I jammed my sword deep into the troll, ignoring its paws slamming futilely against my armour. As its struggles grew weaker I found myself sporting a huge grin. I drew my eyebrows together, pursing my lips and pulling my lips to a flat line. How long have I been doing that? I thought, I felt no mirth, and there was nothing about this situation that could be considered funny…

I shook my head slightly. It’s a good thing I have a helmet… I thought, driving the sword deeper with a sharp twist. The troll jerked weakly, finally succumbing to its wounds. I put my foot on the troll’s chest, yanking the blade out. The others had taken out their troll, the dire wolf pinning it by the legs as Qen drove his spear deep into the creature’s heart.

I stood up, stabbing my sword once more into the creature’s skull. These trolls weren’t supposed to have the amazing regeneration of my world’s myth, but it never hurt to be careful. Might even save my life one day. Qen looked to what I was doing, looking back to the troll as he raised his spear, delivering a similar blow to the troll they had. “Good job.” I said, leaning back letting out a sigh.

I took a look within the burrow, finding nothing but dirt. Guess they hadn’t bred yet, or she’s pregnant… I thought, looking over to the troll that they had killed, I didn’t see any sign of pregnancy, though I could easily be wrong. Wasn’t like I was a medical expert, and their physiology could just be utterly alien anyway… “We’re done, let’s head back, get paid, and go home eh?”

The two of them agreed, we were paid several copper siqs, which I took with a grin and a nod. “… That’s hardly worth what you did in the last job.” Maria noted, staring at the few coppers as I slipped them into a pouch on my belt. I snorted, giving an easy smile.

“I told you it’s fine. Think of it as a bonus, you’ll need it for your gear and prep.” I said. “You’ll need it a lot more than me at any rate, so just take it, and repay me by not dying in several months time, or more preferably at all.” I grinned and winked at them.

They smiled back weakly, Maria stopped trying to pass me the money, though they still seemed uncomfortable about it. Heh. I thought to myself. I suppose that it’s nice that they don’t take it for granted. They’re good people, it’s nice how often I meet those. I smile inwardly.

The journey back was a lot more light-hearted than when we came, our jobs come to a close and managing to come away almost entirely unscathed. I managed to get them to talk and laugh, making the journey back a lot more pleasant. I regaled them with some of the stories I’d had of hunting down different beasts. Keeping from talking about the mission when I’d arrived in Maria’s hometown.

“There’s a saying that says the bigger they are the harder they fall, when you’re fighting ogres you’ve got to remember that they’re not as slow as people expect. Not as dumb either, if you charge ahead and hope to dodge past their defences you’ll be lucky to walk away with just a…” I paused. “I’m sorry. That was rather insensitive of me.” I said soberly, facing Maria. “Simply put, be careful, they’re faster than people think, feinting is still useful, perhaps even essential.”

I stopped talking, bringing my focus back to the road and engaging my Sense again. “It’s not your fault.” Maria said timidly. It was, is… I thought to myself. Should’ve watched him, all the goddamn signs and I didn’t bloody watch him. I sighed inwardly, saying nothing. “It really isn’t… and you’re giving good advice. Thank you for the book?” … Wow I feel like a terrible person.

“It’s nothing, even so… I should’ve been a lot more tactful.” I answered, I could feel my heart sink just a little as I said that. It wasn’t a lie, and yet that sentence weighed on me more than the lies I had ever told to anyone. “We should be there soon.” I continued. “Wonder what jobs you all can take next?”

“Will you stay with us then Mr Kael?” Qen asked from the side, for which I was very glad.

“I think so, you still don’t have the numbers or the experience, I could show you the ropes for a while longer.” I answered. “What you both did with the dire beasts though was damn impressive. Way to keep your cool, even though I screwed up and didn’t let you run nearly far enough away…” I frowned. “In any case, that was quick thinking, well done.”

“Thank you.” Maria said. “We wouldn’t have been able to pull it off if it hadn’t been for the traps you had us set up.” Qen nodded in agreement.

“It helped us to thin them and corral them where we needed to go, exactly as planned.” He remarked. “I suppose that’s an important part of how we should work, to prepare for our enemies and secure any advantage we can.” I nodded, at least he understood.

We arrived back in Torven after another night, and I bid them good night, retiring to my quarters in the guild. I managed to negotiate some lodging for the dire wolves. Tina seemed more surprised than frustrated when I’d asked, looking over at them with curious eyes, as did the other patrons. Once I was in my room I doffed my armour, setting it down beside my bed. The soul copy leapt from my armour, pointing stoically at the shaper. I drew it out, the elementals had formed a night ago, but I’d been hesitant to wake them, with Qen and Maria by my side.

