Ulgrin feels at once both grateful that they don’t need to do much, and annoyed at how quickly the entire area is swarming with guardsmen and women. Not even a few hours have passed before a whole contingent of them is sweeping through the nearby hills for any signs of escaping Fallen Court members. That and uncontrolled undead. It’s a worrying prospect for something like this to become an epidemic, but at least his party doesn’t need to be responsible for it.

Alyss is already loading him and the party full of whatever antidotes and cure-alls she can shove down their throats. It’s nice to just sit back and watch other people do all the hard work. He is definitely glad that Andire is taking this threat seriously. It wouldn’t do to leave for a few days and come back to a countryside covered in fungal zombies. That sounded straight out of a bad novel.

Thankfully he and the party are given the green light to return back to the city, exhausted but victorious. They arrive in time to down a few celebratory shots of alcohol and quickly retire to their rooms at the Cackling Chimera. The pain quickly fades into a drunken haze as they get the really hard stuff. Even a Dunvi’s liver isn’t perfect. Combined with the other alchemical solutions flowing through his veins it’s a miracle that Ulgrin manages to reach his room.

[A family, hmm?] Lorekeeper’s voice speaks to him in the back of his mind, just barely audible. [Interesting. How… enlightening.]

The lure of sleep calls him too quickly to respond. By the time late morning and noon comes he’s already forgotten. The buzzing of a hangover and a very real need to relieve oneself wakes up most of the group before they can sleep past the afternoon mark. A group of tired, aching, hungover, and ravenous adventurers descend upon the inn’s breakfast.

For the first few minutes as their locust plague consumes copious amounts of greasy food they’re all silent, choosing to focus on recovering. Gradually life returns to their glazed eyes and Ulgrin no longer sees undead joining him at the table.

Raelza’s the first to pipe up, chugging a mug of water. “So… Anyone else’s piss look blue this morning? It’s supposed to look like that, yeah? From all those concoctions you shoved in us?”

“Ugh. Yes.” Alyss replies, likely wishing she hadn’t come down. “One of the ingredients are the scales of a moonlit-cochineal.” None of them recognize the name and give her blank stares. “A bug. You ate bug parts.”

“Delicious.” Saezz says, shrugging. “Was that supposed to be a shocking fact?”

Ulgrin raises a hand before they can devolve into banter. “Onto important matters since we’re all alive again. We’ll be heading out late tonight. About damn time, too. Today will be dedicated to some rest and recuperation.” He pauses and retrieves a large pouch of coin. “This is for you, Alyss, to replenish your stock.”

“Thanks.” She replies with a grin. “This will do nicely. Used a lot of heavy ordinance last night. The bag of toys was getting a bit light. Still, I’ve been working on some unique stuff for the environment we’re headed towards. Really gotta switch things up when all your normal tricks don’t apply.”

“Any other surprise expenses?” Ulgrins asks. Their funds weren’t infinite. Weapon and armor repairs weren’t cheap, potions cost their weight in gold, and his family of locusts could strip entire produce sections dry.

“A castle.” Raelza deadpans. “I’d be willing to downsize a bit and go for a keep, but it needs to be made of green marble. And have gold filigree.”

“Saezz will carve you one, someday.” The lizard replies jokingly. “It will only be about this big,” he holds his fingers apart just slightly. “But that is large enough, no?”

“It’ll have to do,” Ulgrin said with a smile. “Now we did receive a reward for our efforts.” He’d spoken to a messenger earlier and received a package. “Alco managed to pull a few strings and got us these.” He reached into the wooden box and retrieved several very intricately carved diminutive boards. His friends boggle at them, staring in confusion.

“Looks like…” Alyss says, squinting. “Tickets for admission to the Lady of the Lake Theatre? Hells above and below. It’s impossible to get those on that short notice! I guess he wasn’t so low on the nobility totem pole after all. That, or we really lit a fire beneath their collective asses by exposing that clusterfuck.”

Saezz raises an eyebrow. “And this ‘Lady’s Theatre’ is special? He quite enjoyed the play we saw a while ago.”

