"It's the golden fish," Autumn said, pacing back and forth in front of the bar, "it has to be. What other significant fish do we know about?"
It was late the following morning. The trio had been up late the night before doing most of the clean up until they all finally called it quits and went to bed. They had very begrudgingly woken up early to finish the job, and were now discussing their next steps as they completed the final touches.
"He's literally called the Fish Wizard," Titus said, pausing to shove a table across the floor back to its usual spot, "he probably has dozens of significant fish."
"I think she might be on to something," Iris said, scrubbing the last few bits of spilled soup from a table, "the Shark Titan was here in Giantrock for a while before we got to the city, right? But he didn't confront the Fish Wizard about Gerald until right after we brought him the golden fish. That seems like too much of a coincidence."
"And think about how excited the Fish Wizard was about finally getting that fish," Autumn added, still pacing rather than doing any work, "the only other time we've seen him that passionate was when he argued with the Shark Titan when he showed up here looking for Gerald."
"Okay, so say that's our fish," Titus said, "last we saw, the Fish Wizard dumped him in a magic portal. Where do we even start with that?"
"I've been thinking about that," Iris said, "the wizard said something about the fish spending a couple hundred years 'in there.' Like the portal led somewhere he would be trapped, but inside all we could see was water."
"You think he's got a giant fish tank somewhere?" Autumn asked.
"Maybe," Iris replied, "but actually, I'm thinking it might be a pocket dimension. I've--"
"Read about them in the library," Autumn and Titus recited in unison with Iris.
She blinked, and glanced from one of them to the other, "what was that?"
"Nevermind, go on," Autumn said, spinning her hand in a hurrying motion.
"Do I say that a lot?"
"Almost every time we talk about anything," Titus said with a half-hearted apologetic look.
Before Iris could respond, the door to the tavern opened, and Eli and Cameron strolled in. They were clearly in high spirits, both wearing smiles on their faces and laughing about an unheard joke.
"Welcome back!" Autumn said, completely failing to act casual as she gave sharp glances to the others in an unnecessary attempt to warn them to shut up about the fish, "how was your quest?"
"Incredible," Eli said, dropping his pack on a table a plopping onto a stool at the bar, "we bagged a Razorwind Owl."
"It was way out of our league," Cameron said, leaning back against the bar beside Eli, "how many times would you say we almost died?"
"Two or three times? Each?" Eli pondered, "we never could have taken it down without Cameron's bombs."
"They wouldn't have helped with your traps," Cameron added.
"Are you kidding me?" Iris asked.
"What?" Eli said, his smile dropping as he turned to her.
"Nope," she held up her hands in surrender, "never mind."
"What?" Eli repeatedly, looking to Autumn and Titus for answers.
"I mean, 'be more careful' is basically your catchphrase," Autumn said.
"Oh-- well, I didn't mean we literally almost died--"
"Hey, you know what," Iris interrupted, "that just means you're not allowed to complain the next three times that I almost die."
"How often do you plan on almost dying?" Cameron asked with concern.
"Three times will probably take her about a month," Autumn said matter-of-factly.
"Give or take a week," Titus added.
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"Still think that party quest is a good idea?" Cameron asked Eli, who had his elbows on the bar and his head in his hands.
"Party quest?" Autumn asked.
"Yeah," Eli said, looking up from his hands, "before Iris reminded me how gleefully she anticipates near death opportunities, I was considering taking the party out on a good quest. The hunting trip with Cameron made me realize that's what we've been missing lately, some good quality adventuring time together as a team."
"We kind of have other plans--" Titus was interrupted by a sharp elbow to the gut from Autumn.
"No we don't," Autumn said, "I mean, nothing important anyway. Tell us about this quest, Eli."
"Am I going to regret it if I ask what those plans were?" Eli asked.
"Yep," Autumn answered.
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Victoria was packing up her gear to leave the outpost for the final time. There were still three missing adventurers yet to be found, but with the investigation's work in the area complete, the city was officially pulling support from the outpost operations. The news had come abruptly, first thing in the morning, which led to speculation that the decision to withdrawal support from the outpost when the investigation was deemed complete had already been made in advance. The site would likely still serve as an unofficial waystation for adventurers completing extermination quests, but there would be no more rewards given for corpse recovery. That in itself wasn't enough to deter most of the adventurers working recovery operations, as they hadn't been in it for the money to begin with, but withdrawal of the city's support meant no more supply shipments or stationed clerics at the outpost.
