Erin woke up to the noise that defined her life.<\/p>\n
The sounds of chess.<\/p>\n
It was a soft sound, most of the time\u2014one she\u2019d learned in all of its subtleties. Chess sounded different.<\/p>\n
The board mattered, for one thing. Erin usually played with wooden pieces\u2014the ones from the DGT electronic chess board manufacturing line. It was the board chess tournaments used because of the sensors and electronic timer wired into the board itself.<\/p>\n
It even had a chess computer you could buy to play against. It was high-tech, and Erin didn\u2019t like it.<\/p>\n
She loved the sound and feel of stone pieces, like the one she\u2019d bought for her inn and had in her personal collection in her home. Her home in the real world, her world, that was.<\/p>\n
How seldom she thought of it. And her parents. It was almost as if\u2026unless she thought, she forgot they had ever been. Was she just blocking them out as a self-defense reflex? It hurt Erin, wondering what they were doing and thinking, looking for her, worrying.<\/p>\n
But today was a day for feeling pain. <\/em>And she indulged her own worry, wishing she could tell them\u2014anything\u2014until the sounds drew her upwards.<\/p>\n The soft clicking of stone on stone roused Erin gently. She sat up and reached for the rag she\u2019d left near her head and blew her nose.<\/p>\n Of course, stone chess sets were a lot more fragile, and it was inevitable that someone would drop a piece sooner or later. That was why she only brought it out if she was playing someone who held the same reverence for chess as she did.<\/p>\n Yes\u2014the rhythm told her other things, too. This was a slower chess game because one player was worse than the other. You could almost feel it. One of the two players was decisive, confident, and skilled enough to back up their abilities. They moved almost as soon as the other player did. But the other one paused and hesitated.<\/p>\n Different sounds for different players. Erin remembered the sound of cheap plastic being slammed down by impatient players, ones who grew angry when they were losing and excited over small gains. Bad players? Young players. Amateurs.<\/p>\n Professional chess players got mad too, but in different ways. Sometimes they got loud, but many went cold and focused everything in a silent battle. You could almost tell when a game was getting good, yes. Not by the noise\u2014<\/p>\n But by the silence.<\/em><\/p>\n But in this case, the game wasn\u2019t good. Erin could tell that in the moment she walked out of the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.<\/p>\n Rags sat in front of a chess board, arms crossed while she stared at the skeleton sitting opposite her. Erin stared too. Toren\u2019s presence threw her, but the chess\u2014the chess was easy to understand.<\/p>\n It was a bad game. A very bad game. Rags had nearly all of her pieces\u2014including her pawns\u2014and Toren\u2019s pieces were scattered.<\/p>\n Contrary to what people thought, a one-sided game wasn\u2019t fun. Winning against an inferior opponent wasn\u2019t fun.<\/p>\n Erin said as much after Rags effortlessly checkmated Toren\u2019s king. Both Goblin and skeleton turned.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know how you got him to play, but he clearly doesn\u2019t know how<\/em> to play.\u201d<\/p>\n Rags shrugged indifferently as Toren sprang to his feet. Erin sighed. Her skeleton was playing chess. At this point, she wasn\u2019t surprised.<\/p>\n \u201cSit down.\u201d<\/p>\n Toren sat. Erin pulled a chair over and slumped down on the table, resting her chin on her arms. She stared at Rags. The Goblin was busy rearranging her side, probably in expectation of playing Erin.<\/p>\n The small Goblin looked\u2014battered. Was she hurt? If she was, she didn\u2019t show it.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many games did you play?\u201d<\/p>\n Rags paused and thought. She held up both hands with all five fingers splayed out. Then she kicked Toren. The skeleton held out its fingers too, keeping two down.<\/p>\n \u201cEighteen games? That\u2019s a lot. And how many did he win?\u201d<\/p>\n Rags grinned. Erin snorted, but in some sympathy for the skeleton as it sat there.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I thought.\u201d<\/p>\n Then again, there were always a few players who relished beating down amateurs. Especially kids. Erin had been one of the whiz-kids, the child prodigies of chess growing up. She\u2019d known a few kids her age that positively enjoyed bullying adults.<\/p>\n She, uh\u2026Erin had to admit that a younger girl-Erin might have been one of those children at times. But she\u2019d grown out of it. She thought she had.<\/p>\n It was a sign of immaturity. Erin frowned at Rags, and the little Goblin looked away, scowling. How old was she? How old was she in Goblin years?<\/p>\n \u201cYou should at least teach him how to play. Here.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin pointed to another chess board, and Toren went to fetch it. Mechanically, she set up her side on both the boards facing her.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll teach you and get revenge, deal?\u201d<\/p>\n The skeleton said nothing. But it sat obediently opposite Erin as Rags frowned at her board and carefully moved the knight forwards.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all about positioning, see? I don\u2019t know if you saw me playing chess, but it\u2019s a bit different than everyone thinks.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin casually moved a piece on Rags\u2019 board and then showed Toren.<\/p>\n \u201cSee this central area? Most openings or chess strategies revolve around capturing or controlling this spot. And that\u2019s because your pieces need to move to get in position to attack the enemy. It\u2019s not always about just killing other pieces. It\u2019s about proper setup and luring the enemy into traps.\u201d<\/p>\n She played a few moves with Toren, watching and commenting as the skeleton moved.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone\u2014well, everyone where I come from\u2014knows the basic openings. You have to if you want to play chess. But chess is as much about reading the opponent as it is setting up your board. You trick them, open holes in their defenses. There\u2019s all kinds of ways to do that. Forks, pins, deflection, checks, skewers, batteries\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She began chattering away, a chess enthusiast unloading on a hapless victim. Toren absorbed it all like a sponge as she played a very light game against him, letting the skeleton learn as it lost.<\/p>\n Rags muttered as she lost her queen. Erin pointed to Toren as he tried to move his king and shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll let you take that one back. Try not to move the king so much. You can castle him to move if you have to, but he shouldn\u2019t be the piece you keep moving. That\u2019s usually a bad sign.\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled, nostalgia gripping her. She\u2019d had to learn that the hard way, too.<\/p>\n \u201cI know you want to because he\u2019s so important and you want to keep him safe, but you do that with other pieces. They\u2019re the king\u2019s shield and sword. Yeah, you don\u2019t move the king. Because\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n A flicker of memory. The words came out of Erin automatically.