“Holy shit!” Kritch laughed along with the crowd that had formed in Vaal’s apartment.
“Dooooooo that again, Jack!” Plooderoo encouraged.
“I don’t think I can do any more!” Jack chuckled from his spot on the floor.
“Not even one more?” Vaal grinned. “Come on! You can do it!”
“Alright.” Jack sighed with a guilty smile, mustering his inner power as Vaal held a lit lighter close to his ass. Squeezing one final fart out, the crowd cheered in amazement at seeing the gush of flame.
“You’re sure he’s not using magic, Vaal?” Bentom asked as his armadillo-like teammate clapped with the others, but Vaal emphatically shook his head.
“Get this guy another beer! He’s earned it!” Plooderoo called out to the crowd, and about three cans were enthusiastically passed Jack’s way.
“Damn, you Deathworlders really are weird!” Karzen chucked as she slapped Jack on the shoulder. “You must be a hit with the ladies of your squad!”
“Can’t say I’ve done that around them before!” Jack grinned as he took a swig of one of the cold beers, which was weak, but several served enough of a purpose to settle his nerves.
“Well, shall we all go now?” Vaal asked the crowd, expression now serious. “I checked with the healers and Kizzarith should be coming out of the medical coma today. We can also check on Crill, if he’s still around. I went to see him yesterday and he’s devastated about Arlox.”
“Yeah, we stayed with him for a bit. The healers are trying to bring Arlox’s spirit back, but it’s apparently a really rough process.” Bentom sighed. “And he’s hardly the only person they’re trying to bring back. Maybe they’ll end up reincarnating him instead?”
“I think Rayle told me about that once over drinks,” Kritch whispered conspiratorially. “Like bringing his spirit back but as another person.”
“Rayle told you, eh?” Vaal grinned, patting the Lizta on the back as Kritch bowed his head in embarrassment at the resulting chuckles.
“Regardless, our teammates are having a rough time,” Karzen spoke up. “We should go over and support them! Are Nika and Sephy gonna come over, Jack?”
“Nika’s barely been able to move from our sofa, but Sephy might be able to come along.” Jack shrugged. “We went to help Clan Bharzum yesterday as well as run a few errands. Most of my group needs a rest, to be honest. That’s probably what I’ll do when I get back. We want to support our friends, but we need to recover ourselves as well.”
“Yeah, I understand that.” Vaal nodded. “Us lot had to help shore up the Scion of Wyrmwalker’s defences until we were able to rebuild. We got hit hard by the Killer Klown, so we’ve been working hard making sure there aren’t any Klowns left lying in wait nearby while the wall gets repaired. We really needed this chance to relax and chill for a bit, though we’ll be expected back this afternoon, but I’ll be damned if we’re not there to cheer up our friends at least, even if we don’t stay for long.”
“Yes, Kizzarith will be unconscious for most of it, but Crill needs people to support him,” Plooderoo agreed. “Perhaps we can plan something for when our friends are recovered? Maybe start a crowdfunding campaign to hire Kizzarith a prostitute? One of the really good ones that know their way around an insectoid?”
“That’ll make him feel better!” Kritch grinned. “Maybe wait until he’s fully repaired first though! We don’t want to reinjure him when he goes nuts!”
“Alright, that’s gonna be a thing!” Vaal grinned. “I’d actually thought about taking the team to the Cathedral of Merriment! The school gives us a grant for team-building related activities, and we got a good bonus for winning our last game, so why not go there?”
“So let’s pretend I’m an Outsider who doesn’t know anything.” Jack rolled his eyes. “Is that a brothel or something? I’m kinda committed….I think….”
“Hah! Oh, you are in for a treat, my friend!” Bentom chucked, patting Jack on the shoulder like a naive child. “Imagine, if you will, a great, holy place of Dilanna, the Goddess of Alcohol and Celebration. A grand temple. Upon paying a voluntary tithe to the church to enter, you are met with rows upon rows of heavy tables and benches, with a lively crowd of fellow, friendly pilgrims set to the backdrop of all sorts of live music. Temple Priests and Priestesses are ready and willing to take your every order of all the rarest ales, wines and spirits you could want, along with an awesome selection of food, too! And the best part….”
She leaned in close to Jack’s ear to stage whisper…
“All of it is free!”
Jack snapped his head around at that with bulging eyes. “Real shit?”
“Real shit!” Vaal grinned. “The Cathedral of Merriment runs entirely on church donations and is welcome to all who respect the peace!”
“Where is it?” Jack immediately asked excitedly.
