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🕑 Added 2024-08-03 14:34:46 +0000 UTC< Previous | ToC | Next >
The pounding of hooves was annoying.
Not because Ethan disliked the horse, but because it was all he’d been hearing for quite some time now. Man, I’m bored of traveling so much. Ethan urged his mount forward. The sturdy chestnut mare neighed.
They crested a small hill, and encountered a pack of Dire Wolves. Their fur was a mottled gray and black, and it emerged from the underbrush.
The horse was startled.
“Steady,” Ethan murmured to his horse, hand moving toward his sword. He could feel Opie coiling tightly around his arm beneath his sleeve, ready to strike if needed.
The lead wolf was easily the size of a small pony, and it lunged forward with a snarl. Ethan’s hand flashed in the dappled sunlight, meeting the beast’s charge. Steel bit into flesh, and the wolf yelped in pain and surprise.
What followed was a one-sided slaughter as Ethan dispatched the pack quickly. Opie proved invaluable in the fight, striking at the wolves’ flanks when they focused on Ethan. The viper’s [Chaotic Aura] and [Severing Bite] slowly weakened the monsters that relied on magic to sustain themselves, and soon, their movements became sluggish.
When he was done, a very familiar warmth spread through his body. The telltale sign of a level up washed over him, accompanied by a chime only he could hear.
Your race, [Human], has leveled up — Lvl 12 -> Lvl 13!
He wasn’t the only one that had leveled up.
[Opie] has leveled up! Lvl 15 -> Lvl 18!
Ethan allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction before spurring his horse onward.
The forest began to thin. The terrain gradually shifted, giving way to rolling hills covered in tall grass that swayed gently in the breeze. In the far-off distance, Ethan could make out the jagged silhouette of mountains, their snow-capped peaks piercing the sky.
To the east, a vast forest stretched as far as the eye could see, its canopy a patchwork of greens and golds. To the west, the grasslands gave way to wetlands, where Ethan could make out the glint of water between stands of reeds. And there, in the distance, lay Holden. Even from a distance, Ethan could see the town bustling with activity. Smoke rose from chimneys, and the subtle glints of moving metal—guards.
As they drew closer, more details came into focus. The town was surrounded by a sturdy wooden palisade, which was a rather necessary defense in these monster-plagued lands. Just outside the walls, farmers tended to fields of wheat and vegetables, their crops protected by guards—more than ever before given the recent dangers of the new plague.
The main gate of Holden stood open. Despite the town’s rough state, local [Merchant] carts trundled in and out, laden with goods from distant lands. The clang of a blacksmith’s hammer rang out, accompanied by the bleating of sheep from a nearby pen.
Regardless, Ethan was home—and it was time to kick up things considerably and solve the plague and other issues.
***
Ethan rode through the gates of Holden. While doing so, he discreetly claimed the reward: Book of the Dead. Then, he put it in a satchel.
Reaching the pre-decided location, a familiar figure caught his eye. Roland stood at attention. He walked forward, his chainmail clinking softly with each step.
“My lord,” Roland said, bowing slightly. “It’s good to see you’ve returned safely.”
Ethan dismounted, clasping Roland’s arm in a warm greeting. “It’s good to be back, Roland. Any trouble while I was away?”
Roland shook his head. “Nothing we couldn’t handle. But there have been... developments. Jack’s been asking for you.”
“Then we shouldn’t keep him waiting. Lead the way.”
They walked through the bustling town, and soon arrived at Jack’s workshop. A modest building that had become the center of Holden’s efforts against the crystal plague. Roland knocked, and a muffled voice called out, “Enter!”
Inside, they found Jack hunched over a cluttered workbench, various vials and instruments scattered about. The [Necromancer] looked up.
“Lord Theodore! You’re back!” Jack exclaimed, rushing over. His gaze immediately fell to the satchel at Ethan’s side. “Is that...?”
Ethan nodded, carefully removing the Book of the Dead from his bag. “As promised,” he said, handing it over.
Jack cradled the tome reverently. “Excellent. With this, we might finally have a chance. I hope this... uh... side thing while you did your Quest wasn’t a trouble.” Jack coughed.
Ethan filled Jack in on the highlights of his journey. Roland and Jack listened intently, and when he was done talking about his exploits, he moved on to other matters. “Tell me everything, Jack. What’s happened while I was gone?”
Jack’s excitement was practically palpable as he launched into an explanation. “We’ve made significant progress in understanding the plague,” he began, gesturing for Ethan and Roland to sit. Then, he gave a detailed explanation of everything he’d discovered, and finally, he reached the most important point: “The crystalline creatures, they have cores—central points from which the crystallization spreads.”
“And the source of infection?”
“Water. The plague spreads through water. We’ve found microscopic crystals in the town’s well water. We believe these crystals accumulate in the stomach, forming a larger core that eventually triggers the full transformation.”
Ethan’s mind connected the dots while he wondered how the man knew the word microscopic, only to remember he had [Myriad Tongue] doing all the big lifting when it came to language. Oh, yeah, it’s translating words to whatever I understand.
“That fits with what I saw on Malakai,” he mused when Jack was done. “There were crystal formations on his body.”
Jack’s eyes widened slightly. “Tell me everything.”
Ethan recounted his battle with the [Necromancer] turned Arachnid monstrosity, describing the crystal growths he’d observed. Jack listened intently, occasionally jotting notes.
“This confirms my suspicions,” Jack said when Ethan finished. “Malakai likely had a hand in creating this plague. The Necromancer Guild recently explored a dungeon where they discovered the Book of the Dead. Malakai stole it and fled before they could study it properly.”
