The Ruins of Albez sit at the heart of what had once been a magical kingdom. Or perhaps a community of mages. Or an ancient citadel of\u2014you know what? It doesn\u2019t matter. There\u2019s almost nothing left anymore to tell a visitor what it had been.<\/p>\n
Once, this hillside of collapsed dirt and dug-out structures was something vast and incredible. When the first people found the Ruins of Albez, the records indicate that they noticed a dome of glass two hundred feet wide poking out of the ground. They dug down and found magical stone, entire wings of preserved libraries, and magical laboratories.<\/p>\n
\u2014And monsters. Over eighty-nine years, the ruins were stripped, first quickly, then slower as fewer and fewer groups found anything of note. The monsters remained, and then the remaining rubble that wasn\u2019t magical became pockets of tagged debris, with symbols from older teams of adventurers and treasure seekers who left markings to show what had been explored\u2014or throw other groups off the scent.<\/p>\n
From the dirt excavation, the ruins looked more like an archeologist\u2019s project, with entire excavated rooms and areas laid bare to the sun. Plenty of ruined edifices and roofs to hide under, despite that. Which is the true danger. Any number of people might come here to explore on the vague chance of finding a magical item worth a year\u2019s earnings\u2014if not for the monsters.<\/p>\n
The entire area is saturated in magic, so much so that it makes my hair tingle.<\/p>\n
My actual hair<\/em> tingles. It\u2019s not like static electricity, more like a kind of energy filling you up. So similar\u2014but it has a different feel than the pure charge of the air. It makes you feel alive. No wonder monsters love coming here, because this place is a wonderful home for them to live in, especially if they eat magic.<\/p>\n Final fact from my quick research into the area. Albez is built on a leyline. Before the Humans came, it was apparently settled by a tribe of \u2018Gnolls\u2019, furry folk who used to live here. Which explains the issue.<\/p>\n On one side, you have monsters who are inhabiting this area. On the other, you have adventurers, hoping to find what no one has discovered. Naturally, conflicts ensue.<\/p>\n I\u2019m staring down at one of the open courtyards from my position on a hilltop. Actually, I\u2019m prone, and the grass is really itchy. A big chunk of stone gives me additional cover, and I doubt anything can see me\u2014because I can\u2019t see much of anything unless I raise my head high enough. But I\u2019m not about to get up. I can see a flash<\/em> and then a brilliant blue crackle of lightning.<\/p>\n Slower than regular lightning.<\/em> But \u2018slower\u2019 in the sense that it flashes across the ground, strikes a pillar where someone dives to safety, and blows a goddamn chunk<\/em> out of solid stone. I swallow.<\/p>\n That\u2019s going to do the same to me if it hits.<\/em> And then\u2014wonderful\u2014I see the lightning bolt followed by a ball of roiling flames. It lands as someone shouts below.<\/p>\n \u201c[Fireball]! Cover\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Someone runs five feet, leaps<\/em>, and clears the blast zone just in time. The ball of fire expands, and the shockwave actually makes the air move around me. Someone drags away the figure who made it to safety; the blast kicked them like a mule, and I have to imagine they\u2019ve been deafened and possibly blinded and baked by the heat.<\/p>\n That\u2019s magic.<\/em> Combat magic, and it\u2019s really, really unfortunate I\u2019m going to be running down there. But from the looks of it\u2014the group of people ducking the hostile spells need my delivery right now.<\/p>\n \u201cHealing potion! Get me a healing\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Someone\u2019s shouting. The other figures mill about, but they\u2019re out. I can see a woman with a bow poke her head up, dodge an arrow that rattles off her cover, and loose an arrow back.<\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t seem to do much good, but it does draw the ire of the enemy spellcaster. Another streak of magic shoots her way\u2014another lightning bolt. I\u2019ve seen two spells so far, and they\u2019re either a ball of fire or bolt of lightning.<\/p>\n I\u2019d say it\u2019s stereotypical, but it\u2019s working. But what amazes me is that the woman with a bow doesn\u2019t die\u2014she takes cover, and a huge voice shouts. A bull-man with horns roars.<\/p>\n \u201cHorns! Move up and support Marian! Ceria, take out that spellcaster! Shields up!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ten figures move forwards, taking cover and spreading out around the courtyard, loosing arrows and charging to meet yellowed skeletons holding swords and rusted axes. But they\u2019re watching the spellcaster all the while, forcing it to attack people in cover.\u00a0<\/p>\n They actually have good strategy. Which is the only reason they survived long enough to send a [Message] spell for help, I guess.\u00a0<\/p>\n The adventuring group currently occupying the ruins is known as the Horns of Hammerad. A Silver-rank team notable for their relatively high average level\u2014most members are above level 20\u2014and their leader, a Minotaur [Fighter]* who wields an enormous battleaxe in combat.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *I still don\u2019t get classes. Apparently, [Fighter] is a general class, although some call it [Warrior] depending on the culture. Does that mean they have the same Skills? Either way, it\u2019s the first class most warriors take, but if this Minotaur guy were higher-level, he\u2019d be an [Axemaster] or [Knight]. But we call him a [Fighter] or [Warrior] because we don\u2019t know his exact class. Because that\u2019s private. Huh.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The general consensus is that they\u2019re quite competent in combat, and they\u2019d received official permission to search the ruins for the duration of the week. That means that while the Horns are in the ruins, other adventuring groups can\u2019t interfere or look for treasure. It was an arrangement that allowed the nearby cities to reap a profit for charging access and prevented conflicts between their adventurers.<\/p>\n All well and good, and normally, the Horns would have expected a moderate payout at the very least. They were well equipped and prepared for anything.<\/p>\n Which was why the sight of their disorganized party fighting and retreating across the ruins is even more alarming. The roaring bull man is hacking down a skeleton one-handed with an axe, but he can barely move.<\/p>\n \u2026Because of the spike of ice lodged in his midsection. He\u2019s got it covered with a tourniquet, and he\u2019s, somehow, still upright and fighting. But then I see a deadly hail of ice shards flying towards another adventurer and gulp.<\/p>\n The other warriors and mages\u2014the Horns of Hammerad is a large party, ten members strong\u2014are either hunkered down or exchanging shots with the monster that has cornered them.<\/p>\n Even as I watch, an armored warrior deflects a sword strike from one of the skeletons attacking their group and smashes it with a mace. The skeleton falls to the ground, lifeless. But that\u2019s attracted the attention of the leader of the undead, and a huge blast of fire engulfs the area once more.<\/p>\n I wince as the armored warrior runs out of the blaze screaming in agony. He rolls on the ground as a mage with a staff shoots a few magic bolts of rippling light to attract attention away from him. Two other adventurers rush forth and drag the burnt warrior into cover as a hail of ice spikes nearly pincushions all three.<\/p>\n Well, crap. That\u2019s the fifth member of the Horns down. I was hoping they\u2019d sway the battle, but at this rate, they\u2019ll be wiped out. No help for it.<\/p>\n I shouldn\u2019t go down there. The [Receptionist] whose name I can\u2019t remember told<\/em> me not to risk it. Either signal them to grab the potions or wait till the fight is over. Even for an Emergency Delivery, a Runner is under no obligation to risk their lives in an active combat zone.<\/p>\n That thing firing off spells could kill me in a single shot.<\/em> Even if I wanted to risk it, it\u2019s smarter to wait and find a way to sneak down. But I can hear someone screaming for a potion. So\u2026slowly, I get up and feel at my legs. The broken stones still obscure most of my body if I shuffle over to where it\u2019s at its highest.<\/p>\n I take two deep breaths and then stretch my legs out. Right leg? Check. Left leg? Stretching\u2026check. Okay.<\/p>\n I peek over the piece of rubble I\u2019m hiding behind. Clear? Okay. Here we go\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n I vault the rubble and dash down the slope. From where I am, there\u2019s a moderate incline down into the heart of the ruins, where fallen buildings and rubble make for treacherous ground. Loose stones can twist my ankle, or I can kick a piece of stone at high-speed and break my toes.<\/p>\n But what\u2019s worse is the danger of being killed by the monster fifty feet in front of me. The problem is that I arrived on the wrong side of the ruins. So I\u2019m closer to it than the adventurers.