Ryoka closed her eyes and knew she was happy. It was such a rare feeling she savored it.<\/p>\n
Happy.<\/p>\n
Ceria was alive. One of them was alive. That the others were not\u2014<\/p>\n
She could focus on that later. But one person remained. They weren\u2019t all dead.<\/p>\n
She was saved.<\/p>\n
It was just a moment. And then Ryoka blinked away her watery eyes and got to work.<\/p>\n
The catacombs were still dark, and they were still in danger. Ceria slumped as Erin held her, and Olesm was leaning all of his weight against a coffin. The air was foul and smelled like crap in a literal sense. It was also dusty, and Ryoka felt an overpowering sense of claustrophobia after being down here so long.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to get you out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to feed them first.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ryoka frowned at Erin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith what? I didn\u2019t bring much. I\u2019ve got some dry rations in my pack, but we\u2019re in the middle of the ruins.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs now really the time to eat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s always time for a meal. Besides\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Erin nodded at Ceria. Ryoka looked at her shrunken frame.<\/p>\n
\u201cAh.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Ceria was shaking her head. She tried to stand upright, her eyes determined.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there\u2019s danger I can make it to the surface. The other undead\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHaven\u2019t seen them. Here, sit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Erin guided Ceria to another closed coffin and gently helped the half-elf onto the stone bench. Ryoka hesitated, but Erin was already unslinging her pack.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should set a watch.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI will be vigilant.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ksmvr nodded to the others and he moved towards the door. Toren stood with his sword drawn, looking around the room.<\/p>\n
Erin was busy pulling out flat, squished objects from her pack. They\u2019d been lying underneath her supply of rocks and other equipment. Ryoka stared as Erin began to unwrap them.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou made sandwiches?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought we\u2019d be down here for a long time. I\u2019ve got soup, too!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSoup?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s food. Why? Do you not like soup?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka opened her mouth and closed it. She waved away the proffered water flask filled with soup. And nodded at Olesm and Ceria. The two were sitting down, swaying slightly and blinking around. They seemed dazed, which made sense.<\/p>\n \u201cFour days. Or maybe three. And they were in the coffins the entire time?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin shuddered as she assembled her meal. There was a terrible stink in the air, but both she and Ryoka were hungry enough not to care. She looked over at the Drake and half-elf and shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI go crazy if I have to sit on a plane for more than an hour. How\u2019d they do it?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka paused.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can go through a lot in order to survive. Here, give me the soup.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you changed your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin smiled and handed Ryoka the soup flask again.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good stuff! Beef broth and chopped up veggies so you can drink it.\u201d<\/p>\n It was the soup Ryoka gave to Olesm and Ceria, with instructions to only have a small amount at first. When Erin and Pisces protested, Ryoka overrode them.<\/p>\n \u201cRemember the people rescued from concentration camps? A lot of them died from overeating when soldiers gave them candy bars and too much food.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces looked blankly at Ryoka, but Erin understood.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can die from overeating?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomething like that. Your system goes into shock. It can\u2019t process the food so suddenly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka says that the food is too rich for their stomachs. They\u2019ll get sick and die.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces looked at Ryoka for a second, and then took one of the squashed sandwiches and bit into it. He made a face.<\/p>\n \u201cTomatoes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you don\u2019t like it, don\u2019t eat it!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin scowled at him while she handed Ryoka another sandwich and Rags one more. Ryoka\u2019s sandwich turned out to have fried fish in it. She found she was suddenly ravenous and devoured her meal and another sandwich in seconds.<\/p>\n While Pisces and Rags were devouring their food and Ksmvr was nibbling at another flatwich as Erin insisted on calling them, the innkeeper went over to Olesm and Ceria. They were sharing some of the soup Ryoka had given them, but they didn\u2019t seem to have much of an appetite.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel full. Should I be feeling full after only a few sips?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria smiled weakly at Erin as the girl approached. Erin\u2019s eyes were drawn to Ceria\u2019s skeletal hand, but she looked back up at her friend\u2019s face and forced a smile. She also ignored the terrible stench that was coming from Ceria.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what Ryoka says. Your stomach hasn\u2019t had anything to eat, so it shrunk down. You won\u2019t be able to handle much food for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, good. It\u2019s so hard to stay thin, the way I eat.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin smiled at Ceria\u2019s joke. Her eyes moved to Olesm. The Drake was very pale. His light blue scales had turned even lighter, and dead scales flaked off every time he moved. He smelled even worse than Ceria did.<\/p>\n \u201cOlesm?\u201d<\/p>\n She reached out towards him, but the Drake flinched away. Concerned, Erin looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine, Erin. Really. It\u2019s just\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm looked at Ceria for help. The half-elf shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, we might need some water if you have it. And some clean cloths?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can get that. But why\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n For the first time, Erin studied Olesm. He looked just as desiccated as Ceria, but he was also doing his best to stay as far away from her on the coffin\u2019s seat as possible. He\u2019d been wearing leather armor, but something had torn it mostly to shreds. Parts of his scales were scratched, but not badly.<\/p>\n But his clothes did<\/em> seem rumbled, and the area around his leggings were\u2026brown\u2026<\/p>\n Olesm caught Erin\u2019s eye and turned pink. Ceria coughed into her good hand. Erin noticed that she was crossing her legs, too.<\/p>\n \u201cWe could use something to clean ourselves with. Rather urgently.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin backed away from them. The smell searing her nose suddenly intensified now that she was aware of its origin.<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Oh<\/em>. I\u2019ll uh, I\u2019ll\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n She half-dashed to her rucksack, where Ryoka was eating her third sandwich. The other girl had saved Erin some soup and a squashed sandwich from Rags and Pisces, but Erin ignored that.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, nothing. Um, don\u2019t go over there just yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka always wanted an answer, especially if the reason was \u2018because I said so\u2019. Erin paused for a second and tried to say what she meant without Pisces figuring it out. Rags had clearly already made the connection because she was sitting several meters away.