“Hah!” The Eladra grinned. “Unfortunately, it’s not within the city limits. It’s a few days out, but we can get at least part of the way there by public transport. In case you haven’t guessed, it's a pretty popular destination! But I want to make sure everyone on the team is up and able to go and fully enjoy it first.”
“Fair enough.” Jack shrugged. “Something to look forward to then. It’s just that Alora’s been wanting us to take some time off and let off some steam and that sounded like a good idea.”
“Yeah, Glenphyranix is alright for a Greenblood, I guess.” Vaal shrugged. “Our people might be enemies, and she can be a little preachy for my tastes, but I can respect the fact that she takes care of you guys. We’ll probably have some tagalongs anyway when we go to the Cathedral, so she and Dhasii can come along too.”
“They cater for animal friends as well,” Plooderoo added. “So you can take that critter of yours tooooo!”
“Cool!” Jack grinned. “We have new housemates that might want to come, but I understand if you want to keep it to just the team.”
“All are welcome in the Cathedral of Merriment.” Karzen grinned. “And the more friends we bring, the merrier it will be!”
“Let’s wait until all our friends are back with us first!” Vaal grinned. “But until then, let’s all have a beer and go see them!”
“Oh yeah…” Jack remembered something after he had a deep sip of the can. “Does Luvia live around here? I was told I should probably say hi if she was around.”
“Yeah she lives in the district, but she’s not around right now,” Plooderoo replied after quickly downing his entire can. “She looked stressed out when I saw her though….”
“Yeah,” Vaal added. “She’s been that way since the attack, but I’m sure it’ll be fine…”
*****
“What do you mean it’s not worth much?” Sephy exclaimed in horror, as her more magically inclined friends went through some of the special loot she and Jack had stolen from the Prefect’s Lockup the previous weekend.
I mean it’s not the priceless artefact you were hoping for. Chiyo rolled her eyes. I had my suspicions but I wanted to confirm them first before giving you the bad news.
“It isn’t like they’re useless.” Zayle tried to cheer her up. “Just not as good.”
“I would have thought the black candle with gems would have been sellable?” Sephy asked. “But your earth spirit is telling you the gems are fake?”
“Yes, it looks like they’ve been fabricated from glass to look like gems. There is some magic within the candle, though…”
This is likely a Ghostlight Candle that a student tried to make cooler, Chiyo concluded. Light the candle, and it provides light only to those who were holding it when it was lit. The flame goes out as soon as a ghost approaches.
“Gee, a candle that gives mystical night vision or something,” Sephy complained. “Might be useful if we have a power outage or something in the same way that literally any other fucking candle would be.”
“That reminds me, we need to add candles to the shopping list since we have more people. Thanks Sephy!” Nika added from where she was curled up on the sofa. “But there are occasional contracts out there to explore haunted places, so it might have a use.”
“Or we could sell it,” Sephy pointed out. “Because fuck going to haunted places.”
“This gem is also worthless,” Zayle added, tapping the teardrop ‘gem’ that kept changing colours. “Just an enchantment to change colour and look pretty.”
“Maybe we could sell that to a sucker?” Sephy shrugged. “Or give it to Alora to stick somewhere in the house.”
The tome is also mundane, Chiyo added. I think an edgy student must have enchanted it to smoke to try and look cool. It might have something alright in it, but it looks like a diary. Maybe if I get bored I’ll actually try reading this nonsense.
“These could be useful!” Rayle excitedly shook the vials. “These are compressed natural gases that will expand into a cloud of stinky smoke!”
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“Like a smoke bomb?” Nika questioned. “Could be useful.”
This, however, definitely is. Chiyo pointed to the green serpent ring. After referencing my books and confirming with Zayle, I believe this is a Ring of Lesser Restoration. I’ll need to work out how many charges it holds a day, but you can use it in an emergency to completely remove the physical effects of fatigue.
“Awesome!” Sephy grinned. “More all-nighters for me!”
It will not restore the effect to your mind! Chiyo added. So I wouldn’t rely on it. Having said that, it's still a decent find.
“Damn, well I still have my copy of the data, so I can still find something juicy. Imagine what might be in the other Lockups!”
“Not a bad idea for a future Run!” Nika grinned. “Plus there’s all that stuff you got from Clan Ashtail yesterday.”
The potions and Lesser Lifestone will be very useful. Chiyo nodded thoughtfully. But something about those broaches of disguise doesn’t sit right by me. It’s almost as if those were…curated for us in preparation for something.
“Curated?” Nika asked. “For what purpose?
At that moment they heard a loud chirp throughout the house that signified a visitor ringing the bell at the front gate.
“That’s them!” Alora called out to them from outside.
“Finally!” Sephy grinned.
“Let’s get this hot tub sorted!”
