The Newt and Demon - Book 4 Chapters 61,62,63 (Patreon)

Chapter 61

The Underworld

Theo tapped his foot, glaring at the many people gathered in the town hall’s meeting room. There were too many people here for a decision he had already made. Aarok headed the table, a frustrated look hanging on his face. Gwyn, Gael, and Alise looked sheepishly off to the side, joined by their gaggle of administrative aides. It was only by the good graces of Drogramath himself that they had only wasted a few hours of the day debating something that was already decided.

“I’m not here to scold you like school children,” Theo said, looking at each of his head administrators. Each turned their gaze away. “Make your case briefly, or I’ll dismiss it.”

Alise stood, gritting her teeth. It didn’t pass Theo’s notice that she glared at Gwyn for a moment too long. “Our concerns are for the town’s safety.”

“Then do something about the dungeons,” Theo said, already having the retort on standby. “Or the Zagmoni assassins. Or the damned undead banging on our front door. Alise, sit down. Gwyn, please stand and state your concerns.”

Alise sat down, deflating in her chair. Gwynestarea Whisperstream rose, standing tall and proud like her Elven cousins. She was a Half-Elf from Veosta. An intensely intelligent woman who only ever made the town better. Theo waited for his Wisdom of the Soul messages to roll in as she spoke.

“The deep places of the world are better left where they are,” Gwyn started. There was no lack of confidence in her voice. She spoke with genuine conviction. “I didn’t expect the archduke to view a brief conversation as a roadblock. I’m voicing my concerns and nothing more.”

“You’ll have to be more specific for me, Gwyn,” Theo said. “When I want to dig a hole, I want it dug that day. I assume you read my proposal.”

“I have read it,” Gwyn said, looking at him with defiant countenance.

Theo liked that. Gwyn was going to overtake Alise as the lead administrator soon. He was excited that someone in his employ had the fortitude to stand up to him like this. The Wisdom of the Soul message that followed was enlightening. She was hiding something about her ancestor’s homeland. The Tarantham Elves knew something about the underground areas of the world, and she was holding back.

“Fenian has offered his services,” Theo said. “I’ll remind you he was selected by two different gods as their champion. What is it you know about the underground caverns?”

Gael stood, his face pale. Theo shot him a glare, but he didn’t relent. “If you’ll allow me, archduke.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“House Wavecrest has no experience with the underworld. But we’ve all heard the tales.”

“Think about it logically,” Gwyn said. “What monsters lurk in the darkness? Monsters that haven’t been disturbed for… how long, exactly?”

Theo was just happy that they were bringing up good points. His first impression of their waylay was one of obstinate administrators. Instead, they brought some good points. The hard edge of his anger faded into pride. “Aarok, what do you think?”

Aarok shrugged his massive shoulders. “I would have shut them down if they didn’t have good points.”

“Luras?”

“They’re skittish,” Luras said, chuckling. “But I’m happy to give caution when it’s due.”

Theo clapped his hands together. “I’m surprised and excited by the caution. Our administrators stepped up to take control of a situation they perceived as dangerous.”

“So, what?” Aarok asked. “We’re not digging?”

“Oh, we’re digging,” Theo said, gesturing for everyone to rise. He had a good feeling about this idea. Drogramath felt close at hand today. It was as though he had something to say. “Off to the temple.”

Theo dragged a procession of administrators and adventurers behind him, marching them directly to the temple. The moment he set foot in there, he felt that familiar presence. When he approached the dais this time, he knew it would work. “Who better to judge our decision than one of our patron gods?”

“Aren’t you one of our patron gods?” Aarok muttered.

“But this one is impartial,” Theo said, holding his arms out to his sides, palms up. He closed his eyes, whispering in Drogramathi. “Drogramath.”

What little light filtered through the open windows in the temple dimmed. Flicking purple fire sprung up around the raised platform, then the ghostly image of Drogramath appeared. Theo looked up with a smile on his face, his eyes lingering on the god’s broken horn.

“How dull,” Drogramath said, letting out a sigh that stirred the flames. “You’ve dragged me out of important experimentation… for what? Permission to dig a hole? Dig as many holes as you want, champion.”

“Did Tworgnoth place the artifice containing my familiar in that spot specifically?” Theo asked. “Did he want me to find the cavern?”

One of Drogramath’s brows raised. “No shit.”

“What will we find down below? Danger?”

Drogramath sighed again. “I see what you’re doing, champion. Fine. To appease the minds of your people, I’ll say it. Tworgnoth placed the artifice where he did so that you would dig below. The caverns are connected throughout the world and contain many dangers. And many treasures. The area directly under Tworgnoth’s artifice is occupied by a race of creatures friendly to all Dronon. Now, may I please go?”

“Thanks, Drogramath,” Theo said.

Drogramath only glared back, then waved his hand. The spectral image of the god vanished. The alchemist turned on the spot, shrugging. “Does that satisfy your concerns?”

Gwyn smiled, shaking her head. “Yeah. That works for me.”

“Me too,” Gael said.

“Can’t get clearer than that,” Alise chuckled.

They would have reached that conclusion eventually. Summoning Drogramath to dispel their fears might have been a cheat, but it worked. Gwyn and Gael seemed especially reluctant to accept Theo for his word. That was moderately concerning. Not because of their trust for him, but their fear for whatever it was underground. Tresk poked into the alchemist’s mind, dipping in to get a feel for the situation.

All good? She asked. Can we go to the caves now?

Almost, Theo responded. Aarok has a few things to sort out. I imagine he will call our forces into action. Just in case.

Another chance for the man to flex his big old muscles, Tresk said.