<\/p>\n \u201cThe king is smart and uses his head. For if he moves, he\u2019ll soon be dead.\u201d<\/p>\n Rags and Toren stared at Erin. She blinked. That was it. She remembered<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Um. That was a little rhyme I made up when I was a kid. It\u2014it\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n It felt that way, but Erin couldn\u2019t remember why. It was just a silly thing she\u2019d made up. But\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cWhere was I?\u201d<\/p>\n She stared at the board and found she had a way to checkmate Toren. She showed him it and then glanced at the fuming Rags.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you try again? You\u2019ll probably lose, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared at Toren. It\u2014he\u2014it was an undead creature. Who knew how fast they could learn? It wasn\u2019t as if he had a bad memory\u2014he didn\u2019t have a brain. Erin was suddenly gripped by curiosity, probably just as Rags had been. She wanted to see Toren play.<\/p>\n Carefully, she showed Toren a few classic openings and played slowly through another game as she crushed Rags again. Then she set up a board for the Goblin and skeleton and sat back.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you get it? Let\u2019s see.\u201d<\/p>\n Rags and Erin waited. After a moment, Toren moved a piece. Rags countered. The game lasted for about sixteen more moves before she checkmated him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t get it.\u201d<\/p>\n Toren clattered his jaw. Erin sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t try taking your rook out so quickly. Remember\u2014capture the center at the start and reinforce. Try again.\u201d<\/p>\n He did. Two games later, Erin had to face facts.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat. My undead skeleton sucks at chess.\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t that he was bad, <\/em>it was just\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n Okay, he was bad. Erin saw it as she played Rags and Toren at the same time. He was just an amateur.<\/p>\n Which was totally fine. But it was a marked contrast from the Antinium and Rags. The Workers might have been inexperienced, but they were fast learners who memorized openings and counters with ease. And Rags was gifted.<\/p>\n Compared to that, Toren was just normal. Not hopeless\u2014she could see his game had improved from the travesty it had been before her coaching. It was just that he had no spark.<\/p>\n Erin sighed. She took one of Rags\u2019 knights and ignored the little Goblin hissing in anger.<\/p>\n \u201cCheck.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a shame. But there was something in her that was still happy. Even if her skeleton sucked, he was still playing chess. Even if she was sitting in another world, in an inn playing against a Goblin, she was still playing chess.<\/p>\n That was good. It made her feel at ease. It was the only thing that made her feel happy, really. Because it was the only thing she was good at. It was the only thing she knew how to do.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ceria and Gerial walked through the city, talking. They were alone. Alone in a sea of Drakes and Gnolls and the occasional Antinium.<\/p>\n They were outsiders. But then, adventurers were always outsiders. They were used to it.<\/p>\n And perhaps if it had been another week, another place, they would have been laughing, joking, and exploring a new city. But this was different. They walked and talked seriously, ignoring the hostile looks they got from the locals.<\/p>\n It was easy to be swept away in the inn they\u2019d found. It was a soothing place, and far enough away that they could relax. But here, in the city, they were too close. The Ruins were several miles away from the city, but they might as well have been next to the adventurers. Their nerves hummed, and their hearts beat a little faster in anticipation of what was coming.<\/p>\n \u201cSoon.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria nodded. She touched the knife at her belt and felt the hidden wand strapped to her arm.<\/p>\n \u201cRot, I wish it were tomorrow. No wonder the other adventurers wanted to stay at the inn. I can\u2019t relax at all, here.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial nodded. He stepped aside politely for a female Drake and ignored her as she flicked her tongue out at him.<\/p>\n \u201cThe, ah, local reception isn\u2019t helping either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, what do you expect? They don\u2019t exactly like Humans down here, and I\u2019m just another annoying adventurer. But that\u2019s not what I\u2019m talking about. You can feel it, can\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n He could. Gerial was a veteran adventurer, and he sensed the same thing Ceria was tapping into. There was an undercurrent among the adventurers in the city. Fear\u2014as well as expectation.<\/p>\n The Ruins of Liscor were a huge find, possibly the biggest in a decade. Untold and unplundered treasures were just waiting for the taking, the kind of rewards that could elevate any adventuring group into Gold-rank\u2014or higher. But by the same token, the dangers were just as unknown.<\/p>\n \u201cWe still don\u2019t know what\u2019s down there. Cervial found someone who was willing to explore and map out the first level, but no one is willing to go any further.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he hasn\u2019t found anyone who\u2019s ventured further?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo one who\u2019s gone down too far past the stairs has ever come back.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial tugged at his belt unconsciously. His hand touched the pommel of his sword and then moved away as a Gnoll guardsman glanced at him.<\/p>\n That was it. That was the fear. Something was down there, and whatever it was, it was deadly. So much so that the treasure-lust of the other adventurers was being kept at bay.<\/p>\n What might be hiding down there? A bagrhaven? A nest of them, perhaps. But something that could kill a team of Silver-ranks without letting any of them live\u2014<\/p>\n A trap? A colony of wurms? Some\u2014some kind of undead army? Or\u2014Gerial\u2019s blood ran cold at the thought\u2014had they dug up the burial site of one of the Old Things?<\/p>\n No. No, there was no sense in thinking of it. But that was<\/em> the thing. Uncertainty was keeping these adventurers at bay. Once they knew what was down there, those who could take on the threat would band together and deal with it in a heartbeat. Adventurers would swarm over the ruins, stealing, fighting each other, trying to grab as much as possible.<\/p>\n All it took was the first, brave group who would uncover the secrets below and pay with blood. And for once, it was the Horns of Hammerad who would be paying that price.<\/p>\n \u201cHey.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial blinked and jerked in surprise as the elbow caught him in the side. He glanced down at Ceria and saw she was staring up at him.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t go panicking on me, now. We\u2019ll be fine, so stop worrying.\u201d<\/p>\n He smiled, but Ceria\u2019s jab had brought him back into reality. Casually, he rubbed at the spot she\u2019d hit, wondering if he\u2019d have a bruise.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone has to worry. As far as our leader is concerned, this is going to be a simple extermination request, nothing more.