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, you know how you were talking about survival and all that? Well, just imagine the coffins as one big\u2026diaper.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka\u2019s face went blank for a fraction of a second, and then her eyes widened.<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo they need water? I\u2019ve got a flask and some bandages that might\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry, don\u2019t worry! I packed all of the essentials!\u201d<\/p>\n One of those essential items was one of Ryoka\u2019s water flasks and a clean bit of cloth from Erin\u2019s pack. Ceria explained as she used one of the stone coffin lids as a privacy screen. Not that there was much need to hide; only Pisces and Olesm had to look away. Ksmvr was clearly indifferent.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first few days I cleaned up after myself with spells. It was a waste of mana. But I thought the undead might smell. After that\u2026well, you don\u2019t have much of a problem when there\u2019s nothing to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n It was an aspect of living in a stone coffin neither Erin nor Ryoka had wanted to ponder or wished to dwell long on. At least Ceria didn\u2019t smell too bad. Olesm on the other hand\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cI had the same problem. And I<\/em> don\u2019t have magic, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone stayed clear of him until Olesm had finished thoroughly washing himself down. Pisces even provided magical assistance. At a distance.<\/p>\n Olesm grumbled as a fine spray of water misted him. He twisted his head to glare at Pisces as the mage studiously looked away.<\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t you give me more water? All you\u2019re doing is making everything wet.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces sniffed, which turned out to be a mistake.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m no [Hydromancer], and I specialize in ice magic. Besides, the air is dry around here. This is the best you\u2019re going to get.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared at Ceria as the half-elf finished scrubbing herself. She made to hand the cloth back to Erin, looked at it, and then tossed it back in one of the coffins. Erin offered her another clean roll of linen \u2013 Ryoka\u2019s emergency bandages, and Ceria finished wiping with that.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019d you survive so long without water? Or did you have supplies?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOlesm did. A few of the dried rations, but we lost our packs during the\u2014the attack.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria coughed and took another small sip of what was left in the flask after her impromptu bath.<\/p>\n \u201cBut we didn\u2019t have any water. I burned up all the mana I had left creating ice for us to suck on.\u201d<\/p>\n She shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cAnother day or two and we\u2019d be dead. We couldn\u2019t even move the lids from the inside anymore. I really thought this was it. When I heard your voices and realized you couldn\u2019t hear me\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was Ryoka who figured out where you were hiding.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin pointed to Ryoka. The barefoot girl was alternately avoiding stepping in any of the runoff generated by Olesm and Ceria\u2019s baths and staring none-too-covertly at Olesm\u2019s private\u2026parts. Ceria smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka. And you met her? The world\u2019s full of surprises. Or maybe it\u2019s fate.\u201d<\/p>\n She laughed, coughed, and grimaced weakly. Erin sprang forwards to help her, but Ceria waved her away. Her skeletal hand\u2014<\/p>\n Erin saw that Ceria saw that she was looking and turned away. Ceria shrugged, and the two were silent. In the end, Erin spoke again.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019m glad you\u2019re okay. Really glad.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin had said that before several times, but this time Ceria seemed recovered enough to respond. She smiled at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cI am, too. But I never would have imagined the group that came to get me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it\u2019s sort of weird, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n \u201cTo put it lightly. I recognize the little Goblin and Pisces, but that Antinium\u2026that\u2019s not Pawn, is it? They all look the same. Did he regrow his limbs or something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. That\u2019s um, Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n The Prognugator looked up at the sound of his name. When he saw the two were looking at him, he turned away. Ceria shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh. You\u2019ve got a lot to explain to me, I can tell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd me.\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm rejoined the group at last. He smelled a lot better than he had, but he still exuded a personal bubble no one was willing to breach. He bowed at Erin clumsily, nearly falling over as he did.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Solstice, I am in your debt again. What you\u2019ve done for me and Ceria\u2014I can never repay. I joined this expedition to change myself, but in the end\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm stopped and shook his head. He wiped at his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just lucky to be alive. I won\u2019t forget this, I promise you.\u201d<\/p>\n Then he looked up and hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m grateful, I really am. But why didn\u2019t anyone send the Watch in after us? I mean, I understand they were nervous, but I have friends! Didn\u2019t they want to save me?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin exchanged a glance with Ryoka, although she got more of the glance. She turned red and fidgeted.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, well, we spoke to Zevara, but she didn\u2019t want to send anyone to help us. She said she didn\u2019t want to risk sending anyone on a wild goose chase.\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm looked shocked. His tail thrashed the ground in agitation.<\/p>\n \u201cZevara? But she knows me! I\u2019m sure she would have sent someone\u2014she\u2019d at least have hired a mage to cast [Detect Life] or something!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019m sure she would have\u2026if\u2026she knew you were alive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?<\/em> Didn\u2019t you tell her I was with the others?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin avoided Olesm\u2019s gaze.<\/p>\n \u201cI, um, forgot you were with the Horns of Hammerad. I don\u2019t think anyone else in the city knew you were going, either.\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm wilted.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026see.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so sorry<\/em>, Olesm! It\u2019s just with the attack on the city and the bad news and the giant skin creature\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe undead!\u201d<\/p>\n Both Olesm and Ceria broke out of their happy reverie in horror. Ceria unconsciously grabbed for Ryoka\u2019s arm with her skeletal hand and stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened? Did anyone make it out? Rot, we should have asked earlier. But if you\u2019re here, the undead\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka tried to reassure Ceria without looking at her maimed hand.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry. They\u2019re not out there anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n That was a question Ryoka couldn\u2019t answer, but the others could. Erin broke in, talking excitedly.