Chương 62: Chapter 60 - Outcomes

Alric awoke with a groan. It felt like he had a fire behind his eyes rather than a full headache. He opened his eyes. The man sitting in the chair opposite was broad through the shoulders, built like someone who had once been stronger and never bothered to stop being solid afterward. His uniform was clean in the way that came from habit rather than care, and it sat on him without ceremony. Deep shadows ringed his eyes, not bruises, just the look of someone who had slept badly for several nights in a row.

He watched Alric without expression, patient rather than stern, as though waiting for the room to catch up with him. A shutter somewhere down the corridor rattled once, then decided it had made its point and went still.

"Uh, good morning?" Alric asked, blinking rapidly.

"For other people maybe. For us it's just morning. I need to ask you a few questions," the man said tiredly. Alric nodded.

"Can you tell me what happened last night?"

"Uh… we were attacked. I don't know how many. More than ten, though," Alric said, squinting as he began to massage his temples.

"We chased them, to the main road I think. Just when we turned back there was a… gods, there was a fire." His eyes snapped open wider. He glanced at the captain, who made a small motion for him to continue.

"I needed water, so I… I did something with my mana. In the ground. To get water out of a well," he said, blinking harder.

"I don't remember much after that. It's real fuzzy." The chair creaked softly as the captain shifted his weight, apparently unimpressed by the chair's attempt at commentary.

"Well. That's the story I've heard from everyone else," the captain said.

"From what I know, that kind of thing happens to mages. I'd prefer it if you didn't do that again, but you aren't in trouble." Alric nodded.

"I need some sleep. I'll take my leave then," the captain said as he stood. He stretched broadly and exited the room, the door closing with a muted thud that suggested it approved of this decision. He hadn't been gone long when Seren appeared, carrying a tray. Steam curled faintly from the bowl as she set it down.

"Good to see you, Mister Alric. I must insist you eat your porridge. Can you sit up? Oh, you don't need my help. Good. Here you go." She adjusted the tray slightly.

"Now. I'm going to talk to this wall right here briefly. Please excuse me." She smiled and pointed at the wall. Seren turned away, not facing Alric at all. Alric regarded this new development with a large amount of scepticism. Seren let out a deep breath.

"You know, wall, I think my boss is an idiot. He charged out after twelve men in his small clothes and a shirt. Who does such a thing? He was even barefoot. Not only that, he then blows up a well in front of the whole city and collapses. You know the worst part, wall? It's like he doesn't understand that if he dies, all our futures die with him." A spoon clinked softly against the bowl as Alric shifted, the porridge taking this as encouragement. Seren drew a steadying breath and turned back with a smile.

"Is your porridge to your liking?"

"Uh… yes. Thanks," Alric said, feeling thoroughly chastised.

"I'd ask you to rest, but that would do about as much good as asking the wall to move. At least finish eating before coming through. Oh, and with pants this time." Alric glanced down and realised he was still wearing only a tunic and his small clothes. Heat rushed to his face. Seren's smile widened before she left. He finished his porridge. It tasted like regret, though that might have been the grains. Deciding it didn't do to dwell, he finished eating, dressed, and returned the tray.

The corridor beyond smelled faintly of damp stone as he stepped into the warehouse proper. The first thing he noticed was Stromni hammering at the copper boiler pot. Each strike rang sharp, then dulled as the metal settled into its new shape, like the old shape. Alric moved closer.

"Good ta see ye, lad. Remind me never ta get between you and a well," Stromni said with a proud grin. Henry, standing nearby, scoffed. The hammering stopped. A long moment of silence followed before Alric failed to keep a straight face and began laughing.

"I suppose I earned that. So…," Alric said, gesturing at the boiler pot.

"Pot got dinged a bit, nothin' serious. One steamer I'll need ta rebuild. Needs a new stone an' all," Stromni said, pointing to the torn casing. Alric sighed and moved closer to inspect it. The metal was cool under his fingers. The stone was what hurt. A full gold coin, which stubbornly refused to feel any lighter for being imaginary at the moment. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Mara approached, stepping around a cask that hadn't been put away.

"Everything okay, boss?" He nodded.

"No one's hurt, right?" She shook her head.

"Battery slept through the whole thing. Didn't even notice the doors. He was about to charge the station before we stopped him. He noticed that, though."

"So none of this is… wait… it's all… superficial?" Alric asked, turning back to Stromni.

"Aye. I'll have ye a new steamer in a day or two. Door's not too bad, but ye'll need a new lockin' bar. Hal went out ta fetch one. Asked for a bigger one. Should be here today." Alric let out a long breath.

"This all seems so… pointless."

"Aye. Just meant ta scare ye, lad. That's my thinkin'," Stromni said. Mara shrugged. A bucket somewhere tipped and settled, water sloshing before going still, as if the warehouse itself had decided that was quite enough excitement for the morning.