Theo nodded as though the Marshling could see him nod. He departed from the temple, leaving his administrators to sort themselves out. It wouldn’t do to hold their caution against them, so he dismissed the matter in his mind. Instead, he focused on what Drogramath said and the god’s behavior. It was almost as though he had called a friend who was in the middle of baking a cake. Nothing special to see here. Just a mortal communicating with a god.

Unlike the myths on Earth, the gods in this world worked differently. If a god wanted to smite a person here, they needed to send agents. Balkor made the mistake of bringing his heavenly body to the mortal realm, which resulted in his death. The alchemist had already decided that ‘god’ wasn’t a good title for them. Well, Khahar was a god if ever there was one. But everyone else up there in the high heavens? Nah.

“Makes you think,” Theo said, wandering toward the mine. “How messed up is the god system?”

He got a few concerned looks from those citizens passing by, but none offered responses. The alchemist stopped in on Nira and her smeltery operation. She was sitting on a log, watching her people work with a faint smile on her face.

“Theo,” she said, nodding in his direction.

“Nira.”

It was mesmerizing to watch folks working the smelter. Sparks flew from the crucibles as they poured molten metal. Waves of heat washed from the building like an unstoppable tide. The warmth it brought would have been a comfort in a tundra, but here in the swamp? It was stifling. A strangulating blanket of heat that brought beads of sweat to Theo’s forehead in moments. He couldn’t figure out how the people working here had tolerated it before his cooling gel. They sat in silence for long moments before he stood.

“Gotta go.”

“Sure.”

Aarok gave the order to the adventurers to assemble at the mine a half-hour later. Theo met up with Fenian outside the entrance to Dead Dog Mine shortly after that. He smiled, watching as the Elf moved around without issue. The topical, limb-regeneration goo did its job well and there was no sign of lasting damage. He was ready to be thrown through the realms, a task the alchemist felt he could do. If he should do it was another matter, but he tried not to concern himself with those problems.

“Ready for… whatever is inside?” Theo asked.

“There’s nothing on the other side,” Fenian said, shaking his head. “Your people are worried about nothing.”

“Drogramath said there was a race of people down there that liked Dronon.”

“Well, I’m not aware of such people.”

“Guess you can’t know everything.”

Theo walked away before Fenian could retort. He met with Aarok and his guys, then had a brief meeting with Gridgen. The miners had a bottle of [Tunneling Potion], reserved for just such an event. Most notably, the alchemist didn’t see the administrators around. That put a smile on his face.

“We do the heavy lifting,” Aarok said, noting the expression on the alchemist’s face. “They make the decisions.”

“Hmmm.”

A procession entered the mine. Theo, Fenian, Sarisa, Rowan, Tresk, Alex, Luras, and Aarok led the way to the lower levels. They broke off near the lower level. The adventurers prepared the area for combat while the alchemist applied several simple wards to the iron gates. He double-checked the daggers in his inventory, bringing several out just in case things got weird.

“As always,” Aarok said, his booming voice commanding the attention of all those gathered. “We’re sticking our hand in a hole. We don’t know what’s in that hole, but we don’t care. Broken Tuskers don’t look before they leap, do they?”

That got a chuckle out of the group.

“Unless there’s an undead dragon in the cavern, we’re fine,” Fenian said, laughing. No one else laughed. “There isn’t an undead dragon down there. Trust me. But… maybe? Just kidding.”

“Words of confidence,” Aarok grumbled, holding a bottle of [Tunneling Potion] out over the hole. “Ready, Fenian?”

“I’m ready,” the Elf said, withdrawing his rapiers from nowhere. They filled the tunnel shadows and blue-silver light that battled against one another.

Aarok tipped the potion over the hole, then stepped back. Fenian fell into a combat stance, holding his left rapier to the side and his right one leading. The potion ate away at the stone in moments, creating a circular hole that went straight down. When it ate through the last layer of rock, the tunnel was filled with the smell of sulfur and an intense heat. It rushed forward, wind howling for a moment before subsiding.

“Everyone good?” Aarok asked. A murmur blew through the crowd. Everyone was fine.

Theo tilted his head to the side, clutching a dagger. “I heard something. A voice.”

Fenian nodded. “It sounds like a man. Speaking… gods, I don’t know what that is.”

Theo edged closer to the hole. Tresk grabbed him by his new gambeson and held him. He could sense her intent to keep him from falling, and poked his head over the edge. A strange sight greeted him. Below was an amalgamation of rocks with a beady set of eyes staring up. His brow knit tightly when the rocks waved.

“Hello?” Theo asked, uncertain.

The being responded with a rapid series of words. The alchemist only caught a few of them, then stepped back. “There’s a pile of rocks. Talking. It kinda sounds like…”

“Like someone chewed up Toru’aun’s language and spat it out,” Tresk said with a chuckle.

Theo leaned over the edge again, listening more intently this time. The rock creature below continued speaking rapidly, never even taking a breath between words. As it spoke, the alchemist understood more of the language. It wasn’t his mind unraveling the complexities of a Dronon tongue, though. The rock was speaking a heavily accented Dronon tongue. This wasn’t the language of Toru’aun.

“Do you speak Drogramathi?” Theo shouted back. “Or Bantari, Taranthian… English? Russian?”

“The language of the sand!” the rock-thing shouted back in horrible Russian.

Theo leaned back, looking at his friends with a flat expression. “Another one of Khahar’s jokes.” He poked his head back over the hole, continuing on in Russian. “I hope you’re friendly.”

“Yeah, we’re super friendly,” the rock said. “The cat told me to stand in this tunnel, so I stood in this tunnel.”

Theo sighed. “How long have you been standing in the tunnel?”

The rock-man counted on his fingers, then shrugged. “I dunno!”

“My name is Theo. I’m the archduke of the alliance on the surface.”

“Igor! A pleasure to meet you, horned one.”