“Special!” The alchemist grins widely. “It’s the most special! I can still vividly remember the experience when I was a child. Hopefully it hasn’t changed too much. Actors all over Andire aspire to one day play. For at least a few years afterwards I desperately wanted to be one until… Well, I had my dreams punted back down. But it’ll be great to see it again.”

“We’ll have to put on our finest, then.” Raelza said. “Which means Alyss and I should go prepare.” She grasped the girl by her shoulders. “You boys get ready too. We only have a few hours.” Alyss quickly found herself being dragged away, a begging look in her eyes as she stared at them all before being whisked around the corner.”

Ulgrin turned to Alder and Saezz. “Want to sit around doing nothing until the last minute?” He was met with resolute nods of agreement.

Several hours later they manage to make their way to the Unicorn District. A calm, peaceful evening fills the air. All worries are gone.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The Lady of the Lake’s Theatre was a humongous building, easily surpassing all the others around it. The building seemed to be built around the theater part rather than the other way around. A bulbous and circular construction of rich dark heartwood served as the main attraction. Practice halls, storerooms, and dining halls split off from the central sphere in three directions.

Even with the evening just starting the crowd around was dense. People seemed to gather just for the chance to listen. Not even enter, just listen from a distance as the echoing sounds left the dome. There was an entire industry of people taking advantage of the venue, providing everything from meals to seats to copies of the script in the play.

Their party was immediately drawn to the knick-knacks, eager to buy more keepsakes to fill their bags. Wooden figurines of characters being acted as were the most popular. Radiant hand-painted knights, suave looking princes, and ferocious monsters. Ulgrin picks up a stylized Dodo, admiring the cute design.

Satisfied by their purchases, the party makes for the front doors and steps into line. It isn’t a long one. Ulgrin can hear people talking about ticket prices and his eyes boggle at the amount even for a poor quality seat at the back or side. Eventually they grace the front and come face to face with a few beefy looking toughs managing the entrance.

Ulgrin hands over the tickets and watches as the woman in front of him runs an odd looking wand over it. It glows and she gives a satisfied nod, allowing them all to pass. For a moment the group is shocked silent at the sheer scale and beauty of the place.

Even the entryway is premier. Complex designs have been carved into practically every inch of the walls and roof. The murals tell tales of their own, invoking the image of an ancient ruin. The building isn’t done in a single tone, either, but a tasteful range of browns, blacks, and reds.

They’re guided by a servant through the building on a bit of a tour. With the tickets they’ve been provided a meal at the half-way point. Complementary alcohol, too!

Finally they arrive in the theater itself. Ulgrin blinks as he stares up at the dome, eyes widening in surprise as he sees runic symbols in a clear pattern running up and down the sides. A fact that makes itself clear as the ceiling changes from wood to a vision of the sky at dawn. It’s an almost perfect illusion. A hush runs through the crowd, trailing off into murmurs as the seating continues.

A thrum of fear runs through Ulgrin, but he pushes it down. The last time he saw an illusion like this was back at the ruins. It’s not the same. It’ll never be the same. Once everyone is seated there are brief series of announcements by a well-dressed man on the stage. “Please be aware that the scenes you are about to witness today are not real. You are in no danger. If you feel nauseous, please signal for a servant to escort you.” It continues on for a while before he finishes. “And with that, please enjoy the show.”

The sound of blades clashing fills the air as the theater is brought to the scene of a battlefield. Ulgrin finds himself gripping the edges of his seat as he watches. The flash of red in the air is enough to get his own blood pumping.

He can already tell it’s going to be an enjoyable night. One they would remember until their end of days.

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“I can’t believe he’s dead,” Raelza mutters, staring down at her soup. “They’d just kill him off like that, the main character! It’s a travesty, but I can’t keep watching. Gods, these artsy types really know how to tell a show.”

It was an honestly wonderful thing to see magic being used for such things. “That’s how it works on the field of battle. I’m surprised none of us have taken mortal wounds.” It almost made him feel bad for using his own talents for such mundane things as simply hurting others. Ulgrin had a new appreciation for those whose magic was meant for peace and art.

