Zara and Slim exchanged perplexed glances as they realized their skills and abilities were locked. The sudden restriction left them feeling vulnerable and uncertain of their next moves. Before they could process the situation, another system message appeared.

Access to your status screen is temporarily restricted!

Confusion and frustration welled up within the necromancer and feline, but they had no choice but to accept the circumstances for the time being. As their thoughts were consumed by the new development, the door swung open, revealing Vaeril, who entered the room with a smile on his face. Behind him stood seven other champions, their cautious gazes fixated on Scott, Slim, and Zara.

“Oh, my friends, I have kept you waiting for far too…”

Vaeril's smile faded upon noticing Zara's awakened state, his expression transitioning into a mix of surprise and disbelief. He rubbed his eyes vigorously, as if trying to convince himself that what he was seeing was not an illusion.

The elf's gaze shifted between the trio, his curiosity evident. However, neither Scott nor Slim volunteered to offer an explanation, choosing instead to assist Zara in getting to her feet. As they made their way toward the exit, Vaeril contemplated whether to stop them or let them be. Ultimately, he remained silent, watching as the trio exited the office, their purpose unknown.

Moments before the door closed behind them, Scott's voice reverberated within the room. “Thank you for your hospitality. We'll be counting on you should we need further help.”

The words hung in the air, leaving the newcomers to ponder their meaning.

Left alone in the office with the newly arrived champions, Vaeril faced a barrage of questions from his companions. A lizardman voiced his confusion, asking, “What was that all about?”

A dwarf chimed in; curiosity evident in his tone. “Why did you look so stunned when you saw the feline?”

Vaeril maintained a reassuring smile as he addressed their concerns. “Please don't worry about that. Make yourselves comfortable,” he chuckled, gesturing toward the vacant seats. “We have much to discuss.” His words were intended to allay their curiosity, but they only seemed to heighten their interest.

Meanwhile, the hound extermination crew strolled through the captivating streets of Enchanted Heights, their senses immersed in the beauty and splendor that surrounded them. They basked in the harmonious blend of architectural ingenuity and enchanting urban planning displayed all over the streets. Curious passersby regarded the trio with warm smiles and courteous gestures, but none approached them directly, leaving the group to explore at their own pace.

As they strolled, the weight of their previous discussion lingered in the back of their minds, but neither of the trio had any intention of talking about it any further.

“Now that our skills and abilities are locked away, I kind of feel useless,” Zara broke the silence. “I don’t have the same confidence in doing the things I’d ordinarily be able to do even in my sleep,” she sighed, staring at some curious humanoids walking a few meters away.

Slim chimed in on the conversation with a sigh. "Vaeril said it would take a couple of weeks at the very least for it to be gone, but barely two hours have passed since we got here, and they've already taken everything from us," the necromancer lamented, running his bony hands along the nearby flowers.

Subconsciously, he turned to Scott, who had remained silent since leaving the administrative building. It occurred to Slim that Scott might still have his skills. Frowning for a moment, he recalled Scott’s reaction when the system notification appeared.

As if reading Slim's mind, Scott instinctively turned toward the necromancer, an indiscernible gleam covering his eyes. “Buddy, are you good?” Slim asked with a smile.

“I have never felt better,” Scott replied, while giving Slim a thumbs up. Slim nodded slowly, his grin even more dazzling than before.

Zara’s gaze alternated between the duo, and a certain understanding dawned on her. I can’t believe he still has access to his skills and abilities; just where did he come from? she pondered. Then again, what was that weird question he asked me back then? Could it be that he’s facing something similar?

Although Slim and Zara had deduced the hidden meaning behind Scott’s words, neither showed any unnecessary reaction nor did their bodies react unexpectedly, thanks to the tendrils suppressing their emotions.

“Which of the headquarters should we visit first?” Zara suddenly asked, pausing in her tracks. “We’ll need to compare the benefits of each faction and weigh them against being factionless. We'll also need to discuss the exit clauses for each faction, among other things.”

Scott and Slim wholeheartedly agreed with Zara’s eagerness to gain a deeper understanding of the different factions.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Eager to take the lead, Slim proclaimed with enthusiasm, “Fear not, my friends! I have diligently memorized the locations of some of the factions.” The necromancer produced three books he had tucked away earlier. “Thankfully, the headquarters of all of them are here. We can always refer to them if we get lost or something.” He then tossed copies to Scott and Zara.

Zara nodded appreciatively. “That sounds like a solid plan. Let’s go then,” she said in haste. However, the feline suddenly paused in her tracks, turning toward her companions. “I think we have been overlooking something important,” she added.

“What’s that?” Slim asked, his curiosity piqued.

“Will we suddenly start living off the streets?” Zara inquired, her tone conveying a touch of concern.

Scott and Slim exchanged glances before bursting into laughter. Zara, confused by their reaction, demanded an explanation. “What? What’s wrong?”

“I thought you were going to say something more important,” Slim managed to say between laughs.

“But it’s important,” Zara insisted, pouting as Slim continued to laugh.

“Don’t worry about that,” Slim reassured, barely regaining his composure as he flipped to a page in the rule book. “Housing, food, and other basic necessities are freely provided,” Slim explained. “I only suspect that the quality might vary depending on whether we choose to join a faction or not.”