<\/p>\n I charge down the hill towards it. The robed figure notices me as I\u2019m halfway there and turns. Two glowing blue points of light in its eyes shift towards me as I sprint directly at it. A jaw made of bone clatters open, and I see a dead\u2026skeletal body rotate my way.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s a Lich*, an undead skeletal mage. The skeleton looks wrong, like a reptile, and the bones are subtly different, yet it is a skeleton\u2014it even has a skeletal tail<\/em>, and the ancient robes hanging on its body are the only things not worn away by rot.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *I personally have problems with calling it a Lich. Apparently, unlike in games and stories, Liches are rather common. They\u2019re more like an undead type rather than unique and rare examples of mages living forever. They\u2019re not even that deadly. Well, they\u2019re very deadly, but even scarier types of undead exist apparently.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n For a second, I don\u2019t think it even knows what it\u2019s seeing. A lone Human running straight at it without a weapon? It hesitates, but then raises a finger. This would be the part where I die in its plan. In mine? I think<\/em> I survive.<\/p>\n If it seems stupid to charge at a monster capable of blasting me to bits with a single spell, well, it probably is. But I had a good reason for doing it. Over the last five minutes, I\u2019d scoped out the Lich\u2019s battle against the group of adventurers and picked out a few important details about how it acted. I had three good reasons for my plan of action.<\/p>\n Reason A: I\u2019d noticed that the Lich could cast several spells, such as a miniaturized lightning bolt, a fireball, and those nasty showers of ice spikes. Of the three, I really only had to worry about the fireball and the ice spikes. The lightning looked dangerous, but it grounded itself too easily at a long distance on the nearest object. Since I\u2019m not wearing any metal, it would be far harder for the Lich to hit me.<\/p>\n As for the fireballs and ice spikes, well, they were slower and the Lich had to point first. Its aim also wasn\u2019t the greatest in the world. It was a risk, but so long as I didn\u2019t get cooked when the fireball exploded, I had a shot.<\/p>\n Also, Reason B: was that I\u2019d noticed the Lich tended to defend itself with a barrier of bones it summoned from the ground whenever anything got close. That stopped it from casting spells for a few seconds.<\/p>\n And Reason C: I\u2019m stupid.<\/p>\n The Lich pointed at me and cackled something that made my ears hurt<\/em>. I dove and rolled and felt my right side go slightly numb. It felt like the worst static electricity shock I\u2019d ever experienced times a hundred, but that meant the lightning had missed me. And I was still alive.<\/p>\n Hit the ground, roll onto my feet and run. I closed on the Lich, and it raised a protective hand. As I expected, a wall of bones erupted from the ground in front of me, a grotesque puzzle of interlocked bones and skulls as solid as rock*.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *Seriously. How the hell does it do that? Are there that many bones in the ground? Or is it just magic?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Now\u2019s my chance. I immediately veer left and accelerate towards where the adventurers are. The Lich makes a crackling<\/em> noise as it realizes it\u2019s been duped. It tries to lower the bone barrier, but it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n Run<\/em>. Run faster<\/em>. Dodge behind the pillar. Pause. Go left. Move right. Fireball! Close. Now\u2014sprint left as fast as possible.<\/em><\/p>\n In one of the many safety seminars my dad made me attend after every mass shooting, they taught us what to do if a gunman ever opened fire and we had to escape. Some of it was common sense stuff like don\u2019t scream or do something stupid and think before moving. But I did remember one important tip.<\/p>\n When someone\u2019s firing at you, don\u2019t run in a straight line to get away. Zig zag, make it hard for them to get a bead on you. And in my case, duck behind rubble and place as many obstacles between me and the Lich as possible.<\/p>\n I run, and I run as fast as I can. The instant I slow, I\u2019m dead. The air around me is static; fire explodes around me, and flying ice threatens to pierce my skin.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t tell, and I don\u2019t have a mirror, but I\u2019m pretty sure I\u2019m grinning.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStatus?\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz, leader of the Horns of Hammerad, grunted at the other warrior as the two hid behind one of the fallen walls in the ruins. The Human, his second-in-command, glanced down at him and shook his head grimly.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Terr got hit by a [Fireball]. Coblat and Grimsore dragged him away, but he\u2019s down for the count as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDamn.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Minotaur hit his thigh and winced. The huge spear of ice protruding out of his midriff oozed more dark blood, and he sat back against the wall and breathed out. The tendons on his neck strained, and sweat stood out on his brow despite the freezing cold.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about Ceria and Sostrom? Why the hell aren\u2019t they taking this thing out? We are a disgrace<\/em> of a team.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria and Sostrom were their [Mages]. The other man grimaced as he saw someone poke her head up, swivel around with her pointed ears twitching, then duck<\/em> an arrow loosed by a skeleton holding a bow. It was more amazing that the filthy, corroded bow and string could even fire, but it did, and the arrow was weak and badly aimed\u2014but it could still do a lot of damage.<\/p>\n So could the skeletons charging their flanks on-and-off. A rusted hatchet from the bone limbs wasn\u2019t nearly as hard as Calruz could hit someone\u2014but a sharp blade would still cut or kill by infection later, and there were a lot of skeletons.<\/p>\n Even so\u2014they would have taken the lesser skeletons to pieces an hour ago, when the fight began. As it was, they were barely surviving, and they\u2019d burned through all their healing potions. Because of the Lich. The other man scratched at his mustache soaked with sweat, a habit, and glanced out again as the half-Elf poked her head up.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re trying, but whenever they fire at that monster, it just raises a shield. It\u2019s got more mana than all of our casters combined. We need to get in close if we want a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFat chance of that happening with all those skeletons and zombies guarding it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think Terr got rid of the last of them, but we still can\u2019t get close. It\u2019s too flaming quick<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to.\u201d<\/p>\n That was all the Minotaur said. He grimly stared at the spike of ice in his stomach. If he pulled it out, how long did he have?<\/p>\n \u201cDo you have half a potion left, Gerial? Give it to me. I\u2019ll yank this out and charge. Everyone who can move goes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll get roasted. No way.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial glanced at the Minotaur in alarm. He was two heads shorter than the bull man, and Calruz\u2019s biceps were massive; he was a fit warrior even by the standards of his people. Right now, his eyes were clear blue and concentrated with pain and cold calm.<\/p>\n \u201cWe must take the monster down. No Runner can get to us with it here, and no other adventuring team can bail us out. I am Beriad of the House of Minos. It would be a disgrace for me to let my team down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBeriad my ass.\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz turned, snorting, and Gerial grabbed his arm.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not doing a suicide charge. Just give Ceria a chance. If she can damage it, we\u2019ll fall back and try to escape. The horses are\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n A sudden commotion stopped the argument dead, and Calruz lifted his axe, swearing. If it was another skeleton horde, they were in trouble.<\/p>\n The vice-captain of the Horns of Hammerad chanced a peek around the wall he was hiding behind. There didn\u2019t seem to be any more [Fireballs] coming his way at the moment, which was good and also worrying. Had the Lich turned its attention elsewhere? Doubtful. But then why\u2014<\/p>\n His jaw dropped. Gerial focused on something in the distance as Calruz whispered an oath to his homeland. His hand tightened around the piece of ice to tear it loose\u2014when he heard Gerial exclaim, and his tone was different.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is that?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz grunted and tried to twist his head, but fell back weakly.<\/p>\n \u201cWho? What\u2019s happening?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a Runner! She just charged down the hill at the Lich! She\u2019s coming this way!