Tresk and Theo ate more of the leftover soup the next morning. They shared ideas about the new adventurer’s guild while slurping soup and sipping on steaming cups of tea. The alchemist wished Perg held true to her promise to bring bread to their gathering, but the soup was extremely good. The Marshling helped him clean his stills out to prepare for today’s run of potions. Dried-on chunks of root stuck to the side of one, requiring intense scrubbing. It was an effortless task for his companion’s superior [Strength] stat, and she made quick work of it.

“I’m going to come with you before the adventurers head out for the day,” Theo said. “Assuming you gather before running off to murder monsters.”

“We do,” Tresk said, dumping the last of the water from the copper still. “They’ll be excited to hear the news.”

A knock came from the door downstairs. Theo went to answer it, letting his young shopkeeper inside. He barely said a word, assuming his traditional seat and kicking his feet up. The alchemist assessed the potions currently on display. His short run of [Lesser Healing Potions] would have to be enough for now, 39 of them now resting on the shelves. There was also a scattering of other potions, but his focus was on Fenian’s job.

Tresk came downstairs, greeting Azrug and nudging Theo. “Ready?”

“I am,” Theo said. “Hold down the fort, Azrug. I have to meet with the adventurers.”

“Sounds good to me,” Azrug said.

Theo and Tresk left the shop, making their way up the muddy road to find a gathering of townspeople. The alchemist didn’t expect to see so many of them, at least 20, ‌preparing to head into the swamp. He spotted Luras and Aarok near the back talking to each other. They were arguing about something likely related to who would run the adventurer’s guild, and it was getting heated.

“Can I have your attention, please,” Theo said, trying to raise his voice above the chatter. “Over here. No, pay attention to me. Guys?”

“Listen up!” Tresk shrieked, immediately gaining the attention of the crowd. She cast Theo a sly grin.

“Thank you. As the Lord Administrator of Broken Tusk, I‌ declare the establishment of this town’s first adventurer’s guild,” Theo said. He felt something swirl within him, some hidden power he didn’t know he had. The power burst from within him, snaking from his chest in ribbons of light that gathered in the air above the adventurers before dispersing to all corners of the town.

[Broken Tusk] has gained a feature: [Adventurer’s Guild].

This [Adventurer’s Guild] is informal, and not affiliated with any guilds currently existing. The creator of this guild may apply for membership in a larger guild‌, but may become subject to their laws.

The quest [Clear the Swamp] assigned by [Miana Kell] has been transferred to the authority of the Lord Administrator. Funds will still be paid out automatically at the end of every day.

[Adventurer’s Guild] has automatically been assigned to [Marsh Wolf Tavern], the current location of the quest notice. The Lord Administrator can move the guild’s headquarters‌.

Lord Administrator [Theo Spencer] may now elect a guild master.

A murmur of conversation spread across the crowd. Luras and Aarok shared a glance before nodding to each other. “Aarok is going to run the guild,” Luras shouted over the crowd.

“Then that’s it,” Theo said. He focused his mind for a moment, mentally electing Aarok for the role.

[Aarok Thane] is now the guild master of the [Broken Tusk] [Adventurer’s Guild].

Aarok grimaced where Theo expected him to smile. It was a lot of responsibility, but the alchemist couldn’t run around town filling every role. The Half-Ogre had the most experience in both military tactics and adventuring, if Luras was to be believed.

“Thank you,” Aarok said, collecting himself. “It’s not a role that I was fighting for, but I’ll do it for Broken Tusk. May I have a word before we depart, Lord Administrator?”

Theo nodded, crossing through the gathering and following Aarok out of earshot of everyone else. Luras stayed behind while Tresk joined them.

“You alone, Theo,” Aarok said.

“You know we’re Tara’hek, right?” Theo asked, scoffing.

“What he knows, I know,” Tresk said, scowling.

“Fine. I’m worried,” Aarok said. “The true reason I accepted the role is because something is wrong with the dungeon. It’s gaining power too fast.”

“I’m not an expert on dungeons,” Theo said. “What determines the rate of dungeon growth?”

“Whatever core was used to seed the dungeon,” Tresk said. “The [Swamp Dungeon] was here before the Ogres settled. It took hundreds of years to get to level 20, and now it’s gone from 22 to 25 in a few months.”