“And in the brief time they had with the book?”
“They found references to crystalline structures,” Jack confirmed. “Nothing concrete, but enough to make us believe there’s a connection. Of course, I believe they had something in the making even before they had the book in their possession, the recent developments, however, led to them using the book to create a new plague built on the foundations of the blight.” Jack’s excitement grew as he turned his attention back to the Book of the Dead. “With this, we can make real progress. The knowledge within could be the key to creating a cure!”
“That’s fantastic news, Jack. How close do you think we are?”
“Closer than ever. With the book’s knowledge, I believe we can synthesize a cure within weeks, maybe even days. But...” his expression faltered slightly.
“But what?” Ethan prompted.
Jack sighed. “We still don’t know how to stop the spread at its source. The wells are contaminated, and we haven’t found a way to purify the water effectively. Unless, of course, new wells. Even then, who can say the Night Whispers won’t just contaminate the new ones?”
Ethan’s brow furrowed for a moment before a wide grin spread across his face. “Actually,” he said, “I might have a solution for that.”
Both Jack and Roland looked at him curiously.
“A water filtration system,” Ethan explained. “Where I come from—I mean, based on some old texts I’ve studied—there are methods to purify water on a large scale. We could adapt those techniques to remove the crystal particles. A multi-stage filtration process could work. We’d need to experiment with different materials to catch particles of varying sizes, but it’s certainly possible! If we can purify the water supply, we’d be tackling the problem at its root. With the help of magic, I can certainly make a water filtration system, of sorts.”
His brain kicking into overdrive, Ethan began theorizing and explaining what he planned on doing. “We’ll need to create a series of filters, each imbued with different purification runes—which you can leave to me. The first stage will use a coarse filter enhanced with earth magic to remove larger particles. Then, we’ll use a finer filter inscribed with water runes to catch smaller impurities.
“The third stage is where it gets really interesting. We’ll create a crystal matrix infused with light magic with the help of the bishop we’re housing. As the water passes through, the light energy will break down any remaining harmful particles. Finally, we’ll use air runes to aerate the water, restoring its natural balance and vitality.”
Jack and Roland listened intently.
“But the real key,” Ethan added, “will be the central purification chamber. We’ll need to create a massive runic array, combining elements of all four magical disciplines. This array will act as the heart of the system, constantly monitoring and adjusting the filtration process to ensure maximum efficiency.”
“Excellent thinking, my lord.” Roland said.
“Nah,” Ethan shook his head. “Frankly, it’s a bullshit version of something I, uh, read about. However, as I make plans and flesh out the blueprint and plan, I’ll make it work. Let’s get to work then,” Ethan said. “Jack, you focus on developing the cure. Roland, I’ll need your help organizing the construction of the filtration system.”
Over the next few hours, the three of them pored over plans and ideas. Jack sketched out preliminary designs for the filtration system based on Ethan’s descriptions, and Ethan perfected them, while Roland made notes on the resources they’d need to gather.
“We’ll need to quarry specific types of stone,” Roland mused, reviewing their list. “And we’ll have to increase production at the glassworks for some of these components.”
Ethan nodded. “We’ll also need to train people to maintain the system once it’s built. Jack, do you think you could put together a team of apprentices to learn the basics?”
“Absolutely,” Jack replied, not looking up from the Book of the Dead, which he had begun to study in earnest. “I’ve got a few bright minds in mind who could handle it.”
The sun began to set, and Ethan yawned.
“We should call it a night,” Ethan said, stifling a yawn. “We’ve made good progress, but there’s still much to do.”
Roland nodded in agreement. “I’ll begin organizing work crews at first light. We’ll need to move quickly.”
Jack, however, seemed reluctant to stop. “I think I’ll stay a bit longer,” he said, gesturing to the Book of the Dead. “There’s so much to learn here, and every moment counts.”
Ethan placed a hand on Jack’s shoulder. “I understand your enthusiasm, but don’t burn yourself out. We need you at your best.”
Jack sighed but nodded. “You’re right. Of course. I’ll just finish this chapter and then get some rest.”
As they prepared to leave, Ethan took one last look around the workshop. Diagrams of crystal structures, alchemical formulas, and now, plans for a water filtration system covered every available surface.
“We’re going to beat this,” Ethan said softly, more to himself than the others. But Roland heard him and nodded.
“I believe we will.”
They stepped out into the cool evening air, and Ethan took a deep breath. The people of Holden were counting on him, not just as their baron, but as the key to their survival. The knowledge he brought from his previous life, combined with the skills and abilities he’d gained in this world, put him in a unique position to help.
Roland bid him goodnight. Left alone with his thoughts, Ethan walked to his chambers, feeling the fatigue of his journey and the day’s discussions catching up with him.
He paused at a window, looking out over the town of Holden. Lights flickered in windows, and the distant sound of laughter drifted up from a tavern. These were the people he was fighting for—not just faceless subjects, but individuals with hopes, dreams, and families.
These people saw the best even in a situation like this. Granted, they’d panicked at the start, but they’d settled quite a bit after Sir Thomas, as well as others began capturing every turned human. Not to mention, the townsfolk had hopes and believed that things would turn around for good.
Ethan felt Opie stir, the viper slithering out from his sleeve to coil around his arm. The familiar’s presence was comforting, and it reminded him of Wynd. I need to play with him. Tomorrow, yeah. I’ll do that tomorrow.
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