Eternal Core (School of Swords and Serpents Book 6) by Gage Lee

Author:Gage Lee [Lee, Gage]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: MMO litRPG role playing steampunk quest gamelit, men&#8217, s adventure video game adaptations young adult, coming of age sword sorcery dungeon core demon, action dark epic metaphysical vengeful myth asian, Chinese manga wuxia xianxia martial arts kung fu, supernatural fantasy magic occult legends thriller
Publisher: Shadow Alley Press
Published: 2021-01-11T16:00:00+00:00

The Investigation

FOR THE FIRST TIME all that year, I headed to Tycho’s secret laboratory with a goal: find out what the sage was up to. Pulling that off would, at the very least, get my elder off my back. I might even get her to help me finish my quest, though I still wasn’t sure how that would work. Still, things were sort of looking up.

“You seem too happy,” Hahen said. “Put on that angry face again or Tycho will suspect you are up to something.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. “This is how my face looks,” I said. “I’m not an actor. I can’t put masks on and off at the drop of a hat.”

Hahen grumbled at me. “The true venerable controls his emotions and his body. You should be able to look however you wish at any time. Besides, sullen anger is your natural state of being.”

“That’s not true,” I said, “but even if I was angry all the time, it would be because my mentor is intent on driving me insane.”

“It’s a very short drive,” Hahen said.

We’d nearly reached the secret passage between the main hallway and Tycho’s laboratory. While I knew he was only getting on my nerves to change my expression, it still worked. I frowned and clasped my hands behind my back as we walked.

“It shows what a mess this world is that my best chance of pulling this off is to look grumpy and unhappy,” I muttered. “I bet there was a time when parents and elders sent their kids to meet each day with a smile.”

Hahen raised a finger and nodded wisely. “Ah, yes,” he said, “the glorious days before you were born and plunged the world into its current calamitous state.”

“Hilarious,” I said dryly. “Fine, you win. Now I’m grouchy.”

Tycho was already inside when I pushed through the laboratory’s door, as were today’s patients. I was more than a little surprised to find every table held one of Tycho’s clanmates. Samara, Augustus, and to my deep surprise, Rachel, had all returned for another round of treatment.

That worried me.

Every day in the laboratory brought new patients. Usually just a handful. I’d never seen the same students come back for a second treatment. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I didn’t like seeing familiar faces.

Tycho beamed at me as I entered. “Ah, good,” he said, “you’re on time. We have much to do, Jace. Some very special patients need your help.”

I did not like the way he said that, and I liked the sickly smile that Rachel offered me as I approached the examination tables even less. Her eyes were sunk into dark pits, and sweat dappled her pale skin.

Worst of all, though, were the pale, wan faces of Samara and Augustus. A cursory examination of their channels showed me horrible burn damage. Black lines radiated from their cores like threads of rot in a tree trunk.

“How can I help them?” I asked quietly, struggling to keep my tone steady. The urge to hack Tycho in half with my fusion blade was overwhelming.

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