Theo sat with Tresk and Alex in their booth at the Marsh Wolf Tavern. People came and went outside their little bubble, but they paid little attention. The goose had given a series of requests, mostly for bugs and new worms she’d never eaten. The Marshling had trouble convincing her that the worms they had were the best worms.

The alchemist wasn’t so sure. He occupied himself with the north-facing window of their booth. If he popped the window open, craning his neck outside, he could see the artificer’s workshop. Throk had piles of gears and other stuff that looked like junk outside. Pieces of the old Southblade artifice guardian that he hadn’t yet found use for. Other strange devices were strewn about with little thought to organization.

“Close the damn window!” Xam shouted beyond the booth.

Theo snapped it shut, turning to gape through the narrow entrance of their booth.

“You’re letting all the air out,” Tresk said.

Throk’s first round of projects had been useful for the town. Between his skills as an artificer and his genius in smithing, the man had saved them more than a few times. Now he’d gone into some insane spiral of strange inventions. Things that Theo had no name for. Or a use. This morning the Marshling tinkerer had assembled vast lengths of pipes, each with a whirring artifice in the center of the span.

“Gotta be pumps,” Theo said, watching as the angry blacksmith slammed a hammer against the side of a pipe. It rumbled ominously.

“For what, though?”

Tresk shrugged.

“He’s your dad.” Theo picked at his food, pushing aside the things he didn’t like. But the trader had brought with him a tomato-like thing. Slightly more bitter and acidic than the version on Earth, it was good. Chopped and mixed into a Pozwa egg omelet, and it was even better. The alchemist thought the addition of diced Zee was a bit much.

“Good luck figuring his brain out. Did he ever work on our airships?”

Theo was certain he explained this. “Too complicated. I was thinking of adding artifices to our boats.”

“I’m down to ride some speed boats,” Tresk laughed.

Theo tapped his foot rapidly, a thought entering his mind. That was the most dangerous thing for the alchemist to experience. An errant thought that sent his mind spiraling down unending passages. He imagined an airship flying from the north. From Karasan’s seat of power in Qavell. Or the east, where the Elves called home.

“Air defense,” Theo said.

“Huh?”

“We’re lacking air defense. Throk worked on that potion sprayer. Maybe he can come up with a new idea. A potion cannon.”

“You’re always talking about potions. Potion this. Potion that. When are we gonna talk about stabbing?”

“A stabbing cannon?” Theo asked. “A cannon that fires knives?”

“Go on.”

Theo shrugged. He wasn’t being serious about the idea. “You can read my thoughts. Better than I can read yours.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Just seems impolite.”

“When has that stopped you before?”

“Man, you’re on a roll today!” Tresk shouted. “Alright. Airships, right? I see a few problems. I can see the air defense weapons in your memory. Those ones you disabled in Berlin. How did those work?”

When Theo first arrived in Broken Tusk, he never wanted to think about those things. War was hell, and he’d divorced himself from all of its bloody trappings. But when he cast his mind back to that operation, he didn’t feel the same sick sense in his stomach. He saw the memory through a clinical lens.

“We destroyed the Berlin alliance with a kinetic bombardment,” Theo started, sipping his tea. “They used two methods to defend against this. The first was to intercept whatever orbital platform we used, and the other was an air defense cannon. Do you know what electricity is? Plasma?”

“Uh. I get the idea,” Tresk shrugged.

“Anyway. They would shoot whatever was in the sky out of the sky. Easy as that. They used a big particle beam cannon to do it. I don’t know exactly how they worked, but we won’t be using Earth science. We’ll hurl big hunks of metal, or potions. Doesn’t matter.”

“Sounds like a weapon of war.”

“Yeah, we’re past that. If Throk can make magic pumps, magic fires, and all that crap… he can make something that speeds up a round to absurd speeds,” Theo said.

“Then you just have to worry about operating the artifice. Training,” Tresk said.

Theo tapped his foot faster on the wooden floor. He didn’t know if this was the right move, but it seemed like a fool’s game to ignore Throk’s skills. When the air-based monsters came to attack, they were always at a disadvantage. But those monsters always descended to attack, resulting in their demise from the towers. What if a target was too far away for them to attack?

A dark thought entered Theo’s mind. What if they could put something in orbit? What if they could strike at Karasan without leaving Broken Tusk? He pushed the thought away.

“Yeah, let’s not do that,” Tresk said, reading his thoughts. “You’re quickly entering the realm of war crimes.”

Theo nodded. “We’ll stick to defensive measures. Think Throk will be pissed if I ask him to build something for me?”

“Maybe. Worth a shot.”

“I need to check up on his sprayer project, anyway,” Theo said. “Got any plans?”

Bugs, Alex said.

“Well, she wants bugs. I’m going to do some dungeons.”

Theo had enough things to do today. Fortunately, the administration staff handled the traders well. They’d already done their deals, earning a hefty sum for the town. That money went directly into the town itself, reserved for later use. Mostly, Alise earmarked it to pay the workers over the Season of Fire. In the town’s administration interface, she’d created different sections for money storage. The ‘Worker Fund’ wasn’t to be touched, and she had some strange notes about payouts from the fund.

