I was lucky. Beyond lucky by the standards of some. I don't know how she'd convinced the others, nor did I dare ask. But, somehow, The Hero successfully assuaged the anger of the others so that they wouldn't hold the delay against me. At least not openly anyway. Two of them still glared at me when others weren't looking, and I imagine all of them would continue to think less of me until presented with something to the contrary. Not that I could complain; in the end, my relationship with all of them had taken a hit. The entire situation was ultimately still my fault.
That isn't to say I am the only one in bad standing with some of the group. The Shieldbearer is a man I’d come to know as stone-faced, near silently rude, and more than a little stingy. When the group was gathering to leave, he made what many around the world would consider as an outrageous request when we left the city.
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The sun was barely cresting over the horizon. I'd given some of the more inconvenienced party members some money for lodging, to make up for the extra night we stayed in town. So everyone was as well-rested, as our situation permitted. We'd agreed to meet at the northern station. Unfortunately, the cost of the train was too high for the time being. We’d merely be using the location as a landmark.
The Hero looked weathered, likely more than strained from recent events. Her plain clothes were wrinkled, and her hair was a mess. But her eyes showed an untouched reserve of energy. She'd been here when I arrived, likely having told us all a time well after she planned to get here. Around here was a set of 6 well-packed leather rucksacks: I had to accept she'd managed to get them here alone. Or I would have, if I wasn't already aware of her physical strength. Knowing she couldn't have lifted two of them, let alone six. Frankly, I didn't care how she'd gotten them here, and I merely appreciated that she'd done so.
The Priestess arrived shortly after myself, her white habit as pristine as ever. Her face still a placid mask, hiding her emotions. I couldn't read her well enough to gauge if she'd slept well. Yet when she sat down to wait for the rest, she didn't sag into the bench, but instead remained ramrod straight. Upon her arrival, she'd looked towards me a moment longer than usual. She didn't show it on her face if she held any contempt for my prior mishap.
The following two arrived together, The Archer and The Mage. The duo apparently split the cost of a double room at an inn so that they could spend more on food. The Mage was clearly exhausted, her hair a mess, with bags under her eyes. Her dress was a wreck, wrinkled, stained, and torn in a few spots. It was clear that both her and it had seen better days. Her pointed hat was gone entirely, exposing her blond head to a long day's walk in the sun. Despite her apparent exhaustion, when she saw me, her blue eyes turned sharp. They held a barely contained anger for a moment before she turned away to focus on the others.
The Archer also took a moment to glare at me, but I felt it was more for unrelated reasons. His eye didn't contain the same anger, but more of an accusation. Like he'd come across a misunderstanding from my absence. I could form a theory or two, though I was unwilling to force the issue with him until a moment came where it was necessary. Next to The Mage, he looked almost pristine. His scarf was clean as ever, if a little dull. The pouches around his person as full as they'd been the day I met him. His hair was clean, the black locks shining with a natural luster, the topknot done with almost ritualistic care. I'd almost say he looked better than when I'd last seen him, though I was unsure.
"So we're just waiting on the oaf?" The Archer said with humor thick across his voice.
"Yep." The Hero said, her voice beyond chipper.
"One would hope he isn't as careless as another of our group." The Mage said, her voice mocking and sharp, but her exhaustion blunted the insult. Her comment did serve to stir my intrigue. Though not enough for me to ask The Hero what she'd said about my absence.
I wanted to comment, to keep the conversation going. But the moment my hand lifted to weave mana into words, The Hero directed a sharp look my way in warning.
"I'm sure Deven will be here. I checked in with him last night, and everything seemed fine." The Hero said, her voice taking on a tiny note of reflection.
"You know where to find him if he doesn't arrive promptly?" The Priestess asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and care.
"Yeah.?" The Hero responded oddly. "His address is listed with the guard; they told me where to find him." She clarified.
"Useful." The Priestess said as if noting the information for later.
"I'm relatively confident he won't produce an issue. The last I saw him, he appeared eager to leave the city." The Mage added her opinion to the conversation. Her voice retook its pompous tone despite her apparent lack of energy.
"I wonder why that is." The Priestess stated, her tone indicating she expected no answer.
"I'm with him in that regard, I've always wanted to travel. While this city is great, being here hasn't been all that different from being back home." The Archer said, without even a hint of longing.
"You didn't see much on the way here?" The Hero asked quizzically.
"I wish." The Archer's laughter-filled reply gushed from his lips. "My nation was so dead set on getting me here as quick as possible. They almost burned a space mage to do so." He said with something akin to darker humor in his voice, not that I blamed him.
"How distasteful." The Priestess said, revulsion crossing her features for a moment at the idea.
"I know, right?" The Archer agreed with her sentiment. "But that's the imperial court for you, wasting resources that aren't theirs to use." He chuckled once more at the idea before releasing a long sigh at whatever he recalled. "No, Luna, I didn't see much on my way here. This will be my first time traveling like this." He sounded forlorn at first before a smile leaked across his face once more at the thought of travel.
