Gedrsial stuck around while they rebuilt and awaited Elena’s return. It took until the fortieth day before the ship broke the horizon within sight of Sanctuary Island, and by then they’d gotten not very much done on the refurbishment as far as Rusk could tell. Then again Mandy seemed to have faith in their progress. She was always telling them to adjust this or that, but she was never stressed. If anything she was happy for the job, for something to do with her hands. If nothing else Rusk had learned Mandy hated being idle. It was such a characteristic it might as well have been deep in her soul for all he knew. Everywhere he looked she was measuring something, or adjusting something else, or bossing Flow around, or Iraiah.
Flow and Iraiah were helpful, but they didn’t have as much drive as Mandy. Luckily Rusk picked up the slack for them all, and by the time he noticed out at sea that Elena was returning he’d worked up one hell of a sweat. His muscles, and his scars from the very first monster, gleamed under the sun’s rays. He had a cloth around his neck, was shirtless, and wiped his brow.
“I return with weird news,” said Elena.
“And what weird news is that exactly?” Rusk didn’t think he could handle anything weirder than supernatural forces warring with the natural elements. Like, that was his bar on weird. Anything weirder he was sure would break his brain or something. But he had to actually know since Elena was taking the time to tell him, so he awaited her reply with half trepidation and half urgency. He had to get back to work soon or they’d miss the deadline that literally nature had assigned for them. Flow had overheard with her whisperings to the natural order that the volcano was likely to erupt if they didn’t meet the demands of the sea and sky serpent. Some ancient magic that gave them an extra time limit. So Rusk twitched with anticipation and foot tapping while Elena went into her explanation, and in truth he was only half listening for her entire relay of news.
“The type of monsters has changed.”
“But there’s still monsters.”
“Well. Yeah, but they’re different now. They don’t attack at random anymore. It’s like they’re going after an objective. I thought you’d want to know. Also, we’ve got a recruit. He’s where I got the monster down low.” Elena waved someone over. Everyone was standing around on the actual ship since she couldn’t leave the vessel being a ghost and all. The newcomer came from the lower decks. He looked kind of ragged, but had honest eyes. He put a hand over his eyes to block the midday sun as he approached, and had a walk like someone who was confident in their place in the world.
“Yeah, hi.” The newcomer bowed at Rusk. “You in charge here? Here you’re looking for new recruits.”
“In charge is stretching it,” said Rusk. “But I’m Rusk. Rusk Veega. You are?”
“Oh, just a traveler.”
“That’s not good enough. I need a name.”
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“Ooo, touchy.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
“I can’t give you my name.”
“Then get off the island.”
“I come bearing information.”
“And what information is that?”
“The main monster is on a rampage.”
Rusk crossed his arms.
“Aren’t you gonna do anything?” Newcomer got impatient, gesturing wildly. “It’s out there somewhere, doing all sorts of things!”
“Know what,” said Rusk. “Come with me.”
He led the newcomer off the ship, and noticed the guy’s hesitation upon hitting the red sand. The main structure of the Stronghold had been rebuilt, and it was a spire of volcanic palette colorations, reds and blacks and whites like ash all built into impeccable design. Mandy’s design, specifically. She was a wonderful architect on top of all the other things. Rusk guessed it came with the fact she’d spent her life working with her hands, figuring out patterns. Iraiah wasn’t bad herself either.
But the point was the white stone dampened unnatural powers, in other words monsters, and the closer they got to the white stone stairwell, the more uncomfortable the newcomer got.
“What’s wrong?” taunted Rusk. He didn’t have the obsidian bow on him at the moment, but he could pull it out of thin air at any moment, along with the ammo he’d figured out how to summon as well. Not Elva. The ilk of magic that originated from the volcano itself. Flow had taught him how to reach it. It seemed all forms of magick were related, and the techniques were similar. They just required different territories or emotions to pull from. “Not happy with the refurbishment? Didn’t Elena tell you what we were doing out here?”
The moment they reached the steps the newcomer would go no further.
Rusk knew then that he was right. He pulled the obsidian bow out of thin air and brandished it. Casually, but still brandishing. “Isn’t this a fine weapon? The weapon of a Hero. My lover pulled it out of the volcano itself. She’s basically part of the nature here, you know. It’s how the Daemontra family tradition works. Leaders so in tune with the natural elements that they gain control over them. Fascinating, right? I pity the monster who dares try to take this place now that she’s back home.”
The newcomer started backing away. But Rusk swung around and got in his face.
“Now, monster. Go back on that ship. Tell your boss, whoever they are, wherever they are, whatever they are, that Sanctuary will be back in business in a year or so, and if you dare interrupt our progress, we have the sea and the sky to rain down on you. Literally. Understand?”
“You think I’m a monster?”
“I think you’ve got one inside you. But maybe there’s still some humanity there too. You know her, over there?” He pointed to Mandy. “She once had a monster inside of her, but she made a deal with it. Now they’re separated and still good friends. In fact, here.” Rusk whistled high until Gedresial came swooping out of the sky and perched on his arm. Still as a dead bird. “This is her monster. Gedresial, meet our nameless newcomer. Think he has a shot as a Hero? Because surely that’s the only reason he’d be here, isn’t it?”
Gedresial chuckled.
“Okay okay, I’m sorry.” The newcomer dropped to his knees. “The monsters told me they’d release me if I could somehow get information on you. Your progress. I’m a spy. But you have to understand I didn’t have a choice. I just.”
“I’m gonna stop you right there and remind you that Mandy, her, see, over there, no longer has a monster inside her. Now the question is.” Rusk knelt before the newcomer and let Gedresial fly off. “Do you have what it takes to conquer yours yourself? Or is the real reason you’re here to ask for help?”
“Help. I need help.”
“Then I will help you.” Rusk stood and offered the guy a hand. “After all, that’s what Heroes do. And you my friend have just happened upon the Heroes’ Hero.”