-----V-----

I walked up to the guild in Dunwich, Amara besides me. Artifact hunters strolled around, some with artifact weapons and some normal ones. Others also had artifact armor on themselves.

Some of them glanced towards me, likely knew me from when I was running away from Wilmer, with Ethan and his group. Thankfully they didn‘t seem to want to bother me.

„So? Why did you bring me back here?“ I asked Amara.

„The best way to go to Smittits is through the Kingdom of Stratos. And also to get some allies with us.“

She has her helmet on with her hood covering it that was attached to the armor. She looked at me through the red cross on the helmet.

„And if we want to go there through the Kingdom uninterrupted by the locals after you-know-what. I need to have Wilmer on our side, and not have him going after you. He will likely be fine with us, but he might be a bit angry after you stopped doing his quest.“

After the incident back at Mount Vallow. Amara wanted to go back to Stratos to get some people she knew. I asked her why we wouldn‘t go to Smittis through Oxy. She just chuckled and told me that the entrance thereto Smittis has much more activity of kypseli than in Stratos. And also, she didn‘t know anyone there.

We walked up to the door of Wilmer‘s office. As I was starting to knock on the door, I felt for a hand grasping my shoulder.

„Vincent, welcome back. Didn‘t think you would show up after you left.“

I turned to see his broad grin. This can only end badly.

„Come into my office, we have much to talk about.“

As I entered, I sat down at the usual seat, Amara standing behind.

„You don‘t seem to be that upset, I thought for. . .“

Wilmer suddenly threw his chair across the room, slamming against the door, and almost hitting us in the process. He punched his desk as he glared at me with bloodshot eyes.

„You let that brat escape! Didn‘t you want riches at all!? I was serious when I told you about the reward!“

With composure, I dusted off my shoulder and moved a bit in my seat to feel more comfortable.

„It wasn‘t really worth my time.“

„Worth your time? Worth your time?! This task was rather easy! You were right beside her, right at grabbing distance!“

„If I would tell you why you wouldn‘t believe me.“

„Try me!“

I glanced up at Amara, she seemed to be fine with what I am about to say.

„I don‘t come from this planet, and I am trying to find a gemstone for this shield to bring me back where I come from.“

He glanced at my back where the shield was strapped.

„That‘s Ethan‘s, isn‘t it?“

„It is.“

„Why is it here if he isn‘t?“

„We fought for a spaceship, the blacksmith died, the crossbow girl ran. While Ethan with one arm, and Nia who you call a brat, and some other one with similar gauntlets, flew out to space. Likely going to a different planet with a damaged thruster.“

A moment of silence. Then Wilmer abruptly burst out laughing. He went to get his chair back and sat down, leaning forwards with his hands clasped.

„You really are interesting, Vincent. Really interesting, indeed. I would assume Ethan is going to die in a few weeks without his shield. He is helping Nia, so I don‘t really care.“

He is likely not going to die, due to Letya being with him.

„So you come from the skies? Then you must be one of those summons like Amara there.“

„Summons?“

„If you weren‘t born on one of the planets, then you are something called an „Elder Summon,“ I don‘t know who started giving you folks that name, It just happened when you people suddenly started appearing slowly one by one.“

He knew of people like Ethan and me?

„We aren‘t the only ones, Vincent,“ Amara said. „I did say that I have talked to others that are in the same situation as us before. And for some odd reason there are only humans that are being transported here, even though the galaxy has many different species.“

Only humans coming here is rather odd.

„I can understand now why the quest I gave you wasn‘t worth your time. I applaud you for going against me and coming back.“

He clapped his hands slowly.

„I‘m guessing you thought that ship you found would help you escape from here?“

„Of course, it‘s a spaceship. And if you were wondering why we were fighting for it then it was because they tried to ditch me.“

„I was wondering about that. You can forget about ships taking you back, they run automatically to go between planets. I have talked to many Elder Summons if you are wondering where I got the information.“

„So the only way back is the artifact you first held and activate.“

I glanced at the shield.

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„I have a question.“

„And that is?“

„I believe that we can‘t use other artifacts while we already have one, but I can activate one program in the shield. Why is that?“

„That I don‘t know. That shield is how you were brought here, right?“

„Yeah. And obviously it wasn‘t originally mine.“

„The artifacts of summons work differently than ours. I‘m still trying to figure that one out myself.“

Wilmer leaned back against his seat and drew out his long-sword and held it up high, inspecting it.

„So? Was there something else you wanted from me?“

„I‘m assuming you know of the gemstones. The shield has given us the map for it, and it is in Smittis.“

„Smittis, huh?“

„And the Quenton family is likely trying to get me, due to my relations with Ethan.“

„Quenton? Why would they be after you?“

„Well. . . you see. . .“

„I managed to get Vincent and Ethan to help me with the assassination, that is why they are suspected.“

„Amara!“ I yelled. Why the hell would she say that?!

„Oh? They helped you with that, did they?“

His sword end hit the wooden floor, almost going through with its sharpness.

„Wait a minute, you. . wait. . .“

„If you are wondering who I got the quest to kill Elishia, then it was him, Wilmer Westbrook.“

I was at loss for words. Why would he want one of the Quenton family dead? Did they do something?

„I can see through your composed face that you are confused. So I‘ll tell you. The Quenton family son, Franek, has been quite the annoying noble. He has gotten his people to steal from me! Artifacts weapons and lesser artifacts. And worse of all, he has stolen maps of vaults from me!“

He bashed his hand against the table, almost breaking it.

