The sun rises over the town of Hamlin, and many of the villagers are awakened by Stella’s glow. As the sun rises over the village, it too rises over Carla’s abode In the margins between it, the first and the mountains.
Yet, two of Carla’s guests are already awake, practicing outside.
“Okay, Tim,” Elizabeth says. “You want to practice with earth magic?”
“Yes,” the martial artist says. He already assumes a horse stance.
“Well with the Geosphere, this should be a simple feat, just focus on the element itself,” the fairy says.
Tim takes a deep breath and looks at the mountains in the distance. Ever stalwart as they stand sentinel over the village and the surrounding area. He channels his techniques into the image of the element of earth. He lifts his leg upwards and stomps the ground. A trail of jagged rock emerges in the direction of his foot and stretches for a few feet.
“Not bad,” Elizabeth says.
Tim however is unstratified. While it would be useful on excursions to other dungeons. They both know that doing it with Emily would cause complications. Tim tries again. He uses his leg to create a less powerful stump. It causes a small rock to emerge from the ground. With a pair of snap kicks, he launches the boulder high into the air. It lands on top of the tallest spike of rock and dirt, breaking off its tip from the structure.
Tim tries again, this time creating a pillar of earth, he uses a shoulder strike to topple the pillar he made.
Elizabeth looks at the collapsed pillar with an intrigued expression. Tim looks at his results in a more satisfactory way. He closes his eyes and grins. “Did I get the hang of it?”
“Well,” Elizabeth says. She isn’t sure what to make of it. “It’s not common for earth spells to be sued at ranged, but you're methods at doing so seem unorthodox.”
A recently awakened Emily finds the pair in the clearing near Carla’s home. “There you are!” She looks at the effects of Tim’s training.
“Morning, Emily!” Elizabeth says. “What’s up?”
“I wanted to ask you about Bardsong,” Emily says. “Can you teach me?”
“Of course!” Elizabeth says. “You can leave it to me!”
“Why the sudden interest in Bardsong?” Tim says.
“Why not?” Emily says. “You’re not the only one that wants to learn new ways to fight.”
“Fair enough,” Tim says after a moment of silence.
“I think we should start with the basics,” Elizabeth says. “Bardsong is an ancient art. The oldest way of channeling magic. It is even claimed to have existed before the Elementlaist’s Spheres that made subsequent forms possible.”
“Uh-huh,” Emily says.
“As you can surmise,” Elizabeth says. “Most forms of Bardsong revolve around sound to channel magic, to appeal to the elements. This stands in contrast to other schools of magic, which force the effect to happen by using mana from within.”
Elizabeth demonstrates by casting a spell, using her internal mana to weave a small orb of light. The orb quickly vanishes as easily as it came. “Bardsong is an emotional art. With each element correlating to specific emotions and chords. For example, light is associated with both unbridled joy and prideful arrogance.”
Emily playfully glances at Tim, as if to imply something.
“I’ll stick to earth and wind for now, thanks,” Tim says.
“Maybe I should demonstrate,” Elizabeth says. She begins to sing a series of cheerful notes. The spell causes an aura to shine around the three, granting them a small burst of energy.
“Bardsong can work in many ways,” Elizabeth says. “I’ve used it to make us less tied for instance, but,” she turns to the mound that was created by Tim’s use of the earthen spells and since a different set of three notes. Similar in tone and chord. Motes of lights suddenly for around her and pelt the mound.
“Bardsong is heavily contextual,” Elizabeth says. “Dependent on the caster’s thoughts and emotions to have the proper effect. It therefore needs a proper resonance to have the desired outcome.”
“Ah,” Emily looks at the small craters in the mound. She takes a deep breath and sings a tritone of three notes. But the discordant melody had, instead of flattening the mound, caused it to erupt into a dirty geyser, to Emily’s shock.
“Hmm,” Elizabeth says. “Your notes missed the mark.” Elizabeth intuits what Emiyl is trying to do and sings a song of two melodies. The first is a calm and soothing chord aligned with the water, a prayer to Halcyon to quell the geyser. The second, alternating with the first, is an earthen hymn to Anesidora to return the mount to a previous state of flatness.
“The average Bardsong spell has three components. The first is the element, which maps to the element of the Spheres, Fire, Wind, et cetera. The second is a plea to a ‘patron’, usually but not excusable one of the Amisntrators. The third is the result you want to achieve. It’s a matter of thinking about these three components and finding the notes you think match them best.”
