North Tarak [foot of the Torrent mountain range], local time [1793.11.25]
Yesterday’s negotiations lasted long into the night.
To the point he should rather say ‘today’s negotiations’.
Zeph used all his knowledge of how contracts were written on Earth to raise his chances of getting what he wanted while making sure he couldn’t be cut off from it easily.
It was a surprisingly easy job, really. Personal contracts were quite simple here, the contractors could always duel if someone crossed the line. Normally it would put the craftsmen in a losing position, if they weren’t the main source of the Exchange items, that is. Many other factions would like to cover for an accomplished craftsman. Playing dirty with them was like asking for trouble and financial problems.
Aisha made sure he understood that before he was allowed to sleep.
Today, though, was another exciting day. Mostly because he would be able to finally get Regeneration EE, but also because Gru finally had a breakthrough in internal enchanting. He could expect some changes to show up soon.
He started the day with a shave and a good breakfast. There was no need to rush as all of his plans for visiting a city, town in this case, were completed. Now, he just had to complete the papers and concentrate on his Skills.
It was the highest time he started to read some of them, especially the AMC.
After relaxing for a minute in an armchair and looking out the window, he decided it was time to visit his Interface.
The two points from the last level up were invested into the Regeneration.
[https://i.imgur.com/eguMNml.jpg]
It’s rounded to 50? Interesting, with my 20% bonus, it should be 50.4 if I did the math correctly… I know the Mana units aren’t quantified to integers, but the PE are? Hmmm…
Congratulations! [Regeneration] [Passive Enhancement] milestones achieved! You can choose one of two [Energy Enhancements]!
He was surprised. No other PE besides Willpower gave him a choice at the milestone, and from what he knew – they shouldn’t. Well, Flexibility was way behind, but he wasn’t expecting anything strange from it. The two choices were quite intriguing, too.
[Homeostasis defense] and [Blood flow] [Energy Enhancements] are available. Choose one.
Is it my imagination, or is the System still moody? Eh, whatever. Let’s see what it’s about…
He spent the next hour reading from the notification. The ‘Blood flow’ was just as he imagined. It sped up clotting, preventing blood loss as long as he didn’t lose a whole limb or something. Also, it kept the blood flowing even when the heart stopped beating. The second property was flawed, though. The moment the heart stopped, a negative feedback loop would take place, slowing down and finally stopping Mana generation. He wasn’t sure why such EE was the default for locals. Healing options were non-existent in this place, so it wouldn’t prevent death in most cases. If he had to guess, it had something to do with Will and Soul wounds. Keeping the Soul links stable for a moment longer would be enough to finish interacting with the Soul before dying, most probably.
The second option was granted because he had a modified metabolism.
Gru to the rescue, as always, he thought, smiling slightly.
It was basically a tool preventing overreactions of his body. Inflammation, enzyme imbalance, allergy, or even a cytokine storm? Nope, it won’t happen in this body, at least if it wasn’t necessary. The EE had a minor synergy with his Gru-provided toxin resistance, too.
He wondered if alcohol would become useless at some point. That would be sad times.
In the end, it was the better option. The ‘Blood flow’ wouldn’t help him until he finds his way around healing restrictions.
Satisfied with the choice, he concentrated on his mastered ‘Primitive enchanting’. He knew that he wanted to change it into a Passive Skill, but after he received the Willforce Morphon enhancement the System estimated the process would take at least 40 hours. He would be unconscious during that time.
Zeph shook his head. It was too dangerous right now, and he would rather use that time actively.
Having nothing better to do, he started observing how his Tier 0 Spells were copied from EE. He wanted to invent a universal method imitating that process. The main difficulty lay in the fact that any external manipulation required Will or Willpower – he had no method to interact with them.
This will take some time, he thought depressingly.
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The days passed quickly. Zeph was reading from his General Skills for most of the time, writing down the PET production procedure, and trying to solve the EE-copy problem. He also helped P’pfel in the workshop when he was bored.
