Mark of the Fool

Chapter 327: New Sources of Power

Isolde and Alex exchanged a look as Professor Jules chose the two teams. All around, whispers and murmuring buzzed through the air like a swarm of bees. It wasnt everyday that royal representatives came calling.

But Alex had few thoughts to spare for his lands king.

After all, most of his life King Athelstan was just a face hed seen on objects like coins. Since coming to Generasi, hed met and become friends with an actual prince: so the thought of meeting royalty didnt amaze him like it once would have. And besides, the folks coming to Greymoor werent even the king himself, they were royaltys unroyal representatives.

Meeting them quickly passed from his mind.

Now, the thought of meeting the Heroes again? That was worth some thought.

Looks like we get to see our new friends again, eh? Alex said.

Isolde went quiet for a moment, her eyes looking into the distance as though something had caught her interest. She nodded her head. Oh yes, indeed. I do wonder though if they will bother speaking with us this time. They really have no reason to since I doubt Professor Jules will force you to guide them about again, and without that, what reason would they have to spend time with us again? We were passing colleagues that night: they might simply greet us and then move on with their duties.

Alex raised an eyebrow. You think so?

It is the way of things, often with nobi she paused, turning her attention to Professor Jules.

Isolde von Anmut Professor Jules read the noblewomans name from the list, catching Alexs attention when she said, Carey London then continued adding to the team.

Careywhod been in the middle of a conversation with a colleagueacknowledged that shed heard the professor with an enthusiastic nod, then with a smile, bid her fellow researcher a good day, and went to gather her gear as the professor continued adding to the team.

Alexander Roth Jules called.

Ah, looks were both on Team Explosions, he said quietly as he and Isolde went for their masks and protective equipment.

She made a face. Dont call it that. Youre cursing us.

He raised an eyebrow. Were literally going to watch explosions occurring from mixing two of the mostmysterious materials in all the planes. Team Explosions kinda fits perfectly.

Isolde took her mask off a hook while glaring at Alex. But such a name implies disaster and uncontrolled detonations.

He rolled his eyes. Youre a woman of science. Dont tell me youre getting superstitious.

Alex. We are wizards. Half of what we do is science, and the other half can only be described as strange and terrible chaos that we barely manage to wring into the shape of science.

Yeahfair point. Still gonna call us Team Explosions, though.

She rolled her eyes. I hope your legs fall off on the walk there.

Now it was his turn to glare. Dont say that. They just might.

A wicked little smile crossed her lips. Now whos being superstitious?

By the Traveller, Alex groaned, his legs wobbling as he trudged along the path. His muscles burned. His bones felt like jelly. How far is this place? It feels like weve been walking for hours!

It has been ten minutes, Alex, Isolde said, her voice light and cheery.

What? That cant be right, the sun must be baking your brain.

She glanced up at the sun shining brightly in the clear blue sky; a rare sight in Greymoor, especially so close to winter. No, I think not. The temperature is quite cool.

Then something else must be baking your brain, theres no way weve only been walking for ten minutes.

Likely eleven now.

He frowned, then called out to Professor Jules who marched at the head of the column of researchers, Watchers, and medical staff. Professor! How long have we been walking?

The professor checked the time-keeping bracer covering her forearm. Eleven minutes. Just over halfway there, Mr. Roth.

Isolde grinned.

He glared, then turned to Claygon who was beside him. Hey buddy, could you give me a hand?

The golem bent down, scooped up his creator like a child and cradled him in his lower arms.

Isolde looked absolutely mortified. Alex, are you really going to allow yourself to be carried like a baby for the rest of the walk?

Goo-goo, ga-ga, Alex pretended to suck his thumb while reclining in Claygons arms.

Good lordsuch a lack of dignity. Of decorum. She sniffed.

Good thing Im not a noble, then, Alex said, remembering shed been saying something. Wait, you were saying something earlier about the way nobles are. About quick greetings then moving on?

Ah, yes, that, Isolde cleared her throat. much social interaction among nobility comes with certainexpectations behind them. Certainmanipulations. Nobles will greet each other fondly and act as though they were old friends at a summer ball. They feel someone out by testing the waters, getting to know them and testing their measure, then decide whether or not a relationship can be beneficial if pursued.

