I didn’t get into trouble for defeating the fruit-stealing elders. Everyone in the village was aware that this was a thing. Some thought that I went too far but others thought it was the natural course of order. It is known that messing with a trickster race won’t end well.


    Raishin had also learned his lesson although I didn’t intend for him to get a taste of my secret weapon. His suffering didn’t end after the bite of the apple he took, he also had a fiery exit. It was the first time I had heard him cry in a long time as it echoed through half the village.


    He also asked me to lend him 80 silver and he went off. Something told me that he wasn’t going to waste it on a chick that doesn’t want him back so I gave it to him. He returned with a tv and a gaming console I didn’t recognize.


    It feels like I haven’t done some gaming in decades!


    Well unless you did in our training period, that’s true, we left Boshi town 9 years ago.


    Oh, I had a chance in between but it was so short. Now let’s see, this elf village has no tv’s so there was no opportunity.


    I like the idea but how are you going to power them there are no outlets, you need a settlement that is connected to the electronium network.


    What? So, I wasted my silver!?


    You mean MY silver. But I think we might be able to fix something. I have stored some electronium batteries I got years ago. I might be able to hook them up.


    It wasn’t perfect but I managed to hook up the batteries to the tv and gaming console.


    So, we only have about 4 hours before the batteries die and the tv and the gaming console turn into junk.


    Ugh, 4 hours is better than none.


    They do look different than I remember.


    These are the newest console and a relatively old tv, tvs have become insanely expensive…


    We played for 3 hours and 47 minutes before the batteries died and the screen turned blank.


    Ahhh! We forgot to save!


    We won’t be able to play it unless we find more batteries so I don’t think that matters…


    But that blonde guy in this game, I like him! He resembles me!


    I don’t know, he is smoother with women than you are.


    Hmm maybe I should try the stuff he did. Like: Hey there gorgeous, mind me taking you for a dinner and end the night in a passionate exchange?


    Please don’t…


    I got it! I will ask the elders to consider connecting to the electronium network!


    Good luck with that, I don’t think they want it or need it.


    We left Raishin’s house and he went to harass the elders.


    It wasn’t for long but that game was relaxing. I envy the game characters a bit because everything works out well for them. And if we lose, we can just reset from a save point. They are always correct and their actions have no consequences.


    It has been confirmed that the global temperature has risen since we accidentally released Zack from his dungeon. He is the Sarian god of fire and the sun after all. It makes sense thinking about it. What this means is yet unclear but anything related to the rise in temperature will be more or less our fault.


    I do realize that this is a bit unfair because things are just returning to how they were before he got sealed away and that he is responsible for raising the temperature but the effects could have easily been postponed several millennia if we hadn’t accidentally released him.


    I saw an unfamiliar elf come out of the big tree. I went down to take a closer look. All the elders seemed to respect him.


    “I apologize for the tardiness. I had wished to do this sooner but I was unable to.” He looked at Raishin and me.


    “I am Bynerofax Seorwynn, the chief elder of this village. I realize that you two have been living here for a year now but I welcome you and you can stay for as long as you want.”


    This B-fax guy didn’t look old but it was something with his face. He looked like a 24-year-old elf but the expression on his face just gave off this feeling that he had seen a lot of things that he didn’t want to see. This in turn made him look a bit older than most elves here.


    He also had various scratch scars on his body and I noticed that he had many stacks of [Spite] on him. Is this why he is injured and can’t be healed? He was walking with a cane as if he is an old man.


    I wonder… did he fight that scratching demon before it got sealed away? I’m sure B-fax is old enough to have been alive when that happened. He probably just won’t remember because of the Great Eraser…


    “I have also come to give out an announcement. This might come sudden but I want everyone to hear.” More and more elves gathered around to listen.


    “I will be stepping down as chief elder and hand the position over to my son, Byron Seorwynn. I don’t agree with everything he has brought forth but it’s an undeniable fact that he has caused this village to progress. Progress is better than stagnation or regression, which the village did under my rule. So, I hereby step down as chief elder. The important decisions won’t be up to me anymore. They will now lie with Byron and Bywen.”


    He looked at me. “Thank you for helping our spirit guardian.” He gave me a polite nod and retreated back into the big tree.


    So that’s Elliana’s gramps.


    How did your request go?


    It got rejected. It did somehow bring Bynerofax out though.


    So, your unreasonable request smoked out the old fart?


    The elders seemed to be talking to each other with Byron in the center of attention. I didn’t see the apple stealing elders though.


    <hr>


    Greg and Elliana returned several days later and had found something that could help us.


    We have found out the location of alchemy’s origin. A large green stone had been dug up centuries ago in the Zanyr desert. This stone contained various ideas on which alchemy is based off. It is one of the few places on the continent where knowledge about alchemy is somewhat available and reliable.


    Zanyr desert? Nooo! Isn’t there another place?


    “What is wrong with Zanyr desert?”


    I don’t blame Elliana for not knowing, she probably never had the misfortune of having to deal with sand.


