Monica
*`The interior is completely dark, with nothing but the slight glow of the lantern by the window to illuminate the area directly surrounding the door.`*

*`It's dark, quiet, and the structure within is a labyrinth of hallways and small rooms with vague and undefined furnishings, shrouded in the dark.`*

*`What an odd structure... It's as if someone designed it to be difficult to traverse.`*
Sara
The blue fire held in Kuo's palm pushed through the darkness and reveals the maze-like interior within Sheto's abode. Confused on where he should go next, Kuo decides to keep following Taarei's advice for shits-and-giggles and hang right through the hallways, all while calling Sheto's name.

```fix
"Eyo Sheto! It's Kuouo, ya know, the guy ya met at the bar? Are ya here? I'd like t' talk to you if possible man."```

The bandit inspects each door he passes by, frowning as each one he opened contained insignificant knick-knacks with no sign of Sheto being around any of them. It certainly reminded him of,

```fix
"The fucking ROADS. Dude no offense but your house is built like the lamest fucking corn maze-"```
Monica
*`"..."`*

There is no response.

The interior of the home remains quiet, deathly quiet, as Kuouo progresses through, round-and-round, its mazelike structure. Even as he yelled through the house, he would hear no response, and instead would be met with only the sound of the draft passing alongside the exterior of the dim-lit labyrinthine *'home'.* Progression further and farther through its strange form, however, would lead him to eventually begin hearing *Something,* At least.

*`CLING`*
*`CLANG...`*
*`CLATTER.`*

*`TINK TINK...`*

*`TINK...`*
*`CLIC`*

*`CLATTER...`*

The sound of glass vessels clattering against eachother, as if someone was working with several-dozen of them, at once. It's distant, yet he can hear it quite clearly; though, the one who likely was working on it *Should have* Still been within a relative distance of Kuouo to hear him when he initially yelled through the house. Perhaps something was muffling the noise he made... Or, perhaps, the worker of the glass vessels was simply too preoccupied to hear him.

Nonetheless, continuing through the pitch-black and terribly-designed interior of the household, Kuouo would, inevitably, through sheer brute force of probability, locate the correct entry through into what was an *Actual,* Lit room. A slight light peered from beyond one of the halls, and as he traversed it, it would open up into a room, with the figure of a **Person — Sheto, clearly —, back faced to the bandit,** Working with several instruments and glass vessels filled to the brim with liquids, fruits*(? They looked like fruits, but could honestly be some sort of exotic flora from within the Vektet),* And grain.
Phillip
```cpp
"..."```

While the man was recognizable from the profile of his back, alone, his head was entirely obscured. A strange, visor-like apparatus encompassed the entirety of his head, fitted with adjustable ocular lenses and several, small, runebound tablets of stone that glimmered with the faint traces of magical enchantment on their surface. 

Deeply entrenched in his work, it would now become clear to Kuouo why the man gave no response to his yelling, earlier — the strange visor-like apparatus about his face and ears was likely blocking all forms of external, auditory interferences from interrupting his processes. Anything short of a tap on his shoulder would likely do little to alert him of Kuouo's presence.
Sara
```fix
"Goddamn this place is built like somethin' you'd explore inna dream-"```

Finally, after navigating the maze-like house, the clinking of glass vessels faintly echoed through the corridor. His ears twitch, the sensory aid now giving him a path to travel down in search of the alchemist. *``'A lot better than checkin' every room I walk by. Damn.'``* It wasn't long before he spotted light leaking from the rooms out into the corridor. The bandit, careful enough to not make his presense *Alarming*, lightly pushed through the door with his open hand to see the alchemist deep in his experimentation. 

```fix
"Yo Sheto, I've been lookin' for ya..."```

Kuouo waited for a response, only to be met with a complete lack of a response. He raised an eyebrow, walking up behind Sheto and inspecting the helmet he had on — More importantly, the ingredients on the table. In all honesty, the bandit salivated a little, tempted to eat one of the foreign fruits to settle his growling stomach. He bites his bottom lip, opting not to mess with Sheto's experiment and instead bother Sheto himself.

*Tap, tap, tap...*

Kuo quickly stepped back, not wanting to endure any attacks from Sheto getting suddenly surprised. Once Sheto turned around, the bandit waved his index and middle fingers up as a casual greeting.