"Well, I hope we get to see a lot of exciting things together." The Hero replied with an infectious joy.
The others looked as if they wanted to reply. The Archer opened his mouth to do so, but all of them were cut off by the arrival of The Shieldbearer. The casual clothing he wore the day I met him, and truthfully most days, was covered in a set of slate gray plate mail. My only thought about the equipment was that it was highly traditional. However, I attributed that to his career rather than any preference of his. Compared to the others, he looked ready for war. Looking back at this moment, I'd say that was his mindset. His face was stern, more so than usual. He looked well-rested, although stressed. His eyes were clear, his face clean, and his hair well done. There were no bags beneath his eyes, no hair out of line, not a thing to suggest he had lost sleep over the night. Despite this, his neck was tense, his back rigid, and his movements strained.
He walked slowly, his pace almost at a crawl. His gaze fixed forward on the horizon instead of on us. He carried a bag, much like the six behind me, stuffed beyond full with equipment. Looking at the others, I saw a mix of emotions. The Archer didn't seem to care about the extra bag. The Mage and The Priestess showed blatant confusion. Whereas The Hero looked at the sight as if she'd expected this.
As I watched The Shieldbearer walk forward, I noticed a second pair of smaller legs behind his. A second, much smaller figure hiding in his shadow, stepping in turn with him, carefully placing him between them and us.
I knew why they hid from view well before they reached us—the palpable tang of it wafting off their body, burning at my senses. I doubted the others could smell it. The unique scent beyond the pale, beyond the natural. It wasn't a physical smell, but a feeling that my mind interpreted as such. I had little doubt they'd see it, though; the iridescent skin, the overly healthy teeth, the hollow gaze. The hair and nails that took on what, in most, would be an ever so slightly purple tint, they'd see all of it. I knew why the person hid, and I immediately thought less of The Shieldbearer for his companions' presence. Despite my misgivings and ill thoughts, I immediately resolved to keep them to myself unless another mentioned the issue.
"Deven!" The Hero called out excitedly. "Just in time." She said happily.
"Unlike someone else." The Shieldbearer replied with humored snark. I didn't say anything about the slight that was near assuredly at me. Though for once, I did note the comment for later. "Should I do it here?" He asked, his eyes focused on The Hero.
"Might as well, get it out of the way so we can be on our way." She replied seriously with a bright smile on her face.
With a simple nod, The Shieldbearer stepped to the side, revealing to everyone the person he'd hidden behind his large frame. "This is my younger sister Liza." He said calmly while gesturing.
The Girl was an almost textbook representation of what I'd expected. Likely once the same color as The Shieldbearer’s, her hair was now nearly glowing purple. Her eyes, matching the shade of her hair, were physically full of life. However, they looked empty beneath the surface, like a doll. Her skin glowed almost literally, not a single blemish, nor scar Not a single mark of any kind marring her porcelain skin. I noted her nails, filed down cleanly. Blatantly purple and attached to hands that twitched busily. I saw that same twitching in her nose and ears, the muscles around her extremities overactive, overstimulated. If I had a mouth to move, I would likely have unconsciously sneered at her or clicked my tongue in distaste. I had to wonder about her age, as I doubted she was as young as The Shieldbearer would claim.
Putting aside my distaste, I took in her appearance as I would anyone else. Her lips were full, but her mouth itself was small. Her face was round, almost heart-shaped. Her hair, braided as it was, still hung past the small of her back. She wore a black cloak, obscuring her clothes, though I noted that her shoes were overly large.
"I can't leave her in the city as it is, so if you all would be willing, I'd like for her to travel with us." He said this with a faux representation of his calm tone from the moment prior.
I was floored, and I could feel the others were as well. What he'd just asked of us was something that was considered taboo amongst explorers. To request that a party actively travel with a noncombatant was openly stating that you had no intention of taking any kind of risk.
I'd resolved myself to remain silent unless someone else said anything about the girl, if for a different reason. And I noticed The Archer opened his mouth to say something, so I expected I'd get to say my piece in due time. Unfortunately, The Hero's voice cut across the group while everyone was stunned, with a sharp conviction that gave no room for argument.
"We'd love to let her join us, right guys?" The Hero phrased it like a question, though a look at her eyes told it was entirely a different story. They almost begged someone to say something against this. To say that they would refuse to help with this monumental task, hidden beneath an innocuous request.
I waited for someone else to speak first, hopeful they'd voice the issue. That hope was bashed promptly as each member spoke out in turn.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
"Yeah, it's fine." The Archer said through gritted teeth.
"I take no offense to her joining us." The Mage replied, any disgust she felt hidden well beneath her usual haughty tone.
