Dreamer's Throne 2: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure, page 22
“Welcome,” Count Hotis said, giving his best politician’s smile, despite the fact that he had no idea who Garrett was.
“Thank you for your hospitality in hosting me,” Garrett replied, mirroring the count’s fake warmth. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you for some time and learning about some of the city’s economic opportunities.”
Picking up the clues Garrett was providing, the count immediately identified Garrett as one of the select group of merchants who had been invited to the party and real warmth appeared in his eyes, along with a sliver of greed. While the count was a committed social climber, it was a sport that required an inordinate amount of gold, gold which was held in the deep pockets of the merchants who used parties like this to make deals and connections.
“It is my pleasure,” the count said, bowing slightly. “We’ll be having a private card party with a select group tomorrow evening after dinner, and I hope I’ll have the chance to see you there.”
“That sounds delightful. Oh, look at me forgetting things. I’ve brought you a small gift. A trifling token of my appreciation for your generous invitation.”
Taking out a small box he had hidden under the blanket that covered his legs, Garrett gave it to the countess, who looked flustered. It was not common for guests to give gifts to the hosts, but Garrett’s cover was that of a merchant from another city, and the count figured it might be common there, so he nodded at his wife with a smile, indicating that she should accept it. Murmuring something inaudible, she took the box and cracked it open, revealing a beautiful rainbow light that caused her to gasp. Nestled in a bed of silk was a smooth crystal that contained what appeared to be a flower with petals the color of a rainbow. Gentle light spread from it, captivating her attention.
Unsure why his wife was staring, the count glanced in the box and his eyes went wide, his hidden greed turning into unconcealed avarice. The crystal was absolutely beautiful, and he could already tell that his wife was completely smitten with it. Like lightning, his mind wove a scene where other nobles saw the stone and wanted one of their own, only to have to pay a premium to get it through him, lining his pockets with a sea of gold. With a cough, he closed the box, patting his wife’s hands as he took it from her and called his steward over.
“Please take Mr. Klein’s wonderful gift up to the Countess’ dressing table. Mr. Klein, I look forward to getting the chance to talk to you more and deepen our relationship over the next few days.”
“Likewise,” Garrett replied, bowing his head in response to the countess’ curtsy.
As Marta pushed Garrett to the corner of the garden, he could feel the curiosity practically radiating from her but he didn’t say anything. More people arrived, with the other merchants who were in attendance coming early and the nobles arriving after them. As the garden filled, servants began to bring trays around offering drinks to the waiting guests. Finally, after almost an hour, the count officially kicked things off with a short speech and the party got underway.
For most of the party, Garrett remained in his corner, watching as the other nobles milled about, occasionally drawing sympathetic glances from those nearby. He was dressed in a black and crimson doublet with a matching cloth across his legs and was handsome enough that more than a few of the noblewomen gave him a second glance, but there was a certain picturesque melancholy to his look that made them keep their distance.
A few times, the count made sure to stop over, chatting with him for a minute or two before he returned to his rounds, but other than that Garrett mostly sat silently by himself. Marta, who was standing behind him except when she would go and get him food or a refill for his drink, was doing her best not to fidget, so when she froze, Garrett knew something was about to happen. Strolling out from one of the small gardens with a young woman on his arm came a middle-aged man with long silver hair tied back in a ponytail. Immediately, Garrett knew he was looking at Eben, and not just because of the badge the man wore on his arm or the distinct silver hair.
The same sense of familiarity Garrett had felt with the hair pins radiated from Eben, almost as if the Dream was calling out through him. Eben, who had been focused on the young woman, must have felt the same thing, because his gaze swung up, meeting Garrett’s. For half a second they looked at each other, each taking the other’s measure, and then Eben looked down, a graceful smile on his face. He whispered something to the young woman, who giggled and floated away, her dress swaying, as he turned to walk over to Garrett.
“Pardon the intrusion, my good sir, my name is Eben.”
“Garrett.”
“Garrett? Oh, you must be Mr. Klein.”
Seeing Garrett’s eyebrows rising, Eben laughed and waved his hand.
“I took a glance at the guest list before arriving and remembered seeing your name. You’re a merchant from Port Reverie, is that right?”
“I do business wherever I am,” Garrett replied, his eyes straying to the band on Eben’s arm. “Are you an exorcist?”
“Are you familiar with us?”
“A bit. I have an interest in mysterious artifacts, and I’ve heard you specialize in dealing with artifacts that have gone out of control.”
“Indeed. You speak as if you have had your own experiences with mysterious artifacts,” Eben said, a sharp light hidden behind the friendliness in his eyes. “I’m always interested in hearing those sorts of stories.”
Nodding, Garrett looked a bit troubled, as if he was remembering a difficult memory. After a moment, his eyes brightened and he leaned forward slightly, causing Eben to lean down toward him in turn.
“I’ve heard that the Count found a mysterious artifact of his own. And seeing you here, I’m starting to think it might be true. A mirror, if my sources are correct.”
Feeling Marta tensing behind him, Garrett ignored her and lowered his voice even more.
“I have a particular interest in mirror artifacts, because I actually have one of my own.”