“Then, how do we stop it?” Theo asked.

“Maybe a wizard,” Aarok said, shrugging. “Someone who specializes in dungeon cores.”

“Here’s my suggestion for now,” Theo said, knitting his brow. He spoke before his thoughts formed, giving himself a moment to create a simple plan for Aarok to follow. The dungeon was growing and would likely continue to grow. “Induct all the adventurers gathered here into the guild. Require them to donate all of their cores to the town as an emergency measure.”

“That’s a lot of money in cores,” Tresk said.

“Just until level 5,” Theo said. “Once we have our walls, they can keep them.”

“That’s your plan?” Aarok said.

“That’s the start,” Theo said. “We have a government stipend for adventurers. People just need to learn about it. Build our wall, strengthen our adventurers, invite foreign adventurers… That’s my plan.”

Aarok knit his brow, falling into thought. He shrugged after a while, unable to poke holes in the short-term plan. “Fine. This works for now, but I assume I have full authority over the guild?”

“I think so,” Theo said with a shrug. “I don’t know how any of this works.”

Aarok let out a groan, rubbing his hand over his face.

“He’s doing his best,” Tresk said, scowling.

“Fine. I’m going to address the troops before they head out for the day,” Aarok said. “Xam is going to be mad when she learns the tavern is an adventurer’s guild.”

“One step at a time,” Theo said, waving him off.

“Talk to you… Uh, right now. Since we can talk whenever,” Tresk said, pulling Theo down to press her forehead against his.

“Stay safe out there,” Theo said.

“I will.”

Theo made his way to the Marsh Wolf tavern, having no interest in the rousing speech Aarok planned to give. He wanted to leave the military aspect of things to those with knowledge in the realm. Xam needed smoothing over if peace was to reign over Broken Tusk. He found her tidying up the tables and when she spotted him she grimaced.

“Why don’t you come in anymore?” she asked.

“Busy,” Theo said, lying. “So, your tavern is going to house the quests for the adventurer’s guild.”

“The what?” Xam said, throwing her filthy rag down and stomping her foot. “We don’t have one of those.”

Theo managed a sheepish smile. “We do now. It’s temporary.”

“Well, I didn’t approve of this,” Xam scoffed. “I won’t have a bunch of rowdy adventurers messing up my tavern.”

“The ‘rowdy adventurers’ are your current patrons,” Theo said. “Listen, it’s temporary. If you want to grab a knife and head out to kill these wolves, go for it. Until we get the walls up, and a permanent structure for the guild this is what we got.”

Xam folded her arms and stared at the alchemist. Maybe if she bore a hole through him, he’d relent. But he returned the gaze, matching her intensity with his violet eyes, his tail swishing back and forth. She relented after a while, picking her rag back up.

“Aarok is heading the guild, so expect more of him,” Theo said.

“Aarok? Really? Alchemist, you should have led with that!” Xam shouted. She went into a frenzy of cleaning, putting more effort into the task than when Theo entered the tavern.

Theo left her there, shaking his head. He wanted nothing to do with whatever romantic drama was playing out. His preference was to let those things work themselves out, even back on Earth. He idled around Throk’s blacksmith for a while, striking up idle conversation with the Marshling before departing. The blacksmith was working on a few projects, some related to the farmers and others the new adventurers.

The alchemist found a lazy path towards the river before returning to the shop. He collected reagents along the way, feeling a release of tension in his body now that the adventurer situation was sorted. Aarok was the best person to put in charge, he was sure of it. Luras was a close second, but the man had wanderlust, Theo could tell. The Half-Ogre was a better hunter than he was a military man.

Theo sat at the river for a while, listening to the sound of the river and relaxing. The Marshling fishermen he saw so often passed by, giving their greetings and moving downriver toward the ocean. The alchemist was enjoying his time alone up until Tresk’s voice shrieked into his mind, Run!

The sudden outburst startled him, and he rose to his feet, scanning the surrounding area in confusion. What? What’s going on? Wolves? Theo asked.

Not wolves—shoot! Head north—North? Yeah, go north Theo. Run!

