4.54 - Eat It! Eat It! Eat It!

4.54 - Eat It! Eat It! Eat It!

Orange rinds didnt taste very good. Theo winced as he chewed through the tough exterior of the [Xotl Orange], forcing it down. It refused to go down without a fight. Salire watched nearby, her face tense with eager anticipation. When it finally hit his stomach, the alchemist shivered, then burped.

Absolutely disgusting, he said. How did you convince me to eat it? I should have used [Reagent Deconstruction].

I just shouted Eat it! Eat it! Eat it! and you did. Salire clapped her hands together. Come on. Tell me what the new property is.

Well, Im understanding a few things about these mythical creatures. Assuming a Xotl is a mythical creature. They all enjoy one thing. Dancing.

The property revealed by eating the rind of the orange was Xotls Dance. It didnt take a genius to figure out where this was going. Each spirit fruit represented some mythical creature. Each of those creatures also represented an element. Dragons for Strength, Xotls for Dexterity, Gorgons for Vigor, Fairies for Wisdom, and Devils for Intelligence. The system had created lines between Demons and Devils, but the alchemist couldnt figure out if that mattered.

A few customers arrived at the shop downstairs while they brewed a sample potion for the orange rind. Salire was dropping not-so-subtle hints that she wanted a promotion within the shop, and Theo pretended not to notice them. He didnt know how much money they made offhand. He didnt even know how much he paid her, and thats the way he liked it. As long as the coins were flowing, there was no reason to care.

I wont promote you for no reason. Theo fiddled with the new stills, sensing that it was near the end of its cycle. A slow drip of [Refined Xotls Dance Essence] was dripping into an open flask. Just because you have the same cores as me, doesnt mean youre some big-shot.

Doesnt it? Salire asked.

Theo stood, gazing out the window for some time. She was more eager than he was when he first started. A person more deserving of Drogramaths admiration than him by a long shot. She was harder working and smarter. But the dice fell as they did, and there was nothing he could do about it. I want you to take it easy. You have certain disadvantages that I didnt.

Im not that much shorter than you are, Salire said, holding her hand flat on her head. She swept it out through the air, coming into contact with Theos chin. Less than a head shorter.

Theo tried not to laugh, but he couldnt hold it in. Something I noticed about the system is that there are hidden things. Hidden attributes, hidden statuses Im sure I could think of more. No, thats about all I can think of. Anyway, take willpower for example. I thought it was the representation of someones will, based on how their physical brain worked. Turns out, Tresk had overpowered willpower and no one knows why. Not even the gods.

So, my willpower is the problem? Salire asked.

No. Im Drogramaths Champion. Which means he gave me special powers and I dont know what those are.

Well, that just gives us more reason to move me to full-time potion duty.

How do you figure?

Salire withdrew a notebook, holding it up with pride. Behold. How to be Good at Demon Alchemy and Other Stuff. What better time to doccument the differences between a normal person and a Champion?

Is that the name were going with for the book?

Its a work in progress.

Theo shrugged. Alright. But youre responsible for paying whoever runs the shop. Take it out of the money you give yourself from the shop.

Salire blew raspberries. Jokes on this guy. I dont pay myself anything!

Ignoring the statement, Theo turned to the nearest shadow. Sarisa? Rowan? An instant later, Sarisa appeared, shaking her head. Please find someone to run my shop. I prefer Half-Ogres.

It didnt pass his notice that Salire blushed at the statement, turning away from the pair to busy herself sorting vials that didnt need sorting.

Youre missing a meeting.

Anything important?

Two controlled monster waves. Today or tomorrow. The containment tower for the ocean is completed, but Xolsa wants to purge the lingering magical energy in the dungeon. Then he can tame it like he did the [Swamp Dungeon]. I told them you were low on the [Tunneling Potion], so they want to instigate another wave from the [River Dungeon]. The wizard is convinced he can influence what boss spawns.

Oh, thats fun. Maybe I can do some damage during the next wave. Anything else that I should be aware of?

We have a small Harlag infestation. Aarok is working with Miana to train wolves to kill the critters.

And is that going well?

It is.

Perfect. Thank you very much, Sarisa. Take your time finding Salires replacement.

Understood.

Sarisa vanished into the shadows. Baelthar was an interesting patron for the Half-Ogres. Like Zaul, all the subclasses that the Ogre god created had something to do with hiding. Well, he was the Ogre Patron of the Hunt, so it made sense. But between various cores offered by gods, they usually had very different kits. Luras had a ranged aligned core with Baelthar, and was often hiding before he struck with his bow. It might not be significant, but it certainly was interesting.

Theo picked up his newly brewed [Refined Xotls Dance Essence], swirling it in the flask. It moved like the tide, flowing from one side of the glass flask to the other unbidden. A mixture of dark green and pale blues, it was a pretty-looking essence. Salire was already setting up for the reaction, laying out the catalyst, water, and fresh decorative vial.

