[Martial Artist]. A term for people who use Skills and techniques designed for combat, be it self-defense, war, competition, or other activities. They differed from traditional [Warriors] in a simple way. While anyone could learn to use a sword, and there were indeed teachers of swordplay or soldiering, anyone who knew how to fight could be a [Warrior]. It was a broad term that applied to self-taught amateurs as well as those formally taught by experts.<\/p>\n
But [Martial Artists] practiced a system, an evolution of a traditional fighting style refined over decades, centuries, and so on, until it was a culture unto itself. Until you could call the act of carrying out moves a form of art in itself. That was what being a [Martial Artist] meant. But it was a rare class in most parts of the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter all, who fights with their fists? It\u2019s not really viable, especially for humanoid races. No\u2014even Drakes and Gnolls wouldn\u2019t do that well. Think about it. You\u2019re up against some [Warrior] with a sword. Even if it\u2019s made of iron, the sword\u2019s a lot longer than your arm. Plus, it\u2019s made out of metal. I don\u2019t care how sharp Drake claws are\u2014you\u2019d normally get skewered before you got in arm\u2019s reach. That\u2019s why [Fist Fighters], [Brawlers], and so on are normally just tavern toughs or drunks. It\u2019s rare to see anyone use that kind of class outside of a city.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ceria was explaining the concept of [Martial Artists] to her team. She sat with them in an inn in Celum. It was called The Drunken Swordsman, and it was a fairly nice inn as they went. Ceria wouldn\u2019t have necessarily stayed here when she was journeying with Calruz and Gerial in the original Horns of Hammerad; paying for their entire group would have wasted too much coin.<\/p>\n
Now of course, her team could afford it, but what was surprising to Ceria was that the young woman sitting next to her was staying here of her own volition. No, everything<\/em> about Garia Strongheart was surprising. Ceria shot a glance at the City Runner for the ninth time in as many minutes. She couldn\u2019t help but stare.<\/p>\n Garia was thin.<\/em> Or, thinner<\/em>. She was still far from a half-starved girl or a [Lady] striving to wear the sleekest dress possible. But even so, the change in Garia from when Ceria had known her was astounding.<\/p>\n The City Runner had been, to put it politely, a bit sturdier than most. She\u2019d given Ceria the impression she ate too much, but that was a misleading look because more than a bit of her extra weight had been muscle. Garia had been as strong as could be, but slow, which meant she\u2019d been a low-level, if dependable, City Runner called on for heavy deliveries at a slower pace.<\/p>\n She\u2019d been friends with Fals and Ryoka and had often been seen in the company of the two when Ceria had come across them in Celum. But that had been ages ago. Now?<\/p>\n She was thinner. Still not quite as thin as someone like Falene, who was practically the definition of austere elegance in how she presented herself, but closer to Yvlon in terms of size, albeit a tiny bit bulkier. But all that extra bulk was muscle, which meant that Garia Strongheart looked great. No, incredibly good. Ceria was surprised at how attractive Garia had become. The half-Elf paused for a second, wondering if her face had changed as well. Then she realized she was staring and coughed.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo problem. Hey, can I get you anything to eat? It\u2019s on me. Mister Timbor, can we get some drinks please? And some of your fries? <\/em>Hey, you\u2019re going to love this, Ceria.\u201d<\/p>\n Garia turned and waved to a big [Innkeeper] helping wait the tables. Timbor waved back good-naturedly. Ceria blinked.<\/p>\n \u201cYou seem familiar with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah? Well, I\u2019m something of a regular. I\u2019ve made Celum my home base. It\u2019s close to my family\u2019s home, and I\u2019ve gotten a lot faster lately. And I\u2019m earning a good bit more, so I can afford to stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n The City Runner turned and flashed Ceria a smile. She was clearly excited, and chatty. She\u2019d practically dragged Ceria to the inn, and the half-Elf had agreed, to satisfy her curiosity as much as anything else. She had to know what had happened to Garia. Besides, the only mission her team was on today was to do some work at the Adventurer\u2019s Guild. It wasn\u2019t as if they had to be in a hurry.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s great to hear, Garia! Come on, pull up a seat and catch us up on your levels! Any new Skills? Don\u2019t share if you don\u2019t want to. We were just talking about\u2026sorry, Ksmvr. Where was I?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria turned back to the Antinium. Ksmvr sat next to Yvlon across the table. Pisces, who had more space to himself and was leaning back in his chair, raised one eyebrow in amusement.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe you were explaining to Comrade Ksmvr why [Martial Artists] were so rare, oh, Captain Ceria. Because hand-to-weapon combat is quite foolish, is that correct?\u201d<\/p>\n He was eying Garia as well, but unlike Ceria, he wasn\u2019t at all unobtrusive about it. Yvlon and Ksmvr were politely sipping from the drinks the [Barmaid] had just brought over\u2014neither of them knew Garia as well as Ceria or Pisces. Ceria glared at Pisces as she lifted her drink to her lips.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Yeah, I was. Do you have a problem with that, Pisces? It\u2019s not hard to figure out. Weapons have reach, cutting power\u2014and you can enchant them! True, some races have claws or sharp teeth. So what? We\u2019re not animals. What kind of an idiot would use her fists to pick a fight with someone with a sword? Besides Calruz, that is?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces just kept smirking at Ceria. Ksmvr meanwhile politely raised one of his three good hands. The place where his fourth arm should have been was just a stump, healed but not regenerated. Sometimes Ceria worried about that. Ksmvr was an outcast from his Hive, but surely they could do something about his missing arm? He\u2019d assured her it wouldn\u2019t \u2018impede his combat effectiveness unduly\u2019, but that wasn\u2019t really the point.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a matter of fact, Captain Ceria, most of the Antinium do not fight with weapons. Workers may arm themselves with bows, but aside from the Armored Antinium, all other types of Antinium Soldiers only fight with their natural appendages.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. Uh. I didn\u2019t mean\u2014obviously the Antinium are an exception, Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe do practice exceptionally straightforward and somewhat high-casualty forms of combat, Captain Ceria. I take your point.\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf turned bright red. It was worse because Ksmvr was so polite about it. Yvlon shook her head with a slight smile.<\/p>\n \u201cCeria didn\u2019t try to insult your species, Ksmvr, I\u2019m sure. But she\u2019s right that other species don\u2019t have, uh, the Antinium\u2019s skill at fist-fighting. Your species has four arms and shells. We fragile Humans have weak skin and two hands. It\u2019s not a good idea for us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces was sitting up in his chair. He nodded towards Garia with his slight smirk. Ceria shot him a warning glance, but he was too far away to kick.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I understand it, [Martial Artist] classes are practically unheard of in most continents. It is difficult to implement it as a fighting method across armies of [Soldiers], and it carries several demerits, which Ceria has kindly listed. However, as I recall, the people of the Drath Archipelago as well as some Minotaurs have that class. Miss Garia appears to have picked up the class somewhere. Which might be the reason for her dramatic weight loss. You look quite fetching, Miss Strongheart, if I might say so. I congratulate you on the change.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPisces!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon and Ceria both snapped at the [Necromancer], but Garia just laughed, and that at least was the same as Ceria remembered. The boisterous young woman reached over and slapped Pisces on the back; he nearly smacked the table with the front of his face.<\/p>\n \u201cWhoops, sorry, Pisces! I\u2019m not offended, Ceria, uh, Miss Yvlon. I\u2019m glad you said something! It\u2019s the first thing most people say to me\u2014the ones who aren\u2019t polite like Ceria, that is. Isn\u2019t it incredible?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria gave up as Pisces shook his robes and the wine he\u2019d ordered slid off the enchanted cloth and onto the floorboards. A passing [Barmaid] gave him a dirty look, which he ignored. The half-Elf looked at Garia now that she\u2019d broached the subject.<\/p>\n \u201cHow on earth did you change so much, Garia? If you don\u2019t mind me asking? It\u2019s a Skill, right? From your [Martial Artist] class?\u201d<\/p>\n Garia chuckled, delighted at the attention.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right! I actually got the class nearly a month and a half ago. And the Skill I got\u2014[Weight Control] was one of the first I received! Level 6, if you can believe it! I\u2019ll tell you all about it. But here come the fries! Take a look at this!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n One of The Drunken Swordsman\u2019s servers had come over with a plate of fried wedges of potato. French fries, not nearly as thin as Erin would slice them, but unmistakably the same. There was even some ketchup with the fries. Pisces brightened up and levitated two towards him before the plate was even set down. Ceria murmured in appreciation and took one. It was salted very pleasantly and the ketchup was very good, if too sweet for her taste. Garia beamed.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you like it? It\u2019s a new addition to Celum! They\u2019re called \u2018french fries\u2019, but we just call them \u2018fries\u2019 for short! Aren\u2019t they a great snack?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMhm. They\u2019re quite nice. These ones could use a bit more crisp for my taste, though.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon commented as she politely ate a fry in the singular. Ksmvr had taken nearly as many as Pisces, and the two began to devour the large platter with Garia\u2019s help. The city Runner looked shocked and a bit crestfallen.<\/p>\n \u201cWait, you\u2019ve eaten these before? I thought they\u2019d be a huge shock! They came out just last week, and I haven\u2019t seen you all around in Celum. You\u2019re still at The Wandering Inn in Liscor, right? I\u2019ve been meaning to stop over there and talk to Erin, but I keep putting it off.\u201d<\/p>\n All four Horns of Hammerad smiled. Ceria coughed as she turned to Garia.<\/p>\n \u201cActually, Garia, we\u2019ve been eating these fries for months now. Or didn\u2019t you hear? These came from Liscor. From Erin<\/em>, actually.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The City Runner was stunned. Ceria nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess it is new in Celum, although some people do come through to the inn regularly. They must have copied her recipe. Took them long enough; you can get fries in any tavern in Liscor if you ask. It\u2019s great with a drink of ale.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo way. I thought that one of the [Innkeepers] here had invented it and Erin copied it! I should have visited\u2026they never said it was from Erin! What about Miss Agnes? Her inn was partnered with Erin\u2019s, wasn\u2019t it? Only, last time I visited, it wasn\u2019t doing so well. Although her husband is up and on his feet these days.\u201d<\/p>\n Garia shot the [Innkeeper] named Timbor a confused look. He was a big fellow. Pisces smirked unpleasantly.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe that\u2019s because they have a particular grudge against Erin Solstice, Miss Strongheart. As I recall, your [Innkeeper] was one of the ones who upset Erin in particular.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? But Timbor\u2019s a great innkeeper. He\u2019s had me over since\u2014you\u2019re sure? I need to talk to Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria drummed her fingers on the table and snatched one of Pisces\u2019 fries as it floated past her face. He scowled at her.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you do, watch out for the Hobgoblin staying at her inn. He\u2019s quite friendly, but he hates people screaming at him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHob\u2014<\/em>hold on, how much have I missed? Did that little Goblin, er, Rags, turn into a huge one?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh\u2014no. What happened was\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n It was strange for Ceria to recount all that had happened to Garia. After all, the City Runner had known Erin through Ryoka. But it had been in a peripheral sense; she\u2019d never been at the heart of the drama in Erin\u2019s inn like the Horns of Hammerad, and she\u2019d missed a lot<\/em> of action. The City Runner listened with mouth agape as she heard the stories. Face-Eater Moths. Raskghar. The siege. Goblin heroes and death. Zel Shivertail, the legend.<\/p>\n \u201cDead gods. And I thought I\u2019d<\/em> changed. But one look at your team tells me\u2026I can\u2019t quite recall if we\u2019ve been introduced. I knew the Horns had changed; I saw<\/em> you during the siege of Liscor\u2014I mean, the one with the Face-Eater Moths. And I heard about Lord Tyrion\u2019s army and the Goblin Lord, but I wasn\u2019t near a scrying orb for that. I\u2019ll have to pay to see a recording if there\u2019s one available. I\u2019m sorry if I haven\u2019t introduced myself before. Garia Strongheart.\u201d<\/p>\n She stood up. Yvlon and Ksmvr did likewise. The [Wounded Warrior] smiled slightly as she held out a gauntleted hand. It was bad manners to eat with her gauntlets on, but the woman was doing so anyways. Ceria had noticed Yvlon wore her armor\u2014at least her gauntlets and armguards\u2014at all times. To hide her damaged arms? Even when she took the main breastplate on, the arm-section remained.<\/p>\n Then Ceria wondered if the Free Antinium\u2019s gels would help with her arms as well. She hadn\u2019t complained about her injuries of late, but that was because she couldn\u2019t feel<\/em> her arms. Yvlon shook Garia\u2019s hand, smiling, and neither commented on her etiquette.<\/p>\n \u201cI have seen you before, Miss Garia. But I can\u2019t say we\u2019ve ever talked that much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGaria, please. It\u2019s a pleasure to meet you, Yvlon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I am Ksmvr. Hello. I am one of the Antinium, but I am not hostile towards you at the moment, Miss Garia. So please do not fear for your life.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr held out one of his hands. Garia blinked, but didn\u2019t even miss a beat as she shook it. Ceria groaned.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t mind Ksmvr, Garia\u2014and he is an Antinium, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry. I met that other one. Klbkch? And Pawn. Ryoka\u2019s told me about them, so I\u2019m not scared. And I hear Antinium have been in Celum before. Honestly, I was a bit worried we\u2019d have people panicking, but they\u2019ve seen, uh, Ksmvr before?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnce or twice. There was a baseball game\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria looked around. Ksmvr was indeed getting a lot of looks, but the Antinium had been spotted in Celum a few times before. Still, if Ksmvr were alone, Ceria would have bet people would have panicked. Another thing to worry about.<\/p>\n \u201cAnyways. Where were we? Oh, right. Erin\u2019s inn is one thing, Garia. But how in the name of tree sap did you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf waved at Garia in general. The City Runner laughed again. She seemed so happy. And she was clearly doing well; Ceria distinctly recalled Garia being worried about her job and how she was doing before.<\/p>\n \u201cLike I said, Ceria. I got the class. [Martial Artist]. Level 14! I\u2019ve been leveling like crazy<\/em>. No one can believe how fast I\u2019m shooting up, but I\u2019m training every chance I get between runs. My weight\u2019s just one change I\u2019ve had. Look at this!\u201d<\/p>\n She lifted her light tunic. Ceria blinked as she saw a very taut stomach and toned abdominal muscles. And something else she\u2019d seen on Calruz when the Minotaur went shirtless. A six-pack of muscles.<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon sounded admiring. Ksmvr leaned over, blank.<\/p>\n \u201cI do not understand what this configuration of flesh means. Comrade Pisces, please explain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt shows high abdominal strength, Ksmvr. And I realize the distinction is lost on you, but I find it a quite attractive view.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces leaned over for a better look. Garia turned red, and Yvlon reached over to punch him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, don\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n The Runner girl looked pleased as she lowered her shirt. That was another change. Garia would never have been so bold. Ceria blinked as Pisces edged back from Yvlon, and Ksmvr prodded his own stomach.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you\u2019re really trying to be a [Martial Artist], Garia? Aren\u2019t you a [Runner]?\u201d<\/p>\n Garia took a longer drink and nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. But the two classes have great synergy. After all, both are about the body. I\u2019m hoping I can consolidate the classes. But I have no idea what class I\u2019d get, and I\u2019m running out of ways to improve. I do practice punches every day\u2014and kicks as well as this dodging routine I learned\u2014but I\u2019m just dying<\/em> to meet Ryoka again. I want to see her face\u2014and get her to teach me how to do some flips!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka taught you how to do those punches? Now it makes sense.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon sighed and rolled her eyes. Ceria nodded too.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. She took both you and Calruz on, remember, Yvlon?