Brand slept poorly. He had had a restless night, continuously waking up and falling back asleep to the same monotonous dream of walking deeper and deeper under the ground, down queerly shaped mineshafts and erratic, jerking pathways.
Still, it was nothing a good breakfast and revenge against a Databeast couldn’t fix, he figured.
Rosie seemed similarly groggy when she joined him. Tommen however was in a great mood. He had actually gotten less sleep than the other two, but had been up much of the night talking to the mysterious other adventurer than was staying at Silverstar Inn.
Tommen was gushing about all of her adventures. She had been regaling him with all the things she’d done, and he had been loving it, although it had made him eager to join Brand today.
His arm was still a little injured though, and Brand had told Tommen what had happened yesterday, so Tommen was willing to sit out the day so Brand and Rosie could give the mind-manipulating Databeast it’s comeuppance.
The blond-haired boy seemed to be enjoying the ins and the outs of the inn work. Brand was sure he’d be bored witless if he had to do it for any longer than his Marius-mandated rest time, but for now Tommen seemed to be making the most out of the situation he’d found himself, mostly by talking to the regulars. By all accounts, they seemed to have fascinating stories to tell, which he was now recounting to Brand.
“Mr. Oddberg was telling me about his time as a pilot in Shingle City. He would carry batteries into the great auroras in the sky and the electromagnetic storms would recharge them. It was apparently quite a lucrative business for a while, as he had partnered with an adventurer with a particularly powerful Databeast, a Phantplasmagora and a medium-grade lightning element stone.
So the adventurer would bring out his Phantplasmagora alongside them to defend them from the various Databeasts that plagued the wandering electromagnetic storms in the sky. Mr. Oddberg was saying the adventurer did it for free! He just wanted to fight the Databeasts up there and struggled to find a pilot willing to go up there regularly. So it was a win-win for both of them. The adventurer eventually moved on and Mr. Oddberg never got a deal that good again. I wonder where he went.”
Brand, despite his tiredness, was amazed at the story. He never would have guessed a small place like Quartz Creek would attract so many interesting characters. Rosie had evidently heard the story before and continued to pick at her food with an uninterested look on her face.
“A Phantplasmagora? Isn’t that an evolution of the Thunderkiwi?” Said Brand.
“Yeah, I think it can be. Rare though.” Tommen said. “Speaking of, Ravena was telling me-”
“Ravena?” Brand’s ears pricked up. “Who’s Ravena?”
“The other adventurer staying here. Didn’t I mention that? She’s a great huntress. We could really learn a couple things from her.” Tommen said, clearly very taken with the young woman.
“What have you learnt so far then?” Brand's tone made it clear he wasn’t as impressed.
“How to hunt the Databeasts of the Rusted Desert.” Tommen said, clearly unperturbed by Brand’s doubting. “Bet she would have picked up immediately that you were getting brainwashed if she was with you yesterday.”
Rosie shot him a glaring look. “Not so loud!” Tommen rolled his eyes. He had said it quite quietly, thought Brand, so he assumed Rosie just didn’t want him to mention it at all.
“Where’s the mighty Ravena going today then?” Brand asked, genuinely interested despite his sarcasm.
“She’s already gone actually. Gets up with the dawn. There’s a forest south of here, past the busted town your friends were investigating. She says there’s some old relics here, and reckons that this area was one of the first places settled by humans when we first came here. She’s looking for Databeast eggs and wants one from a forest, so it works out.” Tommen explained.
“Guess you’ll be following after her once you’ve finished washing the pots huh?” Rosie teased.
“He can probably track her by scent the way he’s been sniffing her behind.” Brand piled in.
Tommen’s face darkened and he looked genuinely annoyed. “While you two have been playing silly buggers in the mine I’ve been getting valuable advice from more experienced adventurers. I’m injured and still making more progress than you two layabouts. And actually, she did say I could go with her when my arm’s healed. I was going to ask you two to come with, but I guess I won’t.”
“You’re right, my bad.” Said Brand. “It was a bit far. Had a bad sleep, been feeling grumpy.”
“I'm not a layabout. I’m level 4 now.” Rosie muttered, a little sourly.
“You are?” Tommen was impressed.
“We must have completely forgotten to tell you with everything else going on!” Brand exclaimed. “I can’t believe that slipped my mind. The hunt was going great until right at the end.”
“Well done! Maybe you can come with me and Ravena after all.” Tommen laughed.
