After that night, there wasn't much left to do on our little dungeon clearing expedition. Morvin and Redina both woke up by noon the following day, and Arim decided we would stay put the rest of the day to give them a bit of extra time to recover. Morvin's laceration was a serious injury, but Arim said that since it only affected his shoulder he should still be able to make the trip back.

Predictably, Talon spent the rest of the time tinkering with the machinus. Vurt and Holeria spent almost the entire day arguing about something, but I didn't bother getting involved in their lover's dispute. So with Arim and Bodelee watching over the camp we set up, only I was left to wander aimlessly through the city.

I spent most of the day combing over the city high and low. Dilapidated ruins such as these had an unmistakable beauty to them, so I would have regretted missing the chance to explore them. I only wished I had a camera to take pictures.

The buildings tended to vary in how weathered they were depending on on their proximity to the lake. The higher buildings, like a certain mansion I found, had been preserved remarkably well. Even within these ruins the lower levels tended to be flooded, requiring some diving to explore deeper.

I think the people who explored the pyramids or the Titanic must have felt the same sense of adventure. It's easy to see why people in this world braved danger to make a career out of exploring places like this. Eventually, I was satisfied with what I had found and went back to rest for the night.

When morning came we moved out swiftly, climbing out through the hole in the cavern ceiling. We had to hoist Morvin up with makeshift ropes from vines in the forest since he couldn't climb with an injured shoulder. We were all grateful that the rain that had been hounding us for a few days had finally let up.

The trip back was a simple matter. Around the mountain, then west until we met the river. We weren't as focused on making a good pace with injured party members, so we stopped and camped for the night. Nobody seemed up for a conversation that night, so I simply took watch to avoid the akward silence.

We traveled north along the river for almost a full day before we finally reached Yord. Outside the town, Bodelee took most of our group back to the camp ahead of Arim and I so they could be seen to by Nika. I watched our mud-streaked companions walk down the road for a bit before a slightly annoyed Talon led us to the guild.

When we talked to the receptionist to report our quest completion she eyed us, presumably because we tracked in days of dirt and mud behind us. After ironing out the details, the receptionist disappears into a back room before coming out with a tray of coins. Counting them out, Arim divides them into five equal parts and gives me a handful. Counting it out comes close to eight thousand zel.

Pocketing the money, we head outside. Arim doesn't waste any time in turning and walking off towards the city exit, not even bothering to say goodbye to our weeklong travel companion.

"Well, safe travels, Talon," I say.

"Hm? Yes, safe travels to you as well." As I turn to follow Arim, Talon also says, "I am curious, how is it the church lets a blessed one like yourself wander, completely unsupervised?"

His words freeze me in my tracks. My head turns back to him mechanically, and I respond, "I'm not sure what you mean."

"Ah, trying to hide it, I see. Well, I'm sure you have your reasons. Just be aware I'm not the only one who can perceive the unseen. I'd avoid anyone related to Reverie if I were you. Well, goodbye." He turns and gives a sidelong farewell wave.

Perceiving the unseen, huh? I can't tell if I should have expected that from someone who's well educated in this world or if he's a unique case. Either way… Eh, whatever.

Honestly, I didn't care one way or the other if people knew I was blessed. Ever since leaving Hornhaven I've decided to go with the flow, for now at least. I couldn't help but wonder who or what 'Reverie' was, though.

The trip back to camp is uneventful, but the camp itself seems livelier than usual. Morvin and Redina had a crowd around them at the mess area and were telling the story of our adventure to curious listeners. I could see Morvin's shoulder wound was gone, and Nika was listening from a distance as she prepared food.

Doing my best to avoid the crowd, I gather my usual supplies from the wagons and start setting up my tent. I don't imagine Arim will insist on training tonight so I go ahead and set up in a space on my own for the first time in a while.

After it's all set up I crawl in and relax. As I lay on my back reflecting on the events of the few days, I can't help but grow irritated with the lump pressing into my side. Rolling over I pull out the pouch I had hidden under my clothing and roll it in my hand, listening to the clinks from within.

Now, what to do with this?

