That’s your signal to wake up and prepare. If the attack happens before dawn, you’ll hear the watchmen whacking that thing like crazy.”

Theo hadn’t considered that. A wake-up call the day of an attack was a great idea. He withdrew the crystal from his inventory and noted that it had gone more orange than yellow. Everything was in place, but he was still nervous about the attack. The alchemist couldn’t let that show on his face.

“So, we all know what to do,” Theo said.

“I suggest everyone come down to the Marsh Wolf Tavern!” Xam shouted, her voice rising above the growing drone of voices. “I’ve got Karatan steaks.”

“Oh hell yeah,” Tresk said, grabbing Theo’s arm. “We’re going, right?”

Theo smiled, looking at both his and Tresk’s stamina bar. They were draining towards empty, but they had enough for a night out. The alchemist pushed his worries for tomorrow down, letting the excitement of the crowd wash over him. Aarok pulled him by the arm, holding him in place. The crowd moved off, everyone turning their gaze away from the trio except Luras. The half-ogre came sauntering over, smiling sheepishly.

“Another fight, huh?” Luras asked. “I thought I was done with this.”

“You won’t be needed on this wall, Luras,” Aarok said. “I’ve already told you this.”

“It feels weird not helping,” Luras said.

“You’ll help,” Theo said. “We’ll need a runner to move supplies quickly between the gates.”

“Yeah…”

“Speaking of, let’s see how many potions and bombs you’ve made,” Aarok said.

Theo started withdrawing the items from his inventory, handing them over to the guildmaster. It was far more than they’d need for the attack, but the alchemist didn’t want to take chances. The lives of the townsfolk were far too valuable to gamble when he could simply brew an absurd amount of potions. He handed over the Freezebombs last.

“Those freezing bombs are going to do a lot,” Theo said. “Especially the ones with the [Web] modifier. So, we have lightning, fire, and ice. Doesn’t matter what the wave throws at us—we’ll be ready.”

“I got poison,” Tresk said, flashing her daggers.

Her daggers were now usually coated in the new poison Theo was brewing. [Decay] was a nasty modifier that increased the damage that poison did. The marshling had reported no other effects, but she rarely took stock of that stuff.

“I got leather,” Luras said, smiling.

Theo saw something in the man’s eyes, hidden behind his cheery exterior.

“I’ll meet you two at the Marsh Wolf,” Theo said. “I want to have a word with Luras.”

Tresk and Aarok shared a glance for a moment but shrugged. They left, leaving the pair alone in the dimming light of the day. Luras’s expression of stone faded away in a moment, a grimace painting his proud features.

“How obvious is it?” Luras asked.

“That you’re miserable?” Theo asked. “Extremely obvious. I’m also Broken Tusk’s counselor. So, spill it.”

“Knowing you, you’ll chase me down to hear the story,” Luras said, letting out a heavy sigh. “No, I didn’t want to tell anyone. Not even Aarok, and he knew my uncle. But the night before an attack?”

“We have time,” Theo said, waving him off. “You’ve been reclusive lately. I thought you were just honing your craft, but it seems like something else.”

“I wanted to tell you once you broke your barrier, but you helped me get my workshop ready… Seems like a rude thing to do,” Luras said. He drew another long breath and shrugged. “So, you want the story?”

“Yep.”

“I hate leatherworking,” Luras said. “I really hate it. Everything about the leathers makes me want to puke. Sitting there with a bone needle and gut string, poking little holes and setting rivets. Gods, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do less.”

Theo knitted his brows tightly. His impression of the half-ogre was that leatherworking was his life’s goal. The alchemist’s intuition told him there was something to this story of Luras.

“So why did you pick it up?” Theo asked. “I know I said I wanted more artisans, but you made my shoes. Thought you loved it.”

“I liked it before my uncle died,” Luras said. “Remember when I went over to Rivers and Daub? Took all your Cleansing Scrub to visit someone? Well, my uncle died. He didn’t tell anyone he was dying, not even me. He just left me this damned note.”

Luras produced a crumpled note and handed it over to Theo. The alchemist read over it quickly. The contents were more than a little manipulative, claiming that a life of adventure wasn’t for his nephew. His uncle urged Luras to give up the adventuring life and settle down, practically begging him to be a leatherworker. The entire thing made Theo sick to his stomach. It was the single most selfish thing a parent could do—something that struck too close to home.

“What do you want to do?” Theo asked.

Luras shrugged. “Shoot stuff with my bow, I guess.”

Theo held his hand out. “How much did your leatherworking core cost?”

“Theo, come on,” Luras said. “I’ll get over it.”

“Not at all,” Theo said. “Produce your core now. Tell me the cost.”

Luras looked surprised. He pressed his hand into his chest, wincing in pain and removing the Leatherworker’s Core. Theo couldn’t use it for anything else, as it was soulbound, but he wanted to make a point.

“50 silver,” Luras said.

Theo produced the coins from his inventory and handed them over.

“Tell Aarok I said you’re in charge of the guard now,” Theo said, withdrawing a House Seed Core from his inventory, opening his mayor's screen and cutting out a section of land near the adventurers in the north. “Your new house is up near Zan’kir’s place. Go plant this before the siege.”

Luras’s face was a mix of confusion and guilt. He was bound so tightly to that dead man’s words, like his uncle still had a physical chain around the half-ogre’s neck. The best way to break those chains was to shatter them, driving the illusion to the ground and stomping them into the mud. Theo hadn’t felt this angry in a long time. Luras was the first friend he’d made in Broken Tusk, a valued companion.

“Don’t let anyone tell you how to live your life,” Theo said. “Especially the dead.”

“Thanks, Theo,” Luras said, hanging his head.

“I get it,” Theo said, shrugging. “When I was on Earth, I lived my life for my mother. When she died, the opposite thing happened. I realized the entire thing was a lie.”

“He was just so good to me,” Luras said. “I didn’t think it was right to disobey his wishes.”

“Nah, he wanted you to be happy,” Theo said. “He just didn’t understand you’d be happier in the thick of it rather than safe behind these walls.”

Luras suddenly pulled Theo into a hug, squeezing a little too hard. They stood there for some time, the half-ogre failing to hide the sounds of his sobs. The alchemist let him get it out, shedding all of that bad blood there on the cobbles.

“Tomorrow is a new day,” Luras said, sniffling into Theo’s ear.

“There’s no better place for a fresh start, friend,” Theo said. “Besides, I need adventurers more than I need leather. Good adventurers. The last time you were on the wall, you were a demon. That’s when you show your true self, Luras. Not whittling your time away in a workshop.”

“You’re right,” Luras said, withdrawing his old combat core and shoving it painfully in his chest.

“The town will pay for an upgraded core,” Theo said, pointing at the half-ogre’s chest.

“Come on,” Luras said, wrapping his arm around Theo’s shoulder. “Tell me how we’re gonna be rich.”

Chapter 25

Goblin Rush!

Theo woke the next morning to the sound of 20 slow bells. Where he expected a frantic, staccato call to arms, he found the mournful ring of peace. He wiped the sleep from his eyes, pulling the early warning crystal from his inventory and shaking his head. It was a deep shade of red, growing brighter by the moment. The difference between the last assault and this one was preparation. They were ready, even if Uharis wasn’t there as a backup. Tresk’s bed was empty, and the familiar smell of the same breakfast wafted through the open door. Dawn hadn’t broken, but it wasn’t far off.

The alchemist made his way into the lab, falling into his chair and staring out the window.

“They’ll be here soon enough,” Theo said.

Tresk waved him off, flipping her steaks. “No worries. I’m happy about Luras.”

The pair had talked, at length, about the half-ogre’s decision before bed. Tresk said he was lying to himself, and she knew it, although Theo didn’t know if she was just posturing.

“His cores suck,” Theo said, pouring himself a cup of moss tea. “Not sure how you guys survived down here with common cores.”

“Oh! Mr. Fancy-Pants Legendary Cores over here,” Tresk said, taking on a mocking tone. “Look at me.” She danced around the room. “Just gonna fix everything and be all cool and stuff.”

Theo laughed, choking on his tea and doubling over. “Stop,” he said. “I’m gonna spill my tea.”

“Well, set your tea down, ’cause I’m just getting started,” Tresk said, grinning.

“I’m right, though,” Theo said. “The difference between low-tier cores and the high ones is absurd.”

“I’ll agree with that,” Tresk said, nodding. “I mean, you get a boost in power, but you still need to level the core. Unless you can find him a core that combines with his Hunter’s Core, he’ll need to grind the new one up.”

Theo nodded, locking his gaze outside the window once again. That was something they had an enormous advantage on. He still didn’t understand the exact situation up north, but they certainly didn’t have so many dungeons nearby. Most people farmed the Swamp Dungeon, but the others were growing steadily in power. Not at the same rate as the one in the swamp, but still noticeably. The alchemist had received little word on the other dungeons, only that the loot sucked and no one wanted to swim through either the River Dungeon or the Ocean Dungeon.

That didn’t take away from Theo’s instincts about those dungeons. They’d be a valuable source of revenue, they just had one problem. The distance between Broken Tusk and any of the other dungeons besides the Swamp Dungeon was great. It was at least twice as far, posing a serious problem. If Theo wanted ownership over those dungeons, he’d need to expand the town outward. The Ocean Dungeon was his first target. It was near the sea and would allow him to construct a port. That idea still rattled in his head, refusing to dislodge itself. Another project for a man with too many projects.

Once Tresk served the steaks, Theo took a leaf out of the marshling’s book. Instead of carefully cutting the meat into small sections, he picked it up with both hands and took a bite. She shot him a surprised look, taking a larger bite and glowering.

“It’s not a competition,” Theo said through a mouthful of meat.

“Yeah, it is!” Tresk said, taking another, larger bite.

They finished their meal quickly and went together onto the street. There was a calm in the air that sent a shiver down Theo’s spine. It wasn’t the typical calm he expected before a fight, but a sense of normalcy that gave him hope. Those who were non-combatants were going about their lives as if nothing was wrong. Monster might have been preparing to assault the town, but within the walls they were safe. The alchemist would do anything to make sure that was a reality as long as he had strength.

With a deep breath, he approached the adventurer’s guild. Luras was standing, deep in conversation with Aarok. Adventurers were scattered around the hall, talking amongst themselves. Theo spotted the three brothers talking to Zan’kir and Zan’sal.

“Theo,” Aarok said, waving the pair over. “Have you met my new Captain of the Guard?”

Luras paled, casting his eyes to the floor.

“I’ve met him before,” Theo said, smiling. “Bit of a rapscallion, though.”

“Right. I’m just happy to have more competent adventurers,” Aarok said. “Well, those ’al brothers are pretty strong. They’re a higher level than Tresk, but somehow I don’t think they have good cores.”

“Al brothers?” Tresk asked.

“Bal, Dal, and Ral,” Theo said, waving her away. “New arrivals—I told you about them.”

“I don’t concern myself with weaklings,” Tresk said, narrowing her eyes.

Theo gave her a swift punch on the arm. “Manners. Every adventurer is valuable here.”

Tresk looked shocked at first, then reserved. “Yeah…”

“If our Tara’hek is done having their moment,” Aarok said. “We’re not resting on the fact that we know how they’re going to attack.”

“We’ll split our force again,” Luras said. “Similar tactic, but we’re assembling a roaming group to keep the walls clear and relay information.”

“Do we have enough bombs?” Theo asked.

“And a few tricks you’re not aware of,” Aarok said, flashing a roguish smile.

Theo withdrew the crystal from his inventory. It had grown a brighter shade of red since he looked at it minutes ago. He returned it and withdrew the rest of the bombs he was working on. There weren’t as many as he’d like, but there were enough. No matter how much he wanted to doubt their ability to defend the town, he knew they could do it. He handed over the bombs to Aarok and Luras to distribute to the adventurers.

“Your healing potions are distributed to the masses. We can’t be more ready,” Luras said.

“I wonder what it's like up north,” Theo said. He blurted the words out, still musing on their unique situation. “Our adventurers are going to grow in power. Quickly. How does it work up there?”

“Nothing like this,” Aarok said, waving a dismissive hand. “The kingdom has a stranglehold on the dungeons, and monsters aren’t as common. People need to travel far to get their experience. Not like in Broken Tusk. Here, you can wake up and take a jaunt over to the dungeon and be home in time for dinner.”

“When we were serving for the Irregulars, it was weird,” Luras said, smiling. “So many people take laboring cores or trade cores because it’s too hard to do adventuring.”

Theo fell into his thoughts as Aarok and Luras reminisced about the old times. The alchemist looked at his new citizens with a fresh perspective. Broken Tusk really could be many things to settlers. A place to settle down and perform basic labor, or a haven to strengthen themselves. That made the adventuring tax more important than before. If someone were to settle down here to advance their cores, then leave, he would get nothing out of it. This way, they were at least paying their dues.

The group broke off, Tresk going to make introductions to the ‘fresh meat’, as she called them. They whittled the time away as the crystal grew in brightness. Theo didn’t know how the monsters spawned, and he didn’t care. As long as no one was out in the swamp when they did, it wouldn’t matter. He trusted those that ran the military aspect of the town to do the right thing. After only an hour of mingling and chatting about strategy, the wild clang of a bell sounded from outside. Without missing a beat, every adventurer in the room tensed and sprinted out of the guild hall before the alchemist could even react.

Theo trudged behind them, lagging at a considerable distance. He watched Tresk standing atop the battlements first, casting her gaze over the swamp. She winced every time the man rang the bell, standing right next to him but refusing to give up her prime position. The calmness in the air faded, giving way to tense expectations. The alchemist ascended the battlements, heaving breaths and leaning against the crenelations.

“Wait for it,” Aarok said, narrowing his eyes. “If they’re coming from the west, they should⁠—”

No one heard whatever else the half-ogre sought to say. A ripple of explosions issued from deep within the swamp, momentarily deafening those atop the wall. Theo ducked behind the stone, plugging his ears and letting out a silent curse.

“What was that?” Theo shouted, digging deep into his ears as though to remove the buzzing.

“Bombs!” Luras shouted. “Throk made some bombs. They sit on the ground and wait for a monster to pass.”

“He made mines?” Theo said, springing from his crouched position.

“It was a surprise,” Tresk said, jumping onto the edge of the wall and smiling. “Now, I go to work.”

She vanished without another word. Luras drew his bow, Aarok turning to shout orders at the gaggle of citizens below. Theo just watched. He watched the absurd quality of their response. The filing out of a small group of adventurers, including the three brothers, the dutiful marching across the battlements, and the handing out of bombs and potions.

Theo plugged his ears again. The lightning tower shot out a deafening blast, shooting at something near the treeline. The alchemist only now glimpsed a pack of wolf-riding goblins. Lightning tore through them, shredding a score in an instant and maiming others. Then the bombs went. Plumes of fire rose from that killing field, annihilating the rest of the outriders indiscriminately.

“New monsters,” Aarok said, nodding. “They’re not stronger than the last wave, but we’re going to see a new boss. I’m sure of it.”

“Keep me updated,” Theo said. “I’m going to check on the citizens.”

“They should be at the guild,” Aarok said.

Theo nodded, descending the steep stairs before another bolt of lightning took his hearing. The streets were mostly empty, save for the adventurers patrolling. Outside of the adventurer’s guild was a group of five adventurers, holding their weapons at the road and casting their eyes over the street. The alchemist smiled—they were sentries, intent on defending the townsfolk inside. Gathering everyone in the same place was smart if they had the manpower to defend them. He reserved his judgment of the decision, trusting that Aarok knew what he was doing.

Citizens were milling around the open hall of the guild. They chatted happily, eating something out of wooden bowls and smiling when their mayor came inside. Xam had set up a small Flame Artifice with a boiling cauldron on the far side of the hall, complete with a steaming pot of tea. Theo let out a single laugh, the absurdity of the situation not evading him.

“Did you see them?” Throk asked, coming up to grin at Theo.

“I heard them,” Theo said, understanding that the man was talking about the mines. “You made some artifice weapons?”

“Not really,” Throk said, shrugging. “I rigged some of your bombs. Well, 10 of them in a bundle. Just a little something I whipped up. The original intent of the artifice was to ring a bell automatically, but I hooked it up to a proximity sensor and cranked the power of the hammer up.”

“That’s genius,” Theo said.

Throk shrugged. “It was just for fun.”

More explosions issued outside. Theo found it hard to sit in here with these people. The logical part of himself said this is where he needed to be. Safe and away from the action, but he couldn’t stay. He needed to see how the assault was going. How effective were his bombs against the horde? Theo turned on the spot, waving and making for the door when something tugged at the arm of his silken robe.

“How's it going?” Azrug asked.

“It just started,” Theo said. “The bombs seem effective, though. Oh! Fenian is going to be here tonight.”

“Really? He said that? I have a lot of things I need to buy—and sell,” Azrug said, brightening up.

“Yeah. I need to scrounge up 50 gold for him,” Theo said.

“Oh. How much do you have?” Azrug asked.

“21,” Theo said. “I’ll figure something out. Don’t worry. Fenian is always willing to work with me.”

“Bet he’s gonna place a crazy order,” Azrug said.

Theo’s mind twinged. There was something he regretted from the last wave he wanted done this time. What powerful reagents would those monsters hold? They’d been looted for their gear, but no one was looking for stuff he could use to make essences. He nodded to himself, resolving to talk to Aarok on the wall.

“I need to have a word with our stalwart defenders,” Theo said, waving.

“Bye,” Azrug said, bringing his bowl of soup to his mouth and slurping noisily.

Instantly after leaving the hall, Theo heard the sounds of battle. Even the explosions were muffled in there, but out in the open air he could hear everything. A series of explosions issued far in the north, falling in his ears as faint thumps. Another sound from the south, then the east, joining in as a chorus with the west. The alchemist sprinted, slow compared to his adventuring companions, to the western wall. His eyes darted to Tresk’s health, watching it repeatedly drop and return to full. He knew better than to ask her what was going on. That would only break her concentration.

“How’s it going?” Theo asked, panting.

Luras was firing his bow into a sparse crowd of monsters. It was nothing like the wave that assaulted the other day, but as his eyes drifted toward the forest, he saw the actual story of it. Piles of corpses sat after the treeline, flames rising off their charred bodies. The lightning turret let out another blast, and an adventurer fed it another mote from the nearby crate. The alchemist watched in amazement. They were doing great.

“Very well, this time,” Luras said. “Thanks to that drunk wizard, we had time to prepare. Yeah, they have the numbers, but we have the defending advantage.”

“The boss is a two-headed troll!” Tresk said. “He’s coming for the walls—slowly.”

“Thanks.”

Theo relayed the information to Aarok, who nodded. “I didn’t expect another troll, that’s strange. We’re seeing goblins, but they’re different types. Is the troll approaching from the west?”

Theo talked to Tresk rapidly, getting details on where the troll was.

“From the west,” Theo confirmed. “He has a small army of trolling with him.”

“There’s the wrinkle,” Luras said, looking back and relaxing his bow. “They’ll have the same regeneration as him, maybe a shared effect.”

“Right. They’re stronger together,” Aarok said, nodding.

Bal, the oldest of the three brothers, ascended the stairs of the battlement with a few strong strides. “East is almost untouched. The north has it bad, but they’re doing fine. The south is middling.”

“That’s expected,” Aarok said. “Ask the east to send what they can to the western gate. Here. How are the streets?”

“A few sneaky goblins got in, but there’s not a lot. Their stealth sucks,” Bal said.

“Right. You have the streets then, Bal,” Aarok said. “Great job.”

Bal smiled, affecting a shallow bow before leaping off the wall into the town. He landed gracefully on his feet, sprinting as soon as he touched the cobbled street.

“We need a way to communicate during these battles,” Theo said, remembering what he came here to say. “Can you instruct the adventurers to look for reagents? Things that I could use for potions once we’ve slain all the monsters?”

“Of course,” Aarok said, laughing. “I’m afraid they don’t know what to look for, though. Maybe you could come along for the clean-up.”

“Good idea,” Theo said.

His Drogramath Herbalism Core would let him know what was useful. At Level 10, it was more than just intuition. He could almost feel the magic in the herbs around him, but it was still in the early stages. Once he got that core to Level 20, it would be a different story. Even though he didn’t know how he knew it, that was the fact. A linear progression of power that would continue… To what end? He didn’t know.

Theo sat atop the battlements with his commander, observing the monster’s attempts to breach the killing field. It seemed like a futile task. They threw themselves against that blood-soaked patch of marshy earth without regard to the fires, the lightning, or the endless ranged attacks of the defenders. Rain didn’t come as midday past, even into the late afternoon. Tresk gave updates on the advance of the boss troll. When it finally crossed the line of fire, most of its trollings were already dead.

Boss Monster spotted! Twin Foul Lords Gorak-Slobag have been sighted. This monster is stronger than regular monsters; exercise caution.

“Ready?” Aarok shouted.

They had a plan, apparently. Theo felt like a strange observer in a macabre game, standing there and wincing every time the lightning fired off. It arced, slamming uselessly against the large troll. The creature was a more lumpen mass of boils and fat than the one he’d seen before. Two heads bobbled atop the thing, swaying with bald heads with vile features that sent the alchemist’s stomach turning. What happened next occurred quicker than Theo could register.

Several Freezebombs exploded, the ones with the [Web] modifier, snaring the remaining trollings. The boss troll shook the thin threads of ice off, moving deep into the killing field in a single stride. Firebombs came next, a normal one, then a [Surge]-modified one, in rapid succession. The troll roared in pain, thrashing uselessly as the bombs kept flying. As quickly as the monster approached the gates, it fell to the ground, forcing a system message to appear in Theo’s vision.

Boss Monster defeated! Twin Foul Lords Gorak-Slobag has been slain. Bonus Wave!

Bonus Wave! Broken Tusk defeated the monster wave in 10 hours! Bonus wave: Goblin Rush.

Theo’s brow knitted tight. Aarok had a similarly confused expression on his face. With a mental command, the alchemist found he could inspect the bonus wave’s description.

[Goblin Rush]

Monster Wave

Duration: 1 hour

Goblin Rush!

Every remaining goblin has been turned into a miniature troll!

Experience gained from killing these monsters is increased.

Monster Wave gold is increased for each Troll-Goblin killed.

Troll-Goblins drop rare loot more often.

Theo took a calming breath.

“Get back to the town, Tresk,” he said.

Chapter 26

Nuggets

“Iabsolutely will not. Did you see the notification? More experience!” Tresk said.

Theo noticed the look in the eyes of the other adventurers. They were itching to get out into the swamp to mop up the rest of the monsters, but Aarok held out his hand, shaking his head.

“We don’t want to be out there without fire,” Aarok said. “Better to let them smash against the walls.”

“Agreed,” Luras said. “Unless you have a lot of mobility powers, you’ll just get pinned down.”

The thought of miniature trolls was comical but still dangerous enough to make Theo concerned. His eyes rolled over the mounds of burning monsters, and he smiled. This assault went far better than the last one. They were prepared, poised to lash out the moment the monsters approached the town. It was nothing like last time, and he was grateful.

“Very efficient work, Aarok,” Theo said, nodding.

“Hey, I helped too,” Luras said, grinning.

“Yes, you did,” Theo said.

Theo watched as Tresk’s health plunged, the way it always did. He stood there, tapping his foot and waiting for her to report in.

“Woah, these trollings are jerks,” Tresk said. “They’re not as slow as the big ones.”

“Trollings are fast,” Theo said, distilling Tresk’s frantic words into something usable.

“I’ll pass the word along,” Aarok said. “Why don’t you check on the town?”

“Good idea,” Theo said, dismounting the battlements without another word.

Townsfolk had a mixture of fear and relief on their faces. Some might have been hiding their trepidation about the assault, while others were simply oblivious to the danger. Theo thought about how that was an unfair assessment. They had faith in him and the adventurers to defend the town. The alchemist made his way back to the guild hall, noting several dead goblins scattered nearby. The adventurers defending the door smiled and waved as he passed.

“Goblin Rush?” Azrug said the moment Theo was through the door.

“I’m not sure,” Theo said with a shrug. “Seems like there’s a bunch of little, fast trolls outside the gates now.”

Azrug rubbed his hands together, grinning. “If it means more loot, I’m into it.”

“Well, it’s over in an hour anyway,” Theo said. “Shouldn’t be bad. As long as we maintain the walls.”

Theo crossed the room, the shopkeeper close behind, and took a seat in a chair. He let out a sigh, that single breath washing away his concerns for the siege. They had every advantage, but he was still worried. Those concerns left him as he thought about the last monster wave. The System gave him 12 gold for the last defense. Aarok was still counting the coin from the loot, which would generate even more money. Broken Tusk would have no shortage of gear or coin for quite some time.

The alchemist let out a laugh. “I’m going to spend the money the moment it's in my hand.”

“The way you always do,” Azrug said, producing a cup of tea for Theo to drink.

Apparently, the young shopkeeper had become partial to his Moss Nettle tea. The copper pot, still brewing near the edge of the room, must have been full of the stuff. Theo took a tentative sip, letting that slight burst of energy flood through his body. It reinvigorated his mind, bolstering him against his flagging stamina bar.

“Assuming the Goblin Rush goes well, this was a good wave,” Theo said.

“No kidding,” Azrug said. “Well, at least the guild hall wasn’t destroyed.”

Theo nodded, casting his eyes over the citizens assembled there. He spotted Sledge chatting happily with Miana. The marshling’s demeanor had changed entirely since he first met her a few days ago. She found her place in Broken Tusk, although the alchemist had only seen her work once. Looking around the guild hall, he realized how useful someone like her could be. It was easy to extrapolate her powers based on what she did for his lab. She could manipulate the core building itself, changing its format.

Where something like Luras’s leatherworking was nice to have, a fabricator core was essential. Theo withdrew the half-ogre’s old core from his inventory and looked at it, smiling. It was a tactical decision on his part to push the man away from the trade. He lost an artisan but gained an excellent adventurer. The way he sat atop the wall, firing an endless stream of arrows, was proof enough that it was the right decision. The smile on his face only sealed the deal.

“The last thing we need to do is rest on those facts,” Theo said. “The only reason we took on this wave so easily was our preparation.”

“Agreed,” Miana said, approaching without Theo’s notice. She took a seat near the alchemist and leaned in. “Did you ever get a read on Uharis?”

Theo thought for a moment before speaking. “He falls somewhere in the middle. He wants something from me, but I can’t figure it out.”

“Kinda funny the wave started when he arrived,” Miana said, reclining and grinning.

“Well, that’s ignorant,” Azrug said, laughing. She shot him a glare. “We already understand that the monster waves were generated by excess magic. Likely from Theo’s transmigration. Maybe he kicked them off intentionally, but then why help at all?”

“Good point. If the intention was destruction, why bother? He could have just nuked us from orbit,” Theo laughed.

“Nuke?” Miana asked.

“Blew us up,” Theo said. “No, he wasn’t overtly malicious. He could have caused the monster wave. Maybe he sped it up, but he gave me something that detects how close the wave is.”

“Bah. I don’t trust him,” Miana said. “I don’t trust spell-slingers.”

Theo understood why she didn’t trust magic. Lacking her cores for so long must have been a painful thing, but she had recovered.

“Bad news. We have a resident wizard coming this evening,” Theo said, delighting in the surprised expression on her face. “Comes recommended from Fenian.”

Miana’s face softened. “I like that guy.”

“Me too,” Azrug said, handing Theo a bowl of hot soup.

“Am I being taken care of like an elderly man?” Theo asked, laughing. Still, he ate the soup.

Miana leaned in again, smiling. “You did a good thing for Sledge. I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time.”

“Well, we did have to trick her,” Theo said. “To take the core. I knew she wouldn’t take it for free—but it was a selfish act. We’re going to need lumber. Lots of it.”

“Can’t have your producers all bummed out,” Azrug said.

“You’re shrewd, Theo,” Miana said. “I can see why… Ah, nevermind. Don’t you have a town to defend?”

“Me? No,” Theo said, waving her words away as though they were a puff of smoke. “I have people to do that for me.”

Azrug laughed.

Theo spotted Gridgen Dev, the man he assigned to find the ore in the southern hills, from across the room. He was there with his family, chatting with other townsfolk with a smile on his face. The alchemist didn’t want to inject business into this serious situation, but he hadn’t seen the man in a while. He strode across the room, waving sheepishly and smiling.

“Mister Mayor,” Gridgen said.

“Please, call me Theo.”

“Theo, then,” Gridgen said, beaming. “You know, I’m very impressed with the defense you managed. How many monsters are out there?”

“A lot,” Theo said.

“I heard the weapon artifices going off,” Gridgen said, gazing up at the tall window in the hall. “You must have quite the budget for defense. I mean—for a small town like this, that’s pretty impressive. Right, Sarna?”

Gridgen was rambling. Maybe he was more nervous than he let on, or maybe he was just excited about Broken Tusk’s impressive defenses. It was hard to tell.

“Very much so,” Sarna said, flashing a bright smile. “Rivers hasn’t invested nearly as much into their defense.”

Theo thought about that for a moment before responding, looking out the window. That seemed like a foolish thing to do. They didn’t have as many dungeons to worry about, but certainly they wouldn’t have taken the bad upgrades offered by the town’s seed core. The alchemist had been gearing his town for defense from the start, the only exception being the roads. Even those had defensive properties, allowing his adventurers to move through the city quicker than on mud roads.

There was also the expense to consider. Theo selflessly threw his own money at the town, and many citizens followed suit. No one seemed to mind that Fenian had thrown more than his fair share of cores to help with the effort. The lightning turrets were a product of their collective buying power, allowing them to purchase one for each gate. Those very weapons needed motes for fuel, something they had in abundance down in the swamplands. He couldn’t decide if it was dumb luck, fate, or his superior intuition that led him to this point, and he didn’t care. People were safe.

“We take the safety of our citizens seriously,” Theo said. “There’s simply too many dungeons to do otherwise.”

“Yeah. Imagine a rotating monster wave cycle from each cardinal direction,” Gridgen said, receiving a swift slap on the arm from his wife.

“Don’t curse us like that. I like it here,” Sarna said.

“Sorry.”

Theo smiled. “That would only help us. As long as we can repel the attacks, it will only make us more wealthy.”

“Oh, speaking of,” Gridgen said. “I’m not so good at prospecting, but I can poke rocks with a stick.”

He produced a small, greenish nugget and presented it for Theo to inspect.

[Copper Nugget]

[Metal Ore]

Quality: Perfect

A raw nugget of copper. Needs refining.

“There’s a cave in the hills. A yawning maw filled with this green stuff,” Gridgen said. “I only found a few of these loose ones near the entrance; everything else is embedded in the stone.”

“Perfect,” Theo said, rolling the ore over in his hand. He wasn’t sure if this is how ore appeared in nature, but so many things in this world followed different logic.

“Well, not sure what plans you have for a bunch of unprocessed metal. Even if you want to export it,” Gridgen said. “Not that I’m trying to tell you how to do your… Uh… I also haven’t been paid for finding the ore.”

Theo raised an eyebrow. “In the future, come to my lab for payment, until I can set something up. But you’re right. I need someone to do the… melting? What is it called?”

“Smelting,” Azrug said.

“Smelting,” Theo said, producing a silver coin from his inventory. He handed it over to Gridgen, who looked at him in disbelief. “A bonus for finding the mine.”

“I told you this place would be worth it,” Sarna said, snatching the coin from her husband’s hands.

“I wonder how expensive a smelterizer is going to be,” Theo said, tapping his finger into his chin.

“Smelter,” Azrug corrected. “Standard production seed core price—should be around 5 gold wholesale, depending. 10 to 20 gold in the capital, 5 gold from Fenian.”

“Sometimes I forget you have the cores to figure that stuff out.”

“Well, gossip from traders helps, too,” Azrug said, suddenly looking a bit sheepish. “And the fact that I bother Fenian daily.”

“He likes us,” Theo said, thinking for a moment, “although I’m not sure why. I think he’s taken a loss on us so far.”

“Nope,” Azrug said. “Even with all his free stuff, he makes out like a bandit.”

Theo hummed in response. The sounds of battle outside had subsided, but they were picking up again. The trollings were likely hitting the walls at this point.

“I should attend to the defense, as you say,” Theo said, chuckling.

“Thought you had people for that,” Azrug said.

“Yeah,” Theo said, standing up and departing without another word.

“Nice working with you, Mr. Mayor! Let me know when you have the mine core thing!” Gridgen shouted.

“Stop acting so needy!” Sarna shouted back.

Theo left, refusing to get involved with their issues. Gridgen seemed like a meek man, while his wife was the opposite. Gods willing, she’d be working the mine or the smelter when the time came. The alchemist understood nothing about the process, but the investment was minimal. 10 gold to get the operation running, and his town would have an endless supply of metal to repair itself. He didn’t know if the metal was required for the town’s current level, but if it was an option on the screen, he’d need it eventually.

Returning to the field of battle seemed like a strange thing. The gates were intact, lending the interior of Broken Tusk an eerie quality. With empty streets, he felt cloistered behind those walls. A sense of comfort washed over him, even as lightning ripped through the sky. Ascending the battlements, Theo found a welcome sight. His friends looked relatively fresh, despite the pitched battle. Tresk’s health sat near full, but the trollings spread in disparate waves below.

The creatures looked as expected. Miniature versions of the larger trolls were scampering around to avoid the fires. They had slimy skin, oozing with some vile liquid, but still caught fire easily enough.

“They’re a lot less threatening than expected,” Aarok said, noticing Theo’s confused look.

“Bonus wave,” Theo muttered, watching a trolling catch fire, run around, then collapse to the ground. “I guess it’s not meant to be hard.”

“Great experience, though,” Tresk said from somewhere in the shadows.

The sudden sound of his Tara’hek startled him. The alchemist jumped, scurried back, then narrowed his eyes at her. “Wish I could see you when you did that.”

Tresk giggled.

“Well, we’re in clean-up mode,” Aarok said, leaning against the stone wall.

“Any damage?” Theo asked.

“Minor damage,” Aarok said, gesturing north. “Nothing close to a breach this time.”

Luras turned from the edge of the wall, smiling. “With motes nearby, the weapons have been firing constantly. Theo, we need to work on the killing field.”

Theo cast his eyes over that killing field, a term he didn’t want to consider. He was reminded of his previous life, but this was far different than that. The targets he worked on weren’t armies but individuals. The training he had received didn’t work in this situation, everything except simple concepts. Lines of fire and backstops were his primary concern back then, along with the idea of collateral damage. Using bombs for his work was the easiest, even if it caused the most casualties. These thoughts fell away in an instant. The monsters weren’t people.

“Trenches, perhaps?” Theo asked.

“In a swamp?” Luras asked, grimacing.

Theo waved the comment away. “This is why I leave the defense to you.”

“Perhaps another wall,” Aarok said.

“It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as we’re ahead of the game,” Theo said. “I was talking to our new citizens, and they seem to think we have it under control.”

“We do,” Luras said, peering at Theo through a hooded gaze. “If you compare us to Rivers and Daub.”

“Indeed,” Aarok said. “Most of our land is flat. Mostly. That is an enormous advantage. We’re picking defensive upgrades, and we have a standing army.

“The adventurers aren’t an army,” Theo said.

“They kinda are,” Tresk said, shrugging. “They all answer the call to arms. They’re an army.”

Theo frowned, but she was right.

The group discussed defensive options in between the roaring blast from the lightning gun. It was odd watching them casually discuss things while monsters surged against the walls. They settled on nothing during the hours of the bonus wave. Tresk had to leave the safety of the walls to hunt down the last trollings, hiding somewhere in the marsh. The dust settled for a while before the System determined the siege completed. A victory screen popped into Theo’s vision.

Monster Wave complete!

612 Monsters Destroyed!

12 gold bonus (paid to the mayor of Broken Tusk).

Bonus for defeat wave boss:

Obtained: Gloves of the Herbalist.

Obtained: 3 gold, 10 silver, 1 copper.

Bonus for defeating the bonus wave:

Obtained Clothier’s Seed Core

Obtained 5 gold, 0 silver, 0 copper.

Broken Tusk gained a new effect: Troll Slaying 2.

Theo inspected the gloves, disregarding the seed core. It didn’t seem very useful to him at the moment.

[Gloves of the Herbalist]

[Leather Gloves]

Uncommon

Scaling

Gloves granted to the alchemist with the determination to defend his home.

Effect:

Stamina depletion reduced for each wild herb nearby.

That was a brilliant piece of gear. It was scaling and reduced the amount of stamina he lost while harvesting herbs. His old leather gloves were worn, verging on tattered. From what the alchemist understood about magical items, it wouldn’t degrade. No matter how much he tried, they’d remain in good condition. That might not expand to people who went out adventuring, but he only intended to use them to harvest herbs.

“20 gold,” Theo said, laughing. “Some gloves and a seed core.”

“I got a new bow,” Luras said, his eyes going wide.

The half-ogre withdrew a bow from his dimensional storage, holding it out for everyone to see. It seemed like a normal wooden bow, but seams of green energy ran with the grain.

“I got crap,” Tresk said, frowning.

A thunderous sound came from the east, cutting their conversation short. Theo barely turned to look, expecting this turn of events.

“What was that?” Aarok asked. “Another attack?”

“Nope,” Theo said, looking at Tresk and smiling.

“Fenian,” Tresk said, finishing the alchemist’s thought. “That man is punctual.”

Chapter 27

Everyone Needs a Wizard

“Well, they didn’t even breach your gate this time,” Fenian said, gesturing widely.

The elf trader’s carriage sat near the monolith, the black lacquer exterior catching the fading light of the day. The demonic Karatans knickered angrily, pawing at the stone ground. Theo hoped that the authentic version of the beasts wasn’t so fearsome.

“Aarok is an excellent tactician,” Theo said.

“So many gems in the swamp,” Fenian said, trailing off.

Another man stepped out of the carriage, hooded in black. What little Theo could see of his face painted him as elven, ‌but the hue of his skin was strange. A deep blue gave way to streams of silver, running in long lines across the man’s angular visage. He turned to the alchemist for only a moment before departing toward the Marsh Wolf Tavern.

“You’ve noticed my travel companion—well, the wizard I told you about,” Fenian said. “He’s a strange man. Paid a premium for a promise.”

Theo narrowed his eyes at the trader. Something in his words said that it wasn’t a promise Fenian had to fulfill, but something the alchemist would be responsible for. He gestured toward the lab, wishing to retreat away from prying eyes.

“Let me know if Aarok has questions about the clean-up,” Theo said.

“Sure. Don’t think they’re starting until tomorrow,” Tresk said.

“Good. Keep an eye on Fenian’s wizard friend,” Theo said.

“Already on it.”

Theo and Fenian found their way to the Newt and Demon, the trader gawking at the recent addition on the side of the building.

“My, my… You have been busy, my friend,” Fenian said, fanning himself dramatically.

“Indeed. So, what did you promise him?” Theo asked, opening the door to his building. The bell jingled as they crossed the threshold. The alchemist went around, lighting candles at the corners of the room.

Fenian smiled, withdrawing a core from his inventory. It was a strange-looking thing, as far as cores went. The metal mesh ball had several layers, the center of which glowed a brilliant gold color. Theo reached out to inspect it, but the trader withdrew it, flashing a devious grin.

“The core is yours, if you agree to the wizard’s terms,” Fenian said.

Theo gestured to a set of chairs, sitting in the one normally occupied by Azrug.

“I’m getting the idea that you made a deal without my consent,” Theo said.

“Just so,” Fenian said, taking his own seat. “The wizard wants to create a tower, for research.”

Theo let out a long sigh. He tilted his head back, rubbing his temples for a moment. Fenian wouldn’t have agreed to anything that didn’t benefit Broken Tusk. He wouldn’t turn a quick coin to exploit his friends. His investment in the town was long-term and wouldn’t benefit from such an action. The alchemist’s intuition backed this idea up.

“I’m assuming you’re on the level,” Theo said. “That this is a positive thing for my town. I also assume the core you showed me is the Governance Core.”

“Correct on both accounts,” Fenian said, smiling. “He’s Level 20, and he has a rare discipline, Planar Mage. Rejected by the major guilds in Qavell—and other nations, I suspect.”

“So he’s an outcast,” Theo said.

“Looking for someone to be loyal to, I think,” Fenian said. “Well, looking for a home, anyway. Are towers homes? It doesn’t matter. He wants to study the magic here.”

“Is that safe?” Theo asked.

“Relatively,” Fenian said, shrugging. “He’d erect his tower out in the swamp, far from both the town and the dungeon. That’s what we agreed upon.”

“He paid you 50 gold,” Theo said, nodding. It was coming together. Fenian traded a place in a budding town for the coin, which would cover the cost of Theo’s new core.

“A bit more,” Fenian said. “I’ll lay it out for you simply. You want a wizard here. You’ll need a wizard here, eventually. There’s no way a man like Uharis would pledge himself to your cause, and he’ll give you more grief than anything.”

Theo shrugged, falling into his thoughts. This new wizard being at a low level was a good thing. The read the alchemist got on the strange, hooded elf was good. His intuition said that he was a reclusive man, but honorable enough.

“Pending an interview, I’ll accept,” Theo said. “You’ve never steered me wrong, Fenian.”

“Nor will I ever,” Fenian said. “Now…”

The trader withdrew the core from his inventory again, holding it out for Theo to take. The alchemist inspected it immediately, looking at the description with hungry eyes.

[Governance Core]

Legendary Administration Core

Unbound

2 Slots

Level 1 (0%)

Advanced administration core, reserved for leaders.

Innate Skills:

[Command Structure]

[Titles]

[Automatic Books]

Effect:

+2 Intelligence

“I don’t think I’ve seen something that comes with three skills,” Theo said, shaking his head.

“Well, hopefully you’ve saved up a skill point to get the Contracts skill,” Fenian said. “Now, shove it in!”

“I don’t know how,” Theo said. “I haven’t taken my cores out since I got here.”

“Just press it against your chest and think about it,” Fenian said. “The System will take care of the rest.”

Theo shrugged, pressing the strange core against his chest. He felt a sensation, as though lightning was blooming in his chest. At first, the core met resistance against his flesh, but eventually it merged into him. That lightning bloomed into something greater, followed by a spike of pain. The entire event lasted only a moment before a system message popped up. His mind swam as the screen hovered in his vision.

Governance Core added to slot 3.

Without saying a word to Fenian, Theo inspected the three included skills.

[Command Structure]

Rare Governance Skill

Allows the user to designate command structures within a town. Ranks, names of ranks, and responsibilities can be determined dynamically. Also grants access to tactical and non-tactical maps.

Effect:

Assign command posts

Assign command responsibilities

Assign access to command map

Assign access to the communications system

That was absolutely useful, especially for Aarok. If it worked like Theo thought it did, he could give the guildmaster access to a town-wide communications system and a tactical map. That would be incredibly powerful for the next monster wave.

[Titles]

Common Administration Skill

Allows the user to bestow titles on landowners. This is primarily for organizational purposes.

Effect:

Grant townspeople titles

This was less impactful, but it would help him keep track of everyone.

[Automatic Books]

Epic Governance Skill

Your finance tab will automatically populate once a day. This includes taxes owed and money earned.

Effect:

Automatically update your Governance screen once per day.

While the Command Structure skill was amazing, this was great in its own right. Theo hated the idea of going around and getting everyone’s taxes together, let alone their earnings. This gave him a clear idea of how much money they were making, and how much they owed.

“This is amazing,” Theo said.

“You’re a real mayor now,” Fenian said.

As Theo expected, when he went to check his skills screen there was an entirely new category. There were a dozen Governance skills, but one caught his eye. He took it without a second thought, slotting it into his new core.

[Contracts]

Epic Governance Skill

Allows the user to create binding contracts between parties. These parties may be individuals or entire towns or cities. The extent of the contract is agreed upon, including duration, payment, and expectations, by both parties.

Effect:

Allows the user to track contracts like quests.

Allows the user to create contracts.

“Contracts,” Theo said, clapping his hand on the elf’s shoulder. “This is amazing. I really needed this one.”

“Now you can give your word and mean it,” Fenian said. “The price for breaking these contracts is nasty. From reporting the offending party to the capital to sending magical beasts to collect, the results of breaking these contracts are severe.”

Theo smiled even wider.

“Well,” Theo said, withdrawing a few of his new potions from his inventory. “Shall we get down to business?”

“Oh, my,” Fenian said, cradling a Healing Potion in his hands. He quickly set it down, picking up a Lesser Healing Potion infused with the [Web] modifier. “We’re going to be rich.”

“I hope so,” Theo said. “How rare are the modified potions?”

“Rare enough that you won’t see them in a market stall,” Fenian said. “The Healing Potion and the next-tier Greater Healing Potion are easy enough to source, but nothing with modifiers. You need to know someone for those.”

“So, they’re all bought up by private dealers,” Theo said, nodding.

“Mostly the military,” Fenian said with a shrug. His eyes moved over the piles of junk in the shop, and he let out a laugh. “This is the gold Azrug has been talking about. The boy has a mind for business. He needs a loremaster, though.”

“I won’t put it past him to take a Loremaster’s Core for himself,” Theo said.

He focused on the sensation in his chest. Now that he was aware that each core influenced the other, he was keen to observe its effects. The Governance Core was unaligned, or so he was told. His current setup sat well together, the Tara’hek Core dominating both of his Drogramath cores.

“Something on your mind? Besides business?” Fenian asked.

“I’m thinking about my cores and how they influence each other,” Theo said. “Without the Tara’hek, I could have been taken over by Drogramath.”

“Well, the Governance Core holds no alignment, as far as I’m aware,” Fenian said, standing and moving around the room to check Azrug’s goods.

Theo nodded. “I assume you want to order potions.”

“Of course,” Fenian said. “The uprising is cooling down enough that people don’t require as much transport. I can have buyers for whatever you make—especially modified second-tier potions.”

“How much per potion?” Theo asked.

“Well, I’ve never sourced them before,” Fenian said, picking up a metal helmet and shrugging. “Near a silver each for modified Healing Potions, I think. Hard to say, though.”

The labor that went into those potions was much greater than the other potions, but it would be worth it when he got the process down. Theo was in a constant battle to refine his process down to be more efficient. Throk taking the Artificer’s Core helped with that, and more people would come.

“Well, I have a wishlist of items,” Theo said.

“And I have several inventories filled with goods,” Fenian said, grinning.

Theo stood up, beckoning the trader up the stairs. The elf let out a low whistle upon seeing the new equipment, namely the tubes going through the walls.

“You found a fabricator. Or an excellent mason,” Fenian said.

“Fabricator,” Theo said. “I’m starting a mining operation.”

“So, you need all the goodies for that,” Fenian said. “Right. Tell me what you need.”

Theo thought for a moment before responding. He needed a lot of things, but the trade Fenian made meant he could afford it. If the alchemist had to pay the elf for the Governance Core, he’d be out of coin and then some.

“Cores for miners, smelters, a Mine Seed Core, a smeltery seed core, a ranch seed core, and a windmill seed core,” Theo said.

“Miner cores are cheap, so is the mining seed core. Windmills are common enough, and I’ve kept one in my massive inventory for a while now. Surprised you haven’t asked sooner. The ranch can be pricey, but I have one on me,” Fenian said, taking a seat near the window. “Mind if I put on some tea?”

“Not at all,” Theo said, gesturing to the teapot and Flame Artifice.

Fenian took Throk’s Flame Artifice in his hands, raising his brows. “This isn’t one of mine,” he said, setting it down to start some water. “I suppose I sold your blacksmith an Artificer’s Core, didn’t I?”

“You did,” Theo said, smiling.

“Well, I’ll give you 10 Miner’s Cores for a silver. They’re just that common,” Fenian said. He started the Flame Artifice, placing the kettle on top of the flame. “A Smelter’s Core is half a gold, and the buildings are 1 gold, 5 gold, and 10 gold. The Mine Seed Core is a gold, the smelter is 5, and the ranch is 10. Those last two are a bit rarer, but nothing you can’t afford. For the windmill… I don’t know, give me a gold to make it worth my time.”

“This might be your least profitable trip to Broken Tusk,” Theo said, laughing.

“I doubt that,” Fenian said, grinning.

Theo and Fenian went back and forth for a while, discussing what goods the trader had on him. Along with the usual fare, he had some interesting catalysts on him. The alchemist agreed to a gold’s worth of Iron Shavings, Grave Dust, and Ice Quartz, all of which were mentioned in Basic Drogramath Alchemy. He settled on twenty Miner’s Cores, one Smelter’s Core, one Mine Seed Core, one Smelter Seed Core, and one Ranch Seed Core. The total came to 17 gold, 52 silver.

“The wizard seems normal,” Tresk said. “But he doesn’t like the soup.”

“I don’t know if anyone likes the soup,” Theo said.

“It’s all right,” Tresk said.

“So, you should be able to create a contract for our deal,” Fenian said.

“Right,” Theo said, summoning his mayor's menu. There were a lot more options now, confusing things that needed exploration. The alchemist ignored the new financial and command screens to find the Contracts menu. He could create a lot of different contracts, including single-term trade contracts like this.

[Theo’s First Contract]

Contract

Theo Spencer (Belgar) and Fenian Feintleaf agree to enter a trade contract. Theo Spencer (Belgar) shall provide an unspecified number of potions to Fenian Feintleaf, delivered at an unspecified time.

Terms:

Any Potion (any quantity)

Timeline:

Infinite

“Well, that’s too vague for normal contracts,” Fenian said, laughing. “But we’re friends. I have the choice to alter the contract and send it back to you, but I’ll simply agree. Remember to make the terms of your next contract more defined. I suggest starting with your new wizard.”

“Good idea,” Theo said.

[Fenian Feintleaf] has agreed to the terms of your contract.

“Now, show me the field of battle. I didn’t get to see the aftermath last time—aside from that damaged building,” Fenian said.

Theo led the way out of the Newt and Demon, leading the elf to the western wall. The adventurers were clearing out the monsters that managed to penetrate the walls, but the citizens were happily walking the streets. They shared smiles with the alchemist, waving excitedly. Fenian took note of the new adventurer’s guild hall and the repaired damage to the western gate. Aarok stood on the road leading out through the gate, delegating tasks to several people.

“Very well done, commander,” Fenian said, affecting a shallow bow toward Aarok.

“Thanks, elf,” Aarok said, smiling. “Preparation goes a long way.”

“Indeed,” Fenian said, casting a momentary glance to Theo. “Monster waves are devilishly hard to predict.”

Aarok raised an eyebrow, looking for answers from Theo. The alchemist didn’t have any. He didn’t know how rare the early warning crystal was or what the implications were. The half-ogre responded with grace, not giving up the game.

“It pays to always be prepared,” Aarok said.

“Just so,” Fenian said. “Theo, I’d like to get some of that horrid soup. But first, I want to see the carnage outside.”

Theo shrugged, ascending the stairs to the battlements. Fenian let out a whistle, shaking his head. “They barely scratched your walls.”

“We were ready,” Theo said.

“Nothing gets past me, Theo,” Fenian said, glancing to see that everyone else was out of earshot. “You knew the wave was coming, down to the hour. I know what motivates you, and nothing short of an impending attack could have convinced you to produce so many firebombs. Well, I suppose I could be wrong, but I believe you have something to warn you against the waves.”

“Not sure why I thought to keep that from you,” Theo said, producing an unlit crystal from his inventory.

Fenian pressed his fingers against the device and nodded. “There’s nothing wrong with keeping secrets. In truth, you were foolish to trust me from the start. You’re lucky I’m the only honest merchant out there.”

“Sometimes, I wonder,” Theo said, grinning.

Fenian produced a gold coin from his inventory, holding it in the air. “None of that matters, my friend. This is all that matters.”

Theo laughed, slapping the elf on the shoulder and wheeling him around to look at the town. Broken Tusk was bathed in the light of the fading sun. The shadows of the people and the buildings stretched far, everything else bathed in the orange light of dusk.

“The coin is a means, friend,” Theo said, taking in a steady breath. The scent of charred flesh mingled with the natural scent of the swamp, stinging his nose. “This is what matters. These people. Their happiness.”

“Ah, but what about your happiness?” Fenian asked, leaning against the wall. “Surely, that matters too.”

“You haven’t figured me out, then,” Theo said, letting out a disappointed sigh. “I’m happy because I have my selfish little experiment. A microcosm of the real world with strong walls and coin that flows out of your ears.”

“You almost sound guilty about the whole affair,” Fenian said, chuckling.

“Guilty? Maybe I was at one point,” Theo said. “But I understand that my selfless desires are actually very selfish. Perhaps it’s my cores, or my Wisdom, but I’m pushing these people to be something they’re not. Well, they should want to be what I’m making them, but they just don’t know it.”

“And what is that, dear alchemist?” Fenian asked.

“I’m making them amazing,” Theo said, smiling. “I’m making them rich.”

Chapter 28

Xol’sa

Aarok delayed the clean-up of the monsters to the next day. With everything cleared from the street, there was only the matter of creating burn pits, looting the monsters, and dumping them in to be set on fire. Theo spent longer than he would have expected entertaining Fenian at the Marsh Wolf Tavern. The strange, hooded wizard stood in the room's corner, simply observing. The alchemist couldn’t glean anything new but reserved himself to make introductions the next day.

When Tresk and Theo settled down for bed, they found a massive cache of experience points waiting for the Tara’hek core. Upon pressing their foreheads together, the core jumped to Level 12. The alchemist slept well that night. Visions of their simple victory played through his mind as he drifted off. He wouldn’t take it for granted, only resolving to push himself harder. The promise he made to himself, to take it easy, lingered in his mind for only a moment before he drifted off to sleep.

The next morning seemed normal enough. Withdrawing the early warning crystal from his inventory, Theo discovered it was back to light green. He let out a sigh, sitting next to Tresk and taking their morning breakfast.

“I need to direct the adventurers today,” Theo said. “To a lesser extent, anyway. Those monsters must be full of alchemical goodies.”

“Maybe,” Tresk said with a shrug.

“I also have some seed core buildings to plant today,” Theo said. “And alchemy to do.”

“Well, you got that ranch core, but no animals,” Tresk said, gulping her tea down. “Do that one last.”

“Right. I still need an agreement with the miners,” Theo said.

“Well, they’re not native Broken Tuskers,” Tresk said, shrugging. “You shouldn’t give them as good of a deal as Ziz or Perg.”

“I agree,” Theo said. “I need to make larger profits.”

“Still aching for independence?” Tresk asked.

“Yeah,” Theo said. “Even the stipends Qavell sends are tiny, compared to what we could make on our own.”

“So, what kind of split should the miners get?” Tresk asked.

Theo had a good idea for what he wanted to give his private ventures. When he established the quarry and the stonecutter’s workshop, it was more a fact that he could than something to make him money. Now he had interest in trade and bolstering the coffers of the town. Despite the quarry running itself, he had regrets for the ninety-ten split, where the workers took the largest share of the revenue. They’d share their stone with him at a cost lower than market price, but that wasn’t the point.

“Ten percent of market value,” Theo said. “Since I own every stage of the production chain, I can snatch up whatever metal I need along the way.”

“You should also discount the metal to my dad,” Tresk said, smiling. “He’d like that.”

“Yeah, I bet he’s excited. He can have it at labor cost‌. Ten percent of market value,” Theo said. “Which is likely almost nothing. Whoever gets the smelter job gets the same offer, I think. They can split everything amongst themselves.”

“Sounds good to me,” Tresk said.

Theo had explained the extent of the contracts to Tresk already. He was already using his Titles skill to go through and label everyone with their appropriate position. Before, they just sat in an extensive list. But now that the Automatic Books skill had run once, he could see everyone’s income, profit, and taxes owed, including himself. He also played with the Command Structure skill, assigning Aarok as the town’s commander and reserving the assignment of all other military posts for the half-ogre to take care of. Only Luras got the Captain of the Guard post.

Each new rung in the command’s ladder came with an automatic salary that Theo could assign. This extended to his private ventures within the town. There was a section in the town’s menu that split out the alchemist’s businesses, including the quarry. The System could automatically withdraw money from his inventory and pay it out to those people daily. This extended to complex formulas based on percent shares, profit earned, or any combination of things. He put that off for now, focusing his mind on meeting the new wizard.

As if summoned by a thought, a gentle knock came from downstairs. Theo descended, finding the hooded man standing awkwardly at the door. When he opened it, the elf shuffled his feet and made a formal introduction.

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sir Mayor,” he said, affecting a deep bow.

“Theo is fine. Do you want some tea?”

“I would, thank you.”

By the time the pair made their way upstairs, Tresk was nowhere to be found. She must have slipped out while Theo was downstairs, using her stealth abilities to get out of a long conversation. The strange elf, if he was an elf at all, had even stranger skin. It seemed to change based on his environment. Upon entering the building, it shifted to a lighter violet hue, the seams of color still running blue. When he finally removed his hood, a shockingly white head of hair spilled out over his shoulders.

“What’s your name?” Theo asked, pouring the elf a cup of tea.

“Xol’sa,” he said.

“And where do you hail from?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “That is an endless story, but I’ll spare you the details. I don’t know the name of my people. We are a race of extra-planar elves, and I’ve never known them.”

“Fair enough,” Theo said. “I assume your planar magic lets you know I’m not from here.”

“It does,” Xol’sa said.

“And you want to make a tower in the swamp,” Theo said.

“I do.”

“So, I don’t have a problem with it. But there are some rules. No messing with the dungeon, no summoning monsters or whatever, and no experiments that would harm my citizens.”

“That’s agreeable,” Xol’sa said.

The man had few words to say, which Theo didn’t know what to think of. He leaned in, flashing a smile. “So, what do you hope to accomplish out here?”

“To study the dense magic,” Xol’sa said. “Perhaps learn something about my people. And… Your dungeon—there’s something strange about it.”

“So I’ve heard,” Theo said, leaning back again.

“More than what you know,” Xol’sa said, averting his gaze. “It feels tampered with.”

The wizard turned and cocked his head toward Theo. “Magic has a smell. I view it as a smell. You stink of planar magic, but not just one sort. There’s another resting somewhere near you. Perhaps… Perhaps in your inventory.”

Theo instinctively withdrew the early warning device from his inventory, holding it out. If Xol’sa found this shocking, it didn’t reach his face. The elf was wrapped up so tight, the alchemist doubted anything would bring emotion to his face. He pressed his fingers against the thing and nodded.

“That’s it,” Xol’sa said. “The magic is too powerful for me to determine its function, but it smells wrong.”

“Well. Let’s extend your responsibilities, then,” Theo said. “You can have your tower, but I want your opinion on the dungeon. I also want to be able to come to you with any questions I have.”

“A court wizard, then,” Xol’sa said, the hint of a smile cracking across his face. “I would enjoy that.”

Theo had a read on the elf by now. He was a lost soul without a home—something extremely familiar. The people in this world wouldn’t judge someone by their race, but something like an extra-dimensional elf might set off alarms. He also thought about the hierarchy of wizards and how things seemed so rigid. Unless someone had power, they rarely found themselves in positions that demanded it. Xol’sa was a man without a home, a wizard without a cult.

“Allow me to draw up a contract,” Theo said, summoning his menu.

“A governance core,” Xol’sa said, a genuine smile spreading across his face as the menu popped up.

[Broken Tusk’s Wizard]

Contract

Theo Spencer (Belgar) and Xol’sa agree to a mutual relationship wherein Xol’sa will serve Broken Tusk as its mage. Theo Spencer (Belgar) agreed to give Xol’sa all available resources (within reason) to accomplish his research tasks. Xol’sa agrees to never conduct experimentation, spellcraft, artificing, or any other manner of magical experimentation to harm the people of Broken Tusk. Xol’sa will be given a plot of land outside of the incorporated area of Broken Tusk to establish his tower, far enough from both the town and the Swamp Dungeon to avoid damaging either.

Terms:

Xol’sa shall become the sole mage for Broken Tusk, obtaining the title of “Town Mage”

Theo Spencer (Belgar) will provide a section of land for Xol’sa to establish his tower

Xol’sa will never harm the people of Broken Tusk, or their interests

Both parties agree to act in the best interest of Broken Tusk

Timeline:

Renewed every year

“These terms are more than agreeable,” Xol’sa said, accepting the menu without amending it.

Xol’sa has agreed to the terms of your contract.

Theo went into his map screen, finding a section of land near the dungeon. He marked a wide swath for Xol’sa to pick from, somewhere that was far enough from both the dungeon and town to avoid collateral.

“I’ve marked out a section of the swamp for you, somewhere with a bit of dry land,” Theo said. “Perhaps we can get a road out there for you.”

“No need,” Xol’sa said, waving a dismissive hand. “I can establish a semi-stable portal between the town and my tower.”

“Semi-stable… Sounds dangerous,” Theo said.

“It would be up to the user to determine the dangers,” Xol’sa said.

The entire exchange seemed agreeable. Theo didn’t know what the extent of the strange elf’s powers were, but his Wisdom seemed to sing the man’s praises. It wasn’t much of a logical leap, though. Xol’sa needed a home, and who wouldn’t want a wizard?

“Well, I have business to attend to,” Theo said, gesturing for the door.

Xol’sa finished his tea, setting down the cup and reaching a hand out to shake.

“I’d like you to tour the tower when it grows,” Xol’sa said. “Sometime tomorrow, I think.”

“I’d love to,” Theo said, shaking the elf’s hand.

Xol’sa left the lab without another word, and Theo relayed the events to Tresk. She liked him, which was rare. She was spiky about outsiders at the best of times and outright hostile at other times. If the marshling approved of someone who wasn’t from the town, they’d make a good fit.

Before leaving the lab, the alchemist set about some simple tasks. With the three valves on the holding tanks opened, he set up a distillation run for the three restoration essences. With the large long-term storage tanks outside, he’d be able to run the stills on a timer and go about his business in the town. He completed the process quickly, thanks to his Alchemical Grinders, and his fancy new timers.

Theo found his way to the assembling adventurers, his mind wandering back to his lab as he waited. There was a lot of experimentation to do, specifically with refining modifier essences. He wanted to run those essences through his pressure vessel, allowing him to apply the modifiers to his second-tier potions. The process required testing, something he intended to get to today. Those modified potions would be worth a fortune, and the tier after that would be even more expensive.

“We’re ready to go,” Aarok said after a while.

The gates were raised, and the adventurers assembled outside, waiting for Theo to inspect the dead monsters. The fields of dead were rotting, disgusting things. He held his nose as he went through the dead, finding a goblin and taking a moment for inspecting. His senses said that the beast had something alchemical in it, but he couldn’t be sure. With his knife in hand, he poked at the monster’s body. His mind twinged, urging him to check the mouth.

A simple cut later, Theo found his prize, although he wouldn’t care to repeat the process again.

[Goblin Tongue]

[Alchemy Ingredient]

Common

The tongue of a goblin. It’s disgusting.

Properties:

[Insatiable Hunger] [???] [???]

“For the goblins, go for the tongue,” Theo announced, placing the item in his inventory and grimacing. “As vile as that is.”

Theo’s senses said there was nothing else on the goblin, although he had his doubts. It was like that the Drogramath Alchemy Core simply wasn’t high enough to detect more advanced reagents. He moved on to the equally ugly trollings. This one was easy. The monster was covered in gore, something the alchemist’s senses yearned for. He removed an empty vial from his inventory and scooped some of the blood up, nodding to himself.

Troll Blood

[Alchemy Ingredient]

Rare

The blood of a troll. Known for its restorative properties, it is extremely volatile.

Properties:

[Searing Regeneration] [???] [???]

“I’ll bring vials to collect the blood,” Theo said. “But the trolls will produce Troll Blood. Easy enough.”

Theo repeated the process for some time, moving among the dead with the adventurers to find more treasures. It was to no avail, though. The wolves held no reagents, and he couldn’t discover anything new from the fallen monsters. Satisfied with his attempt, he returned to the lab and produced an absurd number of vials, returning to the adventurers to pass them out. He let out a sigh of relief when he was done, his mind itching for more experimentation.

Both Luras and Aarok accompanied him through the gate, the guildmaster clearly having something on his mind.

“I got the notification that you set me as a commander,” Aarok said.

“And I’m the Captain of the Guard,” Luras said, laughing.

“I got my Governance Core yesterday,” Theo said, smiling.

They followed him as he trudged a path over the cobbles, eager to share in the excitement of the new core’s abilities.

“It gave me a few new abilities,” Aarok said. “I can make announcements to the town—they should get a system message.”

“We can also designate squads and give them their own tactical maps,” Luras said, chuckling. “Theo, that core is worth it for those abilities alone.”

“It better be worth it,” Theo said. “It would have cost 50 gold if not for Fenian’s deal.”

“What deal?” Aarok said, stopping.

Theo refused to stop, simply moving along and reciting the story of Xol’sa the strange planar mage. The pair seemed reluctant to be excited for a mage in the town, but the alchemist soothed their concerns.

“I imagine most great towns have a wizard,” Theo said.

“Usually,” Aarok admitted.

“And I want Broken Tusk to be a powerful town,” Theo said. The reasoning was simple. The half-ogres had to let go of their preconceived notions of mages for progress to occur. “Meet the man before you judge him. I gave him permission for his tower; you can find him in the swamp.”

Aarok and Luras trailed Theo for a while, like children following a parent. The alchemist wanted to indulge their curiosity, but the monster wave took more out of his schedule than he would have liked. He made a mental list of the things he needed to do, which boiled down to two items. The farmer’s problem had only been solved for their current farming setup, but they needed to expand. This led him to thinking about the Spiny Swamp Thistle he’d planted at the edge of the gravel yard. They needed tending. Then, there was the problem of refined modifier essences, which only testing could solve.

