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94 - Trust me, Don't

Orion woke with a start at a loud sound. A moment of disorientation struck him as he tried to recall where he was. It came back to him as he looked around the room, seeing the bare walls of the bedroom and the empty bed that Arika had been using. It was dark outside as the glow of artificial lights softly emanated through the thin material sheet over the window.

Orion got to his feet, holding his head as the room spun and the thump of a headache began beating on the inside of his skull. Another loud noise came from outside, so he began making his way out. He stumbled down the stairs and opened the door to see someone he didn’t expect.

“Oh, hello,” Treyu said in his nasal voice.

“Treyu…” Orion squinted as he looked around the dimly street. There was no one else in sight, but the soft murmuring of voices and ambient noise could be heard bouncing off of the buildings now that he was outside. “What are you doing here, and where is everyone?”

“My head priest sent me to get you,” Treyu said. He picked up two buckets filled with what looked like small rocks and began walking down the street. “You can follow me if you want.”

Orion did, shielding his eyes from the bright street lamps as they went. The noise continued to grow louder as they approached their destination. They eventually rounded the corner to the square surrounding the town hall—they were met with a wall of sound.

There were people everywhere.

Tables were set up to one side, covered in pots, pans, and other cooking related devices. Adventurers and townsfolk alike were positioned behind them, stirring, chopping, and tasting dishes. Right in the middle, at the most elaborate setup of them all, Shadow stood, briskly working as he sauteed something in a pan. Rue stood beside him, deftly chopping ingredients.

Beside the cooking stations were long tables arrayed with platters and pots filled with finished food. People milled around them, loading up plates. The food smelled delicious, and the wafting fragrance of cooked meat and vegetables peaked Orion’s appetite. A primal need awakened within him as he realized just how hungry he was.

He marched right by Shadow, sparing his friend only a momentary smile and nod as he made his way to the tables of food. Treyu followed him, his metal buckets clanging as rocks shifted around within them.

“Oh, good, you finished your quest, Treyu,” the voice of Honeypot said from behind Orion as he loaded up a plate with something that looked like mashed potato.

“Yes, boss.”

Arika snorted. “I would hardly call sending someone to throw rocks at a window a quest, Honeypot.”

“I don’t tell you how to blow shit up, so don’t tell me how to run my clergy, Arika, you heathen.”

A content hum rolled out from another direction. “Hello, Daddy.”

Arika ignored Honeypot, instead addressing Orion.

“I tried to talk him out of waking you up, Orion, but it has been five days.”

“Foive dayth?” Orion said through a mouth of the mashed-potato-like food before cringing and covering his mouth while he chewed and swallowed. “Sorry. It’s been five days?”

“It has.” She swept her hair back behind one ear as she smiled at him. “How are you feeling?”

“Starving. And like my brain has been wedged between a rock and a pile of bricks.”

Arika winced.

“Yeah, it felt like that for me, too. I slept for three days.”

“I guess we both needed the rest.” He placed his hand above where he felt his center was and probed within himself. He found his soul still scarred and tarnished, but no longer hurting.

Arika noticed what he was focusing on.

“Mine still bares the scars from where I ripped it, but it doesn’t hurt anymore, and seems to be more-or-less whole. How does yours feel?”

“Same. Still scarred, but otherwise repaired.” He removed his hand from his abdomen and grabbed the ladle to something that was either soup or gravy. “What did I miss while I was out?”

They all loaded up plates and found a spot to sit as they spoke. Honeypot ran him through what had happened over the five days he was resting. First, the relationship between adventurers and townsfolk seemed to be repairing, but there was an undeniable tension that still hung between them—the knowledge that adventurers had betrayed and caused the death of so many of them was something that was likely to fan the flames of resentment for a long time to come.

Captain Blanc had become the de facto leader of the city. He still listened to the council of the other captains, and vehemently denied the fact that he was running things, yet it was obvious to anyone with eyes that the people were looking to him for solutions.