\u201d<\/p>\n The Minotaur\u2019s eyes opened wide.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re joking. She\u2019ll never make it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n The vice-captain watched as the long-legged runner dashed across the broken landscape. She was leaping over pieces of rubble and running in a serpentine motion while fireballs and shards of ice rained down around her. From this distance, all he could see was raven-black hair and tanned skin, but the vice-captain was sure he\u2019d never seen this particular runner before.<\/p>\n She had odd features, which would have told him she was part-Japanese, or at least Asian, if those words had meant anything to him.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s foreign. Chandrarian? Balerosian?\u201d<\/p>\n He turned, and the Minotaur edged over. He glanced out and grunted.<\/p>\n \u201cYou idiot. She\u2019s Drathian.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDrathian?<\/em> What\u2019s one of them doing across the world?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo clue. Shut up\u2014give that Runner covering fire! Everyone up!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial himself lowered his sword to grab a loose rock and heave<\/em> it in the general direction of the Lich. It fell well short, but several arrows and a spike of ice made the undead turn and begin firing their way. Yet it was still after the Runner, and every second, the Minotaur expected to see her go down with the next spell.<\/p>\n Any second he expected her to be blown away by an on-target [Fireball] or be seared by a lightning blast. But she didn\u2019t. And then she was right on top of Gerial.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ryoka leapt around a pillar of stone and slammed into the Human man in armor. She knocked into him and felt cool metal before she stumbled back. He pulled her into cover as icicle shards crashed<\/em> against the rubble.<\/p>\n It took her two deep breaths of air before she could speak. Ryoka unslung her pack and nodded at the gaping vice-captain.<\/p>\n \u201cDelivery.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDead gods!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The vice-captain stared at Ryoka. He gestured to her, the ruins, and then waved his gauntleted hands a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was the most amazing<\/em> sight I\u2019ve ever\u2014you just ran right past that Lich! Are you insane? Or crazy?\u201d<\/p>\n She was pretty sure she was. But Ryoka\u2019s mouth was on autopilot as she fumbled with her pack. Was she dead? <\/em>She felt alive! But there were explosions going off as the Lich attacked, and she turned to the two. Then she recoiled as she saw the Minotaur<\/em> staring down at her.<\/p>\n He was seven feet tall. Before <\/em>his horns. Maybe some of that was due to the steel armor he wore, but he was a mammoth!\u00a0<\/p>\n Imagine a bull\u2019s face on a humanoid body, only he had toes, or what she thought were toes, in feet-like boots. Chestnut fur, short and fairly smooth, covered every inch of his body, and two horns, again, curved like a bull\u2019s, sprang from his head. But there were two caps of gold on the tips of the horns and his eyes were intelligent, if strained with pain at this moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n He looked like a monster himself, out of Greek legend\u2014but only for a second. He held that axe with too much care, and his eyes flitted to his companion and his team, with urgency and attentiveness to their condition. So not a monster but another kind of man.<\/p>\n Despite looking as though he should have been able to smash the Lich down one-handed, the spike of ice in his midsection showed Ryoka why the team was in trouble.<\/p>\n It was dripping with water and blood around a cloth bandage, and he was holding it with one huge hand, possibly supporting it so it didn\u2019t pull a bunch of his organs out<\/em> of his body. Ryoka\u2019s mouth worked a second before she spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a Runner. I\u2019ve got a delivery for the leader of the Horns of Hammerad. That you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s me.\u201d<\/p>\n Of all the stupid things to say\u2014but he actually nodded to her. Sweat dripped off the Mintoaur\u2019s brow as he bared his teeth.<\/p>\n \u201cCalruz of the Beriad, Captain of the Horns of Hammerad. Son of Minos, at your service.\u201d<\/p>\n He was as polite and formal as could be\u2014right until he tried to make a gesture with his free hand. His face twisted, and he muttered.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope you\u2019ve got our delivery, Miss Runner.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka nodded rapidly. She put her pack down, then yanked the top open and placed the heavily-wrapped bottles down on the ground in front of the Minotaur. Instantly, he reached for the bottles.<\/p>\n \u201cFifteen healing potions, five mana potions. All unbroken. Delivery to Horns of Hammerad. Your seal?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSeal? Oh, of course!\u201d<\/p>\n They were all in shock. The vice-captain gave Ryoka a blank look, then automatically fumbled with his pouch. He pulled out a silver and copper token and handed it to her. It was a unique seal with a hammer standing on a mountain embossed on one side.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka stowed the seal securely in her waist pouch and then peeked around the wall. The Lich was exchanging fireballs with another mage wearing a red wizard\u2019s hat. She nodded to herself and lowered into a sprinter\u2019s crouch.<\/p>\n \u201cWait\u2014are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka didn\u2019t glance at the vice-captain as she tried to judge when would be the best moment.<\/p>\n \u201cYep.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t! I mean, that\u2019s even crazier!\u201d<\/p>\n The vice-captain stared at Ryoka in consternation and then looked at his leader for support. Calruz was trying to open one of the bottles. He grunted as he pulled the cork out of one of the bottles and downed the thick, syrupy, green liquid. Instantly, he straightened and began to pull out the piece of ice. Ryoka watched in horrified fascination as his skin began to knit, starting to push the ice spike out<\/em> of his body.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Minotaur growled, and she saw his eyes slowly begin to turn red, the blue irises and whites filling with blood. He stood taller and slowly turned his head to the Lich, who stopped attacking the half-Elf screaming curses at it as if it could sense the danger.<\/p>\n \u201cLet her go if she wants. Runner\u2014thanks for the assistance. Not many of your lot would do this. The Horns owe you a debt.\u201d<\/p>\n She paused.<\/p>\n \u201cNo problem.\u201d<\/p>\n He nodded to her. She nodded back. Then the Minotaur yanked the piece of ice out and hurled it to the ground. An armored foot stomped, <\/em>and it shattered to pieces. Gerial looked relieved, but he turned to Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least let us reassemble and give you a diversion. Once we get these potions to all our members, we can finally bring this guy down.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka thought about it.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019ll take too long. You want an opening? I\u2019ll give you one. I\u2019ve got more deliveries to make.\u201d<\/p>\n The vice-captain tore at what hair he could reach underneath his helmet.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll blast you the instant you leave cover!\u201d<\/p>\n She grinned at the vice-captain, breaking her expressionless mask.<\/p>\n \u201cHe can try.\u201d<\/p>\n The Minotauar\u2019s eyes opened wide, and he gave her a smile like hers. But his was blood and glory. He took a breath as his stomach wound closed and bellowed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou heard her. Horns of Hammerad\u2014<\/em>covering fire! Potions have arrived!\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Five minutes later, the adventuring party, the Horns of Hammerad, watched the Runner break out of the ruins and sprint away even as the Lich fired a final parting bolt of lightning in her direction. He missed. The Lich shrieked<\/em>, a strangely piercing wail coming from the skeleton\u2019s mouth, then turned to attack the adventurers.<\/p>\n But they were deep in cover, and it hovered, uncertainly, then raised a barrier of bones again. It couldn\u2019t tell where they were\u2014<\/p>\n And they had regrouped. The half-Elf broke away from the healing potions going to her teammates, who were getting on their feet, cursing, and crabbed under a buttress of broken stone to where Gerial and Calruz were sitting. Gerial was mouthing to his Captain.<\/p>\n \u201cShe did it. She actually did it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe told you.\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz grinned and watched the young woman disappearing over the hill. He turned as the half-Elf tapped him on the shoulder. Her blonde hair was sticking up from all the static electricity it had absorbed, and she looked exhausted from her running battle with the Lich.