Shocked by the revelation, Eben’s breath quickened.
“It… it wouldn’t happen to be a small hand mirror? With a woman combing her hair on the back?”
Surprise suffused Garrett’s face and he nodded quickly.
“You know of it?”
“Indeed.”
Straightening up, Eben thought for a moment and then gestured for Garrett to follow him. Without speaking, they wove their way through the guests, Marta pushing Garrett along behind Eben as they left the garden and found a small sitting room off the main hall in the house. Inside, Eben paced back and forth a few times before stopping and facing Garrett.
“I get the feeling you would not agree to handing over the mirror, even if I inform you of how dangerous it is.”
Chuckling, Garrett shook his head, a sly smile appearing on his lips for a second before vanishing.
“I am well acquainted with the danger posed by mysterious artifacts, and feel more than suited to dealing with them.”
A twinge of suspicion ran through Eben’s gaze, but he hid it quickly and took a seat.
“In that case, I can only assume your goal in revealing so much to me is to cooperate?”
“It’s nice dealing with smart people,” Garrett said, nodding. “Let’s just say that this city isn’t the only one that has groups who deal with supernatural items and events. The Dream does not only exist in this place.”
Straightening up, Eben nodded, his posture relaxing.
“You needn’t say any more. It would appear that our goals are aligned. How much do you know about the situation?”
“Honestly, very little. I know that the larger mirror was unsealed and sold to the count’s daughter. I acquired an invitation for the purpose of discovering more about it, and seeing if it was possible to reseal it.”
“Then let me fill you in,” Eben said. “There have been two disappearances, all suspected to be the work of the mirror.”
Hearing Eben’s words, Garrett’s expression fell and he shook his head.
“That’s not good news. Have you seen it?”
“The mirror? No. According to what I could get from the count’s servants, it’s been moved into the basement somewhere. The problem is that there is a sea of stuff down there and no one knows where the mirror is. One of our agents has been searching but hasn’t found anything.”
“Do you think it’s hiding itself intentionally?” Garrett asked, causing Eben’s eyes to grow wider.
“I hadn’t considered that possibility, but it could be. If it is, then the grade of the artifact would be much higher than we previously thought. If you have the hand mirror, however, maybe we could use that to find the large mirror.”
“That was my plan, but I think it might be best if we worked together on it,” Garrett said, nodding. “We should move soon though. Or I fear we might lose more people.”
“I agree. What about tonight? Things should mostly wind down by two or three in the morning, but there will be enough people about that we shouldn’t stick out.”
Nodding, Garrett pointed toward the floor.
“Let’s meet here. I’ll bring the mirror, and we can go down to the basement to see if we can find the other mirror. Do you have companions, or will it just be you?”
“I have a small team who will be in place to support us in case things get bad,” Eben nodded. “I’ll meet you here tonight.”
Standing up, Eben shot a glance at Marta and then left the room, leaving Garrett and Marta alone. After a few seconds, Marta opened her mouth to say something but Garrett cut her off.
“Let’s return to the room.”
Closing her mouth, Marta pushed Garrett out of the room and carried him up the two flights of stairs, soon arriving at the room they had been assigned. Opening the door, they entered and found the other two members of the team waiting for them. Henri was sitting by the fire, reading a book, but Grant was pacing nervously, his feet wearing a groove in the carpet.
“How did it go?”
“Ah! I have so many questions!”
Grant and Marta, who had both spoken at the same time, looked at each other and then looked at Garrett, who raised his hand to stop another outburst.
“Henri, I’ve arranged with Eben to meet at three in the morning, to go look for the mirror which has been taken to the basement. I informed him that I had the small hand mirror that completes the set, and he agreed to have his team assist me in finding it.”
“You have the small mirror!” Grant said, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.
Shaking his head, Garrett wheeled over to his luggage and pulled out an object wrapped in cloth.
“No, I have a fake,” Garrett said, holding up a silver mirror that looked like the one he had taken from the necromancer. “I thought it might be useful, so I had it made this past week.”
Standing up, Henri strode over and took it from Garrett, looking it over carefully before nodding in relief.
“It’s fake. At a distance it looks correct, but up close it’s clearly different.”
Letting out a long breath, Marta relaxed.
“Wow, even I was convinced you actually had it. You shouldn’t mess with stuff like that, because mysterious artifacts really are incredibly dangerous.”
Smiling briefly, Garrett brought the subject back on track.
“If we can find the mirror, what is the process for figuring out how it works and what its cost is?”
“Unfortunately, there is no easy way,” Henri replied, giving the mirror back to Garrett. “Most often, our plan is to activate it and hope we survive whatever happens long enough to figure out the curse and the cost. But until we know where it is, there is no way for us to come up with a concrete plan. If it’s in the basement, then we’ll want to get down there early to hide, so that we’re in position when it’s time to act. Grant and I will do that now, and you and Marta will meet with Eben like you planned.”
Glancing out the window at the dark sky, Garrett closed his eyes for a moment and nodded.
“That sounds like as good a plan as any. If you don’t mind, I’m going to rest a bit. All this excitement is quite draining, and I’d like to be full of energy and ready to go before we meet with Eben.”