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was crazy! A bunch of undead came out of the Ruins and started attacking the city! I was in my inn so I didn\u2019t see everything, but Krshia says they got into the city before the north gates got closed. The entire city was fighting in the streets!\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm groaned aloud. He grabbed at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many died? How many\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSkinner<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria interrupted Olesm. She looked sharply at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cDid he come out? Is he still out there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe monster\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria\u2019s skeletal fingers twitched<\/em>. Ryoka stared in horror at them, but only Rags noticed. The Goblin edged away from Ceria as she tried to explain.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was what was leading the undead. A horror made of skin. He guards this crypt. He killed the others. Did it get out? Is he still alive?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka had no idea who or what Skinner was, but the others did. Erin\u2019s smile faded. Pisces glanced around the ruins and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cSkinner? Yeah, I saw it. He\u2019s dead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re sure?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria and Olesm both sighed in relief. But then Ceria looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cHow? That thing had some kind of magical ability. It projected fear<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know. I felt it.\u201d<\/p>\n Something. Ryoka glanced at Erin. She had that unsettlingly vacant look on her face again, that expressionless glimpse into something far away. Pisces and Rags were looking at her too. Just what\u2026?<\/p>\n \u201cHe attacked my inn. Him and a bunch of undead. They tried to kill me, but all of the Workers\u2014the Antinium I played chess with\u2014they came to help. And all the Workers fought and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Erin broke off. Ceria and Olesm were staring at her, but no harder than Ryoka. Workers? Antinium? Chess? She\u2019d fought the thing that killed\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he died. Rags killed him. Her and the other Goblins, I mean. He was this large worm underneath all the skin and we\u2014he died. The Goblins ate part of him and then burned the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka had run through the High Passes and lived. She\u2019d done something no Runner in the area had done in years. She was the fastest Runner in perhaps a hundred miles. Maybe that made Ryoka special, but Erin was different altogether.<\/p>\n Erin had fought monsters.<\/p>\n And though it was silly to look at the young woman and imagine her fighting some kind of flesh monster that even Calruz and the others couldn\u2019t defeat, part of Ryoka had no doubt that she\u2019d done it. With help, yes. With luck and chance, perhaps. But she\u2019d done it.<\/p>\n Ceria stared at Erin for a second. Olesm was open-mouthed, eyes bulging. But Ceria was just quiet. She met Erin\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cYou killed it. You.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin shrugged uncomfortably. She pointed at the Goblin sitting behind her.<\/p>\n \u201cRags did.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces choked on one of the sandwiches and coughed as he stared at Rags. The Goblin scratched at one ear and looked around defiantly.<\/p>\n \u201cA Goblin and an [Innkeeper].\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLots of Goblins, Workers, and Klbkch and some Soldiers too.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cHa. Course. It\u2019s just\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n She began to giggle, and then to laugh. Ryoka blinked. Ceria started laughing hysterically. Erin reached out and steadied Ceria as the half-Elf laughed until she choked and began to cry.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m\u2014I\u2019m sorry. It\u2019s just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She laughed again, a short barking exclamation. Ceria stared wide-eyed ahead, face caught in a taut grin.<\/p>\n \u201cI know. He nearly killed me. And he killed almost all of my friends. And a lot of the City Watch.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin held Ceria as the mage began to shake again. Ryoka felt helpless. She wasn\u2019t the type of person to reach out and comfort someone. But she wished she was.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s dead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria said it quietly as her tears leaked into Erin\u2019s shirt. She looked at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you so much.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou came for us. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm bowed his head at Ryoka. She nodded back, feeling like a worthless piece of trash. She hadn\u2019t done anything. In a very real way, she was even more of an outsider to this moment than Ksmvr and Toren, who were watching silently as they stood guard. They\u2019d fought the undead and this Skinner. All she\u2019d done was get here too late.<\/p>\n \u201cAhem.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces cleared his throat noisily. When Ceria looked at him, he flashed her a condescending smile.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe part of that thanks belongs to me. I did receive your message, after all. Without my urging, we would never have gone looking for you. I also eliminated quite a swath of the undead during the battle.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin and Ryoka both frowned at Pisces. Erin opened her mouth to scold him, but Ceria nudged her very gently.<\/p>\n Ceria turned to Pisces and bowed her head deeply.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Master Mage.\u201d<\/p>\n She said it without a trace of irony or sarcasm. Pisces blushed and looked away.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, well. We Wistram students must stick together, mustn\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf we\u2019d brought you along in the expedition\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria shook her head. Ryoka wanted to know what happened, but she wasn\u2019t sure now was the time to ask.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin looked at Ceria, concern in her eyes. The half-Elf closed her eyes and for a moment Ryoka worried it would be too much to ask. But then she began to speak.<\/p>\n \u201cIt started when we got to the second floor. Everything had been going fine before that. We\u2019d run into a nest of Shield Spiders, but nothing besides that. But then we met a group of zombies\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka listened to an abbreviated version of all that had happened up to Skinner emerging from the treasury doors.<\/p>\n \u201cIt must not have been locked. That thing was just waiting inside for the right moment. He killed Cervial, Gerald, and half of us in moments. And then when we arrived and tried to make a stand\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria closed her eyes and shook her head. Another tear formed unshed in her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cHe killed them all. Gerial, Sostrom\u2026he tore off Calruz\u2019s arm. I couldn\u2019t even fight back while he was staring at me.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cYou avenged them. Thank you for that.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin shook her head, but not in denial. She looked at Olesm.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what happened to you?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria smiled at Olesm.<\/p>\n \u201cHe saved my life.\u201d<\/p>\n The scales around Olesm\u2019s face turned a light red as everyone looked at him. He demurred.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t do much. I just ran when that thing appeared and dragged Ceria into one of the coffins. It was all I could do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe saved my life.