The Gremling was very grateful to him for including him in the contract, too. Grateful enough to declare that as long as he was in the city, he would teach Zeph all he knows. Guaranteed workshop access was also a great boon, especially because Zeph planned to travel quite a lot after finding ground under his feet.
Aisha still worked with Kwan on securing their evacuation route. Though, it was evident she didn’t like sitting indoors for multiple days straight. Or maybe she just wanted fewer social interactions, but he had problems with seeing her as an introvert type.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Whatever it was, he wasn’t surprised at her announcement the fourth day after the deal with Kwan.
“I am going for a walk,” she said during breakfast. “Be sure to prepare for the journey before night.”
P’pfel frowned. “It’s quite on the short note. Can’t you wait till tomorrow?”
“It’s better to provoke a reaction than wait for one. We are sure they are close to finding our whereabouts already.”
“Should we expect a fight?” Zeph asked.
“Who knows,” she shrugged. “It all depends on how desperate Oric is. Attacking people in a town means he would have to follow up with the takeover immediately, risking the position of his faction. By the way, Kwan has the weapons you ordered. Just ask an attendant to bring them to you.”
They were too poor to buy specialized weapons but even a standard spear would be an upgrade for Zeph. It would be hard to find anything worse than his improvised spear and pikes, after all.
P’pfel didn’t even have a weapon until now. Interestingly, he was good with crossbows, so until now he was borrowing Zeph’s.
As so, before noon they were ready to depart. Zeph managed to enchant his spear in time, and the professor did something to his crossbow. The crates with their equipment and goods were loaded onto the cart.
They were sitting in one of the underground rooms, reading books that Kwan magnanimously provided. Both of them were geared and ready to go. Zeph’s prototype was enchanted with the ‘Lesser Magnetic scan’ so he could use it more often. Adapting the Spell’s structure took him a good part of the previous day and decreased its efficiency by 50%, but he managed to level it up significantly as a result. He was almost able to manually construct it.
He lamented the lack of opportunity for testing the ‘Mana beam’ and ‘Mana bomb’ he took right after his Profession leveled up. Those were the only two offensive Spells he possessed, but he had yet to see how effective they were when combined with more destructive cantrips.
The inn was empty. All the guests have left. Glass bottles at the bars disappeared, as did some of the decorations. Still, a lot would be left behind. Zeph wondered what Kwan planned to do with all that.
Maybe she will sell the whole building? That would make the most sense… he thought, turning a page of the novel he was reading. The book was quite bland in comparison to stories from Earth, but it was a good way to pass time.
The gang was fully geared, too. The atmosphere was tense, but people seemed eager. A number of wagons were prepared on the back of the building. The convoy was ready to move at any time.
A few hours later, distant sounds of gongs cut through the low whispers of guardians and attendants moving to and fro in the corridor.
Slightly alarmed, Zeph stood up and walked to the doors. Peeking out, he saw Kwan moving in quick steps in his direction. She was wearing tight black leather armor under a brown coat draped over her shoulders.
She nodded seeing him. “You better get ready.”
“What is happening, exactly?” The sounds of gongs were much louder in the hallway. He could only imagine how loud they were outside.
“We are still waiting for a messenger, but something in the town is burning down. And I have a feeling I know the culprit.”
They marched upstairs, P’pfel quickly joining the small procession. The last of the documents and items from Kwan’s office were carried out by the attendants.
In the main chamber of the inn, he could see a few more cloaked people. They definitely weren’t guests and most hid their faces.
Not half an hour later, a breathless boy run through the doors. Everyone fell silent as they waited for him to stabilize his breathing enough to speak.
“Infighting in the Guard… The captain was disabled and captured… North Temple of Ozris is on fire… Explosions and sounds of thunder were heard before the fire appeared…”
Kwan narrowed her eyes. “They decided to go with it? So be it. Inform the messengers to bring the news en route, we are leaving before the Guard force stabilizes,” she declared decidedly.
Zeph was worried. “What with Aisha?”