Talks amongst the adventurers of continuing the operations independently quickly grew negative, largely fueled by a sense of bitterness at the abrupt withdrawal of support and feelings of pessimism that they would ever find the remaining corpses. A few adventurers in the discussion had been placed on the fact that, by now, they were definitely corpses, and their efforts wouldn't serve to actually save anyone. One adventurer pointed out that there might not even be corpses left to find anymore, as there was a good chance they’d been eaten by one creature or another. In the end most of the adventurers chose to pursue other ventures rather than stay, and though Victoria had fought to keep the operation alive, she ultimately gave in when she realized she would essentially be alone.
She glanced up from her gear when she noticed Commander Bridge and the Dreamweaver exiting the command tent. He had arrived not long ago and promptly met with the Dreamweaver in private, presumably about last night's discoveries. Now, as he effortlessly leapt into the canopy and departed the camp, Victoria was surprised to see the Dreamweaver walking towards her. She finished packing her bag while the Dreamweaver approached, and then stood attentively as she grew near.
"Sorry to interrupt," the Dreamweaver said casually.
"It's not a problem," Victoria replied with a veneer of friendliness she was certain the titan could see through, "what can I do for you?"
"I wanted to thank you again for your assistance with the tracking ritual. I'd be lying if I said we couldn't have done it without you, but who knows how long it would have taken us to track down another seer to assist."
"Maybe I shouldn't have helped then," Victoria said, "maybe that would have given us the time we needed to find the last missing adventurers."
The Dreamweaver pursed her lips for a moment before speaking, "perhaps. The decision to close the outpost wasn't mine, if that means anything. You have the Mayor General to thank for that."
"You could have warned us."
"I could have," the Dreamweaver admitted, "and what would that have done to morale? Maybe you all would have rallied and doubled your efforts in a race against the clock, but considering how quickly the operation crumbled at the first sign of bad news, I doubt it."
"Do you care?" Victoria challenged, a warm anger rising in her chest, "do you care at all about the corpses of adventurers who died under your command rotting somewhere out there in this forest?" She stopped herself short of asking if the titan cared about their deaths at all.
"When you get to my rank, the world begins to have certain demands. Matters important enough that they far outweigh the concerns you may once have held highest. Yes, I do care, but I have greater responsibilities."
Victoria stared back at her with rage in her aura, but said nothing.
"This conversation isn't going the way I had hoped," the Dreamweaver admitted, "I actually came here to ask for your help with a personal matter."
"Which your greater responsibilities still allow time for, apparently," Victoria said bitterly.
"There are challenges ahead, and little is known about them. I seek to complete a ritual that would make me stronger to be better prepared for those challenges. I'd appreciate the benefit of a doubt when I say my motivations are not wholly selfish." Though the titan remained calm, the softness left her voice on the final words.
Victoria looked up at the taller woman, her anger subsiding only slightly, "why me?"
"You have the Thread of Dreams, which means you surely have aura manipulation abilities. During the ritual I will be --" the titan chose her next words carefully, "unable to regulate myself. I'll need someone there who can keep me in check while the process unfolds."
"I'm only a Hero," Victoria said, "I couldn't influence your aura if I tried."
"Only a hero for now, but you're on the verge of Champion. I can feel it in your aura. My aura will be malleable during the ritual, and once you cross the threshold your power will suffice." The Dreamweaver pulled a folded piece of paper from her robe and handed it Victoria.
"What's this?" Victoria asked.
"A map. Follow it and you'll find a Thread of Power for your ascension. Consider it a gift between friends."
Victoria knew that being called a friend by a titan was no small gesture, but was not foolish enough to believe a gift of something as coveted as a Thread of Power would come without strings attached, "I haven't agreed to anything."
"Not yet, but you will. I'll be staying in an inn called the Slumbering Mare for the next few weeks, come find me when you're ready."
The Dreamweaver walked away before Victoria replied, leaving her looking down at the paper in her hands with mixed emotions of lingering anger, suspicious disbelief, and bewilderment.