4.37 - Commanding The Realm

4.37 - Commanding The Realm

This is the most awkward thing Ive ever been a part of. Tresk folded her arms, staring at the floating purple spirit.

Theo had suspected that Belgars soul would come back in one form or another. He had been entertaining the idea that the Dronon never truly died, and had only been snatched up by a god when he fell off that cliff. Now the picture was clear. When he died, his soul went to ascend to Drogramaths realm. But he refused. People on Earth often thought ghosts would linger if they had unfinished business.

And you have a lot of unfinished business, Theo said.

The floating purple spirit flickered, then issued a sound like pain. It was melodic, echoing over the open fields of Terogal like a sad song.

So, youll want to decide swiftly, Benton said, fidgeting. Hes trespassing in your realm, so his soul will break down.

Please. My sister, Belgar begged.

Well, damn I dont know how to accept a soul into Terogal. Theo looked over to Tresk and Alex. Do you?

No idea. This is all new to me.

Dont look at me, Im a goose.

Just click accept in your god interface. Look! Hes fading by the second. Benton seemed the most concerned out of everyone.

The darkest response would have been to do nothing. To let Belgar fade into non-existence right there in Terogal. But that man was a treasure trove of information. He had a different way of thinking about alchemy than Theo, meaning hed know interesting techniques. Perhaps the secret to pushing past the third tier barrier. As with most things in their strange realm, it was just a matter of pushing to figure things out.

Theo wrapped his will around the realm with an iron grip and squeezed. The island under their feet shook. Tresk let out a scared yelp as the alchemist pushed harder against the realm. His authority was law here. Why wouldnt it obey? Then Alexs will joined the fight, crashing against the realm with goose-like vigor. It took the Marshling a long while to pick up on what they were doing, but soon her power joined theirs. Terogals will crumpled against theirs.

A thin veil had been wrapped around the realm, like pond scum on the surface of water. As Tresk, Theo, and Alex crashed through that barricade, a torrent of information flooded through their minds. The authority of the realm to govern itself was eroded in moments, siphoning from Terogal to the collective Tarahek cores of those gathered. The alchemist took in a sharp breath, wrapping that authority around himself and his companions.

A system message appeared.

[TeroGal]

Mortal Dreamrealm

Owners: Theo Spencer, Tresk

Faction: Unaffiliated

Level: 0

Souls: 0

Expansions:

None

Pending Requests: 1

Holy hell. Its seed cores all the way down, isnt it? Tresk laughed.

Theo ignored that comment, navigating to the pending requests to accept Belgar into the realm. Twisting light wrapped around the ghosts form, reinforcing its fading shape with a multicolored shine. The dead Dronon drew himself up, mimicking the motion of taking deep breaths. He held his arms wide, the sense of a smile exuding from the figure.

At last. At gods damned last! Belgar flexed his reinforced form, looking around the realm. I never thought Id make it this far.

Now you have some explaining to do, Theo said, crossing his arms and staring at the ghostly form.

Benton chuckled nervously. Lets have some tea, alright? I brought scones. Your favorite, Theo.

The bear god knew how to bribe Theo. While the alchemist doubted it was true lemons in the lemon poppy scones, it was close enough for him. The party entered the cramped cabin, sitting at the crowded table to brew tea and snack on confections. Tresk ate hers in one bite, the way she always did. Alex picked at hers while Belgar stood in the corner. Brooding.

The ghost couldnt drink the tea. He just stood there, taking a deep breath before moving on to his story. When I died When I was killed, I saw the look on Zaralis face. I knew that would break her. I put her in a position where she needed her brother to survive. Because I was a horrible sibling and a worse friend.

Great way to start introductions, Tresk said, snatching another scone.

Belgar nodded his ghostly head. Its the truth. Now that Ive pledged myself to your realm, outworlder, Im bound to your service.

Go on, Theo said, his eyes lingering on the pot of tea. Benton made some great tea.

Lord Drogramath pulled me back home. I lingered on the Bridge for some time. Then something interesting happened. Someone snatched up my bodyI could feel it. My body. My cores. All my hard work to be given to some damned outworlder. I didnt know at the time it would be an outworlder. But I refused Drogramaths call. I lingered in the space between spaces until I could make a move.

Until I found him, Benton said, offering a weak shrug. He sloshed the teapot, cracking the lid to sniff the contents. After an approving nod, he poured tea for everyone. He had answers to your alchemy questions, Theo.