Theo backed away from the hole again. “Alright, Khahar brainwashed the rock people so they would be friendly to me. Someone fetch me Zan’kir and Zan’sal. And a ladder.”

Several adventurers ran off, heading up through the tunnels. Theo poked his head back over the hole. Tresk tightened her grip on his clothes. “Are there more of your people down there?”

“Oh, yeah. We have an entire city. Thousands of people like me,” Igor said. “We had a war going the last time I was home.”

Zan’kir and Zan’sal arrived, carrying a ladder between them. Theo updated them on the situation, then requested that they escort him into the hole. They shared a confused look, then agreed. Igor seemed incredibly friendly. The alchemist’s Wisdom of the Soul popped up a few times, agreeing that the rock dude had no ill intentions. The adventurers placed the ladder in the hole.

“I’m coming down,” Theo shouted into the hole. “Could you make some room?”

“Absolutely!” Igor said. When he moved, the cave was filled with scraping sounds. Like rock on rock.

It only made sense to send Fenian first. He didn’t speak Russian, but there were few things down in the hole that could best him in combat. Zan’kir and Zan’sal went next, followed by Theo, Tresk, Rowan, and Sarisa. When the alchemist’s feet touched the ground of the cavern below, he cast his eyes around the area. Light filtered through the circular hole above, providing a halo of light where they stood. He got a better look at Igor, who seemed to be little more than a vaguely humanoid shaped pile of stones.

“Denizens of the sands!” Ignore exclaimed.

“He speaks the holy language,” Zan’sal sneered.

“Come! Follow me! We’ll see my people together. Down this tunnel.” Igor gestured vaguely and the group followed.

Fenian led the way, but he had placed his weapons back into his inventory. Tresk melted into the shadows, then ranged ahead. But it didn’t take the group long to find the exit of the tunnel. They came out into a darkened world that sprawled on forever. The cavern they exited into was lined in places with glowing fungus. Flying creatures could be heard overhead, somewhere in the distance. Flickering on the horizon, miles away, was an arrangement of lights that defied nature. The alchemist narrowed his eyes, focusing to see the edge of walls. A city under his town.

“That’s a sight,” Fenian said, staring into the distance. “I retract my remark about there not being a dragon.”

“What?” Theo asked, giving the Elf a concerned look.

Fenian pulled Theo down, pressing their cheeks together. “In the city’s center, there is a dragon.” His voice had an edge like a sharpened dagger. “One of the metallic kind.”

“Abort mission?” Rowan asked.

“You guys freaking out about our dragon?” Igor asked with a rocky chuckle. “She’s been protecting the Stonehome for thousands of years. Only wakes up when there’s danger.”

Theo got the impression that the dragon had been there for longer than that. He didn’t know exactly when Khahar had enacted his plan, but it was at least ten-thousand years ago. Likely more. The alchemist had been led here by Khahar, which meant it was a good thing. At least, he hoped it was a good thing. Before proceeding forward, they paused near the tunnel’s exit and sent their people forward to scout. That gave him some time to ask Igor about his people.

The rock-people didn’t have a name for themselves, but they had adopted the culture seeded by Yuri. But the dragon had interested Theo the most. It didn’t pass his notice that Fenian had locked his eyes on the beast from the start, glaring at it as though it owed him money for one of his trade deals. The alchemist pulled the Elf aside while his people scouted.

“Explain dragons to me,” Theo said.

“They aren’t real,” Fenian said. His eyes never left the dragon. “They’re stories the Elves tell their children. Something to be afraid of if you misbehave.”

Theo gestured to the vague form of the dragon in the distance. “Yet, there is a dragon.”

“It is a concerning fact that was concealed from me. Which makes it dangerous and important.”

From what Igor said, the dragon was a protector of the stone people. She acted as their leader and protector. Underground, there were caverns like this that stretched throughout the entire world. Civilizations that never saw the light of day called the deep places home. Deep versions of all the surface-dwelling races made their lives down here. Wisdom of the Soul offered a few suggestions, but nothing solid. Just guesses, like echoes in the vast caves.

“Can we meet the dragon?” Theo asked, turning to Igor.

“Of course! She’ll be happy to see you.”

Chapter 62

The Nameless City

The scouting team reported back after a few hours of eerie silence. The path from the tunnel’s entrance, to the walled city was completely clear of monsters. Zan’kir had gone along with them to ensure the friendly nature of the rock-folk along the way. They had found the stony people tending crops of rock-like mushrooms near the city’s exterior and were welcomed with open arms. Igor was true to his word, and welcomed Khahari, Dronon, and their friends with hearty greetings and bone-crushing hugs.

Theo had time to consider this underground place. His senses told him they were far deeper than they should have been. He suspected a planar pivot between the place above ground and this underground world. It wasn’t as stark of a difference as the realms, but he could feel it. Someone held domain over this place, and he couldn’t determine who that was.

Ziz and his boys worked with Throk to construct Drogramathi Iron gates at the tunnel’s entrance. Before the group left for the city, Theo warded them and assigned several combat golems near the passage. But all their caution was unnecessary. This wasn’t the world he expected to find here, but he was happy to have found it. The alchemist found himself in a meeting with Alran Cherman near the newly constructed gate.

“Did someone ask for spies?” he asked, rubbing his hands together. “This is a great honor, archduke. I really must say that a few more times.”

“How does your spying power work?” Theo asked. “Do you need a willing participant?”

“While I have willing spies throughout the world, they don’t need to agree with me. Don’t worry about it.”

Alran was all too eager to brave the darkness of the underground world. Theo shrugged it off, happy to get more information about the strange people by whatever means necessary.

“Oh, you guys are going to love the mushrooms we grow down here,” Igor said as the group departed. “You’re an alchemist, right?”

“I am,” Theo said.

