The Angel Express, Chicago, Illinois - 9:35 AM

I left my room in clean, mundane clothes, still feeling the thrill of the fight. Sol Ligatus’ teamwork was phenomenal, and I kept running myself through the combat, picking things out that I hadn’t had time to parse in the moment.

The dining car had been rearranged so that the tables were all together. It was a configuration that could be purchased and changed by the owner, and I assumed Kayla did it at some point when I wasn’t around. Everyone in Sol Ligatus was there, sitting and waiting for me.

Kayla and Jeff were on either side of me when I sat down. Mercury and Bethany were next. She had on a pair of noise canceling headphones that I knew would be playing soft music at a very low volume. It was the next step to getting her used to other sounds. At the very end of the table were Jamie and Ashley, who were already eating.

The Monstersmith looked like she was giving the three empty mugs of coffee next to her a run for their money, and she greeted me with a jab of her fork.

“Give me your femurs,” she demanded.

I snorted a quick laugh as I sat down. Corwin snuggled up against my legs, and I pet him before glancing at Jamie. “Were the bones from my foot that helpful?”

Mercury faltered as he stopped signing for Bethany, who sat across from him. “You mean from when you exploded a piece that Jamie cut off?”

Jamie rolled her eyes. “No. Ashley used the bones from his foot to make bullets back in Pittsburgh,” she explained. “They were infused with the holy property, and were the reason why my shots made it through Doneralego’s magical barrier to do so much damage. It almost makes up for the time he decided to play around and my feet were almost dissolved in acid.”

The ninja cringed. “That’s why your gun was so effective against the Lich?”

“If that’s too much, how about a humerus?” Ashley continued.

“You lost your foot? How?” Kayla asked, ignoring the Monstersmith.

“Against the Accumulator, with Mercury,” I said. Corwin rested his head on my foot once he realized I was done petting him and I snapped open the menu to look for something to eat. “It was an accident. I snapped the cables of the jumbotron and one of them took off my foot. It wasn’t some sacrificial play or anything so you don’t need to flick my nose, it just happened.”

“And your first thought was to give it to Ashley to turn into bullets?” Jeff asked incredulously.

I shrugged. “Hey, body parts are a very big thing in several religions. Like how the remains of saints are top tier relics in Catholicism. It wasn’t a leap to think that I, as a Half-Angel, may impart some level of power to the parts of my body left behind.”

“Calling yourself a saint now?” Jamie asked, wrinkling her nose. “Being a Half-Angel is one thing, but you don’t strike me as the kind of guy who’s into prayer.”

“I’ve been ready to kneel at one altar in particular for a while now,” I offered mischievously.

Jeff nearly choked on his tea.

Jamie arched an eyebrow, but shook her head and raised her glass. “Well, your sacrifice was not made in vain.”

“It clearly wasn’t a sacrifice, his foot grew back!” Mercury said loudly.

“I’ll settle for a rib, honestly,” Ashley muttered. “I don’t think I’m asking too much since it’ll just grow back.”

“You’re asking the boss to mutilate himself for spare parts,” Jeff scoffed.

The Monstersmith hesitated. “They’re damn good parts, Jeff,” she defended.

“Ash, if I naturally lose any more body parts on my journey, rest assured that I’m willing to donate them to you,” I laughed. “But I need a rush job right now. I’m going to need my Heelies back so we can infuse them with Angelic power. I have feathers from-“

“Already done,” Ashley interrupted, waving her hand. “Kayla’s got them.”

“They’re already done?” I asked, turning to the Double Agent for clarification.

“The Patron gift I received from Sara was one of her feathers,” she said as a large serving of pancakes appeared in front of her. “The same kind that you used in Atlanta to counter the Demonic power in Manny’s axe. Except, I had Ashley mix it with the Heelies of Hermes. Now you’ve got something new.”

I nodded as she explained. The feather would have paired really well with the Heelies, I just wouldn’t have used it until the shoes were maxed out. Now that they were, it was exactly what I would have done. I knew it would be in a less powerful state with fewer skills and passives, but so long as it was a growth item then I wasn’t worried.

