Not now, little one. What’s he going to do? He’s taken a couple of blows without healing, which means he’s either about to or to do something serious. Wow, that lack of health bar is awful. Fine. You know what?! Maybe this low-level attempt is nothing more than a concept. Surely real people in the real world prepare for these things by knowing glitches or something. So, get bent, Lazare. Flor selected the crossed bones, fully expecting to get destroyed.

Lazare just looked at her in another stalemate. Yikes. Lady luck, don’t fail me now! Heal three and attack four. Flor felt her rage bursting and hoped channeling it would finish this fight. Her health filled fully and her fists let loose. She twisted, feet skipping forward, jabbed once, twice, thrice with her left fist, then a cross-body strike with her right, and a fourth jab with her left. The third, fourth, and fifth strike hit hard into Lazare’s face, and he took a step back.

I can’t believe that worked. The Lazare character looked bloodied, but Flor didn’t know if that meant he would continue bleeding or if he was just visibly wounded as an indicator of health. Don’t back down now. Don’t bosses always try to heal when they’re injured this badly?

She saw a blue swap for a five-red L and made the switch. Lazare attempted to block the blows, but Flor came on too quickly. The third jab was enough to drop him to his knees.

Somewhat differently, he didn’t fade away.

Spare Lazare Francesc, Lord 2. Yes/No?

Dammit! I don’t know. There is no information on this dude. Fine, you know what. I’m pissed at this entire game now, so guess what. NO!

Lazare looked up at Flor, pleadingly. “Please! The Lord Necromancer demands sacrifices, or he will destroy us. It’s for the good of all of Icounada.”

Flor wiggled her fingers then pulled back for a serious punch at the Lord’s face. “Tell me that again when I haven’t relived the same day over ten times in a row!” She punched forward and Lazare took the blow directly between the eyes. He fell over backward and the combat interface faded.

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Combat complete.

Attempt again? Yes/No?

No no no.

----------------------------------------

Flor stood and took a breath. She cracked her neck, then took another breath. It’s got to be plot armor. There is no way I should have survived that. Oh, crap. Alastair!

Flor turned to look. She saw Alastair bloodied and beat, but Mayor Oliver looked likewise as if they were on their last turn of an evenly matched battle and a breath would knock either over. Flor started to run toward the battle but saw Oliver thrust a knife at Alastair and Alastair kicked at Oliver. They both took the hit and fell to the ground.

Lady Rosa ran to Oliver and tried to pour what looked like a health potion onto his lips. Flor walked calmly toward Alastair. She knelt by his side and put his head in her lap, expecting him to give some final glib comment. But the life had already poured out of him. Flor looked at the Lord and Lady, hoping she didn’t need to thrash the Lord again with his wife there. But the Lady bowed her head over Oliver.

Congratulations! You have defeated the Mayor.

Flor considered the words in the notification. It was part of the objective. What did Kestor say was the other part? Complete the city? How do we do that?

“Lady, can you hear me?” Flor let Alastair’s body down gently. She stood and walked toward the weeping lady, hopeful not to get into more combat. As if that were a cautionary tale, Flor looked around before considering the situation. Irving limped towards her, there were six dead guards, two dead lords, two dead thugs, one dead Alastair, several horses standing idly, one Lady mourning the Lord mayor, and that was it. No one mourned Lord Lazare, so perhaps he had been alone in that cab.

“Lady, can you hear me?” Flor asked again. Lady Rosa looked up.

“What do you want, brigand? You’ve already taken my light. There is nothing further you can take.”

“Listen to me? Are you complicit with the abduction of children?”

The Lady shook her head no. “The necromancer demands them of us.”

“Do you know what it means to ‘Complete the city?’”

The Lady shook her head no again. An idea appeared in Flor’s mind.

“Do you carry the same persuasion in West Shilgrave as your husband?”

Lady Rosa nodded.

Irving arrived alongside them. “Want me to kill the Lady, Flor?”

“No! No. I have a plan. I want you both to listen to me closely…”