„So your revenge was to kill one of the Quentons, isn‘t that way too much?“

„He had it coming, he has been doing this for a long time. I even warned him. He thinks he is some great leader, but he is just a little thief!“

„Why didn‘t you just decide to steal something back?“

„I‘ll tell you this, this kingdom is rather shit. We have been trying to convince them to let dynami in, it would benefit us.“

„The Dynami Empire?“

„Not them! I am talking about dynami who are from Simul and Oxy. These lands will only fall in no time when the Dynami Empire starts to attack full force. Without dynami warriors to fight with us, this kingdom was just born to fall.“

„So what? You were sending a message by killing a noble or something?“

„Exactly! And if they attack, we won‘t get any help from either country due to our king being a delusional human supremacist asshole! They won‘t help because Stratos won‘t let them inn! All because they have people who are dynami!“

Wilmer was giving it all. He is likely the angriest fellow I have ever seen.

„Let me get this straight. You got a noble killed to send a message to the rulers here, too try and convince them of letting dynami inn?“

„By killing the girl who is way to protective of herself, was only me telling the king that he can‘t be saved from the guild!“

Is this then a start of a revolution? His guild will overthrow the king and nobles, and Wilmer will likely be the next ruler. What the hell have I gotten myself into? I am just trying to get back to space, for crying out loud!

„Wait a minute, wasn‘t this about Franek stealing from you? How did we come from that, too taking the seat of the king?“

„Franek is a thief indeed. He is only trying to get me weaker by stealing from me so my guild won‘t overthrow the king anytime soon! So his family was the perfect target for the new beginnings of the kingdom! It was perfect due to the overprotective daughter and the hateful son!“

I glanced up at Amara.

„Are you in on this?“

„I only helped to get a favor. Which we should talk about shortly.“

„Wilmer, aren‘t you in danger right now? Franek likely knows it was you who put on the assassination quest.“

„He can come at me if he wants, but they are scared of my guild!“ He laughed.

„We have some of the strongest artifacts around, and I have many loyal artifact hunters. Some that are even dynami!“

„If you have strong artifacts, then couldn‘t Stratos be able to defend against the Dynami Empire?“

„It‘s true we have strong artifacts, but they have found many vehicle artifacts, just like the one I sent you on before.“

So they have many tanks? What does Stratos have?

„And the dynami are far stronger than humans when it comes to muscles! Some have a keen smell, and some run fast, and they even were born with armor that is their scales! They were born to fight. We, humans, are just frail, we are just laughable.“

So without the assistance of Simul or Oxy, Stratos is in real danger. And Wilmer is trying his best to fix that. He is likely the perfect leader for this country. This is his story, trying to fix the king‘s mistakes. I am not part of that story, I‘m just trying to get out of here.

„I think it‘s time for you to cool down, and let‘s talk about my favor,“ Amara said.

„I will never cool down until we fix the kingdom, but I will talk business with you.“

He sheathed his sword and relaxed.

„Now, what‘s the favor you wanted after the quest?“

„It‘s simple, just the best way to get to Smittis, and maybe have some strong people with us. Vincent, show him the map.“

I took out the shield and opened the program. The dot was on the right of the closest mountain from Stratos.

„Hm, that‘s funny.“

„What‘s funny?“

„That is one of the kypseli nests, and trust me. You won‘t live without 20 or so people.“

„So a breeding ground? Great.“

„But you are in luck. Because every day of a month are hunters going out to clear some nests so they won‘t get that big. And that day is just around the corner. Everyone is welcome to join in, and they will be rewarded graciously.“

„Is this an extermination day for you people? That‘s a rather strange monthly festivity.“

He didn‘t look amused.

„It‘s just so they won‘t get bigger. Their queen is rather intelligent, she never shows herself. Apparently people say that she is as intelligent as humans and dynami. But she is weak due to us always hindering her expanse.“

As intelligent as humans and dynami. Back when I first heard about Tessera on a space station. I heard there were supposed to be three intelligent races on the planets. I knew at first when coming here it was the humans and dynami. And I always thought who the third race was. I didn‘t imagine it being the insects. It does make sense though, I haven‘t heard of any other species around. I have heard that they are a collective consciousness, a hive mind.

„This is rather a great opportunity for you, and me.“

„Why you?“

„Franek always joins on the extermination every few months, and on this month he will be joining. And I want you to take him out.“

„Kill him? I do understand why you would want to do that, because of the king and all that. But this is a rather strange favor that Amara got from you.“

„The favor I am giving you is some of my people joining you to find the gemstone. As a bonus if you take Franek out, I will show you the vault that allows you access to the next planet.“

I raised an eyebrow.

„That would be great, I didn‘t want to run around to find a vault that has a spaceship.“

„My men will help you to take him down, of course. Because he is strong, his artifact is as strong as mine.“

I haven‘t seen his weapon in action, neither Franek‘s, so how am I going to know how strong it is?

Amara will likely be able to easily take him out, except if he has strong artifact armor.

„With my influence, I can make some of the soldiers stop finding the culprit who killed Elishia, so don‘t worry about that. Instead of finding the killer, they will just talk to me. They already know it was me, so they likely don‘t care about you anymore. Now then, get your ass back to Tyrida!“