Yes, Felix did feel guilty when Julia munched the Bii pii spiced gammalost bread down with a big grin on her face. He was essentially cursing an innocent girl with days of agony in order to later backstab a friend. Part of Felix wondered if he had gone insane, but a single glance at the distant Half-Valley descending deeper into the Abyss shed his mind of doubt.

This was the only thing he could do, if he hoped to make a difference.

After breakfast, Saga gave Felix and Julia a quick tour through the facility. They were introduced to the training grounds, the indoor farms, and just about everything from the boiler room to the library.

Towards the end of the tour an unexpected opportunity presented itself. Julia’s gait had grown awkward and her breathing labored. Clutching her guts, she asked, “Knight Kjellberg. Where is the closest washroom?”

“We’re at floor minus four.” Saga thought for a moment. “Ah. Go back to the crossing without signs and take the left, then… Ah, perhaps best if I accompany you. Felix, you can—”

“Wait at the library?” Felix suggested, tapping his fingers excitedly.

Saga gave him a smile. “Sure. Wait at the library. We won’t be long.”

“Okay. See you later.” Felix tried not to look too happy striding back to the monastery’s library. He felt like an opportunistic slime for smiling after what he’d done, but c’mon. How could he not be excited to finally have a chance of learning more about his destination.

“Hey. Do you have anything on the Hollow Conservatory?” Felix asked the librarian.

She was a small middle aged woman wrapped in an oversized black hooded cloak. Her sharp eyes darted rapidly behind enormous round spectacles. She muttered mathematics at a mess of documents spread over her desk. “A momeeeeent.”

Her pencil scratched down numbers on a spreadsheet with food items. Two green eyes shot up to Felix, giving him their full attention. “What are you looking for?”

“Anything on the Hollow Conservatory.”

“Two minutes.” The librarian grabbed her table’s shadow and, with a swift flick of her wrist, pulled it into a humanoid silhouette. Ten long fingers fiddled nervously in each of its hands and its head kept twitching towards every echo and whisper.

“Query: Hollow Conservatory. Restriction: Copper torch,” said the librarian.

Her shadow creature melted into the ground and shot towards the vast utilitarian book warehouse behind her. Aside from their attires, Felix had noticed that the Knights of the End weren’t that big on aesthetics.

“...be enough for another sheet,” mumbled the librarian, resuming her calculations.

Two minutes later, the shadow returned with a meter high stack. Felix took them and Bii to a bare bones table on the side, and narrowed his hunt to the last two year of logs. Anything he could use as a part of his delving plan, he wrote down. Didn’t take long until he had to start copying notes.

Knight Erikson’s report from 2nd of January 562.

Two iron torches and one copper torch remains of Doctor Havardi’s original research team at the Hollow Conservatory. Since my last report from August of 561, the outer walls have been reinforced with Abyssal materials and the wards of ownership renewed. Several new denizens have also been planted in the lake below the train tracks. My failure to identify any of them may hint at them being hollows. See attached drawings for details of the rest.

Felix had no idea what a hollow was or the creatures in the drawings were, but copied hasty sketches of them all in his own notes.

Knight Erikson’s report from 17th of April 562.

A deep dweller caravan of the Freedom States made contact with Doctor Havardi. A screaming girl wrapped in delver foil and pierced by sealing stakes was transported into the Hollow Conservatory. My relic was unable to penetrate the fortress for further details.

Knight Erikson’s report from 19th of April 562.

The deep dweller caravan departed without the girl. They paid Doctor Havardi with various rare currencies, though I cannot estimate the total worth due to the distance I have to maintain. Depleting supplies forces me to begin a return towards Surface.

Knight Erikson’s report from 2nd of July 562.

No further casualties to Doctor Havardi’s original research team at the Hollow Conservatory. However, I spotted several new figures, some of which may be denizens or hollows. In addition, I confirmed Doctor Havardi accompanying a young black haired woman, whom I suspect is the person the Freedom States’ caravan left behind. Oily black skin on her limbs suggests she suffers from relic possession. However, her behaviour suggests the possession is under control. This may be a result of Doctor Havardi’s experiment.

This doctor Havardi seemed like a swell guy and an incredible relicwright! No wonder the mysterious S would’ve wanted to associate with him. Could they be working together on trying to figure out a way to defeat Sofie?

Knight Erikson’s report from 3rd of July 562.

The girl suffering from possession looked back at me, despite several layers of obfuscation. I am currently evading pursuit of Doctor Havardi’s two iron torches. There is something wrong with them. Even without their relics, they move as if constantly digesting speed. As a precaution, I am sending my rabbit up with this log. Byss Bless my brother and sister knights.

Personal message obfuscated from official record to honor the family of the deceased Knight. —Arch Templar Siren.

Oookay. Felix leaned back from the addendum. There was probably a good explanation for it. Knights of the End were spying on the Hollow Conservatory, so it made sense if they were enemies. And though most major factions were officially at peace, mistakes and over escalations weren’t at all unheard of.

Felix turned the page to see the last note.

Knight Ylikämmen’s report from 22nd of January 563.

Felix did a double take. Ylikämmen, as in Daniel Ylikämmen? No. Please no.

Knight Ylikämmen’s report from 22nd of July 563.

