“Where’d you find this!? Is this real!?” Maybry exclaimed in a hushed whisper.

The illustrations and strange scripture on the parchment shocked the leaders and my companions beyond belief. It was a near replica of the murals within Gadaan’s Grotto. Symbols depicted the gods, showing them creating the wonders of the world, as well as imprisoning us to the one we now stand upon.

Maybry, Jackal, and Sampson looked up from the scroll at the ancient elf. Golewin peered at them with squinted eyes and an ironclad expression. They quickly acted nonchalant and at ease when they realized his fixated gaze wasn’t letting loose from them.

“They obviously made it back to Earth,” Sampson muttered. “We just have to figure out how.”

I sighed aloud as I watched the rest of the common people explore, leave, or sign their name in the Manifests. “Maybe they never did. Maybe some stayed on Earth while others got transported. We don’t know the power of these gods. They could’ve hit every human on earth with a mind wipe that erased all our memories and history of them helping us in constructing the ancient world.”

“Why would they help Earth if they’re just going to teleport everyone away?” Don asked.

“And what happened to the hybrids that were previously here?” Elixir asked. “Think of it. If an entire race of people were around back then, there'd be some evidence of them still around today, right? DNA and such?”

A dark thought emerged from each of us as we contemplated it. However, Jackal was the one to voice it. “Unless they were purged.”

“Maybe it was some disease that wiped them out?” Maybry asked, pacing and eyeing the rest of the hybrids.

“Or it was the locals,” Jackal said.

“Or the gods…” I said.

The group tsked and bit their tongues, hoping that it wasn’t the case. But each instance of it seemed true. The deities were malevolent at heart and showed not an ounce of compassion for its worshippers.

Maybry let out a groan and put a palm to her temple, “Just keep this between us until we have a solution of getting back to Earth, okay?”

An involuntary chuckle seeped from my lips. A solution you say? “I know of a solution.”

“And what would that be?” Sampson asked.

Everyone waited to hear my idea. To hear the words that would set them free from Carrion and return back to their homes and families. But they weren’t ready.

“Kill the gods.”

Immediately, I was met with scoffs and moans of irritation.

“You can’t be serious, dude,” Sampson said. He gave me a blinkless look, hoping I'd crack a smile. But I never did.

“For fuck sake,” he said, shaking his head and walking away.

“I don’t have time for this. We have something we can actually do. People we can actually help this instant. I don’t want to hear any more of this. And I better not hear this circulating around. It’ll cause a panic and that’s the one thing we don’t need right now. Go to the village of Vakon, create a report of the area, and return. We’ll discuss our departure from Carrion another time.” Maybry left to see how the hybrids were treating the Manifests without a second glance.

Jackal, however, stayed with us for a moment. He watched his peers leave the group and turned back to our group.

“You and I may have the same vision, boy. Keep it secret until we can draw a plan. Return here in one piece.” The floppy-eared half-beast gave a firm slap to my shoulder and wandered down the endless halls of the manor.

“That’s some heavy shit, Karn.”

Don led the way out of the manor and out into the open street. Hybrids were having conversations off the premises as they did on it. Some locals gathered about the manor, questioning the statue-faced guards of what took place. None were answered but it didn’t stop some of them from harassing the guardsmen and calling them ‘diluted’ for helping the half-breed cause.

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After much silence as we walked toward the blacksmith’s, Elix let out a low hum. This guttural hum turned high-pitched and loud after we didn’t give him the attention he craved.

“Yes, Mr. Elixir?” I said.

“So… I’ve been thinking… we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves. Are we not? If we wish to slay the-all-knowing-who-most-definitely-can-hear-and-see-everything-we-do, how would we? Where would we begin? Only time we’ve seen them is on a floating stone platform 1,000 feet up.”

“So then we bring them down,” I said.

“And how do we do that!?” Elix exclaimed. “Taunt them? Insult them? Kill all their followers and destroy their monuments?”

“Well… that doesn’t sound like a bad—”

“It wasn’t a serious suggestion!”

