-- Edelweiss --

We had finally made it back to the office. I had been answering the quester's questions the entire way to keep them distracted. I learned early on with these kids that if you force them anywhere they will do everything in their power to getaway. It was a lot easier to just lay out exactly what was going on and then just act tired. They usually just go along when we seem reasonable. Though they always seem to want a fight.

Though this time I really didn't know what to do with them. Everything was building up and with them coming so late, the fake town had already been emptied. No one wanted to sit in a town so close to the crack. Not to mention that the energy was too strong and people literally couldn't stay there right now. So I can't just shove them there this time.

I let out a long sigh as we all entered the central city building, I turned to the questers and pointed toward one of our conference rooms, "You all will wait in here, while we figure out what we are going to do."

They all looked a little wary, and I was surprised none of them questioned it. The girl looked like she would when she shook her head, and just went into the room. I couldn't tell if they were being too trusting or if they didn't see an escape. Well, I did lay out everything to them. Maybe that bought a bit of trust.

One of my men came up to me, "Sir!"

I turned to him, annoyed, "What is it?" I looked to the part of kids who stopped moving to listen. Couldn't he have waited till they were gone?

The man seemed completely oblivious to my annoyance, "We have a report of a new mage in the east tower."

That was actually good news. I smiled at the group smiling, "Well, there's your mage." The man was just standing there as I turned back. Ah, looking for orders. Now what to do with them? Have someone gotten them out? That is usually more trouble than it's worth. "Just let them try to get out. While they're there they can't do anything."

"Is she safe?" I turned to the boy named James, with a smile. It's good to care about your team.

"Yeah. She might stub her toe a couple times, but she's fine. Someone will pull her out if she takes too long." I just hope they don't wait a couple days like last time.

"What do you mean?" The boy asked.

"She is in a magic puzzle," I explained. With that, there should be one more, "Hawthorn."

"Sir!"

"Go over to administration to see if there is any news on their last member." I paused. I had received a report that it was only a five-member team but what if it was wrong, "There are only five of you right? Not six"

"Yeah. Why?" The by James answered.

"Just checking. Five is a low number for a party. Hawthorn sees if we have a report on the last one."

"On it." Hawthorn left to find the information I requested.

"So what now?" The boy asked.

"Now you all go in there until we have news of your friend. I have a few things to take care of before I can even begin to figure out what to do with you." I watched as they all hesitantly entered the room. I went into my office and practically fell into my desk.

I sat in my chair for a long time just trying to come up with something. I had been relying on the fake town for so long. I didn't even have a backup plan. I guess I could have them fight in the tide, but then I have to deal with all the people trying to get in the show. I was lost in thought for a while when I heard my door open and Hawthorn steps in. I decided to get his opinion.

"Hawthorn thoughts."

"The leader is skilled and strong." Not really what I was asking, but good information to have.

"How strong?"

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"They're at least in their twenties."

That caught my attention, "How is that possible?"

Hawthorn shook his head, "I don't know, but the kid was really skilled with his weapon. Blight! He even broke through during it. Give it another year, and I might have trouble keeping up."

I gave him a long stare. "Sure Hawthorn," I said sarcastically. Hawthorn had been training for decades and had only been improving year after year. So I knew he was exaggerating.

He let out a chuckle, "Ok. Maybe ten if I don't keep training, and stop altogether."

"That's high praise." It may have sounded like bragging, but coming from him it was high praise. I thought back to the fight and thought about what I saw. I was busy at the time playing my role as the tired city leader to notice, but the boy did show promise. Then that other kid just fell from the sky, "What of the idiot falling from the sky?"

"He was strong." Hawthorn looked to be putting thoughts together, "Really strong."

I raised an eyebrow at him and motioned for him to continue.

"His first swing nearly made me drop my sword," Hawthorn said plainly.

"What?" I said jumping to my feet. "How could he possibly do that?"

"I don't know either. He must be one-hundred percent focused on brute strength. He fights like he's never touched a sword before, and just flails around."

