5.32 - The Pale Elf

5.32 - The Pale Elf

Theo let out a sigh of relief as he departed from the train. The conductor laughed as he stepped off, allowing others to board before resuming his back-and-forth path. Standing there with Sarisa, the alchemist spotted a familiar face grinning from near the gate. Azrug waved as the duo approached, looking unapologetic in his fancy clothes. The more time that passed, the more the young man looked like Fenian. Too many ruffles for one half-ogre.

I got a problem, Azrug said, providing no other greetings. He pushed off the stone wall, beckoning Theo to follow him.

With a shrug, Theo followed the merchant. Azrug had done some interesting things lately. He had two businesses in town. His item shop earned him the bulk of his coin, while his stables were effectively bankrupt. No one ran beasts overland anymore, and the only creatures to take care of in town were the wolves, karatan, and pozwa in Mianas ranch. But he had taken the failure in stride, focusing on his item shop.

So, are you going to share your problem? Or is it a secret? Theo asked.

Ah. Well, I think youll just want to see it first. Just a quick walk to the farm.

This gave Theo a chance to view a part of the town he wished he frequented more often. Traveling north from the main road, he got to see Xams tavern and bathhouse. Next up was the school on the left and the tightly packed neighborhood on the right. The farmers hill rose in the distance. That place was a remnant of some powerful mage back in the day. The wizard had diverted the river, raising the land to allow people to farm. That was before the town was made into a seed core town for the Kingdom of Qavell.

Theo, Azrug, and Sarisa climbed the hill to the farmers fields. At first, everything seemed normal. Fields of zee were growing in their various states. Farmhands scratched their heads at the edge of fields, shrugging on occasion. Banu himself just leaned against the farmhouse, shaking his head.

Notice anything weird?

Theo didnt remember when Azrug got in the habit of playing weird games like this. He approached the field, brushing his hand against the stalks of zee. Then he noticed the beads of fruit growing near the stems of leaves. Larger than a grain of processed wheat, they were covered in something like corn silk and smelled sweet. After a moment of thought, the alchemist realized what had happened.

They hybridized on their own? he asked, clicking his tongue. How did that happen? My wheat field is pretty far.

Who knows? Azrug asked, plucking one bundle of fruit from the stalk. He held it out for Theo to inspect.

[Throks Weed]

[Alchemy Ingredient] [Hybrid Plant]

Epic

A unique hybrid plant created from a zee plant and wheat plant. This plant combines the healing properties of both zee and wheat.

Properties:

[????] [????] [????]

Theo gave Azrug a flat look. Throk isnt going to like that.

A smile spread across the young merchants face. Thought youd like that.

Inspecting the plant, Theo found there to be no issues. As far as zee went, it was a weird plant. The fruit normally grew at the top, resulting in a few large kernels, depending on the individual plant. The fruit here grew on the sides, near where the leaves sprouted. But so long as the yield was similar or better, there shouldnt have been an issue.

So, whats the problem? Theo asked.

We need to know if this stuff is safe to sell. And eat.

Theo had the impression that being dragged here was solely for Azrugs amusement. He held the plant in his hand, glaring at the merchant as he deconstructed the reagent. It went up in a plume of smoke; the ashes falling to the ground. It revealed the Efficient Healing property, which was in line with both wheat and zee. While the alchemist had never seen the property, he could assume it was safe. He repeated the process, finding the next two properties to be Efficient Regeneration and Aura.

I dont see any negative properties. Do we have a grown version of the crop?

Hey Banu! Azrug shouted, waving the farmer over.

Banu trotted across the farm, dabbing his forehead with a cloth. Yeah?

Tell him how fast it spread.

Yeah. Like a wave, Banu said, chuckling nervously. Plants just started being different.

I dont see a problem with farming Throks Weed Ugh But youre saving kernels from the same field, arent you?

Yep.

Theo knelt near a plant, inspecting the way it grew from the ground to the top. Depending on how large the fruit got, the hybrid plant might produce more than the old version. It hardly seemed to matter, though. There was no going back from where they were. Every field in the farm had been infested with Throks Weed.

Do you have any untainted samples on hand? Theo asked.

I dont know anything about your people, Twist, Theo said. He had nowhere to go, but didnt want the pale elf to linger around his lab. What do you call yourselves?

Not for you to care. Everyone else calls us deep elves, and thats good enough.

Are you related to surface elves?

