The next couple hours dragged on rather slowly. One or two other Earthlings showing up sporadically. I did end up engaging in conversations here and there again. Edward even joined in from time to time as well. I learned a few more names and backstories, but didn't retain most of them. I did learn a little more here and there of others interactions with their benefactors. Almost all of them claimed to only have been gone for moments, or minutes at most. One did say they had a long conversation possibly lasting a few hours, but wasn't sure. It didn't make much sense unless these benefactors were playing around with time somehow.

The village elder eventually brought what she said was the 'last' of us, and left to get who she called the council. Returning with another woman and two men she introduced them, but I didn't really listen to their names. I was too focused on when they started spilling the beans as to what was happening. Having given basic introductions the village elder walked to the fireplace and the chair I'd vacated to get a better view and saw her kick someone out then sit down and ignore everything. Turning back to the counselors I listened to their more detailed descriptions of themselves impatiently. I don't care that you've led the town for the last 20 years Kendrick or that your father did before you, tell me what's going on.

"You have many questions. We ourselves have many unanswered questions. Due to this we will wholeheartedly tell you what we know in the hopes you will do the same for us." He paused looking around to us all, letting the murmuring that had been growing as they'd been introducing themselves die down. "The gods brought you here of their own volition. what we do know is that, you are not the first, nor will you be the last. There are some of you in town already" A new wave of murmurs swept through the room, but Kendrick continued on "Ages ago a single entity came to our world. many called him a man but most now call him The Herald, for with him he brought change." At this point the room was silent except for Kendrick as he told his tale. One regarding a world fraught with death and destruction from many sources. Rifts that could open suddenly and with great violence spewing forth vile creatures of all imaginations. Wild magics being wielded by untrained hands attempted to help but cast down friends as often as the enemies that were intended. Reading between the lines gave a hint of a world in upheaval. A hidden story of a time before the rifts, or at least before they were spewing out abominations. This was indicated by the mention of different types. Openings that were seemingly stable for generations. That one could enter and return from like a separate space. Something that in our world we might have called a portal or in certain circles a dungeon, as inside these stable spaces one would find these creatures in fewer numbers strewn about a labyrinthine maze of corridors.

The other indications were kingdoms or empires that were sprawling and powerful before the rifts turned sour. The mentions of a time where they warred with one another instead of the waves of monsters. That was far and away though. The rifts had changed, the herald had come, and offered salvation. Turn to the gods and they will save you. He'd offered as he wiped rifts off the map. Many turned to the Herald and the Gods they touted. This is how the system came to this world. The wild unruly magics of the past became controlled definitive functions which operated as advertised. Attacks which hit foe not friend, and protections that didn't hinder allies while tripping up your foes. They didn't say it out loud, but it was clear they'd traded freedom for the power to save themselves. Unfortunately save themselves they couldn't. They'd fallen too far back. From nations spanning continents to sparse populations in towns spread too far to help, cooperate, or trade with one another. Not when the hoards still came without warning, and too often to prepare or plan for expansion. The rare traveler that did make it through brought word of a stagnant world. One that held the line but barely. Of towns seceding territory rather than gaining it as time went on.

The Herald who'd brought great hope and change had vanished at some point. Some said to warn and help other lands far off, but no-one knew for sure. The Herald left word that the gods would send more messengers, many more. That was long ago though. Until this week they hadn't received their promised help. They seemed the lone soldier left after a battle watching the tanks roll in to save their battalion, but of course they were all that was left. Grateful for salvation but mourning those lost by it's poor timing.

Samuel spoke up, of course he did, told them our world was lost as well. Only the dregs swept up and tossed here. Nobody said it but we all felt it. The gods had played us both. Maybe they had intended a better play here. Maybe those rogue gods were to blame, the one's who'd ravaged earth and possibly held up our rescue mission. Survivors weren't ones to dwell on such things though. Survivors moved on and did what they could. We'd help them, and they'd be right there with us helping themselves. Not because a group self centered enough to call themselves gods decided it would be so, and not just because we could or should, but we wanted to. Kendrick said they appreciated it and that the others earlier this week had said similar.

And so we asked questions. Many questions, some reiterating things that seemed obvious. When the others had come, if they were all from earth, when we'd meet them. They said tomorrow. We asked more about Rifts, Lairs, Dungeons, Monster waves. All were supposedly the same source thing. The difference seemed more a matter of stability than anything else. Or at least that was the assumption. There wasn't much room for investigation, examination, and especially not experimentation with the current state of affairs. Previous records were also scarce especially in such a cut off small town. So further questions on the topic, 'what are they really?', 'are they alive?', etc were all met with essentially shrugged shoulders. Well all but the one. The Herald had told them how to destroy them. Just as the rift allowed you to enter one end on the opposite end there was another that allowed you to exit. Directly below both entrance and exit was what the Herald called The Anchors. Destroying them could destroy the rift, or at least remove it from the world. This brought up even more questions but Kendrick and the others begged off more questions about rifts. None present and as far as they knew none in the town had ever actually entered one. They did hope that with our additional assistance we might be able to finally do so. Either way showing was better than telling so they'd leave it for later.

The tone was somber as we were rounded up and split off into different buildings for the night. I was informed I'd be staying here tonight with, Marilla I was told the village elder was named. Turning to the chair by the fire I saw the bowed head and a wet streak following the curve of her cheek. I knew better than to ask any more right now. Taking one of the chairs that had been abandoned at the table I took a moment to examine myself again while others were still being sorted. Took significantly longer this time to shut everything out, but extreme emotions aren't exactly conducive to a solid mental state. Once properly focused I did quickly find the two nubs and my mana. both nubs were in the same state as before but my mana felt nearly full. Can't say exactly cause I hadn't actually felt it full, just felt it emptying. Either way I couldn't give it too much thought cause I felt a tap on my shoulder then. Marilla had collected herself and was now ready to host. Showing me and another upstairs she showed us two rooms and then went to hers, wishing us a good night.

Although physically rather tired I found was currently unable to sleep. I had taken the two little 'naps', and was out for the 'surgery', but pretty sure it wasn't the cause. Nerves, excitement, emotion, whatever it was I knew at least one way that could help me calm down. It couldn't hurt to get more experience doing this either. Sitting on the rug I closed myself off again. I was excited to see that the skill node was now lit up, but it wasn't the most surprising thing I saw. The opaque glass pane that made up the second node was no longer opaque but rather glowing dimly as if someone had unshuttered it and lit a candle inside. Instinctively I reached out and pressed myself up to the glass. Internal awareness shrunk from my grasp, and I opened my eyes. Only it wasn't the pair of eyes in the head sitting on a rug in an upstairs bedroom. No these eyes were back in the meeting room. These eyes saw across from them the charcoal portrait form of The Investor. "Hello Elliot," They said with an amused smile."Welcome back."