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria made a face.<\/p>\n \u201cCalruz is arrogant. But he\u2019s confident and bold, which is why he\u2019s perfect for a vice-Captain like you.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial felt the statement should have been reversed, but he smiled at the compliment anyways. Then he frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cThe [Illumination] spell. How\u2019s it going?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cMy mastery of it is\u2014incomplete. I\u2019ll keep studying, but my best guess is that I\u2019ll be able to cast it once and then I\u2019ll need a mana potion. It\u2019s too exhausting to use multiple times in a row.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnce should be enough. Just so we have an area permanently lit to fall back to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got the formations worked out. Stop\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, yes. And supplies are underway. It\u2019s just\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria patted Gerial on the shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, believe me. I\u2019m feeling it too. But we\u2019ve planned for as much as we can, and we\u2019ll pull out the instant there\u2019s trouble. Don\u2019t worry.\u201d<\/p>\n He smiled at her. It was reassuring to have someone as old as Ceria in the group with him. She was over sixty years old, and if she hadn\u2019t spent all that time adventuring, he was still glad she was here. In truth, he felt it was she who should be the vice-Captain, but she\u2019d always refused.<\/p>\n Mainly because she didn\u2019t want to do all the logistical work.<\/p>\n Their talk turned to lighter things. Neither Gerial nor Ceria were new to adventuring or the risks of exploring dungeons. Gerial had been an adventurer for eight years\u2014Ceria for fourteen.<\/p>\n \u201cSay we do get gold and gems rather than a magical item. We have the largest shares after the Captains. What would you buy?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria smiled and eyed a few carved bracelets on display in a Gnoll\u2019s shop. The large Gnoll woman eyed the half-Elf and bared her teeth politely, gesturing in an invitation. Ceria waved her hand, and they continued on.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I have enough, I\u2019d like to buy another spell book. All the ones I have I\u2019ve more or less mastered. With enough gold\u2014a few hundred pieces more\u2014I could buy a book with a few Tier 4 spells.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust that? If the reward is all Calruz thinks it could be, you\u2019d have a lot more money than that.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria raised an eyebrow at Gerial.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve never bought spell books, have you? Just one costs several hundred gold or thousands, and that\u2019s for low-Tier spells. I\u2019ve been saving up all this time just to buy one with a Tier 4 spell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut if you leveled up your, um, [Mage] class, you\u2019d learn those anyways, right?\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf ran a hand through her hair distractedly. It was messy because she didn\u2019t always comb it, and he resisted the urge to offer her his comb.<\/p>\n \u201cRight, but\u2014it\u2019s complicated. There\u2019s no guarantee which spells I\u2019d learn, and besides, I\u2019d need to level up quite a bit. But with a spell book, I could study a spell and learn it in a few months.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA few months?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA month, a year, two years\u2014so what? If I mastered just one good spell, my Level would increase. And then we could take on stronger monsters.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cA good thing I was never born with a talent for magic. I don\u2019t have your patience\u2014or your time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, and then what would you buy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cArmor. And a good sword. Or maybe just a magic ring.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cNot too adventurous, are you?\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial smiled as he shook his head, a warrior talking to a mage.<\/p>\n \u201cA good set of magic armor? I\u2019d be able to fight without worrying about some monster clubbing my helmet in every five seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose. It just seems like a waste, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEvery bit counts. If I had good armor, I could worry about other expenses. But that\u2019s the first step.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Money. It was such a simple thing. But it was the bane of an adventurer\u2019s existence. They earned more than skilled workers, but to keep adventuring, they needed more. The Guild had its own fees for enrollment, armor repairs and healing potions were expensive, <\/em>and an injury could leave one out of work for months. It was so hard<\/em> to earn money.<\/p>\n \u201cA good sword.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial murmured into his mustache.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I had that, I could polish my sword skills. Rank up. Start earning a Gold-rank adventurer\u2019s pay\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then perhaps you\u2019d be able to talk to a certain Runner without needing me to push you, hm?\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial turned red.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course you don\u2019t. You Human\u2014no, you males. Idiots who fall in love with the first exotic female you see. You and Calruz both.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial took the ribbing with good humor, although he didn\u2019t point out that the first exotic female he\u2019d ever laid eyes on was Ceria. It would have made the half-Elf blush and then retreat. Or\u2014worse\u2014engage <\/em>and discuss the matter frankly.<\/em> He had learned long ago that her heart had been closed long ago to Human men.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, he was quite glad when he spotted a familiar face sitting at an outdoor stall, eating pieces of roasted meat off of a skewer.<\/p>\n \u201cSostrom!\u201d<\/p>\n The mage looked up and grinned around a mouthful of food as Gerial and Ceria sat to join him. They ordered a skewer of their own as the Drake shopkeeper rotated the sticks of meat over a fire.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw you two had already left. The innkeeper\u2014Miss Solstice was sick, so we all took our leave without breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial nodded. He\u2019d had a late breakfast with Ceria, but his appetite returned quickly as he inhaled the scents of roasted animal.<\/p>\n \u201cHave you seen Calruz?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot since last night. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe left the inn, and he hasn\u2019t slept since last night, I think. You know what he\u2019s like when he\u2019s irritable.\u201d<\/p>\n Sostrom made a face.