Chương 25: The Picklock Tongue

Recap: You're in Orin's Appraisal Shop. Elara and Kaelen brought you in. Orin is scanning you with magic. You voted to UNLOCK YOURSELF (SECRETLY). Being appraised is worse than being fought. When someone fights you, they want you dead. When someone appraises you, they want to know your value. And if I'm worth too much, I become property. If I'm worth too little, I become firewood. Orin's hand hovered over the brass keyhole. His magic pressure was increasing. He was about to cast Unlock or Knock.

Not on my watch, I thought. I focused on my tongue. It wasn't just for grabbing flies; it was prehensile. Fine motor control was part of the package. I extended the tip through the internal gap of the keyhole. It was tight. Squeezing. SYSTEM NOTIFICATION Skill Used: Internal Manipulation (Improvised) Cost: 1 Stamina Current SP: 21/22 Check: Dexterity Result: Success I found the locking pin. It was a simple tumbler. I pushed. Up. Hard. Click. The sound was soft, but in the quiet shop, it was like a gunshot.

Orin jerked his hand back.

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Elara asked. She was leaning against the counter, cleaning her nails with a dagger.

"The lock," Orin said.

"It just… opened." He frowned. He grabbed the hasp. He lifted. The lid rose smoothly. No resistance. The rope around my body slid loose as the lid expanded upward.

"Faulty mechanism," Orin muttered.

"Old dungeons… cheap craftsmanship." He lifted the lid fully. I held my breath. (Metaphorically). My false bottom was closed. Smooth, dark wood stared back at them. The L-shaped scar was hidden on the underside of the lid (visible only if they looked up into the lid). The interior looked empty. Just a hollow box.

"Empty," Kaelen said. He sounded disappointed.

"Visually, yes," Orin said. He didn't look away. He pulled a magnifying lens from his robe. He leaned in. Close. Too close.

"But the resonance… it's coming from inside the wood. Not the lock. The body itself." He reached a hand into my interior. His fingers brushed the false bottom. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Don't touch, I pleaded. Don't push.

"It feels… warm," Orin whispered.

"And slightly… soft?" He pressed harder. SYSTEM NOTIFICATION False Bottom Integrity: 90% Warning: Pressure Detected If he pushed too hard, the flesh-wood would give. He'd feel the teeth below. He'd feel the acid heat. I had to distract him. I shifted my weight. Just a fraction. I made the wood creak. Creeeak. Orin pulled his hand out.

"Did you feel that? It shifted."

"It's a chest, Orin," Elara said. She pushed off the wall.

"Wood expands. Contracts. Maybe it's enchanted storage. Infinite space?"

"Maybe," Orin said. He looked at Elara.

"Or maybe it's a mimic that's learned to hold its breath." My heart stopped. He said it. The M-word. Kaelen's hand went to his bow.

"Want me to put an arrow in it?"

"No!" Elara snapped.

"If it's a mimic, it's worth more alive. Trained mimics are rare. If it's just enchanted, it's worth more intact. Don't shoot it." She looked at me. Really looked at me.

"I'm keeping it."

"Elara," Orin warned.

"If this thing eats your gold…"

"It won't," she said. She slammed my lid shut. Clack. She re-engaged the lock (which was now broken, so it just sat there).

"I'll wrap it in silver chain. Feed it coins. If it tries to bite, I'll know." She tossed a bag of coins on the counter.

"How much for the appraisal?"

"Free," Orin said. He looked uneasy.

"Just… keep it away from my shop. I don't want it waking up the other merchandise." Elara grinned. She hoisted me onto her shoulder. Again.

"Come on, Kaelen. We need to get to the Inn. Then tomorrow, we head back to Floor 3. I have a feeling this chest wants to go home." Home? I thought. Grimfang? You want to take me back to the dungeon? That was… actually perfect. Back in the dungeon, I could evolve without Town Guards interfering. But I was in Elara's possession. She was greedy, but she was smart. She'd be watching me. We left the shop. The sun was setting. Stonehollow was noisy.

We navigated the crowd until we reached a building: The Rusty Flagon Inn. Elara paid for a room. She set me down in the corner. She didn't tie me this time. She just placed a silver coin on my lid.

"Good night, box," she whispered.

"Don't wander." She blew out the candle. Darkness fell. Kaelen was snoring on the other bed. Elara was breathing softly. I was alone. Unrestricted. And I had a silver coin sitting right on my lid. Silver, I thought. That's valuable. But also… metal. I had 3 iron/steel items in my stomach. I needed to evolve. But if I evolved now, the mana surge might wake them. However… I was in a room. With a rogue. Who suspected me. If I waited until tomorrow to go back to the dungeon, she might sell me. Or lock me in a vault.

I needed to evolve now. Quietly. Current Stats (Level 2 - Evolution Suspended): HP: 15/17 Mana: 12/12 (Full) Stamina: 21/22 Inventory: 3 Pebbles, Rusted Iron Dagger, Warg Collar, Sentinel Leg (All Undigested). Silver Coin (On Lid). Status: Evolution Suspended, In Inn Room, Hosts Asleep, Opportunity Present. What do you do? A) RESUME EVOLUTION (NOW) Start the Ironband transformation immediately. Risk the mana surge waking Elara. (Cost: 0 SP. Gain: Tier 2 Form. Risk: Detection, Combat.) B) EAT THE SILVER COIN Consume the coin on your lid. It's metal. It might help evolution or be valuable loot later. (Cost: 2 SP. Gain: Metal Item (4/3?). Risk: Noise of chewing.) C) SNEAK OUT (ESCAPE) Slide out the window or door. Leave the inn. Find a safe spot in the town outskirts to evolve. (Cost: 3 SP. Gain: Safety. Risk: Town Guard patrol.) D) WAIT FOR MORNING Stay still. Let them take you back to the dungeon tomorrow. Evolve once you're in Grimfang. (Cost: 0 SP. Gain: Patience. Risk: Elara might sell you.) VOTING CLOSES IN 24 HOURS. Reply with A, B, C, or D. Most votes wins. [Author Note] Thanks for voting on Chapter 24! Option A (Unlock) was slick! You fooled Orin, but Elara is keeping you. Now you're in an Inn room with a sleeping Rogue and a chance to evolve!