River heard the door close as Oliver left to get Levi in the afternoon.

She carefully stepped out of bed and got changed, preparing to get done what needed to be done.

River had decided not to tell Oliver about the task she had been given. After all, this was her cover now.

Oliver, if he were to know, would likely have ‘Paige’ disappear, one way or another. Which, aside from River’s growing attachment to the mechanism of her survival, might be fine.

However, the task wasn’t all that unreasonable itself. Add to that, if River stopped being Paige, some other poor soul would have to take her place.

She knew from experience. River was able to step out of the role at any time. However, even if she avoided punishment, the onus would be handed across to the next available subject.

A prison for the empathetic.

These people would always be able to find someone else to order around at their whim.

River tensed–invoking that familiar power in her system. She felt her fatigue fading slightly, her injuries shrinking. Her mana encouraging her body's natural recovery process.

It only did a little, but it was significant. She didn't want anybody to know about it.

It was a convenient talent to have, she had been told.

‘For a slave.’

River put a hand against her pocket, feeling at the burden she had been given.

One couldn’t exactly throw away a finger, it seemed wrong.

Bury it? Burn it?

River found a clean napkin in the living area, and wrapped the finger in it. She placed it back in her pocket. She would sort something out later.

I may be weak, tired, small. Not very efficient.

But above all that.

I was the only one to survive, I'm the luckiest one.

My situation is privileged. I must preserve it.

I’ll do as I am told.

—

Oliver knocked on the door of the Steel family home. He was dressed to such a standard that he shouldn’t be embarrassed, and he wasn’t. He used to wear ‘better clothes’ on a daily basis. However, something about this neighborhood, the pomposity of it…

Oliver didn’t really like it. Didn’t really want to see Emilia’s father, either.

Get Levi, go home. That’s all that needed to happen.

The door swung open, and Oliver came face to face with a young man.

His hair a similar colour to Emilia’s, and his tone was emphatic, “... Who are you?”

Oliver nodded to the young man uncertainly, “Uh, Levi’s.. older brother. Oliver. Levi's here, right?”

The man ignored Oliver's question, but instead widened his eyes and smiled a bit giddily. “The convict warrior?”

Oliver looked at the man deadpan. Not even because the man was invoking painful experiences. At this moment, those experiences were more confusing for Oliver than anything.

Oliver was more concerned with how it was that he had somehow earned any iota of notoriety.

Oliver believed he had done the right things in the moment, but ultimately achieved very little – doubly so from an outsider's perspective.

This thought process manifested itself in the form of his blank facial expression. But Oliver tried to get back on topic rather than engaging this excitable man's curiosity.

They hadn't even spoken much yet, and still–Oliver had a strong feeling this guy was the product of too many comforts.

Because, wealth – this man had, that was for sure. If Emilia was well dressed in a high quality uniform which she kept exceptionally neat, this man was more… gaudy.

His clothing, while not frilly, was layered and patterned in such a way that the complexity seemed to be the main feature.

Oliver cut to the chase, ignoring the ‘convict warrior’ comment for now. “Can I speak to Levi?”

The man's face went slack, as if he had lost all interest. “Come in.”

Oliver considered this reaction as he was allowed through the doorway. Stepping into the entrance hall, and following the man through the house.

Upon walking through a doorway, he encountered the tense post-dinner environment of the dining room, the dishes being collected up for cleaning.

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Oliver made eye contact with too many members of this well-to-do family at once. Emilia, her (assumed) mother, and her father all paused for a moment.

“…”

Forget this. Where is Levi?

“Uh, hi. Where is Levi?”

Emilia's mother was about to open her mouth, but Emilia just stood to show Oliver the way. “Up here.”

Oliver nodded to Emilia, thankful for the save. There was something so… normal, about coming to a friend's house on an errand.

… Normal…

Oliver's head swirled.

He was dizzy, hit by a whiplash realisation as he ascended the stairs.

He tripped, caught himself. Emilia looked down at him.

Oliver mentally zoomed out of the whole situation. Maybe this was not an appropriate time for this kind of epiphany, but it was because this was such a normal moment.

I am in a fantasy world.

I am undercover as a local. I have a job and self imposed responsibility to provide for a teenage girl and a young boy.

Even if it was the only good option, I chose to do that.

…

I haven't seen my family in weeks.

I have seen… too much. Dozens of people burn.

Why don't I feel more upset about that? That's… I'm more guilty about not being upset than I am upset!

How… How much closer am I to finding a way home?

Oliver didn't grasp at his hair or clench his fists. He looked at his hands.

Stood, in the middle of the stairs of his fantasy world boss's house. On an errand.

An errand?

Since when did getting home–to Earth–become such a secondary priority?

Oliver lowered his hands to his sides.

It really hadn't, actually. All of this was toward that end. But the scope of the problem was just so unfathomable that the steps forward were each large commitments by themselves.

How does one gather information about why Earthers are executed, without arousing suspicion.