"So he's just a strong idiot, would explain why they didn't tell him anything." I reasoned out.

"I don't know, but If you want to put them on the front at least those two will be able to at least hold their own." Hawthorn said evaluation, then added, "For a time at least."

"I'll have the others evaluated before that." I fell back into my seat, "What of the fifth?"

"Borage got him."

"Already?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yeah they're both apparently rangers and the boy is still learning control."

"Let him know he can't do the slave storyline and have him bring the ranger here." This was going to cause all sorts of problems.

"He's not going to like it," Hawthorn warned.

"I know, but we need everyone. I got a report right before we picked them up." I probably should have told him already.

"What?"

"Something is keeping them back."

"What could keep a tide back?"

I let out a long breath "A titan." I didn't believe the reports at first. Even beyond the crack, there isn't supposed to be enough power for them to exist. But the man who reportedly was trustworthy. I could only hope he misinterpreted what he saw but I didn't put much stock in that.

Hawthorn stood stunned, before eventually getting out, "But that's a myth."

"Apparently not, a giant hand reaches out and pulls multiple monsters back through. What else could it be?"

"Intelligent?"

"We are in the worst-case scenario," I admitted.

"Fuck."

Hawthorn left the office to inform Borage. I think he also wanted to not think about what was coming. I wish I could do the same. I had to figure out what to do. It wasn't ten minutes later when Borage stormed into my office with Hawthorn right behind him.

"Edelweiss! What is the meaning of this?"

"Hello, Borage," I said calmly.

"Don't hello me. What is the meaning of this? I finally got a quester. I took my vacation time to do this, and you're yanking them away? We had this whole thing set up. They were going to save a bunch of slaves, and I was going to end the slave ring itself."

I still couldn't believe the ass-backward plan they had come up with to deal with them, "Yes, I'm aware Borage. And the fact that you were planning to use the questers to go undercover is questionable at best. But, we have bigger problems."

"What? What could possibly be bigger?" Borage had been chasing the ring for years now and he had finally gotten a good set of leads. I was tempted to actually let him go through with it but after thought knew the migration would screw everything up anyway.

"The migration," I answered simply.

Borage looked confused, "The migration? It's the same every year. What is there going to be more? So what well take care of them like always."

"We have a titan coming."

Borage looked disbelievingly, "...those are a myth."

"I just received a report and I believe him. Not to mention, the towers are slowing down, so the creatures will be stronger too." I explained.

"Can't I at least start the story?" He whined.

"No. We need them in the fight. We need everyone." I emphasized everyone.

Borage, paused thinking, before smiling, "Fine...I'll just the actual mentor thing maybe I'll be able to do the story after. Like a mentor betrayal kind of thing."

"As long as they fight. Not sure it will make a difference, but maybe the footage will make people realize we are here." They had been cutting the supply drops for years. We only became truly self-sufficient about thirty years ago. Since then we had to send our own runners to get outside items.

"The fighting hmmm. Maybe we can get some footage there." Borage said thinking aloud.

I didn't care what he was planning, "As long as it doesn't interfere. We need to train them up. They're stronger than they should be, but lacking in experience."

"How long do we have?" Borage asked seriously.

"Maybe a few days, a week at most." I was relying on the tower's estimates, thinking they must align with the purge but I couldn't be sure. I was hoping for longer. It would give us more time but with the way things were going, I couldn't count on it.

"This is going to be a serious mess."

"Yeah, I know. Half the people are going to think I want my own story, and am making shit up. The other is going to try to do their own thing anyway."

"I might be able to get some off your back if I can bring some of them them in on the training."

I only needed to think about it for a minute. They could play off each other, while still training the kids. "You know what do it. Takes one thing off my plate."

"Thanks, Edelweiss," Borage said. But I could see the gleam of mischief in his eyes.

"Just get them ready. I don't want to spend the next fifty years rebuilding the city...again."