Dexter

The smell of burning . . . something . . . gradually filled the barn as I worked. I first had to boil the water away and just leave the latex polymers. After that, it was just a matter of adding the right amount of sulfur to make the harder kind of rubber, or so I thought. I'd just added a bit of sulfur to the bowl and was using a spoon to mix it when a pungent odor started wafting up. I panicked at the smell and quickly transferred the bowl to a table to cool, gently scorching my fingertips in the process. After some waiting for the blob to cool and then carefully prying the rubbery substance up the burned polymers finally came free from the bowl and fell to the table as a negative impression of it. After a bit of scrutinizing and hypothesizing, I eventually concluded that the water was acting as a sort of shield between the slowly heating bowl and the polymers. Once most of it was gone there wasn't much keeping the outermost polymers from reacting to the heat and caramelizing on the sides. “Shit.” I sighed, scraping what remained of my attempt off the table. “Note to self: vary the temperature when refining the rubber, otherwise: this.” I tossed the failed rubber into a corner and turned to pour more sap for a second attempt.

Suddenly, Amelia appeared beside me, pinching her nose. “Too much sulfur?” She asked nasally.

I shook my head as I set the pot of latex back down. “Too much heat,” I explained “I burned the latex. Luckily, I got it off in time before it started sticking to the bowl.”

Amelia nodded as she glanced at the corner where I'd tossed the rubber. “I guess vulcanizing is harder than you thought.”

I shook my head at first, then paused and sighed before shrugging. “I expected some failures,” I admitted. “I just didn't expect the temperature to be the first one. I'll have to figure out the critical temperature so that I stay just below it. The problem is this thing doesn't exactly give accurate measurements.” I gestured at the stove. Amelia crouched to inspect the dial. I knew what she'd find; the dial was labeled using words instead of numbers, from ‘inactive' to ‘minor then ‘moderate' and finally ‘inferno'. I'd been a little impatient and had sent it between moderate and inferno. “At least now I know the stove can handle vulcanization. If it burns the sap there it probably burns the rubber there too.” I let out another sigh as I turned back to my next batch. “Either way I need to figure this out; time, mix, and temperature. It shouldn't take me too long. Thankfully, Mabel will have plenty of sap ready for me to use.”

Amelia shrugged as she stood and glanced at the bowl I was filling. “Do you at least have something to measure the volumes, or are you just eyeballing it?”

I sighed guiltily as I poured a bit of sulfur into the mixture. “I'm just eyeballing it,” I admitted “I don't have an accurate way to measure the proportions. I was supposed to get measuring cups when I got to Atlanta, but we both know that never happened and nothing in my boxes of stuff would work in the sizes I need. I also don't have a scale to measure the weight; at least then I'd be able to calculate the moles of sulfur in each bit I use. The only bright side is that I know I need about twenty to thirty percent sulfur to get the rubber I want. I can figure the proportions out, I just need time.”

Amelia nodded as she turned and strode back over to the book. “Just try and keep the smell to a minimum. We still have to sleep in here.”

I nodded as I set the new bowl onto the stove and reset the dial, placing it between ‘minor’ and ‘moderate.’ “A lower temperature should solve the problem. It'll take longer, but I won't run the risk of burns.”

Amelia nodded again as she stared down at the spellbook. “Just don't stay up too late. You probably want to take some time to prepare for the . . . branding.”

I nodded as I rubbed my chest. “Am I really going to let them brand my chest? Just an hour of pain isn't much, but it doesn't feel right. Shel loved butterflies, not battles. I'd be bringing her in whenever I fight.” I shook my head as I refocused on the task at hand. “Work now, worry later.” “I'll try not to stay up too late,” I promised. Amelia nodded as she continued reading and I returned to the now steaming bowl of sap. “Get the autoclave working. You'll have a few days to think once that's done.”