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs if I could forget. That was one way to meet her.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Warrior] rubbed her cheek ruefully. Garia smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cI was there when she took Calruz on with her fists, remember?That\u2019s not something I\u2019m ever going to do, but when she visited my parent\u2019s farm, Ryoka also taught me how to do a basic punch. She wanted me to defend myself. Honestly, I didn\u2019t see much point in it, but she did some incredible tricks as well, so I thought\u2014why not? My dad was all hyped up after her visit too. He practically forced me to try her punches the day after she left, and then spar. I don\u2019t know if you\u2019ve met him\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWailant Strongheart? Doesn\u2019t he run a really productive farm around Celum? I remember hearing about how productive his fields are.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon looked curious. Ceria blinked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you know that, Yvlon?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do take an interest in that kind of thing, Ceria. My family runs a number of businesses. He runs his farm practically by himself, or so I heard. Dangerous, even for a farm located close to Celum. But I take it he\u2019s good at fighting?\u201d<\/p>\n Garia smiled ruefully.<\/p>\n \u201cDad\u2019s not alone. But you\u2019re right. He can take care of himself. So can my mother. She\u2019s a [Green Mage].\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat<\/em> explains it. Is your father a former adventurer, then? A soldier?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. He was a [Pirate].\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon choked on her drink. Ksmvr politely patted her on the back.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are drowning, Yvlon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Ksmvr. A [Pirate]? <\/em>You don\u2019t hear about that every day!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. But that\u2019s an entire story\u2026anyways, my dad\u2019s still really good with a sword. And his fists. He kept egging me to become an adventurer and learn how to fight. I\u2019m no good with a weapon, though. After Ryoka left, he made me do a hundred of her punches exactly like she did, and then tried to get me to spar. Normally I can\u2019t even touch him, but he kept egging me on. And then I threw one of Ryoka\u2019s punches and got lucky and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Garia spread her hands helplessly. Ceria winced. Pisces frowned. He leaned over to Ceria.<\/p>\n \u201cCeria. Correct me if I\u2019m mistaken, but wasn\u2019t Garia in the possession of the, ah, [Enhanced Strength] Skill?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYup.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces winced. So did Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cOuch.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cAh. That Skill is a more potent version of [Lesser Strength], is it not? I thought it was difficult to acquire for [Warriors], though.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon dabbed at her mouth with a handkerchief.<\/p>\n \u201cRare, yes. I wish I had it. But it\u2019s more common for [Farmers].\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I was one until I quit. It\u2019s one of the reasons I was so big growing up, or so my mother always said. And I got a solid hit on my dad during that sparring session.\u201d<\/p>\n Garia waved a hand. Ksmvr stared blankly at her. Ceria smiled slightly.<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr, it\u2019s not a complete comparison, but remember Calruz? Imagine him hitting you as hard as he could. He\u2019s probably a bit stronger, but I remember a guy with [Enhanced Strength] nearly knocked him flat in a bar brawl one time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. I see. The potential for bodily harm rises. Commendable.\u201d<\/p>\n Garia shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t hurt my dad that<\/em> bad. But I did knock him out. It was a lucky shot to the head, but still. I can\u2019t tell you how good that felt! I\u2019ve never so much as touched him when he didn\u2019t want me to. That night I gained the [Martial Artist] class. And I decided that if I could knock my father out, a good punch would do just as well for any [Bandit] I met. Or monster! So I kept practicing off-and-on. And then I got to Level 6 and I realized what my class could do for me.\u201d<\/p>\n She indicated her body. Ceria frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you got a Skill, and you could just lose weight? Like that? Isn\u2019t that insanely powerful?\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI know dozens of [Ladies] who\u2019d kill for a Skill like that, Garia. Literally kill.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, they can learn to do a few punches and see if they get it. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a powerful Skill by the standards of my class, you see. It just helps me lose weight, which is what I<\/em> wanted. I guess that\u2019s why I got it?\u201d<\/p>\n She looked around the table for confirmation. Pisces nodded. Somehow he\u2019d signaled for another plate of fries, unabashedly putting it on Garia\u2019s tab.<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed. It\u2019s a well-known phenomenon that classes and Skills are acquired often in line with the user\u2019s desires. I myself don\u2019t have any Skills involving the summoning of flesh-based undead, for instance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSilver and steel, Pisces. Of all the things to say while we\u2019re eating.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon glared. Pisces raised a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI merely bring it up as a point of reference. I much prefer skeletons to zombies, you see. Rotting flesh is so\u2026unrefined.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt also carries disease. I am contributing this fact to the conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium beamed. Garia looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know about all that. But I\u2019m just so happy I got the class. It\u2019s not the only Skill I got, of course\u2014I learned a few techniques too! I can do a really fast kick, I have a dodging Skill\u2014and I\u2019m a lot faster on my feet! But that\u2019s just because of the weight loss. I can\u2019t wait to see what other Skills I get, though. So I\u2019m learning all I can about my class. But Ceria and Pisces are right. There\u2019s practically no one with this class in Izril.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh. So what will you do?\u201d<\/p>\n Garia shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m trying to see if there are any [Martial Artists] or people with similar classes among the adventurers on the continent. There probably are, and I\u2019ll see if I can talk to them and if they\u2019re willing to share. Aside from that, I do my research. [Mages] know a lot, you see, and experienced travellers from Chandrar are helpful. If I could go to a larger city or a port\u2026oh, and you\u2019re wrong about [Martial Artists], Ceria. Just a tiny bit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh? How?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWeapons are actually part of the fighting styles [Martial Artists] use. You see, it\u2019s about the attitude and\u2026discipline? The point is, some use hands and feet, but there are entire styles that take other body parts into account. Also, there are groups of [Martial Artists] in Chandrar too, Pisces. There\u2019s this famous nation called Pomle, and I was trying to see if I could send a [Message] spell there, but they don\u2019t even have a Mage\u2019s Guild.\u201d<\/p>\n Garia sighed. Pisces sniffed.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew that. I was simply referring to the practice in a broader cultural sense, not minorities by continent\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up, Pisces. She\u2019s more of an expert than you.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria smiled at Garia, privately delighted. The City Runner grinned at Pisces.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I have done my research. But if you know anything, Pisces, I\u2019d love to find out more. There really aren\u2019t any experts around. Oh, there are [Brawlers], and I\u2019ve heard of [Fist Fighters], but they\u2019re completely different. I did hear a rumor about a\u2026[Mage] in Pallass? He apparently trains his body. And doesn\u2019t Erin\u2019s inn have a door to Pallass?\u201d<\/p>\n She looked hopefully at Pisces. So did Ceria, although the comment wiggled at a part of her memory. But she didn\u2019t keep her ear to the door like Pisces did with his constant spying. She was more of an expert on adventuring and, uh\u2026half-Elves. He nodded at last.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe I know the [Mage] you\u2019re referring to, Miss Strongheart.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGaria.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Stronghear\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman reached over and poked Pisces. His chair rocked a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cGaria.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon was smiling. Pisces blinked twice.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Garia. The Drake in question is known as Grimalkin. I\u2019m familiar with a few particulars about him; he didn\u2019t attend Wistram, but he did visit the academy\u2026hm. He graduated from Fissival, but his, ah, unique beliefs make him a pariah in the magical community. However, I believe his theories are sound, if excessive. Ceria, you might remember him. He\u2019s the one who challenged an Archmage to a duel.\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf snapped her fingers.<\/p>\n \u201cHim?<\/em> I remember that!\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon was astonished.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone challenged an Archmage of Wistram?\u201d<\/p>\n The others leaned forwards. Ceria nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo years after I left Wistram with Pisces. I remember hearing all about it. He lost, didn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces sniffed.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. He isn\u2019t a high enough leveled [Mage] to beat any of the current Archmages. I believe he was up against Archmage Feor, a bad matchup, given Feor\u2019s extensive abilities to control a duel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight, right. Good thing he wasn\u2019t up against Amerys, though. She does not<\/em> hold back.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces\u2019 lips twitched as Yvlon, Ksmvr, and Garia all looked blank.<\/p>\n \u201cHe might have done surprisingly well. He did land a hit that nearly shattered Feor\u2019s barrier spell. Apparently he suffered a bit of the impact. I would have quite liked to have seen that.\u201d<\/p>\n So would Ceria. And she was impressed too; she knew how good an Archmage\u2019s barrier spells probably were.<\/p>\n \u201cSo he\u2019s some kind of fighting [Mage]? That might be what Garia wants.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cAlas, I think \u2018physical mage\u2019 is all too apt a term for Grimalkin. He emphasizes physical enchantment spells. Which means he can fight on par with a Gold-ranked [Warrior] with ease, but as a consequence he neglects other forms of magic. His motto is that a [Mage] should be able to keep up with [Warriors]. I admire the concept myself, as I combine aspects of fencing combat with my spellcraft in battle, but I doubt Grimalkin is that acquainted with the kind of fighting Miss\u2026with what Garia desires. [Martial Artists] use Skills and battle techniques, not spells, and they can rival even powerful spells at high-level.\u201d<\/p>\n He indicated his rapier as he spoke. Ceria was nodding, but she saw Garia looked disappointed. Ksmvr waved a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cComrade Pisces. Comrade Pisces, please explain to me. How powerful would you rate a [Martial Artist] compared to a regular [Warrior]?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll answer that, Ksmvr. I am the expert here after all.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon smoothly interrupted Pisces. He sighed loudly, but took a drink as she took over. That was actually a good sign, as was the way Yvlon didn\u2019t glare at him in any seriousness. The Horns were easy around each other, and Ceria could see Garia glancing from face to face as she sipped from her drink, listening.<\/p>\n Yvlon shot Ksmvr a smile as the Antinium turned to face her. They had a good connection. If Ceria could sometimes sense what Pisces was thinking from their shared past, she thought that Yvlon liked Ksmvr, and she was the only person who Ksmvr didn\u2019t address with any degree of formality.<\/p>\n \u201cYou see, Ksmvr, it\u2019s a hard question. [Warriors] like me wear armor, but I do know [Martial Artists] usually go without. It\u2019s more of a question of how rich and what level we are. You see, at low levels, the [Warrior] wins if they\u2019re equipped right. We can wear armor and use steel weapons. Bare hands and feet aren\u2019t much use even with some Skills. And the problem continues at higher levels.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. I see. Your Sword of Weight and my Forceshield would be powerful weapons a [Martial Artist] lacks.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr indicated the sword at Yvlon\u2019s side and the small bucker he carried. Yvlon nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cExactly. But it\u2019s not all clear-cut. For instance, [Martial Artists] have to train, and not all [Warriors] do. I practice my swings, but I don\u2019t do the\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She waved her arms vaguely. Ksmvr copied her. Garia shook her head, amused, but didn\u2019t break in.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026So maybe [Martial Artist] is a stronger class than general [Warriors]? It might be like having a [Blademaster] class in terms of quality. And their Skills are quite good. But we get enchanted gear. So it\u2019s more even at higher-levels. One thing\u2019s for sure, though. Take away a Gold-rank [Warrior]\u2019s gear and give him just steel and pit him against a [Martial Artist] of the same level, and I know who I\u2019m betting on.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr nodded a few times. Then he raised his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cTo clarify, which one would you bet on?\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone laughed at that. Garia called for another round as Ceria got up to pee. She had to chuckle over Ksmvr. But someone stopped her on the way back from the toilet.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss. Excuse me, Miss.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Innkeeper], Timbor, halted Ceria. He gave her a wide and slightly nervous smile as he indicated her team.<\/p>\n \u201cThat, uh, that thing with you. That\u2019s one of them,<\/em> isn\u2019t it? An Antinium? From Liscor?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n The man licked his lips as Ceria frowned at him.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not going to do anything, is he? I know Garia, and she\u2019s a good girl. Er, and I know your team\u2019s the Horns of Hammerad, right? But one of the Antinium\u2026it\u2019s safe, it won\u2019t act up, right? You can promise me that?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria glared.<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr<\/em> can control himself. He\u2019s an adventurer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight, right. I only wanted to know\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Timbor backed up, for all he was quite a bit taller than Ceria. She debated freezing his feet to the ground, and then shook her head. If she hadn\u2019t met Ksmvr, Pawn, and Klbkch, she might have felt the same way.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s quite nice. Don\u2019t worry. We\u2019re not staying the night. We have an inn. Ksmvr hasn\u2019t killed anyone there yet.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Innkeeper] flushed a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. Look, I didn\u2019t mean to say\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria let him go at that. The others were laughing as she came back. Garia was telling them stories of her new adventures on the road.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026and that\u2019s when I realized I really was<\/em> a lot better! Fals came running back up to me, and then he just stared at the dead thing on the road. He couldn\u2019t believe it! I was going to keep running, but it turned out the bounty on the monster was worth more than my delivery!\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon chuckled at that. Pisces leaned over to Ceria as he smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cShe punched a Rockdevil<\/em> to death.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The [Ice Mage] nearly spat out her drink. She stared at her full mug, and then at the [Barmaid] filling Pisces\u2019 tankard.<\/p>\n \u201cHold on, we didn\u2019t order\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMister Timbor sent a free round around.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria felt a bit bad about her sharp tongue now. Then she felt better because it was a free drink. Pisces raised his eyebrows as he watched Garia showing Yvlon and Ksmvr a scar.<\/p>\n \u201cTrouble?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, actually. The [Innkeeper] was just worried about Ksmvr being Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat reminds me. When we go to the Adventurer\u2019s Guild, let\u2019s be careful. Because they have weapons, and I\u2019d hate for one of them to react badly to Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI quite agree. Although, is your guild in Celum that dangerous?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria made a face. She tried not to drink too much ale before a job, but this was free. She\u2019d have to sober up a bit. Maybe she\u2019d grab a sobering potion at Octavia\u2019s before she left.