Are we going to hide out in the sewer systems again? Sheeba asked as Neeku shadowstepped through the morgue gate, a feat made difficult as the sun was going to be rising within an hour or so and shadows were becoming faint.
“Not just yet, I want to wait until we’re leaving the city; and, since we don’t know if Sola found some unlucky woman to knock up, I rather wait until we’ve covered all scenarios before we flee Onimod.” Neeku said, racing against the rising sun as she shadowstepped again to the eave of a nearby roof.
And I’m sure it has nothing to do with you not wanting to reek of sewer when you meet up with Angelina later, the Goddess of the Night said, her tone way too innocent.
“Hey, just because you can’t smell me doesn’t mean others can’t; I’m just trying to be hygienic and not offensive,” Neeku thought defensively, to which her Goddess chuckled. Turning her embarrassment into energy, the young assassin shadowstepped again and again, making it from the 3rd Circle just into the edge of the 2nd Circle before she stopped, panting from the exertion. “I’m definitely not fully recovered yet; a week ago, I could’ve kept going before I had to take a rest,” she said, hands on knees as she breathed loudly.
For practically being dead not too long ago, I think you’re doing marvelous my child; please don’t sell yourself short, Sheeba praised her. And don’t even think of arguing with me, I am your Goddess after all.
Neeku chuckled. “Yes mistress,” she thought, her reverent tone spoiled by how she imagined sticking her tongue out at Sheeba, who giggled in response. “I will try to be more appreciative of my hard work going forward.”
See that you do, Sheeba replied. So, what’s the plan?
“First, I’m going to get some sleep,” Neeku said, standing upright and looking around until she spotted a familiar sight. Leaping once more, her nose confirmed her guess that this was an apothecary, the same one she’d leapt to just a few days ago. Looking around, hoping that this city was like every other one she’d visited, she gave a happy grunt. Just two buildings down, she spotted a miniature tower built out of the back of the building, with vents along the top. “There’s the alchemist shop,” she thought to Sheeba.
And this is good because…? Her Goddess asked.
“Because,” Neeku started, making the shadowstep right behind the tower before continuing. “Not only do we need to see an alchemist to look into breaking the lock my father made, but alchemists have some reactions that only work in darkness, and some that need direct sunlight. Which is why they have these towers built onto their shops in most cities.”
Some cities don’t have alchemists? Sheeba asked, confused.
Neeku chuckled. “No. I mean, I’m sure there are a few that don’t, but what I meant by that was that some alchemists have their shops built on a hill by themselves, so they don’t need a tower to control sunlight and darkness on their experiments. But lucky for us, this city is like most others.” Looking inside the vents, she concluded that there was no one inside the tower, so she shadowstepped in, just as she saw the sun starting to peek above the horizon. Using the last of her energy reserves, it was just enough, and she landed in the center of the small room atop the tower. Shakily, she went around and made sure all the vents and windows were closed tightly, plunging the small room into darkness. Her Darkvision activated, and she was able to get a better look around. What she saw was slightly discouraging.
Granted, she hadn’t been in a lot of alchemist’s towers (less than a handful of times), but when she had there was lots of experiments and orders being worked on simultaneously; Hells, one tower there was barely enough room to move around. Inside this tower, only one table had anything on it, and if Neeku was being honest with herself it looked like somebody’s lunch that they had forgotten to take down with them the last time they were up here.
How did you know that an alchemist would be nearby an apothecary? Sheeba asked. And I know I’m older than you, but to me this doesn’t bode well for how ‘good’ an alchemist this shop and owner are, the Goddess concluded.
“To answer your first question, alchemists rely on natural resources like plants and minerals for a lot of their recipes, but the smell that emanates from both shops is too intense if they’re next door to each other; minerals can be shipped in and last longer, plants not so much.” Neeku said as she took one last look around the nearly bare tower before crawling under a bench and wedging herself in the corner, using her right arm as a pillow as she laid down and tried to get comfortable. “It always amazes me the things you don’t know; I thought deities were supposed to be omniscient and omnipotent.”
Being bound to you limits my knowledge, my dear, and as much as the doctrines are preached, no deity is truly those things. If they were, our plan against Frea and Gea wouldn’t amount to anything; be grateful it’s not so.
Shuddering, Neeku nodded her gratitude. “And as for the second question, no this doesn’t bode well for our plans. But that’s a problem we can deal with after I get some sleep. Watch over me Goddess?” she yawned, the events of the last day catching up to her.
Always, daughter. Sleep well, Sheeba promised her, and with that Neeku closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. It seemed like she’d just closed her eyes, but Neeku was awakened by a noise coming from the floor door leading down from the tower into the rest of the building. It’s been five hours, my child. I hope you got some rest, since the shop owner is now trying to access the tower.
“Or someone else,” Neeku thought back, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and making sure her left hand was on Bloodmoon’s sheath.
You don’t suspect the city guard, do you? Sheeba asked.
