“Mana must flow. Though it may seem inconsequential alone in the grand scheme. Mana is often a rudimentary sign of a planet's will.” Acolyte of Jetun
Chapter 50: The Head of Life Support
“What the hell am I going to do, the king will have my head!”
Pacing back and forth frantically in reaction to the dead wrinkled old bag lying limp on his fake throne. A man who held the titles of both {Scientist} and {Doctor} had his fifth mental breakdown of the day.
“What’s so courteous about this stubborn loudmouth? He didn’t even give me a heads-up! How the hell am I going to get out of this alive? No, I’m sure they heard it! I can get out of this. I just have to play my cards right.” The Dwarf continued to babble on about the endless load of work that had paid some tribute to his hair loss, dark circles, and weight loss in the past fifteen years.
Gelmeud Stonevein in his delusion had seen a sword fall on his head or the phantom in its wake. A sword that made him reconsider taking his own life after the option had been presented hours ago. Currently having second thoughts about the voice that made his mind waiver on death.
“At least it would have furthered my research. What the hell! I sound mad, who would even continue where I left off? Hahahahaha! I sound mad, who would've thought? My death would be such a waste."
He rambled on and on, putting things into place compulsively reading over his work, and checking the runes on his sixth pathed circle. Almost reflexively kneeling when he stepped on the inner circle by mistake.
“Good riddance” was the last word that left his chapped and dehydrated mouth as he prepared for his future visitors. He might have looked like he was near death but that was far from the truth.
Death was out of anyone’s control but not this Dwarf man. His job at its core was to monitor, resuscitate, and revive Mindel the First in any way he knew how. In a world of magic and monsters, the possibilities weren’t as endless as you would think. After finding a sure way to keep the predecessor alive Gelmeud had ultimately decided to slack off and pursue other goals. He had the time, the resources, and backers at his current workplace who didn’t care what he did in his after-hours as long as he did the job required.
“It's not like the old foggy could get up and run away. His death must be a bad omen.” His thoughts were spilling out into the barren lab.
Gelmeud may have been on to something, tens of thousands had died that night. If only he kept up appearances or maintained a social life he wouldn’t have panicked and jumped to conclusions. Sleep and welfare should’ve been mandatory in his line of work. Without the constant reminders brought on by his past partner in crime, his morals and beliefs probably wouldn’t have taken a turn for the worse. Gelmeud could've seen his sloppy rune work, the messy lab he was working in, and the old man he had left without any real care. Not that Stonevein had any real feelings for the man other than a deep-seated hatred.
Karma, you could call it. Even Mindel the First as a prisoner knew that his days, months, and decades were numbered.
In the king's words “Death came to all and when near, death was inevitable.” Though Mindel's words were taken as ramblings of a mad man they had come to fruition.
Fast forward twenty years and a golden axe was now floating over Gelmeud's head, as it did to almost everyone working in the lower departments of these hidden facilities. A job that had high risks would have gratuitous rewards.
Rumors may have told a grim tale of the labs of cinder but that didn’t stop countless over the years from letting curiosity lead them down hidden paths, hidden paths offered the chance of being rewarded a hidden class.
If you were exceptionally talented or had untapped potential sometimes these hidden paths would find you.
A hidden path that allowed the lost, ambitious, and clueless to be repurposed for the greater good. After a fatal accident and a thorough background investigation, Gelmeud was allocated to a team of three. It wasn’t a team of strangers who had been placed together without a plan of action. This was a team of young adults who had everything in common. All three had a shared goal, name, and history.
Gaelmeud, a man of ego, could not share his unwillingness or disapproval. Silence and acceptance would be his lifestyle until he found himself in a position of necessity.
A task was given to the three trainees one after the other. Each task was carried out with unmatched proficiency. Later down the line, the team was given the task of looking after Mindel the First.
Almost no one knew of the group's role as the caretakers of the hidden king. The past twenty or so years had paid off well, to say the least. Mindel was even in good health for a man his age. Before the second unnoticed leave, Gelmeud could recall the old and wrinkled Mindel sitting at his lone throne spouting every word imaginable to evoke a change of heart and mind.
He would’ve been better off talking to a brick wall but the king never wavered in his attempts at convincing his prison guards. The scientist was practically immune to the words of the wise at this point in his life. Upbringing plays the biggest role in one’s development.
Perhaps Mindel didn’t hear the last names of the three scientists, whatever the case may have been. Mindel would die a worthless meaningless death.
Flash forward two more years, who could have foreseen Mindel’s death?
Certainly, not Gelmeud when he had an eye on the king's heart rate, spell circles, mana recovery, and bodily functions somehow appearing to manage the madness. What use were his eyes when Stonevein's mind was focused on his heart's desire?
“Karma truly was a bitch.” He’d laugh hearing someone’s favorite line. It had been ages since he had one good laugh. One good friend, practically a lifetime ago. A life sacrificed in the name of research.
He wasn’t surprised when his lab got a visit from the lowest department of the 7th facility the same day the old bat kicked the bucket. Gelmeud's imprisonment reaches its end.