Why do you like Half-Ogres so much? Salire asked as Theo performed the reaction.

Ah, thats one of those spoilers, isnt it?

While he understood more about the realms every day, that was still outside of his reach. Logically, Fenian would want to trap Karasan somewhere that he couldnt get away. From the stories the alchemist heard, they werent evenly matched. The Elf would win in a one-on-one. But the King of Qavell was slippery, falling through the various realms and the void to get away. He returned the sausages to the heat as he considered the implications.

What are the chances you survive? Theo asked.

At least fifty percent.

Are you planning on resurrecting Balkor?

I hadnt considered it, but thats not a bad idea. How do you resurrect a god, exactly?

Theo gave Fenian a flat look. While he always wanted to be annoyed with the Elven trader, there was a charm with his coyness. This little dance they did where the trader pretended that neither of them knew a damn thing about any of this. Yeah, his plan was likely to resurrect Balkor. It wasnt a true resurrection. If what he had heard was true, gods didnt truly die.

I imagine bringing a powerful soul to his realm might work, Theo said, removing the sausages and placing them on a large plate. Of course, that soul must be willing to join the realm.

Must it? Fenian asked. He winked. I must have missed that detail. May I have one?

Theo skewered one sausage with a fork, then handed it to Fenian. He grabbed one for himself, taking a tentative bite. It was hot in both flavor and temperature, forcing the alchemist to second-guess his decision. But the flavor was there. Good spice meant good seasoning, and Whisper had done an excellent job.

Theyre quite good, Fenian said, fanning his mouth. A bit too spicy for my taste.

So, you need a ride to Balkors realm. But you can already travel over the Bridge, right? Theo asked. But when you leave the bridge through your pact with UzXulven, youre violating the rules of the heavenly realms. But if I break the rules, what happens?

Thats for the Arbiter to decide.

Thats devious.

Indeed.

Will Karasan go for the bait?

He will.

When Fenian was certain about something, that was the end of the conversation. They found their way to a sitting room on the first floor. It gave them a lovely view of the street outside. The people passing by. People that didnt know they were conspiring to topple a kingdomalthough what there was left of that kingdom was anyones guess. While the Elf claimed to dislike the spicy sausages, he helped himself to more.

When you assume the throne, what changes? Theo asked.

Well, the thrones were always meant to be a means of regulation. A way for the best of the best in any realm to assume a seat of power outside the machinations of the masses. A system atop a system with someone at the helm.

Thats what Yuri did, right? He changed the way the heavens work.

Yes, but the thrones are connected. You see, Karasan is part of a group that believes the system is fine as it is. Do you agree with him?

I dont have a say in that. Theo paused for a moment, watching as a couple passed by on the street. It was hot out there. Sweltering, even. They held hands, pushing themselves close to each other as though it were a cold winters day. Whatever my purpose here is, it's not to judge.

I wouldnt be so sure about that.

Theo shrugged in response. I dont think Karasan was running his kingdom well, but who am I to say? Im not the judge that gets to condemn countless thousands to death.

Are they really dying, though?

That was a discussion they had already had. Theo had no desire to retread old ground, let alone entertaining the idea of who was more worthy of genocide. It was an old song and dance hed seen too many times on Earth. Maybe that meant he was numb to the entire process, making him the worst judge in this case. With Yuri calling the shots from his heavenly realm, that made things worse. But the fact was, Broken Tusk and the Southlands Alliance was in too deep and there was no point in pulling out.

But a Wisdom of the Soul message popped up that caught Theos attention. It was something that would have entered his intuition before, but he should have caught it on his own. Fenian was hiding something, that was obvious. But so was Karasan. The message claimed that the extreme measures the Elf was going through could only mean there was an equal measure on the other side of the coin.

Ignoring Fenians last statement, Theo said, What is Karasan hiding? What sins is he carrying?

Fenian smiled around a sausage, breaking it off then chewing for a moment. Something Im sworn not to tell. Im not being slick with this one, Theo. Im bound to secrecy. If this gambit fails, then eons of planning goes up in a puff of smoke. Just like that. Gone.

Message received, Theo chuckled. This reminded him too much of the Berlin job. I need time to practice, though. I interdicted myself into a lower realm, but the high heavens are far.

As long as you know the mission, I can wait.

They ate the entire string of sausages together, sweating and discussing how much trade had changed. Fenian had been out of it for a long time by now, but his understanding of trade wasnt limited by his condition. He had contacts around the world, feeding him price changes and trade route blockages. Their continent wasnt as important as the others. Slagrot, the home of the ogres, had been completely unaffected by the undead. Tarantham, Partopour, and Bantein felt the reverberations of the undead but nothing terrible.

This world was built on the idea of construction and destruction. An endless cycle that the inhabitants became all too used to. That was the concept Fenian and Khahar wanted to destroy. No matter the cost, it was worth it. So long as Broken Tusk never came to harm.