Theo returned to his lab, finding Azrug and Fenian talking excitedly in the shop. He pushed past them without a word, heading to clean out his fermentation barrels. The alchemist got into the habit of annotating Basic Drogramath Alchemy in the old Drogramathi script to add the things that were missing. The section on refining modifiers was almost entirely missing, only having a few footnotes that wouldn’t serve him. There was also a lack of emphasis on the quality of essences produced, which would require further experimentation. He had a suspicion it had to do with which catalysts were used during the refining process for the pressure vessel and the motes with the fermentation barrels.

The fires beneath the stills still burned strong, the sound of the bubbling mash filling the lab. Theo threw open the window and took a deep breath. Before moving forward with his experimentation, he needed to set a baseline. Until now, he was operating under the assumption that second-tier potions couldn’t be mixed with first-tier modifiers. The alchemist took a vial of [Surge] modifier essence and a Healing Potion in hand, marching out to the gravel yard. He passed by his massive holding tanks and grinned. They were currently filling up with valuable essence. He flushed the System of his pressure vessel, bottling the small amount of Refined Flame Essence from before the siege. There simply wasn’t enough time to check it out before then.

[Refined Flame Essence]

[Essence] [Refined Essence]

Uncommon

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

Purity: 45%

50 units (liquid)

Concentrated, refined essence of fire, used in the creation of firebombs.

The quality was lacking, as expected. Theo mentally shrugged it off, moving to the center of the gravel yard and placing the Healing Potion down. He crouched near it, angling his body so he could sprint away the moment he introduced the modifier. The moment the modifier essence fell into the healing potion, it boiled. The alchemist ran, tripping over his own feet and holding his hands over his head. His experiment issued a minor explosion, not even shattering the glass vial. But it confirmed his suspicions about the compatibility of the potions with their lower-tier counterparts.

Theo had a small amount of [Surge] modifier left, somewhere around 50 units. He placed it in his pressure vessel and set it to work, inserting Copper Shavings for the catalyst. While he had new catalysts from Fenian, it wasn’t the time to stretch his experimentation. Good alchemy was done one step at a time, recording everything and retesting for accuracy. This wasn’t an issue with the first-tier potions, but things were getting more dangerous.

Instead of returning to the lab, Theo made his way to the small garden of Spiny Swamp Thistle. All but one had died since he checked last, withering away in the suboptimal conditions. The one that remained had grown larger but underwent no additional changes. The alchemist rolled the problem over in his mind. His use of the Lesser Potion of Growth monsterized the plant, but that potion had to be the key. He inspected the growth potion once again, observing several things.

[Lesser Potion of Growth]

[Potion]

Uncommon

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Drink to grow 1.25 your current size. May age the imbiber of the potion by an unknown quantity of time.

Effect:

Affect the [Growth] property of any living thing.

It was a standard, drinkable potion. Usually, he would rely on potions that he considered detergents to apply effects to the world around him. He had several examples in recent memory, including the Alchemic Soil Enhancer. His Drogramath Alchemy Core, on the verge of hitting Level 12, whispered into his heart. Theo was missing something. There was an element of the potion that wasn’t there, and adding that element would remedy the problem.

“What could it be, ol’ Droggie?” Theo asked of the empty air.

That innate knowledge sitting in his chest urged him to a solution. There was something that could stabilize the potion, converting it into a world-effect detergent. The next logical leap was easy. It felt like getting the answers to a test just by looking at the question, the combination of his Drogramath Alchemy Core, Drogramath Herbalism Core, and his Wisdom coming together to produce one simple answer. There was a modifier that would convert the potion, allowing him to apply the growth potion to the plants.

“Time to ferment,” Theo said, nodding to himself.

Chapter 29

Don’t Panic

Theo paced in his lab, withdrawing and rejecting another reagent from his inventory. He had gone through all of his stores without luck. His intuition whispered vaguely that the things he’d looked at weren’t what he needed. Rifling through the scatter of cabinets within the lab, the alchemist found something that would fit the bill. Tresk had a small store of Swamp Onions in a drawer, all in different states of decay. He picked one up and examined it for the first time in a long time.

[Swamp Onion]

[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]

Uncommon

Swamp Onions grow near the mossy embankments common in the marsh. They blend in with local flora and can be extremely difficult to spot.

Properties:

[Stench] [???] [???]

Something about the [Stench] property spoke to him. Theo scooped the entire cache of onions into his inventory, transporting them to his first fermentation barrel. He added the vegetables and an Earth Mote, returning the lid and standing back with satisfaction. As he stood there, a strange system window popped into the center of his vision. He hadn’t seen it before, but laughed when he read the text.

[Aarok]: This is a test of Broken Tusk’s new message system. Don’t panic.

The best way to keep people from panicking was to tell them not to do so. The timers on all three stills clicked off, the hissing of the condensers trailing off after a moment. Theo cleaned them out with his Cleansing Scrub and moved to check his stores, only to find a mostly empty Dimensional Storage Crate. He’d been neglecting his herb gathering, and the adventurer’s guild still hadn’t filled his Fire Salamander Egg order. He stood up, taking another deep breath of the strange mingle of scents before going downstairs. It was an opportunity to experiment with the local flora some more.

Fenian caught his attention before he had time to escape.

“Theo, these monsters are dropping good equipment,” Fenian said, smiling. “Have you dug through these piles yet?”

The alchemist had paid little attention to the piles at all. They were things that got in his way when he was trying to get up to the lab, but now he realized he should have been digging through them.

“I have seen no alchemy-specific gear,” Azrug said, shrugging. “It’s all combat stuff.”

“Well, look at the man,” Fenian said, gesturing to Theo. “He’s as likely to fall over as take a sure step. Are you wearing pants under there? A shirt?”

Theo pulled at the hem of his robe, pulling it up to reveal the threadbare shirt and slacks he got when he arrived in Broken Tusk. Fenian tutted with disappointment, searching through a pile of clothes to produce a pair of slacks and a shirt. They were both made of a white, cotton-like material but were of the same design as his current set.

“Put those on… No! Not in here, you savage,” Fenian said, cackling. “Inspect them first.”

[Pants of the Dexterous]

[Cloth Pants]

Rare

Scaling

Magical pants, granting the user a bonus to Dexterity.

Effect:

+2 Dexterity

[Shirt of the Dexterous]

[Cloth Shirt]

Rare

Scaling

Magical shirt, granting the user a bonus to Dexterity.

Effect:

+1 Dexterity

Theo’s mind went back to his fumbling sprint back in the gravel yard, minutes ago. He was at the base score for Dexterity, allowing him to move well enough without constantly tripping. If it was any lower than 5, he was sure he’d stumble with every step. The alchemist retreated to the lab to change, feeling a rush flood through his body. At 8 Dexterity, he felt only marginally more nimble. The thresholds for attributes that he knew about were at 10 and 20, but a +3 increase was more than nothing. He returned down the stairs, smiling.

“I should have thought about that,” Theo said.

“Me too,” Azrug said.

“Well, I’m going to make my rounds through town,” Fenian said. “I’ll see you before I depart, Theo.”

“All right. Take it easy,” Theo said.

Fenian paused at the door, turning to grin. “I don’t think I will.”

Azrug laughed, shaking his head. He turned to Theo once the trader was gone. “At least the monster wave was easy.”

Theo didn’t know if it was easy, but it went as planned. Xol’sa’s words played through his mind, but he wanted to ignore them for now. He knew there was something wrong with the dungeon—that much was obvious. The adventurer’s reports said it had slowed its growth, but by how much? In the alchemist’s mind, the key was to keep moving forward. There was no point in dwelling on something he couldn’t change, let alone something so out of his reach.

“We’ll be even better prepared for the next one,” Theo said.

“Aarok showed me his fancy new title,” Azrug said, shuffling his feet. “Can I have a title?”

“I’m going to give everyone a title for their station, but I haven’t done it yet,” Theo said. “The military aspect is the important part, for now.”

“Right,” Azrug said. “Well, I made some good money from Fenian. He didn’t want most of this stuff, but there were some gems.”

“Where’s that loremaster of yours? Didn’t you say you summoned one?” Theo asked.

“I did, but I’m not sure where they are,” Azrug said with a shrug.

“The roads just cleared,” Theo said. “Give them time.”

Theo and Azrug exchanged more pleasantries for a moment, the alchemist remembering not to let work consume him. It would be easy enough to shrug the young shopkeeper off, but he really enjoyed their conversations. He reflected on the changes that young man went through already, rising to pursue exactly what he wanted to do. That enduring spirit was reflecting in all Broken Tuskers. They were hard people that worked harder than anyone the alchemist had ever known.

Theo left the Newt and Demon, finding his way south to the recent development of houses near Miana’s. He located Gridgen and Sarna’s house and knocked, standing outside to appreciate the quality of the seed core buildings. Eventually, a woman appeared at the door. She smiled, and Gasem, her son, darted out the door and onto the cobbled streets.

“He’s a handful,” Sarna said, managing a weak smile.

“I wouldn’t know,” Theo said with a grin. “Gridgen found a cave in the hills, didn’t he?”

“Yes, he did,” Sarna said, exiting the building to pursue her child. She snatched him up, which the child found immensely funny, and returned to the alchemist’s side. “He told me the location and everything, but he’s busy with the clean-up effort.”

“Ah. Would you care to accompany me to the mine site?” Theo asked.

“With this?” Sarna said, adjusting the child on her hip.

Both Sarna and Gridgen were two heads shorter than Theo, bearing the stature of humans. With the alchemist’s enhanced strength and size, he took the child from the woman and rested him easily on his hip. Gasem didn’t seem to enjoy the process, shying away from him and casting a worried look at his mother.

“Well, that works,” Sarna said, grinning. She started walking southward, happy to have the child away for a moment. “It’s not far, just at the foot of the hills.”

Theo walked the cobbled path with her, using the trip as an excuse to inspect the plants that grew to the south. He’d picked most of the dry areas of Broken Tusk clean many times over, except the south. The group moved beyond the southern gate, something the alchemist wasn’t comfortable with. He left the confines of the city on rare occasions, usually venturing to the east to plunder the river. His senses prickled, and he held up a hand.

“What’s the problem?” Sarna asked.

“Just a moment,” Theo said.

The alchemist could simply buy the land to the south, but he wanted to inspect the prospective mine first.

“Are you above ground?” Theo asked.

“I’m cleaning up corpses,” Tresk said, sounding disgusted. “So, yeah.”

“Mind shadowing me at the southern gate? I’m leaving the walls,” Theo said.

“Oh, heck yeah,” Tresk said.

“What are we waiting for?” Sarna asked.

Theo explained briefly his fears about monsters outside of the gates. It was a relevant threat, seeing as the monster wave just finished. The alchemist didn’t know what kind of trouble they’d stir up with the local monsters, especially considering they had so many around them. Sarna seemed to understand his worries, looking at her child on his hip.

“The baby will never replace me,” Tresk said.

“I guess that means you’re here,” Theo said, laughing into her mind.

“I am. You are safe, little alchemist.”

“Right,” Theo said, pushing south toward the hills. “My Tara’hek is accompanying us in the shadows, just in case.”

“Tara’hek?” Sarna asked.

Theo forgot that not everyone was from the southlands. Even among those in Broken Tusk, no one had seen a true Tara’hek in centuries. Luras mentioned his grandfather saying that he knew someone who had done it, but that was it. There was no modern example of the bond in the town, except for Tresk and Theo’s. He explained the process briefly.

“It’s like a fake marriage,” Sarna said, giggling.

Theo didn’t rise at the rude comment. He saw the bond as a sacred thing, something that transcended marriage. But he understood people had different views. Not everyone wanted to swear off romance for the rest of their lives, even if he did.

“It’s a powerful bond,” came a voice from the shadows. “We have strong powers, lady.”

Sarna startled, clutching her chest and failing to spot the marshling. “So, the sneaky one is yours.”

“Yeah, that’s my sneaky marshling,” Theo said. “She gets bonuses for attacking from stealth, so I think she’ll remain hidden for the time being.”

“Good idea,” Sarna said.

The hike into the hills wasn’t as bad as the rise to the north. It was gentle, and the round hills that rose were covered in grasses. Theo plucked two new herbs he’d inspect later, but his eyes were focused on the crests of the hills. For all his fears, they weren’t attacked on the way there. They found Gridgen’s cave and inspected the entrance.

“Yeah, I guess this is it,” Sarna said. She watched Gasem on Theo’s hip, smiling. The boy was getting used to the dronon, even if his appearance was fearsome.

“I’ll check the inside,” Tresk said.

Theo withdrew the Mine Seed Core and placed it near the rocky entrance of the cave. The seed refused to penetrate the stone, a system message appearing in his vision.

Cannot place Mine Seed Core until all monsters are cleared from the cave.

Theo didn’t need to tell Tresk that there were monsters in there. A shrieking sound echoed off the walls, filling the hills with a horrid sound.

“There’s a lot of monsters in here,” Tresk said. “I don’t know if I can clear them all.”

Theo noticed the worried look on Sarna’s face. He patted Gasem on the back and turned away from the cave, returning the seed core to his inventory.

“We’re going to need to clear the cave, first,” Theo said. “Let’s go back to town while Tresk works.”

“Good idea,” Sarna said, scampering fearfully to his side.

Theo summoned his mayor’s screen, tabbing over to the tactical screen. As they walked the hills, he inspected the options. He could issue a call to arms for the adventurers, pinning a place on the map to summon them.

“How many other adventurers do you need?” Theo asked.

“Two? Maybe? Better send three,” Tresk said.

Theo clicked on a few buttons, selecting a dropdown that requested three adventurers from the town. There were a ton of options, including creating a quest with the adventurer’s guild, setting a bounty on the monsters, and other useful things. He sent the message out just as they returned through the southern gate. Before they reached Sarna’s house, he spotted three adventurers sprinting over the cobbled streets.

“So,” Theo said, setting young Gasem down near their house. “Do you want to be a smelter, or a miner?”

“Are those monsters going to come back once you clear the cave?” Sarna asked.

“I doubt it,” Theo said. “I think once I set the seed core, they won’t respawn.”

“Then it doesn’t matter to me,” Sarna said. “If I’m meant to work, I just need somewhere to put my kid during the day.”

Theo’s brow furrowed. He hadn’t considered child care for his new arrivals. No one popped into his mind for the job, and he let out a heavy sigh.

“Well, that’s another problem to solve,” Theo said. “I need to check interest within the town. To see if anyone wants childcare for their children.”

“Childcare?” Sarna asked, raising an eyebrow. Gasem busied himself with a slimy rock, immediately shoving it in his mouth.

The concept of daycare didn’t exist in this world, but he should have guessed that. If they followed the medieval concepts, which seemed to be the theme, there would be wet nurses‌. It was impossible to be sure, but it brought up another question for the town. Was this meant to be some haven where everyone could drop their kids off at a daycare for free? Or should he let them all simply sort themselves out. Education was another question lingering in his mind. Did it really matter to make children smarter if they could just place points in Intelligence when they got their cores? Theo’s mind swirled with too many questions, leading him back to his original thought. He needed to take a survey.

“Well, that leads me to a question,” Theo said. “Would you like to drop Gasem off at daycare? A place where someone else would watch him so you could work?”

Sarna thought for a long moment. She pressed her index finger into her chin and hummed.

“I suppose that would be nice,” Sarna said. “I’ve never heard of such a thing, though.”

“Right. I’m going to ask around to the other people with kids. See what they think,” Theo said.

Sarna shrugged. “It would be nice to have a break,” she said in a small voice.

Theo clapped his hand on her shoulder and smiled. “I have some experimentation to do, but we’ll talk to the others about it.”

Theo and Sarna exchanged their good-byes, and he inspected the two new reagents he’d harvested. The first was a cluster of flowers, pulsing with a gentle blue light. They didn’t look poisonous, and the alchemist’s senses said they were fine to taste, so he did. It had almost no flavor, what little came through tasting slightly like rosewater.

[Properties Discovery!]

You’ve discovered an additional effect from the Mage’s Bane by eating it.

[Absorb Magic] discovered.

[Mage’s Bane]

[Alchemy Ingredient]

Rare

A flower with anti-magic properties.

Properties:

[Resist Magic] [Absorb Magic] [???]

This was a reagent that could be either useful or useless. Without a potion to judge it by, he wouldn’t be able to tell. Theo also couldn’t predict what kind of essence modifier this would produce. The alchemist shrugged, producing the other reagent and turning it over in his fingers. It looked like a hard blueberry, almost the color of stone. As he took a bite, the flavor of chipped rocks flooded through his mouth, making him gag. He swallowed the dusty thing, receiving a message for his efforts.

[Properties Discovery!]

You’ve discovered an additional effect from the Roc Berries by eating it.

[Retreat] discovered.

[Roc Berries]

[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]

Uncommon

A berry that grows in mossy hills.

Properties:

[Feather] [Retreat] [???]

Even though the Rock Berries were listed as food, they tasted far worse than the Mage’s Bane. The properties that came with the berries were almost impenetrable. Theo couldn’t even think of what either would do but shrugged it off.

To Theo’s surprise, he received reports about the adventurer’s progress in the cave. It gave him updates on how many monsters they’d kill, but not what the monsters were or how many remained. He was counting on the System informing him when it was clear, though. Then he could give the signal to Tresk that they’d taken care of everything within.

Theo returned to the lab and checked his fermentation, finding that it was almost done. He made several notes in Basic Drogramath Alchemy before cleaning his stills and prepping them for another run. Today was a day he could enjoy. One filled with alchemy and progress.

Chapter 30

Horrible Demon Dog Cave

Theo left the distilled essences for the day. He intended to make good on that promise to himself, but he couldn’t sit idle. Instead of dashing around the lab, trying to get as much done in the time he had left, he moved at a leisurely pace. The scent of the fermenting Swamp Onions filled the lab, stinging his eyes. Even the open window did little to wash the smell out of the air, leaving it hanging there like a miasma. The distillation of that mash was even worse. The moment the condenser dripped the first drops of essence, tears formed in the corners of the alchemist’s eyes.

“We’re almost done clearing the dungeon,” Tresk said. “We’re finding some weird monsters. Dogs that walk upright. They’ve got tentacles, too.”

“That’s disgusting,” Theo said.

While he waited, Theo inspected his mayor’s screen to assess the cost of owning the southern hills. Currently, Broken Tusk expanded 200 paces south of Perg’s tannery. A single expansion to the south wasn’t enough, bringing the incorporated part of town just shy of the mine’s location. The mine sat on his map now, an unlabeled red pin nestled among the hills. Expanding it by one section had cost him 5 gold, then the next cost 8 gold. He swallowed hard as he agreed to the menu’s request, watching as his funds dwindled. 8 gold, 67 silver, and 52 copper left.

The ground rocked under his feet as the expansion took place. Theo regretted not sending out a message before he did that. Townspeople were likely freaking out, assuming another monster wave was on the way. The alchemist navigated the new, confusing screen to find a section for town announcements. It took a while of digging, but he knew it was there. Aarok’s announcement earlier was proof of that. The half-ogre had access to a simplified version of the mayor’s screen, including a fancy tactical map.

[Theo]: I just expanded the town. We’re not under attack.

Theo frowned as soon as he sent it, shaking his head. At least he didn’t say don’t panic.

“Should I panic?” Tresk asked.

“No, I just expanded the town. Did you read the message?”

“Yeah, I read it. Some of it. As long as we’re not under attack.”

Theo pressed his hand against the hot flask collecting the modifier essence.

[Aerosolize]

[Essence Modifier]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

15 units (liquid)

When the glass this potion is contained within shatters, a cloud of gas will emerge. The potion’s effect will be greatly diminished, based on the size of the cloud, applying that effect to all targets within the cloud.

He wasn’t sure if this would work, but it was better than nothing. The description said it diminished the effects of a potion, which might be the key. If the plant he experimented on received too much Lesser Potion of Growth, it could have monsterized. This was all theorization, though. There was only one sure way to know for sure.

Theo transferred the growth potion into a more fragile vial before adding the [Aerosolize] modifier to a Lesser Potion of Growth, watching a thick cloud of yellow gas emerge from the vial, then get sucked back in. The potion took on that putrid hue, but the smell diminished. That did little for the stench that had seeped into the pores of the wood, and the fabric of the alchemist’s clothes. He spent some time sprinkling Cleansing Scrub around the lab and himself, scouring the smell away to leave a pleasant berry scent. He inspected the modified potion before heading outside.

[Lesser Potion of Growth]

[Aerosolize]

[Potion] [Modified Potion]

Uncommon

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

Drink to grow 1.25 your current size. May age the imbiber of the potion by an unknown quantity of time.

Effect (Modified):

Break this vial to apply a diminished [Growth] effect over an area. Area and strength depend on potion quality and rank.

The sun fell in the west, casting long shadows across the town. Theo had two experiments to run before the day was done. The first was to apply only part of an unmodified Lesser Potion of Growth to his Spiny Swamp Thistle plant, something his instincts said wouldn’t work. For a potion to take effect, most of the contents needed to be imbibed. That needed more experimentation, but it was a task for another time. The second experiment he’d run today was simple. Throw the modified growth potion at his healthy Spiny Swamp Thistle and observe the reaction.

The expected result of using part of a Lesser Potion of Growth was failure. The expected result from his aerosolized potion was unknown.

Theo approached his lone plant, crouching nearby but preparing to run. Even with his increased Dexterity, he wasn’t sure if he wouldn’t fall on his face. While he felt more nimble, it wouldn’t be enough if the monster could free itself from the ground. The alchemist leveled the vial of Lesser Potion of Growth and let a single drop fall on the spiny leaves of the Spiny Swamp Thistle. Nothing happened, as expected. He poured half the contents of the vial, exactly 1 unit, onto the plant to no effect. Before proceeding with the next phase, he inspected the vial. The contents swirled for a moment, turning a sludge-brown color and thickening.

[Inert Potion]

[Junk]

Common

Created by: Belgar

This potion has been measured incorrectly. It is now useless.

“That’s one mystery solved,” Theo said.

With a tangential theory confirmed, he moved on to the main experiment. The alchemist took the modified Lesser Potion of Growth in hand and stepped back, judging the distance he could throw accurately. He furrowed his brow, picking up a stone from the gravel yard and throwing it as hard as he could. It tumbled through the air, falling ten paces away. Theo adjusted his distance from the plant, getting uncomfortably close and hoisting the potion. In one jerky motion, the potion missed by a large margin.

“Well, dang,” Theo said, watching the potion hit a full pace from its target.

The distance didn’t matter, though. Theo watched as the vial shattered, green smoke billowing from the point of impact. It rolled over the ground like a creeping fog, enveloping the Spiny Swamp Thistle and the gravel yard itself. A thought flitted through the alchemist’s mind at that point. The gravel yard had been a place where he disposed of countless failed experiments. Until fire licked at the soles of his shoes, he hadn’t considered the possibility of a reaction. Without his new Dexterity, his scramble across the yard would have ended in disaster.

“Is that fire?” Tresk asked.

Theo fell on the soft ground, watching as a pillar of flame rose from the gravel yard. Shards of the hard stone cut at his face, peppering everything around him as a tornado of fire emerged. It raged for a moment, licking at the boughs of the nearby trees, before flickering out. As quickly as the reaction happened, it ended.

“No need to worry,” Theo said. “Just experimentation.”

“You lost health!” Tresk said. “I’ve never seen your health bar go that low!”

Theo took a moment to look at his interface. The marshling was right; he was missing a quarter of his health bar. Looking down, he spotted the source of the issue. A large chunk of gravel had wedged itself into his left shoulder. Only now did he notice the pain, radiating in dull waves through his body. It was the first time he’d been injured since coming to Broken Tusk, and the entire ordeal was strange.

“Oh, I got smacked by a rock,” Theo lied, playing down the severity of the injury. “So, why doesn’t it hurt?”

“I dunno, you’re a weird guy. Maybe you like getting hurt,” Tresk said. “Maybe Wisdom mitigates pain.”

Theo shrugged it off, pulling a Lesser Healing Potion from his inventory. He held the vial in his hand, peering through the red liquid. The alchemist had made thousands of potions by now. Countless people benefited from the healing properties contained within that 2-unit vial. He downed it in one gulp, eyes going wide as the elixir went to work. The large gash in his shoulder stitched itself together in a single heartbeat, the pain vanishing just as quick. Flecks of gravel pushed themselves out of his wound. The blood soaking into his robes vaporized, forming a dense red mist that drifted with the wind. His health bar returned to full, and he grinned.

A small crater sat in the middle of the gravel yard, but the plant was unharmed. The green fog hadn’t even been washed away by the force of the fire tornado, but it was dissipating. Theo kept clear of the fog until it vanished completely, moving to get a better view of his plant. As he approached it, a voice boomed from behind him.

“Could you at least use the announcement system if you’re going to blow stuff up?” Aarok bellowed.

“Oops,” Theo said, navigating to his menu.

[Theo]: Nothing to worry about. Just blowing stuff up at the Newt and Demon.

“Yeah, bit late,” Aarok said, laughing.

Theo simply smiled in response, turning to look at his Spiny Swamp Thistle. It took little observation to know when a plant grew to twice its previous size. He looked at a few notification windows that had accumulated during the excitement.

Drogramath Alchemy Core gained experience (1%).

Drogramath Herbalism Core gained experience (1%).

Theo Spencer gained experience (2%).

Interestingly, his herbalism core got some experience from that. It was an interaction with a plant, so that made sense. Theo’s eyes rolled over the area behind his lab. Suddenly, he had the urge to upgrade his lab and take the Experimentation Room upgrade. His intuition said it would be a safe way to dispose of old potions, and he wanted to replace the gravel yard with a small garden.

“So, that’s interesting,” Theo said, kneeling to dig up his Spiny Swamp Thistle Root. “I found a way to grow plants without turning them into monsters.”

“I saw you also poached some of my adventurers,” Aarok said, folding his arms.

“It’s a short job,” Theo said, waving him away. “They should already be done with their task.”

“What was the job?”

“They cleared out a mine to the south,” Theo said.

“In the hills? I didn’t know there was a mine there.”

“It’s a cave, currently,” Theo said.

“No caves, either,” Aarok said.

Theo rose, hoisting his prize in the air. The Spiny Swamp Thistle Root had grown four times its normal size.

“Nice root,” Aarok said.

“It is, thank you. The cave wasn’t there before I arrived,” Theo said. “That’s my theory. Perfect quality stone in the north, an endless supply of reagents here in the swamp, and perfect quality metal in the south. Does lumber have quality? I never inspected the raw lumber Sledge makes—those are perfect quality, too. I’d put a gold coin on it.”

“And you’d be right,” Aarok said, shifting uncomfortably. “What does it all mean?”

“That’s a question no one can answer,” Theo said, shrugging. “What would you do if you were me? Would you run away from this place, scared of the implications?”

“I’d dig in harder. I’d do exactly what you’re doing. Exploiting all these resources to reinforce the town,” Aarok said, smiling.

Theo simply smiled, feeling that warmth of friendship spread through his chest. He inspected his new Spiny Swamp Thistle Root, gawking as the interface had changed.

Spiny Swamp Thistle Root

[Alchemy Ingredient] [Cultivated]

Common

This Spiny Swamp Thistle Root has been cultivated. Selective breeding and applications of growth potions will increase the Cultivation meter. Cultivation percentage increases yield and quality of this reagent.

Cultivation: 30%

Unit by volume:

4 units

Properties:

[Healing] [Regeneration] [???]

“Oh, wow,” Theo said. “I didn’t see that coming.”

“What?”

Theo explained the screen he saw, continuing to talk about the implications, “So, instead of 1 unit, it produces 4 units. If I cultivate these to be better, they’ll produce even more at a higher quality.”

“You need a garden, then,” Aarok said. “Mind if I make a suggestion?”

“Sure.”

“Get your miners to clear this area before you send them off to mine,” Aarok said. “You got the farmers so busy that I doubt they’ll have labor to spare.”

“A task for another day,” Theo said, placing the Spiny Swamp Thistle Root in his inventory. “Tresk should be done soon. Should we get some food?”

“She is done,” Tresk’s voice came from behind. Theo spun on the spot, his heart skipping a beat as she appeared from his shadow.

“You’re going to give me a heart attack one day,” Theo said, clutching his chest.

Tresk extended her arms, opening and closing her hands repeatedly. “Forehead.”

Theo leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers. They got 10 percent of their Tara’hek level from that one forehead press. Normally, it ranged from 1 to 5 percent daily, but they were working together a lot. That action of cooperation sent it skyrocketing more than anything else, and the alchemist needed to find more ways to instigate the bonus.

“You should have dinner at the guildhall,” Aarok said. “Xam cooks for us almost every night.”

“Doesn’t she have a tavern to run?” Theo asked.

Aarok simply shrugged. “I got my hands on some salt and actual vegetables.”

“Yes, we’re going,” Tresk said, nodding.

“I still haven’t made salt,” Theo said, following Aarok’s path around the Newt and Demon.

He hadn’t honestly tried to create salt yet. So many things kept coming up that he couldn’t split his concentration on, leaving him focused on very few things. The separation of base elements in raw ingredients was a way off for him. He knew that. The alchemist would need a way to alchemically break matter down. It was a far-off dream.

“What do you expect? It’s been so busy,” Tresk said, walking close to her Tara’hek. “Oh! We named the cave.”

“You and the other adventurers?” Theo asked.

“Yeah. Horrible Demon Dog Cave,” Tresk said, smiling.

“I don’t think so,” Theo said.

“You killed them, right?” Aarok asked. “Why not Dead Dog Cave?”

“That’s much better,” Theo said.

“Fine, but it’s under protest,” Tresk said.

Theo opened his menu as they walked, stumbling a few times as the screen obscured his vision. He named the pin “Dead Dog Cave.” By the time they arrived at the adventurer’s guild, he was starting to get hungry. The scent of something cooking within didn’t help matters. It wafted on the air, something different than he was used to. The scent of savory meat was there, but other enticing smells lingered with them. When the door swung open, he saw Xam working something that looked like a massive wok.

“What is she making?” Theo asked, trying to get a look at the mix of meat and vegetables.

“Meaty veggie things,” Tresk said.

As Theo approached the half-ogre woman, he saw it was something like stir-fry. She’d jumbled vegetables and meat together with some sauce and was flicking the wok furiously, rolling the contents over themselves. The alchemist bit back a comment to Xam, a thought about her horrid cooking until now. The food she was making here looked delicious, unlike her unappetizing perpetual stew.

Theo thought of something more constructive to say. “Have you thought about getting a cooking core?”

It was just an assumption that such a core existed, but it was logical.

“Well, if you want to fund it, I’ll be more than happy,” Xam said.

As if summoned, either by the words of commerce or the pleasant smell of the food, Fenian entered the building. Every time the man appeared with a new hat, Theo couldn’t help but think of the lead Karatan in his driving team. Galflower had a taste for hats, apparently.

“I see everyone has smelled this wonderful dish. How do you do it, Xam?” Fenian asked.

“With care,” Xam said, a slight blush spreading across her cheeks. She turned the fire down, scooping out a bowl for Fenian to have first.

“You have any cooking cores she could have?” Tresk asked, pushing her way to the front of the vague line that was forming.

“Oh, my,” Fenian said, placing his hand on his chest. “You don’t have any cooking cores? And you’ve managed to create such a wonderful dish. No, we can’t have that.”

The elf trader withdrew a core from his inventory, handing it over freely. Theo didn’t get a good look at it, but he knew it wasn’t worth much. While the gesture was appreciated, Fenian wouldn’t lose much money on that one. There were a slew of common cores that went for almost nothing, only costing a few silver. All the same, Xam’s face lit up.

“Why hasn’t she bought the core before?” Theo asked.

“She’s too proud,” Tresk said. “Even with her tavern doing all right, funds are still tight for her.”

“Well, that sucks,” Theo said, feeling a pang of guilt, realizing that Xam and her tavern fell in his blind spot.

The alchemist managed to shake the feeling off and grab a bowl of the food. It was much like all the food made in Broken Tusk. The half-ogres and marshlings alike enjoyed simplicity in their cooking. Theo couldn’t place the vegetables, but there were three distinct flavors, even when all the textures blended together. It was savory, if not a little too salty. The highlight of the meal was the meat, as it always was. It was cooked to perfection, almost melting in his mouth as he ate.

As Tresk and Theo made their way back to the Newt and Demon, they reflected on how relaxing of an evening it had been. They were both exhausted, but it was worth it. Progress came easily lately, but there were many roadblocks in their way. Sleep was stolen from the alchemist as he lay in bed, though. While Tresk’s snores filled the room, he peeked under his covers at the early warning crystal. It glowed brightly in the dark. A slow, yellow pulse.

Chapter 31

I Ain’t Going Through No Portal!

“What?” Tresk asked.

The marshling had pilfered two extra servings of Xam’s strange stir-fry. She set the bowls out on the table, peering out of the window with suspicious eyes. The bowls were still steaming hot, a benefit of their shared inventory. Theo dug into his idly, rolling his mind of the possibilities. The next monster wave should be a few days off, not imminent. With the last wave finishing only two days ago, it felt way too soon. What’s worse, the crystal had shifted to a slightly darker color since last night.

“Highest on the suspect list? That dang wizard,” Tresk said, narrowing her eyes at Theo. “Never trust a wizard, Theo.”

Theo leaned back in his chair, letting out a breath. He doubted the Level 20 planar mage could do much to harm the dungeon or instigate a monster wave. If any spellcaster were to blame, it would be Uharis. The archmage of the Burning Eye arrived right before the monster wave, even providing the alchemist with a means to detect it. That was suspicious, but hardly proof. Theo would point to himself as the cause of the issue before anyone else, his knowledge of such magic severely lacking.

“Maybe,” Theo concluded with a shrug. “Seems like starting a monster wave hurts his cause, though. Xol’sa wants a place to live, away from the cults.”

“I’m distrustful of anything I can’t stab,” Tresk said. “If it doesn’t bleed, how can you understand it?”

“That’s fair enough,” Theo said, sipping his moss tea. “Instead of worrying about the cause of the problem, we should worry about bolstering our defenses.”

“Yeah, Fenian is still in town. Buy some guns,” Tresk said.

“I’m broke,” Theo said, withdrawing all eight gold coins from his inventory.

Tresk grinned, reaching into her dimensional sack and placing a pile of gold on the table. By Theo’s count, there were nearly thirty gold coins in the stack. She had been hoarding gold, but it wasn’t a surprise. The adventurers were making a lot of money from the monster waves, receiving a similar bonus per wave. The alchemist didn’t want to think about it, but the waves were generating an absurd amount of revenue.

“Everyone is getting rich, huh?” Theo asked.

The alchemist summoned his mayor’s screen, tabbing over to the financial tab and sorting everyone by money earned. Theo was at the top, although his income was almost equal to his expenditures. Aarok came second, although the interface made a note about the money belonging to the adventurer’s guild. Tresk came next, and a gulf separated the top earners with the rest of the town. Even Ziz’s stoneworking business lagged them, coming in at 20-some gold for the last 30-day period.

“Not that rich, I guess,” Theo said.

“Rich enough to get new guns,” Tresk said.

The pair sat there, theorizing to no end about the source of the problem. Theo was reserved that they would never understand, but Tresk pinned the blame on everyone she could. She listed off gods that might be at fault, but none of that lined up with what the alchemist understood. Their conversation was cut short when a system message jumped into the middle of their vision.

[Aarok]: Theo, report to the square.

“At least he didn’t say not to panic,” Theo said.

“Need an escort?” Tresk asked.

Theo felt a twinge in his mind that he might need her blades. Despite the message appearing in text, containing no emotional information from Aarok, he knew something was up. They departed from the Newt and Demon immediately, making their way to the square. The alchemist’s new combination of slightly increased Vigor and Dexterity saw him up the hill quicker than ever. He couldn’t hope to keep Tresk’s pace, but she stuck to shadow-jumping, anyway.

In the distance, near the black monolith marking the center of town, Theo spotted a shimmer of light. A silver portal rested near the square, pulsing with a powerful light. The edges of the thing were a defined line of silver, but the center was pitch black.

“Portal,” Aarok said, pointing at the portal with his bow in hand. “Appeared a few moments ago.”

Where panic would seize most people, Theo had an excellent memory. Xol’sa’s words about creating a means of transportation between his tower and the town came back clearly. The alchemist held up a calming hand.

“That’ll be our new wizard,” Theo said.

“I told you wizards were no good,” Tresk said from the shadows.

The portal shimmered. The pitch black at the center of the thing solidified, giving the observers a view of a building’s interior. While the image was flickering and shimmering like the surface of water, Theo could make out some details. The strange, extra-planar elf stood on the other side of the portal, waving his arms and muttering something. A moment later, he stepped through, emerging onto the cobbles with shaking legs.

“Forgive me, Mayor,” Xol’sa said, bowing deeply. “I would very much enjoy your company at my tower—I have something urgent to discuss.”

Theo appreciated the man’s discretion. Others in the group might not have noticed the slight quaver in the elf’s voice, but the alchemist noticed. There was an urgency that couldn’t be explained by excitement for one’s tower.

“Tresk, let’s go,” Theo said.

“I ain’t going through no portal!” Tresk said, appearing from the darkness.

“It’s safe,” Xol’sa said.

Theo didn’t know about that. The elf had told him it wasn’t entirely safe in the past, but this was urgent. Without another word, Xol’sa disappeared through the floating, shimmering pool, and the alchemist followed. It felt like stepping under a waterfall, a cold sensation rushing over his head to cover his entire body in chills. The effect of suddenly traveling into the tower was disorientating, and he fell to the ground in a heap. Tresk followed shortly after, tumbling over him and striking the stone floor with a curse. The center of the portal returned to deep black, barring passage for any others.

“Welcome to my tower,” Xol’sa said, experiencing none of the disorientation. “Welcome to grave news and bad omens.”

“A cheery welcome,” Theo said, rising to his feet.

“Accompany me to the tower’s roof,” Xol’sa said, gesturing to a set of winding stairs. They worked their way up the edge of the tower, snaking through a floor directly above them. While the base of the tower bore a stone floor, every floor after that had wooden floors.

The group ascended the stairs, Tresk and Theo on shaking legs. Each floor held something different, something interesting. Magical equipment, endless curios and trophies, and even alchemy equipment that the alchemist recognized the function of. When they finally reached the roof, the view was breathtaking. They were far enough away from Broken Tusk that Theo couldn’t spot it on the horizon.

“I’ve never been this far into the swamp,” Theo said, casting his gaze over the strange landscape. He immediately spotted the dungeon in the distance—a rise of strange stone in the middle of a watery patch.

“Wow, nice tower. For an evil wizard,” Tresk said.

“I’m not evil,” Xol’sa said, wounded.

“She doesn’t trust magic, I guess,” Theo said.

“Just so,” Xol’sa said, waving his hand.

An array of magical diagrams appeared in the air, tracing the circle of the tower and surrounding them. Theo couldn’t understand anything written in the air, the floating red text striking an imposing image. He just let his eyes wander over the scene, awestruck.

“This is us,” Xol’sa said, pointing at a circle with some inscriptions around the edges.

“If you say so,” Tresk said with a shrug.

“Ah. Right. You don’t understand magical-planar theory,” Xol’sa said. “I apologize. The diagrams you see represent magical influences in the world. My tower lights up like a beacon.”

Theo could see it now. The circle Xol’sa gestured to was larger than most of the others. It stood out as though it had a flavor all its own. His eyes were drawn to another circle, seemingly off in the distance. It was a different shade of red, with a significantly more complex pattern. The elf noticed his attention to detail.

“You’ve spotted it,” Xol’sa said. “Something is wrong.”

“I may have seen it, but I don’t know what it is.”

With a touch, Xol’sa brought the strange circle closer. Every other circle shifted to make way for that one, pushing to the side and crowding the edges of the tower. The elf swiped his hands, and it grew even larger. It wasn’t just one circle, but concentric circles crammed in together. The more he zoomed, the more details came into view until an even stranger circle was visible. It was blue, compared to the red of the other circles, and absurdly complex. It had its own nested rings, creating a tapestry of infinite complexity.

“Your dungeon has been tampered with,” Xol’sa said.

“By a powerful mage?” Tresk asked, leaning in to scowl at the circle. “Maybe one from the Burning Eye?”

Xol’sa looked shocked by the proclamation. His normally placid face twisted into surprise. “Unless you’re referring to a mage bordering on the edge of godhood, no.”

“This complicated circle is an addition,” Theo said, pointing at the offending diagram. “I mean, that’s obvious.”

“It is,” Xol’sa said, shrugging. “Despite the complexity of the arcane languages, they’re easy enough to understand.”

“I don’t see it,” Tresk said, frowning.

“Cut to the issue,” Theo said, waving Tresk’s concerns away. “What is that thing doing to my dungeon?”

“Withdraw the crystal from your inventory,” Xol’sa said.

Theo saw no reason not to, pulling the now-orange thing from his inventory. He winced at the new color.

“According to the crystal, we’re a day away from another attack,” Xol’sa said, prodding a symbol in the air. The crystal pulsed in response. “Do you understand?”

Theo did understand, although he didn’t want to. He thought the early warning crystal was an ambient thing, collecting magical information from the air and relaying it. A different picture entered his mind now. The crystal was connected directly to the dungeon’s magic, reading the information directly. The implications were massive, even if he didn’t want to consider them.

“That’s an addition to the dungeon’s wave timer,” Theo said.

“Exactly,” Xol’sa said. “You catch on quickly.”

“I still don’t get it,” Tresk said.

“Just wait, I’ll explain,” Xol’sa said. “Someone of great power altered the dungeon’s magical instructions. No one does this. To change the nature of a dungeon is a complex task. You mentioned another mage, marshling. What level was he?”

“80,” Theo said.

“Not even close,” Xol’sa said, shaking his head. “A mortal would need to push beyond Level 200 to even think of tampering with a dungeon like this. Imagine a healer of Glanthier approaching a wounded human, casting their healing spell, and changing them into a half-ogre. That’s the level of complexity we’re talking about.”

“So, do you understand it?” Theo asked.

“As much as any mage my level,” Xol’sa said.

A new theory formed in Theo’s mind. Uharis wasn’t acting out of malice or stupidity. In the archmage’s eyes, it was a mercy. To pull the veil over their eyes, preventing them from seeing the true nature of their dungeon was out of pity. The nail in the coffin of that theory was the early warning crystal. Perhaps he didn’t want them to know how doomed they were, or perhaps he knew they could turn this curse into a fortune.

“So, we’re just going to have a monster wave every three days?” Theo asked, shrugging.

“Hey! That sucks!” Tresk shouted.

“Calm down, marshling,” Xol’sa said, holding up his hand. He zoomed in on a section of the offending circle and pointed at a series of symbols. “I can’t work with most of this webwork, but there’s some that fall into my people’s domain.”

Theo wished he didn’t have such keen intuition. Xol’sa was a planar mage, something the alchemist could extrapolate. That meant the offending string of symbols were related to things outside of this plane of reality. The elf was connected to this—the offending change must have felt like a wound to the nature of the world.

“Something tampered with the dungeon,” Theo started, letting his thoughts come together as he spoke. “To draw power from another plane or to send instructions from another plane—whatever it is, it’s affecting the wave timer.”

“I would place a gold coin that your intuition comes from your cores, Mayor,” Xol’sa said. “Drogramath is legendary for tampering where he shouldn’t.”

Theo doubted that. Drogramath seemed to pride himself on the Old Drogramathi script, not arcane scribbles. He wouldn’t raise this issue with the elf, though. This was magic far outside of the alchemist’s reach.

“What can be done?” Theo asked.

“Yeah, how do we fix it?” Tresk asked. She was clearly feeling left out of the conversation.

“The symbols you see here are representations of reality,” Xol’sa said with a shrug. “They’re not what’s actually happening, just something visual to look at. I can create an array of magical beacons to stabilize this additional rune. I am, as you might guess, the single expert on the topic alive today.”

Theo leaned against the wall, the crashing sense of confluence entering his mind once again. So many people were drawn to one spot with absurdly particular skills.

“Is it hard to do?” Tresk asked. “Do you need anything from us?”

“It is simple,” Xol’sa admitted. “As a planar mage, I can see that webwork of magic. I see it everywhere. Even when I close my eyes, I see the damned web.”

Theo sensed a sore subject there and wouldn’t press. He could put enough together to understand the man’s pain and the implications of his core.

“You can’t take your core out, can you?” Theo asked.

“I would die,” Xol’sa said with a shrug. “My people aren’t meant to live in this world, so the System created a way for me to survive. A curse and a blessing.”

“Maybe there’s an alchemical solution to your problem,” Tresk said.

“Maybe. Until then, I simply need your permission to begin my work,” Xol’sa said, brightening up considerably. “I admit. When I spotted the problem, I set up the array without hesitation. I haven’t slept, but the array is completed. It only needs activation.”

“You have my permission,” Theo said.

Theo and Tresk lingered on the roof for some time while Xol’sa went downstairs. The alchemist wanted to drink in the swamp's flavor from a safe vantage point, spotting groups of monsters roaming through the marsh. The marshling giggled when a wolf-riding goblin got too close to the tower, receiving a large fireball to the face. Magic tingled through the air after a while, stinging their skin and sparkling across the swamp. The elf returned with a smile on his face.

“Easy enough,” Xol’sa said. “The array seems stable.”

The elf gestured, and the magical diagrams zoomed, centering back on the intruder. Only a few characters had changed, pulsing gently.

“That is all the change we need,” Xol’sa said. “I’ll adjust the array, but this requires testing. I’ve delayed the monster wave by some time.”

Theo withdrew the warning crystal from his inventory, checking that it was still working properly.

“Good,” Theo said, nodding. Something came into his mind that he couldn’t push away. “Why didn’t you just portal here? Why did Fenian bring you?”

“Ah,” Xol’sa said. “An academic question. The range is quite poor, and I need a Mage’s Tower to cast the spell.”

“Makes sense,” Tresk said with a shrug.

“Speaking on that topic,” Xol’sa said. “I’ll operate the portal daily for the adventurers. The distance from here to the dungeon is shorter than from town."

“That’s very kind of you,” Theo said.

“It’s the least I can do,” Xol’sa said. “My findings ‌are interesting enough to make the trip worth it. A day of experimentation in this place has brought me a trove of information.”

Xol’sa gave Tresk and Theo a brief tour of his tower. Most of what he said made little sense to them, but they appreciated the gesture. Even the alchemy equipment the elf used was strange. It condensed reagents into small gems that were used as catalysts for spells. The alchemist saw little use for this process in his form of alchemy. Perhaps one day he would be at a level where the method made sense, but for the time being, it was unusable.

He ended the tour by showing off the wards at the edge of the tower. They functioned like defensive emplacements on the town’s walls but had many drawbacks. The rate of fire was significantly decreased, and Xol’sa had to be present to operate them manually. According to him, he had a sense for everything around the tower. Only when he gave the mental command would the weapons fire, otherwise he relied on a heavy stone wall that ran around the perimeter of the tower. The section of dry land Theo found him was nice, even with the oppressive humidity of the swamp.

“My hope is that whatever fears you’ve had by my settling here have been banished,” Xol’sa said, placing his hand on the heavy metal gate that lead out from the tower. “I’ve searched for so long for a place like this. The energy in the air is almost intoxicating. Some lingering miasma from your transition, I think. That requires quite a bit of study.”

“Well, thanks for the tour,” Theo said, shaking the elf’s hand. “We should get back to town. I bet the militia is assembled at the portal.”

“Very well,” Xol’sa said, bowing. “Please remember to inform the adventurers of the portal.”

“Thanks.”

Theo and Tresk took the portal, emerging on the other side in a heap once again.

“Maybe he’s not evil,” Tresk said, standing and falling again.

“I don’t think he is, Tresk,” Theo said.

Chapter 32

Tradition

The air seemed to hang heavy in Aarok’s cramped office. The sun shone outside, not showing the regular storms that plagued the town during the Season of Blooms. Theo rested his head on his hand, leaning over a wide desk, and watched those assembled before him. Aarok, Luras, Tresk, and Theo all sat in that stuffy room, discussing the events.

“You’re certain it wasn’t Uharis?” Luras asked.

“Not really,” Theo said with a shrug. “That doesn’t matter. A planar mage was delivered into my lap… Isn’t that curious?”

“Isn’t everything curious about you?” Aarok asked with a shake of his massive head. “If you question the random crap that happens around you, you’ll be walking in circles all day.”

“Theo is grateful for the help,” Tresk said, placing a hand on the alchemist’s shoulder. “We’re just concerned.”

Theo appreciated the use of the term we. He was feeling less like a single entity and more like part of a whole lately. With every level of the Tara’hek, he felt closer with his companion. Their moods were tangled together, a constant struggle for balance.

“Do we know how long the wave was delayed for?” Luras asked, moving to look out the window.

“No clue. That leads us to another problem,” Theo said. “If the delays are too long, it could be a bad thing.”

“Because those waves are awesome,” Tresk said with a nod. “The experience bonus is crazy. And the loot!”

“Always a mind for money,” Aarok said. “At least we can breathe for a moment.”

“Speaking of,” Theo said, summoning his mayor’s screen. Aarok’s tally of gear from the monster wave wasn’t complete. The number kept rising at a steady pace. “What plans do you have for the wave cash?”

“Wave cash?” Luras asked, snorting a laugh.

“Unless you need it, I plan on placing it in reserve for the guild,” Aarok said.

“That’s fine,” Theo said. “Cash reserves are a good idea.”

A gentle knock came from the door. Tresk’s daggers were out in a heartbeat, then she vanished as quickly as they whispered from their sheaths. A moment later, Fenian came through the door with a smile on his face.

“Hopefully, I’m not interrupting,” he said.

“Of course you are,” Aarok said, puffing up. “What do you need, trader?”

“My vacation is over,” Fenian said. “I’m taking last calls from everyone.”

“I could use a few things,” Luras said, casting a weary expression at Theo.

Theo pointed a finger at Aarok, nodding. “Pay for whatever he needs. Out of the adventurer’s guild fund.”

Aarok shrugged. “All right, but I’m setting a limit. The guild can’t blow 20 gold on one purchase.”

Theo pulled Fenian aside before leaving the guild. As expected, the trader knew someone who dealt in Karatans. According to the elf, the creatures were of the strongest pedigree in the land but didn’t have a price on hand. The alchemist departed with Tresk, leaving the three men to their dealings while he considered all his unfinished business. When he spotted Miana on the street outside, he was surprised she didn’t rush him. The ex-mayor was being patient with him, waiting for him to be ready to plant the Ranch Seed Core.

Tresk accompanied him further south than he expected, watching as she kept close to him. With a smile, he patted her on the head.

“You don’t need to shadow me,” Theo said.

“Yet, you keep getting into trouble,” Tresk said, pressing her finger into her chin. “Curious.”

“I won’t leave the walls today,” Theo said.

“Well, I’m leaving my travel powers off cooldown. In case I have to come dashing back to town at a moment’s notice,” Tresk said, beckoning him down to her level. She pressed her forehead against his and vanished on the spot.

Theo worked his way south, picking up Gridgen Dev along the way. With Dead Dog Cave cleared out, the alchemist should be able to place the seed core for the mine. The soon-to-be miner took some initiative, commissioning pickaxes and shovels from Throk.

“Right. Hopefully nothing has respawned,” Theo said, approaching the cave.

The alchemist placed the seed core near the mouth of the cave, smiling as it took root. He fed it the appropriate amount of monster cores, causing the roots to snake out and grab onto the entrance. In a flash, beams of timber inserted themselves into the entrance, creating a threshold for the mine. Theo inspected it.

[Mine]

[Dead Dog Mine]

Owner: Belgar (Theo Spencer)

Faction: Broken Tusk

Level: 1 (0%)

Rent Due: 7 days

Ore Type:

Copper

????

????

????

Ore Quality: Perfect

Expansions:

None

“Wow. Don’t know if I’ve ever seen one go up,” Gridgen said, laughing. “This is great.”

“Right. Now we need to discuss the terms of your contract,” Theo said.

“Oh, uh… Anything would be nice,” Gridgen said. “Just enough for the family, you know?”

Theo wished the man was more assertive but summoned his contract interface and wrote something up with mental commands.

[Dead Dog Mine]

Contract

Gridgen Dev shall be the leader of the Dead Dog mining team. He will be responsible for the operation of the mine and the recruitment of its miners. Theo Spencer (Belgar) will supply materials and upgrades for the operation of the mine. Gridgen Dev may recruit as many people as he likes to work the mine, but his split of the profits remains the same.

Theo Spencer (Belgar) promises to pay 10% of all potential profits based on market rate. The 10% sum is to be distributed by Gridgen Dev however he sees fit.

Terms:

Gridgen Dev will work the Dead Dog Mine no less than 3 days per week.

Gridgen Dev will be responsible for all workers within Dead Dog Mine.

Theo Spencer (Belgar) will supply materials as needed to work Dead Dog Mine.

Theo Spencer (Belgar) will provide for the safety of the workers within Dead Dog Mine.

Theo Spencer (Belgar) will provide upgrades at a reasonable rate for Dead Dog Mine.

Timeline:

Renewed every year

“Wow, that’s comprehensive,” Gridgen said with a nervous chuckle. He read for a moment before speaking again. “What does ‘potential profits’ mean?”

“I may use the metal for other purposes,” Theo said. “So I want to make sure you’re paid for what you mine.”

“Oh, all right. So, we’re getting paid per nugget?”

“Basically,” Theo said, shrugging.

“If you could adjust one thing for me,” Gridgen said, managing a weak smile. “The contract says that I’ll be working the mine. Could you amend that to say ‘the mine will be worked’?”

Theo amended the contract, changing it to state that someone under Gridgen’s command would work the mine three days per week. The human accepted the terms of the contract after that, flashing a bright smile at the alchemist and shaking his hand.

“This is great,” Gridgen said. “Now I just need workers.”

Theo withdrew all 10 Miner’s Cores from his inventory and handed them over to the man. “I’ll provide everyone with these cores, but you can hold on to them for now. I also need someone working at the smelter, but you need to be at the mine.”

“Works for me,” Gridgen said with a shrug. “I imagine the smelter will be a lot less work.”

“I’ll be honest with you, Gridgen,” Theo said, letting out a breath. He looked over the mine, a grin spreading across his face. “I’m feeling my way through this.”

“Well, I have a suggestion for you‌,” Gridgen said. He swelled with pride. “Smelting operations rely on high input. I’ve worked the mines near Falling Pass. We were a 100-worker operation working with two other mines, feeding into a single smelter.”

Theo nodded. Once again, he found himself to be the one without vital information. He took a moment to appreciate how important Gridgen was to his operation. From what he said before, he wasn’t a miner by trade but a laborer. This meant he was simply hauling things from one place to the other or doing odd jobs. But he was still on the inside a massive mining operation that the alchemist could only hope to match.

Theo withdrew the Smelter’s Core from his inventory and handed it over. “Find me someone to run the smelter. If that’s you or someone else, I don’t care. Once you’ve found them, I’ll draw up a contract for them. If I find someone for the job, I’ll bring them to you.”

“Sounds good to me,” Gridgen said, taking the core. “When should we mine?”

“As soon as possible,” Theo said. “First, help me place the Smelter Seed Core.”

Gridgen took to the task with excitement. Theo’s instinct was to place the smelter as close to the mine as possible, but the man corrected him.

“You’re assuming everyone has an inventory power,” Gridgen said. “There’s going to be times when your laborers have to move this stuff by hand. You want to place it halfway between the mine and town.”

Theo nodded, deferring to the man’s wisdom. He found a spot next to the newly placed road and planted the seed core. It took fewer monster cores to root than expected, forming a massive stone structure with an attached workshop. The workshop housed a pitch-black crucible but no automatic fire generation methods. His intuition said that whatever heat his current Flame Artifice could generate wasn’t enough. Throk had proven himself a capable person for inventing new things, so he wasn’t worried. Aside from the immediate incompleteness of the smelter, he had no ore to smelt anyway.

“Right. Start mining, if you can,” Theo said. “I’m an errand boy today, so I need to take care of some other things.”

“All right. Well, thanks for setting me up,” Gridgen said, smiling.

Theo left the man to his work, finding his way behind the Newt and Demon. The crater in the center of the gravel yard was an eyesore, but he didn’t have the time to work on that today. Before working on Miana’s problem, he set about clearing a small section of land for a garden. He transplanted 10 Spiny Swamp Thistle plants, burying them in alchemically enriched dirt and taking a few mental notes. Most of the plants looked healthy enough, and he even received some experience in his Drogramath Herbalism Core. Something about the cultivation process seemed off, though.

The alchemist knew very little about growing plants. On Earth, everything was dead. His mind drifted back to the book Plants of the Swamplands, a tome resting somewhere in his lab. He made his way back to the lab, stopping to chat with Azrug before ascending the steps and snatching the book. It was a simple thing written in the low Qavelli script, something designed for everyone to read. It was light on theory but had a small section about plant cultivation near the back.

There were, according to the book, methods to breed specific traits on plants that carried reagents. The only method it suggested was selective breeding, which was easy enough to understand. Most plants could be regrown from their parts, carrying over those desired traits. Theo understood that concept easily enough and had to extrapolate that information to mean he could use alchemy to speed up the process. So, he was looking to take a sample of plants and extract their best qualities by forcing their growth over a short period. Keep the strong ones and cull the weak.

“Easy enough,” Theo said, breathing a sigh of relief.

Theo would let those ten plants settle outside, making sure they took proper root. Then he’d apply his modified Lesser Potion of Growth and inspect the results. That only left finding out how to make the plant grow another version of itself. This was a problem for the farmers to solve and a good excuse to check in on his investment there.

Theo made his way to the farm for a quick stop. Banu seemed excited to see him. It was easy to see why. Every field was packed with Zee, the kernels weighing heavily on the endless stalks. As instructed, Banu kept a field near the north end of the farm fallow, ready to receive the Windmill Seed Core.

“I’m nearly out of your magical potion,” Banu said, letting out a low chuckle. “I have concerns with the stuff, but it’s going well so far.”

“What are your concerns?” Theo asked, leading the half-ogre down the road toward the empty field.

“Mostly about how this changes the land over time,” Banu said.

Theo rarely took the time to think about those things, often to his detriment. He had to assume that, in a place where magic ran rampant, soaking the earth in potions wasn’t a bad thing. But his mind went back to the explosion in his gravel yard, and he let out a breath.

“I won’t presume to tell you how to run your farm,” Theo said.

The last time he was at Banu’s farm, he was giving orders, not taking suggestions. It was something he regretted, as the advice of experts had guided him in recent times.

“Ah, well, I appreciate that,” Banu said, sounding nervous. “I was thinking about rotating the fields with your potion, keeping a few natural.”

“Good idea,” Theo said, noting the look of surprise in Banu’s eyes. “If you’re making flour for export, I don’t really care. I just want more exports.”

“I understand,” Banu said, stopping at the edge of the empty field. Theo stopped with him. “We just have a way of doing things here—methods we’ve used for hundreds of years. Seems like you’re stomping on tradition.”

Theo felt that one in his heart. He never intended to crush an ancient way of living. He could rationalize it all he wanted, but that’s what he’d done. There seemed to be two sides to the alchemist’s life. That of his own interests and that of others, constantly pulling against each other. On his side was alchemy, something that could kick-start these people’s lives. On the other was tradition and a solid way of doing things. Broken Tusk existed for hundreds of years before he arrived, doing things that worked. Even with a town stuck at Level 1, they did it.

“I’m resigned to the fact that I’m not the smartest person here,” Theo said, nodding to himself. “We need more Zee, but if you’re worried about the soil, you can handle it however you want.”

“I’ll decide on something,” Banu said, smiling. “I want to see the mill first.”

“Well,” Theo said, approaching the empty field. He placed the Windmill Seed Core on the ground and watched the roots sprout forth. “The good thing is that you’re on a pretty high hill. If this thing doesn’t run off of magic, you’ll get a stiff breeze.”

He almost didn’t have enough monster cores to get the thing up and running. Most of the cores that dropped during the monster wave went to the adventurers, but he’d pilfered a few. When the windmill finally took shape, it was smaller than he expected. It was made of the same sturdy stone that made up all the seed core buildings within Broken Tusk. The large blade started turning immediately, and the pair ducked inside to watch a shaft spin, turning a large millstone. A large lever on the side controlled the height and, as Theo presumed, the coarseness of the grind.

“Well, that’s a fancy machine,” Banu said, laughing. “Even without your alchemy, this thing is a boon. Do you know how much my laborers complained about using the qern?”

“I bet that was fun,” Theo said with a chuckle. “Hand milling that huge corn.”

“So, how do we do this?” Banu asked. “It’s my land, but your mill.”

“Use it freely,” Theo said, waving a dismissive hand. “As far as the farm goes, I just want more food for export and use within the town.”

Theo didn’t want to describe a scenario he imagined where Broken Tusk was under perpetual siege. An eternal attack wouldn’t be bad if the things that attacked were edible, but they’d received waves filled with goblins and trolls. An internal source of food was the way to go. This would push them one step closer to being reliant on the things that were within these safe walls.

“I appreciate it,” Banu said with a nod.

“We can work out something later if need be. I have some experiments to run on my herbalism. More ways to improve the growing process,” Theo said.

“I can’t wait,” Banu said. “As long as I have the freedom to keep doing it how my parents did, I don’t mind.”

“One thing before I go,” Theo said.

He produced the cultivated Spiny Swamp Thistle Root from his inventory, presenting it for the veteran farmer to see.

“I need to, uh… make more of these grow,” Theo said.

Banu let out a laugh, taking the root from Theo for a moment. “You’re talking about propagation. Yeah, I understand it’s not that obvious. With roots like this, you just need to cut off a section, leave it in a cool dark place for a while and wait for it to chit.”

“Chit?”

“Yeah, it’ll grow little sprouts. Then you can plant it,” Banu said, grinning. “Well, I’m glad I know more than you about something.”

“Thanks, Banu,” Theo said, retrieving his root.

He said his farewells and departed. He took the southern ramp from the farmer’s rise, aiming to head into the newly purchased area between the farm and the river to the east. The tract of land was massive but mostly empty. It was a rocky prairie filled with many grasses that a Karatan might love to eat. The alchemist knew little about those strange creatures and hoped he could get information about them as he went.

While Theo’s senses might not be as sharp as that of the adventurers in Broken Tusk, they were sharp enough to know when someone was following him across an open field. He found his way to the edge of the river and waited for the person to arrive. They trudged across the terrain, bearing a sheepish smile on their face. When Miana Kell finally sauntered up to him, he returned the smile.

“Right. Let’s plant this ranch,” Theo said.

Chapter 33

Miana’s Ranch

To an outside observer, Miana Kell looked like a tiger whose pride had been wounded, sharp claws removed and deadly teeth plucked from her mouth. She stood as a calm, patient person. To Theo, this was her natural state. The spiky parts of her personality were a coping mechanism, created to deal with the reality of being without cores. This woman, standing before him with her hands on her hips and a smile on her face, was the real Miana Kell.

“This is a wide tract of land for this operation,” Miana said.

“Maybe,” Theo said. “My plan is to incorporate most of this land, anyway.”

Theo gestured to the wall, which had centered the eastern gate along a path exiting town. That path led to the bridge, which spanned the river, giving travelers access to the dirt road that ran north-south. From this point, Broken Tusk was visible atop a gentle rise, the farmer’s hill even more obvious. The sum of every life within his town was represented by plumes of smoke and the occasional shout of a voice.

“Well, I secured my core,” Miana said, producing the thing from her pocket.

“Are you afraid to slot it?” Theo asked.

“Theo… I didn’t have the interface until a few weeks ago,” Miana said.

Theo nodded. “You’re scared, which is understandable. You’ve lived without the System for so long that it’s going to be weird.”

“Which is why I’m waiting to put this thing in my chest,” Miana said, regarding the pulsing orb with a scornful expression.

Theo nodded, finding a decent spot to place the Ranch Seed Core. Unlike most seed core placements, this one came with its own interface. It allowed him to rotate the placement of the building, allowing him to position the long fence in whatever direction he wanted. He settled on the only logical placement, with the front of the building facing the river and the large paddock ranging off to the west. The core took root, but the alchemist quickly realized he was fresh out of monster cores.

Miana noticed the look on his face, swinging a rugged bag around and dropping it on the ground. Monster cores rolled out onto the ground. “I’ve been holding onto these for a while.”

The pair shoved the cores into the seed until they sated the hungry thing. It took more than most, but not nearly as many as the adventurer’s guild. The roots shot from the ground, wrapping around themselves to form a small farmhouse. It was made in the style of Broken Tusk, with wide stones stacked and magically mortared. The roof was steeply sloped, with a brick chimney. Springing up from the ground next to the house was a massive barn made of fitted wooden slats and painted a tasteful red. Where the house’s roof was steep, this one was shallow, complete with a loft. The barn had an entrance on either side, the eastern side leading out into the open and the western leading into the massive paddock.

Governance Core gained experience (2%).

Governance Core reached Level 2.

Theo Spencer gained experience (0.66%).

Theo dismissed the notification as soon as it came, turning his attention back to Miana and the ranch.

“I guess I live here now,” Miana said with a chuckle.

