Martyr’s Mercy 2 Days Later
So, this week isn’t going as anyone planned. First, we were told about the final trial of the guild, it freaked everyone out except my buddy Torgin. That battle junkie was excited for the chance to be thrown into a dungeon with no guidance. I’m starting to really think he may be the death of me in the future. But enough about Torgin’s insanity for now, the instructors gave us good news, there are no dungeons close enough for us to have the final trial in so we would get a simulated final trial instead. Happy and calm feelings abound but just as all of us, except Torgin, breathed a sigh of relief an earthquake hit, followed by a series of stronger ones. While we struggled to keep ourselves balanced the instructors started falling over laughing.
Assault instructor Opehaven and Support instructor MacKenna gave us the news or what they called an unlucky break. A dungeon was breaching the surface outside the city. I mean what are the odds of a dungeon appearing as we get ready to finish training. Anyway, the instructors gave us the rest of the week off to prepare ourselves then we would dive with no supervision, at least my party isn’t the first, we are the third group, however. Now it doesn't matter Team 8-Bit will survive. I'm gonna make sure we come back alive.
Rahzen Ouse, Entry 178
Martyr Roslyn POV
10 years, it amazes me how much bigger this village has become in that amount of time. Feels like yesterday this place was just some backwater in the middle of nowhere, now look at it. A small metropolis, I wish they didn't name the guild building after me, but some things are out of my control. I almost miss the war, the screams of my enemies, the look of a broken man as he lay before me begging for his pathetic life. Oh, those were the days I didn't have to hide my…
"Mistress, we have arrived at the guild. Shall I announce your presence?"
That was quick, I was hoping to have another ten to twenty minutes to myself to think.
“Yes, Ferros please let the guild know I have arrived.”
Now with dear sweet Ferros going to alert the guild’s leadership of my arrival, I should have at least a few minutes to gather my thoughts before they come outside and see exactly who’s carriage is waiting. That will definitely be funny to see their reactions. After all, no one likes unexpected visits from the inquisition, especially if they recognize the symbol on my carriage door or the creature that's pulling it.
“Mistress, they are on their way to greet you along with all of their new initiates! Also, per your past instructions I did not mention your name only that an inquisitor awaited them all outside.”
“Excellent thank you Ferros, now hopefully that idiot Confessor arrives in time. It’s not like this is the first time I knocked him out in the middle of nowhere.”
Roslyn waited another 15 minutes before a familiar sight greeted her as out from the guild building walked two of her favorite former students, Vasill Adrenal Opehaven an unnaturally bloodthirsty elf who later acquired the Devastator class, and Opium the poor boy, he actually went through with it and willingly became the vessel for a hive of Scourge Locusts. Did he truly feel so alone that becoming a Swarm Host was the only way for him to feel accepted. I truly hope he found the companionship he craved.
Instructor’s POV
“So, does anyone have a clue why the Inquisition showed up on our doorstep uninvited? It’s not like we're doing anything that would displease the Gods.” Vasill grumbled, annoyed that her evening nap was interrupted.
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“This one implores you to calm yourself Vasill, after all do not the two of us know more about the randomness of the Inquisition than anyone else.” Opium answered her, and as usual the answer did not suit her tastes. For how could she ever forget the hellish training she suffered under Martyr Roslyn.
Vasill shuddered at the memory and almost blasted Opium into the Inquisition carriage. She stayed her hand only because she knew Opium had suffered the same torture as well, they shared a bond thicker than blood forged by the ruthless teaching of the same bloodthirsty master. This pain made them strong, it made them who they are, and it is the only reason she had not abandoned him when he gave up his flesh to Scourge Locusts. This newfound sense of calm utterly dissipates when Vasill lays eyes on the carriage. Taking up the entire street outside of the guild are a pair of massive blood red centipedes with bright green legs and antennae that are chained to the front of an elegant black and white carriage body. The centipedes themselves are not what breaks Vasill’s calm, for these massive invertebrates are much better than horses for traveling long distances and moving over harsh terrain. No, it’s the symbol on the carriage door that shakes her so. Embossed on the door in a striking red to draw one's attention is a bruised and battered severed hand clutching a noose of rusted barbed wire, the holy symbol of Lyrox Lord of the Lash, God of Justice, Punishment, and Redemption.
Vasill quickly whispered a prayer, “Please gods above if you truly have any mercy, please do not let her be in that carriage.”
Her prayer went unanswered this day for who else but the source of her childhood trauma and former teacher stepped out from inside and greeted them.
“My, my, my look at how the two of you have grown, and what's with the frowns aren’t you going to speak and welcome your teacher? After all, it's been so long since we last saw each other.”
This statement was such a surprise that the section leader for this guild post, the other instructors, and the initiates all stopped to look around, since none of them knew who she was speaking to. Didn’t take long to notice Opium trembling in place, his locusts swarming out of his bandaged body moving to protect their host, or Vasill’s scowling face and growling.
“Well, I’m still waiting for that hello. So, who is going to speak up first, Vasill or you Opium?” The smiling grandma said looking down on them from the carriage. Her steel gray eyes seemed to bore a hole into everyone they passed over, until they rested on Opium whose locust immediately retreated into his body under that gaze.
Opium swallowed hard trying his best to control his emotions and speak, but all those painful memories were slowly beginning to make their way back to the surface of his thoughts. Years spent meditating and even becoming host to his new locust friends, all an attempt to forget his childhood and her face and voice. It took him several long seconds before he answered her.
“It astounds this one that you are still alive after all these years Martyr Roslyn. Your appearance here today is most unnerving.”
That name sent a tremor of fear through everyone else present. The old woman standing before them was the legendary Martyr Roslyn of the Inquisition. Now they understood Opium and Vasill’s fears, what they did to deserve a visit from one of their world's most destructive monsters.
“See that wasn’t so hard Opium. Now what about you Vasill, won’t you greet your master as well? It’s not like I’m here to cause anyone harm.”
Vasill didn’t answer with words her anger, her hate for the deceptive old woman before her clouded her thoughts. She answered the inquisitor's question with action. As she rushed to the inquisitor her fist glowed a bright orange and the air around it shimmered from the heat. Vasill had unleashed her Pyroclastic Blow.
“DIE YOU DECREPIT OLD BITCH!”
“Still as hot headed as ever I see. No matter you're never too old for a lesson.”
Roslyn caught Vasill’s punch, and with a single strike to the gut brought the mighty devastator to her knees. Vasill dubbed over in pain at the sudden strike and threw up her breakfast and a significant amount of blood onto the ground at Roslyn's feet. Roslyn then let her fall face first into the pool of vomit and blood she had made, before making her way over to the gathered crowd.
“I’m so sorry you all had to see that. But sometimes the best thing a teacher can do is remind their student of the difference in strength. Now then I have two important announcements to make. Number 1 I will be staying here with you for the next five days, yes, I know that in that time the breach storm will have died down and the new dungeon here will be opened. That brings us to item number 2 I as well as my good friend Confessor Owen will be going into it the second it opens for reasons that no one here is allowed to know other than that once we return you are free to continue as normal. I hope we can all get along for the next few days, and before I forget will someone, please see to my dear little Vasill’s wounds.”