The Newt and Demon

5.42 - Garden Plot

The dining area in the manor was filled with the scent of a cooking fire and a freshly made breakfast. Sarisa had created more than her normal dish to celebrate the return of her brother. He was still in town during his vacation, but she thought it was fitting to make him something nice for his first day back. Theo was under the impression that he would have been gone for longer, but there he was. The half-ogre man didnt have a mild scowl on his face like normal. He was smiling.

Must have been a good vacation, Theo said. He smiled as he dabbed a piece of wheat bread into the runny part of his pozwa egg.

An excellent vacation, Rowan sighed.

You guys can take days off, Theo said with a laugh. You dont have to work for weeks before taking time.

Sarisa shrugged at the suggestion, reclining slightly in her chair as she sipped moss tea. Maybe you should take the same advice.

I have a twenty-four hour vacation every day. Into a world I can shape to be whatever I want. Theo smiled at his assistants. Terogal had become a personal vacation home for him and Tresk.

He has a point, Rowan said.

Rowan and Sarisa went back-and-forth on the importance of a good half-ogre work ethic. Theo went into his own mind, finding the information from the Reagent Splicing skill unfurling in his mind. He now understood the best way to splice many of his reagents together. Some were obvious things. The alchemist had spent time propagating his reagents by taking clippings or seeds, so some methods transferred over. Those that didnt were provided by the skill, only leaving him to decide which to try first.

The only thing left for Theo to decide was a core for his new core slot. With how much time alchemy, herbalism, and magic took from his schedule he didnt want anything that was active. He was more interested in a core that was passive, like his Governance Core. That required research, which would take time. There was also the idea of transforming any of those cores into a Drogramath core, which might have interesting effects. There were too many things to think about when there were plant hybrids to make.

The alchemist finished his meal, chatting with Sarisa and Rowan for a while before heading out for the day. Salire was already at the Newt and Demon, swapping the essences out and preparing for another run of Hallow the Soil. She already had the required suffuse potions brewing, which was surprising. Salire had done some independent experimentation, finding that she could brew that potion just fine. So long as it was at second tier or below, which is what they were running. The pair had abandoned the plan to do third tier potions, as it had an extra, annoying step.

Youre getting better by the day, Theo said, helping Salire load some Dragon Talon Mushrooms into the grinder. Are you going to take over my lab?

Be careful, Salire said, pointing a finger in warning. I just might.

Theo smiled and got back to work. With the way things were going, there might be enough room in the alliance for two alchemists. Once he got his hands on some Town Seed Cores, and reclaimed some land in the north, it would be open season for expansion. That came with problems from whatever nations could reach them from the north, resulting in the need for defensive measures up there. But he only had plans to make more friends, not enemies.

Salire and Theo labored, preparing only two stills for a batch of Refined Suffuse Essence. As they worked, the alchemist felt as though he was gliding around the lab. Lacking the meta barrier between his alchemy core and his soul had resulted in a feeling of extreme excitement when performing alchemy. His assistant pointed this out.

Youre normally so brooding, she said, watching him dance across the lab.

Ah, Theo said, suddenly remembering to be embarrassed about the act. Ive been making mental notes about the effects of the meta barrier. Alchemy feels like a part of me, now.

Salire danced from one foot to the other. Oh, Im going to take that skill.

Theo laughed with her, placing his hand on her shoulder and nodding. I think you should. The meta barrier is this membrane that makes you feel like someone else. I hate it.

Speaking of I dont want to make assumptions, but I might need a soul potion.

Wisdom? Theo asked.

Yes.

Are you feeling the effects?

Not yet. But Im getting there. I put a lot of my points in Wisdom to start, but changed to Vigor for my other job.

No worries. Ill start the potion the next time I go to Terogal.

Thank you!

This is only a temporary fix. You can only drink one soul potion, and if you pump Intelligence like me youre going to need two of them.

Yeah

This problem ran deep, and Theo knew that no solution was on the horizon. The only thing he could think to do was more alchemy. The alchemist clapped his hands together, gaining Salires attention. I have a task for you.

Im ready, she said, showing far too much conviction.

Make a list of each reagent we have access to with the idea of splicing two together. Imagine which would make the best matches.

Salire withdrew a notebook, then flipped through the pages. I can do that. Already have a list of our reagents.

Perfect. Im going to clear some space in the greenhouses, and prepare the experimental garden plot.

Lets do it!

