The Newt and Demon

3.56 - A Man Must Have His Secrets

Xams feast was legendary. With food provided by Rivers and Daub, and the expanding production of Broken Tusk, she wove an array of dishes that brought the two towns together on the table. The Elves ate, despite already getting their fill, and were happy to socialize with their new neighbors. Theo and Tresk took a table outside, giving their usual table to the refugees and enjoying the hot evening air. It was only getting hotter by the day.

Try this, Tresk said, shoving a baked, turnip-like vegetable into the alchemists hand.

It was a mix between a spicy radish and a sweet potato, and not to his liking. But he ate anyway, just happy to see the new citizens mingling. He wanted to make a speech, but nothing came, as though a blanket was placed over his thoughts. They came as half-formed, muffled things that seemed more like the ramblings of an emotional teenager than a leader. Best to keep those things inside.

We still dont have salt, Tresk said, snatching the potato-radish back and taking a massive bite. Might wanna get on that.

Theo waved her away. Salt was far from his mind, even if the solution might be simple. While they could just boil the seawater, he could already hear Throk complaining about creating the artifice to harvest the resource. There was also the problem of their access to the sea. Without reliable guardtowers, any devices planted near the coast were prone to destruction from the [Ocean Dungeon]. The problem was easier to put off when the idea of limited trade came to mind.

Until we have boats, Im not focusing on exports, Theo said. He pointed to their new shipwright, Laedria, drunk and dancing on a table. I still need [Sanchrin Leaves] to cure hangovers.

Yeah, but I like salt, Tresk said. Alex chirped her agreement.

Theo nodded. He liked salt too. The alchemist looked over the new numbers for his labor force. Almost 300 new laborers meant a spike in production, but it came at a cost. Broken Tusk didnt have the infrastructure to support so many workers. That would be their task, then. Expanding the depth of the mine, upgrading the sawmill, sowing new fields at the farm, and doubling down on Zizs construction projects.

A handful of Elves had no designation in the mayoral interface. Their jobs were yet to be determined, but there were so few of them. Those were the artisans of House Wavecrest, destined to become producers on their own. Then there was Azrugs new venture to consider. A caravan to the other 2 towns was beyond important, it was vital. Everything led back to the stoneworkers new project. The road.

There was groundwork to be laid on that front. A shallow ditch to replace the existing dirt path, gravel to line the bed, and magically-placed cobbles on top of that. The cost of the road would be astronomical, if they were paying market price for the cobbles. Ziz generously offered each stone for free. Cut off from the north, there were no buyers for his stone. The workers claimed that even the stock of stone in the towns infinite storage might not be enough to do the job. But now they had the labor. It could be done.

When dinner was drawing to a close, Theo invited Fenian and Gael to join him at his private bath. The Elven trader rubbed his hands together, nodding with a stupid smile on his face. The patriarch of House Wavecrest was reluctant, but joined them all the same. He insisted on covering himself with a cloth, instead of going full native in the nude.

Whatever, Tresk said, diving into the pool naked.

Theo lowered himself into the pool, setting Alex to the side and letting out a sigh. These rooms needed Throks air conditioners. There was nothing better than soaking in a hot bath while the outside temperature was freezing.

Youll have boats soon, Fenian said, removing his many articles of ruffles and entering the pool. Gael followed, preserving his modesty.

First steps to our trade network, Theo said. Well need to scout places out. I figure well make contact with the lizard-folk down south first.

A wise decision, Fenian said with a nod. Theyre the closest.

Im afraid Im out of my depth, Gael said with a weak shrug. Trade was never my strength.

Take a page from my friend Theos book, Fenian said, splashing Theo in the face. Rise to the challenge.

Theo wasnt sure if he ever rose to the challenge. Hed been bumbling through leadership from the start, trying to tear himself away from personal projects to serve his people. That was a funny phrase to think of now. His people. Because the Bantari Marshlings and Half-Ogres of the land had truly become his people. From the moment he arrived in town, they treated him like one of their own. Warmth spread through him, hot enough to rival the bath water, when he thought of how the Elves were accepted.

But Fenian was hiding more than he was sharing. The alchemist had trouble deciding if the situation with the undead was good. He didnt know how far those necromantic powers went, or if they had limits. The image of long-dead warriors dotting the horizon gave him chills. Like most challenges that came his way, it only made sense to over-prepare for them. That meant more [Hallow Ground] potions, and a solid way to deliver them. Something better than just tossing them over the walls of Gronro-Dir and praying for the best.

What level are you, Fenian? Theo asked, the thought coming to him in a moment. He reached his senses out, poking the trader in on the shoulder and receiving no system prompt for the inspection.

A man must have his secrets, Fenian said.

You have enough secrets for an entire town, Tresk said, blowing bubbles in the water. But we know you have an aligned trading core, and a [Paratheir Duelists Core].

