Millenia ago, a young Valerie comes into the throne room, ready to present her recent work to her father.

- “Father, I did as you asked.” - The young Valerie bows and presents the painting to Varlis. Her father frowns at the disgusting piece of art, massaging his face with a quiet but audible sigh.

- “I only wanted a child that could inherit the Nova legacy. And all I get is this?” - Varlis’s words reverberate throughout the throne room, he shifts his entire body from one side of the massive golden chair to the other, the metallic legs scraping along the marble floor. - “Why can’t you learn?”

- “I’m sorry Father, my work is not fitting of our Family’s last name.” - Valerie bows further down, her hair dangling along the sides of her head. Is he going to hit her again? Is he going to scream? She ponders, why can’t she impress him?

- “You’re right Valerie. I have no need for garbage in my household.” - Varlis stands up and points his finger at the now trembling Valerie. He’d strike her right here if not for the public's watchful eye. - “I disown you Valerie, you shall no longer bear the marks, emblems and last name of the Nova household. Guards, have her get her things and throw her to the streets!”

- “Father! You can’t do this!” - Valerie jumps up just as the guards are grabbing her by the arms, pulling her out of the throne room and trampling her painting. - “Please don’t do this!” - She begs and she pleads for his mercy, for a sliver of fatherly affection but is met with silence.

----------------------------------------

While we wait for the Matriarch’s arrival, Raxis and Varux decide to head out and get some street-food, they insist we all should try the Raxt meat from this one random ass place they found in the slum. Valerie reluctantly agrees to them going, and while I offer my assistance in the endeavor, hoping to see some more of the town, it is quickly shot down by Valerie.

- “I’m going to nap, wake me up when Xyraena is here.” - Xerra flops on the couch the moment Raxis and Varux leave the house and turns herself towards the backrest with a yawn. - “And you can be loud, just don’t touch me.”

- “Right, good night then. We’ll make sure to shake you awake violently when your Mother comes.” - I kick Xerra’s boot and she gives me the finger. - “Valerie, I’ve been meaning to ask actually. Do you know of any library I could visit?”

- “Library? Why?” - Valerie tilts her head at me and takes a seat on one of the couches, seating Nyxie next to her. - “Didn’t take you for a reading person.”

- “One: Rude, how dare you assume I don’t want to educate myself. Two: Remember, I’m from the Northlands, and even then I’m from a tiny ass village. It’s not like I know a lot about Gallahan.” - I shrug and clear my throat. - “I just want to learn a few things, like the history of the Consensus and stuff, basic shit.”

- “There’s one in the Headquarters, since you’re a Protector you get access to the Chained Section as well.” - Kassandra chimes in. - “You can come by tomorrow and have one of the front desk people show you where it’s at.”

- “How’d they know that I’m a Protector, it has barely been a day and my face isn’t exactly known.” - I tilt my head over at Kassandra and furrow my eyebrows.

- “I filed your paperwork for the full promotion myself, and honestly… Do you really think nobody would talk about the Shield’s partner? You’re a celebrity in the Consensus Leshy, deal with it.” - Kassandra smacks her lips. - “Too bad it’s not going to last…”

- “What’d you say Kassandra~?” - Valerie is giving a smile so fake to Kassandra that a dog would notice.

- “I mean that people lose interest, Shield. I can see that you’re happy and I wouldn’t wish for your relationship with Leshy to end, even if I don’t necessarily understand how he got to you, Shield.” - Kassandra sits down on the same couch that Xerra is napping on. That action is promptly met with Xerra punching Kassandra’s thigh which is then turned back on Xerra when Kassandra whacks her on the head. Xerra grabs her head and curls up, grunting comically in pain.

- “Get shit on~!” - I point at Xerra who snaps her head at me. - “Got hit by a popsicle!” - I’m cracking up, holding my stomach. Nyxie slowly slides away to the far end of the couch, wanting to have nothing to do with us, looking at us with a side eye and a “Uuuugh~” face.

- “So were you!” - Both Xerra and Kassandra yell out at me. - “And who are you calling a popsicle, idiot!” - Kassandra continues.

- “When’d you get this rowdy Leshy?” - Valerie tilts her head at me. - “You’re usually the more reserved? Calm? Confused kind of guy?”

- “Huh…? I don’t know actually, after she whopped my ass and… you know” - I wink at Valerie who instantly blushes and goes wide eyes on me. - “I just kinda feel relaxed. Not sure why though.”

- “Not in public! Shush!” - Valerie pulls out her index finger towards me and wags it at me. - “That, that stays private! Got me?!”

- “Yes mother.” - I bow deeply, it’s met with Valerie ruffling my hair around and patting my head.

Raxis and Varux return half an hour later with a box of some long, snaky looking things strung around sticks. Apparently Raxt meat is the go to meal for the poor and it has been perfected. Funnily enough, I like the taste as does Raxis and Varux, but the ladies clearly are not fond of it. I get it though, it smells a little bit like sewage and it’s mostly just salty and a little stringy. But I ate worse shit back home.

We spend the next hour or so just munching on the Raxt while chatting about nothing, the Guardians mostly are trying to figure out how me and Valerie got together and why Xerra is sleeping. Raxis spent some time teasing Nyxie about their training session which left Nyxie in a state of permanent “Vietnam Flashback”, looking into the void or something.

Varux tried drawing a dick on Xerra’s cheek using some ink and quill, that was quickly met with Valerie’s scolding, considering the Matriarch is supposed to be here today, I agree. But it would be funny to see it! In the end, it’s good he didn’t get to do it, because not even fifteen minutes later the door opens and Xyraena with her messenger enter the room.

- “Leave us.” - She waves the messenger away immediately. - “It’s good seeing all of you in high spirits.”

Everyone in the room went quiet, Raxis is half-biting the Raxt while the Matriarch looks around the room.

- “You could’ve just told him to wait outside. Less wasted time.” - I cross my arms and tilt my head at Xyraena. - “But wait, you’d want to flaunt your royal ass everywhere, wouldn’t you?”

- “Leshy, watch your tone. She’ll snap you in an instant.” - Xerra’s already sitting up and speaking in monotone. - “Not that she’d try with four Guardians and Valerie in one room with her.”

- “The more reason to lean on her. She dragged our ass hundreds of kilometers to talk and instead spent the time talking shit to Valerie and my protege.” - Just something about this woman… infuriates me. - “Your forces should’ve dealt with the corrupt Chief? You said that, right? The Chief was ‘your forces’ as well, yet he got bought out. Maybe you should look at that?” - I’m nearly bumping my head into Xyraena but she’s not even flinching, instead she smirks at me and clears her throat.

- “Funnily enough, that’s why I’m here. Valerie, you need to teach your boyfriend how throne room etiquette works.” - Xyraena looks at Valerie who shrugs and shakes her head. - “He’ll learn, give it time. Since you so graciously started the conversation already for me, let’s begin explaining a small problem I’m having in Gallahan, two actually.”

