What is it, Caster?!

“What’s going on!?”

I’m not sure what you mean. You’re not currently in combat, are you?

“No! I’m walking away from the City Hall in Hale’s Pass where I ran into-"

Hale’s Pass? Be careful Caster! An Old God named Noden and his son, the Lord you fought back in Casterville, are currently nearby!

“No shit they’re nearby! I just had a conversation with them! I’m working with Lord Griffin at this very moment!”

Oh… I see. I haven’t been able to track your position and actions well recently. Spooky and I have been working every second across the sea inside the Dreamlands in order to bring the witch who has possession of the Codex Grimoire to Perdita.

“That sure sounds swell but after I changed into this new body, I’ve been saying and knowing a lot of things I wasn’t expecting to! It’s like I’m barely Caster anymore I’m just Wendy!”

That’s because you ARE Wendy, Caster. The Mirror is perfect in its powers of recreation. When you asked to become that farm girl you weren’t just becoming the image or copy of her, you were becoming a new her altogether. It’s something only the most powerful of Mimics can accomplish and is a highly dangerous skill no matter who uses it. If you let the mind of your new body get out of hand, pun intended, you could end up playing second fiddle to HER will.

“Holy… that sounds dangerous.” Caster paused, realizing just how dangerous this power was not only to others but to herself.

It is. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must focus on my task at hand across the sea.

“One more thing. Should I keep working with Griffin? Or should I try to kill him? You don’t I’d get him to betray his father and join our side right?”

I don’t know enough about his psychological make-up to decern that Caster. You must make the choices you deem most likely to produce effective results.

“Okay, okay. Thanks.” Caster sighed as Yohg’s box disappeared.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Caster kept her fists balled up under her jaw, deep in thought as she sat atop a barrel that had been placed outside the rear of one of the many supply buildings behind the City Hall. He’d waited long enough for her previous story - having to explain to Wendy’s father that she was leaving - to be believable.

Kicking herself off the barrel, she wobbled to her feet. With her hands on her hips, she nodded to herself. She’d made up her mind on her next move.

I can change him. Wendy nodded with confidence, making her way back to the City Hall. He wants to go to the middle of the badlands and chase down an Avatar that isn’t even there. The only reason I said it was to get Casterville off of his hit list. I’m sure there will be plenty of high-level Challenger types there, but Griffin should be able to handle them. And if not, then it won’t be my problem anymore! Caster you are a genius!

Caster rounded the bend, now facing the front of the City Hall building. Griffin was standing outside, his back leaning against the wall.

"Oh. You’re back? That was fast.” Griffin welcomed Wendy’s return.

“I’m a fast walker. And my father’s farm is just outside of the city, so I didn’t have to go far.” She technically told the truth this time.

“That’s good to hear. Did he… have any issue with your joining me on this journey? And what was his price for your assistance?”

“No issue, no price. I’m joining you so I can see the world and have an adventure.” Caster couldn’t tell if she was lying, or if Wendy was speaking for herself.

“Ahh, even better to hear! Very well then. Please, enter the carriage and we’ll be off for the Badlands. It should only take us a few hours to reach our first destination.”

Oh good. Just a few hours of being stuck in a box with this prick.

Caster nodded and entered the carriage, hiking up her blue dress bottoms as she did. The carriage was small, but it was more than enough room for both Caster and Griffin to sit across from each other without their legs ever touching. Caster looked to the windows and realized why they looked black from the outside.

Black veils hid the interior of the cabin from prying outside eyes. They were so effective, that if she didn’t know any better, Caster might have thought it was already night.

“Sorry if I’m asking something I shouldn’t but, what’s the plan? I mean if this scary monster is supposed to be one of the strongest things on the planet, how are we supposed to beat him? Not that I’m saying you couldn’t, of course. You’re the flame of ambition after all.” Caster coated her questions with honey to ensure Griffin’s pride wouldn’t be harmed.

“I’ll spare you the details as I don’t want to bore you, but even if the creature does find a way to get an upper hand on me, I have a method to summon my father to our location instantaneously.”

Holy… that’s dangerous for me. Really dangerous. I wonder if that’s how he got Noden to grab him and pull him out of my disintegration ray. I for sure can’t blow my cover now!

Clever - Knowledge is Power, Activated! Arcane Increased! +1

“Other than that, our main plan of attack is to gather information from the Badland natives and their opinions on the growing armies and warrior tribes. From there, I’ll decide whether we should blitz our way to the center and plunge my flames into the belly of the beast, or if we should take a smarter route, and let you do some double-spy work from the inside, if you’re up to the challenge.”

“Of course! I didn’t come along just to look pretty!” Caster nodded. “But… where are we going to get this information from? I’ve never been to the Badlands before. Is there a map of the villages along its outskirts?”

“Good! And in a way, yes. We know where many settlements are located, even though their numbers change every day. Our first stop is a small village where I first encountered the monster that confronted you inside the City Hall. It hides just on the outskirts of the Badlands. The locals call it Casterville.”