    There is sand everywhere…


    Well of course, it’s a desert…


    Ohh I have never been to a desert or Zanyr! Let’s go!


    You know how it is there right Agnis? What is it like, besides the sand.


    Ehh, you’re asking me how the place is without mentioning the most dominant and important experience? Hmm well nothing special, quite hot and boring unless you find dig sites or buildings buried beneath the sand interesting.


    Let’s go! I could use a change of scenery and visit a place with an electronium system!


    What makes you think they have one in the desert?


    Hey Greg, is there another place we can go to?


    Ugh, both of you… we’re going to Berfhais, the origin of alchemy.


    “Well, it is the origin but it is still a dead science, magic is more practical in most if not all cases… We are expecting to have some difficulty finding a knowledgeable source there.”


    So that’s it? We’re going to die by sand?


    No tv?!


    Why are you guys so dramatic… stop complaining. The more energy you guys put in finding out the exact method the sooner we can leave there.


    In that case! Pack your stuff guys! We’re leaving today! I should arrive there in a week on speeds that are safe for you guys!


    No teleports?


    Dimensional teleports with other living beings doesn’t go so well… and I can’t use my cheat teleport on others and to places I haven’t been so running it is.


    Why don’t we take teleports from the AA teleport gates.


    You do realize that unless we have a special license or it is an emergency it costs 1 gold and 50 silver per person to use those right? Do you have that amount of gold?


    Right, Agnis Express it is. I will get my stuff.


    So, it has appeared again, sand, my arch nemesis.


    I thought potatoes were your arch nemesis.


    I have more than one. Lasers have also made their way into becoming my arch nemesis.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    At least that one makes sense.


    I visited Jyno to say that I would be out for an undetermined time. I also left a vat of Ichor Pneuma behind in Bywen’s tree room. She knows how to handle it so there should be no problems.


    We let that evening and it took me 12 days to get there. The speed was too much for Elliana so I had to go slower than I’m used to, which made it exhausting for some reason.


    That took… too long, I’m exhausted and there is sand everywhere. This must be the worst day of my life.


    Let’s go to the AA and get some rooms.


    As usual the AA looked like a small city inside a city. It also had no sand so it became my favorite place in Berfhais. We decided to rest for 2 days before beginning our search. Days which I spent getting sand out of my tails.


    <hr>


    It was a hot summer day. I was fine but the rest seemed to be affected by the blazing sun.


    It’s not as if I didn’t warn you that the desert sucks.


    Water… I need water!


    I would normally douse you in water but I’ve learned that carelessly using water in the desert will create many problems.


    Water magic is quite rare and useless here but if one can use it here, he or she would probably get rich quite fast.


    Rich? Why don’t you sell water Agnis!? We will get rich in a heartbeat!


    And probably get targeted by powerful people and be in the center of a power struggle, no thanks, there is a river 100 km from here, if they want water, they should move to there.


    Why didn’t they make this city on the river?


    Dunno they must prefer sand over water.


    There must be a historical reason.


    Hmm perhaps, this place didn’t use to be a desert.


    How do you know that?


    Remember that Dimsha I sealed away and you found? It seems that this place used to be dry but not this dry. They used the Dimsha to create water but it made too much and turned buildings, people and animals into water so they had to tur it off, which in turn took more water away than it produced. This repeated several times and voila you have a desert.


    I see, can you notify me if you find structures with ancient languages? I am curious about their history.


    I will.


    “It’s so hot…”


    Elliana was using a large leaf as a parasol. She did get some stares because elves are quite uncommon in the desert but we are back to the part of the continent that is strongly against slavery so that is no issue. Zanyr used to be relatively unfriendly toward different races but that strange emperor of Zanyr had brought about a lot of change since he stopped being fat and arrogant.


    The feelings of the people won’t change as fast but at least elves fall under the category that are quite easy to accept for the humans.


    Greg went and talked to an information broker. The rest of us stood at a distance to not spook him.


    Come on Agnis! Just a bit of ice!


    No! we will get into trouble! Just bear with it. We can rest in the lobby of the AA after Greg is done.


    “I am getting envious of your heat resistance now. And how is Greg fine with this heat?” Elliana was still fanning herself and looked at Greg who was in his black suit as always.


    Each of us has things they are good and bad at. And Greg… it is either his darkness edge aura or that his suit originates from Jarn.


    Greg returned.  There seems to be a man living to the south east of the city that is a bit crazy about alchemy. He has produced some interesting alchemical potions but he seems to fail at anything more complex or complicated. We might be able to at least gain some information out of him.


    But what you guys need to do is complicated right? Is he the correct guy?


    He might be missing the supplies he needs to execute more complicated processes; the desert isn’t known for being rich of resources.


    Hmm, let’s go in the evening, it seems Elliana and Raishin are melting.


    Yes! I need some cool air! My respect for the AA just keeps rising.  T


    he AA is the most useful edifice in most cities.


    Stop talking weird Greg! Nobody knows what that means!