```fix
"Yo."```
Phillip
Thoroughly engaged by his study on the several organic substances drowned in some sort of strange liquid, the man continued in ignorance of the bandit's presence, even after he had pushed fully into the room and began to approach close. It seemed that he, indeed, had an epiphany in the moment that Kuouo spoke of *Fermenting grains* — he was quite hard at work, jotting down measurements, setting strange, sand-based timers, and carefully viewing the internal contents of each glassen vessel with the optics that extended from his helmet. A familiar blue glow — the same likes that Kuouo had seen come from his normal glasses — illumined the liquid, and it seemed as though the man was carefully analyzing its fundamental contents, his hands working in coordination to mark down his findings.

Hard at work, indeed. And such focus, once broken, would certainly come with great alarm.

The man's hand had found itself about one of the vessels to lift it, up until the moment Kuouo tapped him on the shoulder, after which came a—

_ _

*```diff
- 𝚂𝙷𝙰𝚃𝚃𝙴𝚁 -```*

—he crushed it instantaneously in the palm of his hand, shards of glass embedding into his skin, as small quantities of crimson precariously dripped from his hand across the table upon which he experimented. Shattered shards of glass in his hand, he swiftly turned to view the one behind him — though he was obstructed by the arrangement of the optics on his visor — wielding a single, jagged fragment of the shattered glass as a makeshift weapon, turning to view the one who had interrupted him with violent intent. He had just begun to take a swing, before he calmed himself in an instant, stopping his violent, overhead motion as he caught a more focused gaze of the person before him through his visor.

*`Clk, clk`*
*`Clic... K...`*

The man briefly adjusted his helmet-like visor, and the optics recede from his direct line-of-sight. He stared at Kuouo, and after a sufficient pause to process the circumstances, Sheto gave a comment.

```cpp
"It's you again."```

He spoke nonchalant of both his wounds and the fact that he was moments from swinging a reckless stab towards Kuouo's throat. His eyes were squinted, and his brow was furrowed with such intensity that one would immediately assume he was mad... Yet, that was just Sheto's way of *Looking at people, in general.* Sheto, in all honesty, was not infuriated in the slightest... Simply surprised.

The man unclasped the jagged, edgy blades of glass in his hand, and slowly released them atop the table, not so much as flinching as blood continued to seep from his wounded hand.
_ _

```cpp
"Ought to get this disinfected."```

He stared, indifferent at the gashes and small cuts across his left hand.

*`Clk. Chk.`*
*`Clic... K... Clk. Clk.`*
***`CHK`***

He adjusted his visor once more, adjusting several gauges and undoing a few straps, as the entire mechanism slid off his face and head, now resting around his neck. Reaching about the testing-table for his glasses, he plucked their thin-framed form with his unbloodied hand, and rested them atop his face once again. Faced away again from Kuouo, the man began to tidy up his workspace, leaving him unacknowledged for quite the long moment, before finally speaking up:

```cpp
"What is it that you want?"
"I don't recall making you an invitation."```
Sara
Kuouo winced, a light ``'ooh'`` coming after inhaling through his teeth as blood rolled down the alchemist's forearm. It was only through Sheto's violent body language that caused Kuo to instinctively reach for his dagger. Luckily for the both of them, they halted their blades as soon as the situation became more clear.

```fix
"Yeah, yeah. It's jus' me..."```

Kuouo exhaled a sigh of relief, his left paw withdrawing from his dagger's and dropping down to the side. Sheto's expression *Looked* Immensely angry... But his body language and demeanor were anything but. It was only then that the bandit recalled that it was the same glance he had received when Sheto was serving drinks back at The Merrymens'. 

```fix
"Didn't mean t' surprise ya like that, sorry man. Not that it woulda stopped me, but yer front door happens t' be unlocked. Ya came at me prepared t' fight for your life so, jus' thought ya might wanna know that."```

. . .

It'd take a while for Sheto to respond — and Kuo understood. It'd be better to approach Sheto with the proposition after he got himself re-organized anyways. So Kuouo waited, tapping his foot and crossing his arms while waiting. He fixes his glasses upon his face and finally speaks.

