Chapter 85

Rhea hurried Nick through Floria, running around carts and dodging busy merchants packing their stalls. Since the caravan was supposed to stay at least until the Purification of the Ashes, nearly everyone still had a good amount of items left to sell, not to mention the monster ingredients they had collected from the locals. Nick would have thought it impossible for them to leave so soon, but he figured merchant classes must possess skills that made packing up more efficient.Rhea was clearly very tense, but given the overall situation, Nick didn’t feel the need to ask her why. She understood he was about to risk his life again, and that if the expedition failed, she would either be swept away in a tide of monsters or have to flee once more.

When they arrived at Ogden’s shop, Nick was immediately struck by a wall of thick, herbal-smelling air. The interior felt warmer than usual, a byproduct of the bubbling cauldrons scattered throughout the main workshop. Ogden stood at the center of the chaos, his sleeves rolled up and his clawed fingers carefully adjusting the flames beneath his mixtures.

Nick barely had time to appreciate the sheer complexity of the process before Ogden snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, the fires under the cauldrons winked out, plunging the room into temporary darkness. The potions continued to bubble for a few moments before gradually subsiding. Then, all at once, the brews settled, their contents perfectly still. The entire sequence unfolded so seamlessly that it took Nick a moment to process what he had just witnessed.

No fire magic. No gust of wind to extinguish the flames. Just… control.

Nick narrowed his eyes. Ogden had used something different. He expected the Alchemist class to have some pretty impressive skills, especially considering how far along the old man had to be, so that had to be it.

Before he could open his mouth to ask, Ogden grabbed him by the sleeve and pulled him toward a side door. “Come,” the old alchemist said gruffly. “No time to waste.”

Nick barely managed to send Rhea a questioning glance before he was dragged into the back room, where rows upon rows of boxes were neatly stacked against the walls. Magically dampened, he realized, as he could feel nothing from within.

He recognized this place. It was where Rhea had retrieved the Dream Spider venom during his first visit. This was Ogden’s real vault—where he kept the good stuff.

Ogden wasted no time sifting through the stacks. He muttered under his breath as he rummaged through the crates, occasionally glancing back at Nick as if sizing him up.

Nick crossed his arms, watching. “Mind telling me what’s going on? Or are we just playing the ‘mysterious old man with secrets’ game again?”

Ogden snorted but didn’t stop searching. “I knew the cycle would repeat again. Didn’t expect things to get this bad so quickly, though.”

Nick frowned. “Cycle?”

Ogden didn’t elaborate, but his eyes shone in the dim sunlight, sharp and knowing. “That’s why I always prepare contingency plans,” he muttered, finally letting out a satisfied grunt. He reached deep into one of the boxes and pulled out a small wooden case, no larger than a finger in length.

He turned and held it out to Nick.

Nick didn’t move to take it immediately. Instead, he lifted an eyebrow. “What is it?”

Ogden exhaled in amusement. “Good. You’re not completely reckless.”

Nick ignored the joke. Although he doubted the old man would actually try to hurt him, it was simply good practice not to take things at face value. Sometimes, even a brief interaction could be enough to cause harm.

Ogden rolled the small box between his fingers, watching Nick closely before explaining, “This is a failsafe—a trump card, in case you encounter a Fae who decides to focus their attention on you.”

Nick’s grip on his arms tightened. “And what’s in it?”

Ogden clicked his tongue. “You ask too many questions.”

“I like knowing if I’m carrying something that’ll explode in my pocket.”

Ogden let out a bark of laughter. “You shouldn’t open it unless you’re in real danger. If you do, make sure you’re absolutely certain you have no other option.”

Nick hesitated. He didn’t like vague answers when it came to magic, especially when it involved something as fickle as the fae. “That’s not very reassuring.”

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Ogden met his gaze evenly. “It’s not meant to be.”

Nick studied him for a long moment. Ogden wasn’t the type to hand out gifts lightly. If he was giving him this, it meant he genuinely thought Nick might need it. That alone was concerning.

After a few seconds, he reached out and took the box.

It felt surprisingly light and smooth beneath his fingertips. A simple wooden lock, crafted from the same material as the box, secured it. Nick doubted it would withstand much damage, but its purpose was to keep whatever it held, contained. Knowing Ogden, it was likely something powerful.

The old man nodded approvingly before dismissing him. “Good. Now scram. I have several more batches I have to go through if I want at least half of you to come back in one piece.”

Nick glanced down at the box one last time, then tucked it securely into his coat pocket and turned on his heel.

Just as he left the shop, he felt Rhea rush to catch up and he obligingly slowed down, turning around.

“That thing is dangerous.” She said, staring at the little box.

“I gathered. I doubt anything that can harm a fae could be anything but.”

“No. It’s really dangerous. Ogden made it using the still-beating heart of a dryad that tried to attack us.”

Nick sighed.

Nick sat cross-legged on the floor of his room, meticulously going over the contents of his pack. His fingers brushed over each item to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything—vials of powdered herbs, extra mana cores, two empty flasks, thunderhoof jerky, a small knife, chalk for emergency ritual circles, and the ingredients he had picked up earlier at the market.