The house section of the ranch was larger than her current home, so Theo considered it an upgrade. The alchemist assigned Miana as the rancher before inspecting the building.

[Ranch]

Owner: Belgar (Theo Spencer)

Rancher: Miana Kell

Faction: Broken Tusk

Level: 1 (0%)

Rent Due: 7 days

Animals:

None

Expansions:

None

It was nothing special, but a start. The biggest thing missing was the animals, but that would come in time. Theo didn’t want to think about the transportation of the Karatan and hoped there would be some magical means of conveyance to get them to his town.

“Well, it’s not much,” Theo said. “So, we need to come to an agreement on how you’ll get paid.”

Miana’s smile shifted, a painful expression washing over her face. “I thought we agreed. I was just going to live here and take care of the animals.”

“And starve to death while you’re at it,” Theo said, shaking his head. “No, I don’t think so. I’ll draw up a simple contract if you’re so insistent on being destitute. Ten percent of the market value on everything produced.”

“Theo, that’s too much.”

“I really don’t know if it is, Miana,” Theo said. “The products we make could sell for 5 copper, for all I know. I’ll set a shorter renegotiation period on this contract just in case.”

Theo ignored whatever other protests she had, moving into his Contracts screen and drawing something simple up. He didn’t want to spend much time on this, preferring to get back to his alchemy and plant experiments.

[Miana’s Ranch]

Contract

Miana Kell agrees to run Theo Spencer’s (Belgar’s) ranch. This includes all daily operations that are vital to the success of the ranch. Miana Kell will be paid 10% of the value of every item created, harvested, or gathered on the ranch. Theo Spencer (Belgar) will be responsible for maintenance, upkeep, and the purchasing of animals.

Terms:

Miana Kell will run the ranch to the best of her ability.

Theo Spencer (Belgar) agrees to pay Miana Kell 10% of the market value of all goods created, harvested, or gathered on the ranch.

Theo Spencer (Belgar) agrees to maintain the ranch and purchase all animals necessary for its operation.

Timeline:

Renew monthly.

“Wow. This looks so official,” Miana said with a nervous chuckle. “What happens if I don’t hold my end up?”

“I think magical beasts are sent to tear you limb from limb,” Theo said, grinning. “I have a feeling the punishment is up to the person creating the contract. So, in your case, nothing should happen. This is just so we have our agreement set in stone.”

Miana shrugged, accepting the terms of the contract. She’d be a fool not to—even at 10 percent, the ranch was likely to make a lot of money. It didn’t take a genius to understand that, despite what he said to her earlier. He could extrapolate the fact that things grew faster in the swamp. The alchemist could also afford to dump monster cores into the ranch, elevating it above a reasonable station. He could buy the best upgrades for the place, ensuring its success.

“So, figure out what you can do with that Rancher’s Core,” Theo said. “We can upgrade it if we need to.”

“Theo,” Miana said, pulling him into a tight hug. “Thanks.”

Theo patted her on the back. “Don’t worry about it.”

Theo left the ranch feeling good about himself. If he took the path that most people would have, the one where he shunned Miana for her initial attitude, he would have lost a valuable member of the town. Instead, his kindness and understanding transformed her into a productive member, someone determined to see the success of Broken Tusk through. He relayed the story to Tresk, who seemed excited. She was running the dungeon with Xol’sa today, which was surprising.

“I didn’t know he was interested in delving that dungeon,” Theo said.

“He’s doing all these experiments,” Tresk said. “Really slowing down my pace.”

“Well, just give him space to do what he needs,” Theo said.

“I am! He just ate a random mushroom. That was disgusting,” Tresk said.

On a whim, the alchemist checked their shared inventory. He mostly didn’t concern himself with it, only using his own inventory and letting her have free reign of the Tara’hek inventory. It was filled with junk. Pieces of furniture, scrap metal, and several magical items that wouldn’t be useful for anyone.

He laughed, pushing aside those thoughts to make a mental plan for his alchemy. On top of his priorities list was to create potions that would impress Fenian. That led him to the conclusion that he absolutely needed to figure out the second-tier essence modifiers. Theo’s intuition told him it was only a matter of putting the modifiers into his pressure vessel under the correct conditions, but he’d been too busy until then.

Theo chatted with Azrug for a while. The shopkeeper produced a small pile of gold, perhaps 20 pieces in all. The alchemist collected what potions weren’t used for the siege and handed them over before helping him stock the shelves.

“No bombs, right?” Azrug said, letting out a low whistle. “Well, I can get by for a while on a thousand potions.”

“Plus all your junk,” Theo said, gesturing vaguely to the entire shop. “Where is that loremaster, anyway?”

“No clue,” Azrug said. “It’s hard to get word outside of Broken Tusk as it is. I asked a trader to pass along a message, and I never heard back.”

“Well, keep doing what you’re doing,” Theo said.

“Yeah, I mean,” Azrug said, hoisting a crate from his inventory. “I got these from Fenian, so at least I can tidy up the shop.”

The shopkeeper set the Dimensional Storage Crate behind the counter before withdrawing five more identical ones.

“That’ll help with organization,” Theo said, nodding. While he wasn’t married to the idea of a clean shop, it would be nice to walk a straight path up to his lab. “So, this business model… Your plan is to take all profits from the shop and buy more stuff, right?”

“Yeah, that’s the idea,” Azrug said. “I’m just going to buy a Loremaster’s Core at this rate.”

“Well, that depends on how fast you’re leveling,” Theo said.

“I’m almost Level 6,” Azrug said.

Theo’s brow knitted tightly, then relaxed. It made sense when he thought about it. Azrug was constantly buying and selling stuff, talking to traders to share information, and giving advice about the cost of items. The alchemist noticed a similar thing with his Governance Core, although he’d been ignoring the constant pop-ups. As he thought about it, a trickle of governance experience came in.

Governance Core gained experience (0.1%).

Theo Spencer gained experience (0.033%).

It was the smallest amount of experience he’d seen so far, but it was constant. Any action he took in the town caused it to tick up, but something like planting the Ranch Seed Core made a bigger difference.

“Things seem to slow down after Level 10,” Theo said, recognizing the understatement of his words. His progress was glacial, compared to how fast he made it to 10. While his alchemy and herbalism cores were teetering on the edge of Level 12, they were still a ways off.

Theo’s mind wandered, and he excused himself after a moment, heading up to the lab intent on tending to his fermentations. With his stores dwindling, he was left with few options for modifiers to ferment. The one thing he always had in stock was Moss Nettle, as he used it for his morning tea. With a shrug, he prepared three barrels to receive 200 units of the moss each. It wasn’t time for experimentation, so he kept the motes the same and withdrew the cultivated Spiny Swamp Thistle Root from his inventory.

Banu claimed the root would grow sprouts eventually. Theo doubted it would do so within his inventory and found a small corner of the lab to place the root. He withdrew a piece of parchment and wrote a note in the Low Qavelli script, warning Tresk against eating it. The marshling had a habit of shoving anything she found into her mouth without regard to its edibility or who it belonged to. Theo wouldn’t explore his growth potions on the raw tuber, instead going to check his garden out back.

The 10 Spiny Swamp Thistle plants seemed to thrive in his alchemically modified dirt. Theo could make several assumptions based on them taking root where they did. He could plant things in an area not designated as a farm, which benefited him. There were likely bonuses to growing stuff in a farm seed core area, but he would do without for the time being. The alchemist could also assume the plants that bore his reagents were more than a quirk of the swamp, something more than a thing to be harvested. They were living things that could grow and change over time, the cultivation system reflecting real plant genetics back on Earth.

So while he knew little about real plant cultivation, he could make assumptions aided by his cores. The Drogramath Herbalism Core whispered the loudest in this regard, while the Governance Core seemed completely inert. From what Theo understood, Drogramath wasn’t a Demon God related to the cultivation of crops, but he was tangentially related to the growth of reagents. That was obvious enough. The alchemist could combine his observations of the swamp around him with the words of Xol’sa. If the area was thick with Drogramath’s energy and the reagents, including the Ogre Cypress Trees, were all growing back at accelerated rates, then the Demon God influenced the rate of growth of those reagents.

“Which means,” Theo said, running his gloved hand across the surface of a spiny leaf. “I need some demonic Karatan.”

The plant had no reply to his plans. With a whole new line of thought opened up in his mind, he began carting things up to the lab. Theo passed by Azrug, finding Tresk’s hidden store of Swamp Onions. He stole the entirety of her supply, planning on asking for forgiveness later. In the last remaining barrel, one not occupied by the Moss Nettle, he mashed and dumped the onions in, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

Theo prepared the fermentation as those thoughts ran through his mind. Cores were aligned with certain gods, perhaps even concepts, but why wouldn’t that extend to creatures? The alchemist wiped sweat from his brow, returning the lid of his barrel and withdrawing Fenian’s crystal from his inventory. He squeezed it in his hand. After a moment of mental haptic feedback, the familiar sensation of a connection clicked in his mind.

“I’ve missed our chats,” Fenian said, a forlorn tone in his voice.

“Me too,” Theo said. “I have a question, and I don’t trust anyone else to answer it. Well, perhaps that wizard you brought here, but no one else.”

“You like Xol’sa? He’s a strange man, isn’t he?” Fenian asked. “Well, I’m on the outskirts of your town—I haven’t even left. Do you need something before I go?”

Theo was so absorbed in his own problems, he hadn’t considered the elf’s schedule. He let out a breath before continuing.

“I think Xol’sa is going to fit in very well,” Theo said. “I just have a question about your Karatan. Galflower—the ones driving your carriage.

“Well, that’s a secret,” Fenian said. “One that I won’t consider giving up—even to you.”

Theo thought for a moment before responding. Would the elven trader be so brazen as to parade Karatan aligned with Drogramath in his village? Yes. Yes, he would. The evidence was clear. The alchemist didn’t know the entire Demonic Pantheon, which seemed to sit aside from the Prime Pantheon. The Potioneer was the least horrible of them all, sitting as a strange outsider.

“Your Karatan are aligned with Drogramath, or some other Demonic Outsider,” Theo said.

“Well, you’ve spoiled the fun,” Fenian said, sounding wounded.

“Not intentionally,” Theo said. “I just thought they didn’t seem evil, even if they’re demonic. Which means they have an alignment, likely to an outsider Demon God.”

“Well, you’re right. Some creatures can have alignments. My precious Karatan is different, though,” Fenian said. “My sweet Galflower is a shade. A reflection of a real Karatan. Gods, this is complicated to explain. Perhaps you were hoping for a Drogramathi Karatan or something like that, but it’s not possible. While Galflower enjoys eating my hats, she doesn’t need to eat. Therefore, she produces nothing.”

Theo felt a measure of disappointment. His intuition hadn’t failed him yet, but there he stood in his lab, wrong about something. He doubted himself for only a few moments before correcting his thought process. The creatures Fenian was talking about were fakes made from some Demon God, not actual creatures influenced by the god.

“Your Karatan are copies,” Theo said, pushing his thoughts into the telepathic link. “But there could be real versions of livestock linked to Drogramath.”

“Why the sudden interest in Drogramathi cattle?” Fenian asked.

Theo thought about how much information he would divulge. Fenian was a stalwart friend who had only done good things for Broken Tusk.

“I have a few theories about my swamp. Things Xol’sa said combined with my observations,” Theo said, laying it all out. “My idea was to get creatures aligned with Drogramath to raise here. They’d grow faster, since things within his domain seem to grow incredibly quick here in the swamp.”

“Well, I’m happy to research the topic for you,” Fenian said. Theo could feel his mental shrug. “I’d like to think your friends with the Burning Eye would know a thing or two on the topic.”

Theo didn’t want to talk to Sulvan or Uharis if he could help it. The idea of getting their advice on raising livestock seemed foolish‌.

“I don’t think so. Which Demonic God is Galflower aligned with?” Theo asked.

“The hint is in the name. Shade. Uz’Xulven, the Demonic Queen of the Path of Shadows,” Fenian said. “If Drogramath is an outsider, she is an outsider’s outsider. She sits somewhere between the Prime Pantheon and the Demonic Pantheon, something like a bridge.”

“A bridge of shadows,” Theo said, shrugging. A popping sound came from his Swamp Onion fermentation barrel. Removing the lid for a moment, he saw it bubbling, putting off an eye-stinging stench. He quickly returned the lid. Something stirred in his chest—a whisper from his Drogramath Alchemy Core. Words came to him in a dronon tongue he didn’t recognize. He repeated them through the mental link. “Uz’Godan Bokrak Tal.”

“Ah, you’re familiar with Old Xulvenian?” Fenian asked.

“Drogramath is, anyway,” Theo said, knitting his brow. “He wanted me to say those words.”

“And you did? Perhaps following the instructions of a Demon Lord isn’t the best idea,” Fenian said.

“Perhaps not,” Theo said, closing his eyes. “What’s so bad about Drogramath, anyway?”

“Well, now you’re getting into philosophy, Theo,” Fenian said. “What’s so bad about Glantheir? Or Zaul, Delcan, Ulvuqor? Because Gods in the Prime Pantheon are considered good, whatever that means. Even Bohor, the Bear God of War, has morals. Drogramath is within the same circle as Zagmon, the Demonic God of War and Death. He has no honor, no morals. No qualms with crushing entire civilizations underfoot to get what he wants—and he wants blood. In a closed conversation like this, I have no issues talking about the problem, but be warned. This isn’t something you should say in polite society.”

Theo rolled that idea over in his mind for a moment. The Prime Pantheon was apparently honorable, while the Demonic Pantheon wasn’t. Even though Drogramath was an outsider Demon Lord, this placed him in rare company. Yet there was still a divide. People didn’t run screaming when they saw the alchemist, a Drogramath Dronon. This was too much of a philosophical problem for him to consider, but he wanted to.

“Perhaps Drogramath isn’t so bad,” Theo said.

“Perhaps not,” Fenian said, a smile spreading into his thoughts. “Now, if you’ll excuse me… I have a bridge to take.”

Chapter 34

Decoy Stash

Theo woke the next morning in a haze. The remainder of the previous day was spent securing reagents and distilling his fermented ingredients. Six hundred units of fermented Moss Nettle produced an equal amount of the [Surge] modifier essence. There was even time enough to distill his Swamp Onion fermentation down to 200 units of [Aerosolize] modifier essence, which he would reserve for his gardening experiments. Half the [Surge] produced was to make potions, while the other half was for the tricky task of experimentation.

Tresk wasn’t happy that he had pilfered her store of onions and demanded satisfaction. She challenged him to a duel at sunset, something that never came to be. The busy marshling was asleep before the sun even crested the horizon, and she forgot about the challenge by morning. Instead, he found her making breakfast in the lab. Theo approached, withdrawing the early warning crystal from his inventory and setting it on the table.

“Still orange?” Tresk asked.

Theo eyed what she was cooking suspiciously. The normal wolf steak had been replaced by something resembling a sausage and onions.

“I thought I stole all your onions,” Theo said.

“You stole my decoy stash,” Tresk said.

“Of course I did. Also, yeah. Whatever Xol’sa is doing, it’s working,” Theo said.

Theo leaned back in his chair, casting his eyes out the window. Too many things had happened in too short a time, leaving him feeling confused. It felt as though he’d taken hasty turns in a maze, running on his gut feeling with little else to steer him. Even the advice he received was questionable, ‌but he sorted that out. There were innocent souls in this world that would help him without an agenda. Xol’sa was one of those. Having no home of his own left him adrift, unable to anchor himself to the ways of his people.

He let those thoughts drift from his mind, replaced by the smell of the strange sausage and sizzling onions.

“One day, people are going to have Broken Tusk food on their plates,” Theo said.

“And Broken Tusk potions in their belt, and Broken Tusk stone underfoot, and Broken Tusk timber in their bridges,” Tresk said, smiling as she rolled a fat sausage over.

“Exactly,” Theo said with a nod. The teakettle whistled, and he poured himself a cup, taking a delicate sip. “One thing isn’t good enough. We need to do everything.”

“Well, I’m doing my part,” Tresk said, plating the strange breakfast. “I’m getting really good at stabbing.”

Theo was reminded that Tresk took something of a hybrid class recently. He had been wrapped up in his own stuff and hadn’t inquired about it. As he cut his first piece of sausage, watching the marshling swallow hers whole, he asked, “How is Shadowdancer class going?”

“It’s perfect,” Tresk said, coughing, choking, then recovering. “I only have one skill for it so far, but it’s a good one. I can use Shadowdance to move between the shadows. It’s effectively a travel power. The bonuses the core gives me are great, though.”

Theo mentally activated the phrase Shadowdance to inspect the ability.

[Shadowdance]

Rare Shadowdancer Skill

Cooldown: 5 minutes

Allows the user to jump between shadows while remaining in stealth.

Effect:

The user must be in stealth and standing in a shadow to activate.

The user may jump from shadow to shadow.

If the user isn’t broken from stealth, they may jump to another shadow (maximum 10).

The skill didn’t detail how far she could jump, so he assumed it was line-of-sight. This is how she was zipping across the swamp so readily.

“Seems powerful,” Theo said.

“Yeah, the whole class is great,” Tresk said, slurping down her onions.

Theo bit into the first sausage. An herbaceous, greasy flavor coated his tongue in an instant. The coating of the sausage exploded under his teeth, making a faint popping noise. It was the strangest, most delicious thing he’d eaten since arriving in Broken Tusk, and it made him wonder where the marshling had bought them.

“Are you buying food from Fenian?” Theo asked.

“Yeah,” Tresk said, taking a moment to prepare her tea. “I can’t even remember what these sausages are called, but they come from the northlands. Those bear-people.”

“The Toora,” Theo said, nodding. “We had one of their people pass through town. Boral… I don’t know what happened to him.”

“Cool. Well, I don’t care who made it, or how they made it, or what it’s made of,” Tresk said. “It’s delicious. We should start importing food.”

“I wanted to make my own food,” Theo said.

“Yeah? Got any Karatan in those fields?” Tresk asked, laughing. “Come on. Be realistic, for once.”

Theo let out a sigh. She was right. He needed to take things one step at a time. Once he got his ranch running, he could worry about the creation of food, whatever that meant. He could end up exporting Karatan butter, for all he knew. It all depended on how fast the strange cow-like creatures grew.

“Yeah. No livestock, no meat,” Tresk said, tilting her head after sipping from her cup. “Well, I guess we could process the wolf meat we get. Make wolf sausages… Well, we’d need some spices for that. And we don’t have spices.”

“I’m working on a farming concept,” Theo said, waving her away.

“I saw your plants out back,” Tresk said. “And you still haven’t found a way to make salt.”

Theo frowned at that. He hadn’t discovered the technique to break things down into parts yet. Even the pressure vessel out back couldn’t do it, even if it was a step in the right direction. The extreme pressure, combined with magic, removed the impurities from the essences, but the waste was unusable. So far, the alchemical pressure vessel spat out solid blocks of junk that seemed unusable. Something in the alchemist’s intuition told him this was user error and not a function of the pressure vessel. He brought his copy of Basic Drogramath Alchemy over to go over while he ate.

“I hope you know that book is creepy,” Tresk said.

Theo took a moment to look at the cover. The Drogramathi script stabbed like daggers, ending in deadly points and ominous swooping circles. “Yeah, it’s pretty creepy.”

While he could recall the contents of the book from memory, there was something about the tactile feel of the thing. He found the section on pressure refining and went over the section regarding waste. The refinery would concentrate the essence by removing the stuff he didn’t need. First-run essences were left with traces of all three properties, rendering them impure. Refining those essences removed those traces to an extent, leaving behind that waste. That waste was elemental, in a way. It couldn’t be further refined to create more essence, but it could be changed to serve a different purpose.

This line of reasoning led Theo to an additional problem with his process. The quality of the waste he was producing was poor, resulting in useless hunks of matter. The alchemist needed to process that waste or improve the quality of it to produce better samples of those elemental castoffs. He explained the problem in terms Tresk would understand.

“More experiments,” Tresk said. “I’m going to convince the adventurers that the portal is safe.”

“Is it safe?” Theo asked.

“It’s pretty safe,” Tresk said.

“Pretty safe isn’t safe,” Theo said.

“Safe enough! They’re adventurers,” Tresk said, standing. “They got through danger often.”

“That’s fair enough,” Theo said.

“Well, I’m going to head out,” Tresk said, pressing her forehead against his. “That’s a lot of experience for breakfast.”

Tara’hek Core gained experience (2%).

A simple interaction like this usually garnered 1 percent or less. “Maybe it was the sausages.”

“Bonus experience sausages,” Tresk said, nodding sage-like. “We gotta eat more sausages.”

Theo bid farewell to his companion, doubting the existence of bonus experience sausages. Lesser Experience Boost Potions existed, and the alchemist had brewed them in the past, but nothing to give experience. Tresk’s line of reasoning simply left him with thoughts of his little garden and the potential to cultivate herbs and spices. He didn’t consider his garden project as overreaching, since it fed into his alchemical experimentation.

Before leaving the lab, Theo took a mental catalog of his catalysts. His favorite was Copper Shavings but that had to do with availability. He’d bought enough additional catalysts for experimentation and considered them for a moment. He considered the copper to be a first-tier catalyst. Iron Shavings would then fall into the second tier, Grave Dust the third, and his Ice Quartz in a weird realm all its own. Using these catalysts in the pressure vessel was still mysterious.

Theo found his way outside, patting his hand on the storage tanks before moving to the pressure vessel. He pressed the flap at the bottom, finding the brick-like waste he hadn’t tended to in a while. After adding those to his inventory, he considered his options. It didn’t take long to add his 300 units of [Surge] modifier and the appropriate amount of Iron Shavings to the mix. With a turn of a knob, the machine hummed to life, rocking ominously before settling down.

The three storage tanks on the side of the Newt and Demon contained a large amount of each restoration essence. Theo stood near them for a while, letting a breeze wash over him as he thought about his next move. It would be simple enough to turn every unit of those essences into basic lesser potions, but the profit would be less. He was also considering the prestige of his lab, and the fact that Fenian would be gone for days. If each storage tank held 1,000 of each essence, he’d end up with 500 potions of each second-tier restoration potion. The task would also take at least a day, perhaps more.

The alchemist decided that more advanced potions were more valuable and left to wander the area near the river. He collected reagents idly along the way, greeting citizens as they passed. The eastern gate had shifted north, a cobbled road stretching from the center of town to meet it. Beyond that wall was a dirt road, leading to a bridge over the river. Theo left through the gate, placing his hands on the timber of that structure.

It was a handmade thing. A structure that already showed its age, no matter how new it was. The distance it spanned was impressive. The bridge went 200 paces into the river, secured by massive poles driven deep into the riverbed, then secured to a small island. From there it was another 100 paces to the other side. While the water was calm today, it still rushed by in a torrent of sound and splashing water. Theo turned south, watching as the river wound a bend. From this distance, it was impossible to spot the ocean.

“A day’s walk, perhaps,” Theo said, bringing up his mayor map. There was a fog settling in on the south side of the map. The furthest he could see was near his mine, but the river bent east, away from Broken Tusk there. The alchemist scooped up a few Water Lilies before turning back for town.

His hope was to find evidence of spices or herbs through the different scenery, but it was more of the same ingredients. The two new herbs he discovered near the southern hills, near Dead Dog Mine, weren’t useful for that idea. A mental timer ticked off, marking the progress of the pressure still. With another hour to go, he returned to town and headed north, spotting Banu. The farmers designated a few fields for their traditional method of farming, leaving the others to grow the alchemist’s way. It was a compromise he could live with.

Theo handed over the remainder of his Alchemic Soil Enhancer and avoided a lengthy conversation, heading to the small area he’d designated for the adventurers. There were still only three homes there, but that would take time. People didn’t migrate in waves, it seemed. They came as a trickle over time. When the alchemist finally found what he was looking for, he saw an interesting sight.

“That works,” Theo said with a satisfied nod.

The sound of tools working stone hit his ears before he caught sight of Ziz and his men. Since the last time he came, the quarry was shallower. Some stone had regenerated, but the stoneworkers adopted a new strategy. Instead of quarrying straight down, they dug distinct channels, running north to south.

“Theo!” Ziz’s gruff voice called from a 2-Theo deep channel. “What do you think?”

“Inventive,” Theo said, gesturing to the channels. “The stone regenerates quick enough. Does it push the water out?”

“Sometimes,” Ziz said, dusting his hands off and pulling the alchemist into a hug. “The slant of the hill just drains the water off through the channels.”

Theo could picture that working in his mind. If they dug deep in one section, then dug more channels to siphon the water off to the south, the hill would eventually dip enough for them to drain the water off. It was smart and not labor-intensive.

“Very good work,” Theo said. “How is business?”

“Extremely good,” Ziz said, beckoning Theo into the workshop.

The workshop was larger than the last time he saw it. Scattered along the ground were gem-bearing stones being processed. Those jewels were trapped within the hard marble and represented an array of colors. Theo spotted purple, red, and yellow within those arrayed. Ziz scooped up a purple gem and handed it over. The alchemist inspected the refined jewel.

[Cut Zaulize]

[Processed Gem]

Rare

A shadowy gem, cut and prepared.

“Zaulize,” Theo said, knitting his brow. He moved to pick up a yellow gem before inspecting it as well.

[Cut Glanthierize]

[Processed Gem]

Rare

A holy gem, cut and prepared.

“I get it,” Theo said. “So, do the gems hold alignment to gods?”

Ziz shrugged. “No idea, but they’re worth a lot of money.”

“The System is just attaching ‘-ize’ to various gods’ names to the gem. Zaul is the God of Shadows. Glanthier is the God of Healing,” Theo said.

“Oh, that’s fun,” Ziz said, smiling. “I wonder if there’s a Drogramathize.”

“Somehow I doubt it,” Theo said. “I have a feeling these only fall into the Prime Pantheon.”

“Whatever that is,” Ziz said. “Hey, I have some money for you.”

Theo waved him away. “I’ll take some of these gems instead.”

“Oh, that works,” Ziz said.

“And we’ll draw up an official contract,” Theo said.

The alchemist made something quick and dirty, promising to only take 10 percent of their earnings. As he thought back on the deal he made with Ziz originally, he was happy with it. The original plan was to take most of the stone and use it to make roads, but that wasn’t necessary. The town’s seed core provided those. Now, with the stoneworker’s agreement, it provided them with the materials they needed to repair the town. That reminded him of his agreement with Sledge. She hadn’t approached him about their deal to work the forest and collect lumber.

“That works,” Ziz said, accepting the deal. “Take as many gems as you want, Theo.”

“I’ll take one of each, for now,” Theo said, finding a section of the workshop that wasn’t covered in chipped stone before sitting down on the ground. “I want to export lumber, but I have a feeling Sledge is dragging her feet.”

“I saw her plying her new trade,” Ziz said, flashing a smile. “You might have distracted her too much.”

“Indeed,” Theo said. That was the impression he got from her, but he couldn’t blame her. The Fabricator class seemed fun. He imagined her running around, changing people’s houses to suit their needs. “So, I need lumberjacks.”

“What’s a lumberjack?” Ziz asked.

“Foresters,” Theo said with a shrug. Sometimes his thoughts didn’t translate as well as he’d like. The System could only do so much.

“Well, if you want someone chopping trees full time, you need specialists,” Ziz said.

“Then it’s too much right now,” Theo said. “I’ll be happy with what Sledge gets me.”

“Spreading yourself too thin?” Ziz asked, coming to sit by the alchemist.

“Far too thin,” Theo said. “Well, I’m working on that. I’m trying to focus on only a few projects at once.”

“Only a few,” Ziz said, barking a laugh. “That sounds like you. A ranch, a mine, an entire town, and your alchemy business. Just a few.”

Theo smiled, punching the half-ogre playfully in the arm. They shared a laugh, only continuing the conversation when it died down.

“The plan is to set these things up and let them run themselves,” Theo said. “Dead Dog Mine is my newest test for that idea.”

“What a name for a mine,” Ziz said, stretching. “I get you, though. It’s working well for this place.”

“Well, I suppose you were my first experiment for that,” Theo said, clapping his hand over the man’s shoulder. “And look how you’re doing. Making decisions on your own. Advancing this place without direction.”

“We’re not children, Theo,” Ziz said. “Put more trust in Broken Tusk, and she’ll treat you right.”

Theo let those words linger in his mind for a long time. While he wanted to believe he broke that habit, it was still lingering. He still treated these people like they needed a minder. The mayor didn’t need to be involved in every single thing they did.

“Another test, then,” Theo said, nodding and smiling. “I don’t need metal from the mine. Not yet. The operation can take a long time to get running. It doesn’t matter to me.”

“So, set them off and let them work the mine,” Ziz said. “See what they can do on their own. People thrive when you give them the chance. They want to prove you right with the faith you put in them. Or prove you wrong if you’ve doubted them.”

Theo rose from the spot and exited the workshop with Ziz. From the northern hills, he could see the adventurer’s homes and the farm sprawling to the south. Those specs on the horizon, those little lives going about their day in Broken Tusk, shone brighter than the gems in his palm. That was the genuine treasure of this place. He knew that.

“They’ll thrive,” Theo said, pulling Ziz into a sidelong hug. “Even if it's this town against the world, we’ll come out on top.”

Ziz answered with a warm smile, simply standing there with his friend. Despite the alchemist’s intent to manage his time well that day, he spent most of it in the northern hills, among the workers of the quarry. Their tools rung out, echoing through the vast expanse, singing a chorus of labor and industry. By the time he left, the sun hung low in the sky. No rain fell over Broken Tusk that day, and Theo took it easy. Sausages and onions seemed like a strange meal to have for dinner, but it didn’t matter. The 36th day of the Season of Blooms fell into twilight over the town.

Tresk’s snores quickly filled the room after they retired for the night. The early warning crystal, shining from underneath Theo’s bedsheets, stayed that faint orange color.

Chapter 35

Magical Metaphors

Tresk produced another strange breakfast the next morning. Theo woke to a rich smell that he couldn’t place, but upon entering the lab, he found his companion cooking a comically large leg of some avian creature. She looked up with a smile, constantly scooping the juices up and basting them over the meat. The alchemist had very little in the way of reference for what poultry should look like. On Earth, he’d sucked down most of his meals in processed tubes of paste. Even then, he knew the dark, almost black color of the meat wasn’t normal. Sitting on the edges of her copper pan, safe from the intensity of the flame, were wedges of some fruit and the juice she was scooping.

“How much stuff did you buy from Fenian?” Theo asked, taking his traditional seat.

“A lot,” Tresk said. “But, hey. This should inspire you.”

“I think it will,” Theo said, checking on the kettle. It wasn’t boiling yet. “I was married to this idea of finding creatures aligned with Drogramath, but I think that’s a bridge too far.”

The alchemist produced a purple gem from his inventory, one of the Cut Zaulize. He rolled it over in his palm but found no answers.

“That’s pretty,” Tresk said, her eyes going wide.

“I bet you think it is,” Theo said. “It’s a gem aligned with your Assassin’s Core.”

Tresk wanted to take the gem for herself, but Theo refused. There was the inherent danger in her holding something aligned with the God of Shadows, even if she had a piece of that god in her chest. He wanted to run it by Xol’sa before conducting any tests, but the plan was simple. As with most things in his alchemy, he wanted to smash it to powder and try brewing it or using it as a catalyst. The marshling thought that was a brutish way to go about it, but he waved her off.

The massive bird leg, from a creature Tresk couldn’t remember the name of, tasted gamy. Without the addition of the overly sweet fruits to balance the greasy flavor out, it would have been too much. Instead, those wedges cut through the overpowering meat to present a relatively light breakfast. Theo felt overfull by the time they were done, but it only seemed to energize Tresk. She departed shortly, leaving him there to finish his tea.

Theo checked his cultivated Spiny Swamp Thistle Root. Fortunately, it survived being in the presence of the hungry marshling and had started to chit, as Banu called it. Small nodules were poking from the side of the thing, some ending in green sprouts. Instead of reserving some of the root for alchemy, he cut the thing into four sections, each having at least one sprout on the surface.

Before leaving his lab to tend the garden growing out back, Theo inspected the refined modifier essence he made yesterday.

[Refined Surge]

[Essence Modifier] [Refined Essence Modifier]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

150 units (liquid)

A refined modifier essence. Add to a completed potion to add the [Surge] modifier. Surge applies bonuses as an instant, temporary effect.

The description was as he expected, but the quality was not. He expected the resulting modifier essence to drop to “good” quality, but it remained at “great.” It only took a moment of thought to remember he’d swapped out the normal Copper Shavings for Iron Shavings, which made sense. The pressure device worked on intent, exactly like the stills, but the catalyst for the reaction affected the quality. The better the catalyst, the better the results. With normal potions, the quality changed the strength of the effect. A high-quality Healing Potion restored more health. The alchemist hadn’t yet discovered what a modifier essence’s quality did, but he suspected the associated effect would be stronger. It was only logical.

Before moving on to create a modified Healing Potion, Theo had a seat and retreated into his thoughts. From his experimentation, he knew several things changed the overall quality of a potion. Combining a potion with a lower quality modifier essence reduced the quality of that potion, splitting the difference between the two. After a few moments of thought, he determined the defining factor. The thing that he could change most easily to improve the quality of his potions.

“Reagent quality,” Theo said with a satisfied nod.

The alchemist could use higher-quality catalysts during the refining phase or more precise methods during distillation and fermentation, but if the base of his potions was poor, the result would be poor. Theo’s conclusion was that his garden would become vital for crafting potions beyond the first tier.

Theo was short on Refined Healing Essence for his current needs. Going downstairs, he found Azrug talking to a small group of people, five in all. They were settlers, all former laborers in some destitute northern town. It was a familiar story by now. They worked their way south, finding nothing but expensive lodging and even more overpriced land ownership. More than anything, Broken Tusk needed bodies to fulfill the next upgrade requirement. The alchemist beckoned them to follow him out the front door, finding his way to the three massive storage tanks on the side of the building.

“We’ll set you up with some shared lodgings, for now,” Theo said, withdrawing a barrel from his inventory and filling it with Healing Essence from the tank. “For now, you’ll have work duty with Gridgen.”

Five sets of eyes turned on him with confusion and hope. A tiny Brogling man was the first to speak after the statement.

“Work duty? We get jobs? And a house?” he said.

Theo moved to the back of his lab, the entourage following. He cleared the waste trap on his pressure vessel, setting those aside for future testing, and used the magical port on the side to suck up 200 units of Healing Essence, repeating the process until the storage tank was empty. He dropped in Iron Shavings, turned the dial, and watched as the machine hummed to life. The group startled at the noise, scampering to a safe distance to observe. The alchemist urged them to follow him south, toward Gridgen’s house.

“This is temporary. When you have the funds, I’ll sell you a plot at cost,” Theo said. “Until then, I’ll plant two houses for you to share.”

It was then that Theo regretted not buying more House Seed Cores from Fenian. He had a few spares but was running low.

“Do we get a wage?” the Brogling asked, a murmur spreading through the small group.

“A fair wage by Broken Tusk standard,” Theo said. “Gridgen will figure out your pay. Just follow the road south to Dead Dog Mine.”

The alchemist knelt twice, planting two House Seed Cores near Gridgen’s home. He lacked the monster cores to grow the houses but could still access the menu and add each new settler as a guest. They looked at him with excited eyes, as though he just handed them a gold coin each.

“Any questions?” Theo asked.

“South. Just follow the road? There’s a mine there? I think we can handle it,” the Brogling said, nodding with his companions.

Without another word, the group trotted southward, over the hard cobbles, and toward their salvation. Theo didn’t consider it a merciful thing to do. It wasn’t something outside of his responsibilities as mayor, and some might consider the act selfish. They’d get reasonable wages, but he was taking the largest share of the profit. It was also an experiment in its own right to test how Gridgen would handle five new workers.

Theo asked if Tresk could stop by the new houses and feed them monster cores, to which she agreed. He made a mental note that they should start dumping the cores into the Newt and Demon. Putting off upgrades after Level 10 made sense, since each level after that was painfully slow. He made his way back to the lab and pressed his hand against the wooden wall, inspecting it.

[Alchemy Lab] [Alchemy Shop]

[The Newt and Demon]

Owners: Theo Spencer (Belgar), Tresk

Shopkeeper: Azrug Slug

Faction: Broken Tusk

Level: 11 (31%)

Rent Due: 5 days

Expansions:

[Alchemy Shop]

[Drogramath Distillation Specialty]

The logic of the System told him Level 15 would provide a new upgrade and access to old upgrades. The [Root Cellar] upgrade was almost entirely useless. It provided a place that reagents wouldn’t rot, but his inventories and storage crates already provided that. He also didn’t take the Experimentation Room in the past because he wasn’t aware of the explosive nature of essences. His fear was that the new offered upgrade would be better than the [Experimentation Room].

A thousand units of Healing Essence would take a while in the pressure vessel. This left time for Theo to take care of his garden, which wasn’t much work. He planted the four sections of the Spiny Swamp Thistle Root in alchemically enhanced soil and checked up on the existing ten plants. Without the constant rain, they were drooping slightly, so he watered them.

Theo then took to wandering the town, finding a minor diversion when a citizen told him the water tower was low. Instead of running water back and forth from the river, he concocted some Potion of Infusion to coat the inside the copper tower. The essence required for the infusion potion might stink, but the resulting effect was anything but gross. After popping the lid on the top, the alchemist watched his potion go to work. It rippled across the copper, permeating unseen pores and hardening the surface against alchemical reactions.

Then it was only a matter of finding enough bored townspeople to run between the river and the tower, filling the thing’s massive capacity. With the tower hardened against alchemy, Theo performed the purification in the tower itself, saving himself a lot of time. It was a much-needed distraction, helping smooth over the time it took for his pressure vessel to complete.

Theo found his way to Sledge’s workshop, finding it empty. He nodded to himself, understanding the allure of her Fabricator’s Core to be too great. The alchemist made a note of that experiment, finding it hard to mentally label it. The woodworker found something she wanted to do, and he shouldn’t fault her for that. There would be more migrants. More chances to find someone willing to chop lumber for a living.

Despite his plan to let Gridgen do whatever he wanted with the mine, Theo wandered southward. The excuse was to find more Mage’s Bane and Roc Berries, but he hoped to get a look at Dead Dog Mine. The southern hills were full of those ingredients, which already solidified a theory in his mind. Reagents grew like plants, as obvious as that thought was. Water Lilies preferred the wet, clean water of the river. Spiny Swamp Thistle needed damp soil, but not soaking-wet, while Marsh Tubers needed rotten, fetid swamp water.

Theo harvested several hundred units of both reagents, taking ten whole plants of each into his inventory as well. The Roc Berry bushes were the most difficult, as their roots ran deep, snagging around stones and gripping other nearby roots. The alchemist returned to the Newt and Demon with his prizes, pushing aside his desire to check on Gridgen. He felt like an overprotective parent, his heart urging him to check on them. But that wouldn’t serve anyone. It would only create a dependency he didn’t want to deal with.

Both the Mage’s Bane and Roc Berry plants took to the enhanced soil well. All twenty of them perked up from being slightly wilted, and Theo weighed his options. It seemed best to let them adjust to their new homes rather than dropping a growth potion on them immediately. It wasn’t an idea that came from the whispers of his Drogramath Herbalism Core, though. This was raw intuition, and he could have been wrong.

Those thoughts fell by the wayside when a voice, huffing and out of breath, came from the edge of his building. Xol’sa, the normally calm extra-planar elf, looked disheveled. “Mayor, I need to discuss something,” he gulped, doubling over and holding a stitch at his side.

“To the tower?” Theo asked, smiling.

The alchemist’s gut reaction to intense situations had deadened to almost nothing. If the monster wave was coming, they were ready for it. If it was something else, there was nothing he could do but listen and prepare. Everything else was wasted energy.

“To the tower,” Xol’sa repeated, hobbling northward.

The portal was still a strange thing, something that sent Theo to his knees when he used it. He sent a message to Tresk while he recovered on the cold stone floor of the wizard’s tower. She would be there in moments, but he asked her to remain in the shadows. Perhaps it was an idea to get a better measure of the elf. Either way, Xol’sa led him to the roof of the tower, summoning the webwork of runes and sputtering.

“I delayed the wave, as you can see here,” Xol’sa said, gesturing vaguely.

Theo squinted, moving closer to the runes. He withdrew the early warning crystal from his inventory. It hadn’t progressed beyond orange, which he took as a good sign.

“Everything looks good,” Theo said. “The crystal hasn’t progressed yet.”

“That’s the problem,” Xol’sa said, drawing himself up. He took a long, steadying breath, but the worry still sat on his face. “The energy being used to drive the monster wave isn’t just something that’s altering the timer. Look here.”

The elf summoned another section of the arcane symbols, zooming in on a circular section. Theo could have been staring at any language at this point; it made little sense to him. Runic symbols ran along the outside, bordered by a circle, then another set. In the center was a series of symbols that were constantly changing.

“So, these are changing,” Theo said, pointing. It was the only thing he could observe without hazarding a wild guess. “If this is essentially the code of the dungeon, or the magic in the area, that means…”

Theo trailed off. Xol’sa watched him expectantly.

“They’re numbers,” Xol’sa said, nodding.

“Ah,” Theo said, understanding washing over his mind. “It’s a counter, then. Counting up, what exactly? Energy.”

“Energy,” Xol’sa said, nodding. “Here’s my theory. Extra-planar power is flowing into your dungeon, like a node. This dungeon is connected to many others throughout the realm, other nodes. Energy flows like a river, and we built a dam.”

“That sounds bad,” Tresk said, emerging from the shadows. Xol’sa jumped in surprise.

Theo was so accustomed to her jumping out of nowhere that it didn’t affect him. He ran his hand over his chin a few times, trying to understand the implications. Even without magical knowledge, he knew that water trapped behind a dam needed to go somewhere. What liquid didn’t escape would build up behind that barrier until it burst.

“What does this energy do?” Theo asked.

“Many things,” Xol’sa said, clutching his chest. “Primarily, it is the basis for generating monsters. From what I understand, the System converts this energy into matter, namely monsters and loot. The energy is normally drawn from the area around the dungeon, but your dungeon is leaking.”

Theo waved him off. “The leak makes sense,” he said, pacing to the edge of the tower. He cast his eyes over the rise of stone in the distance. “So the dam is building up energy in the dungeon. What happens when it’s overfull?”

Xol’sa’s mouth went agape. “You’re too calm for this, Mayor.”

“I can’t crap my pants every time something weird happens around here,” Theo said. “I need practical solutions to the problem, not panic. What happens when it fills up?”

“A max-level monster wave,” Xol’sa said.

“So, the longer we delay the timer, the stronger the wave gets,” Tresk said, nodding. She perched herself atop the edge of the tower’s wall, looking over into the swamp. “Sounds fun.”

“It’s dangerous,” Xol’sa said, sputtering.

“So, this is your job,” Theo said. “The swamp is unforgiving. I need to know how long we can let it go without destroying the town. I need ideas on how to divert that power.”

Xol’sa’s brows knitted tightly. He walked around the edges of the tower, muttering to himself. Theo caught a few words as he went but didn’t recognize the language. When the elf rounded the circular tower for the tenth time, he stopped. He swiped his hand a few times, summoning more of the intricate magic symbols. This carried on for a few minutes before he turned to regard the alchemist.

“The timer is a safety mechanism designed to release the monsters at a level-appropriate range, preventing too much energy from building,” Xol’sa said, tapping his chin and swiping through the symbols some more. “I cannot control it, not with any precision. Not without damaging the dungeon or exploding it.”

“Now that sounds dangerous,” Tresk said.

“You understand that everything I’m doing is beyond the scope of my level,” Xol’sa said, leveling his gaze at Theo. “I’m carried through these motions by the whispering of my core. The voice of my people. I have an idea.”

A smile spread across the alchemist’s face.

“Let’s hear it.”

“Stoppering the river gave us a week,” Xol’sa said, swiping back to the timer. “As I mentioned before, the dungeons are linked. Unlike an actual river, we should siphon the energy off to the other dungeons. Have your other dungeons grown recently?”

“No,” Tresk said.

“Then there is the flaw,” Xol’sa said, going back to the offending section of the runes. It was the section describing the timer, which the elf changed with his magic. “I’m having difficulty imagining a metaphor for you.”

Theo didn’t need any help understanding it—the entire thing seemed logical. The single river analogy was lacking. It was more like a split in a river where the Swamp Dungeon was upstream. No, it was more like a…

“A confluence,” Theo said. “A point where two or more rivers join.”

Chapter 36

Food Buffs

“We’re still in the land of metaphors, right?” Tresk asked. “There’s no actual water.”

Xol’sa had a concerned expression on his face. He was shaking his head, swiping through the symbols.

“How did you spot that?” Xol’sa asked, swiping his hand through the air with a frustrated sigh. “How did I miss it?”

“Because how could that happen?” Theo asked.

“Explain, please. I’m still lost,” Tresk said, taking a seat on the edge of the wall.

Theo didn’t understand it. He could feign knowledge because it made sense to him. He considered the idea of Broken Tusk being a confluence of things quite a lot, but it was just something he used to understand the joining of disparate circumstances. The alchemist never thought of it as a literal thing, but there it was. There was more than one power joining on the dungeon, creating an overflow of energy.

Xol’sa took the reins of the explanation from there. “There’s at least two sources of power going into the dungeon. I didn’t spot it—I still can’t. But it makes sense. My theory has shifted, Mayor.”

“Theo is fine.”

“I’ll keep the array I’ve created to slow the timer,” Xol’sa said, “and create a new one. If you think of the problem as many rivers joining into one, the solution is simple.”

“Yeah. Just make sure all the rivers don’t join,” Tresk said.

“Exactly. I won’t bore you with the details, but your other dungeons will take the burden. This will space the occurrence of monster waves considerably.”

Theo still didn’t understand. Not completely. He saw it as a problem where the other dungeons in their area weren’t pulling their weight, just sending that energy down the line to inland Qavell. If Xol’sa could siphon that energy, it would be a boon.

“And reduce their strength,” Theo said. “I feel like we should pay you for your work here.”

Xol’sa let out a short laugh. “This research is worth more than the entire town.”

“Maybe you should pay us‌,” Tresk said, grinning.

“Perhaps I should,” Xol’sa said.

“Don’t be rude. This is service enough,” Theo said. “Keep me updated on this, please.”

“I will. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I should get to work,” Xol’sa said.

Theo and Tresk excused themselves downstairs, taking a seat on the first floor. The alchemist wanted to wait a moment before leaving, as the portal’s effects were nauseating.

“Multiple sources interfering with our dungeon,” Tresk said, tutting. “I should have figured.”

“How so?” Theo asked with a chuckle. “You’re not a mage.”

“But it figures,” she said. “So, what do you think about the wizard’s opinion?”

“I don’t know. I think he’s probing in the dark, looking for answers,” Theo said. “He’s approaching this cautiously, though. I don’t think his magical array thing would do anything to harm our dungeons.”

“Sounds good,” Tresk said.

Theo shrugged at that. It really was “whatever,” as she said. Xol’sa had a handle on it, and there was nothing they could do until he updated them.

“Care to join me through the portal?” Theo asked.

“The portal? No thanks,” Tresk said. “I don’t feel like vomiting today.”

While the marshling could easily traverse the swamp, the alchemist had few options. He swallowed hard and forded a path through the portal, falling in a heap in the town’s square. He drew ragged gasps, the light stinging his eyes. After a moment of recovery, he felt rough hands on his shoulders. Someone was saying something, but he was too disoriented to hear it. Whoever it was tilted his head back and shoved something in his mouth. With no recourse, he chewed and swallowed.

A system message jumped into his vision.

Food Buff! You’ve consumed a piece of Savory Zee Bread crafted by a cook.

+1 Vigor for 8 hours.

“My food gives buffs now!” Xam’s coarse voice came after a moment.

In a heartbeat, Theo remembered she got a cooking core from Fenian. How the woman had operated the Marsh Wolf Tavern until this point without a cooking core was beyond him. The flavor was more complex than what she normally made, even for plain bread. The alchemist couldn’t place the flavor exactly, as he had very little analogs back on Earth, but it was ‌good. It was moist, as far as bread went, and faintly salty with a hint of sweetness.

“Did you have to assault me?” Theo asked, almost unable to keep the food down. The world came back to him in a rush, sending a second dizzy spell through his body. “I guess that means the mill is working.”

“It is!” Xam said, undaunted by Theo’s crabby attitude. “Do you have Karatan yet? I’d love to experiment with some butter. Or milk—or just some meat.”

Theo rose to his feet and regarded her. There was a brightness in her eyes he couldn’t avoid—that sense of fulfillment that he wanted for everyone in the town. This wasn’t even a plan of his own making, but there the half-ogre woman was. Standing in front of him with that broad smile on her face. Despite his disorientation, his heart swelled. It was hard not to match her smile.

“No, I still need to source my livestock,” Theo said. “I’m taking suggestions on that.”

“Oh, I have a long list,” Xam said, nodding. “The Broglings breed these little, horned creatures with an attitude. They bleat and eat just about anything, and I’d like a small herd of them. Also, if you could source some⁠—”

Theo held up a silencing hand. “Please tell Miana your wishlist. She’s the stable master for the ranch, so it’s up to her what else she wants. My only concern is the Karatan.”

“Right. I’m going now,” Xam said, bouncing on the spot. “Stop by the tavern tonight if you want a treat.”

Xam bounced away, giggling to herself. Theo was left standing there, dumbstruck by her sudden change in attitude. The alchemist returned to the Newt and Demon, collecting the refined essence from his pressure vessel and clearing out the waste port. He then went about the laborious process of transferring 1,000 units of Stamina Essence to the pressure vessel, starting another run for refined essences.

“Has Xam forced you to eat her bread yet?” Azrug asked as Theo entered the shop.

“She has,” Theo said, smiling. “I didn’t know taking a cooking core would make her food give buffs.”

“I guess so,” Azrug said. “She’s been cooking for years, but she’s so damn cheap. Never wanted to buy a cooking core.”

“What cores did she have?” Theo asked.

“Core. Just the one. A Laborer’s Core, like most of the half-ogres here,” Azrug said with a wistful sigh. “Not anymore, I suppose. Kids are going to get great cores now.”

Theo didn’t want to mention the reason for that. Azrug’s amazing cores were tied to the overflow of energy from the dungeon—he was sure of it. That overflow would continue into the foreseeable future, and it was a blessing. Whatever entity was pumping them full of magic-juice was benefiting them greatly, the result of that magic having far-reaching consequences. The alchemist simply smiled and patted the shopkeeper on the shoulder.

After some small talk, Theo went upstairs to his lab. The pressure vessel took 1,000 units of Healing Essence and spat out 500 units, all at great quality, which was more than he could ask for. Since his [Refined Surge] modifier essence was also at equal quality, the resulting modified potions would be that quality. He set aside his essences and approached the Glassware Artifice, shoving motes in until he could generate the 150 vials required for his modified second-tier potions.

Theo took a moment of reflection before continuing with the process. Iron Shavings would serve as the best catalyst in this situation, as they were extremely cheap and should be the perfect one for second-tier potions. He set up a single vial for testing, adding 1 unit of Refined Healing Essence, 1 small Iron Shaving, and 1 unit of Purified Water to the glassware. The reaction was immediate, putting off the familiar sights and smells of the healing potions. It swirled and bubbled, shifting to a light red color and putting off that sweet smell. Then it put off a plume of glittering smoke. Moments later, he inspected the result to confirm his idea.

[Healing Potion]

[Potion]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

A healing potion. Drink to restore health.

Effect:

Instantly restores 65 health points.

It was a perfect example of a mid-quality Healing Potion, nothing to complain about there. He turned his attention to the next phase of testing, transferring the potion to a 4-unit vial and adding 2 units of his [Refined Surge] modifier essence. An explosive gout of smoke shot from the top of the vial, clouding his vision and filling the room with a scent like freshly tilled earth. Inhalation of the smoke didn’t seem to cause any issues, but it was still choking in its abundance. Theo opened the window, batting away the smoke from his eyes and cursing his shortsightedness.

Once the smoke had cleared, he inspected the resulting modified potion.

[Healing Potion]

[Surge]

[Potion] [Modified Potion]

Epic

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

A healing potion. Drink to restore health.

Effect:

If the user is at full health, add 60 health to their maximum and restore that amount. Effect lasts 5 minutes.

The second-tier version of the [Surge] modifier combined with the Healing Potion was great. While the first-tier version only lasted a minute, this one lasted five. [Surge] was one of the more effective modifiers that he’d discovered, especially for restoration potions. In this case, it would effectively add 60 health to whoever drank it, restoring that extra amount it added.

Theo’s only issue with this potion was the violence of its creation. He cast his eyes over the essences he had assembled, letting out a sigh as he realized what came next. The alchemist returned everything to his inventory and headed out to his gravel yard, checking on his plants while he was there. They seemed to be doing good, although a few hours in the ground shouldn’t have affected them that much.

The alchemist tempered his desire to perform a massive reaction, settling down for a series of smaller ones. Plumes of glittering smoke soon reached to the heavens, filling the air with a rushing sound as he kicked off successive reactions. The process was slow. Even with his superior ability to measure units of liquid, the recipes were precise down to an unknowable accuracy.

Wiping sweat from his brow, Theo realized how necessary the experimentation room was. He cast his eyes to the heavens, thinking about a day when it would rain. That would ruin his process, forcing him to wait for a break in the downpour to complete his advanced reactions. With 75 [Surge]-modified Healing Potions in his inventory, he was satisfied enough for now, moving to his lab to complete the remaining reactions.

Fenian had requested as many potions as he could make, as always, but the modified potions were going to go for a premium. The elf would need to pay four times the value of a Lesser Healing Potion to make it worth Theo’s time, perhaps more. The alchemist returned to the comfort of his lab to perform the remaining 350 Healing Potion reactions.

Pulling a chair up to his table and dripping essence into vials was much more comfortable than hunching over them out in the gravel yard. Halfway through his work, the trickle of 2 to 5 percent experience messages was enough to send him over the edge into Level 12 for his Drogramath Alchemy Core.

Drogramath Alchemy Core gained experience (2%).

Drogramath Alchemy Core reached Level 12.

Theo Spencer gained experience (0.66%).

Theo’s Drogramath Herbalism Core wasn’t far behind, not after tending his small garden outside. Each action spent working with the plants helped bring that core closer to his alchemy core. In the past, it was always a struggle to keep them in line.

“We’re going to Xam’s for food tonight,” Theo said, speaking directly to Tresk.

He wasn’t sure that he had the Stamina for the event, but it meant a lot to the woman. The alchemist was excited to give her support in her new efforts, especially if it meant good food. Tresk was good at making stuff on the fly, but it was always a hodgepodge of whatever they had. A diet of mostly meat didn’t seem to offend his dronon stomach, but a little bit of variety would go a long way.

“Sounds good,” Tresk said. “Any reason?”

“Her cooking cores are actually good,” Theo said. “I got a bonus from eating her Zee bread.”

“Oh dang. She has bread? All right,” Tresk said. “I’m in.”

It was impossible to tell how long Fenian would be away from town, but Theo suspected he could return at a moment’s notice if needed. He planned on taking it easy through the days, only brewing what potions he needed to, but his bottleneck was resource collection. The alchemist let out a heavy sigh as he rose from the chair, leaving his building and heading directly for the adventurer’s guild. He stood outside for a few moments, remarking to himself how they should really give themselves a name. He shook the thought off and entered, pushing past the groups of adventurers and heading for Aarok’s office.

“Theo,” Aarok said as the alchemist entered. “How are you?”

“I’m well. How about you?” Theo asked, taking the creaky seat opposite the half-ogre.

“Very well,” Aarok said, withdrawing a crate filled with eggs from under his desk. “Next time, request slightly fewer eggs. The adventurers said they had trouble sourcing so many.”

Theo grinned, taking 500 Fire Salamander Eggs into his inventory. “My fault. I have a feeling my Tara’hek has a monopoly on all the good spots to collect them.”

“She eats them by the dozen,” Aarok said, nodding sage-like. “Now, is this a social call?”

“Not at all,” Theo said. “I need to post a quest.”

“Wow. Been a while? Just since the salamander thing… Right, what do you need?”

“Do you have that old reagent quest I posted before? The restoration quest. It was named Supply Run,” Theo said.

“Yeah, you’ve got a good memory,” Aarok said, withdrawing some papers from under his desk. He rifled through them for a minute before spotting the old quest. When the half-ogre held the paper up, Theo could mentally click on it to view the quest.

[Supply Run]

Quest

The proprietor of the Newt and Demon is requesting all adventurers to collect reagents for his potion empire.

Objectives:

Collect [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] (1 silver per 500, a maximum of 1000)

Collect [Moss Nettle] (1 silver per 500, a maximum of 1000)

Collect [Manashroom] (1 silver per 500, a maximum of 1000)

Collect Attribute-Bearing Reagents (1 silver per 500, a maximum of 1000)

“Perfect. Up the reward to a silver and a half,” Theo said. “And update the name to So Much Potion.”

Aarok regarded him for a moment with a quizzical look, ending the expression with a shrug. “I’m guessing you have a new order.”

“I do,” Theo said. “Fenian made a large order. Well, I suppose he asked for whatever potions I could make, but I need volume.”

“How is our new wizard doing?” Aarok asked, breaking any pretense of pleasantries. That was his right, though. He was charged with the protection of Broken Tusk.

Theo looked behind him, ensuring the door was closed. “He’s doing extremely well. Pulling back the curtain a bit,” he said, explaining everything he knew about Xol’sa. He spared no detail, sharing his thoughts about the elf.

“You think he’s looking for a home? And he knows what he’s doing?” Aarok said, leaning back in his chair. He cast his hooded gaze out the window and grunted. “That’s good enough for me. If he halted the monster waves, like you said, that’s more than good enough. That’s great.”

“Think of it like this,” Theo said, leaning in. “There’s one mortal in this world that could help us with the dungeon problem. One. That mortal is Xol’sa. An extra-planar elf that can see the fabric of all this nonsense. He can decipher our problem with the dungeon.”

“I’m not following,” Aarok said.

“Was he drawn here because he heard about our problem, or something else? Fate, destiny, whatever you want to call it. That confluence of events I’m always hearing about runs deeper than I thought,” Theo said, running his fingers over the papers on the table.

“Don’t know if I believe in fate, Theo,” Aarok said.

Theo waved him off. “Maybe not fate. Maybe some unseen hand.”

“Multiple sources of extra-dimensional energy?” Aarok asked, letting out a heavy sigh. “You realize it sounds like more than one god interfering with our town, right? Broken Tusk. A mud ball. In the middle of nowhere.”

Theo fell into his memories at that moment, something sticking out and ringing like a bell. He looked at Aarok and saw something hauntingly familiar. A chill ran up his spine as a grin spread across his face.

“A soldier,” Theo said, tipping his head toward Aarok, “looking for a peaceful life.” His grin broadened. “What a familiar story.”

Chapter 37

Cook’s Banquet

On a good day, the Marsh Wolf Tavern was busy enough. Of the twenty-some-odd tables, half would be filled. Tonight, it was a madhouse. Even from outside the walls, Theo could hear the raucous crowds inside. Those who couldn’t fit within stood on the cobbled streets outside, shoveling food in their mouths from copper plates.

“Food must be pretty good for this,” Tresk said, snorting a laugh. “Think we can get a table?”

Theo approached the door, poking his head inside. Xam caught his attention immediately, flailing her arms through the air, then gesturing at his favorite table, near the big window. Whatever ambling path the alchemist took to the tavern was enough of a diversion for Aarok to find his way here, sitting at that table with Luras. Both of them had sheepish grins on their faces.

“I didn’t know if you’d come,” Xam said, straightening her apron nervously. “You have the table of honor, of course.”

“Thanks,” Theo said, smiling.

“Woah,” Tresk said, coming in behind him. “You’re gonna need a bigger tavern.”

Xam simply smiled at that, gesturing toward the table. Theo and Tresk took a seat, settling into the noisy environment. Luras had already propped the window open.

“She wouldn’t let us eat until you got here,” Aarok said.

“And I’m starving,” Luras said.

Tresk pulled herself halfway up onto the table, leaning in. “How many ways can you prepare wolf meat, anyway?”

“I’d eat it raw, if not for the parasites,” Luras said.

Theo spotted Azrug moving through the tables, delivering food to the patrons. The alchemist smiled, noticing the look of concern on the shopkeeper’s face. His sister pulled him into helping, but he wouldn’t stand for that long. His heart was in the shop.

“We should have brought the wizard,” Tresk said. “I like him.”

Theo let out a sigh. Xol’sa was clearly an introvert by nature. A big event like this would be too much for him. It was better to invite the wizard to something more manageable, like an intimate meal at the Newt and Demon. No sooner did the thought arise than did Xam bring four shallow bowls. She dropped them off at the table and departed as quickly as she came, running off to serve another customer.

“Soup?” Tresk said, grimacing. “All this for more soup?”

Theo picked up his copper spoon and dunked it in the yellow liquid. He brought the murky soup to his lips and sipped, finding there to be far more flavor than her perpetual soup. Puddles of grease danced on the top of the liquid as small, round balls bobbed up and down. The base of the soup was delicious, coming in strong with herbs and savory broth. The floating balls were dumplings‌. Bread stuffed with wolf meat and herbs that danced on his tongue, complimenting the broth perfectly. Without a word, the entire group finished their bowls of soup.

A system message jumped into his vision.

Cook’s Banquet! You’ve consumed the first of three meals from a cook’s banquet, Wolf Meat Zee Dumpling Soup. Eat the other two courses to gain a buff.

“A banquet?” Tresk asked, laughing.

“All right, now this is interesting,” Luras said, craning his neck to see what the others were eating. “Looks like the main course is a steak with vegetables.”

“The last course is a desert,” Luras continued, standing to spot the other patrons. “I can smell fruit from here.”

Theo’s eyes went wide. The fruit in this world seemed scarce. There were a few types of berries in the swamp, but they were hard to find. The alchemist’s mind went to Xam and how she sourced all this food. He recalled when Fenian gave her the core as a gift, likely costing him almost nothing, but he must have sold her food.

“I need to get the ranch running,” Theo said.

“Next up,” Azrug said, coming in with a mock-smile. “Char grilled wolf steak with Water Leeks. Other side of the river.”

“What?” Tresk asked.

“I was going to ask where she got the Water Leeks,” Theo said, laughing.

“Of course you were,” Azrug said, grinning. “Bye.”

He darted off before Theo could say another word, scooping up a tray from behind the bar to serve another group.

The group didn’t say another word; they simply grabbed their utensils and dug in. The steak was very similar to the Karatan steak Xam had cooked in the past, but better. There wasn’t any salt to speak of, or butter, just the natural flavors of the wolf steak and a smoky, charred finish. But it was just better. The flavors were more intense, and they lingered on his tongue for longer. The little green things, which were apparently leeks, had a flavor all their own. It was somewhere between a Swamp Onion and raw vegetation, but it paired amazingly well with the steak. Tresk let out an audible sigh of satisfaction, patting her belly when she finished her food.

Another prompt came from the System.

Cook’s Banquet! You’ve consumed the second of three meals from a cook’s banquet, Char Grilled Wolf Steak with Water Leeks. Eat the last course to gain a buff.

“Oh, that was good,” Luras said, leaning back in his chair. “How much does that core improve her cooking?”

Theo finished the last piece of his steak, letting out a contented sigh. He didn’t think the core had much to do with it, not at her current level. Something else pushed her to improve her cooking, even if the core helped. She just needed that spark to get going, to pull her out of that slump.

“I’m sure the core helps,” Aarok said. “But she’s inspired. That goes a long way for someone like her.”

“Well, we’re coming every night if she does this again,” Tresk said. She withdrew some monster cores from her inventory and looked around. “I’m gonna make this place bigger.”

“Tresk, wait,” Aarok said, holding up a steadying hand, but it was too late. The marshling had jumped from her seat and was jamming cores into the wall like it was a mote port on the Glassware Artifice.

“It’s only Level 1!” Tresk shouted, dodging away from Aarok’s powerful grasp. She jammed faster.

“Who is upgrading my tavern?” Xam shouted.

Tresk let out a shrill laugh, vanishing from sight as the half-ogre woman stomped over.

“Wasn’t me,” Theo said, holding up his hands.

“There’s another one! I can barely see—there are too many prompts,” Xam said. Another cackle from Tresk. “Gods, I’m going to have to expand this place. Hold on.”

There wasn’t enough time to heed her warnings. The floor rocked under their feet as the tavern expanded in every direction. People fell from their chairs, hitting the ground and issuing a series of laughs. When the dust had settled, Tresk stood atop their table in a victorious pose.

“Can’t say Tresk never did anything for ya,” she said, grinning. “The first 10 levels are basically free.”

The floor space of the Marsh Wolf Tavern had nearly doubled. Those that were cast from their chairs righted themselves, casting their eyes over the place with a mix of confusion and delight.

“Now I need to pick upgrades,” Xam said, crestfallen.

“You can minimize those,” Aarok said, averting his gaze from the woman.

“Yes, I suppose I can,” Xam said, pressing her finger into her chin. “At least there’s more space.”

Tresk returned to her seat as the half-ogre woman moved away, having returned to her new bubbly self.

“What’s up with people in this town not upgrading their stuff?” Theo asked.

“It’s a theme,” Luras said.

“Well, now there’s more room,” Tresk said. “Thanks to me. You’re welcome.”

