Owin sat at the counter, flipping through Potilia’s book until the sun finally rose. He couldn’t read, of course, but the book had a variety of maps and pictures he spent some time looking through. Pictures of mobs and rough sketches of a few floors of dungeons covered entire pages. Owin only figured out the maps after seeing a partial drawing of the cultist village on the second floor of the Great Dungeon. He recognized Nosolus’s cathedral immediately.

Shortly after the morning’s light peeked through the curtains, Potilia stumbled down the stairs and froze upon seeing Owin.

“Did you move my bookmark?”

“I don’t know what that is.”

She sprinted across the room and crashed against the counter. Owin lifted his hands away from the book as she flung it open and checked for a long piece of string in the middle of a page.

“It’s still here.”

“That’s a bookmark?”

Potilia slammed the book shut. “What were you reading? Were you reading about—” She opened it again, glanced at a page, and slammed it back shut. “Hobgoblins?”

“No.” Owin hopped off the stool. “I can’t read.”

“Right.” Potilia slowly slid the book farther from Owin.

“There were pictures.”

Potilia nodded slowly. “I don’t want to say it’s sad . . .” Her index appeared as she looked over Owin’s attributes. “With intelligence that high, you could easily learn.” She squinted. “Why haven’t you learned?”

“I was trying to not be killed. Remember the story I told?”

“Eh. Some of it. I wasn’t always listening.” Potilia walked around the counter and sat on the stool. “Why not have Miya teach you? Didn’t you spend the evening with her?”

Images of fire flashed through Owin’s memories. Based on what he saw the previous night, Miya wouldn’t have books to teach with for long. Not if she had a chance to burn them.

“I don’t think she would be a good teacher.”

Potilia shrugged. “Want some coffee? I usually make some in the morning before Chorsay is awake.”

“I don’t know what that is.”

Potilia squinted again. “Do you know anything?”

“I wish you listened to the story when I told it.” Owin watched as Potilia flipped the book back to her bookmark. She leaned on her elbows and stared at the page as if the words immediately gripped her entire being.

Owin stood on his toes, trying to see what was on her bookmarked page. The counter was far above. He could jump, but he would likely crash into Potilia and possibly even knock her off the stool. Jumping was one of his greatest strengths, but Owin wasn’t going to lie to himself and say landing was one of his talents.

“Hello?” Owin said.

Potilia glanced up, barely turning her head. “What do—”

The front door flew open, throwing the wooden door into the wall. The deadbolt hit the ground and slid to a stop at Owin’s feet. He grabbed the metal piece and tried using Examine on whatever stood in the dust.

At first it picked up nothing, then a figure appeared, quickly followed by a string of notifications.

“Fuck,” Potilia said.

Hero

Akimori Kyoya

Hunter

Stelsodo Security Regime

Level: 78

Strength: 343

Constitution: 367

Dexterity: 502

Intelligence: 299

Wisdom: 285

Charisma: 273

Owin took a step back. The Thunderstrike Maul was on the other side of Potilia’s stool, behind the desk. His knives were in his belt, but with a dexterity of over 500, there wasn’t a chance Owin would be fast enough to get close to Kyoya.

A bounty has been placed on you from the Izylia Unity Force.

You are wanted.

The notification hung in his vision like the information about the secret bosses back in the dungeon. Kyoya stepped into the lobby with his weapons sheathed. A squad of soldiers waited outside, with only a few key figures following close behind Kyoya.

One looked familiar, though he was wearing segmented maroon armor instead of a suit.

Hero

Vondaire Faikel

Umbra

Izylia Unity Force

The other wore maroon armor identical to Vondaire’s, but with a crest on the helmet. He was incredibly thin, having gaunt cheeks that had blistered burns on the little skin shown. Thick leather gloves covered his hands.

Citizen

Taralim Norkreena

Entertainer

Izylia Unity Force

Taralim’s eyes were yellow and felt as if they glowed like a full moon. He had knives sheathed on each hip and a bandolier of throwing knives strapped across his chest.

“That’s him?” Taralim asked, his voice hoarse. His index flashed in front of his eyes.

“Yes, obviously,” Kyoya said. “This isn’t going to be difficult, will it, Owin?”