With a few swipes of her hand, a pair of red shoes with pure white feathers fell into them. She handed them to me.

<<<>>>

[[Item]]

Heelies of the Twice Blessed

(Growth Item, kill 7 bosses to upgrade; +15 Dexterity, +15 Constitution, Winged Messenger skill acquired, Celestial Wormhole skill acquired)

[[Skill]]

Winged Messenger

When flying or traveling on the Heelies of the Twice Blessed's wheels, gain a boost up to 3 times your speed in accordance with how full your inventory is. You may also use the wheels indefinitely as long as you are on level ground or a downwards slope.

[[Skill]]

Celestial Wormhole

Mark a door by touching it and activating this skill; this mark does not go away until it is used or you mark another door. You always know what direction the mark is in and how far away it is. At another doorway within range, you may activate the skill and open the door to find that it leads to the door you marked prior. The range of this ability is equal to 1 mile per point in Dexterity added by the Heelies of the Twice Blessed. You may allow others to travel with you in this manner at the cost of 1 feather per creature. Each shoe has 5 feathers, for a total of 10. The portal will remain active for up to 1 minute or until the wearer enters, whichever comes first.

In addition, you may touch a door and leave a permanent mark. When using Celestial Wormhole in this way, double the range and increase the number of people who may travel to 2 per feather. This permanent mark may only be changed once every time the Heelies of the Twice Blessed is upgraded.

Current permanent marks: 1

<<<>>>

“Managed to keep the two skills you liked the most according to Sara,” Ashley proudly announced. “No jumping around through the air or picking locks, but you might get those later. No promises.”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“That’s fine,” I said, grinning as I pulled the Heelies into my inventory. “I can bounce around on my Force Field if I really need it. Air Step was just a more convenient version of that.”

“I’ve already defeated three bosses, which is why there’s only seven left before it upgrades,” Kayla said. “Doneralego, the serpent scenario boss on the way here for Jamie, and the Wartorn Shadow in the Congress Plaza Hotel. Thanks again for leaving Chainsawface, by the way.”

“Worst name ever,” Mercury muttered as he signed to his sister. Bethany nodded.

“You’re welcome,” I said with a smile as I finally ordered my own simple breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast. “I’ll recharge it before I leave, but you can keep it after that.”

The room went still as everyone except for Bethany looked at me. I started eating.

“You’re leaving again?” Jeff asked, setting his silverware on his plate. “You only just got back, Anthony.”

“Really, Franklin?” Jamie scoffed before gesturing to the people at the table. “You put this whole team together. The least you could do is have the decency to lead it. No offense to Kayla, of course.”

“I’m with you, Jamie,” the Double Agent admitted. “But things have changed.”

I cleared my throat before taking a drink of tea. “First off, let me tell you all that I’m proud of the job you’ve done,” I said honestly, looking at everyone in turn. “The fact that you all are here and had nothing to complain about except my absence really shows how powerful you’ve become. Some of you might have mixed feelings due to our fight, but that’s the closest to being defeated by people than I think I’ve seen in a long, long time. Of course, I knew you would all do exceptionally well, which is why you’re here.”

Mercury leaned towards Jeff. “Why does it feel like he’s about to say it’s not us, it’s him?”

The Queen’s Knight snorted in amusement. “Because he’s buttering us up as part of a breakup speech,” he said, shaking his head. “We’ll handle things here while you’re away. Right, everyone?”

“Of course we will,” Jamie replied, wrinkling her nose. “I was just saying that he should be here for it, is all.”

“Doesn’t matter to me, not like I’m going home,” Ashley sighed. “Staying here’s as good as anywhere.”

I gave her a sad smile. “Kayla talked to you about that?”

With a wave of her hand, the Monstersmith looked away from me. “Robots rule Boston, few survivors, no one I know made it out. Yeah. You guys are all I have left. Would have preferred to know about it sooner.”