I leaned on a solid brick wall, black leather jacket doing little to protect me from the cold New York air. I glanced at the people around me, wearing similar jackets and glancing at the streets around us, at least a dozen in total. One of them was listing off a string of locations and manpower. A warehouse by the docks. An abandoned hotel near the industrial district. A garage off of the central parkway. I turned to the figure beside me as he finally finished his report, having a clear map of the locations in my head. “Make sure Andy knows the Gashers are after him,” I growled. “The east side may be at war, but I'll make sure the others take personal offense to Shelby's death.”

The figure nodded then bowed slightly, his features obscured by the mask he wore. “You got it sixer.” He then turned and dashed down the concrete tunnel, yellow-tinted lights flickering as he disappeared into the distance. I let out a sigh as I looked around, the concrete wall doing little to cool me off in the Texan heat. I clenched my eyes shut as I visualized the city around us. The east side was tinted in red, an indication of a gang conflict. The area to the west was tinted in blue, an indication of the presently offending group. Dots of green sprung up around the city, mostly near the blue district, indicating those that were ready to strike. I gritted my teeth angrily as Shelby’s face flashed across my mind for a brief moment. I could still hear her scream. My eyes snapped open as a soft tap tap tap echoed down the tunnel. I turned as I spotted a small figure approaching, steps echoing around the stone walls.

I sneered at him as I took a step forward and away from the others, giving me a clear view of the tiny figure, barely tall enough to reach my chest. “You've got a lot of nerve showing your face,” I growled. “The ones that come to me unannounced usually end up dead.”

The pitch-black figure seemed to grin itself, though nothing seemed to move on its face. “I guess we all have our own idea of being heroic, though you seem to have taken a darker turn.”

I glared at the figure as I reached into my leather vest and pulled out my pocket knife, twirling it briefly before flicking it open. “I guess you didn't get the memo.” I countered. “I'm Six Eyes, friends call me sixer, and I'm the most dangerous person this side of the border. So, unless you want to find yourself swimming with the fishes in the east river, you better get out or give me a good reason not to kill you.”

The figure's invisible grin grew wider. “Quite an ego you have given yourself. It is a shame ego will not save you.”

I let out a small laugh. “I could say the same about your balls, though only one of us is actually willing to act on our words.” I suddenly flicked my wrist and threw the knife forward, causing the figure to lean out of the way and turn to the clattering weapon. Using the distraction, I reached into my jacket again and pulled out a Glock seventeen, directing the pistol towards the offender and firing three shots, bang bang bang, each of which filled the alley with the smell of gunpowder. I blinked in shock as I saw the bullets freeze in the air, a few inches from the figure.

He let out a sigh as he turned back and flicked his wrist which caused the bullets to drop from the air, clattering on the cobblestone floor as I stared at them “Correction, only one of us has the power to follow through on our threat.” He then flicked his wrist again, causing the pistol to fly from my hand. It arched towards the figure, flipping wildly as it went, then froze just a foot in front of him, barrel directed at me. “I commend your attention to detail.” He continued, flicking his wrist and causing the pistol to disassemble itself, freezing once each piece was far enough from the rest. “I dare say one could replicate this outsider device with this. Then again, that is why I cannot allow you to evade me any longer. I run the risk of memory damage with this, but I believe you have memories to spare.” He suddenly snapped his fingers and the gun reassembled itself, exuding a black smoky aura before letting out one last bang.

I instinctively raised my hands and closed my eyes to block the shot, futile as it was, but was shocked when nothing made contact. Instead, a loud Thunk sounded from just in front of me. I looked up hesitantly and saw a figure in a black jacket, a red bandanna tied around his neck, forearms crossed in front of his chest. I heard one more clatter as another bullet fell to the floor, this one flattened from the impact. The small black figure saw this new member and seemed to let out a snarl. “I should have expected one of you would show up. Though I doubt your presence matters. It merely means you have divided your defenses, making this all the easier. I know my other piece is still occupying your associate.” He snapped his fingers, causing more figures to materialize out of the shadows, standing and walking over to the first figure. “Besides, I have images to spare.” They started to laugh as they formed up and glared at my group, each one seeming to have their own smile though I couldn't see anything through their pitch-black smoke.

