“Beren,” Meelara nodded at the leader. “Faren, Cheela, and Percive, good to see you. This is Selene.”

She gestured at Selene and sat down at the table. Selene hesitated for a second before she approached a chair beside Meelara.

“They’re staring,” Selene thought, noticing their gazes. “No, they’re glaring… What’s going on?”

“Hello,” she said quietly and sat down.

“What’s the situation?” Meelara asked as she met the leader, Beren’s, eyes.

“Haah;” Beren sighed and grimaced. “Matteo is dead.”

Meelara’s eyes widened and she clenched her fists.

“How?” she asked through gritted teeth.

“The Kin’Tai broke the peace,” Beren explained. “They’d somehow managed to smuggle in many powerful people and equipment. They caused a series of disruptions, killing a lot of people, which drew Matteo out. They ambushed and killed him. Vision is gone.”

“Fuck!” Meelara exclaimed and glanced at Selene.

“So,” Beren grumbled, narrowing his eyes. “What can you tell me about Lon Lon Town? What happened to Lon Thrast? The last thing we heard was that he was killed. We suspect that’s what kicked the entire thing off.”

Saying this, he kept shifting his eyes from Meelara to Selene.

“I thought,” Beren frowned and steepled his fingers. “You were only supposed to watch, and run some disruptions to improve things for the natives… So, what happened?”

“Well,” Meelara sighed, tapping a finger on the table. “Things happened. I didn’t kill him.”

“I did,” Selene said. Her heart was beating a rapid drum in her chest, but she forced her expression to remain calm. “He was a lecherous, tyrannical monster, and he deserved what he got, and more.”

They all looked at her. Meelara had a soft expression of sympathy, but the other four glared.

“So,” Beren spoke slowly. “You acted against one monster, and in so doing, you caused a lot of death. For the suffering of a small, insignificant little town, you caused to destruction of a beacon of hope and the death of a great man. What gives you the right?”

Selene’s eyes widened before her expression darkened. Her brows drew together, her teeth gritted, and her breath hissed between them. Meelara noticed and opened her mouth to speak.

“She’s a native of Lon Lon Town,” Meelara quickly explained. The other four drew back with wide eyes. “And she was… selected by Lon Thrast for a private audience. She acted in self-defence and desperation.”

Beren’s grey eyes bored into Selene, and she met him confidently.

“Show no weakness,” she thought, feeling a lump in her throat. “I did nothing wrong. I’m not responsible for the actions of others. It’s not my fault!”

“You killed Lon Thrast?” he asked in a low voice. “How?”

“A letter opener that I took off his desk,” Selene answered in a steady voice.

“He let you take something off his desk?” Beren raised an eyebrow and smirked.

“He was distracted,” Selene responded. A slight tremor entered her voice. She swallowed spittle.

“Ah,” Beren looked away and down. “I see… My apologies. Am I right in guessing that you unlocked the System as a result?”

Selene nodded, no longer trusting her voice to speak. Meelara nodded as well and met Beren’s eyes.

“Yes,” she explained in Selene’s stead. “I’ve been teaching her, and training. She’s strong, Beren, really strong. Well… I think she will be, at least. She’s pretty strong for a Stage 1. Slow Path with good skills.”

Beren nodded but didn’t ask.

“Right,” Selene closed her eyes and sighed. “It’s quite rude to ask about details of the Paths of others. Meelara explained the prudent parts, and he’ll have to figure out the rest on his own.”

Selene looked at her mentor and smiled.

“Alright,” Beren said as he nodded slightly. “In that case, I can’t blame you. You are entitled to defend yourself… Are you joining our cause?”

He asked Selene but looked at Meelara.

“That’s the idea,” Meelara explained in Selene’s stead. “We were heading for Vision to join up when I got the message.”

“I see,” Beren nodded. “Well, we need everyone we can get. We’ve lost a lot of people, and the fight has just begun. We’ll make some preparations here, in Ellard’s Cove, before we move on. We’re going to The Breach.”

“The Breach?” Meelara asked. “Why there? That’s a Kin’Tai stronghold, isn’t it?”

“Indeed,” Faren spoke up for the first time. Faren, Cheela and Percive hadn’t taken their eyes off Selene since Beren started speaking, inspecting her. “We’re going to take it, which is what we’re planning.”

“It’s a stronghold,” Meelara frowned. “How are we going to do that?”

“We’ve got a way,” Cheela said with a crooked smile. “But, that’s for later. The fewer people know, the better.”

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

She glared at Faren and Beren as she spoke.

“We need to make some preparations in any case,” Beren muttered. “I think it would be best if you kept helping Selene in the meantime. The stronger she is, the better. I hope she’s as strong as you seem to believe.”

Meelara nodded and patted Selene’s shoulder.

“Any scouts around?” Meelara asked.

“Yeah,” Percive nodded. His voice was soft and ethereal. “We’ve got several keeping an eye on the surroundings. We knew you were coming. Why?”

“Monsters,” Meelara smirked. “Any low Stage 2s nearby?”

“A few groups, a couple solos,” he said. “Two to five hours walk. I’ll get a map.”

Having said that, he stood up and left the room. For a moment, the din of conversation blasted through the small room before the door closed again, returning the silence.

“Anywhere I can get some clothes?” Selene asked quietly, looking at her feet.

“Cheela,” Beren said and looked at the woman sitting next to him. “Do you mind heading into our storage? Help her find something decent. I’m afraid we don’t have anything enchanted to spare, Selene.”

“That’s fine,” Selene nodded gratefully. “Just something that isn’t torn, and shredded is fine.”