“Well by the time you’re off hunting with your mysterious adventurer I’ll be back in the kitchen washing pans, if it hadn’t slipped your mind.” Rosie said miserably.
“Oh yeah…” Said Tommen. Brand thought there was something weird about the way he said it. Perhaps he really felt bad for reminding her of what she couldn’t have?
“Maybe it’s for the best. Maybe I’m not cut out for this life. Can’t even clear the first level of Silverstar Mine.” Rosie grumbled.
“Hey!” Brand was almost offended. “We’re clearing out that mine and we’re cut out for this life.”
She smiled apologetically at Brand. “Sorry. I forgot you couldn’t clear it either.”
“Ouch.” Tommen muttered.
Brand rolled his eyes. “A small setback means nothing. Lesser adventurers - like Tommen - would have died there.”
“Alright, that’s it. Anymore trash talking and I’ll have to go vent on some Databeasts with you.” Said Tommen, and he took his and Brand’s finished plates and walked into the kitchen.
“Well. Now that the dead weight is gone, let's get moving.” Brand said. Rosie looked at him, surprised. “Sorry. Trying to be funny. Came out harsher than I expected. Really though, get that down you and we’ll get on it.” Rosie nodded the affirmative and started wolfing her meal down.
__________
Brand and Rosie entered Silverstar Mine once more, but this time with grim expressions. Brand felt trepidation in his heart. He was worried about his mind being manipulated once more.
It was an uncomfortable feeling, having your mind penetrated like that. Brand felt himself second guessing every emotion he had, even the positive ones. He didn’t know how to protect his mind, he didn’t know how to even get started.
Also, he wasn’t sure if he was as safe as he thought. What if the Databeast was more prepared now? What if it hadn’t used its full power yesterday, and he and Rosie would turn on each other immediately? Could it blind and confuse his mind to such an extent that he’d think he was attacking the Databeast, but was actually attacking Rosie? It shouldn't be able to, but his mind wandered... was that an effect of the Databeast? It was so easy to go in circles once he knew his mind was vulnerable.
He knew they were going into a dangerous situation. Rosie knew that also, they had talked about it on the way through Quartz Creek to the mine. But they had both agreed that they couldn’t back off.
They had both been violated and almost turned on each other. They would team up to turn on the one trying to manipulate them. This was more than just retribution - this was right.
In unison Brand and Rosie turned their torch headlights on and Brand closed the door to the mine behind them, locking it. They were in now. There was no way to go but down. Brand led the way, wielding his buckler and ready to grab his sword or the pickaxe, depending on the enemies they were about to face.
Rosie held a proper torch that illuminated through most of the darkness. She was using it to scan the walls and areas past Brand. If there was anything lurking then they would see it.
They retraced their steps from yesterday, making their way down to the large cavern where they suspected they’d find the mind-manipulating Databeast. They were thorough once more, with Brand heading down the branching mineshaft paths whilst Rosie stayed in the main tunnel with the blinding light. She would yell if she encountered trouble and Brand would head back. Brand would also yell if he encountered trouble, but Rosie was to stay there in the main tunnel and make sure nothing went up it and past her, while Brand would try and deal with the danger on his own, which he should be more than capable of.
If he thought he was going to die he would call for her assistance, but not before. They didn’t want to let, what they suspected was an intelligent opponent, give them the run-around. Not that they expected to find anything down there, as they had cleared it yesterday.
Despite their expectations, Brand found a Flintimp down the same mineshaft where they’d battled two Pebblegobs. He took it apart with a ruthless determination. When it tried to pierce him with its sharp lance-like arms the batted them away and swung his pick like a hammer in a devastating follow-up. When it tried to blind him with sparks he merely took a short step back and rightly predicted its next attack. When he feinted hard with the pickaxe it drew its arms up like an X to defend its face and he turned the attack from a casual swing into a brutal spinning one, as he used the moment of pause he got to build up his momentum.
The huge attack returned the Databeast into the aether in but a moment. Brand took a second as he absorbed the EXP, BITs and element alone for the first time. He got a bit more than he would normally, when partnered with another person.
It was his first time defeating a Databeast alone - and a fairly strong one at that.
He hadn’t really thought about it before he went into the battle. Somehow it felt like a milestone even though he felt far beyond the level where defeating his first Databeast on his own should be a big deal.
And then he was back on the move, briefly relaying to Rosie what had happened. She asked a couple of questions but didn’t press him too much. They were locked in, committed to the mission.
