It was late afternoon when Matt’s group strolled through the castle with their new spotted friend. Murl was in the kitchen, and he wasn’t exactly cooking—but neither was anyone else. The dishes floated, tapped, and clanged while stirring spoons swirled, and Murl was the conductor of their orchestra.
Matt handed over a pumpkin and some basil, and then Murl shooed them out. He asked that they meet him in the courtyard.
“Snackies?” said Bruno.
“The sooner you get out, the sooner there’s food,” Murl said, raising his bushy white eyebrows.
The pup whined for a moment, but then happily resumed his pursuit of Kurtis, following the group into the hall.
The routes through the castle had become familiar and Matt walked at a relaxed pace, running his fingertips along the cool gray stone. Kurtis rushed past him, holding out his oven mitts to try and keep the excited pup at bay. Matt chuckled at the sight.
He followed their chase down the hallway and then to the right. He had guessed Murl intended to meet them at the couches overlooking the courtyard, so was surprised by the sight. A large round table was set up on the grass. The serpent-unicorn topiary stared it down and pink moats of light hovered above a floral centerpiece. White blooms, trailing vines, and moss spilled out over a star-like inlay.
“Beautiful,” Fallyn quietly remarked.
“Agreed,” said Matt.
“Ugh!” Kurtis exclaimed, shaking out his left arm. Bruno had struck again.
“So, where do we sit?” Val asked, cheerfully stepping onto the green.
Matt counted thirteen chairs, each one a different style. Val walked around the circumference, and Matt gave her a quizzical look.
“What?” she said. “I want the best one.”
Matt and Fallyn settled onto the couches to wait and watched Kurtis fail at avoiding the dog. He would move to a new spot in the garden, the Dalmatian would join, and then he’d move again. The pup would excitedly yell “Hello friend!” in their minds each time he caught up. They all knew which friend he meant.
Valkyrie tested out a chair, stood up, and then tried another. Matt envied her jumpsuit; it looked really comfortable. The trash can lid on Matt’s back meant that he had to sit forward a bit—either that or have it dig into his back. Fallyn eyed him adjusting his posture and crossed her Hammer pants legs.
Matt sighed. She got comfy clothes too.
Perhaps ten minutes later, Murl arrived. “It’s wonderful isn’t it?” the man exclaimed with a gesture to the table.
“Very pretty,” Val smiled. She had finally chosen a seat and was resting comfortably, head on hands, watching the pink lights drift.
“Come, come,” Murl encouraged, waving Matt and Fallyn to the garden with both arms. “Let’s be seated.”
Matt chose a chair across from Val. It felt right to spread out and fill the big table.
“Hello, friends!” Bruno announced, hopping up next to Kurtis. “Kurtis saved Bruno!” he reminded and went in for a lick.
Kurtis slid one chair over and then the pup slid over too. Kurtis sighed.
“Oh right…” Murl said, raising one finger as if he’d forgotten something.
A moment later, Matt could hear rapid clicking and scraping. Seven dogs rushed into the courtyard, calling out “Hello!” and “Friend!” excitedly. Kurtis quickly shuffled over to the seat beside Matt, catching on to what was happening. Bruno followed, of course.
“Doggies!” Val cried out, and Charlie hopped up beside her. She gave him a big hug, then hugged Gus the Retriever who nuzzled her other side.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
The pups filled the remaining seats. Matt rewarded a Pug on his left with some pats. Fallyn smiled and scratched a Terrier between the ears. Kurtis sat very, very stiffly and Bruno laid his head against his arm.
“Now, we’re ready for dinner!” Murl declared. “Kitchen lovelies!” He called and then clapped twice. He cocked his head to listen and then, after a moment, he nodded. Nothing seemed to have happened, but the old man looked content.
Murl addressed the table with a generous smile. “Welcome friends, to my first annual Givethanksing, an old tradition from far-off lands. Orbi showed me it was customary to gather for a meal, cook fowl in oil, and set your house on fire—I chose not to do that last part. Where are you, Orbi dear?”
A clank-clank echoed. Matt turned towards the sound. A procession of dishes was floating down the hallway: fine bone ivory with hints of gold, bowls on plates, and golden spoons. Steaming soup smelled of rosemary and carrots.
“Snackies!” Bruno yelled in their minds, excitedly.
“Snackies?” came another small voice.
“Snackies!”
