Chapter 8: Preparations
As soon as he had the list from Mizu, Devin was on a mission. He paused long enough to hug her and Scarlett, then kiss Deryk and Qaelemont, before he took off once more. Devin stopped by his wardrobe to change into some more rugged clothing and grabbed his blades. With the pair of shortswords strapped to his back, he left the library. He gathered his aether and blinked out of existence.
First stop was Ul’dah. He knew of a few places that would have some items, but his mind went straight to the Alchemist Guild for the majority. Especially the quicksilver. If not there, then he would try the market. Fortunately, the guild receptionist took a look at the list and gathered quite a few things, including stuff that he hadn't thought of. Putting everything on Qaelemont's tab was easy enough. He even bought a special bag to carry everything safely. He probably got ripped off, but he didn't care. He was willing to pay anything if it helped Scarlett, especially when it was Qaelemont’s money. With half the list taken care of, Devin headed for Gridania in a swirl of aether.
It had been quite some time since his last visit to the Shroud, mostly because it likes to attack him. It was just the best place to find Ochu. He headed to the Twin Adder’s headquarters to see if he could find some information on where exactly to find some. He was surprised when a Lieutenant gave him a job to take care of a massive Ochu that was wandering the Shroud and causing issues. Devin accepted the mission and left his bag of things under the watchful gaze of the lieutenant to take care of until he returned. Even with a warning to bring friends, Devin just smiled and took off toward the East Shroud.
Tracking a plant creature in a forest was difficult, but Devin wasn't giving up. He finally got a tip from a person at Hawthorne Hut that the giant ochu had been spotted near the Castrum. Devin made his way to the massive metal wall that was becoming overgrown with foliage now that the Garlean incursion was done. It also made a nice lookout position. With miqo'te grace and speed, Devin was up at the top of the wall, looking out over the landscape for a sign of his quarry.
Devin was patient when it came to hunting. His father had taught him how to handle the monotony of waiting for prey to come into sight. As Alford had gotten older, his ability to chase down creatures for food waned, but his patience for laying in wait had grown. It was wisdom that Devin held close to his heart. He could spend hours in one spot, eyes scanning and ears twisting slowly around to track any sign of deer or boar to shoot and take home. He loved taking down the boar most as a boy. They were so tasty and lasted longer than deer in their little household.
Nearly two bells passed before he heard it. The creak and snap of a branch high in the canopy. Devin's sharp gaze spotted the movement of a tree that was being pushed aside by something large. He waited and listened, ears forward and hones in on the area. It could be one of the treants…but no. The treants had a distinct thumping pattern to their walking. The sound coming from the direction he faced was more slithery, like a mass of snakes. Or a mass of vines.
Devin Drew his swords, nose scrunching as the stench of rotten vegetation hit his nose. He should have brought a bow, but it was too late to get one now. He would have to work with what he had. With silent feet, he dashed across the wall and toward the large Ochu as it emerged from the forest.
Huge was an understatement. Devin stood just barely above its bulbous body while on the tall wall of the Castrum. Thick vines swished in the air, then one snapped out to grab a opo-opo. The little creature didn't stand a chance as the vines choked the life out of it and dropped its body into the open maw at the top of the Ochu. Devin winced and leaped off the wall, jumping from branch to branch to get closer before striking.
The hissing below the Ochu let out as Devin's sword sank into one of the vines made the leaves of the trees quake. The thick tentacles waved and whipped toward him, but Devin was faster. He parkoured down the creature's body and landed softly on the ground. Devin has the big ochu’s attention now, and it was mad. Devin grinned and flicked the green, sap-like blood from his blades.
“Come on, then. I need your parts for Miss Scarlett.”
Devin launched toward the Ochu again, rolling to the side an instant before a vine snagged him. Another followed and the miqo'te danced back out of the way. As one tentacle withdrew, he slashed out at it, nearly severing the entire thing. Another vine was quick to defend, but Devin's swords were sharp.
It was too bad he was so focused on the pair of vines he was engaged with as another one slithered across the ground before tangling with his legs. Devin cried out in shock as he was yanked from his feet, swords flying from his grasp, and lifted into the air above the gaping maw that was the ochu’s mouth. He could still see bits of opo-opo in the jagged thorns that served as teeth lining the creature’s mouth.