“Thank you, Tresk,” Theo said.

“You should have done it at a different time, though,” Aarok said, looking over the new interior with a smile. “It is nice, though.”

The group shifted their discussion to smaller topics as they waited for the last course. This one took far longer than the others, likely because of the sudden change in the interior. Azrug eventually came to set down the plates, steam rising off the desert. It looked like an apple had been sliced and arranged in a circle around the copper plate, baked, and dressed with a glaze. The group dug in.

For a desert, the dish had a tamed sweetness that wasn’t overpowering. It was gentle, and the heat of being baked helped it tremendously. The glaze on top was slightly sweet, as though it were an underdeveloped syrup. Theo suspected it was derived from the cypress trees, but he couldn’t be sure. Eating food didn’t always bring up the property discovery prompt.

They finished the meal in silence, everyone eagerly awaiting the System’s prompt as they licked their plates clean.

Food Buff! You’ve consumed a completed Cook’s Banquet.

You require 1 hour less of rest to become fully rested.

After resting, you will gain the following effect:

+1 to 3 random attributes.

The effect might seem minor, but it had big implications. Theo assumed that Xam was below Level 10 with her new core, and it was likely a common quality core at that. Once she upgraded it and got some levels, the effects would be absurd. This drove his mind harder into the ranch, forcing him to realize how amazing it would be to have a constant supply of Cook’s Banquets in the future.

“Who knew the power of food would be this strong?” Tresk said.

“This is big,” Theo said, nodding in agreement. “Think about how powerful this is going to be.”

Theo spotted Xam marching over with a smile on her face. “Well?” she asked.

“It was absurdly delicious,” Theo said, grinning. The rest of the group joined in agreement. “How much do we owe you?”

“Ah, well,” Xam said, blushing. “The cores should cover the cost of the meal.”

“Nonsense,” Aarok said.

“How do you put a price on a buff like that?” Luras asked.

Azrug appeared without warning, sneaking up behind Xam. “I’m glad you asked. Somewhere near 50 copper, I think. If you’re matching it to the cost of our attribute potions, anyway.”

“I’m assuming this is a special occasion,” Theo said, withdrawing 4 silver from his inventory. He slid it across the table to Xam. “Charge a silver for the banquet. I’ll cover the cost of anyone who can’t afford it tonight.”

Xam took the money hesitantly. More blush spread across her cheeks. “Thank you.”

“Most days she’s going to offer affordable meals,” Azrug said. “Even if the perpetual stew will be amazing because of her core, she’s going to fix it at a low price. Going back to the single copper stew meals so people don’t go hungry anymore.”

“Then you sell the banquets at a premium,” Luras said, nodding. “Yeah, that’s a great idea.”

Theo leaned back in his chair, remembering the hungry look in the children’s eyes when they arrived. He considered himself broke at the moment, but he could still easily afford to pay for the entire town’s meals 20 times over at 1 silver apiece.

“You need to hang a sign, Xam,” Theo said, leveling his gaze at her. “Free meals for anyone who can’t afford it. No questions asked.”

“That’s not very good business,” Azrug said, grinning. The smile washed away when he saw his joke didn’t land. “But I support it. Just making a joke.”

“I’ll cover it,” Xam said. “You get that ranch running, offer me some deals. That’s all I ask.”

Theo smiled. That was one less problem off his mind. When he arrived at Broken Tusk, people were working poverty wages. They could afford a single meal a day, leaving nothing for rent or other expenses. With him covering everyone’s rent if they couldn’t pay and Xam covering their meals, everyone in Broken Tusk was guaranteed a comfortable life. But he knew they wouldn’t settle for that, not from what he’d seen so far. They’d strive to be better than they were with that layer of comfort. They’d push hard and become the best versions of themselves, like the half-ogre woman had.

The idea of social support networks was strange at first. Most people’s instincts might be to hold onto all their wealth. But Theo’s thoughts on the matter weren’t entirely unselfish. A strong workforce was what he needed, not a pile of gold. It was impossible for him to do everything himself, even if he wanted to. There wasn’t enough time in the day, and he didn’t have enough core slots. Besides that idea, there was the issue of cores conflicting with each other.

Theo and his group walked outside, making room for others in the newly expanded tavern. The sun still clung to the horizon in the west, painting the swamp with streaks of orange and purple. Xol’sa’s portal, near the monolith in the center of town, flickered for a moment before extinguishing itself.

“How is that portal working, anyway?” Theo asked.

“Adventurers have complained it makes them dizzy for a while,” Aarok said.

“Beats trudging through the swamp to get to the dungeon,” Luras said.

“That reminds me,” Theo said, looking around to make sure the crowd was far enough away. “We’ll have to worry about the other dungeons soon. If the wizard’s theory is correct.”

“There’s always more to worry about,” Luras said.

Theo turned on the spot to get a look at Xam’s newly enlarged building. It was considerably bigger. The cogs were falling into place quickly, and he needed to be ready to react at a moment’s notice. With his friends by his side, he doubted it would be an issue. The alchemist didn’t want to look away from the truth anymore. He wanted to stare whatever this destiny was right in the eyes, unblinking and unflinching.

“I have to wonder,” Theo said. “What is Broken Tusk? What are we building here? A safe place for people? A mercantile empire? An army?”

“All of those options,” Tresk said, slapping Theo on the back. “We’re building everything. You name it, we’re building it.”

“Everything at once,” Aarok said with a chuckle. “That sounds about right.”

“Theo,” came a voice from afar. Gridgen trotted over with his son on his hip, grinning. “You sent me more workers.”

“I believe I promised that,” Theo said.

“Of course you did,” Gridgen said. “I just didn’t expect them so quickly.”

“Any monsters show up?” Tresk asked.

“In Dead Dog? No,” Gridgen said, waving her off. “It’s been really calm. I just had a question—you said we’d get a wage, but I didn’t know how that was supposed to happen.”

Technically, the System should know to deposit the money into Gridgen’s inventory, if he had one. Theo wasn’t sure what would happen if the man didn’t have one.

“Well, do you have any copper on you?” Theo asked.

“Well, a few. I mean, I have 20 of those nuggets in my dimensional bag,” Gridgen said, fumbling into a sack with his free hand.

Theo held out his hands, cupping them to receive the nuggets. They went back and forth a few times before the total amount was transferred, a message popping into both of their vision.

Item Delivered! You’ve received an item bound to the contract Dead Dog Mine.

Automatically calculating value based on best information…

Best information received from Azrug Slug’s mercantile cores…

Additional information received from recent sales conducted by Throk…

Copper Nugget price set to 1c per 10 units.

Gridgen dug into his bag, withdrawing 2 copper that had magically appeared. Likewise, 2 copper had vanished from Theo’s inventory.

“Hopefully you’ve mined more than that,” Theo said, laughing.

“A lot more,” Gridgen said. “Hundreds of nuggets, and we just figured out what we were doing.”

Theo withdrew a silver coin from his inventory, splitting it into 100 copper and dropping it into the man’s bag. “This should get you started. So you can roll out some wages.”

“Thanks, Theo,” Gridgen said. “Good to know the contract works, anyway.”

The man departed, moving strangely with the extra weight sitting on his hip. The child seemed happy enough about the event, giggling as they went.

“I still need someone to smelt the ore,” Theo said.

“You’ll find someone,” Luras said. “You always find someone.”

“All right. Come on, Mister Alchemist. We need to get to bed,” Tresk said, pulling Theo by the arm. “You always get cranky if you don’t have enough sleep.”

Theo felt himself being tugged away by the marshling, waving sheepishly at Aarok and Luras as he went. He managed a weak “bye” before he was out of range. Trudging down the path, the alchemist felt something strange wash through his body, like a hot wind blowing through his cores. As soon as it came, it went, leaving him feeling unnerved.

With a stomach full of food and a mind full of hope, sleep came easy that night. The moment Theo’s head hit his soft pillow, he was out, even before Tresk’s loud snores could fill the room.

Chapter 38

Drogramath’s Descendants

Xam’s banquet was worth the price. Theo woke the next morning well before dawn with a single-point bonus in Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence. He woke the next morning feeling refreshed, having a pleasant breakfast with Tresk. He expected a need from Perg. It had been a while since he’d created either the Alchemic Tannin or the Stripping Solution she used for her process, and she hadn’t come calling for it. He busied himself with those reactions in the morning, eager to check on his garden and work on the refined stamina essence for the day. With the ingredients on hand, it took very little time to accomplish his first task of the day, looking with satisfaction at the large flasks filled with the tannery solutions.

Before departing from the lab, he mixed a Lesser Potion of Growth with the [Aerosolize] modifier. It was time for his cultivation project to enter the next phase, now that his small garden was filled with plants. Entering the gravel yard, he noted the plants were doing well. He also remembered the explosion that had happened from errant potions leaking into the gravel and grimaced. Tresk had already departed for the day, leaving him without the cores to upgrade his shop and get the Experimentation Room upgrade. She must have stored them in her personal dimensional bag.

This was fine for now. The [Aerosolized] modifier seemed to disperse through the air, not affecting the things in the soil. A thought flashed through his mind for a moment. He’d only thought of using that modifier for his growth potions, but it seemed like the most powerful. If he applied it to a healing potion, that would guarantee an area-of-effect heal for everyone who inhaled the smoke. He also thought about dropping two at the same time, potions that conflicted with each other, to create an explosion. The alchemist shook the thoughts away. They had enough bombs for another wave. He didn’t need to concern himself with that.

Theo learned from his last attempt at throwing something a few feet. He simply wasn’t dexterous enough to accomplish the task, using a short-ranged underhand technique this time. The familiar fog came rolling out of the point of impact, boiling over the ground and seeping into the plants. All the plants grew visibly larger, the cultivated Spiny Swamp Thistle even growing into its mature form. Growth time for reagents in the swamp was short, but with this method, he could reliably make more plants as long as he had the growth potion.

The alchemist’s theory was simple, but it needed to be proven. When planting something in the enriched soil, could he simply toss a growth potion on top to force it to mature. The Spiny Swamp Thistle seedlings grew from small buds sticking from the ground to full plants with broad, spiny leaves. Theo nodded in satisfaction, digging with his gloved hands to reveal a Spiny Swamp Thistle Root that was significantly bigger than the original. He inspected the item before harvesting it.

[Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]

[Alchemy Ingredient] [Cultivated]

Common

This Spiny Swamp Thistle Root has been cultivated. Selective breeding and applications of growth potions will increase the Cultivation meter. Cultivation percentage increases yield and quality of this reagent.

Cultivation: 50%

Unit by volume:

6 units

Properties:

[Healing] [Regeneration] [???]

Repeating the process, Theo dug up the other three he had planted. Two of them were at the same Cultivation level, while one hit 60 percent. Instead of 6 units by volume, it was 7. He could extrapolate this in his mind to mean that a 100% Cultivated Spiny Swamp Thistle Root would produce 11 units by volume, which was a massive improvement. There was also the goal of refining these cultivated ingredients, producing higher-quality essences in the process. The alchemist mentally designated the lesser-cultivated roots for grinding, slicing the larger one for later use.

Theo was then left with an uncomfortable truth. While the root was simple to propagate, he did not know how the others would work. Both the Mage’s Bane and Roc Berries didn’t have tubers growing under them. They both had flowers, but that wasn’t helpful. The alchemist grumbled at his lack of knowledge, rising to his feet and dusting the dirt from his robe.

The walk to Banu’s farm felt like a walk of shame, but the bright faces of the people in Broken Tusk banished that way. While Theo woke up early, he couldn’t hold a candle to the farmers. By the time he arrived in their fields, they were already well into their day. Those fields affected by his alchemically enhanced soil were obvious. The Zee grew taller, with thicker stalks and larger fruit. Those using the old method seemed anemic by comparison.

Theo spotted the windmill, the massive blades held still as the building rested. They were running it, as evidenced by the bread Xam had made, which would be amazing for the town. The alchemist spent some time standing there, watching the farmers work before Banu approached him.

“Just taking in the sights?” Banu asked.

Theo thought for a moment before responding. He was feeling strangely wistful today, as though everything in the town was amazing. It was a sense of nostalgia that wasn’t earned; he simply hadn’t lived in the town long enough. He decided that thought was too much of a burden on the farmer.

“I am,” Theo said with a smile. “But I’ve come with a question.”

“Naturally,” Banu said. “Ask away.”

Theo paused for a moment before responding. He felt something fall across his chest, like wayward leaves blown from some unseen tree above. But the farms were clear of trees. Only the sky rested above them, streaked with the colors of the passing dawn. The alchemist shook it off, turning his gaze back to the farmer.

“I have some plants to propagate,” Theo said.

Banu let out a deep belly laugh. “And you do not know what you’re doing. I get it. What kind of plants are they?”

Theo explained them briefly, detailing the features that he thought were noteworthy. Banu nodded as he spoke, grinning at the end.

“You’ll need to take clippings of those. Try to keep a few leaves and cut them at an angle. A day in water should have them ready for planting,” Banu said.

“Right,” Theo said with a nod. “If you like, I can cultivate some of your Zee.”

“Cultivate? Aren’t we cultivating the land now?” Banu asked.

Theo explained his process of alchemical cultivation. He knew it would work on the Zee, since it had the [Alchemy Ingredient] tag on the item’s description.

“So, you can make my plants bigger? Just like that?” Banu asked, laughing. “Of course you can. Mind giving me a demonstration?”

“Not at all,” Theo said, gesturing to a field with the modified crop. He pressed his hand against a growing kernel, surprised at the System’s window.

[Zee Kernel]

[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]

Common

This [Zee Kernel] has been cultivated. Selective breeding and applications of growth potions will increase the [Cultivation] modifier. [Cultivation] percentage increases yield and quality of this reagent.

Cultivation:10%

Unit by volume:

5 units

Properties:

[Regenerate Health] [Cure Poison] [???]

“These are already starting the first stages of cultivation, I guess,” Theo said. “Must be the soil.”

“They are bigger,” Banu said. “So, I guess so.”

Theo felt a rustle through the fields of Zee. A hot wind blew from the north, not only washing over him but through him. A strange sensation flooded through him, then stopped.

“Everything all right?” Banu asked.

Theo looked around, trying to spot the culprit, but found nothing. “I’m fine. Just having a weird feeling about something.”

Theo produced a Lesser Potion of Growth from his inventory, one modified by the [Aerosolize] modifier, and tossed it. He urged Banu to stand back as the cloud of fog gathered at the base of the Zee stalks, snaking through the patch. In an instant, they grew considerably, dwarfing the rest of the fields and painting the naturally grown fields as sprouts.

“You’re just intent on replacing my job, aren’t you?” Banu asked, slapping his knee and laughing.

“Not at all,” Theo said. He inspected a kernel again, finding that it was at 50% Cultivation. As expected, the units by volume went up by 4, totaling 9. “Nine units per kernel basically doubles your output. But these need to be grown traditionally. We can douse this entire field, but it makes more sense to hold back a few crops and use those as seeds.”

“They’ll retain that modifier?” Banu asked.

“Yes, they should,” Theo said, thinking back to his experiments. “My little test showed that to be true. Cultivation meter might fade over time, but we’ll figure that out as we go.”

“Right. So, keep back the big ones you just made and use those for planting,” Banu said, laughing. “Gods, I never thought working with an alchemist would be so weird.”

Theo’s concentration was broken the moment Banu stopped talking. The wind came again, this time more intense. He cast his eyes toward the farmer but found nothing. The gust entered his chest, probing at his cores before backing away in an instant.

“You didn’t feel that?” Theo asked, clutching the front of his robes.

“Nope,” Banu said, shrugging. “What’s going on?”

“Theo! What was that?” Tresk asked. “Felt like someone just grabbed my liver.”

“Gotta go,” Theo said, turning on the spot and marching away. His heart was pounding, worry flooding into his body.

Banu said something as the alchemist departed, but those words fell on deaf ears. Theo clutched the Order of the Burning Eye’s medallion, fearing the worst.

“Come back to town,” Theo said, his eyes lingering on every shadow around him. “That felt like Drogramath trying to touch my soul.”

The sensation was undeniable. It was the same energy that permeated the air within the swamp, amplified and directed right into his chest. But there was no rush of wind to follow. No Sulvan running at inhuman speeds to intercede against the Demon Lord.

“I’m already here,” Tresk said. “Watching you now—there’s someone following you.”

“Someone?” Theo said, looking over his shoulder. He quickened his pace. “Who?”

“Some tall human,” Tresk said. “I can’t make them out. They’re hidden. Keep walking to the lab. I’m gonna get ’em.”

Theo turned the corner around his lab, pressing his back against the wall and waiting. Another pulse shot out, somewhere from up the road, and rushed through his chest. He winced, feeling a flash of anger welling in his chest. Without knowing how, he lashed out against the unwelcome probing, feeling something strange on the other end. It was as though he reached out with his hand and grasped something warm and familiar. An object he’d held a thousand times before, resting in his mental grasp as an old friend.

Then a figure emerged from around the wall. An oddly tall human woman wearing little more than a threadbare sack. She was covered in muck, tears brimming at the corners of her eyes. Theo withdrew a bomb from his potion, holding it aloft.

“Stay back,” he said, eyes going wide as she came closer.

“Belgar,” she said, voice muffled through sobs.

Before Tresk could burst from the shadows, she was upon him. Instead of the vicious attack he expected, she pulled him into a close hug. It was only then that he noticed the slight shimmer around her body. The strange field caught the light, and he understood it to be an illusion.

“Get your hands off my alchemist!” Tresk shouted, bursting from the shadows with daggers leading.

“Wait,” Theo said, holding up a hand. “Lady, are you okay?”

Tresk skidded to a stop, heaving breath and letting out a low growl. “Don’t you dare hurt him.”

“It’s been too long,” the woman said. “I had lost hope ages ago, but then…”

She moved back, withdrawing something from nowhere. Theo recognized it wasn’t an inventory but a quirk of her illusion. What she withdrew was a potion—one of the first that the alchemist had made.

Theo reached out with his mind, expressing the intent to inspect the woman. It was an ability he never used, as it was considered rude. This was a strange circumstance, though.

[Zarali] Level 32 | Priestess of Drogramath

The alchemist stumbled back, eyes going wide. “I don’t know you,” he said. “Who are you?”

Zarali let out a sobbing sigh, wiping her eyes and leveling her gaze with him. “You’ve forgotten. I would beg our Lord to level this place to the ground for collaring you so, but they may have been your savior.”

“You’re going to need to elaborate, woman,” Tresk said, growling again.

Zarali managed a weak chuckle. “You’re soul-bonded and marked. What have they done to you? Fine, perhaps this will help your memory.”

With a wave of her hand, Zarali dispelled the illusion. Theo’s mouth fell open as a shimmering wave of energy worked its way from the crown of her head to the soles of her feet. She had long, raven black hair with horns that matched the shape of her head. Her skin was pale purple with violet eyes to match. The robes she wore were a deep shade of purple, stitched with gold in intricate symbols that the alchemist recognized as Drogramathi script.

“Oh, crap!” Tresk shouted a little too loud. “Theo, she looks just like you! Like, not just another dronon!”

Theo knew the implications. His intuition was good enough to tell him the truth, but there was something else screaming the answer in his chest. It wasn’t his cores this time, but his heart. He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her, Tresk following closely behind, into the Newt and Demon. The alchemist waved away Azrug’s questions, snapping the lab’s door shut and fixing his gaze on the woman.

“I didn’t want to consider this idea,” Theo said, swallowing hard. “And this is going to be too much for you to hear right now—you should have a seat.”

“What’s going on, Theo?” Tresk asked, bouncing up and down.

Theo gestured to a chair, and Zarali took it. She had a quizzical look on her face, something that mingled with sorrow. “Please,” she said, her lip quivering slightly. “Don’t say it…”

“I won’t let it linger. I won’t lie to you,” Theo said, gesturing to the door and nodding at Tresk.

Tresk picked up on what his intent was without words. She swung it open and screamed at Azrug, who had his ear pressed against the door. The shopkeeper nearly peed his pants, screaming back and tumbling down the stairs. The marshling snapped it shut immediately after.

A question had lingered in Theo’s mind since he arrived. In all the System-generated text about him, it called him Belgar, or Theo Spencer (Belgar). He had many theories on the topic but no evidence to back any of them up. His first thought was that the System simply generated him a new body and a random name. Another theory, the one that he came to believe in that moment, was darker in nature.

There was just one answer among his theories. One fact that stuck out among them. Zarali’s resemblance to him was too much, sealing his thoughts with conviction.

“Your brother, Belgar, is dead,” Theo said, bracing himself. “I’m just inhabiting his body.”

The look of devastation on Zarali’s face was heart-breaking. She cupped her hands over her face and started sobbing again. Even Tresk felt bad for her. Theo could feel it. The marshling waddled over and placed a comforting hand on the dronon’s shoulder, casting the alchemist a worried look.

“Way to break the news, idiot,” Tresk said.

“Tearing the bandage off quickly is better,” Theo said. Even though he said that, it didn’t help the sobbing woman in front of him.

“He’s been dead for twenty-three years, hasn’t he?” Theo asked.

“Yes,” Zarali managed between sobs. She looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. “But it’s you, brother. Belgar. Your face, your eyes. Your…”

She broke off again, face back in her palms.

“Oh, you are not good with people, Theo,” Tresk said.

“I’m great with people,” Theo said.

“Yeah, clearly not,” Tresk said, snorting a laugh. “There, there little Demon lady. It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay!” Zarali shouted.

“Start from the start,” Theo said. “What happened to Belgar?”

Zarali looked up at him with pleading eyes. She took a steadying breath, and the air stung with magic. “You and I had our backs against the wall, 23 years ago. In the Veostian Hinterlands. A silent war with Lord Zagmon’s cults.” She took a moment to steady herself before continuing. “I saw you die, then you vanished. I’ve been looking for you ever since.”

Belgar was a dronon before Theo got the body, that much was clear. Whoever designed this swap was heartless to do such a thing. The poor woman was scouring the planet for her dead brother for 23 years. But that man was dead. The alchemist couldn’t feel anything but himself within that body. He moved to kneel by her, taking her hand in his and managing a weak smile. He wanted to cry with her, but he wouldn’t.

“I’m not your brother,” Theo said.

She shifted uncomfortably in the chair, looking around the lab. “I know. I had… I wanted to hope that you were. I knew it the moment I swept my power over the town, but I wanted to hope,” she said, meeting his gaze. Her expression shifted in an instant, features brightening considerably. “My Belgar would have never kept such a horrid lab. Who created those fermentation barrels? Why, in the name of our Lord, Drogramath the Potioneer, would you use a single-stage condenser system? No bubbler plates? At least you have a [Glassware Artifice].”

Zarali stood, straightening her robe and wiping the tears from her eyes. She took in a steady breath. “This place is a mess, brother—ah, was it Theo?”

“Well, that’s a shift,” Tresk said, laughing.

“And you aren’t channeling any of Drogramath’s energy, even when it soaks the air?” Zarali asked. “No, perhaps you’re not my brother, but you’re a Drogramath dronon. In my brother’s body, maybe, but a descendant of Drogramath all the same. Come, I have some suggestions to make.”

Theo watched her move through the lab, and a new pain flooded through his heart. This wasn’t a sudden shift, as Tresk suggested. She was hiding the pain away, deep in her chest. She pushed it down to ignore what was standing right in front of her, but he had to wonder if it was such a bad thing to do. The alchemist put on a smile, grabbing her by the arm with the intent to give her a tour.

Chapter 39

Big Bad Demon Man

Zarali was a woman between two worlds. As Theo gave her a tour of the lab, including the custom tanks outside, she shifted between sorrow and excitement. The alchemist knew she was processing her brother’s death in her own way, delaying the grieving process as long as possible. She had many opinions about his setup, only admitting he was doing well when he explained the full story.

“You’re doing well for someone transmigrated,” Zarali said, nodding happily. “Most Drogramath Dronon spend decades on this stuff.”

“I’ve had help,” Theo said, gesturing to the copy of Basic Drogramath Alchemy on the table.

“And I’m guessing you got that for a pittance. That tome is more valuable than you know,” she said. “Lord Drogramath has taken a special interest in you. You should remove that necklace and the mark on your chest.”

Theo didn’t tell her about the strange tattoo that Sulvan Flametouched had given him. He also wasn’t about to give himself into a Demon Lord because someone he didn’t know said so. His assessment of the woman was that she was being honest and was actually Belgar’s sister. He also sensed no hostile intent from her, his superior intuition backing that up. His cores, combined with Tresk, painted her as a harmless, grieving woman.

“Not likely,” Tresk said. “We’re not ready to give ourselves up to the big bad demon man yet.”

“Well, consider yourself lucky,” Zarali said. “The only reason I trust you is because your cores haven’t exploded in your chest. If Lord Drogramath approves of this soul-bond, then he approves of you. By extension, I trust you.”

He hadn’t considered that. He was wearing the skin of her brother, which was bad enough. Placing himself in her shoes, Theo would have been angry. But there was a higher power at work here, something that Zarali bound herself to. She was a priestess of Drogramath. The alchemist couldn’t decide if he was happy about that. Being a puppet didn’t interest him, but the benefits the Demon Lord provided were undeniable.

“Let’s take it one step at a time,” Theo said. “There’s a difference between someone born with the cores and someone like me.”

“That’s true,” Zarali said. She cocked her head to the side and smiled a pained smile. “You’re wearing someone else’s skin.”

“I’m sorry about that, but I didn’t have a choice,” Theo said.

“Well, of course not,” Zarali said.

“So, what’s your plan, lady?” Tresk asked.

“I don’t know,” Zarali said. Tears formed in the corners of her already-wet eyes, but she took a deep breath. “I didn’t plan this far.”

“Well, you’re welcome to stay here,” Tresk said.

Theo didn’t know if the marshling was feeding off of his intent, but that was his thought on the matter. Zarali might be dangerous, but so was he. So was the entire swamp, but that hadn’t stopped him yet. Having an expert on Drogramath around was a great thing. He might finally get some answers about the Demon Lord’s master plan. At the very least, she could help them contend with the powerful energy emanating from the dungeon.

“I’d like that very much,” Zarali said. “I have a few things to teach you about alchemy, brother. Things that you taught me, actually.”

Theo winced at her use of brother. He would embrace it.

“That’s a good enough cover for me,” Theo said. “We’ll introduce you to the town as my sister.”

“That’s only going to work for the new people,” Tresk said. “Everyone else knows you were sent from another world.”

“That’s fine,” Theo said, digging through his mayor’s screen and accessing the alert system. He mentally typed a simple message, hitting send.

[Theo]: Aarok, Luras, Azrug, report to my lab, please.

Only a moment passed before Azrug came tumbling through the door, standing at attention with a wide-eyed look. “She looks just like you.”

“This is my sister,” Theo said, gesturing.

Azrug screwed up his face, eyes darting between Theo and Tresk. “Uh-huh.”

They stood there in awkward silence for some time. Eventually the bell rang downstairs, Luras and Aarok ascending the stairs into the crowded lab.

“Another dronon,” Aarok said, casting a look at Theo. “Should I be concerned?”

“Not at all,” Zarali said, affecting a shallow bow.

“So, this is my sister,” Theo said, gesturing to the woman. “Zarali.”

“Your sister?” Luras asked, grimacing. “Surely not.”

“Well, not Theo Spencer’s sister,” Zarali said, her face flushing slightly. “Belgar’s sister.”

“Uh-oh,” Azrug said.

Theo explained the story as briefly as he could, watching as his sister teared up during the retelling. She busied herself, moving over to the window to look outside.

“So, we’re pretending she’s your sister,” Aarok said. “Not to offend the demonic priestess standing within spell range, but isn’t she dangerous? Isn’t Drogramath evil?”

Zarali sputtered, spinning around from the window and pointing a finger at the half-ogre. “Evil? Do I look evil? Drogramath is the most misunderstood God in any pantheon. One’s origin doesn’t imply their alignment.”

She swept her hand, a wave of gentle force spreading across the room. She narrowed her eyes at Luras, pointing again. “You’re too young to remember Baelthar’s hunt. But your Hunter’s Core is aligned with the god responsible for the purge in Gardreth. The marshling is steeped in Zaul’s wicked shadows. No, look at yourselves before you judge my patron.”

Silence washed over the room for a long time. Azrug finally broke the stillness.

“So, misunderstood Demon God?” he asked. “I can live with that.”

Zarali straightened her robes and tutted. “Just so.”

“That’s just an example of how useful she can be,” Theo said. “If she’s willing to settle down in Broken Tusk.”

“Just like Xol’sa,” Luras said, nodding.

Zarali spun to face the half-ogre, cocking her head to the side. “That’s a strange name. One of the Bara’their?”

“He doesn’t even know what he is, and I’ve never heard of that race,” Theo said. “He’s an extra-planar elf.”

“The Bara’their,” Zarali said, nodding.

“Okay, so how do you know that?” Tresk asked.

“I’m a scholar for our people,” Zarali said, puffing with pride. “A historian, of sorts.”

“Now that is useful,” Luras said. “Well, I’m good with it. Honestly, what’s the worst that can happen? We’re already staring down multiple monster waves as it is.”

“Sure. She has my vote,” Aarok said.

“All right. She’s going to shadow me today,” Theo said. “I could really use some advice on improving my process.”

“Yes, I shall shadow you, too,” Tresk said, nodding.

“What? Don’t trust me, little marshling?” Zarali asked.

“Nope.”

“Fair.”

The group spent some time talking before dispersing. Zarali was a very normal person, considering her tragic past. Once in a room with several people, and with the fits of sobs behind her, she opened up a lot. Serving Drogramath in Qavell had been challenging with the Order of the Burning Eye around. They weren’t outright hostile to the followers of Drogramath and weren’t even the sect of crusaders that banished him to begin with. Another group from the west handled that. They were dark crusaders from Demon Lord Zagmon’s faction. The order was happy enough to leave Drogramath and his kin alone, intervening only when the demon influenced the realm directly. Otherwise they seemed to have a silent agreement.

This made sense to Theo. Uharis and Sulvan only came to investigate when Drogramath spoke to him directly, or they got word that a new dronon had appeared. It appeared the Order of the Burning Eye had given him a partial truth, shrouding reality from him. Why they would do that was beyond him. In the alchemist’s experience, it was better to reveal the whole truth to a person and let them decide. Hiding things only bred discontent.

The group eventually cleared out, leaving Tresk, Theo, and Zarali alone.

“Is she always with you?” Zarali asked, pointing at Tresk.

“I suppose you don’t know as much about soul-bonds as you thought,” Theo said. “Even when she’s not here physically, she’s with me mentally.”

“Sometimes it’s like we’re one person in two bodies,” Tresk said, nodding.

“Well, at least she’s cute,” Zarali said.

Tresk’s face went a bright shade of red, and she buried her face in her hands for a moment, rubbing it vigorously.

“Show me your process, brothe—Theo,” Zarali said.

“Alright, I have some [Stamina Potions] to brew,” Theo said.

“Start from the start,” Zarali said.

Theo thought for a moment. He was running the restoration potions through the advanced process, but was running short on ingredients. Tresk must have felt his mind searching because she spoke up.

“I could use more poison,” Tresk said.

“Perfect,” Theo said, moving to the [Dimensional Storage Crate] and pulling out 100 units of [Widow Lily]. “We’ll start with the essence extraction process for these.”

Zarali took a flower from him, rolling it over for inspection. “A very impressive base reagent for wild-grown. I saw your garden out back, so you’re on the right track there. Continue.”

Theo felt awkward having someone more knowledgeable about the process than him in the room. He attached his [Alchemical Grinder] to the top of his [Drogramath Still] and waited for her to say something.

“A grinder is very efficient,” Zarali said, moving to inspect the artifice. “Most advanced [Drogramath Alchemists] prefer the manual ones, but this is good for your level.”

Theo fed the [Widow Lilies] into the machine, listening to it grind them up. He stowed away the grinder and retrieved water from his barrel, catching Zarali’s expression before she said anything.

“I understand why you’re doing it this way, but it’s wrong,” Zarali said. “[Purified Water] is a fine base, but there’s a much better method.”

“What should I do, then?” Theo asked. This was the best way he found to process raw essence.

“Use your brain, little brother,” Zarali said. “You’re a [Drogramath Alchemist], not some fool [Alchemist] in the capital.”

Theo thought for a moment. What would be better than [Purified Water]? From what he understood, the water only served as something to carry the essence from the still to the condenser. He stood there with his mouth open, staring into the mash for some time and came up with nothing.

“I’m missing something,” Theo said, feeling a twinge in his cores. “Something close at hand.”

“He’s almost got it,” Zarali said, clapping a hand over Tresk’s little shoulder. “Watch the gears turn in his mind.”

Theo’s mind focused on his cores. There was a slow, rhythmic pulse in his chest. It was more than just the beating of his heart, but he’d never been able to place the sensation. The topic of alignments and origins of power ran through his mind, those different energies permeating the dungeon. The things Xol’sa told him came back in a flash and his [Drogramath Alchemy Core] sang. His face brightened, even if he didn’t fully understand what Zarali was edging him toward.

“Mana,” Theo said after a while.

“Well, yes,” Zarali said, shrugging. “But it’s more than that. You’re only going off of what you see in the system’s messages, but it goes deeper. I feel like a proper teacher.”

Zarali crossed the room, dragged a chair over and took a seat. She held her hand out and a purple swirl of magic blinked into existence. “Mana takes many forms. Those without cores, or those with unaligned cores, have access to the primal form. The mana that swells in your chest is aligned with Drogramath.”

Theo realized what she was hinting at. He marked her as a good teacher at that moment. Someone who gave up information for nothing was not a good teacher. In his experience, he had to work for knowledge to make it worth it.

“I can enchant the water with Drogramath’s mana,” Theo said.

“There he is,” Zarali said, grinning. “Realizing something a Drogramathi child knows.”

“Are there demon children?” Tresk asked, edging closer to the woman.

“There are,” Zarali said. “For now, continue your process. We’ll enchant some water later.”

Theo returned the lid to his still and withdrew a [Flame Artifice] from his inventory, setting both the heat and the timer before placing it under the pot. He moved the condenser over a flask to avoid the essence contaminating his storage tank outside. When he stepped back, he noticed a confused look on Zarali’s face.

“That’s it?” she asked.

“Yes,” Theo said, feeling unsure of his answer. It felt more like a test by the moment. “It runs until it’s done.”

She let out a labored sigh, approaching the still and placing her hand on the side. “For mass production, this is understandable. I can see why you thought a single heat level was a good idea, but it’s also wrong.”

“She’s tearing apart your process, Theo,” Tresk said.

“Honestly, I do not know what I’m doing,” Theo said. “The entire process has been guesswork from the start.”

“You guessed in the right direction more often than not,” Zarali said. “There’s a level of artistry that you’re missing here.”

Theo tried not to let his shoulders slump. He knew he was slapping together techniques driven by his intuition. The alchemist knew her experience was tangential, though. She knew what she knew by watching Belgar, understanding the process second-hand. It was hard not to wonder what secrets were lost through that observation.

“I’m sure you’ll have something to say about my mixing technique,” Theo said.

“I have a feeling there are issues,” Zarali said.

“So,” Theo said, generating several vials, 2 units in size. “Does the special Drogramath work in the reactions, as well?”

“Well, I’m happy you’re eager to learn,” she said. “Yes, it does. Are you also using un-energized catalysts?”

Theo withdrew an iron shaving from his inventory, placing it in the vial. He mixed his [Refined Stamina Essence] with regular [Purified Water], garnering the violent reaction that he had experienced before. The resulting [Stamina Potion] was at great quality, but the dronon woman still made a face.

“The reaction is so explosive because you’re doing it half-way right,” Zarali said. “The catalyst matters, but infusing it with Drogramath’s energy will help the reaction. On the positive side, you have the measurements down perfectly. The potion you made puts those blowhards in Qavell to shame.”

“Theo, that’s a good thing!” Tresk shouted, running up and shaking him by the shoulders. “Fancy alchemist man. Look at you.”

Theo could tell she sensed his disappointment. He took a long breath and nodded to himself. He wasn’t just doing alright, he was doing amazingly for someone in his position. The alchemist just needed to shift his mindset, to accept the critiques and learn from them.

“Yes, fancy alchemy man,” Zarali said, chuckling. “Perhaps you need a break. This has been a lot of information. You can let your still cook while we do.”

Theo was excited to get out of the lab and process this information. They left the Newt and Demon, waving off questions from Azrug to tour the town. They garnered more than a few wary glances from the people in town. A new resident was enough to start the rumors, but another dronon was something else.

“Should I hide my form?” Zarali asked. “They’re looking at us strangely.”

“They’ll get over it,” Tresk said, waving her off. “People in Broken Tusk like to gawk at new things.”

Theo started the tour at the farms to the north, showing off his alchemical advancement of the soil. Zarali was impressed with this, as the Drogramath dronon did little farming. She explained how their people hunted and trapped for their food, rarely relying on arable land to make their meals. They stopped by Zan’kir’s house, who bought the story that Zarali was Theo’s sister without turning his nose up at the idea. Tresk wanted to play with the children, but they moved along to the quarry.

“Drogramath’s energy fades here,” Zarali said, sweeping her senses over the land. Theo could feel those senses physically wash over him as she did, the familiar hot wind returning for only a moment.

“That makes sense,” Theo said. “His energy is coming from the dungeon.”

“Now that is interesting.”

“We’ll check out Xol’sa’s tower later,” Theo said.

Ziz was excited to see a new face, and Zarali was interested in the gems they were finding. She claimed that if Drogramath’s energy were here, the quarry would produce better gems. ‘Better’ likely meant gems aligned with the Demon Lord. Finally, they walked the road through town and headed south to Dead Dog Mine. They were intercepted by Perg, who wanted more of the alchemical tannery potions, something the dronon woman was also impressed with. Theo made a quick stop at the Newt and Demon before leading them on into the southern hills.

Dead Dog Mine was in full swing. Upon spotting the entrance, Theo saw piles of copper nuggets, hundreds of the things all gathered there. A smaller pile held iron nuggets, but it was still impressive. The sound of picks striking rock rang from inside the mine, filling the hills with the sounds of industry. The group stood there for a while, but saw no sign of Gridgen and his workers. Deciding not to disturb the laborers, they turned away intent on visiting the wizard’s tower.

“I know very little about managing a town,” Zarali said. “But I can see you’re very good at that.”

“I’m trying,” Theo said. “Whatever Drogramath did to this place left it in a state. We have regular monster waves, but the reagent regeneration is absurd.”

“That’s the power of my Lord Drogramath,” she said.

“I’m sure the wizard is gonna be interested in you, lady,” Tresk said, laughing.

“Right. Next stop, the portal,” Theo said.

Chapter 40

Through Any Means Necessary

Zarali didn’t seem to suffer the same disorienting effects of the portal. Tresk and Theo fell to their knees, working to keep the contents of the stomachs from spilling onto Xol’sa’s well-kept stone floor. The dronon woman swept her senses over the tower, tutting immediately.

“What a strange hodgepodge of power,” she said, pursing her lips.

The tower’s wizard came down the winding stairs, eyes wide with surprise. He relaxed upon seeing the trio gathered, letting out a steady breath. “Best not to sneak up on a mage like that,” he said. “Who is the priestess?”

“Belgar’s sister. Priestess of Drogramath,” Zarali said, puffing with pride. She then said something Theo couldn’t make out. The language wasn’t familiar to him, and by the look on the mage’s face, he didn’t know it either.

“I don’t think he knows what you said,” Theo said, rising to his feet. His balance was still shaky, but he stood by bracing himself against the wall. “She thinks you’re part of a race called the Bara’their.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Xol’sa said, descending the steps. “And I don’t believe she’s really your sister. Although, I’m willing to play along with a ruse, if that’s what this is.”

Zarali looked slightly offended, but Theo held up a silencing hand. “That’s quite fine,” he said. “It’s a very loose lie.”

“Very well,” Xol’sa said. “Is there any reason for your visit?”

“I’m interested in the power you sensed,” Zarali said, brightening up again. “My brother told me about your theory regarding different energies.”

“I’ve made some progress on that, Theo,” Xol’sa said, beckoning them up the stairs.

The roof was ablaze with the familiar symbols, dancing in a circle to trace the curve of the tower. Theo couldn’t make out anything, even with his enhanced memory. Tresk’s eyes darted everywhere, as though she expected an ambush. The alchemist wouldn’t think less of her for the vigilance. These were strange times.

“I don’t understand any of the arcane languages, not least one so foreign,” Zarali said, turning her nose up at the display. She swiped her hand through the air once and a series of Drogramathi Sigils appeared. Those were things Theo could understand well.

Her webwork wasn’t as thorough as the one displayed by Xol’sa. It was a high-level assessment of the magical energies in the area with corresponding numbers in a unit the alchemist didn’t understand. What he could glean from the display was that Drogramath’s energy was the most prevalent. Zarali swiped her hand again and the symbol’s changed, displaying words that Theo could understand, but the content was mostly nonsense to him.

“I don’t know what a [Planar Mage] is,” Zarali said, tilting her head. “But I understand the dominance of power. The shade one house casts on another, and those in its embrace. Drogramath’s presence here is undeniable, but your approach is wrong.”

Xol’sa bristled for a moment, quickly regaining his composure. “I consider myself the foremost expert on the matter.”

“Perhaps,” Zarali said, squinting and poking a symbol on her display. It lit up, then faded away. “In terms of where this energy comes from, I would bow to a [Planar Mage]. This webwork is too complex for me. Explain your plan. Be brief.”

Xol’sa straightened himself up, snapping his fingers to extinguish his interface. He took his finger and drew a diagram in the air. It was the node theory he explained to Theo earlier. Starting from the left with a circle that must have been the swamp dungeon, and moving to the right with each node having a connection to only one other node.

“The power is entering the Swamp Dungeon,” Xol’sa said. “The problem is, it’s getting stuck there. There’s nothing instructing that power to disperse. The plan was to send it over to the other dungeons, but I’m having difficulty with my wards.”

“Well, that much is apparent,” Zarali said, chuckling. “What little I know of planar spellwork tells me enough. Your approach is too complicated, and besides you misunderstand the concepts.”

“Do explain,” Xol’sa said, puffing up.

Theo had never seen the extra-dimensional Elf so engaged. He also didn’t really understand what his sister was talking about. Xol’sa’s theory made sense to him.

“How much do you understand about dungeon theory?” Zarali asked.

Xol’sa shifted uncomfortably on his feet, some of that puffiness leaving his body. “Not as much as I’d like.”

Zarali dispelled the nodes in the air, grinning at the Elf. “I know as much as my Lord Drogramath sought to instill in me. I never understood why this information would be useful, but his plans can take centuries to come to pass. Think of the dungeons as a membrane. If you need a physical representation…”

Zarali sketched her own version of the dungeon’s connections. Instead of a linear progression, where each dungeon fed the other in a line, she drew an infinitely connected network. Her representation was only five dungeons big, each dungeon represented by a small circle, but it was confusing. Every circle was connected with a line to every other circle. Theo understood what she meant by a membrane now.

“Proximity matters, but every dungeon is connected to every other dungeon,” Zarali said. “So, think about the distribution of magical energy as a wave, rather than a linear propagation and your theory holds water.”

“Do you know what they’re saying?” Tresk asked, cocking her head. “Cause I don’t know what they’re saying.”

“Power transfers from one dungeon to all dungeons,” Theo said, keeping his voice to a whisper.

“A simple way of viewing the matter, Belgar,” Zarali said, craning her neck to grin at him. “You’re not my actual brother, but you’re not a dullard.”

Xol’sa danced on the spot, sputtering something. It was the most animated Theo had ever seen him. “That makes sense! Wave propagation! Like the ocean! One wave comes up to reinforce another, creating a cascade of power. By the Gods, you’ve solved it.”

“See?” Zarali asked, still staring at Theo. “Not evil. Just misunderstood.”

“I must show you my wards,” Xol’sa said. “Would you join me in the swamp?”

“Certainly,” Zarali said. “Belgar, would it be alright if I spent the rest of the day with this lovely Elf?”

Theo blinked hard, trying to line up his thoughts. “Sure,” he said, finally finding something simple to say. “You’re welcome to stay at the Newt and Demon tonight.”

“I have a spare room,” Xol’sa blurted out. “On the second floor—you’re welcome to it.”

“I’ll stay in the tower,” Zarali said. “Now, let’s get back to waves of energy…”

Theo turned on the spot without hearing another word and marched down the stairs. The interaction was too weird for him, and he didn’t want to think about any of the implications. Not of romantic intent, or Drogramath’s master plan. Tresk followed close behind him, stopping shy of the portal.

I’d rather not, she said, defaulting to the Tara’hek communication.

Theo stepped through without another word, falling to the ground instantly.

It feels like my insides are being turned to goo, Theo said.

They might be, Tresk said. What’s your read on her?

Theo had to think a while about that one. Zarali was weird, but he understood that it might have been a response to her grief. It could also have been an act, a cover to serve her master’s will. The only other option was she was insane. None of the options sat well with him, but the benefits were still undeniable. She helped Xol’sa solve his problem on a whim, planted with knowledge by Drogramath and sent to the swamp to see it through. He let out a heavy sigh, feeling powerful hands bringing him to his feet.

The alchemist thanked the towns person who righted him, patting the man on the shoulder and stumbling toward the Newt and Demon. He leaned against the front counter, garnering an amount of sympathy from Azrug. The shopkeeper was intent on making sure his employer was well before allowing him to leave. As he waited for the nausea to pass, Theo thought about his relationship with the young man. Azrug was more capable than ever, running the shop with ease and making more money than should be possible for a low-level merchant.

“Thank you,” Theo said, stumbling up the steps and into his lab.

The timer on his flame artifice had turned off, and the flask hadn’t overflowed. Fortunately, the example distillation he showed Zarali was small enough to avoid such a disaster. He didn’t want to consider the idea of getting poison essence all over his lab. Theo placed the essence in his dimensional chest and cleaned the still out with [Cleansing Scrub], eager to get back to some alchemy. Things had been too wild lately.

“How far does this path take you, dear alchemist?” a voice came from the far side of the room.

Theo nearly jumped out of his skin, clutching his chest and cursing at the darkness. Uharis emerged, sipping a cup of tea and managing a weak smile. Something lingered behind those stony eyes.

“I’ve had enough of mages today,” Theo said, scowling. “Enough of influences from outside forces, thank you. Leave a note and be gone, if you don’t mind.”

“What a cordial way to banish someone,” Uharis said, taking a seat.

Theo thought of calling Tresk to his side, but dismissed the idea. She wouldn’t be much use against a Level 80 archmage, even if she wanted to. The alchemist simply let out a heavy sigh, leaning against the table and leveling his hooded gaze on the mage.

“What do you want, Uharis?” Theo asked.

“Influences… That’s the right word,” Uharis said, casting his eyes over the lab. There was a forlorn expression on his face that sent a twinge through the alchemist’s chest.

“I assume you teleported into my lab,” Theo said, gesturing to nothing in particular. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been doing. You knew about the dungeon timer. You knew about our fate here—why do I have the feeling you knew about Zarali? Xol’sa? Damn! Did you know about the Harbinger, too?”

“Ah,” Uharis said, taking a long sip of his tea. Theo noticed how his demeanor had changed entirely. The drunk wizard thing was an act all along, not that it was hard to see through that. Only a fool would fall for such nonsense. “The Harbinger? Not at all.”

“So why steer me away from an administration core? Did you really think that was a good pick, or was that another ploy?” Theo asked.

“I’ll be honest, Theo,” Uharis said. “I never expected this much anger from you.”

“Theo? Are you all right? I’m suddenly super pissed,” Tresk said.

“I’m fine,” Theo lied. He couldn’t hide the bile in his words, even through telepathic communication.

“What did you expect?” Theo asked. Whereas he always treated others with respect by giving them the full picture, Uharis hadn’t afforded him that luxury. “You haven’t been honest from the start. And would it kill you people to give me five minutes alone? It’s one thing after another with you.”

Uharis didn’t answer. He swirled his tea in contemplation.

“Answer some damn questions, wizard,” Theo said, slamming his fist against the table. “You owe me as much. If your intention was to drive me away from Drogramath, you’ve done the opposite. You’ve sent me into his embrace.”

“I could snap my fingers,” Uharis said, demonstrating by snapping his fingers, “and destroy Broken Tusk. I could think and wipe you from this plane.”

Theo had entertained threats like this in the past. A fire swelled in his belly, blazing into his chest. Memories of his time spent in Berlin came to the fore, unbidden and unwelcome. He didn’t leave that city with pride in his chest. There was never a word spoken to anyone about what was to come. He slipped in, gathered intelligence, and slipped out. Even as the kinetic orbital bombardment turned the place into a crater, he didn’t crow his victory from the rooftops. The alchemist doubted Uharis’s ability to kill a man, let alone an entire town. Least of all one belonging to the Kingdom of Qavell.

“Do it,” Theo said, leaning in. Sweat accumulated on his forehead, that fire burning harder in his chest. A core, bright like a star on a dark night, ate at that fire. It gnawed at the edges, consuming it and transferring it elsewhere.

Uharis leaned back in his chair, paling under the comment. Theo fought back his instincts, perhaps fed through the Tara’hek by Tresk’s Assassin’s Core, but he spotted that weakness.

“Where I’m from”—Theo withdrew an item from his inventory before shaking and setting it down on the table, causing Uharis’s eyes to go wide—“we don’t talk. There’s no room for talk. Things were too dire for that. The moment a leader hinted at encroachment…” Theo jostled the bottle again.

The improvised essence-based bomb might not have killed Uharis. There was a flaw in the design that rendered the yield under what it should have been. Something about the way the liquid turned to vapor during the reaction put a hard limit on how much essence could join the explosion. But in the lab? His dimensional storage was full of the stuff, not to mention the flasks of volatile liquid placed haphazardly around. It was one thing to hint at hurting what Theo had built over the season. But he saw the threat as war.

“And the moment someone hinted at war…” Theo said, trailing off as the fire abated but still fueled some madness in his mind. That was what happened in Berlin. A nation crumbled under thinning resources. The alchemist pulled his necklace from under his robes, dangling it for the wizard to see. “Say it plainly, and don’t mistake my kindness for weakness.”

Theo knew his strength was nothing compared to the archmage. There was a gulf of power there that he couldn’t bridge, no matter how much alchemy he brought to the table. But as beads of sweat accumulated on Uharis’s forehead, he knew he struck a nerve.

“Sulvan thought…” Uharis said, trailing off. He clutched something under his robes, seeking comfort. “He sees something in you. Something he’s not telling me. He was right, and I was wrong.”

“What does the Order want?” Theo asked. He could feel Tresk nearby, lurking somewhere in the shadows. Her anger seethed like a raging tide.

Uharis plastered a smile on his face. “Sulvan knows things. He founded the Order. Fought against Balkor. Ushered a new era. Something larger than the Order is at work here. Maybe larger than the pantheons.”

Theo leaned back in his chair. The wizard was an old fool, dancing to the song that Sulvan played. Like most powerful people, the Grand Inquisitor told half-truths, keeping his subordinates in the dark. There was a ring to the wizard’s words that seemed true enough, but he was more in the dark than the alchemist.

“Save your pity,” Theo said, leaning in once again. He let his fingers play over the bomb, watching as the wizard’s face switched from fear to pity. This place was better than Theo’s previous world. He wanted to protect his town. “I’m no one’s pawn, and you’re not rigging the game.”

“I’d like to think I’m ahead of most,” Uharis said, puffing himself up.

“You’re behind,” Theo said. “Your whole damn order is behind. You’re looking for answers, but you’re blind. Coming here to make threats like you have your hands around my throat. Just means someone has their hands around yours.”

Uharis bristled at that, rendering the words true in Theo’s mind. The alchemist might have been a pawn, some minor player in a game he couldn’t understand, but he wasn’t the only one being led in a direction.

“Do you have a problem with Zarali?” Theo asked. “What if I dedicated the entire town to Drogramath? Would you act?”

“Only the direct intervention of the Demon Lords⁠—”

“There,” Theo interrupted, holding his hands out, palms up. The anger had fizzled out, but he still felt indignation from the wizard’s sudden arrival. It was a trespass against the sanctity of his lab. Unannounced and unwelcomed. “That wasn’t hard, was it? The answer is that I’m too important to kill, no matter how many waves I make. Me, or Broken Tusk.”

A fire burned behind Uharis’s eyes. For a moment, Theo thought he pushed too far. But when the wizard’s expression softened.

“As if it were meant to be,” Uharis said. “As if the town was made for you.”

The archmage stood up, crossing the room and approaching the door. Theo didn’t track him that far, he stared at the window as his body shook. A sweep of warm wind passed through the lab, something within the alchemist’s chest eating that just as it did the fiery rage. The wizard made a sound then teleported away with an ear-shattering explosion. The alchemist didn’t flinch, sitting on his chair with white knuckled fists. As soon as it started, it was over. He returned the unspent bomb to his inventory and let out a long breath.

“Nothing we can’t handle,” Tresk said, emerging from a shadow in the corner of the room. “Nothing a few daggers can’t fix.”

The marshling placed a calm hand on his shoulder, and the remnants of his rage vanished in an instant. Theo would have never guessed his reaction to the sudden appearance of the wizard. Too many things had pulled him in too many directions, but it all led back to Earth. That singular moment when he saw the Harbinger, standing there on that fated beach. Even now, Theo could feel the sun expanding at his back. The sensation of radiation burning through his environmental suit, then removing his helmet to choke on poison air.

“Through any means necessary,” Theo said, repeating something he’d heard a thousand times on Earth. “We’ll make this work. No matter who comes barging into town.”

Tresk didn’t respond. Her control of their shared rage was admirable, but he could feel something stirring in her chest. A need to protect him no matter what. Even now he could feel the poison dripping from her blades. She was ready to pounce on Uharis the moment things went sideways. That little marshling was always there. Ready for a fight. The alchemist realized, perhaps too late, that he had to do the same.

“Through any means necessary,” Tresk repeated. “Come on. Don’t you have potions to brew?”

Chapter 41

Creepy Fish-Men

Theo’s sudden outburst wasn’t born of fear but frustration and anger. It came in a flash and left just as quick, his mind bolstered by his Tara’hek. The bond they shared went beyond just skills and attributes, bleeding into their personalities and states of mind. Tresk was a fortress of mental stability. Nothing got to her, and if she fell, she got right back up. That sense of confidence bloomed in the alchemist’s chest. The tasks that lay before him were many, but there was a catharsis in his work.

Tresk stayed with him as he performed his reactions. Instead of turning his Mana Essence into Refined Mana Essence, the alchemist made a bulk batch of Lesser Mana Potions, totaling 1,000. Theo didn’t want to wait, though. He wouldn’t sit around for Zarali’s instruction on how to enchant his water. There were many things he’d figured out on his own with minimal instruction. He wasn’t the smartest person around, but that didn’t matter. He was persistent and unafraid of hard work. Where most people would give up, he’d slam his head against the problem until it was done.

“Do you have any abilities that use mana?” Theo asked, wiping his brow and taking a seat.

The weather outside had stabilized, favoring blue skies with scattered showers. The constant downpour had abated for now. Theo made a note of that. It was only the 38th day of the Season of Blooms.

“Yeah, I have a few,” Tresk said, coming to sit next to him.

Theo appreciated her concern for him, but she must have known he was fine. Perhaps her presence was the source of his comfort.

“You saw Zarali summon her mana,” Theo said. “Why can’t I do that?”

“Sure,” Tresk said. “It feels like a tingling sensation in my Assassin’s Core.”

“Do you think that’s where the mana is?” Theo asked, knitting his brow.

“Yeah, maybe,” Tresk said, holding out her hand. She grunted, a look of concentration spreading across her features. After a moment, she let out a breath and shrugged. “Might be quicker if we ask someone who uses magic.”

Theo thought about that for a moment. He didn’t want to see Xol’sa or Zarali for the rest of the day. His sister annoyed him more than could be explained by an unexpected visitor. The alchemist could tell she was inserting herself into the town, and Uharis’s words sealed that in his mind.

“It might,” Theo said, holding his hand out with his palm up. “But I don’t want to see her again today, and I don’t want to be manipulated.”

Theo felt something in his cores, but it was strange. There was a well in his Drogramath Alchemy Core that he’d never tapped, and the surrounding seals were tight. Tresk waited with him for the rest of the day, helping him with his alchemy and guiding him blindly through the exercises. She disappeared somewhere near dusk and returned with deep bowls of Xam’s new stew. The buff it provided was small, nothing compared to the banquet, but the food was delicious.

Before bed, the pair pressed their foreheads together. As with the siege, they received an absurd amount of experience points for their Tara’hek Core. Something about traumatic events caused an increase in that core. His Governance Core ran the daily tally during their exchange, bringing it to Level 3.

Tara’hek Core gained experience (25%).

Tara’hek Core reached Level 13.

Governance Core gained experience (0.1%).

Governance Core reached Level 3.

Waking the next morning, he started the process all over again. There was so little he understood about his own body, but with Zarali in the picture, he had questions. There was a disconnect between his mind and that body; a borrowed body.

“It’s not a skill,” Tresk said, pouring Theo a cup of tea. She was still doting on him, but he felt her pulling away. “So, you should be able to just do it.”

“Well, I think our theory is right. Infusing the water should be easy. It’s like taking the Drogramath energy around us, passing it through my [Drogramath Alchemy Core], and infusing the water,” Theo said.

“Why don’t you practice on a barrel of water?” Tresk asked, moving to slide a 200 unit barrel over.

Theo kicked himself for not thinking about that. He was trying to replicate the flame Zarali summoned, but what was the point of that?

“I never understood what the fermentation barrels were talking about,” Theo said, holding his open palm over the water. “They accept motes, or mana. I just never thought about feeding them mana.”

“That’s what Zarali was telling you,” Tresk said with a nod. “Maybe a hint?”

“Maybe.”

The moment Theo held his hand over the water, he felt something twinge in his chest. Intent made up a lot of the crafting in this world, something he already knew. When he ran his stills, the resulting essence was based on intent. The puzzle was easy to solve at that point. It didn’t matter how much he focused on the mana in his alchemy core, it wasn’t designed to work the way Zarali’s core worked. In an instant, he felt something flood out of his chest. A wave of purple energy fell over the water, causing it to boil and turn a shade of violet in a matter of moments. The alchemist stumbled back, caught by Tresk.

Theo’s head swam, the room around him spinning uncontrollably. A quick inspection of his mana showed it was completely empty, all 40 points drained to nothing.

“You good?” Tresk asked. “How did you figure it out?”

“It was easy once I realized the system would do the work,” Theo said. “Ugh, I’m still dizzy.”

“Cause you’re out of mana,” Tresk said, retrieving a fresh [Lesser Mana Potion] from the table and handing it to him.

Theo drank a mana potion for the first time. It fizzed in his mouth like a carbonated drink, stinging his throat as it went down. The flavor was uninteresting, a weak mixture of mushrooms and fruit. The dizziness calmed the moment his mana was restored, allowing him to stand on his own. He inspected his new creation.

[Enchanted Water]

[Alchemy Component]

Epic

Water that has been infused with Drogramath’s energy.

Alignment:

Drogramath (Weak Bond)

“Weak bond,” Theo said, reading the description. “What do you think that means?”

“No idea,” Tresk said. “But, hey! You got your water!”

“I think that was the first time I used mana,” Theo said, grinning.

“Good job,” Tresk said, clapping a hand on his back. “See? We don’t need anyone.”

Theo nodded, turning to smile at his companion. “That’s right.”

“Alright,” Tresk said, holding her hand out. “Give me some health potions, I’m gonna go dungeoning.”

Theo laughed, transferring a few potions from his inventory to their shared inventory. “Check the shared inventory,” he said.

“Thanks,” Tresk said, beckoning him down for a forehead pressing. He obliged, but they didn’t get as much experience as before. She looked out the window, vanishing from the spot before he could say another word.

Theo made a mental plan for the rest of the day. He left the Newt and Demon after talking to Azrug. Making his way to the adventurer’s guild, he saw a crowd of unfamiliar faces outside of the Marsh Wolf Tavern. He ducked inside of the guild before they spotted him. Aarok had the entire order filled by the time he got there. The [So Much Potion] quest was complete. 1,000 of each restoration reagent and a smattering of attribute-bearing reagents, totaling 1,500.

“Glad you got a storage crate,” Theo said, transferring the items into his inventory.

“Me too,” Aarok said. “Did you see the new settlers?”

Theo winced. He needed people to work in the town, but he didn’t want to spend his day directing them on what to do. “I need an assistant.”

“Yeah,” Aarok said. “Any plans for them?”

“I need someone to work lumber, and more miners,” Theo said. “Oh, and a smelter.”

“Well, there’s 10 people coming to settle this time,” Aarok said. Last time it was 5. “There’s bound to be someone with decent cores.”

Theo took a steadying breath, turning to leave.

“You gotta pay me,” Aarok said.

Theo turned back around and withdrew the money from his inventory. After forking over 13 silver 50 copper, he left the adventurer’s guild. The crowd caught his attention before he could slink away, following him down the road and requesting citizenship.

Theo interviewed the entire crowd at once, asking everyone to raise their hands to different questions. Everyone was sorted on housing, either bringing their own house seed, sharing with other settlers, or staying at the tavern long-term. Most had standard laborer cores, but a trio had forestry experience. He reserved those three for his lumber project, designated an area for the new miners to settle, and sent 7 settlers off to talk with Gridgen.

“You’ll be working with Sledge,” Theo said, gesturing north.

The 3 humans followed him past the Marsh Wolf Tavern, all excited that there were jobs available in the town. Theo didn’t have a lumber mill seed core, but Sledge cut the trees down without one. He explained their job wasn’t just to cut trees, but to ensure the mighty cypress trees were healthy. They were interested in how fast things grew here, and the alchemist smiled at their optimism.

“Sledge,” Theo said, surprised to see the woman working on furniture. “I didn’t expect to see you.”

“Right,” Sledge said. “Busy with fabrication.”

“Well, I’ve got some new townsfolk that I need you to train,” Theo said. He held up a hand before she objected. “I’m sure you can find time in your schedule. They just need to understand the swamp. How to cut Ogre Cypress. That kind of thing.”

“Apprentice foresters?” Sledge said, laughing. “Alright. No one cares about working wood in this town.”

“Thanks,” Theo said. “Just get them up and running. The basics. We can worry about our lumber empire later.”

“Right,” Sledge said, suddenly leveling her gaze on a human man. “You! Grab that—no, not that! The saw, you fool!”

Theo backed away slowly, watching the humans scramble around to do what the marshling wanted. This was the way forward for him, putting the new townspeople with others, instead of directing them himself. He didn’t stick around to watch Sledge, praying that she wouldn’t be too hard on them. The alchemist knew it didn’t matter. An image of Qavell had formed in his mind and it wasn’t great. He didn’t burden himself with their problems, though. Focusing on Broken Tusk was the only thing that mattered.

I just spotted Zarali and Xol’sa walking through the swamp, Tresk said. I think they’re going to hold hands soon.

Maybe they are, Theo said, wincing at the thought.

He has these pillars of magic spread through the swamp, Tresk said. I guess that’s his array.”

“Makes sense,” Theo said. He didn’t understand how Xol’sa’s system worked, but if it was dangerous Uharis would have warned him. Despite the alchemist’s anger at the archmage, he trusted his judgment. It was just too hard to let someone like that into his life. On the one hand, it seemed like cheating. On the other, it seemed like subservience. Either way, Theo wasn’t interested. “We should see how else we can use Drogramath’s energy to empower the town.”

“Sounds good to me,” Tresk said. “Honestly, he seems less evil than my patron.”

That was a topic Theo didn’t want to consider. Zaul, the Prime God of Shadows, seemed like a real piece of work. The influence they exerted on Tresk was mostly bad, turning her into a more angry person. That was why the Tara’hek was so important. It balanced them both out, so he didn’t mind that his other cores were falling behind. As long as his Tara’hek Core was his highest core, he felt comfortable.

Azrug wanted Theo’s opinion on some things in the shop before he went into the lab. As they talked about what the best placement of things was, the alchemist looked at the shopkeeper’s earnings on the newest report.

“You turned over 30 gold this month,” Theo said, interrupting Azrug as he gestured to a large display in the corner of the store.

“Yeah, but it cost me 20 gold,” he said, snorting a laugh.

Theo spotted his mistake. He was looking at earnings before expenditures, which the screen calculated for him. 10 gold was nothing to turn his nose up at, though. By Broken Tusk standards, that made him insanely rich. The alchemist was entitled to an amount of that money, but he wasn’t interested in it. He could take 9 gold from the total, but what was the point? If Azrug had a ton of money to play with, he made money. That was now a solid fact in his mind.

“You’re doing great,” Theo said. “Let me know if you’re interested in administrative duties in the future.”

“Not really,” Azrug said, smiling. “I’m only interested in the shop.”

“Well, keep an eye out for anyone who can lend me a hand,” Theo said. “I can’t spend my whole day running around town.”

“Understood,” Azrug said. “Now, I think this display case is better over here…”

Theo indulged the shopkeeper. They ended up dragging the furniture around until Azrug was happy. The process didn’t take long, and the alchemist was happy to have some bonding time with the young man.

