Oswald Manfred (A week after arriving)

The days blurred together, while I worked. My mind often slipping towards how my true brother was doing. I felt regret for the lying to him, for hurting him. Still, my king's words rang in my ears. Just two short years, and I would see the lad again. I put all my efforts into coming up with a plan to properly deal with this. To make this city safe enough to meet up with him at the very least.

I put off the chief's efforts to get me to sit down and eat with him. To give me a chance to meet his son, moving between the rooms and buildings in the immediate area. What I needed, was a gas or liquid that could identify a mimic without the need to control it. Something that would at most aggravate the skin of those using it, without any harmful side affects.

I holed myself up in the dungeon of the city, offering advice to the chief as he asked it. Letting him, and the doppelgangers that came to see me, know what I planned. The doppelgangers were a problem, really they were the main problem, but we needed the aid of their queen to deal with the others. To make that possible, we needed to control the mimic population to calm down the dwarf population. The doppelgangers were more than happy to remove the mimics from the city, even bringing quite a few for me to test and experiment on.

The queen mimic was probably just eating the ones brought to her, but it would be too easy for them to fill a room with some they 'forgot.' The formula I was working on, was to make it so even the non-doppelganger dwarves could work and make the city safer. To give them a feeling of hope, that there was something they could do. It would make the queen look good, since the doppelgangers were working to remove the 'lesser' mimics. Which was needed to make a show that we were relying on that queen, while they were using us to turn the population to their side.

It was a delicate game, of balancing the power of the Chief, against the power of the church lead by doppelgangers. The doppelgangers controlled by the closest queen, had the standard 'D' scar on either cheek. They were more open, while the Chief had to explain to the public that these were the 'good' monsters. The ones that would help us rescue the other cites. The population was a bit too eager to accept it as a compromise, but there wasn't much of a choice right now. Especially when it got around that the other option was to open a magma vent and purify everything.

I was being vilified as a madman, a traitor to my own people for even considering such an option. After all, how could any true dwarf threaten to wipe the slate clean. For my safety, I needed to stay in the dungeon while I worked on a 'better' solution. The Chief himself escorted me, while the people watched. The most important part was that anyone was allowed to visit me in my 'cell.' The idiots hated me, because my actions could result in their death.

My lab had doppelgangers coming down frequently to check on me, and my lab. Cell walls demolished so that I had all the space I could want, raw materials brought as dust, powders, or liquids. I kept my satchel on me at all times, my gas cloak wrapped around me. To my surprise the doppelgangers did not make any assassination attempts, nor did they have any useful idiots try. Still a week passed in the cool dark dungeon. All prisoners long since cleaned out, since the queen mimic likely stole them away to bolster her forces.

I struggled to keep track of the time, realizing it was time for lunch as the Chief brought me a tray. I checked him, and the personal escort that he brought along. I took the tray, through the hole, figuring I had a few moments to spare while my next brew was refined. I looked at the Chief, "How is the situation out there?"

He gave me a bitter smile, "Not much different, though the people you identified were helpful to us. You didn't have to do this, you didn't need to make yourself a public enemy."

I ate a bite, "I did. I need to know how smart the mimic queen is. That's the first rule of dealing with any unknown monster. Those that act on instinct are easier to deal with, than those that can talk and make plans. Since I've been here, no one has tried to kill me."

The chief crossed his arms, "That's a good thing right?"

I shook my head, "No, it's a very bad thing. Tell me brother, if I had came into your city and started killing your men left and right, how would you react?"

The beard cutter stroked his beard, making it jingle a bit. "I'd have to think we were under attack, and kill you on the spot."

I nodded, "That's what I'm doing to the mimics here. They know that, and they watch me. They have enough self control to keep themselves from making any kind of attempt to stop me. Either they need me to deal with the other queens, far more than they have let on. Or! They are smart enough to realize that I can be used to motivate people to joining them without bloodshed."

"Can you really tell that, just from them not trying to assassinate you?" He raised a brow, while the guards made certain no one could hear either of us.

I shook my head, "I have a lot of ideas as to what they are doing and why. Even you admitted that the information about other mimic queens came from those identified as doppelgangers. To trust your enemy blindly, is to slit your own throat. There is so much I don't know about our enemy or enemies. Thus I secured a space that I can gas without innocent people dying. I have everything I need to research a solution to give your people power, and in turn you can take the credit for it."