Before they knew it they were in the vast cavern that split three ways. As with yesterday Rosie and Brand could spot no Databeasts. Brand thought about how suspicious this was now. Rosie and Brand had come prepared. Because they were sure there was a Databeast in here, and it was a dangerous one.
From his travel pack Brand pulled a pack of four flares. He ripped two out of the four and passed them to Rosie. They both lit one each and threw them to the side, before placing some tinted glasses over their faces. Even in the darkness of the pit they were in, the white hot lights of the flares could blind the two would-be adventurers, and they needed their wits about them.
With sudden flashes the cavern exploded into sight. The gnarled rock faces hid crevices and ledges, and Brand could see the whole of the subterranean hall. There were still wooden structures that supported the place from when it had been a mine, but aside from that it looked much like any other hole in the ground. Brand looked carefully from side to side.
Something flickered in the darkness. Brand was ready.
A lit flare went soaring towards the movement Brand had seen out of the corner of his eye. The Databeast was quick, but not quick enough.
Brand and Rosie got a full-frontal view of the Databeast that had been hiding from them. Brand had heard of it, but only in rumours amongst miners. An Anugent.
It was human-sized but extremely skinny. Bones of silver gleamed out at them from under loosely wrapped cloth bandages. The face was metal also, but had a distinctly canine affectation. Red eyes gleamed out from under the hooded eyes. The Databeast was frozen as it watched them, seemingly expectantly.
It was slightly different to the general Juvenile stage of the Anugent, however. The wrapped bandages were not part of its usual appearance, and Brand surmised that the Databeast was in the Emergent stage, somewhere between the Juvenile and Vanquisher stages. The bandages were likely representative of the Vanquisher stage evolution it was turning into.
This Databeast was certainly powerful.
Brand hadn’t known what to expect, but he sprinted forward. He could feel himself growing frustrated that Rosie wasn’t beside him. He imagined Rosie was feeling the same frustration at him for sprinting after the mummified Databeast with the shiny metal skeleton. The Anugent was working its mind-manipulating Techs on them, even now wanting them to turn on each other.
He wouldn’t fall for it. He had to trust Rosie would feel the same, else he was done for.
Brand was at the bipedal canine in no time, his pickaxe swinging through the dank air towards the Databeast. It ducked down in a flash, narrowly avoiding the tool-turned-weapon that sought to decapitate it. It swung its arm out, punching towards Brand. Brand's shield stopped it dead with a thud.
Brand had really hunkered down and put some weight behind the block, but he was surprised at how well he stopped the blow. The Anugent’s strength stat must have been low. Brand suspected it’s natural abilities skewed towards the non-physical, such as its mind manipulating Techs.
Its eyes flashed red and it nimbly leapt backwards. Brand pressed the attack but stopped in his tracks as Rosie screamed out “Brand! Look out!”.
He gritted his teeth, angry that she hadn’t given any more useful information as he assessed his surroundings. He knew it was just the Databeast messing with him, but that didn’t make the irrational feelings any less real or strong. He realised just in time that a Pebblegob was hurtling towards him. He leapt over it, looking back at Rosie. She was currently fighting hard against a Flintimp.
Brand trusted her to take the thing out. Solo fighting was her style, and he had to deal with the Pebblegob and ensure the Anugent couldn’t escape.
He faced down the two now. The Pebblegob stood in between Brand and the silver Databeast, as if defending the Anugent like a guard dog. Brand was surprised until he saw the Pebblegob’s eyes glowing the same red as the Anugent’s, which was eyeing him coolly.
It looked like Brand and Rosie’s minds weren’t the only ones it was capable of manipulating.
Brand worried that another Databeast would be sent after Rosie and he’d have to rush to back her up, now that he knew the Anugent facing them was capable of sending one. But he surmised that because it hadn’t, it either couldn’t or was fearing for its own safety.
Brand could take advantage of that.
He rushed towards the Anugent. The Pebblegob rushed to stop him. Brand turned, rushing the Pebblegob and swinging his pickaxe in a rapid flurry of blows. Brand didn’t relent until it had returned to the aether.
A metal fist hit him in the spine, sending him tumbling a few steps forward. Pain flooded his back as something important twinged wrongly.
Brand growled in pain. He swung the pick as he turned, hitting nothing but air. His world spun a second later and pain blossomed in the bottom of his jaw as an uppercut from the Anugent sent him even further back. The shades went flying off Brand’s head and he squinted, holding up his shield and pickaxe in a defensive posture.
