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JULES
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> [Item: Shaman Beads. Unknown origins. Master Rank.]
Jules chased after the man through the mist. With every step, the mist grew thicker and denser, until the man was gone. Jules stopped chasing him, and the mist itself slowly receded. Defeated, he returned to Kaizen and Rukia.
“I don’t sense anything inherently odd about his strength or power,” Kaizen said. “Someone could have given it to him in an act of charity, and he didn’t know the value.”
“Who would gift something so nice!?”
“I mean, they’re Buddhist beads. Pretty nice folk in my world.”
Rukia remained on all fours, glaring out into the distance where the blind beggar disappeared.
“Idiot,” Jules said to Kaizen. “Well, what the hell just happened with Wrath?”
“Walk me through it.”
“I opened my eyes in Hell, but it was on the edge of that dagger—”
“Ohhh shit," Kaizen said. "That’s my bad."
“What do you mean, my bad!?"
“I mean my bad, OK? Get off my back—I’m not exactly a teacher, you know.”
“Yeah, I noticed.”
“He must have tagged you earlier when you were cycling and focusing on his wavelength. I should have told you how to reset.”
“And I do that how…?”
“It’s a, uh, ya know, hard reset.” Kaizen dragged his thumb across his throat and clicked his tongue.
“Great.” Jules collapsed and put his head in his hands. “Look, just give me one more day. To clear my head, and find another item to put you in.”
“We can’t wait. Trust me, you can do it. It’s time for me to go.”
Jules unsheathed the dagger to reset himself.
“No! You’re fine now. He already jumped from you to the dagger. But we’re definitely not using that again.”
> [Seeketh Patience — Quest Objective FAILED: Remove Kaizen from Patience's Altar and Integrate him into your dagger.]
>
> [Seeketh Patience — Quest Objective ADDED: Remove Kaizen from Patience's Altar and Integrate him into a complete stranger's Shaman Beads.]
Jules looked down at the beads in his hand. “Oh Salvos, please don’t tell me you mean to go in there, in that stranger’s gift? What if it’s a trap!?”
“What if he hadn’t woken you up?” Rukia asked.
Jules fumed now, and it took a while for him to calm back down.
“Fine." Jules finally conceded. "But only because Rukia’s a solid sense of judgment.”
Rukia smirked at Kaizen and wagged her tail. Jules repeated the process for the beads, and it went by much faster. Someone’s watching, he thought to both of them. Feels like when The Painter watches me. That stunt must have really drawn his attention. Kaizen and Rukia both reassured him through their shared mental line and urged him to focus.
“Alright,” Kaizen said when the sun started to set. “Rukia, walk him through the Soul Sacrament.”
Following Rukia’s instructions, Jules walked up to the Fountain. He used his Conjuration Skill to summon a voidless dagger, much too afraid to use the other one, and cut his hand. A stream of blood fell into the water, disrupting its purity. Instead of the liquids diffusing into one another as he’d expected, the blood all flowed toward the seventh pillar, to Patience. When his blood reached it, the pillar lit up softly. Jules looked around. No one was around, but he still felt like he was being watched.
Kaizen disappeared in an instant, then a moment later, he erupted from the beads.
“AAAHHH!!!!” He stretched his arms out to the rising moons, extending his finger tips to the heavens. He stretched all of his muscles and shadow boxed. “It feels so good to be out of that cramped cell. These Beads really are spacious, you know.”
“You’re outside, moron,” Jules said. “Besides, that pillar is way bigger than these beads.”
“I am, and I’m not. Just trust me when I say that place was smothering.”
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“We done here? I’d like to get back.”
“Yes, we are. Thank you Jules, thank you.”
> [Seeketh Patience — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Remove Kaizen from Patience's Altar and Integrate him into a complete stranger's Shaman Beads.]
Kaizen turned serious again. Here we go. “Hey, uh, Jules… There is one thing that I didn’t tell you, about this whole Soul Sacrament thing, or whatever.”
Jules’ eye twitched, and he felt a vein press against the skin of his temple. “And why is that, Kaizen?” Jules asked through clenched teeth.
“Because I knew you were really not gonna like it.”
If I didn’t think this dagger was cursed, I’d rip it out. “Go on.”
“Soooo, uh…”
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PAT OF THE DUNES
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The sun will soon set. Better wrap this up with the waif before that old fool gets home.
Pat took a seat in the decorative iron-wrought chair. The tropical heat felt amazing to him, made him feel comfortable, like he was at home.
Not home. Just the familiarity of the desert air. This salt smell, on the other hand, is rancid. Absolutely repulsive.
The bright and beautiful colors of the garden pissed him off further. He ran a hand down his black and gold robes to smooth them out. His surroundings were an Apothecary’s dream world, but Pat was a far cry from that Class.
A desperate attempt to organize and structure the world to your liking—What a facade. I know beneath all these colors that this woman is black-and-white as they come. He looked back to the house where the woman retreated to make them tea.
