> “To the Archons, who grant us strength to face all challenges!”

* Traditional Esultaran toast

The next day dawned on a town full of exhausted people, most getting a scarce handful of hours of sleep apiece. Marvin’s body had been recovered, and a funeral was being planned by Vartur, a close friend of Sharron’s, but in the meantime everyone mourned.

Despite Zara’s best efforts, Jules had escaped capture; not even a murder weapon was found at the sight of the crime. Dannek was still out on the hunt with his team, helping guide him towards the target. They hadn’t had any information on the hunt’s progress in hours; it was expected he would return soon with news.

“Why would he do something like this? It just doesn’t make sense.” Bim was in the medicine hall with Coll, Zara, and Forana, with the addition of Helena-- Dannek’s daughter and an who was filling in for his duties while he was away.

“He was obviously deranged. We found a hole dug up in the ground just outside of town-- filled with gold and gems. He must have had a stash he abandoned most of when he was being hunted. He could have had a place here, a peaceful life. People have to be very broken to throw away something like that, murdering for no reason.” Zara’s summation was brief and brutal.

“Finding him is a secondary priority. I trust Dannek and his team to get that done. For now, I need daily reports on general productivity and advancement on the cure specifically. I don’t have Sharron’s Talents, so I need someone to tabulate complaints-- Coll, you’re good with people, you do it. For now, we just need to stay safe and knuckle down.”

Bim was feeling uncertain about the future. Sharron was still practically catatonic, and though he was now a Level 3 , he hadn’t the Talents or the experience to support even a small town under as much pressure as Drumlin was.

After everyone scattered to their jobs or got to work on the cure, he headed out with Zara to survey the town and check in with patients (he went in alone during that part).

Midafternoon, he collapsed against a wall and fell asleep.

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Level 5!

Talent — gained!

He awoke to Zara’s hand shaking his shoulder. He got up blearily, noticing how the sun was setting. “How long was I asleep?”

“Three hours or so. It got awfully boring, watching over you. Now get yourself up. My Morale Talent isn’t pulling its weight, apparently.”

Bim sighed, rubbing his eyes before they headed off towards the center of town. “It’s not enough. Your Morale Talent, even with a Stamina Talent and everyone supporting me. I don’t know how to do this, Zara. I’m not cut out for it.”

She patted him on the shoulder. “You’re doing amazing, Bim. You just have to stop pushing yourself so hard. You got less hours of sleep last night than I have fingers on one hand, and you maybe broke seven hours after collapsing in an alley for three of ‘em. If you keep going like this, you’re going to die on your feet in less than a week, and no one wants that, least of all me.”

“Alright, I’ll try to not push myself so intensely for a while.” After a while, Bim murmured: “What’s the damn point?”

“Hmm?” Zara grunted.

“What’s the damn point? If people like Marvin can get stabbed to death in an alley, and someone like Jules can survive a wolf attack and make a fortune in looted money? What’s the point of any of this?”

“That’s easy. We’re making people’s lives better.” Zara said it matter-of-factly, as they entered the feast hall. Spontaneously, Coll clapped his hands. Then Forana joined, and Vartur, and more and more people, until about half the room was clapping for him. “!” Coll said, smiling. Bim was abashed, waving everyone down, and settled into his usual seat near the head of the table.

Zara clapped him on the back. “They’re thankful for you. You should be thankful for us, for them. Yeah, things look bleak. We’re workin’ to fix that, as best we can. Be what you need, and be what they need. You’re already doing it; just continue how you’re doing.”

As they went to eat, Bim’s appetite slowly returning, he felt a spark of true hope ignite in him, and he felt that warmth expand, something changing within him.

Class Removed. Conditions No Longer Met.

Talent Variant unlocked!

🠊

Talent absorbed by Class

Somehow, he felt good about the day.