Frostbound [LitRPG Apocalypse]

Austin

Frostheim

Of course it's right as I plan to leave that things get interesting. For nearly a year, nothing of note had happened. No monster attacks, no Demons found, no nothing.

Then, just as Austin was preparing and packing to leave, something big happened. Well, not big big, but still something that stood out.

Christopher issuing ultimatums and such. The diplomatic equivalent of telling Lakeshore 'fuck around and find out.' Austin was sure they wouldn't be happy with the 'find out' portion. Not when Chris was still... decompressing. That was the best word to describe it.

The man held onto anger for much, much longer than he used to. Austin's attempts to make the man chill didn't work that well. Chris never joined him on his... nightcaps.

You'd think for a man with the power of ice, he'd be able to do it better.

Should I stay? That was a thought he'd had many times already. The part of him that wanted to drag him off to lands unseen was growing stronger, but he could wait if he had to. Especially if he was needed.

Who am I kidding, Chris has things well in hand. Even after my evolution, I'm not confident in beating him and I've got 10 levels on him.

He'd long grown accustomed to not being in the same league as Chris. It was something he had come to live with. It allowed him to be much freer with his time. His adventures would be a lot more anxious if he had to constantly worry about home.

I doubt anything will come of it. They've been warned, and even if they are totally isolated, they have to know how strong he is. They had to have heard tales of the Demons and how they went down. They won't risk it.

I should go.

I made a note to visit Connor, so I should do that beforehand. And Mother. She'll be upset with me if I just disappear.

Connor first. Austin had a few things to discuss with him besides telling him he was leaving.

His brother, like Vincent, had his own special Alchemy workshop set up inside the Inner wall, and nine times out of ten, that was where he could be found. It was also Austin's first stop.

While Vincent's forge was a roaring furnace of both heat and fire mana, Connor's lab was a smog of poison fumes and herbal fragrance. Which aroma suffused the area heavily depended on what he was working on.

Based on the smell of blood coming from the lab, it had something to do with animals. Dead ones.

"Oh Connor, my Connor!" Austin loudly announced.

A rumble and a curse echoed out of the doorway. Then hasty shuffling and what sounded like two distinct footfalls. A moment later, his brother, wide-eyed in surprise, cracked open the door and poked his head out.

"Oh, Austin. What's up?" He was failing at being nonchalant.

"Nothing much," Austin claimed and put his hand on the door, "Just stopping by to catch up with my little bro."

The door didn't budge. Connor was pushing back.

"I'm a tad busy, Austin. Do you mind coming back?" A slight bit of strain entered his voice.

What's he hiding? Is there a girl in there?

Austin pushed harder.

Connor panicked, "Austin, stop, you're going to break the door."

"Whatever do you mean?" Austin pushed harder still.

The door creaked, and Connor was slowly, but forcefully, pushed out of the way. He didn't have the Strength to win the contest. Not even close.

The inside of the lab was empty besides what was expected. A few cauldrons, herbs and the like hanging on the walls, and books placed out on workbenches as reference.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Nobody's here. Did I hear wrong?

Austin peered around the room and noticed a few other signs. It looked like two distinctive workplaces rather than one.

"Who's here?" Austin asked.

"What?" Connor replied quickly, "No one's here."

"Don't lie to me, Connor, I know there's a second person here." Austin said and picked up one of the empty cauldrons, "This isn't your mana residue."

Connor flustered, "Oh, that. He's just my assistant."

He? Was I wrong about what was happening?

While Austin liked to push and prod, he liked to keep it light. Any further would be an inquisition, so he backed off.

"Anyway," Austin jumped up to sit on an empty workbench. Well, empty enough, "I just came by to catch up. See how you were doing, ya know? Oh, and grab the things you made for me!"

Connor nearly deflated in relief when he realized the questioning was over, but a look appeared on his face. A look Austin knew well.

"You're leaving," Connor said. Didn't ask, but stated.

The look was concealed disappointment. No matter how many times Austin saw it, it still stung.

"I am." Austin nodded, "In the next few days. I'll stop by Mom's and say goodbye to the rest, but yeah, I'm leaving."

"Where to?" His brother inquired.