“Hmm. They could have used less… embellished techniques.” Saezz says, happily devouring his meal. “Surely it is inefficient to spin so much in a fight? But he will admit it looked rather awe-inspiring.”

Alyss meanwhile simply smiles at all of us, glad to be here. “I’m feeling really glad about my decision to call you all family. Even you, Alder, should you accept it one day. We’ll get your sister back. Even if it might not look like we’re even close.” She leans out and rests a hand upon his shoulder, squeezing tightly.

The boy blushes lightly, looking down at his lap. “Thanks. That means a lot. But it’s… nice to be here too. I’ve never done anything like this. Feels different. New. It does make me a bit… guilty.” He admitted, grunting.

“Don’t worry, lad.” Ulgrin replied. “Do you really think your sister would want you to be suffering every single minute? I didn’t try to free you from that life for no reason. If anything this isn’t a reward enough for managing to survive a situation like that.”

“Still feels bad. But I’ll try not to be a downer. The food’s really good, though. That helps.”

It was better than they could have hoped. Rich and complex flavors. Just a hint of spice. Probably the best tomato soup he’d ever had. Then again, the main clientele of this place were nobility. Anything less and they’d likely start a riot on the main stage, demanding things like snails and fish eggs. To his common born tastebuds it was an overwhelming experience to say the least.

With a lovely meal eaten they're returned to the theater to watch the second act play out. It was proving to be a great one.

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The end of the play is a sad one. Two lovers die together on a blood soaked field. They die satisfied, having saved their homeland.

It’s a grim portent of the reality of war. ‘Ballad of the Twinblades.’ Ulgrin hopes the message is clear to the nobles in the audience that this is what the world would look like should the worst come to worst. A war like that hasn't graced any of the nations of the Shattered Realm, but he desperately hopes it never comes to pass.

Even ignoring the thematics, the story was wonderful. It leaves him and his allies satisfied, a little tipsy, and grateful to have come here to Andire. His friends are a bubble of conversation, mesmerized by the play as they walk back to the Cackling Chimera to have some well needed rest.

[They died to protect their home, but lost one another in the process.] Lorekeeper states, having been a silent watcher. [I believe I understand you more now, Ulgrin. For that, I am grateful. It is good to no longer be alone. Will you remain by my side, even should the worst come to be?]

“Of course.” He replies, voice full of certainty despite his surprise. “From now until our end. And even then, I shall return to the cycle and search for you.” He reaches down into his satchel and firmly grasps their orb, holding onto the warmth.

[Thank you. That has cleared up many of my worries. I know not whether my ‘soul’ will act as yours, but I would like to hope so. Perhaps together we can see a new sunrise on unfamiliar shores, and in unfamiliar bodies.] Lorekeeper reaches out with her own connection, linking them together.

“Likewise. I wouldn’t be here without you, Lorekeeper. Hopefully that will remain the case for as long as we live.”

After picking up their things and bringing their latest allies along, the party heads for the docks. It’s a simple matter to head to the prescheduled spot and find their ride. A simple vessel in the form of a Cog-type of ship. They all gather together and step across, boarding the ship. A sleepy Maya is carried by Fleeting Wind, who seems amused by their high spirits.

The tired crew wave them aboard and quickly begin maneuvering the riggings. It’s only a short amount of time before the wind picks up on the sails and begins to pull them away. Ulgrin and his allies gather at the rear to watch the city of Andire float away. In the luminant moss it’s an incredibly beautiful sight. One that fills them with hope for the future.

“Family,” Ulgrin mutters to himself. “This was all worth it for that alone.” He raises his hands and speaks clearly. “Farewell, Andire! Onto new shores!”

And with that we're back to our regularly scheduled dungeon delvings. This book has reached fifty chapters! Don't mind if I give myself a pat on the back for that. Ulgrin and his friends have come a long way from home and they've still got much farther to go. So too does this book. Thank you all for reading! See you next chapter.