Rellis's box

I was sitting in the Haven, talking with Nicholette and Regg when I heard someone shout, “I don’t see any Omegans here.” Looking toward the door, I realized that it was Gomi Graves, with Frew and a Cyber woman I did not recognize. He sought consultation with the Institute over the T.A.R.D. sentry in the South City. We met in the Library to discuss the matter, and as the Cybers were leaving, Rellis arrived.

He seemed distracted. I wondered what new potion he’d been working on. I knew that Rellis had recently moved from the Library’s lab to his own little one hoping to cause less damage to the Library itself, and perhaps hoping to spend less coin on broken equipment and glassware. He sighed and sat down, then asked for an update, gesturing toward where the Cybers had been.

I looked up from my perch by the fire, finished my notes and tucked my notepad and pencil back into my skirt. "The Cybers? They were trying to find out whether anyone Library had been working on upgrading the T.A.R.D. sentry in south Toxia. It's the robot sentry designed to fight the monsters down there. I don't know if can fight the new beasts, though."

Rellis nodded. "I was down there when the wild tree attacked. I was eager to study it, but I thought it better to stay away.”

I smoothed my skirt, plucking at a stray thread. "Could you tell me what happened, Rellis? I've been out of the city a while, speaking for the dead." I felt weary with the weight of it. "Much seems to have occurred while I was away. Since when do trees in Toxia attack?

Rellis sighed deeply again. Wild trees seemed to be the furthest thing from his mind. “Well, Zillinger is dead. Executed. He killed Aurelia.” He folded his hands in his lap. “New monsters have appeared in South Toxia. . . .”

I knew that Rellis had had a troubling relationship with the slaver. “I heard about Zillinger.”

Rellis shrugged. "Well, he is dead now, no need to worry about him anymore." Pulling out a note card from his robe, Rellis suddenly changed the topic. "I have a few more potions that I made . . . but I am not sure if I should hand them out. Please look at this if you will."

I took the report and began to read it as I meditated. I wondered why Rellis was so eager to turn the talk away from Zillinger. But my thoughts were quickly diverted as I glanced over the Rellis’s notes for a highly unstable, explosive potion. "Unstable?" I frowned. "Rellis, have you made any of this up?"

Rellis shifted uneasily in his chair. "Most of the potions I make I keep in a box upstairs. This box is magical. It holds an infinite amount. I make most of these failed potions by accident. There are only a few of them now but more can be made if needed. There are a few others, although they are not much better." Both of his ears folded back as he turned his head to hide his shame about making such things.

"Even a magic box might not be able to hold an unstable explosive, Rellis.” I shook my head in consternation. “What if it reacts with other potions in the box? I think we need Mirah's help to ward it. "

Rellis nodded a bit as he sighed. "This is true and I agree. I set some wards myself already but I can only do so much."

“Wards to protect the box from someone getting into it are good, Rellis. But this potion is unstable. Someone could cause an explosion here by merely trying to take the box. Or it might go off on its own. I'll try to contact Mirah. You should too, I think.”

I suddenly stopped meditating and stood. "Please show me where you have hidden it."

Rellis shook his head yes, stood and headed for the stairs. I followed him to the bookcase by the wall, in back of the laboratory equipment. "In here?" I asked.

I watched as Rellis moved behind the bookshelf, pulling a seemingly small and almost book-sized box from behind it. "Here it is," he replied.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I examined the box. "I'd rather you hold it since you are familiar with the wards you've placed on it. Please turn it slowly so that I may see it."

"This box has all but a few of my potions inside of it, ranging in the thousands," Rellis explained, softly setting the box down on a nearby stack of crates. He slid his claw across the top of the box and lifted the lid a slightly. Only four phials were visible.

"It must be larger on the inside than on the outside.” Seeing only four phials confused me. “How did you make this box, Rellis? Or was it made for you?””

"It’s not exactly larger," he smiled. “The holds are magic. Call the name of the potion, specify the slot it is in and it will appear."

I peered into the box, wondering about the potentially unstable potions contained within. “Rellis, if I have need of the box, what must I do to use it?”

Rellis ran his claw around the top of the lid. "That is the tricky part. First, you must know the language only shamans know. For our luck you are one, so that part is okay. Second, you must know the potions that are inside the box. After that getting them is no problem."

I began hoping that Rellis’s description of "thousands" of potions was a figurative, not literal, statement on his part. "Tell me the words, please. For safety, Rellis, someone other than you needs to be able to access that box. If anything happened to you. . . .”

Rellis’s ears began twitching. "Ma’am, this is my life’s work. There are literally thousands of potions in this box. But I know a way to make this a little easier. I’ll need time to work with the box to fix it."