Qaelemont and Deryk would kill him if he got eaten. Devin knew it. As he dangled from the tentacle that tightened around his legs, he tried not to think of how much his Master would punish him for getting eaten. Instead he called upon his aether as the vine released him and he dove toward his painful end…
“You have to pierce the belly of the beast,” Alford Grey said to the small miqo'te boy at his side.
They crouched beside a tree, keeping low in the thick underbrush as they observed the Ochu that had started too close to their little cabin for comfort. The old hyur held the quiver of arrows while Devin strung the bow his father had brought.
“I thought you said to aim for the heart, dad. It's cruel to make something suffer before death. You taught me that.”
The two kept their voices low to not give away their position. Alford reached out to ruffle long black hair.
“In creatures like this, you can't really tell where their hearts or brains are. You have to aim for the mass of the center where everything is.”
“Why don't we just scare it off? It's not like we can eat it.”
“We could do that, but this creature has parts that are valuable to trade and your mother can make some potions with pieces of it. It won't go to waste, boy. They also multiply fast enough to sometimes need culling.”
Devin nodded and plucked one of the arrows from the quiver in Alford’s hand. He notched the arrow and drew back, taking aim for the massive base of the Ochu. With his breath held to keep his aim steady, Devin found the center and released.
Ice wasn't as subtle or as clean as an arrow, but it served the purpose. The thick spike of ice creaked as Devin landed on the ground with an “oof!” He looked up as the vines of the Ochu trembled and twitched before going still, the icicle Devin had made piercing right through its body and into the ground. The smell of rot and decay grew thick as Devin watched the creature go limp. With a thought, Devin shattered the icicle into snow and watched it fall and melt on the ground.
He sighed and shook his head, glancing around for his swords. He had to cut the creature up for its parts, after all. He found his swords in the grass and got to work slicing vines and hacking off the thick roots. When he hoped to have enough, he bundled it all up in one of the leafy protrusions and slung it over his back. Then he picked up one of the leftover vines still attached to the huge body and headed back to Hawthorne Hut, dragging the lifeless Ochu behind him.
The lieutenant at the Twin Adder's headquarters was wide eyed as Devin returned with his haul of Ochu pieces. The reward for taking on the massive nuisance was a hundred gil. Devin happily accepted the payment, having left the creature to be stripped and cut up by the people of Hawthorne Hut. They had wanted to pay him as well, but he didn't have time to hash out a price for bringing them such a valuable carcass.
Devin's final stop was Limsa Lominsa, where he made his way to the docks to look for a specific ship. He was glad to see the “Fortune’s Favor” floating next to a pier, the flurry of activity telling Devin the crew had either just returned or were about to leave.
He waved enthusiastically when he approached, spotting the old roegadyn captain giving orders over the rail. Most of the crew stopped what they were doing to greet Devin, and he took a few minutes to help load a crate or three onto the dock. With warm welcomes and quick words to catch up, Devin met with Captain Sterrward and let the old roegadyn see the few remaining items on his list. They were more exotic items, and Sterrward was one of the few ship captains that loved to search far and wide for strange things to bring back to port.
He managed to pick up a couple of things, trading his newly earned gil and a few tales for them. Captain Sterrward once again asked if Deb n wanted to join the crew, but Devin gently declined. He had to get back to the library for Mizuki and Scarlett. Besides, he could never leave his Master and brother.
Bidding farewell to old companions, Devin headed toward home to grab his last item from Kugane’s market and give everything over to Mizuki. He rushed home after crossing everything off his list and burst into the foyer.
“I'm back!” Devin shouted into the house. “I found everything!”
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Mizuki sees everyone leaving for their tasks and grabs hold of Deryk's hand and pulls him along, "Work time! I have SO many ideas!" She leads him down the hallway, her head tilted, "The shadows like you. We can take a shortcut"
Deryk blinked, having had his thought process interrupted. Still, he trusted her and when she dragged him along, and mentioned shadows, he smiled. "Yeah, I can melt into them. Freaked Master out the first time. Where are we headed?" He thought maybe the kitchen... though wouldn't it be better to infuse everything? He wasn't sure why it would harm Scarlett, but he trusted Mizuki.
She tightens her grip on his hand and murmers something just out of earshot. Her shadow seems to stretch before them and then infront of them, forming a portal "We're going to my lab. We have tea to make!" She grins up at him and leads him into the cool darkness.