<\/p>\n \u201cNot really? But you never know. Look, it\u2019s been a while, but Yvlon and I know most of the groups around here. Let\u2019s head over after this. And when you get there, try not to mention the undead\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She saw Pisces nod. Garia was turning to her as he sat back up in his chair.<\/p>\n \u201cSo Ceria! Erin\u2019s doing well, or better, I guess. I\u2019ll drop by and visit her. And little Mrsha too! But have you seen Ryoka around? I\u2019m dying to talk to her, but no one\u2019s seen her in Celum for ages! Is she running errands around the Drake cities?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria stopped drinking. She looked up. The smile faded from Yvlon\u2019s lips. Pisces looked up as he ate one of the remaining cold fries.<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka? We haven\u2019t seen her, Garia. Not for a long while.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? I thought she was in Liscor! What about Mrsha? She was looking after her!\u201d<\/p>\n The Runner was shocked. Ceria shook her head. She looked at Yvlon and remembered the day Ryoka had disappeared.<\/p>\n Regrika Blackpaw. <\/em>Her mysterious mage friend. Her chasing after Ryoka\u2014<\/p>\n She gave Garia a truncated version of the story. The City Runner shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd she just left? No one told me!\u201d<\/p>\n She pounded the table, making the cups and plates jump. Ceria eyed her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t have been able to help, Garia. Believe me\u2014we ran into Regrika or whoever that Gnoll really was. She took out a Gold-rank adventurer like that.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n She snapped her fingers. Yvlon nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka had some kind of connection to her. She left before we could get answers, but there\u2019s a bit of ill will, Garia. Griffon Hunt, the Halfseekers, not to mention Liscor\u2019s City Watch, Zel Shivertail, that Wall Lord Ilvriss\u2026all of them wanted to talk to Ryoka. If she comes back, she\u2019ll have some explaining to do.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces nodded. His tone was suddenly pensive as he leaned back in his chair.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe the circumstances around Miss Griffin are\u2026complicated. One thing is for certain, however. She is nowhere near Liscor. Nor do I believe she ran south. That would prove unwise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause the Blood Fields are active?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Necromancer] blinked.<\/p>\n \u201cHm. Of course. Besides, Erin did indicate she\u2019d run north. It is surprising you haven\u2019t heard news of her, Garia.\u201d<\/p>\n Garia folded her arms and closed her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I was listening in the wrong places. I thought she was in Liscor. You know, semi-retired and looking after Mrsha? She had a lot of gold. If she went north\u2026I\u2019ll ask Fals. Or I can put in a request through the Guild if Ryoka\u2019s still running. I want to see her. And if she\u2019s north, I can do a long run.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow far do you run these days?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria blinked at Garia. The City Runner smiled a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot farther than I used to, Ceria. Farther, faster\u2026and I can defend myself. I still can\u2019t handle people with arrows or the dangerous kinds of monsters, but I can usually outrun anything. And I\u2019ve taken care of myself since then. I\u2019m not the Garia from before. I wish I\u2019d learned this years ago. Maybe I would have been on the track to becoming a Courier by now, not Persua. Although now half the male Runners in the Guild keep asking me if I\u2019d like to go running with them. Which they didn\u2019t do before I lost weight, but they seem to think I can\u2019t remember two months ago. They\u2019re annoying, and some of Persua\u2019s old friends are mean<\/em>. Still, I\u2019m glad she\u2019s<\/em> gone.\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf had to agree.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one\u2019s bothering you from her gang?\u201d<\/p>\n Garia waved a hand, frowning slightly.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Claudeil and Toriska vanished, and I think they got sick of her. Persua had other friends, but she lost almost all her clique after she got in trouble. I\u2019m fine, really.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria smiled to hear it. The half-Elf downed the rest of her mug and then she got up from her chair.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not the same either, Garia. It\u2019s been a long time since we were in Celum. For work, I mean. But we are better. The Horns are back.\u201d<\/p>\n Even if Calruz is in jail. Even if he\u2019s going to die.<\/em> Ceria paused at that bleak thought. She shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d love to talk to you tonight. But we did come here to do a job, so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. I shouldn\u2019t have kept you. Hey, why don\u2019t we meet at The Wandering Inn for dinner? If Erin\u2019s made fries, what else has she done? I\u2019d love to find out!\u201d<\/p>\n Garia got up. Ceria nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we don\u2019t have an overnight request at the guild, I\u2019d love to. We\u2019ll send word. Or stop by at the Runner\u2019s Guild.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds good. And hey, Ceria, Yvlon, all of you. If you need something delivered, feel free to ask at the guild. They can get in touch with me even if I\u2019m on a delivery. I\u2019m still not as fast as Ryoka, but I\u2019m the best City Runner in the area now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou?\u201d<\/p>\n The City Runner smiled at them. Ceria had never seen that look on her face. It was proud, triumphant, and for a second Ceria forgot the old Garia. Then the young woman turned.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got to go practice. I\u2019ll see you tonight hopefully!\u201d<\/p>\n And then she was gone. Ceria looked at her companions. Yvlon looked thoughtful, Pisces and Ksmvr were busy eating the last of the fries. The half-Elf shook her head. She noticed Timbor, the [Innkeeper], lingering nearby as they left. He was staring at them, or maybe just at Ksmvr? But he said nothing as the Horns made their way into the street.<\/p>\n \u201cWhoof. I drank too much. What was that, three mugs?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria muttered as she left The Drunken Swordsman. Yvlon steadied her with one hand. The [Warrior] didn\u2019t look at all tipsy, but then she\u2019d had some watered wine and then rosewater tea for her drinks.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to sober up. Or pray our destination\u2019s a ways away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf the request is a day or two away\u2026gah. I\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces wrinkled his nose as he brushed crumbs off his spotless, white robes.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, the most tiresome aspect of adventuring. Can we choose a request closer to Celum? I would prefer to exterminate monsters and recline in comfort tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria mock-glared at Pisces.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t get to choose the jobs, Pisces. Well, we do, but the best paying ones aren\u2019t fun for exactly that reason. Besides, you\u2019d better get used to this if you want to continue with us. We need to make a name for ourselves now we\u2019re done with Liscor and the dungeon. Or we\u2019ll never make Gold-rank.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Necromancer] sighed, but he didn\u2019t argue. Yvlon tsked<\/em> softly as she walked with Ceria down the street. It was a familiar route for her and Ceria. Pisces and Ksmvr trailed them. The Antinium was getting a lot of looks now. Ceria just hoped no one would call for the Watch.<\/p>\n \u201cCaptain Ceria, may I ask a question?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ksmvr. You don\u2019t need to ask.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you. When you say we are \u2018done with Liscor\u2019, do you mean we will be travelling away from Liscor? Will we not stay around Miss Erin\u2019s inn?\u201d<\/p>\n The question brought Ceria and Yvlon up short. They turned to look at Ksmvr. Then they shot a glance at Pisces. He shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cI defer to your judgment, Captain Ceria, Comrade Yvlon. You are the senior adventurers as you constantly remind me.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cI like Erin\u2019s inn. But even with a door to Invrisil\u2014especially since you can\u2019t take more than two or three people per day\u2014we\u2019ll have to leave her inn eventually. We can stay in the area and visit often, but I think we\u2019ll have to say goodbye at some point like the other Gold-rank teams.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr nodded a few times, then had a thought.<\/p>\n \u201cOh. I believe Erin will cry.\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf rubbed at her head.<\/p>\n \u201cShe will. Dead gods, that will be painful. We don\u2019t have to face that just yet, though. Like I said, we\u2019re not at Gold-rank yet. Falene made that clear, along with those damn Ashfire Bees.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces leaned forwards. The flow of traffic on Celum\u2019s street had practically stopped. People were staring at Ksmvr. He was staring back with interest.<\/p>\n \u201cSo our current objective is\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet more artifacts. Get to Invrisil and call in whatever favor Ryoka bought for us. Uh\u2026find Ryoka? Maybe. Level up a bit. I\u2019m Level 28. If I could hit Level 30\u2026I\u2019d love to gain a new class instead of [Wounded Warrior]. Something actually strong, like Ylawes\u2019 [Knight] class. I feel like the weakest link sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon grimaced as she flexed one arm. Pisces eyed it silently.<\/p>\n \u201cI happen to agree with that. We could certainly use some refinement of our existing tactics as well. I admit my Bone Horrors aren\u2019t at the level I desire. Yet. And I need new bones. I\u2019ve lost all but the components for one Bone Horror after the last one was incinerated.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria shook her head as she turned the street. The Adventurer\u2019s Guild was only a block away.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that humility I hear, Pisces?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMerely common sense, Springwalker. Or don\u2019t you agree?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI agree. Totally. I have [Ice Wall] and [Frozen Armor] now, but those are defensive spells. Pretty good ones; I\u2019m miles ahead of old me. But until I can throw [Ice Lance] around like my old master, I\u2019m only good at locking down opponents. And when I do learn the spell, you\u2019d better watch out! Because then I\u2019ll be\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStill considerably weaker than Falene, Revi, Typhenous, or Moore?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up, Pisces.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria irritably kicked at Pisces. But he [Flash Stepped] out of the way. She balefully eyed him as he smirked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cCome to think of it, aren\u2019t you in the same boat? You don\u2019t have any offensive spells past Tier 2.<\/em> And your rapier isn\u2019t much good even when you set it on fire. Your Bone Horrors do all the work, and they\u2019re surprisingly fragile.\u201d<\/p>\n He sniffed at her.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m refining them, Springwalker. Or do you think it\u2019s easy <\/em>to design undead? It is not. And since I cannot use traditional undead forms like skeletons, much less humanoid corpses, I must design new Bone Horrors from scratch. Additionally, the cost of animating a Bone Horror is considerable. If I maintained them like normal [Necromancers]\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon scowled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d have an army. How many can you raise?\u201d<\/p>\n The aforementioned [Necromancer] hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, if I needed to\u2026you are aware [Necromancers] and [Summoners] are related in discipline, yes? Only, the undead are permanent constructs while [Summoners] like Miss Revi use temporary beings that are generally more potent or diverse. So in theory, if I were trying, I could raise quite a number of, er, low-level undead. Zombies. Ghouls. Skeletons. But I fear that method leads to circular patterns. I would need to constantly acquire more undead as I expended them. You see, the undead thrive on death magic, so they would need to generate it to avoid me paying the cost in mana myself\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then you\u2019d unleash them on a village to gain more, and we\u2019d have to hunt you down. I get the idea.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon sighed. She shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cFine. Forget I asked. Your Bone Horrors are strong enough even if you can only summon a few. And I like you more when it\u2019s just<\/em> those.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy Yvlon, I was unaware of your positive sentiments. I return it quite happily.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces smirked. Yvlon rolled her eyes. And Ceria realized someone hadn\u2019t spoken up recently. She looked back.<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr? What\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium was trailing behind the other three, looking at the ground. He looked up and opened his mandibles. A woman walking out of the shop turned white as she saw him.<\/p>\n \u201cMonster! H-help! It\u2019s a\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, shut up.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria pushed her aside. She pulled Ksmvr forwards gently. The Antinium clicked his mandibles softly as Yvlon and Pisces looked back.<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr, what\u2019s the matter?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing, Yvlon, Captain Ceria. I am merely ruminating on my despair. You see, I am quite useless. And Yvlon\u2019s statement about her being the weakest link is fundamentally incorrect; I am clearly the weakest and most inept of the team. I tender my apologies and crushing guilt to the team.\u201d<\/p>\n The other Horns looked at Ksmvr. Then they exchanged glances. Ceria coughed.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Ksmvr, that\u2019s not true\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI appreciate your lies, Captain Ceria. But the facts do not lie. I am the lowest-leveled among the team by far. I have not even hit Level 20. Whereas Comrade Pisces is now in excess of Level 30, and both you and Yvlon are closing in on Level 30, which is a mark of true ability.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria bit her lip. That was true. Level 30 was the point where you really started standing out from the crowd. She\u2019d been fantasizing over what she might get at Level 30 for a Skill\u2014or maybe a rare spell. It was amazing how fast she\u2019d leveled since she\u2019d first met Ryoka back in Albez. Then, she\u2019d barely been Level 23.<\/p>\n Gaining six levels in a few months was fast <\/em>leveling at this stage. Even if Erin was\u2026well, she didn\u2019t count. And [Mages] at Level 30 or higher were nothing to sneeze at. Come to think of it\u2014Ceria eyed Pisces. If he didn\u2019t have the restrictions placed on him by Liscor\u2019s and Celum\u2019s laws regarding undead, could he have a small army of undead following him around like he\u2019d said?<\/p>\n But Ksmvr was the priority to cheer up right now. Pisces placed a hand on Ksmvr\u2019s shoulder in an uncharacteristic display of warmth.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, Ksmvr. Don\u2019t despair over your lack of levels. I understand the Antinium level slowly. You should regard your inferiority not as a mark of failure but as a byproduct of being in the company of the truly gifted.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is true. I am quite inferior.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Necromancer] sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is not quite what I\u2026one\u2019s competence does not merely reside in their level, Ksmvr. In time you will rise to something approaching my competence. I am sure you will eventually outstrip Springwalker and Miss Byres.\u201d<\/p>\n Both of them glared at Pisces, but he was doing his best. The [Necromancer] paused as if he\u2019d just had a thought. He turned to Ksmvr.<\/p>\n \u201cBesides which, you are<\/em> barely three years old.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon tripped. It was a full-body thud<\/em>, which attracted every head. And it must have hurt. But she was on her feet moments later.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re how <\/em>old, Ksmvr?\u201d<\/p>\n The former Prognugator scratched at an antenna.<\/p>\n \u201cThree. I was created in secret by my Queen as a replacement Prognugator in case of Revalantor Klbkch\u2019s injury. I understand you are trying to cheer me up, Comrade Pisces, but I was considered fully trained by my Queen\u2019s standards after two years since my creation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, but friend Ksmvr, Captain Ceria and I took, er, at least a decade of training to reach our levels.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces put his arm around Ksmvr\u2019s shoulder. Ceria and Yvlon were too busy waving silently at each other to interject. The Antinium brightened.<\/p>\n \u201cTruly?\u201d<\/p>\n The young man nodded grandly.<\/p>\n \u201cThe maturation of Humans, half-Elves, and other species is much slower. Now, I grant you, it would still have taken you quite a long time to reach our level. But your current failing can be excused. I\u2019m sure Ceria would agree with me.\u201d<\/p>\n He glanced pointedly at Ceria. She stopped dancing about and cleared her throat.<\/p>\n \u201cEr, yes. Of course. You\u2019re one of us, Ksmvr. And you\u2019re quite accomplished. For a three-year-old<\/em>. Pisces. You didn\u2019t mention that to us.\u201d<\/p>\n Behind Ksmvr, Yvlon made a fist. The [Necromancer]\u2019s smile turned glassy.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Well, it\u2019s perfectly natural for Antinium\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStill, you didn\u2019t think it was important?