I groaned as I woke, consciousness bringing with it pain and discomfiture. Every part of my body ached a different way. Judging from how I felt I figured I’d lain here for at least two days. Someone cried out, I turned my head, eyes settling on what appeared to be the inn’s serving wench.

“D-Don’t get up right now.” She said, she looked startled and groggy, she’d probably fallen asleep in her seat until I’d woken her. “How do you feel?” She said, then grimaced. “Uh, not good I guess. You looked dead when you first came in, and when some of them fed you a bit of the potion you got worse somehow until Qent and Numen told them to stop…” She fidgeted.

“How long?” I said, my voice like crackling paper. She handed me a mug of water, which I accepted with gratitude, sipping at it slowly, my dry throat making it painful to drink. I cleared it, asking the question again. “How long has it been?”

“Three days.” She replied. “You’ve been here for three days.”

[Your injuries aren’t fully healed.] Page noted, slowly listing the cuts, punctures and miscellaneous injuries I’d accrued. [If you were a normal person you would have intense scarring.]

I’m still mostly normal. I thought back wryly. How long until I’m back at my peak?

[Approximately three days, six hours and forty-three minutes.] Page chipperly replied. I raised an eyebrow. [I’m joking. It’ll be about three days, the last day will be mostly minor injuries.]

“So where are the others?” I asked, sitting up. The girl watched me rise with worry. I felt a little dizzy, but that’d pass soon enough. Her form refocused in a moment, her hand darted out before pulling back again.

“They’re out.” She replied, her hand pointing vaguely out the open window. “The two male warriors I think went with the male ranger out to Wrath.” I gave a short bark of laughter, wincing at the pain it brought, she shifted uncomfortably. “What is it?” She asked.

“The ranger is female.” I replied, her eyes widened a little. “I made the same mistake when I first met her. I’m sure it’s alright.” I said with a small laugh. “Just don’t tell anyone I did okay?” She nodded back to me, embarrassed.

I took a breath and pushed myself up. She intercepted me halfway up, trying to force me back down. I scowled, countering the grab and causing her to fall face first onto the bed. I stood, my vision swimming for a moment as blood failed to reach my brain. Okay, that was a little mean of me.

I reached down to help her up, she stood, deciding to refrain from attempting to force bedrest. “So where is my gear?” I asked. I could sense where the Liaen was, one piece was out yonder in the wilderness, carried by Rince perhaps? The armour itself was in the wardrobe, along with the strips.

She sighed, stepping past me to open the wardrobe. The pieces of my armour had been haphazardly piled into the wardrobe. It was battered, torn and pierced in many places. Yeah, I probably looked like roadkill at the end of it all. I thought to myself, sealing some of the tears.

“You can probably leave now.” I told the girl. “Sure you’ve got better things to do than watch me get used to being conscious again.” She nodded, ducking out the door immediately.

[She certainly seemed afraid of us.] Page remarked. [Sure you didn’t do anything stupid before you passed out?]

If I did I’m sure you’d know. I replied.

[True, but it is a little curious.] Page said with amusement.

I looked outside, it was yet to be noon, which meant I still had some time. I opened the wardrobe and retrieved my armour, happy to note that my swords and pick were both inside as well. It was badly damaged, but the way the Liaen was, those just needed to be realigned and reattached.

The work was pretty quick, while I hadn’t learned to modify it quickly, fixing it was a breeze when you could just soften it and reattach everything by touching them together. I had just about completed it as a knock on the door came.

I opened it to find the girl again, carrying a tray of food. Lunch it seemed, was served. I took it from her. “Thank you.” I said. She gave a smile, then disappeared down the stairwell. I ate with haste, the Liaen wasn’t fixed yet, and I wanted to be prepared for whatever might happen.

Once it was fixed I donned it and brought the tray down, pushing the helm back and softening it so that it fell back like a hood. It was comforting to be back in the armour, a kind of reassurance at least. They took the tray from me, taking some time to scan over the armour, they looked surprised.

“Is there anything still to do?” I asked, wounded or not I would still likely be capable of simple tasks. They looked at me for a bit and shook their heads uncertainly.

I shrugged, turning to leave the inn. “Don’t push yourself.” The innkeeper said. “When you came you were at death’s door, don’t willingly walk through it.” He said. I nodded to him, and left for main street, pulling up my helm and attaching my faceplate.

Having nowhere to really go, I found myself wandering the streets that criss-crossed the town we were staying in. It was to my surprise that I found myself in a town park, the ground covered in grass while a few lone trees dotted the central area. Walkways were built around the area, shading people from the sun as they made their way through the area.

I went to lie against a tree, looking out at the people in it as well as the facilities that seemed to accompany it. An archery range was set up on one end of the area, where a group of men and women gathered to practice. Their actions were trained and deliberate, they either had formal instruction, or were very dedicated to the craft.

