by Tao Wong
N/A
Chapter 23
The next morning, I’m seated on Sabre and waiting for everyone to get up. I’m still riding the high of getting my Class skills back and I just can’t wait to go out again, to test myself. It feels like I’ve finally been let loose, and if I had my say I’d be out hunting monsters to really test myself. Instead, I’ve got to wait for the team and of course, the usual traffic that needs us to bring them along. I can’t help but feel a little resentful – it’s not even as though we’re getting any experience from this.
I force myself to calm down again, going back over my status sheet and my remaining Class Skill points. The increase in damage from Mana Imbue was amazing, though the reduction in regeneration rates from it and Altered Space could be worrisome if I ever started using magic more. Before I selected it, I could regenerate my entire pool in 10 minutes, which considering most fights took less than a minute to finish was quite pointless to worry about. On the other hand, in a longer battle, I’m sure that kind of regeneration rate could be important, though that’s why the Guard didn’t rely on magic entirely either. The System might make high-tech weaponry somewhat less useful than you’d think, but it still was a powerful equalizer.
On the other hand, while neither of the first couple of levels were that interesting to me, the Soul Shield class skill was certainly tempting. Being able to project a shield was a powerful ability in any fight. That meant I’d have to put the points in for the preceding skills at some point. Of course, I could just hold off on spending the points till I reached the requisite levels, though that might take a while. Better probably to use it now and get the benefits immediately. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
When the convoy is ready to roll out, I finally pull myself away from my thoughts, having only paid the barest of attention to what is going on around me. The road, however, isn’t the place to be thinking deep thoughts. Around towns, the levels range between 10 – 20 these days, at least for the first few kilometers. It’s only a few kilometers out that the range starts heading up, hitting as much as fifty before dropping again. Unfortunately, this world isn’t a game and while monsters have their preferred hunting grounds, there is nothing stopping them from moving to a new location and we’ve run into higher level monsters in weird locations before. As a group, we could take anything below level 60 if it’s alone but we’ve got hanger-ons.
All that said and done, it’s still no surprise then that the journey into Whitehorse is pretty quiet. I make sure to collect the bodies of the monsters we do encounter into my Altered Space, winking at the party as I do so. I do have to leave the weird half-reptile, half-bird creature on the ground though since it’s just too big to fit. Somehow, it makes sense that the first sign of trouble comes at the gates. A pair of Roxley’s guards are waiting and I’ve been around them enough to know what happy looks like on a Truinnar and they aren’t.
“Adventurer Lee. Lord Roxley wishes a word with you. Immediately,” the first guard speaks even before I come to a stop as the gate rolls aside. My eyes narrow but I follow, waving the others off as they start to enter as well. This should be interesting.
“Adventurer Lee,” Roxley speaks as soon as I arrive. My eyes sweep to the right, clocking Capstan and another Yerick and then I turn back to Roxley, my heart speeding up slightly but not for good reasons. Something’s up, and I definitely don’t like it.
“Lord Roxley, First Fist Capstan;” I greet the two that I know and look towards the third but get no reply. Okay…
“We have a few questions for you Adventurer. A few days ago, we spoke about the Yerick’s plans. I understand you spoke with the First Fist soon after to confirm this information,” Roxley says, his voice cool and authoritative.
“Sort of, I spoke with you certainly. And then I spoke with the First Fist about potential problems,” I answer, eyes narrowing and Ali floating next to me is silent.
“Tell me, why did you do so,” Roxley continues in that same tone and I look over to Capstan, noting he hasn’t moved at all.
“I was trying to make sure nothing bad happened. I’m getting a feeling something did.”
“Really, and you spoke with no one about their plans for buying property in the city?” Roxley says.
“I might have told my team,” I reply and then pause, remembering something. “And Fred. And Minion… ummm… Eric.”
“Did you plan for that information to be used against the Yerick?” says Roxley speaks and I note the other Yerick is watching me really closely.
