by Ian Rodgers
“It’s a way for jewelers to show who processed which precious stone,” Katherine said, unconcerned. “It’s an easy way to prevent thieves, too. If you try to sell a marked stone, they can check to see when and where it was sold. If the seller doesn’t match up with what the records state, odds are it’s stolen.”
She chuckled. “But no real problem for a fence, or a black-market jeweler. I’ll take the marked gems and pass ‘em on to the Dark Guild when I drop off the other stuff tomorrow. And as for these babies…”
Katherine grabbed the duel sleeve daggers and slipped them into her outfit. “I’ll take these as my personal spoils of war. You can have the rest of the stuff.”
“Generous,” I said thankfully. The young dwarf waved it off.
“No problem. I’ll just make sure you pay for dinner from now on,” she said with a cheeky grin. I snorted, but bobbed in agreement all the same.
Rosa flew down to one of the platinum coins and inspected it. Then, to everyone’s astonishment, the little ruby-studded fairy bit down on it, tearing off a large chunk of precious metal from the coin. She chewed and swallowed before burping.
(Excuse me!) she giggled, her jewel glowing a bit redder to reflect her embarrassment.
“What was that all about?!” Katherine demanded, a look of pain in her eyes as she stared at the ruined coin, lamenting the loss of so much money through a single bite.
Platinum was rare, extremely sensitive to magical phenomena, and almost impossible to synthesize via Alchemy. As such, a single platinum coin was made of real platinum, and worth a hundred standard gold ones. Even I boggled at Rosa’s actions.
(Oh, well, I was hungry. And it’d been so long since I’d had anything filling, so…) Rosa trailed off, and I gave a mental frown over our link.
“What do you mean, you were hungry?”
(Well, I can eat mortal food, but it’s not that filling. Us Carbuncles prefer eating crystals and precious metals,) my Familiar explained, and I felt a pang of guilt. As well as a wave of annoyance for not looking up more info on the jeweled Feykin. And at Tara for not informing me of this earlier.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had a specific diet to follow,” I apologized, and even Katherine looked regretful. “But why didn’t you tell us? I would have gotten you what you needed! You’re my Familiar, but more importantly, you’re my friend! I’d take care of anything for you!”
(I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,) Rosa said, hanging her head. (But the food I eat is expensive. Besides, I could get by for a few more years just eating mortal stuff! So don’t worry!)
I shook my body violently, simulating a shaking head. “No way. I’m not going to let any of my friends go hungry if I can help it. Here, finish your snack.”
I pushed the half-eaten platinum coin over to Rosa, and she hesitantly took it. Before taking another bite, she looked up at me. I motioned for her to go ahead, and she offered a weak, yet thankful, smile, before devouring the item.
“I’ll put these platinum coin aside for you, OK, Rosa?” I said, putting them into my Dimensional Pocket. “And is there anything else you want to eat?”
She said nothing, but cast a sideways glance towards the gems that were still sitting on the bed. Katherine looked like she wanted to cry tears of blood, but she passed over the marked jewels all the same.
“Here. If you can use ‘em, then do so. It would take too long to have ‘em fenced off while we’re on a tight schedule.”
I noted with some amusement that Katherine’s dwarven accent had come out extremely thick as she passed over the gems. Even if she hadn’t been a thief, I had a feeling she would have lived up to the dwarfish stereotype of being miserly money grubbers.
“Never feel as if you cannot ask any of us for something. We’ll do what we can to ensure you don’t go hungry,” I promised, and tears came to Rosa’s eyes. As they fell, they crystalized and became diamond-like drops that landed on the sheets. I discreetly swept up her tears into my Dimensional Pocket. Carbuncle Tears were a high-quality Alchemy ingredient, after all. No need to let them go to waste!
(Thank you! You’re all so kind to me! Thank you!) Rosa bawled, giving Katherine and I heartfelt tackle hugs.
“No problem,” Katherine assured Rosa, patting her gently on the back. “Now, why don’t we all get some sleep? We have a lot of preparations to do before we leave!”