“Where’d ya come from?” A voice called out from the side. A boy had apparently decided to approach me, standing just a bit to my right, opposite of the archers.

“I was in Lrash a few days ago.” I replied. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to talk to strangers?” I asked, head craning upwards a bit to look him in the eye.

“You’re an irregular right? What’s it like to adventure like that?” He asked, sitting down besides me, his own back against the tree. “My mom said that I need to be careful about people that want to talk to me and not to follow anyone I don’t know. Ya don’t want me to follow you or anything right?” He asked, head cocked.

I laughed, shaking my head. “The travelling is alright, most of the time it’s safe enough, but goblins are growing to be a real menace.” I explained. “Bandits are a growing problem too.” I continued with a frown. “The gnoll attacks displaced a lot of people, but the demons being fought are the real problem.” I noted. The front is barely holding. I thought.

He perked up. “The gnoll attacks?” He repeated, looking at me. “Did ya fight in that battle?”

I cocked my head. “I did, it was hard fought.” I said. “You want to hear the story I assume?” He nodded vigorously. “I’m not a bard, and the story is a lot less uplifting than most I think you’ve heard.” He stared at me. “Alright. Alright.” I raised my palms in supplication, beginning the tale.

By the end of it the boy sat thoughtfully, as I’d said, the story wasn’t that uplifting coming from me. I’d explained our tactics, emphasized our reliance on catching them off guard. Our casualties were nothing to scoff at either, but if I poured on any more I felt that he’d think I was trying to warn him off. I was, but if he knew he might very well choose to join out of impulse.

“You guys sound weak.” He said with a frown. His eyes widened once he realized what he had said. “Uh…” I chuckled.

“We’re only human.” I said with a shrug. “I’m skilled enough to take a group of three to four people fine, but when you fight an army you never fight just that many. Better you know what you’re thinking about instead of stories that tell you we can take on armies head on and win.” I stood, dusting off and stretching. “It’s about time for me to head back. Take care going home alright?”

Frejr and Qent had yet to return, I ate dinner alone, which wasn’t entirely unpleasant, social skills weren’t something I liked to exercise. It wasn’t quiet throughout though, people still came here to drink and make merry. I listened to them discuss local issues, alcohol lubricating their speech.

There was talk of a conspiracy, the Republic’s proactiveness in seeking out new vassals was worrying many, with quite a few expressing the opinion that the Republic themselves might be responsible for the misfortune of other countries. I thought back to Torven, when the man had approached Hakten. He hadn’t seemed like one to be part of such, but Hakten himself seemed to believe they simply kept him in the dark about it.

I sipped at the drink I’d been given, the safest choice out of the few drinks available. I was used to it by now I guess, and my travels, extradimensional or otherwise, meant I’d tasted quite a few different brews. I sighed, stretching out as the conversations petered out into gossip and hearsay.

[Do you think they could be right?] Page asked. [Their actions are fairly suspicious.]

I think they’re opportunists. I replied. It’s unlikely that they could have been planning for the gnoll uprising. It’s also a little farfetched for them to be in charge of the others right? I mean, why expend so much effort?

[It could just be power.] Page remarked. [Organizations and sentient individuals have often coveted it.]

I sighed. Maybe, austerity is a rare thing. But really, since what you know is mostly based on my own knowledge, doesn’t that make this affirmation masturbatory?

If Page had had eyes, it would have given me a flat look. [That’s the term you chose?] I shrugged. [You have a point, but while varying your vocabulary is nice, that’s still a little off.]

Are you an AI for soldiers or an AI for dandies? I thought back, rolling my eyes.

[I’m actually a civilian type with some switched out priorities and capabilities.] Page replied. [So really… Neither.]

I laughed a little, finishing the final sip of my beer. As I moved to leave someone sat ahead of me. “You are Kael?” He asked, looking at me with calm steely eyes.

I stared at him for a moment, considering how conspicuous my armour was, there was no reason and no way I could lie. “Yes.” I replied, even as every part of me screamed against it.

“I’m from the Tower.” He replied. “We were notified that the artefacts were retrieved. So I was sent to pick them up. My reports described you as heavily injured. It is good that you are well.”

“You understand that I have no means of verifying your affiliation?” I say, pulling my back straight. “We would have to wait for someone like Frejr to hand them to you.” There’s of course the small issue that I have no idea where the artefacts themselves are. I noted with a grimace.

He nodded. “Yes, that’s reasonable. I will be staying in one of the rooms for the duration then.” He replied. “I have a few questions for you as well.” He said. “The reports detailed many things, we are concerned about the mage that Frejr described. She sounds like one of our rogue agents. If she is still alive, we would like to interrogate her.” He paused.

“There is also the question of the Aedolon.”