Chapter 15: Dr. Vex
The first sight of the capital left Basil wide-eyed, his head poking out the carriage window like an overeager child. The sun gleamed off polished rooftops and gilded spires. Every building buzzed with motion—couriers darting past, merchants shouting their wares, nobles crossing avenues in elegant garb. Life pulsed through the city with the rhythmic certainty of a heartbeat.
Stone buildings soared into the sky, etched with magical runes that glowed subtly in the daylight. Aqueducts and mana-run lanterns stretched overhead like veins of light, and banners bearing the crimson and gold of the empire fluttered with royal pride. The streets bustled with merchant stalls, wandering minstrels, and guardians clad in brilliant armor, each walking with the confidence of battle-tested experience.
From the front seat of the carriage, Adian called out, "We're passing through City Square now. Just a few minutes from the palace."
In front of him, Gyra was snoring softly, curled up against one corner of the carriage, her breath slow and even. Lace sat on the opposite side, arms crossed and eyes watchful as he studied the crowds outside. His expression didn't change much, but Basil noticed the slight twitch in his brow every time someone in the crowd looked just a little too long at the carriage. Adian, as always, drove the carriage with a smile, weaving them effortlessly through the busy city square.
Basil had spent the first three days of their journey either meditating or analyzing the stats and skill windows of his companions, trying to determine optimal combinations for Gate raids. But now, his gaze was firmly fixed on the present. He soaked in the architectural marvels, noting how much had changed in the centuries since he'd last stepped foot in the outside world.
I should finalize my stats before we meet the Empress, Basil thought, shifting his focus inward.
He opened his stat window and stared at the floating numbers.
Stat Points Available: 62
Skill Points Available: 10
No need to pour more into INT. I can increase my Mana capacity naturally with out the systems help. STR and VIT can be increased using body reinforcement and with the amount of mana I have currently I can increase them 4x for a few hours so I should be fine in that area of things. That leaves AGI and PER.
His eyes shifted to the remaining stats.
PER is useful for combat awareness, but even at 60, I can already track people with AGI in the 150s. It's low priority. My AGI, on the other hand, is the lowest in the group. Lace sits at 143, and Gyra's at 122.
Basil thought for a moment. His fingers running across his chin.
That settles it. I'm dumping 50 points into AGI and 12 into PER.
He pressed the [+] next to AGI and funneled 50 stat points in, watching the number leap from 112 to 162. Then he added the remaining 12 to PER, bringing it to 72. A tingling sensation ran down his spine as his body adjusted.
Woah. I feel… light. He flexed his legs, rolled his shoulders and shook his hands. Like I could leap a city wall in one bound. I've never dropped more than twenty points into a stat at once. This is… exhilarating.
His perception hadn't changed much visually, but as he focused, he could now see insects fluttering past at a pace so slow he could count each beat of their wings. Useful against high-speed opponents, for sure.
Next, he turned his attention to his ten unspent skill points.
I could upgrade one E-rank to D… or two F-ranks to E. Ugh, damn goddesses made skill upgrades so expensive.
After some debating, he selected Poison Resistance and Phantom Step.
Ding!
## Upgrade Skill ##
• Do you wish to upgrade Poison Resistance from F → E?
• Cost: 5 Skill Points
[YES] [NO]
Ding!
## Success! ##
• Poison Resistance is now E Rank.
• MP/HP Cost reduced from 200/10 → 100/5 per second.
Nice. That cuts how much it drained my mana in half.
He repeated the process with Phantom Step.
Ding!
## Upgrade Skill ##
• Do you wish to upgrade Phantom Step from F → E?
• Cost: 5 Skill Points
[YES] [NO]
## Success! ##
• Phantom Step is now E Rank.
• Teleport Distance increased from 3m → 10m. MP cost unchanged.
Basil grinned.
Ten meters… that's enough to dominate most small-scale battlefields. Definitely the right call.
"WE'RE HERE!" Adian shouted from the driver seat.
Lace nudged Gyra awake. She blinked groggily, confused.
"We've arrived," he said gently.
Gyra leaned out the window and gasped. "Wow… this is the capital? It's huge!"
