Oz was usually a bit more reserved, but gods could they talk when they wanted too. Not that Lucas was complaining. This was quite interesting.
"Animal's blood is used due to the supposedly high amount of vitality found in it. In olden days humanoids used their own blood as opposed to animals due to alchemy being more ritualistic and primitive back in those times. It was held to the same standard as rituals and witchcraft. Though as we progressed as a civilization. We figured that Alchemy was simply a branch of science instead of magic like rituals.
The health potion I used for you is one of the more beginner friendly potions. And was made when a desperate mother needed to cure her son's sickness. Thus using what she had on hand. She made the building blocks for the modern health potion. Though it's more of an all cure" Oz ended their long winded explanation with a small smile on their face. Lucas was pretty sure it was nearing night time.
"Umm…question? Why'd she have animal blood?" Questioned Lucas. It would've been a great story to humanity's creativity in desperate times if not for the fact the mother seemed like a creep for having animal blood lying around.
"Oh the mother is a witch" Remarked Oz as if that was a good enough answer.
Wait…Oz said that alchemy is more science than magic. But a witch made the most well known potion ever…Oz had to see how weird that was.
Looking over at Oz's face. Lucas saw not a hint of anything on their face, just the same old dead calm that they always had around the townsfolk.
Are they putting up a facade or am I seeing things? Ehh…probably seeing things.
Looking back up. Lucas stared at the only thing he could've in the hour he alone was awake. Oz stared at Lucas before getting up.
"Where ya going?"
"Going to make a superior health potion. This one requires time and focus. So please be patient. And stay put" Said Oz while Lucas glared at them.
"Oz I can't move a hand. Where am I supposed to go?" Oz had the tiniest smirk. Before walking into the isles of shelves filled with multi coloured silk.
And with that. Lucas was alone with his thoughts. He managed to dodge the feeling in his chest by thinking about how he could've fought better in his one hour alone. But now he had to face it. The outcome of the battle.
Lucas had killed a man. Watched the light leave his eyes. Seen him struggle in his last moments. He'd seen Mast at his worst.
And he didn't feel a hint of guilt. Well that was an overstatement. But most of all his mind was clear. It was the logical thing to do, to fight and survive was the objective. And Mast would've gotten back up and finished Lucas off if he had the chance.
He knew he did the right thing. He knew it. His mind knew damn well he was in the right! But…it didn't stop his body and heart from disagreeing.
Back at the bar. When he stabbed Edgar. He thought he could live with it, just do the deed and brush it off. But he wasn't as cold as he thought.
His heart was aching. While his body burst out in shivers. Shaking when he thought of the moment. His hands around his neck. Lucas claimed he didn't like fighting. But damn he was good at it. Every single fight he had won even if he did need some help for the last one.
Anyhow Lucas was just distracting himself. The shaking was getting worse. He needed to come up with something that would calm him down.
How do I even go about this? Every other time it was easy, just use their weakness against them. But how the hell am I supposed to know mine! I can't ask anybody else I don't trust them with this! I…I don't know.
Lucas was stumped. So he used the only thing he could have thought of at the moment.
He took all his feelings. And bottled them up, shoving them into the darker corners of his mind to deal with another time. Future Lucas's problem.
In short Lucas just brute forced it. And surprisingly, it worked. Lucas had stopped shaking. His heart's aching had lessened to a more manageable degree. He was unfortunately a lit bomb, one whose fuse would undoubtedly blow one way or another. But hey, as he's said before. Future Lucas can deal with it.
As satisfied as he could be with the outcome Lucas decided it was better to doze off. He couldn't be bothered to figure out how to probably deal with his feelings. Better to sleep 'em off.
5 hours later.
Lucas woke to a thunderous storm ahead. Roaring down as lightning struck all the forest. It was burning. Trees on trees falling over and over till they burnt to a crisp. Showing Lucas a rather cozy cabin hidden beneath the tree which was now ash.