- “Do not interrupt her Leshy, this conversation is beyond your paygrade.” - Valerie stops me before I can say anything else. That stung a little.

- “Listen to your future wife, she’s a wise woman.” - Xyraena sits down next to Valerie. - “Well then, I hope you don’t mind if I relax a little bit… I have credible sources of information, telling me that the Human Trafficking ring you took down to save this kid, is related to the Church of Thaton.” - Valerie makes her signature “oooh” face and in the background Raxis finishes biting off the piece of Raxt he’s been holding in his mouth this entire time. Kassandra looks at him and he gives her a “what” in response. - “And as we all know I hope, the Church is… quite popular in Gallahan, in fact it’s the dominant belief system.”

- “You’re calling foul play on Thaton? That’s a bit brash, even for you.” - Valerie scratches the back of her head. - “Let’s get to the point then, you want us to investigate the Thatonist’s and see if they’re plotting anything major?”

- “Yes, but I don’t want some random nobody from your organization to do it, and all the high ranking people are quite well known around the world…” - Xyraena looks at me. I can smell it, she’s about to pull me into something. - “But he, just showed up. I want him specifically.”

- “A direct request to a Protector will cost you, you know that.” - Valerie leans towards Xyraena who waves her hand at Valerie.

- “You forget, I run the biggest nation on this continent. I have more than enough coin to spare.” - Xyraena looks back at me and smiles. - “So, will you do it? There’s a lot in it for you, actually, name your price.”

- “Leshy, you don’t have to agree to this. Since this is a request directly for you, you have agency if you’re taking it or not.” - Valerie stands up and comes over to me, grabbing the sleeve of my haori.

- “Fifty thousand Ri, half paid upfront and the rest once I provide information to prove or disprove your theory. I also want 50 Acres of land that can be cultivated and used to grow grain, have pastures, etc.” - There’s no way she’s agreeing to this. It’ll be nice if she does, and nice if she doesn't. Either way, I win.

- “That’s a lot Leshy…” - Valerie whispers to my ear and I nod at her.

- “I can do better, this is quite a pressing issue for me. Having the church influence my people and dipping their fingers in activity like human trafficking isn’t beneficial to anyone, including me. Let me think…” - Xyraena snaps her finger and the messenger immediately enters the house, walking to the Matriarch and leaning his ear close. They whisper back and forth, hiding their mouths and after a minute or two Xyraena waves the messenger away. - “How about this, I will pay you one hundred thousand Ri, half of it in labor to establish whatever you want on the 75 acres of land you will get as well and quarter of it will be paid out upfront. But for that here is my request. As stated before, you will investigate the church, but instead of providing me with the necessary information to prove or disprove the church, whatever happens, if you’re caught, it’s on you and the Association.”

- “I need to talk to him Xyraena, give us a minute.” - Valerie pulls me to the side and Xyraena nods at her. - “Generally speaking, our image doesn’t matter, but if the church isn’t corrupt, and you are found to be spying on them, it’s a really bad look on you. A lot of people will dislike you, some towns, inn’s and shops will even turn you away if you try to enter.” - Valerie is holding my cheek and looking at me with concern.

- “Not a single religion exists that isn’t corrupt, Valerie. I’m going to take it, we will get land to settle on.” - I look over Valerie’s shoulder. - “I’ll do it, but one more condition, the land I get. It’s not going to be Gallahan, it’ll belong to the Spotter Consensus.”

- “Fine, it’s a deal then. I will arrange for the twenty five thousand coins to be delivered to you tomorrow.” - Xyraena sighs and leans back on the couch. - “Issue number two, at least for me. Your scouts have almost certainly already told you about this. There’s been a Titanothar spotted, to the west.”

- “Wait what?” - Kassandra and Varux speak in unison.

- “We’re aware of that, we’re waiting for confirmation from our source.” - Valerie crosses her arms. - “Why is it a problem?”

- “Well, one of our forts has reported a solar eclipse that lasted a few seconds. Then we received reports of only one place having fresh tracks.” - Xyraena stands up and walks over to Valerie. - “You know this can’t wait. Those things change entire landscapes, you have to figure this out.” - Xyraena whispers to Valerie, I doubt the rest of the group hears this.

- “I can’t just act without proof, dispatching every available Spotter to this… if it turns out it’s not the real deal, I’ll look like an idiot Xyraena.” - Valerie is also being hush. I decide to position myself in a way that blocks the rest of the group from even seeing their lips move.

- “I’ll send Thraxa and her guard to fill your posts in all the headquarters. I need you to look into this, for all of our sakes.” - Xyraena grabs Valerie’s shoulders. - “Nobody is stupid enough to chase these things. You have to do this.”

- “Fine, send out your people. Just tell your daughter to leave my buildings in pristine condition.” - Valerie shoo’s me to the side. - “Get ready people, I want a letter to every single Spotter available. We’re going Spotting.”

The four Guardians: Xerra, Varux, Raxis and Kassandra immediately start moving and head out of the building. I look at Xyraena and Valerie who are still talking to each other. What kind of relationship is this? One moment Xyraena is shitting on Valerie and asking for favors, another she’s being friendly?

- “Leshy, while figuring out the Titanothar takes priority over everything else. I want you to hold up your mission and whenever possible, look into the Church, yeah?” - Valerie looks over at me and waves me over.

- “Sure, honestly though, if I don’t find priests trafficking children for… reasons, I’ll be disappointed. I always wanted to decapitate one.” - A pulse of heat goes through my body, just thinking of these scumbags makes my blood boil.

- “Someone has a problem with religion. Why?” - Xyraena tilts her head and crosses her arms.

- “They indoctrinate, corrupt and make good people do bad things in the name of ‘justice’. I don’t care if it’s small or big, religion needs to be purged, entirely. Organized religion is a danger to society and progress.” - I can’t help it, my voice trembles a little while I speak and my sword is itching.

- “I might’ve hired the perfect person for the job by pure coincidence. Fate is a strange thing.” - Xyraena stretches out. - “I wanted to let you two know that the piece of land is already yours, I’ll have the exact location marked on a map and delivered to you with the coin tomorrow. As for the labor, if you want it before you finish the job, you gotta pay.” - She turns around on her heel and starts making her way out of the house. - “Good hunting Spotters!” - With that, Xyraena steps out of the building.

There’s a short moment of silence, Valerie is taking deep breaths and Nyxie is just curled up on the couch, looking over at us. I boop Valerie’s nose and she looks at me with a slight smirk.

- “You’re either a good luck charm, or a bad omen Leshy.” - Valerie touches my cheek with the back of her fingers and wipes something off of it. - “Ever since you’ve shown up, life sped up and I just can’t catch a break.” - Her eyes coat me in a warm, fuzzy feeling. Her touch is making me blush lightly.

