Chapter 204- The runaway horse (Patreon)

The runaway horse

Stars twinkled in the sky over the snow-swept grasslands. A farm fractured the continual landscape with its crooked fences and weatherbeaten buildings defying the submerging snow. Inside one of these enclosed hindrances, creaking from the intermittent gust of chill wind, silence reigned.

A fair-haired girl steadied the lamp in her jaded hands while hovering over a seated teen. Ever so often, the boy frowned while passing his fingers through his black, ruffled hair. Nearby, two girls using clean rags dipped in warm water carefully wiped the blood from a patch of hairless skin on a horse. The unbroken surface indicated the blood originated elsewhere.

"I don't understand it, Lucy. It cannot relate to the way I designed the talisman since they have always been created by different people. No two persons, much less the hundreds over the years could draw the exact same copy. When Dyna injected her mana to activate the chants, the words also disappeared. And it did so from both circles, indicating my thoughts on the links were correct."

Chu muttered. The layout shouldn't be a problem since the basics remained the same. When Dyna injected her mana and activated the talisman, the written chant in the circle disappeared. That indicated proof his method seemed viable. Lucy pondered for a moment before replying.

"Maybe the talisman itself is faulty? Didn't you say if breaks occurred in the connecting lines then it's useless?"

Chu held up another similarly designed talisman to the lamp. The lines and symbols appeared unbroken. Maybe the last was truly a dud but he had tried more than one attempt.

"True, but this has been our third attempt. I'm no scientist, but looking now at this experiment of mine, I am finding millions of variables to turn this useless. First of all, stupid me didn't even try to check if these manufactured lifestones of ours actually worked. Instead of starting at step one, I skipped a zillion steps in attempting to reach the sky."

Chu muttered a reply. His feelings compared to a man who built a car in the stone age, only to remember he needed a fuel source. He never checked if the lifestones worked, if mixing the blood posed a problem, or if the new modern designed talismans actually functioned. Worse yet, he had wasted valuable time and resources, instructing Finn and Bon to engineer a bewildering mold.

The equal portions of blood from the Bitzers display no abnormal conditions. In fact, it didn't coagulate or separate but mixed into one. The lifestones appeared smooth without visible cracks while maintaining a purplish-blue hue. Maybe the ink? Dust from grinding Black Opal constituted a rare ingredient since even the Tower decided to skimp on its use.

"I recall this ink came from the one in storage. Elder Pick concocted a fresh batch for us using more black Opal but I only used it later. Maybe it's the ink? I'm beginning to understand why I didn't do well in the sciences."

"We already mixed the blood of the two lifestones together so why don't we continue? You can begin another experiment from step one later. By the way Chu, what's sciences?"

Chu pinched the smooth, cheek hovering over his shoulder. Lucy usually guarded her words but she possessed a quick mind. If this experiment ended in failure he could at least use some of the lifestones to concoct potions.

He decided to follow through with this idea and risk losing the two lifestones. Later he would test one stone before moving on. If not, then their fate lay in the cauldron as ingredients for potion concoction. Composing his thoughts, he allowed Ming to complete the current experiment.

The promoted researcher wasted no time in abusing his authority.

"Lucy, bring the light closer. Why are you hovering over Chu?"

Miki, what are you doing by the table? Fetch a clean cloth and wipe the skin dry."

"I'll have you know I run a tight shift, there will be no hanky-panky under my watch. Clod, stop wondering about your woman outside and focus on holding the horse. She nearly flattened my toe."

"Dyna, fetch me a meat-bun and a tankard of ale. My throat feels dry. All this wouldn't happen if you all did your jobs. Chop, chop..."

After the fifth try on five different talisman papers, the experiment ended in failure. As if to prove they had been used in botched research, the lifestones disintegrated. The pair silently shattered between Ming's finger while turning into dust. The specks glittered as they dispersed around the table and the barn.

"Oww! See what I said, the horse stepped on me. Why can't you train your animals better, Clod? Oww! Why are you all hitting me!"

Ignoring the verbal row, followed by smacks and wails, Chu reached for the wide, leather, saddlebag resting on the edge of the table.

He removed an expertly drawn Ancient talisman from among the protecting files before hesitating. If the ink posed a problem then these might provide the same chances as the previous modified one. Clenching his jaw, he returned the drawing created by his companions into the bag. Opening another file, his hands exited with another card sized paper.

"Miki, the more you and Dyna kick him, the higher the chances he will tout his injuries. Do you want him to use you as a scapegoat to duck his jobs? Come, remove nine lifestones and mix the blood in the bowl. It's a longshot but I am willing to risk it. This one requires all our hands."

Chu rose and paced alongside the table with his fingers stroking his chin. For the sake of researching and confirming his theories, he would gamble away nine lifestones. If the lifestones ended up activating the normal Ancient talismans later, it meant he wasted the opportunity to gain nine extra Sersens.

This time he instructed her to not use all the blood in the bowl, just equal amounts. This way he would remain with enough to still attempt a single talisman activation. Saving the fifth try might net him a normal Sersen.

