Oswald Manfred

The boy was plastered halfway through the drink. I told him everything, that I needed to tell him. Though I felt terrible knowing he wouldn't remember a single bit of it. It was better this way, the people I killed in the past were nothing to be proud of. The empty title granted to me by the kingdom of fire, was just used to terrify their people. I wanted that past dead and buried, and I held no right to claim what I did in Dark Fall. I was simply a broken man at the time, given purpose in life by a monster and a human of all things.

Truth was, that I saw myself as a tool. I am far too old to reach for grander things, but I am too weak to let my legacy die. I asked Avon to spike Richard's drink. Because while I am too weak to face my past still. I will not stand by and let someone assassinate this lad. After the lad finished drinking, I strolled outside the room to talk to Avon himself. "Thank you for that. Make certain he gets home safe. I'll pay for the protection, my friend."

Avon stroked his ghostly beard, "Of course, Mal is sending his apprentice to meet with you when you are ready. What is this all about my friend?"

"There are a lot of things I could guess at, but in the end it's just me guessing. I doubt Mal actually cares, but he took a move against the lad. I listened to how the boy ran out of repellent outside the walls. Something that shouldn't have happened, because I made a deal to ensure the boy wouldn't die due to a lack of it. That deal was broken, and I had to make a choice. I needed to either bring the boy into my family and under my full protection, or send him away and disown him as an apprentice."

Avon looked me up and down, "The boy is that talented?" He raised a brow, before looking at the door.

I shook my head slowly, "Sadly no, he'll become a master through hard work. The truth is, that he came into contact with something I am curious about. I care for the boy, I truly do. I love him like a son, but the best course would have been to send him away. Hell sending him outside the walls with my book and some supplies might have been better. What I need to know is how he and his monster came into contact with mad spores."

Avon scratched his chin, "Mad spores? I'm afraid I never understood why Alchemists wanted those."

"I didn't notice it before myself, until I moved some stains into the monster's room. I was curious why the floor wasn't squeaking as she moved anymore. Then I found some on the creature's sheets. I checked the lad's destroyed clothes, and found more there. Most of them were probably washed away in the rain, but there was enough to make me think the monster might know where they are."

"You're just talking to yourself right now friend." He crossed his arms, "What does it matter?"

"I've been searching for the fungus that produces these spores. Trying to learn how to grow them. They are so incredibly rare, that a kilogram of the stuff is worth a platinum. Even when I request it from the king, I barely get more than a fingernail at a time. Though you want to know why I want it. Truth is, I want it because it's so rare. I want to run as many tests as I possibly can. To find out what it can do. It's a fungus that grows on the corpses of dead monsters. Is the fungus itself a monster? Can it hold the key to a safer monsterization process? I just don't know Avon. People find patches of it here and there, always in caves guarded by monsters. I'm not talking about fiends either, I'm talking about the real monsters. The kind that can stare at you, and you turn to stone or some shit."

"Okay? I still don't get it, but the guards are ready for the boy. Are you going to send him home and let me tell the apprentice to come in?" Avon smirked a little.

"Go ahead, I'll send the lad off. He's going to have a headache tomorrow, but that's fine. Especially since he'll need to find his monster a place to stay outside my estate. I need you to make sure she stays safe for me. She's an example of perfect monsterization, and I need her alive to keep the boy happy and to study her properly." I turned to the door, ready to open it again. Avon simply faded through some walls to get everything set up. He was a close friend, but I just couldn't accept his family. If it was just him, there would be no issues.

I returned to my spot on the couch, to find Richard half drooling on the table. The lad was black out drunk. I gently shook him awake, his speech slurred as he asked me what was going on. I managed to convey he needed to head home, which he did without too much protest. While I sat in the room in silence. I took the chance to put the crystal gloves on. Immediately I felt the sensation of my hands being inside the glass table. Right next to the hammer.

I softly picked it up, turning it from inside the case. It was meticulously made, and properly fitted. The top of the handle was a slab of worked metal, more like that of a mallet. The more area for it to have for the runes inscribed on it. I could feel how finely the edges of the hammer itself were worn. It was one that had been properly used before. Even with the recent polish, I could see grooves where the hammer face had been worn down through the years. Which mean it had a rune that allowed it to repair itself. The top of the hammer held a rounded knob, with multiple emblems on it. Suggesting that this was a hammer that bound families together. That if I accepted it, then I could be apart of these various families.

