Fenian agreed to stay the night in Broken Tusk. His Karatan needed to recharge, and that gave Theo enough time to complete the [Hallow Ground] order. The order was simple enough to fill, but there were experiments the alchemist had left on the shelf in favor of production. As he filled the last of the vials, night drawing closer by the moment, something he wished to put off for a few more days happened.

It was impossible to stop the progress of the [Tara’hek Core], and Theo was mostly happy when it leveled up. Increased defense against unwanted intrusion to his mind was excellent and the bonuses were always good. The problem came with Tresk’s excitement for new skills, and level 20 would ‌bring a new one. It also became hard to understand whether they were in a new realm of power, as multiples of 10 often separated large jumps in power. Though the alchemist tried to ignore the level-up, a loud snapping sound came from behind him, followed by manic cackling.

“Teleportation!” Tresk shouted. She was coming out from the bottom of the [Hills Dungeon] when they spoke last. There was much to examine, so Theo started with the new skill.

[Tara’hek Dreampassage]

Marshling Bond Skill

Mythic

Slip through your dreams.

Effect:

Either member of the Tara’hek may [Approach] the other once a day, resetting at midnight. [Approach] distance depends on the level of the [Tara’hek Core] and the stability of the bond.

“Mythic,” Theo said, his brow knitting tightly. It was above legendary, but that hardly gave him a sense for the ability’s power. He inspected his core, finding a +3 to [Strength] and [Vigor] from the old values.

[Tara’hek Core]

Legendary

Tara’hek Core

Bound

4 Slots

Level 20 (1%)

[Tara’hek] cores are given to those who accept a Marshling life-partner. You cannot change the skills inside the core, or remove it at any time.

Effect:

+9 Strength

+5 Vigor

Theo felt a surge in his muscles as his [Strength] hit 20. There was no noticeable change from his [Vigor], but +3 wasn’t enough to phase him anymore. But the important part was that the [Tara’hek Core] was well above his others, now. The Theo-Tresk bond was strong enough to blanket them in a protective realm.

“Very nice,” Theo said, nodding. He inspected the [Tara’hek Dreampassage] skill again. Something formed in his mind that he pushed aside for the moment. It wouldn’t be productive to linger on the mechanics of the skills. “How far away were you?”

“At the bottom of the [Hills Dungeon],” Tresk said, snorting a laugh. “Seems like a decent range. Once a day? That’s awesome.”

Theo nodded, lost in thought about the ability. He double-checked his stock of various [Hallow Ground] potions, removing his [Drogramathi Iron Bar] from his inventory and staring at it. The alchemist sent a mental pulse to his lodestones, finding that all his golems were hard at work in the swamp. They’d switch to patrolling the town soon, bolstering the adventurers on their night watches.

“Hey, I feel a swirl of uncertainty in your little brain,” Tresk said, poking Theo in the chest. “What’s up?”

“I’ll tell you in the Dreamwalk. Go run to Xam’s and I’ll teleport to you.”

Theo didn’t want her to worry about anything, so he pushed the thoughts out of his mind. He wasn’t concerned, just deeply interested in how things were playing out. More than anything, Khahar needed to leave the town. More attention from powerful people wasn’t something he was interested in. As it stood, the alchemist had to hope the Order of the Burning Eye turned their attention to the Khahari and not him.

Tresk had scampered off the moment Theo told her to, and she gave her signal several moments after that. It was hardly enough time to prepare him, but he activated the [Tara’hek Dreampassage] skill. A flash of images rushed by. A dream-like world where he and Tresk had toyed around in flashed, then faded. Then he was standing in the Marsh Wolf Tavern. People let out yelps of surprise. Fenian, sitting in the corner nursing a drink, raised an eyebrow.

“Helluva way to make an entrance!” Xam shouted from behind her counter.

Xol’sa, who was eating his meal with Zarali, rushed over to grill the pair. Theo took his seat with Tresk while the Elf rattled off a list of questions.

“Even short-range teleportation is tricky,” Xol’sa said. “One wrong move and poof! You’re in the ground!”

