The celebratory atmosphere proliferated throughout the roughly two thousand former slaves. Aside from their obvious freedom, much of it was attributed to the food, drinks, and new clothes they acquired. Unlike the gruel they were previously force-fed, the first layer had stashes of actual meals and fresh juices.

They could also forego their rags and pick up the remaining stock of robes that were stored. Some weren’t fresh, being ripped off the guard’s bodies then lightly cleaned, and a few in the crowd couldn’t find anything in their size, but the vast majority enjoyed the improved conditions.

They brought everyone to the first layer. Though it was technically less spacious, no one wanted to remain below. Understandably. The halls of the first might have been tighter than the open expanse, but their walls weren’t what they stared at day after day after day. This was practically a whole different facility.

They’d set up more bonfires, adding benches and rugs around them. There was no seating arrangement so people just gathered towards one another in clumps of twenty or more. Once all the food and drinks were passed out, the human singer from before amplified his voice with ahjer and sang for the whole crowd. Without him, things may have been more dour, but his performance heavily lifted the spirits. People joined in, people applauded, some even began to dance.

Not everyone joined in the making of merry though, there were a few pockets of gloom. The individuals who had likely lost too much to find any joy in their sudden release clustered into their own groups. Though they could be easily spotted, they were few and didn’t hamper the overall celebrations.

Dalric took so long to work through his emotions regarding the atka’s heartfelt gratitude that they’d made him a seat of honor before he could disappear. He wanted to decline, but he felt it would be cruel of him to ruin the mood in such a manner. So now he sat in a large makeshift chair near the largest bonfire.

Ryku stood next to him.

“I believe I’ve stayed long enough.” He put down the fourth plate of food he'd been given.

"Eat all our food, but won't stay until the end of the party?"

"I merely ate what I was gifted. Unless, you mean to say these were bribes, not gifts? Is that how Paragon's operate?"

Ryku raised his hands, "Fair enough. If you don’t mind me asking, what would you do once you’ve left?”

That was a question. What would he do? The list of things he needed to address had only grown. He had to look further into Aegeus, into the Sky Break, into what histories remained, into how much the world had changed, into the current state of the Gods. The Sky Break was likely the most important issue, he’d wager it linked directly to the Dance, but it didn’t seem to relate to the Gods or Aegeus in particular.

It was possible that he overrated the Gods and their power, maybe the Dance had nothing to do with them and they were truly a thing of the past before his revival. He didn’t believe that though. Why would he wake up to it? Why else would he be important?

On the Aegeus side of things, he could certainly believe it was merely happenstance that he’d been reborn close to his base of operations. The ‘colonies’ didn’t really fit into the fold. He wouldn’t discount them completely just yet, though. Who knows if or how much Seventh lied.

“I will learn more.”

“If you would like, I have access to many libraries and repositories in both Taiyo and Whitesails.”

That would be useful… but…

He had to leave. The actual first thing he needed to prioritize was figuring out another, more foolproof method of shutting out the Gods' attempt to puppet him. His folly connecting to Thunderfield was coincidentally a stroke of genius. With his ahjer consistently low, it would not take much to overextend himself at the first sign of their presence. That said, it was still a poor solution. The short term nature of it aside, it was too destructive for his liking. It still meant he had to keep to solitude.

“I will—”

“Sir Tai! Ah. Apologies! I didn’t mean to—”

Dalric waved his hand at the woman, “It's fine. Go on.”

“Yes!” She bowed deep before continuing, “I found the files you requested. They’re in office 3a.”

“Great! Go grab some food, I’ll handle it later.”

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

“Yes Sir.” She bowed again, to both of them, and headed toward the buffet of sorts.

Dalric leaned onto his fist, “You should join her.”

“How can I take all the credit you graciously provided if I’m not at the center of attention?”

He smirked, “Fair. Though if I were to leave, you would naturally occupy that position alone.”

