PtM 18 - Chapter 4: The Red-List Alchemist

Only two chapters this week. They are longer. Enjoy ^^

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A breeze blew across cracked lands, blowing clouds of dust from field to field, never stopping, never fading. It blew for days on end, never giving up despite the natural wind traps that tried to catch it, for it was not a normal wind, and the demons especially noticed its oddities.

The breeze hugged hills and mountains and ignored incoming crosswinds and storms. For two weeks it travelled, and by then, it had caught the notice of every weather mage and meteorologist in Mendin.

For the most part, the wind was calm and did not damage property or land despite the speed at which it travelled; but this changed the moment it drew near Titanvale. The wind picked up speed tore up fields. A national emergency was declared, and all bronze rankers were ordered to shelter in place.

When the wind finally struck Titanvale, the city’s stone walls buckled like worn out shoe leather and threatened to tear apart. The more fragile buildings – those not built by the Titan Clan’s hands - were reduced to rubble. Only a few buildings erected by high-level geomancers or reinforced by the Titan Clan a half century back still stood.

Fortunately, the city had been given ample warning, and few had wandered out into the storm. As for those that had, they were fortunate beyond belief. An angel had saved them, they declared. An emissary of Jezeriah, in the flesh.

When morning came, the streets were filled with wreckage and debris. Three quarters of the city was demolished, and the city lord’s manor had suffered suspiciously heavy damage. Some said that a mysterious figure had taken advantage of the storm to loot the manor – but this was just a rumor, and the city lord assured the populace that the would-be-thief had been apprehended.

Everyone with ability was called to tidy up the mess. While not many had perished, there were many wounded and lacking in basic necessities like food and housing. Doctors were dispatched from neighboring countries to bear the load, and in no time at all, the reconstruction began.

A particularly grumpy doctor was tending to a long line of sick patients. Sick, not wounded, Doctor Lim noted as he used black and white needles to chase away invasive energy from their bodies and promote natural healing. His patients were mostly bronze rankers, as few silver rankers had been injured by the storm’s surprisingly gentle winds. His makeshift clinic was full to the brim, and a lineup several blocks long could be seen trailing out from the tent.

Doctor Lim was an acupuncturist. It was a rare class with roots in the Crimson Lotus Empire, and as such was very difficult to bring up to gold rank. He had an ego that put surgeons to shame, and a tongue so sharp it often landed him in trouble.

Not many could put up with Doctor Lim’s violent temperament. His latest apprentice, for example, had quit just this morning. He’d replaced her by throwing around a few transcendent crystals and had somehow found someone that might last the week.

“How’s that poultice coming along, Alchemist Wei?” Doctor Lim snapped impatiently. “Pneumonia brought about by energy tides must be treated within twenty-four hours of contraction, or the risks of complications rises exponentially.”

“I’m almost finished,” said a sweet woman in her thirties. She used golden flames to gently roast a batch of herbs as she dripped ember shale oil into the mixture.

The components did not mix easily, so she ground them together with a mortar and pestle. Thanks to the gold-ranked runes inscribed on the item, she was able to grind them into a fine powder that mixed with the oil to produce a greasy salve.

Doctor Lim nodded approvingly as he evaluated the poultice’s medical composition. “Fusion, ninety-five percent. Potency, ninety-three percent. And you made it thirty percent faster than the average gold-ranked physician. Well done.”

“You can tell all that just by smelling the poultice as I make it?” asked Alchemist Wei.

“There’s also a side reaction taking place in a drop that splashed onto your skin,” Doctor Lim said wryly. “You probably want to wipe that off before it starts poisoning you.”

Alchemist Wei quickly wiped away the residue. A red spot remained where it had fallen, and treatment would be required sometime in the next three days. The young woman blushed, however, as she realized that the droplet had fallen juts above her chest. Doctor Lim’s eyes must have been especially attentive to the area to spot it. The moment of inattentiveness caused her flame control to waver, and the poultice mixture began hissing and spitting and letting off acrid black smoke.

“You fool!” snapped Doctor Lim. He snatched up the bowl and separated the mixture, saving the eighty percent that hadn’t burned and casting away the rest. “And here I thought you were different from the rest. Pack up your bags, Alchemist Wei – I won’t tolerate this kind of low-level mistake in my practice.”

