Chapter 64: Neo Rem Day (Part 1!)

For Vega, it was only a couple hours since she entered Kaliber's tower.

For Skaldi, it had been a day.

The team had a mood of anxiety in all of them. This was not according to plan and definitely not something like had a plan B for.

Sure, they appreciated the vague sense of extra room in the tower, that the air flowed a tad better without the scarecrow. Finally, the last throes of winter ended and a wind of warmth started to take Uvi Jantok. If it was a little stronger, it could almost fill her absence. It could perhaps fill the place that would be inhabited by her smile.

The question was hanging in the air, suspended by the threads of trusting in Vega. Could she do it? That she’d find her way? In her own way?

Skaldi, trying to put off the task of looking for Vega, had been playing cards with Valiato, sipping the tea Amir had brought that morning. Florato, Amir, and Bolato were talking about their next plan of action, looking over the tasks they needed to complete. Sorbet decided to watch over the elf and the kid, being the calmest out of all of them.

“Is this what people do when they’re bored?”

“Not always. We would use money to bet, but Ska doesn’t want me to.” Valiato said annoyed, unhappy without the excitement of cash on the line.

“Cool looking pebbles are a good replacement. Besides, this is the one thing me and Amir actually agree. You won’t be gambling.”

“Tibato loves to gamble, in fact, aside from all that gross stuff he does in the chambers, that's what he usually does.” Sorbet told, stretching out and laying on her back.

“Really didn’t need to know that.” Skaldi shook his head, taking another sip of tea.

“S-sorry, just don’t have many topics of conversation that don't involve the guy. What should I talk about?”

“Talk about what you like, I guess?” Valiato shrugged, winning the pebbles for this round. They were really cool pebbles.

“Huh… I like Vega. She’s cool.” Sorbet said comfortably, making the room go silent for a moment. She didn’t realize it until a couple seconds after the fact. “Oh, I really suck at this whole talking thing.”

“Sorbet, it’s not your fault.” Florato wiped her forehead of sweat, speaking in a sympathetic tone. “It’s just we’re a little worried, that’s all.”

“She doesn’t really go on her own for this long. At most it’s half a day like last time, but a whole day is a lot.” Putting a hand on his chin, Bolato spoke while staring down at where Kaliber’s second tower should have been.

“Last time were those mermaids Skaldi talked about?” Sorbet asked, still a bit out of the loop on the team’s history.

“Yeah… she doesn’t like to be alone for long.” Skaldi scratched his head, feeling embarrassed. He knew what the option was. But they said they wanted Vega to do this on her own. His words echoed in his mind. Can you do that for us Vega? Can you do that for yourself? “She doesn’t like to be alone, not after that Voice started talking more often.”

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“We can wait one more day. After that, we go after her and find out what happened.” Bolato ordered, speaking as the team's compass. There was no disagreement with the idea of looking for her, but if there was a reason to look, beyond being uneasy.

“It doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I don’t think anything has happened. Maybe getting in is difficult or something.” The actress crossed her arms, wanting everything with Vega to be okay.

“Florato, you already saw how Skaldi and Valiato came back. The literal smoke and rubble on them. We can’t take chances on this, the Assassin might be after her.”

“Bolato…” Florato tried to plead, for a sense of calm. A false one.

“Skaldi said the Assassin is big business, that she’s dangerous.”

“Sure… but she wouldn’t do anything to Vega. Even if she did, she has no way out, there are no ships coming in.” Florato looked down, holding her shoulders. The actress understood the risks well, she only wanted them all to stay calm.

“We can’t risk waiting too long. After tomorrow, we’ll go after her.” Bolato waved her off, dismissing any attempt to feign normality. He went back to work, with Florato reluctantly following, drawing lines and notes on the map.

Skaldi hadn’t mentioned a key part of their trip to Silker City, the part including Vega’s supposed appearance. There was a disturbing doubt, piled on by Vega’s magical outburst and the increased chatter by the Voice. One that he understood was the cause of worry and had no real claim to be reality.

He knew, with all his heart, that it was the Assassin who took on Vega’s appearance. Who tried to assassinate Valiato and him. But he could not quell the idea that somehow, it was that the real Vega was becoming dangerous.

In his rational mind, he understood that it was impossible for Vega to suddenly appear in Silker City, along with having an assortment of black powder bombs. It wasn’t that he worried that Vega tried to murder him, but that Vega might become who the Assassin was that day.

That if left alone for too long, the Voice might take over. That the Voice might possibly turn his friend into a killer. Into something less than what she wanted to be.

“Ehh… it will work out. It always has.” Skaldi muttered, starting another round of cards.

“I’m not so sure about that, but hey, I can’t gamble money so maybe my opinion doesn’t matter.” Valiato said half jokingly, rolling her eyes as she did.

Skaldi wanted to do the wedding ring plan for today, but without Vega being there, it would be kinda lonely. Sure, he and Bolato did do a mock marriage in a ruined cathedral, but that hardly counted. Back then there was a cute moment between the two. This wedding ring was meant to be shared.

What had also had to be shared was the responsibility for the plan. He and Valiato decided that after the destruction they would head home early, so they didn’t have the time to scout out the Lai family.

Being nearly blown up doesn’t necessarily lead to someone being ready for work most of the time.

Despite this, Skaldi understood he had to do something. Bolato had been making good progress on his side of the plan, getting to know the local gangs. But the elf could tell there was growing frustration in his voice.

“We still have no black powder. That Oligarch fucker on the wall has a choke hold on all miltary goods. And worst thing about it, he doesn’t give a fucking damn about the people he rules over.”

“Hey, we’ll figure it out. We got time.” Florato put a hand on Bolato’s shoulder, which he accepted. Skaldi wanted to assure him that they needed to not worry, that they had all the time in the world. But really, Skaldi felt it, felt all that was at stake. If they weren’t going to go after Vega, he could at least make some progress on some of the other tasks.

Getting up with a swift movement, he finished the game and started walking over to the cart. Putting on all of his combat gear, his bandolier of throwing knives, and his fabulous bag of handing, Skaldi prepared to head out.

“Where are you going Ska?” Valiato asked, stuffing the very cool pebbles into her pocket, next to the rock bullets for her sling.

“I’m going to check out the Cloud District. And no, you aren’t coming.”

“Why not?” She got up, trying to goad him into letting her come. Skaldi saw this and immediately refused.

“Because we nearly died and you haven’t recovered fully. Plus, I’ll be fine on my own.” Skaldi crossed his arms and bowed downward to Valiato’s height. She responded by also crossing her arms and pouting.

Skaldi wondered, wondering if he should really go alone. He was just one person. Perhaps he might make a mistake as well, perhaps the mistake that Vega is making. But he could not imagine if Vega had truly done something wrong.

Her only crime was existing. Well, a couple other things, but mostly existing.

As he walked towards the door, he found a mildly encouraging idea, if you could call it that.

No doubt a lot of people you know and love are going to fucking die if you don’t act. Better to move than to hesitate.

Better to stumble on your path than to never walk it at all.

“Hold on Skaldi, I want to join!”

Fuck! I was working on a cliffhanger there!