Turning to the bottom of the hammer, I saw what they could offer. Access to runes, a large blacksmith complex, raw materials and wealth. Avon really wanted me to see this hammer in particular. I ran my phantom fingers down the handle. It was made of elf wood, to allow it to channel magic. Cords of rare leather braided in a pattern to show the wood, and the material. The pommel held a single silver ring, with different strands of hair intricately woven together to make the emblem of the Beard Cutters. One of the largest families, that surrounded themselves with talent. If one refused, they had a habit of grinding the family until they got who they wanted. In this case it was me.

If they were sending this, then it meant they really needed an alchemist for something. Usually I refused these kinds of things. I was only one dwarf, but depending on how my talk with Mal's apprentice went, I might need to accept it. Then there was a knock on the door. I promptly took the gloves off, and watched as a disgusting looking fellow emerged. The spy known as Emery emerged, a half elf slave by his side. Emery bowed, before entering. His slave closing the door behind him.

I could tell by her cloak, and the way she carried herself, that she used to be an assassin. An interesting choice, but understandable. Emery took his seat as I gestured to it. The various fluids I kept in my satchel, bubbling and releasing a very toxic gas. I guided it over my body. Keeping it from reacting with any of my cells. Emery seemed to understand what this meant, and merely bowed his head. The slave began to speak, but Emery held up a hand to silence her. I let the dark shroud continue to obscure me, letting them understand who they crossed. My goggles glowing green, as I let the cloud form expressions with the glowing. "Tell me, why do you think you are here?" My voice was low, caught and distorted by the thick cloud that I kept compressed and swirling around my body.

Emery looked into my eyes, "I have a contract with the king sir. If I die, another will take my place." He truly was young, to think I did not know this yet. I allowed him to continue, the cloud stretching an unnatural smile, as the glowing green eyes stared at the man harder. "I am also a masochist, so if you wish to lash out at me, please do. I enjoy the pain of it." I extended a hand to the table, lightly tapping on the glass with my gas. If I released it, it could fill the entire room, and then some. It was through my will, that not even a wisp was allowed to escape. This caused the man to swallow hard.

"I asked you a question boy." I dragged the last part out, letting him truly comprehend who's time was being wasted here.

Emery blinked, then looked down at his lap, "I was told it was about the half assed assassination attempts on your apprentice. You want to know who, and why. You probably want to know what attempts were taken against him. The answer is in this room sir."

I pulled my dark hand back, letting the gas rejoin the rest in a shapeless shifting frame. It only took me a second to understand what he meant. "My 'family?'"

Emery nodded, "Yes sir, they are afraid of the young man spending too much time with you. They know your preferences, and are worried about him taking what they see as theirs. Then there are the Beard Cutters breathing down their necks, to get you to join. They really seem to need someone with your abilities."

I understood it clearly now, the same family that cast me out wanted me to do one last favor for them. It was always, 'one last' thing. The same parasites that only started to aid this city; after we survived the monster hoards and broke the lines of the fire kingdom. The same ones that never would have came if my name wasn't whispered with fear and respect. I used them for their money, and their resources. The same small family that only held a single smithy, and was about to die in the Northern Kingdom. The same one, that I had allowed to maintain a noble position in this city. That I kept around, merely because a cousin could do alchemy. It was through my name and power, that they grew in this new city. Now they were using it to attack my only apprentice.

Emery didn't move an inch, as he watched my cloud grow twice it's size. The anger I felt at this betrayal, the same rage I had buried when they first exiled me. My family was a cancer, that needed to be removed. Still they were the only family I had by blood. The cloud shrunk down to it's original size, as Emery composed himself a little more. "The Beard Cutters have been very tight lipped about what they need sir. The Caravan that is coming, was sent by them as a gift since they could not contact you through your 'family.' The king would like it, if you were to keep the relationship with our only ally. On... agreeable terms?"

I just glared at the boy, brooding over what could have been avoided. My mind formulating a plan to properly take care of everything. The king really didn't care about our relationships with the other kingdoms. We were strong, but we needed support where we could get it. I already knew that I needed to see the Beard Cutters, if they were going so far. Especially if they went far enough to welcome me into their family with their hammer. They likely took the time to do their research, setting things up months in advance. Though whatever they needed was likely time sensitive if they sent an entire caravan as a 'gift.' Finally I nodded, which seemed to let Emery breathe. "Oswald Manfred shall die with the first snow fall."

Emery blinked, "I beg your pardon?"

"Haven't you heard the soothsayers boy? I shall die with the first snow fall. Likely during the ball where all the nobles have gathered, to witness it first hand." If I were to leave Eclipse, Richard would be pushed out of what I wished to give him. However, if we made a scene and I were to die. My last words would carry a weight that should allow me to give the boy the time he needed. It was going to be annoying to break all the traps and reactions apart in my estate.