Her blue hair caught the wind, framing her stunned expression as they passed through towering gates. Beyond them lay wide streets and grand buildings carved from ivory stone, wrapped in lush red and gold banners—symbols of the Althanis Empire. The roads sparkled from polished marble, and towering statues lined the center of the avenue, each one honoring a Guardian from ancient times.
"The mana here feels different," Basil murmured. "Thinner. Less natural."
"Probably too much stone, and not enough green," Gyra said. "But it's still gorgeous."
"That's the Imperial Palace up ahead," Lace said. "I've only been there once. Be mindful—everyone inside radiates nobility. Don't let it shake you."
"Oh hush," Gyra said. "I'm royal-blooded, remember? And Basil used to be a duke. I think we know how to behave."
Lace rolled his eyes. "If you say so." he said to himself.
The carriage stopped in front of a crescent courtyard featuring a massive fountain depicting a woman wielding a massive sword. Up ahead guards were checking the entry permits of everyone that was trying to get into the imperial pallace. They waited nearly twenty minutes behind a commotion involving a frantic woman with green hair and glasses, screaming about a project she needed to show the Empress.
"Guards wouldn't let her through," Basil muttered, watching. "Poor woman."
Eventually, the guards got to their carriage and Lace handed a sealed scroll to the guards, who broke it open and immediately stiffened into formal posture.
"Right this way," one said, addressing Adian respectfully. "Stablehands will care for the horses."
Lace, Gyra, and Basil stepped down from the carriage and followed the guards up a sweeping set of stairs, entering the palace through a series of colonnades. The entrance bore no doors—only massive white pillars and intricate carvings of the goddesses.
People bustled through the halls, all dressed in fine suits or flowing robes, all nobles or rich merchants.
Two guards flanked the palace entrance, their auras sharp and well-controlled.
Their levels match Lace's, Basil thought, discreetly scanning them. So these are just palace guards? Then how strong are the Empress's personal militia?
The trio passed into a grand lobby, where a woman in a sharply tailored butler suit greeted them with a shallow bow.
"Good afternoon, Lords and Lady. How may I assist?"
"We're here on imperial request," Lace said, handing over the scroll again.
The woman's demeanor shifted. "Understood. Please, follow me. Her Majesty is currently occupied, but you're welcome to wait in the receiving parlor."
She guided them through what felt like a maze of corridors before opening a door into a quiet, well-furnished room. A couch faced a wide glass window overlooking the capital. A low table bore an ornate tea set, already steaming.
On the opposite wall stood a large painting of Empress Mirian—wearing a battle outfit that Basil immediately judged as entirely impractical.
Such a revealing set of armor, she must be a massachost weirdo
The butler poured each of them tea before bowing again and departing. The trio sat in silence.
An hour passed.
Then another.
Then two more.
Outside, the sun had begun to set. Basil had spent the time meditating, trying to condense mana into a 34th circle.
Gyra stood suddenly. "Screw this. I'm not waiting around like a lost dog. I'm starving."
"Don't be rash," Lace muttered, arms crossed. "If we leave now, we'll offend her."
"No, I agree," Basil said, rising. "If she wants my help, she can come find me. Besides I'm growing bored."
"Ugh. Fine," Lace groaned, standing up.
They exited the palace undisturbed. A few nobles glanced their way, but none stopped them. Outside, they found Adian snoring atop the carriage. The horses were gone.
"I guess we're walking," Basil said.
They woke up Adian who decided to tag along and wandered into a lively street filled with taverns, brothels, and food stalls. Eventually, they stopped at a small, quiet stall near the end of the lane. Only one other person sat there, hunched over a mug and muttering angrily to herself.
"Can you believe it?" the woman mumbled to the stall keeper. "I build something amazing, and nobody cares. Not a single damn person."
Basil tilted his head. She looked familiar—green hair, glasses, messy overalls. Recognition clicked.
"Hey… weren't you the one yelling at the guards earlier?" he asked.
She turned, squinting at him. "How do you know that?"
"We were right behind you. I'm Basileus, by the way." He offered a hand.
She shook it. "Zillah Vexley. But you can call me Vex. I'm a researcher at the Institute of Magic. I was trying to get a meeting with the Empress. What a joke."