```fix
"I'll keep it short and sweet. I came here t' talk to you about the blue root. That slug doctor said that you used t' be some kinda great alchemist and that you'd be able to help with makin' a cure for those branded with it. The doc's already tried, but it seems like he's at a road block right now and he just needs somethin' great to push through that barrier, ya know?"```
Phillip
Sheto adjusted his glasses, slowly pacing about the interior of his labyrinthine workshop to acquire a crystal-clear solution, which he would swiftly dunk a clean cloth into, before liberally patting down his wound with the wetted cloth, soaking up the blood and coating it in what appeared to be an antibiotic. Despite the relative lack of technology within the Vektet, their medicinal sciences seemed to be a tremendous distance beyond what would typically be expected of such an otherwise undeveloped civilization. Understanding of infections, microbes, and how to cleanse said microbes, had been firmly established — and if even the *Exiles* Knew such things, certainly those beyond the First Floor must know even more on the subject.

After performing some rudimentary disinfecting, the man removed several of the shards of glass embedded into his skin, continuing to pat down the freshly-revealed, wounded tissue with the strange solution. Certainly, it appeared painful, but Sheto didn't seem to mind a bit. Perhaps he had established an incredible tolerance for pain... Perhaps it was just the byproduct of being exiled for so long.

```cpp
"Unlocked. You are correct about that."
"Unlocked doors aren't always invitations, though."```
_ _

The man replied, almost dismissively to Kuouo, yet his tone was not wholly intended to chide his action of intruding on his property, as he would soon clarify.

```cpp
"I am not very well disposed towards visitors."
"But I'm also not negatively disposed towards them. So long as they aren't for my head."```

Sheto spoke. That was, likely, the closest thing he could muster to a welcoming statement. He didn't seem either particularly pleased nor displeased with Kuouo's presence, and, judging by that statement, it was probably an *O.K* Signal for him to continue staying. As for why he initially acted so violently, the answer to such a question could be found in the latter half of his statement — it seemed that Sheto was quite familiar with those who were after his life, for one reason or another.

Finally turning to view the one to whom he spoke, Sheto's attention seemed to be piqued by Kuouo's statement, his sharp, scowl-like expression once again displayed openly. Taking a step closer whilst wrapping his wounded hand with some cloth, he gave an upwards nod.

```cpp
"The Root. You mean the Veirok, per its official name."```

He would give a glare towards Kuouo, correcting his unofficial terminology — or, well, his lack of terminology entirely — and would thoroughly analyze the elixir that the goat would likely display, were he to do so.
_ _

```cpp
"A cure. Huh."
"Well, I was thinking I would perform some more experiments on the fermentation process, first. But it appears it will take quite some time."```

Sheto pondered, adjusting his glasses, briefly closing his eyes in contemplation.

```cpp
"I haven't an idea who you mean when you refer to this slug doctor. There was no such person on the Third Floor. I memorized all of their names and appearances. Anyone who did not board to the Third Floor upon the creation of the Vektet or who was not born on the Third Floor and raised in its midst is not fit to be called a doctor."```

...He paused.

```cpp
"...Hm. Maybe that's too outdated of thinking."
"It shouldn't matter. Third Floor or not. Respectable to see someone follow in the art of science, in the end."
"And I haven't heard a person call me a proper alchemist in some time. This doctor must know more than one would ordinarily think."
"You have my interest. Please elaborate on this cure. I'd like a sample to review."```
Sara
Kuouo raised an eyebrow, wondering to himself what the liquid dousing the cloth could possibly be - With Sheto being a great alchemist and all, it was pretty clear that it was being used to disinfect the bloody wound. It was remarkable, but *No monster food.* If this was all Sheto had, then it was more than likely that Kuo wouldn't find an alternative on the upper floors.