*****
“So Vaal. Got a question for you,” Jack asked as they made their way past another local militia checkpoint to the Clan Bharzum territories.
“Shoot,” the Eladra asked with a grin. “I’m surprised you haven’t spent every waking moment asking them as an Outsider.”
“What’s up with your people and the Eladrie?” Jack asked, causing Vaal to blank out for a moment.
“Really? Glenphyranix didn’t tell you?” he asked with a faint smile.
“I only know that something bad happened, nothing more.” Jack shrugged. “Sorry if it’s a sore subject.”
“Hah, no!” Vaal grinned. “It’s more sore for the Greenbloods than the Eladra. Basically, we broke away pretty decisively many thousands of years ago and abandoned them for better opportunities. The nobles back then reacted pretty badly, then so did we. The Eladrie like to portray themselves as superior to other species, but we humbled them pretty hard back then and they’ve hated us since.”
“How did you do that?” Jack asked, curiously.
“You know that tree of theirs they love so much?” Vaal asked.
“The Mother Tree, right?” Jack replied, having heard Alora talk often about it.
Vaal nodded. “Heh. We nearly burned that fucking thing down before we left!”
“Jesus,” Jack cursed. “So that’s basically why your people hate each other. I was wondering how bad it was, and I didn’t want to risk pissing off Alora…”
“So I’m fair game, right?” Vaal tried to give Jack a serious look and raised his eyebrows before he cracked a smile and stuck his tongue out. “It’s all good, she’s one of your girls and all that, you don’t want to piss her off unnecessarily.”
“You make yourself sound like a real expert on the ladies, eh Vaal?” Zook grinned, the bat-like Strallea playfully poking Vaal in the side, before the Eladra put his arm around her.
“I like to try.” He grinned. “Anyway, I think we’re almost there. Shame we couldn’t get your friend to come around and set her up with Kizzarith.”
“Pridra?” Zook asked. “Sorry, she sends her condolences, but she’s got to support her family and I don’t think she’s interested in him in that way.”
“A shame,” Plooderoo added. “What about you, Nakir? Got any friends that might be interested?”
“None come to mind, Ro’cha,” Klikko replied tenderly as the Kunee shook her head.
“Just wait until Kizzarith realises you already have pet names for one another!” Kritch sniggered, as the rest of them laughed.
“Speaking of…” they added as they saw the district gates ahead. “Looks like we’re here!”
Quickly led through the corridors, the group were happy to find Kizzarith awake and waiting for them, apparently not having been conscious for long.
“Hey buddy!” Vaal patted the Anicite on the shoulder, deliberately avoiding the severed limbs and other removed parts. “How have you been?”
“I’ve been good!” Kizzarith weakly grinned through the bandages. “I appear to have lost a lot of weight recently.”
Plooderoo let out a strained sound as he moved to the other side of the bed. “Must be that new exercise routine you’ve been doing!”
The three friends laughed awkwardly as Kizzarith’s one-eyed gaze fell on the others. “Oh hey! I have other visitors! Good to see you guys!”
“Hey there!” Kritch smiled as he and Jack moved up beside Vaal, with Jack putting the box of belongings down where Kizzarith could easily reach it. “We got you those books and games you wanted.” Kritch gave Kizzarith a knowing look and the Anicite smiled slyly.
“Thanks! I really needed that, it’s gonna get pretty boring here.”
“Have they given you any updates?” Vaal asked, his smile dropping.
“Yeah.” Kizzarith nodded, also getting serious. “I have options, but none of them really stand out for me. I’ve been given time to think but it hasn’t been easy. I’ve really got to think about my future here.”
“We understand.” Vaal smiled reassuringly. “I’m sure we’ll think of something. If you need advice, we’re all a call away.”
“Heh…thanks,” Kizzarith replied weakly as a nurse interjected.
“He’s been through a lot and needs his rest.” The woman gave a pained smile.
“But I’ve only just gotten up…” Kizzarith tiredly retorted.
“That’s the drugs, your body needs to rest without them now,” the nurse patiently replied, and everyone agreed with understanding. They had all barely left the room before Kizzarith was once more resting.
“Damn.” Jack sighed. “That’s rough.”
“Yeah, luckily for him, Kizzarith is pumped full of drugs, but Crill isn’t,” Vaal pointed out. “He’s wanted to be alone since the attack, but this is the time to overrule that. He needs friends with him now.”
“Yeah,” Jack agreed. He remembered all the times where Crill had stuck his neck out for him ever since his first day of school, and he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to be there for him.
It just sucked that he had no idea what he could even say to make things better.
