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B2 | Chapter 11 - A Conversation
< Previous| ToC|Next >B2 | Chapter 11 - A Conversation"You sure this is it?"Velka asked as Rufus squatted by the fallen shaft.With her elbows on her knees and her chin resting on a gloved fist, she sat squatted behind him, her eyes fixed on what he was doing."I don't guess," Rufus said. "The mana residue's thick. Faint, but it spikes here. I caved this shaft for a reason."Velka cocked her head. "Is it time?"Rufus hesitated. He looked over the edge of the t...
B2 | Chapter 10 - A Stalker?
Patch note:Chapter 9: Copper Fangs (Rufus's guild name) -> White Fang< Previous| ToC|Next >Velka POVThe nerve of that man.Velka was standing in the dark. Light, smell, sound, and presence were all bent into nonexistence by her skill, which enveloped her like a living garment. She could as well have been a part of the tent itself, even to trained eyes like Rufus's or his brother's.And yet.Tension coiled in a knot under her ribs. It was illogical. She has performed countless of ambushe...
B2 | Chapter 9 - That was easy
< Previous| ToC|Next >B2 | Chapter 9 - That was easyTheodore hadn't considered how extremely monotonous slime farming would be. Hunting them down? Simple enough. Killing them? Child's play with his skills. However, catching the little jerks alive and holding them there? That was a whole other beast. For three days, he had been trying to figure out how to move the yellow ones without them turning into pools of goo that dried too fast to be useful. Glass jars worked, sort of. Within hours,...
B2 | Chapter 8 - Slime Sample
< Previous| ToC|Next >B2 | Chapter 8 - Slime SampleWith his eyes focused on a spot just over Baron Ashton's head, Roland stood perfectly attentive.Rank 2 monster, my ass.Roland would eat his own sword if the Slime King was still only Rank 2 after ingesting that much fervidite."Fifty percent," Theodore said suddenly. "Add to that 1/10th of the mines transferred over to me."Roland hoped he could frame the portrait of the Baron's face. Shock melting into despair, then resign...
B2 | Chapter 7 - "Negotiations"
< Previous| ToC|Next >B2 | Chapter 7 - "Negotiations""That him, Velka?" asked the tall man with the scar on his cheek and red hair."Yeah, Rufus, seems like it," the woman with the strapped daggers responded. "The noble.""Huh." Rufus spat to the side, crossing his arms as he stared after the figure moving across the camp. "Figures. We clear out half the tunnels, then he shows up to take credit."The man they were watching was obviously Theodore, and ...
B2 | Chapter 6 - Deadwood
< Previous| ToC|Next >B2 | Chapter 6 - DeadwoodTheodore was having a deeply philosophical argument with nothing in particular. Not with the walls of the carriage rattling. Not with the coachman who had spent the last three hours in a stony silence. Not with Roland, who rode by the vehicle like a burnished statue outdoors, as though comfort was something that only other people experienced.No, Theodore was simply having it out with the universe at large about the injustice of travel.It's just ...
B2 | Chapter 5 - Kiln
< Previous| ToC|Next >B2 | Chapter 5 - KilnTheodore was absolutely fascinated by his own eyelids.Not that he could see them, of course. But the insides of them were putting on quite the light show. When he tried to concentrate on them, he saw tiny floating squiggles that swirled around. Was that normal? Did everyone have their own private kaleidoscope show behind their eyelids? Or was it due to mana paired with his sensory skills?He should really ask someone about that sometime.No, wait. Focus.O...
B2 | Chapter 4 Brick-Maxxing
< Previous| ToC|Next >B2 | Chapter 4 Brick-MaxxingA field of beautiful reddish-brown clay lay before him simply begging to be violated.That did not sound right.Theodore let out a sigh.He had been looking for this particular shade of clay for four days amidst his work. This stuff. This perfect, reddish-brown clay with exactly the right amount of silica and alumina and that impossible-to-describe-but-you-know-it-when-you-feel-it plasticity.He rolled up his sleeves as the snow fell."Alright,...
B2 | Chapter 3 - Ideas
< Previous| ToC|Next >B2 | Chapter 3 - IdeasTheodore stared at her."I… what? Why me? I have responsibilities here. The mines are sabotaged, winter is here—""Yes, yes, 'winter is here,' you sound like a Northerner with that doom and gloom." She waved a dismissive hand. "As for why you... well, who knows? Fate? Destiny? The mysterious workings of powers beyond mortal comprehension?" She grinned. "Or perhaps because you're the only one who can safely get ...
