Chapter 14
Walking down the hill to the gates of the city, Grok cast a spell, and all the beasts except Bromli dissolved into mist, their essence absorbed into her being. With a mental command, Bromli soared into the sky, scouting the city for any potential threats.
Flint grumbled, "This isn't how the apocalypse was supposed to go. There was supposed to be mass chaos, human versus human fighting, every man for themselves, living in the woods, mass starvation... Now here we are, about to enter a giant alien city with skyscrapers."
Pierce chuckled, "I, for one, am glad to have a city with inns. Sleeping on the ground or in some hastily woven hammock is just not a long-term goal of mine." His eyes widened in awe at the massive city before them.
Evolon scratched her head, "I don't mind camping out and keeping watch. Plus, it's cheaper, so I can use all the gold for upgrades. Wait, what do they use here for currency?" she asked, turning to Grok.
Grok chuckled dryly, "The blood of our enemies... Just kidding. Yes, we use gold coins. They're the standard currency in every economy I know of. What did you use on Earth?"
"The blood of Orc babies," Flint said dryly. "Maybe it's the armor talking, but I love the feeling of the cold ground under me when sleeping. Give me a cave over an inn any day."
"I don't mind camping," Grok rumbled, her deep voice echoing through the narrow streets. "It's a good way to connect with nature and test one's survival skills."
"You prefer roughing it out with bugs, bears, and bugbears?" Ignis asked, incredulous.
"Yes!" Flint, Grok, and Evolon spoke in unison.
“Sorry, just bad memories from my stepfather loading us up into a camper, getting us lost in the woods, and being rescued by a park ranger more than once…” Pierce added to the conversation.
Grok led the group to a tall Orc guard at the gate, exchanging a few words before motioning them to follow. They walked through the towering structures, adorned with intricate carvings and arcane symbols, casting long shadows over a bustling market. The air was thick with the scent of exotic spices, the clamor of haggling merchants, and the rhythmic clang of metalworking.
"Is it always this loud?" Ignis complained, his voice muffled by his hood. "I miss the peace and quiet of the woods."
"Put some cotton in your ears," Pierce retorted, rolling his eyes. "This is a city, Ignis. It's supposed to be loud."
"Think of it, a warm bed and a hot meal!" Evolon replied.
As they wandered through the city, they couldn't help but be amazed by the sheer scale of Orcish ingenuity. The architecture was breathtaking, the magic awe-inspiring. But with every step, they felt a growing sense of unease. The city, despite its grandeur, was also a place of danger. They knew that they had to be careful, to trust no one, and to always be on the lookout for trouble.
"So, where are we going to stay?" Flint asked, his voice filled with anticipation. "I'm hoping for a nice, cozy inn with a roaring fireplace and a cold beer."
"We need currency first. I have a few ideas. Everyone, transfer your armor and weapons to me for now," Pierce said to the group, his fingers touching each member as they silently transferred items to his inventory.
"Quiet and follow," Grok commanded over the mental link. "I will lead us to a shop."
The group moved in a single file line behind Grok, keeping to the shadows as they navigated the towering city. As they passed a large building with metal fences and long queues, a question arose.
"I think I know, but what is this building for?" Evolon asked over the mental link.
"This one is for plant-based sentient beings," Grok explained. "They are tested, sorted, tagged, grouped, and auctioned in small groups, with one or two prized specimens and a dozen or so less desirable beings. This city is what you would call a stockyard. This planet is home to several sought-after animals that are captured and sold because they provide unique services, alchemical properties, or are considered delicacies when prepared correctly." Grok paused. "I know many of those long-armed plants are ingredients in many of my potions."
"Wait, magical beasts can make magical meals that yield stat buffs? I need to find a library or chef to learn from TODAY!" Ignis exclaimed over the mental link.
"I would also like to learn some magical metalsmithing," Flint added.
"I want to apply magic to my bowyer and fletching skills. Ooh, I cannot wait!" Evolon chimed in.
"I guess I'm going to need a job. Is 'Healer' a job here?" Pierce asked mentally.
"Yes, Healers make very good money," Grok replied. "No warrior will choose a Healer class unless they have no other options. Warriors wish to hit hard and live through getting hit hard, healing is seen as a form of weakness. Healers are viewed as brain-damaged maidens only good for being rescued."