I go back and forth over the options for a while, before sighing in exasperation. Getting out of my tent, I look around the camp. Spotting where Zeph had set up next to one of the wagons, I head over. As I approach I hear voices from within.

Knocking on the wood to announce myself, I hear, "One moment," Before the voices continue. After a few minutes, Arim leaves the tent, giving me a sidelong look before walking off. "Come in," I hear.

Pushing the tent flap open I see Zeph bent over a folding table with various papers scattered on it, including a map. Looking up, he says, "Oh, it's just you, kid. Arim said you performed incredibly well on your expedition." He smiles, "You know, I'm not sure I've ever heard him praise somebody that earnestly before."

I shrug, "I just did as I was trained."

"Mm. Well, what brings you to me today?"

Walking up to him, I drop the pouch onto the table in front of him. Its weight thuds against the table as the contents clatter together. The smile is gone off Zeph's face as he picks up the pouch and empties its contents onto the table.

Dozens of shiny gold coins form a pile before him. He looks at me, a dangerous look in his eye, "What is this?" He asks.

His reaction surprises me. Usually, when someone hands you a bag of gold you'd happily thank them, right? My mood sours as I say, "I found those on our expedition. I don't really know what I'd do with them, and I figured you might take them eventually anyway."

The dangerous look in Zeph's eye softens, "Why would you think that?"

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"Last I checked I'm your slave in all but name. Can't think of any reason you wouldn't take it from me at any given chance."

Zeph is silent for a moment before he says, "I had no intentions of doing anything like that." He starts to put the coins back in the bag, "Your wealth is your own, I won't be taking it from you."

Then why did you look so angry there? Oh, I see. He thought I was trying to buy my freedom back. But why would he care to keep somebody like me so desperately even if that was my intention? Last I checked we're mercenaries, people who fight and die for money. And yet he doesn't seem concerned over the pile of gold on his desk. Curious.

"Keep it," I say, "I still don't know what I'd do with it, and it's annoying to carry around." A fragment from a previous conversation pops into my mind, "Put it toward your grand ambition, or whatever it was. Consider it my admission fee for a front row seat."

He chuckles, "You do realize you're already on the stage, right?"

I wasn't too concerned over the money anyway. It was simply what fit in the pouch from the pile of treasures I had found in a flooded vault. The iron gate had long since rusted away, leaving a literal pile of gold, ripe for the taking. As I didn't have a pressing need for money, I had just taken what I could carry, but I wasn't dumb enough to mention that. Even if I didn't need money now, there was no telling when I might need it in the future.

Shrugging, I say, "Putting that aside, do you know what 'Reverie' is? Somebody in town mentioned it, so I was curious."

"Reverie? I guess you could think of him as a god, one who opposes Bymos. I think his full title is The Lord of Reverie, but everybody shortens it. He's a complete battle manic. I'm sure it won't be very long before you meet some of his followers, they're pretty common within the ranks of warriors."

"Are there any other prominent gods I should know of?"

"No, the only gods I know of are Bymos and Reverie. The church looks at followers of Reverie like a troublesome cult, and actively tries to suppress them, so I wouldn't recommend trying to join."

"I'm not really the religious type anyway."

"Yeah, I kind of guessed. Was there anything else?"

"Do any of the others have contracts similar to mine?"

"No, yours is unique. And honestly, I'd rather it stay quiet."

"Yeah, I figured. Okay, that's all for now.”

"Alright then, I'll be addressing the band in a bit, so be sure to attend."

Leaving the tent, I see Morvin and Redina are still the focus of most of the band, so I go back to my tent. I was still filthy from our extended run, and I desperately wanted a chance to clean myself and my equipment.

As I approach my tent I see Vurt near it, looking around. "Can I help you?" I ask.

Vurt turns to me, marches up, and stares at me straight in my face. Clearly, I've done something to offend him, but since I don't know what it is I don't feel like taking his shit. Without reacting to his attempted intimidation I say, "If you want something, say it."

"What did you say to Holeria?" His voice practically oozes with venom.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I've barely spoken a word to her the entire time I've been here."

He grabs my shirt by the collar and pulls me closer to him, "I know you said something! She's been fine this entire trip until suddenly we're separated and you say something! It has to be you! You're the only one she seems afraid of, she won't even say your name!"

