The World of Emns 4: The sons of Clipium

Chapter 6: Allegiance to research

It felt like ages ago since Olivia had set foot in Arena. It was odd that the streets looked just as cheerful and alive as they had been last year. Even though she felt like everything had crumbled and withered. Of course, it didn't help much that she had been having tiring sleepless nights, and constant naps during the day while the party sailed towards the Crocus archipelago.

As usual, Wynn had elected himself to join Olivia on the trip towards Charlotte Chromestill's workshop, alongside Shey this time. Shey had good enough reasoning, as Lillian was a citizen of the Dorean kingdom, and if the Fynlone kingdom did get in the way somehow, his involvement could make them hesitate to start any kind of political fight between Fynlone and Dorean. Wynn claimed the same, which nobody could really argue with considering the kingdoms of Sanzai and Dorean were in an allegiance and a trading agreement now, but Olivia knew Wynn really just wanted to come along to satiate his own curiosity.

Kyzer, like usual, did not mind staying behind on the ship, which made an excellent home base on a trip like this, and saved them from having to holler up in an inn or pub somewhere. Then again, Gregory Alesword, a dwarven friend of Steven's and owner of an inn in the city of Arena, would have probably made room for at least Olivia to sleep. Ruhnim also did not mind staying behind, especially to keep an eye on Lightell, who insisted on coming with, as one of the eleven known soul stones, according to the cat boy himself. Yet when time came to depart to the lab, it was decided it was best for him to not roam in the public too much.

As Olivia walked into the surprisingly small workshop, she could spot Arty Phicer at the furthest away table. He was a young man with short blonde hair and goggles. He was covered from head to toe in clothes made from fabric and leather, which had patches and pockets everywhere to hold tools, nails, and round gears, which his robotic animal companion, perseverance, was made out of.

Beside the table Arty was sitting at, the remainder of the walls were covered with tables in this tight building, with posters, schematics, blueprints, and tool racks covering the remainders. Olivia would call similar items that were scattered along the tables a grand mess, but for all she knew perhaps there was a method to the madness, and decided immediately that touching any of it was probably not a wise choice.

"Oh, you really did come." Arty pulled his goggles up and stared the group of three down, as Lillian was still hidden in the soul stone.

"You're surprised to see us," Shey asked. "Did miss Chromestill not tell you we were coming?"

Arty shrugged. "Well, she did, I just didn't believe her at all."

Arty pointed to the back right of the workshop, which was the only place not covered by tables or blueprints. Instead, there was a staircase leading up, and a hatch presumably leading down.

"Go to the basement. Teacher is there. I'd assume she is ready for you."

"Thank you kindly," Shey said as he gave Arty a pat on the back and moved past him. Unbothered, the artificer went back to whatever invention he was tinkering with. It appeared to be a form of thick pencil with a glass covering on one end. Olivia had no idea what to think of it.

Shey pulled open the hatch, and held his hands out to signal Olivia and Wynn to climb down, which they did without a word. The stairs were wooden and rickety. Olivia expected a more luxurious workshop for someone who was known to work on important projects for the Fynlone kingdom. Yet these expectations were met as she turned the corner.

The room below was not as bright and cluttered as the one above. Nor was it as small. A wide stone room was in the basement. One lined with carefully placed tools, and many magical materials carefully sorted into their own boxes and containers. On the opposite side of the room were three large containers filled with some form of blue liquid. At the closest desk, Charlotte Chromestill was seated. She had bright blonde hair tied up into a knot, and wore a big pair of goggles which she tended to use as her glasses. Though this time, her goggles were moved up on her forehead, and she had her actual round glasses on. Her bright green eyes shone through.