<\/p>\n \u201cLet the Watch deal with him. I don\u2019t get paid to restrain him when he causes trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf he gets arrested before we enter the Ruins\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe city will let him go if we pay a fine. And they\u2019ll be happier to let him fight monsters than cause trouble in jail.\u201d<\/p>\n There was truth in that statement, so Gerial let it go. He twisted around to look towards the gates where the inn lay.<\/p>\n \u201cSo. A strange [Innkeeper] we\u2019ve met. I\u2019ve never met stranger, have you?\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf frowned.<\/p>\n \u201c…A few that are weird. I heard there\u2019s a former Gold-rank [Innkeeper] up north. Terrible fellow. Sometimes they\u2019re characters, but yes, she beats the lot for originality. But it seems we\u2019ve run across more than one strange girl as of late.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial accepted a stick of meat and handed over coins for both him and Ceria. He bit into the hot meat and glanced at Ceria.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat Yvlon said the other day. You\u2019re sure she has no levels?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what Cervial said. And Yvlon seemed to know something about her as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe entire incident was unfortunate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was her fault.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps, but Yvlon needn\u2019t have challenged her. That wasn\u2019t a fair fight no matter how you look at it.\u201d<\/p>\n That was true. Gerial looked at Sostrom.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re right. I\u2019d forgotten because she won, but since when do the Silver Spears fight civilians?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet alone in armor. Even if it was bravado, Yvlon would have never taken that fight normally. Makes you wonder, don\u2019t it? What Yvlon knew. Or\u2014what her aunt told her.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial and Ceria exchanged a quick glance. Gerial whistled long and low under his breath.<\/p>\n \u201cLady Magnolia.\u201d<\/p>\n Sostrom nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a name that tells you how important she is.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial scratched at his chin as he glanced at the Human [Mage] for clarification.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon important? Or Ryoka important?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka. I hear Yvlon doesn\u2019t lean on her family connections or even her brother, who\u2019s also a Gold-<\/em>rank adventurer. But Ryoka has Lady Reinhart following her every move.\u201d<\/p>\n The Human [Mage] nodded again for emphasis. He scratched at his forehead under his pointy hat. Sostrom was completely bald, and as such, wore his mage\u2019s hat whenever possible.<\/p>\n \u201cThat object I repaired, her fist-fighting skill. Her lack of levels\u2026it\u2019s enough to interest me, but why a scion of the Five Families? There\u2019s something else to her, mark my words.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope she doesn\u2019t do anything rash.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria snorted into her food. Gerial made a face.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know what I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust hope she survives. Once we\u2019re done here, we can ask her more questions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt could be a while if these ruins are as deep as they seem.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s a big Human. She\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, since we\u2019re on the topic of secrets\u2026what\u2019s the story behind you and this Pisces character? I thought I saw him last night, but you two hardly shared a word.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was intentional. I get a headache whenever I have to talk to that idiot for too long.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria sighed, but Sostrom frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cYou might make fun of him, but he is<\/em> a graduate of Wistram when all is said and done. And that display with healing Ryoka\u2019s leg was nothing short of phenomenal. I certainly wouldn\u2019t want to test myself against him.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial blinked at Sostrom. While Sostrom was the lower-level and self-trained [Mage] in the Horns of Hammerad compared to Ceria, Gerial had still grown to appreciate his ability. He couldn\u2019t cast [Fireball], but he had a lot of good tricks and Ceria respected him. That was high praise.<\/p>\n \u201cThis Pisces is that good of a mage?\u201d<\/p>\n Sostrom nodded seriously.<\/p>\n \u201cI sensed it. He has quite a few levels on me, I suspect. Perhaps the same as our Ceria?\u201d<\/p>\n Both men looked over. Ceria scowled and shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe. But he\u2019s still an idiot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAn idiot from Wistram.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not\u2026well, technically he\u2019s a graduate. But some mages wouldn\u2019t consider him one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait. You said\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf looked unusually defensive. She began speaking faster, hunching her shoulders, and Gerial knew she rarely talked about her past\u2014her upbringing, yes. Not Wistram.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was expelled. But you\u2019re right. He was always at the head of his class whenever he showed up. If he had the money, he could have advanced quite highly. But he dropped out about the same time I, uh, ran out of funds.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he was expelled for his experiments. Yes, I recall. But does he have any combat aptitude? We could hire him for the expedition.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria glanced incredulously up at Gerial.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t trust that idiot with my back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAren\u2019t you being a little too harsh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut what\u2019s his level? A mage living alone like he is has to have some skills. And a [Necromancer] would be perfect if there\u2019s a large amount of undead in the ruins. Come on, Ceria, at least tell us his classes.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria made a face.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014oh, alright. As far as I can remember, he has the most levels in the [Necromancer] class, but he knows quite a few mundane spells too. He might<\/em> be Level 20+ just as a pure [Mage] if you want to rank him. And he knows at least one Tier 4 spell. He was always good at\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me.\u201d<\/p>\n All three adventurers turned. Gerial and Sostrom blinked as they stared into one very large eye and a slight smile. Ceria dropped her half-eaten skewer of meat.<\/p>\n Gazi Pathseeker smiled politely at the three adventurers and bowed her head slightly.<\/p>\n \u201cGreetings. I hope I\u2019m not interrupting?\u201d<\/p>\n There was a brief moment of assessment that Gerial and Sostrom went through. Their eyes noted the quality of Gazi\u2019s armor. Unlike pedestrians, the brown and rust-red color of her equipment didn\u2019t fool their eyes. Her armor was clearly high-quality, and her sword made the two adventurers look twice.