"We waited four hours before giving up," Basil said. "Why were you trying to see her?"
"You what?" She blinked. "Waited and left? I've been trying to see her for two years." she sighed.
Vex leaned in conspiratorially. "I wanted to talk about Golems."
"Golems?" basil responded puzzled.
"Yes. I've made breakthroughs. What if golems could be more human-shaped? What if they moved like Guardians and fought like them too?"
Her voice rose with manic passion.
"They said I was mad at the Institute, cut my funding, but they're just jealous. I'm close. I just need someone to fund me which is why I wanted to see her majesty. I feel like if anyone could understand their uses it would be her."
Basil examined the bag slung over her shoulder. Blueprints peeked out from the leather strap. Human shaped golems huh? That could be useful later on.
"Do you have schematics?"
She squinted at him. "Why? You thinking of stealing them?"
"I'm thinking of funding you. Say… 100,000 GC?"
Her mouth dropped open. "One hundred—? Ehm, yes, that would be sufficient."
She unfurled a scroll onto the table, revealing a detailed humanoid figure made of interlocking plates. Its joints were powered by embedded mana crystals, though a note in the corner marked "core stabilization problem."
Basil's eyes narrowed.
If I could isolate Lark, Tess, and Rob from my soul and bind them to these puppets… I might finally give them form again. This could work. Vex might be worth keeping close.
He checked her stats. Level 68. Average physical stats. But her skills—Golem Summon (S), Summon Control (A), Golem Shield (A)—were exceptional.
Perfect for a support summoner.
"I'll deliver the funds to your institute tomorrow," Basil said. "But I have a request."
He placed three small fragments of metal in front of her. He pulled them out of his inventory from under the table, unseen by others.
"Use these in three puppet core cataylists. The metal is a bit stronger than anything manufactured in this empire so it should hold a powerful core."
Vex examined the metal. "Weird composition. Flexible. Never seen anything like it. Its amazing this could be just what I needed. Why are you giving this to me ontop of the 100,000 GC?"
"You'll know why soon enough, and the three puppets will be for me." Basil said cryptically.
"I can do that. But you'll need your own cores. I'm not paying for those."
"No need. I'll handle the cores myself."
Vex took a swig of her drink and stood. "Alright! Come by the institute in two weeks. I'll have your puppets."
She waved and vanished into the crowd.
Basil turned and saw the others staring at him.
"What the hell was that about?" Gyra asked.
"Just making friends," Basil said, grinning.
After their meal Basil was curious about his surrounding so he wandered the town amidst the night. While the rest went to find an inn.
[]
End of chapter notes:**
Stats Window:
- Name: Basileus Narciss
- Age: 22 (639)
- Level: 75
- Job: Eldritch knight
- Title: Goddess's Guardian
- HP: 200/200
- Mana: 33,000/33,000
- STR: 205
- VIT: 80
- INT: 170
- AGI: 112
- PER: 60
- XP to Next Level: 25,300/30,000
- stat points available: 0
- Skill Points Available: 0
Skills Window:
Basic:
- Innocence (F)
- The King (A)
- Swordsmanship (S)
- Mana Control (SSS)
- Charisma (F)
- Crafting (B)
- Longsword Mastery (S)
- Mana Manipulation (F)
- Rune Knowledge (B)
- Healing (C)
- Scholar (A)
- Mana Vision I Guess (C)
- phantom step (E)
- mana slash (D)
- Earth spike (B)
- body reinforcement (D)
- Kneel (F)
- nova bomb (A)
- Mana regeneration (S+)
- poison resistance (E)
- GO AWAY CAN'T YOU TELL I'M BUSY' (A)
Unique:
- Immortality (EX)
- Oversight View (EX)
- Haggle (SS)
- Misfortune (D)
Inventory
- HP Potions x1997
- MP Potions x2000
- Winter Clothes (B)
- Summer Clothes (B)
- bread x100
- jerky x100
- piece of Tess (Removed)
- piece of Rob (Removed)
- piece of Lark (Removed)
- abomination horn x10 (S+)
- jagged dagger (?)
- mana sword (?)