The path to Hollow Conservatory has shifted slightly, since Knight Erik’s last surveillance mission. After blackroot, follow redmoss, then wander around lonely streetlights, until you hear choo-choo sounds. Follow them to the Bridge Station. Purchase tickets from the Old Blomqvists, and jump out before the waterfalls, to avoid detection by Doctor Havardi. Total distance was fifty three turns, which took roughly seven rest cycles.

Knight Kjellberg confirmed that Erik’s old hideout had been ransacked and destroyed. We withdrew immediately after spotting an iron torch encased in a black tentacular relic.

“Oh Lords.” It was Daniel and Saga.

If they got the slightest whiff of his plan, they were sure to catch him, if Felix tried to mid-delve run to the Hollow Observatory. Maybe waiting for the next opportunity wouldn’t be so bad after all.

“Hey there.” Daniel’s voice made Felix jump and slam the logs shut. “Whoa, what’s got you so jumpy?”

“Nothing. Too excited, I guess?” Felix laughed.

Daniel laughed back. “That’s the attitude. Focus on the positives. Some bad news and good news. Julia got Abyssal poisoning from the breakfast. That’s the bad news. And the good news is, I’ve decided you’ll do as a replacement. Come on along.”

“Where?” The moment Felix stood up, the librarian’s creature swept in to collect the books.

Daniel glanced over shoulder, while walking. “Pre-delve meeting.”

Felix, Daniel, Saga, and Elina gathered in the Arch Templar’s office. The moment after Daniel made his proposal, Saga shot it down.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, respectfully. His torch’s isn’t even lit yet.”

“A non issue,” said the Arch Templar. “We made brief contact with the HQ. They sent a night torch, who should be arriving within two weeks. If you return before that, Knight Andersson can be quarantined until the night torch confirms his identity.”

Daniel crossed his arms. “The timing is good. Knight Andersson needs his first delve, and we need a second relicwright besides Elina on the mission.”

“He could do more good here,” Saga insisted, frowning at Felix. “I don’t see why we couldn’t do it with the three of us.”

Daniel let out a deep sigh. “Number of hands matters more here than their skill on this mission. Four is already less than ideal. We need him. He’s a knight, and though unlit, a copper torch. Saga, I know the two of you have history, but you can’t decide this for Felix as if he’s some mute man-child. He’s pledged to risk his life for the Knights, and we’ll honor that vow by giving him a chance to show what he’s made of.”

Felix blinked, stunned by the firmness of faith in Daniel’s voice.

“Or am I wrong?” Daniel turned to Felix.

“No… Knight Ylikämmen.”

“And there you go.” Daniel nodded decisively. “He comes with us.”

Saga pursed her lips. Her worried gaze met Felix’s for a moment. “Fine…”

“I um…” Elina raised her hand. “I also agree.”

Arch Templar jolted down a line on the paper before her. “It is settled then. You may brief Knight Andersson on the mission details, and requisition equipment for him. Now, wish me luck. I have a hundred pages of the Archivist’s calculations to go over...”

They all wished the Arch Templar good luck, and left.

Saga groaned, tugging on her hair like she did when stressed. “I’ll go check up on Julia. Can you handle Felix’s equipment?”

“I can,” said Elina’s small voice.

“Thanks. See you guys around. Felix, about earlier. It’s nothing personal, but… Ah, forget it.” Saga departed, slightly flustered.

Felix flashed her a sympathetic smile. “Sure. Don’t worry.”

“Don’t worry, Felix.” Daniel’s massive hand rubbed Felix’s shoulder. “I’m sure Saga is just worried about you. That’s all.”

“Yeah, that’s probably it.”

“That’s it. I’m sure.” Daniel took a deep breath. “Well then, mission briefing. A team of our Knights returned the knight after Half-Valley got split. They reported to have found a former Scandie’s military outpost abandoned at three yonder depth. We’ve got the honor of clearing the traps and looting the outpost of anything we can carry. Duration will be around ten days minimum, but could be up to three weeks, so get ready for your first real delve.”

Felix shook with more uninvited back-patting from Daniel.

He must’ve been grinning, because Daniel added, “That’s the attitude. Keep it up. I’m sure this’ll be a successful delve. Elina, you take it from here.”

Three weeks of supplies. That would be enough to reach the Hollow Conservatory. More than enough. Yeah, betraying the Knights had its risks, but again, Felix felt as if he had to keep the hope alive or it would flicker out.

He wouldn’t let a chance to make a difference slip past him again.

“Felix,” Elina’s small voice pulled Felix’s attention from a motivational Knight poster. “Hi.”

“Hey.”

“This way. You will need a rebreather, climbing gear, a weather cloak, sunglasses, a shaxe, a spear, a portable shelter, water filter, and a lot of rations. Let’s start with the backpack and pouches.” Elina quietly took charge, and helped Felix gather his gear.

He kept on hoping to have a moment to give linkworm a test. No such luck. By the time Felix made it to bed, he’d double-checked his gear twice, sat through a speed course on gear maintenance and repair, and drilled on putting on the rebreather until it became a reflex.

Completely exhausted, he collapsed into the bed. Felix dreamt the vivid recurring dream of an older, stronger, and more confident version of himself facing the Abyss with his gray friend.