“No, and I’m done now. I’ve answered that question a dozen different ways and now I’d like to know what the hell is going on,” I reply, glaring at them.
In answer, the other Yerick turns and speaks to Capstan.
“He’s saying you’re telling the truth,” Ali says to me in my mind and I shoot him a look. “New ability, I’ve got access to the common languages and dialects in the System now.”
I nod and keep my face bland, watching the three as they exchange looks before Capstan gives Roxley a small nod. Once he does, Roxley says, "The buildings, all the buildings the Yerick purchased were burnt down early this morning. As you were the only one we spoke to about their plans, we are forced to presume the leak came from you. And the results, whether intentional or not, are from your actions.”
I blink and then look at them, a hand coming up. “Look, I didn’t…”
“It does not matter what you intended Adventurer Lee. Your actions are what are judged here, and your actions brought about great lost to the Yerick. And myself. That you did not intend the results is perhaps just as bad,” Roxley shakes his head and waves his hand, dismissing me.
I stare at him and then at Capstan who has not said a word to me this entire time. I can feel the rage building in me, at being so casually dismissed, for the way they are acting. I can feel the anger at being treated like this for just trying to help, but I keep control because they are right. I fucked up. I thought I knew what I was doing but I didn’t.
Stupid, stupid, stupid John. Never really good at anything important.
I walk out of the building, not even bothering to go to the Shop. I swing Sabre to Fourth Street and it takes barely five minutes to get to the burnt-out husks of the buildings that take up the entire street the Yerick purchased. I look at the burnt ashes still smoldering slightly and I wonder how they managed to keep it contained, managed to stop it from spreading throughout the city.
“Nice, isn’t it?” a voice comes from behind me and I turn around, seeing Minion lounging against a lamp post.
“What?” I reply.
“Looks like someone decided the minotaurs shouldn’t get what we humans built for free,” replies Minion, smirking.
I find myself snarling, crossing the distance in a blink. I don’t think he was expecting me to move so fast, but then again, he hasn’t ever seen one of us let loose either. I want to grab him, but I stop myself, getting right in his face while I snarl, “You! You did this didn’t you!”
“Me, what would I do?” Minion smirks, not backing down. “I wouldn’t dare do anything like this. I’m just a minion.”
I growl at him but force the anger back, hands trembling slightly with contained rage. I make myself step away, and Minion’s smirk grows wider.
“You look so unhappy. Did your elf-lover tell you off? Did your pet monsters not like you anymore?” he taunts, waving his hand out to the fires. “Perhaps they are beginning to understand that the real humans don’t want them here.”
“John,” Ali begins but I tune the asshole out.
“Shut up Minion. Now,” my eyes narrow and my fists clench as I work to keep my anger contained.
“I guess it’s no surprise human women like Luthien turn you down, what with you being a - urk!” One second I’m a step away from him, my hands by my side and the next I have him by the throat and he’s smashed against the wall of the building behind him, crushed against it. A small part of me holds back, just enough so tha
t he doesn’t die immediately, “Shut Up. All I want to know is who did this.”
“Fuck you monster lover,” Minion grates out beneath my hand and I start closing my grip, choking him out. I watch his face turn purple, rage tinting my vision while I smile. I watch as he claws at my armored hand, kicks at me feebly and I smile. I watch as his struggles weaken as he begins to die and I smile.
The blow that catches my outstretched arm catches me by surprise. I stagger back, hand opening by reflex to release and then Mikito is in front of me, naginata between us. She is crouched low, watching me like she watches the monsters.
“John!” Richard shouts, and I realise he’s been shouting at me for minutes now. He’s panting, the Huskies spread out before him in a defensive formation, all of them baring their fangs at me. Behind, Rachel has her hands raised, ready to cast a spell.
“What?” I grate out, anger still threatening to spill out as I massage my arm.
“You were killing him!” Richard says, his voice shaky.
I look at the slumped over, vomiting Minion and the anger flares again. I take a half-step unconsciously towards the body and Mikito shifts to block me, leveling the naginata at me.