"I see, will you meet with my son during dinner?" He looked at my plate, which I was almost finished with.

"If you are there to introduce him. Just know that he won't be allowed to touch anything."

The chief smiled happily, "Don't worry, he's a bright lad, and is looking forward to meeting you. He might be a bit quiet and reserved, but once he gets started about alchemy, you can't stop him. Well, maybe you might."

"Of course, just remember that it can't be anything fancy. I am a prisoner forced to go about his task and think about the nonsense I have spouted."

"You truly are too modest a man. I'll make certain to bring you what you need to keep going." The man left, while I gave the tray to the guard that came for it.

A few hours passed, as I realized I wouldn't be able to get the mixture to work just right. I heard someone approaching, and wondered who it could be. I turned, to find an older dwarf walking towards my cell. He kept his head low, flashing the keys to my cell. I raised a brow, as he slid it through the slot. "The king paid me well to make sure these got into your hands." He pulled out an envelope, sliding it in as well. I confirmed that he wasn't a doppelganger, giving him a quick nod.

The dwarf walked away without uttering another word, while I opened the letter.

You're a bastard, for making me die three times before finally figuring out which of these neck-beards could deliver this message to you. Don't worry about your family, they will be taken care of by me, since I know how much that means to you. Just a heads up, the Count will be going on a crusade for an entire year. Why does that matter? Well it keeps the Fire Kingdom from poking their nose into your business. Don't ask what's really inside the vault. They will fight you for it, and make things more difficult. You'll find out when a new type of monster tells you about it. Don't trust the fuckers with the silver coins, but do trust the ones without it.

Just a heads up, you might get infected. That's better for you, so long as you trust the right doppelgangers. Fight the influence, or kill it otherwise. Leave the albino mimic for last, and let the bug eat it. I want Richard, and the bug, in and out of there for business in the Fire Kingdom. You can chill with them for a month, but they need to be out before Spring starts. Also! Chief's son is infected, but don't tell him. You can trust him, but don't say anything about the vault. I'm serious Ozzy, do not fuck with that vault. You can open it after the bug gets there, but not before.

By the way, I wrote this letter five years ago. Get the Chief to secure the port, and have them send me a barrel of black blood. I won't know if you got this letter otherwise, and I'm tired of guessing which neck-beard won't open a fucking letter with your name on it. I swear Ozzy, if you make me die again because I don't get my barrel in a couple months. I'm going to use your sister's blood to curse your ass.

-Your King, Charles

I memorized the details of the letter, before burning it. There was no point in questioning it, since he went out of his way to get it into my hands. Charles might be crazy, but his predictions were better than even the best seer or soothsayer. He warned me that I could die here, told me who I could trust, and confirmed that there are multiple queens. I thanked him silently, before returning back to my task. I was never given a message after all, and nobody snuck in to give it to me.

Hours slipped by again, the sounds of my work bouncing off the walls of the dungeon. A group came down; the chief, his son, and different guards. I checked them all, focusing on the almost gloomy figure of the son. He looked like his father, with same nose, but had darker eyes. While his father's beard was gray, his was black, a rare color for our people. The chief noticed me staring at his son, and coughed into his hand. "His mother was from the abyss walkers. She wasn't able to make it back to her tribe."

I nodded slowly, understanding why the boy was likely avoiding me as much as I had been avoiding him. He was infected as Charles wrote. "My apologies for staring. If nothing else, I could use a young set of hands to fetch the materials for me. If you do not mind me teaching the boy a thing or two about alchemy."

Both sets of eyes went wide at my offer. The Chief speaking first, while the youth turned more somber. "Of course, my brother! May I ask why you want to do this?" The youth lowered his head, a bitter smile on his lips. He probably felt I was taking him in to experiment.

I took my food from the slot, "I'm curious to see how sharp the boy is. He should also be safer here, than up above given that most of the city guards are infected. The last thing we need, is for the boy to be taken away."

The chief grinned, while the lad gawked at me. "Right you are! Truth be told, I had feared the worst, since he receded inside himself. He was missing for a week or two, but I held out hope. Thank you for confirming that my son is safe, brother." The chief grinned at his son, "Eugene, I need you to do whatever your new uncle asks of you. I know you're old enough to be a man, so act like it. This is a once and a lifetime opportunity."