Gold: 60,504
GC: 4,800
{}
Chapter 15: Dr. Vex
The first sight of the capital left Basil wide-eyed, his head poking out the carriage window like an overeager child. The sun gleamed off polished rooftops and gilded spires. Every building buzzed with motion—couriers darting past, merchants shouting their wares, nobles crossing avenues in elegant garb. Life pulsed through the city with the rhythmic certainty of a heartbeat.
Stone buildings soared into the sky, etched with magical runes that glowed subtly in the daylight. Aqueducts and mana-run lanterns stretched overhead like veins of light, and banners bearing the crimson and gold of the empire fluttered with royal pride. The streets bustled with merchant stalls, wandering minstrels, and guardians clad in brilliant armor, each walking with the confidence of battle-tested experience.
From the front seat of the carriage, Adian called out, "We're passing through City Square now. Just a few minutes from the palace."
In front of him, Gyra was snoring softly, curled up against one corner of the carriage, her breath slow and even. Lace sat on the opposite side, arms crossed and eyes watchful as he studied the crowds outside. His expression didn't change much, but Basil noticed the slight twitch in his brow every time someone in the crowd looked just a little too long at the carriage. Adian, as always, drove the carriage with a smile, weaving them effortlessly through the busy city square.
Basil had spent the first three days of their journey either meditating or analyzing the stats and skill windows of his companions, trying to determine optimal combinations for Gate raids. But now, his gaze was firmly fixed on the present. He soaked in the architectural marvels, noting how much had changed in the centuries since he'd last stepped foot in the outside world.
I should finalize my stats before we meet the Empress, Basil thought, shifting his focus inward.
He opened his stat window and stared at the floating numbers.
Stat Points Available: 62
Skill Points Available: 10
No need to pour more into INT. I can increase my Mana capacity naturally with out the systems help. STR and VIT can be increased using body reinforcement and with the amount of mana I have currently I can increase them 4x for a few hours so I should be fine in that area of things. That leaves AGI and PER.
His eyes shifted to the remaining stats.
PER is useful for combat awareness, but even at 60, I can already track people with AGI in the 150s. It's low priority. My AGI, on the other hand, is the lowest in the group. Lace sits at 143, and Gyra's at 122.
Basil thought for a moment. His fingers running across his chin.
That settles it. I'm dumping 50 points into AGI and 12 into PER.
He pressed the [+] next to AGI and funneled 50 stat points in, watching the number leap from 112 to 162. Then he added the remaining 12 to PER, bringing it to 72. A tingling sensation ran down his spine as his body adjusted.
Woah. I feel… light. He flexed his legs, rolled his shoulders and shook his hands. Like I could leap a city wall in one bound. I've never dropped more than twenty points into a stat at once. This is… exhilarating.
His perception hadn't changed much visually, but as he focused, he could now see insects fluttering past at a pace so slow he could count each beat of their wings. Useful against high-speed opponents, for sure.
Next, he turned his attention to his ten unspent skill points.
I could upgrade one E-rank to D… or two F-ranks to E. Ugh, damn goddesses made skill upgrades so expensive.
After some debating, he selected Poison Resistance and Phantom Step.
Ding!
## Upgrade Skill ##
• Do you wish to upgrade Poison Resistance from F → E?
• Cost: 5 Skill Points
[YES] [NO]
Ding!
## Success! ##
• Poison Resistance is now E Rank.
• MP/HP Cost reduced from 200/10 → 100/5 per second.
Nice. That cuts how much it drained my mana in half.
He repeated the process with Phantom Step.
Ding!
## Upgrade Skill ##
• Do you wish to upgrade Phantom Step from F → E?
• Cost: 5 Skill Points
[YES] [NO]
## Success! ##
• Phantom Step is now E Rank.
• Teleport Distance increased from 3m → 10m. MP cost unchanged.
Basil grinned.
Ten meters… that's enough to dominate most small-scale battlefields. Definitely the right call.
"WE'RE HERE!" Adian shouted from the driver seat.
Lace nudged Gyra awake. She blinked groggily, confused.
"We've arrived," he said gently.
Gyra leaned out the window and gasped. "Wow… this is the capital? It's huge!"
