We had been aware of the other person with Guardian powers for a while now—or at least it had partially sat at the back of my mind while we dealt with more pressing matters. It had been roughly a month since we were attacked by the exploding individual, and after that, they had kept out of our way.

Perhaps because it would be too obvious now, with most of the area drained of real Players. Anyone turning up solo would be suspected immediately. Especially with the Crimson taking over Candlekeep. Could they be here? I couldn’t be sure just yet, but something about the temple was off.

Our three groups had stopped just outside of the building, milling about in a loose formation so that we were keeping an eye on every direction. Even without my Guardian-sense, the others could feel something was amiss. The market square didn’t look intentionally abandoned. No debris or decay.

While the others had been out of earshot, my Party had agreed that we’d split our focus when looking after the wayward sheep under our care. Ren and Wolf would protect Fiona’s group, and Tanya and Quinn would join me in making sure Leyla’s group didn’t come to an undue end.

It had been difficult to arrange who should be doing what. Putting Ren and I on the same detail was overkill, and the two in our Party who weren’t overpowered needed an extra hand that Wolf wasn't able to provide. Something about opposable thumbs. Splitting into two roughly equally powerful teams felt a lot better than three lopsided groups along the current Party lines.

Lucky me, as the group I had been designated to help looked like the more nervous and easily murdered ones. Now that I paused and thought about it, my own life was a struggle to keep tied to the mortal plane, so I shouldn't judge too hastily.

“You mentioned deep scratches before, Quinn?” I turned and raised an eyebrow at the fighter.

He pulled a face and rubbed at his eyepatch. “That has been bugging me, too. Either they have gone or some of us need our eyes checking.”

More likely the former, even if he only did have the one of them these days. It had been mentioned in passing that Fiona had witnessed the scratches, too.

For all her faults, I trusted her to be level-headed, even if short tempered. Her time back in the first area to reflect looked to have done her some good, and she had been a better leader for her group. The paladin gave me the occasional awkward glance, but didn’t seem to hold any grudges. Their new member was a male spellcaster, judging by the long staff he walked with. A wide-brimmed hat that shadowed his features, and a large backpack loaded to bursting gave him the appearance that was a mix between plague doctor and globetrotting adventurer.

“Are you thinking it might be a mimic situation?” Ren asked from beside me.

My thoughts about her group-to-protect faded away as I glanced at her. “Unlikely. If you wanted to shoot the temple to see, I don’t mind.”

With a nod, she whipped around, rifle up. Golden light spiraled down the barrel and she blasted out a shot to the up and left of the doorway—the approximate location an eye would be if the building decided to come to life and eat us.

The crack of the impact echoed around the empty town, followed by the clatter of broken stone falling down onto the long steps. Other than sporting a dent, the temple didn’t budge.

“Shame,” the elf murmured, casting her eyes around the surroundings before she stood and relaxed.

“Alright then.” I clapped my hands together, drawing everyone’s attention. Briefly, I noted how shocked some of those present were at seeing Ren’s weapon in action. Those from versions of Othea wouldn’t have seen anything like it. I almost got annoyed at it stealing some of my thunder, but a smile was enough to feel like I was in charge. “We’re going to go into the temple and search for clues about what happened to the Wardens.”

“But no being weird about it,” Ren added. “Stay together within sight of others. Don’t touch, loot, or taste anything. Report anything weird, especially if there’s a little voice in your head telling you to keep it a secret.”

I nodded and concluded on her warning. “Keep things nice and simple. Safety is paramount. It might just be empty in there, but something erased their entire guild from this area, as well as the System-created. I do not want to add to that number. Am I understood?”

A group of nodding, murmuring Players stood before me. They agreed, even if they were unsure. Even if they didn’t entirely trust the man who could turn into a demon. After all, what choice did they really have? Better to be safe around me than put some distance and escape my protection. I was a powerful ally, and they knew it. But I was only worth that acceptance if I could actually keep them away from death’s door.

With a gesture to the elf, she and Wolf led Fiona’s group first. As much as it pained me to be at the back, in truth, I was only a split second from being beside her. She knew it, and the fact that my demonic ace was floating beside her made it clear to everyone else. Between her entangling roots, shielding abilities, and the walking destructive quagmire that the bear had become, they were a pretty effective frontline force.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Quinn looked a little more nervous as we let Leyla’s group go in front of the three of us, while Tanya handed me over a small idol.

“Speed and dodge increase,” she said, denying me the chance to interact with the System and find out. “I figure you don’t really need the damage one anymore.”

“Thanks.” I gave her a genuine smile and tucked it into my belt. “I remember there was a time I worried about my magic cards being able to cut skin. Now I could slice this whole building to ribbons if I desired.”

“Have any of your desires changed?” The fateweaver asked, tilting her head as we walked over to the steps.

