Jackal Among Snakes

Anneliese looked up at the Alchemist as he toiled with Felipe’s bones in seemingly incomprehensible manners. When she’d first met this giant standing beside Argrave as he endured the worst pain of his life, she had been utterly afraid of him. He seemed unreadable, unfathomable, unknowable, and most of all unreasonable. Maybe there was still some truth to that. But the events of day passed showed that he wasn’t necessarily as monstrous as he presented himself to be.

Indeed, perhaps there was something mortal beneath that shell of his.

Argrave was absent, if only briefly. It was her and the Alchemist alone. But with his guarantee of safety, she dared ask, “Why do you pay attention to Onychinusa so much?”

The Alchemist did not pull his hands away from Felipe’s body, but a mouth opened on his elbow. “You presume wrongly that I speak overmuch because I have become open to dialogue. Begone.”

Anneliese’s search for emotions among the Alchemist was a fruitless one as ever. But her intuition did not fail her on this matter—she knew that the Alchemist was particularly interested in Onychinusa. “She’s been through much and more. Please do not make things worse on her by confusing her yet further. I do not wish to involve her in our struggle against Erlebnis. She has suffered enough at his hand.”

“I am not interested in puppets cut from strings,” the Alchemist scolded. “You overstep. Return to your bedmate.”

Anneliese was not entirely contented, but there was little good in jeopardizing what was promising to be a fruitful cooperation with the Alchemist. She turned and walked away, still mulling over this matter.

“Hold,” the Alchemist called out, and Anneliese turned around in surprise. He stepped away from Felipe’s corpse, coming to stand over her. “Your A-rank ascension. Describe it to me.”

Anneliese narrowed her eyes, shifting on her feet uncertainly. “It’s… called [Life Cycle],” she said hesitantly. “With it, I can absorb magic from a variety of sources. I take from any spells cast in the area or any enchantments I touch. In addition, my spells themselves are conduits that can take magic. Spells that strike my wards, for instance, replenish me.”

“And living things,” the Alchemist added.

Anneliese nodded. “Yes. And living things.”

“And does this place, this area… has it any relation to your power?” the Alchemist held his hand out and gestured to the mountains.

Anneliese nodded once more. “Yes. Argrave took me to the method, buried beneath these mountains. It was here I learned it from a man long ago dead.”

“Was Llewellen dead?” The Alchemist’s stare was colder than the grave.

Hearing that name, Anneliese blinked in surprise. “Yes, he was. He left his knowledge behind on a dwarven music box. I still have it, if you wish to hear it.”

“He failed, then.” The Alchemist turned, stepping back to Felipe’s corpse. “Pity.”

ancient creature. First, Emperor Balzat of the ancient elven empire had known

know

no more, for I shall speak

opened this clam,”

seemed to genuinely hesitate, then turned his head toward her. “Both you and that… elf, will be adrift for a long time without proper tutelage. Llewellen’s methods are as much

Alchemist, mind swirling with questions. After a long while of silence, she turned and left. Each question she asked bred more. She didn’t think this matter was over. In fact, she was nearly certain this was the first of many conversations

#####

grandly as she and Argrave stood near the entrance. “Artur will be waiting in.

a portion of stone within the mountain. The quarried stone was then used for construction elsewhere. The magic-infused stone here was incredibly easy to mold, and even easier to work magic into. If the place were enchanted, it improved the strength of their defenses, and so it was a win-win situation. Looking upon the Hall of Enchantment… it

“But

and then walked inside with Elenore, shadowed by his two royal guards. One was still

hope it was worth it,”

I earned what some might call ‘enlightenment.’ I call it long overdue.” Argrave conjured a bloody flame in his

fire,” she said after

is the primary benefit of using blood magic as your

better if I spontaneously develop magical talent that I lacked all my life,” Elenore said

and Argrave looked around at all that was waiting for him. What he saw was farbeyond his expectations. At the top, glowing like a second sun—or third, he supposed, given the fact this world had two already—was an enchanted lamp that bathed the whole place in sterile white light. And from there, the entire Hall

platforms to various level. This Hall of Enchantment, however, was only navigable with these stone platforms. They swirled about the air everywhere, docking and embarking at various portions throughout the whole hall. Entries to offices lined the wall top to bottom, where enchanters, theorists, and spellcasters traded off various artifacts, books, and scrolls. On the higher floors, he heard the clanging of steel as smiths worked to

busiest in the front,” Elenore explained. “But there are enough offices and rooms for thirty

“Thirty thousand?” Argrave repeated.

They research diligently. When the time comes, they can switch to production. We can have enchanted arrows pumping out day and night—warding rings, strengthening armors, or whatever we need. I’m simply

platform to carry them. Argrave got on, felt his feet get fixed in place, and then

before her, but Argrave looked at her. “While we’re on

at him. “It is? You’ll involve the Dwarven Senate

are some things I need to attend to. Galamon needs to

the knight-commander.

that we pick out patrons for all of us at this

all that he said. She faced ahead and said

said, staring at

glance, but when she saw he