The lab felt different when Theo entered it. He checked the bedroom and behind the cupboards for wizards but found nothing. The alchemist withdrew a few Lesser Mana Potions from his inventory and infused several barrels of Purified Water. He set up his Alchemical Grinder over the Drogramath Still, grinding 500 units of Spiny Swamp Thistle Root. When he dipped his ladle into the barrel of Enchanted Water, a swirl of purple flames danced across the surface. He shrugged it off, filling the still and setting it to start.

Understanding the more complex heating stages was a task for another day. Theo had a feeling he could get Throk to craft a programmable artifice but didn’t want to bother for the moment. He repeated the process for the two other stills, starting them with Manashrooms and Moss Nettle. As the supply of his barrels dwindled, the alchemist realized there must have been a better way to get water for his lab. While the barrels were nice enough, he needed to run them to the river too often.

Theo promised himself he wouldn’t do many side projects, but he couldn’t help himself. An idea of a pump system running from the river and to the town entered his mind. He filed it away for the time being, running out to his garden to check the growing reagents. The plants were growing well, but out of every ten he planted, only one or two grew to an acceptable Cultivation level. Even as he applied the growth potion, it would take a while to get them where he wanted them.

Banu’s advice on taking clippings was easy enough, even if Theo didn’t know exactly what he was doing. He clipped the best Mage’s Bane and Roc Berry plants and replanted them. For every plant he selected, four would be replanted from the clippings. Although he planted ten of each, only eight came out the other side at an acceptable level of 40% cultivation. Those saplings would feed into the cycle, and he would eventually urge them into 100% cultivation, although he still didn’t know what that would do. Instinct said it would generate a new level of quality in his essences, but only time would tell.

Theo returned to his lab, holding an empty vial under the [Drogramath Still’s] condenser to inspect the essence.

[Healing Essence]

[Essence]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Grade: Excellent Quality

Alignment:

Drogramath (Weak Bond)

Alignment Effects:

1:1 refinement in pressure vessels

1 units (liquid)

Concentrated essence of healing, used to create healing potions.

“Ah,” Theo said, shaking his head. “Alright, this is good.”

In exchange for his devotion to Drogramath, the essence would gain a benefit during the refinement stage. Normally, he’d put in 2 units of essence, and gain 1 unit back. If he was reading the description correctly, the aligned essence refined at a much better rate. For every 1 unit of essence, he would get 1 unit back. That changed his view of the refinement process entirely. With the aligned essence, he could make significantly more profit.

Theo’s mind unraveled the implications of the new essences. It was a “weak bond”, which meant there was something stronger. If he increases his bond, he’d get a stronger effect, or more effects. The alchemist withdrew his copy of Basic Drogramath Alchemy and made notes. There was nothing in there about bonds, which revealed another fact about the Drogramath dronon as a people. It was unlikely that an alchemist usually worked closely with a priest or priestess. Zarali likely shared her knowledge of Drogramath’s energy with her brother, Belgar. He let out a heavy sigh, resigning himself to his fate.

Zarali was about to become a very important cornerstone of the town. Theo had the Order of the Burning Eye’s blessing to keep her there; otherwise, Uharis would have killed her. The alchemist needed to exploit this power to the fullest, entwining his process with the Demon Lord.

“They need to think of a new name for the Demon Lords,” Theo said, tapping his foot in the lab. The name didn’t sit right with him. Why didn’t people call them the Dronon Lords? “The Prime Pantheon gets a fancy name, why not the Demonic Pantheon?”

“Well, you’re gonna have to ask Zarali about that,” Tresk said. “Check the inventory!”

Theo opened their shared inventory. It was hard to find anything in that thing, as it was cluttered with junk. There was a stack of 20 Fald Eyeballs. He didn’t know what a fald was, or where she’d found one, but he inspected it anyway.

[Fald Eyeball]

[Alchemy Ingredient]

Uncommon

The eyeball of a fald.

[Wake] [???] [???]

“What the heck is a fald?” Theo asked.

“Creepy fish-man,” Tresk said.

“Where the heck did you find creepy fish-men?”

“The River Dungeon.”

Chapter 42

Shrine to Drogramath

The stacks of Fald Eyeballs kept coming. While Theo distilled reagents, Tresk delved deeper into the River Dungeon. Marshling physiology allowed her to hold her breath for a considerable amount of time, but she claimed there were plenty of air pockets. Most rooms within the dungeon were enormous caverns with pools of rushing water, a difference the marshling claimed made all the difference. The Swamp Dungeon was all gnarled roots and fetid mud by her account.

Theo distilled down the rest of his ingredients using the enchanted water. He took count of what he had as he loaded 1,000 units of enchanted Healing Essence into the pressure vessel. The alchemist had a smattering of modified potions, 500 Healing Potions, 1,000 each of Lesser Mana Potions and Lesser Stamina Potions, and a few random things. It was not his biggest order for Fenian, but he aimed to change that. With the enchanted essences, he could produce an equal part of essences, meaning the 1,000 units of each restoration he was distilling would make 1,000 second-tier potions.

Zarali and Xol’sa didn’t show up in town that day, something that concerned Theo. The dungeons were being overloaded with energy, and he would rather release it sooner than later. If the Swamp Dungeon grew too much in power, they wouldn’t be able to fend off the wave. The other side of that problem, the more optimistic view, was that they shunted the energy off of a single dungeon, spreading it out over a wide area.

Theo pushed his concerns aside and spent the late parts of the afternoon sending the essences through the pressure vessel. Nothing about the process changed with the enchanted essences. The alchemist had to wonder how the enchantment would affect the fermentation stage of his process, but that was a task for another day. With the garden taken care of, essences distilled, and pressure vessel working as quickly as possible, it was time for dinner.

Xam, inspired by the success of her last banquet, put on another. Theo and Tresk were happy to pay for the pleasure, and the alchemist had to promise her he was working on the ranch, even if he wasn’t. The meal was the same as last time, but that didn’t make it any less delicious. The citizens that were in attendance enjoyed themselves, and Gridgen established a place at the pair’s table.

The miners had taken it upon themselves to elect a smelter, something that impressed Theo. When dinner was done, they found their way to the smeltery and gave the skill core to their elected person. The miners had even come together to buy a Dimensional Storage Crate from Azrug, placing it within the smeltery. Theo found he could designate this as a place for them to deposit the ore, and the money would automatically go to Gridgen. They were going beyond what the alchemist had expected, already gathering thousands of nuggets from the mine.

Banu caught Theo before he went to bed that night, finding him outside the Newt and Demon. The farmers had amazing results from the cultivation process. Once the alchemist unlocked the feature with his growth potion, they could pick out the best Zee crop and raise it within a matter of days, increasing the Cultivation percentage to 70. It was a feat far beyond anything Theo had accomplished before, but he was too busy to put his entire effort into the matter.

Theo and Tresk went to bed that night, gaining another burst of experience from their Tara’hek Core that almost pushed them over Level 14. The next morning, everything felt even better. The alchemist hadn’t seen Zarali in a little while, giving him time to process her sudden arrival. While he had a sense she would come to bother him soon, his breakfast was undisturbed.

The marshling ran off, barely having swallowed her steak whole, leaving him on his own for the day. Theo swapped out the contents of the pressure vessel, ending the run with his enchanted Mana Essence. The description of the new essence was right. He got a 1:1 ratio during the refinement process, setting that enchanted water at a special place of significance. Before undertaking brewing the potions, he instructed his companion to dump all her monster cores into their inventory.

“Hold on,” Tresk said, sounding frustrated. “I gotta move around the furniture I have in there…”

“Maybe you shouldn’t keep junk in the inventory,” Theo suggested.

“But it’s my junk. I like it,” Tresk said.

After a while, she got rid of some of the less important garbage. Theo was surprised at the quantity of monster cores. There were hundreds of low-level cores, but a good amount of Level 25 cores. She must have been holding onto them from the Swamp Dungeon, waiting for him to give the word about upgrading the Newt and Demon. With a mental command, he inspected the building and looked over the information.

[Alchemy Lab] [Alchemy Shop]

[The Newt and Demon]

Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer), Tresk

Shopkeeper: Azrug Slug

Faction: Broken Tusk

Level: 11 (31%)

Rent Due: Today

Expansions:

[Alchemy Shop]

[Drogramath Distillation Specialty]

Theo plucked monster cores directly out of the shared inventory, shoving them into the wall of the building and watching them disappear. The Level 25 cores did a lot for the building’s advancement, providing 10% at Level 11. He depleted most of her cores by the end, selecting random directions to expand the lab until Level 15. Upon hitting 15, the System popped up the expansion menu, revealing a new option.

[Root Cellar]

A cellar for preserving reagents is housed under the lab. Reagents placed inside the cellar decay at a slower rate.

[Experimentation Room]

A reinforced room is placed behind the lab, creating a safe place to conduct explosive experimentations.

[Shrine to Drogramath]

A shrine to Lord Drogramath appears in your lab. Make a daily offering of reagents to gain favor.

Effects (scalable with favor):

If a daily offering has been provided, gain the following effects:

Increase the effectiveness of Drogramath Enchantments (1 level).

Remove all Stamina drain while performing alchemical actions.

“That was obvious,” Theo said, shaking his head.

The road he found himself on was leading this way. It was obvious. He wanted the [Experimentation Room] initially but had to question that decision. A few explosions here and there never dissuaded him from doing alchemy. The benefits of the [Shrine to Drogramath] were extreme. He had more reagents than he knew what to do with, which would allow him to give tribute daily. Every action he took in the lab would cost 0 stamina, which was another amazing boon. Then, there was the increase to his water enchantments, bringing it up a level. All of this also scaled with his devotion to the Demon Lord.

Theo ran it by Tresk before deciding. She thought the other options were extremely lame and that he should go “full demon mode.” The alchemist thought about it for some time before deciding. While the bonuses from the shrine were good, it was another foot down a path he’d been trying to avoid. The alchemist clutched the Burning Eye’s sigil in his hand and closed his eyes. He didn’t know if he was praying or seeking guidance, but taking a moment like that made him feel better. A burning eye didn’t appear outside of his window, shooting fireballs and cursing his choices. Similarly, a giant Demon Lord didn’t appear, encouraging him on.

Theo’s choices were his own. He selected [Shrine to Drogramath].

The lab rumbled under his feet the same way it did when the building expanded during leveling. A small plinth appeared near the window, abutting the table. It was made of a glowing purple stone with the image of Drogramath sitting on top. Near the feet of the statue was a purple stone bowl. The entire thing radiated a comforting energy that Theo couldn’t deny. He walked over and withdrew a Spiny Swamp Thistle Root from his inventory, placing it in the bowl.

Shimmering purple energy descended on the lab, a sense of accomplishment rushing through the alchemist’s body. Nothing popped up in the System’s notifications, but he knew it worked. Theo almost fell over when a voice came from the shrine.

“A wise choice.”

Theo stood there, casting his eyes around the lab in concern. The voice was wispy, as though coming in over a wind in an open field. He waited for Sulvan Flametouched to burst through his door, shaking him by the collar before smiting him. Perhaps Uharis would teleport in, throwing a lightning bolt at his head and removing the alchemist from this plane of existence. But none of those worries came to be. He stood there awkwardly for a long time. Nothing happened.

“Drogramath?” Theo asked, leaning in to inspect the statue closer.

While the image of the demon didn’t respond, it wasn’t what Theo expected. Drogramath looked like any other dronon, although clearly depicted in the best light. The detail on the statue was impossible. The alchemist could see the Demon Lord’s bandolier of potions, a tiny vial in one hand and a sickle in the other. Drogramath bore a proud expression, but not one of arrogance.

Theo patted the statue on the head, nodding to himself. “Thanks, Drogramath.”

“No problem,” came a voice from the door to his lab.

Theo whipped around, scowling, when he saw Zarali standing there. A grin spread across her face, and she burst out laughing. The flash of anger the alchemist felt vanished. It was a good joke.

“Coming to snoop?” Theo asked.

“Coming to congratulate you,” Zarali corrected. “I came into town for food, but felt Lord Drogramath’s presence grow stronger.”

“I wonder if that’s a good thing,” Theo said, turning his attention back to the shrine.

“Of course it is,” Zarali said, crossing the room. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. While he didn’t want to accept it, she radiated Drogramath’s energy. It was a flow of power that felt right to him.

“You’ll understand if I’m reluctant to give myself in fully,” Theo said.

“People assume demons are all evil,” Zarali said. “But see what He provides? Bonuses to alchemy. Increased herblore. How could such a thing be evil?”

“You have a point.”

“And you’ve learned how to enchant water without my instruction,” Zarali said, giving a definitive nod. “Well, you’re on your way to being a worshiper. Anyway, brother, I’m not here to ruin your mood. Not today.”

“That’s good,” Theo said.

“Xol and I have delayed the monster wave without allowing it to build power,” Zarali said. She tightened her grip on his shoulder and smiled. “You can speak to him later, but rest assured. Your town is safe.”

She turned on the spot without saying another word. Theo knew she had high Wisdom, she could read people. He was the same way, though. He knew she was giving him space because of his reluctance to accept Drogramath and her. There was no ill will in her body. She wanted to help the town.

“Zarali,” Theo said, causing her to spin around. A smile spread across her face. “Thank you. This is strange for me, but I’ll get used to it.”

“That’s the spirit,” Zarali said. “Perhaps you’ll learn to call me sister one day.”

“One step at a time,” Theo said.

Theo watched her leave, thinking about what trust meant. He didn’t trust Zarali with his life, not like he did with Tresk. But he trusted her to bring the influence of Drogramath to Broken Tusk. There was a balance that existed in his mind, something that he wouldn’t cross. People like his sister brought something to him, and in turn they got what they wanted. The alchemist wasn’t using them; he was just entering mutually beneficial relationships. His high Wisdom score and the whispers in his chest saw no one taking advantage of him, although with the way the town worked that might be impossible. Only the best were drawn to the town. Those with a purpose.

The alchemist didn’t waste time after Zarali left. With a sacrifice of reagents to Drogramath’s shrine, he ran to the river to refill his empty barrels, purified the water, and enchanted them again. Theo drank a Lesser Mana Potion after each enchantment, inspecting the resulting water.

[Enchanted Water]

[Alchemy Component]

Epic

Water that has been infused with Drogramath’s energy.

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

It was easy to conclude that a minor bond was Level 1, and a middling bond was Level 2. Theo could extrapolate that information in his mind, understanding that more bonuses would come from the better water. This put worshiping Drogramath high on his list of priorities, but he didn’t know how he felt about the transaction. He didn’t know how he felt about any of the gods, let alone the patron he was forced under. It didn’t seem like worship back where he was from, where no logical benefit came from doing so. This was a relationship of convenience.

Theo withdrew a Fald Eyeball from his inventory. Tresk was going hard in the dungeon, and the image of her digging out some fish-person’s eyeballs entered his mind. It was a grim thought, but he mentally shrugged it off and ran the squelching things through his Alchemical Grinder.

“I guess I have to clean this thing,” Theo said, dripping some Cleansing Scrub over the teeth of the grinder.

The alchemist settled on a 100-unit distillation with his middling Enchanted Water, determined to find out what the [Wake] property meant. His mind shot to being awake at first, but his intuition said that didn’t make sense. It would be something related to water, since it came from a fish-person. He returned the lid to his still, started it on his best guess for temperature, and placed a flask underneath the condenser, not wanting to contaminate the storage tank outside.

Theo went out to tend his garden, ensuring everything was growing well, and checked the pressure vessel. He held a vial under the extraction port and withdrew 1 unit of the liquid for inspection.

[Refined Healing Essence]

[Essence] [Refined Essence]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

Alignment:

Drogramath (Weak Bond)

Alignment Effect:

Resulting potions will be more effective.

Purity: 70%

1 units (liquid)

Concentrated, refined essence of healing, used to create healing potions.

Things were getting complicated. Using the enchanted water did more than just give him a 1:1 ratio for refinement, and he had a feeling he should have been doing this the entire time. The essence gained a 20 percent increase in purity, which would already increase the effectiveness of the resulting potion. The quality hadn’t gone up, but it gained an alignment effect, making the end potion more effective. Theo decided at that moment he would worship Drogramath until the end of his days, even if it was just him going through the motions.

The alchemist made several trips back to the lab, returning to the pressure vessel to clear out the waste port and add more essence for refinement. Stamina was next, then mana, but he was eager to brew a potion with his new essence. He settled into the lab and considered the best course of action. Suddenly, he wished Zarali was around to tell him about catalysts.

“No, I don’t need her,” Theo said, knitting his brow. He was determined to remain independent.

Zarali mentioned something when they first met. She claimed he could energize catalysts, but his intuition wouldn’t say what that meant. Even the section in Basic Drogramath Alchemy didn’t mention the act, which seemed strange. The book seemed to only cover the System-supported actions, detailing nothing related to the more esoteric forms of Drogramathi Alchemy. Theo glanced up at the statue of Drogramath and shook his head.

“What do you think, Droggy?” Theo asked. “Just infuse more power into the catalysts?”

Theo waited for a response he knew wouldn’t come. The Demon God could influence the mortal realm, but only just. He felt a faint whisper in his core, but it was too dull to understand. The door to the lab swung open. Azrug stood with a puzzled expression on his face.

“You talking to someone?” Azrug asked.

“Just talking to myself,” Theo said, tapping his fingers on the table. He withdrew a few Copper Shavings and Iron Shavings from his inventory for inspection.

“You’ve never talked to yourself,” Azrug said, coming to settle down beside the alchemist. His eyes went wide for only a moment before he spotted the statue of Drogramath. “Are we worshiping demons now?”

“Yeah, I guess we are,” Theo said, letting out a sigh.

“All right. Cool. Cool,” Azrug said. “Should I be worried?”

“I don’t think so,” Theo said, gesturing at the statue. “Who does he remind you of?”

“You,” Azrug said, not missing a beat. “Looks like a Drogramath Dronon.”

“Yep. Well, I’m trying to make some new catalysts, but I’m at a loss,” Theo said, going on to explain how he enchanted the water.

“Just do the same thing,” Azrug said. “Why not, right?”

Theo shrugged. The shopkeeper was right; it could have been that simple, and he wouldn’t lose anything by trying. He had enough Lesser Mana Potions to last a normal person quite a while. The alchemist held his hand over the pile of Iron Shavings and willed the mana from his core. It flowed on its own, more like a trickle than the torrent he felt enchanting the water. After a moment, the dull iron glowed with purple energy. The comfort it radiated fell on Theo’s face like the warmth of the sun, and he smiled.

“See? Not that hard,” Azrug said.

Theo inspected the resulting shavings.

[Iron Shavings]

[Alchemy Component]

Common

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Alignment Effect:

Increased stability during reactions.

Increase the quality of reaction by one level, up to the excellent quality.

Shavings from raw iron.

He gawked for a moment, blinking away the text.

“This is absurd,” Theo said. “None of my books talk about using my mana to do this stuff, but it’s so useful.”

“Would you have ever discovered it on your own?” Azrug asked.

“Maybe,” Theo said. “It would have taken years, though. I don’t doubt that I could have figured it out eventually, but without the enchantment technique, I was probing in the dark.”

“So, how good are the potions going to be?” Azrug asked.

Theo didn’t respond, standing and approaching the Glassware Artifice. He generated a 2-unit, flat-bottomed vial and returned to the table. The description of the Iron Shavings gave him a hint not to use the enchanted water for the final product, so he poured a unit of Purified Water in, introduced the Iron Shavings, and then his aligned Healing Essence.

The reaction was far less violent than normal. The second-tier reactions typically filled the room with a choking fog, but not this time. It was more like when he performed first-tier reactions—a simple effervescence that spewed a bit of smoke. Both Theo and Azrug inspected the potion.

[Healing Potion]

[Potion]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Alignment:

Drogramath (Weak Bond)

A healing potion. Drink to restore health.

Effect:

Instantly restores 100 health points.

This was the first potion he created at the second tier that was of excellent quality. He couldn’t guess how much that quality increase helped the potion, but combined with the alignment effect, it went from healing 65 health to 100 health. The jump was absurd. All Azrug could do was whistle and shake his head.

“We’re gonna make so much money,” the shopkeeper said.

Chapter 43

Alignment Effects

Infusing both the water and the catalysts was a game changer for Theo’s alchemy. There was a barrier that existed after the first tier of potions, presenting an impenetrable block that made everything difficult. Compared to crafting a Lesser Healing Potion, the Healing Potion required precision and care. The infused catalyst changed that, rendering the process as simple as the original one, and saving the alchemist time.

Theo spent the rest of his day performing the advanced reactions on all of his restoration reagents and preparing the Fald Eyeballs. Azrug stuck around for quite some time, taking an interest in the advanced process. The alchemist discovered there was an upper limit to chugging Lesser Mana Potions. It wasn’t the draining effect of his Lesser Stamina Potions, but it was noticeable. When the day was finally drawing to a close, he inspected the essence created by the disgusting eyeballs.

[Wake Essence]

[Essence]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Alignment Effect:

1:1 refinement in pressure vessels

Increased purity from refinement

500 units (liquid)

Concentrated essence of wake.

The description was vague and required brewing to see the full effects.

Thanks to the reagent he offered to the shrine, the effect on the essence was middling. Infusing essences with Drogramath’s power begged him to run it through the refinement process, and he was eager to do so. Theo looked at his stamina bar, blinking away hours of work to see it was only half depleted. He hadn’t noticed the subtle thrum of the altar in the corner, but it removed the need for stamina while doing alchemy. He didn’t know if the effect carried outside of the shrine, but this alone was amazing.

Theo went downstairs to find Azrug cleaning up. The shopkeeper had left him alone for quite some time, allowing him to clear out his stock of reagents.

“I’m going to brew the first batch of second-tier attribute potions tomorrow,” Theo said with a wide grin. The entire thing was too exciting.

“Good. Maybe you can reserve some of those for me,” Azrug said, gesturing at the mostly empty shelves.

The stock that remained was left over from the last siege. The town had enough to weather another attack, including the arsenal of bombs that Aarok commanded, but Theo would need to create more for the two purposes. He looked on the bright side of things. His new infusion technique cut down on the work needed to create the new potions considerably, marking it as a trivial task. Time was the only thing he was short on.

“What’s your take on Zarali?” Theo asked.

“Seems fine,” Azrug said, stuffing gear into a Dimensional Storage Crate. “How about you? What do you think about her?”

“I don’t know,” Theo said. “I still don’t know. She’s hard to read, but that’s her Wisdom score showing. I’m guessing the Drogramath Priestess Core is powerful. She claims she found me because of a potion I crafted, but I’m not certain.”

“What does it matter?” Azrug asked. “Aren’t we supposed to be taking every advantage we can?”

Azrug was right. It didn’t matter how Xol’sa or Zarali came to the town, just like it didn’t matter how the other settlers got here. The alchemist had been putting off talking to the wizard about the monster waves, preferring to focus on his alchemy, but he didn’t want to let it linger much longer.

“You’re right,” Theo said.

“Of course I’m right,” Azrug said.

Azrug finished up his work in the shop and headed out for the day. Tresk arrived shortly after, and the pair went off to Xam’s to enjoy her good cooking. It was the first time since Theo arrived in the town that he wanted to go there voluntarily. Her cooking cores were well worth the slot it occupied, elevating that simple stew dish to something spectacular. It was a calm night with no sign of either Zarali or Xol’sa in the tavern. Before heading to bed, Theo and Tresk pressed their foreheads together and received a moderate amount of experience. It was no more difficult to find sleep with a half-full stamina bar than an empty one, something that seemed strange.

Theo woke the next morning, embracing how busy it would be. Tresk had a few questions about the demonic shrine but seemed all right with it. The alchemist made his daily offering and enjoyed the sensation of comfort that rolled off the effigy. The marshling had pocketed a few bowls of stew into her inventory from last night, providing that as their breakfast to go with hot cups of moss tea.

“I have to go to the tower today,” Theo said, sipping his soup. “Xol’sa hasn’t given me an update.”

“You know,” Tresk said, downing her entire cup of tea in one go. “I saw them holding hands.”

Theo winced. “You did not.”

“I did,” Tresk said. “I was ranging over the swamp yesterday after clearing the River Dungeon. Do you think they’re gonna kiss?”

“I don’t want to think about it,” Theo said, focusing his gaze on the soup. “That’s a tangled web I can’t afford to get ensnared in.”

“Hah! Just because you’ve taken an oath against romance doesn’t mean you can’t watch from afar,” Tresk said.

“You’re just a slimy little pervert,” Theo said.

“Am not,” Tresk said, crossing her arms. “Anyway, the River Dungeon got stronger.”

Theo thought for a moment, his mind shifting gears. That made sense if what Xol’sa explained was true. If the pair of them distributed the energy over several dungeons, the others would grow. The other effect would be that the Swamp Dungeon wouldn’t grow as much. The alchemist knew this meant they would have a monster wave soon, and he never felt prepared enough.

“Then the other dungeons are getting stronger, too,” Theo said, knitting his brow. “We can handle the dungeons to the north, south, and east along with the western Swamp Dungeon, but what do we do for the Ocean Dungeon?”

“It’s too far to care,” Tresk said.

“Well, what are the monsters going to do if they spawn a wave in the ocean?” Theo asked.

Tresk squinted her eyes, scratching her head as she thought. “Attack the fish?”

“Maybe,” Theo said. “Perhaps they’ll attack the nearest city.”

“I’m no expert,” Tresk said, leaning back in her chair. “Didn’t think our dungeons could do that. Before you showed up.”

The pair spent the rest of their morning chatting about lighter topics. Tresk explained the River Dungeon, since it was a higher level and was now worth running. Adventurers who didn’t have access to underwater breathing and superior swimming skills wouldn’t be able to run it. Theo had a feeling there was an alchemical solution to that, but the marshling adventurers wouldn’t need to worry. Something the alchemist didn’t know was that all marshlings could hold their breath for an absurdly long time, absorbing oxygen from the water through the frills on the side of their heads. Their feet were also webbed, giving them faster swim speed to battle the raging currents of the river.

After Tresk departed, Theo placed the Wake Essence into his pressure vessel and headed to the center of town. He had to wait a while for the portal to spring up near the monolith, but the moment it did, he stepped through. The disorientation of the sudden transfer still brought him to his knees, but it was lessening. He heard a surprised sound from within the tower but couldn’t locate the source. Someone was talking, but his head swam.

“I didn’t expect you so early,” Xol’sa said, helping Theo to his feet.

Theo’s eyes adjusted to the tower’s light, and he saw a disheveled extra-planar elf before him. His hair was messy, robe creased and dirty. He also had a sheepish expression on his face that was uncharacteristic of the man.

“How is the work going?” Theo asked. “Tell me you’ve found a solution.”

“Oh, we have,” Xol’sa said, brightening up. “Zarali has been instrumental.”

“Good,” Theo said. His knees still shook, but he could manage. “I don’t need to know how you did it—I won’t understand—just tell me the effects of what you’ve done.”

“Well, it’s quite simple,” Xol’sa said, eying the stairs for a moment. He coughed into his hand before continuing. “The Swamp Dungeon was a nexus of power, mainly Drogramathi energy. We simply allowed it to permeate the membrane of the other dungeons.”

“Meaning the power is going to the other dungeons now,” Theo said. “Empowering all dungeons.”

“Not all of them,” Xol’sa said. “Only the ones nearby. Instead of one dungeon growing quickly, they will all grow at a steady rate.”

“What about the monster wave from the Swamp Dungeon?” Theo asked.

“Well, I suggest we release that soon. We can set the dungeon back on the normal timer to see how quickly it progresses,” Xol’sa said.

He wanted to do that after ensuring everyone was ready. It was a bad idea to just agree to start the timer before he knew if Aarok and the adventurers were ready.

“I’ll meet with Aarok first,” Theo said.

“Perfect. Until then, I’ll reinforce the wards I’ve created and prepare for the wave,” Xol’sa said.

“Can you participate in the battle?” Theo asked.

“Yes. I can bombard the force as they leave the dungeon, then momentarily shift my tower out of reality,” Xol’sa said. “Which would send them to the town. Zarali will also provide support for your adventurers with buffs.”

“Sounds good to me,” Theo said, casting his eyes on the portal. His stomach was already objecting to the thought of going through. “I’ll send a town message the next time I need to talk to you. I hate the portal.”

“Most people do,” Xol’sa said.

Theo was through the portal without another word, finding himself on his knees once again. The swirl of the world around him calmed after a time, giving way to the familiar primary avenue of Broken Tusk. He watched as several adventurers went into the port, smiles on their faces. The alchemist spent more time on the ground than he would have liked but eventually rose to his feet. He spotted Aarok approaching from the guild, shaking his head.

“All right there, Theo?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Theo said. “Are we ready for a monster wave?”

“We are,” Aarok said. “Are we expecting one?”

“Yeah, I’m going to start the wave timer soon,” Theo said. “Just wanted to make sure we could handle it. The wave might be stronger than normal, though.”

“We’re ready,” Aarok said. “Don’t worry about that. I still have a lot of bombs from last time, and Throk has been cooking up some stuff of his own.”

“Good to hear,” Theo said, casting his eyes over the blacksmith’s workshop. “I have a few projects for him to work on.”

“Well, focus on the wave. Then worry about that,” Aarok said, clapping his hand over the alchemist’s shoulder. “The adventurer’s guild has enough resources to handle the wave. Focus on your projects. They’re important.”

Theo felt as though his projects were rather selfish, not important. But Arrok was right. They were helping people and growing the town. Everyone had their duty, and the defense of the town was in the hands of the adventurer’s guild. The alchemist would have liked it if Zarali and Xol’sa attended some meeting with the guildmaster to get some experience operating with the adventurers, but they were ahead of the game. The haze cleared from his head and he turned to smile.

“You’re right,” Theo said. “I need to make more potions.”

“You go do that,” Aarok said, shoving Theo down the street. “Let me handle the dirty work.”

Theo left, feeling good about his current course of action. Grinding the second-tier potions was giving him a lot more experience than normal, which presented another problem. He needed to spend more time in his garden, cultivating those plants to allow his Drogramath Herbalism Core to catch up. He knelt in his garden, marveling at the wonders a day did for the plants growing there. Propagating the plants was easy enough, but the problem was doing it at scale. Claiming a field in the farmer’s fields was easy enough, but he still felt a twinge of guilt for pushing Banu around. They found a balance between the traditions of Broken Tusk and Theo’s mind for advancement, but that didn’t mean he’d push him around more.

There was enough land behind the Newt and Demon to make a decent-sized plot, but the problem of magically regrowing reagents came to mind. Those fast-growing plants respected the border of the building, but only just. He had ten paces to work with in his garden before it was claimed by the power of the swamp. Any section east of that mark wouldn’t be suitable for his garden. He could hold out for an upgrade to the building that allowed him to have a plot of land in the back, which seemed likely given the current direction things were going, but Level 20 was a far way away.

The monster cores Theo used to take the building from Level 10 to Level 20 were many. Tresk wasn’t hunting the high-level dungeons anymore, preferring to explore the developing River Dungeon, so he ruled her out. He could buy them from the other adventurers, but his funds were dwindling. With no other option, he turned his attention away from the garden for the day. The pressure vessel had completed its run on the Wake Essence, leaving it ready for brewing.

Theo withdrew the Wake Essence from the vessel, clearing the port and inspecting the result.

[Refined Wake Essence]

[Essence] [Refined Essence]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Alignment Effect:

Resulting potions will be more effective.

Chance to consume half of required essence during brewing.

Purity: 80%

1 units (liquid)

Concentrated, refined essence of wake.

The essence had two alignment effects. While Theo had already seen the first effect, the second one was interesting. It only appeared after he got his alignment up to middling from his daily offering. This was another amazing benefit to his process, even if the effect only happened once every 100 reactions, it was worth it. He made his way to the lab and set the essence aside, tending to the stills before continuing.

The adventurers who fulfilled his quest supplied 500 Stone Flowers, 500 Water Lilies, and 500 Flame Roses. Theo was eager to see how powerful the attribute enhancement potions were, so he prepared his three stills. Of all the reagents he worked with, Stone Flowers were the easiest to grind for the still. They turned to dust in his hand if he squeezed hard enough. Even the other two flowers were simple, but the Alchemical Grinder did the work for them. The alchemist took some time to enchant Purified Water, making a quick trip to the river to refill his barrels. Throk would have a fun time with his pump idea, but he pushed the thought out of his head.

Stone Flowers were aligned with the Vigor attribute while Flame Roses were aligned with Strength, and Water Lilies with Wisdom. They were all easy to get, but that didn’t diminish their usefulness. Each would produce powerful attribute potions that anyone would fall over themselves to get their hands on.

With all three of his stills running, Theo turned his attention to the Refined Wake Essence. He enchanted a large pile of Iron Shaving with Drogramath’s energy and set up a 2-unit, flat-bottomed vial for his test reaction. The effect from the shrine made the reaction easy, and he trusted in that fact. He added the Refined Wake Essence, Purified Water, and an Iron Shaving to the vial. The reaction was immediate and tepid, bubbling in the vial for a moment before releasing a strange scent. The smell was a mixture of churning water and decaying vegetation. It put off a slight blue glow.

Theo inspected the potion.

[Potion of Wake]

[Potion]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Allows the imbiber to hold their breath for twice their normal time. The imbiber suffers reduced current and drag while in water.

Effect:

The imbiber can hold their breath twice as long.

The imbiber experiences lessened effects of water resistance, including current.

Effect lasts for 1 hour.

This might have been the greatest utility potion Theo had ever made, based on the number of effects and the length of those effects. It was also very clear on the duration of the effect, something that wasn’t always guaranteed. The Lesser Potion of Growth didn’t denote a time, specifically saying the time was unspecified. The alchemist marked this potion in his mind as something to be sold to Broken Tuskers at a massive discount, perhaps even for free. It would be invaluable to get the different races, which couldn’t brave the water so easily, to delve into both the River Dungeon and the Ocean Dungeon.

While the three stills did their work, Theo spent his time brewing the Potions of Wake. He was even confident enough to perform a large-scale reaction, kicking off 50 units of the essence at the same time. The result was confusing until he remembered the alignment effect on the essence. When he poured 50 units into the flask and performed the reaction, only 48 units were missing. Somewhere between pouring the liquid and introducing the catalyst, more essence appeared in his flask. He shrugged it off as magic and finished the batch.

When Theo was done with the Potions of Wake, he ended up with 508 potions instead of the expected 500. He could only imagine what the higher alignment bonuses were.

Theo turned his attention to the stills, which were sputtering by the time he completed the reactions. They all bore the alignment bonuses up to middling, a fact that put a smile on the alchemist’s face. He cleared the stills out, adding the three flasks to his inventory before heading out to the pressure vessel. The alchemist added the Vigor Essence to the vessel first before turning his attention back to the garden.

The Mage’s Bane wasn’t growing as well as he’d like, but the Roc Berries and Spiny Swamp Thistle were coming along nicely. He selected the best of each, taking enough clippings to increase his propagation on each plant to 15 plants per type. The Spiny Swamp Thistle Roots needed to rest in the lab before they were ready to go, the only disadvantage of the tuberous growths.

Theo returned those roots to his lab, finding the corner with the sign near it, and let out a heavy sigh. Whereas he might feel some mental exhaustion from the tasks of the day, his body didn’t show any signs of slowing down. The alchemist nodded to himself and turned his attention to the town.

Chapter 44

Ingots

Theo made his way south toward the mine. The smelter was operational when he passed by, but he decided not to meet the operator until later. Pickaxes striking stone rang out across the hills the closer he got to the mine. Gridgen stood outside the opening to the mine, wiping the sweat from his brow. The man smiled upon seeing the alchemist, waving him over.

“Great to see you!” Gridgen said.

Where there once was a massive pile of nuggets outside the mine now rested a single Dimensional Storage Crate. Theo nodded in approval.

“You’re taking some initiative,” Theo said. “That’s great. How is the mine?”

“The mine is great,” Gridgen said. “I guess the System is smart enough to understand the function of the crate. We’ve been getting paid regularly.”

Theo hadn’t noticed the slow trickle from his inventory but appreciated the fact. Running to the mine every day to give the workers their pay was annoying with everything going on.

“And the smeltery?” Theo asked.

“Well, we figured it’s a good idea to get Nira started on experience,” Gridgen said. “Everyone who is mining is getting a massive amount. We’re almost Level 5 with our Miner’s Cores.”

There could be a better evolution for the Miner’s Core out there, which could help keep up with the constantly respawning ore. Even if it was only a select few who received the core, it would be worth it. Until Theo could get his hands on those cores, this was good enough.

“I’ll need to meet Nira,” Theo said. His eye lingered on the crate, but his mind swirled with the miner’s success. “You’re doing great here. I guess Nira is smelting the ore into bars?”

“Ingots,” Gridgen corrected. “About the size of my arm. The ore’s quality is perfect, but she has a long way to go.”

That was very unlike the stone in the north. When Ziz pulled a block out of the ground, shaping it into usable form, it kept the quality. The smelter’s process was much like the way alchemy worked.

“What grade are the ingots?”

“Great to excellent,” Gridgen said, smiling.

“That’s far better than Rivers did, even when they operated their pit mine,” Theo said. “What’s the daily volume for ingots?”

“Well, we can go talk to Nira,” Gridgen said. “Until she gets a few levels, our pace is going to be faster than hers.”

“She also doesn’t have a contract,” Theo said, knitting his brow. “I’m going to need my merchant for this.”

Theo went into his mayor’s screen, finding the messaging system and typing out something with his mind.

[Theo]: Azrug, could you please report to the smelter in the south of town?

“That’s one way to get him to come,” Gridgen said, gesturing to the cobblestone road. “We’ll pay a visit to Nira, then.”

Theo followed the man, even though he knew where the smeltery was. When they approached the massive workshop attached to the side of the building, a blast of heat came out. The alchemist shielded his eyes, feeling the sting of the fire on his face. A small human woman worked the oversized crucible, pulling chains to tip it over into molds. Molten metal spread over the surface of the mold, filling voids to take on the shape of the ingots. She spotted them but didn’t cease her work.

“Nira, can you come down for a minute?” Gridgen shouted. “The mayor wants to talk to you.”

Nira hopped down from the metal scaffolding which abutted the crucible, landing with a grunt. She was short by human standards, putting her a half-head taller than Tresk. The woman kept her hair shaved to the scalp, and soot covered her mousy features. Theo would have expected her to work in a library, but the way she carried herself painted her as a lifelong laborer. She came to stand next to them without a word.

“Nice to meet you,” Theo said, extending a hand for her to shake. She took it reluctantly but averted her eyes.

“What’s the problem?” Azrug’s voice came from the entrance of the smeltery. He was out of breath.

“You didn’t have to run here,” Theo said.

“I assumed you needed something appraised. I get great experience for that,” Azrug said, shielding his face as he entered the workshop. “Sure is hot.”

“Comes with the territory,” Nira said, grunting.

“Could you show us a sample ingot?” Theo asked.

Nira didn’t say a word. She walked to the corner of the workshop and came back with a large copper ingot. Theo and Azrug inspected the item.

[Copper Ingot]

[Metal Ingot]

Quality: Excellent

A copper ingot.

The quality of the ingot was at excellent, which was more than Theo expected. Even if it was a low-level recipe, that was still impressive.

“Well, the nuggets go at a rate of a copper for 10,” Azrug said. “How many nuggets go into each ingot?”

“50,” Nira said.

“All right,” Azrug said, squinting. “My core is telling me the price increases significantly when in ingot form. I’ve heard as much from the traders passing through town. So, instead of 5 copper, you’re looking at 20 to 40 copper a bar.”

“Interesting,” Theo said. He thought about his own process and realized that no one would want raw essence.

The ingots were massive if Theo considered their total volume. A single bar could band at least ten barrels once it was worked into thin ribbons. But Uharis had given a hint about the true value of the copper. The alchemist could infuse it to be alchemically inert, and he had a suspicion there were other uses for the infused copper.

“I’m fine with whatever,” Nira said, her gaze lingering on the still-hot crucible. “I like this.”

“We’ll do the same deal as the miners,” Theo said. “Ten percent of market rate.”

Theo took time to draw up the contract, detailing that she would work in the best interest of Broken Tusk. The moment he finished writing it, she signed it without hesitation.

“Fine,” Nira said. She abandoned the group and returned to the scaffolding, hoisting the heavy chains to reset the crucible.

Theo, Azrug, and Gridgen left the heat of the smelter. Even the humid air outside felt like a cool winter’s breeze.

“She’s a bit strange,” Azrug said, craning his neck to watch her work.

“Nira is a loner,” Gridgen said. “But she’s a hard worker. Extremely honest.”

Theo’s read of the woman was the same. She only wanted to work hard and pull her weight, not burdening others. It was a trait he valued highly. If she wanted to seclude herself from the rest of the town, that was her choice, and he wouldn’t fault her. The alchemist couldn’t deny her ability. There was already a tall stack of ingots resting on the floor of the workshop, ready for export.

“Gridgen, you’ve done a great job,” Theo said. “Brilliant idea getting her up and running.”

“Thanks,” Gridgen said, grinning.

“How many bars do you think she’s going to make a week?” Theo asked.

“Based on her rate?” Azrug asked, butting in. “I’d guess she’s waiting for the miners to get more ore. That huge crucible? Man, she’s gotta be doing a few thousand bars a week… 2 gold worth of copper.”

“That’s a silly number,” Theo said. “I’ve always considered copper as worthless. Besides for alchemical use.”

“Just wait until she cranks out some iron,” Gridgen said.

“Right,” Theo said. “Make sure everyone has what they need, Gridgen. I have to talk to Azrug about something.”

“We could use some monster cores,” Gridgen said.

“Right. I’ll get on that,” Theo said, saying farewell and turning north.

Azrug fell in step with Theo as they made their way up the cobbled road. The southern reaches of Broken Tusk were peaceful compared to the bustling center.

“So, what do you need to talk about?” Azrug asked.

“Well, we need to work out our first trade deal,” Theo said.

“Are we finally going to export stuff? That’s exciting.”

“Yeah, I just don’t know how to do it. I assume you know more about the trade structure of Rivers and Daub.”

“I do.” Azrug flashed a smile. “Traders talk. Rivers is dominated by a trade guild, but we can bypass them if we try.”

“Because they’re importing their metal from the north,” Theo said, his mind going to the metal required to repair the town. Broken Tusk wasn’t high enough to need the metal, but Rivers and Daub would be at that point. They were likely paying a premium to import from so far away.

“What should we focus on exporting?” Azrug asked.

“Everything. We’ll offer stone, wood, and metal as a deal. You’ll go into the negotiations with all our numbers and work from there.”

Azrug took a steadying breath, nodding. “I think I can manage.”

Theo wasn’t sure about that. Compared to high-level merchants, he was a small fish. “Are you sure?”

“If we were playing cards, our deck is loaded,” Azrug said. “Do you think they’re paying 20 copper a bar from the northern smelters? They’d be lucky to pay a silver after transport expenses. And lumber? You need a special cart to move items like that; they’re too big to fit in a regular inventory.”

“So, we have it, and they need it,” Theo said.

“And we can undercut everyone else because we have so much,” Azrug said. “We’re going to make some trade guilds mad, but we’re unaffiliated and we don’t import anything.”

“Which means we’re untouchable,” Theo said, barking a laugh. “They can’t tighten the noose around us because we don’t need them.”

“Exactly. And if the trade deal falls through, we can turn our attention east,” Azrug said. “Or further north. Just not west. Maybe south?”

“It’s good to have a backup plan,” Theo said. “But I want to strategize with you about this; make sure we’re going into it with a level head.”

“Well, let me get in contact with the right people,” Azrug said. “Shouldn’t take long. I have a few communication crystals now.”

The pair had walked all the way to the Newt and Demon. Theo left Azrug there, making his way behind the building to tend to the pressure vessel. He swapped essences out and cleaned the trap, intent on brewing attribute potions tomorrow. The alchemist worked his way to the adventurer’s guild after that, as he wanted to have a word with Aarok and Luras about the upcoming defense. When he entered the guildmaster’s office, he found an unexpected sight. Zarali and Xol’sa were already there, sitting in chairs and craning their necks to grin at him.

“We were going to call,” Aarok said on the opposite side of the table. “We’re discussing the next monster wave.”

Theo was overjoyed that Zarali and Xol’sa had the sense to talk to Aarok instead of him. The alchemist was the mayor of Broken Tusk, but the guildmaster was the right person to run tactical things by. Whatever business they were doing could wait, though. Something lingered in the alchemist’s mind since the woman arrived.

“I’d like a word outside, Zarali,” Theo said, gesturing to the door.

“Certainly we can discuss it in here,” Zarali said.

“The hall, please,” Theo said, opening the door and stepping out. She reluctantly joined him.

“If this is about Xol’sa,” Zarali said, pulling the door closed behind her.

“It’s about trust.”

“Trust? Surely you trust your big sister.”

Theo smiled. “We’re not really siblings.”

Zarali answered that with a frown.

“I want you to sign a contract stating you won’t bring harm to Broken Tusk,” Theo said.

“That’s it?” the female dronon said, letting out a sharp laugh. “Naturally. Surprised you didn’t have me sign it sooner.”

Theo drew the contract up through his interface. It detailed her willingness to help Broken Tusk at no cost, vowing never to hurt it or its people through any means, intentional or tangential. He put leeway into the unintentional aspects of her harming the town, but it didn’t matter. The moment the prompt appeared for her, she accepted.

“Zarali,” Theo said, placing his hand on her shoulder. “Stop by the lab anytime you need to talk. I don’t know if this is a healthy coping mechanism.”

“What’s unhealthy about it?” she asked, crossing her arms. “Consider the rarity of Drogramath Dronon in Qavell. We’re all brothers and sisters, in a way. Besides, now that you kneel at the feet of Drogramath, we’re siblings by faith.”

Faith was a strong word for what Theo felt for Drogramath. He had to assume that the people in this world viewed the relationship differently.

“So, you were Belgar’s big sister?” Theo asked. He never had siblings of his own, but he understood that dynamic. “Did you look out for him?”

“As I’ll look out for you,” Zarali said. There was a shine in her eyes that he couldn’t place. Perhaps it was the love for a sibling. Her face suddenly grew more forlorn. “He was nothing like you, Theo. Part of the reason he died. Where you’re cautious, he was reckless. He picked a fight we couldn’t win.”

“I don’t pick fights I can’t win,” Theo said, kneading the muscle on her shoulder. “I only have one more question for you. Are you really willing to become a Broken Tusker?”

Zarali tilted her head and shrugged. “Aside from Lord Drogramath’s energy here, your town is charming. Any fool can see it will become a powerhouse in the southlands. Few are equipped to deal with constant monster waves. Priests and priestesses are reserved for those larger cities, and I’d wager none of them have one devoted to Drogramath.”

“Good to hear,” Theo said, gesturing to the door. “With that settled, do you want to proceed?”

“I do.”

Theo and Zarali entered the room again, all eyes glued to them. Aarok let out a bark-like laugh.

“Just so you know,” Aarok said, gesturing to the door. “We heard every word. Try finding a more secluded place to settle your sibling, not-sibling disagreements next time.”

Theo’s face went a pale shade and he shuffled on the spot. It was easy to feign bravado when he was alone with someone, but in front of a crowd it was much more difficult. The entire affair was made more difficult by Zarali’s relation to Belgar.

“Oh, drink it up, half-ogre,” Zarali said, falling into her chair. She cast a sly grin at Xol’sa and patted his hand.

Theo assumed a place at the back of the room, lacking a chair. He folded his hands in front of him and stood awkwardly.

“Commander,” Xol’sa said, bowing his head to Aarok. “We’re prepared to release the monster wave on your command. It will be slightly stronger than the ones you’ve fought in the past, but after this wave it will weaken.”

“Good news,” Luras grunted.

“Both Xol’sa and I are prepared to apply our talents to the siege,” Zarali said. “I have minor healing magic and buffs related to the consumption of potions.”

“Even better,” Aarok said. “We drink potions like water in this town. How soon should we release the wave, Luras?”

“As soon as possible,” Luras said. “We’ve been running drills since the last wave, waiting for the next one.”

Theo hadn’t considered a reality where his people wouldn’t need him for a siege, but he was feeling out of place. The only thing he could offer in this meeting was the promise of more potions. Even his funds were running dry from the constant investments he made. Meanwhile, the adventurers were making preparations he wasn’t aware of. That was his position, though. He was the mayor of Broken Tusk, not the commander of the adventurers. When the first siege came, he ran supplies and installed the towers without participating in the action. That’s where his place was, and he was happy there.

“Any objections, Mayor?” Aarok asked, turning his gaze to the alchemist.

“None. I’m just impressed with how good you are at this,” Theo said.

“Have a little faith,” Luras said. “You worry about building this town up, and we’ll worry about defending it.”

“Right. Don’t concern yourself with these meetings unless you absolutely must, Theo,” Aarok said. “We have everything we need at our disposal. You don’t need to stress.”

Theo felt a weight lift from his shoulder. He could trust Zarali to do the right thing, and he didn’t have to worry about the monster waves. It was hard not to worry about the coming waves, but the words of reassurance did a lot.

“All right,” Theo said, going for the door. “There’s a bit of sunlight left. I’m going to take care of some things.”

“Fine with us,” Luras said. “Take it easy, Theo.”

The alchemist left the guildmaster’s office feeling much better about himself. He made his way out onto the cobbles of Broken Tusk, casting his eyes to the colors of the waning sun. Uharis claimed his purpose for being here was to be happy, but he’d been tangled up in his own insecurities for far too long. He cast those concerns off, like the mantle of his old life, and headed back to the Newt and Demon. The stills needed tending. The potions weren’t going to craft themselves.

Chapter 45

Contracts and The Seat by the Window

Theo sat in his lab, shafts of afternoon light cutting through the window. He ran his finger around the rim of a flask containing Refined Vigor Essence, the first of its kind he’d made. Thanks to the enchanted water, this would be his most powerful attribute-enhancement potion yet. Outside, the pressure vessel bucked against the building, processing the next round of essences. The alchemist made a note to talk to Throk about an improved design for the artifice, perhaps even building three new vessels so he didn’t have to wait for a single essence to complete.

This new process didn’t even take modifiers into account. That was a realm Theo didn’t want to open for the time being. He wanted to create enough high-quality potions to make a tidy profit before worrying about such things. There was still enough daylight today to create most of the attribute potions, and the effects of the shrine kept his stamina bar in a healthy range. Before moving on to brew his potions, he inspected the new Refined Vigor Essence.

[Refined Vigor Essence]

[Essence]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Alignment Effect:

Resulting potions will be more effective.

Chance to consume half of required essence during brewing.

Purity: 60%

500 units (liquid)

Concentrated essence of vigor.

Something went wrong during the distillation process, bringing the essence to 60% Purity compared to the Refined Wake Essence’s 80%. That was fine for now. He was crafting for volume and quality, and some corners needed to be cut. Zarali would help him refine the process of distillation another day, when they weren’t preparing for a monster wave.

Theo placed a flat-bottomed vial on the table and measured out his ingredients. He filled it with the Refined Vigor Essence and Purified Water before dropping an Iron Shaving in. The reaction was immediate, and thankfully less violent than he expected. The bubbling liquid gave way to a metallic scent in the air, but the fumes were minor. After the reaction settled down, he inspected the resulting potion.

[Vigor Potion]

[Potion]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Drink to enhance Vigor.

Effect:

+12 Vigor for 1.5 hours.

The increase in attributes was absurd. Theo’s old attribute potions provided 5 in a specific attribute, making the second tier more than twice as effective. +12 Vigor actually seemed like a dangerous amount of an increase. Theo’s mind went to what would happen if he consumed a +12 Wisdom potion and shuddered to think about the abrupt change in his intuition. The effects would disorient the user, if nothing else. Intelligence was another problem attribute, although the alchemist still hadn’t found the reagent that increased it. None of this stopped him from setting up a large-scale reaction, ending his session before nightfall with 510 Vigor Potions.

His vision was a flurry of system notifications as he crafted, and he didn’t realize how close his Drogramath Alchemy Core was to leveling up. It rolled over near the end of the session, and he paused to check the notification.

Drogramath Alchemy Core gained experience (5%).

Drogramath Alchemy Core reached Level 13.

Theo Spencer gained experience (1.66%).

Tresk arrived as the last reaction kicked off. She wasn’t interested in the Vigor attribute, but begged him to let her have some Strength Potions when he got to it. He agreed to give her the overflow from the process, something she seemed excited about. As the pair left the lab, heading to Xam’s for dinner, the alchemist clutched Fenian’s crystal in his hand. As always, the elf answered quickly.

“I was wondering when you’d call,” Fenian said. “Feels like an age.”

“It does,” Theo said. “I’ve made massive progress with my alchemy. Would you mind looking at some potions?”

Theo knew if he mentioned the items in the correct way, Fenian could inspect them on his end. It was a quirk of the System he didn’t use enough.

“Absolutely,” Fenian said.

Theo linked the Healing Potion, Vigor Potion, and Potion of Wake. Fenian took a long while to inspect them before responding, but when he did the excitement bled clearly into his voice.

“Why are these so good?” Fenian asked. “I’ve seen Healing Potions before, but they didn’t restore 100 health—something closer to 60 or 70. And that Vigor Potion. I’ve only seen them add 8 for an hour. What did you do?”

“I have a new process,” Theo said.

“Well, keep doing this new process,” Fenian said, his laugh coming through the telepathic link. “By the gods, I don’t even know how much money to give you for these. I don’t know if I have the capital to clean you out.”

“We can always trade,” Theo said. “I want some Karatan or other farm animals.”

“Ah. The ranch,” Fenian said. “Right. Tell me how many potions you can have done by tomorrow or the day after.”

Theo did a mental tally on the amount of potions he could have. He had 1,000 of each restoration potion and could finish making the attribute potions by then. That would give him 1,500 assorted attribute potions. He relayed the information, to which Fenian hummed in response.

“I don’t know if we can put a price on these, Theo,” Fenian said. “We’ll work with 1 silver for the restoration potions and a silver and a half for the attribute potions, but I’m afraid that’s robbery. 52 gold, 50 silver in coin, but we can agree to an amount equal to my stock or the Karatan.”

“That’s fine,” Theo said. This wasn’t the largest order he’d done with Fenian, but it would be the most profitable. The alchemist hadn’t even finished cultivating his reagents yet. Potions resulting from the cultivation project would be even more powerful, adding to their price tag. His process had also changed for the more powerful potions, allowing him to brew them even faster. “Can you secure the Karatan?”

“I can,” Fenian said. “I’ve upgraded my carriage recently for such a thing.”

“Right. We’ll agree to that number for now. I’ll use your crystal if there’s anything I need you to get before you arrive,” Theo said.

“Indeed,” Fenian said. Theo could see the elf trader rubbing his hands together on the other end, even if it was imagined. “Well, until next time.”

“Bye.”

Tresk cast Theo a confused look as they stood near the monolith. The alchemist had been walking automatically during the conversation, his mind drifting off to meet Fenian’s questions.

“The new potions are worth a lot,” Theo said. “I need to put together a list of things I need him to grab before he comes to town.”

“Cores, maybe?” Tresk asked, grabbing Theo by the arm and leading him into the Marsh Wolf Tavern.

“Monster cores,” Theo said, nodding. “I need to upgrade the mine and the smelter.”

“Are we calling the smelter ‘Dead Dog Smeltery’?” Tresk asked.

The pair found their table near the window.

“Nira can call it whatever she wants,” Theo said. “Maybe I can convince Fenian to help Azrug with the trade deals.”

Tresk nodded absentmindedly, craning her neck to get a look at what everyone was eating.

Theo spotted Sledge entering the tavern with a surly look on her face. She stomped over to him and held her hand out. “I haven’t been getting paid. I talked to the miners, and they get automatically paid for the work.”

“Oops,” Theo said. Things had been too busy for him to keep up with everyone. “How much do I owe you?”

“I don’t know!” Sledge shouted. She got distracted for a moment, looking over the food that was being served. “And we’re going to need a seed core building for the foresters.”

“Take a seat,” Theo said. She obliged.

The alchemist drew up a quick contract for her, guaranteeing his new standard 10 percent market rate and requiring her to perform foresting duties at least three days during the week. He left in a stipulation that she could delegate the work to others and that her payments would come retroactively for what she’d already done. Sledge signed it without hesitation.

Item Delivered! You’ve received an item bound to the contract Sledge’s Foresters.

Automatically calculating value based on best information…

Best information received from Azrug Slug’s mercantile cores…

Additional information received from recent sales conducted by Sledge…

Ogre Cypress Timber price set to 1c per board.

Calculating board/unit ratio…

Ratio calculated, initiating payment of 5 silver.

Five silver coins sprung from the air in front of Sledge, clattering on the table. Her eyes went wide. “That’s fancy.”

“Sorry,” Theo said. “Let me buy you dinner to make up for it. Everything has been too busy.”

Sledge scooped the coins into her hands, shoving them into a bag at her hip. Her expression softened after she got her money and the offer of a free dinner. The crowds rolled in shortly after that, and only then did Theo notice how many tables and chairs were inside. Since Tresk went wild, upgrading the place on a whim, Xam had brought more furniture in. The capacity of the Marsh Wolf Tavern had increased significantly, allowing the whole town to occupy the massive floor space.

“Looks like she got different help,” Tresk said, gesturing to the bar.

Theo didn’t remember seeing the young woman before, so she must have been a new arrival. The alchemist inspected his mayor screen, finding a discrepancy of five new people arriving in town. He appreciated not having to run everyone that came through the same tutorial and noted that someone in his command structure gave the green light.

Before long, the young woman brought them three plates of food, taking payment right there. Theo was happy that she asked if they couldn’t afford to pay, meaning Xam was making good on her promise. The dish was a thick broth-based sauce smothering a plate of noodles. Large chunks of wolf meat sat atop proudly. The alchemist’s mouth was watering before he even dug in. By the time he picked up his fork, Tresk was tipping the contents of the plate into her open mouth, barely chewing the meal.

Tresk sat awkwardly, chatting with Sledge and Theo as they ate. While half-ogres were brusque and lacked some manners, they were nothing like the voracious marshlings at the dinner table. Since Sledge was raised as a half-ogre, she seemed to have those manners. When the meal was done, a system message appeared informing them of their food buff.

Food Buff! You’ve consumed Zee Noodles and Wolf Meat crafted by a cook.

+2 Strength for 8 hours.

“Her buffs are getting more powerful,” Theo said.

“We should come for breakfast,” Tresk said.

That was a great idea. The buff was wasted since they were going to bed soon, but if they ate their breakfast at the tavern, they could take advantage of it more. Theo spotted Xam coming across the room to talk, a smile painting her powerful face.

“Was it good?” she asked.

Theo simply held up his empty plate, which he had licked clean.

“No idea how you do it, Xam,” Theo said. “How did you make a sauce?”

Theo knew almost nothing about cooking. All his meals on Earth came in a package and tasted horrid.

“It’s Zee all the way down,” Xam said, laughing. “Milled Zee for the noodles, powdered Zee to get the sauce to thicken, and Marsh Wolf meat and bones for the rest.”

“Well, it’s great,” Theo said. “Do you serve breakfast?”

“I do,” Xam said.

“Do you serve Moss Nettle tea?” Theo asked, narrowing his eyes. That was a deal-breaker for him.

“For you? Absolutely,” Xam said.

“Well, you’re gonna see us tomorrow,” Tresk said, leaning forward. “Make something delicious.”

“Oh, I won’t disappoint,” the barkeep replied.

Xam was usually an upbeat person, but like most people in Broken Tusk, she had an edge to her. This new profession gave her an outlet that brightened her personality considerably. Since Theo and Tresk had worked on their Tara’hek and gained a significant amount of experience, their moods had changed as well. Combined with the reduced stress of running the town, the alchemist was finally feeling more like himself.

“I saw your worker,” Theo said, pointing to the woman waiting tables. “Who approved their arrival?”

Xam looked over her shoulder for a moment, turning back to smile. “Aarok, I think. They said he didn’t want to bother the mayor.”

“Good,” Theo said. “How is the free meal program going?”

Xam leaned on the table and shrugged. “Barely anyone uses it. The miners ate free for a few days, but then they started paying. People can’t afford the fancy stuff; just go for the stew.”

“The stew is way better now,” Tresk said.

“It’s amazing what the cores do,” Xam said, nodding. “Even without spices, they add so much more flavor. The more complex my dishes, the bigger the buff.”

“You should do sweet stuff in the morning,” Theo said, leaning back.

The alchemist remembered the packaged meals he had back on Earth. There was sometimes a little packet of sweet, chocolate-like powder he loved to mix with instant coffee. It felt like a treat, even if it sucked. Both the coffee and the cocoa were synthetic, but he’d never had the real thing, so it was close enough.

“I think we’re a ways away from sweet stuff,” Xam said, letting out a chuckle.

“That’s fine,” Theo said. “As long as there’s tea.”

Xam left their table after that, off to attend to other patrons. Theo turned his attention to Sledge, who seemed happy to have something in her stomach. She was happy with her new Fabricator’s Core, somehow also juggling the collection of timber. The alchemist realized he knew little about the life cycle of the Ogre Cypress Trees, deciding to pick her brain on the matter.

“How long does an Ogre Cypress take to regrow?” Theo asked.

Sledge leaned in, raising an eyebrow. “Why do you wanna know?”

“I’m investing in foresters. I should know how fast the trees grow.”

“Well, it’s not a constant thing,” Sledge said. “When my father worked the forest, it’d take decades for a tree to grow up. Now, it can take as little as a day, but never as long as before.”

“We can accelerate their growth, if needed,” Theo said.

“With potions, right?” Sledge asked, laughing. “It’s all potions with you, isn’t it?”

“I’m an alchemist,” Theo said. “That’s what I do.”

“Well, those Forester’s Cores do more than just cut down trees,” Sledge said. “They can influence the location and speed of growth while promoting a healthy forest. Well, the swamp might be a different story, but that’s how it should work. Do we have a buyer for the timber?”

“Azrug is working on that,” Theo said. “I’ll need to get the foresters up and running before then.”

“Leave it to me,” Sledge said, waving him off. “You gave me three good people; I’ll get them working on getting experience. Just give me the cores and the building.

Theo nodded. He was happy another person wanted to step up and take a load off him. After a moment of silence, Sledge spoke again.

“Is your plan to own everything in this town?” she asked.

“I don’t own everything,” Theo said.

“Only mostly everything,” Sledge said. “Gotcha.”

“Theo would approve of other businesses, but no one steps up,” Tresk said, bristling.

“Bah, I’m just messing with you. We were dirt poor before you came along,” Sledge said, her eyes drifting between him and Tresk. “Who would have thought you’d take a Tara’hek. I don’t know anyone else who's done it. Maybe that’s the secret to your success.”

“Maybe,” Theo said. “Have you ever thought of taking the core?”

“It’s not that simple,” Sledge said. “There’s a lot more that goes into the Tara’hek than a want. You have to need it. Like some destiny crap.”

“I don’t really put much thought into it,” Theo said.

“Maybe you should,” Sledge said. “You have a real gift there.”

The group continued talking after the sun had set. Only when most of the patrons left did they decide to leave, going their separate ways at the monolith. Theo and Tresk walked the cobbled streets of Broken Tusk for some time, admiring the stars in the sky. A cool breeze swept through the swamp, blowing from the hills in the north. The alchemist was reminded of the hot wind that came with Zarali’s probing energy but shook the thought away.

Theo swapped the pressure vessel to process his Strength Essence while he slept, doubting that the banging would wake him. It played a rhythmic song against the building, but that noise wouldn’t interrupt the sleep brought on by the comfort of his bed. He slipped into his cool sheets, pale moonlight playing through the window, and drifted off soon after his head hit the pillow.

Chapter 46

Absurdly Powerful Potions

It seemed fitting that the day the town intended to release the monster wave was the one when taxes were due. Taxes were collected on a weekly basis, given to the mayor, and prepared for the capital. Only at the end of a 30-day cycle would Broken Tusk need to give the money to Qavell. Theo found he could create different spreadsheets in his administrative interface, empowered by the Governance Core, so he copied the overdue totals into a fresh sheet and flagged everyone as paid. This was a problem for after breakfast.

Theo and Tresk found themselves in the Marsh Wolf Tavern for breakfast. Xam served the same noodle dish as the night before, accompanied by a large cup of moss tea. As the alchemist sipped on the tea, he detected flavors that weren’t there when he brewed it. He thought his alchemical knowledge made him a better brewer of tea, but that was wrong. Even a common cooking core made the tea slightly sweet and removed the negative early flavors. Even the effects of the meal were like a minor banquet. He gained the +2 Strength effect, but also a bonus to stamina regeneration. It was minor, but better than nothing.

“Taxes are due,” Theo said.

“Weren’t taxes due a few days ago?” Tresk asked.

“Yeah.”

Theo was once again surprised when he looked at the top earners of the town. Ziz and his crew were making absurd amounts of money, followed by Tresk, then a special entry for the adventurer’s guild. The alchemist wasn’t high on the list. He hadn’t made decent sales in a while, lingering near the bottom of the spreadsheet.

“This might be the first time I can’t foot the bill for the town,” Theo said, slurping down a noodle.

“So, people actually have to pay their taxes this time?” Tresk asked.

“Yep. Ziz owes close to 20 gold,” Theo said, letting out a low whistle.

“How much do I owe?” Tresk asked.

“10 gold,” Theo said.

“10 gold? Are you joking?” Tresk asked, letting out a groan. “That’s robbery.”

