The tension was thick between the two parties. Close to the bismuth crystal stood the so-called heroes of Ad Limosa: Simon Cathryll, Mina Baskerville, Lawrence Steel, and Dianna Dust. The four kept their guards up and their hands readied for their weapons, spurned to caution by the aura of the two adventurers that stood opposite them. In the mouth of the mineshaft that led back up to the surface stood a pair of adventurers who nobody in their right minds would call heroes: Remus Grandwaller and Novos. Unlike the four they stood opposite, who approached the volatile situation with caution, Novos’ approach- and Remus by extension- was careless and aggressive. He brandished both his blades, while Remus stood candidly to his side, both of them confident in their ability to win.

“... So,” Simon began, gripping his halberd in its holster, “mind telling us who you are?”

“Me?” Novos chuckled sinisterly. “I’m a lot of things. A thief, a merc… a killer… I’m whatever my job asks of me.” Novos paused, letting his smug grin set in. Then he recalled the other person with him. “Oh, and this is my packmule, Remus.”

“Lovely,” Lawrence gagged, “let me guess: chaotic neutral?”

“Chaotic evil, actually,” Novos replied.

“So hardcore, so cool,” Lawrence rolled his eyes. “You seem like the type of guy to lock people in a tavern and burn it down for the Experience.”

“You know what?” Novos laughed. “That’s a good idea. Remus, write that down.”

Remus conjured a notepad and wrote it down.

“That wasn’t- you know the guards would hound your ass to the ends of Hoenheim to find you, right?”

“And? I’d just kill them all.”

“I’m sure you would,” Lawrence rolled his eyes again. “Because you’re so tough and strong and cool.”

“I am, actually,” Novos spun his swords. “Tougher, stronger, and cooler than you at least, old man.”

“Real low bar you’ve got there,” Dianna groaned. Lawrence looked at her with an overexaggerated display of indignance.

“Riveting banter,” Simon coughed and stepped forwards, towards Novos. “Now, would you like to tell me your actual name?”

“Novos,” Novos replied grimly.

“Novos, huh? Can’t say it rings a bell.”

“I like it that way,” Novos muttered. “A low profile lets me move more easily.”

“Well, Novos, mind telling us what you’re doing here?”

“Simple. I’m here for whatever’s under the big red X.”

“Uh-huh,” Simon stepped forward again. “And what, you’re going to take it from us?”

“Damn straight,” Novos stepped forward, so that the two were now in melee range of each other.

“We could share it?” Mina pleaded from behind Simon. “The more the merrier, you know?”

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“Share it?” Novos laughed. “Why would I bother splitting the bounty, if I can take the whole damn thing? Besides, who’s to say it’s even something that can be shared?”

“And what do you mean by that?” Simon asked.

“Let’s say it’s a sword. Are we all gonna take turns holding the magic sword? Do we split custody of it like an unwanted kid?”

“...You might be right,” Mina mumbled, “but we don’t know for sure.”

“Unless, of course,” Simon bore down on Novos, “you would happen to know something we don’t about this artifact?”

“I know one thing,” Novos replied, undaunted by Simon’s attempts at intimidation. “Whatever’s behind that crystal? It’s not the whole thing.”

“It’s not?!” Simon nearly staggered back.

“What the hell do you mean by that?” Dianna asked sharply.

Novos cackled, and pressed his advantage. “After you dipshits left, we got called in by your client. Said that there’s a pretty important piece of the pie missing, and told us- and just us- where to find it.”

“That’s great!” Mina said. “Then we can work together and put the whole artifact back together.”

Novos sighed, and gave Mina an “are you shitting me?” look. “You don’t get it, do you? I’m NOT helping you. Why the hell would I bother? This artifact’s mine, the missing piece is mine, it’s ALL FUCKING MINE!”

“You say that,” Simon sharply retorted, “but you know just as little about whatever this thing is as the rest of us, don’t you?”

“Yeah?” Novos tilted his head indignantly. “She didn’t tell me shit. Does that matter?”

“What if it’s an artifact of good?” Simon continued. “There’s plenty of legends of artifacts with minds of their own, who refuse to do evil.”

“And?” Novos stepped forward, and now he and Simon were nearly chest-to-chest with each other. “How many more legends are there of evil artifacts that corrupt the wielder? We both know nothing about this thing, so don’t waste my time with shitty hypotheticals.”

“Then how about we find out for sure?” Simon snapped back. “Let’s go see whatever this artifact is, and then we can decide what we want to do.”

“How about you suck my dick and lick my balls,” Novos barked, “because there’s not a damn thing that artifact can be that’s gonna change my mind. I don’t care if it’s the sun in a cage- I’m still gonna be the only one who gets their hands on it!”

“Like talking to a brick wall,” Lawrence groaned.

“You got something to say, old man?” Novos brandished his swords, and diverted his attention to Lawrence behind Simon.

“Ignore him,” Simon extended his arm in front of Novos. “The adults are talking.”

“Naw, don’t take him seriously!” Lawrence shouted. “Worst thing you can do against a guy like this!”

“Novos,” Simon continued, ignoring Lawrence. “Why are you so dead-set on fighting us for this artifact? Are you really sure we can’t convince you otherwise?”

“Pretty bleeding sure,” Novos answered.

“Nothing?” Simon continued. “No money, no mutual interests, nothing?”

“Nothing,” Novos said, lowering himself into a fighting stance.

Simon withdrew his halberd. “A shame. Dianna, go grab whatever the thing is. We’ll keep these two busy.”

“Will you?” Remus at last chimed in.

Remus casts Distortion Sphere

An advanced spell that warps the continuity of space in a sphere, causing the edges of the affected space to collapse in on themselves. As a result, attempting to pass through the barrier on one side will cause an individual to emerge from the barrier on the opposite side.

A fisheye bulge warped the area around the six, creating a dome of warped reality centered on Novos and Simon.

“Seriously?” Lawrence groaned. “A fucking arena?”

“Don’t worry,” Novos snickered. “It won’t be up for very long.” He smiled, and brandished his swords.

“Just to ask- for your sake-,” Simon brandished his own halberd, “will the spell end if she falls unconscious? Or only if she dies?”

“That is nothing to concern yourself with,” Remus cooed. “I will not be harmed in this battle.”