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria said simply. She showed the others her frostbitten hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI could barely move and a Ghoul was savaging me. He stabbed it from behind and used a healing potion to mend the worst of my wounds. If he hadn\u2019t been there, I would have died.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin reached over and patted the Drake on the shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cGood job, Olesm.\u201d<\/p>\n He blushed and shook his head again silently. Ryoka looked at Ceria\u2019s hand and hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that how you lost…?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka indicated Ceria\u2019s hand. The half-Elf looked down and laughed. The fingers didn\u2019t move, but she seemed to be able to move the blackened stump just fine and without any pain.<\/p>\n \u201cThis? No. I\u2014well, I used a spell above my level, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces peered at Ceria\u2019s hand, frowning at the blackened skin.<\/p>\n \u201cI can sense the magical residue. Frost spell? [Glacial Spear]?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing so fancy. I just used up all the magic in my wand; that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou idiot.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin glared at Pisces again, but Ceria just nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI had to create an opening for the others.\u201d<\/p>\n She paused.<\/p>\n \u201cThe others. Yvlon was trying to get away. Do you know if she\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin exchanged a glance with Pisces and shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI uh, didn\u2019t ask. Some adventurers survived.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon did.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka nodded at Ceria. The half-Elf hesitated, looking at Ryoka\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cIs she\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s catatonic. She doesn\u2019t speak or move.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria bowed her head and closed her eyes. Again, Ryoka didn\u2019t know what to say. Saying \u2018at least she\u2019s alive\u2019 seemed crass even to her. She cleared her throat and looked around instead.<\/p>\n \u201cThis Skinner. How do you know his name?\u201d<\/p>\n This time Olesm explained. He pointed at the writing on the wall Ceria had translated and everyone looked up. Pisces frowned and cast the same spell Ceria had, while Ryoka stared at the engraved symbols.<\/p>\n \u201cNow how\u2019d we miss that<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin asked indignantly, and Ryoka echoed the question in her head, only with more self-rebuke. They\u2019d completely missed that detail. And it was a damn important one, if this Skinner had had siblings.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh.\u201d<\/p>\n It was completely incomprehensible to Ryoka, but the writings reminded her of Arabic or another Central Semitic language. It was flowing and elongated, which put her in mind of Drakes. That was jumping the gun of any hypothesis though.<\/p>\n Ryoka hesitated and looked at the others. Should she\u2026? But Pisces had already heard too much and Ceria had seen it already. She took out her iPhone and switched it on.<\/p>\n The screen glowed to life. Ryoka looked at the battery level. 24%. Surprisingly high, given how long she\u2019d been using it, but Sostrom\u2019s [Repair] spell must have restored the failing battery as well.<\/p>\n Sostrom. Ryoka\u2019s heart hurt, but she pushed the feeling aside. She raised the iPhone as she switched to camera mode.<\/p>\n Ryoka\u2019s iPhone lit up the inscriptions for a moment and emitted the classical shutter closing sound. Rags stared at Ryoka\u2019s iPhone as if dumbstruck. Pisces blinked and frowned and Olesm gaped.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was that?<\/em> Is that some kind of magical object?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomething like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka put her iPhone back in its holster as Pisces stared at it covetously. She noticed Rags staring at the device as well and resolved never to drop it or leave it unattended.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never seen anything like that. Is that steel and glass?\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm paused. His eyes widened and he turned to Ceria.<\/p>\n \u201cOh. She\u2019s<\/em> the crazy violent Runner girl you told me about? The one with no levels?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria laughed and coughed at the same time. Olesm blinked, and then realized what he\u2019d said. His tail lashed the ground nervously as he held up his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t mean\u2014what I meant by that was\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t how a rescue was supposed to go, Ryoka was certain. But it was real, and reality beat a fairytale ending every time. They still had to get out of the ruins of course, and Erin had just realized Pisces ate the last sandwich she\u2019d packed. There was confusion and anger and dust and empty coffins and the still-present smell of feces, but\u2026<\/p>\n Ceria was still alive.<\/p>\n Ryoka was saved.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And when she had a spare moment, Ryoka walked away from the others. The wide passageway was still empty of any moving corpses, but that wasn\u2019t what Ryoka was concerned with.<\/p>\n She walked past rotting piles of\u2026muscle. Organs. Bone. It was impossible to really say. She had no wish to disturb the dead, and the shapeless mounds sickened her.<\/p>\n But she looked anyways. Ryoka paused next to a piece of armor covered in redness. She squatted down and tried not to vomit on the remains.<\/p>\n Was it him? Ryoka could barely remember what armor Gerial had been wearing. And Calruz\u2014how would she even tell? She could look for bigger bones, she supposed.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t right. This wasn\u2019t right. She couldn\u2019t even bury them, even if she knew which ones they were. She could\u2014put them in a coffin? How? Lift up the entrails and guts with her hands? Use a shovel? A bag?<\/p>\n It was all wrong. All so wrong. And Ceria was alive\u2014Ryoka had to prioritize her. But her heart hurt.<\/p>\n \u201cToo slow. And too weak.\u201d<\/p>\n Far too weak. She hadn\u2019t even killed a zombie coming down here. Of all of the people who\u2019d come to save Ceria, Ryoka had been the most useless in the end.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be fair, I do not believe anyone expected much of you.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka looked up and turned around. Pisces was standing behind her. He raised his hands as she stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI merely followed you to ensure your safety. It would not do for something to ambush you.\u201d<\/p>\n Was that the reason? Ryoka stared at Pisces and then mentally shrugged. She stood in the corridor and stared at the dead remains. After a while she turned and began walking back. Pisces followed her.<\/p>\n \u201cIt occurs to me that we have little to discuss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s about right.\u201d<\/p>\n They didn\u2019t speak for several more minutes. Now this, this was what Ryoka was used to. Awkward silence and trite conversations. She searched for something to say.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for your help, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThink nothing of it. For my part, I am\u2026relieved Ceria is alright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know her?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a history. Not so much a relationship as a passing acquaintance, but once\u2014suffice it to say that we were students in Wistram together, and that we were once\u2026friends. I felt the world would be poorer for Springwalker\u2019s absence, that is all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see. It\u2019s good you came.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. I agree.\u201d<\/p>\n More silence.<\/p>\n \u201cThat artifact you used\u2026it is quite interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMight I see it? I promise to be quite careful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMm. Maybe someday.