It was a familiar cabin. A cabin he didn't remember but it felt…it felt like,
Home. Lightning struck Lucas as the thought made a connection in his mind.
Lucas woke up to a weight on his chest. Opening his eyes. He saw a rotating maw of teeth looking down at him.
"Hey Coin. How'd you get in here? I thought you were at the cabin"
Huh? Why'd I say cabin? Ignoring the thought with the help of the brain fog. Lucas turned to the side to see Ruby sitting on a tall throne made of clear ice. It would be quite ominous if not for the fact a fat penguin was sitting on it.
She looked quite regal for a penguin though and she was holding a delicate flower in her beak. Noticing Lucas was awake, she made a small ice path which went over the somehow still sleeping Misia, causing her to grip his coat tighter.
She rode the path to Lucas and placed the flower on his chest and he felt a cold run down his spine and up his chest. But when the uncomfortable sensation ended. All that was left was an energized Lucas.
Sitting up and moving his hands. He found that each movement had a clarity that was missing, that also faded away but at least he kept his energy.
"Thanks. How'd you do that?" Said Lucas. Ruby replied by waving her flippers around in a weird pattern which normally he would call stupid and move on. But he understood it,
It was the work of two different tales working in tandem to make a superior outcome.
Wait a minute. Going through his memories, he came up with his tale. The runes reignited in front of him. Though only the part he needed to confirm his suspension.
(Allows the wayfinder to understand the intention of beasts)
His tale actually worked, that was cool. Very cool actually. Lucas went to move his arm and found little resistance. Moving his bandaged arm and pet Coin. Using his other arm to push him up against the wall.
Wait…did I sleep on a table? That's…I think I would've noticed that wouldn't I? Mused Lucas as he noticed Misia finally woke up from her beauty sleep.
She blinked a few times before rubbing her eyes and sitting up straight.
"Assistant…why are there two creatures in my store?" Asked Misia while Lucas was petting a grotesque maw of teeth rotating every second.
"Oh umm this is Coin.." gesturing to the maw who turned one of its many eyes at her and waved with its tiny flipper-claw thingys. "..and the one on the throne is Ruby" Misia was a bit stunned. A pompous throne with one too many skills decorating it. Made of blue ice. All to accommodate a chubby bird, odd.
Misia quickly threw Lucas's coat back on him before rushing off to the kitchen after smelling something burnt.
A question was burning in his mind, he was quite curious about the tales Ruby had. Now Lucas knew it was rude to ask but Ruby was a close friend so he was sure she wouldn't mind.
"Heey…ruby can I have a look at your tales? I'll let you see mine" offered Lucas, expecting a no but Ruby just shrugged as two sets of runes popped into his view. Looking at the blue pair.
[Frozen peaks]
Dear penguin.
You have soared higher with wings made of glaciers than anyone ever thought a sloth filled bird could. But nevertheless here you are. You have done a good job. And for that your tale has evolved into a chant. [Iced tips] has ascended into [Frozen peaks]
No longer will your Ice merely freeze the tips of mountains, all their peaks will be rendered frozen at your whims.
Allows superb control and creation over ice and its variants, effectiveness scales with temperature.
Neat. Ice control sounded cool, though, if Ruby's power was nerfed since they were in a mostly warm forest. Lucas wondered what her peak would look like.
Now onto the second tale which glowed a green that imposed nature onto whoever read it.
[Blooming in the desolates]
Long name. Better be good.
Dear Penguin.
You've spent well over a year trying your hardest to make a flower bloom in a place that is cold enough to freeze a man to death in seconds. You failed. But we'll be damned if you aren't rewarded for your efforts.
You watched something you cared for fall to the pillar of Death. Now you will let the pillar of Life aid your attempts at creation.
Any attempt at creating or cultivating a plant in otherwise unstable conditions will result in the plant gaining traits to survive the trial.
