4.30 - A Secret Most Evil

4.30 - A Secret Most Evil

Alise must have been plotting for a while. Moving all the right pieces behind the scenes so Theo wouldnt notice. If she had approached him to assign him a permanent bodyguard, he would have declined. Not because he was too proud, but because it was a waste of resources. The walls were safe, after all. The alchemist sat in his massive library, shelves still empty, as Sarisa explained the situation.

Theres another one! Tresk said, poking her head from behind a curtain.

The others attending the dinner party were still chatting in the dining room. Tresk and Theo had retreated upstairs to discuss things with the new assistant. A large Half-Ogre man now stood at her side, baring most of the same features as the woman. The alchemist marked them as siblings before they explained themselves. Hed seen both of them around town, the man being a member of the Guild. Rowan Fletcher, owner of a potent stealth-style core. Tresk was his commander.

Rowan Fletcher, sir, the Half-Ogre man said, bowing. He wore the same style of clothes as his sister. A black button-up shirt with white pants. That couldnt be practical for combat. He looked too dapper for a Broken Tusker.

So Alise orchestrated this? Theo asked.

Yes, Rowan said, still bowing.

Theo sunk deeper into his chair. He wanted to be upset, but could not produce the reaction. They should have led with Rowan as his butler. That would have made things easier. But a sibling pair struck something within him.

How is Rowan in the field? Theo asked. The pair of assistants remained silent.

Hes a beast. [Baelthar Shadowstalkers Core]. That guy is good at making sure monsters dont move. In my squads, hes a floating specialist.

I like him, Alex said. The goose nipped at the mans ankles, but he didnt flinch.

Theo let them stew before he spoke again. Siblings, right? Rowan, youre the big brother.

Thats right, Rowan said, still bowing.

You can stand up straight. Youre my bodyguards, then?

Thats the idea, Sarisa said.

And servants. Assistants. Whatever you want to call us.

Theo let out another sigh, sinking deeper into his chair. If he went any lower, his back would be on the seat cushion. This is the sort of loyalty he didnt want. He understood a Broken Tuskers desire to support him, but this took it too far. Maybe that was a good thing, though. The alchemist always claimed there were endless jobs within the town, why should he deny a pair of citizens that wanted guard duty? Or servants, for that matter. They could do whatever they wanted with their lives.

Same contract as your sister, Theo said, drawing up a duplicate of Sarisas contract. Rowan signed it without hesitation. Youre the better fighter, Rowan?

Rowan and Sarisa shared a look.

Thats debatable, Sarisa said.

Fine. Ill leave the assisting and guarding to your discretion. You can maintain your own homes, but I recommend you stay here. Both of you are excused from your duties with the guild.

Aw, man, Tresk groaned. Youre taking my boy away?

Theo gave her a flat look, shaking his head. I dont need protection sometimes. I need it all the time, right?

Man. Fine. Im gonna complain, though.

You always complain, Tresk.

Not always.Ñøv€l-B1n was the first platform to present this chapter.

Always, Alex said.

Sarisa and Rowan had a comprehensive plan for their duties. They explained it together, detailing how theyd been working with Alise for longer than Theo expected. Even more surprising, it was their idea. Mayors normally had a guard detail, while national leaders had even more. The alchemist had been unprotected for too long, and he wouldnt disagree with their assessment.

Instead of turning in at their regular hour, Theo and Tresk worked with the new guards to place wards throughout the manor. The alchemist constructed several figures carved from bone and enchanted with [Reveal] for the pair to use. He also opened all the stock of the Newt and Demon for their personal use. They ended their parade around the manor in the kitchen.

Id like it if you wore armor, though, Theo said. Gear with stats.

Sarisa and Rowan shared one of their looks. Something they seemed to do often.

We thought a mage would notice, Sarisa said, grasping a locket at her neck. The maids outfit dissolved in a sheet of gray smoke, revealing chain armor over a padded gambeson.

Rowan followed, revealing his light leather armor.

An illusion, Tresk said, gawking. Alright, you guys are cool.

With that sorted, there were only a few more things to do before bed. Theo described his schedule to the new assistants, including his ability to drop into an adjacent realm once a day. His [Tarahek Core] was bound to level to 30 at any moment, resulting in a new skill. Both Sarisa and Rowan nodded as though that was a normal thing.

Were going to bed, Theo said, heading to the second floor with Tresk and Alex. See you in the morning.

Goodnight, Sarisa and Rowan said in unison.

During the day, Theo had moved their beds from the Newt and Demon to the manor. Alex nestled in her little box while Theo and Tresk fell into their comfortable beds. They drifted into the Dreamwalk after only a moment.

Alright, whats your read on them? Theo asked, feeling the soft grass of a random field depress under his feet.