- “I tend to be a magnet for things. Good or bad, mostly bad though.” - I press into her hand and rub my face against it with a sigh. - “I don’t think I’m an omen of some kind though.”

- “Why?” - Valerie tilts her head, keeping that warm, loving smile on her face. - “You’ve been through so much.”

- “Not as much as Nyxie or you.” - I grab the hand she holds on my cheek and give it a gentle kiss. - “But I can’t be an omen, or a bad luck charm. Because you exist.”

- “Ew. You two should just get married already.” - Nyxie chimes in, giggling on the couch. - “Or I have a baby, or something. I don’t know.”

- “Hey! What do you know about babies, being one yourself? Huh?” - I nod over to Nyxie.

- “Takes one to know one!” - Nyxie hops off the couch. - “It’s sleep time, I’m tired!” - She heads up the stairs and we hear her enter her room.

- “This gremlin… Eeeh.” - I look over at Valerie who’s giggling. - “What?”

- “You’re like a dad! I’m impressed with how you can handle an adolescent girl. She’s already being rebellious!” - Valerie’s gaze is like a motherly embrace. I stare at her, with my mouth half open. - “What?”

- “Nothing special. I think I fell in love with you just now.” - I kiss her hand again and grab the other. - “Do you have the brooch? The one that nearly killed me during the raid?”

- “Yeah~?” - Valerie pulls it out of her pouch. - “What about it?” - She’s beet red.

- “Do you think I’m dad material? Like… we could have our own?” - My question makes Valerie gasp quietly. She looks down and kicks the floor, tapping her chin.

- “I don’t think you’re dad material…” - My heart sinks a little bit. I guess so, I’m not exactly well adjusted or stable. - “I think you’re already more or less one, to Nyxie.” - Huh?

- “What do you mean? I’ve just been training her all this time.” - I narrow my eyes at Valerie who grabs me by the cheeks, holding the brooch.

- “She took your last name dummy~!” - Valerie pokes me on the nose. - “Ever since she joined us, you’ve been a role model for her, she’s not just rebellious but she’s imitating you.” - She pinches my cheeks and gives me a smooch. - “So, stop leaving me hanging, what about this brooch?”

- “I didn’t think about that… Nyxie’s acting that is.” - I look at the brooch and then back at Valerie. Monetarily, according to what I was told this is the most expensive possession I have, it’s also what prompted me and Valerie to get this close. - “Do you think we could, you know… Have our own little gremlin?” - I scratch my cheek and Valerie now full on gasps, covering her face.

- “Maybe~.” - She wobbles in place with a smug expression. - “But I’d like to keep that on the down low for now. We have a Titanothar to spot after all!”

- “Right! My first one!” - I punch the palm of my hand. - “Can’t wait! By the way! About that library, can we go there? Nyxie’s sleeping, she’ll be fine. And there’s nothing to do right now.”

- “Sure! Let’s be nerdy~!” - Valerie elbows me and starts walking out of the house, I follow her out and we make our way to the headquarters. We take our time, taking in the sights and chatting about places to visit in Rixen when there’s more downtime in our work. A bit of time later, we’re once again at the grand plaza of the Spotter HQ. I’m never getting used to the huge statue of Valerie.

She leads me to one of the side doors and we make our way through a crowded corridor until we reach a large door. It’s nothing like the others and has writing in Ancient Astarian on it, once again, not something I recognize but Valerie notices me trying to decode it.

- “It says: Lo, in the ancient tome doth lie the wisdom of ages long past, the tales of yore etched deep within its pages, as stone bears the mark of chisel. For that which is writ upon the parchment, is bound fast to the annals of time, unyielding and eternal, as if set in stone for all who seek its truth. I’m not entirely sure who etched this though. This part of the Headquarters was already here when we started carving it out.” - She pushes on the double door which with a loud creak open, revealing a large, circular room with many tens of levels, each several meters tall and containing hundreds of books.

In the middle of the room sits a circular plate with four people in robes kneeling at the edge of it, positioned in the cardinal directions. They look like they’re praying, or deep in thought, fully hooded with their entire body except the bandage wrapped hands being shrouded. The entire place smells of dust and knowledge, fresh and old ink clashing with each other as we enter deeper inside.

There are places you enter or look at that speak a story on their own, this library is like that, there is something ancient about it. It’s like… it’s alive? Exuding wisdom? I can’t put my finger on it, there are other robed people in this place, all over the different levels, some are talking in groups, others carrying books or setting them in place. Some are standing by lecterns, writing on parchments older than me or sewing up destroyed literature.

While footsteps can be heard and the occasional grunt or cough exits the hoods while the robed people work. There’s an undeniable silence in here, my ears pick up on my heart beat and the pulsing blood through my veins. We slowly make our way in.

- “What do you want to find Leshy? Anything specific?” - Valerie whispers.

- “History, poems, anything like that. Kassandra mentioned the Chained Section? I’d like to check that out.” - Valerie nods at my requests and leads me to a simple table, with a robed person sitting.

She doesn’t say anything, “it” doesn’t say anything back, it just hands her a small plaque made of bone with a rune of sorts on it. She gently bows and leads me to the platform in the middle. We step on it and Valerie snaps the plaque in half with her hands, dropping the two pieces onto the platform. The four people outside of the platform who are kneeling, start chanting in unison and with a low rumbling sound, the platform starts lifting up, no ropes, no water, it just goes up.

- “What’s with this place?” - I lean over to Valerie’s ear. - “How old is this whole library?”

- “I have no idea. As far as I know, when Rixen was being dug out, this was already here, with the people working as you see them.” - She tilts her head and scratches her neck. - “Remember, things as old as this, gain qualities based on their history and relevance to the world. I’m pretty sure the entire place is enchanted.” - I shake my head at her.

- “No it’s not. This is nothing like the brooch. I can’t tell you what it is… But something is here, it’s powerful...” - I speak quieter and quieter on instinct. Valerie furrows her eyebrows at me and takes a look around.

- “I don’t feel anything like that…” - She keeps her volume down but she’s far louder than me right now. The platform is very slowly moving up.

- “When do we get off?” - I rub the platform with my foot.

- “When it stops, I can’t tell you when, I don’t know.” - Valerie clenches her teeth. - “I have no idea how this platform works.”

I take a deep, shaky breath. The further up we move on the platform the more my senses sharpen to this place's presence. It’s not malevolent, it’s not good, it just… is. It envelops me like hair, each strand is one book, containing knowledge nobody ever dreamt of.

- “Leshy?” - Valerie grabs me by the shoulder and I look at her wide eyed, beads of sweat form on my forehead.

- “How many books are here Valerie?” - We look at each other for a little, she just shakes her head and shrugs.