\u00a0<\/p>\n But she too was getting a second wind; she held a wand at the ready, tip glowing faintly with frozen ice along the alabaster length of stone.<\/p>\n With the other hand, she was gulping down the foul, off-blue potion swimming with green swirls of color. She gagged, then spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that a new Runner? She must be. I haven\u2019t ever seen her before, and I think I would have remembered hearing about one as crazy as that. Dead gods, she saved us. Gerial, you alright? Marian is going to make it. So is Terr. He\u2019s on his feet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank the Five Families.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial breathed out, and the Minotaur corrected him.<\/p>\n \u201cThank the Runner. Ceria, how\u2019s your mana?\u201d<\/p>\n She grimaced. The half-Elf tipped the jar of liquid up, gulped it down, and her eyes bulged. Both Gerial and Calruz hesitated, afraid she\u2019d spew it out, but she swallowed.<\/p>\n \u201cPotion\u2019s working. Dead gods, that\u2019s nasty. I bet Octavia made it. It tastes cheap and foul as hell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cComing from our bug-eating, tree-kissing half-Elf? It must be bad.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria jabbed Gerial with her wand before Calruz growled.<\/p>\n \u201cStop bickering. We\u2019re at full strength again, thanks to that Human. Speaking of. Did anyone catch the Runner\u2019s name?\u201d<\/p>\n Neither Gerial nor Ceria had. The man scratched at his chin.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can ask later. She looks different. Drathian, you said? She\u2019s definitely new; no one around here has the guts to do an Emergency Run like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria raised her brows.<\/p>\n \u201cDrathian? Well, we can ask questions later. Potions are distributed. What\u2019s our plan, boss? Charge in and eat another ice spike? My vote\u2019s not to do that\u2014the Lich can throw better spells than I can, and I\u2019m the [Elementalist].\u201d<\/p>\n The Minotaur gave Ceria a huge glare, and Gerial raised a hand as if to break them up. But this was just banter, and Calruz jerked his head over.<\/p>\n \u201cWe take a page out of the Runner\u2019s book. Did you see how she escaped it? We moved in too slow. This time, we spread out. No shields, just run from cover to cover. Gerial, you\u2019ll take one group left. I\u2019ll head right. Put Marian and the other archers up and tie it up. Force it to shield itself, and give me an opening. Ceria, can you tag it at least once?\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf flexed her hands and produced a shard of ice from her palm. She grinned as her eyes seemed to regain a spark of\u2026magic.<\/p>\n \u201cCan do.\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz raised his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cHorns! Did you hear that? We\u2019re going in. The Runner\u2019s bought us our moment, and we\u2019ll all buy her a drink. But I\u2019ll be drinking it out of that Lich\u2019s damned skull. <\/em>Advance!\u201d<\/p>\n He swung himself up as the Lich whirled. It raised a staff, and a spike of ice shot towards the Minotaur, but Gerial was already up and his shield caught the spell. He stumbled back, swearing, but before the Lich could fire a bolt of lightning from one hand, a shard of ice hit it in one eye-socket.<\/p>\n It recoiled, skull cracked from the force of the blow. It looked up and saw a half-Elf pointing a wand at it. She grinned, and then shard after shard of ice began firing from her wand, hitting the Lich with pinpoint precision. Then the other adventurers were emerging from cover, shouting as they sprinted for positions closer.<\/p>\n The last skeletons rose to their feet to defend their leader as the Minotaur emerged with a roar, punching<\/em> through one\u2019s ribcage without even deigning to swing his axe. The Lich recoiled, trying to back up, but it was too late.<\/p>\n As one, the Horns of Hammerad abandoned their position in the ruins and began a full-scale assault on the Lich and the remaining undead.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n After she\u2019d run ten miles away from the Ruins, Ryoka finally stopped to catch her breath. Her lungs were burning, and her legs felt like jelly. The adrenaline was finally draining out of her, and she felt exhausted.<\/p>\n She could still feel tingling in her legs from the lightning bolts missing her skin. <\/em>Only when she raised her arm did she feel a flash of pain and see the singed flesh and soot. White blisters were already rising on her skin.<\/p>\n It hurt. She had nearly died, and her legs trembled. She felt cold and remembered that shiver of seeing the flames burning in the hollow sockets of the Lich\u2019s skull. A feeling of dread upon seeing something far, far more real than any Halloween mask or costume.<\/p>\n A malevolent intelligence and hatred towards her.\u00a0<\/p>\n She had nearly died. <\/em>Ryoka\u2019s body began to tremble. A second too slow, or if she\u2019d dodged left instead of right\u2014<\/p>\n The trembling continued, but Ryoka\u2019s lips twitched. She tried to smile.<\/p>\n \u201cFun.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The word felt fake. She tried to put on a daring grin, but then she thought of the adventurers and looked back. Had they made it? Ryoka exhaled, and the trembling stopped a bit. She amended her statement.<\/p>\n \u201cGood run.\u201d<\/p>\n She hoped they would survive. Then she kept on going.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I\u2019m still high on adrenaline when I\u2019m standing at the Runner\u2019s Guild, in front of a [Receptionist]. Shame it doesn\u2019t make this part easier.<\/p>\n \u201cYou completed the supply request for the Horns of Hammerad?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYep.\u201d<\/p>\n The receptionist stares at me. I shrug. What does she want me to say? I nearly died? Liches are scary?\u00a0<\/p>\n I feel like I\u2019m in a different world. The worn-down room of the Runner\u2019s Guild is a far cry from the grassy plains or the rubble and destruction of the Ruins of Albez. The woman raises her brows. This isn\u2019t the one I recognize, by the by. This is a middle-aged woman with a frizzy shock of green hair in a stripe running through her brown hair. I think it\u2019s not even a style; some people just have magical hair as part of their genetics.<\/p>\n Lucky. She\u2019s taking notes, and she looks relieved.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s incredible. Are the Horns already finished fighting? The magic communication we got said they were fighting a Lich and a horde of the undead.\u201d<\/p>\n I shake my head as a few Runners in line poke their heads up, interested. I point, as if I\u2019m pointing at the distant ruins.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re still fighting. The Lich is still around. Not sure about the other undead. Looked like they were mostly dead. Undead.\u201d<\/p>\n The receptionist doesn\u2019t smile. Didn\u2019t she get the joke? Darn. She\u2019s still giving me that \u2018I-don\u2019t-believe-you\u2019 look. I hand her the Seal.<\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s the Seal from the Horns of Hammerad.\u201d<\/p>\n She checks it over and then double-checks. Her eyebrows rise.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s real. So you\u2019re telling me you delivered the supplies in the middle of the battle?\u201d<\/p>\n Why is she making a big fuss? I thought that\u2019s what all Runners did on this kind of mission.<\/p>\n \u201cYup. Emergency Run, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIncredible.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m silent. I mean, what am I supposed to say to that? \u2018Oh, yeah, I\u2019m really amazing, now give me my money?\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n After a few moments, the receptionist finally shakes herself.<\/p>\n \u201cYou could go to Invrisil, if you cared to risk your life like that. The City of Adventurers always headhunts brave Runners. But a Lich<\/em>? Well, well, this is all in order. Would you like the payment now or\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLater.\u201d<\/p>\n I can collect my pay whenever, but most Runners do it in one lump sum at the end of the week. It\u2019s more convenient that way since we have to sign to confirm we\u2019ve been paid and the receptionist has to validate it. The [Receptionist] is still staring at me, and she smiles.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I think you\u2019ve earned your break. Unless\u2014do you think you could do another delivery? I wouldn\u2019t ask, but you\u2019re the only City Runner here right now.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m tired, but that\u2019s only because of my adrenaline low. I know my legs have got at least another good run in them, so I nod.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere to?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCelum. It\u2019s another request from Lady Magnolia. Another Runner just brought it from Remendia, but he\u2019s too tired to keep going. It\u2019s been passed from six Runners so far, and we need to get it to Magnolia within the hour if possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Okay. Now that\u2019s tricky. I hesitate.