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe lifespan of Antinium\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr held up a hand as he looked back at Ceria.<\/p>\n \u201cCaptain Ceria, I am fully aware of your complaint and prepared to address it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh? Go on, Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n He nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI am aware that you know the average lifespan of Workers is only around two years in length. However, I would like to hasten to assure you that this is not a biological clock in any way, but merely a byproduct of high mortality rates owing to monster invasion, drowning, and accidents in the Hive. My body will not begin to deteriorate in quality owing to my age for at least a decade.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease do not be angry at Comrade Pisces. He merely sought to keep my advanced age a secret to avoid embarrassing me. You see, the Prognugator of a Hive must be trained, for years, whereas Workers and Soldiers are practically fully competent moments after being created. I had to learn to use weaponry, study tactics, history\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not quite why we were mad. But I\u2019ll discuss it with Pisces later. Look\u2026you\u2019re fine as you are, Ksmvr. Let\u2019s just drop that and deal with it later. Look, we\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n They\u2019d finally arrived at the Adventurer\u2019s Guild. Ksmvr stared up at the two-story building and tilted his head from left to right. Ceria had to own it wasn\u2019t the most impressive of spots. Oh, it was certainly bigger than Liscor\u2019s guild, nearly twice as large, but it was still the Adventurer\u2019s Guild of a moderately small city.<\/p>\n It was worn, the sign marking the guild was old and the paint had faded, and the guild had open shutters, not glass. Some loud laughter drifted out from the guild, as if it were a pub. Still, it was familiar to Ceria. In a way, it was home.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a mediocre guild. We might as well have gone to Pallass. Or waited until Invrisil. This is almost as poor as Miss Selys\u2019 guild. Ah\u2026don\u2019t tell her I said that.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces studied the guild\u2019s frontage dismissively. Yvlon and Ceria turned to glare at him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not a big guild. It doesn\u2019t need to be. And there are good Silver-rank teams in there, so watch your tongue, Pisces. Come to that\u2014Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Captain Ceria!\u201d<\/p>\n He straightened at once. Ceria eyed him.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be nervous, Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will endeavor to suppress my natural apprehension, Captain! But this is the second Guild I have ever entered! I must make a good impression!\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria thought quickly. She really liked Ksmvr, she did. But she knew him pretty well now, and she knew exactly how much trouble those words might mean.<\/p>\n \u201cRight\u2026how about you don\u2019t. Uh, Ksmvr, this guild hasn\u2019t ever seen Antinium. So they might react\u2014we\u2019ll handle it. Yvlon and I. What I want you\u2014and you, Pisces<\/em>\u2014to do is stay quiet, follow our leads, and don\u2019t cause trouble. Got it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUnderstood, Captain! I will be quiet and not cause any trouble!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWonderful. Pisces?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, oh, glorious Captain?\u201d<\/p>\n He gave Ceria a sycophantic, fake smile. She gave up.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you start a fight, Yvlon and I won\u2019t bail you out. Alright, Yvlon. It\u2019s been a while. Want to see the regular crowd?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Warrior] smiled. But there was a hint of\u2026what? Apprehension? Something like that in her eyes. Ceria felt a strange flutter in her stomach as well and couldn\u2019t place why. Why was it?<\/p>\n Oh.<\/em> Because the last time I was here, I was with Calruz. Calruz, Gerial, Sostrom, Hunt\u2026we were about to go to Liscor.<\/em><\/p>\n The memory froze Ceria in her tracks. She stared up at the guild. Then she shook her head, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n A worn room. Floorboards recently swept clean. Swept, but not scoured, because years of mud and dirt trekked into the room had etched itself between the cracks in the floorboards. There were stains too. Dark ones. Places where adventurers had bled. And perhaps, places where they had died, surrounded by friends after a mission gone wrong.<\/p>\n Marks of victory, small triumphs and battles forgotten by all. Scratches where someone had demonstrated a new Skill. Worn tables and chairs, but not too worn; after all, adventurers would start fights or break furniture by accident. So the wood was cheap, and the only permanent fixture was the desk with the [Receptionist] and the board filled with slips of paper. Jobs.<\/p>\n Ceria Springwalker looked around Celum\u2019s guild. It was like she remembered. All of it. She felt a wave of nostalgia and sadness grip her. Then someone prodded her in the back.<\/p>\n \u201cMay we come in?\u201d<\/p>\n Thank goodness for Pisces. Ceria jabbed an elbow backwards, missed Pisces, and hit Yvlon\u2019s breastplate. The [Warrior] jerked out of the same reverie. As Ceria cursed and rubbed her elbow, Yvlon walked past her.<\/p>\n \u201cLooks like a midday crowd. Not that many teams in.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria looked up. Instinct overruled her feelings. She surveyed the room a second time. The Adventurer\u2019s Guild really did resemble a pub in a lot of ways. There were plenty of tables and chairs to sit about and, adventurers being pragmatic, some did indeed bring their lunches to eat while they prepared for a job or came back from one.<\/p>\n More than that, an Adventurer\u2019s Guild always had someone hanging about. It was a place to socialize. All of your friends might be here if you were an adventurer. This would be more of your home than any inn.<\/p>\n Yvlon was right. This Guild wasn\u2019t nearly as crowded as it could be. It could probably hold close to eighty people before feeling quite cramped. Right now it held only about three dozen, including the staff. Ceria shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. This isn\u2019t too bad. Looks like, what, four to six teams with a bunch of individuals?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomething like it. See anyone you recognize?\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon studied the room casually. Adventurers had noticed the door opening and some were casually turning to see if there was anyone they knew, or someone new to note. Ceria frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m looking.\u201d<\/p>\n She thought she spotted a group she recognized by the job board. The telltale sign was the lack of any glint of metal on them. Ceria motioned Pisces and Ksmvr over. The [Necromancer] looked bored. Ksmvr was the exact opposite. He was craning to see and more and more of the adventurers were noticing him. Ceria saw one woman punch her companion and point. They weren\u2019t stupid; they could see Ksmvr was one of them. But an Antinium had probably never walked into Celum\u2019s Guild. If Moore, Seborn, or Jelaqua had walked in, they\u2019d get the same kind of look.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get a seat before we start chatting. Over here. Pisces, please don\u2019t start a fight.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon looked at Pisces. He sniffed.<\/p>\n \u201cI can be the model of discretion if I so choose.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo it, then. Good morning, Miss.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon waved at the [Receptionist] as she passed by. The woman at the desk looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning, Miss\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Her eyes widened a bit. Yvlon paused, but before she could ask if the [Receptionist] knew her\u2014and it would be awkward because, like Ceria, most of the staff looked the same to Yvlon after a few Guilds\u2014Ksmvr tugged at Yvlon\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon, please explain. Is this guild similar to Liscor\u2019s? I note a number of architectural and stylistic changes, but the concept remains the same. Is this so?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right, Ksmvr. We\u2019ve got a [Receptionist] like Selys, a place to hang out\u2014training yard\u2019s around back probably\u2014and they\u2019ve got a supply of emergency potions. This guild doesn\u2019t sell food or drinks, but it\u2019s got the basics. Job board, place to sit, place to turn in bounties and collect gold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. Thank you for clarifying. I wondered if Drakes and Humans were dissimilar in how they ran their guilds.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt might be different in a Walled City or how they manage their guilds up north, but Liscor vs Celum? We\u2019re too close by to be that different. Come on. I think I spot\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon headed towards the tables near the end of the room. Some of the adventurers were looking their way. After all, Yvlon was hard to miss. No, their entire team was hard to miss. Yvlon was wearing all-plate armor, and even if you couldn\u2019t tell it was enchanted, it meant she was pretty successful. Or her family was rich. And Pisces and Ceria both wore robes, marking them out as well. And Ksmvr was Ksmvr.<\/p>\n A young man a few years younger than Yvlon, a bit younger than Erin, was staring at them uncertainly. He looked at Yvlon first, and then at Ceria. The half-Elf saw his eyes go to her face as she scrutinized him. Was he\u2026?<\/p>\n The adventurer\u2019s eyes widened as he saw Ceria\u2019s hand. But then he stood up. He raised his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that Ceria? Ceria Springwalker? And\u2014Yvlon?\u201d<\/p>\n The guild went silent. Now every head turned. Ceria felt her heart jump. Yvlon stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cCaddin?\u201d<\/p>\n The young man walked towards them. He wore leather armor, and he carried an odd weapon with him. It was a sword. A sword, but one made of wood<\/em>. From handle to hilt, it was just wood. But polished wood. Expertly carved and honed until it had an edge that could cut paper or flesh. It still looked incongruous, but Ceria knew the sword had killed more than one monster. She smiled broadly at Caddin as he halted, staring from her to Yvlon with shock.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s us, Caddin! Are you surprised to see us? We just came from Liscor! We\u2019re the Horns of Hammerad. The new group, I mean. The old one\u2019s\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She trailed off. Ceria felt her heart skip another beat as Caddin stared at her. She waited for him to ask the obvious. But he just stared at her.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. We\u2019d heard you\u2019d reformed the Horns of Hammerad. But I couldn\u2019t believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n His eyes shifted to Yvlon. The woman smiled at him.<\/p>\n \u201cGood to see you again, Caddin. How\u2019s the team doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUs? We\u2019re good. Yeah. They\u2019re right over here. Hey! Guys!\u201d<\/p>\n Caddin waved a hand absently. Ceria saw six people stand up. Three more men, three women. That squared with what she remembered. One of their group was a [Mage], but she, like the others, wore leather armor. Not one of them had a hint of metal on their persons. Their weapons were wood. Even the tips of their arrows were crafted out of wood. They paused behind Caddin as Ceria introduced the Horns.<\/p>\n \u201cCaddin, this is our new team. You know Yvlon, but this is Pisces and Ksmvr. He\u2019s from Liscor, and Pisces is from Wistram. Ksmvr\u2019s an Antinium, but they\u2019re fairly normal in most ways.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello. I am Ksmvr. I understand you are competition.\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium raised a hand as he extended another one to shake. Caddin jumped.<\/p>\n \u201cAn Antinium?<\/em> I thought they\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He caught himself. Gingerly he reached out and shook Ksmvr\u2019s hand, flinching a tiny bit as he touched the Antinium\u2019s exoskeleton. Ksmvr shook his hand cheerfully.<\/p>\n \u201cI have now met Mister Caddin. Is he a superior adventurer, or inferior, Captain Ceria?\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon suppressed a sigh. She waved at the [Mage], a woman in her mid-twenties with faded ashy hair, as she came forwards.<\/p>\n \u201cCaddin\u2019s a Silver-rank adventurer, just like us, Ksmvr. My team knew him back in the day. His group\u2019s named Thunder\u2019s Solace. They have a [Lightning Mage] for a leader. Their entire team goes without metal so they can use electric spells without getting hurt. And this is their leader and said [Lightning Mage]. Hello, Alais.\u201d<\/p>\n She reached out. Alais gingerly gave her a one-armed hug. She blinked as Ksmvr extended his hands, but shook them.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon. It\u2019s good to see you\u2026I thought we wouldn\u2019t meet. After I heard about Liscor\u2014but I did hear your group was back. Ceria.\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded at Ceria. The half-Elf vaguely remembered Alais, but not as well as Yvlon. She nodded back. Alais blinked again at her and Yvlon, looking far more surprised than Ceria would have thought. Well, after Liscor\u2026but she didn\u2019t bring it up, like Caddin. He was still staring at Ceria. Ksmvr didn\u2019t notice their feelings. He was speaking cheerfully, and Ceria was glad of that.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a pleasure to meet a [Lightning Mage]. May I ask if you are superior or inferior in magical capacity to Captain Ceria?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces gently coughed next to Ksmvr.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe the term is [Aeromancer], Ksmvr. And asking about inferiority and superiority is considered a social flaw in most circumstances. A pleasure to meet a fellow [Mage].\u201d<\/p>\n He stepped forwards as Alais and her team focused on him. Yvlon and Ceria both held their breath, but Pisces seemed to have taken Yvlon\u2019s words to heart. Perhaps too much so. He instantly approached with a hand outstretched and a charming smile.<\/p>\n \u201cCaptain Alais, is it? My name is Pisces. I\u2019m delighted to meet you. I\u2019m a [Mage] from Wistram. I hope you won\u2019t hold it against me.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a joke about Wistram [Mages] and their at times hard-to-work-with natures. Alais\u2019 eyebrows shot up, and there was a chuckle from the other adventurers. Whatever awkwardness had persisted from Caddin spotting them vanished in a second. Alais reached out, and Ceria bit her tongue as she shook Pisces\u2019 hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very pleased to meet you. You\u2019re a new part of the Horns of Hammerad along with, er, Ksmvr here? Are you a general [Mage] or a specialist of some kind?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces smiled apologetically.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid I haven\u2019t reached that degree of specialization with my [Mage] class. However, I do practice a bit of fencing. Perhaps I\u2019d make a good [Spellsword]? May I assume your team knows ours, or at least Yvlon and our captain?\u201d<\/p>\n He indicated Ceria politely. Alais looked at Ceria and Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, of course. From nearly two years back. We\u2019ve worked with\u2026Yvlon\u2019s old team a few times. And I know Ceria\u2019s old team. Where are my manners? Come and sit with us.\u201d<\/p>\n She gestured towards their table. Ceria followed Pisces as he sat down next to Alais and her team. Somehow, she and Yvlon were at the edge of the table while Pisces and Ksmvr were in the center. Of course, they were the unknown quantities. Caddin was asking Ksmvr exactly what<\/em> he was while Pisces listened to Alais introduce her team.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026and that\u2019s Caddin, of course. We\u2019re a mix, mostly [Warriors] and [Archers]. Not really [Hunters] for all we look the part. You see, it\u2019s about my magic. I\u2019m a specialist. Nothing like a Wistram-trained [Mage] in terms of quality, of course, and I\u2019ve got some [Warrior] classes as well. Not exactly a pure [Mage], right?\u201d<\/p>\n She shot Ceria a quick glance. The half-Elf sighed. Wistram [Mages] did earn their reputation for snobbishness. But Pisces was shaking his head.<\/p>\n \u201cPractically speaking, a pure [Mage] is quite inflexible. We should all have some means of defending ourselves, if only to fight foes capable of using anti-magic effects. My fencing is as much hobby as for self-defense, which is a necessity among [Mages], wouldn\u2019t you agree?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Aeromancer] was nodding eagerly, forgetting the others as she talked craft while Ksmvr tried to explain what an Antinium was, from his perspective.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. But it\u2019s a tricky line. I\u2019m good with a staff, but as an [Aeromancer] I find it\u2019s hard to avoid electrifying metal. You see, I\u2019m self-taught, so my team\u2019s had to learn how to use non-metallic weapons\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Alais looked embarrassed, but Pisces shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s quite understandable. I wouldn\u2019t dare to fire off a [Lightning Bolt] spell around Yvlon. Wistram does teach control, but electrical spells are extremely hard to control given how fast<\/em> the currents move. If we have time, perhaps we could exchange lightning form techniques? I might not be able to cast Tier 3 spells, but I do have some knowledge of spell theory I could compare\u2026it would be a pleasure to learn from someone with practical experience, however. I find Wistram students often fall behind people with field experience\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou son of a Creler.