Pandora Unchained - a Cultivation Progression Fantasy

Houses in New Castle seldom changed hands, in part due to the cost of these residences but mostly due to the gargantuan task involved in moving. It wasn't just about the furniture—the small necessities required to live in such mansions took months to fully organize to a point where one could have the neighbors over, let alone host impressive parties.

Food and cooking implements were but the simplest examples. When you added in enchanted wood for fireplaces, mana lamp maintenance equipment, landscaping tools, and custom joining runes for integrating furniture into a house's masonry, it became far easier to simply leave everything behind and rent the place out. Only one's most prized possessions would be taken, which was why Sorin was currently sifting through the more sentimental part of his possessions as Percival and Clarice packed up the more obvious items.

Sorin rarely sifted through possessions, as he seldom added things to his collection. But having resumed his practice five years ago and taught the newest batch of poison-cultivating physicians ever since, Sorin had inevitably built up a large collection of gifts from grateful students and patients. Mugs, mostly, but there were standout items worth displaying.

One example was a painting in his study depicting a half-rotten man dancing in a meadow. The man's fingertips and toes were black. It had been a difficult but rewarding case to solve, so Sorin marked it as something deserving of a place in their new residence in Olympia instead of being placed in long-term storage.

He then moved on to a small golden coffin. This one was the product of a goldsmith who'd fallen ill with a rare neurological condition while visiting relatives in the countryside. As with the painter with the sudden onset necrosis, Sorin had succeeded where all others had failed and fully restored his mobility, thereby saving the man's prosperous smithing career.

There was admittedly an excess of such items. He naturally kept all these gifts but marked three-quarters of them for cyclical storage instead of long-term storage. This would instruct Percival and Clarice to cycle them in and out with the changing seasons.

Next came his books. Though he remembered most of them, it was useful to sometimes confirm one's knowledge on the off chance that it had been corrupted, so he instructed Percival to move them all.

These items, my desk, my chair, and my bed, thought Sorin. I'll also take my cauldron and reagents from the lab; everything else can easily be replaced. With that, he finished the most tedious part of his moveout and made his way downstairs for afternoon tea, where two guests had just arrived and were patiently waiting with teacups in hand.

"There he is!" said Elder Clavin as Sorin entered the sitting room. "The legend himself. The omnipotent physician who's never failed a case. Rumor has it that this reputation will be shared by his students, who've all been told they can literally do anything they set their minds to!"

"Elder Calvin," Sorin greeted respectfully before addressing the man sitting beside him on a grey divan. "Elder Nolan. I'm happy you were both able to make it before I took off. Just a few hours more, and I would have been on my way. You have tea and snacks already—should I have Percival get you anything else?"

"No, thank you," said Elder Nolan. "And I can't say I'm surprised you chose to snub Elder Simon on the way out. Normally, someone of your status would at least stop by and bid their respects to the Presiding Council."

"There are people there I'd rather not see," confessed Sorin. "What's more, I paid my respects to my parents three days ago. There was no reason to cause further friction with another visit when I could simply wait for those I care about to come calling. That said, I expected two more people to join you. Did something keep them?"

"Elder Claudius is busy investigating an anomaly in the ruined Temple of Asclepius in the catacombs and sends his regards," Elder Nolan said helplessly. "As for Elder Marik, he is currently packing his things. He received reassignment papers last night."

"Oh?" said Sorin, accepting a cup of tea from Percival. "Thank you, Percival. I thought Elder Marik had quite a bit of influence in the family and could choose whatever posting he liked."

"That would normally be the case," said Elder Nolan. "But fret not—his reassignment is good news for you. He'll be traveling to Olympia in the next few days to reclaim his role as the Chief Defense Elder."

"Leaving us fogies here to rot," added Elder Calvin. "Not that I'm complaining. I'll take being a big fish in Delphi over being a small fish in Olympia any day.

"That said, there's you left quite the mess to pick up after. Aim higher? What kind of advice is that? It's the kind of thing you never tell young physicians—or apothecaries, for that matter. It's the kind of advice that gets people killed."

Sorin sighed. "I realize the problems my words might cause, Elders, but I won't apologize. You two should know that they'll receive a lot of pushback from the medical community once they begin their practicum. This new batch of poison-based physicians will set the bar for all those who come after them. They need to stand their ground and show everyone what they're capable of."

