71. Seerflame
[REVOLVER Spell: EMBALMER]
[MP Cost: 15]
[HP Cost: 100]
[Spell Description: Chamber One imbuement. Deal REVOLVER base AV in Infernal damage type. If the shot depletes the target’s HP, turn the target into an [Enlisted Husk] for 10 seconds or until the [Husk]’s HP is also depleted.]
[Addendum [ENLISTED HUSK]: A vestige of the smited Aberrant that follows the wielder’s will while retaining its pre-smite attributes and abilities. All mitigations are reset to 0%. HP is reset to 300 or the [Husk]’s pre-smite max HP, whichever is lower.]
***
For all its humble design and cozy atmosphere, the Wayside Lotus proved to be sensory overload for a bumpkin freshly out of hell. Serac spent at least the first several hours of her between-Realms respite simply ogling at all the recreational options available to her.
The teahouse, said to serve all manner of poison that—according to Zacko, at least—would make her feel really good for a bit, then really shitty afterwards (no thanks, but if a chilled mai tai was on the menu, maybe they could talk!). The games room, where a Rakshasa could lose herself for Kalpas just learning all the intricate ways outrealmers passed the time (table tennis was her favorite, mostly because of how much better she was at it than Zacko!). There was even the hot spring, a constantly replenishing bath that was more healing for body and mind than any Waystation could hope to be (who knew it felt so good just to be rid of all the mud and gunk!).
But the feature—or rather the staff member—that most fascinated Serac was one Beatrice ‘Bea’ Sattva, also known as the Wayside’s resident Seersmith.
“You made it all the way to your first ascension without learning what half your attributes do?” The (literally) doe-eyed Mriga woman shook her head in disbelief, with her majestic antlers swaying dangerously close to Serac’s face. “That smug-faced Manusya you’re traveling with didn’t think to teach you?”
“Zacko’s not so bad once you get to know him!” Serac said cheerfully, even as she used up a bit of Stamina to dodge Bea’s antlers. “And it was sort of my own choice not to dig too much into the ‘I-series’ of attributes. I had enough on my plate as it was, and besides, now I’ve got you to step up my tutorial!”
“Alright, buttercup, if you say so. But it’s probably faster if I just show you. Here, let me see your piece?”
Serac handed REVOLVER over to the Seersmith, upon which the six-shooter promptly disappeared into the latter’s massive hand. If Serac had thought Zacko was a large specimen of a sentient soul, he had nothing on Bea Sattva, who, despite her antlers, furry coat, and other cervine features, was shaped more like a boulder than a deer. This boulder of a woman was dressed in a heavy-duty apron and short-sleeved shirt that further accentuated her mountainous muscles.
The Seersmith’s movements, however, were surprisingly nimble for someone so large and muscular. She deftly turned around and—without warning—dropped REVOLVER into a flaming forge that was almost as big as she was.
For a Ksana, the Seersmith’s forge as well as the whole of her workshop flashed with a bright, iridescent light. Serac felt her stomach drop to the floor, thinking that she’d just allowed a complete stranger to destroy her Instrument. But the light receded to reveal a perfectly intact REVOLVER that hovered in midair, as if held up by the fire that raged underneath.
The flames themselves had taken on a new color—or multiple colors, to be precise. In fact, they appeared unable to make up their minds, cycling rapidly through black, green, amber, purple, red, white, then back to black and so on.
The Mriga woman leaned back as if to admire the view, with her doe eyes reflecting the colors of the ‘rainbow’.
“Well, would you look at that?” she remarked with a self-satisfied smile. “I thought there was something more than meets the eye with your little boomstick. Been doing this longer than most souls have been alive, but this is the first time I’ve seen anything like it.”
“The colors…” Serac murmured, herself mesmerized by the fire. “There are… six of them, aren’t there? Do they have something to do with the Six Realms of Mount Meru?”
“A sharp mind to go with your pretty face. No one could ever accuse the gods of being fair,” Bea quipped, though not with any malice. “The vast majority of Instruments imbue the Seerflame with just the one aura type that matches the Realm where they were transmuted. In some rare cases, you might see two or at most three different auras for adjoining Realms. But all six? That’s gotta be truly one of a kind.”
Serac recalled Sublimity the Deva’s indignant accusation that a ‘Deific’ Instrument shouldn’t produce Infernal damage. Trippy Version 1 had said something about unlocking REVOLVER’s potential in a ‘step-wise manner’. Six chambers and six Realms. She didn’t need a sharp mind to figure out how it all fit together.
“Zacko’s Instrument…” Serac suddenly remarked as if she remembered something. “If I’m not mistaken, VISAGE’s two aspects produce imbuements of two different damage types: Erudite and Martial. Would that be one of the rare cases you mentioned?”