We continue upwards at a steady pace, ten floors, twenty floors. At this point it feels like we should’ve been out of the mountain already, but when I look up there’s no ceiling in sight. The further up we go, the more pressure from this place builds up around my body, making it hard to think straight. The wood of each passing storey gets older, more rustic, metal railings show up with chains stringing themselves along the library. The number of cloaked figures reduces, they look older and older the further in we go, some needing canes to prop themselves up.

- “We’re in the Chained Section.” - Valerie points to the large, metal chains connected to one another with cast iron rings.

- “I can see that…” - I take a deep breath, collecting my thoughts into one spot of my brain to fight the pressure, the unrelenting feeling that something lives here. - “How far up does this library reach? Has anyone checked?”

- “No idea, the highest we’ve gone is three hundred forty two floors, and the ceiling was nowhere in sight.” - Valerie holds her chin and exhales through her nose. That’s nearly a kilometer up…

It’s been an hour now and only now do I realize that there’s a slight tilt to the rise of the platform, we’re inching closer to the railings. I keep an eye out, looking around, staring at some of the standing cloaked people, hoping to see a pattern of behavior, anything. From time to time I swear to god I look to see one of the figures putting a book on the shelf, look at someone else and then back to see that same figure do the same thing… Occasionally my eyes skim over people that look fairly similar to me and Valerie thought older and in different clothing every time.

I press my fingers into my eyes and Valerie massages my shoulder.

- “What’s going on? Are you alright?” - She puts her hand on my forehead. - “You look like you’re about to fall over.”

- “I don’t belong here Valerie, this place doesn’t want me.” - I blurt out with a trembling voice. - “It knows everything.” - She’ll find out where I’m really from if we stay here…! We can’t be here. - “We have to go back.”

- “We can’t until you get your books. Just hang on, love.” - She brushes my hair with her fingers and kisses my cheek.

I take a deep breath and look down at my feet, no more looking, no more doing anything. Just get the books, get out, have a read and relax. That’s right, that’s the plan, stick to the plan. I repeat this to myself like a mantra, half an hour later, our platform finally touches the edge of one of the floors. We’re so high up that I can no longer see the floor beneath us.

Valerie leads me onto the walkway by the hand and we stand there for a little bit. After a while, one of the cloaked figures comes up to us, and invites us to follow them with a hand motion. We make our way a little bit around the circular walkway, I take the occasional peek into some of the open walkways between the bookshelves to satiate my own curiosity. We take a right and then step into one of the isles. The threshold into the isle is apparent the moment we cross it, silent goes the entire library behind us, a cloud of dust envelops the three of us as we delve deeper, and deeper, and deeper. We’re surrounded by ancient texts, books in languages I couldn’t even begin to understand. The cloaked person in front of us doesn’t slow down for even a second.

Until finally, they snap into place with their feet planted and pointing at one of the books with one hand, and at me with the other, never lifting their head.

- “Take it…” - Valerie nudges me forward with a quiet whisper. I follow her instructions and grab the book, pulling it out. The moment the book is in my hands and out of the shelf, the cloaked figure steps on it again and marches further down the alley. A few minutes into our walk, chains begin showing up on the books, some are just chained to the shelf, some are entirely bound with strips of parchment sealed onto them with wax while others are encased in wax entirely with different runes and markings on them.

- “Why all of those restraints? Those are just books.” - I try to touch one of the more harshly bound books but Valerie slaps my hand.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

- “Do you not remember? Things can get influenced by the wave over time depending on their importance to the world or people.” - Valerie grabs my hand and pulls me along, making sure we keep up with the cloaked figure. - “I don’t have a clue how they’re containing the effects. This whole place makes no sense sometimes.”

Without further words, we continue deeper and deeper, it’s been nearly half an hour of walking and only then does the figure stop again. Pointing at a book on the bottom shelf. Just as before, I pick it up and he darts off with us needing to catch up to him. After a few minutes of walking through the alley of books, we exit back out into the circular open area, the center of the library… we’re on the other side of it? I look back into the alley, then towards where I know we entered form.

I get pulled by Valerie again who elbows me a little to get me going again. We follow the figure into another isle, this book is right at the edge, within minutes the figure stops and the ritual replays itself. I pick the third book up and the figure bows. Valerie bows as well and pulls me down by my collar. We keep our heads down until the cloaked person exits out of the aisle and disappears.

- “And now we can get out of here. Come on buddy.” - Valerie grabs me under the shoulder while I carry the books and leads me to the platform, which is waiting for us patiently. We get on it, and without any delay, it begins its descent.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath… huh? After opening them… we’re about to land on the ground floor. I look up and sure enough, we’ve descended the entire way down.

- “What? How?” - I poke Valerie, she looks at me puzzled, raising one of her eyebrows.

- “How, what? What are you asking about?” - Her concern is apparent, as her hand reaches for my cheek again, but I grab her wrist before she reaches me.

- “We were just god knows how far up, are you telling me we just popped down here in seconds?” - I look around frantically while Valerie furrows her eyebrows and starts looking me up and down.

- “Leshy… You’ve been quiet for the past 2 hours while we were going down on the platform.” - …!

2 HOURS!?! I storm off towards the door, flinging it open and hitting someone with it on my way out. Deep breaths, long, deep and calming breaths Leshy. I go outside the same way we came in, bumping into some of the Spotters passing me in the hallway.

Once out I find the nearest seat I can. A small set of stairs towards Valerie’s statue… I’ll take it, something familiar. I sit down, slam the books on the ground and bury my face in my hands. You’re out Leshy, it’s okay. Slow down, relax, think about it. I take long and shaky breaths, akin to the technique I’d use during migraines.

- “Hey! Don’t run out on me like that. You’re scaring me, tell me what’s going on, right now!” - Valerie crouches in front of me and pulls my head up from my hands. - “Talk to me, come on. This is what we do, you said it.”

- “The library, there’s something in it, or it’s the library itself. I don’t know if it’s my latent Wave that’s reacting with it, or if I’m just more sensitive to it… but that thing is everywhere in the library.” - I lean back and stretch out my legs. - “It nearly crushed me in there.”

- “Well, the place is old and clearly has some wave properties to it…” - Valerie taps her chin. I shake my head at her.

- “It’s not the Wave, that is not the wave. None of the bound books gave me any feeling of unease. I don’t know how to explain it, it wasn’t the wave…” - I close my eyes again and take a deep breath.

- “It’s alright… I believe you. I’m going to have some of our people investigate, yeah? They’ll look into it, and the brooch. I can take the books back if you want as well.” - Her offer is met with me slapping the books with my hand and holding them down.

- “No! I’ll read them, I have to know what this library is about…” - I pick up the books and stand up with a deep breath. - “Let’s go home. I want to check them out.”