Alise intended to keep everyone on the contracted payment scheme, plus a productivity incentive. Workers earned more money the more resources they exported through the port. People like Ziz would make less from that fund, since he owned most of the quarry. But workers in Dead Dog Mine would make out like bandits.

When the group finished eating breakfast, Tresk went off to do her dungeons. That left Alex with Theo. The goose continued to insist that she needed more bugs. She just kept shouting about the bugs, never clarifying what bugs. The alchemist left the tavern, following the goose as she hunted for her prey. The wandering path took them near enough to Throk’s [Artificer’s Workshop] to see the extent of the Marshling’s rage.

“Hey, Throk,” Theo said, raising a tentative hand.

Throk was crouched near a pile of junk. He looked back at the alchemist and narrowed his eyes. “You say it, and I’ll pummel your archduke's ass into the ground.”

“Watch your tone, I have an attack goose,” Theo said. Alex shot a small ball of fire into the air. Throk actually flinched.

“Need anything, alchemist?” Throk asked, suddenly softening.

“Not really. Just wanted to know about your potion sprayer project.”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“We already have one in service,” Throk said, waving the question away. “Up on the walls in Gronro. They’ve automated their defense by spewing your undead-killing cloud potions.”

While that made sense, it surprised Theo. “So, do you have some spare time?”

“Does it look like I have time?”

Theo’s intuition told him to push the Marshling. Throk was out here, digging through his crap, because he had nothing else to do. Thim was a great blacksmith, likely taking most of the boring blacksmithing jobs from the Marshling. When his mind wasn’t busy, he got to work on whatever else he could think of.

“I think you do.”

Throk grumbled. “What is it?”

Theo explained the idea of a cannon that used artifices to speed up an object. He emphasized the concept of not using an explosive charge to send the object forward. The alchemist detailed that it needed to send something as delicate as a potion, or as hard as a chunk of [Drogramathi Iron].

“I got something that might work,” Throk said, disappearing into his workshop without another word. When Theo didn’t follow, he shouted back, “do you need an invitation?”

Theo entered the cluttered workshop. Just like the exterior, the interior was strewn with garbage. Throk had access to storage crates, so he must have been organizing his stuff. The alchemist watched as he assembled something for display. He set out a long, rail-like artifice on a table after clearing it away. Once a mote was placed in the side, it hummed. Then he took a length of regular iron and set it atop the device. Instead of making contact, it matched the pitch of the hum and floated there.

“You’ve invented maglev,” Theo said, chuckling.

“Huh?” Throk asked. “Well, check this out.”

Throk adjusted something on the device, then tilted the bottom section upward. The bar of iron didn’t move. It was locked in place above the artifice. He adjusted a dial on the side, and the bar moved forward until it fell off the front, clattering to the ground.

“If I can get it right, I can launch that bar at some absurd speeds.”

“So, you’ve invented a maglev and a rail gun,” Theo said, nodding with approval. “Nice.”

“Alright. Explain both of those to me.”

Theo was happy to explain both concepts. Throk had intended to use the device to make a carriage without a Karatan. One that followed tracks. Basically, he wanted to make a train. He didn’t have the words for what he wanted to make, but the alchemist was on board all the way. That just made the Marshling more excited.

“From here to Rivers, we’ll need some serious metal,” Throk said, unfurling a length of parchment. He’d already drawn up the plans. “Which means I need you to give me metal. And money. And more metal, because I came up with a way to feed motes to artifices automatically.”

Throk was full of surprises today. He showed how his hopper-tube system worked. According to the Marshling, he gained a skill that let him interface two or more artifice systems. One artifice could be programmed to do a number of things. First was to report that it was low on energy. So the operating artifice could send word back to a hopper that it needed motes. Those systems could be chained to a central system, but there was the problem. They’d need an absurd amount of pipes to make it work.

“How many men and how long. To get this thing rolling?” Theo asked.

“Not so fast, alchemist. You’re not very smart, are you?”

Theo shuffled his feet on the spot. “No need to be mean.”

Throk snorted a laugh. “Grow some thicker skin. We’re not jumping headlong into this one. We’re going to build a test. I just need permission to use the tract of land between Perg’s place and the harbor.”

“Permission granted.”

“I can have an example read for you real quick. Maybe today if I can figure out how to adapt this to a wooden carriage.”

“You’re going to use wood for the train car?”

“Here’s the problem,” Throk said, setting up his maglev example pieces. He placed the iron bar over it, allowing it to hover, then pressed down. It took little force to make the bar touch the rail. “Weight.”

Theo approached the experiment, resetting the iron bar. He saw a few other problems he would not mention to Throk. The alchemist tilted the device all the way on its side. The iron bar was locked in place, seeming to ignore physics. That was a good thing for this project.

“Alright. I want you to have an example ready whenever you can. We’ll pull everyone for this. It’s too cool not to do. After your example is ready, we’re going into full safety mode. I want to see impact tests, Throk. Send one of these bastards down a track at full speed. Ram it into a brick wall.”