Theo had learned to trust the woman with his life. She knew more than him about this world, and if she said run, he ran. He sprinted as fast as he could along the river, finding the terrain difficult underfoot. The rocks on the beaches gave way, causing him to stumble onto the wet ground.

What am I running from? Theo asked, unable to keep his panting breath from his mental message.

The Order of the Burning eye, Tresk whispered. She was following someone. Oh crap, he’s too fast. He’s coming for you, Theo—get ready.

Theo’s potions were back at the shop, and he didn’t have any combat cores. Whatever this order was, he wanted nothing to do with it. He drew his dagger and scanned the forest, but saw nothing. His heart hammered in his ears as he waited. The bushes rustled then exploded with a rush of wind, sending the alchemist flat on the ground. A man stood over him, taller than any human he’d ever seen, but baring the features of the race. He wore full plate armor and a long sword at his hip. His hair was cut short and his facial hair freshly shaven. The man’s face was a track of ruddy scars and pits, falling mostly over his left eye which was missing.

“Theo Spencer. Belgar,” the man said, scowling. Something in his voice struck terror in Theo’s heart and he held the dagger aloft.

“I don’t know you,” Theo said, swiping the dagger through the air. “Leave me alone!”

The man snatched Theo’s arm and hoisted him high into the air. He wasn’t just taller than a normal human; he was three heads taller than the alchemist. “Stand,” he said.

Theo obeyed, his dagger falling to the ground in a clatter.

The man narrowed his eyes, looking Theo up and down before speaking again. “Drogramath Dronon in the southlands. Not ‌as fearsome as the last one I purged.”

“Please don’t purge me,” Theo said weakly.

The man’s face twisted in surprise, sending the many scars on his face into deeper tracks. He relaxed after a moment and nodded. “I am Sulvan Flametouched, High Inquisitor of the Order of the Burning Eye. I’m in charge of destroying the line of Drogramath.”

“Stop!” Tresk shouted from the forest. She heaved a breath and came to stand next to Theo. “He’s not a real Dronon.”

Luras and Aarok burst from the forest shortly after, joined by a mob of adventurers. Sulvan looked over his shoulder, a wave of energy washing over the group that caused them to cower. He turned his attention back to Theo and Tresk after a moment and affected a shallow bow, placing his hand on his chest.

“Forgive me,” Sulvan said. “I’ve been hunting the true demons for centuries, and often forget my manners. For a Dronon to take the Tara’hek is impossible. He’s been transitioned?”

“He has,” Tresk said, scowling. “So don’t kill him.”

Sulvan’s face went blank for a moment before nodding. “Noted. Theo Spencer, you’re the first being transitioned into a Drogramath Dronon in recorded history. Congratulations for sending my blood pumping for the hunt, only to find a harmless whelp.”

The words seemed to calm the mob of adventurers. Theo wasn’t sure what they could have done against this man, though. He had a feeling that the inquisitor was beyond any of their powers, and could easily wipe the village off the map with little effort. Sulvan turned his attention back to the alchemist after a while, reaching a hand out for him to take. A rush of energy flowed through him, stinging every nerve in his body.

“What are you doing?” Tresk said, resting her hands on the pommels of her daggers.

“Calm yourself, Marshling,” Sulvan said. “I found your Tara’hek by following a trail of taint. Drogramath is aware of him, and I thought one of his true children was in the southlands. I’m extremely excited that I was wrong.”

Theo didn’t notice any excitement on the man’s face. A permanent scowl rested on his visage. “Drogramath? This really sucks—what does that mean?”

Sulvan gestured. “Remove your shirt.”

Theo wasn’t about to disobey the man. He pulled off his black robe and lifted his shirt. Sulvan placed his massive hand on the alchemist's chest and closed his eyes. A light tingle played over the place he touched for a moment, and then burning pain. Theo shouted, grabbing the giant man’s hand and struggling without avail. He collapsed to the ground after a moment, gasping for breath. The crowd of adventurers moved forward a little, but kept their distance.

Tresk attacked the inquisitor, jabbing her daggers into the gaps of his armor and finding flesh. But the points of her weapons didn’t penetrate, simply bouncing off as though his skin was iron. As she struggled, a window appeared in Theo’s vision.

[Sulvan Flametouched] has branded you with [Grandmaster Exalted Extra-dimensional Tracking Blocker].