He blocked a further strike by the Anugent, but the flashing of its red eyes signalled another attack.
Damn, why was Rosie not helping him? Was she so useless that she couldn’t even take on a single Databeast? No, he shook the thoughts from his head. He wouldn’t be turned against her.
But the momentary lapse in concentration was all his opponent needed. A large shape came soaring out of the darkness from the roof of the cavern towards Brand.
An unbelievable high pitched screeching rang out, amplified by the enclosed space of the mine. Brand felt his ears go numb and his eyes shake as the sonic attack struck him and he could barely concentrate enough to fend off the new Databeast that had beset upon him with leathery wings and lashing claws.
He defended his vulnerable parts well, but it wasn’t those that the Databeast - that Brand identified as a Chiroptenor - was after. After a brief flurry of combat with the aerial beast it suddenly pulled back, its strong claws grasping onto his pickaxe as it did so.
Brand was unprepared for such a strategy from the usually unthinking Juvenile Databeasts and the pick flew out of his hands. He growled his frustration and drew his short sword, leaping after the batlike Databeast.
A sharp, short slash cut through half of its leathery wing and it began to tumble to the ground near Rosie, who Brand now noticed was beset by two Flintimps and was being pushed back into a corner.
He wanted to go and help her despite his growing annoyance, but he knew what was coming next and he spun around low, swinging his buckler like a weapon. There was an almighty clang as the Anugent was knocked sideways, its lithe form putting up little resistance to the hefty shield striking into the side of its head.
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Brand was satisfied with the hit and tried to follow up with the pommel of his shortsword, but the long limbed Databeast backed up once more, making itself scarce. In the bright lights of the flares Brand couldn’t see all that much, so instead of chasing the Anugent Brand whirled around once more and finished off the Chiroptenor. The bat Databeast let out a piercing sonic scream as Brand dashed in but a few well placed slashes and stabs put an end to the thing.
He spied the Anugent fleeing down one of the previously unused tunnels. He was very tempted to chase, but decided Rosie was his number one priority. Especially when he saw a Pebblegob making its way towards her. She was cornered now, almost completely occupied with defending against the Flintimps. Brand looked around for his pickaxe, but in the blinding lights he couldn’t see it.
Deciding that fighting now done poorly would be superior to fighting with better equipment done later he ran towards the Flintimps with his shortsword drawn. He sheathed his sword and locked it in before raising the sheath like a weapon, using the pommel as a substitute mace.
That mace stopped the Pebblegob in its tracks when Brand swung it like a bat. It hit true and the reverberations shook through Brand's hands and he almost dropped the sword. It took some real strength to keep his grip steady.
The Pebblegob turned to bite him with its massive maw, but dodged it before swinging his buckler into the head of one of the Flintimps. It turned, flinging sparks at him as it did so. A bladed arm went to pierce his stomach but he batted it aside with his sword and struck the Flintimp in the head with the pommel. Another arm came for his throat but he backed off, tripping over some rocks as he did so.
Rosie had managed to finish off her Flintimp now that she was fighting alone and she wielded her pickaxe like a master as she brought it into the side of Brand’s Flintimp. It was an almighty sound, but Brand barely heard it.
The only thing in his world was pain. He felt as if his leg was being ground to dust. The Pebblegob was biting down on his leg with its crushing maw. He writhed in agony, trying to remove his calf from the Databeast’s vice-like mouth. He brought the pommel of his sword down again and again on the rock Databeast as he panicked to remove it. He tried to force his buckler between the round grinding stones that made up the Pebblgob’s teeth and his leg but it made no difference to the immense crushing pressure.
“Stop moving!” Rosie screamed.
Brand realised what was going on and grasped his knee with both hands, forcing his leg to be still. It kept him from rolling and wriggling in a pathetic attempt to dislodge the Databeast that was slowly pulverising his leg, at least for long enough that Rosie could bring her pickaxe down like a sledgehammer in a violent overhead swing.
It embedded itself deeply in the Pebblegob for a second before the Databeast turned back into its component parts and dissipated into the aether. Brand heard the pickaxe crash into the hard stone ground a second later.
The relief was immediate but his leg still felt as if it was under the torturous grip of the Pebblegob’s stone mouth. It had been badly hurt, but he didn’t think it was broken.
“Can you move?” Rosie asked. She held a hand down which he grasped and she pulled him to his feet. Brand didn’t feel the reflexive annoyance at her, which he assumed was because the Anugent was no longer targeting them. It had fled, but he’d seen down which passage it went. They could get it.