“It didn’t feel like teleportation,” Theo said, grinning. It was pretty fun, after all. “More like… Just moving a few steps.”

He didn’t include the part where it felt like waking up from the Dreamwalk.

“Yeah, super neat. Where’s my food!” Tresk shouted.

“Calm your tail down, you impatient lizard!” Xam shouted.

Tresk slumped in her chair, folding her arms. She forgot her anger in moments, babbling back and forth with Xol’sa. Theo noticed Fenian didn’t take his eyes off them the entire time, but he never approached.

Dinner that night was a square-cut piece of layered wolf meat, bread, and a cream-based sauce that reminded Theo of biscuits and gravy. It was far better than the versions he had in the past.

“Anyway, you were going to get dragged into a meeting tomorrow,” Xol’sa said. “Guildmaster Aarok has a report on the state of the dungeons, and we’re expecting a monster wave soon. The short version is, the dungeons have slowed their growth. But I have something more interesting to talk about.”

Theo looked around the tavern. Citizens were leaning closer to see what the wizard had to say, so the alchemist waved it away.

“Let’s talk about it tomorrow morning,” Theo said.

“Of course. Dinner and all that,” Xol’sa said with a nod.

“And all that,” Tresk said, chuckling. “Theo has to eat. Get big and strong. Strong boy!”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Theo said.

“Meh. Hey! Fenian! Grumpy looking Elf!” Tresk shouted, waving her arms at the trader in the corner. “Wanna come see the bath?”

Fenian looked surprised. He looked around as though there was another grumpy Elf roaming the tavern, but eventually shrugged and nodded. Xol’sa and Zarali invited themselves to Theo’s private bath, which he never minded. The alchemist just focused on enjoying the delicious food, savoring every moment of the completely not bland offerings that had become a regular occurrence.

Theo, Tresk, Fenian, Xol’sa, and Zarali all filed into the private bathhouse. The massive pool was large enough to hold a larger party, but it was more pleasant to have less guests. They all lowered themselves into the pool, except Tresk who dove, and let out a collective sigh of relief. Discussion broke out sporadically, ranging over mundane topics.

“Perhaps a few more days in town won’t hurt me,” Fenian said, having stayed relatively silent for the soak.

“What is the plan, Fenian?” Theo asked, draping a wet cloth over his twin horns like a tent. The warm water dribbled over his face, tracking lines down his angular face.

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

“To build an empire,” Fenian said without missing a beat.

“A trade empire, right?” Tresk asked, emerging from the water. Maybe she could hear underwater. Theo didn’t know.

Fenian shrugged.

“He’s going to kill the king,” Zarali said. “Take the throne, perhaps. Although I don’t know if Qavell is worth ruling.”

“Hardly,” Xol’sa said, dismissing the concept with a wave of his hand. The seams of blue running through his skin seemed to pulse with the flow of energy in the air. “King Karasan is well on the way to killing himself. If Fenian wants the throne, he need just stand near it and wait.”

That actually got a laugh out of Fenian, but there was a sardonic look in his eyes about it. A hard glint to his normally cheery demeanor that rang as true for Theo.

“I keep others out of my machinations for their safety,” Fenian said. “I made the mistake of bringing an old friend on an adventure some weeks ago. Her blades were appreciated, but I underestimated the toll it took on her. We were right on the spine, you know?”

“The spine?” Theo asked.

“The mountains between Qavell and Veosta,” Zarali said, always the teacher. “An agreed border, if only because it’s a pain in the ass to cross.”

“Well, we met with a [Priestess of Uz’Xulven] and had a merry jaunt through the Bridge of Shadows,” Fenian said, chuckling. “Apparently, the Queen of the Path of Shadows didn’t agree with the priestess’ decision! Can you imagine? Well, we fought off the Queen’s minions atop my caravan, barreling over the Bridge and fighting for our lives. When we emerged, my dear old friend departed forever. I even paid her!”

“I can’t imagine you fighting,” Tresk said, swimming around the pool’s center.

“I’m quite good at it.”