Broken Tuskers through and through. Ive known both of them my entire life, Tresk said. Theo felt a sense of pride when she said that, her emotions flooding through their connection. Their parents still live in town. Theyre both a few years older than me. I think Rowan is like 30? Yeah, serious old man energy.

How about you, Alex?

While we have powers, using them isnt always an option, Alex said. We hide things like this away, so that others dont use them.

Not only do we hide it, we never talk about them. Any Drogramathi alchemist that can brew one of these should do the same, although I doubt any exist on the mortal plane.

Can you be sure?

Absolutely not. And theres going to be other potions like this. Other potions that arent morally gray like my bombs. Evil potions, Alex. Things that could ruin peoples lives.

We are the protectors of those secrets, Alex said, spreading her wings and flapping. I will protect the secrets with my life.

Good goose, Theo said, patting her on the head. Chances are high that I was placed in Belgars body because I have a strong moral compass.

Everyone has a breaking point.

Theos stomach twisted into knots, but he pushed it down. Well take steps to make sure we never get to that point.

Thank you for the lesson, papa. Now, can we blow stuff up?

Theos first attempt at applying the [Lesser Flame] ward to a bar of [Drogramathi Iron] failed. Even when Alex added her willpower to the problem, it didnt work. They switched to a bar of regular [Iron] and it worked the first try. The aligned metal just didnt want to take the effect. They inspected the ward before tossing it at an airship.

[Lesser Flame]

[Advanced Ward]

Creates a reactive field of [Flame]. Field only activates when enemies are detected in range.

Trigger:

Detect Enemy

Duration:

1 day.

Theo loaded the bar of iron into Throks imagined contraption. Alex made sure there were enemies on the deck of the airship above. That would activate the trigger on the ward. They dialed the speed back on the launcher, sending the bar soaring at their target with an ear-splitting snap.

Ooooo, Alex said.

As expected, the bar punched a hole through the side of the feathery airship. But the moment the enemy on deck came into range, the bar emitted a field of fire that lashed at the ship. Flames spread across the ship, consuming wood and feathers alike. It floundered in the air for a moment before coming crashing down on the harbor, setting everything ablaze.

Yeah, thats effective. Assuming they dont have magic to counter projectiles.

Again!

Alex reset the scene, clearing the fire away and adding a fresh airship to the sky. Next up was the [Lesser Force] ward. The description wasnt worth inspecting as the pair were only interested in the practical application. They loaded another bar with the effect, and sent it up. The effect was less impressive, sending the ship tilting to the side for only a moment. There was still a hole in the side, and the enemies on deck were sent tumbling off.

Not as impressive.

Theo nodded. The next wards to test were best observed on the ground. He understood the effectiveness of launching a heavy bar of iron, but wanted to observe how these wards affected targets up close.

First up is [Poison]. I think we know what to expect, Theo said.

Alex conjured a group of five Goblins. They mingled around the streets of Broken Tusk, tightly packed so they could observe the poison. Theo enchanted a bar of iron with the [Lesser Poison] ward before tossing it into the group. A bubble sprung from the iron, coating every creature in range with a sheen of green. They coughed, stumbled around, but didnt die from the effects.

Not bad. You can make everyone on a ship sick.

Combined with the effect of having a hole punched in an airship, that might have been worth keeping on hand. Alex cleared the board, preparing more Goblins to test the [Lesser Maim] ward. When Theo tossed the bar of iron, most of the Goblins took a knee. Upon closer inspection, those who had been affected had broken limbs.

Interesting, Theo said, kneeling near a Goblin to inspect the damage. Some werent affected.

They resisted the ward. Cool!

Alex cleared the area again, generating fresh Goblins for their testing. Next was the [Lesser Devour] ward, something Theo hadnt even tested in potion form. The moment he tossed the warded bar of iron into the group, the air swirled with magical power. Once again, some Goblins resisted the effect. The ones who failed whatever invisible check was at play didnt fare well. Around one creature, glowing blue jaws appeared, taking a literal bite out of the monster.

Both Alex and Theo flinched back when the effect took hold. The Goblins thrashed on the ground, screeching and pawing at lost limbs. The goose cleared the scene away before they could see more of the carnage.

That might be a dangerous one, huh? Alex asked, managing a weak honk.

Lets try [Wind Shell] next, Theo said, eager to clear the image from his mind.

Alex brought the airship back while Theo warded an iron bar with [Lesser Wind Shell]. Once again, the description gave away nothing about the effects. They loaded Throks cannon, shot the bar, and observed. The moment the bar impacted the side of the ship, a field of forceful wind sprung up. It whipped the people on deck into the air, sending them flying over the side with force. The airship fared just as bad as those unlucky, imagined people, sending it flying hard to one side.

That was far more effective than [Force], Alex honked.

Hey! Tresk shouted, appearing next to the pair. Are you guys having fun without me? Shooting my dads gun without me? How dare you!

Alright. Lets show her the good ones, Alex.

Oh, with pleasure!