Igor rattled off the mushrooms they had cultivated. Theo was happy to look around, eyes lingering on all the strange flora and fauna. Plants and animals had adapted to the underground conditions. There must have been monsters that lived here, but the only things he saw were small, insect-like creatures. Nothing threatened them on their way to the city. As the walls came into closer view, the alchemist realized just how large they were.

The walls of the rock-people city were at least twice as tall as Broken Tusk. They bristled with artifice tower weapons, putting off faint fields of magical energy that stung Theo’s nerves. The gates swung open as the group approached, revealing a bustling city within. That’s when Theo realized it wasn’t just rock-folk within the town. Eyes seated in fleshy heads turned their way as they passed through the streets. The alchemist spotted analogs of the surface races down here, all with lighter tones to their skin, often bordering on stark white.

“Welcome to Oz,” Tresk said with a chuckle. “How freaking weird is this?”

“All under our noses.” Theo’s mind spun out of control as they walked through the city. The place was massive, marked by towering structures made of stone. People ran around the streets, bathed in magical lights that hung in mid-air. He recognized the importance of an alliance with these people, especially when they crossed into a bazaar. Vendors shouted in strange languages, selling their wares for the day. All under the ominous presence of a town-sized slumbering dragon.

The city was designed as a large square. The landscape rose the closer they got to the center. In the middle of the city was a massive platform made of decorated stone. Igor performed several warding gestures as he approached the massive form of the dragon. Everyone stared up at it, in awe of the scale. Broken Tusk would have trouble housing the creature. Even considering the expanded districts.

“Pogosophoro, binder of kin!” Igor shouted. He turned to Theo, his rocky face shifting to something of a smile. “We call her Pogo.”

The dragon stirred slightly, giving the alchemist a better view. The scales on the creature’s skin were larger than he was tall. She was the color of brushed bronze, glittering where the light hit her scales. Four-legged with a set of massive wings, she struck an imposing image. When her head turned slightly, the group was washed with a torrent of hot air issuing from her nostrils.

Pogo didn’t open her eyes, but she spoke. The voice came from everywhere at once, almost as though she were speaking into their minds.

“You have brought them,” she said. “Finally.”

It was difficult to understand the enormity of the dragon. Theo searched Tresk’s feelings, finding a similar awe. Around him, his people stood with mouths agape, desperate to wrap their heads around Pogo. From afar, she looked more like a massive bronze statue. Those rock-people and under-versions of the surface races lingered near the massive dais. The alchemist got the impression that they respected the dragon, but did not treat her as a god.

Tresk nudged him in the ribs and whispered, “say something while I study her. I’m gonna have a perfect recreation for the Dreamwalk.”

“This is unexpected,” Theo said, trying to hype himself up. “We were led here through strange circumstances, and I’m afraid I don’t have the words.”

The massive dragon snorted something like a laugh. She didn’t raise her head, but her amber eyes searched through the crowd. “I put it plainly, then. In the Third Era, I made a deal with a Khahari. One who refused to ascend. I was to guard this cavern. In exchange, he didn’t exterminate me.”

“Sounds like a crappy deal,” Tresk muttered.

“There are worse fates,” Pogo said. “I welcome you to the Nameless City. The rock-folk were never ones for naming things, so they never bothered.”

If Khahar put the dragon here, there was a reason. Theo couldn’t wrap his mind around why he would put a dragon in an underground cavern, but Yuri was never one to explain his actions. Well, why not ask the source?

“Do you know what Khahar’s intentions were?” Theo asked.

“These caverns stretch throughout the world. He was worried you would come under attack from the unsavory races that call this place home. None have passed my protection. All have died.”

“Oh, sweet. Another shield,” Tresk said, clapping her hands.

“So, uh… wanna join a nation?”

“No. But I’m happy to forge trade deals with your people. So long as you keep your spy from weaving his fetid magic.” Pogo’s eyes shifted, locking onto Alran.

“Right. No spying, Alran,” Theo said, pointing a finger. The man’s shoulders slumped slightly, and he moved to the back of the group. “I’m sure we have much to offer your people.”

“Indeed. Your entourage is free to roam the city while we work out the details. Off with you, little ones.”

Those that had accompanied Theo to the underground world were sent off to explore the Nameless City. It really needed a name, but none of the rock people seemed eager to give it one. The alchemist stayed with the dragon, pulling a chair out of the Tara’hek inventory and having a seat. Pogo was interested in a few things that Broken Tusk had on offer. Especially the Drogramathi Iron. Everyone loved that stuff. The underground world had a bounty of reagents to offer, as well as a rare metal that wasn’t available in surface mines.

Pogo claimed that Tworgnothi Copper was the best for making artifices, and Theo believed her. Several hours later, they had both signed a balanced trade deal. That left the alchemist free to explore the city on his own. It was a sprawling thing, housed in a massive cavern. The ceiling glittered with glowing fungus, while the lamps on the street cast eerie lights. He met with Fenian, Tresk, and Alex in a local tavern.

“Well, that was unexpected,” Fenian said, gesturing for Theo to take a seat.

The chairs were horribly uncomfortable. Theo lowered himself into the stone chair and grimaced. It seemed everything was made of stone around here. The patrons of the tavern were a hodgepodge of races. While the rock-folk were the dominant race, there were those surface analogs. Elves with impossibly white skin. Dwarves with the complexion of knapped onyx. There were even lizard-folk that glowed in the darkness. But each of them had a hard edge to them, as though living down here was a daily trial.

“The good news is they accept surface money,” Tresk said, gesturing to the pale white Elf woman serving them beer. The Marshling tossed her a gold coin. “Thanks, lady.”