“Ah,” Emily says. She focuses again.
“Wind,” her first thought is. “What goes well with wind?”. She sings and holds a note she thinks best correlates to the element of wind.
As she holds a note, she begins to think about a possible patron. She recalls Harmonia and sings a note that she thinks best corresponds to her.
“Wind, Melodia,” she thinks as she holds the second note. “Got it!” she transitions to the third, keyed to what she thinks summons a gentle breeze.
Her three notes caused the wind to blow over them, but instead of a spring breeze, it was a forceful push that nearly caused them to fall to the ground.
“What the?” Emily says while standing up. The gust fades away.
“Tempo is an important factor to consider,” Elizabeth says. “The faster the notes, the weaker the effect, the slower the notes, the stronger the effect.”
“Got it,” Emily repeats the same three notes again, but in a more standard melody instead of holding all three notes for a long time. The wind now gently blows over the forest. As Emily sings the motif for a few moments. Only stilling after she stops singing.
Everyone’s stomachs began to growl. “Looks like we should head back,” Elizabeth says. The three return to Carla’s house for breakfast.
✦✦✦
Meanwhile, Stanley Piers meets with the Mayer. “The deed is done, the rats are now vanquished.”
“Excellent,” the mayor says. He reaches into his desk for the sack of coins and hands it to the bard. “We of Hamlin thank you for your services.”
“I wish you good luck in your endeavors. May fortune favor the bold and wise.” Stanley leaves the town hall.
The mayor looks around his office and notices something peculiar. Small footprints on the floor. The lead from a hole in the creaking floorboards all the way to the coffers. Examining the coffers reveals them empty, voided, and bereft of all material assets.
The mayor has a heart attack at the sight of the empty coffers. All the money that was saved up, vanished overnight. Project Backbreaker, the infrastructure that was to connect the village to the city of Noir, nor nothing more than a pipe dream. His shock quickly turns to wrath as he looks back at the tracks. Small, ratlike tracks.
“Guards! Guards!” the mayor cries. “We have been robbed!”
A while later, the Piper prepares for his journey back to Noir. “With this, perhaps, I can live on the surface. Pursue the life of an Eligere.” Stanley looks at the sack of coins. Before he can take his first step, he hears a cry.
“Yes, that’s him! The man in the garish outfit!” Several gendarmeries surround the Piper, armed with swords, clubs, spears, and axes.
“Oh officers, Is something the matter?” The piper asks.
“Is your name Stanley Piers?” a dark-skinned man says in a stern but calm voice. The voice of a professional dedicated to maintaining peace in Hamlin.
“Why yes sir, my name is Stanley Piers,” the bard says.
“It has come to our attention that the village’s coffers were emptied. Leaving nothing but footprints of rats nearby. Do you have anything to do with this?” the man says.
“That is absurd, I would never rob the town,” Stanley said.
“Yet you were able to control the rats,” the stern man says.
“I was framed, for reasons unknown,” Stanley says. “But I assure you I did not steal the coin.”
“I’m sorry,” the gendarme says. “But we will require proof of your innocence. Now come with us.”
The officers take Stanley to the town center, where a commotion attracts the attention of the villagers, including Douglas, Medusa, and Geraldine.
“Officer Owens,” Geardine says to the dark-skinned man. “What’s going on?”
“This paper stands accused of larceny on a grave scale,” Officer Owens says. “We are here to verify these claims.
The mayor arrives, with an expression of a man betrayed. Furious and vengeful, hurt and sorrowful. The politician gazes coldly at the man as the guards search his clothes for the stolen gold.
“You got it all wrong, I did not steal!” Stanley says as one of the officers relieves him of his colorful cloak. The officer checks the pockets and finds several gold coins there. The villagers were shocked at the sight.
“This has to be a mistake, I’m innocent!” But the evidence, effulgent in the sunlight, could not be refuted.
An officer attempts to beat him down with a club but Owens stays his hand. “Thief or not, we must not respond as barbarians.”
“Sir!” a detective arrives on the scene, “We found the rest of the gold! At the lake!”
Owens follows the detective leaving the officers alone with the mayor.
“Owens has a good heart,” the mayor says. “But justice needs a firm hand!” the officers take it as permission to brutalize the Piper. Using their fists and their weapons to wound him to near death. The villagers look on with a mix of shock and morbid fascination as Stanley is battled and bruised by the gendarmerie.
