Lilia
She dreamed. Lilia often ended up dreaming. Dreaming of better times; dreaming of simpler times; dreaming of peaceful times. Not that Lilia had ever had times like of what she dreamed about, but she'd seen others live them and had to suppress her envy. Today's dream was a bit different. All she could see was that Inquisitor. All she could do was re-watch the moment of their eyes meeting. All she could do was listen to the words she said echo in her skull. Lilia started awake after the tenth repeat and saw wood, and a slightly pudgy man. The man looked well off, far more well off than anyone that would've let Lilia get this close to them before. Lilia instantly assumed she was a prisoner, then after looking around she realised she was in a carriage. A carriage with a wealthy man. She remembered the stories her mother used to tell her of wealthy men. She had always only nodded politely in answer to the old bat whenever she went on her random rambles but that didn't mean she didn't listen. Lilia sat there, staring at the pudgy man as he stared at her, albeit with a much kinda look in his eye compared to Lilia's guarded and suspicious look. Luckily, after some inspection, her clothes hadn't been changed or moved more than Lilia thought they would've been from being carried so this rich man wasn't a perv at least. Then again, Even if he was, he's traveling with an [Iftani Inquisitor] so he couldn't act on it.
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Tyrril
The poor woman awoke and almost instantly Tyrril could see the fear in her eyes. It was understandable, after the predicament that she and her fellow recently freed women were in, that she'd panic at seeing a man as the first thing once she woke up. She wouldn't look dissimilar to some of his fellow [Merchants] or even a [Noble] if she was cleaned up a bit and given good clothing, it made him wonder if she was a silver spoon. He smiled warmly as she started awake and stared at him. Her expression was extremely guarded and suspicious, which was fair enough to Tyrril.
"Do you feel alright? You've been unconscious for longer than she thought you would be..."
Her, in this context, being Miss Inquisitor.
The woman spoke, respectfully and carefully pronouncing her words as to make herself understood. It made Tyrril laugh slightly.
"I am... Adequate..."
Her face flushed at his laugh and he held up a hand, apologising between wheezes. He felt bad for this but also completely didn't, her trying to not insult him was almost adorable. It reminded him of his niece back when she was a very young child, trying to use big words at every opportunity to sound smart.
She shuffled to a corner and looked out into space, looking at her [Status] so Tyrril decided to check his own [Status], as is customary on long trips.
[System: Status Screen]
[User Preferred Name: Tyrril]
[User Level: 63]
[User Health Points: 515/515]
[User Mana Points: 10.02k/10.02k]
[System: Stats Screen]
[Strength: 8]
[Speed: 5]
[Intuition: 30]
[Charisma: 68]
[System: Abilities + Skills]
[Abilities]
[Instinctual Mana Control: Lvl 1]
[Acting: Lvl 30]
[Below Average Mana Manipulation : Lvl 1 (Max)]
[Skills]
[Eye For Business]
[Profiteer]
[System: Achievements]
[Expert Merchant: 15% bonus to XP]
[System: Quests]
[Figure out The Inquisitor's Mission: 13 days left]
Tyrril sighed. That quest would probably be one of those high risk high reward types that he made an effort to always avoid. Tyrril didn't think a little bit of questioning could hurt. So he got up and went to the window.
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Emrik
He saw Tyrril go to the window and decided to approach his temporary boss. He hadn't worked with Tyrril long but knew by now he'd probably fight very hard to save him if he was ever in trouble, the rations that Tyrril had shared hadn't hurt that sentiment. Emrik spurred his acquired horse closer to the carriage after shaking himself out of his thoughts and leant over so he could here Tyrril over the carriage noise. Bandits are good for one thing... looting.
"Need anything boss?"
"Emrik? Ah yes... I was going to ask the Inquisitor some things, do you happen to know where she is?"
He chuckles and looks at the Inquisitor who is currently riding on the same horse as Pavolia, seemingly in some sort of trance or meditation. He pulls out one of them handy makeup mirrors Pavolia bought them all in case they ever ran into a gorgon or basilisk while in the woods where they first met the Inquisitor. Emrik shook his head, far too sentimental for something so recent. He pulled out his mirror and showed Tyrril, who promptly made the right choice in Emrik's opinion. Tyrril sighed, muttered something about asking again later and went back into the carriage.