The Elf bowed, then walked away. Theo tipped a [Potion of Limited Foresight] into his mouth before tasting the beer. It wasn’t great. But it wasn’t horrible, either. It was a standard, unsweetened ale that was a bit too hoppy for him. Still, it was wet and he was thirsty. The eyes of the patrons within the tavern never strayed from the group for long. But it was unsurprising that all attention was on them. The one man within the place that kept the alchemist’s attention was an Elf wearing a black mask with a single hole for his right eye.

“I don’t know what I expected to find here,” Theo said, sipping his drink. “But it wasn’t this.”

“Right?” Fenian asked, chuckling. “Khahar should have told me about this. No idea why it was kept from me like some big secret.”

“You got a bad feeling about it?” Tresk asked.

“No! That’s the strange part,” Fenian said. “My cores are singing this place’s praises. Both Uz’Xulven and Parantheir have whispered to me. They like it.”

Theo felt nothing from Drogramath. As always. The Dronon god seemed uninterested in the place, but that might have been a feint. He always liked to pretend to be uninterested, no matter what. There were things down here that would interest any alchemist, though. A new range of reagents to test. Not that there was much time for that. The alchemist had to wrap his mind around Fenian’s plan first.

“How long will it take you to trap Karasan in Balkor’s dead realm?” Theo asked.

“I’m not sure. It should have worked last time, but the gates were closed.”

“Why would the gates be open?” Tresk asked. She drained the last of her beer. “What changed?”

“My patrons told me as much.”

That was questionable, but Theo didn’t know how to question it. He didn’t have a sense for how the realms in the high heavens were doing. He had certainly never pressed himself up against a dead realm. But he was aware of the gate-like quality that realms had. Benton used one to get into Tero’gal.

“Maybe we should go to Tero’gal. Poke around to see,” Theo said.

“You’re the experts. I don’t care how you get me there,” Fenian shrugged.

Theo turned to Tresk, asking her opinion without opening his mouth.

“Yeah. I think I can take an inventory of dead realms. Poke around a bit.”

“Just don’t enter Balkor’s realm,” Fenian warned. “Karasan will know someone is there, and he’ll act too soon. We don’t want him dropping a city on Broken Tusk. Not yet.”

Theo narrowed his eyes for a moment, then shook his head. “I need to bring a letter to Belgar, anyway. Check on the spirits. You know how it is. God stuff.”

“Strictly speaking…” Fenian started.

“We know we’re not gods,” Tresk interrupted. “Jeeze, why are you so literal lately?”

“I’m on edge.”

Theo checked on his people before diving into Tero’gal. It was surprising to see that everything was going well. Things normally went wrong right about now. The only explanation was that things would go wrong soon enough. Their bad luck would accumulate, then burst forth in spectacular fashion. The alchemist planned on stopping by the Bridge to see if Uz’Xulven had any advice. As long as she thought it would work, they were in the clear.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

Theo, Tresk, and Alex fell through reality, slipping into the place between places. As they passed over the Bridge of Shadows, the alchemist steered them to the dark expanse. They landed without issue, and it seemed as calm as ever. He had to shout a few times to get the master of the house’s attention. Shadows coiled around them, then the form of Uz’Xulven appeared. Hands on her hips, she tutted.

“No confidence in my champion? What a shame,” she said.

“Hey, Uz!” Tresk said, waving. Alex honked.

“Hello,” Uz’Xulven said, waving awkwardly. “Balkor’s realm is open again. My champion’s efforts were successful.”

“What happens after that?” Theo asked.

“What does he always say? Spoilers! No. Just kidding. I’m not certain, but there’s a chain of ownership for the Throne of the Herald. Karasan owns it, but does not sit on it. So, that’s causing some problems.”

“Wow, what a selfish jerk.” Tresk shook her head in disapproval.

“Right?” Uz’Xulven said. She shook her head, hiding whatever amusement played on her shadowy face. “Anyway, your plan should work. Now leave me alone.”

Theo and Tresk shared a look. The alchemist sent them along their way, deciding not to annoy the god any longer. They landed in the Tero’gal’s town and were met with excited cheers from the still-forming spirits. The alchemist found Belgar and handed over his note. As expected, Benton’s icy archway sprung up and the bear god stepped out.

“Tea?” he asked.

It was strange to see more than one building in Tero’gal at first. But Theo was warming up to the idea of the spirits constructing a town. They had expanded it even if no new spirits had arrived. Benton brought a new blend of tea today, something that was less sweet than what he normally liked. It was a mature taste. A flavor that the alchemist didn’t altogether enjoy. But the confections made up for that. Fried donut-like things and spongy cakes spread across the table. Tresk went wild with the powdered sugar he brought, covering everything she ate in a thick layer.

Benton came with news of his realm. They were inspired by the spirits within Tero’gal and had entered a boom of construction. The desolate landscape often made it so that the spirits there wanted to snuggle up, preserving their warmth. But with more buildings, the bear god was confident they could live a more enjoyable life. Theo had little advice for that. The spirits in his realm just did as they pleased. He never asked them to build a little town. He certainly didn’t ask for them to engage in artistic endeavors. Even if the sculptures they were creating were getting more realistic.

One thing that made Theo excited was the disposition of the souls in his realm. They didn’t treat him like a god. After finishing the tea, they toured the expanded town. People waved as they went past, but offered nothing more than a hearty greeting. There was no groveling, praying, or anything weird like that. They were just people living their lives. It was a reflection of Broken Tusk itself. Like a mirror image, rendered with vast artistic license. Until Tero’gal was exposed to the wider heavens, they were protected from attack. That’s what Benton said, anyway.

Alex wanted to stay back in the town to play in the spring while Theo and Tresk wandered off. They hiked through Tero’gal, finding places they hadn’t seen before. The entire time, they probed the edges of the heavens with their senses. It wasn’t an exact skill they were using. Like the ability to sense someone back on the mortal plane, it was more of a feeling. The Marshling was far better at it than him. It took several hours, but she had a decent sense for which realm was Balkor’s.