<\/p>\n That would have already told them she was Gold-rank or higher. But Gazi wore no armband or markings to indicate her rank. That either meant she was unaffiliated with the Guild or\u2014<\/p>\n Gerial cleared his throat and stood up from his seat. He tried not to stammer.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, pardon me. But you wouldn\u2019t happen to be\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am Gazi.\u201d<\/p>\n They had never seen her face, but both men had heard her name. Instantly, Sostrom was out of his seat and offering her his while Gazi politely refused. Ceria was still staring.<\/p>\n When Gerial had calmed down slightly, he tried to be as accommodating as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, how can we help you Miss, ah\u2014Adventurer Pathseeker?\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled at Gerial. He felt a shock as her eye met his. In his stunned state, Gerial briefly wished Ceria would stop staring and be more respectful.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are members of the Horns of Hammerad, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm yes, I mean, that\u2019s correct. We are. All of us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is good.\u201d<\/p>\n Gazi smiled again. It wasn\u2019t a broad smile\u2014rather, a mysterious small one that fit her perfectly. She nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI wished to speak with you.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial and Sostrom were agog.<\/p>\n \u201cWith us? You know our names?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs it not appropriate? The Horns of Hammerad are well known in the cities around here.\u201d<\/p>\n That<\/em> was enough to inflate both men\u2019s chests. Gazi\u2019s eye flicked towards Ceria for a brief moment as she continued speaking.<\/p>\n \u201cI have visited several Human cities to the north. And strangely, come back here chasing rumors. I hoped you could assist me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnything.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial breathed the words. The smile he got made his stomach jump.<\/p>\n \u201cI have heard\u2014from several sources\u2014of a most extraordinary Human female in this area. A Runner. I believe her name is Ryoka Griffin. A levelless girl who braved the High Passes and survived. A most\u2026interesting<\/em> person in short. And I am told the Horns of Hammerad are her acquaintances.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial and Sostrom exchanged a glance. How much of a coincidence could it be? Gerial vaguely noticed Ceria coming to stand next to him.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do\u2014we do know that girl! We were in her company only two days ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Gazi\u2019s smile widened.<\/p>\n \u201cAh. So you know her. Good. Tell me, is she all that people say she is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat and more.\u201d<\/p>\n Sostrom nodded eagerly. Gerial glared, but the bald mage had beaten him to the punch.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2014well, I don\u2019t know that she\u2019s levelless, but another adventurer with [Appraisal] says it\u2019s true. And she did<\/em> survive the High Passes. And she has the favor of Lady Magnolia. And<\/em> she runs barefoot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed? How fascinating. I should very much like to meet her. You wouldn\u2019t happen to know where she is by any chance?\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial and Sostrom both opened their mouths, but incredibly, it was Ceria who beat both of them.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t, I\u2019m afraid. She moves around all the time, so it\u2019s hard to pin her down.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial felt something on his foot and looked down. Ceria had stepped on his foot for some reason. And Sostrom\u2019s as well. Why? He glanced at Sostrom and saw the other man was blinking and touching at his head.<\/p>\n But Gazi was looking at Gerial, and suddenly, his attention was focused completely on her.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, but I would dearly like to meet her. Would you happen to know where she stays?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCelum. There\u2019s an inn she stays at quite often there, and she takes most of her requests there.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria stepped on his foot again. Gerial glanced at her, irritated. She mouthed something but then Gazi was speaking.<\/p>\n \u201cWhich inn?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Bloody Tankard.\u201d<\/p>\n This time, Ceria abandoned all pretense and jabbed Gerial hard<\/em> in the side. He winced and looked down at her, confused.<\/p>\n Ceria sighed and shoved Gerial back. Sostrom interposed himself between the vice-Captain and Gazi, averting his gaze from Gazi\u2019s eye. So did Ceria. She spoke to the air just over Gazi\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me, Miss Gazi. But why the interest in Ryoka?\u201d<\/p>\n Gazi\u2019s eye shifted towards Ceria, but the half-Elf refused to meet her gaze.<\/p>\n \u201cI would simply like to meet her.\u201d<\/p>\n Her eye focused on Ceria, and Gazi\u2019s slight smile grew a fraction. Ceria bit the inside of her lip until it bled.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you have the name of her inn. And we haven\u2019t seen her. So if that\u2019s all\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe was in Esthelm just two days ago!\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria cursed and whirled to glare at Gerial. Behind her, she heard Gazi chuckle.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd do you have any way of finding her now? Or perhaps you know where she\u2019s going?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe do not.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria cut Gerial off. She glared at Gazi, focusing hard, channeling mana into her eyes as a shield.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t know anything else. So stop asking. We would like to be left in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n Gazi was still smiling.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I have more questions to ask about Ryoka. And I feel you can answer them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got nothing for you. So you can take your answers and shove them.\u201d<\/p>\n Gazi blinked. Ceria gasped as the pressure on her vanished. The half-Gazer looked disappointed.<\/p>\n \u201cHm. You would not answer questions for me? I am a Named Adventurer, you know. And you are, ah, yes, Silver-rank. Tradition would dictate you help me to the best of your abilities.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria snapped at Gazi.<\/p>\n \u201cI know who you are. And a former soldier isn\u2019t the same as a true adventurer. We got our levels from fighting monsters, not killing people.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I am still higher rank than you. I could be\u2026troublesome to you if you refuse to help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t help the insane. You and your mad king can go to hell for all I care\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Gazi didn\u2019t so much move as blur<\/em>. One moment she was smiling, posture relaxed, talking calmly to Ceria. The next, the edge of her sword was suddenly at Ceria\u2019s throat. And she was no longer smiling.