Deryk laughed softly at his sister's gift and happily went along with her. "Yes, tea. Mizu-chan, why don't you want to do more than tea? I don't understand." To be fair, he hadn't done much with his dynamis. Just heal Qaelemont... and control the emotions around him. He had only lost control enough to hurt other people... once. His chest sparked with pain at the invisible scar, but only closed his eyes in response to the pain. He smiled again.
The darkness is absolute, cold, but brief. They step into a small, cluttered room. Bottles and jars of all shapes and sizes sit on small shelves that line the walls. Every table is covered with alembics, retorts, crucibles and pelicans. Each corner has an athanor cooking. Books lay open in every spot there isn't lab equipment. "A couple reasons..." she says without missing a beat. "That energy can shatter a weakened mind. Some have theorized that it can even lead to physical transformations. I don't know exactly how much Scarlett has lost already and filling her with pure emotional power..." she shakes her head, "I don't know enough of her state, to go in blasting." She smiles at Deryk again, "And she likes tea. Tea is normal. Tea is what people do. Tea lets me measure and study results...and the tea I'm making should....steady her mind. Add resistance to....hopefully any unknown." She looks up at him, her red eyes shimmering, "I'm so scared Deryk. I won't take chances though. We have time. Letty would be methodical, and so will we."
"Hey... come here..." He sees not only determination.. but her deep seeded fear. He doesn't need his power to see it. He walks over to her, his larger frame quickly closing the gap as he wraps his arms around his little sister. "She's going to be ok. You are working with some of the greatest minds I know... and while I'm not as smart as Master or Devin, I'm still here to give you anything you need. If you need dynamis, take it... if you need a shoulder... mine are big enough." He releases her and takes a handkerchief out to dab at her eyes. "We're not going to let her fade." He then looks around the lab and smiles with pride. "Gods, you have got quite the set up here. Alright, let's get to work. What do you need?"
Mizuki cuddles into the embrace, thankful for the moment. When she releases, she allows herself to be fussed over before rubbing her eyes on her forearm and sniffing mightily. "Right. Work." She walks over to a shelf with a surprising array of different teas. "First, we need to find the best tea. I'm hoping the Dynamus will act as a...boost to the natural properties, along with some other extracts I've been..." She looks at the aparatus around the room, "Extracting" she finishes lamely. "So! I've been using green teas, though I'm not convinced it's the best choice. " She looks at Deryk, "Your turn, Tea-master. What do you think? Maybe a blend?"
Well... Jasmine tea has calming effects. You could mix it with the green to give a boost to energy. It sounds a bit like a clash, but it's not and actually tastes pretty good. Yeah, dynamis can make the tea work better, and I can infuse any instruction or emotion you wish me to." He walked over, still feeling rather helpless, but if his strange gift could be used to save the only real mother he'd ever known... then he would give his all.
Mizuki nods, "That makes sense. I kind of hoped there would be...some kind of special eastern supertea." she laughs at herself. "I'm just wanting the best of everything, the most potent, the safest." She huffs. "Do you know of any material that....blocks Dynamus? Like lead or iron or...something?"
"Dragon scales... but only from elder dragons. We would need to get permission from one if you want some, though. Master is very particular about stuff like that." He smiles. "Also, jasmine tea is a super tea from the East. There are others, but I am really not a tea master. I more... cook. Sokhor knows more about tea... Naohiro knows even more." He shrugs and runs his hand through his hair. "Maybe... I'm not the best person for this after all..."
She grabs his hand, "Now don't you start!" She looks up at him, red eyes blazing, "You are the ONLY person who has a CHANCE able to save her mind! Her love for me...." She waves her hand, "Nothing I've done has worked. I've been putting all kinds of stuff in her tea since this happened to try and prevent this and nothing has worked. It slowed it down a little maybe, but we're still here! YOU have something that can ACTUALLY help! I'm just....balancing what you do like when you take ginger if the medicine upsets your stomach. You're the medicine. All this....is just ginger." Her eyes lock on his, breath panting. The grip on her hand makes his bones creak a little.
Deryk blinks at her fervor and then winces a little as his hand aches. "Been a while since I've seen someone out strength me. Alright, Nee-chan. Let's make tea. Oh, hibiscus is good to add. It's just for flavor... but the medicine works better if it tastes good." He nods. "It will mute the bitterness of the quicksilver, at any rate."