"A guiding hand must willingly reach beyond blinding lights and the darkest blights." The Priestess muttered to herself. And for the first time since I'd met her, she'd quoted a sermon correctly. She never actually voiced anything to The Hero, though she did nod sagely to give her input.
With a heavy heart, I had to accept that if no one else would complain about The Girl's presence, I was in no position to do so myself. So I raised my hand and wove mana to form a message of acceptance. "I take no issue with her joining us." I wrote but meant not a single word.
Throughout the day, I would note a few things to his credit. The Shieldbearer did appear to recognize the issue with his request. He never commented on the strain in everyone's agreements, nor did he push for anyone to speak with his sister. He carried the bag he brought, likely supplies for his sister and the one The Hero prepared for him. Never even complaining about the additional burden. His efforts to soften his asinine request prevented me from thinking significantly less of the man. Though I still looked down on him to some extent. Still, those were later in the day.
With a curt nod, The Shieldbearer moved beside everyone else, all of us facing The Hero for instruction.
"Alright, now that everyone's here, we’ll get set up with bags and start our march." She sounded almost excited about walking for what would likely be a few days on end.
The milling about to get each bag on their respective backs was a little odd. The extra bag wouldn't usually be a problem with an extra pair of legs. But no one, not even the Shieldbearer, seemed willing to push a bag toward The Girl. So the Shieldbearer had gotten someone to help him lift the second bag on top of his head, the straps clipped to the first bag on his shoulders. I hadn't seen who, as other events had proven a distraction.
"Mask." The Hero called me aside while I was lifting the bag meant for me onto my shoulders. "Are you gonna be alright carrying something so heavy?" She asked, concern evident in her voice.
"The bag will present no issue." I wrote out while bouncing on one leg then the other for emphasis.
I spent my time yesterday as productively as I could. I'd walked for hours to grow accustomed to the false limb. I had yet to test how suited for combat the prosthetic would be. As I knew the odd method for attachment was less than assured to remain intact under force. So my confidence in my abilities was less than sound, but I could walk, which I knew undoubtedly. Anything further would require more testing and practice.
"With that said, I may not be who you should be concerned for in this instance." I wrote out while pointing back to the rest of the group.
Confusion washed over The Hero's face before she turned to see what I spotted. The Priestess, in a convenient development for myself, was having issues herself. Failing to even lift her bag from the ground. The sight was pitiful, but amusing.
It was apparent she was struggling. Her legs shook from the strain, she was hunched forward to avoid falling, and I could see beads of sweat appearing on her forehead. But when The Archer tried to take the bag from her, she almost cut the man with the sharpness of the glare she gave him. The amusing part was when she tried to walk forward. Tried, being the only correct word.
She didn't put one foot in front of the other to smoothly traverse the ground. No, she struggled to lift one leg from the ground without the other collapsing. Only to flail forwards, before her foot landed hard against the stone. The sight was comical. So I took it in long enough for The Hero to receive a similar treatment to The Archer when she tried assisting with the hefty luggage.
I will confess, if there were no time limit, I probably would have watched The Priestess struggle until she collapsed under her own hubris. Unfortunately, the group needed to leave promptly to make any meaningful progress, to wherever The Hero wanted us to go. So I moved behind The Priestess, where I took the bag from her shoulder, offering her no chance to argue against me.
The glare I received for my actions was almost worse than the ones The Archer and Mage gave me when they arrived, only nearly. Unlike the other, I held no issue with harming her pride to take the bag from her. Knowing she'd be incapable of taking it back even if she wanted to was an added benefit. In contrast to The Priestess's affronted glare, the look The Hero gave me was one of concern. Though I acknowledged this one as much as I did the first. That is to say, not at all.
Afterward, it didn't take long for the group to get on the road. We were still headed north, to my dissatisfaction, as The Hero had initially planned. And as the fields and farms around the city gave way to barren plains and rolling hills. I began to wonder if my bargain with the web of fate had failed, and nothing would naturally shift The Hero's goal to take us south-east. Though, when I resigned myself to confessing to the faulty tracker I'd carved into the flesh of The Warren, I felt that same immaterial tug at my spine. That was not a path forward.
So I waited and walked, occasionally participating in the small talk of the group.
"Emilia, what's the church of ascension like?" The Hero asked, using the official name for what I always referred to as only the church.
"From the outside, it's generous, helpful, filled with good people." The Priestess started her voice perfectly level. "Inside, many would tell you it's mostly the same, but the teachings of Lexic forbid me from lying." She stated bluntly.
"Lexic?" The Hero asked me near silently to avoid interrupting The Priestess’s ongoing answer.
"The God of Truth and Principle," I replied, to which I received a nod of understanding.
"From within, the church is strict, controlled. Every moment is spent on something productive or not spent at all." The Priestess continued. "Beyond that, the only thing I can say is this. While the teachings are sound for many of the gods, the church itself is oddly political about which ones you should follow." She sounded as if the remembering was something that left her exhausted.