I couldn’t stop thinking about what that place means and why did it affect me so hard, while completely ignoring Valerie. On our way back, Valerie keeps asking me if we need to stop or if I’m doing alright and fifteen minutes later, here we are. Inside the house, sitting in the lobby and looking at the three books that were handed out to me.

- “I don’t even know what these books are. Why these three Valerie?” - I look at her while pointing my finger at the stacked books and she leans forward on the couch.

- “There’s barely anything I know about how that place works. I just know that you don’t get to choose books, you just get your bone plaque, break it over the platform and it’ll take you where you will find what you’re looking for.” - She scratches her chin and tilts her head.

- “They always give you exactly what you need though, so nobody’s really… questioned it? We can read minds, breathe fire and lift mountains. Why not have people that can just lead you to the exact book you need, right?”

Huh. So you don’t request specific books, instead you rely on the information provided by that place. I doubt any other library functions in that specific way. I pick up the first book from the pile, this one doesn’t have anything peculiar about it.

It’s wrapped in a burgundy leather with a very angular design around its edges. The words “History of the Consensus” are pressed into the leather and blacked for contrast with fire, like someone pressed them in with hot iron. I open the book with a puff of dust, there’s nothing peculiar on the inside either, pages upon pages of text, the occasional illustration. From time to time while going through the pages, Valerie’s name shows up along with the other Guardians I recognize. Well, technically the book is about her and her achievements after all. I snap the book close with one hand and put it to the side, two more remain.

She said the bound books are like that to stop the effects of the wave from seeping out. And the other two books I’m looking at, are certainly bound in some way. I grab the one from the top, it’s wrapped in strips of parchment, sealed with wax buttons here and there, each with a different marking on it, the parchment itself has writing on it, but it’s not something I understand.

I look at Valerie who nods and I begin undoing the book's bindings, taking it one by one just in case something unexpected happens. Luckily, this part goes without any issues, the strips of parchment are on the ground and I hold the thing up. The cover is plain and smooth, without any writing or markings on it, it feels very familiar to my fingers, it's a sensation that every person who ever touched a part of their body or someone else would know. This book isn’t leather bound, it’s human skin.

With a sharp inhale I crack the book open… Nothing happens, the world doesn't end and we’re both still just looking at it. The first page reads: Varlis Augus Nova, it’s written by hand with ink drops here and there. Nova… I look over at Valerie.. Valerie Nova who is staring wide eyed at the book I’m holding in my hand. Relative? Brother? No, the reaction is too intense, this is someone she didn’t expect to see maybe?

- “Why?” - She takes the book from my hand and starts going through the pages, taking shaky breaths with sweat forming on her face. - “There should be nothing left of him.” - She looks at me. - “You wanted poems, historical texts, things like that. So why did it give you this?”

Valerie buries her face in her hands and I scoot over, rubbing her back. I don’t understand what’s going on, I don’t have to. Something about this book doesn’t sit right with her.

- “I can burn it if you want, chop it to pieces and feed it to some rats in the slum.” - I kiss her on the cheek. - “This library trip was not a good idea.”

- “It won’t work, if you destroy the book, it’ll just show up again in your belongings after a while…” - She hands it back to me. - “...The library gave it to you, so you should read it…” - Valerie stands up and bows, taking a deep breath. - “But before the notes can reveal more… This is my father, Varlis Nova, the original ruler of the area that is now known as Gallahan… and I murdered him, my mother and my siblings.” - She takes a sharp, long breath with tears slowly flowing out of her eyes. - “Now this book can’t tell you things before I share them… I didn’t hide anything…”

I look at Valerie, astonished, my eyes open wide, scanning her for any sign of a joke or some jest she thought up on the spot. She’s serious, I flip on my Wave ability, scanning her, she’s not hiding, she’s putting all of her grief, regret and loneliness on full blast, front and center. How am I supposed to react to this? She confessed to a murder, familicide, regicide, all at once. I close my eyes and look deep into myself… What should I do? What is the course of action? What prompted her vengeance? I killed people as well… she has hundreds of thousands of bodies on her hands, according to her. We’re not moral people, none of us. We continuously endanger ourselves and others, for mostly personal gain.

- “I understand, you don’t need to bow. It’s alright.” - With a sigh I smile at her and stretch out my arms at her. - “That just makes both of us killers.”

She snaps her head up, looking at me. The shock from my response stopped her crying entirely. Valerie’s face contorts, she falls on her knees and crawls to me, propping herself up on my legs. I stroke her hair, while she weeps into my chest, crying like a baby, overwhelmed by her past catching up to her. I contemplate all the secrets I’m hiding from her, all of my past, hidden behind an entirely different world.

A few minutes pass, and Valerie starts to calm down. I would tell her, where I’m from, that I don’t belong here. But this isn’t the moment for that. I pick her up by the armpits and lift her onto my lap, wiping off some of the snot and tears with the cuff of my haori. Without any words I just press her into me and she leans in, resting her head under my chin.

- “How are you feeling now?” - I kiss the top of her head.

- “Better…” - With a hoarse voice she responds and clears her throat. - “...It’d be best if all that was finally gone though.” - She looks over at the book, next to my lap.

- “Somethings will haunt you for the rest of your life Valerie, that’s the price you pay for making a choice.” - I poke her stomach. - “Why don’t we check the last book? Let’s not dwell on this for now, it’s not like we can fix anything here…”

She nods and I lean over with her on my lap, the last book is completely encased in white wax, unevenly poured from its spine where it’s the thickest, to the edge of the pages. There are different pressed markings on it, akin to those on the parchment bound book from Valerie’s father. There’s not a crack in the wax but it seems to have been slowly dripping down, as the lower half of the book is generally more bulbous and uneven.

- “Crack it open, come on.” - I hand the book to Valerie. - “Come on, it’s like peeling open a gift!”

- “Sure…” - She reluctantly takes the book and starts using her nails to take off the wax, revealing once more, a plain cover, no writing, no markings. As she uncovers the book, I keep my eye out on it, making sure nothing pops out at us.

Once Valerie is done, we’re met with a journal, wrapped in a leather strap that’s tied at the front in a neat bow. I grab onto the end string of the strap and pull on it, undoing the “seal”. The pages decompress, air flowing between the pages and an old dusty books smell pops in our noses. Valerie sneezes almost immediately and I open the thing, the first page speaks a name. One I didn’t expect to see: Eleanor Astaris.

The pages are worn, there are some entirely missing, with just a few letters of each line remaining. I half expected her to exist, half thought I’m basically taking the place of the “Main Character”, but as time progressed and I delved deeper and deeper into this world, the more it stood out as completely different from what I know about the game.

- “That’s not what I expected!” - Valerie rummages through the pages. - “It’s Eleanors journal?”

- “You know her?” - I already know the answer to that..

