Aellai's Dojo, Academy of Hermetis
Nfirea struck quickly and deeply with his emerald staff, keeping a steady rhythm to his strikes against the shoggoth training partner he was assigned. The faceless, well-dressed creature blocked each one with its arms, preventing any real damage to itself.
Lady Aellai stood off to the side, walking a perimeter around the sparring duo and throwing out tidbits of advice every so often.
"Make sure to keep your knees bent and your grip firm but loose," she said, "Inhale and exhale with each hit, strike at the vital areas, and keep your center of gravity straight."
At first, the young alchemist opposed the idea of martial training. He spent nearly his entire life working as a pharmacist and filling out medical orders for would-be customers. What business did he have learning the ways of a warrior?
But the strangely armored teacher of his insisted on it, stating that "No matter what your lot in life, you should always know how to defend yourself. Even if you're vastly out skilled, you can still try and give your opponents some hell."
The staff was just the latest iteration of that philosophy. She initially began with basic hand-to-hand combat, and then taught him how to use a knife, and then a sword, and then a myriad of weapons.
Most he did not take to, at all. More often than not, he floundered with whatever weapon he was given and had to have it quickly taken away without hurting himself. It was because of these failures that Lady Aellai ultimately let him use the staff exclusively.
Not that he was complaining, at least not anymore. He found the emerald staff that his stylus transformed into was balanced to him perfectly, feeling like a natural extension of himself. The original wand-staff that Enri gave him suited him, even if it had been absorbed into the emerald stylus. There was still a piece of her with him.
He continued with his rhythmic pace of attacks and dodged, when the shoggoth deemed him worthy of a quick jab or two. He was able to block sometimes, but often walked away with new bruises to his next set of courses.
Over the span of the two months he spent in the academy, he felt his knowledge broaden considerably and his skills increased somewhat. His teachers began granting him access to more and more occultist and dangerous forms of information, which would curdle the mind if they weren't prepared for it.
When he got the chance to reproduce the same types of potions that his teachers used, he found he was able to produce lesser versions of them through great effort and reinventions of his techniques. He'd even created a stronger version of a health potion that was purple, rather than the traditional blue.
Eastern Alchemy stressed the importance of knowing the functions and nuances of the human body, to better let natural energies flow through him and improve his life. Western Alchemy showed that creation and transmutation could be done not through just potions, but magic and strange, dark rituals involving the subject matter he'd slowly absorbed.
Artifacts of all varieties were presented to him, relics of bygone ages and of the homeland from which his teachers hailed. Besides the Emerald Book and Stylus, perhaps his absolute favorite was a hand cannon that, rather than using ball bearings or the more advanced "bullet", was able to be fitted with an alchemical potion as ammunition.
It looked much like a regular hand cannon would, except for the fact that where the cylinder would be for the ammo to be placed in, there was an open slot and nozzle for the glass to be slotted into.
A lever at the bottom of the weapon allowed it to break open, to more easily allow the potion to fit inside. When Master Hermetis presented it to him and explained its function, he was ecstatic.
"I'm pleased that you find the piece so desirable," his mysterious teacher had said, "Because from this day forward, it belongs to you. Use it wisely, for not many can."
"For me?" He asked, cradling it like a newborn. "Won't you need this? Or don't you have some sort of special attachment to it?"
"Once upon a time, I may have. But I grew beyond it, and I find that I do it a disservice by allowing it to collect dust. Besides, with your talent, you'll be able to put it to good use."
What purpose he could use it for, he was certain he would find in due time. As it was now, it was more a novelty and piece of lost history, whatever it may be. He was proud to claim it as his own, and he couldn't wait to show it to Enri when he got back home.
"Alright, I think you've done well enough for now," Lady Aellai said, raising a hand to motion for him to stop.
Nfirea just barely managed to stop the staff mid-swing, letting it hover over the shoggoth's defensive arm. He performed the traditional half-bow that his teacher taught him as a sign of respect.
The creature made no response, merely staring at him with quiet intensity. The former pharmacist stayed bowed, and noticed out of the corner of his eye that the creature slowly crept its hand up to where his hair was.
Something he noticed about the servants that attended the academy was that, beyond the obvious, the texture of their skin was quite rubbery. Shoggoths were primarily formed of slime, yet on the few occasions he accidentally touched one, it was always the same.
Rubbery smooth, almost too smooth. It was not moist and slippery like he expected. At times it felt like he was touching overcooked chicken.
"You're dismissed, shoggoth. That's all I need for today," the armored woman gruffly commanded. The hand retreated, and the shoggoth nodded. It walked stiffly to the exit and closed the door with not a sound.
He felt the familiar cold touch of steel from Lady Aellai's glove, prompting him to stand straight again. He looked straight into the dome shaped helmet of amber-colored reflective glass she always wore.
"You're improving. Should've guessed you'd do better with a staff than any proper sword. Still, there's some room for improvement. It's only been two months."
Her roundabout praise made him feel warmth in his chest as he inclined his head in answer. The training gi was lightly soaked with his sweat.
He'd been supplied an odd set of clothing that was referred to as a "training gi". Every time he came into the dojo, he was to wear it, so that his normal clothes wouldn't be destroyed or sullied. It amazed him that he spent around two months in the academy already, though he guessed that time was sped up so that he could get more done without wasting precious time in the outside world.
He himself wasn't sure exactly what the difference was. He'd have to ask one of his teachers when he got the chance.
"Thank you, Lady Aellai. I'm happy to hear you say I'm improving. I think I've even started to notice some physical changes too," he said, letting a small bit of pride seep into his voice.
Indeed, when he looked down at his form, he noticed that, while not exactly bulking up, his muscles were defining as time went on. He felt stronger, more sure of himself, and his confidence levels were climbing.
The nightmares that plagued him were starting to become less frequent, though when they did happen he woke up in a cold sweat at night. Still, it was progress at least.
Lady Aellai hummed. "Any time, whelp. Next time, I want you to try something a little different. I want you to try on my gloves."
Nfirea glanced at them, raising an eyebrow. "Your gloves? I don't understand. Why do you want me to try on your gloves?"
They were of a marvelous but alien design, with the openings on the palms that glowed white hot at times. Nfirea believed they were enchanted with some form of light spell to help at night time with the way the beams were focused and so bright.