<\/p>\n \u201cI do not suffer insults to my lord\u2019s name.\u201d<\/p>\n It took a second for the two men behind Ceria to react. When they did, Gerial swore and went for his sword and Sostrom reached for his wand. But they both froze as Gazi poked the tip of the razor sharp blade a bit further into Ceria\u2019s neck.<\/p>\n \u201cHow inconvenient. And we were doing so well with politeness. But I will have an answer. But first\u2014an apology. I will hear it from you on your knees, half-Elf.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria was sweating. The blade was not pricking her throat, but lodged into her skin. She was already bleeding. If it went in just another inch\u2014<\/p>\n Perhaps it was because it had been so quick. Gazi hadn\u2019t attracted attention when she\u2019d drawn her sword because she\u2019d moved so fast no one had seen it leave her sheath.<\/em> But it was hard to ignore a drawn blade at the throat of a half-Elf in the middle of the street.<\/p>\n People began noticing the standoff and panicking in the course of a few moments. Within seconds, the pedestrians cleared out, and the adventurers could hear someone calling the Watch.<\/p>\n They were using a high-pitched whistle, which gave off a shrill whine that was impossible to ignore. Gazi didn\u2019t lower her sword, though one of her smaller eyes rolled around in her head. Neither Gerial nor Sostrom moved either, and Ceria was already on her tiptoes. They knew how fast the Watch would react and didn\u2019t panic.<\/p>\n The filthy girl hiding behind the stall was no seasoned adventurer, however, and she heard the whistle and thought it was for her. She rushed out from behind the shopkeeper\u2019s stall, appearing in the street as her [Invisibility] spell failed.<\/p>\n Ceria was afraid to turn her head, but Sostrom and Gerial saw a blonde head of hair, filthy travelling clothes, pale skin, and the flash of magic. The girl raised an emerald ring, shouted something as she pointed at the adventurers, and then fled.<\/p>\n From her ring, a huge, thick tendril of what looked like spider web shot out, growing larger and spreading out. It flew at the adventurers like a bird.<\/p>\n Gerial and Sostrom had seen the spell, and they were already diving for the ground. The cobwebs struck their backs and stuck to them, instantly anchoring them with tendrils of silk as strong as stone.<\/p>\n Ceria could do nothing but watch as the spider webs flew at her. They wrapped around her, and she fell to the ground, instantly cocooned. Gazi\u2019s blade would have cut her\u2014but the Gazer moved it out of the way just in time.<\/p>\n Gazi eyed the unfurling spider web and flicked her sword twice. The tendrils of webbing fell at her feet, neatly severed.<\/p>\n Gazi tsked<\/em> in irritation and glanced around as the piercing whine continued.<\/p>\n The girl with the magic was nowhere to be seen. She\u2019d already fled down an alleyway.<\/p>\n \u201cHow inconvenient. I suppose I must ask my questions another time.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked down at Ceria, and the half-Gazer\u2019s eyes were hard.<\/p>\n \u201cBut make no mistake. I shall<\/em> see you again and ask more questions. Unless of course I find this Ryoka Griffin first.\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled then, her slight, mysterious smile.<\/p>\n \u201cFarewell.\u201d<\/p>\n Gazi turned and strode off. Her legs were a blur as she disappeared into an alleyway.<\/p>\n \u201cDamnation!\u201d<\/p>\n Gerial cursed as he fought the webs. But they had anchored him to the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat kind of magical artifact was that? Sostrom, I\u2019m pinned. Can you\u2014?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy wand is caught!\u201d<\/p>\n The Human [Mage] cursed and fought to tear his wand free of the webbing. Lying helpless on the ground, Ceria gulped a few times. It didn\u2019t feel<\/em> like her throat was perforated.<\/p>\n \u201c[Flashfire].\u201d<\/p>\n The thick webbing burned off of Ceria in an instant, giving off thick, billowing clouds of smoke. She yelped and cursed as the fire burned her. But in moments, the webbing was gone.<\/p>\n She stood up and unsheathed her belt dagger. Ceria ran to Gerial and Sostrom, working her blade into the webbing. It stuck.<\/p>\n She pulled the dagger away and pointed at it. A stream of fire burst from her fingers and engulfed the blade, turning it red-hot. Ceria began cutting again, and the webbing fell away.<\/p>\n Gerial yelped as the heated blade burned him, but Ceria yanked him to his feet.<\/p>\n \u201cComplain later. Let\u2019s go! If the Watch catches us\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n All three adventurers exchanged a look. They looked around the street. Sostrom pointed to an alleyway, and they ran as the Watch arrived on the scene, led by an irate Drake with a spear.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe were under a spell?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Ceria nodded as she, Sostrom, and Gerial walked back towards the inn. She winced with every step. Her skin was red and burned along her entire body. Only where her enchanted robes had covered her was her skin whole.<\/p>\n Sostrom fished out a potion and handed it to her as they walked. None of the adventurers slowed down, though. The commotion hadn\u2019t spread to the rest of the city, but they had no desire to get on the wrong side of the Watch.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. She was casting a [Charm] spell with her eye. It hit both of you the instant you looked at her. I barely blocked it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut she was only looking at us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGazers can cast spells as easily as looking. A half-Gazer can do the same, it seems.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA half-Gazer? Is that what she was?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria glanced sideways at Gerial. The man was still pale from their encounter\u2014and the magic that had worn off on him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t know she was half-Gazer? Seriously, Gerial?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI only know the basics. She\u2019s a Named-rank. And she served the King of Destruction.<\/em> What more do you need from me?\u201d<\/p>\n He felt that covered everything you needed to ever know about Gazi. Ceria muttered darkly to herself as she rubbed the ointment over her burns.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot more to it than that, Gerial. She\u2019s one of the Seven\u2014and she was famous for killing every single [Spy], [Assassin], [Saboteur], and [Rogue] she ever ran into during his wars. Of all of them, she could be called the scariest. Let\u2019s get something to drink back at the inn. I\u2019ll tell you all about it as soon as we get clear of the area.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell us now. If she\u2019s after us\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot us. She wants Ryoka, and I don\u2019t know why. Possibly the same reason Magnolia is interested in her, but that\u2019s just a guess. It spells trouble, and we need to let everyone know as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGive us the details on Gazi before we get there. How strong is she? Where does she come from?