So it was something I said while we were separated. I guess there is one thing that stands out. "If you're talking about what I think you are, I think it was something she needed to hear. You know, have you considered the idea that maybe she just isn't cut out for this line of work? I mean..!" My train of thought is interrupted by a fist to my face.

Tasting blood, I reel backward. "Don't talk like you know her, you piece of shit! You don't have any idea what she's capable of!" I had thought this guy had at least some measure of restraint, but it turns out he's a real hothead.

"I think you need to back up and reevaluate the person you're talking about. You're deluding yourself if you think she'd last five minutes when she's put under real pressure."

"Shut up!" He takes another swing at me. I grab his fist and pull it while kicking his leg out from under him. This was one of the only moves in Djudirian flow I had actually managed to somewhat master, I just found it kind of sad such a basic move was effective against the person I had heard others describe as the recruit with the most potential.

Vurt stumbles past me and falls to the ground. Scrambling up in a cloud of dust he turns back to me in time for my jab to perfectly catch him on the nose. This time he's the one who reels back, grasping his nose as it leaks blood.

"Listen, I don't really care about whether or not Holeria has what it takes. I honestly don't. Just leave me out of it. Whether she's prepared or not should be left up to her, don't you think?" I turn away and start walking back to my tent.

"You… You don't care about anybody but yourself, do you?" His words are slurred because of his nose, but for some reason they make me pause. "You think you're above us, don't you? You avoid people because you think you see the world so much clearer than them, right? Well, you can take your opinions from on high and shove 'em."

Turning, I sigh and respond, "I think you're the one who thinks they see things better than anybody else." While I felt the latter part of his tirade had missed the mark completely, I couldn't help but think of that first comment he made.

Do I really care about anybody else here? I cared for Alice, and I liked Zak. But have I truly even tried to think of anyone but myself while I've been here? I've been curious about others, sure. But ultimately I think Arim was right. I have been avoiding others.

Is that really the way I want to live my second life? Just going through the motions? It's still better than I did previously… But no, it's not good enough. If I don't reach out, try and establish bonds… then It'll eventually end up the same as before.

Still, that doesn't mean I'm about to try and bond with a deluded hothead who's come here to start a fight.

"Hey! You two! Will you stop staring each other down like a pair of lame bobcats? Get your asses over here, boss' makin' an announcement." Bodelee calls to us, snapping us out of the starting contest we had been having.

The camp gathers in the mess area, where Zeph is standing on one of the tables. Clearing his throat, he begins, "Alright, everyone. I've got us a new contract. As I'm sure most of you remember, last time we were here we fought for Count Irving, on behalf of Maulia. I guess Duke Gen didn't particularly like fighting against us, so he's offered a fair bit more coin than Irving was willing to. Tomorrow we move through Yord, and we'll meet up with Gen's main force in Waldian territory, a bit southeast of town."

He pulls out a crudely drawn map of the area surrounding Yord, "Here's the current situation. Irving pushed south along the river, and attempted to occupy a village, here." He points out a dot on the map, and I remember the husk of a settlement we had passed by on our expedition.

"I haven't been able to get a clear reason out of either side as to why this village was reduced to rubble over the course of a single night, but what I do know is whatever happened killed the morale of Irving's troops. Regardless, he continues to push east." He took a piece of charcoal and put an X on the dot where the village was, and an arrow east.

"So, since he's taking his main force through a heavily wooded region, Gen's been making his life a living hell, with as many ambushes and traps as you can imagine. Once we meet up with Gen's force we'll move to crush Irving before he can advance to Durtege, here." He points to another dot on the map, east of Yord.

"We haven't received the full plan as of yet, but Gen doesn't want to wait very long. So we move out tomorrow, and you should prepare yourselves to be thrown into combat as soon as we get there. That's all." He stepped down off the table and rolled up his map before tossing it into a fire.

Murmurs floated through the crowd, but before I could lock on to any particular conversation I heard the banging of pots and, "Dinner time!" Nika's voice instantly silenced all the hushed conversations and instantly changed the mood. It seemed like this group wasn't one to linger on dark topics. I guess you just got used to it.