It was the next day when Cale came to find me. I’d been waiting for him for a while, ready to leave if afternoon passed without sight of him. “What happened to you yesterday?” Cale asked. “You never returned, and I feared the worst, especially with that incapacitating surge… I was bedridden for the day, same as almost everyone in the city.”

“… About that.” I said, shouldering my pack from the bed. “I was part of the reason why that occurred.” I admitted. “The details are complicated, but ultimately all it means is that I’ve probably pissed someone off… I need to leave the city as soon as possible. I really can’t guarantee my own safety otherwise. You don’t need me for anything else do you?” I asked, hopeful.

“No. I don’t believe so, do they know your identity?” He asked. “If so, that could prove troublesome… Not that they would treat the irregulars any differently, just with you they might be a lot more lethal.” He said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I assume you would prefer if no one else was informed of this? I still have things I need to do here. It would seem all of them need minders…” He said, chuckling darkly.

“I don’t think so.” I said. “It’s as you said, people recognize the ‘Masked’ by the armour, distinctive as it is…” I shrug. “Once I leave, no one will be able to match me to a face, except the girl by Fonxe’s side.” I said, crossing my arms and cocking my head, a tired expression on my face. “Careful with her, she’s a Sensitive, but doesn’t seem to be a mage.” Or she would at least have tried to kill me.

“I’ll keep that in mind…” Cale said. “I assume she was the one who had seen you when you first infiltrated Fonxe’s estate?” He asked, and I nodded. Though not the way you might think. I still think her reaction was excessive though.

[Considering what you looked like when she saw you.] Page remarked. [I would say it was definitely an appropriate reaction.]

I thought about it. I was carrying the Aen wasn’t I? Oh right, the shaper… That would’ve done it… I thought to myself. “I see. If Fonxe is that interested in you then it would certainly be best to leave as soon as possible.” He extended a hand towards me. “I wish you all the best. May we meet again under better auspices.”

I took the hand in my own, giving it a firm shake. “Likewise.” I said, moving to the door. A thought occurred to me. “You don’t know anything about what happened yesterday, at all?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. He shook his head. “Damn…” I said, dropping my hand from the door. “The centre of the building houses what I think is a prototype superweapon for the Aerathi. By all I know, it destroys anything with a soul. Be careful, gods only know what other secrets they have, or what other methods they may employ.” I said, slipping out of the door.

I felt uneasy leaving Cale where he was, guilty for letting him fend against the wolves on his own, but there was no way I could’ve stayed, allowed them to close in on me. Soon I was on my way down the road, heading back to Torven. The Aen was inert now, nothing left of the runes that had marked it. I’d considered throwing it away, but perhaps there was something special about the vessel itself, maybe he could enchant it again if I brought it back.

I’d never really studied rune magic, couldn’t see the point of learning the finer points of their construction when I would never be making them. Well… once I get back I should maybe pay a visit to Gaven, see what he can do, if he can do anything. Once the shadows grew longer again I set up camp by the road. There were several days yet before I would reach Torven.

[The stories never spoke of that weapon.] Page noted, curious. [Perhaps the war ended before they could implement it?]

I stared into the campfire. Probably. Can you imagine? If a weapon like that were to be gained by any of the nations here… I sighed. It’s a good thing the one with the Republic is stationary, but it’s only a matter of time before they work it out… What then though… They could easily force all the others to come to heel, dispense with subterfuge and plots. A thought occurred to me, could they have thought of this as a reason to justify their attempt? To unify the others under them because they were somehow chosen?

[Who knows? Certainly not you or I.] Page noted. [If Cale digs deep enough… maybe he’ll be able to tell us eventually.]

I snorted. I guess. No time to waste dwelling on it huh? I put out the flames, settling onto a tree and wrapping myself in my cloak. A partner would probably have made this trip safer. I thought to myself as I drifted off. Wonder how the others are doing now…

The next few days passed swiftly, I helped a caravan fend off a panther like creature, though the merchant himself didn’t thank me. In fact, he looked at me with a slight amount of fear, though I suppose that was because I was dressed in my normal armour once more. Inevitable to fight the local wildlife, the roads aren’t exactly patrolled or anything. But hell, you don’t even have to worry about bandits with the wildlife as it is… Just keep the roads too scarce to attract predators, and the other settlements large enough to deter the wyverns, manticores, chimaeras and whatever else nature dreams up.

Once they passed on, I skinned the creature. Wasn’t really skilled at it, taking it in several pieces rather than a full pelt. I could probably use it for myself if I couldn’t find a craftsman who wanted it. Sleep was difficult, more than once I’d woken to the sounds of rustling from the wind blowing through the forest, convinced that some other creature had happened across me.

