Nfirea fell to his knees, vomiting not just his breakfast, but likely what he'd eaten over the course of the last week. The smell of smoke was still present, and after he finished purging his stomach, he had a coughing fit.

When he calmed down, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, only to have a piece of cloth shoved into his arms.

"Use this instead, son. Clean yourself up before you start making more of a mess. Once you're ready, start asking your questions. I did make you a promise after all," Wish III said, somewhat patiently.

After taking the time to properly clean himself up, he sat up and struggled into a chair from the table. He was shaking more harshly than if he'd gotten caught in the rain.

He heard a chuckle from the djinn. "There's smoke coming out of your ears. I knew that my power can be a bit much for the average mortal, but even this seems excessive. Perhaps you're just particularly weak?"

Sure enough, when Nfirea made a wafting motion with his hand near his head, plumes of black smoke clung to him. He was hyperventilating now, his chest about ready to collapse in on itself.

"I-I'm sorry? Did you just say there's smoke coming out of my ears? Is my brain melting right now? Am I dying? Oh my, what am I going to do?! I need to find Master Hermetis and tell him-"

"Relax, son, the effects are only temporary. You humans have no restraint on your emotions, even when somebody else is there to warn you about them." Wish III exclaimed with exasperation.

The djinn sighed. "Evidently, you're not in a state to be waiting, so how about you just go ahead and figure out what's bothering you the most. Given what I've shown you, I'm certain you can find something."

Through Nfirea's panic induced state, he managed to blurt out his first question. "I saw you die! You just disintegrated into nothing, so how are you here!?"

Something like a smirk traced its way across the wish granter's features. "Death where I come from is not so strict with its rules. Yes, indeed, I died, but then I lived! I got over it, and jumped right back into the fight when I was ready."

When he brought up "death", the image of the skeletal mage in the vision Nfirea saw came to mind. An all-powerful, foreboding figure, with arcane abilities he could scarcely imagine.

Then he remembered what the djinn had said when he first appeared before the alchemist: 'How would you like to strike a bargain with a god, oh alchemist mine?' If Wish III called himself a god, and the one with the trident, Zeus Enalios, was able to kill him…

Did I just see a battle of gods? The knight, that goat-man with the arms, the winged woman, was every single one of them a god of some kind?

Nfirea didn't consider himself to be overly religious, especially not after recent events, but given the mystical nature of the world he lived in, with all its wonders and horrors, who could say that something like a god couldn't exist?

The ones in the vision certainly seemed godly. They struck with blows that shattered the earth and sky, wielded weapons and armor that no mere mortal could ever achieve in a thousand lifetimes, and possessed a haughty arrogance typical of those possessing both.

Just speaking with Wish III showed that, though his manner of acting with his fellow gods seemed much more friendly and amiable. Still, there was some sort of distaste Nfirea sensed towards the knight in particular, but he couldn't even begin to guess at the history between them.

There were many other factors he didn't understand either. What was a "noob"? What kind of guild was "Bikini Babe Warriors"? Why was there even a war in the first place?

Rather than contemplate further, he asked those types of questions to Wish III. The "god" laughed at them.

"Your ignorance really is rearing its ugly head now, isn't it! But this is to be expected of someone like yourself. A 'noob' is short for 'newbie', or a new guy. I'd never even heard of Bikini Babe Warriors before that day. They were some kind of guild that loved this one anime apparently, some spin-off or sequel or what have you. As for the war…"

Wish III frowned, stroking his flaming goatee. "Your Master, Hermetis, or whatever he calls himself now, had his two NPCs telling you didn't he? Where we come from, knowledge is all, but treasure is pretty highly sought after too. It just so happened that my friends and I had lots and lots of both, plus a bit of a reputation."

A plausible answer, but one that opened the door to several other questions. It was possible that no matter how many questions he asked, either it would take an absurdly long time to answer, or they would never all be answered.

I don't have anything better to do. It looks like it's already night time, and I'm not going to be able to fall asleep after that.

"Okay then, what about some of those I saw fighting alongside you in my vision? What were they like?" Nfirea inquired.

"Ah, you speak of my comrades. Well, every single one of them was specialized at their craft. A shame they cannot possess my flexibility, but alas. There were many of us, in all different shapes and sizes, and of different species altogether. On our own, we were strong, but together, we were invincible!"

Images manifested out of the fire that emanated from Wish III's form, much like how they did when displaying Nfirea's inner desires. Each one displayed a close up of the gods that fought alongside the djinn.

"This one here fancied himself a paladin," Wish III started, pointing to the shining warrior. "He thought himself a paragon of justice and virtue and goodness and blah blah blah. What he really was was nothing more than a pretender, and a hypocrite to believe he was above us."

Then he moved over to an image of the winged woman, wearing the strange green clothing. "This one here was our Firehawk. If you wanted something obliterated or melted, she was the one you went to. She has some history with the military, and takes pride in her experience. I'd start a wildfire with her any day."

Nfirea smiled at that, despite his reservations and general insanity of the situation. Wish III saw this, and smirked as well with a wicked gleam in his eye.

"Ah, this bag of worms never could take his nose out of whatever new title he owned. Constantly reading and writing in those little tomes of his. I never had any issues with him, but never enjoyable either. He was reliable at least, when it came down to it."

And then the next mirror. "This one has always had my back. Arguably the one I trust the most, and one who came from deep and dark places. This demon had a bit of an evil streak, but there was no one better. He was a grand catastrophe for all his enemies."

The final mirror was of the skeletal mage, whose likeness in reality was even more terrifying than in the vision. The halo of light that came off his head gave him a heavenly, divine look, even if he was an undead.

Strangely, a golden staff topped with the heads of seven serpents was in his right hand. It was something that had been missing from his arsenal in the vision Nfirea saw.

"Of course, none of us would even be together if it weren't for this one right here. Son, if you want a prime example of a dark lord with influence and power you couldn't comprehend, then you need look no further. Out of all them, he was one I'd never cross.