"If I die, I die..." Flint said over the mental link with a chuckle.
"How about Therapist? Grok, how does your culture handle mental health, dealing with death and loss, the trauma of battle, you know... things like that?" Pierce asked over the link.
"Hit your head on a large rock until you no longer have those thoughts, or alcohol," Grok replied over the link.
"My dad did that, he turned out okay," Flint said over the link.
"Didn't your dad die of liver cancer?" Evolon asked.
"Nope! Lung cancer! He also smoked everything he could get his hands on!" Flint replied.
"I guess with healing, that's not a problem anymore. Grok, I want to try something..." Pierce said, just before casting a spell. He healed a small orc child darting through the street, deftly avoiding being trampled. The healing spell fully healed the orc, who stumbled and tripped over their own feet, causing a commotion nearby. The overhealing effect spread from being to being throughout the street and city. Pierce could see the numbers over the heads of hundreds of beings filling up and disappearing as many stopped and looked around for the source of the potent healing.
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"WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?" Grok shouted over the link. "FOLLOW FASTER, QUIET, RUN, BEFORE..."
Shouts erupted from behind them, followed by a resonating low whistle of a horn a few blocks away.
"HEALERS NEVER HEAL FOR FREE! We're about to be stampeded with sick, injured, and poor from all across the city," Grok warned, pushing open a long-forgotten wooden door. "This way," she said, leading the group through the doorway.
The group dashed through empty rooms, down flights of stairs, across a wooden bridge spanning a foul-smelling liquid, through a warehouse, and finally into a room where they paused to catch their breath.
Behind a counter, a man with cat-like features, black fur, and a missing left arm, replaced by a glowing, pulsating organism, greeted them with a slimy, used-car salesman pitch. "Welcome to Gustavo's, where the deals flow like a river, and the savings are as tall as a mountain!"
"Gustavo, I have been told you are a merchant that can deal with bulk sales of weapons and armor with absolute discretion to the seller," Grok said, her voice commanding and leaving no room for argument.
"Wait, how did we understand catboy?" Ignis asked over the mental link.
"Do you think he will let me pet him?" Evolon asked mentally.
"DO NOT TRY TO PET THE CAJINE!" Grok shouted over the mental link.
"Yes, yes, my friend, you are most fortunate! Gustavo is the only merchant that can handle such a request, and as always with the utmost secrecy," Gustavo replied, smiling and rubbing his plump belly with his one good hand.
A low whistle echoed through the halls, reaching the merchant's shop. "Follow me, friends. We must visit my other shop, quickly come this way," the cat man said, pulling up a hidden door behind his counter and motioning for the group to follow him down the stairs.
After looking at each other with a collective shrug, the group followed the merchant farther underground, closing the trap door behind them.
"What exactly would you like to trade with Gustavo, and what form of payment would you like to receive?" the merchant asked, a smile playing on his lips as he lit the path before them with a wave of his good arm.
"Almost a thousand of these, we would prefer gold," Pierce said, placing a set of armor and a standard sword on the ground next to the merchant.
"Oh, an inventory skill, very nice. Are you a merchant?" Gustavo asked, turning the leather breastplate over in his hands, examining every inch of the armor.
"The Human is a healer, the inventory skill is for bandages, but as you know, spells and skills can have creative uses," Grok explained with a toothy smile.
"Ahh yes, creative uses, I love those!" Gustavo said, slapping Grok on her thick, muscular shoulder.
"These are not bad, but I'm sure we can come to an amicable arrangement," Gustavo said, handing the armor back to Pierce and continuing down the underground corridor.
"As my friend said, I'm a healer, but I must ask... What's with the arm? Can't you get it healed?" Pierce asked the cat man.
"Healers, always trying to heal people. Maybe this is how I was born? Maybe it's a price one must pay, maybe it's a curse, who knows," Gustavo said, glancing at Grok and giving her a look as if to say, "Sorry for your mentally deficient friend."
"May I?" Pierce asked, extending a hand towards the cat man. "I'd like to give it a shot. For free."
The cat man, Gustavo, chuckled. "Free? Gustavo doesn't do free. Free is always too expensive, with strings and demands attached." He continued to navigate the labyrinthine underground corridors, rubbing his stump as he walked through a low doorway.
