Chapter 23: Fenian's Request

Chapter 23: Fenian's Request

Morning came early for Theo. Darkness blanketed Broken Tusk, the depth of the gloom telling him it was well before dawn. Tresk snored away on the far end of the room and he left her to her dreams. The alchemist spent those early hours reviewing his notes and making new ones in the margins of his books. He was already beyond anything they could teach him, but he grasped at their words, looking for hidden things that he might have overlooked. Frustrating hours passed by with no hint as to what lay beyond the base-level distillation. The irritation he felt vanished when he considered the endless possibilities of experimentation.

Tresk rose as dawn drew closer, bounding from the bedroom with an excitement Theo couldnt help but match. The day that sat before them was filled with excitement, not just because of his Lord Administrator title but the return of the merchant. Fenian was more honest than the image he had in his mind of a traveling merchant. It was a relationship of convenience, he realized, but the Elfs coin spoke volumes.

Theo removed the pot of soup from his inventory, serving out the last scoops into two bowls before placing the kettle on the [Flame Artifice]. He cranked it to the lowest setting and stared as the small flame danced to life. A smile spread across his face as he dug into his soup, no longer needing to tend the wood fire.

Ill never get over that, Tresk said, giggling.

My thoughts, exactly. No more smoke in my eyes, Theo said. Youre training the adventurers again, right?

Luras thinks theyll be ready after today, Tresk said. I should hit level 10, and then were going to run the dungeon.

Theo felt his heart jump in his chest. To venture into the swamp was one thing, but delving into the dungeon was another. He let out a heavy sigh, steadying himself before responding. Youre going to need more potions.

Tresk took a mouthful of her soup before talking, gnashing noisily as she spoke. Well be fine. The first floors are easy.

If you say so, Theo said, nodding. I need to ask Fenian if he has dimensional bags for the shop.

The alchemist had a few crates of reagents that needed to be thrown out. Some of his early collections were rotting in the corners of the lab, unable to hold out without the stasis of his inventory. He didnt lament their loss, but wanted to prevent it from happening again. Fenian would demand an absurd amount of potions when he stopped by today. Space would become a premium within the lab.

The pair sat there, drinking their tea and eating their food. They talked about the town, and how he could leverage his new title for its betterment. The only authority he had was regarding the upgrade system, but the northern mine was looking more reasonable. He was certain that the new title gave him the right to strike a claim for the city, hire laborers, and excavate the stones required to pave the muddy streets. The sensation of mud in his moccasins was still unnerving.

A knock came from the front before dawn. Theo lit the candles downstairs, opening it to find a fresh-faced Azrug beaming from the early morning gloom.

Youre early, Theo said.

Too excited, Azrug said, dancing in place. Barely slept.

Were having tea upstairs, if youre interested.

The boy followed Theo upstairs, finding a chair next to Tresk and taking a cup of the [Moss Nettle] tea. He seemed at home among people from Broken Tusk. Even if the alchemist wasnt truly from here, the citizens considered him one of their own.

Were getting walls, soon, Azrug said, nodding to himself. He sipped gingerly on the tea, making a sour face every time. Someone saw a wolf in town last night?

Tresk set her tea down and knit her brow. Seriously?

Azrug nodded vigorously. Xam told me about it. Mean-looking Marsh Wolf just trotting down the main road. An adventurer drove it off, but it got away.

Thats incredibly dangerous, Theo. Dont tell Azrug, but thats a sign of a monster thats been out of the dungeon too long. It lost its fear of people, Tresk said, keeping the words from Azrug.

Theo cupped his hand in his chin, weighing his options. The only solution he saw was to get the walls up sooner. If they couldnt do that, hed stretch his authority to create a militia. He brought his thoughts into words, saying, Broken Tusk doesnt have any guards, does it?

None, Azrug blurted. No night watch, no militia, no irregular armynothing.

That has to change, Theo said.

The group fell into a somber silence as the alchemist went back into his thoughts. Broken Tusk had too many problems to fix all at once. It was easy for him to solve an issue that was directly related to alchemy such as the water, or the tannery. But to solve a logistical problem related to the defense of a small town, cut off from greater civilization, was another. He thought back to the media he consumed back on Earth, and the depictions of medieval towns. There always seemed to be a night watch, patrolling the streets after hours, but standing in a real medieval town was another story. The guards would need wages, lodging, and a command structure.

Broken Tusk doesnt have military people. Thats the problem, Tresk said with a shrug.

Theo tilted his head. That wasnt entirely true. He recalled Aarok, the new adventurer that came to buy potions from his shop a few days ago. He was well-prepared, and claimed to have some experience training for the Qavelli Irregulars, whatever that was. A plan was forming in his head, but it needed time to stew.

They let those thoughts fade away in favor of Azrugs hopes. He was excited to get a job out of the fields. The boy imagined himself working the land for the rest of his life, never able to realize his dreams, although he admitted that no grand schemes had formed in his head yet. Breakfast soon ended, dawn breaking outside, and the boy took up his station downstairs. Tresk departed soon after, pressing her forehead against Theos before she left.

Theo joined Azrug downstairs, not willing to start any projects before Fenian delivered his demands. He wanted to pick the boys brain about Aarok.

Have you met Aarok? Theo asked, leaning against the counter.

Now thats a question. Hes worked the fields with the other laborers before. Silent guy, Azrug said, kicking his feet up on the counter and reclining. Why?

