The afternoon sun shone over Broken Tusk, rendering it in shades of orange mingling with green. From the train, Theo and Tresk were given an amazing view of the town. Atop a hill, speeding at an impossible pace, they glimpsed their town from afar. It was a rare sight for the alchemist. The images fed to him by Alex didn’t do the place justice, and they were soon speeding into the station. He exited the train with wobbly legs and a general feeling as though he would vomit at any moment.

Theo tried not to walk too fast toward his lab, as though he had any shame for the excitement he felt. He imagined how people’s eyes would linger on him, wondering what exciting discovery the lab had made. If Salire was coy about the new potion, he was confident it would work. She wasn’t in the store when he arrived, or on the second floor experimentation and storage room. The half-ogre apprentice was on the top floor, a big smile on her face as she hid something behind her back.

“Try to contain your excitement,” Salire said, the smile on her face tugging further at the corners of her mouth. She whipped an ornate vial around. It had far more details than her normal decorative vials, even displaying a glass gem near the top.

Theo crossed the room, taking the vial gingerly. The liquid inside was a swirling mix of pink and blue as though two parts refused to mix. But as he inspected the potion, he realized it was a completed potion. A Tier 3 suffuse potion that would save Fenian.

[Potion of Return]

[Potion]

Legendary

Created by: Theo Spencer

Grade: Good Quality

Alignment:

Drogramath (Minor Bond)

Imbibing this potion will return the drinker to the place where they were born. If that location would bring harm to the drinker, the next nearest location will be chosen.

“This is it,” Theo said, staring at the potion.

The alchemist got a Wisdom of the Soul popup, and a general sense from his alchemical intuition. He could feel the metaphysical importance of the item. Distance didn’t matter. Neither did the realm which a person was sent to. His Wisdom message informed him that if he drank it, he would be taken to where Belgar was born. Not Earth.

“Yeehaw. I can teleport about as far as I can throw a rock,” Tresk mocked.

“Isn’t it wonderful?” Salire asked, bouncing on the spot.

Theo’s first impulse was to contact Xol’sa for a consultation. But would the wizard be able to resist the urge to drink the potion, returning to wherever he was born? No, that man knew how dangerous it was to mess around in the void. There was no guarantee that the extra-planar elves even had a home out there, let alone one that could support life. The alchemist sent a message, summoning the wizard to his lab.

“We could send this now,” Theo said. “We could get Fenian out of Hoi’ch right now. That’s insane.”

“That’s dangerous, though,” Tresk objected, pointing a finger in the air. “Fenian was born in Tarantham, right? Where a civil war is raging.”

Tapping his foot, Theo considered the best course. He needed to talk to Uz’Xulven about this. It would take them a week to get a ship to the continent, and another week to bring him back. The alchemist had too many concerns to act now. As sad as it was, maybe Fenian was safer in Balkor’s realm than anywhere else. He needed medical treatment when he arrived. Glantheir’s own hands would be best, but Sulvan could manage.

“Damn. We have it, but…” Theo paused. Xol’sa entered the room, a stupid smile on his face. The elf snatched the potion out of the alchemist’s hands, nearly pressing it against his face.

“What a find,” Xol’sa said, his voice barely a whisper. “You’ve done it, Theo. I can feel it. This potion will pierce the veil.”

Theo considered taking his potion back, but decided against it. Salire had only bottled it. They had enough to make ten more of the same potion. Instead, he thanked Xol’sa for his expert opinion and left the lab. Tresk trailed behind him, sensing his intent. They headed for the temple. With his Dreampassage ability on cooldown, he had no other way to contact the gods. The only one that would answer him was Drogramath, and that was good enough.

The temple had a scatter of people praying to their respective deities. Theo felt as though he was showing off when he approached the dais, looking up at the windows and holding his patron’s name in his mind. Drogramath’s recognition shivered across the realms. A breath passed, and the form of the demon god appeared near the altar, towering high above.

“Fool mortal!” Drogramath shouted. “I was experimenting. And you’ve drawn me out of it!”

Theo cleared his throat. “Cut the tough guy act. I need some help.”

The ethereal image of Drogramath cleared his throat. His eyes, like massive glittering purple orbs, scanned the room. “Fine. What do you need?”

Theo explained the situation. He wasn’t looking for a solution, though. For once, he was looking for guidance. The pieces he had to put together were scattered. If Fenian drank the potion, appearing in the center of a conflict he would die. The alchemist needed to know how much strength the elf could muster, which potions he needed to steal a boat and leave the elven homeland, and how much Uz’Xulven could help.