"They got a sort of restriction on them, one I want to see how your talent bypasses. I promise that when you put them on, they'll be extraordinarily powerful, so be careful when using them. You don't have to worry about that for now, however. You just focus on getting to your lessons with Master Hermetis."
She gently pushed him towards the door, ending the rest of their conversation. The young man was used to this, for their talks always ended the same. He didn't mind, as it was just her way of saying goodbye.
He waved, sliding open the parchment door and heading in the general direction of his room. A change of clothes was in order before he presented himself.
A smile made its home on his face while his bangs swished side from side. The soreness of his muscles was coming into effect now, but they brought with them a sense of peace and accomplishment.
He could hardly wait to see what Master Hermetis had in store for them next.
Elsewhere in the academy
Tabula wandered the halls of his abode, lost in thought and reflecting upon the last two "months" he spent with the human alchemist.
Has it really been two months already? I should've figured that would be the case, but it's still astonishing to see how far we've come. How far I've come actually.
There was a time when he'd panic before every single lesson he gave to Nfirea, wondering how the human might discover the truth of what he was and how he really wasn't some sage teacher from far off lands.
Fear coursed in his veins just as abundantly as his blood did in those moments, but they lessened with time, confidence replacing the fear that invaded his headspace.
It helped to have close friends nearby to catch him if he fell, metaphorically speaking, and to have an abundance of resources and knowledge at his claw tips. Everything he needed was within arms reach, or a short walk away.
That didn't mean everything could be accounted for at all times, like the incident that happened two months ago in the academy's time.
Night had fallen then, and with it came the natural ambience of the forest and all its wild inhabitants. It made for nice background noise when the brain eater was unable to fall asleep and he wished to indulge in some of his texts.
He'd been doing just that when he heard the ghastly howl from outside his window, prompting him to look up and see what the fuss was.
His glassy eyes met with flaming, hollow red ones, glaring at him from the tree line that bordered the academy. The rest of the creature was hidden in shadow, the only movement visible was the flickering of its gaze.
A low snarl echoed across the space, and the eyes drew closer, the body illuminated by the moonlight that kissed the earth that night.
Rows of jagged teeth and an unusually long, crocodilian snout pierced the veil first, before the rest of the head came too. The body was lean and sinewy, veins popped out and tracing the skin along like some horrific map.
The arms, like the snout, were also extremely lengthy, almost dragging to the ground. Sickle shaped claws carved gorges in the dirt, leaving behind a shimmering tar that steamed. Glowing pieces of what looked like crystal grew from beneath the skin, tearing it in places and exposing twitching muscle.
Digitigrade legs propelled it with mindful purpose, carrying the oddly proportioned body further out from its hiding spot. From its position, the skull looked to be grinning, and a serpentine tongue licked it's gum-less jaws.
Another growl came from the back of its throat, and from the maw spilled black slime that sank into the grass, wilting it. One step, and then another, slowly making its way to the log cabin of an academy.
Its shoulder brushed a tree, a murky film spreading over it. The substance covered the entire surface of the bark, causing the specimen to crumble before his eyes and become ashes.
And this is where I say 'no', he thought, standing immediately from his chair and activating his messenger.
He had messaged the shoggoths first, deciding that, if he identified the creature correctly, they would be enough to deal with the pest and make sure it didn't corrupt anything along the way.
They replied wordlessly to his request, and in moments materialized out of their slithering, colorless masses into the butler shapes he granted them. They stood outside his window, giving him a full view of them. Their faceless features glared back at the abomination that steadily made its way to the academy.
Three of them met the beast, and out of their bodies they pulled weapons forged of their own flesh, creating strange, sharp objects that defied description in the traditional sense.
One led in the front, while the other two flared out to its sides, creating a triangle formation. They nodded to one another, and then looked back to the cephalopod player for further guidance.
Tabula waved them forward, all of them marching in sync towards their target. This seemed to excite the flaming eyed predator, who crouched to all fours and prowled.
The shoggoths paid it no mind, continuing their stride uninterrupted. Once they were in range, the lead amorphous being struck first, extending its arm for added reach.
Blade struck festering meat, and the creature let out a howl that shook the ground. It swiped right back with its claws, scoring its own hit and sinking the terrible weapons into the gelatinous meat.
Crevices were cut deep into the lead shoggoth's chest, a fatal-looking wound for the average living being. The other two calmly walked around their leader, taking up places behind the abomination and allowing it to dig even deeper into its would-be prey.
Tabula saw the animalistic desire in its hollow sockets, how it brightened as it took out chunks with each slice. Its prey made no response, only quietly tilting its head.
Finally, the abomination got the sense that something was amiss, as the very same chunks it tore out now clung tightly to its own skin, fusing with and dissolving it.
The horror bellowed, in agony or rage the cephalopod player couldn't tell, but the other two began to lay into their target with cold and calculated strikes.
Viscous blood flew out with each strike, positively painting the grass dark with unnatural life blood. The creature wailed and bit at its attackers, taking more chunks that in turn devoured it back.
Morbid curiosity allowed Tabula to watch as the Wendigo was slowly but surely being eaten alive, pieces of its body visible in the translucent bodies of the shoggoth. Those pieces dissolved into brackish liquid, slowly diffusing into the eldritch servants.
First, they took the arms, starting with the hands and slowly working their way upwards. They peeled back the loose skin to get at the spamming muscle groups beneath. Each tendon and ligament was painstakingly pulled away, taking clumps of meat with it.
When only the bone was left, the shoggoths cracked those open too, draining the pus and marrow out of them and then eating the shards. Once even that was gone, they tore into the torso.
The stomach was ripped open, spilling copious amounts of alien organs and more black slime. Everything landed with a wet squelch on the dirt, pools of blood watering it.
Ribs and parts of the spine were dug out through the new opening, causing the wendigo to topple over and flail, snapping its jaws wildly for any sort of grip. The tongue lashed and tried to stab at a shoggoth that leaned down, revealing a barbed tip.
It made contact, injecting…something oval into the summon. Its reaction was simply to grab the offending organ and tear it out. The abomination gurgled while its throat filled to the brim with blood.
All of them finally converged on the barely alive beast, combining into a singular mass that rippled and feasted on their target. Whatever screams it tried to make were cut off as the last of its snout finally dissolved in its jelly prison.