This was an ample opportunity of peace, not being on the front or rear watch, to check his status. Emrik was sure that the others were going to check their status' as well during this moment of peace, after all, why wouldn't they? Even if everyone knows that one man's 30 strength isn't the exact same as another mans, at that high a number they are close enough, being 200-230% stronger than they would've been at the average, which was 10.
[System: Status Screen]
[User Preferred Name: Emrik]
[User Level: 29]
[User Health Points: 400/400]
[User Mana Points: 100/100]
[System: Stats Screen]
[Strength: 21]
[Speed: 39]
[Intuition: 30]
[Charisma: 16]
[System: Abilities + Skills]
[Abilities]
[Adept Pickpocket: Lvl 14]
[Acting: Lvl 16]
[Knife Wielding: Lvl 7]
[Skills]
[Fleet Foot]
[One With Shadows]
[Hidden In Plain Sight]
[System: Achievements]
[Ex-Thief]
[Gold Rank Adventurer: 20% bonus to XP]
He didn't think it was that bad. He stole a glance at the Inquisitor and Pavolia again, secretly thinking about what insane level her stats must be, compared to Pavolia, his and Karrlund's stats. Pavolia looked up and smiled nervously, her arms still wrapped around the Inquisitor's waist as she sat behind her on the horse. One day he'd reach level 50 and do an [Achievement Wipe] to remove the stain on his [Achievements].
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
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Pavolia
[System: Status Screen]
[User Preferred Name: Pavolia]
[User Level: 25]
[User Health Points: 300/300]
[User Mana Points: 570/600]
[System: Stats Screen]
[Strength: 14]
[Speed: 10]
[Intuition: 37]
[Charisma: 28]
[System: Abilities + Skills]
[Abilities]
[Instinctual Mana Control: Lvl 1]
[Acting: Lvl 9]
[Mana Manipulation (Through Chant): Lvl 3]
[Skills]
[Adept Flight]
[Firebolt - Weak]
[Wall of Fire - Moderate]
[System: Achievements]
[Ex-Cultist]
[Ex-Heretic]
[Gold Rank Adventurer: 20% bonus to XP]
She looked up from her status screen after sensing a gaze land on her. Seeing Emrik look at her and the Inquisitor with a questioning and almost contemplative look, Pavolia smiled as confidently as she could. Of all the people the Inquisitor would decide to horse share with it had to be her. The one she'd likely be honour bound to slay if she ever found out the truth. Pavolia almost cried when she was told and only managed to control herself because of Karrlund and Emrik staring at her welled up eyes with worry and Emrik looking like he was going to ask about it. She didn't think that saying it was nothing, she was just unnaturally terrified of someone hailed as a hero by literally all the subjects of the empire was a good idea for some reason.
The Inquisitor moved slightly and Pavolia leant to attempt something akin to catching her if she fell, not that she ever did in the past 20 times this had happened. As always the Inquisitor righted herself almost instantly, almost like it was an instinct, which if Pavolia was honest with herself, was terrifying in its own right. She did wonder what it must be like to be so powerful that you just meditate while on horseback with an almost stranger without being worried. Then she thought about what the Inquisitor must've been through in order to be this strong and secretly is very glad she doesn't know because her imagination is terrible and cruel and horrible, yet might pale in comparison to what actually happened.
Pavolia hated sharing a horse with the Inquisitor, who still hadn't revealed her name. Not through any fault of the Inquisitor mind you, she hadn't really done anything but be surprisingly kind and thoughtful of others since hitching a ride with Tyrril's carriage and goods. Her mind then strayed to Karrlund, for a reason Pavolia didn't know nor care to know. She sighed and silently offered a prayer for the Carriage's luck and safety, for what good a heretic's prayer would do in the eyes of the system.
"I hope Karrlund isn't lonely on watch all by himself..."
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Karrlund
Karrlund found it hard to concentrate on the safety of the caravan while also making sure the acquired horse from the bandits didn't buck him off like it was trying to do every time he showed even a hint of weakness. Eventually he got fed up and hopped off, using [Unwavering Resolve] to increase his stamina and walk at the same pace as the horse was trotting.