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not that I don\u2019t think I can do it in time. I can get to Celum in less than an hour even with something heavy on my back. But I\u2019d done another run for Magnolia\u2014delivering a big, fancy vase\u2014a few days ago. By the \u2018unwritten rules,\u2019 that meant I should wait for at least another week before I took the request.<\/p>\n Damn. Damnation. Drat. Fals\u2019 warning sticks with me, and I\u2019m half tempted to take the delivery just because I hated his annoying hints and threats. On the other hand\u2026I don\u2019t need to meet Magnolia Reinhart again.<\/p>\n What should I do? This is the exact kind of situation I hate. I glance around at the other Runners and see mostly Street Runners.<\/p>\n \u201cThere aren\u2019t any other City Runners around?\u201d<\/p>\n The receptionist shakes her head.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re all out on deliveries, and I don\u2019t want to wait longer than I have to. I was about to ask one of the Street Runners to do the delivery, but that would have been a problem too.\u201d<\/p>\n Well, in that case\u2026why not? The Magnolia rule can go to hell for all I care.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll do it.\u201d<\/p>\n The receptionist smiles in relief.<\/p>\n \u201cThank y\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHold on!\u201d<\/p>\n The receptionist\u2019s head turns. My head doesn\u2019t. I\u2019m taking this moment to say a few choice words in my head*.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *Oh, please no. Not that stupid, inbred rodent girl. No one in the world has a voice more high-pitched and annoying than her and her moronic cronies. I\u2019d rather go back and dance naked in front of the Lich than deal with this.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I turn and see a familiar face. She stands in the doorway of the Runner\u2019s Guild, wiping sweat from her face. She looks at me as her two best friends, Claudeil and Toriska, wave at the Runners inside. They\u2019re both taller than she is, but she\u2019s in charge.<\/p>\n Two pigtails instead of a braid, brown, flax hair, despite all the gels she puts in it, and she looks like she\u2019s starving.<\/p>\n Or hungry. She\u2019s thin, but she always looks like someone\u2019s just snatched a sandwich from her, and I\u2019ve never seen her not looking accusatory. Especially now as she gives me a triumphant look as if she\u2019s just caught me red-handed. Today, she\u2019s wearing a light-green hooded jacket to keep out of the rain and long, loose leggings like most Runners. She also wears open-toed sandals when she runs, the monster, secured by leather ties.<\/p>\n She\u2019s famous enough that other Runners turn and some smile at her, but I see a few just looking apprehensive behind their smiles. The [Receptionist] in front of me actually makes a small groaning sound, and I look at the worst Runner in the region.<\/p>\n Persua. Her voice is strident, high-pitched, and makes me long for the whine of a [Fireball] passing by my ears. Especially if it hits her. She gives me a huge smirk.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no need to give Magnolia\u2019s request to her. I\u2019ve just arrived, and I can take care of it myself.\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman\u2014no, the annoying teenager who strides towards me brushes past to stand at the counter. She keeps her back very straight, probably because I\u2019m taller than her by a head. I catch the overpowering smell of perfume masking her sweat and step back so her brown hair doesn\u2019t smack me in the face every time she tosses her head. Which she does quite often.<\/p>\n I know her. Or rather, I know her sallow* face. She always looks like she\u2019s pursing her lips at everyone, and she annoys me every time I look at her.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *Is sallow the right word here? I think it means pinched and narrow, but I could be wrong. That\u2019s the problem with not having the internet. Anyways, her face is shrewish, although I forget what a shrew looks like too. I\u2019m going with sallow either way.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Miss Persua. I didn\u2019t know you were still in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n Persua. A name fit for her. Persua tosses her head impetuously and nods. Her two friends, Claudeil, all sneers and eyes on my chest, and Toriska, who looks straight past me, follow Persua over as if she needs the emotional support at all times. Persua herself is the worst, though, and she smirks as if she\u2019s being clever.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I was<\/em> doing that delivery to Remendia, but once one of my friends let me know Magnolia\u2019s request was sitting in the Runner\u2019s guild, of course<\/em> I came back to fulfill it.\u201d<\/p>\n She what?<\/em> I give her a blank stare. The receptionist looks uncomfortable.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2014haven\u2019t finished the other delivery? Well, I was going to give the request to Ryoka. She\u2019s free, and she\u2019s\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s already done a request for Magnolia this week. By rights, that means I should have a turn. Claudeil will do my run, right?\u201d<\/p>\n The receptionist frowns at Persua. So does the young man. He brushes at his hair.<\/p>\n \u201cI will? I mean\u2014of course, Persua. That frees it up. Toriska and I will go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going with Persua. You can go\u2014or Miss Ryoka can go, Claudeil. We can trade up!\u201d<\/p>\n Toriska giggles, and the [Receptionist] stares at my face as I debate kicking the other Runner. Although\u2014they are armed. Claudeil has a crossbow, and Toriska has a wand and knife for emergencies. I\u2019ve seen both showing off their weapons to Street Runners.<\/p>\n I bet I could kick them both in the face from here.<\/em> However, the [Receptionist] breaks in, trying to mediate\u2026Persua.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no rule that explicitly gives precedence to other Runners. Besides which, I need this delivery done as quickly as possible. It is literally getting\u2026warmer? As we speak.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo?\u201d<\/p>\n Another head toss. I notice some more of Persua\u2019s \u2018friends,\u2019 the other Runners\u2014mainly Street Runners who are new or lower on the totem pole\u2014watching me. They always gather around when she appears. I stare at them until they look away. I hate their guts. Too bad Persua doesn\u2019t back down as easily. Doubly too bad is her annoying voice.<\/p>\n \u201cI can easily do Magnolia\u2019s request. Ryoka can just switch with me.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Receptionist] was beginning to look exasperated.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t work like that. Unless Ryoka agrees, I can\u2019t just give this to you. Besides, as I\u2019ve said<\/em>, this is a speedy delivery. I can\u2019t give it to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo what?\u201d<\/p>\n Persua looks at the receptionist coldly. But I fill in the gap silently in my mind, probably with everyone else in the Runner\u2019s Guild.<\/p>\n To a slower runner. One of the slowest, in fact. Persua might be a City Runner, but she\u2019s slow. Or lazy. Actually, she\u2019s both. She\u2019s also an idiot, but that\u2019s just my observation. She doesn\u2019t take as many long-distance contracts, and she only delivers light-weight stuff like flowers or letters.<\/p>\n However, she does tend to get deliveries done\u2014possibly because her friends often run with her. The [Receptionist] bites her tongue and tries a smile, which clearly fails, even to me.<\/p>\n \u201cI just meant that Ryoka is the<\/em> fastest City Runner. Even Fals can\u2019t beat her time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but I\u2019m sure<\/em> she\u2019ll switch with me, won\u2019t you, Ryoka?\u201d<\/p>\n Persua glances at me and then away. Passive-aggressive bitch*.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *What language! I\u2019m ashamed of myself. Mainly because I don\u2019t have a wider vocabulary to describe someone like her. I could get vulgar, but I\u2019d rather just slap her on the back of the head. Must resist temptation.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I hesitate. I should<\/em> give the request to Persua. Even if she fails it, there\u2019s no skin off my back. In fact, if she gets in trouble for failing the request even better. Although she\u2019ll probably wriggle out of it somehow.<\/p>\n Yeah, I hate her guts. And I don\u2019t feel like giving in to her bullying, especially because I know the only reason she wants to do the delivery is for the easy money and the opportunity to sponge off of Magnolia. So you know what? Let\u2019s escalate things.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s urgent.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s not what Persua wants to hear. She glances at me in irritation.