Elder Calvin nodded. "I understand your good intentions, Sorin. That said, you should remember that you're saying things from the perspective of someone who seldom fails. One day, you will encounter a situation where there is no good solution. Cutting your losses will be the only option."

"I agree with Elder Calvin," said Elder Nolan. "It tends to happen as we approach the limits of our potential, but it is inevitable. As a God Seed of Asclepius, it will be difficult for you to progress past this point. I therefore advise you to be proactive about setting limits instead. Otherwise, you'll be in for a rude awakening that may spell the end of your cultivation path."

Sorin smiled. "We'll have to agree to disagree. Where there's a will, there's a way."

"You're letting your youth get to your head," cautioned Elder Calvin. "Let's talk again after you've spent a year in Olympia. If there's one place that will age you, it's that one. That aside, there's one other thing I wanted to speak to you about: consent. I noticed while reviewing your class notes and interviewing your star pupils that you seldom mention this very important subject."

Sorin rolled his eyes. "You and I both know that consent is something easily obtained. As physicians, we are in the best position to analyze risks and benefits to the patient, and the patient knows it."

"But consent must be obtained," said Elder Calvin. "And your students must understand this. It must be obtained explicitly and with minimal influence."

"Yes, yes," said Sorin. "I understand. And believe me, I've always obtained consent. It's just that people tend to trust me because of my track record and my reputation."

"And those intimidating eyes, I'm sure," said Elder Calvin.

"A reputation I worked hard to build," continued Sorin. "As for why I don't mention consent, it's because it's a waste of time. I trust in my students' professionalism. What's more, I'm not their only instructor. They've got many other instructors forcing that stuff down their throats."

"But you are the instructor they relate to most," said Elder Calvin. "Which is why it's going to take a lot of effort on our part to drive that lesson home."

"Effort on your part," corrected Elder Nolan. "I'll just be there to offer support."

Elder Calvin grunted. "Whose bright idea was it again for me to begin an official practice? Worst decision I ever made."

"Don't pretend you don't like your current life," chided Elder Nolan. "Keeping you holed up in the laboratory has always been a waste, given your wonderful way with people."

"I would have been perfectly content in the laboratory, thank you very much," said Elder Calvin. "Unfortunately, I was forced to change careers when Sorin solved my life's work and made my position redundant." The elder sighed. "Oh well. You're never too old to pick up some new skills. Or polish skills you've been using illegally."

Percival entered the sitting room and delivered a piping hot tray of scones, which Elder Calvin greedily dug into. "Percival, I must ask—how exactly are these made. They're delicious, and being an amateur baker, I've never been able to make anything so moist."

"I'll double-check with Clarice, but I believe the key is to throw a shallow pot of water into the oven to convert it to a steam oven," said Percival.

"A steam oven," muttered Elder Calvin, rubbing crumbs off his robes. "Ingenious."

"Will you require anything else, Master Sorin?" asked Percival.

"That will be all," said Sorin. "And Mr. Kepler is more than enough."

"I'm afraid Mr. Kepler would be confusing given your current company," said Percival apologetically. "And I can hardly call you by your first name. But I'll take note of your request for when those not of the Kepler Clan come calling." He then retreated from the sitting room and resumed the troublesome task of collecting Sorin's belongings in a single location for loading onto transports.

"Can't you just gift them a spatial treasure or something?" asked Elder Calvin. "They'll stick out like a sore thumb in Olympia and might even get robbed before they get there."

Elder Nolan disagreed. "It would be better to hire a Flesh-Sanctification-Realm butler. I'm afraid Percival's cultivation is lacking. Keeping him in his current position would be seen as both inappropriate and disrespectful in Olympia."

"There's no one I trust more than Percival and Clarice with my belongings," said Sorin. "As for protection, I've already issued a mission with the Adventurers Guild. There will be three Flesh-Sanctification cultivators escorting them to Olympia. And once they arrive, the contract will convert into an urban protection contract. That's not even considering the fact that they'll enjoy the Kepler Clan's protection once they arrive in Olympia."

"You're stubborn as a mule, so I won't try convincing you," said Elder Calvin.

