Second Realm

by Michael Chatfield

  Erik moved through the market, a smile on his face.

  Although the region price was a good guide to what the price really was, it didn’t take into account what the different stores would have to sell the items at.

  If he had just come in at three silvers, then the trader would have tried to pressure him for more. Erik needed to undercut enough to make the trader feel as though they were gaining a profit while Erik also had enough room to adjust his offer.

  Erik moved through the stalls, buying cooking ingredients and medicinal plants.

  Erik looked over a store that was selling poultices and mixtures. These weren’t Alchemy concoctions but rather the trader’s own attempt at making mainly healing items.

  I wonder how the apothecaries here are. Looking over them, he couldn’t help but remember Alchemist Tommins. Although he styled himself as an alchemist in Beast Mountain Range because his concoctions were stronger and kept longer, it was more a factor of the containers than his actual concoctions that were closer to apothecary products.

  After being around Alchemist Hei, Erik’s eyes had been opened and he had actually learned practical knowledge about Alchemy.

  These apothecary items were much weaker than Alchemy concoctions. They wouldn’t last as long but they were much cheaper, allowing people who didn’t have as much wealth to purchase them.

  A pretty woman was working the stall. She busied herself with checking the wares, but upon seeing Erik, she couldn’t help but frown.

  Erik, who was looking at the different items and having a game with himself to try to figure out what the different items did, didn’t even pay any attention to her, or the look on her face.

  ***

  Delilah wanted to be an alchemist in the future. There was nothing she wanted to do more. The mysteries of the ingredients, their magical effects—all of these things made her want to ascend to the Third Realm, where she might apply to enter the Alchemist association and work to ascend to the peak!

  There were few, if any, alchemists in the Second Realm. Most of them were self-taught or they had met a lucky chance to ascend to the Third Realm.

  Few wanted to remain in the Second Realm, leading to the apothecaries becoming the main place for one to gain knowledge of Alchemy.

  Delilah wanted to experiment, to read the books that her mentor had promised her. Instead, he had placed her at the store to sell the different items he and her fellow students had made, promising to teach her later.

  She hadn’t missed his subtle hints that there would be a faster way for her to learn Alchemy—if she warmed his bed.

  It was almost enough to make her leave and try to go to the other apothecaries. The apothecaries made a sort of guild under each of the powerful clans in the city.

  They wouldn’t poach from one another, and other apothecaries wouldn’t take on those who left another group’s apothecaries for fear of them being a spy and stealing their secrets.

  The cost to reach the other cities was high and there were few people she could rely on. If she was to travel across the unruled land between cities, for a pretty girl like her there were fates much worse than an old man trying to make a pass at her.

  Even if she wasn’t learning that much Alchemy, she still got a commission for everything that was sold at the store. Her savings were growing every day but she hated the reason she was able to make so much gold.

  She was pretty. She had thought it was the brilliance of her mind and quick wit that had attracted the attention of her Master, but now she saw that was a lie she used to delude herself. Now she knew that she was at the apothecary because there were many young masters and rich men willing to spend their gold to try to spend more time talking to her.

  When she saw the rugged-looking Erik, wearing greaves and a ruffled and worn cloak and looking over the wares in her stall, she couldn’t help but frown.

  Another creep “browsing” the items to stare. What will he ask me? To get something in the back so I have to bend down and he can stare at me from behind or make me lean forward to grab a hard to reach item?

  She took a breath and pushed a smile onto her face. “Hello. Might I be able to help you?”

  “Oh, hi. Just looking around right now.” Erik smiled and continued to browse her wares.

  He likely doesn’t even have the gold to buy these items. Her smile faltered and her brows pinched together the more she moved around the stall, keeping an eye on the man. He would mutter to himself and look at the different pots, ingredients, and items on the stall.

  Her disgust grew. No gold, but just wishes to watch me all day. Is there nothing else he has to do with his time! Her opinion of Erik worsened.

  She heard an approaching commotion. Looking up, she saw Young Master Jole approaching.

  Not one but two lecherous perverts! Who cursed me today! she complained inside her head.

  She forced a smile on her face. The young master was the third eldest son of Lord Ekeem’s direct cousin, one of the four most powerful family heads in Taeman.

  The city was controlled by these four families that acted as a council. If she offended him, then there would be nowhere for her to go in Taeman. The other families were not willing to step out to help someone else who had harmed another family in case it would lead to conflict.

  She could only smile and bear with it.

  “Delilah! I knew that I would be blessed with your visage today! I think that the weather is so beautiful that it can only truly be captured by the atmosphere in the Oasis restaurant,” Young Master Jole said.

  “I am sorry, but I am unable to leave my stand. I have customers to attend to,” she said with a disarming smile.

  “Customers? Aren’t I your best customer?” Jole said, undeterred, and pushing aside the rejection as he laughed easily.

  Maybe I can solve two problems at once. Delilah’s eyes flickered to Erik.

  “I am sorry, but this dear customer here requires my attention,” Delilah said.

  She didn’t miss the changes in Jole’s face as he looked to Erik, who picked up another bottle.