Heavy, steady footsteps sounded above. The intruders froze, watching as the footsteps neared like a coming storm.

“Difficult?” Chorsay gripped the railing above. Wood splintered. “You break down my door and you have the audacity to ask if Owin will make it difficult?” Chorsay appeared calm as he walked down the stairs, but each step caused the entire building to rumble.

“Stay out of this, Chorsay,” Kyoya said. “I told you I would be back if Izylia insisted.”

“And we insist,” Taralim said.

Chorsay’s index quickly flashed. The air rumbled as he took the last step down into the lobby, stopping directly between Owin and Kyoya. He had no weapons, but his fists were squeezed tight with veins rising on his exposed forearms. It couldn’t be more obvious that Chorsay had just woken up. Not that it mattered. All the intruders refused to take their eyes off him.

“Have the dignity to reveal yourself.” Chorsay’s voice was low. He sounded nothing like before.

Taralim crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.

Cocky. He reminded Owin of Siora. The bastard thought he was untouchable, even as the rest of the soldiers cowed before Chorsay. Kyoya flinched as Chorsay adjusted his sleeves.

“A goblin cannot exist outside the dungeons. Ruvaine has made a mistake. That mistake will be corrected.” Taralim pushed Kyoya aside. The sergeant nearly fell off his feet from even the slightest touch.

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Potilia grabbed the Thunderstrike Maul, grunting a little as she lifted it and calmly passed it to Owin. He didn’t want to take his eyes off the encounter before him, but the fact that she was able to lift it at all was incredible. What was her strength?

Taralim strode forward until he was only a pace in front of Chorsay. The entertainer looked tiny in comparison.

“I sense it,” Chorsay said. “Change your description all you want. You can’t trick me.”

A shockwave exploded, throwing Owin off his feet. Potilia, Kyoya, and nearly everyone else in the room flew away from the center, landing hard on the wooden floorboards. Owin jumped right back to his feet, seeing only Vondaire on the other side still standing calmly.

Chorsay had shifted his stance and punched. He still stood, mid-strike, with his fist pressing against the tip of Taralim’s knife. The Izylia Unity Force officer had produced the knife so quickly, only Chorsay had reacted. Neither pushed farther, as if they had matched blades.

A silver gem hung in the air over Chorsay’s right shoulder. An identical gem hovered in the air behind Taralim. Power radiated again, sending another shockwave out, though much weaker than the first.

“A Shard Carrier,” Potilia whispered.

Chorsay’s hand snapped up and grabbed the knife blade. He twisted his wrist and snapped the metal, tossing it aside.

Taralim relaxed. The shard lowered to his shoulder and disappeared. “So old, and only a single shard.”

While Taralim had relaxed, Chorsay’s fists remained. He looked as though he might rip the man’s head straight from his shoulders. “Only fools think age will slow me down. Get out.” The shard stayed hovering over Chorsay’s shoulder.

“Examine your goblin. There’s a bounty of a hundred thousand dungeon gold for the murder of heroes outside Oriathria. He will be executed. Now.” Taralim gestured to Owin and waited.

Chorsay didn’t bother turning around. “He’s not my goblin. Owin isn’t going anywhere. Kyoya, escort him back to Oriathria before I throw him through the portal myself.”

“I can’t do that.” Kyoya looked outside at the gathered crowd. Some locals had formed behind the soldiers. They had pulled a lot of attention, even early in the morning.

“The Nimble Hog Hero Company would be so easy to dismantle.” Taralim paced. He pulled a throwing knife from his bandolier and spun it around his finger. “A whole company branded as criminals. It hasn’t happened in ages. What a legacy.”

“This is unjust,” Myrsvai said. The magus stood on the balcony above the counter. Owin glanced up, seeing Sanem, Miya, and a few others he didn’t personally know.

“Is it unjust to execute a criminal? To stop a murderer? What kind of philosophy does your crew have?” Taralim smirked, revealing unusually sharp teeth. His blistered cheeks turned more red as they pushed against his helmet.