    I made some ice-cream without the bystanders noticing and handed it to my buddies.


    “Oh, this tastes wonderful.”


    Wow thanks you’re the best!


    Much appreciated.


    We stepped in to the AA and got hit by cool air. I looked at the gear shops to the side. It brought me to a question. Are we under geared? It is a valid question in games and Raishin and I always make sure to keep that up to date but what in real life?


    We all were wearing regular clothing. Greg was wearing his suit that was made in Jarn so despite it looking like it could give him a heatstroke it should be quite comfy. I bet it could protect him from attacks that could normally kill a human.


    Maybe I should wear some clothing from Jarn, it’s just… Humans are unlikely to harm us. Raishin is the only one who is at risk but it’s not big either. What we want to defend against are things that don’t care how strong your protective clothing is.


    Legendary and mythical beings, maybe spirits and gods, they all don’t care if you''re hiding in a fortress or a tin can, they will crack it open easily. But the least we can do is wear clothing from Jarn.


    I went through my catalog to find what would be best for Elliana, Raishin, and for me to wear. I found the perfect outfits when I heard something I didn''t want to hear.


    “Anyone who catches that guy gets a free checkup!”


    I didn’t need to even look up or think to know who would say that. I tried to run for the exit but I got [Shadow Bound].


    Greg really?


    We could use some professional help in getting rid of our curses.


    I won’t hear the end of it if he finds out!


    “Well, well, who do we have here. It is good to see that you haven’t kicked the bucket yet, and you’re together with number 1 on the list of most reckless adventurers, this must be my lucky day.” Healerguy beckoned over some other Golden Angels and we got escorted to the sickbay.


    Hey this isn’t funny anymore can you stop popping up everywhere and just stay in Gittrian?


    “So that it’s easy for you to avoid me? Dream on.”


    I didn’t know that you were acquainted with one of the most well-known Golden Angels of Hjuva.


    Not by choice…


    Hey! Back off! I’m healthy!


    Raishin got a rough checkup. “Hmm, you also have various curses on you, what is it with team Hourai.” Healerguy looked at Elliana. “A new member, eh? I will get to you too.”


    As usual they started dispelling curses but couldn’t get many off Raishin so they let him go. It was my turn now.


    “You do realize that if you’re in a worse state than Raishin, that you get moved up to be the most reckless adventurer, right?”


    If that’s the case how about we skip this session?


    “Absolutely not, now let’s see.” Healerguy dropped his pen.


    “How is this possible, you have more curses on you than the last time… How are you even alive?” He looked at me.


    I want to have a discussion with you about that. I am confident in my skills in dispelling curses but they are too numerous and difficult for me to dispel.


    Greg and Healerguy started nerd talk and discussed all types of curse mumbo jumbo I didn’t understand and I managed to sneak out.


    Wow that guy is nosy!


    Yeah, he’s dangerous. He will kidnap you the moment he lays his eyes on you.


    I’ve only met him once before and he kidnapped me too.


    Only once? How lucky…


    We waited for Greg and Elliana to come out but they were still in there after 2 hours so Raishin and I decided to head out. It was starting to get cooler as it was nearing 19:00.


    I still find it so weird that it gets quite cold during the night. I thought deserts were always hot.


    I thought everyone knew that? Although I’ve been hanging in round deserts for quite a while so maybe I’m used to it.


    Let’s go find our guy!


    Yeah, who knows how long Greg is going to nerd out with Healerguy.


    It didn’t take long for me to find our guy. I found a house that had equipment similar to what Greg used to have back in Boshi town. I don’t peek into houses normally but we don’t want to spend too much time looking for 1 dude.


    We knocked on the door. A man around our age opened up. He wore his hair like Raishin although a bit longer and it had a strange orange color. He wore leather belts that held different colors of vials over a dark red leather coat.


    Hey do you want to talk about our lord and savior Biian?


    He tried to close the door on us and I put my foot to block the door from closing and smacked Raishin.


    That isn’t funny! I’m sorry my friend here was dropped on is head when he was a kid, we are quite interested in alchemy and we wonder if you can help us.


    His face brightened up.


    “Oh, fans of alchemy? In that case, come in! alchemy lovers can’t be bad people! Wahoo! I can’t believe there are still people interested in this dead art! Come in! Come in! I don’t have much but I’m willing to share it with you!”


    We accepted his invitation and went inside. He lived quite simply. He might even be hurting for money. All his equipment was upstairs though, that couldn’t have been cheap.


    Books about alchemy were spread out everywhere.


    “You can call me Bomba! Master of alchemy and bombs! What about you guys!?”


    Bomba! What a cool name!


    You’re supposed to introduce yourself here Raishin… My name is Agnis and this is Raishin. I see that you have a passion for alchemy. I hope you don’t mind if I get to the point and ask a difficult question. Are you familiar with the Magnum Opus?


    His face changed. It went from carefree to serious.


    “So, you guys weren’t lying, you are interested in alchemy. Very well follow me upstairs.”