When Fritz finally exited the outhouse, he was greeted by an audience. Brenn, Marcelle, two elves, Ada, Neva, some priests of Freyes, and a crowd of excited children. Fritz felt like a million bucks. Nothing could ruin his morning now. He stood confidently before the assembled audience with his hands on his hips.

"It's weird you were all waiting for me." Fritz said.

"I am not weird!" Marcelle hissed. Her intense gaze crept out between her long black bangs demanding Fritz take his words back.

"Fritz! Tell Neva to let me keep the sword!" Ada shouted. "I earned it! It's mine!"

"Fritz! Help me show her reason! The sword is cursed! It must be destroyed!"

"Cutey! You look tired, come back to bed with me." Brenn teased. "I'll forgive you for being so hard to get."

"Human! We have much to discuss!" The elven woman said, while snapping at him to grab his attention. "Your life is in danger! Your safety cannot be left to these ignorant animals."

Fritz let the random demands roll over him, as his eyes glazed over.

"Hmm-" One of the priests cleared their throat. "Champion, Fritz. It is good to see you walking about. We were worried about your health after your battle."

"Yes, it's good to be alive." Fritz responded casually.

"Champion! Can I have another sword! Bigger? And with real steel this time?" One of the children approached Fritz. His eyes were wide as saucers and full of hope as he held Fritz's recently conjured wooden sword. "Please?!" He begged. Fritz looked up to one of the priests. His face screamed 'NO'. Fritz tousled the kid's messy hair.

"Maybe later. I need to catch up with everything that's happened."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Now, how long was I out?" Fritz asked.

"Seven days." Neva answered seriously.

"Seven days? You're joking!" Fritz exclaimed.

"Your injuries were severe. Whatever you did when fighting the vampire must have taxed you severely. Magical exhaustion is no joke. Your magical leylines were completely exhausted." Marcelle responded.

"I see everyone clearly knows about my situation. That's good, I suppose." Fritz said. He scratched his cheek awkwardly as he looked over the crowd of unknown faces.

"Maybe for you." Neva said with a click of her tongue, as she adjusted her smoking pipe.

"Who's fault was that?" Fritz asked. Brenn and Neva pointed a finger at Ada.

"Let's not go there!" Ada quickly blurted out. "It's all our fault! Clearly!"

"Go where?" Fritz asked.

"She kept ugly crying, begging for someone to save you. Quite touching." Marcelle said.

"Very romantic." Brenn agreed. "Well, that and several people saw you conjure the rapier. Really cutey?"

"Blood. Feed him to me!" The rapier whispered to Ada.

"Does it ever shut up?" Fritz groaned as he pointed towards the onyx blade.

"I'll figure out a way." Ada interjected as she slapped the hilt. "Bad sword! Stop!"

"What is it saying Fritz? Ada refused to tell me." Neva hissed as she glared daggers at the blonde wolfkin.

"It keeps screaming for my blood. It wants to kill me."

"Ada! Why weren't you listening to me?! It's clearly cursed! Destroy the rapier! Cast it into the fire! Destroy it!"

"No." Ada whispered menacingly as she turned away admiring her blade.

"Mr. Champion." A small beastkin holding one of his conjured stuffed animals tugged on his shirt. Fritz looked down.

"Call me, Fritz." He said to the young beastkin, bending down slightly towards the small child. "Do you need something?" He asked in a gentle voice.

"I need a steel sword."

"A steel sword? Someone just asked for one. Why do you need a real sword too?"

"When the undead come I need a sword to fight them."

"We just stopped them." Fritz responded.

"Not them. When the other undead come. They're trying to hurt us. I need a real sword to protect my friends. They're coming to destroy the city."

"Huh? Ada? Neva? Brenn? Marcelle? What's happening?"

"Ugh.... Don't get me started!" Neva said as she exhale a large cloud of tobacco. Ada looked at the ground guiltily. A priest approached him. The strange black robed man bowed slightly towards Fritz.

"Champion, the undead are threatening the city. Perhaps you would like to speak to the mother superior?" Fritz nodded towards the priest.

"Immediately if possible." Fritz said quickly.

His heart quickened as he stood up. Gnawing anxiety crept through his guts like a snake. His morning was ruined.