“Possible, but the moment the passerby leaves I’d have no choice but to return to my responsibilities.”

Ha.

“So you’re slacking off. Is this the famed work ethic of a silver badge?”

“Oh.” Ryku gave a light bow, “Please don’t take my lackluster performance as a representation of a true silver badge’s ability. Unlike myself, a silver should be able to orchestrate a stunning rout while outmanned forty to seven hundred, organize and accommodate almost two thousand people, twice, and also investigate international illegal activity.”

Dalric’s fingers brushed his jaw on their way to holding his chin, “Yes, that’s what I would have expected.”

“All within a few hours.”

“It should only take one really.”

Ryku nodded, “True, true. Especially considering I’d been unconscious for a week.”

“Ahh.” Dalric nodded as well, “So you’re rested even.”

“I am, aren’t I? Truly no excuse, just a poor showing on my part.”

“Truly. I had my concerns about Paragons, but it’s good to know you’re… lack of aptitude is a unique situation.”

They both chuckled. It was a good feeling, light, warm. It also came with dark thoughts. When was the last time he shared a laugh like this with someone? He couldn’t even remember his most recent friendly conversation. Unsettling feelings arose. When was the last time he just enjoyed a moment? For so long he’d just lived objective to objective, running and seeking. When was the last time he could just sit and be a person? Those feelings began to bubble.

His first instinct was to bottle them, as he always did, but he could not continue down that path forever. He still struggled to admit it, but he’d already had a mental break once in this second life of his. There was no need to build toward another. So instead of putting a lid on his rising emotions, he closed his eyes and let them overflow. The regret, the gloom, the fear. They all immediately found purchase.

He weathered them. Though they racked him, he stilled himself and began slowly processing their root causes. It was successful at first. Then… it wasn’t. Too much darkness, too much pain. Too many centuries had passed without him ever addressing any of it. His mind could not fit the trauma his memories held.

Before they could overwhelm him, he reverted back to his old ways. It was a struggle. Liquid spilled did not so easily return to its bottle. He heard Ryku say his name in that moment, but he ignored him and focused on regaining control of himself.

An unknown amount of time, but exactly thirteen deep breaths, later he opened his eyes. To his surprise, no one stared. More than a few glances came his way, but no one seemed to pay him any more mind than they did before his almost–break. Ryku still stood by his side too.

“Apologies, lost in thought.”

“No apology necessary.” He very slightly bowed, “I’m sure a man like you has much to think about.”

For some reason that phrasing almost triggered his emotions again so he hastily latched onto a different conversation thread, “So what are those files you’re avoiding?”

“Hmph. Information about the slave trade. Who was ordering. How many. Where they were coming from and going to. Also, where they got their Devil Glass. Since General Hangaku is here, that answer is more obvious now, but I would like a paper trail.”

“Why—Is Devil Glass hard to come by?”

“Yes and no. They’re expensive to make, so they’re not necessarily easy to acquire. There is still plenty of it though.”

“Then why did you seem surprised they have them?”

“Well. I wasn't surprised they have them, I was surprised they have so many of them. Before I was captured, I witnessed a drop off of over four hundred pieces. That’s an incredible amount of capital for such a small facility.”

Hm. I don’t think I ever found out how much Jester’s Shards cost.

It likely wouldn’t have mattered if he did. He shouldn't use them as a frame of reference for what to expect with Devil Glass. They had similar effects, but they were pretty much two completely different items. Devil Glass could slow down your metabolism. The effect itself wasn’t outlandish, there was a lot of enchanted gear that could accomplish that and much more, but a chest plate was not the size of a fingernail.

It also makes you sleepy. I wonder if I could use that against the—

Dalric practically launched off his seat.

You fool! How did you not notice?!

When the Devil Glass was in his head, Blood Hunter was fainter. Blood Hunter communicated through his soul. It communicated through his soul and the Devil Glass made it quiet.

What would it do to the Gods?