Though he had once thought that no one cared about the king who was now pronounced dead. In case of ending up sorely mistaken the man would take his leave before it was his turn to have his death denied.
Perhaps the younger Gelmeud would see it as a trial, a momentary lapse in his lost faith. Such poor timing, for a man who was so close to a scientific breakthrough. He had missed the days when it wasn’t just one person in a lonesome lab toiling away at research that never seemed to bear fruit.
Stonevein did not regret his past decisions, nor would he regret his future.
He only wished to see his work come to fruition, for his rival to see him triumph over all odds. To see his rival, pay for trying to sabotage his life's work.
*****
“Great another Shit hole!” Is it customary to choose [Mad Scientist] as a starter class these days?"
It’s always the loners, labs smelling like shit, and chemicals. Something in this particular trash bin smells rancid and it’s not the damn corpse. On the bright side, this one doesn’t have any lunatics running around.
The light was bright enough to see that the lab was in disarray. Papers were scattered around, glass had been shattered on the floor, and a body had been lying limp on the famous throne. “A fabrication” seeing the tubes connected to the corpse.
Walking up to the corpse avoiding the hidden rune circle in front of the throne. I stored it in my spacial inventory as ordered. To my surprise, just like a couple of the other corpses I’ve collected today, it was already looted.
“The coming hours wouldn’t vote well.” My voice was the only sound in the deadly silent room.
[(Corpse of Mindel the Courteous {Looted})]
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The late king must’ve picked up a hidden class or two along the way for the corpse to still carry a title.
Turning around and looking for the doctor who was most likely going to be held responsible. I had realized when and where I had slipped up. I’d been so cautious approaching the white-haired king thinking he’d somehow rise from the dead. I'd stored him without even inspecting his body.
“Such a rookie mistake.” I could end up taking the blame for his empty storage space.
"Wait, was that the reason why I was chosen to carry out this task."
*Bing!* Primary Class
Shit! Such a rookie mistake! Where the hell is the Doctor who was supposed to be taking care of the Courteous?
There’s still a chance that the Stone looted the corpse and not some mysterious entity.
*Bing!* Primary Class
My classes had been leveling adversely since I entered this room and picked up the old king's corpse. It was something having a [Citizen] based starter class maybe I'd get a title for being the first to recover the King's body.
“Isn’t that weird?” I widened my eyes and walked away from the foul-smelling throne. Why was I given this task out of everyone else? Surely there was someone more qualified.
“There’s just no way.” The council wouldn’t do that to me. I’m supposed to be a member of the ash. Most of the members working in the facilities don’t even know about the council, only the Good Doctor. These coals would be lucky to know of him.
“The Council wouldn’t do that to me.” Focus on the task at hand. "It's normal to be suspicious. Complete the task, turn in the corpse nothing more, nothing less."
*Bing!* Secondary class
“Anyone in here! Doctor Stonevein!”
What the hell! Where could he have gone, the man was under surveillance for thirty-two hours a day, twenty-eight days a month. How was it even possible to leave here without getting caught?
Placing my eyes back on the entrance to this little dump stoney called a lab. I may be relatively new to the job but I'm not an idiot.
“The bastard has to be her. He has to be.” There’s just no way that Stone got out of this lab without being scanned by the elevator.
Following the protocol I put myself in the stone's shoes. Take a minute to analyze the situation. I turned back around and looked at the throne and the rune circle underneath it.
“I could use a breather!” I said making sure the surveillance magic got every last one of my movements.
I wanted to be able to recall the look on Stony's face when I caught him hiding away. He didn’t even try, where else could a Dwarfman hide in a lab with nothing but a few tables, rune circles, and a massive Dalitite throne sitting in the back of the room? Following my intuition, I kept my eyes on the throne and the rune circle beneath.
“What could a stone do to me?” A scientist wouldn't be a threat to me, especially one located in the middle of this facility.
This guy barely got any attention from the council. There’s no way this lab could've been used for anything important. “Funding is everything here.” The facilities may offer education, but resources for experimentation come with a cost. That cost, most of the time, tended to be research in exchange for results. If the research was worth the risk, it would be allowed a chance to grow under observation. The facilities didn’t discriminate or draw lines when it came to breaking the taboo.
This Stonie, from the looks of the lab, was a Mad one. Why else would this place look like it’s been ransacked? Besides the walls being used to write down the man's thoughts in theories. His hand handwriting told a different story. A slow descent into madness. What was once neat and organized penmanship became over-arched and barely legible.
"Look at this place," I smirked.
There was nothing but rune circles scattered around and a couple of tables to show for twenty or so years of work. Whatever this guy was doing here besides watching over the Courteous King, must not have paid off. Classes involving madness were the go-to for these scientists working alone. Desperate to make ends meet, or worse shed that tell-tale last name.
It was time for me to finish up this job and return the king's body. The Stone could hide, but he couldn't hide forever.