Mizuki releases his hand with a cringe and an aplogetic look "Perfect! THAT'S my brother! I've got those too! I don't have a dragonscale jar, but I DO have this glass inside lead jar! Hopefully that keeps everything....fresh." she grabs a big jar, then points up at the shelf, "There, there and....that one please." She directs the tall man to the tea jars on the high shelves.
Deryk looks to where Mizuki is pointing and nods. He walks over, easily reaching the jars she was asking for. He wasn't the tallest in his family... even his elder brothers were taller than their owner.. Still, he was glad to be of assistance. He put the jars down on the table. "I can convince the jars you choose to keep the tea fresh. Even warm, if you want."
She looks up at him "Convince the jars?" she asks as she measures the teas and empties them into the main jar one by one.
He nods and grins. "Everything can be molded by dynamis. Even the atoms in the jars. Watch." He picks up an empty glass jar. As he holds it, his hands glow golden and he concentrates on the glass... Suddenly, the glass turns into garnet. It's still a jar, but the composition of the material has completely transformed. He hands it to her to inspect. "I... have studied... a lot."
Her eyes widen, "If you EVER spill some bullshit about not being helpful or able to assist again...." She gives him the jar. "Whatever will keep these leaves cool, dry and full of dynamus for the longest period of time, please."
He blushes dark enough to match Qaelemont's hair and nods. "Oui... I'm thinking... a bit of wind... and some ice... not too much... just enough to keep the leaves just.. like this." He sits, knowing this will take a bit of time, and he starts focusing on the jar as his hands begin to glow again. "Do you want any emotions steeped into the leaves? The jar can do that too."
She thinks for a minute, then grins, "Boundless love for me forever and ever!" She laughs, her voice doing a strange little uptick at the end, before shaking her head, "No no...nothing specific. I want all the emotions to be her own, without influence." She starts checking the bubbling bottles and tubes, "My idea, is a twofold plan. The tea...which you infuse, and an...additive with the quicksilver essence and a few other, normally paralytic agents to try and keep her body stable." She giggles, "Like an gentle embalming from the inside out? Kinda... without that smell." She sticks out her tongue with distaste. "What do you think?" she asks hopefully.
"It could work... but if you're not careful, she'll be an empty shell that looks right. The emotions do need to come from her, you are right about that... but... maybe..." He thinks. "Maybe we encourage her mind to have... emotions?" He looks up at her, trying to add to the plan. It sounded stupid in his head, but he never much cared for himself. He kept that part silent, hoping his sister wouldn't see through him like his owner always did.
She nods, "Maybe a little...nudge? She's never been the most...emotionally open person and I don't want to change her into an emotional mess, but yes, a little bit to counter the effects of her condition is a good idea. Good thought Deryk!"
He beams and then nods. "Slight emotional vulnerability, you got it!" He concentrates on the jar then. It is taking... a lot... of his effort, but his power never wavers. It never wanes... It's like... he's a wellspring for this energy... it never seems to run low. Unlike his aether, which was chronically lower than it should be. Such was the life of a dynamis creature.
Mizuki stops and watches now, a look of awe on her face as she watches Deryk. "That is going to be the best tea ever..." she whispers
He shivers as the glow in his hands fades. He leans back, breathing heavy. "I... I think it's done. He hands the jar back to Mizuki and sighs a bit. The effort clearly had an effect on him, even if his dynamis stores were still brimming. "What else should we infuse?"
She holds the jar gingerly, "So...this tea is done? Jar, tea, the whole thing?"
Deryk nods softly. "We should make sure it's steeped in hot, but not boiling, water. The boil ruins the nuance of the tea. The dynamis inside won't change... but we want it to be the tastiest tea ever, so she wants to drink it all the time. Maybe we should find some honey... He thinks, scratching at his beard."
Mizuki grins, "I got that one covered! She doesn't have much of a sense of taste anymore, but some of the stuff I've been putting in that tea has been..." She grimaces and then goes to a small vial. "Hold out your finger."
He hesitates, but trusts his sister, and holds a clawed finger out. "I can't be poisoned.. but I really hope you're not going to assault my tongue. It still works, you know." He teased.
"Pffft! I haven't had a chance to do any REAL poisons. Just paralysis stuff." she says casually as she drops the tiniest drop of a slightly gold liquid on his finger. "Taste!"