“Is that right? Well, no wonder he gets to be so smug, carrying around a valuable Instrument like that,” Bea said with visible surprise, turning to face Serac as she did. She then paused for a moment as her doe eyes took on a thoughtful gleam. “And you two plan on going the distance with this partnership of yours, hey? A formidable duo if I’ve ever seen one. I feel sorry for the poor souls who’d stand in your way, Aberrant or otherwise. And even sorrier for…”
The woman trailed off, causing Serac to ask, “Sorrier for?”
“Never mind, buttercup. Let’s focus on the fun stuff, shall we? Now, I want you to look at your boomstick again, but this time, try and see if Pathsight wants to tell you something.”
Serac was nothing if not an eager student of the Path. She did as she was told, and was soon rewarded by an element of Pathsight that had hitherto been closed to her:
[Designation: REVOLVER]
[Instrument Class: DEIFIC]
[Anchored Realm: NARAKA (Base)]
[PHYSICAL Base AV: 113]
[INFERNAL Base AV: 123]
[ZEALOUS Base AV: 129]
[PRIMAL Base AV: 124]
[ERUDITE Base AV: 118]
[MARTIAL Base AV: 118]
[DEIFIC Base AV: 132]
“See them numbers?” Bea prompted. “Any guesses as to what they represent?”
“[Physical base AV] is the damage output of one unimbued bullet,” Serac answered after only a moment’s thought, “and I’m guessing the rest of the numbers are what happens when that same bullet is converted to the other damage types. Sheesh, you mean to tell me I’d be pumping out almost 20 more points per Cartridge if I could just convert it to Deific?”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“There’s an explanation for that too. But I’m sure you’ve already figured it out.”
“The I-series,” Serac said, remembering why they were having this conversation in the first place. “[Insight], [Integrity], and [Immanence]. For whatever reason, I started out with decent numbers in those attributes. I’d assume that’s what’s propping up my Deific AV.”
“You’d be correct in that assumption, buttercup. Each of the aura types receive their AV contributions from a different combination of attributes. Now that you’ve looked into the Seerflame, you’ll be able to see this information the next time you meditate. I’ll let you figure out the exact combinations on your own, but I’ll say this: judging from that Physical AV and how chummy your skin is with your bones, I’d assume your [Substance] must be in the dumpster.”
“You’d be correct in that assumption, Ms Seersmith. Speaking of, where do you come in on all this? You’re not here just to acquaint a new Wayfarer with the Seerflame, are you?”
“That I’m not,” Bea agreed good-naturedly, then picked up a hammer that lay next to the forge. The hammer too was huge—about the size of Serac’s whole torso—but, in the Mriga woman’s hand, it looked like a child’s toy. “Now, watch what happens when I do this.”
Bea’s muscles bulged as she brought down the hammer. From where Serac stood, it appeared to make solid contact with REVOLVER, producing a loud clank and more fireworks.
Once again, Serac was forced to pick up her stomach off the floor, but by now, she’d seen enough to trust that her Instrument was safe. Sure enough, REVOLVER remained hovering above the Seerflame with nary a scratch on it, while the Pathsighted overlay updated itself in real time.
[Designation: REVOLVER]
[Instrument Class: DEIFIC]
[Anchored Realm: NARAKA -> PRETJORD (+1)]
[PHYSICAL Base AV: 113 -> 124]
[INFERNAL Base AV: 123 -> 136]
[ZEALOUS Base AV: 129 -> 142]
[PRIMAL Base AV: 124-> 137]
[ERUDITE Base AV: 118 -> 130]
[MARTIAL Base AV: 118 -> 130]
[DEIFIC Base AV: 132 -> 145]
“Ohhh!” Serac clapped as though she’d just watched a magic trick. “So the Instruments have their own upgrade system, do they? I always wondered what the ‘+’ symbols meant.”
“Uh huh. Leveling your attributes or coming to me for upgrades between Realms—those are the two main ways to permanently up your AV numbers. But that’s not all. Some of your spells might also be tied to your Instrument level. Have a looksie through yours and see if you can’t find an example.”
It didn’t take long for Serac to find said example, given that it was in the very first place she looked—her newest spell, unlocked from smiting the Bone Lord:
[REVOLVER Spell: EMBALMER]
[MP Cost: 15]
[HP Cost: 100]
[Spell Description: Chamber One imbuement. Deal REVOLVER base AV in Infernal damage type. If the shot depletes the target’s HP, turn the target into an [Enlisted Husk] for 10 -> 12 seconds or until the [Husk]’s HP is also depleted.]
[Addendum [ENLISTED HUSK]: A vestige of the smited Aberrant that follows the wielder’s will while retaining its pre-smite attributes and abilities. All mitigations are reset to 0% -> 5%. HP is reset to 300 -> 400 or the [Husk]’s pre-smite max HP, whichever is lower.]