“The Administrators may have mercy for those that steal Hamlin’s future, but I do not!” the mayor says as he walks over to Stanely’s body and takes back all of the coins on his person, including the sack he had bequeathed him earlier today. “If you have the strength to survive, leave and never return! Or else I will personally ensure you meet the namesake of Revotos’ Valley, you Exsecratii scum!”
Stanley Piers lies on the ground, bleeding out.
“I had warned you so, time and time again.”
“Who is this, this mysterious voice?” Stanley thinks, his injuries forbade him from verbalizing his question.
“You may call me friend, a kindred spirit,” the voice says. “Piper, you know you were judged unfairly. I shall grant you the strength to survive, bard.”
The wounds of the bard begin to heal as the crown disperses and Stanley can stand. He coughs up blood as he stands upright.
“What in the Administrators’ good names?” Stanley manages to say something under labored breath.
“Leave this cruel place, it is not safe here.” The voice says.
Stanley limps, following the voice to the edge of town.
✦✦✦
Later, Clara finds Heathcliff looking at some of the monsters in the former’s care. The knight senses the alraune’s presence.
“Ah, Carla,” Heathcliff says to the verdant-hued woman before turning his gaze to the griffin child in the room.
Carla sees the hatchling is struggling to fly and approaches it. She sees its wing was injured. “Let’s say, hypothetically,” the Alraune says while nursing the young griffin. “I do take you on your offer. What would the compensation be?”
“Free room, free food and some of the mana the dungeon generates, cher.”
Carla sees the offer as standard. “And how would Charlotte education be handled? I doubt you’re one to make frequent trips to Hamlin and back.”
“I gots me some friends in high places, cher,” Heathcliff says. “I’m certain we can accommodate your daughter’s needs.”
Carla is a little skeptical, but she does see the determination in his eyes. “You’re an experienced knight, but a little green when it came to managing a dungeon, aren’t you?”
“How can you tell?”
“It’s rather obvious,” Carla says. “Usually when stranger garbed folk come around, they either tend to be adventurers, staff of a dungeon, both, or the core’s avatara themselves. When it comes to Hamlin specifiably, few are stranger then a group of strangers including a young woman in an armored dress, a dwarf and an Arachne.”
“You think we’re that out of place?” Heathcliff says.
“I do,” Carla says with a hint of playfulness. But Heathcliff senses a smaller hint of sorrow.
“Offer’s still open, cher,” Heathclfif says. “Nina’s really taking a liking to your daughter and there is still some matters we want to address here besides.”
“Such as?”
“The Piper,” Heathcliff says. “Emily seems to think there is something shady about that musician.”
“Oh my,” Carla says. “He seemed like a good fellow.”
“Seemed that way to me, too, cher,” Heathcliff says. “But looks could be deceiving.”
“I see,” Carla says, the griffin’s wing is now properly bandages and she lets the small creature go, warning it to not attempting flying until tomorrow.
“I’ve got some groceries to make later,” Heathcliff says. “Have anything in mind, cher? It is your house after all.”
“I can handle my own shopping, thanks,” Carla says. “Plus, me and Charlotte don’t eat that much.”
“Alright,” Heathcliff says. He then leaves the room.
Carla leaves shortly afterward, to check on the shelter and Geraldine.
✦✦✦
Meanwhile, Stanley Piers makes it to the forest, being careful not to attract further retribution from the villagers. He soon collapsed in front of the lake, surrounded by footsteps that indicated that others had recently arrived there.
“O humble Piper, forsaken to rot,” the cacodaemonic voice tells Stanley. “Judged for the theft of Hamlin’s future. You were wrongly accused and brutalized. But I can save you, O humble piper.”
Stanley’s wounds begin to catch up again. He has no money to pay the train fare and no energy to even walk to the station, several miles off. “Save me, save me how, and from what peril?”
“I shall grant you power, O Piper. Power to not only survive but thrive. To take revengance ‘gainst those that wronged you.” The voice whispers.
A storm of dark feelings swell inside Stanley. He has trusted Hamlin to treat him well in exchange for his extermination of the rats, yet he was treated like one and tossed away. He has felt betrayed, he has felt hurt. “Take revengance, but how would I do that?”
“You have a song in your heart, the Bardsong.” the voice says. “I shall grant you the means to broaden its scope. No more will you be limited to rats. No more shall you play the ratcatcher’s role. No more shall you be cast as a pied fool.”