*Bing!* Primary Class
I could keep it for just a bit longer, no harm in getting my secondary class to one hundred. It's not every day you come across the opportunity to be in the presence of a king. Some disrespect intended it's his fault the Kingdom's on the ropes with that bastard on the throne.
“Where could Stonie possibly be!” Putting on a little show I wanted to surprise the bastard when I threw my entire weight onto the dead king's fake throne.
One thing about Dalitite is that no matter how much the metal shines and appears sturdy and stable. The metal is hollow and brittle, you wouldn’t find a warrior or fighter wearing armor made out of crap metal.
I know I'd sooner be caught dead than wear it. Sitting on it was a different story.
I placed myself on the throne and admired the feel of the red cushion that was at my bottom and back. I started to think maybe the king had it good.
“This throne feels amazing, it's too bad.”
I kept my eyes on the lab while having an idea that the Stonevein was hiding inside the throne. All I had to do was make the stone lose his temper. He'd do me the favor of showing himself all on his own.
There were reasons why I was qualified for this job among the many, luck was one of them.
I try not to get too comfortable and maintain my guard. I said what was on my mind. "Look at this dump! What type of hidden Class stopped these psychos from cleaning up after themselves? You know I have respect for the scientists and doctors of this Kingdom.”
Looking down at another rune circle directly in front of the throne that I had already noticed before sitting down, the guy had made the trap obvious.
I brandished a smile for my next words would be the nail in the coffin.
“But who in their right mind would hire a Stonie? There’s just something about allowing another useless orphan a chance to descend into madness. Isolation can only do so much for a no-good loser so desperate to prove everyone wrong. Twenty long years and what has Stonie accomplished? Absolutely nothing. King Mindel may be shit and a shell of the Courteous one, but he was right in denouncing that no-good Stonie for all to see. All of them useless, deranged, degenerates.”
*Ping!* Skill [Lucky Break] Has leveled up to 132!
I didn’t think I could smile any harder but my skill leveling was just the icing on the cake.
Man, this seat is comfortable. I should get one of these things. Minus the cheap Dalitite.
Closing my eyes and taking in the feeling of sitting like a king, for a second longer before the psycho decided to pop out of the chair or some hidden compartment.
I was in for a world of surprise. Opening my eyes, the balding dwarf man was right in front of me, glaring at me in anger. Black and bloodshot eyes bore into me from the rune circle. All that hiding and waiting, and for what?
“This throne is insanely comfortable. You did a great job, Stonie.”
What could a no-good scientist do to me? He was either going to surrender quietly or get collected like the old king's corpse. It wasn’t my job to clean up after these psychos only collect.
“You're right, I am a psycho, and I may be deranged but I am far from useless.” He talked big but this one was just like the rest.
Rolling my eyes, sitting here there was no rush. He was still a stone. Even now he looked skinny like he’d been missing the mandatory meals. Once a stone, always a stone. A few fancy titles and a couple of years of training wouldn’t fix that.
“So how are you feeling? When that conniving rival of mine worked here. He spoke about the collectors of the ash or some bullshit. I ignored the antagonizing nimrod but here we are. You stuck on the King's throne and me about to put your life to some use.” I should probably get up and incapacitate the bastard before he talks my ears off.
What is it with monologuing? All these scientists do is talk. Why can’t I just sit in peace, my lovely throne?
“The throne is just lovely, isn't it?” The only creation you'll ever be known for.
The mad ones are so weird with those mood swings. He talks nice but his eyes wouldn't betray his background.
Trying to speak, my mouth felt so dry. Stonie needs to know something important. Sitting here taking it in.
My life, what has it come to, exiled from my own family. I always thought the furnace found me when I was down on my luck. Now that I was here sitting on this throne. It all made sense now.
“I love this chair.”
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***
*Ping!* You have killed level 132 [Ember of Falloher] // Level 93 [Executions Collector]!
“Low-level bastard, all that talk just to die a meager death. Ashes to ashes, I wonder which collector will come and clean you up. I may be Mad talking to the remains of a Deadman for the second time in my day, but I truly love this throne even if it is a failure.”
Walking to the back of “The Lovely Throne” I recalibrated my love to prolong life instead of taking it away.
"A failure this one took a while to spot the irreparable."
Life comes at a price and some lives are worth more than others. A boon that I didn't destroy this creation of ours.
The downside of the lovely throne is being drained of life without caring the slightest bit about an encroaching death. I guess that's a fair trade for a longer lifespan. A drop in the well a drop is still more than enough.
“I’ve missed you for some time my lustrous friends.” Gently touching the top of my head, I rose from the throne that I, unfortunately, couldn’t take with me. It's attached to the ground floor, and I wouldn’t risk destroying a staple of my achievements.
Wiping the silly man's ashes off of my lab coat. I stretched my back and massaged my arms before checking my inventory.
"Time to leave this hole and find my eyes and ears. It's been far too long."
*Bing!* Primary Class
"I feel a bit better already." I could laugh. And that's exactly what I did walking out of my lab after twenty long years.