“Agreed,” Theo said. “Good news is, I found a spot where I can dump the coins in my mayor’s interface. It only accepts coins, no items.”

“A coin inventory,” Tresk said with a nod. “Makes sense. Well, no problem. I’m good for the money.”

The pair’s conversation departed from taxes and lingered on other things. Tresk was excited with how the other dungeons were growing and intended to try her hand at the boss in the Hills Dungeon to the north. The location of that dungeon was concerning to Theo, as it sat close to the town’s gate. Information rolled in from the adventurer’s guild about the troublesome placement, marking it as a place to plant more of the powerful lightning artifices.

According to Aarok, the east gate was the easiest to defend, but both the north and south gates had an advantage of terrain. Monsters seemed to suffer from stamina loss and would be hard-pressed to rush either gate with the hills and rocky crags. The west gate would have been easy to defend, but the monsters that emerged from the Swamp Dungeon seemed adept at traversing the deadly mud. An adventurer familiar with the swamp could find the dungeon in an hour, but those from out of town slogged through the muck, taking up to a day to reach it.

All this information struck a strange cord in Theo’s mind. Multiple people told him Broken Tusk was constructed for him. To be happy. Then why were they put at such a disadvantage? His mind had rolled over the information since he got in the town, trying to piece together his purpose. The only conclusion he could reach was that growth wasn’t free. Developing into a complete person was sometimes painful, and the town was no different. The Broken Tuskers were tempered by that fire by the time the alchemist arrived, but now they were being reforged.

Theo’s thoughts came together, and he turned to consider his companion. “Our adventurers are going to be the best in the world.”

“No doubt,” Tresk said, patting her belly. “Well, I’m gonna be the best. Everyone else is welcome to follow in my footsteps.”

Theo laughed. Her class combinations were strange for someone going solo. The alchemist imagined different classes that would work for solo dungeon delving, but hers wasn’t on the list. Her highest class was Assassin, followed by Tracker, then Shadowdancer. Only by chaining her Vanish ability was she able to win fights, quickly disappearing from sight and springing out as quickly as she’d gone. The few times he’d seen her fight, it was impossible to track her movements. Combined with his potent poisons, she was unstoppable.

“I should make you some more powerful poisons,” Theo said. “Here, I have a task for you. Hand over your tax money and harvest some Widow Lily for me. Bring a few whole plants, if you can.”

“New poison?” Tresk asked, perking up. “With your fancy new technique? Are you sure? Are you done with your order for Fenian?”

“As much as I’ll ever be,” Theo said. “I’m mostly out of reagents and need some money.”

Tresk shot up from her chair and plunged her hand into her dimensional pouch before slamming the coin down on the table. She vanished shortly after.

Theo added the money through his mayor’s interface, watching the number go up with satisfaction. He took his time eating his meal, chatting with Xam as he did. Her personality was so infectiously bubbly at this point that he couldn’t help but smile. When he was done with his meal, he made his way back to the Newt and Demon. Azrug was there, who gave the money he owed upon request. The alchemist could see the pain in his eyes, the pain of a merchant parting with his coin.

Before calling the townspeople to pay their taxes, he made an offering to his shrine and finished up the rest of his reactions. Both the Strength Essence and Wisdom Essence behaved as expected. They produced absurdly powerful potions, and he knew the Strength Potion would be worth more than the others. He inspected one of the 503 Wisdom Potions first.

[Wisdom Potion]

[Potion]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Drink to enhance Wisdom.

Effect:

+12 Wisdom for 1.5 hours.

The temptation to drink it and see what the effects would be lingered in his mind, but he shook it off. Instead, he inspected one of the 512 Strength Potions.

[Strength Potion]

[Potion]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Drink to enhance strength.

Effect:

+12 Strength for 1.5 hours.

Tresk would be happy to have 12 Strength Potions. The alchemist promised her the overflow of the potent potions, leaving 500 for him to sell to Fenian. He would try to haggle for these potions—they were just too good. He didn’t know the exact scaling of the attributes within this world, only understanding the checkpoints they provided. If the logic of the System held true, there were checkpoints every tenth level. This included attributes and raw levels, meaning these new potions automatically put the user at a higher bracket by simply imbibing the elixir.

Theo sent out a town-wide notice about taxes, writing out a long list of everyone who needed to attend. The newer citizens hadn’t accumulated enough wealth to be considered in this run, and he made a note of that in his message. Before long, a line formed outside of the Newt and Demon. It was a slow process, and more than ever, the alchemist wished for someone to do these mundane tasks for him. Until he could find the right person for the job, he would do it.

No single person in the line complained, some even offering to donate more money than was needed. Ziz was especially insistent on this, shoving a pile of gold into Theo’s hands.

“Come on,” Ziz said. “I’m not giving it to you. I’m giving it to Broken Tusk. For the defense of the town. Someone said that Fenian is coming to town, right? How much do those weapons cost?”

“10 gold,” Theo said, holding his palms up so that no money could be placed inside. “But, we’re fine.”

Ziz added a few more coins to his pile, totaling 20 gold. “Then this is a request. Buy two more weapons for the northern wall. I never expected to make this much money, and I do not know what to do with it.”

The amount Ziz wanted to give him was equal to the taxes he owed. But this was the charity that Theo wanted to see in the town. It was a self-interested charity, but ‌it was important. The alchemist sensed an imbalance there, and didn’t want it to propagate. He felt guilt for holding much of the production of the town, but the stonecutters were doing fine for themselves. They were rich by Broken Tusk standards.

“Fine,” Theo said, finally accepting the gold. “We need to work out a better system for this, though.”

“Sure, sure,” Ziz said, a smile painting his wide face. “Whatever you need to tell yourself, boss.”

“According to the earnings report, you’re the boss,” Theo said, chuckling. “Fine, move along. There’s too many people in this town.”

Ziz clapped his hand over Theo’s shoulder before moving along. The line moved slowly, but he got through everyone. Even the mousy-haired server from Xam’s tavern came to pay her taxes. When Theo told her she had nothing to pay, she got flustered.

“I didn’t get your name,” Theo said.

Theo looked her over. She was a slight woman, a human by his measure. The alchemist didn’t know if there were different humans here, but he had gotten used to not seeing any. She had long black hair that fell in waves over her pale shoulders. He had a feeling the coming Season of Fire would darken that a shade, but even as the Bloom’s rains fell away, it was still mostly cloudy.

“Alise Plumm,” she said, bowing slightly. When she rose, her eyes lingered on him for a moment. Humans were so much shorter than both dronon and half-ogres that it must have been easy for them to be intimidated.

“Well, I appreciate you coming. You don’t owe anything—yet,” the alchemist said. “I’m Theo, by the way.”

“Right,” she said, shuffling her feet.

Theo stood awkwardly for a moment. “Well, if that’s all…”

“I’m just really good with numbers. And people,” Alise said.

She didn’t look as though she was good with people. The woman looked awkward and mousey, but he would take her at her word. She was prodding toward something—his intuition said as much.

“That’s good to hear,” Theo said, baiting her.

“Someone said you might need an assistant,” Alise said, the words coming out in one exasperated string.

“Xam would be pretty mad,” Theo said, grinning. “I don’t want to make her mad.”

“I told her it was temporary. Until I found something else,” Alise said, nodding to herself. She suddenly found her courage, puffing up slightly. It was a silly gesture when compared to the alchemist’s considerable height. “It’s too hard to run a town alone. You need someone to organize meetings and tax collection—I can take care of administrative things for you.”

Theo wanted nothing more than some help with running the town. His mind went back to how Aarok and Luras were handling the preparation for the siege.

“I don’t know if I can afford you,” Theo said.

There was no point in just accepting her offer outright. A plan to put her on as a trial administrator was already brewing in his mind, but she’d have to work for it. Dealing with people was difficult, especially with matters of the town, and he wanted to make sure she was right.

“I’ll work for food,” she said. “Until the town makes more money.”

“That’s noble,” Theo said, casting his gaze east. Something familiar echoed in the distance. “Fine. We’ll start you on a trial for a week.”

Alise swelled, her shoulders rising as she clasped her hands in front of her chest. Theo drew up a provisional contract that would expire in seven days. It stipulated no pay and only minor duties for the woman. She agreed to the terms of the contract in an instant, bouncing on the spot.

“You won’t regret this,” she said, turning on the spot.

“Wait,” Theo said, withdrawing 5 silver coins from his inventory. She tried to refuse them, but he insisted. It was a pittance, but she could get started with that. “I have some tasks for you already.”

“Yes, Mr. Mayor,” Alise said.

“I assume you have laborer cores,” Theo said, and she nodded. That would have to change. “I can create a position with my Governance Core and mayor position that gives you access to some of my screens. You can use those to help you check on everyone in town. Make sure they have everything they need for the siege. Coordinate with Aarok if you need.”

“Understood,” Alise said. “Is that all?”

“For now,” Theo said.

She turned on the spot and marched away.

Theo went into his interface, the sound in the distance growing louder. He assigned her the position of “Mayor’s Assistant” and gave her access to a few of the screens. She could view the finance report, citizens list, and tactical map. This would allow her to locate everyone and ensure they were prepared for the siege. Only when he finished assigning her all the roles did he recognize the sound in the distance.

Fenian’s excitement for the new potions must have been too much for him. Just as Tresk arrived at Theo’s side, the horrible demonic Karatan thundered down the main road of Broken Tusk.

“He’s early,” Tresk said. “I brought the flowers.”

“You could have put them in the inventory,” Theo said, laughing.

“Yeah, but I heard the noise.”

Iron-shod hooves struck the cobbles of the town, sending sparks as the horrid creatures came to a skittering stop. The lead Karatan, Galflower, let out a horrifying shriek, which Theo knew as an excited noise. Fenian’s wagon had changed since the alchemist saw it last. It now pulled an additional cart, which was little more than a large black lacquered carriage. The elf trader dismounted, holding his arms wide. He was, as always, overdressed. Today he wore a flowing robe with more ruffles than was reasonable and a hat with a long, iridescent feather.

“Theo! My favorite person!” Fenian said, coming to embrace the alchemist.

Theo patted him on the back, chuckling. “Welcome back.”

“Well, now we have a few things to talk about, don’t we?” Fenian asked, gesturing to the Newt and Demon. “Shall we?”

Theo led him into the lab, cleaning his stills as the elf told him the tales of his journey. The alchemist set up his grinder and processed the 250 units of flowers Tresk brought. She stood in the corner as Fenian spoke. He detailed the war in the west. It was going well in favor of Qavell coming out on top. There were more political intricacies than Theo cared to learn about, but there was a territorial dispute, and the only solution was shedding blood.

Theo started the still and took a seat. He told Fenian about his new process and how it produced such powerful potions. When the elf got his hands on a Strength Potion, he shook with excitement.

“This is big, Theo,” Fenian said. “I visited a master alchemist in Qavell. Do you know what he said? He called me a liar. When he heard how powerful your attribute potions were, he almost assaulted me. No one would believe a Level 10 alchemist could do this.”

“Level 13,” Theo corrected.

“Even so. You’re operating at a level way above your actual level. You’ve almost outclassed that same alchemist. I looked at his process. It’s slow. And messy,” Fenian said, cackling. “Oh my. When they see what you’ve made here, they’re going to soil themselves. I convinced him to sell me one of his potions. You’ve never seen another person’s potions, have you? Take a look.”

Fenian withdrew an ornate vial from his inventory. It had far too many flourishes and was capped with a silver stopper. Theo’s Drogramath Alchemy Core allowed him to judge the exact contents of any container. This vial contained almost 5 units of liquid, more than double Theo’s version. He inspected the potion and frowned.

[Vigor Potion]

[Potion]

Epic

Created by: Beshur

Quality: Great

Drink to enhance Vigor.

A product of Beshur’s Apothecary.

Effect:

+10 Vigor for 1 hour.

There were a few things to note on the item’s description. First, it was only great-quality. The rank was epic, which was strange. There was a custom tag under the description, detailing the man’s business, but ‌the potion was worse than Theo’s. By a large margin, at that. The dronon alchemist could produce +12 to an attribute that lasted for an hour and a half. This was the difference between unaligned alchemy and Drogramath’s alchemy.

“This sucks,” Theo said, laughing. “It’s 5 units of liquid, too. Mine are only 2 units.”

“The old codger has been doing this for 50 years,” Fenian said, swelling with pride. “You’ve outclassed him in two months.”

That wasn’t entirely true. Theo didn’t know how long Belgar lived for, but he had a feeling that some of that skill transferred over to him. At the very least, Drogramath’s favor had a lot to do with his success. The alchemist explained the new situation to the elf, detailing the arrival of Belgar’s sister and his new relationship with the Demon Lord.

“Well, whatever the situation is, I don’t care,” Fenian said, shrugging. “It might be nice having an older sister around—I always wanted siblings.”

“So, do we have to worry about these alchemists?” Tresk said. She had remained silent in the room for some time, but her mind was always looking for shadows in the dark.

“Not likely,” Fenian said. “A private war would be expensive, and I imagine they’d have trouble doing anything about it. If they know anything about you, they know you have an assassin at arm’s reach at all times. If they attack you within the town, your weapons will target them, not to mention the political fallout. Likewise, a siege of Broken Tusk would be futile. Mercenaries usually have Level 20 cores, and… Well, you’ve dealt with a Level 30 monster wave.”

“Yeah, good luck, idiots,” Tresk cackled. “They’ll find a knife in their back before they get near my Theo.”

“Just so,” Fenian said. “Now, shall we get down to business?”

Chapter 47

Fenian’s Big Surprise

Fenian reclined in his chair, letting the sunshine fall on his face from the window. He basked in that light as though he hadn’t seen the sun for years. Theo watched him with interest. After inspecting the potions, the elf trader seemed even more satisfied than before. This was a chance to change the face of alchemy in Qavell and perhaps the world.

“I simply don’t have enough money for the potions,” Fenian said after a time. “I’m tied up in other investments at the moment.”

“We can barter,” Theo said.

“Of course. The people who buy these potions aren’t just buying them for their obvious use. There’s an allure there. Both that they are unseen in the kingdom, and that they give the user a slight edge.”

“Nobles,” Tresk blurted out. “People with tons of money. That’s the buyers.”

“Exactly,” Fenian said, tipping his head to the marshling. The feather on his hat bobbled as he did so, almost glancing Theo’s face from a distance. “We’ve been friends for too long, so I’ll tell you. These potions will sell for a few hundred gold when I’m done. I’ll get four times my investment for very little work.”

“You have to consider the fact that we can’t go to Qavell,” Theo said. “I appreciate your honesty, but I trust you.”

“Yeah, you’re cool,” Tresk said.

“Then I’ll let you pick 10 gold worth of items from my considerable stock. Well, that’s because I have a secret for you locked away in my carriage,” Fenian said. “Something worth 30 gold. But we’ll get to that later.”

“That works,” Theo said. “I have a few things I need.”

“Anything in particular?”

Theo explained his plan to cut the Ogre Cypress Trees and the four people who were supposed to do it. He lacked the appropriate seed cores and skill cores.

“I have the perfect thing,” Fenian said. He withdrew a Sawmill Seed Core from his inventory, a Forester’s Core, and 10 Logger’s Cores. “We’ll call that 5 gold.”

“Monster cores for the rest,” Tresk said, nodding.

“Good idea,” Theo said.

Theo had the task of upgrading not only his shop but the mine and smelter as well. The amount of monster cores the low-level buildings needed was few, but the Newt and Demon was a hungry seed core building. Fenian gave him a good rate on Level 30 monster cores, totaling 100 in all. It was an absurdly low price for the cores, but the alchemist wouldn’t complain. The trader had been buying up every item with the [Defensive Artifice] tag he could find.

“This is the part you’re going to love,” Fenian said, withdrawing four different seed-shaped items from his inventory. He placed them on the table for Theo to inspect. “Now, look at this one first.”

Theo inspected the first defensive artifice.

[Firebolt Tower]

[Defensive Artifice]

Uncommon

An artifice that can be attached to a defensive slot on a settlement’s wall. Consumes motes to generate a bolt of fire, targeting a single enemy. Comes with enemy and friendly recognition.

“I sourced the Chain Lightning Towers for 10 gold each. These cost me less than a gold, around 70 silver. Now, inspect this next one.”

Theo obliged, already amazed that there were different towers.

[Fireball Tower]

[Defensive Artifice]

Rare

An artifice that can be attached to a defensive slot on a settlement’s wall. Consumes motes to generate a ball of fire that impacts enemies. Comes with enemy and friendly recognition and will not fire if the radius of the fireball’s explosion will injure members of the connected town.

“Increasing in rarity, but not so much price,” Fenian said. “As you might expect, both towers are going to do less damage than the Chain Lightning Tower, but these will only cost you 2 gold. On to the next.”

[Frost Cone Tower]

[Defensive Artifice]

Epic

An artifice that can be attached to a defensive slot on a settlement’s wall. Consumes motes to generate a cone of ice magic, freezing enemies in place. Comes with enemy and friendly recognition.

“5 gold each. These don’t do any damage that I know of, but they root monsters in place,” Fenian said.

“This is insane,” Theo said. “We can get more coverage at an affordable price.”

“I have another present, but it’s in the works,” Fenian said, nodding. “Something that will empower your towers.”

Theo counted his money and thought about the best way to spend it. Going with a spread of towers was the best idea, but which would work? Partway through his process, the door opened. A bare-footed Alise Plumm came tracking mud with her dirty feet. Theo winced but welcomed her in. Only as she padded across the lab did he notice she was missing several toes on her foot, something he’d never seen before.

“Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Mayor,” Alise said, shuffling awkwardly on the spot. “The representative of the adventurer’s guild wanted me to inform you he intends to purchase towers with the guild’s funds.”

“You have an assistant?” Fenian asked, laughing.

“I do,” Theo said. “One with a few toes missing, apparently. What happened to your shoes?”

Alise blushed at the comment, angling her feet away from him. Theo kicked himself for being insensitive, but there was an alchemical solution for that. “I lost them in the mud.”

He noticed she avoided talking about the missing toes. Theo rose from his seat and crossed the room, retrieving a bottle of Alchemic Regenerative Salve. No one had lost a digit until this point, making the potion almost useless. Tresk claimed she could regrow her toes and fingers, although he hadn’t seen it. He hadn’t found a use for it until now, but he felt a swell of pride in his chest. It was an easy way to instill more confidence in the young woman, reversing something she saw as a blemish on her body. He inspected the bottle before handing it over.

[Alchemic Regenerative Salve]

[Alchemy Salve]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Applied to wounds to restore lost digits.

Effect:

Repeated application of this salve will restore lost fingers and toes. The effect is not immediate, often taking weeks depending on the level of the user.

“Take this,” Theo said, handing her the goopy liquid. He’d never used the stuff, but his intuition and the description gave him enough clues. “Apply it to your missing toes once a day. It might take a few weeks, but your toes should regenerate.”

Alise’s eyes went wide, and the blush on her face deepened. “Really?” she asked, voice full of hope.

“According to the description,” Theo said. “Fenian, do you mind coming with me to meet with Aarok? The, uh, representative from the adventurer’s guild?”

“I suppose it means more money, so certainly,” Fenian said, laughing.

“Follow me, Alise,” Theo said, gesturing down the stairs.

Theo found Azrug working the shop, haggling with a customer. Fenian looked on with pride, a smile spreading across his face. “He’s really getting good,” the elf said.

They waited until the shopkeeper was done, finally gaining his attention after a big sale.

“Azrug, give Alise a new wardrobe,” Theo said. “She’s my assistant, so we can’t have her losing her shoes in the mud. What were you doing in the swamp, anyway?”

Alise blushed some more. “Chasing down that grumpy marshling.”

“Sledge,” Tresk said with a nod.

“Sounds good to me,” Azrug said.

Theo, Fenian, and Tresk left them there to pick out some clothes. Azrug had crates filled with magical items in different styles. His stock was so extensive, there was bound to be something she liked. The trio made their way to the adventurer’s guild, finding Aarok in his office. Luras was nowhere to be seen, no doubt preparing for the monster wave. Theo was also happy that neither Xol’sa nor Zarali were there. Those two had a habit of complicating things.

There was no negotiating with Fenian. His prices were beyond fair. The adventurer’s guild brought 50 gold to the table, almost all of which was made from selling gear from the monster waves. After pooling their resources and under the guildmaster’s expert tactical advice, they settled on an arrangement of towers.

Aarok bought one Chain Lightning Tower for each cardinal direction, planning on spacing them some distance from the gate. He spent his last 10 gold on two Frost Cone Towers. Theo spent Ziz’s money under Aarok’s advice, ending with one Chain Lightning Tower, one Frost Cone Tower, two Fireball Towers and a Firebolt Tower. The alchemist then used his own money to buy one Frost Cone Tower, five Fireball Towers, and twenty Firebolt Towers.

It was a massive investment in the defense of Broken Tusk, but it would be worth it. Theo had learned his lesson from last time, not willing to leave anything to luck. Fenian’s words about the alchemists in Qavell also pushed him to spend so much money. If anyone wanted to attack his town, they’d receive a torrent of fire from the walls.

“This place is going to be a fortress,” Fenian said, laughing.

The trader produced all the tower cores, which Aarok took. They ended the transaction with five Chain Lightning Towers, four Frost Cone Towers, seven Fireball Towers, and twenty Firebolt Towers, totaling 104 gold between them. It was the largest exchange of money Theo had ever seen in Broken Tusk. Aarok also dipped into his personal funds to buy several Dimensional Storage Crates to feed the many turrets. If adventurers had to run too far to get more motes to feed the hungry turrets, they would be significantly less effective.

“A pleasure, as always,” Fenian said. “Now, would you mind following me for the big surprise?”

Theo cast his gaze to Tresk, who nodded. “Sure.”

Fenian led his team of demonic Karatan by hand. Up close, they looked less like living creatures and more like shadows of real things. Even as the elf tugged on their reins, the alchemist had to wonder if his hand would pass through them. Tresk seemed uneasy around the beasts, but they didn’t bother Theo. The group made their way down the gentle slope of the cobbled road, leading down toward the eastern gate.

“I think I know what’s in that second carriage,” Theo said, snorting a laugh.

Fenian had a sly grin on his face. He was leading them toward the ranch.

Miana spotted them as they crested a hill, excitement visible on her face from a great distance. She was dancing on the spot as they approached the paddock, and with a considerable effort from Galflower, Fenian backed the train of carriages through the gate. Only when the gate was secure did he come around to the back of the featureless container.

“I’m told the lowland Veostian Karatan is the best producer of milk,” Fenian said, patting his hand on the carriage. He slapped his hand on the side of the container, and a creature appeared behind it, tilting its head in confusion.

Karatan were hideous creatures. They were significantly longer than Earth’s cows, with height to match. Instead of four legs, they walked on six with no evidence of a tail on their hind-end. Their faces were the worst part of them, bearing a mix between bovine and insectoid with snapping mandibles and flat teeth. This example of the strange species was covered in a thin layer of wooly fur, a hue between pale brown and red. Instead of lowing or issuing a series of excited nickers, it simply clicked its horrid mandibles, which Theo took to mean excitement.

“This is the male. Or so I’m told,” Fenian said, gesturing.

Miana approached the animal, reaching out to stroke its fur. There was a look of awe on her face that melted Theo’s heart. It was as though she was touching the thing she’d wanted most in her life. The corners of her eyes were quickly wet as she stroked the thing’s wiry fur. The alchemist joined in, shocked at how pleasant it was to touch the beast. Fenian slapped the Karatan’s rump, sending it trotting off into the distance. He then produced another five animals, all with similar fur patterns. These were smaller than the first one, but each had a series of udders that ran the length of their bellies.

“And these are the females, all milk Karatan,” Fenian said. “Milk them daily, or they’ll stop producing. As for the diet⁠—”

“Come,” Miana said, barely able to keep her eyes off the beasts. She led them to the barn. Theo’s mouth dropped at the sight.

On either side of the barn, there were four pens. Each had a litter of dried Zee stalks on the bottom, and each trough contained a ground mixture of Zee Kernels. The place was immaculate, as though the half-ogre woman was preparing for their arrival since she took over the ranch.

“I researched their diet and conditions,” Miana said, gesturing to a shiny, recently installed strange artifice along with some equally new metal containers in the barn’s corner. “I commissioned a milking artifice from Throk and storage tanks. The mix in the troughs is actually milled Zee with crushed wolf bones—they need the bones to digest anything. I’m researching how to make sweet butter from the milk. Throk is working on an artifice for that.”

“You’re prepared,” Tresk said, letting out a laugh.

The herd of Karatan noticed the excitement in the barn and approached the open door. They entered, sniffing the air with their strange faces, before finding the food. Each one of them pushed for the best position and ate happily.

“By the Gods, I suppose you know what you’re doing,” Fenian said, chuckling. I couldn’t get them to go anywhere when I bought them. The trader that sold them had to help me corral them.

Theo got to thinking about that. If these were Veostian Karatan, they must have been hard to get. Qavell was at war with Veosta.

“How did you get them?” Theo asked, cocking an eyebrow. “Did you cross enemy lines to get us cattle?”

“I don’t know what cattle are, but yes,” Fenian said. “I have means to avoid detection from a great distance. The Bridge, you know.”

“This is amazing, Fenian,” Theo said.

Miana approached the elf and pulled him into a tight hug. He let out a surprised sound but softened, embracing the woman. “Thank you,” she said, pressing her face into his shoulder.

Fenian had the good sense to stand still and pat her on the back. This was Miana’s dream and it had finally come true thanks to him. He didn’t have to go above his station to find the best possible Karatan for milk, but he did. It was a smart move for the long term success of the ranch, allowing them to make a profit from milk and butter.

Theo thought about the elf as they stood there, waiting for the moment to end. Fenian had a magical means of transportation that seemed strange, even by this world’s standards. He was kind enough to drop hints to the matter, aided ‌by his cores and intuition. The trader’s patron was Uz’Xulven, the Demon Queen of the Path of Shadows. The alchemist didn’t understand the full extent of the Bridge, but it allowed passage over great distances.

The demonic Karatan were the key to that, Theo figured. But those thoughts fell away as the pair finally broke apart. Miana went off to run her fingers through the curly hair of the beasts as Tresk, Theo, and Fenian broke off.

“Better to leave her to it,” Theo said.

As they were leaving the farm, Alise came trotting down the cobbled path. She had a wide smile on her face and new clothes. She wore a simple blue silken shirt and a matching skirt that swept the ground. Her feet were now clad in leather moccasins, the same kind Theo had worn for so long. She approached, out of breath and affecting a deep bow.

“Thank you for the clothes,” Alise said, pausing to catch her breath. “Several people in the town are eager to purchase supplies from Mister Feintleaf.”

“Oh my,” Fenian said. “Mister Feintleaf. I like the sound of that.”

“The adventurer’s guild is preparing for the monster wave, which will happen tomorrow,” Alise said, withdrawing a parchment from a satchel at her side. “Town Mage warns caution against multiple waves, which could happen from any of the other dungeons.”

“Sounds like you have your hands full, my dear alchemist,” Fenian said, clapping a hand on Theo’s back. “But you finally have some good help.”

“She’s really on top of it,” Tresk said, eying the human woman suspiciously. “She’s better at being the mayor than you, Theo.”

“By a large margin,” Theo said.

Alise ruffled at that. “A mayor is only as good as their support structure.”

“Spoken like an administrator,” Fenian said. “Ah, well. I suppose this isn’t as impressive as the Governance Core, but…”

Fenian withdrew a core from his inventory. It was an uncommon-quality Administrator’s Core, a mesh of wood-like material surrounding a ball of white energy. He handed it over to Alise with a bow. Theo knew the value of the item was minimal, likely less than a single gold coin, but the woman’s face lit up.

“Oh, no,” Alise said, stammering her next words. “I couldn’t possibly take this.”

“If a mayor’s competency is only as good as their support structure,” Fenian said, thrusting the item into her hands, “then you’ll need this.”

Alise bowed deeply, taking the item from him. When she rose, a wide smile painted her face. “I have business to attend to. Thank you, Mister Feintleaf,” she said, consulting her scroll. “Please visit Ziz, Sledge, Throk, Perg, Gridgen, and Xam before you leave.”

“Ah, that’s quite the list,” Fenian said. “Very well. Time to make more coin.”

Chapter 48

Buncha Sneaky Peoples

Theo could have bought more things from Fenian, but it felt nice to have some money in his inventory. He was too focused on refining his processes and elevating the town to concern himself with anything else. The result of his laziness was that others in the town were picking up the slack. Only now, staring up at the town from the eastern road, did he realize how important that was. The alchemist’s plan had been to get people to be more independent, but it was hard to consider the right course of action. He simply had to give them direction and step back. No more prodding was necessary.

With the day waning and the exhausting event of dealing with Fenian done, Theo and Tresk wandered together. It was an opportunity to bond more, which they came to understand meant more experience with their Tara’hek Core. While the pair collected whole plants for the garden, the alchemist inspected his cores.

The first and most powerful core he had was the Drogramath Alchemy Core.

[Drogramath Alchemy Core]

Legendary Alchemy Core

Bound

3 Slots

Level 13 (15%)

Alchemy core given to the descendants of Drogramath.

Effect:

Increases the synergy of Alchemy abilities.

+4 Wisdom

[Unstable Material Handling]

He had two skills slotted into the core. Drogramath Distillery Specialty, which gave him the ability to measure liquids and operate the stills, and High-Pressure Refining, which allowed him to work the pressure vessel. He had an empty skill slot and no idea how to get more skills. They came in 5s on his personal level and 10s on his core levels. Every tenth level for a core offered a skill only within the domain of that core. The 5s were free to use on everything.

[Drogramath Herbalism Core]

Rare Herbalism Core

Bound

3 Slots

Level 12 (52%)

Herbalist core given to the descendants of Drogramath.

Effect:

+4 Vigor

There was work that could be done with this core. Theo understood that a core’s rarity affected its level. The Drogramath Alchemy Core said it was Level 13, but it functioned much more like a Level 50 core. That assumption took into account things he’d heard from Fenian about the other alchemists. Aligned cores operated in a different way than unaligned cores, it seemed. He gave a piece of himself to have that core inside him, but the results were worth it. Within the Drogramath Herbalism Core were three skills—Drogramath Herbalism, Drogramath Fermentation, and Drogramath Inventory. The herbalism skill gave him the ability to determine if something could be used for alchemy. The fermentation skill allowed him to use the fermentation barrels, and the inventory was just that.

This core desperately needed upgrading, and Theo had a feeling Zarali would know how to do it. It was a task for another time, but he still wanted to take stock.

[Governance Core]

Legendary Administration Core

Unbound

2 Slots

Level 4 (2%)

Advanced administration core, reserved for leaders.

Innate Skills:

[Command Structure]

[Titles]

[Automatic Books]

Effect:

+2 Intelligence

The Governance Core had recently leveled up and would hit Level 5 soon enough. With this core, it was easy to see the effects of the legendary rarity tag. It came with three innate skills and interfaced with his mayor’s screen perfectly. There were still features that he hadn’t rooted out, leaving them as a mystery for now. The only skill slotted in the core was Contracts, which needed examination.

[Contracts]

Epic Governance Skill

Allows the user to create binding contracts between parties. These parties may be individuals or entire towns or cities. The extent of the contract is agreed upon, including duration, payment, and expectations, by both parties.

Effect:

Allows the user to track contracts like quests.

Allows the user to create contracts.

Theo knew this was the most powerful skill he had, although he hadn’t used its full extent. This was a way to guarantee the safety of the town. He could put a clause in the contract that forced the person to not harm Broken Tusk or anyone in it. While he didn’t know what the outcome of breaking the contract was besides what he’d been told, he hoped it was compelling enough to keep being honest. The threat of some strange magical beast coming to collect on a debt of life would have to be enough to bind the contract.

Tresk and Theo gained a large amount of experience for the Tara’hek core while they replanted the garden. They introduced attribute-bearing reagent plants to the garden, keeping the Flame Roses as far from the other plants as possible. The strange bush the roses grew on sent cinders sailing off occasionally, but it seemed mostly harmless. After applying more aerosolized growth potion to the garden and planning the next expansion out, it was a field of reagents. The Spiny Swamp Thistle plants had grown to 90% Cultivation, and the tubers it produced were huge.

Theo inspected one Spiny Swamp Thistle Root, noting the massive increase in size.

Spiny Swamp Thistle Root

[Alchemy Ingredient] [Cultivated]

Common

This Spiny Swamp Thistle Root has been cultivated. Selective breeding and applications of growth potions will increase the Cultivation meter. Cultivation percentage increases yield and quality of this reagent.

Cultivation: 90%

Unit by volume:

11 units

Properties:

[Healing] [Regeneration] [???]

His current garden of 20 plants should produce 220 units of essence, but the alchemist suspected there were hidden features to cultivation. The act of spending the rest of the day with Tresk and tending the garden saw growth in two cores. The Tara’hek Core almost grew to Level 13, but the Drogramath Herbalism Core grew to 13, sending Theo’s personal level to 12. He inspected his character sheet before applying his free point.

Belgar (Theo Spencer)

Drogramath Dronon

Level 12

Alchemist

Core Slots: 3

Attributes:

Health: 65

Mana: 90

Stamina: 75

Strength: 16 (+10)

Dexterity: 8 (+3)

Vigor: 12 (+4)

Intelligence: 16 (+4)

Wisdom: 25 (+6)

Points: 1

The benefit of increased Intelligence was already making itself known, and Theo wanted to push it beyond 20 before considering other attributes. He applied the single point to Intelligence, bringing him to 17, counting his bonuses. The effects of the Intelligence and Wisdom attributes were very murky, but they paired well together. Unlike Strength, which made a person physically stronger, they altered the way a person thought. Wisdom provided superior intuition into topics but made the user unable to extrapolate information. Only when higher Intelligence scores came into play did they see the thread of knowledge winding around a topic.

The companions spent the rest of the day relaxing. They found their way to Xam’s tavern when the time was right, enjoying the company of the other members of the town. Alise arrived halfway through the meal to inform the mayor that Fenian had departed for the day but promised to return at a moment’s notice in a time of need. She also informed them there was a meeting among the command structure the next morning for the siege. The new assistant informed the alchemist he needed to give titles and ranks to both Zarali and Xol’sa. The priestess got the title “Cleric” and the wizard “Town Mage.” They were both placed in a position directly below Luras.

Waking the next morning, Theo and Tresk tended the garden together before returning to the Tavern for breakfast. She served the same thing as the night before, a simple stew dish, but it provided a strength bonus for the day. The alchemist couldn’t wait for her to put on another banquet. They took their time with the breakfast, lingering on less important topics as though they could push away the impending monster wave by chatting. Only when Alise came to retrieve them did they give up that hope, trudging over to the adventurer’s guild.

Luras, Aarok, Zarali, and Xol’sa were gathered in the cramped office when they arrived. Alise assumed a position in the corner while Theo and Tresk found two chairs added for them.

“We have a solid strategy,” Aarok said, his face painted with resolve. “But you will not like this.”

“There were some miscalculations,” Xol’sa said, shrugging.

“That’s mostly my fault,” Zarali said, placing her hand over Xol’sa’s and flashing a warm smile. “An unexpected overflow of power.”

“I assume you have it under control,” Theo said.

“We do,” Alise said.

Theo turned to look at the woman, surprised that she had engrained herself in the command structure already. She had a hunger for this kind of work, and the alchemist wouldn’t do anything to get in her way. If she’d take care of the boring day-to-day things, he could focus on the bigger picture. Things like trade deals and the collection of resources were more important to him, and this took a lot of the strain off of him.

“There’s gonna be two waves,” Luras said, cutting to the core of the issue.

Theo turned his head again, locking eyes with the half-ogre. There was something different swimming in his eyes—a sense of belonging that the alchemist couldn’t place. It was as though something deep within him had shifted slightly to one side, but he couldn’t wrap his mind around it. His gaze lingered for too long, and Zarali let out a sharp laugh.

“My dear brother might finally make use of his cores,” she said. “Tell me, sweet brother, what do you feel about your friend?” she asked, gesturing to Luras.

While she could be annoying, Zarali was right. He scraped his memories, looking for something that made sense. A flash in Luras’s eyes revealed the truth, but it was no simple thing to riddle out. Only with the increase to his Intelligence, high Wisdom, and the innate knowledge of his cores brought the truth to light.

“Baelthar,” Theo said, squinting at his friend. “Right?”

“Baelthar’s Hunter Core,” Zarali said. “A legendary evolution of the Hunter’s Core, and an apt core for such a powerful man.”

“Baelthar is the Ogre Patron of the Hunt, right?” Theo asked. “So, you found an aligned core.”

“Something like that,” Luras said, shuffling his feet on the spot. “Priestess Zarali helped with that. Baelthar and Drogramath get along, so they say. The trader helped.”

Theo almost forgot about the shocking news that there’d be two waves. He was too consumed by the primal sensation he felt while looking into Luras’s eyes.

“Two waves back-to-back?” Theo asked.

“We don’t know,” Xol’sa said.

“So, this is a briefing,” Aarok said, clearing his throat. “Theo and I spent most of our money on defensive towers, and I’ve arranged them throughout the town. I scattered the Firebolt Towers along the wall in even intervals. I placed two Fireball Towers near each gate, except for the south gate. Only one there. Two Chain Lightning Towers at the north, and one at every other gate. One Frost Cone Tower at each gate. Dimensional Storage Crates loaded with motes all over the wall.”

“We have enough potions for the siege,” Luras said. “But you should be ready to brew more on the fly.”

“I’ve laced the marsh with dimensional traps,” Xol’sa said. “They’ll displace some monsters for a short period of time.”

“I’ve consulted with Lord Drogramath, who promised to bless our fighters,” Zarali said, bowing her head in reverence.

Theo felt at a loss for words. It was as though the weight of the siege was meaningless. He sensed Tresk feeling the same thing. The only thing they could do was sit there and absorb the information.

“Tresk, you’re already familiar with your squad,” Luras said, tipping his head to her.

“I am,” Tresk said. “Buncha sneaky peoples.”

“And you’ve already done enough drills to know your role,” Aarok said.

“That leaves my sweet brother,” Zarali said, grinning. “What role will you take? Nothing like Belgar. He had combat cores.”

“I don’t want combat cores,” Theo said, shaking his head.

“Winning a fight doesn’t mean fighting,” Luras said, his gaze fixed on the middle-distance. “Theo ran support the last two sieges. That kind of work is instrumental.”

“Just so,” Xol’sa said.

The group went on talking about the tactics of the defense. Theo was excited to hear their plans and how in-depth they went. They had prepared for several scenarios, which had different arrangements for the adventurers. The siege could come from one side, then the other, or both sides at once. Aarok even had a plan for if all five dungeons unleashed their monsters at the same time. Each plan gave the alchemist the same role—running supplies between the different stations and helping Aarok with the tactical map. After an hour of discussion, the meeting concluded abruptly.

[Aarok]: The monster wave will begin at noon. Please prepare accordingly.

“That does it‌,” Aarok said. “Now we wait.”

Theo and Tresk excused themselves, Alise trailing behind them. She held a parchment in her hand and seemed to beg for the alchemist’s attention. When they made it to the monolith, he turned to meet her gaze.

“Just a quick update,” Alise said. “I met with the producers of the town and got their long-term plans for production. Only a few had something solid, but I’ve urged them to establish growth. The Administrator’s Core lets me use more of the town’s features, so I’ll keep an eye on that.”

“How long have you been doing this, lady?” Tresk asked, laughing.

Alise blushed. “A day?”

“Seems like you’ve been an administrator your whole life,” Theo said. “You’re good at this.”

She blushed more. “Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m just trying to earn my keep.”

“How are the toes?” Theo asked.

The woman smiled wide. She bent over and removed a shoe, revealing a set of freshly growing toes at the end of her foot. They were stunted at the moment, but not the small nubs she had before.

“I wouldn’t have ever been able to afford this salve up north,” Alise said. “Look! They’re almost back!”

“That’s great,” Tresk said, leaning close to the woman’s feet. “You’re gonna have new toes by the end of the week.”

“I can almost wiggle them,” Alise said, trying and failing to wiggle her new toes.

Theo was suspicious of the woman’s aptitude in her position, but he assumed the best. Betrayal wouldn’t come from someone helping him establish his town. The contract would keep her from outright betrayal, and she was fitting in amazingly. All the alchemist could do was marvel at the amount of competent people that were drawn to his town.

The group spoke at the monolith for some time, and Alise revealed more about herself. She was shy, but Tresk had a way of wiggling information out of others. The marshling wasn’t sly, just persistent. Alise had laborer cores but often served as a go-between for a merchant in a small town north of Qavell. She often ran between many people, collecting numbers for shipment quantities or profits. Even without cores, she was expected to do the work of an administrator. It was only once her shell was broken that she gave up the truth.

Throk grabbed Theo’s attention before he left the square. The artificer was interested in buying all the smelter’s current supply of iron, something he was more than happy to do. There was no need to haggle. The price established by the System was informed by Throk’s recent sales, so he had the latest information. Iron bars were slightly more expensive than copper bars, coming in at a solid 50 copper coins per bar. Copper bars sold anywhere from 20 to 50 copper, but the alchemist had a feeling Throk would sell them for the lowest possible price.

Theo and Throk established a contract where the artificer promised to deliver a Dimensional Storage Crate to the smelter. In exchange, he could take whatever bars he needed at market cost. Creating the contract meant that the funds would be deposited automatically, and they didn’t have to worry about manually exchanging money.

Tresk and Theo lingered there for some time, watching the blacksmith do his work. Smithing was the man’s primary job, and he was working on a few things for Sledge. Throk’s skills with his smithing core must have grown more powerful because each swing of his hammer moved more material. There were even times when a hammer strike made no sense, shaping the metal into impossible shapes. Instead of deforming under the clang of a hammer, he punched a hole straight through it.

Eventually, the pair wandered to the smelter to inform Nira of the new arrangement. She grunted in response, barely noticing them as she worked the blistering hot crucible. They then made their way to the mine, where the miners were still diligently pulling ore from the caverns. Theo made sure they understood the importance of leaving before the siege, and they agreed. With only a few hours until the monsters were scheduled to arrive, they began packing it up.

Gridgen said there was a plan for the children, which Theo wasn’t aware of. A team of five adventurers were assigned to guard the kids specifically, who would have fun activities prepared at Xam’s tavern. Throk had created an artifice that would play rude sounds if you turned a crank on the side, something the alchemist wanted to see for himself.

As the pair made their way back to the monolith, noon quickly approaching, Tresk turned to Theo with a smile.

“I’m getting a fart machine from my dad,” she said, her smile spreading into a devious grin.

“Me too.”

Chapter 49

Wild Card

Theo and Tresk spent more time than they should have playing with the children in Xam’s tavern. The fart machine was everything it was cracked up to be, playing a series of ten sounds that Throk had clearly recorded himself. Zan’kir and Zan’sal, who were stationed in the tavern for protection duty, weren’t as amused by the marshling’s recorded raspberries. The small play area established for the kids was on the first floor, in the center of the room. Sledge had reinforced the walls with her Fabricator’s Core, infusing them with marble. While the appearance of the wood slats hadn’t changed, if the alchemist knocked his knuckles against the wood, it was hard as stone.

Xol’sa had also laced the exterior of the building with invisible runes, or so Theo was told. When a monster struck the outside of the tavern, they would be sent to another dimension for a short time, reappearing randomly within the swamp.

Theo took time to notice the aesthetic beauty of the tavern, marveling at the strange construction of the building seed cores. The alchemist’s impression of half-ogre construction was one of thick stone blocks hastily shoved together. When he arrived in Broken Tusk, almost every building was made of wood. It was the most plentiful resource back then, giving way to rot and decay. The entire neighborhood north of the tavern had taken on the stone block aesthetic, but of the other buildings in town, only half decided on stone.

That thought implied some decision-making by the seeds, which was strange. These thoughts were a distraction, though. Something to whittle away the time as they prepared for the siege. Tresk departed as noon drew closer, off to meet with her squad of stealth specialists. The alchemist didn’t know what she was assigned to do, but there was no better person to lead a squad of sneaky people. A message popped up shortly after.

[Aarok]: Xol’sa is preparing to instigate the monster wave. Please stand by for more information.

Theo rose from the floor, making his way to the exit of the tavern. A series of fart sounds followed him, and he couldn’t help but laugh. The giggles of the children were too much. A system message obscured the center of his view as he set foot on the hard cobbles outside.

[Pincer Attack!]

Monster Wave

Duration: Infinite

Pincer Attack!

The Swamp Dungeon and River Dungeon have joined forces, creating a pincer attack.

Broken Tusk is besieged on both sides by the troll forces to the west, and the fald forces to the east, resulting in two bosses spawning at the same time!

Defeating this wave will result in a greater reward, but the difficulty is increased significantly.

Effect:

2 Boss Monsters have been spawned simultaneously.

2 distinct armies, operating under the control of their respective Boss Monsters, have spawned.

Increased reward for completing the monster wave.

Gain an additional effect for completing the wave within a time limit (24 hours).

The moment he dismissed that message, another came up.

[Empowered Monsters]

[Monster Wave Modifier]

Duration: Until Completion

Empowered Monsters!

The buildup of power within the dungeons has become too great, resulting in an empowered wave. The monsters are stronger and less forgiving. Good luck.

Every monster in the monster wave receives +5 to their level.

Effect:

Level +5 for every monster in the wave.

Increased reward for completing the monster wave.

Both messages seemed horrific but exciting. The monster wave itself was modified, essentially doubling the number of monsters Broken Tusk would need to defeat. Then the [Empowered Monsters] effect made them all stronger. Theo now realized that the amount of towers they bought was likely too few.

[Aarok]: This is as expected. Stick with your teams and prepare to receive Zarali’s blessing.

Aarok’s town-wide message rolled through Theo’s mind. He felt his muscles surge with power as the next message popped up.

You have received Blessing of Drogramath from Zarali.

[Blessing of Drogramath]

Spiritual Effect

Duration: 24 hours

A priest or priestess of Drogramath has blessed you with power. You will receive a series of buffs based on the caster’s willpower.

Effect:

Increased effectiveness of combat (increased Strength, Dexterity, Vigor by 10).

Double the effectiveness of all potions used while under this effect.

This was an absurd buff. The increase to combat attributes was crazy enough, but the doubled potion effectiveness would be amazing. Combined with the [Troll Slaying] effect the town had, the bombs would deal a ton of damage. As the alchemist stepped over the road, he felt his feet fall silently. He pivoted on the spot, noting no sensation of dizziness as he whipped around. The increase to Dexterity was the most notable thing about the buff. The alchemist inspected his character sheet before reporting to his team.

Belgar (Theo Spencer)

Drogramath Dronon

Level 12

Alchemist

Core Slots: 3

Attributes:

Health: 115

Mana: 100

Stamina: 125

Strength: 26 (+20)

Dexterity: 18 (+13)

Vigor: 22 (+14)

Intelligence: 17 (+4)

Wisdom: 25 (+6)

Points: 0

Theo couldn’t imagine how high the adventurers’ attributes were and had to wonder what the cost of this buff was. Only the deafening sound of explosions to the west was enough to break him out of his musing, sending him running to the western gate. He spotted the team of porters waiting for him, laborers and crafters of the city ready to move supplies around as needed. Aarok stood at the top of the battlements, but Luras was the person who caught his eye.

Luras Trinner, now a worshiper of Baelthar, Ogre Patron of the Hunt, was wreathed in ribbons of red energy. When he let an arrow loose, it sounded like a gunshot. With the enhancement of Zarali’s buff, he was releasing arrows faster than Theo could see, peppering the swamp with deadly projectiles. The half-ogre didn’t even have a quiver on his back; the arrows simply appeared in his hand after he fired.

“That’s scary,” Theo said, ascending the battlements.

“No kidding,” Aarok said, laughing.

Another explosion shook the dust loose from the stone wall. A plume of flames rose deep in the swamp, rising into the air like a mushroom cloud. Theo couldn’t even see the targets that Luras targeted but shrugged the ordeal off. The half-ogre was Level 12 when the alchemist arrived and would be even higher now. Tresk overtook him as the best adventurer in town, but that gap seemed to narrow. He didn’t want to interrupt the focus of the man by inspecting him and resolved to do it later.

The siege proceeded in an orderly fashion for a while. Theo met with his team and split the workload up. Azrug was among the porters, as were others with either dimensional bags or inventory powers. The alchemist’s first assignment was to run supplies to the eastern gate. He darted down the street, his feet landing solid on each stone as he went. It differed completely from the way he normally operated, and when he arrived at the eastern gate, he wasn’t out of breath.

The sight that greeted him was not as kind. An adventurer was being pulled through the open gate, blood soaking through his clothes. Zarali swooped in like an angel out of nowhere. Motes of purple energy flowed off her like a river, soaking the air with the power of Drogramath. In moments, the blood soaked back into the adventurer’s body. Their eyes snapped open, and they took a deep breath. The priestess rested her hand on their forehead, whispering in Drogramathi. It was over in a moment.

“I didn’t know you could heal,” Theo said, approaching the woman. He assumed her healing powers had to do with potions.

“I’m a priestess, little brother,” Zarali said, flashing a grin. “Now, do your job.”

Theo nodded, dumbstruck by the difference in the organization of this siege. He realized, as people ran across the walls, that Aarok was sending messages to squads individually. He was standing on the western gate, observing his tactical map and dispatching orders in a flash. Xol’sa was atop the eastern gate, waving his hands in the air and muttering something. The alchemist dropped off his supplies and waited for his next order, watching as the strange fald came out from the river.

They were vile-looking creatures, the fald. The monsters were mostly bipedal, wearing suits of armor made from rocks and shells. They were hunched over, wearing turtle shells or other debris on their backs as shields with skin the hue of dried seaweed. The face of a fald was the worst part, a mocking cross between a pig and a fish, with red gills that flared from the sides of their necks.

The boss monster for the fald wave hadn’t shown itself yet, but something radiated power from within the river. Theo’s concentration on the approaching force was broken when Aarok’s voice entered his mind.

“Theo’s team, run the wall and make sure the towers are full.”

As though responding to the message, the Chain Lightning Tower let out a stream of lightning that tore through the fald. It impacted one unfortunate creature in the chest before jumping between their ranks. Then the monsters drew close enough for the Frost Cone Tower to activate. The tower itself was a pillar of ice with a mote port on the side, reaching to the sky and defying the heat of the day. When it fired, a tight cone of ice issued across the rocky landscape. Each fald that was caught in the blast froze on the spot, rooted firmly to the ground. The peppering fire from the Firebolt Towers let out a series of bark-like blasts, setting a staccato rhythm to the constant fire.

Theo and his team worked their way north along the battlements. None of them slipped on the steep incline of the wall thanks to their increased Dexterity. They all felt sure-footed over the stones as if they found hidden footholds among the mortared stones. There was a peace in performing their simple task, even when Tresk’s health dropped below half several times. The alchemist transferred all his healing potions into their shared inventory and informed the marshling she could drink them or spread them around to her squad. He did this several times when they got low, using the unique power to resupply the secluded squad.

Tresk’s account of the battle, something she relayed as they went, was one of stalking the swamp boss. As expected, it was another powerful troll. Theo couldn’t help feeling regretful toward his lack of experimentation with their blood, and even more guilty about requesting that the adventurers harvest more of it this siege. The marshling and her squad made several unsuccessful attempts on the troll boss but had to improvise a new plan under Aarok’s direction. They led the boss to the wall, where a bulk of the adventurers were waiting. When it approached, they unleashed a combination of skills, spells, tower fire, and bombs to bring the boss down.

A message flashed the moment Tresk screamed into Theo’s ear, claiming that she got the last hit. Even without his new poisons done brewing, she was having a great time.

Boss Monster defeated! Foul Lord Broglog has been slain. Defeat the remaining monsters to complete the siege.

This was an especially difficult thing, since they had two waves going on at the same time. The monsters attacking the western side of the city wouldn’t relent until they were all killed, and the eastern boss hadn’t appeared yet. Aarok’s expert tactics saw no holes in Broken Tusk’s defenses. When a section of the wave got too close to the wall, he issued a rapid series of orders that saw the hole plugged. When the time was right, he ordered a sortie out of the eastern gate, meeting the fald on the field and testing the mettle of the adventurers.

Under the watchful gaze of the towers, the adventurers lured the monsters into traps. The friendly identification feature of the towers saw no citizens harmed during the counter-attack, and the decimation of the monster wave was absolute.

Theo watched from the eastern gate as the fald fell in scores. Xol’sa’s magic was strange.The alchemist expected to see fireballs and lightning bolts coming from a wizard, but it was a confusing array of dimensional mirrors. He would summon a large mirror-like object in front of monsters. When they stepped inside, they’d vanish. Minutes later, the monsters would appear in the center of the field with a confused look on their vile faces.

A spout of water shot from the river, reaching high into the sky and catching the light of the sun. The System provided a message for the appearance of the boss monster, dampening the excitement for seeing such a perfect rainbow over the river.

Boss Monster spotted! River Lady Razal has been sighted. This monster is stronger than regular monsters; exercise caution.

The boss monster was a giant fald made of water. Its form wasn’t defined enough to say it had arms or legs, but the general shape of a creature was there. It seethed over the edge of the river, creeping along the ground and sending jets of water to anyone who got too close. The adventurers retreated to a safe distance and let the boss get in range of the towers. A skeleton crew of fighters was left to defend the other walls as others rushed toward the eastern gate, laying down a constant field of fire at the monster.

Razal was resistant, though. Arrows had little effect on her ever-shifting form, and the towers were the only thing that seemed to stop her. Tresk joined Theo on the battlements, giving him a hug as they watched the monster’s plodding path. When it came in range of the Frost Cone Tower, it started taking more damage. With parts of the monster’s body frozen, the adventurers chipped away at its form. It was a slow death that saw sections of the boss chipped off, falling to the ground and reducing the size of it.

When Razal finally approached the gate, a single blast from a nearby Fireball Tower saw her removed from existence. Theo eyed the water she left behind with hungry eyes. His cores were telling him it was worth collecting. The System produced a message that confirmed the bosses were dead, joined by more bad news.

Boss Monster defeated! River Lady Razal has been slain. Bonus Wave!

Bonus Wave! Broken Tusk defeated the monster wave in 6 hours! Bonus wave: Wild Card.

[Wild Card]

Monster Wave

Duration: 1 hour

Wild Card!

Every remaining creature has been removed from the field and shuffled into nearby dungeons. One monster from each dungeon has been promoted to a sub-boss. They will assault immediately.

Experience gained from killing these monsters is increased.

Monster Wave gold is increased for each sub-boss defeated.

Sub-bosses guaranteed to drop addition, increased rarity loot.

Aarok was quick to redistribute the adventurers, spreading them across each gate but reinforcing the eastern gate. He was clever enough to understand that if each wave would attack the town, two waves would come from the east—one from the River Dungeon and one from the Ocean Dungeon. The monsters always targeted the gates, which were the weakest part of the defensive structure.

Dusk loomed on the horizon as the defense of Broken Tusk continued. Five waves of monsters descended on the town, but their strength was diminished. The System redistributed the monsters, splitting individuals into multiple, smaller monsters to field a sea of weak enemies. Most fell to the powerful towers dotting the walls, while others fell to the hands of adventurers. Theo simply marveled at the efficiency of Aarok’s command, running between checkpoints and delivering motes and potions. He was exhausted and tempted to pop a Stamina Potion when the final sub-boss fell. Night had blanketed the town when the System message appeared.

Monster Wave complete!

925 Monsters Destroyed!

20 gold bonus (paid to the mayor of Broken Tusk).

Bonus for defeat of 2 bosses, 5 sub-bosses:

Obtained: Plume of Defiance.

Obtained: 8 gold, 1 silver, 92 copper.

Broken Tusk gained a new effect: Coordinated Fire.

Theo felt the hat fall into his inventory. When he removed it, he scowled. It was a fancy cloth hat, fitted perfectly for his head with a band. It was puffed on top, like dough that had risen irregularly. Sticking out from the center of the hat was a feather that swooped in a wide arc. He inspected it.

[Plume of Defiance]

[Cloth Hat]

Epic

Scaling

Hat granted to the alchemist with the determination to defend his home.

Effect:

During a siege, all potions used by defenders will be 1.25 times more effective.

+1 Vigor

Tresk burst into laughter when she spotted him. She pointed, rolled on the ground, then came up to smack at the feather like a cat.

“It’s too good not to wear,” he said, scowling.

“You look like Fenian,” Tresk said. Her face went a pale shade of pink, eyes going wide. “Oh no…”

She slowly withdrew something from her inventory. It was a smaller version of the hat Theo wore, tailored to fit her head.

“Oh no!” she shouted. “The attributes are too good not to wear!”

Adventurers were gathering together near the center of town in celebration. They jumped high into the air, showing off their enhanced attributes. Several of their number performed feats of strength that would be impossible without Zarali’s buffs. Theo inspected the new effect on the town, keeping his eyes on his flagging stamina.

[Coordinated Fire]

Anything targeted by multiple towers gains bonus damage based on the number of towers. Each tower adds 0.1 to the damage multiplier.

It was another effect that was incredibly useful. Especially so since they placed more towers on the walls.

The impromptu party didn’t last long. The monsters that lay dead outside of the walls could be taken care of the next day, and everyone that participated in the fight was exhausted. Theo and Tresk returned to the Newt and Demon shortly after the celebration started. They pressed their foreheads together and received 20% of their level in the Tara’hek Core. It almost pushed them over the edge into Level 14, stubbornly remaining shy by a few percentages. Theo also received a massive amount of experience in his Governance Core, pushing him from Level 4 to Level 6. The core evolved to have +3 Intelligence, but the alchemist didn’t have a free point to buy any new skills.

The pair settled down to bed and fell asleep immediately. The battle might have been difficult, but the clean-up that presented itself was worse. Theo felt content in that fact, since they made such an absurd amount of money. The party went on for some time outside before it calmed down. Both companions were well asleep before that happened.

Chapter 50

Living River Water

Theo and Tresk sat in the Marsh Wolf Tavern the next morning, nursing their tea and groaning. The sudden drop in attributes left most citizens of Broken Tusk feeling spent. While the task that lay before them was daunting, the alchemist was eager to inspect the monsters that had fallen. Pieces of the elemental still sat outside of the eastern gate, slowly melting into puddles of valuable reagents. There were also fields of fald and goblins, waiting to have their parts harvested. Tresk had already collected a fair amount of Troll Blood, but the [Searing Regeneration] property didn’t seem appealing.

Breakfast was served at the tavern, the same noodle dish they’d had before, but Theo was more interested in filling his belly. While he took no part in the direct fighting, the increase in his attributes and constant running took a lot out of him. It wasn’t as bad as chugging Lesser Stamina Potions, but his muscles still ached. The alchemist’s mind went back to the advice of Essential Alchemy and the claim that low-level potions held no negative effects. He realized now that it meant they wouldn’t kill a person, not that there were no side effects. Both the stamina and mana potions had short-term effects, just nothing that would harm him long-term.

Alise joined them for breakfast after a while. She popped her shoe off to reveal almost-grown toes. The Alchemic Regenerative Salve was doing good work and taking shorter than advertised. After revealing her toes, she was down to business. She wanted to oversee the harvesting of the monsters to better direct the usage of resources. Without a catalog of what items were gathered, there was no way to know what they could expect to drop with each wave. Theo thought it wasn’t necessary, but she was insistent.

After breakfast, Alise made her way to join with Aarok and his adventurers while Tresk accompanied Theo to the eastern wall. She didn’t want him going out to harvest the elemental’s bounty without her there for protection. They stopped in to check on Miana before departing. The half-ogre woman had the herd grazing in the paddock, which the alchemist didn’t know they could do. She insisted it was best to mix in a wild diet to their Zee-mixture, claiming it made their coats more plush.

“The plan is to focus on Karatan wool and milk,” Miana said, leading the pair into the barn.

Theo passed by the male Karatan, running his fingers through the thing’s wool as he went. He hadn’t considered sheering them down to harvest the material, but it made sense. Their coats were dense and visibly growing since yesterday. When the group entered the stables, Miana slapped her hand against the storage tank.

“Almost 200 units of milk,” Miana said. “Throk’s artifices are getting better by the day. This tank prevents the milk from spoiling, so we can keep it here forever.”

Theo inspected the container. There were several artifices attached to the side, each with their own port for motes. Miana was smart to invest in this equipment. It would make her day-to-day life easier and speed the collecting of milk. She was still waiting on the artifice that would help her make butter, but the milk was already flowing. The alchemist thought about Veostian Karatan in the southlands. Importing butter from the north was always a pain. As with all his export ideas, this one relied on ease of transport. A trader could run the goods to Rivers and Daub within a day, reducing cost significantly. If a trader had to hold onto a product for too long, they’d start losing money. That was only logical.

“Beyond impressive, Miana,” Theo said. “How is the town’s enhanced growth working on the animals?”

“That requires more observation,” Miana said.

“Their coats have grown,” Tresk said.

“They have,” Miana said. “We’ll see where that gets us.”

“No plans for butchering them?” Theo asked.

“None,” Miana said, looking slightly offended. “Karatan can live for years, often producing milk into their old age. There’s no reason to kill them if they’re still making milk. Besides, we need to get some babies.”

Theo would rather have a nice wolf steak slathered in Karatan butter than a plain Karatan steak, so he was on board with the plan. With the amount of milk they produced overnight, he could imagine the butter flowing out of Broken Tusk. Depending on the ratio of milk to butter and the cost per unit, this might become the most productive part of the town.

The pair departed, finding their way to the sloped field outside of the eastern wall. Large chunks of the frozen water elemental rested everywhere. While the smaller sections the adventurers had chipped off during battle had melted, soaking into the ground, there were boulder-sized chunks that were still frozen. Theo dismissed the dangers of raw reagents mixing into the soil and approached an iceberg taller than him. He inspected it.

[Living River Water]

[Alchemy Ingredient]

Epic

Water taken from the embodiment of a river.

Properties:

[Water Walking] [???] [???]

“[Water Walking],” Theo said. “I don’t know if that’s useful.”

“Might be. Why don’t you take a bite?” Tresk asked.

Theo checked his inventory for poison and disease removal potions before even considering the idea. The danger of eating a reagent was usually in its first property. [Water Walking] didn’t seem dangerous, so he chipped off a small shard with his knife and popped it in his mouth. Tresk watched with wide eyes, but it was nothing special. It tasted like pure water. The only notable thing about it was the temperature. It was still very cold.

[Properties Discovery!]

You’ve discovered an additional effect from the Living River Water by eating it.

[Dissolve] discovered.

“That’s a weird property,” Theo said. “Dissolve.”

Tresk shrugged.

“You’re still eating the reagents?” Zarali’s voice shouted from afar. “That’s disgusting.”

Theo turned to spot the dronon woman approaching from the eastern gate. She tried to hide it, but there was a limp in her step that betrayed her. The alchemist recognized the signs of exhaustion, concluding that whatever ritual she did yesterday drained her beyond reason.

“Zarali,” Theo said, moving to support the woman. She looked up at him in thanks but wouldn’t say a word. “That buff was amazing. Thank you.”

“Oh, come now,” Zarali said, chuckling. “What good is a priestess if she can’t buff those under her wing?”

Theo led her to the chunk of Living River Water. There was an absurd amount there, likely more than he’d ever use. Once the woman was on stable footing he let her go, watching as Tresk gave an approving nod.

“How useful is the [Dissolve] property?” Theo asked.

“It’s a crafting support property,” Zarali said. “I’ve seen the effects of such potions here already, but this would be useful for the miners.”

“How so?”

“It won’t be worth using it to mine the ore, but they can use it to create new tunnels,” Zarali said. “The resulting potion is quite dangerous, but you’re going to want to dig deeper in that mine. You know what they say about copper and iron.”

“I don’t know,” Theo said with a shrug. “I’m not from this planet.”

“Copper and iron lead to seams of silver and mythril,” Zarali said.

“Oh, I’ve heard that,” Tresk said, bouncing on the spot.

“Come, let me help you harvest this,” Zarali said, withdrawing a golden hammer from her inventory.

It felt like a strange family outing, chipping away at the ice. Zarali regained some of her strength after a while, but swung the hammer with weak arms and produced few shards. She explained the other method of discovering reagents, which involved more service to Drogramath. Theo’s shrine would level the more reagents he fed it, but he was limited to one offering a day. Once he crossed a threshold, Drogramath would whisper the third property into his mind. The thing that surprised him most was what the priestess said next.

“And eventually he’ll help you find the next property,” Zarali said.

“The next one?” Theo asked.

The interface that displayed the properties on a reagent only had three spots. Even his experimentation with essences revealed they had exactly three properties and no more. When the pressure vessel operated, it spat out two bricks of spent material, preserving the last for the refined essence.

“Belgar discovered the existence of a fourth property after years of experimentation,” Zarali said. “Then another after that.”

This would have rocked Theo’s understanding of alchemy, but it was all magic. If the System wanted there to be infinite properties on reagents, it could make that happen. But the look on Zarali’s face told him the information was lost with the death of her brother. That didn’t make it impossible to discover—just something for another time. If the alchemist had to guess, it involved raising his affinity with Drogramath. That much was plain.

