Chapter 164: Hay Fever

Excerpt from the book “Lies” By The Damned One

I owe a great debt to Ozmi, having given me a map of the prison. Taught me much in the short moments I spoke to him during my monthly social hour. As much as it hurt me to forgo the gym, his teachings were invaluable. In fact, everything the little immortal said was gold. Probably why he was locked up like me.

His chains had pulsating runes across every inch of them. Kicking them out of curiosity, sending me to medical for 3 months.

It really hurt! He got a good laugh out of it, a shield flickering into existence around his entire body when it detonated. If I am unkillable, he is indestructible.

All the problem children are here, in the tower with no name. You upset the balance, and you are placed here. Forgot, we become a myth, if not completely erased from the annuls of history.

Let me speak further about what Ozmi taught me in the short century we spent together.

“Achoo!” Quickly jumping out of the pollen trap. “Damned plants!”

A quiet chuckle makes me aware of Cassie and Jengal in the corner. Both comfortably seated on a chair, snickering at my situation.

Greatly annoyed, “why don’t you come and help me instead of laughing in a corner.”

They share a look, giggling one last time before begrudgingly helping me haul the plants. Tossing them into my wireless terminal. With every plant being chucked on top, a bright white light digitizes the item. Causing me a pang of joy, as, only moments prior, I was before a dirt hut with grass as the form of clothing.

Alas, we will be returning soon.

Heading to my witchery area, bringing Chic for company. I’ve got quite a bit to get done.

Using an attuned stone to make a spinning wheel. It allows me to process the cotton into thread. It requires altar power to function but generally is easy to use. Adding some disturbed cotton, it isn’t long before I have tormented twine within my hands.

Pale metallic hands, ones so foreign from my previously human hands. It’s jarring looking at such a unique body. Every aspect reminds me of my difference. Food for thought, I suppose.

Taking this twine and crafting a dream weaver of nightmares. With that in hand, I return to my bedroom. Placing it above the bed with 2 wispy cottons set into the walls. “With that, nightmares will be rarety.

Returning back to my witchery area, setting the kettle up. This time, let’s make 9 sleeping potions. Making 3 was just a waste of time. Batch-making is supreme.

Slowly stirring the pink mixture until it is complete. Enjoying the simplicity in brewing. Ingredient by ingredient, with heat, water, and patience. A little like alcohol, a little more dangerous.

Bringing the 9 bottles and storing them in my room. If only they were valid as sleeping aids. They are sure as hell effective.

Quickly checking NEI, finding a monumental mountain of sleeping aids. All of which; I won’t be crafting. Am I lazy? Sometimes I don’t do a thing because they are effort, yet here I am making a magic mirror I don’t even need. Yes, it’s a fun and exciting item. Yes, it has a lot of applications. But do I actually need it? That’s a big no.

Nonetheless, making cool things is rewarding in and of its self. So, once this magic mirror is within my grasp, a warding wand is next on my to-do list.

Heading to the kitchen, the spider shrank onto my shoulder; I see Cassie and Jengal whipping up some food. Something meat-based. Damned carnivores.

Walking into the room with confidence, “I've finished my crafting and brewing. We have a bunch of potions and some aids to increase the chance of a good dream.”

“Hold your horses,” Jengal says, pointing at the sizzling pan. “Food first.” Almost salivating at the sweet aromas coming from the pan. Approaching Cassie, who is handling the pan, I see what she is cooking. A stirfry, from the smell, very sweet. Pork and beef cut into strips, fried with long-cut vegetables like carrots, peppers, and chilies. She’s tossing in a few herbs like coriander and thyme, enriching the dish; “smells good.” I say, giving her a light hug from behind.

“Buzz off, I am starving.” She says, pushing me away.

Leaving in fake sadness, causing her to roll eyes at my downtrodden face. Smiling a little, I take a seat at the dining table. Lured by the sweet smell, Sling comes through the door.

“Are you a blood-hound? How do you even smell!” I say in confusion towards the slime. It doesn’t respond to my aggressive tone, plopping on one of the chairs.

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The food is served shortly after, with a steaming plate each. The slime attempted to eat the entire ceramic plate. Forcing me into action.

Standing up, I grab the quickly submerging plate, yanking on it. Quickly devolving into a fight of endurance. Me pulling and the slime grasping, like a foolish tug of war. The silly slime feared for its meal being stolen.

Eventually, they realized they could let the plate go but keep the food. Allowing an end to the short battle.

Jengal and Cassie appreciated the small show. Almost as good as TV. Although, I doubt they could fathom how great a simple pleasure watching TV is. How I miss it. In my later years, it took a backseat in my life. Youtube and Netflix replaced the time I would spend on the TV. How you don’t appreciate things until they are gone.

The food was pleasant. A tad crunchy for my taste, but overall, a lovely dinner; thoughts I made sure to tell Cassie. “Loved it, thank you,” said with a beaming smile.

With my eagle eyes, I catch the smile peak on her soft lips. “Don’t worry about it,” she says, pushing the compliment away.

Both Jengal and I cleared our plate. Almost asking for more before spotting Chic in the frying pan.

“Get out of there, you cheeky sod.” Rushing over, only to see a bare pan. “Your shrunken down! How did you eat all that!?”

She just cheekily smirks over the mental tether.