The duo had found their way to a rise right outside of town. It provided an excellent view of the place. Rolling hills below them, and a stiff breeze blown from a mountain range provided a pleasant environment.

“There are hundreds of thousands of dead realms,” Tresk said. “Yeah, I can feel it. Some are shuttered. Like, there’s no way anyone could ever get there. But a few are open. And one stinks.”

“Stinks like what?” Theo asked, plucking a blade of grass from the ground. He tried to clasp it between his thumbs and whistle, but it didn’t work.

“Like death.”

“Yeah, that’s our realm. Remember that one. How far is it?”

“Distance is relative. That’s the strange thing, though. I feel as though I have some authority over Balkor’s dead realm.”

That made little sense. From what Theo understood, authority over realms came from two things. The first one was absolute authority, which they both had over Tero’gal. Then there was self-authority, which represented itself when they were visiting another realm. Absolute authority gave them permission to do whatever they wanted, while self-authority made it so no one could hold them in a realm they didn’t want to be in. He dismissed the matter, assuming the authority she felt was just her actualized will in the other realm.

“We’ll toss him across the void tomorrow,” Theo said.

“Yeah. I can’t feel him on the mortal plane when he’s too close to that dragon.”

“Let’s leave Alex with him tomorrow. That way, we have something to focus on as we interdict him.”

A calm silence set in on the hillside. The Tara’hek fell into thought as one. Worries bled together, mingling with excitement. Things were getting interesting in the heavenly realms, and their progress on the mortal plane was going well. Despite the army of undead beating down their door to the north, they were doing good.

“Did you hear about Sledge’s eggs?” Tresk asked.

Theo was aware that Sledge wanted to have kids, but didn’t know she would actually go through with it. “Really? We need to make sure that Bob has enough resources to handle more crazy Marshling kids.”

“Yeah. Good luck, you little Brogling.”

Chapter 63

Zureah Materials

Tero’gal provided a much needed break from the underground world. Theo felt all his worries for the place melt away in an instant as he looked over the rolling fields of his realm. He was disappointed that no new souls had arrived within the realm, but what could he do? There was no place to hang a sign in the void that said ‘this way for a good time’. That might put off the wrong impression, though.

Owning a realm, which was effectively a new world, gave the alchemist an interesting perspective. He didn’t want to change the way these new people were developing their society, and it didn’t seem to need changing. Tero’gal was closer to a utopia than Broken Tusk could ever be. No one rushed him with reports when he entered the realm. Just a bunch of smiling faces and quick nods.

“Yeah, I was thinking about that, too,” Tresk said.

Theo shot her a look. “Digging through my thoughts?”

“I’m always digging around in there. Cavernous.”

“So, what was I thinking about?”

“About when some big bad comes and stomps on our little town. You want to bring Broken Tuskers here.”

Well, that wasn’t exactly what he was thinking about. But it had been on his mind. His last failsafe against some disaster was to interdict everyone in Broken Tusk, bringing them to the safety of Tero’gal. And reason lent itself well to the problem Fenian was stirring up. The undead were a core part of his plan. But what happened when that plan came to completion? What if the undead went away, and Qavell marched to war. The alliance would be broken underfoot, and everything they worked for would crumble in an instant.

“The moment we send Fenian away, we need to kick Throk into gear. I want my rail guns.”

“Yeah. You’ve already got my dad signed up for transcontinental railroads. What’s a few guns after that?”

This was often a point of contention between Theo and Tresk’s thoughts. She was excellent at conflict, but not planning for it. Like most Broken Tuskers, the Marshling prepared for battle at the last moment. The alchemist wanted to cover all options before the threat arrived. And they still had a [River Dungeon] monster wave to deal with. That would be the order of things, then. Monster wave, Fenian, defenses. Easy enough, so long as Aarok and Luras agreed.

Even without his Wisdom of the Soul ability, Theo knew his administrators would object to some things he would do in the future. He hoped they had confidence in him enough to accept his strategy. He snapped out of his malaise and looked inward, to the bank of knowledge stored in his mind. As with all things, he searched for an alchemical solution to his problems.

There was a long list of potions he had yet to craft. And several properties he didn’t want to explore. Properties like [Devour], which likely created a poison, and even more likely inflicted great pain on the person unlucky enough to feel the sting. Theo went over those properties with Tresk as they sat atop a hill. A delightful breeze blew in, soothing them with every gust.

“How about the Zureah stuff?” Tresk asked.

[Zureah Talons] and wings provided levitation, or offense-related properties. Theo had only discovered the first property on both, but the reagent was decently rare. The bird-people, called Zureah, spawned with the [River Dungeon]. They could stock up on monster parts from that wave, so the alchemist added it to a metal list of things to test.

“Can’t forget the spirit fruits,” Theo said.

“Except they’re rare.”

That was always a problem. Mass production was better for most potions. Especially in defending Broken Tusk. Theo had to consider how long it would take the undead to clear out, if they cleared out at all. Then how long it would take Qavell to get moving. He would assume the worst, and estimate their arrival to be seven days after the Elf was gone. That was plenty of time to discover new properties, and create new bombs.

“Property binding is also an option. I’ve only scraped the surface of primal essences. Then there’s the reagents that grow in the caverns underground… Suddenly, I have a question.”

“Huh?”

“Do the rock-folk name anything?”

“Doesn’t seem like it.”

“We should send Azrug down there to name everything. I’m annoyed that someone would name their city ‘Nameless City’.”

“Yeah. That sucks, too.”

