Vincent Trenslow is riding slowly. Not too slow, but slower than he usually would. Appropriately slow. He has taken care to polish his badge and his boots. This early in the morning the air still is cool and the sky looks huge, the delta’s pervasive humidity reduced to levels average elsewhere. Not that he minds that much. He has stopped sweating. He is remaining alert. The monster surge could begin at any time now and precursor signs are common, so he extends his aura. Though he will not allow himself to be delayed on this mission unless an immediate danger demands a like response.
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The3uma’s concussion has gotten better. She is preparing herself for a fight as she hears the door open. The ritual circle burned into the door prevents it from transmitting sound that would allow her to listen to her captors outside. A person in a dark brown robe with a large hood enters her cell. He knows exactly how much slack her chain allows her. He is standing right at the edge, where she could barely touch him, but not fight effectively. He just stands there for twenty minutes.
„What do you want?“
He remains silent. Her collar blocks her aura perception, yet by his posture and his clasped hands she deems him a man, his features obscured by a hood. After an hour he departs without a word.
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At a Geller household an official of the Adventure Society does not need to wait without good reason. At least a competent official. There is a reason Vincent has been given this task.
Two fresh iron rankers lead him to a whitewashed bungalow from which he can detect a politely restrained silver rank aura that still shows a slight instability from a recent advance.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Ernest Geller greets him politely.
EG: Tea?
VT: Yes, please.
In his experience beverages calm strong emotions. He always accepts such offers at these occasions, though he does not expect an outburst here.
EG: I see that you have polished your badge even more than usually. Who?
VT: Chodhen. Only him. We have waited to confirm that it is only him.
A slight pause. Ernest Geller sets down his cup with slightly more force than necessary making it audible even to normal rank ears. The fresh trainees waiting before the door must have heard it.
EG: A leader stands before his team. In advance and in retreat.
That is very controlled even by Vincent’s standards. He feels at a loss to come up with an apt answer. The pause is drawing uncomfortably long.
VT: Yes.
EG: Has the Adventure Society decided to react?
VT: No. It has been decided that a Geller team will deliver a report that will allow us to act decisively. The affair has just dramatically increased in importance, but not urgency.
EG: You mean with Bahadir’s contest having pushed so much money into the area a period of banditry is inevitable?
VT: I am afraid so, yes. They need to be taken out spectacularly.
EG: Very well. We will have to discuss this in the family. I will keep you updated.
VT: I see. And by the way, congratulations on your new rank.
EG: Thank you, Mr. Trenslow
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Lykha is struggling as a man with the strength of a mid bronze rank is relentlessly pushing her to a tub. His recording crystal is hovering in the edge of the room, well outside her range. He pushes her head into the liquid. There is no point in delaying the inevitable at this point. She lets the prickly sweet water flow through her gills.
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Vincent draws a looting ritual around the dead barbed tongue frog. He is happy about the distraction the monster gave him.