The group walked into the guild hall, Hallbjorn leading the way. Standing in the back, they waited for their observer chatting amongst themselves. “Hey gang.” A voice said from beside them, “And good to see you Evelyn!”
Max walked over, heavy leather armor draped across his body and a giant greatsword strapped to his back. “I’m going to be accompanying you today! So let's do our best!”
Primrose jumped, cheering, while everyone else nodded.
“Today we are going to be headed down the highway. There have been reports of Kobold tribes causing trouble in the area lately. Heard about a group who encountered an army in a nearby village.”
“Shit man, they usually mind their own business,” An adventurer called from a nearby table, “Somethings been ticking them off. I've heard someone stole an entire generation of eggs.”
“No fury like a parent trying to protect their child,” Evelyn mumbled.
Max lead the party out of town and through the hills. The obelisks towered around them, dotting the horizon.
“Shit! I see smoke!” Evelyn cried.
The group sprinted down the road to find three carriages trampled around one of the stone pillars. Cheering could be heard from across the hills, puffs of smoke and fire billowing into the sky.
“Well,” Max said, “It looks like the rumors were right.”
“Alright gang listen up, I’m in charge now. This is no longer an observation, this is a rescue or retrieval mission. Evelyn, Nicodemus, you two check the wreckage for survivors. Primrose, get on top of the stone and get a good vantage point. Hallbjorn, Sadie, you're with me. Alright move out!”
“Yes sir!” Everyone said, moving to their designated spots. Nicodemus and Evelyn ran to the carriage. Evelyn used her strength to carry anything not on fire out of the way.
Nicodemus whispered a quick chant, and an orb of water coalesced and flew over the fires, dropping blobs of water and putting them out.
“Theres no one here,” Evelyn called out.
“Go help the vanguard!” Nicodemus shouted, climbing the rock to meet up with Prim.
Tearing through her clothes, Evelyn's leg vents shot open. She launched forward at insane speeds, meeting Max, Hallbjorn, And Sadie. She skidded to a stop, joining them on top of a tall hill. “There was no one in the wreck.”
“Shit.” Hallbjorn mumbled.
“We figured,” Max said, “And I think I know where they are.” Looking down the hill, Evelyn saw the kobold's camp, with the small lizard bipeds dancing around a bonfire. “Fuck.”
“No time to stand here, either kill or chase away the kobolds. Watch out for kobold knights, those fuckers are strong.” Max said, unsheathing his greatsword and charging down the hill.
Sadie and Hallbjorn followed suit, drawing her sword and Hallbjorn slamming his shields in front of him, charging like an enraged bull.
Evelyn shot down the hill, surpassing the three like a bullet. Evelyn crashed into the group of kobolds, knocking a chunk to the ground and leaving a blood mist in the air behind her. “You going to scatter or do we need to tango?” She asked, dropping into a fighting stance.
A few kobolds stepped forwards, drawing rusty swords and clubs. Evelyn jumped forwards and used an air boost to kick one of the kobold's heads off, sending it flying into another. A kobold snuck up behind her, watching her back with a club. The club bounced off, and Evelyn shot steam from her back into its eyes.
The kobold screeched and rubbed its eyes with the back of its hands. Then, with a thunk, Evelyn's wrench dented its hands into its skull.
Spotting a cage on the outskirts of the camp, Evelyn shot over. Seeing who was inside, Evelyn's mind went blank. Ingvar and Ylva sat crying over Hilda and Asgers bodies.
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Something in her snapped, and every section of Evelyn's outer body separated outwards, revealing the spaces in between. Her vents began pouring steam in waves, and her insides bloomed with orange light. “Hang tight kids,” She said, “I'lll get you out of there in a second.”
The wrench in Evelyn's hand started glowing red as she launched herself into the horde. Her clothes burned away as Evelyn beat kobold after kobold, occasionally catching glimpses of Hallbjorns shields or Max's massive frame. Then, finally, a wave of green spread across the ground, vines grabbing some of the kobolds.
Primrose flew over the group, lobbing blasts of green fire at the kobolds. A sharp thunk pushed Evelyn forwards, causing her to stumble. Turning, a massive shadow lay over her. A hulking kobold standing 10 feet tall stood over her, giant club in hand.