Sulvan produced a potion from nowhere and handed it to the Marshling. “The pain is temporary. I’ve solved a problem you didn’t know you had, Theo.”

Theo looked down to find a brand on his chest. It was an intricate webwork of lines and symbols that seemed impossibly precise to be a brand. It glowed with a faint red energy.

“What is that?” Tresk shouted, snatching the potion and forcing Theo to drink it.

“It prevents Drogramath from tracking him,” Sulvan said. “A problem he didn’t know he had.”

“Calm down, Tresk,” Theo said, groaning to a seated position. “I got a message from the system. It looks like a good thing.”

“Again, I apologize for my fervor,” Sulvan said.

“What would have happened if you didn’t find me?” Theo asked.

“Drogramath has agents in the physical realm,” Sulvan said. “They would have organized to find you once they realized you were linked. You are a very rare thing, Theo Spencer. Reincarnating into a Dronon is extremely rare, but ‌it’s never happened for Drogramath’s line. Someone gave you a powerful gift for this to happen—I’d wager you have some extremely rare gifts.”

“He does,” Tresk said, her mood changing suddenly. She wrapped her arms around Theo and hugged him tight.

“To accept the Tara’hek is another thing,” Sulvan said. “When I saw the Marshlings, I knew ‌I was wrong.”

Sulvan suddenly cocked his head and turned, staring at the crowd and causing them to flinch. All but Aarok withered under his gaze, and Theo could see that the inquisitor was smiling when he turned back. He produced a small medallion from nowhere and held it out for Theo to take. The alchemist accepted it, too awestruck by the man to inspect it.

“This went better than it could have,” Sulvan said. “I’ve caused a disturbance in your town and I apologize.”

Theo rose to his feet, dusting himself off and reaching out a hand for the inquisitor to shake. “I’m not dead. That’s what matters.”

Sulvan shook his hand and nodded. Whatever guilt that man could feel was long gone. Theo wondered if that sense of distance from other people came with too much time alive, but he dismissed the thoughts. The encounter was just too strange for him to comprehend.

“Please inspect the necklace. I’m going to depart now,” Sulvan said, vanishing on the spot in a gust of wind.

Aarok was the first to sprint over to Theo, his eyes wide. “Did you inspect him?”

“Inspect him?” Theo asked, scoffing. “I was trying not to crap my pants.”

“That guy was level 135,” Aarok said.

“What?” Tresk said, her jaw dropping.

Luras joined them, voicing similar concerns.

“You must not have not noticed,” Aarok said, shaking his head. “He didn’t teleport away. He ran.”

Theo scoffed again, sputtering. “That’s absurd—what’s going on?”

“Demons are a serious thing,” Aarok said. “Most Dronon are fine, but the Order of the Burning Eye keeps the bad ones in check. They banish the demon lords when they awaken.”

“He mentioned Theo getting a gift to get the body,” Luras said, knitting his brows. “I don’t even know any other alchemists. How powerful are your abilities, Theo?”

“I really don’t know,” Theo said, shrugging. “I’m just thrilled I’m not dead.”

Theo pulled his shirt and robe back on and the group moved back to the town to regroup. Today was the day that Luras and Tresk were going to take on a few floors of the dungeon. The Marshling hugged his arm the entire way back to town, shaking her head occasionally. When they were back in town, she reluctantly departed and he finally inspected the necklace.

[Mark of the Burning Eye]

[Necklace]

Legendary

Scaling

A talisman created by a High Inquisitor of the Order of the Burning Eye. Wearing this necklace will protect from demonic lords.

Effect:

Alerts [Sulvan Flametouched] when demonic lords are near or watching you through magical means.

Gain significant damage reduction against demon lords.

+5 Strength

Theo pulled it over his head without hesitation. Any plus to stats was good in his book, and the item gave him ‌12 [Strength] total. He felt his muscles bulge, his noodle arms filling out significantly. The necklace hung from a comfortable leather string. The medallion was made of silver and depicted an eye on fire.

The alchemist returned to the shop, shaken but relieved. Azrug had the door propped open, looking up and down the street in confusion. “Did a storm blow through?”

“Something like that,” Theo said, laughing. “Come inside. I’ll tell you about it.”