Tec Mage Chapter Fifty Two: Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

Mary had done it. She no longer had an enemy that could destroy her work and life. She did feel a little empty inside but she got what she wanted.

Now was the time of growth for her. With the help of the gnolls gold and the efforts of her group, she went on to buy up the land that Lord Bolt Left behind.

The players that ruled the city didn't care who owned the land, just so as they got their tax money.

It was surprising easy to get a hold of Lord Bolts land. His relatives didn't want to be slum lords. They kept the shops and small business but let go of the dirty wooden huts that lined the slums.

There was also the matter with Shara and the orphanage. As a apology, the orphanage was rebuilt. The orphanage was just an old church that was run down but with the help of the Gnolls and Golems it was quickly transformed in to a place fit to house those unlucky enough to lose their family. Gold was donated to hire more people and food was given to help feed the children.

While the old orphanage was transformed, Dracken, Mary and Kevein reunited and started to build on a friendship that was almost forgotten.

Within the school that had been rented out to the tutors guild, sat Atlas.

The school was giving him great benefits. He had already learnt chemistry with a tutor but with the school system set out in royal road he now had a good understanding in mathematics and Physics.

Everyone was happy with this set up. The tutors got more people coming in, which increased their cash. The students didn't have to pay as much for a private tutors and they all got a suitable place to learn and teach.

Learning was a lot easier if you had the drive for it and a suitable place for it.

Atlas was making his way back to the Four Jacks shop when he was stopped by a paladin gnoll.

"There's a small problem" said the paladin gnolls.

It was explained to Atlas 

"Ding"

Haunted Mines

The mines to the south are haunted, or that's what the workers say. Deep screeching noises echo though out the mines and rocks are moved to block areas that once wasn't there.

workers are refusing to stay and are leaving the mine

Difficulty D

Reward: Workers back to work

This was a property quest. It could be complete by the owner or passed on to other people.

Atlas briefly thought about giving the quest to some one else but changed his mind. If ghost were in the mine then there was a chance that people wouldn't be able to see them. Atlas on the other hand had skills to talk and see the unseeable.

The mine was about three days walking distance away. Atlas picked up his things and made his way out of the city.

When he was safe in a clearing, Atlas remove his black obsidian basket he was carrying on his back.

The obsidian basket was large. It carried all of Atlas bags and a chair.

Placing it on the floor, Atlas unfolded his basket. Wings, nose and tail was unfolded and locked in place. 

Atlas climbed into his Magnificent flying Machine and left the ground with the cover of a cloud spell he knew.

The dark cloud that was hiding Atlas lifted higher and higher in to the sky.

The reason Atlas hid him self from prying eyes was because his fly machine was a tool that only needed a control over your own body's mana. Atlas couldn't think how many people would pester him to make one for them, let alone the amounts of threats he would receive from players.

Pointing in the right direction, Atlas stepped on the acceleration pedal. Flames erupted from the back and the magnificent flying machine burst forwards at great speed.

Atlas remembered the first time he travelled on his flying machine. The vibrations it caused made his whole body go numb.

Now it was completely different. With the gnolls advance crafting skill, the vibrations had been negated by springs. Travelling was much smother.

Three days on foot was less than a hour by air. 

When Atlas got to his destination he folded his flying machine up and placed it on his back. Now it looked like a big black basket.

At the mine there was no person near it. They had all fled. The mention of spirits made the NPC lose all will to work.

The mine was pitch black. Atlas taped his shoulder armour piece. The metallic wolf head opened its mouth to revile a blinding light. The perfect Moonstone that could even put the light of the sun to shame was locked in the mouth of Atlas shoulder armour. The metal was a special living metal that could change shape. To adjust the moonstone's power the metal known as Harken closed it's teeth shut until only a small amount of light could pass though.

Passing though the tunnels of the mine was easy as the surroundings were tidy and well kept by the miners. 

Deeper and deeper into the mine with no signs of any ghost. The only sound was of water dripping from the ceiling, that was until a low scrapping sound came from deeper in the mine.

The sound was like a chalk board rubing against another chalk board. Atlas had heard something like this before from Adam. Adam was Atlas first Golem and he was made from obsidian. Each movement of Adam caused the obsidian from the joints to rub against each other causing the same sound he was hearing now.

This intrigued Atlas. Did this mean there was other golems apart from the one's Atlas made.

Atlas steadily investigated. 

In a open cave area Atlas was met with a small rock like creature that was grabbing moss of the wall and slapping it on his face.

The light from Atlas moonstone caused the rock creature to turn sharply to reveal it's face.

The only way to describe the face of this beast was broken. The face had small cracks in it and in some of those cracks held moss. The little beast looked like it was trying to heal it's self with moss bandages.

Seeing Atlas standing before him, the little rock creature twisted it's rock body and ran from Atlas, only to hit its head on a low piece of ceiling.

With a loud thump, the rock creature fell to the floor unconscious.

Atlas rushed over to check on it. Rolling the creature over, Atlas looked in to it's face. The face wasn't any better close up. The cracks looked like it was oozing out pus.