“Heh, I do like the sound of that, voice,” Stanley says. He soon begins to stand up with a fiery determination, and inspiration. “They claim I stole Hamlin’s future today. Yet they know not what its future truly is.” The rancor allows his whispers to rise in volume until he shouts to the lake he turned into a watery cemetery of rodents “Voice, I beseech you, become my muse! Grant me your voice, and I’ll sign the line!”
“You’ve made a wise decision, O Piper,” the voice says. “We shall become as one, united. And Hamlin will suffer retribution.”
A dark aura concentrates around Stanley, lifting him in the air being absorbed by the Piper. His colorful costume turned into a foreboding garment checked in shades of ebony and crimson. Completed by the formation of a white mask over his eyes. A visor that symbolizes his newfound strength. Knowledge flows into Stanley as his costume metamorphoses. Knowledge of Bardic arts used to control more than rats. Knowledge of the residents of Hamlin. Knowledge of a guardian he did not know he ever had, one that had become part of him, and he has become part of them.
“O guardian, o muse, o symbiote,” Stanley Piers says. “Thank you for your kind generosity. Now then, there is so much work to be done.”
The Piper vanishes to prepare his newfound plot, and within the next week, Hamlin will truly be robbed of its future.
✦✦✦
Meanwhile, Heathcliff walks towards Hamlin’s markers, having the foresight to ask the villagers for their location on the way to Geraldine’s shelter. He finds the town’s atmosphere to be different.
He continues his grocery shopping he finds a dejected town crier. “Something the matter, monsieur?”
The crier sighs and looks up at the knight. “You are currently staying with the Alraunes, yes?”
“Oui,” Heathcliff says. “Why do you ask?”
The crier realizes that he never gave the news to Carla. “It’s the Piper,” the crier says with a hint of rage. “The scoundrel had nearly absconded with all the town’s money! We were nearly swindled!”
Heathcliff looks at the crier’s expression. A microcosm of the town’s opinion of him. “We should have never trusted that outsider. Her, you’re not with him aren’t you?”
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“Mais non!” Heathcliff says. He can sense the townsfolk growing a little suspicious of him. “I’m an honest man.”
“That’s what they all say,” the crier says. “I’m sorry, between this and Samuels’ death, I’m just a little on edge lately.” The crier leaves.
Heathcliff notices something. “Samuel, huh? The name sounds familiar.” He finishes making his groceries and returns back to Carla’s house.
✦✦✦
Later that afternoon, Emily and Tim start sparring. Emily to practice Bardsong and Tim to practice Earth magic. Elizabeth, Heathcliff, Sarah, Nina, Charlotte, Clara, Euryale and Stheno are spectating.
Tim has his eyes closed in his usual cocky expression. “Know that I will not hold back, Emily,” he says. With a stomp, he forces a rock to emerge from the ground and float in front of him. With a short punch, he hurls it at Emily.
Emily evades the stone and thinks up some notes. Her first thought was on the lightning, her second was to channel herself as the patron. The third note was aimed at striking Tim.
With these three notes, she creates an electrifying and fast melody that conjures up bolts of levin from the blue. The lightning misses Tim as Emily repeats her musical chants.
“Emily!” Elizabeth says. “Your tempo is too high, slow down!”
Tim closes the gap with a charging step and attempts to use a palm strike on Emily. Emily parries the attack with her arms and slings her melody slowly as she holds Tim in a chokehold. A bolt of lightning strikes them both.
Both combatants are still standing but were shocked by the lightning strike. “Impressive,” Tim says as the moves behind Emily and leans on her, toppling the girl to the ground.
“Is there any particular reason why they’re fighting?” Sarah says.
“Tim wanted to practice this way,” Elizabeth says.
“That seems very…brutal,” Carla says.
“They can handle it, cher,” Heathcliff says. “They’ve been through worse.”
“You can do it, Emmy!” Nina cheers from the sidelines. “Teach him a lesson!”
Emily stands up and decides to fight fire with fire, or rather, earth and earth. She hums a melody with the purpose of bending the soil to defend her from Tim’s strike. Tim attempts to sue an elbow strike, but Emily manages to use her Bardsong to create a barrier of dirt to block the blow.
Emily remembers that Tim is overconfident and has an idea. She tries to think of which elements she can use that would make Tim more prone to prideful blunders and decides to sing a melody of light. She baths herself in a glowing auro as she sings and enters a vulnerable position.