The new figure didn't speak, merely turned to look at the slowly growing crowd. I could have sworn I saw a grin forming beneath that bandana. Finally, he turned to a nearby fall, a large iron door materializing out of nowhere and bursting open. The door creaked and groaned as it opened and released a crowd of its own into the alleyway. Figures in jackets poured into the street as the laughter from the smoky figures quickly died. Each of the figures in black jackets had their own bandanna. A few people with bright blue bandannas were scattered amongst them, but they mostly swarmed with figures with red wrapped around their neck. They turned and glared angrily and the pitch-black crowd as they joined the first red bandanna in the alleyway.

He turned to me, mismatched eyes seeming to stare into my soul. “Head to HQ boss, me and the boys got this one.”

I nodded as the black crowd's leader snarled at us. “How? This Should Not Be Possible!” The smokey figure roared. “You Barely Know Magic, Let Alone Magic Like This.”

The bandannas let out laughs of their own as they glared at the invading force. Their leader moved to the front as he spoke. “It would seem the little bitch is forgetting something; he's far from home and standing in my hometown. Let's see if we can't make him remember that detail.” There was a brief standoff, each of the armies sizing each other up, then they charged forward, leaders remaining in place and glaring at each other as a brawl broke out in the tunnel. I took the opportunity to turn and dash the other way down the brick tunnel, the unmarked figures around me escorting me as I retreated towards HQ. “Note to self, Andy may have some help over on the west side.”

I slowly sat up, rough wood peeling away from my face as I tried to ignore the morning mouth I was tasting. I turned as I noticed a slab of pale bubbly substance resting on the table. I poked it experimentally and internally groaned as the substance yielded to my finger and stuck to it, forming thin strands as I pulled away. “Probably too little sulfur. I have a bit of room for error, but I still need to find the right range. I'll also need the lower end of the range, too much and the rubber gets brittle.” I let out a sigh as I turned to examine the jar of sap, barren save for a few more drops of white. “I guess it's time to get more sap, but first.” I reached over and grabbed my envelope, breaking the seal and beginning to read the handwritten letters within. The contents weren't too different from what I was expecting; a congratulatory letter, a list of benefits and privileges afforded to me including the details of my allowance, a warning to follow instructions lest said privileges be revoked, and finally my schedule, complete with the necessary books for each class. I appeared to have all the basics classes; Basic Magic, Spell Construction, and Combat Magic. Then two classes that sounded more advanced; Defensive Combat, and Restorative Magic.

I let out a sigh as I set the pages aside, taking note of the necessary books before standing to stretch and move over to my backpack. I pulled the pack over my shoulders as I moved towards the door and past Amelia. “I'll be right back. I need more sap from Mabel.”

She nodded as she continued reading from the spellbook. “Be back soon. I want to get my books today. You might as well come with me when you return.”

I nodded as I pulled open the door. “I won't be but an hour,” I assured her, pulling the door closed behind me. I stretched and yawned as I made my way towards the city gate. “The lessons are certainly going to be interesting. I'll be able to accurately gauge the kinds of spells possible. Hopefully, I can go beyond those limits by incorporating the right equations into the mix. Fingers crossed there’s a physical quirk to exploit.”

I stepped back into Mabel's clearing, this time she was kneeling over the milkweeds, holding another pot under one of the slowly dripping plants. I quietly approached as I heard Mabel humming to herself, a melodious tune that was oddly soothing. She turned as I finally cleared my throat and another drop of white fell into the pot. “Ah, you are back. Here, I have a few pots ready for you.” She placed the lid on the pot she was holding and handed it to me. She then gestured at the ground and caused a few roots to sprout from the soil, carrying more pots with them. They placed the earthen containers on the soil then disappeared back into the ground.