Her expression turned a little sad. And if there is nothing to be gained, they move on. Another encounter might only be deserving of a quick hello for the sake of appearances: simply put, time spent talking to someone who one can gain nothing from, can be considered time wasted not speaking to someone of more immediate political value. My family has learned such a dance over time.

Alex listened, wondering where this was coming from.

Ugh, I do have a strong dislike for such behaviour, a familiar voice spoke.

Alex craned his neck to look behind Claygon: Carey was near, listening to their conversation. She had a sour look on her face, like she was thinking of something unpleasant.

Do you have experience with such things? Isolde asked with a raised eyebrow.

Carey raised her hand palm down, tilting it back and forth. My family has served Thameland as mayors, magistrates, barristers and other positions of government for nine generations. And, even though we have contact mostly with local nobility, we do know a thing or two about politics! Ones friend today is tomorrows stranger. Or even enemy. At a party in the capitol once, my father approached the Mayor of Ussex and greeted him, introducing himself as part of the London family. The man smiled, nodded and said

Carey cleared her throat. Its a pleasure to meet you, but Im afraid I dont want to talk to you because theres more important people here. Which was rude by most peoples standards!

Indeed, that is truly blunt, even for one who wields great political power. Isolde shook her head. And the Heroes wield such power. They might be our age, but Ive seen even those from humble origins rise to fame in the Rhinean Empire and assume the same dance ofsocial bartering. Or they become so enamoured with themselves, that they do not bother with others. They might pretend to show an interest they do not truly feel, but at the end of the day, they are focused only on themselves.

Alex frowned.

Oh I wouldnt think thats true! Carey's voice rose. The Heroes wouldnt be so pompous, one would hope!

They didnt seem that way to me, Alex said. I think youre being paranoid, Isolde.

Perhapsperhaps not, she said, looking away from Alex.

He frowned. There was an odd look on her facedid her expression have anything to do with her concern about the Heroes rejecting them when they came back to the encampment? He noted her body language. Arms crossed. Head bowed slightly. Stride length increasing.

Stress? Anxiety?

Anxiety over what?

Then a sneaking suspicion dawned on himone he was too wise to say out loud. One better filed away to maybe bring up later.

For now, hed pay close attention to his friend.

By the time they reached the new test site, Alexs legs had scarcely recovered, punishing him when Claygon put him down. Hed never skipped leg day in his exercise routine, but he was wishing he had. No matter what Khalik said.

If he could have floated the last few steps to the site, he would have, each step had become merciless, unending torment. His knees shook, his thighs burned, and his jaw clenched and relaxed repeatedly, as he tried to distract himself by looking over the test site.

It really didnt look like much; a wide, barren, flattened area of sand blackened from days of test explosions. Reinforced hills had been raised in a circle around the test area, designed to absorb explosive force and funnel it into the sky.

A hundred paces away, a squat bunker built of stone enchanted to resist impact and absorb concussion, was carved into a hillside. A narrow horizontal window ran along the front of the bunker from where researchers could view the testing ground. It was sheltered from the elements; layers of force magic fortified the window, so powerful that Alex could feel them from where he stood.

No doubt they were Baelins handiwork.

If only the chancellor had made a teleportation circle to get us from camp to here, he thought, eyeing the long flight of stone steps leading down to the bunkers rear entrance. Claygon was obviously way too big to fit in the small space. Alex sighed, trying to think of ways to get down the steps without walking.

Id pay a lot of coin to just teleport since you cant carry me down there, buddy. He considered drinking a flight potion and floating into the bunker. but that would be a waste of a good potion. He couldnt come up with anything else, so bracing himself and gripping the railingIsolde smiled as she passed him as if he was standing stillhe made his way down step by step, glad that the worst would soon be over.

It wasnt.

There were no seats anywhere to be seen. Hed have to stand there on wobbly legs, observing the explosive reactions of two powerful substances for hours. It wasnt exactly the same as running, jumping and carrying heavyweights, but right now, his legs saw no difference.

The concussions from outside didnt help.

Through his spyglass, he saw tiny samples being mixed by a golem, mana being added and then

Boom!

Sand and flame would blast through the air.

The explosions varied in size, depending on what proportions of the substances were used, but they always released a terrific amount of energy. As he watched, he wondered if he couldnt give burn-saw a nasty surprise with this stuff. Then again, it would definitely be considered a weapon.