All the mirrors faded away, though the flames continued to lick at the furniture and room layout without destroying it. Wish III crossed his arms.

"I'm sure, knowing what kind of man you are, that you're nowhere even close to being finished. However, even I have a limit to my goodwill, and I grow tired of this little game of ours," he said, drawing in closer.

Even though there were probably a thousand questions still buzzing around in his mind, Nifrea heeded the wish granter's words and kept his mind shut.

One in particular still begged to be asked, in regard to the name of the group of beings that Wish III belonged to. It sounded familiar, and he swore he heard it somewhere else before.

It was a name unlike any other, and one he'd get to the bottom of, if only to sate his own curiosity. Whoever Ainz Ooal Gown was, they were worth the potential headache of understanding.

"Now, I believe we have a deal to strike, don't we? I gave you a small taste of my power, and now you get to experience the full thing. So what's on the menu for today, hmm?" Wish III asked, rubbing his hands together greedily.

Doubt bloomed in Nfirea's chest. "I…I don't know what I would want. I mean, I had mostly gotten what I wanted with what you gave away for free, and I have nothing to offer you really."

"I wouldn't be so certain of that, mortal. You'd be surprised by how much one has, even when they apparently have nothing left. Come now, I didn't come all this way just for you to turn me away now, did I?"

It was framed as a small joke, but the way he phrased it and his tone made the alchemist reconsider how he was going to answer. Seriously, what did he have to offer?

His livelihood was destroyed, or at least stagnated. His only family was dead and reduced to ashes by this point. His home city was annihilated and his pharmacy along with it. In terms of material wealth, he truly had nothing really to his name.

Wait…

What if this god isn't referring to what I own physically? What if he's after something else entirely, something I could never put a price tag on in the first place?

Immediately, memories of his time in Carne surged forth. His time spent in the village, getting to know all of its inhabitants better beyond the occasional visit for supplies. Being able to meet the goblin troop that served as a defense force, alongside the former Slane Theocracy mages.

People like Aeliana, Rowan, Jugem, Chief Haron, and the others helped to alleviate the void that made its place in his heart. Even in his saddened and mentally decaying state, he'd felt welcome.

But it was Enri that made him feel loved. That made him feel appreciated. It was her that pushed him to come to Hermetis's academy, just so he could become a better man for her. He likely would've lost the will to live long before if it weren't for her

If he made a bargain with Wish III, would he steal her away from him? Would she be the price for whatever he desired?

"No!" He half-shouted, then coughing from his outburst. Based on how the flames of the djinn sputtered, it surprised him as well.

After a few coughs he managed to calm himself enough to answer without inciting another fit. "No, I can't make that kind of deal. Not if you're asking for what I think you're asking for. I can't pay that kind of price, not her!"

The wish granter recovered from his shock as well, his flames darkening from bright red to somber blue. The temperatures amped up considerably.

"You…would deny me our bargain? You would throw away the opportunity to get whatever you want, for some mortal girl? Is that what I'm getting at here? After I was gracious enough to grant you a taste of my power?"

Wish III pressed closer to the alchemist, his clothes starting to smolder. "Have you any idea of what I'm capable of? Do you understand the weight of what you're doing here? You do not break a pact with a god without consequences, son."

Nfirea found within himself the confidence to stand tall, and look the mystical creature in the eye. "We made no pact. You offered me a way to determine if you're telling the truth about your powers. I believe you, so that's why I say 'no deal'."

They stared down one another, the fire of the djinn's body intensifying but never to lethal levels. Sweat drenched Nfirea's clothes, sticking to him as a second skin.

One second passed, and then another. Time stretched even further than it already had, making eternity seem like a brief release. Finally, Wish III grunted.

"You have nerves of steel, son. Not many are willing to stand up to me like that. Alright, fine, keep whatever petty connections you have. But know this: I know exactly who you are, and why you're here. So long as you live, I'll always be watching you. Don't think that means I'm gonna leave though."

The fire that spread through the room rushed back to Wish III, sucking the oxygen right from the air. His humanoid shape faded back into a great sphere of flames, before shrinking to a tiny pinpoint and dashing back to the lantern on Nfirea's desk.

It shuttered close, cold and inert, signifying his departure. The smell of smoke dissipated entirely.

Until that point, the young man hadn't realized just how quiet the room was beyond him and the otherworldly being. It was still night out, which either meant he'd been experiencing his vision for an entire day, or for a shorter period of time than he thought.

It was a good thing the table was nearby, because he practically collapsed back into his chair. He ran a hand through his messy hair, coming away damp from the copious sweat he'd accumulated.

I just talked back to a god. He was there, right in front of me, and I talked back to him. If he was anything like he was in the vision, he could've squashed me like a bug, but I'm still alive.

There was a certain sort of irony in knowing that he'd survived this long, given the outlandish scenarios he'd found himself in. First being used as a conduit to raise the dead, and now rejecting an offer from a god.

He wondered if some other celestial being was watching out for him at that point. Perhaps one of the gods that Wish III fought beside in his war, though he highly doubted it.

If he did meet someone else like the djinn, it'd be too soon. Given how well his recent encounter went, he didn't want to press his luck past the breaking point.

He stood up, stumbling over to his plush bed and sinking into the soft comfiness of it. He was spread eagle, only bothering to strip himself of his clothes and put on his proper nightwear.

At the very least, I'll have something crazy to tell Enri when I come back. But this is something I'll definitely need to bring up with Master Hermetis tomorrow.

That was his last thought as he lay there, falling into an uneasy sleep from the sheer exhaustion that overcame him. Nothing else, thankfully, bothered him that night.

Private Office of Tabula Smaragdina.

Small Cuttlefish found that when her closest friend was focused on a task, there was almost nothing in the world that could deviate him from it.

True, there were times when he'd have to be physically pulled away from whatever was drawing Tabula's attention, but those instances were few and far between.

She understood why he was so dedicated to his current task. The amount of shame and self-ridicule was probably strong in him, given his attention to detail and inherent need to make sure everything went exactly as intended.