Her blue hair caught the wind, framing her stunned expression as they passed through towering gates. Beyond them lay wide streets and grand buildings carved from ivory stone, wrapped in lush red and gold banners—symbols of the Althanis Empire. The roads sparkled from polished marble, and towering statues lined the center of the avenue, each one honoring a Guardian from ancient times.
"The mana here feels different," Basil murmured. "Thinner. Less natural."
"Probably too much stone, and not enough green," Gyra said. "But it's still gorgeous."
"That's the Imperial Palace up ahead," Lace said. "I've only been there once. Be mindful—everyone inside radiates nobility. Don't let it shake you."
"Oh hush," Gyra said. "I'm royal-blooded, remember? And Basil used to be a duke. I think we know how to behave."
Lace rolled his eyes. "If you say so." he said to himself.
The carriage stopped in front of a crescent courtyard featuring a massive fountain depicting a woman wielding a massive sword. Up ahead guards were checking the entry permits of everyone that was trying to get into the imperial pallace. They waited nearly twenty minutes behind a commotion involving a frantic woman with green hair and glasses, screaming about a project she needed to show the Empress.
"Guards wouldn't let her through," Basil muttered, watching. "Poor woman."
Eventually, the guards got to their carriage and Lace handed a sealed scroll to the guards, who broke it open and immediately stiffened into formal posture.
"Right this way," one said, addressing Adian respectfully. "Stablehands will care for the horses."
Lace, Gyra, and Basil stepped down from the carriage and followed the guards up a sweeping set of stairs, entering the palace through a series of colonnades. The entrance bore no doors—only massive white pillars and intricate carvings of the goddesses.
People bustled through the halls, all dressed in fine suits or flowing robes, all nobles or rich merchants.
Two guards flanked the palace entrance, their auras sharp and well-controlled.
Their levels match Lace's, Basil thought, discreetly scanning them. So these are just palace guards? Then how strong are the Empress's personal militia?
The trio passed into a grand lobby, where a woman in a sharply tailored butler suit greeted them with a shallow bow.
"Good afternoon, Lords and Lady. How may I assist?"
"We're here on imperial request," Lace said, handing over the scroll again.
The woman's demeanor shifted. "Understood. Please, follow me. Her Majesty is currently occupied, but you're welcome to wait in the receiving parlor."
She guided them through what felt like a maze of corridors before opening a door into a quiet, well-furnished room. A couch faced a wide glass window overlooking the capital. A low table bore an ornate tea set, already steaming.
On the opposite wall stood a large painting of Empress Mirian—wearing a battle outfit that Basil immediately judged as entirely impractical.
Such a revealing set of armor, she must be a massachost weirdo
The butler poured each of them tea before bowing again and departing. The trio sat in silence.
An hour passed.
Then another.
Then two more.
Outside, the sun had begun to set. Basil had spent the time meditating, trying to condense mana into a 34th circle.
Gyra stood suddenly. "Screw this. I'm not waiting around like a lost dog. I'm starving."
"Don't be rash," Lace muttered, arms crossed. "If we leave now, we'll offend her."
"No, I agree," Basil said, rising. "If she wants my help, she can come find me. Besides I'm growing bored."
"Ugh. Fine," Lace groaned, standing up.
They exited the palace undisturbed. A few nobles glanced their way, but none stopped them. Outside, they found Adian snoring atop the carriage. The horses were gone.
"I guess we're walking," Basil said.
They woke up Adian who decided to tag along and wandered into a lively street filled with taverns, brothels, and food stalls. Eventually, they stopped at a small, quiet stall near the end of the lane. Only one other person sat there, hunched over a mug and muttering angrily to herself.
"Can you believe it?" the woman mumbled to the stall keeper. "I build something amazing, and nobody cares. Not a single damn person."
Basil tilted his head. She looked familiar—green hair, glasses, messy overalls. Recognition clicked.
"Hey… weren't you the one yelling at the guards earlier?" he asked.
She turned, squinting at him. "How do you know that?"
"We were right behind you. I'm Basileus, by the way." He offered a hand.
She shook it. "Zillah Vexley. But you can call me Vex. I'm a researcher at the Institute of Magic. I was trying to get a meeting with the Empress. What a joke."