"Jase!" Henry shouted suddenly, rushing past Alric. Alric flinched, too keyed up, then turned as Henry reappeared, supporting his brother. Jase winced as Henry brought him inside. Henry lowered him into the chair beside the charging station, where Battery usually ate breakfast. The chair scraped once against the floor. Something about the way Jase moved felt subtly wrong. Then Alric saw the bruise along his eyebrow, half-hidden from his first angle. Alric shifted sharply. Henry crouched in front of him.

"You all right?" he asked. Jase nodded.

"What happened, lad?" Stromni asked, coming closer, brow furrowed.

"Four men… jumped me. I wasn't lookin'," Jase said, staring at the floor.

"Where were you? We've all been worried sick," Henry said.

"I was… seeing a girl."

"It's no' yer fault, lad," Stromni said gently.

"They say anythin'?"

"Just that the brewer won't talk." Alric's jaw locked. His ears rang. He realised he'd stopped breathing.

"Lessa!" Mara shouted, already running. Alric turned toward the doorway in time to see Lessa looking alarmed at Mara still walking toward the warehouse. He swore, loud enough to shock even Stromni, as Henry rushed out again. Moments later Henry returned, walking alongside Lessa and bringing her inside. Jase stood awkwardly, trying to make room. Alric was shaking, nothing had happened to Lessa, but the alarm his staff felt was plain to see. His mouth pulled tight before he caught it.

Stromni stepped directly in front of him.

"Lad. Ye're no' helpin'. Breathe. Now." A loose shutter banged once in the upper frame. A hand touched Alric's shoulder. He recoiled, then saw Seren, shaking her head slowly. He drew a breath and held it until his hands stopped shaking. Around him, he realised the rest of the staff had gathered. He hadn't noticed them arrive. Alric said nothing as Stromni questioned them.

"Four men. Wearing doublets," Jase said.

"Scar here," he added, pointing to his brow. People nodded at where Jase pointed. Henry clicked his tongue.

"Two groups then. The ones who came here were wearing cloaks."

"So both guilds, then," Vale said quietly. For a brief moment, Alric considered closing the brewery entirely. The thought stopped him cold as he realised how badly he had failed the people standing in front of him.

"Ya land a few of your own?" Henry asked his brother, there was a wince but also a smile. Jase was about to respond before he glanced at Alric's expression.

"Uh… Mister Alric," Jase stammered.

"You don't need to be so mad for me. My da hit me harder than this. This is nothing." The words hung in the air, a beat too long. Somewhere, a drip fell into a bucket. Several people winced. Henry wore a complicated expression but shrugged. The rage pouring through Alric changed shape. It cooled, sharpened, and settled into something far worse. He swore again, long and vicious, drawing wide eyes from the staff.

"So this is what the guilds do, then?" he asked, directing it at Vale rather than the room. Vale nodded once, slowly, as if he would have preferred to be wrong. Alric looked around. Not at defiance. Not at expectation. Just at people waiting.

"Then I am going to do something unforgivable," he said. His voice did not rise. If anything, it lowered.

"You should understand that before I do it." He paused, not for effect, but to breathe.

"What I am about to do cannot be undone. It cannot be explained away later, and it cannot be made clean. If the guilds want to pressure my staff, then it's only fair that I apply pressure back." His jaw tightened.

"I cannot strike the guilds directly. They are too large, too scattered, and hidden behind members. The only way to hurt them is through their members." A murmur started, then died.

"Nearly everyone who will be hurt by this had nothing to do with what happened here," Alric continued.

"That is why it is unforgivable. I know this. I am choosing it anyway." He drew a slow breath, steadying himself.

"I will not think less of any of you who choose to leave. You will be paid. You will be the bigger person. You will not be spoken of poorly by me." His gaze settled, level and unflinching.

"You have one hour to decide." No one moved.

"What kind of disaster are you wanting?" Vale asked, and it was clear the question genuinely interested him.

"I'm going to the Adventurers' Guild. Heaven knows they owe me a lot of favours. Vale, you're coming with me." Vale nodded.

"I'll fetch Brannick," Seren said.

"You're not walking alone, Mister Alric." Alric nodded, glancing out toward the city. Smoke still clung faintly to the air.

"If you stay with us after the hour, you'll have to stay here. For a while," he finished, as Brannick approached. Then he left, Brannick and Vale falling into step beside him. What Alric did not know was that across the city, people were already meeting in small groups. Many left wide-eyed. On the docks, work slowed as one man explained, "Aye, lifted water out a well like a rope. Slapped it down on a burning warehouse." A crate was set down and forgotten.

"Makes no sense. Guards?" another voice asked.

"Didn't touch him." Eyes rolled, until the same words were heard again. And again. Elsewhere, a confused jeweller stared at a knot of anxious citizens.

"With respect, we make rings.

'Tis a jewellers' guild. Why would we touch beer? I heard it were the innkeepers." The shop door stood open longer than it needed to. And in a quiet street, one man said, "Warehouse burnt down."

"Still delivered the beer, though," another replied. No one argued.