\u201d<\/p>\n This came from Sostrom, and Gerial was so amazed that the [Mage] didn\u2019t know\u2026<\/p>\n But Ceria nodded. They were all on different pages, so she decided to start from the beginning. She took a deep breath as she walked. The pain from her burns was easing, but she was still shaky. But an adventurer was calm or she was dead. So she collected her thoughts and spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll tell you two from the beginning so we\u2019re not making mistakes in the future. Right. Sostrom, do you know about the desert continent south or maybe south-west of here? Chandrar?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cToo basic, Ceria.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, okay. It\u2019s huge, but there are several kingdoms to note. Like Nerrhavia\u2019s Fallen, the largest Stitch-folk kingdom in the world. But there\u2019s one that you definitely heard about\u2014even if you don\u2019t know Gazi. Everyone knew that kingdom, once. In one of them sleeps a king\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cGood evening, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin blinked at Gazi.<\/p>\n \u201cOh hi, Gazi. What\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n Gazi smiled at Erin. She didn\u2019t come in, although Erin held the door open for her.<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t trespass here long. I just wished to tell you I will be travelling from this city for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have business to attend to elsewhere. I just wished to know if you planned on travelling anywhere in the coming weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin blinked. Some people were strange. Gazi appeared on her doorstep and asked\u2014she was staring quite hard at Erin with her huge eye. But maybe that was just how half-Gazers were.<\/p>\n \u201cNah. I\u2019m not going anywhere in a hurry. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n Gazi studied her with her central eye and then smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cI was just curious. I would greatly enjoy having another meal here at a later date, and I would not wish for you to leave before then.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cNo chance of that, I\u2019m afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell then. Until we meet again.\u201d<\/p>\n Gazi stepped back, smiling. Erin stared at her, nonplussed. Gazi turned and paused. Someone was in her way.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me.\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz blinked down at Gazi. The large Minotaur had clearly not been intending to stop, preferring perhaps to run Gazi over or let her move aside, but when he saw her face, his hooves stopped dead in their tracks.<\/p>\n The Minotaur\u2019s eyes fixed on Gazi\u2019s large eye, and his eyes widened in recognition. He instantly made room for her to walk past him, giving Gazi a lot of space. She brushed past him with her faint smile.<\/p>\n \u201cYour pardons, warrior.\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz stared at her back as she left. He turned to Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSort of. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz stared at Erin, back at Gazi\u2019s disappearing figure, and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cShe looked like\u2014it is nothing. You would likely not know her as an Izrilian.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin felt a little insulted at that, but she didn\u2019t correct the Minotaur\u2019s error. He snorted, rubbed at his face, and stomped into the inn, nearly running her over. She hopped back and eyed Calruz. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked tired.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, can I help you, Mr. Grumpy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFood. Drink. I will have both.\u201d<\/p>\n He<\/em> didn\u2019t seem to care if she was sick. Erin sighed, walked into her kitchen, and got Calruz a sandwich. He eyed the hefty slices of ham and cheese packed between two flimsy pieces of bread, but devoured the meal without complaint. Then he sat back and eyed her.<\/p>\n Erin stared back. It was quite silent in her inn. Rags had left after losing to Erin several times, and Toren was busy cleaning dishes.<\/p>\n \u201cUm. Nice day, isn\u2019t it? I haven\u2019t gone outside much, but I assume it\u2019s nice.\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz kept staring at her. Erin shifted in her seat. It was very<\/em> quiet.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not a bad day when there are no monsters killing you, right?\u201d<\/p>\n He kept staring. She avoided his gaze.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not raining, at least.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou should have fought.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin glanced up at Calruz. The Minotaur was still staring at her with bloodshot eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou. You should have fought.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFought\u2026who?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLast night. You went out to avenge the insect. You did not. But you should have fought.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin opened her mouth and closed it for a second.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean Pawn and Ksmvr. I didn\u2019t go out to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou did not.\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz agreed. He shifted in his seat and put his elbows on his knees as he faced her.<\/p>\n \u201cBut you should have. It was a matter of honor. If you cared for the one called Pawn, you should have fought to protect him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin didn\u2019t know what to say. Where had this come from? But Calruz was direct and as blunt as\u2026his giant axe would be if it met her face. Well, not that blunt. She\u2019d met chess players like him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but fighting would have been prett\u2014really<\/em> stupid. I would have lost and gotten chopped up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is immaterial.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm. No it\u2019s not. I don\u2019t want to die.\u201d<\/p>\n He snorted at her. Erin almost expected to see steam coming out of his nose.<\/p>\n \u201cThose who believe they will lose before battle begins have already lost.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but I know<\/em> I would have lost. That guy you wanted me to fight? Ksmvr? He hit me once, and I was seeing stars for an hour. He\u2019s a warrior. I\u2019m\u2014not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you are not a warrior, you should become one. It is unbefitting for a female to be alone and not be a warrior.\u201d<\/p>\n This conversation had taken another right-angle turn into weirdness. Erin tried to come up with a response.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a skeleton. For\u2026protection.\u201d<\/p>\n Toren poked his head out of the kitchen. Calruz glanced at him and snorted.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is worthless. Weak.\u201d<\/p>\n For some reason, Erin thought Toren looked insulted, but skeletons didn\u2019t have emotions, did they?