She smiled at Cheela, as she stood up.

“Meelara,” Beren said as she stood up to follow Selene and Cheela. “Could you stay for a bit? I’d like a word.”

Meelara glanced between Selene and Beren, seemingly hesitant.

“I’ll survive,” Selene reassured her. “I’ll go with Cheela, and then I’ll wait in the centre square if you’re not finished.”

Meelara frowned but nodded and sat back down.

“Follow me,” Cheela said. “It’s not far.”

Selene followed silently and entered the noisy bar area. She felt the gazes of the bar patrons on her and clutched the cloak tighter around herself.

“Now that I have Cheela,” Selene thought. “I might not have to focus so hard. I should still show a strong facade, but I can at least cover myself up.”

They left the bar without pause and walked down the street. Outside a large building near the docks stood a man. He had blond hair, and looked strong, with muscles barely constrained within the simple clothes. He glanced at the approaching women and relaxed slightly.

“Cheela,” he smiled. “How are you? Did you come to visit me?”

“No,” Cheela responded coldly. “Here to get some clothes. Step aside.”

“Aw,” the man grinned crookedly. “Don’t be like that? When are we gonna get together?”

“Step aside,” Cheela said through gritted teeth. “I’m in no mood for you, Hara.”

“Haha,” the man, Hara laughed. “Alright, alright. Just messing with you.”

He stepped aside and seemed to notice Selene.

“New girl?” he asked, sizing her up. Selene felt a shiver run down her spine as he looked at her.

“Don’t even think about it,” Cheela smirked. “She’s a friend of Meelara. You remember what happened, right?”

“Right,” Hara paled, and stepped back, looking everywhere but at Selene. “In you go.”

They walked into the building, where Selene saw several shelves, and crates filled with common goods.

Cheela led her towards a shelf near the back and started picking out clothes. They were nothing special, but still better than the rags she’d worn in the past.

Cheela handed her a set of brown pants, a white shirt, underwear and shoes. She then stopped and inspected Selene before smiling.

She walked over to another shelf and took out a hat.

“Here,” she handed Selene a fedora. “Wear this.”

“Why?” Selene asked, frowning. “I’m not much of a hat person.”

“Because I say so,” Cheela smirked. “That’s why. Wear it, or leave without the clothes.”

Selene frowned but shook her head, and took the hat.

“Good girl,” Cheela smiled. “There’s a small room over there where you can change. I’ll wait by the exit. Don’t try to take anything else.”

Cheela walked away, and Selene entered the indicated room.

The clothes fit her well enough, and she released a deep breath as she finished dressing.

“Finally,” she thought as she placed the hat on her head. It required some adjustment before it sat properly. “It feels good to be decent again.”

There was a full-size mirror in the room, which she used to inspect herself.

She was thin, thinner than she remembered. Her skin was also far paler than before. She’d spent most of her life outside, which had resulted in a tanned look. Now, her skin was almost pristine white, like ivory. Her bright blue eyes had changed as well. Fog seemed to swirl in their depths, intermingling grey, and black. Her short blond hair had grown quite a bit and was sticking out from under the light grey fedora. The fedora had a purple band around it, while the rest of her clothes were plain white and brown.

She hung the sword on her belt and fastened the cloak over her shoulders. She took a final look in the mirror, before she opened the door, and walked to the exit.

Cheela leaned against the wall and smiled when she approached. She pushed off the wall.

“Not bad,” she muttered as she circled Selene. “Thanks for humouring me with the hat, by the way. It’s a feature of my Path. I can, sort of, see, or feel, certain things, and it tells me that the fedora fits you, or your Path. I don’t know how, or why. Sometimes the System will make up some things. Wearing the hat will, in one way or another, help you, even if it’s just creating an image.”

Selene nodded but didn’t say anything.

“Come,” Cheela motioned for Selene to follow. “Let’s get some food. Meelara’s a decent hunter, but a proper meal can’t be beaten.”

Selene’s stomach rumbled at that moment, and Cheela laughed as they left the building.

----------------------------------------

Meelara sat opposite Beren and waited for him to speak.

“What are you thinking?” he sighed. “We’re in no position to take in and rear new members.”

“I wasn’t aware of the situation when I met her,” Meelara argued, frowning. “And, even if I knew, I’d still help her. You haven’t seen her Beren. She’s got potential. She grasped Veiling in a manner of weeks after her ascension. She learns incredibly fast. She even discovered her Inner Space and learned to level up on her own, without any guidance from me. She defeated one of Lon Thrast’s guards, and an Unbear at level 1, and a decent swordsman at mid Stage 1 at level 2. She can help us.”

Meelara’s voice grew heated as she spoke, and she kept eye contact with Beren. Beren in turn, furrowed his brows, and tapped his fingers, before he sighed.

“Yeah,” he said finally. “That’s pretty good, but I don’t think we have enough resources to spare to educate her properly. Not at this time.”

“Then we make do,” Meelara retorted. “I’ll teach her what I know, and she can pick up things here and there from others. I’ll take her out to fight, and train. In time, we’ll hopefully stabilize our situation. Then we can focus on a deeper education.”

“Alright,” Beren grimaced slightly. “Fine. You’re responsible for her then.”

“That’s fine with me,” Meelara nodded and breathed a sigh of relief. “She’ll prove herself, you’ll see. She’ll be a great contributor to the cause. She has every intention of fighting the Kin’Tai at least.”

Beren nodded.

“Alright, alright. Now, let’s talk about the future.”

Meanwhile, Cheela had brought Selene to a small building that served as a café, or diner. They sat down and ordered some food.