Blame was unfairly placed upon his shoulders by himself, and she'd told him as much. She'd only gotten a shaking of his head and his answer in reply.

"Whether it was a good idea or not, I brought Nfirea into this mess," Tabula stated, his tentacles tying themselves into knots. "I didn't want his first real lesson from me to explode at him like it did. I need something worthwhile to teach him."

So now he'd devoted much of the day to working on his next lesson, piles of books and scrolls scattered all around his office to display how much work he was putting into this. Cuttlefish, of course, stuck by his side the entire day.

Tempest Aizawa likewise was present, double checking what the brain eater was putting together and ensuring its authenticity. She was laden in her heavy cosmonaut armor, hovering over his shoulder and pointing out any inconsistencies in his plans.

The Mind Flayer was pacing, having swapped out her massive, flowy dress for a more modest but form fitting charcoal-grey bodysuit. It did an excellent job of downsizing her more extravagant features, especially when she did not have a human disguise for Nfirea.

"Everything going alright over there?" She asked, pausing in her pacing. "Need me to come over and take a look at anything? I can help peer review too, you know."

So far, her friend kept her in the dark about his latest project. When she pressed on about it, he merely said that he wanted it to be a surprise, because it was new and familiar subjects that she would enjoy teaching.

In lieu of a reply, Tabula grunted, giving her a thumbs up without looking back at her. Given how his fingers were longer than an ordinary human, the gesture appeared more alien than it should've.

"This sort of thing will take time. It's not every day we deal in the occult, and especially not when we're trying to combine it with alchemical teachings. But with what we've got so far, I think it'll be a fun lesson at least," Tempest said.

Cuttlefish squinted her eyes. "I'm sure it will be, but seriously, I can't imagine why it'd take this long. Don't you have a curriculum that Rubedo made you?"

"He does, but he wants to try something a little different. Potion making is fine and all, but given what happened the other day, he wants to explore other avenues."

There was more pacing, and the only noise that came further was the clicking of the grandfather clock set up in a corner of Tabula's office. It was peaceful, the sort of atmosphere only close friends could achieve without having to say or do anything.

Only for that peace to be broken when the temperature increased by a noticeable margin. Some ethereal laughter rang out, and tongues of flame flickered along the seams of the walls.

Both air elemental and mind flayer took a step back, giving space for their newest arrival to take shape. The heat coalesced into a distinct humanoid shape, much like Tempest would when she didn't want to look like a vague cyclone of lightning.

Wish III's features finished forming, showing the grin the djinn proudly wore. "I can see why you've taken a liking to that kid, Tabula. He's got some ball bearings, even if he seems wimpy and pathetic for all the trouble you're going through."

Already Cuttlefish could feel a minor headache coming on. "Tell me you didn't do anything too drastic to mess with him, man. You just needed to check up on him, that was it."

"And I did! He and I spoke for a little while last night, a pretty interesting turn our conversation took towards the end, but I did no permanent damage."

There was a dull thundering from inside Tempest's armor. "You better not have broken the boy. Tabula made it very clear you weren't supposed to do anything that jealordized his state of mind."

"Would you calm down? Of course I didn't do anything permanent to him! All I did was have a bit of fun and answer some questions of his. That's all. Trust me."

Both elemental spirits began to argue with one another, gesturing wildly and spitting up goblets of fire or bands of electricity. Their voices blended just as water and soil did, creating a mud slog of verbal insults and low jabs at one another.

If Cuttlefish had any siblings, she imagined they would fight in almost exactly the same way.

SNAP!

Everyone quieted down at the harsh noise that filled the room. When all three turned to glance at Tabula, the quill he'd been writing with had been smashing into the table, and also carving a small piece of it off.

He glared back at Wish III and Tempest Aizawa in particular. "Would the two of you please keep quiet while I'm trying to work here? It's bad enough I have to worry whether or not this'll break Nfirea's mind, but now I need to think about whether or not I'm gonna accidentally ruin these pages!"

"Come on. They can't be that important to you. I mean, surely, if something happened you could always have one of your NPCs do it for you. Didn't they give you that nice, thick textbook to base your lesson plans on anyways?" The djinn asked, sliding up next to the eldritch alchemist.

Tabula narrowed his milky eyes. "That's not the point! All I wanted is just for you to have helped convince Nfirea to come along! His mental state is practically on the brink of collapse! Please, for the love of the dark arts, don't do anything rash."

Wish III threw his arms up in exasperation. "Come on! You mean to tell me that I couldn't have done something for myself when you told me about this pet project of yours? This is the most fun thing I've done since I came into this damn world! Well, that and showing Nfirea the Eight Guild Alliance Invasion, but that's besides the point."

His admission caused the other three heteromorphs to backpedal, realizing what he'd just said. Any previous feelings of annoyment were thrown out the window, in a manner of speaking.

"Wait, hold on, back up. You did what?" Cuttlefish asked, not quite believing what she was hearing, "Wish, you said you just answered some questions Nfirea had, you never mentioned anything about explaining the invasion to him."

"Did he even understand anything you said to him? I can't imagine what went through his head when you told him about it. How'd you dumb it down enough for the whelp to follow along?" Tempest also inquired, tapping her thighs.

"Ah, well, he wanted to know a bit more about myself, naturally. I chose to share with him a moment I'm sure we're all very proud of. And rather than just tell him outright, I decided to show him."

The silence was so total and absolute that a gunshot would've been quieter. Even Tabula, who more or less resumed working with a new quill he acquired, set down the tool to process what he'd just heard.

Throughout the many years that she'd known him, Cuttlefish rarely, if ever, saw him truly get angry in regards to anything. Really, the only times he ever showed emotion was when he got worked up about his hobbies, but that was it.

His reaction to finding out his NPC, Albedo, had been altered was one of those rare instances. Privately, she told him that perhaps attempting to strangle the four responsible was a tad extreme, but at least she'd understood.