Theo and Tresk hiked back to the town, spending hours wandering with little aim. Belgar must have smelled the alchemist’s intent, because he joined him near the small work area. Compared to the grumpy soul that arrived in Tero’gal, the dead Dronon was now chipper and excited about most things. But he was especially excited about his sister’s letters. He held the newest one in his hands, pressing it to his face occasionally.

“Well, I’m going to mingle,” Tresk said, turning away from the table and walking away. Alex honked nearby, swimming in the cool spring water.

“Do you remember any interesting reagents?” Theo asked.

Belgar leaned over the table, a smile spreading across his face. The more time he spent in the realm, the sharper his features became. He was almost solid enough to make out details, but he was a way off from being completely corporeal. The shocking thing was that he didn’t look like Theo. Instead of regaining the image of his old body, he seemed to forge himself a new one.

“You’ll never appreciate the unique flora and fauna of the swamp, will you?”

Theo tapped his foot, then shook his head. “I know I’ve been spoiled.”

Belgar clapped a hand on the alchemist’s back. “No need to be a grouch about it! Let’s get to work. Do you have any samples on you?”

It was hard not to smile. “Alright. First, I have a [Zureah Talon] with the [Slash] property.”

“Ah, I’ve seen that property. It’s weird. Ground into a poultice, it increases the damage of the user’s next attack. When distilled, it behaves strangely.”

“Strangely?”

“It can create a spectral slash, as if from a sword, when used as a bomb. Or, it adds that slashing effect to the user’s next attack.”

“Interesting,” Theo said. He withdrew two [Zureah Talons] from his inventory. The alchemist held his hand over the first reagent, applying his [Reagent Deconstruction] ability to draw out the second property. He did the same for the next reagent, extracting all three properties before withdrawing another sample for examination.

“How many talons do you have on you, boy?” Belgar asked, chuckling.

“Too many.”

[Zureah Talon]

[Alchemy Ingredient]

Rare

The menacing claw of a Zureah.

Properties:

[Slash] [Desperate Attack] [Berserk]

“Those seem dangerous,” Belgar said.

The names didn’t inspire confidence, that was certain. Theo prepared two stills for small runs, and Belgar helped. The grinders had some trouble with the talons, but it wasn’t as difficult for them to grind as the [Pozwa Horns]. They let the pair of still do their work to extract the [Desperate Attack] and [Berserk] properties while they moved on to other reagents.

“I have more of these [Zureah Feathers] than I know what to do with,” Theo said, withdrawing one from his inventory.

Belgar took a feather in his hand and nodded. “The [Levitate] property is solid. I would still be alive if I had a [Lesser Potion of Levitation]. Let’s discover the other properties, though.”

Theo withdrew three samples again, sending the first two up in smoke to discover their properties. After applying his champion Drogramathi mana to the reagents, he inspected the remaining one with Belgar.

[Zureah Feather]

[Alchemy Ingredient]

Epic

The feather of a Zureah, said to hold the creature’s affinity for flight.

Properties:

[Levitate] [Feather Shield] [Whirlwind]

This was the exciting part. Trying to guess what a property would produce was always fun, but Belgar hadn’t seen [Feather Shield] or [Whirlwind]. They fired up two additional stills before pulling up chairs. People-watching had become of the dead Dronon’s favorite activity in the realm. Theo couldn’t blame him. While he could still see through most of the people, they were becoming more solid by the day. They went about their lives as though nothing had happened. It was as though they hadn’t died.

The refined essences were completed in the order they were brewed. Each potion Theo created was still middling in its bond to Drogramath, no matter what people said about the temple increasing that level. Perhaps he wasn’t praying enough, or in the right way. But as he set out the essences for test reactions, he realized that people didn’t really pray. Not like back on Earth. Zarali was the only person he had seen truly praying.

“Patrons,” Theo said after a long pause.

“What?” Belgar asked.

“Everyone should call the gods patrons. Because they’re not gods.”

Belgar clapped a hand on Theo’s shoulder. “Couldn’t agree less. Brew the potions.”

Theo went through the motions of making a simple, second tier potion. It was something he had done thousands of time before. More than an exercise, or an art, it had become a series of motions that he made mindlessly. They inspected the first potion when it was completed.

[Potion of Desperate Attack]

[Potion]

Rare

Created by: Theo Spencer

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Grade: Excellent Quality

To be quaffed in dire circumstances. This potion exemplifies the Zureah’s tendency to perform attacks that put their lives in danger.

Effect:

The next time the drinker attacks an enemy, they gain the Desperate Attack effect.

When Desperate Attack is activated, 50% of the drinker’s total health is consumed.

1.50 times the amount of total health is applied to the drinker’s attack.

“See?” Belgar asked. “That potion is a trap. Fifty percent of the drinker’s total health.”

“Meaning they could kill themselves with the potion.”

“Exactly. Anything that concerns total health percentages is scary.”

That reminded Theo of the searing regeneration modified effect on potions. It often created things that would kill the user as often as it would help them.

“But wait,” Theo said, moving to brew the potion with the [Berserk] property. “There’s more!”

Unlike the [Potion of Desperate Attack], this next one seemed to fight against Theo’s will. He had experienced this in the past. Willful potions weren’t uncommon, and most potions that used the third property of reagent were like this. He took his time, making sure his core allowed him to measure exact quantities. After adding the catalyst to the vial, the alchemist watched as the essence boiled within. It turned a dark shade of red, mottled with black. A few moments later, the reaction calmed down. What was left was a mixture of the two colors, running in bands along the potion.

“Nasty looking thing,” Belgar said, stooping low for inspection.

“Indeed.”

[Potion of Berserk]

[Potion]

Epic

Created by: Theo Spencer

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Grade: Excellent Quality

To be quaffed in circumstances without hope. This represents the Zureah’s tendency of fighting to the death.