"Oops!"

"Is something wrong?"

He asked turning to Miki at the table.

"No, nothing. It's okay."

"Alright, this talisman needs nine talismans so everyone please gather around. Wait! Let's do a dry run since we will be crowding a small area. Ming, you had better bring over that bench."

Chu instructed. They fitted themselves for the task before Miki began smearing the blood. She then gently pasted on the fragile looking paper onto the skin of Redflower. Wasting no time to allow the blood to soak across the paper, they all pressed home the lifestones.

Like gently dropping a hazelnut into thick, viscous, honey, the lifestones gradually disappeared into the nine orbs on the paper. Chu observed for the second time in his life, the mercurial change of the lifestones and the absorption of the talisman into the skin. The horse neighed and reared as Clod offered calming words to the creature.

By the time the animal showed discomfort, the lifestones successfully melded into the skin.

Holding the reins, Clod moved the horse to the little fenced enclosure lined with straw and hay. This unexpected success also carried uncertain risk since he had no idea if it would finish satisfactorily or with detrimental side effects. All they could do was wait. He pulled his cloak tightly while sitting down with a quill and paper.

"Elder Bon, you guys can head home because we might end up spending the night in here. Secure the farm and ask Toll to find two others to act as lookouts on the windmill. I don't expect unforeseen encounters but please place the farm on alert for tonight."

Miki went outside and informed the men standing guard. She didn't like the idea of them standing outside the farm on the ground. After convincing the group, she locked and secured the warehouse. Rose joined them later, bringing a welcomed hot meal. They whispered and ate in silence while monitoring the horse sleeping in the straw.

At first, the animal showed signs of pain and discomfort which heightened to a degree where it thrashed around the stall. Later it slumped onto the straw and passed out like a drunkard. Throughout the night, Chu monitored its condition, mainly-- if it was still alive.

Chu woke up to find Ming nudging him. Clearing his eyes he remembered the reason for sleeping in the warehouse. His head swiveled towards the short fence where he spotted Clod patting the shoulders of the horse. Dusting himself while approaching the pair, he scrutinized the horse.

Redflower issued a low neigh with her neck lowered over the fence. Chu stroked the inquisitive head as she nuzzled at his diminutive chest. He had come a long way from being cautious or fearing animals. Dodging the affections of the gentle farm animal, Chu inspected the left shoulder. A faded blue tattoo under the light seeping through from the open warehouse door could be seen. He stepped away from the horse as he scanned her a second time.

"I say Clod, does she look a little, what's the word? Larger, stockier?"

"Well, when I checked her this morning, she did seem much healthier than usual. Wait, are you suggesting the talisman improved her weak constitution? Ah, did it work like the time with Lucy? She does appear slightly taller..."

"She looks normal after last night. Alright, have her ready for riding. Even though its early dawn, we can ride her and see how she acts. We only have today to use the talismans."

Chu replied. He decided to grab a quick bite during the wait.

Since the Bitzers favored burst of speed, he decided to test the speed of Redflower. Currently, Ming rode the horse along the lane from the east gate, out towards the main road. The snow covering the grasslands exceeded two feet so the lane proved the viable test ground.

"Are you sure this horse is different? She rides normally to me."

Ming concluded when he returned. They had spent a few hours riding and conducting tests to uncover the abilities of the talisman to no avail. Only the tattoo on the horse's shoulder offered proof that this animal possessed a hidden power. Chu wondered if maybe the talismans activated selectively, only on humans.

Part of him dispelled the notion based on the fact that no person in their right mind would waste a talisman on an animal. The experiments conducted in the bizarre room under the Tower indicated that humans did not yet develop compassion as to experiment with lab rats of a different species.

If they wanted to test the effect of something designed for humans then they would use humans. Only a fool would confirm their experiments by using an expensive horse as an alternative.

"Try pushing her into a gallop, she doesn't know what we're trying to achieve."

Chu advised out of curiosity. Ming grinned as he cantered off.

"Fine then, watch me kick up some snow."

"Wait, don't slap her on the rear, it makes her..."

Clod yelled while unable to complete his words. The action had already been done.

Ming slapped an open palm on the rear of the horse from the saddle. The docile horse reared on its hind legs while neighing loudly. Redflower bolted out between the stable and windmill, streaking towards the south. On her back, she had Ming clutching the reins for dear life. As if receiving a shot of adrenaline, she suddenly doubled in acceleration, tossing Ming into the snow.

Chu ran across the fields while watching the horse disappear over the open grasslands. He glanced at Ming struggling to rise from the hole in the snow. Ambling towards him, he assisted Clod in helping him up.

"I told you not to slap her! She only needs a little coaxing."

"You didn't say anything, ah, I think my bones are broken. Tomorrow, I will be black and blue."

Unlike the two, Chu continued to gaze at the departing speck.

"Sometimes I think your sole purpose is to blight me, you know, Ming. There go nine lifestones."