“Wait a moment. I’ll return to the temple after I have gathered information. You’ll owe me after this. Just so we’re clear.”

Nodding, Theo watched as the image of his patron vanished. He turned, feeling Tresk’s comforting thoughts flow off her like an untamed river. All she had to do was share a smile and it brought his spirits up. What few people were in the temple were muttering amongst themselves, marveling at the appearance of a real god.

“This is way better than being a lich,” she said.

“Agreed. Are you up to the challenge? Think you can reach Hoi’ch from here?”

Tresk blew raspberries. “I could reach Khahak from here, dude. So long as I had one of Khahar’s bones.”

It was concerning that they couldn’t find a genuine piece of Balkor, but this should be fine. Tresk wasn’t overstating her abilities here. She could pierce the veil, sending whatever items Fenian needed into Balkor’s realm without detection. That level of will and control was surprising, but she had this innate affinity for the task. Five minutes after Drogramath vanished, he reappeared in the temple with a smile on his face.

“It took some convincing, but I invited Uz’Xulven to my realm,” Drogramath said. There was a look of pride on his face that was undeniable. “The elf is confident he could escape anything with the right potions. Unfortunately, without his enchanted carriage he cannot use the Bridge. Old-fashioned escape is the only option.”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Drogramath gave Theo a list of potions that Fenian requested. Uz’Xulven had served as an intermediary for a conversation. Theo committed those potions to memory, intending to make everything he didn’t have today. The time dilation of the realms meant that for every minute he spent getting ready, four hours would pass in the divine realms. He thanked his patron for his time, then dashed out of the temple.

Theo burst into the lab, causing Salire to jump in fright. “Prepare those stills. Get ready for a big batch.”

Fenian’s request was pretty standard, but it revealed a lot about his situation. He wanted all the restoration potions they could make, but that was no surprise. He also needed combat potions, and an assortment of bombs. Retreat potions, Limited Foresight potions, Featherfall potions. The list went on. While Tresk worked on the delivery method, Theo and Salire worked the stills. There were also items that the elf didn’t request, which the alchemist intended to include.

Even after the sun set outside, the group worked on the project. Tresk stood before a large, mundane crate with her hands on her hips. Theo had already popped a Greater Stamina Potion, and was feeling buzzed from its effects. He stood next to the crate, tutting.

“You just taped the bones to a box,” he said, kicking the box’s side.

“Yeah, well… It’ll work.”

Salire was dead on her feet. She brought the last of the potion over, placing a modified Retreat Potion into the crate. It was filled to the top, almost to where the lid wouldn’t fit. Tresk was convinced that all she needed was a vessel to carry the potions. Anything within that container would pierce the veil. Theo wanted to doubt her, but the level of confidence she had was unreal.

“Last thing,” Theo said, finding empty spaces to place bone throwing knives. He had warded them with Dragon’s Dance “That’s it. Right?”

“Yep,” Tresk said, kneeling near the box. She withdrew a hammer and nails from nowhere and sealed the crate shut. “That’s it. We ready?”

“Ready as we’ll ever be,” Theo said with a nod.

“Ready!” Salire brought forth the last of her energy for a cheer.

All the color drained from the room. Theo looked at his companion in shock. A visible well of manifested willpower pooled at her feet, bending the light. Things fell off tables as she drew on the combined will of herself, the Tara’hek, and Tero’gal. The alchemist felt his golems collapse in the distance, some bursting into flames. The marshling’s concentration was absolute as their realms authority filled the room. Salire went rigid, falling over with a thunk. The alchemist fell to his knees.

“So long, box! Fenian Southblade,” Tresk shouted, pouring everything she had gathered into the wooden crate. With a snap, it vanished.

The color returned to the room in an instant. The building groaned as it shifted back into place. Salire took in a sharp breath, then began coughing.

“Holy shit,” Theo said, coughing as the breath returned to his lungs.

Salire tried to say something, but just ended up in another coughing fit. Before long, someone was beating on the door downstairs. Theo was unsurprised to find the town’s guard coming to investigate. The general alarm had been raised, a bell clattering somewhere distant. The army was assembling to defend the town, and the alchemist had to talk them down. Aarok and Luras showed up, sleepy-eyed and in their full gear.

“That was us,” Theo said, holding his hands up apologetically. “Sorry.”

“Dammit, Theo,” Aarok said, glaring.

“It was pretty cool,” Luras said.

“Go call off the guard,” Aarok said, waving Luras away. “Let’s go. You got some explaining to do.”