A few minutes passed while the shoggoth reformed themselves, their bodies stained black by the blood of the wendigo. When they finally separated back into their original forms, they were still discolored.
The leading shoggoth nodded to Tabula, indicating that its mission was complete. Not knowing what else to do at that moment, he merely gave them a thumbs up.
Holy shit! I just wanted them to get rid of the damn thing, not eviscerate it! Is that what Solution would do if HeroHero let her off her leash? Oh God, I don't even want to think about those two right now.
Without another word, the shoggoth collapsed into inky puddles that made their way back into the cabin. They'd need time to clean themselves up and look presentable for their duties.
Since then, despite his initial feelings about the situation, he all but purged it from his mind. There were far more important matters to think about, like with Nfirea's training.
Of course, teaching was tough business, as he could feel himself slouching in his posture. Even with adequate rest he felt exhausted. His eyes drooped and his thoughts wandered to strange and bothersome places.
So far, walks by himself proved to be his best method of destressing. Aizawa and Cuttlefish reading with him in the library proved relaxing as well, especially later in the evenings, but every so often he enjoyed being alone.
Actually, a quick read in the library before he was supposed to meet the young human sounded stellar right now. A few minutes couldn't hurt now, could it?
He diverted his random course, heading straight towards the main library to go grab a title. No specific one came to mind, so he'd have to make his choice when he got there.
After a few twists and turns through the expansive hallways, he found the ornate door that signified the library. He grabbed the handle and twisted it, letting himself in.
The library was not a one-to-one replica of the Library of Ashurbanipal in Nazarick. Being that a very select few would need access to it, it was downsized and filled with texts from his personal collection and what he could sneak out of his guild base.
So far as he could tell, it was just him and the Scion of Gibbeth he assigned to be the librarian. He couldn't see her, so she was likely off deeper in the library. He was all alone in his portion of the library, which was perfect for him.
"Let's see here, what am I feeling for today? The Hidden Eye by Joseph Greenman? No, I've read that many times already. What about Color of the Labyrinth by Isiah Malkovich? Hardly, that's much too annoying to read through," he muttered to himself, perusing the selection.
There were labels to denote genre of titles, but he refused to look at them in an attempt to surprise himself for the day. The depths below know just how many occult books he devoured in his free time.
He was so engrossed in his choosing that when he rounded a corner, he accidentally bumped into someone. Being the far larger of the two, the second individual fell right onto their bottom with a clatter.
"Ah, apologies Nfirea. I did not realize you were already here. I planned to read alone for the time being, but if you so wish to join me, you're more than welcome to-"
His words caught when he looked down to better see the one he assumed to be the human alchemist. Based on their height and stature, not many others could fit his profile.
And yet, there was no human, only a shoggoth. This particular member was already standing back up, dusting itself off from the fall. It reached down to grab a book it dropped.
Huh. I didn't realize the shoggoth liked to spend time in the library too. Come to think of it, I was under the impression that they solely patrolled the hallways. I didn't think they were able to take leisure time for themselves.
It was an odd sight, but not one that worried him. Tabula figured if anyone deserved a break, it was the shoggoth for how diligently they defended the academy.
Really, he didn't think they were capable of independent thought, much less the ability to read. If the book was any indication then the shoggoths displayed some sort of personality.
The title of the book, strangely, was Surrounded by Idiots: A Guide to Making Friends in New Places. He didn't recognize it, nor the author. The name printed on the front under the title was Emiko Kira.
Seemed the shoggoth either possessed a quirky sense of humor or wanted to branch out. That in itself got his attention, as there should be no one else save for him, his guildmates, the other summons, and Nfirea.
"I didn't think we carried titles like that in this library," Tabula said, attempting to make small talk, "But I'm glad to see some of our summons are trying to take an interest in the collection we have here.
As expected, there was no verbal response, just a questioning head tilt at his words. Likely it was trying to discern if there was an order embedded in his words.
"I don't want to command you to do anything. Please, just enjoy yourself and the book you have already. I'll be sure to get out of your way," he said, side stepping the creature to get out of its way.
Another head tilt, and then the shoggoth politely walked past, book tucked under arm. Tabula watched its prim form slowly fade away, lost in the maze of books and scholarly material.
Tabula shrugged, going back to searching the books to find something that interested him. With any luck, he'd find a title before his next lesson with Nfirea.
Although, if he wanted to, he could push the lesson back to make more time for himself. After all he's done to make sure Nfirea got the best education he could provide, he surely deserved that much at least, right?
Then again, their record for attendance was unbroken. It would be a shame to break it just so he could enjoy leisure time that cuts into the human's learning. He pulled out the pocket watch he kept in his inventory.
It was one thirty-two in the afternoon, and his lesson was scheduled for two o'clock. That meant he could squeeze in twenty minutes of reading, which seemed a small amount of time.
Some reading is better than no reading. Might as well get in what I could.
He plucked a book from the shelf, not caring whether or not he read it a thousand times before. He found the nearest chair and plopped into it, sinking into the plush, velvety texture.
The book was opened to the beginning, and he quietly read without interruption.
Nfirea's Room
Nfirea sat down at his desk, setting aside his emerald stylus and grabbing his emerald book. In his haste to attend Master Hermetis's next lesson, he realized that Lady Aellai ended their sparring lesson early.
Possibly, she might've required a small break, or felt that the former pharmacist needed one himself. Not that he minded, because it meant he got more time to prepare for his next lesson.
During his tenure in the academy, he took to decorating his room more generously. He discovered that his teachers had an abundance of items they called "posters", pieces of paper that could have any number of images on them.
From what he was told, those images ranged from anywhere from educational to recreational. The selection of recreational posters was… questionable, but he found the educational type superb.
One he hung up above his desk contained a large table of boxes and symbols that he learned was called the "Periodic Table", containing a collection of all known elements that existed in the world.
Another was above his bed, a dossier of a common owl, with various tidbits of information written on the sides and diagrams of the anatomy. Those types of dossiers cluttered his rooms, of all varieties of animals both known and unknown.
An alchemical table was graciously moved into his private quarters, and the massive dining table downsized to a more modest size to accommodate. In his free time, he experimented with the wide assortment of herbs and alchemical ingredients from his teachers' homeland.
The towers of books were reduced and placed back on their shelves, and those that remained moved to small corners of his room to allow easier walking.