“Snackies!”
A setting landed in front of every spot on the table—even the dogs. Can dogs eat that? Matt wondered. He remembered that carrots weren’t poisonous, but wasn’t sure what else was in it. Plus, it was soup.
Matt stared at it, unsure what to do himself. Murl hadn’t started eating yet, and Matt had been taught to be polite. But, more than that, he was cognizant that he hadn’t eaten for nine days. Would he even be able to eat? Matt looked around the table and saw that the others were hesitating too.
Then Orbi descended to hover over the center of the table, casting a soft yellow on the white flowers and greenery.
“And here we all are,” Murl declared, spreading his arms.
Orbi pulsed pink and then settled back to the golden hue.
“Well go ahead,” Murl insisted. “Please eat.”
Matt picked up a spoon. Here goes nothing.
The soup didn’t taste like anything. It didn’t feel like anything. No heat, no substance—the liquid was just gone. Matt returned the spoon to the bowl to try again, only to discover that the vessel was now empty. A notification appeared, ‘+400 Health, Mana and Stamina for 2 days.’
“Huh.”
Matt looked across the table at Fallyn. She narrowed her eyes at him and he did the same. Then Murl clapped his hands twice and the dishes clattered into the air. Matt leaned back as the plates and bowls zipped over his shoulder. They formed a lineup in the air and headed back in the direction they came from.
“Delicious!” Murl declared with a wink.
“Delicious!” repeated a Chihuahua named Taco. Then he barked.
“Delicious!” echoed Charlie.
“Delicious!”
“Delicious!”
“Who am I to argue?” resigned Matt.
“Now, between courses,” Murl announced, “I have decided to share with you my research. Orbi, would you be a dear and set the mood?”
Orbi flared red at his request, bathing the courtyard in tones of blood. The pink motes floating above looked like stars in an eerie nebula.
Murl pushed back his chair and stood, raising both arms for emphasis. He adopted a serious expression and spoke. “The object was forged by machines and men, hardened by use and time.”
Smoke poofed in front of him and took on the red light. Then the teardrop-shaped object emerged from the distortion. It gleamed, now clean and rust-free, reflecting the red in its metal. Murl held it up and the courtyard flickered orange and then flowed into blue.
“This item has a long history, in myth and legend, in lands far away. Much like Givethanksing, you see.” He winked. “I have removed the oxidation to unleash its power.”
“Unleash its power!” repeated Taco.
“Unleash its power!” followed Charlie.
“Unleash!”
“Unleash!”
“Unleash!”
This is a damn cult, thought Matt.
Orbi shifted the lighting to purple.
“This was once called a ‘caliper,’” Murl proclaimed. “It is now something more. Who among you will bear the former caliper, for the next stage of your journey?”
Matt looked around the table at his friends. “Sure,” he said with a shrug.
Then the item zoomed down and right, shrinking into his inventory. ‘5,762,400 XP,’ appeared in satisfying white letters, and joined the drifting pink lights above the table. A tingling started deep in Matt’s core. He started to glow—they all started to glow. Matt’s group was Level 9.
Murl watched them glow with a wry smile and a twinkle in his eye. Charlie barked. Then their glows dimmed and Murl clapped twice. A moment later, a procession of dishes was clanking down the hallways once again. This time it was fried chicken. Each plate thumped onto the table with a golden fork and knife. The food faintly smelled of mushrooms.
Matt cut a piece and brought it to his lips. He paused watching Carlie lick the breading. The meal instantly disappeared in front of the dog. Huh, Matt thought, then put the morsel in his mouth. It vanished along with the portion on his plate.
The text, ‘Immunity: gravemist. Permanent,’ popped up and then floated away.
“Ah ha! See!” Murl beamed. “It worked!”
“It worked!” Bruno echoed. Then he stared up at Kurtis. “Hi, friend.”
“It worked!”
“It worked!”
“I knew it would!” declared Murl. “That was some of the oxidized material from the former caliper. There’s other good stuff in there too, but, wasn’t it delicious?” He grinned. “And now we’re all safe!”
“Wait, you mean we ate the… the thing?” Val asked.
Good thing I got my Tetanus renewed last year.
“You did! And you’ll need it! I am sending you to my apprentice, good travelers, near the edge of the affected lands. As we have learned, the gravemist situation is dire. You leave tomorrow. For now, dessert!” Murl clapped twice.