Book Three Chapter Nineteen: Makeshift Meeting Space

Book Three Chapter Nineteen: Makeshift Meeting Space

Finally! Qube was a massive fan of explanations!

So, the Chosen One said, clapping his hands together.

That was about as far as he got into his explanation before he got stuck. Which was also around the same time Qube remembered that the Chosen One, for all his many virtues, was terrible at explaining things.

You have a solution, she prompted, helpfully.

Yes, he said. He clapped his hands again, as if trying to reset himself. Mana pool. Yknow how the mana pool, with the Devs, not enough of it?

Yes, the continuous spell being cast to keep our world running might at any minute run out of power, this is a thing I am very aware of. Qube was doing her best to sound casual, but she could sense that she wasnt sounding very cool, calm, and collected about the end of the world.

Right, the Chosen One said, grimacing slightly. Well, I told the Devs, and they got in touch with the person who decides how much mana they get? That doesnt quite work. He covered his mouth as he thought, before snapping his fingers. nove(l)bi(n.)com

I got it! he said. So you know how tax works, right? And how the king or whatever decides how much tax goes to each department, like the head of the guards and head of repairing things, and stuff? Right, so, think of the Devs as, like, a part of the kingdom that reports to the guild of Building Things With Mana, and they were given a certain amount of money, or mana, to build things with. And now they need to talk to the person in charge of the Building Things With Mana to ask for more!

The Chosen One wiped his forehead.

Phew! he said. Does that make sense?

Qube was horrified. So the Devs, the beings that had made her entire world, were just a small cog in a kingdom, subject to bureaucratic nonsense? Shed known that there were others above them, but from the way the Chosen One was talking, it was as if they were no different from a division of the Alchemists Guild. What could the guilds above them create? How high up did it go? How mind-meltingly powerful was the Royalty of the Devs Realm?

And the guild master in charge of distributing mana/money wants to see what theyve produced with the mana and why they need more, so hes asked to meet you specifically before he agrees to give them any more resources, the Chosen One finished in a rush.

Me? Qube asked, her voice lost under the explosion of noise as everyone spoke at once.

Well of course he would want to meet our adorable Healer, Sexy Screamy Spider Lady said like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Only her? Sewer Bard asked calmly.

I must request that we be present for this interrogation, Definitely Bad Guy insisted.

I agree, Sewer Bard said, instantly adding to the Mages statement. You said it yourself; there were to be no secrets between us, so naturally we shall be joining you.

Wait, you think theyre going to interrogate our sweet little innocent? Sexy Screamy Spider Lady reared up on her legs to her full height.

If they have any wisdom, they shall not dare harm her, Definitely Bad Guy replied, an unspoken threat in his voice.

All in all, it was chaos as the rest of the party worked themselves up into a frenzy. The Chosen One raised a hand, cutting them off.

Look, he said, before he lowered his hand and sighed. This is something Alex is in charge of, and apparently the lieutenant or brigade or whatever only wants to meet her.

The Hero looked surprisingly serious as he continued; These arent people I can argue with, okay? This dude is already doing us a huge favour by agreeing to meet so soon and Alex was already freaking out about making the place look right, and gave me a bunch of instructions which I actually wrote down.

Why shouldnt I be here? Not-Ruth asked, clumsily sliding off the table. This things got my career riding on it, so why the [fiddle] wouldnt I want to see it before it wrecks our chances with the higher-ups?

Shes not an it, the Chosen One said, setting his jaw.

Not-Ruths sneer deepened.

I dont want to lose the last five years of my life on your sick waifu fantasy, she snarled.

So you come to stir up trouble just before we meet with the dude in charge of your funding? the Chosen One shot back.

No, Ive come to make sure your weird little messiah complex doesnt blow the whole thing. You and Alex are just as bad as each other, whinging about free will and sentience. Its going to do what I tell it to do, or else were all in danger of getting this whole project axed. And I know you barely care about that, but I worked my [fiddling apples] off to get where I am, and Im not letting it all get blown up by some [fiddling] amateur who doesnt understand [snacks] about tech.

Qube had some idea what was going on. Enough, at least, to realise that Not-Ruth was referring to her, every time she said it.

Qube did not particularly enjoy being called an it.

Okay, is it listening to me? Not-Ruth said, snapping her fingers in front of Qubes face. Qube resisted the urge to smack the Devs hands away.

Hello, Dev, Qube said pleasantly. Whats your name?

Urgh! How does it know Im a dev? Thats so creepy! Not-Ruth complained.

You in that body is creepy, the Chosen One replied.

What, is this not what youre into? Not-Ruth sneered, distracted for a moment. There was a strange sound that Qube realised was the Chosen One grinding his teeth.

My name is Qube, Qube said before things could escalate, a well-practised smile pinned firmly in place.

Your name is a joke, Not-Ruth snapped at her, before closing her eyes. Great, now Im responding to it like itll understand.

Mate, the Chosen One said, in a tone that very much implied Not-Ruth and him were not, in fact, mates, Im giving you one last warning. Shes a she. You call her it one last time, and we're going to have problems.

Not-Ruths eyes gleamed. Ah, but thats not for you to tell me, is it? she said. She looked at Qube and, for the first time, made brief eye contact with the Healer before looking back at the Chosen One.

Your precious little side-project is the one messing everything up because it thinks its human, doesnt it? she continued. So if it objects to being called that, then its not your job to tell me. Its this things job. Not-Ruth waved a hand towards Qube.

Qube didnt think she was a human at all. She knew very well that she was a half-elf. But she didnt want to correct this Dev. The other Devs had been strange, and scary because of how powerful they were, but this Dev was something else entirely.

This Dev didnt like her. And she didnt even know how to begin to process the fact that one of the creators of her world didnt like her.

Unless was this an Evil Dev? That would explain why the Chosen One was so upset by her presence! The Devs had introduced Evil into the world for a reason, and Qube had suspected that part of the reason was so that the inhabitants would be able to recognise Evil when they came across it.

However, something Qube had picked up on was that it sounded like the Evil Dev was also involved in the creation of the world, if this was the project Not-Ruth was talking about. Depending on how much power the Evil Devs had in the Devs realm, the Devs might not have even had a choice about including Evil in their world.

No wonder the Good Devs needed the party to ascend and help them once they defeated the Evil Emperor. If this Dev was anything to go by, the Evil Devs were real jerks!