Nfirea made his mark, starting to accept the room as truly his second home away from home. It could never compare to the room that Enri gave him when he lived with her, but it managed.
A quick tapping at his door alerted him, looking up from his belongings. "You can come in! I'm decent right now."
The handle creaked and in came a shoggoth, dressed as always in its black suit and red tie. In one hand it carried a platter with a silver lid, hiding the contents beneath. A towel rested over the other arm.
"Oh! I almost completely forgot about lunch! Thank you so much for bringing it to me. I can't wait to see what it is," Nfirea said with a smile, his stomach rumbling.
He walked over to the table while his utensils were being set out, and then the lid popped off to reveal his meal for the afternoon. A personal favorite of his today, it seemed.
"Can't go wrong with some pot roast and vegetables," he declared, digging into the steaming plate.
Every meal he tucked into at the academy elevated him to a new plane of existence with how delicious they were. Meat that melted in his mouth like butter, vegetables roasted to perfection, and fresh baked sliced bread still warm from the oven.
And it all was for him.
While he ate his meal, savoring every bite, he realized that the one who brought him his food still stood there, not moving at all from its place.
Usually, once the shoggoth completed its task, it would leave to whatever place it went. Instead, it stayed right next to him, staring at him with that blank canvas of a face.
Everytime he gazed into it for too long, he felt a strange prick at the back of his skull, like his mind was trying to escape. The familiarity of the head shape and the humanoid physique made him uncomfortable in a way that made his skin crawl.
He understood that this creature would never hurt him, couldn't hurt him, because his teachers were its masters. He imagined that if it so much as harmed a hair on his head, it would be dealt with.
Still, that didn't mean his feelings would go away. They possessed an uncanniness that poked at his psyche, to the point he almost preferred the undead.
The shoggoth sat down, roughly pulling a chair out to sit across from Nfirea. The sudden noise startled him, tightening his grip on the fork he used.
"D-did you want to eat with me? I don't usually get company with you, or any of the others like you, since you leave right after delivering me food."
No response, just a prolonged stare. The creature's hands laid flat on its thighs, absolutely still. Nfirea's slight nervousness deepened, and his brow furrowed.
"S-so what do you like to do in your spare time?" He tried again, steadying his voice as best he could, "Do you have any hobbies, or like to do anything when you're not working?"
Again, nothing said. However, he did receive a slight head tilt this time. Its hands moved, resting on the table and folding over themselves. It even crossed its legs in a casual display of relaxation.
Nfirea's shoulders loosened, realizing he'd been tense up until that point. That strange grip of stress let him go as well, taking away most of his uncomfortableness. He even chuckled at himself for being so paranoid.
Perhaps some of his trauma had yet to relinquish him. He did recall the nightmares lingering, though they faded away considerably from his time studying.
Finally, the shoggoth reached inside itself, pressing its fist flat against its chest and pushing against the shirt. It melted away, revealing a gaping hole underneath the pseudo fabric. A book was pulled from the empty space.
It was set onto the table between the two of them, and then slowly slid over to the alchemist. Nfirea reached for it, grasping its smooth hard cover and lifting it to read the title.
Unfortunately, it was a language he was still learning. His teachers made it a point to teach him their language, or languages rather, so that he might better be able to enjoy the contents of the library without overly relying on magical items.
Progress was slow, and he only deciphered a few letters. Humming in mild frustration, he reached into his pocket and grabbed the pair of enchanted glasses the librarian lent him. They were able to read any language, a trait most useful when he either had difficulty translating or simply wanted to enjoy a book without the hassle.
"Surrounded by Idiots: A Guide to Making Friends in New Places," he read once he put the glasses on. He raised an eyebrow, glancing up at the shoggoth out of the corner of his eye to gauge its reaction.
Perfect tranquility, as usual. Oh well, he really shouldn't expect anything else at this point. The shoggoths were quite reflective of his teachers that way. Calm, calculated, and poised. Nothing seemed to ever penetrate the veil they put up around themselves.
He opened the first page, reading through the welcoming text in the introduction chapter, and then moved on to the real material. His eyes skimmed the wording, not really paying attention to anything in particular.
That is, until he reached one paragraph, which read as follows.
In terms of establishing relations, there are always some factors I personally take into account when talking with people. First, I must understand where the person came from and their history. What are their goals in life? How can I relate to them? Sometimes, this can be accomplished by paying attention to their mannerisms and behavior. For example, what is their favorite food? Favorite type of music? What are they studying in school?
Slowly, an idea formed of why the shoggoth sat with him instead of leaving. He didn't want to say anything rash, however, so he bit his tongue and flipped through some pages to find anything else of relevance.
Most of the paragraphs were mundane, general advice on how to talk respectfully with strangers in different lands and cultures. The author explained the various ways in which a person might best impress their would-be "friends", talking to the reader as if they were dealing with, well, idiots.
One example stressed the importance of identifying important social cues and body language. A form of this he was familiar with was the concept of a half bow as greeting, and another was the common handshake method.
Some were more obscure, like sticking out the tongue as a form of communication. Or rubbing noses and foreheads together, as well as miming air kisses on another's cheeks. That last one made him blush slightly.
"Are you trying to teach or tell me something?" Nfirea asked, looking up from the book briefly.
The shoggoth's index finger tapped on the wooden table top patiently. It seemed to be waiting for the alchemist to understand something, and what he just read wasn't it. Or maybe it was?
Did he misread the paragraph, or did he not read enough? Surely, the servant wouldn't be coming to him to ask him how to read, could it? Likely not, as the book appeared intentionally chosen.
His eyes flickered to his meal, and then to the recent passage. A night lamp lit up inside his mind.
"You're trying to make a friend, aren't you?" He realized, giving an amazed smile at the creature. "But you don't know how to really do that, since you're probably just used to following orders."
That was the right thing to say, as while it had no facial features, the creature's posture "brightened" with pleasure at being understood. It reached over, flipping another few pages.
When it got to where it wanted, the finger extended to trace the passage it wanted Nfirea to read.
Sometimes, I try to make friends by finding a common interest that we both share. It doesn't have to be anything life-changing or super important. Rather, it should be the opposite. Start off with something simple, like favorite types of movies, or literature. Spend time doing a hobby you both like.