Alchemist Wei’s lip quivered, and she dropped to her knees. “Please Doctor Lim. Give me another chance. I only want to learn from the best – it won’t happen again!”

Seeing the tears in her eyes, Doctor Lim’s expression softened. “Fine. Just this once. But you need to do something to atone for your mistake, Alchemist Wei.”

“Of course!” said Alchemist Wei. “Just tell me what you need. I’ll do anything you ask.” She leaned forward to reveal a little more skin than was proper.

“What are you doing?” Doctor Lim snapped. “I have no interest in such foolish things.”

“Please give me your instructions,” said Alchemist Wei. “Whatever it is, I’ll see it done.”

“Excellent,” said Doctor Lim. “Pack up your bags.”

“But you said –“

“I said I’d give you a chance to atone for your mistake,” said Doctor Lim. “The task I require you to complete requires you to travel. Have you been to the Titan Rifts before?”

“A few times, yes,” said Alchemist Wei.

“Well, I’ll need you to go there today and fetch me something,” said Doctor Lim. He took out one of his yin yang spirit needles. They were versatile things and could be used to treat anything between minor injuries and fatal ones. There were a thousand and eighty of them in total, half black and half white.”

“This is my soul bound treasure,” Doctor Lim explained. “It’s called Life and Death Adjudication Needles. I’ve managed to nurture it to early gold and now require materials to nurture it to the next realm. What I need you to do is locate at least three mid-grade titan ores and bring them to me within the week. If you can manage that, I will be convinced that you’re a responsible alchemist willing to own up to her mistakes.”

“I won’t disappoint you,” said Alchemist Wei. She bowed once more and thanked him for his understanding.

“If you don’t find the ores, don’t bother coming back!” Doctor Lim hollered at her. He then turned his attention back to the near-complete poultice and added the finishing touches. There wasn’t quite enough for all his patients, but for an acupuncturist of his calibre, it wasn’t a problem to use his needles to bolster its efficacy.

But that wasn’t the point. And neither was his seeming intolerance for mistakes. To become a good doctor, you had to acknowledge your mistake and pay the price for them.

Attitude was everything.

***

Alchemist Wei entered Titan Valley in the company of four gold-rankers. She was not a capable fighter, but as an alchemist, she had a lot of pull and more than enough money.

“Has security always been this tight around the Titan Rifts?” Alchemist Wei asked the leader of her escort, Robert.

“The churches tightened up security a few weeks back,” Robert explained. “They say it’s a precaution in uncertain times, but I heard they’re trying to catch someone.”

“A thief?” asked Alchemist Wei.

“Worse,” said Robert. “A heretic.”

“He’s more than just a heretic I hear,” said Gregory, the mage in their party. “Rumor has it that the one they’re chasing fought a group of two cardinals and 4 archbishops and came out on top.”

“Two cardinals?” exclaimed Alchemist Wei. “How did he do it? Cardinals are all at least middle gold ranked, and they’re much stronger than ordinary rankers.”

“These two cardinals weren’t ordinary ones either,” said Gregory.

“Stop it with your rumor mongering, Gregory,” said Robert. “We’re here for a job, not to gossip. Are you alright, Alchemist Wei?”

“It’s nothing,” said Alchemist Wei. “There just might be a few hiccups trying to get in.”

Robert frowned. “Problems with either church?”

“It’s complicated,” said Alchemist Wei. “Let’s hope I’m not overthinking things.”

Their destination was the Titan Graveyard, the most dangerous of the ten refits operated by Titanvale’s governor. Robert had been chosen because he knew the place like the back of his hand. He exchanged many friendly nods on their way to the gate, where twenty groups had lined up and were awaiting inspection.

The inspectors were very dutiful in their work, so it took a full half hour for their turn to arrive. Robert walked up to the officer and handed over a pile of identity documents, which the officer ran through quickly before handing them back. “Good job with the paperwork, as always,” said the officer. “Go on through.”

“Thanks Ned,” said Robert. He reached out to take the documents back when suddenly, a hand shot out and grabbed the bundle. The owner of said hand was none other than the few inquisitors, which oversaw the officers manning the checkpoints. “Is there a problem, Inquisitor?” Robert asked the new-arrival.”