"There's no point in trying once he's made up his mind," agreed Elder Nolan. "Though I hope you've at least read Elder Marik's reports on the general situation in Olympia and realize what you're up against? Young Master Fineas has amassed a lot of supporters in these past five years. It will be difficult gaining a foothold in the clan as a result."

Sorin shrugged. "He's the next clan leader. As a God Seed of Asclepius, I'm not eligible for the position."

"But you do possess influence and the authority to mobilize resources," pointed out Elder Nolan. "Your authority might even slightly exceed Young Master Fineas's. Unfortunately, he has Clan Leader Reeves backing him up; it will be difficult to take back what could have been yours had you returned five years prior."

"I have no regrets," said Sorin, draining away the last of his tea. "These past five years have been invaluable to me. Not only have I obtained my three-star physician and apothecary certifications, but I've also earned enough to upgrade several key pieces of equipment and nurture all five of my poisons to the hundred-poison level.

"What's more, whatever influence I lost in the Kepler Clan was more than made up for with the influence in the Medical Association and the Alchemists Guild. Fineas might be a physician, but his skills and potential will be lacking compared to mine in this field.

Elder Nolan disagreed. "Influence outside the family isn't nearly as good as influence inside it. But don't take my word for it. See for yourself."

"I'll be fine," said Sorin. "And rest assured that I'm not as ignorant of politics and the bigger picture as I was when I arrived in Delphi."

"Thank Lord Hope for that," grumbled Elder Calvin. "If you'd tried to go to Olympia six years ago, I would have knocked you unconscious, crippled your cultivation, and shipped you back to the Bloodwood Outpost. You would have been miserable, but better miserable than dead."

"I believe that about covers it," said Elder Nolan. "Sorin's got a lot to do; I'm sure if he's going to meet his friends at the appointed location three days from now."

"How did you—"

"We might be old, but we have vast networks," said Elder Nolan. "Which is why we already know that you'll be adventuring all the way to Olympia instead of taking the safe way there."

Sorin raised an eyebrow. "You're not going to stop me?"

"It's not like we haven't done the same thing," said Elder Calvin. "Passing through the wilderness on the way to Olympia is practically a rite of passage. That said, there are many paths that lead to Olympia. Some are dangerous, and others are safe. The rewards you gain will naturally be proportional to the risks you take."

"Which is why we prepared this for you," said Elder Nolan, sliding over an envelope. "Elder Claudius and Elder Marik both contributed heavily to it. Navigate according to your capabilities, and I'm sure you'll find many unique poisons and treasures that will be beneficial to your research."

Sorin ripped open the envelope and found an assortment of recording slips and thinly folded maps. "Thank you for all your support these past five years," said Sorin, storing the envelope in his Hero Medallion. "Things would have been a lot harder if not for all your work behind the scenes."

"Bah," said Elder Calvin. "It's the least we could do given how much help we got from Lorent over the years."

"Speaking of Lorent," interrupted Elder Nolan. "We also wanted to remind you not to ask too many questions related to his death. It's a bit of a taboo topic in Olympia and not something you want to investigate with your current level of strength."

Sorin maintained a neutral expression. "I've long since come to terms with my parents' death," he lied. "There's nothing to be gained from investigating further. Only pain."

"Very good," said Elder Nolan, draining the last of his tea. "You don't mind if Elder Clavin takes the last of these scones, do you? For science, of course."

"I'll have Percival pack them up, along with the recipe," said Sorin. "I appreciate the visit and will make sure to write on a semi-regular basis."

Sorin made a few more assurances as he saw the elders out. Two more hours was all it took to finish the rest of his preparations. "You take care out there," said Percival. "And take your time. We'll have a residence and a lab and everything else you could think of sorted out by the time you arrive."

"And if you get tired of foraging, be sure to enjoy the occasional snack," added Clarice. "The ten thousand helpings I prepared should last you a fair while."

If Lorimer wasn't part of the equation, you might be right, thought Sorin. "Don't worry. Lawrence will be traveling with me, and his cooking skills are quite good."

"Then we won't keep you," said Percival. "Stay warm and stay safe."

"And keep an eye on Lawrence," added Clarice. "Never trust a rogue, no matter how good of a cook he is."

Sorin raised an eyebrow. "Is there some sort of story to accompany that bold statement?"

Clarice leaned forward and pushed him out of the house. "Off you go. We'll continue this conversation when you've safely arrived in Olympia."