“That’s fine,” Henri nodded. “We’ll see you in the basement.”
Refusing Marta’s offer to help him into the bed, Garrett wheeled his chair to the window and looked out over the glimmering light of the city, the ghost of a smile on his lips. He was about to roll into a dangerous situation with an uncountable number of variables outside his control, which was not at all his style. Half of his mind couldn’t understand why he was taking a risk like this, but the other half was loving it. Closing his eyes, he felt his connection to the Dream and, a moment later, he opened his eyes into a misty, fog-covered world.
Five hours until we meet. Just enough time to stack the deck.
29
It had been a long while since Garrett had ventured into territory that wasn’t within the influence of his Dream Flowers, and a faint thrill ran through him as he regarded the darkened hall outside his room. Behind him, crowded around his wheelchair, were two dozen blooms, forming a bright light that chased the shadows from the room and establishing a small safe zone, but as soon as he stepped outside the room, he would be on his own.
If he was completely honest with himself, he often wondered if he had been foolish in choosing the Path of the Watcher. The high growth potential had attracted him, but that was before he had acquired the Dream Seed ability. If he had chosen Path of the Blade, he still would have been able to pursue his current strategy, but he also would have been able to protect himself.
What is done is done. I just need to keep leveling up. I might even be able to level tonight.
Out of reflex, and also to avoid having to go out into the darkened hall for another few seconds, he checked his experience points.
EXP: 152/160
He had been trying his best to avoid planting Dream Seeds because he desperately wanted the level up and was hoping that the Awakened dreamers would have a good hunt tonight. Sighing, he closed the window, made sure that Dreamer’s Cloak was up, and stepped out into the hall. Though the dream world seemed like a reflection of the waking world, Garrett had begun to understand that it wasn’t an exact replica. Sometimes, what existed in the waking world was reflected in a twisted form in the Dream, and occasionally it was completely different.
This made it all the more important that he proceed slowly, ensuring he had the time and space he needed to escape if the situation called for it. Ghostly green torches hung on the wall where the lamps would have been in the waking world, casting a haunting glow over the portraits that lined it. As Garrett moved down the hall, stepping carefully across the threadbare carpet, he was sure he saw some of the portraits shift, their expressions growing more fearful. Stopping in front of one such portrait, he looked at it closely but couldn’t see any difference from what he remembered in the waking world.
With a sigh, he shook his head and continued going, passing down the long hall until he came to the stairs. The grand staircase went down two whole flights, curving to the right in a grand bend that also let out onto the second floor. At the bottom of the staircase was the main hall, that ran the width of the property, from the front door straight out back to the garden. Another passage ran the length of the property, and it was off this passage that the basement stairs could be found. Garrett’s goal, however, was not the basement.
Instead, he walked quietly down the stairs, the fog parting around him. He moved in silence, and there seemed to be no sound anywhere, the Dream choked in the thick mist that covered everything. Stopping at the second-floor landing, Garrett took a moment to observe, searching for the shifting of the mist that would have suggested the presence of a nightmare. When he saw and heard nothing, he began to walk down the hall, his attention going ahead to the light he could sense.
He had just arrived at the doorway to the third room when he heard a slight snuffing sound and froze, his hand reaching for the doorknob. He was standing in the hallway, completely exposed, but rather than turn his head to look for the source of the sound, he activated Observe the Dream, shifting to observe his body from outside. He could see himself standing by the door, his hand outstretched, fog curling around him from Dreamer’s Cloak, turning his form indistinct. With careful deliberation, he turned his view, looking behind him to see if he could figure out where the sound was coming from.
At first there was nothing but darkness, but Garrett refused to believe it. He had heard a sound, and not the sort of sound that one’s foot might make against a carpet. It had been breathing, and he wasn’t about to believe that the things in the Dream that might breathe would be friendly. Concentrating, he saw the fingers first. Long, worm-like appendages stretched out from the feet of a nightmare that looked to be the size of a desiccated dog. A pair of what looked like empty eyes appeared above its mouth, sucking in air with a snuffling sound as it searched around with its waving fingers.
Seeing its rough, bumpy skin glistening with slime in the faint light, Garrett could feel his throat catching. His heart was already pounding in his chest, but seeing it was worse than when the idea of a nightmare had just been conjecture. The monster crawled forward, sniffing this way and that as it went, clearly looking for something. Problem was, Garrett had no idea if it had spotted him or not. If it had, he needed to move, but if it hadn’t, then moving might attract its attention.
You have observed a Withered Beast, a nightmare that hunts for weaker nightmares in the dream and consumes them. You have gained 3 EXP.
EXP: 155/160
Eyeless, the monster continued to test the air, slowly getting closer to Garrett, who was still standing stock still in the passage. There was more than enough space in the wide hallway for the Withered Beast to pass by him without touching him, and Garrett decided he was just going to trust in the integrity of Dreamer’s Cloak, but the closer the nightmare came the worse an idea that seemed. Normally, Garrett was cold and rather emotionless, but the bulging, worm-like fingers on the nightmare’s limbs reminded him of the Chosen of Shalmoroth he had once seen, and it was starting to cause panic.
