Chapter Thirty-Six
“A toast for Guaranteed Real Cheese booking their slot in Oorty’s Tomb!” Alex announced in the private room the team had booked at the Sticky Saloon.
Their latest delving group name was a play off Harmony’s new title and a minor scandal of fake cheese being sold on the black market to taverns throughout Ricort, leading to the real cheese promise signs being everywhere. The slot wasn’t for two weeks, and was one of the earlier ones a team could take as students into their first quarter. It showed confidence, but the practice room’s golems were not the same.
This would be the soonest opportunity for the others to see that fact, and if Harmony needed to repair a broken arm or leg for them to learn that lesson, then so be it. The team was acceptable enough that no one should die, and a well-placed crippling blow by their healer would make sure it wouldn’t get that far.
Harmony’s worries focused more on the pissy redhead who’d barely spoken to her and other complications related to testing out of the potions class. Like the step back she’d taken in Hexio Curie’s latest curse purge attempt. Not that the orange-skinned child-kidnapper and flesh connoisseur's life meant much to her, but he’d still died. The inking that she’d wanted him to die, so it was “certain,” leaked into her thoughts.
The title was well-known in crafting circles, and once news of her creation spread, she received congratulations. Curie had a word or thing to say about the lesser magical arts, but was curious about how it would affect her work.
Houte had been acting odder than usual, but not enough for him to get removed by the Hexio, as he still managed to wrestle two curses for her jars. Jasper's temporal magic clashed with her goals once his hands penetrated a wound, and he got deeper into the soul’s container. There were a lot of new things to work with that she didn’t have the patience for today.
Harmony wasn’t the only one having a rough week as conversations moved across the room. Alex was hitting a wall in combat class with mid-quarter presentations happening soon, leading to a situation where he was either growling and roaring as a bear or having no memory of what they worked on. Xera’s positive news of joining Kevin’s project in Deflecting Fatal Blows wasn’t positive in the sense that their link still warned of danger when the quartus was involved. Tasha was stewing with her stresses until it became clear she was going to take her shot.
Harmony braced as the ranged fighter stood before her.
“My advisor is pressuring me to sign up for Verus’s half-step program. I don’t need your royal charity, Harmony. If Maester Gregor was still available, this wouldn’t even be a question.” Tasha spoke..
It probably wouldn’t make Tasha feel better to know it was a happy accident of avoiding two people who bothered her. A look to Adric for help didn’t get her any. “Verus knew more of your situation than I did due to his contact with Gregor. You’ll be doing me a favor for my advancement. I’m sure he can find a different volunteer for his experimental half-step potions class if you don’t wish to volunteer.”
“Can’t Tasha take your ‘guaranteed’ iron body potion?” Tun-Knee asked.
Harmony winced. “The school purchased it for study. While having a potion that guarantees success for people who haven’t quickened yet can be found. That is the normal way of getting the uncommon title; having one that guarantees one to anyone who doesn’t have a body type isn’t something the potions department here has seen before, and wishes to do further testing. An iron body wouldn't mesh well with Tasha’s class anyway. Verus thinks I may have gained a stronger version of the title. I’m afraid it will make my polyplanarcalculaperiorda impossible to correct.”
“They underpaid her.” Adric sniffed.
“They paid me a hundred times the market price for a normal guaranteed potion.” This solved some of her money problems. Not enough to send some back home, but at least the clothing issue, a private workroom, and supply issues were temporarily alleviated.
“If there were a potion on the market that I wanted you to buy, I’d just accept charity and have you buy it for me. This stinks. The crazy thing is that I’m only considering this because of how good a job you did at the dress for the Hunter’s ball. Not like I’m given the option of the three other students in Versus’s class who are close to evolving.”
“She literally brought me back when no one else could. Have faith in my master.” Adric insisted, batting his eyes at Tasha.
“Bah, you’re too pretty. Stop doing that. It's already too bad you’re not a girl.”
“I think you’re being too harsh on Healer White. She only wants what is best for our team. I’ve accepted how her dedication has changed me. “ Xera pointed out.
“You’re worse than her pet, and the pink hair looks good on you.” Tasha retorted.
“I fear my family might not agree, but the compliment is appreciated,” Xera said with a little bow.
“At least you won’t be turning into a bent-up bear. Half-steps avoid such drastic changes.” Alex complained from behind his drink.
That was an interesting case of monsterification. What about those full-body types? What did vital body make her? Always more research if she wanted to go deeper into the topic. Creating a potion matching Tasha’s needs would be enough of a learning process. Working with Alex had been about rushing to get his training in, not about exploring his soul. That was also before her epiphany.
“The beast-kin nation has a great pool of knowledge about body types, but it is hard to get them to share with outsiders. I could ask, but I fear my class would mean I wouldn’t be able to access much.” Tun-Knee provided.
