“ I would like to begin to say, I am sorry I have not come by earlier. I been in the recovery ward with many of the other victims of the charm incident.”
Whatever Jeff had in mind to say died as he looked at the two swordmen.
“ Oh...”
“Yeah, this is Terrance and his twin brother Tyke Baster. They are two of the blue dorm victims who decided to stay and protect the others.”
The one that was referenced as Tyke stepped forward and bowed slightly.
“ I had heard you were the one that uncovered the charmer. For that, you have my and my sibling's thanks.”
Jeff nods in acknowledgement and before he can ask the other brother steps forward and slightly bows as well.
“ Our sister, has a gardening class. While me and my brother have holy warriors. We, um used to play DnD. Pali for life.”
With that the brothers raised an arm to each other to bump them.
“ Pali for life.’
Then the two stepped back.
“ They first charmed their sister, a girl of fourteen. She was one of their first targets. Then they used her to get these two. In all, there were about fifty of us. Two-thirds of us women.”
She then pauses there leaving the rest unsaid.
“ I... well, healed them during the charm... passively. I... It was bad. Someone from the outside was involved. I don’t know much more, but this place... there is rot...”
Jeff sighs and leans back in his seat to look at the ceiling.
“ I was set up with a ton of mithril for my initial set of gear. They were going to hunt me down after I got out of here to kill me for it. There is another where one of the trainers decided to train pain tolerance over everything else. They did not realize they died till that evening when someone decided to check on the body seeming to be asleep on the training field. There has been a few others that I know about, and most of them have resulted in a death or to be set up like I was.”
Stolen novel; please report.
Rachal and the twins blanched at that. Without warning Jeff raises his hand toward one of the construct maids and was handed a small goblet of wine. Who then offers the other three one as well.
“ Look, I get it. You don’t feel safe. I bet you're thinking you want to leave.”
Without hesitating Jeff downed his drink in one large chug.
“ Think on this. If it is this bad here, where they are at least trying to keep us safe like we are a bunch of six-year-olds. And make no mistake, a six-year-old can kick most of our buts. Then what do you think will happen after you leave? Our only protection is what we can do for ourselves and what we offer to the cause.”
Jeff pauses giving them a moment of pity before making his point.
“ Thirty-four had left early, thinking they are ready or not wanting to extend their debts further. Want to take a guess how many are alive now?”
Rachal, seeing Jeff’s point froze before she could answer but that did not stop Tyke.
“ I would guess less than half by your tone.”
Jeff looked him dead in the eye.
“ Three, only three are still alive. Half of them died when they wandered from their handlers. Thinking of probably running away or some other stupid thing. Half of those remaining died in ambushes by bandit or fighting monsters way too strong for them. Then there is the group that went to the front on their own right away.”
Jeff shook his head not wanting to elaborate further.
“ So, yea, we are in between a rock and a hard place. Me, I am doing what they want me to do. Get stronger, get prepared, and get ready to fight the demons. I just wish I had a way to stop the backstabbing I know is coming.”
Rachal blinked in surprise to that and she was not the only one.
“ What do you mean backstab, by who?”
Jeff sighs again and gestures for the maid to come back so he can give her the goblet.
“ Some noble or another. Look, it is not hard to see why the front tries to maintain the status quo. Those who have their homes on the line have it hard, but it is a maintained constant. They are probably more than able to push, but those they are protecting will move in while they do that. To maintain the fallback or some other stupid excuse. This is actually how they lost so much territory early on. People kept stabbing eachother in the back to steal the gains of others. I just do not see how we can prevent that from happening when the time comes for me to push.”
Jeff lowered his head to between his knees while putting his hands behind his head.
“ I just do not know what I can do. Since any plans I make will be leaked the moment I speak them. This whole place is full of recording implements.”
Rachal begins to ask how she and the others could have been charmed for so long if that was true but paused. Someone on the outside was helping a select group of otherworlders, probably handpicked, for some unknown reason. Remembering it was a hero who helped design this place, she can picture him wanting a piece of the personnel pie. And what piece is more important to an entrepreneur than crafters and support personnel?
Realizing this she raises her hand to stop the twins front talking about this further and sighs seeing how royally screwed they are.
“ So, what can we do?”
Jeff raises his head to look at her again but kept to his low stature.
“ Me, I am doing what I can. I and a few others are working on making a guild for the support and crafters. Their main purpose will be to help provide me and others with gear and necessities. What you can do I am not sure. I hate to say this but you are a few weeks behind. And time is on none of our sides.”