act17mini

Hmph.

As for the rest of you, whether it's food or Oriron you want, I'll take care of it. Consider it an apology for the little commotion just now. You can come get your share once I've figured out the amount.

Not for free, of course. My pockets aren't that deep. Any firework pieces that fell on your turf, you bring to me, no matter how big or small.

Don't be so short-sighted. The Liches may not be roaming the streets day after day now, but they're always watching us. Make sure you understand what you're allowed to take, and what you shouldn't even go near.

No objection. I picked up a lot of small pieces, but they're too small to be anything useful.

How does this work? How much food and Oriron can we get for the pieces?

Excuse me, I have an idea... the amount of Oriron can be calculated from the purity, but I'll need to take another measurement, since I got interrupted.

It would be best if I could take a small sample.

Pohl looks at Nymph with bewilderment in his eyes, but nods his head. The others give way for Nymph to take her peculiar hand-box to the cracked 'piece of iron'.

She takes out a strange rod and knocks on the surface lightly. A small, dull-colored piece falls out from inside.

Nymph's box opens slowly, sucking the piece in. When the box closes, everyone in the room feels compelled to look to the window.

The skies are still dark, but the light shining in seems to have gotten brighter and warmer.

Whew... done.

Write your choice of supplies and your name on the paper, and come back in three days. You know where to find me.

Doesn't matter if you can't write, Beck. You got the whole piece of iron; you're not getting anything else from me.

And I'll deal with the territorial dispute between the mercenaries and the Broken Horns, same day, next month. All of you better show up.

Here's the paper, just like you wanted, Consultant.

Anything else? Alright, you can get back to your own lives now.

Thank you so much, Consultant. You're really a huge help.

Ah, it's nothing. I've crossed paths with that Lich lady before, after all. It's the least I could do.

And please... call me Pohl.

I didn't expect the legendary Consultant to be so... young.

But the supplies that you promised the people here, to get me out of that jam—do you really have so much food and Oriron in stock?

Maybe? I've stocked up a bit over the years. Not sure if it's enough, though... maybe I should get a head start on picking up the firework pieces...

The clothes on your back are all wet.

Really? Well, I guess it's a hot day today.

Pohl, were you... scared?

Well...

(Of course I was scared!)

(Did you see how many men they had? And how many blades? They could have eaten me for dinner if they meant it!)

(What was I supposed to do? I just wanted to get everybody together and make our lives a little better. How was I supposed to know that things would turn out like this?)

I didn't sign up to become the Consultant!

Calm down, calm down! We're safe.

...You heard that?

What?

Djaj can read minds, can't they? Did you...?

It's okay, I didn't peek! Why does everyone think we can do that?

It's true that I'm a little more sensitive to people's fear... but it's very demanding Arts! And do you think I really want to hear what other people are thinking?

I guess you're right... it's not exactly pleasant stuff you would see in Kazdel.

Anyway, did you get what you needed?

Yeah. It's perfect. Look!

It's so small. But it does look unique.

It was surrounded by Oriron. That's why the detector didn't react.

Well, you got what you came for, didn't you?

No, I'm just getting started.

Ermi... my Lich friend says there's at least four or five more pieces in the city, and I have no idea where to find them. I was planning on asking someone well-connected...

But who's better connected in these parts than you? You must know something, right <i>Consultant?</i>

I have a rough idea where some of the pieces might have fallen, but I can't be sure whether they'll have revenants in them or not.

It's a start! Better than stumbling around the city trying my luck!

If you help me find the remaining pieces, I'll ask the lazy Liches to reimburse the food and Oriron you're handing out!

Well, food might be a little difficult, but Oriron shouldn't be a problem. There's always parts coming off the Furnace during maintenance!

Well, I guess I couldn't do worse...

Hey, stop tugging on my sleeve!

I'll take that as a yes! A little stroll would do you some good, given how stressed you are.

Who said I was stressed?

Did you forget I'm a Djall?

You said you didn't look!

My stuff is different from theirs! I picked everything nice and careful. Look at the quality! How could you give me the same price?

No difference. Three.

How about this, I got another handful of pure Oriron in my pocket. No Originium mixed in at all. I'll add it to the pile for a piece of your bread.

No.

Who do you think you are, old man? Three potatoes for three full baskets of Oriron scrap? Did you burn your conscience in the furnace too?

My bread is pure white flour. You're not getting it for a handful of slag. Get lost. Next!

Two baskets? Put it on the scale. Mm. Two sweet potatoes. Grab it from the ash. Don't try to swipe any; I guarantee you I'll know.

I told you to get lost, Bean Sprout. You're in the way.

You're not the only furnace keeper in this city, old man. If you won't take this, someone else will.

You can have this entire batch of bread if you get more than three sweet potatoes from anybody else, you dumb slug.

Everybody heard that? No takebacks!

*Sarkaz expletive*, they just keep getting worse! The furnace keeper this side's only giving two, and it's cellar leftovers from last year! How am I supposed to make a living?

My back's hurting from gathering this stuff all night. It's not even worth a day of food? Anyway, I'm not going back to the old man. Maybe I should check out the market on the east side.

But the path east would take me past those shacks...

The old folks say they dumped broken bodies there during the war, and there's still ghosts who couldn't get back to the myriad souls...

No, no, no! Only kids are scared of ghost stories. Of course I'm not scared.

Just a dark alley and a few abandoned shacks.

He makes up his mind and pushes his rickety cart forward, around scattered piles of firewood and puddles, toward the narrow and winding alley.

A dark borderline cuts open the path ahead. In front is the area in the shadow of the Soul Furnace. The gaunt man slows his steps, and covers the cart with his jacket.

(Gulps) It's just around the corner...

How is it so cold at midday? Hah, what's with the weather these days?!

Did something move? Who's there? Who said something?!

This place has been abandoned for ages... what's that sound? A blade being sharpened? Meat being cut?

*Sarkaz expletive*, I'll just run through with my eyes closed...

The cart crashes into a wall, just as he is about to get out of the shadow of the Furnace.

No, not a wall... his eyes run across grey-white metal as he looks up, until they meet a pair of crimson-red counterparts.

Ghost!

Sorry, I think I'm lost. Are you alright?

Are you blind? Didn't you see my cart? You, you...?

Sorry. My fault. See ya.

No, just... just stay there! Don't move!

What's up with the weather? How is it so hot when I don't even see the sun? I'm soaked with sweat.

So many weirdos in town these days...

You again? I thought you went west.

A pair of blood-red eyes rise slowly from the shadows in a corner, rising above the Sarkaz's head, above the shacks by the wayside, above the wilted trees.

The heavy figure turns slowly, emerging from the furnace's shadows. The tattered linen cannot hide the grey-white cracks, but they fill the Sarkaz's vision.

(Hoarse growl)

It-It's true... I... *Sarkaz expletive*.

The young Sarkaz's eyes roll into his head. He lets go of his cart and falls unconscious to the ground.

Let's take a break. There's water over there to wash your face.

Well, I got dirt all over my face, but at least we have something to show for it. If nothing else, we got that huge rock out of the construction site.

Who would thought that only a thin outer layer is iron, and the rest is just ash?

Where do we go next?