Honeypot had squeezed an acceptable reaction out of Captain Blanc upon his reveal of ‘big foot’. He’d told Gileal that it was polite to approach the leader of the city with a certain… posture. Despite Captain Blanc’s best efforts to deny Honeypot the satisfaction, the tiniest hint of amusement had peaked through the hard mask of his face.

Captain Blanc had struck a provisional accord with Gileal and Azeria. They had proved both their intelligence, and their willingness to ally themselves with humanity—as such, the unlikely allies would work together to expand the bounds and safety of Valbrand. The monkeys and foxes would provide protection as both scouts and defenders, as would the humans, if the creatures found themselves in trouble.

They would need a staggering amount of resources to rebuild the town as it once was, and together with the alliance of creatures, the townsfolk seemed hopeful. When the town was rebuilt, they were committed to helping the animals fortify their own domains and provide access to healing compounds in exchange for helping secure the reagents. Gileal and Azeria were both well aware of the benefit of allying with the skilled, profession-wielding humans.

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As they were speaking, Fener and the rest of the Bomb Squad approached and also sat down with food. When Honeypot finished speaking, Orion looked them over. Seren was looking physically better, but seemed mentally checked out—they all did, really.

“Are you guys alright?” Orion asked.

He was met with silence and averted glances before one of them eventually spoke.

“Honestly, no.” Fener smiled weakly at him. “The siege was a lot for us.”

“That’s putting it lightly,” Tallon said.

“I get it. It was a lot. Seren looked on the brink the last I saw him.” Orion turned to the tank. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Seren smiled, but turned away.

“Thanks, Orion. I’m just… struggling a bit. I’ll be fine.”

“We seriously thought about not continuing our adventure.” Fener winced at her own words. “We considered staying here and living peacefully instead of going up to the second tier, but after everything that happened…” She looked at nearby guards who were watching the adventurers closely. “Well, we think it best to not linger where we’re not welcome.”

“You really think you’re not welcome here?” Orion asked. “I thought the Creator made this place for those who wanted to live in relative harmony?”

“Well, that’s what he said. It’s just…” Fener glanced at the guards again. “It’s just whispers as of yet, but there’s something going on.”

“What are you saying?” Orion asked, worry creeping into his voice.

Fener held up her hands.

“Woah, it’s nothing nefarious, I don’t think.” She shook her head. “Forget about it. We’re going to ascend to the second tier, but we don’t know if we will continue after that. Either we’ve lost the spark for good and stay there, or we find the love for adventure again and forge on ahead.”

They spoke for a while longer, mostly guessing what their rewards from the chest would be in two days’ time—a subject that seemed to perk up even the most forlorn of adventurers. Eventually, Fener and her party dismissed themselves and headed off to their own residence.

“That was weird, right?” Arika asked as she looked at their departing backs. “I mean, I know Seren was really messed up, but he’s fine now. They seemed so keen on fighting things when we first met them, especially Tallon… I wonder what changed?”

“You seriously don’t know, Arika?” Honeypot snorted in derision. “That is so embarrassing. Can you believe that, Orion?”

“… she doesn’t know what?” Orion stared blankly at Honeypot. “I have no idea what you’re talking about?”

Honeypot dropped his fork and stared at Orion like he just told him he was leaving the party to join the circus.

“You’re serious?”

“Yes, I’m serious. Do you know what he’s talking about, Shadow?”

Shadow didn’t even look up from his meal. “No idea.”

“These two, I understand.” Honeypot waved his hands at Arika and Shadow. “But you, Orion? You have sharp eyes! That’s your whole thing! How can you not see it?”

“See what?” Orion snapped.

“They’re in a relationship!”

“Who, Fener and Seren?” Arika asked.

“No!” Honeypot said. “Well, yes, but also no! All of them!”

Orion raised both eyebrows.

“What do you mean, all of them?”

“Are you saying it’s a love triangle thing?” Arika asked. “But they were all sad. Is it a love pentagon?”

“What? No, you innocent idiot. They’re all in a relationship together. Or there’s a few different relationships sprinkled in there. I don’t know exactly, but it’s involving all of them.”

Orion and Arika both laughed.

“No, they’re not,” he said. “Stop trying to farm experience off of us. I doubt we give you much anymore, considering how long we’ve been around each other.”