B2 | Chapter 2 - Underground
< Previous| ToC|Next >B2 | Chapter 2 - UndergroundDeath smelled earthy and metallic, with a hint of sulfur. That was unexpected for Gareth. He had never really thought about death in his life. The dampness coated his nose. It was both enlightening and suffocating.This was the end, he knew.As their room shrank, he pressed himself against the wall. Water slowly worked its way up the stone as he watched. Inch by inch. At the very least once every minute. He found it both too persistent to ignore an...
B2 | Chapter 1 - Six Months Later
ANNOUNCEMENT:I have not been around for a while now. It was due to severe burnout followed by a death in the family. Now, I'm back. I apologize for just disappearing without notice. I’ve decided to rewrite Book 2. Little had been written, and following the break, it seemed fitting to start anew with a blank page and a little timeskip.Chapters will go up daily for a while.Patch note:Theodore’s Constellation name has been changed: Sunder → Varyndros< Previous| ToC|Next >Chapter 1 - Six M...
Epilogue
< Previous| ToC|Next >EpilogueThe man’s fingers moved across the threads of fate.He plucked and weaved desperately. Each adjustment sent ripples through the tapestry of fate. Each ripple altered destinies and reshaped the future.Every alteration cost something… quite dear to the man.His own life force.He sighed and paused, exhausted. The golden tapestry vanished. His hand began tapping the table. His feet followed. He grew restless. Emotions bubbled. They boiled. And finally…“Isn’t thi...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >Would it suffice to say that Theodore’s heart was practically thundering in his chest? Yes, yes it would be. As he faced the vessel of the goddess, [Sever] thrummed within him. He could feelit. Sitting within him, slightly out of reach, ready to be drawn and used.The air took on a heavy weight.He took a deep breath, acknowledged what he was about to do and exhaled.Then, he slashed at the barrier surrounding Eliza. [Sever] got triggered with mere intent, and the effect was...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >The undead octopus loomed before them, its amethyst eyes glowing malevolently. Theodore and Seraphina exchanged a quick glance, their faces set with grim determination. There was no time for words or strategy—the creature was already upon them.A massive tentacle slammed down, cratering the earth where they had stood moments before. Theodore leapt back. Flames burst to life around his fingertips, coalescing into a fireball that he hurled at the octopus’s eye.The creature...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >“Though what?” Alden asked. The looming presence of the Outer God seemed to press in around them, which also added to the almost palpable weight in the air.It was mana, obviously.Theodore hesitated, his brow furrowing as he considered how to explain. The wind whipped around them as he glanced between his companions, weighing his words carefully.“Well,” he began, his tone measured and cautious, “I’ve got a skill. But I can’t use it.”Ezekiel’s eyebrows shot ...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >Theodore stood, feet planted firmly on solid ground, when he felt it—an invisible tug, a hand reaching for his very soul. Lady Karmichael’s telepathic presence whispered at the edges of his consciousness, attempting to whisk him away.He turned, casting a final glance at Holden. Why would she want to teleport him? Confusion clouded his mind, but curiosity won out. With a mental shrug, Theodore surrendered to the unseen force.Reality blurred, twisted, then shattered.In th...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >Theodore pivoted mid-air, his eyes narrowing as they took in everything happening below him. On the ground, it was a battlefield. Goblins, orcs, trolls, and more, their weapons glinting harshly. For a moment, time seemed to slow as Theodore’s mind whirred into action.What do I need to do? Charging into the black patch thingy mindlessly would be stupid. I need to attack it with everyone else, so as to overwhelm it and kill it easily.“Levels,” he muttered, and the corne...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >The world blinked. That was how Theodore would describe what happened. One moment, they were in the cave, then suddenly they weren’t in the cave anymore.Cobblestones. Bustling crowds. The smell of fresh bread and not-so-fresh fish. Vendors hawked their wares. Voices rose above the din of the crowd. The scent of spices and freshly baked bread permeated the air. Sunlight dappled the street. There was no doubt about it... This was the market square. Holden’smarket square.H...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >Alaric’s muscles burned as he cleaved through another writhing tentacle. The massive creature insisted on thrashing about in the murky depths of the lake, sending waves crashing against the shore, instead of just dying like it should already. He was quite pissed, honestly. Had it not been for the lake, he would’ve killed it already. Alaric didn’t want to destroy such a beautiful place.The beast’s numerous appendages whipped about trying to hit him. But Alaric was no...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >Theodore stood by the window, his eyes fixed on the fading remnants of the magical circle in the sky. The enormity of what he had just witnessed weighed heavily on his mind. Thus, he was lost in thoughts, until a knock at the door broke his reverie.