Chapter One-Hundred Eight

Chapter One-Hundred Eight

Freddie and Rhonda elect to take the streets over to the cemetery and crypt complex, rather than try to slip through the tunnels, and I can hardly blame them. The scythemaws are mostly settled in now, but why take the risk?

I look in on Thing and Larx to see what theyre up to. I didnt have Teemo tell them too much, other than their challenge should be something that doesnt involve fighting, and should be something to help the kids with their classes. Thing looks to be planning to get Rhondas help with the axe, specifically with getting the pick ups to translate properly into the singing tesla coils. The hat isnt finished yet, as I wanted to make sure the magitech amplifier setup would actually work before committing to the design.

Im not sure how electricity and sound will help Rhonda with her ice class, but something about it feels right, so I dont try to convince Thing to do something else.

Larx, on the other hand, seems to just be writing in a little book, trying to glean wisdom from how I run things. Im not so sure how well thatll work, but hes over halfway through this one, so what do I know? As far as I can tell, hes planning some kind of debate or something? A discussion? Hard to say without having Teemo ask him.

Soon enough, the kids enter through the cemetery gates, and they even wave at Grim before they head into the complex. Its interesting watching them fight the various verdant skeletons and fungal zombies, as well as the smattering of more ordinary undead that still wander out of the spawners sometimes.

Freddie doesnt try to turn any of the hybrids, instead seeming to draw on the Shields power to strengthen himself, rather than weaken his foes. Rhondas cold magic works pretty dang well to immobilize and weaken them enough on its own, seems like, and Im actually pretty impressed at how well theyre handling themselves in there. It gives me some confidence in them for the final challenge against Rocky and Aranya.

Before too long, they enter the public enchanting lab in the crypt complex, and Larx gives them a warm, grandfatherly smile and greeting. Ah, youve made it! I hope Vernew didnt take her loss too hard? he asks and motions for them to take a seat. Theres no need to rush into things, after all.

The kids nod and sit on some stools, and their spiders hop off and explore a little. Freddie soon realizes they were asked a question and shakes his head. She seemed to take it with grace. Well, with as much grace one can have when wrapped in a big bundle of Tinys web.

And a goblin, an orc, and two spiders, adds Rhonda with a smile, and Larx grins at that.

Ah, not the most graceful of victories, but accepted with grace all the same? Very good, very good. Id offer you cookies or a drink, but Thing has made it very clear to me that this lab is not a place for snacks, he says with a laugh, and Thing just shrugs somehow.

Master Staiven says the same thing. Theres stuff in a lab you dont want to accidentally eat or drink, and delicate stuff can be ruined by a spill, points out Rhonda, earning herself a thumbs-up from the wandering hand.

Indeed! So, without much to distract us, what classes are you two hoping to get? asks my dweller with a gleam in his eyes.

Ive been training hard to become a paladin of the Shield, says Freddie, and Rhonda quickly follows up.

This is some advanced stuff youre up to, Thing, she compliments, and that does at least lessen the sting of failure, even if it reminds him of his failure with the lifedrinking enchantment, too.

You and Queen both, and dont even get me started on Rocky, heh. Have you seen Queens new ice bomb thing? Thing has not, and so he motions for her to continue.

I have no idea how she did it, but she made something that spreads an ice slick while building up energy for a really loud explosion! I dont know how she managed to mix together ice, fire, and thunder of all things together into a flask!

Thing nods at that, letting his mind wander how it would work. Rhonda wouldnt know about how energy works like he and Queen do, and the other scions as well. The ice slick is created by the building explosion as it sucks the energy out of an area, and is then deliberately released with little direction.

Hmm sonic waves and electrical waves. What if the release on the coils isnt as properly organized as he thought? If the sounds are released wrong, they might be interfering with each other and canceling each other out.

Thing locks up as that thought mingles with the lingering bitterness of failing to defeat lifedrinking. He had been trying to pick it apart or otherwise destabilize it. Harmonic interference should be able to just make it vanish!

He scrambles to clear a space on the workbench, and the confused goblin does her best to help, even ordering Lucas to help put things away as Thing dashes about like a hand possessed. Once he has some room to work, he quickly creates a lifedrinking enchantment, and motions for Rhonda to look closer. She gasps as she realizes what it is.

Lifedrinking?! Whats that have to do with she starts, but once again quiets as Thing starts weaving his new attempt at a counterspell for it. Thunder? No, its close, but what are you doing...? she asks as she takes notes. Thing hardly hears her as he carefully works his magic, and he walks himself through the entire theory to help focus.

A wave has peaks and valleys, simple enough. If two waves meet, they will add together; peaks become bigger, valleys become deeper. But they can also lessen each other. A peak and a valley meeting will produce a smaller peak, a shallower valley. If you match them up perfectly wrong they will cancel each other out! Its much more complex when the waves move off of a simple piece of paper, and more complex still with magic, but he can feel it in his bones that it will work this time!

Oh! quietly exclaims Rhonda, and Thing realizes hes done it. The enchantment thats been his bane has just vanished like a bubble of soap. Hes actually done it! He does a little dance before holding himself up for a high five, but Rhonda is staring wide-eyed at where the enchantment used to be.

You did something with thunder or lightning, and countered Lifedrinking?! How does that even work?! she demands of him. Her need to know is quieted a little once she realizes shes been leaving him hanging, and she slaps her palm against his. But seriously, how?! That implies that implies so much!

Thing worries as he realizes he might have spilled the beans on one of the few things the Master has wished to keep secret from the delvers, but he can feel pride and happiness from the bond. Master Thedeim is proud of him for solving the long-standing problem!

As Thing looks over at Rhonda, he doesn't even need his Fate affinity to see shes making great strides towards her class as she theorizes wildly and chases possibilities. Hes a little nervous about that, but the Master trusts her and her friend. These secrets could be devastating in the wrong hands but they could be revolutionary in the right ones.