The evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the village as Mike and Sophia stopped at a local tavern. The quaint establishment stirred memories of their past adventures, particularly the Red Wolf Inn. The timbered interior triggered recollections of their fight for survival against Bellic, the narrow escape from death, and the unexpected reunion with James on the other side of the teleportation array.

Sophia chuckled as she looked around, "This is like a trip down memory lane, isn't it?"

Mike, leaning against the bar, replied with a hint of disdain, "Yup, a crappy beach and a grumpy-looking owner. Good times." He had no fondness for the memories of their past encounters with James.

Waving over the tavern keeper, they were eager to secure a room for the night. After several days in the wilderness, the promise of a comfortable bed in this small village was a luxury they couldn't pass up. Even their magically enchanted tent and cot within the Bag of Holding couldn't compete with the allure of civilization, especially after being in the wild for so long.

Mike, as usual, took the lead and ordered. The bartender, an older man with dark hair made eye contact before coming over to take their order, "A bowl of whatever slop I smell back there and Two shots with an ale to start!" Mike called out, making Valicar retrieve her pipe from her pocket. Despite Sophia's concerns, he needed a smoke.

Sophia couldn't help but worry, "Should we be doing this now, Mike? Easton will be arriving any day now, and we're already cutting it close. We should push through the night." Her thoughts streamed through their telepathic link as the bartender brought them their drinks and a bowl of meat and potatoes.

Mike, however, had his ideas, "Yeah, but why arrive all tired and beat just to sit around like a couple of jack-offs? We can relax, get plastered, sleep it off, and then rush in at the last second. Besides, we still have over a week before they arrive, and even if we fly at full speed, we can make it in three days. But screw it, we can even make it on the day of if we wanted. It's the only way to have heroic timing, after all." As he set fire to his Illisade herbs, a chuckle escaped his lips, his lightheartedness at odds with the gravity of their mission. Yet, his careless laughter turned into a wince when he accidentally bit his tongue with their newfound, shark-like teeth. "Fuck!" he cursed, the metallic hint of blood blending with the flavors of his food.

Sophia couldn't help but sinker at his luck. "Serves you right, your karma is shit, Mike! And this bullshit of numbing what we feel is just like our last life when things got tough. Why should we mask our problems with drugs and booze again when we can make the world a better place rather than hiding from it?"

Taking a long drag from his pipe, Mike exhaled slowly, his gaze contemplative. "You could use a few hits, considering how much you've been whining over that damn city," he remarked as their healing magic worked to mend their injured tongue. Down went his first glass of whiskey, the warmth spreading through Valicar’s body.

But Sophia's inner conflict remained unrelenting, erasing her earlier amusement. She persisted with her questions, her voice heavy with doubt, "I... I don't get it, Mike. How can you not feel remorse for all the lives we've taken? By now, you must understand we aren't the heroes. We can't save everyone, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to make the world a better place."

Mike, however, remained unwavering in his belief. "You're a hell of a lot better this time around, without the whole genocidal dragon shit... I know I give you a hard time, but I admire your principles. These people we are fighting though, Sophia, their animals, evil incarnate. We're doing the world a favor by wiping them out. So, you can stop whining about this balancing karma nonsense and accept the world would be better if we called more of the shots." Mike said as he downed the second drink, fire in their throat before he took another drag of his pipe.

Sophia's heart weighed heavy with the burden of her doubts. The substances they were consuming were beginning to numb her turmoil, and this was typically why she indulged in drinking with Mike. However, lately, even the liquor couldn't drown out her guilt. She shared her inner conflict with an emotional tremor in her voice, "Do you ever wonder why we do this, Mike?" Sophia's words were tinged with uncertainty, her mind working through her inebriated mind. Gathering an army, facing countless dangers, and shifting between hero and more often than not a villain had left her with a sense of doubt.

"To get our bodies back, mostly. And, I guess, to save the world," Mike replied in his characteristic directness. "Those cultists from the church are hell-bent on destroying that barrier thing. My pimp demon, makes it sound like she wants the veil to fall, to unleash its hordes, so fuck what the literal demons and gods want, this is the best chance to keep them in check and put us on top, maybe even see what you were really up to last time."