But there were other uses

I think we mightve found a new power source, Professor Jules commented after one large detonation. With small portions of these substances, we could create controlled releases of energy: enough to power large magical machinery. If we do this right, it could become much easier to make magical items that work beyond the reach of Generasis mana vents. I wonder what our Thameish friends would think of that. Hear that, Carey and Alex? Your realm might be on the verge of technological and magical revolution.

How delightful! Carey said.

Urrrrgh, Alex groaned.

To keep from toppling over, hed been dividing his attention between recording his observations of each flare, flash, and blast resulting from combining the two substances, and using Mana to Life on his legs.

Even so, the spell only dulled the pain, it didnt make it disappear.

After the first hour had passed, he was sweating.

After two, he wished hed never come up with anything called, aspecialkind of training.

After three, he wished hed never started training at all.

After four, he regretted ever leaving Alric, and started wondering if a life working in McHarris bakery might not have been so bad after all.

Im going mad, Alex thought, shifting from leg to leg. The pains driving me insane. Thats it, I swear, Ill never train again.

Hey, could I borrow some of those big rocks? Alex pointed at the building stones piled up behind a construction foreman who was just packing up for the evening.

The man paused, slowly looking up at Alex with a familiar I was just on my way home and I dont want to deal with this shit, look often seen on the faces of shopkeepers who were just about to close for the evening when a group of customers rushed through the door.

You want what? he asked.

A big rock! Alex made a lifting motion with both hands. You knowfor training!

After a quick two hour nap with Restful Slumber and mana to life, Alex was back in full form. The pain had faded, replaced by plenty of energy. His vow to never train again was long forgotten, and now he was looking forward to lifting big, heavy things. Since he had no formal weights, hed decided to improvise and approach the foreman where the building materials were kept and ask him for a loan. He eyed the rocks like he was looking at gold. I justwant to borrow a few rocks

You keep calling them rocks. Theyre building stones. The testy foreman frowned.

right, building stones! Alex said. Id just be borrowing a few of the big ones. Ill be careful and put them back when Im done, I swear. Itll be like you never lent them to me. Its evening anyway, and youll have them back before you need them in the morning.

The foreman raised an eyebrow. You saytraining? Whatre ya meaning by that, whatre you planning on doing with them, exactly?

Building.

The mans frown deepened. Building what?

Oh, my body! Alex said, rubbing his hands together. A friend of mine trains with stones, and he suggested I try it while Im here. Khaliks his name.

Oh, hes a good earth mage, that one. Very good. Very skilled. he told you to come lift building stones?We have golems to lift those!

Well, Im going to lift them too, to get stronger, you see. Golems dont get stronger when they lift rocksI mean, building stones. It all makes peeeeerfect sense as long as you dont think about it too hard. Dont worry, I wont drop them, or chip them, and Ill put them right back where I found them after Im done.

The foreman glanced at the stones. You know how much one of those weighs?

Khalik said that each ones about half a thousand pounds, which makes them perfect! So, can I have some?

The foreman squinted at him. Is this a prank? He glanced around as though expecting naughty children or studentswho were often just oversized naughty childrenhiding behind tents giggling. Are you pranking me, lad?

No, Alex assured him. Honest to the Traveller, I just want those stones for some training.

The foreman snorted. Alright, big guy. Tell you what. If you pick up that five hundred pounder over there by yourself without magic then carry it, then sure. You can have all the stones you need tonight.

Deal! Alex said, striding over to the stone.

Stretching for a moment, he bent down andwith a loud gruntslowly picked up the massive stone and hoisted it over his head.

The foreman gaped. What in every hell?

See? Alex grunted, balancing the stone above his head. Im not going to chip it! Ill be right back for another one.

The foreman continued gaping.

Okay? Alex said. Im, uh, leaving nowyeah. Okay, bye.

He started marching across camp to a clear area where he could lift.

Halfway across the encampment he heard a commotion coming from the front gate.

A large party on horseback was riding through.

Three familiar figures were among them.

The Heroes had returned leading others he assumed were the representatives of Thamelands king and court wizard. Alexs eyebrows rose as an idea came to him.

Maybe Cedric and Hart might wanna join me for some good old fashioned rock lifting. Maybe Drestra might too, he thought. Be a good way to get reacquainted, check up on Drestraand see just how strong the Chosen and Champions blessings really are.