I let out a low whistle as I picked up one of the jars and felt it filled with the latex sap. “That's a lot for a single day,” I remarked. I glanced at the new milkweeds surrounding us as I noticed the small pools of white around each. They seemed a degree or two paler than yesterday and their stems seemed to swell with sap as their blooms dripped thickly, beads of white gracing each petal in a thick coat. “I can't imagine how much water and nutrients it's sucking up. I don't think daily fertilization would keep these plants alive.”

Mabel nodded as she turned to the plants around her. “Admittedly it seems a little much. The only reason they are currently producing sap is their presence in my domain and the rodents I placed beneath each of them. Once they have finished with them, they will need another supplement, lest they die of starvation.”

I nodded as I began placing each of the pots into my pack, easing it over my shoulder once I was done. “Still, it's impressive that you could do so much in such a short time. It took humans thousands of years and hundreds of generations to do a fraction of that. Hell, even our modern genetic modifications aren't as targeted as this. It would probably take us years if not decades to make milkweeds that did this. Forget your abilities, your very presence would make you the envy of the scientific community.”

Mabel grinned and blushed as she brushed her hair behind her ear. “That is rather flattering coming from a member of a people that possess such tenacity. With what you described, I expected this sap to flow freely in your world. I cannot imagine how you would produce so much otherwise.”

I shrugged as I glanced around. “That was probably a little hyperbolic. Besides, we have more than a single forest producing sap. Plus, our source has a lot easier time with producing and extracting the sap we need. The size and age give it an advantage over these simple weeds.”

Mabel paused then nodded understandingly. “I suppose that is a valid explanation. These weeds are quite small and much of their sap does not consist of the material this rubber is made from. I cannot imagine the plant you harvest in its place.”

I nodded as I glanced at my watch, 10:23. “The answer to that question is a tree, about as big as the oaks and pines around here. I watched the process in a documentary once. We peel the bark back and let it bleed into a bowl. From there we purify and refine it into latex or rubber. Though I think the more major sources for base rubber have a more artificial nature. This is just the easiest source that I know of.” Mabel nodded as I glanced towards the tree line, spotting the animals between me and it. The sun was already high overhead. “Anyway, I better get going. I promised Amelia I'd be back within an hour.”

Mabel looked at me quizzically. “There is another outsider at Snakhagr?” She asked curiously.

I tilted my head and nodded, realizing we hadn't really gotten time to share stories. “She was with me when the orcs first found us. I thought you knew about her.”

Mabel shook her head, her expression now looking crestfallen. “I assumed you were the only one. I had no reason to believe a second Banestorm had occurred. One outsider is rare, let alone many.”

I chuckled as I gestured towards the tree line. “She helped me out quite a bit recently,” I admitted. “I know I rub her the wrong way sometimes, but I try to make up for it. We're going to be learning magic at the Institute in a week or two.”

Mabel paused then nodded again, staring off briefly before smiling and focusing on me again. “You should introduce me sometime.” She said happily. “The only thing more interesting than one outsider is two outsiders.”

I gave her a thumbs-up as I began walking backwards to the tree line, anxious to get back to my experiments. “I'll try to find some time to bring her down here. Thanks again for the sap.” Mabel nodded and waved me off as I disappeared back into the forest and back towards the city. “This should last me a few days. I'll probably need to make one more trip before I finish the seal. It'll be interesting to see the crystals the autoclave finally makes.”

Amelia and I stepped into the library, the smell of books filling the room as we traveled along the shelves. “It shouldn't be too hard to find these books.” Amelia voiced. “They have the shelves divided by subject, so we just need to find the subject we're looking for.”

I nodded as we moved into the combat magic section. “We already have a copy of Basic Combat Magic. I just need Defensive Combat Techniques for my class.”

Amelia grinned as she walked further down the shelves and started searching in the spell construction section. “I feel like I'm back in college, picking out textbooks for the upcoming semester.”