It took a lot to set the brain eater off, especially now with the way he'd changed subtlety with his new body. In a way, it made his bursts of fury predictable enough to recognize the signs of when it was coming.

Which is why, to her mounting amazement, Tabula merely took a deep breath before he spoke. "Wish…When you say you showed him the events of the invasion, can you explain to me exactly how you did it?"

The djinn paused to consider the question. "Well, I felt the best way was to use a [Psychic Link]. It was easy enough, and it worked well when I tried it on that Sunlight bastard we got from Carne. Figured there were no issues since I'd been practicing with it."

"Really now? So you mean to tell me that you managed to remove the side effects of memory loss and the smoke coming out of his ears from possible residual elemental damage, right?"

"I…"

That was all it took.

In a flash, Tabula was looming over his fiery comrade, the light from the chandelier up above casting an ominous shadow over him. His aura should've had the kanjis for "menacing" floating all around him given how palpable his frustration was.

One tentacle slithered around the ankles of the djinn, possibly to make sure he couldn't escape. The brain eater leaned in close.

"Wish III, are you telling me you performed a dangerous piece of magic on my apprentice? Someone I'm looking after and who I promised would not face any harm while he was here, in my academy?"

Cuttlefish flinched from the accusatory tone that her friend took on. It was one she herself was all too familiar with, but thankfully not on the receiving end of…most of the time.

Tempest Aizawa herself understood where her fellow occultist was coming from, shaking her head in disappointment. Lightning crackled along her body, along the surface of her armor.

Nobody said anything more after the brain eater's loaded question. If Wish III were capable, he'd likely be sweating.

"Come now, we can talk about this like civilized people. How about you just sit back down and I'll explain everything. Me, you, and everyone else here. How does that sound-"

There was never a chance to finish his sentence, as the tendrils from Tabula's face raced up and coiled around the flaming form of the djinn, his innate fire blasting outwards instinctually.

It did nothing, for the sunset orange aura that encased the cephalopod player protected him from the damage. Whatever his magic couldn't handle was handily swept aside by the resistances of his gear.

Wish III struggled, the binds of the tentacles tightening and holding his limbs down so that he couldn't escape easily. Only two were being used to hold him tightly, while the others flailed in response to Tabula's agitation.

"I'll tell you the truth, Wish III. I don't particularly care that you told Nfirea about the Eight Guild Alliance Invasion, or that you showed him instead. I'm sure when he comes by for his daily lessons, he'll be asking all about it since all you probably gave him were just some half-truths and vague responses, am I right?"

The question was rhetorical, but the wish granter nodded anyway. Tabula continued.

"Seriously? Couldn't you have just laid off the boy? He's going through enough as it is already. Why did you even bother pestering him any further? All you had to do was check up on him while he was talking to Citrinitas and Rubedo."

Wisely, or perhaps not depending upon one's point of view, the fire elemental didn't reply. He no longer struggled in his entrapment, instead staring pleadingly for the mini-lecture to be over.

Those stares were ignored as Tabula kept talking. "Look, I get it. Maybe you were looking to have some fun, or maybe you were thinking about showing off to somebody who doesn't know the truth about us, but you can't just keep up this sly, sleazy attitude of yours, especially not with how Nfirea is right now."

"…"

"Please tell me you weren't actually thinking about using [Dark Wish] on him, were you?"

"Listen to me, I-"

Cuttlefish winced as the djinn was now being shaken around, receiving a verbal beat down that could easily rival Punitto Moe on even his worst day. However, if what Tabula guessed was true, then a literal shakedown was the least of Wish III's problems.

[Dark Wish] was a specialized skill that only someone of the Avatar of Primordial Flame class could achieve, which in of itself was only possible through a fire elemental race choice. It involved a long and arduous quest that ultimately culminated in a final boss fight with Prometheus, a Titan from Greek Mythology who first gave fire to mankind in the old legends.

Unlike a typical [Wish] spell, [Dark Wish] did not have a pre-selection of effects to choose from, being far-wider in its array and of greater potency.

Some effects grant the user incredible items and gear, or allow them to obtain spells not unlockable through the player's current classes. One could wish for materials, or temporary stat boosts. The only limit was acquiring the specialized abilities and skills of other races and classes, or unlocking rare categorizations like "World Champion" or "World Disaster"

Of course, as the name implied, the cost of using such a powerful ability was not experience points. No, rather it would directly take the cost of the wish from the user's health pool instead, inflicting a devastating debuff that would last depending on the wish granted.

Some wishes were even beyond the payment options of the user, which meant that the more powerful a wish was, the greater the cost would be, and which could kill the user outright if costly enough. Not only could one lose their health for a certain period of time, but their experience points in the end too.

"Of all the stupid, dim witted, idiotic, posturing things you could do-"

"Would-you-stop-shaking-me!"

"Not until whatever compelled you to even think about using [Dark Wish] falls out of your ass and slithers away!"

"It's-not-that-big-a-deal!"

Both of them went back and forth like this, the brain eater practically throttling the djinn while Tempest Aizawa and Small Cuttlefish watched.

"Hey, want to take a look and make sure Tabula's lesson plan is done? We could try and start teaching Nfirea while Tabula lets off some steam?" The air elemental asked, gesturing to the pile of papers on her comrades desk.

Cuttlefish nodded in agreement. "Might as well. I'd prefer to get a head start on this rather than just wait it out for these two to kiss and make up.

The air elemental agreed, grabbing the mostly completed sheets of paper and shuffling through them. She handed off some to the chameleon class player, who likewise took a look through the work her friend did.

I forgot how good of an artist he can be sometimes. These diagrams are pretty good! Though, why bother at all with talking about…Nidhoggr?

A strange choice of topic, but the name did ring a bell. She could somewhat recall Ankoro Mocchi Mochi animatedly telling her a story involving a creature called Nidhoggr, but the details were lost on her.