"Oooh?" A sound of curiosity resonated from The Archer behind me. "How so?" He said, his curiosity about the workings of that foreign nation’s clergy sounded genuine.
"When I left, the group that held the most influence was the one that follows Lexic's teachings primarily. But before that, the group I recall having the most control followed Luseer." She stated with less exhaustion in her voice than before.
"Goddess of Youth and Ambition." I provided The Hero before she could ask.
"Yep, that's different than back home." The Archer chuckled.
"I'm aware." The Priestess said, almost coldly. "Still, despite my misgivings about some of the various groups within the church, I can still say it's mostly good people." She spoke sagely.
"Someone would argue against that." The Shieldbearer’s voice cut up from the back of the group.
"You?" The Archer asked, a joke clearly already on his tongue.
"No, just feel like if I get trouble for being a guard, then someone’s gonna give the church the same treatment." The Shieldbearer clarified his voice as stern as ever.
"Oh." The Archer murmured, slightly disappointed he couldn't use his joke. "Makes sense." He agreed amicably.
"I can't think of anyone treating me poorly for my affiliation." The Priestess replied, intrigued.
"Perhaps the emperor would take issue with the church." The Mage said with inquisitivety over her usually haughty tone.
"Nah, he's pretty lenient with what foreigners believe." The Archer said. "Can't say the same about his own people, though." He added.
"Any other guesses?" The Hero asked with a goading curiosity.
"No." The Shieldbearer replied.
"Not really." The Archer seconded.
"I cannot think of any." The Mage followed.
The Priestess remained silent, having already given her input on the subject. The Girl at the back did not raise her voice to converse at all. Wanting the conversation to continue, The Hero turned her eyes to me in askance.
I had many answers I could give. While tensions between varying religious groups of the world had settled down quite a bit after The Hero wars, they were still far from peaceful. Goblins still faced ridicule for the actions of the old war tribes, and spectrals rarely risked venturing away from their homeland. However, I felt that using either group as an example here would be in bad form. I could point to the city of glass, and how they forbade the worship of the gods despite encouraging their populace to follow many of their teachings. Yet again, this felt like it wasn't in the spirit of the discussion. The city of glass claimed to forbid the worship of the gods, but that was only as far as not allowing churches within the city proper.
I had experienced the overzealous action of the church firsthand several times. But thinking of a time in recent memory where, as a whole, they'd gone too far, was a little challenging. More often than not, the ones who took things to an unforgivable extreme were in the minority. Even if that changed the further back you look, an example from too long ago would be beyond moronic. With that line of thinking, I did land on a case from just before anyone here was born.
"You might encounter some friction if you ever meet another of those who lived through the war of Ardelt." I wrote out a message I hoped would continue the discussion.
"I fully agree with the idea." The Mage started. "Though I would have to argue that it's unlikely she'd meet any of them. Considering how few could potentially remain today."
"Yes, it's improbable you'd encounter two of us. After the city's fall, no one wanted to risk another incident by remaining together." I continued the discussion with nary a care.
"You sound like you were there." The Priestess said curiously.
"I was. From the first clash on the wall, till the final embers faded to black." I doubted that letting them know I was old enough to remember Ardelt would produce a problem, so I gave the information freely.
Apparently, I was wrong. Not excessively so, but wrong nonetheless. It took both The Hero and I a moment to notice that something had happened. From our position at the front of the group, we couldn't see the expressions of everyone or if they were following behind us. While we'd kept walking along the road, the others had stopped some ways back. It didn't take us long to notice this, no more than a few paces down the road. So when we turned around, it was less from concern and more curiosity.
The Priestess appeared to be the one who'd elicited the stop. With a look of confusion and surprise pasted across her face, she looked at me with a new glow in her eyes.
"You fought on the side of Ardelt?" The Priestess asked, almost skeptical.
"I did," I replied. "So too did our leader's predecessor." I continued while gesturing to The Hero.
"You met the previous hero?" The Archer asked with a dark tone beneath his cheery voice.
"Only in passing, you likely had as much of a relation with your emperor as I did the previous hero." I gave them the truth without hesitation.
"Huh?" The Archer sighed curiously.
"Quite the piece of information to drop on us." The Mage said with mock humor in her voice. "Any other massive surprises you'd like to share?" She sounded more than slightly irritated with me.
"They wouldn't be surprises if I revealed them all at once, now would they?" I attempted a joke.
Surprisingly quiet this entire time, the Hero was the only one to laugh at my attempt at humor.
The day proceeded much like this until around when we needed to make camp. And while I did enjoy the more casual nature of the trip, I had business in the east. We were still unfortunately heading north. I'd almost resolved myself to a long journey north to an unknown goal when my bargain of fate reared its head.