Chương 41: Ch 40: Protection

The thrill of travel can't be understated. The thrill of traveling somewhere dangerous though? Gets the balls tingling. Lenn Braun, Chief Traveller of the Explorer's Guild Solomon asked the creature he'd created to sit on the edge of the desk while he finished his preparations for the next spell. He'd already made both spell circles, but he needed to add some fresh blood to each and give everything a final review. He removed the cloth he'd placed over each of them and went through a thorough review.

After making his touch ups and adding the blood he turned to the clay figure perched neatly at the edge of the desk.

"Alright, come down here and stand in this circle," he pointed to the one opposite of himself. The homunculus hopped from the desk, landing a bit unsteadily, and trotted over to the other circle. Once it was in place Solomon began moving his mana into the circle, feeling his blood react to it as each circle began to glow red. Once both circles were illuminated, he began to feel his own blood within his veins as well as that which he'd infused into the homunculus.

He could feel them resonating for a few moments, then the spell ended. Solomon took a deep breath. It had used a fair chunk of mana, but he felt it slowly flowing back into him already. With the spell completed he didn't feel much of a change. He looked to the clay figure who was standing still, waiting for additional instructions. He took a few steps over to it and held out a hand.

"Hop up." It complied and he carefully placed it on the desk, then sat at it and drew his scalpel. He pressed it into his thumb, just hard enough to draw blood, but nothing happened. He looked at the clay figure and noticed a nick across its arm.

"It worked," he muttered, nodding to the clay figure.

"Thank you." It gave another of its salutes. He placed his scalpel down and leaned back in the chair. He had a means to protect himself. He wasn't sure of how much damage it could take, but any that it did take would be damage he didn't. The only issue was that he couldn't cut himself to draw blood as he had been. He had a good number of vials now, but he wanted to stockpile more. He also didn't want to waste the effort he'd made creating this first homunculus, nor did he want to sacrifice it for nothing.

He would be headed for Etling the following day anyway, so he would only be losing out on the two vials he would've drawn that morning. As he was ruminating he heard another cracking sound as yet another of the homunculi hatched. He watched as, one after another, they all began to emerge from the dirt and take their first steps. Much like the first they all saluted him upon arrival and whenever he asked them a question. Before he left the hidden study he had them all arrayed in a neat line on his desk.

"Keep an eye on the study," he said, receiving a neat salute in unison from all five of them in response. That prompted a smile from him as he left them there, exiting the hidden chamber and heading into the library with a thank you to the suit of armor as he left. He walked up to the second floor to look out the window and consider what he had so far.

He had the basic spells he'd learned before he had mana, the ability to avoid serious damage at least once, and a stockpile of blood he could weaponize along with a method of weakening an enemy's mana. He wouldn't mind being able to fling a fireball, but he would be far more confident if he encountered the Lord of the Black Wood again. Not confident enough yet to seek him out though. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

He knew the matter would come back again. He doubted he'd killed former mayor Neiman when he'd hit him with that enhanced gust spell and he and the creature clearly had a relation to one another. Eventually he would come to call. Solomon hoped he'd be able to be the one to control the confrontation. He walked out of the library and into the hall, walking past several maids as he made his way to his room. He found Melissa waiting for him with a number of chests packed. She gave him a bow.

"Lord, I apologize. I'm not entirely sure of what to pack for this visit. In my old role I was rarely off estate property." Solomon nodded.

"It's alright. I don't expect anyone to do something perfectly the first time." He walked and began picking through each chest.

"We likely need one fewer chest. Out here this far from the capital it's not considered folly to wear the same clothing more than once in a short period of time. Mix in more of uncle's clothes as well. I've been favoring them more lately." She nodded and began to reorganize things.

"Lord. Is there anything else I should be prepared to do while we're in the Viscount's estate?" He tapped his chin with his walking stick.

"Your primary responsibility will be to me. As it usually is. You'll also need to make sure Duncan has what he needs, but I wouldn't worry too much about his ability to take care of himself. If Viscount Byar's servants are not properly helpful, or act inappropriately, come to me and I will take care of it." She nodded as she continued her work. She was nervous, but handling it very well. She had been doing such an effective job as his valet he'd forgotten how recently she'd come into the role.

By most standards her rise was meteoric. From a maid to a valet and acting lead butler of an estate at her age was unheard of. Of course, there were a number of mitigating factors involved. It was a smaller country estate, and he didn't need a local butler to help introduce him to the local nobility. He also had been limited by who he could bring in the first place. She'd risen well to the challenge though, as had the rest of the servants. Once she was done packing she turned to him.

"I have the couriers set to hold your mail until you return and all of the other servants have been made aware of their responsibilities while you are gone."

"Excellent. Thank you, Melissa." She bowed.

"Now, please get some rest." She smiled just a bit, gave another bow, and left the room. Solomon stood there for a few moments looking at the packed bags. He was reluctant to leave the manor, but the opportunity to be properly introduced to the merchants and nobility within Etling couldn't be ignored. Not to mention he was curious about Viscount Byar. Their connection was tenuous at best.

He wasn't sure if the man was simply a sentimental type or he had something else he needed and simply used his sister and Solomon's betrothal as a justification for it. He smiled. It didn't feel like he'd had a restful moment since he'd arrived. He had to say he rather favored that. He'd been confined and limited in what he could do for so long that he found that the fetters that came with his newfound freedom were quite comfortable.

Solomon had a dinner of some kind of liver pie that he didn't favor, but finished, and went to sleep early. His sleep was nothing but comforting blackness and oblivion and he awoke with the sun feeling refreshed. He had a bath run to ensure he didn't offend when he arrived in Etling and after he was clean he had a light breakfast of fruit and bread. Once he was done he walked out to the front of the manor and watched as Duncan and Regis loaded his things onto the carriage.

It was a cloudy day with a smell of rain in the air, but it hadn't yet begun falling. Once everything was prepared, Melissa opened the carriage door for him and he stepped inside. She chose to ride up front with Duncan for the trip. While in Moonfallow there wasn't much of a need to follow normal protocol, in Etling the expectations would be different. Still he insisted that if it rained she would come inside. With everything ready, the carriage began to roll forward.

Solomon looked out the window as they slowly moved away from the manor. He could see one of the maids dusting under the window inside, one of the guards completing a circle around, and the top of Poth's head as he dug some type of irrigation. The manor itself looked as imposing and impressive as it had when he'd first arrived. The fanged gargoyles on the corners cast particularly imposing shadows in the cloudy gloom of the day.

He'd only had the estate for a few months, but it was already feeling more like home to him than the Morrow estate ever had. He even found himself missing the odd chill from it as the carriage took him further and further away.