The youth nodded, before quietly asking for the keys to one of the cells. He took it, unlocking it, before joining me behind the bars. The old beard cutter grinned, "Don't worry Oswald, he's slow to open up even in the best of times. Is there anything I can get you? Any ideas you had while you were in here?"

I scratched my chin a little, "We should have an airship coming in within a month. It might be for the best to get the port restored enough to welcome it. Only one airship can trade with Eclipse for now, and I want the same crew doing it. Do not let them out of your sight, and keep them happy. I'm going to need to send a barrel of mimic blood back, to see if they can make trinkets that can find these bastards. After all, I'm having trouble with making a proper solution or acid. Magic could be quicker."

"Consider it done brother. I'll have the doppelgangers work on it as well. Won't they be a little suspicious though?"

I shrugged, "If they ask, just tell them to ask me in person. It's not my specialty, but from what I do know; you can only use the blood of a specific monster to detect that monster. It might work on the mimic queen, but it shouldn't work on doppelgangers themselves. The goal is to merely identify the mimics, and let the population inform the guards. I'm still going to try and make a batch of liquid, to do the same thing, but I still have no idea how long it will take."

The chief nodded, "Very well, I'll leave you both to it then. Best of luck, brother. Do what you can, son." He turned away, "I'll be back in about thirty minutes to bring you food Eugene." He left without saying anything else.

With the chief gone, and the guards having followed after, the youth slowly walked towards me. His voice was low and quiet, "Why did you lie?"

I tilted my head, "Why did you come?" I finished my meal, turning back to my beakers and worked on making another attempt.

"I didn't have a choice, father would have grown suspicious if I kept avoiding you. Though it seems you didn't have any interest in meeting me either."

"I didn't, but I changed my mind. I do that a bit, you came despite the risk. I might as well hear you out."

Eugene moved to a decent spot to watch my work. "Are you always this reckless? Trusting strangers, and infected on a whim?"

I shook my head, "Only when I have a reason to be. If you had come a day ago, I would have told your father. You must have thought about your final words, what you were going to scream out if you were uncovered. What were you going to say?"

Eugene nodded a little, "You have plans to subdue me if I act out, don't you?"

"I asked a question, but yes. I can knock you out, and tell your father it was done in order to subdue you with minimal damage. Now, what were you going to say?"

"I would have screamed out that people can overcome doppelgangers if they are strong enough. That those caught under those monsters, are forced to watch everything that happens. You can't just wipe the slate clean without killing the people trapped inside their own bodies."

"I can, and I will if I need to. There were times when I had to make hard choices, decisions I had to make. I've sacrificed villages and towns to save cities. I've also sacrificed cities to save the few. They were actions I took, because they needed to be done."

"Y-you're a monster!" He stepped forward, before stopping himself.

I let out a small laugh, "To me, there is no difference between the races. I might even argue that I am worse than a monster. After all, do you blame a whispering wolf for biting you? Do you blame the bug for stinging you, when you get close to its nest? Do you blame the man for defending his family, when someone trespasses inside their home? People have a flawed idea, that because they can think, they are better than beasts. That we are closer to gods, because we can consider our actions, and the consequences that come after. We merely follow our nature, and rationalize our actions to ourselves. That gives us the potential to be worse."

"What do you mean? How can people be worse than monsters?" He balled his fists, glaring at me.

"You're upset, because you had to overcome a doppelganger to keep control over your body. The nature of the mimic is to grow like a cancer. To expand, and devour everything it can. Likewise, we don't call bacteria evil for growing in the same way. This conversation wouldn't have happened if we cleared out all the mimics. If we exterminated all of them. Just like how the hordes wouldn't be a thing, if the monster king never came into being. Monsters at least have that going for them. Every action they are forced to take, is because of an order that came from that bastard."

"So what? Are you saying that monsters should be allowed to just kill people? That they should just take everyone over, because it is their nature?" He wasn't able to keep the anger out of his voice.

"No, everyone should fight back for their interests. Most monsters won't kill those that are like them. Those they have evolved from, or those under them. People on the other hand, well there is a reason Eclipse hates the Fire Kingdom. Blood is spilled for imaginary lines, did you know that Dark Fell once belonged to the Fire Kingdom?"

Eugene blinked, "What? That's impossible!"