“Sorry, Ash,” I said honestly. “I was waiting for you to bring it up.”

She gave me the side eye before looking at Jamie sitting across from her, who gave her a nod. “Well, whatever. Nothing you could have done about it, nothing I could have done about it. I’m here. Let’s leave it at that.”

Jeff cleared his throat. “You must have had a pretty substantial vision or revelation if you’re changing the plan you’ve worked so hard for.”

I nodded. “Yeah, it was a pretty spectacular revelation. If everything goes well, then I’m estimating that we can finish with the system about six months earlier than I previously anticipated, give or take a few months. Under normal circumstances, it would take almost a year.”

“Goddamn,” Ashley muttered.

“Really? You’re serious?” Mercury asked, his hands stumbling mid-sign. “Half a year? I mean, I didn’t know this was going to last a whole year, but that’s a big jump, isn’t it?”

“It’s substantial,” I agreed. “It’s going to save so many lives that I’m not even really sure where to start calculating it. Which has been my whole goal.”

“Why don’t you tell us how long you’re going to be gone for?” Jeff requested.

“With some luck, I’ll be in Jamestown when you all arrive there,” I answered. “I need to travel around the United States collecting a few things for a mission the Dealer wants to pull off.”

“If it’s from him, then it could be fun,” Jamie said, leaning her elbows on the table to get a better look at me. “Something you’re taking volunteers for?”

“No, unfortunately not,” I responded with a shake of my head. “But you and Mercury will have something else to do when the time comes. I’ll discuss that when I return, though. Kayla’s got an account of it in the books I left her, but we’ll be prepared.”

“What do you need to collect?” Ashley asked, sounding hopeful.

“Materials for the most powerful weapon you’re ever going to make,” I said. She grinned, her fatigue forgotten with a simple statement. “In fact, it might be too powerful, so I need you to be mentally prepared for the outcome.”

Ashley barked a laugh. “Alright, I’ll believe that when I see it.”

I gave her a thin smile before nodding. “Kayla’s already been given an extra mission here in Chicago that needs to be done to collect some things. I’ve already got a path in my head that takes me over to the west coast before I swing around south and shoot right back over to the east coast to regroup with you all.”

“When are we supposed to be in Jamestown?” Jamie asked. “Kayla doesn’t let us see that book of hers.”

“A little over a week. Could be more, could be less depending on a lot of factors,” I said with a shrug. “This is a new path for me. I’ve been to all of these places in visions separately, but never quite in this order. It’s pretty exciting.”

Bethany began moving her hands, holding them close to her chest. I smiled as she shyly signed to her brother.

Mercury smiled as well. “Bethany wants to know if you can tell us where you’re going.”

“Thank you for the question, Bethany,” I said and signed, and she nodded. “As for the whole thing, not yet. The Dealer has sworn me to secrecy on some of it, and that definitely involves the biggest parts of the fetch quest. My first stop is going to be the Mall of America, though. I have to beat up a few monsters and get some things that will be helpful in Arizona. Sedona, in particular. I also have plans to take out a shapeshifting Doppelganger.”

The Tea Witch nodded before resuming her food, saying nothing more. Still, that was really big for her.

“So you’re planning on an Ant vs Ant fight?” Jeff asked, considering it. “I’d pay a lot of points to see that, actually.”

I offered him a thin smile. “You’d think it’d be great, but don’t get your hopes up. It’s actually a real bummer. I don’t usually plan on going, but the rewards are great when things start getting chaotic, and I’m expecting a lot of chaos.”

“Embrace that chaos, Warmonger,” Jamie joked, and I laughed.

“Are you taking the train?” Mercury asked.

“The public one, yeah. Y’all get to borrow the Angel Express a little longer,” I answered. “There’s more danger involved, but nothing I can’t handle. The guildhall works best when there’s a lot of people to share the boons, anyway.”

“The Donny one is great, but I’m really happy with the Gunner Serpent cannon we got on the way to Chicago,” Jamie said with a smile. “Tough bastard, but the buffs it gives my guns are substantial.”

