2026-02-04 19:25:36
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Chapter 19
Inside the flickering amber glow of the shop, Helga turned away from the rain-lashed door and looked at Rufus. The sight was jarring. Rufus was a pillar of the kingdom’s industry, a man of iron and ego who usually only bowed his head to the heat of the forge. Yet, she had seen him bow to Arthur as if the boy were a king from a time before the stars were named.She walked toward the counter, her fingers grazing the silk pouches she’d prepared, her mind spinning through the decades of her life. For thirty years, Helga had been the heartbeat of this district. Her shop was a sanctuary of fair trade and honest words; she had survived the rise and fall of merchant houses by being the one steady hand in a world of cutthroats.But her greatest business move hadn't been a contract or a trade deal. It had been a walk.A few days ago, driven by a restless urge to expand her staff, she had ventured into the gray, suffocating misery of the slums. She had been looking for a servant, perhaps a despe
Chapter 18
With three distinct pops, three bright orange bags materialized out of the rain, hovering for a split second before falling into my hands. Helga let out a choked sob of wonder, and Rufus’s jaw dropped so low it might have hit his boots."Sell these," I said, shoving the bags into Helga’s trembling arms. "But listen to me: Business 101. Low supply, high demand. The Palace is looking for these now, so the price just went up. Ten gold per piece. Not per bag. Per piece."Helga nodded frantically, clutching the bags like they were her own children."If I need help, I'll use the scrolls," I said, stepping up into the carriage. "Take care of the 'Vessels,' Rufus. And Helga? Don't let the Queen catch you with orange fingers.""We swear it, Master Arthur!" Rufus roared over the sound of the rain, bowing so low his beard dragged in a puddle."Move out!" I barked to the front.Barnaby snapped the reins. The carriage lurched forward, the iron-rimmed wheels grinding against the wet stone. As we ro
Chapter 17
"It’s worse than that, Arthur," Helga whispered, her usual merchant bravado replaced by genuine fear. "The Nobles are furious. You’re selling power, pure, concentrated mana, outside of their control. The Queen’s Alchemists are being made to look like fools. If the Palace gets their hands on you, you won't be 'detained.' You'll be a laboratory rat in the Royal Dungeon until they bleed the secret of your 'Internal Logic' out of you."Rufus started pacing, his heavy boots shaking the floorboards. "The political balance is tipped, lad. The Church thinks you're a heretic summoning forbidden lightning; the Nobles think you're a rebel arming the masses. You’re a one-man revolution."I have to escape?" I squeaked. The "Manly Sass" was currently on a coffee break, replaced by the reality of being a sickly twenty-year-old with the constitution of a wet paper towel. "Rufus, I’ve been here for a week! I don't know the roads! I’ll get eaten by a wolf or a very aggressive squirrel before I reach th
Chapter 16
The Great Smithy loomed ahead, the heat shimmer already dancing over the cobblestones. Rufus was standing outside the massive iron-bound doors, his thick arms crossed over his chest. He looked like a boulder with a beard. When he saw us, his face split into a grin so wide I could see the gold rings in his teeth.He stomped forward and delivered a back-pat that would have shattered the spine of a lesser man. "Arthur! Lad! You’re alive!" He paused, his nose wrinkling as he sniffed the air. "Is that... lavender and burnt sulfur? And why are you sparkling like a bride’s veil?""Occupational hazard," I grunted, checking to make sure he hadn't left a handprint on my "Divine" leather. "Met some 'fans' in the alley. They were very excited about the Orange Relic."Rufus’s expression darkened instantly. "The glitter-bomb? The merchants were squawking about it ten minutes ago. Said some thugs were causing a riot in the lower district. Was that you?""Thugs? Rufus, those were Royal Spies disguise
Chapter 15
My gaze darted to the Spy's "potion" tray, which he had so meticulously placed on a discarded crate. There were dozens of them: bubbling concoctions in every color imaginable, glowing blues, shimmering greens, ominous purples. I remembered reading in one of Helga’s ledgers that royal alchemists often carried volatile reagents for... well, for making people explode, usually.An idea, as brilliant and dangerous as a Cheeto-fueled dwarf, sparked in my brain."Oh, unstable, you say?" I mused aloud, a wide, mischievous grin spreading across my face. "Well, that's just poor potion-making, isn't it?"I took a step forward, raising the Taser. The Royal Spy's eyes widened. "Don't you dare! These are highly volatile Royal Alchemical formulations! You'll vaporize us all!""Relax, it's just a little bit of 'internal logic resonance,' remember?" I said, channeling my best villain impression. "A little spark to spice things up."I aimed the Viper-X at the tray of potions. The sky, sensing impending
Chapter 14
[Purchase Confirmed. 150 VP Deducted.][Current Balance: 50 VP]The air in the room hummed, and for a second, the smell of ozone replaced the scent of Helga’s roses. A swirl of digital particles coalesced on my bed, knitting together into a piece of clothing that looked like it belonged on a futuristic biker.I picked it up. The leather was buttery soft but felt as tough as dragon scales. I slid it on.It fit like a second skin. The high collar framed my face, hiding a bit of my skinny neck and making my jawline actually look... well, presentable. I looked at the mirror and let out a low whistle. The matte black finish made me look shadowed and dangerous. I tucked the "Divine Needle" and the "Viper-X" into the specialized interior pockets. No more bulges. I looked streamlined. I looked professional. I looked like a man who definitely didn't faint when women hugged him.I popped the collar and practiced my "mysterious genius" smirk. "Now," I said, checking the hidden pockets one last t
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