“Hrm, I wonder if I’d be able to travel to the Under Library, and if I did, would I be considered a steward as well?” Andrew asked after Andy finished his story.
“Really, that’s your takeaway from my horror story?” Andy asked back.
“Yes, are you about to claim you aren’t planning a return trip?” Andrew’s tone made sure to imply he knew his younger self, that well still, despite how far they had diverged.
“No, I’m not going to claim that, and I suppose we can test your ability to enter when I do.” Andy smiled.
“Good. In the meantime, I have a request during the defense. As you are all aware, I have been able to increase Trashcat's intelligence up to our other animal companions. I believe this was just a side effect of making her loop aware. If this holds the next loop, I will need someone else to test it on. At the moment, I only have enough materials for a single other dose. But as it pertains to the defense. I need as much of the bright stone from the mines as you can retrieve. It’s one of the key ingredients. I’ve been working from the little I had when this all started. It’s a further refinement on how I brought Cal into this.”
“Let’s make that a priority as well. If we could start building a network of people we completely trust and make them loop-aware, it would be a giant asset for the coming war.” Andy said.
“See, this is why we needed Andy. He has the strategy. I’m just the words guy.” Cal followed up with a giant smile on his face.
“You’re not even that much of a words guy. You were just my only real choice here.” Andrew side-eyed Cal.
“Alright, even more reason to crack loop awareness. We need a bard, someone who can get a lot of people to listen and act very fast when this happens.” Cal said.
“Let’s table any talk of bards and go back to the Dallas defense people,” Jen said, shaking her head at them.
“So, Bill and I both have some magic now. His is crazy powerful, but he needs to be support. He can take control of other people's mana flows. I can create gravity distortion fields. Let’s put ourselves into two squads for this, with Ralth in reserve. Cal, I think you will work best with Stan, Jen, and Bug. Basically, let them operate as a unit with you jumping around as needed. Ethel, Frank, Bill and myself can work as the second squad, splitting into two smaller pairs as well as needed. Whatever happened with Melissa?” Andy asked, following his tactical planning.
“Turns out she was one of the scientists and has disappeared to do her own thing, so for now, I say we just ignore her,” Jen answered.
“Okay, disappointing, but okay. We could always use more magic. Anyone else want to join us in the defense?” Andy asked the room.
Albert coughed. “The boys and I have been working on some mana-infused grenades. We were thinking of doing bombing runs as needed.”
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“Good idea, I like it. How many grenades do you have ready to do?” Andy asked.
“Just ten, but they should pack a big boom. We won’t be able to use them inside.”
“Alright, we can work with that,” Andy said.
“Perfect, then if no one has anything, I think it’s time for everyone to rest up before the big day. Just remember, I expect great things out of us.” Cal looked at everyone as he said this.
“Does that mean I should keep my expectations around average things?” Andy laughed.
“You know I had friends before you, Andy. I can get new ones!”
“Uh-huh, whatever you say, Cal. So, did I miss the conversation about Cal’s eyes, or are we just avoiding that?” Andy asked the room.
“I didn’t want to pry,” Stan answered.
“Oh yeah, my eyes. So, I overdosed on mana fruit in my realm, which nearly killed me. Bolt nursed me back to health, and I may not need to eat or breathe anymore. Nothing special. Mana fruit, great for the body.”
“Just how many did you eat, Cal?” Ethel scolded him from across the room.
“I tried eating a third one in a week. I should have just stuck to the one.”
“Cal, I ate four in a row before channeling it all into Frank. Are you sure you know what you’re doing when it comes to mana release?” Ethel’s voice was stern. She stared at him.
“Not even a little. I suppose next loop I can become one of your students.”
“Yes, I suppose you can. Someone needs to beat a bit of discipline into you.” She finally broke her stare.
“Alright, everyone, go have fun before we all die horribly yet again.” Andy dismissed the meeting.
Cal spent the remaining few days relaxing. He had spent this loop training harder than any previous. He was in the best physical shape he had ever ended a loop at before. He had no idea if that would help whatsoever, but it was nice to see what he could do when he focused.
This line of thought led him to the decision that Ethel was probably also right about his needing better training. He would spend some time with her next loop and see about a trip to Titan. See if Marley’s claims were true. It would be nice to meet someone with actual knowledge of how to use magic instead of blundering through it.
Once the morning of the invasion hit, Cal put a lid on these thoughts for now. He had a battle to win or die trying. The usual in a series of insane events his life had become. He met up with everyone, and they shared a nice breakfast.
“So, any bets on who lasts the longest?” Albert asked.
“How does that work? The second Cal dies, it’s over.” Andy pointed out in between bites of scrambled eggs.
“Good point, okay, new bet, order of who dies.” Albert tried again to get people interested.
“Probably me first, then Cal,” Stan said.
“Honestly, with his stupid luck, we are probably all going down before him.” Ethel resumed sipping her tea.
“Look, it doesn’t matter as long as we can hold the building for two hours. That’s what’s important here.” Jen stated harshly, ending the conversation.
“Yeah, it’s time to go anyway. Everyone, go grab your gear and meet me in the Dallas safe house in the next thirty minutes.” Andy slid his plate to the center of the table and stood up.
Cal did the same. It was time to see once again just what they could do and how much he personally had grown.