He rested on his sheath for a little, gingerly testing out putting weight on his leg. Nothing snapped.
“I can move.” He told her. She nodded. He started to walk, using his sheath as a crutch. It was a steady limp. Rosie quickly walked ahead, pickaxe at the ready. He merely followed, squinting. Their head torches illuminated a lot, but Rosie still had a flare to use.
The Anugent couldn’t escape them now, not when they were so close to defeating it.
Brand pointed Rosie in the right direction and they stalked down the mineshaft with grim expressions on their faces. They had come with a mission and they would complete it no matter the cost.
There were no more Databeasts down the mineshaft they travelled. It was a slow and cautious walk, but the Anugent must have summoned them all to come up and assist it.
They found the Databeast waiting for them at the bottom. Its back was to the metal door that sealed off the lower levels of the mine from the top level. The two looked at it, blocking off the mineshaft. Rosie lit the last flare and threw it close to the Anugent. Its red eyes flared. Brand could feel the urge to attack Rosie from behind growing within him.
He almost laughed. As if he’d break now, so close to his quarry. The Anugent was physically weak. Mind techniques were all it had. And Brand wouldn’t be fooled twice.
He suspected something was up so he kept vigilant whilst they approached the lone Databeast. Those instincts proved to be right. Some of the stone in the cavern looked wrong, as if mixed up. He kept an eye out, and kept close to Rosie. The cavern shook slightly and the Anugent looked ready to move. Brand grabbed Rosie by the shoulders and pulled her back.
An enormous mole the size of a small pony burst from the ground before them, blind eyes glowing red and showing the Anugent’s control over it. Rock and dirt flew over Rosie and Brand and the flare they had thrown was launched around the cavern. The mole barrelled directly into Brand. He was unsteady after pushing Rosie to safety and the mole had hit him like an unleashed cart and knocked him to the ground, its hefty body weighing heavy on his injured leg.
Its claws ripped at his clothes as it twisted its body towards him, but to Rosie’s credit she had already started swinging her pickaxe at it, as she didn’t have time to draw the long axe from her back. Brand shoved his shield into the mole Databeast’s face, using it to pull his good leg out.
He used that to push free of the beast. He didn’t recognise the type. His bad leg slipped free of the Databeast’s heft and he rolled to the side just in time to see a flash of movement in the shadows.
By now he recognised exactly what that was. The Anugent was trying to escape in all of the confusion. He wouldn’t have that. Rosie was fighting off the mole, giving him a second to make a decision. He stood shakily and leapt, seeking to tackle the waist of the Anugent as it fled.
Something locked down his ankle as he was halfway there. He couldn’t get exactly where he wanted but he reached out with everything he had, grasping the ankle of the Anugent as he had been grabbed. He hit the ground hard with his chest, but didn’t let go. His shin hurt and he looked back, trying to shake free.
The mole must have used some sort of Tech. The earth had formed in a hard shell around his foot and he couldn’t move it.
No matter. If he couldn’t crawl his way after the Anugent, he would just have to bring it to him.
The Anugents feet were strange and elongated, both oddly canine and human. Those legs were now bucking and trying to kick at him. Brand squeezed his hands tightly on the Databeast’s ankles with everything he had, trying to pull them down towards him.
The Anugent scrambled but was unable to stop him. Knees struck Brand’s face as he dragged them beneath his chest, much as the mole Databeast had done to him.
He moved his hands up now, grabbing the Anugent’s hips and dragging down once more. Fists rained like hammers down on Brand’s face but he kept himself tight to the silver body. The cloth bandages protected him from the rough metal digging into him, though it still hurt. He kept dragging the Anugent down beneath him until he was chest to chest with it.
It was wildly flinging its arms against him. He shoved them to the side with his superior strength and brought his buckler down on its head. It sounded like a cannon had gone off, the way the clanging bounded around the tight cavern walls.
The Anugent kept trying to fight him but he held the arms down with his sword arm, locking them into his armpits. He smashed again with his buckler. The Anugent struggled but could do nothing to stop him. Brand struck the pinned Databeast again and again and again and again. Its eyes flashed red and the mole was on Brand’s back now, tearing through his clothes. He continued to hit the Anugent. He felt the cool wood of Rosie’s long axe against his back as she used it to shove the hefty mole Databeast off him. He continued to hold and hit the Anugent.
