"Who is she?...Where did she come from?...There's no record..."

I opened my eyes to a crowd of people standing around me, gawking. I lay on my back in the grass, fighting a throbbing headache and a powerful burn in my right hand. The damaged teleporter lay beside me, powered down.

I noticed the dwarf that had stayed by my side, lobbing those bombs while we evacuated the rest of the families. I noticed the elven caster that had put up such a fight, using all her mana and energy to provide a Force Shield when we needed it most.

But I wasn't supposed to be here. This mission had been about laying low, sneaking into the Society, and getting out. And now look at me. I blew my one chance at the Crystal to save a few lives.

Level up! You are now Level 11. You have 3 skill points to distribute. Become stronger! Faster! Better! Achievement Unlocked: Defender of the Fallen. You defended the helpless when they needed it most, even when it came at great personal cost. Increased reputation with commoners.

Your selfless deeds have changed your alignment score. Previous: -1. Updated: -0.5.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Maybe it's not so bad to help others every now and then.

I tried to scramble to my feet but my legs betrayed me. Assholes. I swayed and staggered as people rushed forward to help me out. "Easy, miss," The dwarf said. "You had a rough spill, there."

"Get off me," I grumbled, swatting their hands away. "Let me go."

I stumbled away, my whole body still aching with pain. I shoved a few herbs into my mouth, grimacing at the taste. I could never quite get used to it, but the buff in HP was worth it. My mana and stamina were still drained, so I couldn't move very fast. As blood began to flow back into my limbs, I became aware of the people following me.

"Won't you stay?" The elven lady asked. "You saved us. It's the least we can do to offer you a bed for the night."

I frowned. I wished I could, but knowing my luck, they'd try to get me to join the Society. And that wasn't happening. Besides the fact I didn't agree with their tenets at all, I was a solo Traveler. Always had been. It was better that way. I'd vanish just like I always did, and these people could get on with their lives.

I ignored their requests and turned a sharp corner, ducking behind the ruined Pavilion. I heard footsteps, but they wouldn't be fast enough. 

Return to Home Waypoint?

[Yes/No]

I sighed, took one last look around me, and selected Yes as the light swirled around me.