Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 590

The Alchemist sprawled out on the cold stone plateau. All around, voices spoke.

“Law, instead of casting judgment on Raccomen and myself, could you judge what in the blazes is wrong with the kingling?”

The Alchemist turned his head, drawn from his stupor. There, Rook, with markedly bolstered confidence, stared upward at Law as the golden figure knelt down. An army of Justiciars approached. The Stormfield was dying, so they had no need to protect the army any longer.

“I will not forget this deception. But for now, I will put it aside.” Law split his body apart, and his golden aura enveloped his champion. “Erlebnis is dead. He cast no magic before he went—I sensed only the faintest tingle of his divinity. Yet…”

The Alchemist began to make sense of what had happened. The Ravenstone had been forged out of Erlebnis’ Blessing of Supersession, long ago. With the god himself perished, the Ravenstone broke, sending him out of its protection. Fortunately, the battle was over. The Alchemist, still a husk, slowly gathered himself. He reformed his body that he might stand, and rose.

Argrave had fallen to his knees. He stared upward at the sky, unblinking as he tremored. His eyes were spasming, alongside faint twitches in his fingers. Feeling some urgency, the Alchemist approached.

“Stand aside,” he ordered Law, whose aura prevented his further approach. “I will examine him.”

The gods regarded the Alchemist with some distaste, but they knew better than to argue. All of them were familiar with the Alchemist’s expertise and his constant presence in Argrave’s company. They watched as his gray eyes glowed green, scrutinizing Argrave. Of every human, the Alchemist knew Argrave’s form the best of any—he had performed countless operations on the man, and had spent weeks deconstructing his body. He’d even wrote books on the subject. Naturally, he could tell when something was wrong.

The Alchemist quickly identified several oddities—fever, sweating, confusion, and a seizure. Beyond the skin and bone, he caught an alarming factor immediately. “He has slight encephalitis… but that isn’t something I can simply ignore.”

“Encephalitis?” Raccomen repeated.

“His brain is swollen. It’s…” the Alchemist trailed off as he scrutinized the brain closer. He grabbed Argrave’s head, his fingers stretching around and piercing the skin subtly so as to see beyond. It wasn’t merely swollen—it was virtually on fire, a hub of activity. Given the circumstances, he quickly came to a conclusion about what was happening. “It’s adjusting to knowledge that Erlebnis bestowed.”

All the deities present said no more—from what Erlebnis had said, they could guess as much.

down at him as his gray eyes twitched. “Anytime he wanted to, he could bestow knowledge. Only really did when it was part of some deal, or when he stood to benefit—the man hoarded it jealously. So… what, he gave Argrave a load

Long-term, he might even be normal. But in the short… his brain is working on overdrive not to shatter. And even once it settles, Argrave’s mind could be

could forget some things?” Raccomen

The Alchemist looked around. “Something needs to be done.

around.” Rook pointed at the Alchemist. “Even if we have the Stormfield, I think it’s abundantly clear the god of war had other plans. We can’t stay

arms. “Sataistador remains the threat.

the Blackgard Union,”

to argue, but Law’s voice sounded out. “I

turned to Argrave. He scrutinized the King of Vasquer,

taken

while. Rook and Raccomen disappeared long ago, but eventually Law asked, “What do you intend

Alchemist said. “It can

safe?”

don’t know.” The Alchemist looked into Argrave’s eyes, adjusting his head. “I’ve never done it before. Every attempt

to

alternative.” The Alchemist pulled out the scalpel Argrave had given him years prior, bringing it forth to the man’s face.

the blade deep, deep. Once it was at its deepest, the Alchemist began to turn it counterclockwise. The blade zipped through, rising up the jaw, past the ear, around the top of the head, then back down. Having cut a perfect circle, the Alchemist grasped Argrave’s face and pulled lightly. All of it came free, revealing the brain within. The Alchemist carved away a few more hanging

should

Alchemist interrupted the ancient god. “I need

reached one hand of many toward Argrave’s spongy brain. He rested his fingers atop it… and then slowly began to sink in, as though pushing through water. Unpleasant squelching noises filled the air. The Alchemist took a deep, deep breath once his hand was far inside, then began to

to the Smiling Raven. To escape that beast, he had cut away parts

joined with a mind that still had

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