*``'All the more reason t' play is safe.'``*

Kuo closed his eyes, a light groan peeking through his lips. Upon re-opening them, Sheto finished removing the shards that pierced his skin. The bandit's eye couldn't help but twitch while watching, it was like watching those 'oddly satisfying' videos that weren't satisfying at all. Just sympathetically painful. As soon as the alchemist could shift his focus to the bandit, he finally spoke up.

```fix
"Well, I guess yer right. But on that same hand, ye ain't doin' much to uhh... Incapcitate whoever yer 'negatively disposed' against. Hell, ya pretty much hurt ya self tryna defend yerself.```

The caprine grabs Infernium by the hilt, picking it up half-way before *Shink*Ing it back into its sheath. 

```yaml
"The Root. You mean the Veirok, per its official name."```

*``'Ah right, the root—``*

Kuouo fiddles around in his inventory, grabbing the bottle seemingly from nowhere and holding it tightly in his hands. ``*Being a thief and all, your paws had t' be versatile. Loose for stealing, sturdy for fighting, both if yer gonna,,,*`` Kuo snickered to himself and shook his head, getting his mind out of the gutters.

```fix
"Veirok, huh? If that's the name of it, then yeah. I'm lookin' to make a cure for the Veirok. And yeah... That's gonna take a while, once ya get the process down, I know yer gonna take the extra steps t' see the flavor after it ages even longer, daheheha!"```

Kuo walks forward, setting the doctor's glass vessel on his table, being sure to place just far enough for the alchemist to differentiate it from his beverage experiment. Not that Sheto'd be stupid enough, but the precaution was taken nonetheless.

```fix
"Ya really haven't seen the doctor here? There's a whole ass sign that says 'PHYSICIAN' and everything on it... Well whatever, I dunno where he's actually from so he couuuld be from somewhere that ain't the third floor? Dude knows a bunch about medicide, a lot about herbs, and wants t' cure the Veirok root. That's all I know."```

Kuo shrugged as Sheto somewhat praised the doctor. Upon asking for a sample of the liquid, Kuouo jabbed his thumb in the direction of the table, directing Sheto exactly where he left it.
Phillip
```cpp
"I was always told that I was given a body to fight."```

—he said, once again turned from Kuouo, adjusting his notes and reorganizing the messied workplace ahead of himself. He briefly gripped his bandaged left hand, clenching and unclenching it as he spoke, before returning to his business, sweeping up the remnant shards of glass that untidied his desk.

```cpp
"But. There is not a man who has been given the gift of the Third Floor's knowledge that has believed the art of fighting is ultimately worth one's time."```

So he spoke in reply to Kuouo's remark that Sheto seemed to possess a lack of incapacitating power towards those who would wish him harm. He had a point, yes, and while such an observation could have just been born of an assumption from a single slip-up that Sheto made, the alchemist was gifted in the art of combat, yet entirely untrained in its way. He was born with all the talent in the world to fight, yet cast it aside in pursuit of greater knowledge... Such was the way of all those before him. Such was the way of the Third Floor. The very act of fighting was repulsive, and training to strengthen oneself to fight was oft disparaged, especially for those born to be `Architects.` Mentality over physicality, and practicality over all else.

```cpp
"All that becomes wise to one wisened limitlessly is to create, and to create endlessly."```

Sheto paused, stopping his hands atop the desk, staring down at the flasks of liquid which he had so effortfully prepared. He paused, and briefly seemed to ponder something within the moment.

*`When you're granted everything, you cannot do anything.`*

What an irony.

*`Mm.`* Momentary moodiness aside, there was a matter more pressing at-hand to be dealt with, here. The alchemist turned, and glared at the sample which Kuouo had placed atop his workbench, removing his glasses and slowly sliding back up his visor with a *`chk... Chk... Clic...`*

***`CLIC`***
_ _

Now firmly attached to his face, he glared down at the glass vial full of the strange blue solution that Kuouo presented for analysis. The alchemist Sheto carefully stared at it, through several adjusted optics, sliding several of the semi-transparent runebound-stoneslides to the visor's forefront, their arcane enchantments granting him a clarified sense of sight as he deeper analyzed the solution.