I chuckled as I pulled out the book on defensive magic and moved to join her. “Speak for yourself. I never got to do that before all this happened. I just hope it’s not too much harder than my high-school classes.”

Amelia shrugged as she finally grabbed a book from the shelf. “Regardless, these subjects are so unfamiliar that we might end up struggling in our classes. That's always a possibility.”

I nodded as we moved onto another shelf. “We'll find out once we get in there. We could probably read through these in advance to mitigate that chance.”

Amelia nodded as she reached out and pulled down a copy of Magic and You: What You Should Know as a Mage/Wizard. “We certainly have the upper hand there. We've not only been taught about individual subjects but thanks to psychology I've also learned quite a bit about . . . well, learning. It shouldn’t be too hard to find a pattern when it comes to magic.”

I shrugged as I detached and moved over to the section on healing magic. “We won't know for sure until we start classes and that's not for another two weeks. Until then, I can get the autoclave working and we can work on learning some stuff in advance.” I pulled down The Basics of Healing and walked back over to Amelia as she pulled down a book of her own. I noticed her arms were already straining under the books she was carrying. “Here let me help you.” I offered, shifting my books to one hand and holding out the other.

Amelia bypassed the hand and gently set the books on top of my stack, causing me to grab it quickly with both hands before it toppled. “Thanks.” She sighed, stretching her wrist as she turned and looked back up at the shelves. We continued perusing the shelves and retrieving the books we would need for our classes. The stack I was carrying got a few books higher, but most of the novels we needed were already at the barn so it wasn’t too cumbersome. I suddenly stopped as I spotted a painting adorning a nearby wall, orbs of light illuminating its surface in a pale white light. I stepped forward as I recognized the noticeable brand gracing the subject's chest, a battle axe gripped in its fists as he stared out from the frame. His spotted shawl covered half of the emblem, but I could tell it was some sort of bladed weapon. I let out a sigh as I rubbed my chest with my free hand. I heard footsteps behind me as Amelia joined me. “Penny for your thoughts?” She asked calmly.

I paused for a minute before answering. “I'm not sure about the branding,” I admitted. “Logically, there's a risk to having your skin branded, but with the healing magic, they use that's not really an issue. However, it still doesn't feel right to be branded, at least with the way they have it now. I chose a fucking butterfly, a creature that gets eaten by anything bigger than itself and loses its ability to fly if its wings get rubbed too much. It's not exactly a popular battle emblem. Then again, it's one of the reasons I chose it. I got the title in unordinary circumstances, so why not have an unordinary emblem.”

Amelia said nothing as we continued to stare at the painting for a moment. She finally sighed as she shook her head solemnly. “I don't know what to say to that.” She admitted. “It sounds like you've decided on the brand, but you still aren't sure about it.”

I sighed as I set the books on a nearby shelf and rubbed the back of my head. “I guess it's just something that I'm not sure about, for whatever reason that is. It's like I know what I want to do, why I want to do it, but not how I want it to be executed. Like I know there's a piece missing from a puzzle, but I don't know where it is, where it's supposed to go, or what it's supposed to show.”

Amelia nodded as she glanced behind us. “It sounds like you just need to give the idea some more thought. I'm sure you'll be able to find an answer to that. You do still have a week before your ceremony.” I let out another sigh and picked the books back up, returning to the front desk to check them out.

The clerk that oversaw us gave a gruff growl as he pointed at the stack of books. “Ensure that you return these once your classes finish.” He warned. “Otherwise your allowance may be docked for every month it is not returned. You will also be required to replace it if you damage or destroy the tomes. I trust you understand this?” Amelia and I nodded as we finished listing the last book and sighed our names in the box beside them.

I looked up as I noticed a few empty inkwells cluttering his desk. An idea formed in my head as I stared at the clay vials. “They seem about the same size. I could even use them a few times for a single batch.” “Can I have one of those?” I asked, pointing at the ink bottles.