<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2014I, uh, I can fight too. If I really have to. I\u2019ve got [Bar Fighting] as a skill, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz stared blankly at Erin. She blushed.<\/p>\n \u201cI can fight. But I don\u2019t want to pick fights I know I\u2019ll lose. Look, this Ksmvr guy has levels in some kind of warrior class, right? He\u2019d kill me if I fought.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere is more to strength than mere levels.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but I\u2019m not a Minotaur. I don\u2019t have muscle. Or horns for poking people.\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz rolled his eyes towards the roof.<\/p>\n \u201cI refer to Skills<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, like I said, I\u2019ve got one. And, uh, [Lesser Strength]. Forgot that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is not what I meant. I mean Skills for combat.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared at Calruz with such complete incomprehension in her eyes that he seemed taken aback.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2026do not know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout what? Skills?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cActivated skills. Combat skills.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Noooooooo.\u201d<\/p>\n He blinked at her. Then Calruz stood up.<\/p>\n \u201cFollow me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cObserve. This is my Skill.\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz pointed to the rock he\u2019d found on the ground. It was a good-sized boulder that came up to Erin\u2019s waist. She blinked at it and then at his axe.<\/p>\n \u201cWon\u2019t that break?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz raised the massive battleaxe over his head like a woodcutter about to split a log. But then he spoke. Or rather\u2014roared. Erin jumped as he brought the axe down.<\/p>\n \u201c[Hammer Blow]!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The axe met the rock, and the next thing Erin knew, Toren had tackled her to the ground. All was confusion as the thunderous impact stopped ringing in her ears and her bones. When Erin got up, she saw the boulder was rubble.<\/p>\n As in\u2014a few split fragments of stone were all that remained at the impact site. The rest of the rock had split and shattered into a million pieces. Erin blinked at the rock and then at Carluz\u2019s axe.<\/p>\n \u201cOh. That\u2019s<\/em> what you meant by Skills.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. It is my sole Skill.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it\u2019s, uh\u2014wow.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared at the boulder.<\/p>\n \u201cWow. Wow. Uh. Wow.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz seemed happy that she was impressed. He stuck the battleaxe in the earth and pointed to it.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is what you should learn. Skills. If you must be alone, you must not be unprotected. You must fight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019m not a warrior. I mean, I don\u2019t have a class\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz snorted at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cImmaterial. Classes, levels, these are just additions. What you lack is the soul of the warrior. You must have it. A female must not be alone without the power to defend herself. The singer must not be silenced. You must be stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed at Erin with a finger twice as wide as her own.<\/p>\n \u201cI have decided this. I will teach you starting tomorrow. There are two days remaining before I go into the Ruins. I will have you learn to at least fight properly until then.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin opened her mouth. She stared at the splintered rock and at Calruz.<\/p>\n \u201cUm. Okay. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n He nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI will rest now. My party will come soon. They must have food. See to it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz stomped towards the inn. Erin watched him go. She stared at the boulder. Slowly, she edged towards it.<\/p>\n The rock wasn\u2019t warm from the impact. But it was<\/em> sharp. Erin cut her finger.<\/p>\n \u201cOw.\u201d<\/p>\n She stared at the blood, then heard a scuffling sound. She looked around and saw Toren next to the battleaxe Calruz had embedded in the earth.<\/p>\n The skeleton was pulling and heaving at the battleaxe stuck in the dirt as hard as it could. The heavy blade didn\u2019t budge.<\/p>\n Erin sighed. She watched the skeleton as it scrabbled for purchase, pushing its feet into the grass as it tried to uproot the weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just so sad<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Weak.<\/p>\n Calruz thought the word aloud as he lay in his room and on the two beds Erin had pushed together for him. It was something he had never had to think about.<\/p>\n But she was weak. Pitifully weak. Normally, that was fine. He expected that of Humans. But she\u2014<\/p>\n She was offensively<\/em> weak. And it was wrong. It bothered Calruz. She should not be so weak. She had no right being so weak. Because there was something in her that demanded strength.<\/p>\n He was thinking about Erin. Or was it Ryoka? Either or. No\u2014the Runner was strong. She was just not a warrior. She had to learn honor. Once she did, she would be a true warrior. If she gained levels, she would be worthy.<\/p>\n But Erin Solstice was different. Even now, Calruz could remember the music. It haunted him. It was wrong. It made him\u2014<\/p>\n Weak? Weaker? It was not the music of his home. There were no pounding drums, no voices raised for battle. It was not strong music. But neither was it weak.<\/p>\n It was unique. And it should be protected. But she was weak. So she had to be stronger.<\/p>\n Calruz shifted in his bed, ignoring the groaning wood. She had to be stronger. If she were to perish, he would regret it. To let an innocent life end because of inaction was the worst strike against his honor. He would teach her.<\/p>\n But of course, it wasn\u2019t Erin that Calruz wanted to teach. But she would be good\u2014practice, yes. She was female. Ryoka was female. He would learn how to deal with Human females. Because at least one\u2014two of them were worthy of respect. For different reasons.<\/p>\n A tanned face appeared in Calruz\u2019s mind, and he saw a quick form dashing away from him. A bird, tethered to the ground. A hunting raptor seeking a home.<\/p>\n Beautiful. Fierce. And she had proper breasts, not like the small-mammaried females he kept running across.<\/p>\n He wondered where she was right now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Erin woke up to the noise that defined her life. The sounds of chess. It was a soft sound, most of the time\u2014one she\u2019d learned in all of its subtleties. Chess sounded different. The board mattered, for one thing. Erin usually played with wooden pieces\u2014the ones from the DGT electronic chess board manufacturing line. It […]<\/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-13657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-1","category-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n