Final Chapter of Volume 1

Ravela’s gentle call woke me up.

“Tim? Hey, Tim?”

She was sitting up beside me, looking at me with a warm expression. 

“Morning,” I replied. “Sleep well?”

“Yeah. Really well.” She scratched her head as she let out a soft groan. “I'm going to see if I could sell some of those rings.”

“So you need me to dissolve the adhesive. And here I thought you couldn’t bear to leave me before I was awake.”

Ravela looked away. “I forgot about the adhesive… And I did consider getting out of bed before you noticed but…”

I stared at her with my mouth hanging open in a smile. “Thanks, Rav.”

“I didn’t want to be rude to you. Or heartless.”

I extended my arm across her pillow. “It’s so early. Can’t you just stay in bed with me for just a little longer? Enjoy the morning?”

She sighed, fell back onto the bed, and then snuggled up to me without any further complaints. “I can enjoy the morning,” she whispered, putting on a pout.

A lingering stare broke the pout and got a sheepish smile out of her.

“Shut up,” she said, pressing her face into my side.

“It should be illegal to be this happy,” I said.

“Saints save me. You’re such a sap.”

“Say that without giggling.”

“We won’t be going down to the depths today, right?”

“Oh? Are we talking business now?” I joked.

“As soon as you have more of that acid, we can give finding that vault another shot.”

“That’s fine with me..”

Ravela stirred for a little, her face scrunched like she was thinking about something.

“I’m considering telling Meredi about us," she said. "And about how you feel and what you’re aiming for.”

I would have been okay with that, if that was all it was. But Ravela wasn’t meeting my gaze.

“Why do you want to tell her that?”

“Because… I’ve changed my mind.  If there’s the slightest chance I could have you to myself… I'm taking it.”

“I see,” I said, touched by the sentiment. “What if Meredi’s okay with it? With all of it? What then?”

She let out a defeated chuckle. “Well shit. I’m out of luck.”

I cradled her head between my hands, but she closed her eyes.

“Rav, if I get what I want, know that I intend to make you happy regardless. I know that it’s asking a lot, but know that I’m serious about this. The three of you—if I could have the opportunity to cherish all three of you, I would never squander it. Believe in me, Ravela.”

“No,” she said. “Not now. If I believe in you now, that’ll mean I’m rooting for you. I hope you fall short. I hope you can’t meet your own criteria.  But if I lose, and you win.” She opened her eyes. “You’ll earn my faith. Otherwise, you’ll just have me, and you’ll have to settle with that.”

“Don’t say that while looking so sad.”

She chuckled and put on a feeble smile. “Yeah? Well, this is what you’ve done.” Ravela held my hands. “Tim, I can keep you happy too. If what you said to me is real, then I can be enough for you.”

“It’s not about you being enough, Ravela… Even if you had rejected me, the chance to know you and be in your life was enough for me. This isn’t about being satisfied with enough. This is about me reaching for everyone I can grab. I’m a greedy bastard, Ravela. I’m going to take all of you, if you let me.”

She rested her head on my chest. “We’ll see… Ambitions crush people, you know?” I felt her gulp. “When you get crushed, I’m going to pick up the pieces. I’m the only one who would do that for you.”

“If only you could feel the incredible joy that thought gave me.”

***

The morning went by quickly once we finally decided to get out of bed. Ravela wanted to talk about happier things, and I was happy to go along with it. The pieces of jewelry were freed. Ravela was happy to let me keep everything until a later date. I think she understood the value of letting me conduct whatever study struck my fancy.

Once she had the rings though, she had no more reason to put off her departure.

The goodbye kiss she gave me was sweet, and it lasted for longer than usual. Even the way she held my hand while kissing me was so much gentler. Something had really shifted between us.

I walked her to the door with a goofy grin that was only matched by her bashful smile.

Before she stepped out the door, she turned to me and softly nodded.

“I know I talked a big game,” she said, “but I’m still thinking about it. So, I hope you don’t worry too much. I wouldn’t tell her when you’re not there.”

I put up my hands in surrender. “Hey, I wouldn’t hold it against you if you did. If you feel that you want to tell Meredi, then that’s your choice, and you have every right to make it.” I showed her a warm grin. “And if everything falls apart for me, at least I would still have you, right?”

She nodded. “Yeah… And shit, maybe Elsbeth… Yeah, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

She looked up at me.

“I love you, Rav.”

Her lips parted and then she pressed her palms against her eyes.

“Fuck, Timaeus. That’s not fair.”

She looked at me for a second before she caught me in a tight hug. She whispered something, but I couldn’t catch it. Then, she parted from me, waved, and went on her way.

I stood outside my door and watched her figure fade into the day’s haze until she was totally out of sight.