"While I can't exactly say I have a favorite "movie", whatever that is, I do have some favorite books," Nfirea said, standing up to go over to his desk. He grabbed the nearest titles, not really caring what they were for all of them were ones he was extremely interested in or favored heavily.
He took care not to accidentally bump the lamp that Wish III came out of when they first met. While he wasn't sure if the djinn actually lived in there, he'd rather not take his chances upsetting the fiery wish granter.
They rarely interacted beyond their first encounter two months ago, but every so often the alchemist caught a glimpse of him roaming the halls as he pleased.
Besides, he somewhat grew attached to the lamp, as one of the few possessions that came with him from Carne Village.
The potion cannon he'd been given lay next to the lamp. He hesitated, debating on whether or not he should bring it to show to the shoggoth too. He decided to take it, laying the piece on top of his stack of books.
"Okay, so I have been able to greatly improve my selection of books, and these ones are some of the absolute best I've found in the library," Nfirea said, setting his stack down on the table.
Each book was laid out, with the potion cannon being set aside. The shoggoth's interest was piqued by the weapon from the way the head tracked its movement. The former pharmacist chuckled.
"That was given to me by Master Hermetis," he explained, "It belonged to him apparently, but he decided that I would get to keep it. It was very thoughtful of him, and I think it's astounding."
A book was picked up as Nfirea laid down the weapon, holding it up for his guest to see. "I've really enjoyed texts like these. The Dragons of the Mountains promotes a form of alchemy that I personally find very spiritually and physically healthy. It encourages building up the mind and soul for a better quality of life."
That book was set down, and another picked up. "Of course, texts like Dwarf in the Flask are incredibly useful too. They follow the type of alchemy I use more closely, but there is science and magic I've never dreamed possible in here."
Then, a final book was presented to the shoggoth. "I do tend to take time for myself. Lady Cythlla recommended the Cthulhu Mythos to me, which I find oddly fitting of my situation given everything I had to endure."
Dark humor every now and then didn't hurt anyone (he hoped). If anything, he saw it as progress that he was truly healing from his past experiences.
Now he just had to accomplish some of his other goals, like coming back to Carne and rebuilding his pharmacy, finally admitting his feelings to Enri, and maybe, just maybe, finding a way to resurrect his grandmother through the alchemical techniques he learned.
Surely, that was a possibility. His two months studying and applying his techniques would allow him to attempt it, right? The process of practicing and perfecting the lessons he learned in his texts would take years, if not decades. By then, would it be worth it to bring Grandma Lizzie back?
Something rubbery rested over his hand, the sudden touch shocking him out of his musings. He looked up, seeing that it was the shoggoth's own limb.
It was a strangely intimate gesture, one that both made his skin crawl and simultaneously put his mind at ease. The feeling reminded him of Madam Joy's pet. She owned, of all things, a green slime no larger than the palm of her hand.
Nfirea realized that the creature was trying to comfort him. Had some of his feelings been that expressive on his face while he lost himself in his thoughts? He never did master the art of stoicism, no matter how hard his grandmother trained him.
A slight noise caught his attention as well, coming from the shoggoth. Much like the touch, the sound caught him off guard, for the servants of his teachers never so much as whispered.
"F… f-friend…," it mumbled, the confines of its blank face contorting unnaturally with the word. It suggested movement beneath the sheer surface, hidden away from prying eyes.
"You can speak? How long have you been able to do this…?" Nfirea asked in quiet amazement, his voice trailing off. He studied closely how the shoggoth repeated the word, over and over again.
"F-friend… friend…," it confirmed, grasping Nfirea's hand tighter. "Friend… friend is… good…"
"Yeah! Friends are good!" The young man said, excitement entering his voice, "are you saying I'm your friend? I would be happy to be called that."
"Yes… friends are… good… You are my… friend… I have… served you and the… masters…"
"I'm extremely grateful to you and the others for taking such excellent care of me. Truly, I could not have asked for better people to be around."
"…Food… is good… I bring you… food…"
The memory of the roast was still fresh in his mind, and he reached for a piece of the meat. He believed that the shoggoth might be hungry, and was asking for something to eat.
"Of course! I have some roast here, you can have some of mine. I always appreciate company when I'm eating," he said, offering a small, genuine smile.
Smells of garlic and thyme infused the air with a smoky, rich scent that made his mouth water. Along with the buttery aftertaste and savory tenderness of the meat, it was a meal to die for.
Gingerly, the piece was taken from his extended hand, which was turned over thoughtfully in the shoggoth's other limb. It stared at it, as if unsure what to do with it. Finally, it placed the steaming piece up to where the mouth on a normal human would be.
Plop.
It fell to the floor, and both of them looked longingly at the fallen morsel. A moment of silence, then Nfirea chuckled.
"I should've guessed that wouldn't work out. You don't exactly have a mouth to eat with like me," he said with amusement. He quickly picked up the piece and tossed it into a disposal bin.
The shoggoth wiped away where it tried to insert the meat, removing the juices. "Food… is good… Friends… are good…"
"Yes, you're absolutely right. They're even better when they're taken together, wouldn't you agree?"
"Friends… food… together…," a curious tone inflected in the shoggoth's voice. "Together… taken…?"
Nfirea nodded. "Yeah, that's what I said. Better together, I say."
Nothing else was said for the moment, but something in the atmosphere changed. It was subtle but swift, carrying an undercurrent he couldn't identify.
Electric anticipation was the best way he could describe it, charged with a desire for consumption. It nipped at the former pharmacist, making his stomach turn.
Suddenly, the food he ate earlier didn't sit right with him. It churned and boiled in his gut with apprehension, especially when the shoggoth slowly looked up from its contemplation to look him in the eye.
Its grip, which never left Nfirea's hand since it first laid there, tightened. "Friends… good… Food… good… Friends… are… food…"
His stomach dropped into the soles of his shoes. "W-wait, I don't mean like that! Friends and food are enjoyed together, but separately. Friends are not food!"
"Book says… friends don't lie… you said… friends… and food… are enjoyed… together… friends… are food…"
The shoggoth stood up, dragging the significantly weaker human with it. Nfirea's chair fell back with a clatter. He was raised up in the air, dangling while the arm of the slimy servant extended.