“No, they would be making way too much noise if that were the case; they’re not exactly known for their subtlety,” Neeku replied mentally. “Besides, as Jonah always liked to say, the simplest solution is usually the correct one. Meaning…”
Meaning that it’s more than likely the shop owner coming up here, although why now is puzzling, Sheeba finished Neeku’s thoughts. I guess we’ll just have to see. Why are you prepared to draw Bloodmoon and not Nightblade? The Goddess asked. I thought Bloodmoon still isn’t fully charged up from being out in the light of day?
“It’s not, but if the owner has a lamp, Nightblade would vanish, so it’s better to rely on the weapon that won’t leave me empty-handed,” the young assassin replied, and pushed herself as far into the corner as she could. She felt it was better to not be spotted than to have to risk defending herself and possibly hurting whoever was coming into the tower. And then, the lock from the bottom of the floor door got unfastened, and the door swung up and open.
Oddly enough, there was no lamp that led the way into the tower. At first, Neeku thought it was a child coming up, but their footsteps were too heavy, at least if it was a human child. Plus, the proportions were all wrong. As the being fully entered the tower, they stood fully upright, and Neeku realized they would barely come to her abdomen if she was standing in front of them. Grumbling to themselves, they went over to the bench and reached up for the tray of food, only to come to a rigid stop. They began sniffing the air, turning their head left and right.
What’s going on? Sheeba asked, and Neeku had no answer to give Her.
Still sniffling, the being turned toward the right, and began moving in Neeku’s direction. Not wanting to make any movements and betray her position, all the young assassin could do was wait as the being kept coming closer and closer. If you’re going to stab them, you’re about to run out of surprise chances to do so, the Goddess admonished her. But Neeku stayed her hand, not wanting to kill or main indiscriminately.
Finally, the being stopped before the bench Neeku was hiding under and bent down to peer under it. They had ears that stuck up and out their bald head, almost like bat ears, a flat nose, and goggles that were perched above their large eyes. They opened up their mouth to give a shout of surprise, and Neeku chose that moment to grab their legs and pull them towards her, knocking them down. Rolling out from under the bench, she backed up to give herself room, hand still on the sheathed Bloodmoon but unwilling to draw it until she felt it was completely necessary. “There’s no reason to be shouting for the city guard,” Neeku assured the being. “Just let me go and I’ll be on my way. I’ve stolen nothing and I want no trouble.”
Getting to its feet, the being stared at her, mumbling to itself in a language that was guttural with interspersed chirps and hisses. Finally, it got itself under control. “Like the guard would come if I did call it,” it muttered angrily. “They don’t like my kind up here.”
“You speak, uh, human I guess? You speak our language very well,” Neeku said, still confused about what the being was and why its people weren’t liked by the guard.
“And you don’t speak Goblinese, which is not that surprising, I should have listened to my family and never left the Deeps to live among the humans,” it sneered, dusting itself off and putting its clothes to right. Neeku noticed it was wearing a leather vest with multiple pockets over a too-large shirt, with a leather kilt and hobnailed boots. “But no, I had to follow my dreams and my talent, and look where that got me? Living alone in my former master’s home, unable to procure more resources for my experiments and orders. Food running out. Maybe I should take the city up on its paltry offer and sell the place and go ‘back where I belong’ as my neighbors love to say,” it said sulkily.
“Hey, hey, I’m not a bigot like these small-minded assholes that you live along,” Neeku assured it. “I’ve just never met a Goblin in real life; I’ve heard stories about you, of course…”
“Let me guess, now you’ll ask me if I’ve eaten any babies or tricked a pregnant woman into promising me her firstborn for untold wealth, am I right? I can assure you, I don’t eat meat, and do I look like I have untold wealth to hand out?” It said, gesturing around the tower.
“No! I mean, yes I’ve heard those stories, but I didn’t say I believed them.” Neeku said, blushing slightly at the Goblin’s raised eyebrow. “I mean, I didn’t REALLY believe them, not having the chance to get to know a Goblin.” Taking a deep breath, she let go of Bloodmoon and held out her hand. “Let’s start over. I’m Neeku, it’s nice to meet you.”
Frowning at her outstretched hand and up at her, the Goblin finally grunted and took her hand in its, it’s palm calloused and scarred just like hers but for different reasons she assumed. “I’m Bip,” he said, and shook her hand firmly. “And yes, it’s a nickname, since you humans can’t seem to pronounce or remember my full name. And no, I’m not going to bother to tell it to you, so don’t ask.”
Noticing that he didn’t say it was nice to meet her, Neeku shook his hand and accepted that he had every right to be distrusting; after all, she was the one who had been hiding in his tower. “What happened to your former master? And before you get all indignant, no I don’t think you killed or ate them.”
“Good, because I didn’t. Yuna was old, curmudgeonly, and stubborn as stone, but they took a chance on me a couple years ago and I’ll never forget it. They died in their sleep a week ago, may her Gods allow her to rest,” Bip said, making a gesture above their heart. “Now, can you explain to me why you were hiding out in my tower?”
“If you promise not to call the guard, I shall be happy to explain. But it’s a long story.” Neeku told him, ignoring the warnings her Goddess was hissing at her.
“I’ve got nothing but time,” Bip snorted. “Let’s go down into the shop and sit down. I still have some tea if you’d like some.” Gesturing towards the ladder, they exited the tower.