“I’m serious.” Honeypot stared at Orion with a blank expression. “They’re in some sort of weird, non-monogamous thing.”

Shadow dropped his spoon into his half-full bowl of soup and blinked dumbly.

“Oh my God, I think he’s right.”

“Huh?” Arika asked.

Orion narrowed his eyes, suspecting that Shadow was in on one of Honeypot’s elaborate schemes, but the Warrior seemed sincere.

“I used to work with people who were polyamorous,” Shadow said. “Kitchens are known to attract people that are, well, different.”

“What the hell does polyamorous mean?” Arika demanded.

“With the people I worked with, there were three of them in a relationship together. They called it a polycu—wait.” Shadow turned to Honeypot. “How the hell do you know what that is? Aren’t you like… fifteen?”

“Hey! I’m eighteen! Just because I’m not the size of an ogre like you are doesn’t mean I’m a child.”

“Hey, focus!” Arika snapped her fingers sharply. “Someone tell me what the hell is going on. You said non-monogamous. Does that mean they’re all cheating on each other? Is that why they’re so upset?”

Shadow laughed. “No. It doesn’t mean they’re cheating on each other. It’s a relationship where people are allowed to pursue other relationships… I think.”

Honeypot narrowed his eyes.

“You seem to know a lot about this whole polyamory thing, Shadow. Is there something you’d like to tell us?”

Shadow put his hands up in defense.

“Woah. No. Nooooo. I have entirely too much jealousy to ever be in that kind of relationship. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, mind you.” He shrugged. “Like I said, I worked with people that were. There’s a lot of talking and bullshitting in the kitchen.”

Arika made a disgusted face. “That just sounds like cheating, but with extra steps.”

“I don’t know,” Shadow said. “The three I worked with were happy. They eventually left the business to travel Europe in a van. I followed their adventures for a while on social media before, well, you know…”

“I still can’t picture it.” Arika’s face went through several emotions. “I’ve never heard of anything like that before.”

“Whatever makes people happy, right?” Orion suggested.

Arika leveled her eyes at him and her face slowly scrunched up.

“I mean other people,” he rushed to clarify. “It’s definitely not for me, either, but if it makes them happy, and they’re not hurting anyone else, who cares what people do, you know? Who am I to judge?” Orion stared into space as he thought. “It certainly would make sense as to their change in demeanor. They had a brush with death, and if they’re seeing each other…”

“Finally!” Honeypot threw his arms up. “It’s hard being the most intelligent friend, and subsequently, the sole bearer of knowledge.”

Gizmo hummed.

“I believe I am feeling quite envious of their situation.”

“Uhhhh… why?” Orion asked with a worried look.

“I cannot fathom how to love even one person, yet they can love many.”

“Wait, even the guys? The guys love each other too?” Arika asked, a puzzled look on her face.

“Maybe.” Orion shrugged. “Maybe not. It’s not really our business, and it doesn’t really matter either way, does it?”

She appeared lost in thought. “I’d heard that people in the west did that, but—”

“Stop!” Honeypot yelled, waving his arms around. “Stop right there. If you’re about to say something homophobic, trust me, don’t.”

“Huh? Homophobic?” Arika shot an annoyed look at Honeypot. “I’m just surprised, that’s all. I’ve never met anyone like that, and like Orion said, it’s not really our business… even if they are.”

“Phew.” Honeypot sat back and sighed. “Our entire party could have been canceled. That was close.”

“Canceled?” she asked. “What are you talking about?”

“Forget it.” Orion shook his head. “He’s just being Honeypot.”

The rest of the night and the next day passed quickly as they joked, bickered, rested, and even took some time to relax before they departed on their next adventure.

***

It was on the seventh day after the siege of Valbrand that Orion found himself gathered in the spacious square at the center of town—his friends by his side—surrounded by hundreds of adventurers. Townsfolk were present too, but they were scattered around the outskirts of the square.

Even the non-combatants were present. Captain Blanc had requested that everyone attend the square for an announcement.

Orion had a good idea what he was going to say, yet still hoped that he was wrong.