He watches her and then looks at the liquid on his finger. With a shrug, he pops his finger right into his mouth to taste this mystery substance. He REALLY trusted his sister.
It's SO sweet! And then the flavour is gone. There is a faint taste of honey in there, a little on the aftertaste, but whatever flavours were in Deryk's mouth are gone, replaced with just that subtle honey flavour. Mizuki gives a little squeal.
Blinks, his eyes going wide. "Oh... that is really... wow it fades fast, but that's nice! It's super intense at first, and fades quickly. I assume that's so that she can taste it?" He asks, rubbing his own hands.
"Exactly! That way, all the nasty stuff we're microdosing her with can't be tasted. Believe me... ochu vine extract tastes awwwwful and I just had the tiniest bit." She grins, "That, the ochu extract, the mercury, and the lunatender blossom is the body fortifying sweetener for the tea! That's it!"
He smiles at her, the pride shining in his glowing emeralds... "You've grown so much since that night I carried you home, Nee-chan. I'm really proud of you. Kaasan is lucky to have a mate like you."
Mizuki gives him a good natured shove, "Shutup..." she says with a blush, "I'm the lucky one." She changes the subject quickly, "So once Devin returns with the finest ingredients, I'll extract what I need, add to the sweetener and with your masterfully infused tea, we will -hopefully- have a warm soothing nightly beverage that fortifies her body and mind against decay and maintains her emotional capacity." She grins toothily,
He nods and chuckles as she tries, and fails, to shove him. He doesn't even move. He then thinks. "So... we are done then? Maybe we can come back here and make other super powered things... if you want. I don't mind acting like a golden battery." He raises his hand, wiggling his fingers a bit.
She giggles, "One project at a time. If this doesn't work, we need backup plans." Faster than thought, she hugs him tight, "Thank you Brother."
He grunts at the sudden hug, but then wraps his arms around her and squeezes softly. "Any time, Nee-chan. I am happy to help. I love both of you... I hope you both know that."
"I know." She looks up at him in mid hug, "We love you too, and would do anything we could to help you if you find yourself needing help."
"If I find myself needing help that Master and Devin can't handle... or even just because I don't want to just go to them... I'll come to you both. I just... have a hard time expressing when I need anything. I grew up not really mattering... and when Master first took me... I mattered even less... It's better now." He smiles warmly. "I am, for the most part, very happy. I hope that you and Kaasan are too... or... will be once this situation is taken care of."
She looks at him and smirks, "I don't hug things that don't matter." She gives him another squeeze, "Enough mushy stuff. Let’s see if Devin got our stuff!" She reaches for his hand, her shadow, which he now notices she had two, stretches out before them, "Ready?"
He nods, taking her hand, and accepting the shadow. "Ready! Let's go save Scarlett."
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Qaelemont descends into the hidden chamber and seals it behind him, each ward answering his blood and will. At first glance it is little more than a decadent dungeon—silks, restraints, polished stone—but Power hums beneath it. He chose this room deliberately; it lies on a nexus, and the excess, intimate energies spent here are sublimated and magnified, ideal for workings that demand both precision and surrender.
He checks the inlaid ritual circle, scarlet lines stark against black marble, then makes a graceful reaching motion and draws forth a gilt coffer. Inside are not only forbidden tools, but ceremonial ones: a Nymian tea bowl veined with gold, a matching pitcher, a cloth folded with monastic exactness. This will be a tea ceremony as much as a rite—measured, intentional, reverent.
He layers the circle with Nymian ash, unbinding glyphs nested within restoration runes. His scarred hands are bare, faintly glowing blue, tingling as ever. He works slowly; one misaligned corner could doom everything. Black candles are placed by measure, their bases sealed with wax from a single pure white candle. Their wicks are dressed with grave-resin; quicksilver oil glimmers in sigils meant to consume only what must be lost.
Incensories follow—myrrh for passage, lotus for severance, windsbalm to call the will back in—set with the care of a host arranging guests. He accounts for rising heat, airflow, where each participant will stand. Smoke must move as gracefully as breath.
One locus he leaves bare. Untouched. A place of honor for Mizuki’s tea, once Deryk’s dynamis is bound into it. It must be added last, poured with intent, shared at the moment of ending and return.
“Vous savez que c’est la seule solution…” he murmurs, leaf-green eyes scanning his work. Satisfied, he departs, stitching the wards closed like a suture.