Theo thought for a moment as he chipped away at the endless field of ice. The way his mind worked had changed. The closer his Intelligence got to 20, the more he felt rational in his process. It was even getting easier to dismiss the whispers that came from his chest, although that might result from his rising Tara’hek Core. Then there was his unaligned Governance Core to consider. It was leveling faster than any core he had, thanks to the constant flow of information from the town.

“I’m impressed you figured out how to infuse the water, brother,” Zarali said, hoisting a large shard of ice for him to take into his inventory.

“That’s not surprising,” Tresk said, her daggers flashing against the ice. She carved out a smiley face. “Theo can be stupid, but he’s determined. You tell him something is possible, and he’ll do it.”

“I’m not that stupid,” Theo said. “I’m getting smarter.”

“There is a difference between raising your Intelligence and getting smart,” Zarali said. “Since you’re improving on both fronts, you’re becoming more of a complete person. Combine that with your high Wisdom, and you’ll be a force before Level 20.”

It took several hours to harvest all the ice. Since it was a resource that wouldn’t grow back on its own, Theo wanted to get as much as he could. If the [Dissolve] property was useful for mining deep into the earth, he wanted to have as much as possible. The massive body of the elemental provided several thousand units of reagent, resulting in the alchemist’s stamina bar draining to half before midday.

Tresk broke off from the group, intent on heading to the River Dungeon, as Zarali and Theo made their way to the lab. The priestess wanted to spend time with him today, and he wouldn’t say no. With the monster wave over, she was done working with Xol’sa for a while. She still had intentions of staying at his tower permanently and hinted at romantic involvement, but he didn’t want to hear any of it. The alchemist wanted to get her opinion on his poison brewing process.

Theo made an offering at his shrine, receiving the powerful buff from his patron. Zarali let out a satisfied sigh as the power of Drogramath washed through the lab. She had several pointers on the brewing of poisons, something their patron was famous for. They worked the stills and pressure vessel, sharing stories about their lives as they went. Zarali and Belgar were inseparable in life. They were born from a brood of Drogramath Dronon somewhere near Veosta and were tracked down by Witch Hunters, something that had fallen out of favor in the past century. While the remaining brood of Drogramathi were killed, they managed to escape.

Zarali’s tale was sad, but she didn’t tell it as such. She detailed how determined they were and held little resentment for those hunters. Belgar got revenge for them, creating improvised bombs that they used to rain death on those Witch Hunters. That was when they went into seclusion before becoming embroiled in a Demon War. Belgar met his end, and she was forced to wander the land with little hope of moving on. Only her faith in Drogramath kept her going. His whispers promised something great in her future.

To Theo’s surprise, she wasn’t impressed with his past. She thought he was delinquent in his duties to his family, hating the way he gave up everything to serve a corrupt government. He didn’t blame her. He hated that part about himself but had long since divorced that old life. In his mind, everything started at the beginning of the Season of Blooms, the year 873 of Balkor’s Betrayal. The priestess saw that response as poetic and accepted it.

They completed the batch of Refined Poison Essence, and the alchemist inspected his work.

[Refined Poison Essence]

[Essence]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Alignment Effect:

Resulting potions will be more effective.

5 units (liquid)

Concentrated essence of poison.

“Now, it’s interesting you haven’t worked more with poisons,” Zarali said.

“Why?” Theo asked.

“Your partner is an assassin,” Zarali said. “You should pump these out for her daily.”

Theo knew he had neglected that part of his relationship again. The only thing that pushed those thoughts away was how busy the town had been. He was working to fill orders with Fenian with no time to stray from those restoration potions. Still, Zarali complimented his form when he brewed the first potion. She commended his use of the infused shavings, informing him it was a big step to productivity. They inspected the resulting poison together.

[Poison]

[Poison]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Coat your weapon to deal additional damage over time to an enemy.

Effect:

Cripples an enemy, reducing their Dexterity by 5.

Applies a stacking DoT effect based on poison quality. Maximum of 10 stacks.

“Much better,” Zarali said with an approving nod. “Now, we have some work to do before we move on to fermentation with aligned essences.”

“I haven’t even worked with the second tier of fermented essences,” Theo said. “It was too costly.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter,” Zarali said, kneeling to inspect the barrels. “These barrels really won’t do. I’ll need to take them over to your blacksmith for modifications.”

“Fine with me,” Theo said.

Azrug entered the lab. Theo didn’t hear the gentle sound of the bell downstairs, but he was trailed by Alise. Zarali excused herself, taking the barrels into her inventory and leaving the lab. The shopkeeper cracked a smile, pointing at Theo’s silly hat.

“You look stupid,” he said.

“I feel stupid,” Theo said.

“I think it looks nice,” Alise said, pulling a ream of parchment out and studying it. “So, I’ve been working with young Azrug here, and he’s made contact with the mayor of Rivers and Daub.”

“Really?” Theo asked. “That was fast.”

“I have connections,” Azrug said, grinning. “What can I say?”

“So, what’s the news?” Theo asked.

“I’m talking through an agent,” Azrug said. “But there’s a lot going on.”

“Rivers is under siege, just like us,” Alise said. “Unlike us, they’re less prepared.”

“How is that even possible?” Theo asked. Broken Tusk was younger in terms of development. A place like Rivers and Daub, which was actually two towns joined, should have more than adequate defenses.

“Let’s just say you’re a rare mayor,” Azrug said. “They’re not handing over public funds to maintain defenses, but they wouldn’t go into details with me. So, that all boils down to the fact that they need supplies. Stone, wood, metal, cores, motes, everything. My liaison was trying not to act desperate, but I could tell he was.”

“This bodes well for Broken Tusk,” Alise said, nodding.

“And you’re helping with the trade?” Theo asked.

“I am,” Alise said. “As well as cataloging the takings from the monster wave.”

“She’s fantastic,” Azrug said, jabbing a thumb at the woman. “We’re realistically looking at getting over market value for the bulk goods. Already talked to Ziz; he’s producing enough stone to split between suppliers. Sledge wasn’t even aware we were trying to do deals. Gridgen doesn’t care.”

“Right,” Theo said, summoning his inventory to look at the Sawmill Seed Core. “Lumber production will at least double. Are you sorting out delivery arrangements?”

“Yeah. They’re going to establish caravans to Broken Tusk as part of our agreement,” Azrug said. “That was the first hint they were desperate.”

“You see, there’s a narrow mountain pass heading to Qavell,” Alise said, placing her hand on her hip. “That’s the trader’s road, and the monster waves have made it worse. A week-long journey has turned into a month-long battle for your life. When I migrated south, it was treacherous. We pooled our money for a mercenary company, and they paid in blood.”

Theo didn’t want to respond immediately. He cupped his chin in his hand and thought about it. Rivers and Daub had wealth that he didn’t understand; otherwise, they would have been overtaken. It could have been an additional tax, a production chain he didn’t understand, or exploitable dungeons nearby. His money was on the dungeons, which he had seen bring great wealth into his town. But the takeaway was that each town needed the other.

“So, what’s the strategy?” Theo asked. “Aggressive?”

“Not really,” Azrug said. “Cordial. We’ll make concessions to help them out, which gives us footing in the long term.”

“‘Concessions’ is the wrong word,” Alise said. “We’re simply not gouging them, only charging at or slightly above market despite the current climate. We’ll settle for at-market prices at the end of it.”

“In return, we get a trading partner for the long term,” Theo said with a nod. “In case the well dries up.”

“Exactly,” Azrug said. “We snuggled up to Rivers, then we pitch joint ventures, and perhaps one day take them over.”

“I like the way you think,” Theo said. “We can also charge them for the inevitable sea route we’ll establish. If Broken Tusk owns a port, we’ll be unstoppable.”

“Agreed. You can’t expect Fenian to jump every time you need something sold,” Azrug said. “The magic he’s using is dangerous. He might die on one of his trips.”

“How much of that have you figured out?” Theo asked.

Azrug shrugged. “None of it. I just know you can’t make it from Qavell to Broken Tusk in a few hours without teleportation. And he’s not a wizard.”

It was better if he didn’t know.

“Fine, keep me apprised of the situation. I have faith that Alise will make sure we can export the promised amount,” Theo said.

“I will,” Alise said.

“Great. This is an excellent first step, Azrug,” Theo said, standing to shake the shopkeeper’s hand before moving to shake Alise’s. “And you’re making me feel like a relic.”

“Just doing my job,” Alise said, blushing.

“Now, I should go plant this Sawmill Seed Core before Sledge caves my head in,” Theo said.

Chapter 51

Swamp Snapper Mill

There was an empty plot of land on the opposite side of the adventurer’s guild. That’s where Theo placed the sawmill, not wanting to risk placing it outside the walls. He spotted Sledge and her people working the trees outside of the wall with a small contingent of adventurers guarding their progress. The alchemist hadn’t considered how dangerous the job of felling the mighty Ogre Cypress was, but as a towering tree came crashing down, it was brought to the fore of his mind.

Ogre Cypress were much like the cypress trees on Earth. Theo had only learned of them from books, as most of the forests back there were long-since dead. The cypress that enjoyed swamps didn’t grow exceptionally tall back there. That’s where the Ogre variant differed. They towered to impossible, unmeasurable heights. Their boughs stretched out to shade the vast swamp, and the width of their trunk was wider than five half-ogres interlinking their arms. Without magical help, Sledge would have a hard time bringing the mighty trees low.

The resounding boom and the following tidal wave of water signaled the fall of a tree. Cheers echoed through the swamp, and Theo watched the power of Sledge’s cores. She was using a Woodworker’s Core, but improvised a method to remove the many scraggly boughs from the side of the raw timber. He watched her climb atop a felled tree and run, at full speed, from one end of the other with a saw lowered. The moment it touched a branch, that limb would fall off with a clean cut.

Theo descended the battlements and fed the building a few high-level cores. The building that sprouted up with squat with a shingled roof. It had a small living area on one side and a workshop on the other. Inside the work area was a massive bladed saw, fed by a series of rollers. Sledge could load a sectioned log on the roller and feed it into the saw, which was powered by a mote port. The alchemist realized how nice of a location this was, as there was a section between it and the wall where logs could be stored. He set Sledge as an operator and headed out into the swamp.

With a cadre of adventurers guarding the area, Theo found Sledge working the log. She looked at him with a sly grin, staring down from the top of the massive tree.

“Coming to admire my fine work?” Sledge asked.

Theo cast his eyes over the other five workers, who were manually removing the branches that Sledge missed. She’d gathered two more workers since he saw her last, likely part of the five migrants who arrived before the siege.

“I’ve come with cores,” Theo said, smiling.

“Thank the Gods,” one worker said, wiping sweat from his brow.

Theo gave each worker a logging core and handed the Forester’s Core to Sledge. “This is for whoever you elect,” he said. “This is your operation, so delegate it however you want. Do you want to see your new sawmill?”

“Absolutely,” Sledge said, tumbling from the log and falling face-first into the mud. This didn’t seem to dishearten her. She simply stood and wiped the mud from her face.

Theo led the way back into town, gesturing at the sawmill. “I’ll upgrade it a few times for you. That’s part of our contract, after all. Did you want to go over the upgrade options with me?”

“Yeah,” Sledge said, half-hearing his words as she went to inspect the mill. She nodded in approval, walking through the open workshop to the other side. The work area was open, allowing her to pass the massive logs through with ease. How she was going to haul them here was beyond him, but that was her problem to solve.

“You should give it a name before we start,” Theo said.

“Swamp Snapper Mill,” Sledge said, nodding in approval. She held up her hand with a missing finger. “One got me earlier.”

Theo shook his head. She wouldn’t need his alchemical salve. According to Tresk, the marshlings regenerated digits automatically. He named the mill and inspected it.

[Sawmill]

[Swamp Snapper Mill]

Owner: Belgar (Theo Spencer)

Operator: Sledge

Faction: Broken Tusk

Level: 1 (0%)

Rent Due: 7 days

Wood Type:

Ogre Cypress

Gardeth Wide Oak

Wood Quality: Perfect/Excellent

Expansions:

None

The quality of the wood was surprising. Everything else was always perfect-quality, but the screen claimed it was a mix of perfect and excellent. He shrugged it off and fed the mill high-level cores until it hit Level 5. He picked random directions for the place to expand, watching as the building shifted and widened by magic. The process only took a few cores, and the upgrade screen popped up. The alchemist read all available upgrades off to the marshling.

[Ogre Strength]

All trees felled within a radius (scaling with the level of the sawmill) will weigh a fraction of their actual rate for all operators of the sawmill.

[Felling Accuracy]

All trees felled within a radius (scaling with the level of the sawmill) will fall within a determined direction with great accuracy.

[Efficient Sawing]

Increase the speed logs are sawed (scaling with the level of the sawmill).

The good news was that each option scaled with the level of the mill. Theo didn’t have a preference on which one Sledge picked. They all had their merits.

“The one that makes logs lighter,” Sledge said, nodding. “Most laborers have high Strength, but the cypresses are too big.”

Theo nodded, selecting the option without opposing her decision. She would be the person managing the mill, not him. He offered more monster cores until the sawmill hit Level 10, where he intended to stop the upgrading for now. The alchemist wanted to go wide with his upgrade efforts, not investing too much in any one building. A new option appeared alongside the two others he hadn’t picked.

[Felling Accuracy]

All trees felled within a radius (scaling with the level of the sawmill) will fall within a determined direction with great accuracy.

[Efficient Sawing]

Increase the speed logs are sawed (scaling with the level of the sawmill).

[Baelthar’s Cunning]

Any action taken to fell nearby trees in a radius (scaling with the level of the sawmill) will not attract the attention of monsters.

As he read them out, Sledge nodded. She needed very little time to pick this one. “Baelthar’s Cunning,” she said. “That one’s easy.”

Theo nodded, selecting the option for her. The building had grown at least twenty paces in every direction, increasing the floor space considerably. The living area on the side could now house the workers Sledge recruited comfortably, and the upgrades were all powerful for cutting down trees. With eyes wide, the workers watched the alchemist upgrade the mill, surprised that he’d put so many resources into the project. He departed, allowing the angry marshling to sort things out from there.

The farmer’s fields were in perfect balance compared to the last time Theo had checked in on them. The windmill spun endlessly, churning out different coarseness for the Zee kernels and creating a large stockpile of flour. Banu was happy with the way things were going, especially since he stopped using so much of the alchemist’s potion. While the way forward could be the enriched soil, ‌cultivation was the key. Cultivated Zee grew larger than the regular kind, reaching well over twice the height and twice the units by volume by the time of harvest.

“I’m working on hybrids,” Banu said, puffing his chest out with pride. “Experimenting with different splices to create new plants entirely.”

Theo hadn’t even considered that as a possibility. He had an approach to problems that went one step at a time, never going beyond his bounds. The garden behind his building held pure plants, which were quickly reaching maximum Cultivation, but hybridization was a logical next step. He wondered if Zarali had considered something like this before congratulating the farmer on his accomplishment.

The representative that normally came to export the Zee refused to take more than he’d ordered, leaving the farm with a massive stockpile. According to Banu, Fenian sold them quite a few Dimensional Storage Crates, which allowed for the long-term storage of the crop. Theo mentioned the brewing trade deal with Rivers and Daub, highlighting the possibility of exporting the crop directly to them. They went back and forth for a while before the farmer promised to upgrade his windmill to get expansions related to efficient milling. The alchemist’s deal with the farm didn’t detail his responsibility to improve their core buildings, quickly learning that the plots of earth represented a seed core building.

Unlike most places in Broken Tusk, the farm had a slow trickle of monster cores. This was a keen investment by several generations of Banu’s family, revealing a foresight Theo thought impossible in the town. The farm’s seed core had a trait that allowed crops to grow quicker, which explained their shorter seasons. Even with the magical energy flooding from the dungeon, stuff just grew too fast here. With several more stops on his list, Theo left the farmers to their work after a long, uneventful chat.

Theo turned his attention south, passing by the smithy as he went. Zarali was yelling at Throk. He yelled back twice as loud. A grin spread across both their faces, and they fell over laughing at something. The barrel they were working on together seemed completely changed from before. The wood had turned a pale pink color, and the copper bands bore inscriptions in the old Drogramathi script. He concluded she was teaching him how to inscribe sigils on the copper, likely something to harvest the energy of Drogramath.

The town was buzzing with activity by the time Theo made his way southward. He checked his mayor’s screen on the way there, finding additions to almost every screen. Alise made a notes section on each screen and scribbled numbers and lists of relevant information. With her at the helm of the daily grind of mayoral duties, he was able to invest his time into alchemy and improvements for his various investments. She was fresh at the job but took to it like she’d been doing it her whole life.

Theo stopped to chat with Perg, who seemed to use less and less of his alchemical tannery potions by the day. She claimed it was a secret she would take to the grave, quickly revealing that it was a perk of upgrading her building. The seed core tannery did a lot of the work for her, leaving little room for the alchemist’s potion to take hold. He had revolutionized her industry, only to find his own technique rendered useless with enough upgrades. She assured him she still needed the potion, just in much smaller quantities. They chatted for a while before he departed, determined to upgrade three more buildings today.

It wasn’t clear if Nira ever took a break. The woman was working the smelter when Theo arrived, only grunting at him when he arrived. It took a long time to beckon her down from the scaffolding, pulling her aside to tell her about upgrading the buildings.

“Sounds good,” Nira said.

Theo inspected the smelter before proceeding.

[Smeltery]

[Midnight Damsel Smeltery]

Owner: Belgar (Theo Spencer)

Operator: Nira Weir

Faction: Broken Tusk

Level: 1 (0%)

Rent Due: 3 days

Expansions:

None

He was surprised to see that she’d given it a name. He also didn’t want to inquire about it, noting the sheepish look on her face. The name must have been personal, and it wasn’t time to dredge such things up. He fed the smeltery cores until it leveled to 5, selecting random directions for the building to expand.

[Preservation of Heat]

Any crucible within the smeltery will retain its heat better, requiring less heat between pours.

[Fan’glir’s Flames]

Reduces the amount of slag during smelting, resulting in more usable metal.

[Lightweight Crucible]

The crucible now weighs a fraction of its previous weight.

“They’re all good,” Nira said as Theo read them out. “Go for the fire god’s one.”

“Fire god?” Theo asked.

“Fan’glir,” Nira said, nodding. “Elven patron of flames.”

Theo bowed to her expertise, selecting [Fan’glir’s Flames] and moving on to shove more cores into the building. Thanks to the high-level cores, it hit Level 10 quickly. He read off the new option.

[Preservation of Heat]

Any crucible within the smeltery will retain its heat better, requiring less heat between pours.

[Lightweight Crucible]

The crucible now weighs a fraction of its previous weight.

[Pattern Alloy]

Introducing 2 raw metals that align allows you to pour a patterned alloy.

“This one is hard,” Nira said, knitting her brow. “[Pattern Alloy] is tempting. That’s hard to do by hand.”

“What value does a patterned alloy have?” Theo asked.

“Well, assuming when I pour it into bars, the pattern remains, we can combine two materials to make a better one. But it’s more than that. The resulting material will be better than a traditional alloy,” Nira said.

“All right. So, what is an alloy?” Theo asked.

Nira let out a sharp breath, as though his question was stupid. The alchemist knew nothing about metal working and less about how metals worked together. After a moment, she continued. “Two metals combined. The thing is, I assume this is different than normal metalworking. Actually, this seems like a high-level upgrade.”

“Why would we want to combine two metals?” Theo asked. “That seems bad. Copper with iron would just make weak iron.”

“Maybe,” Nira said. “Like I said, this is magic. We might end up with some very powerful combinations. Honestly, the other upgrades aren’t that great. I have high Strength and we have no shortage of motes. So, [Preservation of Heat] saves us on motes, and [Lightweight Crucible] saves us on labor. But [Pattern Alloy] gives us something totally different.”

This was the most Theo had ever seen Nira talk. She seemed excited about the possibility of [Pattern Alloy]. If Broken Tusk could produce something unique, that would be an advantage. Since they had no shortage of raw metal, they could afford to experiment with different metals, creating a form of bar metal that no one had seen before. That was a longshot, but it’d be worth it to try.

“Go for [Pattern Alloy],” Theo said. “The others aren’t that useful.”

“Agreed,” Nira said, nodding.

Theo selected the upgrade. Unlike most others he’d seen today, Nira wasn’t interested in talking. She left him outside the smelter without another word, returning to work the crucible. The alchemist made his way to Dead Dog Mine, finding several miners resting outside. Gridgen wiped sweat from his brow and greeted him with a hug.

“We’re digging deep, boss,” Gridgen said. “The miners swear they smell mithril.”

“I have a solution for that,” Theo said. “Focus on collecting nuggets—I have a means to make new tunnels.”

“Really?” Gridgen said, cocking an eyebrow. “That’s great.”

The other miners seemed skeptical, but Theo brushed their stares off. He explained the situation and fed the mine cores. Unlike free-standing buildings, seed core production facilities like the mine or the quarry didn’t expand when they leveled up. The alchemist suspected the levels increased the rate of resource spawns but didn’t know for sure. When the building was upgraded to Level 5, he read off the options.

[Miner Fortitude]

Mining actions within the mine will consume less stamina.

[Grom Rang’s Banishment]

Monsters are less likely to find your mine.

[Miner Quickness]

Anyone with a Miner’s Core (or variant) will move 25% faster within the mine.

There really wasn’t a good option here, besides Miner Fortitude. Anything that allowed a person to work longer was great. Theo was happy when Gridgen selected this as his first expansion, choosing that option and feeding the mine more cores. After a moment, the mine hit Level 10 and a new option appeared.

[Grom Rang’s Banishment]

Monsters are less likely to find your mine.

[Miner Quickness]

Anyone with a Miner’s Core (or variant) will move 25% faster within the mine.

[Automatic Deposit]

Items mined within the mine will automatically deposit into a designated storage crate.

Theo thought this one was an easy pick. The miners wouldn’t have to pull the nuggets out from the earth and then walk them over to the Dimensional Storage Crate. They could simply mine something, and it would appear in the crate. Gridgen agreed with this one as well, having no interest in [Grom Rang’s Banishment] or [Miner Quickness]. Monsters weren’t a problem, since the southern wall was only 100 paces to the south. Moving quicker in the mine wasn’t needed, either. Until the mine grew to such a size that they needed more speed, the current setup was fine.

“Well, that’s nice,” Gridgen said, chuckling. “Are you upgrading the smeltery today?”

“I already have,” Theo said. “Got some interesting stuff from that one. Now, I need to upgrade my building.”

Gridgen laughed, clapping his hand over Theo’s shoulder. “You’re always working, aren’t you?”

“Yeah,” Theo said, flashing a grin.

The alchemist spent some time talking with the miners. Alise had been by several times to make sure they had everything they needed, something that surprised Theo. He knew she was checking on everyone, but her dedication to the job was absurd. Each miner was happy, although they hinted at Theo’s plan for childcare. That was an idea that hadn’t made it that far, although Xam’s defensive approach with the tavern was on the right track. He promised to get the plan moving once their trade deal was established, something that would inject even more money into the town.

Theo departed after a while as the sun hung low in the western sky. He slicked his hair back as he arrived at the Newt and Demon, intent on getting it to Level 20, even if it took every monster core in his inventory.

Chapter 52

Alchemical Gardens

“Well, they’re intent on sending a delegation,” Azrug said, laughing. “That new sawmill will put a fire under their butts, though.”

Theo had just arrived back at the Newt and Demon. His intentions to upgrade the building immediately were parried by the silver-tongued shopkeeper. Rivers and Daub wanted to send representatives from their merchant’s guild to Broken Tusk to inspect their infrastructure, and Azrug wanted the alchemist as far from it as possible.

“You’re good at talking to Broken Tuskers, but those high-riding jerks at Rivers and Daub are going to get a rise out of you,” Azrug said.

Theo knitted his brow, a strange sensation washing over him. The shopkeeper was right, but that didn’t make him feel any better. He would sit in the meeting with his hands in his lap as Azrug and Alise did all the talking. A side of him wanted to take part, but another didn’t care. Somehow, he could sense Zarali’s new barrels upstairs and perhaps the woman herself. Unlike her, he couldn’t sweep his mind over an area to determine if other people occupied a space.

“You’re the boss,” Theo said. “I have one question. You’re not Level 10. Can you contend with those people? They have to be high, right?”

“I’m almost 10,” Azrug said, puffing up. “With more real-world trading experience than most of those blowhards. They have their trade guild to hide behind, making tiny, laughable deals. I move merchandise. I make coin. Their jaws are going to drop open when they see our books.”

The difference between Broken Tusk and other towns was amazing. With their unique confluence of events, they produced more raw materials than others. They also had access to monster waves, seemingly on demand. Then there were the alchemical wares Theo himself produced, bolstering an already lively economy. The only problem they had was the use of those materials, although the trickle-down effect was already noticeable. Instead of sitting on his money like a noble lord, the alchemist distributed it right back into the town without hesitation, and he had no plans to stop.

Theo’s image of the world was developing quickly. Combined with his fading naivete, this positioned him as a dangerous man in the southlands. Not by raising some mercenary band or level his sword on the horizon, but by the absolute way he was poised to capture trade. There was no mistake in his mind that it was a hostile takeover. No one could compete with their output aside from Qavell itself, and that wouldn’t last forever.

“The trade deal is yours,” Theo said, waving a dismissive hand. He ran his hand through his hair, tracing the line of his horns. “I have another question, though.”

“Yeah?”

“How far are you willing to go with me?” Theo asked. “Into the title of Duke? How about the title of King? Emperor? How far does the road stretch before us with our trading empire?”

Azrug leaned in, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “Iaredin. The entire world, if we want. Lean on your friends, and we’ll make it happen.”

Theo let out a heavy sigh. That was his plan. He wanted to take the mud ball and transform it into an unstoppable force of trade, focusing on defensive doctrines of war rather than offensive ones. Every investment he made went toward production or defense, and Aarok had a similar mind for the matter. With a few carriages like Fenian’s, there wouldn’t be anything to stop them from hitting those far-flung places in the world. Until then, the alchemist’s goal was to create a shipping empire. Trade ships were well within their reach, compared to magical means of conveyance. He let those thoughts slide away for now, filing them to a deep part of his mind.

“Good,” Theo said after a long pause. “It will be you that spearheads all our deals. I imagine the experience points you get from it will be massive.”

“I hope,” Azrug said.

Theo excused himself without another word, heading into the lab. He found Zarali, as he expected, adjusting the contents of the lab. She flashed him a smile and gestured to the newly arranged contents.

“Do you like it?” she asked.

Theo didn’t really care where his things were in the lab. The stills remained where they were, under the chimney, to avoid too many vapors building with the lab. But she had changed everything else. Four fermentation barrels were arranged to the cardinals, their new runes flashing with purple energy. The alchemist could see she wanted him to inquire about the changes, so he obliged.

“New barrels?” he asked, boiling his intent down to the basis of need.

“Yes, new barrels,” Zarali said, scoffing as though he offended her deeply. “You’re a fool probing in the dark. You lucked out with the wood. Ogre Cypress is the perfect vessel for fermentation. And you were smart enough to use infused copper, which I would have thought you’d never guess.”

“They just needed some fancy drawings on them,” Theo said, smiling. He could read the Drogramathi script on the barrels, but they were nonsense.

“Indeed. You can read them, yes?” she asked, switching from Low Qavelli to Old Drogramathi.

Theo didn’t like Drogramath’s language when he arrived in Broken Tusk, but it was growing on him. It was full of guttural stops and hard sounds that fell on the ear like a broken drum.

“Naturally,” Theo said, responding in the dronon’s native tongue. “I don’t understand them, though.”

“Because you’re not a Drogramath Enchanter like me,” Zarali said. “I’ll put it simply. They funnel Drogramath’s energy in accordance with Black Geometry.”

“Black Geometry?” Theo asked, letting out a sharp laugh. “That sounds goofy.”

“It’s a horrible name,” Zarali said, waving her hand dismissively. “But it just means there’s math you need to understand. Spacing and direction matter.”

Theo moved to a barrel, inspecting it.

[Enchanted Alchemy Fermentation Barrel]

[Alchemy Equipment] [Enchanted]

Epic

Created By: Sledge

Modified By: Zarali

A 200-unit-capacity barrel capable of fermenting any reagents placed inside. Placing a mote with the mash is required for the process to take effect. Additional motes and mana may be required over the course of the fermentation.

Effect:

Creates a fermentation reaction when reagents are placed inside with a mote.

The speed of fermentation is greatly increased, depending on the strength of the mote.

Enchantments:

Siphon Power

Distribute Power

Crafting Speed

Crafting Effectiveness

Alignment: Drogramath

So Zarali was holding on to a few secrets. She was a priestess and an enchanter. Theo should have assumed she had more classes than she let on. At Level 30, she’d have at least five classes available to her. Uharis claimed there was a way to get new core slots that didn’t involve leveling, but that seemed like information someone would hold on to without the will to share.

“What I’m understanding is that you’re powerful,” Theo said. “I imagine adding so many enchantments is difficult.”

“It is,” Zarali said, running her fingers over the barrel. “But there’s a supply of gems and a half-ogre willing to part with them for a pittance.”

“Thank you,” Theo said, never one to be unappreciative of such a powerful gift. “Is enchanting a hobby, or what?”

“I suppose,” Zarali said, furrowing her brow. “Why do you ask?”

“The obvious reason,” Theo said. “You could make a lot of money doing that here. What are the limitations of the enchantments? What can you enchant?”

“Well, I can’t enchant seed core buildings,” Zarali said, scratching her head. “Other than that, quality of material is paramount. Since the barrel was crafting with relatively suitable material, it was easy.”

The gears in Theo’s mind turned. “Carts and boats,” he blurted out. “Can you enchant those?”

“You’re nothing like Belgar,” Zarali said, a proud smile painted across her face. “I love how open and honest you are, and I really wish he would have been more transparent with me. Yes, we can enchant boats to move quicker, under stealth, all of those things swirling in your mind.”

Theo withdrew a stack of gold coins from his inventory, setting them on the lidded barrel with a clatter. Zarali looked down, counting twenty coins casually. She laughed, pushing them back toward the alchemist.

“Please, take this coin and remain in Broken Tusk forever,” Zarali said, her voice half-mocking, half-joking. “Swear yourself to me and my cause—something like that?”

Theo’s face flushed a deep shade of purple. His tail stiffened as embarrassment flooded his body. “What’s wrong with that?”

“Money doesn’t solve all your problems,” Zarali said. “Not least of which a problem already solved. I’m here. I can’t leave, and I’ll help you with whatever projects you want. For free.”

“Not for free,” Theo said, returning the coins to his inventory. “Broken Tusk pays its people, Zarali. Whatever fee the big-time enchanters charge, we’ll pay it. If you want the money in another form, that works.”

This was too valuable to let slip through his fingers. A Priestess of Drogramath was rare enough, but an Enchanter? That was beyond anything he could have hoped for, and it fell in line with his plans for the future. Theo’s relatively high Intelligence allowed him to extrapolate this information.

“That’s very sweet,” Zarali said, a look of pain flashing across her face. “I’ll take the job, Mister Mayor.”

“Thank you,” Theo said, pulling her into a hug. He felt her melt in his arms—the reaction a sister had for the embrace of her dead brother.

“Right. Can we move on to fermenting?” Zarali asked.

“Nope,” Theo said, pulling back and producing monster cores from his inventory. “We need to upgrade the building.”

“Oh, that’s fun,” Zarali said, letting out a steadying breath.

Theo shoved the monster cores into his building, watching as the experience skyrocketed. Of the 100 cores he started with, he was down to 30 by the time the building leveled to 20. Joining with the upgrade options was a system message about a level cap, something he didn’t expect.

The Newt and Demon cannot be upgraded past Level 20 until Broken Tusk upgrades to a [Large Town]…

Broken Tusk can be upgraded to a [Large Town] when the following conditions are met:

Medium Population: COMPLETE

Expanded Land Ownership: COMPLETE

Upgrade to [Large Town]? Y/N

Nothing happened after Theo agreed to the upgrade. It wasn’t a physical change for the town—the status of [Large Town] simply gave him access to more upgrades. He inspected the upgrade options for the Newt and Demon, reading them out for Zarali to hear.

[Root Cellar]

A cellar for preserving reagents is housed under the lab. Reagents placed inside the cellar decay at a slower rate.

Experimentation Room

A reinforced room is placed behind the lab, creating a safe place to conduct explosive experimentations.

[Alchemical Garden]

A garden appears at the back of your shop. Plants grown within the garden will grow faster, have a chance to self-cultivate, and other effects will be unlocked by upgrading the garden separately.

“The [Root Cellar] is useless,” Zarali said, dismissing it offhand. “You already have [Alchemy Shop], [Drogramath Distillation Specialty], and [Shrine to Drogramath], which are extremely important. You were lucky to get two aligned modifications so early. So, a garden or an experimentation room… Well, it’s interesting that the garden upgrades separately.”

Theo was already leaning to the garden as his selection. The [Experimentation Room] would be useful, but it was nothing caution couldn’t temper. Combined with Zarali’s method for making the reactions more stable, the [Alchemical Garden] was the clear choice.

“I’m going to select the garden,” Theo said.

“I would as well,” Zarali said, casting a concerned look around the room. “All those expansions set my enchantment array off.”

She grumbled, moving to rearrange the barrels as Theo selected the garden. The building rumbled, and he rushed to the back window. Where he expected to see a messy plot of land, there was a greenhouse. He descended the stairs without another word, rushing out back to inspect his new greenhouse. To his surprise, when he interacted with the new building, it popped up as though it was a separate seed core building.

[Alchemical Garden]

[The Newt and Demon]

Building Attachment

Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer), Tresk

Faction: Broken Tusk

Level: 1 (0%)

Expansions:

None

It was an interesting screen with less information than the full building. The interesting thing was that it had its own level. The greenhouse came up to the bottom of the second floor on the Newt and Demon, situated five paces away from the building. It reached from that spot to the edge of the gravel yard. There were long troughs of earth inside. Entering the new building, the alchemist was assaulted by an even more oppressive humidity than the swamp. Moisture accumulated on his face in an instant. When he emerged from the glass structure, Azrug and Zarali were standing there.

“Fancy glass house,” Azrug said. “What’s it do?”

“Grows things, apparently,” Theo said.

“It looks handsome. Better than a bare yard of rocks,” Zarali said. “Brother, do you care for instructions on your new barrels?”

“Yeah,” Theo said. “When we’re done, I want you to give Azrug a list of enchantments you’re willing to give out. Nothing too powerful; we’re going to use them as leverage for our trade deal.”

“You’re an enchanter?” Azrug asked, his mouth falling open. He managed to close it after a moment. “Lady, you should have led with that. We’re gonna be best friends.”

Zarali let out a shrill laugh, covering her mouth politely. “To the barrels, brother.”

The dronon woman led the way back into the lab, Azrug trailing close behind. The shopkeeper stayed in the shop, leaving the pair to their work. Zarali gave quick instructions on how the barrel worked. It now operated on intent. There was a sigil that represented the total charge of the barrel, allowing him to see if it had enough power to perform a fermentation. He no longer had to worry about adding anything besides the mash, and she promised it would complete faster than before.

Theo used his grinder to mash Widow Lilies into an open barrel. Zarali instructed him to use Enchanted Water for this step and the distillation step. They set the barrel to ferment and broke off to discuss the other stages of his operation. His stills could receive enchantments to increase performance, but the priestess was unsure about the still provided by the building. Every other part of the alchemist’s process had been refined to near perfection. The only thing left to accomplish at such a low level was the cultivation of the reagents. Thanks to Banu’s hint, his mind was now on hybrid reagents.

Azrug entered the lab after a while, standing awkwardly as the pair talked in rapid Old Drogramathi. They paused to let him speak.

“Just a heads up,” Azrug said. “The trade representatives are going to be here tomorrow.”

“A trade negotiation?” Zarali said, her brows raising. “Can I come?”

“Why would you want to?” Theo asked.

“Ah, I have some information I can deploy as a last resort,” Zarali said. “Something they did. That they don’t know I know they did”—her voice lowered to a whisper—“something illegal.”

“No theatrics,” Azrug said, shaking his head. “But you’re more than welcome. They’ll want to see a Drogramath Enchanter for themselves.”

“Follow Azrug’s lead,” Theo said, placing his hand on the woman’s shoulder.

“Right. We’ll need to work this out, little trader,” Zarali said. “Downstairs.”

Azrug’s eyes went wide. His body went stiff, turning on the spot as though he was an automaton. He then marched down the stairs without another word.

“Run this through the still, then the refinery,” Zarali said in Old Drogramathi. “Then we can talk about modifiers.”

The woman went down the stairs, following Azrug into the lab. Theo took time to check his supplies, finding them mostly empty. He and his sister had chatted for so long, the fermentation barrel was done. The alchemist set it inside the still, applying the appropriate time, and left it to work while he sorted the garden out. As he finished up with the stills, he heard Azrug shout from downstairs. By the time the alchemist made it down into the shop, the half-ogre stormed out the front. Zarali had a smile on her face.

“I’m going into the garden,” Theo said. “I don’t want to know what you told him.”

“You’ll find out,” Zarali said, flashing a wider smile.

The greenhouse had an incredible capacity from the start. His current crop of 50 plants would fit easily, but he wanted to confirm a theory. Since the information screen for the [Alchemical Garden] came up in its own window, different from the main building, and had a level indicator it should take monster cores. The alchemist tested, feeding it a single high-level core, receiving a notification from the System. It accepted the core, gaining several levels immediately. Another core brought it to Level 5, causing the building to shift in each direction he selected. He considered the upgrade options that popped up.

[Sun Orbs]

A series of Sun Orbs appear floating inside the greenhouse. The orbs will adjust to provide the perfect light source for whatever plants are in the greenhouse.

[Recycled Earth]

Plants that grow within the greenhouse consume half the nutrients in the soil.

[Weed Killer]

Weeds will never grow within the greenhouse.

It was typical that the first upgrades for a building weren’t great. These were all good, just not great. Theo thought for a moment about the options. [Weed Killer] wasn’t very useful, as there didn’t seem to be many weeds plaguing his crops. [Recycled Earth] was decent, allowing him to apply his alchemical mixture half as often, but [Sun Orbs] was the winner. With [Sun Orbs], he could guarantee that each plant was growing with the exact light source it needed. He didn’t need to worry that he was killing his plants because of bad placement, which he’d seen with the Water Lily test. He selected that option, feeding more cores and expanding the building.

By the time the greenhouse reached Level 10, it was larger by ten paces in every direction. The troughs of dirt inside had expanded to match, increasing the capacity of the garden significantly. He inspected the new upgrade options.

[Recycled Earth]

Plants that grow within the greenhouse consume half the nutrients in the soil.

[Weed Killer]

Weeds will never grow within the greenhouse.

[Drogramath Empowerment]

Latent energy, aligned with Drogramath, will be drawn from the air to enhance your plants. Energy density affects growth rate, cultivation yield, and nutrient usage.

[Drogramath Empowerment] was the clear winner for this one. If it scaled with the energy in the air, the results would be absurd. He’d also learned that aligned expansions were usually great, especially if the person owning the building held the same alignment. Theo inspected the building after applying the upgrade, nodding with satisfaction.

[Alchemical Garden]

[The Newt and Demon]

Building Attachment

Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer), Tresk

Faction: Broken Tusk

Level: 10 (15%)

Expansions:

[Sun Orbs]

[Drogramath Empowerment]

As the day waned, Theo transferred his makeshift garden into the greenhouse. The plants seemed to perk up immediately, growing visibly before his eyes. His new greenhouse was large enough to hold twenty of each plant in each row, with ten rows total. At full Cultivation, that meant each row would yield 200 units of each reagent. The Spiny Swamp Thistle was ready for experimentation, something he had put off for the day. For now, he let them settle into the new soil.

Theo finished in the garden, finding both the lab and the shop empty, and inspected his newly crafted essence.

[Decay]

[Essence Modifier]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Alignment Effect:

1:1 refinement in pressure vessels

Increased purity from refinement

500 units (liquid)

Add to a completed potion to add the “Decay” modifier. Decay applies necrotic effects to offensive potions.

He took it back to the pressure vessel, receiving a message from Tresk that she was headed home. Both of them cleaned up with Cleansing Scrub before heading out for dinner. Xam served another interesting dish that night, something the alchemist had never seen before. She created small, pea-sized balls of Zee bread that tasted salty and sweet at the same time. Resting atop a bed of the Zee-peas was a wolf steak cut into fine strips. The flavors mixed incredibly well, and the alchemist was tempted to ask for seconds.

After some conversation with fellow Broken Tuskers, Theo and Tresk retired for the night. They found their way back to their room and fell into bed. The alchemist did his best to dismiss the encroaching feeling of anxiety that came from tomorrow’s trade deal. He fell asleep after considering Azrug’s aptitude in all things trade, leaving it to the young man to sort things out.

Chapter 53

No One Out-Sneaks Me!

Theo tapped his fingers against the side of a flask. Morning light poured into the lab, casting through the trees above to dapple the wooden floor in motes of yellow. Where a sense of dread should have washed over him, owed to the coming trade deal, he felt calm. The pressure vessel completed its run during the night, resulting in 500 units of [Refined Decay] modifier essence. While he tried his hand at refined modifiers before, this felt pure. His Drogramath Alchemy Core sang at its purity, reaching out with hungry intent. The alchemist had made an offering to the shrine that morning of Widow Lily, something that seemed fitting.

Tresk marched into the lab, placing a plate of Xam’s delicious food on the table joined by a cup of her tea. Theo managed a weak smile. He’d refused to spend time eating at the tavern this morning, bucking their new trend, and he knew it was all he could do to banish the idea of the trade deal away. While he might be calm, it was only because of his constant motion. He had a feeling that the moment he stopped moving, it would come back in a horrid wave of anxiety.

“Eat up and make me some poison,” Tresk said, bouncing on the spot.

Theo obeyed, pressing his fingers onto the essence before taking a bite of the food. As always, it was the leftovers from last night that the woman served. He inspected the new item.

[Refined Decay]

[Essence Modifier] [Refined Essence Modifier]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Alignment Effect:

The resulting modifier will be more effective.

High chance to add an additional modifier to the resulting potion.

500 units (liquid)

Add to a completed potion to add the “Decay” modifier. Decay applies necrotic effects to offensive potions.

The second-tier Poison was already incredibly effective, and the alchemist had 500 of them in his lab. Theo had a feeling this modifier was more potent than anything he’d brewed before, and a flash of fear ran through his body. It was another item he didn’t want to share with others. His poisons carried implications that were better left unsaid.

“Keep this one a secret, if you can,” Theo said, withdrawing a [Poison] potion and applying the [Refined Decay] modifier. The poison bubbled more than normal, twisting the dark liquid until it glowed with an eerie red-black color. Writhing seams of decay ran through the length of the potion, pulsating as though it had a heart to beat. He inspected the poison.

[Poison]

[Accelerated Decay]

[Poison] [Modified Poison]

Epic

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Coat your weapon to deal additional damage over time to an enemy.

Chance to inflict 2 stacks per hit.

Effect:

Cripples an enemy, reducing their Dexterity by 5.

Applies a stacking DoT effect based on poison quality. Poison inflicts DoT damage, and decay increases the effects of all poison damage. Maximum of 15 stacks.

Stacks of poison take twice as long to fade.

Removing a stack of poison through any means other than the natural expiration of the effect causes the remaining stacks of poison to explode, dealing their remaining damage to the target.

“That’s the longest description I’ve seen on a potion,” Theo said. He could feel the power of the potion, even at a distance.

Tresk let out a low laugh, cradling the poison in her hands. A look flashed across her eyes, but she shook her head. “Zaul is screaming for this item, Theo.”

“I have to imagine the item is worth a lot,” Theo said, nodding. He didn’t want to confront the whispers of another god right now. “There’s so many effects on that thing.”

“I’m gonna be real strong,” Tresk said, flexing before pocketing the potion.

Theo noticed she placed it in her dimensional bag and not the shared inventory. Perhaps she wanted it close at hand.

“And the process is easier with the enchanted water,” Theo said. “I can keep up with your high demand for poison now, as long as you bring me Widow Lilies.”

Tresk was happy to help Theo perform the rest of the reactions. Despite his confidence with the new techniques, he took his time with these. There was something that radiated malfeasance from the vials, and he didn’t want it to get out. It took several hours for them to bottle them all. A sharp knock came from the door shortly after, and Alise entered the lab.

“The delegates are arriving soon,” Alise said. “We’re meeting in the adventurer’s guild.”

“All right,” Theo said with a nod.

Alise departed, and the alchemist turned to Tresk.

“The Tara’hek grows stronger,” the marshling said, a wicked smile painting her face. “I can feel what you want me to do.”

“Just shadow them,” Theo said.

The alchemist was unsurprised she could feel his intent. As the core grew stronger, their thoughts bled more freely. Theo’s intent was for her to coat her weapons with the new poison and watch the merchants, although Aarok likely thought of that already. Any hostile action would see the activation of the towers and the incineration of anyone who dared betray Broken Tusk’s trust. There was no reason to not be cautious, though.

Tresk scampered out of the lab, and Theo began to follow, but remembered there was no way he could keep pace with the excited marshling. He stood in the empty lab for some time, taking a moment to appreciate how clean it was. Azrug had all his new wares in Dimensional Storage Crates, and the shelves were stocked with a decent amount of potions. It was enough to supply a few adventurers, but they needed more. The Newt and Demon always needed more potions, it seemed.

A thunder of hooved feet echoed through the town. For a moment, Theo thought it was the delegation from Rivers and Daub. After listening to the pattern and the volume of the sound, the alchemist determined it was Fenian. That was a surprise. He made his way north toward the center of town, the sound of the demonic Karatan growing louder. Iron-shod hooves struck the cobbles, sending sparks and magic flying as the carriage drew to a perilous stop at the center of town. Fenian dismounted with haste, affecting a bow to Theo at a distance.

“I love that hat!” Fenian shouted, turning and marching to the adventurer’s guild.

Azrug had called the trader to the town, intent on leveraging the man’s excellent knowledge of continent-wide trade. The shopkeeper had more tricks than Theo could count, and he felt like more of a figurehead the longer time went on.

Theo found the inside of the adventurer’s guild barren of its normal chatter. A long row of tables had been assembled in the center of the wide hall, chairs ready for everyone. He appreciated the sight, moving forward to greet Azrug.

Before he could hail the young man, his mind filled with Tresk’s words, a sense of apprehension washing over him.

“Yeah, they have a mercenary company,” Tresk said. “Guess it pays to be cautious, but that’s a lot of guys.”

Theo changed his course, finding Aarok standing near the back of the room. The half-ogre was talking in hushed tones with Xol’sa and Zarali.

“Hopefully you’re aware of the mercenary company these traders are bringing,” Theo said, whispering.

“Your spy is slower than mine,” Aarok said, flashing him a grin.

Theo only now noticed that Xol’sa’s eyes were glassy, as though he were staring into another dimension. He came to with a start, coughing into his hand. “Fifty men. I imagine they’re Level 20.”

“Nothing the towers can’t handle,” Aarok said. “Well, I suppose there’s an eager assassin trailing them now.”

“I guess this is where I take my seat and leave these things to you,” Theo said, letting out a chuckle.

“Caution is a good virtue, brother,” Zarali said, nodding. She inhaled deeply, knitting her brow and giving him a scandalized look. “Did you brew poison? By my Lord Drogramath, that’s a potent one.”

“Extremely potent,” Theo said, still whispering. “I’ve never seen so many effects on a single potion.”

“So, the new barrels worked?” Zarali asked, not bothering to lower her voice.

“They did,” Theo said.

The alchemist cast his eyes around the hall. He felt something strange about the rafters. Ribbons of energy gathered near the corner where a figure crouched. He was perceptive enough to recognize Luras’s form, bow at the ready.

“Right, we’re not expecting any fighting,” Aarok said. “Azrug just wanted me to be prepared.”

“Prepared enough to send Baelthar’s own into the rafters?” Theo asked.

“Precautions,” Aarok said.

Theo broke off from the group, lingering near the head of the table. He watched Azrug and Fenian speak together, rapidly exchanging information. The alchemist was worried about the young man’s ability to head a trade negotiation, but with the elf’s help, it should be straightforward. This was especially true if the state of Rivers was as described. They needed materials more than anything else.

“The soldiers stopped outside,” Tresk said. “That looks like a sign of good faith.”

Theo relayed the information to Aarok, who nodded. That was to be expected, according to the half-ogre. Crossing from Rivers and Daub to Broken Tusk was safer than traveling to most other towns, but it wasn’t without risk. With the recent monster waves and increased monster activity in general, any movement outside of a fortified area was risky.

Alise darted around the room, leading everyone to their assigned seats. They were meant to stand as the Merchant Guild’s leaders entered the building, then take a seat when they did. The poor woman seemed frazzled by the time everyone stood next to their seats, but the door swung open all the same.

Five humans entered the room, each corpulent in their own right. The man at the head of the group was especially wide, clothed in fine furs and jewelry. Theo did not have a good impression of the man from the start, but whatever bile built in his throat was squashed by Alise’s shrill voice filling the hall. She announced each of the trade members and directed them to their seats. Everyone sat at the same time.

“Broken Tusk thanks you for attending this meeting in good will,” Azrug said, bowing slightly in his chair. He went around and made introductions for everyone. Each time, the lead merchant, named Alran Cherman, bowed his head to that person.

“Where I expected a single dronon, I found two,” Alran said, letting out a deep laugh.

To Theo’s surprise, Zarali didn’t rise to the statement. She had a placid expression on her face. He wanted to speak out but had no interest in ruining Azrug’s chance.

“The only living Drogramath Dronon alchemist in the civilized world,” Azrug said, gesturing to Theo before gesturing to Zarali. “And the only living Drogramath Dronon enchanter.”

Theo saw Alran suppress a look of surprise on his face, but his cohorts couldn’t manage it. Shock spread across their faces. The alchemist didn’t know if it was a good tactic to put a card like that on the table to start, but the effect was satisfying.

“Broken Tusk has a lot to offer,” Azrug said. “We reached out to Rivers and Daub first.”

“Not that you had many options,” a merchant scoffed.

“From here to the northlands, there is nothing,” Alran said, mopping his brow. “The mountain passes have grown more treacherous, as you know.”

“Naturally,” Azrug said. “So, shall we start?”

What came next was the most boring span of hours in Theo’s entire life. The trade delegation went back and forth with Azrug and Fenian trying to hammer out something that would work. At first, Alran seemed rather interested in trade. He entertained every offer as though he’d accept on the spot. Only when they broke for lunch, something Theo never ate, did the mood of the room change. The trade delegation couldn’t believe the progress the town had made and believed the regeneration of the resources even less.

Theo noted a broad grin spreading across Zarali’s face and an expression of nervousness on Xol’sa’s. The extra-planar even started fidgeting with something in his hands, a glowing cube. Azrug gave some silent sign, and the priestess and the wizard stood up.

“Curious,” Zarali said, pursing her lips. “Broken Tusk is self-sustaining, thanks to the power of my Lord Drogramath. She has the blessing of the Order of the Burning Eye and the admiration of the crown. The favored daughter of Iaredin.”

“That was poetic,” Tresk said, laughing into Theo’s mind.

The alchemist searched the room but couldn’t spot the marshling. Her stealth abilities were just too good.

“No idea where she’s going with this,” Theo said. “These guys are just trying to bully Azrug down on the price. They were going to agree to a cost under market, then they got weird during lunch.”

“I saw one of them talking with a crystal,” Tresk said. “Maybe they’ve got more information.”

“Yet you employed an amateur to spy on her,” Zarali said, letting out a sharp laugh. “Some Level 10 hedgemage, a dropout from a scholarly cult, no doubt.”

She paused for a moment, locking her gaze onto Theo. He could feel her arrogance for this moment, as though she was sitting on this information for a long time.

“Watch this, little brother,” Zarali said in Old Drogramathi. She switched back to Low Qavelli and continued. “If you’d be so kind, Xol’sa?”

Xol’sa set his cube down on the table and prodded it. Arcane symbols filled the air, interspersed with images of a town Theo had never seen. He swiped through the images, focusing on a lone tower near the outskirts until a hooded figure was visible. It was a mage overlooking glowing stone tablets. The merchants murmured among themselves, Alran wiping his brow continuously.

“I sensed many magical disturbances when I arrived in town,” Xol’sa said. “In a torrent of magical energy, it was difficult to pinpoint each disturbance. As I sifted through the information, I found this—a mage in Rivers and Daub employing scrying devices to observe our town. I intercepted his magic, which was quite weak, and have been feeding him a false image since then.”

“So you were already aware of the regenerative properties of Drogramath’s power,” Zarali said, placing her hand on her hip. “And you’re stalling, although I can’t imagine why.”

“I believe it’s a crime to do such a thing,” Fenian cut in up, chuckling. The feather on his hat bobbled as he laughed.

“This is a misunderstanding,” Alran said. The cloth he used to soak the sweat on his forehead was dripping.

“But Broken Tusk is forgiving,” Azrug interjected, calming the mood in the room. Theo couldn’t stop appreciating how much he commanded the floor. “You approached us respectfully, leaving your mercenaries outside of our gates. You entertained fair offers—under market price, I might add—and we’re willing to go forward with those prices. We’ll provide as much metal, wood, and stone as you need. And you know we can meet the quotas.”

A warm wave washed over Theo, that familiar probing wind. He jerked his head, spotting Zarali concentrating. She leaned in, whispering something to Aarok, who nodded.

“Yeah, I see him,” Tresk said. “Whoops, wrong channel.”

“What?” Theo asked. His heart hammered hard in his ears. He didn’t want to show it, but Tresk’s health dropped, then sprung back up again. The alchemist leaned to Aarok, whispering his concerns. “Tresk is fighting something,” he said.

The sound of fighting could be heard, even through the thick walls of the guild’s hall.

“What’s happening, Tresk? Theo asked.

Her health dropped again as Azrug went back and forth with Alran.

Aarok’s eyes went glassy. Theo pulled up the shared tactical map and saw movement on the walls and through the town. Tresk’s health dropped again, springing up just as quickly. A booming sound fired outside, the familiar blast of the Chain Lightning Tower. Her health dropped again.

“Got the bastard!” Tresk shouted.

The merchant’s eyes went wide. They were communicating with other people somehow. They cast worried looks at each other, searching for answers. The room went silent for a long time, only broken by the sound of the massive double doors swinging open. Tresk, Zan’kir, Zan’sal, Bal, Dal, and Ral appeared. They carried two lifeless bodies with them.

“No one out-sneaks me!” Tresk shouted, throwing the limp body of a man into the entrance of the hall. His flesh was charred under his armor. The bodies were clad in black leather armor, silken hoods obscuring their faces. The group bound both figures. Zarali casually moved across the room, her purple robes gathering wind behind her before calling upon her healing magic. The figures stirred, shouting against their gags.

Theo rose, slamming his fist against the table. He took a deep breath, preparing to unleash every curse that would come to mind. Aarok’s powerful hand clapped over his shoulder, forcing him down into the chair.

“All according to plan,” Aarok said.

“I just have one thing to say,” Theo said, tempering his rage. He rose, raising his voice for everyone to hear. “You’re just… incredibly lucky,” he started, feeling meek. The alchemist found his courage after a moment, facing it head-on. “If my Tara’hek wanted to, she could have skewered you all and no one would have noticed. If she didn’t hold back, your discount assassins would be worm food. Take the deal, you greedy idiots.”

Theo fell back into his chair, shaking with anger. Tresk pumped her fist in the air, withdrawing her daggers and performing a few moves. Whatever anger he was feeling didn’t translate to her at that moment. She was too embroiled in the flavor of victory.

“We accept,” Alran.

“Well,” Azrug said, holding his arms wide. “I think we need to renegotiate.”

The resulting conversation wasn’t a renegotiation. The representatives from Rivers and Daub had to work to earn the trust of Azrug. They ended up offering to pay market value for all exported goods, including the cost of transportation. Alran’s people would now have to arrange regular caravans to transport the goods between the cities. They also opened up to exporting goods to Broken Tusk, although they intended to work that part of the deal out later.

When Azrug was done working miracles, Theo forced each of them to sign a contract with his Governance Core’s skill. It included provisions that prevented the men from acting against the best interest of this new trade alliance and Broken Tusk as a whole. The alchemist also forced the assassins to sign a contract, ensuring they could never act against any citizen of his town in the future. They refused at first.

“What’s the alternative?” an assassin asked after having his gag removed.

“According to the laws of Qavell?” Fenian asked. “I believe you’ll be executed.”

Both assassins signed the contracts without hesitation. They were unbound and allowed to return to their masters, who hung their heads low as they departed the town. The delegation returned to their mercenary company, the portcullis dropping with a clatter behind them. Fenian placed a comforting hand on Theo’s shoulder as they watched the group leave. Tresk was still dancing around, too excited about her victory.

“How powerful are these contracts?” Theo asked.

“I’m uncertain,” Fenian said.

“Quite powerful,” Xol’sa said, coming to join them.

Miana poked her head out of her barn, squinting to see what was going on. After a moment, she vanished back inside.

“The contract you made with those assassins is tight,” Xol’sa said. “If they break it, an extra-planar beast will be set loose. It will hunt them for the rest of their lives. Only a powerful mage could stop it. The beast, not the contract. That is unbreakable.”

Tresk approached the group, dancing awkwardly. “Today was way more fun than I expected,” she said. “When Aarok told me to look out for assassins, I never thought there’d be actual assassins. Well, they didn’t have Assassin’s Cores, but they did try to kill people. So that makes them assassins.”

The entire event rolled through Theo’s mind. It was a reminder about how competent his people were. Whatever the merchants from Rivers and Daub hoped to accomplish was dashed in an instant. He imagined they planned to take control of Broken Tusk, taking the enchanted land for themselves. He was glad it fell flat, not progressing past the initial stages.

Tresk beckoned for Theo to press his forehead against hers. He could feel her eagerness to check their experience gain from the trying event. Wherever something big happened with them, they got far more experience than normal. The alchemist put his forehead against the marshling’s clammy skin, watching as a group of messages popped up. Their Tara’hek Core was on the edge of Level 14, but the defeat of the assassins rocketed them to 15.

“Woah!” Tresk shouted.

This solidified the idea that they were after Theo, and Tresk’s intervention saved his life. The alchemist checked the core for its Level 15 evolution.

[Tara’hek Core]

Legendary Tara’hek Core

Bound

3 Slots

Level 15 (11%)

Tara’hek cores are given to those who accept a marshling life partner. You cannot change the skills inside the core or remove it.

Effect:

+6 Strength

+2 Vigor

The core gained a new slot, +1 to Strength, and +1 to Vigor. As expected, there was already a skill in the third slot. Theo inspected that next.

[Tara’hek Dreamwalking]

Legendary Marshling Bond Skill

Walk in each other’s dreams.

Effect:

You may dreamwalk whenever both members of the Tara’hek are asleep.

Dreamwalking allows you to experience reality while dreaming. Actions taken while dreamwalking will influence your core development, allowing you to gain experience while sleeping. Experience gained while dreamwalking is less than while awake.

“All right,” Tresk said, letting out a laugh. “That might be the coolest skill so far.”

Chapter 54

The Dreamwalk

Despite Tresk’s urging for them to go to bed early that day, Theo had more to accomplish. Fenian was in town unexpectedly, bringing a new gift for Miana. The trader pulled his cart over, Galflower dutifully backing it into the paddock, and summoned the rancher over. The half-ogre woman had a look of excitement on her face when she emerged, running over to embrace the elf.

“You got them!” she shouted. “How did you find a breeding pair?”

“While some traders might be too cowardly to venture into Gardreth, I have no such notions,” Fenian said, bowing.

“You went to the undead lands for some animals?” Tresk said, piecing together the story.

“Naturally,” Fenian said, waving her off. “When Azrug told me he required my expertise, I made a brief stop at Qavell before heading to those cursed islands. Theo, you should have seen Beshur’s face.”

The trader broke out into a deep belly-laugh, slapping his knees. “He accused you of witchcraft, a pact with a demon, and so forth. When he heard the Order was watching you closely, his face went white. I’m locking that memory in permanently.”

“Did you manage a good price for my potions?” Theo asked.

“More than good,” Fenian said, slapping the slide of the carriage. “Four times my investment, as expected. The guilds are in disarray.”

“Good,” Theo said, grinning.

“Release the Pozwa, trader,” Miana said, dancing on the spot. Her excitement was infectious.

Fenian slapped the side of the black cube again, and two creatures emerged. Theo recoiled at first, studying their features. The first was the easiest to look at. It had a mixture of avian and mammalian features, with stunted wings at its sides, four legs ending in clawed, bird-like feet, and a tail that fanned out like a peacock’s, only fluffier. While they both bore the same coloring, an iridescent mix of black and red, the second of the pair had a fan of chitinous horns growing from its head, six on either side. They were such a confusing amalgam of features, none of which made sense.

“What are those?” Theo asked, recoiling.

“Pozwa,” Miana said, kneeling to scratch the quadrupedal nightmares under their chins.

“They look mean,” Tresk said, tilting her head and stooping low. They came up to her chest in height.

“Why are they special?” Theo asked. The milk from the Karatan seemed far more valuable than whatever these things could provide.

“Well, their horns are prized for scrimshaw. The ivory is incredibly valuable, but they also lay eggs,” Fenian said. He then gestured to his hat, the red-black plumage bobbling as he did. “I harvested a few feathers for my collection. I hope you don’t mind.”

“They’re perfect, Fenian,” Miana said, embracing one Pozwa. It let out a shriek, which she seemed to take as affection.

“So, they’re rare?” Theo asked.

“Pozwa were bred only in Gardreth,” Miana said. “When the necromantic curse took the duchy, everyone thought they were gone for good. Of course, if you read about them, you’ll learn how hearty they are. These guys will eat anything, and monsters avoid them.”

“The great Pozwa rescue was harrowing,” Fenian said. “I assure you, the story is one for the ages. Alas, I shall not tell you.”

“Naturally,” Theo laughed. “You just teleported in and found them right away, didn’t you?”

“It’s not really teleporting,” Fenian said, shrugging. “Now, I have to leave before nightfall. The bridge is becoming temperamental, and I can’t determine why.”

Before the trader departed, Theo purchased more high-level monster cores. He spent 20 gold, cleaning most of Fenian’s stock out and earning two hundred cores. Miana purchased a few things for the ranch, but Tresk had nothing she wanted. They said their farewells and watched as the carriage rode off through the eastern gate.

Alise came to retrieve Theo and Tresk before departing to the Newt and Demon. They met in the lab to discuss the extent of the deal, something the alchemist had glossed over in his mind during the meeting. Rivers and Daub were in a bad way, even if they wouldn’t admit it. The monster waves were hitting them just as bad as Broken Tusk. They agreed to export wood, metal ingots, and stone directly to the ailing town.

Copper Ingots were settled at the lowest market price, which set the current rate to 20 copper coins per bar. They set a maximum weekly allocation of 1,000 bars. This would earn the town 2 gold a week for the metal. This was less than Nira’s projected totals per week, leaving them with a surplus.

Ogre Cypress Lumber was settled at a lower per board cost, but River’s need for timber was far greater than metal. They settled on a 10 copper per board rate, with an estimated allotment of 3,000 boards a week at 3 gold. That made sense, observing how Broken Tusk hungrily consumed the boards to repair damage, even if they had taken none in recent memory. Thanks to the massive size of the Ogre Cypress and Sledge’s new setup, Alise claimed they could produce far more boards than they exported, somewhere in the range of 5,000 boards a week.

Those were the two resources Theo stood to gain the most out of. His deals with Sledge and Gridgen were based on giving them 20% of market cost, which lined up with their deal with Rivers and Daub. The alchemist could pocket 80% of the profits, but his intention was always to put the money to work. His purchase of the monster cores was intended to bolster the production of those buildings.

The stone was the tricky part to work out. The mountains to the north of Rivers and Daub bore stone in abundance. They worked several quarries at the edge of their territory, bringing in low-quality stone. This is when Theo learned the true value of high-quality stone. For each perfect quality stone block his town consumed, Rivers consumed five good-quality stone blocks. This allowed Ziz to maintain his connections with the dwarven stone trader. Only 500 stone blocks were promised weekly at a price of 50 copper a block, totaling 2 gold and 50 silver coins per week.

Alise was kind enough to do the math for Theo, although he found some errors in her addition. The alchemist’s Intelligence was reaching a high enough level where he could mentally multiply numbers, divide things out, and add them up with ease. Including his pay to the miners and lumberers, he would earn 4 gold a week from the lumber and metal. The take from the stone was only 50 silver, but it was more than nothing. He also knew Ziz would dedicate however much money they needed to the cause of keeping Broken Tusk safe.

There were many opportunities in the agreement, though. Rivers and Daub had access to many amenities that Broken Tusk lacked. What the other town lacked in regenerative resources, they made up with their farming prowess. From what Theo understood, the farms in Rivers made Banu’s operation look like a backyard garden. They had roving herds of Karatan, fields fat with grains, vegetables, and fruit. Zarali’s enchanting was also placed on the negotiation table, but they intended to work that out at a later date.

The singular thing missing from the entire deal was Theo himself. There were no concessions made to gain access to his potions. No striking of a deal to empower their town with his impossibly strong elixirs, but Alise had an answer for that.

“You were our last resort,” Alise said, smiling. “We teased the idea of selling them potions, reserving it for a later date.”