Did he ever talk about his days as a soldier?

Youll have to ask Luras about that, Azrug said. I like a bit of gossip as much as the next person in Broken Tusk, but hes silentlike I said.

Theo sighed. If we want a town guard, we need soldiers.

Oh. Im finally picking up on the annoyingly vague way youre speaking, Azrug said, scoffing. Thats an expensive venture, Id think.

Five full-time guards, maybe. Two copper a day in wages, Theo said. Wed bleed nearly a silver a week just in defense.

I mean, why not just get volunteers?

Volunteers would work as hard as volunteers work, Theo said. When youre young, you can ask your friends to help you move for pizza and beer. But when you get older, youre better off hiring a moving company.

Objectives:

500 [Lesser Healing Potions]

500 [Lesser Stamina Potions]

500 [Lesser Mana Potions]

50 [Lesser Strength Potions] (Optional)

50 [Lesser Dexterity Potions] (Optional)

50 [Lesser Vigor Potions] (Optional)

50 [Lesser Intelligence Potions] (Optional)

50 [Lesser Wisdom Potions] (Optional)

Time Remaining:

7 days

Reward:

Random Epic Alchemist Tool

You really are blessed, Fenian said, laughing. I think I need to revise my theory about your gift Its much more potent than I thought before.

Well do it, Theo said, nodding. A week is plenty of time and that's Thats a lot of money. I do have a request, though.

Oh? Lets hear it, then.

Coin is fine for the restoration potions, but Id like to be paid in monster cores for the stat potions, Theo said.

I can do that, Fenian said, reaching out to shake Theos hand. It was a symbolic gesture, seeing as the system already made him accept the quest. Ill bring my stock of level 30 monster cores when I return. We can also do coin, if you change your mind.

Honestly, Fenian, Theo said, letting out a heavy sigh. I dont want to sound weird, but youve been a huge blessing on my shop.

Fenian smiled, shrugging. Think of it as the start of a very profitable relationship. Im headed north now. Ill return in a week.

Fenian bowed before turning on the spot and leaving the shop. Azrug was counting on his fingers, muttering to himself. Boss. Thats three gold for the restoration potions. His face flushed.

Well need it, Theo said. This town is going to get very expensive.

The shock of the massive order left Azrug unable to celebrate. He sat back down in his chair, releasing a heavy sigh. Theo left him there, marching upstairs to deposit his new storage item. He placed the [Large Dimensional Crate] in the rooms corner, snatching up the junk and stowing it away. The crate had an inventory screen like his inventory system. He could even transfer items directly into the crate from his inventory. The top of the wooden crate was just a black void. When he went to reach inside, the screen simply popped up.

Care for an errand? Theo said, emerging into the shop.

Azrug was still in shock. I could use the air.

Theo gave him twenty copper coins to retrieve a bed from the carpenter. As the boy left, the alchemist remembered he didnt ask the trader about [Rogue Cores] for Tresk. It seemed like she was a back-burner item for him, something that made him sick to his stomach. She was happy with their arrangement, but he wanted to see her become something great. His goal was to become the best distillation expert in the world, and hers should be aligned.

The alchemist left the front door unlocked, finding his way to the lab and casting his gaze over it. While it was a temporary fix, the clutter was gone. Fifty of the crates slots were now occupied thanks to the random garbage that sat around his lab, but it wasnt out in the open. He rearranged the tables, shoving his weight against them to create a line of two tables near the stills, and a block of tables in the center of the lab. The table that he pushed against the window earlier stayed there, and he moved the four chairs around it. Hed much prefer looking out the window while he took his meals.

The gentle tinkle of the bell downstairs drifted through the lab. When Theo went to see if it was a customer, he found a burly Half-Ogre scratching his head at the threshold. It wont fit.

Allow me, Theo said, pressing his hand against the bed. It vanished into his inventory.

The man shrugged, turning and leaving. Azrug came in after, laughing. I used all your coin to hire that man and get the bed. They said it was the softest they hadgoose feathers or something.

Thank you, Azrug, Theo said, smiling. Man the shop, Im going to rearrange my bedroom.

Azrug plopped into his seat, pulling his book out as Theo went back upstairs. He rolled the bedroll up and set it in the corner, pulling the new bed from his inventory and arranging it in the room. There was enough space for them to sleep foot-to-foot with a wide walkway in between. Upon laying on the bed, he found it to be incredibly soft. Compared to his straw-stuffed mattress, this was a luxury. He popped his head downstairs and smiled at his shopkeeper.

Go buy another one, Theo said, throwing twenty more copper with an underhand toss. It clattered to the ground.

Azrug groaned, rising to his feet and disappearing out the door again. Theo would have felt bad, but the shop was slow and he wanted a bed for himself. He returned upstairs while he waited for the boy to return, laying on Tresks bed and letting out a heavy sigh. He accepted the straw bed as a fact of life, something that was standard in Broken Tusk. If someone told him there were decent beds before, hed have snatched one up. The bell rang downstairs, and the annoyed Half-Ogre stared inside and waited for Theo to add the bed to his inventory.

Thank you, Theo said, chuckling.

The alchemist swapped the straw bed for his fancy bed and smiled at the scene. When he returned downstairs Azrug groaned. Do you need a third bed for some weird reason?

No, Im off to pay my laborers, Theo said. Watch the shop.