We all agreed to the plan, and settled down for some shut-eye. Katherine took the bed, while I made a nest out of spare blankets and pillows on the ground. Rosa cuddled up next to me, and we both drifted off to dreamland with peaceful, rosy thoughts.
Chapter 6: Jewels and Tomes
“When will you be back?” I asked, leaning against the doorframe as I watched Katherine getting ready for the day.
“Before dusk, hopefully. The local branch of the Dark Guild is rather young, and more than a little nervous thanks to the governor’s incarceration. Most of what I’ll be doing today is waiting for them to confirm my credentials and to see the bosses. Beyond that, it shouldn’t be too difficult to get the loot fenced,” Katherine said as she put the final touches of her outfit - the two looted daggers – up her sleeves.
“Alright, then. If everything goes well, we can leave Pollastra tomorrow morning,” I said eagerly. “I’ll gather up the travel supplies we’ll need, as well as look around for some additional information on the area. Thanks to the journal we stole, I know more or less what to expect.”
“Great! Sounds like a plan!” the dwarf maiden said cheerfully. I stepped aside and let her pass, and Katherine practically skipped out of the room.
Once she was gone, I morphed into my bipedal shape and slipped on my robes and illusions, becoming a brown-haired, brown eyed young man of middling height. In short, the sort of person no one would look twice at. My big hat and mage attire would attract some attention, but nothing that couldn’t be handled.
“Come on, Rosa, time to do some shopping,” I said, beckoning the Carbuncle over. She flitted over happily and roosted on the brim of my hat, as always.
(Ready for adventure!) she cheered, pointing off in the direction of the marketplace.
As I left the Wood Duck Inn, I gave a polite nod towards the receptionist who smiled back and waved in response. Rosa also waved back, a wide grin on her tiny fairy face.
(She’s nice,) Rosa declared as we left the inn. (She gives me candy!)
“I’m just glad you haven’t broken anything irreplaceable,” I replied. “I mean, that chair was already falling apart, so I guess that one wasn’t entirely your fault, but still.”
Rosa huffed and pouted. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her adorable expression. Nothing better than 360-degree vision to see all the cuteness on offer!
~Jelly, stop teasing Rosa,~ Tara commanded, and I stopped, properly chastised. The Spirit of Knowledge got a hearty ‘thank you’ from the Carbuncle and we continued on our way.
~Food is going to be the immediate concern, at least for Katherine and Rosa,~ Tara said as I browsed the market stall. ~As well as camping supplies. Since you can make all the Healing Potions we could require, medicine is thankfully no problem.~
‘Agreed. But I’ll still pick up some spare potion ingredients, just to be on the safe side,’ I thought back. ‘Antidotes and disease preventatives are just as necessary, after all.’
~I believe we should also investigate what sort of trade goes on in the outer limits of the territories,~ Tara suggested. ~We know the Soul Ooze village is far on the outskirts, but we have no clue as to what sort of items they have for sale, or what they grow, or what a group of sapient Oozes would even need to own to start a successful village. Why not buy up nails, tools, and other construction materials as a gift for them?~
‘I like the way you think, Tara!’ I said, in complete agreement with her ideas. It’s so nice having someone smart and capable around! I could sense her preening in the back of my mind, but she deserved it, so I let her be.
The markets of Pol
lastra were rather slow. It was still fairly early in the year, spring’s freshness and warmth still fighting against the parting chill of winter. Many of the shops were bereft of local products as the roads around New Castella were muddy from the melted snow. Still, because of the lack of interest in them, I was able to obtain quite a few items cheaply and in bulk.
During my trip around the shops, I happened to find my way into the only store in the town that sold magical items, and found something that stunned me and Tara.
“Is this a copy of the Edelhart Grimoire?” I asked in shock, staring at the black and white cover of the book.
The tome was locked behind a heavily enchanted glass case, the elegant gold leaf title standing out starkly against the otherwise plain white cover. I felt a strong, overwhelming need to obtain it. The mage in me was fascinated by the magical secrets it held. The Spirit of Knowledge in me was fascinated by the knowledge it contained.