That bleeding toad snack. The comment wasn’t even a subtle hint that he could get her the information if she accepted his deal. With the clock on Tasha’s need, if Loap wasn’t there this week, it put her in a harder spot on deciding if she wanted to be a vassal. Would there even be time for that?
Tasha held up her hands in defeat. “I get it. I get it. You all want to help. I give up.” She got on one knee in front of Harmony. The idea of someone making another oath to her had the necromancer almost backing away a step. “Oh, great tertiary, you are my only hope.” Those words twisted into a smirk. “In case Varus hasn’t told you, I quicken in ten days. He expects you to spend as much time in his lab as possible.”
Ten days, or was that nine? The first three weeks had been focused on the well-practiced recipe for the iron body potion, and that included memorizing and copying the whole textbook over to Hazeldown. There hadn’t even been time for a private lesson on what went into a free-form, homemade half-step potion. Maybe if she didn’t have any other classes. Half the day tomorrow was the silenced combat seminar, and they were starting a new banned-class in defense against the forbidden arts. [Poise and Bearing] failed to slide on her face in time.
“Ha!” Tasha laughed with a tinge of bitterness. “I’m not lying, but you should have seen that look on your face. Now you know why I’m so worried.”
”Harmony works well under pressure.” Adric answered.
“Drinks for everyone!” Alex announced putting fresh glasses in front of the group.
Harmony downed hers quickly without protest.
It was a turning point for everyone to relax. Tasha half in defeat. Alex loosened to the point where he was a slightly sloppy, drunk mess. Tun-Knee let his more neutral mask slip a touch toward his truer predatory nature. Xera continued the trend of being more relaxed with Harmony, half dozing under her arm. Nine days weren’t so bad with access to all of Verus’s lab and the funds to run her own experiments. Tasha did get as drunk as Alex, so Harmony had Xera and Adric take them home.
“I don’t know what you're waiting for. There are so many benefits to our offer.” Tun-knee pressured her now that the others were gone.
“And you can’t get me the body-type information without the deal?” Harmony asked.
The way he smiled made Harmony wonder if he’d change his mind if she let Hyacinth play with him some. “I wasn’t lying about my limited access. But once you're a vassal sparkle, I’d be able to get it for you.”
“You're a very naughty kitty sometimes, Tun-Knee,” Harmony said, checking to see if that would get a rise out of the tiger.
“Thank you. I know you worry about what Loap would think, but I give you my word on my stripes that she’ll be happy if you make this choice.”
You can’t say no to everything. And you can’t be like Tasha, being mad about help. This came with strings, and claws, and fur, and fangs, but those were all things she could deal with, because it also came with power and other useful tools. “Fine, I agree.”
That had the big cat blinking a little bit, twitching his whiskers, maybe he’d hoped for more of a game. “I’ll be sending over some lawyers to bring you in tomorrow. I appreciate your level-headedness in this, Lady White.” He finally answered, after collecting himself fully. With a bow, he left Harmony and her newfound wealth to cover the bill.
“Greeep?” Hyacinth asked as she tidied up, not wanting to leave too much of a mess for the staff. Working at the Sticky Saloon would be bad enough without needing to clean a sticky room.
“The more attention I draw, the more precarious my position will be. I’ve been passive.”
“Gweh!?” Hyacinth complained.
“It’s not about the dungeon or the test. I’ve been too passive about contingencies. You can still be as lazy as you want. Guaranteed means I can take a few more risks, right?”
Her familiar just grumbled rather than answer. [Recall] cataloged tasks. Tasha would lighten up once she had her half-step body. She should probably make time to see if she could help Alex before his presentation. Signing Tun-Knee’s documents got that problem off her plate. Xera and the Quartus could use some more looking into. The room was practically cleaner than when they’d rented it. By the time she was done,the maid in her was satisfied.
There were always students about in their uniforms, so much so that they became scenery when you were focused on tasks like making it home for the night. When the student lurched towards her, Harmony assumed they were drunk and moved back with [Style and Grace]
[Final Silence] was too slow to catch the unexpected skill flashing at her. Restraints locked her into place, invisible energy with a familiar taste. That was the only thing that kept Hyacinth from dealing with this problem.
“What in the bleeding wastes, Houte!”
Harmony demanded of the older Primus who’d ambushed her. She’d just seen the rude jerk earlier today.
He leaned in close, his breath thick with alcohol. Her initial perception of it being a drunk student hadn’t been wrong. “You have the golden key. How do you have the golden key? No one has ever retrieved that key.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Let me go, or I’ll call security.” Harmony let authority enter into her voice.
“Inspect me.” House hissed.
Houte Waxer - Duelist Shaman - Authority : Risen - Notice - Iron Prisoner Keyholder.
Where was her luck now? [Poise and Bearing] Covered any strong reaction.“You can bleeding talk to me when you’re sober. I’m still not afraid to call security. If you can’t be polite, I don’t care what bloody key you're holding.”
The restraint was released, and Houte fled. Yet another thing to add to her task list.