“Come again!” The seemingly innocuous words chase me as I walk briskly towards the exit. Chills run up my spine. I feel like it’s lying, hiding what it really is, but it might also just be a tiny fragment of an AI… the AI that runs this stupid place. Either way, I’m keeping the fuck away from that thing whenever possible. Someone else can do the shopping.

The first drops of rain hit me as the merchant center doors swing closed behind me. I glance in the direction the storm is rolling in from, and feel a different kind of dread well up in my chest. It was dark before, but the darkness keeps progressing the further I look. Something’s coming, and I should probably get my ass into the safety of The Barrows… but I might just… not. A strange madness grips my heart, and a probably disconcerting smile edges onto my face. Maybe I’ll just stay out here and… experience it.

I hurry toward the only other building that interests me for the moment. From the outside, the Artisanal Center looks very similar to the Merchant Center, with the noticeable distinction that the walls and floor are stone, and there are several covered chimneys. Whoever designed this building clearly intended to prevent fires and also allow people to burn fuel in here without flooding the area with smoke.

As before, one occupied stand towers in the center of the room, containing one identical dark mannequin. Mmm.

“Greetings traveller! I am the village healer. Do you wish to be examined?”

“Su- yes.”

“Scanning… Detected: Burned Channels status effect. Required materials: 200 Power; Deepwood moss (small). Please present required materials.”

“I don’t have the moss.”

“Deepwood moss location: Edentē Forest, East. Found in locations of darkness below heavy canopy growth.”

“Fuck.”

“Acceptable commands ar-”

“Shut up, I know.”

Of course. It was too good to be true, hoping there would be some mystical cure-all capability. I bet everything the system offers is something that can be done manually, and for less… meaning I could probably cure my own Burned Channels… if I had any idea how to do that. I’d say I’ll bring back a lot of it, and experiment, but that would almost certainly kill me. Just imagine if that Deepwood Moss is a really potent Mana recovery reagent, and I fucking explode from sheer Mana. Though, Lauren might be able to tell me what the potions do, so… maybe not?

The wind howls outside, and my thoughts move away from the frustration of being continually prevented from recovering. I quickly make my way back to the The Barrows. If I’m going to stay outside during the storm, which is a terrible idea, I should at least tell people. That way they won’t have a reason to worry… at least, not about my physical well being. My mental health is a whole different beast. I doubt anyone would have the gall to call me ‘sane’.

“Amadeus, this man is blind in both eyes. Please restore his vision.”

“Wait, you’re telling me they planned to take on the Carnine army, and they took a blind guy? That just seems irresponsible.”

Lynn narrowed her eyes slightly. Ah, of course, the guy is standing right behind her. I cough, awkwardly.

“Alright, anyway, I’ll get you fixed up in no time. Now, this is going to sound weird, but I need you to not resist when you feel pressure or you’ll end up hurting me and your eyes won’t be fixed. Otherwise, this’ll take like… two minutes. Sound good?”

The man tilts his head slightly before nodding. “Do what you must.”

I instruct the man to hold out his hand, and take hold of it. Technically, this would be easiest if I had contact with his head, but I think that would freak him out. He’s got some pretty nasty chemical burns on his face, and it wouldn’t be unfair to assume he’s sensitive to touch in that area right now.

As promised, his wounds knit themselves back together extremely rapidly. Damaged and destroyed skin regrows at an astounding rate, and his cloudy eyes become crystal clear. I fix the eyes last so he actually lets me fix everything because otherwise- oh, yep, here it comes.

With a slight gasp, the man looks frantically around, waving his hands in front of his eyes, and tears well up in his eyes. “M-my sight! You restored my sight! Ha, haha, I didn’t believe them, but you actually did it! Magician! Healer! Oh thank you thank you! Ask whatever you want, I owe you so much-”

“Hey, it was no trouble… what was your name again?”

“I’m Chris, Amadeus, it’s truly a pleasure.”

“Chris, then. As I said, no problem at all. Anything you feel you owe to me, direct towards this fantastic woman here. Lynn will make sure everything runs smoothly.”

“Of course, but for you specifically-”

“This is for me specifically. I don’t know what made you want to leave Gershwin and join us, but I value loyalty above all else. Do well, exceed, set an example for your comrades. That’s all I ask.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Just Amadeus is fine.” I smile at him to soften the correction.

“Of course, Amadeus.”

“Alright, enough, we can continue inside.” Lynn interjects abruptly. “The storm is fast approaching.”

“Y-yeah, I’m actually… going to stay out here?”

Lynn turns back to me with a look that brooks no nonsense. “Inside, Amadeus.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ll see you afterwards.”

“You’re far too important to be risking your life over frivolous nonsense. We don’t have any idea-”

“Humans, why are you not cowering in your cave?”

Chris immediately tenses up, hand going to his weapon, but Lynn raises a hand to stop him.

“Hey Cerberus. I was planning on staying out here for the storm. Care to join?”

“Amadeus, you’re not-”

“Your attempts at humor fall flat. I have come because I have already ensured the safety of my followers, and must ensure your own as well. Cower inside with your kin, I will join you there.”

“Not a joke, I’m staying out here.”

“Stop being an ass-”

“You… are serious? BAHAHA, you will be killed. You are too weak.”

“No need to hurt a man’s pride, I did best a few of your warriors.”

Cerberus glowers darkly at me. “Their absence is noted.” Fuck, yeah, I deserve that.

“Stay out here with me.”

“You wish to involve me in your reckless disregard for living? I will not.”

“I’m involving you anyway, we’re linked, remember? So you should stay out here and protect me.”

Cerberus huffs and turns to Lynn. “Truly, no other could have formed this bond with me? Must it be the most incompetent of your race?”

“I don’t know what you’re so afraid of.”

“I know no fear, human.” He spits the last word, but I smile at him genuinely. He is, after all, mine.

“Then join me.” I say simply, shrugging.

Cerberus growls, low and threatening. “A difference lies between fear and caution. You clearly know nothing of it. You are a fool.”

The wind intensifies, covering all other sound with a steady roar, before receding slightly.

“Perhaps I am, but only a fool would forge an alliance with those who engaged in a mass murder of their species. Yet, here we are.” Not waiting for a response, I walk up the hill that covers the entrance to the cave, close my eyes, and open my arms wide, enjoying the violence of the wind and the sting of the rain on my exposed skin.

I can’t explain to them why I need to stay, but it isn’t an option for me. I have to know, to experience the power of what’s coming. It’s vitally important to… something. Whether it’s the fact that my greatsword skills are all water themed, or something leftover from life before the system, I don’t know or care. The forces of nature, especially storms, contain an unquestionable beauty. Any who can’t see that… I doubt I could force them.

The force of the gusts is such that I have to brace against it, just to keep from being knocked over, but I love the feeling. The currents of air and water swirl around me, pushing me in every direction, but I can stand amidst the torrent, forcing it to include me in its chaotic dance.

I open my eyes, which blur immediately from the rain, but I see a thoroughly soaked Cerberus has decided to remain at my side.

“You’ve chosen to join me! Fantastic!”

“I deeply detest you.”

“I can’t blame you at all!”

The entire world is cast in blinding light for a moment before returning to darkness, and, in the distance, a harsh rumbling rolls forth. In the distance, the real body of the rain approaches rapidly. As this torrent approaches, the sheer quantity of water falling from the sky makes itself clear; there’s probably more water than air.

I take a deep breath, letting it out in a contented sigh before sharpening my eyes. The weather is not the danger, but the clearly cohesive, perhaps even living collections of water that follow it… might well be.