Maybe it was some eldritch monster she simply forgot about, though she highly doubted it. She liked to think she knew her lore pretty well, even if it wasn't as top tier as someone like Tempest or Tabula. She had to, if she wanted to be able to write cosmic horror as well as she hoped.

Tempest put two fingers up to where her ears would be, held it for a minute or two, and then brought them down. A message to whatever servant was near Nfirea's quarters to go and fetch him.

"When you two are done bickering like an old married couple, come find us in my training room. I'm having someone wake up the whelp from his beauty sleep," the elementalist said over her shoulder while she and Cuttlefish walked out of the office.

Whether or not the other two players heard her didn't seem relevant, as Wish III somehow wriggled out of his confinement and was running around the office away from Tabula, who's tentacles flew after him to try and grab him.

By this point, both male heteromorphs were "raging" at each other, a combination of lighthearted insults on one side and full-blown lecturing from another. Cuttlefish rolled her eyes but did her best approximation of a smile.

"They'll be at this for a while. Want to give me a rundown on some of these terms while we head over? I understand some of this but it's not all exactly H.P. Lovecraft and Leviathan Art Studios."

"Sure. Let's start off with the concept of Alchemical Marriage and go from there."

And so they conversed, the screams of their friends and sound of furniture being thrown around growing fainter and fainter as they moved on with their day.

Cuttlefish had to admit, Tempest could design a marvelous area when she wanted to. Her dojo was proof of that.

When they began sectioning off portions of the enlarged interior space of the cabin, the air elemental made it very clear that some was to be reserved solely for her discretion, and would not have anything to do with a scholarly or laboratory setting.

Both cephalopod players acquiesced to this request (read: demand), giving her as much room as needed to put her actions into motion. The end result was something that would make Takemikazuchi weep tears of joy.

Matts of bamboo were laid all around the perimeter, and just underneath was the same, dark green wood that made up most of the cabin's design. However, pieces of jade were interspersed in random fragments to make the floor seem petrified.

The sigils of her guild were hung up as banners along the walls, the threads a metallic blue to match the lightning of Tempest Aizawa. Several racks of various weapons were placed in the corners of the room, ranging from the common wooden staff to more deadly weapons of war, like the katana and guandao.

Parchment sliding doors led to adjacent rooms that mainly served as storage or recovery, but followed more or less the same design. A memory gel pad was set directly in the center of the room, taking up all free space that the bamboo mats did not.

Directly beneath was the air elemental's own personal symbol: a spiral shape with a hollow center, with a single dot in the middle. The lines which stuck out of the spiral zig zagged, much like the energy that she constantly generated.

It was where she placed Nfirea through his own martial training, though he only had one lesson so far, and that was just to gauge where the human alchemist was in terms of skill.

Needless to say, from what Cuttlefish saw when she sat in, Nfirea was found…wanting.

Three shoggoths were preparing a round table with five chairs, pushing them in and wiping down the surface to shine it. As soon as they saw the two Supreme Beings, they stopped, put away the cloths they were using in their suit jackets, and bowed while stepping away.

A fourth stepped out from a side room, striding up to the pair. "My ladies, we are prepared for your arrival. Another of my siblings fetches the chosen. May I bring you refreshments?"

"Just water is fine," Cuttlefish asked politely, to which the shoggoth nodded and stepped back into the side room. He came back with a silver platter and matching pitcher, with crystal glasses.

She was still unused to the abundance of wealth that living in Nazarick provided, which she supposed shouldn't have been such a surprise anyways, due to the fact she helped contribute to that wealth over many years.

At least then, all of it was digital. No more than simple strings of code to denote value within the economy of Yggdrasil, so the amount of treasure her guild really had no bearing back then. But now? Now that said treasure was real and she had almost complete and unrestricted access to all of it? She wasn't sure what to do with herself.

When she was younger, she'd entertained minor fantasies of creating a fashion line popular enough that she'd be rubbing elbows with high-level executives of mega-corporations, or similarly creating a best seller for the Global Nine Book Broadcast for the cosmic horror genre.

Funny, how fate made her childish dreams come true, but in the most unexpected and convoluted of ways. She wondered what her younger self would think if she could see herself now.

As she was sipping from her entirely too extravagant glass of water, the parchment door that led into the dojo opened, allowing one disheveled but very much awake Nfirea inside, led by another shoggoth servant. Her camouflage activated, reapplying her disguise before the human could see her true form.

Cuttlefish noted that despite his eyes mostly being covered by his bangs, she could see the dark bags peeking out under his eyes. He was noticeably paler, and his movements were sluggish and clumsy.

He still carried his Emerald Book and his Emerald Stylus was strapped to his waist. He likely had it because he assumed he would need it for martial training lessons.

The young man paused briefly right at the table, before pulling out a chair and all but collapsing in it. He tried his damndest to sit tall and proud, but it was obvious that events had not been kind to him.

Dammit Wish III, just how badly did you mess up this poor boy? He looks like he hasn't even gotten a wink of sleep!

"Doing alright there, whelp? Do you need a moment to recuperate? You look like you just fought off being strangled," Tempest said gruffly.

Nfirea groaned a bit. "Sorry, Lady Aellai. I had a rough time falling asleep last night. I had a lot on my mind."

"Mind telling us what's got you occupied, then?"

Briefly, the young man recounted his side of the encounter with Wish III, stating that a "being of fire" came to him late at night and offered to make a deal, to which he refused. His eyes downturned when he mentioned he couldn't afford the price the djinn asked of him.

Cuttlefish and Tempest shared a look, and then the former spoke. "Well, if at any point you need to stop and take a break, you let us know. For today, though, we have something nice and easy. Just a bit of history."

That got Nfirea to perk up, becoming more attentive despite his haggard appearance. He reached down to where he set his bag and pulled out a notebook.

"Given that you're still very early in your apprenticeship, we felt you needed some explanations as to the history of Alchemy and it's concepts. Of course, it's likely different where we come from than here, right?" The air elemental asked.

