Chương 202: Arc 4 - Chapter 4

When Fritz and George arrived in the lounge, it was to find themselves amongst the whole household. From the looks on the gathered faces, which varied from the idly intrigued to excitedly expectant, they had interrupted an eager conversation.

"Did you tell absolutely everyone of your achievement, George?" Fritz asked pointedly. He hadn't wanted to reveal the gem's contents so publicly. His annoyance came across clearly, and the bulky man shuffled on his feet while he offered a sheepish smile.

"Oh, let him be proud of his work," Lauren said.

"Yeah, he's been banging away at that thing for days on end," Cal agreed.

"I am merely worried about this secret travelling beyond this room," Fritz stated.

"I told no one else," George said steadily. Light, pain-laden, though pale, flickered over his head.

"Fritz, you're being a paranoid prick. Stop it," Bert said.

"You're right, of course. My apologies, George," Fritz said sincerely. George nodded.

"Really, I should be thanking you," he continued.

"You've done much, and I truly appreciate it. The next Treasure sword we find is yours for the taking."

"How generous," Cal said sourly.

"A Treasure sword we haven't found yet."

"Yeah. Why not just give him the sword you took from the noble?" Rosie proposed.

"Unfortunately, I have plans for that particular blade," Fritz said.

"I intend for it to buy us some grace from the Minister of Law. Giving it back should keep the drizzlers off our backs for the time being. Or perhaps protect us from other schemes."

"Give it away!?" Bert cried.

"At least ransom it for some gold. Or another Treasure." Fritz shook his head sadly.

"Alas, I feel that would only earn more of the Duke's ire."

"Right, and cutting up his son, making him beg for life and taking the sword in the first place didn't 'earn his ire'," Cal scoffed.

"In the end, I spared him," Fritz countered.

"Any father would be thankful for that. Or so I've been led to believe. And perhaps, after some weeks to think over that fact, his initial fury may have cooled."

"I have heard that most of his anger is aimed at his son anyway," Jess provided.

"Yes, Thea mentioned that, didn't she?" Lauren asked. Jess nodded.

"Lord Whiteship still bears an ugly scar down his cheek, one that his father refuses to allow to be remedied with those expensive skin-smoothing salves. What could that be apart from a wrathful punishment?"

"A lesson to not pick fights with those of whom you have no measure," Fritz posited.

"A reminder to not pick fights with sneaky, perilous pricks like you," Bert agreed. Fritz smirked.

"Perhaps."

"Can we see what this thing does?" Cal asked, motioning to the contraption set upon the tea table.

"I haven't got all day, I have to get started on dinner."

"Right, of course," Fritz said. He took a moment to study the device before him. It looked much the same as it had before, a series of tubes forged of various metals, some gleaming and precious and some dull and base, all contained within a squared brass frame. There was a housing for both a light source, in this case a mana lantern, and a gem, and between them there were many lenses with all manner of different thicknesses and curvatures.

Those same lenses could be raised, lowered, slid closer or farther, and their angles adjusted. At first glance, he had thought it was mostly unchanged. On closer inspection, Fritz could see that the whole contraption was more securely put together. It was subtle, but everything looked like each piece was in its right and proper place. He unclasped his mana lantern from his belt, then knelt before slotting it in the device. This time, unlike the last, there was no wobble.

It sat solidly even when Fritz shook it, just to test it. He nodded approvingly. George smiled with well-deserved pride. Fritz then slipped a hand into the inner pocket of his coat and brought out the red gem. He set the stone into the claw-like receptacle, where it fit into place with a satisfying click.

"Put out the fire, if you would," Fritz requested.

"What is written in this gem will be easier to see in the dark." Bert pulled out his rod of Water Bolt, but was swiftly prevented from letting loose with it.

"Don't do that," Cal said, stepping in front of the fire.

"You'll scatter ash and embers everywhere."

"Ah, right," Bert said, disappointed.

"I'll get a bucket of rainwater," Cal said. Less than three minutes later, the fire had been doused and the lounge had been plunged into a warm darkness. Fritz lit the mana lantern with a touch, and it began to glow. The pale illumination was intensified by the mirrored housing before the shaft of white shone through the multiple layers of glass. The lenses further focused the light into a thin beam that precisely pierced the very centre of the red gem.