Salire was more excited about the task than Theo had expected. He left the lab and headed to his greenhouses, finding everything to be the way he left it. The Plant Golem was doing its job by preventing hybridization, clearing the weeds away, and other general maintenance. Each greenhouse was packed with reagents, all growing at ever-increasing rates thanks to the various upgrades he had applied. The alchemist ordered a few corners in each greenhouse cleared to make way for hybrid reagents. There was no better time to push his alchemy as far as it could go.

After he finished creating a new set of orders, he went next door to the Herbalists Workshop, finding the garden plot behind the building. Any upgrade that had the text appears behind the workshop, building, etc meant that building was upgradable. The plot could hold nine reagent plants, depending on the size. It was made of a low stone wall with a gate, within which was freshly tilled earth. Inside the plot, the air seemed still. Almost stiflingly so. Despite the open-air arrangement, the inside of the plot was sealed from the outside world. He inspected the plot before moving on.

[Experimental Garden Plot]

Owner: Theo Spencer

Faction: [Southlands Alliance]

Level: 1 (0%)

Rent Due: SUSPENDED

Expansions:

None

The upgrades produced by the attached plot might be good, but that wasnt what Theo was after. He wanted more area to test his new reagents. And there would be a lot of reagents to test if his new sense for alchemy was anything to go by. The alchemist shoved cores into the building, trying to be as efficient as possible. Each level the plot gained saw the gray stone wall moving a foot or so in any direction. When the plot hit Level 5, the list of three upgrades appeared.

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[Precision Control]

Gives the owner of this plot the ability to control cultivation rate, and growth rate on a per-plant basis.

[Nurturing Soil]

The soil within this plot will always provide maximum nutrients. Plants within will never wither, and will always have the exact amount of water required.

[Perfect Climate]

Every individual plant within the plot will experience a perfect environment for growth. The preferred temperature, soil quality, humidity, etc of an individual plant does not affect the others.

This was an herbalists dream. Theo felt a shiver of excitement run through his body as he read the description on each upgrade. He wanted them all. Precision Control was the least useful, but he could isolate plants instead of setting rates for the whole plot. Nurturing Soil would make it so he didnt need to assign a golem to the plot. Perfect Climate was something he would pick down the line. Either when there was no other good option, or when the building got high enough. But he didnt have any non-native plants, and if he did he would use his new splicing ability to alter that plants preferences. He selected Nurturing Soil for his first upgrade.

Before moving on to the next upgrade, Theo took a second to inspect the features of the plot. It claimed to allow him to alter factors of growth for all the plants. With a touch and a little mental prodding, a new system interface appeared in his vision.

[Experimental Garden Plot Controls]

Cultivation Rate: 0%

Growth Rate: 0%

Hybridization Rate: 0%

Watered Rate: 100%

Nutrition Rate: 100%

Available Spots: 12

Spots occupied: 0

Environmental Condition Preset: Humid Swamp

Soil Preset: Rich Swamp

Now that's some fine control. Theo could press a button near some entries, changing the rates. The interface was easy to use, but he moved on. There were more upgrades to get. He inserted more Monster Cores into the building, watching as it expanded to gain more plots. Three rows of four became four rows of four by the time it hit Level 10. The new upgrade appeared alongside the old ones. The alchemist inspected his new upgrade option.

[Stable Conditions]

Unstable plants placed within the plot will not degrade. Any drastic magical expulsions will be contained, never leaving the plot and leaving the other plants within the plot unharmed.

Drastic magical expulsions was a fancy way of saying explosions. Theo hadnt considered exploding reagents before, but now that they were messing with splicing it was possible. This upgrade fell into the same category as the Perfect Climate upgrade. He didnt need it now, but it could be useful later. Instead, he went for the Precision Control upgrade. Then he was back at it, shoving more cores into the building. The four by four arrangement because five by four when it hit Level 15. A new upgrade popped up. The alchemist checked his supply of cores before inspecting the upgrade, finding that it was dwindling once again.

Rats, Theo said, inspecting the new upgrade.

[Recovery Factor]

A small tank of magical energy appears near the Experimental Garden Plot (this tank is not upgradable.) The tank accepts motes, which are converted into liquid magical energy. This energy may be used to stabilize recently spliced plants, ensuring they survive the splicing process.

Theo didnt have to think long about that one. Since he was new at the splicing game, this would play well with his current plans. He selected the upgrade, then went around the side of the plot to watch the magical tank appear. A device that looked like one of Throks artifices appeared. The stout little copper tank had a mote port on the side, and a gauge showing how much magical energy it had. The alchemist inserted one mote, watching the quantity of magical energy inside increase. Upon closer inspection, he found a list of controls for the tank.