I reached Torven sometime around evening, as the sky turned red and the sun sunk below the horizon. I slipped in through the door, trudging past the tables towards the stairs. Tina waved me over, and reluctantly I moved over to her. “Welcome back.” She said. “Frejr and Qent are upstairs. I think the others are away for a bit. Numen’s doing some scouting for us at the front.”

In my exhausted state it took me a few seconds to register the last sentence, I straightened myself, pressing my palms onto the table. “She’s doing what?” I asked, confused and tired. “Out at the front?” I rubbed at my temples, shaking my head. “Sorry, I’m kind of tired myself. I’ll ask again in the morning. Right now I can’t really focus.”

She nodded, letting me go. I collapsed into bed, having shrugged off my armour. Ahh that feels so nice… I thought to myself. Every time I come back something changes… I sighed into the sheets. Wonder what it is this time. I thought to myself, drifting off.

I woke up to a hand settled on my shoulder. My hand shot over to grab it, and I opened my eyes to see Teal. “How did you even get in…” I asked, turning over to push her hand out of the way. “What is it? I can’t imagine you would do this for no reason.”

“The aether blade…” She said, concerned. “What happened to it?”

“I got hit by an Aerathi superweapon from before the war.” I said, sitting up, my head still felt slightly heavy. “What time is it…” I asked, looking out the window. It was dark out now, and by my estimation it was probably still night, nowhere near dawn… “Couldn’t it have waited?” I asked.

She looked alarmed, starting to pat me down. “What happened?” She asked. “Who would even have such a weapon?” I brushed her off, rubbing at my eyes.

“What happened was that I was mistaken for an Edratchi.” I said. “Which I guess was a matter of time. The weapon was keyed to them, so it didn’t kill me, but it tore at magic and souls.” I said, making sure not to dwell on how my soul hadn’t been rent apart, since I didn’t have one. “Which means the Aen is now completely inert.” I said. “The rest of it is in my bag.” I finished, I sat like that for a moment, before lying back onto my bed. “Now, my head hurts, and I think I’d like to rest.”

“Sorry.” She said. “I was simply worried.” I grunted noncommittally. “About you as well of course.” She added. I sighed, pulling the blanket over my head. “Right, good night.” She said, and footsteps receded from my bed. Think I should go and latch the windows? I thought to Page.

[What would be the point? I think she would find her way in regardless.] Page replied.

Fair. I thought back, and tried to go back to sleep. Nothing else disturbed me for the rest of the night. I woke up around dawn, having let myself sleep in a bit. I walked down the stairs, the tables empty. Someone else stood at the reception, and her eyes grew wide as she saw me. I looked around, a board had been set up next to the counter, several pieces of parchment pinned to it. The counter itself held a large roll of parchments to one side, and a sign hung over the area.

“Maps?” I said, reading it aloud. “When did we start doing maps?” I asked quizzically.

The girl seemed to jolt a little at the sound of my voice. “Err, a few weeks back?” She said. “Uhm, some of the newer members were having trouble, and Rente offered to draw what he knew of the area they were looking at. Then a few other people started looking and offering and now we’ve got this section as well…” She fidgeted a little. “People also started offering scouting jobs once they saw we were selling maps… The army even offered a few jobs.”

“To scout the front…” I said, thoughtfully. “Can’t say I’m not worried about them being there, but I suppose if they’re just looking, they’re less likely to die… I assume those jobs are also some that require veterans?” I asked. She nodded. “Actually has Frejr gone and implemented rankings?” I asked, gesturing to the board now set up behind her. I could see several things that looked like simple badges.

“Something like that…” She said. “Oh right, you don’t have one yet right?” I shook my head. “Right, this is for the founders…” She said, digging into one of the drawers, and pulling out a silver badge, it had been made in the shape of a shield, with a bow slung across it. Colour had been put on it as well, but it didn’t feel like paint… Red and green.

I snorted. “Being a founder doesn’t mean much when I’m not even around most of the time.” I said sardonically, clipping it onto my armour. “So what work is there today anyway, or is it all posted to the board?” I asked.

“Err, yes. We’ve found that putting it there saves us time and allows others to find what they’re looking for, but you’re not counted as having taken the job until we’ve approved it.” She said with a little wince. “Once one of them walked several days to the farm before he learned that… He wasn’t happy when he came back…”

I smirked under the helm. I can imagine… I thought to myself, walking over to the board. As I mulled over the options someone tapped me on the shoulder. “Not going to wait for us?”