“Indeed there is,” said the inquisitor. “Robert Stethon, Great Warrior, identification valid. Marjorie York, Champion Survivalist, identification valid. Gregory Leesam, High Mage, identification valid. Rory Brooks, Hunter of Myth and Woe, identification valid.” He then took up the last piece of identity, and his golden eyes alternated between Alchemist Wei and the identity card she’d provided. “Lin Wei, Lifebreath Alchemist… Are you sure this is your identity. Because your class doesn’t quite match up with it.”

Robert and the others turned to their employer, who bit her lip nervously. “Must you make things difficult officer?” said Alchemist Wei, unclasping her belt pouch. She pulled out a second set of identity documents. “How about these documents. Are they valid?”

The inquisitor took the identity document from her hands and pursed his lips. “Falsifying your identity at a checkpoint carries a fine of a hundred high-grade inkwell jades.” Alchemist Wei – this was the name she insisted on going by – made a face as she pulled out her fine. “There,” said Alchemist Wei. “I paid the fine. Can we go in now?”

“The other four can go in, but you can’t,” said the inquisitor. “You are on the red list, and red listed individuals are currently not allowed into the rifts.”

“Says who?” asked Alchemist Wei.

“Says an edict from Cardinal Salamani, issued two weeks ago,” said the inquisitor.

“Oh, come on,” Robert said. “She’s clearly not the individual you’re looking for.”

“Even so, she lied to me, so I see no reason to accommodate her,” said the inquisitor.

“Please leave this to me, Robert,” said Alchemist Wei. She smiled at the inquisitor and pried her identity documents from his hands. “Are you sure you want to be doing this, Inquisitor Rogen? You’re making a mountain out of a molehill, but I assure you, I can do the same.”

“Us inquisitors are a straightforward lot,” said the inquisitor. “We loathe your kind and don’t take kindly to things like deception.”

Alchemist Wei maintained her smile. “Well, that’s too bad. Because if you don’t let me through, I will lean on this. Hard. The Alchemist Association does not fall under the influence of either church, and it is very protective of his members.”

“You’re bring this up to them?” asked the Inquisitor. “Fine. Go ahead. “They wouldn’t stick out their necks for a red lister like you?”

“You’re the one with truth detection skills,” said Alchemist Wei. “You tell me if I’m bluffing when I say that pushing this matter could easily jeopardize the church’s next shipment of healing potions and training aids.”

Fortunately, the inquisitor proved more flexible than others she’d met. He gnashed his teeth but ultimately waved them through. “Just this once, Miss Wei. But I advise you not to try this sort of thing with less understanding inquisitors.”

“I will take that under advisement,” said Alchemist Wei. She led her group past the slack-jawed officers and entered the Titan Graveyard.

It was only once the last of them were through that the lead officer approached the lead inquisitor. “You and I both know red list individuals haven’t been barred from entering, Inquisitor Rogen,” said the officer. “There’s stretching the truth, and then there’s straight up lying. Aren’t you supposed to be an inquisitor?”

“As much as I abhor lying, I abhor red-listed individuals far more,” said Inquisitor Rogen. “My goddess will always forgive transgressions of the cause is just.”

“Should we write this one up?” asked the officer.

Inquisitor Rogen shook his head. “No. Keep this one off the books, Brother Jeremy. The last thing we want is a cardinal hovering around here asking difficult questions.”

“You look a lot more bothered by this than you should be,” said Officer Jeremy. “Is there something about this that runs deeper than just a simple, red-listed individual?”

“It’s nothing,” said Inquisitor Rogen. “My instincts are seldom wrong, but there are always exceptions.”

“Then the next group?” asked Officer Jeremy.

“Stop them and question them,” said Inquisitor Rogen. “One of them cast an illusion to hide their appearance. I want to know why that illusion has three layers, and why her teammates aren’t aware of it.”

“I’ll see it done,” said Officer Jeremy, then left inquisitor Rogen to his ruminations.

There’s something off about that alchemist, thought Inquisitor Rogen. Something that documents and karma won’t tell me.