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. That would be a polite way of saying \u2018never\u2019, would it not?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYep.\u201d<\/p>\n They walked on. It was quite far to get back to the room with coffins, but Ryoka felt running and leaving Pisces behind would be a faux pas. She was tempted to do it, though.<\/p>\n After an interminable amount of time, Pisces spoke again.<\/p>\n \u201cWould you consent to letting me inspect that device if I told you there is a strong trace of magic on it?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka stopped. Pisces nearly ran into her. She stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can see that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. It\u2019s quite obvious to me. I suppose Springwalker was distracted, but I can\u2026sense something. Was some sort of [Message] spell cast here, by chance?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka hesitated. Weigh the options. But it might be worth the risk.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it was linked to that device somehow. Well, I may be able to recover that conversation if you should wish it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can do that? How?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces smiled enigmatically, or in a way he probably thought was enigmatic. It looked smug, to Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cI was a student at Wistram. That spell uses their methods as its base. Any older student learns to pick apart the incantation to see what is spoken. Hence the unique version of the spell Ceria and I know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt won\u2019t damage\u2026whatever that is. And I can be trusted to be discreet.\u201d<\/p>\n Again, Ryoka hesitated. Think. If he learned the details of the conversation\u2026well, was the cat out of the bag already? But he was offering to restore the conversation, which would be extremely helpful.<\/p>\n Ceria could do it. But after how many days? More importantly, what was the real risk? If he knew\u2026<\/p>\n The world would soon know. And far more dangerous people than he had already figured it out. Ryoka handed him her iPhone.<\/p>\n \u201cHere.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces held the slim phone extremely carefully as he studied it. But after a cursory glance at the construction of the device, he seemed to peer at something else, some invisible substance hovering in the air around it.<\/p>\n Ryoka wished she knew what he was looking at. She was able to cast magic\u2026or one spell to be exact. But even though she tried to focus her eyes, she saw nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cQuite astonishing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can see what was cast?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes\u2014an odd messaging spell. Some kind of written communication system? It\u2019s very\u2026bright.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka realized he must be looking at the chat log, the magical screen that had appeared when she answered the call.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t realize it would still be visible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, well, the magic cast for this spell is several magnitudes greater than\u2026almost any spell I\u2019ve seen before. It must<\/em> originate from Wistram. I would know that even without the spell signature. Only they would be this moronic.\u201d<\/p>\n He rolled his eyes and shook his head in disdain. Ryoka looked at him. It was always nice to meet someone who liked to talk if they had something worth hearing.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat makes you say that?\u201d<\/p>\n He gestured to the iPhone. The air seemed to shimmer at his fingertips.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the nature of this spell. I\u2014have no idea how it was done, to be honest. I can only speculate that a high level mage, or several of them used a [Far Speaking] spell combined with some kind of location spell and this\u2026thing. I imagine a [Message] spell accounts for this, but it would require an insane amount of mana.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf one person were to ah, write in this discussion, everyone who received it would necessitate a [Message] spell. It\u2019s a complex bit of magic and the cost would be multiplied by the number of participants. So many messages\u2026only those fools at Wistram would have the magic to cast such a spell.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka thought she understood Pisces\u2019 disdain. If what he was saying was right, the conversation she\u2019d taken part in had an exponential cost with each user that joined.<\/p>\n Sixteen times\u2026at least fifty, possibly a hundred messages in the chat. A thousand and six hundred spells cast? No wonder voice chat was out of the question.<\/p>\n The air was beginning to waver. Pisces frowned and his hands began to glow even brighter, shedding tendrils of blue light that flowed together to form the screen again.<\/p>\n Ryoka blinked as the chat log came back into focus. It hovered in the air over her iPhone, a blue screen with white text. Pisces was sweating.<\/p>\n \u201cI ah, seem to have miscalculated. Even restoring this log seems to be taxing me quite unduly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve seen most of the details. Here. Give me that.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka took the iPhone from Pisces as he frowned and more magic flowed out of his hands. Ryoka quickly scrolled down the chat, pausing a few times. Pisces\u2019 eyes darted left and right, trying to read. She didn\u2019t give him much time, though.<\/p>\n Ryoka got to the end \u2013 where she\u2019d signed off as batman, and suddenly stopped. She saw the notification for her logging out, but there was more text below it.<\/p>\n Pisces peered over Ryoka\u2019s shoulder as she read the conversation between [Kent Scott]<\/strong> and [twinTrouble_53].<\/strong> Her mind was spinning, and that was before she read the brief message in Japanese at the bottom.<\/p>\n \u201cNow that<\/em> is interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n The chat log abruptly vanished. Pisces lowered his hands and mopped at his brow.<\/p>\n \u201cYou okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am fine. Just\u2026taxed.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces took a few deep breaths, steadying himself. He pointed at Ryoka\u2019s iPhone.<\/p>\n \u201cMore importantly, I fear your desire for anonymity might be in vain, Miss Griffin. That short conversation contained more import than the rest of your fascinating\u2026discussion. There is a name to frighten those fools at Wistram.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean twinTrouble?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Yes. This twin trouble character revealed himself to the other one, did he not? After you had ah, closed the connection. The name he called himself. Flos.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve heard of him. Flos. The King of Destruction.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNone other.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces exhaled slowly and wiped the rest of his sweat away with the hem of his dirty robe.<\/p>\n \u201cFlos. If the sleeping king has indeed awoken, it means this world is about to change. Quite dramatically too, if I\u2019m any judge. Well, even the meanest [Soothsayer] would be able to predict that<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka frowned. She\u2019d read about the King of Destruction in a list of contemporary world powers. The entry had been short and intriguing, but all the details had been recorded in another volume she hadn\u2019t bought.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me about him.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is there to say?\u201d<\/p>\n He caught himself and glanced at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cAh. Well, to one who might not\u2026know of him, Flos is a king who was once poised to rule over nearly half of the civilized world. He abandoned his kingdom however, and for twenty years he has slumbered in his decaying capital. Until now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cQuite.