Don chuckled but he had his own questions of the world. “In this Hub, who the hell runs the city anyway? There’s no cops or knights in shining steel roaming about and dictating what laws we can and cannot do.”

“It doesn’t seem like Hubloc is short of rich rulers though,” I said. “I assume the local rulers just hire soldiers and the free market runs itself.”

“Oh to witness the glorious beginnings of a capitalist hellhole,” Elix said. “Wait until some rich asshole realizes they can increase their hoard of silver by inventing assembly lines and pumping the oil beneath their feet. Hell, why don’t we show them what happens when they mix charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter!”

Don scoffed, “I’m sure there’s plenty of hybrids who wish to never see a factory again. And they don’t need gunpowder if any one of us can start shooting fireballs from our fingertips.”

“Well… you can’t,” Elix sneered.

Donovan swiftly grasped the beast’s shirt collar and yanked him backward. I stepped in and separated the two before a brawl occurred on the cobbled streets.

“From what I’ve seen so far, none of us can. Now, there is a deity we have all seen that has come down to our level,” I said.

“Who?” Elix and Don asked simultaneously.

“Favian Bor-whatever.”

“Who?” they asked again.

“The Announcer! The damn elf we saw prance around the Arena when we got teleported there!”

The both of them let out an exhaustive ‘ohhh’ that made my eyes roll.

“So you want us to kill that guy?” Don asked.

“Oh my god.”

“Gods,” Elix corrected.

“I really do hate the both of you.”

* * *

The flames of the forge were hot as they ever were. Blades sung and hammers thundered. Bellows wheezed dusty air into the scorching fires as grinders flung glittering sparks.

“Here for the sickle,” I said to the dwarf. Soot covered his entire face and body. He took off his dark goggles, revealing the clean ring around his sapphire eyes.

“Aye, it’s ready. I see ya’ already been ruinin’ my work,” he said, pointing to the thick scar on my chestplate.

“It served its purpose.”

“And I doubt it’ll be the last,” he sighed. The dwarf slid the sickle across his stout counter, put back on his goggles, and prepared to face the flames again.

“Can we go to an alchemist now?” Elix pouted.

“Wait? Do you hear that?” Don said, putting a hand to his pointed-ear. “I think it’s another crying child!” he exclaimed.

Elix let out a groan while I snickered.

“You go babysit the mage,” Don said. “I’ll get us provisions for the trip.”

“Do we know how long it’ll take to get there?” I asked.

“Falvesh is 900 miles from here. I don't know where Vakon is but they said it’d be near the port. Give or take a month to get there,” Elix said.

“And I sure as shit don’t want to walk that,” Don said. “Even with [Auto-walking].”

“Hitching a ride on the caravan it is,” I said. And I know just the guy, too. Hopefully Gadaan or one of his friends are still in town.

“Sounds like a plan,” Don said. “Now cough up the rest of the silver you got. I’m not emptying my purse for the gear and food we’re all sharing.”

I gave my meager coinage to the half-elf. I had no complaints, yet the mage beside me did.

“C’mon, dude. I know you have more,” Don said, holding out a palm of scattered pieces.

“Fine! But I need the rest of my coins to restock on potions!”

The elf gave an exaggerated grin and skipped to the nearest general store with our coins. Elix and I scoured for a store specializing in the arcane. After asking around and following signposts that led down winding streets, we stopped at one labeled Rowan’s Remedy. The outside was just as normal as the rest of the shops and houses that lined the streets. Sturdy sandstone walls, dusty glass windows, and an owner that looked down upon every hybrid that walked into their shop.

Elix and I creaked through the tilted wooden door and met face-to-face with the owner. In an instant, her long cat-like tail swished behind the black robes she wore. I saw her spotted gray fur stand upright and her jade eyes dilate when she fixated on me. I knew not why. But between the barrels of herbs, and the crates of potions, the beast had pounced upon me; sticking a claw to my throat and flashing their fangs.