A smile spread across Throk’s face. “Oh, I love it when you get all involved. Ziz already signed up, he’s already working on the track’s base.”

Theo nodded. This is what he wanted out of his citizens. Pushing forward on awesome projects like this without asking for approval. He realized this would replace Azrug’s carriage system to an extent, but those carriages normally held only supplies. They were too fast and too bumpy for regular people to enjoy. No, this new project was a money-making opportunity. Who wouldn’t pay a shiny silver coin to ride between the towns?

“Alright. Report directly to me when you’re ready. I’ll smooth everything over with my Lady Administrator.”

Throk snorted a laugh, then pushed past Theo without another word. The alchemist left the workshop, finding Alex picking through the sparse grass for bugs. She joined him as he headed back to the lab. Although he intended to work on his new potions, he arrived at the lab to find Salire ready with a list of things to work on. Miltar had put in a request. A massive request.

“You told him these were off-limits, right?” Theo asked.

There was a sign on the counter that read ‘We do NOT sell bombs’. Miltar had still requested them.

“He offered to pay an absurd price,” Salire said with a shrug.

Theo had never sold a bomb. He didn’t have a price to give for the bombs. But Salire had invented a price for the defensive-style bombs. Bombs like the [Freezebomb]. Miltar had offered 10 silver each. The alchemist rubbed his eyes until he saw spots, shifting and glowing in his vision.

“No. He’ll have to be happy with… the 1,000 other potions he ordered,” Theo said, grimacing. “He really ordered a thousand potions? Are you kidding?”

“He paid upfront. Outsider pricing,” Alise said, dumping a massive pile of gold onto the front desk.

“100 gold coins. You’re joking,” Theo said, pulling 10 coins to the side. He took the other 90 into his inventory.

“Yep. I’m a good salesgirl.”

“Damn right. Okay,” Theo said, freezing on the spot. “I need…”

“Reagents.”

“Right. Okay. Reagents,” Theo said, darting out the front door and behind the building. He saw his [Lesser Plant Golems] working.

Upon seeing the alchemist, the golems sent a mental message into the lodestone network. They were low on [Mana Constructs]. To the point where the [Lesser Copper Golem] had shut down earlier that morning. Theo hadn’t noticed.

“Damn, alright guys,” Theo said, adding more [Manashrooms] to his inventory. “Give me five minutes.”

Theo darted back into the shop, his inventory filled with everything he’d need to fulfill the request.

“How long is MIltar still in town?” Theo asked.

“Not sure,” Salire responded, falling back into her chair.

“I’m taking this with me,” Theo said, holding the order form up. “Alex, let’s go.”

Alex honked, joining Theo as he fell through the realms. The pair passed over the Bridge for only a moment. It was far more calm than it had been in the past. He caught a flash of something in the distance, over that shadowy bridge, but it seemed normal. The alchemist popped his shoes off the moment he landed in Tero’gal, feeling the soft grass under his feet. He didn’t hesitate, heading directly for his three stills.

An archway of stone and ice appeared near the wheat field. Theo had already put on his first batch of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] for the order of [Healing Pills]. Benton stepped from his realm, shaking ice from his shaggy coat. He stood there in the faux-sunlight for some time before approaching the alchemist.

“Been a hell of a few days,” the bear god said.

Alex honked in agreement, offering no words.

“Tell me about it,” Theo said, adjusting the heat on his stills. “Did your realm suffer from the weird ghosts?”

“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” Benton said. “We only had a few stray wraiths. I saw the chaos on the mortal plane, though. As far north as Gora Sat.”

Theo paused his work. Gora Sat was the name the Toora people used to describe their home. It was a mountain range north of Qavell. The alchemist was horrible at estimating distance, but that was at least a thousand miles away.

“They made it that far?” Theo asked. “They originated in Broken Tusk. My town.”

“Of course you were the source of the problem,” Benton said, clapping a hand on Theo’s back. “Why am I not surprised?”

“But you’re serious. They were at the World Spine?”

“Yep. Just a handful, but they caused some problems with my people.” Benton withdrew a stone chair from nowhere, setting it down on the ground with a thud. He sat, withdrawing a knife and a length of bone from his inventory.

“Did you help them?”

“Nope. New rules.”

A memory flashed in Theo’s mind. Uz’Xulven said something to that effect when he was almost assassinated. She said that she wouldn’t agree to a new set of rules. Now that was interesting.

“The gods got a system message, didn’t they? Someone changed the rules of how you can interact with the mortal world,” Theo said.

“Well, we can use a vessel to visit. It has to be our champion, and we pay a high price to do so. Godly resources, you know.”

Theo paused his work. Zarali had channeled the power of Drogramath to heal during the ghost attack. Was that considered channeling the god?

“Who set the new rules? Was it just the system?” Theo asked. But he already knew the answer.

“Yeah, some new guy. A brand new ascendant that the system called the Arbiter. It said he was always supposed to exist, and that he now enforced the rules of being a god.”

Theo tapped his finger on an empty vial. “Now that is interesting.”