Its facets, both within and without, scintillated, and the countless edges gleamed. The wall beyond was painted in red light and white lines, and to Fritz's great joy, they were clear and coherent. There were projected glyphs and a diagram depicting a cut gemstone set into a runed ring. From what Fritz could tell, it was the description and design for an enchantment or perhaps a magical item. There were gasps and there were soft sounds of appreciation, as well as a low whistle and a "My word!"

Lauren jumped to her feet, staring hard at the glowing picture. Her brow was furrowed and her eyes intense.

"What is that?" Rosie asked.

"Looks like a ring," Bert said.

"I have eyes," she replied.

"But what's all the other stuff?"

"Runes," Lauren said.

"Though they don't look like any I've seen."

"Yes, and they are also in an odd grammar," Fritz observed.

"I can't say I've come across it either."

"Grammar?" George asked.

"It's a runecraft term," Fritz explained.

"You've studied runes?" Jess asked.

"Oh, a little bit," Fritz said, attempting modesty.

"Mostly wards."

"Why would you be learning about wards?" she asked suspiciously. Fritz smiled blandly, then turned his gaze back to the diagram.

"This must be a 'page' somewhere in the middle. Must have missed the cover and title," he theorised.

"You can adjust the gem's position with the dials," George said.

"That one should rotate it. From the design's notes, it should be like flipping a page." If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. Fritz nodded, then began to twist one of the dials. The gem turned in place, the image on the wall flickered rapidly, repeatedly replaced with other complex diagrams or long blocks of dense script. The fleeting, flashing display was a wonder to behold. It enchanted the team, leaving them transfixed.

Eventually, Fritz found the title, which read: The Illuminator's Encyclopedia of Radiant Runes, and the subordinated Magnificent Manuals of Incandescent Jewelcraftery and Glamorous Gemcutting.

"That's a mouthful," Bert said.

"Why is the name so long?" Rosie asked.

"The longer the better," Bert said, winking.

"Is that true?" Cal asked.

"No, a technique's name has no bearing on its strength," Jess said, her eyes narrowed in warning.

"That's if this is a Technique," Lauren said.

"It could simply be the compiled books it states it contains."

"I can't imagine it being anything other than a Technique," Fritz claimed.

"After all, you remember where we found it."

"That is a pertinent point," Lauren agreed.

"Though even if it wasn't a Technique, it must be unbelievably rare. Perhaps unique. The only one in Rain City, for certain, and maybe so for even further afield." Fritz nodded. It made sense; the obscure method of reading it alone marked it as exotic.

"So it's a runesmith's and jeweller's Technique?" Cal asked.

"With a focus on light alignment," Lauren added.

"If the title isn't purposefully misleading."

"Does that happen?" Rosie asked.

"Not often," Lauren said. Fritz frowned. He didn't know quite how he felt about the Technique. While he was interested to learn more of runes, he had no desire to study the creation of jewellery, nor the practice of gemcutting. Or at least, that's what he had believed before. The more he thought on the prospect, the more the crafts appealed to him. There was just the problem that its apparent alignment was not that of shadow. His frown fell away in a moment, and he scoffed inwardly at his foolish mistake.

His Dusksong wasn't just aligned to shadow. It was also comprised of light. He knew not just how compatible his fairy magics were with these Radiant Runes, but it bore investigation. A thorough one. Still, he was getting ahead of himself. All three of his Technique channels were full, so there was no gleaning the deepest secrets the stone held. Not yet.

"Fritz," Bert said, drawing him from his thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"I asked: What are we going to do with it?" Bert repeated.

"Do we want to trade it or sell it?"

"Oh, no. Let's not lose hold of such a precious store of knowledge. I wish to study it," Fritz declared.

"And anyone else who has a desire can join me."

"I wouldn't mind learning a thing or two about runes," George said.

"And guidance on the forging of jewellery could help me with embellishing any blades I make.

"Anyone else?" Fritz asked. Rosie shook her head. Cal pondered a moment before also shaking his head.

"A Brute like me?" Bert grinned.

"I think you know my talents lie elsewhere." Lauren hemmed and hawed before deciding, "I'll try my hand, there's no harm in the attempt." Jess refused, saying, "I studied runes under a tutor. I haven't any talent, nor the mind for it."

"What?! But you're such a good scribe and Quartermaster," Cal said. She gave a smile as bitter as any Fritz had ever seen her give.

"It's difficult to get a grip on. While the runes themselves are easy enough to memorise, it's the grammar, how the runes relate to each other, or interact. That is what I found incomprehensible. No matter how clear I could picture the individual runes, everything always got jumbled up when I tried to order them properly." Fritz kept the surprise off his face. He had no such trouble. In fact, most of his failures in learning wards were from the improper and imprecise recollection of the runes.

