Chapter 38: Cladding 5

Elania and Yolani carried two small crates of equipment down the staircase of the mushroohum colony. Although they expected it, the humidity and temperature were almost a shock to the system when coming in from outside.

Elania paused, looking out at the colony forming in the center of the arena. Her intervention with Yolani to use her divine powers had saved them, but the further refinement of those changes by artifice machines had made it so they could actually thrive.

The caves that the mushroohums naturally lived in weren’t as warm as the current atmosphere, but the increase in temperature had increased their growth rate substantially.

They’d discussed it with Tre’gat’aru, and it had been decided the advanced growth rate was desirable for now. Once the colony was up to full population, they could dial it back slightly.

The mushroohums themselves had already completed a growth cycle. The sick and dying ones Elania had seen had passed on, but their bodies had become the roots and nutrients of countless new mushroohums. Life continued in a circle.

The younger mushroohums spotted them approaching and gathered around to watch Elania and Yolani as they brought the crates to a small building they had put in place outside the colony proper.

“Alright, they should have everything we need,” Elania said, setting down her crate.

Yolani nodded, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. “I’ll unpack and prepare the alchemy stuff. You can go see Tre’gat’aru and collect the fungi barrels.”

Elania grinned, leaning in to give Yolani a squeeze and a kiss on the cheek. Yolani groaned, pushing her away playfully. “Stop that. You’ll distract me from doing a good job.”

Elania giggled. “It’s only fair.”

She turned, heading towards the colony, a spring in her step.

The young mushroohums cheered and followed her; their excitement at having their favorite human... or demi-divine present was palpable. They bounced and let out tiny streams of spores, their emotions and thoughts floating through the air.

Elania smiled, basking in their adoration. It was a nice change of pace from how things were outside the sealed environment. It was hard to feel like a fraud with the blanket of positive emotions flooding the space. She glanced back at Yolani, who was already engrossed in unpacking the crates.

Just how much the mushroohums had managed was evident as she picked her way between several buildings toward the tender huts and fungi fields.

The little huts they’d constructed were adorned with materials brought in from the city supplies, creating a weird design dichotomy. Amidst the huts, smaller mushrooms grew wildly everywhere, mostly as decoration, she thought.

After all, the mushroohums didn’t actually eat things in the traditional sense. Instead, they made compost piles and sat on them, either for the young sprouts to grow on or as chairs to eat off of.

Now that communication was possible, it was fascinating to observe their habits more closely. She hadn’t fully grasped everything during her previous time with them.

It didn’t really smell great, but it wasn’t as bad as she knew rotting things could smell—probably because most of the rot was contained inside the… mounds. Stab them, and it’d stink right up.

Elania spotted the “fields” where larger mushrooms grew and the expansive, radiant bed of glow moss illuminating an entire quarter of the main chamber.

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Several large tender mushroohums waved at her, and she waved back, making her way towards their hut.

She spotted Tre’gat’aru, his tall form towering over the other mushroohums. He gestured for her to come to him.

Elania quickened her pace.

“Elania, welcome,” Tre’gat’aru greeted her.

“Hey Trey, how’s it going?” Elania asked, stepping into the hut.

“The first harvests have been plucked and are ready to be given in tribute to you,” Tre’gat’aru informed her, gesturing towards several small chests.

“That’s good.” She felt conflicted about accepting tribute, but in her mind, it was fair. She was paying for their rent and expenses, after all.

He showed her the chests filled with the fungi she and Yolani had purchased from the alchemist.

“This is a great start,” Elania said, nodding approvingly.

“Several tenders are ready to help carry the chests of fungi and glow moss for you if you’d like,” Tre’gat’aru offered.

“That would be great, thanks,” Elania said.

As the tenders gathered the chests, she was hit by a small sense of accomplishment.

The mushroohum colony was thriving, and their partnership was bearing fruit. Or well… mushrooms and moss.

It was a minor victory, but one that gave her hope for the future.

Elania led the way as the tenders carried the crates, their steps echoing through the caverns.

The mushroohum colony’s humid air clung to her skin. She glanced back at the tenders, their fungal faces expressionless, yet their movements were purposeful and efficient.

As they approached the alchemy station, Elania spotted Yolani amidst a flurry of activity.

Several workbenches were set up, each adorned with an array of beakers, glass containers, and an enormous cauldron that reminded Elania of a chemistry set wedded to a witch’s den.

Artifice-powered burners hummed, their soft glow illuminating the stone walls. Two large barrels of fresh water sat nearby, waiting to be utilized in the brewing process.

Elania waved, catching Yolani’s attention. “We’ve got enough of the ingredients,” she called out, gesturing to the crates.

Yolani looked up, a smile spreading across her face as she wiped her hands on her apron. “Great! I’m almost ready here.”

The mushroohum tenders set the crates down, their task complete. Elania turned to them, offering a grateful nod. “Thank you. You can go back to your work.”

As the tenders dispersed, Elania noticed a group of mushroohum younglings gathered at a safe distance, their curious eyes fixed on her and Yolani.

Yolani followed Elania’s gaze, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. “They’re sort of cute, aren’t they?”

Elania raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Cute? I’m not sure mushroohums can be considered cute. Besides, you didn’t have to go into the colony and smell their lunch.”

Yolani winced, nose wrinkling at the thought. “Yeah, I’m good. I’ll stick to the alchemy station.”

Elania watched as Yolani busied herself with the final preparations. Eventually, she gestured for the ingredients, and Elania stepped forward, ready to assist.

Together, they began chopping the fresh fungi. The pungent aroma of the mushrooms filled the air, mingling with the earthy scent of the cave-like arena.

When she finished chopping the last of the fungi, she handed the pieces to Yolani, who had a boiling mixture ready in the cauldron.

Then she stepped back to let Yolani read the recipe and follow the rest of the steps.

Watching Yolani work was nice. Even if the resulting smells from their work was somehow worse than the Mushroohum decay. Sharp. Chemical. Pungent.

After a few minutes, Yolani seemed agitated, making more adjustments to the mixture as she worked.

“How’s it going?” Elania asked.

“I’m following the directions,” Yolani replied.

They waited while the cauldron of goop boiled, the bubbling sound echoing off the stone walls.

Yolani siphoned some off and let it cool before asking Elania to move the cauldron off the heat.

Moving it was easy enough with her demi-divine strength, although the real trick was the metal glide rails that made sliding it away from the heat source a simple affair.

With that done, Elania turned her attention back to Yolani’s efforts. “How’s it going?” she asked again.

Yolani put the cooled mixture into a beaker and heated it.

The fumes traveled through a tube and dripped into another beaker while the excess was vented.

Elania blinked at the icky color of the liquid coming out, a far cry from the healing potion the alchemist had shown them.

“I don’t think it’s supposed to look like that,” Elania said.

Yolani shrugged, a sheepish expression on her face. “I have no idea what it is.”

They sniffed the concoction, both recoiling. Elania shook her head. “I’m not sure it’s safe for consumption.”

Yolani sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. “Yeah, we might need someone with an alchemy skill for this.”

Elania took their experiment and dumped it into the cauldron, the sludge making a sickening sound as it splashed. “I’ll put a notice to the refugees. Maybe someone can help.”

Yolani nodded, then glanced at the cauldron. “What are we going to do with the... mess?”

Elania rubbed her forehead, a headache forming behind her eyes. “Do you have any devices designed to obliterate matter ready for testing? Dumping this sludge off the city could be considered murder if it rained on anyone.”