“Yeah, take that veil off your cores,” Xol’sa said, flashing a grin. “We’ll see just how good.”

“Hah! A discerning man,” Fenian said, sinking lower into the pool. “Is there some potion in these waters that makes a man more chatty? I considered doing it.”

The group tried to guess Fenian’s cores. The consensus was that they were aligned with a powerful god, but Theo knew even if they guessed the right core the trader wouldn’t say. His money was on a flashy assassin-type core and a mythic trading core. Although, the more he thought about it the more he realized the man’s trading prowess wasn’t great. He could just move great distances, giving him the advantage over other traders.

Starlight filtered through the windows of the bathhouse to mingle with yellow candlelight after a time, but the conversation continued. The group was kicked out before anyone could discover the elf’s true cores, but their debate was fun enough. Xol’sa and Zarali departed for the tower while Fenian joined Theo and Tresk on their walk to the lab.

“I really mean it, Theo,” Fenian said. “My goal is to spare as many innocent lives as possible. I don’t want to embroil others in my grand quest.”

“Bit late for that,” Tresk said. “Broken Tusk is basically married to you.”

Fenian nodded. “And I apologize for that. I’ll tell you anything you want to know. Just realize that you’re in the dark for good reason.”

“Do you, or your actions, pose any threat to Broken Tusk?” Theo asked, staring the Elf right in the eyes.

Fenian paused before answering. “The moment you appeared in this town, you set off a chain of events that no one could stop.” He waited a moment before jabbing a finger at Tresk. “She is the reason things are going to get worse before they get better. But this world is meant for cycles like that. Annihilation is an important part of growth. To answer your question, no. The coming events would happen with or without me. I’m just making sure everyone is ready.”

The undeniable confidence that Fenian had was infectious. Theo wanted to believe everything he said, and likely would save for some reservations. The trader had only ever prepared them for what was to come and was likely working with whoever orchestrated Broken Tusk from the start. Intuition and hard-won experience revealed that much to the alchemist. But a phrase echoed in his mind as they approached the Newt and Demon.

She is the reason…

Theo’s intuition told him that statement was more pointed than it would appear on the surface. Like the mirror version of a catalyst in alchemy. An obstruction to someone’s plan that could shift the course of fate. An unexpected roadblock.

“I see,” Theo said.

“Well, I don’t,” Tresk said, folding her arms. “Y’all always talking in code and crap. How’s a lizard supposed to follow along?”

“In time, Tresk,” Fenian said, patting her on the head. “Well, I’m off to enjoy Xam’s hospitality. I’ll see you tomorrow for the potions. So long.”

Tresk and Theo stood in their room, lingering in the expanding puzzle of their lives before the Dreamwalk. She had questions about what everything meant, but he silenced her through their [Tara’hek Communication] ability. Every surface of the town had ears lately. They delved into their safe realm before continuing the discussion.

Theo looked over the dream-version of his new harbor. He imagined large ships in the distance and ordered them down the canal. It served no purpose, but was fun to watch.

“So, what’s the deal?” Tresk asked.

The ship passed under the wall-bridge, entering the massive port and heading for the docks. Theo sat on the wall, watching as ghostly sailors unloaded goods that he’d imagined. A pulsing ball of light zipped around the scene, the egg always eager to participate in the Dreamwalk.

“Not sure,” Theo said. That was his honest assessment of the situation. “Someone put me here to do something. Did Fenian mean that when you showed up, it changed that person’s plans? Remember Miana? How she lost her core slots, like they were preparing me to take over the town… I mean, how rare is the Tara’hek?”

“Look around, stupid,” Tresk said, smacking him in the back of the head. “A mythic skill at level 20? The Dreamwalk? Pretty freaking rare. You gotta have a connection with another person’s soul to do the Tara’hek. And one of those persons needs to be a Marshling.”

“You’re thinking too small, Tresk,” Theo said. “Khahar said he could see a million possibilities every second. Now imagine the gods. How much can they see? Why didn’t they see this coming?”