The nurses led them down several corridors to a quiet corner of the complex, opening a door to a private room where Crill was sat hunched over in a comfortable chair, watching over the still body of Arlox, who had clearly been prepared well and respectfully, as Jack wouldn’t have been able to tell without already knowing that his friend had been killed during the attack.
“Hello,” Crill finally spoke with a horse whisper. “I told you I didn’t need you here,” he told Vaal.
“Yep, you told me,” Vaal replied diplomatically. “But you know we had to come eventually.”
“In time, too.” Crill nodded as Vaal went over to put his arm around his friend, handing him a drink. “They told me they’re going to try and bring Arlox back soon. I’ve been waiting for them, but it’s been so long already…”
“Hey.” Vaal patted Crill on the back. “Don’t give up hope. We’ll stick around and cheer him on…”
He trailed off as three white-robed figures entered the room with their faces covered by veils to completely obscure their identity. Two of them were plain and had no other accessories to speak of, and looked like assistants to the third who wore a golden chain around their neck with a golden set of scales.
“It is good that this young man has his friends around him,” the one in charge spoke with the voice of a very elderly grandfather. “We came as soon as we heard there were more people here - some say it can help improve the ritual of return. My apologies for the delay being as long as it has been, this ritual is quite complicated.”
“Of course.” Crill nodded. “Please…”
“Everybody stay back and don’t interfere with whatever happens!” the lead figure strictly told them. “Are we ready?”
“We’re ready.” One of the assistants nodded curtly, and without any fanfare they began the procedure.
The leader slowly brought out a small vial of golden liquid from his robes with shaking hands, before roughly splashing it over Arlox’s form, whose entire body glowed a slight golden sheen before appearing to partially fade in and out. Along the floor, a symbol that Jack hadn’t noticed before began to glow with that same light as the participants of the ritual began chanting in a strange eldritch tongue that seemed to gnaw at Jack’s very soul, increasing in volume until he put a hand against the wall to steady himself, as he caught Kritch with the other.
Suddenly, the air crackled with energy, and the ground shook beneath their feet. A blinding flash of light filled the air, and a deafening roar echoed through the room.
Immediately the body of Arlox jerked up, gasping for air as his body twisted and contorted. Pain was clearly wracking their body as they screamed in horror, echoing all throughout the room. Jack fought the urge to rush to his friend and support him, feeling that something was very, very wrong.
Arlox’s skin rippled as if insects were trying to burrow their way out of his flesh, his bones cracked and shifted as if being violently rearranged. His eyes bulged as they tried to comprehend what was happening as he flailed about with ever more force. Bringing their voices up to a crescendo the participants ended at the same time with one final word of power that burst forth with a deafening roar. As the ritual ended, one of the two assistants quickly pulled out a stim patch and firmly placed it on the still-writhing Arlox. Holding the aquatic boy down firmly, he quickly stopped squirming until finally his breathing slowed down to something resembling normal. Waiting for several moments to confirm that everything was fine, the leader finally sighed.
“He is back amongst the living now.”
The group of friends immediately gave sighs of relief, before the leader continued. “There is much resting he must undertake before we can safely wake him up. The stimpatch is just to get him under, but now begins some extensive dream therapy that will take some time.”
“Well at least we know he’s back.” Jack sighed, finally getting the courage to join Vaal in trying to comfort their friend. “You’ve been a saint sticking by him, Crill, but you need to take care of yourself now.”
The leader nodded in agreement. “I know this must be hard, but I must insist you all leave him for a while to allow him to recuperate. He must be in harmony with himself before we risk bringing him to consciousness.”
Crill slowly nodded as Jack and Vaal helped him shakily to his feet. It was clear as day he hadn’t moved from that spot for a while, but slowly he shucked off the aches and pains as Plooderoo led him out.
“Thank you,” Jack told the Leader and his assistants since everybody else was distracted with Crill. The Leader simply nodded.
“We simply do what we can, Outsider, you are most welcome,” they replied diplomatically as they followed the group out of the room, locking the door behind them before quietly moving off.
“I think those guys were worshippers of Nulios, the God Of Penance,” Kritch whispered to Jack the moment they were out of sight.
“I’m gonna have to take your word on that one.” Jack sighed. “I’m just glad it looks like Arlox is gonna be alright.”
“Yeah,” Vaal agreed. “Almost sounds like a reason to celebrate, no? And Crill could do with a pick-me-up. The Cathedral is something we’re totally going to do another day, but maybe you can find us a good spot at Clan Ashtail’s Tea Garden, Kritch?”
“I’m sure I can arrange something!” Kritch grinned, as Jack smiled faintly to himself.
It had been hell for the last few days, but today?
Today was going to be a good day!