<\/p>\n \u201cSo? I can make it.\u201d<\/p>\n The receptionist glances around uncertainly.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we can\u2019t get it to Magnolia within the hour, the delivery won\u2019t be any good. Can you make the run in time? It will melt<\/em>, that is what I am told, and the Runner\u2019s Guild will bear the costs of reimbursing Lady Reinhart if it is ruined. I would like it there in forty minutes. Or less. Miss Persua, you have no sprinting Skills while Miss Ryoka is the fastest. Can you do it?\u201d<\/p>\n This time, Persua noticeably swallows, but she glances at her two friends and then nods.<\/p>\n \u201cI can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo can I<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Both the receptionist and I glance at Persua. She\u2019s already sweating, probably from running back to the city to take the request.<\/p>\n \u201cCan you?\u201d<\/p>\n She glares at me. But I know bodies, and I know running. Sallow girl is sweaty, tired, and she has terrible running form. I\u2019ve done a run too, but unlike her, I know how to conserve energy. I turn to the receptionist.<\/p>\n \u201cGive me the request.\u201d<\/p>\n Persua\u2019s sallow face grows even more pinched, if that were possible. She glares daggers at me.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not fair.<\/em> You\u2019ve already done a request. I deserve it! Claudeil and Toriska are both with me\u2014they both deserve chances too!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cToriska\u2019s not even a City Runner yet.\u201d<\/p>\n The other young woman glares daggers at me and reaches for her dagger, and Persua stamps her foot.<\/p>\n \u201cSo? Claudeil is!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, and you always deliver to Magnolia together. This isn\u2019t about\u2014getting to hobnob with her. She needs it fast? I\u2019m ready.\u201d<\/p>\n The idiot is ready to argue with me, but even Claudeil is hesitating because he knows I\u2019m right. Persua strides over to poke at me and I\u2019m ready to break her finger, but an urgent voice interrupts the two of us.<\/p>\n \u201cPersua, please.\u201d<\/p>\n The receptionist is already wrestling with something under the counter. She lifts it up to me and gives me a smile of relief. I guess she really didn\u2019t think Persua could do it either. She brings out a huge metal\u2026canister?<\/p>\n Yes, a locking canister of metal. I blink because it\u2019s more ornate than I thought this world had for metallurgy, but that\u2019s the nobility for you. It\u2019s cold<\/em>, too, and I feel how heavy it is. Must be something solid in there.<\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s the delivery. It\u2019s packed in ice, so try not to get it too warm if possible. You know where Magnolia\u2019s house is. They\u2019ll be expecting you.\u201d<\/p>\n Persua stomps her foot angrily as I put the large metal canister in my backpack. Cold. And it is wrapped with melting ice, so I\u2019ll have a wet backpack after my run. But it\u2019s worth it to see her get mad.<\/p>\n \u201cI<\/em> don\u2019t think this is a good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood for you.\u201d<\/p>\n If looks could kill\u2026but Persua\u2019s looks only annoy. She stomps towards me until my nose burns with her stupid perfume. She hisses at me.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll regret this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, really?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes!\u201d<\/p>\n Some people. I turn away from Persua and hear her make a sound like an angry hamster. Claudeil, Toriska, both are giving me what they probably think are sinister looks. I look around and see most of the Street Runners pretending not to see this altercation.<\/p>\n Whatever. I really don\u2019t care about their opinions or whatever Runner\u2019s Code they claim. I\u2019m here to do my job.<\/p>\n I nod to the receptionist.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m off.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m out the door before Persua can make another comment. I hear a strangled scream of fury, then a barrage of complaints. You can\u2019t tell, and I don\u2019t have a mirror.<\/p>\n But I\u2019m grinning again.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This time, it\u2019s the head maid who opens the door. She sniffs down at me.<\/p>\n I nod at her. I\u2019m out of breath, tired, and my back is really, really<\/em> cold. But I feel great, because I made it here in just forty minutes. That\u2019s almost a record, and it\u2019s at least twice as fast as Persua\u2019s best time.<\/p>\n \u201cDelivery for Magnolia.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s Lady<\/em> Magnolia, Miss Ryoka Griffin. Wipe your feet.\u201d<\/p>\n Now here\u2019s someone whose looks can really kill. I shrug and take off my pack. I do wipe my feet again.<\/p>\n \u201cSeal?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait.\u201d<\/p>\n The head maid closes the door on me as I wrestle with my damp delivery. Well, looks like I won\u2019t be talking to Magnolia today. That\u2019s actually a relief. I don\u2019t mind the bubbly, excitable noblewoman, but I actually prefer the maids. They might be abrupt and rude, but that means less talking.<\/p>\n Okay, icy package is in my hands. I wait as patiently as I can outside the door and then hear a muffled conversation. It sounds like someone arguing, and then I hear a familiar energetic voice.<\/p>\n \u201cNonsense! Ressa, how could you\u2014of course I insist you let her in! Dirty feet or not!\u201d<\/p>\n The door opens, and a familiar woman greets me. How can one woman\u2019s hair stay that curly? I\u2019m fairly certain they don\u2019t have hair curlers in this day and age, but Magnolia\u2019s blonde locks look as stylized as any I\u2019ve seen from my world.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease, allow me to apologize for my servant\u2019s rudeness. Come in, please!\u201d<\/p>\n I hesitate, and the maid\u2014Ressa\u2014standing behind Magnolia looks unhappy.<\/p>\n \u201cI can just deliver the package if you have the seal\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I won\u2019t hear of it! Come in!\u201d<\/p>\n Ressa makes a face, and I try not to. Reluctantly, I walk into the foyer of Lady Magnolia\u2019s mansion and wish there was a rug to wipe my feet on. Magnolia beams at me while Ressa perfects her death-glare behind her back. I\u2019m pretty sure she doesn\u2019t want my dirty feet walking all over the marble floor. I\u2019d prefer not to be here too, but the delivery isn\u2019t done until I get the seal.<\/p>\n \u201cThis way, please. You can put it in the drawing room. No, not the secondary one, Ressa. The main one!\u201d<\/p>\n She leads me into a carpeted room. Again, I hesitate, but there\u2019s no helping it. The rug is very<\/em> soft, and my feet are very<\/em> dirty, but Magnolia doesn\u2019t care. She peers excitedly at the metal container burning my hands with frost and dripping onto the carpet and beams at me.<\/p>\n \u201cOh my, that was quick!<\/em> I was told this would be travelling the entire way from the port city of Hazenbrad! Did you bring it here yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Other runners brought it most of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you and your people have certainly done me quite a service! Thank you! My, you look exhausted. Won\u2019t you take a shot of stamina potion? You\u2019re not supposed to mix it with anything\u2014terrible effects, alchemy, you know, but you can chase it with a drink. I find a lemonade works. But perhaps you\u2019re busy? I did remember this time to have my seal ready!\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia presents me with her silver-sapphire seal. I\u2019m actually gratified she remembers, and she looks me up and down.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Ryoko, isn\u2019t it? It\u2019s rare that I see the same Runner in so many days.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka<\/em>. But I\u2019m used to people mispronouncing the name. I take the seal and slip it into my pouch. Right, now how to get out of this place tactfully?<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got to go. More deliveries.\u201d<\/p>\n Actually, I don\u2019t have any more, and I\u2019m tired. But I\u2019d rather go to sleep now and deal with annoying jealous Runners tomorrow. Magnolia\u2019s face falls. She glances at Ressa, who looks amused for some reason, and flutters her hands at the couch.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, but won\u2019t you stay? I\u2019d love to share this delightful treat with you\u2014and you\u2019ve run so far and so quickly too! When I heard a Runner was setting out from Wales*, I was sure it would take at least<\/em> an hour for you to get here!\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *Yeah, that\u2019s the city I left. Wales. It\u2019s odd that it has the same name as a country from my world, but then again\u2026it\u2019s not. There\u2019s only so many words in the English language after all.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMm.\u201d<\/p>\n Again, what do<\/em> you say to something like that? \u2018Yeah, I\u2019m awesome, now give me more money?