The song clouds Tim’s judgment, making him think that she is wide open and has him aiming to take her down. He conjures a pillar of earth and uses it to launch forward. He uses the momentum to land right behind Emily and prepare for the lean. But Emily anticipated that and grabbed his arm. Bathed in light she throws him over her shoulder and slams him into the ground, before drawing one of her swords and pointing it at him.
Tim is left wondering what has just happened. How did he leave himself so open? Emily chuckles and puts her sword back, offering him a hand to help himself up.
“I hear that pride is often followed by a fall,” Emily says. She helps Tim up.
Tim is not ready to concede just yet, he draws his Qiang and Emily her swords, and both get ready for round two.
Tim summons spikes of rock with a stomp, aimed towards Emily but she leaps to the left and dodges them while singing a flighty tritone to assist her movement speed. Tim uses swift leg movements to surround Emily with rocks. The hovering stones pelt her in all directions, hindering her movement. One winds up hitting her in her throat, stopping her song for a few moments.
“Guess it wasn’t bluster after all,” Emily says after recovering from the throat attack. Emily sings her song of light again.
Tim begins to realize that it affected him, making him more reckless. He composes himself and blocks Emily’s slashes with his Qiang and then spins to repel his friend and opponent.
The gust knocks Emily back a few meters and Tim uses several bajiquan techniques and spear movements to embed her legs into the ground, binding her in place. He points his spear at her. Emily is left to think up a counter as Tim makes a charging step and places the tip of the spear on her throat.
The spectators are shocked at the development, but Heathcliff and Elizabeth remain calm. Emily looks at Tim as he smirks and retracts his weapon. He releases the rocks from her and offers her a hand.
“You fought admirably, partner,” Tim said as he helped Emily up.
“You sure you weren’t holding back?” Emily says.
“I’m certain,” Tim says. “But it would be poor of me to slay the core I’m supposed to be protecting,”
Carla catches Tim’s words and begins to suspect something about Emily.
“All right,” Elizabeth says. “Sparing time’s over!” Everyone them heads back to Carla’s house for lunch.
✦✦✦
Later, Carla takes the opportunity to meet Charlotte’s new friends better. The Alraune shows Stheno and Euyrale several pictures from when Charlotte was a mere seedling.
“And this is from when little Charlotte says her first word,” Carla says. “And this is from when she sprouted her legs.”
“Mom!” Charlotte says with embarrassment at the pictures. The twins giggle a bit at seeing these images. Euryale turns to her flustered friends. “It could be worse, you should’ve seen the pics Daddy took of us!”
“Quite,” Stheno says. “I think they still have that portrait of when you have milk on your face, Eury.”
Euryale’s face glows red at recalling the incident. “That bottle just spilled!” she says.
Carla looks at the trio with some relief at the fact that Charlotte has made new friends. Yet something is lingering in her mind.
“They never cared for you or your daughter. They will shun you like all of the others.”
Carla dismisses the thought as she turns to show the kids more of Charlotte’s baby portraits.
“Have you known what had become of the Piper?”
Carla’s thoughts turn to the other traveler to Hamlin. The pied man who was tasked with pest control. She excuses herself and leaves her daughter and the twins alone. She looks for Heathcliff and finds him looking at several bears that Carla was tending to.
Heathcliff notices the single mother’s presence. “Here for the bears?”
“Not quite,” Carla says as she approaches the ursines. She checks to see if they are both hale, hearty, and calm. “I actually wanted to ask how your shopping went.”
“Ah, the groceries were well made,” Heathcliff says. “The merchants were a kindly bunch.”
“I would hope so,” Carla says. “Have you heard about the Piper lately?”
Heathcliff recalls his conversation with the town crier. “I heard some words about him. Allegedly he was caught robbing the village coffers and left town.”
Carla has an expression of surprise. A thought enters her mind. “Whom betrayed whom, the piper or Hamlin?” She finished examining the bears.
“Maybe I need some fresh air,” the Alraune thinks. She turns to Heathcliff, “Would you kindly babysit Charlotte for me, I must check something in the village.”
“Pleasure’s all mine, cher,” Heathcliff says.
“Thank you,” Carla says. She makes preparations to head to Hamlin, telling her daughter that she will be back in two hours and that he has entrusted Heathcliff to their care in the interim. She sets off for the village.
As she enters Hamlin, she first heads to the shelter, hoping that her sister Geraldine would know more about the foreign Piper’s fate. She finds Geraldine taking care of some puppies.
“Carla!” Geraldine is surprised to see her here at this hour. “Is something the matter?”