Theo didn’t know if that was a clever move or not. The more he thought about it, the more he agreed with their decision. He had enough to deal with already, and adding more potion making to the mix would be bad.

When the sun lowered over the swamp in the west, the group departed for the Marsh Wolf Tavern. Theo spotted Throk working on something outside of his workshop and stopped to check on the artificer. A series of copper pipes lay on the cobbled street, several large storage tanks resting near the water tower. Each had a few artifices sticking from the side, devices that the alchemist couldn’t understand.

“Tresk told me about this idea,” Throk said, catching the alchemist’s attention. He hoisted a strange section of pipe, larger than the man himself. It was essentially a storage vessel with a pipe coming out of either end. “Gonna bury the pipes and run a sucker artifice from the river. This baby right here is a mixer. It takes liquid from dimensional storage and adds it on a per-unit basis to another liquid.”

Theo understood what he was talking about. He wanted to automatically purify the tainted river water and pump it into the city. It was a genius idea, one that the alchemist had but never expressed to Tresk.

“I don’t remember telling you that idea, Tresk,” Theo said.

“I saw it in a dream,” she shrugged.

The pair often shared dreams, so that wasn’t a surprise.

“Well, this is a great idea,” Theo said, nodding.

“You have no idea,” Throk said, flashing a grin. He jerked his head, gesturing to the Marsh Wolf Tavern.

Theo had been so consumed by the events of the day that he didn’t notice the construction going up behind the tavern. Whatever seed core she’d planted was growing slowly. The way Throk mentioned it meant that the water from the river and the new seed core were related, but he couldn’t put them together in his mind. No amount of intuition could solve that mystery, and he let it linger. That thrill of the unknown was too much not to entertain.

“What is it?” Tresk shouted.

“Let it stay a mystery,” Theo said, placing a placating hand on her shoulder.

“Fine,” she said, sniffing the air. “But I need some food.”

Tresk and Theo departed from Throk, finding their way to the rowdy tavern. Citizens were celebrating their first trade deal, even if it wasn’t a lot of money. It was the first step to something greater, and they all knew that. Azrug got a lot of experience from the deal, sending him soaring to the edge of Level 10 in both cores and his personal level. Alise joined the pair after a while near the window, joined by Perg and Ziz.

Xam served something new tonight. Theo’s eyes went wide when he saw the sauce. It was creamy. A light brown gravy covered a couscous-like Zee-derived pasta with small chunks of meat scattered throughout. Tresk didn’t wait for the word to go—she dug in and ate her entire plate in moments, requesting another. According to the marshling, the food buff didn’t stack if you had seconds. The alchemist took his time with the food, savoring every moment. He couldn’t remember the last time he had real milk in a dish. It coated his tongue, smoothing the rough edges of the wolf bone broth that was the base for the gravy.

By the time Theo was done eating, he patted his belly and grinned. Perg shared stories about her tannery and how it was doing. She had intended to weasel her wares into the markets of Rivers and Daub but had only found rejection. The merchants there had turned their noses up at her. She was still doing well for herself, selling most of her leather to Fenian to be resold in Qavell, but her pride was clearly wounded.

Every patron was theorizing about Xam’s new building, but she wouldn’t let it slip. One of her new servers, a lizardfolk man with a severe face, hinted at something “wet and wild,” but no one could riddle it out. Theo pushed away that keen intuition of his, refusing to let it spoil the surprise. At the edges of his mind, he could feel the answer. Something in his cores imparted a scent into his mind. Churning water mingled with rich minerals, but he pushed the sensation away.

Things started to wind down as the sun set outside. Theo and Tresk’s stamina were both still above half, and tiredness wasn’t a thought. The alchemist noted that the increase in his Vigor from the items he wore was likely to blame. He seemed to need less sleep, even if he enjoyed sleeping more. The marshling tugged on his arm, urging him back to the Newt and Demon. She was eager to try out their new skill.

The pair bid farewell to their friends, content with the way the day went. Alise seemed to have something urgent to tell Theo, but Tresk dragged him away before she could chew his ear off. They found their way back to their bedroom, and she jumped into bed and closed her eyes, even if sleep didn’t come so easily. The alchemist laughed, sorting his bed out and cleaning himself with Cleansing Scrub.

“What do you think it’s gonna be like?” Tresk asked. She was snuggled deep in the covers, keeping her eyes closed.

“No idea,” Theo said, getting into bed and pulling his sheets up. “I’m excited to earn skills while I sleep, though.”

The excitement for dreamwalking made sleep hard. Both Tresk and Theo had trouble falling asleep, and even when they did, they woke up with a start. Hours passed before they fell asleep. When it finally came, it felt like a cool sheet was pulled over their bodies, wrapping them in a strange sensation. Instead of the world fading to black, time skipping ahead to morning from their perspective, they fell through the world.

The world swirled around Theo like an angry tornado. Wind whipped at his face as shapeless shapes moved in the distance. He shouted against the raging storm to no avail, but it calmed down with time. The alchemist was left standing in infinite nothing, staring off into the distance. It wasn’t what he expected, even if he didn’t know what to expect.

“Tresk?” Theo shouted, listening as his voice echoed back to him.

Moments passed, but nothing. Suddenly, a squat marshling appeared in front of him with a surprised expression on her face.

“Sorry, I had to pee,” Tresk said. She looked around and cocked an eyebrow. “Not what I expected.”

“Yeah, I don’t know where we are,” Theo said.

“Maybe we just have to think about a place,” Tresk said, nodding.

Theo couldn’t help himself. His mind went back to the western coast of South America, staring out at the boiling ocean as the sun expanded. In a single heartbeat, they were there. Standing on that hill, overlooking the devastation of Earth. A wave of pain washed through the alchemist’s body, beaten down by his Tara’hek Core. He felt Tresk’s amazement with the new world, something he’d never really told her about. She let out a long gasp, her head darting in every direction.

“Wow!” Tresk shouted. “Is this your home?”

Theo looked down at himself, noting that he was still in his dronon body. He let out a sign of relief. He wanted nothing to do with that old, broken thing he left back on Earth. This was a memory, constructed by their Dreamwalking skill. It was nothing but a memory.

“This is where I died,” Theo said, gesturing to the beach below. “Somewhere in South America… I think it was Chile?”

The pair walked down to the beach together, Tresk letting out a “wow” every few minutes. Theo understood he could likely just think about the beach, and they’d be there, but the act of walking was fun. The marshling reached out, grabbing his hand and squeezing when she felt his trepidation.

“It’s all fake,” Tresk said, nodding. “We can go back to Broken Tusk if it’s too much.”

“No, this is good,” Theo said. “This is closure. That’s where the Harbinger showed up.”

The spot where Theo met his death was devoid of life. His team wasn’t there. The Harbinger wasn’t there. There was just the sea lapping against the beach playfully. Tresk played in the sand for a while, splashing in the water and laughing. After a while, the alchemist joined her. They made sandcastles over a patch of sand where he died. Where he watched his companions die. His mind went back to Yuri, and an image of the man suddenly appeared.

“Woah! Ghost!” Tresk shouted, reaching to her hips. But there were no daggers to draw. “Where are my daggers?”

“It’s a dream,” Theo said with a shrug. Tresk’s daggers reappeared at her hips and she let out a surprised sound.

“I’m gonna stab the ghost,” Tresk said, drawing her weapons.

“Don’t stab Yuri,” Theo said, letting out a groan. “Well, Yuri’s the ghost.”

“Who is Yuri?” Tresk asked.

Theo felt pain stab at his heart again. That was a long, complicated story. With a wave of his hand, the image disappeared. “A friend. Dead.”

“Sorry,” Tresk said. She closed her eyes, concentrating. A dragon appeared before her, glittering scales of molten metal, maw opened and shooting flames.

Theo fell back, but the marshling woman shouted a war cry and engaged the monster, her daggers flashing with deadly poison. The alchemist realized the purpose of this place. The setting was whatever they wanted, but the reason the Dreamwalking skill existed was to give a chance to practice their skills. With a thought, he summoned an alchemy still. Then he summoned a barrel of Refined Healing Essence, then a toy train, a sports car, a wagon, and a M5702A battle mech. He smiled at the weapons platform, noting the perfect detail in the rail guns mounted on either side.

Tresk was mauled by the dragon. According to the Dreamwalk, she had died. A system message informed them it was impossible to die in the dream, but pain could be simulated at whatever level they wanted. It would declare “death” for her to better emulate actual conditions. Theo was piecing together more of the place, understanding it as a precious training ground. It wanted her to summon enemies that were more her speed, but the alchemist wanted to test the limits of the dream.

Theo banished the items he’d summoned, willing them into a new place. He thought of a place he’d never been but only seen in the media back on Earth. The landscape swirled around them, malformed and incomplete. Tresk laughed.

“Nope,” she said. “This isn’t doing it for me. Take me somewhere else on your home planet.”

Theo had been to many places on Earth, traveling around for his “job.” He didn’t allow his thoughts to bubble up, understanding that if he formed a place in his mind, they would go there. There were the slums outside of Berlin’s crater, or the toxic waste fields in Norfolk, feeding poison into the Atlantic Ocean. The southern coast of Georgia was nice, but the water was also toxic. Each place overseas sent his stomach turning sour, and the places he saw back home were worse. A memory from childhood surfaced, something from before he was recruited.

The scene shifted again, sending them tumbling into a dense forest. Barren trees stretched to the sky, joined by conifers that refused to shed their needles. Snow blanketed the ground, thick and fluffy underfoot. Tresk let out a surprised gasp.

“I’ve never seen snow!” she shouted.

Theo smiled, summoning an alchemy workstation on a stump. He watched as his companion imagined a troll to fight. The alchemist plucked a reagent from the air and inhaled its scent. It smelled more like the perfume his mother wore rather than the Widow Lily he held. Dreamwalking had limitations, but also exceptions. He was certain Tresk had never seen a dragon, yet she imagined one and it appeared.

Theo let out a sigh, casting his eyes over the scene. This was a valuable tool, but he couldn’t help but let the sorrow flood through his body. He got to work on his experimentations, unbound by the rules of the real world as Tresk battled the troll. The alchemist performed his trade at the site of his last happy memory on Earth.

Chapter 55

Dying of the Blooms

The sensation of being awake all night and then waking up was strange. Theo rose the next morning when his body was ready to wake, pulling him out of the Dreamwalk without warning. Phantom warmth from his still lingered on his face, and he heard Tresk stir in the bed across the room. She had a concerned look on her face but shook it off.

“That was weird,” she said.

Several system messages popped up, tallying his skill gain for the night.

Drogramath Alchemy Core gained experience (8%).

Drogramath Herbalism Core gained experience (6%).

Governance Core gained experience (1.5%).

Theo Spencer gained experience (2%).

The experience gains were good, but that wasn’t the strength of the Dreamwalking skill. It provided a safe environment where he could test whatever he wanted and effectively removed the need for sleep. The alchemist could move his experimentations to the night and focus on creating potions to sell during the day. During the Dreamwalk, he found the key to heating several reagents. With nothing to do but chat with Tresk and visit exotic locations, Theo could run stills without worrying about losing reagents.

Theo’s mind sorted out which parts of the ability were the best. He was forced to do more alchemy than herbalism, leaving his gathering core to trail behind. The alchemist would focus on whichever core was trailing, ensuring that each of them would catch up. His Governance Core would be hard, if not impossible, to level in the dream. There was also the possibility of intruders entering their dreams, something he wouldn’t express to Tresk. He already understood how Tara’hek Dreamwalking worked, either through his intuition or logical reasoning.

Gods, as this world called them, occupied domains. These houses were semi-real spaces that occupied a dimension outside of the one he currently sat in. They were segmented into pantheons, which could be interpreted as larger domains. The Prime Pantheon held the gods most people considered “good,” while the Demonic Pantheon held those people deemed evil. Theo preferred to think of the Demonic Pantheon as the “Outsider Pantheon.” With information from Xol’sa, Fenian, and perhaps Drogramath, the alchemist understood that the Tara’hek was its own domain. It contained an actual space they traveled to in their dreams.

So, where Drogramath might control the realm of the Drogramathi, Theo and Tresk controlled the domain of Theo and Tresk. How this realm, if it could be called a realm, influenced the real world was beyond him, but there was evidence for that as well. Breadcrumbs were strewn about his path, following him like a specter. Earlier in the season, when Tresk got her Assassin’s Core, she acted more violently. Her impulse control dropped, and she lashed out at anyone without warning. Theo felt her emotions bleed over to him through that shared realm, but since they had strengthened their domain, the influence of Zaul dropped. A similar thing happened when the alchemist felt the tug of Drogramath at his chest, only snuffed out when he out-leveled his Drogramathi cores with the Tara’hek core.

There the truth was laid bare for him to see. His connection with Tresk transcended a simple soul-bond. It was a magnetic force, likely influencing the world around them. There was no wonder why no one had seen a Tara’hek in ages. The Tara’hek Core was the single most powerful thing in his possession.

“Breakfast?” Tresk asked, cocking her head at the alchemist. He had been lying in bed, rolling over the intricacies of the domains. As his Intelligence grew, so did his rambling thoughts. They got away from him more easily, begging to chase down information like a hungry dog.

“Of course,” Theo said. “How about we keep the Dreamwalk between us?”

“Duh,” Tresk said, laughing. “I can feel your brain slicing through the implications.”

Theo knitted his brow. They were at a point where keeping information from each other was a fool’s errand. By Level 20, the Tara’hek Core would make it impossible to keep his thoughts to himself, which wasn’t altogether a bad thing. The alchemist nodded and got out of bed. He was looking forward to eating the leftovers from Xam’s tavern.

Unsurprisingly, Alise was waiting outside of the Newt and Demon. Despite the early hour, she took her job seriously. Theo could feel the excitement coming from her, bolstered by the trade deal.

“Good morning,” he said. “Want some breakfast?”

“Certainly,” Alise said, nodding. There was something she wanted to say, he could tell.

“Get it out,” Theo said, gesturing up the road. The group began their journey to the tavern.

“Well, I was just thinking,” Alise said. “As mayor, you need to keep cultural implications in mind.”

“What?” Tresk asked.

“I’ve asked around and have found a lack of preparation,” Alise said. “For the coming festival.”

“Festival?” Theo asked.

“Yeah, Dying Blooms,” Tresk said, picking something out of her teeth. “Everyone makes flower things, and the winner has good luck.”

Alise bristled at the simplistic explanation but took a steadying breath. “We don’t have many festivals in the northlands, but there is an end-of-season event for the Season of Blooms. It’s not dissimilar to the Festival of Dying Blooms.”

“All right,” Theo said. The group was approaching the monolith. Adventurers gathered outside of the guild, even as the sun hung low in the eastern sky. “Why does that involve me?”

“The mayor is supposed to kick the festival off,” Tresk said. “What’s today?”

“The 46th day,” Alise said.

Theo knitted his brow. “How long is the Season of Blooms?”

“60 days,” Tresk said. “Same for the others.”

Theo didn’t know why he never asked how long the seasons were. He didn’t really care, with everything that had been going on. Things were too busy to consider seasons, and it hardly seemed to matter in the southlands.

“So, the year is 240 days long?” Theo asked.

“It is,” Alise said, a look of confusion washing over her face. She wasn’t aware that he’d been transmigrated to this world, and he had no intention of telling her.

“Dronon don’t keep time,” Tresk said, smiling.

“Right,” Alise said. Theo could tell she didn’t buy it but would let the topic fall away. There wasn’t good reason to keep her in the dark, but there also wasn’t good reason to bring her into the fold. “Well, the festival runs for twelve days, starting on the 48th. Or so I’m told.”

“That’s right,” Tresk said, nodding.

The group entered the tavern, finding a seat and paying for their food. That table by the window had become permanently reserved for Theo and his party, something he appreciated. The interior of the tavern could get hot, even in the early hours of the day. A patron’s only reprieve from the heat was that window, although since Tresk had expanded the tavern, there were more windows. Still, it was the alchemist’s favorite seat.

Food came out quickly, something caused by last night’s meal being stored in a Dimensional Storage Crate. The tea was made fresh, though, and delicious as ever. Theo dug in as his administrator explained how the festival worked.

“You’ll give an address at the start of the festival,” Alise said. “You can offer a prize, but that’s up to you. Tradition states that the winner will have good luck for a year.”

“I won last year,” Tresk said, belching. She had already eaten all her food.

“Great job,” Alise said. “Participants will gather flowers from the swamp and weave them into a wreath. They will then hang it on their door and leave it.”

“The person with the least-decayed flower circle at the end of the season wins,” Tresk said. “Banu won for as long as I can remember, but I cheated.”

Theo frowned, leveling his gaze at her. “That won’t do.”

“Agreed,” Alise said, joining Theo to stare at the marshling.

“What?” Tresk asked with a shrug. “I wasn’t caught.”

Alise continued, ignoring something that seemed a great offense to her. “Every night during the festival, there will be a large party in the streets. Everyone will gather to watch the sun go down, then tour the wreaths.”

“That’s cool,” Theo said, nursing his tea. “We should cover the cost of food.”

“We should also import some decent drink,” Alise said. “Not sure if you’ve had Xam’s grog yet.”

Theo had tried no alcohol since transitioning. It was something he kept in the back of his mind. He wanted to be as sharp as possible, but that was a foolish excuse. Liquor was rare on Earth, and the stuff he tried was horrid. When he was embedded with a Russian death squad, they drank something they called “paint thinner.” It tasted true to its name and held rumors of imbibers going blind. As he recalled the memory, he smiled. That was how he met Yuri.

“Fine, we’ll finance it,” Theo said.

“Good, I was hoping you’d say that because I’ve already placed an order,” Alise said. “I’ve also sorted the finances to pay Xam for catering.”

“So, everyone eats free?” Tresk asked. “Dang.”

“Now, if we could just sort the childcare issue,” Theo said.

“Childcare?” Alise asked.

“Well, that sounds like a good project for you,” Theo said. He opened his inventory to check his funds, finding that he only had 31 gold left. “We need someone to watch the kids during the day, perhaps educate them. This should free more people up to work.”

“I understand,” Alise said. “We have a few new settlers who might be interested.”

“How do I keep missing the new people?” Theo asked.

“Because I’m handling it,” Alise said.

“Well, I want them to sign one of my magical contracts,” Theo said. “Since they’ll be working with kids, I want to make sure they’re on the level. Xol’sa said a magical monster comes for the people who break these contracts. I’ll make sure everyone knows that when the sign from now on.”

Alise went pale for a moment before clearing her throat. “Right. I’ll get on it today.”

“You’re the best, Alise,” Tresk said.

The group’s conversation shifted away from business for once. Theo and Tresk got Alise to talk about herself and what she wanted to do for her life. She was happy to serve as the administrator, revealing her true motives after a while. The woman’s confidence in Broken Tusk’s ability to grow was absolute. According to her, the town would grow so fast that it would need a series of governors to manage their lands. She would be at the top of that hierarchy, gaining a seat of power within Theo’s eventual empire.

Theo didn’t want to consider how transparent she was about it or that she’d understood his intentions with the town. Perhaps the writing was on the wall, but he wanted it to remain a secret for as long as possible. That was a childish thought, though. The evidence was in the trade delegations attempted assassination. There was no doubt in his mind that they intended to take the town for themselves, usurping all that he’d built. It would take much more than that to dislodge him from his position, though.

Zarali found the alchemist after a time, and Alise departed to recruit someone for child care. The priestess wanted to help Theo with his alchemy process today, and he was more than happy to have her company. Tresk left to delve into a dungeon, intent on scouting out the Ocean Dungeon. They never figured out what happened with that dungeon during a monster wave, and the adventurer’s guild wanted a report. The marshling had a theory that the ocean monsters went to attack Rivers and Daub, but Theo had his doubts.

Returning to the Newt and Demon, Theo and Zarali found Sledge working in the back of the lab. They watched her without saying a word. The marshling fiddled with the existing pressure tank, swapping out artifices and bolting it to the building, before directing a series of laborers to install two new tanks. The way she was securing them to the wall would reduce the annoying rattling sound they made during operation.

“What’s going on?” Theo asked.

“Throk says it’s a present,” Sledge said. “Talk to him. He already paid. Leave me alone.”

Theo shrugged it off, giving Zarali a tour of his greenhouse. She was impressed that he went for the greenhouse instead of the experimentation room. The pair sorted out the plants, propagating the ones that were ready and tending to the others. The alchemist intended to feed the greenhouse more cores later to allow for more plants, but it was currently full of Roc Berries, Mage’s Bane, and Spiny Swamp Thistle. It was unfortunate that he couldn’t grow Moss Nettle in the greenhouse, but there must be a way for him to cultivate the plant. The priestess didn’t have suggestions for that.

When Sledge was done with her work, the pair went to investigate.

“I’ll enchant these for you, but he’s done a good job to improve the design,” Zarali said, kneeling to inspect the artifices.

“I think he knew I wanted three of them,” Theo said. “Now that he doesn’t have to wait to import copper, he can bang these out quickly.”

“He’s a smart little marshling,” Zarali said, running her fingers along the side of an untreated tank. Theo would need to infuse the copper so it didn’t react with the essence inside. “I imagine most artificers have trouble getting started, but he has a strong base as a blacksmith.”

“That’s a great pairing,” Theo said.

“Well, shall we do some alchemy?”

Zarali was disappointed that Theo hadn’t made his offering to Drogramath today. When he did so, she claimed he was getting close to increasing his connection with the Demon Lord. The woman could feel it in the air, or so she said. After making his offering, they returned to the greenhouse with a growth potion in hand. The alchemist was eager to put together the three recent aspects of his alchemy. Cultivation, fermentation, and refinement were his newest tools, and he still hadn’t seen the effects of the cultivated reagents.

Zarali seemed impressed when Theo went through the practiced motions of heating a still filled with cultivated Spiny Swamp Thistle Root. The mash, containing 200 units of the cultivated root, was heated perfectly through the process. Theo allowed the mixture to run into his holding tanks but not into the massive storage tanks outside. Halfway through the process, he took a sample of the Healing Essence to see what the cultivated reagent had to offer.

[Healing Essence]

[Essence]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Perfect

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Alignment Effect:

1:1 refinement in pressure vessels

Increased purity from refinement

Cultivated Effect:

Increased effectiveness of resulting potions. Effect carries over through refinement.

1 units (liquid)

Concentrated essence of healing, used to create healing potions.

“You’ve created a perfect quality essence,” Zarali said, stepping back from the table. She cupped her chin in her hand and leveled her gaze at him. “How did you know to cut the heat to half, then to full during the process?”

“Well, sister,” Theo said, clapping a hand over her shoulder. “It came to me in a dream.”

Theo felt her wash her senses over him, probing into his cores to detect some secret. It felt like hands grasping at air, as though she couldn’t wrap her soul around his. There was a barrier preventing her from doing so, and the alchemist had an idea what caused the obfuscation of his being. The priestess was no slouch, though. She was fiercely intelligent and more intuitive than him. The alchemist could tell she knew something was going on, the gears in her mind turning.

“Some ability I’m not aware of,” Zarali said. “Obscuring my senses. Interesting.”

“I’ve gotta have some secrets, right?” Theo asked.

“Well, you seemed eager to keep me here like some caged bird,” Zarali said, scoffing. “I’ve agreed to stay and lend my very prestigious talents to your cause. You can trust me.”

Theo couldn’t figure out if there was a point in keeping that secret from her. He wanted as few people to know about the powerful ability as possible, but it seemed like sticking his finger in a dam to stop an ocean. The woman was also the foremost expert on the topic of domains, something he couldn’t deny.

“You’ve only been here a week,” Theo said. “I’m not sure that equals trust.”

“Then what does equal trust, I wonder?” Zarali asked, grinning. She placed her hand over his. Theo felt that familiar wave of sisterly love wash over him, still unsure about how he should feel. “Spare me the details, then.”

Theo didn’t respond immediately. He took the Healing Essence into his inventory and left the lab with Zarali close behind. Sledge was done with her work on the pressure vessels. The new gauges and ports on the artifice were impressive. They seemed better assembled and of higher quality than before. He inserted the essence and set the machine to work, appreciating the gentle hum that came from the machine. It didn’t bounce around like before. He beckoned for his sister to follow, intent on taking her out into the fields where he gathered his herbs.

“Look for more Spiny Swamp Thistle,” Theo said. “Can you climb a tree?”

“I can,” Zarali said. “Although I’d rather not. Are you going to answer me?”

“Yeah,” Theo said, digging at the edge of a plant to retrieve the valuable tubers. “I have a skill that lets me practice alchemy.”

Zarali’s face brightened up. He knew she put it together then, almost regretting giving her the information. But their relationship had already come a long way in a short amount of time. She might have been projecting feelings for her dead brother onto him, but they were genuine. The priestess lent aid to Broken Tusk without hesitation, even putting herself near the front of that trade deal to get the ball rolling. People would beat down her door to get access to enchanting services.

“A pocket realm,” she said after digging up a few tubers. “That’s interesting.”

“And I do not know what the implications are,” Theo said. “I figured you were brushing up against the realm with your senses.”

“I was,” Zarali said. “The realm has grown significantly more powerful than before. It felt like a drop of water before, but now I sense a river.”

“So you knew,” Theo said.

“Naturally.”

The pair gathered a fair amount of reagents. It wasn’t much considering the amount he could get adventurers to harvest, but the act of digging in the earth was soothing. They only spent as much time as they needed out behind the lab, gathering their refined essence and coming around to the cobbled street around midday. Zarali stopped there, flashing Theo a devious grin.

“Perhaps this will convince you of my intent,” Zarali said, withdrawing something from her inventory. He imagined he had the same inventory power as him—Drogramath Inventory. It was a small, seed-like object inscribed with tiny runes. It pulsed with purple energy. “I’ve been holding on to this for quite some time.

Theo didn’t need to inspect the object to understand. It was an Enchanter’s Seed Core, which would allow her to plant an enchanter’s workshop. She was implying that if she put the seed down, laying literal roots, she would also lay metaphorical roots. Something about the seed seemed different, though.

“A building?” Theo asked. “Is that all it is?”

“Not at all,” Zarali said. “Drogramath Enchanter’s Seed Core. A specialized building core I’ve been carrying for decades. Would you be so kind as to assign me the plot opposite the Newt and Demon?”

That would be a decisive act. If she planted a rare seed core in town, binding herself to Broken Tusk, that would solidify his trust in her. Theo had a feeling that enchanter seed cores were expensive, and he couldn’t imagine the value of a specialized seed core like that. It was likely worth more than the value of his entire town and then some. He cut out a section of land for her, enough to allow for many expansions.

Zarali planted her seed without hesitation, feeding it monster cores until a black brick building sprung up. The roots of the seed core wrapped around themselves, snaking to create the shape of the building as the bricks were summoned from nowhere. The resulting building was squat with stained glass windows that held the image of Drogramath. Theo could feel a wave of Drogramath’s energy pour from the thing, and the final image was impressive. The roof was made of layered shingles of purple lacquered material, and a heavy oaken door had a brass knocker in the shape of a beast he’d never seen.

“Impressive,” Theo said.

“It doubles as a place of worship, of course,” Zarali said.

The pair retreated to the lab, and the day wore on. Theo inspected his refined essence before brewing it into a potion. As with most stages of his discovery and experimentation process, the Healing Potion was his standard way of determining their effectiveness.

[Refined Healing Essence]

[Essence] [Refined Essence]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Perfect

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Alignment Effect:

Resulting potions will be more effective.

Chance to consume half of required essence during brewing.

Cultivated Effect:

Increased effectiveness of resulting potions. Effect carries over through refinement.

Purity: 90%

200 units (liquid)

Concentrated, refined essence of healing, used to create healing potions.

“Impressive,” Zarali said, letting out a sigh. “If only Belgar were as focused as you.”

They brewed one sample from the essence. The resulting reaction was calm. There was barely any fog that rose from the potion, and even less bubbling. The potion had seams of purple running through the pink liquid, signifying its perfection. Theo inspected the Healing Potion, the single most powerful creation he’d made so far.

[Healing Potion]

[Potion]

Epic

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Perfect

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

A healing potion. Drink to restore health.

Effect:

Instantly restores 135 health points.

There were several things at play here that made the Healing Potion so potent. First was the alignment effect that increased the effectiveness of a potion. Second was the Cultivation effect, which did the same thing. Then the new brewing process sent the quality and rarity of the potion up. The restoration potions provided a very clear picture of the potency of his process. It went from restoring 100 health to restoring 135 health. If the alchemists in Qavell were jealous before, they would be visibly green with envy upon seeing this potion.

“You’ve really outdone yourself,” Zarali said, letting out a wistful sigh. “Now, shall we celebrate your accomplishment with some of Xam’s excellent food?”

“I’d like nothing more,” Theo said, letting his eyes linger on the System’s message for a while longer.

Chapter 56

The Anti-Mage Modifier

Theo woke from his nightly adventure the next day. While the food at Xam’s was good, Tresk had taken a trip to Rivers and Daub when she was a child. The image she produced in the Dreamwalk was rough, but enough for the alchemist to appreciate the scale of a rival town. It was two cities joined over the river. Even the bridge itself held houses and merchants. He enjoyed the experience boost most of all, focusing on imagining what reagents would grow along the banks of that city.

He emerged from the dream feeling refreshed, finding Tresk to be in a similarly good mood. Life was, as always, present in the dawn hours of Broken Tusk. Xam’s tavern was more busy than normal, and the building outside was almost completed. After their meal, Theo went to inspect the many laborers working near the seed core building. The roots hadn’t completely taken hold yet, and the alchemist pushed off the thought of finishing it himself.

Laborers dug into the earth and under the roads, aided by Sledge. She seemed eager to get the job done, barking orders and working her fabricator magic. The trenches for the pipes ran the short way to the river, cutting a path to where it bent toward Broken Tusk. There was a strange fork in those ditches, sending one length of pipe towards Xam’s new building. Throk was fiddling with his invention near the bank of the river. The device was different from the ones the alchemist had seen before. A single tank with a pipe coming from the bottom rested on a copper frame.

“This is coming along,” Theo said, grinning at the marshling.

Throk flashed him a smile. “Better than expected. Wait until you see what Xam is cooking up.”

“I have an idea about that,” Theo said.

“What?” Tresk asked. “What is it?”

“You’ll see,” Theo said. “Don’t spoil the surprise.”

Tresk gave Theo an update on the Ocean Dungeon while they watched her father work. The monsters that had spawned during the monster wave lingered around the beach, painting it as a horribly dangerous place for anyone to go. That would be a big problem if the alchemist intended to establish a port there. It was the only white-sanded beach around, according to the locals of Broken Tusk. To the south were unforgiving crags, as well as the east. Only the western approach to the sea was viable for any reasonable port. Even then, he had his doubts. Approachability from the land was only one factor for an excellent port, and he’d need an expert for the full picture.

Tresk departed, leaving Theo with the knowledge that the adventurer’s guild was on the case. A contract was posted and the monsters would be whittled down. The alchemist set his mind on taking it easy, letting his various businesses run themselves, and performing some alchemy. With Zarali’s new barrels, he was eager to brew more modifier potions. With three refinement vessels, he could actually get some actual work done.

When Theo returned to the heart of town, intent on tending his garden, he found Xol’sa’s portal open. Zarali stepped through and jogged to catch up with the alchemist as he made his way back to the Newt and Demon. As he expected, his garden was full of useful reagents once again. The priestess struck up light conversation as they harvested the Mage’s Bane and Roc Berries. Her thought on the berries was that they weren’t very useful, but the anti-magic flowers would fetch a high price.

“I have a feeling that Mage’s Bane will also produce a nice modifier,” Zarali said.

Theo’s excellent memory let him recall each modifier he’d created so far. [Web] was still the best for both offensive and defensive potions. [Over-Time] was useful, but not nearly as great. The alchemist dedicated his day to revealing more modifiers, giving him more tools to work with in the long run. They returned to the lab, making an offering and selecting which reagent was best for experimentation.

“Well, you have enough Troll Blood to douse an army,” Zarali said, rummaging through his Dimensional Storage Crate. “And more Goblin Tongues than I ever care to look at. How about we discover the modifiers for Troll Blood, Goblin Tongues, Fald Eyeballs, and Mage’s Bane?”

“I don’t have a better idea,” Theo said, “and I’m not about to drink blood or bite into a goblin’s tongue.”

“Good idea,” Zarali said. “Just work on increasing your bond with Lord Drogramath.

The Troll Blood was easy enough to mix into the Fermentation Barrels, but the Goblin Tongue required mashing. They fed the still-wet slivers of meat into the grinder and winced at the vile sound it made. Theo had to clean off the Alchemical Grinder Artifice between uses but loaded each barrel with 200 units of their respective mashes. Zarali instructed him on the intent aspect of the barrels, and they began bubbling even before he replaced the lid.

The priestess claimed to have a good idea for how long it would take to ferment the mixes, so the pair went off to harvest more reagents. It felt like another bonding experience where they shared stories about their lives. Zarali seemed interested in Earth but had a trepidation that painted her intent clear. She didn’t want to probe too deeply into Theo’s past and was respectful about the entire thing. That just made him more willing to share with her.

“I guess you just do what you have to do,” Theo said, watching as Zarali clubbed an insectoid over the head. They had been harvesting Manashrooms without much trouble, but she senses the approach of a small cluster of monsters. That didn’t stop the flow of conversation, though.

“We all adapt, brother,” Zarali said. “How old were you when they recruited you?”

“Five years old,” Theo said, stooping low to inspect the dead insect-like creature. There were valuable pieces of reagent under the monster’s carapace, something he hadn’t seen before. “My dad died in a war, and mom never had it easy. They just scooped kids up and taught us the best way to blow something up.”

“Sounds familiar,” Zarali said, wiping a stain of ichor from her face.

Theo yanked something from under the creature’s hard exoskeleton. It was a second layer of the protective armor, and his Drogramath Alchemy Core whispered that it was an alchemical ingredient. He inspected the item.

[Fade Carapace]

[Alchemy Ingredient]

Uncommon

The secondary carapace of a fade.

Properties:

[Carapace] [???] [???]

“I’ve seen the [Carapace] property before,” Zarali said with an approving nod. “It should be useful. So, how did this government use you?”

“That’s a good way to put it,” Theo said, wiping the filth from his hands onto the cavern’s wall. “They taught us all these languages. How to behave in foreign countries, stuff like that. How to slip in and out of a place unseen. Social camouflage and all that. No one checked kids in the first few years, and we were very successful. Then things got weird, and they used us in different ways. Taught us weapons platforms, but no real jarhead work.”

“Jarhead?”

“Ah, you know. Boots on the ground types,” Theo said. They pushed deeper into the cave, finding more of the Manashrooms. “There weren’t many people left by the time I was fully grown. The expanding sun caused famine and death everywhere. Only the north was hospitable, and that was fading fast.”

“Reminds me of Gardreth,” Zarali said, letting out a snort of a laugh.

“From what I heard, it sounds similar. Well, we’re all just sitting in retirement. Everyone was retired at that point. The sun was about to eat our entire planet. Then some entity showed up, and everyone came together to stop it. Not like it would have helped.”

“So your thought is that you were already doomed,” Zarali said. She found a large mushroom that had cultivated on its own. Theo happily took it into his inventory.

“Oh, absolutely,” Theo said. “I got the call after finally having time to live for a few years. Mom was dead by then, and the only person I had as a friend was Yuri. They put us in the same squad to go kill the entity. We called him the Harbinger.”

“I’d love to hear more about this creature,” Zarali said, picking at the side of the cavern. She shrugged, finding that the treasure she thought was there was nothing more than a splash of insectoid blood.

“You know as much as I do,” Theo said.

“Gods are rarely errant,” Zarali said. “Do we have enough mushrooms? The fermentation should be done soon.”

Theo checked his inventory. They had well over 500 Manashrooms, which was more than he needed. His intention on coming out today to harvest reagents was little more than something to bolster his supplies. “We’re good.”

The pair left the cave and headed back to town. Theo told her more about his life, feeling comfortable around the woman. He would have told all of this to Tresk, but she just didn’t care. He didn’t fault his companion for that. No one wanted to hear a tragic backstory, and the alchemist had pushed that life out of his mind. It wasn’t as though he was looking back on his memories. They were someone else’s. He detailed how his division of child soldiers was retired when the wars among the nations ceased. Only when there was nothing left fighting for did they stop. Only when there wasn’t blood left to spill did they release him from their grasp.

“You’ve really pushed all that out of your mind,” Zarali said, removing the lid from a fermentation barrel.

“So have you,” Theo said, laughing.

Zarali managed a weak smile. “Some days I manage. Others are hard. Well, these are done. Shall we distill them?”

The raw mash from a fermentation gave no hints on what properties they contained. Theo would have to distill them to unlock that secret, and he had an interest in the newest reagents first. The alchemist selected the Troll Blood, Goblin Tongue, and Mage’s Bane for distillation. Zarali helped him transfer the mashes into the stills and gave him her best guess as to the best heating pattern. Every reagent was temperamental with this process, and the modifiers were even harder. They did their best, tending the stills for just under an hour before they’d extracted every last drop of usable essence from the mash. He inspected the resulting essence modifier from the Troll Blood first.

[Sear]

[Essence Modifier]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Alignment Effect:

1:1 refinement in pressure vessels

Increased purity from refinement

200 units (liquid)

Add to a completed potion to add the [Sear] modifier.

The only property Theo knew for the blood was the [Searing Regeneration] property. This essence modifier didn’t illuminate the effect of the potion, but it could be used on any potion. Some modifiers had restrictions on offensive or defensive potions. He inspected the resulting essence from the Goblin Tongue next.

[Desiccate]

[Essence Modifier]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Alignment Effect:

1:1 refinement in pressure vessels

Increased purity from refinement

200 units (liquid)

Add to a completed potion to add the [Desiccate] modifier. Only usable on offensive potions

This modifier would be useful for poisons or bombs, but Theo would need to apply it to a test potion to see the effects. That was the problem with modifiers. They affected every potion differently, creating an absurd amount of combinations that could only be known by experimentation. He inspected the last essence modifier, derived from the Mage’s Bane flower.

[Anti-Mage]

[Essence Modifier]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Alignment Effect:

1:1 refinement in pressure vessels

Increased purity from refinement

200 units (liquid)

Add to a completed potion to add the “Anti-Mage” modifier.

It was another dual-use modifier, but what it did was beyond him. They also failed in getting any of the modifiers above excellent quality, which was expected.

“Well, [Anti-Mage] is the clear winner,” Zarali said.

“[Desiccate] could be useful,” Theo said. “I can see a poison that drains the water in someone’s body. That would be very nice for Tresk.”

“Sounds like a wicked poison to me,” Zarali said, nodding. “Shall we run a test on the modifiers?”

Theo found that testing the modifiers was always a good idea. As always, he elected to use his Healing Potions for testing the defensive essences and [Poison] for his offensive ones. He selected a restoration potion he made the other day to test the [Anti-Mage] modifier first. Introducing the silvery liquid caused the Healing Potion to gain ribbons of blue light, descending in a circle from the top of the potion. Both the alchemist and Zarali inspected the potion.

[Healing Potion]

[Anti-Mage]

[Potion] [Modified Potion]

Epic

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

A healing potion. Drink to restore health.

Effect:

Creates a shield of anti-magic around the user. For every point of health restored, block 2 points of magical damage.

Instantly restores 125 health points.

“That’s a good potion,” Zarali said.

Theo thought about it before responding. He’d seen a lot of “good potions” in his time, but this was one of the best. It bundled the effects of two potions into one. He had a feeling that the description was very specific about what it did. His intuition said the user only gained the magic shield for the amount of health effectively restored, not potentially restored. If the user wasn’t missing health, they wouldn’t get the shield. The alchemist applied the [Sear] modifier to another Healing Potion, watching as fissures of fire spread through the pink liquid. After the reaction settled down, he inspected the result.

[Healing Potion]

[Sear]

[Potion] [Modified Potion]

Epic

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

A healing potion. Drink to restore health.

Effect:

A wave of fire radiates from the imbiber of this potion, dealing damage to all targets equal to the healing potency of this potion.

Instantly restores 130 health points.

“Another great one,” Zarali said, letting out a laugh. “Perhaps even better. Offensive healing.”

“Both are amazing,” Theo said, nodding to himself. “I think the one with [Sear] is slightly better.”

“They’re situational,” Zarali said. “Last one. Use it on a poison.”

Theo obeyed, introducing the [Desiccate] modifier into a vial of poison he made for Tresk. The liquid grew a dimmer shade, bubbled violently, then settled down. The pair inspected the result.

[Poison]

[Desiccate]

[Poison] [Modified Poison]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Excellent

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Coat your weapon to deal additional damage over time to an enemy.

Effect:

Cripples an enemy, reducing their Dexterity by 5.

Applies a stacking DoT effect based on poison quality. Each stack of poison removes an amount of moisture from the target’s body, desiccating them from the inside out. Maximum of 10 stacks.

It was another situational potion. The other version he’d made for Tresk was better, ‌but this was good. Zarali’s disapproving look said it all. Despite the last potion being less powerful than the others, the crafting session was successful. Both the [Sear] and [Anti-Mage] properties were incredibly useful. Theo still had a few basic bombs laying around, something he wanted to correct before the next monster wave, but he thought they would serve as a solid base for testing the effects of his new properties.

Theo withdrew two Basic Firebombs and two Basic Freezebombs from storage, applying [Anti-Mage] and [Sear] properties to both. The freezebomb seemed to bubble more vigorously than any other experiment they tried before, almost causing the pair to flee from the lab. But it calmed down in time, coming to terms with the application of a fire-based modifier in time. He inspected the modified Basic Firebomb first.

[Basic Firebomb]

[Sear]

[Bomb] [Modified Bomb]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

Shatter against a surface to release flames that stick to the target.

Effect:

Fire radiates outward from the point of contact, applying a 25%-strength DoT effect on all afflicted targets.

The effect was as expected. Instead of setting the target on fire, it sent a wave of fire out and applied a less-powerful version of the DoT to all targets. He inspected the [Sear]-modified Basic Freezebomb next.

[Basic Freezebomb]

[Sear]

[Bomb] [Modified Bomb]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

Shatter against a surface to release ice that roots the target.

Effect:

Roots the target in place, applying a DoT instance of frostfire.

Theo didn’t know what frostfire damage was, and it seemed contradictory. It didn’t matter, though. The potion still held its rooting effect, which was its only use. The addition of a damage effect was appreciated. Zarali shrugged at both. They were good, just not overly impressive. Things only got interesting when they went to inspect the bombs infused with [Anti-Mage].

[Basic Firebomb]

[Anti-Mage]

[Bomb] [Modified Bomb]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

Shatter against a surface to release flames that stick to the target.

Effect:

Coats the target in flames infused with anti-magical properties. While on fire, targets afflicted with this fire will take damage equal to two times their spell’s mana cost when they cast any spell.

The potion lived up to the modifier’s name. This effect was tailored to stop mages from casting their spells. Theo could only imagine how that would cripple any magic-user, forcing them to wait until the flame effect expired. The Basic Freezebomb was even more interesting.

[Basic Freezebomb]

[Anti-Mage]

[Bomb] [Modified Bomb]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Quality: Great

Shatter against a surface to release ice that roots the target.

Effect:

Roots the target with antimagical ice. Breaking free from the root effect through any means, magical, manual, or through the expiration of this effect, will deal damage equal to three-fourths of the target’s maximum mana as health over 10 seconds.

The Freezebomb with [Anti-Mage] was more like a mage killer rather than something to hinder them. People who used magic were more likely to put their points into Intelligence, causing them to gain more mana. The result of using this bomb on a magic user would be devastating. They would be trapped in ice. If they teleported away, broke the ice with magic, or stood there, they were in trouble. Zarali let out a whistle after reading the description.

“That would kill me,” she said. “It’s based on the target’s attributes—that’s vicious. I assume this runs through a resistance check, though.”

Then there was the issue of actually hitting the target. That was the hardest thing about using this potion to kill a high-level mage. Theo had no intentions of using the potion on another person, but there would be magical monsters. It was only logical. If someone with a good arm could hit a magical creature, it wouldn’t matter how powerful they were. They’d be dead.

“Wanna get dinner?” Theo asked.

“Absolutely,” Zarali said.

Chapter 57

The Bathhouse

Tresk joined Theo and Zarali to tour her new enchanting building. The building’s interior was lavished, compared to the alchemist’s expectations. She had cleared everything to the sides of the room, leaving an area down the center for an ornamental rug. At the end of the long rug, sitting under a stained glass window, was a shrine to Drogramath. Entering the building gave the alchemist a sense of comfort, and his eyes were instantly drawn to the shrine.

Along the edge of the room were tools he had never seen sat atop tables and strewn haphazardly. There wasn’t a room for her to sleep within, but Zarali had taken to sleeping at Xol’sa’s tower. She gave them a tour of the building, showing off her impressive tools. The priestess had to tell them how impressive they were, since the descriptions only gave basic information. Enchanting required a combination of precision work with an awl, meant to scratch out the rough shape, then gems and her own personal magic to infuse them with power.

The roots of Xam’s new building were almost done forming. As the trio approached, they noted a crowd surrounding the tangle of roots, scratching their heads. They stopped for a moment to observe the group, a smile playing across both Theo's and Zarali’s face. Both of them knew what it was thanks to their high Wisdom. Tresk was still in the dark, but her curiosity was bubbling up.

“I give up,” Tresk said. “What is it?”

“A bathhouse,” Zarali and Theo said in unison. They turned to smile at each other.

“You noticed the outgoing pipes, too?” Theo asked.

“I did,” Zarali said. “I can’t imagine she’d need so much water for something like a brewery. Although, I’ve never seen a Bathhouse Seed Core.”

“A bathhouse,” Tresk said, barely a whisper.

“Knowing these buildings, you’ll get a buff for soaking in the water,” Theo said with a nod.

They made their way into Xam’s tavern, taking their traditional seat. She was serving a kind of dumpling soup again. It was more delicious than the last time they tried it, if that was even possible. That simple fact painted the Cook’s Core as something that made things better as it leveled up. Theo let his mind wander to the idea of a Level 100 cook and the transcendent experience of eating their food. Perhaps it would be difficult to go back to simply cooked meals after that.

“So, I’m catering the festival,” Xam said, grinning.

“What was it?” Theo asked. “Twelve days?”

“Twelve days of breakfast and dinner for everyone,” Xam said with a nod. “Fifty heads.”

Theo could see the gears turning in her mind. She wasn’t reluctant to do the event—she was salivating at the chance to get so much experience.

“I assume the bathhouse will be open by then,” Theo said.

Xam’s face twisted into shock. She looked over her shoulders, trying to ensure no one heard the scandalous revelation. “How did you know?”

“Lucky guess,” Zarali said, laughing.

“Is it going to be co-ed?” Tresk asked.

“According to Fenian, I can upgrade it to have different section, so I plan on having three main areas with private baths available for rent,” Xam said.

“So who is paying for all this?” Tresk asked, leaning in. “Seems expensive.”

“I’ve got funding from Throk and Luras,” Xam said. “They helped with the initial investment on the pipework. Kinda lame the building won’t generate its own water, but it will enchant the water to give buffs.”

“I knew it,” Theo said. “So, you’re planning to survive off people renting the private baths?”

“That’s the plan,” Xam said. “This is more a service for the town, though. Any outsider adventurers will have to pay a fee.”

Theo appreciated anything that helped the town outright and was overjoyed that someone else wanted to take the reins. He knew it would happen, though. The people of Broken Tusk weren’t sitting on their hands because they didn’t want to help. They didn’t have the means to do so before he transformed their economy. Perhaps thinking of himself as the catalyst wasn’t the right path. It was the complete transformation of the surrounding resources that injected the economy with much-needed cash.

“So, the festival,” Xam said. “Fifty heads. Two meals a day. Twelve days. I was told you were funding this.”

Theo tried to smile, but his mental math made that hard. He owed her for 1,200 meals and wasn’t eager to pay that bill. It would cost him 12 gold to pay her, assuming it was 1 silver a meal.

“How much per person?” Theo asked, letting out a sigh.

“Oh, don’t get your mayoral undies in a twist,” Xam said, letting out a laugh. “Whatever you can pay me helps. I’m already swimming in turtle shells as it is.”

“Turtle shells?” Theo asked. He realized after asking that she used an idiom he hadn’t heard before. “Oh, you’re rich.”

“Exactly,” Xam said.

“Well, I’m guessing you’d get 12 gold from the event if I paid you full price,” Theo said, intent on keeping his promise.

“Give me 5 gold for a job well done,” Xam said.

Theo handed over five gold coins without hesitation. The thought of her going out of her way, gaining the support of Luras and Throk for the bathhouse idea, made him want to give her the full amount. This brought his total gold down to 26, but he wasn’t worried.

“And I’ll help you upgrade the building when it's done,” Theo said. “As a thanks.”

“Always easy doing business with you, Theo,” Xam said, winking. “You’re a pushover.”

“He is,” Tresk said. “But he’s getting better.”

The group ate their meal without discussing the bathhouse further. While they were all excited, Theo had other things on his mind. Potions had solved several issues with the town, but they had since grown past needs he could sate. Now it fell to these people, once scrambling in the mire to feed themselves, to raise the town further. Alchemy was integral to the success of the town, but he couldn’t do it alone. The alchemist’s cores were growing in strength slowly, compared to when he first arrived. The second-tier potions were already so powerful, and he couldn’t imagine what the next tier brought.

Theo thought about that next tier, wondering what it would bring. Whatever they might be, it would bring a new era of potion craft to this world. The Drogramathi who existed refused to share their wares with the rest of the world. Zarali was so unlike that picture she painted, willing to give herself to Broken Tusk. That might have been a fluke of her circumstances, considering that no other dronon had received a transmigrator. She had a special anchor in the alchemist, drawing her to the town. The explanation was good enough for him.

Once Theo’s equipment reached a point that he could satisfy mass demand, everyone would use his potions. He pushed the thoughts away and enjoyed his meal, finding that it hit the spot. When the group was done eating, Theo and Tresk accompanied Zarali to the portal. When the companions returned to the Newt and Demon, they were eager to get into the Dreamwalk.

Theo had more ideas as they entered the Dreamwalk. The longer he confronted more of his terrible memories of Earth, he remembered more of the good places. Despite the complete destruction of Berlin, there was a pleasant cottage he remembered hunkering down in for some time. They arrived on the edge of a forest, a low stone wall bordering the building. The pair spent their time practicing their arts and sharing their excitement about the coming bathhouse. The alchemist brought his Drogramath Herbalism Core close to his alchemy core, but it still trailed. They would now hit Level 14 at around the same time.

When they woke the next morning, feeling fresh and rested, they departed the lab to eat breakfast. Arriving at Xam’s tavern brought an unfamiliar sight. Long tables lined the edge of the town’s square, surrounding the monolith. They were already laden with dishes. Fire Artifices burned, heating kettles filled with brewing moss tea bubbled. Flowers of all kinds hung, strung along the tables, and the Marsh Wolf Tavern.

“Festival!” Tresk shouted, pumping her fist. “You’re going to have fun with this, Theo. We’re gonna make the best wreath.”

Theo and Tresk grabbed a plate from Xam. The marshling didn’t need to consider whether to sit. She simply downed the leftover dumpling soup in one go, releasing a loud belch and returning the bowl to the tavern’s keeper. More townspeople began gathering near the front of the tavern. They all shared the same excitement for the festival, and the alchemist was getting in the mood for celebration. As more people grabbed bowls of food, sipping their tea, more eyes turned to the mayor. Only a thoughtful nudge from Aarok revealed the need for a speech.

Theo cleared his throat, commanding the attention of the buzzing crowd. More eyes turned to him, and he wasn’t certain what he should say.

“The Festival of Dying Blooms,” Theo started, figuring that was as good of a place to start as any. “We stand at the edge of the Season of Blooms and on the precipice of something else entirely. To the new people in town, I welcome you. You’ve found a rare space among mortals. A space where everyone is given a chance to do their best. Without your hard work, we’re nothing. So, join with me in celebration of the end of this season. And may the best wreath win.”

Theo received applause for his efforts, even if he wasn’t convinced of his speech. It felt awkward to address such a crowd, especially one filled with so many unfamiliar faces. They seemed to accept his words, though. Every mind in that crowd seemed to support him in more ways than he could imagine, bolstering his dream for this place. Aarok got the crowd’s attention after that, explaining the rules of the festival. He pointed a finger at Theo, emphasizing that cheating wasn’t allowed. He couldn’t use alchemical means to preserve the flowers beyond their natural life, nor could he use whole plants on his wreath. The wreaths had to be completed by the end of the day. This evening, the mayor would inspect each one to ensure they were following the rules.

Since there was no real reward for the festival, there was no reason to cheat. Even if Tresk had done so last year, she had done so out of spite for Banu’s perfect record. After the rules were laid out and everyone had their food, the citizens of Broken Tusk fanned off into the swamp. The adventurer’s guild provided escorts for groups daring to enter the swamp.

“What’s the best flower?” Tresk asked. “Last year I used the fire ones, but I hid the whole plant in the wreath.”

Theo thought about it for a moment. His herb knowledge gave him an unfair advantage. Stone Flowers wouldn’t show any rot over time, but that was absolutely cheating. Widow Lilies would last for quite a long time, but not the Water Lilies. The alchemist settled on a combination of flowers and foliage that would likely not last the entire twelve days but would provide stark contrast. He led his companion to his greenhouse, where the Spiny Swamp Thistle had grown small buds of white flowers. They smelled like garlic and were aesthetically pleasing, but he doubted their longevity.

Tresk wove a wreath of greenwood branches as they went around collecting the perfect flowers. They harvested flowers from the eastern section of the town, making a wide circle that consumed most of the morning into the north. Theo spotted someone else harvesting Widow Lilies, but they offered no conversation. Midday came and went. Tresk was particular about the flowers she’d accept for the wreath, and they needed to entwine enough of them to provide a striking image. She claimed looks were half the battle, since it was up to the whims of fate to win the competition.

The pair returned to the Newt and Demon, finding that others were doing the same. Even Zarali hung one from her door. Theo had to wonder if Xol’sa had a wreath hanging somewhere in his tower. The elf was in the crowd, at any rate.

Everyone gathered for dinner back at the square. Xam had prepared a banquet-style meal for the evening. The courses ranged from spicy soups to savory meat dishes slathered in a cream-based sauce. Theo appreciated the addition of Karatan milk to his diet and couldn’t remember how he lived without it. When the tavern’s keeper revealed kegs of honied mead from Rivers and Daub, the crowd went wild.

Theo found himself with a tankard of the sweet-smelling drink in his hand before he could object. The flavor of the drink was a strange combination of yeasty bread and sweet honey. To his unaccustomed taste, it was offensive at first. Only when his head began buzzing did he come to enjoy the drink.

The large group began their lazy wind around the town. Those who had been in town before, experiencing the festival in past years, had understood what kind of wreath to make. The newer additions to the town went a different route. Their wreaths took all shapes and sizes, not conforming to the circular shape. Throk had also decided not to follow the standards of the town. His entry into the contest contained minimal flowers. It was a decorative amalgam of tubes and artifices that played fart noises on a loop. It also shot sparks, and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Once the tour was concluded, everyone returned to the center of town to continue their celebrations. Theo made sure to go easy on the mead, only mildly enjoying the way it made his head swim. He hoped the citizens would get over the new introduction to their diet quickly, as the threat of monster waves was always present. The start of the festival couldn’t have gone better, though.

Things settled down as the sun set, giving Theo a chance to appreciate what they’d built so far. The road ahead was long, but he knew they would proceed at a steady pace. He returned to the Dreamwalk with his companion, intent on gaining more experience. Alise’s contract expired tomorrow, giving the alchemist a chance to interview her about her position in the city. He knew she’d agree to continue her work and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Chapter 58

Servant of Khahar

Zan’kir threw a log into his fireplace, breathing life into the dying embers and sending a sweltering wave of heat through his home. Night had fallen over his adoptive home, a fitting end to the progress made by the small village. This heat was the one thing that reminded him of home. The swirling maelstrom of power over the town was the only other thing that gave him a sense of nostalgia. That same maelstrom prevented long-range communication by the normal means, sending him into a flurry to find reagents.

Zan’sal padded over, cooing at her child before coming to rest near the fire.

“Ziz says he has it,” Zan’kir said, smiling.

“Assuming Ziz doesn’t know what it is,” Zan’sal mocked. She wasn’t supportive of the plan, but it was their duty. Their sacred charge. “Surely we can delay.”

“He’ll know.”

“He hasn’t found out so far.”

“That we know of.”

Zan’sal wrapped her arms around herself, letting out a slow breath. She stood up, walking away without another word. Zan’kir nodded to himself, rising to find and wear his cloak. He secured his scimitar to his side and left into the oppressive humidity of the night. Most citizens of Broken Tusk were asleep by now, but as he ascended toward the quarry, he heard the raucous laughter of the stoneworkers. They were a strange group among strange people.

Ziz greeted the Khahari near the edge of a ring of light, cast by a roaring bonfire. The half-ogre pulled him into a hug, free of suspicion and willing to share whatever liquor they were drinking.

“Doing all right there, Zan’kir?” Ziz asked.

“Quite fine, Rotgut.”

“My boys were talking,” Ziz said, withdrawing a yellow gem from his pocket. “We never took you for gem work. Did you get a new core?”

“No. The Kherite is sacred to my people,” Zan’kir said, feeding half-truths. “They say a piece of the Khahari Desert rests within every gem.”

“Ah,” Ziz said, handing over the gem. “If it’s so important, it’s yours for free.”

“Nonsense,” Zan’kir said, producing a gold coin.

Like most in Broken Tusk, Ziz was too generous. Zan’kir didn’t want fellow townspeople to think too little of him. The blood of the town might have been alchemy, but its muscles and bones were adventurers. There was plenty of coin in the swamp, and it would be irresponsible not to pay one’s dues.

Zan’kir remained there for some time, refusing to drink but joking by the fire. The ribbons of flame, lashing out with the wild wind of the rocky hills, were too inviting to refuse. He saw the desert in those flames. Roving clans of Khahari, all moving under the desert sun with a single purpose in mind. It had been that way for eons, according to their folk stories. Unlike most people, the Khahari had a way to corroborate their creation myths. Their progenitor was still alive.

The half-ogres passed out long before Zan’kir tired of their festivities. He made his way back into town, passing by his home to walk the streets. Despite his confidence in the plan, there was a lingering sense of doubt that wouldn’t be so easily banished. Those same stories from his homeland, passed down through stories and songs, spoke of war. They detailed the tumultuous times that plagued the world at its creation. Once a seed was planted, it was impossible to stop the roots from spreading. Like a weed.

Zan’kir returned home after a time, full of admiration for the expansion this small town had experienced in such a short time. He found Zan’sal sleeping in the bedroom, too tired to stay awake for the ritual. The ritual circle was devilishly complex, but thus was the requirement to pierce the barrier protecting his homeland. It was an eight-sided star—a reagent in each point and the gem in the center. With a swipe of his hand, a few words, and a pulse of mana, he activated the spell.

The room was filled with the dry, oppressive heat of the desert in an instant. A ghostly face appeared, floating in the center of the star. Zan’kir panicked, smashing his forehead into the wood floor and pressing his palms flat.

“Who calls?” a voice said, washing over him like a dry wind.

“Zan’kir, my lord.”

“Ah. I expected information sooner.”

“Apologies, my lord,” Zan’kir said.

“Are you giving forgiveness to the floor?” the voice said. “Look upon your patron.”

Zan’kir raised his head slowly, locking eyes with the progenitor of all Khahari—the living ancestor god of their people.

Khahar was striking. Even under shaggy fur and through the distorted image of the spell, he was magnificent. Zan’kir froze for a long moment before his patron cleared his throat.

“Apologies,” Zan’kir repeated.

“Better. What have you found?”

“He lives, as you predicted,” Zan’kir said. “In the body of a dronon.”

“Soul-sharing?” Khahar said.

“That is beyond my knowledge, oh Great One,” Zan’kir said.

There was a long pause after that. Khahar remained in the center of the circle, a ghostly bust that flooded the room with yellow light.

“Theo Spencer,” Khahar said, trailing off. “You’ve done well, Zan’kir. We’ll meet soon, with any luck.”

The image cut out suddenly. The winds of the sacred desert faded in an instant, and Zan’kir was left alone near the fire, shaking. Even through the communication ritual, his power was overwhelming. It was like standing naked against a sandstorm—buffeted by the wind and scoured clean of all doubt.

At the door to the bedroom, Zan’sal stood up, her eyes wide.

“He’s coming?” she asked, fear dripping in her voice. “What have you done?”

Not all Khahari believed Khahar should remain on the mortal plane. No living mortal should have that much power.

Epilogue

Theo Spencer,

49th Day, Season of Blooms,

873rd Year of Balkor’s Betrayal

I’ve switched to English for this one. With Zarali in the town, I can’t count on the old Drogramathi script, so this seems like the best idea I have. If there’s someone on this planet that can read English, then they can read anything else I write. What’s the point in that?

Things have taken more turns in the past few weeks than I care to write here, but I suppose that’s the point. I had a lot of problems dealing with the sudden rush of emotions—emotions that weren’t mine—but I’ve dealt with them. The Dreamwalk has been more than a little helpful in healing old wounds, but it’s slow. I’ve raised my attributes enough to recognize my failings, and now I’m working to improve them.

That’s the first thing I’d like to write about. Cores are, as far as I can understand, links. You could think of them as pieces of a realm, or house. Some aren’t aligned, and others are. Resting in my chest are three cores. Two go to Drogramath, and one goes to something else entirely. The Tara’hek is my single most important core—I realize that now. Without it, I’m like a rudderless ship.

The Tara’hek is at war with my Drogramath cores, and it’s winning. It’s like a pocket realm that envelops Tresk and me. If I take more cores, I need to do research on them. I need to know that they’re not aligned with someone else, because if that’s the case… Well, I’d rather not think about that.

I thought my journey to the Harbinger was the end. The last chapter in my story. Beaten, bruised, and indoctrinated. Grasping on to that last sliver of hope like that silver chain on my neck. Maybe I had thoughts of an afterlife. I don’t remember. I tried not to think, and perhaps that stunted my intelligence. My view of the world had only recently expanded, but my Drogramath cores helped cover up my lacking wisdom. Then here I am. In Broken Tusk, getting more experience than should be possible. A sudden growth in both Intelligence and Wisdom. Your brain changes when that happens. Your thoughts change. I can see all that stuff back on Earth without breaking down now. Hell, I can even look at Berlin again.

I’m smarter. I’m more wise. I’m stronger, faster, more durable. Those physical attributes make sense, and they wouldn’t change your thought process. But Intelligence and Wisdom? Those are dangerous. And it’s not really “intelligence.” It doesn’t make me smarter to have a higher score; it makes me think faster and have better logical deduction. Wisdom doesn’t make me more wise; it increases my intuition. I think it also increases something related to spellcraft, but I’ve never cast a spell in my life. Only now am I experimenting with mana, and that has been strange enough.

Breaking into 20 Intelligence is going to make me pretty smart. I hope. That leads to a question I have about this entire system. My thought process has already been altered enough by attributes, let alone cores. Thinking about Sulvan gives me the chills. He doesn’t act like a normal person. He’s more like a bird of prey, always looking around for the next thing to grab. His attributes have gone high enough to turn him into something else, and that scares the hell out of me. What happens when I hit Level 100? The Theo Spencer everyone knew back on Earth is already dead several times over. What will he be like in the future?

Well, that’s a bit too heady for this journal. You really have to take things one at a time, you know? Hey, reader. You there. Strange being from another universe. Take it easy. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself, and stop thinking that you have to do everything. That’s something I learned about, make no mistake. The deal with Rivers and Daub was orchestrated to assassinate me, but guess what? My town is filled with badass adventurers who are looking out for me.

To anyone looking to attack my town: come at me. It seems like anyone who is strong enough to take the town has their sights elsewhere. I guess you get to a level where material things just aren’t where it's at.

Since my last entry, a lot of things have changed. We have several new citizens to start. I lifted a few that already lived here, so that’s good. Gridgen is running the mine. Oh, we have a mine and a smelter now. Xol’sa is a wizard who has a tower outside of town (he’s incredibly important to the town). Nira smelts our metal, and Alise is my new assistant. They’re all very interesting people, but Zarali stands out among all the new arrivals.

Imagine losing your sibling. Roving the planet to find answers since he disappeared, leaving you nothing to remember him by, and then pop. There he is. Doing alchemy in some podunk town in the southlands. I can’t imagine the emotional toll it took on her, but I think she’s happy to have anyone, even if it’s just an imposter. That’s what I am, after all. Living a stolen life.

Don’t worry, mysterious reader. I’m already over that. You are very mysterious though, aren’t you? I’m certainly not going to go back and read this crap. That makes me wonder if anyone will ever read this. But that’s not important.

I’m sure I can break through my next barrier. Something tells me the Level 20 barrier relates to infusing things with mana. Another baby step toward real alchemy. The things these alchemists have been doing will pale compared to what I’m going to do. That’s right. I’m slightly ambitious about my prowess. The other Drogramath Dronon made mistakes. They kept to the shadows when they should have been in the light.

I wrote this a lot faster than last time. Even with a quill and ink, if you can imagine that. This is enough writing for a few weeks. My hand is cramping.

Farewell, strange reader. Until next time…

The story continues in Newt and Demon 3!

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