Tom stood dripping in the cave in front of the glowing cube that rose from the smooth floor. John stood next to him and told him.

"Put your hand on it and think about the word control."

Tom did as directed and as the water dripped off of him and he started to get used to being dragged around most recently literally through the water the words sounded in his mind.

Control Life Aura

Halt Release Assimilate Status Report

Tom relayed the commands to John and John told him how to reply.

"Ask about the status"

"Status Report" Tom said and somehow the cube knew he was talking to it and not John this time.

4,130 years of life 700 years of death 2 years of fire

As tom again relayed the information Johns reptilian eyes went as wide as they could.

"God above that shouldn't be possible a kingdom should have had control of this not that long ago of this shrine. Assmilate 200 years of life and 100 of death and the fire, then tell it to send the same my way minus the fire" John said.

As tom followed the command more curious than afraid of his should be friendly large alligator friend the stone heard his words directed at it.

Assimilation granted, Asset Assimilation granted, release ongoing rate 3 days stored per day

As the words rang out John ever more cheery than he was before told tom.

"Your going to be feeling a lot better and a lot weirder over the next few days. Don't let it go to your head and decide to be an evil wizard and trap me in a tower for a few decades, I'd hate to kill another." John spoke and it sounded like he was joking. There was way too much to unpack in that sentence. Why would anyone joke about that.

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As the adrenaline from interacting with the shrine started to come down, tom followed John as he gestured and dove back into the water. Following out had been easier than in the previous time. But this time somehow john almost didn't struggle to hold his breath.

Coming out of the tunnel into the spring and up out of the water Tom felt better than he had in he couldn't even remember. Riding the high he called out to John.

"Stop I appreciate the help with the empire but I'm not going to let you to continue to drag me around like a rag-doll in some fear induced trance." Tom said his voice strong till the end where it started to quaver.

"Grown a spine have yeah that's good. Get your pack and we'll go to my skiff, I'll explain more along the way but we have shrines to visit and knowledge to give you. You can read right?" John said never slowing down form what felt to someone with a human stride a very brisk pace.

"Yes I can read, and I'm going to need a full explanation of everything before i do anything more with you" Tom said stopping.

John looked around saw the determination in Tom's eye and sighed.

"You'll get your full explanation boy, but we need to move if we want to keep this place hidden and the empire off our trail. The empire has crucified noble houses for less than the power you just assimilated into your body. I'm not saying I won't tell you everything I'm just saying we need to discuss it on the water" John spoke some the of the obnoxious joy in his voice gone.

"Fine" Tom said and the headed to his clearing.

Dodging traps and following the trails something felt different to Tom as he walked. Not off but different, like there was something new he couldn't describe. The plants more vivid, Trees and small animals in the area more alive. He could almost feel what his eyes were seeing.

As they arrived at his compound and he packed a pack he heard John

"Bring a weeks worth of food and all the tools you could carry on your best day in the pack, food we can find on the way but tools we will probably need I've come to find. Also where is your rope we probably want all of that."

"Over in the dock-house is where I keep most of the extra" Tom replied.

John loped off on all fours his tail waving back and forth behind him. Such an odd site and it was looking like it was only going to get odder.

Alone for the first time in a day Tom gathered stuff for his pack and considered running away. Surely he could explain to the empire how he made the charcoal and they wouldn't be mad. John talked big about killing noble houses but why would anyone want to kill him.

While these thoughts ran through his mind he also had the tiny little thought. Would he look back after years of charcoal and be glad he had ran away.