“You can speak, you know!” I say, feeling much better at the stress relief.

Which she clearly realizes; because she is currently sat on the marble counter with the smuggest expression possible, given her arachnid facial muscles.

Turning away from the infuriating spider, “Hey, Jengal.”

“Yeah?” He says, turning away from the empty plate he has been eyeing.

“When should we go back in to finish up? It is only fair I include you guys in the whole process.”

“Maybe in a few hours-“

Cut off by Cassie, “no more nightmares?” Clearly still shaken up by the sight of it. A subtle hand tremble speaks a thousand words.

“If someone falls into a nightmare, they will wake themselves up and drink another potion. Statistically, it is unlikely.”

“Okay,” she sighs in relief. Relaxing her tense shoulders back into the chair.

“See you guys upstairs in 2 hours; sound good?”

“Yeah-“

“Yeah-“

“Cool, I will be in the library.”

“When aren’t you.” Jengal jokes.

“At least I am literate.”

“Hey, I can read.” He says in defense.

“Yeah, books for five-year-olds.”

He leans back, raising a single eyebrow, “says the one who reads like a snail.”

“Hey! I am dyslexic,” I joke.

“What’s that?” Cocking his head in curiosity.

“A common mental illness that makes you slower at reading and writing.”

“Never heard of it.” He says with a shrug.

“I am not surprised.”

Heading off, leaving them before I keep the conversation going. I have a juicy fantasy novel to read, and my procrastination won’t stop me.

The book helped pass the time. A little too well, as once I reached the bedroom, I found Jengal and Cassie already waiting.

“2 hours hu?” Jengal says, arms crossed. Voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Sorry,” rubbing my head in slight shame.

“Let’s just get to work.” He says, looking away slightly.

“Strate to business; I like it.” Shamelessly ignoring the fact I lost track of time. Walking over to the potions, “if you get a nightmare, wake yourself up. Drink another, rinse and repeat until it is a good dream.” Tossing them some icy needles to use.

Walking over to the bed, guzzling the sleeping potion and passing out.

Moments later, I'm witness to a bright pink sky. “A good dream… Finally.” Breathing in a deep breath and enjoying the warmth of the sun. The nightmare was cold, suffocating.

With a “pop,” Cassie and Jengal join me.

“Now we are all here; it is time to work.”

“What should we do?” Jengal asks.

Cassie is happy to just look around, enjoying the good dream.

“We need materials, so let’s go mining.”

They nod, following me to the quarry. Quickly, I prepare a couple stone pickaxes. “Best of luck.”

“Thanks,” Cassie says. Idly moving the pickaxe in her hand, looking at it.

Jengal just shrugs, chipping away at the stone quarry.

It isn’t long before we strike coal and iron. I used it to make divining rods, giving them to Cassie. “Get as much iron and coal as you can.”

“This item is cool.” Switching the x-ray ore vision on and off.

“It is, isn’t it?”

“No fair,” Jengal compains.

“Don’t worry, we will have more soon.”

Not long later, we have iron tools and armor, along with a decent amount of divining rods. Using them, we have gathered a terrifying amount of iron, coal, copper, gold, tin, and zinc.

“This is incredible,” Jengal says, staring at the massive amount of materials.

We had 2 people hauling and one person mining. With some good teamwork, we got a lot done.

“Easy, right.”

“Too easy…” He says, trailing off. Looking into space, a confused look on his face.

We actually found a mineshaft, minus the monsters. Good dream perks, right. Anyway, with the string from the mineshaft, I made wool. Using that and gold, I’m making us all a golden bag.

For some reason, crafting fatigue is impacting me more than I would like. Still, my tolerance is quite high. This confuses me even more; since I shouldn’t have any tolerance if I was reset.

Putting the thought out of my mind as I craft the final golden bag. A little winded at the exertion.

Handing them to my patiently waiting companions. Which they accept with glee. “Jengal, want to keep mining? Cassie, want to get us a bunch of wood?”

“Why the wood?” Cassie asks.

“To make a home.”

She frowns, “that makes sense. Guess it slipped my mind in all the excitement.”

“I don’t blame you,” I say with a slight chuckle. “Getting stuff done is addicting.”

“Too true,” Jengal adds.

While they go and do that, I use the remaining wool to craft a bed. Almost collapsing in the process. That craft nearly tipped me over the edge. With this bed, I have a shameless nap.

Awoken rudely by an unhappy Jengal.

“Why are you sleeping when we are doing all the work!”

Sitting up, “you think crafting is easy. I am exhausted.” I understand why he is annoyed, but I genuinely couldn’t stand it.

He snaps his head away, “fine.” Walking away with a sulk.

Well, I am up. Heading outside, I use a shovel to clear some land, making a flat space for the house.

Cassie returns, having cleared a large portion of the nearby forest. Wonder if dryads are here, they would be pissed.

“Hey, Aeternum, I got a lot.” She says, pouring out a good 20 stacks on the ground.

“I see, this will work. Thank you, Cassie.”

Her cheeks turn slightly red, “no problem.” She heads into the dirt hut. “I am gonna rest; I’m tired.”

“Sounds good; have a good rest.”

She disappears into the room. We need to think about food soon. We could just exit and enter the dream, but it is better we actually eat something. The berries didn’t last long. Might go cow hunting.

Cracking my knuckles, “basic house time.”