"We waited four hours before giving up," Basil said. "Why were you trying to see her?"
"You what?" She blinked. "Waited and left? I've been trying to see her for two years." she sighed.
Vex leaned in conspiratorially. "I wanted to talk about Golems."
"Golems?" basil responded puzzled.
"Yes. I've made breakthroughs. What if golems could be more human-shaped? What if they moved like Guardians and fought like them too?"
Her voice rose with manic passion.
"They said I was mad at the Institute, cut my funding, but they're just jealous. I'm close. I just need someone to fund me which is why I wanted to see her majesty. I feel like if anyone could understand their uses it would be her."
Basil examined the bag slung over her shoulder. Blueprints peeked out from the leather strap. Human shaped golems huh? That could be useful later on.
"Do you have schematics?"
She squinted at him. "Why? You thinking of stealing them?"
"I'm thinking of funding you. Say… 100,000 GC?"
Her mouth dropped open. "One hundred—? Ehm, yes, that would be sufficient."
She unfurled a scroll onto the table, revealing a detailed humanoid figure made of interlocking plates. Its joints were powered by embedded mana crystals, though a note in the corner marked "core stabilization problem."
Basil's eyes narrowed.
If I could isolate Lark, Tess, and Rob from my soul and bind them to these puppets… I might finally give them form again. This could work. Vex might be worth keeping close.
He checked her stats. Level 68. Average physical stats. But her skills—Golem Summon (S), Summon Control (A), Golem Shield (A)—were exceptional.
Perfect for a support summoner.
"I'll deliver the funds to your institute tomorrow," Basil said. "But I have a request."
He placed three small fragments of metal in front of her. He pulled them out of his inventory from under the table, unseen by others.
"Use these in three puppet core cataylists. The metal is a bit stronger than anything manufactured in this empire so it should hold a powerful core."
Vex examined the metal. "Weird composition. Flexible. Never seen anything like it. Its amazing this could be just what I needed. Why are you giving this to me ontop of the 100,000 GC?"
"You'll know why soon enough, and the three puppets will be for me." Basil said cryptically.
"I can do that. But you'll need your own cores. I'm not paying for those."
"No need. I'll handle the cores myself."
Vex took a swig of her drink and stood. "Alright! Come by the institute in two weeks. I'll have your puppets."
She waved and vanished into the crowd.
Basil turned and saw the others staring at him.
"What the hell was that about?" Gyra asked.
"Just making friends," Basil said, grinning.
After their meal Basil was curious about his surrounding so he wandered the town amidst the night. While the rest went to find an inn.
[]
End of chapter notes:**
Stats Window:
- Name: Basileus Narciss
- Age: 22 (639)
- Level: 75
- Job: Eldritch knight
- Title: Goddess's Guardian
- HP: 200/200
- Mana: 33,000/33,000
- STR: 205
- VIT: 80
- INT: 170
- AGI: 112
- PER: 60
- XP to Next Level: 25,300/30,000
- stat points available: 0
- Skill Points Available: 0
Skills Window:
Basic:
- Innocence (F)
- The King (A)
- Swordsmanship (S)
- Mana Control (SSS)
- Charisma (F)
- Crafting (B)
- Longsword Mastery (S)
- Mana Manipulation (F)
- Rune Knowledge (B)
- Healing (C)
- Scholar (A)
- Mana Vision I Guess (C)
- phantom step (E)
- mana slash (D)
- Earth spike (B)
- body reinforcement (D)
- Kneel (F)
- nova bomb (A)
- Mana regeneration (S+)
- poison resistance (E)
- GO AWAY CAN'T YOU TELL I'M BUSY' (A)
Unique:
- Immortality (EX)
- Oversight View (EX)
- Haggle (SS)
- Misfortune (D)
Inventory
- HP Potions x1997
- MP Potions x2000
- Winter Clothes (B)
- Summer Clothes (B)
- bread x100
- jerky x100
- piece of Tess (Removed)
- piece of Rob (Removed)
- piece of Lark (Removed)
- abomination horn x10 (S+)
- jagged dagger (?)
- mana sword (?)
Gold: 60,504
GC: 4,800
{}