  “Hmm, looks like some weak variant of Health potion. I must test this out. It might help me to augment my own Health recovery concoctions,” Erik muttered to himself, not paying attention to the world around him.

  Hah! Thinking yourself as high and mighty but just taking the time to stare at me, pervert! Delilah smiled slightly as Jole and his guards moved to Erik.

  “Hello, sir. Might I ask what you’re doing?” Jole asked.

  “I’m perusing the store,” Erik said innocently.

  “Indeed. He’s been admiring my goods for some time.” Delilah added just the right tone and look of displeasure.

  “Is that right?” A flash of light went through Jole’s eyes as he faced Erik.

  ***

  If I can defeat this man or humiliate him, then I can show off my strength to Delilah, bringing her closer to me! A wicked smile crossed Jole’s lips as he looked at Erik.

  “Do you not know it is rude to test out goods that you can’t pay for?” Jole said, taking on the role of benevolent minister of justice.

  “Well, I can pay for them.” Erik frowned. “Why is any of this your business? Why don’t you carry on with your day and I carry on with mine?”

  Insolence! You dare to put me down in front of Delilah!

  “I am the third son of Endalh Ekeem, protector of the city Taeman. It is my job to uphold the values of this fair city wherever I might see them!”

  “So, asking people if they have money? You sure you aren’t some kind of tax collector?” Erik looked at Jole as if he were some kind of bizarre animal from a far-off land.

  “I mean you staring at my Delilah this entire time!” Jole exploded.

  “Staring at...who’s Delilah?” Erik asked, a clearly confused look on his face.

  “Are you not willing to accept your crimes? To sully a woman under the pretense of buying goods from h
er! Guards!” Jole yelled.

  ***

  What the fuck? Because I was buying stuff I’m now being attacked? Ekeem—wasn’t that the clan that the Thantis Traders work under?

  “I think that there is a misunderstanding,” Erik said, trying to defuse the situation.

  “A misunderstanding! You, you lecherous pervert, are looking at a woman I admire with the pretense of trying to buy her goods! How is there anything to misunderstand!” Jole pulled his sword free from its scabbard, looking like a hero of justice with his handsome features and elegant clothing.

  “He really is Young Master Jole. Anyone who draws his ire is not long for this realm,” a bystander said.

  “Fighting them barehanded—is this man insane?”

  “Those are the clan’s internal guards. Just one of the guards would be enough to kill him with a single slap!”

  “Don’t resist!” One of the guards swung a sword at Erik.

  Erik felt his anger ignite. “Don’t resist” and then try to fucking maim me?!

  A sword whistled toward his head as another spear was launched at his belly.

  Jole’s proud smile faltered as Erik released his power. It was as if a demon shed its skin, its ire awakened.

  Erik’s reaction time and speed was great enough to fight with a spiritas, to fight beasts head on. How could a guard compare to him?

  A wild grin appeared on his face. The sound of metal hitting stone rang out as he smacked the sword away that was aiming for his head. He turned, grabbing the spear thrust at him and kneeing the guard holding it.

  Erik infused Mana into his knee unconsciously. The blow made the man cough blood as he was thrown back.

  Erik flipped the spear in his hand and turned. The end of the spear hit the attacker’s armor, denting it and sending them flying.

  “Did you see that! He dented in that man’s plate iron armor with the back end of his spear!”

  “The force behind that spear throw! He dented high-Apprentice-grade armor and broke that man’s ribs!”

  “Just who is he?”

  The guards were all around level fifteen. They had training or techniques but they were guards; even if they had lived in life-and-death situations, they had been removed from them for some time. They cared more about their appearance than fighting prowess.

  Erik had lived on battlefields across Earth and since coming to the Ten Realms, he had fought every step of the way. Erik did everything and anything in his power to increase his combat strength.

  He had even tempered his own body with poisons, opened Mana gates, condensed Mana drops. Erik hadn’t truly fought a powerful human opponent yet. After fighting so many creatures, he didn’t hold back in the slightest, every move made to kill and wound.

  Just the fact he was level nineteen, with all of his stats, would have been enough to defeat these ants.

  Erik’s head snapped over to the remaining three guards and Jole. He shot forward, confident in his reaction speed and strength.

  Erik dodged past another sword just released from its scabbard, twisting his body out of the way, and then struck like a viper.

  Erik snapped back. He stopped using Mana in his punches and just used his physical strength. The man was pushed up and to the side by the blow. Erik swung a kick around, sending him flying into another guard.

  Erik raised his hand. The sword rang out as it struck his armored gloves. The stunned swordsman had an opening as Erik sent a punch into his chest. He coughed and dropped to the ground, his breast plate dented inward.

  Jole was backing up, his face pale as guards started rushing toward him.

  Erik looked at it all: the destruction, the guards taking different apothecary treatments as they pulled out new weapons while trying to cover their wounds. Erik could see they were only a minimal threat, the fear clear in their eyes.

  “Come after me and you’ll be next,” Erik warned.