Nfirea nodded. "Yes. According to some sources, alchemy might even predate the existence of magic as we know it, but I personally never believed that. The two are too entwined with each other to be developed separately. If anything, I think Alchemy developed as a result of magic being used."

"That's a pretty good sentiment. Where we come from, it's much the same way. Magic helps to make alchemy operate in a way that otherwise wouldn't be possible. During your lesson with Master Hermetis the other day, you saw how it functioned for us."

"And how it reacted to me, which I still don't understand why. I've been pouring over my notes and the books you've given me, but I still don't get it."

"Which is fine. Learning is all about the process, though you're a unique case as you already have extensive experience with the process," Cuttlefish jumped in.

Tempest grunted. "Yes, but it's likely our brand of alchemy is simply too advanced or powerful for him at this stage. He knows much, but alchemy as we understand it has much deeper roots than just potion making."

The cyclone placed her portion of Tabula's work on the table. "Alchemy has its beginnings in a land far and away from here, even for us. It was called Egypt and, originally, was only meant as a way to help preserve the bodies of the dead for when they made their journey to the afterlife."

Nfirea scratched down what she said as she continued. "They called it Khemia, but when another group of people called the Greeks invaded and conquered their land, they added their own language to it, renaming it Al-Khemia. The word 'Al-Khemia' later evolved into the word 'Alchemy'. It developed independently in many other lands, and took on different shapes."

"Each and every place had a different interpretation and method of how it worked, and the end goals that came with it. For us, we call it the Magnum Opus, or 'The Great Work', and it signifies the steps an alchemist takes to create a Philosopher's Stone. Are you familiar with any of these terms at all?"

The young man tapped his quill. "Not…especially? Grandma Lizzie always called what we did 'great work', but I don't think she ever meant it like how you were saying it. Most of what I know about alchemy is more involved in potion making and how it can be done with the equipment I have available. The first I heard them was in the letter you sent inviting me here."

"That's what I thought. A Philosopher's Stone isn't actually a rock, like the name implies, but rather a substance. It not only could convert common metals like mercury into more precious ones like silver and gold, but it also had the ability to rejuvenate and enhance the body to achieve immortality," the mind flayer added, secretly glancing at her papers to make sure she understood it correctly.

Being that she essentially had to learn all the material on the way to the dojo, she felt she could cheat just a little to be able to teach in Tabula's absence. Besides, there was something a bit cute about watching the way Nfirea admired her apparent wisdom and knowledge and diligently took notes.

Her heart was reserved for another, however, and she couldn't lose sight of that goal, even if her love interest was perhaps the most clueless samurai in the entirety of the guild. Ah well, best to focus on present matters.

"In alchemy, there is also an emphasis on the importance of the sun and moon, and how they influence the alchemical processes. So much so in fact, that there is a term for it: an Alchemical Wedding."

Nfirea tilted his head while he wrote the words down. "An 'alchemical wedding'? I get the impression that it's not a union between two people, but it does seem like something is joined together. I've certainly never heard of it before. What does it mean?"

"It refers to when the sun and moon pass over each other in their respective eclipses, but there is a more symbolic meaning to it. The sun, for example, refers to sulfur, which is viewed as a liquid fire that fixes and coagulates. The moon refers to quicksilver, which is a dissolving substance that blurs and adapts," Tabula stated, finally joining his fellow heteromorphs.

Cuttlefish eyed her friend, appreciating how well he fit into the robes she fashioned for him. It was perhaps one of her finest pieces thus far, but she was always striving to make something better the next time.

Wish III was absent, though whether this meant he left or simply lurking around the academy she could not guess. She doubted he would stay gone for long. He enjoyed himself too much in his current role to do that.

"The Emerald Tablet states that the sun is the father and the moon is the mother. In almost every culture and belief we have encountered, the sun and moon are deified in some way. One culture depicts them as being eternally chased by a pair of ravenous wolves, which will help lead into the next portion of this history lesson."

Tabula gestured towards his fellow cephalopod, her not getting at what he was referencing until she looked down and saw the image of Nidhoggr she'd been looking at earlier.

The attention to detail was astounding, seeing how the black dragon was drawn tearing away and eating the roots of a massive tree that she assumed was Yggdrasil. The nine worlds were cradled in its branches, and at the top of the tree was a massive eagle that beat its wings.

Nidhoggr was depicted as skinless in some areas, bright red muscle exposed to the world to see. The head was far more skull-like, shaded black and with horns that swept back and spread outwards like the very roots he was feasting on.

Serpentine coils rolled and wrapped around the roots that weren't being torn to pieces, ending in a tail covered in spines. Two clawed forearms near the head helped to rip and tear Yggdrasil from the bottom up.

As soon as she saw that, she knew what she was supposed to do. "The wolves were just one aspect of that culture, however. There were more powerful and deadly monsters that lurked around, like this one here."

She slid the image over to the human alchemist, who picked it up and studied it carefully. A sense of giddiness welled up in Cuttlefish, as she relished in being able to apply her own brand of storytelling to the lesson.

Nfirea's eyes widened slowly, a profound expression of horror enveloping his face. "What-what is that thing? It looks… so horrible."

"That is Nidhoggr, the dragon who lives at the roots of Yggdrasil. Back home, we just called him the Devourer of the Nine Worlds, but there was little difference," Cuttlefish enunciated, making her voice as serious as possible while she entered what she called "story-teller mode".

"You see, long ago, Yggdrasil was a massive tree that housed countless worlds in its leaves, only for these leaves to be eaten by the Devourer. After some time, only nine leaves remained, and these became the nine realms from which all life was housed."

"After the years passed, a group of beings would assemble to try and put an end to the evil of the Devourer once and for all, being aided by all sorts of groups along the way. The gods of Asgard and Vanaheim, the mortal races of the nine, the Wild Ones of Nature, and many more. But to kill the black dragon was no easy feat."

Being able to watch as the look of horror, while not exactly going away, transformed into one of wonder and enthrallment was always a rare treat, but Cuttlefish didn't let it distract her from telling her portion of the story.

