Bloom

My nap is disturbed by screaming from two individuals.

“Fine! If you want it that way brother, I relinquish my rights to the Clan. Have fun telling the Elders that you lost the brightest alchemy star in ten generations!” S’neli states while sneering.

“Now, now that’s going a bit far sister…” F’neli says, his expression changing from angry to fearful.

S’neli ignores him moving around placing everything that belongs to her inside the ring I created for her. Finally she comes to my cage, picks up the handle, flips her brother off, and leaves the lab. Bright sunlight outside clearly shows it’s approaching noon.

Well, at least I got some rest.

Mishra, are you done? I send out across the aether.

I’m finishing up now, Master Plant. I will be done in less than ten minutes? Mishra replies, her tone questioning whether she should depart immediately or not.

That’s fine, there has been a small issue with my current situation. I’ll need you to acquire some funds, and then meet up with me. Oh, I don’t care how you get the money either. Although if you happen to rob a certain Von Arlen vampire noble, I wouldn’t be displeased. I reply back, my tone neutral.

Master Plant, fire insurance is not something most nobles have. For the safety of the many, we should demonstrate that is an unwise stance to maintain. Mishra replies back, her tone neutral as well.

Indeed.

Understood, Master Plant.

Heh, I like this servant, she’s got spark.

The short conversation took place in a fraction of time. So by the time S’neli exited the caravan’s encampment I was no longer stressed. Pausing, she balanced my cage in one hand while thinking about where to go. It was apparent that for all her bluster, S’neli had never actually left the embrace of her Clan. Taking pity on the unprepared alchemist, I threw a large gold ore nugget at her foot. Glancing down her eyes widened, before she snatched up the nugget with glee. Moments later we were floating through traffic in the city, on the way to the Merchant’s quarter. From there she would be able to exchange the nugget for a decent amount of coins. This would allow her to purchase or rent a place to stay, and from there it was just a matter of making a few potions.

While a fourth rank alchemist was nothing in my eyes, to the masses a fourth rank alchemist was similar to a journeyman level. Not only that, fourth rank was a step below fifth, which was Master level. Most called it half-step Master level, since it only required a small burst of inspiration to cross the gap. For many it wasn’t anything hard, but for others they could spend their entire life unable to cross this gap.

S’neli in my honest opinion wouldn’t even see the tiny gap between ranks. From watching her recent forays into pill making, I knew she wouldn’t even notice a tiny rank change.

Alchemists in this world had nine ranks, separated by three levels each. The elven system went something like Blank Moon, Quarter Moon, Half Moon, Full Moon, Bright Moon, Dark Moon, Half Sun, Full Sun, and finally Sun’s Chosen. The ranks would equate to Novice, Apprentice, Disciple, Journeyman, Master, Expert, and Grandmaster in a normal ranking. The final two ranks are more like titles, denoting how close an elven alchemist is to the divine.

Of course that’s all a moot point for S’neli, since, well she has a Chaos Stone. Ranks are meaningless before true power after all. All she requires is a few decades of ‘seasoning’ before this world has a new Pill Lord.

Pill Lords are able to control not just ingredients, they can also alter the elemental essence in them, creating perfect pills. Such pills even can go so far as to invoke Heavenly tribulations, ranging from lighting, to floods, to anything in between.

Once she reaches close to the apex, I can put my second major plan in motion.

I haven’t forgotten those tasty Divinities. I already know there are priesthoods in this city, and it follows they also worship. When S’neli reaches Pill Lord, at that point she would be an S-Rank existence. With the world as ingredients, heaven as the forge, and the body as a flame I expect great things.

At that point, I can start huntingfor food.

I haven’t forgotten the fact that I’m currently a short Tree.

I haven’t forgotten that, at all.

While plotting the deaths of many Divine foodsources, S’neli has already exchanged the gold nugget for a bag of coins. From there a small shop was purchased. Stepping inside the shop, S’neli places my cage onto the counter before looking around.

This place is…

A dump.

No, that’s treating dumps badly, it’s a nightmare.

Watching S’neli I see her cold expression slowly degenerate into tears.