“Fancy.” Serac nodded, then looked up at Bea with an appreciative smile. “Do you upgrade the Instruments of all the Wayfarers that come through here? By yourself? Must keep you really busy.”
“That it does. In fact, I’m a bit backed up at the moment, so you’ll have to wait around a few days for me to finish. Hope you guys aren’t in any sort of hurry.”
“We’re not. Well, not all of us are, anyway.”
“What’s that?”
“Never mind,” Serac said hurriedly, hoping her offhand comment hadn’t further strained her relationship with a certain voice in her head. “Take all the time you need, Ms Seersmith. Only the best for my boomstick!”
“Yeah, yeah. Now, as for the fee—”
“Wait, there’s a fee?”
“—normally, the upgrades would run you at least a few thousand ?, depending on the level, but…” Bea peered down at Serac with a conspiratorial smile. “You know what? This first one’s on the house. I like you, buttercup, and besides, I’d be running afoul of my Oath if I didn’t offer pro bono work for an Instrument of REVOLVER’s caliber.”
“What’s that?”
“Never mind. You’ll understand if you ever make it to Tidereign.”
Exactly three days after that conversation, Serac received her freshly upgraded REVOLVER, complete with the escalated violence it promised.
The Seersmith had even invented a speedloader, a clever device that—with some practice—reduced Serac’s full reload time to about a second. It worked by bundling the Cartridges in custom-built containers that could push all six bullets into the cylinder in one motion. If she wasn’t already the sharpest shooter this side of the Sanzu River, she could now confidently say she was the quickest.
The intervening days had been spent alternating from one delightful activity to another. Taking far more baths than necessary, dominating Zacko at table tennis, or just relaxing and not having to worry about Karma or Aberrants for a while. In fact, Serac was having so much fun that she almost wished Bea Sattva would be slower with her work.
There’d been at least one part of the Wayside experience that was less than perfectly pleasant. It was with regards to the Lotus-keeper himself, a man of indeterminate race (not even Zacko could tell for sure, and it felt a bit impolite to ask) called Ebenezer Yama.
Serac didn’t see much of the Lotus-keeper, given that he kept himself mostly to the teahouse. But what little she did see left her somewhat confused as to the man’s attitude towards the Wayfarers.
He seemed polite and helpful enough, but beneath that amiable exterior lurked a casual directness that verged on condescension. Zacko certainly seemed to harbor guarded feelings about the man he called Eben, and Serac more or less took her cues from her partner.
In any case, a Wayfarer couldn’t stray from her Path for too long, and it was soon time to move on.
A quirk of the Wayside’s layout was that both the entrance and the exit were located within a central courtyard that adjoined all of its facilities. Indeed, they were one and the same: an interdimensional ‘portal’ that was framed by bamboo slats. An unremarkable appearance for a powerful object—but, in the afterlife, such was the rule rather than the exception.
To the naked eye, the portal’s surface was solid and reflective. Standing before it felt like looking in a mirror, as Serac came face to face with her own slightly nervous smirk. But the physical quickly blended with the metaphysical, in the form of a Pathsighted roadsign:
[Inter-Realm transfer active. Destination: PRETJORD]
As was basically tradition at this point, Serac checked in with Zacko for a last-minute briefing.
“What do you think is waiting for us on the other side? We climbed a waterfall on our way here; do you think we’ll be falling down one next?”
“Hmm, I don’t know about that. If anything, it should drop us off at the ‘lowest’ part of the Realm, right? For Naraka, that was the Damnatorium. I really hope we don’t have to break out of prison again.”
Serac laughed, though not all that convincingly. Now that Zacko had mentioned it, prison—or at least something a lot like it—felt like a distinct possibility.
“Okay, let’s just get this over with before I chicken out.”
“Agreed. After you, princess.”
Serac led with her REVOLVER hand and touched the mirror. Any illusion that it was a solid surface fell away instantly, as did Serac’s own solid form as she phased out of the Lotic space and through to the physical world on the other side.
And even before she could land on her feet and see with her own eyes, Pathsight provided the first clue to what awaited in the next leg of her journey:
[PRETJORD Realm Boon unlocked: SYNTHESIS]
[REVOLVER Spell unlocked]
[Chamber Two: HARVEST]
***
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End of Book 1: Chains and Tribulations
Stay tuned for Book 2: A Feast Without End
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FENGHUOLUN (Kindle/Paperback): motorcycle racing Isekai
STARDUST RISING (Royal Road): mecha fantasy x psychological thriller
THE TALE OF JUN ZE THE FEARLESS BLADESMAN (Royal Road): Wuxia short story
OLD WOLVES NEVER DIE (Royal Road): Grandmas-vs-Goblins heist novella
HOOKTAIL (Kindle/Paperback): Dark Souls but cats
NOTE: There will be no chapter this Saturday, just so we can give our Wayfarers a short breather, then I'll be back with Book 2 on Tuesday. Stay tuned!
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