\u201d<\/p>\n They didn\u2019t have the rhythm that Erin seemed to generate in her conversations. Pisces politely picked at his robe while Ryoka stared at her phone. The mage seemed to think for a second and added a second casual detail.<\/p>\n \u201cThe mages at Wistram were quite afraid of him, even inactive as he was.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, really?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. I suppose you don\u2019t know that the greatest mages living gather every ten years to deliberate on the future?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did not know that. Do tell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey gather together to ponder recent events and plan for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike. A think tank?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNevermind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, well, one of the things the gathering did was attempt to predict what calamities might befall the world. They created a list of the most likely disasters that might destroy civilization or eradicate life as we know it. Flos was named the eighth likeliest candidate so long as he lived.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka paused. She opened her mouth, closed it, and tried again.<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne man?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, his kingdom would follow him wherever he went. Say rather it was his potential the mages feared.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy number eight? Is there any special reason for that?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces shrugged indifferently.<\/p>\n \u201cThe mages speculated that it is far more likely he would conquer the world or be stopped. Destroying everything is an outside chance, as it were.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut still the eighth most likely chance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka pondered that for a moment.<\/p>\n \u201cDid this gathering determine how likely it would be that he\u2019d actually conquer the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThey did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe has a 30% chance depending on a number of factors.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cQuite. I imagine all those able to retrieve a log of this message would be quite alarmed. Word is probably spreading by spell and letter as we speak.\u201d<\/p>\n What was Ryoka supposed to say to that?<\/p>\n \u201cMhm.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces stared at Ryoka. Ryoka stared at Pisces. There didn\u2019t seem to be anything more to say. After a moment, Ryoka coughed in a fake way into her fist.<\/p>\n \u201cWe should probably get back to the others.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cQuite. I trust Ceria and Olesm are well enough to walk by now.\u201d<\/p>\n They were.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe should talk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout what? Aren\u2019t we talking already?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin wondered why Ryoka was trying to corner her in one part of the massive coffin room, but the other girl seemed insistent.<\/p>\n \u201cI know we don\u2019t have time now, but we need to have a long conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout what?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka gave Erin a flat look, but Erin wasn\u2019t sure what for. After a moment, the Asian girl shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout us. About this world, about how we came here and what\u2019s happening.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. You mean talk about everything<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMore or less.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, now\u2019s not the time. Ceria thinks she can walk so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course not now. Once we get back, I mean. At your inn, or somewhere private.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy inn\u2019s pretty private. I can lock the door if that helps.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin waited. Ryoka seemed pretty intent, but she really had no idea why.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose. Just\u2014don\u2019t say anything you don\u2019t need to until then, alright?\u201d<\/p>\n That was easy enough. Erin didn\u2019t think she had anything that didn\u2019t need saying\u2026if that even made sense.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. We talk later.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Right.\u201d<\/p>\n It was one of the more awkward exchanges Erin had been privy to, and she\u2019d met a lot of awkward chess players.<\/p>\n Her stomach rumbled. Ryoka and Erin both looked down and Erin covered her stomach.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you hungry? I saved you a sandwich.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPisces ate it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe soup?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCeria and Olesm drank most of it and Rags took the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry about that.\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm grinned weakly as both Erin and Ryoka jumped and turned around. The Drake was on his feet again, although he seemed unsteady.<\/p>\n \u201cI truly didn\u2019t mean to steal your lunch, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin exchanged a glance with Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, a missing meal isn\u2019t going to hurt me. When we get out of here, I\u2019ll cook up a feast, and you\u2019ll all be invited, how\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin caught Ryoka\u2019s eye and amended her statement.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014And um, make some nourishing broth, too. Maybe postpone the feast for a while?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat sounds good.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria was on her feet. She seemed a little better. There was more color in her cheeks, although they were still deathly pale. But she managed a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it means I can get out of this hole, I\u2019ll eat my right hand. It wouldn\u2019t be too hard at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin laughed politely while Ryoka awkwardly avoided looking at Ceria\u2019s hand. Pisces approached and Rags followed, dragging the wreck of the crossbow behind her.<\/p>\n \u201cAll is clear.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr nodded at Erin as he and Toren walked over. Erin looked around. Everyone was present, but no one said anything. She cleared her throat.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, shall we go?\u201d<\/p>\n They began the slow ascent back towards the surface. It was slow going, even with Erin helping Ceria and Toren supporting Olesm. The Drake and half-Elf were stiff and their feet dragged with every step. But they were just as eager to return as the others.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you leave after you realized the other undead weren\u2019t there?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin asked Ceria that after they paused for a break. The half-Elf\u2019s face was pale as she sat on the floor and took a few deep breaths.<\/p>\n \u201cWe thought they were waiting to ambush us if we got out. They did that to us the first time. We thought they were just being silent.\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI kept my coffin open so I could see the undead moving around. Once they all left\u2014a few came back, but the rest never did. I thought they were all destroyed or\u2026or still out there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then of course we ran out of strength and couldn\u2019t move the lids even when we tried.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGot it.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin nodded several times, but then frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cCome to think of it\u2026where did<\/em> all the undead go?