"The scales of the Devourer were like impenetrable shields, and his teeth razor sharp swords to tear asunder those who dared face him. His claws were spears, and his wings a hurricane of fury and malice. His voice carried with it curses and disease, able to slaughter even the gods high above. So long as he lived and was allowed to exist, the nine realms would never truly be safe."

Cuttlefish held up a finger. "Yet, there was another like him, who also sought to destroy the world tree, who was known only as the eagle. They say he and the Devourer despised one another, and that if given the chance, the eagle would do everything in his power to destroy his rival."

"Did he team up with this group of beings you mentioned?" Nfirea asked, a curious look on his face now. He was no longer scared or excited, but rather thoughtful, as if he were reaching a conclusion.

"He could've, but that part is not certain, for the final battle with the Devourer was left obscure. It was heralded as a great victory when it did occur, but some claimed that wouldn't be the last time the Devourer would ever be seen."

In truth, what she recited was mostly just the background lore for the game Yggdrasil itself. She wasn't too terribly familiar with the actual Norse Legends, like Ankoro, Tabula, or Tempest were, but given the two present didn't interrupt her while telling the story, she did alright telling what she did know in an acceptable manner.

After that, all three took turns explaining some more of the nine worlds, describing the lore, history, and composition of each one. Nfirea was practically a sponge with how he absorbed and recorded the info he was given.

It may have not been alchemy in the strictest sense, but it seemed to do its job with calming the former pharmacist down. He even got some color back in his skin after drinking enough fluids.

"So Odin really hung himself from the tree for nine days just to learn magic?" the young man asked.

"Indeed. He believed that in order to properly learn and utilize magic to its fullest potential, he must first empty himself. The best way to do that, apparently, was to suffer on the brink of death until the runes he used for magic revealed themselves to him," Tempest Aizawa answered.

That gave Nfirea pause, and he continued to scribble down more and more. "I wonder then if Wish III knew him, or at least heard of him. Though probably not every god knew each other, just like people don't."

"Wish III told you he was a god?" Cuttlefish inquired, finding it hard to keep the annoyance out of her voice, "Seems a big claim for him to make."

"I'm sure, but the vision he showed me couldn't have indicated anything else. Tell me, that place he was in, was that Yggdrasil itself?"

Before Cuttlefish could answer, Tabula butted in. "Yes and no. The place he showed you was one of the worlds within Yggdrasil. Remember, Yggdrasil is the tree, not a realm."

"I see. Does the name 'Ainz Ooal Gown' seem familiar to you?"

A question long time coming, the chameleon class player supposed. She figured if Nfirea was privy to the details of the invasion, then he saw some of her guildmates, and likely heard the guild's name at least once thrown around.

"Only in passing, from what we observed of the village of Carne and what whispers came to us in our homeland. They seem a rather rambunctious group of individuals," the eldritch alchemist answered.

Ironic, given his earlier behavior, but his shirt and vague description fit their guild perfectly. For as long as she'd been with Ainz Ooal Gown, Cuttlefish couldn't recall the last time they'd ever had a quiet day.

Around that time, the mind flayer realized that they'd reached the end of their lesson, and it was time for the next. Given their current location, it didn't take a genius to guess what Nfirea would be doing next.

"I believe that about wraps it up, whelp. Come on, since we're already here, now would be a good time to start your next martial lesson. Your skills are appalling," Tempest Aizawa said, standing up from her seat.

Everyone else also stood up, Nfirea placing his notebooks back into his bag and reaching for his stylus while both cephalopods proceeded to exit the dojo.

The last Cuttlefish saw of the young man was him taking an opposite position from the air elemental, her grating tone already instructing him in the art of battle. The parchment door slid shut behind them. The moment it did, the magic that hid their true forms dissipated.

"So are these impromptu lessons of yours going to become a regular thing from now on, or was this just a fluke?" She asked her friend as they walked back to his office.

"Perhaps, but for the most part I intend to try and follow the curriculum. This was just my idea of a way to make up for what happened the other day," Tabula replied, stroking one of the tentacles that poked out of his hood.

Cuttlefish laughed. "Seems you're starting to get attached to him, but I already guessed that from how you and Wish III settled your differences."

"Hardly. I merely have some more tests I want to run on him, and I especially want to keep testing the limits of his talent. I can't do that if he becomes damaged beyond repair, mentally or physically," the brain eater said.

"Doesn't mean you can't care about him. Maybe teaching him is what you need so you don't become such a grouch. Think about Coup! Ankoro and Blue Planet both mentioned how even that old cat started to like the humans and dryads of the Forest after they got out of there."

"You forget Coup's always had a soft spot for those in distress. Remember Draco's Legion and their incoming class of newbies? Regardless, I need to think about a new reward for Nifrea, something that will complement the Emerald Book and Stylus in terms of quality and capability."

And just like that, he's changed the subject. Shouldn't be surprised, given his one track mind.

Suddenly, Tabula stopped in his tracks, forcing Cuttlefish to halt after taking a few more steps and realizing he was no longer in sync with her.

"Hey, you alright there?" She asked him, but all she got in response was contemplative silence.

Finally, he gave her a thought. "How much is the temporal displacement around this place? Do you have a rough estimate for how long in here is for out there?"

That caught her a bit off guard, but she answered as best she could. "As far as I remember, it was something like one hour in the outside world was close to about eight or ten hours in here, why?"

Tabula merely hummed, stroking his facial tentacles more. They were all starting to droop out of the darkness of his hood. "I wanted to make sure that I had the math done correctly. I would hate to think that we have more time than we actually do, and then run head first into problems because of my ignorance."

"I honestly think we should be fine. Though, I imagine that adjusting to the change in time will not be easy. I wonder if that would be like how it would've been for adjusting to jet lag"

It was a one-off comment, to which the brain eater alchemist responded, "Maybe, though I couldn't tell you for certain. If there are any issues, I expect I'll be giving Wish III another I.O.U. for his services."