“Well, now you’re thinking too small,” Tresk said. She waved her hand and a giant Marshling appeared on the horizon. It’s head went past the clouds, cloaking its face in obscurity. “Behold. The Marshling god… Uh… Marshy. Damn, I fumbled the joke. Point being that another god is meddling.”

Theo waved at Marshy in the distance. They waved back. “I mean, big reveal with Khahar being in town. Gods are just people.”

“Yeah, super powerful people,” Tresk said.

There was a connection there that Theo couldn’t quite make. He’d curse his low [Wisdom] attribute, but it was pretty high. He was satisfied with his precognition as it was, and wouldn’t spend more time than needed frustrating himself over the puzzle pieces that just wouldn’t fit. Overlooking the gift they had, the Dreamwalk, was a foolish thing. To sit there and contemplate unchangeable facts was beyond idiotic. Grinding experience and running experiments was the way to go.

Tresk agreed with the sentiment and ran off to fight Marshy, the fictional Marshling god.

Of Theo’s outstanding experiments, the only one that interested him was the golems. There were always essence modifiers, distillation techniques, and random alchemy stuff to test but the golems were just fun. He knew they weren’t sentient creatures, but they were just so damn cute.

The golems had more abilities than just manual labor, but a large gap in Theo’s research was the creation of constructs. Constructs were, from what he understood, things that could attach to golems. In the information screen for golems, that would show up under the “Additional Modifications” section. The alchemist imagined a clone of one [Lesser Stone Golem] he had defending the town while he slept, and inspected it.

[Lesser Stone Golem]

[Alchemy Construct]

Level 10

Stone is considered the most practical medium in golem construction. Stone golems are hard working, durable constructs.

Containment Core: [Alchemically Treated Iron Cage]

Monster Core: [Fald Interloper] (Level 10)

Medium: [Enriched Swamp Mud]

Alchemy Slates: [Mana Construct]

Power System: [Mana Construct]

Siphon System: None

Additional Modifications: None

The amalgam of stone lumbered around, wandering without any orders issued by Theo. He imagined a [Reveal Construct] and beckoned the creature over. It made a sound like tumbling rocks as it approached, tilting its rocky head as it approached.

“So, the idea is that you’d run around and reveal stuff,” Theo said, pressing the [Reveal Construct] into the golem’s body. It sucked it in. The white wisp made an excited sound. Theo inspected the golem again before testing further.

[Lesser Stone Golem]

[Alchemy Construct]

Level 10

Stone is considered the most practical medium in golem construction. Stone golems are hard working, durable constructs.

Containment Core: [Alchemically Treated Iron Cage]

Monster Core: [Fald Interloper] (Level 10)

Medium: [Enriched Swamp Mud]

Alchemy Slates: [Mana Construct], [Reveal Construct]

Power System: [Mana Construct]

Siphon System: None

Additional Modifications: None

Abilities: [Reveal] (5 charges)

“Well, we were wrong about that, egg,” Theo said. He turned to look at the floating ball of energy, realizing they still needed to name it. “Can’t just call you egg forever.”

The wisp floated up and down, signaling its agreement. The faintest sense of emotion flowed from the egg, nothing close to what he felt from Tresk. But it was getting there.

“Five charges,” Theo said. He issued a mental order to his golem to use the [Reveal] ability.

A wave of barely visible force flowed from the golem in a sphere, washing over Theo harmlessly. As expected, the charges were reduced to 4, but the alchemist got the sense that some power had been used from the [Mana Construct]. A tradeoff for having more than one charge. The downside with the [Reveal Construct] was its size. Without a larger bubble, the golem could only reveal targets that were nearby, which seemed to spit in the face of the point. But it was progress all the same.

Theo’s laundry list of things to do grew by the moment, but this one was exciting. When he delivered his potions to Fenian tomorrow, he’d have ample time to work on experiments. The alchemist laughed.

“Yeah, right. Like anything works that way in Broken Tusk,” Theo said, turning his gaze to the massive, lumbering Marshling in the distance. “Mark my words, Marshy. Xol’sa will have horrible news for me tomorrow.”