“Oh? That makes sense,” Zara muttered softly, then shot a glare at the necromancer. “You’re lucky I can’t access my status screen. I would have demoted you even further.”

Slim chuckled, urging his companions to follow him. “The House of the Leaf is closest to our current location. The Lion Shrine and the Beetle Hive are in the adjacent street.”

“You guys go ahead,” Scott said, his gaze fixed on a group of newcomers several meters away. “I’m going to start recruiting.”

Slim and Zara followed his line of sight, noticing a group of five elves and two humans.

“Be careful, okay?” Zara said softly.

The eldritch knight nodded silently. “Let’s meet back here by dusk. How does that sound?”

“That’s a good idea. With any luck, we should be done with our business by then,” Slim said. “Good luck, buddy.”

Slim patted Scott's shoulder, while Zara hesitated for a moment before embracing the half-human. “Don’t do anything stupid,” she whispered.

“See you later,” Scott waved at the duo before turning back to the newcomers. How the hell did she get here so quickly?

Scott’s eyes lingered on Llorva, who chatted and laughed with her fellow newcomers and the representatives escorting them to the administrative building.

I would rather not do this, but we need a lot of people if we’re going to clear this trial, Scott sighed while cracking his knuckles. These monstrosities have been gathering around me for a while now; I wonder how Slim and Zara would react if they could see them.

Resigned to his fate, the eldritch knight took quick steps toward the oblivious newcomers.

“… and that’s when I decided I was going to run away. He still thinks I’m going to buy him a new bow,” Llorva chortled, leaning against a fellow elf who nervously laughed while avoiding eye contact with the others.

Despite the apparent cheerful atmosphere, the other champions wore nervous, somewhat uncomfortable looks.

“Excuse me, can I talk to you for a minute?”

The group turned toward the origin of a voice, and their eyes fixated on an animated mask that seemed to seduce one’s soul.

“It’s you,” Llorva shouted, pushing the elf she leaned on aside as she skipped toward Scott, stopping a few feet away. “I’m so happy to see you. You even remembered me,” she said, reaching for Scott’s hand like a venomous snake before nestling her head on the chest of the half-human.

The newcomers and their escorts exchanged perplexed glances, but soon grasped that the unknown man had gifted them a golden opportunity to be free of the eccentric elf. Without hesitation, the group silently made their swift exit.

Behind his mask, Scott furrowed his brow, observing their departure. Why does it look like they were eagerly awaiting this moment?

“Don’t focus on them; look at me instead,” Llorva said, reaching for Scott’s mask, only for him to intercept her hand.

“Don’t do that,” Scott uttered, swatting away the hand of the smiling elf. However, he couldn’t extricate himself from her embrace. “I need to talk to you about something.”

“I’m in,” Llorva interrupted, clinging even tighter to the half-human.

Scott paused for a moment. “What?”

“I said, I’m in,” Llorva repeated, nuzzling against Scott’s chest.

“You don’t even know what I want to ask you,” Scott remarked, grappling with the elf's unpredictable behavior. Did I make a mistake? he silently wondered.

Llorva’s soft laughter filled his ears as she raised her head. “It doesn’t matter what it is; I’ll do it,” she declared. “Since it’s you asking, I’ll give my all,” she grinned, revealing her pure white teeth.

She's truly eccentric, but that's precisely the kind of person we need, Scott thought to himself.

Scott gestured toward an unoccupied chair near a towering statue that doubled as a fountain. “Let’s sit over there; we have much to discuss.”

Llorva giggled softly, leading the way while intertwining hands with the eldritch knight. “So, what’s your name? Where are you from? You look and sound human, but you don’t smell like one. Why is that?” The elf suddenly halted in front of Scott, locking eyes with him. “Whenever I gaze into your eyes, it feels like my mind will shatter, but it’s also the only time there’s silence.” Llorva leaned on the masked knight again as she continued. “Why have you been calling me? You don’t know how happy I was when I finally found you. Everyone told me I was crazy, but I knew I’d meet you someday.”

Llorva paused and sniffed Scott’s clothes before raising her head. “Although it's faint, there’s a lingering feminine scent on your clothes. Whose is it?” she asked softly, her innocent eyes meeting Scott’s.

“None of your business,” Scott stepped forward, and Llorva quickly followed him, snuggling against his arm.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said, giggling softly. “Right now, all that matters is that I have you all to myself.”

The duo took measured steps toward their destination, ignoring the curious gazes of the surrounding passersby. A few feet away from the chair, Llorva’s voice filled Scott’s ears again. “For the second time in my life, only my voice is in my head. Is this what it’s like to be normal?”

“You in the mask!” a shout echoed from afar, forcing Scott and Llorva to stop in their tracks. The duo raised their heads, staring at a man with thick beards, and whose head protruded out of a window.

“Are you the one that has been calling me?” The man glared at Scott, but there was no malice in his eyes, only an endless curiosity.

A smile bloomed behind Scott’s mask as he motioned toward the man with his free hand. “Yes, come down. Let’s have a chat.”