Published at 16th of February 2024 2:23 pm

Chapter 2.5. Growth and Victory

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Nox Ratra

Journeyman

Crystalize Essence | Essence Shaping | Animation

89/97 | 33/31 | 9/9

Lillin's feast had come with significant benefits. Nox struggled to comprehend how his maximum mana had tripled in just less than six months. He was almost at three digits. Most aether practitioners never lived to see the milestone or gave up long before reaching it. Best of all, his Shaping Planet was ready to ascend to the journeyman stage. He could start developing moons once he crossed the threshold. The volume of surplus mana in his system also looked sufficient for a new planetoid.

Thanks to the Sigil of the Artisan's latest developments, he had already memorized all the necessary scripts for developing a planet dedicated to Animation. Kris believed Nox was ready to grow the planetoid into a planet before the next semester started. She was confident he could skip the basic course and start the intermediate one straight away or go for something more specialized.

Kris's use of wards had Nox considering the subject. His sigils would make it a walk in the park. However, the static nature of the craft still concerned Nox. It had its use in battle since there were enough opportunities to hunker down at a location and make the most of it. Delvers didn't have such luxuries. They mostly used wards to create safe zones for resting. He had ideas, but the work necessary to find new uses for it didn't appeal to Nox. He wished to dedicate his time to alchemy instead. Mastering one arcane craft felt more efficient than dipping his toes in several.

The battle ended swiftly after the myconid boss fell. Baron Edelweiss' men successfully overwhelmed the myconids, and the rare giant specimens died to Kris and Nox's attacks or fled into the wilderness. The mushroom-animated corpses continued attacking, but without their leader, they were no threat. Ordinary soldiers felled them with sufficient damage to the brain or spine.

The flame slime reacted curiously with the affected royal guards. It multiplied inside the elite myconids. Any specimens too slow to escape the infected got swarmed and suffered the same fate. The slimes appeared only to target the nervous system, consumed it, and then moved on. The fiery glow faded with every reproduction until it was a muted orange. The more faded the fight, the longer it took to still a myconid. Once the creatures lost their luminosity, they ceased multiplying and went inert.

With Kris's permission, Nox stopped the baron's men from incinerating all the creatures. Instead, they preserved a few for study and experimentation. Ernest, using his minitiarize spell, and the soldiers transported them to the mobile laboratory on giant sleds. Meanwhile, they took no risks with the boss monster's body. Its spores had the power to reanimate corpses and infect open wounds. They refused to find out if the powers persisted after death. Kris reduced the giant body to ash using her expert-rank spell.

Witnessing the magic in action wiped all doubts regarding Kris' ability from Nox's mind. He had accepted her as a brilliant investigator, Ward Wright, stealth and detection mage. Now, he knew that wasn't the case. Her offensive magic took far too long to prepare to use on the fly, and its destructive power kept her from using it in populated areas or aboard an airship. The professor's more powerful spells made her potent enough to count as a siege mage. He imagined it made her a significant threat to dungeon bosses and their lords. Kris only needed a vanguard to protect her position or distract foes while she prepared the spell. It rendered her immobile, but invisibility made that almost a moot point.

It was late in the afternoon when the battle ended. Baron Edelweiss’ soldiers and mages destroyed the frontlines. No corpses freshly animated by the fungus survived. Meanwhile, the larger myconids and the speedier specimens with calcified limbs disappeared into the wilderness. Word from the high-ranking soldiers suggested that the baron intended to hire mercenaries to hunt them down and ensure no nests took root along or within his borders.

There was already word of a feast with dancing and music to celebrate the victory. However, the baron had it scheduled for the following evening. The rest of the day was to be dedicated to healing, mourning, and sending aid to any who had survived behind enemy lines.

Everyone had jobs. Ernest took it upon himself to transport the wounded, especially those Wilson had put in stasis. The healers and Michelle attended to them. Nox offered to help, but they insisted he get some rest. Kris told him to do the same. The last couple of weeks involved burning the candle on both ends. Yet, instead of obeying, Nox headed to the mobile laboratory.