Nfirea panicked, grabbing onto his forearm and trying to yank it away. However, it was thoroughly encased now in rolling slime that swallowed it up to the wrist. His breathing quickened and his vision narrowed.
"W-wait! Let go of me! This is all a misunderstanding, so just let me go and we can talk this out! I thought we were friends!"
His pleas fell on deaf ears. The contortions from earlier returned, something slithering just beneath the surface. Bulges pressed up and down, threatening to tear apart the skin.
"Shall… savor this… Friends… are good… I hope… you taste good…" it said, the voice deepening to a tremendous baritone.
Slime crept up Nfirea's arm at a snail's pace, the sting of its digestive juices irritating his skin. The sting turned to a burning, which unfurled into an inferno of agony.
Every nerve of his was ablaze with fury as the slime dug into his muscle, slowly dissolving it. Rather than try to wrest his arm away now, he banged away at the offending deluge.
He clenched his teeth, trying not to scream, but his groans were loud enough that he hardly bothered. A wail tore itself from his throat as he was lifted higher, high enough that he was directly above the shoggoth.
It looked up at his kicking legs slowly, tilting its head. The contusions came to a climax then, the skin of its canvas-like visage bursting.
Several spikes broke out, wormy tendrils lashing out from the gaping maw. Gnashing teeth that reached all the way down the throat and beyond greeted him, spinning in a circular motion.
What the hell?! I didn't know the shoggoth could do that! I thought it was just slime and nothing else! What on earth is wrong with this one?!
More of the tendrils rose up from the abyss of its mouth, wrapping tightly around his ankles and beginning to drag him downwards.
No words were forthcoming, for Nfirea was enthralled in his pain and the shoggoth gnashed its fangs. Only his unrestrained screams while more slime traced up the human's arm made it through.
With his right arm, he pointed it at the mouth of the shoggoth and managed to mutter a spell. "[Acid Lance]."
A stream of dark green liquid blasted from the rune circles projecting from his palm. It bubbled when it hit the beast, but it didn't so much as flinch. If anything, his struggle made it more ravenous.
When he tried to reach for another bit of his mana in his mind's eye, his focus shattered from the agony of his arm being devoured. The mental list of spells he had scattered to the wind.
Instead, he kicked as hard as he could, battering against the tentacles that ensnared him in vain for some type of foothold.
In his thrashing, the glasses he wore to help him read the book earlier came loose, tumbling off his face and down into the beast's mouth.
The enchantment linked to the item sparked, and the glasses caught on the rotating teeth of the creature. A strangled gasp rose from its mouth, its free hand reaching up to grab its own neck.
Nfirea was let go, a final scream of blinding pain as his forearm was severed and his left hand taken. He tumbled to the ground in a heap, gasping for air he didn't really need.
Adrenaline pumped through him, giving him the strength to push through his excruciating torment. He hugged his injured arm close to his body while he shivered, barely able to stand on two legs.
The crashing and cracking of things being shoved into while the shoggoth tried to remove the stuck glasses filled the man's ears. He staggered back to the table, his hazy state of mind telling him to find a weapon to defend himself with.
His fingers fumbled with the potion cannon, which he so eagerly showed to his "friend". It was already loaded, though with what kind of potion he could scarcely tell.
In its panic, the shoggoth charged him, but wildly missed, slamming into the table and bowling over the both of them. Sheets of its "skin" fell off, leaving a mess along its path of destruction.
"Somebody! Somebody help me!" Nfirea shouted, nearly vomiting. With an unsteady arm, he raised his potion cannon, blinking away hot tears.
He doubted anyone would reach him in time, despite his cries, so he would need to take a last stand to buy himself more. He couldn't remember what the cannon was loaded with, but he knew it was something offensive in nature.
That was the first lesson his teachers stressed to him when he first got it. The one thing that should always be drilled deep into his psyche no matter where he was or who he was with.
Make sure that gun is always loaded.
A glob of potion fired, smattering the shoggoth's back, which bulged with dense, white protrusions. The liquid potion hardened, rivulets of it sinking to the floor and anchoring it down while it swung unusually long, gangly limbs.
Another roar, while the shoggoth split its own skin trying to escape its new entrapment. The door to Nfirea's room slammed open, causing him to whirl around with the weapon pointed at whoever came through.
Two more shoggoths came through, walking as one to check out the source of commotion. Nfirea didn't even think twice in his panicked state of mind, firing another glob of potion at the two beasts.
The shot missed, the shoggoth on the left dodging with precision and grace. The left shoggoth titled its head at its rampaging kin, then it looked at Nfirea and his injured state, glaring at the missing arm.
It stalked towards the entrapped shoggoth, pulling a strange, bladed weapon from its chest, flicking it to reveal a deadly, honed edge.
A gasp of relief from the former pharmacist turned into a startled choke of horror when the left shoggoth was impaled from behind by the right shoggoth, a piece of its side extending out into a brutal, black pike.
Parts of the right shoggoth began to fall away, revealing a circular maw of teeth similar to the one that attacked him. It rushed forward, almost tripping over itself in its haste to reach the impaled specimen.
At that moment, the berserker broke free, joining its brother in feasting on the one who tried to finish it off. A mess of goopy, black slime flew from their mouths and stained the intricate wood of his room.
There was no rhyme or reason to the mess of teeth and claws, tearing into the middle one without remorse. The high pitched squeals and roars of the servants as they ripped apart their own kind both fascinated and disturbed him greatly.
The door was left wide open and, seeing his chance, Nfirea bolted out of the room, the sounds of smashed plates and furniture accompanied by the howls of frustration behind him.
"Master Hermetis! Lady Cythlla! Lady Aellai! Wish III! Someone, anyone! I need help, please!"
Louder and louder rumblings boomed behind him, as well as a massive CRACK of wood, likely from his doorframe being forcibly shoved open wider.
Someone turned a corner in the hallway just ahead of him, a sob bursting from his chest when he recognized the familiar dome of amber colored glass.
"Whelp? What the hell is going on here, why are you-OOF!" She started asking, only to be slammed into by Nfirea's diminutive and frail frame. Tears of relief ran down his cheeks while he unconsciously nuzzled into the protective coolness of her armor.
Before he could offer an explanation of the nightmare he was enduring, a roar interrupted him. Lady Aellai shoved him behind her back immediately, shielding him from his pursuers. When he glanced back down the hallway, he saw what became of the shoggoths, and all their indecipherable horror flew into his face and scarred his memory.