Lucas had a better picture on how she had made the flower. He guessed she went to find a blooming flower and used both tales to simulate a flower that could survive in a tundra. And the product of the simulation was a neat little flower that had perks. No idea how but it still helped.
Guess I know why she was gone when I woke up. Now that he was done being envious, he noticed Oz and Misia walking over with a plate of burnt food.
"What happened?" Questioned Lucas. Eyes drifting to Oz as the cause.
"The alchemist is a savant in their art. Unfortunately a savant in one branch does not extend to others" Mocked Misia as she glared at Oz who just set the food down near Lucas.
It was eggs, bread, and bacon. All somehow burnt in various ways, God's sake Oz can't cook for the life of them. Though Lucas silently whilst Misia made her distaste well known.
Lucas got ready to eat when he noticed the food was gone, Lucas was surprised. The source was obvious, it was the swiftness and quietness which Coin did which made him slack-jawed.
Looking at the now penguin-shaped glutton, Lucas noted that he felt fuller when Coin finished eating.
Whilst Oz was facing a barrage of barely hidden jabs at their cooking talent. Lucas focused on something much more important. Currently, he was jacked.
He wasn't a paragon of muscle but he did look lean instead. Like a body focused more so on agility and being dextrous rather than someone with a large physique. So Lucas was happy. He'd rather be fast than strong. Hitting first seemed better than hitting harder.
Especially in a fight to the death. But today was meant to be a good day, they had won! That was cause for celebration. Unfortunately it would have to be someplace else because Misia decided to kick all of them out.
Something about 'recouping her losses' which sounded reasonable enough to Lucas. Putting on his black pants and beige shirt. He quickly put on his dazzling coat and rushed out after Oz and the penguins who had rudely ditched him after he decided to be a bit slow in getting out of bed. Or off the table.
They walked back to the Inn when Lucas noticed he was missing his knuckles. When he asked Oz about it they said Misia took them off when he was sleeping. Which left him back with good old hands to beat people with.
When they got back to the inn a black haired girl rushed up to him, seemingly worried.
"Lucas! Where were you? I was worried!" Sputtered Wendy as she noticed the bandages poking out of Lucas's sleeves.
Her face paled as she fussed over him while Lucas just assured her he was fine. Giving empty promises about not getting into any more fights.
Oz and Ruby ditched them whilst Coin was kind enough to stay put.
"I'm serious! A few nights ago you got thrown around! It can't be good for you!" Said Wendy passionately before she quickly fizzled out under Lucas's direct attention.
Honestly? She's probably right. The minute I get back to civilization I start getting into fights. Maybe I'm meant for it, or I could go all nomad like and travel around. That'll work.
Looking Wendy dead in the eyes. "I swear I won't get into anymore fights" Promised Lucas which was enough to get Wendy to back off.
Walking up the stairs. Lucas and Coin walked up the stairway. And flew into their room and onto their bed.
Immediately lounging around. Ruby joined and laid flat on the bed. Oz
meanwhile was looking through their bag which prompted Lucas to ask.
"Why was Misia so angry at you? You usually bicker but she seemed really pissy"
"Unfortunately. I happened to try and borrow some herbs from her kitchen, she did not like that. But she let me keep them so I suppose they didn't mean that much" Answered Oz with not a hint of shame in voice.
Lucas and Oz chatted for a while longer before they went to sleep. Oz fell to slumber quickly. Unaffected by the icy temperatures.
Lucas meanwhile was very affected. He couldn't feel his toes, pulling himself in a tight cocoon using the blankets. Lucas and the penguins quickly got slightly warmer. Lucas was starting to feel his toes again!
But nevertheless, Lucas's eyes started feeling like the weight of the world was on them. Beckoning him closer and closer to counting sheep.
After all the fussing Lucas had fallen asleep. Well he would've if a stupid voice wasn't blaring in his head.
Fight in the name of the ten moons!