Emery seemed to understand, "Now that you mention it sir, I do recall a few loose lipped speakers stating something like that. I'm unsure who else might have heard it sir."

"Why, the count of course. The king if he was paying attention. Mal already knows without a doubt. Even Vivian, my dear boy. All of them were probably skeptical at the start, but the soothsayers discussed it loudly enough on the streets." Even when I was walking here, I could hear them talking about it.

Emery smiled, "Of course sir! I just didn't want to believe it. It's the talk of the city, even as we sit here discussing it. Such an unfortunate fate, to lose such a wonderful alchemist. His body to be shipped back to the Beard Cutters for a proper dwarven burial."

"Right you are. Upon hearing this, I wondered how best to keep my family safe. No one could be better than the Beard Cutters. I'll tell Avon myself that I have accepted their hammer." The apprentice was at least a little sharp where it mattered. This course also offered the best solution to many of my problems. The first being that I could work in seclusion again. Richard would be fine without me guiding him, so long as he used my journal and managed to focus on a small spot with his cells. The second was keeping two kingdoms from developing bad relations. While the third meant I could request the Beard Cutters to grind and scatter those parasites to the wind for even trying to assassinate my apprentice. Granted there were more reasons, but these were the main ones.

Emery nodded, "I'll pay some people to help spread the word, I imagine this also helps to stop the spread of rumors about a certain monster?"

I grinned, letting the boy know he was smarter than I gave him credit for, "It should certainly help with that. Especially if a certain monster, couldn't heal my fatal wound in front of the court. Though I need to clarify this, she can heal very well. We are doing this to protect her, not diminish her abilites or talents. Which is easier to do, when the nobles, the gangs, and the churches aren't trying to fight over her."

"About that sir, I have reports from some of the priests in the church. They stated she snuck from your estate last night." Emery was prodding me with this question.

"Clearly that's a lie, I would have known if she walked out the front door." Where was he going with this?

"Are you certain? Some guard reported seeing a dark figure carrying a cloaked woman between alleys. The more experienced ones followed after, reporting she snuck into the back of the church of Bo'chi. While a priest named Eric was exclaiming about her healing."

"Aye, I figured that the father would try to use her for some quick coin. Who was the woman? What else can you tell me? If she did sneak past me." The girl couldn't fly, as far as I knew.

"The woman was the grand daughter of a certain Father at the church of Bo'chi. Which isn't that impressive by itself. Save for the fact that her son is a hybrid." I tilted my head at what he said.

"A hybrid? What kind? Where did she come from?" The boy was playing a dangerous game with making me ask so much.

"Nothing special sir, just a human and dragon hybrid. My man on the inside listened where he could, and confirmed some things later. I thought you knew all of this, considering you wanted to hurry along and squash the rumors." Emery sat a little straighter.

"I did not know, but I appreciate you telling me. I'll have to pay the father a personal visit myself before the ball. It seems that we may need to move the monster's hive outside the inner walls. Somewhere in the fields, just in case. Especially if she wants to run around at night." I folded my hands on my lap. The movement obscured by my gas.

"I'm sorry sir, but why? I will have it done, but may I please know?" Emery made a face as he tried to think of a reason for this.

I nodded slowly, "When you have a monster that likes to creep about at night, it's better to let them find ways into the city for you. Especially if it isn't a proper threat. It also serves to protect the people inside better. Since if the monster does decide to take a few individuals, it's better if they are the ones no body might miss. After all, why would a monster smart enough to sneak out under my watch, want to attack people behind the walls, when there are perfectly defenseless people in the fields?"

"That makes sense, but we cannot track her with magic. How do you expect us to keep track of where she moves?" Emery seemed a little lost on that problem.

I started to get up, "You don't track her specifically. You track her bugs, which will lead you to her. Just change out the rotation of Entomancers. Establish a group with various types of insects by her house. A house that should have a wooden frame, covered in sturdy stone, built with warming crystals, and the fact that the inside will likely have holes punched in the walls. The house will need two exits, with a secret tunnel for her to discover. Make sure she has a water crystal, and whatever is needed to cook. I expect Richard to take trips to her home now and then. It's likely she doesn't need bedding of any sort, but leave some raw materials in a shed. We want to see what changes she'll make and add herself."

The half elf was quickly writing everything down, "Where should she be located sir? Why are we doing all of this exactly?"