I smirked, "Ask your father about it, the Fire Kingdom decided that they would claim the dark elves in that place. They sent an army there, to claim tribute. That army was eviscerated by the monster population, and still more were sent after. The Fire Kingdom doesn't have control over its own population. It cannot sustain itself, and it cannot feed the mouths it breeds. Thus they send armies of people to die. They haven't learned anything, to this day. It was those armies sent to collect tribute, that started the first true war. The one that forced the humans and light elves to work together. while the dwarves provided weapons. The war that lead to the beasts mutating, and taking over parts of the central forest. What made the black guard establish itself in the kingdom of Dark Fall, and the other kingdoms that had to pay tribute to it."

"There is nothing like that in the history books, you're lying."

I shook my head, "I wish I was, but people are short sighted. Humans have the excuse of living short lives. The elves and dwarves lack that. They refuse to teach it, so they can pretend they are better than greedy beasts. I don't blame the mimic, or the monsters that are compelled by their nature. Those that are forced to live and die by the words of their idiot king because of a damned talent. I blame the fools that fed those monsters flesh and blood."

Eugene was silent for a moment, before shaking his head. "It's us or them, what are you going to do?"

"You aren't listening, I said everyone should be able to fight back and protect themselves. No matter which option I take, innocent people will die. I will make the choice that benefits the kingdom I serve. It won't be out of malice, or any kind of spite. It is because I believe in my king, more than dwarves sitting inside their hills. The same dwarves that let a cancer fester for centuries, and had the gall to allow a ship infested with mimics leave their port. By all rights, that is grounds enough to declare war. Now, just be glad I'm trying to use a scalpel over a hammer."

Eugene balled his fists again, "You're a traitor to our kind!"

"Our kind betrayed the world. By your own logic, if we were meant to work together from the start, then we could have resolved this much sooner. Less people would have died, and there would be less suffering. All because the arrogant boys in charge of running things, can't become men and ask for help when they need it. I do not blame the mimic for taking advantage of that weakness, I only blame the fools that fed it. The ones that allowed it to get like this. In all my years, this is the single worst infestation I have every seen."

He clenched his teeth, biting back tears. We heard footsteps from the stairs above, as he quickly whispered. "There is a new monster, that I know about. It isn't a mimic... it helped me overcome the doppelganger's influence. What do you intend to do about that?"

I stroked my beard, "I will make my decision when I see it. For now, you can either choose to leave, or you can help me in making a mixture to save your people."

The chief I never bothered to remember the name of, walked back down with food for his son. The portion was larger than it needed to be, making it clear he wanted me to at least have a little. "It's pretty quiet down here, Eugene are you opening up to Oswald yet?"

He lowered his head, "I'm trying father, he's abrasive... asking me what I know about Alchemy."

The man laughed, while his son took his food from the slot. "Quite! I'd imagine that there is so much you don't know, you still feel like an amateur, boy!"

Eugene nodded, "Yes father, but I'd like to spend my time here. We have much to discuss, so long as you are willing, master Oswald."

I grunted, nodding my head. The chief grinned, "Thank you for your time brother. Make sure you're useful to him, boy. Both of you, let me know if you need anything. This dungeon is hardly a place to keep the heroes of this city. Ah! Before I forget, I have convinced some doppelgangers to secure the port and work on it. It seems their queen doesn't want to deal with a hungry population as much as I do. We'll have to ration the food, and there will be shortages, but I still have plenty of minerals in the vault to soften that blow."

Eugene swallowed his food, looking at his father. "What else do we have in the vault? Why won't you let me go down there?"

The chief shook his head, "This isn't the time or place, boy. You aren't old enough to go down there."

"Father, I'm an adult now. If not me, then at least show master Oswald." The two looked at me.

I just shrugged, swirling a beaker. "I don't care what's in the vault unless you're hiding the mimic queen there."

The chief laughed, "Spoken like a true dwarf! After all of this is over, I promise to let you both see what's inside. Family shouldn't keep secrets from each other. Please get along both of you, we have bigger issues to deal with. The last thing we need is to be at each other's throats. You can do that for me, Eugene? You are a proper dwarf, that can make his father proud!" He thumped his chest.

Eugene nodded slowly, thumping his chest in response. "I'll do my best father. Thank you for the food."

There was still plenty of work to be done.