“John, you need to calm down. You can’t do this,” Richard says, his voice low and soothing, trying to calm me down.
Mental Influence Resisted
Son-of-a-bitch is trying to charm me, to calm me. Fuck that. I almost take a step to him, I actually do, before I can stop myself. The Huskies are all growling at me and Rachel looks pale and so scared she’s about to throw up. I can feel the anger in me, a hair’s breadth from being unleashed and I look between them all, all my friends staring at me as if I’m the monster. I snarl, grabbing hold of what is left of my self-control and go to Sabre in silence. I need to kill something, and there’s nothing in town that I can kill. Or should kill at least.
2am in the morning and even now, I can see the glimmers of light on the horizon. Faint now, though I know in a few weeks more it will be as bright as day even at this time. The guards do not stop me as I drive into town, though they watch me with care. I understand their hesitation, it’s why I am making the trip now.
Three days now, I’ve done this, coming in late at night to sell my earnings to the Shop and then visit the nocturnal Xev. There, it provides me with the quick fixes that I need for Sabre and takes a look at the remains that I bring, helping to make arrangements for the pieces that it does not want.
Three days while I live in the fort by myself, hunting and killing, letting the anger cool. I’m tense, waiting for the other shoe to drop, but I know it’s better for me not to be in town. Not to be around directly, at least for a bit. A lot of things have changed but trying to kill a man for calling you names isn’t exactly civilized behavior. I was just so angry at him, at Roxley and Capstan, at the idiots who set the fire.
I draw a deep breath and exhale, forcing myself to focus. Xev’s first - no reason to go to the Shop, my inventory is now large enough to store a few days worth of loot. Unfortunately, my Altered Space storage isn’t that large and thus the nightly visits.
The doors to Xev’s parking lot are open and I swing in, the doors swinging shut behind me. I step out, looking around me as Ali floats beside me, staring intensely at a screen only he can see. If I had to guess, it’s probably more reality TV. I don’t understand his addiction, but it keeps him occupied which is all that I need.
“Xev,” I greet the mechanic, turning to where it lurks in the shadows above me. An angry chitter lets me know it dislikes being found out, again. I then turn to the other visitors, raising an eyebrow slightly, my voice cooling a touch. “Amelia. Lieutenant Vir.”
“John,” the ex-Constable smiles at me, running a hand through her short-cut blonde hair in absent thought. Amelia has filled out further, wide in the shoulders and stocky. She moves with a lithe grace that belies her bulk and with her new bulk are new levels. “I see you know Lieutenant Vir.”
“By sight,” I acknowledge, having spotted the Lieutenant in Roxley’s presence a number of times.
“I’d like to talk to you about the Yerick and the buildings,” Amelia continues to smile at me, though she has crossed to stand closer to me. Only a small hand-span away from reaching out to touch me in fact. Instincts honed in combat tell me hers and Vir’s positioning to my left are not by accident. They’re treating me like a potential threat. “Lord Roxley has requested I aid in the investigation due to my previous career.”
I nod slightly, flicking a glance at Vir and then back to her, keeping my voice level. A little resentment flickers, burns away at my control but I keep it tamped down. “Ask away, I have nothing to hide. If Xev doesn’t mind.”
Xev scurries down and prods me to get off Sabre, rolling the mecha into its shop while I turn to the two. What follows is a pleasant interrogation, one filled with all kinds of cordiality but it’s an interrogation nonetheless. She is good though, honing in on any hesitation or dissembling on my part to clarify things, pulling out details about my meetings with Roxley, Capstan, Fred and Minion and my conversations with my party with consummate ease. She even asks about my last confrontation with Minion. She takes notes constantly on a little paper notepad, Vir standing behind her and silently observing our interactions.
“Well, that should be it. Thank you, John. I hesitate to ask, but you will be around will you not?” Andrea says and I shrug.