\u2019 This is why I hate talking to people. However, Magnolia just peers at me and then claps her hands as if she\u2019s recalling something else.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you look so tired! Did you do another delivery today? You Runners are out and about! Wales, Wales\u2026I say, are you the one who bailed the Horns of Hammerad out of their predicament? I was wondering which brave Runner actually ran into a battle, and I will just bet<\/em> it\u2019s you!\u201d<\/p>\n That makes me start. I blink and look at the woman.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Horns? They made it?\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia Reinhart smiles and gestures to her couch again. It\u2019s pink.<\/em> Who makes pink couches?\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThey did indeed. Did you leave before the battle ended? I\u2019m told they slew a Lich and a horde of undead. Found very little, but the bounty on a Lich is quite high, and I imagine if it was wearing any artifacts, they got those too. It sounded like they were returning to Wales for the day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026that\u2019s great. How did you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Even I hadn\u2019t heard of that by the time I returned to the Runner\u2019s Guild. Magnolia beams as I sit, and she indicates Ressa.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I do keep up with the local adventurers and their exploits. It pays to be informed, you know, and I was quite concerned when I heard they were in danger. And you were there! You must tell me about it. I insist. Ressa, the potion and some lemonade for Miss Ryoka!\u201d<\/p>\n And suddenly, I\u2019m trapped. Ressa gives her mistress an exasperated look, but she steps back. Magnolia seats herself on another pink duvet across from me and keeps on chattering on as I eye the canister of metal that one of her [Butlers] or something is slowly prizing open.<\/p>\n \u201cBesides which, I was never able to talk properly with you both times before now. I truly would love to converse with you\u2014and ask about your peculiar choice of footwear, or should I say, its lack! Won\u2019t you stay for a while?\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia entreats me with her eyes, and Ressa the maid gives me a look that says I should do whatever she wants and stop sweating and getting the carpets dirty while I\u2019m at it. She\u2019s already back with a shot glass of red liquid followed by lemonade. I take both, swallow the horrible stamina potion\u2014and feel myself perk right up.<\/p>\n Wow.<\/em> But as I sip the lemonade, my heart sinks. Now I have to be polite. But then again\u2014she did tell me the Horns survived.<\/p>\n I hesitate. I\u2019m tired, and I don\u2019t feel like talking. Like always. True, Magnolia is better than Persua any day of the week, but her enthusiasm makes me<\/em> feel tired. So I stand and edge towards the door.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but I really should go. I\u2019m very busy.\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia smiles at me.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you that eager to be away? You may simply tell me if you don\u2019t wish to converse.\u201d<\/p>\n I jump* and stare at her. Magnolia smiles.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *Well, not literally.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cReally, my dear. It\u2019s written all over your face. But besides that, I am a [Lady], and most of us learn [Sense Intentions] quite early. And I am quite high-level at that. So, therefore, <\/span>sit.<\/em><\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n I sit. I don\u2019t even think about it. She spoke, and I\u2014okay, that was something else. Her voice suddenly had something in it, like it was speaking in my mind. Magnolia sighs.<\/p>\n \u201cI am seldom so straightforwards, but I would like to talk with you. And you are so flighty, Miss Ryoka Griffin! It is rare that I meet a young lady as interesting as yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n Try to stand up. No? Okay legs, I\u2019m your boss. Stand. Stand<\/em>.<\/p>\n Magnolia gestures to the couch I\u2019m trapped in.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease sit here. I would like to share this delivery you\u2019ve worked so hard to bring me.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m still struggling with my unresponsive body. Magnolia gives me another smile and addresses her hovering maid.<\/p>\n \u201cRessa? Please be so kind as to open up the delivery? And I believe we will need two bowls and silverware. I would like the blue porcelain today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery good, milady. I\u2019m sure the color will detract from the quantity you intend to gobble down like a pig for slaughter.\u201d<\/p>\n I choke on my lemonade. Did I just hear that? <\/em>Magnolia shoots Ressa a quick glare, but not outraged, like I\u2019d assume. She shoes Ressa off, and the woman gives me a silent, warning look. Probably to tell me to behave, and she disappears out the door. She\u2019s probably going for reinforcement maids. And that leaves me with Magnolia.<\/p>\n The larger woman gives me another charming smile. For the first time, I eye her, and not just as a rich, silly lady. Sure, she looks like something of a stereotype with her bright clothing and expensive jewelry and unambiguously good-natured personality, but what the hell did she do to me? Is that a Skill?<\/p>\n She looks like your image of a valedictorian [Lady] in the modern era. Charming, trendy, and I assumed, mostly fixated on fashion and\u2026noble, rich person stuff. Which I am acquainted with via my family. All show, little substance, lots of drama.<\/p>\n But she knew about the Horns, and her Skill is still locking me in my seat.<\/p>\n \u201cI do hope you like sweet things, Miss Ryoka. Forgive my rudeness, but I simply find that sometimes it\u2019s best to pin people down and get to know them, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so glad you agree! My, between you and Ressa, I am simply spoilt for fine conversation, aren\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n Now, that. That<\/em> sounded a bit like sarcasm. Well, well. Looks like Magnolia has layers. Or her petticoat does. Looks like I\u2019ve underestimated her.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, continue sitting there for a moment. I simply must try this delight, although I fear it\u2019s rather ruining the carpet. Ah, well, it was due for a change.\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia bustles out of the room. I try to run for it, but my legs are still unresponsive. Well, damn. She\u2019s got some power. It might be worth talking with her after all.<\/p>\n Magnolia. What an aggressive, pushy lady.<\/p>\n I think I like her.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Lady Magnolia fussed around the drawing room, and her maids fussed after her. She was busy overseeing the opening of a large metal cask, the contents of which had been surrounded in ice.<\/p>\n Ryoka sat in front of one ornately wrought table, conscious of her dirty feet on the rug. It might not have been Persian, but that was only because Persia didn\u2019t exist in this world. It was certainly expensive, and it was certainly getting dirty the longer her feet were on it.<\/p>\n Occasionally, Ryoka\u2019s legs would tense, but she remained sitting, much to her vexation.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd here we are!\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia clapped her hands together in delight. Ryoka glanced up as the two latches on the metal canister were undone and icy vapor escaped. She had no idea what she\u2019d brought, and so it was with interest that she saw a maid carefully scoop something out of the canister.<\/p>\n It was\u2026white, wet-looking, with a few dark flecks mixed in the creamy color. Magnolia\u2019s eye sparkled as another scoop was transferred to a blue and white porcelain bowl. Even the maids looked covetously at the soft cream.<\/p>\n To be specific, the soft ice cream<\/em>.<\/p>\n Ryoka stared. Magnolia\u2019s smile intensified, but the stare was not because Ryoka was taken with the novelty of the unheard of, expensive treat that she would have never eaten before. That was Magnolia\u2019s one error.<\/p>\n The [Lady] gestured towards her guest, and the maid hesitated before setting the bowl down in front of Ryoka. The young woman stared silently at the gold filigree on the spoon she was handed. She stared down at the ice cream.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, this is quite a treat.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the maids pulled a chair out for Lady Magnolia, and the noblewoman sat across from Ryoka. She accepted another bowl and smiled at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid. This is in fact a very rare delicacy I had imported. It\u2019s quite, quite<\/em> expensive, but once you try it, I think you\u2019ll agree it\u2019s worth the cost. And I was sure a fast Runner would take it to me! I would have been so\u2026disappointed if it was late.