I stayed out there for a little longer past that, just looking at the sky hidden by pollution. I had really come far. When Ravela had reminded me that we had been together for a month, it had brought it into perspective. In a short time, I had made progress with both Ravela and Elsbeth, and had gotten to know Meredi better. It was beyond anything I could have imagined.

Prophecies, powers, and a crazy weapon. I was making good progress. As soon as I was done with the current salvaging missions, I would go back to pursuing the Gloomspawn powers.

“I’m on the right track—”
“Timmie!”

I turned. A cloaked woman—Elsbeth—was racing toward me.

“Timmie!” she said, her voice right on the edge of a shout. She grabbed my shoulder like she needed something solid, and panted for breath. “Timmie! I need to hide!”

“What? Are you okay?” I asked, my voice low, scanning the street myself.

“A woman from the mansion is down here today,” she blurted out. “She’s coming this way! I don’t know if she’s following me, but I can’t risk her seeing me!”

I gestured into the shop. “Go then! Go hide in my room.”

Relief flashed across her face. “Thank you, Timmie.” She pressed a quick kiss to my cheek and darted inside.

“Guess we’ve got an event today…”

I dragged a stool out and sat down with a journal, letting the door shut beside me. If the woman was looking for Elsbeth, she’d find only an unremarkable alchemist killing time.

“It’s gonna be a good day,” I said, cracking open my journal.

A few minutes later, a figure in an obviously high quality coat became more visible through the haze. 

Light tan skin caught the muted daylight; long platinum-blonde hair gleamed like polished silver, tied into a neat, low ponytail. Thick-rimmed glasses sat perfectly balanced on her nose, framing eyes that were sharp enough to strip a person bare in a glance. Her face was striking in the way that made you look twice—so symmetrical and confident that it edged into slightly unbelievable territory. The way she walked conveyed something more dangerous—she was used to having power, and not afraid to wield it.

She looked like she was going to walk on by, but then she stopped in front of me,

“Excuse me,” she said, her voice smooth and undamaged by the haze, “are you an alchemist?”

I had to put on the persona of an innocent alchemist. Any sign of hostility could tip her off if she was searching for Elsbeth.

I kept my posture loose and looked up from my book with a grin. “That I am, ma’am. And this is my shop… Might you be a customer?”

She chuckled. “No. Not today, I’m afraid.”

Her gaze lingered on me a moment too long.

“May I ask you a strange question?”

I laughed. “Strange? Okay, go for it.”

"Do you ever venture outside the walls?”

I leaned back slightly. “Do I stink like swamp? Yeah, I have. I salvage too, if you’re looking for an adventurous alchemist.”

Her smile thinned for just an instant. “I see… You certainly are braver than alchemists I’m aware of.”

“I need an edge against my rivals.”

“May I ask another question?”

“Go for it,” I replied, returning to my journal.

“Have you ever encountered Gloomspawn when you venture out?”

“Yup. Had two unfortunate run-ins,” I replied. “The first time, I was lucky to have a great weapon and some stimulants. The second time, I ran into a patrol unit, and they assisted me.”

“Ahh, so you’ve fought Gloomspawn. They’re quite the messy creatures, aren’t they?”

“Not messier than swamp hogs, or so I hear.”

She laughed, light but deliberate, and I looked up again.

“Well, Alchemist, thank you for humoring my questions. I will be on my way.”

She took a step before I called after her.

“Hey, hold on.”

She turned to me, a colder glint in her eye than before.

“You missed one of my questions. Do I stink?”

Her smile came slow. “Just a little, I’m afraid. But don’t worry—the stench of this layer masks it well.”

“Aye, it’s a powerful stench. I’ll have to put some fragrant scents on.”

“You do that, Alchemist. Farewell.”

The woman went on her way. But there was an urge that I had been holding back since I saw her.

I activated Mana Vision.

What the…

That woman was radiating an incredibly thick black and green-streaked foul-looking mana. It was so revolting that it made my stomach churn and my mouth go dry.

I watched her until her figure was swallowed by haze and her mana could no longer be seen.

“That woman’s bad news.”

“I agree.”

I nearly launched myself through a wall, whipping my head toward the voice so fast my neck popped.

Floating beside me was a woman unlike anyone I’d ever seen. Her skin glowed faintly. Long, straight brown hair swayed in a nonexistent breeze. The most minimal scrap of scale-like skimpy bikini had been glued to her body. In her hair was a long blue feather, and ornate metal bands wrapped around her biceps, with a similar pair of leaf-style bands around her slim thighs. This was the most fantasy setting-appropriate woman I had encountered thus far.

Her orange eyes had a mischievous glint to them. “Glad you can finally see me.”

Her voice—it was the same one I’d heard in the temple that night.

“Oh, great,” I said flatly. “A pervert is haunting me.”

Her mouth fell open in offended disbelief. “I am not a pervert!”