His house was known for their alignment with Paratheir, Gael said with a shrug. It wasnt until King Karasan

Ah, lets not give the game away, Fenian interrupted. Were saving that fact for the finale.

Gael just nodded, sinking lower into the bath. Fenian knew that Theos intuition was high enough to place the pieces of the puzzle. He was a few parts shy of the truth, but had enough to know Karasan betrayed House Southblade. The history of Iaredin painted that as a strange situation. This didnt give hints as to the Elven traders age, but it revealed that Qavell had dealings with Tarantham before Qavelli-Veostian relations crumbled. By the alchemists estimation, that could have happened in recent memory, or as far back as 300 years.

Whatever slight he brought on your family Hopefully your punishment fits the crime, Theo said.

Fenian just smiled, scooting over to pat Alex on the head.

Without a response from the Elf, Theo turned his attention to his levels. It was an excellent time to grind levels now that trade was cutting off. The amount of [Hallow Ground] potions Gronro needed would provide a massive dump of alchemy and herbalism levels. While his [Drogramath Herbalism Core] was creeping along, almost at level 17, the [Drogramath Alchemy Core] was sprinting ahead. The alchemy core would hit 19 soon after the herbalism core hit 17. The alchemists [Governance Core] saw a massive spike of experience when the Elves arrived, sending it to the edge of level 18, currently sitting at 17.

Sometime during the busy day, Theos personal level rolled over to 18. He placed the point in [Intelligence], wanting to dump more points into the attribute most likely to influence spellcasting. All that put him 2 levels away from level 20. Once skills rolled over to 20, hed have a massive pool of free skills to pick from. When a core hit a multiple of 10, the system gave a core-related list of skills, which he could pick one of. [Reagent Deconstruction] was obvious for his [Drogramath Alchemy Core], even if it was a skill shared between alchemy and herbalism. Then there was the [Governance Cores] skill. That would be hard, and it would pay to consult with his administration staff on that one. Anyone with an [Administrators Core] in town shared some of his abilities.

Then there was the problem of finding a demon mage core aligned with Toruaun. Theo had already thumbed through the book on the Axpashi language. While his high [Wisdom] stat didnt grant him a perfect memory yet, it was close. But memorizing a list of words and grammar was different than completely understanding a language. That would take time. The alchemist couldnt understand Xolsas theories about the Demonic God of Mysteries, but he was edging closer. He was hopeful that the Dreamwalk would allow him to spawn the book in for some light reading while grinding levels.

Conversation had sprung up around Theo, but he hadnt taken notice. He was lost in his thoughts, making progress on future decisions. Once the chatter wound down, he interjected his own rambling thoughts.

How much do you know about Toruaun? Theo asked, nodding at Fenian.

Almost nothing, Fenian said. Thats the idea, isnt it?

Never saw her on the Bridge?

There are few visitors to the Bridge of Shadows, Fenian chuckled. Ive seen your Lord Drogramath there. Once. But the Bridge isnt a material thing. It doesnt link one point to another. The space inside is more of a suggestion.

Should I take an UzXulven core, instead? Theo asked.

I dont recommend it, Fenian said. Since Azrug has an [Ulvoqor Loremasters Core], that class is off the table. A [Tworgnoth Artificers Core] might be nice, but I dont think you have the aptitude. You dont seem like the healing type, or a melee fighter. No, I think a defensive mage class would be best to add to your arsenal. A defensive demon mage is even better.

That was Khahars opinion on the matter, but it always paid to get another mind thinking about the problem. Since Azrug got a loremaster core, as Theo suspected from his sudden purchase of the old gear, that would be redundant. Hed never been interested in creating artifices, so a defensive mage seemed like the best option.

Khahar said he could put me in contact with Toruaun, Theo said.

I bet he can, Fenian laughed.

Ive already made contact, Khahar said, suddenly sitting in the pool fully clothed. She says you have potential.

Gael swallowed hard, averting his eyes from the Khahari. Tresk splashed him. Khahar splashed back, cracking a smile.

When and how will she contact me? Theo asked. Id like to know the specifics of how her demon mage class works.

Khahar shrugged. The Baratheir is better-informed than one would expect. Just read his book, its mostly accurate.

Xolsas people were called the Baratheir. Of course it was something that Khahar would know, he knew everything.

Theo felt the fading of an age more in that moment than any moment before. The end of Balkors Betrayal reverberated in the alchemists bones. Keeping such strange company didnt help matters. Gael was curious enough, but Fenian and Khahar made the scene laughable. In the near-future, the Khahari leader would ascend to something else. Hed become a god, whatever that meant. People around the world would take his core, doing his bidding and reaping the rewards he gave. The Elven trader schemed, perhaps under the thumb of one or more gods. If the entity that brought Theo to this world was the Harbinger, Fenian was the Harald.