A solid, obsidian colored mass barrelled down the hallway, tentacles and mouths full of razor sharp teeth snapping at the wood around it. Pieces of bone stuck out to make half-formed limbs of grasping, deadly claws.
Black slime was left all along the contours of the hallway, spreading far and settling deep into the grooves of the building. Near the center of the creature, a single head popped out, made of an amalgamation of sinew and partially digested bone.
It resembled a skull, with a horrendously long snout of needle fangs and a slithering tongue. Dark red flames flickered in the hollow sockets where the eyes would be, eyeing down both of them with unrestrained hunger. In the center of the forehead was a yellow, oval object, like a gem. It pulsed with sickly light, tendrils snaking along the cracks.
Lady Aellai raised her gauntlet, the piece crackling with power. It hummed with a fever pitch while bands of lightning danced around the armor.
KA-BOOM!
Arcs of lightning blasted out, closing the distance in an instant. As soon as the first bolt made contact with the abomination in front of them, it exploded, piles of slime and flesh sizzling and evaporating from the raw heat.
Everything organic disintegrated, while the slime in the walls was reduced to scorch marks from the intense surge. Smoke rose from the remains, if one could call it that, of the shoggoths. Ringing replaced all else to Nfirea, who stared blankly where his assailant once was. Again, he was reminded of the terrible power that his teachers wielded, how quickly they were to jump into action.
His adrenaline faded, and a sense of sleepiness overcame him when he had a moment to settle down. He looked down at his missing limb, seeing half of the forearm was steaming from its encounter with his teachers' servant.
No blood trickled out, which meant the wound was likely cauterized, thankfully. There was less of a chance he'd bleed out now.
"Alright, I don't understand what the hell that was, or why it was chasing you, but you're safe now. Mind explaining why-hey, are you okay? What happened to your arm?"
Lady Aellai's words came to him from far away, echoing in his ears. Spiderwebs of darkness clouded his vision and the shakiness of his limbs dissipated. His legs gave out, and his potion cannon fell out of his remaining hand.
Right as he was about to fall fully, a pair of strong hands grabbed onto him, hoisting him up. The touch was feather light and barely registered. Some words were spoken to him, but they made no sense.
Slowly but surely, his awareness began to fade away. Maybe he could get in a good nap before his next lesson with Master Hermetis.
Master Hermetis would understand. He just had a rough day afterall.
Later that day, Tabula's Office
"So we've been breached, is that what you're telling me?"
Aizawa grunted in affirmation. "Way things are looking, Tabula, it's possible this entire place has been compromised. We don't know how many of the shoggoths have been infected, nor if this can spread to any of the other summons."
Her friend tapped his fingers together, contemplation plainly visible on his eldritch face. She could understand his concern, especially considering the academy was his idea.
"And what about Nfirea? Is he alright? He didn't lose too much blood, did he?" The brain eater asked.
"I'm not a nurse like my sister is, but I know enough to say that he should be fine," Aizawa replied, "His wound was cauterized, and higher tier magic fixed him up well. He'll make it, but I can't tell you what he'll be like mentally."
Said human rested on a cot that was laid out in a corner of the cephalopod's office. Being that he was nearly slain by one of their servants, they didn't want to take any more risks with him being alone. Better he be among those who possessed immunities or high resistances to magical diseases, or around others not out for his blood, for whatever reason. He snored gently into the soft pillow of his cot.
"And just when it seemed he was finally getting better too," Cuttlefish sighed. Everyone of Nazarick origins was there, supreme beings and NPCs alike present for the emergency meeting regarding the incident earlier that day.
They crammed into the brain eater's office, standing up or leaning against the wall while Tabula sat down at his desk. A nervous energy permeated the air, but it was more for the well being of their human charge than anything else.
"Does this mean we're going back home? I really liked this place you made, dad. I hope that human Nfirea recovers for more of your lessons," Citrinitas said, leaning against a wall.
"The facility is compromised. Father's plan is already in motion. We must leave," Rubedo stated in her usual monotone.
"Father's plan? I was not made privy to this, but if it was not for me, then I understand," Nigredo said, clutching her Raggedy Ann baby doll tighter.
Aizawa frowned beneath her helmet, surprised that some of the NPCs already knew the contingency plan was coming into effect. However, she did recall that Tabula began talking with them more casually as of late, so it was possible he informed them sometime in the last two months.
To think all their progress and work was going to be put to a halt indefinitely. It was disappointing to be sure, but reasonable given the circumstances.
"Yes, we can't leave anything to chance here. Once we get out everything of personal value, we're torching this place and having Blue Planet come in to repair this portion of the forest," Tabula reminded his spiky haired NPC.
Wish III whistled. "Must be really spooked by these things if you're willing to just burn everything to ash."
"Who knows what else is lurking in here with us," Aizawa snapped, "Are you telling me you'd rather be stuck in here with pests that constantly harass us and our own? We don't need a repeat of Nfirea here."
"Jesus, would you relax?" The djinn said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "I'm just saying that these things are only shoggoths! So what if they're all infected, just kill them all to be safe and spawn new ones in! Can't be that hard, can it?"
"We only have a limited amount of scrolls, unfortunately. Shoggoths are easy to replace, but it's the scrolls that are the problem," Cuttlefish said.
Wish III shrugged. "Ah, then you're right. This place has gotta go. I'm assuming you'll have yours truly take care of things once we clean this place out?"
"If you don't mind. I'll make sure you get your end of the bargain and then some," Tabula reassured, leaning back in his chair. "I don't look forward to having to tell Punitto about this."
"When have we ever looked forward to having to report a failure like this?" Aizawa bitterly remarked, "I say we make sure Nfirea gets back home safely. If we need to, we remove all memories of the incident and give him only happy thoughts. It's the least we can do."
"Out of the question. Nfirea's mind is too fragile. Just being shown a memory was enough to make him sick and suffer some minor damage. We assure him he's safe and alright, and then let him continue his studies from the comfort of Carne. There, he'll have the full support of Ainz Ooal Gown by virtue of being in the village."
That made Aizawa's "skin" itch. She didn't like that Nfirea would have to live with the trauma of being assaulted in such a vicious way. It didn't sit right with her. If she had it her way, she absolutely would erase all notions of any sort of hardships beyond the learning he accomplished.