“For now. The hunting is good and Xev’s the only mechanic who can fix Sabre for a few hundred miles,” I reply.
“And you’re staying at…?” she continues, jotting my affirmation.
“The fort. Carcross crossing,” I answer and she smiles again, closing the notebook with a snap.
“Problems with the party?” she tilts her head, quirking her lips and inviting me to spill.
“The interview isn’t over boy-o,” Ali sends to me even as he continues to stare at his screen, acting as if he’s ignoring us entirely and probably not fooling anyone.
“I’m enjoying the peace. It’s been interesting hunting alone again,” I reply, smiling back at her though the smile is strained. All politeness, no warmth. I’ve not talked to my party, not discussed what happened. I think they need time and I surely do. Time to resolve how I felt, or didn’t feel, about nearly killing Minion. That was perhaps the worst part – that I still couldn’t bring myself to regret what I did. What difference was there in killing a human or monster? I’ve killed sentient creatures before, I’ve killed non-sentient creatures, they are all just grist for the mill of blood and experience. Yet, I should feel bad about it, shouldn’t I? Bad about killing someone for just calling me names. Which really is what it amounts to right now - I don’t have real proof that he was the perpetrator. At least I know I feel somewhat ashamed at almost attacking the party.
Amelia is staring at me as I think before jerking her head to Vir and the two turn to leave together. “Well, we’ll find you if we have any more questions.”
“Of course,” I reply and watch her go. A good woman, trying to do an impossible job. I’m glad Roxley pulled her in, it’ll make finding the parties responsible a little easier. Though I guess they could just ask the System – everything is for sale in the Shop after all. Maybe they even have and all this is just a show, a way of appeasing the humans that a proper investigation is being done.
Either way, that’s not my problem. Not anymore. I watch them leave and when they are gone, only then do I turn to the last set of shadows and call out, “You can come out now.”
Sally chuckles, walking out from where she has been hiding. “Damn, how’d you find me?”
“I have my ways,” I smirk. Truthfully, it was Ali. As he grows in strength, even lower level Stealth methods are falling to his scans. “What’s this about?”
“Xev tells me you’ve been bringing it the bodies of your kills. I thought I might come and look for myself. It knows a bit about alchemy, but really,” she shrugs and I nod, walking to the waiting platform. I p
ull the bodies out, depositing them on the platform in quick order and arranging them for the Alchemist. Sally pulls a knife from her inventory, prodding and pulling at the new bodies and dissecting them with quick, precise motions. She pulls and sets aside various organs and body parts as she goes, muttering to herself as she works.
“How are things? With the humans?” I ask curiously, normally our interactions are brief and to the point at her store.
She pulls her head out from the gullet of a particularly big, scaled kill to call out, “Tense. Very tense. Someone tried to firebomb Xev’s place this morning, but the shop’s upgraded so they failed. No one’s bothered me but I’m next to the Centre so it’d take someone really dumb to try something. Now, if you don’t mind…”
I leave her to it and find a seat, propping my feet up and waiting, pulling a chocolate bar from my inventory while I wait. An hour later, she emerges covered in blood and guts and flicks a hand to send me an itemised list of what she wants to buy and for how much. I eye it for a second and then send Ali to dicker with her. As if I’d know the price of a pair of Lizard balls. As I watch them, my eyes drift shut and I let them. I’ll just rest my eyes for a moment.
When I open them again, Sabre is right beside me, nice and shiny and the gate doors are open, trucks driving in to pick up the meat. Jim is there, nodding to me as I slowly stand up and stretch.
“Jim,” I greet him and he grunts, looking me up and down before he walks over, only the slight pause at the beginning betraying his hesitation.
“John,” he offers his hand and I take it.
“How are you doing?” I ask him, looking the man over. He’s raised a few levels since we last spoke and he looks fitter, though his shoulders are curved in more and he looks even more tired than before.
“Good,” he replies and I raise an eyebrow. He looks me over and shrugs, “I’m good. Haven’t lost anyone in three days now.”