EV B2 Chapter 7:

As I walked, I thought. Getting my old team back together didn't seem possible, which meant I would need at least some kind of new party. Helga and Jonas were apparently still together, so I started heading in their direction. The locator indicated they were in the same general area, and Amelia gave me similar directions when I thought of them. Astrid, though, was in the opposite direction.

It only took me a few hours to find Helga and Jonas, but when I did, the amulet showed they were both inside an inn, not in the common room. Not wanting to disturb them, I looked around, realizing night had already fallen. I figured I probably wouldn't find them today. Deciding to put off the conversation a bit longer, I changed targets and headed in the other direction, hoping to locate Astrid before the night was over and at least get a better idea of what was going on.

Several hours passed before I got close to Astrid's position. Just as I was about to investigate the unassuming building where she was holed up, I heard the sound of shattering glass. A small figure dove out of a second-story window. A flash of torchlight glinted off the raining shards as they scattered around her. Immediately, my identify spell kicked in—it was Astrid. She'd clearly grown stronger since the last time I saw her, but my tension only held for a moment. A large figure appeared at the window, shouting down angrily at her.

Astrid hit the ground with a roll and darted across the street in front of me, disappearing into an alley. A commotion followed, and a pursuit quickly began. I ducked into the shadows and turned, running parallel to the chase. My speed was still faster than anyone involved, so I quickly caught up with Astrid. She was one street over, zigzagging through alleys to lose her pursuers. They were a trio: two casters and a burly melee fighter. I wasn't sure what the conflict was, but I wanted more information before stepping in. I could probably stop them, but checking their levels made me hesitate—they were all at least level 20, and the big guy was level 21.

I continued to follow along, trying to keep track of the pursuit. At one point, I leaped up onto the rooftops to cut across an area where the alleys were less orderly. Luckily, I was able to make the jumps without much difficulty. Eventually, though, Astrid's luck ran out. She darted into a dead-end alley and tried to scale the walls, but that gave her pursuers enough time to catch up and spot her. Crossing the street quickly, I climbed up to the second-story balcony of a nearby building, only a few paces back from the alley's entrance. From there, I could see everything and hear what was happening.

"That's her! Don't let her get away!" the warrior yelled.

One of the casters started to move her hands, likely casting a spell. Astrid heard the call and gave up trying to escape. Kicking off the wall, she spun in mid-air, her bow drawn, and loosed an arrow before she even touched the ground. The warrior raised his axe and blocked the shot, but an explosion of light followed, leaving everyone blinking. I was far enough away to avoid being blinded, but I saw Astrid try to slip between the far wall and the trio. She almost made it, but a blind kick caught her in the ribs, sending her stumbling back.

"Hand it over, you bitch!" one of the casters screamed, her voice breaking on the last word.

I blinked in surprise at the vitriol of that statement. This was personal. Astrid snarled something back, but I couldn't make it out what exactly. At this point, I was starting to feel bad for just watching. Astrid was my friend, and it was clear she was in real trouble. I took a second to double-check the levels of the three, making sure I had a chance of handling them.

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Clearing my throat, I hopped down from the balcony, landing smoothly behind them. My Fool's Consitution spell activated for the split second I needed to absorb the impact. I prepared Dance of the Jester, ready to move at a moment's notice.

"Astrid," I said in the most nonchalant tone I could manage, "I've been looking for you. I think we need to have a conversation."

Astrid stood frozen, her mouth slightly open as she stared at me. She didn't say anything, but that was fine. I ignored her reaction for now.

"I suggest you three get lost. We have some business, and there won't be anything left for you once I'm done," I added, my tone growing slightly more ominous. I wasn't exactly sure what they wanted from her, but it was clear they didn't mean well. If this was something minor, a grudge, or hope that she'd get hurt, I figured they might think I'd do the job for them and decide to back off. Of course, I knew the odds of that happening weren't great. I gave myself maybe a 20% chance of getting them to leave peacefully, but at the very least, I hoped to sow some confusion.

The three exchanged uneasy glances. I relaxed slightly. Either they didn't have Identity or hadn't thought to use it on me.

"If you let us have her book, she's all yours," the man said.

I met Astrid's eyes, and she gave me a slight shake of her head. I wasn't entirely sure what she was trying to tell me—maybe that she wouldn't give up the book, or maybe just shock—but I decided to ignore the man's offer.

"I'm going to count to three," I said, adopting a tone like a parent scolding a child.

The trio looked increasingly uncomfortable as I refused to engage with their demands.

"Or what?" the woman on the left spat, but I could tell that it was more bluster. A tinge of uncertainty filled her tone.

"One," I said, activating Dance of the Jester and Fool's Constitution at the same time. A mirage appeared where I'd been standing as I launched forward, driving my elbow into the woman's throat. She collapsed, gasping for air, while my illusion flickered behind me. I met the gaze of the man in the middle.

It was tricky, but I didn't let my surprise at the effectiveness of my strike show. True, she was at a higher level than me, but my physical stats were far beyond hers, apparently. I needed to remember the advantages I held.

"Two," I said, rushing past him as my illusion stepped forward. I kicked the second caster right above the knee, feeling her leg bend sideways with a sickening crack. Without healing magic, she wouldn't walk again. Casters rarely had proper protection for physical attacks. Again, the attack was easy. Too easy.

I returned to my original position, glancing at the remaining two. "Do I need to say three?"

The two women were hurt but not out of the fight. Their ability to move and speak might be hindered, but their magic was still a threat. Completely neutralizing them without getting things bloody would've been difficult, and I still wasn't sure what the consequences of killing someone outside an arena in Valhalla were. I'd need to ask Loki about that before I experimented.

"No, no!" the man stammered. "She's all yours!" He grabbed the two casters by their robes and dragged them out of the alley.

I walked towards Astrid, my hands in my pockets. She took a small step backward, her eyes wide as she searched my face, still processing what had just happened. I waited until her pursuers turned the corner before relaxing even slightly.