Effect:

The next time the drinker attacks an enemy, they gain the Berserk effect.

When Berserk is active, 98% of the drinker’s total health is consumed.

2.50 times the amount of total health is applied to the drinker’s attack.

If the drinker is still alive after the attack, they enter a state of Berserker’s Rage.

The drinker will no longer recognize friend from foe, and for the next twenty seconds they cannot be killed by reducing their health to 0.

Each attack they perform will contain the power of the original Berserk effect, without consuming 98% of their total health.

“Well, screw that potion,” Theo said. “This is the second-most dangerous potion I’ve ever crafted.”

“Hmmm,” Belgar said, tapping his chin as he read the description again. “I’m not so certain.”

“How could this possibly be useful?”

“Combined with a [Life Ward] effect, this could be a powerful weapon. True, the user would need to make sure they’re at full health before they use it… but the effect? An invulnerable fighter on the battlefield.”

“Twenty seconds of invulnerability,” Theo corrected. “Without a sense for friend or foe. What is the [Life Ward] effect?”

“Zarali and I used to brew [Lesser Potions of Life Ward] from a root that grew in the Veostian Highlands. After drinking it, all the damage you take over the next minute is restored if your health reaches 0.”

“That’s insane,” Theo said. “And incredibly situational.”

“But notice the wording of the [Potion of Berserk]. They cannot be killed by reducing their health to 0. Is there another way?”

“There must be. It wouldn’t mention it, otherwise.”

The alchemist couldn’t decide if the [Potion of Berserk] was good. If he could find something with the [Life Ward] property, it would turn any fighter into a demon. Theo had a sense that the potion’s description was leaving something out. The [Berserker’s Rage] effect likely held more secrets. He shelved it in his mind as something to brew if he found the [Life Ward] property on anything. Until then, it was time to move on.

“Right. I’ll have to find that other property to use this correctly,” Theo said, nodding. “As always, your knowledge is helpful.”

“Anytime.”

Next were the essences they had distilled from the [Zureah Feather]. Theo expected less from these, and was happy to brew two potions that wouldn’t kill him. The reaction of the [Feather Shield] property was mild, especially compared to [Berserk]. The ornate vial swirled with green energy, then settled down almost immediately. Both he and Belgar leaned close, inspecting the next potion.

[Potion of Feather Shield]

[Potion]

Rare

Created by: Theo Spencer

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Grade: Excellent Quality

Surrounds the drinker with a shield of feathers.

Effect:

For 10 minutes after drinking this potion, the imbiber will gain a shield of feathers.

Drinker will become more difficult to hit.

If an attacker lands a hit on the drinker, there is a 5% chance that the damage is negated.

“This is a solid defensive potion,” Belgar said. “Compared to [Barkskin] and similar effects, it doesn’t have any drawbacks.

“Yes, but the effect is less impressive. Becoming more difficult to hit is nice, but I like negating damage entirely.”

“Still, you never know what combinations you can make.”

“True. And I have thousands of these feathers.”

“Ah, I’ve missed this.” Belgar let out a long, labored sigh. “Drifting in the void doesn’t hold a candle to alchemy.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Next up was the [Whirlwind] effect. The first impression that Theo got from the property was that it was an attack. But as he held the [Refined Whirlwind Essence] in his hand, he realized that wasn’t the case. Like the [Feather Shield] property, this was a defensive potion. It reminded him of the scent given off by the [Retreat Essence]. He performed the reaction without thinking much about it. The essence swirled in the vial as though driven by a powerful squall. It didn’t settle down much, even after the reaction ended. The potion looked more like a hurricane in a bottle than a liquid. Both he and Belgar inspected it.

[Potion of Whirlwind]

[Potion]

Epic

Created by: Theo Spencer

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Grade: Excellent Quality

Surrounds the drinker with a whirlwind.

Effect:

The drinker is sent into the air in a direction of their choosing.

The whirlwind left behind knocks all enemies back.

“Interesting, but it lacks the Featherfall effect,” Beglar said, tapping his chin.

“Rename it to the ‘Potion of Splat’,” Theo said, chuckling at his own joke.

Belgar joined in, laughing with him. There were some interesting potions in the bunch. The [Potion of Feather Shield] had its uses, and might become even better at third tier. Those potions born from the [Zureah Talons] were likely the best, but it was debatable. Without a potion with the [Life Ward] property, they would be impossible to use safely. Even then, it would be tricky.

Potions that had a clear effect without drawbacks were always the best. But Theo wasn’t looking for something that restored health, or increased a person’s attributes. He was looking for a weapon. Only, he didn’t expect to find the means to create a living weapon. The modifiers he could place on the [Potion of Berserk], or his future [Greater Potion of Berserk] would likely be equally insane.

Belgar seemed to have gotten his fill of potion-making, and Theo couldn’t agree more. Instead, the alchemist told him the story of the underground civilization. The only thing he was interested in was obtaining a sample of the dragon’s scales, claiming it would create an amazing potion.

Theo had his doubts about that. The dragon had almost no presence when they met. Which meant it was powerful enough to not emit anything that would disturb his senses. Conceptually heavy reagents like that, including the spirit fruits, were difficult to deal with. Processing them required special skills and handling techniques. Certainly a dragon’s scales would be the most difficult thing to turn into a potion. But there was still a small part of the alchemist that wanted to know. Who wouldn’t want to know.

The real world beckoned, in time. Theo, Tresk, and Alex spent no more time in the realm than last time. Without more spirits, the power of the realm didn’t grow. But it was enough for them to get their heads straight about the situation in the caverns. Allies were always important, especially if they had things to trade.

The alchemist looked toward the sky, willing the group back to the mortal plane. The next time they visited this private realm, they would throw Fenian into the fire. What hell followed in his wake required reverence. And caution.