"Identify" said Atlas

A Trollite

A close species to the trolls. Completely made from rocks, the trollite are smarter than their cousins.

Not a lot is known about the Trollites. They often keep to themselves.

Atlas felt a little pity. Every time he looked in to the little Trollite's face he could see the pain the trollite must go though.

Atlas gently pulled the moss off the trollite face. He briefly clean the face and started to use his magic.

Basic elemental control which was now advance elemental control allowed Atlas to reshape the elements. It was very useful for crafting and exploring but not that great in attacking.

With a wave of his hand the cracks in the trollite face fused together. The lumps and the pox marks evened out and the teeth straightened up.

The little trollite face was now smooth and with out blemishes.

This situation reminded Atlas of when he first meet with the gnolls. Just like then he had found a sole member of the species and helped them out.

But unlike then it went very wrong.

When the trollite woke up, he wasn't interested in Atlas but only patted his own face.

Sudden realisation dawned on the trollite face but instead of being happy he dropped to his knees and started to curse Atlas

The cursing was a mix of human, elfish and rumbling of rocks.

"Ding"

You have heard words from the elfish language. After a week you will be able to read and speak elfish. Thanks to the small god of the land

"YOU MONSTER, WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME" the trollite was gripping the floor with it's head held down.

"YOU MONSTER. I'M SO.... SO....UGLY" the trollite was thumping the floor.

Over the dull thuds that the trollite was making Atlas was taken back.

He realised his mistake. He had brought his own idea of beauty and forced it on the trollite.

The trollite sense of beauty was not of smooth symmetrical face that had no blemishes but completely different.

Atlas went to touch the trollite on the shoulder to try and explain but before his hand could touch the trollite, the trollite shrugged away in fear.

"NO...NO.. Y..YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH" yelled the trollite.

"I can fix it" said Atlas in desperation.

With these words the trollite looked up. Pebbles were rolling down his smooth face like tears.

"Really...." the trollite was desperate. If he was to go back in this state and his tribe saw him he would be saw as a leper.

Again Atlas waved his hand over the trollite face. The face made from earth spilt and dried. Cracks formed on the lips and crow eyes formed at the corners of the eyes. Uneven bumps formed. The left eye enlarged and the right was dropped. The ears culled over them self. The teeth shrank and enlarged to form a goofy smile. The nose lifted up to form a pigs nose.

"Almost finished" Atlas was hoping that this would be to the trollite liking.

Atlas poured his canteen on to the floor. The orange fruit juice spilt on the floor. Mixing mud and grit in to the liquid, Atlas slapped the mixture on to the trollite face. When it dried it would cause flaking.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

For the green moss that the trollite used for hair, Atlas poured some forest mana on it. The moss grew and formed a afro like hair piece.

The whole effect was at best weird but at worst horrifying. 

"Ding"

Seeing true beauty can raise stats but witnessing a fugly creature can cause fear and disgust. Your wisdom and intelligence stat has decreased by 10% for 10 hours.

Atlas gave a shinny piece of metal to the trollite to act like a mirror.

At first not much reaction came from the trollite. The trollite lift its hand and stroked its face. Then after that thick pebble tears rolled down the pox mark cheeks.

"Wrong again" Atlas thought.

"I'm so pretty, these bumps are like a powerful mountain. The lips are like dried up river beds. The ears are soft looking clouds" spoke the trollite

The beauty of nature was indeed beautiful but it didn't belong on a face.

Absentmindedly the trollite walked off with the shinny piece of metal. It turned out that this trollite was incredibly vain. Not once did it lower the piece of metal while it walked.

Past hidden route and rocks, the trollite unintentionally lead Atlas to his home.

The noise coming from the trollite's home was incredible. It sounded like a train had crashed. The combined movement of living rock moving against each other caused a deafening roar.

The trollite's noticed Atlas and rushed over. The noise they made when they ran was the worst. No wonder the miners thought the place was haunted. The screams made from rock rubbing against it's self pierced Atlas ears and made him cringe. As the group of trollite ran towards Atlas, he thought he was in trouble but they ignored him and went straight to the trollite that Atlas had beautified

The chatter that broke out was again a mix of elvish and human. All of the trollites were fixated on the new look. Some were even trying to touch the modified trollites face.

Moving along the trollites formed a parade to welcome the new and most handsome trollite they had ever seen. Atlas was pushed and shoved away.

These trollite were incredibly vain. Though out the parade not one trollite took notice of Atlas and instead only cooed and sighed after the now handsome trollite. The now beautiful trollite was carried like royalty and lead to their queen.

Atlas silently followed. When the party came to the trollite guards that protected the queen, Atlas was expecting to be stopped but instead they joined the parade.

In the throne room was a enormous beast of a trollite. Her shape was the same except for a brood pouch that had four baby trollite in it. With a trollite hanging from each breast, the queen looked up.

Her lips smacked together when she caught sight of the trollite that Atlas modified. Her eyes widened and sparkled with lust and delight.