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria mumbled to herself as Pisces instantly charmed Alais and the other adventurers. And somehow, he even seemed partly genuine to her. But she knew he was still putting on an act to make a good first impression. She didn\u2019t know if she hated or was grateful to him for it.<\/p>\n And she\u2019d forgotten how likable Pisces could be if he tried, damn it! Ceria watched him play the humble [Mage] from Wistram so well she nearly forgot to take part in the conversation. Yvlon, who\u2019d waited for the introductions to finish, leaned in.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a while, Alais. How\u2019s your team been? We haven\u2019t seen each other since Liscor. Has anything big come your way since then?\u201d<\/p>\n Alais looked up. She frowned, and Caddin and the other five looked up as well.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing to say, Yvlon. We earned some gold, but we spent it getting some new equipment from a [Carpenter]. You know how it is. Wooden swords. Maces, clubs, wooden arrows. We\u2019ve been keeping ourselves busy.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria raised her eyebrows. That was hardly an answer. Normally any seasoned adventurer would have a story to tell or complaints about money lost. Yvlon frowned, but someone else approached their table.<\/p>\n \u201cHullo there. Is that Yvlon and Ceria I see? Mind if I stop by?\u201d<\/p>\n That voice was familiar. Ceria twisted. Her face burst into a smile. She shot to her feet.<\/p>\n \u201cStan! Why didn\u2019t you say something earlier?\u201d<\/p>\n An older man in his early forties was standing by the table. He wore chainmail and had a dagger at his belt along with a small, brown pouch, but he didn\u2019t carry any other obvious weapons. He let Ceria hug him and then shook Yvlon\u2019s hand. He stared at Ceria\u2019s skeletal hand for a second and then at her face, before nodding to Alais.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t think to see you today, Ceria. Yvlon. It\u2019s\u2014quite good to see you two looking so healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n Caddin shifted. Ceria blinked at Stan. Normally he\u2019d be bursting to ask her questions, like someone half his age, but he was more reserved as well. Her stomach twisted. Had someone passed away recently?<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s the team, Stan? Are the Boltspitters well?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUs? We took a few bad injuries, but nothing to speak of. Lailli\u2019s laid up with a broken foot, but we\u2019re working to keep her fed in the meantime. Who are these two? I heard you\u2019re named Ksmvr?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is correct. I am Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPisces.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Mage] stood up and shook Stan\u2019s hand. Ceria smiled as she waved at Stan and the two members of his team sitting at their table.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is Stan, you two. Crossbow Stan. He\u2019s the only Silver-ranked adventurer around here that has anything like a nickname. He\u2019s a bit of a legend locally\u2014he\u2019s got his own fighting style too!\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr looked very interested.<\/p>\n \u201cReally? Please elaborate, Captain Ceria.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not let Stan explain. You love that, don\u2019t you, Stan?\u201d<\/p>\n The adventurer smiled. He touched his belt and the bag at his side.<\/p>\n \u201cI do indeed. I\u2019m a [Crossbowman] by trade. I don\u2019t know if you\u2019ve ever used one, but the damn things take a bit to load. True, you can fire them fast, but there\u2019s nothing like a good bow for speed. Except you can load a crossbow ahead of time. So if I needed to fight, I could do this\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He raised his hand. And suddenly there was a loaded crossbow aimed at the table. Two of the younger adventurers sitting with Alais\u2019 team swore and jerked out of their chairs, but all of the older ones just laughed. Ksmvr had frozen in place. He opened his mandibles slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cI see. That is impressive. Look, Captain Ceria. I did not move. See?\u201d<\/p>\n He waved a hand at her. Ceria smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cGood job, Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces sniffed, then caught himself and looked dutifully impressed.<\/p>\n \u201cI see. A bag of holding to store a preloaded crossbow. But may I be so bold, Crossbow Stan? I\u2019ll bet you didn\u2019t keep just one crossbow, did you?\u201d<\/p>\n The veteran adventurer chortled. He flicked his hand next to the bag of holding and a second crossbow appeared, replacing the first. It was a neat trick, but the adventurers he was pointing at did not<\/em> appreciate it.<\/p>\n \u201cPut it away, Stan! You\u2019ll hit someone one day! At least use an unloaded crossbow!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, shut up, Caddin. I\u2019ve never hit anyone yet. By accident, anyways. But you\u2019re right, young man. That\u2019s my specialty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI assume that is a bag of holding, as Comrade Pisces said?\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr peered at the small bag at Crossbow Stan\u2019s side. The man nodded proudly.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. Preloaded crossbows. I have six of \u2018em. My bag can\u2019t fit any more. Every time I had enough coin, I spent it on a better bag of holding. Not that I need a new one now; if I can\u2019t take down what needs taking down in six shots, I might as well be dead. I guess I need better crossbows or enchanted quarrels now, but this is good enough for Silver-rank work.\u201d<\/p>\n He made the second crossbow disappear quickly. Ceria nodded approvingly. Stan, or Crossbow Stan as he was affectionately known, was an old man in the adventuring job. Not as old as Typhenous, but he\u2019d stayed in the Silver-ranks because he didn\u2019t have the punch to go any higher. That didn\u2019t mean he was a slouch, though; she\u2019d seen him put four crossbow bolts into a charging Ogre in less than ten seconds. Ksmvr nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI admire your style of fighting. It complements your advanced age and decaying reflexes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Ksmvr\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria put her head down on the table. Stan was too busy laughing to take offense.<\/p>\n \u201cSo this is an Antinium? It can tell jokes! And you\u2014you\u2019re one sharp [Mage] if you can figure out my trick, young man. Pisces, was it?\u201d<\/p>\n He paused.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like I remember your name. I\u2019m sure we haven\u2019t met, but have you been through Celum before, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces raised his eyebrows and shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve passed through once or twice, but I wasn\u2019t an adventurer then. This is a career change. I hope I can count on you to teach me the ropes, as it were.\u201d<\/p>\n He shook Stan\u2019s hand. The man smiled again.<\/p>\n \u201cPleased. Have you known Ceria and Yvlon long, Pisces?\u201d<\/p>\n He glanced up at Ceria and Yvlon swiftly for some reason before looking at Pisces. The [Necromancer] gave Stan a disarming smile.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew Ceria back in Wistram. We met while she was in Liscor, and I was delighted to join her team after it reformed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see. I see. Well, I just wanted to say hi. I won\u2019t keep you. Perhaps we can have a chat later today. Is your team going to take a request today, Ceria?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe thought we\u2019d look around. We\u2019re planning on working in Celum for a bit, Stan, Alais. But we can stay and chat! How\u2019s it been?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you know. The same sort of assignments. There was a bit of a flood of monsters after Lord Tyrion\u2019s army passed through, as well as those damn Goblins. Critters from the High Passes came out; we had to kill a good number of Carn Wolves and Eater Goats and a few other nasties. Not worth taking up time with.\u201d<\/p>\n This time both Ceria and Yvlon frowned. Stan and Alais? The man looked down at the [Aeromancer] and cleared his throat. She stood up.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to take up your time if you\u2019re going to work. It\u2019s already midday. We\u2019ll catch your team later, Ceria. Where are you staying?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Wandering Inn. You know it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat inn in Liscor? I\u2019d heard it was in Stitchworks, but I\u2019ve never been. Never wanted to go to a Drake city and besides\u2026but we\u2019ll maybe pop by. I\u2019d like to chat with Pisces about magic if I may.\u201d<\/p>\n Stan nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cRight. We\u2019ll catch up later. Ceria, Yvlon. Good to see you again.\u201d<\/p>\n He turned and returned to his table. And for some reason, Thunder\u2019s Solace vacated their table to join him. Ceria stared at them and bit her lip for a second. She turned to Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was a bit abrupt.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Warrior] gave her a crooked smile as she watched the other adventurers go.<\/p>\n \u201cThey must be thinking about Liscor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThink they don\u2019t want to talk about Calruz and the others? I was ready for it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey might be trying to spare our feelings. They noticed your hand. We can tell them it\u2019s okay to talk about later.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria shook herself. You couldn\u2019t be too considerate in this line of work. She appreciated it, but Alais and Stan had both experienced losing teammates before. She looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess we\u2019ll tell the [Receptionist] how long we\u2019re staying and that we\u2019ll work around Celum for\u2026a few days? Ah, Ksmvr, that\u2019s something teams like to do. It helps if someone wants to hire us, and the guild can keep track of the teams in the area in case of emergencies. You take a seat or check out the job board. I\u2019ll be a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n She got up. The other adventurers got back to their seats or their discussions, although some still stared at Ksmvr. And Ceria and Yvlon, but that was only to be expected. The hubbub returned, but quieter. Ceria supposed the other teams were sizing their reformed party up. She approached the [Receptionist].<\/p>\n \u201cHi there. I\u2019m Ceria Springwalker, and I lead the Horns of Hammerad\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The woman at the desk blinked at her. Ceria had to repeat herself a few times; whomever the [Receptionist] was, she wasn\u2019t on the ball today. When she finally got back to her table, she had another surprise. Ksmvr was sitting with Pisces and Yvlon. He had a full stack of the papers from the board on the far wall. Yvlon was trying to make him put them back.<\/p>\n \u201cBut Yvlon, we can easily clear all these requests. If we do ten today, and twenty tomorrow\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr, did you steal all<\/em> the requests from the board?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria was scandalized. Ksmvr\u2019s mandibles drooped as he looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cHave I committed another social error?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA small one.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon sighed. She pointed at the now-bare job board at the back of the guild.<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr, there\u2019s a few unspoken rules in the Adventurer\u2019s Guild. One of them is that it\u2019s not polite to take all the requests. You can do it, but you lose a lot of friends that way. And if another group takes a request, stealing their mission is also bad sport.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr looked from her to Ceria. Pisces was yawning as he looked around the room; none of this was news to him.<\/p>\n \u201cOh. But how is it determined whose request is taken? This system is largely unintuitive.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is. But it\u2019s easy to tell. Go put the requests back. You see, the second board there, with the three requests on it? That means someone\u2019s taken them, but they\u2019re an open assignment. Like gathering materials, ooh, taking out a pair of Eater Goats\u2026checking up on a possible Troll sighting\u2026you see? Out of courtesy we won\u2019t take those. And if we did, we\u2019d talk with the teams involved, reach an understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr nodded as he re-pinned the pieces of paper he\u2019d claimed.<\/p>\n \u201cI see. I see. What is that board above it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExclusive contracts. See? Escorting a [Trader], someone wants a bodyguard\u2026things only one team can do. But the board you took from is open game for now. It\u2019s generally organized so the harder and riskier assignments are near the top. See? Each one has a difficulty assessment for the recommended level\u2014as well as if you might need a certain class, like [Mage]\u2014as well as location, pay, urgency, and so on.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr peered closely at the board as Ceria worked her way up to the top. He rubbed his hands together eagerly as he contemplated options with her.<\/p>\n \u201cI see. I see. Ah, Captain. We could gather Sage Grass. It pays in copper coins per pound.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Not really our thing, Ksmvr. Besides, the local farms make the prices too low.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like to hunt down some wolves?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow much is the pay per head?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFour silver coins.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Unless someone puts a substantial price on the heads of a monster, it\u2019s generally not worth our time, Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd four silver coins is not?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo track wolves? We\u2019re not [Hunters], and it could be a pain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. So what is our preferred assignment?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria frowned absently.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething that involves high risk. It generally means more pay. Plus, high-level monsters have bigger bounties. What about\u2014oh. This\u2026might be ours.\u201d<\/p>\n Right there, at the top of the board, was a bounty. And it was a good one. Twenty gold pieces and sixteen silver ones, with the potential to earn a lot<\/em> more if Ceria was right. She stared at it. Ksmvr peered up at it.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is substantially higher than all other requests. Is it a powerful monster?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria shook her head absently. She noticed Yvlon and Pisces getting up to see. She plucked the request off the board and showed them. Yvlon frowned. Pisces raised his brows.<\/p>\n \u201cNot monsters. Humans. This is a [Bandit] extermination request.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria scratched her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t know a group had popped up.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon\u2019s frown deepened as she scratched at the metal covering her arm.<\/p>\n \u201cIt must be new. Do you think we should\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces shrugged. Ksmvr peered at the request. His antennae were twitching rapidly, which Ceria knew meant he was puzzled.<\/p>\n \u201cI was unaware Humans could put bounties on each other. This changes my perception of the role of adventurers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Ksmvr\u2014it\u2019s not\u2014these are [Bandits]. Lawbreakers. We\u2019re not [Mercenaries], but someone has to take care of [Bandits] as well as monsters. And sometimes the local City Watch or militia or [Lord] can\u2019t handle the matter, or they do it by putting up a bounty. We get paid to take on the [Bandits]. It\u2019s dangerous. Monsters are predictable. People aren\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon nodded. She absently studied the request.<\/p>\n \u201cStill, this is a twenty gold bounty.\u201d<\/p>\n By her side, Pisces sniffed.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that considered high, Yvlon? I would assume a single [Bandit] would be worth twenty gold pieces.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, yeah. If they were high-level. But this must be a fairly low-level group. Or the bounty hasn\u2019t risen yet. It\u2019ll go up if they keep causing trouble. If it were the Bloodfeast Raiders, it would be\u2026what\u2019s their bounty?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFour hundred thousand gold pieces, I think. If the entire group\u2019s destroyed, or most of them. Eighty thousand for credible information about who their members are or how they operate. Twenty thousand per head on top of that.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon whistled. Ceria shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cA bit more than our pay grade. But this? We could do this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor twenty gold pieces\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces sniffed. Ceria frowned at him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a lot more if one of the [Bandits] has an individual bounty. What\u2019s this say? There are about thirty of them? We can keep any money they\u2019ve stolen usually and sell their gear.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow charitable. But thirty<\/em> individuals is a considerable risk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got that right!\u201d<\/p>\n Someone called out. Ceria turned and saw more than a few adventurers had been listening. Stan waved at them from their table. He was frowning as he pointed at the paper in Ksmvr\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cCeria, I\u2019d stay clear of that one. Me and Alais were talking about clearing it with a few other teams, but the gold reward isn\u2019t high enough, even if we can keep their possessions. The bandit group that\u2019s referring to isn\u2019t hard to find\u2014but they\u2019re dangerous. They\u2019ve got at least two [Mages] and a leader. Some kind of [Bandit Chief]. My group ran into some of them a while back. They tangled with a few patrols, raided a caravan\u2026there used to be more, but they killed several adventuring groups and quite a number of [Guards] and people in outlying villages.