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria paused.<\/p>\n \u201cWeren\u2019t they all destroyed?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were still hundreds of undead after that thing died. We thought they were going back to the Ruins. But they didn\u2019t go there. In that case, where did they go?\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone looked at Pisces. He raised his hands defensively.<\/p>\n \u201cI <\/em>didn\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm scratched at a flaking patch of dead scales.<\/p>\n \u201cCould the Crypt Lords have commanded the undead to leave?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cDoubtful. Those creatures, while intelligent, cannot control a large mass. Even if there were enough Crypt Lords, they would still separate into a thousand groups. No, something else called them away.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka frowned. She was sitting next to Ceria, picking caked\u2026.stuff from the soles of her feet. Erin looked away.<\/p>\n \u201cCould that have something to do with the empty treasure room?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria looked up sharply. Erin explained about the missing magical items Pisces had sensed. He rubbed at his chin and nodded several times.<\/p>\n \u201cThe treasure room. Of course. Something or someone came here and looted the place\u2026and perhaps called the undead away as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a pretty big someone. Who?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces shrugged helplessly.<\/p>\n \u201cI can think of several [Necromancers] powerful enough to command a small horde like that. Any one about Level 30 might manage to direct them in a general sense given time. But to have them leave without fighting or splintering off?\u201d<\/p>\n He began to count names off on his fingers. Ryoka wandered off \u2013 to pee, Erin suspected \u2013 while Pisces began to pontificate.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Krythien Sect, or perhaps the Magnus Corpsus could do it en masse. But as for individuals, it would take a mage like Az\u2019kerash or The Putrid One to perform such a feat. Of course, there are quite a number of small-time cabals and covens that might\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces broke off when he realized his audience had left him. Erin raised her eyebrows.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot as of such, no.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn that case, there\u2019s no use wondering. We can tell Zevara that and warn her once we reach the city.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka had returned. She tugged at her pants and nodded at the others.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on. We\u2019re nearly out. Just a bit longer and we can all rest.\u201d<\/p>\n They got up and began walking again. After a few minutes, Erin muttered to Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cI sort of wish you hadn\u2019t said that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, now it feels like we won\u2019t<\/em> get out of here, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka did<\/em> know, and she wished Erin hadn\u2019t brought that up. She shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cMurphy\u2019s Law.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhose law?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka explained. Erin nodded in agreement.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, I\u2019m not saying that\u2019s what\u2019s going to happen. But it just feels like\u2026you know those movies? Or those stories where the hero\u2019s almost out and then the really<\/em> bad thing happens?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you watch The Evil Dead? Remember the final scene right where Ash is about to get away and then that thing\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Erin paused, ignoring Ryoka\u2019s irate look.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014Well, we don\u2019t actually know what happens but I bet it wasn\u2019t good<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka eyed Erin. She was completely lost on how to properly respond. After a moment, she shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cI never watched that movie.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood. Don\u2019t. It gave me nightmares.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin shuddered and glanced around the dark corridors nervously. Ryoka looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy\u2019d you watch it, then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, one of my friends insisted we watch it when I had a sleepover. I think I was fourteen. Boy, my parents were not<\/em> happy when they found out why we were all screaming at midnight. But then they watched the rest of it with us which was totally cool.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin trailed off for a few seconds and then regained her thread.<\/p>\n \u201cAnyways, my point<\/em> is that something bad is going to happen. Some evil monster\u2019s going to jump out.\u201d<\/p>\n That was ridiculous paranoia, and Ryoka almost said so. That sort of thing never happened in their world except by complete coincidence, and it wouldn\u2019t happen here.<\/p>\n \u2026Unless of course this world worked off of the same rules fantasy books and Hollywood movies were made of. If that was the case, they were all dead.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if that were the case, everyone would have plot armor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Instead, everyone had vulnerable skin which cut and bled easily. But maybe they weren\u2019t the main characters. If this were<\/em> a story, it would be Erin and Ryoka and all of the people who came to this world who were the main characters.<\/p>\n That was right. Somewhere, out there, a scrawny white boy would appear out of nowhere and be crowned the chosen one. He\u2019d probably get the [Hero] class, a magic sword, and a scar just to be on the safe side. Add in a female lead and a plucky side-character and you had a series.<\/p>\n More thinking like this and she\u2019d go crazy. Ryoka shook her head again. She knocked at it with her fist to get her thoughts in order\u2014<\/p>\n And nearly went blind as she walked into the sunlight.<\/p>\n \u201cOw! My eyes!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Erin cried out and Ryoka heard Ceria and Olesm gasp as the group suddenly emerged from the ruins. She couldn\u2019t see anything, but she felt the welcome sun on her skin, and the feeling of the wind on her face. It blew away the musty stale air of the ruins and made her feel alive<\/em> again.<\/p>\n They were out.<\/p>\n When Ryoka could see, she looked up and saw the verdant green plains surrounding her, patches of wildflowers still blooming even in the beginning of the winter, and two ranks of guardsmen from Liscor facing them with weapons drawn.<\/p>\n Ryoka paused. Pisces immediately backed up and Rags stepped quickly behind Ksmvr. The Antinium regarded the group of guardsmen warily, while Ceria and Olesm only blinked in bemusement at the welcoming committee.<\/p>\n Erin was the last to recover her eyesight, but when she did, she treated the armed guardsmen as if they weren\u2019t dangerous. Ryoka\u2019s first thought was that Erin had clearly never been arrested before or hassled by any kind of law enforcement. Although of course in Ryoka\u2019s case the hassling and suspicion was quite justified given some of the things she\u2019d done. Blowing up a chemistry classroom tends to get you put on a list for the rest of your life.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Relc! And Klbkch! What are you guys doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin smiled and walked forwards. That smile vanished as soon as she saw who was leading the group of guardsmen.<\/p>\n Watch Captain Zevara strode forwards as the Gnolls and Drakes around her lowered their weapons. Klbkch and Relc followed closely behind.<\/p>\n Zevara halted in front of Erin and pointed into the ruins.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many undead are down there? Are there any traps?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin blinked at Zevara.