"I'm not sure yet. I haven't made up my mind. Probably West. I haven't seen the mountains yet, and I hear they're monstrous now. No one's been able to reach the peak." Austin got excited thinking about it. The stories from the Gathering gave him so many interesting things to look forward to. The mountains were just one of them.

He also wanted to check and see if Jayla was truly digging through them. He'd heard tales, but wanted to confirm. He'd be able to see the West Coast if it were true. See how much had changed there.

"Well, I've got a few potions for you." Connor picked through a few chests he had, "My skill upgraded, and I've gotten better at brewing them. They should heal a lot better and faster now."

He placed a few red potions on the workbench before following with blue ones.

[Healing Potion – Uncommon]

[Mana Potion – Uncommon]

"Mana too. They're harder, but I got the hang of it." He said.

"Ohh, Rare, eh?" Austin converted in his head. Uncommon to him was Rare to his brother. He'd learned to compensate for the downgrade in his head by now. It had been much harder right after evolving.

"The books helped tremendously," Connor stated, but for some reason, it sounded... hollow. Not the full truth.

"I'd heard you improved. I even saw the Bloodline Essences that the Orders are buying from you. When did you learn to distill Bloodlines?" Austin asked harmlessly. Totally and completely harmlessly.

The longer he sat in the room, the more his eyes and other senses could pick up. He knew who it was that left in a hurry. Their traces were everywhere, and they were... unique.

Connor's eyes flashed. He knew. He knew Austin knew.

"Don't tell–" He started.

"Oh, don't worry," Austin waved, "I won't spoil your secret and ruin the fun. What kind of brother would I be if I did that, eh?"

Well, it wasn't just familial ties that stopped him. Austin also thought it was funny. Harmless, too. That was a big factor in keeping quiet.

Oh, the face Abigail will make when she finds out... The thought alone was enough for Austin to smile.

"I do wonder how you've managed it so far. It isn't like you're hiding it well." Austin kicked his feet.

Connor snorted dismissively, "They hardly check in on me here. They're all too busy with their own tasks. This is the first time you've come by, after all."

Austin took the hit stoically. Connor was right, and he should have stopped by more often. To remedy that, he sat and listened to his brother. He told of his success and failure. The challenges of Alchemy.

Of his plans for his coming evolution.

It was... nice. It was also the longest he'd talked to his brother in... a while. Before the tutorial, they weren't that close. Austin worked a lot, and Connor was in college. It didn't exactly lead to a lot of time together.

Austin hopped off the table after they were done.

"Oh, don't forget the potions." Connor swept the glass vials into a bag.

"That reminds me, do you have what I asked for?" Austin asked.

Connor's face scrunched up, "Yes. I still can't believe this was your solution. You realize it's straight poison, right? It's directed, mind you, but still poison."

The next vials he came out with were a murky green. Much different from the vibrant red of the health potions or the glowing blue of the mana ones.

"If it gets the job done, that's all that matters." Austin declared.

"They should last a few hours, depending on your Vitality. So make sure all activities are over in that time." Connor described.

Austin smirked, "Or take another one."

Connor sighed, "Or that."

What Austin had commissioned was... not the most elegant solution to the problem, but it was still a solution. What better way to stop there from being little Austin's running around than to make it impossible?

A poison to target sperm. If the swimmers were all dead, nothing could get fertilized.

Worry-free and endless fun. Until his Vitality kicked in.

Austin swept up the green birth control and added them to the bag Connor was holding before taking the entire thing. As a thank you, Austin placed a few silver coins on the table.

It was a lot of money, but he had it to give.

Austin was halfway out the door when Connor called out, "You'll find Grandma in the garden. She rarely leaves it these days."

Austin wasn't quite sure what to do with that and just nodded. His next stop was his Mother's, and that went over as expected. He'd already said goodbye to Vincent, so he moved on to other family.

Little Anna was sad to see him go, but she understood. His promise that Chris would be back soon cheered her up. He left a note for when he did as well. Him and Hal both.

As he went through the process of bidding his farewells, his plan solidified. Yellowstone was on the way to Mountainside, and he hadn't been to either yet. A volcano had to be worth seeing, and it was on the way.

Maybe he would swing south after. Hit Denver and the other Western Cities.

There was still a lot of land to cover, and he'd only seen a fraction of it.