I decided my soul was worthless, Belgar said. Not worth giving to my Lord, and not worth sending into the void. If I could offer it up to deliver a single message, I could live an eternity in torment. Under the thumb of an undeserving outworlder.

Keep going hard on Theo. He deserves it, the dirty outworlder. Tresk gave Theo a mock-sneer. Coming into our universe! Stealing our demon bodies!

Please, be my guest. We can do a run of [Healing Potions] if you want.

Youre over level 20, my good man. You should be running [Greater Healing Potions], Belgar said, shaking his head.

Ah, I havent figured that problem out. Not yet.

Belgar tilted his head, putting off the sense of a sly smile yet again. Then tell me your thought process.

Theo explained how the mash of reagents bound to the liquid medium in the still. Belgar nodded along as he went on about impurities, extraction, and pressurization of vapors. There were several techniques in there that the spirit didnt know about, but that was only for lack of equipment. There was raw skill there that the alchemist was jealous of. An intuition that went beyond attributes.

Youre on the right track, Belgar said, floating over to a still. He hoisted a grinder atop the lid, and fed it roots. This took me a decade to figure out, so its good to see Lord Drogramaths good graces havent been wasted on you. Tell me more about how reagent properties bind to your [Enchanted Water].

Theo explained what he knew. More in-depth this time while Belgar processed the reagents. It was hard not to wonder if the Dronon still had his cores, so the alchemist asked.

Theyre echoes of my old cores. I wont be able to do what you do, but I can mirror it to an extent. Youll have to start the processbut youre changing the subject. If you cant stop the system from adding junk properties to your essence with intent, what could you do?

Theo smiled at the spirit. This information was valuable, but he was happy to see that he had judged Belgar correctly. He was a fiery person with a passion for his craft. Even in death, he retained all those skills. Instead of going to their corners like children, theyd work out their differences over a still. Brewing potions.

A secondary process?

There it is. The fire of our Lord in your eyes. Ive never met another Drogramathi Alchemist, so I dont know if this is the way forward. Belgar dragged a bucket over near the stills. It took him more effort than it should have. Were going to do what I called a dilute enchantment. Do you have any [Refined Healing Essence] on hand?

Theo had a lot of that on hand. He produced a 100 unit flask from his inventory, handing it over. Belgar nodded with approval. This is a fine essence, Theo. All this equipment is doing you good. When I brewed, it was done in a copper cauldron with a cobbled-together condenser slapped on top. Ive never seen stills this advanced. Anyway

Belgar scooped water from the creek, then dripped a tenth of a unit of essence into the bucket. Theos eye told him the rate was one part essence per one thousand parts water.

Enchant this water, please, Belgar said, gesturing to the bucket.

Theo held his hand out, focusing on drawing mana out from his core. Purple fire dripped from his fingertips, sizzling over the surface of the water. A puff of red smoke rose from the bucket. The alchemist leaned in, sensing that this was an item to be inspected. He inspected it.

[Unbound Enchanted Dilution]

[Alchemy Component]

Rare

Water that has been infused with Drogramaths energy.

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Property:

[Healing]

Theos brows knit tightly. The water carried the property over. Everything Belgar had been saying clicked together in an instant. The diluted essence in the enchanted water would make the separation of the properties almost absolute.

There it is. One more process for that, though. We still have to distill the water with hard liquor to make it bind. That gives you an alcohol base, which completes the third realm process.

Realm? Theo asked, laughing. He tried to slap Belgar on the shoulder, but his hand passed through. I call them tiers.

Thus is the way of Drogramathi alchemy. I believe we all come up with our own terms.

Im writing a book on the topic.

Really? Id love to read it when its done. Now, let me show you how to make hard liquor. Got any Zee?

Tresk scratched her head, watching Theo and Belgar by the stills. Minutes ago, it seemed as though they were going to rip each others heads off. Now they were best friends, brewing stuff in a magical realm. The more she tried to understand it, the more distant the meaning felt.

What the hells, man? Tresk asked, shaking her head at Benton. I thought Theo was gonna bite that guys head off.

Theo isnt unreasonable, Benton said. He sees the value in having another alchemical expert in his realm. Belgar has been through a lot. I tried to nurse him back to sanity in my realm, but it was difficult.

Bah. I was hoping for a slugfest.

Be grateful, Tresk.

What? Why?

This helps us more than you know. But it also helps Zarali. When we leave Terogal, well tell her that Belgar is safe in our warm embrace.

Yeah, thats true. Wait, Tresk sniffed the air. Are they making booze?