“She has a backup, we should meet her at the aerosation. Now, to the wagons! You two are riding with me,” she said to Zeph and the Gremling.
He blinked in surprise. I have thought we would just travel on the wagons all the way to the city but… by air?
That was some news, a flight technology. But he didn’t have time to ponder on it.
Everyone started moving and people flooded the backyard in quick order. Seven big, covered transport carriages were waiting for them. Their roofs were made from wooden platforms with low walls for cover. Archers took position on them. Someone took charge of their cart while they were guided to another wagon. P’pfel was hidden inside with instructions to only attack in self-defense. He was the main target, after all.
Zeph volunteered to be on the rooftop, but Kwan ordered him to stay inside, near the front. The longer he stayed away from sight, the lower the chances of Oric’s goons interfering with them.
Their convoy was moving fast. The traffic was minimal as rumors of an attack spread all around the town. From his seat behind the driver, he could see the streets. Though, their wagon was second in line, so he was unable to see what was happening ahead.
Kwan was beside him while her three personal guards sat further behind.
From time to time, a messenger entered from the back and was interrogated by the group of warriors riding with them.
Other groups confirmed they would accompany them and move out of the town.
Councilman Thrueman was dead.
Strata Guild leader, Ferrenda was dead.
Black Marble company owners, the Ahn family were captured.
Lesser Landlord Xaira was captured.
Guard Xavier took the role of Guard captain.
The reports kept coming. Everything was happening at once.
After an hour, more serious reports started arriving.
Four companies of warriors were entering the city from the north.
The town hall was breached, a part of the Guard helping with the attack. Councilmen inside were killed, others were attacked in their estates on the outskirts. Some were captured after a duel.
A schism within Temples took place, a faction of the Temple of Souls leading the upheaval.
It sounded like a revolution, only the death toll was kept minimal. Warriors from both sides didn’t seem to keep much loyalty to their superiors or animosity towards each other, so everyone kept to the code of war.
Of course, not everyone was like that.
Their wagon stopped suddenly. He could hear some shouting from up ahead. Kwan frowned but didn’t move otherwise.
A big man, easily two meters twenty in height, stepped from behind the leading wagon. He was wearing reinforced scale armor and a hammer rivaling in size Aisha’s weapon. His face was handsome, but a dangerous glint in his eyes negated the good impression. It spoke of unrestrained violence.
“Kwaaan~ Are you here?” he was shouting with a hand near his mouth.
She clicked her tongue and gestured for her guards. They removed a part of the tarp away and jumped down. She followed unhurriedly.
Zeph prepared his telekinetic shields and used the ‘Magnetic scan’. A group of people in armor was present ahead. Maybe 40 to their 30 fighters. But he was unable to say if any archers took positions at the rooftops around.
“Ghan, you piece of trash. I see you changed loyalties. Again,” he could hear her say coldly.
“Ha! You know full well I am loyal only to one thing. Strength dictates everything in this world. Speaking of which, is your flaming friend around?”
She sneered. “She is probably busy somewhere else. Go look for her yourself.”
“Haha, If only I could. I have my orders. That will simplify things, though.”
There was a moment of silence before he continued in a more serious tone. “Are you going to bail? And without paying your taxes? You know full well we cannot have that.”
“No, we are just strolling, you see,” she deadpanned. “Like I care about taxes,” she spat, “that aren’t even enacted yet. Don’t mock the rule of this town. Now, move,” her arctic tone reverberated in the vicinity.
There was another pause. “Do you remember what I said about power?” Zeph could hear a metal clinking on metal.
She sneered. “The great Ghan, reduced to a common bandit. I can’t see even a trace of the power you are speaking of.”
Shit… he thought, scrambling to prepare his spear and pulling out a javelin.
“Fight to kill,” she ordered.
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Interface: (changed parts)
[https://i.imgur.com/eguMNml.jpg]
[https://i.imgur.com/KrcMBDx.jpg]
[https://i.imgur.com/ocxLrLf.jpg]