No.

While Twist was being annoying, that was good information to have. Theo was always interested in learning more about the various races in the world. He could reveal one fact about the deep elves from that statement. Twist could have been misinformed about his races origins. The deep elves might have come from the surface elves, but they might draw their lineage from another race. It was also possible that they were a seed race. The alchemist still didnt understand where any of the lizard-folk came from, or the ogres. Every race that couldnt track their lineage back to the start could have been another seed race.

Our Loremaster, Azrug, would be interested in talking to you, Theo said, moving in no direction in particular. He headed north, toward the harbor.

Have you made progress on your promise? Twist asked, ignoring what Theo said completely.

We have, actually. The path north of Gronro is clearing by the day. I have a few methods to remove the undead, but it is slow.

As expected. If you dont deal with Qavell before you clear the way, I will need to find another path. That is undesirable.

If youve got a defensive weapon tucked away somewhere feel free to bring it out.

Twist ignored the comment, following Theo up the battlements near the harbor. Several foreign ships were docked there, unloading or loading cargo. The alchemist recognized the flags of Bantein and Partopour, but there was also a much smaller boat belonging to the Khahari. Khahars people hadnt made good on his promise of trade, but it was hard to say how his absence affected them. Broken Tusk would be happy with any trade.

Why dont you travel the underground to reach Qavell? Theo asked the question, but knew the answer.

Because thats where my people live. Locked in constant war.

Theo nodded, but didnt respond. Instead, he climbed a long staircase down to the harbor below. With Twist still following him like a lost puppy, he talked with several vendors to check their supply of seed cores. It was disappointing to learn that Tarantham was the worlds largest producer of seed cores, and they had stopped exporting when the latest civil war kicked off. One trader had something similar to a greenhouse, but it wasnt the same. Instead, it was something altogether more interesting.

Ive never seen one, Theo said, holding the Herbalists Workshop Seed Core in his hands. How much?

Never one for negotiation, the alchemist settled for the over-priced seed core and left the harbor. He made his way to Sledges sawmill, but didnt find her there. The workers directed him to the school instead, where he found the marshling hissing at several children. She was lurking over a wooden crate, stuffed with straw. Inside were a few spotted eggs, roughly the size of Theos fist.

Oh, Theo said, blinking away his confusion. Your clutch.

My babies, Sledge hissed, snapping her jaws at the alchemist.

Think you could get Bob to watch those for a minute? I need a new road.

Babies, Sledge responded, jerking her head toward the clutch.

Perhaps another day, Twist said with an amused tone.

Theo left the school without his Fabricator, making his way back to the Newt and Demon. The alchemist had wanted a road running from the main avenue, heading east next to his lab. After his first plan crumbled, he considered the next-best place to put his new workshop. The next building south of the lab was Pergs tannery. Theo counted out twenty dronon-sized paces before selecting a spot for his new workshop.

Is this what you do all day? Twist asked, watching as Theo pressed the seed core into the ground.

Sometimes. Other times Im helping folks with stuff. Or brewing potions.

Fighting the undead?

I dont really fight, Theo said, stepping back to watch the seed core grow. Roots sprung from the ground, wrapping around themselves. He had a feeling that this one would take a minute or two to form, even with the help of some Monster Cores. I just toss bombs. Sometimes knives.

Throwing knives can be effective, though. Twist nodded.

Theo had absolutely no idea why Twist was hanging out on the surface today, but he didnt like it. Everything he had heard about the deep elves painted them as people who enjoyed waging war more than anything. Mercifully, the elf stopped talking to watch the new seed core form into a building. The roots tangled amongst themselves, and a pulse of recognition radiated from the core. For the first time, the alchemist felt the seed cores will feeling out around itself. It probed the surrounding buildings with faint willpower, then sent tendrils off to the other buildings. He realized it was getting an impression for the buildings around itself to blend in.

Thats new

Wisps of will pulled back, and the seed core constructed itself. It matched most of the local buildings, forming a stone foundation with wooden walls. Sometimes the seed cores would go for all-stone construction, while other times they would assume a combination of stone and wood. Narrow windows formed near a heavy wooden door, then the roof emerged from a tangle of dark roots. A straight, stone chimney poked from the top of the building, seeming to burst from a blue roof.

Cute, Twist said, entering the building without asking Theos permission.

Come right in, Theo grumbled. Make yourself at home.