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell us what we\u2019re facing in there.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka looked at the guardsmen and things clicked. It took only half a second longer for Erin to figure it out and then her eyes narrowed in outrage.<\/p>\n \u201cWait a second. Now <\/em>you\u2019re going in? You said you didn\u2019t want to risk sending anyone in!\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara dismissed Erin\u2019s statement with a flick of the tail.<\/p>\n \u201cI did say that. I wasn\u2019t about to risk good warriors if the ruins were infested. But if you lot survived, my guardsmen can clear out the rest. We\u2019ll be confiscating all the treasures we find in there, along with anything else left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n So they could take all the treasure before Erin\u2019s group could come back for it. In theory. Ryoka hoped Erin wouldn\u2019t mention the empty treasury just so Zevara could choke on dust for an hour or two searching. But Erin wasn\u2019t concerned about sticking it to the man. She was more concerned about Ceria and Olesm. She pointed at them indignantly, raising her voice.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, we\u2019ve got injured\u2014well, starved people here! They need food and rest! Why don\u2019t your stupid guardsmen help with that?\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara shook her head impatiently.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got no time for those fools who unleashed\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n She paused and stared past Ceria at Olesm. She frowned, took one step forwards, and then gasped.<\/p>\n \u201cOlesm?<\/em> You were down there?\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm waved weakly at Zevara.<\/p>\n \u201cHi, Captain Zevara.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s<\/em> where you slithered off to! We were wondering what happened to you!\u201d<\/p>\n Relc laughed and strode forwards. He slapped Olesm on the shoulder, so hard the other Drake fell down. Klbkch helped Olesm back up on his feet.<\/p>\n \u201cOops. But I kept thinking that a zombie ate you during the attack. But you were down there the entire time? How was it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello, Relc. Um, it was\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMove aside, you idiot!\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara shoved Relc aside as she moved towards Olesm. Her tail twitched anxiously as she inspected him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a mess. But I am glad you\u2019re okay, Olesm. If I\u2019d known our [Tactician] was down there I would have sent help. But now that you\u2019re here we\u2019ll make sure you make a full recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n He blinked at her a few times.<\/p>\n \u201cI am quite grateful, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm was still clearly out of it. Zevara looked at him with genuine concern. She turned and started shouting, which made both Olesm and Ceria wince and cover at their ears.<\/p>\n \u201cGet a mage and healing potions for him right now!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd for Ceria! She needs help too!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin glared at Zevara. The Drake glared back.<\/p>\n \u201cThe adventurers who caused all this can eat dirt for all I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n She hesitated and glanced at Olesm and bit back her words.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014That is, we will discuss this later. For now, we\u2019ll treat them. Both of them.\u201d<\/p>\n Guardsmen approached quickly, holding healing potions. Zevara turned towards Erin and Ryoka, and began snapping orders.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, I want you to tell me how many undead you saw, and how many are left. If there are any traps I want their locations. Better yet, one of you two humans or Ksmvr will come with me and show me\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me.\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara ignored the soft voice. But Relc turned his head and tensed up. He grabbed at his spear and stepped back and Klbkch put his hands on his swords. Zevara was too busy arguing with Erin to notice, but when she realized Ryoka was staring right over her shoulder rather than at her, she turned around.<\/p>\n \u201cWho in the name of Dragons is\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n She stopped. The angry words were sucked out of Zevara as if by a sponge made of sound. The guardsmen around her stared. There was something about her, some quality that attracted attention.<\/p>\n Perhaps it was her mottled brown armor, or the curved sword that looked expensive as it was deadly. Or maybe it was her unique appearance, or her status. It might have been all these things or nothing, but everyone stared at her. They couldn\u2019t help it.<\/p>\n The person they were staring at stared back. She was quite good at that.<\/p>\n Gazi, the half-Gazer Named Adventurer smiled at the collection of guardsmen and the party led by Erin and Ryoka. Her main eye focused on both Erin and Ryoka longest before it swiveled back to Zevara. Gazi inclined her head politely.<\/p>\n \u201cGood day to you, Watch Captain, guardsmen.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka stared at Gazi. She barely remembered the adventurer\u2019s name, but the place she had met her stuck in her memory. The dead Gnoll bodies, each one beheaded neatly, flashed before her eyes.<\/p>\n Erin had no such memory, and she smiled at Gazi, albeit with confusion. But the others were transfixed. The guardsmen and Olesm were in awe, Relc and Klbkch were in suspicion, and Ceria was suddenly in deep trepidation.<\/p>\n Gazi nodded at Erin and smiled again.<\/p>\n \u201cErin. It has been a while, hasn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm. Yes?\u201d<\/p>\n It took even Zevara a second to regain her voice. But when she did, she glared at Gazi. She didn\u2019t quite shout or snap at her, but her tone was brusque.<\/p>\n \u201cGazi. This is official business of Liscor. We don\u2019t need any adventurers. Please remove yourself from the area\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHm. You are quite annoying.\u201d<\/p>\n Gazi cut Zevara off. It took the Drake a moment to blink at her, but then she spluttered in outrage. She raised her voice, and Gazi unsheathed her sword.<\/p>\n Ryoka saw the blade flash out of its sheathe in slow motion. Slow motion, but Gazi still moved like a blur. In less than a second it was in her hand. She unsheathed it, seemed to pause and smile at Ryoka, and then turned towards Zevara.<\/p>\n Gazi raised her sword and stabbed Zevara in the stomach. The curved blade exited Zevara\u2019s back and Gazi twisted the blade as she pulled it out.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara choked on the words, as the shock of what had happened caught up to her. She stared down at the gaping wound in her stomach, blinked at Gazi, and fell down.<\/p>\n Shock and silence reigned. Everyone stared at the fallen Watch Captain, save for Gazi. She turned back to Ryoka and Erin. Something was in her hands. A scroll, marked with shining golden letters that glowed even brighter in the light.<\/p>\n \u201cGreetings, Ryoka Griffin and Erin Solstice.\u201d<\/p>\n Gazi smiled even wider.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been looking for you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ryoka closed her eyes and knew she was happy. It was such a rare feeling she savored it. Happy. Ceria was alive. One of them was alive. That the others were not\u2014 She could focus on that later. But one person remained. They weren\u2019t all dead. She was saved. It was just a moment. And […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","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":[11693082,349],"tags":[7224,250708,4330244,4472517,11693079],"twi_volume":[11693131],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-1390","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-2","category-writing","tag-fantasy","tag-inn","tag-web-novel","tag-web-serial","tag-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n