“Alone…” S’neli says, crying into her hands.

It must be hard to leave everything you’ve ever known huh?

That’s ok though!

I would never let someone I have plans for suffer much! Unless of course I had plans to make them suffer…regardless, this is an easy solution.

Another few nuggets of gold fall out behind S’neli, one of them rolling to tap her ankle. It’s fun to watch her creaking as she turns, like one of those old horror films. Glancing down she sees the pile of gold nuggets. It’s not like I haven’t removed a few mountains worth, I could throw piles out for years and not notice them. That would of course crash the value of gold around here to nothing, but the point is demonstrated.

S’neli picks up the nuggets with her ring, staring at me suspiciously. Tears streak her face making her look like a total mess.

Nothing strange here, gold nuggets are always just lying around…

After a short staring contest, S’neli exits the door without me. Her stride is firmer, as if she never cried in the first place. I’m confident she’ll rebound even stronger than before.

Which is just fine, since I am expecting my servant to return shortly. Moments later, Mishra enters the store on silent feet with unnatural quietness.

Looking around she spots me in the carry cage, before moving in front of me to bow deeply.

Did you take care of everything? I ask, concerned. I don’t want anything interfering in my plans later, so it’s best to let Mishra finish her business now.

Yes, thank you. Master Plant, I went and took revenge on those that cast me down. I beg apologies for my actions. Mishra said, her tone contrite.

Well, I didn’t really expect much else when I gave a slave like her more power than most people would see in a lifetime. This wasn’t unexpected at all, in fact, it would help her further. The dao is best contemplated without distractions, after all.

Explain further. I state, my tone calm.

I burned, looted, and killed the merchants that betrayed me after my fall from grace. Specifically, the slave market owner, the merchant house I served, and the Guildhouse for the Merchants. The guildhouse also happened to be located right next to Von Arlen’s manor, so I was able to save time on both matters. Mishra said, her tone showing a small amount of excitement. Arson is rather addictive, especially if you are a user of the Dao of Fire, I guess.

What is your total haul in terms of coinage? I ask, with a shadow of curiosity.

Just under ten thousand gold, just under four thousand silver, and around one thousand five hundred copper in coins. Fifty-four thousand gold in ingots, seventy-two thousand silver in ingots, and one hundred ten thousand copper in ingots. I am not sure how to properly estimate the art that I took. There is one ton of assorted wood of varying types which I have no clue the price of. Lastly, I have a massive quantity of jewelry which should total out at around half a million in gold, as most of it is family heirlooms. I also took every ring I could find, of any type, make, or model since I didn’t know if you would like to study them. Mishra replied, with prompt speed.

This…

This servant is…

Priceless!

Excellent work. Standby and await the return of S’neli. When she arrives offer yourself as a servant. If she asks any questions say something like you saw her carrying me in the market place, and white trees are a sign of luck to your Clan. I state with amusement coloring my tone.

As you wish, Master Plant. Mishra says, moving to stand motionlessly outside the doorway.

With that matter taken care of, I pull out a large leather-bound book from within one of my leaves. When I had time I happened to plunder several libraries in Celna. I’m sure even now the mystery of the legendary book thief, Branch, will echo even to the ends of their history.

Staring at the cover of the book, I carefully use burning flames to leech away the ink from the previous title and pages. A few minutes later the entire book is blank. I took care to choose a black leather book. The reason for this is simply I noticed from watching S’neli dress it is one of her favorite colors. On the cover of the book I write the runes for ‘Alchemy of Agelessness: Dummy Edition.’ Since the rune for Agelessness is also easily visible on her ring, S’neli will be unable to resist checking the book.

A small trap within the cover will force a single cut onto the finger that opens the book. As soon as the blood drips onto the pages, the book will soulbind. The first few pages have several simple pill recipes, and through this method I will endeavor to raise my Pill Lord upwards to the heavens.

Mishra, make sure that whatever happens, S’neli opens this book. Only her, kill anyone else that tries. I send to my servant before heading off for a well-deserved slumber. All this preparatory work is exhausting.