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJeeze. How\u2019d your team get away?\u201d<\/p>\n Stan shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cWe ran for it. It was only fifteen we ran into, and they weren\u2019t after us. I shot two; Lailli got knocked off her horse. That\u2019s how she broke her foot. I wouldn\u2019t take them on without outnumbering them. We do know where they\u2019re probably camped, but no one\u2019s had the guts to go after them yet.\u201d<\/p>\n The Horns looked quickly at each other. Yvlon raised her brows, and Ceria nodded quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cReally? Then maybe we can join you, Stan. We wouldn\u2019t even need that many teams. With your group and Thunder\u2019s Solace if you\u2019re willing, Alais, we could probably take on that [Bandit] group.\u201d<\/p>\n Caddin snorted.<\/p>\n \u201cYou insane, Springwalker? There\u2019s, what, fourteen of us if we combine forces? Not counting Lailli. There\u2019s around thirty of the [Bandits], probably more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf we know where they\u2019re at\u2026how reliable is the intel, Stan? We can set a trap. And believe me, between our teams, I\u2019m sure we can handle a good number.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria looked at Pisces and Yvlon. If they were low-level [Bandits]\u2026Yvlon put her hand on her sword, and Pisces smiled. She could practically see him plotting how to use his Bone Horror to greatest effect. Ceria turned back to Stan, but the older adventurer wasn\u2019t jumping at the idea.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, Ceria. We\u2019d like that bounty, but working together\u2019s a bit\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Stan. We\u2019ve known each other for years. Trust us. We\u2019re a lot higher-level than you remember. Me and Yvlon have new gear too, and Pisces and Ksmvr are good, for all they\u2019re newbies.\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf came over to the table and leaned over, trying to persuade Stan. Caddin, sitting next to the man, snorted.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know about your gear, Ceria. That\u2019s not it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, then? Our experience? We\u2019ve fought a lot worse than [Bandits], Caddin.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria looked at the young man, confused. He scowled up at her.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t play dumb. You know exactly what I\u2019m talking about. Do you think we\u2019d join with you? Really?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n His tone was very hostile. Ceria stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cCaddin, I don\u2019t get it. What\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong? <\/em>You just stride in here and ask what\u2019s wrong? Don\u2019t you know? Or don\u2019t you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n He shot to his feet, knocking his chair back. Ceria blinked at him. His face was flushed. And she realized he hadn\u2019t so much as smiled at her once, or spoken to her beyond that first meeting. She looked at Alais. The [Aeromancer] avoided looking at Ceria. She grabbed Caddin\u2019s arm and tried to pull him down.<\/p>\n \u201cCaddin, drop it.\u201d<\/p>\n Caddin shook Alais off him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo! If you and Stan aren\u2019t going to say it, I will. Look! She doesn\u2019t even get it. Not her, or Yvlon. Does her team know?\u201d<\/p>\n He shoved back from the table and strode around Ceria. She realized the room was silent. Caddin pointed furiously at Yvlon as he stopped in front of Pisces and Ksmvr.<\/p>\n \u201cYou, Pisces. And you\u2026Antinium. Do you know what those two did?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces raised his eyebrows.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean by that?\u201d<\/p>\n Suddenly, Ceria had an unpleasant feeling. A horrible sinking in her stomach. She thought she knew why Caddin was so angry. She looked at Alais and Stan. Neither team captain met her eyes. Caddin clenched his fist.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, do you know what happened to their previous teams, Mister Pisces? Or do you not care? And what about that Antinium thing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes he know? Or did they recruit him because no one else would work with them? Yvlon and Ceria. They both lost their teams. Both of them! And Yvlon was a captain! She lost her entire team, the Silver Spears! And all of the Horns of Hammerad died but Ceria! Did you hear about that?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria went pale. Yvlon had gone white. Pisces blinked at Caddin. He looked around, and his gaze focused on the silent room. He narrowed his eyes for a moment and then turned carefully to Caddin. Innocently, he spread his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cI am aware Ceria lost her team. How could I not be?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen\u2014how could you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The Silver-rank adventurer spluttered. Pisces paused. His eyes darted to Ceria\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cI know it was a tragic accident. A dungeon dive gone wrong. But surely that wasn\u2019t Ceria\u2019s fault. Or Yvlon\u2019s. Adventuring is a terrible business.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces\u2019 voice was smooth and reasonable, even sympathetic. Caddin choked.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I heard\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces gripped his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease, friend. Let me explain what I heard as someone who was there. You see, I know my friend. And believe me, Liscor\u2019s dungeon was truly terrible. I don\u2019t know what rumors have passed this way\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMore than rumors. There was a man\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEven so, was he a witness? Because I was. And let me just say first\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria felt herself begin breathing again. Pisces was trying to steer Caddin back to the table, speaking in a carrying voice. So that was why\u2026she looked at Stan and Alais. She had to clear whatever misinformation had been put out there. Both were listening to Pisces, which was a relief. But Stan was rubbing at his head, looking very perplexed.<\/p>\n \u201cPisces. I thought I knew the name. Where did I\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s sit. Is there a drink I can buy? I\u2019ll clear the air. But first, what is my friend accused of? Yvlon? She\u2019s quite honorable, friend Caddin. And when her team went into the dungeon\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Crossbow Stan abruptly got up. He pointed a trembling finger at Pisces. The [Necromancer] broke off, and Ceria felt a lurch in her stomach. Oh no. <\/em>She sensed what was about to happen.<\/p>\n \u201cDungeon. <\/em>You mean crypt. And I remember that name. Pisces. Someone\u2019s looking for you. And you lied.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces turned, but his posture was suddenly wary. Stan shook his head. He raised his voice until it was almost a shout.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not a [Mage]. You\u2019re a [Necromancer]! <\/em>A filthy [Necromancer]!\u201d<\/p>\n And that was it. The silence of the guild, the tense atmosphere turned hostile in a second. Ceria\u2019s head whirled as she heard the screech<\/em> of wood on wood. Eight adventurers had just gotten up. Pisces looked around as he took a step back. He hesitated, sighed, then sniffed haughtily.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m quite clean, sir. But I will acknowledge the truth of your words.\u201d<\/p>\n Caddin jerked away from him as if he were infected. He stumbled back, face twisted, and then pointed at Ceria.<\/p>\n \u201cYou see that? A [Necromancer] <\/em>and one of the bug people! No one else would partner with her, or Yvlon!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs this true, Yvlon? Are you really working with a [Necromancer]?\u201d<\/p>\n Alais was on her feet. She glared at Yvlon. The armored woman\u2019s face was pale, but her voice was steady as she held up a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cPisces does use necromancy. But hear us out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTraitor!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n An adventurer shouted that. The hair on Ceria\u2019s neck crawled. Pisces had a hunted look and for good reason. [Necromancers] weren\u2019t popular in Izril after Az\u2019kerash. But adventurers had another reason to hate them. After all, they were sometimes called on to take care of undead outbreaks, and if a [Necromancer] was behind it\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cStan, Alais, everyone, let\u2019s calm down.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria called out. She raised her hands, shouting to be heard. The two captains looked at her. Ceria waved her arms, praying neither Pisces nor Ksmvr made things worse.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on? Why are you all so upset? Pisces is a [Necromancer]. It\u2019s true. But he doesn\u2019t animate people. He uses bear skeletons. And Ksmvr\u2019s Antinium. So what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo wh\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCaddin. Let me handle this.\u201d<\/p>\n Alais pushed Caddin back hard. She walked around the table and came face-to-face with Ceria. She wasn\u2019t smiling. And she wasn\u2019t looking at Ceria like a fellow adventurer. She glanced at Ceria, and then at Yvlon. When Alais spoke, it was to the silent Adventurer\u2019s Guild. Three dozen heads turned to watch her and Ceria. The adventurers of Celum were silent as Alais began.<\/p>\n \u201cCeria, I don\u2019t know you that well. But I know Yvlon. We\u2019re friends. We were friends. But here\u2019s the thing. The last time we saw each other, you were about to go to Liscor. With Calruz<\/em> as your leader, not Ceria. And Yvlon, you had your team. Where\u2019s Kina, Veitul, Domie? Where\u2019s everyone else? Horn? Sostrom? Gerial?\u201d<\/p>\n She looked at Ceria. And the half-Elf knew that Alais knew the answer. Ceria felt a pit open up in her stomach and cold memories leak through.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ceria stared at him. Gerial\u2019s face was white, and he looked almost as bloodless as Skinner\u2019s body. He shuddered, and she felt it.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cRun. I\u2019ll\u2014I\u2019ll buy you some time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He pointed down the corridor. Ceria\u2019s feet began to move, but she halted them.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cGerial\u2014\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He shoved her away.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cRun, damn you!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Skinner.<\/em> Ceria\u2019s heart was beating wildly. She looked at Alais. At the grim look in her eye.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re dead. They died in the crypt.\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThey died in Liscor. We all heard about it. It was a massacre, wasn\u2019t it? But somehow you two survived, and you\u2019re already adventuring again? Practically unharmed? With a [Necromancer] and one of\u2026of those?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed at Ksmvr uncertainly. The former Prognugator didn\u2019t wave a hand. He\u2019d sensed the mood. Alais went on.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels like we just heard about Liscor when news came from Albez that the Horns of Hammerad<\/em> had just found a huge amount of treasure there. Ceria, what would you think about that?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way you say it\u2026we didn\u2019t just get out. We lost a lot. Yvlon barely escaped. She was hurt and I\u2014I lost my hand.\u201d<\/p>\n She held up her skeletal hand. Alais nodded slowly, staring at it.<\/p>\n \u201cI see it. But it\u2019s still moving. And if you made it like that, how\u2019d no one else get out. Gerial? Calruz?\u201d<\/p>\n This time Ceria wavered.<\/p>\n \u201cCalruz did make it out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen why isn\u2019t he\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe got lost<\/em> in the dungeon. And he lost an arm. He\u2019s mad now, and he killed a bunch of other people. Alais, I made it out because I found somewhere to hide\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n But of course that was the wrong thing to say. Ceria bit her lip. Caddin shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cAha! You see? She hid, and Yvlon ran!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone ran!\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon burst out. She snapped at Caddin. The [Warrior] whirled, looking around the guild. She wasn\u2019t afraid like Ceria. Yvlon was furious.<\/p>\n \u201cSpit it out, what you\u2019re saying. Alais! Are you saying we abandoned our teams? We were all retreating. The other teams died fighting, but once that monster came out\u2014Skinner\u2014we knew it was impossible. So we ran. Ceria and I were lucky. Pisces and Ksmvr joined us later. What\u2019s wrong with that?\u201d<\/p>\n Alais said nothing. She just looked Yvlon up and down, uncertainly, as if she couldn\u2019t trust a word Yvlon had just said. Stan got to his feet.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon. Ceria. A question. After you two got out, what happened to the adventurers that died? Their families?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe made sure what was left was cremated. There wasn\u2019t enough to bury, and we couldn\u2019t figure out who\u2026we made sure the families got all the money we had left. I survived by the skin of my teeth, Stan.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria spoke through numb lips. She looked at the old adventurer. He met her eyes, searching. Then he nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to believe you, Ceria. And I heard the families of the deceased got something. But it\u2019s just\u2026a [Necromancer]? Really? And you know what they say about the Antinium.\u201d<\/p>\n He held up a hand before Yvlon could shout.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it\u2019s not just that. Look, we\u2019ve talked to more survivors of that night than just you two. One of Cervial\u2019s [Hunters] from the Flawless Flights made it this way a while back. Poor bastard had nothing left. Said Liscor\u2019s City Watch had confiscated all of his team\u2019s possessions and their gold was gone. The way he told it, both his team and Gregor\u2019s went up against that boss from the dungeon first. The Silver Spears and the Horns were out of the way. He said he never saw your teams\u2014you\u2019d already run away.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria\u2019s stomach twisted. Cervial and Gregor had been trapping the area outside Skinner\u2019s door without realizing it was already unlocked. They\u2019d never stood a chance. Yvlon clenched her gauntleted fists.<\/p>\n \u201cSay that again. Who was it who\u2019s spreading those lies?\u201d<\/p>\n Stan raised his hands slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not saying I believed him. He was done as an adventurer, and he was cursing Cervial and Gregor as well. Said they\u2019d walked their teams right into a trap like fools. Which I don\u2019t believe. But he did say that all of his team\u2019s possessions and the loot they\u2019d gathered were confiscated by Liscor. Is that true?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue. I barely had anything left. My wand was gone, and Yvlon lost everything but her armor and sword. The rest went to the adventurers\u2019 families, honest.\u201d<\/p>\n Crossbow Stan nodded. He looked at Ceria, and she realized he was staring at her side. At her wand. Slowly, he pointed at it, then at Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cFancy enchanted armor you\u2019re wearing these days, Yvlon. Magical buckler on that Antinium. And Ceria\u2019s got a new wand. Where\u2019d it all come from?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria felt a flicker of anger at the implication. Yvlon was already furious. She snapped back.<\/p>\n \u201cAlbez. Did you hear about that?\u201d<\/p>\n Stan nodded slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cI did. And I\u2019ve been to Albez before, many times, Yvlon. Probably before you were even born. I\u2019ve never found more than a few trinkets. How\u2019d you find treasure in Albez? Let alone a haul like\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He waved a hand at them. Ceria shut her mouth firmly. Olesm<\/em>. Stan looked from her to Yvlon. Alais cut in.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not saying your teams didn\u2019t fight, Yvlon. Maybe you did. Maybe you got lucky. Or maybe you ran. We can\u2019t prove it, and truth spells are tricky when everyone saw something different. But suddenly partnering up after the crypt? Suddenly<\/em> finding treasure in Albez when no one\u2019s found anything worth speaking of for nearly a decade? Working with a [Necromancer]?\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed at Pisces. He\u2019d folded his arms and was looking around. He glanced pointedly at Ceria, but she couldn\u2019t signal him anything. All the other adventurers were just watching. But their eyes\u2026<\/p>\n Stan took over, like the fatherly figure he was to so many adventurers in the area.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you can tell us how you got so lucky, we\u2019ll believe you. Maybe you found a map. But if you did\u2026where? Did you get it from the crypt? Did you, maybe, find something and not tell anyone about it? Not share it with the survivors? Or the deceased?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you leave them\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Caddin broke off. He was trembling. So was Ceria. But she was shaking with nerves. One wrong step might lead to something very bad. Everyone was listening. She looked at Yvlon. The [Warrior] hesitated. She glanced at Ceria, then she spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a map.