[System: Status Screen]
[User Preferred Name: Karrlund ]
[User Level: 29]
[User Health Points: 800/800]
[User Mana Points: 55/55]
[System: Stats Screen]
[Strength: 28]
[Speed: 15]
[Intuition: 36]
[Charisma: 9]
[System: Abilities + Skills]
[Abilities]
[Swordplay: Lvl 8]
[Greatsword Wielding: Lvl 11]
[Archery: Lvl 3]
[Skills]
[Strengthen Self]
[Unwavering Resolve]
[Minor Identify]
[System: Achievements]
[Gold Rank Adventurer: 20% bonus to XP]
[Witness of Devotion: Partook in an Inquisitors prayer and now you gain 25% more XP for every [Holy] action you take]
[System: Hidden Achievements]
[Witness to the System's Chosen: Unknown Effect]
Karrlund stared at this new achievement. He didn't even know that was a thing. Hidden Achievements just didn't make sense. Why would [The System] hide something from its own faithful? It simply didn't make sense.Karrlund stared at the achievement and then glances back at the Inquisitor who looks like they're meditating while riding the horse. Pavolia looks terrified every time the Inquisitor sways slightly and Karrlund suppresses a laugh. He does wonder what goes on in that zealous head of hers. The Inquisitor is a strange one, the strength she displays so casually makes him really glad he didn't attack instantly when he saw her standing on a [Direwolf] corpse near the carriage. Not that he thought he'd be able to manage to get her serious if he fought her but he'd be a bloody mist anyway if his instincts led him true, which thank [The System] they often did.
His thoughts wandered for a while as he wondered about many things. One such thing being the Inquisitor's goal here, and why she hitched a ride with them of all people. He also thought of his family. He kind of missed Elissa, the Nun who cared after him and the others at the Orphanage, but he knew that if he held on for just a couple more weeks, provided there aren't too many stops or problems, he will see all of them again.
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Lilia
[System: Status Screen]
[User Preferred Name: Lilia]
[User Level: 34]
[User Health Points: 600/600]
[User Mana Points: 750/750]
[System: Stats Screen]
[Strength: 14]
[Speed: 10]
[Intuition: 30]
[Charisma: 27]
[System: Abilities + Skills]
[Abilities]
[Swordplay: Lvl 1]
[Mana Manipulation (Through chanting): Lvl 11]
[Knife play: Lvl 4]
[Skills]
[Strengthen Undead]
[Minor Raise Undead]
[Lesser Identify]
[System: Achievements]
[Novice Necromancer: Slightly easier to get lesser undead to obey you]
[Witness of Devotion: Partook in an Inquisitors prayer and now you gain 25% more XP for every [Holy] action you take]
[System: Hidden Achievements]
[Living due to the Mercy of the Chosen: Unknown Effect]
Lilia looks at the trees glide by as the carriage she was in with the rich man trundled along seemingly without bumps. She knew better though. Also that new achievement section wasn't normal in the slightest. Oh well. Not her problem at the moment, unless the effect turned out to be something like, Die Instantly. That would suck. Her stomach rumbled and she almost cringed, until she saw the merchant looking out the other window, chatting to his hired help. Lilia decided to just grit her teeth and push forwards, the merchant hadn't done anything and had even been quite kind sounding towards someone not giving him a ton of respect, that being said hired help.
"Sir? Do we... Do we have any rations I could have?"
The man turned and smiled. He nodded and turned back towards the hired help, who Lilia assumed was the [Rogue] of the Gold Ranked party that the [Knight] or [Paladin] from earlier was a part of. The carriage stopped and she heard said Knight, she was going to assume that until told his name, yelling for an ordered queue so the cook isn't overwhelmed. Lilia watched as the Merchant got up and got out before turning and offering her his hand. She saw no harm in taking it so smiled and let him guide her down before they both made their way over to the large group with the Rogue. The Inquisitor was sat on a tree stump, kneeling and looking like she was praying. The women that had been saved with her were all congregating around a [Mage] who's name she caught to be Pavolia. Then the Knight came with a humongous cauldron pulled from [The System] knows where, and plopped it down.
"Let us thank [The System] for our meal today! None of us would be here if not for its glorious follower!"
She saw the Knight look at the Inquisitor briefly who in turn, turned her head to look at the crowd and then promptly stood up and walked over.
"I am Feyre... Use my name when needed, it is a bore hearing Inquisitor and wont work for if we meet my friend where I hope to."
Lilia stared, Feyre was a name many had heard before. The Iftani Lieutenant who just disappeared after defeating a literal [Evil Incarnation of Chaos]. This made so much sense now...