“Enter,” he called, turning from the window.Roland stepped into the room, looking panicked. “My lord, I saw—”“The sky, yes. I saw it too.”Before Roland could respond, Jack burst into the room, slightly out of breath...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >Theodore sat before Matthew, the guildmaster of the Merchants Guild—or at least, thisbranch of it. Punching out the final details of their deal, Theodore extended his hand, and Matthew shook it—his grip was firm.“It’s a pleasure doing business with you, Guildmaster Matthew,” Theodore said, his voice steady despite the excitement bubbling within him. After all, this deal would make the soap hit the market even wider. His soap would soon be poised to revolutionize h...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >People talked, as they always did. It did not stop. The town square of Holden was buzzingwith anticipation as the chief judge raised his hands, silencing the crowd. His voice, amplified by some contraption, rang out clear and strong.“Welcome, one and all, to the Great Soap-Off!” he announced, eliciting cheers from the spectators. “Today, we witness the clash of tradition and innovation, experience and ingenuity. Let the competition begin!”At his signal, the soapmake...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >The announcement came on a morning just like any other, carried on the wind like the scent of freshly baked bread. Posters appeared overnight, plastered on walls and bulletin boards throughout Holden and the neighboring towns. The town criers spread the news with gusto:“Hear ye, hear ye! By decree of the Merchants Guild, in partnership with Lord Theodore of Holden, a grand soap-making competition is hereby announced! All soapmakers, from novice to master, are invited to s...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >A few days later.Ethan leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile playing at the corners of his mouth. Across from him, Guildmaster Liam mirrored his expression, his ruddy face creased with laughter lines as he raised a goblet of wine in a toast.“To prosperity in these uncertain times, Lord Theodore,” Liam said. “May our partnership continue to flourish.”Ethan clinked his own goblet against the merchant’s. “And to the ingenuity of the Montague Merchant Guild. I...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >Luther Alden’s pudgy fingers drummed an impatient rhythm on the table as he surveyed his assembled cohorts. To his right sat Eliza, a severe-looking woman with sharp features and even sharper wits. Across from her, nursing a tankard of ale, was the hulking figure of Brutus “The Hammer” Graw, whose meaty fists had settled more disputes than any court of law. Rounding out the group was Silas Flint, a weaselly man with darting eyes and a nervous twitch.“Well, my friend...
Why I Disappeared
Hello, this is a quick note to apologize for my disappearance.My laptop died over 10 days ago, and I had to get a new one—thankfully, I didn't lose any data. I live in a remote place so I had to travel to another city to get it. There have been protests in my country recently, and the internet has been down due to that, too. And the gov is installing/installed a Firewall like China. And given that Pakistan - my country - isn'tChina, you can imagine that the firewall is shit; it fucks u...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >Ethan blinked, processing Jack’s words. Then, a slow smile spread across his face. “The spell is working?”“Yes!” Jack said, nodding vigorously. “The crystallization is reversing—slowly, but it’s happening!”To say that relief flooded Ethan’s chest at that very moment would be the understatement of the century.The tension of the past few weeks eased—for the first time.“That’s incredible news, Jack,” Ethan said, standing up and crossing the room to ...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >Alaric raised an eyebrow, and Ethan noticed something—was that a hint of amusement in his eyes? Or was it something else? Ethan couldn’t quite put his hand on it.“A spar, you say?” Alaric said.Ethan nodded, a grin spreading across his face. “Yes, I could use the practice, and I’ve heard of your skills. It would be an honor to learn from you.”Alaric's hearty laugh filled the room and put Ethan at ease. “No offense, Lord Theodore, but you’re too weak. Bu...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >The workshop was empty, as always—the walls filled with designs. The filtration system would be an interplay of glass, metal, and rubber.A towering cylindrical tank in the center, its surface etched with intricate gridlines. From its base, a series of interconnected tubes snaking their way to a lower chamber, where a network of filters would be arranged in a precise pattern. The system would crowned by a series of valves and gauges.This was the basic structure. A framewor...
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< Previous| ToC|Next >Ethan crouched down, smiling. Wynd hopped around, his little tail wagging furiously. He spotted a butterfly, and stopped to a halt. Then, he prowled closer, slowly. One step. Then another. And another. The pup’s eyes glinted bright, and he pounced on the butterfly, only to be thwarted when it fluttered away. Wynd’s head whipped back and he whined.Ethan chuckled. The sun’s warm, golden hue shifted across the garden under gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze. Quite a...
