> “Classes are granted by the Archons, and ever align with their wills. It is said that Esultar, Archon of the continent of the same name, is a wrathful, warlike being, and that is why so many Classes of bloodshed and ambition are created and mutated there, and why inevitably a warrior king rises to rule the continent. Diren’s patron Archon is said to be the most well-spoken and intellectual of the Hexad, which is why , , , and the like all dominate the land, and why their is so venerated. Vrogott is business-savvy, Nok is full of adventurers, Ushorin is wise, for all their continent’s follies, and Kandrev--”

* Sonya Fallgrove, Direnian historian and culture documentarian, in her notes to the Senior Librarian at the Gillian Institute, before they abruptly stop.

The night was alight with all sorts of feasting and fun as the cured danced and sang, ate and drank, commiserated and debated, all as they had in months past. It was a beautiful array of hundreds of happy faces, a great number of them red with ale and food.

The air of celebration lasted into the next day. At around two in the afternoon that next day, amidst the partying, Bim and Zara shouldered their way amongst the crowd to where Sharron sat on a cask, sipping in a dignified, albeit relaxed, way from a thin glass of light wine.

“So, Zara and I were talking, and we think our days here are numbered.” Bim said, a tad awkwardly. “We love it here, we really do, and we aren’t going to leave immediately-- we’ll stay for at least a few more days-- but we think-- well, that our work here is mostly done. We want to travel to other towns, other places, and help more people. We’ve got a good thing going, but we can always do more to make the world better, you know? Especially now that you’re up and running, and Forana and Dannek have really grown into being community leaders in their own ways. Coll’s still on the fence on whether he’ll come with us, and we’re gonna approach Helena next-- she seems like the exploring kind. But I -- we-- mostly I, to be honest-- just wanted to get your blessing about the whole thing.”

Sharron nodded, face neutral. “Honestly, Bim, Zara, everything’s looking just a bit bearable for the first time in a while. If you want to go an on adventure, travel around and help people, be my guest.” She smiled with one corner of her mouth. “You’ll always have a place here.” Bim nodded, thanked her profusely, and Zara shook the hand firmly before they subsumed themselves back into the party atmosphere.

Later in the day, they stopped by the hall to see Dannek, Helena, and several other , , , and just plain .

Dannek nodded to Zara and Bim, respectively, and looked at them inquiringly. “Whatcha need? Traps, provisions, training?”

Bim stepped forward. “Sir, you’ve been an invaluable asset to this town for years, long before I ever arrived. You’ve assembled a team of crack and and other such specialists of the highest caliber. You’re a master of your craft, and I wanted to ask--” The fifty-something man, hair balding, face lined like mountain stone, smirked a small smirk as he listened to the flattery. “I was wondering if your daughter, Helena, could join Zara and I and perhaps one or two other team members on a bit of a journey, at least to Cardona, and quite likely beyond. She’s like a younger, less settled version of you, sir.”

Dannek stared at him for a long time, then reached over, and poked him hard in the side. Bim yelped in pain, and Zara stirred. Dannek waved her off. “Don’t worry, I was jus’ making a point. First things first, don’t degrade her by calling her a younger version o’ me. At her age, I couldn’t tell a tame piglet from a wild hog. She’s a hell of a lot better than me, and her levels’ll show it soon enough. Second, she’s twenty-one years old. She can make her own choice.”

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Helena, for her part, seemed curious. “I do think the boys here have got the situation under control.” She nodded to her fellow qualifier on my Class before the month’s end.”

She hugged her father, who almost wept a tear at the decision before forcing it back in, and then broke away and turned to Zara, sticking out a hand. “Good to be on the team. I’m Level 9, good at what I do, and my best Talent’s . It’s what it sounds like; at up to a hundred yards, I can shoot a single arrow, and hit the slugger I’m after in exactly the right spot, wherever that may be. It only works once a day, though.” She pointed a thumb over her shoulder at Bim. “He can tag along if he wants.”

Next, they approached Coll, who was sitting on the cobbles, chewing on tobacco, playing cards with the local militia that Zara had expanded and refined in the wake of the chaos two weeks ago. Bim tapped him on the shoulder, and he broke away from laughing with a trio of men in armor, setting aside his hand of cards and rising to his feet.

Bim pinched his nose. “First, your breath reeks and that stuff is gonna give you lung issues, if it hasn’t already. Second, I understand you’re fifty years older than me, but I’d like to enlist you in a group I’m forming to travel to Cardona.”

“Why the capital? Won’t that be crawling with nobles and guards and other folk who’ll want to reimprison us for being escaped Desolates?”

“Simple solution. None of us have any suspicious Classes. We’ll just get some paperwork affirming our time here, stamped by Sharron-- I’m sure she has some kind of official stamp lying around in a box in a back room-- and witnessed by some of the townsfolk, we’ll pass a simple Arcgem test, and we’ll explore the big city. It’ll be an adventure, a way to expand our horizons and find new avenues to help make people’s lives better. I’m sure our original records were destroyed or abandoned in the wolf attack; we’ll be fine.”

Coll scratched his chin. “Why me? Why not Billy or…” He harrumphed happily. “Forana?”

“Forana needs to stay here to help the town still, and plus, she’s a homebody. As for Billy, I don’t know who that is.”

Coll scoffed. “Great guy. A deft hand at poker. You should really get to know more of the people that escaped the caravan with us. Something for another time. For now, yes, I’ll join. But we have to stop by Lakeside on the way; they have superb taffy.”

Bim grinned. “We were already gonna stop by their to restock for the second leg of the journey, Coll, but I’m glad you decided to join us. We’ll be leaving in four days, on Restday. Be prepared; it’ll be a long trip.”

Next, they went on rounds, Bim doing his duty as and checking up on everyone. As he walked, he spoke thoughtfully. “We need a fifth team member for the expedition. In all the stories, everyone travels in groups of five.”

“Good idea. Start with a spare, somebody you can use for padding for arrows in case of an attack by marauders.” A wide-shouldered man in dark clothes stepped out from the surrounding crowd, sticking out a hand. He looked like was in his late twenties, with blonde hair and dark eyes, and his hands were covered in calluses that Bim took note of when they shook hands. “Hi, I’m Greg.” The man said. “I was with the original batch of escapees, and I’ve been here the whole time. I’ve been trying to be unobtrusive; you seemed to have found your clique. But if a fifth teammate is needed, I’m all in. I need a change of pace; I’m getting awfully bored here, no offense meant.”

“None taken. The quiet town life isn’t for everyone. If you want to join, I’d be glad to have you. But I’ll need to know your Class and Level before we embark.”

Greg nodded understandably. “I’m a Level 17 .”

Zara raised an eyebrow. “And?”

Greg blushed. “Well, the complete Class is actually… .”