It was a new experience to be inside of a room that sealed so tightly. The volume of it was small enough that Rhode could almost feel the pressure change in his ears and sinus as he breathed.

“Are you sure that something went wrong?” the homunculus wavered. There was an impression that floated up out of his dreams. A red stain and the stink of metal. “The last summon was sort of ugly. There was… I remember there were fluids. And the new guy was… disoriented. When I uh, first got here, I remember I was, um, not doing well in the beginning and–”

Rhode’s face was cupped in his hands. Chasing after threads that trailed off into nowhere, he was becoming increasingly confused.

He heard Tarrop asking if he needed to be taking his own precautions, and Brand deferred his answer.

“Goodman Irving,” the constable addressed Rhode instead, “for the moment we should prioritize your own situation. It may be best if you do not worry overmuch about things we cannot control.”

There was a hand on Rhode’s back, and the homunculus rolled his shoulder to throw off the patronizing gesture. “So what am I supposed to do.”

Constable Brand looked askance at the door. A pair of razor-thin lines pivoted in the air as his daemon drifted towards it. “It cannot be my place to tell you what you must do. However, if this project had still been my responsibility, I would have asked if you might go up into the palace. Hypothetically.”

“I thought you said there’s trouble. What do you expect me to do?” the Hero asked.

“Nothing. Simply show yourself and remind them that you are here. Hiding you is a mistake. Even if it was in error, the secret of you is already spilled. Yet, few have had the chance to witness you. Rumor and doubt are vile things: they spin out of control too eagerly. But if our people can see the Dreadlung, standing like a living tower; they will know that we have already succeeded.”

Rhode stood, then he changed his mind. He sat back down and regretted that too. “Ow. Even my gosh-dang backside. Brand, I still don’t know the half of what’s going on. I mean, I can help. Maybe. But why isn’t the new guy able to help?”

Ser Fidelity’s mustache bucked in impatience. “The inner arc-hall of the Spousal Ring is closed off. I do not have access to the second Hero, and the healers no longer report to me.”

“Well then,” Rhode turned and huffed, “Tarrop, how’s number two doing? Can I – I dunno, can I talk to him?”

“I’m sorry, big guy. But Illuminance has taken over for us. Wavelton & Broox will still be consulting on the Heroes through Scholar Yagget, and I am certain the order will be asking for the build profiles that we have prepared. But they will not have me. You are my sole responsibility now.”

“Well, then I want a chance to talk to him,” the homunculus erupted. His palm stung as he slapped it against the table. “If he’s okay, or if this new person is still alive, they deserve to hear from someone else from home. This shouldn’t have to suck as hard for them as it did for me.”

“That might be complicated,” the lord in black and orange faltered. “I will continue to ask, but several of us have already made this request. If my superiors –”

“I don’t care. Do you guys want me to promise to behave? Fine. I get it, I will. I’m already playing nice, I’m doing what everybody’s asking me to do. I’m trying to learn your dumb Ser, Lord, your majesty stuff; I really am. But these people are from my world. Don’t you understand? I just want to talk to somebody that’s .”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Brand mouthed that last word, and Tarrop seemed confounded by it too. Rhode had spoken the name of his species, but he’d done it in English. As he tried to think of the goblin equivalent, the only word which came to mind was goblin.

“I cannot promise you that, Rhode. I don’t know why you are being held apart, but I am certain there is a good reason.”

Rhode rolled his eyes and snorted. “Yea. I’m sure there is a reason. And I’m sure it’s real clever.”

Fidelity Brand bit off his reply. He shut his eyes and exhaled, but he was a man of controlled discipline. “Goode Scholar Tarrop. I will approve the release of the [Status] assessment device. If the Hero is unfit, or unwell, then I will retract everything I have said. His health takes priority.”

There was a drawer on Tarrop’s side of the table. As he slid it open, it revealed a wax polished, sealed wooden box.

“Bangle is still around?” Rhode asked in surprise. “I thought he was dangerous. Isn’t there a better way to do this?”

“Not without Rikva,” the scholar frowned, tugging at his waistcoat at the midsection. Then he fished a key out of his pocket, and freed a silver bracelet from its case. “And her readings will never be as precise as a true source of [Status],” he added.

The precious band’s central amber gemstone glinted. The balding goblin carried it towards Rhode with deliberate caution.

“Alright, fine,” Rhode stuck his arm out. “Hey [Status] Bangle. What kind of awful do you have for me this time?” he sighed.

LogicSpirit8271635 waking from idle…

Intuiting task from context…

ProximityToKnownEntity = Yes, therefore StartTask(Divining Status)

Divining entity Level and Status…

Comment: You again? Boring.

Comment: You are always a mess. What is wrong with your body now?

Gene [Vigorous Ichor] ★★○: The first key to Enduring Stamina. Foundation level {mutation}. Levelable. Mergeable.

Evolution to [Rejuvenating Ichor] available.

New Evolution Predicted: Requires [Iron Bones].

Gene [Hibernate] ★○○: Conserve strength through slumber, the first key to Restful Longevity. Foundation level {mutation}. Levelable. Mergeable.

Skill [Bellows] ★○○: A mighty wind, a’blowin from within. Compound legacy (Eloft, wind-surgeon of Spelt) {skill}. Levelable. Mergeable.

Pending Level: Transmutation [Iron Bones] → Progress 72.2%

Pending Level: Ailment [Metal Toxicity] → Progress 65.4%

Pending Level: Gene [Lingering Fibrosis] → Progress 21.9%

Pending Level: Power-Word [Spite] → Progress 31.3%

Pending Level: Ailment [Inebriate] → Progress 17.0%

Comment: Whoa. WHOA. What have you done to yourself? This is AWESOME.

Notification: Did you know that [Iron Bones] can evolve into [Dagger Talons]? Would you like to know more?