\u201d<\/p>\n The stir in the room was the prelude to something. Yvlon raised her voice.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a map! But it didn\u2019t come from Liscor\u2019s crypt. It came from a Drake we met in Liscor who was part of the dungeon raid. Ksmvr joined our group by chance. I was penniless and Ceria too. She knew Pisces from Wistram. And Ksmvr we\u2019d met. We took a chance when we discovered there might be treasure still in Albez. We took a chance, risked our lives, and we found it! It was luck. It was a miracle! But we didn\u2019t steal it from the people who died in the crypt. That was a nightmare. But I swear, I kept fighting until I thought I\u2019d die. Ceria barely survived herself, and she helped hold the undead off. I\u2019ll swear that on any truth spell you want.\u201d<\/p>\n She turned, putting a hand over her heart. No one spoke. Ceria looked at Caddin. He looked furious, still. And Alais and Stan\u2014none of them looked like they quite believed Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cWell? You can cast a spell! Test me!\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon shouted. Alais shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe we will. But Yvlon\u2014it still doesn\u2019t sit well with me.\u201d<\/p>\n The armored woman rounded on her. Alais didn\u2019t flinch from Yvlon\u2019s furious stare.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat<\/em> doesn\u2019t sit with you, Alais? The truth? Do you want to see my arms? I burned my armor into my bones<\/em> in Albez!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t doubt that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen what do you doubt?\u201d<\/p>\n Alais crossed her arms. The air around her was crackling with more than just tension.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were never the sort to work with [Necromancers]. You hated them. As for Antinium\u2014this Ksmvr thing looks safe enough, but you\u2019re telling me the Drakes just \u2018happened\u2019 to have a map of Albez all this time? And never exploited it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was chance. He found it purely by luck.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon ground her teeth. Alais raised her eyebrows.<\/p>\n \u201cPretty lucky to find a map of Albez in Liscor<\/em>, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n Silence. Stan looked at Ceria. His eyes were worried and upset, but he did still look at her.<\/p>\n \u201cAnything you want to add, Ceria?\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf spread her arms helplessly.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon\u2019s telling the truth. I don\u2019t know how to prove it besides swearing on truth spells, Stan. Either you believe us or you don\u2019t. I know it seems suspicious, but we earned our treasure separately from the crypt. Maybe one\u2019s tied to the other. If I hadn\u2019t survived and met Ksmvr when I did, I wouldn\u2019t have been tipped off to Albez. But we didn\u2019t steal from the dead. We ran, but there was no choice. If you\u2019d been there, you would have seen it. I lost this hand trying to stop the undead. Believe me.\u201d<\/p>\n She raised her skeletal hand and showed Stan that. He nodded slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m trying, Ceria. But you have to understand us. Even if what you said was true. Even if it\u2019s on a level, all of it\u2026it\u2019s hard to look at you or Yvlon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe? Why\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause your team was the one that brought everyone to Liscor. The Horns helped convince the others. And Yvlon\u2014you were a team captain. You lost your entire team. And you walk in part of a new one? You think it\u2019s that easy?\u201d<\/p>\n Caddin spat on the ground. Ceria stared down at the wet mark on the floorboards. Yvlon glared at Caddin.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople have lost friends before. Stan! You lost two-thirds of your team when I was a rookie! And Alais, you\u2019ve lost at least six members!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. I did. But this is different.\u201d<\/p>\n The woman crossed her arms defensively. Stan, on the other hand, looked troubled. And Ceria remembered that he\u2019d stayed far away from the guild for a long time after that disaster. She looked at Yvlon. How easy would it have been if it were Stan coming back wearing new magical artifacts and a new team after\u2026?<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon. I get their point.\u201d<\/p>\n The woman rounded on Ceria. The [Ice Mage] gave her a warning stare, and Yvlon hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cI get it, Yvlon. It\u2019s not true, but they\u2019re upset. They have every right to be. We\u2026lost our teams. We can explain, but it doesn\u2019t change what happened. And working together\u2026I get that too.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked back at Alais and Stan. They nodded. Ceria turned. Ksmvr was still seated, silently watching. She wondered how much he understood. Pisces was aloof, coldly looking around.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, if anyone\u2019s not convinced, get a [Mage] with a truth spell. Or come to The Wandering Inn and find us there. We\u2019ll tell you what happened as many times as it takes. For now\u2026we\u2019re not going to stick around. Just think about what we said. As for this\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria walked back to Ksmvr and held out a hand. The Antinium handed her the bounty on the [Bandits]. Ceria brought it over to the [Receptionist]\u2019s desk. The woman stared silently at her.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to take this request, please. Can you note that we\u2019re trying to complete it?\u201d<\/p>\n The woman stared at her. She stared at the bounty. Behind Ceria, someone laughed incredulously.<\/p>\n \u201cBy yourselves?<\/em> Are you mad?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria turned her head slowly. She spoke very deliberately to Caddin.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not getting any help from us.\u201d<\/p>\n He gave her a disgusted look. Ceria turned her back on him, clenching both hands.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t need it. Like it or not, Caddin, we got stronger after Liscor. We leveled.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBy taking the treasure you found from Albez. I didn\u2019t see you sharing it with any of the families that died.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Receptionist] jumped as Ceria slammed<\/em> her hands on the table and turned.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a fund! They got what we could give! Are we supposed to give everything to them? We didn\u2019t even get that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n She broke off. Ceria turned away.<\/p>\n \u201cForget it. Let\u2019s go. Ksmvr! Pisces, we\u2019re leaving! Come on. Yvlon, you too.\u201d<\/p>\n She walked towards the door. A few adventurers blocked Pisces\u2019 way.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do we know this [Necromancer] isn\u2019t using corpses from our graveyards? Or he isn\u2019t responsible for the undead?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces sniffed.<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose you\u2019ll have to take that on faith. Ask me a truth spell. But get out of my way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the Antinium?\u201d<\/p>\n Some of the adventurers were standing around Ksmvr. He hadn\u2019t moved, mainly because standing up would run him right into a man in leather armor from Thunder\u2019s Solace who was standing over him and glaring down at the Antinium. Ceria turned back. And the bones of her skeletal hand were beginning to freeze over as more than grief and guilt took over.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s going with us. Stan, tell the others to let Ksmvr go. He\u2019s done nothing wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell that to us, Ceria.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. Back up. Before I make you.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the other [Mages] made a scoffing sound. Ceria turned. But she\u2019d crossed over from apologetic to angry. Yvlon strode over.<\/p>\n \u201cBack up. Ksmvr, come on.\u201d<\/p>\n She thrust the adventurer standing over him aside. The man stumbled, then whirled. He put a hand on the wooden mace at his side. Yvlon immediately put her hand on her sword hilt.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t do anything you\u2019ll regret, Jerat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSame to you, Byres.<\/em> Just give me a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n The two tensed. Ceria opened her mouth, but she didn\u2019t know what to say. Part of her wanted Jerat to attack Yvlon. Part of her was shouting. Yes, she knew what it looked like. Yes, she understood their feelings. But part of her was furious.<\/p>\n How dare they. How dare they think we ran and left everyone to die. How dare they assume we abandoned our friends? How dare they think that? Especially because\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n It was partly true. So Ceria hovered on the brink of lashing out. Jerat\u2019s knuckles went white on his mace\u2019s grip. He lowered his posture\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cJerat!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Stan snapped. He slapped<\/em> his hands together, making the room start. Jerat looked up. Stan drew a finger across his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cCut it. Let them go. We\u2019re all too hot-headed right now. We\u2019ll talk this over. Speak later. Back up. That goes for you too, Caddin. Everyone. Let them go.\u201d<\/p>\n The adventurers slowly backed up. Ceria could see hard faces, tensed muscles. But Stan was speaking sense, so the other Horns had room to move. Ceria began breathing slower. Pisces walked toward the door. Yvlon turned and offered Ksmvr a hand.<\/p>\n Ceria was so relieved the Antinium had heeded her words to stay still and not cause trouble. One of his stray comments could have ignited everything. Yvlon was breathing hard, still. Caddin stomped past her, and then turned. He glared at Yvlon as Ksmvr grabbed her hand.<\/p>\n \u201cGuess you got \u2018lucky\u2019 again, Byres. I\u2019m sure your team\u2019s real proud of you from where they\u2019re lying in the dirt, Yvlon. We all are.\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium had been rising, hand holding Yvlon\u2019s. Ksmvr fell back lightly into his seat as Yvlon let go. He watched as Yvlon straightened. Ceria and Pisces, standing by the door, saw Yvlon turn. The [Wounded Warrior]\u2019s hands clenched. Her armored fists rose. Caddin\u2019s glare of hatred turned to one of alarm.<\/p>\n He stepped back, too slow, and too late. Yvlon\u2019s fist caught him across the jaw and sent him flying into the table across from him. Caddin skidded across the top, knocked over a [Mage] sitting in the chair, and tumbled to the ground. The other adventurers stared at him, got up\u2014<\/p>\n And the entire Adventurer\u2019s Guild burst into chaos.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr, don\u2019t move! Stay down and don\u2019t draw your weapons!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n In the first moment of action, Ceria screamed. Then she reached for her wand, blasted a Bronze-rank adventurer off her feet with a spray of snow, and ducked. The first chair passed over her head. Ceria raised her skeletal hand, holding her wand, and snapped.<\/p>\n \u201c[Frozen Armor]!\u201d<\/p>\n She saw and felt ice race across her body. A glistening sheet of ice covered Ceria, weighing her down, changing to imitate actual plate armor. Just in time\u2014someone struck her in the chest as she rose. A Human woman shouted in pain as her fist struck not soft flesh, but Ceria\u2019s icy armor. The half-Elf rocked back, pointed her wand, and shouted.<\/p>\n \u201c[Ice Wall]!\u201d<\/p>\n The adventurer tried to jump back. But the ice that shot up snared half of her body. She fell down, and Ceria halted the spell. One adventurer down.<\/p>\n Dozens to go. Some of them hadn\u2019t immediately entered the fight, but the instant Ceria began casting magic, at least five [Mages] began sending spells her way. Ceria went running and dove behind the [Receptionist]\u2019s desk, raising another [Ice Wall]. Two spells hit her, and one shattered her wall spell. But the spells weren\u2019t meant to kill, just really hurt. Neither Ceria nor the other [Mages] were using deadly spells.<\/p>\n Yet. She saw Yvlon kicking over a table and trading punches with Jerat as another adventurer tackled her from behind. Yvlon was shouting in fury, and despite Jerat\u2019s size, she was punching parts of his face in. Of course; he was probably eight levels behind her! But she was outnumbered. Ceria pointed at the adventurers around her and shouted.<\/p>\n \u201c[Ice Wall]!\u201d<\/p>\n Three adventurers shouted as ice engulfed their legs. It wasn\u2019t a vertical [Ice Wall] Ceria had just conjured, but a horizontal one. Some broke free of the ice and stumbled away, but Ceria could engulf them by altering her spell. She aimed again, then something struck her in the head. Something hot.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAaah!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria screamed as something burned<\/em> the side of her face and her hair. Her [Frozen Armor] had caught part of the spell, but that had been a dangerous attack! She turned, ducking down and clutching at her head and saw the [Mage] who\u2019d thrown the fire. He was pointing at her with a wooden stave of his own. Ceria aimed at him, and then saw something charging at him from the left. She screamed.<\/p>\n \u201cPisces, no! Don\u2019t!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The [Mage] turned, saw the huge skeleton of the bear charging him, and screamed once before the bear crashed into him. The [Mage] went flying, but the bear didn\u2019t savage him. It turned and rammed into another adventurer, sending the man sprawling. Someone screamed.<\/p>\n \u201cUndead!<\/em> The [Necromancer]\u2019s\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria heard a gurgle. She looked around wildly and saw Pisces. He calmly raised a chair and brought it down on the head of another [Mage]. The man\u2019s friend charged Pisces, but the [Necromancer] blurred away.<\/p>\n [Flash Step]. Pisces turned and hit another adventurer menacing Yvlon with a chair. Then he disappeared again. No one could hit him; he was moving too fast with the chair. He gestured, and his bear charged a group of adventurers. They drew their weapons. Ceria froze one, but the other charged the bear with a yell. It was fine if it was the bear. If no one\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cKill the [Necromancer] before he summons more!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFucking tree rot!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria leapt up. Her first blast of snow shot Caddin, the speaker, off his feet. The second blunted [Ice Spike] hit a woman with a bow in the midriff. Pisces whirled. He saw a [Rogue] flip towards him, and pointed.<\/p>\n \u201c[Shock Volt].\u201d<\/p>\n The spell blasted the [Rogue] off her feet. She landed on the floor, twitching. Ceria looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cPisces, look out!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He whirled and saw the man with the crossbow. Stan was standing behind his table, using it as cover. He had one of his crossbows in hand. He was aiming at Pisces\u2019 midriff, as if that would stop the rampaging bone bear. Ceria pointed her wand at him.<\/p>\n \u201cStan! Drop it\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Too late. Stan fired. Pisces\u2019 eyes widened, and he vanished. He disappeared, blurring over to the left, but Stan was ready. The first crossbow had disappeared and the second one he yanked out of his bag of holding, even as Pisces stopped. It was already loaded, and Pisces wavered. The bolt flew and cracked<\/em> on the wall of ice Ceria conjured from the ground.<\/p>\n \u201c[Ice Wall]!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDead gods damn it!\u201d<\/p>\n The man cursed. Ceria ran past him, blocking more spells with ice walls as she took cover behind him. Just in time; a [Warrior] smashed <\/em>into the [Receptionist]\u2019s desk, turning it into splinters and sending the woman running for cover. Ceria hid behind Stan, shouting curses. She\u2019d frozen Stan up to his neck. He was chattering already with the cold and jerking his head, but the ice was far too thick to move in.<\/p>\n \u201cPisces! Get to cover!\u201d<\/p>\n He ignored her. Ceria was raising [Ice Walls] around her, creating a maze the adventurers had to try and smash through or run around. Ceria frantically downed a mana potion, but she realized she was safe. The [Mages] weren\u2019t able to blast through her thick walls of ice, and the other adventurers with weapons were being caught by her spells. They were\u2026sort of weak!<\/p>\n And Pisces was still fighting. He ducked as an adventurer with a hatchet took wild swings at him. The [Necromancer] stepped backwards, adjusting his [Flash Step] to stay just out of range. He waited until a swing overbalanced the Bronze-rank adventurer, then appeared behind her and kicked her knees in. The young girl went down, and Pisces delicately kicked the hatchet out of her hands. Then he turned as Yvlon howled.<\/p>\n She\u2019d been fighting the other [Warriors] in a cleared space in the center of the Guild. Like some of the adventurers, Yvlon wasn\u2019t willing to draw blood, so her sword remained in its sheath. But she was still fighting, even without her weapon.<\/p>\n And she was winning. There were half a dozen adventurers lying on the floor, and the number was going up rapidly. Yvlon had grabbed a shirtless adventurer and was demonstrating why going without armor was a stupid<\/em> idea for a [Warrior]; she hammered his stomach until he started puking, and then kneed him in the chest. He fell down, and someone rammed into Yvlon from behind.<\/p>\n Jerat. He struck her armor from behind with a mace, an extraordinarily stupid move because it didn\u2019t even stagger Yvlon. She turned around and punched<\/em> the man in the face. Ceria winced as Yvlon\u2019s gauntlets opened up more cuts on his face, on top of the beating she\u2019d already given him. Down he went. Yvlon kicked him twice on the floor and then turned. Someone tried to bull-rush her, but Yvlon outweighed the Silver-rank adventurer, and he bounced off her armored body, hurting himself more than anyone else.