“It’s unjust to place a bounty on a hero for something that isn’t a crime.” Myrsvai limped toward the stairs. His prosthetic foot stomped on each step all the way down. Taralim watched with a sly side eye, not moving as the magus slowly made his way down.

Taralim’s index flashed. “And, Myrsvai, when did murder stop being a crime? You seem so well educated. Certainly you would know.”

A figure appeared directly beside Owin. He flinched and started to swing the hammer, but a single finger held the weapon still.

“Be calm,” Vondaire whispered.

Taralim raised an eyebrow at Vondaire.

“He’s going to kill me,” Owin said quietly.

“He wants to scare you.”

“Self defense has never been a crime in Verdantallis. If Owin was a human, you wouldn’t bat an eye.” Myrsvai stood confidently beside Chorsay, who had yet to relax.

Taralim leaned to the side, peeking around Chorsay’s huge frame. “Vondaire, may I ask why you are talking to the criminal?”

“I am ensuring he won’t attempt to flee.” Vondaire removed his finger from the Thunderstrike Maul. He picked the stool off the floor from where it had fallen and took a seat.

“Certainly.” Taralim placed the throwing knife back in the bandolier. “Chorsay Eoghet, I was told you were smarter. Sergeant Kyoya swore by it. Now, we are standing here, ready to exchange blows over a meaningless creature.”

“Owin is the first of his kind. How could he be meaningless?” Myrsvai asked.

“A magus without even so much as a shard, let alone an arm, has no business speaking to me. Begone.”

Mysrvai glanced at Chorsay, who nodded. The magus turned his back and walked slowly back to Owin and Potilia. “Are you both okay?”

Potilia nodded. Owin looked at Vondaire, who gave a subtle nod as well.

“Do you know him?” Myrsvai asked quietly.

“Kind of.”

“Is it time for Suta?” Potilia asked.

“Absolutely not.” Myrsvai shook his head. “Not in such a tense situation.”

“What will it be?” Taralim asked. “Join the goblin as a criminal or surrender him to face the judgment he deserves?”

“Kyoya.” Chorsay glanced at the sergeant, who had kept his distance since the brief clash. “The bounty is with Izylia?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then escort me to the council in Oriathria.” Chorsay stuck out his hands, still clenched into fists. “I surrender as the leader of the hero company harboring a criminal.”

Taralim smirked. A soldier nearby held out cuffs that Taralim snatched and placed on Chorsay’s wrists. “This is better, isn’t it?”

“Let’s be on our way,” Kyoya said as he shooed the soldiers out the front door.

Chorsay followed Taralim silently, not even bothering to give Owin or any other Nimble Hog a look.

First Artivan had sacrificed himself to save Owin, and now Chorsay let himself be captured for Owin’s sake. Why?

What did he do to deserve any of this?

“There’s nothing to worry over,” Vondaire said.

“Oh, shit,” Potilia said, flinching. “I thought you left.”

The Izylia Unity Force soldier had remained on the stool. Owin couldn’t quite understand how he had forgotten he was there so quickly. Myrsvai was the only one that didn’t seem surprised by Vondaire’s presence.

“Shouldn’t you be following your leader?” Myrsvai asked.

Vondaire pointed at the magus. “Correction: Supervisor.”

“The only reason for an umbra to hide their attributes is that they are weaker than they appear,” Myrsvai said.

“Or the opposite may be true.” Vondaire picked up Potilia’s book, opened to her bookmark, shrugged, and closed it again.

The other Nimble Hogs came downstairs. They glanced at Owin, though nobody said anything.

Sanem was the last down the stairs, moving slowly as she watched the broken front door. Owin still held the broken deadbolt that should have held the door shut. It was clear that true power couldn’t be stopped by normal means. Taralim, whoever he was, wasn’t afraid of anything. He wanted to toy with Chorsay, even after Chorsay showed his strength.

Those with true power had true freedom.

Upon seeing Vondaire, Sanem immediately stuck her spear out, stopping the blade inches from his neck. “Who let this snake stay?” Her index flashed before her eyes. “Get out.”

“Wait,” Owin said.

All eyes turned to him. Vondaire calmly pushed Sanem’s spear aside with a single finger.

“Why did you warn me?” Owin asked.