***

“That was a close call,” Robert said to Alchemist Wei when they arrived in the pocket realm. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” said Alchemist Wei. “It happens all the time, and I’m used to it. So this is the Titan’s Graveyard? I heard it takes a day to get to the central area?” The rift gate was surrounded by a ring of trees, each one thick as a house and taller than Mendin skyscrapers.

“On foot, maybe.” Said Robert. “But the way we’re going, it’ll take a few hours at best. Gregory?”

“I’ve told you a million times, stop interrupting me when I’m in the middle of casting a ritual,” said the mage. “Come forth, Sparvitolix!”

A glowing ritual circle appeared around Gregory, connecting their current location to another adjacent plane. A blue claw shot out of the circle, then another, followed by a large snout and a mouth full of sharp teeth.

The creature from another plane had shimmering azure scales and breathed lightning that made Alchemist Wei’s hair stand on end. “All aboard!” said Gregory, hopping on the lightning drake.

“Is it safe?” Alchemist Wei asked Robert.

“Mostly, said the warrior.

Alchemist Wei reluctantly boarded the creature, and a minutes later, they were flying in across a star-speckled sky. Unlike most pocket realms, this one was spherical, and would need several days to cross for all but the most powerful cultivators.

“No one disturb me,” said Alchemist Wei. “I need complete concentration to sense the ore we’ll looking for.”

“Not a problem, miss Wei,” said Robert. “Rory? Shoot anything that flies near us.” The silent hunter nocked an arrow and shot it. A crow flying a little too close for comfort for comfort fell from the skies.

Soon enough, the creatures of the pocket realm gave them wide berth.  Alchemist Wei was therefore able to enter deep meditation and cover a large area with her long-ranged scanning ability. She searched for many minutes before opening her eyes again. “There’s no titan ore in the nearest hundred kilometers. We’ll need to move farther in.”

They flew for several hours, stopping only every half hour for Alchemist Wei to scan the area. T was an unusual ability for an alchemist to have, but not unheard of.

“The monstrous life on this demiplane fragment is extremely powerful,” Alchemist Wei said as she woke from one of her scanning sessions. “A few lashed out at me this time. I won’t be able to continue in this fashion.”

“They won’t be overwhelmingly powerful,” said Robert. “Tier 14 in the upper limit of this pocket realm. None of the peak powerhouses dare to come in.”

“Then would it be possible to proceed to the center with our current team composition?” asked Alchemist Wei.

Robert hesitated. “Our contract includes surveying the inner ring, but not the core region.”

“What if I doubled what I’m giving you?” asked Alchemist Wei.

“I’m afraid the risks are too great,” said Robert, shaking his head.

“What about triple? Five times?” Seeing his hesitation, she told him her bottom line. “Ten times then. I can’t do any higher.”

Robert exchanged a look with Rory, their hunter, who nodded. Robert grinned and held out his hand. “Very well. For ten times the original amount, we’ll enter the core region. But I must warn you, miss – there are things there than could easily wipe out our entire team. You will obey my commands at all times and not act wilfully.”

Alchemist Wei grumbled something about crooks, but ultimately shook on it.

“We’ll need to move slower from here on out,” said Robert. “These lands are where we’ll find most of the materials you’re looking for, and that attracts all manner of threats.”

Alchemist Wei shook her head. “Let’s not bother with these lesser materials for now,” she said. “I’m looking for high-grade titan ores. Rank 13 or Rank 14 if we can manage it.” If Doctor Lim wanted an apology, she would give him a disproportionate one.

They flew for a short distance before dropping to the ground and proceeding on foot.  According to Rory, flight was forbidden in this place, as it would attract the most powerful of the realm’s guardians.

They weaved around the different beast territories and made slow but steady progress towards the core region. Fortunately, they managed to not provoke any of them, and the center of the core region soon came into view.

“Is that… is that a large piece of refined titan metal?” Alchemist Wei hissed when she saw what lay at the center.

“Word has it that this pocket realm formed around that fragment,” said Robert. “Many have tried to pull it out, but no one has managed it to date.”

“What about just taking a small piece?” asked Alchemist Wei.

“Can’t be done,” said Robert. “Anyone powerful enough would break the pocket realm.”