“No,” Carla says, making sure her green hair is not out of place. “I just want to ask about the ratcatcher.”
The two talk about the disgraced Piper.
“The mayor had sent the guards after him, accusing him of stealing the gold meant for the Backbreaker project.”
“My goodness. That is a serious charge,” Carla says.
“Indeed,” Geraldine says. “Officer Owens had discovered that one of the lakes had both the stolen gold and the corpses of the rats the Piper, named Stanley Piers, had removed.”
“This Stanley,” Carla says. “I have not seen much of him, but what I did see stuck me as not the type for theft.”
“That’s not the end of it,” Geraldine says. “The officers had also searched him and found several gold coins in his pockets! He claimed to be innocent but—”
“The evidence is against him,” Carla says. She understands the importance of the gold. Before his demise, Samuel had gathered four-fifths of the money that the village saved up, that money was considered their future as they intended to use it to fund the infrastructure that would open the village up to the world, connect it with the outside that the Brokeback Mountains had isolated it from. It is no wonder why the mayor took it so seriously.
“When your future is on the line, quid ageres?”
Carla’s seed of doubt festers.
“Do you think Hamlin would spare you, Carla? If the Piper is innocent, then why? Why would you think they would not judge you? See you and your child both as monsters?” These intrusive thoughts leave Carla wondering if she is even safe in Hamlin.
“Thank you, Geraldine,” Carla says. “One last thing?”
“Yes?” Geraldine says.
“Can you accompany me to where he…”
“Of course,” Geraldine says. “But why?”
“I want to see if there was something they missed.
The two sisters leave the shelter and head down to the local tavern. Along the way Carla hears the murmurs of the townsfolk, each of them silently inquiring to each other why Carla would go there.
Over at the tavern, the two Alraunes head to the nearby alley. There they find the place surrounded by black and yellow tape and the chalk outline in the shape of a body. A remnant of a man beloved by all.
The effulgent sunlight shines harshly on the outline. The two examine the echo for any signs of evidence. The official claims are that Samuel had somehow choked on alcohol, but the autopsy had revealed several wounds consistent with those commonly inflicted by highland vipers, as well as trace elements of poison.
“Geraldine,” Carla says as she looks around for any missed hints. “You recalled that we took in some snakes lately?”
“Of course!” her sister says. “They came from the caves of one of the mountains, why do you ask?”
Carla isn’t sure herself.
“It is not your fault, murderer you’re not. But does it matter if peers think you are?”
Carla and Geraldine soon find a knight, gleaming next to the wall, beyond the boundaries of the crime scene. The blade stands embedded in the rustic wooden wall. A purple stain the size of the coin stands beneath it.
“How did the guards miss this?” Carla thinks. She considers taking the knife but realizes that it would only lend fire to the rumors.
“The town needeth closure, it can’t move on. But how would it gain it with you still here?”
Carla asks Geraldine to head to the authorities to report the knife.
✦✦✦
Over at the Black Box. Richard tinkers with his crossbows in his atelier.
“Now let’s see,” the dwarven goldsmith and weaver says as he attaches a scope to his crossbow. “Voila!”
Minerva enters the workshop. “Good morning, Richard”
“Ack!” Richard is startled by Minerva’s presence. “Minerva, what brings you here?”
“I just wanted to check up on you,” Minerva says. “The animals haven't attacked you have they?”
“Not recently,” Richard says. “Have the beasts give you any trouble?”
“Our little ‘guests’ had been repelled from our nests and Emily’s most important rooms for now, but we know not how long we could keep them at bay. I can only hope they return with a tamer.”
“Beastmasters are always a tricky lot to find,” Richard says.
Through the past several days, while the others are in Hamlin, Richard, Minerva, and several Arachne had taken it upon themselves to use temporary measures to protect themselves from the wild animals that reside in Emily’s body.
Minerva takes a look at the crossbow at Richard’s desk. “What are you working on?”
“Trying something new,” the blond dwarf says. “My sister’s the blacksmith, but I know enough to at least try tinkering with my weapons a bit.”
The crossbows, nor black with yellow lines coursing through them, evoke the image of a thunderbolt. Its components were made from leftover stunner pieces. “I noticed that the stunners were very effective at repelling the animals, and decided to give the crossbow similar capabilities.”
“So,” the Arachne says “you made a stun gun?”
“Not quite?” Richard says. “This is a modified crossbow and therefore uses enchanted bolts to become a different kind of bolt. A real stun gun emphasizes the gun part more.”
