Alchemist's Cookbook

page 5

Page 5A

In one small camp mix

       1 trio

       Some new tricks

       A secret base

       A new foe(?)

Add the trio to the camping group. Distract two with lost secrets. Allow one set of instincts to kick in and allow an internal struggle to develop.

      

       “Sorry, not a clue.”

       I had approached Wally about the mysterious creature. This was his response.

       “So you don’t know what this creature is?”

       “Not exactly, though I’ve heard of it. There are a lot of theories on why some Fisch are sentient and some aren’t. Jason, why don’t you come in, talking through the door is a little odd.”

       I opened Wally’s cell. Inside everything was padded. This room was bare, but I could see doors to some other rooms.

       “You live here?”

       “Yeah, well, I spend most of my time here.” Wally said. “It’s so I don’t break everything when I get mad.” He walked through one of the doors, and returned with a tome. “Here, this might shed some light on things.”

       I opened it and noticed something. “This is Quantum English, but I thought I came up with this.”

       “I thought the same thing when I came up with it, but I guess not. I guess this guy did, whatever his name is.”

       “I haven’t found his name, I call him the protagonist.”

       “Not very fitting for a mass murderer.”

       “True, but he is writing the book.” I replied. I read a bit through the book. “It’s going to take forever to read this.”

       “Quantum English is pretty dense, but you can borrow that, I have a few others.”

       “Others, what creature had this?”

       Wally smiled. “A real monster. If you ever see a man with a deer’s skull, tell him Fido’s not coming home.”

      

       We talked for a few hours more, but eventually I went home. From what I learned, he’s smarter than I am. In one of the rooms he has is a cold forge that makes mine look like an EZ bake oven. The armor I have, he has something better. Thing is, despite having the elixirs and concoctions, he has only taken a few. The one for the same armor I have, a few for strength, and a healthy dose of one that is supposed to help him keep his anger in check. I think I saw a few gallon jugs of that one.

       Back home I buried myself in that book. It spoke of a mysterious parasite that would only accept those who did not fear it. The creature could not survive without a shell, most often provided by the host. However, the atmosphere on Lower Earth would kill it if it tried to spread. It could only be spread by touch, though on Earth it had a few more options.

       I paused. “Maybe, that’s it!”

       “What is?”

       I whipped around. “When did you get there?”

       Three guesses who it was.

       “What, didn’t notice?” May said, holding up my pocket watch. I checked my pocket, it was empty. That explained why the guards at the hospital said hello to me. I really need a chain for that thing.