Sophia wrestled with her thoughts as they continued to discuss the complexities of their situation. "I... I know it's my fault we ended up like this, but despite all the hardship, I'm grateful for the second chance with you. But, Mike, we've done terrible things in the name of the greater good. How many have suffered and died in retaliation for our actions? Not to mention the radiation I've unleashed upon this world twice now... I can't use it again. We have to make amends and do something to help this world. We have to do better, beyond just helping ourselves. We have the power to do both. While the Empire and the church are external threats to the world, their defeat won't necessarily usher in a better world. The orcs will still wage war against the dwarfs and elves, the northern continent will remain a menace, and Helm Hold will be furious if they ever discover what we've done. We might be the bad guys, Mike."

Mike, however, wasn't swayed. "What the hell are you talking about?" He questioned her perspective with genuine concern. "We saved those twigs from the orcs, and even if I find them a bit irritating, I don't want to see them die. We've made hard choices, but it's all in the name of necessity. We needed the objects and knowledge we've gained over the years, if some NPC's have to die because of that well it's just the price of victory."

Sophia was resolute in her desire for change. "We did what we did for the army," she stated, with a pointed look. "And let's not forget, you wanted to level that city with a magical nuke. Now, it's time we do something for the world, not just ourselves."

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Mike sighed and relented, avoiding another heated argument. "They had captured us at that point; it was justified..." He quickly changed the topic. "Alright, alright. We'll visit the adventurers' guild and take on their most challenging mission on the way to dealing with the Pillar of the South bitch. But don't think for a moment that we're turning into folk heroes."

Feeling somewhat mollified by the substances they had consumed and Mike's promise to take on a noble quest, they left for the adventurers' guild, completely plastered forgetting about the bed. Inside the large wooden building, groups of adventurers were gathered, primarily consisting of elves, but representatives of almost every race were in attendance. Behind the reception desk sat a massive beastkin, an elephantkin, a sight that was entirely new to them.

"Okay... so I need your top quest, trunk face," Mike slurred as they stumbled up to the counter, his words earning him a sharp glare from the adventure assistant. The place was still buzzing with life, a celebration underway for a group that had just returned from a successful quest, one involving the slaying of a hydra.

The elephantkin's patience seemed to wear thin as he spoke. "The only thing you look like you're about to take on is an early funeral in your current state. Where's your guild badge, anyway?" he asked, his tone less than welcoming.

Sophia pondered the man's question through the foggy haze that clouded her thoughts but the man continued, "Your badge proves you're part of the guild... I see what's going on here. You're some amateur here for glory, is that it? Well, not today, girl! Kal, get this rapscallion out of my sight."

A burly dwarf, roughly the same height as Valicar but three times as thick and rippling with muscles, came over. He was enjoying the ongoing celebration but wasted no time moving to grab Valicar, ready to escort them out.

"Look, trunk face, how about I just do whatever they're all cheering about over there," Mike retorted, his annoyance with the arrogant receptionist growing. As the dwarf approached, Mike unleashed a drunken kick, powered by demonic might. The accumulated energy from the songs was more than sufficient to lay out the dwarf. Kal, the bouncer, fell to the ground beneath Valicar's sandals.

The elephantkin winced as his bouncer hit the floor. "You could not kill a hydra on your own... you may be tougher than you look, but it took three A-rank teams working in tandem over a day of battle and hundreds in coin for the necessary supplies to bring one down. The only one left is an elder hydra. You would be a fool to challenge it. But if you're hell-bent, here's its location. It wiped out a near by village not too long ago."

Mike, seemingly unshaken by the previous altercation, nodded as if he understood, although the alcohol in his system surely dulled his perception of the danger ahead. "Sounds fun. Let's go, Sophia. Time to make our heroic comeback," he said with a grin.

With the directions in hand, they stumbled out of the adventurers' guild and made their way toward the location of the elder hydra, determined to tackle this seemingly insurmountable challenge.