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka hesitated. That sounded like she had really bailed Persua out of trouble, but she was still flummoxed by the appearance of the ice cream. She wasn\u2019t sure if she should eat first, but Magnolia waved one hand at her.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, go on. What kind of host would I be if I did not allow you the first bite? I must warn you, though\u2014it\u2019s quite cold! Eat too fast and you will suffer, as I\u2019ve learned.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka hesitated, but Lady Magnolia was staring at her with earnest expectation. That was in sharp contrast to the maids behind her, who were all giving Ryoka the glare of death. She had the distinct impression refusing would not end well for her.<\/p>\n Prompted by all the eyes on her, Ryoka slowly took a bite. Her expression didn\u2019t change one iota. Lady Magnolia blinked. The maids would have muttered, but their training kept their faces carefully neutral.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh. Ice cream.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka paused and cursed inwardly. She hadn\u2019t meant to say that out loud. Again, Magnolia blinked at her, and her mouth fell open delicately.<\/p>\n \u201cMy. You know what this is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026No?\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia\u2019s eyes sharpened, and she stopped with a huge spoonful of ice cream. She delicately took a bite, then sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cMy dear, remember what I said about my Skills? I know you\u2019re lying. But how can that be? I would swear that this delight hasn\u2019t been invented but for a week! I just heard it had been created by a master [Chef] in the northern continent. But you\u2019ve had some before, haven\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n She could tell the truth, or she could lie and reveal the truth. Ryoka shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n The maids murmured. Magnolia sighed and tasted the ice cream herself.<\/p>\n \u201cDelicious. Oh, but pardon me. I couldn\u2019t help myself. Well, this is one surprise that quite trumps my surprise! I must say, I\u2019m rather put out and delighted that you know this treat. What did you call it? \u2018Ice cream\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs it called something else around here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe it was referred to as \u2018gelato\u2019 or some such. But I rather like your name! It certainly is quite reminiscent of cream, isn\u2019t it? But the coldness\u2014and of course the sweetness is incomparable!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMhm.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, Ryoka was sweating. Magnolia leaned over, but Ryoka was astounded at how fast she ate the ice cream. No wonder she got a brain freeze!<\/p>\n \u201cWell, now you simply must<\/em> tell me how you know of this treat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh, it\u2019s common in my home country.\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia raised her delicate eyebrows.<\/p>\n \u201cCommon? It is not in Drath, I assure you. Surely you\u2014but you are<\/em> telling the truth. How curious.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka shifted in her seat. This was bad. She felt like her mind was being read. Well, even if it were just her intentions and whether or not she was telling the truth, there were enough landmines in the conversation to fill a battlefield. She had to shift the conversation.<\/p>\n Gingerly, she took another bite. The ice cream wasn\u2019t actually as sweet as one from her world, but it was hauntingly familiar. She pointed to the melting canister.<\/p>\n \u201cUh, how much did this cost?\u201d<\/p>\n That wasn\u2019t an appropriate question to judge by the glares she got from the maids. But Magnolia seemed to take the question in stride.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I hate to bring up such issues in polite conversation, but this little treat cost seventy gold coins, not including the cost of shipping it across the sea and rushing it all the way here.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka choked on her bite of ice cream and nearly bit the spoon in half. Magnolia waved a hand at her.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, please. I know it\u2019s a lot, but for a treat like this? Very worthwhile.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo worthwhile you could not eat two bowls.\u201d<\/p>\n Ressa muttered out of the corner of her mouth. Ryoka stared down and saw Magnolia was<\/em> already getting a refill, and they weren\u2019t small bowls. Magnolia sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cRessa, you\u2019re right. Of course.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Maid] looked caught off-guard, and Magnolia clicked her fingers lightly.<\/p>\n \u201cI must make this batch last. I shall have some cherries, raspberries, and strawberries in my bowl. Delightfully sweet. Will you have any, Ryoka?\u201d<\/p>\n None of those fruits were in season, but Ryoka had no doubt Magnolia had a stockpile. She shook her head as the fruits appeared within a minute and were ladled into the bowl. That was an entire lunch in and of itself. <\/em>But Magnolia simply picked up her spoon in delight as Ressa gave her the look of someone watching a truly horrific act of consumption.<\/p>\n Silently, Ryoka stared at the canister of ice cream. It was probably, when all was said and done, the size of a tub of ice cream she could have bought for three dollars in any supermarket in her world.<\/p>\n In this world, seventy gold pieces was about seventy weeks<\/em> of pay for the average person. And Ryoka just bet that the \u2018shipping\u2019 and rush delivery might have doubled the price. If it was overseas? She didn\u2019t want to think about it.<\/p>\n Oblivious to her inner thoughts, Magnolia smiled again at Ryoka as she delicately spooned more ice cream into her mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cI fear we must eat quickly before our \u2018ice cream\u2019 melts. But I\u2019m sure we could chat over tea as well. And then you can tell me about how you know of this ice cream and where you come from. I must say, your features are quite striking.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka\u2019s expression didn\u2019t change, but Magnolia\u2019s eyes flickered.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, if you don\u2019t prefer to say, I quite understand. But I would like to chat.\u201d<\/p>\n This was hard. Ryoka frowned at her mostly melted ice cream and thought carefully. She was looking for something to distract from the topic of where she was from, and she had nothing\u2026until an idea formed. Then she looked up. Magnolia\u2019s smile grew even wider. She was a third through her bowl! Ryoka glanced at her rapidly moving spoon.<\/p>\n \u201cAah. I mean\u2026I could talk about one thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia\u2019s eyes twinkled with anticipation.<\/p>\n \u201cOh? I know it\u2019s terribly rude to point out what you\u2019re thinking, but that was quite the inspiration you just had.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I was just thinking about the ice cream.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like another scoop? We could all have a third bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia instantly offered Ryoka more, and Ressa and both [Maids] shook their heads behind her. Ryoka bit her tongue, amused despite herself, and glanced at Magnolia.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. But I do know a lot about it. Ice cream, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally? You are a fan or familiar with the recipe? I\u2019m afraid I wasn\u2019t able to learn anything about what creature produces such a delightful treat. Or how it was made! Do you know where it comes from? I have a small culinary bounty for my [Chefs] to replicate it because I love it so. Any hints I will be sure to reward!\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia leaned forwards in excitement. Ryoka looked down her bosom and felt like she understood part of the attraction of visiting Magnolia. At least, the attraction for some City Runners. She smiled, once, hesitantly, not the wild grin of someone running. But she did smile, and that was the first step.<\/p>\n \u201cBetter. I know how to make it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Ruins of Albez sit at the heart of what had once been a magical kingdom. Or perhaps a community of mages. Or an ancient citadel of\u2014you know what? It doesn\u2019t matter. There\u2019s almost nothing left anymore to tell a visitor what it had been. Once, this hillside of collapsed dirt and dug-out structures was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"patreon-level":0,"patreon_level":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11693081,349],"tags":[],"twi_volume":[11693130],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-13562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-1","category-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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