Deacon rounded the corner and headed toward the stairs. People were streaming in and out of rooms on the third floor. That seemed odd considering his floor was primarily vacant. Passing several people he noticed small objects floating around him. A coin here, a pouch there before he realized Polterheist was active. Snatching each out of the air as he moved a little faster, Deacon tried to tamp down that activity. Was that always happening? Did the ability just stuff things into his bag while he wasn’t paying attention? He’d need to be more conscious of it in the future.

Finally reaching the stairs, he looked over the banister at the yard outside of the u-shaped building to see the tent city in the courtyard. Deacon moved further up the stairs toward his room noticing there were people moving in and out of the rooms on the previously empty fourth floor as well. He picked up his pace toward his door where he could see Ralph and Amanda arguing. He jogged up only to for both to take a defensive stance looking him up and down.

“Deacon? Is that you?” Ralph asked eyes bugged out in shock.

“Yes. I had a heart to heart with the dragon. I could have died.” Deacon said chuckling internally.

“No, how did you get out here? Master Pai Mei came to get us when he left your room and we’ve been banging on the door for over an hour. How did you get out without us seeing you? Why are you half a foot taller than this morning? Are those horned ridges where your eyebrows used to be?” Amanda questioned frantically as she examined Deacon like a kid with a magnifying glass looking at an ant. All the while Deacon touched the doorknob getting it to open and allow them in.

“Horned ridges?!” Deacon said with a squeak in his voice as he took a few steps over to the mirror on the table. Lifting it to his face to see his eyebrows had been replaced small bumpy horns overlapping his eye sockets like eyebrows. His hair remained the same white cornrows, but it felt stiffer and less pliable. Eyes still remained the same shade of green and there was just a hint of a reptilian slit in the otherwise round pupil. Overall he really looked the same. Then he smiled. His canines had a more sharp edge to them while remaining the same length. Upon poking them with his finger he drew a little green ectoplasm. Do his teeth now count as enchanted objects? Would someone want to chop him up for ingredients if they knew? Deacon quickly put the mirror down.

“What is it? What happened?” Ralph said closing the door behind him.

“I needed to change my race; my body could no longer manage the power. Keep in mind this is just as new to me as it is to you. I was supposed to become a Half Spectral Dragon Blood, but I ended up with the full version instead.” Deacon said running his hands over his new features.

“Never heard of that race, full or half.” Ralph responded.

“Apparently there was only ever one. My slate said it was impossible and legendary.” Deacon replied.

“That sounds about right for you. Anything else insane you want to tell us. Are your palms pale green?” Amanda asked leaning with her back against the wall.

“Well I’ve got claws now,” Deacon said raising his right hand revealing then immediately retracting them, “I need to get out of this room and move around. Get used to this new body. What’s with all the activity in the halls?” He asked.

“We have had a huge influx of adventurers since word got out that the Champion of Chimera is part of the guild. Almost immediately after throngs of freed slaves came looking for the person that freed them. You are going to have to deal with that. Plus, Jacob wants to see us as soon as you’re feeling better. Typhus came looking for you about half hour ago. We got a message from Verus the Guild master of the Tower who would like an audience. You need to get out of this room as long as you feel better. Are you in anymore danger now?” Ralph asked.

“I seem fine. No notifications about an imminent explosion, I also need to see Mentalba. I took a bunch of small jobs before the world went crazy for the farmers at the base of the plateau. Small enough that no quest was generated, but I need to get on that.” Deacon replied.

“Explosion?!” Amanda asked furrowing her brows.

“Taken care of, no worries.” Deacon said.

“Well the towns also in an uproar about an earthquake and the sky flashing black about an hour ago. Should be interesting trying to get down to the farmland.” Ralph continued.

“That is weird. Can’t imagine it has anything to do with us. How far apart would you say the individual farms are?” Deacon asked.

“Why? If this is another money-making scheme of yours, I want no part of it.” Amanda said.

“Are you crazy? He’s one of the richest men in town. Tons of people are wearing almost identical outfits now and I heard he worked out deal to get some of that coin. I definitely want in.” Ralph spoke with eager grin on his face.

“Oh really? I could use another person to make this work…but you said we got an influx of new recruits?” Deacon asked trailing off in thought.

“I can tell this is going to be a good one.” Ralph said eliciting a sigh from Amanda who started for the door.

Deacon spotted his bag and picked it up getting a prompt he hadn’t seen the first time.

Zageracks Soul Forged Satchel of Depth- This bag was forged and bonded by the dragon Zageracks. Its capacity is endless but has been left to Deacon the Champion of Chimera. Upon retrieval of the bag the Champion must willingly bond with it, or it will be destroyed. Soul bond item now? Yes/No

Deacon immediately chose yes so there was no ambiguity. There was a small light show between him and the bag before the room went quiet with both his party members starring at him once again. He just stood up and started walking toward the door.

“Nope, what was that nonsense? We haven’t even left the room and something else bizarre just happened.” Amanda asked.

“The bag is officially bound to me now. I’m guessing the dragon didn’t have enough juice left to maintain his hold over it. It was me or destruction. Too valuable to let that happen.” Deacon answered.

They traveled past all the people moving around until they reached the first floor. Deacon insisted on a quick stop off at the alchemy lab to check in on his apprentices. No one was there but he did find several boxes worth of ingredients. Absent mindedly Polterheist began to make potions while Deacon checked the boxes of ingredients. He had enough for ingredients for two potions of invisibility, one shrink potion, and a glass strengthening potion. The note also said they were having trouble getting potion vials, asking him to look into it. After some muttering about making plastics Amanda had enough standing around and grabbed Deacon by the ear. That immediately made him move in the direction of the door while Polterheist dumped what he made into his satchel.

“You can play with your fluids later. There is too much to do. Why did you even get apprentices if you were going to do everything yourself.” Amanda asked meeting up with Ralph who came jogging up with a turkey leg in his mouth.

“Let’s go talk to Jacob.” Deacon said.

Arriving in the corridor to Jacob’s office they could hear some arguing from behind the door. As they got closer Amanda gestured for them to slow down. Now that they were closer the voices were much clearer, and they could hear what was being said.

“…is exactly my point. He has more power than anyone of his level has ever had. If we let him travel with Deep Dwellers who knows what will happen. We now have more adventurer candidates working out of the Plateau than the capital city. This has never happened. The average levels of our adventurers have risen from ten to fifteen to fifteen to twenty-five in the few weeks he’s been here. Granted fatalities are up as well but we just had a military invasion. He needs more training before he meets with royalty. Gods, I can’t imagine what a disaster that’ll be.” Jacob said raising his voice.

“Why don’t we ask him what he wants to do? He’s in the hallway with two others right now.” Came the familiar voice of Molok.

“Shit.” Deacon said as Jacob whipped the door open glaring daggers at the three adventurers in the hallway.

“You might as well come in.” Jacob said.

“Welcome Deacon. Long time no see.” Said Molok sitting behind Jacobs desk on a stack of books.