  He tossed a vial at the man who had spat blood and was lying on the ground. The vial released a powder that the man wasn’t able to get away from.

  He inhaled it as the other guards made to move forward. The man’s breathing became easier as he was starting to heal.

  “I don’t want to kill you.” He looked at the guards, who unconsciously backed up.

  “For him to have healing powders—who is he?”

  “He must have some great background to waste so much healing potion on his hand and pour it on the ground,” another said.

  “Didn’t you say that he should have bowed down to the Young Master Jole before?” someone asked their neighbor.

  “That was before I knew who this other man is! To fight five guards with nothing but his fists and legs—he must be one of those legendary melee fighters!”

  “The fuck is wrong with you?” Erik yelled at the man who had been yelling at him.

  Hearing all of the titles and the arrogance of the other man, Erik made the decision to not fight him. After all, he couldn’t fully control his strength right now. He was scared by his strength. He had needed to fight with everything on the line against the beasts he had come into contact with. Humans of the same level seemed much weaker.

  Unless it was a fight to the death, he didn’t want to go into combat with another person. Killing someone with so many titles and who seemed to be important was not going to make leaving any easier.

  Someone who had been hiding on the surrounding rooftops appeared like a shadow next to Young Master Jole.

  They were a level seventeen existence; it was unknown what kind of tricks they might have up their sleeves. Still, Erik was nonchalant as he looked at the person who appeared next to Jole.

  “Next time you want to attack an alchemist, you best kill him,” Erik said.

  There was a startled look on the man’s face as he seemed to be thinking of something. He grabbed Jole and then rushed off, leaving the groaning guards and a stunned crowd who looked at the odd alchemist.

  Erik looked at the trader woman.

  He shook his head as he looked in the direction of rapid footsteps. A group of guards were rushing toward Erik’s location.

  Erik turned and ran. People moved out of his way as he darted into an alleyway, quickly climbing upward.

  He set off in the direction of the Blue Lotus and sent a message to Rugrat.

  ***

  Just who was this man? Delilah could only think to herself. She had seen healing powders before but they were items used by the nobility.

  Am I deaf and blind? I didn’t mean for Jole to try to kill him but just teach him a lesson.

  She couldn’t say anything but just watched as Erik ran away, the taste of regret filling her mouth.

  There was no cure for regret as she remembered his words. He had easily said that he was an alchemist!

  Her skill level had only reached that of level seven Novice. The way that he used the healing potion, his Master must at least be an Apprentice alchemist! These people were like gods, with more power than the lords and ladies of the different cities.

  They were even powerful in the Third Realm.

  This was my chance. If I had just talked to him normally instead of assuming things…

  She could only bite her lower lip, pushing her emotions down. She had seen the hurt in his eyes, the accusation.

  She looked at the guards around her store. Her actions had led to five men getting wounded, possibly critically.

  The guards appeared on the scene, most rushing after the man as she started to pull out healing poultices for the guards.

  The leader of the guards stopped her. “You’ve done enough, don’t you think?”

  The people in the crowds looked at her with scorn and anger. She just wanted to hide away. She wanted to chase off two lecherous fellows; she never thought it would end up this way!

  Chapter: Taeman Blue Lotus

  Erik didn’t waste any time as he sent a message to Rugrat, telling him what had happen
ed.

  “Shit. We need to move?” Rugrat asked.

  “I’m going to go to the Blue Lotus. I’ll talk to them. Make sure you keep an eye out,” Erik said.

  “On it. If you need backup, get me.”

  “Send a message every hour.”

  “Understood,” Rugrat agreed.

  “Talk soon. About to get to the Blue Lotus.” Erik jumped from the building he was on, bouncing between different roofs before he dropped down to the ground and rolled up to standing. People stared at him as he ran across the open ground.

  The Blue Lotus here was easily five times the size of the Blue Lotus in Kaeju city; the square was similarly massive.

  Erik didn’t pause as he jogged toward the main doors, not feeling out of breath in the slightest.

  A guard moved forward to stop Erik. “Hello, sir. There are no auctions going on at this time. Might I ask you to come back at a later time?”

  Erik pulled out the token he had been given for the guard to see.

  The guard’s eyes went wide with the emblem. “Sir, sorry for my rude words. If you would like, I can take you to visit the head of the Blue Lotus,” the guard said, his face full of smiles.

  “The head?” Erik was used to meeting with Juko and Su Wei, but he didn’t expect that the guard would offer to take him to the head right away. Just what the hell does this emblem mean?

  “I don’t need to take up his time,” Erik said. Talking to the head of the Blue Lotus might draw them into the trouble he had just created. He had a good impression of the Blue Lotus and their people; if possible, he didn’t want to affect that relationship in a negative way.

  Thank you for the emblem Juko!

  Erik, sensing that he wasn’t going to get away without meeting the head of the Blue Lotus, smiled to the guard. “Very well, I’ll meet with the head.”

  “This way, sir,” the guard said with a smile, as if he had avoided tragedy.

  Erik saw that he was sending sound transmissions as he led Erik inside.