"Pierce does do free. No strings attached," Pierce insisted, his voice unwavering.
"Alright, but don't get your hopes up. I've seen it all," Gustavo replied, holding out his missing arm. "I once had an audience with a level 55 Grand Healer of the Sacred Order. Even they could only manage to grow it an inch before the curse consumed it further."
As they delved deeper into the underground complex, the air grew colder and the silence more profound. The only sound was the soft echo of their footsteps and the occasional drip of water. Finally, they reached a dimly lit chamber, its walls adorned with strange symbols and arcane markings.
"This is where we'll conduct the healing," Gustavo said, his voice filled with a mix of hope and skepticism. "But remember, I've lost all hope long ago."
Pierce nodded, his expression serious. He focused his mind, channeling his healing energy into his outstretched hand. A gentle warmth emanated from his palm, soothing the air around them. As he touched the stump, a surge of energy flowed through him, coursing through the missing limb.
Pierce reached out, casting Cure Ailment followed by Heal. He rotated between the two spells, watching the yellow, glowing substance fade as Gustavo's arm regenerated, inch by inch. A hand formed, then fingers, and finally, a fully restored limb. Pierce continued the healing process, ensuring the curse was completely eradicated and Gustavo's health remained stable at 100%.
Gustavo stood there, speechless, his eyes wide with astonishment. "You..." he began, his voice trembling. "You've done it!"
"I told you," Pierce replied, a knowing smile on his face.
"You are fortunate to receive a coveted 1% discount from Gustavo!" the cat man exclaimed, attempting to regain his composure.
"I've never heard of Gustavo giving out any discount," Grok interjected, her voice laced with suspicion.
"Gustavo doesn't deal in free. This..." Gustavo waved his restored arm, "will be repaid with a discount! I won't take no for an answer!"
"A mere 1% discount for a miracle that a level 55 Grand Healer of the Sacred Order could not replicate?" Grok questioned, sensing an opportunity to negotiate.
"Fine, I will also bestow this..." Gustavo said, touching Pierce's arm and casting a spell. "Part of my Merchant Class allows me to bestow a basic job. You look like an Enchanter."
"I would like Chef or Cook," Ignis requested. "Metalsmith," Flint declared. "Bowyer and Fletcher," Evolon added.
"Fine, fine, but only because Gustavo is in a good mood. Tell no one of this, and I will grant jobs to all of you. The Orc here already has a job, so she's out of luck!" Gustavo announced, casting his spell on each party member.
Pierce read the skill to the group over the mental link. "Enchant an item to effect a random stat based on your Cadium. Enchant a weapon to add an additional random damage type equal to your Cadium."
Evolon shared her skills over the mental chat: "Bowyer: Create magical bows from stick and string, additional damage is equal to your Cadium. Fletcher: Create magical arrows of random damage types equal to your Cadium."
Flint, following the established order, announced his skills: "Metalsmith: Hammer metal to create armor, add your Cadium to the base armor value of the item. Weaponsmith: Create weapons of random damage types, adding your Cadium to the base damage values."
Ignis, noticing the party shares information in the same order they sat at the D&D table, concluded the skill reveals: "Cook: Butcher magical animals. Cook magical meals that bestow stats and effects based on the ingredients and your Cadium."
"HOLY BALLS!!! Does this mean I can make weapons with my Cadium, then Pierce enchant it to add his, and Evolon make a bow with hers, arrows with hers, then Pierce also enchant them with his on both?!? All of a sudden being a wizard looks pretty crappy right Ignoramus?!" Flint exclaimed over the mental chat.
"Yes, the Cadium of crafting and enchanting stack and sets those with a craft far apart from those without," Grok confirmed over the mental chat.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I bet you can make a staff, then Pierce enchants it, and it affects my fire blasts, cold, and time stop. Magic beats your sticks and stones any day!" Ignis retorted.
"Before we trade, can you find us a place to train up these craft skills, and a few hours of privacy?" Grok asked Gustavo out loud, as they entered a large underground chamber filled with glowing green mushrooms and spores.
"Yes, I have a place like this. Please don't touch the crops, they're not quite ripe yet," Gustavo replied, changing direction and leading the group through a path of waist-high mushrooms. "This way, hurry up, hurry up."