NOVEL NEXT Chapter 54 - Calculations
"Dad! Down and drink this," Triangle ordered me around the moment I crossed into the guild hall entrance. In his hands was glass filled with a turbid orange liquid that glistened.
The label on the orange bottle read, "Vision Eyes." As I chugged it down, a strong taste of carrot coated my tongue, but it was a smooth drink compared to the other ones I've had from him.
"Did the recipe card even have carrots? Where did you get them?"
"I mashed them as best as I could with my pestle." His hands mimed using the tool. "Mom says they help you see better."
"That's a propaganda that was spread in the past," I explained, still coming off the adrenaline of the fight. My vision stopped being foggy, and slowly shadows appeared in the darkness, then colors and I could see. I stopped talking because there was no need to teach the meaning of propaganda as well. "You know what? I should say thank you. This is incredible, my sight is already better. The debuff is gone too! Thanks, man."
I kneeled down and opened my arms up for a hug. One Naiad beat him to by sprinting over into my arms. She smirked and laughed back, opening her hand up so he could join in. All three of us hugged. For now, we were safe, and we defeated something far more dangerous than any monster. We hung out and did it together. Each of us stepped into a role we wanted. We were a family and a team.
"Now what?" Naiad asked after a moment, and putting plenty of distance between us.
"We still need to be careful, in case the Pantheon members use portals to get here fast. I don't know how many they have access to. Let's pack up to camp in the woods to plant this seed and lie low. We'll shop at the general store on the way out of the city. Here." I gave them their share and payback on the coins I looted, along with the gear for Naiad and equipment for Triangle. I kept the wand and divided up all the potions in ways I saw best, anything I had no clue about I gave to Triangle. "You can study those to learn from."
His face got sad again. "I miss Ma'am Q."
"It's alright. Take your time. I'd love to help you work through potions and these feelings." I gave him a reassuring smile. "Or whatever you want."
"How long do you think we'll be out there with the seed?" Naiad asked.
Both Triangle and I shrugged, unsure.
I stood up and pointed at the two workstations Triangle had. "I suggest bringing whatever project you're working on. What's your current quests like? We can work on those while out in the woods."
Both kids' eyes glossed over. I dug into my interface to look at my quest log. The only quest I had active was the legendary Root and Seed of the Problem. Knowing where the kids where would help us know how stuck we were in Fanamel too. It would be best for our own safety to get out, but only if Triangle wants a new alchemist NPC. For me, the NPC was easy as to replace as a toy. For him, Ma'am Q was more than a favorite store.
Naiad spoke first. "My quest is to foster and grow the plants I planted in the Clingeo Grove. That's mostly waiting until more life shows up. Until then, I can work on practicing my archery skills. I was going to need new gear, but with this armor upgrade, the quiver you got me, and our speciality commissioned bow, I'm all set."
"Both those quills I got for cheap," I joked. "I bought the one with a discount from my class quest."
"I wondered what your new class title was." Triangle looked at me with his eyebrows scrunched, trying to read my properties.
Naiad laughed. "I didn't notice it last time. Are you now planning to take governments down?"
I looked at my title and updated my stat points from our latest fights. I used everything I could to update my build to be a tank for my kids. One point was used to help with my shield throwing abilities too.
>>><<<
Player Name: Boulder
Level: 14 (+4)
Race: Human
Class: Informant for the People
Affiliations: None
Status Buffs: Helitical Shroom 10% Luck Buff
Expanded Details: Skill stats:
Strength 9(+3) | Dexterity 5 (+1) | Constitution 17 (+6)
Intelligence 1 | Wisdom 1 | Charisma 1
Fortitude: 1.50 (+0.25) | Reflex 1 | Will 1
>>><<<
I shook my head to answer Naiad. "It's only a title that helps me listen in better and talk more when I activate an ability."
"Thanks for working hard on that class," Naiad smiled.
I wondered if I could level the class up by removing the Pantheon Guild from Purge and Fanamel, by working with the governments there. To make the guards actually defend the people again. It could be my own personal quest after this legendary one.
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[Quest: Can't touch this.
Description: Make sure the Pantheon guild never messes with the Shrimp Guild again. This can be done with subterfuge, fighting, or sneaking around.]
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Triangle raised his hand to talk. "I have something about going around a wall and talk to the goblins again. I forgot about them! Can I go back since I lost my fish food friend?" he trailed off on the last bit. He was actually sad and trying to process it.
I squeezed his shoulder. "After we plant the seed and they're in the area, sure. Be honest, is there a risk of us getting blown up?"
"You're not a sheep, so you should be fine," he said with a smile.
Naiad crossed her arms and made a gagging sound. "I rather not do that again."
That was the quest the kids got without me weeks ago. They remained tightlipped about it. I'd be learning more about it once Triangle continued that quest line.
"Alright," I said, "so we need shop, plant this seed, help Naiad grow some life in her forest, and let Triangle investigate the wall. One thing that will help us travel outside of the city for a while will be a Protection Potion. Triangle, do you know how to make them?"
"Yup! They're fun to make, but I need more supplies," he told me. "They sell the moment I put them on the market because they're cheaper than the other two bottles on the market. Then I buy cheap ingredients and do it again."
I chuckled at how my six-year-old did a better job on the market side than a professional streamer.
"That was Alcender putting the expensive bottles on the market," I said. "He was controlling the potion market. You're going to have a busy job keeping up with the demand."
"This is a game, not a job." Triangle passed on his wise wisdom.
"True," I agreed.
"How many Protection Potions do you have?" Naiad asked.
"Three." He drew them out of his inventory and handed them to each of us.
"Thanks man. Wow, you are really on top of it. Do you want to stay here while Naiad and I go out? You can research those potions I just gave you."