Tresk seemed to care about none of it. She played in the water as though it were any other day, splashing people playfully. Some of her murderous intent had faded away, likely absorbed by Alex. It still smoldered in her heart, fading to dying embers of a life lived weeks ago. Because things moved fast in Broken Tusk, perhaps the world at large. She talked with Khahar about devoting herself to Paranthier, which he thought was a good idea. Fenian took this as validation of some path he was on.

You should tell them your other name, Khahar said, tilting his head to Fenian.

Stick to one name, Tresk growled.

Ill tell them when Im ready, Fenian said.

The group wasnt kicked out of the bathhouse tonight. Xam had told her people to keep it open as long as possible, but Theos party had their fill of the enhancing water. They left, Khahar vanishing the way he always did, and lingered on the streets for some time. Fenian left to spend time with his countrymen while Gael was eager to get more rest. Theo, Tresk, and Alex went back to the Newt and Demon to delve into the Dreamwalk realm of Terogal. They slipped into their sheets and through the ethereal curtain that segmented reality.

Theo twisted the scene to the harbor the moment the Dreamwalk resolved around them. Something stuck in his mind, still offending him hours later.

The harbor isnt small, he said, gesturing to summon four massive ships. In Earths history they would have been galleons of some kind. He didnt know the specifics, but they had 3 sails and towered into the air. There was room for each ship to turn comfortably in the harbor, towed by ghostly lines running to shore.

Looks big to me, Tresk said with a shrug. Neither of them knew much about boats. Did that Elf get to you?

Theo shook his head. That was all just posturing.

Tresk wanted to run a few combat drills. There were no new potions to test out, so it was more of the same. Theo couldnt see any holes in his strategy. The Marshlings attempts proved that to be true. Unless an army was attacking him, the alchemist could ensure his safety with their standard method. Flying enemies were now on the table, but they couldnt develop a decent strategy for them. The best idea was to keep Alex in town as an anchor point, teleporting behind the walls when things got bad.

Theo was delighted to see he could summon Xolsas books and read them in the Dreamwalk. The limits of the realm were absolute, though. If information wasnt in his mind, he couldnt view it. There were sections of the Axpashi manual that he hadnt committed to memory, so those were missing. But it was again a problem of understanding it as a language, not a set of symbols to memorize. Like Drogramathi enchanting script, it was more about painting a picture than giving symbols that represented something.

What little the alchemist could read of the Toruaun tome painted the Demons magic as complex. Theo started his work by setting up his stills and getting them running and creating greenhouses to tend imaginary crops. While he moved between them, he worked on his mana control and understanding Xolsas book. Going between the Axpashi book and the Toruaun book bore more fruit than focusing on either, but his concentration strained to spread between the many tasks. Things would be better if he had more time to spend in the Dreamwalk.

The closer Theo edged to level 20 in his [Drogramath Alchemy Core], the more he realized his assumption about mana control to be correct. That was the barrier that separated the teens from the twenties. The key to breaking the barrier for his [Drogramath Herbalism Core] was cultivation, another thing he already had down. Broken Tusks constant prepared nature reflected his own in regards to classes. Others might have been waiting for the signal to go, but the alchemist was already running.

There were few reagents Theo had access to that he didnt know the proper heating stages for. When the Elves came to town, he didnt have time to test the Zureah reagents. But the Dreamwalk wouldnt let him distill those. Another problem with the [Zureah Talons] was that they were just as hard as the [Pozwa Horns]. Theo was confident his grinders could handle them, but there was always a chance theyd need to be smashed by someone with high [Strength]. Even without the distilled essence, the alchemist had a sense for each property.

[Zureah Talons] had the [Slash] property. The alchemist got the sense that it was something for attacking, but also dangerous. He was reminded of the [Embolden] modifier, which often had horrible side-effects. The [Zureah Feathers] were a different story. They held the [Levitate] property, which the alchemists senses said was exactly what the word implied. Those kinds of properties were often tied to the quality of the potion. In this case, it would be the height of levitation and duration.

A school of experimentation Theo had been ignoring was the constructs for his golems. His previous experiment showed that golems could use the slates to effectively cast a spell, but there was a part of the whole he was missing. While he didnt expect to master the constructs skill in a day, there were too many pieces he was missing.

Theo spent the night going between his experiments, grinding out his cores. Alex kept him company in the harbor. Unlike the real version, she was free to play in the water without fear of fish coming to eat her. Tresk stayed to herself, fighting fields of monsters and perfecting her hit-and-run tactics. The last monster wave shook her confidence, but that was a good thing. If she ever became comfortable with her abilities, that would be worrying. When she gave up on improvement, she wouldnt be the same person. A woman like her saw minor failures as major ones, always pushing her forward.

The night came to an end, the experience rolling in over the system message when Theo returned to his bed. With no sense of drowsiness, he set his mind on the task at hand. It was time to grind more alchemy.