- “Yeah. We used to be a duet, Spotting together for a long time. I even rode a Titanothar with her a long time ago.” - Valerie touches the pages with utmost care, reading through some of the lines. - “Why do you need that? She has no relation to…” - Valerie stops talking and turns to me. - “You’re from the same place she came from. Right?”

- “Yes, more or less.” - I look away, unable to meet her eyes but she follows, making sure she can see mine.

- “When you told me where you’re from, it sounded awfully familiar, the entire story of being a simple caretaker for a family’s farm. Being attacked by some robed figures and having to escape from there…” - She stares at me. - “I know you didn’t tell me the entire truth about where you’re from, but the details you gave me and Xerra about how you got to Gallahan. It’s a one to one match with Eleanor’s”

- “I know you just shared something dark, deep and personal. But my secret, the full truth of where I came from, it’s not dark or deep or personal. It’s unbelievable, you could see it happen and still think it’s not real.” - I turn to her and meet her gaze. - “So once I have more information, as to why what brought me here, brought me here, I will tell you more. But until then, I have to keep it to myself.”

- “I’m alright with that. Just, when something comes up that gives you ideas, you can talk to me about it. I’m not going to pry.” - She taps her chin for a little bit. - “How about this deal… I’m not going to pry further, but you have to give me something from your past that’s real.”

There’s a moment of quiet between us, we’re looking at each other and with a deep breath I collect my thoughts. I think I know what I can share with her.

- “The entire story about my past is a Lie. Everything between the time where I would be born and you meeting me, is made up and based on Eleanor.” - Valerie narrows her eyes. And I continue. - “The truth is that I don’t have a past here.”

- “Here?” - Valerie interjects, pursing her lips.

- “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Why am I here.” - I stroke her cheek and she leans into it smirking. closing her reddened from crying eyes. - “That’s all I can give you right now, okay? I’m no serial killer, I am not some runaway prince or stuff like that.”

- “I’ll take what I can get, but it’s clear that there’s some bullshit going on in the background that I want to know.” - Valerie kisses me and smiles. - “This’ll do for now. And as it stands, those books are yours to read. If you hand them to me, they’ll appear in your belongings anyway.”

We spend the next few hours waiting for Xerra to come back from working on Valerie’s request, from time to time we crack jokes if she’s even literate enough to write a letter. Only to then slowly spiral down into cuddle land, chilling together on the couch and just enjoying each other's company.

Some time later…

Eehh… This is Nyxie again, or Nyxelia if you want the full name I guess. I’m not entirely sure if I can fill you in on everything that’s happened. Normally I’d write in you like, every day or every other day. But between training with Leshy and Raxis and then helping out with setting up camps, moving boxes and stuff, generally trying not to be a menace to Leshy there just wasn’t enough time.

Basically, when I woke up on the next day, after the scary lady came… I think she’s Xerra’s mom? Anyway! I woke up and was immediately told to pack up by Valerie, pretty sure we were out of the house within the hour. Xerra was carrying a small box with like, pretty markings and golden things attached to it.

Stop, that doesn’t matter. Nobody’s going to care about some golden box! Valerie, let's write about her, yes, perfect! I actually dropped the whole “Lady” and “Ms.” thing a while ago, Valerie and Xerra whacked me on the head when I said “Lady Valerie” to her when some important people were around us. They told me to just call her Valerie or Shield if I want to be formal. I tried making it a nickname actually, Shie-Valerie… didn’t work…

Leshy got his ass kicked by the way! AGAIN! He for some reason kept daring Kassandra, only to get himself firmly attached to a rock at one point after she hit him with the blunt side of her sword. At first I thought Valerie or Xerra were going to cuddle him, well… In the end Valerie still did, these two need to just get married already, BUT! Xerra lost it on him, yelled at him for daring his superior and not keeping to his own rank. The whole thing devolved into a brawl between Xerra, Valerie and Kassandra after a while. Valerie said something about how in Nova Vertex ranks don’t matter that much so that’s why Leshy is so openly daring. Kassandra started making fun of the “GSA” whatever that is, I think it’s like… related to Spotters and stuff? ANYWAY! Valerie went raging mom on her, Xerra just punched Kassandra and the two guys that are loud and obnoxious had to pull all of them apart.

So, right now we’re traveling in a large group. A bunch of people here, it’s very rowdy in fact. Valerie seems to be a little sick from something, she like, needs weird food and vomits from time to time. Occasionally she demands Leshy carry her and because he’s absolutely leashed to her that’s exactly what ends up happening. Xerra and the two guys make fun of him for being so hard under Valerie’s shoe. Now, I’m not entirely sure, because it happened a few years ago… But I remember my mom having the same thing happen to her and I was told I’ll have a sibling. I wonder if that’s the case… Though Leshy and Valerie as well seem to think she just ate something bad and it’s kicking her now.

It’s fun by the way, this whole thing. I never thought I’d leave my hometown, let alone travel to the other side of the fucking continent. It blows my mind when I think about it, so I tend not to think about it a lot. Can I just say, Leshy looks absolutely DASHING in his new jig. The whole Blue and white thing going on with that cleaver on his back, fantastic look! One time he tried using it while we were on the move, ended up splitting a tree in half and then promptly yelled at by Valerie for using his weapon at random and without warning. I think they’d be great parents! I wish mine could see all of this. We’d just travel through the lands, fight bad monsters and look cool! They could see my friends being strong and happy too! Dad would give me some wisdom about being strong and rough, mom would tell me to find some food for the group.

I miss my parents, I wish they could see this, they could… they could… but they won’t… They’re gone, you know. Forever, they had to go too, I’d get hurt, really badly if they didn’t go… I Just wish they could see… you know?

Valerie’s perspective…

I bump into Leshy on purpose, poking him in the side as I do. Xerra is on the other side, holding him from escaping while the entire group marches behind us towards the Titanothar tracks.

We’re roughly half an hour away from camp and the sun is most definitely nearing the limit of how long it can stay above the horizon. I look back at the roughly three hundred strong group of Spotters and use agreed on hand signs to send the message that we’re going to set for the day soon.

It goes into the group, with the nearest Primary Leads repeating my motion, then the next row, then the next. It’s not efficient, but it’s better than yelling at 300 people to sit down in a little bit.

- “Are you alright, love?” - Leshy pokes my cheek. He’s been doing that a lot. - “Do you think the food Passed through”

- “If you’re asking if I had a shit, yes. And no, it didn’t pass.” - I poke his cheek back and stick my finger in it, we’re locked in now, whoever stops, loses the game.

- “Maybe you should finally talk to one of the medics? Get some herbs or some stuff?” - Leshy with his head tilted from my finger mumbles at me, trying to sound serious.

- “I said, it’s fine. Not the first time I got sick on a trip like this.” - I try to stay serious as well with his finger basically drilling a hole in my cheek.

- “Well, if you start pooping blood, that’s a problem isn’t it?” - He uses his thumb to tickle my chin, but I’m not easily defeated!