With a nod of her head she parted the other trollites away from the handsome one.

When the two spoke, it was difficult for Atlas to follow. They would speak in elvish and human so Atlas could only understand every third word that was said.

The handsome trollite was pointing at Atlas and then back at his own face. The queen peeked at Atlas and then quickly took a deep breath like she was going to be sick.

The queen composed her self and then spoke to Atlas with her eyes closed tight.

"Come forward" spoke the queen

"My subject tells me that you are able to create beauty personified. Tell me why is it that you can make such works of art" the queen then pointed at the trollite that Atlas had changed.

"But you your self are so ugly" said the queen.

Atlas was taken back. He never saw him self as a pretty boy but he still thought that he had a good powerful man look. Now the trollite queen was telling him how ugly he was and by what Atlas could see from the actions of the queen, she meant every word.

Atlas let it go but he was a little annoyed. He explained that he was able to change rock but not flesh.

The queen just nodded while sitting. One of the baby trollite that was attached to the queens breast turned around and caught a glimpse at Atlas.

Slowly, the baby trollite face dropped and pebble tears started to roll down its face.

The queen turned the child around and patted the young trollite's back.

"Still... not as bad as an elf or fairy" said the queen.

The queen sighed to her self and slowly opened her eyes. She gagged a little when looking at Atlas but she compossed her self and held it down.

"You must do the same for me" said the queen

She didn't ask or tell Atlas what to do. She said it in a way that suggested it was going to happen.

"Ding"

Beauty in the eye of the beholder

The Trollite species has a very different idea of beauty. The trollite queen wants to increase her beauty and has tasked you to do it.

Be carefully as what one person finds beautiful another may find ugly.

Reward: ???

This wasn't what Atlas came here to do but perhaps the reward would be something to do with calming the trollite or maybe they would work the mine for him.

Atlas went to work on the queen. It was easy as Atlas had already been given the clues at to what the trollite found beautiful.

The most beautiful elfs and the cute fairys were considered as the most deformed in the trollite eyes. Nature was beautiful and the trollite loved it in there features.

Scars that looked like dried river banks, pimples vast in number that they looked like a collection of hills, a nose that was long and crooked like a cliffs edge, head skin like the dry dessert. All these things and more.

When Atlas was finished he couldn't see any beauty in the queens face, in fact he was having trouble deciphering if it was a face to start of with.

The queen loved it. She loved it so much that just like the other trollite that Atlas changed she too couldn't tear her face away from a mirror.

Atlas waited patiently for his reward but after half an hour it started to become silly. Atlas started off with light cough but when that didn't get any attention he worked up to him shouting. Only then did the queen come to.

"You've done a god job" said the queen as she gently batted a child's hand away from her face.

"Your reward shall be......." the queens face twisted in thought to reveal the scariest face Atlas had ever seen.

Apparently the queen couldn't think of a reward. While she pondered a elder trollite walked to her side.

Both the queen and the elder talked in hushed voice. Atlas could hear it as clear as if it they were talking directly in the ear thanks to his careful listener skill. Unfortunately it was a mix of human and elvish so Atlas could only make out certain words.

Suddenly both the elder and queen stopped talking. Slowly they turned their heads to Atlas with great big smiles on their faces.

The elder trollite rushed away while the queen declared Atlas reward.

"I'm pleased with your work and thus shall offer you a skill" said the queen.

Just then the elder  came rushing over. In his hands was a stone box.

The box was placed in the hands of Atlas and Atlas immediately opened it.

"Ding"

Beauty in the eye of the beholder

The Trollite species has a very different idea of beauty but you have successfully pleased the queen.

Reward: Glimmer World (locked)

Glimmer World 

A skill to shorten travel. It opens a gate to glimmer world and immedity opens another gate to a different place. In short teleportation

Class one (locked), ambassador: Teleport where ever you can see

Class two, ??? (locked): Teleport to where you've have been before at the cost of half of mana pool for 24 hours

Class three, ??? (locked): Freely go to glimmer world without limit.

Atlas was very pleased with the skill. All he wanted to do was study but he also had responsibility with in the game world. Every now and again he would be needed for a quest or dealing with the many business that he co-owned

This would go miles in to fixing travel time. Just think if he combined the skill of teleportation with his marvellous flying machine then travelling to the furthest places would take no time at all.

Unfortunately when Atlas learnt the skill it didn't work.

"Seems like the skill not working" smiled the elder

Atlas had been tricked. He could feel some thing amiss with the way the queen and elder was smiling.

"The skill won't work unless you agree to be our ambassador to the magic communion" said the queen.

"Ding"

Ambassador to the trollite

The magic creatures of the continent are gathering in the magic communion to discuss the problems they are having.

The trollite's can't stand seeing the elfs and fairys. Just by looking at them causes the trollite's to feel unwell.

This mission must be accepted and can't be passed

Atlas was furious. The most time consuming thing in Royal Road was a chain quest and now he had been told he couldn't deny it.

End Of Chapter Fifty Two