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His version of the Sentient Synapse Slayer had developed a mind of its own. It didn’t behave exactly how Nox expected but had still successfully completed its purpose. More importantly, he had invented a process for bonding a slime with essence instead of the latter carrying the latter in a half-stable form. Baron Edelweiss had more myconids to exterminate, and Terrastalia had dropped hundreds if not thousands of more monsters around the countryside. He foresaw demand for his discovery but needed to figure out its ins and outs first. Nox refused to market a product he didn't quite understand.

"No." Lillin and Annabelle said in unison. The pair caught him just as he was about to enter the laboratory.

"I'm not starting anything big," Nox said. "The slime interacted oddly with the myconids. I need to investigate—"

"No," Lillin said. She faced Annabelle. "Can't you just take him to your cabin and do whatever you do that has him grinning for hours?"

"I just need an hour while the observations are fresh on my mind." His protests fell on deaf ears. Neither woman released their hold on him.

"I could, but I really think he needs to eat first," Annabelle said, ignoring him. “Has he always been like this?”

Lillin nodded. “Once Nox starts a project, he can’t think of much else. I’ve had to drag him out of Mou’s workshop before. Otherwise, he spent days without eating, sleeping, or bathing.”

“Speaking of bathing, we smell ripe. I’ll get the crew to prepare a bathe—”

“Perhaps it was funny at first, but this whole bit where you talk about me like I’m not there is no longer charming,” Nox told them. "For the record, I used brews to deal with personal hygiene. Alchemists can't let personal contaminants taint their creations."

“You’re not working today, Nox,” Annabelle said. “You’re so sleep-deprived, your right eyelid has been twitching.”

“Your left hand also developed a tremor a couple of nights ago,” Lillin added. “I know you don’t believe in the concept, Nox, but you’re on the verge of burning yourself out. The battle is over. Baron Edelweiss is keeping his word and won’t torch the fields and villages. Leave the research and experimentation until tomorrow.”

“Please.” Annabelle took his right hand in both of hers. “Do it for us?”

Nox wanted to argue, but his stomach joined the conversation, growling loudly. “Fine.” He sighed. “But promise me you won’t keep me from work tomorrow. I’d like to figure this out before the feast.”

“I promise I won’t get in the way.” Annabelle pecked him on the cheek. “Wilson says my father is probably flying in with tomorrow’s reagent shipment. He’ll expect my presence, anyway.”

“Do you need me to join you?”

“No.”

“Thank Yggdrasil.” Nox sighed.

“I plan to start the festivities early,” Lillin said. “You won’t hear a peep from me either. I might show up with food around lunchtime, but I promise to leave you alone afterward.”

“I suppose that’s acceptable.” Nox scanned their surroundings, looking for the food tent. It had moved since breakfast. “Lead the way. If I don’t eat anything soon, my stomach will probably start digesting itself.”

“You two go ahead,” Lillin told the pair. “I’ll ensure the crew has a bath ready for you.”

“You’re going to celebrate with the first mate, aren’t you?” Nox asked.

Lillin didn’t answer. She only winked and left the pair alone.

Annabelle and Nox followed their noses. It led them to a giant cauldron of stew. The pair discussed their plans for the upcoming semester while they ate. She had successfully transcended to the Journeyman rank, making her eligible for Advanced Dungeon Combat. Annabelle hadn’t yet confirmed her curriculum for the syllabus and was considering taking on more martial, information gathering, and stealth-related courses.

While she talked, Nox let his mind wander. Obsessed with his project, he hadn’t given much thought to their return to Woodson University. Nox looked forward to further developing Noxian Brews and his future shop. He had never dreamt of such development. His plans always involved alchemy, but he only expected it to fill his time between delves, paying for lodging and equipment when dungeon profits dried up.

Now, he was on the verge of achieving his father’s impossible dream. The prospect excited and terrified Nox. He needed to hire staff for the shop. Nox also hoped to learn the ins and outs of city taxes and deal with mercantile politics. There was a lot more he hadn’t yet considered. However, Nox couldn’t help but feel proud of his achievements with Noxian Brews. The fiery slime would only propel the business further. For the time being, he let Annabelle distract him from work.

The pair dined. They bathed, and then Annabelle took Nox to bed.

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