“You have a sharp eye, kid,” the store owner, a retired B-rank mage and adventurer, said, looking impressed I recognized it. “You’re entirely correct. That right there isn’t just a copy, but a first edition print. Contains all the original spells and rituals, even the ones that were censored by the church and other factions in the second edition onwards.”
The store owner stroked his beard, a far off look in his eyes. “That’s been in my family for years, but no one until me had any magical talent. But even I couldn’t find a use for it. Even the simplest spells and rituals require at least an A-rank level of mana, and a mastery of Alchemy I just didn’t possess. And Drakon doesn’t exactly have any magical schools like Orria, so I couldn’t donate it anywhere.”
“How did you even find this?” I asked in awe. “Engram Edelhart was the founder of the Alchemist’s Circle and the first recorded creator of a Homunculus! A first edition copy of his work would go for a small fortune! What did your ancestors do to obtain such a treasure?”
“Honestly, I’m pretty sure one of them was a failed Alchemy apprentice and stole the tome from his master for being kicked out of the Circle,” the owner said with a self-deprecating smile. “Probably the reason he fled over here to Drakon when it was still being developed.”
He looked at me strangely, and I could feel a probing spell testing my illusions. I retaliated by blocking his spell with one of my own, cast silently, and returned the favor by shattering his concentration with a burst of raw mana.
He flinched back from the magical attack and raised his hands, conceded defeat.
“You win! Didn’t expect a C-ranked adventurer to be capable of not just detecting my spell, but breaking it as well! Who trained you?”
“Headmaster Arnolt Cantos of the Royal Varian Mage’s Academy,” I said primly, Rosa smirking before blowing a raspberry at the older mage.
“Th-the Master of Rituals himself?” the shopkeeper asked. It was his turn to display shock and awe. He required a few moments to regain control of himself, and when he did, he walked over to the glass case and tapped it, gazing at the Edelhart Grimoire inside with a longing expression.
“Anyone who’s caught the eye of the most powerful sorcerer in the world would definitely be able to use this tome to great effect.” He looked at me knowingly, and also with a hint of pleading, and smiled. “I would be honored to sell this book to you. All its secrets for the low, discounted price of fifty gold.”
“That’s… unbelievably generous,” I stammered. It took me a moment to find the proper words, and I reeled with shock at the offer. A second edition copy of the grimoire could go for five thousand gold coins in an auction! This was about a ninety percent off of the asking price!
I sent a quick question to Rosa via our mental link, and she agreed. I withdrew one of the platinum coins I had obtained and passed it over.
“Here. Keep the change.”
The elderly mage smiled in thanks, took the money, and then unlocked the case. He passed the precious tome over to me and I instantly slipped it into my Dimensional Pocket.
“Use it wisely,” the owner warned, though he still had a smile on his face. I bowed to him in thanks before stepping out.
~Jelly…~
‘Yes, Tara?’ I queried.
~Thank you.~
I simply nodded. To me, the Edelhart Grimoire possessed a great deal of interest as a study aide for my Alchemy, as well as containing a host of interesting spells that might be useful. However, there was one ritual, an alchemical one, that was the focus of Tara’s thanks.
Divine Flesh Descent. A ritual designed to create a semi-permanent body for a being without a body of its own. Built upon ancient rituals that were meant to partially summon a god into the mortal plane, Edelhart had modified it so that intangible spiritual entities like ghosts, spirits of nature, and even minor deities, could walk among the people of the world.
Such a ritual required vast amounts of magical power, as well as rare materials. Not only that, but because of the subject matter of binding higher beings into a mortal frame, every religious institute in Erafore considered it a Forbidden Ritual and had it banned, the knowledge sealed and censored. Finding a copy of the spell in such good condition was akin to discovering a diamond inside the belly of a guppy fish. Or a goose that could lay golden eggs.
The shop owner was damned lucky the churches were so lax over here, and no one else had really recognized or understood the true nature and value of the tome. If the aging mage had known how it was regarded back in Orria, he’d either have hidden it or destroyed it.