<\/p>\n Ceria stared. They were just too\u2026weak. The other adventurers, that was. Even the Silver-ranks. Only a few could put up an equal fight, and they didn\u2019t have Yvlon\u2019s gear. With her helmet on and enchanted armor, Yvlon\u2019s only weak spot were the gaps around the front of her head. Even when someone smashed a chair over the back of her head, it only made her turn and throw the chair-wielder into the [Receptionist]\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n But a scream had come from Yvlon. Why? Ceria saw her duck, and then a flash<\/em> of light. Yvlon screamed as a second bolt of electricity shot across the guild\u2019s floor. It shocked her, making her flash in Ceria\u2019s vision. It wasn\u2019t a killing spell, but Yvlon stumbled back, armor smoking. Ceria turned as Yvlon tried to charge the spellcaster and adventurers got in her way.<\/p>\n Alais. Ceria shot a blast of snow, but the [Aeromancer] shot lightning back. Ceria blinked, felt a kick in her chest\u2014<\/p>\n And got up from the floor, head ringing. Her armor had taken the brunt of that, but it still felt like being kicked by a horse. She got up, swearing. She was going to freeze Alais\u2019\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cAlais! Watch out! The [Necromancer]\u2019s aiming at you!\u201d<\/p>\n Someone screamed. Alais turned. Pisces was speeding towards her. She whirled her quarterstaff and aimed the tip.<\/p>\n \u201c[Electr\u2014]\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces cannoned into Alais. He didn\u2019t bother with a spell; he just [Flash Stepped] into her and rammed her off her feet. She landed hard on the ground, winded, but she was a veteran. Her staff was still aiming at Pisces.<\/p>\n \u201c[Light\u2014]\u201d<\/p>\n He kicked Alais precisely in the face. Her head snapped back, but she still tried to cast the spell. Pisces raised one finger.<\/p>\n \u201c[Lightning Jolt].\u201d<\/p>\n He was faster. The lightning shocked Alais, making her convulse. Pisces kicked her in the stomach, and then stepped back. Alais tried to get up, her muscles still jerking, and looked up. She screamed for a second before the undead bear sat on her. Ceria, about to shout at Pisces, stopped.<\/p>\n He hadn\u2019t killed anyone. Or injured them, aside from a few punitive spells and possibly some broken bones. And the undead bear had simply lain down on Alais and another adventurer rather than attack. Pisces stepped back and calmly waved at Ceria. She realized between her spells and his, they\u2019d cleared all the [Mages] from the room.<\/p>\n \u201cOver here!\u201d<\/p>\n He appeared on her left and kicked a Silver-rank [Scout] in the groin. Ceria froze some more adventurers for good measure.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many did you get?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEight?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think I got ten!\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces shrugged. He looked at the swearing adventurers encased in ice. Then he looked back at Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I believe our Miss Byres will have ten out\u2026that makes thirteen.\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed. Ceria, panting for breath and drinking the rest of her mana potion, saw Yvlon rush another adventurer. He flipped a table over to stop her; she kicked it into him and then punched. He had armor on like her, but the wumph <\/em>Yvlon\u2019s fist made as it went into his leather-covered stomach made Ceria wince. Then she grabbed Pisces.<\/p>\n \u201cHer arm! Is it\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fine. Watch that other Silver-rank Captain. He\u2019s trying to use his bag of holding to absorb your ice.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces pointed at Stan. The man shouted obscenities at Ceria as she thickened the ice to prevent him moving his hand to his bag of holding. Her ice was already melting, mixing with the blood on the ground. Ceria looked around, breathing hard.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s Ksmvr\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSafe. Watch out.\u201d<\/p>\n A chair flew at both of them. Ceria ducked. Pisces raised a hand.<\/p>\n \u201c[Barrier of Air]. [Flying Bone Club].\u201d<\/p>\n The chair bounced off a whirling shield of air. At the same time, a bone detached from the skeletal bear\u2019s body and flew at the adventurer who\u2019d thrown the chair. He turned to run; the bone clocked him on the back of the head. Down he went. Ceria paused to stare at the bone as it clattered to the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cWas that an actual spell?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt worked. I think Yvlon\u2019s finished, Ceria. We may need to stop her.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces pointed back at Yvlon. Ceria turned and saw she was the last one left standing. Quite literally; every adventurer around her was on their knees, comatose, or crawling away. Blood was dripping into Yvlon\u2019s blonde hair, and she had splinters of wood embedded in one cheek. But she was too angry to notice. And she was holding one adventurer, slamming him into one of the last tables.<\/p>\n \u201cSay it again, Caddin! Say it again!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The young man of maybe eighteen or seventeen was gasping, weakly flailing at Yvlon with his left arm as his other tried to pull her hands off. Yvlon slammed him into the table, and Ceria heard him make a gagging cry.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon! Stop!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSay it again!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The [Warrior] let go of Caddin and spun as Ceria ran over. She cocked a fist and Ceria raised her wand. Yvlon froze as she saw Ceria and Pisces. Ceria knew she had bruises on the side of her face and she might have a cut. Pisces looked as pristine as when he\u2019d come in.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon. It\u2019s done.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria looked down at Caddin. The young man was lying on the table, panting, making hoarse sounds up at the ceiling. Ceria wondered if Yvlon had cracked his ribs.<\/p>\n The [Wounded Warrior] took a shuddering breath. She looked around the Adventurer\u2019s Guild. So did Ceria. Only then did she see some of the adventurers had freed themselves from her ice. And more than a few were still conscious. But no one was aiming at her or Pisces or Yvlon. The fight was out of them.<\/p>\n The guild was trashed, too. Ceria had seen brawls, but this one was destructive, by any standard. There were only about three good chairs left. She looked around for one to sit on; the world had turned grey after so much mana usage. Then she saw Ksmvr. He was sitting in front of his destroyed table, calmly waving at her.<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He opened his mandibles cheerfully as Ceria hurried over.<\/p>\n \u201cHello, Captain Ceria.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you hurt? Did anyone hit you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was struck by an accidental chair. Aside from that, I am quite fine. I stayed down, did not draw my weapons, and did not cause trouble. Did I do well?\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf stared at Ksmvr with open mouth. Then she burst out laughing. Yvlon and Pisces turned to look and began laughing too. Ceria laughed and laughed\u2014until suddenly she realized her laughter was getting hysterical. She stopped. Then she looked around.<\/p>\n The adventurers of Celum looked at her. Stan had freed himself with the help of a [Mage] casting a flame spell. He was shivering, his face blue. Alais was sitting up; the bear had gotten off her and was sitting in front of Pisces as he slowly disassembled it, letting the bones float into his bag of holding. She was clutching her nose, which was dripping red. Ceria hoped it wasn\u2019t broken.<\/p>\n \u201cUh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon walked past Ceria, breathing heavily. She was drinking from a healing potion. She didn\u2019t look at anyone, until a sobbing, breathless voice came from behind her. She turned. Caddin was trying to sit up. He was making a bad sound, and Ceria knew some of his ribs were busted. But he still glared at Yvlon, tears in his eyes. Her and Ceria.<\/p>\n \u201cHow come you walked away when everyone else died? How\u2019s that fair?\u201d<\/p>\n The room was silent. Yvlon stared at Caddin. She slowly drank the vial of healing potion down and didn\u2019t answer. She turned her back as Ceria looked around. Bleeding adventurers stared at her. Time to go.<\/p>\n \u201cYou weren\u2019t able to do that last time, Ceria.\u201d<\/p>\n Stan croaked as she went to walk past him. Ceria turned. She glared at Stan.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess I changed, Stan. I leveled up. I thought that\u2019s what we were supposed to do.\u201d<\/p>\n He stared bleakly at her, then around the trashed guild. As if he\u2019d had no part in what had just gone down.<\/p>\n \u201cSome of us changed a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n What could you say to that? What could you say that would give voice to all the loss, the pent-up feelings, the past both Ceria and Yvlon had left behind but was now dug up, lying bloody and exposed? Ceria stared at Stan, at Caddin and Alais. She shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I guess you\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n She raised a middle finger. Then she turned.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, guys. We\u2019re going. Ksmvr\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces was already opening the door. He began to step outside, and then stopped. Ceria saw only his still back for a second, and then the [Necromancer] slowly retreated back into the guild. And she saw his hands were raised. A man followed him with a drawn sword. He wasn\u2019t an adventurer. Ceria\u2019s stomach lurched as she recognized the insignia on his armor.<\/p>\n Celum\u2019s City Watch. The man shouted as he kept his sword aimed at Pisces. More [Guards] streamed into the guild behind him, some holding bows, a few with wands. Most with swords, spears, axes\u2026they advanced on the adventurers as the man with the sword bellowed into the room.<\/p>\n \u201cWeapons down! Half the City Watch is right outside the guild! No one move! [Mages] with your hands behind your backs! If we so much as see a spell or undead, we\u2019ll put a dozen arrows into you! You\u2019re all under arrest!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, tree rot.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria reflexively raised her hands. She kept them high as two [Mages] immediately trained their wands on her. They might be lower-level, and their wands might look cheap, but a [Stone Dart] spell could still kill at this range. The other [Guards] were shouting at the adventurers, forcing them back. The [Captain] in charge kept shouting until there were a good twenty men in the room and more pouring in. Then he looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright! Who started it?\u201d<\/p>\n The adventurers stared. It was a familiar scene. Someone had heard the fighting and called the City Watch. They had showed up after the fighting as usual. They weren\u2019t paid to risk their skin in a brawl. But after it? They could arrest anyone they wanted to. Ceria was grinding her teeth, ready to argue her way out. Or run if there was a chance. But then she saw the [Receptionist] push her way forwards. The woman raised her hand tremulously.<\/p>\n \u201cShe started it! Her and her team!\u201d<\/p>\n Her hand pointed to Yvlon. Everyone looked at the [Warrior]. Yvlon turned crimson.<\/p>\n \u201cI was\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The Watch Captain cut Yvlon off with an impatient growl.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright. You\u2019re under arrest. Who else is in her team, Miss?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Receptionist] flinched as Ceria shot her a glare, but she pointed. [Guards] surrounded Ceria and Pisces. The [Cryomancer] swore.<\/p>\n \u201cHold on! That\u2019s a load of\u2014they attacked us! All of them! We were only defending\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSave it! You started this brawl; you\u2019re paying for it! And you\u2019re spending time in our cells\u2014I won\u2019t have adventurers tearing up my city!\u201d<\/p>\n The [Captain] shouted at Ceria. She shouted back.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?<\/em> Pay for this mess? No way! They started the fight. Yvlon threw the first punch, but we\u2019re\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSilence! <\/em>Men, arrest her and toss her in jail! That one too!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a [Necromancer]!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA what?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n A dozen blades were instantly thrust in Pisces\u2019 direction. He held his hands up, eyes flashing fury. Yvlon tried to lower her hands, but a spear leveled at her throat put them back up.<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up!<\/em> You\u2019re under arrest! This isn\u2019t a debate! Get them in chains, and if we have anti-magic cuffs, I want them on that [Necromancer]! And the half-Elf!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHold on! You can\u2019t just\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The [Captain] ignored Ceria. And when a [Guard] forced her to her knees, the half-Elf remembered. Oh. Right. This wasn\u2019t Liscor. This was a Human city\u2019s City Watch. Which meant they were less professional even than Relc. And their Watch Captain was less concerned with the minutiae of who\u2019d done what, and more concerned with less trouble. It was a refreshingly simple approach to policing. And Ceria had forgotten how much she hated it.<\/p>\n \u201cThat all of them?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. No, you missed one!\u201d<\/p>\n The [Receptionist] panicked as the [Guards] began to drag the three Horns of Hammerad to the door. She pointed frantically back at a figure behind them.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s one of them! Take it too!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt? What do you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The [Captain] choked on his words. He\u2019d spotted the figure in one of the three remaining chairs. The Watch had overlooked him not because of his appearance, but because he\u2019d been so still, so calmly unobtrusive in the heaving, destroyed guild. Now they focused on him and recoiled.<\/p>\n He was sitting at the table where he\u2019d been before the fight had started. And true to his words, he hadn\u2019t thrown a punch. He hadn\u2019t even gotten up. The [Guards] and adventurers all stared at him as Ceria stopped cursing the [Guard] putting her in manacles and Pisces and Yvlon looked over their shoulders. Ksmvr raised one hand and opened his mandibles in a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cHello. Are you going to arrest my companions? Because I believe we have a request to fulfill.\u201d<\/p>\n The Watch Captain stared at him in horror. He stuttered for words.<\/p>\n \u201cAn\u2014Ant\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am Antinium. Hello, my name is Ksmvr. I request to be identified as a Horn of Hammerad, please. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n The man stared at the [Receptionist] and the other adventurers. Their looks reflected the expression on his face. He worked his jaw soundlessly, then turned to one of his [Sergeants] and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cArrest it too. We\u2019re going to need to tie the other arm up.\u201d<\/p>\n He indicated Ksmvr\u2019s three free arms. The Antinium studied a [Guard] as one of the younger recruits approached.<\/p>\n \u201cH-hold still. You\u2019re under arrest.\u201d<\/p>\n The young man stuttered as he addressed the Antinium. Ceria, cursing, watched Ksmvr eye the manacles and then look to her. The Antinium tilted his head from side to side. Then he slowly stood up.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Guard] froze. He looked back for help at his superior. The [Captain] blinked. He looked around at his men and the adventurers as if to reassure himself, then barked at Ksmvr.<\/p>\n \u201cYou! You\u2019re under arrest!\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr shook his head slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, you are, you\u2014thing! Resist and we\u2019ll kill you, got it? You so much as draw your blade\u2014you\u2019re under arrest, damn it! Do you even understand that?\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium watched the [Captain]. There was something unnerving about the intent way Ksmvr stared at the [Captain]. Then he shook his head again.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I completely understand the concept of arrest, Watch Captain. And I do not believe I will be arrested. I, personally, have done nothing wrong. And if you try to arrest me, sir, I will have to kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence. The guild had gone still for the confrontation. It had frozen in anticipation of the fight and come to a halt afterwards. For the arrests, it had paused to watch the proceedings. Now it just stopped. Every eye fixed on Ksmvr, and a cold chill swept the room. The prelude to true violence. Death. Ceria choked.<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr. Don\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr spread his three arms out innocently. He looked at her, and around the room. His voice was pleasant. Cheerful, as he met the [Captain]\u2019s eyes, then Ceria\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? It would be self-defense. I have done nothing wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n He paused.<\/p>\n \u201cYet.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [Martial Artist]. A term for people who use Skills and techniques designed for combat, be it self-defense, war, competition, or other activities. They differed from traditional [Warriors] in a simple way. While anyone could learn to use a sword, and there were indeed teachers of swordplay or soldiering, anyone who knew how to fight could […]<\/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":[11693086,349],"tags":[],"twi_volume":[11693135],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-6075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-6","category-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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