“Ah,” Minerva says. Her mind is on something else.
“You’re concerned about your daughter?”
“How did you know?” Minerva says.
“Lucky guess,” Richard says.
Minerva sighs. “I’m considering that she might one day get in over her head. Nina is still a young girl, not yet knowing of the true dangers of the world.”
“I’m certain she will be well protected at least,” Richard says. “You saw that Emily was able to rescue her from Tarantulopolis right?
“That is not my only concern,” Minerva says. “I’m also worried that spending time around adventurers might embolden her.”
“Minerva,” Richard says. “Do you want Nina not to be an adventurer?”
“I can’t say I do,” Minerva says. “At least not at this age.”
“I understand,” Richard walks over to his newly modified weapons. “Administrators know how many times I tried to deter Sarah from venturing out on her own, and they know how many times I’ve failed. I know what it’s like to worry about loved ones, to fear that one day, they would leave and left unable to return.”
“Your parents,” Minerva says. “What were they like?”
“Father was a good crafter,” Richard says. “Taught me and Sarah everything we knew. As for mother…”
Minerva could tell something terrible had happened. “It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me.”
A dire wolf draws near the atelier, looking for prey. Richard notices the beast’s presence and looks outside, finding it walking towards the workshop.
“Looks like the field test is upon us,” Richard walks outside and aims his crossbow. He looks through the scope of his weapon and fires a bolt. The wolf dodges. Richard fires a second one, piercing the thigh of the dire wolf. The wolf tries to lunge, but the crossbow bolt zaps it with ten volts of power and stuns the leg. Another bolt pierces its flesh and shocks the wolf, causing it to flee.
“Perfect,” Richard says. He returns to his workshop. “Now then Minerva, anything else you wish to discuss?”
“Yes,” Minerva is curious about something. “Effectiveness aside, why use the stunner as the base of your weapon upgrades?”
“Well,” Richard says. “I don’t think the fans would serve me well in battle and the petribeams had certain risks attached to it. Lightning bolts were the most ideal for my crossbows.”
“I see, thank you,” Minerva says as she walks away.
With his work on his weapons complete, Richard returns to tasks more suited to his skill sets. He takes a look at several sketches for outfit and jewelry designs. A promotional image of Noir’s skyline and several magazines from the city are buried beneath the sketches. “Hmm, there is still something missing.” He says. The day passes by as he examines his designs.
✦✦✦
A week passes over Hamlin, and everyone is set to leave. The Arion sisters are picked up by their parents. Who thank Carla for taking care of their daughters. As for Emily and her party, they prepare to head back home.
“Thank you for having us!” Emily says to Carla.
“It was my pleasure!” The Alraune says.
Heathcliff hands her a map with the location of the Black Box. “Offer’s still open, cher.”
“Let’s get a move on!” Elizabeth says.
Emily, Heathcliff, Tim, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Nina finish preparing for their trip back home. Carla and Charlotte say goodbye to Emily’s party.
Carla looks at the map and wonders about something. “Maybe this dungeon is worth checking out, at least for a bit?” she thinks.
Later that day, Carla walks to town for groceries. She finds Officer Owens sitting on a table.
“Good morning, officer?” Carla says.
“Morning,” Owens says. “Heard you visited the murder scene recently.”
“We found something the guards have missed.”
“Geraldine told me about the knife,” Owens says.
Carla sighs a bit.
Owens stands up. “You know about the Piper’s attempted robbery?”
“Yes,” Carla says. “I heard your men had—“
“Blasted mayor,” Owens says. “I talked to him about that. Man kept prattling on about it was necessary to safeguard the future of the village.” He sighs.
“Does this always happen?” Carla says.
“Not while I’m around,” Owens says. “I like to make sure my men do not go around acting like violent thugs. Too many of those at Noir and Gardenia as is.”
“And we thank you that, officer,” Carla says. A moment later she sighs.
“Something bugging you?” Owens says. “You look a little gloomy.”
“It’s just,” Carla says. “I had a lot on my mind lately.”
“I understand,” Owens says. “The nerve of some people accusing you of murder.”
“I fear that the knife might have caused more people to believe these rumors,”
“Cause you took care of some Highland Vipers last winter?” Owens says. “Carla, you need to have more faith in us you know?”
A voice enters Carla’s head. “He cannot even rein in his men! And you would trust him with your safety?” Carla gasps in shock. She knows Officer Owens would protect her and the other villages, why would she even have a thought like this?