- “If the problem was pooping blood, I’d see a medic. But I’m just vomiting sometimes and just generally tired.” - I can’t use my other hand, that’d be cheating! So instead I stick my pinky in his ear and try to reach his nose with my thumb but his head is too big. - “A lot happened and more is going to happen. Once we’re done here I’ll have a rest and be fine!”

- “Only if you win this battle!” - He shifts his hand, index firmly seated in my cheek. He tickles my chin still, but now his middle finger is sticking in my nostril. - “Take this! Vile witch!”

Fuck! I can’t take this anymore. Aaah~! CHOO~! I sneeze.

- “EW! Your snot is on my hand now!” - Leshy pulls back his hand. and wipes it on his robe.

- “I WIN!” - I jump up, pumping my fists in front of me…! Fuck me! - “STOP!”

Oh boy. I run off the road and hide behind some bushes. Nobody should see their leader like th…. BLEEH~! There goes my dinner… Again, what the fuck is wrong with me? I hold myself with hands on my knees, taking some deep breaths and wiping off my mouth with the hem of my dress.

- “Are you ok? Nyxie! Come here please!” - Leshy runs over and rubs my back. Just that sends a jolt. - “Nyxie!”

- “Yes!” - The gremlin runs over from the group. - “What? What?!” - Nyxie’s wiggling her fingers, ready to get to work.

- “I’m fine you two, just still a little sick.” - I lift myself up entirely and take a deep breath. - “I just wont eat before sleep so we don’t have to stop all the time.”

- “Nah, we’re stopping here for the night.” - Leshy signs to the group to start assembling camp and they immediately get to work with the logisticians from the Seadragons & Squids branch of the consensus taking charge in moving gear while Gallahan’s Spotter Association members put up the tents. Kassandra’s people, The Northern Gem, are cooking up food and preparing bedding for everyone within minutes.

- “My mom had the same thing, it takes a little time to pass Valerie.” - Nyxie grabs me under the arm and helps me get to the camp that’s being set up. - “Come on, sit down please.” - She diligently and carefully helps me take a seat on a bench that some of the Spotters brought over for us.

The four Guardians come over as well. Kassandra looks a little concerned while Varux and Raxis are yelling at the working Spotters to get the camp up within the hour or they’ll personally demote them. Xerra on the other hand plops down next to me and gives me a light hug.

- “She’ll be fine~! I’ve seen her nearly lose her head before, a little vomiting isn’t going to kill this bitch. “ - Xerra pokes me in the stomach lightly. - “She’d be squirting vomit when I do that if she was really sick!”

- “But my mom…” - Nyxie starts talking but gets cut off by Leshy. And grumbles to herself.

- “She needs to see a medic Xerra, this isn’t normal.” - Leshy joins in and I shift my eyes onto him as well.

- “I’ve known her for nearly five thousand years, Leshy. You’ve only been around for a little over two months. This is fine.” - Xerra retorts and my head snaps back to her.

- “Listen, my mom had the…” - Nyxie starts speaking again but gets instantly cut off by Raxis.

- “Just let the Shield rest, I’m sure she’s just tired.” - I look at Raxis as he speaks.

- “Can all of you let me decide what I’ll do? I’m not dying here in the name of all that is holy and pure!” - I boil over a little.

- “No!” - The trio responds.

- “LISTEN~! I know what’s wrong all of you!” - Nyxie finally gets her word in.

- “Shush gremlin, let your seniors figure it out, ok?” - Leshy pokes her head and she swats at it.

- “No! All of you are dumb! I mean, sorry! But you’re wrong…” - Nyxie comes over and kneels in front of me. She puts her hand on my stomach. Leshy’s face as he looks at it is something I’ve never seen before. It takes a moment, but it’s like he’s going from “Oh…” to “OH NO!” in slow motion. - “I think… You’re a mom now.” - Nyxie finishes her thought.

The entire group is quiet for a minute or so. A mom?! Me? Is this child MAD?! I’m just sick from being tired, I’m sure of it. The symptoms started soon after we... after me and Leshy.

- “Waaaah~?!” - My voice trembles widely as I hold my red cheeks. - “A BABY?!” - I jump up, this isn’t happening! Oh my, what is happening?! - “But it can’t be! It’s too soon! We’re not even married and we.. Me and Leshy… we only did it once! Aaa~!” - I start walking in place and bury my face in my hands. You can’t get pregnant from your first time! Right?! Or maybe you can? I don’ knoooow~!

- “Oh my…” - Raxis finally breaks the silence with his insightful comment, THANKS Raxis!

- “Well, that’s a development. Huh.” - Kassandra crosses her arms, tilting her head slightly.

- “What do you mean, baby?” - Xerra is so confused that her eyes go cross and she’s trying to piece the thing together.

- “Your race doesn’t do pregnancies like others.” - Varux whacks Xerra over the head, she grabs the spot he hit with an “Oooow~” - “You Volcanics can just pop out babies on command without any of the hassle. Efi’s and Humans need to have sex, and some time to pass.”

- “Sex?” - Nyxie tilts her head. - “Like, hugging with a lot of love? That’s how dad explained it…”

- “Exactly like that Nyxie, don’t listen to him.” - Leshy snaps out of his own shock, I watch his instincts kick in… Fatherly instinct? Already? - “Go help with something… Or stay here, I don’t know.” - Nevermind, still confused.

- “Leshy!” - I run over to him and crouch down. - “What if it’s just indigestion?! And we’re panicking for no reason?!” - Maybe it really is just that?! I poop for a little, vomit some more and we’re good, maybe?

- “Well… I don’t know how Efi’s go through this, but…” - Leshy is about to drop a boulder on me I suppose… - “...It fits, the timeline is right, at least in human terms. You’ve been vomiting, tired, your legs hurt for no reason, your brea… nevermind your breasts. You’ve been overly excitable and irritable at the same time. I could keep going.”

- “What do we do~...” - There’s no reason he would lie to me. - “How does this… How does it all work out now?” - I massage my face and take a long breath. - “This puts a bit of a wrench into our mission now.”

- “How about you go to your tent, and I’ll go with you to explain how this works to you?” - Kassandra comes over and grabs me under the arm. - “Come on Shield, let the brawny ones figure out the mission. They’re more than capable of managing without you right now.” - She more or less drags me away from the group, I don’t necessarily have the mental fortitude to get into a verbal fight with her about ranks and just let her.

- “We’ll take care of everything. I’ll join you once we’re done figuring this out Valerie.” - Leshy, fuck… This revelation seems to have flipped a switch in my head, he looks like some god or something right now, glowing and all. The father of my child, huh…

Kassandra pulls me into the nearest tent, yelling at someone while we go inside to get my things and bring them in. Once inside she grabs a box and sits me down on it by the edge of the tent. For a little bit she just paces back and forth, scratching her forehead and taking long breaths.