The orc stared quizzically at me then at the inkwells. “Do you not have one in your scribe kit?” He asked curiously.

I shook my head as I explained. “We haven't gotten one. We've just been using the pens I brought with me, at least for when we write. Though now that I think about it, that ink won't last forever.”

The orc paused for another minute, then reached for one of the empty inkwells and handed it to me with a sigh. “I suggest you purchase one as soon as possible. You will surely need one for your classes.”

I nodded as I took the empty vial and set it on top of the books, lifting them as Amelia waved at the orc. “We'll make sure to do that” Amelia promised, leading me towards the door.

I followed as I carefully balanced the stack of books in my hands. “That was certainly productive,” I remarked happily. “I even got a little measuring flask out of it.

Amelia nodded as we began making our way back to the barn. “And there are still a few hours in the day. That gives me time to go through some of those books and for you to get a better handle on your mixture.”

I nodded as I glanced at the inkwell. “It's not that big, but it's a good benchmarker for proportions.” I grinned to myself as I balanced the books carefully and continued following Amelia towards the barn. “I can work with this,” I affirmed as we finally left the building. I ran through my mental list one last time as we made our way back. “Make the rubber, finish the seal, get the autoclave up, get the brand, start classes, develop a weapon, unite the tribes, destroy Adympia. As long as nothing unexpected happens we should be okay. . . I hope I didn’t jinx myself there.”

Maira

I bit my nail nervously as I stood in a secluded area of the manor, staring out a window at the blurry city beyond. The aura had grown to little more than a memory over the city. Even Elidy had trouble hearing anything from it. We hoped this meant that whatever caused this aura was either dead or moving away, but this did not affect Almar and his actions. He still lost one of his precious ‘servants' and had taken to releasing his anger out on each of us, mostly me. Evermore the guards patrol the border, hoping for this outsider to reveal himself so that Almar might finally be satisfied. If only they knew the truth.

I turned as I finally heard Kalise climbing up the steps behind me. “What did she say?” I asked out of instinct. I knew the answer she would give, but it did not lessen the effect to hear her say it.

Kalise shook her smoothed head as she let out a sigh. “She cannot hear an inkling of it. She believes whatever caused it has returned to a more docile state. She claims the change was too subtle to be anything else.” I nodded as I turned back towards the window. “Fexting Sard. The anticipation is tantamount to torture. It is like a dagger is suspended over my hand, waiting to fall.” I let out a sigh as Kalise stepped forward to join my gaze out the window. “Do you think he will grow bored and give up?” She asked hopefully, turning to me.

I shrugged as I rubbed my head, still recovering from Almar’s latest outburst. “He may, but Almar is not terribly forgetful. He might spend the next decade searching for this outsider. He may even resort to his posse of elite soldiers to go into orc lands and retrieve him, though they will have to wait for the last of the snow to melt.”

Kalise nodded as she turned back to the city beyond. A few flakes of white drifted down as clouds rolled overhead. “It would seem that the outsider has a little while longer. Though Almar is unpredictable; he might send them out regardless of the snow.”

I nodded as I watched a flake drift and land on the window. “Not that long,” I remarked, remembering how warm it was only a few days ago. “Spring is still just on the horizon.”

Kalise nodded as she rubbed her head. “I am just being hopeful. I cannot imagine what will happen if the outsider gets to the city, under Almar’s imprisonment or not. You have to admit the events of the last month sound straight from a fairy tale.” I nodded as I let out a stifled groan. “This is certainly a unique series of events. It is difficult to say what the outcome may be. Only time may tell now.” I turned as a bellow of rage echoed up the stairs. “Until then, it will be more of the usual.”

I glanced towards Kalise as I began making my way towards the stairs. “I better go down there. I do not want to keep him waiting if he requests me.”

Kalise nodded as she continued to stare out at the city. “I shall have a meal ready for you if you need it.” She promised. I nodded as I started descending the stair, returning to my more passive mentality. “May the gods smile on us soon.”