I let the reaction that made the smoke reverse itself. The black gas slowly crawling back into my satchel. "Generally I need three good reasons to make a move. Put her in the Orchids, where it makes sense to have Entomancers guiding bugs to pollinate the trees. It's also a spot she hasn't seen yet. This puts her farther away from the church, and she'll have to go through the markets. Which lets you set up a net to keep tabs. The only places she is likely to go, are my estate, and that church. If we let this linger, she might get curious about the slums, and find the underground. Which is something we'd rather avoid. Especially if we want to keep the gangs from learning too much about her."

"You want her in Mal's orchids? Or, just any spot with fruit bearing trees?" Emery seemed to frown, thinking about all the work he'd have to do soon.

"Whichever is easier, but I feel Mal would like it more if they could keep tabs on her. Also, be sure to let the guards walking on top of the walls know about her. I don't expect her to climb the walls, but it's better to be prepared in case." My gas, finally receded fully to show my body once more.

Emery nodded, "Understood, naturally this conversation never happened."

"Just like those assassination attempts never happened. It's cleaner this way, and we all get what we want. Apologize to Richard for me, when I am gone. I can't tell the boy my plans, and I can't even tell him a proper goodbye. He'll be devastated and hurt, but he's a strong lad. Keep him alive, and help him the best you can. Do this, and I might owe you or Mal a favor. He's the only family I truly have, and I'd rather no one know." I walked out of the room while Emery silently nodded.

Outside the doors, I found Avon resting against the walls his arms crossed, "Do I need to get someone to clean up the bodies?"

I chuckled, "No need Avon, we worked everything out. How long has that hammer been there?"

"A few months. I was right cross when you stopped coming here every other month. Some of the Beard Cutters were rather upset when I reached out to them, and you never came like I said you did. Held my feet to the fire for a bit. Though I always knew you'd come back. So, what did you think about their offer?"

"I'm going to accept it, and I'll be disappearing for a while my friend. Something will be sent to you when I leave, and I think you'll enjoy it." I looked to Avon, who looked like someone just spit in his ale.

"Oi! You don't have to give me anything! I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. I couldn't have made this place, or lived out my life doing what I enjoyed. I was a greedy bastard in life, and still am one in death. I am a dwarf before my greed though, and I'll not take any gifts from you. Just burn it for all I care."

"Oh? Suit yourself then, I guess you don't need all the trophies in my lobby. All the rare monsters that were slain, just burning without anyone to appreciate them." I could see Avon struggling a little.

Finally he relented with a sigh, "Only because you're my friend Oswald. I'll keep your gaudy trophies in a room somewhere. When do you want it moved?"

"During the first snow ball. That's when I'll die, because that's what the soothsayers say." I grinned at Avon, before heading down the halls. Avon had to stay behind and talk to Emery, since we couldn't be seen together. It should probably take a week before the first snow fall. The elementalists likely to pull in clouds with their magic, just to hurry everything along for the caravan.

I walked out of the Bearded Lady, making my way through the district. Nothing was strange, but while I strolled closer to my house. I could hear the rumors starting to spread. Oswald Manfred was to die at the ball, of the first snow fall. Such gossip was far more juicy than some mysterious monster that could heal an arm. With my death, the kingdom of fire was likely to start making their own moves again. It should take them months to actually do anything with substance. Months before I rose from the grave to smother their army once again.

The night was nice and calm, even as I entered my home. I hobbled up the stairs, my bones creaking a little. I checked on Richard, to find he was still black out drunk. The lad was sleeping deeply enough to snore. I left him there, to make a tonic for hangovers. He could nurse it tomorrow, but then we had to train him up to control a small patch of skin. Once that was done, he'd be able to work on his focus no matter where he was. A centimeter would slowly grow to five, then the arm and so on. Everything slowly crawling as he injected himself more and more. Drinking healing potions to restore himself. I had to warn him not to take his brain, not until he was properly ready. Even I almost managed to kill myself when I first took it over. It was just too complex, and needed more attention.

Swirling my mixtures, I allowed the stains to creep away from each other. The same stains that were to combust with my death. Spreading fire and smoke to kill anyone that assassinated me. The same stains that might explode if I ever lost focus. My home truly was a death trap waiting to happen. Which is why I made the smell that ran everyone else off. If the place started to burn, I wanted to make certain no one was harmed by my passing. A final strike, at whoever managed to kill me. The assassins did come, but lately they came less and less. They stopped coming, right around the time I met Richard.

Which was probably what terrified me the most. He was just some child with nothing left to lose. Just like Charles had been. He was a stubborn bastard wanting to carve out his own place in the world. Now, he was my brother, and the only one I was proud enough to call family.