I smiled back at her, understanding her enthusiasm. The Gunner Serpent had been the scenario boss of La Porte, Indiana. It was basically a 25-foot long tank built in the shape of a snake with treads all around its segmented body. Its mouth opened up to reveal machine guns for teeth, a cannon for a tongue, and a saw blade launcher for a tail.

Jamie was supposed to get the MVP for that one, and Ashley could upgrade her firepower and armor using materials from the boss. It was a tough fight, but I knew that the team could handle it without casualties whether I was there or not.

It was also kind of a fun fight, which made me sad that I missed it.

Looking at the sour expression on Ashley’s face, I smiled. “Don’t worry, Ash, you can tinker with the cannon a little later. That guildhall buff will become obsolete eventually, just like most things in that case.”

“Yeah, whatever,” she responded. “I don’t want to wait so long to build whatever you think is too powerful. When are you leaving?”

I laughed. “Really? Turning it around that fast?” I asked.

“Sooner you leave, sooner you get back. You’re the one who’s always in such a damn hurry,” she scoffed.

“No worries, I’m going to head out once my gear is done in the laundry,” I said with a chuckle. “Against my will, I’m also taking Sara with me.”

“Against your will?” Jeff asked, arching an eyebrow. “I assumed she’d go with you anywhere.”

<<<>>>

[[Patron Message]]

Anthony, that just sounds like I’m holding you hostage. I’m not, I just refuse to let you leave without me and you already agreed to it.

I was already concerned when you were stuck in the Trial and I couldn’t see you thanks to some foul plot, I won’t be wracked with that worry again.

Besides, you’re the one who picked up a passive called Under Her Watchful Eyes. There’s no way I can leave you alone after that. We need each other.

Sincerely,

Sara

<<<>>>

I smiled at the message. “Sorry, Sara,” I apologized, glancing up at the ceiling. “I wanted you to help them out. However, I understand. Even as interesting as they are, I’m still much better.”

I was met with good-natured boos from the rest of Sol Ligatus, and Ashley even chucked a steak bone at my head. Using Orbit, I altered its course so that it landed gently back on her plate.

“Anthony’s ego aside, the Dealer is going to help with that,” Kayla said, looking around the table. “He’s going to get the attention of Skuld, one of the Norns, and point her in my direction.”

“That’s the Norse version of the Fates, right?” Mercury asked.

Kayla nodded. “Yes. If all goes according to plan, we’ll receive a Patron who can help out while giving me limited, often jumbled visions of the future.”

“Like him?” Jamie asked, pointing her fork at me.

“Close enough, but not as complete,” I answered. “It’s a good trade off, though. After you guys leave Chicago, there’ll be a chance for Mercury to find his Patron, too.”

The ninja perked up. “Who’s it going to be?”

“No spoilers,” Kayla quickly said before looking my way. “That’s specifically what you said in the book. No spoilers.”

“Man, first you don’t tell me how to find the Princess,” Mercury complained. “Then you give Kayla information on my Patron but don’t tell me that, either.”

“Sorry, man. But, just like the Princess, you’ll figure it out,” I assured with a smile. “Is she around?”

He shook his head. “Nah, the Princess is sulking after the fight. She declared that it’s her duty to stare at the wretched thing sitting in the sleeper car, so she’s watching the phylactery you had us teleport here.” Suddenly, he snapped his finger and pointed my way. “Oh! She did say good fight, though I don’t think she meant it all that much.”

“Thanks, Merc. Tell her the same from me. I really can’t overstate how fun it was for me. Due to the challenge, not because I won,” I quickly added. “Alright, let’s get this breakfast finished. I know Ash wants to go to bed-“

“You got that right,” she said.

“I know it. Bethany wants to get back to work, and you all need to get back out there. So, come on, let’s eat,” I said.

After a few more complaints about me leaving so soon, we all dug in. I enjoyed my first family-style breakfast with the whole team.