And yet…
She looked over, noting the peaceful look on Nfirea's face while he slept. She figured he would've tossed and turned in his sleep from the horror of his day, like he had when he first arrived at the academy two months ago in their time.
But not a hair was out of place. No nightmares plagued him, and he didn't throw a fit fighting off imaginary foes that chased him in his subconscious. Maybe she wasn't giving him enough credit for his mental resilience. Maybe none of them were.
He came this far, working his way up to learn and explore new avenues of scholarly thought that may or may not have practical applications in the real world. Really, they were only here because Tabula wanted to be.
It was a fun adventure, yes, but one done out of a desire to get out of Nazarick. She wondered how many other of her guildmates were doing something similar or planning to like her little group.
Besides, she grew fond of Nfirea. He possessed a littler brotherly charm that she found irresistible. She may act like a hardass at times, but she could admit that.
In the privacy of her own thoughts, of course.
A groan put a damper on their conversation, all of them turning to see the human alchemist laying up and rubbing his head. His bangs hid his eyes, but the air elemental imagined him blinking them slowly.
With a jolt she realized that while she was still in her uniform, neither Tabula or Cuttlefish was. As she turned to tell them, already the purple outline of an illusion spell took hold of her two friends.
Wish III remained as he was, for he revealed his true form to the young man previously.
"Master Hermetis? Ladies Aellai and Cythlla? Wish III? Where am I? Wait, is that thing dead?! We need to kill it, quickly, before it can reach anyone else and-"
"Relax, son, it's taken care of." The djinn responded. "Your little pursuers are gone, and everyone else will be taken care of momentarily."
His words got the panicked human to calm down, though he warily eyed the door still. "I…How long have I been out for?"
"Only a few hours. You've been completely healed, even your arm," Cuttlefish told him, gesturing to his left limb.
Nfirea's eyebrows shot up, but when he glanced at it, a small gasp was his response. He flexed the fingers of his left hand, turning it over with wonder.
"I guess I shouldn't be so surprised, but I never thought I'd have both arms again. Thank you," he said with genuine joy.
"Don't mention it, whelp. We do have some bad news, however. Or perhaps good news in your case," Aizawa started, "We're going to be sending you back to Carne, effective immediately."
As expected, the former pharmacist began to object to that, reassuring them that he was fine. Their magic worked and restored him back to full health, see? He was strong, and could handle whatever other mishaps came his way, they could trust that.
Surprisingly, it was Rubedo who put an end to his rambling. Her stoic gaze and hand on his shoulder shut him up more effectively than any of them could. Aizawa watched her with interest when she spoke next.
"No. Father and the others agree. You will return home, and continue your lessons there. My sisters and I will protect you. Do I have your permission, father?"
"That would be wise. Be sure not to let him out of your sight, Rubedo. Citrinitas, Nigredo, you'll be following him too, to support your sister. Make sure you explain the situation to Enri Emmot and Rowan. They'll keep the others in line," Tabula said.
The brain eater stood up. "[Gate]."
An obsidian portal opened up where the doorway to the office was, as it was the least crowded portion of the room.
"We'll get your belongings to you when we clear out. In your time, that won't be long at all. Now out you go," Tabula commanded.
Nifrea looked like he wanted to continue arguing his point, but when he scanned the room and saw the somewhat grim appearances of his teachers, he deflated. He threw off his blanket, putting his shoes on at the base of his cot.
Once he was ready, he stood in front of the [Gate], Rubedo, Citrinitas, and Nigredo surrounding him in a protective stance. He flicked his eyes over his shoulder, giving all the guildmates a sad smile.
"It was an honor being able to learn under you three, and being able to meet you Wish III. Will we see each other again?"
"You can count on that, Master Nfirea," Tabula said, giving his own approximation of a smile. "Visits are in your future, both to continue your training and also to check up on the people of Carne. I expect they'll have a lot of questions about where you went."
The human alchemist inclined his head in a show of respect. He adjusted his clothing and smoothed out what wrinkles he could, and then finally took a step through the [Gate].
Tabula's NPCs followed him, giving hearty goodbyes, as hearty as Rubedo managed, to their "father" and masters. The black vortex swirled shut as soon as they passed through.
"Now I believe we have an academy to burn down and all our stuff hauled out of here. Everyone ready?" The eldritch alchemist asked, his disguise melting away and tentacles lashing out.
Cuttlefish hummed. "This place was charming. I'm gonna feel really bad about the summons when we purge this place."
"Leave it to me and Daddy's Girl here. We've got you covered," the wish granter chuckled at the pointed glare that Tempest Aizawa sent his way. She threw up her hands, rolling her shoulders and allowing spare electricity to build up in her armor.
Wish III's eyes glowed white hot, embers and a swirling tornado of blue flames funneling out of his body. It jumped directly to the wood and instantly set it ablaze.
Cuttlefish and Tabula left the room, moving with super-human speed to collect their belongings and whatever else they cared to take. Their personal quarters, the elementalist imagined, were sparse for just this situation. Really, only the library's contents and equipment would need to be moved.
Without summons, it would take longer to fully move everything, but most of the academy was filled with items and belongings they didn't care to lose, not in the long run anyways.
After some time, a message came through to both djinn and air elemental. "We got everything we wanted. You're clear to proceed. I did take the liberty of collecting the Scion of Gibbeth and my Dreamling of Azathoth, though, as they're too valuable to lose and should be immune to infection. Whatever summons were left that we came across were ordered to stay where they are and await further instructions."
"A cruel last order, don't you think," Wish III mused, his fiery aura growing more intense. Arcs of lightning bounced off the cosmonaut armor Aizawa wore, melding with her friend's blistering tornado.
Blue bolts of lightning changed to a sinister red, which was their cue to leave.
"[Gate]," the djinn invoked, another swirling abyss opening up. They both ran through, the two of them glancing back and raising their arms to fire off their respective spells.
"[Triple Maximize Magic], [Devil's Inferno]!"
"[Rage of Typhon]!"
Mana burst from their fingertips, coalescing together and slamming into the center of the room. The last Tempest Aizawa saw of the academy before she passed through the portal was a blinding blast, and a swelter of heat that battered her armor.
Then the portal closed, sealing the academy's fate.