[Recovery Factor Tank]

Stored Energy: 5%

Release all energy

Release energy to specific plant

Purge tank

Set specific instructions

The button labeled Set specific instructions had a series of commands he could issue. Theo could tell the tank to release energy onto a plant, sustaining it so it always had energy. He could do the same for every plant. There was even an option to only release energy in an emergency situation.

Very interesting, Theo muttered to himself. He scratched his chin, inserting motes and observing the tanks energy increase.

He hasnt talked to himself in a while.

Theo looked up from his tank, narrowing his eyes at Rowan and Sarisa. They had been whispering conspiratorially. He stood, pointing at his assistants. You leave me alone. Im having fun.

He never has fun, Rowan said in mock shock.

By the gods. Was he replaced?

With a copy, perhaps.

A joyous copy.

Rowan grabbed his sister by the shoulders, shaking her. Can we keep him?

Theo turned away so they couldnt see his smile, stifling a laugh as he got back to stuffing cores into the garden. The vicious mockery only went on for as long as the half-ogres had attention, then the area behind the workshop was silent yet again. Only the gentle rumbling of the plots expansions filled the air as the alchemist worked. The notification popped up, allowing him to pick an upgrade for Level 20. He inspected the newest option, noticing the five by five plot before him.

[Accelerated Research]

Researching reagents originally grown within the plot will reveal more information.

It was hard to tell if this one was good. Theo hadnt worked with the research aspect of the workshop enough to pick it just yet. Instead, he went through the other options. He settled on Stable Conditions instead. If anything could go wrong in the plot, an explosion would be horrible. He was satisfied with where the plot was at, stepping back to get a better look at it. The low stone walls had expanded out enough to house five rows by five columns of plants. Before going to check with Salire, he inspected where the plot was for now.

[Experimental Garden Plot]

Owner: Theo Spencer

Faction: [Southlands Alliance]

Level: 20 (12%)

Rent Due: SUSPENDED

Expansions:

[Nurturing Soil]

[Precision Control]

[Recovery Factor]

[Stable Conditions]

Theo nodded with approval before returning to the lab. Sarisa and Rowan followed behind, one remaining in the shadows and the other out in the open. The alchemist had gotten used to their shadowing, and hardly noticed them anymore. Salire was still working on the list of items and potential hybrids, but it was already comprehensive. Something that was missing from her analysis of reagents was elemental alignment. As he thought about it, he realized he didnt have much of an expansive understanding of the topic. Just raw instinct and assumptions.

When youre done, meet me at the workshop, Theo said, collecting a few reagents Salire had already set aside.

Ill be done soon, Salire said, writing furiously. Just about there.

Theo returned to the workshop, settling into the unfamiliar interior. There was something strange about doing work related to alchemy in the new building. He rearranged what little furniture was in there before opening two windows to get a breeze going. He would need to have one of Throks air conditioners installed if he wanted to work without the oppressive heat. He finally settled down at the table, pulling an uncomfortable chair up and sighing as he sat into it.

With a single Mages Bane flower on the table, Theo focused to let the wisdom of his unimpeded cores settle in. He couldnt tell if it was intuition, experience, the research upgrade, or the state of his new cores but he knew it was a Lightning alignment reagent. He also knew that meant it would hybridize with other Lightning plants easily. He treated this as an exercise to test how his new cores interacted with his mind. After a few simple tests, Salire arrived at the workshop.

I like the new place, she said, dragging a chair over to the table. Needs more furniture.

Agreed. Let me see your list, Theo said, holding his hand out. Salire placed the notebook in his hand, already opened to the right page.

Salire had identified a lot of stuff that made sense. She had used the logical idea to line properties up by effect type. Healing reagents with healing reagents and so on. Theo didnt see this as the way to create hybrid plants, but it was a start. His thought was to first take plants that would work with the splicing process first. Only then could they look at properties that worked together.

This is a good start, Theo said, flipping between the pages. I have a feeling that thistle and zee wont combine, though.

I wrote everything that might work, Salire said, scooting closer to press her finger into the page.

It feels weird, Theo said, digging deep to find a way to express this new intuition. Like all my experience is coming together to combine with the power of my cores. I just know zee and thistle wont mix. But I think Mages Bane and Lightning Poppy will.

You have more experience with zee and thistle than you do with those two flowers. Especially in growing them. You helped with the farm.

That might have something to do with it, Theo said with a nod. Okay. Lets focus on one thing at a time. I need to learn how to use my new Reagent Splicing skill.