The grammars came far easier to him, as he could almost see the flow of power, like it was water running through gutters. To him, it came as naturally as rhythm and rhyme. Jess continued to speak.

"The tutor said that with long, hard study, I could eventually learn to be a decent inscriber. But he informed me that if I intended to do so, I would need to Climb. Also, the lessons would be expensive and time-consuming, so I decided not to pursue that particular path."

"Well, you're still welcome to join us," Fritz said.

"I can help a little, here and there. My own education has been somewhat haphazard, though, so I'm not sure just how much I can teach." Jess smiled, but declined.

"To make use of anything from that Technique, I would need to Climb. I still have no intention of doing so." Fritz knew better than to argue the point further, as, apparently, everyone else did as well, judging from the guilty expressions they wore. He came to the conclusion that he wasn't the only one who had attempted to convince her to Climb.

"If we're all decided, then we might as well start learning now," Fritz announced. And so they did. Those who had no desire to study the contents of the gem stayed for only a couple of minutes. The gleaming lines, while dazzling, soon lost their novelty, then their lustre. As Fritz stared at the wall and read the glyphs, he readily realised that what was written was far beyond the skill or knowledge of a novice.

If he hadn't been privy to the many tomes and teachings in Wardbreaker's Den, he would have found the Technique's information impenetrable. As it was, he merely found it completely confounding. Lauren soon deemed the endeavour an exercise in frustration and futility, and after only half an hour she abandoned her attempt, leaving only George and Fritz in the lounge. They both continued their diligent study, scribbling the runes on paper and trying to memorise the intricate forms and their functions.

After some hours, they stopped in their rigorous reading and instead distracted themselves with a perusal of the designs and diagrams that made up the further facets. What they discovered was more than intriguing. There were all manner of useful, potentially powerful or profitable applications of the Technique.

There were the runes, of course, both to enhance and to ward, then there were depictions of a few magical items, including crystal-cored mana lanterns, light drinking warmth stones, and various lenses for the detection of certain energies. What really caught Fritz's attention, though, was the multitude of ways to cut and polish gemstones, all with the purpose to store and hold the cast of an Ability to be released at a later time.

The simplest of such designs used a two-inch orb of clear or cloudy quartz to contain a Flash spell. While it was a lot of labour for such a middling Ability, there were plenty more powerful examples. Unfortunately, they also required the creator to be able to use the Ability in question themselves, which rendered much of the recorded recipes untenable. Still, there was the chance that, by studying these designs, he could deduce his own variants.

Though these thoughts and many more coursed through his mind, he knew it was a far-off prospect. That, and it was an expensive, exhausting process to create the spell-storing stones. What's worse is that they were fragile, cracking or shattering after a few uses, if not the very first. All in all, Fritz was both pleased and disappointed with the red stone. Yet he felt that its deeper secrets, though still out of reach, would be worth any weight of gold.

He was so focused on these musings that he missed the dinner bell. It took the gentle, yet firm, touch of Cassandra's hand to stir him from his trance. Fritz hadn't even noticed she'd been there. She signed an apology, which he waved away with a gesture and a smile. George was nowhere to be seen, having already left, so Fritz stood and swiftly joined his team in the dining room. There he ate, he was ravenous, though he restrained himself from gulping down the hearty stew Cal had prepared.

He didn't deign to speak until he was full, and dessert was being served. It was some kind of fruit pie, sweet and tart with a hint of spice. It would have been delicious if not for the blackened crust. After he had finished eating, he and George told the assembled team of what they had learned. The table listened, and although they were starting to doze, they also realised the great value of the Technique gem.

"If you were able to grasp the method, you could make a fortune making mana lanterns or those warming stones," Jess said.

"That depends on the materials required," Lauren corrected.

"Yes, of course," Jess replied dismissively.

"Though, think about it, Fritz. If you mastered the making of such things, you wouldn't have to Climb anymore."

"I want to Climb," Fritz countered.

"And I don't want to spend my life toiling in such a manner. Creating the same thing over and over would be so dull. I couldn't imagine a future more bleak."

"Dull is it?" Jess bristled.

"Bleak? Well, I happen to think death is a more bleak fate than a bit of repetitive toil."

