“I didn’t even know that such items existed.” Ajax was quick to proclaim his innocence as all the champions turned on him the moment they had some privacy. “Hell, considering what I learned about how Skill gains work based on a race’s natural predisposition as well as the individual talent of a person I didn’t think it could be done.”
“What’s this about a race’s inclination?” The prince turned towards Aurexion since he knew where the information came from.
“Your race can influence the Skills you have an affinity for.” Aurexion let out a sigh like he was explaining something basic. “It can be something minor like how most lizards are inclined towards fire a little, or an extreme like a water elemental towards water. That potential gets mixed with the being's individual talent. Of course there are items that can help you get certain specific Skills, wide range stuff like affinities or just Mana access. But they are not only rare but also have numerous requirements to work.”
Ajax could see how that would work. First the fruit Aurexion got them had to be eaten by both Tom and Fluffy at the same time, they had to be bonded and it was leaning on Fluffy’s Shadow Mana, not just her Skill level but her own inclination towards Shadow Mana as a whole.
“Think we can get something like that for Space Mana?” Ajax asked as he thought about Anna.
“Do they exist? Yes.” Aurexion nodded. “Chances we can get one, almost none. Any way to somewhat reliably gain a Legendary Mana type is something invaluable even to Ascended.”
Ajax was about to ask why before he bit his own tongue. He knew exactly why it was so much more valuable, Legendary Skills especially Mana types could be used to create Pseudo-Mythic Skills.
“So what was that mud they had?” While they were trying to process all the information Aurexion shared with them, the topic moved to the item the Republic requested Aurexion try to identify.
The two archdukes were also discussing the same topic as they stared at the boulder of rock they had in the vault.
“He wasn’t holding back was he?” Archduke Plentimore asked.
“Not that I could tell.” Archduke Goldenmouth gave his honest opinion, though after the most recent revelations he had to admit he couldn’t be sure about it despite what his Skills said, the Ascended clearly were much more knowledgeable than they were. “He did have some idea of what it was.”
“He called it adaptable clay.” Plentimore’s mind was like a steel trap with information about anything valuable. “The clay can work like an additional Mana storage, not only that but it also sets once one of the compatible mana types is introduced. We just need to find out what they are.”
According to Aurexion certain Mana types and their opposites would have some interesting effects on the clay. While all of them would cause it to set, some of them could make the result heavier or lighter, others more solid or more flexible, even something more abrasive or smoother was an option.
“We need to find out what they are.” The Archduke Plentimore was already making plans. “Not only that but we need to be selective about who we give this to, the most valuable aspect of the clay is that the Mana composition can be changed even after it is shaped to change the properties of the item.”
The example Aurexion had given them was a sidhe who had a cloak made of the stuff, he would usually have it flexible and light but with the right infusion it could be changed to something solid and heavy.
“That’s a decision for the council as a whole, not just the two of us to make.” Archduke Goldenmouth was already dreading the hours they would spend discussing this. “At least we can delay that conversation until we know which Mana types affect it.”
Arriving at the council chamber both Archdukes entered, they were the last ones the council was waiting on.
“What did the cougar cost us?” The council barely had the patience for the two of them to sit before the questions started. The council was aware of what they were trying to buy.
“Gryndor wanted one of the vitality apples we had, no doubt for their newborn griffin, it will help it grow stronger and it's a good way for whoever they want to bond with, Prince Xavier is my personal guess, to win the baby’s trust and form the bond. Four thousand gold coins, half going to House Hearthbound and half covering some of those coin vouchers that are now being traded in the capital. And finally those shadow Mana cherries.” Archduke Plentimore gave the full accounting.
“Those cherries were from a level forty floor, why did they want them?” the question was immediate, everything else was something they knew about and an acceptable price for what they got in return.
Much to Archduke Goldenmouth’s chagrin his fellow Archduke told them exactly what the cherries were useful for and the arguments began. It took three minutes for Archduke Goldmancer to get his fellow council members to quiet down so he could further explain the situation.
“First of all we had no idea what they did when we struck the deal to sell them.” Goldenmouth pointed out, before explaining the deal he had made with Ajax before they even entered the vault. “Considering we had no idea what it was or how to use it I say we got a very good price for them on the resources we need to get Shadow some new gear.”
“We could have used those cherries to have Shadow pick out his own student, give them access to Shadow Mana.” This was the argument Goldenmoth was worried about since it looked solid and convincing them it was bad would take time.
“We have no way of knowing how strong their Shadow Mana affinity would be, if they had access to Mana and they didn’t gain it naturally, sure the cherries might be able to give it but it would still grow slowly.” The archduke explained. “We would have had to use it on someone without an aptitude for Mana just to have a chance at a solid result.”
The council meeting just continued to drag on from there. With reports coming from Archduke Warborne about the way the war was moving only piling more things on top. As the high General the final Archduke of the Republic couldn’t be present so Goldenmouth ensured that a report about the clay was sent to him in case he had an immediate use for it but talk about what they had already given away could wait.
The meeting ran for hours on end, Ajax and the rest of Gryndor champions had probably already woken up from their rest following a curse floor before the meeting ended and that was saying something seeing as most of them were not fully rested before the delve started.
“The correspondence for Brightstone’s ambassador has dropped severely.” This was the final point they needed to consider. “They could be thinking of withdrawing their support following their losses.”
“We traded for one of their squads back, what more could they want.” the angry response was understandable since they could have traded for their own squad that was captured but the final decision was that they needed to make a gesture to keep Brightstone from pulling the rest of their forces.
“Anything else before we call an end to the meeting?” right as the question was asked one of the aids brought in another message from Archduke Warborne.
“He wants the clay tested as soon as possible, no surprise there, like we don’t already have our crafters doing that.” Councilmember Deepforge read the missive. “Oh this is not a bad idea, since they exited the first dungeon a few days faster than we expected we should move up the start time for Gryndor’s second delve, that way we’ll get their champions back out there faster.”
“We can offer that, but they have to agree to it.” Goldenmouth nodded. “The contract we signed is very specific and very strict, if they want to take their time before they start their second delve it's up to them.”
“Gods damn it, who told him about the armor?!” Deepforge cursed as he noticed the PS from Warborne about them trying to buy the armor from Gryndor and how such a valuable set shouldn’t have been left with them when they were in such dire need.
“Don’t even bother.” Archduke Plentimore shook his head. “I saw the way Gryndor’s prince was looking at that armor, he might as well have been stroking it and calling it his precious. No need to waste time on that.”
With that the meeting ended, the offer for the delve to be moved up was made and accepted, they didn’t decide to move it to the next day like the Republic wanted but if two days sooner was all they could get the Republic would take it. Following Shadows' battle they weren’t sure how long it would be before the large battles between champions would start actually taking place and they wanted Gryndor’s champions there for them.