He could feel something working on his mind but it couldn’t get through. He felt numb, almost distant from what was going on. Detached. He knew his hands hurt. Brand hit the Anugent. He knew his legs hurt. Brand hit the Anugent. He knew his back hurt Brand hit the Anugent. Brand knew he was exhausted as he hit the Anugent. But it didn’t mean anything to him at that moment. All that mattered was hitting the Databeast until it became aether. And he did. Again and again, until he was hitting nothing at all.
Just like it had never existed, the Anugent was gone, transformed into EXP and element and BITs. A lot of it, if Brand’s visual overlay was anything to go by.
A high pitched squeal rang out behind him as the Anugent dissipated. Even in his detached state Brand could tell the mole Databeast was enraged. It bowled at him once more, knocking Rose to the side and tearing through the ground to reach Brand, knocking his leg free. It burst up from the cave floor at him once more, knocking him onto his back as he tried to flee.
The claws were swinging for his face now, and he weakly held his sword and buckler up in some pathetic facade of a defence. His arms were terribly weak now, and the pressure forced them down and away.
The mole Databeast managed to get off some quick scratches across his face before Rosie embedded her axe in its back for the last time and it faded into the aether just like the Anugent had.
Rosie and Brand stayed there panting for what seemed like an age, her standing and him lying where he’d fallen. Blood dripped slowly down his face. The wounds were shallow; the mole couldn’t get any decent force behind its blows after having to push through Brand’s defence, weak as it was.
Rosie handed him the potion. He almost gulped it down before realising that she was covered in small burns. There were marks all over her body and her clothes were torn in places. Brand realised it must be from the Flintimps. He handed the potion back to her.
“You drink it.” Brand told her.
She actually laughed at him before speaking. “Your leg is all sorts of messed up and you’re bleeding all over the place.”
“It’s not broken. You’re bleeding yourself, and covered in burns.” He said. He wanted to drink it himself, truth be told, but he felt Rosie was a higher priority right now. “If your mum sees you like that she’s never going to let you leave her sight again. Those Flintimps did a number on you. I can see how much BITs I’ve got. Plenty enough for a potion.” He spoke between shallow, staccato breaths.
“You’re out of your mind.” Rosie told him flatly.
“A little. I do feel somewhat detached from my pain. I also think I’m thinking quite rationally because of that. I can push through this long enough to get back. But I’m the adventurer here, right? I’m supposed to look like this. And you’re supposed to come back without a scratch. And you’re probably going to buy another potion when we get to the Item Emporium anyway, right? If you drink the potion we keep your mum and Marius happy right now and we both end up drinking potions before the day is out. If not, we get your mum angry and we both end up drinking potions before the day is out. In the end, one scenario is better.” Brand pushed himself up into a standing position with the help of his sword sheath. Rosie immediately helped him.
“You really are talking crazy. How my mum feels should have nothing to do with it. You need healing now. If that isn’t going to be done willingly then I’m going to pour this potion on you.” Said Rosie.
“I’m serious.” Brand replied. “I’m walking back to the Item Emporium and buying a potion. I’m not having that one. You try to give it to me and we really will fight. If you don’t drink it it’ll just go to waste.”
“I’d rather tip it out than drink it while you’re walking around like that.” Rosie said, annoyed.
“I’d rather you didn’t. Then I’d feel obligated to buy you a new one when we get to Marius. We got a lot of BITs, but not enough to want to waste them like that.” Said Brand as he started to shuffle up the mineshaft. His leg hurt, but he couldn’t really register how much.
“Stop being obstinate!” Rosie half-yelled.
“It’s your potion!” He half-yelled back. “Stop making such a scene and drink it.”
“You know I’m starting to want to. But I won’t, without you.” Rosie replied. Brand sighed. Rosie continued. “How about we both drink half? And then we drink another half each when you get one from the Item Emporium.”
“If we’re doing that we may as well just stick to my original plan.” Brand said tiredly.
“Well it’s either that or I’m tipping it out. You first.” Rosie smiled sweetly.
Brand sighed before drinking half the potion and handing her the other half, which she downed.
________________
Brand and Rosie left Silverstar Mine looking and feeling much better. There was a certain lightness in Brand’s step despite the limp on his bad leg, and Rosie’s burns didn’t look so bad at all now. Both of their open wounds had stopped bleeding. When it came to healing short term damage, there was really nothing better than a potion. Rosie had helped Brand walk the whole way to the Item Emporium despite that.