The atmosphere weighed heavy with a blend of foreboding and drunken courage as Sophia and Mike, sharing the vessel of Valicar, stood before the grisly aftermath of the hydra's rampage. Sophia whispered, her voice tinged with unease, "This place reeks of death," but her determination shone through. "But killing real monsters is a good start toward redemption."

Mike, intoxicated by his own confidence and the thrill of a new challenge, couldn't help but grin at the gruesome scene before him. "I still think there's nothing to forgive. These people were just too stupid to run from a literal monster. Besides, maybe we can use the body in the next fight."

"How the hell would you even capture it in enough pieces to be useful?" Sophia questioned the words slurring slightly from the inebriation.

Mike wasn't deterred, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "We'll figure it out. It's not every day you get a chance to control a beast like this, we can all ways beat it in submission then heal it after."

With their senses muddled by the effects of the dwarven rum and Valicar puffing on her pipe, they pressed on until they encountered the elder hydra. A remnant from the creation war, it was a formidable foe, even for them. But in their current state of mind, they cared little for the odds. The rush of battle and the righteous cause allowed Sophia to cut loose, while Mike, the battle maniac, summoned his sword of blue flame and blade of black ice. Their enchanted armor facilitated the casting of cryomancy and pyromancy, prolonging the duration of their spells.

The beast awoke and charged. The battle was fierce and chaotic, with the hydra's serpentine heads lunging for the twins, spitting acid and lashing out with its many open mouths.

As the chaotic battle with the elder hydra raged on, it was Mike who took the lead, unleashing his sword's cryomancy with each powerful swing of his ebony blade. His demonic magic harmonized perfectly with Sophia's, freezing one of the hydra's heads solid. The frost-covered head shattered upon impact, and the hydra roared in pain. This icy spell effectively prevented that head from regenerating, leaving behind only a frosty, lifeless stump.

In response, Sophia channeled her pyromancy as Mike dodged, her flames blazing with blue intensity, and unleashed a torrent of fire that engulfed another of the hydra's heads. The head burned to ashes, leaving behind a charred, smoldering stump.

With two heads down, they continued the brutal battle, employing a deadly dance of freezing and burning to prevent the hydra's regeneration. The monstrous beast fought back fiercely, and their collaborative efforts allowed them to hold their ground, even though they suffered a grievous injury - the hydra, in a swift lunge, tore off Sophia's left foot at the knee. With one foot gone, they had to fly awkwardly through the rest of the battle, pressing on against the odds.

Finally, they stood on one foot before the hydra with its last remaining head. A knowing thought passed between them as they prepared for the final stage of their plan. It was Mike who used his cryomancy to freeze this last head, leaving it in a frosty, agonized state. But they didn't destroy it; instead, they stopped short, intending to keep it alive yet incapacitated.

Once the last head was frozen, they turned their attention to another form of magic. Together, with the combined force of Sophia's mind magic, they subdued the hydra's consciousness, bending its will to their own.

With the hydra's heads rendered harmless and its consciousness dominated, they worked on healing their battered body. Sophia used her healing magic to mend Valicar's many wounds, including regenerating the better half of her left leg. The acid burns that marred their flesh were repaired, and they even had to descend down the hydra's throat to retrieve a lost sandal. Unfortunately, the left pant was destroyed beyond recovery.

The hydra's body, now under their complete control, was a formidable weapon. Mike couldn't help but see the possibilities it presented. As Sophia healed their wounds, the plan took shape in his mind. They needed this powerful creature on their side, and he envisioned how they could make it a valuable asset in their upcoming battle against the Pillar of the South. Sophia completed the task by healing the stumps of the hydra's heads, allowing them to regrow. Then, in one swift motion, they stuffed the unconscious beast into the bag of holding. The creature would suffocate inside but leave its body in perfect condition for their plans involving necromancy.

Deciding that they didn't need to complete the quest and that doing a good deed was enough to satisfy Sophia's guilt, they continued on their way to meet Easton, spending just a day on this endeavor. However, the hangover from their previous night out became unbearable. Along with a half-formed stump, they decided to stay at another inn. This time, heeding Sophia's advice, they skipped the drinking and focused on a speedy recovery. She knew the rest of her foot would be back within the day. Then they were off to see their old mentor and fight that monster, his sister.