I pushed the last button that the soul copy directed me to, and the bits that connected the elementals to the device withered away, almost like an umbilical cord that had been severed. They started to open their ‘eyes’, turning to look around at the room they were in, then they turned to me, cocking their heads. “Can you feel it? The pull?” I asked. They tilted their heads side to side, eerily synchronous. That… is weird… I thought to myself. It doesn’t seem like they understand me.

I mimed a pulling motion. “The pull.” I repeated. “They should be waiting for you beyond.” I waved to the outside. They flitted around me, like curious children, and then started to pulse with magic. Don’t tell me they’re like the fairies when they first form… I thought with a groan. They zipped off, disappearing into the night sky with stunning speed and silence. I stood there for a moment, before crawling into bed. That’s my promise for the first batch done... I thought, drifting off to sleep.

I was awoken the next day by an insistent thumping at my door, groggily I swung myself from bed. “Just… gods give me a moment please?” I asked tiredly, stumbling over to the door. There Frejr awaited me. “What is it?” I asked, eyes adjusting to the light. She looked worried.

“We need you to come with us, we’ve been assigned something particularly… shall we say… vexing…” She said. “Much as I would like to let you continue, I believe we may have need of your unique talents and equipment.” She said the last word with a low tone. The Aen probably, the only people that know I have it besides her and possibly Qent is the Cale and the others.

“Alright…” I answered. “Tell me what it is first, I’m not too keen on leaving them hanging out there…” I continued, looking down to where the tavern would be, I turned to look at the window, light had started to beam in, they wouldn’t be here for a while yet I was certain. “Though I’d assume, like with Baen, you already have a plan…”

“Something like that.” Frejr grudgingly agreed, a weary smile on her face. “The demons are starting to falter.” I sharpened my gaze, grogginess forgotten. “Their ranks have been disorganized, scattered, and our forces, bolstered by the many other races, are finally beginning to curb the advance.”

“Then what are we needed for? Weren’t we supposed to hold the fort while the war went on?” I asked, eyebrows drawing together. “What’s come up this time to require Gaven’s tool?” I refrained from calling it by name, perhaps a futile effort, anyone who knew the man would know of his reputation as a crafter of the Aedolon. Even so…

“The army pressed them back, and in the process managed to reclaim a town that seems to have held against the Edratchi due to many golems.” She said, voice growing very solemn. “The scouts haven’t been able to get close, and all attempts to communicate with the people wandering within have proven futile.” She sighed. “The Republic… has asked us to deal with this while the army focuses on the more important task of quelling the demonic threat.”

“Oh right, because obviously a bunch of wayward irregulars can stand against what’s literally a walking stone wall.” My lips drew into a snarl. “Magic barely works on it and physical attacks mostly bounce off it because it’s all stone.” I gestured with my hands, forming a circular motion with an exasperated sigh. “This isn’t exactly subtle is it?”

“I couldn’t say that they are definitively trying to kill us…” Frejr said, a wry smile on her lips. “After all, the Republic’s ambassador said he was very pleased with our ‘ability to thrive’, though I do believe he compared us to roaches and termites.” She shrugged. “In either case, your blade would be able to deal with them better than any physical weapon.” Point. “Though I leave to you the question of whether to bring the others.”

“We should. Mundane or not, difficult or not, there are methods to take them down correct?” I asked, looking over to her, she nodded. “How many are we looking at? Did they at least tell us that?”

“About twenty, many in disrepair or close to breaking. Their creator has likely run out of resources to use, unless they are dead as well.” I nodded, seeing her point. “But that they managed to hold off the Edratchi suggests that they are very strong indeed. We must be prepared.”

“That’s great, what about Maria and Qen, the two that I accompanied?” I asked, steering the conversation back ton what I was worried about. “How will they be taken care of?” I pressed on. I should just leave it be, I know they’ll take care of them, and yet…

“We may have a solution for that.” Right, of course you do. “We’ve had someone apply to us just a while back, they’re alone, and would have needed to be paired with one of the more experienced members. However, if they were to be added to their group, they would fulfil our requirements for at least three people in a beginner sortie.” She explained.

I sucked in a breath through my teeth. “Yeah, I guess I could allow that… Hopefully they aren’t going to burden the two of them too much. Still, all three of them are beginners aren’t they?” I asked, a wan smile on my face. “How many people have been lost so far? Across everywhere?”

“Too many.” She said solemnly. “That is the reason I implemented these guidelines. Unlike normal irregulars, we can prevent these deaths.” She snorted. “The benefits of organization…”

I nodded. “You can introduce the person to us downstairs?” I asked. “I’ll still be just Kael if that’s alright with you. We can discuss the rest after I settle things with them alright?” She nodded. “Great, now I’m going to get properly dressed.” I said, closing the door.

Golems? I wondered, picking up the Aen against the light. “Wonder what kind of town it is…” I muttered.