Selene and Meelara followed Beren out, as he grabbed documents and books, and shoved them into a pack.

“We didn’t pay them much heed,” Beren muttered. “Disciples of Life tend to wander around, and they’re usually not a danger to most; in fact, they usually treat anyone well, even slaves. That changes if they suspect that a follower of Death is active. Now, the fact that they’ve been moving around in the periphery of our operations is more suspicious.”

Beren spoke as they walked out of the bar. They reached the square and Beren turned to Meelara.

“Could you head to the outskirts, and check on our people?” he asked her. “I’ll take Selene to the docks and prepare the ship.”

“Yes, sir,” Meelara nodded and took off.

“Come with me, Selene,” Beren said as he started walking toward the docks.

“Why are you doing this?” Selene asked as she followed. She kept her voice low to avoid being overheard and kept close to Beren. “Helping me, I mean. Wouldn’t it be better to hand me over, and not risk your people?”

“Hmph,” Beren grunted and glanced at her. “It’s a risk, yes, but I believe you might be the key to fulfilling our goals here. We all have our reasons to fight against the status quo. We’ve been fighting for years, and some have fought on several worlds. I’ve rarely felt as confident as now.”

“So, you’re risking everything because of what I might achieve in the future?” Selene frowned. “That’s a gamble.”

“It is,” Beren nodded. “But, we’re not going to achieve anything if we’re not willing to risk everything. Also, I think you’re misunderstanding something.”

“What’s that?” Selene asked, furrowing her brows.

“The Disciples of Life wouldn’t spare us if we handed you over to them,” Beren explained with a dark look. “They’d wipe us out for having been in contact with you.”

“Oh,” Selene said, looking down. “I see.”

The docks were abuzz with activity as people scrambled to move crates, and barrels to a large ship. Beren approached a few people and discussed something, while Selene stood back, looking around.

Beren was turning back when Selene noticed some movement in her peripheral vision. A flash of light, followed by a piercing pain in her side.

“Gah!” she screamed and clutched at the newly formed wound near her ribs. She started coughing, and a metallic taste filled her mouth.

She stumbled back and glanced toward her assailant, and saw a slight man in common clothes. He held a long, thin knife in his hand. It was dripping blood.

“Assassin!” thoughts flashed through Selene’s mind. “Attack him. Drain Life to heal the wound.”

She activated Frostshade Form and dashed toward the man, but he deftly rolled to the side, swiping his blade as he did.

The blade passed through her form, dealing no damage, and she quickly adjusted her movement and followed.

She swiped her hand, and made contact with the man’s arm, causing ice to form along his bicep. The arm fell limp as the man groaned.

Selene took the chance to close the distance further and reached forward just as Frostshade Form faded.

Her hand was outlined in a purple hue as it made contact, and she felt the vital energies from into her, focusing on the wound on her side.

The man screamed, and pushed away from her, cutting the contact, and tried to run away. He didn’t get far before Beren was upon him.

Beren moved with incredible speed and struck out several times. Selene couldn’t follow the movements, as they were too fast to perceive, and the assassin crumpled to the ground.

“Are you alright?” Beren asked, looking at Selene as he gestured to some people. They approached, picked up the assassin, and brought him into a building.

“Ahh,” Selene groaned. “I’ll live, I think. I healed a bit, but not fully.

She clutched her side, feeling the wound. It had scabbed over, but it was very sore.

“Not fully healed, as I guessed. I should be careful not to reopen it.”

“Get Darren!” Beren ordered another man, who quickly rushed off. “Take it easy, Selene. You’ll be fine. Just sit down, and rest.”

Selene moved slowly toward a bench and sat down. Five people followed, and took positions around her, providing protection. She leaned back, winced, and closed her eyes.

Around her people scrambled with newfound urgency, as Beren roared to get them to speed up.

A few minutes later Darren arrived, led by the man from before, and quickly handed Selene a bottle.

“Drink this,” Darren said. “Healing potion. A weak one, but it’ll fix you up.”

“Thank you,” Selene said before downing the bottle. A warmth filled her and streamed toward the wound, followed by an itch. It felt like her flesh was squirming around, and itching beneath the skin. It was all she could do to grit her teeth and bear it. After a few seconds of intense discomfort, the warmth and itch faded.

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Selene sighed in relief and looked down. Through the cut in her clothes, she saw unblemished skin. The wound had disappeared.

“I feel tired, though,” she thought as her eyes drooped. “A side-effect of the weak potion? It heals the wounds but does nothing for my vitality. It might even use my vitality to heal, leaving me low on energy.”

She stood, and stretched, feeling for any discomfort. She smiled as she didn’t notice any issues. Daren smiled and turned to walk to the ship, and Selene noticed that the activity in the area had finished. Most people were moving to the ship, while others ran into the town, presumably to fetch other things or people.

As Selene was about to move to the ship, she heard footsteps rapidly approaching. She turned back and saw Meelara rushing around the corner, followed by several others.

“We’ve got to go!” she shouted. She grabbed Selene in passing and pulled her along. “They’re too many. We’ve got to go!”