Perhaps Oliver could be sneaking into guard buildings at night, or coming up with clever leading questions for high ranking guardsmen. Easily more accessible to him now than at the beginning, But both were still not worth the risk…

Pah, risk… I nearly died just yesterday.

Oliver shivered.

Then he did put his head in his hands.

Oliver’s thoughts were interrupted when he felt his arm being grabbed by Emilia. She pulled him to the top of the stairs, saying something Oliver didn't quite catch.

Oliver blinked. “Hm?”

“Are you alright?” She looked concerned, and Oliver realised how it might have looked, having just come back from the experience that he had.

She's not too far off the mark, really.

Oliver coughed, “Yeah, Levi’s up here?”

Emilia gave him that suspicious look she usually did whenever it was clear she wasn't getting the whole truth. But still, even standing here in her family home, they hadn’t the closeness to push each other for answers.

Quite unfair really, Oliver likely understood more of Emilia's problems than she did his.

Emilia knocked on a door, and after a moment, Levi was standing in an open doorway with a pensive expression.

The boy had more of a presence now than before, weighed by responsibilities he likely shouldn't carry at his age.

Whether that would help or harm him in the long term, Oliver didn't know. Oliver was quite young himself. He needed more of a partnership in Levi than a dependent, so…

Oliver looked Levi up and down, before nodding. Acknowledging Levi in the way he might have wanted to be acknowledged. No unnecessary words, or empty platitudes. For all intents and purposes, Levi deserved the respect of an adult.

Oliver got down on a knee, and opened his arms.

… Adults still hugged.

Oliver asked. “Got all you need?”

At which point Levi presented at least triple as much stuff as he used to have.

Oliver twisted around to Emilia.

“Uuuhhh.”

Levi didn’t have any money.

Emilia twitched a smile in the way that a rich person might when offered change for their shopping.

“Don't worry about it.”

Oliver nodded, not one who only reluctantly took the goodwill of others. He only even checked out of courtesy, really. “Righto. Levi, let's go.”

Levi handed Oliver one of the three cases containing his new belongings. Oliver nearly tried to take a second case, but held back for the moment.

Oliver walked down the stairs, then watched with a barely contained smile as Levi struggled down them, looked down on by a concerned Emilia.

When Levi made it to the bottom and put one case down to straighten his lopsided shirt, Oliver grabbed it up quickly.

Levi and Oliver shared a long look.

Oliver opened the door, before turning his head to Emilia. “See you at work tomorrow.”

Him and Levi had some talking to do, and hopefully, some scheming too.

They walked into the night.

—

‘Paige’ was moving along the edges of the wealhy area of the city. It was night time, but these hangers-on of the upper class knew little rest in their wealth hoarding activities.

This was not exactly a stealth mission, but people did not notice much as River zigzagged her way through the streets experimentally. She was no social manipulator, no infiltrator. She had days to complete the task she was given.

But there were some things simple enough for anyone to do. Plausible deniability was enough.

She spotted the name she had been searching for. Set into the side of a rickety wagon.

Business was not flourishing for this merchant, but the few customers that did approach seemed all to be merchants themselves, rather than the nighttime clientele roaming around.

They each came with money, and away with less. But they all seemed satisfied enough.

River didn't stop walking as she was checking out the wagon, and so it was now leaving her vision. She wouldn't be completing her task today, since a job such as this one could only be attempted once.

She didn't know that from experience, she just knew that from common sense. Maybe if she were some kind of shadow on the wall, she might have done it then and there.

For an incident to have the desired effect, it must happen at the right time.

But… yes, this was going to be effective.

A small amount of relief trickled through River's chest. Insidious medicine, potentially.

River was comfortable with what she had to do.

—

The scout from the expedition had been questioned by everyone, and said all he had to say.

All he had to say… to them, at least.

He had no remaining close family members, none he would consider close anyway.

He did some grocery shopping, packing a bunch of necessities into a decently large pack before strapping it to his back.

He didn't get paid all that much, aside from the little bonus he had just been given. So no, he wasn't quitting and running away. He needed a job to survive.

Though, there were some things he was frustrated about when it came to working in the guard force. They recieved certain instructions every now and then, wanted or missing persons, changes in procedure.

Recently, the order to kill any and all people sporting certain features had shaken a few men, but a job was a job. The scout treated the topic much the same.

No rebel was he.

He entered a gate building, passing by closed doors and turned backs, hoping to go unnoticed as he left the city for a little bit.

The scout had not personally executed anyone… yet. That was a hazing process of sorts, apparently. He wasn't excited, but he expected to do it one of these days.

Before he needed to end one of these lives, though. He wanted to know a little more.

It was a dangerous game he was playing, but if some of his fellow guardsmen had their families or careers to consider…

He had little to lose.

And so he went to go have a chat.

Earn some goodwill.

And, hey, if she was dangerous – he had a sword, and she…

She was just an old lady.