The scaly beast swung, knocking Evelyn over again. The force of the hit dented her right arm, cracking the plates. The impact seized the mechanisms. Her blood leaking from the cracks in the metal.
Evelyn swung her wrench, the hot metal bouncing off the kobold's scales. The giant let out a deep cackle. Then, a series of hisses and guttural hacks spewed from its mouth, twisted into a grin.
Nicodemus grabbed onto its back, stabbing into its shoulders with daggers made of lightning. The kobold roared, ripping the man off and throwing him to the side.
Tearing off her broken arm, Evelyn jumped up and shoved a snapped shaft into the creature's eye. It let out a bellowing scream.
Reaching up, it tore the arm out of its socket, crushing more metal. Evelyn twisted onto its shoulders and shoved her remaining hand into the bloody hole.
Grabbing a handful of flesh, Evelyn pulled. The giant kobold screamed again, scratching at Evelyn, leaving gashes across her skin.
Throwing the lump of nerves and flesh to the ground, Evelyn slammed her fist into the other eye. Screeching, the kobold grabbed her by the ankle and threw her across the camp.
The party was in rough shape; everyone but Max was injured.
A lightning bolt struck from the clear sky, frying the massive kobold. Then, an orb of pure electricity lowered into the camp, bolts zapping every kobold left alive.
“Looks like you could use some help.”
Descending from the sky, a woman with bright red hair and deep purple eyes hovered on a swirl of clouds. Her plate armor crackled with static charge, archs jumping from plate to plate. “Archmagister thank the gods. We need healing, quickly.” Max said, collapsing to the ground.
Evelyn limped to her detached arm, picking the scrap off the ground. Then, taking what was left from the embers of her clothes, she tied a makeshift bandage around the stump.
She turned and kicked the kobold, “Fuck you, you bastard.”
The Archmagister, having landed, held out a potion for Evelyn to take. “You’ve got spirit kid. Drink up.”
Taking a swig of the red potion, Evelyn sat on the ground. Tendrils of red wound their way around Evelyn's body, the metal scraps around the camp returning to her legs.
Her arm stayed unattached, lying limp next to her.
Primrose walked over, plopping down next to Evelyn. “You did good Evelyn. I don't think we would have made it without you distracting the knight.”
“Too bad it cost me one of the only things i cant replace,” She said, gesturing to her arm. “My life has changed so much in 3 days. I have no idea where i am. As far as i know everyone i know and love is dead.”
Leaning against Evelyn, Prim wrapped an arm around her back.
Ylva and Ingvar joined them, holding onto Evelyn.
The two stayed like that for almost an hour as the Archmagister cleaned up any remaining kobolds.
Primrose had fallen asleep by the time they were readying to leave. Using her good arm, Evelyn flung her broken arm over her shoulder and picked up the small fae woman.
The group was carried back to the town by the Archmagisters clouds. Sadie leaned on Hallbjorn, and Nicodemus sprawled on his back. Max sat near the Archmagister, deep in discussion.
Evelyn looked down at Prims sleeping face, her pale skin glowing in the now-setting sun.
The clouds descended to their dorm, and everyone stepped onto the ground. “You all did well today,” Max said, leaning on his sword. “You will all get a bonus for completing this mission. Including Evelyn now, that would be 15 per person, 75 in total. That should be enough to cover repairs and replacement gear.”
“I suggest you all get some rest,” The archmagister said. Then, glancing down, she looked at the children, who had stayed glued to Evelyn the entire way back. “And I will let the children stay with you,” she pointed at Evelyn, “as they seem to find you to be a safe space.”
I will be back tomorrow to discuss what happened and what will happen in the future.”
Summoning two clouds, she looked at Max, “Need a lift?”
Walking inside, Sadie, Hallbjorn, and Nicodemus went to their rooms while Evelyn collapsed on the couch, Prim still in her arm.
The children sat down on either side and leaned their heads onto her shoulders. The three joined Primrose in the land of dreams, the day's exhaustion catching up to them.
Evelyn's dreams were haunted by images and memories of blood and battle. She woke up early in the morning and found Ylva, Ingvar, and Primrose in the same spots as the night before. Her broken arm lay on the small table in front of the couch. The metal was snapped and crushed in multiple places.