Marius had been closing up shop and getting ready to go into the mine after them, so he was relieved when he saw that Rosie and Brand were back. He didn’t seem too put off by their injuries, and congratulated them when they recounted which Databeasts they fought, leaving out the fact that the Anugent was in the Emergent stage and so several levels higher than either of them.
Marius was well impressed, and was pleased to sell Brand the potion, which he and Rosie split once again, with her drinking first this time.
“I feel better already.” Brand told the other two. Chance, the small Databeast that belonged to Marius, bounced happily in response.
“Me too. Some of these were starting to sting. Now they just itch a little.” Said Rosie.
“Ahh, now that’s the sign of a job well done! Ahh I do miss a good hunt.” Said Marius, pensively. No doubt remembering the glory days, thought Brand. “Speaking of a job well done, do you have the silverstars?”
Rosie and Brand looked at each other in shock. They’d completely forgotten their reason for being down there.
“Honestly, no. I don’t remember seeing a single one.” Said Brand, a little surprised at himself.
“Me neither.” Said Rosie. “I forgot that’s why we were down there.”
“Not a one? They should have been all over the place!” Marius exclaimed. “You two must have been really distracted to miss that.”
“We were a little… But surely not so distracted as to completely miss it.” Brand wondered aloud.
Rosie groaned. “Don’t tell me we’re gonna have to go down there again!”
“Well Tommen ought to be healed by then, so I guess it’ll be me and him.” Said Brand.
“That’s even worse! I’d rather be down in that hole in the ground than be stuck hanging around the inn all day. Unless… you’re the injured one now! Maybe you can be at the inn while Tommen and I go get some silverstars.” Rosie declared.
“Not happening.” Brand chuckled. “The potion is already working. I’m going to be right as rain tomorrow and I don’t mind which one of you is with me, but I’m not sitting out.”
“Not fair. Marius, tell him that he needs to rest for a bit!” Rosie joked.
“Ahah well maybe we should go see your mother first before you argue about whether you’re adventuring or not.” Marius laughed at the two bickering. “If there’s nothing else you need then I’ll finish closing up and come with you.” Brand and Rosie nodded their affirmatives and waited for him, despite them only going next door to the Silverstar Inn together. Marius joined and Chance bounced behind him excitedly.
Brand felt that there was something going on, but given that it wasn’t his place to speculate he simply left it.
When they got to the Silverstar Inn it was just before the dinner rush of a couple or more locals. Marius called out as they walked in “guess who just cleared the first level of Silverstar Mine!” in a booming voice.
Lily fell on Rosie immediately, looking her over and cooing with worry about the state of her daughter.
Rosie rolled her eyes a little and said she’d be fine, and that with the potion she’d drank her mother wouldn’t even be able to tell tomorrow. Lily looked at her with stern eyes, judging whether the girl was telling the truth or not, and was really fine. She seemed to judge that she was. Tommen was there too, leaning against the bar. He looked at Brand with knowing eyes, as if he had some secret. Just what was going on?
“I’m proud of you Rosie.” Lily said, “I really am. I never wanted you to become an adventurer, even before what happened to your father. But I can see now that you’re built for it. Marius helped me see that.” She smiled at the man. “I think you need to go on an excursion Rosie. I can’t hold you back anymore.”
“Are you serious mum?” Rosie looked at her mother, who nodded, then at Marius, then at Tommen, then back to her mother. “I didn’t think I’d ever hear that. I don’t even know what to say. Who will help with the inn?”
“Marius will. He made me an offer that if you could clear the mine, he’d merge the shop with the inn. He can help out here, and we can sell his items in the inn. I won’t have to do it all myself. Of course you have to come back though, and send me messages whenever you get the chance.”
“I really don’t believe this!” Rosie yelled as she hugged her mum. There were tears behind Lily’s eyes but Brand could see a sort of acceptance in there too. He had seen the same look in his own mother’s face not too long ago. Rosie hugged Marius after she finally finished hugging Lily. “Thank you for believing in me.” She told him.
“I’m the one that taught you! I know how good you are.” He laughed.
Brand looked at Tommen, who was observing all this with an expectant smile. The gangly blond haired boy hadn’t been shocked at all. “You knew?” Brand asked him.
“Heard about it, yeah. You wouldn’t believe how pleased I am that you guys made it.” Tommen smirked.
“Oh yeah?” Brand asked.
“Oh yeah. Rosie helped save my arse against those Thunderkiwis. What are we gonna do without her if we get jumped by a couple of Databeasts and she’s not there?” Said Tommen. Brand laughed.