But that was to my advantage. And with the Edelhart Grimoire, I could fulfill my promise to Tara to craft a method for her to exist outside of my head, and in a physical body that wasn’t a giant stone monolith.
I turned my attentions back to the streets and the shops. I still had a few things left to buy before we’d be ready to venture out into the wilderness. I heard a stomach rumble, and glanced up at Rosa.
And lunch. Couldn’t forget about that!
.
(Why are there so many people?)
It was Rosa’s confused word’s that brought my attention to my surroundings. To my surprise, there was indeed a large crowd growing outside of the deli I had chosen for lunch. I’d sensed them with my extrasensory perceptions, but since they hadn’t seemed to be a threat I’d ignored them. Now that Rosa brought my attention to the people, though, I realized something was wrong.
Angry and fearful muttering swept through the crowd, and while a wall separated us, I could catch the gist of it. Something about dragons, and lizards, and raided villages?
I quickly paid for my food and stood, stuffing the half-eaten corned beef sandwich into one of my pockets, and went out of the deli.
As I entered the seething crowd, I immediately turned off my empathic sense. The hate and fear had thickened considerably, and was all but choking me with its presence. But I endured it, pressed on, and finally made it through the press of people and reached the eye of the storm, if you will. And the source of the agitation.
“…and they just slaughtered everyone! No one was spared!”
“We cannot let this injustice stand!”
“But the governor is incarcerated, he cannot mobilize the garrisons…”
“Then round up the militia! We have to pay them back! Blood for blood!”
“BLOOD FOR BLOOD!” the crowd roared in agreement, growing mad with bloodlust.
I shivered, the dread and fury infecting the people and driving them into a rowdy frenzy. I calmly started to slip away, afraid. Just in time, too, as a number of city guards started to rush in, dispersing the crowd with liberal use of truncheons.
“What is going on?” I muttered, confused and worried as I slipped back to the Wood Duck Inn.
Any interest in shopping further had shriveled up and died after experiencing the near-riot near the city gates. Thank Cynthia I’d managed to grab most of what I’d needed for the trip before stopping for lunch. Katherine and I could buy the rest tomorrow, before we left.
>
I started to worry about Katherine’s safety as well. Had she been able to avoid the crowd while she was dealing with the Dark Guild? I prayed for her safety and spent the rest of the day fretting in the room. Not even Rosa and Tara could help snap me out of my mood. They too were deeply concerned about what had happened, and they were just as sensitive as I was, if not more so, to emotions. And they didn’t have the luxury of switching off their ability like I did.
When I sensed a familiar presence on the other side of the door, I sighed with relief, and eagerly opened it. Katherine blinked in surprise, smiling gratefully as she slipped inside.
“What a day,” she grumbled, slumping onto the bed with a weary sigh.
“Did everything go well with the Dark Guild?” I asked, concerned for her clearly exhausted state.
“Fine, but I had to answer stupid questions from paranoid morons and insecure buffoons,” she griped. “I think they were concerned the main branch was going to crack down on them for some reason. Honestly, I don’t care. They can clean up their own messes. I just want to go find Valen! I mean, the Soul Oozes!”
Rosa, Tara, and I snickered at her slip up but politely paid it no heed. She spared us a thankful look for letting her save face before burying her head into a pillow and screaming into it.
“Feel better?” I asked.
“Much,” she replied dully, before giving me a concerned frown. “By the way, did you hear about the disturbance in town?”
“I did. Happened right outside of the store I’d stopped at for lunch,” I admitted. “I wasn’t able to find out what was going on, though, and I left before the guards swooped in. We were feeling uncomfortable being surrounded by so much hostility.”
Rosa nodded sadly, a haunted look on her face as she remembered the incident, and Katherine winced. “I’m sorry to hear that. I only found out about the incident after the fact. Do you know what it was about?”
I shook my ‘head’ and she sighed. “I know a bit. From what I could scrounge up, a few days ago an army of lizardfolk attacked and plundered a town on the edge of the territory. They looted it and left it to burn. Only a handful of people escaped.”