Knowing that we were amongst an evil lurking within the town set me on edge. A sharp knife that would slowly bleed any patience I had remaining, causing discomfort whenever I would try to relax. I needed to find release for the constant pressure, some heads to remove with a satisfying pop, like a cork from a bottle.
“You look like you’ve had no sleep at all.” Florence furrowed her brow at me as she blew the steam from her mug.
After lighting a fire in the stove, Angelos had made some manner of tea he apparently swore by. That being said, there was little the man didn’t swear by, or at. I paled at the idea of it at the time, but sitting in the miserable shack we now called home, I could have done with the extra warmth.
“Old bastard needs a coffin to get a good night's kip.” The Guardian smirked from across the room.
“Falsehoods peddled by the ignorant.” I sighed and shook my head. “I am uneasy; I feel like there is something dire brewing in this town, and we are to be labored with the burdens in short order.”
Florence rolled her eyes. “Well, it’ll be even more of a burden if you’re constantly exhausted.”
I pulled a face and tilted my head to the side. She wasn’t wrong, but clearly, if it was that simple, then I would have just slept. My eyes closed, perhaps just to block out further chastisement.
“Been a while since you’ve had a good tellin’ off, I bet.”
I opened my eyes again to see Angelos passing me over a tea. Immediately my hands were warmed, and part of me melted. As he winked at me, I grunted my thanks. “I’m much more amiable these days. After decades of dead flies and a scheming butler, I’ve come to appreciate pleasant conversation.” I stared down into the mug. “Even If that means a little admonishment here and there.”
The Guardian chuckled. “Were my soles not so sweaty, I’d assume Hell had frozen over. Maybe you can rub some of that off on this poor sod.” He jerked a thumb towards the Ranger sitting on the floor against the wall, nursing a mug of his own.
“Jakob…” Florence began, her eyes looking towards me before the Guardian, “doesn’t like civilization much.”
“Reminds me of the village.” The Ranger’s voice came out quietly but easily filled the room.
Angelos raised a brow towards me, but he could glean enough of the story from my facial expression and didn’t prod the young man any further. Some trauma was broad enough that it didn’t take much to be able to read between the lines.
I drank some tea and allowed the heat to permeate through me. Health potions and magical healing tended your wounds, but it was these creature comforts that soothed the soul. Briefly, I was amused that it was just a few days at the bottom of the ladder for me to find joy in the smallest things once more.
If Woodsworth hadn’t betrayed me, I might have considered returning to my old life at this point. Enough victory to know that I just needed some danger, I could game my existence with my vast trove of artifacts so that I could always eke out the win but still be in danger - and then retreat to luxury whenever I tired of it. Now I was stuck. Perhaps, in time, I may thank him once we met again.
Right before crushing his skull.
“Guild, first?” Florence roused me from my thoughts. “Get the disappointment out of the way first, then the rest of our errands?”
“I have two arrows left,” Jakob added.
“Guild and then supplies,” I nodded. “Are you coming with us, Angelos?”
“Sure,” he shrugged. “Never know when I might be needed to tip the balance.”
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
I rolled my eyes as the others groaned.
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Clint smiled as we entered the Guild building. “Back so soon? Not that I’m complaining,” his eyes briefly darted to the Mage, “but you haven’t completed your Quest already?”
I glanced around the room. Empty. That had been my hope, and it was nice for life to allow me one of my wishes. “Not as such. We were actually enquiring about Villain kills outside of Quests?”
“Ah.” His brow furrowed, and he leaned back in his chair. “Generally, we don’t encourage or advise it. The Quests we give you should be enough to fill your plate.”
“What if…” I exhaled, already tired of the conversation and looming cold water to be thrown upon us. “We happened across others on our path and dealt with them outside of Quests?”
The young man scrunched up his face, trying to read us. “How hypothetical are we talking here?”
“Not very,” Florence answered with a shrug.
“Mmm.” He looked like he was suddenly out of place, twisting awkwardly toward his stack of books and pages like we had gone far off script. “I’ll need to talk to…” he nudged his head toward the office door.
“Please do.” I gave him a polite smile, then turned to the rest of the Party to allow my face to sink. Both the young ones looked pensive, hardly daring to be hopeful this would be anything more than a brief handshake for our troubles. Angelos just had a shit-eating grin across his face - either amused as my waning social graces or found some joy in the required structure of the Guild. Us begging for new abilities on bloodied knees.
The office door opened, and Clint remerged, followed by the Guildmaster. She had the appearance of having no time for us, her face taught and eyes narrowed. I couldn’t see what else could be more important, especially with the hall so empty, but perhaps best I didn’t pry.
Kristine looked among us and pointed out Jakob. “Ranger, come here if you please.”
He very much looked like he didn’t please, but didn’t want to get on the bad side of the woman. Awkwardly he walked up to her, unsure as to what to expect.
The Guildmaster raised her hand and placed it against his forehead, and the Ranger’s body tensed up. My eyes narrowed; an attack from within seemed unlikely, even if not impossible. The woman had her eyes closed, but I could see them moving around beneath the lids as if she were searching for something in the darkness.
After a dozen seconds, she relinquished his head, and he stepped back as she wiped off on her long robes. Her mouth twisted in thought before she turned to address us.
“Very impressive for your Rank. The continent needs more Rankers like yourselves…” she furrowed her brow at the Guardian briefly. “As you currently have a pending Quest - that will need to be closed before we may have any further discussions.”
Florence worked her jaw. “You saw what we did?”
The Guildmaster nodded. “I am what is known as a Moderator; my position here allows me to ensure Quests are completed. Your efforts…” She sighed slowly as if deliberating how much information to share. “Normally, I would be ready to offer E Rank - but as I said, once you have completed your Quest, we will have that discussion.”
I nodded. Normally they wouldn’t have that dangled carrot in full view, but she wanted to assure us our efforts weren’t for naught. Well, other than ensuring we lived to another day, anyway.
“Was there anything else to report?”
Florence thumbed at her belt. “We believe they were working with at least two others, one of them possibly in the town.”
“There is something untoward about the town, yes.” The Guildmaster tilted her head. “No group has been able to find out what exactly, nor has there been anything mysterious or dire here in the last three months.”
It wouldn’t be a problem, until it was a problem. Pragmatic, perhaps, but at least it was something the Guild was aware of. That no adventurers nor Rankers could find the breadcrumb trail to the culprit was both worrying and curious.
“If you end up solving that problem, then there might be something extra I can furnish you with,” Kristine gave a shrewd smile, “I grow ever tired of the rain.” She nodded our dismissal, which we returned in kind, and the office door closed behind her.
Clint watched it for a few seconds and then turned back to us. “She doesn’t usually do the head thing; sorry about that.”
“It was unpleasant.” Jakob recoiled further into his shadowed hood and didn’t elaborate.
“Can I ask what you killed? I see you replaced one old guy with another.” Clint briefly smiled before his brain caught up with his tongue, and he realized how that might come across as rude.
I turned my gaze back to Angelos, who had remained uncharacteristically quiet but still looked pretty pleased with himself. I commended him for his willpower, as I was sure he had many a word to say about the Guild.
“You can,” I sighed, “but I will provide you no answer until the rat is dead, lest the walls have ears.”
With a bow, I turned to leave as the clerk gave me a confused glare. If word got around that there was a new Party punching above its weight - or making ridiculous claims of false valor - then it would only invite trouble.
It was thus I was only briefly surprised, as we left the warmth of the building back into the drab town, that we were immediately accosted by the group that had glared at us the day before.
“Good hunting?” The dwarf grinned humorlessly, a twinkle of ill intent in his shaded eyes.