“Didn’t the Titan Clan take a piece of it?” asked Rory. “I remember hearing a story about that.”

“That’s just a rumor, actually,” said Gregory. “According to the historical records, the Titan Clan found a pool of diluted blood not far away from the fragment. They were going to try collecting some of it when a powerful demon forced them to hide inside the pool. The patriarch of the Titan Clan, Titan Thunderfist, was the only one who survived the transformation of his bloodline.”

“I wonder if there’s any left,” said Alchemist Wei. “I’d give my left arm to study the titan’s blood.”

Gregory shook his head. “The Titan Clan gathered up the rest of it over a thousand years back. I believe that was the reason the Titan Clan and the Collegium started butting heads.”

“How do you even know all this?” asked Alchemist Wei. “Didn’t the Titan Clan leave Titanvale over six decades ago?”

“History is important,” said Gregory. “And you’d be amazed at what information can be found in a public library.”

“Quiet, both of you,” said Rory. “There’s something moving in our surroundings.” He held up a hand and cast a minor spell to augment his hearing. “Battle positions, everyone!”

Alchemist Wei was not a fighter, but she knew her way around a battlefield. She took out several flasks of highly explosives liquids. Law runes floated inside various compartments in each vial, and would violently explode the moment they made contact.

At first, they felt nothing, but then the forest began to shake. “Is it a demon?” asked Alchemist Wei.

“Worse. Humans,” said Robert. “Take cover!”

They ducked in unison, and Alchemist Wei tossed up a light blue potion that shattered to form a shield over them. Gregory cast an ice shield just inside her boundary just in time to receive an explosion that destroyed swathes of stone trees and sprayed shrapnel onto their makeshift shields.

A breeze blew away the smoke, revealing a small group of rankers. Two of them wore robes with golden trim, though one of them wore black robes and the other wore white robes.

Alchemist Wei’s group warily climbed out from the pile of debris, and Robert, every the proactive one, stepped forward to mediate. “What can our group of humble adventurers do for you, esteemed cardinals?” asked Robert. “I don’t remember a decree being issued, but we’ll clear out the area if that is your wish.”

“That wont’ be necessary,” said the white-and-gold-robed man. “In fact, We insist on having you accompany us. Alchemist Wei, is it? That’s a wonderful disguise you’re wearing. Cardinal Undine didn’t exaggerate your skills in the slightest.”

‘Alchemist Wei’s’ smile faded. “How did you find me, Salamani?”

“I didn’t do it,” said Salamani. “The credit for that falls to Cardinal Undine.”

‘Alchemist Wei’ didn’t buy it. “It was Oster, wasn’t it? I’m going to make that two-timer regret ever coming back.”

“Greed is good,” said Undine. “That’s his slogan, so you should know better than to trust him, Clear Sky.”

“I find he’s usually quite reliable,” said Cha Ming, taking on his original appearance. “Which is why I’m so disappointed. “You brought eight helpers this time, and each one is a late gold rankers. Four are shield guards, two are inquisitors, and two are mages. Ninesky, are you going to keep being lazy with this line up, or will you let them hurt Coral again?”

A flash of grey shot out from the Clear Sky World. “Where are they? Let me at them!” said Ninesky.

Luther, Coral, and Disaster stepped out of the Clear Sky World and glared at their opponents. “I believe you may have bitten off more than you can chew, Master. Moreover…” he looked up at the sky. “I sense a many-layered trap. I recommend fleeing.”

“It’s too late to flee, I’m afraid,” said Undine. “Equip your resonance pendants! Activate the planar boundary shield!”

Cha Ming’s eyes narrowed as thick plates of spatial energy appeared just outside his Dao Projection, completely enveloping the pocket realm. Each plate was clear, several hundred meters thick, and etched with thousands of golden runes. Even with his full strength, he wouldn’t be able to break a single one of them.

“I have to give you credit, Undine,” said Cha Ming. “This is a nice, well thought out trap. I see no weak points to speak of. Did Oster plan it out for you too? Because I see no other way this is possible.”

“Drop dead, Clear Sky,” said Undine. “Shield Guards, defend! Mages – annihilate him!”