"Then fix it, Rellis," I said curtly, worried about the unstable, explosive potion inside. "Are there other failed potions in there?”

Rellis nodded. “"There are a number of failed phials, ranging from explosives to poisons." He continued, “I can change the command to go with the effect of the potion dose. That way if you need a healing potion you can say ‘healing potion’ and it will appear. The only problem is strength and such. I will need to work with it." He scratched the back of his head as he studied the box.

"I see." I pursed my lips. "Then I'll need a list from you of the 'failed' potions-what they do, why they are dangerous." I studied Rellis carefully. “But there may be another way if you are willing.”

Ears continuing to twitch, Rellis looked thoughtful. "And that is?"

I said nothing, but began to push toward Rellis, fingering the cross at my neck. Black beads of sweat began to form at my fingertips. Rellis flinched a bit, his eyes widening as he murmured, “Oh.” He whispered, “Well . . . it would make my life easier." He gulped a bit as he tried to smile.

“I can take that memory, Rellis, leaving a copy as it were. I won't touch anything else. Not any of your other memories, though I will see them.” Something had happened to me after taking the Holy Water Mirah brought from Notre Dame des Eaux Sanctifiees My palm had burned with the bit of Eden’s earth, till the bright fire spread up my arm and throughout my body. I felt stronger; I could reach farther, and hear more. I could see others’ memories, hold them, and take them away.

I increased the push, spreading warmth toward Rellis. "I would feed, too. It should only make you feel . . . relaxed. I won't still you."

Rellis nodded slowly. He sighed, "Well, this would be the easy way. I am sad to say that some of the information I have you will not like. But it is the only way." He breathed deeply and began relaxing from the touch. "Do as you will."

I nodded and began reaching deep into Rellis, sorting through the dreams and memories in his mind. My eyes closed as the droplets fell from my fingers. I could see him working over beakers and phials, plants and animals cut and splayed before him. "Crippling acids . . . more explosives," I whispered, then stopped, my eyes flying open. "A soul stealer?" I frowned, wondering to what good purpose such a potion could be brought.

"Was working with demon blood," Rellis muttered.

My eyes narrowed as I resumed my probe, drinking in Rellis's vitae quietly. "Potions for blindness, paralysis . . . you have more in common with me than you know. " I pushed inward a bit more.


Rellis flinched, then chuckled weakly, "Really, I did not know that. . . .” He began to relax as I filled his mind and spirit with my being, drawing gently.

Memories, friends, his life, my life. His thoughts one with mine. I stopped short and suddenly pulled away, withdrawing from Rellis with a cold snap as I sawing him handing a potion to one thought dead. "He's alive,” I said, shocked. "You're helping him." I spat at the floor. "The slaver. I do not believe this.”

Rellis staggered beneath the cold slap in his spirit and began growling. "If you look again you will see why I help him."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Seal the box and replace it. Then I will look," I ordered.

"Very well." Rellis closed the box. "Just to say I am not happy at the moment." He moved to the bookshelf again. I watched him steadily, my arms folded, as he put away the box. Smiling slyly to himself, he pulled out a small phial the size of his paw and clenched his hand around it so it seemed that he was balling his fist. "There. It is put back."

Without warning, I pushed in again. “You believe him to be demon possessed.” I withdrew, a bit more gently this time. “"Your compassion is misplaced, Rellis."

Rellis still flinched and growled. "Yes, he is possessed. I have seen the demon himself. So has Aurelia. Her spirit still wanders these lands and helps us both."

“I trusted Aurelia,” I replied after a moment. “I will trust you. But I caution you, be very careful. Some are possessed and some invite.”

Rellis nodded, loosening his paw to show the small phial inside. "Guess I will not need this, then." He slipped it into his robe.

I smiled without mirth as I eyed the phial in Rellis's hand. "A blinding potion?" I had taken a bit of his thoughts with me.

Rellis nodded as he smiled. "Was not planning to stand here defenseless.”

I took a step backward and appraised him. “You have nothing to fear from me, Rellis. But I should warn you: whether I see with my eyes or not is of no consequence.”

Straightening, Rellis asked, “Are you going to inform the rest of Omegans? Get me banned?" Both ears folded back and as he looked at me with a strong face.

“I will not say anything at present to anyone but Omega.” I paused. "Do you agree to this, Rellis?”

Tilting his head he sighed, "So it is up to her. Very well. I will still get my research to you, but know this: even if banned I will continue my research."

“I will do my utmost to ensure that you are not banned, Rellis,” I replied. “I understand your reasons.”

Rellis spoke softly, "Let’s hope that it helps." His ears lay flat, as he sighed and walked away from both the box and me. He sat down in chair by the corner windows and began to write. “I will have those potions to you by the end of tonight."

Nodding, I returned downstairs.