- “You good Kassandra?” - I tilt my head at her. - “I’m the one pregnant here… you know?”

- “I know Shield. Have you ever been taught about this? Did you get any education about Efi pregnancies from your mother?” - Kassandra stops and crosses her arms. - “Like, how long does it even take?” - I shake my head at her, my parents didn’t bother teaching me this stuff so that I wouldn’t try tainting the bloodline with my “vile” blood. - “Alright. I’m not going to tell you everything, stuff differs between women. But three things happen always, your belly gets big, your breasts get much bigger than you think and oh boy are you going to have hunger issues.”

- “And you know this, how?” - She’s younger than me, by a lot. Her education’s a bit better… Before I can finish even thinking about it she makes a smug face at me.

- “I have three.” - She says.

- “Three what?” - I have no clue what she's talking about.

- “Kids, Shield. Three kids, a daughter and two sons…” - She’s making an even more smug face at me. - “You forgot! That means I win the bet with Raxis.”

- “You never told me!” - There’s no way she told me… right?!

- “I don’t remember, maybe I did. But I’m counting it as a bet I won.” - Kassandra sits down next to me on the box and pokes my stomach.

- “You’re being very informal here Kassandra. Remember, I’m still the Shield.” - I give her a bit of a side eye, but she does not budge this time.

- “Right now, you’re a mom. Let yourself be a mom, for a couple of days, the heat will die down and you can go back to being Shield Valerie again.” - Kassandra starts going towards the exit of the tent. - “I’ll get your boyfriend here, let him pamper you for a little bit. He’s just as shocked as you are.”

With that, she makes her way out of the tent, leaving me alone with my thoughts for a few minutes. I’m not entirely sure what’s going to happen now. I mean, I’ve seen women give birth, my mom specifically. It’s not like I’m physically unprepared for that, if anything this powerful body will be more than enough to handle a birth… I think.

And the whole sitting down for a long time, how is that supposed to work? I’m an active woman, I need recreational activities from time to time. Add to it this whole Titanothar deal and it’s becoming too much for me to figure out at this point. I wonder if it’s going to be a boy or a girl… Or if I’m actually pregnant, I mean… It’s not like I got fat already, right? My belly seems fine when I poke it and my breasts, well, they do feel a little swollen but that could literally just be all the walking.

For the next few hours, Leshy was running around me, asking me if I want food, water, a foot massage even. I had to tell him to fuck off a few times which he willingly ignored. I don’t mind being taken care of, but I’m not senile or a cripple. I wonder if he’ll even let me poop on my own once the time comes. But, the day is slowly ending, the sun has set and the entire area is illuminated by campfires.

Leshy’s perspective…

I’m not going to make it, I’m not going to make it, I’m not going to make it. I’m NOT going to be a good dad, there’s no way! I’m entirely fucked up. I take a look at the mother of my child, Valerie. She’s so chill, meanwhile I’m thinking like the world’s about to end. I don’t have a father figure to fall back on, there was no old man wisdom bestowed upon me by my dead father. She on the other hand has thousands of years of experience on her hands. I’m a fucking toddler. How do Efi pregnancies even go?!

- “I’m going to take a walk!” - I wave over to Valerie and she nods with a smile. She’s probably tired of my bullshit. I’ve been running around her all the time to not deal with my own thoughts. But I have to relax.

I make my way through the camp, I didn’t pay attention before, for obvious reasons but only now do I realize. Each different branch of the Spotter Consensus is dressed in slightly different colors and markings. Some folks wear mostly Blue and White colors, others have sailor hats and knee high boots with the general Black/Jade attire from the HQ. Then there are the Gallahan Association Spotters, dressed in everything they could get their hands on. Why am I not surprised?

The camp is huge, only now is the 300 person big group showing its full scale. Tents are set up so that they form squares of four tents with walkways for people between each four tent segment. Through the middle is a wider walkway with carts being wheeled by workers back and forth through it. This whole thing is extremely well structured. I doubt the folks from Nova Vertex would know how to pitch a tent if you gave them a manual for it.

Why isn’t there a manual for babies? There are countless on Earth, but here? I don’t think anyone took the time to write a book on “Efi Children: How to”. That’d be useful now. I make my way further through the camp, only now realizing that on instinct I’m going to the complete opposite side to where Valerie is. My brain clearly needs a break and is just doing things to get it. I let it lead me over, there’s a nice, empty log, just sitting by a lit campfire. It doesn’t seem like anyone’s using it so I take the chance to appropriate the space for myself.

I take a long look around me, sighing and pushing my fingers into the temples of my skull, just trying to get some blood flowing again and relax. Some of the Spotters bow to me, some just greet me with a simple “Protector” as they walk by.

- “Fuck…” - It’s a quiet frustration, I bury my face in my hands and start taking deep breaths. Valerie is more than likely carrying a baby because I couldn’t keep it in my pants for long. All of these people see me as a higher ranked “officer”, calling me “Protector”. What fucking protector? Of family values? My god, this whole thing is too much for one day.

- “Rough day?” - A woman's voice rings out behind me. - “Do you mind if I sit here? Everyone else seems like they’re boring.” - She asks and sits down before I can protest. Her voice is old, but not destroyed by age, it’s measured and calming.

- “Quite rough. Found out I’m a father I suppose.” - I reply in monotone, unable to bring any emotion out. I keep my face buried, hoping I’m just rambling to an imaginary friend right now.

- “Really? That’s rough indeed. Babies cry a lot, shit and piss on you, sometimes even vomit on you.” - The old woman chuckles loudly to herself. - “Don’t you have anybody to help you out? Someone here surely pumped out a few parasites.” - She chuckles even louder.

- “Not as far as I can tell. I’m more or less on my own here.” - I take my face out of my hands, but keep my eyes focused on the fire in front of me, looking at the dancing shapes. - “Would be useful to have some sort of Manual of Arms for a baby.”

- “We’d nail knives to their faces and replace their hands with pitchforks if we had something like that. Combat Ready Baby, sounds like something Xyraena would try during the Crusades.” - She’s loud, not just in tone, her entire person screams “I AM HERE!”. It’s not annoying though, it’s weirdly welcoming. Like an old friend of sorts. - “So, what now?”

- “You ask an awful lot of questions for a lower ranked Spotter, don’t you?” - I blurt out before realizing how rude this sounds.

- “That’d work on me if I was a Spotter!” - She slaps me on the back asserting her dominance in some weird way.

- “Not a Spotter? How’d you make it into the camp? There’s guards everywhere?” - I look at her for the first time…

- “Hello Jan.” - Eleanor pinches my cheek and grins at me. - “It’s been a while.”

There she sits, Eleanor. My in-game character for the Vertex game, chatting with me about the potential fatherhood…