"Please don't tell me you accidentally killed him while you were 'kissing and making up' as Aizawa so elegantly put it."

She was mostly joking of course, and the idea of Tabula handing the disgruntled djinn a slip of paper that simply said "I.O.U." was amusing to no end.

"No. We'll need him for the future, and I'll make sure he's well compensated. Given how my plans are expanding, Nfirea needs to be tested and to be allowed to get as much out of this apprenticeship as I myself hope to gain from it."

She crossed her arms. "And just earlier you were denying you weren't that attached to the boy. No matter how you spin it, you want to be his teacher just as much as he wants to be your student, even if he has no idea what the hell he's gotten into."

Tabula evidently did not care to directly respond to her statement. "I do what I do out of curiosity, nothing more. But on the other hand, the boy should be granted a chance to learn what he can and expand upon his technical skills. If not that, then at least he'll walk away from this with greater knowledge and understanding of the world right now."

"I'm starting to think you're getting a bit too deep into the 'scholar of the unknown' persona," she said, rubbing the bridge of her central facial tentacle. "…Well, I suppose you should be able to have fun with this too."

"That's the spirit. Come along, we should prepare for the rest of the day, and possibly the rest of this month too."

They continued along their set path, deep in discussion about their plans for the future, and how they might circumvent any and all unfavorable circumstances that would come their way.

Meanwhile, in the Forest of Tob

Running. Waiting. Scenting. Waiting. Tasting. Waiting.

A branch snaps in the distance, and its head snaps up to see what it was. A feeble deer crosses its sight, daintily striding along with the rest of its herd. Its belly is swollen and hangs low.

Light emanates from there, and it can sense the wriggling, growing creatures inside the deer, a pulsing beacon of new life. Darkness cowers before it.

The Master told it that it was special. Its siblings did not have sight like it, where it could see in all manner of colors and life and death and rebirth.

Its siblings did not have its strength, with claws that could rend flesh as easily as the grass below. Muscles bulged and creaked and groaned beneath tight skin, holding it together.

Its siblings did not have its cunning, for it played with its prey and made blood brother and blood sister turn on each other, hacking each other to pieces with only words and sounds and calls.

Honed talons dragged along the bark of a tree, where black poison spread along its surface and thick, pungent slime spilled out like lifeblood. It pooled along the roots, sinking down into the womb of the world.

Your purpose is different. You are different. You will serve me well, how long is not for you to understand.

Three toed feet dug into the earth, leaving heavy impressions in the moist and succulent dirt. The land was fertile and growing and alive, and this made it hungry. This made it ravenous for its mission that the Master gave to it.

Those of the Underdark saw as the humans did, in all their muted sights and sounds. Their senses were dull and weak and pathetic. Even Pack Leader, the first of its kind, suffered these atrocities.

You will be the stone I cast along the water's edge, to set into motion the ripples that will become waves. You shall disturb the tranquility that creeps back in.

Its shoulder brushed against a tree, spreading more of its bodily poison. To the world, it was poison, but to it, it was a gift of the highest caliber. The touch of its creator, in all its glory. That same tree crumbled to dust, spreading more of the slime to other trees.

Horns much shorter and thicker than the others scraped along the lower branches of another tree, cutting deep wounds into their wood flesh. Cone teeth clacked along the perimeter of its jaws.

The Lords of Ainz Ooal Gown, in their arrogance, believe themselves safe from my reach, from my influence. They believe themselves untouchable and all-powerful. You, and one other, shall show them otherwise.

All four limbs lowered to the ground, as it began to sprint through the tall, leaning trees, jumping from shadow to shadow with real-time ease.

You will go, and seek out their abodes, and exploit their weaknesses. You will find them.

Dirt flew everywhere as claws and muscles and tendons worked in tandem, propelling it to great speeds.

Watch them.

Faster and faster it went.

Learn them.

Faster and faster.

Hunt them.

Faster and faster!

Terrify them.

It slowed to a limber pace, the object of its desire coming into sight. The light refracted around it, creating a bubble where the outside surface shone outward, while at its core was a dark center.

Trees were much sparser here. Some of their corpses strewn together to create a hovel. But this hovel smelled different. It reeked of power similar to the Master's, and yet not. It was an abomination, meant to mock its creator.

Around the perimeter were shapes of a variety of colors and outlines. Some lumbered and dragged heavy, finned tails behind them. Glowing bulbs dangled from their foreheads and nearly blinded it with their essence.

Others were shapeless and gelatinous like the slime it made, though they moved with purpose and efficiency. They were duller, and did not give off the inner light of normal beings.

Where the trees still stood, they were interwoven so tightly that they gave the illusion of being a single plane, but it could see through the space left behind. It saw just as clearly as if nothing were there at all, and the hovel was out in the open.

Nothing escaped its sight. Not prey, nor food, for it was the most blessed of its kin thus far. Once its purpose was complete, it would challenge Pack Leader, and take command of the horde, as the Master wanted.

Through the walls of the hovel, he saw the prey that it was tasked to bring down, to play with to its amusement and to the Master's wishes. This it would do without fail.

Some among their number have grown attached to new pets. The sons of Man from the Village of Carne, the Dryad-Born from the Forest of Tob, and now a displaced soul, who aids in my ascension yet.

The inner light of that human was fractured, cracks of ink tracing their way through its spirit. Every so often, a new crack would appear, and even less often, an old one would fade.

That was to be its purpose. To terrify the pets of the Master's enemies for daring to defy the Master. That was right, and that was absolute. Nothing else could be true.

Go, and show them that there are far greater forces than the new gods who come through by the power of this world and its fallen king.

It knew what it had to do, to do its task successfully. If it did not, then the other one would fail in her own task. To achieve victory, the long hunt would need to begin.

A wolfish howl tore itself from its throat, an homage to the moon, as several other voices joined in on its declaration of war. The other lights that patrolled brightened with awareness, shifting their attention to it.

No matter whether the light of its soul was extinguished or not, it would not fail. Never.