“You mean you want me to come with you!?” Exclaimed Rosie.
“If Brand is okay with it.” Said Tommen.
Rosie looked at Brand with wide eyes. Brand was amazed she’d even question it. “Can’t argue with Tommen’s logic. You just saved my arse too, remember? I’d have to be pretty mad to turn that offer down.”
Rosie beamed at that before joking “true, you guys would be in real danger without me.” Then she turned to her mother. “Are you sure, mum?”
“Not at all my love. But I trust you, and know I’d be hurting by keeping you here.” Lily looked at the two boys with her, now familiar to Brand, stern impression. “Make sure to take care of my daughter, you hear? Or I’ll be sending Marius after you.”
Chance made a gurgling, chirping sound at that. Brand assumed it was in support of the statement. It was hard to process that threat given that Brand had no idea how strong Chance was, or how strong Marius was for that matter. But he had at least one Databeast, so was likely strong enough to take on both Tommen and Brand with no issue.
Patrons began bustling in, so the group split up. Tommen and Lily went to work the inn, whilst Rosie and Brand took what felt like a much deserved rest. Marius joined them, and they regaled him with their tale of what they’d done down the mine in greater detail. The man was well impressed, but kept letting Rosie know he expected nothing less.
Brand thought Rosie was lucky to have such support. It looked like he would be sticking around with Tommen and Rosie for at least a little bit longer. He had been hurt and injured but was already on the mend. The excursion was already a roaring success by his estimation.
______________
One Day Prior
Harlow hated his limping leg. He hated his training that Captain Rizzo had started instructing him on. He hated Brand and Tommen. He hated that he’d left Shingle City, with all its bright lights and beauty. He hated dumping through the stupid wastes and hunting Databeasts with his stupid guard staff. He hated a lot right now.
But hate is a powerful emotion.
Harlow felt driven and purposeful in a way he never had before. He had a mission. He had revenge. His strength allowed him to do things he never thought he could. He was walking miles every day and defeating Databeasts he’d never thought he would. He and Rizzo had holed up in a cave one night, and Rizzo had sent him down alone. He’d defeated two Pebblegobs and a Flintimp. He had thought about shouting for help with the Flintimp - that would have been the smart thing to do. That would have been the guard thing to do.
But he knew he couldn’t stand the salt of the earth sneer of Captain Rizzo. He knew he’d get it anyway for something, but he wouldn’t hand Rizzo the opportunity on a platinum platter. So he’d gone headfirst into his first fight with a Flintimp and come out the other side with only minor cuts and scrapes. He knew he wouldn’t get a potion for them - or probably for anything that wasn’t life threatening - so he didn’t even mention it, just grunting when Rizzo asked him if he’d cleared the cave.
Harlow was proud of himself for that. He was starting to think of himself as something more than a guard. Not an adventurer, as he was still in the service of Cabletown, but maybe some sort of special forces? Capturing criminals who had fled after breaking rules and defying the mayor's orders.
Exactly how they’d done that, he wasn’t sure. But they had, and they’d thought to mess him up in the process. And now Captain Rizzo was making him atone by bringing the traitors in. If he didn’t, well, Rizzo had told him that there were whispers back home that Harlow had aided and abetted them in their escape. And if he didn’t manage to bring them back, he might just be held accountable for their crimes in their stead.
Harlow had spluttered with rage at that. What about his leg? What about his family? How dare he be accused. Rizzo had told him he’d managed to walk for several days on his leg, so it couldn’t be that bad. Harlow was so amazed that he couldn’t think of the words to say. He’d just stared at the older man.
Harlow ruminated on all that and more as he trod the dirty black road. He could see the plumes of smoke in the distance that signified they were close to Ash Baths. Fire Databeasts had started popping up more and more and Harlow was sporting some nasty burns. He was collecting a lot of BITs by now, but Rizzo was making him transfer them to drives and keeping them. The Captain said he was keeping them to buy Harlow a proper element stone, a low-grade earth one. Harlow believed him, as Harlow’s parents had the pull to get the captain fired, and he seemed to be a true believer in the Cabletown cause and regularly opined on that subject, often spitting harsh words at Harlow for being a representative of the younger generation that the man seemed to despise for its lax nature and its unwillingness to do its part for the greater good.
Still, Harlow would be pleased for the short respite he got in Ash Baths. Hopefully they found Tommen and Brand there. If not, it would be a long walk to Quartz Creek.