He exhaled sharply through his nose. No matter how carefully he prepared, it didn’t change the fact that he was heading into the Green Ocean, where dungeons, monsters, and now fae awaited.

Nick wasn’t used to working with so many people and wasn’t sure he liked it, but he had no other choice.

A soft thump and the rustling of fur caught his attention.

Talbot sat on the windowsill, his silvery-blue fur reflecting the moonlight that seeped through the shutters. The spirit cat’s wide eyes tracked Nick’s every movement with a knowing expression. He flicked his tail, clearly unimpressed.

“You’ve been watching me for the past ten minutes,” Nick muttered, rolling his eyes as he tucked a bundle of incense into his pack. “What? Never seen a guy pack before?”

Talbot let out a slow, deliberate *mrrp* and padded down from the window, circling Nick’s pack before glancing up at him.

Nick huffed. “I’m going on a trip,” he said, lifting an eyebrow at the cat’s clear dissatisfaction. “It’ll just be for a few days.”

Talbot gave him a deeply unimpressed look that very clearly said, “Elaborate.”

Nick sighed. “Fine. I’ll be part of the expedition heading into the Green Ocean to attack the dungeon that’s growing in our direction.”

The cat’s ears flicked forward slightly. Then, in one fluid motion, he hopped onto Nick’s desk and strutted across the cluttered surface, his tail held high. His gaze darted to the window, walls, and wooden beams overhead before he sat.

Nick watched for a moment before realization clicked. “You’re staying here to protect the house, huh?”

Turning to face him, Talbot flicked his tail in unmistakable agreement.

Nick’s lips quirked into a smile. “I appreciate it.”

The cat made a satisfied noise before jumping down, brushing against Nick’s leg briefly before settling near the foot of the bed, clearly content.

Nick returned to packing, tucking a few more small items into place before suddenly feeling a familiar presence and footsteps in the hall.

Devon.

Nick blinked in surprise. His brother rarely came to his room at night. Rarer still—he knocked.

“Yeah?” he called.

The door creaked open. Devon stood in the doorway for a second, taking in the state of half-packed supplies scattered around. To Nick’s further surprise, he didn’t comment or tease—didn’t make a single quip about how much Nick looked like a nervous kid trying to run away from home.

Instead, he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

Then, without a word, he sat down on the bed and patted the space next to him.

Nick hesitated for a second before moving to sit beside him.

For a moment, they just sat there. Outside, the night insects sang their usual chorus.

Devon exhaled slowly. “So, you’re really going.”

Nick glanced at him. “You already knew that.”

“Yeah.”

Nick hummed. “I have to.” Implied was that it was House Crowley’s duty to do so.

Devon ran a hand through his hair before looking at him seriously. “You’re gonna be careful, right?”

Nick blinked. He’d expected teasing, a challenge, maybe even some ribbing about how his ‘little brother was getting in over his head again.’ But Devon’s voice was firm, and the usual humor was absent.

“I mean it, Nick,” Devon continued. “This isn’t just another practice fight in the yard. This is real. I know you’re talented, and I know you’re smarter than most people realize, and everyone already thinks you are a genius, but…” He exhaled. “You can’t afford to make mistakes out there.”

Nick’s fingers tightened slightly around his knee. “I know.”

“Promise me.”

Nick met his brother’s gaze. He saw something there that Devon rarely let slip—genuine concern.

After a moment, he nodded. “I promise I won’t be reckless.”

Devon studied him for a second longer, then nodded, seemingly satisfied. “Good.”

They sat in silence for a few more beats before Devon spoke again. “I’m leaving tomorrow, too.”

Nick blinked. “What?” Even as he spoke, he connected the dots with what he’d seen at the market.

“The caravan’s heading back to Alluria, and Master Xander is waiting for me,” Devon said, stretching his arms behind him. “Didn’t expect it to be so soon, but here we are.”

Nick felt a strange weight settle in his chest. He had been so wrapped up in his own preparations, in the looming expedition, that he had almost forgotten that Devon would be leaving, too.

He looked down at his hands, then, without fully thinking, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around his brother’s torso.

Devon let out a surprised noise before huffing a small laugh. “Really? You’re getting sentimental now?”

Nick didn’t answer, just squeezed tighter. Devon returned the hug a second later, clapping a firm hand against his back.

“You better not get yourself killed before I visit next,” Devon muttered.

Nick smirked. “You better not let the city folks turn you into a pompous ass.”

Devon barked a laugh. “No promises.”

They sat like that for a moment before finally pulling away.

Devon ruffled Nick’s hair, grinning. “Alright, runt. Get your packing done. You’ve got an expedition to survive.”

Nick rolled his eyes but smiled. “And you’ve got some rich kids to impress.”

Devon stood, stretching before heading to the door. “Get some sleep, alright?”

Nick nodded, watching as his brother left.

He let out a slow breath.

Tomorrow, they would both be setting out on different paths.