"You need me, Dad, for my bubbles and bombs," pulled out Goldy, who wore a little hat, and both posed heroically.
Joy filled me at seeing how brave he was going out with us. Guilt shortly followed at realizing his words. I wasn't sure if he made this choice on his own or because we still forced him to. I had to let him have the choice.
"Glad to have you. Let me know if you need anything for alchemy while we are out or if you change your mind." I smiled. Last thing was to confirm they both used their latest stat points.
>>><<<
Player Name: Naiad
Level: 14
Race: Half-breed (elf + human)
Class: Ranger
Affiliations: Goddess Leith
Status Buffs: Nurture of Nature
>>><<<
"What's Nurture of Nature?" I asked.
"It helps my plant gathering and growing. Which will be helpful for now." Naiad shimmied her shoulders like holding back a dance.
"I want that buff!" Triangle crossed his arms. "If I plant in your forest, will you give it to me, Kerry?"
"No, Sir Triangle," the bird croaked out. "Only one can have the buff, and Naiad earned it."
The "sir" part surprised me, but I didn't pry further. We had to stay on track and plant this seed before it got too late. "Have you both used your stat points?" I inquired.
>>><<<
Player Name: Triangle
Level: 13
Race: Half-breed (gnome + human)
Class: Alchemist Tinker
Affiliations: Goblin's Apprentice
Status Buffs: Touch of hare.
>>><<<
"Points spent," Triangle danced around. "Can we go and plant?"
Naiad nodded in agreement. With our supplies ready, and everything in the open, I put my hand out. "Are you ready to do one more cheer off?"
Naiad barely beat Triangle to be next on the hand pile. I counted down, "One, two, three. Shrimp Guild!"
"Shrimp Guild!" The others joined in one.
It felt good to be just us, no other knuckle heads or people watching the stream to hurt my family. This was our family adventure. Keeping track of everything was a lot, but I took Naiad's approach to write notes.
This time, Triangle led the way out of the guild and through the city. The smoke from our fight was gone. Instead of sneaking through the northeast gate, we took our normal one toward the east that would let us enter Clingeo Grove.
The streets felt busier already compared to earlier. Players still had their hoods up, but there were more of them around. We didn't finish off Michael. He could be one of those players hiding his face. I also didn't know how long it would take the Pantheon to portal more people here. The anxiety made me close the gap between Triangle and I. Naiad followed my lead.
"You still have the mushroom buff," Naiad whispered to me.
I looked at her status and Triangle's. Both kids lost the buff. Naiad lost it when she got the ring from Leith. I didn't understand how Triangle got rid of it. "What's the Touch of Hare buff?"
"I touched a bunny yesterday. It's about to wear off. It gave me a speed boost."
"He hopped around all fast when making your potions yesterday," Naiad jogged and picked up her brother. "Hop, hop, hop."
"Stop!" He whined, but there was a smile plastered on his face.
If I wanted to get rid of this buff, it required talking to Leith or dealing with another deity. It was going to wait until this seed quest was done. The Chiliam smelled the mushroom buff on us the last time we met. I rather not risk him smelling a freshly planted guardian seed on me… and know we were hiding it. I had to keep Leith away from Naiad, and that meant doing what Leith wanted.
We made our way into the general store. Players near my level were buying cheap low level potions, as many as they could get their hands on. We restocked on cheap arrows for Naiad, the best camping gear we could buy, and making sure we had the max two healing scrolls allowed on all of us. It was nice to relax and shop, not feel rushed or feeling stressed. We upgraded Triangle's armor to the max the general store had, which brought it to a rank of Uncommon. He needed something better. I bought him a unicorn mount with the funds I had, even though I could've bought a better one, he wanted the same one Naiad had. Neither of them wanted to upgrade their mounts. I joined them in the unicorn ride.
Triangle also bought a new red cowboy hat for him. He switched back to his classic one as we got back to the street and headed to the gate out.
By the gate out, a long line stood there, at least twenty people, getting rejected from leaving the city by security. The guards continue to record the names of everyone who passed through. I dug through my inventory to find the pass they gave me yesterday.
"Can you listen in to what they're asking?" Naiad suggested to me.
"Good idea."
I triggered the new ability I got with my class. [Eavesdropper]
Along with the generic name and guild question they asked me earlier, there was more.
"Where were you an hour ago?" A guard inquired.
"At home eating pizza," a player named Saga said.
"When did you notice the smoke?" The guard continued.
"What smoke?"
"Hmmm, you are too weak to go out. Get better gear in the market. Next." The guard shouted.
"But I need coins to buy gear. I'm higher level than the forest and-"
"I said 'Next' kid. There are new monsters here and I don't want to waste my soldiers searching for your body out there."
Saga grumbled something I couldn't pick up with my ability. I looked at his gear, he had mostly uncommon gear level. Any player who gave an answer on their whereabouts that dealt with in the game had to be validated by a seer nearby.
"They're investigating the area, trying to find the culprits who lit the building on fire," I said, my eyes going between Naiad and Triangle, the culprits.
"What are we going to do?" Naiad's eyes got big.
There wasn't an easy way for us to get out of the city, and getting out of line right here would look suspicious. A rope blocked off the side path along the city walls. White tents were being built to hide the investigation further down along the wall.
All we had to do was keep our mouth shut and not be another data point for the guards. Naiad would be smart, but asking Triangle to stay silent was the same as handing him some candy and not eat it. Candy would at least keep his mouth busy and stop him from talking. Too bad I didn't have anything in my inventory.
I had to embrace the way my kids solved things. We were second in line and my plan depending on little predictability, and less silence.
"Just follow my lead," I told both kids.
In honesty, I was gambling on my plan as I grabbed Triangle's little hand and squeezed it. "Show time."