Stark contrast, Charlotte, how my counterpart was raised. Wide open spaces, a beach waterfront property, even a city skyline. Spoiled. A silver spoon.
And such an unforgiving mother. What I would have given for a mother who feared me instead of doling out constant praise, even worshiping my existence.
I truly despise him.
Pat had bid his time for the stars to align, to finally be assigned this specific mission. The woman clanged around in the kitchen from inside.
It’s safe to come out now, Charlotte. Pat looked down at his robes, those elegant black robes lined with gold trim and patterns. One furry brown leg crept out, then another, and so on, until eight in total. The desert tarantula surveyed the garden and blinked each of its six remaining eyes individually. It dropped to the ground and scurried to an ivy-laced trellis. Pat lost sight of it as it climbed to its vantage point. A decent choice.
A vibrant woman with light brown hair emerged from the house with a tray of tea and a smile. She sat down across from Pat and offered him a cup. He feigned an affectionate smile and thanked her warmly. Time to start spinning webs.
“Oh, please. It’s nothing, really,” she said. “I couldn’t help but thank you after I fell.”
Pat sipped his tea. Bitter. “But are you sure you’re OK? Shall I escort you to the doctor?”
“Oh, heavens no. He’d only send me home.” Her smile faded slightly.
“Well, surely you have someone home who could help care for you until you’re recovered?”
She watched the sea forlornly. Wave after wave crashed on the shore. “Unfortunately, no. My husband is out at the moment.”
“And your children…?” Pat did his best to look puzzled, innocent, like an ignorant idiot. He maintained it long enough to deflect the defensive look she shot him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply anything. You are certainly very youthful, but I just noticed a boy’s bedroom after I helped you up.”
“Youthful… I was once. I’m afraid it’s just me and my husband. For now.” She sipped her tea coolly and seemed to collect herself. “And where might you be from?”
The tarantula completed the foundation for its silk burrow.
“Ah, I am from the Verdant Domain!” Pat imitated a gentle bow from the southern tribes of the nation; he'd learned it from some country bumpkin he'd interrogated and tortured a few months back. “I am on a voyage to find the Celestial Shores, to bring back some of their famed magic healing sand for my mother.”
She laughed lightly, but sweetly enough. “What a kind boy you are. And how lucky your mother is.”
So gullible. You are too easy an opponent.
“Oh, come now. Don’t flatter me too much while your husband is away.” She blushed, but didn’t take the bait. May have overstepped. Return to playing the fool. “Do you… Forgive my asking, but do you fall often?”
“Why do you ask?” She sipped her tea. “Do you suspect something’s wrong with me?”
“It’s just, you seem to act like it’s no big deal, falling like that, as if you are used to it, is all. My mother..."
“Well, I am feeling weaker and more tired lately. But I have plenty to celebrate in life, still." The woman put her hand on her stomach, then quickly withdrew it. "So, the Verdant Domain—and the Celestial Shores—yet you choose to stop in Coralhaven?”
Don’t change the subject on me, you… Pat strained a wide, sheepish smile, the kind only a buffoon could bear to wear. “Well, to tell you the truth…” He looked at her while he paused. “I’m broke! So I’m walking the whole way.” Pat broke eye contact and pretended to wipe away a tear. “I’ve heard rumors of this area, Shrines and more, but what else am I to do?”
She reached across the table to caress his hand. “For your mother, yes, I understand, dear. We will give you some Ryoku and food for your journey. Maybe my husband will even lend you some of his travel equipment—Ah, there he is now.”
Pat maintained his composure, though it was a struggle, while he turned to face the man. He looked twenty years older than his wife and haggard. You senile sack of shit, with your stupid fucking beard. That trap should have held you longer. How'd you get here so fast?
“Ah, well, a strapping young man having tea with a married woman, I should probably head off—”
“Nonsense, stay. Dear!” She called out to her grim husband. “Come meet our guest.”
I’m still none the wiser, so Plan B it is.
“And please, he’ll think nothing of me having company.”
I strongly distrust your opinions of your marriage. Spin faster, Charlotte. The husband's a problem. The tarantula obeyed, as always.
The man joined them in the garden. He gripped his bow as he sat down between them. He didn’t introduce himself, and his lock on Pat’s eyes never faltered. I have heard about you.
“You are?” the man asked.
If only you knew.
“I fell in the garden,” the woman said. The bubbly spirit of her voice was long gone. “And this nice boy, ah, I’m sorry, I forgot your name—”
“You fell?” her husband demanded, but didn't look away from Pat.
“I was walking by. I heard her coughing, then a loud thump, so I ran to her. But she is strong and rebounded well.” Charlotte spun a new thread. “So, Sir, are you a Fisherman, a Hunter? Where is your boat?” Keep looking at me that way and I’ll have you paralyzed. You continue to play these games, but we all know you will give me the answers.
“I think it’s time you go lie down.”
“No, I’m fine, really, I—”
“Leave, Evelyn. Now.”
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48
BONUS CONTENT BELOW
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