“Hmm.” My quest hadn’t really wavered since the starter island. Stop the Lady in Red. “When I was on the island with Ren, I rather foolishly told her I wanted to become a hero. While my aspirations lead to the same point, I feel rather abstracted from the title. I want to do right by this word, and to carve a space for Ren and you all.”

“At any cost?”

I exhaled and shook my head. “Too far gone for that manner of question. How about you, though?”

Tanya smiled and glanced towards the fixer. “I think these last few days have given me the space I needed to decide. Don’t get me wrong, Max. You, Ren, and Wolf, you’re amazing. But going from my Party, to under the Lady’s thumb, to managing you three… I needed a break.”

“But you’re ready for what’s to come?”

“Too far gone for that manner of question,” she reflected back at me with a grin. “I’m no longer fighting to escape, but fighting for the right to exist, if that answers your question.”

“It does.” I gave her a nod. She had accepted that she was going to live for this existence and not let the ghosts of her past haunt her. It couldn’t have been easy, but she seemed a lot happier in spite of our circumstances. “And I’m sure you’re just waiting for an excuse to die in my stead, Quinn?”

He grunted, before turning his eye from the surroundings to me. “No offense, my friend. I still owe you my life, but I have a reason to stay alive that is stronger that my duty to repay you.”

“If you say it’s because of love,” I grimaced, “I may just throw up.” Although, I hadn’t quite mastered the art of vomiting on command—something Ren had gained mastery over in hell, which seemed amusing at the time. Now it felt… as strange as it should, in the cold light of day.

Tanya stifled a laugh and beamed. “That’s rich coming from you. Let’s focus on the task now.”

Ren and the others were already at the top of the steps at the doorway. If there was anything immediately untoward, we were about to find out. My shoes stepped lightly on the wide stone stairs, raising us above the level of most of the smaller market stalls. Not a terrible place to have to defend, if it came down to it. Assuming the enemy had no way to deal with stone walls, of course.

Most of them would have.

The Parties had gathered at the entrance to wait for us to catch up, which only briefly stressed me out due to us being all clumped up. The reverberating waves of corruption deep within me were eager for paranoia to take over, but I resisted it.

I shook off the pre-show nerves and narrowed my eyes at the temple interior.

The large building was mostly one big hall. An arched roof surprisingly devoid of any engravings, paintings, or other symbolism that you might expect. The floor was dotted with stone benches in seemingly no proper order at all. Like they had been moved? Perhaps, but they looked heavy and there were no signs on the floor that they were dragged about.

At the far end was a raised platform and podium for someone to speak to the congregation. Two tables that were mostly devoid of anything but empty candle holders and pale gray coverings. A pair of doors, one at the back left and one at the back right. Closer to us, the right had an indented groove in the wall, with wooden shelving built in. A shallow dip on the floor had a small hole at the center.

“Ritual foot washing,” Ruby explained, “and a place to put your stinky footwear once your little potato mashers are sparklin’.”

“You know anything about what religion might have been worshipped here?” I asked her, having been as distant from the world’s lore as possible.

The goblin pulled a face and waved her staff to the end of the room, causing the bell on the top to jingle. “Short answer, no fuckin’ idea. Actual answer, I’ve been pondering it for days, and I reckon it’s a Guardian.”

I exchanged a look with the elf. Her expression didn’t change, but I could read it like a book. Unlike all the books we hadn’t read since arriving here. “If the Eternal Wardens have been shaking up at the site of a Guardian, then it sounds like they caught its attention and it made them leave. Permanently.”

“If I may,” Fiona’s new spellcaster interrupted. His name was Percivus, I was half-certain. “I can smell a trove of books from a mile away, and at least one of these back rooms has a library of merit.”

“Good.” I tipped my hat to him in thanks. That meant we wouldn’t have to work our way through the empty town trying to find where they had stored the information about the Guardians that they were so adamant about denying me. “Join my group for a moment? Swap with Quinn, and then Ren can take your Party to search the other rooms.”

Neither man looked particularly pleased to be split from their usual companions, but I wanted to go to the library, and I’d rather have the potential bookworm with me rather than Quinn. Despite his other qualities, I was sure he would be more bored in a library than even Wolf. Ren, however, was keen and understanding of the split duties.

While she gave her group some stern words, I stood in silence, completely enamored with her. Leading as equals, just as we had always envisioned. After getting them up to speed with her expectations, she caught me gawking at her, and shot me a sly grin I was all too familiar with.

I turned to see the group under my charge, who had been waiting patiently for my instructions.

Leyla’s group of five looked more tense than if we were in immediate danger. All from the atmosphere of the empty temple. Perhaps I should take them all on day trips to hell to acclimatize them to danger a little better. Although… it was potentially a bad thing that I was so desensitized to violence.

“Right,” I began, finally taking hold of my slippery thoughts. “Let’s go wrangle some mysterious books.”