The Alchemists and the Nine Realms: The Love Hypothesis

13 - Varian Starts Melting at The Sight Of His Jewel

Rain lashed against the windowpanes of the Snuggly Duckling, the wind howling like a banshee. Inside, a different kind of storm brewed around the rough-hewn table in the tavern's common room. Eugene, Rapunzel, and Cassandra huddled together, their faces etched with worry as they shared intel.

Eugene, ever the pragmatist, slammed a tankard on the table, the sound echoing through the empty tavern. "Alright, folks," he said, his voice gruff. "Spill it. Where have these cursed black rocks been popping up?"

Rapunzel, her brow furrowed in concentration, unfurled a map of Corona, its familiar landmarks marked with small, ominous black dots. "The first one appeared near the old windmill, just outside Corona," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "Then another by the Whispering Woods, and yesterday, there were reports of a whole field of them near the abandoned sapphire mines."

Cassandra, her keen eyes scanning the map, traced a line connecting the dots. "Interesting," she murmured. "The locations seem scattered, but there's a pattern. They're forming a rough... triangle."

Eugene scoffed. "Triangle? What good is a triangle, Cassandra? These things are popping up everywhere, turning everything they touch to... well, black rocks."

Rapunzel shivered, a memory flashing through her mind. The chilling touch of the black rock, the way it had drained the life out of the flower she held. "We need to find the source," she said, her voice firm despite the fear that gnawed at her. "If we can stop whoever's wielding this power..."

Her voice trailed off, but the meaning hung heavy in the air. They needed to find the wielder of the corrupted moonstone before Corona was consumed by darkness.

Cassandra tapped the map thoughtfully. "The triangle... maybe it's not random. Maybe it points to a location. A place of power, perhaps, where the wielder is drawing their magic from."

Eugene frowned. "A place of power? You mean like some ancient, creepy ruin guarded by angry skeletons?"

Cassandra smirked. "Something like that."

Rapunzel, her eyes gleaming with determination, slammed her fist on the table. "Then that's where we go! We find this place, stop whoever's behind this, and save Corona!"

Eugene and Cassandra exchanged a glance. They knew Rapunzel's unwavering optimism was a beacon of hope, but the reality of the situation was far more dangerous.

"Easy there, Rapunzel," Eugene said gently. "This isn't some bedtime story. We're dealing with powerful magic here. We need a plan, not just blind courage."

Cassandra nodded. "Eugene's right. We need more information. How often are these black rocks appearing? Is there a pattern to their emergence?"

Rapunzel pondered for a moment, then her eyes lit up. "Pascal!" she called, holding out a finger. Her chameleon companion, perched on her shoulder, skittered down her arm and onto the table.

"Pascal," she said, her voice soft, "remember how the black rocks appeared right after that strange purple light filled the sky a few nights ago?"

Pascal blinked his big, reptilian eyes, then bobbed his head twice in rapid succession.

Rapunzel's smile widened. "There you have it! Maybe the black rocks appear after the wielder uses the moonstone's power. We just need to keep an eye out for that strange light."

A glimmer of hope flickered in the room. It wasn't a perfect plan, but it was a start. With a renewed sense of purpose, Eugene, Rapunzel, and Cassandra continued their brainstorming session, their voices mingling with the sound of the storm outside.

They were a mismatched trio – a thief, a princess, and a captain of the guard. But united by friendship and a fierce love for Corona, they were determined to face the darkness, to find the source of the black rocks, and to stop the wielder of the corrupted moonstone. The fate of their kingdom rested on their shoulders, and they wouldn't back down, not without a fight.