Owens hears the gasp and expresses concern. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he says.
“I’m good,” Carla says. “Just a little hiccup is all.”
“Maybe you should get some rest,” Owens says. “Take a vacation, maybe take some time away from Hamlin a bit?”
“I’ll consider a vacation,” Carla says. “Thank you, Officer Owens.”
“My pleasure,” Owens says. “Now be careful, Carla!”
The two friends part ways for now.
✦✦✦
A few days pass, nearly ten days since the Piper dragged himself out of Hamlin.
“The Alraune is a good muse for this song,” Stanley thinks to himself. “Frightened, unsure of herself, of the town. She, accused as I had been, a good pawn. I’m glad you let me know of her, buddy.”
The Piper and his new friend use their talents to prepare for their vengeance. The lake is now clear of the corpses of rats, the stagnant water dyed a nauseating shade of green beneath the effulgent sunlight. A ground of rats surrounds the bard like soldiers would their commanding officer, awaiting orders.
“The undead vermin doth make for poor friends,” the voice says.
“Quite, they are poor accomplices indeed,” Stanley says. “They are but the opening act, my chum. A distraction from my dress rehearsal.”
“You think it time to enact the plan now?”
“Not quite, I must test, and experiment.”
Stanley then plays a small tune. The rat corpses dance around the Piper, animated and puppeted by a cacodaemonic force. The rats ritualistically move around their masters. As if in reverence to the Pied Piper and his ephemeral partner.
“You never did give me your name, fellow,” Stanley says.
“A name is redundant, we are as one,” the voice says. “In due time, you shall be known as Pruflas.”
“Pruflas, huh, quite a charming name indeed,” Stanley says. “I like the sound of that, Mister Pruflas.” Stanley Piers makes a wicked grin as the rats finish their macabre dance.
✦✦✦
The next day, Carla and Charlotte are at the shelter. The former is there to ask Geraldine a favor.
“You want me to house sit?” Geraldine says. “What for? You usually don’t have business outside Hamlin.”
“I wanted to check out a certain place. And besides, I thought it was time for me to take a vacation,” Carla says. “Things had gotten stressful lately.”
Charlotte asks her mother something. “Can Euryale and Stheno come with us?”
“That is something we’ll have to ask their parents, dear,” Carla says.
“Carla,” Geraldine says. “I know things are hard with the rumors and all. Don’t worry I’ll keep your house spic and span while you’re gone.”
“Thank you, Geraldine,” Carla says.
“What are sisters for?” she says with a giggle. Just leave it all to me.
Later in the day, she talks to Douglas and Medusa about their outward trip.
“Going to check out a Dungeon, you say?” Medusa says. “That is far away. When would you be back?”
“Three days time,” Carla says. “Revotos’ Valley can grant us safe passage at least.”
“Really cashing in those favors from way back when,” Douglas says.
“Can we come with them?” Euryale and Stheno say to their parents. Eager to want to spend more time with Charlotte.
“Ladies,” Medusa says. “Do you know how dangerous it is?”
“Is there any reason why you want to bring the young one along? Is this because of the village giving her the cold shoulder?” Douglas says.
Carla hesitates for a bit before saying, “I think it might be good for her to expand her horizons. After all, there may come a time when she might leave this humble village. Besides, one of her new friends allegedly hails from this Dungeon.”
Charlotte has a forlorn expression. “Maybe I don’t belong here,” she thinks.
The twin daughters of Douglas and Medusa Arion beg their parents to let Carla take them to the Dungeon.
“I’m not sure,” Medusa says.
“Oh come on, honey,” Douglas says. “Orpheus was their age when he started.”
“We are leaving tomorrow,” Carla says. “I want to suggest talking it over and giving your answer then.”
“Got it,” Douglas says.
“Thank you for letting us know, Carla,” Medusa says.
“My pleasure,” Carla says.
The Alraune mother and daughter leave. Medusa noticed their expressions were less vibrant than usual. “Doug, honey, you don’t think they’re letting the rumors get to them?”
“I suspect that they are, honey,” Douglas says. “Samuel’s death and the town’s lack of closure have them treating them like outcasts.”
“You’d think they’d have more faith in Samuel’s judgment,” Medusa says.
“Aye,” Douglas says. “I hope we find out who really killed Samuel soon.”
The Arion’s next dinner was spent talking about whether or not the young girls should accompany the Alraunes.