Theo invited Aarok up to the lab. Salire was still recovering, sitting in a chair and drinking something strong. Tresk was doing a jig and Alex was honking with excitement. The alchemist explained what had happened, but the moment he reached the climax of the story he felt something twinge in his mind. The familiar haptic buzzing of a call from the communication crystal in his inventory. He withdrew it mid-sentence, squeezing it tightly in his hand.

“Dear alchemist! This is the worst plan ever!” Fenian shouted into his mind. “It dropped me in a war zone!”

Theo clicked his tongue. “We were worried about that.”

Fenian explained his situation. Balkor’s pride had been wounded when the box appeared. Since time moved differently in the heavenly realms, Fenian had to bargain for his freedom. Through smooth-talking trickery, the elf escaped. When he arrived in Tarantham, he appeared in a burned-out city. Two armies were engaging each other, and he burned through half the potions Theo gave him just to stay alive. He was currently running for the coast, intent on stealing a boat to escape.

“But you’re not a lich,” Theo said. “That counts for something.”

“Yes, I suppose it does. Also, you could have left a note. When I tossed one of your daggers, it turned a group of soldiers into paste! Oh, the experience gains were magnificent, but the shock was damaging to my psyche. Also, I’m naked!”

“Just come back alive. Alright?”

“I’ll do my best!”

Fenian cut the connection through the crystal. Theo breathed a sigh of relief, relaying the tale to all those gathered. Salire had regained her composure, and Aarok was shaking his head in disbelief. This ordeal ended better than anyone could have expected. The Herald was now back on the mortal plane, even if he was in danger. The alchemist could feel some amount of order restored to the world. It was as though another piece of something important had been set in place.

Aarok withdrew a wineskin from his inventory, drinking directly from it. “Well, now that you woke me up, we can have a drink.”

Theo took the skin when offered, and chugged more than his fair share. Tresk drank some as well, but continued dancing. Salire drank more than anyone else. There were some things a mortal body wasn’t meant to witness. Aarok went off to smooth everything over with both the administrators and his army. Theo and Tresk escorted the shell-shocked assistant to her house, then lingered outside under the stars.

“I find it hard to remember that those even exist,” Tresk said, pointing skyward.

The setting of the sun did little to stifle the constant heat brought by the Season of Fire. Theo gazed at the stars, not even needing to give his response to his companion. This felt like a turning point for them. The holder of the Throne of the Arbiter was in the heavens, and the holder of the Throne of the Herald was on the mortal plane. It didn’t hurt that they had removed their friend from Balkor’s realm, but that was another thing to consider. The Demon God of Necromancy didn’t seem to keep Fenian there out of malice. From everything the alchemist heard, it sounded more like he wanted to recruit him for something.

Why would the other gods support the resurrection of another if it wasn’t for the greater good?

“We should get some sleep,” Tresk said, resting a hand on Theo’s shoulder.

Theo didn’t look away from the stars. He knew it was the best option. The Dreamwalk had a way of soothing all the rough parts of his mind, just as well as Tero’gal did. He simply rose, walking down the road with his companions. Alex waddled along, honking on occasion. They locked up the Newt and Demon before heading off to the manor. Sarisa and Rowan were in the sitting room, sleeping on the sofa. The scent of food still lingered in the air. They had made dinner, set everything out, then waited for Theo and Tresk to return.

“They’re tuckered out,” Theo said, smiling at his assistants. “Come on guys. Get to bed.”

“I’m up,” Rowan said, bolting upright then falling on his face. “Ow.”

Theo helped the pair get to bed before sitting down with Tresk and Alex to eat the cold food. It was still good. When they were finished, they headed upstairs and fell into the Dreamwalk. Tresk summoned a calming scene, soothing both of their minds. Instead of getting to work, they sat on an imagined sandy beach to watch the waves.

“Pretty sure I’m supposed to do something big,” Tresk said, fidgeting with a seashell.

“Yeah. Kinda obvious, isn’t it?”

“I thought so,” Alex chimed in, diving into the water.

“Mortals aren’t supposed to hold a tangible realm. I think Khahar changed that when he broke the system’s limits.” Theo pushed his feet through the white sand, digging his toes in as far as they would go.

A smile crept across Tresk’s face. The members of the Tara’hek often didn’t need to share their thoughts verbally. Theo knew she had already found what she was looking for. That thing that would give her great power. Maybe she had ascended those steps already, or already had one foot on the first one. The alchemist didn’t know if he wanted to take the steps when it was his turn, but perhaps it was too late to turn back.

The group didn’t get any work done in the Dreamwalk that night. They sat on the beach, sharing both silence and stories about Fenian. That elf had enough luck to pull him through anything.

“He’ll be fine,” Theo said, reassuring himself as much as Tresk. “He’s always fine.”