All around them, Selene saw people scrambling. She heard Beren shouting as everyone poured toward the ship. She saw people scrambling around on the deck, working ropes and such.

“No idea what they’re doing,” Selene thought. “Getting the ship ready to sail, I guess.”

She followed along as Meelara paved a path for them, and they soon found themselves on a lower deck. Selene felt the gentle sway of the ship and heard the thumping of footsteps. In a matter of minutes, she felt the ship move.

Shouts and roars sounded from the docks, followed by loud explosions and screams. Selene closed her eyes, and covered her ears, not daring to imagine what was going on.

Several tense minutes later, the sounds had faded, and Selene relaxed.

“We’ve made it,” she thought, breathing out in relief. “We’re away from the dock.”

“Will they follow us?” she asked Meelara. They entered a room or cabin with a bunk bed.

“Probably,” Meelara nodded and sighed. “But, not immediately. Beren would have sabotaged the other ships, so they’ve got to fix them or find another one. We’ll have a decent head start.”

“Right,” Selene nodded and lay down. “I need some rest.”

“What happened?” Meelara noticed something wrong.

“Assassin on the docks,” Selene mumbled and Meelara gasped. “I’m fine, but the healing potion left me exhausted.”

“Oh… I’m sorry. I should’ve been there.”

“It’s fine,” Selene yawned and fell asleep.

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Sitting around a table on the swaying ship, Meelara looked at Beren.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“For now, we’ll be moving around. No specific target in mind,” Beren said. He then looked at Cheela and Faren. “Any signs of Percive?”

“No,” they shook their heads. “He hasn’t left any notes, or communicated with us.”

“We have to assume the worst,” Beren frowned. “We’ll act on the assumption that he’s been captured, so we won’t use any of our previously agreed upon hide-outs. Once we reach a port or drop anchor, send a few people out to gather clues. We’ll agree upon a location to meet on an individual basis.”

“As you wish,” Cheela and Faren nodded and left.

“What about Selene?” Beren turned to Meelara. “How is she?”

“Tired,” Meelara sighed and clasped her hands together. “She fell asleep immediately after we got to the cabin.”

“Darren’s potions are potent soporifics,” he smirked. “How about her state before?”

“Tense. She was freaking out at the sounds during our escape,” Meelara muttered, frowning.

“I see,” Beren nodded and sighed. “Let her rest, talk to her and help her calm down.”

“I will,” Meelara smiled, nodding.

“She reacted well,” Beren spoke after a short silence. “After the attack, she immediately went on the offensive. You’ve taught her well.”

“Hah,” Meelara smirked. “She’s a good student… I half expect her to pass me by in no time.”

“She might,” Beren mumbled. “If I’m right, she might very well leave us all in the dust.”

“What do you mean?” Meelara frowned. “How so?”

“Old legends,” Beren explained as he sat back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest. “Individuals nurtured by the System, or the Heavens, or whatever. They power through the Stages and reach incredible heights. According to the whispers, the Gods were such individuals.”

“So, you’re saying she’s being groomed into divinity by the System?” Meelara asked.

“I don’t know, but I’m saying it’s a possibility,” Beren sighed, shaking his head.

“You know…,” the red-haired woman hesitated. “I’ve suspected something like that as well. She’s strong. Her skills are closer to those of a Stage 3 than a Stage 2. I even joked about it with Selene before we reached Ellard’s Cove.”

“Any reaction from her?” Beren inquired.

“Ehh,” Meelara frowned. “She looked excited, hopeful. She wanted to reach for those heights so she could change things. Make things better.”

“Let’s hope she keeps that attitude,” Beren muttered quietly.

“Yeah,” Meelara nodded.

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Ellard’s Cove.

A tall man stood silently on the docks, looking out at sea as if he could still see the ship that had escaped several hours before. Next to him, and slightly behind stood another man with his head bowed.

“The other ships have been sabotaged,” the other man said. “They won’t be seaworthy for a while.”

“I see,” the tall man said with a deep voice. “Make preparations for our departure. Send scouts along the coastline. At the earliest opportunity, send people to the islands. Find them!”

“Your wish is my command, blessed!” the other man bowed, and rushed off.

The tall man turned and entered a nearby building. Inside he saw several people bound to chairs. They were all bloody, having been beaten repeatedly over the last few hours.

“Still clinging to your stubborn, misplaced loyalty?” he said in a calm voice, as he picked up a baton. “You’ll break eventually. Make it easier for yourself, and talk. You’ll pass without pain, I promise.”

“Fuck off!” one of the men growled and spat.

“Very well,” the tall man raised the baton and swung down. A sharp crack resounded in the room, followed by a pained shout. “The hard way it is.”

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Selene stood in a desolate field, surrounded by corpses. The corpses weren’t’ lying on the ground, but standing up, bowing their heads toward her. They had grotesque wounds, with open torsos and hanging entrails.

Selene felt calm, and confident as she inspected her army.

As one, the army raised their heads, locked eyes with Selene, and spoke:

“Hail, Ruler of the Underworld, Hella!”

Behind Selene, a pair of large gates opened without a sound, and the army dashed forward, and through.