[STORY] --> Awaken - Part 25 - An Alchemist's Toil

hypexals-spiral (62)in #story • 7 years ago

WELCOME TO "AWAKEN"

Part 25 - An Alchemist's Toil

Thanks for Reading!

previously in

Part 24 - Guispira Of Algen

...

The old man and Merobaku heard a hearty laugh from outside the front door. “I appreciate your concern, Mayval, and rightfully so in your position as our town's Guispira... but I assure you she intends none of us any harm.” Silgren rubbed his eyes into better focus, “In fact, she practically saved Orvus' and his friend's lives the other day from elemental fiends over at the Torrel Shrine.” With a new concern at hand, Mayval asked of the fiends he spoke of and Silgren assured her they were not a threat from quite so far away. Silgren added, “Plus, the lore on such creatures says they don't survive very long after being brought into this world due to their ravenous elemental appetites.” Mayval's concerns seemed to be put to rest, as she bade Silgren a good rest of his day and returned to quell the unrest amongst the town's residents.

“All is well?” asked the old man when Silgren entered and closed the door behind him. “Yes, just some concerns over Merobaku's armour. Nothing much to worry about, I've settled the matter with the Guispira.” “Excellent, how about some tea to wake up?” offered the old man. Silgren nodded and Merobaku poured him a cup with the last of the water. “I'll get that,” offered the old man looking to use a water prime spell to refill the pot. The old man poured some gold Ormus from Orvus' travel-pack into the pot. “No, no. Allow Silgren to give it a try!” said Merobaku holding the empty pot up in front of Silgren. “Sure,” obliged Silgren, “I'll give it a go!” Merobaku watched closely as the symbols for water flowed over Silgren's mind's eye. A small bead of water formed above the empty pot and fell inside before it grew. “Try again,” directed Merobaku, “Focus on your intent to fill the pot with water, then entangle that thought with the symbols.” Silgren regrouped, cracked his knuckles and gave it another go. A moment later another bead of water formed above the pot and slowly grew into the size of a fist, then even larger. Silgren then lost focus and mental stamina as the ball of water dropped carelessly into the pot, filling it half-way. “That'll do for now,” said Merobaku, pleased, “Good work!”

Part 25 - An Alchemist's Toil

A short while later Silgren went to rouse Orvus from his lengthy slumber, since by now he'd been asleep more than half a day. “By the way, Merobaku, have you seen Kogg?” asked the old man with a hint of concern. “He was cawing at the door early this morning, so I let him outside. I'm sure he'll be back any time now,” said Merobaku with a smile. Not but a moment later a tapping could be heard at the door, followed by silence and then more tapping. “What in the twelve,” uttered the old man with surprise, “how did you know?” The old man made his way over to the door an opened it in anticipation. Sure enough, Kogg was at the door and let out a greeting caw before strolling on in, all nonchalant like. The old man shut the door after him and followed him over to the table. “Good day, Kogg!” exclaimed the old man as Kogg flew up onto the table and requested some tea by somewhat mimicking the sound of water dripping. Merobaku greeted him too and happily poured him a small amount of tea to enjoy.

“Who was at the door?” Silgren asked as he made his way back downstairs, “Don't tell me Mayval is back...” “Not to worry Silgren,” the old man reassured him, “it was Kogg returning from his journey.” Kogg sounded off a silly caw at Silgren before returning to his tea. “What of Orvus?” inquired the old man just as Orvus emerged from the room and greeted everyone with a lethargic wave. Kogg mocked him with a series of hearty caws implying he'd already accomplished a lot today. “Here's some tea to wake up,” said Merobaku sliding his cup across the table. When Orvus sat down they all took their time enjoying the tea and company. Kogg finished early and excused himself to the couch-lounger for a well-deserved nap in hopes of dreams about sail boats and cicadas.

Later, Merobaku excused herself to her room for some meditation while the old man joined Kogg for a nap, being mindful not to disturb him. Orvus looked over at Silgren and gave him a roguish look, “Care for a game of Alchemist's Toil?” Silgren smirked back at him, “I beat you soundly last night in a mere fourteen turns, you sure you're up for another thrashing?” Orvus laughed while Silgren made way to his room under the stairs and retrieved the decorated box. “We're going to need more tea!” exclaimed Orvus noting the empty pot. Silgren set the box down on the table and then searched his pantry for more tea, eventually finding what little he had left. After it was brought to the table Silgren challenged himself to fill the pot while Orvus poured some more gold Ormus in. Silgren closed his eyes and concentrated on the symbol of water and then paired it in his mind's eye with fire, tamed his focus and called forth a large glob of steaming water which splashed down into the pot. Orvus' eyes widened in disbelief as he tested the water's temperature with a finger. “Preposterous!” called out Orvus, “you managed to boil the water before it even hit the pot!” Silgren smiled wide, “I spent some time last night before bed practising spell combining in my mind.” Silgren made each of them a cup of tea, “Are we going to play or not?”

Dusk soon came without warning and Grayden returned home for the night, with his face and clothes dashed with dirt. Silgren directed him to wash up and then come watch them finish up a game of Alchemist's Toil. As Grayden made his way to his room, Orvus plotted his next move, carefully looking over his cards and piece locations. Silgren watched as Orvus played a second alembic card with an accelerate card. Silgren smirked secretly as Orvus purchased his third crucible card, predicting his plans. Orvus rolled the die and scored a five which allowed him to move his alchemist pieces to a more favourable location, nearby the Tower of the Mystic. “Your move, Silgren,” called out Orvus as he drew more cards. Silgren picked through his cards, “Ah, yes,” and then placed a mercury card on top of his aludel card, already in play. Following that Silgren played a moonshine card and an acid card, then finished up by rolling a four and relocating a single alchemist piece within a few spaces of the tower. Orvus looked on in suspicion as Silgren refilled his cards.

[Source Image - Pixabay]

Grayden returned clean and ready to watch while Orvus considered his new options. Orvus bought a phial card, combined a dark root card and alcohol card with his third crucible, played a second accelerate card on top of the other and then followed it up with a poison card. “I'll now finish the poison and potion of invisibility in this turn,” said Orvus with excitement as he removed those cards from play and obtained a poison and invisibility token from a mixed pile. Orvus attached the tokens separately to each of his alchemist pieces, rolled a four then moved both his pieces to the tower, the second piece just a square away. Silgren rubbed his hands together, cleverly combined his moonshine and acid cards with his mercury and aludel cards and then dropped an accelerate card on top. “What are you up to Silgren?” questioned Orvus in confusion. Silgren smirked and then purchased a phial card, “In this turn I shall complete my exploding crystals,” removed his cards from play and then reached for a bomb token and attached it to his piece nearest the tower. Orvus looked on in terror as Silgren rolled a solid six and relocated his piece to a vacant spot around the tower. “I activate my exploding crystals by using them on the tower itself. That's game, I win,” laughed Silgren. “What, but how?” questioned Orvus desperately. Grayden chimed in, “The Tower of the Mystic can make an effect permanent, like invisibility, or doubles its' usability, like poisons. In this case, since something can only explode once, the explosion radius is doubled which not only takes care of your piece next to the tower, but the piece two squares away...” Silgren met Grayden's explanation with a high-five, the sound of which caused Kogg and the old man to wake up. “It was well worth sacrificing my own piece for such a glorious win,” said Silgren laughing even harder. Orvus sat there in disbelief, suddenly realizing that Silgren still had two other alchemist pieces in play, while he had none.