Vondaire raised his eyebrows as Sanem swung her spear back into position. “If you insist.” He rolled his eyes. “Soldiers have a unique ability that I have always found fascinating. Many classes have some sort of ability, whether active or passive, to sense other heroes. Sometimes it is just threats or living creatures. It varies. Soldiers have the specific ability to hear just about any possible noise. Now, how does this help a soldier? They can hear an invisible umbra or a camouflaged assassin without difficulty. Or, more helpfully in this scenario, they can hear a warning.”

“What are you trying to say?” Sanem asked. Her spear had yet to waver. With one little thrust, she could put it through Vondaire’s neck.

The umbra didn’t seem concerned in the slightest. Owin didn’t believe it was even possible. Sanem was strong, but Vondaire was something else entirely.

“Chorsay Eoghet is not a stupid man. Learning that Taralim was only trying to intimidate gave Chorsay the upper hand. Now the council in Izylia will determine if Owin is truly wanted or not based on facts presented by Chorsay and Taralim. The Security Regime knows the bodies were found just outside the forest, far from the city. I saw them myself. Fighting within the cities is strictly prohibited, as you all know. But we should make sure our short friend is aware of the laws as well.”

Owin looked around, realizing everyone was looking at him again. “Is Chorsay going to be okay?”

“He’s not arrested. Taralim wanted a show, and Chorsay gave him one. As soon as they’re in Oriathria, he should be released from his shackles, though the council’s fear of you, goblin, may change how they react. Based on what I saw, Chorsay is more than capable of ripping himself free.”

Sanem withdrew her spear. “Why are you trying to help us?”

“As I told Owin when we first met, I am simply doing a job that I am required to do. In the next couple months, I will be released to do as I wish once again.”

“Are you a criminal?” Myrsvai asked.

Everyone in the room shifted. Owin watched Vondaire’s eyebrows raise. The man took very few things seriously.

“Me?” Vondaire placed a hand on his chest. “Of course not. What kind of horrible conclusion is that? I was in need of money, and the Unity Force pays absurdly well. A contract for two years is all that is required to bring anyone out of financial distress.”

“They had you collecting gold for the portals,” Owin said.

“I may have been known to be somewhat . . . insubordinate.”

“What is Taralim going to think about this?” Sanem asked. “He’ll notice you didn’t follow.”

“He heard me when I warned Owin. It’s all a game to Shard Carriers. But, you are correct. I should return before I am punished.” Vondaire stood and brushed off the top of the stool.

“There are better ways to make money,” Miya said.

“Like what, Miss Fururo?”

Miya flinched at the mention of her last name. Owin hadn’t seen an index in Vondaire’s eyes again. How did he know so much about everyone?

“Look where you are.”

“Careers heroes make a passable living. Is that what you’re going to do with your life, Owin? The one you have fought so hard for?” Vondaire crouched and met Owin’s eyes. “Is a mediocre life what you had hoped for?”

“I’m going to collect the shards.”

“Oh.” Vondaire smiled. “Why is that?”

“True power has true freedom. With power, I can help those who helped me, and I can crush those who attacked me.”

Vondaire’s smile vanished. He poked Owin in the forehead with a single finger. “Then you have a lot of power to gain. Visit me again when you have your first shard.”

Vondaire vanished in a puff of smoke. Just like that, he was gone. Unfortunately for the rest of the lobby, there were traces of the intruders all over. The entire front door was bust with dust and broken pieces of wood scattered around the room. The floorboards underneath where Chorsay had been standing were warped just from his single punch.

“Did I do something wrong?” Owin asked.

“No,” Sanem said. She sighed. “We knew something like this would happen. Chorsay was ready for it. He had mentioned a similar situation yesterday. It just happened sooner than we hoped.”

A knock grabbed everyone’s attention. Sanem shifted her shield and spear, ready for a fight as they all turned to the broken front door.

A short man with dark, curly hair and a thick mustache stood in the doorway. He scratched his cheek as he looked over the mess. “Are you, uh, redesigning?”

“Ernie?” Sanem asked. She relaxed, letting the butt of her spear fall to the ground. “What are you doing here?”

“I was hoping to hire Artivan.”