"That's not what I want for myself," Fritz stated, standing up.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to resume my studies." With that, he left, ignoring any further fretting. He did have more to learn and a few theories to test. Fritz, while comfortable in the lounge, found that the room wasn't conducive to scholarship. For one, it lacked a proper desk. For two, it was prone to interruption. Considering this, he had George help him move the device into his bedroom for the time being.

He promised the stoic man that he'd do his best to summarise and simplify what he deciphered from the overly obtuse Technique. George accepted the offer gratefully, admitting he had some trouble keeping all the runes and terms straight anyway, so any more study would be wasted on him.

"It's to be expected," Fritz assuaged.

"You've had no education in runes, and as Jess said, it's a difficult discipline. Even for someone as intelligent as her." George nodded, though there was a slight slump to the movement.

"Don't worry, if you can't grasp the runecraft, you can just focus on the forging knowledge," Fritz said.

"Alright," he replied.

"Oh, and George," Fritz added.

"Yes?"

"Thank you. The device is wonderfully built, you've done well," Fritz said, smiling his most genuine smile.

"You're welcome," George said, returning it. With that, they retreated to their separate rooms. Fritz activated the device, and he read late into the night.

Days passed, then those days stretched into a week. While it wasn't boring, being full of training, lessons and other learning, the days had become routine. It was just what Fritz needed to recover and grow his strength and stamina. Still, he had the feeling that there was something on the horizon, a storm that he wasn't prepared for. He shared this worry with Adam, who took the words seriously, but told him to focus on what he could accomplish in the now, rather than fear for the future. Fritz had heeded him.

It was good advice. Of course, the week wasn't all struggle and strain. There were moments of comfort too. There were tender hours with Sylvia, when they had a chance to meet, then there were nights out with members of the team, either visiting taverns or other distractions that they, as the newly wealthy, could enjoy, such as the theatre or the great displays of Dancers. There were other duties, less pleasant, too. He was called upon by both Lady Noonsea and Count Wavereach.

He endured their companies as best he could, keeping in mind the debts he owed them and a particular promise he'd made as to a potential marriage. Thankfully, House Noonsea didn't press him to fulfil that contract. Not yet, though they did look to be interested, especially the young lady he could possibly be betrothed to. One week turned into two, and most of the preparations and repairs on Hightide Manor had been completed and deemed as satisfactory by Fritz himself after a quick inspection.

Again, he avoided the garden. Furniture commissioned by himself and his team was being brought in, day by day, and soon the place would be suitable to stay in. He allowed himself some pride at this achievement. It was a bright spot in his murky melancholy. He hadn't been progressing through the red gem's contents as quickly, nor as easily as he would have liked, and he had reached something of a ceiling in the mastery of his other Techniques. Most of his training now focused on conditioning.

Adam had nearly finished drilling them in all the common weaponry he thought necessary and had taken to instructing them on how to use their Abilities in the most efficient manner. That meant testing their range and strength, instilling rapid reactions and trying to ingrain a bone-deep familiarity with one's powers. It often left Fritz drained, as he was often instructed to overdraw his mana. This was another kind of training, one to make sure that, even when exhausted, he would fight as he was taught to.

He bore it all with dignity and very little complaining. That was until Adam had said he'd found a proper navigator and survival expert to sharpen Fritz's Scout skills.

"Why do I need that?" he asked, setting down a heavy weight, then basking in the restorative light of the Treasure lantern overhead.

"Because you do," Adam barked.

"You can't just rely on your Perception, Senses and Awareness."

"I don't see why not. I've done quite well trusting my powers," Fritz argued.

"I'll let your new mentor explain why," Adam said.

"Though they're not quite a Scout, they're tough and have more than enough experience to instruct you beyond the basics you already know. They also fill the Role of Captain and can teach you something about leadership and tactics."

"Again, I am already adept as a Captain," Fritz stated.

"Maybe for a bunch of kids who don't know any better," Adam scoffed.

"But what if you needed to lead veteran Climbers you don't know personally?" Fritz hesitated, although he had confidence in his charm and wit and the power of Dusksong; he had to admit that ordering such Climbers would prove a challenge.

"Oh, very well," Fritz agreed.

"When do I meet them?"

"Today," Adam said.

"There she is right now." A woman, tall, broad with muscle and terribly familiar strode into the hall. Her blond hair was braided, falling just past her shoulders. She was wearing her fur armour and bore a spear and shield on her back. She smiled as she saw Fritz's expression. It was a wolf's grin.

"Fritz!" the Krakosi boomed.

"I've been looking for you!"