```cpp
"The physician, you say."```

He spoke rather unenthusiastically, responding even while his mind was otherwise preoccupied. In the moment that Kuouo had presented the strange elixir, the man could hardly care to hear more of what he said, and was instead attracted to further analyze the sample. A man of science was he, and one of few words; to converse in banter was not his strong suit, and so he would not attempt to do so in the first place.

```cpp
"This is an interesting brew. Very interesting."
"I've not seen such abysmally amateurish brewing techniques, but the herbs applied are, indeed, very interesting."```

He adjusted the angle at which he held the vial, flicking a small dial on his strange magi-technological visor as so to increase the optics' zooming function.
_ _

```cpp
"The herbs on the First Floor are much different from the medicines I saw in use on the Third. It's good that I accustomed myself with them before now."

"Right. And there are trace samples of the Veirok being brewed straight into the elixir. That seems most troublesome. But an interesting theory to follow up on, nonetheless. I doubt its brewer, despite their lack of skill, put it in without good cause."

"They'd ought to ensure the Veirok is right and dead before putting it into any sort of solution. The Veirok is known for its vitality. It cannot be killed with such simple chemical or physical means."```

***`CLIC`***

Sheto removed the visor, lifting the vial close to his bare eyes. Turning, he extended the vial back to Kuouo for him to retake, seemingly having concluded his analysis of its inner contents.

```cpp
"Personally, I once cared to cure the corrupting effects of the Veirok. It seemed right for me to do so, as an alchemist. Nonetheless, my endeavors were soon cut short by my exile. Though interrupted, my prior research would be partially applicable to this elixir."

"I am interested to compare notes with this unlicensed physician. And further, I am interested to deeply criticize his complete lack of knowledge in the field of properly procuring medicine. Otherwise, I am interested to finish the research I once started."

"You do have my interest. I will visit the physician."```

So he spoke, now compliant with the idea of him cooperating with the slug-doctor that Kuouo briefly described. While not knowing of who the physician truly was, Sheto seemed both (mostly) respectful and quite interested in the sample of the medicinal elixir that he had brewed.

Were Kuouo to begin departure from the household, Sheto would soon follow after, and so too would he follow him on the way to the physician.
Sara
```fix
"Ey man, I get it. If ya found yer callin', by all means go for it. I was just suggestin' you find better means of protectin' yourself. 'Specially since it sounds like someone's been 'for your head.'```

As Sheto re-applied the optic device, Kuo bent down on his knees and squinted at the Zocheiz's moot solution, perhaps in an attempt to look as important. In doing so, however, he got a closer look at visor and felt the slightest bit of magic eminating from it. Once again, the bandit was introduced to the medical advances of the Vektet, surprised once more that they were able to observe things at the microbial scale.

Sheto, once again, makes an acute statement of the herbs brewed within the solution, also mentioning the vitality of the root itself. According to the alchemist, the root possessed an obscene amount of it, allowing the bandit to realize why it grew so wildly within the Exiles' watch - More specifically, the greattower beyond it.

```fix
"Makes sense now, most people would probably kill an infestation of an annoyin' root if they could do it inna somewhat practical sense. If it can't be killed with chemicals or by cuttin' it, how do ya suppose we take care of it?"```

Kuouo stood up straight, stretching out his knees and taking the vial offered back to him. He stuffs it safely within his inventory and shoves his hands into his pockets. Sheto then speaks of a time that he too tried to cure the damning root before his own exile, provoking the bandit to eventually ask for the reason of his banishment from the third floor.

```fix
"I'll lead ya to his office, jus' follow me.```

He lit a fireball within his palm, now burning a bright orange instead of the blue flames imbued with copper (II) sulfide (or whatever it could've been) from earlier. He traces his steps through the labyrinthe of corridors with ease before exiting the hell of the house.

```fix
"Goddammit this place sucks - ANYWAYS, sorry if its an offensive question or somethin', but it'd give us somethin' to talk about while on our way there. Yer house was a bit of a walk ya know. I was jus' wonderin' what ya got exhiled for."```

Kuouo began power-walking down the trail, hoping Sheto could keep up.