[https://i.imgur.com/sfHqwWT.jpg]

Three knocks on an inn door.

“Come in.” A deep voice spoke from inside the room. Flida opened the door, holding a plate of cooked chicken.

“Big man, lunch is here.”

Flida paused at the sight of the large man kneeling on the floor in front of the window. Warmth light cascades on his rough skin. His hair shone like gold in the sunlight. His eyes were closed while praying to his god. Bob caught sight of Flida. His comforting smile fluttered her heart.

“Ah, Flida. Just in time. My stomach was about to rumble.”

Flida laughed. “I'm glad. I would have thought another Imago attack was coming.”

Bob grinned as he took the plate from her. He started ravaging the meat as if he hadn't seen a meal in a month. Noticing Flida watching, he became embarrassed.

“Sorry.” He wipes his mouth. “That night had me quite famished.”

Flida looked away, holding her arm. “About the night…”

Bob stood up from the ground. Even without his armour. He filled the room with his size and presence. He walked with heavy steps towards Flida, plate in hand. A large hand held her arm.

“We all have our priorities. And keeping yourself safe was one of yours. So well done.” another soft pat and he sat himself on by the table, continuing with his meal.

“And besides, you are not really a fighter.”

“Speaking fighters, where are the embarrassing love birds?” asked Flida.

Between mouthfuls of food, Bob said, “Probably trying to kill each other in a spar.”

“I remember my first time in the darkness. The void consumed me, my whole being. The very essence of my soul, evaporating. Absorbed by a man whose face resembled mine. I was told that such a day would come. We would all merge into one. However, except for enlightenment, terror was all I felt. Then, in the hopelessness, I sensed something familiar. I reached out with all my might…” Hood turned around, looking at the mindspace that surrounded them. “And then this place was born.”

“Runemaster. You're a Runemaster! The rune-imbued clothing, Four’s jail, how you are able to help me fight…” Drac watched Hood's gruff face slowly eek out a smile.

“And how do you keep winning! Sometimes the ground would shift or the air would become like sludge, you tricky bastard!” Axton huffed.

“The rune on our chest—that's how you do it, right, Runemaster?”

Hood smiled as if a huge weight was lifted off his tired shoulders.

“Finally.” Hood turned back to sit back in the chair. His long black jacket tears apart, transforming into a shorter red coat. Under, a bright blue waistcoat buttoned to fit his form made from materials only the rich could afford. A white ascot topped with an amber jewel that gleamed. No longer with a hood, locs draped down to his face. As he sat,.black trousered legs crossed. Polished black shoes finished the look.

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“Brother… you can't dress for shit.”

“I am not looking for wardrobe advice from a man who looks like he borrowed his clothes from a corpse.”

Hood looked at Drac. “Well done for figuring it out. But I will have to just give a passing mark with no distinction. Runemasters are what they call the idiot peons that play games with my creations.”

Drac held his head, laughing like a tweaked man. “A fucking RuneMaker! The boots, hood, and jacket. The gloves and the mask. All your creations!”

“You thought an assassin would lug around thousands of gold coins worth of equipment?” Hood scoffed. “I am surprised it took you this long. Runes don't last this long and well without a bit of help from the runemaster.”

“And the sword.”

“No. Never touched it other than to cut heads with it. The runes did surprise me. Runes of that calibre require the touch of an expert. Truly a weapon worth being an heirloom of Maki's. Four did not deserve such a gift.” Hood's face darkened.

"Ok! Enough fellating Hood about his talents. So you were protecting Drac from Four? No… you believe other copies could attack him like four did with you.”

Hood nodded somberly.

“We have contact with several copies and their handler's.”

“Gaia… you think…” Drac asked with a quivering mouth.

“Suffered the same fate as I? Yes.”

Drac crouched to the floor, hyperventilating As he held His head. His heart pumps fear that he had been holding back.

“Fuck's sake, Hood! Why didn't you tell us? Me?!”

Hood squirmed in his chair as he got comfortable. “For the same reason you are filled with anger and fear now. You are afraid the other copies - who are possibly stronger than us - will absorb you as he did me.”

Drac felt as read as the many books that lay on the table on the side. He felt the darkness that Hood retold. Without this mindspace, would he have become part of the whole. His self disappearing into another. No control, no agency.

No freedom.

“Drac. Calm. If I could have, I would have.”

Drac looked up at Hood standing over him. Hands behind his back with the same confident poise he always had.

A long time ago, I mentioned something about you that has not changed. I didn't go to some backwoods town for a regular copy. I went to protect the original. You are one with true control here.”

“It's true.” Axton beat his chest. “I feel it. A connection. Like my life had been leading up to this. To be your knight.”

Hood offered up an arm. Drac grabbed it and stood up. “You alone can make us whole. But the spikes…”

“How many copies are estimated to be missing,” Drac asked.

“Father tells me ten. Probably more. A lot of artisans, blacksmiths, two mages, and three warriors.”

“We are royally fucked!” Shouted Axton as he paced around the library.

“We have Asa,” Hood reassured Axton. “The only holy priest amongst us.”

“Did Father send Issac to us then?”

“No, a godsent chance. Father thought of him as missing as well.”

“A Chance from God…” where fear once squirmed, determination smouldering. Drac spoke. “After the blockade ends, we search.”

Both Axton and Hood nodded.

after sharing smiles with the three. Axton pat Drac on the shoulder. “Just ask and I will help.” And he walked back to his mindspace.

“Going check up on the inmate,” Hood said as he turned around.

“Name!” Drac shouted at the RuneMaker. Hood turned back with an eyebrow up.

“Mm?”

“Your name.”

The RuneMaker stared up at the chandelier swinging above, remembering a long-lost memory.

“Wow… It's been a long time. So many different memories...”

The RuneMaker's face perked with a large smile.

“Elkan.”